Chapter 11

Ugh. Maybe being a cop wasn't the best idea after all. Everything is too

busy, with all the new cases sprouting everywhere. I need to get myself out of this office. I started writing down and filing new convicts, deep into my own thoughts with an expression of exhaustion on my face. My Arcanine rests its head on my lap, and whines, looking up at me. He looks so worried. "Hey, it's okay buddy," I say smiling at him. "I'm just tired. Maybe I'll go visit Ethan after this. It has been a while and I could use the company. What do you think?" He barks happily, and his tail starts wagging. Heh, I always thought that looked adorable. "I'll take that as a 'Yes!'" I keep on petting his head, then resume my paperwork. So many convicts and victims. These Poképhilia crimes are getting out of control. After my vacation, I'm going out onto the field myself. It seems so much more exciting than this overrated desk job. I sigh and take a sip of my coffee. I lean back on my chair, looking around the bland, light blue office. No one's even here today.

I sit up, put my paperwork away, and gesture to Arcanine. He gets up and walks over to my side. "C'mon boy. We're going home a little early. We'll visit later tonight." He just quietly whines and follows just behind me. On my way home, I pass Ethan's place on the Hau'oli City Beachfront. I sigh. "Lucky his parents are loaded. And that he got title of champion. He doesn't have to pay for anything." I scoff, crossing my arms while I quicken my pace. Arcanine speeds up too, and looks at me worried. "Oh, don't look at me like that. I know he's my best friend and all but…" He just keeps staring. I sigh. "I guess I should just be happy for him, huh?" He barks, sticking out his tongue, and panting. "I'll take that as a 'yes' too." I chuckle, and keep going on my way home.

After finally arriving to Iki town, I take a good look around. Everything's so serene. I'm quite glad no crimes have been reported here. I sigh and start walking home. I get stopped by Hala, the island Kahuna. He gives me a hearty pat on the back. "Lance! What a sight to see! You look so grown! How're you?" I chuckle inwardly. "I'm fine! Thanks for asking. I've just been busy… Really busy. There's been so many crimes and cases going on lately…" I start rattling off about my struggles at the police station. Hala is just patiently listening. I finally stop, and he looks into my eyes. A really stern look of thinking on his face. I raise an eyebrow. "Something on your mind, Hala?"

"You, young man, need some more communication with your loved ones. How about your parents or your friend, The Champion?"

"I was… just about to go over his place. Arcanine was itching for a visit, and well, I do wanna check on him. Saying I'm not worried would be a small lie…"

"Well go on! Go visit! He may want some attention from someone other than his Pokémon you know." Hala just smiles and walks away with that note. He waves and I wave back.

After finally arriving home, I head into my bedroom. I sit down on the side of my bed and just think. I honestly don't know what to think about, but I need to get those cases out of my head. I take off my uniform, grab some clothes from my bedside drawer, and walk right into the shower. This'll give me some privacy. I turn on the showerhead, and just patiently stand under it, drenching my hair and body with the warm water. I shouldn't waste the time I have here. Or the water. I quickly start washing my hair, and apply the new conditioner I bought. It says one of the main ingredients is the oil Minccino and Cinccino use for grooming their tails. Minccinoil, I think it's called. Unova has some good stuff. Maybe I should visit the big city sometime.

After a few minutes, I finish up. All washed off and clean. I walk out, dry myself off, put on my clothes and brush my teeth. I look into the mirror taking a deep breath. "All right. Ethan's place." I leave the bathroom and look around for Arcanine. I walk out into the living room, and he's sleeping comfortably in his little bed. I decide not to disturb him, and just give him a nice pat on the head. He smiles and stirs slightly, readjusting his position. Without trying to make a disturbance, I grab my keys, a nice jacket, and rush out the door locking it behind me.

