The smoke curled lazily upwards, a single brownish smudge in an otherwise pristine evening sky. I scowled as I made my way towards it. Just that touch of brown in the air had reminded me of a similar evening, four years ago, where the fading day's display in the sky had been likewise tainted . . . with more than smoke.

"You do realise your fire is visible for miles around?" I snapped reaching our campsite. "We're sitting Psyducks for anyone who happens by."

"And a good day to you too!" Kasumi snapped back. "Honestly, Shigeru, would it hurt you to be in a good mood for once?"

"I'd be in a better mood knowing we weren't in such an obvious position!" I replied.

"I'm working on it," the third member of our party, the young Hiroshi spoke up. Okay, he was not more than a few months my junior but I always thought of him as young. He had a certain youthfulness around him that reminded me of . . . I was drawn out of that painful recollection by Kasumi.

"Besides, it's not as we're sitting Farfetch'd," Kasumi continued, as Hiroshi dumped a bundle of herbs onto the fire, reducing the amount of smoke the flames produced. "Hiroshi's been training for years, I'm the best warrior in Cerulean and you're the grandson of Fire-master Ookido. Who's going to mess with us?"

"Not to mention the Pokémon would alert us to any strangers," Hiroshi reminded me smiling as he handed bowls of stew to me and Kasumi. "Your Arcanine is always on guard, and my Butterfree is here if we need it."

I didn't reply. They were right of course. "I'm sorry," I said abruptly. "I was reminded of things I'd rather not think about. I took it out on you. It was unmannerly."

"Well, finally!" Kasumi sighed in mock frustration. "The great Shigeru-Ookido has admitted he's not perfect."

Hiroshi shoved her. "What sort of things, Shigeru-san?" He asked formally.

"I'd rather not talk about them."

"This has something to do with why you're here instead of one of Ookido' sans students, isn't it?" Hiroshi asked. I was surprised at his perception.

"How did you know that?"

"Well it's obvious. Ookido-daimyo's son is dead, you're his heir . . . he wouldn't send you into danger without good reason."

"You're right about that. Ookido didn't want me to go. I begged him for days before he relented and let me leave."

"But you've done nothing but complain since we left!" Kasumi explained. "Well he has," she said as Hiroshi poked her.

I smiled grimly. "I didn't realise that travelling with you two would be difficult. You see you also remind me of . . . things."

"Maybe . . . if you told us we might not . . ." Hiroshi began. I cut him off by laughing.

"Hiroshi-san, no offence but you can't stop being who you are," I told him, my humour suddenly departing, as it had come.

"Tell us anyway," Kasumi said. "Come on. I told you about my sisters renouncing their martial arts and becoming geisha and thoroughly disgracing our clan and family. And I even told you about having to pretend to be a boy to get training."

"I told you about being thrown out of my family when I decided to train Butterfree, and having to leave my home to train with the Insect-master," Hiroshi says. "We share things. It's part of being a group. Who knows? It might even make you feel better, Shigeru."

"I'd rather not."

"Aw, pleeeeeeeeeeease?" Kasumi tried the big eyes routine.

"Pllleeeaseeeee?" Hiroshi joined her.

"You are samurai!" I exclaimed. "How do you think your masters would react if they could see you now?"

"You're right, Shigeru. They'd probably suggest we use other methods of persuasion," Hiroshi said, an evil grin crossing his usually serene face. I had an instant of foreboding before they both jumped me.

"Ticklish, Shigeru-san?" Kasumi whispered evilly.

After about ten minutes of torture I gave in.

"Fine," I said. "I'll tell you the story. But not all at once, okay? I'll tell it to you as we travel."

Kasumi looked at Hiroshi, who shrugged. "Okay. But don't think you can weasel out of this . . . "

I sighed. "Well, I guess it begins with Satoshi. Have you heard of him?"

"I think so," Hiroshi said. "Some of the students of your Grandfather mentioned him. They said he used to live with your family, as some kind of attendant. They said I was like him."

"You are, Hiroshi. You're so like him," I sigh. "You've got this quality about you, I'm not sure what it is. A sort of warmth, caring . . . but you also remind me of him Kasumi."

"Was he very handsome?" Kasumi preened.

