Chapter 249: Seeds of Curiosity
Xiu stood, brushing lingering grass from his clothes. He walked over to Xiaochun, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, Chun. I'll see Miss Daisy back to her grandfather's house."
Xiaochun, though her expression remained impassive, seemed to relax slightly under his touch. Without a word, she turned with the Pidgey hopping awkwardly at her heels, retreating back towards the shadowy depths of the warehouse.
Xiu waited until she was out of earshot before turning to Daisy, his tone apologetic. "I'm very sorry about that, Miss Daisy. Xiaochun… she experienced some severe trauma when she was younger. It's left her with... a deep distrust of strangers. If she caused you any offense, please accept my apologies on her behalf."
"No, no, it's… it's quite alright," Daisy stammered, still visibly shaken by the encounter. She watched Xiaochun's retreating figure with a mixture of fear and pity. It was… it was a profoundly unsettling experience.
"Well then," Xiu said, gesturing politely, "shall we? It's getting late."
Daisy, perhaps still unnerved, nodded quickly and began walking. Xiu followed, deliberately maintaining a slight distance. Before they reached the road, he discreetly took out a small vial and swallowed its contents – one of his stabilizing potions against Abra's psychic energy.
The distance between them naturally shortened as they reached the main path leading through Pallet Town. Daisy, noticing his earlier reticence, finally voiced her curiosity. "Why were you standing so far back earlier, Mr. Xiu?"
Xiu, anticipating the question, had his explanation ready. "My Abra," he began, his voice carefully neutral, "is… somewhat different from others of its kind. It has difficulty controlling its psychic output.
Sometimes, its energy affects the environment in unpredictable ways." He gestured vaguely back towards the institute. "You've seen the withered tree near the warehouse? That's a result of prolonged exposure. It can be… particularly harmful to humans who aren't accustomed to it."
He continued, "Xiaochun stopping you back there… she was trying to protect you. Concerned you might be negatively affected by Abra's aura. Her ability to express herself is… limited, so please forgive her."
"Then… what about you?" Daisy asked, her brow furrowed with confusion. "If it's so dangerous…"
"I'm built different," Xiu stated simply. "I have a higher tolerance for psychic energies than most. And," he added, patting the pocket where he kept his vials, "I have certain… countermeasures to mitigate the effects.
So, it doesn't impact me as severely." He offered a plausible, even if incomplete, truth. The full reality of his shortened lifespan, the constant drain on his vitality… that was not for her to know.
"Nevertheless," he concluded, his tone becoming more serious, "I still carry a residual psychic charge. It's best if you maintain a slight distance and avoid direct physical contact, just to be safe."
Daisy fell silent, contemplating his words, her earlier playful curiosity replaced by a more sober thoughtfulness.
They walked on through the quiet Pallet Town night. There wasn't much of a 'night view' to speak of. Most houses were dark, their occupants long since asleep. In this small, rural community, entertainment was limited – only television broadcasts of an endless stream of Pokémon battle reruns and bizarre game shows that Xiu found utterly unwatchable.
Lights from the scattered houses twinkled like distant stars, emphasizing the vast, dark spaces between them. No streetlights here; natural moonlight, when available, was the only illumination.
"Well, this is it," Xiu said, stopping at the gate of Oak's house. "I won't intrude further."
Daisy nodded silently and walked up the path, letting herself in as Xiu watched her go, then his gaze drifted towards the house next door – the Ketchum residence. Lights were still on in the living room, and he could faintly hear the tinny sounds of the television.
A battle broadcast, probably. He'd never actually met Ash, but the boy's future exploits and destiny… they were an unavoidable part of this world's tapestry. Not my concern. Not yet, anyway.
He lingered for only a moment longer, then turned and began his solitary walk back towards the institute, the darkness pressing in around him. Remarkable, really, the peace and safety of this town.
Some doors were left unlocked and there was no fear of theft or violence whatsoever. Quite the stark contrast to the grim realities of Viridian City, and indeed, most other urban centers he'd experienced, in this life or the last. In larger cities, nightfall brings chaos and danger. Even with Pokémon, human nature remains… stubbornly consistent.
Back at the Oak residence, Daisy's thoughtful, somewhat subdued demeanor didn't escape her grandfather's notice. "What's wrong, my dear?" Professor Oak asked, concern in his voice. "You seem… troubled."
"Grandpa," Daisy began hesitantly, "that girl, Chun… she's very strange. When I tried to get closer to Mr. Xiu earlier, she stopped me. And there was… something about her."
Oak's expression sharpened. "What did she do?"
"No, nothing like that," Daisy reassured him quickly. "I just found it… odd. I can't explain it."
Oak let out a quiet sigh of relief. He knew Xiaochun needed special care and attention. "Xiaochun's circumstances are… complicated, Daisy," he said carefully. "Xiu rescued her from a very difficult situation. I'll need to speak with him further to understand the full extent of it." He skillfully deflected the conversation, shifting the focus.
"And Mr. Xiu himself, Grandpa," Daisy continued, her curiosity rekindled, "he's also very strange. I feel like I can't get a sense of him at all. And he seems… very resistant to any personal contact. Why is that?"
Professor Oak chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. "Ah, Xiu. He is, shall we say, an introvert. He's wary of strangers and is a deeply private person. His thought processes are… unconventional."
Seeing Daisy's still-puzzled expression, Oak elaborated. "Xiu has endured… significant hardships, my dear. Experiences that have made him exceptionally guarded. If you approach him with what he perceives as ulterior motives, he will instinctively resist.
However," Oak's voice softened, "if you can earn his trust, you'll find he's actually a considerate and surprisingly compassionate individual. Cold on the outside, perhaps, but with a good heart buried deep beneath. To be honest," Oak admitted with a self-deprecating smile, "I don't even believe I have his complete approval yet."
His words, intended perhaps as a subtle warning, only seemed to deepen Daisy's fascination with the enigmatic young man. "Grandpa," she pleaded, "tell me more about him. About Xiu."
Oak smiled. He had hoped to foster some connection, however tentative, between his grandchildren and Xiu, who was a force of nature – brilliant and driven, with terrifyingly Pokémon at his side.
But he was also a lone wolf, isolated by his experiences, and burdened by secrets. If he were to truly thrive, to reach his full potential, he would need allies, friends, and people he could trust.
And if his grandchildren could earn Xiu's respect and vice versa… that would be a very good thing towards the future. Pallet Town, Oak knew, would not hold Xiu forever. He was destined for greater, and likely far more dangerous, things.
"If you truly wish to understand someone like Xiu," Oak began, choosing his words carefully, "You must be patient. Approach him on his own terms. Find common ground.
He responds to what's genuine and to topics that interest him – Pokémon training, research, problem-solving. And food," Oak added with a chuckle. "He has a surprising appreciation for good food."
The time passed by as their conversation went on, until the both of them decided that it's already time for bed. Daisy woke up late the next morning, arriving at the institute well after nine o'clock.
As she approached the backyard training area, she witnessed a truly bizarre scene.
Scizor, Xiu's imposing black and gold Pokémon, stood rigidly by the stream. And flying towards it, at high speed, were dozens of small, round objects the size of a human head. Some skimmed low along the ground, others whizzed through the air, but none rose higher than Scizor's waist. It was like an organized, relentless assault.