Ashes: Chpt 6

Disclaimers: I do not own Pokemon. Maybe now? Nope, still don't.

AN:// Hiroshi made this chapter hard to write. I'm trying to get a grip on his character without all the facts of his past added up yet. He keeps slipping away from me- frustrating me. Really I should rewrite the whole story with his new background in mind, but I'm too lazy. His behavior in this chapter may come as a surprise to you. But there's a very good reason he's acting this way.

Can't say what that reason is. You'll just have to trust me.

Chapter Six: Confessions

What if you should decide
That you don't want me there by your side
That you don't want me there in your life
-Coldplay

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"Ow ow ow ow," said Satoshi rubbing his sore jaw. "Is it very swollen, Hiroshi?"

He moved his hand so that Hiroshi, who was sitting on the marble park bench beside him, might inspect it. Hiroshi didn't even spare a glance at the prince's question. The young man's gaze was preoccupied with the ground instead.

The courtyard they sat in wasn't very far from the grounds where Satoshi had only just survived Kyo's first monster training lesson. Now was the time to nurse wounds. He'd worry about what revenge Kyo had in store for him later. No point in worrying about it now.

This courtyard was neither very beautiful nor very big. It contained only a single path, some low forgotten rose bushes and a single quiet fountain that babbled too softly to be heard and appreciated. It was merely a pathway from one place to the next. Rarely was it used and enjoyed- which was why Satoshi was so familiar with it. It offered privacy that little other place in the castle could.

Satoshi paused and glanced over at his friend. Hiroshi had seemed particularly solemn the whole walk here. Though he had played the perfect servant, tending to Satoshi's wounds and seeing to it that both human and monster were not seriously injured, he seemed overly distracted and distant. He looked for all the world like a man preparing to receive the worst of news.

"Hiroshi? Hiroshi, what's wrong?"

Hiroshi didn't answer. A bit unnerved by the silence between them, Satoshi let out an uneasy laugh.

"Hey, don't worry. I'm sure I'll heal. Wouldn't want my dashing good looks scarred before I can be married off right?"

Hiroshi did not laugh. Leaving Satoshi to laugh all on his own until that laugh too awkwardly died away.

"Hiroshi, please tell me what's wrong."

Again nothing. Satoshi had just about given up when finally Hiroshi's response came.

"Why'd you do it?"

Satoshi blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Do what?"

"I thought you didn't even like monsters," said Hiroshi, gesturing over to the Bulbasaur that napped easily by the prince's side.

Satoshi frowned. "I don't really."

"Then what was that?" snapped Hiroshi.

That?  Spoken as if that was a bad thing. Caring about the poor creature being pounded upon. Stepping in to stop it from happening. What could be detestable about that?

Satoshi was sure his father could think of a few things wrong with such things, but surely not Hiroshi?

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I'm serious! Don't you realize what you've done? Why aren't you being serious?" hissed Hiroshi with a venom Satoshi didn't think possible for his meek gentleman in waiting.

"Well I couldn't just let Kyo kick him."

"What?"

"He's just a baby, after all."

"That was part of the training! That- that's what Kyo was trying to show you. It will take even longer to undo what you just recklessly enabled."

"But the training is wrong. You shouldn't have to hurt the monsters to get them to protect us."

"And what do you know, monsterless prince?" spat Hiroshi.

He had struck a raw nerve. It took everything Satoshi had to keep himself in check. He didn't want to fight with his friend. His friend- his only friend. The only one on his side... except for now.

"I don't have to be an expert to know that hurting Bulbasaur was wrong."

"Oh so now only hurting your monster is wrong."

"No! Of course not! Not just mine."

"Kyo's going to be twice as hard on you now. It will take you months more to train your monster. And now, because of your foolish actions, Tokiwa will be a made a laughing stock at your own wedding. Do you think Quena will find your untrained monster endearing as it chews through its restraints and proceeds to attack the guests?"

"I don't need to restrain Bulbasaur anymore. He followed me here this morning without any tether at all!"

For a moment, Hiroshi seemed to have lost his composure. But it was only a moment. His anger was quick to return.

"I thought you would listen to me, Satoshi. I told you to hide your weakness. To keep yourself in check. But instead you just plowed right ahead. Just like you always do. Now that Kyo knows how you fear your monster's pain, he'll act accordingly next time. Perhaps he'll tie you up so that you can't stop him. Or maybe he'll have me taking your blows when you don't obey."

Satoshi gasped at the very thought. "He wouldn't- Why? Why would he hurt you?"

"You don't understand," said Hiroshi. "You can't remember, so of course you don't know. Kyo finds nothing beneath him. And if it keeps his charges in line, then why wouldn't he? If threats of harming me keeps you in check- what's to stop him from doing so? His conscience? As if the man has one."

"I'm... I'm sorry, Hiroshi," Satoshi breathed. "I didn't realize-"

"Yeah and what do you realize? Nothing! You only act. You don't think. You never thought. Never cared how we might feel after you've done your heroic dare and do. You think you're only sacrificing yourself!"

Then Satoshi realized that Hiroshi wasn't just speaking of today. There was something in his face- a great wave of emotion that he was trying to keep at bay. The scar hidden by his ruffled sleeve suddenly tingled unpleasantly.

"If I..." Satoshi began. His voice faltered, his mouth suddenly too dry. He licked his lips and tried again, voice cracking. "If I ever hurt you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I really wish I could... do something to..."

To make it up to you, is what he meant to say. To remember, is what he wanted to say. What he needed to do.

