The Thing With Hajimes
Kellyn: Finally came back
Me: *locks the door behind me* um, yeah, try to get high school closer to ending...before other ideas decide to blast me even more...I swear if I get any more different story ideas, especially ones focusing mainly on OCs and Ranger characters...I'm going to be digging a deep pit in which there is no return...
Kellyn: ever since you started with fanfiction stories, there was no turning back
Me: yeah, you're right, though I don't regret it. I've met (sort of) lots of people and provided entertainment and whatnot for others and working on stories, developing characters, brainstorming, all of it was and is a bumpy crazy ride, but I love it.
Rhythmi: pokelover0ash does not own Pokemon.
Kate: welcome back
Me: *looks at the time* well, no promises for being punctual or whatever, college work comes first and so does food and sleep.
Chapter 51: Precious Memories
Kate stretched as she woke up in her bed in Almia before looking out the window. Senior year had started, but Kate could remember the summer in Johto like it happened yesterday. Smiling, she watched Keith try to climb a tree Karrie was in as Mr. Kincaid chased him. The two were so close, like she was to Kellyn. However, Keith's fear of rejection and how Karrie might react has prevented him from just blurting out his feelings, though that fear was slowly becoming less of an obstacle for him. Kate rolled her eyes as she remembered talking to Caitlin once about it and Ethan joining in on the conversation. It led to Ethan revealing that Karrie was somehow involved with his scars and his blind eye that made her afraid of hurting those close to her, which made sense when you took in consideration that whenever she was in pain she tended to block the other telepaths out. It took a while, but Kate got Caitlin to tell her that Karrie most likely be able to live a full long life.
Kate's face scrunched up. That conversation brought up even more questions, but seeing as it seems as the family tended to try to keep secrets to their graves and seemed to be more than just telepaths.
She got dressed and looked at the photographs taken from the dojo. From picnics to the parties to just hanging out, the pictures accurately depicted their time. Most of the time was spent making friends and then becoming even better friends. One of her favorite pictures was one taken by Blue. It was originally was supposed to be a picture of just Kate and Kellyn by the lake, but when the picture was taken, Ben had jumped on Kellyn's back while Summer hung out of tree upside down to ruffle the two boys' hair as Karrie was about to grab me to use Kate as protection from something (which ended up being Rhythmi and Isaac). Keith came out of nowhere and had put his arms around Kate and Karrie as Laurie and Todd tripped running away from a sparkly Rhythmi and smoky Isaac. In the background, you could spot Bruno sleeping behind a tree as Lyra jump hugged Ethan in the flower garden and Gold and Jimmy ran away from an angry Roxanne.
Kate couldn't help but laugh. It was one of the most accurate pictures of them. This was true for Kate's school friends, Kellyn's school friends, and even the Hajime family. Kate took out an old family photograph that Rebecca, Kellyn's mother, gave her. It was amazing that they got everyone in the photograph, even Sakura and Kiwi who were babies along with one other baby. She was told that one day they would have another photograph taken of the huge family and that she would be in it, for sure.
Kate smiled before looking out the window again. Hopefully Keith will be in the picture too.
'Your happiness and thinking about the future and past is contagious.' Kellyn spoke telepathically to Kate.
'I agree.' Karrie added before looking up to Kate.
'I hope even more precious memories will be made, with all of you.' Kate told the siblings.
'I love you.' Kellyn replied.
'If this is turning into a lovey dovey conversation, then I'm leaving.' Karrie complained.
'I love you both.' Kate replied while smiling as she saw Karrie start to blush.
'I can't wait until she's my big sister.' a little girl commented.
'Aw man, she's reached the age in which she mastered telepathy.' Karrie complained.
'Kiwi?' Kate asked.
'Yep! One day I'll be able to communicate telepathically with almost anyone!' the girl replied.
'Stay out of my head.' Karrie complained.
'No fighting in my head.' Kellyn complained and Kate laughed, causing Keith and Mr. Kincaid to look up at her.
"What did I miss this time?" Keith asked.
"Are you mocking me?" Mr. Kincaid asked.
"No, I just was thinking of some stuff that happened over the summer," Kate replied.
