It was cold and dark. Short sweet and to the point. That was what it was that morning day as the icy wind rushed in and out of buildings playing tag with itself. Occasionally, the overzealous frost would bump into those that dared to walk out on the streets, and like a pickpocket in a crowd, it would fumble with coats and thing and then quickly run away again. However, it was more than that. It would come back and start beating in an opposite direction as if the first attack had failed in regards to getting what it wanted. This was cold. Because of this, the people of the small city huddled together or stayed inside. Those that dared walk out alone were beaten and tumbled harshly, yet there are always those that wish to defy the norms.
A short girl, not yet a woman, walked down the street of the threatening cold but seemed somewhat oblivious to it. She passed under several street lamps, but none gave more to her figure but just seemed to reflect light against the black jacket that she was wearing. Following just behind her was a tall boy, not yet a man, who also did not appear to be affected by the ice and cold. He, like the girl, also appeared more of a figure than anything else with a hood on his head shielding his face and features. Together, they walked through the main street of town.
As the wind continued to try and make its presence known to the two who continued to walk on unfazed, it pulled back the hood of the girl and bushed back the thin jacket that she had been wearing. Suddenly allowed at new surface area, the wind pulled its fingers through the girl’s short purple hair that, had the wind been less of a truant, would have had a Mohawk going up the middle of it. Swearing harshly to herself, the girl pulled the hood and jacket back over her and seemed to address the figure behind her that was now poised to say something as well.
“I’m fine, Ken,” the almost caustic voice of the girl breathed out into the wind that willingly blasted this wave of sound into Ken’s face.
With his name said out in the open, said Ken seemed to sigh to himself and then seize the back of the girl’s hood himself and pull it back fully over her head.
“I don’t want your brothers to kill me when we find them again and you’re a frozen poketart,” Ken answered giving a light laugh that sprung out into the air afterwards. “And besides, there are still onlookers that would asses us as strange even with the wind to our advantage on the street.”
“Humans,” the girl almost spat angrily. “Hunters.”
Ken seemed to sigh at this comment that would have indeed confused any on the street that heard it.
“Come on, Rogue,” Ken said the girl’s name with an emphasis that made the girl, now called Rogue, jump. “I think we have spent enough time searching today. If any of them were out here at the moment, we would have run into them by now. Let’s get inside and drink some hot chocolate.”
Rogue’s face flushed under the hood that now served as a peripheral night shade from Ken’s eye. She was not ready to go back just yet, but there was a tone in Ken’s voice that alerted her that Ken was willing to drag her back kicking and screaming if necessary. Sighing, Rogue gave in.
“Alright,” she answered taking a step back into the opposite direction. “Let’s get back to the inn then.”
Ken nodded and turned a half step back before he started completely walking with Rogue. The two, still untouchable by the wind, walked down the street and came to a quiet inn on the corner of the main street and a popular side street. Being somewhat courteous, Ken stepped forwards and seized the door handle, opening it for Rogue who seemed oblivious to this gesture and continued inside without a word. After a moment, Ken followed inside.
The innkeeper who was sitting in a chair off to the left and towards the back of the inn jumped up from his set glad to see that his customers who had come earlier in the day requesting a reserved room had not been blown away by the wind and had returned, the reason being, they had yet to pay.
“Welcome back you two,” the innkeeper said in a somewhat relieved tone. “I was afraid the wind had thrown you out of the town.”
Rogue gave a short laugh from under her hood and shook her head. Ken stepped forwards, fumbled in his pocket, and pulled out a wallet. Handing the registered amount of money for one room with twin beds on the second floor, Ken forced a smile from under his own hood. The innkeeper’s eye moved over his guests for a short moment before taking the money and starting to count it. After a moment, the innkeeper produced a key and held it up for Ken to take.
“I hope you and your sister enjoy your time here,” the innkeeper said lightly making a general nod at Rogue who said nothing but had crossed her arms in front of her.
“Thank you,” Ken answered taking the key and then turning to go up the stairs.
After a few seconds, both bodies moved up the stairs and into a room down the hall. As the door was opened, the dark room’s lights were turned on, and Ken flopped onto a bed tiredly. Rogue closed the door behind her quietly and then pulled at the jacket that came off only after one arm was pulled out completely. Discarding the jacket on her own bed, Rogue sighed and walked over towards the window and took a chair by it.
Ken’s eyes were closed as he lay on the bed, but hi acute hearing had told him that Rogue had passed his bed to sit not far off. He didn’t move to take of his jacket or do anything more, but his mouth did start forming words, and soon enough, the sound hit the air in a relaxed way.
