Author's Comment: ... I'm getting really sick and tired of this site erasing my progress every time I write out a good chunk of my stories. It happened three times just on this chapter! I doubt anybody in charge is reading this but just in case: FIX YOUR DAMN SITE SO BULLSHIT LIKE THIS WOULD STOP HAPPENING! *Takes a breath to calm* Sorry, my loyal readers; I would've gotten this out sooner but yeah... Hopefully you guys can understand why I'm frustrated. Anyway, my Special Thanks goes to: ASiriusWriter (no worries, the subject of Ninika's Shedinja will be brought up soon enough!)and Kirbyhammer100 (enjoy the cameo, there'll be more Yams to come!)!
Chapter 8: Solution?
It has been quite some time since they've last seen each other.
Yams doesn't know what to think or what to do, just watching the shuddering shell with sympathy in her eyes, wanting to fly closer but knowing better. Wringing her hands a bit, she opens her mouth to speak but nothing comes out. She simply isn't prepared for this moment, this meeting completely unexpected, and she had no idea how to approach this without harm to herself. Taking a deep breath as she gathers her strength and her resolve, she tries again to speak. This time, her voice works and her words come out incredibly softly.
"Kowai... Are... Are you okay?"
"I said go away..." Kowai continues to snarl, still not looking at her and resubmerging its face into the water again. Silence comes between them and Yams fidgets, not wanting to leave the shed despite its rejection. But she isn't sure what she should do next, other than to try again to talk to it.
"Kowai..."
She freezes when the Shedinja gives a surprisingly explosive hiss as it practically throws itself back into the air, snapping around to face her. Somehow, it seems much more dangerous than usual, even moreso than their very first encounter.
"I SAID GO AWAY!" Its body shudders even stronger at the screech, and the husk lunges at her recklessly. The Yamask immediately takes off, cringing in anticipation of pain, but instead, she hears a small thud on the ground. Taking the risk to stop, she turns back to her pursuer to see the little Shedinja on the ground, crying even harder. Her heart sinks, her eyes starting to mist up with the beginning of tears, and she lowers herself to the ground as well.
"Please, Kowai," she starts. "Just... just talk to me..."
"W... What part of g-go away... don't you u-understand, stupid girl..." Kowai grumbles, its hostility still strong despite its distress. "I have t-too much to deal w-with... I don't need you adding to the burden."
"I don't want to be a burden, Kowai," she tells it. "I want to help you..."
"I don't need your help. None of what's going on concerns you in any way. So just leave..." It shakes again, its voice gaining a whimpering plea. "Please... I don't want anymore pain..."
Despite this, Yams still doesn't go anywhere, wiping at her tears with a hiccup. More silence comes between them before another, noticeably frustrated growl comes from the fallen bug. "What is it with you...? I reject you again... and again and you're still here..."
"Well," She started softly. "I care about you..." She hears a sharp snort from the shed and she tries to ignore the hurt feeling in her chest. "No, I do Kowai. Despite what happened between us, I still love you and I don't want you getting hurt like this. I still see you as a very, very dear friend... Nothing can change that..."
"Friend," Kowai scoffs, forcing itself back into the air and turning its back on her rudely. "I don't need any friends, especially fake friends that lie to me."
Going quiet as she tries and fails to keep in a soft sob, her body shakes a bit as she watches the Shedinja float back to the stream to stare at its reflection. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she gets herself into the air as well and inches closer. Luckily, Kowai doesn't bother chasing her off, nor does it even bother to look at her. She still doesn't risk getting too close and she coughs a bit to get her voice working steadily. "Kowai, just tell me. What do I have to do to fix this? I... It's been well over a year since it happened and... and I still feel horrible for doing such a thing to you. And I feel worse with each passing day, knowing that y-you never forgave me... I... Just tell me what I have to do, please..."
Kowai doesn't answer for a long time, just staring at its reflection silently. A soft tendril of mist slips forward to gently brush the water's surface, causing a ripple through its image. When it spoke, its voice is almost incoherent and Yams had to strain her ears to pick it up. "Nothing I can think of can fix this, Yams... I'll admit, I... I missed you for a while and the moments where I had both you and brother were the happiest moments I could ever recall experiencing... And there are times where I wanted to return to you... to get that happiness back..."
