"Assassins & Pokémon"

Chapter 04: "Imagine My Surprises"

Present Day

Route 1
Streets to the City, 9:30am.
"Enter the City"

As Karma and Kiyoko walked together, they met two silhouetted people standing in the streetlamp, talking about their work.

"Hey, you two," said the silhouetted person in a stern and calm tone, calling Karma and Kiyoko. "Where are you two heading to?"

"Um, Hayami," whispered another. "I think that redhead's kid sister is a Pokémon trainer, too, as the two were heading to the city."

"Hey, both of you," said Karma. "We're heading to the city in order for my kid sister, Kiyoko, to get her first gym badge."

"Wait, Kiyoko?" said the first silhouetted person was Hayami. She looked at Kiyoko, now grown up, as a Pokémon trainer. "Chiba, look at these two. Say hi to them."

"Hi Karma and Kiyoko," greeted the second was Chiba waving his hand to them.

"Hi!" greeted Karma and Kyoko also to Hayami and Chiba as they waved their hands as a proper greeting.

"By the way," said Hayami, turning to Karma. "Did you know these three?"

Hayami pointed out the picture Karma sent about the Team Rocket incident.

"Yes," answered Karma. "I know them, but don't mind them. Their motto gets us bored and has had our times wasted, so I always interrupted their motto firsthand."

"Oh." Hayami turned to her partner, Chiba, trying to whisper. "These thieves are up to something…"

"Come to think of it," said Chiba calmly. "They used intermediate-level gadgetry, especially mecha, to steal whatever Pokémon they want from other trainers."

"Okay, both of you," said Karma. "Stay safe and vigilant about them. They're cooking up plans for this entire region of Kunu."

"We will," said Chiba and Hayami, bowing respectfully to both Karma and Kiyoko.

"The city you're going to will be Priniada City," explained Hayami. "It will be a short walk."

Hayami turned to Kiyoko. "Kiyoko, the gym leader you'll face is Maehara. He specializes in Normal-type Pokémon, and his signature Pokémon of choice is Lopunny."

Chiba turned to Kiyoko. "Take this with you. It's one of Hayami's favorite moves."

Kiyoko received "Breaking Swipe" from Chiba and Hayami.

Breaking Swipe
Power: 60
Accuracy: 100
The user swings its tough tail wildly and attacks opposing Pokémon. This also lowers their Attack stats.
Contest Conditions:
Tough – A basic performance using a move known by the Pokémon. (Super Contest)
Tough – Slightly startles the last Pokémon to act before the user. (Contest Spectacular – Normal and Challenge Modes)

"Thanks!" said Kiyoko, which made Karma smile. So do Hayami and Chiba.

"Breaking Swipe is a technical move," explained Hayami. "It attacks multiple targets once with a quick swing of the user's tough tail. It may lower their Attack stat."

"And it's useless against Fairies," stated Karma to Hayami. Hayami looked at Karma.

"What do you mean?"

"Fairies are considered impervious to Dragon-type moves like that. If a Dragon-type attack move hits a Fairy-type, the Fairy-type Pokémon will regenerate what is hurt or injured."

"You're right. My Pokémon will be susceptible of their weakness, thanks to that type."

"Wait, Hayami-nee-chan," seconded Kiyoko. "Who's your Pokémon?"

"Oh, my Kingdra, and it's female." Hayami sent out Kingdra from Poké Ball. "She's my signature Pokémon, too. Chiba, why not show yours?"

"Oh, I'll do it," answered Chiba, proceeding to send out Octillery from its Poké Ball. "Also, my signature Pokémon, and yet, Octillery is male."

"Both our Pokémon have the ability Sniper," explained Chiba and Hayami. "The critical hit damage from our Pokémon's attack moves is increased."

"I see why you both snipers are turned into…what jobs you have?" said Karma, confused about the sniper duo of their jobs.

"Our jobs will be officers, and we double ourselves as rangers."

"Those're cool jobs you have."

"Are you two like Officer Jenny from Pokémon anime, too?" questioned Kiyoko curiously to the sniper duo.

"Um, yes," said both Hayami and Chiba in unison. "We work for justice and vigilance throughout the entire Kunu region. And we face hunters, too, in order to prevent chaos."

