Track Two: Restart

Nyasu stared out the window of the bus leading to Silver Falls. His eyes roved over the landscape, from the tall, snow-capped mountains to the pleasant pine trees dotting the road. Even though it was early April, he found snow greeting him at every turn: on the branches of the trees, the tips of the mountains, drifting through the air, and in a soft layer on the ground. "Look at this place. It's gorgeous. Lots of snow, too, Musashi. I know how much you love snow."

Musashi sat behind her friend, arms draped over the seat. She followed his gaze, nodding halfheartedly. Under normal circumstances, she would have been overjoyed at this winter paradise; a person could get lost in the brutal beauty of it all. Unfortunately, these were no normal circumstances.

She'd been so eager to get out of Kanto and away from all the memories clogging her throat, but now that she was here she couldn't seem to muster anything but exhausted indifference. Two weeks of righteous fury and another three of half-manic determination had burned her down to cinders.

And really, why had she thought this would change anything? No matter where she went, Kojiro wasn't there.

She didn't want to waste energy on an answer, but Nyasu seemed to be waiting, so she said, "Yeah. It's nice."

"Just 'nice'? This is the kind of weather you love."

"Mm. Guess so."

He shot her a frustrated glare, then went back to reading his pamphlet on Silver Falls. "Hm... sounds like we're close to some ski resorts and a national park, so most of their business comes from tourists. Lots of historical hotels and restaurants. A Pokemon Center, too. We shouldn't have any trouble finding work. Hey, and there's even a theatre! Maybe you can try out for the next show, huh?"

"Maybe."

"It was your idea to come here, y'know," Nyasu finally snapped. "This ain't easy on me either, but at least I'm trying."

"Sorry, Nyasu. It's jet-lag," Musashi lied, sinking back into her seat again.

She could feel Nyasu's mixed waves of irritation and worry practically slamming into her. She closed her eyes and popped in earbuds so she wouldn't have to deal with it.

Musashi was grateful he had come with her, really she was, but she didn't know how to see him as part of a pair instead of a trio. Every time they spoke there were gaps in their conversations, beats where they expected a third voice to chime in. The empty space between them yawned like a chasm and Musashi had no idea how to cross it. She doubted Nyasu did, either.

Better not to think about it, she decided, and pressed play on her music instead.

"If I let go of your hand clasped in mine,
With that, it would all probably come to an end right now."

Musashi flicked quickly to the next song - normally she would have loved the slow, beautiful "Hikari no Naka e," but it was too sad at a time like this. She quickly changed playlists and allowed the more upbeat Shiina Ringo to bring her in to Silver Falls.

At the bus stop, over half the passengers stood to leave, Musashi and Nyasu among them. Grabbing their few bags and stepping out, the pair looked around, taking in the scenery.

The streets were old-fashioned cobblestone, with small brick buildings lining the main road. A few people walked from cars or between buildings, none faster than a stroll. Chatting amiably in Numeran - which both Nyasu and Musashi understood reasonably well - they moved to their destinations in the same slow, even way they talked. The entire town spoke of relaxation and quiet, of little hurry and speed. You'd get to where you wanted to be eventually, right?

Surprising herself, Musashi felt her shoulders relax a half-inch. Maybe this had been a good idea after all.

She pulled out an earbud when Nyasu tapped her on the knee, just in time to hear him say, "Hey, headphones off. We need to find a place to stay for the night." The ex-Rocket stopped the album halfway through "Identity" and followed her feline companion as he made his way down the main street.

They hadn't gone far before a rustic hotel drew Musashi's eye. She wasn't sure what about the old building had caught her attention - it wasn't much different from the two they had already passed - but she felt drawn to it, somehow. Before she could stop herself, she trailed over to the window, pointing at the sign swinging above the door. "Say, Nyasu, why not stay here for the night?"

The cat read the carved plaque slowly. "Spirit Inn. Funny name. Why this place?"

"Not sure. I just like it, I guess." Musashi ran a hand along the polished metal banister leading up to the front door. "Your Numeran is better than mine. What do you think they mean by Spirit?"

He shrugged. "Maybe a place to raise your spirits? Or they distill their own liquor or something? Oh, or it could be one of those famous old haunted hotels?"

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, sure."

