Extra 12: I choose you! (8)

Three days had passed since Kurama and Misty's meeting in Viridian City, the time that the albino used to pass the Viridian Forest and reach Pewter City.

On the way, he encountered a Ralts, which was strange because this species should not be in this region.

The poor creature was scared when she saw the albino, but after using his [Aura], she decided to approach cautiously.

Kurama accepted the small and shy creature into his team after seeing that she was alone, not to mention that her Psychic power was extremely high for her very low level, making her capable of using the [Teleport] move.

Kurama was currently facing a man with brown skin, a long beard, and a red cap shading his eyes.

"I hope you have a good excuse, Flint" - said Kurama while narrowing his eyes.

The red-capped man only shivered as he listened to the albino speak, after all, he knew what awaited - "Wait, Kurama-dono!"

"I'm sorry, but your punishment is decided" - Kurama replied as his eyes glittered with malice - "Now, how about you call your irresponsible wife so we can go check on Brook and your other children?"

"Ugh" - Flint nodded weakly as behind him, a beautiful light brown-haired woman appeared.

"Hello, Kurama-kun ~!" - The woman said happily, only to cry out in pain as she felt Kurama's knuckle scrub over her head - "It hurts! It hurts!"

"That's nothing with the suffering you've put your children through, you duo of assholes!" - Kurama roared as his eyes changed color unknowingly - "How could you two grown adults possibly have the grand idea to leave your eldest son in charge of so many children!"

"We needed a break" - Flint said, only to swallow saliva at the sight of the albino's cold eyes.

"A break?!" - Kurama roared angrily - "What kind of parents ask for a break from their children?!"

"Ugh" - Flint and Lola could only look down as Kurama lectured them without being able to defend themselves, after all, they knew they were wrong.

"I've talked to Brook during the Gym leaders' meetings, and he's a good kid" - Kurama said as he narrowed his eyes - "I don't know how someone like him, came out of a pair like you guys, but I guess it's because he had to mature fast to take care of his younger siblings, and possibly his uncaring parents as well."

"Ugh" - the two adults could only groan in pain as they felt their hearts being pierced by Kurama's harsh, but true, words.

"The boy is leaving his dreams behind because of you" - said Kurama as he glared in disgust at the couple - "I hope you are happy for snatching the dreams away from your children"

"Ok, we're sorry" - said Flint regretfully as he looked at the albino - "You don't need to say anything else, we understand our mistakes."

"You don't have to apologize to me" - said Kurama as the two adults watched in surprise as from a corner, a group of children appeared. They were all very similar, and they were being led by a brown-skinned, close-eyed young man.

"Brook, children" - muttered Flint as he looked at the children he had left behind to hang out with his wife.

"Father" - Brook muttered as he clenched his fist.

He was barely resisting the urge to punch the man in front of them, but he didn't because he knew his siblings didn't need to see such violence.

"I don't deserve to be called father" - Flint muttered regretfully.

"Yes, you're right" - Brook replied as he took a breath - "You haven't done anything to give you the right to call yourself our father, but my brothers need you."

Lola bit her lip before bursting into tears.

Her children quickly ran to their mother and hugged her lovingly.

Brook watched this as he sighed again.

No matter how hard he tried, he knew his siblings needed their parents even though they weren't the most responsible people in Kanto.

"Brook, I promise things will change" - Flint said as he looked at his eldest son.

"Just worry about taking care of my brothers, you don't need to worry about me" - Brook replied as he quietly retreated, after all, he still had a job as Gym leader to do.

Flint bit his lip at the sight of his son's indifference, but it wasn't like he could blame him, not with everything they had done against him.

Kurama quickly followed Brook and put his hand on his brown hair - "You don't need to be as hard as rock, Brook, after all, you're just a teenager."

"I have to be strong for my brothers" - Brook replied as he bit his lip - "I don't have to show weakness in front of my parents"

"It's not weakness, son" - Kurama replied as he noticed how tears were running down the young Gym leader's cheeks - "That's it, let your emotions be free. I know it's hard, but you did the right thing, now, it's time for you to set yourself free too."

Kurama knew that Brook was using all his strength to teach his parents a lesson, but at the same time he was hurting himself, after all, they were his parents despite their faults.

"Thank you, Kurama-san" - Brook muttered as he wiped his tears, after all, he couldn't go to a Gym battle with tears on his face.

"I'm going to be in Pewter City for a while" - said Kurama with a smile - "You can come and talk to me if you want to, after all, I can't let you keep hurting yourself"

"Thank you very much, I promise that with this I will be stronger" - Brook replied with conviction - "I will use this to encourage me to fulfill my dreams"

"And I know you will succeed, boy" - smiled Kurama as he put his hand on Brook's shoulder - "You have talent, but much more importantly, you have the heart to continue with your dreams despite all the problems that life has thrown at you."

Brook said nothing more, he nodded firmly as he prepared for his job as a Gym leader, after all, soon he would be leaving on a trip so he could fulfill his dream.

* * * * *

Four days had passed since Kurama had faced Flint, time he used to train the new addition to his team.

Ralts was a fairly intelligent Pokémon, not to mention that she had a unique instinct for being able to control her Psychic powers.

Kurama was preparing to watch Brook's final battle as Gym leader when he saw with surprise how the challenger was none other than his son.

"Dad!" - Ash exclaimed in surprise to see Kurama - "What are you doing here?!"

"Dad?!" - Misty and Brook exclaimed upon hearing this.

"Oh, right, I've never mentioned my last name" - said Kurama with a smile - "My name is Kurama Ketchum, it's a pleasure."

". . ." - Misty couldn't believe her ears, after all, she never thought that the person she was traveling with, was the son of her idol - "W-Well, that explains why your Pikachu is so strong."

"Pika Pi!" - exclaimed Pikachu, who had evolved from the Pichu that Ash had found when he was 5 years old.

"Hello, little guy" - said Kurama as he petted the little electric rodent.

"Pika ~!" - Pikachu began to release a small electric shock, though this was almost harmless so there were no dangers.

"How have you been, son?" - Kurama asked as he looked at Ash.

"Fine, I even managed to catch a good team" - said Ash with a mysterious gleam in his eye - "Oh, I also found a Pokémon that the Pokedex didn't recognize, something like your Pokémon, dad"

"Oh? That means it's not a Pokémon native of Kanto" - Kurama nodded curiously - "What did it look like?"

"A huge bird that was creating a rainbow" - answered Ash as he tried to remember that strange Pokémon.

Kurama's expression changed when he heard this as he started to think - "Tell me, Ash, did that Pokémon have beautiful 7 colored feathers?"

"Do you know that Pokémon, dad?" - Ash asked excitedly because it was the first time he felt excitement for a Pokémon.

"Its name is Ho-oh, the creator of Rainbow" - answered Kurama as he started to think - "It's one of the legendary Pokémon of Johto along with Lugia, the guardian of the seas."

"Ho-oh" - muttered Ash while Misty and Brook were silent because it was the first time they heard of this Pokémon.

"By the way, legends say that this Pokémon can give eternal life to whoever manages to touch its seven-colored feathers" - added Kurama as he looked at Ash - "This legend was born after Ho-oh revived three Pokémon that died an incident years ago in Ecruteak City."

"I heard about that" - Misty said as she looked at Kurama - "I remember my parents told me about that incident, they say that the Three Mythical Beasts, were born in that incident, although I don't know much more."

"Entei, the volcano Pokémon, Raikou, the lightning lord, and Suicune, the incarnation of the northern winds" - answered Kurama while shaking his head.