Author's Comment: This is the final chapter for this story and... I'm sad... I've bonded with this story. But it's also opened the window for several other potential fics. But without further ado, time for review responses!
I'm ignoring that spam 'review'. Unfortunately, I don't know how to delete it... Onwards to someone who's actually important! :D
Yay, another (legit) review! Thanking you, Mudkipster! And goodie! Sokudo did his job of ruining any emotional moment! And yeah, the Shedinja is psycho, but at least it's trying to be loveable and that's what really matters, right? (tries to ignore the dead bodies littering the place with the Shedinja holding a gun to my head) As for having a name, maybe ;) . And no, he isn't an ordinary Shedinja, but I'm not gonna give too much away!
Chapter 7: Coming Together
"After all I've been through, going through hell and back, I can't believe I'm writing this, but... I guess having that zombie-ghost bug around isn't too bad... Wait, scratch that, I still prefer it not to be here, but I guess it's getting better after we had a nice long chat the other night. Yeah, we finally had that talk and it had only cost me my life (again, don't ask).
We've had a couple smaller talks afterwards, mostly some compromises. Like I managed to convince the Shedinja to let me go out on my own every so often and I also made it perfectly clear that I don't want it in my room without my permission. It took a while and the Shedinja obviously didn't like it, but it agreed... on one of its own conditions. Y'see, it wants to have what it calls 'Cuddle Sessions' at least twice a day... Ugh! I'm not the huggy-type at all and I tried to fast-talk my way out of it, but it said that it needs these cuddles, or it won't guarantee the safety of everyone around me... O_O
Well, at least it's honest...
So yeah, other than tiny little threats like that, everything's coming together. The Shedinja isn't hurting me anymore and is allowing me the freedom to enjoy being a Ninjask, I'm giving it its beloved attention (even if it's against my will), and we're both working out a daily routine. I just need to take care of a couple more things, then this whole arrangement will be as perfect as it'll get. In fact, I'm gonna take care of those things right now, before it gets too late in the day.
Peace out. :) "
Putting his pen down and closing the journal, Sokudo wastes little time in grabbing a long black cloth and leaving his room, searching for the husk. He still feels uncomfortable, but at least his fear has largely dissipated. Looking into the kitchen, he sees the Shedinja staring out the window before it catches sight of his movement. Turning to him, it purrs softly as the Ninjask flies closer, trying to keep its brother's unease at a minimum with the sound. And it seems to work as the Ninjask only tenses a little this time and doesn't even stutter.
"Hey, you gotta get a job." he tells it with no uncertain terms.
"Job?" the Shedinja replies, obviously confused as to what he means by this.
"Yeah, as in you work for pay. If you're gonna be staying in my house, you have to pull your own weight." Sokudo crosses his arms, trying to look firm. "So we're gonna get you registered to be a Rogue, like me."
"What's a Rogue?"
"We're like a Rescue team, in that we receive requests and missions and whatnot, and we do 'em for points and cash and stuff. Except, unlike the Rescuers, we're..." He tries to find a good way to explain it without making it sound too bad, just in case the Shedinja will object, however unlikely that would be. "... a bit more hazy on what's legal or not. Gunpowder puts it like 'we're stealing from the rich to give to the poor', or some shit like that."
"So we're criminals." Its voice holds no emotion in saying that and the Ninjask isn't sure if the ghost is on board with this or not.
"If that's how you choose to see it," Sokudo shrugs, his demeanor noticeably getting much more at ease the longer he speaks to it. "Then yeah. But it's all petty crimes, nothing big like murder or anything." His words then reduce themselves into a grumble. "Not like that'd bother you..." It is clear he hasn't completely gotten over what happened that dreadful night, nor does he plan to ever get over it. Still...
The Shedinja is silent, just staring at him as it thinks this over to itself. True to what Sokudo said under his breath, it isn't bothered with the prospect of hurting others as the only one that matters is its brother. And really the only point it can truly focus on is- "If I do this, does it mean I get to spend more time with you?"
At this, Sokudo takes a breath, holds it, then lets it out in a sigh. "Yeah... Unless you wanna go solo, you're going to be my partner."
"I will join then." the Shedinja chirrups to him eagerly, already heading for the door when Sokudo appears in front of it.
"Before we go," he states in an emphasizing tone, holding up the black scarf. "We have one more thing to take care of." He tries to fly behind the Shedinja, only for it to turn to face him as quickly as it can. Blinking, Sokudo tries again, only for the Shedinja to once more turn to him. He makes several more attempts, flying about in dizzying circles, before the floating husk speaks up worriedly.
"Brother, what're you doing?"
"I'm trying to stuff this into that hole of yours, but you keep moving!" Sokudo responds irritably. "I'm not gonna be responsible for any deaths you cause along the way."
