Author's Comment: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Talk about perfect timing for the next chapter! I'm so glad to see that you guys are still hanging in there and are being patient with me! You're all great! *group hug*. As usual, I express my gratitude further with a list of my reviewers! Special thanks goes to: ASiriusWriter, Lectro Underground, tainothewarden, thewinkingme, and Kirbyhammer100!

Chapter 6: Kiru

"S... Sokudo...?"

The Ninjask stares at the floor, his heart racing in his ears as he nods softly. Focusing his eyes on a very interesting speck of dirt, he clears his throat and forces his voice to work. "Yeah... I..." He hears his father step closer and he holds back a whimper, tensing up involuntarily. He feels his mother pat his back and Kowai snuggle closer and he cringes as his father kneels down in front of him. He prepares himself for punishment...

But instead he feels a soft nudge, then a gentle nuzzle on his face. Blinking in surprise, he looks up at his father to see the Scyther's eyes welling up with tears and his heart rose. No words are spoken between them, but the younger bug steps closer to wrap his claws around his father in a hug. Shuddering, he begins to cry again, feeling Kiru nuzzle him and his mother snuggle against him. For a moment, he surrenders himself completely to the warmth of his family. For a moment, he was a Nincada again, just a child, and he doesn't want it to end.

It has to though, and his father pulls away to look over his son. Sokudo sniffles a bit, wiping his tears before sitting tall and proud at his parent's scrutiny.

"I always knew you'd grow into such a strong Ninjask," his father mutters with a smile. "And quite the looker too," He chuckles. "I bet the ladies are all over you." Sokudo says nothing to that, only casting a small glare at Kowai before returning his attention to his father. "If you don't mind me asking, son, where have you been? Your mother and I have been worried sick about you, to say the least."

Hesitating for a moment, Sokudo's eyes flicker to the side before muttering. "I live in Tao Village now..."

"Tao Village?" Kiru repeats in a toneless voice. "That's quite a ways off, and you traveled there as a Nincada?" Sokudo tenses a bit, feeling as though this is where he'll get reprimanded, and he nods softly. "You could've been killed doing that, Sokudo."

"I know," Sokudo mutters under his breath.

"You could've been eaten or stepped on, murdered or kidnapped..." the Scyther continues. "You've been gone for years, and I thought the worse. Your mother never gave up, but I thought the worse." He emphasizes with a sigh, feeling horrible saying that but knowing it's the truth. "I'm glad you're independent and that you can handle yourself, even at that young of age. But that's the thing: you were much too young."

"I know..."

"I just..." Kiru takes a soft breath. "Can you at least tell me why you went there? Why you took such a dangerous risk?"

Silence for a moment, Sokudo still refusing eye contact as he mutters out the story he told his mother, how he got bored with his life and wanted more. "When I got there, I immediately signed up for a Guild, and well... yeah..." He finishes softly, taking a breath to keep his heart calm, clawing at some imaginary rock. "When I heard of the Rogues... that's what I wanted to be and... I'm sorry..."

"Sokudo," his father starts again, his eyes softening. "I don't know what to say... If you wanted to live the exciting life as a Rogue, why didn't you at least tell us? We could've done something to make you happy, like move to Tao Village and get you into the Guilds with our supervision and with your safety ensured. There's many better ways to go about it than to run off without telling anyone."

"Yeah..." Sokudo whispers sadly. "I... I wasn't thinking... and I didn't want to... well... I didn't want to be hindrance..."

"You can never be a hindrance, sweetie," his mother chimes in gently, nuzzling him. "Why would you think that?"

"You love it here..." the younger bug answers under his breath. "It's where our family grew up and I... I didn't want to take that away from you, Mom and Dad..."

"Baby, we love it here, yes," Ninika continues. "But we love you much more. We would've found a way to make things work."

"I guess..." Sokudo mutters, still shameful. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused..."

"It's alright, son," his father tells him. "You're here and you're safe, and that's what matters." The Scyther nuzzles his son for a moment in comforting reassurance, earning a shaky purr from the young Ninjask, before his eyes skitters to Kowai. The Shedinja freezes at the gain of attention and huddles against its Mama shyly. Kiru smiles at the little shed, hoping to make it less nervous. "And who's this little fella?"

Kowai doesn't answer, instead huddling tighter and Ninika purrs soothingly at the husk as she responds for it. "This is Kowai, the newest member of our family."

"Hey there, Kowai," Kiru continues in his gentle voice. He shifts a bit closer to get a better look at the shell, purring to add to the soothing his mate is doing. However, he doesn't get the reaction he is expecting out of the Shedinja.

"STAY AWAY!" Kowai screeches at him, confusion and panic clear in its voice, earning a startled reaction in the Pokemon around it. Shuddering, it hides behind its mother and sibling, whimpering. It hears its mother whisper soothingly to it, and its brother hiss at it in reprimand, but it can't help it! Although its rational mind tells it that this Scyther is its father and that it should love him as it does its mother, the fact that he's not a Ninjask triggers hostile instincts. So torn it feels that it's actually painful in its spirit, and it huddles tighter to Ninika.

Kiru stays where he is, a stunned look on his face before attempting to reassure the shed. "It's alright, I won't hurt you, son."

Kowai wants to snap back but instead forces itself to quiet down a bit, especially when its mother hugs it tight, petting its halo and ears. It never tears its eyes from its father, but listens to its mother's comforting words. "Shhh, I'm here, baby. It's okay. No need to be mean, sweetie. Don't you like your Papa? Hm?"

"I... I don't know..." Kowai gives its uncertain answer, whining at its inner conflict. After a few minutes within the warmth of its mother's embrace, it finally goes still and silent and Kiru tries again to approach the Shedinja.

