Chapter 6: A life killed and a life killing

Bisharp stumbled back as I slashed at him. He blocked my next slash with his knife and tried to punch me with his other hand. I dodged to the side and drew back my knife. His punch and knife slid safely past me as I threw my knife to my other hand and jabbed it at his exposed body, stopping only moment before I actually hit him.

"That's great!" Bisharp smiled as we drew back, "You're getting better with that knife by the day. And here I thought you just spend most of your time reading books."

"I found some books that taught me a bit about Close Combat." I said twirling the knife around in my hand, "I might be a bit rusty, but I understand the book well enough."

"Really?" Bisharp said, scratching his head, "Didn't think books would be that useful. Think I can borrow it?"

"I guess." I said, putting away my knife.

"So. Wanna hit the bar?" Bisharp grinned, "Zangoose is going to be there and I hear he's going to have a drinking contest with Unfezant."

"I have to return to the infirmary." I sighed.

"Again? Man how long does it take to treat malnutrition?"

I shrugged, "Bring me back something."

"Gotcha." Bisharp said as he left.

Chansey looked up when I returned to the infirmary, "What? You're still here?"

"I haven't been dispatched yet."

"What are you talking about? You're fine." Chansey said, checking her clipboard, "Malnutrition doesn't take this long to treat. Just eat right from now on."

And then she left to treat somebody who got shot in the foot. With nothing left to do, I picked up my book and fedora from my bed and left.

First day free from the infirmary and no mission to pass the time. I considered joining Bisharp at the bar, but I didn't feel like it. I walked into the garden and sat down in the shade of a tree to read my book. I made significant progress before I was interrupted.

"What are you doing out here?"

I looked up, "Gardevoir."

"Reading again?" Gardevoir smiled, "Ah, that reminds me. I want to thank you for recommending me that book the other day. It was a wonderful read."

"I'm glad you liked it."

"Reading a book in the shade...that brings back memories."

"..."

"Ah. That reminds me." Gardevoir said, "Have you seen a little girl? She's wearing green and often has a flower in her hair."

"No."

"Oh dear." Gardevoir sighed, "I need to find her...but it's almost time for me to go shopping. We need to stock up on antibiotics."

"...I'll do it." I said, getting up.

"Huh?"

"I'll go shopping for you." I offered.

"Oh! N-No, you really don't have to." Gardevoir cried, "I don't want to trouble you...besides you're still malnutritioned."

"Chansey said I was fine." I said, "And I don't have anything planned today anyway."

"Chansey? But...oh that's right! You were supposed to be dispatched today, I forgot to tell you! Ah, and I was going to give you back your book then too!"

"...Are you okay?"

"I'm just a little forgetful." Gardevoir smiled, "And...a little...tired..."

"...Take a break. I'll go shopping for you."

"I can't make you do that!" Gardevoir cried, "I'm fine! Really! I have Chansey and Audino to help after all. They're just...not cut out for shopping..."

"...Well if you really want to do it yourself that's fine." I sighed, "But..."

"You really didn't need to come with me." Gardevoir said as we walked through the shopping district of Kalter.

"I spent most of my time in Kalter on a hospital bed. I still don't know much about this town."

"Well excuse me for keeping you in bed." Gardevoir pouted, "Don't forget that you were shot and almost poisoned."

"Right right."

…

"Do you like being a Guardian?" Gardevoir asked.

"...I've met a lot of interesting people." I said, "I can't say I regret it."

"You seem to have gotten used to everything pretty quickly."

"I still don't know what I'm supposed to do though."

"What do you mean?"

"The closest thing to a mission I've had was rescuing Miltank. Aside from that, I haven't been called on to do any specific mission aside from..."

…

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I said.

"Thank you for escorting me today." Gardevoir said once we returned.

"I didn't do anything." I said.

"I don't suppose you want to stay for a check up?"

"And get stuck in bed again for a few days? No thanks."

"Then stay healthy." Gardevoir laughed, "Bye."

I waved good bye as Gardevoir left.

"Was that good enough?" I wondered to myself. I know Gallade asked me to take care of her for him, but...what does that entail exactly?

I sighed as I returned to the garden. I quick look at the sky told me that there wasn't much daytime left before the sun starts setting. Still, I can't think of anything else to do so I took out my book and went back to reading. I was quickly interrupted.

