"All right!!"Okami's voice sounded from the speakers filling the room as he took over the position of DJ, "Lets all give a hand to Pikachu AKA 'DJ Fuzzy' for that kick-ass pokemon-jungle mix!" All around the club, people applauded the little mouse walking off stage, who was now wearing a small visor and stylish sunglasses. "Now..." Okami said in his deeper 'DJ voice', "Before I spin, I just wanna give a shot out to one of my friends who I know is out there..."He turned the voulume up alittle on the mixing board as he begun to spin some Break-beats. He spoke in the microphone again, "Let's give it up for my girl, 'BoUnCe'!",He emphisized the girl's name with a thick spanish accent to it, "It's Aug 21 and today's her 18th birthday so give it up!"
As people began to congragulate BoUnCe, Okami turned up the music so as to get everyone dancing. Brock and Pikachu were the only ones in the group that remained on the dance floor, Ash, Misty, Alex,and Kathy where at the 'bar'(eating area) enjoying some soda.
"So how did you guys meet Okami?" Kathy asked accross the table to Ash and Misty.
"He just kinda showed up at my house a few days ago..."Ash replied after taking a sip from his drink.
"He was all beaten up though... so we took him in and helped him out" Misty added, "How did you guys meet him?"
Alex didn't answer, as she continued to look at Okami on stage who was mixin it up pretty good.(It wasn't his best as he was.... shall we say...'destracted' as well)
Kathy leaned over the table and said in a low voice to Ash and Misty,"He literaly ran into Alex on his way to the club one day, I believe they met at this very spot on the same day..."She glanced over to Alex who was still staring at the stage, then turned to Ash and Misty, "It's way too obvious that they like each other alot isn't it?"
"Well duh!" Ash said happily, finally being able to tell that to someone.
Okami continued to spin for a while, he finally(yet eagerly)let Brock take over when he was through. Brock was just about to get started playin a slow song (as was his way to do so) as Okami hopped off the stage but suddenly....
"PREPARE FOR TROUBLE!" a voice sounded as the doors flew open.
"YOU CAN MAKE THAT DOUBLE!!" a second voice declared.
"To keep the music playing all night long!"
"Never missing a note for any song!"
"To groove it with style all through the night!"
"With our awesome groove we'll work up a fright!"
"Jessie!!"
"James!!"
"JAMES?!?!"Okami exclaimed furiously,interrupting them, as he stormed over to the enterance. "They still let you in this club?!"
"Well, last I heard anyone was allowed!" James retorted as he glared angrily at Okami.
Alex quickly jumped in between the two boys, facing Okami, "Please Okami-chan!" she pleaded, "there are people watching... and this isn't the place" Okami clenched his fists but didn't act on his anger. He peered angrily around the room at the people staring at them, then to Alex her blue eyes staring into his.
He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, calming himself. He put his hands in his pockets and looked up at James with a smile on his face, "Nice seeing you guys again...but if you'll excuse us..." He said in the politest voice he could muster.
Alex locked arms with Okami and led him to the eating area the others where located, but they sat at another table so as to be alone. "Well, they're obviously not after Pikachu today..." Said Ash, refering to Team Rocket.
"What was that thing that just happened with Okami and James just then" Misty asked.
"I don't really know the whole story..."Kathy started,"But Alex used to have a huge crush on James and vice-versa, then she dumped him when she met Okami, I don't know why the hell he got so mad though..."
"Hmmmmm"
"Okay...what the hell was that?" Alex asked Okami in a firm tone,"it's obvious that your attitude has changed since I saw you..."
Okami folded his arms on the table and rested his head on them. "I'm sorry...." Okami sighed, "it's true, alot of things have changed with me..." He tilted his head to the table so he could avoid Alex's eyes,"I'm not too proud of my new personality either..."
Alex smiled gently in understanding,but she didn't question what was wrong, she knew she wouldn't get an answer from him. She leaned over the table and took Okami's hat off his head, he looked up at her this time, rasing an eyebrow at her. Putting the hat next to herself on the table, Alex came to eye-level with Okami,resting her head on her arms as well.
