AN: This chapter was updated/revised on February 21, 2020.
Surrender and Persistence
"Soon might not be this week,
this month or this year
One day soon enough I'm going to make it loud and clear
Nothing new can hold me down,
hold me back or hold me down
I'll be waiting patiently,
for one day."
Nick Howard
Jay and Jezz said their goodbyes to Nurse Joy, then took a fifteen-minute cab ride to the train station. Jezz wanted to take the train to the ferry that could bring them to Unova.
Jezz didn't give Jay a detailed explanation as to why he wanted to embark for Unova, which bothered Jay, but his conciliatory companion didn't want to argue or cause an already emotionally fragile Jezz to further snap.
"I need a lonnnnng nap," Jay yawned, rubbing his eyes. Jezz raised his eyebrows. Jay faked another yawn, then produced two real ones. "I totally uh, need to sleep."
"Indeed," Jezz replied. "We shall rest at Laau Kahakai. It is a mere mile ahead."
"How do you know there'll be a place for us to rest there for free?"
"That village is named for its Golden Shower Trees. They are substantial, shady, and grow in soft soil. Since it appeared to have rained recently, that soil will be thick mud, prime for protecting our skin and cooling our bodies."
Jay stumbled over his own feet. The idea of sleeping in dirt was objectionable enough; rolling in the slimy damp worm excrement was vile. He wondered if Jezz was being sarcastic. If Amber was present, she'd be able to tell.
'I don't in want to push for more information until Jezz lightens up and we are both well-rested,' Jay thought.
"Mud baths, ha, I can uh, do that," said Jay. "Good for umm...uh, minerals...for our bodies...I'm all about that."
"It was not serious about the mud part," Jezz replied, leading them into a grove. "But I won't mind you taking a mud bath as long as you obtain the rest you need to continue forward."
"Oh...ha, I was joking too..."
Jezz didn't seem nearly as tired as Jay was. He wondered if Jezz realized how long they have been awake. Jay had lost track of time, but both knew they had been for longer than was healthy.
Soon they found a shady tree with dried mud beneath it, Jay fell asleep and Jezz journaled. When Jay woke, they resumed their walk to the train station. Jezz smiled widely the moment they received their tickets. He let his Pokémon out of their balls so that they could 'experience the delightfulness of the train ride' as Jezz had strangely put it.
"I love trains," Jezz gushed as he eloquently sat down in one of the first compartments. "So much."
"I've noticed," Jay replied. He shut the sliding door to give them privacy. "How come?"
"Pardon?"
"Um, I was wondering while you like trains...uh...never mind."
Jezz continued to beam as he looked out the window. Jay was unsure if he heard him and if that even mattered.
"Uh, I didn't mean to like, make you feel weird about liking trains," Jay said after a spell of quiescence. "I'm glad you like trains. I suppose I'm neutral about them."
"I used to build model trains at one of my former homes," Jezz revealed. "I would sneak to the workshop in the late evening hours to work on my projects. Occasionally, I fell asleep beside my track. Building tracks and trains was something I excelled at. I would love to do it again someday. Trains are so much fun, everything about them is perfect."
'Like the smell?' Jay silently wondered.
Jay let Jezz talk about his love of trains for about fifteen minutes, then there was a pause in the conversation. Part of Jay wanted to use it as a jumping-off point to bring up a topic he knew Jezz would be hesitant to discuss. Jezz didn't say anything and just watched his face with mild anticipation.
"Are you okay? You stopped talking," said Jay.
"I am fine. It seems to be that you have something you want to say," Jezz replied.
"It's a sensitive topic...I think. We should rest first."
"I do not need rest. Please, tell me now, unless you are too tired."
"Okay...so, um...I—I was thinking about your situation. Besides the fact that you are basically a nomadic orphan, it must be scary…discovering that you are...um...ya know..."
"Trans."
"Ummmm...uh..."
"It's not a bad word, Jay, and it isn't scary."
Jay scratched his head. "I know I'd be scared...I mean, it's like, difficult. And I think it was brave to do what you did and created a Jezz, instead of absorbing all of what everyone else told you."
