Appearance change: Chris has gotten his haircolor changed, to get rid of his former look. The front part near his forehead is blue, while the rest is a dark brown / black.


Chapter Nine: Mail.

Chris handed the clipboard, pen, and questionnaire over to the pokemon nurse. "Sorry for back there. But can't you tell if it's a male or not?"

"Yes. It's just… it's so bizarre…"

"I'm a weird guy."

She read his questionnaire over, then began punching keys on her computer terminal. Once, she snapped a picture of Chris, saying it was needed. Then she got back to work. Chris, bored, was looking out the window. He was secretly glad he'd changed his hair color (and kinda glad that he'd gotten a shave) – but he didn't want to reveal his relief over that. It would seem odd, and he'd done enough that was strange already. "Hey, Kani? What's PPS?"

Kani tilted her head, and gave an audible sigh. (Terminal disease. It's a horrible way to go.)

"Did she just answer you?"

"Yea. Apparently a nasty way to die."

"That's odd. We've always thought it was a peaceful way…"

"I guess she disagrees."

"Does she just telepathically tell you?"

"More or less."

The nurse shrugged, then looked at her terminal. "Oh my!"

Chris looked at Kani, alarmed. She was glowing, her teleport ready – or whatever it was.

"What?"

"That was fast. You're approved. In fact, that was so fast, I'm shocked. They must be having a very slow day. There's also another message…"

Chris cut her off before she could continue "Can I have my gear now?"

She looked up from her screen, distracted. "It should be at the machine…"

She went over to the public PC, and picked up some items Chris hadn't noticed there before.

"Ah. Here we go. You're all set." She handed him a thin square like – machine "The ID number in the upper right is your Trainer ID. Don't forget it, it's very important. This is your pokedex. It will provide you with information on pokemon."

Chris grinned. "I dunno. I've already got Kani. She seems to know most everything about a pokemon when we encounter it."


The nurse shook her head. This boy was something else. "And this is your navi-gear. It's got a cell phone, map, and other functions." She handed him it, and he strapped it to his wrist. She finally handed him his trainer's card.


Kani smiled faintly to herself, and drew upon her psychic power to melt the tracking device within the navi-gear. It was almost child's play, how the league thought they fooled most trainers with this trick.

It never fooled a competent psychic for a minute. Most didn't bother to destroy it, but she had reason to.

She'd doubted that she could manage such fine manipulation earlier, but she'd gotten quite skilled with psychic manipulation these days.


"I'll not say it. You know what I'd say, anyway."

"Thank you. Anyway, there was another message. If you would give me a moment…"

She went back to her station, and pressed a few keys. "That's odd. It's a message directed at you from another trainer. I'll route it to the PC over there. You can go read it there."

Chris went to the PC, and read over the text message.


Kani relaxed, and de-activated her teleport. Interested, she tapped into Chris's senses.


Chris turned back to look at Kani curiously, then shrugged. Apparently, she could tap into his mind if she wanted. But that was all right with him, anyway.

"Chris, it's April. I've seen your mother. What was left of her, anyway. She was murdered recently. Almost a day after it was said a boy matching your description fled from police, your house was blown up. The police here are in a frenzy. They're really steamed about you, you know? That you teleported off like that. They say you're the only witness, and that the rockets have nearly a million bounty on you. I'd recommend changing your hair color from those red and black stripes. That's DISTINTLY mentioned in the reward poster's I've seen. They don't know much about you besides that. Besides the fact you have Kani – and they'll have trouble with that. Lots of trainers are getting into the Eevee craze. I've even seen a few more Espeons – your Kani is unique, did I ever tell you? Her coloring's darker than every other one I've seen. But they don't mention it, and I'm not saying a word.

Anyway, even the Elite Four are getting interested in your case. That's saying something – usually you never hear from them. I'm almost jealous, except I wouldn't want this much attention.

I heard that they bombed your house because they wanted to shut your mom up. She was talking to the police, the news, anyone who listened – about you, HER son, and how you survived the rocket's attack. Anyway, I hope you stay low for a while. I'd even wait before going to Cerulean.

