Well... The second I decide I'm ready to get my life in order, the world decides to explode. So I guess I'm writing another chapter of Birth of a Warlord while everything tries to correct itself. Oh, well.
On that note, I hope that everyone out there is safe and in good health. I myself am doing fine, as is everyone in my family. I know I'm posting just as many states are trying to return to business as usual, but no one forget that covid-19 is still a very serious reality. I don't feel that it's my place to tell people what they should or shouldn't be doing (mostly because I'm afraid of giving wrong information), but I will encourage people to be respectful and kind to one another. The only way we'll get through this is together.
This was my favorite chapter to write by far! All of the other chapters so far were to establish one thing or another (the warlords arriving in Yaksha, introducing my OCs, etc.) Granted, this chapter also serves a purpose - it's here to show which of the warriors will be present for Tsukikage's concert in the next chapter - but this was just pure fun to write! I was really putting heavy focus on Aya, Kenshin, Shingen and Ujiyasu in previous chapters (for good reason; they will be very important going forward), so it was nice to stretch a bit and write scenes for some other characters. Unfortunately, I had to cut out three certain characters' cameos this chapter, but they'll appear in chapter 8 now, so it's all good.
Well, I went about 1,500 words over my personal limit in this chapter, so best not to delay any longer! I hope this will bring a little bit of joy to your time in quarantine!
Weather was known to be a fickle thing in Ransei, and Yaksha was no exception. Dreary gray clouds had blocked the sky all day, but the setting sun gave way to a clear night sky with a bright full moon appearing in the east. By all accounts ideal conditions for the nightly festivities to get underway. The city was alight with hundreds of lanterns, illuminating the activity happening all across it. Larger crowds had taken to the streets as more people left their jobs and detoured through the business district of town to partake in the festivities. It wasn't just the humans who came out at night. Yaksha's wilds were dominated by nocturnal Pokemon, and as day turned to night, many inhabitants of the forest and swamp lands wandered their way into town. Wild Scraggy and Pawniard were the most common, and while the Murkrow had seemed abundant during the day, they were now flocking in armies atop the roofs of buildings, swooping down every so often to grab at something. Among some roosted a massive Honchkrow, perched like an ethereal gargoyle overlooking the land.
Another curious creature stalking the streets was a black Meowth, racing in the direction of the main business district. Despite its exotic coloration, it was still a Meowth through and through, and the feline Pokemon were not the strongest sprinters. Though right now, it needed to push itself with all it had.
"There it goes!" a shout was heard not far behind, a man's voice. "Don't let it out of your sight!" The pounding of three pairs of feet was hot on its trail. But once the dark-furred feline made it to the crowded streets, it was easy to melt into the shadows and slink behind the legs of the dozens of people who passed. The three men who had been chasing it halted their pursuit, looking around with the hope of spotting it, to no avail.
"We lost him again." one of them stated.
"I can see that, fool!" the man at the head of the group snapped, clenching his fists to relieve the pounding of his head. "Spread out and find him! I'm not letting a second-rate hunter get their hands on that pipsqueak."
"This thing better be worth the effort." the third man groaned. "We could have smuggled a lot more Pokemon down to the Under by now if we hadn't spent so much time chasing this thing…"
The second man glowered at him. "You ever see a black Meowth before? I'm sure there's some rich sod willing to pay a fortune for it! Now shut up and get searching, before I decide to sell you for a profit!"
"Okay, okay!" he grumbled as the trio of poachers disbanded to seek out their prey. The Meowth watched from under the tarp of a food tent as they left, sticking his tongue out to express his distaste for the three ugly brutes.
"Hey, over there!" A gravelly shout came from the crowd, and Meowth's ears picked up on fast, heavy footfalls coming in his direction. He tensed, with all its little black hairs standing on end, and ducked back under the tarp. Someone stopped directly in front of the tent, having to stomp hard on the ground to halt their momentum built up from running so fast.
"Hey, you two! This way!" Meowth heard, preparing itself to leap out and make a run for it…
"Hey! Mitsunari! Kiyomasa! They're selling huge Taiyaki over here!"
"Yeah, we heard you, Masanori!" Five sets of feet approached.
"Do you have to run off at every petty thing that catches your eye, fool? Not even your own Pokemon can keep up with you!"
"Oh, that's so typical of you, Mitsunari!" Masanori frowned. "You said you were in the mood for some Taiyaki, I manage to find a place selling some, and instead of showing some gratitude, you call me a fool!"
"Maybe that's because you are a fool! I said I was looking for Takoyaki, not Taiyaki! Is it really so difficult for you to listen clearly?!"
"What?! You big-headed shrimp! You did not say Takoyaki!"
"Would you fools cut it out?! You're causing a scene again!" Kiyomasa scolded them.
"I wouldn't need to look for anything in the first place if your buffoonery hadn't caused us to get kicked out of that restaurant!"
Kiyomasa rolled his eyes, turning towards the red-headed boy. "We got kicked out 'cause you called the owner a fat Pansear!"
"That's wholly inaccurate!" Mitsunari interjected, "I found the speed at which we were being served lacking. I simply told him that he was performing his job like a rotund Pansear who had eaten too many berries."
"He did sort of look like a Pansear." Masanori considered absently.
The Meowth rolled its eyes. These weren't the same humans that had been chasing him, but they were incredibly loud and annoying. It didn't seem like they would be going away, even as the owner of the Taiyaki stand started yelling at them to buy something or get out of the way. The feline's tail swished for a moment in agitation, before turning to prowl away.
He kept low, staying under the cover of the tents as much as he could. A familiar scent from one of the tents caught his attention. He took in the pleasant aroma, lips curling into that signature smile its species was known for. The delicious food was simply too tempting to resist. He jumped onto the food booth, startling both the owner and the green-haired customer with the serpentine Pokemon she was attending to.
"Oh, if it isn't Koun!" the woman said, placing a hand over her heart. "You gave me a fright!"
Meowth paid no attention to whatever she was saying; he didn't understand most humans, anyway. The only thing worth his interest were the multi-colored treats in front of her. He cocked his head to the side, his tail swaying back and forth.
"I bet I know what you want." The woman said, setting aside the basket of Ponigiri she had prepared for her customer and reaching into the display in front of her to take out a slightly larger, violet-colored one.
"How fascinating…" The customer observed leaning toward the small Pokemon, hand on his chin as he inspected the creature before him. Meowth stared back curiously, leaning away slightly to keep a cautious distance between him and the stranger. The action displayed no hostility, but the large Serperior leering behind him was unnerving. "I didn't even know there were any Meowth in Yaksha. Discoloration of the fur… ears slightly taller than an average member of the species… longer tail; possibly thicker fur at its end… Yet you appear to still be a normal Meowth…"
"He's something else, isn't he?" the woman said, handing the purple Ponigiri over to the feline Pokemon. He eagerly accepted the treat, immediately shoving it into his mouth. At first he tried to devour the whole thing in one bite, but realized the task was impossible and instead sat down and started taking huge bites out of his meal. "He just started showing up in town one day; now he's something like a mascot for the locals."
"Last year was when you first started seeing him, yes?" her customer asked, "Some time in the spring, perhaps as early as March?"
