Part Six A
Hiroshi: Calm before the Storm

By the next morning our plans had been laid carefully and cautiously. That night, under the cover of darkness, we would attack the poison-clan fortress. Shigeru was in the best of spirits, I'm sure the thought that we might fail hadn't even occurred to him. It's not that he believes he's invincible, just that the concept of failure isn't one he applies to himself. I'm sure I even heard his whistling as he left with Kasumi to see what information about the fort they could scrounge from the townsfolk.

"How's Onix?" Takeshi asked me. I'd bound his great rock pokemon's wounds the night before and was now removing the bandages.

"Rrrrrrr."

"Oh, he's fine," I say, patting the large creature somewhat cautiously. "He'll be in top condition for tonight."

"He better be," Takeshi said. "I have a feeling that despite what Shigeru thinks, we are going to be lucky to get out of the fortress, with or without Ash."

"Ash? Oh, you mean Satoshi," I smiled. "I keep forgetting you met him."

"He's a good kid," Takeshi said, absently sharpening his katana blade. "I'd hate to leave him in the hands of the poison clan."

"And I'd hate to return to the fire-clan without the Pikachu," I said, getting my own blade out. Takeshi just sniffs, for some reason I get the feeling he doesn't really like the Pikachu.

The door to our hotel banged open, Shigeru stormed past us stony faced, went into his room and slammed the door.

"Um, hi . . . " I let that trail off and shared a concerned glance with Takeshi. Something must be seriously wrong.

Kasumi enters, also looking grim.

"What's the matter?" Takeshi and I ask simultaneously.

"Shigeru didn't tell you?"

We shook our heads.

"There are messengers in the street . . . " She sighed sitting down in a seat. "Apparently a boy and a Pikachu ran away from the Poison-clan last night."

"Ash . . . ," Takeshi whistled. "I shouldn't have put anything past those two."

"But surely that's a good thing?" I said. "We at least know the poison clan doesn't have them."

"But they could be anywhere. And everyone's looking for them. The streets of Viridian are thick with poison clan members. We haven't a chance of finding them." She snorts, "And our fearless leader is sulking because now we don't get to attack the fortress and hacked into tiny little bits like he wanted and . . . "

"Excuse me?"

Kasumi snorted. I was only vaguely aware of that . . . and the fact that I had risen to my feet without any prompting of my mind. She was . . . it's . . .

"Can we help you?" Takeshi asks with a readiness that makes me jealous.

"I hope so," she smiled like there was some sort of joke going on here that nobody except her could see. "You see I'm looking for a friend of mine. Shigeru-san . . . I was told to come here?"

Kasumi's scowl deepened as Takeshi practically fell over himself, bowing and ushering her through to Shigeru's room. I was scowling to . . . but for a different reason.

"I wonder what she wants with Shigeru?" I said out loud.

"Probably wants to seduce him so she can wind up Lady of the fire-clan estate," Kasumi muttered. "Upper-class women make me sick. Don't you think so?"

"Mmhmm," I agreed, wishing that I was the one about to be seduced.

"Ten to one he doesn't let her in the room," Kasumi smirked but her smile was wiped away as Takeshi returned alone.

"Didn't he snap or yell or anything?"

"Hmm? Who?" Takeshi said vaguely. He was smiling rather wistfully.

"Shigeru!" Kasumi was furious. "What did he say?"

"Oh. He said he couldn't be bothered now and to go away," Takeshi sighed. "And then she smiled at me and said she'd take it from here."

"Ooh, that does it," Kasumi stalked down to the corridor. "I want to know what she's up to."

I hurried after her. "What are you going to do, Kasumi?"

She flashed me an evil grin. "Oh nothing. Just listen in."