Thanks for the cash, though. Geez, you worked a lot. Now I've got enough to take better care of my pokemon (I guess you were trying to tell me that, weren't you?).

I'm heading off for Fuchsia. The Safari Zone has always been somewhere I want to visit. I've even got a badge from Erica! She's really nice, you know that?

I still want you to tell me some day what happened. Maybe after you read this, you'll tell me... Please?

Say hi to Kani for me.

April

PS, I did some snooping, and someone told me you'd never had a girlfriend. Is that true?"

Chris sighed, and closed the message. He had NO idea how she'd pulled that one off (getting the message routed to him), but she had. "Excuse me, but could you delete that? It's a private message…" He tried to look embarrassed. The nurse, fooled, smiled faintly, and deleted the message, thinking nothing of it – besides that it was a love note. She wasn't interested in teenage love.

Chris began to fiddle with his pokenav, until it went into E-Mail. He'd memorized the address before he asked her to delete the message. Apparently the Pokenav was equipped with a Dictaphone, because it popped out when he entered E-Mail. Sighing, he quietly spoke his message into the thing.

"April:

It's Chris. I'm still alive. I'm at the town of three winds right now – though when I send this, I'll be somewhere outside of town. I'm going to be careful with this.

Anyway, I managed to get registered as a trainer. So now I can wander around, and actually be legit. That had been bothering Kani, I guess.

And if you didn't hear (I doubt that), I wasn't too fond of trainers before I ran. My neighbors would have happily told the Rockets that (I suspect they did, for some money), so this should be another confusing turn, should they learn what has happened. Not to mention that I got my hair color changed before that, so I don't have the same hair color. Now it's my normal color, except for some strands being blue (Black brown is my natural color).

I'm none too sorry about Mom. She wasn't the best mother. Actually, I think Child Services screwed up with her. I shouldn't have been in that family. So I'm fine emotionally – and Kani can work on me, if I lose it later.

Damned glory hound. All she wanted to do was get fame… now she's paid the price.

So now I'll have to use a different surname, say my parents got divorced or something. Since I gave my name as "Chris W." and it was Oked, I'm safe enough. Thank the gods for that. I don't know how THAT name went though. I guess some trainers have issues with their family. I know I had issues with mine.

I also lucked out – the pokemon center nurse didn't recognize me. She DID notice that I can understand what Kani says, and used me to ask what was wrong with a Pikachu.

Oh, and one happy bit of news: I've found and caught a Vulpix! He's a bit of a prankster (he's pulled a few on me, but I'm not saying what), but he's quite useful. He even knows hypnosis and heat wave… :)

April, I know this is asking a lot, but could you keep me informed? I know you're traveling, but if you hear anything concerning me (even rumors, I need a laugh these days), I'd like to hear them. You seemed to be interested in anything, so…

Oh, and if you do that, I'll be happy to owe you a favor, or even a few. It's nice to know what rumors are going around before I get ambushed by them.

But please… don't be so detailed next time. These messages CAN be read, you know.

(sigh)

I'll tell you if I owe you enough. Only face to face, though. I still don't want to risk it, but if you're so determined to know, you'll have to earn it. :P

Chris.

And yes, that wasn't a joke. I'm eighteen, and no girlfriend. EVER. weeps in sadness I don't know why everyone knows that. It's Kani's favorite way to annoy me. She always says that "I'm a nice guy – so why don't I have a girlfriend?" I don't know what to do – every girl in Celadon that knew me said I was a nice guy. I was just the guy they went to for boy advice – but never to go out with. What? Am I 'too perfect' for them or something? GLEH! There's no way that's true!

'Three signs of a doomed hope: the broken spear, the stranger's weeping, and the wiseman's sigh.' "

Chris reread the message, and saved it (he'd sent it once he was out of town). He didn't know too much about the tech, but as long as it worked, he'd be content. Besides, that last remark had stung. Why did everyone have to keep pounding that issue?

He walked out, whistling a tune he'd made up in what he was now calling his 'past life' (he certainly couldn't go back with his house destroyed.), which he called "Look at what you've done". It was quite depressing - which was why he liked it.

