Called into Question

By ShinobiWolf

This chapter's five words short of two thousand. Although, it hardly makes up for my sluggish update… I usually have the next chapter started when I post one, but after posting chapter four I found that I had nothing ready… I am completely absent-minded, and it doesn't help that I'm lazy… Yup yup, just call me "Shikamaru." Now all I need are a spiffy IQ and the power to freeze people with their shadows. I haven't even started on the third chapter of "Kumbahyah." Please don't kill me! It's just the way I am… Now I will go madly rush to update two Naruto poems and get the next chapter of "Whole Again" to Ria Cola. And hopefully keep the "Kumbahyah" fans from killing me…

And by the way, there's a reference to "Tales of Symphonia" in here. Be the first to point it out, and I'll mention you in the next chapter.

Chapter 5: The Dynamic Duo

Fire was everywhere.

A much younger, and human Kai was huddled in her closet, her clothes and hair singed.

"Momma…" The little girl cried as she could hear eerie howls outside of her family's house.

xxxxx

Kai jerked awake, and could have sworn that she still felt flames licking at her skin. Once her mind had finally come back to earth, she shuffled out of the cave that she had taken shelter in during the last night. She wasn't sure whether or not to be surprised that Jaganshi was standing outside, drinking from a nearby brook.

I thought you would have left by now.

Jaganshi lifted his head and looked at her. I don't have anywhere else to be. He walked up to Kai and looked at her with his bright blue-green eyes. Besides, this white espeon you told me of seems to be wise. I have no idea what to do with my life. Perhaps this espeon will have some answers for me.

Okay then. Let's go.

What… now?

Kai started to walk away. After her experience seeing the young bayleef killed, she thought it best that her past as a human was left unsaid. Jaganshi would be no exception. You told me yourself that you wanted to join in my little journey, and I'm going now. But first, I need to find a friend of mine that got left behind when I was caught by Team Rocket. When Kai was out of Jaganshi's sight, she smiled. As she grew used to her not-so-new-anymore form, she could feel a bit more of her old self seep into her personality. The old Kai liked to take charge.

Jaganshi stared after her for a moment, before hesitantly following.

xxxxx

Muddy water splashed everywhere as Kai and Jaganshi ran to find shelter from the spontaneous rainstorm. Kai suddenly stopped, and her companion nearly fell over trying to not collide with her.

Why did you stop?

One of Kai's ears twitched. Do you hear something?

Once Jaganshi concentrated, he could faintly hear what sounded like a child crying for her mother. The two glanced at each other before following the quiet cries to a tall pine tree that offered only meager shelter from the rain.

There, huddled cold and damp under the outspread branches, was a little human girl who couldn't have been more than five or six years old. The girl looked up from sobbing into her folded arms. Her frightened brown eyes grew even larger when she saw two pokemon in front of her that she did not recognize. And although neither Kai nor Jaganshi was a normal wild pokemon, they could still smell the little girl's fear.

Kai was not terribly fond of small children, but she was not heartless. She stood on her hindquarters in an attempt to look like she was doing a "trick." If she appeared more tame, perhaps the girl would be calm enough to let the two take her home. Jaganshi followed along and lie down, wagging his tail and panting like any domesticated house-dog would do.

There's no need to be frightened. Jaganshi spoke to the girl through ESP. We can take you home.

The girl's wonder at hearing a pokemon speak English outweighed her fear, and she began to cautiously stroke Jaganshi's head. Get on my back, and I'll carry you home.

The little girl didn't bother to question why a pokemon could talk, and climbed onto the dog-pokemon's back. Three feet at his shoulders, he could carry the girl with little hindrance.

Can you still follow her scent back to where she came from? The rain may have washed all traces of it away… Kai asked her companion as they raced alongside each other.

The trail is weak, but it's nothing my heightened senses cannot handle. Jaganshi smirked at her before concentrating on the damp air on the path ahead.

The trail led them to a small neighborhood with only a few houses.

"There it is, there it is! I'm home!"

Jaganshi stopped in front of the house the girl pointed to and let her off of his back. He smiled as the girl ran to the front porch, and Kai glanced at a sign posted at the shoulder of the road.

Cedartown Orphanage

Kai earned a puzzled glance from Jaganshi as she dolefully crept to one of the windows and peeked inside. He came up beside her and looked in as well, wondering what made her so silent. The companions watched as the girl was greeted with the thankful arms of adults not her parents, and sat down to a hot dinner with other children who weren't her brothers and sisters.

xxxxx

Little Kai clung to the charred remains of her stuffed pidgey.

After her village had been massacred by wild houndoom, she was whisked away to the closest orphanage. Another girl her age walked up to her and sat by her side. Kai had seen the girl on occasion, for they were neighbors when they still had families. They had been no more than acquaintances, though; just a pleasant "hello" here and there.

"My name is Lina. Do you want to eat dinner with me?"

xxxxx

Feeling as though they had accomplished something, Kai and Jaganshi continued on their journey.

xxxxx

"Hey! Get back here!"

A street merchant yelled in fury as a loaf of his finest, fresh-baked bread was snatched up by a sleek, thieving ninetails.

The farfetch'd had looked innocent enough… He was so pitiful with his stunted wing that the merchant felt a tug at his heart to give the handicapped little pokemon a scrap of his day old bread.

