Hey, guys!
Strong: Sorry for the long wait but life is pretty mean and we had our own things to settle before we could be free to do anything.
Kind: Don't think we're quitting, we're still on this. Our love for pokemon is that strong.
Strong: Anyway, this here is just a finishing of the last chapter.
Kind: Also, even though we vow to write a different fanfic after finishing this, we're having second thoughts. It's hard.
Disclaimer: We do not own Pokemon and Bleach or any of the characters we'll be writing
Chapter-29
Previous to what happened to our hero Ichigo. He had somehow yet again realized how unlucky he was and this time he hadn't had a clue to what he did wrong. Somehow he had gotten himself under the custody of the Pewter City's Police with Officer Jenny leading the arrest.
Ichigo wasn't someone who would be calm in this kind of situation, rather he would retaliate but when they show him a proof for his arrest he reluctantly gives in and follows the officers back to the city.
While he was away there was another situation back in the Ketchum residences.
"Mmuu…."
"Uhh…."
"Uggg…."
Three kids were on their knees with bumps on their head before a very scary teenage girl wearing a lab coat. She wasn't smiling nor was she giving off the warm aura she usually does. Her expression was ice cold.
"Now…"
"!?"
"!"
"!?"
Her voice was cold and quickly surprised the three kids.
"What do you three have to say for yourselves?" Daisy knew that the kids know what she was talking about. She knows that they had gone to the place where a robbery had occurred and she knows that the three might have something to do with Ichigo's arrest.
"We didn't mean to do it!" The three kids shouts at the same time with a mixture of fear and confusion.
"I see…" Daisy wasn't convinced and she was really pissed at the moment.
"Then how do you explain Ichigo's circumstance!" She didn't understand why she was getting this mad over something that wasn't even clear.
"I…"
"We…."
"I don't…"
The three were still kids and getting scolded was anything but fun.
"*Sigh*" The girl wanted to give them more lectures but they didn't have the luxury to waste time, "We really don't have time for this."
"Since, the three of you were at fault. There will be punishments." When the three kids went out the other day they forgot something at the scene of the crime and it was the reason for Ichigo's arrest. And that something was Ichigo's worker ID card. Leaf confessed after checking her pockets.
"EEhhhh!"
The three kids wines and didn't want any kind of punishment. They had things and stuff to do and they knew the kind of punishment the older girl and they didn't want it.
"Quiet!" Daisy snapped at the three and they obediently stay silent.
Than the girl sends the three to Ash's room and told them to think about what they had done. The three kids obediently went up stairs with Teddiursa following Leaf.
While Daisy was scolding the kids, the two adults were on the phone with the Police station discussing about Ichigo's sudden arrest.
"…."
"I see…."
"…."
"No, no. It's alright."
"…."
"Yes, thank you for telling me."
Delia than puts the phone down and release out a deep breath before turning to Professor Oak. "There really was a robbery in Pewter City last night. Something was stolen from City's Rock Lab."
"That's unfortunate. Hmm…. I will speak to my colleagues for information, and what of our very unlucky boy?" The Professor began to think what could've been stolen while wondering how Ichigo will be treated.
"Well…." Delia explained it to the Professor.
…..
Upstairs
With the troubling situation everyone was in a dull mood. The three kids especially were acting out of their character viz. they stay silent the whole time.
"…"
"…."
"…"
Ash was on his chair while staring aimlessly at the floor. Gary sat down on the floor while trying to read a book to get things off his mind. Leaf on the other hand hides her face on a pillow while lying down on Ash's bed.
The only one doing anything would be Teddiursa. The small cub pokemon stood beside her trainer and like any other loyal pokemon the bear could feel Leaf's feelings and troubles. She tried shaking her but the girl just didn't want to be disturbed.
"Teddii…."
"…"
"…"
Leaf felt really frustrated and angry at herself. Things were falling apart and nothing was going according to plan. They were just supposed to finish the delivery and get back home. She just wanted Ichigo to be proud of her, she didn't plan things to go this far.
"Ichigo…" the girl mumbles the name with a shaking tone.
But what will happen if they wait too long? What will happen if they didn't do anything? He might get into more trouble because of them. But what can she do?
Leaf always felt that she needs to do things she felt was right. The people around her always scold her or make snarky comments behind her back but he was different. She was scolded by Ichigo when she did stupid things but the difference was that he was just worried for her wellbeing and he even stated it as clearly as possible for her.
