Chapter Thirteen: Codependency
Torok and Obsidian walked down the hallway. Saji had summoned them to the Library. Noctua was already there, along with Saji and Madam Kuroi.
“Everyone, I have something to show you.” Kuroi says. Her chair spins in place, turning her to face her Pokémon. Laying in her lap, asleep from exaustion, where two Eevees. They were identical. Not just similar, but identical. “This is Serj and Rydia” Kuroi states proudly. “The two newest members of the Kuroi Family.”
The twins, as they were soon called, were eager to learn everything the world had to teach them. They were inseparable, doing anything and everything together. Aside from their gender, the twins were indistinguishable. They refused any sort of ornamentation or decoration that would help distinguish them. To further the confusion, they would run in circles together, as fast as they could manage, in an attempt to confuse those around them.
Saji and Madam Kuroi confirmed that the twins also shared a telepathic link. It was very weak, but under her tutelage, they soon were able to communicate with each other over short distances.
Obsidian, Serj, Rydia, and Torok, all walk down the street. It was quite a procession. The Umbreon led the way, with both eevees walking proudly at her heels. The Charmeleon brought up the rear. His job was to hold the purse, which he wore over his shoulder and at his hip. It was a site to behold, one that turned heads and conjured muttering. The march across town gave the four something to do, as well as provided exercise for the two hyperactive children. There were scheduled breaks along the way, but soon the four stood triumphant before the front counter of the local Pokémart. Madam Kuroi had called ahead of course to place her order. The squad of Kuroi family members were only there to pay and retrieve the items. The cashier was sure to separate a few things into smaller bags for the eevees to carry.
After a snack that was part of the retrieved order, the four set back on their journey home. The trek home was slower and more steady. But as they walked, suddenly, there was a thought inside their heads. “Obsidian, take Torok and the twins to the Center. Get to Doctor Azure and demand that he look after you. Do not return home. Do not talk to anyone else.” The thoughts came from Madam Kuroi directly. The urgency was unmistakable. Her command was absolute and left no rule for argument. The squad broke into a run. The Pokémon Center was two blocks away.
“I hope you don’t mind us dropping by like this.” Chief Inspector Yagami Matsu was saying, his voice A group of detectives were moving through Madam Kuroi’s house, searching. Yagami Matsu had refused the seat he was offered, and stood in the drawing room. The warrant held tightly in his hand. “You have in your possession a Charmander, Torok Cyprès, who was at the scene of a murder some months ago.” He says. “Torok Kuroi” Kerra Kuroi corrects, “He is a Chameleon now. And he is my ward, not my possession...” She says.
“The Pokémon charged with the murder of Sèbastian Cyprès is a male Noivern, roughly 1.75 meters tall…” He says. He looks up to the ceiling of the drawing room, where a Noivern is asleep among the rafters. “And it seems you have recently acquired a Noivern matching that description perfectly… I hae a warrant here to search your home for that Noivern and anything else that might tie you to Cyprès death.” He finishes.
“You make your point as delicately as ever Yagami...” Madam Kuroi says. She turns to look at the dosing bat above her. “Rabendā, come down here.” She calls. The bat shakes himself awake, unfurls his wings, and glides down to land before his mistress. He bows deeply, placing his forehead to the floor.
“This is Chief Inspector Yagami Matsu.” Kuroi introduces. The Noivern turns and bows respectfully to the Chief Inspector. “This is Rabendā Kuroi.” Madam Kuroi says. “I named him that because of his unerring loyalty to me, and the adorable color of his wings when he was a Noibat...” She says. The Noivern looks at his feet, his face turning red with embarrassment. “Show him your tag Rabendā...” Kuroi instructs. The Noivern holds out his hand for the Chief Inspector to scan.
Rabendā Kuroi
Spieces: Noivern♂
Age: 34 (DOB: 06/06/1967)
CT: Kerra Kuroi - CT-ID: KAN-000-01212
Catch date: 06/06/1967 (Hatch)
Catch Location: Saffron City.
Class: B-5 (Utility)
Assignment: Saffron Institute of the Mind
“There you go. This Noivern never belonged to Cyprès. I hatched him myself Thirty-four years ago.” She says.
“Yes. Another matter. We found an incubator in your home. It has two empty eggs in it.” Mastu says.
“Also my Pokémon. Two twin eevees. They are registered under my name, and given that they just hatched, I fail to see what they have to do with Cyprès.” Kuroi says. “Do you have a point, Chief Inspector? I am growing weary of these questions. You don’t want to tempt Fate, do you?” She asks.
“That is exactly why I am here Ms. Kerra.” Matsu says. “You have an Alakazam, a Noivern, a Charmeleon, an Umbreon, and Two Eevee’s registered to you, correct? I am not a Math student, but I do believe that is six, the limit that any trainer is allowed to carry on their person at any time.” Matsu says. “You don’t need to quote the NPL Trainer’s Manual to me Chief. I was alive when it was written...” She says.
Yagami Matsu pulls a device from his belt. “Then would you care to explain this?” He says. The device is composed primarity of a black box, which sports two odd antennae at one end. A dial indicated something was full, though there were no labels. The logo of Silph. Co. was unmistakable however. Silph. Co. is making great strides in their research into ghost type Pokémon.” Matsu explains. He presses the single button on the device. There is no noticeable effect to Matsu. For a second, he questions of the device even works. Kuroi, however, can feel the psychic overpressure that the strange device gave off. It caused her to shudder, but more importantly, it caused her shadow to scream. Fate tore himself from his hiding place. With a roar built equally from rage and pain, Fate plastered himself along the ceiling of the drawing room. His purple transparant skin melted into darkness, and soon the pokemon was gone. The room was plunged into a gloomy miasma that ate every source of light. The temperature rapidly dropped. Patiently, Matsu waiting for the device to charge back up. He pressed the button again. Fate screamed, and was ripped from the walls and ceiling. He reformed above Madam Kuroi, and then launched himself at Chief Inspector Yagami Matsu. Hundreds of sharp teeth formed in Fate’s mouth. His eyes held only hatred for the man before him.
