One of the main reasons Raikou agreed to travel with him might have been the fact that Kashiwagi had never once reached for a Poké Ball in an attempt to capture it.
As the Legendary Beasts, Ho-Oh's personal guard, had long been the target of countless Trainers. Usually, they would accept a challenge only to use their sheer combat prowess to crush a Trainer's delusions, leaving behind nothing but a fleeting silhouette as they vanished.
In short: Admire from afar, but do not touch.
Kashiwagi watched Raikou as it maintained a strict distance, padding slowly through the mist-shrouded mountain forest. He could practically feel the aura radiating from the beast: "Don't pull out a ball. If you pull out a ball, we're done."
He was certain it wasn't just his imagination. Earlier, when he had used a Poké Ball to recall Blissey, Raikou had stared intently at it. If he didn't know better, he'd have thought the legendary Pokémon wanted to get inside one itself.
"I didn't notice before, but you're actually huge, aren't you?"
Kashiwagi tried to strike up a conversation. Raikou didn't answer, giving him only a cold, aloof glance.
With a shoulder height of nearly 1.9 meters including its head, it stood as tall as a magnificent stallion, yet its limbs and body were several times thicker. Its streamlined muscles and mottled, tiger-like pelt gave it a terrifying sense of presence.
When it had been lying down, it looked like a small hill; standing up, it was even more imposing.
"Watch your step. Don't get those bandages too wet. If they get dirty or loose, I'll have to wrap them all over again," he added.
Raikou remained silent, even letting out a bored yawn. It was the peak of arrogance.
It reminded Kashiwagi exactly of the tuxedo tabby cat he'd owned in his past life—the kind that wouldn't let you within a meter of it unless it was mealtime, and would walk right past you without so much as a glance.
It clearly had no grasp of its status as a pet, treating the person providing its daily food not as a master, but as some kind of sucker.
Kashiwagi had grown accustomed to Pokémon that were either overtly affectionate or "tsundere". Especially with Zweilous, who acted like a pair of puppies wanting to be glued to him 24/7, encountering someone this cold was a bit strange—
And yet, intriguing.
That's just how humans are sometimes.
...
They eventually arrived at the Ranger's hut.
The iron cages near the cabin were empty. A new Ranger and a Ludicolo were busy cleaning and dismantling the equipment. Four Drifloon hung under the eaves, eyes closed as they soaked in the fresh, damp air following the rain.
As wild Pokémon that usually only appeared during wet seasons, this post-storm period was likely their favorite time.
Suddenly, one of the Drifloon looked toward the woods and spotted Kashiwagi and Porygon emerging from the dewy brush.
"Dree~!"
At its cry, the other Drifloon opened their eyes and fluttered forward happily.
"Dree~"
"You guys are still here? Were you waiting for me?"
Kashiwagi smiled, pleasantly surprised. He squeezed their little heart-shaped hands and looked at the new Ranger nearby. "Sir, are these Pokémon native to this area?"
Usually, when Officer Jenny handled Pokémon rescued from poachers, they were released on the spot if possible. If not, they'd be returned to their original habitat or put up for adoption.
If all else failed, they went to a protected reserve.
"Actually, no," the Ranger he had rescued earlier said, stepping out of the hut with his gear packed. He smiled warmly. "They insisted on saying goodbye to you before they'd leave."
"Oh? Are they flying back on their own?"
"Not quite. I've arranged with Officer Jenny to take them back to Sinnoh myself." The Ranger pointed to himself proudly. "Don't let my age fool you; I traveled every region in my youth. I'm heading to Hearthome City to recover from my injuries anyway."
"Pffft!" The new Ranger nearly choked on his laughter. "Give it a rest! All you do is brag!"
"Ludi-colo!" the Pokémon chimed in, laughing along.
The old Ranger's face turned red. "What do you mean 'brag'?"
"You know exactly what I mean."
The two began bickering like old friends.