Even if she was useless, there was still something she can do and she needs to do it now.
Leaf pushed herself off the bed and quickly got down from the bed and her pokemon follow as always.
Ash and Gary saw the girl moving toward the door, "Leaf, what are you doing?" Gary stopped the girl.
"….." Leaf stayed silent for a second.
"I have to go." Her answer was firmed and she was serious.
...
Leaf silently went down towards the Ketchum's kitchen backdoor while the adults and Daisy were having a conversation.
Outside Leaf and her Teddiursa move past Mr. Mime. The psychic pokemon didn't give much thought and just wave the two away with a smile.
Arriving at the outskirt of Pallet Town Leaf turns backside, "Why are you two following me?"
Behind her Gary and Ash had follow the girl while breathing heavily. They were a stamina freak like the girl, "*huff* we're coming *huff* too." Ash answers.
"You don't have to…" Leaf eyes dull with emotions. "It's my fault Ichigo's was taken away. And it's even my fault that you two got punish."
Gary and Ash glances at each other before turning back to the girl, "Like we care!"
The girl was surprise by the sudden outburst, "W-What?"
"Sorry to say this Leaf but we're coming too. If it involves Ichigo, we'll do anything." Gary folded his arms and gave her his reason.
"Yeah, we're all in this together and that's what friends do for each other." Ash grins at her and Leaf felt happy for such reasons.
"You guys…"
Seeing the mushy face the girl was making Gary quickly intervene, "How do you plan to go there anyway? Don't forget we wreck Ichigo's scooter."
"That did happen, didn't it….?" Ash groans at what his brother will do to them.
Leaf already had an idea and it won't take much time. "I know another way."
Gary just sighs and nods.
Leaf than glanced from side to side before confirming that they were the ones around, *Phreeee!* The girl loudly whistles with her fingers.
And out of nowhere a dark figure emerge from the shadows before finally showing itself to the three. "…"
"Leaf, how did you do that?" Ash asked since he was surprised by her action.
"Oh? This?" Leaf glanced at her fingers, "I always wanted to learn leaf whistle like Ichigo but I since it was impossible for me I stick to ordinary whistle."
"No Leaf, he meant how did you call out Darkrai?" Gary corrected Ash's question.
"Oh… that's what you mean hehehe…." Leaf than turned to Darkrai, "I always play with Darkrai and Charmander when you guys ditch me for boy stuff."
The two boys just nods with silent apologies.
Leaf than turn back to the always silent pokemon, "Darkrai we need your help."
Darkrai stood there as still as ever and listen to girl's request. "I know it's a sudden request but we need to go where Ichigo is right now."
"….." The dark pokemon stay silent for a while.
"Ash… how is this going to work?" Gary didn't want to be rude but how was the nightmare pokemon going to help them travel such a long distance.
"I don't know but I trust Leaf." Ash confidently whispers back.
And Gary didn't get.
The nightmare pokemon finally nods and Leaf smiles happily.
"Come on you two, we're going." Leaf was happy that the dark pokemon co-operated since it was sometimes stubborn for requests. Maybe since it involved Ichigo the pokemon said yes.
Darkrai slowly sink into a large shadow below it and the strange thing was the fact that the shadow remain.
"What's this?" Gary stare at the suspicious dark hole.
"Leaf I don't get it. How are we-uuwaaahhh?!" Gary was suddenly pushed and fell/sink into the shadow.
"So, that how we're going?" Ash stretches his arm into the shadow hole created by Darkrai and where Gary fell in.
Ash and Leaf knew that Darkrai had the ability to sink in shadows as well as take someone in. Ichigo had done it once with both the kids a year ago.
"Yep!" And with that Ash jumps in and Leaf follows while carrying Teddiursa.
After all of them enter the shadow, it started to move on its own. Moving with a fast pace and toward Pewter City, the three kids need to fix their mistake or at least get this straight.
Pewter City's Police Station
The police station was a large building with a three story structure and covering a wide ground. There weren't many criminals to be caught these days excluding common thugs. Still they do they job to uphold justice. Though yesterday, they weren't able to catch the culprits who robbed the Rock's Lab and it was the second time.
