Part sixteen. Kenji:

The seagulls swoop over us, their plaintive cry blending with the sound of the ocean lapping at the boat. Ahead of the boat a school of Goldeen play, rushing alongside the boat, leaping and splashing as the sunlight glints of their bodies.

It's a good omen, sailors say.

"Merril?"

"No, I'm not sorry to be returning home. I don't feel like I've failed. I know it's funny since I went to become an artist and I've come back my dream unfulfilled . . . but I think I've learned more about life somehow," I tell my Pokémon. "I feel . . . free."

Ever since giving those pictures to Shigeru . . . well I'd blown any chance of living on the Indigo continent safely. Shigeru would have figured out that to know who he was would have meant I was a spy and so responsible for the ambush in the woods that nearly killed them. And the Poison clan would not exactly have been happy with that . . .

I sigh, drawing out my sketchbook to start sketching the Goldeen . . .

"Merril," Merril comments.

I've noticed that too. Since cutting my ties with the Poison clan my art has come easier, been more natural. I've begun enjoying it again.

Perhaps all I needed was this . . . to be reminded of why I wanted to be an artist in the first place. It wasn't the fame, the profits . . .

As we near the harbour the Goldeen dive underwater. I stand, shutting my sketchbook as a page falls out. I smile as I pick it up.

Kasumi, Hiroshi, Takeshi, Shigeru and Satoshi. It's amazing really, how well I feel I know them, how much they mean to me. And yet . . . they don't even know my name. They've changed my life . . . and they don't even know it.

Perhaps it's silly of me . . . but I know I'll never sell those pictures. In spite of everything, I think of them as my friends. Perhaps another time, another world . . . we could have been.

Part Sixteen B. Satoshi:

"Satoshi, didn't anyone ever tell you trying to tackle the poison master and three legendary birds at the same time is a bad idea?"

Shigeru is well enough to be sarcastic . . . that's something to be grateful for at least.

"I think my mother might have mentioned something along those lines . . . " I smile. "I'll try not to do it again."

"I should hope not," Ookido-daimyo says. "When your mother finds out about this . . . well, I don't want to think what she'll do to me."

I sigh and gather Pikachu into my lap. "I don't want to think about what she'll do to me . . ." I laugh. "I won't tell if you don't!"

"But . . . you're not going to tell her?"

"That I almost got killed?" I shake my head vehemently. "Remember how she reacted when Shigeru pushed me off the kitchen roof and I broke my arm?"

"For the last time, I didn't push you! I stumbled and you just fell off. It wasn't my fault."

"Was too!"

"Satoshi, Shigeru, please stop. Satoshi, what about the other stuff that happened?"

"You mean about the Storm clan getting recognised? I don't think she'll be happy, she wanted to me to just stay with you at the fire-clan stronghold. But I guess she'll let me go. I mean, Matisse-san does want me to be daimyo . . . and the others are waiting for me to come back."

Matisse-san snapped his head up at that. He'd been sitting dejectedly in a corner with Yuuji trying to cheer him up. For what reason I have no idea . . . maybe he was mad that he hadn't had a chance to kill Sakaki?

"You mean . . . you're coming back with us?"

"Hai," I say surprised. "Why wouldn't I?"

I get the weirdest stares from everybody.

"Satoshi . . . " Kasumi says. "Don't you realise what just happened?"

"Hai. The birds killed Sakaki-san, so now we can be a clan again and so they need me to lead it."

"No! You're . . . "

Matisse-san smoothly slips his hand over her mouth. "Excuse us a second, Daimyo."

"Oh. Okay," I said, disconcerted both by the fact he actually called me Daimyo, and that all of the clan leaders and my friends seem to have gone into a huddle without me.

"Pika-pika?" Pikachu says.

"I have no idea," I answer.

"Oh gods . . . " Shigeru, also left out of the huddle because Erika-san is busy assessing the damage done to him, starts to laugh.

I can't stay mad at him. Especially not when he's sick like this.

"How is he?" I ask Erika.

"He seems surprisingly well . . . for someone who's been hit by a poisoned arrow. I don't understand it. It's almost as if it wasn't poisoned at all."

"I'll go ask the poison clan what they put on the arrows," I say, shifting Pikachu to my shoulder as I stand. Okay, so they may not be exactly overflowing with helpfulness, especially considering they just got defeated by us, but they may be willing to co-operate in order to get a lighter punishment.