"I'm not kidding." Nyasu pointed to a line in the pamphlet. "See here? It says: Silver Falls is also home to several supposedly haunted buildings, including an inn and a tavern - that's like a bar. Maybe it's just a publicity stunt, but sometimes these stories have truth behind them." His eyes widened as he glanced down and noticed a Help Wanted sign in the window. "Hey, and a job, too! Want to check it out?"

Musashi was already heading up the steps and opening the door onto a cozy lobby dotted with throw rugs and sepia photos. The polished wooden floors gleamed gently, and the flames burning low in the brownstone fireplace gave the building an immediate sense of home.

"Hello?" Musashi attempted in Numeran. "Is anyone here?"

The ex-Rocket jumped as a Muma popped up above the counter, followed quickly by a short-cropped head of hair. A brown-skinned woman in a fuzzy sweater smiled brightly at them. "Hello there! Welcome to the Spirit Inn, home to seven friendly spirits and a breakfast menu that's to die for! How may we help you?"

"Misdreavus!" chirped the Pokemon.

Musashi blinked, trying to process the rapid-fire Numeran. "Uh, we would like a room for the night, please." Nyasu elbowed her. "Oh… and, your sign? You need help? I want to, uh..." It took her a second to find the word. "Apply."

The woman clapped her hands. "Wonderful! An applicant and it's only my first day with the offer! You must have just gotten into town, from..." She paused, cocking her head to the side and smiling tentatively. "Kanto, I'm guessing?"

Musashi flushed. "Is my Numeran very bad?"

"No, I've just traveled a lot. Got an ear for accents." The woman held out her hands with an apologetic smile. "I do need to see credentials first, sorry." Musashi passed along her ID and green card. "Arigatou gozaimasu."

The two ex-Rockets exchanged looks of pleasant surprise.

"Hm..." The woman gave everything a once over, then glanced up with a smile. "Looks good to me," she said in almost perfect Kantan. "Can you cook, clean, keep the books, be friendly to customers?"

"I'm not much of a cook," Musashi said in the same language. "But I've worked a million customer service gigs, and cleaning isn't an issue. I'm pretty good with numbers, too." Years of living hand-to-mouth had seen to that, she thought wryly.

"That's fine. I like doing the cooking anyway."

Nyasu raised a paw. "Uh, I'm a pretty good cook, actually."

That earned them a look of surprise. "You can talk?"

The cat preened himself. "Just one of my many talents."

"Still haven't mastered the art of humility, though," Musashi drawled, falling into their old rhythm out of habit.

The woman hid a smile before turning to Nyasu, apologetic once again. "Sorry, I can only afford the one new hire. But if you're looking for work, you should go to the Pokemon Center tomorrow. A translator would be just about priceless."

He shot Musashi a smug glance. "Finally, people who appreciate me."

"Oh, give it time. They'll be sick of you before you know it."

Sounansu helpfully chose that moment to pop out of his Pokeball and agree, and for one blissful moment things felt so normal that Musashi half-expected Kojiro to chime in.

The gap in their repartee was swiftly filled by a smothered laugh from the innkeeper, giving Musashi little time to feel his absence for once. "You must be pretty good friends, huh?" she asked.

Musashi and Nyasu looked at each other and shrugged, sharing a crooked smile. "S/he's all right," they said as one, earning another chuckle.

"Sounansu!"

"I'll have to stay on my toes if I wanna keep up with you," the woman remarked, returning to her native language. "Is Numeran okay? I know Kantan all right but the rolling R's get stuck on my tongue sometimes."

"That's fine. I need practice," Musashi said. "Is there anything else you need?"

The woman shot off several questions that Musashi answered to the best of her ability, still fighting to get her pronunciations right and keep up with the inner translations. Finally, the hotel owner nodded and smiled again. "I'd say everything's in good order... Miss Kawamura, I think it's safe to say you're hired."

Musashi ducked her head in a small bow. "Thank you. And please, call me Musashi."

"Musashi, then. I'm Alana Moreno: owner of this fine hotel and in desperate need of another hand, especially during the busy months." She gestured towards the Pokemon floating at her side. "And this is my Pokemon partner, Umber. Welcome to the team."

"Misdree!" Umber echoed.