And since the only thing they had for evidence was a vivid video of the perpetrators by a security cam and a single ID card they found on the front yard of the Lab. They did all they can but the two perpetrators didn't leave anything much for a better investigation. They can only trace the person who owns the worker ID.
And inside said station, we find two people sitting across each other with a table on the middle. They were inside a conceal room with a large mirror on the side and one door. This would be called the interrogation room.
"For the last time… I don't how it got there! And I ain't involved in any of this!" Our young orange hair boy was really annoyed at the fact that he was dragged here and being question to no ends. A total of three people had entered the room one by one asking him questions after another. And the last one that came in annoyed him so much.
"Enough with your lies! Confess and admit you were there at the scene of the crime! And there might be leverage for you to get out with a clean record." The one who was question him was a teenage boy with spiky red crimson hair and the teenager was wearing a red suit with a cape. They teenager was very intimidating and he express a very strong aura of authority.
"What!? Are you threatening me? I didn't do anything. I just came back last night from Unova." Ichigo didn't think his luck was this bad and to be stuck in some creepy room with an annoying guy was even worse. "How can I be there when I was in Viridian City's dock?"
The third interrogator, a teenage boy and a part of a prestige tribe from Jhoto and after the artifact his grandfather had donated to the Rock Lab was stolen the teenager couldn't control his anger. He knew that putting off his anger on the young boy before him wasn't the right thing but he was just pissed at the scowl Ichigo was making.
"Excuses, do you how much trouble you would be in if you keep up this facade? It's unfortunate we can't put you behind bars since you're still a minor." (Reminder, Ichigo is still 12 years old. But he's more mature and taller than the average 12 year old.)
A tick mark appeared on Ichigo's forehead. "And it's unfortunate that a pre-teen is asking the questions when he should go to a shop and fix his hair."
They both now learned something after their ongoing conversation.
"Who are calling a pre-teen you ignorant orange brat!?"
"Who are you calling a orange you poor excuse of guy!? And why are you even wearing a cape?!"
Things might've gone too far if they weren't separated.
"Enough!" The stern voice of Officer Jenny stopped the two but they were still glaring at each other.
The lady kicks the red hair boy out and did the questioning herself and this time without any disturbance.
Back with the kids….
A moving shadow came closer and closer to the entrance of Pewter City. The pokemons around look at with curiosity as it move in a fast pace, though it suddenly stop before puking out three kids and one pokemon.
Two boys and one girl holding on a pokemon, they had finally arrived.
Ash and Gary were holding onto its each the moment they were out as well as staying in a shivering state. They felt cold, really cold. The cause was due to entering Darkrai's shadow. Leaf on the other hand didn't seem to be affected.
"Finally." Leaf stretches her arms and legs while Teddiursa imitates her trainer.
"W-What was that p-place?" Gary was referring to the inside of Darkrai's shadow.
"I-I don't k-know but why is s-she the only one who's f-fine?" Ash was wondering if Leaf was a super human since she always do stuffs he and Gary can't.
Darkrai too came out of the shadow before looking around the place they arrived. Since not a lot of people were around it was a safe for them. Not a lot of people would stay calm after seeing something really bizarre.
"Darkrai thanks!" Leaf couldn't have a better friend to get help than the dark pokemon.
"…"
The pokemon didn't say much but Leaf knew exactly what it was thinking 'You're welcome.'
Darkrai then sinks back into the darkness as always and away from prying eyes. It might head to Ichigo or stay with the kids.
"Now, the only thing we need to do left is get to Ichigo." The girl felt that it was her fault since she was the one carrying the cause of Ichigo's problem the other day.
It was frustrating and hard, feeling the guilt of causing trouble to the person who always sticks by their side and the weight they carry for their sake.
Leaf may cause untold problems for others but if the problems affect the people she cares about she in a way regrets and sometimes shuts her emotions or that something that make us who we are. But at the moment she needs to fix things.
Further thoughts were disrupted by the two boys.
"Come on Leaf, we need to go to brother. This way." Ash was over his shivering state and pulls the girl toward the city.
Gary was lagging behind. He wasn't as strong as Ash in recovering. Good thing for him since Teddiursa was here. The cub bear pokemon was very strong and lifted the small boy before following her trainer.
"Hold it!" Two very familiar kids like the three stood on their path to Pewter city.
One of them had a reddish hair and the other one had black hair with the red hair wearing a smirk. They seem to be normal looking kids to Ash, Leaf and Gary.
