Chapter 10

Leaving Verdant Cavern behind, we make our way back to the city. In the distance I see three of my Pokemon: Lucario, Skylar, and Olette searching for something. Shit, they're looking for me. I look at Hedgewig, and she lets out another small sneeze. Great, Lucario's really going to let me have it. I glance back at Lucario, and she hasn't noticed me yet. Well, better now than later. As we approached, she finally spotted us, her expression changing from surprise to disappointment and anger. "Where were you?! We were looking all over for you!" I let out a nervous chuckle. Twiddling my thumbs.

"S-sorry… We were really far from the house when it started raining and the closest building was too far as well, so we took refuge in Verdant Cavern-"

"But don't worry!" Said Hedgewig jumping in. "Nothing ha… ha…Ha-CHOO!...happened." Hedgewig sniffled. Lucario scowls at me, giving me a quick jab in my stomach.

"OW! Lucario! What the hell?!"

"I told you someone would get sick. Now let's get back home. You have to give Hedgewig some medicine."

"Tch.. You didn't have to hit me…" I said quietly. Hearing me, Lucario said, "Yes I did! Now you and Hedgewig better get your butts home." Hedgewig and I quickly head home, with the rest of the group following swiftly behind us. Taking periodic glances at Hedgewig, her sneezes seem to be getting stronger. Arriving at my doorstep, I hastily take out my keys and open the door. "Hedgewig, you… You sit on the couch. I'll grab you a blanket and some medicine, okay?" She obeys. Lucario heads to the kitchen with Skylar and Olette. Giving me that disappointed look again. I pay no heed, grabbing some medicine from the bathroom and a blanket from my room and I wrap up Hedgewig with it. I then sit down next to her.

A few moments pass and she decides to huddle up next to me again. I grab the medicine bottle, and take off the little measuring cup on top. I pour the dark red liquid in, and hold it in front of Hedgewig's face. "Okay, open up." She refused, making a sour expression and shaking her head. I rolled my eyes. "Don't you think you're a little old to be acting this way?"

"W-what? I just don't like the taste…" She said, beginning to blush.

"That doesn't matter. You gotta drink this to feel better. C'mon, open up." She made two consecutive grunts, in refusal. I sigh in annoyance. "Hedgewig, open your mouth."

"I-I'm good, thank you." I take this as an incentive and try to improvise something. "LUCARIO!" I call out. Hedgewig shushed me. "All right, all right! Just don't get her involved…" She whispered.

"Much better. Now, open up." She reluctantly opens her beak. I gently pour the liquid in, and she quickly closes her beak once the cup's empty. She swallows and lets out a groan in disgust. "C-can I at least have something to get rid of the aftertaste?" She says looking at me.

"Of course." I get up, and head into the kitchen. I see Luna there alone, rummaging through the fridge.

"Excuse me, I have to grab something real fast." She doesn't even turn around. "You two seem to have something special. What did you two do in that cave? Did you-"

"No, Luna. Nothing of the sort. And please, get your mind outta the gutter. Those thoughts of yours aren't helping you or your character." She quickly gets up from the fridge and walks away with no response. Nothing else clever to say, huh? Good, I wasn't in the mood to get in an argument anyway. I take a small Poképuff from the fridge and head back into the living room. Hedgewig seemed to have relaxed a bit, resting comfortably on the couch. "Here, take this puff, it should help with the taste."

"Thanks!" She says taking the Poképuff quickly and taking a bite. Sitting down next to her, I turn on the TV. As she continues eating, I catch her out of the corner of my eye glancing at me and my body. "Something on your mind, Hedgewig?" I say, raising an eyebrow. She begins to blush again. "N-nothing… L-like I said before, I-I just like what you're wearing."

"Ah, right. Thank you! Compliments like that are always appreciated!" I turn my attention back at the TV and soon enough she's back to staring at me. Is she trying to flirt? Not her best attempt I'd say. She must be nervous which is definitely not like her. I flick through some more channels but nothing interesting seems to be on. Just some golf and corny sitcoms like Two and a Half Dodrio and How I Met Your Miltank. She huddles up closer to me again, and I wrap my arm around her to comfort her. Suddenly the Poképuff she had been eating, slipped from her grasp and landed on my crotch. She just stared at it, not even bothering to retrieve it. I decide to pick it up myself holding it close to her. "I believe you dropped this." She takes it from my hand, she begins blushing even harder and taking smaller bites from her Poképuff. What could she possibly be thinking about? Should I try to initiate something? "Y'know, Hedgewig, your eyes have become a lot more… well, let's just say you've got really curious eyes." She looks up at me, confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well, I can clearly tell you're not just staring at my body or face…"

I start to blush a bit myself, scratching the back of my head. "You're...staring at my crotch." I look over and now her face is as red as a tomato. Probably shouldn't have said anything.

"I-I'm sorry. It's just… After seeing it once that day… I...just can't stop thinking about-" She stopped suddenly, freezing up.

"About?"

"N-Nothing! Let's grab something to eat, I'm starving…"

Well. That clears up some suspicions. Probably best not to pry.

"Okay. What do you feel like eating?" She pauses for a bit, pondering.

"Maybe some ramen!"

"Hmm, that's new. Knowing you, you might not like it but, it's worth a shot!" Then, out of nowhere, Raichu pops up behind the couch, startling us. "So what're you two love-birds talking about?" She says. "Geez Raichu. These puns are terrible," I groaned.

"Hey come on. I can't help it sometimes, man. But really, what happened? I heard you two went to that mossy cave when it started pourin'. And don't try lyin' either." Her eyes seem to twinkle for a moment. Best not to try her bluff.

"Well… I admitted my feelings to Hedgewig."

"And… I did as well to Ethan. And we…kissed…" And there she goes. Flashing that stupid innocent grin on her face again.

"Wow, that's awesome… How'd it feel kissing somethin' with a beak dude?" I sigh and roll my eyes. "Not bad. She's actually a great kisser…" I take a quick glance at Hedgewig and she keeps blushing. Maybe I should stop making her blush. "That's sick dude. I'm glad you two are finally happy together. What happens next?" Me and Hedgewig stare at each other for a quick second. I open my mouth but nothing seems to come to mind. "Dinner?" I say out of nowhere. "Yeah… That ramen you mentioned. Maybe I could add some spices and some other ingredients… Yeah..."

"That sounds good, Ethan." She says shyly. "And could it be shrimp flavored?"

"Hm? Oh yeah! Sure." I stand up feeling a bit more comfortable, stretching my hand out to Hedgewig. She smiles and takes ahold of it. I pull her up and close to me. She wraps a wing around me and we walk toward the kitchen.