Chapter X: Sai Meets Shin
"Each Pokémon is unique; no single individual exactly fits the standard for its species. There are writings about Fire Pokémon that could never learn Fire type attacks, about Flying Pokémon that could never get more than an inch off the ground. Though I have only encountered one disabled Pokémon in my lifetime, I suspect they are the same as disabled humans. They may have problems with their bodies, but they do everything they can to improve their lives."
"You seem busy. Should I come back another time?" Takuma looked up. Would he ever learn just to not start writing at all if he didn't want to be interrupted?
"No, now is fine. I want to warn you that even though I found the perfect Pokémon for you, there is a slight problem."
"A problem?" Sai stared as Takuma threw up a Pokéball into the air, the red light forming into a slightly humanoid shape with a long tail. On the tip of its tail, the fur formed a paintbrush.
"Smeargle Smeargle!"
"This is a Smeargle. It's known for…well…painting."
"Well, what's the problem?"
"Usually, the fur on its tail is soaked with an ink that the Smeargle's body makes. But this Smeargle isn't able to produce paint on its own. I have berries and seeds that are suppose to help it, but nothing seems to work for long."
"I may be able to help…I do make my own chakra-compatible inks and paints"
"I thought you might be able to. From reading your files, I thought Shin would be perfect for you."
Sai held his hand out to the Smeargle. "They say truth and trust is essential for any friendship, Shin. Do you trust me to help you with this problem?"
"Smeargle Smear!" The white Pokémon took Sai's hand and Takuma smiled.
It seems like it was a good placement after all…
"First, I will run my chakra through your body to find the problem. Sakura-chan would be better at doing this, but I am the one you entrusted."
"Smeargle…" Shin trembled nervously, feeling the shock from the additional chakra.
"Don't be afraid…" Sai muttered, forcing a smile that he was not accustomed to giving. After another two minutes, Sai was done. He and Shin relaxed for a while before Sai spoke again.
"All you're lacking is the basic oils…all of your pigment glands are intact. I don't know how I can fix your oil producing glands, but I can always provide it in the form of concentrated pills until Sakura-chan can take a look at you."
"Smeargle! Smeargle smear!"
"Yes, and you will be able to paint. Let me prepare the pills, why don't you get yourself acquainted with my apartment?"
Sai used his chakra to condense the oils so each pill actually contained the equivalent to a gallon of oil. He made the pills slow release as well, so Shin's body wouldn't be overwhelmed and become ill from the sudden burst of oil in his system.
It took Sai two hours and a ton of chakra to prepare a dozen pills. Boy, he hoped Sakura would be able to fix Shin's problem with his oil glands, because he just couldn't put this much chakra into making these pills.
"Shin, where are you?" Sai called, stuffing the pills into a black pouch.
"Smeargle…smear…" Sai went into his room and found Shin sleeping on his bed. Perhaps the invading chakra wore Shin out more than it did Sai.
Grinning, Sai sat by his window and painted a picture of the sleeping Smeargle.