Summary—The meeting of Miriam and Shamin.
Chapter 3:
Tunnels
Pikachu crouched in the pack as Ash jumped off the bus, shaking. "Pikachu," she moaned.
"It's all right, Pikachu," he sighed, looking around the bus stop and closing his jacket against the chilly wind. Cornflower Strait looked like a nice city, and he started to walk around aimlessly through the half-slush, stretching his legs. Riding a bus for over eight hours was not very fun, and Ash silently vowed never to do it again.
Walking down the street, Ash caught a glimpse of himself in the windows. Carefully he ran his hand through his hair. It was only slightly lighter than it had been before the bleaching, but it wasn't the deep black that it once had been, for sure. He'd have to bleach it again later on to get it the pale yellow-white he wanted.
"Pikachu pika chu pikachu ka," Pikachu complained from inside his pack.
"Oh, all right Pikachu," Ash grinned, stepping into a side alley. He removed his pack and opened the lid, allowing his friend to get some of the refreshingly cold air. "Better?"
Pikachu looked at him crossly. She was not pleased, spending the whole ride in the pack. "Ka," she snapped, cheeks emitting electric bolts.
"Hey, easy," Ash coaxed. "Just calm down. No more bus rides, okay, but you gotta still stay in the pack until we get out of the city, unless you want to get chased out."
She sighed, shaking her head no.
"You warm enough?" he asked, his mind shifting towards Pikachu's well being. It had to be winter, didn't it?
"Pika," Pikachu said, dropping back into the pack heavily.
"That's good," Ash smiled sincerely. "Look, I'll go get us something to eat, and then head out to the country. There's bound to a Pokémon professor around that can give me a Pokédex, right?" It was the one of the few remaining flaws in his plan.
Pikachu didn't have the heart to tell him probably not. She just smiled up at him, a bit pitifully, but Ash took it as encouragement.
"Don't worry. We'll be fine." Ash suddenly dug into his pocket. "Here, I got some peanuts left from the bus ride. I know you're probably starving. I know I am." He grinned like a jack-o-lantern. "Eat up."
Pikachu rolled her eyes as she took the unopened package. (Peanuts left, ha! she thought.) "Pikapi." Carefully, she withdrew a peanut and held it up for him. Ash shook his head.
"You need it more than I do." He scratched her ear. "I'll leave the top open. If you get cold, let me know." With one last grin, Ash heft up the pack and put it on his shoulders. Pikachu felt him sigh through the pack.
"We'll be okay. Promise."
*****
Ash curled up next to the building, clutching the small bag. How was he supposed to know you needed a reservation to get into half these hotels? He rolled his eyes slightly, spirits only slightly dampened. "Hey, Pikachu, hungry?" he asked the bag next to him.
"Pika!" she smiled, emerging.
He grinned as he opened the bag and put his hand in. "Good. I got us some sandwiches." A steaming sandwich was withdrawn, and Ash handed it over to Pikachu. Then he withdrew his own and started to eat.
"We have to be careful not to spend all our money on store food," he stated between bites. "Actually, it was probably a good thing we couldn't get a room." Ash was quiet for a moment. "You know, Pikachu, I think we're spoiled. Too much good food and soft beds." He chuckled.
Pikachu looked hopefully at him, wondering if he was having second thoughts. He didn't continue, chewing thoughtfully on his sandwich, and Pikachu shook her head sadly.
After finishing his meager meal, Ash stretched out his arms and yawned, his eyes going up to the skies. "You know, you can see the stars in Ziganka at night." Little clouds were created from his breathing.
"Pi," Pikachu agreed, leaping onto his lap and snuggling close.
Ash smiled down at her, petting her head. "Well, let's get some sleep. Tomorrow we head out." Pikachu nodded, liking the feel of his hand on her head and ears while she drifted off to sleep.
Again Ash smiled, eyes studying her face and feeling her gentle heartbeat against his chest. True, he was having second thoughts, but that couldn't stop him now. He had crossed the Rubicon, and there was no going back. It would be stupid to. Ash made a face. Well, it wasn't exactly smart to write his mom before he left telling her everything, but Ash knew his dad wouldn't find out until tomorrow morning, when he came to wake Ash up. Actually, Ash started to wonder why he had even written that letter. Wouldn't he want to have as much time as possible before the police were contacted? Why had he?