"You can't," it mutters softly. "I can't control it, brother. If you look behind me, you'll be killed."
"I wasn't going to look." Sokudo tells it as he tries again, the Shedinja foiling his approach once more. Sighing in frustration, he looks over the husk, then at the scarf, then at the husk again. "Alright, fine. I'll reach around you. Hold still."
Indeed, the Shedinja stays stationary as Sokudo flies closer. Reaching around it, he feels very uncomfortable being this close to it and its pleasured purrs certainly didn't help. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he feels around the shell's back before he finds the soul-sucking hole. The black mist emerging from there twines gently around his claw, sending a chilling jolt up his arm, and he almost pulls away when he recalls that same chill being wrapped around his throat. But he holds firm and stuffs the scarf firmly in there.
The Shedinja flinches and whimpers as he did so, its black mist forced to remain in its body as Sokudo pulls away. "It's... The pressure... Too much... It hurts, brother."
"You'll get used to it," Sokudo tells it dismissively before heading for the door. "Now come on. I prefer to be there early since that stupid Ninetails always takes forever with his friggin' paperwork."
The Shedinja stays where it is for a few seconds, shuddering as it struggles to contain itself, before following after its brother as best it could with its discomfort.
"Can't you go any faster?" Sokudo hisses impatiently as he hovers in front of the door of the Registration building, glaring at his shed as it tries to hurry over. Without waiting for it to catch up, he turns to the door and raises a claw to knock when the door swings open, startling him. Standing there is a pale Ninetails with course fur, big piercing eyes that looks slightly crazed, and ink-tipped tails.
"Hello!" the fox greets in an obnoxiously cheerful voice.
"Dammit, Callahan! Will you stop giving everyone heart attacks?!" Sokudo growls as he calms down from his startled state. Hearing the Ninjask's voice and catching his scent, the Ninetails' ears perks in recognition and the grin on his face spreads.
"Ah, you must be Sokudo! I remember you!" Callahan chirps as he looks the bug over. "My goodness, how you've grown! No doubt you're capable of twice the destruction that you were as a little Nincada!" The Fire-type's huge eyes looks about as if searching for something. "Now where's your new brother- Oh! There he is!"
Indeed, the Shedinja finally catches up, still whimpering with great discomfort. But seeing Callahan, it instinctively snarls in defense of its brother, although the threat falls on deaf ears as the Ninetails holds the door wider for them, his voice still cheerful.
"I'm sure you both have plenty to tell! Come in! Come in!"
Sokudo rolls his eyes and flies inside, followed by the Shedinja, who makes sure to keep a safe distance as it floats passed the mangy Pokémon. Sokudo landing on the chair by the desk, he glances up as the Shedinja whispers softly to him.
"I don't like him, brother," the husk growls with its voice slightly strained from the pain it's still enduring, ignoring its brother's comment of "Join the club..." as it continues. "He can hurt us..."
"Cool it," the Ninjask mutters in as much of a reassuring tone as he's willing to provide. "He's insane, but harmless."
"So why don't we get things started!" Callahan starts, prancing by them to sit on the other side of the desk. Going through the files until he finds Sokudo's team papers, he pulls them out and sorts through them. Dipping one of his tails into a bottle of ink, he beams up at the two as he poises the tail ready to write. "Let's start in registering the newest member, shall we? I've always held an interest in your unique evolutionary line, but it's rare that a team actually has a Nincada as a member, much less a Ninjask. We do have several Shedinja members though." He tilts his head as he examines the ghost. "But I must admit, I've never seen a Shedinja with black mist coming out of it, how odd!"
At this, Sokudo looks towards his shed to see the black mist seeping from its eyes, giving it some relief from the pressure within, but it is obviously still in pain. Pain that it's not going to tolerate any longer. It hisses a bit in frustration, before one of the escaping tendrils reaches around it and yanks the cloth out, the rest of the mist flowing out without hesitation.
"Hey! I told you to leave it on!" the Ninjask reprimands.
"I know..." the Shedinja purrs with relief, not particularly caring of its brother discontent regarding its actions. Shaking his head, Sokudo crosses his arms as the Ninetails begins with the process.
"Alright, lad. How about sharing your name?"
"Name...?" the Shedinja asks.
"Ah, so this is your first time in this world and are without a name!" Callahan states matter-of-factly. "Surely, your brother has given you one!"
Hearing this, the Shedinja looks to its brother, its voice curious. "What's your name, brother?"
The Ninjask is a bit hesitant; all this time, he never shared his name with the husk, mostly out of spite. But now that everything's worked out, he reluctantly has to admit that he has no reason to withhold it any longer. Still, his answer comes out as a reluctant grumble. "Sokudo."
