This chapter was updated/revised on November 28, 2019.
The Meeting
"There's gonna come a day when you'll feel better,
and you'll rise up free and easy on that day
and float from branch to branch, lighter than the air,
just when that day is coming, who can say?"
The Mountain Goats
Day 42
Annastasia and Michio seized the day at dawn and prepared for their meeting in Alola. Annastasia decided that she was not going to bring her Pokémon, but Michio would bring Peruva for emotional support.
"What time does the ferry get here?" Annastasia asked Michio as they finished getting dressed. "Ten or 10:15?"
"Ten," he replied.
"It's 9:50; we're not going to make it…"
Plusle and Minun snuck out of the nursery and clung to each of them.
"We're not bringing you," Annastasia asserted, pulling Minun off her waist. "This is serious and no offense but we can't take the extra distractions."
"That reminds me: we should get out of here before the Sandshrew shows up," Michio said after the electric mice reluctantly released the teenagers.
"Plusle Plusssle plus?" the Pokémon questioned Michio.
"Ummm, Annie, any idea what she wants?"
"It sounds to me like she is wondering why you don't like her," Annastasia replied.
"Plusss," Plusle concurred.
"I like you, but you aren't my Pokémon," said Michio. He took a few of the treats she liked out of his pocket and handed one to her and another to Minun. "I'm not going to add you to my team."
Plusle sobbed, burying her face into her paws.
"Don't worry," Annastasia cooed as she, Peruva, and Lil-G rubbed her back. "Michio isn't all that great; you aren't missing out on much."
"Lieeep," Peruva agreed.
"This is a great time in your life right now. You don't have to do any work all you have to do is sleep and snuggle. I wish I could do that."
"I mean you're rich, so technically, if you wanted to, you could," said Michio.
"My soul needs art, adventure, and enough pain to keep it alive."
"Great."
Minun dragged Plusle back to the nursery while Michio and Annastasia walked to the pier. They boarded the ferry at ten, and they arrived on the main island at precisely 10: 25. After they landed, Michio, Annastasia, and Peruva took a cab to the guarded mansion surrounded by open fields, a beach, and a lake.
"Geeze. This is bigger than my papa's old house—the one that is Delia's Pokémon hospital—who lives here?" she asked.
"I do, or did, Koan and my parents mostly, and my grandparents stay over a lot, even though they have their own mansion," he explained, anxiety and trepidation still veiling his tone.
"Cheer up, Love; the worse thing they can do is decide they don't like me, and so what? Do you really care that much if you can't impress them? I don't."
"It's not that I want to impress them, I just don't want them to bother me."
"How do you mean?"
"Even if I decide to never come back, my family will find a way to haunt me."
"They sound like a blast."
Annastasia's cellphone went off.
"I thought I put this on silent," she mumbled as she searched through her bag to find it. Peruva took advantage of her distraction and drank the rest of the tea she had secured in the cupholder. "I shouldn't answer it now; your family's waiting."
"Please answer it," Michio pleaded. "My parents can wait."
"It's Rumika…I'm surprised she's calling me now when she knows what I'm up to…"
"Can we talk?" Rumika queried.
"Sure, but only for a few minutes because I'm on my way to Michio's family's estate and we've just reached the foot of the property."
"Excellent! I got you just in time."
"What does she mean by that?" Michio asked Annastasia, having heard Rumika's voice on the other end.
"He's got Noibat hearing," Annastasia explained after Rumika asked.
"Oh…" Rumika mumbled.
Michio took the hint. "Fine, you can talk alone, you don't have to say it. I'll just take a short walk and hope that no one spots me and tries to converse."
"Thanks," Rumika and Annastasia replied.
"So, what's up?" Annastasia asked after Michio had walked away.
"I got interesting news, but I don't want you to get too concerned," Rumika replied.
"Sounds like fun. Elaborate, please."
"I looked into Michio's records."
"Records? Like his personal information? Why?"
Though her aunt was a professional spy, she never snooped without a good reason; she assumed Rumika's plan was to investigate the Kapule Klan, not Michio personally.