“Well,” Ken began with his eyes still closed. “We looked all over today, and there is no sign that any of them have been here. I think we should move onto the next town.”
Rogue seemed to sigh not even looking at Ken but still gazing out the window somewhat solemnly. She placed her elbow on the windowsill and continued to stare out at the dark sky that had signaled the snow to start falling harder and harder. After a moment, she methodically started to beat on the windowsill with her fingers.
“I guess,” was the only answer that came from her.
“Unless you want to stay in this cold,” Ken answered back almost as if he had been planning the statement.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Rogue answered back.
“Meh,” was the only answer that came from Ken.
“Today was actually nice,” Rogue continued. “Most of the humans were driven inside…. It was nice to be alone out there and not around them….being what we are…..”
Ken said nothing, but he stretched off the bed and then standing up. Looking out the window, Ken viewed the reflection of Rogue’s stare out into the black nothingness. He took a few steps forwards and then put a hand on the windowsill. Suddenly, Rogue tensed. He eyes shifted straight towards Ken who seemed to have sensed the exact same thing. Both of them became instantly tense.
“Is… is… is it them…” Rogue said quietly as she began forcing herself to stand.
“No… it’s the others….” Ken answered sharply causing Rogue’s eyes to dart at him. “Quickly get back under the jackets and things. We need to leave before it turns into something…” He broke off quickly as he seized Rogue’s jacket and all but threw it at her. “Hurry!”
Rogue was stunned for a moment. She should have been used to the shock by now, and yet it still hit her as if it were once again the first time. Her eyes shifted to the jacket still unsure of what to do, yet after another moment, the confusion was gone. Rogue slipped her jacket back on and pulled up her hood tightly around her facial features. Ken was already standing at the door of their room appearing to wait for her to finish before he flung the door nearly off its hinges. Rogue moved in one fluid motion towards Ken, and he took her by the wrist rather than the hand before he turned and flung the door open.
Both of them ran down the stairs with as light footsteps as they could muster which still managed to fling low din into the air. Ken led the way all but pulling Rogue down the stairs. Reaching the bottom, Ken stopped, looked around, and then started towards the front door. There they stood. Ken froze. Standing and just blocking the door, three men stood holding up firearms. Ken’s eye moved down to Rogue’s who had been looking to him as well.
“Thought you got away the last time,” one of the hunters sneered and let out a crude laugh.
Rogue felt herself freeze again. It was just as before when the seconds passed, and she could do nothing but feel her heart all but slamming out in her ribs threatening to give out at any second. Moving her hand up, Rogue was forced to stop as one of the hunters aimed the gun straight at her head. “Ke-…..” Rogue whispered but broke off.
“Don’t you even try and move,” another of the hunters who was shorter than the first and had a nasally voice said. “Just give up.”
Suddenly, Ken burst forwards straight at the hunters. Seizing the gun in his hand, Ken pulled the gun away and proceeded to punch the man in the stomach. However, this sudden rash act caused the other two hunters to turn and pull the trigger. The sound of gunshots rang through the inn and through the quiet city as well. Rogue’s eyes widened in horror.
“Double kick,” was the low mumble that had escaped Ken’s mouth, and suddenly, he turned kicking both men straight in the heads in two swift movements. Forcing himself forwards after the kick, Ken dragged his foot down and forced one of the men to keep standing after he had kicked them. Bringing up his hand, Ken glared. “Sky Uppercut,” he growled and forced his attack straight at the man’s chin. The man was blasted back and landed roughly on the first man who let out nothing more than an ‘ump’ at being smashed between the other and the floor.
Rogue’s eye moved through Ken’s movements, and as he stopped, she was left with an empty feeling. As he turned back to her, Ken took Rogue by the hand and started moving her out of the inn and onto the dark streets. Together, both of them fled the area. Heading out of the city and into the forest that surrounded it, both ran with as much speed as both could muster to distance themselves from the hunters.
After what seemed like only a few minutes but was actually a full hour, Rogue could no longer keep up with Ken and forced herself to stop causing a pull on Ken’s arm that caused him to stop. Looking back at the heavy breathing girl, Ken’s face turned to a full frown and he let out a breath. Taking a step back and releasing her, Ken picked her up carefully and moved her around to ride on his back.
