Good-bye.
The sun shone extra brightly on our two little heroes. Keji Fujikiro, who, though happy, is still in quite a bit of pain after his nasty fall in the woods. Our perky new Pokémon trainer carried his first Pokémon, Oddish, on his shoulders as they went... back to Cerulean City?! Oh, Keji needs supplies; Pokéballs, a Pokédex, food, clothes, and, most importantly, his Pokémon trainer's license, so after a good night's sleep, they set off for the big city... again.
The city seemed busier than usual, with hundreds of people walking in and out of shops in the market place, no one offered any mind to Keji and his Oddish as they fought against the flow of busy shoppers. Keji brushed his way past a group of teenagers as he made way for the Pokémart (the one stop Pokémon shop), where he could purchase his Pokéballs and Pokédex. Then it would be off to the Pokécenter for his Pokémon trainer license.
"Keji?!" A familiar voice chimed from behind him, followed by a familiar friend barreling into him, knocking Oddish to the ground, squeeling in enjoyment of the unexpected ride, and rolling to the side.
"Kento?" Keji said, gasping for air, pushing the bulky teen away so he could breath.
"Yeah pal! I thought I'd never see you again!" He helped him up, "Miss Littlum said you were probably killed in the forest."
"Almost..." Keji said, looking away, smiling.
"Well, by the look of your clothes, I'd say you've seen better days, eh?" Kento said. Keji looked down to his clothes, and laughed.
"I had some trouble coming home." Keji responded, rubbing his sore leg as he walked, followed by his friend, "Oh I almost forgot." he stopped, turned around, picked up Oddish, who was tapping its foot impatiently, and put him on his shoulders.
"What's that?!" Kento said, stepping back.
"It's my first Pokémon, pal," Keji said, beaming with pride, "this is Oddish, a plant Pokémon."
"I can see that." Kento said, as he reached for the leaves on Oddish's head. Oddish bent his head towards him, anticipating his move. Kento gently, and shakily, felt the leaves.
"Wow..." he said, taken aback, "I thought you said you were done with Pokémon."
"I was," Keji said, patting Oddish on the head, "but this little guy sorta fell in my lap."
"Odd!" Oddish replied happily.
"Really?" Kento said, obviously impressed.
"Yep, I only came back to get some supplies for my trip." Keji said, starting to walk again.
"Oh." Kento said, disappointed, "So you're leaving again."
"I'm afraid so." Keji said, apologetically, "sorry, pal."
"I know, you can't stay here forever, I only wish I could go with 'ya." Kento said, following him.
"Oh well, to each their own." Keji said, seriously. The two walked in silence for the rest of the trip to the Pokémart, arriving only minutes later. The Pokémart was a giant building, which seemed void of all activity, unlike all other shops in the area. Keji wondered why there were no people in the mart, it was usually packed (at least, when he lived in awe of the trainers it was.)
If it were possible, the inside was larger than the outside! The store carried everything from Pokémon accessories (like potions to heal the Pokémon, increase their sight and accuracy, strength, speed, stamina, defense, and about any other thing you could imagine.) to Pokémon clothes and fashion items. Keji noticed Kento was looking a bit ill at ease.
"Sorry, Kento, you don't have to be here you know." Keji said, beginning to fill a paper bag with items he would need.
"Well, I wanna spend your last few hours in Cerulean with you." Kento said, smiling, and patting Oddish on the head. Oddish bounced happily and lightly on Keji's shoulders. Keji found six Pokéballs (at a cheap price, due to lack of sales), and a Pokédex (that would hurt his wallet, but he could afford it.) He took his items to the front desk, and found himself the only person in line.
"Why aren't there any people here?" Keji asked as he began to unload his inventory on the counter.
"No one wants to train Pokémon anymore," The clerk said, happy to be getting some business, "that darn team rocket has gotten worse and worse, despite the police's attempts to stop 'em."
"That sucks." Kento said, leaning up against the table, waiting for a price.
"Twenty five hundred yen, please." The clerk said, holding out his hand, expectantly.
"Is that all?" Keji said, astonished.
"Yeah, I can't sell for much these days, no one'll buy." He gladly took the money, and placed it lovingly in the register.
"Well, that's fine by me, I don't have much anyway." Keji said, waving as he left the store.
"Good luck rookie!" The clerk said, waving back. Keji sighed.
"Is it that obvious?" He asked no one in particular again.
"Who were you talking to?" Kento asked, curiously.
"No one in particular." Keji replied. Kento shrugged, not understanding what his friend was talking about.
"Where to next?" Kento asked, looking at the multitudes of people swarming the streets.
"The Pokémon Center," Keji said, "they can fill out a Pokémon license for me."
"Then..." Kento began, and choked on his words.