"Because you seemed bewildered when I told you about arranged marriages in Alola," said Rumika. "I figured I'd give you some clarification and/or assurance."
"Okay…" Annastasia replied. "What's the clarification and/or assurance you can provide?"
"Keep in mind that I already had reams of information on the Kapule Klan—since a major part of my career involves tracking millionaires, making sure they aren't up to no good—but for you, I ventured deeper. First, I discovered that while the Kapule Klan is generally non-threat to Team Rocket or civilians, they hold political power in pockets around the world and are more elitist than I realized. The Kapules and their associates typically do not let outsiders anywhere near them, and to make sure things go their way, they have barriers to keep members in and intruders out. I knew that already, but I suppose they are a bit more intense than I originally thought. I imagine the only reason they let you come to their house before was because they needed you and saw you as one of their temporary servants."
"I picked up on that vibe but gave them the benefit of doubt…"
"You spoke with his parents, made a deal, they gave you money."
"Yes..."
"And they didn't treat you like trash?"
"Keaka was sweet and I could tell that she was on the fence about sending Michio away but ultimately wanted to do what was best for him. Makoa didn't talk to me much—or look at me, really—but that's just how some people are…I would like to know what you mean by 'barriers."
"They use psychological manipulation. Take their intense focus on conformity: they segregate the boys and girls with no exceptions, there are no differences in race because everyone in the Kapule Klan must be an Islander, they don't want people looking or acting different…and those who don't conform to their rules are punished harshly. I won't get into all those details, but just so you know, older dissenters are often banished from their homes, lose their inheritances, are forced to pay condolence fees, among other things. So…he has a lot to lose just by extending his time in Kanto without formal permission."
"He mentioned those rules to me before, but thought it was an exaggeration…and I didn't know there would be punishment…"
"Well, that's how it is."
"Shit, Rumika, what should I do?"
"I don't have advice, but I do have more to share."
"I'm listening."
"Everyone—I mean everyone—in the Kapule Klan is engaged between the ages of four and nine, just as they were in my family. There is a margin of choice, as people are apparently not forced into it, but from what I understand it is a manipulative practice, much like it was when I experienced it. Basically, people get matched with five or six different people, and then after their eighteenth birthday, they choose who they want. They have one-hundred days after they turn eighteen to cement this choice, and if they fail to do it, the patriarch does it for them. Then it's final."
'Michio's been eighteen for more than one-hundred days,' Annastasia thought.
She wondered if Rumika realized this too, but before she said anything, Rumika continued:
"I found out that Koan and most of Michio's cousins were part of this system, but I haven't uncovered much more than that, especially in regards to Michio. It's harder to dig up, probably because he is the younger son and therefore the traditionally-designated heir and Koan the next-in-line."
"Koan was never engaged, at least, I don't think he was," Annastasia replied. "If he is married or engaged, he doesn't act like it; I believe Michio when he says his brother is off-the-charts irresponsible."
"Since Koan and Michio's grandfather is the leader of this entire dynasty then it wouldn't surprise me if an exception was made on Koan's behalf."
"Yeah…so…is that all?"
"Until I find more."
"Okay…all this is a lot to take in…but I won't let it worry me."
"I thought you might say that. I just wanted you to have this in mind when you go in to talk to them. The chances are they are going to snub and interrogate you and Michio and the more you know, the better."
"Thanks. Really, thank you for this. I should go now."
"Good luck. See ya after."
"See ya."
Annastasia found Michio several hundred yards down the road. Before she approached, she watched him attentively fidget with the locket around his neck and the sand beneath his feet. He was so fixated on disconnecting from his physical body that he jumped when she called his name.
"You're not asking, but I'll tell you what Rumika said anyway," she began. "But after this meeting, okay?"
"Okay," he replied, no idea what he was 'okaying' for.
Unlike the last time Michio was at the mansion, the estate was nearly empty. A few workers recognized him and waved, but Michio didn't notice any of his obnoxious cousins, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, or neighbors around.
That was until Haku entered the scene.