Rogue protested to being carried but was too tired to do much about it as Ken picked her lightly up and started running again. Ken kept up a sharp speed as he continued to distance them from the city. Soon the lights of the town were nothing but dim lights far off in the distance. It was only then that Ken stopped running.
“Are… are we away…..” Rogue said quietly but still managing to break the silence that consumed the icy terrain.
“Yes…” Ken answered. “We’re about eighty kilometers off…. I think that is enough for now. I’m looking for a cave or something that we could stay in.” He continued walking through the thicker snow even as they talked. His eyes moved around to find a crevice that was not already occupied.
“I… I’m sorry…” Rogue said causing something shifted in her chest that seemed to vibrate on Ken’s back.
“For what?” Ken answered back even though he already knew what she was going to say. It had happened several times before, and he was somewhat used to this almost methodic madness.
“I.. couldn’t attack them… I couldn’t do it again…” Rogue answered shaking a bit. From the cold or from her own convictions, Ken would never be able to tell.
“It’s fine Rogue…” Ken answered with a dry annoyance. In truth, he was tired of this play by play talk when he already understood the outcome. She would feel sorry for herself again and then start crying, and Ken didn’t know if he could take it again. Female emotions were not something that he would ever become accustomed to.
“I just… I just…” Rogue tried, but after a moment, Ken cut her off.
“I said it was fine,” he answered continuing to walk. “Just relax.”
“I… want to be strong… I want it…” Rogue answered back burrowing her head into the back of Ken’s jacket.
Ken let out a sigh recognizing the sentence in more manners than one. It was the same thing she had said all of her life even during the time before they had become refugees, and Ken had never known how Lee had ever dealt with his sister so kindly. However, Ken was beginning to understand that consoling was truly the only way to get her to calm down, and so he had sought to use it while they traveled. However, Ken found that he was coming somewhat to the end of his frayed rope.
“You are strong,” Ken answered with sharpness in his voice that he had not meant to use.
“No I’m not,” Rogue answered. “You could have died… you could have…”
Ken sighed and shook his head causing the back of his neck to somewhat brush up against Rogue’s head. After that, a silence followed for a bit only unbroken by the sound of feet crunching in the snow. Ken let out a sigh debating how to end the conversation in the best way.
“I’m not even strong enough to stop them…” Rogue said. Ken had had it.
“Fine you’re not,” Ken answered turning his head back to try and get a view of the girl still riding on his back. “Fine. It doesn’t matter. You’re not strong and you never will be. There we’re done.”
“Ken… I…” Rogue tried but then started shaking again.
Ken said nothing more but continued walking. After another period of silence, Ken found a cave that had yet to be inhabited by anyone or anything and settled inside of it with Rogue. The cave was more of a small inlet in the rock and had a low ceiling that caused Ken to have to bend down if he wanted to stand in it. Settling down and letting Rogue off of his back, Ken sat with his arms crossed and his back leaning against the wall. Rogue had said nothing more but sat across from Ken quietly shivering every few seconds.
After twenty minutes of bearing the cold, Ken got up, left the cave, and came back with a few branches of wood. Putting his hands together, Ken breathed out. “Flamethrower,” he breathed causing a jet of flames to leave his mouth and consume the sticks into a roaring fire. “There now…” he said lightly trying to lighten things if only a little bit. Rogue continued to say nothing but scooted towards the fire more. Breathing in the flames, Rogue sighed out again.
“Sorry,” she said quietly. “I lost my nerve again didn’t I?.... I never used to… do that before…”
Ken said nothing and refused to bring about another round of emotion. Instead he preferred to just wait and see if she wanted to release any more drama from her mind. He was more relaxed now and knew that snapping at her had not been the best of choices. However, his pride would never allow him to admit this.
“You remember…” Rogue continued. “I was so strong back at the dojo… I was… I wanted to train and get stronger, and that was all….”
Ken gave a nod but still said nothing. He knew that there was a rush of emotion coming, and he was working up another shield to keep it from flooding over to him.
“I was training every day with Lee, Chan, and even Top sometimes….” Rogue said almost laughing to herself, but almost on cue, her face fell again. “And then those blasted hunters… what right do they have? What allows them to do what they did… and… and… all for what? Because of what we are… it’s so wrong… so… wrong… I wish.. I wish I wasn’t a Gijinka….”
She had said many things before about wishing, and yet this was the most extreme of them. Ken sighed and tried to keep calm wondering whether or not to intervene with this monologue that Rogue had thrown out into the icy cave.