"He had a big mouth," I tell her flatly. "He was impetuous and willful, even more than you are."

Kasumi looked as if she might throttle me but Hiroshi said, "Please, continue your story, Shigeru."

"Hai . . ." I sigh. "He was my best friend. I met him when I was eight I think. My parents had just been killed. I was with my Grandfather. He'd found a solace for his grief, a very pretty Geisha who called herself Rose-petal. I never learned her real name. I was very stubborn then. I was grieving for my parents but I couldn't give voice to my grief. I felt choked by it. I stopped speaking, had to be forced to eat, didn't want to do anything. My grandfather and my sister were at their wits end not knowing what to do with me. My grandfather mentioned his problem to Rose-Petal, and she suggested he brought me with him on his next visit so that she could try to help me. She had a child of her own, you see, and although it was never said, I think she had lost someone close to her.

So, I went."

The Ponyta I rode was barely able to be refrained from rushing forward. Everything around us was full of bustle. I was, in spite of myself, intrigued by the colour and sounds. I'd been living alone in my grief too long. My Grandfather, riding a Rapidash beside me smiled.

"A beautiful day, isn't it, Geru-chan?"

I didn't say anything of course. He was whistling as we approached a compound marked off by a bamboo fence. The Honey-suckle palace, the house of the Geisha. Even at eight I was aware of the mystery and luxury that had accrued to these woman though I wasn't sure why.

The women greeted my Grandfather and I and we waited for Rose-Petal. I looked around the compound curiously. It seemed full of women, the most beautiful I'd ever seen. They were like colourful butterflies, dressed in bright silks and jewellery. The air of the compound was sweet, soft cherry blossom still flowered on the tree's branches though torn from the trees outside. Then Petal-Rose approached, a smiling reddy-brown haired woman. She was beautiful, and kind as well. You could tell by her smile. She greeted me very sweetly. I didn't reply. My grandfather sighed.

"He's just like I told you. Won't speak. I don't know what's wrong with him."

"All of us grieve in different ways, Ookido-san. You must let Shigeru work this through himself."

I listened without interest. They thought because I didn't speak I didn't understand . . . Someone touched my shoulder.

"Is this your Ponyta?"

I looked at him. He was a kid, about my age, with the blackest hair I'd ever seen and large brown eyes. Some sort of servant, I decided. I looked away.

"I asked you a question," he said, planting himself directly in front of me. I glared at him.

"I'm Fire-master Ookido's grandson," I told him, hotly. "Very few people are allowed to address me."

His brown eyes flitted into a determined look. "My mum is talking to your grandfather," he said. "So I guess I can talk to you."

I couldn't argue with that. Instead I asked, "She's your mother?"

"Yes."

"I though Geisha didn't have children."

"Most don't. My mother's special."

"My mother died," I told him. "She was killed with my father by bandits."

"Oh," he said. "I don't have a father."

"Was he killed?"

"I don't know. I never saw him."

"Oh," I said.

"My name's Satoshi."

"I'm Shigeru Ookido."

"Is that really your Ponyta?"

I laugh. "My Grandfather owns it but I'm the only one who rides it. You can touch it if you like but be careful not to burn yourself."

Satoshi laughed as my Ponyta nibbled his spiky hair.

"I love Pokémon," he told me. "I wish I was a warrior so I could learn to train them. You're lucky. I bet you'll get trained."

"I'm learning already," I told him.

"Wow," I suddenly felt proud. His enthusiasm was unfeigned. He was somehow refreshing to be around. "Do you want to see my mother's Pokémon?"

"Geisha don't keep Pokémon."

"My mother does. She has some as gifts from people. She has some Magikarp in a pond at the back, and a pair of singing Pidgey and even a Mister Mime."

"Wow," I said. "Mister Mime's are really rare."

"So do you want to see them?"

"Yes," I agreed immediately.

We threw bread to the Magikarp, let the Pidgey out of their cage to fly around (they were tame and always came back) and tried to get the Mister Mime to do an attack for us (didn't work). We were discussing what the best Pokémon was when my grandfather and Rose-petal came to find us.

"Shigeru-san! Here you are! Your grandfather was so worried," Rose-Petal said. "He's here Ookido-san."

"I just brought him to look at the Pokémon," Satoshi said.