The Poison clan are sitting rather disconsolately on the ground, watched by the clan-leaders Pokémon. By the fried look a few of them have and the happy expression Arcanine wears I guess there have been a few unsuccessful escape attempts.

"Hey look, Musashi! It's the twerp from the dungeons!" I recognise the blue-haired samurai.

"Kid . . . you're a daimyo?"

"It's a surprise to me too," I say. "Um, I was just wondering. You know your poisoned arrows . . . ?"

"Poisoned . . . !" Kojiro slaps himself in the head. "I knew there was something I'd forgotten to do!"

Musashi and I stare at him. "You forgot to . . . "

"Well I had a lot of stuff to do, all right?"

Musashi just shakes her head.

"Excuse me," I say running back to Erika and Shigeru.

I've never thought I'd see a clan-leader laugh this hysterically.

"Pika-pika," Pikachu sighs.

"What's the matter?" Ookido-daimyo interrupts the little 'everyone but Satoshi' huddle to ask. I suppose he's worried about Shigeru.

I explain. The looks on their faces are enough to rival the blank looks they gave me earlier.

"You know," Wataru-san says, when they've finished laughing themselves to tears. "Given that the Poison-clan is currently without a leader, we should elect one for them. I'd like to nominate this Kojiro."

"Are you sure . . . ? I mean, they are . . . "

"With this little defeat hanging over their heads and the loss of Sakaki, I think the poison clan will be lying low for a few years," Wataru says. "And with the added onus of him as leader . . . well, it would be awhile before they are a threat to anyone."

"Shouldn't they be punished?" Kanna asks.

"Don't you think this Kojiro as leader is sufficient punishment?" someone quips.

"I think that Kojiro as leader and an annual tribute to be paid to the Storm clan will be enough of a deterrent to anything like this happening again."

"I second Wataru's plan," I say, half expecting to be told off for being just a kid. Instead half the clan-leaders say "I third it," then start arguing over who said it first. I have the feeling there is something here I'm missing.

"Um . . . " I say worriedly to Shigeru. "They're acting like us as kids."

"They're acting like you as a kid," he says. "You know full well you fell off the bloody roof yourself."

The Poison clan accept the offer. Kojiro looks stunned . . . well he had good reason to be.

Now that we're reasonably sure Shigeru isn't going to die immediately, Erika ties up his arm with a simple poultice and Wataru adjourns the clan meeting until tomorrow.

"Hopefully the legendary birds won't need to be called upon for that one," he says, ruefully eyeing the destruction the birds have left in their wake.

"I wouldn't mind seeing them again" I say, a little sadly. "Oh Hiroshi! He's going to be so mad he missed seeing them!"

"Oh, yeah, I'd forgotten Hiroshi! Where is he?" Kasumi looks a little guilty.

"Uh . . . I left him back at the poison clan camp. I left Muk guarding over him and Natsume . . . oh dear." That was a long time ago. "I hope Muk has managed to keep them safe."

"I'll go and check," Takeshi volunteers. "Come on, Onix."

"Oof! Uh, help me up, Sato-chan?" I

I pull Shigeru on to his feet then support him as he staggers. "Okay?"

"I think so. I don't think I'll be able to get back to my tent myself . . . I feel a little light headed."

"I'm not surprised. I mean, you were hit by an arrow." Pikachu scolds me because Shigeru's arm is now taking up it's usual place on my shoulder.

"You know . . . " he says, as we stagger back to his tent. "I can't believe so much has happened today."

"Me either." We reach his tent and for no reason at all I'm suddenly laughing.

"Are you okay Sato-chan?" Shigeru kneels down to me awkwardly, hampered by his sore arm.

"I'm perfectly okay, Geru-chan, " I tell him, still laughing near hysterically. "It's just . . . I feel so . . . "

"Pika-pika," Pikachu sighs.

"It's okay, Sato-chan. You can cry . . . "

I touch my face and am surprised to find it is damp with tears. I didn't realise I was crying. "This just seems so insane. Sakaki-'s dead," I can't help a shudder, "you almost died but you didn't . . . I almost died but I didn't . . . "

"Pika-pikachu!" Pikachu reminds us.

"Yeah . . . you too. And all that's happened and I just feel so empty."

"You're probably still in shock. Like . . . something like this happens, it takes a while for your feelings to make sense of it."

"I guess . . . I'm also really hungry."