'You're improving when it comes to cover stories.' Kellyn commented.
'Oh, I just remembered! Aren't we going to-' Kiwi started to say only to get cut off.
'Kiwi! If you don't start paying attention to your lessons, then I'm going to have to punish you!' a woman exclaimed.
'Yikes, mom doesn't sound happy.' Kellyn commented.
'Since when was I able to communicate with other Hajimes besides Karrie and Kellyn?!' Kate exclaimed mentally. Karrie helped Keith jumped to the dorm roof to escape Mr. Kincaid.
'Shut the window and pull the blinds, I'm coming in, with Keith. He doesn't like being so out of the loop.' Karrie said and Kate obeyed.
'Kate?' Rebecca asked.
'Your telepathic abilities continue to baffle me, not like I mind though.' Kellyn said.
'Maybe it was destined for Kate to become part of the family.' Kiwi commented.
'If you notice your telepathy powers growing anymore, tell one of the kids.' Rebecca ordered. She seemed to be extremely concerned while Kiwi seemed overly excited.
'There's more than just telepathy going on with you guys, isn't there?' Kate asked.
'I wish it was that simple.' Karrie replied.
'Hey, can we tell her?' Kellyn asked.
'Tell me what?' Kate asked.
'Have you ever heard of the chosen protectors? Humans who were bonded with legendary Pokemon and given superhuman abilities in order to protect the world?' Rebecca asked.
'No.' Kate replied.
'We, the Hajimes, are the chosen protectors.' Kellyn said. 'There's a lot of background and history among others things that will make everything make more sense. But I would prefer going over it all face to face.'
'This starting to sound like something straight out of a storybook, but I trust you.' Kate replied.
'Thank you, you have no idea how much or how long I have wanted to tell you every little thing, especially this.' Kellyn said as Karrie came out of the vent with Keith.
"I can't believe you dragged me through the tiniest vents," Keith complained as he dusted himself off. "I almost got stuck."
"Did you get a nice view at least?" Kate asked and both of them turned bright red.
"KATE!" Keith exclaimed.
"W-Wh-Wha-What do you mean?!" Karrie exclaimed.
"I mean: did he get see your rear end up close at least most of the time going through the vents?" Kate replied and Karrie turned more red before hitting Keith's arm.
"OW! What was that for?" Keith asked. "It's not my fault you dragged me onto the roof and then decided to lead me through the ventilation system!"
"I-!" Karrie started to protested but she stopped when she realized she couldn't win if she tried to argue against what Keith said. Instead, she crossed her arms and turned her head as she looked away from Keith and Kate.
"Now that we now know Keith sure enjoyed his escape from Kincaid, how are we getting Keith out with Kincaid watching the windows and Janice outside the girls' dorm?" Kate asked and Keith shrugged before plopping down on Kate's bed.
"Not taking him back through the vents again unless it's a dire emergency," Karrie replied as Rhythmi came in with Emolga and Munchlax.
"Keith! What are you doing here?!" Rhythmi exclaimed.
"Shh!" Keith exclaimed as he tried to hush his blonde best friend before someone else discovers him. "Karrie brought me here when helping me escape Hairspray Man." Rhythmi smiled before trying to act serious.
"Karrie, I'm happy, extremely happy, that you have come to terms with your obvious romantic feelings toward Keith, but it's very naughty for you to bring a boy into the girls' dorm when it's not open hours and the door is shut and blinds are covering the window." Rhythmi said which caused Karrie to turn bright red.
"It's not like that!" Karrie exclaimed and Kate coughed awkwardly as she saw Keith's eyes widen a little in shock. "I, I just helped him escape! No big deal!" Now Keith was starting to look a bit depressed.
"So are you denying everything I said or just part?" Rhythmi asked as she too noticed Keith's reactions to Karrie's reaction. Karrie felt like she was trapped in a corner. She didn't want to admit out loud her feelings for her fellow prankster, but she didn't want to lie either. Her heartrate increased dramatically as she noticed, in fear, control slipping away from her.
