tO eXPLAIN iN dUE tIME
cHAPTER 4

[Watch you go]

"Konnichiwa," Hiroshi smiled gratefully, bowing respectfully at the trio. "I knocked but no one answered. The door was open, so I invited myself in."

"Don't worry about it," Ookido smiled. The older man waved Hiroshi in. "Come, sit with us."

"Domo," Hiroshi said, smiling shyly. He walked further into the kitchen and the others were surprised to see the Chansey that followed him in.

"Who's that Pokemon?" Kasumi asked politely.

"It's Chansey!" Takeshi called out.

"Chansey!" The Pokemon replied, waddling in. "Chansey chan!"

"That's right," Hiroshi nodded, "I was at the Takiwa Pokemon Center to get Chuchino healed, and Nurse Joi asked if I would take a full heal to Ookido-Hakase's home."

"Thank you," Ookido said, "I deeply appreciate you taking time out of your travels to bring a full heal for Shigeru."

"Nurse Joi sends her regards. She would have come and administered it herself, but she had so many patients at the Center." Hiroshi fiddled with the backing on his gloves.

"Fine, then." Ookido smiled, "Shigeru is in his room, Chansey. Go on up these stairs and you will find his room is the fourth door on the left. He may be asleep."

The Pokemon nodded and went upstairs. The four resumed their scheming, devising dastardly plans. In a strange twist of luck, it was discovered that Pikachu had a transmitter chip embedded in the back of its neck. League rules; something Rocketto Dan wouldn't know. Only Pokemon that ranked as high in the League as Satoshi's Pikachu had this sort of chip. The chip had a locator in it, and would be used to find Pikachu's location.

Hiroshi was about to say something when a loud scream rent the air. The scream broke off as suddenly as it began.

"Was that...Shigeru?" Hiroshi asked, his face pale.

They ran upstairs and nearly ran into a sobbing Chansey. The big pink Pokemon ran down the stairs, sounding miserable.

"Kasumi! Follow that Chansey!" Ookido shouted.

"Right!" Kasumi nodded, running after it.

"No telling what Shigeru said to it," Ookido said as they reached the teen's bedroom door.

The door was ajar, and upon entering, they could see Shigeru lying on his right side on his bed. As they reached his bedside, they saw he was unconscious, but breathing easy.

"At least he looks better," Takeshi muttered, noting the renewed tone of Shigeru's face. It had lost its ashen pallor, and resumed a more normal hue.

"True," Ookido said, crouching to the gleaming hardwood floor. "But the full heal was not fully administered."

"What?" Hiroshi asked.

"How do you know?" Takeshi sounded surprised.

Ookido stood, showing the two the full heal device in his hand. "Because the sprayer mechanism is cracked and at least one third of the full heal is on the floor, perhaps more."

"How can you tell the amount?" Takeshi asked.

"You really can't. Look at how fast it's drying." Ookido pointed to the lilac colored liquid. It was vanishing quickly. "Shigeru must have been unconscious when Chansey administered it, and was shocked into consciousness when it began to heal. That must have startled poor Chansey into dropping it."

"But what about the poison?" Takeshi queried, "Is he healed of it?"

Ookido shrugged. "He looks healthier, but I'm no doctor. I might have a poison indicator downstairs; I use them all the time with Pokemon."

"Then let's get it." Takeshi said.

Hiroshi looked at the spilled full heal. It was gone.

Shigeru groaned. He hadn't meant to scare the Chansey, but that potion hurt! Okay, so it really didn't hurt, but it was certainly unexpected. It had been a shock to swiftly switch from Melody bathing him with sugar sweet kisses, to a sensation of hundreds of needles using him as a pincushion. Shigeru had felt as if the poison sting attack was reoccurring!

So he had screamed. Only instead of the primal roar of fury, it had come out as one of pain. Like all the pain he'd ever held in was released in that one scream. He'd gone unconscious again (Shigeru Ookido would never admit to fainting), only to wake up to hear the voices of two people. People he knew.

Satoshi and Hiroshi.

Shigeru listened to them talk. Hiroshi seemed most adamant about Satoshi leaving Shigeru in Masara, while the four of them went to save Pikachu.

"Satoshi, listen to me," Hiroshi started. "It will be you, me, Kasumi, and Takeshi. That is all you need to rescue Pikachu. We don't need Shigeru and his ego coming along with us!"

"I know, I know," Satoshi sighed. "But I think he might want to go, and save what's left of his pride."

Shigeru grimaced. He might have known someone would bring up his pride.

It wasn't until later that evening that Shigeru felt well enough to return downstairs. He still felt a little groggy, but at least the room wasn't spinning. His ribs were still sore, more so than he would admit to his Jii-chan. He walked into the empty kitchen, fixed a sandwich, and poured out some ice water. Carefully, Shigeru pulled out a chair and sat down to eat.

