The next morning Akuma was on the phone when Chad and Kurishimi got up. Not wanting to bother him, they ate breakfast separately in the back room and got their supplies together for the trip later. When they were done Akuma was still talking to someone on the other line. Taking advantage of the moment, Kurishimi slipped into a back room where the staff was holding a package for her. She opened the box to confirm that the dome fossil inside was still intact then wrote a letter, put it in an envelope, and taped it to the top of the box. Following that, she quickly left the Pokémon Center to mail it back home where it would be safe. When she returned Akuma was just standing up from his seat in the corner all ready to go.

"After going over our available options for transport," Akuma began, "I believe the fastest way to get to our destination would be to fly there. By making use of Skarmory, Charizard, and Fearow while sticking to the main routes so we don't get lost, I estimate we could arrive in Lavender Town in a third of the time. Fearow will willingly take Chad while I ride on Charizard."

"Wouldn't it be safer for Chad to ride on Charizard since it would give better protection?"

"No, Charizard may have been having some problems lately. Besides, Chad is perfectly capable of protecting himself on his own now. He'll fly with Fearow for efficiency's sake. I assume you have Skarmory prepared?"

"I already made the exchange this morning. You have both Charizard and Fearow available too, right?"

"I always plan ahead. Let's get moving."

Akuma released Fearow beside Chad as he brought out Charizard and climbed onto its back. Kurishimi managed to find an awkward yet comfortable position on Skarmory's metal frame for a long trip while Fearow had to help Chad onto its back. When the three of them were finally ready Akuma had Charizard lift up into the sky followed by a nervous Chad and finally Kurishimi. Chad was scared of the flight for a good hour before he calmed down enough to remember to try enjoying the ride. Kurishimi was comfortable enough to enjoy the scenery early on while Akuma was busy paying careful attention to Charizard's condition.

Even though Charizard hadn't actually lost control like Akuma's other Pokémon had, he was still nervous about the comparative power when each one went berserk. It was odd though, that despite being Akuma's 'starter' Pokémon and having been with him for a long time, Charizard was still obedient without any signs otherwise. Of course there was always the initial disobedience upon evolution from Charmeleon but it had always been reliable for him otherwise. It didn't make sense that Charizard was still as tame as ever after all these years. Metagross had recently evolved, plus he never had much of a bond with it either which explained the disobedience there. He also had a bond with his former Magmar, but it always had a rebellious streak as well since before he captured it so it seemed natural for him to lose control of it when he did. Plus there was his seventh Pokémon that he couldn't seem to tame. Akuma had assumed that he would garner some respect from it upon capture, but it had still never even acknowledged Akuma unless it was about to attack him. Akuma made a mental note to recollect the first two gym badges he'd won when he was younger after they arrived in the city.

"Akuma, we've got trouble down below!" Kurishimi called over, breaking him from his thoughts as she did so. "There's a Beedrill swarm underneath us attacking a couple of young Pokémon."

Akuma located the Beedrill down below before steering Charizard down to sweep over them. The swarm didn't see or hear them coming over the sound of their wings until Charizard was upon them. The duo cut through the swarm with a spinning wing attack, then landed on the ground a few yards away while the Beedrill gathered their surroundings again. Akuma hopped off Charizard's back and recognized the Pokémon victims as a pair of Cubone that belonged to Mr. Fuji by the special bone clubs they carried.

"Charizard, high fire stream," Akuma commanded. Charizard used a flamethrower attack over the swarm which generated enough intense heat to drive most of the bug Pokémon away. Since Chad was now secure on Fearow's back, Akuma gave it commands too. "Fearow, hurt their retreat!" Fearow dive-bombed the retreating Beedrill with a pursuit strike, knocking down all of those in retreat except for one that it brought down with a precision peck attack. Chad was hanging on for his life the whole time. Then to everyone's surprise, Akuma sent out Totodile who nearly fainted at the sight of the approaching Beedrill. "Totodile, keep it together. Use your leer to lower their defenses so Charizard can finish them." Totodile did as commanded and while the Beedrill were distracted by the leer attack, Charizard swooped through them again with a wing attack. While the swarm was thrown off again, Charizard flew above the group before finishing them all with a direct flamethrower attack. After the flames subsided, Akuma threw a standard poké ball at the largest Beedrill and captured it almost instantly. After Akuma retrieved the poké ball the remaining Beedrill rose up as if to attack him again. Skarmory, Fearow, and Charizard all took positions to attack again, but Akuma raised a hand telling them to stand down while the swarm quickly approached him.