"…." Ash and Leaf didn't say anything and stay quiet while Gary just didn't care.
"We got into a lot of trouble because of you three." Red hair kid glares at them while his friend had other things to say.
The three kids didn't get it, "What?"
The red hair kids grip his hand with anger, "Because of you three… my b-brother made me his punching bag and left me to fight a one on one fight with his Mankey!"
"Who are they?" Gary whispered.
"I don't know, maybe they're just lost." Ash whispered back.
"Than what are we supposed to be?" Gary forgot. Ash was dumb.
"… kids?"
"…Just shut up, okay?"
Leaf didn't really like his tone and retorted back, "Than go cry to your mommy idiot! We don't have time to play!" They didn't do anything yet but the girl was just annoyed at being annoyed.
"Yeah!" Ash vouched for the girl. Gary was still having some difficulties and didn't felt like saying anything.
"I'm not playing! And I'm going to get my revenge!" Red hair pulls out a pokeball with a smirk.
Gary could only sweat dropped, "Why is a kid like us talking about revenge?"
"Weren't we the ones who follow them?" Red hair's friend black hair mumbles at his friend.
"Eh?" Red hair sweats and felt really nervous from the looks he was receiving.
*stare…*
Ash, Leaf and Gary stare at him with blank looks.
"Quit it with the looks! Let's battle!" He threw the poke-ball and a mean looking Mankey came out.
"He already got a pokemon?"
"That's not fair." Ash and Gary grumbles. It was every dream of kids to get their own pokemon before they reach 10 years old.
"Heh." Red hair smirk at them, "My brother gave it to me las-ack!" Red hair suddenly got punch by said Mankey. His friend black hair scrunch down, "You should've train it first, you know?"
Most Mankey are violent even after being capture and needs to be train immediately.
The Mankey made quick jabs and prepare itself for a battle.
"Pfft!" Ash and Gary tried to hold in their laughter at the scene and turn away from the Red hair kid.
"Do you think this is funny!?"
"Pfft!"
"I'll get you for that!"
Leaf on the other hand giggles with a playful tone, "Hehehe….It's great having a pokemon right?" She was sort of giddy that someone her age had a pokemon just like her.
A red blush appeared on the Red hair boy's cheeks while his friend tried to snap the boy out of his trance. "!?"
In the red hair eyes, Leaf looks really cute with the playful giggle, "Whatever." He turned his head and hides his face from them.
"Leaf, we don't really have time." Gary then suggested that the girl should battle quickly since the two pinheads before them wouldn't leave them alone if they refuse.
"Right." The girl was ready. "Ted, let's do it."
The cub bear pokemon came in front and like always it has the image of a cute pokemon with one arm on its mouth. "Teddii."
….
Shaking the feelings off, Red hair boy quickly ready himself. "Even if you're a girl, I'm not holding back!"
"Mangg!" the small monkey pokemon make small jumps before turning to Teddiursa with a tuff resolve. "…kiii!"
Seeing that his fighting type Mankey was up against a normal type like Teddiursa, the red hair boy smirked. "Heh!"
"We'll show you we're no push over." Leaf might seem like an ordinary kid with no much experience with pokemon.
"Battle….begin!" Gary announced.
"Mankey use Karate Chop!" The small monkey nimbly moves toward Teddiursa with a concentrated power on its hand.
Leaf stood still with Teddiursa doing the same. The moment Mankey close in Teddiursa just turned to the side clumsily and avoided the attack. "Teddii?"
Red hair wasn't amused and continues, "Mankey keep using Karate Chop!"
Makey kept using continuous Karate chops but the cub always seems to avoid them due to skills or just luck.
Leaf just giggles at the scene. She wasn't a strong but she was influence by Ichigo's strong battles and she pick up things from his battles and training. Her Teddiursa's speed and evasion was really amazing thanks to Ichigo.
"Gruuuuu…. Ahhhh! How can she avoid all those attacks!?" Red hair boy felt really frustrated.
"Yeah, how is Mankey keeps missing the attacks?" Red hair's friend Black hair on the sideline too was confused.
"That's simple. Leaf doesn't just watch my brother's battle for fun." Ash grins and cheers for his friend.
"You mean Kurosaki Ichigo?" The black hair boy knew Ichigo was a strong battler but never got to see the actions.
