Final month, Kanto Region

Lavender Town

Azrael sighed, using his arm to wipe the sweat off his head. He'd expected Ash, Violet and Hinami to be back by now, but for whatever reason they had yet to return

"What's taking them so long?" Seiji asked in a worried tone. He knew his sister was with Ash, but that didn't mean he couldn't be worried for her

"They probably just got lost. Let's wait a while longer and if they still aren't back... then we'll go looking for them" Azrael said trying to calm down his companion. Seiji nodded at his word, making Azrael sigh in relief, but still he couldn't help but feel something was happening or that something would happen soon

Meanwhile

Ash started at his once friend from a long time ago. His mind flashed back to the last time he'd seen Gengar as a Haunter. It was during his journey through Kanto the first time. He'd just battled Sabrina the day before... only to lose badly. He was given the advice of catching a ghost Pokemon to help out against Sabrina's psychic types

"Will he be fine on his own?" Hinami asked Violet as she watched the older teen grip her weapon with shaking hands and eyes unfocused "Violet?"

Violet snaps out of her thoughts and turns towards Hinami "He'll be fine. You might have just met him, but you saw him before. Ash is skilled enough to take care of himself"

Ash circled around as the infected Gengar watched him with pitch black eyes. The teen could tell that his old friend was observing him, trying to read his movements. Ash wasn't going to make this easy, old friend or not, he planned on walking out of this alive

Taking out his knife, Ash held it in a reverse grip as he motioned for the infected to come at him if he dared. The infected seemed to think that he was mocking him as the ghost type moved at lightning speed, disappearing from view and being unable to be seen by anyone

However, Ash wasn't just anyone, he knew where the infected was and waited at the last moment to dodge before attempting to stab his once friend, but the ghost turned intangible making Ash curse at forgetting this tiny bit of information

The infected suddenly launched a couple of shadow balls towards the teen as Ash either dodged or deflected the attack with his switchblade. He couldn't keep this up forever, he just needed an opening or something to stop the infected

Violet without warning jumped out of her hiding place as Ash wondered just what she could be thinking. She tried to kill the infected, but suddenly found herself floating as she realized the infected must be using psychic to hold her in place. Struggling, Violet was able to throw her knife towards Ash and watched as he caught it. She knew there was nothing she could do, but at least she'd given Ash something to help him out

Hinami still hiding behind a pillar, wished she could do something to help, but her body wouldn't move. She never had to fight against an infected before, her brother being the one to defend them both. Now she was regretting not knowing how to at least wield a knife. She decided the best course of action was to get help and turned, running off to find her brother or Azrael

Ash mentally thanked Violet for both her distraction and for giving up her weapon. He knew she was taking a risk by doing this and as such didn't plan on her dying as a result. Ash ran at the infected Gengar, using the army knife at his main weapon in order to conceal his switchblade. When Ash passed by Violet, he handed his switchblade over to her much to her confusing before she stared in disbelief at seeing the older teen literally punch the infected

Violet was released, the infected not having expected that from Ash as she took this opportunity to stab the infected in the head. She watched Ash look at the infected Gengar with sadness in his eyes and wondered if he knew him before he'd been transformed into an infected

"Perhaps you have earned the title of 'Fearless Wonder'" she heard Ash tease, as Violet gave him a small smile at this "Come on, we'd better get out of here" Ash continued helping Violet back onto her feet as they switched weapons "By the way, you did good, killed your second infected. Maybe just don't risk your life like that again in trying to provide a distraction"

Violet stared at him before his words caught up with her. She blinked away a few tears that threatened to appear before following after him. Maybe she isn't a failure as she believed she was. Looking at her army knife, Violet placed it back inside her pockets

While walking, Ash suddenly had a look of despair as he took off running. Violet looked confused at this. She didn't hesitate in following after him, but did wonder just what could have happened this time to make him react like this

Ash stopped running, Violet slowly right behind him, they had shocked looks on their faces at seeing the brunette holding her brother with tears in her eyes. Ash rushed over to her as she turned towards him with tears falling down. He suddenly knew that Seiji was dying and this time he wouldn't be able to heal him like before. Ash slowly brought Hinami into a hug as she buried her face into him while crying

Violet dropped to her knees, grabbing hold of Seiji's hand. He looked at her with a small smile as Violet had tears in her eyes feeling him squeeze her hand. Azrael was seen with blood everywhere as she watched him return, but she didn't question where it came from

The group had just lost a friend and brother. How many more people were they going to end up losing?

