It was late that night when the trio had decided to fall asleep. After yet another failed attempt at capturing Pikachuu, they had become tired to the point where they could barely even make the walk back to their balloon.
By barely, two of the three were able to do so. Nyarth had taken the greatest fall in their blast off and thus had received a rather large gash on his arm. He had been walking slower than usual, normally he was besides or in front of them but then, he had lagged back, tripping over his own paws as he walked.
Eventually, he had lost his balance and hit the ground with only a small, mumbled curse of pain. He hadn't even attempted to get back up and simply held his bleeding arm closer to his chest, ignoring the aching in his body and the blood seeping into his fur. His eyes had been shut and his senses had become fuzzy in the tiredness and pain.
In his state, he had not noticed that his two friends had stopped their walking and that one had begun to slowly walk over to him. The only time he realized what was happening was when he felt someone gently scoop him up into their arms and hold him almost like a child. Normally, he would protest, but now, all he wanted to do was fall asleep.
And yet, when someone began to gently pet the stop of his head, he weakly opened his eyes only to meet the gentle and caring eyes of his two best friends, the two best people in the world. It was only then did he allow his eyes to close and he drifted into sleep.
Kojiro had been the first to notice that Nyarth had fallen, having heard the lack of his slow walking behind them. Only when he stopped did Musashi follow his gaze to the clearly hurt and exhausted feline. She hadn't even said anything, she had simply walked over to him and, without so much as a second thought, picked him up, holding him like a child. She knew he hated that, but the state he was currently in prevented him from protesting.
It was rare that either of them had seen Nyarth in such a state but he had been the one behind the entire plan that day. And he had taken the large fall and suffered because of it. It was reasons like this that they cared about him so much. He had walked until he couldn't any longer. It was probably also one of those reasons as to why the feline was so trusting of them. Every time he was in trouble, they wouldn't rest until he was safe, the same vice versa.
So when Kojiro had waited for Musashi to continue walking, he had gently reached his hand over to the feline's head and began to gently pet it. Only then did he open his blue eyes and a small smile crept onto his face when he spotted the blurry shapes of his best friends. And when the scratch cat finally allowed himself to fall asleep, they continued on getting to their destination.
When they had reached the balloon, Kojiro had attempted to gently wake Nyarth up, only to receive a mumbled weak protest for him to let him sleep. The simple and aggravated response brought a smile to the blue haired man. At least he remained the same feline they loved so much when he was half asleep.
Deciding to do what he needed to without the scratch cat being awake, Kojiro had since settled the two of them in the balloon's basket in order to make sure he was alright. And so, he had carefully reached down his hand to the arm of which was bleeding slightly. Nyarth still had it clutched to his chest, where his chest fur was damped with blood.
Kojiro gently gripped the feline's arm and pulled it away from his chest. He didn't even resist. And the blue haired man was sure that if anyone but he or Musashi had done so, he would've fought with all he had to ensure that they didn't so much as touch him. It went to show just how much they trusted each other.
It didn't take much to clean away the blood on his fur and wrap a bandage around the gash on his arm. Even disinfecting the wound had only received the smallest of flinches from the feline. When he was done, Kojiro had gently lifted Nyarth back up and put him back down so he could crawl his way into his own smaller sleeping bag.
He curled up immediately inside of it, in a way that most other Pokemon would look at him strangely for. But since when was their friend ever Pokemon-like in the slightest? Since when had they ever treated him like a Pokemon to begin with? That's right. Never.
Musashi had already gotten into her own sleeping bag and she watched as Kojiro did the same. They remained next to each other, Nyarth placed in the middle of them. This was how they had always slept since they first became a team. And until the end of forever, they would never stop.
They had drifted off to sleep for a few delicate hours before Musashi was forced awake by a rather strange noise. A slurred mess of words spoken in an accent only owned by one person.
Musashi knew it was Nyarth and simply thought he was talking in his sleep like usual. Without opening her eyes, she spoke, her voice soft yet stern. "Kojiro, tell Nyarth to shut up" At first she got no reaction and the noises from the feline continued. She decided to try again. "Kojiro, I said-"
She was suddenly cut off by the quiet voice of the blue haired man, the one word he said ringing with desperation and worry. It was enough to make her open her eyes. "Musashi..."
The moment she did, she was met with the odd and admittedly worrisome picture of Kojiro sitting up in his sleeping bag and tracing his fingers down the head of a clearly distressed Nyarth. The man wore an expression of understanding concern and Nyarth... Musashi would have preferred not to have ever seen him in the state he was currently in.
The feline had his eyes screwed shut, his black ears planted back against his head. His fur was sticking up on ends and his claws dug into the fabric of his sleeping bag. But the most terrible thing about his state was the sounds that escaped him.
Nyarth was always a good actor and come hide and conceal his emotions a little too easily, so hearing such noises leave his mouth one after another was enough for Musashi's rather hard heart to soften, knowing there was something wrong with the scratch cat she had come to love over the years.