"You should have told us where you were going," Rose-Petal scolded him. "Ookido-san has been worried sick about his nephew . . . Shigeru-san hasn't been very well . . ."

"He looks okay to me," Satoshi grumbled.

"No harm done, Rose-Petal," my grandfather said, patting Satoshi on the shoulder. "What have you two been doing? Looking at the Pokémon, I see."

"Hai," I said. "Satoshi's been letting me feed the Magikarp."

I still remember the look of complete and utter shock on my grandfather's face.

"Shigeru . . . you're talking," He stared.

"Well you're his Grandad," Satoshi shrugged. "Why wouldn't he?"

"You are such a baka," I told him, swiping him playfully.

He hit me back. The beginning of a beautiful friendship.

"Guys . . ." Kasumi sighed.

"Shush," Hiroshi said. "Do you want him to stop?"

"Actually," I yawned. "I think I will. We travelled far today and remembering all this is hard work. Not to mention you two aren't exactly the easiest people to put up with."

For some reason Kasumi chose not to argue with that. "Who'll keep watch first?"

"I don't mind," Hiroshi volunteered. Kasumi decided to take the middle watch since she was adept at falling back to sleep easily, and I was left with the dawn watch. Arcanine crawled up behind me like a living breathing pillow, and as I settled back I said, "How long before we reach Viridian?"

"Tomorrow, I'd say," Hiroshi answered. "Shigeru, did your grandfather tell you anything of why this Pikachu is so important?"

"Well, you know the myth of the legendary birds right? Moltres, the fire bird, Zapdos, the storm bird, and Articuno the ice bird. According to tradition each bird belonged to the three master clans, fire, ice and lightning. While other clans have declined or risen the three master clans remained stable, in their role of guardian of the forces of fire, ice and storm. The clans have always been rivals . . . according to legend, since the very forces we serve are in conflict, so are we . . . I'm not sure where legend ends and fact begins. But about fifteen years ago, a terrible tragedy occurred. The clan-home of lightning was attacked by some force and they passed out of existence."

"Some unknown force?" Kasumi said. "Surely somebody must have recognised something . . . "

"Apparently not," I shrug. "Everyone who was in the clan home at the time was killed."

"What? Even . . . Pokémon?" Hiroshi is horrified. I remember first learning of this story myself and feeling similarly although I knew the storm clan were enemies of ours.

"Even Pokémon. Children, women . . . they all died. The master clan was no more, another master clan was chosen by competition to take its place. The Poison clan won and has since been the third master-clan."

Kasumi growled. "They're probably the ones who wiped out the storm-clan in the first place."

"Possibly," I shrugged. "The Pikachu is a lightning Pokémon. Perhaps whoever possesses it will gain the power of the lost lightning tribe. I don't know. But we must collect it from Viridian City and bring it back to my Grandfather."

"Why all the fuss then?" Hiroshi said. "I mean, that doesn't sound too hard."

"My grandfather is not the only one who wants the Pikachu. The Poison-master is reported to be seeking it."

"No wonder you were so tense about the fire," Kasumi says. "The poison warriors are supposed to be really good."

"That . . . and other things," I say, rolling onto my side away from them. "Oyasumi nasai."

They take the hint. I am asked no more questions. Which is good. The memories stirred up by my story pervade my dreams. In them I am teaching Satoshi to ride my Ponyta, seeing his excited laugh as he directs it forward, my grandfather and Petal-Rose smiling over their tea as they watch us. I see Satoshi and I having running races, eating races, (you might say we were competitive) and playing at battles, with the stilts an old ronin staying with the Geisha made for us, with the Pokémon. They are happy memories, ones I haven't visited for ages. Because they didn't last . . . I sigh, and am grateful to be woken by Kasumi for the dawn watch.

"Shigeru-san," Kasumi says as we travel towards Viridian. "You didn't finish your story."

"Hai," Says Hiroshi. "We still don't know what Satoshi has to do with this trip."

I sigh. "I suppose it was too much to hope you'd forgotten it. Ah well. Here goes . . . "

A year after I'd started talking again my grandfather and I were visiting Petal-Rose and Satoshi, who was now my best friend. A Kabuki theatre group had arrived in town and Satoshi and I were eager to go and watch them setting up. When the two of us worked together there was almost nothing we couldn't get them to agree to.

