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In a strange place such as this, where the rules of what worked and what did not changed by the tunnel; where rules of engagement shifted based on unagreed rules, and where one’s enemy could be one’s ally in the spur of the moment. But for Kouji, none of these rules applied, it was always kill or be killed, eat or be eaten; especially in these tunnels.
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In these tunnels, even your own dreams, and thoughts were your enemies, he had been through it a couple of times already, and he hated it, he didn’t want anymore, but even now he didn’t want more. He was running away from himself, being driven to the edge. In a battlefield like this, it was always a matter of fighting. He didn’t need a reason beyond someone else standing opposite him, and sometimes that was all the reason one needed to cross fists, to clash pokemon, to draw swords and knives.
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But, sometimes that didn’t need to be the case, one’s own rules could be broken for a moment as he walked into the dream of another, to stand across from them, and find a bigger target worth tackling together. Kouji knew, the moment to step back and let someone else be the hero, maybe he should have been a stepping stone instead.
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But he shook that idea off completely as he heard the question being asked, a smirk appearing on his face, the cuts and bruises that littered his body; the clothes of his which were utterly torn, none of that mattered right now.
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It was time for bread.
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And he’d break some with his enemy. ”Of course.” He spoke with a snort before he hopped into the back of the van, crouching low, and holding a hand out to help the other man in. Two street rats that never grew out of being one, nothing more was needed to get along.



Sem et tortor consequat id porta nibh venenatis cras.

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Kouji Matsubara

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Kouji could not help but grin as he felt the pokeball’s weight in his hand, there was a definite pokemon in there. Was this gonna be like his Absol? A lifelong partnership, or was it like Deino, a pokemon that would never truly listen to him, one that seemed to dislike him, or rather, it looked down on him. His father’s pokemon, it had never truly been his own. But that was a simple matter really, he looked through, rifled through the mounds of pokemon that stood there.
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”Good good, I’ll keep gathering some more. Maybe there’s something here that’ll let us beat ‘em back.” He said as he slid more into his pockets, excitement brimming on his face, the tension of before was replaced by the excitement of a heist. This was the kind of thing he lived for. Maybe he’d get a good brawl out of it? Leave pokemon out of the matter, just a couple of men and their fists.
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Great, this was just great. ”Actually fuck that. We’ll just come out of here swinging. That’s what a heist like this is for. First you get the prize, and next is the chase, nothing is worth anything without a chase.” He said as he filled his pockets enough before turning around.
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A mere minute, yet it seemed that the Machokes were already there, dropping the pallets to take care of the thieves. Well trained pets, but that was all. ”Looks like we’re up. Go, Absol; lets show these bozos what’s up.” He called his beloved Dark Type pokemon.

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Kouji Matsubara

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Never settle for some huh? ”That’s a good motto, sounds like the kind of guy I’d get along with.” Leaving aside the fact that these two were getting along as well as two people could. It was strange, but comfortable regardless, he felt as if he was being filled with energy just by this.
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It was a small little stop in the day, but even so, Absol seemed to agree as the Machoke in front of them seemed to power up for a powerful strike of some sort, but he charged forward with a purple glow to his horn, aiming for the small lines he could see; that was the pressure points for that critical hit. Whether he hit it or not, he wasn’t sure, but it felt as if his horn was being guided towards it some what at least. And like a swordsman, his cut was clean, graceful, and yet somewhat psycho.
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Psycho-Cut, Kouji was proud of his pokemon; but the Machoke seemed to fall to a knee. ”No point in beating around, my boat is capsizing.” He said with a grin as he took a couple more into his hands, cupping them in his arms, and then jumping down; just as the sounds of shouts came, a few people already gathering to see just what the fuss was about, and the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps.
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But all that came from his throat was a youthful laugh as he looked down the way. ”Hey hey, lets get going.” It was now for the fun part, to make this all worthwhile.
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So he began to sprint, Absol in tow, and he was sure the guy…The guy?
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”Hey, what’s your name anyway?”