Small whimpers left him, his entire body shaking as if he was in some kind of pain. Every once in a while, a feeble cry would gain a hold of his vocal cords, followed by a series of pleas for help or mercy. Such words coming from him and not in a sarcastic tone was worrisome, enough to the point that Musashi straightened herself up to gently grab his injured arm, cringing as he flinched and cried out in sheer pain.
But before she could react, Kojiro finished gently petting him to look up to the red haired woman. He spoke, his voice serious and urgent as he explained what had to be done. "Musashi... He's having a nightmare, a bad one. I used to have them when I was a child and I know how to snap him out of it but... You have to help me"
A nightmare. It had been awhile since Musashi had had one of those. She knew it was obvious that Kojiro had had some kind of nightmares as a kid, what with living with the worst parents ever and being stuck with Jessebelle. But Nyarth? Tough, stubborn Nyarth? It was seemingly impossible. But the sight of the feline shaking underneath her grasp was enough to tell her otherwise. Although she hated taking orders from others, she was willing to do so now in order to help the scratch cat.
Sighing softly, Musashi met Kojiro's green eyes. "What do I have to do?" she asked softly, wincing once more when a whimper rang out from their furry friend.
I am in love with Nyarth.
There, I finally said it. And I mean it with the entirety of my heart.
It doesn't matter how many times he tries to catch me, tries to manipulate me, tries to attack me, or even tries to threaten me. And it doesn't matter how many times I've threatened him back, or blasted him off, or treated him harshly, or even drove him to his breaking point. None of that matters since they never waver my everlasting and growing feelings for him.
It all seemed to start the moment I laid my eyes on him. A bipedal and talking Pokemon part of Roketto-Dan. I knew he was bad, that was obvious but there was just something about him that caught me off guard. I still remember the way my heart beated. It literally felt like it was going to burst. I had no idea what that feeling was until much later.
I had a delayed reaction in attacking them. I didn't want to hurt him. But he was bad, he needed to be stopped. I obeyed Satoshi. Sometimes, I wish I never did. But then Roketto-Dan would not be continually following us, like now. I would have probably never seen him again and that would've crushed me.
But maybe that would be better. With him still being within my reach, I now feel more and more strain on my heart. I want nothing more than to be his. I would've even care if I was treated badly, I just want to be by his side.
I remember when I truly began to realize my feelings for him. We had been bound together and forced to stay together. I could see a new, vulnerable side of him which only made the little feeling in my chest grow. Without Musashi and Kojiro, he was scared and sensitive. But I now know that that is not who he truly is. He was panicking and couldn't think straight. I don't blame him.
I had taken that time together to be kind to him, helping him and keeping him safe. I didn't even know what came over me, but I went far enough to fall asleep on him. I guess I trusted him that much. I should've know that wouldn't have lasted long and the moment Musashi and Kojiro appeared in his vision, he was gone from my grasp. He was in his own world once more.
I only truly realized my feelings the next night when I curled up next to Satoshi. I didn't feel the safe and happy feeling I had when I fell asleep besides Nyarth. I only put two and two together when I began to think about what I heard the others talking about a few days earlier.
I still remember my own shock when I figured it all out. I remember telling myself it was wrong and that I couldn't love him. He was the bad guy, someone who lived by doing the wrong. But that fact only seemed to intensify my feelings for the scratch cat.
Was it bad that I kept my feelings hidden for so long, many years to be exact? I never told anyone else and kept them to myself as they began to grow more and more. Around the time of the Johto League however, I had found myself unable to hold back my feelings anymore. I just needed to tell someone my feelings.
So who else but the subject of my feelings, right?
I remember finding Roketto-Dan's little camp by our own where they had set up their sleeping spot in a tent, the flab opened enough to not bring in too much cold air but enough to provide an easy escape route if necessary.
I remember peeking my head inside and watching my three arch-enemies. I had searched for my secret love and found him in the most unexpected place. I expected him to be apart from them, what with his tough attitude and all but instead, I found him laying in the center of Musashi and Kojiro, their arms wrapped gently around him. He slept peacefully and safely within the caring grasps of his teammates, something I had neglected to notice until that very moment.
Bad did not mean evil. I never saw the difference until that very moment. Seeing the feline who would normally be 'abused' by his teammates in the daylight hours, seeing him seemingly be protected by those same people while he slept... I swear it was in that moment that I began to respect them.
But I still needed to tell him, even if I did think he was cute when he slept. I still think that, but like usual, I keep it to myself.
I had used my electricity carefully so as to not hurt him and to only use enough to wake Nyarth. It was more like sparking than anything and that alone was able to get the feline to stir. He had shifted slightly and then carefully opened his eyes and drowsily looked around. Then his eyes had locked with mine.