"Mi—chi—o!" the brunette sang as she approached.
She grabbed Michio's arm, temporarily blocking Annastasia from his view and making him stiffen with pre-panic vibes.
"Get the fuck away from me," Michio said as he roughly withdrew his arm.
"Geeze, you're so sensitive," Haku remarked. "That's not nice. Koan told me you were in Alola and I was shocked. I thought you got kicked out for good!"
"I didn't get kicked out. I chose to leave."
"It's all the same."
She continued to ignore Annastasia, who just stood there patiently as she studied Haku's aura.
"I knew Mienshao would find you. Where is he?" she questioned.
"I made him stay behind. I didn't want him to sniff you out," Michio responded.
"You are so rude, Michio. You haven't changed at all."
"Changing was never my goal."
"Prrrow!" Peruva added, gnarring at the unwelcome arrival.
Haku finally acknowledged Annastasia.
"Are you his escort?" she asked with an impatient grimace.
"No!" Michio and Annastasia said together.
Haku raised her eyebrows and sneered.
"Then what are you doing here?" she asked Annastasia.
"I was invited," Annastasia replied, unfazed by Haku's rude assumption. "I'm his SO."
"I have no idea what position that is, but that doesn't matter. I want to talk to Michio alone, so you should get back to work."
"She's with me," said Michio.
"Well, now I'm with you. We have business to discuss and the staff ought not eavesdrop."
"She's not a servant, Haku; Annie's my girlfriend."
"What?"
"I'm not going to repeat it."
"That's impossible. You are just saying that to make me jealous."
"Are you jealous?" Annastasia asked, laughing a little immaturely because the word 'girlfriend' was a first for him.
Michio's phone buzzed with a text alert. He briefly glanced at the screen then looked to Annastasia.
"It's Makoa," he mumbled to Annastasia. "Texting me for the first time ever…he wants us to meet him in the study."
"Are you seriously going to ignore me?" Haku asked as the duo began walking away.
Michio clasped Annastasia's hand, taking her a bit by surprise. She could only recall one other time that he had done that, as she was the one who normally initiated any kind of touch. Haku gaped in horror as he led her into the house. Then she spat at the ground and stomped in the opposite direction.
"She's a little…dramatic…" Annastasia remarked.
"She's been a pill her whole life," said Michio. "She's an attention hog—it's in her blood, along with the evil."
"I'm going to stop you there. She's difficult, not evil, and good for you for not letting her get to you."
Once inside, Annastasia and Michio sauntered to the study. Before they went inside, Michio stopped her from opening the door.
"Hold up," he whispered.
"If this is about Haku, don't worry about it. I picked up on her aura and can tell she's leaving here now," Annastasia assured him. "I think we scared her away."
Michio sighed with relief.
Annastasia reached for the door handle a second time, and he once again stopped her.
"Don't mention anything ace related. They don't need to know," Michio quietly requested.
"I won't," she whispered back.
"Okay…and um, one more thing."
"What?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They passed through the doorway together.
Michio's parents sat silently on the finely upholstered settee. Across from them sat Michio's paternal grandparents and his eldest great-aunt.
'Shit. Of all the people they could have brought, they chose the worst of all,' Michio thought.
Makoa and Michio's parents noticed their hands clasped together and exchanged anxious glances. His grandmother and great aunt look disappointed and his grandfather looked away as they sat down on the couch across from them.
"So Annastasia. Long-time, no see," Michio's mother began. "You didn't keep in touch."
Michio's elders stared at Michio and Annastasia's hands. Annastasia noticed this and let go, but Michio held on.
"After my mission was over, I didn't have a reason to stay in touch," Annastasia responded in a neutral tone, curling her fingers back around his.
'How can you be so calm?!' Michio thought. 'They're about ready to rip your throat out!'
"We heard you convinced Michio to stay in Kanto to live with you. Is that correct?" his grandmother asked, her voice condescending and icy.
"I suggested it. We decided that it is what we both wanted," Annastasia replied.