"She watched his battles so many times and copies some of them. She even managed to copy others strategies too." Gary inquired.
"Seriously?"
"But… I wonder if she'll win." Gary knew the girl's weakness. Even though he hasn't gotten a pokemon yet, the boy's knowledge on battles were quiet amazing.
"What are you saying Gary? Aren't you on her side?" Ash grumbles at his friend's statement.
"No you idiot. Just look how Teddiursa is doing." Gary knew the strategy Leaf was trying to use and it won't work for her.
The moment Ash eyes landed on Teddiursa, Ash was surprised.
Teddiursa was getting tired avoiding all the attacks. It wasn't a pokemon that has lots of stamina and the way Leaf spoils it, it won't last much longer.
"Makney, Low kick!"
Mankey swipe the floor off Teddiursa but the cub bear quickly jumps up. "Mankey, Karate Chop quickly!"
Mankey suddenly appears above the cub bear before slamming it down with Karate Chop.
*BAAM!*
"!?" Leaf was surprised. She imagined the incoming attack to miss but it didn't happen like how she remember Ichigo's Charmeleon evasive maneuver. "Ted."
"You idiot! You're not Ichigo okay? Start battling properly!" Gary knew the girl has a secret obsession on Ichigo's evasion battling styles and somewhat other stuffs.
Teddiursa defense wasn't strong and with a super effective move like Karate Chop the cub bear pokemon received a large damage.
"I told you, I'm not holding back." Red hair grins while feeling relief that they finally landed an attack.
Teddiursa shockingly got up but the damage it took was powerful. Leaf bit her lip and starts to think of way to attack. "Gary was right. I can't do it like Ichigo."
"Heh! I'll finish this." Red hair was really confident at the moment. "Mankey use Focus Energy! And finish it up with Karate Chop!"
The monkey pokemon growls and pumps up its power to its hand before forming energy on it. (Focus Energy + Karate Chop.)
"I'll finish this up and we'll get our revenge!" Red hair started to act a bit arrogant and it wasn't like by anyone.
"What is he talking about?" Gary sweat dropped.
"Don't worry about it. He just got some issues and it's also the reason why we even follow you three the other day." Black hair wasn't really enthusiastic the other day and just wants to punch his friend for it.
"Yeah, about that… How did you know where we're going anyway?" Ash knew that no one could've followed them when Leaf was driving.
"You guys dropped an address label and an ID. So, we just track you guys from that." Black hair boy was forced by his friend though.
"Wait… ID?" Gary asked again.
The black hair boy had pick up two things after Leaf zoom through the streets. "Yeah, I think it belong to that Ichigo guy, right?"
Gary slowly nods. "Gary you don't think?" Ash asked and somehow figures it.
"Hey, do you still have the card?" Gary needed confirmations.
"We should… or at least he should." Black hair boy pointed at his friend.
"Oi! You still have the ID?" Black hair asked his friend.
"Why are you asking me that!?"
"Just answer the question."
"I'm battling here!"
"…"
"Fine! Fine! I dropped it at that Lab's front yard. Are you happy?!"
Black hair turned to the Gary and Ash with an apology. "Sorry."
Back to the battle.
"Geez… why would he ask me that?" Red hair finally sees that Mankey finally charged up the move.
"Now, are you re-!?"
Turning to Leaf confused him with shock. The girl's face was cover by her hair and she was emitting a dark aura. It was pretty scary.
"So…"
"Huh..?"
"It was you….." Her eyes sudden showed with a scary expression. Where was the cute expression he had come to know?
"W-What is she doing?" Red hair took a step back.
"No wonder I didn't remember anything about dropping his ID…." She was really pissed at the moment. She had beaten herself for nothing.
The perpetrator was in front of her. "No, you're still the one who dropped it first." Gary tried to remind her that she did drop it but just not at the scene of the crime.
Red hair started to think otherwise and quickly ordered his pokemon, "Mankey, quick! Finish it!"
The monkey quickly moves to the cub bear pokemon.
The moment it was about to hit, Leaf clicks her tongue, "Ted, dodge it."
Mankey missed and due to its powerful force gravity pulls it down and stumbles on the ground with a loud grunt.
"Now…" Leaf eyes were terrifying as she looked at her opponent.
"What is wrong with this people?!" Red hair shivers. By 'people' he meant those who surround Ichigo.