Before the sniper duo can finish their sentence, a net, from out-of-nowhere, snared the Pokémon of the sniper duo, as the four saw…it was Team Rocket! Chiba and Hayami, anticipating what's going on, turned to see the silhouettes with a net that captured their Pokémon.

"Hey, who the heck are you?" asked Chiba coldly.

"Trying to steal our Pokémon?" asked Hayami hotheadedly.

"Team Rocket!" said Kiyoko in an alarming tone. Chiba and Hayami turned to Kiyoko about the evil team they have encountered.

"They never learn," calmly said Karma. Kiyoko shrugged, and so did Hayami and Chiba.

As the four witnessed Team Rocket, they decided to perform the motto and never screw up since Karma interrupted them from the start.

"Prepare for trouble, you won't interrupt us!" said Jessie.
"And make it double, just try and stop us!" said James.
"To protect the world from -"

"Sobble, Muddy Water!" commanded Kiyoko, causing Sobble to summon a wave of browning water made of mud that drenched the villain team and soaked them. Sobble was sent out of its Poké Ball from Kiyoko once it heard of their motto.

"HEY! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?" yelled an angry Jessie, disliking anyone of her team's motto getting interrupted while being soaked in mud, thanks to Muddy Water. James and Meowth, drenched in Muddy Water coating, restrained their angry teammate from doing so.

"WE'RE NOT FINISHED!" yelled James and Meowth again. "AND ALL OF YOU TWERPS ARE GOING TO PAY!"

"Hey Kiyoko, why on earth did your Sobble learn-", asked Hayami to Kiyoko, only to be interrupted by her partner Chiba.

"Sobble used Muddy Water?" asked Chiba. "Kiyoko, who taught Sobble that powerful move?"

Kiyoko pointed at her brother.

"I did," answered Karma, turning to everyone. "Guys, we're wasting time."

"Oh, sorry," replied Hayami and Chiba from Karma. Kiyoko stepped up to help them. The sniper-duo-turned-officers devised their plan, with Kiyoko helping them.

"Hayami-nee-chan, tell your Kingdra to use Breaking Swipe to cut the net Team Rocket snared," instructed Kiyoko to Hayami in a whispering tone. Hayami gave Kiyoko a good headshake, giving the hot-and-cold sniper a snap of motivation.

"Use Breaking Swipe!" commanded Hayami, calling her Kingdra to use the move. The dragon Pokémon's curled-tail glows crimsoning red-blue-orange and summons a tail construct, with its tip resembling an axed blade. Kingdra sliced the net with quick effort, thanks to Hayami's command, freeing the sniper duo's Pokémon. "Chiba, it's your turn!"

"Use Skitter Smack!" commanded Chiba. With Team Rocket's wide-open unawares, Chiba's Octillery disappeared, rather than Mach 20 speeds since those of Koro-sensei, and then reappeared from behind at them. The octopus Pokémon's tentacles lashed at the unsuspecting trio, now drenched in Muddy Water, to their face, weakening them of their motivation. He ran back to his trainer at Mach 20.

Skitter Smack
Power: 70
Accuracy: 90
The user skitters behind the target to attack. This also lowers the Special Attack stat.
Contest Conditions:
Cute – A basic performance using a move known by the Pokémon. (Super Contest)
Cute – Slightly startles the last Pokémon to act before the user. (Contest Spectacular – Normal and Challenge Modes)

"Those twerps are messing us!" said Jessie.
"We're weak because of their efforts!" said James.
"We have to get out of here!" said Meowth alertly.

"You three won't get away this time!" said Chiba and Hayami, commanding their Pokémon to finish the job. "Use Hydro Pump!"

Before Team Rocket can escape out of their muddy clutches, the sniper duo's Pokémon launched a high-volume stream of blue water at the three unsuspecting victims, blasting them off. Karma and Kiyoko smiled, and so did the sniper duo themselves.

"We're blasting off again!" yelled the Team Rocket trio.

Chiba and Hayami sighed in relief, thanks to Karma and Kiyoko.

"Thank you for our help," thankfully said Chiba and Hayami. "We couldn't thank you enough."

"Don't mention it," added Karma. "Kiyoko's intelligence, like mine, has the same level of every student in junior high. You should thank her, too, for helping you both. Think of it as a window of opportunity."

Kiyoko bowed in proper respect to her brother and the sniper duo.

"Thank you, Kiyoko," thankfully replied the sniper duo.

