CHAPTER 1 Kirai

Long pointed ears twitched behind a nearby bush; a small head peeked up to see his target. The petite pokemon got on all fours, bending his legs back, lowering his ears to the sides, and raising his lightning-shaped tail in the air. In an instant, the pokemon burst to full speed, tackling a lone rock in the area, scattering it to several pieces, but failing to smash through it completely. The pokemon looked back at the aftermath of his impact.

"Tsk...C'mon man, what the hell?" The newly established pikachu said to himself in slight disappointment. He looks like a regular male pikachu with a slim build. He's 21 years old (In human years) wears a tied purple headband on his forehead, and he has an excess amount of fur on his chest and head. The scruffy head fur is somewhat thick, smooth, and spiky, folding down over his forehead region, and almost long enough to cover his right eye, only being held back by the headband. He has a few scratches and scars all over his body with the most notable one being a small zigzag-shaped scar on his left forearm. At the moment, his body is dripping with sweat drops.

Moments later, two pichus came from the woods which the pikachu came from as well. One of them wore a blue-colored scarf on their neck, and the other wore a pink scarf. They both also had small scruffs of fur on their heads. They stopped near the bigger yellow rodent, both looking somewhat concerned.

"Hey Big Brother Kirai, are you doing ok?" One of the pichu's asked in a soft high-pitched voice. Kirai looked back at his younger brother and sister with a small smile on his face.

"Yeah Rachel (13 years old), and Riley (12 years old), I'm doing alright, thanks for wondering guys." Kirai said as he looked on he pats his siblings simultaneously on the head with his hands. Both of the siblings smile back at him, grateful for their brother's safety.

"Dad said that you should come home and eat now, the sun is about to set." Rachel relays. Kirai looks up at the sky, checking out the once light blue sky slowly turning to a yellowish orange.

"Well it is rather late . . . I'll get back pretty soon, I promise." Kirai reassures them, both siblings looking somewhat concerned about that remark.

"Ok...but you better come back soon because you always say that and then you always overstay your training, and then mom and dad get mad at us because then they think we goofed off instead of telling you anything." Riley reminds his older brother, all the while pouting at the thought.

Kirai chuckles a bit. "Yeah well, you guys should know by now that I'm not that good with keeping promises, but today will be the day I keep this one, so five more minutes." He promises to them.

"Ok then. How is your training coming along?" Riley asks.

"I still have ways to go, but I'm getting faster and faster now. I just need to focus on increasing my physical strength now." Kirai updates. The younger siblings looked impressed as their eyes shimmered with admiration.

"Wow, way to go big brother. Your going to make a great rescue team one day." Rachel cheers on, Kirai smirks at the displayed admiration with slight embarrassment.

"Yeah, and when that day comes, we'll definitely join your team brother." Riley promises, causing Kirai to lose his smirk and sigh.

"What have I told you guys, y'all aren't ready for that type of work. Plus, I wouldn't want you guys to partake into something like that . . not anytime soon at least." Kirai reminds them for what seems like the 100th time.

"Oh c'mon, you always say that. What could be so hard or scary about it? It's just going to different places to complete different jobs, and blah blah blah-" Riley went on, only to be cut off.

"It's more dangerous than you guys think, just trust me." Kirai remarks with a more stern tone of voice, causing the siblings to stop while they were ahead.

Rachel looked a little sad. "We're sorry big brother, we just always wanted to be apart of your dream team." She apologizes. Kirai loosens on his frown, giving a more content facial expression.

"I know. The day will come guys, but patience is the key to a lot of things in life, and this is no exception." Kirai reminds them.

"Yeah yeah." Riley brushes him off, still a bit upset. Kirai shrugs it off, used to the those type of responses from particularly his younger brother.

"Well, we'll see you home in five minutes, right?" Rachel asks unknowingly.

"Who knows? I might sent to the underworld by some dusknoir before I have a chance of getting back. They are known to live in these parts of the woods." Kirai brought up with a cheesy grin on his face.

"Oh my gosh, don't say that, it could really happen!" Rachel exclaims with a hint of frustration.

"I hope it does, maybe it'll teach you a lesson for not allowing to be apart of your team, you big meanie." Riley admits.

