Hiroto's Perspective – Chapter 7

The following day

I paced the hallway, deep in thought. Aurora and I were getting our own son. A human who had been taken to one of the centres to be cared for, so she said. And now she was gone to go and bring him here to his new home. The first time she had mentioned our new son had taken me by surprise, but now I was feeling rather nervous and worried. I didn't even know the first thing about being a father, or having a family. Aurora told me not to worry and said I would do fine, but I worried all the same.

I checked the clock. Ten minutes past three. They would be home very soon. I breathed in deeply and exhaled a hefty sigh. I resumed pacing as I kept thinking. Aurora had shown me the sort of boy we would be adopting. She had brought home a folder from her archives which had information about them. It was almost unreal to see who it was.

She had come home around mid-morning as I had finished clearing up the kitchen. I had no shifts at the gym today, so was able to do some house-keeping for her. As I saw her come in, she looked very excited, gliding to and fro along the hallway as she came into the kitchen. She was beaming brightly and humming to herself, leaning in to nuzzle me.

''I've got great news'' she said in her song-like voice. ''Our new son is going to be here today! This afternoon!''

''Oh! That's wonderful news!'' I replied, a little stunned as to how fast said news had come. ''But, I don't know anything about him. I don't even know what he'll look like or…''

''That's okay.'' She said cheerfully. ''Lucia let me borrow the file for him for you to look over, but she did say to bring it back when we're done.''

She laid the file onto the kitchen table, opening it to reveal its contents. There was an assortment of papers inside; health checks, some charts, name and details. I instinctively reached for the small photo of the boy to get a better look at him. As I moved it closer for a better look, my jaw dropped.

It was remarkable. His dark hazel skin, his jet black hair, and I could have been wrong, but his eyes were a dark brown colour. He looked just like Master Haruto. There were a few things different about him though: For one his hair was much longer, and scruffier, hanging down to his shoulders. His fringe also seemed to cover his eyes as well, like he wanted to remain hidden. I quickly checked over the front sheet in the folder, giving the details of him. I looked to the top line to find where his name would be written, but strangely I found a very different name.

''Phantom?''

Aurora looked over the sheet as I said it. ''Oops,'' she said. ''Forgot to correct that.'' She found an eraser and rubbed it out. ''Apparently it took us some time to find his original name, so I think Lucia chose that one just to make do for the time being. I think one of the patrols gave him that name.''

''So what's his proper name?''

She scribbled it in on the new sheet. ''I believe it was Haruto.''

''Haruto?!'' I tried my best to make it not sound like a sudden exclamation, but wondered if she had picked up on it.

''Yes.'' She said, smiling cheerily at me. ''I think it's quite a nice name. Don't you?''

''Uh, yeah.'' I said quickly. ''I think it's a good name.''

''So do I.'' She said. She began to shake a little before swooping in to coil around me and hold me tightly. ''Oh I'm just so excited! We're going to be parents! We're going to have our own son! We're going to have a family!''

I couldn't help but smile at how happy she was, as I gently held her, caressing her smooth skin. ''I know, I'm just as excited as you.'' I said. She nuzzled into my neck as we stayed close, but my gaze went back down to the photo on the table. Seeing that very familiar face made me speechless and amazed, but it also made me uneasy for some reason.

The minutes ticked by as I paced. I could feel my heart beating in my chest as my nerves started to get the better of me. It just seemed like a dream. Me and Aurora, having Master Haruto as our own son. It just seemed so unimaginable. Being able to be with Master again had gotten me feeling giddy, I couldn't seem to think straight. He and I would be back together after such a long time. The strongest team reunited once more. But now more like family.

All the same, I still had doubts nagging at me from the back of my mind. What if he didn't recognise me straight away? It had almost been a year and a half since we were last together, he might just think of me as some Lucario living with a Milotic. I could have asked him if he remembered me, but I didn't know if he would remember me.

And what if it wasn't really him? I could be easily confusing him for someone else. He looked different in a few ways that Master Haruto always did, so there was no way he could be the same person. Then again, I had seen Pokémon and humans look different over time, whether it was hair growing or fur being shed, they'd still be the same. Perhaps Master just decided to look a little different now.

Maybe I should just play it safe, act like a good father, and get along well with him. Then maybe just pop in the question of whether he had lost a close friend named Hiroto. That seemed like the safer option.