The Ponigiri lady paused, thinking on this, before her eyes went wide. "You know, it was exactly in March of last year that we were first seeing Koun! How did you guess?"
He scratched the back of his head. "You see, I'm somewhat of a Pokemon researcher. For the better part of a year now, I've been investigating reports of unusual sightings in several kingdoms. The Pokemon I've managed to see always end up being variants of Pokemon that are native to their respective kingdoms. It seems like new generations of Pokemon are being born with physical traits and abilities better suited for their habitats."
"Well now, that's certainly interesting." The woman remarked, handing the basket of Ponigiri to him.
"What's truly fascinating is how suddenly these variants are occurring." he carried on with his passionate explanation, "So far, the earliest examples I've found of these anomalies go back only two years ago. Based on our current understanding of long-term evolution, such extreme divergences in a species should take thousands of years to develop."
"I see…" the woman nodded, eyes being drawn behind him, where a sizable line of warriors and Pokemon was beginning to form. Understandably, many looked irritated by the hold up. She smiled nervously at the crowd, trying to signal that she was attempting to get things moving. It didn't seem that she could get the Pokemon researcher to stop talking, though.
"I've also identified a possible pattern in regards to when and where these mutations are first taking place. So far, the very earliest cases have been found in kingdoms on Ransei's western coast, and the most recent discoveries of variants were all in the kingdoms of Ransei's northeastern peninsula, just two months ago. I have some possible theories on why this could be, but my current focus is determining if there are variants being born within every kingdom of Ransei…" His one-sided discussion continued. It appeared that his Serperior had determined they would be there for a while, for she had dipped her head into the basket of Ponigiri and began taking bites out of her snack.
By this point, the Meowth that was the topic of such fervent discussion had finished his giant Ponigiri and glanced over at the oblivious customer and exasperated cook. The voice of the green-haired human was pleasant to listen to, certainly better than the loud trio from before, but it was still just noise to the small Pokemon. With the absence of food, there was nothing to keep it here, so he jumped off the stand and stalked off to find something else to hold its attention.
The poachers that chased him before had left his mind, and he felt completely comfortable walking out in the open where everyone passing by could see him. Most humans in the city were friendly towards him. Some people recognized the black Meowth as he passed.
"Hey, check it out! It's Juzo!"
"Mommy! Mommy! Look, it's Kuro!"
"Hey, Yami! You on your way to see Tsukikage?"
"Kuro! You want a treat, buddy?"
The feline could hardly be bothered by the humans greeting him, until someone offered a snack. He stopped and turned in the direction of a human holding up a juicy chunk of meat dripping with sauce. Salivating at the site, he hopped towards the person, showing his clear interest in the morsel.
"Here it comes!" the human signaled, tossing the food into the air. Meowth jumped up to catch it, mouth opened wide in anticipation. As he was inches away, a Murkrow swooped onto the scene, and snatched the meat away into its beak. That would not be the end of its cruelty, as it reared up its feet and kicked the feline square in the face, knocking him to the ground. Even carrying its spoils of battle in its mouth, it managed to preen with joy looking back at its defeated competition.
Back on the ground, Meowth rolled off his back and stood, a paw coming up to rub his face where a pair of avian feet had left imprints. Some people who had witnessed the incident stepped towards him to see if he was alright, but he completely ignored their presence as he shook himself off. His eyes targeted the Murkrow that had absconded with his food, gliding low over the heads of the crowds. His icy blue eyes glared death at the bird, and with no hesitation he ran after the other Pokemon, determined to get his food back or make a meal of the thing that took it!
Murkrow had the high ground, but wouldn't be able to maintain it against a pursuer who was an expert climber. Landing on a banner made it easy for Meowth to scale one of the connecting buildings and then slink across the rope holding the decoration aloft. But what was needed for a proper ambush was the element of surprise, and it was easy for Murkrow to make him out as he approached. A sound like a honk was uttered from the back of its throat, before its wings flapped and it took off. Already halfway across his improvised tightrope, Meowth ran to the building on the other side and hopped down to the lower levels. Murkrow flocked in huge groups, and there could be as many as ten in a hunting party. Scaling the tops of buildings where they roosted was a risky venture, so it was best to stay low to the ground.
There was a point in the chase where it swooped low near a large break in the crowds. Meowth saw its opportunity, and pounced just as the winged creature's feet touched the ground. He wasn't fast enough; the Murkrow took off once more, its talons barely missing the faces of the surrounding crowd. Meowth would have continued his pursuit, if not for the noise that caused it to glance to its left and right. Its fur bristled as it beheld two massive Pokemon running towards one another, and set to collide right where he stood. With a cry of fright, he jumped out of the way just before the Conkeldurr's and Bastiodon's attacks hit dead on. He sprinted into the crowd, not looking back to see the fallout of the collision.
Nor did he notice the matching surprised faces of a young woman and her Luxio who had witnessed the feline almost getting pummeled following him into the crowd. Ginchiyo blinked her eyes, trying to discern if she had truly seen what she thought she had. "Was that a… Meowth?" she wondered aloud.
"That was a gutsy move, going after Conkeldurr with a Take Down like that." Yoshihiro remarked to his opponent, causing Ginchiyo's attention to return to the battle. "Especially as he was coming after you with his Superpower. A rock/steel type like Bastiodon shouldn't be standing after all that. You two are full of surprises, Keiji."
Keiji grinned from the other side of the improvised field. "Hey, you're the one always talking about taking gambles. I figured it would be sporting to play you at your own game."
"For as immersed as the two of you are in this fight, you would think you'd pay closer attention to the battlefield!" Ginchiyo shouted from the sidelines. "You nearly crushed a Pokemon that wandered onto the road!"
Yoshihiro grumbled. "I can't help that these blasted birds are flying around." He swatted at a Murkrow that flew too close. "If they don't have the sense to keep clear of a battle, there's not much I can do."
"Be that as it may, you should still be more observant." she pressed.
"She's right about that, Yoshihiro!" Keiji roared as he and Bastiodon stormed up and launched an attack, which the warlord of Pugilis barely had time to counter. Ginchiyo could only roll her eyes. It had been her intention to compete against the winner of this battle, but was now having second thoughts. Beyond her irritation with the two, the jet-feathered Pokemon swarming around indeed did not make for ideal battling conditions. She was accustomed to all number of distractions on the battlefield; many kingdoms' official battlefields contained obstacles and hazards meant to both hinder and test the armies that fought upon them. She didn't feel comfortable knowing she might bring harm to an innocent Pokemon, though. A warrior fought alongside their Pokemon to strengthen their bonds, and to protect what was most precious to them. There was no mercy to be had for one who would recklessly endanger the lives of an innocent, no matter the circumstance. Her father's spirit could not rest well if she were to go against his teachings.
She glanced down at Luxio. Every time one of the strange dark birds drew near, her partner would rear up and try to swat at them. Occasionally, static could be seen crackling along his mane as he restrained himself from unleashing an electric attack on them.
"Calm yourself, Luxio." she instructed. In a crowd of this size, a wayward Spark would end up shocking dozens of bystanders. She certainly understood the temptation, though. As another passed overhead, she had to throw her arm up to shield herself. She felt talons and wings connect with her gauntlet. They were making themselves quite the nuisance.
"Hey, Ginchiyo!"