"Wow, way to stick up for your big brother Riley, but then again . ." Kirai paused, darting behind his little brother only to wrap him tightly in his arms.

"Hey! What are ya-" Riley yells in surprise. Kirai proceeds to lift him off his feet, causing the little guy to frail his feet around and squirm all over the place.

"To be apart of the dream, you gotta fall with it too. I'm gonna be lonely in the underworld Riley, I'll need you to keep me company, how does that sound?" Kirai teases his little brother whom is still struggling to get out of the grip.

"No no no no no! Please brother, stop it! You're on your own on that one, just stop!" Riley pleads frantically. Rachel rolls her eyes.

"So that's how it is, huh brother? Taking Riley, but not your younger sister too?" Rachel asks in what seems to be jealousy.

"Oh, you can come too if you want. I'm sure they'll be enough room for one more victim" Kirai offers with a smirk on his face.

"On second thought, no thanks." Rachel declines, causing Kirai to laugh at the sudden change of mind. At that moment, he let go of his brother, letting him run freely back to Rachel in slight fear.

"Alright, I think that's enough nightmare fuel for one evening. You guys should head back now." Kirai suggests.

"Ok, see you later." Rachel says happily as she goes on ahead. Riley sticks his tongue out and pulls at the bottom of his left socket at Kirai in a childish manner before running off to join his sister home. Kirai snickers at the expression.

"Love you too." Kirai yells out before they ran off into the trees and out of his sight. Afterwards, he proceeds to punch and kick out into the air, resuming his interrupted training regiment.

The five minutes have finally passed, and Kiria is ready to head on home now. He grabs his big light brown bag and wraps the straps around his shoulders and stomach. He then gets down on all fours and darts towards his home in the same direction the pichus went. The sun is close to setting at this time.

In no time, Kirai arrives at the entrance of his home. His family lives in an underground burrow near the middle of the woods. On a side note, these particular woods are called the Lushleaf Woods, and they're located to the west of the infamous Pokemon Square. It's home to a variety of pokemon like aipom, mankey, stantler, ledyba, and much more. In comparison to other lands ripe with trees, Lushleaf Woods isn't that big, but it's still heavily filled with many trees that stretch for miles. There's also a nearby lake, called the Bilon Lake, that acts as a water source for the residents close by and a home for some water pokemon. Anyhow, Kirai's burrow is always covered with green leaves to stay hidden from any predatorial pokemon. In case that strategy fails, the drop down into the main room is laced up with a multitude of elusive strands of singular thread stretch all the way down to the base of the barrow. These threads are known as Charger Strings because they have the special property to store and conduct electricity, and they release that electricity on physical contact. If you're not an electric pokemon that can absorb the shock, ouch. There's a second surface-level entrance that has a wooden circle locked from the outside, with no strings strings attached, for pokemon that aren't electric type of course, we can't be too hostile to our visitors now can we?

Kirai makes his way down the stringy hole, going through it like it's no problem, only to be met with welcoming regards from his family.

"Wow, you actually kept your promise Kirai, that only happens once in a blue moon." Kirai's dad comments with a smiley expression. He's a normal-looking Vigoroth whose 40 years old now, and his name is Daruuk, He wears a red bandana around his neck, and he also has a scar on his torso, in the shape of a line. Kirai chuckles at the remark.

"Wow, way to point that out dad, I feel a little better about myself now." Kirai said smiling all the while. Daruuk laughs at his oldest son's humorous remarks.

"Now that's my boy! Keep it up and you might get yourself a nice female someday." Daruuk went on, causing Kirai to blush slightly at the statement. His younger siblings laugh out loud.

"Yeah whatever dad." Kirai mumbles looking down to his feet, hiding most of his face from his family.

"Aw, don't be embarrassed Kirai, it's ok to feel that way. Anyhow, are you ready for your leave tomorrow?" Kirai's mom said. She's a Raichu whose name is Carrie, and her age is 38 years old. She wears purple hoop earrings, and wears a purple necklace that has a yellow lightning bolt pendant attached.

"Yes mom, I'll be ready for tomorrow. After I'm done bathing in the Purity Pond outside, I'll get myself ready for my little adventure to the Pokemon Square." Kirai said. The younger siblings look confused.