He started a slow pondering of this thought, actually curious. Well, he had done it on a whim, for sure. And the letter had said absolutely diddle, just that he was leaving and he'd be all right, love Ash. It didn't even say why he had left. Ash shook his head, once again surprised that the strands that fell over his eyes were light.
Oh well, what's done is done, he thought dully, still petting Pikachu. He had expected a lot more of a fight from her to not leave, and it slightly touched Ash that she trusted him. If she had put up a fight about leaving, he wouldn't have left. Ash wouldn't have wanted to put her though something she didn't want to, and he certainly wouldn't have left her behind. Ash's eyes shone fondly down at her, and he frowned slightly to see that she was shivering. Carefully he shifted her so he could zip her up in his jacket. Pleased, he started to close his eyes and prepare to sleep.
*****
It wouldn't be correct to say he was sleeping when something woke up. Ash had been listening to the traffic and the unfamiliar noises of the city when he heard a silent noise coming down the alley towards him. He didn't need to have his eyes open to know that the person stopped near him and started to reach for his pack.
He lashed out his hand, catching the person by the wrist. "That's mine."
The figure in shadows leaped back, slightly slipping on the slush, surprised that Ash was still awake. It had been watching him for some time and figured that the boy finally had drifted into unconsciousness. Its wrist was free from Ash by the movement back, and quickly it kicked up the pack and ran.
"Hey, come back!" Ash yelled, surprised at the quickness the person had. He leaped up, also slipping wildly on the half-snow city creation, and started to run.
The figure looked back to see Ash close. With grim determination, it leaped up onto a dumpster and over a wall, then continued to run. When it glanced back, it was surprised to see that the boy was still on its tail. In started to knock down garbage cans, hoping that that would slip the kid up. Normally the figure didn't have this much trouble with a simple pickpocket.
Ash grunted as he leaped over the cans, intent on getting his bag back. His had his clothes and food in there, as well as his money.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu complained, sticking her head out.
"Our stuff got stolen, Pikachu!" Ash hissed between leaps, climbing over another fence and unto the dumpster. He could se the figure up ahead, and could tell that the gap between them was shortening.
"Ka!" Pikachu snapped, bolts escaping her cheeks.
"Well, don't worry, we'll catch him," Ash promised, running faster.
*****
Damn, damn, damn, the figure thought, figuring out that it had taken a wrong turn somewhere along the line. It was not good on pressure, and the boy was giving it a lot. No one chased it before, mainly because they never knew that something was stolen from them. Also, this boy was good at getting past all the obstacles the thief left.
Well, why not just drop the pack? the figure reasoned. The boy would probably stop chasing it. The thief looked back. Probably not.
Actually, the boy wasn't yelling for the police or anything, which was a good thing. He probably just wanted his pack back. The thief ran and then doubled back to run down the side alley. Finally!
*****
Ash caught the figure dashing off into the new alleyway, and he followed. "He's not going to get away from us, right, Pikachu?"
"Pi," Pikachu agreed wearily.
They entered the alley, and Ash skidded to a halt. It didn't stop him from running into the wall.
"Dead end," he muttered rubbing his face, then quickly looked down his jacket. "You okay, Pikachu?"
"Ka," she replied weakly, eyes wavering.
"Sorry," Ash smiled sheepishly, then looked around the alley. There was no fire escapes or doors, no way to scale this wall. He looked around in the dim lighting. He couldn't even hear any footsteps. "He got a—"
"Pikapi!" Pikachu said, sticking her head out and sniffing the air. Her night vision was better that his, and she could see (and smell the scent of the thief who had gone down) the manhole cover.
Ash squinted, then made a face. "Aw, man! The sewers?"
"Pika!"
Even with his reluctance, Ash made his way over to the cover, and wasn't that surprised to see that it was slightly open. Using all his strength—damn, these things are heavy!—he rolled the cover over and started down the hole.