Part Six B. Shigeru:

If it wasn't unmannerly to cry I would be bawling my eyes out. Muttering "Tears do not become the warrior. Tears do not become the warrior," I stared out of the window onto the raked gravel and scrub that passed for a garden. Satoshi and the Pikachu . . . where were they now? Despite everything I'd told him, I knew he was good with Pokémon. I somehow knew the two of them would be together, but where? I'm so afraid for him. Satoshi . . . I don't think he fully understands what danger he's in, that the poison-clan is out there looking for him, that they will stop at nothing to have the Pikachu . . . "Go away," I call as someone knocks on my door.

"But Shigeru . . . there's a very pretty girl here to see you."

"Take a hike, Takeshi," I yell back. "And take the girl too. I'm not interested." I frown out the window. If only people's leave me alone to think, to decide what to do about this. Better yet if my grandfather could tell me what to do. I heard a soft voice murmur something and then the screen slides open and then shut. I heard the rustle of silk and smelt expensive perfume. I didn't look away from the window.

"I'm not interested in an offer of marriage," I told her bluntly.

She giggled. Something about the sound caught my attention. "Neither am I, Shigeru-san."

I turned to look at her but she dips her parasol to hide her face from view.

"What do you want from me?" I ask.

"Oh, so suspicious? Who said I wanted anything from you, Shigeru? As a matter of fact, I think I have something that you want." Her voice was so familiar and yet different . . . I struggled to remember where I'd heard it before.

"Oh really?" I eyed her sceptically, or as much of her as showing behind that parasol. "You're not bad-looking," I admitted. "But I've got more important things to think about."

"Really? More important than the Pikachu?"

"What?" I was on my feet and across the room immediately. "You know where Satoshi is?"

"Him too? Yes, I can tell you where both of them are."

"Then tell me," I demand, seizing her hands. "Tell me at once!"

"My my," she scolded. "Using a woman in such a way. What will Ookido-daimyo say?"

"Tell me."

"Only if you say you're sorry."

I gritted my teeth. "I'm sorry, satisfied?"

"Really, really sorry?"

"Who are you?" I choked out, through my rage. I've never taken teasing well.

She laughs and doesn't answer. Instead she drops her parasol and looks at me.

I, well, gasped.

"Sato-chan?"

"Hai . . . " His grin was unchanged. He was still the same . . . well apart from the fact he's dressed like a girl . . . I'm sure that will make an interesting story later. For now . . . I folded my arms. "Couldn't you have just said who you are?"

"What? And miss teasing you?" he laughed at me.

"No, I guess that was too much to ask of you," I said sarcastically.

He smiled at me. "Hell, I've missed you Geru-chan."

"And me you," I tell him, watching with interest as he takes off the wig he's wearing. "You've cut your hair."

"Matisse-san insisted."

"Matisse?"

He frowned. "Later."

"Okay. Now, didn't you say something about a Pikachu . . . ?"

He nods, and a second later I'm presented with the electric rodent.

"This yellow rat is the source of all that trouble?" I ask in disbelief. Dislike gathers in the Pikachu's eyes.

"Careful, Geru-chan. Pikachu's kind of touchy . . ." Satoshi warned me.

"Aw, this little thing? What's it going to do, bite?" I said, patting it on the head.

"Pi-ka-CHUUUUUUUU!"

Next thing I know Satoshi is helping me onto the bed. "Pikachu can do a lot more than bite . . . are you okay, Geru-chan?"

"I will be. At least I think I will be," I muttered. "I'm beginning to see how you two got past all those poison clan members."

"Geru-chan," Satoshi sat down on the end of the bed, the Pikachu in his lap. "We have to get Pikachu out of here. Hanaka-san is looking for us and he might have figured out that we'd come to you . . ."

"Hai. We need to get the both of you safely back to my grandfather's stronghold."

I frown. "Just how did you get out anyway?"

Satoshi gives me the whole story. Although much of it defies belief, I only have to look at his face to know he's serious. I have more to worry about than the improbability of a talking Meowth or the unsettling Natsume . . . "So the ice-clan has been playing a double game?" I said slowly. "This causes problems. Takeshi . . ."

"But Takeshi'd never . . . !" Satoshi protests immediately. I know it will be no use arguing with him the fact that he has only met Takeshi for so many days and really know nothing at all about him.