The shed seems satisfied as it turns to Callahan. "Then my name's Sokudo too."
"That's not how it works, jackass." Sokudo hisses at it indignantly, the Ninetails across from them unable to keep a small chuckle from escaping his throat. "You need your own name. Besides, mine means 'speed' and that's the last thing you have." Seeing it stare at him expectantly, he sighs before thinking to himself. He's never named another Pokémon before. "We need a good name for you, one that describes you perfectly... How about..." He looks to the Shedinja. "Kowai? ... Your name is Kowai now."
"Kowai..." the Shedinja whispers to itself, running the word through its head repeatedly. "Kowai... What does that one mean?"
"It's a Japanese word for scary, creepy." Callahan states before his grin grows wider across his muzzle. "Indeed, a very fitting name for a Ghost-type like yourself."
"What the hell is a 'Japanese'?!" Sokudo growls irritably, as it isn't the first time the Ninetails used such strange foreign words, like 'French' and 'Canada' and 'Christopher Walken'. But like always, he gets no answer as the fox writes Kowai's new name onto the paper before carrying on.
"Gender?"
"I don't have one." the Shedinja informs him tonelessly.
"Yes, but plenty of genderless Pokémon prefer to be called one or the other." the Fire-type tells it. "Which would you like?"
Kowai makes no response, just staring at Callahan silently before Sokudo speaks up.
"I just call it an 'it', so just go along and whatever..." The Ninjask gives a dismissive wave of his claw and Callahan flicks his ear before giving in and writing it down. Then his grin returns as his enthusiasm builds up.
"Now my favorite part! Please, tell me about yourself, young Shedinja. And please, make it entertaining. I don't get paid to do this job, you know!"
"I'm a spirit in an empty shell whose purpose is to love and protect my brother." Kowai again says in a toneless voice. Allowing a small chuckle from his mouth, Callahan waves his paw.
"Yes, yes, but I'm much more interested in your pre-mortal existence in the Spirit World. Do tell!" the canine encourages eagerly.
Almost immediately, Kowai freezes with great reluctance. It looks towards its brother before thinking things over very thoroughly. And then, it gives a soft whisper where both Sokudo and Callahan had to strain their hearing to catch. "I don't wish to share that..."
"Why not?" Callahan asks in a teasing tone. "It's confidential if you wish."
Again, Kowai gives a quick glance to its brother before continuing in its almost-incoherent mutter. "No... I... I don't want my brother thinking any differently of me..."
"How can I think differently of you?" Sokudo asks pointedly. "I already think you're creepy as hell, so how can it get worse?"
"You might abandon me..."
"Are we still on that?!" Sokudo exclaims in disbelief, rolling his eyes in blatant frustration. "Look, I already promised not to run away so long as you don't hurt me. I'll admit to being an asshole, but I don't break my promises. Nothing you say is going to change that."
Silence takes place between the trio before Kowai finally speaks, forcing out its words with surprising effort. "Brother... What... what do you think of... Spiritombs...?"
"Uh..." Sokudo blinks at this random question. "I don't really get what that has to do with anyth-"
"Please, just answer me, brother..."
"Well..." Sokudo only needs to think for a few seconds before shrugging. "They're evil fucks that I wouldn't really want to associate with."
"Exactly why I don't wish to say anything more." Kowai replies shakily before looking back to Callahan, speaking more firmly now. "I'm not sharing. Respect my wishes." Judging from the increase of the mist's flow, the Shedinja is very serious about this and the Ninetails decides not to push.
Sighing almost in disappointment, Callahan nods before filling out a few more sections on his own before sliding the papers towards Kowai. "Just give your signature there, and we'll be done with your registration." Looking at the paper, the husk glances at its brother, who nods his approval. Taking a pen in its ethereal grip, it signs along the dotted line before the multi-tailed fox takes the paper back and tucks the file in with its fellows. Turning to Sokudo, he slides another paper forward. "This is a sheet stating that you've evolved. Just sign along the bottom, if you may."
The Ninjask takes the pen from his shed before looking it over briefly. Giving his signature, he returns the file, narrowing his eyes irritably as Callahan smirks at him.
"Now, I know for a fact that you have quite a tale to tell. Gunpowder's been so kind as to share some details, but I would love to hear the whole thing firsthand." He laughs a bit, his piercing eyes sparking a bit. "Come now, I'm getting bored."
Not particularly inclined to share, but knowing that the registrar's unlikely to let them leave without giving him an interesting story or two, Sokudo sighs as he starts getting comfortable in his chair. Finally settling down after a bit, he speaks wearily, knowing they could be here a while.
"Fine, I'll start at the beginning..."
THE END