Kapitel 48: Black and Blue

"Kubfu! use Cross Chop!"

Kubfu jumped from the ground as it chops a wood slab into two pieces with one slice. It immediately fell to the ground in a kneel-down pose as it watched the leftover chunk of the wood hit the hard soil.

"Alright, great job Kubfu." A male voice complimented the Wushu Pokemon. It was none other than Yoake. With the recent accident, he is wearing a blue swing to recover his broken right arm.

He decided to train his other Pokemon because for an unknown reason, Claudine's right arm is stiff, rendering it useless. Knowing that Sabrina is gonna be a problem for a weakened Claudine, he has no choice but to train his other Pokemon and out of all them, he chose Kubfu.

"How about we take a break?" Yoake suggested to the Pokemon since they've been training for the entire day. But instead of accepting its trainer's suggestion, it shook its head and continued on training.

"Come on… we've been here since morning, don't you think we should take a break?" Yoake groaned. The Pokemon ignored its trainer's request as it gets more wood to split it into two, once more.

"Fine. How about you and King train with one another." Yoake sighed as he decided to take out a Pokeball with his left hand. He was having a hard time adjusting to his left hand because it happened all of a sudden, him losing his right-arm forever weakened his capabilities to train and to throw anything.

Meanwhile, Erika and Leaf were watching them from a nearby window. Leaf was thinking about what she should do as Team Rocket's eyes are now fully locked into Yoake and Claudine and she was paranoid that if they managed to get their hands on the two, Erika noticed the paranoia that Leaf emits and she decided to calm her down.

"My Maids and I are planning to visit the newly opened Park at the city center, I was hoping that you and I could visit there and have some chit-chats?" Erika suggested to Leaf as she wants her to escape the paranoid and find serenity in her city. She took a sip from a cup filled with hot tea as she waited for Leaf's reply.

"And how about Yoake?" Leaf bickered. Erka already has a plan for that.

"I've already called Brock and Misty earlier, I told them to stay here and keep an eye out on Yoake while we visit the park." She assured her.

"Thanks Erika. I know you're worried about me but I really need to take a keen eye on Yoake. Last night, I couldn't even try to leave his room since at any moment, they could just kidnap him." Leaf explained to the specialist. Erika clearly noticed that both Yoake and Leaf didn't sleep last night and heard some arguing in their room.

"I can assure you Leaf. Brock and Misty would always keep an eye on him." Erika assured her. Leaf always entrusts Erika to Yoake since she's the only specialist who always keeps their word. She had some issues with Brock especially when they were in Fuschia city but with the current situation, she has to entrust them once more.

Leaf sighed as she decided to agree on the specialist's suggestion. She relaxes her back as she slouches for a minute to give herself some relief.

"Ahh Yoake, how's training Kubfu?" Erika greeted the trainer. She lifted her face as she looked at him and saw his face radiate tiredness and sleep deprived.

"I've never realized how Kubfu loves to train. I've tapped out and substituted for King." Yoake explained as he sat down on a nearby chair. It was clear that he was having a hard-time adjusting as he felt discomfort using his left-arm.

"How's your broken arm?" Erika asks him after noticing the discomfort he's having after taking a seat near to Leaf.

"Uncomfortable. I couldn't sleep last night because of it." Yoake said. It's clear that he wants to sleep but with the discomfort of his swelling right arm, he has to sleep facing the ceiling, which is something he finds irritating since he's used to sleeping on his side.

"I can't even do simple tasks like eating and drinking." Yoake ranted.

"How did you eat your breakfast then?" Erika asked in curiosity. Leaf made a small chuckle as Yoake blushed for the embarrassment that Leaf would give to Erika.

"I have to do the classic spooning." Leaf grinned as she knew that Yoake was embarrassed by it. Leaf notices Yoake and decides to tease the trainer to give herself some bright moments in these dark times.

"What? I always do that to you when you're young and ill. Don't you miss getting spoiled?" Leaf teased the trainer in a thinner and higher voice, a voice that Yoake hasn't heard for a very long time.

"I'm 12 Leaf, I can handle things on my own." Yoake argued as he covered his face, trying to hide his blush in front of the specialist.

"Well… with your current situation-"

"I know Leaf, I know." Yoake repeated. Erika giggled after seeing the trainer being teased by his babysitter. She finds it cute and very interesting as this shows how close Yoake and Leaf's relationship is.

"Getting spoiled huh?" Erika muttered after looking at the trainer. There was a smirk on Erika's face after hearing the two. She took another sip on her hot tea and continued on listening to two, closing her eyes as she let her thoughts get the best of her, nearly forgetting that Leaf is 6 years older than him.

Later that day, Misty and Brock finally arrive at Erika's house. They still wore their outfit when they met Yoake for the first time but with the minor exception of Misty having longer hair than before. When they showed up, they were surprised to see Yoake's right-arm in a cast. Erika never mentioned this and this made them wonder why they were needed in the first place.