"However we can't be sure of that," I told him firmly. "I think it's best if your real identity rests between us."

"I . . ." Satoshi looked at me and sulked. "I don't want to be a girl!"

"Tough," I told him, beginning to snicker. "You have no choice."

I suppose the long ingrained habit of obeying me was still too strong. Grumbling he pulled the wig back on. "Just so long as I don't have to greet your grandfather in this, ne? Ne Shigeru? Geru-chan?"

I let him squirm a little, than gave in. "Oh, all right." Actually I was reminded of just how much I had to make up to him for.

"Well that's something to be grateful for . . . " he muttered. Pikachu jumped up onto his shoulder and chittered something that made him smile.

"You like that rat, don't you?" I said, frowning.

"Hai," he looked at his feet.

"Sato-chan . . . You're not a samurai . . ."

"I know! But . . . he wants me, Geru-chan. And I want him."

I sighed. "I'll let my grandfather decide . . . but you know, after you went?" He nodded slowly. "He was so worried about you he said he wished he'd taught you to fight."

"He did?" Satoshi just gaped at me.

"Hai, more than that, even, he thought you'd be good at it. The way you protected the Pokémon . . . " I abandoned all pride and dropped to my knees.

"Geru-chan . . . " Satoshi murmured unhappily as I knelt before him in the gesture only used for greeting Lord's. It was humbling but the only way I could think of to express all the regret I felt.

"I'm so sorry, Satoshi. I was so cold to you and you didn't deserve it and then you were gone and we couldn't find you . . . "

"Aw, Geru-chan," Satoshi kneels down and pushes me back onto my feet. "You don't have to do this for me. I'm a no-one . . ."

"No you're not! You're my friend . . . and a good one. Now don't argue with me. We have to decide how we're going to convince Granddad to adopt you."

"Adopt me?"

"How else are we going to make you a samurai? You need a clan," I told him, standing up.

Satoshi remains on the floor, the Pikachu watching him anxiously.

"Pikachu?"

"Aw, Geru-chan . . . ."

I sighed exaggeratedly. "Gods . . . You're not crying are you? Maybe we should see if Ookido-san would like another granddaughter instead . . . "

"Shigeru!"

He swatted me with the parasol. I laughed and throw the pillow at him. One thing led to another and the Pikachu ducked under the bed as I lost the tension of the last few days wrestling with Satoshi.

"Still ticklish, Geru-chan?" Satoshi asked, pouncing on me and pinning me to the bed.

"Don't! Stop! Help!" I struggled to get away from him.

"Aw, don't be such baby . . . ."

"I'm not the one who's like a baby! You'd cry if a Jigglypuff walked up to you."

He laughed. "Well I'm not the one who's too stuck up to have any fun."

I gave him a sour look. "It's no wonder you look so good in that wig. You're practically a girl anyway."

He stuck his tongue out at me. "You certainly seemed to think so before." He hopped off me and laughed, quoting me. "You're not bad-looking . . ."

"Shut up, Sato-chan."

"I wonder what Ookido-san would think if I told him his grandson hits on guys . . ."

"Satoshi! You are not going to tell my grandfather . . ." I tried to hit him with the parasol but he ducked out of reach.

"Get back here," I pursued him and he dodged out the door. Suddenly I was surrounded. I blinked as Hiroshi and Takeshi, both with resolute looks on their faces blocked my access to Satoshi.

"Shigeru-san, you should be ashamed. A samurai should never try to hurt a woman," Hiroshi said.

"Ahem?" coughed Kasumi.

"A defenceless woman," he amended.

"He didn't frighten you, did he miss?" Takeshi asks Satoshi anxiously.

"Oh, no, not at all. Thank-you," Satoshi gave me an evil grin from behind their backs. I growled as I realised the next few days were going to be very trying.

"So," said Kasumi scowling and I realised I had an ally in my misery. "What does SHE want?"

"Be polite," Hiroshi scolded her.