Musashi and Nyasu both blinked at that. From one team to another, Musashi thought.

"Do you have an apartment already, or did you want lodging on the premises?" Alana asked.

The two perked up. "We can stay here?"

Alana laughed. "I'll take that as a 'yes'. There's a two-bedroom suite above the kitchen. The old owner used to live there, but I have my own place in town so it just gathers dust these days. It'll be perfect for you two."

"Nansu!"

"Oh, sorry - you three."

"Yes, yes, you're very important," Musashi assured Sounansu in Kantan before returning him to his Pokeball. "He... does that. I will keep him in my room when I work."

"Why? I like Wobbuffets. Have him sit at the front desk with you if you want. He'll brighten the lobby right up."

Musashi smiled at her new employer's back, watching as she set a "Back in 10 Minutes" sign on the front desk. Alana directed Umber to keep an eye on the lobby for her, then gestured for Musashi and Nyasu to follow her to an old-fashioned elevator in the corner of the room. Musashi raised an eyebrow as Alana opened the doors manually, then unlatched the inner gate and stepped inside. "Er, Miss Moreno… is this safe?"

"It's been around practically since the hotel was built," Alana said with a grin. "But don't worry, we do regular maintenance."

Musashi stepped in, watching as Alana hit the button labeled "two" and the elevator began moving. Glancing around, her eyes caught something that puzzled her. "Miss Moreno?"

"Just call me Alana. 'Miss Moreno' makes me feel like an old lady."

It seemed odd to be on first-name terms with your boss and not use some sort of prefix or suffix, but that was part of the culture here, or so Musashi had heard. Best to go along with it. "Alana. That thing above the elevator - that thing that tells what floor you are on... I don't know its name..."

"Mostly I just call it 'that thing that tells you what floor the elevator is on,'" Alana said with a laugh. "What about it?"

"There is – uh, are – four floors. But on the button here, there are just three..." She noticed a spot that had been covered in duct tape. "Is that to the fourth floor?" Alana nodded and Musashi frowned. "Why is it covered?"

"The hotel only has three floors," Nyasu reminded her. "Seems odd to install four buttons."

"You mean you didn't read up on The Spirit Inn before you got here?" Two headshakes. "Then I guess I'll have to tell you the story, won't I?"

Musashi and Nyasu watched as Alana's eyes seemed to nearly glaze over and her voice slipped into a quiet lower register. "A long time ago, before it was 'The Spirit Inn,' this hotel was an apartment complex four stories tall. The guests on the fourth floor were a happy, carefree group of three families, seven people in all. They loved to throw parties of all sorts, no matter what the season.

"It led to their undoing. One day the seven were having an unusually loud shindig - er, sorry, that's an old slang word for a party - when one of the men accidentally tossed his cigarette into the trashcan before it was out. The fire began in the kitchen, and once they noticed, it was too late. The fire department managed to save the rest of the building, but the three families and the fourth floor were gone. Burned to death amid their own revelry, some still singing as they perished."

Nyasu and Musashi shuddered.

Alana grinned. "Pretty good, right? Make sure you memorize that part exactly like that. It always freaks out the guests."

Musashi blinked. "It's not true?"

"Oh no, it's true, more or less. The elevator is proof." Alana pointed to the buttons. "The owner at the time didn't have enough money to rebuild the floor, so he just cleaned out the mess and slapped on a new roof. Didn't even bother taking the button out of the elevator."

"What will happen if you press it?" Musashi wondered.

Alana shrugged. "Nothing, I'm sure. It's one of our big attractions, though, so we cover the button for dramatic effect."

"Do the families really haunt the inn?" Nyasu asked.

"More than just the families," she answered with a mysterious smile. "Because of their hospitality and good nature, the fourth floor is said to be a haven for wandering souls. Many believe the seven decided to stay on earth as spirits forever, guiding those who had lost their way to the afterlife." She finally stepped out of the elevator, which had been sitting on the second floor for some time now.

"Do you believe it?" Musashi asked.

"Sure do. Once in a while I'll find things out of place, or feel a slight breeze at my back, or see a shape of a person that shouldn't be there. Sometimes at night - especially if you're on the third floor - you can hear the faint sounds of music and laughter from upstairs."