"Release!" Akuma called out as he sent out the Beedrill he'd just captured. Instead of the standard white light however, it was the light blue aura showing that Akuma had released it. The single Beedrill turned quickly toward him while the others froze just behind it. "I'll remove the Cubone peacefully. Go back to your hive immediately before we fight you seriously. I shouldn't need to point out the minimal effort I just used to stop you."

Convinced of their opponent's strength the Beedrill flew off toward the south while Kurishimi and Akuma checked the Cubone. The two were still healthy, being only a little frightened by the attacks from both sides. Both trainers picked up one each, then started the flight again until the Cubone Akuma was carrying began to panic after rising into the air. Akuma figured the youngster to be afraid of flying so he instructed the other two to go to Lavender Town ahead of him with the second Cubone.

"Will you be alright with that Cubone on your own until then?" Kurishimi asked him.

"We'll be fine," Akuma reassured her. "With the exception of Cleffa and Totodile all my Pokémon are combat ready. When you get to Lavender Town find the Pokémon Center and ask the nurse to call a Mr. Fuji to the center. When he arrives ask him what his second Pokémon was that he caught. He should tell you it was a Growlithe. If anyone tries to tell you that they came in place of Mr. Fuji, they can take you where he lives, or they can guide you to the Pokémon Center on your way, do not trust them. Get away from them as quickly as possible or fight your way through. Do not let them have the Cubone. If Mr. Fuji asks, you may explain how and from where the Cubone was found. Fuji may offer to take you to a safe house until I arrive and you should do so. He is an ally and can be trusted."

"Not the most reputable town is it?" Kurishimi noted from his warnings.

"No, it's the worst. Don't let your guard down and lock the doors when you go to sleep. Don't go out either unless you have to and don't look for me; I'll find you when I arrive. Chad, take Fearow's poké ball and both of you hide all your poké balls from view. Pickpockets are very common. Give Fearow's poké ball to Fuji as well. Let him know it's mine. I'll show up after a few days time I believe if there are no complications."

"Okay Chad, let's get going." Kurishimi took her position again on Skarmory's back while Akuma helped Chad get situated on Fearow. "You're sure you'll be safe on your own?" she asked again.

"I'll be fine, mother. I don't need a sweater and I have clean underwear. I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself," Akuma said dryly. "I know how to survive on my own. I've done it for years, now get moving."

Having been given the definitive final brush-off Kurishimi took flight with Chad, holding the second Cubone close to her chest as Skarmory flew away. She looked back just once before she lost sight of him and briefly chewed her lip. Chad noticed she was feeling down so he had Fearow glide a bit closer to Skarmory.

"Are you really that worried about the guy?" he asked Kurishimi. "Like he said, he'll be fine on his own. He was by himself long before either of us showed up and he's done perfectly fine on his own ever since. He frequently leaves the group and hasn't had any problems besides the thing with Raikou. If anything I'd say he prefers being by himself."

"I know all that Chad, but I've been around Akuma long enough to identify the poké balls that he carries along with the Pokémon they contain. He admitted to be in current possession of Totodile and Cleffa, both of which are nowhere near combat ready. Totodile can't even fire its water gun when last I checked and Cleffa's still only a baby. He lent you Fearow which counts for half his Pokémon team. He does have Charizard, but he mentioned that he was experiencing some trouble with it lately which makes it a possibly unreliable last resort in a battle. His last two Pokémon are Gastly and Infernape who are also good Pokémon. Unfortunately Gastly is a support member over a fighter and even though Infernape is more than competent there is no way he can fall back on Infernape for everything. I think Akuma might be overconfident this time."