"Ted." Leaf scary expression turns to a sweet smile. Red hair blush again.
"Use Thrash."
"Eh?" Red hair was surprised at the mention of the strong move. Gary knew it but Ash didn't.
Teddiursa eyes sharpen and dashed at the down Mankey before quickly launching powerful assaults. "TEDDII!" Mankey didn't even have the time to react.
*Bam!*
*Smack!*
*Crunch!*
After the finally attack Mankey fell down and looses consciousness. "Maannngg…."
"…"
"….." Red hair kid fells down on his knees in defeat and to a girl no less.
Said victor turned back to normal. "Yay!" Leaf hugs Teddiursa for defeating the opponent. And Leaf felt really happy for some reason… maybe because of the fact that she gets to trample on the pride of the person who caused Ichigo trouble.
Ash celebrates with them and Gary could only sweat dropped at the girl.
"Let's go." Black hair grabs his friend and Mankey. "How could I've lost…?" Red hair stated crying at his broken pride.
The red hair boy knew that his defeat would be the talk tomorrow and he could only cry after his social life drifting away.
"You know, I'm really happy that we battle." Leaf came to their side and held out her hand to the Red hair kid.
"Why are you?" Red hair kid glances between her smiling face and her hand.
"Come on…" Leaf pouts and boy blush at that. "It means thanks for the battle. It was my first official battle. So, I want to thank you."
Red hair kid hides his blushing face and shakes the girl's hand.
Black hair kid just chuckles at his friend.
"Thanks to you too…." Red hair kid replied and Leaf smiles again before turning back to her friends.
"Beating by a girl…. I wonder what the guys back home would say to that?" Black hair kid grins at his friend. "Shut up…" Red hair boy grumbles but he wasn't angry anymore as he stares at the happily laughing girl.
….
The day reaches the afternoon air and everything wasn't always as planned.
"Sorry for all the trouble Ichigo."
"It's fine. At least I'm off the hook."
"It was a good thing one of the deputies came in with a clear digital photo of the two thugs. Now you can rest easy."
"Who were they anyway?"
"By their outfits they seem to be members from Team Magma but its strange, why are criminals from another region come here? No wonder Lance left immediately. He must have recognized them too."
"….."
"Ichigo? You there?"
"Tch!" Ichigo came out of the Pewter City's Police Station with Officer Jenny. "Who was that guy anyway?" He was referring to the crimson hair cape wearing teenager. There was tension between them.
The officer could only chuckle at the young boy's frustration. "You two didn't connect at all. It was funny to see that."
"If you hadn't stop me I would've wipe the floor off the guy." Ichigo didn't really like the crimson hair teenager. He didn't really care if the guy was taller and older.
"Are you sure?" Jenny had known Ichigo for a year and how they came to know each other was when Ichigo somehow mix himself with an operation the police were doing a year ago. "He's Lance, a strong trainer from the prestige Black Thorn Tribe of Jhoto."
"I'm not talking about a battle."
Officer Jenny just sighs amusingly at the relentless boy, "Even if he has combat experience?"
"So?" Ichigo didn't know why he should be afraid of a guy like that.
"He's also this year Kanto's league winner, you know. He's pretty well known." The Officer knew how Ichigo can be as well as how dull he thinks about others titles. The boy needs to see things before he believes them.
"It's just a title, you know?" Ichigo didn't care and kept moving on with an uncaring expression. "Hehehe…." Officer Jenny just chuckle nervously at Ichigo's attitude.
"Aside for that, are you sure you can't let this one slide?" Ichigo was referring to his permanent record. A suspicious-bystander record was about to be file in.
"I'm sorry Ichigo but I can't… no… It's not that I can't. It's just that I don't really have the authority to do something like that. Even with your clean release there are still some unknown factors and since there are still no evidence of why you're ID card was in the premises you're still not in the clear." Officer Jenny would've vouch for his innocence but there wasn't enough proof to let him go with a clean record. "I'm really sorry."
Hearing the explanation Ichigo just gave up, "It can't be help then."
"I'm really sorry for your situation Ichigo. I know your innocent but something like this is out of my hands." Officer Jenny had known the young boy with a great heart but at the same time really un-lucky.
"…." Ichigo just close his eyes and tried to calm himself. The two walk out of the station slowly and the day had finally reached evening time. It was indeed a tough day to be him.
