Chereads / Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: The Unknown Hero / Chapter 39 - Fragments of A Long Lost Memory

Chapter 39 - Fragments of A Long Lost Memory

Philip's P.O.V.

*****

"How was it with Blake?" Kate asked, taking a sip. I let out a deep breath, silently staring at her directly in the eyes. By my look, she frowned, looking down. "I'm sorry. I see it didn't go well." She apologized, and her ears drooped down to her long straps.

"You don't have to apologize, you know? You didn't do anything wrong." I said, turning to her with raised ears. I couldn't help but stare, transfixed, watching as Kate slipped a soft smile, giving a contented sigh as the wind blew through her cerulean blue fur. It exulted a genuine smile outside my imperfect, ill-fated self, bringing along a streak of a scarlet blush, though it was stiff from not being able to smile after five damn years.

I felt good, even though that it was raining, causing lesser costumers than before, for we're almost the only ones staying here from the rain. I was glad to have some time to spare alone with her.

"It's beautiful, even though the sight is covered from the rain's fog," Kate murmured. "-which made it amazing than before..."

"It is." I replied, placing my paws on the balcony's railing. I felt myself blush once again, finding myself staring into her eyes. Her heraldic, blue colored eyes. It wasn't long until I managed to utter a sentence that struck me with surprize without even realizing it.

"Of course, you're even more beautiful," I sang, unaware. Her jaw dropped, and she blushed without turning away. I returned the blush, and I could feel that mine was mainly darker than hers.

"Y-You t-think so?" Kate chatechized, dumbfounded. I nodded in agreement, complete with a bashful grin.

"Yeah. What makes you think you're not?"

"I... s-sorry. Nobody... c-called me beautiful before. All of course, except for my p-parents..." The ice fox whispered, gloomily. "Anyway, t-thanks, actually. It kind of makes me feel better, I suppose, even though it reminds me of them..."

I frowned, realizing I made her feel subtly... bad. I know she's been trying to forget all about those terrible memories, letting her cheerful personality cloak them all out, hidden deep down, and reminding her about them could be heart-wrenching. She had suffered worse off than me. I knew what I had to do, and even if I don't like it, I had to; for her.

Even it'll anger Norsoe, I had no other choice than to take the risk. I wouldn't mind at all. I always take risks. Walking up to Kate, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close. I thought she'd melt into the hug like she always did, but instead, she stiffened with her ears standing on end. That only made me tighten the warm embrace, until she gave in, settling her head as snugly as she could on my shoulder, hugging me back.

"I know that I may not like hugs as you do..." I whispered softly to her ear. "But you need it. You really need it."

I felt her heart beat lightly against my chest, following into a rhythmic beating along with mine. Fervent emotions sent warm, enlightening soothingness through my veins, somehow making me less nervous around her, nevertheless surging a deep glow on my cheeks. I smiled, letting go, lightly nuzzling the crystal atop her head. She had a light blush tinted across her face as she returned the smile, setting a paw on the side of my head.

"Thank you," Kate whispered quietly, rubbing her paw lightly on my cheek. "But you didn't have to. It's alright."

Then I could hear her soft giggle as she put a paw on her own muzzle, trying to suppress her laughter.

"What are you laughing at?" I asked.

"T-There's some c-coffee stain on your c-cheek!" She cried, giggling uncontrollably. I snorted, bringing a paw up and tried to groom away the mess myself.

"Now you're acting like a little cub." I said with a moue of indignation, blushing at her cute, childish giggling. But now matter how kind of annoying it was, I still find it really cute.

"You're the one who looked like a cub." Kate laughed. "Still, you're really cute when you're trying to wipe it off."

Her comment made me blush once again; I had to stop because I couldn't stop blushing. I laughed a little, and by that, remembering Blake's devastated frown, made me suddenly dizzy, but why?

Hey, what are you doing there?! It's dangerous down there!

I'm sorry! But I'm a little s-stuck down here! Can you give me a paw please?

Sure, give me a sec, I had to get down!

I absolutely had no idea about these voices inside my head. That other voice, it sounded like mine, except... younger than usual. I stood, confused, for I didn't even remember any sort of them, so what?

Ah!

Huh? Are you alright?!

O-Oh, y-yes, just wait!