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Kouji Matsubara

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”Kouji, Kouji Matsubara.” He said as he looked back for a moment. That sprint, the feeling of one’s heart in one’s chest, blood pumping, and the feeling of the wind rushing through his hair. There was an energy surging through him, he couldn’t stop grinning as he heard the footfall of many a step behind them, rushing up to them. ”Hey, let’s take a jump.” He said as they rushed through the allyway, the fence coming up at the end of it.
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”Absol, give us a boost. Time it with me.” He said as he slowed down ever so slightly as his Absol rushed up to the fence itself.”

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Kouji Matsubara

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Kouji smirked as he barely managed to land properly, dropping into a roll, and recovering; scratching up his back even more but that was fine, it was worth it for the rush. It was something good, great even.
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”Yeah, already in, nice and comfy…Doing menial tasks.” He said with an overexaggerated flex, he gripped his bicep as he stood up properly. The two of them were in the middle of it all. ”But if we do face each other, I’ll be going all out, so don’t blame me if you end up battered and bruised, alright?” He said as he extended his hand, it was a simple interaction really, straight forward.
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He really wished more of today had been like this, then he wouldn’t be hurting all over, and he had only made it worse as he stood in there. But that was that, his worries were one thing, and memories were another. But this was the dream of another person.
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”So then, what’s next? This is yours right?” He said as he extended his arms, wondering just where they could go from here. They had gained their loot, now was to go through it completely. ”Time to check out what we’ve gotten our hands into.”

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Kouji Matsubara

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There it was, so this was the core of that dream. The core of the person named Milo too, and the cover that he wore. Kouji nodded at it. ”All of that sounds complicated, and I’m not good with complicated, but yeah; me and you will pull a raid off for sure.” He said with a grin, and he’d be sure to give him a good smack too if it came to it.
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That was why, when they had come to a stop; when it came to look over their goods, Kouji was worried about that singular black pokeball, it gave off a strange energy as he unfurled it. It was uneasy, uncomfortable, and not the kind of thing he wanted to touch so halfheartedly.
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”So, a girlfriend huh? Guess you were the bad influence her pops was so worried about.” He rolled back around to it, a smirk on his face as he side-eyed that black pokeball, as if it was trying to devour his perception, he didn’t want to deal with something like that right now.
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”Damn, to think her bad boyfriend would end up stealing his shit, and a dragon type on top of that. I’m so proud.” His voice was somewhat sarcastic, but he let go a laugh before he came to a sudden stop, his hand going for the black pokeball, finally.
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”Alright, this is giving me the heebies.” He said, the black ball lacked any yellow/gold, it wasn’t some kind of ultra ball, but it was different and he found that to be true as it started to change within his hands, as if shifting into a pokemon himself, darkness coalesced as Kouji had gotten rid of it as soon as possible.
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The ball expanded, grew bigger and bigger before it began to float, appendages began to grow from behind, three heads sprouted from it, and then it gained color, definition, pink appeared in parts with white dots floating within, like a sea of stars. It began to growl, before it released a deep mechanical roar. It reminded him of a Hydreigon, perhaps his Deino would become one, but not this time.
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No, not this pokemon, this was something else, it looked like it was made of metal, and the moment its eyes flashed into light, it reared powerful roar.

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The curiosity killed him. That black pokeball burned a hole in his retinas with its pitch-black, matte finish. That black pokeball... it seemed innocent enough. Milo
had done a number of custom paintjobs over the years. But this?!

Kouji Matsubara

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Kouji felt confident with someone else behind him, but at the same time the energy; the force radiating off that thing was beyond normality itself. It was a strange pulse; a powerful pulse that was almost forcing him back. It was a killing intent, no, intent seemed to signify a chance, a chance to survive; mere thoughts. No.
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This was killing certainty.
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He took a step back, it was a strong, terrible force, but knowing someone else had his back, even someone he had only met was enough to make him stand his ground. He gritted his teeth, this was interesting. Standing shoulder to shoulder against a big threat. ”Look, let's do it. I don’t think we’re out running this one. We’ll just have to dig in deep and pull out the win for this one.” Kouji said as he leapt back, a pokeball in hand, Absol would have to win it out this time, somehow.
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The other option…Was Scragg-no, Scrafty, it had evolved in the battle earlier, but it had also been injured, he didn’t want to bring him out if he didn’t have to. It was a dream, but he knew this…strangeness could be all consuming.
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”Let’s rock.”
And then a dark pulse shot out, towards Absol who had been hit the moment he entered into the world.

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