"As you probably understand, we're confused about all this," said Keaka. "We thought Michio wanted nothing more than to return to Alola permanently. We never expected him to stay in Kanto. Michio, what made you change your mind?"
"I like it there more than I thought I would," Michio responded.
His family's body language was annoying him. Lips pursed in a grimace and arms crossed gave the strong impression that they were angry and distrustful of both.
"How do you expect this arrangement to work?" Michio's grandmother, Wailola, interrogated.
"I will live with her and she will live me," Michio replied.
"In a marriage?" his grandmother asked suspiciously.
His aunt and parents raised their eyebrows. A temporary silence filled the room as everyone awaited Michio's response. Michio looked at Annastasia helplessly, and so she decided to take the lead:
"We currently have other affairs on our plates," said Annastasia.
Annastasia wondered if now would be a good time to bring up the matter of their traveling through the Alola region, but she decided to await their response for now; she felt Michio's anxiety consuming him and wanted it to end.
"Um…yeah, so what she said…" Michio added awkwardly.
"Is that all you have to say?" his aunt quipped.
Michio cursed and looked at the ground, bowing his head in a half-sulk. Annastasia was alarmed to see him act so vulnerable and submissive. She expected a full-blown argument, not this. She wondered if she had anything to do with it. His sideways glance proved her suspicions correct.
"Michio, this will destroy your reputation," his grandfather scorned. "We were expecting you to take over the family business, and to settle down here, get together with one of our people. You aren't thinking of making this a permanent thing, are you? She isn't even from around here. It is a shame. You should reconsider your choices, and think about what they will mean for us all and not just yourself. Your brother wouldn't turn his back on his family like this."
Annastasia brushed the insults off, having little trouble doing so because of her resilient nature. Then she observed Michio, who looked like he was about to crack. A few long seconds ticked by, and then he all but burst.
"Have you talked to Koan? Are you ashamed of him? Sure, he'll never break from the family, but if I deserve shame then so does, he. He has slept with almost every girl on this island, got arrested twice, and gambled more than I have, yet I am the one getting called out," Michio argued.
"How dare you accuse your brother of such things!" his grandmother exclaimed. "You are this family's disgrace, not Koan."
"You don't know my brother as well as you think you do."
"Michio understands the gravity of this decision," said Makoa. "As for Koan-"
"We aren't here to talk about him," Keaka interrupted. "Michio, if you want to live in Kanto, I am fine with that."
The older adults in the room looked at her with mutual daggers of betrayal.
"Thank you," Annastasia replied. "That means a lot to us."
"Keaka, you cannot be serious," her mother-in-law responded.
"I want him to follow his heart," said Keaka. "Even if it's not exactly what I want for him."
Michio didn't expect his mother's support, but he was still annoyed that she couldn't be happy for him; she was tolerating Annastasia, not welcoming her the way he wanted them too.
"Michio, are you sure this is what you want?" Makoa asked. "It's a lot to walk away from. You cannot expect me to give you any of my well-earned wealth if this is the lifestyle you are planning to pursue."
"I wouldn't have gone through the stress of coming here if I wasn't serious," Michio replied.
"I see…"
"I must speak with her privately before any permanent decisions are made," said Michio's grandmother, nodding in Annastasia's direction. "Privately."
"Don't be harsh," Keaka whispered, too low for Annastasia to hear. "Annastasia is a lovely soul."
"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do, you haven't the right!" The old woman turned to Annastasia. "Let's go."
"That's fine with me," Annastasia replied.
"I'm coming along," said Michio's aunt. "Let's walk. Michio can stay here and keep talking things over with his grandfather and parents."
"Why can't I come?" Michio asked.
His grandmother and aunt ignored his question. Annastasia followed them out the door. They were silent until they got outside. There was no one else around, and Annastasia felt uncomfortable and alone without her Pokémon or Michio around her. The moment they were alone and out of earshot, the elderly woman turned on her.
"I don't know who you think you are, intruding on our family like this, but I want to make it clear that your presence is not welcome," Michio's grandmother hissed.