Yams feels her heart lighten a bit upon hearing that, despite knowing better. And it seems that reasoning part of her is right in doubting for, within a split-second, the tendril of mist brushing the water sharpens and stabs into the stream. And as it is pulled back out, Yams barely manages to keep in a cry, her eyes wide as her hands fly up to cover her mouth in horror.
A Barboach gasps the open air, twitching as it lays impaled on the sharp tendril. Kowai watches the fish's suffering silently, just staring at the blood falling down to the ground. It doesn't acknowledge Yams' horrified expression, its deep toneless voice making said horror worse. "But I know... I know that I can never have that happiness back, because I'm never coming back to you, Yams. I'm not that desperate, I'm not that stupid. I didn't know anything about 'courtship', but you taught me everything I needed to know by taking advantage of my gullibility. For that, I suppose I should thank you..." It slowly removes its empty eyes from the dying Barboach and focuses on her, its voice still cold. "Thank you, Yams, for giving me more reason to never trust anybody again. Thank you for taking the feelings I had for you, feelings I never once allowed myself to indulge in before, and tearing it all apart. Thank you for betraying me and making me look like a fool, for showing me that there are Pokemon out there more heartless than me!"
It finally starts to growl, the sharpness in its voice growing with each word. "Now if you please..." It returns its eyes to the Barboach, watching the white haze of its soul flicker and flow off the now dead body, evaporating into the Spirit World. For once, it shows no interest in consuming the residual energy as it carries on in a low voice. "Go away, before I give you a more... personal demonstration of just HOW much pain I'm going through."
At this threat, Yams looks back and forth between the shell and the dead fish, her eyes still wide and still pouring tears. A choked whimper comes from her throat, shaking her body a bit. Despite having spent a lot of time with Kowai during their relationship, she hasn't actually witnessed a full-on murder like this. Kowai didn't even eat that poor critter's soul...
Snapping out of it when she hears Kowai's growls increase in volume, she gulps in fear and hugs her mask. Taking another deep breath, she gives an almost imperceptible nod. "O... okay..." Wiping her eyes, it's useless as more tears come down her cheeks in an even stronger flow. "I-if you... You need anything, or... or if you change your mind..." She knows that's very unlikely, but she can't help it. "Luft and I... we'll be here for a few days... and-"
"Why are you still here, ya little bitch?!" Kowai interrupts with a bark, its patience gone. Cringing at this, Yams turns and flies off quickly, not wanting to further push her luck. Glaring at her as she retreats out of sight, the husk snorts before turning to the stream, its black mist writhing in agitation. It still keeps hold of the dead Barboach, the spike impaling it melting back to its original ethereal form, holding the body tightly. Locking its eyes back on its reflection, its growls hitch a bit and whimpers begin returning. A very small part of it wants to go after Yams, wants to have that extra reassurance in this time of need. But it refuses to let itself be manipulated again...
It doesn't know how much time passed before it hears a soft buzz behind it.
"There you are, baby," it hears its mother mutter and it doesn't look at her as she comes up to it and holds it tightly into her body's comforting warmth. Petting it soothingly, she softly shushes its whimpers even as she gently chides it. "Didn't I tell you not to go too far?" Kowai doesn't respond for a bit, not making any acknowledging sound or movement as it feels its mother poke the Barboach body. "S... Sweetie, what happened?"
"Just..." Kowai finally whispers. "Just thinking... and hunting... a little... trying... trying to make myself feel better..." it mutters, not giving its mother any further details as to the circumstance of this fish's death. Instead, it continues in a pleading voice. "Mama...?"
"Hm?"
"Is... Can... Can you get brother...?" it requests softly, shuddering a bit. "Tell him... Tell him I really need his help..." It leans against its mother in a snuggle, burying its face into her and muffling its voice as a result. "He... he promised to always help me..."