The electric warlord turned to her left, noticing a familiar trio approaching her. As expected, Ryoko energetically ran at the front, while her brother and Oichi trailed behind.
"Hey!" the brunette repeated as she stopped next to her. "You didn't happen to see a black Meowth go by here recently, did you?"
"Ah. So my eyes aren't failing me." Ginchiyo thought aloud, recalling the discolored Pokemon from a moment ago.
"I suppose that's a yes, then." the new arrival determined.
"I caught sight of it for but a moment. Where it's gone, I couldn't tell you."
"Ginchiyo." Ryo greeted, finally catching up to his sister. "I hope word got to you about the dinner situation."
She nodded. "Yoshihiro informed me. Though I had guessed we would be on our own."
Ryo lowered his head slightly. "Yeah… I'm really sorry about that."
Ginchiyo scoffed. She turned her stormy gray eyes to the boy. "Don't bother yourself with trying to accommodate the other Warlords. All of your focus should be put towards our purpose for being here. I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself if I need to."
"R-right." he agreed. She rolled her eyes. She would never understand how someone so dense had conquered all 17 kingdoms, and linked with the Legendary Pokemon itself.
Booming laughter suddenly reached her ears from the battlefield. "Well, looks like you got the best of me this time, old man!" Keiji's voice exclaimed from where he sat on the road. Bastiodon laid next to him, looking completely winded from the fight. Yoshihiro and Conkeldurr stood before them, beaming at their hard-earned victory.
"You definitely didn't make it easy, Keiji." Pugilis's warlord conceded with a chuckle, rolling his shoulder. "That fight really took a lot out of Conkeldurr and I. Our next opponent's gonna have the advantage against us to be sure." he turned to Ginchiyo with a smirk. "Of course, that's the way I like it."
Ginchiyo met his gaze with a steeled look of determination. Briefly, her eyes glanced skyward. The dark-winged Pokemon appeared to have passed on, as now all that could be seen above was the clear night sky. She returned her gaze to Yoshihiro.
"Very well." she agreed, walking into the empty square of road with Luxio. The surrounding crowd cheered as a new battle was set to begin. Keiji and Bastiodon got up, walking past her to stand on the sidelines.
"Good luck." he cheered, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Luck is for those who lack skill." she replied, drawing her sword and slipping into a battle stance. Keiji only chuckled in response.
"Keiji, is that really you?" Oichi called as he came to stand beside them.
"So it is." He said, grinning at the warlords of Aurora. "Long time no see, you three! I think the last time we crossed paths was when you settled back in Aurora."
"Yeah, it's amazing how much time has passed." Ryoko agreed. "How have you been?"
Keiji laughed. "Never better! Ransei being unified has really made traveling between the 17 kingdoms a breeze, so I owe you guys a big thanks."
"Well, it isn't just us." Ryo stated, "It took all of the warlords working together to get to where we are now. We've got all of them helping us to make Ransei a better place for people and Pokemon."
"Oh yeah, I heard about that. You all established some kind of warlords' council. Instead of being unified under one kingdom's banner, Ransei's unified under all 17 in equal measure now." the traveling warrior mused. "How did you ever manage to get those guys to put aside their differences and work together?"
Ryo chuckled. "Uh… we're still trying to figure that out." The group of warriors laughed at this. Keiji glanced over to Ginchiyo and Yoshihiro's battle.
"I've been seeing familiar faces all day." he mentioned, "I knew this festival was a big deal, but I didn't think I'd see so many warlords in attendance."
"You knew about this?" Ryoko asked.
"Of course." he replied, "I've been hearing about Yaksha setting up this festival for a month now. I mean, that's why you guys are here, right?"
"We had no idea this was going on until we arrived this morning." Oichi stated.
"Is that right? It must have been quite the surprise to see Yaksha of all kingdoms put this together, then."
Ryo nodded. "It sure was."
"Well then, what's brought all of the warlords of Ransei to Yaksha?" Keiji asked.
"Unfortunately, nothing good." Ryo explained somberly, "It turns out that Kotaro's disappeared, and he left Yaksha without a warlord. So we asked everyone to come for an emergency council meeting to try and figure out what to do."
Keiji's expression turned serious as Ryo went on. "…I see. That's bad news. A kingdom without a warlord… That just doesn't work. You need to find a replacement, fast."
"You're not kidding." Ryoko agreed. There was a brief pause, before the female twin gasped, and her eyes lit up as an idea came to her. "Hey, Keiji, you seem to know a lot about what it takes to lead a kingdom. Have you ever thought about being a warlord yourself?"
"Huh?" Keiji's choked, doing a double take at the brazen observation.
Ryo responded before he could. "You want to put Keiji in charge of Yaksha?" he questioned, shooting his sister a skeptical look.
"Hey, why not?" she reasoned, "Keiji knows practically all of the warlords in Ransei, and he's one of the toughest warriors we know. Besides, it means we wouldn't have to take a chance on a stranger if he were to-"
"Me? No way." Keiji exclaimed with a nervous laugh, putting his hands out in front of him. "I'm just a drifter. I just wander from kingdom to kingdom, following my nose. That's the life for me."
"But-!" Ryoko tried to continue with her case, but Keiji offered her no room for further argument.
"Trust me, you're definitely better off with someone else." he insisted, "You won't have to look far, either. This festival here has attracted some really amazing warriors from across the region. There's bound to be one amongst them fit for the job."
Ryo sighed, crossing his arms. "But how are we supposed to know when we've found the right person? How do we avoid putting another Kotaro in charge?"
Keiji smirked. "Hey, don't worry about it. You'll know. That old Mushoku knew you two were the right ones to take over Aurora when he found you! Just trust your instincts!"
Ryo opened his mouth, but quickly closed it and instead offered an uncertain nod. He'd never heard Keiji mention Lord Mushoku before, and he couldn't deny he was curious, but it also occurred to him that he wasn't surprised at all. Keiji seemed to know all of the warlords, so it felt natural that he had been acquainted with Aurora's former warlord enough to make such a statement.
"Either way, I best be heading over to the center plaza." the traveling warrior suddenly announced. "There's a big concert happening over there right now, and the main event is in a little while. I'm looking to get the best seat I can, you see." Giving the trio no time to respond, he turned and began to walk away with Bastiodon following. "It's been good seeing you three, though. Hopefully, we'll find some time to get together again soon!"
"Don't you want to stick around to watch the battle?" Ryoko called after him, gesturing to the fight where Yoshihiro appeared to have gotten the upper hand.
Keiji waved his had behind him. "There will be other battles; this festival's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Let's all make the most of it!"
Oichi hummed thoughtfully as they watched their wandering friend disappear into the crowd. "He sure left in a hurry. Do you suppose that was because of your suggestion, Ryoko?" she wondered.
"I don't see why it would be." the blue-eyed girl thought, "It was just an idea. I thought it was a good one, too; Keiji's helped us out plenty of times now."
Ryo shook his head. "I don't blame him." he said, "The position of warlord demands a lot of the person that holds the title. Keiji's free to go wherever he wants whenever he feels like it, especially now that Ransei is unified. If I had that kind of freedom, I wouldn't want to surrender it, either." Oichi glanced his way, nodding in agreement.