I remember so clearly his eyes. Unlike any other nyarth, his eyes were a deep shade of blue and every time I was able to meet them, I was seemingly mesmerized. So many emotions could travel through his gaze in so little time. Now was one of those times. I saw confusion, slight fear, anger, and a strange emotionless and distant hint in them.
He stared at me and I stared back, time seemingly standing still as I watched him. Slowly, he sat up, balancing himself with his paws.
"Pikachuu?"
His voice still rings in my head whenever I think of him. With a slight accent and the rather screechy tone, he truly is someone to be mesmerized simply by his voice alone. I love that about him.
"What are ya doin' here?"
His question had snapped me back to life as he stared back into the scratch cat's. He was so calm in his voice and yet, in his eyes, was a waterfall of emotions. There was another thing I loved about him. He's just so complicated.
"I need to talk to you"
I remember saying that and I remember his confused expression and then his reluctant yet careful movements as he crawled out from underneath his teammates. He had then stepped over them and signaled for me to leave. Of course I listened and within just a few seconds he was out there with me.
I was finally alone with Nyarth and all I had to do was let my feelings out. I didn't even wait for him to question me, I just blurted it out. Maybe I should've waited.
"I love you Nyarth!"
My own voice still rings in my head today. I just downright said it and now I got the straight reaction.
Nyarth's eyes had immediately widened and he had instantly took a step back. I truly believe I had frightened him, what with my sudden outburst, and I hated myself for doing that but there was no going back now.
He simply stared at me, and I stared back. I wanted him to know that I was being truthful. I wanted him to know that I wasn't trying to trick him. He seemed to get the message for he had begun to shake his head and whisper 'no' multiple times under his breath. He was panicking, but at the time, I didn't know why. Instead, I had simply let him begin to ramble.
"No, no. Ya can't be. Ya're not supposed ta return ma feelin's. Ya're supposed ta hate me. We're enemies, we're not even friends. Dis... Dis can't be happenin'"
I had felt my heart swell at his words, although a jumbled mess of words. I loved him and he loved me back. But then, was the main issue with this entire situation. We were enemies, not friends. He was right but I had wanted to change that. I still do.
I basically was just trying to calm him down and not create too much noise at this point. My attempts had done their job but I still knew he had to say something. What he said is still something I have problems dealing with.
"Pikachuu... No matta what happens, we cannot be tagetta. I belong wid Musashi an' Kojiro an' ya belong wid da twerps. If I can learn to not love ya, den ya can taa"
I cannot even describe the amount of crushing sadness on my heart at that very moment. He had turned away from me and was looking longingly back to the tent. I hadn't moved, he had known that and thus, he had spoken.
"Go Pikachuu an'... goodbye"
He hadn't even waited for me to react before he had shut his eyes and slipped back into the tent. I was frozen to my spot at first but I had regained the energy I needed a few minutes later to hop over to the tent and peek in.
Although my heartbreak at his painful rejection, I couldn't help but to feel a wave of happiness as I saw him nestled within the gentle yet tight grasps of his teamma- no, friends. He was safe and nestled in between them.
I had left at that point and I had learned something that night. Even though when I tried, I would never be able to forget my love for Nyarth. But I do know one thing about love. Many say it's a wonderful thing and I believe them. Just not in my case.
I truly believe that in that moment, I had discovered the true nature of love.
What Shouldn't Have Happened
What had she been thinking?
They were her best friends, her family even and this had happened when she had decided to walk away from everything they had built. She had told Sonansu to stay behind when she had jumped back but he had refused. He was loyal to her and Roketto-Dan and nothing would stop that.
But what had caused her to go back? It was her family in danger of course. Nyarth had already suffered enough with the old man who had captured him and tried to physically and mentally damage him. Hearing from Kojiro that their Pokemon and Nyarth were taken by a Pokemon Hunter just made something snap inside of her.
She had sought them out and saw that greedy, nasty man turn around and attempt to grab Nyarth again. This had caused her to reveal herself and together with the twerps, they were able to defeat him.
But that didn't mean she didn't feel responsible. It was rare that she would feel responsible for something even if it was her fault. Now, she completely knew it was her fault this had happened. If she had stayed with them, she and Kojiro wouldn't have come so close to losing Nyarth once more.
She couldn't help but watch the scratch cat as they floated along in their balloon. He was holding himself up along the side of the basket, just barely touching the ground. Kojiro was by his side, where they both simply looked out into the distance.
That man had only intended to sell him for a profit and didn't think of what would happen to him. Maybe that was the case with how the twerps constantly saw them. But that wasn't her point. Her point was that Nyarth could've been without the freedom and happiness he had while with them. He may be a Pokemon but since when have they ever seen him like that?
Sure she had used that fact against him before but never did she take it completely to that kind of level. She had hurt both of them, especially Kojiro by leaving. Now that they were together again, the overwhelming guilt was beginning to eat away at her.