"It's sad that you feel that way," Annastasia responded. "But I never intruded. I was invited to meet Michio. I wouldn't have found him if it wasn't for your family's intervention."
"You've overstepped your boundaries. Keaka and Makoa hired you to help their son, and you took advantage of him."
"You two seem to be the only ones who think that."
"You should be with your own kind. Michio needs to be here with us, helping our family," said the aunt.
"I don't mean to sound like a bitch, but I swear that nothing you say or do is going to scare me away. I'm not going anywhere without Michio as long as he wants me."
"Two stubborn souls living under the same roof…you won't last long."
"Just like everyone else, we don't know for sure why we are together, we just are, and we don't have to explain ourselves."
"We know who you are," said Wailola. "We know about your parents; your mother, father, and you. It's disgusting. Truly you must be insane to think that we would accept this arrangement."
"What does my family have to do with this?"
"Your parents and grandmother, the former criminals. Your grandparents, still in prison. You are part of the most corrupt family in Kanto. As if it weren't bad enough that you are not a native Alolan, you seriously feel you are welcome here? That we owe you something? You may be wealthy and talented, but that isn't enough, not with your roots."
"If you think you going to become part of this family and ruin our family's history and lineage, you better think again," the aunt added.
"I assure you if I do become part of this family, I won't mess up your precious family tree," Annastasia retorted. "This isn't even your call and Michio and I aren't even thinking about getting married or having kids anytime soon don't even go there."
"Sometimes children come unplanned, especially to people like you. You can ask your mother all about it. You two are a recipe for disaster, and you should be grateful to me for warning you ahead of time."
Annastasia giggled. "If that is your main concern, there is nothing to worry about."
"Young adults like yourself nowadays think you know everything," Wailola continued. "You've already gotten a head start on making regrettable mistakes. And as far as children go, you will change your minds. Unless you plan on leaving him. In that case, save yourself the hassle and leave now before you are in too deep."
"I am not leaving."
"Stop acting like you are something more than you actually are. You are a lowborn Kantonian who happens to have obtained money from some dead and corrupt family members. And now you are trying to fit into a place where you don't belong."
"I never said I belonged here, but I know I belong with him, somehow."
"You are severely misguided. Hardly the type of person we need around here."
"I promise we won't be hanging around here much."
"If you take him away you are dragging our family's reputation through the dirt all the through to Kanto," said the aunt.
"I don't know what you hope to accomplish by talking to me like this, but I would encourage you to stop right now. I may not have known Michio for as long as you have, but I know more about him than you ever will."
"You know his secrets, then? All of them?"
Annastasia hesitated, confused by his aunt's comeback. "I trust Michio. If there is something he hasn't told me, then I know there is a reason behind it, and I respect that."
"Interesting. Well, now I know for sure that this relationship won't go far."
"Care to explain why you say that?" Annastasia asked them.
"You will figure it out. We're done here."
Michio's grandmother and aunt walked away, but they didn't head in the direction of the house. Annastasia decided to go back to where Michio was talking to his other family members. When she got there, she knocked on the door, and Michio's father answered it. She noticed that now it was just Michio and his parents in the room. She walked in and his father shut the door behind her.
"Where did your grandfather go?" she asked.
"He left. He…wasn't… happy after we talked…" Michio mumbled.
"Your grandmother and aunt weren't happy with me either."
Annastasia heeded Michio's parents. They had discontented expressions, but at least his mother appeared more hopeful than disappointed. Annastasia sat down next to Michio.
"Why does everyone look so serious?" she whispered to Michio.
"We got into an argument," he mumbled.
"About what?"
"My father doesn't appreciate surprises," said Makoa.
"I think your great-aunt and grandmother feel that way too. Tell me what happened."
"It's a long story," Michio sighed.
"May I get some a summary?"
Michio shook his head. "Later, maybe."
"Michio overreacted," said Makoa.
"That's not…I wouldn't say he'over' reacted," said Keaka. "But he certainly did react."
"He kept asking me a shit load of personal questions and I just sorta flipped out," Michio muttered. "That led to more questions and accusations. I don't want to talk about it now."