Rhythmi, Kate, and Keith looked at Karrie with puzzled and concerned looks are their faces as they saw their young friend back up so that her back was to the wall who had a panicked looked in her eyes. Rhythmi gasped as Karrie's eyes started to switch between blue eyes to red eyes. Kate stood with her feet frozen to the ground as she noticed that each time Karrie's eyes changed, her pupils became more cat-like, or rather demonic with a flash of yellow appearing. Karrie's breathing became heavy as she looked at her fingers turning into claws. As Keith stood up and went to come closer to her, she jumped back into a corner with fear written all over her face. She violently shook her head as tears started to form in her eyes.
"I can't control it," Karrie whispered, but only Kate could hear it. Suddenly what Caitlin and Ethan had told Kate made sense to her. "I'm scared. I don't want to hurt my friends."
'Kellyn, what do I do? She's scared and said she can't control it.' Kate cried out to her boyfriend.
'Get out of there, I don't want her to hurt you and neither does she.' Kellyn replied, his voice full of concern and panic.
'Why? What is going on to her?' Kate asked.
'Something must have triggered her and now her legendary and powers are trying to take over, to help her, to give her more strength than most can handle.' Kellyn quickly explained. 'It won't stop until she's calmed down, knocked unconscious, or dead. Get out of there, once she's like this, she can't calm herself down.'
"Get out," Karrie growled as she bawled her fists, trying to breathe and fight against herself. Kate was about to shove Rhythmi out to protect her when Keith leapt forward and hugged Karrie. Shocking everyone long enough for Keith to try to calm her down.
"Not leaving you like this, not happening," Keith whispered. Karrie's eyes turned back to normal, as did her hands as tears ran down her cheeks and blood from her hands.
'Thank Arceus, she snapped out of it.' Kate said as she let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
"Wha-what just happened?" Rhythmi asked.
"She's one of the chosen protectors, but she doesn't always have control of her powers." Kate explained simply.
"Thank you," Karrie said quietly before looking down and slowly allowing herself to open the palms of her hands and relax them so that they touched Keith. "I wish you didn't have to see that."
"It's my fault, I shouldn't have asked you that question, it was unfair of me and it made you feel trapped, I'm sorry," Rhythmi replied and Kate nodded.
"You're an idiot," Keith said, shocking all three girls. "You don't need to get so worked up about a question and if you are scared, then sending away your friends and blocking everyone else out is the last thing you should do." Karrie looked up and Kate walked over with a photo album, with which she hit Keith in the head with before handing it to Karrie.
"We're all friends and we've been through a lot with each other so far," Kate said. "This is something Rhythmi and I put together. It's a collection of photographs from different things that happened throughout high school regarding to you. We were going to give it to you along with Keith's after graduation, but maybe you should get yours early, to help you remember the precious memories you have made with us, the ones that will help you get through the tough times and when you're scared."
"Hey, how come I didn't think of that?" Keith asked.
"Because you don't plan stuff that far ahead," Rhythmi replied and Karrie smiled.
"Thank you," Karrie said. "Tomorrow, let's all go to Chicole Village."
"Sure thing," Keith replied as he hugged her tightly.
"Sure, but any particular reason why?" Rhythmi asked and Kate beamed a beautiful smile.
"My family is moving to Chicole Village tomorrow," Kate replied.
"And as Kiwi wanted to tell you, my family, well some of them, are coming to help them move." Karrie said.
"Please tell me it's not Blue or Lyra," Keith replied as he was not prepared to have more girls on his case when it comes to his feelings toward Karrie. "Or Teah, or White."
"Mom, Dad, Kiwi, and Kellyn!" Karrie said and Kate jumped up and cheered. "Oh and I think Red's coming with Garnet and Kenny to help with lifting."
"Great! That means awesome food!" Keith cheered.
"You and your stomach," Rhythmi commented as she sweat dropped. Laurie walked into the room with a box full of broken parts.
"Why is Keith in the dorm?" Laurie asked.
"Karrie brought me here via the vents." Keith replied. "Hairspray Man is after me."
"Oh, okay then, I'll just leave you two to do whatever," Laurie said. "I got some things to fix so I'll be zoned out."
"Kate, can we lock them in a closet until we figure out how to sneak Keith out?" Rhythmi asked.
"That actually might be a great idea," Kate replied.
"Wait, what?" Karrie and Keith asked.
