Yoku Najike

"Isn't he coming home today?!" the 10 year old Yoku asked, more of an exclamation than a question. She pressed her face up against the window and staired wide-eyed at the light dirt path leading into town, almost expecting someone to round the corner at any second. The path remained empty, however, and the only thing to walk around the corner was a lost looking Sentret who took one glance into the small town before turning tail and fleeing back up the road.

Yoku's mother walked up behind her and glanced out the window with a smile. "Yes," she replied, "he is. But not for a good four hours, and little girls can get a lot of cleaning done in that time if they do what they're told instead of looking out the window every minute."

Like any good 10 year old, Yoku just rolled her eyes, pulled the blinds over the window, and trudged to her room to do what her mom had asked. Once there, she climbed up onto her bed and looked out the window beside it, all notions of picking up long forgotten, replaced with excitement and anticipation.

----

Hurried voices approached the thick wooden front door, and Yoku stood wide eyed as the handle turned. The door swung open to reveal her mom and a young man with messy hair and a keen glint in his eyes and a Togetic on his shoulder; it was the person Yoku looked up to above all else: her brother. He was an ameture breeder who traveled to Kanto on a business offer from a large organization. He grinned down at her and tussled her hair. "Did ya miss me sis?" he asked with a laugh as Yoku tried to break out of his grip. Her mom held up a camera and snapped a quick picture of the laughing Yoku and her brother. Once the picture developed, she handed it to the young man and began to prepare their dinner.

------

"Tell me about Kanto!" Yoku demanded. Their meal had been eaten, and her brother had shared his travel stories well into the night. He made a large and theatrical yawn before glancing down at Yoku. "I think it's about time a little girl like you went to bed."

"But I'm not tired, and I want to hear about Kanto!" Yoku said, receiving a glare from her mom. Grudgingly, Yoku began pouting, but headed around the corner and to her room. She shut her door louder than was necessary, counted to 10, then quietly opened it and crept down the hall, listening for her brother's next story.

"-ot good. I'm afraid they're getting close. Togetic can't take much more, and they're bent on revenge. I just don't want Yoku to get hurt." Her brother's voice sounded solemn and scared, something that Yoku had never imagined it could be. Her brother wasn't afraid of anything. He was so strong and nothing could defeat him.

"What are you doing still up?" a voice suddenly asked behind her, and she jumped, looking up at her mom's stern face. She hadn't heard her mom get up. "There's nothing for you to hear, let us grown ups speak. Go to bed." Her voice was one of someone who meant business. Yoku sighed and dragged her feet all the way back down the hall and into her room, where she shut her door for real this time.

-----

Four days later, the first knock came at the door. Yoku ran to open it, but her mother grabbed her and ushered herself away from the entrance. "Don't open the door for a while until your brother leaves," she said with a frantic and wavering voice. "Just let them knock until they leave." Confused, but trusting of whatever her mom said, Yoku nodded and went to see what her brother was doing.

That night, Yoku heard something strange, an opening window. She could hear the gentle snores of her mom, and knew something was off. Curious, she skillfully and silently opened her door and crept out of her room to see what was going on. She managed to see a glimps of her brother slipping out the window and disappear out of the house. Doing what all good 10 year olds do, she slipped out the window too, following her brother to wherever he was going.

She followed him as he crept along the path out of town, and hesitated at its border. The sorrowful call of a Hoothoot almost made her jump, but she managed to stay quiet and not call attention to herself. They walked for a good hour until her brother suddenly stopped and quickly looked at all of his surroundings. His Togetic still stood on his shoulder and looked scared and worried. Luckily, Yoku managed to dive into a nearby bush before he spotted her. He didn't seem to be looking out for spying sisters anyway, the angry and apprehensive look in his eyes pointed to a much worse target.

"I know you're there," he said with a cold voice, and for a moment Yoku thought he was speaking of her, but the last part of his sentence proved otherwise. "Show yourself so we can finally settle this thing." Out on the other side of her brother, a figure in a black uniform stepped out with a grin full of malice.

The uniformed man grabbed a Pokeball and released a deadly looking Kanto Pokemon. It was green, spiked, and had long, scythe-like arms. It also had a look of blood thirsty rage, and eagerly glanced at the Togetic on Yoku's brother's shoulder. "Trators need to be taught a lesson," the man said, pointing toward the Togetic. "Kill it."

The green Pokemon didn't need any more of a prompt. It extended one blade and ran at Yoku's brother, who managed to grab his beloved Pokemon and roll away at the last moment. Togetic didn't seem to want his trainer to be hurt, and as if seeing the inevitable, he struggled out of his trainer's grasp and stepped in front of the bloodthirsty Scyther.

It happened in an instant: Scyther turned from the fallen trainer who was screaming for his Pokemon to run, but Togetic remained still. Tears gleamed in his eyes, and he smiled at his friend, being loyal to the very end, even if that loyalty was his end. "T-Tic," he said, his goodbye. Scyther's sharp blade pierced the chest of the small Pokemon, and it was all over.

The man returned his Pokemon with a smirk, and looked at the little Pokemon's body with a satisfied look. "Now you know what happens when you turn on Team Rocket. Just be lucky you got off easy this time." He turned back to where he came and disappeared into the trees, whistling a happy tune.

Not wanting to hear any more of her brother's anguished cries, Yoku climbed out of her bush and ran back home.

-----

A small drift of smoke from a candle crossed Yoku's face as she cautiously walked toward her grieving brother. Since what transpired the night prior, she seemed to have grown up fast, the agony of the real world stripped away her child-like innocence. Her brother glanced up at her, tears in his eyes. "You need to go," he croaked before turning away and not seeing if she left. He was kneeling in front of the little burial he had made for his lost friend and only partner. He had the picture his mother had taken of him and Yoku in one hand, and glanced from that before looking back toward the mound of dirt.