Nyasu's eyes lit up, though it was hard to tell if it was from excitement or fear. "Do you think we'll get a glimpse of them?"

Alana chuckled at his eagerness. "You never know. They usually only toy around with the owner of the inn. Visitors will occasionally hear parties on the fourth floor, but there's really only one thing that gets reported a lot..."

Musashi and Nyasu both leaned forward, eyes wide and mouths parted halfway, hooked by the story.

Alana went on. "I've had more than half the guests tell me that, late in the evening, if they've been hanging out in the lounge, they'll see a tabby Meowth - er, Nyasu, I suppose to you - pad across the wooden floor. They've heard her meow, and others have even been lucky enough to pet the phantom beast. She always disappears up the elevator, as if by some unseen force..." She paused again, flashing another of her enigmatic smiles. "The Johnsons had a tabby Meowth."

A long silence descended on the hallway. Musashi finally broke it. "This is our room?" She pointed to the door they'd been standing in front of for a while.

Alana blinked as if to shake herself out of her storytelling phase, reverting back to her previous chipper self. "Oh! So it is! Here." She fumbled with a set of keys, then handed one to the former Rocket. The key turned in the lock and Alana wiped a hand across her brow in mock relief. "Good, I don't have to keep searching. I'll come in with you, show you around - it's surprisingly spacious, don't you think? - and help you get settled. Then, if you'd like, I can give you a tour of the town. Jen - she's a part-timer, college kid, sweet girl - she'll be here in an hour to manage the front desk, so it shouldn't be a problem. Sound like a plan?"

Her energy was contagious. Musashi caught herself smiling. "I'd really like that. Ariga – er, thank you."

"Tondemo nai desu. Happy to help."

xxx

Musashi and Nyasu found the tiny town of Silver Falls to their immense liking, falling into the rhythm of their new lives with surprising ease. Nyasu in particular was far busier than he'd ever expected, as his Pokemon translation skills were in high demand not just from the local Pokemon Center but the nearby park and resorts as well. He hesitated the first time a park ranger requested his help for a multi-day trip, and while he didn't say it, Musashi knew he was worried about leaving her alone so soon after the move.

She'd waved him away with a grin that was only a little forced. "You finally found a use for that big mouth of yours," she'd teased him. "Better milk it while you can, right?"

In truth, she did miss him while he was gone, but Nyasu had already uprooted his life once because of her. She wasn't about to let him do it again. And it wasn't like she was all alone, exactly. She had Sounansu to wobble about the apartment with her, and her coworkers and the hotel guests to occupy her time during the day.

It helped, too, that Musashi got on so well with her new boss. Alana was almost the polar opposite of her previous, untouchable superior, swiftly becoming someone both Musashi and Nyasu thought of as a friend as well as an employer.

"Oh? You're going out to dinner? Here, lemme give you an advance on your paycheck. Go to one of the swanky places."

"Not feeling well, Musashi? Don't worry, I know what it's like to be a little down sometimes. I'll take over. There isn't much business today as it is."

"I have to head out for the evening, so keep an eye on things, please. If it's still dead by ten, feel free to lock up and go to bed. I've got a key, and if there's business this late it can wait."

Musashi would be lying if she said she was happy, exactly. Kojiro's absence was like the music in the hotel lobby, rarely loud but always present, and she still spent most days feeling like she was wandering in a fog, seeing the world through a thin, chilly haze. Judging by the times she'd walked in on Nyasu sniffling while he made breakfast, she suspected he felt the same, though he never mentioned it and she sure as hell wasn't going to. The last thing she needed was to start crying now, after she'd spent so long staying strong like she'd promised.

But even so, she felt more... balanced, she supposed, than she had in a long while. The grief was less sharp, the sorrow less numbing. She'd have given anything to see Kojiro again, but she was starting to think she could actually build a life without him. A lonelier life, maybe - she still couldn't seem to talk to Nyasu the way she had before the accident, and she missed the casual intimacy of Kojiro's tight hugs and linked arms in a way she struggled to explain, even to herself - but it wasn't a bad life, all things considered. Maybe that was the best she could hope for.

There was one other thing nagging at her, though: the hotel's fourth floor. Every time she got into the elevator, she had an impulse to jab her finger on the taped fourth button.