"Whew! Warlord, eh?" Keiji mumbled while he walked through the streets. With a chuckle, he glanced down at his partner. "Now there's a scary thought, huh, Bastiodon? Lord Keiji, Warlord of the Dark Kingdom!" he threw his head back and barked out a hearty laugh.
Bastiodon seemed more contemplative than his warrior companion, making a collection of curious grunts. Keiji stopped laughing, his smile turning a bit more sober at his Pokemon's thoughts.
"Hey, I really feel for them." He insisted, "It was good of them to return all those kingdoms to their original warlords, and it couldn't have been an easy decision after all they went through to conquer 'em. It's a shame that someone wants to take advantage of that good will, especially a slippery Ekans like that Kotaro."
The steel-type Pokemon let out another insistent rumble.
Keiji shrugged. "I'd like to help 'em out, for sure, but I don't see what much we could do, buddy. They need someone to replace Kotaro, and they've got more qualified warriors than us to help them search. Best we just leave that serious stuff to the professionals."
Bastiodon didn't seem entirely convinced, but quietly agreed with the warrior's perspective.
The duo walked along in silence for a while, taking in the sights peacefully. They crossed into a smaller plaza with an unusually large number of Murkrow circling overhead. Something suddenly leapt onto Bastiodon's back, taking refuge behind its massive armored head. Shortly after, a Murkrow swept down, but quickly altered its course to prevent itself from colliding with the shield-Pokemon. Keiji looked down at what had suddenly hitched a ride on his Pokemon: A black Meowth.
"Hm? Hey, there, little guy." he greeted. The feline glanced up at his voice, seeming to get that this was the human partner of the Pokemon he had just climbed on to. "What's got you looking so spooked?"
Meowth poked its head up, glancing at the circling birds in the sky. Following his gaze, Keiji understood.
"I see. You got some tough guys picking on you, huh?" he observed. He turned back to the unusually colored Pokemon, offering a friendly smile. "Well, you sit tight, buddy. Bastiodon and I will get you somewhere safe." Bastiodon grunted in agreement. Two more Murkrow came down, attempting to launch a synchronized attack on the massive foe. Bastiodon fixed them with a glare, inclining its massive face slightly so that it seemed even bigger. Observing the aggressive looking face, the two flying Pokemon lost their nerve, and changed courses mid-flight. Keiji laughed at the retreating duo, petting Bastiodon's head to show his approval. Peeking over the steel-Pokemon, Meowth's face broke into a huge grin, meowing appreciatively at its two defenders.
"Serves them right, huh?" Keiji chuckled. Meowth agreed, sticking his tongue out at the retreating foes. As the black figures in the sky began to thin out, Keiji and Bastiodon continued walking with their new companion.
"You're certainly an interesting sight." Keiji mentioned, deciding to talk to keep the little black Pokemon's spirits up. "I've never seen a black Meowth before. I've seen a pink Sneasel, a Larvesta with Yellow horns in Chrysalia, and a Zubat that breathed fire the last time I was in Ignis."
It wasn't clear whether or not the dark Pokemon understood him, as it remained silent, so he just kept talking. "Heh, I bet Motonari would love to see you; I hear he's been researching strange Pokemon lately." Meowth glanced up at him. "Is there anything you can do that other Meowth can't?" Keiji asked.
The feline seemed to understand this query, as its eyes flashed with a look of understanding. It wasn't easy at first to see what it was doing. Initially, Keiji thought he had just caught the glare of a passing light to momentarily distort his vision. Indeed, he had to blink a few times for his eyes to come back into focus, but it was obvious once his eyes had corrected. To say that the Meowth had turned invisible wasn't accurate. It was still easy to spot, especially with its big blue eyes gleaming in the dim evening light. But the fur that had once been pure black now appeared translucent, and it was displaying the colors of the area around it. Looking straight at it, it appeared to Keiji as though he was staring through the Meowth's body to see Bastiodon's thick yellow and gray hide, and the cobble of the streets. As people passed by, their legs also became visible in the Pokemon's fur.
"Hey, now that's a neat trick." Keiji remarked. "Why didn't you use that when those Murkrow were giving you trouble?" His question was answered by a nearby Pokemon battle between two warriors with an Emolga and a Charmeleon. It wasn't clear whether it was from the Emolga's Electro Ball, or the Charmeleon's Flamethrower, or even if it really mattered. Under the intense light that resulted from the attacks, Meowth's fur instantly became dark and opaque again.
"Ah." Keiji nodded, "So it only works when you're in the dark."
The meow that it let out seemed to be intended as a confirmation.
"Well, it's still a useful ability. You kind of strike me as a troublemaker, to be honest, so I bet disappearing comes in handy for you."
Another growl came, this one suggesting boredom with the topic. It was kind of like a grouchy teen giving an apathetic reply of, "Whatever." Keiji found it amusing.
After a while, the feline's ears twitched, and it lifted its head to see over Bastiodon. Noticing the change in tone, Keiji listened closely to try and figure out what had caught its attention. He heard someone playing a shamisen a little ways ahead, fast-paced and full of energy. He glanced back to Meowth, noticing the wide signature grin on its face, and the sparkle in its eyes.
"I take it you're a music fan." Keiji presumed with a grin. "Well, why don't we take a look at who's performing." They made their way over to a sizable crowd of cheering onlookers.
"And away we go!" A girlish voice called from the center of the crowd, before a Larvesta was suddenly launched into the air, being followed closely behind by a white parasol.
"Hey!" Keiji exclaimed excitedly, pushing his way into the audience and to the front, Bastiodon making the ordeal easier. Delightfully, his assumption had been correct. The Larvesta and parasol came back down to earth, landing in the arms of a dark haired girl with the brightest smile in all of Ransei. Leaning against the wall behind her was the player of the shamisen, none other than Lord Motochika. What a high honor, being able to see those two perform together!
"Thank you, thank you very much!" Okuni said with a wave to the exuberant applause of the audience. She paused as her eyes caught sight of one particular person amongst the throng, her eyes lighting up instantly.
"Keiji!" she cried, "I might have known that we would cross paths here!"
"Really?" he asked, "It's certainly a surprise to me!"
"Nonsense! I say it's fate!" she insisted, twirling around with her parasol in hand. "We are kindred spirits, you and I; floating through life as though in a dance. Separate yet always connected." From behind her, Motochika strummed a short melody on his beloved instrument, apparently inspired to turn their conversation into a part of the performance. His Dewott next to him joined in, using its two scalchops as makeshift percussion instruments.
Keiji chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Aw, come on, Okuni. You're making me blush! What do you expect me to say to something like that?"
"Don't say anything." Okuni giggled, extending an elegant hand, "Join me in the dance."
Keiji tried to wave off the suggestion. "Oh, I couldn't. This is your act; you're the star."
"Come on, Keiji. Two stars always shine brighter than one." She looked over at Motochika. He strummed in perfect harmony with her words, making them seem more like a song. "And three stars shine brighter than two. Won't you help us light up the night?" The crowd seemed to be in agreement with her, trying to encourage him to join in. A few men close to the front began a chant of "Keiji!"
Keiji couldn't help but laugh. "Aw, you know I can't say no to you, Okuni." he relented, walking into the circle with Bastiodon as the crowd cheered.