"Come back soon, Sato-chan," Petal-Rose said as we left. "Be careful, okay?"

"Come on Shigeru, let's go!" Satoshi said, impatient as always. I followed him at a leisurely face as befitting the grandson of Ookido-san, but we got to the theatre group soon enough. They appeared almost disappointingly normal. Satoshi was quickly talking to them, asking questions and getting answers in a way only he could. He had this manner you see

"Hai. All the way from Cerulean. Pallet's our last stop before we begin the journey back." One of the actors told us.

"And do you really dress up as women?"

"Hai," he laughed.

"Weird."

"And the women play men . . . they're almost frighteningly good at it," our new friend said, getting a couple of ribald comments from the other members of the theatre group. "You'd make quite good girls yourselves, I bet."

I sniffed. I had too much Ookido dignity to even think of doing something so unmannerly. Satoshi had no such samurai-dignity.

"You think?"

"You move light on your feet and you're not hung up with pride like your friend over there," I folded my arms not happy with being laughed at. "You have a good career waiting for you in theatre, my friend, if you're ever moved that way."

We talked to the actor a bit longer, interested in the Pokémon the theatre group owned, a couple of Tauros to transport their equipment and the performing Pokémon, A Mister Mime, A Jigglypuff, a couple of singing Pidgey and a Clefairy, even a Ditto.

"Wow . . . a real Clefairy," Satoshi giggled as he patted it. "I can't believe I'm touching one. I think it likes me, Geru-chan."

"Great, great," I muttered. "Satoshi, there's this guy over there. He's been watching us for the last fifteen minutes."

I mentioned it idly. I was pretty sure it wasn't anything serious in the middle of the town. Instead of reacting with a 'Probably watching the theatre group like us,' like I expected, Satoshi froze.

"What does he look like?" He whispered.

"Um, tall, kind of old . . .big, like he's a warrior . . . "

"With a grumpy expression and a broken nose?"

"Yeah . . ."

"Shigeru, we have to go home right now," Satoshi made hurried farewells to the theatre group and dragged me after him.

"Why?" I asked. "Satoshi, what is wrong?"

"Tell you later. Hurry."

I was unused to seeing my friend so worried and followed him back to the Geisha's house, only stopping occasionally to look behind us. The man followed us for a bit but remained in the town centre.

"He's stopped following us," I told Satoshi.

"That's something at least," Satoshi grumbled as we went inside the compound.

"Now will you tell me what that was all about?"

"Shigeru-san, Satoshi sweetest, you're back," Petal-Rose greeted us, gliding up to us silently, her delicate robes making little noise. "What's this? Back so soon? Weren't the actors talkative?"

"This guy started following us . . ." I said, surprised again as Petal-Rose's lovely face went pale.

"Sato-chan . . . was it . . .?"

"Yes," Satoshi said reluctantly. "We came back right away."

"What's this?" My grandfather joined us. "You were followed? By whom?"

"Just this samurai. He keeps watching me," Satoshi said. "He creeps me out."

"Following Satoshi? But . . . why?" My grandfather and I were both surprised.

"Why don't you children run along and feed the Magikarp," Petal-Rose suggested. Satoshi and I shared a look as we were shoved into the dark.

"Follow me," Satoshi said. "She'll probably take him to her private rooms. They open onto the garden, I bet we could listen in from there."

We could.

We crawled as close to the rooms as possible, to hear my grandfather ask, "Are you sure it's Satoshi? I mean, he's a very nice child but . . ."

"It's Satoshi. There is no doubt about that. The samurai came through town with a group of mercenaries and stopped here . . . Satoshi was responsible for stabling their Dodrio. He wouldn't leave him alone all evening. Kept asking him questions, even tried to talk him into accompanying them the next day . . . Satoshi went straight to me. I kept him out of sight of the samurai all the next couple of days that they stayed and told the girls to say nothing about him but to tell me if anyone asked about him. The broken-nosed samurai had enquired repeatedly. Finally he approached me and offered to buy my Satoshi . . . as if I would sell him!"

"Calm yourself, Petal-Rose," my grandfather murmured.