I take a slow stroll from Iki town right to the Hau'oli City Beachfront; once again marveling at the modern and quite large place Ethan lives in. I guess that's what you have to live with if your parents are huge scientists. And if you're the Pokémon champion. Jealousy creeps in, but I shrug it off. As I near his place, I think instead of getting Ethan a little gift first. I've missed a couple of his birthdays since joining the Force, so at this point, I have to. I walk right past Ethan's place, headed toward the mall.

"What should I even get him? A poster? Nah, I think he's a bit too old for posters. A body pillow?" I snicker quietly at the thought. "Too much, maybe just-" My thoughts were then interrupted by a familiar-looking girl at a kiosk near the mall's entrance. Hey, is that Michelle? And she's operating her own little store? I power walk my way over to the kiosk to greet her. "Michelle! Holy crap, been a long time, eh?" She spies me through the corner of her eye, and runs over, hugging me as soon as I'm in arms reach. I chuckle and hug her right back. "Lance! It's been too long! How have you been? What's going on?" She lets go and sits on a chair next to the register. Man, she grew super attractive since the last time I saw her. She's got herself a good job too, it seems. "Nothing much, Chelly!" Chelly was the nickname I gave her a couple days after Ethan introduced me to her. Needless to say, she didn't enjoy it too much, but she grew into it. "I've just been working at the Police Station. Filing papers on new convicts, victims and the such like. Taking care of my Arcanine too. Hard work, that one…"

"Oh yeah, your trusty partner! That's good, that's good."

"What about you, Chelly? What's been goin' on?"

"Just more work and the such like, nothing too much and nothing that gets too uncontrollable. Obviously watching some Pokemon Tournaments in my spare time. Nothing like some good old fashioned Pokemon Battles to get set your heart ablaze!"
All I did was chuckle at the thought, Michelle hasn't changed a bit. Still her usual self ever since she was 11. What a relief too, now we can hopefully be a thing ourselves with how this is panning out. "Oh! Speaking of Pokemon battling, you seen Ethan lately?" That snapped me immediately out of my thoughts of wanting to take Michelle on a date. "Ethan? Well, yes and no. I've seen him out, but not often. Says he's been training at home mostly. And have you been watching the news recently?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Those three Lycanrocs, Ethan is taking care of them now." All she did was give me a look that had this mix of concern and disapproval.

"You sure that was a good decision? First off, that's nine Pokemon. Way too many to take care of. Second, they're anthropomorphic Pokemon. Don't you think they're already problematic as it is?"
"Oh, don't be such a worry-wart, Michelle. He's the champion of Alola after all, they'll be perfect with him!"

"Perfect, as in…?"
"Well, just being taken care of in general. Seriously, Michelle, there's no need to start feeling anxious about this whole thing." I raise an eyebrow and give her a sarcastic smirk. "Maybe jealous that the Midday Lycanroc may have a better body than you, hm?" Without even a second thought, she gave me a swift back-hand smack to my cheek. With all that force, I spun in place and almost fell to the ground. All I did was hold my cheek, and wince in pain. "Yeah, I guess I deserved that… Well, hey, at least he hasn't chosen a guy over you yet." And with that, I felt another hand smack my opposite cheek. It almost felt like I was getting whiplash with just the simple force of her hand. I crouched down and just winced in pain. "I was joking, Michelle! Good God, ow!" With a scoff, she turned around and went back to her kiosk. Without a proper goodbye, too. I probably should not have brought that up as a joke. Man, she has got some serious strength…

A couple of minutes of walking, and trying to relieve my cheeks of the pain, I arrive at Ethan's lavish beach house. Once again, I'm stricken with the feeling of jealousy. I scoff. "Rich and successful parents, Pokemon champion, huge and luxurious beach house, and already has Michelle pining off of him… Lucky bastard. Meanwhile, I'm stuck in a small apartment, a minimum wage job, and half of my old Pokemon team stuck in my PC Box… I sure hope he's doing his best to be thankful for what he's got." I try to brush off the feeling of jealousy and bury it deep within. I put on a smile, fix up my clothes, and knock on Ethan's door. Hey, do I smell pasta?