No sooner had he given up the stale crust than a ninetails dodged behind him and snatched up a decent-sized loaf of bread. The farfetch'd had apparently used his handicap to earn pity from the merchant, distracting him so the duck-pokemon's partner-in-crime could steal the good stuff.

Having already eaten the stale bread by then, the farfetch'd tore off as fast as his webbed feet could take him.

xxxxx

It had been four short days since Kai and Jaganshi had found that little girl. It seemed like forever since Kai and Blader had been separated, but Kai retraced her steps to the best of her ability. When she had been captured, the pokemon hunter had taken very remote back-roads, but she still felt as though she was headed in the right direction.

They happened upon an average-size city, and were at present about to eat some stale bread they had salvaged out of a trashcan.

Suddenly, they were bowled over by a four-legged pokemon; which was a ninetails to be exact, carrying a loaf of bread in its mouth.

Before Jaganshi or Kai could react, a farfetch'd with a crippled wing grabbed their bread in his bill and made off with his agile friend.

They were too hungry to search for more lunch. Kai and Jaganshi leaped to their feet and sprinted after the thieves. The ninetails and farfetch'd made it all the way to the outskirts of the city before they split into opposite directions.

I get the fast one! Kai called as she raced after the sprinting fox.

Jaganshi stopped and stared after his companion-in-travels. Turning his head the other way, he could still see the farfetch'd off in the distance; and for a thief, he wasn't making very good time. Jaganshi sighed before patiently trudging after his handicapped prey.

Kai followed the ninetails into another forest, opposite the one they had taken to get to the city.

That little lady's still following me… The ninetails dodged through bushes in random directions, hoping to throw Kai off his trail. As he ran along the bottom of a small drop-off, he was pleased to not see the umbreon anywhere behind him.

Unbeknownst to the ninetails, Kai was running along the top of the drop-off, out of his sight.

She picked her moment, and leaped for all she was worth.

The ninetails skidded to a rough stop, dropping his stolen bread in the process. He shook himself off, and stared at Kai with new interest. She was not fond of the new look on his face.

My friend has your lunch, so why chase after me? Couldn't resist a pretty face, my Little Lady? The golden fox-pokemon winked at her, his voice growing sly at the end of his last sentence.

Kai had seen his type before in humans, and she was amused to find out that the two species had so much in common.

The ninetails, his front legs covered in black and pink arm warmers, a white headband over his forehead, standing in all his narcissistic glory, was a womanizer.

Don't be flattered. You were the faster target, so I assure you that it was only a pride thing; and about your friend? I'm sure my own partner has met up with him by now.

Zelos, Zelos! Make him put me down!

The two four-legged pokemon looked to the side, and they both immediately sweat-dropped.

The farfetch'd was still holding onto Kai and Jaganshi's stale bread (now in one of his webbed feet), while being held haphazardly but carefully in Jaganshi's powerful jaws. The dog-pokemon dropped the duck unceremoniously to the ground.

Watch it, Wise Guy! We stole that bread fair and square! We've been the most notorious thieves around here for years; don't mess with us! The farfetch'd ruffled up his feathers in an attempt to look mighty, but he failed miserably.

It's not worth the trouble, Nemo. Zelos dropped his voice dejectedly.

But Zelos! What about-

This one loaf will have to do for now. Let them have the other one back. Zelos picked up the whole loaf he had dropped (when Kai tackled him), and walked off. Nemo hesitantly followed.

Kai watched them disappear into the brush, but she turned her attention back to Jaganshi when he dropped a portion of the stale bread in front of her.

We should eat before we are delayed by anything else.

Kai gave him a small smile, before joining him for lunch.

xxxxx

Kai had been lying down, staring at the stars, when a loudly quacking bundle of brown feathers flew onto her face. She swiped it away. Once she realized who it was, the alarm dropped from her face and was replaced with annoyance.

It was "Nemo."

What do you want now? Kai demanded, as Jaganshi came over to see what the commotion was all about.

The duck-pokemon's chest was heaving. Zelos needs help! He was caught in a trap, and if he doesn't get out soon, he'll get shot!

Kai processed that thought, quickly.

You two were bound to get caught sooner or later. You're partners-in-crime, so why don't you help him? To think, they had the nerve to rob them, then turn right around and ask for their help.

Nemo brandished his crippled wing trying to draw too much attention to it. Do I look like I can? I'm good for distracting victims by pulling at their heartstrings, but I'm not good for much else! He took a calming, but hurried breath. Look, I'm sorry we made your day such a hassle… but if you help Zelos, I promise we'll give you a good reason why we're stooping to thievery. Please… Zelos is too handsome to die… Nemo emphasized his last sentence by bowing humbly.

Kai had gone from taking innocent pokemon lives to saving the lives of pokemon who were less than deserving.

The three ran to the fox-pokemon's rescue, Nemo giving directions while riding on Kai's back to make the trip faster.

Zelos was pulling desperately at his leg, caught in a trap of simple metal jaws. His hind ankle was bleeding profusely and his pulling was putting it at an odd angle. He yipped and whined no matter how little he moved his leg.

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Next Chapter: Zelos and Nemo, the Noble Thieves