"Yena! You're home! I was so worried about you!"
This would have been what Yena expect an answer from her mother if she was here, seeing her daughter coming home 2 hours after her usual arrival, in a large grey shirt and black pants no less. But she has been greeted by the usual silence. On the weekdays, her mom would always be out on work. It's rare for her mom to be here on a weekday.
"She's working overtime again…" Yena checks her pocket watch, seeing that her mom is 5 minutes late from her usual appearance so that means Yena has the whole house to herself for an hour. "Heh…Lio would have been asking me to play…"
"So this is your home?"
Yena's eyes widen and she instantly turns around to the door, her nails grow dark with black power as she raises her hand. But all she sees is the guy that caused her to be late.
"Hounder, what are you doing here?!" Yena suddenly blush with embarrassment. With a hot guy standing in front of her with a calm look and her position being an offensive one, her mom would surely say that is a rude way to greet a guest.
Wait…her mom.
"SHIT!" Yena blushes even worse as she straighten up. "Hounder, you CAN'T be here! What if my mom sees you?!" Hounder chuckles softly, making Yena's heart skip a beat.
"You forgot your bag with our kids, dear." With his voice so soft and smooth, any girls would have swoon. Hounder smirks and lifts the familiar grey bag.
But then, this is Yena and she's standing in her house with less than 57 minutes and 10 seconds before her mom comes home.
"O-Our kids?! Y-You're completely mad!" Yena grabs her bag while looking at it, trying to hide her overly-red face. "It's your fault I forgot it…" Hounder raises a brow, the amusing smirk stuck to his face.
"Oh? And how is it my fault?"
You must be wondering. How is it HIS fault? Let's have a flashback, shall we?
Flashback
As soon as Hounder smiled, Yena was sure she was gonna faint.
"Haven't seen you kiss a girl and have that expression at the same time for a long while, Hounder." As soon as Grapper said those words, Hounder stands up straight, putting his hands into his pocket.
"…" Yena couldn't speak. Hell, she couldn't move! She reaches her hand up to the cheek where she felt warmth for a little while before she flinches, her eyes getting a little cloudy.
"Yena, are you alright?" Ladio asks softly, placing a hand on Yena's shoulder. She looks up a little before she swallows the air she's holding.
"Y-Yea…But…" Once her eyes looked directly at Hounder's, she sighs softly. "Please…don't do that again…" At this response, the whole group was shocked.
"H-Huh?!" Yena was surprised by their reaction at first but then she realized that they never thought a girl would ever say that about Hounder's kiss.
"It's not that I hate it…I like it…but…" Yena trails off, looking at the ground. When Hounder noticed her gloomy look, he turned to Gardine and asked her where the others are.
"Glacer was chasing little Iron because he wouldn't clean himself up." She pointed to the second floor of the building, with a few shadows running around at the windows.
"Ah. No wonder Glacer and Iron haven't come down yet. Yena, if you're not busy, would you like to eat with us?" Yena was about to refuse politely when the rumble of her stomach stopped her. Hounder chuckled softly and poked her stomach. "You have a very big stomach."
"S-Shut up!" Yena blushed immensely and softly hit his arm. Magia clenched her teeth while Grapper called Ladio and Gardine to help make dinner.
"Daddy, welcome home!" A boy said as he hugged Hounder, snuggling against the warmth. The boy had silver-whitish hair, wearing a gray shirt and white pants as he looked at his big brother with his blue eyes. When he noticed Yena, his face grew pale. "D-Daddy…w-who is…?"
"Iron, don't worry. She's not who you think she is." Grapper said as he patted the little boy's head. Yena, seeing the teary eyes of the child, felt guilt hitting the bottom of her stomach. "Um…Sorry about that, Yena. He's just not used to Dark-types…" When Iron stared at Yena closely, Yena bended down to his level with a small smile.
"Hi. My name is Yena. You must be Iron. Nice to meet you." Iron cowered in fear a little. Magia, who had been watching, smirked with satisfaction.
"If Iron hates Yena, then she can't stay here." Yena reached for the child but he only whimpered in fear. She retreat her hand before she smiled sadly.
"I guess I am scary to kids…" She laughed softly, as if she knew treat it as a joke. "Well, I guess it's no reason to be upset. I'm sorry for scaring you, Iron." Yena looked at Hounder. "Do you know that Steel-types don't ALWAYS bath with water? They clean themselves up by polishing themselves with a bit of water and polishing cream to make sure their bodies are smooth and shiny. It's interesting how Steel-types have another method to be clean." Yena looked at Iron and smiled. "Putting Iron into a bath tub of water won't be a problem but there are other methods anyways." When Yena stood up, she noticed the looks on everyone's faces. "I learned it from a book somewhere." Magia scoffed and shook her head.
"I can't believe it. A Dark-type who reads! That's a first." When Grapper noticed the smirk on Magia's face, he looked at Yena's face, who stared silently at her with a expressionless look.
Then, Yena laughed, smiling with a small smile.
