Chapter 2: Arrival

This boy was going to be the end of him, at least send him into another few sake binges. Kenshin had barely spoken throughout the travel back to Blackthorn City and seemed to quiver in fear at the sight of any Pokémon larger than a Houndour. Hiko didn't even consider bringing out any of his dragon Pokémon for fear of the boy's reaction.

At diner in the Goldenrod City Pokémon Center, he ordered some beef stew and some fresh sake. He noticed the boy smile a little bit when the waitress gave him a cold glass of MooMoo Milk and couldn't help grinning himself. Who knew anything besides a jug of sake could make the man smile?

"Oi, Kenshin, eat up. You want to have time to settle in to your new home, don't you?"

Kenshin started on the broth, but he didn't touch the meat or vegetables. When Hiko questioned him about this, the boy said he just didn't feel well. Hiko shrugged, assuming the boy was just tired from the journey. He ordered some rice balls to go in case Kenshin got hungry later and left a hefty tip as thanks for the waitress for getting the boy to smile.

"Kenshin, I pulled out your futon and you can wear one of my shirts tonight. Tomorrow I'll pick up your old clothes from postage; Officer Jenny sent them by Fearow Express."

As Kenshin went into his room to change, Hiko noticed the boy's physique wasn't quite normal. He seemed more pale than usual and his steps were tentative, as if he were about to collapse. He would have to keep an eye on the boy tonight; he knew the travel from Viridian City to Saphron City with little to no sleep would be hard on the boy, but he would have let the boy ride on Hina if he wasn't so jumpy around large Pokémon.

At least he slept well enough on the train, but the travel to Blackthorn City was just as harsh due to the winter coming in and the trouble from Rockets at Goldenrod. Hiko's thoughts were interrupted when he heard a thump and glanced over to see his ward collapsed on the floor.

"Kenshin!" Hiko quickly rose and approached the young boy, gathering the slight frame in his arms and took note of his body temperature. He cursed himself for not considering the young boy's vulnerability to illness in the ruthless winter temperatures.

Hiko clumsily went through the motions of preparing the boy for bed, removing the boy's damp clothes that were soaked with snow and sweat and dressing him in an oversized shirt. After he put Kenshin in the extra futon and covered him up with all the spare blankets he owned, Hiko tried to make a meager fire. He was quick to admit he was helpless without his Pokemon; he usually used Fudo, his Charizard, to light fires.

After almost a half hour of struggling with twigs and kindling, Hiko managed to start a small fire and set a kettle of water over it to boil. He trotted outside to get more wood only to discover his wood pile had been vandalized again.

He didn't blame the villagers, Dragon Pokémon were common in the area and they seemed to have such an effect on people that the men of the household seemed to spontaneously leave the area to become "Pokémon Masters", leaving women and often young children behind to fend for themselves with little more than small shipments of money every few months. Gosh, he hoped Kenshin didn't turn out like that. He wouldn't raise someone to be so selfish.

Pokémon Master was nothing more than a useless title that didn't do anything to define a person. He would teach Kenshin that it wasn't fame or status that mattered, but what you did with your life and your Pokémon. But there wasn't anything more rotten than those Rockets, always trying to steal other trainer's possessions and often targeting Blackthorn for their rare dragon Pokémon.

Ending with that thought, he fished out a Pokéball from a pocket of his cloak and released his Dragonair. "Hina, keep an eye on Kenshin while I get some more firewood. Keep in mind he's still a bit jumpy and he's running a fever. Come get me if you need to."

The large Dragon Pokémon nodded and made herself comfortable near the burning fire. She glanced over at the boy who was sleeping peacefully for the moment. Hina yawned and let out a low tune before resting her head on one of her coils. She thought about Raidon and knew it was hurting Hiko more than her that he was gone, but she missed him terribly. He hadn't always been so violent…

Hina's thoughts were interrupted by soft moans coming from the nearby futon. She floated over to the young boy warily, remembering Hiko's warnings. But she was never one to mind him, not since he hatched her as a Dratini. Even at a young age she was defiant, but also loyal and compassionate.

She ran the tip of her tail over the sleeping boy's forehead and took note of his high temperature. The contact with the Dragonair's smooth scales seemed to calm the boy so she continued to stroke his forehead gently. She continued to do so until the boy opened his eyes and gave a frightened yelp.

"You…you're the Dragonair…Hina?" Kenshin trembled, partly from fear and partly from fever. The Dragonair let out a soft note and floated right above the boy before licking his forehead. He cringed a little at first, but then giggled and lifted a weak hand and placed it on the Pokémon's scaly nose.

"You're awfully cold." Kenshin grinned, letting his hand rest on Hina's cool scales. The Dragon Pokémon blinked and pressed her head against Kenshin's hand, encouraging him to pet her more. He was tentative at first; he hadn't ever seen a Dragon type before Hiko started coming to the shop and he'd always been too shy to ask if he could pet one. But soon enough he became comfortable with the Dragonair's cool scales. They reminded him of an Arbok that once came in. He got to pet that one extensively.

Soon enough, the boy was resting his head on one of the coils of Hina's long body as the Dragonair let out a series of soothing notes, meant to calm the boy. She could feel the heat from his forehead and neck on her side, but she didn't mind. She only became concerned when the boy started coughing violently and she wondered if she should go get Hiko. She didn't have to, however, because the man was just coming through the door.