"I beg your pardon, Ookido-san. Satoshi is very dear to me. My only child, his worth is more to me than mere wealth," I heard Petal-Rose answer in a voice more like her own. "I told him then I wished him to leave. Since then he has stayed in Pallet, always hanging round this compound. I am worried, Ookido-san. If I had family I would send Satoshi to them but as it is, we have no-one."

"Do you know why he wants Satoshi?" My grandfather asked.

"I fear I do," Petal-Rose sighed. There was a moment of silence and I looked at Satoshi's small, set face.

"This would not be the first time, Ookido-san, that we have had guests whose interests have lay more towards Satoshi than myself or my women. It is known in the town that the Geisha house Honey-suckle palace has a young boy attached and they think . . . "

"You think that would be enough to keep this . . . Samurai . . . hanging round Pallet? There's more you're not telling me."

"Hai," Petal-rose whispered and I saw Satoshi's eyes widen. Apparently my grandfather wasn't the only one who had had things kept from him. "Forgive me, Ookido-san. Much as I respect you immensely, I can't tell you everything. Just that I fear my Satoshi may be taken from me."

"That's enough for me, Petal-Rose," my grandfather said. "Entrust Satoshi to me."

"I always said Ookido-daimyo was a good man," Kasumi said.

"You must have been thrilled," Hiroshi said, rather wistfully. "Having a friend as good as that come to live with you . . . you must have been pretty excited."

"Hai," I say. "My grandfather managed everything. Formally he had bought Satoshi as an attendant and companion for me. Rumour speculated widely. The most common was that Satoshi was an illegitimate son of either my father or grandfather . . . very few knew the real reason. Satoshi was able to make himself at home anywhere . . . it wasn't long before his laughter was a familiar sound of the Fire-stronghold halls. Satoshi became my shadow practically . . . he started training as my groom and attendant. Not being of a samurai family of course he could not learn to train . . . but he got to be with the Pokémon he loved."

"And his friend," Hiroshi pointed out.

I sighed. "I wasn't always that great a friend, Hiroshi. Although I am ashamed of it now I sometimes treated Satoshi in a way that can only be described as cruel. I'm too full of Ookido-pride to express my feelings well and Satoshi's openness annoyed me . . . whatever he felt he expressed it. It was just his way. I hadn't learned to value his truthfulness then. It fact I didn't realise how much I valued him until . . ."

It was autumn, and as usual the Fire-clan was preparing to celebrate the anniversary of our famous victory over the Storm and Grass clans . . .

"Sorry, Hiroshi."

"Think nothing of it, Shigeru. We still celebrate old victories against Fire-clan allies."

"Oh. Well, then . . . "

I had just turned eleven and was permitted to take part in the mock battle for the first time. I was excited of course as I put on my new battle armour, Satoshi helping me as he had been taught.

To tell the truth I felt a little bit guilty. I knew Satoshi wanted to be a samurai as much as I did but had no chance. And in fact I did feel a little bit sorry for him. However I was also terribly pleased at my part in the festival. Knowing Satoshi's feelings only made me feel uncomfortable, like I was being torn. After a while I began to blame Satoshi for this. Instead of asking him to do things I ordered him. I can be a brat at times.

"Kasumi, quit laughing or I'll come over there and knock you down."

"Sorry, Shigeru-san."

"You're so lucky," Satoshi said as he finished helping me with my armour and I looked at myself in the long mirror. He stood behind me, more like my shadow than ever. "I wish I could be a samurai."

"Probably lucky for everyone you're not," I told him.

"Shigeru?"

"Well knowing how much of a klutz you are you'd probably fall over your own two feet and disgrace Ookido-san and the entire clan." That wasn't true. A by-product perhaps of being brought up by a household of Geisha, Satoshi moved very lightly and delicately which resulted in an awful lot of teasing, people saying he moved like a ghost.

"I'd be a great samurai!" Satoshi responded angrily.

I got really cruel. "You'll never get to be a samurai, Satoshi. You've got no clan, no master, not even a father. Forget it."

"I . . ." Satoshi gulped at me, then ran.

I was glad. The little vindictive pleasure I had felt at hurting him was quickly replaced by a bigger sense of guilt. It was too easy to hurt his feelings. I joined my Grandfather on the steps of the house in a decidedly more sober mood.