"Maybe, we'll contact you just in case," said Hayami.

"If anything happens badly, let us know, okay?" calmly added Chiba.

Karma and Kiyoko took out their phones and added the numbers of the sniper duo to their contacts list. Chiba and Hayami did the same as theirs, too.

The two groups exchanged goodbyes and waved their hands as farewell.

"Bye!" said Karma and Kiyoko.

"Safe travels on your walk!" said Chiba and Hayami.

Now the two continued walking down the street until the city, they arrived at Priniada City. They parted their ways after meeting the sniper-turned-officers, and even another encounter because of Team Rocket.

Priniada City
Outside Interior, 9:41am.
"Enter the City"

As the Akabane siblings walked until they have reached the city called "Priniada," they headed to the Pokémon Center to have their Pokémon healed.

"Onii-chan, should we heal them?" asked Kiyoko.

"Sure," answered Karma in agreement. "Just in case our Pokémon don't want to get worn-out, even if their stamina due to exhaustion."

As the Akabane siblings head to the counter, they met a nurse…with black hair?

Inside Priniada Pokémon Center
Counter, 9:46am
"Meet the Nurse"

"Hi," greeted the nurse. "My name is-"

But before the nurse can reply, a shadow of someone, who opened the door properly, came into the center, only to greet the two Akabane siblings.

"Hey, Karma!" greeted the silhouetted person, giving Karma a fist bump.

"Hello, Maehara," greeted Karma to the silhouetted person, who is known as Maehara.

"Excuse me," said the nurse, telling to the two to stop talking to each other. "We have healing requests from those two trainers."

"Oh, so sorry!" politely replied an apologetic Maehara, scratching his head in curiosity to the nurse's reply. "Karma, go on with the nurse. I'll talk to you later. I'll be at the waiting area!"

Maehara headed to the waiting area of the Pokémon Center, only for Karma and Kiyoko to look at the nurse. Kiyoko remained quiet, and does not speak.

"My apologies," sincerely said Karma apologetically.

"Can you tell us what's your name?" asked Kiyoko to the nurse.

"Ah, I almost forgot to tell you!" said the nurse apologetically, scratching her head in curiosity. "My name is Yukiko Kanzaki."

"Wait, you're the nurse?" curiously asked Kiyoko to the nurse, who is known as Yukiko Kanzaki.

"Yes, and I am the nurse," answered Kanzaki politely.

"Don't nurses have pink hair like Nurse Joy from every Pokémon anime series?" asked Karma with a clear reference between Kanzaki and Nurse Joy. Kanzaki shrugged in response and smiled shyly.

"It's kinda odd," added Kiyoko.

"Not to worry about that," answered Kanzaki with a chuckle. "I'm also a nurse. I do heal Pokémon from every Pokémon Center, appearing in all locations of the entire Kunu region."

"Hey, Yukiko!" said the man inside the Pokémon Center, calling Kanzaki's name. The Akabane siblings looked at each other before the man skeptically.

"That's Kazuto, my dad," explained Kanzaki. "He is also a Pokémon researcher."

Karma and Kiyoko gave Kanzaki an agreeable nod.

"Yukiko, my daughter! It's nice to see you," greeted Kanzaki's father, Kazuto, to his daughter before pointing at the two Akabane siblings. "Oh, who are these two?"

"Oh, you mean us?" asked Karma, making his honest answer. "My name is Karma Akabane, and this is my little sister, Kiyoko."

"Oh hi, Kiyoko!" greeted Kazuto happily with a hand wave to Kiyoko. "I see you've become the Pokémon trainer after all the others."

"Especially from the Pokémon game versions," explained Kiyoko. "I have the intelligence, since that of my brother, of every student in school, be them a middle- or high-schooler, if any."

"You really are intelligent, just like my daughter-"

"Dad!" alertly said Kanzaki, interrupting while hearing what her father said to Kiyoko, causing her to cover her face from being flustered. "You made me fluster every time, even in front of the customers, visitors, or guests!"

"Oh, Yukiko, I didn't embarrass you! You know, parenting stuff?"

Karma and Kiyoko snickered at the Kanzaki father-and-daughter duo of their moment being ruined even though they stayed unnoticed by them. They headed back to the waiting area, waiting for them to watch their conversation without eavesdropping as they relax. Maehara shrugged while doing something on his phone.