“Sit...” Madam Kuroi commanded. The ghost froze in the air, no more than a foot or two away from Matsu’s face. The chief inspector’s gun was in his hand and pointed in the air at the ghost. Even so, the gun and part of Matsu’s hand had passed into the body of Fate. Frost was already forming on the weapon. Matsu cursed and dropped it to the floor.
“Gengar...” Matsu said acidly. “Seven Pokémon. Not only that, but you own two Class S Pokémon without permission from a Professor or NPL Official… Further more your Pokémon just threatened the life of a Federal Officer. I will see that he is destroyed for this… And you… Your license will be revoked. You won’t be able to own a Pokémon the rest of your life...” Matsu said, panting softly. Madam Kuroi considered him coldly.
“This pokemon is not mine.” She says. “He has been haunting me for the last Seventy-Five years. He belongs, or rather belonged to my Father. Feel free to scan him.” Madam Kuroi says. Matsu wastes no time in pulling out his police gear and passing it over the ghost in front of him.
¥̶̹͆ȗ̴͉b̴̩̔e̸͍̓w̶̻̏a̸͎͑ K̶̹͗u̴̦͋r̷̡͋ȏ̶̲ȋ̴͇ <<Unknown Fate>>
S̷̼͌p̸͈̏é̷͎i̴͎̒ĉ̷̯e̸̊ͅs̷̪͒:̸̳͂ ̴̣́U̸̳͛b̶̳̊r̵͓͝o̴̢̓n̷̗̅♂̶̲͂\ Speices: Gengar♂
Ă̸̧̛̼̜̗͝g̷̺͍̯̜͛̀e̸̬̥̾̌:̵̯̙̺̉ ̷̨̯̱̬̋͝4̴̭̣͈͋7̷͇̻̤̔ ̸͈̪̲͠ͅ(̷̖̆̋͊̀ͅD̷̩̊͌͑̏Ǫ̸̼̯̩̓͘͝B̵͔͍̟̐:̴̝͔̘͙͗̈́̇͠ ̷̻͕̘͇̍͐̆0̶̭̮͇͋͘4̶͙͍́́́͘/̷͚͍̺͊͛͘1̸̣͓̋̿3̷̳̾̉/̵̢̤̺̈́̌̓1̶̥́̈8̴̣̈́7̴̼̌̌9̸̞̝͔́͑͌̈́)̶̥̫͊̋͑
Ă̸̧̛̼̜̗͝g̷̺͍̯̜͛̀e̸̬̥̾̌:̵̯̙̺̉ ̷̨̯̱̬̋͝7̸̡̜̓̓͠5̷̘̪̭͒̈͠ ̷͙̞̒͂(̷̩̆́͆͝D̴͇̩̜̅̄͠O̸̡̯͌B̵͔̆̓:̸̬͕̘̐̓͝ ̷̯̥̑0̴̹̆8̵͍͉̜̜̐/̸̗̤̖̿1̷̛͍̥̦9̴̹̻̗̌̋̅/̶̛̠͓͑̿1̷̬̘͙̋̃9̸̧͈̫͆̋̊̈́2̵͉̃̈͆6̶̢͎̼̇͛̈́)̷̧̩̽
Age: 122 <<Unknown Fate>>
OT: Shiromaru Kuroi - CT-ID: KAN-000-00137
CT: <<Unknown Fate>>
Catch date: <<Unknown Fate>>
Catch Location: <Unknown Fate>>
Class: S-1 (Lethal)
Assignment: <<Unknown Fate>>
“And know you see why I call him Fate...” Madam Kuroi says. “He is a wild Gengar that has been following me since my fathers death at the hands of the Saffron Police Department.” She says. “You are welcome to try and save me from him at any time Chief Inspector, Though I think the job of saving civilians from wild Pokémon falls under the jurisdiction of the local police force, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, and Fisheries of course. It is hardly a job for a Chief Inspector of the National Police Agency...” Madam Kuroi looks up at the ghost, who is still floating in front of Matsu. “Go find the Twins...” Kuroi instructs. Fate slowly sticks out his tongue. Blood drips from it onto Matsu’s pants. The Gengar licks his teeth, covering them in ruby vite. Then, without further ceremony, the ghost fades from existence, and is gone.
* * *
The lights were dim in Doctor Michael Azure’s office. He had lent the room to Madam Kuroi’s Pokémon for the night after Obsidian had explained the situation. Saji would be along to collect them in the morning. Torok and Mance lay side my side on a metal bench, (Which Michael had ordered after Mance had inadvertently set his couch on fire.) Their tails cast flickering shadow across the room. The twins were curled about each other in the opposite corner of the room, fast asleep. Next to them sat the two bags of groceries, which they insisted on delivering themselves. Obsidian sat on Michael’s desk. Her tail flicked back and forth like a silent metronome. It grew cold. Mance and Torok shifted closer to each other, their tail’s burned brighter, through neither woke up. The shadows changed with the new light. The shadow cast by twins grew long. Obsidian nodded her head in greeting. The shadow began to smile down at her.
