Kuro

As I was walking down the stone road that I was beginning to become accustomed to, a large gust of wind blew my ears back, as well as send my scarf flowing behind me. I then looked up to see that there was a very large accumulation of clouds gathered together in the sky, it almost looked like a group of pokemon huddling together for warmth. However, the thought was instantly pushed out of my head when I heard a roar of thunder, and felt something cold and wet drop directly on the tip of my nose. After deducing that staying outside was a bad idea, I quickly dashed around the streets, looking for a place I may be able to stay in or explore as the storm that was radiating overhead would pass.

I found a rather large building, however, as I approached it, I realized that this building was more than large, it looked as if it was touching the sky. Because it was taller than the gigantic grocery store I looked through earlier, I deduced that this was not a house and decided to take refuge inside of it until the storm decided it wanted to find someplace else to bother.

As soon as I took one step inside of the enormous building, I realized that the place was rather populated, which I really should have expected, as a place with this kind of decor would seem popular. The entire floor had a gorgeous purple carpet draped over it. There were many pillars connecting to the somewhat low ceilings, presumably higher floors. The pillars were quite wide, and also sported the same deep purple that the carpets had, although these pillars also had pure white stripes twisting around each pillar. The white color almost looked like snow. There were also large, carpeted staircases that led to upper floors. The stairs had a bright red carpeting to them, as oppose to the purple and white color that the rest of the room seemed to contain.

Guess they decided that variety would be a good thing to attract… Customers? I don't even know what this building is yet, and here I am, standing in one place observing the whole thing like I have a goal.

After pondering in thought, I decided that I should explore the building a bit, maybe find something that told me what exactly this building was. Much to my dismay, after wandering around the groups of random pokemon awkwardly, I did not find a thing pertaining to what exactly this building is. I then looked outside a window to see that the storm had passed, however, it was also night. I decided that I should leave and not intently search the building anymore. Besides…. I'm starting to get weird looks.

As soon as I stepped outside, I felt completely energized. If there was one thing I didn't hate about my form as an Umbreon, it was the absolute euphoria I felt whenever I was outside at night. My rings began to glow brightly, and I did nothing to resist it. I honestly felt like I could do anything, kind of makes me wonder why I didn't decide to become nocturnal.

Because of my new found energy, I decided to take in my surroundings. After taking another look at the place, this town really was a sight to behold. There were small bushes lining most of the stone trails that most pokemon walked on. Each building had a different color to it, a detail that I didn't catch the first few times I glanced around the town. Throughout the entire place there were large fields, neatly covered in dirt, along with a thick white line drawn to make boundaries around the field. I guessed that they were used for mach-battling, at least, they looked like a place in which you would have a one on one battle. The more I looked around and explored the town, the more it fascinated me. This town was nothing like the small field outside the cave that I used to live in, it had actual structures everywhere for pokemon to take refuge in, or for other purposes such as stores. I took one last look at the night trail, and noticed how the small lights scattered along the trail made it glow brilliantly. I felt myself smile at the sight, and it made me want to explore more of the town.

Nevertheless, I needed to find a place to sleep, so I began to wander around until I found a small place to take refuge in, no matter what it was. An alleyway, under a bench, under a bench in an alleyway, I just needed to find someplace I could sleep. So, with that thought in mind, I began to wander the streets once more, trying not to distract myself with the beauty of the town as I searched.

Naru

I was walking down the streets at night, something I don't usually do. I was extremely energized from my training earlier today, so sleep was not exactly something I was interested in at the moment, I just wanted to find something to do, anything to do.

It's not like I can go back home or anything….

I quickly erased any bad thoughts clouding my head and decided to hang on to something that kept me from being upset today.

That Umbreon… there was something about him…

I haven't been able to get that Umbreon… Kuro… out of my head since I accidently rammed my head into his earlier that day. He seemed… Genuinely nice… Like he didn't want to hurt me even know I hurt him.

I wish I could say the same for everyone else around here….

As a young Glaceon, I had a pretty nice life. I had two loving parents, despite them both being of the same sex, the Electivire and Magmortar that adopted me were extremely kind people, and made friends with anyone they associated with, even in this large city. I also had a younger brother, at least by name, we were both adopted, so both myself and the Zorua are technically not related by blood, but all of us are still a very happy family. We lived in a somewhat small house, but none of us minded. The brown wooden interior along with the mostly green decorative carpets and curtains that were scattered all along the rectangular shaped rooms made a perfect place for the four of us to be happy while we lived there.

