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”A senior is a senior.” Kouji said with a shrug as he leaned up against the wall, he wasn’t interested in smoking; even if his mind really wanted one he cut that feeling off.
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”Yeah, and no. The ones I’ve been to are known as Ultra Wilds, I ain’t really know all too much how things have happened. One of them was a mechanical kingdom, a buncha metal dolls, pokemon, and no humans, but signs there might’ve been once upon a time. The other one…”
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The borders, a place of death, where the spirits of the lost wandered, it might have been the place that people went to after death but…
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”The borders is an afterlife, people go there before…What’s after that, I don’t know much, but I did get possessed there, crazy place; utterly nuts. You should check it out, its super humbling.”

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Pon?
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”Is Pon a nickname or a species na-”
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It was a tearing sound, too loud and it also sunk into one’s bones, he knew the move well, and Kouji hated it regardless of what anyone said about it. Perish Song was a deadly move in groups, an ending of mutual destruction just made the whole weaker.
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Yeah, he couldn’t agree with this creature’s world just as he had thought before.
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”Thanks! I’ll pay ya back for it.” Kouji said as he took the heal, and applied it to his pokemon who could feel its full strength returning to it, sharpening its claws as they grew longer, sharper, harsher; a dance that was really for one’s mind more than anything else.
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”We’ll create the opening, finish it off.” He said before he Weavile nodded, dashing forward with shining claws, Metal Claw went to cut the Scream Tail, aiming for the small legs of the creature, and smashing into the floor; the ice type smashed upwards with the same claw causing rocks to shoot up, and hide the strike of its second hand.

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Kouji ran a hand through his hair as he looked at the cave, pulling out Dracovish and recalling Houndoom; the dragon fish wobbled around for a moment before moving in tow with the rest of them.
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One could feel the difference the moment they stepped into the cave itself, the air was moister, it was oppressively thick. It was almost like the cave of origins itself, but there was something else in the air as well.
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Kouji nodded, he didn’t really plan to slow down as their path was stopped yet his Dracovish stepped into the water for Kouji to ride upon. He didn’t even think to ask if his boss had a water type, but the Grunt brought out his Kingdra for Cillian to ride upon.
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”C’mon guys, lets cut across here real quick.” Kouji said, though his voice was quieter than before as he wanted to avoid the echo.
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”Paperwork huh? You wanna teach me how to do it, I never finished school, think it might be worth knowing.” He said offhandedly, talking of things to do after a fight always allowed his mind to fully concentrate on the kill itself.

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Sheer cold was a devastating move, even if it wasn’t a super effective type, the power of the move itself was enough to freeze Scrafty in place. Frozen solid in a block of ice, Kouji recalled him as fast as he could before he looked to Weavile, the pokemon was dealing with the hardest one of them all.
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A pokemon he hadn’t seen before, and its power was larger than the average, maybe it was because this Fernando Silph, gym leader and…Some kind of politician. Zygarde was a fitting pokemon.
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Weavile tried its hardest to try to knock the pokemon out, but Land’s Wrath struck in that moment knocking it upwards, Weavile felt its eyes rolling in its head before passing out in that exchange.
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”Tch. I really underestimated you man. The hell.” He talked as if he hadn’t just tried to assassinate the man. But Fernado Silph seemed to be prepared for all of it, as if the man had seen it before.
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”What tipped you off?”

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Ah.
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”Looks like you’re my senior. Those kinds of jobs are nice, my first job was having to join an invasion of Dewford while we fought over a rift to a parallel…Realm? While huffing on mist that makes you trip the fuck out.”
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Saying it aloud was almost cathartic, but at the same time it sounded absolutely absurd. He had fought before, he’d had pokemon battles before, but that was a painful day all around. Especially the long battle he had against Michael Navidson.
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”Money’s all well and good…But I’m here…” What was he here for? Kouji had been raised to become part of Rocket. He’d hoped to change the world through Rocket, but now?
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”Just doing my part, destroying our enemies where I can, and getting my ass kicked for when we need a fodder wall.” He said with a derisive snort. ”Happens more than you think.”

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”Cheshire? Are we already at the pet names stage?” Kouji’s mirth filled voice filled the alleyway for a moment. Still, as much as he enjoyed this back and forth, he did have some things to think about. He needed shock, force and it to be as gruesome as possible.
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”Forget the pokemon, go for the trainer. The biggest, meanest looking trainer.”
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It was that, functionally approving for them to go their separate ways. Kouji was ready to get into the mess, was she?
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”I’m sure you’ll be fine without big strong me for a moment.” He gave a laugh as he got ready to walk around the warehouse, to make his way towards the other side, his knife ready up his sleeve, and the other on a pokeball. He was going to go big, or go home, there were no other ways to do this.