Shigeru starts to laugh. "Please don't ever change Satoshi. I don't know what I'd do if you did."

For some reason that sets me off laughing again.

We're still laughing when Meowth strolls into our tent.

"Satoshi, you're needed at da Poison-clan camp."

"I am? Why?"

"Hiroshi's not in any trouble is he?" Shigeru demands immediately.

Meowth shrugs. "Weeell, kind of . . . ya see it's Muk."

"Muk?" I repeat. "But I asked him to take care of Hiroshi and Natsume."

Meowth sighs. "Do you remember what you told dat Muk?"

"Um . . . "

"He told Muk," Meowth turns to Shigeru, pointing at me. "Ta sludge anyone who came into da tent!"

"So?" I say.

"So . . . " Meowth's mouth twitched. "Muk's taken out three poison clan members, Takeshi, Kanna and three insect clan samurai. And he refuses to let them out of the tent."

Shigeru starts laughing again.

I glare at him. "I don't laugh when stuff like this happens to you."

"For the very good reason that stuff like this doesn't!" he crows.

Muttering something rude about the Ookido temperament and leaving Meowth and Shigeru to laugh themselves silly I depart the tent. Pikachu scampers after me.

"I can't believe those two . . . actually I can . . . it is kind of funny," I admit to Pikachu. Then start to laugh. "Poor Takeshi . . . "

Suddenly I'm grabbed roughly.

A tight voice hisses in my ear even as a knife is brought inches away from my throat.

"So you think what you've done to me is funny?"

"Pika-pi! Pika!" Pikachu tries desperately to summon enough energy for a thundershock.

"No!" I yell. "You're still tired. Get Shigeru!"

"You think the Ookido's will bother with a worm like you?" Katsura hisses. "The only reason Ookido-daimyo expelled me back in Pallet was that I hadn't managed to finish the job!"

"Let go of me!" I can't manage to get away from Katsura's stranglehold around my throat. Suddenly he lets go of me and shoves me to the ground.

"Let's see how well you can defend yourself, storm-clan scum!"

"Katsura, don't do this . . . " I beg. I'm really frightened. He's so angry . . . it's like he's lost sight of everything but his anger, his hatred at me . . . I don't think he's quite sane. "We don't have to be enemies . . . "

"Idiot! The fire-clan will never ever be at peace while members of your sorry clan exist," he pokes his hatana blades right at me. "Draw your weapons!"

"You're wrong! Shigeru and I are friends . . . and Ookido-daimyo likes me."

"Many members of the council have agreed with me on this," Katsura laughs. "Your Shigeru will not come to your aid. Draw your blades, come on!"

"Ookido-daimyo will kill you for this," I say, finally pulling out my swords.

"Ookido-daimyo is old and a fool, as well as being enamoured with your mother. There are many among the clan who have been awaiting his removal a long time . . . I will replace him as clan-leader. No longer an exile, I will be hailed the saviour of the fire clan."

"You're mad!" I breathe. Heck, Pikachu just has to get to Shigeru. If Katsura does as he says, and I'm afraid he will, then three people who were once as close to me as family are in danger.

"Allow me to disagree," he smiles. And attacks.

Part Sixteen C. Shigeru:

I'm just pulling off my ceremonial armour, wishing I'd kept Satoshi around long enough for help with it . . . I know that as storm-clan daimyo he is not going to be acting steward for me any more, but my arms does hurt and I could do with some help.

Pi-pi-pi!" Pikachu runs into my room and starts squealing at me. "Pi-pi-pi! Pi, pika-pi!"

Pika-pi . . . that seems to be the rat's name for Satoshi. I look at it's worried eyes and shiver . . . something's happened to Satoshi?

"Meowth?" I yell, shoving my armour back on. "Where are you?"

Meowth returns, muttering something about not getting a decent meal but becomes very worried as Pikachu explains.

"Pika-pi! Pi! Pikachu!"

"Oh no!" Meowth gasps. "This is terrible!"

"What is?" I demand. "Is it something to do with Satoshi?"

"Hai . . . that grumpy man at your clan's stronghold has him."

Grumpy man . . . ? "You don't mean Katsura do you?" Oh this is terrible.

Just then Rikao runs into my tent. "Oh master, Shigeru, you must come immediately! The storm clan is attacking us!"

"Out of my way!" I push past him. "Where are they?" I ask Pikachu.