(Boss, that tune's really depressing. Oh, and I think Mathrara wants out.)

"Kani, he's been chased out. I'm NOT getting chased out of town because someone remembers him. Tell him no. You should be able to reach him, but I can't. Besides, he said that he wanted to stay in..."

Just as he said that, a crowd of people was charging towards the center. "Wonder what…"

The crowd was shouting something about battle. Chris cut himself off – that figured. "A battling event. And one gets you the pot that I'm going to be forced into this."

(I suspect so. Ah well. I might get swift to compliment my bite! )

"That doesn't make sense. Don't Eevees and Espeons learn that attack at the same time, or something like that?"

(Mom and dad knew it. I inherited bite.)

"Oh. Well… I take it you WANT to fight?"

(More or less.)

Chris sighed. "Kani, you're playing with fire. Mathrara fire. Do you realize that if you get too tired, I'll have to use that prankster?"

(I just won't get tired.)

"So spoke the arrogant one, who shortly fell, after claiming invulnerability."

(Quit quoting books at me! Besides, I doubt they'll connect the dots.)

As they argued, the crowd had closed in, and circled around the pair, all with expectancy in their eyes. Chris turned away from Kani (and their argument), to most of the crowd. His face was a scowl as he gave them an evaluative look. "What do you want?"

An elderly man stepped forward. "You, trainer… you will be participating in our tournament battle, will you not?"

"Uh, Kani? Little help?"

(They hold a tourney every once in a while. They say it's scheduled, but usually it only happens whenever a trainer stops in. Not too often, since most trainers travel from Saffron to Cerulean. This place is too backwater for most.)

"Just perky. Typical rotten luck. As if what happened at home wasn't enough…"

The old man looked confused at the exchange. It must have looked like he (Chris) was talking to himself. Chris shook his head, still tired. "Not today. I'm tired, and I've been walking for days. Tomorrow, then it's a better chance of getting a 'yes'. Maybe."

The old man seemed deflated by Chris's hostility. Actually, Chris was just cranky. That was, until Kani took a hand. (We will accept, if we have two days to rest. We're tired, and I've been eating his cooking for DAYS.)

The old man seemed a bit surprised, but nodded acceptance. Most the crowd dispersed, except a few kids. Including the one that Chris had talked to earlier. The one he'd talked to earlier was telling his friends "I told you – he DOES talk to his Espeon!"

"No, he was talking to himself!"

"Then who was that who spoke? The one that accepted?"

Chris shook his head, and sighed. "Hey, that wasn't me who said that. My cooking's not that bad. That was my Espeon, Kani."

The other kid (he looked like a bully to Chris), frowned. "I don't believe you."

Chris grinned, then shrugged. "More or less, it was her. She bounced it off me, so any human could understand it, but it's still her doing. That gave me a headache, by the way." He glared at Kani for a moment, then continued, "and I never said it's unique to speak with a psychic. All you have to have is the minimum talent with telepathic communication, and psychics can talk back. Don't you people get psychics traveling through here?"

Chris was glad that he had learned that unique tidbit of info at work. Being a unique trainer would draw attention – another person who could talk with psychics wasn't anything new.

The group was looking at the kid that had pointed Chris out in some kind of awe. They didn't really seem to notice that Chris was already heading back into the pokemon center - as they were talking at high speed to him (and preventing him from pointing out that Chris was walking away).


The bully that had spoken up watched the trainer walk away, then smirked. That was a rare pokemon…


"Kids these days. Was I ever like that?"

(Not really. You grew up fast.)

"I had no choice. I had to learn fast."

(You're lucky, you know. Most people like you end up vicious.)

Chris walked back into the center, nodding to Kani's comment. "Yea. I know. Again, it's your fault."

(Aww… thanks! )

Chris stopped by the counter. "Uhm, can I get a check-up on my pokemon?"

She looked him over, then smiled. "They ambush you? That's fine. If you would return all your pokemon to their balls, please…"

Chris returned Kani (She managed to sigh about being returned though). He then took her ball, and Mathrara's ball, and handed them over.

