[attr="class","text"]Kouji got on the boat, it was simple enough to go north, but this place really was strange; the ferry was one thing, but the mist that began to roll in was another, strange lights within that mist and flickers.
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”The ship’s one thing, but the hell are those?” He hadn’t been to the boundary before, whatever this strange realm was. Yet as he looked out, he could only really see the flickers increasing and growing, growing closer.
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”Don’t ya think those things are awfully close?”
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Kouji could only release his Houndour to intercept Reiner; he wasn’t stupid nor foolhardy enough to take on a pokemon. He had his hands full with Eris, who he knew to be stronger than she appeared.
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”You’ve been awfully quiet? That scared?” He wondered, was it her actual self, or was it because of that dream which had everyone utterly destroyed. He could never really tell, but he didn’t have the time.
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His hand went out to her free one, to pull her by both. The surroundings weren’t too interested, but they were looking. How much time did he have? He couldn’t really be sure of that, he never was really aware of those kinds of matters.
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Yet it wasn’t important.
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”I ain’t gonna hurt you.”
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The first lie.

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Kouji stared forward, moving through the gaps in the trees, every step was swift, his past was different to Hitoshi’s, he could tell that much but at the same time…
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None of that really mattered, motivations, past, drive, right now there was only what was in front of them. No great plan, no great resolution, it was the simple stuff he enjoyed the most, diving right into the thick of it.
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The first splatter had caught his attention, but it was the stare of the Bisharp that glowered from behind him, lowering defence, and the pressure it released. Kouji wasn’t paying attention as he aimed directly for the arm of a nearby trainer, the knife flew through the wrist like butter; and the pokemon landed in his free hand, Bisharp was ready behind him, flying forward with it’s sharpened head aimed at the pink sparkles that were pointed at Kouji.
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The starry scenery was replaced with that of a horror movie.
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”Let’s wrap this up quickly.”

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Kouji wasn’t just talking for no reason, well, partly, he found himself slipping back into old habits by well…Habit.
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It was comfort, that was what it was, but it was crushed by a subtle movement, that of a hand reaching somewhere. His hand dashed forward, while the other went to his own pocket, pokeball in hand.
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Her Luxray didn’t like him afterall.
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”Haaa. Really? I might be stupid, but I sure ain’t dumb Eris, is it that weird knife of yours? Gonna kill an old comrade in broad daylight?” He was the one trying to do the same, so there was no real vitriol in his statement.
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But it didn’t stop him from trying to drag her off, and away, to the alley he had recently been occupying.

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”Aye, sure thing, Blacky.” Kouji’s voice was pretty even, they were going in for blood, nothing else. That was the thing he liked about Hitoshi, the man didn’t play around, and he wasn’t soft. That was something he could appreciate, he liked the others too, but…
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They were far too squeamish about some things.
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But not here.
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He brought out his flick knife, it was ornate really, the handle especially with the large gemstone engraved in it; it wasn’t some sentient ghostly sword, but it did the job and he was well balanced with it. ”Got my knife, and my sword.” He said as he brought out Bisharp, who sharpened his arms against one another.
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It was a good pokemon, and he was sure that it would be able to perform well, but beyond that. ”We’ll need to be pretty fast.

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A new partner, Kouji had grown leery of working with new people.
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The inflexibility of the wizened old grizzled man.
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It was a shame he was none of those things, and the feeling of being one grew more faint with each passing day, the fires of youth burned, but with time that would bring back the ignorance of someone who had nothing to lose.
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He’d make sure that didn’t come back again.
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Still, for partners he could do worse than Hitoshi, a man who didn’t recall names. His Golden eyes waited for the man, his back placed against the tree. ”Psychic meeting huh…”
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Still, there was the underlying excitement of being out on a mission again, to move his body again. ”How you wanna do this? Bloody and messy, or clean and out?”

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It was a moment of silence.
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But he broke it as quickly as it was formed, he stepped forward, his steps were calm. ”Fancy running into you here. Thought they’d have kept brats in a pen or something.” The usual barb that lacked the usual energy, there was something that bubbled beneath the surface that he kept contained.
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The crowd was a check. ”Ever-Grande, huh? Didn’t think you’d be living in such a nice place like this.” Making a scene here, in this city, he’d be taken down in a moment. So he kept his breathing paced, simple, even, as he stopped only a meter away.
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”Heard from the grapevine you stayed here once, thought I’d check it out again. I just lucked out and found you.”

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Miracles occasionally happened, Kouji Matsubara didn’t believe in them, he knew better than to trust in them, and he never once expected them. But he didn’t dismiss their existence, just not around his vicinity, Eris Halla was a person who had survived the jump multiple times, but she had survived from what he knew.
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It might have been a miracle, it was what he thought when he had first met her, but she was smart, but annoying. But as much as he hated to admit it, she did things pretty well, and he gradually came to realise that wasn’t a miracle, just hard work.
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Having a hardworker leave was a hit to the Team, but he was sure others didn’t feel it like he did, he’d worked alongside her a great number of times, spent a fair amount of time with her, and now.
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Kouji stood at the edge of the alleyway, he knew that Luxray; but more importantly, he knew that girl; his golden eyes caught onto her straight away. A professional should have tailed her, but Kouji wasn’t that.
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Not just yet.
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”Eris.” His voice peaked up over the sounds of others, over the movement of others.

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Kouji ran his coarse hand through his white hair, dry and wiry. Nestled amidst the soft blades of grass, he found an uneasy comfort. Yet, the stillness hung heavy, an oppressive silence that was occasionally broken by the sound of a passing pokemon. The world seemed trapped in a tranquil lullaby, painting boredom across his senses with gentle strokes. Despite having witnessed his own growth these passing months, patience was not a trait that had grown easily, even patience with himself.
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The berries made it easier, but even that was easy enough. Yet a voice brought him from his musing, golden eyes met golden, a smirk almost danced at the edge of his lips before his expression fell. ”I ain’t really the kinda guy who goes picking for strawberries. I was trying out this meditation thing…But I can’t do it. I quit.” He said as he stretched, feeling the popping of his joints before he brought himself up to his feet.
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”I was just stuffing my face anyway.” His tone was gruffer than his face or age should have suggested, but there was a bit of force to it. Habits that didn’t fit the body he was in.
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”Kouji, what’s your name?” He said with a raised eyebrow, he felt like he should’ve known her name? As a hidden idol fan, this might be a shame of his, but he pushed that down.

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”And keep yours on, Navy.”
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Kouji said with a smirk, a sound, and energy closer to his normal; it was calming talking to his enemy. It was a strange kind of back and forth, where one could say things to one’s enemy. Kouji’s pondered on it before.
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”I’ll see you around next time, if you’re still around.”
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Then again, he was working on this set for a little while, he’d see that man around even if he didn’t really want to.

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