4 Shigure
The sun had already begun to set behind the eastern horizon by the time the battle had ended. Though the thunder and lightning had quit, the rain continued to fall from the clouds, creating a sort of rhythm as it drummed against the windows.
Ash, Misty and Mewtwo sat in the living room, chatting pleasantly, while Pikachu, Togepi and Sparky played with each other. In the corner of the room, Phoebe was engaged in some activity and refused to let anyone watch, but would occasionally glance at Ash and Misty. Brock was in the kitchen with Shigure, working on the meal. It wasn't long before the mouth- watering scent of fish, vegetables and various spices filled the air.
"Hey," Shigure called, poking his head through the doorway, "Ash, Misty, would you mind setting the table for us?"
"No problem," Misty replied.
"Great," Shigure said. "Plates and silverware are in the cabinet in the dining room."
"I'll go feed the others," Mewtwo offered, rising from his chair.
"Thanks," Shigure replied, appreciatively.
Ten minutes later, everyone was kneeling around the small dining room table, waiting for the food. Shigure entered the room carrying a large bowl of noodles and a platter of fish and vegetables into the room and set it on the table, then rushed back into the kitchen for the fried rice as Brock brought in a tray of fresh, steaming hot rolls. Once all the food was brought in, they each served themselves a bit of everything.
"Wow!" Misty commented as she started on the noodles. "This is really good."
"Thank you," Shigure replied. "I do my best."
They feasted, all the while conversing on any subject that would come up, which was everything from Brock asking what Shigure fed his pokemon, to Ash telling bad jokes. The only one who was not present at the table, was Phoebe, who remained ardently absorbed in her activity.
"So, Shigure," Ash asked as he chomped into one of the rolls, "do you have any training tips you could give me."
Tipping his bowl up toward his mouth, Shigure used the tips of his chopsticks to scoop the last bit of noodles into his mouth. He took a moment to chew and swallow before answering.
"Actually," he replied, "I believe I do."
He put his bowl aside and took a sip of his tea. After setting down his cup, he continued.
"There are three things to remember about training," he said, holding up three fingers. "The first is one you already know of. That is simply to love your pokemon. A lot of people don't realize how important this is. All pokemon seek friendship with their trainers, so if you aren't even friends with your pokemon, then they have no motivation to help you. Pokemon who respect their trainers will always be willing to do more than those that are forced to obey.
"The second rule is a fighting tip. Timing is everything. That attack that beat you would have been useless if I hadn't timed it just right. Too soon and your Pikachu would've been able to avoid it. Too late and Pikachu's attack would have hit first. Either one of those could have meant my defeat instead of yours. With good timing, however, I was able to give the command in just enough time for Sparky to pull it off without giving Pikachu the time he needed to break off his attack to dodge.
"The third rule, always remain humble. Humility is a powerful defense in a battle because it keeps you from making two mistakes; overestimating yourself and underestimating your opponent. It is a good idea to treat every opponent as if they were better than you, otherwise, a boy with no particular skill or experience can easily best you. If you can keep a hold of your pride, then you will always have a chance of success, no matter who you face."
As Shigure finished off the last of his tea, Ash sat in contemplation for a moment. To him, Shigure seemed to be one of the wisest people alive. Now, he knew of some new things to improve on and he hoped that Misty wasn't going to ruin the moment by rubbing it in. He was relieved, and more than a little surprised, when she didn't.
"I'll remember that," he said after the moment had passed. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Shigure replied. "Who want's dessert? I think I have some ice cream in the freezer."
By now, everyone had finished the main course of the meal and eagerly agreed. As Shigure rose from his seat to get the dessert, Phoebe came into the room, skipping blithely and holding a piece of paper in her hands. Her face was bubbling over with joy as she held it out to Shigure.
"What's this?" he asked as he reached into his pocket for his reading glasses. "Oh my! This is really good, Phoebe. Come and look at this," he said to the others.
The others walked over to Shigure and looked at the paper. Ash was surprised to see a very detailed sketch of himself sitting next Misty on the couch.
"Did Phoebe draw this?" Misty asked.