"What can you do? It's your very nature that's the problem! Why do you have to be so infuriating!"

"My nature?"

"No! Stop talking! I can't-" He recoiled from Satoshi, gripping his hair- then his arms as if he needed that restraint to prevent him from lashing out. He couldn't... hold himself back? From what?

"Hiroshi," said Satoshi.

Hiroshi looked up and his glare froze Satoshi in place.

"I can't stand you!"

The fury seemed etched into Hiroshi's face, bringing to the surface an ugly mirror image from the prince's sealed memories to match it. For one brief instant, two Hiroshi's stood over him each with the same expression of disapproval and hate. Satoshi sucked in a breath between his teeth forcing the memory back down as if it were bile rising in his throat. But still it persisted- wanting to be known.

The second Hiroshi was darker, younger but sharper in appearance. His gaze was severe and he had all the poise of a waiting snake. He was paler too, as if the memory had drained the blush from his skin.

Then just as sudden as it had come, as if the prince's eyes had only been crossed, the two images snapped back together into one. It was in that instance that Satoshi realized that he had been pushed. Pushed off the bench and down beside his puzzled monster. Bulbasaur, once again, had not come to his master's aid. But instead remained next to the bench, his large crimson eyes flirting from prince and servant warily.

Hiroshi's arms were still out stretched. Caught in the act, Hiroshi's hands began to tremble ever so slightly. Then he drew them back, keeping them a safe distance from his clothes as if such an action might have left an ugly stain on his palms.

Satoshi lay stunned, his arms scraped up from the cobbled walkway beneath him. The two young men said nothing for a long moment. Then shamefully, Hiroshi turned away from him. It was with that little action that Satoshi's expression darkened.

"I shouldn't have spoken to you that way, Satoshi," and softer he added, "I'm sorry."  

Hiroshi's unreasonable anger had ebbed. But Satoshi's had only just begun.

"You're right. You shouldn't have," said Satoshi.

Satoshi stood, brushing himself off as best he could. The back of his arms still burned from catching his fall, but with everything his body had gone through the last few days, scraps were the least of his worries.

The anger that had passed from servant to prince had rose an ugly wall between the two boys. Where once there was a budding friendship, now their social statuses divided them again. For the first time since his accident Satoshi held on tight to his superior status and used it to hurt his cousin.

"You are not to touch me again," said Satoshi in a voice not unlike his father's. "And you will address me by my title and my title alone. Do you understand?"

At first, Hiroshi seemed completely bewildered by the authority in Satoshi's voice. In his servant's eyes, Satoshi saw himself as a reflection of his father. It took all his strength not to let show how his heart sank at the sight. Satoshi knew that this was the only time this crown prince had truly treated his servant as a crown prince should. Though the sudden appreciation of his title should have given the boy some small satisfaction- it left him feeling hollow.

This was a cruel bit of revenge if there ever was one. Satoshi knew this, but his pride made him carry it out.

"Yes, Crown Prince. Perfectly."

Hiroshi would never call him Sato now.

And Satoshi did not let himself feel badly for it.

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Diplomacy lessons that afternoon were only worth a mention for two distinct reasons. They were still held in the same place, the dusty castle library with its distant small windows and the book shelves crowding up the space like orderly walls in a carefully constructed labyrinth. They were taught the same old rules. Rules that were rehashed over and over so as to be engrained into the very fabric of the crown prince's everyday world. Etiquette, dancing, strategy, warfare, how to address every class of man woman, and child and everything that was to be expected of both Crown Prince and King.

Only two things were different about these lessons. The first being that Hiroshi did not accompany Satoshi to them. He complained of a headache and requested permission, very formally, to go rest in his quarters. It was lucky for his gentleman in waiting that Satoshi was both sick of Hiroshi's obedient silence and feeling horribly guilty for the part he played in their fight.

He let Hiroshi go and headed to his lessons alone. Hiroshi had offered to send another servant with him, but Satoshi refused. The two boys kept up their cool detachment with each other but Satoshi did not know how much longer he could keep up his cold prince act. His anger no longer fueled his distance from his friend, but pride kept him from bridging the gap.

He was not the one who had pushed the other. He was not the one who could not stand the other. Why should he be the one to apologize?

The other thing different met Satoshi just as he and Bulbasaur slipped through the heavy library doors.

"Crown Prince. You're early," said Shiba from behind a nearby desk. "I had not expected you for another hour at least."

"I had nothing else to do," came Satoshi's numb and automatic reply. Bulbasaur was nibbling idly on the fringe of a nearby carpet and Satoshi nudged the monster with his foot. Bulbasaur stopped for a moment before returning to his snack.  

Shiba gathered up some loose papers from the desk and attempted to fight them into a manageable pile. The task seemed daunting as the papers were proving rather stubborn about it. Kyo usually had everything so straight and orderly at that desk, with nothing but a cattle prod lain across it. The cattle prod was to intimidate Satoshi into paying attention. But with Shiba, the cattle prod had fallen out of sight or wasn't there at all.

As if reading Satoshi's puzzled expression, Shiba explained, "Kyo retired to his quarters early this afternoon and requested that I take over this lesson for him. Is that alright with you... Crown Prince?"

Kyo wasn't here either? This news brought unpleasant thoughts to the surface of Satoshi's mind. Perhaps Kyo was planning something. Nothing good could come of Kyo skipping out on a lesson. If he did have to leave, for a mission or other such emergency- he certainly never asked anyone to step in for him.

"Crown Prince?"