"I know it won't do anything," she had told Alana, her Numeran improving by the day, "but my curiosity to see what it does do is starting to… 'get to me,' is that the phrase?" Her employer nodded and she returned the head-bob. "Yeah. It's really starting to get to me."

Alana laughed, as was her custom. "Oh, don't worry about it. Plenty of people say that. I even had the urge for a while."

"Well if it doesn't work, then can I just push it, right?"

"I wouldn't," Alana said, so seriously that Musashi straightened in her seat. "There have been... incidents. Not many, mind you. We've had a lot of guests say they pressed it and nothing happened. Still, we've had a few checked out early, so rattled I thought they were going to shake themselves apart before they reached their car. Point is, I wouldn't risk it. The urge'll pass soon."

Alana smiled again, and Musashi got the distinct sense she was trying to change the subject as she said, "Oh, I only just now noticed that you'd put on one of your playlists. The lobby has nice acoustics, doesn't it? What song is this?"

Musashi paused, listening to the faint sound of Sakamoto Maaya's "Hikari no Naka e":

"The treasure of memories that we've made
will always live on deep inside my heart."

She hurried over to the player and switched to the next track. "Never mind, it isn't a very good song. Too slow, too sad. Brings back bad memories."

Alana frowned. "Bad memories?"

"S...someone I knew back in Kanto." Musashi hesitated, glancing down and twisting her hands together. "There was an accident, and... well, Kojiro's gone now, so there's no reason to think about it anymore."

Alana's head jerked up at the name "Kojiro," though Musashi couldn't imagine why. She nodded again, this time sympathetically. "I'm sorry about that."

Musashi tried a smile that fell short. "Well, at least I know he's in a better place, right?"

The hotel owner seemed to be seriously considering the question before she shook herself from her reverie and looked up at her new employee. "Ah, sorry. You made me think about a friend of mine. I'm sure you're right. Did you want to talk about him at all? Kojiro, I mean?"

"Not really."

"I get that. I'm here if you ever need a listening ear, though."

Yeah, and maybe Urimu will fly, Musashi thought sarcastically. Out loud all she said was, "I'll keep that in mind."

xxx

A little over a month had passed since Musashi and Nyasu had arrived in Silver Falls, and the long winter had shifted into a crisp, bright spring. It was on a night during one of these cool, wet weeks that Alana assigned Musashi to the late shift.

"I hate to do this to you, but customers start pouring in as soon as the snow melts. We need to have people manning the front desk until at least midnight. You don't mind?"

"Not at all. I'm kind of a night owl-type anyway."

"I could have Umber stay with you, or you could bring your Wobbuffet down...?"

"It's fine, really," Musashi insisted, wondering why Alana seemed so worried about something so trivial. "I'm an only child, you know. I'm used to being alone."

So here she was, balancing the books at nine o' clock. She sat up, cracked her back, and yawned, speaking out loud in Kantan for one of the first times in a long time. "Ugh, I'm already beat. I knew I should've gone to bed earlier last night."

Not that she could have even if she'd tried. Tuesdays were always bad nights for Musashi, no matter what the week. Kojiro had died on a Tuesday.

She sighed, bending over her papers and yawning again. "Ugh. This is so stupid. Why can't I just move on? I'm supposed to be the tough one, right? So why do I still miss you so much, Kocchan...?"

She must have dozed off, because the next thing she remembered it was just after ten and the books still weren't finished. "Shoot," she grumbled to herself, rubbing at her temples. "Alana's gonna give me that Disappointed Look. I guess I could try to finish them before bed, but..."

"Myao."

Musashi looked up, jumping in her chair. A small, tabby Nyasu stood in front of the counter, looking up at her and mewing sweetly. She smiled and knelt down, bidding the animal to draw closer. "Hello there. Who're you? How did you get in here?"

"Myao," she said again, trotting up and rubbing her head along Musashi's open palm.

"Friendly little thing, aren't you? Sometimes I wish Nyasu was more like this." The cat mewed again, clambering into her lap and rubbing its head along her chin. Musashi chuckled. "You really know how to make a person feel loved, don't you? This is just what I needed to cheer me up. Sometimes I get so lonely, what with Alana off on errands and Nyasu busy with his own work..." She sighed. "I talk a big game, but I'm really not used to being alone at all, am I?"