"Thank you. It was difficult, but if you were me, you would have done the same thing."
"How did you do it? You were only a little kid, right?"
"I don't want to sound egotist, but I was told by many wise people that my brain was older than my body. It wasn't weird for me to change my name or clothes. I just did it. It became difficult when others began to disagree."
'When you grow up, I bet it will be even harder,' Jay thought.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
"What I do now," Jezz replied.
"Which is...?"
"Keep everything a secret."
"Until the secret gets out."
"It will not get out because no one is going to find out, ever, unless I tell them myself, and I trust few."
"Your voice and—other stuff."
"I will use hormones to change my voice."
Jay hated his own voice. It messed up his image (though according to Amber, it completed his image, whatever image she was picturing) and there was no guarantee that it would eventually oscillate in the direction of his desire.
"Will you be happy like that?" Jay questioned.
"Certainly," Jezz said doubtlessly. "I have many aspirations, and this is perhaps the least of my obstacles."
"Good for you. Ya know, I wonder what it feels like to be you."
Jezz pondered that for a short while despite having known the answer for nearly a decade.
"Uh..." said Jay, unsure if his last remark was insensitive.
"It feels like I was given a hard road for a reason," said Jezz. "Maybe it is what I needed for motivation. As to how I feel personally...I feel like I was given the wrong body when I was born."
"What's so wrong about it?" Jay interrupted.
'Much,' Jezz thought bitterly.
"I mean. other than what you think is wrong," Jay amended (or attempted to).
"I wish I was healthier," Jezz replied. "And I wish I had a place to live."
"Well, if you were my kid, I'd give you a place to live."
"I would hope so."
"Uh, duh, that's like, basic parental duty."
"Indeed."
"Yeah..."
"I am exhausted from paranoia. I don't want people to discover my blurry, messy, and confusing roots. I believe that is the best I could do is explain to the few I confide in. Currently, I am worried about you, Jay. I had a plan to stay here, and I am determined. But for you, I do not know what to do, and you are making me doubt my plan."
"I wish I could make it easier for you."
Jezz wanted to confess that Jay being on this train with him was what was hurting him the most at the moment. Jay wasn't part of the plan, and it made all his formally straightforward blueprints difficult to follow. And now, even if he convinced Xatu to return Jay to his family, he doubted that he could ever recover from the heartbreak. Like the Hales, Rita, Amber, Annastasia, and even the rest of Jay's friends and family, Jay had dug a hole in him. He wondered if the loss would be too hard for him to take.
"You needn't worry about me," said Jezz. "I will be fine, you will see."
"Great," Jay breathed. "So, since I grilled you, it's your chance to grill me. Ask me whatever you want...except no questions about sex."
"You just made this conversation more uncomfortable than it was before, and I didn't think that was possible."
"Sorry. I thought saying that might help. You do trust me now, right? I want this to be clear. Tell me, and don't worry about hurting my feelings."
"I don't want to interrogate you and I do I trust you."
Jay internally cheered. 'It only took months for it to happen.'
"You said that being trans was the least of your problems. What else is up against you now?" Jay inquired.
"I am scared that people will find out who I am, and I will be humiliated, or I won't be able to achieve all my goals," he fretted. "I am a liar and afraid."
"It's not like you did anything that bad."
"I lied to you and everyone else who I care about, even Rita, Annastasia, and the Hales, all of whom have always cared for and helped me."
"They'll forgive. At least, Annastasia will...but the others too I bet. I forgive you already. I mean, it's hard not to since you're so..."
Jay yearned to explain his amorous feelings towards Jezz, but he figured that he was off-limits, most likely forever. they still didn't know how close they were in family relations, and the whole idea made him feel sick and bothered that he could even go near the situation.
'It's hard enough finding someone when you're gay,' he thought. '...it's worse to fall for your potential cousin.'
Jay hoped that if anything, he and Jezz were twelfth cousins or something bizarre like that, then maybe it would be okay. But it also felt bad to cut Amber out of the situation, and it hurt to not have her around.
Jezz was silent as these thoughts danced around Jay's head.