As I had made my decision, I heard the front door open. I quickly turned to see Aurora's face in the doorway, looking back to the person she was bringing in. ''Now don't be like that, come on.'' I heard her say in a slightly strict tone of voice. She then turned to face me, putting on her sweet smile and her serenading voice. ''Hello darling. Guess who's here.'' And she led our new son in with her tail fins, making him stand beside her.

As I looked at him, I couldn't help but a little intimidated. He was definitely taller than I had anticipated, standing at least a foot and a half above me. He was wearing only simple clothes; a plain white t-shirt and dark jeans, assuming they were the ones the centre provided him with. His figure looked broad and powerful, his arms showing some muscular definition. His long black hair was smoother than in the photo, and I wasn't sure, but I thought I could see one of his dark eyes beneath his fringe staring directly at me, like he was staring daggers into me.

That wasn't the only thing that was troubling me. As we regarded each other I could feel a strong anger inside him. A deep and bitter resentment that lurked deep inside him. It was like he had a deep hatred of the world around him, like it was something he didn't want it to be. It was such a strong hatred too, nothing like the Haruto I knew.

I hadn't realised there had been a lingering silence until Aurora cleared her throat. ''Um, Haruto sweetie,'' she said quickly, ''this is your new father.''

''Um… hello.'' I said to him.

He turned his head away and huffed with contempt. That wasn't a good sign.

''Haruto!'' snapped Aurora, taking on a more authoritative position in our new family. ''You will not act like that toward your father. Now, say hello properly.''

He bared his teeth a little before speaking ''Hello…'' he said, in a deep, low voice.

''I uh, I hope that we can get to know each other better and get along.'' I said, trying to sound positive.

''Whatever…'' came his deadpan reply.

''Haruto, I will not have that attitude in my house!'' said Aurora. ''You really need to be a lot more positive now that you have a new family.'' I thought I saw him bare his teeth more as she spoke. ''Now Hiro-darling, can you take him upstairs and get him cleaned and washed for the evening. I really need to make dinner.''

I snapped to attention as she addressed me by the nickname she gave me. ''Oh, er, sure thing darling.''

''Thank you.'' She sighed, and glided past me into the kitchen. From the sound of things, she seemed like she was exhausted. Most likely from the hassle of bringing our new son home. I felt sorry for her, and wondered how much grief he had given her on the way over. I looked back to him. His head was turned away, but I could tell he was giving me that same steel-eyed stare.

Before long he and I were in the bathroom, him sitting in the warm water, with me perching on the edge helping. I was doing my best to help wash his back whilst he focused on his hair, but even with his back to me I could feel the antipathy he had radiating off of him. And the fact that I wasn't sure what I was doing probably didn't help either. Aurora called up to me as I was filling the tub, saying I should help him get properly cleaned. Exactly how I was going to do that was beyond me.

I honestly didn't know anything about being a father. I had the vague idea of it being two Pokémon or humans looking after their young, but nothing about the specifics of what they exactly did. I wasn't sure if what even I was doing could be considered fatherly. So far it just made me feel rather awkward, having to help wash the back of a boy whom I only just met.

I heard him grunt, snapping me briefly out of my trance, and found myself pressing my paws against him rather firmly. ''You know you can just leave me be, I can wash myself.'' He growled.

''Well your mother insisted that I help.'' I said firmly. ''And help I shall.''

''Well my so-called mother hasn't got it through her head yet that I'm older than I look. I can take care of myself.''

''Well you should be grateful that she's given you a roof over your head. If you hadn't been found you would have still been wandering around alone in the middle of nowhere.''

''Well I'm sure it would be better than this! Now just leave me the hell alone!''

''Don't you talk like that to me or your mother! Now stay still and let me help!''

''No! Get off!''

''Haruto, just let me do your shoulders!''

''I told you I don't want your help! Get off!''

''Stop fidgeting, this'll only take a few sec…''

''Gah!''

Our brief wrestling and fidgeting interim had somehow found my soapy paw rub against his face. A soap bubble must have popped against one of his open eyes as his fringe was brushed back. He grimaced and bent double in the bathtub, clutching his face and trying to wash the soap out. I retracted my paws, feeling a little guilty as he briefly shook from the stinging pain. I quickly placed a paw on his shoulder to try to calm him.

