Okami sighed sadly as he travled on the road with his new friends.Ash and Misty where behind him, talking rather excitedly about a variety of things, Brock was walking not too far off from his right side, walking silently, enjoying the scenery.
"Friends?"Okami thought to himself, "these people hardly know me and we're 'friends'?" He sighed to himself again, "I didn't expect that to happen..." His mind then started to drift to the events that lead to this trip,at least two days ago...
"So tell us about yourself, Okami" Mrs Ketchum had asked him that day. He answered with a good-natured smile as he told her some of his likes and dis-likes and things of that nature, Mrs.Ketchum took a likeing to the young martial artist, as he reminded her of Ash and most of his interests.
After they all got comfortable with their guest, they fired-up good conversations of various things most being of the Martial Arts League as it was still new to them. Then Okami brought up a question he really wish he hadn't now...
"Hey Ash..."He had started casually,"What do you think of that Pokemon, Mewtwo?"
"I hear he's very powerful...I heard stories about him, they shook me up a bit, but not enough to stop me from wanting to cath him!" Ash replied, with a hint of that determination he had back as a ten year old.
"What if..."Okami paused, trying to get Ash's full attention, "I told you the location of this Pokemon?"
"WHAT?!"Ash, Misty,and Brock exclaimed at once. They all had heard the legends, and wanted to see the the seemingly legendary Pokemon just as much as the young 'Pokemon Master'. "You're kidding, right?" Brock asked Okami, lifting an eye-brow at him.
"I kid you not..."Okami said still in his calm tone,"I know where he is, I've actually seen him..."
"Where is he?!" Ash exclaimed again getting excited.
"I think it's in a place not too far from Cerulean, from what I heard, ita ina place called 'The Un-Known Dungeon',right?" Misty suggested.
"Absolutley Misty!" Okami said to her," right on the nose, but only I know exactly where it is!"
"Then lets go to Cerulean!"Ash exclaimed excitedly.
"You'll need me to guide you of course!"Okami said to Ash.
"He's been to Cerulean before but he's just so thick headed I be he forgot the way!"Misty began to tease.
Ash gave Misty an angry look but thought about what she had said. He pulled his cap over his face to hide his blushing,"Shut up..."he managed to say in a weak, embarassed tone.
"Well this is all well and good..."Mrs Ketchum interrupted them,"I do respect that you still need to find all the pokemon to be a Pokemon Master, but please stay a bit more before you go."
"Oh I'm sorry Mrs Ketchum...I-I didn't mean.."Okami started, angry at himself for being inconsiderate.
"It's okay..."Mrs Ketchum insisted,"at least two days longer?"
"Agreed" Okami said, even though he knew he was on a sort of a "time limit"
During those two days, Okami experienced feelings of hospitality he didn't expect. Everyone was so nice to him, they treated him equally, made him feel almost like family. Even in that short time, he and Ash started to act like brothers, although they didn't talk that much, Both of them preferring to keep to keep more to themselves about certainthings...
And now they where on the trail, Okami only knowing what to expect when they reached their destination. He sighed deepy to himself once more.
"You okay man?" a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Huh? Oh Brock I uh...its nothin.."Okami replied a but hastily, wanting to change the subject, he then aske a bit calmer,"So, from what I've heard from the Joys and Jennys you're quite the hopless romantic..."
"Ugh..."Brock sighed but couldn't help laughing at himself,"Don't remind me...I'm getting better at it though!"He then chuckled to himself,"You know what they say though,'it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved before'"he then raised an eyebrow in confusion,"wait...no...is that right?" he began talking to himself about wich 'old saying' he wanted.
Okami looked at the setting sun in the distance, not paying much attention to Brock as he still fumbled with words. Okami sighed a deeper sigh this time, it was a sigh of longing that came from his heart wich seemed almost empty to him, "sometimes...the loss is too much..."Okami wispered to himself as tears formed in his eyes.