"What makes other people insecure?" he asked. "In your group."
"Our group," Jay corrected. "All sorts of things. There are the weird things that we do, and then there is the stuff we have no control over."
Jezz quirked his head. Jay realized he wanted a more specific explanation.
"If you haven't noticed, our group is a messy kitchen drawer that cannot be organized no matter how hard we try to make it right," said Jay. "It's not because all our differences are flaws, it's because most people do not see them as ideal. There are Takeshi and Benny, who are scared of everything."
"They cannot possibly fear everything," Jezz interjected.
"Heights, mysterious buzzing noises, losing their essentials, mushroom soup, bugs, swooshing sounds—"
"I understand."
"...right. Then there's Jocelyn. She's intolerant to dairy, soy, gluten, most meats, and most types of nuts. A is too, but Jocelyn minds it and A doesn't. Jocleyn has a hard time making friends in school. Friends that claim to like her all leave eventually. Lots of people want to use us…that's why we aren't so obvious about being rich. Most people—if not everyone—in my immediate family is something LGBTQIA+, my grandparents are evil, Meowth was blessed with suck, Lucy and Maya don't have families other than us, and Logan only knows one attack and he still hasn't mastered it...did I tell you I'm gay? Like, super. And I have ADD. So does A. And I have bad eyes and if I diverge from my normal skincare regimen, I like, will totally get redness and cracks. One time, I even got a zit!"
"All that is commonplace."
"Think about this: in Kanto, almost everyone is at least part Japanese. June and Anika are my only non-Japanese friends, and people often point that out, and they don't like that: Anika says it's annoying and June says it makes her feel left out. Amb's family doesn't have that much money. That bothers her more than she lets on."
"How do you know that?"
Jay blushed. "I know a lotta stuff about Amb that most people don't."
Jay moved on swiftly, reasoning that that last remark either made Jezz disturbed or jealous. Maybe both.
"Tamaki failed fourth-grade math twice," Jay continued. He rolled his eyes. "Even I passed math, and I like, suck at math."
'I've noticed,' Jezz thought. 'But not being book smart is not a substantial obstacle...'
"And even though Tamaki has other things he is good at and likes to do, some people dismiss him before they get to know him."
"If we meet again, I can tutor him," Jezz replied. "And in turn, he can tutor me in something."
Tamaki teaching Jezz something was too great for Jay's imagination to conjure.
"Maybe," Jay half-heartedly responded. "And we will meet him again. I know it."
Jezz just shrugged.
"Did you know that Soledad wears contact lenses?" Jay continued., his voice hopeful—he believed his talk was working. "They make her eyes red and itchy if she leaves them in too long. Of course, glasses would help, but she sees those as a burden as well...and she gets migraines that are so bad she can't do anything but lie in bed all day."
'I get bad headaches too,' Jezz thought.
"Annastasia gets migraines...heck, A gets everything. She has HIV. It's super serious. If I have a cold for a few days, she'll get it for several weeks. If I get the flu, I need soup and maybe some medicine. If A gets the flu, she needs to go to the hospital. It's happened before. She's been in the hospital a lot. One of the reasons is cuz she and she gets seizures. But most are small, and she doesn't have to get treatment. Still, they wear her down to the point where she spends most of the day sleeping involuntarily."
"...At least there is nothing wrong with Michio," Jezz said hesitantly, unsure if he wanted to go there.
"Uh, well..." Jay was silent. He scratched his head nervously and faked a cough. "Actually, he's got problems. He's been all but exiled from Alola and he has alcoholism."
"How do you know about the latter?"
"Cuz I asked A why he doesn't drink alcohol like she, my parents, and Rita do when we have meals together and she told me."
"Oh."
"We probably shouldn't talk about it."
"We shall not then."
"Good. So, you get it: no one in my circle is perfect. We have diseases, disorders, flaws, and features we don't like…I know I didn't mention Rose and Silver, but I bet they'll have something. I mean…those names…My point is that none of these traits make us bad people. It's just how we are. If others push us down, we get back up. We do it over and over again and we got each other's backs. We aren't flawed, we're strong. Can't argue against that."