''Sorry.'' I said quickly. ''I didn't mean to hurt you. Are y…'

My question was rudely interrupted when he suddenly swung his torso around, jabbing his right elbow into my thorax, taking me completely by surprise and sending me sprawling back, slamming my head against the wall behind me. I collapsed in a heap on the floor, growling in pain, holding my abdomen and the back of my skull, teeth clenching to stop the ringing sensation. The jab from his elbow was harder than I thought, as I found myself staggering onto my feet, using the back wall for support. Haruto seemed to be carrying on like nothing had happened.

''I told you.'' He said sharply. ''Now just leave me alone.''

I glared at the back of his head as I slowly made my way to the door, defeated. The pains in my head and chest were still prominent. I shot one last look back at him as I stood in the doorway. He seemed strangely unphased after our brief skirmish, which I didn't like. I turned away, closing the door behind me. As I stood on the landing to nurse my new bruises, I came to the bitter conclusion. He was not the Haruto I was looking for.

He was someone else.

The next week had been excruciatingly and uncomfortably bitter. Things had gotten to the point of being balanced on a knife-edge. Aurora and I had done everything we could to help give Haruto a cosy and comfortable welcome to his new family; we had gotten him new clothes to wear, new things to play with, even a games console. But despite our efforts, his dark and contemptuous attitude was taking its toll heavily on us.

Throughout the week, Aurora and I had been taking turns to look after Haruto on a daily basis. One of us stayed home to keep watch of Haruto, whilst the other went off to work to get money for food and other necessities. Nearly each day, the one that would come home would have to spend each night comforting the other, either calming them from severe stress and anger, or to wipe away frustrated tears. Throughout it all Haruto kept acting with unmoved antipathy and resentment, as if it all seemed normal. Mine and Aurora's patience and tolerance were wearing very thin.

The final straw came one evening. I had only just come home, after having to pull off a long shift at the gym to make up for my days off. As I was about to head up to unpack my bag I could hear the two of them in the kitchen, arguing very loudly. That worried me very quickly, and I headed towards the kitchen, their voices becoming clearer, but still very loud. Aurora was the first I heard.

''Excuse me young man, but your father and I have been working our tails off to give you a home! The least you could do is be thankful for what we're doing!''

''I could care less about how hard you and your boyfriend work! I'm not some dumb kid!''

''Well you keep that attitude up and we will treat you like one!''

''Well maybe you should stop being a stupid ugly fish!''

Aurora gasped loudly in shock, and so had I. That shock quickly turned into rage in an instant. I was not letting him talk like that to Aurora. I grabbed him roughly by the collar, catching him by surprise as I dragged him into the hallway, pushing him in front of me with a fierce growl.

''You do NOT speak to her like that!'' I snarled. ''Not in our house!''

''Oh don't you start.'' He snapped. ''You've given me this same damn speech non-stop.''

''Well you never listen to us even for a second! Have some empathy in you for once!''

''I don't need you lecturing me on how to live my life!''

''Maybe we should just lock you up somewhere just to shut you up. Perhaps you may learn some manners then!''

''Just you try and threaten me fur-brain!''

''STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!''

The two of us, whom had suddenly been facing each other nose to nose, clutched our ears as Aurora's deafening voice rang out. I had known she was capable of using Disarming Voice in the past, but I had no idea just how strong it could have been. I grasped my head, folding my ears down as the ringing sensation flooded my ears, ringing through my head. As it faded I glimpsed Aurora looming over the two of us as we curled up from the sudden shout. Though she was such a beautiful Pokémon, she could look fierce when she had to. And in all honesty, she looked terrifying when she did.

Before we could fully recover, she pushed the two of us up the stairs and into Haruto's room, slamming the door shut and locking it. ''I am having no more arguments in this household! From either of you!.'' She pressed. ''And you are not coming out of that room until you both make up! Or so help me I will leave you in there all night!'' Her tail slammed the door in a frustrated way as she stormed back down the stairs.