Kashiwagi turned his attention back to the Drifloon, patting their heads. Though their time together had been short—and had started with a fight over their "abduction" attempt—they had bonded over the universal language of a good meal.
Wild Pokémon in this world were often quick to form attachments to humans. It could be a meal, a battle, a rescue, or even just a compliment for helping find a pair of lost glasses.
It was a far cry from the "run-on-sight" aggression of the ancient wilds.
"See you around!"
Kashiwagi patted each of their heads and pulled some Pokéblocks from his pocket and handed them over.
Fortunately, he had plenty of supplies, supplemented by wild herbs and berries he found along the way. Otherwise, his pockets would have been empty long ago.
"Dree~"
The Drifloon happily finished their treats.
A moment later,
the Ranger loaded them onto an inflatable raft and set off down the creek. Kashiwagi stood at the edge of the forest, watching until the raft vanished around the bend.
"Travel is just a cycle of meetings and partings, isn't it?"
Feeling sentimental, he looked at Porygon and Raikou, who was lurking in the shadows of the trees. "Don't you agree?"
"Pah-ree~"
"...Roar."
Raikou, usually silent, actually gave a response.
Evidently, in its long journey across many lands, it too had encountered a few figures it regretted leaving behind.
Now, seeing the Drifloon waiting for so long to say goodbye to Kashiwagi, its perception of this human was refreshed, and it couldn't help but feel a pang of longing.
It wondered how those people were doing now...
Raikou stood up slowly and began walking toward the dense mountain forest. Its respect for Kashiwagi had grown. Initially, it had only agreed to follow him due to a specific reason and the hope of a faster recovery. Now, it felt it had made the right choice.
Even if this guy is weird and a little annoying, he's a great cook. And he's kind to every Pokémon.
Yes... the food is definitely good.
Raikou viewed this as a trial of fate granted by Ho-Oh. To walk the earth as a messenger, punishing evil while maintaining a distance from humanity—yet never fully severing the connection. That was the way of the Guardian Beasts.
Its hind legs coiled, and it leaped like a graceful giant cat onto a moss-covered rock.
Then, Kashiwagi's voice rang out.
"Uh, Lavaridge Town is behind you. You're going the wrong way. Also, watch your bandage—it's about to fall off..."
Raikou froze mid-motion.
"Roar..."
It turned around, pretending nothing had happened, and lunged onto a large tree as if the previous direction had merely been a detour to gain momentum.
Creeeeak... snap...
The tree branches groaned, protesting the weight of a legendary beast they were never meant to carry.
A teasing smile tugged at Kashiwagi's lips. He was about to crack a joke when he caught a glimpse of a pair of very unfriendly eyes glaring through the leaves.
Those wide, crimson, vertical pupils were genuinely terrifying.
He promptly shut his mouth.
...
...
Evening set in.
Kashiwagi set up camp on a tidal flat near the riverbank.
Raikou, still playing the part of the aloof legendary, initially picked a patch of grass over a dozen meters away to lie down. It maintained a perfect distance, a silent warning that it was not his Pokémon and he shouldn't get any bright ideas.
However, its stoic isolation didn't last long. Blissey, ever the diligent nurse, wouldn't stand for a patient being so far away and practically dragged the beast to a closer spot.
"Roar..."
"Happy!"
Blissey looked at it with extreme seriousness. She might yield on many things, but when it came to health, she wouldn't give an inch!
Raikou sighed in resignation. Before the pink medic could grab it by the teeth again, it obediently curled up on a blanket Blissey had laid out—admittedly, it was a bit more comfortable than the grass.
"Zwai!" "Zwai!"
Zweilous waddled over, sniffing Raikou intently. A look of genuine shock appeared on his faces half-hidden by their messy fur.
Usually, Zweilous gauged strength by scent, a method that had never failed him. Yet today, the radar was broken. He couldn't tell if this big guy was strong or weak.
Should we... take a bite to find out? If the smell was vague, maybe the taste would be clearer.
