Author's Comment: I was worried this one would take a bit longer to submit as I found my schedule unusually busy. Luckily, my devotion to this story pulled through and I made it a priority. Hopefully, things will settle down again so I won't have to worry too much about the next submission date. Until then, I thank ASiriusWriter for the review and I hope to hear from others too! Peace out!

Chapter 10: Incident

"Ready to go someplace new, Kowai?" Yams asks with a smile, Kowai hurrying over to her eagerly. It's been a couple of weeks after Kowai gave her the sweet potatoes and the progress has only gotten better from there. With pointers from Sokudo and patience from Yams, Kowai has pretty much ceased its hostilities. It stopped growling at her and the sharpness of its tone has all but disappeared! It still refuses to be touched though, and the Yamask is assuming that it'll initiate contact when it's ready, as she certainly doesn't want to risk getting bitten again.

"Where are we going?" Kowai asks as it reaches her, hoping it'll be a place as good as the beach, maybe even better! Although Sokudo has told it time and time again to keep its interest largely on her instead of any items or locations, it can't completely ignore its curiosity.

"There's another cavern nearby the one we found. I think it might be an above-ground entrance or something," Yams explains. "Anyway, I heard that if you go in deep enough, you'll find that the walls and ceiling sparkle."

"Sparkle?" Kowai questions, not understanding.

"Yeah," Yams answers with an enthusiastic nod. "Luft told me about it earlier. He says that if you turn off any lights you bring, the minerals in the rocks will shine like stars. I wanna check it out tonight, and I'm hoping that you'd like to come with me."

"I will come," Kowai accepts the invitation with little hesitation, wanting to see these sparkling rocks for itself.

"Great! Let's go!" Yams begins leading the way before she comes to a sudden stop, Kowai almost bumping into her. "Oh, boy..." She mutters under her breath, looking about for something. "I forgot my bag at Spinda Café. It had some stuff for the trip." She turns to the Shedinja and smiles sheepishly in embarrassment of making this mistake. "You can wait here, I'll be back."

She starts flying back to the café, pausing before looking back to see Kowai following her. She blinks in confusion. "Kowai...? You... You wanna come with me?"

"Yes," Kowai answers as if it's obvious. "Sokudo taught me that I'm supposed to treat you like I would him. Thus, I am going wherever you go."

Yams doesn't say anything for a second before glancing in the direction of the café, unsure of this. "You think you really want to do that? There's a lot of Pokemon there, and with it being nightfall, it's going to be rather crowded."

It pauses for a second before grunting. "I don't care," it tells her. "Sokudo takes me to crowded places all the time."

"Okay..." the Yamask mutters hesitantly after a few seconds. "But please try to be good, don't hurt anyone. Your brother might be able to tolerate it, but as a Rescuer, I can't have you start trouble..." Unpleasant images of what happened at the carnival rushes into her mind and she winces a bit. She wants the Shedinja to stay here where it's safe and out of trouble, but it's clear the husk isn't interested in hanging around a boring maple tree by itself. Maybe if she keeps an eye on it, keep the danger to a minimum.

Kowai makes another grunt, this one in agreement before it begins following her again. It doesn't like the prospect of being near a bunch of other Pokemon, but it's unfortunately used to it. This Spinda Café place can't be any different than what it's already been exposed to, plus it'll be someplace new to explore. Arriving to the café, however, the Shedinja hesitates, growling softly at the sound of activity inside. Yams turns to it with a worried expression, fiddling with her hands.

"Do you still want to go in? It's not too late for you to go back to the sugar maple." she tells it and the Shedinja snorts, glancing at her.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to get rid of me..."

"Uh..." Yams drawls with a blink. Sokudo has warned her that this might happen. That the Shedinja's paranoia will go from her lashing out at it to her leaving it behind. The Ninjask told her not to let things like that escalate, as Kowai will get violent if it continues to think that way. It's best to nip it in the bud. "No, it's not that, Kowai. I like being with you a lot, so don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to get stressed out or frightened. That's all there is to it."

"Hm," Kowai grunts almost doubtfully before turning its attention back to the building. "I still want to go in. A bunch of pathetic Pokemon isn't going to ruin me exploring this place."

