Hi everyone^^ Read and Review please. It's been a hectic week, and that's life, am I right? Well, Que Sera Sera, or was it something else? I've been focusing so much on part-time work and school, hahaha. Well, money has to come from somewhere, right? Anyway, without further delay, on with the story!
3rd Legal Guardian: Tracey/Kenji
Tracey looked at the final draft of his new sketch. The black stencil lining bounced off in contrast against the white paper; it looked incomplete without layers and shadowing. He finally released a sigh and gave up, and put down the sketchpad on the glass table in front of him. He covered his eyes with his hands and groaned in frustration, trying to block out the sunlight while staring at the unsure blue sky. He was tempted to tear the sketch in half, but felt a sharp peck against his shoulder. "Itai! Nande yo? Eh? Swellow? Shouldn't you be playing with the twins?"
He held out his left hand, where the flying Pokémon perched next after its talons dug and scraped at the apprentice's skin. Tracey petted and rubbed the head of the Flying-type, and let the gesture keep him relaxed. He felt a bit tired, with the sun beating down on him, and the warm wind lulling him to sleep. It was enough to let anyone mumble and ramble like a drunk, only less intoxicates. So ramble he did. "For a couple of one year olds, they're a lot more active than I give them credit for. Still, those two seem to know that Julia is missing. She always loved playing with the kids. To think those three already forged a bond in less than a year…"
"Well, honey, they wouldn't be lonely if you would just have one day to put down that lab smock and your sketchpad and play with them instead."
Tracey snapped out of his reverie, shocked, and nearly fell out of his chair. "Eh?! Swellow, did you just talk to me?"
"No, that'd be me, dear." Daisy entered the scene with a graceful walk and perched her own hand on her hubby's left shoulder, "although you shouldn't be surprised. Didn't you face Jessie and James with their talking Meowth when you were with Misty and…that guy…" The last part was spoken with venom, and tension filled the air, although Tracey was quick to dispel it.
"Yea, it's impressive too. Meowth isn't even a Psychic-Type, so there's no way he could communicate through telepathy, and lip-syncing is hard to pull off, so he really could speak for real. What happened to those two anyway?" Tracey briefly tried to recall about them, but the last thing he could remember was that Jessie had a child and James had prepared to take over his duties and that whole noblesse oblige crap while he also corresponded with Delia on the condition of her son. 'Wow, I'm so out of touch. That was, what? Like 5,6 years ago?'
Daisy's face softened up at the clever divergence. "Tonight is Junius' fifteenth birthday, remember? Lily and Violet went, but we couldn't go because we can't find a babysitter."
The artisan-apprentice sagged in his chair and Swellow flew away to the area of the yard where the twins were playing. "You mean we can't find one who we can actually afford without sacrificing our vacation budget. You also couldn't go alone without me because you sold all your gowns when money was tight.
He was dismayed with his family's current financial security. They were clearly middle class, but the pressure was just terrible. His career as an assistant professor and part-time artist barely managed to scrape by enough money during the first two years of their marriage. Daisy gave up her family fortune, and the only reason they managed to rise above poverty was simply because of her gigs in stardom. It didn't help that they had kids sooner and she had to take maternity leave and then took leave, nearly terminating her contract, to engage in housewifery (they couldn't afford a housekeeper, and she didn't trust her precious babies at the hands of a stranger). "I'm really sorry, Daisy. I don't know why you even settled for a guy like me, whose name doesn't even have one mount of prestige other than one of Professor Oak's wards. I swear to the Legendaries, iie, not only the Legendaries, but to all the gods from the other worlds too, that I'll work harder to get us out of middle-class and get you back to the top."
Daisy chuckled and patted his head. "Koibito, you forgot that I didn't just settle for you, but I love you too. You didn't think that I turned down more eligible suitors too, did you? They might be richer, but they'd have made terrible husbands because they didn't have your dedication and devotion. That just shows your strength of character. Why do you think I fell in love with you ever since you helped us repair one small thing?" She hugged him from behind, and he smiled contentedly.
"I love you too."
The blond smiled and pecked the crown of his head as well. "Now, will you play with the kids?"
He rubbed the arm that embraced him, and stooped forward to get the sketchpad lying on the table. "In a moment, I just need to finish this sketch. If I add in a bit more detail along the stencil, I might sell it for a tidy but good sum."
Daisy sighed and went over to the kids, but not before turning back one more time. "All right, dear, but remember, the kids want their father to play with them too."
"Yes, dear."
That was a short chapter, but I think it's enough. You guys might want to try to analyze this one, because the message here is hidden really well unless you guys have some sort of sixth sense or whatever. It's there, but it's subtle. The interpretations have been posted within the Preface, but try to figure it out first. Go read and review.