another chapter touch-up of the revision kind. I've been giving the chapters to my latest Marissonshipping fanfiction, 'The Heartless Timing of Life', formerly 'The Heartless Timing That Is Life', a make-over in the area of grammar. this chapter, here, is six-hundred-twenty-three words worth of storyline, obviously not including the headnote that is the paragraph, right here, or the mandatory disclaimer. yeah, I'm perfectly aware that I had just called the disclaimer mandatory. it might not be that necessary for everyone else on this fanfiction website, but for me, the provision of a disclaimer is completely mandatory. OK, time to get on with said disclaimer...

disclamation: I don't own the 'Pokémon' anime in any way, shape, or form. I'm afraid that the ownership rights of that, the manga, and the games are reserved for Satoshi Tajiri and the folks of the Nintendo Gaming Company. yes, I know that the creator of 'Pokémon' has the same name as Ash Ketchum's name in the raw Japanese dub is. I don't even own this fanfiction's own storyline. the storyline for this very fanfiction has been inspired by a tween-friendly Korean cartoon under the series title of 'Flowering Heart'.


Later, on the beach, Professor Sycamore and his staff were taking advantage of their time off on Solaris Island to have a little fun in the sun. They all lay on the sand, lounging in beach chairs straight from 'The Hibiscus Guest House', the Solaris Island guest cottage owned by Raymond and Kimberly. Alain and Mairin finally came out of the beach house wearing their swimsuits, but they were arguing about Mairin getting a kiss on the cheek from Paulo.

Alain: You are far too trusting towards beautiful men, Mairin, you know that? You never kiss on your first date with someone. There's something wrong with that.

Mairin: Will you get off it, Alain? It was just a peck, and it was on the cheek. It wasn't like it was on the lips. What is your deal as of late, Alain? It's not like Jean Paul's working with_

Mairin caught herself in mid-sentence, but she was already too late, anyway. Alain was finally even more hurt than he had ever been in his life, and that was saying something. He turned around to face her, wearing a strained smile on his face.

Alain: It's not like Jean Paul's working with Lysander and Team Flare, is that it? Was that what you were gonna say?

Mairin: No, Alain, I didn't mean it like that. I didn't mean to mention_ that person, or their affiliates. It's just_ why are you even trying to tell me what I can and can't think of my new friend and Showcase Master Pierre's nephew, Jean Paul, huh? Last time I checked, you're not my dad or my brother, Alain. I can have friends outside of you, too, you know.

Alain: You think I don't know you have the right to have friends other than the staff at the lab? You think I'm trying to act like your father or your brother? You don't even know who your real family is.

Alain suddenly became aware of what he had just told Mairin, but he could not stop himself from saying it in time to realize what he told the very person he swore would never hear such a thing until the time was right. When Alain said it to Mairin, however, the time to tell her about it could not have been more wrong.

Mairin was on the brink of tears, and it was all Alain's fault. He had sworn to Raymond and Kimberly in his own head that he, too, would wait for the right time to let Mairin know that they were her real parents. But instead of waiting for the right time to tell her about it just as he had promised he would, he used it as ammunition when venting his unjust anger towards Mairin's newfound friendship with Jean Paul out on her. Alain could not even believe himself for the way he was being on what Mairin had intended to make a fun vacation for the entire lab staff.

Alain attempted to console her after what he said about her family.

Alain (continued): Mairin, I can explain. You see, your aunt is really_

But Mairin rejected Alain's attempt to even explain his outburst. When he reached out his hand to her, she moved her own hand back towards her face.

Mairin: I think you've said enough, Alain. I wanna go back into the beach house. I'll be in my room if anyone should need me.

With that, Mairin ran back into the beach house with Alain watching her every step of the way. What Alain said to Mairin about not knowing her own family was going to be the one thing she finally could never forgive him for doing to her, and he knew it.