Satoshi suddenly realized he had been staring and not answering. He attempted to shake the empty feeling from his mind.

"Oh no. I mean yes, it's fine. I don't mind."

"Good," Shiba clopped the papers on the desk. "Let's get started then. What do you know about a Crown Prince's duty on the battlefield?"

Satoshi managed a wry smile. "Don't get killed?"

"Well that's a start."

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Normal diplomacy lessons, even just lessons in general, were never very interesting. Unless the lesson involved some sort of physical activity like fencing or riding- Satoshi was rarely interested. This particular lesson was really no different.

Shiba was a nicer instructor. And it was easier to listen to him then it was to listen to Kyo's rambles about how he needed to exude superiority and confidence from every pore. Shiba's lessons touched more on the importance of humility, knowing when to shut up and who to listen to. There really wasn't a better teacher. Shiba spoke from his own experience as a commander and as an officer on the front lines.

But talk of wars and battles may have excited other boys, Satoshi found himself indifferent. He didn't really care to start a charge under his father's flag or killing someone for his own honor's sake. Instead his mind drifted back to the little monster curled up at his feet and to the pikachu that waited for him out there in the woods.

He traced the swirls in the wood that seemed to imitate fingerprints and tried to work out a plan on how to capture a monster that could kill by mere touch.

Why could he think of nothing else? There seemed to be something about this species of creature that made him desperate to capture it. Not just the prestige such a tamed creature would claim.

The mental likeness of a pikachu had flashed into thoughts when he tried to solve his own need. Satoshi had a strong feeling that a pikachu flashed into his mind for a reason. Not because he happened to like the idea of controlling lightning or from any particular desire to own one. It was because of memories. This creature was an important key to his memories, Satoshi could just feel it. If he were to find one- then perhaps...

"Are you alright, Crown Prince?"

Satoshi was given a start, having not heard Shiba approach. The man had been droning on for quite some time about the trade agreements Tokiwa had set up with the various nearby kingdoms. But now he stood before Satoshi, appearing concerned.

Kyo would have just struck the boy over his head with a cattle prod to regain his attention. Shiba immediately assumed that something was wrong. Somehow, this made Satoshi feel worse about dozing off.

"I'm fine."

"You had a rough morning," said Shiba. It wasn't a question, it was a matter of fact. The bruises on his face were evidence enough. "Perhaps we should conclude for the evening and continue once your mind is fresh again."

"Ah yes, I do feel a bit tired."

Satoshi wasn't going to protest. The early dismissal would give him ample time to prepare for his trek into Tokiwa Forest. He would still have to make an appearance for dinner, but Satoshi seriously doubted that in his excitement he'd be able to keep anything down.

Tonight he'd be getting a pikachu.

"Crown prince?"

Shiba had asked something and yet again Satoshi hadn't been paying any attention. At Shiba's questioning stare, Satoshi flushed.

"Ah, I'm sor-"

"Make sure you get some rest, young master," interrupted Shiba. The concern was still in his eyes and Satoshi was doing nothing to ease it.

"I will," said Satoshi knowing full well that he wouldn't.

Shiba nodded and stepped back in such a way as to officially give his pupil leave. Satoshi quickly got to his feet, carefully trying to avoid tripping up over Bulbasaur's tangled vines. The sudden movement roused the slumbering monster so that Satoshi would not have to. Lethargically Bulbasaur trailed after his master.

At the doors, Shiba touched Satoshi's shoulder once more. It looked as if he were about to say something but the words wouldn't come. Instead he swallowed them and offered his prince a small smile.

"Good day, Crown Prince."

As Satoshi slipped out of the dusty old library with its old secrets and dusty stories he could have sworn he heard Shiba add, "Be careful."

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His mind preoccupied with plans for that evening, Satoshi barely spoke or took notice of anyone who passed him down the halls. Most were used to the Dark Prince's silence. He was never one to socialize, often reserved and lost in his own thoughts. Many sent salutations his way, fully expecting to get no response.

"Good day, Crown Prince."

"Good morrow to you, Crown Prince."

"Crown prince."

"Good day, sire."

"God give you good day, Your Highness."

To most he smiled and nodded, trying to be mindful of his manners. But so wrapped up in his thoughts he could not spare enough attention to respond to every call.

It was their job to respond to him. Not his to respond to them. Were it the King they were speaking to, they'd most certainly get no response at all. Unless in a parade, King Sakaki spared no time on those beneath him.

Satoshi was going to his room first. Then, once he knew what else he needed to carry out his task into the woods, he would seek out the remaining tools he would need to borrow. Like rope, or perhaps some food and water in case he got lost.

Bulbasaur bounded along beside him, as silent as a shadow. Occasionally his vine would tighten and then relax around his master's ankle. Satoshi saw no rhyme or reason to the action- assuming it was simply a nervous twitch of the monster's. Bulbasaur did nothing more to make the prince see otherwise.

The hallway, where the Crown prince's and Hiroshi's chambers were, lay empty. It wasn't a very popular hall, being on a wing reserved strictly for the crown prince's use. Even Hiroshi's room was meant to be an extension of Satoshi's own quarters. Other than the servants that come to clean or attend to the needs of the crown prince, it remained purely for his own use.

Satoshi paused before Hiroshi's door, wondering idly if Hiroshi really had retired for the evening. He could hear no sounds from inside and quickly moved on.

But then he stopped short. There, squeezed into the crack between floor and door, was a small cream colored paper. A note?

Satoshi glanced up and down the hall but saw no one. Again he looked to Hiroshi's closed door, but it was just as still as it had been before. Satoshi pulled it out from under the door carefully.

