Chapter Eighteen: Perseveration
The news of Madam Kuroi’s death was controlled, only to be released once Saji had implemented a long-standing plan. A private funeral was held at the Kuroi estate. Detective Izumo Zenko was in attendance, as was his partner Pokémon Citrine. Professor Oak was in attendance, as well as Dexter Blue and Dexter Brown, Oak's Grandson. Representatives from SIM and Silph Co. showed up to present flowers and other tokens of remembrances. Chief Inspector Yagami Matsu also arrived, baring a token gift from the NPA. He insisted on staying for the entire wake, however. Torok, Noctua, Obsidian, Serj, Rydia, and Saji sat in chairs at the front of the room, along side the urn that contained Madam Kuroi’s remains. It was a solemn and quiet affair. Music was playing passively from a device in the corner. Torok counted twelve times that the songs repeated themselves by the time the wake was ended.
The conversation started in hushed tones and secret places, but nothing so hushed or secret that it escaped Noctua’s ears. The question had to be asked. What would happen to Madam Kuroi’s assets? Her fortune and her home? She had no heir. What would become of her legacy? What would become of her Pokémon?
Yagami Matsu spoke up loudest. “They will belong to the state.” He said as if the matter was obvious to the point of inconsideration. “Everything she has will go to the NPA first. We have an extensive file on her. Once we have the evidence of her activities, then what is left over will belong to the state, and will be liquidated. Those Pokémon of hers are too dangerous to be left about, so they will be given to MAFF.” He clearly didn’t care of the Pokémon in question heard him.
Few people rose to speak with Matsu after that declaration, either for or against his point. It was as if they could be associated with him merely by proximity. Okazaki Midori, a representative of the Saffron city government, spoke out against him. “It is up to the state to settle her estate. If she has a will then we are legally bound to see it through. Everything she owns, including her Pokémon can be transferred on death with proper paperwork.”
“Proper paperwork? She was a witch, yakuza, and drug dealer.” Matsu states.
“The NPA has never been able to prove any of that!” Midori counters.
“What can be proven.” Interjects Professor Oak, “What can be proven is that she was a licensed therapist. She was fully capable of owning and caring for Class A and Class S dangerous Pokémon. Her psychic abilities were well documented, and also properly licensed through The Saffron Institute of the Mind. And finally, she was a well known philanthropist and patron of education and public health.”
“Charizard! Class S-4 (Destructive). A fire lizard capable of burning down an entire building without effort! Alakazam! Class S-2 (Manipulative). A monster capable of controlling the minds of everyone around it. Gengar! Class S-1 (Lethal). A ghost that survives by eating the dreams of humans, driving them insane and killing them in the process. How can anyone who would raise such monsters possibly be thinking of what is good for public health?” Mastu shouts.
“I am more than aware of the capabilities of those Pokémon.” Professor Oak says calmly, “Seeing that I wrote their entries in the National Pokémon Database myself... And as the resident Professor who specializes in Human/Pokémon interaction, I was required to sign of on her permit to operate as a Class S Pokémon therapist. She was one of the few people in this country trusted with such a dangerous task.”
“Gentlemen.” Came the perfectly controlled voice of Saji. “If I could direct your attention to the main living room, Madam Kuroi has requested that her will be made public. I have a video prepared that should put an end to this tasteless conversation.”
Saji led everyone to the living room, where Noctua was setting up a monitor. Obsidian, Torok, Serj, and Rydia each sit on a seat set up for them. Noctua soon joins them, follows by Saji. Once the rest of the visitors are sitting, the video plays.
“July Twenty-Fifth, 1914. A long time ago. A very long time.” Madam Kuroi said.
“In that time I have sung the praises of God alongside angels, and in the same afternoon, sat across the poker table from the devil, and his demons. While I have known several men in my time on earth, I have never found one that I saw fit to bare a child for. Instead, I have raised many children over the years, in the Students that I have taught, and the Pokémon that I have saved.”
“The first person I wish to address is one of my students, perhaps one of my most loved. Izumo Zenko. I remember when you and Citrine first came to my door. She was a drowsee then, and you were not much larger than she was. Now you are a detective. Citrine, I am sorry I will not get to meet Oliver. I know you will love him with all your heart. Do the same for me as well. Izumo, I am naming you as the executor of my estate. It will be your task to ensure my possessions are divided up according to the wishes I will lay out in this will. Saji will have a more verbose list of-” The video says. Yagami Matsu is already glaring at Izumo. The video continues.
“I know that Chief Inspector Yagami Matsu will protests, but I selected Izumo because I trust him to follow my instructions, as I am sure Chief Matsu will trust him to report anything that he might find to be illegal or malicious.” Madam Kuroi says.
“The next order of business is the contents of my home. All medical equipment and supplies that I have stored are to be donated to the Saffron Pokémon Center under the care of Doctor Michael Azure. An itemized list of these items and their locations in the house will be provided to Izumo. In addition, there are roughly one hundred and seventy items of sentimental value about the house that will be sent to various friends and acquaintances. As these are too numerous to read through in a timely manner, I will only address a few of them. The rest will be included in the documents being presented to Izumo.” Madam Kuroi says. Saji hands a packet of papers to Inspector Izumo.
“The entire collection of my research and work with my Pokémon will be given to Samuel Oak and the professorship. This includes all records of my therapy sessions with my patients. Due to the confidentiality that is expected of one of my trade, these documents will only be made available to the professorship, and they alone will be allows to disseminate any information that they feel will benefit the nation.”