"Yes," Shigure said, hugging his Clefairy. "She's so talented. I can't understand why her previous trainer would even think of abandoning such a uniquely gifted pokemon as her. You're so wonderful," he cooed, caressing Phoebe's head lovingly.
"Clefairy," Phoebe replied, blushing a little.
With that, Phoebe began to dance about like a tiny ballerina, singing gleefully in her harp-like voice. She hopped onto the table, grabbed a plate and made herself a serving of food.
"Did she do all of the pictures we saw in the hallway?" Ash asked.
"With the exception of the two by Monet," Shigure replied, "every single one of them. When I travel on business, I often take her with me. Every time she sees something that she likes, she will take sheet of paper and sketch or paint it. People tend to ignore the best abilities that pokemon have because they can't be used for fighting. I, however, encourage them to use any of the talents they have. There's a lot more to them than the immediately obvious, but it's hard for people to see that sometimes."
Suddenly, Shigure remembered what he had been about to do. "The ice cream," he said, rushing off to the kitchen.
Ash smiled as he watched him. "He really is a great man," he stated. Turning to Mewtwo, he added, "I can see why you've been so happy here."
Mewtwo smiled and nodded. "There are few people in this world like him. You could search your entire life and not ever find another person so kind as him."
Ash nodded. At the same moment, Brock, who had been looking at the sketch, spoke up.
"Hey, Ash," he slyly remarked, "did you know that you and Misty make a cute couple?"
"What?" the two of them demanded in unison.
"Cute couple?" Ash laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous," Misty added.
When Shigure came back into the room with ice cream, the three of them were in a very heated argument. He hesitated, then beckoned toward Mewtwo.
"What are they fighting over now?" he asked when Mewtwo was within earshot.
"Brock thinks that those two look cute together," Mewtwo replied.
Shigure looked at the two of them, nodding. "I agree. You want to eat while they work this out?"
For he next five minutes, Shigure and Mewtwo enjoyed their dessert while the other three resolved their disagreement. When they were finally finished debating with each other, they each sat down at the table. Ash and Misty took the two chairs that were farthest apart without facing each other and obstinately refused to acknowledge the other's presence. For another five minutes, nobody said a single word, each person brooding with his own thoughts.
"Is it true what they say," Ash asked Shigure at length, finally breaking the hostile silence.
"That depends," Shigure replied. "Who are 'they'?"
"Everyone," Ash replied.
"Everyone, eh?" Shigure repeated with amazement. "You hear that, Mewtwo? 'Everyone' talks about me. I must be famous."
Ash couldn't tell by his response if Shigure was being serious or if he was joking. He remembered the way the woman in the village had reacted when she heard the same thing and wondered if what he'd been told was just gossip.
"What do they say about me?" Shigure asked.
"They say that you've seen every pokemon that we know exists," Ash said. "Is it true?"
Shigure chuckled. "I believe that's just a rumor," he said, then his hand went to his chin in thought. "No, wait." He began to mumble to himself and Ash heard him whisper the names of several rare pokemon. "I hadn't thought about it until you brought it up," he concluded finally with a reflective nod, "but I think so. Mind you, some of them were only chance glimpses, but if that's acceptable, then yes, I have."
The others stared at him with their jaws dropped.
"That's incredible," Brock said.
Shigure shrugged nonchalantly. "What's so incredible about that? It just means that I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. There is nothing great about that, is there?"
Ash couldn't believe what he was hearing. Shigure was saying that what he had done had no meaning. "How can you say that?" he demanded. "Do you realize that you're the most famous man alive?"
Shigure held up one finger and replied with Solomon-like profoundness, "Exactly."
Apparently, he thought he had just revealed the mysteries of the universe to them, for he said nothing else, gave no explanation. There was a brief pause as the three companions tried to decipher the riddle.
"If you're trying to make a point," Brock said, "I'm afraid that it's gone way over my head."
"Repeat what you just told me, Ash," Shigure requested.
Ash was confused, "You're the most famous man alive," he repeated perplexedly.
"Who did you say was famous?" Shigure asked.