The little animal in her lap paused, looking back towards the front door. "Myao?" She scrambled out of Musashi's lap, heading towards the elevator.

"Hey, don't leave! I was just starting to cheer up." Musashi shivered as a breeze seemed to pass by. She blinked, rubbing hard at her eyes. It looked like two human shapes, shadow-like, were standing next to the Nyasu. The Pokemon certainly mewed happily at someone, she thought in a daze. One, a slim figure with long brown hair, moved and disappeared as quickly as it had come. Then the other, broader-shouldered with shoulder-length...

Musashi sat down hard on the edge of the desk. The second figure vanished in an instant – as did the Nyasu – but had she just seen a flash of lavender hair?

I'm dreaming, she insisted, not daring to speak out loud. The phantom cat, the ghosts, the breezes... no, those are just stories. They can't be real... And that guy, well, even if I'm not dreaming, then that had to be my eyes playing tricks on me. It had to be. Of course it wasn't—

Her frantic thoughts trailed away as she watched the elevator's floor meter tick slowly upwards. Strange, how could someone be riding the elevator? Unless...

She gulped, clasping a hand to her mouth when the meter reached the fourth floor. "No. No way," she murmured between her fingers. "I'm dreaming. I have to be."

Hands trembling, she reached out and pressed the button for the elevator to return to the ground floor. In moments the light flickered on and she reached forward, pushing open the gated doors. She stepped in and glanced around, but the elevator seemed the same as ever. Her hand roved over the fourth-floor button, feeling the edge curiously.

She shook her head and pushed the button for the second floor. "I need to get some sleep, in my own bed. Alana will understand. Those apparitions can really shake you up."

The elevator opened onto the second floor. She could see the door to her apartment at the end of the hall. A warm bed and safety would be waiting for her there. Sounansu would greet her at the door with that goofy salute of his, as if he hadn't seen her in weeks. Nyasu would be getting in late that night, too. She'd go to bed, and when she woke up, Nyasu would be in the kitchen flipping pancakes, and everything would be back to normal...

Musashi's finger slammed down on the fourth floor button. "Safety is nice and all, but I'll drive myself crazy if I don't find out for sure."

The elevator moved. Not just moved - moved up! But it was just going to drop her off on the third floor though, right?

The floor rumbled. Huh? What's going on? Will it actually take me to the area under the roof? Or maybe to that place Alana mentioned?

The doors rattled once, then popped open on their own, revealing a seemingly endless expanse of darkness. Musashi tried to peer through the impenetrable blackness, but saw nothing. The smart thing to do would be hit the second floor button. She'd seen what she wanted to see, and the sight terrified her enough already.

"But if I don't find out what's past this darkness, I'll never be able to rest. There may not be another day where I'm brave enough. Okay, Musashi, here we go. Yana kanji!"

She stepped out into dead air and was consumed by shadows.

xxx

Hm? Where am I? I didn't know darkness could get this dark... So quiet, too. Isn't there anyone else here?

What are you doing here?

Oh, someone else! Thank goodness. A person could lose their mind in this place. Can you tell me where we are? Do you know?

Of course I know. I am the Keeper, am I not?

You are? Oh, well, that's good. Where am I?

You are in the place that is no place at all. A land where time stands still, the day never comes, yet no stars or moon shine. You are in the world between worlds, the Bridge between lands. In short, you are in The Rift between life and death.

That sounds grim. How did I get here?

That's what I would like to know. You certainly aren't dead... Ah, I see now. You entered through one of the torn roads; the one in the mountains, correct?

The last thing I remember was stepping out of an elevator. I was in the Numeran mountains at the time, yeah. What's a... a torn road?

A place where time and space have been damaged. It can take a living person into the Rift. Thankfully, there are only seven in the world. I'll have to talk to the Watcher there; this is the third person she's allowed through. What a nuisance.

Hey, it's not like I knew I'd wind up here, uh... oh, there you are. You're human? Well, that works for me. This is a lot weirder than I'd expected, so I won't overstay my welcome. Let me just... ugh, where'd that stupid elevator go? I could have sworn it was behind me, but I can't see anything here. Can't you turn on a light or point me to the door or something?

Is there anything you would like before you leave?

Huh? What do you mean?