The young women felt really pity for such a young boy to have something so heavy on his shoulder, "I know it's not much… but how about we go get some donuts? It always cheers me up and it'll be my treat." This Officer Jenny was a very nagging one.
"….."
Ichigo opens his eyes again and saw something that somehow brightens his mood, "Thanks Officer Jenny but…" The Officer stops on her track and look at the boy.
This boy wasn't going to let something small dull him and he's not one to lose easily. There things that need him to stay positive and he'll be damn if he didn't stay the same for them.
"I'll have to take a rain check." Ichigo moves forward and quickly catch the small body that jumped at him.
"Brother!"
Ash had finally arrived with Leaf and Gary. Ichigo was happy to see their faces and it quickly lighten his mood.
"We're sorry!" Ash cried while hugging him tightly. He was sometimes a baby when Ichigo was involved.
Officer Jenny just smiled and felt that Ichigo would be alright. The women now can leave him to be. Her job was tough, really tough when you've got the wrong suspect.
….
"So, what's with the surprise?" Ichigo wasn't sure how the kids came but later he learned that the dark shadow pokemon had transport them.
Ichigo was sitting on a public bench with Ash hanging on his torso like a baby pokemon while Leaf and Gary were avoiding eye contact with him from a distance. It was rather awkward with the attention he was getting from the people walking around.
"It's…" Leaf started.
"Kinda complicated…" Gary finished.
Ichigo sweat dropped at the way they acted, "You could at least look me in the eyes."
Looking at the boy handing onto, Ichigo knew he wouldn't get a word out from him either.
*Grrrr…* that was the sound of three stomachs.
Leaf and Gary's cheeks flushed up and tried to make various excuses with Leaf making up unimaginable words while Ash just gripped tighter.
"Hold on you three."
*Grrr…* Ash stomach rings again.
"Let's get something to eat first, my treat." Ichigo had a job at least he did but still he has the money from his previous payments, and since he was used to saving them he could use it on emergency, like now.
"Really!?" Ash finally voice out and stared up to his older brother.
"But we still have something to say…" Leaf shyly looked at him but she was hungry.
"And you shouldn't treat us. We did something really bad." Gary's shoulder slumps at their bad deed of the week.
Ichigo could see that they were still really innocent kids.
"Ehhh…." Ash was disappointed at his friend's rejection for food. Gary really wanted to hit Ash for his insensitivity.
Ichigo got and put down Ash. "I'll hear them out after we fill our stomachs." He didn't really care if they did something bad. Besides, how bad could it be?
The three except Ash reluctantly agreed.
…..
After a few minutes of eating in a café nearby, the three kids finally confessed their bad deed and the reason why they did it.
"So that's how it got there." He was referring to his main problem. His secret worker ID. He's still under age.
Ash, Gary and Leaf nods with regrets on their faces. Ichigo didn't really expect things to happen this way. Was he mad? No maybe a little. Was he confused? Yes. He didn't really know how to react to this. He knew that the three can cause a lot of mistakes and problem but in the end no one ever gets hurts. But looking at them and hearing their apologies made him let things go as bygones
"Don't worry. I'm not mad." He lied, he was a little mad. But since it's the kids he let it go.
Ash, Leaf and Gary eyes widen. They were shocked at the fast forgiveness.
"So, those that mean…" Ash started.
"You forgive us?" Gary finished.
Ichigo just nod.
"Really?" Leaf added with sparkle in her eyes.
"Really." Ichigo wasn't sure why his opinion was that great between the three.
"Really? Really?" Leaf was being persistent. She really was happy.
"Yes really." Ichigo wasn't sure if he could stand the energy of the happy kids. He had a hard day… no, correction. He always had a hard day. So, he wanted to relax or take a vacation. But what was he thinking? He won't be working for a while since he had a kind of criminal record as well as the fact that he was found for working as a minor that hasn't reach the minimum age.
"Mmmm!" Leaf was really happy and quickly jumps at Ichigo, "I love you Ichigo!" Ichigo nervously laughs it off as a joke since she was just a kid.
"I get it, I get it, but could you let go?" Ichigo was feeling uncomfortable with the stares he was getting from the other customers inside the café.
"Nope!" She had to be stubborn at the worst moment. Ichigo wondered if the girl could say shy again like a few minutes ago. But thinking again the girl was never the shy type.