"You," said Ash, still not sure what he meant.
"That is the point," Shigure explained. "I'm famous. I suppose that that's nothing to scoff at, but I must ask you one thing. Who, besides myself, gains from my fame?"
The others were quiet.
"Nobody, really," Misty concluded.
"That is why I don't think too highly of it," Shigure said. "Being known around the world for something is quite an acclaim, but if having seen a bunch of pokemon is all that I am recognized for, then it really doesn't matter to me."
Ash was still a little confused by his outlook on his distinction. If being famous for seeing every pokemon in the world wasn't important, then what was? He decided to ask. When he heard the question, Shigure leaned back in his chair and stared absently at the ceiling. The atmosphere of the room immediately changed, became instantly solemn. The change was so radical that even Ash could feel it. For a moment, he wondered if it was Mewtwo, using his psychic powers to bring a respectful feeling into the room. When he looked, however, he saw that Mewtwo was just as awed at the rest of them. He waited, listening intently, for the host to speak.
"When I was six," he began, "both of my parents died. One night, there was an electrical fire and my entire house went up in flames. I survived, but only because my parents made sure of it. In all the confusion, I only remember my father handing me to the fireman and pleading for him to take me out. The moment I escaped, the porch collapsed, sealing my parents inside the smoldering wreckage."
In the light, his eyes sparkled with gathering moisture. "I was sent to live with my uncle and aunt. They loved me just as much as my parents and my childhood was safe and secure, but the loss of my parents left a heavy scar on my mind. It was years before I stopped crying in my sleep; although, I believe there are times that I still do. That kind of grief is a hard thing to live with, but it did help me to realize what I needed to do with my life."
Shigure untied the string that connected the katana to his sash and held it out to Ash. Respectfully taking the sword, he drew it from its sheath and carefully examined it. He lightly rubbed his forefinger against the blade. With a sharp gasp, he drew his hand away, blood dripping from the open cut on his finger.
"It's sharp," he stated as he handed the weapon back.
Shigure nodded as he replaced it on his weapon. "That sword is more than just a weapon. It is a symbol, a symbol of noble ancestry. It is the symbol of the samurai. In these modern days, however, men are not born to honor, they must earn it. My parents earned it when they sacrificed themselves to save me and that put a responsibility upon me to live for them. It was my duty as the sole survivor of my family to ensure that the sacrifice made for me was not in vain, that my parents did not waste their lives. Everything I have done since then has been bent on that one goal."
"What have you done since then?" Brock asked.
Shigure smiled. "I got a job as an executive for an oil company and eventually worked my way up until the head of the company made me his partner. In my position, I had a lot of extra money. With that money, I built schools and hospitals, funded charities and service projects; anything that I could to help others. Wherever I went, for business or for pleasure, I gave up every cent that I could offer to those in need. For my services, I have been offered numerous awards. All of it combined does not carry the weight of the thanks of a single homeless child; the joy in his eye when I can tell him that he no longer has to live on the streets, without food or cloths or shelter. That is all I need to be happy, nothing else matters. That is how I see to it that my parents did not die in vain.
Shigure paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Though it is certainly worth the effort, the path of honor isn't always easy. Traveling on it has begun to take its toll on me, and I have begun to feel the need to settle down from my busy lifestyle. Years ago, I yielded my position as head of my company to be just an executive so that I could more easily work from home and moved to this town, where I could away from the hassles of the big cities. I have stopped traveling as much as I used to. I need some time away from all my work, more time to be with my family." He patted Sparky on the head. "Still, I give all that I can. In my spare time, I often go down into the town and help them on their farm and currently all the extra money that I don't need is going to AIDS and cancer research and I also plan to set up a shelter for abandoned pokemon. I have lived my life to the fullest that I have been able to and I have no regrets. If I could do it all again, I would in a heartbeat."
In that moment, as he contemplated the wisdom that had been shared, there was no person that Ash admired more than Maruyama Shigure. He knew that he would probably never meet another man so altruistic as him and was glad he had come. If he lived for a hundred years, he was sure that he could never forget this day.