"Hey, bud," Kiru smiles, hiding his scythes behind his back and lowering his wings to appear less threatening. Kowai doesn't respond and doesn't show further signs of being intimidated, although it still watches him intently. Taking this as a good sign, he slowly inches closer...

Letting out a final shriek, Kowai can't take it anymore and lunges forward to bite its father on the nose. The Scyther cries out and jolts back, but still Kowai doesn't relinquish its grip. Ninika quickly gets over her shock of her baby attacking her mate and she flies over to grab it, pulling at it to get it away.

"KOWAI!" Sokudo snarls, joining his mother in grabbing the husk's wings. "Stop hurting Dad, ya freak!"

After a few more tugs, the Shedinja finally lets go of Kiru's snout before pulling out of its family's grip. Turning and flying out of the door, its screams begins to fade as it flees into the surrounding forest before disappearing. Silence comes to the family, Kiru rubbing his snout with the blunt side of his arms.

"You alright, Dad?" Sokudo asks in a rare concerned tone, breaking the silence between them. Kiru smiles softly at the Ninjask, though the pain can still be seen in his eyes.

"I'm fine, Sokudo," the larger bug tells him, shaking his head a bit as if to dislodge the pain. Ninika glances back and forth between her mate and the door, obviously torn on her worries and maternal instincts. Luckily, her mate makes this easier for her and nudges her gently. "Go after the little fella, Ninika. Make sure he's alright."

"Are you sure, dear?" the female Ninjask mutters uncertainly, earning a soft, if not a bit painful, nuzzle. Nuzzling back for a minute, she turns and goes after the little husk...

Kowai whimpers as it flies through the canopy, chasing any Bird Pokemon it comes across as an outlet of any lingering aggression. It doesn't know what happened back there, only that it has to get away. Spotting a large enough opening into a hollow tree, it hurries within it and begins to cry. Why did it have to have such confusing instincts, such complicated habits? Why can't things just be simple for once, so it can live happily, peacefully with the world around it?

Whimpering and huddling its shaking body against the wooden walls around it, it mutters incoherently to itself, trying to calm and reassure itself that everything will be okay. It only attacked its own father! Now who knows what'll happen next! Maybe Sokudo's fears of being disowned will be realized! Or worse... It cries harder and almost misses the sound of approaching wings, and when it does take notice, it hisses instinctively. But it calms immediately when its mother comes within sight.

"Kowai?" she calls out, scanning the forest.

"Mama..." the Shedinja replies shakily, its whimpering voice leading her to the tree it's in. Landing on the trunk just outside the opening, she watches the crying husk with sad eyes before reaching in and stroking its cheek. Leaning against the contact, Kowai nuzzles her claw with a whine before gently taking it in its mouth to try and pull her into the hollow with it. Ninika purrs softly, crawling inside to hold her baby.

Cuddling with its parent, Kowai allows the snuggle to sedate its emotions, to bring peace to its mind. It purrs softly.

"There you go, sweetheart." Ninika coos to it. "Just stay calm and let Mama talk to you." She nuzzles it and grooms its face a bit to keep it compliant. After a few minutes of this, she continues. "Baby, why did you hurt Papa? Are you scared of him?"

"No..." Kowai mutters softly. "I just..." It trails off, uncertain of how it should describe the thoughts and feeling swimming within its head. "He's... not a Ninjask... He's not like us..."

The Ninjask hesitates, her eyes flickering away a bit. She expected this answer, but it still hurt to hear it. She just isn't used to receiving such words, as inter-species families are quite common and sometimes even actively encouraged within her village. It reinforced cooperation and peace between all the different kinds of Bug Pokemon and it tends to produce very strong and healthy offspring. But it's obvious that Kowai isn't in support of such a thing, or more likely, just doesn't understand it...

"No, he's not our kind," she whispers. "But he's still your father, Kowai, and he means well." She sighs. "You're confused about all this and that's okay, but try to keep an open mind, baby, and then you won't think that way."

Kowai doesn't respond for a moment, snuggling tighter before mumbling. "It's... complicated, Mama..." It whimpers a bit, prompting its mother to pet its wing. "I... have instincts... I..." It looks out the tree, in the direction of the village. "I want to love Papa, but... Instinct won't let me... It insist that family can only be Ninjask... like you and brother... I'm made to love you and protect you, but... it's not the same for Papa... And it's... hard..." It begins to shudder and cry again, Ninika shushing it gently as she again grooms its face.

"Baby, instinct is a very hard thing to overcome and I understand that, but... But I know you can overcome this," She places a claw on the husk's cheek, getting it to look at her. "You're smart, Kowai. Shedinja like you are very intelligent Pokemon, and you can use that smart head of yours to outweigh those negative instincts that's turning you against your dad. Keep that up and soon, those instincts will go away completely and you won't have to worry anymore. Alright?"

"I... I can try... harder... I guess... But..." It nuzzles against its mother's face. "But what if-"

"It'll be fine, sweetie. Trust me," she reassures, smiling softly. "So why don't we get out of this tree, go back home, and start again, huh?"

Kowai's obviously uncertain about it, but it gets itself together and reluctantly pulls away. "Okay..."

"That's my boy," She climbs out of the hollow and flies a short distance away before turning to it. The Shedinja hesitates as the doubt fills it again and it shakes itself a bit before floating out of the tree after its Mama. Seeing it still needs reassurance, she pets it with a soft laugh. "Look at you. You're so much like your brother."

Kowai purrs at the comparison, and although it's such a small statement, it makes it feel a lot better and it allows its mother to lead it back to the village. It can do this, it can get along with its father just as well as it can its mother. It tries to ignore the dark voice within its mind telling it otherwise...