Those who enter the Rift - through torn roads or death - well, it happens to be a very powerful law that I do what I can to grant them happiness. Originally, it was only meant for the dead who had made it to the Gates, but what with these damned cracks... So, what would make you truly happy?

Truly happy? Good question. Have I ever been truly happy? The nearest thing to it was when...

I can see you've thought of something. Go ahead. Don't be afraid. It is useless to try and hide your thoughts in this place, anyway.

It doesn't matter. What would really make me happy would be to have Kojiro back, but that's impossible. Kojiro's dead. There's nothing besides that. You may as well just send me back.

...Kojiro? Hm, a dead man, Kojiro...

Why are you smiling? Your smile is actually kind of scary. What's so funny?

Nothing for you to worry about. I can give you what you desire.

What?! How? Kojiro died months ago.

I have my methods. Rest for now. You'll soon have what you need.

What? Hey, where are you going!? Don't I at least get a few answers!? How the hell can you bring him back?! Wait! Can't you stay? Oh, he's gone, and now it's just me with this awful darkness again. I wish there was someone to talk to, even that stupid Keeper.

Hm, what's this? I feel all hazy. Could he really bring Kojiro back? I wonder...

xxx

Musashi opened her eyes just in time to hear the lobby clock chime eleven. The ex-Rocket sat up with a yawn and cracked her back. Remembering all that had happened, she came fully awake with a start, glancing around.

"A dream? All that?" She sighed, looking down at the hotel's accounting books. She'd dreamed about Kojiro plenty of times since the accident, but never in such a strange, roundabout way. "And for a second I almost believed it was real, too..."

"Musashi?"

The former Rocket's body stiffened. That voice... she knew it... knew it so well... but, but it couldn't be...

"Musashi!"

She couldn't look up. If she did, she'd find out it was just her imagination, and that would be even worse. Because it sounded just like him...

"Musashi," he said, louder now, as if he was moving towards her. "C'mon, Musashi, won't you even look at me?"

Her head rose at his pained request, slowly, reluctantly, as if pulled by strings. If he wasn't real... but what if he was? Would that be worse, or better?

I don't know, I just want to wake up from this!

She looked into a pair of green eyes and nearly burst into tears. "Kojiro?"

"Musashi! I'm so glad I found you! I've been looking for you for weeks!"

"What—?" she tried to stand up, but her legs turned to jelly beneath her.

"Don't say anything, just let me explain." She could only nod numbly, too weak with shock to do anything else. "When I got back to the hideout and found you and Nyasu had left, I knew right away that I had to find you and apologize. I felt so horrible about insulting your mother! I called Headquarters to ask if they knew where the two of you were, and they told me you'd quit Team Rocket and gone to some town overseas. You didn't really think I meant it when I said all that stuff about 'blasting off without me,' did you?"

"I..."

He went on while she fumbled to find her breath. "I thought you might have. I don't blame you, I was so out of line, I..." He clenched a fist. "But I couldn't just leave it like that! We're a team, after all, right? So I got my passport together and worked about a dozen different odd jobs to pay my way, and I finally made it here to Silver Falls. I can't believe we picked the same hotel to stay in!"

He grabbed her hands, ducking his head in an apology. "Musashi, I'm sorry I said that about your mother. You had every right to yell at me." He looked up with a hopeful smile. "Let's never fight again, okay?"

She said nothing for a long moment, staring up into that familiar face and trying to get the world to make sense again. Had she not dreamed it after all? Or was this just another dream?

The hands wrapped around hers felt so warm and solid, though. Just the way she remembered. So maybe that Keeper had done what he'd said he would. Could Divine Beings alter time? Had the crash even happened?

"Musashi? You aren't still mad at me, are you?"

She pushed back a fresh onslaught of tears, then smiled up at him. "Of course not, Kojiro! I forgave you a long time ago. And I'm sorry, too. Really." She grabbed his hand and stood. "Let's just pretend it never happened. Have you been in Silver Falls for long?"

"No, just a couple days." He laughed a little. "It's been a major pain for me to get around - my Numeran isn't nearly as good as yours or Nyasu's."

Musashi glanced at the clock: it was only eleven-fifteen, and despite her earlier exhaustion she now felt bursting with energy.