A tense silence passed as Haruto and I were left staring at the bedroom door. But eventually he let out an aggravated sigh and went to collapse on his bed. I stayed where I was, the rush of adrenaline slowly fading as I collected my thoughts. In all the time I had been with her, I had never seen her get so angry like this. And to think I had been part of the cause of that anger. This wasn't me at all. I was never like this. As I gathered myself, I went and stood by Haruto's bedroom window. It was on the front of the house, and showed a good view of the street we lived on. I could see other Pokémon walking along the streets, some walking alone, others in pairs or groups, chatting contentedly as they finished their day. The houses and trees that lined the street were silhouetted against the bright orange sky as the sun disappeared below the horizon. The few clouds that dotted the sky underlined in a bright pink, creating elegant patterns as they floated across. It all seemed so peaceful, and yet here I was recovering from a heated argument. I sighed heavily.

''Don't even start.'' Came Haruto's sharp voice, catching my attention.

''What?''

''I know what you're going to say. So don't bother saying it.''

I made a quiet, but aggravated huff as I kept looking out to the scene below. ''I never knew someone could be capable of hating Pokémon this much.'' I muttered quietly, but loud enough for him to hear.

Judging by how long until his reply came, I must have provoked something in him. ''Excuse me?''

''You heard what I said.'' I answered in a deep tone.

I heard the bed covers become ruffled as I heard him leap off from the bed to confront me. ''Don't you start that with me! If you think you know even anything about me, then…''

He stopped as I turned to look at him. I wasn't giving him a sarcastic expression of curiosity, nor a face filled with contempt. I just looked at him, expecting him to make his point. But he hesitated as our eyes met. And his face of brief anger faded, changing to a more wide-eyed expression, almost as if he had opened some long-forgotten treasure box. He suddenly took an uneasy step back. His raised fist to illustrate his defiance slowly opened, as he looked down at his palm. Now I became more concerned. He sat himself rather suddenly on the bed, still looking at his palm, his breathing becoming more uneven.

''Haruto?''

I watched as he clasped his palms over his face in a way that could only be described as regretful. His breathing was staggered as he seemed to start crying. This only raised my concern, and my worry. I slowly approached him, gently reaching a paw out to him, placing it carefully on his shoulder. It made him stop as he felt me.

''Haruto, are you alright?'' I asked softly.

His arms dropped onto his lap and his head hung lower ''Do I look like I'm alright?'' he answered. His voice was a little shaky as he tried to stay assertive, but I could tell it wouldn't last long.

I sat beside him, still keeping my paw on his shoulder. ''Do you want to talk about it?''

He let out another deep sigh. I was trying to help him, and he knew that. ''Well, it's kinda long and complicated.''

''We have plenty of time.''

I gently retracted my paw from his shoulder as he gathered himself, sitting himself upright and breathing deeply, looking out the large window before he began.

''Before I ended up here with you two, before this whole Pokémon revolution began, I had come to Unova to compete in the Pokémon league.''

''I take it you're an experienced trainer?''

''Yeah, have been for a long while. I was doing really well in Unova, too. I had managed to gain my seventh badge. But then I heard news that there was a group of psychic Pokémon whom turned against their trainers. They were part of a group called Team Plasma.''

The name Team Plasma was very familiar. They were a gang known for mistreating their Pokémon, which was why they were the first to be defeated. I remember someone in the city telling me about it, how the psychic Pokémon decided that if they were to be treated like infants, the same should happen to them. I had never really thought on it much since everything seemed so normal.

''But then more news came up that the same Pokémon were attacking innocent people in nearby towns. The thought of it made me so angry, seeing those people and Pokémon getting hurt when neither provoked the other. So I had planned to help, and stop the onslaught, but then something else happened.''

As I listened to his story, it seemed to ring a very familiar bell. ''What happened?''

''I was heading to another city with my team, but then we got surrounded by a platoon of Pokémon. We tried to make them let us through, but hey flashed us with a bright light and blinded us. I was apparently the main target, since they tried to hold me down, but I only just pulled out. They had even snatched off my Pokéball belt with my whole team. I had no choice but to run.'' His head hung low again. ''But I lost my best friend in doing so.''

''I see.'' I said quietly, the memories of the incident I had flashing through my mind. ''I can understand why trainers need to stay together.''

''No, he was my Pokémon.''

I blinked as he said it, and several curious thoughts itched in my mind. 'Your… Pokémon?''