He was surprised that it didn't smell like a normal sewer. Although it was dark, Ash could tell that there wasn't any slime on the floor, and, when his hand touched the wall, there was none on the walls. "Which way, Pikachu?"
Pikachu sniffed the air, trying to get past the slight sewer smell. (Just because Ash couldn't smell the sewer didn't mean she couldn't.) "Chu, Pikapi," she stated in a positive tone, telling him to go right.
They started to walk in the darkness, Pikachu's ears perked for any sound. Ash walked carefully, keeping a hand against the wall. There weren't any outlets from this dark path. He didn't doubt Pikachu's call, mainly because the thought didn't cross his mind that she could be wrong.
Slowly, a light started to flicker into their eyes, growing gradually brighter as they continued. At a point the light glowed brightly like it would outside, and the two could see that the sewer wasn't a sewer, but a hall. It was clean, and along the walls electric lamps shone brightly. The stone floor had changed into steel.
"Pika," Pikachu muttered in awe.
"Tell me about it," Ash agreed, running a finger over the carved patterns on the stone as he walked.
"Pikachu ka!" Pikachu said excitably. Ash looked up to see a group of walking their way, chatting freely in some language Ash couldn't understand. They paid Ash no mind as they passed, and Ash released his breath.
"Come on, Pikachu. Let's find my pack, and we can get out of here," he muttered. Pikachu nodded her agreement, and they continued on.
Now the halls seemed to separate from the main one, going off in a hundred different directions. And, with each passed hall, people mingled out. Some gave Ash a stare or two, but most, like the group of men, ignored him. Using Pikachu's nose, they navigated through the halls. Most of the occupants were children, younger or as old as him, Ash noticed, although he did see a few adults here and there. The people here looked tough and ready for anything, although the eyes that fell on him were kind.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu hissed, pointing down a hall from inside Ash's jacket. She had been cowering inside, hoping that no one would see her. Ash nodded and headed down. After passing a few rooms, Ash stopped.
Inside the room was a group of people surrounding another lime green-haired person. They seemed to be listening to the person rattle on.
". . . But I lost him. He didn't even have a chance, the idiot."
"Our top lit' thief," cooed a soft voice.
"Let's see what you got, kid," another voice said.
"Right."
The group parted momentarily, and Ash saw the familiar brown-grey fabric. "Hey, that's mine!" he yelled, jumping to the room. Suddenly as the eyes were on him, including the green-haired thief. "So hand it over!"
The eyes shifted towards the young thief, who Ash reckoned was about his age or younger, and a girl. She smiled weakly. "Well, what do you know?" she chuckled forcefully.
"Lost him, huh?" sneered a boy, a tall red-head.
Ash actually didn't care for what was going on, stomping in and grabbing the pack from her. "Thank you."
"Hey, I stole it fair and square!" she snapped, still having a grip on it.
"You don't steal fair and square!" Ash retorted, tugging harder.
"How'd you get down here?" demanded another man, grabbing Ash's shoulder to wrench him away.
Ash tried to get away from the grip. "Followed her."
"He couldn't have!" the girl exclaimed. "There's no way he could have seen the entrance in the dark."
"Then how'd he get down here?" inquired the redhead.
"Umm . . ."
A white-haired girl with brilliant green eyes shook her head sadly. "Let him go, Craig. He can't get out anyway."
The man holding Ash, Craig, let go. "How'd you get down here and find the entrance, kid?" Craig growled.
"I looked," Ash responded lowly. "And if you give me my pack, I'll be on my way."
The red-haired man looked down at Ash. "You're pretty mouthy for a kid," he said absently. "Well, Shamin?"
The girl looked down and tossed over the pack over to Ash. "He shouldn't have been able to find the entrance," she muttered.
"But he did. I have to wonder if you're losing your touch," Craig sneered.
Shamin's cheeks flushed angrily. "Hey, I tried to lose him! I thought I did."
"You thought wrong."
The white-haired girl—she looked about 18—placed a hand gently on Shamin's shoulder. "Don't worry 'bout it. We all slip once."
Ash looked at the group, who were suddenly all looking at him. "Well, I'll just be leaving," he smiled bravely, backing up.