Everything would be so perfect….

If it wasn't for the other kids.

Because my parents weren't straight, I was seen as a target for various types of bullying whenever I was with them. The worst part was; I couldn't get away, they put on an act while they were around my parents, so they never knew what they really did to me whenever we were alone. It was traumatizing for me, but nowhere near as traumatizing as what would happen the following day.

I was finished with my usual routine, coming home after buying food for my family to cook to spend some time with my two Fathers and Brother.

Little did I know that I was walking into a nightmare. I opened the door like I usually do, ready to be greeted by my parents, however, when I heard nothing, I decided to go to the kitchen to see what they were up to.

I wish I never set foot anywhere near that door.

As soon as I walked in, I dropped all of my bags, and my heart sank. Tears were already pouring out of my eyes before my mind could even comprehend what I was looking at. On my kitchen counter… lie both of my Fathers… both sliced through the stomach, the wound obviously driven straight through both of their hearts. That didn't compare to when I looked over at the small table we had in the kitchen though, where I saw the third sight that day that would leave me scarred for life. I saw my brother…. Decapitated. There were also many scratches and wounds all over his body, and he was covered in a strange liquid that I didn't recognize, but I knew better than to touch it.

After my mind finally caught up to my eyes, I let out an ear-piercing scream, and I blacked out.

Once the events of that day were over, I thought I would at least be rid of the other kids' bullying, but it only got worse. Now, I was not only known as Naru, the girl with gay parents, but also Naru, the one that was alone and left behind, making me an even easier target. I then did what any other kid would do in that situation. I ran. I ran as far and as fast as I could. I didn't know where I was going, nor did I care, I just wanted to leave everything.

It took about eight years of drowning in my own sorrow… When I finally gained enough courage to leave my house without being a nervous wreck, but I still avoided anyone in the entire town. I had food and poke to last me, I just didn't want to see anyone. Living in a completely secluded space was all I did, until I turned sixteen. That is when I finally gave myself a reality check and stopped avoiding others.

I only ended up getting continuously bullied again, with the now teenagers finding more fuel since I didn't attempt to interact with anyone for who knows how long. This time, I didn't run, I decided it was time for me to get stronger, both mentally and physically, so I decided to leave the town for the day in order to find a suitable place to do so. Ignoring all of the snarky comments that were thrown my way, and really getting pumped up about finally going on a quest for self-improvement, I bolted out of the town as fast as I could.

Only for me to ram my head into an unsuspecting Umbreon.

While resting on a small bench, I continued pushing away all of the memories that I so foolishly resurfaced. However, as I was focusing on that, something caught my eye, there was a small flicker of light in the distance, not too far away from me. I started to turn my head to the side, but I quickly found what felt like a claw cover my mouth.

I struggled to break free, I even tried to scream, but my attacker wouldn't allow it, as they brought me into a small alleyway. I tried to observe my attacker as best as I could, but all I could make out was a small stature of a body, and a badge seemingly pinned into the pokemon's skin, almost looking like it was a part of the skin itself. It had a dark spiral, surrounding what looked like a small hand. The symbol was not one that I was familiar with, but that wasn't what I was most concerned with. That would be whatever this pokemon was going to do to me.

I felt tears rush to my eyes as their grip began to tighten, I only became more afraid, thinking the worst. Much to my fears, I felt something similar to a blade get held up to my neck, only for me to finally realize my attacker as a Gallade. I was then mentally preparing for my death, for the Gallade to begin to put a decent amount of pressure on his blade, and cross it across my neck, slitting my throat and killing me. I already felt the cold sensation of impending death washing over me.

Instead, something unexpected happened.

I felt the pressure lift from my neck and began to stumble towards a wall. I turned my head, only to see that the Gallade had been thrown against the wall adjacent to me. I held a very confused gaze, looking all around me for the source of what sent the Gallade flying.

It was then that I saw an Umbreon, with its rings glowing in absolute beauty standing near the Gallade, seemingly ready to pounce at any moment.