"Zwei—" "Zwei—"
Just as the two heads opened their maws, he caught sight of the bandages on Raikou's body. His both heads swiveled toward Blissey, who was currently chopping vegetables nearby. She wore a "gentle" smile while her knife blurred in a rapid-fire rhythm.
Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak!
Vegetables were instantly reduced to fine shreds.
Looking at the fate of those poor vegetables, Zweilous's heads slowly and silently closed their mouths. Curiosity required a price, and that was a price he wasn't sure he could pay.
Everyone knew that while Zweilous appeared to be the favorite on the surface, Blissey was the true authority.
Whatever she wanted, the Trainer provided. No matter how big she grew, there was always a spot for her on the bed, and whenever Kashiwagi had a "fit" of affection, she was his first stop.
Discretion being the better part of valor, Zweilous backed away and went to bother his Trainer instead.
"..."
Raikou watched the strange two-headed creature, not quite understanding what it was doing, but since it had a high tolerance for other Pokémon, it simply pretended not to see anything.
Scanning the rest of the team, its gaze shifted to a silver, spiky giant—Aggron—who had just plunged into the river. Despite having no fins or flippers and looking like a Rock-type, he swam with surprising grace. A purple fish, Feebas, swam alongside him.
On the shore, a cute Mawile was spinning on one foot for some reason. An oversized Steelix, a Ground-type, was somehow flying through the air.
Wait? Is that a rock? Why is it floating? Is that a Pokémon too?
Raikou's eyes moved from the Galarian Corsola to Porygon. It remembered this was the one that had disabled the crystal system... but it was a species Raikou had never seen before, with a very bizarre shape.
And Blissey... it really didn't want to mention her, the less said about her, the better.
Raikou crossed its paws, rested its massive head on them, and closed its eyes to rest.
I guess it makes sense, it thought. A weird person should have a pack of weird Pokémon. Seeing that it wasn't just that one strange creature, it felt relieved.
Besides, since it was already on this "pirate ship," it decided to stop overthinking things.
Before long, a soul-stirring aroma drifted into its nostrils.
"Dinner's ready!!"
Kashiwagi's shout made the ears hidden beneath Raikou's white mane twitch. Following the chorus of excited cries from the other Pokémon, it opened one eyelid to find a massive bowl of food placed right in front of its nose.
"This is your portion. If it's not enough, just let me know. For you, it's all-you-can-eat."
Huh?
What do you mean, "all-you-can-eat"?
Raikou looked around and noticed that even Aggron and Steelix, who were much larger than it, had smaller portions. The two-headed one had two bowls, but they were only half-full.
"They have to control their intake—smaller meals more frequently helps them grow better," Kashiwagi explained, sensing its confusion. "Go ahead, eat up."
"Roar..."
Raikou didn't fully grasp the science, but it was surprised to see the other Pokémon. Despite clearly wanting more after finishing their bowls, not a single one tried to raid the cooking pots for the leftovers.
Pokémon are usually slaves to their instincts, especially hunger.
Being able to make his team suppress those desires proved Kashiwagi was an exceptional Trainer—at least in terms of breeding and discipline.
If he's this good... why hasn't he tried to catch me?
It wasn't that Raikou was being narcissistic; it had simply encountered far too many Trainers, strong and weak, whose only goal was to put it in a ball.
Maybe... he's just worried about my injuries?
Looking at Kashiwagi, who was laughing in the middle of his Pokémon, a seed of curiosity toward this strange human began to take root in Raikou's heart.
...
After dinner, Raikou—who had polished off a literal bucket of leftovers—lay down to rest. It hadn't been polite at all; it ate everything offered, its stomach seemingly a bottomless pit that didn't even bulge after the feast, much to the envy of Zweilous and Steelix.
Kashiwagi finished the dishes and, instead of starting training immediately, sat down in front of Raikou for a chat.
"Say, I haven't seen you lick your fur or your paws once. Do Legendary Pokémon not groom themselves? Is that why your fur doesn't have a scent?"