The paper itself was trimmed with violet, and smelled sweet. Expensive, Satoshi realized unconsciously. More expensive than the sheets of parchment that he used for notes in his lessons. More expensive than most of the old volumes in the castle library.

His mother had written him a note on such a paper. But it was not his mother who wrote this note.

In practiced and almost rigid handwriting, as if the writer had spent hours stroking each letter with purpose, was the following brief request,

My Dearest Prince,
Please meet me in the Queen's gardens tonight. I have something important I wish to discuss with you. Come alone.
-Haruka

She can write? thought the bemused prince. A most impressive feat for any servant. Though the letter was rude and a bit too personal for a servant to write to her prince, the task it must have taken to write this simplest of notes was remarkable in itself.

Satoshi's trip down the stairs had knocked every sense of words from his head. He could not read nor write, and had to be taught from scratch. Even now he was a slow reader and his penmanship was only barely adequate for a young man of his position. Haruka's own handwriting exceeded his own in beauty, though it was still plain when compared to the twists and coils of his mother's.

What could she want? Satoshi thought. Why alone? Then the conclusion hit him hard, leaving the delicate paper trembling between his fingertips.

Haruka had accidentally let it slip that there were more lies in his past than he ever thought possible. Haruka who knew more than Hiroshi would let her say. Haruka wanted to speak to him... alone.

Satoshi was suddenly so excited he could scarcely allow himself to believe- to hope. But there could be no other reason for the note. What else could she want to tell him so privately, away from Hiroshi's disapproving ears.

Haruka was going to tell him about his past.

"Crown Prince?"

Satoshi jumped. He whirled about, roughly hiding the rumpled note behind his back. And sure enough, the person behind him was one that could have dashed his hopes even before they had begun to rise.

Hiroshi.

For several horrible seconds Satoshi thought that he might have seen the note. Hiroshi seemed to be struggling to find the right words to say. And in the silence, Satoshi could feel his heart beat throbbing in his throat.

"Can I speak frank with you?"

"Y-yes?"

"Look, I... Obviously I wasn't myself this morning," Hiroshi ran a hand nervously through his hair. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I mean, I just... I'm sorry."

Satoshi practically fell over in relief. But he caught himself just in time. Just because Hiroshi hadn't seen the note didn't mean he was out of hot water just yet.

"It's fine," said Satoshi curtly. "It was my fault too. I shouldn't have been so reckless."

Hiroshi raised an eyebrow, eyeing Satoshi suspiciously. Satoshi felt a cold sweat coming on. He hoped that Hiroshi wouldn't notice his other hand still hiding behind his back. But he could think of nowhere else to hide the letter, short of stuffing it up the back of his tunic. And even then, Hiroshi would be sure to catch him in the act.

"That's it?"

"You... You expected something more?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, you seemed really mad earlier today."

"Oh, I was. But I... got... over it?" Satoshi sputtered.

"Huh," said Hiroshi. "And here I thought you were going to be really difficult about it."

"What's left to be difficult about? You apologized, didn't you?" said Satoshi, backing down the hallway. "I can't quite see a point being angry anymore. No harm done- and all that, right? I mean, it's not like anyone died or anything? Right? So no reason to... hate then... Right?"

"Uh... sure?" said Hiroshi. "Are you alright, Satoshi?"

"Of course I am. I mean why wouldn't I be?" Satoshi said none to subtly. Hiroshi noticed Satoshi switching arms behind his back, keeping one hidden from view. He started forward, backing Satoshi down the hall like cornered prey.

"It's just that you seem to be acting quite... peculiar."

"Uh... how so?"

"You're acting like you've got a sword to your throat," said Hiroshi nearly ducking around the prince, a bold attempt to glimpse at what was hiding behind the crown prince's back. Satoshi only just swerved about in time. "What do you have there?"

"It's a note," said Satoshi bringing the envelope into view. He was careful to hold it tight to his chest. "From my mother... again. She wanted... to thank me for coming to see her."

Hiroshi eyed the note suspiciously. "The Queen?"

"I... I didn't want you to see. You know... In case she wanted me to go see her again. She doesn't... But... I didn't want you to... be angry... You... You can check it if you must. She doesn't say she wants to see me again. Check it if you don't believe me."

Satoshi held the letter out between his trembling fingers, secretly hoping that Hiroshi would buy his bluff.

Hiroshi's eyes drifted from prince to letter then back to his prince again. It seemed he found some solace in the prince's guilty expression. And finally he backed down.

Hiroshi pushed Satoshi's bared gift away. "I'm sorry for pressuring you, Crown Prince." said Hiroshi meekly, a sharp contrast from his earlier temper. "You are certainly allowed the privacy of a letter from your mother. Just promise me that you don't daringly rush off to see her again so soon. You can only push your luck so far."  

"Ah yes, of course," said Satoshi, crushing the letter to his chest, almost impossibly giddy with relief. "I mean, I don't intend to. I promise."

They stood in awkward silence for a moment or two more before Satoshi got a hold of his bearings again.

"Oh, I'm supposed... I was supposed to go fetch something for-"

"For Kyo?"

"Ah, yes. I should go right back. He's expecting me."

"Do you need any help?"

"No! I mean, no, no. You know Kyo... And he's in a foul temper really. It's best if I... If I just go straight back."

"Ah... Right then. I guess..."

"I should go," said Satoshi.

"I'll just be going," muttered Hiroshi.

"Right."

"Good."