'
"I think some of those characteristics and conditions can be seen as flaws. Pushing them aside in pursuit of a desirable existence cannot be simple."
Jay exhaled. "Ya, it's hard. That's why we help each other."
Jezz knew (most of) how this worked: with their strengths they defended one another. Where one faltered another excelled; They used their skills—inherent, learned, and honed—to help each other and the world around them. Jezz couldn't imagine someone as dismayed, erratic, and outré as himself functioning well within their harmonious network. Each member of the karmic circle brought healing, power, and joy. What could he offer aside from pain?
"We are stronger when we help each other, and we do help each other," Jay asserted. He bowed his head before piercing Jezz with a strong-willed gaze. "If you let us, we'll make it better for you too."
"Okay," Jezz whispered, too low for Jay to hear.
But Jay read his lips.
"You don't know much about friendship, but Amb and I are here to discipline ya," Jay added, hitting a fist against his palm.
Jay's words sparked a memory for Jezz. A younger Rita appeared in his head.
He was also re-reminded that Hauana, Perry, Annastasia, and Amber weren't the only people who were worried about him.
"You are right," Jezz told Jay.
"For a genius. you sure can be stupid." Jay replied.
Jezz smiled at this. Jay let out a long yawn.
"I need to sleep," he moaned.
"We still have an hour and a half until arrival. I will wake you up when the time comes, and I will get us snacks when the cart comes around," Jezz replied.
"You have to sleep too. It's been like twenty-four hours since you kidnapped me."
Though his words lacked melodrama, Jay was seriously concerned for his friend's health. He insisted that he rest and that they could set an alarm on one of their cellphones, which have yet to run out of battery. Jezz pulled out a book instead.
"I haven't been able to read much lately," he told Jay.
Jay looked at him like he was insane.
"How can you possibly read at a time like this!?" Jay exclaimed.
"I am used to running on empty," he answered simply.
Jay had once considered that Jezz might be his clone. Or an alien. It would explain a lot. He figured that at this point nothing Jezz can do would be able to surprise him, so it was entirely possible.
"Have a nice read," Jay mumbled.
"Have a nice nap," Jezz replied without looking up from his history book.
Seconds after Jay closed his eyes, Jezz settled his gaze on Jay's phone. He gently nudged his leg.
"What's up?" Jay yawned.
"Please don't tell everyone that I'm trans," Jezz whispered. "If you remember anything I told you, let it be that. Some people other than you already know...but I want to disclose my history on my terms."
"We'll make it our trio's secret. I swear."
"I very much appreciate that."
'He can do a lot of things; not only does he have talent and skill, but he has the motivation,' Jay thought as he closed his eyes. 'I bet that the next time we go to the Indigo Plateau, he will win it. And he can do Pokémon contests, play in an orchestra, build things like houses and fortresses. He can cook and clean and take care of small children. And if none of those things are interesting or exciting enough for him to build a career of off, he probably can become a professional soccer player or gymnast.'
An hour and twenty-five minutes later, Jezz gently tapped Jay's shoulder until he woke.
"We here?" Jay questioned sleepily.
"Yes," Jezz answered.
"Can you now tell me where we are going? You do have a plan, right? Please don't tell me where are going to Unova just for fun."
"The pier is around the corner from this station. We can start boarding in twenty minutes, the ferry ride is about four hours, then I want to take another train to Unova's capitol."
"Why are we going to Washington?"
"It is the most important city in the world."
"I do, and I know it is but what are we going to do once we get there? It seems like we are going further out of our way."
"I want to consult with a government agent there. She is the most important social worker in the world. I must warn her about the Kapule Klan."
"What do they have to do with anything?"
"Information rediscovered by Team Rocket claims that I had had a possible connection to the Kapules. They collect people. Important people."
"Creepy. But, uh, how do they do that?"
"They raise the kids of gang leaders, then when the time is right, embezzle their money."
"Do you think you are a victim of this? And what gangs are we talking about?"