"Hey you!"

I turned around.

"Down here." The voice said as I got kicked in the leg.

I looked down to see a small girl in a green dress. With a flower in her hair.

"...Can I help you?"

"I need you to kill someone for me." She said with a straight face.

…

"Who are you?"

"I'm Lilligant." The girl said, "I'm your boss' daughter."

…

"Gallade?"

"Yep."

"...He's your dad?"

"Yep."

…

"How old are you?"

"Does it matter?" Lilligant snapped, "I just need you to kill somebody for me!"

"And why should I listen to you?" I frowned.

"Because someday I'm going to be your boss."

…

"Are you going to do it or not?" Lilligant demanded, "I don't have the time nor money to waste on you if you're not going to do anything."

I frowned. She either doesn't know fear or is truly thinks she can order people around with a title. Either way she's being quite foolish here. Then again she could be putting up a brave front. I could see that as well in her eyes.

"Why me?" I asked.

"You weren't exactly my first choice. But you seem experienced with killing. Who knew you guys read books."

I frowned and looked at my book again. To Kill a Mockingbird.

"Oh."

"Don't you think it's a good idea to get in my good book before I become your boss?' Lilligant smirked.

"...You really don't know anything about me do you?"

"Does that matter?" Lilligant said, getting impatient again, "I want an answer now! Will you do me the favor of killing someone?!"

…

"Sure." I sighed, "Who do you want killed?"

Lilligant blink, startled that see me agree for an instant before she regained her composure, "I need you to kill someone named Whimsicott."

"What did he do?"

"He insulted me."

…

"It was a personal insult."

…

"You can't back out of this killing by the way."

"I wasn't planning to." I sighed as I rubbed my eyes, "Where does he live?"

"I don't know."

"...Do you know a place that he might frequent?"

"He goes to my school."

"School?"

"Yeah. The Xatu Elementary Academy."

"Elementary..."

"Have it done within the week. The sooner the better." Lilligant barked before she turned around and left.

…

I left the garden and walked to the infirmary office.

"Ah." Gardevoir looked up as she restocked the antibiotics, "Did you decide to get that check up?"

"Do you know where Gallade is?"

"Gallade?" Gardevoir frowned, "I rarely get to see him in the first place. Something wrong?"

"I met Lilligant."

Gardevoir's hand slipped on her box of antibiotics. I quickly grabbed out of the air and placed it back on the shelf.

"You know Lilligant?!" Gardevoir cried.

"I met her just now." I explained, "Is she really Gallade's daughter?"

"Goddaughter." Gardevoir explained, "She's his Goddaughter. What did she want? I heard she was running around asking ridiculous things."

"She wanted someone killed."

"What?!" Gardevoir cried, "Who?!"

"Whimsicott."

"But isn't he and Lilligant friends?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Oh dear." Gardevoir said, taking a seat as she held her head, "And you refused her right?"

"No."

…

"What?!" Gardevoir cried, glaring at me, "Why did you do that?! Are you really planning on killing a small child?!"

"Of course not." I said, taking an involuntary step back.

"Then why?!"

"Calm down." I said, taking another step back, "Listen to me for a moment."

Gardevoir let out a weary sigh as she rubbed her face and sighed, "Alright."

"I don't think Lilligant has a good idea on the value of life."

"I guess." Gardevoir bit her lip, "I'm worried about how she'll turn out now..."

"Which is why we need to teach her."

"And you'll do it by killing her best friend?" Gardevoir frowned.

"You never know what you have until you lose it." I said, pulling down on my hat, "I don't think Lilligant is the type of person to so easily execute someone. She can learn what it means to kill someone by herself, but it needs a trigger."

"And Whimsicott is that trigger?"

"She's asking for it."

"...I'm not going to let you kill Whimsicott." Gardevoir stated.

"I don't plan to either."

"So how do you plan on teaching her and not kill Whimsicott?"

"...Trade Secret."

"What?" Gardevoir frowned, "What does that mean?!"

"Trust me." I said.

Gardevoir looked down for a moment or two. More than ever she looked tired and disheveled.

"...Okay." Gardevoir conceded, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Take a break. Possibly a vacation." I said and took my leave.