"Yeah..." Keji replied in the same manner. Neither spoke during the trip to the Pokémon center. They knew each other's feelings, and nothing needed to be said. The watched all of the people, the cars, the arguments, they laughed at a man that nearly fell down a man hole because he was flirting with a lady. They saw a couple get into a fight, and even watched part of a brawl on the street. Before the two knew it, though, they were at the Pokémon center.
"Well?" Kento said, waving.
"Come on in." Keji pleaded, "It's a couple more minutes, anyway." Oddish yawned, and leaned on Keji's head.
"Well..." Kento thought for a moment. He had little appreciation for Pokémon, but he loved Keji, so... "ok."
The Pokémon center hadn't changed since Keji was there last, and there were even a few more trainers here now than there were then. Keji loved the smell of the Pokémon center, and felt at home here now.
"You again!" Nurse Joy said, happily. "You were great when you last came here, the way you told that lady... oh, the Oddish!" She exclaimed.
"Yeah, could you finishing healing Oddish, please, he seems to have slipped away from you." Keji said, smiling.
"So he has." Nurse Joy said, perkily. She lifted Oddish gently off of Keji's shoulders without even waking him. Keji smiled and took a seat on the familiar old couch, Kento followed him to the couch. The two sat in silence, thinking about their pasts together, the good times, the bad times (most of the late involved Miss Littlum in some way).
"I'm gonna Miss you pal." Kento blurted, staring out the window at the people passing the center.
"I'll miss you too, we haven't been apart for seven years, have we?" Keji said, smiling, "I'm sorry." Keji said.
"It's cool, man," Kento said, smiling, "you've gotta follow your dreams." Kento leaned back, and Keji nodded. The two continued to think until nurse Joy brought Oddish back.
"Nurse Joy?" Keji piped in when Oddish was brought back. Oddish smiled, and bounded into Keji waiting arms. Keji placed him on his shoulders again, where Oddish plopped down.
"Oddish!" It said, happily.
"Yes sir?" Joy said, smiling perkily.
"I would like to purchase my Pokémon license, ma'am." Keji said, he began to shake with anticipation, at the thought of realizing his dream.
"Excellent!" Joy exclaimed, clapping her hands together, she stepped behind a door, and quickly returned with a Polaroid camera, "Smile!" before Keji could respond, Joy pushed the button, enveloping Keji in a bright light, "now, sign here" She handed him a small card, which he couldn't even read yet, due to the light.
"Ummmm... Ok." Keji said, as he squinted, and signed on what looked like the dotted line.
"Great!" She ran behind the door again, and returned a moment later with a fully laminated license, "fifteen hundred yen please." Keji looked at the license for a while, in awe of what it stood for. He slowly dug out 1500 yen, and handed it to the happy, pink haired lady.
"Thank you, Keji!" She said, putting the money in a small metal box. Keji and Kento stood in silence, looking at the license, and after a moment, they both opened up and laughed at the dorky picture of Keji. "I look like a Grimer!" Keji said. That was one of the Pokémon Kento had actually seen (from the one battle he watched of Misty's). Keji then imitated a Grimer, and Kento laughed.
"Odd?" Oddish said, questioningly, tilting it's head to the side. Keji and Kento looked at each other and laughed again.
"Thank you for being there for me, pal." Keji said.
"No problem, but you gotta do one thing for me, Mister High and mighty trainer man." Kento said, shaking his finger at Keji.
"What is that, sir?" Keji said, bowing deeply, almost causing Oddish to fall off of his perch.
"You've gotta come back and visit me when you're in the league." Kento said, smiling widely.
"No problem, I'll se ya tomorrow." Keji said, and the two laughed heartily, with Oddish joining the laughter this time. Kento extended his hand, and Keji clasped it firmly.
"Just wait, I'll be able to say I knew you before you get first place in the Pokémon League." Kento said, still holding Keji's hand.
"Bite your tongue." Keji said, smiling, "I'll never be that good." He let go. "Well, if I don't leave now, I may never leave." Keji said, smiling weakly at his long time friend. Oddish began to cry, followed by a tear from Keji.
"I'll really miss you." Keji said, wiping a tear from his face, Kento followed with a tear of his own.
"Now look what you did, weed head." He said to Oddish, "don't you get mushy on me..." he stopped in mid sentence. Keji saluted after a moment, and simply walked out of the center. Kento stood in place for a moment, staring out the window as Keji and Oddish got smaller and smaller.
"Good-bye." Kento said, waving out the window, knowing full well Keji wouldn't see it.
Keji didn't see it, but he felt it. He also felt alone again. Oddish turned slightly and watched the Pokécenter slowly get smaller and smaller, as Keji walked out of Cerulean city.
Will you ever come back to your friend, Keji? Don't forget, friends may be gone, but never forgotten, and you always have weed head, I mean Oddish, to keep you company.
