"So what are we doing today?" Shay asks as May enters the Enbar's house. It's been a few days since she and Drew had spoken to the media. Every day, May has been visiting the Enbars to spend time with Kai. By now, the media has figured out that Kai is staying with the Enbars, but fortunately, George's Feralligator, and Pam's Ampharos are enough to keep reporters away.
Drew came by the day after his interview, though he only stuck around for a few hours. He doesn't want it to seem like he and May are in a relationship, but he does want the media to think they're friends while he's helping her with her "adopted son." He didn't come by the past two days due to phone calls and wanting to give the Enbars a break from reporters. The one time he came over, there were so many reporters, everyone's Pokemon had to be out to keep them away.
Today, though, Drew has a plan for everyone to get some privacy. It is a Saturday too, so the kids don't have school. Shane has called home after hearing about the drama, but his parents reassured him that everything is okay. Thus, he is staying in Hoenn to finish his journey. May had also called Marina to thank her for her help earlier in the week.
"Hiking." May grins at the family and Kai.
Raising an eyebrow at her, Kai asks, "Hiking?"
"I like it!" Exclaims Pam. "It'll give us privacy!" Understanding what they're saying, Kai nods.
Shay's eyes open wide with excitement though. "I heard Suicune can be seen in the mountains north of the city sometimes!"
"Suicune?" shouts Kai enthusiastically. It's the reason he wanted to come to the beaches of Johto. His father had once mentioned seeing a Suicune here before. Looking up at May with his wide blue eyes, he says, "I wanna see Suicune!"
This makes the brunette chuckle. Soon, everyone is off in the Enbar's car with Pam's Aerodactly keeping the reporters away from the car for it to drive off. Aerodactyl then flies after the car, and Pam returns her once they're far enough away from the reporters.
"What if they follow us to the mountains?" Kai worriedly asks as he notices some news vans behind them. Although he wants to be strong for May, his shyness makes him very scared of the reporters. Shay and the Enbar Pokemon have been trying to protect him, but Kai wants to be independent.
May smiles at him. "They can't lug all that camera gear up the mountains. And they'll lose reception." It's the reason she was so happy to hear Drew's suggestion that they go hiking.
Her words reassure him, so Kai leans into May's side. As much he likes the Enbars, he's missed living with May. He doesn't like being forcefully separated from her, thus he hopes this all goes away soon. May said it should be over by the end of this week.
Eventually, they pull into a dirt parking lot after driving up the mountain. With the news vans being larger, many had turned back from the narrow paths. If any did risk the trip, they won't reach the parking lot for at least another half hour. That gives the group enough time to lose them in the woods.
"I was worried you guys would get caught." chuckles a voice walking over to them.
"Drew!" Shay exclaims and tackles him in a hug. George and Pam always apologize to Drew for their daughter's behavior, but Drew doesn't mind Shay. If anything, he appreciates her enthusiasm and the care she has for Kai.
"Hey, Shay!" he grins while returning the girl's hug. Drew then walks past her to ruffle Kai's hair, which always annoys the boy.
"I'm not a kid."
Smirking at him, Drew replies, "As long as you're shorter than me, you're a kid."
May crosses her arms knowingly at her friend while Kai scowls. "So are you calling me a kid?" She is a whole head shorter than him.
He flicks his hair while his arrogant smirk stays on his face. "If the shoe fits, June."
"You know my name!"
"Groudon, May! You're gonna attract all the reporters with your yelling." he remarks since he covered his ears from her outburst.
Walking past him, May shoves his shoulder hard, which makes him stumble, but Drew's smirk never leaves his face. He then greets the Enbar parents, and soon, everyone is off hiking on a trail. May and Drew let out Beautifly and Masquerain to spend time together, like they always do.
"Are they in love?" Shay innocently asks. She always sees the two bug Pokemon together, and they're always excited to see each other. Plus, May and Drew always let them spend time together while the other Pokemon stay in their Pokeballs.
May smiles at the Pokemon flying ahead of them. "I think so."
"What makes you say that?" Drew curiously asks his friend who is usually an airhead. How can she tell what love is when she couldn't figure out his feelings when they were younger. Those roses are obviously not for Beautifly. He blushes, so he turns his attention away from her.
Fortunately for him, May is still gazing at the bug Pokemon. "Because Beautifly is happiest when she's with Masquerain. She's always excited to see him. Whenever she sees you, she knows Masquerain will be here too. So I know she really likes him." May grins at Drew who is still avoiding looking at her. "She only acts like this around him."
"That's so cute!" Shay exclaims in aw, which makes Kai roll his eyes.
"It's just love." he shrugs. "Everyone loves someone."
"But they're in love!" Shay gushes.
Kai frowns at this because he knows not everyone falls in love. The only people in love he knows are the Enbar parents and the Ketchums. However, May, Drew, his father, and his mother never fell in love. If someone loves someone, then they stay together no matter what. He doubts his mother even loved him since she left him.
"You're only 8." George sternly tells his daughter. She shouldn't be thinking about love at this young of an age.