Okuni smiled, directing her attention to the audience. "There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. A new arrival has joined the dance! Everyone give a round of applause for my dear friends Keiji and Bastiodon!" A roar from the crowd was given.
"Man, I'll never get over how you're able to work a crowd." Keiji told her, looking over the excited faces with wonder.
Smirking, the warlord of Fontaine returned his attention to his shamisen. "Two stars shine brighter than one." he declared, beginning a song inspired by Okuni's words. "Three stars shine brighter than two. But it is said… that the stars shine brightest… in Yaksha." This decree was met with an approving roar from the onlookers, which grew as Motochika began to fly across the shamisen's strings. Okuni and Keiji quickly fell into a dance together, each able to match the other's movements to perfection. Their Pokemon joined in. From behind Bastiodon, Meowth poked his head out, captivated by the music, but enraptured by the dark-haired girl with the parasol dancing next to him.
"Hey!" someone from the crowd yelled, laughing at the sight. "Look, it's Kuro!" The call of the name passed through the audience, who cheered and called to the Pokemon as they noticed him. Okuni took note of the attention, and turned to see the small feline hiding behind Bastiodon, staring at her with eyes sparkling like bright aquamarine gems.
"Oh my!" she squealed, twirling over to get a closer look, "And just who is this little cutie?"
"A new friend of mine!" Keiji explained, "He hitched a ride on Bastiodon a short while ago."
"Well, isn't he just the most darling thing!" the dancer gushed. The dark-haired Pokemon hopped onto Bastiodon's head, purring approvingly at the attention he was receiving from the pretty young woman. "Such lovely dark fur! And he has the most striking aura!" Her brown eyes went slightly glassy, something more suddenly entering her smile. "Perhaps you would like to accompany me back to Spectra." she said softly. The weight of those words was heavy enough to rip a hole in time, or perhaps reality itself, yet so supple for such an occurrence to be felt only by their speaker. The Meowth, on the other hand, paid the words no mind, preferring a collection of sounds that shook the earth in a rather different way. What consumed its every sense was the rhythm of those melodic strings, and the graceful movements of the young dancer as she continued her performance.
Okuni took note of the sparkle in his eyes, bright as the stars in the night sky. Her smile held an invitation within. "Well, don't just sit there, darling Meowth! Join in the dance."
He seemed taken aback, smile dropping and head tilting the slightest bit in curiosity. That look was familiar to the dancer from Spectra; one a Pokemon might give upon using an attack they had never been able to use before. How adorable!
"There's no need for such hesitation." She urged, "If you love the music so much, then you ought to embrace it with all of your heart and body."
"Yeah, come on, buddy!" Keiji shouted, "You're part of the show, too, so cut loose!" The crowd began to chant for the dark Meowth just as easily as they had set to doing the same with Keiji. The blue-eyed feline observed the encouragement, but was at a loss for what to do. Move like the humans did? It enjoyed watching, but had never thought to imitate the motions that captivated him so. It jumped from off Bastiodon's horns and landed on the ground, "center stage". From down here, the cluster of people seemed much bigger, in size and numbers. Seeking comfort, or perhaps a solution to its new situation, it thought about the human who always appeared on stage, the female with the mask and striped hair. Whenever she put on a show, she would appear so confident and powerful, and the people who watched seemed to always be happy with what she did. If he imitated those movements, perhaps this crowd would like it, too. So he thought back to every time he had ever seen her up on that stage, so wild and commanding.
Okuni had caught on that the hesitation the Meowth was showing might be a case of stage fright. Just as she was about to offer some support, he appeared to break out of his stupor. He rose onto his hind legs, placed one paw on his hip, and the other in front of his face. His right foot tapped somewhat sporadically at first, but eventually the footfalls fell into rhythm with Motochika's shamisen. Appearing satisfied with his ability to match the tempo, he smirked, and moved the hand away from his face with a cry, sounding like some bold declaration to Okuni's ears. From there, it was as though a spark had met with gunpowder, and he exploded in a wild flurry of flailing arms and stomping legs. Pokemon did have a habit of moving while dancing similar to how they moved when battling, but this aggressive and vibrant style seemed more inspired by the movements of people. Fists pumping into the air, jumping from one side to another, spinning so fast it was a wonder he didn't fall over, striking a pose every so often like some hero in a stage play. It was really so fascinating to watch, and the dancer found her own steps slow in favor of observing the wild ball of energy before her.
Whatever it was, it was clear that the audience couldn't get enough of it. Those that recognized the black Meowth regarded his dancing style with some familiarity.
"Hey, check it out! Yami's dancing just like Tsukikage!"
"I told you he was her Pokemon!"
"Yeah, Koun! Get down!"
"Kuro! Kuro! Kuro!"
Hearing the approving cheers of the humans watching him brought an impossibly wide grin to Meowth's face. He was completely taken in by the energy and attention, the cheering and the music. He could hardly believe it. He was performing just like Tsukikage! That was what the humans were cheering. He was just like her, they said. It made him happy to know this, to be just like the human that he so enjoyed watching.
The excitement from the crowd was growing, and their cheers were loud enough to attract the attention of others passing by, the audience growing ever larger. Even those on the other side of the plaza took note, such as Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide. The two warlords glanced behind them, noticing the commotion off in the distance.
"Hey, sounds like there's a real party happening over there." Hideyoshi noted, before popping a large ball of fried dough into his mouth.
Mitsuhide did not seem as impressed, "The young people in this kingdom behave so uncouthly. One would think their parents never taught them how to behave in public."
Hideyoshi snorted at this remark, "Aw, don't be so serious! You know there's a festival going on, right? People are just having fun."
Mitsuhide leered at the fire warlord disapprovingly. "That is hardly any excuse for people to behave like wild beasts. I'm only grateful that Gracia is back home in Nixtorm." he glanced to a group of young children, a few with Pokemon of their own, playing near the fountain in the center of the plaza. "I can't imagine what sort of example is being set for the children who live in this city."
Hideyoshi 'mmm'ed through a mouthful of snacks, alerting his companion that he was listening. "You know, all things considered, things are pretty good here." he stated, "Most of the buildings around here are well-maintained, businesses seem to be getting plenty of customers. The worst thing I've noticed is that the roads badly need some maintenance."
Mitsuhide groaned. "You are far too generous."
Ignis's warlord shot him a sideways glance. "Hey, it's not our place to tell people how to live their lives. Our job as warlords is to protect and take care of our kingdoms and the people and Pokemon within them."
"And part of that job should be to instill and uphold high moral standards for our people. This is what happens when a warlord fails to provide his kingdom with a strong set of values; people become emboldened to act more and more inappropriate and make a spectacle of themselves."
"Hm? Are we referring to someone specific?" The two male warriors turned, noticing Lady Nō sauntering over to them with Mismagius. In the time since they had seen her this morning, she had changed outfits. Now she was dominating the nightlife in a black silk dress that barely cleared her thighs, matching platform heels, dark makeup, and a black leather jacket. Her lavender hair was still styled up, but she had gone for a much more casual twist, with several of her usual ornamentations removed.
The look Mitsuhide set her with could only be seen as that of a disapproving father. "What… are you wearing?" he asked blankly.