"Ah, Shigeru!" It was Jii-chan, walking into the kitchen with Kasumi and Takeshi. "We were just talking about you."

"Nothing good, I bet." Shigeru said, biting into the sandwich.

"Like he said," Kasumi said smugly, "We were talking about you."

"So speaketh the shrew." Shigeru said, finishing the sandwich. He sipped at the ice water and smirked up at Kasumi. Her face was as red as her hair, but she said nothing. Takeshi spoke up instead.

"We are heading out tonight to get Pikachu back," The squinty-eyed gym leader said. "Thanks to the micro-chip in the back of Pikachu's neck, we pinpointed its location to a point deep inside of the Viridian Forest. They must be holed up in some cabin or something."

"Or maybe you'll stumble on Rocketto Dan Headquarters and that will be the last we'll hear of you." Shigeru said. "Maybe those three aren't as dumb as you think they are."

"Shigeru!" Jii-chan admonished. "These four are doing the best they can. I'm sending them with a few of my high-level pokemon. If it weren't for you and your selfishness, I'd be sending them with Mara as well."

Shigeru felt his face redden. Mara was the Pokemon he was in trouble over. "I said I'm sorry."

"Sorry won't bring Mara back," Jii-chan said. "And with Dragonite being rare as it is, I don't hold out any hope of seeing her ever again. Not even the authorities will try to search for her."

Suddenly Satoshi burst into the room. "We gotta leave soon!"

"Why?" Kasumi looked surprised. "We still have things to prepare..."

"Then do that now!" Hiroshi burst into the room a second after Satoshi. "We were watching the locator and it looks as if Pikachu is moving! Rocketto Dan could be on the move!"

For Satoshi, it was a slow agonizing hour until they were fully prepared to rescue Pikachu. Kasumi, Takeshi, and Hiroshi were dressed as Satoshi was, in dark pants and shirts. With the exception of Satoshi, they were each taking one of their highest leveled Pokemon.

Ookido-Hakase had also given each one of his own Pokemon. They were at a high enough level to be helpful, but low enough for them to obey a strange Trainer's orders. Kasumi recieved a Kingdra. Takeshi got a Steelix and Hiroshi got a Typhlosion. Satoshi didn't take one of Ookido-Hakase's Pokemon. He didn't want anyone but Pikachu.

"And now, you're ready." Ookido-Hakase smiled, as he ushered them to the front door. His smile faded and a suddenly dark look crossed his face. "Give them hell, boys, give them hell."

"Um, sir," Hiroshi looked pointedly at a fuming Kasumi.

"Right, right," Ookido-Hakase laughed, "And you too, Kasumi." His look turned dark. "Give them hell, girl, give them hell."

Kasumi smiled weakly, There is just something not right with him. Maybe he needs to be fixed up with someone.

They were just about to leave, when there was a commotion on the staircase. It was Shigeru, running down the staircase. "Wait, Satoshi!"

Kasumi rolled her eyes as Satoshi walked back to Shigeru.

"What?" The mahogany gaze fell on Shigeru. "What is it?"

"Well..um..Satoshi," He stuttered, then looked at the cast of people around them. "Come with me, just for a second."

"But Shigeru, Pikachu is in trouble!"

"Satoshi, please!" The last word was said with such fierceness, that Satoshi followed Shigeru up the stairs. He didn't fail to hear Kasumi snort in irritation.

Satoshi followed Shigeru, watching his oldest rival and friend make his way up the stairs. He looked like he'd been put through the ringer, and still wasn't out of trouble yet. Satoshi wondered what lurked in Shigeru's mind. Was it even worth wondering about?

Shigeru took Satoshi to his room and, leaving the door opened, turned to Satoshi, a determined look on his face. "Don't go."

"Excuse me?" Satoshi asked. "What are you talking about?"

"The three from Rocketto Dan that you're dealing with are idiots, that's true." Shigeru said, "But when idiots get desperate, they get dangerous." He paused. "So I guess what I'm trying to say to you is this…Is Pikachu worth losing your life over?"

"Yes! Of course!" Satoshi nearly shouted. "Why wouldn't she be?"

"Satoshi, you do realize you could die, in trying to save this pokemon?"

"Then at least I tried." Satoshi said firmly. "I can't not try."

Shigeru sighed, and ran a hand through his spiky hair. "Forget about her."

"What..?"

"Forget about Pikachu! I'll give you a Pichu, or even a Pikachu, but forget about yours!" Even to his own ears, Shigeru felt the words sounded empty.

"Never." The word was practically spat from Satoshi's mouth. "I'd rather die first."

"But.."

"What kind of Trainer are you?" Satoshi glared at Shigeru.

"One who knows when enough is enough. Give up already!"

Satoshi's reply hit Shigeru harder than any punch. "Loser." He glared at Shigeru. "How dare you call yourself a Trainer."