"Geru-chan," He greeted me. "You would make your parents proud."

I couldn't quite manage a smile. Not after what I'd said about Satoshi's lack of a father. I looked for him the crowd that attended. Among the crowd of students, guest samurai and household attendants, it was impossible to tell if he was present or not. My sister standing beside me squeezed my hand, I think she thought I was nervous.

Just as my Grandfather announced the beginning of the display of swordsmanship there was an exclamation from the gate. The crowd parted to reveal a bedraggled looking man, gasping and obviously in poor condition.

"Help us," he kept gasping, "Help us."

"Send for the healer," my grandfather ordered.

"N-no!" the man gasped. He was young, not that much older than myself, with light blue hair. "Must see Ookido-san."

"I am he," said my grandfather. "What is your message?"

"Please . . . help. We know of the Ookido's great generosity . . . please help us. My family . . .we were attacked by bandits . . . masterless ronin in the forest . . ."

"Get your Pokémon!" My grandfather ordered immediately. After what had happened to my parents he hated bandits. "Those with Ponyta ride with me, the others follow on foot."

"Lucky that everyone is already in armour," my sister murmured.

"Hai . . . " I whispered back, breathlessly. I was also in armour.

Ookido-san turned to my sister. "You will be in charge until we return. See that this man gets attention."

As she bowed in obedience I asked my grandfather. "I ride with you?"

"Of course. You must learn to practice your skills in battle . . . and who better to revenge your father's death than his father and his son?"

"Ookido-san ," Satoshi had pushed through the crowd of soldiers. "Let me come too? I'll help, I . . ."

"Satoshi, this is no place for you," My grandfather said. "You might get hurt"

Now I felt even worse about what I'd said before. I had no time to say anything to him though. We were riding out. I promised myself that I would make it up to him later.

We quickly rode down the road to the forest in pursuit of the bandit-ronin, and found a wagon, burning still in the centre of the road. Taking this as proof of the bandit's attack we spread out to search for them. After about an hour I heard my grandfather's horn sounding calling us back.

"No one has found anything?"

"It must be a trick!"

"Why lure us out of the Fire-clan hold unless . . . Back to the hold, now!" My grandfather ordered.

We rode even harder back but our rides were tired. By the time we reached the road back to the hold thin wisps of smoke were rising over the horizon . . .

As soon as the warriors had left, the blue-haired guy had let his companions in, they'd done their evil work and left. When we arrived most of the buildings were in disarray, people were weeping and no one seemed very sure of what had happened.

"Mei! Mei!" MY grandfather called over the shouts of the others. I was so relieved when my sister replied, I almost fell from my Ponyta.

"Ookido-san! Oh, it was terrible! They threatened us! I didn't know what to do!"

"What did they want?" My grandfather said, gathering her into his arms.

"The fire Pokémon . . .they said they'd kill anyone who tried to stop them. Kampei and Yagoru are dead."

I was afraid. Kampei and Yagoru had been the keepers of the clan's Pokémon, Satoshi and I spent a good part of our free time with them. I could very well imagine Satoshi going to them to recover from both my cruelty and the pain of not being included in my grandfather's expedition. "Where's Satoshi?" I asked. "Is he all right?"

"I don't know, Shigeru," Mei sniffed.

"Satoshi!" I yelled. "Satoshi!" I pushed through the crowd to where the Pokémon pens were. "Satoshi! Does anyone know where Satoshi is?"

"Shigeru-san," Kaoyu, an old woman who had taken care of Satoshi and I, called me. "I saw him."

"What happened? Tell me, quickly."

"They came, the ronin, to the Pokémon. Satoshi was with the Pokémon, you know how fond he is of them . . . he was very brave, Shigeru-san."

"What happened?"

"Kampei and Yagoru tried to fight the ronin. They yelled to Satoshi to lead the Pokémon away, out of the pen. But the ronin were waiting. They began to herd the Pokémon towards their wagon . . . Satoshi with them. He wouldn't leave the Pokémon, Shigeru-san. He ordered them to fight and then scatter, and they followed his orders. The ronin had Pokémon too, they fought. Satoshi managed to get most of yours away before they cornered him and Charizard and forced them into the wagon. They would have gone after the other Pokémon but Satoshi had cost them time and your grandfather would be returning . . . they left."