Matsu stood. “The NPA has every right to those documents. She has no right to just hand them over to some scientists-” He starts to say. “The Professorship...” Representative Okazaki Midori said in clear irritation. “The Professorship is a multinational organization that transcends local government to tackle the world issue that is the proper classification and research of Pokemon. If anyone has any right to Madam Kuroi’s private notes, it is them.” He says, as if the idea was so obvious that Matsu’s ignorance to it was painful. Professor Oak nodded in agreement. “As the Professor assigned to human/Pokémon relations, It would be my duty to oversee the archiving and dissemination of her research, once it has been cleaned of any private information that is protected by Therapist/Patient confidentiality.” He says calmly. Madam Kuroi sits patiently in the video, as if she was aware of the interruption and was waiting for it to end.
“My homestead and all contents therein not otherwise designated will be re-purposed, under Izumo’s guidance, to serve as a home for Pokémon and humans alike who are victims of abuse and neglect. It shall provide sanctity and security where they may put their lives back together. The remainder of my liquid assets will be used to fund and start an organization to staff and maintain the home. This organization will be called the Saffron Sanctuary. Details for how it is to be organized and run will be provided to Izumo.” Madam Kuroi says. Saji places yet another packet into the hands of Zenko.
“As for the Saffron Institute of Technology, My position as head mistress will be passed to Shiro Jomei, the current Dean. He will be provided with my plans for the Institute’s future. That is all for my worldly possessions and whatever responsibility that I need to pass on. The final item that I have to address is the ownership of my Pokémon. I have filed paperwork with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forrests, and Fisheries, As well as the National Pokémon League and the Professorship. Upon my death, All my Pokémon shall be legally emancipated. They shall have the full rights and privileges of that of an adult human-”
“She Can’t Do That!” Mastu exclaims. He is up out of his seat. “Those Pokémon belong to the National Police Association, and the MAFF!” He exclaims. Professor Oak and Representative Midori were also standing. “A Pokémon can be given the rights of a human if if has the approval of a Psychiatrist, a Professor, and a Government Representative! That is the law!” Midori says. Saji calls everyone’s attention. She is holding a sheet of paper, along with a clip board. Behind her, Madam Kuroi’s video has been waiting to speak, once again demonstrating her supernatural foresight.
“Saji has in her possession the required document. All that is needed is the signature of Representative Midori and Professor Oak.” She pauses, and Saji offers the document to Midori first. He signs it without question, before handing it to Samuel Oak, who does the same.
“My Pokémon are now legal adults, Yagami.” Madam Kuroi says to the Chief Inspector. “And due to the law of doli incapax, They are considered incapable of committing crimes while they were under my control as their trainer. They are now their own persons, and are free of any supposed wrongdoing that you will try to heap upon me. So long as they do not break any law from this point forward, then you have to legal power to detain, question, or otherwise impede their lives...” She says. The room is silent for a time.
“I am sorry that I have to end this video on such a sour note, but that is all that I have to tell you. The remaining portion of this video is for the ears of my Pokémon only. I humbly ask you to let me speak to them alone.” The video pauses. The assembled audience stands. Goodbyes are said and one by one the guests depart. No one speaks or acknowledges Yagami Matsu, for fear of being associated with his display earlier. The Chief Inspector does not leave, however.
“I am not leaving without that video.” He tells Saji flatly. “I have suspicion enough to say that she is going to give you instructions on the running of her underground drug empire. I have every right to collect that video by legal force.”
“Then sit,” Saji says, making her distaste for Matsu very evident. “Sit and watch it with us. If you still want it afterwards, you can have it.” She says.
With as much resentment as he could muster, Matsu sits back down. The video continues.
“Obsidian.” Madam Kuroi says. “I am sending you to Mt. Coronet in Sinnoh. There you will meet up with Shen Eschantz.” She says. Once you are out of Kanto you will be safe from persecution.”
“Saji.” Madam Kuroi says next. “Shiro Jomei will be waiting for you. S.I.M. is now yours. I trust you with its future, and know that you will keep it on the vision that I had in mind. Shiro will own the institute by name, but he will listen to you in how it will be run. So long as you do not own or control the Institute directly, then the NPA will not be able to stop you.”
“Noctua.” Madam Kuroi addresses the bat next. “You will serve at Saji’s personal assistant. You will serve her with the unflinching devotion that you have shown me.” Noctua nods and looks at Saji. He dares to touch her hand.
“Torok.” Madam Kuroi says finally. “I have no direction to give you. If my guitar survived our session together, then it is yours to keep. I encourage you to develop your powers now that you know what they are. As for my wishes for you, I have one thing to ask, and once piece of advise. Firstly, I must ask that you take the twins with you, and do your best to keep them safe. And secondly, I want to tell you that Fate will be with you. Your future is very turbulent. I have not been able to see it with much clarity. But I can tell that you will need Fate to be on your side more than any of my other children. Go forth, and play your song however you see fit.”
As Madam Kuroi spoke, Torok could feel a weight settle on his shoulders. He felt his chin grow heavy, and he looked down at his feet. His shadow grinned up at him. As soon as he saw the impossible eyes and grin that twisted his shadow into something insane and unsettling, then they vanished and his shadow was once again as physics demanded it be.
“And finally, My last message is for Chief Inspector Yagami Matsu.” Madam Kuroi says, with a tone that was somehow both warm and motherly, but also harsh and threatening. “Despite your unending hatred for me, I will not allow you to torment my Pokémon in my stead. I have made preparations to defend them even after my death. Hunt them at your own peril.”
