9th Card

[notakaijuu]

[ The feed comes on to show Sakura sitting against her Arcanine. In her arms is a large Clefairy doll. Her grin is bright and she appears to be doing much better than she was the last time she came on the network. ]

Hi everyone! Um, I don't know who sent me this. [ She holds the doll out towards the 'Gear. ] There was a note, but it never said who sent it. But, whoever did, thank you! It means a lot to me.

Oh, and the TM, too. [ A pause. ] Kero-chan can learn it, so I'll probably teach it to him. Then I can be protected from the g-ghost Pokemon.

[ A slight look of uncertainty crosses her face. But when her Arcanine nuzzles her side, she smiles again. ]

So, to whoever did this, thank you! Thank you a bunch!

[ Then she leans forward and cuts the feed. ]

Comments

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

Ah, you're Chitose-san's traveling partner, aren't you?

[He'll just be playing this one perfectly innocent, thanks.]

Congratulations on your secret admirer.

[elysiontoabyss]

Scared of ghosts, are you? Nyeheh.

But all they are are people who just died. And dying's as natural as breathin', eh?

[Video]

[ekanstongue]

[Harry'd never been afraid of ghosts, but he could remember some of the other first years had been a little wigged out.] Ghosts aren't that scary if you get to know them. They're like you and me.

video;

[notakaijuu]

Oh! You know Miyuki-chan?

[ And then a wide-eyed look. ]

Admirer? I-I don't think it's an admirer. Just somebody really, really nice!

[notakaijuu]

Ghosts are scary! [ Pouting slightly now. ]

S-stop it. I-it's not....

[elysiontoabyss]

Lots of things in life is scary. I think it's actually sad that those poor people couldn't find their way into Paradise.

[Video]

[notakaijuu]

[ Quickly shaking her head. ] B-but they jump out and yell 'boo!' and do mean things.

[notakaijuu]

[ Blink blink. Head tilt. ] Paradise?

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

I'm more familiar with her brother; we go to rival schools. But yes, we're acquainted, she and I.

[Fortunately, he's got an excellent poker face.]

You don't think so? It's quite a gift to be coming from a friendly stranger.

video;

[notakaijuu]

Oh, so you're one of Miyuki-chan's tennis friends?

[ A pause. ]

I guess that's true. I wonder how they knew I didn't like ghosts.

[elysiontoabyss]

Why, yes, Paradise. Why, Paradise is...

[He pauses a little. Jumping backwards once, he flaps his cloak once and begins his dramatic explanation.]

Paradise is a land beyond this one! It's a land where nothing hurts, the trees bloom with every flower that ever bloomed and then some...

There's no crying in Paradise because, well, there's no reason to cry there! Everyone is happy and singing and dancing... And there's a parade, a parade that never stops! And... and and and and...

[Walking closer to the camera now...]

... It's where everyone goes after they fall into their deep sleep. So, isn't it sad... when someone isn't allowed to enter Paradise? That's what ghosts are! You should not cry because of them, no! You should cry... for them.

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

You could say that, yes.

[He's only mildly irked at the prospect of being "tennis friends" with a ten-year-old girl, if only because tennis is serious business and what are girls playing tennis — but of course, that's entirely beside the point. So he just keeps smiling, friendly as ever.]

Oh? You don't like ghosts?

[notakaijuu]

[ Have the biggest wide-eyed expression in existence.

Then she frowns and looks down at her doll. ]

Do you think my Mama's in Paradise, then? My brother says she's watching over us. But can she watch over us and still be in Paradise?

video;

[notakaijuu]

[ A bright smile. ] Miyuki-chan's a good friend.

[ Shaking her head quickly. ]

Nu-uh. They're scary.

[elysiontoabyss]

[It's like talking with his own daughter again. Minus the soulless eyes.]

Well, of course! All mamas go to Paradise too. If you look for Paradise, then sure enough, you'll find it that much faster.

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

I'm not very fond of them, either. I've had to get used to them, though, since I inherited one from a departed — from one of my teammates, who left.

[notakaijuu]

[ A huge sigh of relief. ]

Good! Paradise sounds great. Like a place Mama would love.

video;

[notakaijuu]

I don't think I could have a ghost Pokemon.

[ She gives him a small, comforting smile. ]

I'm sorry your friend's gone. But maybe they'll come back. I've heard that sometimes, they do.

[elysiontoabyss]

Nyahahaha! But... but but but but...

Are you still afraid of ghosts?

[notakaijuu]

[ UNSUREUNSUREUNSURE. ]

A little. But... I guess I feel bad for them, too. I wish we could help them.

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

[Well, on one hand, he doesn't really need a little girl's condolences, and it's not like they actually make him feel any less grumpy about the topic than he secretly is. On the other hand...]

A Pokemon with Dark-type moves should be able to help you with that, then. They're strong against ghosts.

[He'll just casually not touch on the teammate thing anymore.]

video;

[notakaijuu]

Then the TM I got should help, then! Maybe I should get a dark type Pokemon, too.

video;

[usedlaserbeam]

I'm sure you could manage to find a cute one.

[elysiontoabyss]

If you see any ghosts, then just point them to me. A dark-hearted man like myself can speak their language, you know.

video;

[notakaijuu]

That would be cool! [ A pause. ] Kero-chan used to be smaller and cute. Now he's big and kind of scary looking. But that's just his outside. He's actually really shy and clumsy. [ She giggles. ]