Resting in the safety of Ten's forest, Flash leaned back against a large oak tree and closed his eyes, keeping his tears in his eyes and breathing tensely. He couldn't piece any of it together…
"I was so close," he whispered. "So close… To getting my revenge…" Ten leaned farther out on the branch he was using to spy on Flash on and listened intently.
Flash remained silent in thought for several more minutes before finally taking the note still grasped firmly in his paw and opening it. He nearly reeled, recognizing the smell of blood which was used for ink. Holding his breath so he wouldn't have to bear the horrendous stench, Flash read the note.
Flash thought he was right
Thought he had this done.
You were close but not quite
Which makes it more fun.
This is all my fun game
You see, you poor dope.
And if it's all one and the same
You don't have a hope.
I'm afraid to inform you,
You don't have very long.
I was someone you knew,
How can you get that wrong?
Flash's paws trembled and shoved the note in his shell for later use. It was someone he once knew… But there were hundreds of Squirtles he'd met in his life time, and the one that comes close to matching all the clues was One, which turned out to be wrong. What in the world did this all mean?
Ten had been reading over Flash's shoulder, so to speak, and as he saw a look of defeat pass over Flash's face, he alighted down in front of him gently. Flash nearly jumped out of his shell, on his feet in a heartbeat, ready to fight. Ten couldn't help but give him a half admirable, half amused, smile. He hadn't really realized, until that impulsive move, how alike they were sometimes.
"Ten, you scared the living daylights out of me," Flash muttered irritably. "Don't do that."
"Sorry," Ten apologized, curling up and resting his head in his forearms. "I couldn't help but take an interest in your problem." Flash peered at Ten unscrupulously.
"Were you spying on me?"
Ten smirked. "More or less."
Flash gave a disgusted, exasperated sign and leaned back again. He scowled miserably, "I see nothing interesting about it. My wife, your mother, died all to play a cruel mind game with me." Ten tilted his head slightly, as if speculating the thought.
"I'm sure there's more to it than that," he mused. "Nobody kills without reason. The very least would be a form of revenge." Flash just sighed, and closed his eyes. Just as he was to block out Ten from his mind's eye completely, Ten's voice cut into his thoughts. "I think I may have a clue to your riddle."
Flash opened his eyes and grumbled, "Unless you have the solution, it won't help." Although his eyes gleamed with hope and curiosity. Ten smiled kindly at his cover up and nodded.
"You've been looking at this all wrong," Ten pointed out. "Trust me, as her son; I know that there are more kinds of love than just lust. You have to look deeper." Flash froze, realizing that Ten was right. He had totally neglected the idea of a parental, or friend love. Ten continued. "And from the sound of things, it is most likely a child's love, erm, hate in this case. Especially considering the fact that he or she said "I was someone you knew". Flash shook his head.
"That could mean a friend too," he pointed out. Ten mused over that again before countering.
"True," he admitted, "but the keyword here is knew. If it were a friend, you'd still know him or her. And also speaking from experience, this time rebellion, kids are more prone to change in their parents' eyes than a friend to another friend. I see, in this note, a child who changed for the worse, and took revenge on you and, or, her for something far in the past." Flash stared at Ten.
"And you're just staying in this forest, why?"
Ten chuckled, "It's a little less hectic than solving a murder mystery." The two of them sat in silence a moment, until Flash's soft whisper cut the tense air that was building between the two men.
"I miss her," he said softly, flatly. "Why? I mean, asking why may sound cold hearted, but-
Ten's paw cut him off and he interjected, "You've been so wrapped up in trying to avenge her, that maybe it's just now occurring to you that…"
Ten trailed off as Flash's gaze seemed to rest on the skyline, and he muttered the last words to himself, "she'll never be back." Ten was silent. He missed his mother more than he let on, and more than he would ever let on. Her death was just another stumble in the path of life and the only thing to do is shake it off, recover, and move on. He had done this for many of the hardships in life but… For reasons he could not explain, it almost seemed impossible this time. He didn't even see Flash staring at him now.
"I guess I haven't really taken the time to think of the effect on others," he said slowly. He took Ten's paw and clasped it warmly. "I know you were never fond of your father, and therefore you needed your mother much more… But… With her gone, don't feel like you're alone… You're not. You've got me too." He tried to smile at Ten, but the smile was weak and looked a little forced.
Ten pulled his paw away a little, nudging him. "Go find the killer." Flash got up and began to walk to his next destination but cast a glance back at Ten. Ten looked at him bitterly, and added, "Don't try to get warm with me, Flash. I like you for respecting my mother and me, but I'll never have a father." And with that, he made two high bounds and disappeared into the boughs of the tree above. Flash shook his head and ran off.