"Alright. Don't worry Leaf, we'll keep an eye out on Yoake." Misty assures Leaf as she touches her hips with confidence.

Leaf sighed as she knows how clumsy Misty can be sometimes but Brock can balance things out but with the Fuschia city incident, she has to lower down her expectations. With Claudine bedridden after the painful swelling from her right arm, she just hopes that Kubfu will protect him.

"I just hope you two don't slack on the job." Leaf sighed. Erika was waiting for her in a nearby car, she was sitting in the backseat, wearing an autumn Kimono instead of her usual Yellow Summer Kimono.

Leaf went to Yoake and rested her arm on the trainer's left shoulder with a hopeful smile.

"Take care okay? If there's any problem, just call me, okay?" Leaf said to the trainer with a calm and soothing voice. Yoake chuckled as he was always prepared if things went for the worse or better.

"Haha. You're forgetting the person you're talking to. I always call you, in trouble and in relief." Yoake assured her.

She smiled once more and turned around as she headed to the car, entering it and sat near to Erika.

"Leaf, can you lower down the window for me?" Erika asks Leaf.

"Sure." Leaf said as she presses down a button and sees the window side slowly drops to allow Erika to talk to Misty and Brock in a clearer voice.

"Misty, I'll be having a visitor later. My maids will take care of it, just make sure he meets Yoake." Erika told her in a sudden rush as the car they're in slowly moves. Instead of Leaf being surprised, she was aware of who the visitor was.

As they left, Misty and Brock were dumbfounded as to who the visitor was. The two panicked as Yoake heads on to the back and he sees Nidoking on the ground, tired and panting for breath while Kubfu is still training. The Pokemon continues to punch the air even after Nidoking tapped out.

Yoake released a heavy breath as he shook his head after seeing King being tired for the first time.

"This Kubfu is very interesting, huh?" Yoake said to himself after seeing the unprecedented strength and persistence in the small Pokemon.

While looking at the Wushu Pokemon, he hears the two specialists arguing in the background, it is faint but he can feel the annoyance between the two. He rolled his eyes and headed to the direction where the two were arguing.

Later on that day, the visitor has finally arrived and it was a familiar face to both Misty and Brock but a stranger to the trainer. He was an old yet active man, he looks like your cool grandpa but more mysterious.

"Mister Fuji?" Brock said in enthusiasm after greeting him. He was wearing a purple polo, brown shorts, slippers, a golden watch from a famous Kantonese watch company and a mysterious book. He was holding the book on his left while his cane was on the right.

"ahh you two rascals, long time no see." He greeted the two with joy in his eyes after seeing the two specialists all grown up. It's been a long time since they met and after seeing the two specialists went from being teenagers to fully fledged adults with a promise of protecting Pokemon in their respective domain, it nearly brought him to tears.

"You two have grown up huh. Brock, I still remember you always being shirtless, inside and outside of your gym." Mister Fuji teased the specialist with nostalgia.

"Yeah, refreshing times." Brock said while scratching his head.

"Ahh Misty. How's dating huh? Have you seen any hot stuff lately?" Mister Fuji asked Misty with enthusiasm about her dating life.

"Well, had a broke up last week-"

"Wow, you never stayed in a relationship." Brock mocked Misty after interrupting her.

"Well at least I don't stalk Nurse Joy every now and then." Misty argued to Brock as the two were about to fight once more, Mister Fuji settled the two.

"Now now. There's no need to fight. I've heard that there's a lot of foreign men and women coming to this country, you two might find someone." Mister Fuji said. He's aware of the amount of good looking foreigners visiting the country and if the two specialists might find someone, that's a bingo.

"Right. Now where's the boy? Erika called me earlier and he wants me to take a look at this… Battle Bond." Mister Fuji asked the two as he wanted to meet the boy.

"Yoake!" Misty called out the trainer. He was on the far end of Erika's house as he was busy training Kubfu but after hearing the faint Misty voice, he realized that the visitor had finally arrived.

"Alright Kubfu. That's enough training for today." Yoake told the Wushi Pokemon. The Pokemon, surprisingly nodded as a response and listened to Yoake for the first time. The trainer is confused by this sudden change of response but for the Wushu Pokemon, after seeing him training him for the entire day, it was enough to give him some form of respect.

"Coming!" Yoake shouted as he and Kubfu headed to the origin of Misty's voice and upon showing up to them, he finally met Mister Fuji, someone whom Yoake idolizes the most for his caring nature towards Pokemon.

"Mister Fuji? It's so nice to meet you, My name is-"

"Yoake Katsuragi? I've heard many stories about you. I might say, ``I should be the one to be excited to meet a legendary trainer." The old man interrupted the trainer's greetings as he is well aware of the amount of fascinating rumors about him and added the fact that there is something else he knows about him.

"Your father, how is he?" Mister Fuji asked in concern. This sudden change of mood from Mister Fuji shocked everyone and with the addition of him being concerned for his father.