"Good day then," said the two before rashly parting ways.

Satoshi, lugging behind him a reluctant vine monster, ducked around the corridor. He paused for a moment to catch his breath and wonder at his luck. Satoshi felt only a small fraction of guilt he knew he should feel for lying to Hiroshi. And he knew why he felt so little.

Satoshi crushed the rumpled letter against his chest. There were so many lies. Too many. And Hiroshi helped keep them from his prince. It was only poetic justice that liars be lied to. There's no guilt in that.

He started down the hallway again. The new goal in mind brought a fresh bounce to his step making it difficult for Bulbasaur to keep up.

Hiroshi watched until they had slipped completely from his line of sight. After taking a moment to sort his thoughts, Hiroshi went back into his room wondering if the letter really were from Queen Hanako. And why, if he had such a suspicion, had he let Satoshi go?

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The Queens Gardens, besides being the largest courtyard on the castle's grounds, were easily the most spectacular and aesthetically pleasing Tokiwa had to offer. The large courtyard was dabbled with a wide variety of flora, their assortment of colors as well arranged as splashes on an artist's stretched canvas. The cobbled pathways wove and branched out around the yard, encircling fountains filled with fat carp and a good number of strategically placed benches. Many benches hid under the heavy shade provided from beautiful empress' trees, with both straight and twisted trunks dominating many advantageous positions in the gardens. Others rested near the paths in popular places where the view could be and would inevitably be admired.

Satoshi had been to the gardens only a few times in his recent memory. In the summer, the gardens tended to be hot- the sweet smelling flora overwhelmingly and unpleasant. And during the warm season, the gardens were open to the public. Because of this, they tended to be crowded with commoners and nobles alike.

During the daylight hours when the gates were left open, Satoshi was not allowed to enter the gardens. There were too many people, too many chances for bad things to happen to a meandering prince. But in the evening or winter months, the garden was a perfectly beautiful and serene place to be.

The servants and gardeners helped maintain its pristine beauty. Though despite its name, Satoshi doubted that his mother ever truly spent time among the garden's flora. He was sure that she was just as much a prisoner of the castle as he was.

The beauty of the gardens never truly captured Satoshi's attention. He could care little about babbling fountains and flowers when there were far more interesting things to look at.

The gardens themselves were built on an overhang that looked out over the kingdom of Tokiwa. The clustering rooftops that stretched out into the distance before fading into Tokiwa's dense forest were all Satoshi had ever seen of the world outside the palace walls. If Satoshi had the choice, he'd spend every evening out on the overhangs small border wall. With his legs slipped between the iron rod fence and draped over the side, gazing down at the partially obscured streets below. Here Satoshi had a perfect view of lives more comfortable than his own. Or at least, that was how they always appeared to be to him.

Through the iron rod fence and between the obscuring rooftops, he watched townsfolk task themselves with mundane chores, chatter with friends and kinsfolk and move about without chaperon or guard. Satoshi envied their anonymity.

This evening Satoshi waited outside the gated archway that led to the gardens with unmasked impatience. During the day, the gates remained closed save the occasional admittance of servants to and from the castle and garden. Guards were posted both outside and inside the gates to allow or refuse entry. Satoshi didn't bother addressing them. He knew full well that they would refuse to let him through the gates until sunset.

Still he was impatient. And impatience often made him more irritable. Once again, Satoshi bent down to untangle himself from the clingy bulbasaur without success. Any attempts Satoshi made to remove the vine around his ankle was met with a harsher grip. Like the time before, Satoshi had to stop so as to regain the feeling in his feet. Bulbasaur had a vice iron grip and could probably easily squeeze Satoshi's appendages off.  The crown prince would rather not chance his limbs to the unruly hatching. But still the annoyance persisted.

He kicked out his leg, jerking the monster along with it. Bulbasaur sent a glare up at his human to which Satoshi swiftly responded with one of his own.

"If you'd let go for just a second," Satoshi hissed between his teeth, trying not to draw too much attention from the guards. "I'd stop."

If Bulbasaur could understand Satoshi, it didn't let on. Instead, it settled down on the floor next to the prince, vine still secure around Satoshi's right ankle. Satoshi sighed and leaned into the wall. He could see the orange rays of the sun glinting between the gates bars. It had slid farther down the horizon but it really couldn't set fast enough for him.

Not too much longer.

Satoshi let his eyes fall closed. It seemed like only a moment before he was roused a gentle squeeze on his ankle via Bulbasaur's vine. Satoshi blinked and looked around, the sudden darkness of the corridor disorienting him. It took him a second to realize that he had fallen asleep.  The night sky now peeked out between the arched gate and only one guard remained at post.

Unlike the other guards who were imposing and clad in impressive armor. This guard was wearing only a minimal amount of leather armor over his chest and arms. He looked young and inexperienced. The night shift needed no heroes to protect the gate leading from castle to the gardens when more experienced guards were posted behind the gates leading into town. This position was mostly for show. And of course, to let those in the castle enter the gardens if they should so wish.

The young guard had been leaning lazily against his long spear, using it as a crutch against his own weight. When Satoshi's gaze met the guard's own he instantly straightened and tried to mesh his face into a mask of commanding indifference. But really the only look the guard seemed to achieve was that of agonized constipation.

"C-crown prince," said the guard at Satoshi's approach. "I... ah, saw you resting over there. Didn't want to disturb you. Did you... ah, perhaps... want to... that is to say- enter the Queen's Gardens?"

"Just for a moment," said Satoshi.