"Maybe," the red-haired man smiled deviously, stepping over to shut the door. "What's your name?"
"What's yours?"
"Johnny."
Ash nodded, extending a hand. "Nice to meet you, Johnny." Johnny looked at it coldly, and Ash slowly put his hand back down. "I'm . . . Shan." His mind forced the name out of his lips. "I guess I'll be on my way. Good night."
"Listen, Shan, we don't let people just come and go," Johnny stated, leaning fully on the door.
Ash crossed his arms over his chest. He could feel Pikachu ready to release a thunderbolt at his notice. "So what do you plan to do? Hold me prisoner?"
"In a sense, yes, until we know you can be trusted."
"Oh, Johnny," sighed the still unnamed female. "He's just some kid." Her green eyes went over Ash, critiquing him. "Jeez, he ain't gonna go to the cops. Hell, probably don't even know how to get there."
"Miriam, you are too trusting."
"Better than bein' a suspicious bastard," she smiled. Shamin giggled.
Ash stood ready for anything, gripping his backpack. "Take him to one of the rooms, Craig,"
"Right, Johnny." Craig took a step forward as Ash whirled. "Come on, kid." It was clear that Craig was taking some kind of twisted pleasure in all this as he stepped froward.
"Sorry, but no. And I seriously suggest you don't come any closer, otherwise the results could be shocking." He grinned at the pun.
Craig laughed, as did Johnny. Shamin looked ready to as well, but Miriam stopped the laugh with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Never underestimate the ability of someone that can track ya," she whispered.
"Let's see what you got, kid." Craig leaped, but Ash jumped nimbly aside. Years of traveling and being chased by Team Rocket taught him never to use Pikachu too soon, although he could tell she was ready. The electricity she had built up was seeping into him, making his hair stand slightly on end.
"You can't get out, just so you know. Not unless you got some ace in the hole," Johnny drawled, enjoying the show. Ash leaped up onto a wooden table, just as Craig grabbed his ankle and prepared to trip him up.
"NOW!" Ash yelled opening his jacket to free Pikachu.
"Pikaaaa-CHUU!" the tiny mouse yelled as it leaped away, filling the room with her thunderbolts. They seeped right into the steel floor and into the people standing on. Ash, on the wooden table, was relatively safe.
"AHH!" they all yelled simultaneously in pain, then fell to the floor smoking.
"Come on, Pikachu!" Ash laughed grimly, jumping down and rolling Johnny aside to open the door. "Let's get out of here."
"Pika!" she agreed as they ran down the hall. People literally jumped aside when they saw the tiny mouse running next to her owner. Ash had forgotten about the fear of Pokémon that people had here. Pikachu fueled that fear by allowing thunderbolts to encircle her body.
"Stop them!" Johnny yelled, recovering first from the shock first.
"Pikachu! Get on my back," Ash ordered quickly, knowing Pikachu had better aim the higher she was up. Pikachu immediately complied. "Call me crazy, Pikachu, but this isn't exactly how I planned it'd go," he muttered looking over his shoulder, quickly changing direction as a group of the braver kids ran towards him. "Not like I had a plan."
He must have been running around for a good ten minutes. If anyone ever got too close, Pikachu always managed to scare them off with a teasing thunderbolt. The two had had to double back more than once though, and it was safe to say that Ash was, unsurprisingly, lost. Suddenly he tripped, for someone had stuck a booted foot out into the hall. Pikachu flew head, then rolled a bit. "Pikapi," she called, running back over to him.
Ash pushed himself up and turned to face the tripper, ready for anything. The familiar white hair appeared in the doorway. "Kid, ya ain't got a chance," Miriam smiled, gripping him by the front of his shirt and yanking him in. Pikachu barely made it in as the door slammed shut.
"What are you doing?" Ash demanded hotly, stepping back. He had heard the door lock.
"Pika!" Pikachu added, cheeks able to light a city.
"Keep yar little rodent at bay, kid," Miriam ordered, also stepping back. She patted her hair, and Ash thought it seemed to have a static problem. "I know these tunnels like the back of my hand."
"I'm not being some prisoner," Ash snapped.