''Yeah, my partner, and the strongest Pokémon I know. He actually tried to help defend me when we were attacked. But they got him too. Now I don't know where he is.'' He clenched his fists together on his lap. ''I've been trying to look for him for such a long time. But all the time I had to hide just so I couldn't be caught myself. And everywhere I looked I could see what the Pokémon were doing to the other trainers whom got captured; putting them in this adoption thing, putting them in families and treating them like little kids. I thought Pokémon and humans could work together to make everything better. But seeing what they were doing made me so angry that… that…''

''You couldn't stop thinking about anything else, which made you spite the Pokémon and what they were doing?'' I finished.

''Yeah…'' he said sadly. ''And it wasn't until just now that I realised what I had become. I can't believe I lost sight of what I was trying to do.'' He sighed and pressed his fingers and thumb to his forehead. ''Sorry, it's just really heavy stuff, you wouldn't understand.''

I looked down to my paws on my lap. Feeling those small thoughts nagging at my mind as I took in his story. It all seemed so strangely familiar, almost eerily so. But my doubts kept nagging back to try and keep me in check. I clenched my paws as he did before I spoke. ''Actually I do.''

His head lifted from his fingers, then turned to look at me. ''You do?''

''I was with my master when the revolution began, they were a trainer too. We were travelling through Unova to help stop the revolution as well. But we were attacked as well. I too tried my best to save them, but I was knocked out before I could reach him. I then found myself here in Aurora's home, having been nursed back to health by her, and then I tried to go and find him.'' I could feel small tears forming in my eyes. ''I remember I had spent all night searching across Unova for him. I had become so desperate in my search I ended up damaging myself more. Aurora was kind enough to let me stay with her so I could recover and search again, but…''

''But what?''

I too then lowered my head, feeling the wave of guilt flow through me before the words came out. ''I gave up.''

''Gave up?'' he asked. His tone of voice now more empathetic. ''Why?''

''I don't know… Maybe I lost track of time, or it was the fear of being alone. I had been with my master for such a long time I had grown used to being with him. And for the first time when I was truly on my own, it was frightening; being alone in a place which I knew nothing about. I wondered if I would be left wandering alone for the rest of my life.''

''But since you're with Aurora, you no longer feel like that?''

''Aurora has given me so much since she first took me in, and I couldn't help but fall for her. But I didn't realise how long it had been since I last looked for my master.'' My paws were shaking as I uttered the words. ''And it was only recently, before you came here that I finally remembered him. That he was still out there, and I had done nothing to find him. Just the thought of it alone, makes me feel like such a traitor.'' I shut my eyes tight, and could feel the tears stream down my face.

He put his hand upon my shoulder, and I felt a sudden spark and rush flow through me and my head bolted up as I looked at him. His eyes looked gentle, along with an emphatic smile.

''You shouldn't need to feel like that.'' He said softly. ''He's your closest friend isn't he? I'm sure he'd understand why you felt scared about being alone. Maybe he's still out there looking for you. I mean look at me; I've been trying to find my Pokémon for nearly a year and a half. All I really care about is finding him and being a team again like we used to be. I'm sure they'd be want the same.''

''I guess so.'' I sighed. ''It's just been so long though. I mean I have a home now, a job, and someone to love. And,'' I paused to look at him. ''Well, someone new in the family.''

He looked down in a guilty way. ''Yeah…'' he replied. ''Guess it was my fault for all the pain over the past week.''

''You know I hate to say this,'' I said quietly, ''But I'm kind of glad that I'm not the only one who's lost someone close.''

''I know the feeling.'' Said Haruto, letting out a soft sigh. ''I'm sorry I called you fur-brain.''

''It's alright. I'm sorry I shouted at you.'' I said, placing a paw gently on his hand as I smiled up at him. He smiled back too, giving me a great sense of relief that we had settled our argument. But the small nagging thoughts cropped up again, stronger this time. I looked the window. It was just about night time. I wondered if now was a good time to ask. It seemed like such an opportune moment. ''Tell me something…''

''Sure.''

''Your Pokémon.'' I paused, breathing in deeply, feeling a tension build up with the anticipation of his answer. ''Were they, a Lu…''

I was interrupted by the sound of the door being unlocked and opened. We both turned our heads to see Aurora there, wiping away a tear with her tail fin. ''Dinner's ready.'' She said rather wearily, blinking a few times before gathering herself. ''Sorry, things are just, a bit chaotic for me. I didn't mean to burst out like that. I know you two didn't want to see in such a state so, I'm sorry.''

