A few days later, Haru was checking stock and soon realized that they need to get more berries for their baked goods. He alerts Sakura to this.

"Why don't we take Cilan with us? I'm sure he could possibly be a tiny bit homesick, even if he doesn't show it." "We can, I hope he doesn't run off." "He shouldn't. I mean we'll all be in the same area berry picking." "He might go looking for his brothers..." "We'll just be sure to keep him close"

They soon got ready and locked up the cafe until they returned. Cilan poked his head out of Sakura's mane. "Where are we going?" "We're heading to your world to go berry picking. When we get there, please don't run off" "I won't" Haru then opened the portal and they stepped through, entering the woods where Cilan was abandoned at. They head out of the woods and go to a rather large park and used their illusion ability to look like humans. Said park just so happened to be on the outskirts of Striation City. "Ok Cilan, you go gather berries for your basket. We'll be close by if you need us." Haru then pet his head and let him go pick berries within his sight.

Cilan ran off to go find a berry bush and soon came across one. As he picked berries, something over came him... what was this feeling? Ame felt it too. "Cilan, what was that?" "I... I dunno... it's like a longing..." "sounds like you're homesick-- hey wait where are you going?!" Without warning, Cilan left his basket behind and entered the city. Things were different and bigger while looking like a Zorua. At least, the bowtie he wore prevented anyone from trying to catch him. It was basically a sign that he belongs to someone. He soon came to a very familiar building: the gym/cafe. Strangely, it was closed until further notice. "That's odd... it's usually opened..."

Peering into one of the windows, he saw his brothers extremely saddened. They were looking at a photo album and trying to fight back the tears. "Why are they crying? They abandoned you..." "I dunno, I'm just as confused..." Cilan looked around and saw what looked like a mini shrine to him with a black and white picture. "Wait they think I'm dead?! Our bond is still strong and hasn't been broken beyond repair..." "Your brothers are strange. One minute they abandoned you and leave you to die, but now they're mourning you like you're dead..." "I know... like Dad said, it's not adding up..." "Oh it looks like they're talking among themselves" "wonder what they're talking about" they continue to watch them curiously.

"Chili... do you think I smothered him too much? Maybe that's why he ran away..." "No Cress, nowhere near that... ever since our parents died, you were there to hold us together like glue..." The eldest then threw the album across the room. "Then where did he disappear to?! The police pronounced him dead yesterday and he's not! Our bond isn't broken! It's not..." "Strangely... I feel he's close by, like extremely close... maybe he really was abducted by aliens!" "Chili not this again..."

Meanwhile Cilan had stopped watching sat against the wall. He was really quiet. "What's wrong?" "Nothing... I just have this dull ache around my heart..." His eyes started to water. "You miss your parents?" "Mm-hmm..." "If you don't mind me asking what happened to them?" "They went on a cruise, but we got the news that during a storm, they were lost at sea... I miss them so..." "I guess you were the favorite?" "Yeah... and my brothers were never jealous..." "You know something, bro? I think it was fate for us to meet" "what makes you say that?" "We both lost someone close to us: mom and dad lost me and you lost your parents. I'm starting to believe that we were meant to be each other's comforters." Seems like Ame was on to something, cause of how things seem to have fallen into place.

They went back to watching the brothers, when Cress just so happened to be walking by the window... and saw Cilan, but didn't recognize him "what an odd looking Zorua and yet I feel like I know it..." They stared at each other for a while before Cilan bolts off a fair distance and waits. "Hey wait, little Zorua!" "Cress what are you doing?!" The two brothers soon gave chase and Cilan ran again. This pattern went on for quite some time and the fox managed to keep a distance between him and his brothers so they didn't know who he was.

Meanwhile Haru and Sakura were were looking for Cilan and calling his name. "Where did that boy run off to?" "I thought you were watching him." "I was, but then he just poofed" they didn't have long to wait, however, cause Cilan soon came running with his brothers on his heels. "There he is! But why are his brothers chasing him?" Haru remains quiet, to see how this will play out. Cilan sat in front of his parents while Cress and Chili caught their breath. "He's fast for a little guy..." "So why are we out here? These are the woods where the police said they found a rope with our prints on it and Cilan's scent." "Chili listen... call me crazy but I think that Zorua sitting over there is our younger brother..." "How can you be so sure? Zorua is known as the tricky fox Pokemon and can literally screw with people cause of their illusions. It probably heard us missing our brother and shifted into a form similar to what he would look like." "How do you explain the green bowtie then?" "That one, I have no clue" "then it found it's way to the gym like it's been there before..." "You sure it didn't just smell food and was looking for a handout?" Cilan blew a raspberry at Chili for that, but the hot headed brother didn't notice "The cafe and gym has been closed since his disappearance, you know this..." Cress then went over to the Zorua bent down to his level. "Be careful Cress, those zoroark look a little hostile..." The two stared at each other for a long time, until Cress gently picked up the Zorua and looked deep into it's eyes... it took a while again but he eventually spoke. "It is you, isn't it? It's been two long weeks since you disappeared... had us worried sick... but you're alive and well. Look whatever we did to hurt you, I'm sorry..." Cress then looked at Sakura and Haru. "I see you found a family now... I know they can never replace mom and dad, but they seem to be doing a good job." He bowed in respect to the two Pokemon. "Thank you for looking after my youngest brother..." Sakura couldn't help herself and gently gave Cress head pats. The eldest then turned his attention back to Cilan. "I won't force you to come back with us, as you have someone else who loves you as well. It wouldn't be right... but at least whenever you're here come visit, ok?" Cilan only nodded quietly. "Alright... I guess it's time for you to go now..."

Haru then opened up a portal to their world, while Sakura put Cilan back in her mane. "Take care, lil brother, I'll miss you..." "and I'll miss you both too..." Cress looked up to see Cilan giving him a saddened smile, waving bye. The portal soon closes and the brothers just stood there... in silence... until Chili broke said silence. "You're letting him go?!" "He's happy with them and it wouldn't be right to take him back like that." "What about us?! What about the gym?" "We'll continue to run the cafe but since Cilan is no longer with us, we'll have to resign as gym leaders." "Just when I was getting good too! Btw have you thought about how you're going to break the news to Pansage?" "I haven't... but I know he's gonna be very upset" "very upset is an understatement..." "anyway let's go home, we have lots to do..." the brothers then head back to the gym/cafe, still thinking about the youngest...

Back at the other Pokemon world, Cilan was feeling better and had reverted back to his normal self. he was currently having milk and cookies. "So that's how your brothers normally are?" "Yeah Cress is respectful to those around him and Chili... he basically has nothing better to do but to make fun of my eating habits." Haru was watching the plates stack up again and sweatdrops. "I can see why..." "Though it still bothers me what happened that night..." "I think your brothers were brainwashed temporarily" Sakura and Cilan gave him questionable looks. "what makes you say that dear?" "We just met them and I didn't sense any hostility toward Cilan. They were normal. Their emotions were genuine. They had really been looking for him and were extremely worried. If they were still brainwashed, they couldn't care less and a fight probably would've broken out." "Huh I see... any ideas on who brainwashed them?" "At this point, I have no suspects... but at least we know they weren't acting of their own accord. I'll keep working on this." "Alright, can I have another plate of cookies?" "Cilan, stop before you get a stomachache..." Haru sweatdrops at this. Sakura just laughed at his reaction and gave her son more cookies.

End chapter