"My new favorite dress." Hideyoshi simpered, looking the Spectra lady up and down with wide eyes.
Ignoring Hideyoshi, Nō raised a manicured brow at Nixtorm's warlord. "Oh, come now. I wear this dress all the time."
"I meant your coat." he elaborated, before adding, "Although I can't say I find the rest of your attire to be appropriate for a warlord, either."
She glanced down at the article in question, running a thoughtful hand over the front of the cool black material. "I just bought this from a local clothier. The owner was the most delectable young woman. She told me that jackets like these were incredibly popular with young people in the city. Naturally, I just had to get my hands on one. I find that it suits me nicely."
"You look like some teen-aged delinquent." Mitsuhide told her.
The assessment seemed to please her. "So you mean to say I look younger? Good to know." Mitsuhide's response to this was to groan and shake his head.
A second female soon joined the group, jumping down beside them with her Crobat swooping next to her.
"Whew." Nene breathed, bringing up a hand to brush against her brow. "Flying is not easy tonight with all those Murkrow around." she lamented. Crobat's tired expression mirrored this sentiment.
"Dough ball?" Hideyoshi offered, extending the small paper basket of treats to her. She smiled and graciously accepted one, taking a bite.
"Oh, that's really good!" she exclaimed, instantly going back for another.
"That's nothing! You should try the Taiyaki they're selling over by-!"
"Lady Nene, have you just returned from your patrol of the city?" Mitsuhide asked, preventing Hideyoshi from going on a rant about how good the food was for the fifth time that evening.
Nene glanced over to him, swallowing the last of the fried treat before answering. "I have, actually." she confirmed, looking between the three of them. "Lord Ieyasu's not with you?"
"Last I spoke with him, he was in the process of writing a rather lengthy letter." Nō mentioned. "I presume he means to inform his generals back in Valora of Lord Ryo and Lady Ryoko's plans for selecting a new Warlord for Yaksha."
Mitsuhide sighed. "He really should wait for the council to further discuss things before sending word to his own advisers." he noted, "Kotaro could very well be looking to sabotage our attempts to repair the damage he's caused, and knowing of our plans can only make it easier for him to impede us."
"Which is why it's so important that we know his movements." Nene stated, bringing attention back to her. "According to my scouts, the Fuma are definitely still in Yaksha. From what information they've been able to gather, it sounds like Kotaro never really left."
"What?!" Mitsuhide gaped, "Why would he still be here when he knows that the warlords would come after him?"
"Really, there's no safer place to hide in Ransei than Yaksha." the ninja said, "Even though he abandoned the kingdom, he certainly still has allies here, and no one knows the dark corners of this kingdom better than Kotaro. Even for an elite ninja like me, finding that boy while he's hiding in Yaksha will be a challenge." she sighed, "In any case, I've already spoken with Lord Ujiyasu and Lord Shingen. Since Yaksha doesn't currently have an army of its own, we'll need to bring in warriors from other kingdoms, and Cragspur and Terrera are closest. I asked them to form a perimeter around Yaksha's borders, and patrol the area. This way, at least we know he's isolated to one kingdom, and he won't go anywhere else."
"That's a relief." Nixtorm's warlord declared, "At least this way we have him cornered. It's only a matter of time before he's apprehended. Thank you for your hard work, Lady Nene."
"You all can count on me." Nene assured them with a smile. Glancing between the three of them, her expression went from confident to hesitant as she debated whether or not to convey another piece of information. She decided it was best that she informed them of everything she knew, rumors included. "There's… one other thing I think you all should know about." The ominous tone caught the attention of the entire group, the three silently waiting for her to continue.
"Mind you, this isn't something I've been able to confirm yet, but you should be aware anyway. One of my scouts informed me that… he saw Lord Nobunaga here, in Yaksha City tonight."
The utterance of the name brought pause to all three former generals. Mitsuhide's eyes went wide, and Hideyoshi did a double take. Nō didn't appear surprised, though the glint in her eyes at least gave away that Nobunaga's supposed presence was just as much news to her.
"L-Lord Nobunaga is here?!" Mitsuhide stuttered, voice barely rising above the surrounding crowds.
"He might be." Nene corrected, "Only one scout claimed to have seen him, and even he wasn't entirely sure if it was him or not." She slumped her head briefly, them turned to look out at the people who passed by them. "I'd suggest to just keep an eye out for him."
"I don't get it." Hideyoshi commented, "Why send Oichi to represent Dragnor if he was just gonna show up anyway?"
"Clearly there's something he wants to do without the other warlords being aware of his movements." Mitsuhide considered. "What could he possibly be up to? Operating on his own like this could risk jeopardizing all that we are trying to accomplish here. Not to mention that a lack of trust could strain the relationship of Dragnor with the other kingdoms even further…"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Nō stepped in, "We're dealing with a rumor right now. You believe Ieyasu should exercise patience; why not take your own advice. If Nobunaga is planning something under the noses of the other warlords, then all we can do is deal with it if and when the need arises. I learned long ago that it's futile to try and predict his mind."
Mitsuhide was hardly convinced, and Nene herself looked doubtful of this approach. Hideyoshi, on the other hand, offered no such reluctance. "You've got a point, Lady Nō." he agreed, nonchalantly waving around another dough ball in his hand. "If we try hunting him down, we'd just be wasting our time. The best thing to do now is find ourselves a new warlord for Yaksha, and face any surprises as they come." Having said his piece, he went to eat the dough ball in his hand. But before he could, a black Meowth leaped out of the crowd and snatched the morsel out of his hand.
"Wuh-?! H-hey, you little thief!" Hideyoshi yelled after him as he ran out of sight, leaving behind an angry warlord of Ignis, a startled Nene, and a shocked Mitsuhide, looking on with mouth agape and pointing in the direction of the long gone Pokemon.
"A-a-" he stuttered, unable to articulate the words. "A b-b-bla… A black Meow…"
Turning her head from the direction the black feline had taken off in, to her flummoxed fellow warlord, Nō couldn't help but give a victorious smirk, thinking back to this morning. "I told you I saw a black Meowth." she smugly declared.
The Pokemon in question ended up stopping in front of the fountain in the center of the plaza to munch on his acquisition, which happened to place him in the sight of a certain hooded young woman. Glancing up from the sketch she was working on of an idling warrior's Haxorus, Mitsubachi's eyes fell upon the Meowth, their dark hues brightening to a dark amber color. Her lips parted just slightly, and her heart leaped in excitement at seeing him sitting mere feet in front of her.
"Look at you." she breathed as a smile crept onto her face. He didn't notice her the same way, too absorbed in his snack. Though this suited her just fine, as the graphite in her hand returned to a blank spot on the parchment.
"Hey, Anbura." she continued to whisper to herself, as though hoping to cast a spell on him so that he would be soothed and remain still. "Good to see you, pretty boy. Oh, I think you've gotten a little taller." Her eyes quickly darted between him and her notebook, as his image began to take form on the page. "Just hold still for me, angel. I've almost got you this time, I know it."