"Wait, what? Kirai, you didn't tell me and Rachel about that, what gives?" Riley asks flusteredly. Rachel also looks slightly pouty as well, causing Kirai to sigh.

As Kirai's about to comment back to rationalize his secret-keeping, his dad steps in. "You little youngsters you, don't you guys worry about that, your bigger bro will be fine, he's not moving away, he's only visiting the square to check it out." Daruuk buts in to Kirai's surprise and benefit.

Rachel looks content, but Riley still has suspicions.

"Yeah, I'm not buying it. I bet Kirai's is working on how to form his rescue team without us." Riley counters at his dad.

"Well little brother, you can believe whatever you want, and I won't say that you're right or wrong, but what I will say is that you and Rachel shouldn't concern yourselves with it. Please?" Kirai pleads. Riley pouts and crosses his arms, huffing and puffing.

"Riley dear, please try not to get mad, Kir-" Carrie speaks only to get cut off by her riled up son.

"No mom! Kirai is always saying that he'll make a rescue team without us involved, and now he's keeping secrets from me and Rachel? Do you not love or trust us Kirai?" Riley asks in a sadder tone, Kirai paws at his hair.

"Don't be a fool Riley! . . . Of course I love you guys, but I care more for y'alls well-being than anything . . and for the last time, you don't need to be involved in this, not now. I promise you, once I get my act together, and I know what I am doing, then you guys can be invited into my team anytime." Kirai finishes, looking down at his little brother who looks calmer than before.

"Geez, what a dramatic scene between siblings. Look Rachel, Riley, I can definitely appreciate y'alls determination to support your older brother's path, but you youngsters are still pipsqueak pichus, you brats still have a long ways to go before you're ready to take on the world. But not to worry, that's why good ol papa is here, and your beautiful mother too; we're here to not only nurture you guys, but we're also here to make you pipsqueaks stronger too. Your older brother over there, he's gotta learn how to impact the world through his own personal abilities, and it's better to leave him be. But y'alls time will come as well when the time is right, I'm sure that's what Kirai wants." Daruuk adds on, putting Riley at ease finally. Kirai face relaxes.

"Ok then, sorry for getting into your business brother, I'm just really eager i guess." Riley apologizes. Kirai smiles again.

"It's ok, I should learn to inform you guys more of what's going on in my life." Kirai says in agreement. His parents smile at the scene.

"Alright, good . . now Kirai, you go and wash up before you stink up the burrow with your sweaty behind." Daruuk orders.

"Whew, don't worry, as long as it gives me an excuse to avoid my loudmouth siblings, I'll take my "sweaty behind" to the bath." Kirai comments, giggling at the pichus reactions.

"Say that again please" Rachel says in an intimidating, yet adorable tone of voice.

"Yes mam . . 'loudmouth siblings!' There, feel better now Miss Rachel?" Kirai asks in a mocking tone of voice as he takes a bow.

"That does it! Come here you bastard of a brother!" Riley yells, proceeding to chase after Kirai with Rachel joining the pursuit. Kirai runs back up the hidey hole, laughing out loud.

"Hey! Watch your damn language you little . . . rascals . . " Daruuk demands, only the children were already outside of the range of hearing that. They were outside at this point. He sighs to himself. Carrie laughs at the situation.

"Perhaps you should watch your language too dear, you always get riled up too when they get like that. Maybe you should join the chase, you'll fit right in." Carrie comments while chuckling. Daruuk couldn't help but chuckle along at the comment.

"Well, I probably could if I wanted to. I still have a lot of youth and vigor left inside!...but I'm pooped, it's been a long day, let them kill themselves off, they'll be doing us favors doing that Arceus damnit . . raised up these kids only for two of them to jump on the big brother bandwagon, what a disgrace." Daruuk complains. Carrie looks slightly offended by the statement.

"Well, if that's how you feel-" Carrie rants, only to be cut off by a hand gesture and chuckle from Daruuk.

"Relax Carrie, I'm only kidding of course. I'm glad that Rachel and Riley look up to Kirai like that, it reminds me of my childhood . . ah those days were so chill and slow-paced." Daruuk fantasizes, causing Carrie to loosen up and smile at the thought.