"..."
Raikou lifted its eyelids, giving him a look of utter exasperation.
It was hard to explain its physiology to this "curious kid," and it certainly didn't want to discuss something so trivial.
Undeterred by the silence, Kashiwagi continued, "Can I touch your head?"
"Roar~"
Raikou bared its razor-sharp fangs, making it clear: You try, I bite.
"What about your face? This part is fur, not a plate—Whoa!"
Kashiwagi jerked his hand back just in time. This guy really followed through on its threats! For a member of Ho-Oh's guard who supposedly fought for justice, it sure was stingy.
"Tch." Raikou turned its head away disdainfully.
Feeling a bit dejected, Kashiwagi quietly circled to the side and reached for its back instead.
Raikou: "..."
Is this human ever going to stop being annoying?
Its wild instincts screamed to swipe at him, but its reason won out. It was a Guardian Beast, after all; it traveled the world to maintain order. It could handle a little petting.
Fine, let him touch.
He's just a human child, Raikou thought, trying to soothe itself.
But then, a wave of tingling numbness surged from its spine straight to its brain. Its paws splayed, claws extending instinctively, its fur tightened, and its head snapped back.
"ROAR!?"
Its eyes flew open in disbelief. It tried to stand up, only to find its legs felt like jelly.
"Don't get excited. It's just a standard technique. I'm a professional," Kashiwagi chuckled, continuing to apply pressure to specific sensitive points along Raikou's spine.
If possible, he wanted to rub the belly, but he was afraid an embarrassed Raikou might accidentally electrocute him to death. So, he stuck to the upper spine, avoiding the lower back. He had glanced at "certain areas" earlier—no "equipment" to speak of. Not even a pouch.
He increased the pressure slightly. This "big cat" was sturdier than a regular Pokémon; he could really dig in without worrying. Legendary Pokémon truly were built differently.
"Hooo... roar..."
Raikou stretched its claws out in a mix of humiliation and pure pleasure. It was thankful none of the other Pokémon were watching, or it would have lost its mind.
Hundreds of years, and this was the first time it had ever been treated like this. It was a bizarre mix of novelty and embarrassment.
After a while, Kashiwagi withdrew his hands. He sniffed his fingers—nothing but the faint scent of earth from the fur. No animal musk at all. Truly miraculous.
"I'm off to train the team. I'll come back to 'serve' you later," he said, patting Raikou's foreleg.
Raikou didn't want to speak. It just flicked its tail irritably. A total stain on its dignity as a legendary beast. It hadn't even flinched when humans hit it with those "shimmering bombs," yet two minutes of petting had turned its legs to water.
Raikou went into a bit of a self-imposed "emo" mode.
Occasionally, it would peek an eye open to watch Kashiwagi training.
The more it observed, the more it realized how talented he was. It wasn't just about raw power; it was the synergy between him and his Pokémon. They didn't need many words or complex commands. They just moved together.
Even a single look or a simple gesture was enough for those Pokémon to understand Kashiwagi's intent, executing his requests to perfection.
It spoke volumes of the sheer effort they put in day after day, a display of synchronization that felt almost telepathic.
Raikou let out a yawn, looking like a lazy, giant cat.
In the distance, Kashiwagi kept glancing its way. He was tempted to ask Raikou to help out with the training, but considering how much the poor beast had been through during the day, he decided to let it be.
To be honest, with a Legendary's natural healing factor, those wounds—though dramatic—shouldn't take long to mend as long as it had enough energy.
Once they hit the hot springs in Lavaridge Town, it would probably recover even faster.
Which means I really need to take advantage of this time to pet it to my heart's content, Kashiwagi thought.
Although he didn't harbor any delusions about catching Raikou, but he couldn't pass up the chance to get close to a Legendary. These creatures carried a special aura around them.
What Pokémon fan didn't love Legendaries and Mythicals? He certainly did—every single one of them.
...
As the practice session ended, Blissey hurried over to the drowsy Raikou without missing a beat.