"I have come to the supposition that I am either an orphan or my parents worked for a gang and weren't allowed to keep their baby. Most gangs are like that. And there are hundreds of gangs out in existence. Team Rocket is the most infamous one, but there are many most common folks do not know exist."
"You found this by…?"
"Porygon is one of the only Pokémon that can dive into automated systems and extract information."
"Scary."
"I have no fear of them."
"But orphans…and babies getting taken away from their families…my parents were in a gang. Geeze, I am sure glad that my parents got to keep their baby. If it wasn't for A, I wouldn't exist."
"I am glad that was not your fate."
"But it might've been yours..."
"Perhaps, and regardless, the past has passed, and even time-travelers cannot reconstruct fate."
Jay leaned back to get a better look at his friend. Jezz was disheveled but better dressed than he was. Jay was still in sweatpants and his hair was messy and unstyled since he didn't have time to grab any of his toiletries. He was at least grateful that the room was chilly that night, otherwise, he would have stripped down to his boxers and Jezz would have taken him in those. As he was thinking about this, he noticed that Jezz had packed clothing and a lot of money.
"Jezz, how much money did you bring with you?" he asked.
"Two thousand dollars," Jezz answered.
"Oh my god. Did you steal it?"
"No. I saved it up. I worked many odd jobs. It took me six years to get this much money," he explained.
"Okay...This government agent person, what are you going to tell them? I don't know if they will believe you. I don't think that most people even know that Xatu could bring people through time..."
"I brought with me the evidence that Porygon found for me, and Xatu's unique ability has been well-documented by researchers in Unova since the mid-1800s. I have it all in my notebook. I feel as though it is extensively convincing."
"You're an investigator too?"
"Yes."
Wow Jezz, you're smarter than I realized."
Jezz blushed. "Thank you. I taught myself."
"I wish I could read a book and learn how to do things. I need someone to show me physically, in person, and that's why I hate having ADD."
"You have always seemed very intelligent in my eyes, and if you are interested, I can teach you some of the skills on which I have been working."
"I'd like that."
Jay ate the peanuts and coffee that Jezz had gotten for him and then changed into one of the outfits that Jezz had packed. They both stopped to get cleaned up at the station's rest stop. He decided to keep Furfrou, Delcatty, Xatu, and Chimecho out of their balls, but everyone else was kept inside.
Together, they were ready to board the boat to Unova.
XO
Day 63
After another long day of searching and reporting, Annastasia and her parents stumbled back to the bungalow around midnight. Amber's parents, Rumika, Nolan, Lexi, Rita's siblings, Mewtwo, Lucario, and the rest of the Team Rocket members helping them out were staying in the rental cabins on a different island. When Annastasia and her Pokémon crawled into bed, the only other people in the house besides her immediate family and their Pokémon were Benny, Sandshrew, and Michio.
"Why are you back so late?" Sandshrew inquired.
Annastasia sighed. She had a feeling it would still be staying in their room. It had been ever since it returned from the Gaulle's place in Kanto.
"I have been searching for my missing brother and friends," she answered. "You know that."
"Yes, but all day and into the night? You left Michio again behind to babysit," said Sandshrew. "How ir-re-spon-sib-ble."
Annastasia squinted in the dark. Sure enough, Michio was there, curled up with Benny and Jocelyn, with Peruva, Mienshao, Jackson, Flaafy, and Pinky at the end of the bed. She knew the kids must have insisted on sleeping with them again, as they always did whenever their parents were not around.
"It's a good thing we opted for the king-sized bed," Annastasia whispered. "He wasn't here alone all day with the other kids too, was he? I thought their parents had taken them."
"The ones named June and Takeshi are gone, but the babies, Jo-ce-lyn and that little boy that she is always with are obviously still here", Sandshrew responded.
"I suppose I should have done something about that. Was he upset about being stuck here all day taking care of everyone?"
"No."
"Then why are you acting like I did something wrong?"
Michio woke up from their talking. He smiled at Annastasia then scowled at the Sandshrew.
"You want me to leave?" it guessed.
"Yes, please. Privacy regularly would be nice," he told it.
