"No you're not."

It was a statement, a simple one. After he said it, Kevin grabbed his brother by the sweater. "Don't go all Uncle Nick on me, because I swear if I'm really Dad in this messed up play—"

"What— Kevin, it's not like that, I'm not suicidal." Kevin let go and Kyle straightened himself up before rolling up his right sleeve. "See, it's just… this."

Kevin stared at his arm. "Um… is there supposed to be something wrong?"

"I'm really skinny."

"You've always been a stick," Kevin said. "How is this a big problem? Or a fatal one?"

Kyle sighed. "Come on. You were always telling me my diet would be the death of me." He got up, putting his hands into his sweater pocket. "And, uh, my lungs haven't been too good lately. So I'm pretty sure soon, one of them's going to do me in."

"So see a nurse," Kevin said. "Or better yet, eat something other than an apple. Don't scare me with your paranoia fuel!"

Kyle shifted his position and shrugged. "Just saying so you don't get mad at me if I randomly drop dead," he said. He then stared at the floor. "So… Uh, I kind of already said everything else."

Kevin scoffed. "I guess you did. Fine, then. I'll go now." He glanced to the floor as well. "It's like I said. I got caught around ten years ago, got shoved into the computer storage system, and only just got released a few months ago. I had no idea you were the Shade, and if I did, things would have probably worked out differently."

He considered mentioning Kari, but something got caught in his throat and he decided to save it for later.

"Huh," Kyle muttered. "I guess… I can't really blame you for that, even if I want to." He walked over to the counter and pulled out a crate from underneath it with some difficulty. "Um… You want one?"

The crate was full of apples, of course. Kevin raised an eyebrow and followed. "Sure."

He plucked a red delicious from the pile and took a bite. After chewing for a bit, he frowned. "These aren't as good as back home," Kevin said.

"'Cause it's January," Kyle said, "and it's barely warm enough here to grow them year round. It's miles ahead of kibble, though, so I'm glad for it."

There was a foreboding silence for a few minutes as the two ate their apples. Kevin felt like he needed to say something, but he just couldn't think of what. And judging by the expression on his brother's face, Kyle seemed to be thinking the same thing. Finally, Kyle said something.

"Um, that rat, the Naturalist, did he— did he say anything about, um, my personal life, or anything?" Kyle had turned his face away.

Kevin blinked and turned the other way as well. Arceus, what was he supposed to answer to that? Yes Kyle, Chuno told me you're in love with a gigantic grass turtle and I'm completely okay with that. Like, really?

"Uh… I don't know, was there something important I should know?" Kevin stalled.

He felt Kyle tense up. "Ha! Uh, no, not particularly, I mean, um…"

Kyle sure didn't sound as confident as he did during their fight. He actually seemed like he was back to being submissive like when they were younger. Kevin opted to steer away from the topic. "Hey, uh, there's something you should know, though. I called Mom, and she told me she's been talking to Dad."

Kyle shrugged. "And that's important because?"

"Eh? Don't you care?" Kevin asked.

"Why should I? I barely remember the guy. If Mom wants to talk to him, that's her problem, not mine." He finished his apple and tossed the core into a small bag under the counter. "Besides, if she's been talking to him, maybe they've made up or whatever and they'll get back together."

Kevin nearly choked on his apple. "Dad's a human, now!"

"So was his dad. And Mom's nuts, she wouldn't care either way," Kyle muttered.

Kevin threw the rest of the apple into the garbage bag. "Oy vey. I wish we were normal."

His brother stared at the bag. "Mm. I used to think that too. But then, I thought, if I were normal, I'd be one of those stuck up asses at Mount Chimney who can't tolerate anything the least bit different. At least, someone told me that, a while ago."

Kari. That sounded like something she'd say. Blunt and honest.

"Our lives suck," It was Kyle, not Kevin, this time.

Kevin blinked.

"I still don't understand… How you think you're so different, and yet you're both the same."

He smirked. "You only just noticed?"

Kevin had decided to cease all attacks on his brother and form a temporary alliance. After all, his brother had grown up quite a bit, and was actually tolerable to be around when they weren't at each other's throats. In fact, somehow, Kevin was finding him somewhat likeable.

The major problem he now faced was what to do. Without an ass to kick or a goal in mind, Kevin found himself at a loss. He wanted to go see Kari again, but he still didn't really know what to say to his brother about that. And Chikoro was still furious.

The kid had been glowering at Kyle ever since he was allowed back inside the cave. Kevin figured it had something to do with Chikoro's odd grudge against deadbeats, but Kyle and Kari weren't ever really together. Or were they?