Kuro…. It's you...

The Gallade quickly jumped up and locked eyes with the Umbreon, both showing a fierce glare. Much to my surprise, the Gallade spoke.

"What do you think you're doing getting in the way of my kill? What right do you have to take it for yourself, Umbreon?" I then saw Kuro's face turn into a very confused expression before responding.

"I'm not here to kill this Glaceon, why would I? And better yet, why exactly do you want to kill her?" He asked, not breaking his batting stance.

"None of your damn business." The Gallade quickly and coldly responded, before also getting into a batting stance. It was a strange place to suggest a battle, as one wall of the alley was about fifteen feet away from the other, not giving either pokemon very much room to move around. However, as I was distracting myself with the thick gray walls that surrounded us, I didn't realize that the two had already started to attack one another.

Kuro was the first to move, using a quick attack off of the wall to rapidly close the distance between him and the Gallade, and then he began to bear his teeth, seemingly ready to chomp the Gallade's head off. The Gallade swiftly dodged out of the way, not noticing the small amount of dark energy that Kuro was building up in his maw. Kuro then looked in the direction of the Gallade and fired a fierce dark pulse directly at him, hitting him square in the chest. The Gallade then flew against the wall, reeling from the attack, but then recovered quickly and rushed Kuro with his blades pointed forward. I saw Kuro's expression change, as if he was hit by a small wave of uneasiness. The Gallade then managed to connect his blade into the side of Kuro, to which he let out a small grunt of pain, but nothing more, as he unsheathed his claws and plummeted one into the Gallade's right eye. Unlike Kuro, the Gallade shrieked in pain as he stepped back, prompting Kuro to take advantage of the situation and pin down the Gallade. He then held his claw up to its neck, seemingly ready to slice it at any moment. Kuro cast the Gallade a hateful glare, and then began to speak.

"Tell me, do you want to die?" Kuro said with a malice I wasn't expecting in the slightest. "Do you want to know what you were about to do to an innocent Glaceon? Do you want to feel the pain meant for her?" Kuro only sharpened his glare as he brought his claws closer to the Gallade's neck. The Gallade shot him a frightful look and quickly responded to Kuro's assertion.

"N-No! Please! D-Don't kill me! I promise I won't try to kill this Glaceon again!" He pleaded.

"Sorry but I won't settle for that." Kuro responded coldly. "Promise me you will never attempt to kill another pokemon again, or else I'm afraid I'll need to keep your promise for you."

"O-Ok! I promise that I will never attempt to kill another pokemon! If I do, then you can tear me apart!"

Seemingly satisfied with the response he got out of the Gallade, he stopped pinning him after taking his claws away from his neck, however, his hostile glare stayed embedded deep within his red irises. The Gallade quickly stood up, all while holding his new eye wound, and sprinted away as fast as he could. He certainly wasn't going to try anything else like that again. I then turned my eyes to Kuro, he seemed to be checking the wound he sustained from the Gallade, making sure it wouldn't pose to be a problem. After I had that thought, I immediately felt a wave of guilt wash over me.

I'm the reason he got hurt... I'm the reason he had to fight…

It was then that I noticed that Kuro was looking me in the eyes. My savior was looking me in the eyes.

For some reason, I felt my face begin to heat up.

Dismissing the thought, I heard Kuro speak.

"Are you okay Naru? That Gallade seemed to attack you out of nowhere." He concerningly asked.

At the sound of him calling me by my name, I felt the heat rush up to my face once more, but I immediately dismissed it, thinking up a response.

"N-No, i'm okay! I'm more worried about you. That wound looks painful…" Kuro then looked at his wound again and placed a paw on it, he then slowly slid it down the wound.

"It's not a big deal, I've had worse in the past. It'll heal given enough time." He responded with the same expression. I once again, felt a huge wave of guilt wash over me.

"I'm really sorry," I cast my head down. "You only got hurt because I was here, and you stepped in to save me, which I really appreciate, but it got you injured." Upon saying it out loud, my guilt began to worsen. "I'm really, really sorry."

Kuro

I stood in front of a slightly whimpering Glaceon, as she had her head cast towards the ground. While I could tell she was appreciative that I saved her from her assailant, she still seemed upset. I tilted my head slightly, wondering what exactly was still bothering her, that is, until her words registered in my mind.

