JMJ

CHAPTER NINE:

Missing Persons

Haruka involuntarily leapt back, and her stance instantly became one on full alert as she looked from her left to her right for any sign of Musashi's partners.

"They're not here," said Musashi in a near pout.

"What do you mean?" asked Haruka, fist to her chest; her brow puckered with apprehension.

"Nyaasu and Kojiro aren't here," Musashi growled, and she turned away. "I don't know where they are." She paused a little then. Slowly returning to the confused girl, she asked hesitantly, "Where's the brat b … I mean your friend and his pikachu?"

"Oh, I don't travel with Satoshi anymore," said Haruka, smiling a little as she seemed to see that Musashi meant no real harm at this time, and really did appear to be the one in trouble. "Are you okay, Musashi?"

"Of … Of course I'm okay!" Musashi sniffed. "Why wouldn't I be? I don't work for Team Rocket anymore, if you're worried about that!"

Strangely enough Haruka did not seem a bit surprised, but straightening herself with a friendly grin, she held out her hand and said, "I'm very happy for you."

"Eh?" Musashi said drawing back again.

"I knew you and Kojiro wouldn't stay Team Rocket agents forever," said Haruka. "After you guys didn't show up anymore, I figured you gave up Team Rocket, but Satoshi didn't think so." And she laughed.

"What do you mean?" demanded Musashi darkly. "Weren't we bad enough for you?"

Haruka blushed and lowered her head a little embarrassed, but it did not last long before, she said quite honestly, "No." Then clearing her throat she said, with another slight giggle, "Wait till I tell Satoshi that I was right! He still won't believe it, I bet! Boys I think sometimes have a hard time accepting people changing more than girls, but I knew it all along!"

Opening her mouth again, Musashi was about to protest such an action as saying anything to that boy about her and Kojiro, but just as she started with the first syllable, Haruka suddenly said, "Are you hungry? I have some lunch!"

Musashi sighed. "My house is just—"

"You have a house?" Haruka gasped. "May I see it?"

"Uh …" Musashi started with a raised brow. "Okay."

So after Haruka returned Venasaur, more as if she stood in a dream world that reality Musashi led Haruka to the little cottage that she and the other two had build with the money Kojiro's parents had let them use. It was not much, looking more like one of the cabins that Musashi and Kojiro used to steal a night or two in when they were Team Rocket agents, but it proved functional enough for mild Kanto weather and small needs.

"Oh, kawaii!" cried Haruka when she first took in the sight of it, and she clasped her hands together.

Musashi could not help but smile in spite of everything.

"We like it," said Musashi.

"Did you … end up together?" Haruka ventured to ask.

Musashi stiffened. "Nani?"

"You and Kojiro," said Haruka.

Oh, Kojiro! Musashi thought miserably and roughly turned away, kicking a weed as hard as she could.

"What?" asked Haruka in alarm. "What's wrong?" Then she seemed to remember that Musashi had told her that she did not know where Nyaasu or Kojiro were. "What happened to them?"

"I don't know!" snapped Musashi. "I can't find them anywhere!"

"Hey, Musashi …" Haruka said, full of concern that annoyed Musashi.

Haruka had always annoyed Musashi. She seemed always too nice for her own good, and now more than ever she seemed to care far too much for a previous enemy of hers. Someone who had tried nearly every day to steal her pokémon, her food, and her good time, certainly could not instigate such kindness from the person upon whom these acts had been committed. Yet, there Haruka stood beside Musashi, and although there was a natural hesitance, for of course there had to be a little restraint due to their former relationship, but she meant only to comfort Musashi and no doubt see if she could help in some way.

At first Musashi had a mind to lie to the girl in her face something that would make her leave her alone. She did not need the help of any friend of the brat boy!

But she did, she knew. She needed help. She could not do this by herself. She doubted there was anything that Haruka could really do, but maybe just to talk about it with someone would make the whole situation feel a little clearly at least.

"Do you want to go inside and help me make rice balls?" asked Musashi.

Haruka looked quite confused at first, but after a moment a nod of understanding overtook her. She allowed Musashi to lead her into the house.

#

She did not tell Haruka everything, but she told her enough. About the strange pokémon that had landed on their roof, about Kosaburo and Yamato tricking Kojiro and taking his favorite childhood pokémon, not to mention their good battling pokémon. She told Haruka that Kojiro and Nyaasu went to go get them back and even how she had to stay behind to take care of Bara-chan — well, it was not as if she could deny the presence of an infant with all the baby toys, cradle, and other baby stuff lying around.

"She's with friends now, because I didn't know I'd be coming back for a while," said Musashi. "I hate being a lousy mother leaving her with other people that aren't her parents! It makes me sick! It's not fair, you understand?! She deserves better."

All the while Haruka listened, perhaps a little too wide eyed, but very politely and patiently. Not once did she interrupt as she listened above a plateful of untouched rice balls. When Musashi came to the close of her story about how she had run into Kosaburo and Yamato again, Haruka still remained silent for a moment or two before she could process all that had been told her and think of a proper answer, but when she did it came out with quite clear resoluteness.

"I'll help you find them, Musashi," she said.

"I knew you were going to say that," said Musashi in return, picking the side of her rice ball absently.

"Well, you spied on us enough to know us pretty well," Haruka admitted.

At first Musashi felt a prick of offence, but as she looked at the girl, she could not be angry with her candid innocence in making the remark. Instead she sighed and stared out the window with her chin slumping into her palm.

"But first I …" Haruka started then she hesitated, twiddling her fingers a little.

"What?"

"Well, I have to find my father first," said Haruka.

"Your dad?" demanded Musashi, straightening with a raised brow. "The gym leader? What he got to do with this?"

"Well, he's missing!" cried Haruka. "That's what I was doing before I ran into you. I thought I'd find out more in Kanto"

"He is?" Musashi said. "Why?"

"Well," Haruka answered. "It was almost a week ago now, and I know Team Rocket had something to do with it."

"You too, huh?" grumbled Musashi. "Jaa." She was not used to this sort of thing, but she knew Haruka would not ask if she did not bring it up herself, so she said as naturally as she could, though it still came out pretty awkward, "If you help me find Kojiro and Nyaasu, I'll help you find your dad."

"Oh, no, I couldn't—"

"Yes!" roared Musashi. "I'm helping you and that's final! Now eat that lunch, young lady! We got work to do!"

Quite surprised by the strange outburst despite her knowledge of Musashi's impulsive behavior, all Haruka could say in reply was a quick, "Yes, Musashi-san!"

"And don't call me san!" snapped Musashi.

"Hai!" Haruka agreed.

JAPANESE PHRASES

Kawaii: cute

Nani: what

Jaa: well then

Hai: yes