"It's late," said the guard, as if it were news.

"I won't be long."

"V-very well, sire," the guard fished a large key from the loop on his belt and fit it into the gate's lock. He twisted the key and pried the heavy gates back to grant Satoshi entry. "Take all the time you need."

"Thank you," Satoshi nodded to the guard on his way in. Bulbasaur followed behind him like a ball and chain.

They hadn't even reached the first forked path when the gate squealed shut behind them. Satoshi's heart leapt into this throat at the sudden sound. He waited until his heart resumed its normal pace before setting off once more.

Aside from the hum of insects, Satoshi couldn't hear anyone else in the gardens. Those who did not live at the castle would have been chased away at sunset. Satoshi had hoped that Haruka had beat him here. The thought of more waiting only disheartened the prince.

Satoshi did a few turnabouts the main fountain. It was a large centerpiece to the queen's garden and an ideal meeting place. There was no way to see all away around the fountain. Satoshi had to resort to circling around it in order to see if anyone happened to be waiting nearby. By the fourth lap, Satoshi was pretty convinced that he had beaten Haruka to the gardens. That was, of course, unless she were planning to meet him somewhere else in the gardens.

He pulled out the letter again. In the low silver moonlight, Satoshi could only just make out Haruka's words. If only she had been a bit more specific. The gardens were big enough that they could easily miss each other. That and "tonight" was too vague a time. What if she left him waiting until midnight?

Though he desperately wanted to hear what Haruka had to say, Satoshi had not yet given up on his plans to go pikachu egg hunting tonight. If this meeting took too long, he might not have time to go and return without his absence arousing suspicion. Though pikachu hunting was important, he wasn't willing to sacrifice an opportunity to learn about his past. With any luck he would have time for both in the same night.

That is if he could find Haruka.

Satoshi was given a start when he heard the distant screech of the gates shutting. And he was given even more of start when half a beat after the sound, someone touched his shoulder.

Satoshi whirled about, practically kicking Bulbasaur and smacking Haruka upside the face. Haruka ducked just in time. And Bulbasaur snapped at Satoshi's heel in response.

"Oh Haruka," Satoshi exclaimed, glancing back towards the gates. "How did you-"

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to startle you," Haruka fell back, a sheepish smile on her face. "I was waiting over there in the rose garden for you... but then I saw you by the fountain and well... I'm terribly sorry!"

Then there's someone else here, Satoshi realized. He wondered if perhaps Hiroshi had been suspicious enough to follow him after all. But his worries flew right out of his head, when Haruka began to cry.

He almost didn't notice the tears at first. They spilled out of her eyes and she quickly hid her face to cover them. It wasn't until she began to softly cry into her hands that Satoshi noticed.

"Haruka? Oh, Haruka... are you alright? Here- sit down." He put his arms around her, led her back to the fountain and helped her sit. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," She said, wiping her eyes on her sleeves.

"Obviously it's something or you wouldn't be crying." Satoshi smiled, trying to reassure her. But it seemed his smile only made her more sad. "Are you not supposed to be here? Did you get in trouble?"

For a moment, Haruka looked panicked. She went pale and clutched his arm a bit too tight. "You didn't tell anyone you were meeting me, did you?"

"No, of course not."

Haruka bit her bottom lip and glanced about the courtyard. But it seemed his answer quelled most of her fears, as she didn't glance around long. When she looked at him again, the tears came again. Satoshi felt helpless with the weeping girl cradled in his arms.

"There must be something wrong," Satoshi said.

"I'm just happy you came," She said and weakly smiled up at him.

"Of course I came." It seemed that Haruka liked that response. Her tears were drying and her smile brightened. She turned her head away from him as if hide the blush from her cheeks.

"You're here... to tell me about my past, aren't you?"
Haruka blinked and stared back him. "What? Your past?"

"You know," said Satoshi. "What you said back in the hallway. That I was starting to get my memory back. That I might be able to tell you... where I was... all... those..."

And as he said it, Satoshi realized how very wrong he had been. The hope that he'd learn something about his past deflated faster than punctured Jiggly Puff. By the stunned look on Haruka's face, Satoshi realized exactly how stupid he had been.

"That's not why you called me here," said Satoshi, though he already knew the answer.

"No... I- I thought you already knew. I mean the whole castle knows you were missing for many years."

"How many?"

"Er... um maybe four or five? I'm not sure. I haven't been at the castle long," said Haruka. She scratched her head, frowned and counted silently off her fingers. "Yes, maybe five? I only heard what the other staff have said. That when you came back you had lost your memory and that no one knew where you had been all that time."

Well, that was at least something. It may not have answered all his burning questions but it was more than anyone had ever given him. Five years of being away from his hellish prison. Too bad he couldn't remember any of it.

"I wonder why Lord Hiroshi never told you?"

"You weren't forbidden to tell me?" Satoshi asked.

Haruka silently shook her head. But now Haruka looked as though she wondered if she should have.

It wasn't much. But it opened another door. So the night wasn't a complete bust after all. Satoshi couldn't keep the smile off his face. What hope had been deflated, was shining bright once more. He was so elated he felt as though he could kiss Haruka.

He hugged her instead. "Thank you so much, Haruka!"

"Um... You're welcome?" squeaked Haruka, her face as pink as a cherry.

Satoshi pulled back and beamed at her. "But wait," He said. "If it wasn't to tell me about my past... Why did you want to see me?"

Satoshi didn't think it was possible for Haruka's face to get any redder. She flushed, looked down and started playing with a strand of her hair.