"Satoshi's still with them?"

"Hai . . ."

"Grandfather!" I turned and made my way back to him. "Grandfather, they've taken Satoshi and Charizard!"

"Satoshi?" My grandfather went very pale. I suppose he though Charizard could take care of himself. "Which way did they go?"

Our warriors quickly remounted but our rides were tired. We had no chance of catching up with the ronin, nor any chance of finding where they went. No one in the neighbouring towns saw any sign of them. I never knew how much Satoshi meant to me, how much I depended on him. Everyone in our clan missed him, but I wouldn't be comforted. All I could think about was how badly I'd treated him, and how, despite that, he'd managed to protect most of our clan's Pokémon. A week after the attack I was sitting on the hill above the hold thinking when my grandfather joined me.

"Satoshi?" he asked.

"Hai," I said quietly.

"Hai," he replied. "Of course. You miss him, Shigeru. We all do."

"I treated him so badly, Grandfather! I . . ." I choked. It was unmannerly for a samurai to cry after all.

"I too, Shigeru," My grandfather said. "I deeply regret not allowing him to learn swordsmanship. His actions in defence of the clan Pokémon show he was worthy of such training no matter what he lacked in birth. I regret that I allowed my pride as an Ookido to cloud my judgement. My ill decision robbed him of a chance to learn how to defend himself properly. Wherever he is now, I am sure he could use those skills."

"You don't think he's dead?" I asked.

"I don't know. I hope not. After all, they have no real need to kill him, Satoshi is no threat. They may decide to sell him . . ." my grandfather sighed. "Wherever he is, Shigeru, we will find him. If he is dead, we will avenge his death as if he was a true member of the fire-clan."

"Hai," I nodded and followed Ookido-san back to the hold, determined to make up to Satoshi what apology I owed him in either finding him and bringing him back home or in avenging his death.

"That was four years ago," I said.

"How horrible," Kasumi said and I was surprised to see she really looked concerned.

"That must have been really hard, Shigeru," Hiroshi agrees. "I can understand why you wouldn't want to be reminded of it."

"So what happened next?"

"Next?" I asked Kasumi. "That was it. We tried but we never found those ronin. I haven't seen Satoshi since . . . "

They are sympathetically silent.

"I still don't understand," Hiroshi says politely. "What does this have to do with our mission? This Pikachu . . ."

"Oh, of course you wouldn't know this, but you know the reasons you and Kasumi were sent to Ookido-san's?"

"For our affinity with water and grass types of Pokémon. So?" Kasumi says.

"And because from your clans, as from our own, Pokémon were stolen by masterless ronin."

"Oh!" Hiroshi says. "Shigeru, do you think this has anything to do with the legend of the Pokemon master?"

"My grandfather thinks so," I say. "And it certainly makes sense . . ."

"What legend?" Kasumi asked annoyed. She hates being left out of anything.

"Surely you're familiar with the legend of the Pokémon masters? Warriors who shared an infinity with more than one Pokémon type? They became the rulers of all the clans, remember?"

"Yeah, but they all died out."

"But Kasumi, if someone could gather together and control all different types of Pokémon they would become Pokemon master and clan-ruler," Hiroshi protested. "It's written in our clan-history."

"And in ours," I told her. "These Pokémon thefts suggest that someone is attempting to fulfil the old legends. Well, with the elimination of the Storm-clan lightning Pokémon have become rare. My grandfather suspects that whoever was behind the thefts of our clans will attempt to take this Pikachu. We have to make sure he doesn't."

"And since whoever stole the Pokémon is behind Satoshi's disappearance . . ." Hiroshi breathes.

"Exactly," I nod.

"Shigeru, I'm going to help you find your friend," Kasumi said, suddenly and determinedly.

"Me too." Hiroshi adds.

"Your offer is appreciated," I told them, allowing myself to smile. "But this is something I do alone. We're here to retrieve the Pikachu. If anything comes up concerning Satoshi, I will follow it on my own, understood?"

"We're here?" Hiroshi questions. I motion him to look at our surroundings. We have arrived at Viridian.

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