"Geez, dad, I'm on duty right now, and you shouldn't let me look back from my past! This entire story made by the author themselves is an alternate universe crossover, not some backstory from one series! And they made the characters like us become what we are in the Pokémon universe, especially role-taking! And it's supposed to be lighthearted, not dramatically hurt and full of dark memories!"

"Oh, come on Yukiko, even though I'm your dad, I did what I could for you to become what's best for you! Even for our family! Wait… did you say dark memories?"

"Dad, you're a researcher, and so even is mom! You two know about Pokémon knowledge, right? And what of my brother? He worked as a trainer until he became an officer, and cared a lot about me than both you and mom!"

"Yukiko…you're right." Kazuto shed a single tear and sorrowfully cried in front of his daughter. "I shouldn't, and nor should your mom, have pushed you of your limit since the day you were born until you became rebellious of me by heading to the arcade, even when you prided by hating me much, and your mom is worried about you about why you left us. I know you're always good at video games, but you're less skilled in studying, even in nursing. I shouldn't have become a bad father to you since you left me."

"But why? Why did you do that?"

"I learned everything of my mistakes since you yours when your grandma's Pokémon became 'ghosts of my past.' And I've changed my ways and never again I do what I've done. They mended my heart before yours, and both your mom and brother witnessed us getting along together. Daughter…I'm sorry for everything I've done."

"I know how you feel," calmly said Kanzaki, giving a reassuring pat to her father by shoulder. "But so do I."

"Daughter, let's work together, shall we?" Kazuto gave his daughter a reassuring headshake as the two prepare to do something.

"We'll do it!" answered Kanzaki with full acceptance.

Kanzaki smiled at her father for help.

"Karma, Kiyoko, let us heal your Pokémon!" called Kanzaki to Karma and Kiyoko. The Akabane siblings managed to give their Pokémon to Kanzaki duo as they healed their party Pokémon to full health.

"Hey, what about me?" asked Maehara, raising his hand.

"Thank you," said the Kanzaki duo to Karma and Kiyoko after healing their Pokémon.

"Bye!" said Kiyoko as both her and Karma waved their hands to the duo.

"Oh, Maehara, I'll heal your Pokémon, too, as well," politely said Kanzaki, proceeding to heal Maehara's Pokémon.

"Thanks," said Maehara politely, waving his hand at the Kanzaki duo. "Bye for now!"

The Kanzaki duo bowed politely after Maehara's goodbye as he made his exit. Yukiko turned to her father, who now got along with her this time.

"Yukiko, thank you," said Kazuto. "You did well as a nurse."

"So did you," replied Kanzaki to her dad, smiling at him. "I can't thank you enough. We got along together."

"Tell your mom and brother that we got along together." Kazuto smiled at his daughter before goodbye. "I'll be going to research today, okay? Take care."

"Thanks, dad; see you!" Kanzaki shed a tear calmly before waving her arm to her father as a goodbye.

"Oh, and one more thing," said Kazuto. "Yukiko, your best friend in the Pokémon Center you worked as a nurse is a shiny Comfey. She's intelligent, and also became your partner, too."

"Thanks, dad," replied Kanzaki. "I will take care of my shiny Comfey."

Kazuto made his exit at the Pokémon Center, and as his daughter continued her job as a nurse inside it, she took out her Poké Ball containing her shiny Comfey.

"Comfey, let's heal when anyone whose Pokémon from their party gets tuckered out," simply said Kanzaki, smiling at her Pokémon. Comfey, in shiny form, smiled at her trainer.

Kanzaki started her job as a nurse, along with her partner Pokémon, Comfey.

Priniada City
Exterior, 9:55am
"Meet Hiroto Maehara"

As Maehara, Karma, and Kiyoko went outside to the Pokémon Center after having their Pokémon healed, Maehara explained to Karma and Kiyoko before pointing his gym, which is designed as a plain gym colored white-and-yellow.

"Oh, you work here as a gym leader?" asked Karma to Maehara.

"Of course!" replied Maehara with a smile. He turned to Kiyoko, who smiled. "Kiyoko, you ready for the gym battle?"

"Yes, Maehara-nii-chan!" happily answered Kiyoko. "I'll challenge you to a battle, so what time?'

