Chapter 4- The Explanation

"Rui, I can explain…WAIT!" she runs off without my explanation, but Espeon runs after her.

"Should we go after them?" Umbreon asks with one of his paws on my left foot. I look in the direction they went, but shake my head.

"No, Espeon will lead her to the Pokémon Center when Rui is done." With that, we head to the Pokémon Center to wait the girls out.

Rui's POV:

I start running before Wes can even finish what he was gonna say. I hear him call out for me to wait, but I keep running. I hear soft footsteps behind me, but I ignore them until I reach the fountain. I slow down and sit on the edge of the fountain to cry. When I am done, I hear a soft female voice in my head.

"We should be getting to the Center, it's almost dark. And Wes isn't a bad person, he only recently learned what Team Snagem does to the Pokémon they capture. We saw it happen to a Shuckle, and it was terrifying! I hope you can forgive him, he's had a rough childhood and life. I believe by this morning's meeting, your friendship can change him. And already has." Then, after her little speech, Espeon rubs her head against my arm. "So give him a chance?" I sigh, but nod my head and let Espeon lead me to the doors of the Center, where Wes is waiting.

"I'm sorry, Wes. I should've heard you out before making any decision. Thank you for waiting for me." I see his cheeks go a little red, but maybe it was the light.

"Yeah, no problem. Let's get inside, it's gonna get cold pretty quick." I hurry to follow him into the Center. When we reach the Nurse's desk, she says they only have one room left; and though I feel my cheeks heating up and see Wes's as well, he pays for the room. When I don't follow him, Espeon nudges me forward. I quickly walk to where he waits at the elevator and after he pushes the button we go through the open doors. I stay as silent as a grave and follow Wes towards a door which he opens with the key the Nurse gave him. And refrain from dropping my jaw when he opens it and allows me to enter first.

"Well…I hope you didn't spend too much on this room." that is all I can say after he comes in and shuts the door. I hear a faint 'click' but I choose to ignore it and pretend I didn't hear the sound of the door locking. I look around the room to find only one bed and a couch, which makes my blush return, but I can't think of sleep when Wes speaks.

"I owe you an explanation…"

"Yes, you do." I try to not be snappy, but it comes out anyway. He doesn't flinch like most guys, or anyone for that matter, does at my snappy voice. But I notice his eyes get a sad look in those golden irises. He takes a deep breath, then starts his explanation.

"When I was 10, I was supposed to start my journey in Kanto, but…my parents died in the fire that destroyed my house and I was sent to the orphanage in the neighboring Region, Johto. I was never the same after that. For five years I stayed at that dreadful orphanage. My anger at the Government of Kanto caused me to almost go insane. If I hadn't found these two when I did, I wouldn't be here now. Literally, I would've killed myself if I hadn't found them as Eevees. These two were my only reason to live. But…" he closed his eyes and a tear falls down his left cheek. "It cost a house of their previous owner for me to keep them. I had let every Pokémon in that 'storage' house free before burning it to the ground. And though I told these two to go and be free, they decided to stay with me and evolved accordingly to when we were escaping Johto on the boat leading to here, though at the time I didn't really care where it took me, as long as the Johto Police didn't find me.

"After a few months of wandering around Orre, Team Snagem tried to take them, but I fought tooth and nail to get them back. And I did, but only if I promised to join the Team as a Snagger. It wasn't a hard decision. I've been emotionless most of my life, the only strongest emotions come out now. Anger, sadness and happiness are the only emotions I've felt in a long time." I shush him with a hug of sympathy and to let him know that I understand.

"You don't have to tell me anything else; I believe you. You had to protect the ones you love, I understand that completely." I feel tears coming but I pull back from him and turn away to wipe them away. "And I'll only forgive you if we catch ALL the other Pokémon with a shadowy aura and do something to return them to their natural state." I turn and look him in the eye as I say that.

"It'll be too dangerous, I don't want anyone else getting hurt because of me."

"How the heck else are you gonna know which Pokémon has a shadowy aura?" I counter his surprising chivalry with that question. And we argue before he does something I would never expect from any guy I just met; he kisses me. I feel something in my heart go 'ping' but a loud knocking at the door makes me forget about it for a while.

"Keep it down, SOME people are trying to sleep!" when the footsteps of the person is gone, Wes pulls away and ends our, and my, first kiss.