Its sense of curiosity is a very powerful thing, Yams can't help but notice and she's convinced that that fact was the entire reason she's gone this far with it. A lot of her progress has been made by taken advantage of its curious nature, but she is still hesitating about this being 'progress'. Oh well, there's not a lot she can do to change its mind.

"Okay, here we go," Yams takes a breath before opening the door, a rush of noise and scents washing over them. She watches the Shedinja carefully, making sure it isn't too overwhelmed. Kowai certainly seems defensive and it hisses at the Pokemon standing nearby before flying higher over the crowd, trying to avoid the Pokemon fluttering around and climbing the high beams of the ceiling. Yams follows it before leading it to the counter where Vertigo is filling out drink orders for his Shuckle employee to make, said Shuckle making a show of juggling the fruits as he makes the smoothies.

Kowai watches this juggling, its fascination pushing its agitation aside. It wonders if it can be able to do that with its mist, and decides to try it when it gets home. Meanwhile, while the husk stares at the almost hypnotizing juggle-act, Yams gets the attention of the Spinda owner.

"Vertigo, did I leave my bag here?" she asks over the din and the Spinda takes a minute to answer, swaying from one foot to another as if he's dizzy or drunk. Yams isn't concerned, as this is perfectly normal behavior for the owner.

"A bag?!" he asks in a loud, eccentric voice. "A bag, a bag you left here! The bag that I put out back?"

"I guess," Yams says with a shrug, earning a wobbling turn in response.

"Yes, I'll go get that bag, see if it's yours, yes? Hehehehehee..." He tumbles out through the back, Yams unable to keep back a shake of her head before looking to Kowai to make sure it's out of any mischief. Luckily, the Shedinja's still engrossed in the juggling and Yams giggles a bit.

"You like what the Shuckle's doing?" she asks in amusement, the Shedinja humming a bit as if to indicate a nod.

"It's... interesting." It answers, never taking its eyes off the berries.

"I'll teach you how to juggle one of these nights," the Yamask tells it before waiting for the Spinda. She hopes the Shuckle will continue to keep Kowai busy until the owner gets back, but it seems that hope's too much to ask for as a Mightyena approaches them with a look Yams instantly knows she isn't going to like.

"Hey!" the wolf barks at the husk, getting a hiss from the insect.

"GO AWAY!" the Shedinja screams, Yams shushing it gently as she floats beside it. Looking to the Dark-type, she tries to be pleasant to avoid whatever confrontation he has in mind.

"Yes, sir? Can we help you?"

"Help me, my ass," the Mightyena continues to snarl, never taking his eyes off the Shedinja. "That's the thing that's been destroying places and killing people! And I thought we'd be safe from that little demon here, but it dares to show its face? And without that Ninjask to keep it in line?!"

"Look sir, we don't want any trouble. Kowai's only here with me to get something real quick. Both he and I have no intention of staying here too long." Yams tells him, only to be ignored as the canine bristles his fur at the growling bug and steps closer.

"GO AWAY!" Kowai shrieks, earning another soothing hush from Yams.

"It's alright, Kowai," she tries to assure. "Just go back to watching the juggling; I'll take care of th-"

She can't even finish as the Mightyena lunges at the bug with jaws ready and Kowai immediately puts up a Protect to deflect the blow. Then things quickly escalate as Kowai lunges back, Bug Biting the Dark-type into the scruff of his neck and earning a cry from the dog. Snarling, the Mightyena proceeds to try and shake the ghostly husk off, getting the attention of the other nearby Pokemon.

"Stop it!" Yams calls out, adding to the growing din of protest, although some of the other Pokemon are actively encouraging the fight. Ignoring her own safety, she throws herself in, trying to separate the two. But she is pushed right back out as Kowai finally loses its grip and is thrown into her. But it doesn't care as it rights itself and lunges again at the dog with a shriek, putting up another Protect to stop a countering Assurance attack. It tries again to bite the Mightyena, to take advantage of the dog's type weakness, but said canine nimbly jumps out of the way before launching a Shadow Ball.

Kowai immediately launches its own Shadow Ball, causing another explosion to fill the place with smoke. The Mightyena takes advantage of this cover to lunge out at the husk, Kowai catching this just in time to put up another Protect...

Only for it to dissipate...

It feels the flash of panic for a split instant before swinging around to steal this Pokemon's soul. But the move comes too late as the Mightyena grabs the bug in his jaws and clamps down in a Bite. Kowai can only squeak before falling still.