The next day

The group hadn't said a word since Seiji's death. Hinami had become withdrawn, only taking with Ash whenever they were alone. Azrael and Violet had taken his death as a wake-up call. They had experienced death, but this was different. They vowed to make sure nothing like this could happen again, especially to Hinami since they were basically all she had left

They held a funeral for Seiji last night. Before the funeral though, Ash had somehow ended up talking with Seiji's spirit and wondered if his aura somehow allowed him to communicate with the dead now. Seiji was able to be at peace in the end as Ash promised him, he'd take care of his younger sister before his spirit departed with a flash

During the funeral, everyone had spoken fondly of the teenager even after only knowing him for a few hours. Hinami thanked them for everything they had done before going to sleep. Ash, Azrael and Violet all agreed to not push her and allow her time to mourn

The group were making their way into Viridian City. Ash ignored the scene of what had become of Viridian. Violet wished she could have a bag to empty her stomach. Azrael was indifferent to this, having gotten used to the smell and scene. Hinami kept her eyes glued to the ground, but like Violet wanted to empty her stomach at the scene before her

Ash stopped, glancing over at a roof. He could tell someone was there, a human who was not infected. Slowly making his way closer to the building, Ash could make out a voice talking before he jumped back at seeing something drop down

A teenager around Ash's age was seen aiming a custom rifle at the group with narrowed eyes behind his yellow goggles "Who are you?" he questioned, his gaze leaving Ash's for a second to see three more behind him "Stop right there!"

Ash stepped forward, but stopped at the shot fired a few feet in front of him "Don't move! Now I'll ask again who are you?"

"My name is Ash Ketchum. Now it's only fair you tell us who you are" Ash says before glaring at the teen "Also can you stop aiming that rifle at me? We're not infected. I'd prove it to you, but I can't think of anyway to give you proof"

"An infected would never consider trying to give proof. Sorry, it's just hard to know who to trust these days. I've encountered infected humans and Pokemon alike multiple times... just had to be sure" he apologized dropping his rifle before holding out a hand "I'm Oliver Blake, but you can call me Ollie"

Ash grabbed his hand, shaking it as the trio behind the aura user slowly walked up to them "Ollie. These are my teammates... my friends. Violet Jones, Azrael Logan and Hinami Sakurai" he introduced as Ollie waved at them before Ash turned back to Ollie while looking up at the roof "I thought I heard another voice. Are there more of you?"

"You have good ears" Ollie chuckled as he grabbed a Rotom phone "You can come out now. They aren't infected as we thought they were" he tells whoever is on the other side before they all hear some noise and see a female with a mechanical arm making her way towards them with an older male behind her

"Even I could have told you they weren't. You'd have to be an idiot to not see they are normal humans" said the one wearing a messed-up Team Rocket shirt as Ash eyes widened but doesn't say anything. It doesn't matter what side he was on, they are some of the few remaining humans not infected

"This is Penelope Harper" Ollie started, not without giving the former grunt a glare with Azrael knowing those two seemed to not get along

"Call me Penny please. I'm glad to see we aren't the only ones still not infected. Also Ash, I saw you in the Alola League, congratulations on winning" she says before seeing both Ash and Azrael looking at her mechanical arm "Don't worry, an infected didn't do this. I was involved in an accident that required I cut off my arm"

"And this guy who I wish I could kill at times is called Grey Hunter, former Team Rocket member as you can see and our weapons expert. As much as he can be a jerk, his knowledge in weapons and combat is what's saved both me and Penny multiple times"

"Well now you'll have us to help you" Violet declared as Azrael turned to her "Don't give me that look. What if we are all that remains here! We can't split up!"

"She's right" Ash interrupted before anyone else could say something "I don't know if there are others still out there, but we are the only ones to remain here in Kanto. I was on a team before coming here, but one of my friends died... I don't know what happened to the others since I abandoned them. I'm not going to make the same mistake here. Meeting Violet, Azrael, Hinami... you've taught me that together we can survive this. So, I'm asking you three, will you join us?"

Ollie and Penny stared at each other before making up their minds and moving towards Ash. Grey stood in his spot before chuckling "What the heck. As much as you kids might be annoying, I rather die with company than alone"

"From now on we'll be known as Reaper Squad!" Violet exclaimed with a few of them sighing but didn't argue with her as the group now known as Reaper Squad set out to find new shelter, but what will await them soon?