"I'm sure they were, you were a slakoth back then after all, of course those times would be slow-paced." Carrie points out, getting a few chuckles out of Daruuk.

"Yes you're right, and now here we are, seeing our children grow so fast. It won't be long before Kirai leaves the nest and flies on his own again . . I just hope he's ready this time." Daruuk mutters with a slight frown on his face; Carrie takes notice and snuggles up into his chest, Daruuk wraps his right arm round her in response.

"Try not to think about that Daruuk, I'm sure Kirai has forgiven you long ago already, he's not the type to hold grudges like that anyway." Carrie reminds Daruuk, keeping him in check.

"Yeah, I know, it's just that everytime the rescue team topic is brought up, I can't help by think back to that time . . . but you're right, he's older and much stronger than before, it's was only inevitable that this present time would occur, and I'm excited for him, no doubt about that." Daruuk states with confidence. Carrie nods her head in agreement.

The moonlight shines upon the woods with a blue glow, the wind breezes through the trees, causing the leaves to rustle. Kirai comes back to his burrow quietly from his pursuers and his peaceful bath. He enters his own room which is separate from the living room and his siblings' room. The room was small with a nest in the corner, a small-sized bag in another, a couple of barrels, and a candle for light. He lit the candle with a tiny spark of static electricity, lighting up his compact room with an orange brilliance. He grabs some oran berries and apples from the respective barrels to fill his brown bag with. After stuffing his bag with 8 of each item, he zips up his bag and lays it to the side for the night.

At this time, the rest of his family is still awake, although the sleepiness is settling in. Kirai visits his siblings for one last time in their room. Their room is across from Kirai's, and is a bit bigger with everything being the same except for there being two smaller nests for Riley and Rachel to individually sleep on. The two siblings were relaxing in their nests, eying their older brother coming in their room.

"I'm disappointed. You guys are tired already and y'all couldn't even catch up to me? Tsk tsk tsk." Kirai mocks as he wags his tiny index finger back and forth in front of them. Rachel giggles while Riley grunts under his breath.

"Hmm, well at least one person has a sense of humor. Don't sweat it Riley, you might catch up to my level, or not." Kirai points out, causing Riley to ball up his little paws. Kirai walks over to pat his bro and sis on the head with his paws, calming even the frustrated Riley.

"Look guys, I'm letting y'all know right that I'm going to be leaving early in the morning tomorrow, so I won't be here when y'all wake up, so I'm saying my goodbyes to you now. Once again, I'm sorry for not informing you guys about what's going on in my life, but I don't want that to be y'alls main concern. You guys have to focus on improving your own lives, after all, you're only young once. And I plan to see and experience what this world has to offer, and tomorrow is the starting point to that cause." Kirai proposes in a subtle, yet confident tone.

"Yeah, we've forgiven you big bro, If we can't even keep up with you on our toes, then we have a long way to go as well." Rachel happily says to Kirai as she glances at Riley, and the latter returns the look with a more uplifting expression.

"Yeah, I'll agree with Rachel for once on this one. And we've heard you say your goals a thousand times already Kirai, c'mon we're not that slow. Just make it back safe and sound, please?" Riley asks nicely, making Kirai sigh in relief.

"Whew, thank Arceus you guys finally understand. I swear, it's probably taken about . . a thousand times for you guys to actually listen and accept what I'm saying. You two are slower than slowpokes, and that's not saying much because unlike y'all, they actually have working brains." Kirai mocks as he proceeds to tickle the both of them with his paws, causing the duo to laugh and squirm around wildly in unison.

"Stop it! Hahahahahaha, we get it! You're gonna make me pee myself! Aaaahahahaahaha!" Riley pleads excitedly.

"You're gonna pee yourself? Awww, poor baby." Kirai comments as he tickles them harder. Riley and Rachel both feel like they're ready to explode.

Some time has passed, and Kirai finally says his goodnights to his younger siblings, leaving them to rest from the tickle fit. He then proceeds to go into his own little room to rest on his own nest. He blows out his candle and curls up into a ball-shape on his nest, closing his eyes to eventually fall asleep.

CHAPTER 1 END