"Well you see... um..."

She swallowed. "You're getting married soon."

"Right," said Satoshi, unsure of where she was going with this.

"And I thought that I might not get another chance."

"Another chance for what?"

"Um... er... that is to say... um..."

They sat like that for several minutes, the only sounds being the lull of the babbling fountain behind them and the distant thrum of summer insects. Haruka kept sending him pleading glances, as if he might be able to guess.

"You're getting married?" asked Satoshi, finding the idea almost impossibly far fetched. I mean, wasn't she only twelve? He was quite relieved to hear he was wrong.

"...No," said Haruka meekly.

"You don't like Domino?"

"No... Well yeah but..."

"Yeah, who likes Domino?" said Satoshi, rolling his eyes. "Not me. Maybe my Dad."

"Um... well."

"My dad should marry her."

"Well..."

"It's not too far of a leap, is it? I mean, she's an old hag and he's... old."

"Um... Crown Prince..."

"They'd make a fine couple. Ugly mean old people. With the exception of Domino... not really being old. Just acting like a-."

"I love you!"

"Witch..." Satoshi trailed off. He stared at Haruka, not even quite aware he was staring. His mind was too busy trying to compute what she had just said.

"I love you," repeated Haruka, more softly this time.

Satoshi was suddenly conscious of his arm around her. Suddenly conscious that they were sitting by a fountain, bathed in the moonlight. They were alone in a beautiful floral courtyard and he was sitting way too close. And he was staring at her face way too long.

Satoshi quickly looked down. Now he was the one who was blushing.

"Is... Is that okay?"

"Haruka... I-"

"You don't have to love me back," Haruka said quickly, nervously flattening her skirt- busying her hands. "I just wanted to tell you... before you..."

"Haruka, I can't be with you."

Haruka looked up again, wishing she hadn't. There were tears forming in her eyes. And looking up at Satoshi, who was smiling pityingly at her, it was almost too much. She knew they couldn't be. She was worse than a commoner. She was a servant. But she had hoped... hoped that love might conquer all.

Just like in the stories.

"But if I didn't have to be a Prince," Satoshi said, so softly that Haruka almost didn't hear. "I wouldn't have minded being with you."

At those words, Haruka felt faint. Her heart was racing so hard she felt as though it might run away without her. And still he was close to her. He hadn't moved away.

"You're nice and funny. And you're a good person, Haruka," said Satoshi gently. "And you'll find someone someday who can love you. And can give you the love that you deserve. I know you'll find happiness with that someone someday."

"But what about you?"

Suddenly Haruka leaned forward so that she was only inches from his face. Satoshi could feel her breath on his skin. And his heart leapt up into his throat. Why is she so close? What is she-?

"Why can't Satoshi be happy?"

She stroked his face gingerly with her fingertips and was leaning in to kiss him. Satoshi couldn't think. He knew he should have pulled away. He knew he shouldn't let her kiss him. The Crown Prince's first kiss is supposed to be for the bride. It was law. But yet, he couldn't move. She was going to kiss him. And might have, if not for the voice that interceded- startling them both.

"That's not a very good idea."

Satoshi nearly fell into the fountain. And if not for Satoshi's quick reflexes, Haruka would have too. He caught her in his arms before she jerked back. And the two of them looked around for the source of the bodiless voice. Their eyes resting on the silhouette of an hunched old woman hiding in the shadows of a nearby empress tree.

"After all, Crown Prince Satoshi is promised to marry the Princess of Quena, is he not? It would be terrible if he slept with another before the wedding night."

Haruka hastily pulled herself free from Satoshi's arms, looking all the more embarrassed. Satoshi too felt his face burning in shame.

"I wasn't going to sleep with Haruka," Satoshi said.

"Could have fooled me," said the old woman.

"Who are you?" said Satoshi. "I've never seen you before."

"Oh? Have you never seen me? Or do you just not remember?"

Satoshi opened his mouth to protest but could think of nothing in response. Have I seen her before?

"Or do you only remember those who you want to lock lips with," She cackled, making Satoshi and Haruka all the more uncomfortable. "The answer is, you've never seen me before Crown Prince. And you've never seen me before because you've never had a need to see me. And I never had a reason to be shown."

"Come into the light."

"Very well."

She appeared from the shadows like a snake slithers into a circle of lamplight. She appeared to be an old blind woman leaning against a twisted looking cane. There was a travel worn gray cape fastened about her shoulders, semi concealing a dull looking forest green dress. Her hair was silver and cropped short, an usual cut for a woman, especially an old woman. Any piece of her alone would appear harmless. But together, paired with the rolled back eyes, made her seem as dangerous as an unsheathed blade.

Her sightless eyes met his own, sending a chill down Satoshi's spine. He quickly looked away.

From beside him, Satoshi hear Haruka gasp. He glanced her way, startled to see that all the color had drained from her face. She was pressing one hand over her mouth and trembling so badly Satoshi was afraid she might be close to swooning.

"Lady Kikuko," Haruka breathed.

Bulbasaur, who Satoshi had all but ignored during his exchange with Haruka, was slowly unwinding his grip on Satoshi's ankle. It was fixing the old woman with an equally perturbed glare. It backed as far away as it possibly could, against the fountain wall, but refused to take its eyes away from her even for a second. As if she were a ravenous predator slinking in for the kill.

Haruka's reaction to the woman confused Satoshi. But Bulbasaur's reaction downright terrified him. He had a feeling this woman was unnatural... and not necessarily human.

"What do you want?" said Satoshi, surprised that he could find his voice.