"Kowai!" Yams screams in panic, tears welling up in her eyes as the canine drops the husk. He then begins to form a Shadow Ball to no doubt finish the helpless bug and the Yamask immediately throws herself between them. On her face is the most heated glare she's ever had to make, and it succeeds in faltering the dog. "Don't you DARE!" She screams before the atmosphere grows dark and a ball of white light emerges from her mask and dances onto the Mightyena in a Destiny Bond.

With that move firmly established, Yams continues to glare at the dog, daring him to attack her. The dog glances at the husk, then at the Yamask before deciding not to take the risk. This Yamask obviously isn't going to budge and he can't hurt the Shedinja without hurting her. Huffing softly, he turns and walks away without another word. Yams isn't relieved however as she turns to Kowai. She can see that several of the Mightyena's teeth has punctured its shell, black mist flowing out of the wounds.

"Kowai?" She gently places a hand on the Shedinja, and she hears a very soft, strained growl.

"Don't... touch..." she hears it whisper and she feels her tears flow more as she takes a shuddering breath.

"I'm sorry, Kowai," she whispers back softly as she gently picks it up. "But I have to touch you to get you to the doctor." Kowai doesn't respond to this, and instead the shed gives a shudder before it falls unconscious. Glancing about at the other Pokemon, she takes Kowai out of the café towards the hospital as fast as she can.

A long and beautiful ribbon of purple light streaks across the sky, curving and looping in a pre-determined pattern by its source. Said source is Sokudo, trailing the light from his claws in a Swords Dance and using it to draw pictures and words in the sky. He's having a great time; ever since Kowai passed its judgment, he's actually been able to enjoy his free time and tonight is no exception.

Breaking off from the Swords Dance, he pauses in a hover a distance away, looking back at his work. Written in neat cursive across the sky are the words "I'm awesome, motherfuckers!", and he snickers a bit before diving down, his claws turning red in preparation for Fury Cutter. Locking on to his target, he darts passed a tree several times, his movements a blur before he stops, still poised from his last attack.

The tree stands undisturbed for a second before its leaves and branches fall loose and crashes to the ground below.

"Still got it." Sokudo mutters in satisfaction before he hesitates, hearing a voice in the wind.

"Sokudo! Sokudo!"

He turns to see the Yamask rushing towards him and he tilts his head in confusion. "Yams? What're you doing here? You're supposed to be doing your job."

"Sokudo," Yams starts, finally catching up to him, looking out of breath. "There was an emergency!"

"Ah shit…" Sokudo grumbles, rolling his eyes. So much for having a fun night. "Who did Kowai kill this time?"

"No, it's not that!" Yams explains, feeling weird at the fact that Sokudo's first assumption is something extreme like that. "Kowai came with me to Spinda Café and this Mightyena… I guess he thought Kowai was going to hurt someone, because he attacked him! Kowai's in the hospital right now and-"

"Wait, wait, wait," Sokudo interrupts, holding up a claw. "Some jackass mutt sent Kowai to the hospital? For how long?"

"Probably a couple of days," Yams answers, watching the Ninjask carefully. She can't tell if the Ninjask looked concerned or hopeful. "The doctors say it's going to be a bit difficult treating a Shedinja, but…I…" She trails off as Sokudo begins to chuckle, a delighted gleam flashing in his eyes.

"This is AWESOME!" Sokudo exclaims happily. "I get a few days of absolute freedom!"

"Wait!" Yams starts, staring at the cicada in disbelief. "He's your brother. Aren't you just a little bit concerned?"

"No, not really," Sokudo answers without missing a beat, a grin still present on his face. "In fact, I'm hoping they won't ever be able to fix it up! Then it'll be out of my life forever!"

"You mean… You're hoping he'll die…" Yams says with a frown, earning an eager purr from the bug.

"If I'm lucky." He tells her, causing the Yamask to tense up considerably. But he doesn't seem to notice as he continues chuckling. "This really is great, the best way to start the night!" He flies closer and pats Yams on the back. "Great job, Yams. Keep it up!"

With an excited whoop, he disappears as he flies off into the night sky and Yams is left trying to comprehend this. Kowai's injured and in the hospital, and Sokudo just went off to celebrate…

She is beginning to think that maybe it isn't Kowai that's the problem in this relationship...