"Happy~"
"Roar?"
She completely ignored Raikou's confusion and began unraveling its messy, dirt-caked bandages. This big cat had a habit of taking the path less traveled, and given its size, it was constantly brushing against branches and rocks. No matter how well he wrapped it, the bandages were trashed within half a day.
Plus, it was time for fresh medicine.
Faced with a Blissey who clearly wouldn't take "no" for an answer, Raikou had no choice but to let her work.
It wondered what kind of karmic debt it was paying to have run into this duo—they had it completely wrapped around their fingers, and it couldn't even find it in itself to get angry.
"ROAR!"
Suddenly, Raikou's eyes snapped wide. It let out a sharp bark at Blissey, who was trying to get it to roll over on its back.
Exposing the belly? Absolutely not! That was where the dignity of Ho-Oh's guard stopped!
It turned its head to see Kashiwagi creeping closer and began to bare its fangs. "Grrr..."
"Just helping! Just a helping hand, don't get excited," Kashiwagi said with a breezy smile.
He had planned to use the medicine change as a cover to get in some quality petting, but the beast had spotted him instantly.
"ROAR!"
Raikou made it clear: no more touching. At least, not for today.
"Alright, alright..." Kashiwagi sighed in disappointment.
His gaze lingered on Raikou's chin and forehead. It was a shame those spots were off-limits; he was 100% sure he could make the big guy roll around in bliss if he could just get a hand on them.
He was supremely confident in his soothing techniques, which were refined from the skills of an old rancher.
I wonder if I can find some Catnip or Silver Vine on the road, he mused. If I rub some on my hands, Raikou's "aloofness" would crumble in a second.
He refused to believe Raikou was as impenetrable as a solid rock.
Before bed, Kashiwagi extended an invitation to the big cat. "Want to come into the tent? It's way more comfortable than out here!"
Raikou gave him a look of pure ice. I'd have to be insane to go in.
...
...
The next morning, Raikou woke up early, well before dawn. It took a lap through the woods, found a high point to roar at the sky, and stretched its muscles.
It could feel its wounds healing at an incredible rate. Was it that medicine Blissey applied? Raikou wasn't sure.
When it returned to the camp, it found Kashiwagi already awake and preparing breakfast.
"Oh, you're back? Come eat. Things are a bit sparse since we're low on ingredients, so we'll have to forage a bit on the road today," Kashiwagi waved it over.
"..."
Raikou paced forward, observing the bustling camp. It had assumed the others would still be asleep, but everyone was already up and the food was ready.
"What are you waiting for? Eat up! We're hitting the road as soon as we're done. At our current pace, it'll still take a few days to reach Lavaridge," Kashiwagi urged when he saw Raikou dawdling.
Hearing this, Raikou simply leaped over. It cleared the ten-meter gap with effortless grace.
"Whoa! Talk about vertical!"
Kashiwagi looked on in awe as he set the bowl down. "Eat as much as you want. I made plenty today, definitely enough to fill you up."
"..."
Raikou didn't say a word, simply lowering its head to eat. The food was, as always, delicious.
A playful glint appeared in Kashiwagi's eyes. He was confident that if they kept this rhythm up, Raikou would eventually fall into the habit—just like Galarian Corsola did.
Once that happened, he'd be able to pet it wherever he wanted.
And he was right.
Over the next few days of trekking, Raikou's resistance to his petting faded from blatant rejection to begrudging tolerance, and eventually, to a hint of enjoyment—perhaps even anticipation.
It also started showing up right on time for meals. And it started making requests.
That's right. This majestic, legendary beast had started picking out its favorite dishes.
Kashiwagi watched Raikou, his lips curling into a satisfied smirk.
Finally, after days of crossing mountains and valleys, a breeze carrying the faint, sharp scent of sulfur brushed against their faces.
They had reached the vicinity of Mt. Chimney, the largest volcano in the Hoenn region.
Lavaridge Town was finally in sight.