"speaking"

"thinking"

On with the story

At Chocovine town's Hotel.

Shirona and the others continued to wait for Ken to come back with Osamu, but as times by, the feeling of worry started to pour up for the mother and sister.

"Papa is taking too long, and this rain hasn't gone away!" said Shirina while standing up from sitting on the bed. "I am going out and find them."

"I as well" said Shirona, feeling worried that something might had happened to her husband and son. The two were about to head for the door when Darkrai comes out of the shadow and hovers in front of them and the door.

"Darkrai?" said Kirika, seeing the Pitch-Black Pokémon again.

Darkrai shook its head before pointing towards one of the windows as the rain got harsher to the point that the sea water was raging high up to the port and some waves were washing up to the land.

"seems like Darkrai is warning us that the storm is too dangerous for any of us to go out" said Akira, seeing how the waves were raging higher and higher by the passing second. "the storm is getting intense by the passing minute."

"I don't care, Darkrai. Papa and Osamu might be in danger" said Shirina, determined to go out and find the two.

Darkrai shakes its head before Hitmonchan and Shirona's Garchomp came out of their Pokeballs, both staying by Darkrai's side.

"Hitmonchan?!" "Garchomp?!" said Shirona and Shirina, surprised to see the two Pokémon coming out of their Pokeballs on their own.

Hitmonchan let out a few cries to Darkrai who nodded before going back into the shadow and looms out of the door before both the Punching Pokémon and Mach Pokémon stands by the door, guarding it.

"what just happened?" said Minny, seeing the whole scene.

"looks like Shirina-san's Hitmonchan and Shirona-san's Garchomp has the same idea as Darkrai" said Miyuki as both Pokemons got in front of their Trainers and didn't let them through.

"let us through, Garchomp" said Shirona to her ace Pokémon but Garchomp growls and shakes its head in response. Garchomp nudges its snout to Shirona, pushing her back with Hitmonchan doing the same with Shirina. "we don't have time for this, you two"

Shirona and Shirina takes out Garchomp and Hitmonchan's Pokeball as they were called back, but they soon got out again.

"come on you two! Let us through!" said Shirina as she tried to push her way through but Hitmonchan sends a fist and stops it right in front of her face, a gust of wind blows her face and hair. Shirina's face got surprised as she raises her hands up and backs away "o-okay….we'll stay"

Shirona and Shirina sat back down in the room while Hitmonchan and Garchomp stand guard by the door.

"what do we do now?" said Kenji as they were all stuck in the room, the door guarded by Hitmonchan and Garchomp who won't let any of them out.

"we might as well just sit around and wait" said Minny, seeing that none of them would be getting out. "with those two around like that, we won't be getting out any soon"

"and just sit around in dead silence? Uh uh, I ain't the sit and waiting around type" said Kenji as sitting around just to past time ain't making anyone stay sane.

Everyone became quiet as they just have to wait for Ken to get back with Osamu.

"now that I think about it…" said Shirina as everyone looks at her and sees that she stood up and went to the window. "this situation….kinda reminds me when Osamu got lost in the woods back home and Papa with Garchomp went out to find him"

"the one where he found the sick Wild Budew?" said Minny as Shirina nodded.

"that was one moment where I was worried sick" said Shirona remembering the past incident.

"but Ken-san came back with Osamu-kun, right?" stated Miyuki as Shirina told her, and Minny about how Ken came back with Osamu who got cold later on in the past.

"yeah, about an hour later" said Shirina remembering how long it took Ken to get Osamu back home from the past storm. "that was a long single hour just waiting for the two to come back."

The atmosphere in the room became dead silence as nobody talked anymore.

At the cave, Ken sat beside Osamu who sleeps quietly while looking at Lan who took off his wet clothes and placed them away.

"I hope you don't mind" said Lan as he wrings his wet clothes before grabbing his backpack to take out dry clothes. "I don't have any Fire Type Pokémon with me."

Ken squinted his eyes before Magmortar came out of its Pokeball and the Blast Pokémon started drying Lan's clothes just like how it did with Ken's clothes.

"seems that your son got his accident patched up" said Lan, noting the bandages over Osamu's right eye.

"no thanks to you" replied Ken as he didn't let Lan out of his sight.

"oh, please do stop with that accusing stare of yours" said Lan while having a small smirk. "have you no ear before? how your child got that injury was a mere accident that can happen numerous times in a Pokemon Contest."

"not how I see it" said Ken as he squinted his eyes. "you precisely timed it, you and your Weavile did so"

"maybe" said Lan while shrugging his shoulders before giving Ken a smug look "or maybe not"

Garchomp growls at Lan before it got called back to its Pokeball by Ken who holds it in his grasp before placing it away.

Ken and Lan look at each other before Magmortar finished drying out Lan's clothes to which the Blast Pokémon gives the clothing back.