My ears lowered, flustered at the thoughts. They seemed quite familiar, but I don't remember what or when did it happen. It could be just the strange weather, or my mind was just trying to provoke me with such... memory. With clenched teeth, I tried to shake it out, literally with ears flopping about. It seemed it was a little bit rash that I did not dare to answer Kate's question about Blake earlier, which made me feel kind of guilty for making her feel bad.

Scratching the back of my neck, I turned to her and decided to talk.

"About B-Blake..." I said, a little bit nervously. "While he asked me out to talk alone with him, he confronted me, telling me why I abandoned him and forgot about him. He called me his partner, which I had no idea about such. I told him that I couldn't be that Philip, and by that, I left, which I regretted doing so, for it only made him devastated. To be honest, if I was really him, he could be a valuable source of getting my memories back."

Kate stared at me in surprize. She stood up on all fours, eyeing me intensely with squinted eyes.

"He told you that?" She asked, curiously.

"Y-Yes, kinda. It still confuses me, though."

"Look," The ice fox told me. "You might not believe this, but..."

"Not believe what? Of course I'll believe you. We believed you were human, so why not?"

Kate blushed, but still kept her serious emotion.

"The first ever night I came here, I had a strange dream about Blake, and w-well, Philip." She continued, leaving me with an open jaw. "That Nidoking, the very same one we encountered back in the dungeon in Timberwood Forest, is involved with his disappearance. He's the one that caused him to disappear by throwing him over, causing him to get injured real badly. That's when I saw... Sun and Lance. Tell me, Philip..." She said, edging closer. "Did any of this seemed familiar to you?"

T-Thanks for saving my life!

No problem. This could be done by an average Charmander of my size. It was no big for me!

"N-No..." I managed to blurt impulsively, backing away. I heaved a deep sigh, trying to calm myself down. It was almost too much to handle, for confusion was taking over my ability to see through, for it was clouded with series of a hundred questions. Could I be Blake's missing partner? If I could be, losing my memories could be the reason to forget all about him? Could it be a coincidence that I was sent here to have a chance to see him, even though I already forgot about him?

And... those familiar memories that played on my head, could they be the ones that I had lost before? Even if they could be, would there still be a chance to remember it?

"You don't have to think so much about it. Take your time. I'm sure that Blake would understand." Kate's voice assured. The Glaceon's voice rang gently into my ears like a Soothe Bell, and I swore the scarlet flecks never had swooned me this greatly, for her striking beauty was too elegant to be ignored.

"You're right." I answered quietly. It wasn't long before I found myself getting lost in her eyes again, despite those thoughts that shrouded my mind with darkened doubts. She gave a soft smile, clasping her paws around mine once again, and even though she was an ice fox herself, she strangely gave off a solacing warmth.

With a crimsoned blush, I felt myself starting to lean down, and my heart leapt from the deep, obscure emotions it held, tending to overflow. It wasn't even paved with regrets, rather, it was ruled with a strong, heartfelt urge. I just wanted to lean in and kiss her, all for three simple words locked beneath my dying lips, dying to wait for me let them go. Kate didn't even try to move away, and her cheeks started to flare more brightly than before, and she did nothing more than stare with widened eyes.

I felt her soft breathing, though she intended to hold her breath at the sensation of my muzzle brushing against her own, and my heart pounded against my chest. I leaned in, and just as I was about to kiss her with no traces of rueful streaks...

Loud footsteps woke me up from oblivion.

Both of us blushed and blundered flinching away instead, for standing before us was a Machoke with a mop on both arms. He gave an apologetic smile and uttered an apology while scratching the back of his neck.

"Sorry for interrupting your moment, but I gotta sweep the wet floor,"

Kate nodded. I looked away amusingly, blushing madly after having that urge to kiss her. I'm glad that Norsoe wasn't a Psychic type, or else I could be lying dead right now after if he found out. I've though about this now, and I know what I had to do. I must take the right moment to tell her the truth, even though that means her walking away from me. I shouldn't stay a deceptive fool, and rather, be a hero instead of an Arceus-forsaken villain.

Dialga was right about my memories. I don't need Norsoe to give it to me. I just have to find every piece of them myself. And as for Blake; if he was truly my old, forgotten friend, I had to get some more time to find it out, more time to think. For Norsoe, sorry, not sorry. I just had to find the right time needed to give him a taste of his own medicine. I swear to protect my friends once he tries to eliminate us in a dying heap. I swear it to Arceus and every legend themselves. I was going to do it for her.