You only got hurt because I was here…

Those words resonated with me, filling me with a feeling I wasn't very familiar with. At least, a feeling I haven't really felt in the past. I knew what it was, but I never really had an opportunity have this feeling bear itself before, as I live too far away from anyone other than my parents in order for such to happen.

I felt very sympathetic towards this Glaceon in front of me.

I didn't know her past, but if this is the way she acted around me both when she ran into me by mistake and how she's acting right now, then I know she has a reason. I didn't want to pry for said reason, as I also have things I prefer not to talk about, especially with someone I've known for less than a day. However, with this new realization, I decided on what I had to do in this situation. Naru clearly seemed upset, and I had to find a way to comfort her.

It's around these moments that I really wish I had social experience…

After a small mental brooding, I finally started to walk towards Naru.

I then softly set one of my forepaws on her head.

It was definitely a bit awkward, especially considering that, despite looking around the same age as me, she was still a few inches taller. However, knocking away this thought, I decided to continue what I was doing.

"You really shouldn't be getting so upset over this," I started, trying to keep my tone as soft as possible. "If I was really that angry or upset over this injury, then I would have lashed out at you or ran away by now you know. This wound doesn't bother me, most of the pain is already gone."

Naru slowly cast her eyes upward from the ground, and locked them with mine. I gave her a small smile, and continued once more.

"Besides… If I didn't want to help you, then I most likely wouldn't have followed that Gallade when I realized he may have been stalking you. I would have just paid it no mind and kept on searching the streets, but I didn't. I wanted to help you. This was my choice, so please don't feel guilty about anything."

After I had stopped talking, I tried to gauge Naru's reaction. She was looking at me intently, holding a gaze that I couldn't quite place. It was a mix of guilt and worry, but it also had a glint of something more.

In her eyes… I saw a glint of hope.

After what felt like about five minutes passed, she finally let her mouth curve into a smile, and her body seemed less tense.

"T-Thank you, Kuro." She stated simply, and gave me the same bright smile she gave me after we exchanged names. I also began to feel the same sensation that I felt when she did that the first time, and I felt my body shudder. I then averted my gaze before the feeling could show on my face.

"L-Like I said, it's really not a problem." I kept my gaze averted, making the atmosphere a small bit more awkward, but Naru didn't seem to be affected by it.

"Anyway, what exactly are you doing here? I knew that you were going into Myriad from earlier today, but I assumed you were visiting family or something, what are you doing outside on the brink of midnight?" Naru curiously asked.

Myriad… That must be the name of this town. Kuro thought.

He also felt a very slight sink in his heart when Naru had mentioned his family, but he knew she didn't mean to spark any unwanted memories, so he hid his change in emotion.

"No, I'm here for… a completely different reason. But what are you doing out here at the brink of midnight? Do you live in this town?" I asked

"I do actually, but my home is a place I don't exactly like to linger around outside of, and since I wanted to wander around outside, I came to a different part of town, pretty much just to wander." She responded casually.

That… doesn't really sound safe. I have no idea if she can actually defend herself or not, due to the fact that the Gallade that attacked her obviously caught her off-guard, so I don't know if wandering around a town at night is the best idea…

I let out a slight sigh, dismissing my thoughts, and also not bothering to ask the ever so begging question that popped up into my head. I didn't want to make Naru's night any worse.

"What reason did you come to this town for?" Naru asked me, trying to use a somewhat cheery tone.

I then flinched a small bit, trying my best to make sure that it wasn't visible outside of my mind.

I can't just tell her that i'm looking to find an organization that is responsible for killing my parents, can I? Not to mention, I don't even know if those three belong to an organization, I just assumed as such. They very well could have just been cold-blooded killers that wanted to get their fill.

Through all of my thoughts, I didn't realize that I spaced out after Naru asked her question, prompting her to worry.

"If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to, I was just curious, I didn't mean to strike a nerve." She told me.

I then released a relieved sigh and looked back at Naru after spacing out.

"I'm sorry, it's just… not exactly something I can articulate yet." I lied. I know exactly what I want to do, I just have no idea how I would go about doing it, as even if I tried to confront one of the three who attacked me that day, I would most likely just freeze up anyway. I needed to somehow strengthen myself mentally, enough to face my parents' killers, and the ones that abused me.