I coughed. "Well," I said once I had everyone's attention. Then paused. I hadn't actually thought this far. "We're going to escort her back to the fire-clan."

"What?" Kasumi shrieked. "Have you forgotten your mission?"

I stared at her coolly. "An Ookido never forgets a mission. Actually she's done us a great service . . ."

"Pikachu?"

The Pikachu wandered out of my room, looking for Satoshi. Finding him he jumped up into his arms.

"Is that . . ."

"It's the Pikachu?"

Takeshi stared at the little yellow rodent with amazement. "Hai. It's THE Pikachu."

"I thought you said that thing was attached to Satoshi . . ." Kasumi muttered.

"Isn't it obvious what's happened?" Takeshi sighed, this incredibly foolish look coming over his face. "Her beauty has enchanted this savage creature . . . "

I choked and stared at my feet. I knew if I looked at Satoshi I wouldn't be able to keep from laughing. There was a muffled cough, Sato-chan was having similar problems.

"More like her potions. Haven't you seen the Muk outside? She's obviously a member of the poison-clan!" Kasumi insisted.

"Muk?" I said, looking at Satoshi.

"It's mine," he admitted. "You interrupted me before I could tell you about it."

"Oh," I said.

"You can't trust the poison clan! They can drug you and do anything to you . . ."

"I think it's time we let . . . uh, this extremely attractive young woman have her say, hmm?" Takeshi was definitely fooled by the disguise.

"Of course," Hiroshi agreed.

"Thank-you," Satoshi murmurs. "But your friend is right not to trust me. You don't know anything about me!"

I blinked. What was Satoshi doing?

"We know you're a friend of Shigeru's," Hiroshi said, stoutly. "That's enough for us."

"But you do have a point," I decided to make this a little harder for dear Sato-chan. "Why don't you tell them about yourself?"

Satoshi looked like he'd rather kill me but smiled sweetly. "Hai . . ." he looked down at Pikachu for inspiration. "Uh . . . My father's a Poison-clan trainer. He, uh, wants me to marry this old trainer who's really mean and, uh, smells bad but I decided to run away instead. I took the Pikachu with me because I heard the Fire-clan were looking for it and I was hoping that dear Shigeru-san would take me to his grandfather so I could try and convince him to protect me from my kinsfolk in return for the Pikachu."

"What happened to Satoshi?" Kasumi demanded.

"Oh, Satoshi and I escaped together. Since the guards were looking for him and Pikachu together he gave me the Pikachu, told it to obey me then took off for Viridian forest. He'll try and get to the Fire-clan hold on his own."

I'm surprised. Satoshi has actually managed to put together a half-way decent story. Too bad Kasumi was still looking suspicious . . . but Takeshi and Hiroshi were definitely fooled.

"How come . . . " Kasumi started but Hiroshi elbowed her.

"Since we'll be travelling together, Shigeru-san, why don't you introduce everybody?"

"Wait! We haven't discussed whether or not we're even taking her . . . " Kasumi protested.

"Nothing to discuss," I replied firmly. "She comes with us." This got me curious stares from Hiroshi and Kasumi both . . . Takeshi was still too dazed to realise I'd said that with much more than the usual amount of sharpness. I gesture to them. "Kasumi-san, water-trainer 1st rank, Hiroshi-san, insect-trainer, apprentice-rank, Takeshi-san, rock-trainer, second in command."

Satoshi bows to them all. "I'm pleased to meet you."

"S-uh, Akeiko and Pikachu. Oh and Muk too I guess."

"Akeiko . . . what a beautiful name . . . " Takeshi is off on another planet.

"Rrrrrr." Onix observes sadly from the next room.

I'm amazed at the amount of self-control Satoshi has. So far he has managed to keep himself from laughing . . . which was almost more than I could do myself. Travelling like this is going to put us all under a lot of stress . . . "Now that that's taken care of," I said, assuming the dictatorial tone Ookido-san assumes when he just wants things done. "Let's pack. We're leaving for home tonight."

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