Chapter 22
"Recovering"
I think my eyes were open…I couldn't tell though…I couldn't see anything…I could just hear…Someone was talking to me…
"…You're alive…That's good…I took away a large part of their paycheck for being so careless, Ash…I thought you'd be pleased with that."
That voice…
The pain in my head returned with sudden fury. I cried out in pain…I couldn't think…Everything seemed so far away…
"…It will fade…in time, that is…Either that, or you'll get used to it."
Why are you talking to me?
I became conscious of my breathing…It was painful…Everything about me seemed to be made up of pain…
"Just try to relax, Ash…It will go away…Just relax…"
Relax? You try it!
"…I'm very glad you're still alive…I was starting to have my doubts…"
Glad…? Why would you care whether I live or die?
"…You're a fine Pokémon trainer, Ash…One of the best I've ever seen…"
…Is that why?
"…If only those fools knew who they were dealing with…"
I wish you did.
"…Ash…Did I ever tell you that you have the potential to be one of the best Rockets ever?"
…No.
"……All you have to do is do what I tell you to, and we'll get along just fine."
What if I don't want to do that?
"……I'll let you rest now…Don't worry. Persian will be watching you…Now, you take good care of him, Persian."
"Perrrr…"
"…Good bye."
…Good riddance.
"…Sian…"
Something warm leaned against my side…It felt nice……The warm thing made a soft rumble and it lulled me to sleep…
* * *
The next time I woke up, I was able to see. I was in a dark room. The only light was coming through a window that had the curtains drawn…So, it was pretty dark.
"…Sian?"
I blinked sleepily. The warm, rumbly thing was still by my side. I turned my head to see what it was.
"…Persian?"
"Perrr…" it replied.
…Wish I could understand you…
The Persian got up and stretched briefly.
"Persian per. Perrrsi an…"
"…Huh?"
"…Persian."
The Persian sniffed me for a second, then lay down again and yawned.
"Pe errr, si an…"
"…What?"
Persian blinked lazily at me. "Peersian," it meowed, "Persian…Rrr…"
It closed its eyes again.
Well…I'm not tired anymore…
I stared at the ceiling, but that got boring pretty quickly. I looked down at my stomach. I had been wrapped in…formerly white bandages…They were now a mix of white and red. My arms were in the same state.
Guess that means I'll be staying here a while longer……Why did they have to sic their Raticate on me anyway…?
"Err?"
I glanced at the Persian. It had woken up again.
"Perrrsian…Persian," it scolded.
I tried to understand what it was saying, but I could only guess.
"…Do you want me to go back to sleep?" I asked.
"Perrsian," it nodded.
"Oh…Well…I guess…but…"
It cocked its head to the side.
"Sian?"
"I'm not sleepy."
"Per si aannn…"
"…Huh?"
"Persiian…Perrrsian?"
"…I still don't know what you're saying."
"…Persian…"
It lowered its head and dozed off again.
"……Don't you ever do anything but sleep?"
"Sian!?"
That had woken it up well.
"Well…It looks to me like all you ever do is sit around, get petted, and sleep. Doesn't that ever get boring?"
"Perrsiianperrsian…" it muttered to itself.
"…Of course you won't admit it…" I continued, "…but you know that it's true."
"Persian!" it said suddenly.
It picked itself up and stalked towards the door. It fiddled with the knob and let itself out.
Pretty smart, I guess…
There was some conversation on the other side of the door, but the boss finally came in. The Persian was right at his heels, looking a little ticked.
"…It looks like you've recovered…at least mentally."
"…Huh?"
"Yes. You're still the same old Ash."
What is he talking about?
"…You do realize that I'm not going to let you back on duty…until I see fit."
"…Huh?"
He looked like he was considering something.
"…In other words…no Pokémon."
"What!?"
"…I knew you had come around…Just had to give you a little time……When you are fully healed, of course………You'll still be off duty…just for a little while…I have to see whether or not I can trust you."
"…What?"
"…Most…loyal…Team Rocket members…don't run off and hide in the woods for two weeks……or even put off duty for a day or so…Which reminds me. Your partner has been suitably punished for not carrying out her mission immediately upon locating your whereabouts…Just thought I'd let you know…"
…suitably punished…?
"What did you do to her?"
"Oh…nothing as serious as what you've been through."
I hope not…
"…Persian will continue to watch over you until you have fully recovered…Until then…"
He tilted his head and left the room.
That…!
Persian jumped on the bed again.
"Sian…?"
"Huh?"
"Per…" it sighed.
It crossed over to its spot then lay down again.
I sighed too.
Guess I'll have to get used to this…