Every time he thought about it, Kevin either got a stomachache or a sore throat. Kari had admitted she was in love with the Shade, right, but she'd never actually said anything about Kyle feeling the same way. And Kyle himself had just referred to her as his best friend, even if he had gotten weird while they were talking before…

It was then Kevin realized with a start that he considered Kari his best friend, too. "Aw hell," he muttered.

"Something stress-worthy?" Chikoro asked darkly.

"No, forget it," replied Kevin. He leaned back in the wooden chair.

He had spent most of the day sitting in the small underground headquarters. Over the course of the day, Kyle had introduced him to the rest of the Shades. The Rhyperior who was first at the door was simply known as Rhyperior; he had no given name. There was also an ancient-looking Froslass named Snow. The two were apparently the other members of the original Shades, otherwise known as the ones who could speak human without any pill.

The both of them reportedly had learned from humans they'd become close to. Rhyperior had some hiker friend who influenced him with all sorts of human stuff, giving him incentive to learn the human language. Snow had been raised from birth by her late trainer and knew nothing else.

The other two members currently present were a Crobat and an Absol who joined after Kevin's dad released the human speaking pill, but claimed to have supported the Shades from the start. They were minor members who didn't have much to do with the actual speeches, but they helped out with fundraising when needed. Both of them seemed perfectly normal.

Kevin listened to the Shades casually chat with each other. None of them really seemed any different from regular Pokémon like Chuno or Kari did. In fact, listening to them, it was almost like hearing the Taillow or Shroomish talk to one another back in the forest.

He glanced at Kyle, who was on the sofa, deep in thought. Nobody was paying any attention to him. Okay, so it was exactly like back in the forest.

Kevin stood up. "Is this all you guys do?"

Rhyperior chuckled. "It's Monday. Everyone's too tired to do anything else."

Kyle nodded. "Stella's usually the one who does all the busy work. The rest of us are idea people. And it's not like we can walk around in public and hang out, you know."

"You do that all the time," said the Absol. Kyle ignored him.

"You sent Stella out," Kevin said.

His brother sighed. "That's different. She likes attention, anyway."

"She likes attention from you, Boss," said Snow in her creaky voice.

"Shut up," he muttered.

Kevin snickered. "Even then, I've been walking around in public and I've only had one group of girls ask for my autograph," he said.

The Shade shook his head. "You're not that well known yet, you egotist. You've got to do something before people start stalking you."

"Chuno was stalking me, earlier," Kevin noted.

"That rat is a special case," Kyle said curtly. "Look, if you feel like going outside, that's fine. Do whatever you want. I'm staying here."

Kevin frowned. "That's no fun."

Kyle glared. "What's with you? Why do you suddenly want us to hang out together? Is it just some ploy to make you look good with the media?"

"No," Kevin folded his arms. "Um… You said you had bad lungs, right? It's probably from all this time you spend underground. Get some fresh air or something."

Kyle raised an eyebrow.

"He has a point, Boss," said Snow.

The Shade sighed. "Fine. We'll walk around town, and you'll regret it. Just you wait." He glanced at Chikoro. "You're not going to bring that kid along, too, are you?"

Chikoro flipped his leaf. "If you insist, Mr. Shade, I'll stay here."

"Right," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his sunglasses. "Let's go."

Kevin shrugged and followed his brother out of the underground room. As they climbed the tunnel to the surface, Kevin squinted his eyes; the light from outside was blinding. It would've been nice to have a pair of shades as well.

"Heh, the Shade is wearing shades. Nice," he said.

Kyle scoffed. "Every newspaper in the world has already used that one." They stepped onto grass. "Now, when I'm tired I usually call someone from the Pidgeot Express to fly me if I need to go into the city, but with my luck I'll get Fabian and he'll pester me all about you," Kyle said.

Kevin blinked. "Fabian?"

"He's a Pidgeot who won't shut up, ever. He's also a big fan of Stella's," Kyle muttered. Kevin laughed.

"'Kay, then let's walk. Uh, you can lead," Kevin said, looking around and forgetting exactly which way he'd come from to get to the headquarters before.

The technically younger brother nodded and proceeded to walk directly into the trees to his right. Kevin followed closely behind him. The two walked quietly, neither one starting a conversation. For Kevin, he'd simply run out of non-awkward topics to talk about. For Kyle… Well, he didn't know, but Kevin doubted his brother was very social.

From an onlooker's viewpoint, it could be said that the Shade was popular. He had a decent number of members in his organization, one of whom was an actress, and a formidable opinion in the sea of crazy nutjob activists like Chuno. And yet, Kyle was still the dark and cynical introvert he always was, just with a voice to match, now.

Kevin blinked. "Oh, right," he said.

"Mm?" Kyle muttered.

"Um… A few people have already told me," Kevin said. "I want to hear it from you, though. Can you explain to me exactly what the Shades stand for?"