Their foreheads where almost touching at this point(well, their arms where kinda in the way) and they just looked at each other for what seemed like hours(it was only 2 minutes actually) "Y'know what?" Alex whispered. Okami didn't speak, but raised his eyebrow again to urge her to continue. "...penguins..." Alex finished.
Okami sat back up straight with a wide,goofy, grin he couldn't help from showing."YES!!! PENGUINS!!" He exclaimed regaining all his energy. Alex sat back up and laughed to herself, her task being done sucessfully. "That reminds me!!!" Okami said getting up,"I'll be back!" He took off his burgendy jacket, revealing an array of bracelets on both of his arms. Alex sat there wide-eyed, not only at the fact that he had so many bracelets on, but more of the fact he actually took his jacket off!
He ran to the table where Ash and the others where, Brock and Pikachu had re-joined them and where talking about....something. He took five bracelets of his left arm and passed one out to each of them, wich they accepted with weird looks on their faces (all except for Pikachu,it had alot of bracelets on too!)
He even ran off to give Jessie and James one, who where doing a little spinning of their own,(a remix of their Team Rocket song being their most popular) After which,Okami decided he was done and returned to the table and sat back down with Alex, who gave him a questioning look.
"What?" Okami said with a smile on his face, Alex pointed to the things on his arms,"Oh these? Don't worry, you'll get one!"
"Not that..." Alex said, "but...why?"
"It's a 'partykid' thing...." was all Okami said in reply.
********************
"So where you guys headed?" Alex asked everyone as they finally decided to go back to the Pokemon Center(The next day).
Something in Okami's mind was triggered by this remark, all of his hyperactive energy was, once again, drained as he remembered the task at hand, more spacifically his task. "Cerulian City" he said in a partially quiet tone, clearing his throat he went on, "I'm helping Ash here find Mewtwo"
"YOU KNOW WHERE MEWTWO IS?!" Both of the Team Rocket girls exclaimed in unison.
"uh...yeah..but I.."
"You know you have to take us with you now, right?" Said Kathy staring down at Okami (she's kinda taller than him)
"As you always say,'it's like...a law or something'!" Alex added giving a sly grin to Okami.
Oh man! he thought to himself in a panicked manner, This is getting a bit too much for me! I don't need my best friends tagging along in this, especially Alex...okay,that's it! I'm the man so I'm taking charge!
"Sure, that'd be cool" Okami uttered by mistake, the other two 'Rocket members jumped with glee while Okami went up to Ash and his friends, "two things...."
"Okay...what?" Ash replied, trying hard not to laugh at Okami's obvious weakness.
"One: It's okay with you guys if they come with us?"
"Sure...yeah..no problem, the more the merrier...Pikapika! BRRRI!" everyone in the trio agreed amongst themselves.
"Two:..."Okami continued with a deep sigh," SOMEBODY SMACK ME!!"
With this, everyone, save Okami, started laughing out loud. The Martial arts master was in no mood to laugh at this point. He turned his back to everyone as they continued to laugh and talk happily amongst themselves about the jouney they where going to embark on.
Ash had been the only one who had noticed that their "guide" was missing, and had left the Pokemon center to find him, which wasn't that hard as he was leaning agaist the wall next to the door.
"Hey dude....what's wrong?" Ash asked worried, despite the smile on his face.
Okami stood with his back to the young pokemon trainer,"Nothing...."He said with a deep sigh,"I just didn't think I'd see her again..."
"Alex? or..Ka-"
"Yes Alex!" Okami cut Ash off as he turned around to face him, "Are you just that blind?!" he said sparing no anger from his tone of voice,"Now c'mon....let's hit the road...." He grabbed his bookbag that was next to him and put it on his back.
Ash was almost shocked to see Okami in a suddenly foul mood, but went inside to inform everyone else.
********************
The group walked silently through the forest, all where pretty drained of energy, but the leader showed no sign of wanting to stop. Alex turned her eyes to look at him, but he didn't look back, his eyes where shadowed due to his cap, preventing her from 'reading' him.
