Self-Discovery
Chapter Ten
Emergency
"Junsar-san! Junsar-san!"
Satoshi pounded on the door of the police station with a fist, shivering from head to toe and Meowth curled in his arm, his wet fur soaking mud and blood into Satoshi's shirt. It had taken a whole twenty minutes to reach Viridian City and the cat had deteriorated, his whimpers absent and breathing shallower than before, his tummy rising less and less by the minute. But he was so exhausted from running. There was no way he would reach the Pokémon Center in time, not on foot. Officer Junsar's motorbike, however…
The cerulean-haired woman stepped out, amber eyes alight with alarm when she narrowed in on the cat against his chest. She glanced back at him, recognizing his face as she said, "Ah, Satoshi-kun, what happened?"
"No time," he rushed out, and he was surprised by the amount of fear radiating from those two words. "I have to get to the Pokémon Center, Junsar-san, please!"
She didn't ask any more questions before opening the garage, revealing her motorbike and the passenger seat attached. Junsar pulled the bike out and hitched a leg over the seat. Satoshi jumped into the side car and hugged Meowth to him as they started the drive to the hospital, his free hand wrapping around Pikachu's condensed monster ball for comfort. He hated how similar his situation was to the first day as a Pokémon trainer, only, instead of a battered mouse, he was holding onto a dying cat.
Takeshi would have been able to do something for Meowth, could have given Meowth more time, or at least lessened the pain… but Takeshi wasn't here, and Satoshi could only hope for the best.
Within five minutes, Junsar was speeding into the newly-built Pokémon Center, her wheels squealing along the floor until they reached the middle of the expansive room. The Nurse Joy behind the counter seemed ready to snap at Junsar for the disturbance, but Satoshi stopped her, letting his sodden jacket plop to the floor so she had a proper look at Meowth.
"I found this Meowth in the forest being attacked by Spearow, Joy-san. He's hurt really bad," he quickly explained.
Meowth was carefully taken from his arms, and he anxiously watched as the cat was placed on a stretcher and rushed to the emergency room by a Chansey, Joy following close behind. The red light above the double doors illuminated, signaling the beginning of an operation.
Junsar left soon after, wishing him good luck and offering a shoulder clap.
Alone, Satoshi rubbed his arms and sighed, looking around the Center to see it was built to look exactly like the previous one. Even the etchings of legendary Pokémon that included Ho-Oh was back on the wall, as if it had not been destroyed all those years ago.
His hand automatically strayed to his belt while he was comparing. Satoshi unclipped Pikachu's monster ball and pressed the button, tossing it into the air. A weight that had settled in his chest alleviated once his best friend was in front of him, shaking his little body to will the claustrophobia away. Satoshi bent down on one knee, holding out his arms for Pikachu to leap in, which the mouse immediately did, rubbing their cheeks together.
Pikachu muttered a question in a solemn tone after greeting Satoshi, "Pi… pika pika?"
"It's okay. I got here in time. We shouldn't worry now, hopefully at least."
They both turned toward the door Meowth had been rolled into, unable to completely rid themselves of worry despite Nurse Joy's competence.
To distract himself, Satoshi wandered to the video phone and contacted Shinji's older brother, Reiji.
He had promised to send his number and address, after all.
The first thing he said, or more accurately, blurted out to the surprised face of Reiji was, "How are you, Reiji-san? Is everything alright? How's Shinji?" His round of questions were fret with worry, the apprehension from Meowth's status rising his concern for the brothers, and he was tempted to call his other friends too, to be sure they all returned home in one piece. Realizing his rudeness, Satoshi pulled back from the screen and scratched his cheek, bowing his head. "Forgive me, Reiji-san. I didn't even say hello."
The man laughed kindly, waving a hand. "That's alright, Satoshi-kun. But is something wrong where you are?" The knowing look in his eyes reminded Satoshi of Takuto, strangely enough.
"I found a Meowth in the Viridian forest. He was… dying," Satoshi hesitantly informed, trying to block out the image of the bleeding, weakened Meowth he had known for years. "I made it to the Pokémon Center on time, but…"
Reiji finished for him. "You can't help but worry."
"Yeah," he mumbled back. Louder, he asked, "Hey, is Shinji still at Snowpoint City?"
"Last I heard from him, he was training in the mountains there. That was just a day ago."
"Well, when he gets back, please tell him I called. I want to know the results of his rematch with Jindai-san."
Reiji smiled, nodding. "Of course."
Satoshi quickly listed his number and address before ending the call, staring at the blackened screen with Pikachu's breathing being the only noise silencing the inevitable ring in his ears.