"My Father? Well, I'm not sure but he's fine, I guess." Yoake said in uncertainty. He was confused on why Mister Fuji is concerned about his father and began to think about what he learned last night. Did Mister Fuji work for Team Rocket? Does he have any connections with them?

"I see. May I ask where your Gardevoir is?" He asked the trainer.

"Sure." Yoake said as he guided Mister Fuji to their room.

As they open the door, Claudine is seen reading her favorite book with her telepathic powers as her right arm is too null to be used. Seeing her too weak to start using Battle bond, Mister Fuji looked at Kubfu and decided to give Yoake something special.

"I see. Well I have something for you to use." Mister Fuji said as he gave the book to the trainer.

"Uhh what's this?" Yoake asked Mister Fuji in curiosity after receiving the book with his left arm.

"This book contains every single thing you need to know about Pokemon. And there will be two scrolls at the end, choose only one and hand the book back to Erika tomorrow."

"Take care my boy." He said as he leaves as soon as he enters.

"Wait Mister Fuji, how about for lunch?" Misty insisted to the Mister as she doesn't want the prepared food to be wasted.

"No need. I just came here to give the book to Yoake Katsuragi." Mister Fuji paused for a moment and looked at the boy as he turned around once more and finally left.

He left as a car was waiting for him outside, he didn't turn around to look at the specialists as he entered it and finally left.

They were confused on why he left immediately and gave a book to Yoake. The two chatted for a moment as Yoake headed to a table with the book alongside Kubfu. He couldn't read it properly with only his left arm, so using a desk as a holder for his book with his left arm opening one page to another.

He sat on one of the chairs near the table, placed the book on top of the table, opened it with his left arm as he began to swiftly flip the pages to see any imagery. He reached a chapter about Kubfu and noticed that there were two scrolls in it.

One is filled with Black and the other is filled with Blue.

'Are these two the scrolls that Mister Fuji is referring to?' Yoake asked himself as Kubfu accidentally looked at the Blue scroll and began to luminate, as if it was evolving.

"Wait, you're evolving?" Yoake said in a state of shock as Kubfu slowly evolves into a taller and stronger Pokemon.

He was awed to see Kubfu evolved so fast and as the light slowly dims, the Pokemon is now in its true and powerful form, Urshifu.

After the Pokemon finally evolved, he immediately took out his Pokedex to see any information about this Pokemon that he had never seen before. He pointed the Pokedex to the Pokemon and to his surprise, there's no current information about it.

"What?" Yoake said in confusion as the thing that would give him key information about any Pokemon was rendered useless.

He sighed as he took out his phone, pictured Urshifu and began to search for any information about it. It didn't take long for him to find his answer…

"Urshifu… en evolved form of Kubfu. There are two known forms of Urshifu, Single-Strike and Rapid-strike style. The only way to identify its form is by looking at its headband and Knee-fur." Yoake said as he read the texts on his phone.

He looked at Urshifu and noticed that he was in a Rapid-strike form, a Water-Fighting type. The type that he wouldn't find useful against Sabrina.

He sighed as he decided to train no matter what.

Meanwhile, at the central park of Celadon City. Leaf watched Erika cutting the ribbon of the entrance of the park. Everyone clapped their hands as this new park symbolizes Celadon and its closeness to both Man and Monster.

After the ribbon cutting, Erika went to Leaf to comfort her as she saw the trainer's face making a doubt.

"So, still worried?" Erika asked Leaf.

"Yeah. I just hope Mister Fuji gave him the scroll of Darkness or Water to at least strengthen Kubfu into Urshifu." Leaf said. With Claudine being weak, she has to find a way to substitute her and Urshifu might be the answer to her worries knowing that she has her own Urshifu.

"It's a good thing he visited both towers." Erika said.

As the two continued their conversation, many journalists began to pile on to someone, it's as if someone important showed up in the central park, it was Karen.

The Pokemon champion ignored the piling journalists and headed to the two as she informed them something important.

"Ahh Leaf and Erika, listen I need you two to follow me." She told the two in a sudden hurry. The two were confused by this and followed the Pokemon champion while bombarding her with questions.

"What's the matter Karen?" Leaf asked the Pokemon Champion.

"Saffron is out of their mind. The Prime Minister signed a deal with a company called 'Macro Cosmos' to rebuild 8 stadiums as key-core of Gigantamaxing." Karen said in frustration.

"8 stadiums… for 8 specialists?" Erika asked the Pokemon Champion as she began to think that these stadiums will be used for gym battles.

"Yup. They even disbanded the Elite 4 to hype out that the league is now under control by the specialists." Karen ranted once more. She paused for a moment and took a deep sigh.

"I fear that this is the last nail for Mega Evolution's coffin." Karen knows how important Mega Evolution is to Kanto's culture and having it to be replaced by Giant Pokemons competing to gain hype and profited by companies to kill the magic of Pokemon battles. She fears that the worst has come.

"Does that mean…"

"Yup. Welcome to the era of Giants."