********************
They stopped in the Viridian forest for the night, while Ash and the others managed to get to sleep pretty fast, Okami still had trouble going to sleep.
"What I would give just to have a jigglypuff with me..."He sighed to himself as he played with the fire. Most of his thoughts lay on the subject of Ash and his friends, how they treated him with such kindness and respect. "It was just supposed to be him...."Okami thought to himself.
Early morning sunlight could now be seen through the trees, leaves creating beautiful rays of light as the sun rose. Okami admired the beauty for a while, letting himself be reminded of good times he had in the past, reminding him of...
"No!" Okami wispered loudly, "they might think I'm soft or something" With this, he got up and streched with a loud yawn. He looked at Ash, who was still sleeping, this time with his arms around Misty. "Just what is it with those two?"Okami thought to himself. He then began to nudge Ash to wake up.
Ash was a bit startled to see his arms around Misty, he gently pulled away from her as he turned to see who had woken him up."Oh,Hey Okami"He said n a sleepy voice,"what's up?"
"You should be" Okami said to him, he then pulled him on his feet,"I'm going to teach you a few things!"
"At this time of day?!"Ash exclaimed, but not so loud as to disturb his friends,"why?!"
"Because this is about the time of day I usually get up to train" Okami answered calmly,"now come on, let's get started!"
"But..bu..I haven't had breakfast yet!"Ash complained as he was being dragged off buy Okami.
"Well I haven't had any sleep or food at all!"Okami retorted as they stopped in a wide field bot to far fromt their camp,"Now...again...Let's get started!"
Misty and Brock awoke at about 8am to the sounds of people fighting.They looke at each other, then turned their still sleepy eyes to the sorce of the noises that had disturbed them.
They soon realized that Ash and Okami had managed to move their sparring match closer to the camp. Both now stood in place momentarily to catch their breath. The fighters were shirtless,(Ash wearing his trademark hat twisted backwards), and drenched in sweat dispite the cool temperature in the morning. Misty looked wide-eyes at Ash as she took this oppertunity stare at him, admiring his pretty good muscle build.(but being in the woods for a while can do that to a person) Okami had a similar build, but his muscles where better trimmed as he was the more experinced one in physical combat. (but then again, he's not the one Misty's practically drooling over. ^-^)
The match soon started up again, quite surprizingly, both seemed to be equal as neither of them managed to land a punch on the other."You're....a fast...learner...Ash!"Okami complimented inbetween punches.
"HA!"Ash laughed as he blocked another punch aimed for his stomach,"You ain't seen nothin yet!" He then attempted to grab his apponent's arm and throw him over his shoulder. Okami stood his ground and decided to turn Ash's move against him. He grabbed his arm and yanked Ash forward, making him stumble a bit, this gave Okami enough time to sweep his foot through Ash's legs making him trip. He then completed the take-down buy quickly spinning be hind Ash and rammed his shoulder into Ash's back, using his own body weight to slam Ash to the ground."Oooooowwwwww...." the defeated one groaned as he lay pinned to the ground.
"The most....important....lesson..."Okami started as he got to his feet, his chest heaving from near exaustion,"You start talkin smack to you're opponent...and you'll...be the one...getting told like a biscuit...in the end..."
"Got it...."Ash groaned again in reply.
********************
"Ahhhh! Pewter City" Both Okami and Brock said in unison as they stood at the city's enterance,with their arm around each other's shoulder. Ash and Misty both gave their friends weird looks.
"Dudes! Mind if I book-it for a while?" Brock asked a bit excidedly, :I wanna check something out!"
"uh...sure" Ash replied, " we'll meet you back at the pokemon center" With that. Brock ran-off to do his own thing, leaving the other three behind. "well we'd better get to the Center...It's gettin pretty late..."
"Ohhhhh no..."Okami protested stepping in front of Ash,"It's only 9'oclock! Besides, there's this kick-ass dance club we have to go to!"