"ah, dry and warm clothes" said Lan with a smile while holding his used to be wet clothes. "lovely"

Lan started folding his dried clothes while Ken called back Magmortar to its Pokeball. Placing the dry clothes away, Lan sighs a bit before looking at Osamu who is still sleeping.

"sleeping well, your boy" said Lan with a chuckle "just to show that he has everything served on a silver platter."

"everything that Osamu has now is all given by me and Shirona, we never spoiled him too much" said Ken as his eyes keens sharp and looks dangerous. "don't give such false accusation that my son is spoiled like children who have rich families."

"oh, really? I'm not that certainly true because of how his father happens to be so lucky in becoming Unova Champion Master and have Shirona-san, a beautiful Champion master of Sinnoh as his wife" said Lan in a bit mocking way to Ken. "for a while, I've been thinking that you are just way too lucky."

Ken didn't reply as he looks at Lan in a dead-on glare.

"oh my? Seems that you have been unpleased by my words" said Lan as thunder rang hard, Ken's eyes glowed red for a split second from the flash of lightning.

"you can make fun of me, mock me, do anything that you want to me. but know this" said Ken as the storm outside became even harsher than before. "never ever mock my family….i protect them from anything, even against you and your words"

"ho?" replied Lan, his eyes seeming to challenge Ken's.

"you may have more skills in Pokémon Contest than my son, but he has one thing that you lack." Said Ken as he glanced at his son who still sleeps even in their conversation. "he has love."

"love?" said Lan while squinting his eyes.

"my son has more love than anyone, and with that love of his, people and Pokémon love him" said Ken as his eyes sets and soften a bit to his son before his hand caresses his head. "I and Shirona are very proud to have him."

Lan looks at Ken before outside as the rain had stopped, and it is slowly clearing away to reveal the night sky above.

"one day, Osamu will surpass me" said Ken as he stands up before carrying Osamu on his back. "and you won't ever be able to reach up to him no more."

Ken started to walk out of the cave as he headed to Chocovine town while leaving Lan at the cave.

"surpass me, you say?" said Lan in a low voice before scoffing. "as if that boy would be able to"

Ken walks on the wet ground as he heads for Chocovine town and for the Hotel where Shirona and the others are at.

"this might take a while" said Ken as walking from the forest to Chocovine town is going to eat some time. As he walks, he heard Osamu rustling a bit on his back as he glances behind and sees his son slowly waking up.

"Pa…pa?" said Osamu, drowsily while noticing that he is on his father's back while being carried.

"hey, feeling alright?" said Ken as Osamu nodded a bit which made the father smile. "that's good."

"did the rain and the storm go away?" said Osamu as Ken nodded.

"see for yourself" said Ken as Osamu glances up and sees the night sky which is just filled with illuminating stars. Osamu looks at the stars before he leans close to his father's back.

"Papa.." Osamu muttered out as Ken hummed. "I don't want to go back home yet."

"you want to continue your journey with Shirina, right?" said Ken as he glances at him. "then let's tell Shirona that."

"but Mama….she" muttered Osamu, frowning a bit when he remembered how his mother wanted him and his sister to go back home.

"a newborn Pidgey must spread its wings and leave the nest" said Ken in a wise tone before looking at the stars above. "your mother and I are worried for the both of you on your journey, but we have to learn that we can't cage you two up. I'll tell your mother and have her understand it, alright? don't worry"

Osamu nodded before closing his eyes and hugs Ken's back while he is taking him back to Chocovine town.

"Papa….sorry" said Osamu in a low voice that Ken could hear it.

"for what?" replied Ken with a curious tone.

"I'm sorry that I made you and Mama and then Neechan and the others worried when I just left with Garchomp…..i just…" said Osamu before frowning a bit.

"you just felt pressured, I know" said Ken as he smiled at his son. "you want to continue your journey so that you can be together with Miyuki, right?"

"n-no!" said Osamu while blushing embarrassed.

"hahaha, I know you very well, Osamu." said Ken while chuckling. "I was like that when I met your mother. I couldn't stay apart so I decided to come to Sinnoh and be with her."

"was it hard?" said Osamu as Ken hummed a bit curious about what his son is stating. "I heard from Aunt Kia that many fans want to be with Mama before Papa back then."

"if anything is hard, it would be how many opponents I had to face to make my stand on being with Shirona" said Ken chuckling "you could say that I and your mother were just meant for each other that I don't want anyone else to have her."

Osamu hummed before he sees glowing sparkles coming from the trees as he saw a bunch of Illumise and Volbeat flying around the area.

"just like that night, huh?" said Ken as he stopped a moment to see the sparkles all over the trees which were made by the Volbeat and Illumise together.

"like that night?" said Osamu as Ken nodded.

"you might not remember it, but when you were still 1 year old…" said Ken before he trailed off to look at the beautiful night scene.

Flashback

Ken and Shirona were at a small lake near their home as they were accompanied by Glaceon and Houndoom.