"You only have two pokemon?"

Chris shrugged. "Considering that I'm technically only a trainer for a few minutes, it's no real surprise."

The nurse took the balls away. Chris went to the nearby couch, and closed his eyes. He wasn't asleep, but he wanted to rest his eyes.


After about fifteen minutes, the nurse returned. She thought the trainer was sleeping, until he opened his eyes at her footsteps. He looked a bit silly, with his head hanging over the side. "They ok?"

"They're both in excellent shape. I'd just like to ask you to not feed your Espeon so much meat. Espeons tend to be vegetarians; they don't need so much protein."

"Alright. Mathrara's ok?"

"Mathrara? I've never heard that name before. He's fine. More or less, you're feeding him right. It would be better if you fed them poke food…"

Chris shrugged. "Yea. If I only had the cash."

She smiled. "Actually, the prize for winning the tournament is some poke food, and a moderate sum of money." She then presented him with his pokeballs, which he grabbed – even though his head was upside-down by that point. He then released both his pokemon. The nurse walked off to the back room again. He gave her the creeps, in a way.


Chris grinned, at the wrong side up images of his pokemon. "Hey. 'sup?"

(Oh, no…)

"Forget it Mathrara. You've been with me for a year, remember? So how could you be the one they chased out?"

(Oh… gotcha.)

(Oh, no. Please, save that for a last resort.)

"Deal. Anyway, you in?"

He snickered – well, Chris thought he did. It was hard to tell, since Vulpix usually don't make human noises. (Oh, sure. I'd love a chance to pound on something. That bull was no fun.)

"It'd be more fun if you'd not hypnotized it."

(Maybe. But then you'd try to catch it.)

"Aww…."

(How many times do I have to say NO? )

"Until we get to the Safari Zone."

Kani blinked several times. (Wait, we're…) Chris grinned, unable to restrain himself. (Oh… not funny. Mathrara's a bad influence on you.)

(More or less, he's getting a sense of humor! ) Chris grinned even further, then shook his head.

"Look, we're not heading there. I'm not interested in that. We're sticking to the plan I outlined – Cerulean, then Saffron. After that…"

(We'll burn that bridge when we come to it.)

(That's a bad expression.)

"From a fire type, I'm not too surprised. He never stuck me to be the type with a taste for good humor." Mathrara growled at that, not amused.

He looked outside towards the setting sun. "Well, let's crash. I'm tired, and we have another day before we get in that tourney. Until then, you two opposed to training?"

(Not really. Your mind's getting powerful, you know? Not as strong as mine, but you're getting stronger. You'll be healed tomorrow, I think.)

(I'm not opposed. What kind, though? )

"Great… uhm… not battling. You get too hurt, then the other has to carry the whole thing. We'll do target practice, that kind of stuff."

(Boring.)

(Mathrara, it's better. You can fight in the wild later. Now, we could use that food.)

"Kani, you have a one track mind sometimes."

(Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't like my food.)

(No, but you'll get fat.)

Kani growled, and sent Mathrara flying a few feet away. (Not funny.)

Chris sighed. "I warned the two of you…"

Kani stuck out her tongue, then shook her head. (I was just responding like any girl would.)

Chris shrugged. "Yea, I know. You say that to a girl, you get slapped, Mathrara. Kani's slap is just a bit different."

(That's not fair! )

"So? I've been slapped too, when I said something a girl took personally. I've learned my lesson – just don't piss them off. Or they might come after you with a mallet, or pepper spray." Chris grinned – he'd watched too much anime, if that was the first thing he thought of when he mentioned pissing off a girl. How could they carry a big mallet in a tiny purse? It was something he'd never understood, and probably never would.

Mathrara shook his head, making a whining noise. (So you should be on MY side! )

"Yea. But I'm contrary. Besides, what'll you do when you go gaga over a girl? I doubt I ever will, but you've got a shot…"

(Oh. Uhm…) He didn't know what to say, embarrassed.

Chris laughed. "Kani… where's the sleeping area?"

She just gave a humanlike shrug, and led the way.


Chris fell asleep, with Kani and Mathrara out, and nearby.