Chad was starting to grow worried as well now. It wouldn't do for both of them to be this way of course, so he kept trying to cheer Kurishimi up in the hopes he could convince himself to do the same. "Maybe we're just over thinking things. This is Akuma we're talking about if you remember. I'm sure situations like this are something he plans for in his head long in advance. It'll be no harder than walking across a fallen tree for him. Besides, he's been with Gastly and Charizard since his early days so they've seen just as many problems as Akuma. Gastly's tough enough to take whatever the world throws at it while Charizard would protect Akuma with its dying breath. Even if worse does come to worst we haven't seen Totodile and the results of its training in almost a week other than the brief spat with the Beedrill. If Akuma could somehow temper a cowardly Pokémon like that Totodile to use a leer on the entire Beedrill swarm without running away within a week's time I'm sure he can handle any possible emergency that comes up. Akuma is the best trainer there is. He'll be walking into Lavender Town in a couple days just as cranky as ever, you'll see."

Kurishimi allowed herself a small laugh at Chad's words. "You're right I suppose. You'd think after being around him for longer than most people could endure I would know that much about him by now. I guess I really am just over thinking things again. It may be bad luck to say so, but what's the worst that could really happen to him?"

As the sun began to set, Kurishimi and Chad arrived at the outskirts of Lavender Town. Just as Akuma had promised they realized it was the worst place in the region for them to visit. Houses, if they could be called houses, were falling apart with nothing to hold them up. Cardboard shelters that had been soaked by rain and weathered over time provided more reliable shelter than the still standing structures. The few people that could be seen were starved to the point where they appeared more like skeletons than people. The city appeared barren of Pokémon life; not even a passing Pidgey was in view.

Kurishimi and Chad made sure to conceal their poké balls before entering the city. Based on what they were witnessing their Pokémon would probably be stolen and sold off to anyone else passing through. Having grown up in a middle class city, Chad was highly disturbed by the sights around him. He kept close to Kurishimi while his eyes darted back and forth to each moving shadow. As they approached the inner city Chad started seeing movement from the corner of his eyes but when he turned to look in those directions there was nothing. Both of them began to feel afraid in addition to disturbed as various sets of eyes watched them walk through town. Kurishimi was chewing her lip again while Chad clung to her arm. They were both relieved when the red roof of the Pokémon Center finally appeared.

The antsy nurse quickly checked them in and seemed in a rush to leave them to their business until Kurishimi mentioned Mr. Fuji. After that the nurse quickly became respectful; leading them to a special room where she ensured their privacy while the older man was summoned.

"This is supposed to be Akuma's home?" Chad thought out loud after the nurse had left. "How did he survive this place when he was younger?"

"I'm beginning to think that he can survive for a couple days on his own even more now," Kurishimi added. "I felt like crippled prey surrounded by predators waiting to make the kill on our way here. What on earth happened to this place?"

"Either everybody is saving money by living outside or the stock market vaporized overnight," Chad offered.

"I'm worried about what kind of contacts Akuma would have in this place. And for an old man to offer superior protection, much less live in this city, I find it hard to believe. Based on our special treatment I'm thinking Mr. Fuji holds a lot of prestige around here. Oh dear, I hope he's not a crime lord or anything."

Chad's eyes widened at the thought. "Could Akuma be involved with criminals?"

"Come to think of it, he sure doesn't act like one of the good guys we'd expect. Plus he's always going off to do things in secret without telling us any details. He's always at odds with Team Rocket so they could be a rival criminal group or something like that. Maybe Akuma is actually a criminal and Mr. Fuji is his gang boss or something like that!"

Chad quickly cut her off. "Wait, no, that doesn't make any sense for us though. Akuma could've taken advantage of us at any time and gotten away cleanly. Even in the middle of the city he's good like that."

"Well what about our first night in Saffron City? After Akuma crippled Team Rocket he took off before the police arrived. He didn't come back until long after they left too. Hey, you were with him at the Cerulean cape weren't you? What did he do there?"

"Akuma gave Bill four poké balls that he said were taken from thieves. He told Bill the four poké balls weren't with the other ones that had been stolen, but he'd recovered them separately. The release button on one poké ball was broken. Bill mentioned it was the poké ball for his Flameon."

"You mean Flareon?"

"Yeah, that's the one."

"So that means Akuma is a thief that steals from other thieves and then profits from the spoils? That's pretty bold of him."

Chad groaned. "Kurishimi, we don't even know if any of this is true. We're just making wild guesses. Maybe he's some kind of police officer for all we know."