"Dance club? Don't they have dru.."
"Oh please!"Okami cut him off, "don't think so! this club's all-ages, you can bring a five year old to this place! Besides who needs that s--t to have fun?"
Ash and Misty seemed satisfied, both trusting Okami enough to go along with him. Both wanted to have a good time anyway.
Dropping off their stuff at the pokemon center,they soon approached the club, it appeared rather simple-looking on the outside, there wasn't even a sign to identify the name. Buy this time Okami had pulled out his own hat and was wearing it, it made him feel like his outfit was complete.
"Hehehehe! This is it!"Okami giggled excitedly as he jumped in place enthusiastically, again, Ash and Misty gave him a weird look. "You're gonna love this place!" Okami added as he proceeded to open the door.
The inside was surprizingly huge wich made Ash and Misty gasp in near shock. All around, colorful lights danced around the room to the beat of the techno music. A large crowd was at the center of the room dancing and having the best time, while the Dj on the stage was spinning an awesome mix of house music. Ash tried to get a closer look at the DJ, who looked kind of familiar to him, but the shades and cap covered his face, preventing him from indentification.
All around the room several people came up to Okami and greeted him, wich he returned enthusiastically, then introducing Ash and Misty to them. "Holy crap man!" Okami said with a wide grin on his face as he found a place to sit down on the floor away from the dancers, His other two friends following his lead. "This is soo cool, you do not understand!"
"I take it you've been here before?" Ash questioned.
"Well duh!" Misty said to him, implying it was a stupid question.
Okami seemed to not be paying attention as he got up again. As if on cue, the DJ swiched to playing one Of Okami's favorite songs, wich would be a killer re-mix of the song "Viridian City" (heheheh!) "Oh no!"He said enthusiastically as he started moving his hips to the beat,"You are not playin my song!" He then travled to the center of the dance floor, Most of the people who knew him gave him room as he began dancing. He was mostly moving his legs to the fast-paced beat as he moved his arms and performed several middle and low block movements to the music, he coupled this with a few break-dancing moves he knew in the appropriate music intervals. At this point, he practically started to tear it up on the dance floor.
"He's not that good..." Okami pirked his ear up to the comment, somehow hearing it above the blairing music. Still dancing, he traced the brim of his now sweat-covered hat as he turned his head to the person who seem to have insulted him. He continued to dance,but didn't make eye-contact with the person in front of him.
"Now pay attention....."Okami said calmly, yet out of breath, I can only do this once...." The music slowed for an instant, Okami going into the "tiger stance" the music started up again faster this time, Okami took in a sharp breath as he stood straight and started to do a fast combo similar to the "21 hit cannon blast", perposley missing his target. As the music started to get faster and faster,so did Okami's combo, never missing a note.At the same time the song's final note sounded, Okami seemed to go into a punch, but stopped it abruptly,his palm almost making contact with his insulter's face.
Ash, and Misty,along with all the other observers clapped and cheered Okami, but it soon died down as the next song started to play. Okami stood straight, still not facing the person in front of him, he soon heard the person fall to the floor. Okami took off his hat ane wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve as his two friends approached him,"I love it when I do that!" He said with a contented grin on his face. He finally looked down to see who his insulter was.
Okami gasped as his face lit up with happiness,"OH OH...OHMIGOD! OHMIGOD!" He ecxlaimed enthusiastically to Ash and Misty as he pointed to the person still on the floor,"DON'T TELL ME IT'S...!! Nonononononono!!! Oh snap! Oh snap!" He grabbed a random "passer buy" Grabbing their shoulders and shaking them,"Dude! It's not them man!" He then pushed away the random guy and turned his attention back to the person, who was now trying to get up.
Throwing his arms around the person,(who can now be identified as a girl),he picker her up in his arms,"ALEX!!!!! OMIGOD IT IS YOU GIRL!!!" He laughed in delight.