Kyle turned his head back slightly before facing forward again. "The main goal of the Shades is an attempt to make Pokémon and humans equals. Most of that comes from giving Pokémon all the basic rights humans have. You know, freedom of speech, religion, all that stuff."

"But… would that even work?" asked Kevin. "I mean, there are so many kinds of Pokémon. Is it even possible to, you know, have a Magikarp be treated the same way as, say, you or me, or even the same way as a human?"

The Shade sighed again. "I know there are some things that won't change," he said. "Magikarp will probably never be able to become accountants or anything. But…" He paused. "I met this person in Rowan's lab, and she was the smartest person I'd ever met. But she was just a starter – a human's possession – and could never hope to be anything more. At least, that's what she used to think."

Kevin glanced to the side, eyeing a knotted old tree as he walked past it. "So you're doing this so she can be treated decently," he said.

"In the end, that's what it all comes down to," Kyle said. "The two of us deserve the chance to live the way we want to. Rowan saw her as a scrap of dysfunctional data. I saw her as a person. She deserves it."

Kevin furrowed his brow. "You really love her, don't you?"

Kyle stopped, causing Kevin to almost crash into him. "I…" He took a breath. "If I did, then why isn't she here with me right now?"

"You tell me," Kevin said, tasting sourness.

The Shade started walking again, faster. "Because— Because she told me to leave her behind, otherwise I'd never get out, and I listened to her, that's why! And even if I didn't, she wouldn't – we couldn't – it just won't work. Believe me."

Kevin continued to stare at the forest scenery. Kyle seemed to be trying to convince himself more than Kevin. And for some reason, that made Kevin even sicker.

"We're here," Kyle said, stopping abruptly again. He gestured to what lay beyond the last few trees; tourist shops and restaurants that made up the downtown. "What do you want to do?"

Kevin stared at the town. "Make a speech."

"What?"

"Tell everyone the truth. Why you're doing this, your escape plan, everything."

"Why would I do that?" Kyle asked, giving Kevin a dirty look.

"Because Chuno knows everything. One way or another, it's all going to become widespread. If they hear it from you first, though, things might get reported a little differently," Kevin didn't take his gaze off the town. "Personally, I find a slightly selfish but relatable motive for starting the Shades is better than the noble knight in shining armour thing you've been going for. For one, people might actually support you."

Kyle turned to the town. "No," he said.

Kevin said nothing.

"I can't just make a speech on such short notice like that. And I'm not guilt tripping people into supporting me just because of Kari. No matter what you say," he insisted.

"Really?" questioned Kevin, finally looking at his brother.

"She's a person," he said, "not a device to gain popularity. If I ever want her to forgive me, I have to know that."

"If you want her to forgive you, shouldn't you go back and apologize?" Kevin said.

The Shade growled, but didn't elaborate. Kevin frowned. Great, the one thing that still didn't make sense wasn't getting answered. Why didn't he go back?

Without saying anything, Kyle stalked out of the forest and into town. Still confused, Kevin followed, weaving around curious tourists to catch up. As he matched his brother's pace, Kevin glared at him.

"Come on. It's not like you have Dad's sorry excuse for leaving," he spat.

Kyle growled again. "Drop it."

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Why can't you answer me? Just what is keeping you from going back?"

"Why do you care? You don't even know who she is," seethed Kyle, turning a corner. "What's it to you if I don't— Uh." He stopped.

Stella was outside a coffee shop, looking quite gloomy. "Oh… Hello, Boss. Slickky."

Kyle blinked. "What are you doing here?"

She half-smiled. "You told me to get out, didn't you?" She then widened her eyes. "Oh, did you mean off the island? Because if you hate me that much, Boss, I'm really really sorry and—"

"No, it's…" Kyle took off his sunglasses and massaged his temples. "My brother is bothering me, that's all."

"I'm just asking you a question," said Kevin, folding his arms.

Kyle frowned. "And I thought I heavily implied that I don't want to talk about it," he said sharply. "Anyway, Stell, it's a good thing I ran into you. We need to talk about your membership."

Kevin eyed his brother. "You're firing her?"

"Shut up," Kyle said. "This is a conversation between me and Stella, so butt out!"

"Then why'd you start it in front of me?" Kevin asked, the corner of his mouth curling into a smirk. "I swear you do the stupidest stuff sometimes," he said, laughing at Kyle's murderous expression.

Stella sighed. "It's okay, I understand." She looked her boss in the eye. "I guess I sometimes trust other people a bit too much."

"That can be a very fatal flaw, Miss Glacée. Be careful about it in the future, if you know what's good for you."

Oh, goddamn it.

Kevin turned around, confirming his suspicions. "Piss off."

"Now why would I do that?" Chuno asked, shaking his head. "After all…" He licked his teeth. "I barely got a chance to have fun."