She shook her head sadly. "Ya already are." Then she took another step back a disappeared on the teleport pad.
"Hey!" Ash yelled. "Let me out of here! Let me out!"
*****
Ash frowned at the ceiling as he laid on the cot that had been the room, his hands under his head. Pikachu rested next to him. Every once and awhile some jerk of a kid would bang on the door, but that hadn't happened for a while now, mostly because every time someone did Ash had Pikachu release a mild Thundershock. He had given up yelling hours ago, (he had a watch on, so he knew the time,) and now he merely looked up at the ceiling at the now familiar cracks.
He couldn't take it. He was supposed to heading out to be a Master or something, not stuck as some prisoner. Savagely, Ash sat up and grabbed his bag. Life sucked. Sucked. Sucked. Sucked. Pikachu looked at him with her brown eyes, knowing that he was getting cabin fever major.
"Pikapi," she cooed, sitting up and watching him dig. She knew he only grabbed the bag for something to do.
"This is so stupid, Pikachu," Ash hissed, shuffling aimlessly. Then he threw the pack against the opposite wall. "Stupid!" He placed his elbows on his knees and held the sides of his face.
Shaking her head, Pikachu jumped off the bed and went over to the traveling pack, also digging inside it. Ash had packed extra sets of clothes, some papers and envelopes, a sleeping bag, few packets of food, and money. Pikachu nosed the sleeping bag out, because she too had packed something for just such an occasion. Ash watched glumly, although he was slightly interested, as she unrolled the bag with her nose and scampered inside. She appeared a moment later holding a case.
"What do you got there?" Ash asked, genuinely curious. Pikachu leaped up next to him and handed over the case. He opened it, already knowing what it was. "My flute? You brought my flute?"
"Pika!" she nodded, patting his arm. She pointed at the shiny instrument. "Chu pikachu ka, Pikapi!"
Her trainer looked at her crossly, but under her gaze crumpled and started to put the instrument together. "I can't believe you brought this," he muttered under his breath. "Maybe we can hock it for some extra cash."
Pikachu knew he wouldn't. She knew it more than she knew he wouldn't run away, she meant. His father had given him the instrument, and Ash would sooner die than give it up, even if he did "hate" it. "Chu ka pikachu!" she urged as he slowly put it together.
A glimmer of a smile crossed his lips, and he brought the instrument up to his lips. Slowly, he blew, eyes closed, and played his solo, the only thing he could recall at the moment. He had started out all by himself, and Ash could almost hear when the violins and percussion would come it, when the violins and brass accompanied or challenged him with the sole possession of the melody. The whole orchestra was in his mind from the memory.
As the last note died away, Ash's eyes shot open when he heard clapping, quiet clapping, from outside his door.
"That was beautiful."
He was quiet for a moment, then finally responded. "Thank you. What do you want?"
"I'm on guard duty thanks to you," the voice said after a moment. "Remember me?"
"The one who took my pack, right? Serves you right." Ash didn't hide the bitterness.
"Hey, if you didn't run after me!"
"If you hadn't taken my pack!"
"If you—what's the point!" She was quiet for a moment. "What's your name again?"
Ash had to stop himself from saying his true name. "Shan."
"I'm Shamin. Kinda cool."
"What?"
"Our names."
He didn't click on. "What about them?"
Shamin sighed. "Forget it. So you play the flute?"
"Duh."
"Hey, I wouldn't be so cocky, Mr. Prisoner!" she snapped. "I was just gonna say you're pretty good."
Ash blushed slightly, kind of happy with the compliment, but didn't let on. "I played at school."
"I play the guitar, you know?"
"No, I didn't."
"You are pretty mouthy."
He snorted. "Well you'd be too if you were stuck behind the door. I didn't ask to be here. I'm supposed to be training!"
"What? That little rodent of yours?" Shamin laughed.
"Her name is Pikachu!" Ash yelled hotly.
"Pikachu!"
"They're dangerous, ya know? Pokémon, I mean."
Ash growled slightly. "Shows how much you know," he muttered. "Just go away."
"What were you doing sleeping on the streets?"
"Does it matter to you?" Ash snapped hotly. "Go guard someone else. No way I can break out of here anyway."