"Huh?" She said in confusion as he set her back down on the ground. She soon got a better look at him and a wide grin spread across her face."OKAMI?!" she exclaimed as she returned the hug,"NO WAY!!" Okami broke the hug as he was unable to keep himself from dancing around like an idiot , he soon spotted someone else.
"KATHY!!!!" He exclaimed as he tackled the other girl to the ground, giving her a huge hug as he did so.
"WHAT THE HE..???"the other girl started before getting a better look at her tackler,"OMIGOD!! OKAMI!!" The two got back up and hugged each other, Alex came over and turned it into a group hug.
Ash and Misty stood there, wondering how Okami knew their Team Rocket friends. Both approached the over enthusiatically friendly trio, "Whoah whoah, wait a sec..."Ash started,"How the hell do you know Alex and Kathy?"
"Yeah, we met them along time ago when they where in Team Rocket, how did you meet them?" Misty added.
"Dude!I met them both awhile back also!"Okami answered, giving Alex another hug.
"In fact, I think it was at this club!"Alex added, returning Okami's hug, "How long ago was that?"
"About a year or two ago I think..."Okami answered, his arms still around Alex.
"Are you still on the Team?" Kathi asked Okami.
"Oh hell yeah!"Okami replied enthusiastically.
"Hold on a sec!" Ash said in surprize,"Okami, you're a member of Team Rocket?!"
Okami rolled his eyes as he let go of Alex, opening his jacket to reveal a big red "R" on his black shirt, that he had worn on the first day he arrived at the Ketchum residence.
"DUH ASH!!" Misty exclaimed as she wacked him upside the head, hard.
They all(Okami,Alex,and Kathy) noticed the mood of the music had changed as another DJ took over on stage. The former one approached the group and greeted them in a familiar sounding voice.
"Nice set back there!" Kathy complimented.
"Yeah dude, thanks for playin my song!"Okami added.
"No problem Okami!"The DJ replied.
"Hey....Wait a sec..."Okami started. The DJ then Took off his shades, and cap revealing his identity to everyone (except Ash who was on the ground unconscience)
"BROCK?!" They all said in unison, they all proceeded to fall over "anime style", joining Ash on the floor.
"Weird unexpected twist eh?" Brock laughed out loud.
"I KNEW IT!" Okami exclaimed loudly as he was the first to get back up,"I knew you looked familiar! You used to DJ back when I was one too!"
"Oh yeah!" Brock exclaimed,"DJ 'Rocket Man' right?"
"That's right 'DJ Cassanova'! I still think you shoulda picked a better name!"
"Hey! It was my choice! But it fits me right, don't ya think?" Brock,Okami and the others laughed at Brocks choice of a DJ name, but it did kinda suit him though!
"But it's GREAT to see you guys again!" Okami said, turning his attention back to Alex and Kathy. Okami temporarily forgot he was in a public place as he then went up behind Alex and wrapped his arms around her,"Especially you 'Kaori-chan'" He wispered in her ear and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Awwwwww!"Said Misty interrupting their "romantic moment".
"Geeze guys, get a room why don'tcha?" Ash joked. He and everyone else, save Okami and Alex, started laughing at Ash's comment.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!!" Okami and Alex said at the same time while the proceeded to kick Ash through the roof "Ranma 1/2 style". "No respect at all..." Alex muttered."Nope..." Okami agreed.
Both soon regained their cheerful composure as the music started really get pumping. All then turned to see new DJ, who was spinning an awesome mix of Jungle music,"Wow! I didn't know Pikachu knew so much about techno!" Brock exclaimed.
Once again,everyone fell over "anime style" in surprize.
End of part4
Next time on The Pokemon Chronicles:They stay at the club a bit more, where Team Rocket makes an apperance. And our newest friends join our team of four on their journey, We get a little into detail as to how Okami and them first met. As they gang heads out on the trail agan, Okami decides to let them all have a break,, thinking they've worked too hard.Part5:All Work and No Play(Now avaliable!)