"Janice is checking the dorms real soon especially since Kincaid told the teachers about Keith escaping onto the roof." Laurie commented.
"Girls!~ I'm coming in!~" Janice called out.
"Crap." Kate said before shoving Keith and Karrie into one of the closets while Rhythmi got books to read before sitting on the ground in front of the closet door.
"Oh hi girls, is everything okay?" Janice asked. "Normally I don't check this room, but since Kincaid said that Keith and Karrie disappeared on the roof, I figured I'd check here just in case."
"Oh really?" Rhythmi asked.
~in the closet~
Karrie was about to yell when she felt a warm big hand covering her mouth. She looked up in the dark to see a very red Keith. Both of them could hear Janice and their hearts pounding.
"Any reason why you two are in front of the closet?" Janice asked.
"No," Kate replied.
"Then can I check it?" Janice asked. Karrie quickly squished Keith in a corner between a wall and bunch of boxes as she tried to be as quiet as possible when climbing up to hold herself up on the ceiling.
The door opened and Janice moved some clothes around as she looked for any person who could be hidden in the closet. Satisfied, she closed the door right as Karrie was about to fall.
"You're good," Janice said and Keith looked up and started to climb to get Karrie down in the quietest way possible. Kate opened the door as Keith balanced on boxes with Karrie in his arms. The noise startled both of them causing them to fall onto the floor with Keith on bottom and Karrie on top.
"That was close," Karrie commented.
"Tell me about it." Kate replied as her eyebrows rose. She then shut the door again.
"H-Hey!" Karrie protested.
"What was that?" Janice asked.
"Oh, um, Rhythmi started to spoil what happens in the book I was reading," Kate replied.
"Okay," Janice replied before leaving again. Kate sighed along with Rhythmi.
"Way too close," they both commented.
"They're not letting us out anytime soon, are they?" Keith asked quietly and Karrie frowned.
"No," Karrie replied and then suddenly she felt Keith's warm arms encompass her as they brought her closer to his chest.
"Then I'm not letting go," Keith whispered before nuzzling his head into her neck. Karrie was grateful for the darkness because she felt like she would give tomato competition in redness, and Keith's hair, right now. "I think I love you." Karrie's eyes widen as she blushed harder and her heart slammed hard against her chest. She opened her mouth in attempt to admit her feelings out loud only to hear Keith's soft snoring in her ear.
"Geez, he's asleep," Karrie whispered as she smiled. She gently and carefully moved her arm so that she could touch his hair. Her fingers tangled and played with his hair. "I think I love you too."
'About time you admitted out loud.' Kate commented and Karrie's face burned red.
'He's asleep though.' Karrie replied.
'Then wake up the sleeping beauty with a kiss and tell him properly.' Kate teased.
' I can't do that.' Karrie replied.
'Why not?' Kate asked.
'He, he's too cute when he's asleep and I'm starting to really like how he is, it's comfortable...and I'm getting sleepy.' Karrie replied as she glanced down at the sleeping redhead. Kate opened the door slightly and caught Karrie off guard by having Rhythmi take a quick picture before closing the door again.
"This is just too cute," Rhythmi commented.
"And it's so going in Keith's photo album." Kate replied.
"Of course," Rhythmi said. "So she admitted her feelings out loud to a snoring sleeping Keith?" Kate nodded. "Well it's a start." She then pulled out an IPad. "Luckily, I have whatever happened in there on video so if she left out anything, we'll know." As Karrie fell asleep, Kate watched the recording with Rhythmi.
"No way, was he asleep when he confessed?" Kate asked.
"Well, judging by his voice and the video he must have been in a half sleep state that he has, so he probably will not remember saying it or think it was a dream, knowing Keith." Rhythmi replied. "Just in case, I'm slipping a copy of this in his album, just to help jog his memory."
"He's probably going to want to run to wherever she is and sweep her off her feet when he sees it," Kate said.
"I can't wait until those two start dating," Rhythmi said. "Just like I can't wait until I get to be your maid of honor at your wedding."
"M-My wedding?!" Kate exclaimed.