A two years old Shirina is asleep while sitting on Ken's lap, the father holding the little girl close before looking at Shirona who carries Osamu in her arms.

Osamu is somehow still awake as the little boy is fascinated with the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. A big group of Volbeat and Illumise were flying around the trees and the lake as they were all flying in pairs. The little boy's eyes sparkled in amazement and curiosity to see the beautiful sparkles coming from the dancing Volbeat and Illumise by the lake.

Shirona pecks Osamu's forehead as the little boy cooed to his mother while having a happy smile.

Ken and Shirona smiled at their little boy as both love him every much as their daughter.

flashback

"that was during the time that you learned how to crawl or babble…whichever came first" said Ken with a smile as he continued walking back to Chocovine town with Osamu on his back.

"I think I remember it….but just a little" said Osamu before he yawns as he is getting tired.

"tired?" said Ken as Osamu just shakes his head but the father can see how tired his son is. "it might take a few more minutes to get back to Chocovine town, just get some shut-eye, alright?"

Osamu drowsily nodded as he leans close to his father's back and slowly closed his eyes, the young boy slowly lulled to sleep on the calm and peaceful night.

Ken smiled at his son before he turns to look at the front and continued his walk back to Chocovine town. Darkrai appeared out of the shadows of a tree as the Pitch Black Pokémon looks at the father and son before sinking back into the shadows and loomed away.

Nighttime

Ken brought back Osamu to the Hotel where everyone was waiting anxiously for them.

Shirona and Shirina went to the two as they find Osamu deeply asleep on his father's back, they brought him to his room where they settled him down on his bed for him to rest longer. Now with Osamu back, everyone decided to get some sleep after waiting for Ken to get the young boy back.

In Ken and Shirona's shared room, Ken went out of the bathroom while having a towel around his neck, the man had a quick warm shower after getting back. Ken went to bed where he sees Shirona just sitting by and looks through the window, upon the night sky filled with stars.

"Shirona?" Ken called out to her as he placed his towel away before going to her. "something wrong?"

"Ken….am I a good mother?" said Shirona as Ken raised a curious eyebrow to her statement.

"what do you mean?" replied Ken while sitting beside her.

"it's just that…." Muttered Shirona as she grasps her hands together on her lap. "….if I hadn't pressured Osamu on that decision of mine…..he wouldn't have…"

"don't blame yourself, Shirona" said Ken as he placed a hand to her hands and holds them gently. "no one is at fault here."

"but i.." said Shirona as she looks at Ken and sees him shaking his head.

"but nothing," said Ken "all that matters right now is that Osamu is safe and with us, alright?"

Ken holds up her right hand and pecks it before placing his other hand on top of it.

"both of us are always worried for him and Shirina every single day, but there will be a day where we have to trust that they would always be fine no matter what." said Ken as he caresses Shirona's hands. "that's one of the important parts of being a parent, Shirona"

Shirona looks at Ken before she slowly smiled and nodded. Ken smiled as well before he pecks her forehead.

"it's getting really late, let's get in" said Ken as the two settled down to sleep. Ken holds Shirona close as the two parents started to fall asleep fast.

The next morning came as everyone had breakfast together.

"sorry….everyone" said Osamu, sitting beside Ken and Shirona, the young boy apologizing to everyone for making them worry.

"you had us worried nearly the whole night" said Kenji.

"yeah" added Minny with a nod.

"sorry" said Osamu frowning a bit before Ken patted his head and caresses his back.

"but it's alright now" said Miyuki with a smile "you're safe and sound now, so it's alright, Osamu-kun"

"just don't run off again, alright?" added Shirina with her own smile. Osamu nodded before he looks at his mother.

"sorry, Mama" said Osamu to her as she is the one who she wants to apologize for the most. "I just ran off like that…."

"it's fine, Osamu" said Shirona with a smile before pulling her son into a hug. "if anyone should be apologizing, it's me. I am always worried about you and your sister every day that I just want you to stop your journey. I'm sorry for being such a worrying mother, Osamu"

Osamu shakes his head before hugging back his mother.

"no, I love Mama as you are" said Osamu as Shirona sighs a bit before caressing her son's head a few times. Ken smiled as all is well now. He took a sip of his cup of tea before sighing.

"Alright!" said Shirina as she stands up from her seat "now that things are all square and all, it's time to go to Snowpoint city for the Snowpoint Gym!"

"Right!" said Kirika in agreement as she stand up from her seat as well "it's time to get the seventh gym badge!"

"I won't be losing to the two of you" said Akira with a small smirk. "I'll be the first to get the seventh badge"

"you're on, Akira!" said Shirina and Kirika in unison

"do the three of you believe that you are ready for it?" said Ken as he took another sip of his tea before having a small smirk at the trio. "Suzuna isn't one to be underestimated in anyway"

"we are so ready!" said the trio while having smiles.

That's a wrap!

Bye bye