"We were just telling Michio that we are surprised, but we aren't necessarily outraged. I suppose we always assumed Michio would grow up like every other young man in Alola and stay here when he grew up. When we sent him to Kanto, our intention was to get him to realize his responsibilities, not to discard them."
Despite her use of the word 'we', everyone in the room sensed that Makoa did not agree.
Michio scowled but Annastasia chuckled. "I'd like to remind you that Michio is very responsible. Much more responsible now than when I first met him. And I am not claiming all the credit. I think just being on his own and being forced to adapt to new situations helped a lot. That is how I got to where I am now. You did a great thing by letting him come with me last year. All that I want is for you to let us stay together, without Michio having to worry about his family giving him a hard time for it."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
"We didn't expect this to happen," Keaka murmured. "Michio never had any interest in any of this before, and now in just a year's time he's changed completely."
"I didn't change," Michio asserted. "You just never noticed me before."
"I think he is right," Annastasia responded. "When you say that Michio wasn't interested in 'this' I assume people like me? Women? The idea of caring for someone and/or living with them?"
"Yes," said Keaka.
"What did my grandmother and aunt tell you?" Michio asked Annastasia.
"She told me to get away from here because she can't trust me and thinks that I'm going to manipulate you into marrying me, destroy your family's reputation and lineage, and ultimate ruin everything your family has worked hard to create," Annastasia replied. "The conversation ended with her warning me to back off."
"She shouldn't have done that," Keaka sighed. "It's true that we never had anyone whose family we didn't already have ties with enter our family, but she shouldn't have been so hostile about it. But this relationship is your first real one. Do you honestly think it is going to go far?"
Annastasia and Michio were both surprised that she went in that direction. One moment it seemed like she understood, now it was clear that she didn't.
"We don't have any reason to suspect that it wouldn't," Annastasia replied.
"People in our circle don't court outsiders," said Makoa. "Michio has always been different, but we can't imagine him deviating that far off the spectrum."
"You have no clue how far off I am," Michio mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Look, I'm pissed that you think you have this control over me."
"We know you can go your own way if you really want to," Keaka replied. "We just didn't see it coming and it is worrisome."
"Once you have your fun living in Kanto you will come to realize that you belong here and not there," said Makoa.
Annastasia considered what Rumika told her earlier about arranged marriages among the Kapule Klan. She wondered if that was what his parents were trying to reference. It seemed to her like Michio didn't quite understand, or if he did, he was trying to ignore this existing fact.
"I'll take good care of him," Annastasia told the couple. She stared his mother in the eyes, making the older woman uncomfortable. "You already know that. As for Michio's so-called deviation, I am sure you expected him to want to do something like this at some point. Michio never quite fit in here, did he? And maybe you had plans for him and after a while you realized that they wouldn't work out. Especially if he wasn't interested in 'this'."
Michio's parents exchanged anxious glances. Michio looked at Annastasia questionably.
"What do you all know that I don't?" he asked.
"Nothing," his mother replied quickly, making Michio more confused and suspicious than ever before.
"Michio, you should leave," said Makoa. "This conversation is over."
"Fine. I knew we shouldn't have come," said Michio.
He strode out the door with Peruva on his heals. Annastasia wasn't sure if she should follow him out or try to talk to his parents more.
"I didn't want this to happen. I thought you liked me," Annastasia sighed.
"You are delirious. Think about how exclusive you want this relationship to be before you go making any big decisions. Annastasia, I have to say that I am very surprised at you. When we talked earlier, you seemed different. I didn't think you would be like this."
"I am not quite sure what you mean, but where I am from and who I am is not something I can or want to change. I wish you would accept that."
She departed, striding in the direction she sensed Michio had gone in. She met him by a vase of hyacinth blossoms. They walked in silence until they got back to his old bedroom on the other side of the house.
"Why do they care what we do? It won't affect them. We don't complain about their relationship preferences. They are such hypocrites," Michio ranted.
He plopped onto the bed, frustrated, and rubbed his face with both his hands. Peruva tried to comfort him but it didn't have any effect.