"Any police officer who acts like him would be discharged."

"What about a special agent then?"

"In this dingy town? I highly doubt that."

The two of them continued to guess at Akuma's relations to the city and people for ten more minutes before the nurse came to get them. She brought them both to the front doors where an old man was waiting for them, flanked by two tough looking bodyguards. Kurishimi knew they were tough, but she still believed Akuma could beat them both without breaking a sweat. The old man was leaning forward on his cane while inspecting the two of them with squinty eyes and a mysterious smile. He stepped forward to greet them as they came closer.

"So you two are the pair that called me out here, yes? What business might you have with me then?"

"That's correct," Kurishimi answered. "Before we speak though, I need to know that you are really Mr. Fuji if you don't mind." The old man nodded slowly. "What was the first Pokémon you ever caught?"

"Somewhat of a personal question you're asking, isn't it?" one of the bodyguards noted.

"That's my question and my decision to make," Kurishimi told him. After responding she realized it was a very Akuma-like reply she'd just given. She tried to ignore the fact by readdressing the old man, "What is your answer?"

"Oh ho ho, quite the question you've posed for me young one. And yet your question itself is a message for me, but I digress. My first Pokémon was a Growlithe. That was what you wanted to hear is it not?"

Kurishimi relaxed slightly. "Yes, I'm glad you got here before anyone else Mr. Fuji. My name is Kurishimi, and this is Chad. We are traveling companions of one of your acquaintances I believe."

"That you are my dear, though I hadn't known this young one's name until now. Nevertheless you were both spoken highly of from the reports I've heard. Now then, what is your business with me? I assume you are both here by yourselves?"

"Yes sir, we are. Chad, go get Mr. Fuji's Pokémon from the nurse." Chad quickly ran to the counter and returned with the Cubone in his arms. "We found this Cubone on our way here. There were actually two of them, but the other one was too afraid of flying. It'll be here in a few days time we believe. Chad also has something else he was told to hand over to you."

Chad handed Mr. Fuji Akuma's poké ball. "I didn't have a flying Pokémon so he lent me his Fearow."

Mr. Fuji took the poké ball and opened it to check on Fearow. "Ah yes, I see Fearow has been treated well these past few days. What's this? Oh my, you've learned agility recently as well, haven't you, Fearow?"

"Wow Mr. Fuji, how did you know that?" Chad exclaimed.

Mr. Fuji smiled back at the boy. "I make it a point to know my hunter's Pokémon, young one. I have a bond with them just as much as their trainers do and I sense that Fearow has learned much since I last saw it. Would have been nice if you had learned that move a few months ago though, Fearow. I needed that extra speed burst while we were in Fuchsia City together so my arm wouldn't have broken."

Kurishimi took careful notice of the way Fuji used the word 'hunters'. Now she knew that Akuma was known as a hunter outside of Team Rocket as well. It could have been a code name of sorts or maybe a special rank?

"Now then, we can't have you two staying in a public place in this town. It can be dangerous, no offense nurse." The nurse nodded understandingly. "You two should stay at my place tonight. You'll be safe there."

"Sir, wait a moment!" one of the bodyguards protested. "Are you sure we can trust them?"

"Oh stop being rude, Miko. These two are our special guests tonight, or at least until the second Cubone arrives. I'm quite sure we will be safe."

"But sir, what about their companion? Please let me send out a couple hunters to make sure he is trustworthy as well."

Mr. Fuji brought his cane to the ground with a loud whack. "Miko, enough! I know very well that we will be safe. If you must know, their companion is one of our own. His name is Akuma, I believe you know him too."

Miko's jaw dropped while the other bodyguard jumped in shock. "A-Akuma? These two are traveling with the grandmaster Lord Akuma?"

Fuji smirked and chuckled at their reactions. "Yes, with Akuma. Now come, we shouldn't be in one place for too long."

Kurishimi and Chad stared wide-eyed at the three walking out the door then turned to each other.

"Lord Akuma?" Kurishimi repeated.

"Grand… master?" Chad said in disbelief.

Out of curiosity, am I the only person who pictures Mr. Fuji as the villain from Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness? Yes? No? Okay. The next chapter is probably my sister's favorite so far. It's something to look forward to for a few good laughs.