Sandshrew got up and left the room. Both Annastasia and Michio were surprised to watch it go without an argument. Annastasia slid closer to him.
"Sorry for leaving all day," she told him. "I am not going to do that again, I'll try, at least."
"It's fine. I…I guess I kind of like kids more than I previously thought. Jocelyn and the twins definitely didn't mind that it was me. I kinda wish I went with you too though, or that you had stayed here with me."
"I'm...hmm... you did well. Good for you."
"I strive to please."
"Mmmhmm. So, I want to visit Rita again. She is going to be there longer than they previously expected. Mariana and Lucas said she was asking for me to come by. You can come with me."
"She won't mind?"
"No, of course not. Btw, how were they?"
"Huh?
"The kids."
"Okay." He looked down at Jocelyn, who was resting near Flaafy and Pinky. "Same as usual. They are all upset, except for Sil and Rosie of course."
"I feel so sorry for them." She sighed and rubbed her hands over her face. "Almost everything that could have gone wrong this year has. They must be worried sick about Amber, Jay, and Jezz too. They only got to do one contest and collect only a few Pokémon each, and we planned to not only catch more Pokémon and do the contests but also have fun at the beach…but I have been too busy those things and four contests have already gone by, and the Alola Trials are probably helpless at this point, and—"
"—Lucario took Jocelyn and Benny to the beach today. They had fun while they were distracted."
"I was wondering where he ran off to. That's lovely. I wish Sandshrew could be that pleasant."
"Don't count on it."
"Never."
"Before we go to sleep, I wanted to let you know that I saw Haku today. We had lunch together."
"You're kidding."
"Want me to tell you about it now, or wait until the morning?"
"...Now..."
"It's not that bad."
Earlier that day...
I decided to take a break around twelve this afternoon. I hadn't eaten yet today, but everyone else had, so I was alone except for Lil-G, because Bleu was at the hospital with Rita, using his heal bell to make her more comfortable. Everyone else continued working. As we were walking to the nearest café, Lil-G smelt something, and I sensed a familiar aura. Then she called me out.
"Annastasia, it's nice to see you!" Haku exclaimed.
We turned around to face her. Lil-G went crazy with the yapping. I petted her until she stopped.
"That is one loud mutt!" Haku remarked.
"She was alarmed," I explained.
"Well now, I'm thrilled I ran into you!"
"Is that so?"
Haku looked around as if to make sure no one was eavesdropping.
"I wanted to talk to you about your, um…'SO'," she said.
"What about him?" I asked as we walked together.
We were civil, though Lil-G was pissed, and I was picking up on some weird aura-essence from Haku. I didn't know what to make of it.
"I see you were going to Totoro's for lunch. Mind if I join?" she inquired.
"No," I lied.
— "Why the hell, Annie?" Michio interrupted.
"I am slow to anger and quick to mediate, Michio. You shouldn't be surprised. At the very least I knew I was going to get a little insight on her psyche, and I didn't see that as a big deal."
— "You wanted to talk about Michio," I reminded Haku as we sipped on iced tea.
"I do," she responded. "You need to stop hanging out with him."
I knew she was going to say that.
"I got the sense of that from the hate mail," I replied.
"That was mostly Lona and Alina," she responded, waving her hand. "I have my own words for you."
I didn't feel like arguing. I just wanted to eat my salad, so I let her continue.
"What I have to say is for your own good," she started.
— "Oh god," Michio complained.
"Michio, just listen to the story," Annastasia requested. —
'This is going to be interesting…' I thought.
"Michio is gay, Annie, and I know you are trying to be nice and get him to change, but I know Michio, and he is the most stubborn creature in the world." said Haku. "He isn't going to change for you, so forfeit."
I surprised at how she called me Annie. It could be another coincidence, but I still wasn't sure. Only two people called me that. Also, she pronounced it wrong. I wanted to tell her that it is more like an 'Onnie' pronunciation, but I realized it was a huge waste of time. I wanted her to make her point already.
— That's the part that surprised you?" Michio questioned.
"Yes, but there's more," Annastasia answered. —
"I thought you wanted to marry Michio. If he is gay, then why are you chasing him?" I inquired.