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”Good to see you too, I’ve really missed ya.” He said as he fought down the chuckles, the laughter about to rumble through his body. ”It was also worth a shot, I’ll get you calling me that one day.” He returned that smile of hers with a smirk of his own, those golden orbs locked onto her clear blue ones. There was a shine there that was difficult for him to put into words.
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So he didn’t.
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He exhaled slowly through parted lips, hand extending out towards a berry tree as he plucked its fruit and threw it over his shoulder towards Airi. It wasn’t the type of action one could condone as an adult, especially after telling off a kid, but his back being to her made him hiding his ennui far easier.
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For most, his fake smiles and hollow laughter might have sufficed, but he didn’t count his bets with this person. Looking away from her meant he could afford not to think of better times, not looking at her allowed his thoughts to not stir for a moment. He could rely on his mind right now perfectly well.
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”So Miss Ranger Nurse, it is still Miss right? You didn’t go and have a wedding without inviting me did you?” He teased and deflected, everything he’d learn and learned was in regards to battle now. He didn’t have skills or knowledge that related to this side of the world anymore…
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A problem.
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”Though I did get stuck in a time slip, so I’d forgive you. Going from being nineteen to twenty three sure is tough, I do like the extra inch or two to my height.” He said as he turned, hand placed perpendicular to his hand, flat. It almost looked like a salute before he measured the difference in height between the two. It was a few inches, but.
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”Or did you shrink? Being a Ranger suits you a lot, but if you go and get shorter, it might be a problem?”

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It was a musical voice that reached his ear, in a familiar timbre; from a person he knew all too well. He turned his head only part way, his neck length white hair swayed ever so slightly, too coarse to move like silk, it remained mostly in place. His darkened skin seemed to almost glow as he fought down the smile that was bubbling up.
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”Aye, but we were smart enough not to get caught. If he tried to be sneaky, I might’ve felt like letting him go.” It was a voice interlaced with humour, but it also sounded hollow compared to before. His smile that threatened to split his face for a moment grew duller, more empty.
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Still, his attire couldn’t be said to fit the weather either, the tie and shirt he wore were the only things not in black; with the tie itself being a dark navy instead…Though the colour itself didn’t bring up any good feelings.
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In comparison, Airi was a far more bright sight, even if the coloration of her garments were as dark hued as his own. The type of person to catch the eye of an entire crowd, all in all a hell of a woman; men would jump over each other to sit next to her, and Kouji?
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”Who else would I be? I’m actually a guy called Kouma, hailing from Johto?” Kouji tried to tease her in return as he leaned back against the wooden fence, arms crossed over his chest. ”Been travelling the region, learning things, boring things really. Made a couple trips to Kanto.”
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As for Kouji, Airi Watanabe was someone that stirred up all manner of mixed feelings, but right now he could only feel the calm of a reunion. ”Heard you’re a ranger now? You’re really following in your pop’s footsteps.” Life had a way to cause people to drift apart.
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A stint in Juvie, and joining the war effort of another region did that too, but who was counting. Kouji himself wasn’t. As he turned his eyes away from Airi, and towards the berries he could only hum; he wasn’t about to reveal his allegiance to her. It was known, but he wasn’t publically marked, his wanted posters weren’t flying around. But…
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”I do like the name Kouma actually, you should call me that.” The first genuine smile he could hold.

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Calyrex. He still remembered that shape, that pokemon from back then, the way it had spoken into their minds before it had collapsed.
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The poisoned Monarch stood before him strong, protecting the princess behind him. Obstagoon wasn’t the best option, but it had been an option, so he would stick it through to the very end, until his own pokemon fell. ”You’ve got a stronger look to ya now. Surprised.” The praise which should have come from a joyous voice came out hollow, empty, just utterly tired.
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It wasn’t just the legendary but the way she carried himself.
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”Route sr.” He told his Obstagoon, the energy ball carried more energy and force in it than that delivered by normal pokemon. Obstagoon was forced to use Obstruct as its take down failed to hit a mark, yet the energy ball ground against the barrier that stood in its way.
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Until it almost threatened to break, cracking piece by piece until the energy ball crashed into Obstagoon’s gut, yet it gripped the energy ball as much as it could, crashing into a wall.
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"You're not gonna start blasting me with avatar powers now, are ya Princess?" He asked, just a little bit of concern leaking into his voice.

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Kokou, it was a name that came off the tongue rather easily, Kouji nodded before he extended a hand. ”I’m Kouji. Nice to meetcha.” He forced a smile onto his face, a grin that couldn’t fully reach his eyes.
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”Just tryna shoot the breeze while we’re on watch. You been around for long? Some shifts are boring, and during others you end up watching the sky being eaten up by pure blackness.”
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He hadn’t been in Rocket for the darkest day, but he could still remember just how utterly unnatural that had been.

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Preference for a hot summer huh? Then again, he had gotten used to sailing the seas after a certain point in time. Kouji was not someone that could enjoy the heat, nor the cold particularly much. He preferred neutral weather, neither hot nor cold, neither sunny nor overcast. His preference was utterly vanilla in that sense.
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Vanilla was safe.
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”The summer fits ya, whether at a festival, or performing inside. It’s better to have the energy to match with the weather.” Kouji said as he uncrossed his arms over his chest. He held his chin between his thumb and index for a fraction of a moment. A hum rolled up his throat before the sound sat in the air for a second.
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”No security huh? How are we supposed to chat if it ain’t through work, don’t ya think it’s a lil too depressing after our amazing burgeoning friendship.” While he delivered it in a deadpan, his voice was filled with mirth. ”The paycheck helps too.”

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