The sun had already begun to set behind the eastern horizon by the time the battle had ended. Though the thunder and lightning had quit, the rain continued to fall from the clouds, creating a sort of rhythm as it drummed against the windows.
Ash, Misty and Mewtwo sat in the living room, chatting pleasantly, while Pikachu, Togepi and Sparky played with each other. In the corner of the room, Phoebe was engaged in some activity and refused to let anyone watch, but would occasionally glance at Ash and Misty. Brock was in the kitchen with Shigure, working on the meal. It wasn't long before the mouth- watering scent of fish, vegetables and various spices filled the air.
"Hey," Shigure called, poking his head through the doorway, "Ash, Misty, would you mind setting the table for us?"
"No problem," Misty replied.
"Great," Shigure said. "Plates and silverware are in the cabinet in the dining room."
"I'll go feed the others," Mewtwo offered, rising from his chair.
"Thanks," Shigure replied, appreciatively.
Ten minutes later, everyone was kneeling around the small dining room table, waiting for the food. Shigure entered the room carrying a large bowl of noodles and a platter of fish and vegetables into the room and set it on the table, then rushed back into the kitchen for the fried rice as Brock brought in a tray of fresh, steaming hot rolls. Once all the food was brought in, they each served themselves a bit of everything.
"Wow!" Misty commented as she started on the noodles. "This is really good."
"Thank you," Shigure replied. "I do my best."
They feasted, all the while conversing on any subject that would come up, which was everything from Brock asking what Shigure fed his pokemon, to Ash telling bad jokes. The only one who was not present at the table, was Phoebe, who remained ardently absorbed in her activity.
"So, Shigure," Ash asked as he chomped into one of the rolls, "do you have any training tips you could give me."
Tipping his bowl up toward his mouth, Shigure used the tips of his chopsticks to scoop the last bit of noodles into his mouth. He took a moment to chew and swallow before answering.
"Actually," he replied, "I believe I do."
He put his bowl aside and took a sip of his tea. After setting down his cup, he continued.
"There are three things to remember about training," he said, holding up three fingers. "The first is one you already know of. That is simply to love your pokemon. A lot of people don't realize how important this is. All pokemon seek friendship with their trainers, so if you aren't even friends with your pokemon, then they have no motivation to help you. Pokemon who respect their trainers will always be willing to do more than those that are forced to obey.
"The second rule is a fighting tip. Timing is everything. That attack that beat you would have been useless if I hadn't timed it just right. Too soon and your Pikachu would've been able to avoid it. Too late and Pikachu's attack would have hit first. Either one of those could have meant my defeat instead of yours. With good timing, however, I was able to give the command in just enough time for Sparky to pull it off without giving Pikachu the time he needed to break off his attack to dodge.
"The third rule, always remain humble. Humility is a powerful defense in a battle because it keeps you from making two mistakes; overestimating yourself and underestimating your opponent. It is a good idea to treat every opponent as if they were better than you, otherwise, a boy with no particular skill or experience can easily best you. If you can keep a hold of your pride, then you will always have a chance of success, no matter who you face."
As Shigure finished off the last of his tea, Ash sat in contemplation for a moment. To him, Shigure seemed to be one of the wisest people alive. Now, he knew of some new things to improve on and he hoped that Misty wasn't going to ruin the moment by rubbing it in. He was relieved, and more than a little surprised, when she didn't.
"I'll remember that," he said after the moment had passed. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Shigure replied. "Who want's dessert? I think I have some ice cream in the freezer."
By now, everyone had finished the main course of the meal and eagerly agreed. As Shigure rose from his seat to get the dessert, Phoebe came into the room, skipping blithely and holding a piece of paper in her hands. Her face was bubbling over with joy as she held it out to Shigure.
"What's this?" he asked as he reached into his pocket for his reading glasses. "Oh my! This is really good, Phoebe. Come and look at this," he said to the others.
The others walked over to Shigure and looked at the paper. Ash was surprised to see a very detailed sketch of himself sitting next Misty on the couch.
"Did Phoebe draw this?" Misty asked.