She had certainly gone through a lot in the past week. I moved to go and comfort her, but Haruto was faster, shifting himself off the bed towards her, and placing his arms around her in a gentle hug, which caught her off guard.

''I'm sorry too.'' He said quietly. A short pause lingered as she stayed quiet. ''I know that you want to have a family to call your own. I know the two of you are working hard just to make me feel welcome, and I am grateful. But I know it was my fault for acting like a jerk to you, and I'm really sorry. I just want to make it up to you.''

For a moment she seemed to not know what to say, the sudden change in his attitude being so new to her. I caught her gaze and smiled softly toward her. She smiled softly back, closing her eyes, and gently coiling her tail round him in a warming embrace. ''Can we please be a family together?'' she whispered softly to him.

''Sure, mom.'' Came his reply.

She let out a soft, soothing sigh as she gently tightened his grip around him, Haruto doing the same. I smiled at them. It was nice to see the him finally getting along with her, and to see her sweet smile again. She now seemed more loving and caring as she held him, like the Aurora I knew and loved.

She soon gently uncoiled herself from him. ''Anyway, dinner's downstairs and ready sweetie.'' she said in her songlike voice. ''Feel free to help yourself, we'll join you shortly.''

''Okay.'' He said. ''I'll see you guys down soon.'' He made his way past her and downstairs to get his dinner.

Aurora breathed a sigh of happy relief as she watched him head down. I stood beside her, looking up at her, seeing just how happy she was now that everything was better. That the three of us would be a family together. But I noticed she hadn't moved in a short while.

I cleared me throat. ''So uh…'' I began. ''Maybe we should go and get di…''

She cut me off suddenly by surprising me with a deep and long kiss, making me blush hard. But I soon kissed her back, holding her gently as we gazed into each other's eyes. ''I don't know how you did it,'' she whispered, ''but you have no idea how happy and relieved I am right now.''

''We talked it out together,'' I replied, ''and found we had a few things in common.''

''I'm glad that we can be a family.'' She said, resting her forehead against mine. We nuzzled each other softly as we stayed in our embrace. ''Come on, we shouldn't keep him waiting.''

I nodded, and we both headed downstairs to join him. And for once, we could both sleep peacefully tonight.

The next day I found the staff changing room in the gym was emptier than usual today, probably because everyone else was busy running classes or mentoring new clients. I was coming to the end of my shift and was just sorting out things in my locker. Something in my bag started buzzing and I reached in to find what it was. I picked out a small orange device which was vibrating in my palm, the Holo-Caster. A lot of Pokémon used it to communicate with others who had it, and was very popular. I flicked it open, seeing that Aurora had left me a message. I opened it up and read:

Hey Hiro-sweetie, just letting you know that Haruto and I are back from the barber's, and his hair looks much better than it did before. Hope to see you home soon. Xx

I smiled, and messaged back saying I'll be home as soon as I can, before putting it back into the bag. My thoughts turned to Haruto again. It was nice to have seen him show a much nicer and friendlier personality, but there was still something about him that pestered me. It was when he placed his hand on me last night, and I felt that spark. It wasn't a strange rush of soothing emotion. It was his aura. It was stronger than anything I had ever felt before, strong enough to match even my own. I wondered why I had never felt it before when we first met. Perhaps it was because the wave of emotion shrouded it when we made eye contact. And then it made me remember something master had said to me a long time ago.

''I want to be able to fight alongside you. Fighting just like you do, being able to do some incredible moves!''

''Yo Hiro! How's it going man? Heard you've been having a bit of trouble with your new kid.''

Jack's voice broke my train of thought, finding myself gazing into my locker. I closed it. ''Don't remind me Jack.'' I said to the Machoke. ''I'm just glad we finally managed to sort things out between us.''

''Hey, glad to hear it buddy.'' He replied, opening up his locker. ''I know having a kid can be stressful, but when you're dealing with the Phantom, you gotta expect a tough challenge.''

''Phantom?'' I asked. The name seemed strangely familiar, but I couldn't remember why. ''What are you talking about?''