"Well, a lot of Dark-types have bullied me since I was 7 in a half so, books are my only comfort in school." Iron slowly came out of his hiding spot and stared at her.
"W-Wha…What about friends?" When Yena heard that question, her ears twitched. She stared at Iron softly; her eyes held nothing for a while before she laughed again, but this one is a bit bitterer than the last. When she was done, she had a sad smile on her lips as she kneeled down to Iron's height again.
"None would consider me as a friend, Iron." She reached out her hand and softly but carefully patted his head. "They just…ran away from me I guess…" When she was done, she sniffed the area and looked at Gardine. "By the way, is something burning?"
"Oh no! Dinner!" Gardine quickly rushed to the kitchen, getting the food away from being burned to death.
Dinner was hectic. There were kids eating and talking with the teenagers enjoying the dinner. However, Magia wasn't. Instead of listening to Ladio and Grapper's talks, she was staring at Hounder, who was looking at Yena eating a spoonful of rice.
"What does he see in her? I'm much better than her!"
Magia got up and walked to the kitchen, smirking when she found a pie in one of the cupbroads. "Perfect!" she thought as she lifted the pie. When she walked out of the kitchen, she shouted.
"Who wants pie?!" A lot of kids raised their hands. "Okay! Here it-Ah!" She 'tripped' and the pie end up flying in the air and landed on…
Yena.
"Oh my Arceus! Yena, are you okay?!" Gardine asked worriedly, trying to get some of the pie off of Yena's clothes. Hounder looked at her and grabbed her arm to have her stand up but froze when he notice the look on her face.
With red, blushing cheeks and her mouth open in shock, some of the pie fell onto her tongue with the rest in her hair, her shoulders, and her collarbones. As his eyes trail down to her shirt collar, a blush was formed across his nose and cheeks. The Mightyena licked her lips, almost seductively to his eyes and hummed in surprised delight from the flavor of the remaining food.
"Oh dear…Is this Nanab pie?" When Yena looked at Gardine, the Kirlia nodded softly.
"It's supposed to be for dessert today…"
To this, Yena frowned a little until a surprised look on her face appeared. "Then can I help you make the pie?" To this, everyone's eyes widen in surprise.
"You know how to bake? Especially Nanab Berry Pie?" Iron asked in shock while Yena nodded as if it was a harmless question.
"Yea. I'm good at baking because I help my mom a lot in the kitchen when I was little. Maybe tomorrow, I can make one as a replacement for today." Yena suddenly shivered and blushed, her mouth making a soft sound. "A-Ah~" Hounder blushed even harder as some of his blood was heading south. But he wasn't the only one…Ladio's face had become red as well.
"W-What's wrong?" Ladio asked and Yena blushed softly, panting a little.
"Damn it, Yena." Hounder cursed under his breath before he picked her up and brought her to his room. Before he closed the door though, he shouted. "I'm gonna show her the bathroom! See if you can find some clothes for Yena!"
SLAM!
"…10 bucks saying Hounder is gonna get laid tonight."
SMACK!
The poor Grapper a very 'accidental' hit from a frying pan by a certain Ghost-type.
End Flashback
"So…How is it that I cause you to forget your own bag?" Yena glares lightly and points at his nose.
"Because of YOU doing PERVERTED stuff to me, I can't even think properly!" To this, Hounder smirks.
"So you're saying you have been paying more attention to my tongue? Even through your undergarments?" Yena's face flares up that it seems like steam is coming out of her head!
"N-No! Well, I mean, sort of-But not always! I…Oh Arceus…" Yena pinches the bridge of her nose, her face heating up. Hounder walks over to her and grabs her chin, lifting her face. He leans a little closer to her and whispers, almost sternly.
"Don't show that kind of face to anyone but me next time…"
"!"
With a kiss on the forehead, Yena stays still on her spot, unable to move. Hounder smirks a little and turns around to leave but when he places a hand on the doorknob; his ears perk up what she said.
"T-Thanks…for licking the pie off of me…" When Hounder turns to Yena, he notices her ears are red from her blush as her feet fiddles with the floor. He chuckles softly and turns to the door.
"You know, you look cute that way. Especially when you're wearing those black undergarments." He can just feel the glare he's receiving. His eyes suddenly turn half-lid, holding a strange feeling of regret. "But also-"
"Yena, I'm home!" The sound of a woman suddenly make the two teenagers raise their head. They look at each other with fear in Yena's eyes and alert in Hounder's.
"Shit! My mom is here!" Yena grabs Hounder and looks around before she sees the stairs. "Upstairs!" As quickly as she can, she practically dragged Hounder up the stairs and rushes to her room, pulling Hounder into it and slams him into her cupboard. "Stay!" She growls before closing her cupboard. Luckily, it's a big one and the door has some slides so Hounder can breathe. However, he hears Yena saying 'Coming, Mom!' and walking down the stair. When the door is closed, Hounder takes that as a chance to snoop around the room.