"Pi-pi-pi!" Pikachu tells me running away. I run after him, ignoring the startled looks we're getting from other clan members milling around the place. I slow as I reach the place where it obviously happened. There's an awful lot of fire-clan members gathered round, and I shove through them to reach the centre of the circle.

Katsura's body lies still in the dust. Matisse-san and Yuuji stand back to back in a defensive stance, battling to hold off the angry fire-clan members from a third figure, bent over between them. Oh gods . . . Satoshi . . .

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu runs to his trainer immediately.

"Stop this now! Draw back--all of you!"

The startled fire clan members pause and I have to knock a few swords out of people's hands to get them to listen to me. I glower at them and they move back.

"So," Matisse-san growls. "Come to make sure they finish your work properly, Ookido-scum?"

I ignore him. "Satoshi, are you all right?" I move quicker than Matisse-san expects and slip through his and Yuuji's guard to reach my friend. "Did he hurt you?"

"Hai . . ." Satoshi latches his arms around me.

"Pika-pi," Pikachu says unhappily.

"I knew you'd come," Satoshi tells me. "He said you wouldn't but I knew . . . "

"Shush," I say. "Can you stand?"

He manages to get up with me holding him. I let go of him, only keeping his hand and look him over critically. It looks like he'll be okay, that Katsura didn't manage to hurt him too badly.

"What happened?" I ask.

"We were coming to see what was keeping Satoshi from calling off his Muk," Yuuji says. "When we saw Katsura attacking him for no reason."

"A lie!" Hooray. Rikao followed me. "The storm clan must have provoked this."

"How dare you!" Matisse thunders. "That scheming back-stabber--"

"I'll handle this," I say. "What makes you think Katsura was provoked?"

"Well . . ." Rikao didn't expect to have to justify this. "Isn't it obvious? Katsura was one of our clan. We would never--"

"Katsura has already openly disobeyed an order of the clan-chieftain and tried to kill Satoshi-daimyo," I answer. "I think it safe to say he would."

"But--" Rikao protests. I ignore him and turn to the soldiers. "What are you doing here, Fuuko?"

"We heard Rikao-san yelling blue-murder an' came out an' saw Matisse-san attacking Katsura. We ran t' defend our colleague an' then you showed up."

"I see. I can't fault you for wishing to defend a fellow clan member but you would have done better to disarm the combatants and hold them until I arrived." I was a little non-plussed. I didn't like the way this had developed so easily into what could have been a full scale brawl.

"Um, Shigeru?" Satoshi says hesitantly. "Before he . . . Katsura, um . . . attacked he said he was planning to use this to challenge your grandfather as daimyo. He said he . . . "

I heard the twang of the bowstring and didn't think, just reacted. My sword spun gracefully in a single arc and the arrow splintered, falling to the ground in two harmless parts.

"Shig--" Satoshi gasped.

"Hold him!" I yell, using the sword to point out the archer. "Grab him!" After a few moments of stunned shock they obey. The hapless soldier is disarmed and brought to the front.

"Tie him up," I order. "Continue," I say to Satoshi.

"Uh . . . He said he had supporters within the clan, even on the council." Satoshi finishes.

"I would like to remind you all that disobeying your clan chief by attacking allies of the clan is an act of treason. Anyone who is found guilty of, or even supports such acts can face punishment of demotion, exile, or even death."

The soldiers stare at me. They don't argue. A few look away or study their feet.

"I hope you understand," I say. "I would hate for there to be a repeat of this unpleasantness."

I nod to Fuuko. "Take him to my grandfather for judgement. Inform him of what has happened. You two," I call over two other soldiers. "Escort Rikao-san to the daimyo. I have a feeling my grandfather will want to chat with him."

He could have just been on the spot coincidentally, but I somehow doubt it. Especially after what Satoshi said of Katsura's plans. I dismiss the rest of the soldiers.

"Geru-chan! You saved my life!" Satoshi says.

"Pika-pi," Pikachu adds smugly, probably priding itself on having gone to fetch me.

"You saved our daimyo," Matisse's huge hand rests on my shoulder. "I . . . apologise for my earlier comment. I guess I was wrong about the Ookido's."

"We owe you a great debt," Yuuji says earnestly. "How can we repay you?"

"By getting this idiot to the healers," I smile.