Smiling warmly at her husband, Pam slips her arm through his. It's been a while since they were able to go on a trip like this, even if it is because of reporters. "You at least like Kai, right?" She whispers to him.
"Of course I do!" George tells her. "Why?" She gives him an innocent knowing smile before returning her attention to the path ahead. Hopefully George continues to like Kai in 10 years.
"So you're saying love is happiness?" Drew asks the brunette.
"Why wouldn't you be happy with someone you love?" she inquires. As much as it pains May to think about her family, she knows her parents are in love and happy. They are always happiest with each other, so there must be a correlation, right?
Sighing, Drew watches the bug Pokemon in the sky. "What if you're in love with someone, but you're unhappy?"
"Then you must not love them." Shay replies.
Shaking his head, Kai says, "That's not it, Shay." He thinks about his mother who he still loves. Despite the pain he feels from her abandonment, he still loves her because she's his mother. He's not happy about it, but he loves her. "You can be unhappy but still love someone."
Nodding, Drew adds, "Like if she doesn't see you in that way, then that is going to make you sad. But you still love her."
"Who are you talking about?" the oblivious brunette beside him asks.
Fighting his blush, Drew turns to wink at her. "Don't worry about it, April."
"This is why you're alone, grasshead." she knowingly tells him, which makes Drew chuckle.
"Whoa. Is May Maple finally arguing back? It took you 10 years."
"You ran away for 10 years." She smirks at him. "Must've been scared of my comebacks."
His heart aches at the reminder of them losing all those years together, though he will enjoy this time he has with her now. "They're still not that good." He smirks at her.
Sticking her tongue out at him, May grabs Drew's black cap off his head. He's been wearing it lately to try and hide from reporters, especially since his green hair is very noticeable. May runs off ahead of the group with the hat on her head, which makes Drew furrow his brows in annoyance at her. However, he soon chuckles to himself before sprinting off after her. "Stop taking my stuff, October!"
"Are we on this trip for Kai or for them?" George whispers to his wife.
"Shh, honey. Let them have fun." Pam winks back at him.
"Let's race after them, Kai!" Shay shouts and runs off. Before the boy can argue against it, his friend is too far away. Sighing, he runs after her. Pam and George smile at each other and then they follow suit.
Soon, May stops as she reaches the end of the path. Panting while trying to catch her breath, Drew is soon beside her where he grabs his cap off her head. "Why do you run so fast?" he exasperates.
"Years of running after Team Rocket." she giggles and stands tall now that she's done breathing hard. Looking out at the end of the path, May gasps in amazement at the sight. Drew also takes in the sight. They're at a river with a waterfall crashing down from the cliff above. "You know I saved you from a waterfall, right?" May knowingly asks him.
Raising an eyebrow at her, he replies, "I don't remember, so it must not have happened."
"Mirage Island." she smirks at him, which makes him blush as he faintly recalls that day.
He knew he had blacked out after falling in a river, but he didn't know there was a waterfall. May really was trying to protect him. She always has. "May."
His voice makes her return her attention to him because she had been watching the waterfall again. "What's up, Drew?" She's concerned since his usually playful tone is gone. Instead, he sounds serious.
Drew's hand fidgets by his side. It wants to reach out and grab hers, but he knows he can't. Just because they're in the woods, it doesn't mean that reporters couldn't have followed them. Letting out a breath, he gazes into her sapphire eyes. "I just wanna thank you for saving me."
"That was years ago, Drew." she giggles at him.
Although, Drew also means lately. May saved him from Brianna by making him realize he doesn't need Brianna anymore. Moreover, May saves him from himself. Drew has been very unhappy prior to reuniting with her, but May makes him have a passion for life again. She continues to save him, so he can't ever let her go again. Smiling warmly at her, he opens his mouth to explain himself when he's tackled in the legs. This causes Drew to stumble as he tries to not fall over.
"Not fair, Kai!" shouts the high voice.
"I won! Fair and square!" Kai smiles at Shay.
"We'll race back to the car later then!" insists the girl.
As Kai is about to retort, May puts her soft hands on his shoulders to turn him to the waterfall. "Enjoy nature, guys." Eventually, the Enbar parents join them, and everyone watches the sights around them. Drew sets out a blanket, so they can sit on the grass for a break before making the trek back down to the car.
While Kai and Shay are watching the wild Pokemon in the water, the Enbar parents are walking around the riverbank enjoying their little date. Therefore, Drew and May are sitting on the blanket alone. "Remember the waterfall we found in Kanto?" he asks her.
May smiles as she recalls the memory. They had unexpectedly found a waterfall when they were looking for a good place to set up camp. "And we were woken up by the Psyducks."
Reminiscing along with her, he chuckles because the Psyduck had watergunned their whole campsite in the early morning, so May and Drew had to stay for another day to wait for their stuff to dry. By then, they formed an understanding with the Psyducks so that they wouldn't get sprayed again. It took time until they saved the water from being pumped by Team Rocket before the Psyduck would agree to leave them alone, but that was just a typical day for May and Drew.
"Should we be expecting Team Rocket soon?"