"They might need time," Annastasia mused as she moved in next to him. "Your parents care about you; they just have a shitty way of expressing it. It sounds to me like they are still trapped inside the Kapule Cage."
"When I told them about you, they didn't believe me," said Michio. "Once I convinced them I was serious, they laughed. They think that this is a joke. And I want to know what you all were thinking about before. There is something you know that I don't and it's bothering me."
"I seriously don't know how to say this eloquently, but I think you're engaged."
Annastasia laughed afterward, soliciting a confused look from her partner and his Pokémon.
"Is this a joke?" he asked.
"No, it's not. I'm sorry, it just sounded kinda weird to say it out loud," Annastasia replied. "That's why I laughed."
"I would like an explanation."
"When Rumika called, she informed me that looking into some things about your family and discovered something that could affect you personally."
"She was spying on me?"
"It's Rumika's job to spy on rich people. She knew the Kapule Klan already, and she knew that arranged marriages were a thing here. I told her that you never mentioned anything, but Rumika seemed to think there is a possibility that no one ever told you. She said she would look into it, and tell me when she found anything. I didn't want to bring it up until I had more to tell you."
"This family is insane. I want to leave."
"I didn't realize that this would happen, but I can't just walk away from here. This will work out. If you leave me, don't let it be because of this. I don't want anyone to force you to do something you don't want to do."
Peruva backed off to give them personal space.
"I am not going to leave you," said Michio. "Ever, unless you tell me too."
"Ditto," Annastasia replied.
"Our relationship is none of their business. Maybe in a few days, they will accept this. Maybe it will take a few years. Maybe they never will. I don't care. I just want us to get away from here."
"Please don't be like that."
"Like what?"
"We ought to stand up for ourselves. We can stand up for each other."
Annastasia padded in the direction of Makoa's study. Michio and Peruva paced after her.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm going to talk to them more," she replied. "You can stay here, but I can't."
Within seconds she was yards in front of him.
"Please come back!" Michio called after her.
"Prowww!" Peruva added, siding with Michio.
"I'm not taking this!" Annastasia called back.
"I will go too then," Michio mumbled to Peruva.
"Lieee," the Pokémon sighed.
Michio's parents came out into the hall, nearly colliding with Annastasia as they did so.
"We didn't end that conversation the way I had hoped," Annastasia told the couple.
"I agree. Let's talk some more," Keaka replied.
Back in the study, they all sat down, Annastasia and Michio on one side and his parents on the other.
"We are admittedly unsure of the consequences of your actions," said Makoa. "We didn't expect our lives to take this turn."
"This is about our lives, not yours," Michio retorted.
"We know, but you have given us a lot to swallow recently," said Keaka. "First you tell us you want to visit Alola but live with Annastasia in Kanto, then we discover you are on a relationship with her, then you say that you do not want to ever be a part of the family business and then—"
"You're not being honest with me. You're hiding something."
"Stay on track," Makoa asserted. "Understand that you'll have to find some other way to support yourself if you leave this family and you won't be able to handle a career since you've never worked before."
"I can get him a job," said Annastasia. "And you should have faith in him. He is capable of more than you think."
"Your grandparents—"
"—I never liked them and you know they never liked me," Michio interrupted.
"We know. They never fully accepted me either," said Keaka. "But I still stayed. I won't be angry with you for leaving. Just keep in touch. Don't shut us out like you did the first time you left our family to travel with Annastasia. Annastasia, you'll still talk to us, won't you?"
"If you want me to I will," Annastasia replied.
"Now that this is settled, you should return to where you came," said Makoa.
"You weren't planning on staying long, right?" Keaka asked.
"No," Michio replied. "We're ready to leave."
"I did not come her to disturb your family," Annastasia mumbled. "That's all I have left to say, other than goodbye."
Annastasia walked towards the door. Michio followed her out, excluding a final word. Annastasia waited until they were a good distance away to start another conversation.
"Your family is so serious and judgmental," she said quietly. Then she giggled. "No wonder I found you the way you were. I would be a complete jerk too if I had to contend with people like that over my basic nature on a regular basis."