"I'm sorry, buddy," he whispered, another stream of tears worked their way down his face, "but I just can't be happy without you." The knife came from no where. In a blur of silver and a small gleam, it plunged itself into the boy's chest, just as Scyther's blade had done in his partner. His eyes turned dull and hollow, and his body fell next to the body of his Pokemon. The picture he had held was red with blood, and it only worsened the fact that Yoku's brother was now gone, and fallen right in front of her eyes.

-----

Months later, Yoku was ready to leave New Bark, the town, her home, and everything were just sour memories of the happiness she no longer had. The bloody picture was sadly stored in her bag to remind herself of her brother's memory. Feeling sympathetic, Professor Elm gave her a Cyndaquil in hopes that it would distract her from her grief. Though it didn't entirely work, it did strengthen Yoku's resolve to follow in her brother's footsteps as a breeder, and she vowed to be the the greatest she could to honor his memory. When they had gone through her brother's meager belongings, they had found a white egg with blue and red shapes sheltered inside his bag, and Yoku took it alon as well, setting off on her journey.

----

Having traveled for well over 6 years, Yoku finally seems to have gotten over the majority of her grief. The egg had hatched into a Togepi, and her Cyndaquil has evolved, liking her new form and not wanting to evolve into what she perceived as a 'hulking beast'. Yoku now is trying to fulfill her brother's dream, and who knows just where that will take her...

Pokémon: Quilava
Nickname: Dansei
Gender: Female
Level: 21
Moves: Tackle, Leer, SmokeScreen, Ember, Quick Attack, Dig [TM], Flame Wheel
Ability: Blaze
Personality: Timid, but very determined. She will try her best for Yoku, and can always help in any of her moods. Whenever Yoku is feeling depressed, she will sit in her lap and warm her up, reminding her of all she has and wants to accomplish. She doesn't want to evolve into a Typhlosion, she doesn't like the idea of being that bulky.
Exp: 3

Pokémon: Togetic
Nickname: Tamago
Gender: Male
Level: 18
Moves: Growl, Charm, Metronome, Sweet Kiss, Morning Sun [EM], Yawn, Encore
Ability: Super Luck
Personality: Always enthusiastic and hard to upset. He hates seeing anyone sad, and always is quick to cheer up anyone who's feeling down.
Exp: 12

Pokémon: Cubone
Nickname: Kodokuna
Gender: Male
Level: 1
Moves: Growl
Ability: Lightningrod
Personality: Quiet and shy, he's hesitant around new people and Pokemon, but will quickly warm up to them.
Exp: 0

Pokémon: Litwick
Nickname: Chiratsuki
Gender: Male
Level: 5
Moves: Ember, Astonish, Minimize.
Ability:  Flame Body
Personality: Childish and loves to play pranks. He is immature and often dislikes following orders or listening, and has an independent streak.
Exp: 0

Pokémon: Poliwag
Nickname: Kaeru
Gender: Female
Level: 15
Moves: Water Sport, Bubble, Hypnosis, Water Gun, Double Slap
Ability:  Water Absorb
Personality: Somewhat timid, but a strong and persistent personality nonetheless. She never gives up, and as long as she has friends by her side to encourage her to get out of her bubble, she can do many wonderful things.
Exp: 0

Pokémon: Roselia
Nickname: Yujin
Gender: Male
Level: 14
Moves: Absorb, Growth, Poison Sting, Stun Spore, Mega Drain
Ability: Natural Cure
Personality: Very loyal toward his friends, Yujin is a great companion for any team. He works well with others and remains enthusiastic as long as others are around him. However, he can get extremely lonely if he finds himself on his lonesome for too long.
Exp: 13

Pokémon: Flaaffy
Nickname: Staal
Gender: Male
Level: 15
Moves:

Spoiler:

Ability: Plus
Personality: Naive and absent minded, he often does not trust his own instincts. He lives for the moment, diversified in whatever he does. He loves life, and enjoys being the center of attention. He can be quite a good peace maker, and is very responsible and somewhat independent. He is very trustworthy and reliable. He has a generous nature, and is easily hurt by indifference. He can be aggressive.
Exp: 0

Pokémon: Nidoran F
Gender: Female
Level: 27
Moves:

Spoiler:

Ability: Hustle
Personality: Practical and traditional, this Pokémon is extremely reliable. Often very aware and well informed, she doesn't stray from the rules. She is very kind, outgoing and artistic in her own ways. She's always bringing out the best in others, harmonizing teams. Sometimes she seems very excitable, and nearly frivolous.
Exp: 0

Pokémon: Skitty [Shiny]
Gender: Male
Level: 1
Moves:

Spoiler:

Ability: Cute Charm
Personality: Such a mischievous little Pokemon, this newborn enjoys being playful and adores a belly rub. It adores contact with his trainer as well as running around playing with other Pokemon. Though it will battle if it is needed, to this young Skitty doesn't actually like full-on Pokemon battles and instead likes to show off his moves in a more contest-based style. He can become rather moody if his fur is dirtied showing that this Pokemon is rather hygienic.
Exp: 0

Pokemon: Purrloin (Shiny)
Gender: Male
Level:  16
Ability: Prankster – Status category moves have their speed priority increased by one.
Moves: Charm, Pay Day, Scratch, Growl, Assist, Sand Attack, Fury Swipes, Pursuit
Personality: Unruly and like much of his species, Purrloin is a charming criminal. He uses everything he has to get his way, but will put self-preservation above all else. Others can take the blame, and there is no shame in running away.
Exp: 0