"Want me to show you around? We can grab a late-night snack on the way. I know all the best spots."

"I just ate. The family I'm staying with takes good care of me. But if you want to take me on a tour, I'd love that." Kojiro hesitated as Musashi tugged at his hand, practically dragging him towards the door. "H-hey, Musashi? You really aren't mad at me?"

"How could I be?" she asked, leading him down steps and into the street. "Leaving Kanto wasn't the biggest mistake of my life, and neither was quitting Team Rocket. But deserting you, Kojiro, was the stupidest thing I've ever done. Just because we had a little fight! I can't believe you came all the way out here to apologize, but I'm glad you did." She turned to face him, flashing the widest, most open smile she'd managed in months. "I missed you."

He offered her an embarrassed smile of his own. "I missed you too, Musashi. But I guess none of that matters now, right?"

"Not one bit."

xxx

"This is where you're staying?" Kojiro asked much later that night, nodding at the door to Musashi's new home.

"Mm," she whispered, sliding the key into the lock. "Nyasu probably crashed as soon as he got back, so we should say good night here. I'll tell him you're in town and we can all meet up tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure. I've got a pretty busy work schedule during the day, so I probably won't be able to talk to you until around eight or nine. Is that all right?"

As long as she could see him, he could visit her at the crack of dawn. "Perfect. We'll have another late night out, all three of us. Dinner and a movie this time?"

"Sounds great. Tomorrow, then?"

"Mm," she said again, opening the door and waving to Kojiro as he went down the hall. She closed the door silently behind her, heaving a long, happy sigh.

"You make a new friend?"

Musashi jumped, turning to find both Nyasu and Sounansu standing behind her. "Oh! You're still up?"

"I woke up a little while ago and noticed you weren't in yet. Sounansu didn't know where you'd gone either. We got kinda worried." Nyasu peered up at her with a teasing grin. "So, spill it. Who were you talking to that's got you smilin' so wide?"

"Kojiro."

Nyasu's grin collapsed. "What?"

"Yeah, you wanna say hi? He might still be..." Musashi trailed off as she opened the door again, peering down the hallway just in time for Kojiro to turn the corner back to the elevator. She glanced down and saw both Nyasu and Sounansu following her gaze. The cat had to have seen Kojiro, but he didn't look any happier. "Do you, uh... do you want to talk to him now, or...?"

"Talk to who?"

"Didn't you see him?"

"See who?!" Nyasu exploded, somewhere between terror and fury. "I didn't see anyone, Musashi, and Kojiro's been dead for months! What are you talking about?! If this is a joke it's in really poor taste."

"S-sou..." the other Pokemon said in puzzled agreement.

She stared at them, feeling both the smile and color draining from her face. Dead? They still thought Kojiro was dead? But if the Keeper had altered time, then... Nyasu couldn't remember what had never been... right? The past had been changed! Otherwise how could Kojiro have come back? She was right, wasn't she?

Musashi managed a blush and an embarrassed smile, stammering out an excuse. "Wait, what? Did I say 'Kojiro'? Geez, I'm sorry. I meant Cody. He checked into the hotel a little while ago and wanted to know if I could show him around. 'Co-dee,' 'Ko-jee' - I guess it just popped out. I didn't even notice."

"But I didn't see anyone out th—"

She snapped the door shut again, practically smashing it into Nyasu and Sounansu's faces. She shrugged, doing her best to feign levity instead of the rising panic she really felt. "You didn't? I saw him as he was turning the corner. Maybe you just missed him. Oh, well. There's always next time."

Nyasu's voice followed down the hall to her bedroom, anger gone but still heavy with concern. "Musashi? Are you really sure you're okay? I know we don't really talk about it, but... I miss him too, y'know, and... and if you need to, um..."

"I'm fine, Nyasu. Just tired. You need your rest too, right? You just got home, and you've got another big trip in a few days." She waved him back to his room. "We'll get lunch tomorrow and catch up, okay?"

He didn't sound convinced, but he also knew her well enough not to push. "Yeah, okay. G'night, Musashi."

She gave him a quick wave and a fake smile, but couldn't stop her heart from pounding against her ribs. Why did Nyasu still remember the crash, but Kojiro didn't? And what had the Keeper meant when he'd said "I have my methods"?