Ninika pauses for a bit, wanting the little shed to share with her but understanding why it wishes to do so with Sokudo instead. Nodding softly, she gives it a reassuring nuzzle as well as a short groom before letting it go and heading back to the house quickly. Beginning to cry as it's left alone again, Kowai tries to stop the sobbing before its brother could see it and think it weak... But after a moment, it hears its brother's soft steps coming up from the path and it lets out a strange choked cry mixed with both grief and relief.
"What do you want, Kowai?!" It seems Sokudo's still pissed about what happened despite his parents having already given him his lecture. In fact, he almost didn't want to come here, but he can't go back on his promise. Tensing as Kowai hurries to him, he endures the shed cuddling with him before his narrowing eyes dart to the Barboach in its grip. His glare hardens but he says nothing, unfortunately used to seeing such a thing. After a moment though, he begins to push it away impatiently. "C'mon, Kowai, I ain't got time for this shit!"
"Brother, please..." the Shedinja pleads as it resists his push, giving in to its sobs despite its efforts to keep it back. "I... I need you... I..." It nuzzles against his neck, its pathetic display succeeding in getting some pause out of its Ninjask. "I really am s-sorry, brother. I... I'm trying as best I can, but... but I can't help it... I can't... Please, you... You have to help me..."
Sokudo continues to glare at his brother, although his eyes soften just a tiny bit. He's inclined not to believe it, but he can sense it in his shed's voice, his shed's demeanor, and he has no choice as to acknowledge its sincerity. Taking a breath, he closes his eyes to prepare himself for another serious talk before muttering under his breath. "Alright, Kowai. Talk."
"I..." Kowai starts, starting to calm a bit with the prolong cuddles and it's more than happy to welcome it. "I want to love Papa, brother... I want us to be a family, so... so we can be happy and cuddle... all the time. But I... I feel like I'm being torn apart brother. It hurts, literally, in here." A tendril gently slithers to its chest. "And here..." It points to its head before huddling tighter. "And I don't know what I can do to make it stop. I don't want to hurt Papa, I really don't, but... But I feel like I'm barely in control here..." Its voice drops considerably. "Like there's something else trying to take over..."
"What?" Sokudo blinks, not sure what he just heard. Kowai says nothing for a bit, thinking hard to itself. It seems to be about to say something, but it stops itself before continuing.
"Instincts, brother... I'm acting out on instinct..." It answers somewhat vaguely, deciding not to tell its brother about the voices in its head as it might push him away. "Mama wanted me to ignore it, but I can't... at least not by myself..." It looks to him with a whimper. "That's why I need you, brother. You always seem to keep me calm like this... Your cuddles sooth me... I... I was wondering... if... maybe... you could..."
Sokudo immediately knows he's not liking where this is going and he bites down on his tongue to keep from giving his automatic rejection.
"Brother... When we go back there... Can I cuddle with you when I start feeling overwhelmed, so I can keep calm... and maybe I won't hurt Papa? Please...?"
Sighing with a groan after a moment of restraining himself from barking out a 'No!', he keeps his voice as calm and steady as possible. "I won't lie to you, Kowai. Personally, if I had my way in all this, you would be back in Tao Village a long time ago. But..." He glances at his brother from the corner of his eyes. "But luckily for you, my mom's stubborn. I want this to work out too, Kowai. I don't want you hurting my dad and I'll do anything to insure that. Even if it means cuddling... in public..."
Looking at its brother, Kowai feels a soft purr beginning to rise up from its throat and it snuggles tighter in gratitude. "Thank you, brother. Thank you for giving me a chance, for not giving up on me. Thank you..."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." he mutters, stepping away from it before turning back in the direction of the house. "Let's go and get this over with." He pauses for a moment, running a thought through his head before piping up in a warning tone. "But if this doesn't work, Kowai, and you hurt Dad again... No matter what Mom says, you're going back home. Understood?" He turns his stern eyes over his shoulder to look at it firmly and Kowai hesitates for a noticeable second before giving its version of a nod.
"Understood, brother."
Still holding tight to the Barboach body, Kowai closely follows Sokudo back towards their house, bracing itself for what's to come. This is its last chance to pull this whole thing off and it hopes to everything that its Cuddle Plan will work...