"Yes," Shigure said, hugging his Clefairy. "She's so talented. I can't understand why her previous trainer would even think of abandoning such a uniquely gifted pokemon as her. You're so wonderful," he cooed, caressing Phoebe's head lovingly.
"Clefairy," Phoebe replied, blushing a little.
With that, Phoebe began to dance about like a tiny ballerina, singing gleefully in her harp-like voice. She hopped onto the table, grabbed a plate and made herself a serving of food.
"Did she do all of the pictures we saw in the hallway?" Ash asked.
"With the exception of the two by Monet," Shigure replied, "every single one of them. When I travel on business, I often take her with me. Every time she sees something that she likes, she will take sheet of paper and sketch or paint it. People tend to ignore the best abilities that pokemon have because they can't be used for fighting. I, however, encourage them to use any of the talents they have. There's a lot more to them than the immediately obvious, but it's hard for people to see that sometimes."
Suddenly, Shigure remembered what he had been about to do. "The ice cream," he said, rushing off to the kitchen.
Ash smiled as he watched him. "He really is a great man," he stated. Turning to Mewtwo, he added, "I can see why you've been so happy here."
Mewtwo smiled and nodded. "There are few people in this world like him. You could search your entire life and not ever find another person so kind as him."
Ash nodded. At the same moment, Brock, who had been looking at the sketch, spoke up.
"Hey, Ash," he slyly remarked, "did you know that you and Misty make a cute couple?"
"What?" the two of them demanded in unison.
"Cute couple?" Ash laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous," Misty added.
When Shigure came back into the room with ice cream, the three of them were in a very heated argument. He hesitated, then beckoned toward Mewtwo.
"What are they fighting over now?" he asked when Mewtwo was within earshot.
"Brock thinks that those two look cute together," Mewtwo replied.
Shigure looked at the two of them, nodding. "I agree. You want to eat while they work this out?"
For he next five minutes, Shigure and Mewtwo enjoyed their dessert while the other three resolved their disagreement. When they were finally finished debating with each other, they each sat down at the table. Ash and Misty took the two chairs that were farthest apart without facing each other and obstinately refused to acknowledge the other's presence. For another five minutes, nobody said a single word, each person brooding with his own thoughts.
"Is it true what they say," Ash asked Shigure at length, finally breaking the hostile silence.
"That depends," Shigure replied. "Who are 'they'?"
"Everyone," Ash replied.
"Everyone, eh?" Shigure repeated with amazement. "You hear that, Mewtwo? 'Everyone' talks about me. I must be famous."
Ash couldn't tell by his response if Shigure was being serious or if he was joking. He remembered the way the woman in the village had reacted when she heard the same thing and wondered if what he'd been told was just gossip.
"What do they say about me?" Shigure asked.
"They say that you've seen every pokemon that we know exists," Ash said. "Is it true?"
Shigure chuckled. "I believe that's just a rumor," he said, then his hand went to his chin in thought. "No, wait." He began to mumble to himself and Ash heard him whisper the names of several rare pokemon. "I hadn't thought about it until you brought it up," he concluded finally with a reflective nod, "but I think so. Mind you, some of them were only chance glimpses, but if that's acceptable, then yes, I have."
The others stared at him with their jaws dropped.
"That's incredible," Brock said.
Shigure shrugged nonchalantly. "What's so incredible about that? It just means that I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. There is nothing great about that, is there?"
Ash couldn't believe what he was hearing. Shigure was saying that what he had done had no meaning. "How can you say that?" he demanded. "Do you realize that you're the most famous man alive?"
Shigure held up one finger and replied with Solomon-like profoundness, "Exactly."
Apparently, he thought he had just revealed the mysteries of the universe to them, for he said nothing else, gave no explanation. There was a brief pause as the three companions tried to decipher the riddle.
"If you're trying to make a point," Brock said, "I'm afraid that it's gone way over my head."
"Repeat what you just told me, Ash," Shigure requested.
Ash was confused, "You're the most famous man alive," he repeated perplexedly.
"Who did you say was famous?" Shigure asked.