Shamin was quiet on the other side of the door, so quiet that Ash figured she had left. He shook his head and fingered the flute, looking hard at Pikachu. "Well, this is a fine mess I've landed us into, huh?"
Pikachu smiled. "Chu chu pikachu!" She twirled around.
Ash looked at her a moment, confused, then laughed. "Gotcha. Ready?" She nodded happily, jumping to the ground.
"Pi. Ka. Pi . . . ka . . . chu!" she laughed, and Ash immediately went into a rapid finger piece that sounded a lot like an Irish jig. Pikachu started to dance and leap around playfully. Ash smiled as he played, trying to time his slurs and staccatos to her movements.
They both were nearly immune to the sudden entrance of a guitar, but they could hear the added notes. Both players had no idea as to what or how the other was playing, and Ash struggled to ignore Shamin, who, in his opinion, couldn't count at all. It seriously bothered him, but to quit playing to tell her would mean he'd have to actually talk to the girl.
He didn't want to talk to her at all.
*****
"Well, kid, ya wanna come out?" Miriam smiled, leaning against the door.
"Do I actually get a choice?" Ash snapped.
"Well, say I were to unlock the door and walk away." She looked at her nails, waiting for his response. He gave her none. "Well?" He still remained silent.
"Ya know, I heard ya and Shamin playing last night. Ya're pretty good, especially when she's just learnin' and can't hold a beat to save her life." Miriam heard a quiet grunt of agreement, but nothing came with words. "So where ya from?" Again no answer. "Ya know, conversation works two ways."
"I thought you were going to unlock the door and walk away!"
Miriam sighed, shaking her head sadly. "I did say that, huh?"
"Yeah, you did. So?"
"Do ya even know where ya are?"
Ash looked at the door savagely. "In a little room being held prisoner."
"Well, yeah, I suppose, if ya want to get technical," she admitted. "Look, these tunnels are for runaways and such. We don't need any trouble from no police."
He snorted. "I didn't plan on going to the police, all right. I just want to head out of town, so you going to unlock that door or what?"
"Ya really don't let go of an idea, do ya? Look, we had to make sure."
"Of what?!" Ash questioned. "Keeping me in here did absolutely nothing for you. You might as well have added another missing person to the wall." Of course, you would probably be a few hours too late.
Miriam nodded her head, agreeing with the kid, but she wasn't fool enough to go up against the others. Damn dictatorship was getting a footing around here. "Probably. So ya're heading out for trainin' or whatever? In Winter? Blondie, no offense, but that's stupid. It's cold out there, and trust me on this. I suggest ya hang around until Spring. Better travelin'."
"Humph."
"I ain't gonna ask ya any personal questions. No one hear really likes that," she continued. "Of course, no one here really likes your little rodent."
"Pikachu stays with me," Ash growled.
Miriam smiled. "No one cares what anyone else cares, kid. Not here. We only live and do a few odd jobs for rent. Really, ya're lucky Shamin picked ya for stealing from. Ya'd have died out there eventually.
"So what ya goin' do?"
He was quiet on the other side of the door. "Do I really have a choice in my answer?"
"Always a choice, just not always the right one," she chirped smugly. "You'd be a valuable asset to the place. Ya even managed to follow Shamin, and she's one of the best kids I trained. Ya got potential, and spunk."
Ash closed his eyes. It was the only way he was probably going to get out of this room. "I'll stay until Spring," he gritted darkly.
"Well, we'll see on that," Miriam laughed, opening the door.
"I will," Ash stated, standing up from the bed. Pikachu was on his shoulder.
She shook her head sadly. "Everyone says that, Blondie, but no one leaves. We become like family."
He made a cruel smile. "I'll be willing to bet most of them left their families."
Miriam blinked in surprise, but recovered quickly. "We don't question anyone who comes here," she stated.
"Because they won't answer, will they?" Ash had picked up a lot from his time with his father. One thing was to read between the lines.
Miriam forced out a cheery laugh and extended her hand. "Welcome to the Tunnels, Blondie. I can see ya're gonna fit right in."
Ash took her hand grimly.