When Satoshi had set for Johto, he had meant to erase the nervousness in his stomach whenever the Region was mentioned. He had meant to prove to himself he could create good memories in the place he had lost so much.
Satoshi could not quite expect to discover shocking news.
The day had started well. With Pikachu curled into his arms, and Charizard walking just beside him, their first step had been New Bark Town. The first time he had travelled in Johto, Satoshi had not stayed long in the small town. It had not been that he was in a rush, but he had preferred setting off toward the first Gym, as well as find wild Pokemon and train.
Satoshi had been musing what he should do first, when he noticed Charizard flickering his tail with agitation. He gave a confused glance at his Pokemon, a bit worried by how the Fire Type had stepped closer to Satoshi protectively.
Charizard was fixing something with his eyes, though. Following the green eyes, Satoshi couldn't help his reflex to lower his hat and shadow his eyes. There was a woman there, starring at him. He would have thought she had spotted Charizard's wounds, or maybe even Pikachu's furr, but she was only looking at him.
Satoshi eventually slowed down, cocking his head slightly in silent query. Realizing she had been spotted, the woman hesitated before walking toward him. She stopped before coming too close, startled by Charizard's growl. Satoshi gently petted Charizard's arm, unwilling to scare the woman off.
Keeping the unatural coloring of his eyes well hidden, Satoshi directed his gaze again on the woman, smiling faintly. "Can I help you?"
"Don't you remember me..?"
Satoshi blinked, his face becoming confused. "I... Are you saying we met before?"
The woman bit her lips. "Oh Satoshi... I'm not surprised, I haven't seen you since..." She trailed off, sighing. "Since a long time." She smiled faintly. "I can see a bit of Gold in you..."
Satoshi was really puzzled now. "Who..?"
The woman appeared very surprised. "You don't-Gold, your twin?"
Satoshi had a sharp intake of breath. He stepped backward, eyes wide. "Twin? But-" He shook his head. "I grew up alone with mom. I-I don't-" But as if it had been waiting here, a thought rose from the back of his mind.
I don't remember much of my chilhood.
Satoshi watched the woman, Pikachu waking up when he heard the fast beats of his human friend's heart. He made a questioning coo, looking at Charizard with confusion. The bigger Pokemon let out some growls, confused but knowing what the human word 'twin' meant.
"Why don't you... come a bit home?" The woman offered.
Satoshi hugged Pikachu tighter, feeling a bit lost. "Y-Yes, alright."
The woman nodded, before guiding him to her house. Meanwhile, Satoshi's mind was in a turmoil. He had a brother? A twin brother at that? But why did his mother never said anything? Why had they not grown together?
Satoshi was sitting on a couch, a teacup in his hands, when he finally snapped out of his thoughts. Pikachu was sitting on his laps, looking up at him and nuzzling his chest in comfort. Charizard was a silent guard, standing behind the couch.
The woman was looking at Satoshi now, watching him as he came back from his thoughts and glanced sideway at her. Satoshi felt something rise in his chest at the longing he briefly spotted, but he was more focused on the fact this woman seemed to know him-and his brother.
"So... Gold?" Satoshi asked softly, feeling his heart pound. Calling out the name, a new feeling started to rise. A brother... He was not an only child, there was someone out there that he could share things with-someone who was not his mother.
Satoshi felt happy. And more than anything, he wanted to find this brother.
The woman was silent for a bit. "He hasn't been around for a while... Left on his own journey." She smiled at Satoshi, though it seemed sad. "I don't know where he is now." She sighed.
Satoshi felt a bit sad that he wouldn't be able to know where Gold was, but seeing how sad the woman was, he simply smiled faintly. "I'll tell him to come, when I find him, if you want?"
The slight alarm in her eyes wasn't quite what he had expected. She quickly hide it though, yet it was too late. The uneasiness from before had returned, this time enough that Charizard let out a grunt. He could see the subtle signs of Satoshi's uneasiness that many could not, and it displeased the Fire Type.
"T-That'll be nice." The woman finally said. "But why don't you... stay here a bit? You must be tired. You look like you had been travelling."
Satoshi smiled but shook his head. "That's very kind, but I think I'll start looking for Gold right now. I was planning to travel anyway, and now... I have a goal, right?" He still had many questions he wanted to ask, but it felt more important to leave and seek his brother.
Satoshi had a passing though he also wanted to get out of here, but he dismissed it, unwilling to give room to his strange uneasiness.
Putting the teacup down, Satoshi was about to stand up when the woman's hands wrapped around his own. It took all of his willpower to not jump, but he still gave her a startled look.
"I-I insist, you should stay around a bit. I'll tell you about Gold, you want that, right?"
Satoshi smiled nervously. "Y-yeah, but..." He winced as she tightened her grip. Unknown to her, she was clutching right where his left hand had been burnt.
That was what did it for Charizard. The sudden roar startled the woman enough that she relesed Satoshi and stepped backward. Immediately, Charizard was beside Satoshi, his wing pressed against Satoshi's back.
Satoshi unconsciously leaned against Charizard, feeling Pikachu jump on his shoulder then on Charizard's head. He petted Charizard's arm, as if soothing him; but to the Fire Type, it felt like gratitude.
"I... I'm sorry, but I'll go now." Satoshi tried to give the woman a smile, but it was shaky. "I'll talk to Gold about you. H-Have a good day."
Satoshi stayed frozen only for a second, nodding once to the woman, and finally leaving. He didn't know what all of this had been, but he trusted Chariard, and if his Fire Type had been on alert since the moment the woman had first gazed at Satoshi, the teen knew he might hve seen something Satoshi couldn't.
However, Satoshi kept in mind the one thing he gained from this weird encounyer. The one fact that now drove him forward.