That raises the question… how exactly do I go about doing this…?

Because I found myself, once more, lost in my own thoughts, I almost missed Naru asking me a question.

"So, do you have a place to stay? If you don't live here, you probably shouldn't just find a bench to sleep under." She told me, almost as if she read my thoughts earlier.

"No I don't, I was actually just aimlessly walking around trying to finding a secluded place to sleep before I found you." I responded. Now that I thought about sleep, I did actually feel pretty tired, as I have been walking since morning, and while I didn't feel any fatigue build up in me back then, the short battle I had with the Gallade and the wound on my side were beginning to change that.

"Then do you want to come back with me? I have room at my home, and it should be okay for me to go back there now."

After Naru asked me this, I found myself dumbfounded for the third time today. Was this girl really inviting someone she barely knows to sleep in her home? I very well could be a serial killer waiting for my opportunity to strike when she lets her guard down, or assault her when I get the chance.

"Are you sure you're content with inviting a pokemon who you've known for less than twenty-four hours into your home?" I asked her. To this, she chuckled and tried to justify her reasoning.

"I mean, you did save my life, so I think I can trust you a little bit." She said. "Besides, I need to repay you since you not only saved me, but cheered me up afterwards. I think giving you a place to sleep would be a good start, don't you?"

I processed what she was saying and understood her logic as to why she'd be okay with me sleeping in her home, however, wasn't she still being a little bit too trusting?

Or am I just that untrusting?

I ignored my inner conflict and looked back at Naru.

"I'll gladly accept your invitation then, it'll be nice to have a place to sleep that isn't the ground under a bench." I responded.

Naru then smiled gleefully.

I got a familiar feeling in my body.

"Great! I'll show you where it is! Follow me!" She responded with an overly cheery tone, once again, bringing up the shuddering feeling in my body.

With my current problem solved for the time being, I closely followed behind Naru as she walked down the street.

Naru

I arrived at the short stone doorstep to my home with Kuro in tow.

Around my home was a rather plain-looking area, it was surrounded by short, luscious green bushes. We had virtually no backyard to speak of, the back of the home only sporting a few small trees that were barely taller than the average Alakazam. There was a nice, somewhat smooth trail made from stone leading up to the door, surrounded by steadily growing grass. While it was small, it was a great place to be.

I looked behind me to try and see Kuro's reaction to the home.

He stood there, stopped behind me, bringing his red eyes from the small yard, up to the wood that made of the construction of the home. He looked as if he was amazed, like he was expecting something less, like he was expecting a cave of sorts. In order to break him out of his trance, I decided to speak to him.

"So, this is it. Kind if small huh?" I asked him. "This place may be small, but it's extremely comforting, and has more room than you think." I continued.

Kuro snapped to attention and brought his eyes to mine. Seemingly off guard by my talking.

"This place is small? I think it's beautiful, far more so than my place of residence." He said.

His response admittedly shocked me, as this home was easily the smallest in the town, and by quite a margin as well.

Just what exactly was his living situation before he came here?

After pondering in thought a bit, I looked up to see the moon shining brightly. The shine beautifully reflected off of Kuro's golden rings, giving them a very enigmatic glow. I soon found myself caught in a small trance as well, but quickly shook myself out of it as I realized that the moon was out, signaling time for us to sleep.

"Why don't we go inside, I have a room and a small bed that you can use to sleep." I told Kuro.

He nodded and then followed me through the wooden door. He immediately began inspecting the home, as if he was once again amazed by its appearance.

Before he gets stuck into another amazed gaze, I should do something.

I smiled at the thought of Kuro's curious glint shooting all over a place that he wasn't familiar with. In fact, I was so amused that I had to stifle a chuckle so Kuro wouldn't notice.

"Why don't I show you where you can sleep so we can get some rest." I then yawned. "Arceus knows that we both need it."

"Sounds good, I'm also feeling quite exhausted from the events from today." Kuro told me, also yawning.