"First off, I am not 'chasing' Michio," Haku emphasized. "Second of all, our marriage would only be a business deal. I don't care to sleep with him. I can find someone else to take care of that."
"You'd cheat on him."
"It's not cheating if he is not interested."
"What makes you think he's not interested?"
"Michio has never slept with anyone here. And don't play dumb, I know you haven't broken him yet. Though I am sure you've tried."
"I haven't, actually, and Michio isn't gay."
"You are so naïve. What has he told you? That he isn't gay, and that he wants to wait until he's married to take you? That is the dumbest thing I ever heard."
— I'm uncomfortable with the fact that you talked about me," Michio interrupted.
"I didn't say anything bad," Annastasia pointed out.
"I know. It's Haku. I hate how she talks about me."
Annastasia hugged him and kissed his neck.
"I'm always on your side," said Annastasia. "Don't forget it."
"I try regularly," he mumbled.
Annastasia rolled her eyes as his pouty face and then continued. —
I was put off by the comment; Haku managed to insult gays, aces, and celibate people all in one sentence.
Oh well.
"Michio isn't lying, and it is very obvious to me that you know almost nothing about him, which is hard to believe considering all the time you've spent together," I said. "I would like to know why you are trying so hard to get me out of the picture. I am wealthy too. I am not in a position much different from yours."
"The whole point of the Klan is to keep the money in our pockets. Your 'wealth' isn't even yours! You got it because your mother—"
— I don't want to repeat that part," Annastasia murmured sadly, interrupting her reflection.
Michio patted her back. "I got the gist anyway."
"I am not the type to get angry. I never get angry. I get irritated and then depressed instead, and I was on high heat after that spoiled brat complained about my perfect mother. I kept my cool though, even after Lil-G went off on her." —
"I am going to stand by him, Haku, and I feel that what you are doing is extremely inappropriate," I said after the waiter placed our meals on the table. "And you are being a hypocrite. Chasing Michio is precisely what you are doing. It's hurting us all, and your advances are fruitless. I care about him a lot. If I knew that he'd be happier with you, I'd resign. But I know that isn't true. You make him uncomfortable; he cannot be himself when he is around you."
"Michio is himself when he is around me," Hake replied. "Dissident, arrogant, and frankly clueless about what it means to be a man."
— "Ouch," Michio sarcastically interjected.
Annastasia smiled widely. "I knew that would be your reaction." —
"Yet you still want to marry him," I told Haku.
"He's going to inherit enough money to buy Alola," she said dreamily.
"And with that money, you are going to…?"
"Buy whatever the hell I want!"
I thought about Sandshrew. If it were present it would rip her throat out. Then it would lecture her dead body about how human money should be used to help Pokémon. It was a dark thought, but I still admit to having had it.
"Michio would own half that money," I reminded her.
"Half is still a lot," Haku retorted. "And I have a feeling I can reach him in ways you can't. I'd convince him to change his ways. He'll like women better after he spends so personal time with me. And like I said earlier, if all else fails, I get someone on the side."
"You do not have that great of influence over someone. And you essentially just told me that after you marry him you plan to rape and then possibly cheat if you didn't get what you wanted."
"You are exaggerating, Annie. I wouldn't do anything that I know he wouldn't enjoy. And It isn't cheating if—"
"—Yes, it is." I knew how she was going to proceed. "And if you touch him without his consent, then, believe me, I will come after you."
Haku laughed some more, gripping her sides and coughing.
"You and what army?" she asked.
"Team Rocket," I answered. "But I am sure I can take care of you myself."
—"Did you really say that?" Michio questioned.
"I swear it's true," Annastasia replied, smirking proudly. —
"You don't care if I court him, so long as I get his consent?" Haku responded.
"Technically, I'm the one courting him," I replied.
I felt estranged from the term, but it fits, nonetheless.
"You want to get married then. Ha, I knew it, I was waiting for you to admit it," said Haku.
"This conversation isn't going anywhere," I pointed out. "You can't break us up with your words."
"I have more than words. I have powerful folks on my side, and unlike your precious Team Rocket, we play dirty."