She leans into his side, like she had when they were younger. This makes him blush profusely. "We should be expecting reporters." She replies.
Knowing she's right, and that the way they're positioned right now definitely looks like more than friends, Drew quickly stands up, much to May's dismay. "I, uh, wanna talk to Kai." He nervously says. "You know. Just to see how he's coping with all of this."
Nodding, May agrees. She has been asking Kai about his feelings, and every time, he says everything is okay. However, May knows Kai always plays off his feelings. She wishes he would be more honest with her, though she can't force it. "You two are pretty similar." She tells the man walking off.
He raises a confused eyebrow at her, but being far from her now, he chooses not to ask why. Once he's by Shay and Kai, Shay excitedly greets him. Smiling at her, he asks, "Can I talk to Kai, Shay?"
Shay now worriedly looks between the males. While she trusts Drew, she knows Kai isn't a fan of him. She never wants her friends to be uncomfortable, so she can't just comply with Drew. "Um, I don-"
"It's fine." Kai interrupts her with a reassuring smile. "You should talk to May about coordinating."
Sighing, Shay gives him a grin. "Okay, Kai." She then runs off to join May on the blanket as Drew sits on a rock beside Kai.
The two males patiently watch the Goldeen and Corsola swimming beneath the water. Even a few Remoraids can be seen at times. Eventually, Kai asks, "Why are you here?" Drew had mentioned how he wants to speak to Kai, but he hasn't said a single word this whole time.
Smiling at the water, Drew replies, "For you."
"I don't need you to care about me."
The man chuckles at how independent Kai tries to be, especially around him. "I need you though."
"You can't use me to get to May." snaps Kai.
This comment makes Drew look at Kai's angry green eyes. "I don't need you to get to May." He knowingly tells the boy. "But May cares about you, so I had to too."
"I don't need that kind of care." Kai doesn't want any conditional relationships. They just end up with people leaving.
"I said had, Kai." Drew smiles. "I care about you now." He then returns his gaze to the water. "I don't know why I care about you, but I do. Even if May wasn't involved, I know I'd still care for you. You don't have to believe me, but just know, I'm gonna help you however I can."
"I don't need it." the boy curtly responds. He hates pity.
Drew lets out an amused breath as he reaches a hand over to ruffle Kai's hair. Kai tries to avoid the hand, but Drew still manages to get him. "You're only 8, Kai. Act your age and let the adults take care of you for once."
The boy's gaze on the water softens from a glare. He's always been trying to be independent so as to avoid causing trouble for others. However, here Drew is, a man Kai despises, telling him to let the adults handle his problems. "I don't care what you say."
"I care about what you say." Drew says without his gaze wavering from the water. "So tell me what's on your mind, Kai."
Choosing to do what he does best, Kai keeps his mouth shut. Why should he confide in Drew? Drew is the reason they're in this mess. Even if May likes Drew, Kai doesn't have to like him too, and Kai doesn't. Kai especially doesn't trust Drew since it's obvious Drew is only interested in Kai because of May. However, when Drew reaches his hand out again, Kai doesn't move. He lets the man slowly ruffle his hair.
"I won't leave you guys." Drew softly says. "I never wanna leave you guys."
Biting his trembling bottom lip, Kai fights the tears. Leaving always hurts him since many people have left him. Thus, anytime someone tells him they won't leave him, even if he hasn't given them a reason to stay, he finds himself feeling very moved. Can he trust Drew? He doesn't want to, though he's allowing Drew to stay with them. Maybe Kai needs loving people as much as Drew needs people to love?
Hours later, the group finally leaves the waterfall. They near the parking lot, so Drew grabs May's arm to stop her from walking. She gives him a curious look, but he returns Masquerain before calling out Flygon. He then smiles at the Enbars and Kai. "I'll see you guys for dinner tomorrow." Pam and George had invited him over for dinner tomorrow on the walk back from the waterfall, which Drew eagerly accepted.
"Why are you leaving here?" Shay asks. The parking lot is free of trees for Flygon to easily fly off.
"Reporters might be down there." Drew knowingly tells her. Turning his attention back to May, he pulls out a rose. "For Beautifly." The man smirks as he flicks his hair. He then hops on Flygon, and the group watches him fly off.
May can't help but smile shyly, so she brings the rose up to her nose to hide her blush. Sniffing it, she is reminded of Drew's scent. She always finds comfort in his scent. Kai curiously watches his caretaker. Yes, May is very happy with Drew, and Kai is starting to accept that he doesn't not like Drew.
"Maybe they're in love?" Shay whispers to her friend because she also is watching May.
Shaking his head, Kai exclaims, "No way!" He's not ready to share May to that extent quite yet. Plus, Drew needs to prove his worth first.
Once the group makes it to the car, there are a few news vans. Pam's Pokemon keep them away while the group drives off. Sighing, May knows tomorrow is the day Diana will call her about Kai. May really hopes that the good publicity she's been getting about being a good caretaker to Kai will help. Shay and Kai have also been posting non-stop on the internet and gaining support for May. Hopefully, everyone's efforts will be enough to keep the white haired boy on the island.