"Satoshi, please listen to me…"

"NO! Pikachu is not only my most prized Pokemon," Satoshi said, "She's also my best friend." He smiled softly. "So you see, I can't leave her with them."

Satoshi turned to leave. "So long, Shigeru."

"Wait!" Shigeru's call stopped Satoshi. "At least..at least let me get you a ride there."

"What? In your new convertible?"

"No, with this."

Satoshi turned to see Shigeru holding out a minimized Pokeball. It was shiny, though well worn. "What's that?"

"This holds a Dragonite named Mara," Shigeru grinned, turning the pokeball around in his hands, "She's Jii-chan's MVP."

"Whaa? She's a baseball player too?"

"No, Satoshi," Shigeru laughed, "But she is most valuable."

Satoshi gasped, "That's the one that you sold…But you…you didn't sell her? But what about your car?"

"I never sold her," Shigeru looked forlorn. "I never got the car." He grinned wryly. "Mel dumped me anyway, but it would've happened sooner or later."

"I'm sorry," Satoshi said.

"Nah, it's okay." Shigeru looked up at Satoshi. "I'm in love with someone else anyway."

"Oh." Satoshi paused. "You can't go with us."

"I know," Shigeru tossed the pokeball at Satoshi, "I'm just giving you a way there."

Satoshi thumbed the pokeball, "Thanks…Shigeru." And he ran out of the room, calling out for everyone to see what Shigeru gave him.

Although a bit embarrassing, it felt good to Shigeru to reclaim his status of hero. It came with a price, of course, as his Jii-chan informed him.

"After this is over," Jii-chan had said, "We're going to have a long talk."

But for now, Shigeru was back in his room, and the rest were downstairs finalizing their preparations for Operation: Crash the Party.

It was fully within Shigeru's mindset that he had to go with them and rescue Pikachu. After all, as Kasumi had said loudly, it was Shigeru's fault Pikachu had gotten caught in the first place. So, in the end, he had to go. Not just to restore his pride, but to restore his honor. It had been no surprise to anyone when Shigeru had announced he would be joining the rescue team.

Though Jii-chan had been adamant about Shigeru not going, the older man finally relented when Shigeru brough up a pointed fact. Since Mara was a high level Pokemon, she wouldn't obey any orders save those of Trainers who she was familiar with. Even if Ookido-Hakase told Mara to behave and listen to whatever Satoshi, Kasumi, etc. said, Shigeru knew the Dragonite would not obey.

So Shigeru had to go, but on one condition.

"You stay out of the battle scene," Jii-chan had said. "Lead them there, direct Mara in battle, but do not get involved within it. They go in for Pikachu, but you stay outside. Provide backup, but no direct fighting."

A knock at the door interrupted Shigeru's mind wanderings. "Come in."

The door opened, and closed, and when Shigeru turned to see who it was, he reeled back in surprise. "You!"

"Yes, me," Kasumi stated. "Why are you really going?"

"To get back Pikachu."

"Oh, right, and you look strong enough." The words were said snidely. "Aren't you."

"Yes, I am." Shigeru said, stretching to prove his point. "The full heal worked wonders."

Kasumi strode over. "Really? Then could you block…this?" And she whipped her leg up, stabbing his side with the point of her foot, catching him in mid-stretch.

He fell back with a strangled howl, falling onto his bed. "Aaah!! What are you?" He clutched his side, "Some sort of Mega-bitch? I'm healing, for Pete's sake!"

"So you are." She paused. "I still think you're a liability."

"And I still think you're psychotic!" Shigeru glared at the red head. "I'm not even going to be involved in the battle."

"Come on then," Kasumi sighed. "We're leaving now."

Shigeru got to his feet, one hand pressed to his side. He passed her with a wary expression on his face, and joined the others downstairs.

"You okay?" Satoshi asked. "We thought we heard you scream up there."

"I, ah, I stubbed my toe." Shigeru said, staring at Kasumi. She smiled and walked out the front door.

"Well, let's go," Satoshi said, following Kasumi. Takeshi and Hiroshi were already outside; Hiroshi's Charizard was waiting patiently.

Shigeru called out Mara, who appeared in a flash of white light. The Dragonite bellowed a greeting to the other Pokemon, and waited for Shigeru to climb on her back. He held out a hand to Satoshi. "Want to ride with me?"

Satoshi looked to Hiroshi, who nodded. "Okay, I will."

Hiroshi's Charizard had more than enough room for Kasumi, Takeshi, and Hiroshi, and with a roar, they were airborne. Mara, with Shigeru and Satoshi on board, joined the Charizard. Within seconds, they were specks in the darkening sky.

Uh-oh, that doesn't look good! Is Rocketto Dan on the move? Or has Pikachu gotten away from them? Has Shigeru received the full Full Heal? And how many chucks could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Yah, try saying that five times fast. All this and more in the next chapter of...tO eXPLAINE iN dUE tIME!