"Time for gym battle is 10:30am on time, yet today is 9:59am."

"Okay, let's wait for thirty minutes, too," said Karma before turning to Kiyoko. "Kiyoko, I'll be going somewhere else. If Team Rocket show up-"

"Hey, did you say Team Rocket?" asked Maehara, interrupting Karma from Kiyoko.

"They're Pokémon thieves," explained Kiyoko. "Their plan is to steal people's Pokémon from other people and use them for their own gain."

"Oh, I see. Kiyoko, you're always as smart as your brother."

"Yeah, I'm the first to interrupt their motto anyway," added Karma, giving Maehara and Kiyoko a fist bump, one-by-one, before waving his hand to the other two as farewell. "Kiyoko, take care of yourself; I'll be going somewhere else."

Kiyoko smiled as she waved her hand to her brother. Maehara smiled.

"I know them of their motto," said Kiyoko. "They don't give up real easy for not only stealing Pokémon, but also things like artifacts."

"That's a smart move," said Maehara. "If they steal Pokémon, they're thieves, too. If they interrupt our battle, one of us will interrupt their motto if things really get worse, thanks to our Pokémon's attacks."

"True, my brother is skilled at interrupting it as a breaking halt, but so am I because they use tools like nets to capture Pokémon like those belonged to Hayami-nee-san and Chiba-nii—chan."

"Ah, so you know of the sniper duo, too? They may be great, but also are officers that double as rangers themselves."

"I remember them that much, ever since our walk with Onii-chan."

"You mean Karma? Well, your brother has a knack for instinct and recognition. Plus, he interrupted the Team Rocket Motto-"

"Because he acted like he didn't care about it at all," finished Kiyoko with Maehara's sentence.

Kiyoko and Maehara laughed.

Priniada City
Gate, 10:02am
"The Silhouetting Cameo-hanger"

As the two, Kiyoko and Maehara, were sitting and telling stories, a mysterious figure is holding their binoculars as they keep noticing them while unnoticed by afar.

"Ah, Kiyoko Akabane," thought the mysterious person. "This is your first gym battle against Hiroto Maehara? I wish you could succeed in time. And yet, you'll challenge me once you have two badges, and the final test I have prepared will be…secret. I'll see you there."

As the mysterious person smiled, they took out their phone to text Maehara about Kiyoko of their gym battle and proceed to send it as a letter to him as a message.

Dear Maehara,

I see you're ready to challenge Kiyoko to a gym battle, do you? If Kiyoko succeeds in a gym battle against you and receives your gym badge, I'll be darn happy to be pleased, and if she fails, I want you to give her a request for a rematch as remedial in order to pass as a second chance. No more chances after second. The entire Kunu Pokémon League does not make more than a second chance to readmit for a trainer of such their skill when they pass, should they fail or give up of their ultimate test.

Once Kiyoko defeats you in a gym battle, it's a test of strength, knowledge, and skill. I'll meet both of you inside the Priniada gym. I'll tell her where to go to the second city after Priniada. I'll accompany her for a walk since her older brother, Karma Akabane. She'll meet the second gym leader who specializes of their respective type. Maehara, you always were a born gym leader of clever witting and strategy, thanks, especially, to your Normal-types like Lopunny. I'll meet you sometime at the end of your gym battle. Thank you for your cooperation. And I promise I'll meet the young Akabane sibling who became a Pokémon trainer.

With appreciation,

Hinano Kurahashi
Santabelle City Gym Leader

As the mysterious person, who happens to be Hinano Kurahashi, the gym leader of her city, now known as Santabelle, sent the message to Maehara, she let out a sigh of relief, ready to head to the Pokémon gym of Priniada as she'll watch his gym battle with Kiyoko Akabane. Kurahashi decided to go to Priniada city for sightseeing everywhere until reaching to the gym. She let out a smile so bright that she can enjoy anything else.

Author's Note: Whew! Making this darn chapter really long is a total pain to me, so I've added characters from all segments. That's a lot of characters the Akabane siblings have met are total encounters for each segment, and there's a short spoiler: Hinano Kurahashi has made her first cameo appearance from this chapter…and also, she has granted her role to play as a gym leader (I'm not gonna reveal the type she specializes in). Up next will be Kurahashi's debut during Maehara and Kiyoko's gym battle, so stay tuned. Thanks for reading, everyone.