"You," said Ash, still not sure what he meant.
"That is the point," Shigure explained. "I'm famous. I suppose that that's nothing to scoff at, but I must ask you one thing. Who, besides myself, gains from my fame?"
The others were quiet.
"Nobody, really," Misty concluded.
"That is why I don't think too highly of it," Shigure said. "Being known around the world for something is quite an acclaim, but if having seen a bunch of pokemon is all that I am recognized for, then it really doesn't matter to me."
Ash was still a little confused by his outlook on his distinction. If being famous for seeing every pokemon in the world wasn't important, then what was? He decided to ask. When he heard the question, Shigure leaned back in his chair and stared absently at the ceiling. The atmosphere of the room immediately changed, became instantly solemn. The change was so radical that even Ash could feel it. For a moment, he wondered if it was Mewtwo, using his psychic powers to bring a respectful feeling into the room. When he looked, however, he saw that Mewtwo was just as awed at the rest of them. He waited, listening intently, for the host to speak.
"When I was six," he began, "both of my parents died. One night, there was an electrical fire and my entire house went up in flames. I survived, but only because my parents made sure of it. In all the confusion, I only remember my father handing me to the fireman and pleading for him to take me out. The moment I escaped, the porch collapsed, sealing my parents inside the smoldering wreckage."
In the light, his eyes sparkled with gathering moisture. "I was sent to live with my uncle and aunt. They loved me just as much as my parents and my childhood was safe and secure, but the loss of my parents left a heavy scar on my mind. It was years before I stopped crying in my sleep; although, I believe there are times that I still do. That kind of grief is a hard thing to live with, but it did help me to realize what I needed to do with my life."
Shigure untied the string that connected the katana to his sash and held it out to Ash. Respectfully taking the sword, he drew it from its sheath and carefully examined it. He lightly rubbed his forefinger against the blade. With a sharp gasp, he drew his hand away, blood dripping from the open cut on his finger.
"It's sharp," he stated as he handed the weapon back.
Shigure nodded as he replaced it on his weapon. "That sword is more than just a weapon. It is a symbol, a symbol of noble ancestry. It is the symbol of the samurai. In these modern days, however, men are not born to honor, they must earn it. My parents earned it when they sacrificed themselves to save me and that put a responsibility upon me to live for them. It was my duty as the sole survivor of my family to ensure that the sacrifice made for me was not in vain, that my parents did not waste their lives. Everything I have done since then has been bent on that one goal."
"What have you done since then?" Brock asked.
Shigure smiled. "I got a job as an executive for an oil company and eventually worked my way up until the head of the company made me his partner. In my position, I had a lot of extra money. With that money, I built schools and hospitals, funded charities and service projects; anything that I could to help others. Wherever I went, for business or for pleasure, I gave up every cent that I could offer to those in need. For my services, I have been offered numerous awards. All of it combined does not carry the weight of the thanks of a single homeless child; the joy in his eye when I can tell him that he no longer has to live on the streets, without food or cloths or shelter. That is all I need to be happy, nothing else matters. That is how I see to it that my parents did not die in vain.
Shigure paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Though it is certainly worth the effort, the path of honor isn't always easy. Traveling on it has begun to take its toll on me, and I have begun to feel the need to settle down from my busy lifestyle. Years ago, I yielded my position as head of my company to be just an executive so that I could more easily work from home and moved to this town, where I could away from the hassles of the big cities. I have stopped traveling as much as I used to. I need some time away from all my work, more time to be with my family." He patted Sparky on the head. "Still, I give all that I can. In my spare time, I often go down into the town and help them on their farm and currently all the extra money that I don't need is going to AIDS and cancer research and I also plan to set up a shelter for abandoned pokemon. I have lived my life to the fullest that I have been able to and I have no regrets. If I could do it all again, I would in a heartbeat."
In that moment, as he contemplated the wisdom that had been shared, there was no person that Ash admired more than Maruyama Shigure. He knew that he would probably never meet another man so altruistic as him and was glad he had come. If he lived for a hundred years, he was sure that he could never forget this day.