I walked down the low hallway, also made out of wood, while I felt the warm green carpet under my paws. I even glanced to one of the pictures that my brother used to admire on the wall. He had this strange obsession with a known organization whose members were known as 'Ravens.' It never really intrigued me, but apparently they are a part of a following to eliminate some kind of murderous group torturing innocent pokemon. I hoped that I would never… Have to… Encounter one…

My thoughts began to wander.

A terrifying thought popped into my head.

Didn't that Gallade want to kill me for seemingly no reason? That wouldn't mean….

I instantly stopped my train of thought and continued to lead Kuro to his room. Once we got into the small room that had no decore of note other than the green wallpaper, (My parents really did love that color…) nor did it have anything inside of it other than a small straw bed. I then looked back at Kuro behind me.

"Well, here's your room. Sorry if it's a bit small, but the bed is comfortable. This actually used to be my brother's room." I told him.

"I don't mind the small size, it's perfect. Kind of reminds me about my old room." Kuro stated while I begged he didn't ask her about her brother.

Luckily, Kuro placed his paws on the bed laid out in front of him, and I could see the drowsiness overcome him.

"Thank you for your hospitality, I appreciate it." Kuro told me, before setting his head down, curled up into a small ball of black fur.

Kuro then closed his eyes, almost instantly falling into a deep sleep. I looked down at him, watching his chest slowly raise and lower. It was admittedly… A little bit adorable.

After feeling heat rush to my cheeks, I dismissed my thoughts and headed to her own room. I walked down to the other side of the same hallway used to get to my late brother's room and at the end of the hall and entered my own room. It was a little bit bigger than my brother's, but sported a light blue color corresponding to the less dark portions of my fur, along with small black stripes on the bottom of the wall, as well as at the top, only a few inches away from the ceiling. Much like my brother's, there wasn't really anything in the form of decoration, just an empty room other than a bed. However, I also had a small bag near the corner of the room, as well as a scarf. The bag was black, as it was originally my brother's, so it corresponded to his fur. The scarf was red, also previously owned by my brother, to go with the red spots of his fur, it matched quite nicely.

Apparently, the bag and scarf were the supposed uniform of his idols, the Ravens. I could see why something like this would be used as uniform, as it created a nice contrast.

Thinking about this brought up unwanted memories, so I pushed them down far inside of my brain and curled up in her bed, similarly to the way Kuro did. I then closed my eyes, and let my thoughts go to the pokemon I met today.

Specifically, they shot straight to Kuro.

I think he is the first pokemon… I might be able to call my friend…

With that positive sentiment in mind, I smiled to myself and fell into a blissful slumber.

Kuro

I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling a bit restless from my short-lived slumber. I lifted my body and looked around the room I was sleeping in. I really did appreciate everything that Naru was doing for me, giving me a place to stay was definitely a step up from sleeping under a bench.

I'll have to thank her tomorrow… I thought groggily.

While I was looking around the room, my eyes landed in a small picture that had its back turned in the corner of the room. I didn't notice it when I had first walked in, so I decide to walk over and check it out.

I didn't think too fondly about snooping around someone else's' home, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I turned the picture around.

The picture looked like a group of about forty pokemon, all varied in species. Above the frame of the picture read the word, 'Ravens.' I didn't concern myself with the word immediately, instead, I decided to look at and observe all of the pokemon in the picture. All of them wore a scarf similar to the one I had picked up at the large store I visited earlier that day, which I found a bit odd, but didn't read too deep into it.

But then, something else quickly caught my attention.

Five pokemon stuck out to me in the crowd, I soon set down the picture, turned it around and pushed it up against the wall, and quickly backed away from it back towards the bed.

I focused on keeping my breathing steady as I thought about who I saw in the picture.

Three pokemon that I recognized all too well were present in the picture.

An Absol.

A Flygon.

An Umbreon.

While this definitely creeped me out, and made unwanted memories rise, the two other pokemon in the picture that I recognized almost made me faint.

A Vaporeon.

A Leafeon.

My parents.

Hello Readers!

This is me from the future, editing this chapter to fix a lot errors that I made that weren't exactly non-noticeable. (I mean, I switched to third person near the end of this thing originally by complete accident… How do you even make that kind of mistake?)

Anywho, this chapter has been edited a bit and has had multiple mistakes fixed, so positive vibes!

I would say see you next chapter, but that's not the one I'm currently working on so….

See you chapter fourteen I suppose!