"There's defenatley something wrong with him..."she thought to herself,"He's so distant and cold...not like the guy I feel in love with..."
"Hey..."A voice whispered to her,breaking her thoughts, she turned to see Ash, "Do you know what his problem is?" he asked with genuine concern.
Alex slowed her pace so she could walk along side Ash and Misty, "I'm not sure, he hasn't spoken to me at all since back at the Pokemon Center..." she answered in a whisper, hoping that their discussion topic wouldn't hear her
"Was he always this moody? It's almost like something out of a bad episode of 'The Realworld'.." Misty asked, showing the same amount of concern.
"No..."Alex replied in a sad tone of voice, "He was always so hyper active...now....he's like a whole new person that I have to get to know..."
Okami's enhanced hearing had heard the entire conversation,"She's right...."He thought sadly,"but I guess I'm just afraid she'll never get the chance..."
His hearing suddenly picked up the sound of rushing water in the far distance. Getting a sudden idea, he spun around to face everyone, "I think we all deserve a good break from this trip, especially Ash and his friends..." He said outloud with a surprizing smile on his face, "There's a place with a waterfall not too far from here, I think a nice relaxing swim would do us all good!"
Everyone smiled and agreed at the thought, Alex smiled at Okami, who had the goofy grin she had always loved to see on his face.
It was probably well past noon as everyone continued to swim in the river(they all had oh so convinently brought their swimsuits with them) Brock had apperently gone mad at the sight of Kathy in a swimsuit and she had to fight him off with a stick, but Brock persisted to chasing her.
Ash, Misty(who had let out her pokemon), and Pikachu, where playing a nice game of water tag. Ash and Misty where rather nervous around each other as both felt rather uncomfortable in each other's presense in a swimsuit. Misty was still having trouble getting over the sight of Ash without his shirt on! (But they still had a fun game none the less)
Okami, leaning on a tree not too far from shore, smiled at the happy site. He suddenly felt a wet pair of arms wrap around his chest.
"Why don't you swim with us?" Alex said in an almost whining tone as she placed her wet chin on Okami's shoulder.
Okami was surprized at how he didn't notice her coming, but quickly shrugged the feeling aside, "I don't feel like it..." he said with a smile he couldn't hide.
Alex hugged Okami tighter, perposly making his clothes wet, "But you brought us here...." she continued.
"Only cus I didn't want to lead you guys like some kinda Army commander..."Okami said whith a scoff.
Alex suddenly pulled Okami's hat from his head and stood in front of him, waving it tauntingly in the air, "If you don't swim with us, I'll throw this into the river..."
"You always where evil...."Okami smiled, "I don't think you have the guts though..."
"I don't do I?" Alex darted for the river, Okami quickly followed trying to get his hat back. (hey, those P.M.L hat's are hard to find!) The Martial artist just decided to give up trying to get his hat back by force, he threw his jacket and shirt to the ground and jumped into the river with his jeans and shoes still on.
He had apperently called Alex's bluff as she giggled at him on shore, putting Okami's hat back with the rest of his things.
Okami raised an eyebrow at Alex who was still on shore, "Oh...You want me to come in the water with you?" she said with mock confusion, "no thanks, I'll stay right here!"
The aggrivated Martial artist pulled himself up onto shore and quickly picked up Alex in his arms,"Oh no young lady...." he said as he ran for the river, "if I'm going down you're coming with me!" He then tried to throw her in, Alex somehow managing to get and keep a firm grip on Okami's arm. He then lost his balance and fell in with her.
"That wasn't very nice..."He coughed as the got back to the surface
"Neither was trying to throw me in!" Alex retorted.
Okami just laughed at the thought, which ended up with his head being forced underwater by and aggrivated girl.
End of Part 5
Next time on The Pokemon Chronicles: Play time is over as things start getting serious with the group. Chuie's whole past is finally revealed as they meet up with some familiar creatures along the way. And Okami gets more and more anxious as they near their goal. (Just what exactly is his problem with going there anyway?) Part 6: Some things are better left alone...(Now avaliable!)