"Well, 'investigating' seems better fitted." He slowly opens the door and looks left and right before getting out quietly. He stands up in a calm posture and looks around. The walls are blue and white like dawn with the floor and ceiling colored in purplish orange color like dusk. Her bed is a single black bed with the door opposite to a window that shows an impressive view and a study desk in front of said window and next to the cupboard he was hiding in. He got to admit, the girl got taste.
He walks towards the study desk and notices the drawers. Making sure Yena is really at the bottom of the stairs with his hearing, he could hear her and her mother chatting about school with the clink clank of plates and silverwares, meaning they could be setting the table. So he swiftly look through the drawers, finding some pencils, some books, a few papers, letters of different colors-
"Wait a minute…" he lifts a pair of open letters, one red, another black. He looks at the back and frowns when he only saw the address of Yena's house and not the sender's. He carefully opens the red one, taking out a red paper with writings on it. He stares at it as his eyes widen.
To Yena,
I'm sorry but you have to. It's for your own good.
It doesn't matter whether you like this or not. I will not let you fall to the hands of a stranger or some boy I don't know. You are doing it under my order.
I am doing this for you.
From, /
The sender's name was crossed out with pencil lead, covering the whole name. Hounder notices more paper and notices the date. It had started on 2003, 10 years ago.
To 'Betrayer',
How could you?! How could you?! I thought you care! I actually thought you understand what I'm going through! I thought you understand me!
Why? WHY!? WHY DO I HAVE TO DO IT!? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LET IT GO?! I AM NOT GOING TO DO IT, NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY!
From, Yena.
To Yena,
I DO understand! That's why I have to do this. Look, you should at least meet him. It's not that hard, you know?
It's not the end of the world after all, right?
I promise you, this person is a good one.
From, …
"Wow…She must hate this person to coat his name in crazy scribbles."
To 'Promise Breaker'
Hah, yea. That's what you ALWAYS say before you break a promise. Besides, I met him once. He's a big pervert even though he's young!
Stop trying to convince me. I have rejected to this and my decision is final. I will pick on my own. You're not the boss of me.
From, Yena
To Yena,
Don't insult the young man! He is a good fellow! If you get along with each other, I'm sure you two will have something in common.
It's not that I don't trust you with picking on your own but I'm just not sure if you will pick the right one. Don't you understand I'm doing this as a …a…t…?
From, XXXXX
"Yep, definitely hate him. All the letters seem to be full of crossed out senders." Hounder furrows his brows as he continues to read until his eyes widen at a pair of letters. One was continuing from where he left off but the other one is from 8 years ago.
8-10-2003
To 'Liar',
You actually think that? Ha…As if I believe that lie…You're only doing this for the money. After all, those people are rich. But they're heartless, I can see that.
If you truly are doing this as a person you think you are, then you would have treat us better…
You would have protected us…
You would be here right now, teaching us things that we need to learn…
You would have understood how I felt on that day…
From, Yena
To Yena,
And I see them as kind people…You should give them a second chance…
And I have a reason for doing this…
It's just…I can't tell you…
This will be my last letter to you this year. I'm going on a trip to the Unova region. Take care…say hi to everyone for me…
From, XXX
6-7-2005
To 'Murderer'…
Why…Why…WHY?! WHY HAVE YOU SENT THOSE MEN TO KILL LIO?! WHY?!
I THOUGHT YOU CARED ABOUT HIM! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO HIM?! HE NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG TO YOU!
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU MURDERED MY BROTHER! I WON'T FORGIVE YOU! NEVER, EVER, EVER!
I HATE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART! I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!
I WISH YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER!
"WHAT?!" Hounder stares wide-eyed as he scans at the last line before the whole paper. "H-Her father…Oh…No wonder…" He hears footsteps and quickly keeps the papers into the letter, putting it back where it was and rushes to the cupboard to hide. When the door is open, two pair of feet walks toward the front of the cupboard and the side of the bed.
"Mom, what are you doing?" He hears Yena's voice before he hears a woman's voice, as if she's only in her early 30s.
"I'm trying to find out where this scent is…" Hounder could feel a frightful chill go up to his spine when he notices the woman is facing the cupboard. Yena steps in front of it, blocking her mom from getting closer.
"Say, mom, I think we haven't eaten our dinner yet. Come on, we should eat before it gets cold." When the woman didn't answer and only push Yena aside gently, Hounder can feel the suspense creeping up inside his chest.
"We'll have dinner soon enough, dear. It's not going to get cold easily."
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Hounder never knew he would feel this fear from his own soon-to-be-mother-in-law this soon.
"W-Wait, Mom-"
Creakkkkk~
"Crap!" was the only thing Hounder can think as he is face to face with a beautiful purple haired woman with some pink strands on it, her skin being a slight mix of yellow and tan and her eyes blue and bright. He notices a purple tail and her attire being that of an office lady.
A deep silence fills the air as the two teenagers stare at the mother, who has been unresponsive before she opens her mouth to ask…
"Would you like to stay for dinner?"
"HUH!?"