"Thank-you Geru-chan," Satoshi smiles at me. "Ne, Matisse, I can walk! Put me down, I'm not a baby!"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu follows them, scolding his trainer. I smile before following the direction Fuuko took. I have a feeling there is much my grandfather will want to say to me.

I'm right.

It's the following day. The clan-leaders stand around us on the plateau, all dressed in their ceremonial best. Facing us are my grandfather, and Kanna-daimyo, between them, Wataru-san. Takeshi, Kasumi, Hiroshi and Natsume (neither the worse for being stuck for five hours in the tent with the Muk. After getting freed from Muk's rather too conscientious protection the psychic was able to clear up a few hidden details of Sakaki's plan. He'd poisoned the entire psychic clan, not fatally, just enough to ensure that none of them would be making the journey to Indigo, then taken Natsume out and used the threat of hurting her to induce her Alakazam to do as he wished.) stand next to them, all grinning their heads off. I, however am solemn, as is Satoshi, standing next to me. This is a big moment. The clan leaders stand around us in a circle, among them the newly sworn in Kojiro, his deputy the pink haired Musashi. They are all silent as Wataru speaks.

"It is a special privilege to honour any new daimyo, especially when the daimyo in question belongs to a master clan," he says. "But two new daimyo! This is an occasion for celebration. Before we can get to that though, we must swear in our new leaders."

My grandfather steps forward. "I, Daimyo of the fire-clan, hereby renounce my powers and rights of sovereignty over clan, land and Pokémon and do leave them to my grandson. He has proven himself worthy of this task in battle and in decision making without any doubt."

There is scattered applause from the surrounding clan-leaders. I permit myself a modest smile.

Satoshi elbows me. "How much did Ookido-daimyo have to pay to get them to do that?"

"Shut up," I whisper back. Wataru coughs.

"Ookido Shigeru, do you accept leadership of the fire-clan?"

"I do," I reply. I pause, drawing confidence from the people surrounding me, and my clothes. I'm dressed in my best kimono, a deep red with gold embroidery in a flame motif. I'm told it was made for my father. I take pride in that fact. "To the best of my abilities."

Wataru nods then turns to Satoshi who I know is very nervous about this whole thing. He suits his new clothes too, looks every bit the storm clan daimyo in the black kimono with the silver lightning threading down it. Pikachu sits by his ankle. The lightning rodent know it's not supposed to be here and should be watching with the other Pokémon but as Satoshi hasn't shooed it away I guess he doesn't mind.

"Toraeru Satoshi, in blood and in spirit you are the heir of the Storm daimyo. Do you accept leadership of the storm clan, defence of it's people, Pokémon and lands?"

"Hai," Satoshi says. "I mean, I'll do my best."

"Piiikachu!"

"Very good." Wataru places round our necks the thick chains of office, mine pewter with the sign of Moltres, Satoshi's with the lightning bird, Zapdos.

"Welcome the new clan leaders!"

As the humans clap the Pokémon go wild.

Arcanine yips with glee and Charizard's roars would deafen anyone, who hadn't already been rendered deaf by the combination of Squirtle, Muk, over-excited Caterpie, Bulbasaur and Pidgey (it just 'happened' to turn up Satoshi insisted). I smiled as Satoshi and I bowed to the clan-leaders, Pikachu taking a bow alongside Satoshi--being the favoured Pokémon of a master-clan leader had gone to the little rat's head, as Meowth was fond of complaining. I'd hate to see what it would act like if Satoshi ever realised he was a Pokemon master . . .

"Hey! Quiet everyone! Shigeru and I have something to say!" Satoshi manages to calm the Pokémon down then turns to me. "You're better at speeches . . ."

I sigh. "I suppose so. Well Satoshi and I have been talking. As our first act as clan chiefs we'd like to renounce the former rivalry of fire and storm clan."

"Hai," Satoshi says.

"Pi-pi-pikachu," Pikachu admonishes the rest of the clan-leaders.

My grandfather does not appear to surprised or unhappy, neither does Matisse. In fact the only one who looks displeased is Kanna . . . probably because she's realised how powerful an alliance of fire and storm could be.

I smile at Satoshi and we take our places alongside Wataru-san. I can't believe I once feared this, thought it would mean the death of all friendship between us. Now I know that there is nothing Sato-chan and I can't overcome . . . except that stupid argument about the roof.

And maybe Kasumi in a really bad mood . . . or Muk in a good one, or . . . aargh, you get the idea.

The end, The sequel