"Of course," Rhythmi replied. "Kellyn is going to ask you to marry him one day, I just know it." Kate turned bright red and so did Kellyn as he accidentally overheard Rhythmi's comments. "You two are like the picture perfect couple, it so adorable." Kate turned even more red from embarrassment.
~with Kellyn~
Ben poked his best male friend's cheeks as he watch his friend blush furiously.
"What's up?" Ben asked.
"Rhythmi is talking about weddings and being embarrassing," Kellyn replied as he grabbed Ben's fingers to make him stop poking him.
"Oh weddings, can I be your best man?" Ben asked and Kellyn turned even more red.
"We'll see." Kellyn replied.
"You can be my best man if I get married," Ben offered.
"Dude, you don't even have the courage to tell Sasha you don't like her and to tell Summer you love her, at this rate, just when do you think you're going to have the courage to ask someone to marry you?" Kellyn asked and Ben turned red. Summer froze in the doorway and Kellyn looked up. "Oops, you weren't supposed to hear that come out of my mouth." Ben wanted to strangle Kellyn.
"I'm working on it, okay! Both of them can be the scariest women in the world and I don't want to ruin my friendship with Summie or have Sasha try to make her life super miserable!" Ben exclaimed.
"You're an idiot," Kellyn said as he facepalmed himself.
"How was what I said make me an idiot?" Ben asked as he shook Kellyn's shoulders. Kellyn started to shake Ben's shoulders back.
"You're an idiot because you haven't realized who is behind you!" Kellyn replied.
"Huh?" Ben asked right before Summer hit both Ben and Kellyn in the head. "OW!"
"Ow!" Kellyn exclaimed. "You hit like my sister!"
"Good!" Summer replied.
"Exactly how much did you hear?" Ben asked as he started to get nervous.
"From when you asked Kellyn if he could be your best man," Summer replied.
"Crap," Ben said.
"Hence why I called you an idiot," Kellyn said.
"It's all your fault, why didn't you just tell me Summer was there instead of calling me an idiot?" Ben asked.
"I didn't see her until after I let your courage issues out, and I tried! You chose to be oblivious!" Kellyn replied. Summer clonked her two best friends' heads together.
"OW!" they both exclaimed.
"Would you two stop fighting and explain to me why I had to find out Ben's feelings for me this way?" Summer asked with her face painted red.
"Uh, his fault, not mine," Ben replied as he pointed at Kellyn who glared at Ben.
"If you just told her, then she would have already known and we wouldn't be having this conversation," Kellyn replied.
"How long have you known Kellyn?" Summer asked.
"Seeing as I was the one who helped him figure out that what he was feeling towards you was love, since he figured it out," Kellyn replied. "Which has been a long while." Summer grabbed Ben by the collar, lifting him partially out his seat.
"See, this is why I was afraid to tell her," Ben commented and Kellyn shook his head.
"IDIOT!" Summer exclaimed as she shook Ben. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Wait, what?" Ben asked and instead of getting an actual verbal answer right away, he felt her soft lips slam against his. He wrapped his arms around Summer and they pulled away. They were both blushing furiously.
"All this time I thought you just liked me as a friend," Summer said as for a moment in history, Summer was acting like an extremely shy girl.
"I thought you liked that Jason guy," Ben admitted.
"And I thought you actually like Sasha for a while," Summer admitted causing Kellyn to snort as he tried not to laugh.
"I love you Summer, sorry it took so long for me to tell you," Ben said and Summer smiled.
"I've been waiting forever for you to say that," Summer replied. "I love you too."
"Finally," Kellyn exclaimed and the two brown haired students looked at him. "What? It's been obvious to me since we first became friends."
~end of chapter~
Kate: so freaking adorable
Kellyn: my head hurts, Summer's too strong and Ben's skull is too hard
Summer: at least Ben's head isn't full of air
Ben: hey!
Rhythmi: so Karrie and Keith sort of confess to each other?
Keith: *wakes up* Wait, what?
Karrie:*blushes* just go back to sleep
Me:other than the fact that Keith was asleep during it, yeah.
Keith: what did I sleep through?
Karrie: GO BACK TO SLEEP! D=(
Keith: okay okay, I will *leaves to sleep on the couch*
Laurie: review!