I was tired of our words going around in listless circles. I decided to change the subject.
"I need you to tell me what you know about Jezz Tonaka," I began.
"Random much?" she nastily replied.
"Frequently, actually." —
"Atta girl," Michio joked.
"I know," said Annastasia, mocking a bow. —
"Why should I?" Haku replied, her eyes narrowing.
"This is about a little boy, not about us. Please help me help him."
"You have something I want. Simple: If you surrender Michio, then I will tell you what I know."
"Quite a quid pro quo."
"Use English or this conversation is over."
"What I mean is, Michio is a person, not a toy. I cannot 'surrender' him."
"Then I won't tell you about Jezz."
Haku crossed her arms. Her aura revealed mistrust in herself. She either doesn't know as much as she wants me to know, or she is scared. I feel it is probably a mixture of both. I decided that I would need outside help with this and I was going to have to do something I previously thought was immoral, and still do, on many bases. Sandshrew once again entered my thoughts.
—"Are you suggesting that we use Sandshrew to read her mind?" Michio asked.
It was an idea that had danced around his head in the past.
"Unfortunately, yes," Annastasia answered. —
"I am not going to play your game," I told Haku.
"Then we're finished here," Haku responded.
Haku left the café with her half-eaten sandwich, sticking me with the bill for the entire meal. Then I returned to work. I didn't see her for the rest of the day. —
"And that's all she wrote," Annastasia finished.
"When do you suppose we tell Sandshrew about your plan? And why don't you just ask Mewtwo, or Lucario, or Acorn and Aliyah to do it?" Michio asked. "They can read minds too."
"Sandshrew is the only one who would be willing to do it for me. Mewtwo, Lucario, Acorn, and Aliyah would refuse because they think it is wrong. That is why they won't help with the investigations."
"It sounds to me like they are only being stubborn."
"Legally, they cannot be used in interrogations. Any evidence we obtain through mind-reading is obsolete because we aren't allowed to use it."
"But Team Rocket runs the game."
"I told you before, Team Rocket is tied up in international agreements. There is only so much that we can do."
"You should take Haku in for interrogations."
"It's already scheduled. It is clear to me that she has some information, and I am going to get it out of her no longer how long it takes, protocol or nor protocol. I think she is spying, and I am unsure if Mienshao is involved, but nothing makes me more suspicious then her references to Jezz."
"You really are an asset to the team."
"Of course, she is," Jocelyn yawned. She sat up in bed and looked back and forth between the two of them. "Do you want me to leave?"
"You can stay if you want," Annastasia responded.
Flaafy had also woken up, but Pinky, Lil-G, Peruva, Mienshao, Benny, and his Eevee were still asleep.
"I will stay here," she decided. "Good night."
Jocelyn lay back down. Michio got up.
"What are you doing?" Annastasia queried.
"Taking a walk," he answered.
"It seems that almost every time we finish talking you go for a walk. Aren't you tired?"
"I slept before you came. Walking helps me. I've been crowded all day."
Annastasia yawned. "Okay. I'll let you be."
"Love you."
"Ditto."
"See you in the morning."
Michio shut the door behind him. Once outside, he felt a chill and looked up at the sky. He noticed another odd shape floating in the atmosphere. It was dark enough to be noticeable, but it soon blended with the starry backdrop. Michio walked around to the front porch. The twenty-four Illumise and Volbeat that had followed them all the way to Alola were staring at the shape. He saw that their lights were dulled and they wore sullen expressions. On the far end were Plusle and Minun. They didn't run up to him as they normally did.
"Illu," the leader greeted Michio as he sat beside them.
"Do you all know what this shit is about?" Michio queried.
"Vollll," said a Volbeat as he shook his head in unawareness.
"Plusllle," Plusle added shakily.
"Minnnn," Minun agreed.
Michio stayed out there all night, and the twenty-seven of them tried to figure out what was happening in Alola.
XO
In The Next Chapter:
-Amber finds a special Pokémon
-The Geo-catchers complete part 1 of their mission
-Nolan and Lexi become the last ones standing