It wasn't meant to be, though. The moment his snack had been completed, he got up and pounced away. Mitsubachi watched his retreat anxiously. "Nooo, don't go…" she grumbled, glancing down at her progress. It was almost perfect. The angle of his back, the points of his ears, the shine of the golden charm on his head. She had tried to draw the black Meowth so many times ever since she had first laid eyes on him, and this was by far the closest she had ever come to getting him perfect. She just needed a closer look at his eyes. No, she wasn't going to let this opportunity pass her by; she was going to get a perfect drawing of the beautiful feline this week, no matter what it took. Spurred on by her rare sense of resolve, she rose from her seat at the lip of the fountain, and followed behind him.
As expected, it was challenging to keep Anbura in her sights, especially when he was obscured by the legs of people passing by. She managed to keep her eyes on him for a good while, though. It was only when he slinked under a tent that she truly lost sight of him. She glanced up at the plain wooden sign hanging by one of the tent's supporting poles. Kippoushi's Candles, it said. She entered.
"O mighty lords of heaven;
Descend your mountain thrones;
Behold the gilded kingdom;
Here built upon your bones…"
The tent was a warm burgundy color, and it gave the inside a very inviting atmosphere as it was illuminated by several candles. A few shelves here and there were set up with merchandise: obviously candles, as well as incense, lamps and oils. One stick of incense was lit, filling the small tent with smoke and some floral aroma she couldn't place. The owner was at the back behind a table, preoccupied with something that she couldn't see. Based on the movements of his arms, he appeared to be polishing some decorative vessel. Upon taking stock of the interior, she looked around the floor, hoping to spot Anbura. It quickly became clear that he was long gone, and she sighed, despondently accepting her defeat.
"No binds shall hold our soaring hearts;
No blade shall pierce our skin;
No water in this world shall douse;
The soul that burns within…"
Mitsubachi's eyes flicked back to the owner. He had been singing when she entered, but she hadn't paid him much attention until now. His voice was hypnotic; a rich, deep baritone that affected her the same way a warm cup of tea did on a cold winter day. It was both soothing and stimulating. She took a few steps further in as the owner turned around. She flinched, and pretended to be examining the wares on a random shelf, glancing back at him every so often. He hadn't noticed her, and was still preoccupied with polishing a jade urn. His voice wasn't his only attractive feature, she realized with some embarrassment. She felt silly for it, but he truly seemed to possess every quality she found appealing in a man. He was tall and lean, with broad shoulders and toned muscles hidden beneath his royal yellow robes. She had a weakness for long hair on men, and his cascaded slightly past his shoulders like a waterfall of obsidian. Just past the bangs that fell over the sides of his face could be seen defined cheek bones, a straight nose, and strong jawline, cleanly shaved with not a single facial hair in sight. His eyes were obscured by the shadows cast from his straw hat, but she guessed that they were brown, judging by how dark they were.
"Hear all, ye sons of the mountain;
The solemn hymn of yore;
That's known to all these war-torn lands;
Your triumph-heralding roar-"
His singing ceased, and she looked back to find him staring at her. She opened her mouth with the intention of giving a polite greeting, but his smile made whatever she had intended to say die on her lips.
"Ah, I apologize, my lady. I did not see you come in. Welcome to my shop."
Mitsubachi returned the smile, hoping that her nervousness wouldn't show. "That's alright. I was just… looking for something."
"And so you have found it. I have been waiting for the moment you would arrive." The hooded young woman had been about to return her attention back to the shelves and pretend to be shopping when he made this declaration. She shifted her body to face him properly, her face contorting in confusion and fascination in equal measure.
"You… have?" she asked, immediately feeling stupid for asking, but it was all she could think to say. "Do we know each other?" Mitsubachi couldn't deny, there was something familiar in his face, but an explanation for that could be as simple as her having passed him on the street.
He chuckled, the sound sending a shiver throughout her, seeping deep into her bones. "Not exactly, but I have long awaited the coming of a special person to my humble store. One who has a great destiny that has brought them to this place, and to me."
Mitsubachi suddenly felt her heart begin to eagerly pound in her chest. The sensation was familiar; one she felt whenever she had the honor of reading an exceptional adventure novel. That's what this felt like, after all. That moment in the story where the simple protagonist is told that they are the chosen one, and that they were prophesized for greatness. Despite her love of fiction, Mitsubachi was a rational person. She knew that such things didn't happen in reality. In the real world, simple, boring people like her spent their entire lives simple and boring, and didn't get tangled up in magical adventures. Even so, there was a small part of her that was currently screaming, I KNEW IT!"And what exactly is that destiny?" she asked, stepping closer.
He reached for something on the table, just behind a small gong. It was a small stick. "You, young lady, are…" He whacked the stick against the gong, sending a triumphant chime echoing through the tent.
"My one-hundred-fiftieth customer." He said, monotone and without any fanfare.
Mitsubachi blinked, her mind taking a moment to process what was just said. "Wha-?"
"As such, you are entitled to a free stack of incense…" he pulled out a large, flat wooden box and opened it up, revealing an assortment of incense sticks bundled in stacks of ten. "With the purchase of any two items from the store."
It was all she could do to keep from falling over. She had that one coming, her brain told her. "Oh… cool." she muttered, trying to sound enthusiastic despite feeling anything but. "Well, I'd best pick out those two items, then."
"I recommend the collection next to the karesansui." he suggested, pointing over to a miniature zen garden. She looked to her right, taking note of the wooden box near the back full of sand and decorated with a few randomly placed rocks. She found herself intrigued by it more than the display of candles next to it. It was an ordinary karesansui, but for some reason, it was deep, the entire thing a full cubic meter in volume. There was also a strange pale blue decoration at its center that resembled the gnomon of a sundial. "I was inspired to make those while I was visiting my home in Dragnor."
"You're from Dragnor?" she asked, focusing on the display of candles. They didn't seem particularly unique, but they still looked nice. She picked one at random and held it to her nose. Earthy. Fresh cotton, warm stone, and something that reminded her of Keitatsuo's Zweilous.
"Indeed, my lady."
Mitsubachi turned back to him. "I thought that song was familiar; it's the victory ballad of Dragnor, isn't it?" She paused. "…For a war song, it's actually very beautiful…"
"So it is." he confirmed, "I take it that you have battled against their army in the past, then."
She laughed, dismissing the suggestion with a wave. "Thankfully, no. I was fourteen when Nobunaga invaded Yaksha during his campaign. Too young to be a part of the kingdom's army. I mean, not that I would have been a part of the army, anyway. I'm not a warrior."
The look he gave her upon this confession was… interesting. It reminded her of the way Lord Kotaro used to look at her. She didn't know how to categorize it. Amused? Challenging? Mocking?
"Is that so?" he asked.
"Uh… yeah. It is." she insisted, finding the query strange. Why would she lie about not being able to do something cool? Growing up, kids would lie about being able to communicate with Pokemon because the ability to do so gave you major bragging rights. If she were a warrior, and she could understand Pokemon, it would never be something that she would try to hide.
"In that case, please accept my apologies." he said, eyes warming to be a bit more earnest. "I have a certain talent for reading the auras of warriors. There is a strong presence about you, which led me to believe that you were kin."
"I see." I bet my aura also resonates with this 300 poken candle. She though sarcastically, taking the most expensive candle off the shelf to examine. It smelled like coffee. If actual coffee was needed to get it to smell that way, she could understand why it was so expensive. "Is that something that all warriors can do, or just the ones that sell candles?"