"I am completely fine with forgetting about them," Michio replied. "My parents can be okay at times, but the rest of them: my cousins, aunts, and uncles…some are worse than my grandparents and great aunt. They're going to harass you. You are tough, but you don't need that shit…And I need Rumika to help me."
"She will. We'll get this figured out one way or another."
"They don't even know much about your parents, or the Sandshrew thing, or your past. They only know a small portion of who you are and they are already making assumptions."
"Uh, well…they know more than I thought they did. Your aunt and grandmother hinted that they knew about my family. They didn't say how much they knew, or why, but that is apparently one of the reasons they hate me."
"I can't believe this. They feed off secrets and lies."
Annastasia chuckled. "A conversation between my family and yours would be film-worthy."
"You laugh way too much. How you can be so serious yet so ridiculous at the same time?"
"Consider the people who raised me."
When Annastasia and Michio got to his old bedroom, the first thing Annastasia noticed was the lack of personalization. Michio's walls were beige, his bedding blue, the floor and furniture wooden, and decorations nonexistent. Whereas her room had pictures, childhood toys, art, knickknacks, and general messiness, his was as bare as a clean prison cell.
They lied lay on the bed and thought about their next move.
"Maybe you should pack the things you want to keep," Annastasia suggested. "We can use the teleporter to send it back to Kanto. It doesn't matter how much stuff you have either. We have plenty of boxes from the large food orders that come into the Pallet House, and the hotel has plenty of storage room. We can use Acorn and Aliyah, and Mewtwo...if he's around…to teleport the stuff from this room to the living room of the bungalow. We can organize it later."
"There's not much I want to take back," he responded.
Michio walked to his tallest dresser and opened the top drawer. He had his Pokémon League badges and medals among the clothing; his trophies had been laid in a carboard beside the dresser. Annastasia lifted one of his shirts from the drawer.
"Jay would like this," she said. "He loves hand-me-downs. He says they have more soul. And if he decides they are not his style, we bring them to a shelter. There is no point in having all this stuff sit here."
"I suppose," Michio replied.
Annastasia contacted her parents, who went to the Pallet House via Clemont's teleporter in order to get the boxes they needed. Then they sent them over to Michio's bedroom with Aliyah, Lil-G, and Bleu.
The three Pokémon jumped on Annastasia and Michio and licked their faces. Then Aliyah disappeared to get more boxes while the rest of them packed up the clothes. Three boxes later, Annastasia noticed a trend.
"You have a lot of clothes, but no personal items. Don't you have stuff to keep you entertained? Like videogames, books, a collection of old movies, cards, a computer?"
"I have a laptop," he responded. "I took it back along with my phone the last time I was here. But I don't have anything else. Just clothes, Pokémon, and trophies. But the trophies can stay here. I don't care."
Annastasia lifted a handful of medals. "We should bring them. They're sentimental. You do care, just maybe not as much as you used to."
"Fine, you can pack them."
Michio continued to fold the clothes alongside Lil-G and Bleu while Peruva snoozed on the davenport.
"It's sad that you don't have any toys. I mean, you were spoiled rotten. If they weren't buying you hoverboards and fancy card collections or expensive bikes and skateboards, what were they getting you?" Annastasia questioned.
"I had an allowance. I used it all on my Pokémon…drinks…and drugs."
"All of it?"
"Yep."
"In a weird way, that' a good thing; we probably wouldn't have met if you hadn't pissed your parents off enough to make them send you to Kanto...I say we take a break; I can use some lunch."
XO
In the Next Chapter:
- Sandshrew meets the neighbors
- Jezz-Jay-Amber? Jezayamber?
- The young one is attacked
XO
Trivia:
- There is quite a bit of symbolism and foreshadowing in this chapt; Anyone wanna comment on that?
- The lyrics at the beginning of this chapter are from The Mountain Goats' song 'Up the Wolves'.
- Happy Thanksgiving 2019! It's a paid work holiday! Celebrate with potatoes! And review, if you feel like it:)