''Oh you don't know?'' came his response. ''That kid that you and your girl adopted. Apparently the search teams dubbed him as The Phantom a long while back. Pokémon keep saying that whenever they try to catch him, he always seems to slip away into the shadows, like a ghost. But of course he couldn't be on the run forever, and they managed to catch him a few weeks ago. His streak ended at 12 months.''

I froze. I had just remembered where I saw that name. It was on Haruto's info sheet from the folder Aurora brought home before she corrected it. And what Jack had said put me at a horrible sense of unease. ''What?''

''Yeah I'm surprised you didn't know that, considering you both adopted him. Guess he was a pretty good runner, but he's no eighteen-month shadow.''

Silence passed.

''Still, at least you got him under control now. Eh, Hiro? Hiroto? Where'd you go?''

I was already walking through the main foyer of the gym before he realised I was gone. There were too many thoughts and revelations going through my head over what he had just said. Haruto had been looking for his Pokémon for more than a year after they were separated, and had ended up becoming caught and put into adoption without consent. And with Jack having mentioned the eighteen-month shadow, made me wonder if other trainers had undergone the same fate.

I then thought about the patrols. The ones whom would find orphaned or abandoned children and bring them to a safe place to stay before being put up for adoption. Did they know if a trainer they found was lost and in need of help, or just trying to find their way home? One lost trainer could easily look like another, and would take them regardless. Meaning that a lot of trainers would be just swept up by them to be put into adoption, when all they wanted was to return to their own families. Just taken away without being given the chance to explain.

Although I remember Aurora telling about how excited some of the children were to be brought into a Pokémon family. To have been brought into such a family would have only been in their dreams, but now they could come true. And Pokémon couples were also having a chance to have their own family. Something that Aurora had been dreaming of for a while. She had always dropped subtle hints about having a family in the past, and now she had taken the initiative to adopt a child to have as our own. However, Haruto didn't seem to feel very welcome when he first came to our home. And despite my beliefs, he was not the one I had been looking for. Perhaps he just simply had the same name. And he, like many others, had been swept up without a second glance.

And it seemed none of them got a chance to fight back, or have their say. I wondered what to do, and then more words flashed in my memory.

''If we were given the chance to, I would teach you, Master.''

Those were the same words I thought when he realised that we understood one another. How our bond had allowed us to do it, because of his aura. Then I thought about Haruto's aura, when he touched me. That incredible power I felt inside him. Perhaps he could harness the same powers I used. Though he may not be my master, I felt that he should be able to have the chance. I made my way to the reception desk, and started making a plan.

The evening at home was rather peaceful. I helped Aurora cook up a vegetable lasagne which Haruto seemed to like a lot. Aurora had been right about his hair. It looked much better than before, since now it was shorter. We then settled down to watch a film together, about a Liepard mother and her three Purrloin kittens who were kidnapped to the countryside, where they met a friendly male Persian who helped them get home. Soon after we were tired and we had got ourselves into bed, my arm around Aurora as she nuzzled her head under my chin.

''Today was such a nice day.'' She sighed happily. ''I never knew just how nice Haruto could be. He's such a nice boy, and was surprisingly friendly to everyone. Most of the others were very surprised when I introduced him to them. Guess they weren't expecting him to be to gentlemanly.''

''I'm glad you both had a good day today.'' I said, gently stroking her silky soft skin.

''I wished you had been there with us.'' She said, looking up at me. ''But of course you had work, which is understandable. I know you've got a busy week next week as well. I was sort of hoping that the two of you would be able to spend more time together.''

''Actually, I had a word with my supervisor today. They allowed me to choose the shifts I have next week, so I could spend more time with Haruto when you're at work. Does that sound good? I hope you don't mind it.''

''Not at all.'' She said, kissing me sweetly. ''You spend as much time with him as you like. The others at my work have been bugging me to help with a few things anyway.''

''We should also try arrange a day out for the three of us too. A little family outing.''

''Yeah, I'll see if my boss will let me off for a day. It's a lovely idea.''

''We should get some sleep, you deserve some rest.''

''Okay, goodnight darling.''

We kissed each other goodnight and she snuggled in close and went to sleep. I smiled down at her, she looked so peaceful as she slept. I gently stroked her skin before settling to sleep. Tomorrow my plan would be put into action. One that would give Haruto a fighting chance.