*munch*
*munch*
Ash and Gary on the other hand were having a food dual. Scarfing down as much as they could while Teddiursa went back inside her poke-ball things was already out of the ordinary day he wanted.
"Where's Darkrai? Did he go home without us?" Ash asked after dunking a large cup of oran-berry juice.
After transporting the three kids, Darkrai suddenly left to god knows where.
"Oh, he's at his usual place. I was kind of surprised when he came." Ichigo always seem to be follow by the dark pokemon and after a while he got used to it. At the same time he also knew when the pokemon was around or not.
"Where?" The boy seems to always forget things.
Gary and Leaf reminded themselves how stupid their friend can be. They knew since Ichigo had already explained back in Unova.
Ash out of surprised look under the table they were using. "So, that's where you've been." Darkrai peek his head out of Ichigo's shadow and nods. Ash just understood and gave the pokemon a donut he was saving.
"Sometimes it surprised me how dumb Ash can be." Leaf who was sitting beside Ichigo shot at the boy.
"Hey! Don't call me dumb!" Ash was always teased a lot by friends and family.
"I have to agree. Even that one time he tried to blame a Magikarp wetting his bed." Gary joined in and added more to the fire.
"For the last time, it was a Magikarp! And we were camping beside the lake!" Ash cheeks were flushed out of embarrassment.
Gary and Leaf just played deaf to his excuses.
"Ash… you had trouble even back then?" Ichigo remembered Ash wetting himself in the plane they had last ride on. He kind of felt sorry of the kid.
"NO!" Ash could believe it, even his brother.
Ichigo was happy, happy that he could see the smiling faces and the short happy moments. He felt that something like this would be rare for him and again felt that he should treasure it.
He was all grumpy and angry a moment ago but now he couldn't help but be calm with a happy feeling.
While the four were having a time of their own, someone with light purple hair with an expressionless gaze was looking at them from outside the café. Courtney touched the glass of the café in hopes of feeling the one she had been curious enough to make her almost sigh. But her orders were absolute, "….."
Pallet Town
When they got back three very upset and angry people were waiting for the kids. Gary, Ash and Leaf gulped.
The door to the Ketchum house was just in front of them.
Ichigo grabbed the door knob, "What is with you three?" Ichigo saw how tense the three kids were and just try to ignore it.
The moment Ichigo open the door, a very steam Daisy and Delia were talking amongst themselves before turning to them.
Ash, Leaf and Gary scrunch their heads down a little bit. They waited for their punishments and scolding.
But nothing wasn't as it seem.
*hug*
Ichigo eyes widen at the soft embrace of his head to Daisy chest. His face was starting to turn red but he calm down after her next words, "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" She was crying? These words went through his head.
"W-What?" He didn't know what to say. The three kids were also surprised by the teenage girl's action.
Delia put a hand on his head, "Ichigo, I'm sorry that things had to go this way." What were they talking about? What were they even apologizing? Why was everything so confusing for him? He didn't think they would greet him like this. They should've known that it was just a questioning and some serious fast travelling.
Ash, Gary and Leaf didn't get it either but they thought it might have something to do with Ichigo getting taken away by the police. The thought made them feel guilty again even if Ichigo had forgiven them.
"What are two talking about? If this is about the arrest, then it's okay. It was just a questioning, nothing more." Ichigo tried to calm them down but it wasn't working.
"No…" Daisy tightens her hold on his head. "It's more…" She had never seen the hardship he went through. She was always behind the safe line while he was getting hurt in more than one way. And the fact that he was younger made her unpleased with her capabilities to help the young boy. Didn't she vow to protect the younger kids around her? "I failed to protect you."
"When we took you, it was our duty to protect you as if you were our own child." Delia was a really mother figure for him. Ash, Gary and Leaf and just stared at them with confused looks.
"Why are guys..?" Ichigo was really tired. He tried to hide it but they saw through it. He went on a dangerous but short journey the last couple days. From recovery an injury caused by a legendary pokemon to helping a girl that was in denial to getting carried away by the cops, maybe it was too much for a kid like him in the eyes of the others.
His tiredness, He had to hide it because he didn't want anyone to find out but maybe they did. Curse his child like body for being so weak. If only he had more strength.
While they were embracing, they didn't notice the sleeping boy that accepted their warmth.
…..
And done!
Sorry, the next girl is on the next chapter.
Bye.