"My insight comes from the powerful bond I share with my Pokemon. A warrior who has a deep understanding of their Pokemon may also have a deeper understanding of people."
"That's certainly something I would like to have." she thought wistfully, "So, what sort of Pokemon is your partner?" Upon this query, the karesansui next to her uttered a low, croaking noise, causing her to give a shout and jump back, head whipping to stare at it.
The owner smirked. "He is among the mightiest of all Pokemon, before whom all others tremble on the battlefield." he declared as the wooden box full of sand shook. "A dragon, with fiery breath and a roar like thunder." Recovering from her shock, curiosity took hold, and she took a few hesitant steps back to the box, leaning forward to get a better look at what was happening. The sands were shifting, a mound rising from the center. What she had originally assumed to be some sort of gnomon decoration was revealed to be either a horn or dorsal fin, and what was attached to it was…
"Gible!"
Mitsubachi flinched back as what rested beneath the sand revealed itself to her. There had been a Pokemon hidden there the whole time! It was round, with pale blue scales and a scarlet belly. It was hard to see, but its front claws were webbed. Its feet were still submerged in sand, so there was no way to tell if its feet were the same. It was sort of… dead eyed, like a fish. It might have been looking at her, but she couldn't tell… The Pokemon then opened its massive jaw in a motion that looked like it was yawning, revealing row after row of jagged, razor-sharp teeth. She blinked curiously at it, believing that she recognized the Pokemon, but not being able to put a name to it then.
"Behold, the mighty dragon Pokemon awakens." the owner stated, tone as flat as ever, giving no sense of sarcasm or humor.
"Gib gib!" The Pokemon chirped once more. Mitsubachi's brows rose, suddenly remembering its name.
"Oh, it's a Gible." she stated, smiling while regarding it. He was sort of cute in a way, ignoring all those sharp little teeth. Another tiny croak reverberated from its maw. A roar like thunder, indeed.
A passing conversation from outside fell on her ears; a group of girls excitedly talking about Tsukikage. Apparently, it was twenty minutes until her show began. Mitsubachi sighed. She had no time to stay here pretending to be a customer. Tsukikage wouldn't be able to go on stage without her. Her insides felt hollow, the thought once more invading her mind that Total Eclipse had been a huge mistake.
"He seems to like you." the owner remarked, his eyes showing clear amusement.
"Really?" she asked, randomly picking two items off the shelf. "Well, I guess I'll take your word for it. These two, please." She set down her choices in front of him, along with the money to pay. She had ended up with the white one that reminded her of Keitatsuo, and another that had a sunflower etched into its casing.
"… Hm. Interesting choices." he mused, placing the box of incense in front of her so she could select her free collection.
"Why is that?" she asked, somewhat suspiciously. At this point, she'd been led on twice, and she didn't know if she could handle another mislead, intentional or not.
"One candle's scent comes from the hyacinth flower, which symbolizes deep sorrow, yet the other comes from the sunflower, a symbol of joy."
"Oh. I just picked them because they smelled nice." she said honestly, deciding on a bundle of deep violet colored sticks and placing them beside the candles in question. He picked them up and held them to his nose, smiling that mysterious smile once more.
"Iris, the flower of hope. The picture becomes clear." he said. She was definitely beginning to pick up on it. It was subtle, but there was clear amusement in his voice. "You've known suffering, but you have persevered with hope, seeking light in the darkness."
She looked skeptical. Anyone with eyes and a functioning brain could deduce that just by looking at her. "So you can communicate with Pokemon, see auras, and read people's minds with flowers." she commented with a chuckle. "Let me guess, you can also see the future through a crystal ball?"
It wasn't her intention to be rude, and thankfully, he seemed to find her analysis as amusing as she did. "None can truly know the future, my lady. However, I do confess that I am adept at reading the cards." Having said this, he pulled out a thick deck of ornate card. "You are an intriguing young woman. If you would like, I shall do a reading for you, free of charge."
The hooded girl's eyes lit up at the prospect. Her mother had a deep fascination with the supernatural, one she had imparted to her. Despite her interest, Mitsubachi had never taught herself to properly read tarot. Part of that came from a lack of a deck (an expensive luxury item). It would be fun to actually have a proper reading done by someone who knew what they were doing. But reality hit her once more; she didn't have time.
"That would be so great." she insisted, accepting the bag full of her purchased goods. "But I don't have time for that right now. I'm expected somewhere else in a little while."
He grinned. "That is unfortunate. Perhaps if fate allows it, you would like to return some day and consult the cards." he offered.
She smiled enthusiastically. As weird as this guy was, she'd truly enjoyed her stop at this little candle tent. "I'd like that. My name's Mitsubachi Kurokami."
"I am Kippoushi." he said in exchange, "Before you leave, a single drawing, to see what fate has in store for us in the future." His hand fell over the stack of cards, picking up the one at the top of the deck and looking it over. That amused look fell onto his face again.
"Well now… this is certainly interesting."
"Hm?"
He chuckled. "Ha… This card foretells great fortune ahead." Suddenly, he extended his hand with the card in it, so that it was directly in front of her face. "Take it."
Hesitantly, she accepted it, and spun it around. Upon seeing what was on the other side, she did a double take, not quite sure what she was looking at. She didn't have a good grasp on the cards, but even so, this didn't seem like one that fit in with any in the Arcana. "Uh, what is it?" she was forced to ask. Upon his answer, and the sight of the characters written over the card's surface, she found herself struggling to stay standing once again.
"It's my business card. Tell your friends and family."
"Wow, thanks a lot…" she mumbled, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. This card foretells great fortune ahead… Great fortune for him, he means.
Either was, she could stay no longer. The increasing excitement of the crowds outside reminded her as much. So she said her final farewells and made her way out of the tent. As she did, she stashed her purchases into her leather satchel, catching sight of a black mask resembling the face of a Murkrow staring back at her. She sighed once more, resigned that she could hardly go back now. She rushed for the central plaza as fast as she could.
Hmm... I wonder how many people will pick up on what I'm putting down... What? I didn't say anything... . .
Kippoushi was originally going to give Mitsubachi a proper tarot reading, but like I said, 1,500 words over my limit. So it'll be a scene for another time. To be honest, it was an idea I only came up with so I could make that joke about the business card.
So... I had another idea, and I was wondering what you guys would think. My intention was always to get a Tumblr for myself when I had some art that I was proud to put online, but I had a thought while writing this chapter. Instead of doing these long author's notes at the end of every chapter, what if instead I used my Tumblr account as a sort of Q&A for my stories, where I talk about thoughts and ideas I had while writing this story and others, and people can ask me questions? It would also give me the opportunity to be more active in the Pokémon Conquest community, maybe, as I know that a lot of people in the fandom are active on Tumblr. Granted, I probably wouldn't be using it strictly for Pokémon Conquest stuff, but still, tell me what you think. I already have the account, and it's been collecting dust for a while. It would be nice to actually start using it.
Either way, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter, and that it helped some people to take their mind off everything going on, if only for a short time. Once again, I hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy, and that you can find something in your life to smile about.
Next chapter will take a good amount of time to write, as I'm going to have to write a LOT of lyrics for that one. Wish me luck. Until then, I bid you all adieu. Farewell 'til next time.