“If wishes were magickarp, we’d have a lot of fish,” Ken answered back. “And…” he broke off unsure of how to respond to the last part of Rogue’s speech. She had wished that she wasn’t what she was… and yet… Ken found himself sighing. “And what is wrong with being Gijinka?” he asked finally.
Rogue turned her eyes sharply on Ken as if trying to discern whether he was joking or whether he was mocking her. He jaw clenched and moved from side to side grinding her teeth for a solid minute before she opened her mouth.
“Being a Gijinka is what is causing us to be hunted!” Rogue answered with venom seething in the voice. “If I could be at peace like a human, I’d be happy! But no, I’m so close to looking human and being human, but I’m stuck! I’m stuck as a Tyrgoue! I’m stuck being hunted!”
Ken’s eyes became as sharp as Rogue’s as he began to talk again. She had gotten under his skin yet again with this ‘feel sorry’ speech.
“There is so much more than that!” Ken all but barked back. “Being Gijinka is being a solid link between humans and pokemon! We can talk to both and associate with both! I would never chose to willingly become full human or full pokemon.”
With that, Rogue became frustrated with the entire conversation and feel off into silence after Ken’s outburst. She looked down at her clothes under her jacket and stared down at the purple shirt that just barely appeared out from under her jacket. Under that was a wrap of bandages, and below that were dark brown pants. Her entire being was a cross between human and pokemon, and yet she had found that she could associate with neither.
Ken let the silence come as it would and pulled his legs in and stared down at his knees. He was a Combusken Gijinka, and with that, had the appearance of one if not for the layers of clothes that kept his fire insulated against the cold that flooded the area. His orange pants were tied tightly at the ankles causing the fabric to bunch up, and as his knees moved up, Ken shifted his eyes from down to up causing him to stare at the ceiling of the cave which even at that point was not far from his head.
After several hours, Rogue relaxed and fell asleep. Upon hearing the light breathing of the girl, Ken looked over to see that she had curled up and was sleeping at an awkward angle. He couldn’t help but smirk at seeing the girl in that way and found himself remembering first meeting the young Gijinka. He had come to the dojo that was run by Leon the Hitmonlee when he was still a Torchic. His parents, a pair of extremely powerful Blaziken, had enlisted Leon a renowned dojo owner to train him. Leon boasted of his three great sons Lee the Hitmonlee like him, Chan the Hitmonchan, and Top the Hitmontop. Leon welcomed in the young pupil and trained him as he did his own sons. Lee’s methods of training were tedious but at the same time generous. For a long while, Ken only saw the three brothers. However, several months passed, and Ken evolved into his current form of a Combusken. After that, Ken started noticing a young boy Tyrogue go in and out of the dojo on a daily basis. A few confrontations latter, Ken learned that Rogue was really a girl and was the youngest sister of the group. It was then that their relationship began.
Ken caught himself laughing at thinking about how he had confused Rogue for a while of being a boy, and in that moment, Rogue squirmed in her sleep causing the Combusken to turn his head and eye her carefully hoping he had not woke her up. Rogue, in a fit of her own dreams, let out a mix between a cry and a grunt before turning around and getting more comfortable before falling back asleep. Ken shook his head and waited patiently for morning.
The sun came up in increments. However, Rogue woke violently and quickly with her entire form extremely tense and ready to fight any form of intruder. As her eyes shifted around the cave but found no sign of intrusion. Sighing, Rogue got up and looked back to find that Ken was nowhere around. Rogue felt a sudden shock go through her. He couldn’t have left could he?? No… he… had to be somewhere around right? Walking out of the cave, Rogue looked out in the early morning light to find a series of tracks leading away from the cave.
“Ken where are you!” Rogue said more as an order than anything else. She was unsure of how to say it any other way.
“I’m right here calm down,” Ken answered somewhat used to Rogue’s tone. He came walking up carrying a bag on one arm full of an assortment of nuts. “I just went out to get breakfast…”
“Oh…” Rogue said somewhat quieter. “I had a dream about hunters and thought…” she broke of as Ken waved the thought away with his hand.
“Girls are so dramatic, shesh,” Ken smirked teasingly. “Get over it already.” With that, he stepped forwards and placed a hand on her head gently. “Today’s a new day, so let’s eat and then head out again and look for your brothers ok?”
“Ya… alright,” Rogue answered forcing a half smile. “And today we’re gonna find them.” Forcing her own thoughts behind her, Rogue was thankful that Ken did the same. Both of them walked together out to a new day unsure of what to expect and not caring either.