"I came to see if the Crown Prince was enjoying his hatchling..." Kikuko glanced at the cowering monster and gave a toothy grin. "It seems you are. My concerns are hereby abated."

"That's it?"

A hard silence formed between them. Kikuko didn't seem duly concerned with the harsh stares that Satoshi and Haruka were giving her. Satoshi somehow found strength to climb up to his feet. Haruka numbly followed. And Kikuko's sightless eyes watched their every move.

"Please no," Haruka whispered. "You aren't... You're here for me right? Please, be here for me. Don't..."

"My name is Kikuko, as the girl said," Kikuko began, ignoring Haruka's desperate pleas. "And I am a soothsayer. Your father's soothsayer to be exact. I predicted your father's rise to kingship. Over that of his elder and seemingly more capable brothers, might I add. I predicted your father's successes in battle. I even predicted your birth. This is of course, only a quarter of the things your father has asked me to see for him. But I think you get the picture."

"I... I think I've heard of you," said Satoshi uncertainly.

"Have you now?" cackled Kikuko, wringing her weathered hands together eagerly. "I'm known as Merlin to your father's King Arthur. I was hoping that his own son, might have heard of me.

"But I'm not here for him. You see, I've had a vision that concerns you. And I thought you might want to hear it."

"A vision? Like a vision of my future?" asked Satoshi. "Or of my past."

"A vision of the future, my dear boy. After all, what kind of soothsayer would I be, if I only told what has already occurred. But you see, kernels of truth are hidden in all planes of existence. Be it the now or the here after. My vision will be of a great help to you."

Suddenly Haruka grabbed him by the arm. "No, Satoshi. The reason you haven't heard of Lady Kikuko because she doesn't soothsay for others."

"Hush girl," said Kikuko none too kindly. "I'm making an exception for the Crown Prince."

Still Haruka persisted. Her grip on Satoshi's arm was almost painful. "You can't listen to her. Anyone she's soothsays for... Anyone who's not the king. They die. They all die. She predicts only death."

"Death?" said Satoshi.

"She speaks nonsense. I've predicted many great things for your father. And how could I still be his soothsayer if all I predict is death? Our king is still very much alive," said Kikuko.

"You predicted the death of the King's elder brothers. And the death of the Queen's sister. You predict the death of everyone's but the King! She's a walking bad omen, Crown Prince. Please don't listen to her."

"Such superstitious nonsense. Is this what the King's great Merlin is reduced to? Ridiculous superstition?"

"She predicted my father's death!"

Satoshi felt his heart go cold. He half expected Kikuko to try and refute this. But instead the old woman just sighed and leaned into her cane.

"I thought I recognized you, girl. How bothersome," She sighed again, as if Haruka's presence really had dealt her some hurtful wound. "But I'm afraid I really must tell the prince what I've seen. It's my duty to the kingdom after all."

"No!" Haruka cried. She leapt forward, as if trying to cover Satoshi's ears. But she didn't quite make it. A eerie violet glow enveloped her and froze her in place.

Satoshi looked from the frozen Haruka to Kikuko in shock. Kikuko had one hand outstretched enveloped in a similar glow. Then she flicked her wrist and Haruka crashed to the ground.

"Haruka!" Satoshi cried. Leaning over her, he could see the tears slipping down her cheeks. But her eyes were closed. He hoped she were only sleeping. He gave her a shake but she didn't wake up. Satoshi couldn't tell if she were breathing.

Satoshi rounded on the old woman.

"What did you do to her?" he yelled.

Your quest to harness Lightning shall be rewarded with Water's fire, began Kikuko. Her lips weren't moving but she was walking towards him. And her voice echoed all around. Each word carried a weight that seemed to burn itself into his mind.

And Satoshi realized, This is it. She's telling my future. And then, No, Haruka said I'll die if I listen! She's predicting my death!

Satoshi covered his ears with his own hands. A smile crept across Kikuko's lips, as if his efforts to block her out were merely cute to her, and still she advanced. She kept a measured pace in his direction.

The answers you seek rest in the words you will hire. Your passion for truth will end with a lie. An anchor will use your breath for goodbye.

Still the prediction persisted. Satoshi jammed his fingers into his ears, trying to block the sound out. But still it came. Snaking around and into his thoughts, as if he himself were making the prediction.

And in the end, when all comes to light...

"No, no stop!" Satoshi cried, scrambling backwards. He backed himself into the fountain's wall and couldn't go any further. "Stop it! Get out of my head! No!"

Kikuko was before him now. Smiling at him, like he were just a child. There was a blackness creeping at the corners of his vision. Satoshi fought it back. He struggled to regain control of his breathing. He tried to take measured breaths but yet control was slipping from him.

All he could think of were the final words of the prophecy. Echoing in his mind as he watched the same words form on Kikuko's lips.

"A Prince of Tokiwa will die in the fight."

And then the blackness claimed him.

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To Be Continued...
Please Read and Review!

Geez, this one took forever as well. I'm sorry for the long periods of time between updates guys. I also apologize if this one has a lot of mistakes. I haven't had much time to go back over it. So I just kind of posted it as is.

I know for awhile there, I said I had abandoned this story. And I can't say for sure that I'm going to be writing in this one as often as The Blind Alley. But I wanted to get this update up since I had it written anyway.

So... until I say otherwise, this story is still being continued.

Even if it takes me two years to update it again.

Next time, for sure, Satoshi sneaks into Tokiwa Forest to hunt for his own Pikachu. Stay tuned!