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Seven

Touko tried to keep herself from looking down, she couldn't really help the rising nerves as she fell in step between Ghetsis and N. She could just feel the judgement coming from the eyes of his employees she felt like she stood out...for not belonging in the least. Concordia nudged her as she glanced behind her she smiled at her. Despite her other concerns, mostly getting used to a new face in the inner circle of their little family, she recognized the same feelings. She knew her father's connections to Touko and wanted to be supportive.

She took a breath, as they stepped out she glanced around the area it didn't seem liked much of a home though it suited them. Rood shot her a dirty look though it passed quickly as Ghetsis turned to glare at him reminding him silently that crossing Touko was crossing him. She felt uncomfortable all over again. If he really let her see her friends again she wouldn't want to tell them how things went...how he got her to follow his orders. Though she wondered if she would really care by the time she could see them, she glanced at him as they settled in the back. There was still the thought of whatever her father did to her on one hand part of her was going to have to ignore it to make sure she didn't piss him off and find out what his little group could do to get rid of her friends.

Then the other part of her said she had to keep in mind that the leader of Plasma wasn't some cuddly guy she could just be happy to date. Not to mention she didn't think waiting to get married was any sort of dating the whole relationship was off. She sighed, looking down as Concordia gave her the same device that Ghetsis had. She could scroll through and see her friends were fine, talking about their next trip wondering how she was doing with her new boyfriend. She didn't want to just watch them considering they didn't even know they were being monitored, still she smiled relieved she shut it off.

N gestered toward the back window as she looked behind her she saw the area vanishing her eyes widened as she looked at Ghetsis.

"Just like I have the Triad, we hide in plain sight the same way think of it as a tear in realms."

"...Realms?...like another world?"

"Sure, like some legendary pokemon, they aren't just stories there are more things around us than many would even consider could exist. Those of us in the circle have learned to use that to our advantage, well most of us." he explained.

She could just barely see Rood grimacing in the rearview mirror, clearly an area that he failed in.

"...That's so strange."

"You get used to the idea, we just barely use those areas not enough to get the attention of the pokemon that make certain areas their homes. So they are willing to share, if anything it stops them from panicking and rushing to attack the usual trainers." Concordia said, this more her area of expertize.

"What pokemon are we talking about?"

"Like Dialga, and Palkia there are others that aren't used to humans, they get violent usually."

"Only a few have ever seen them...but they could have been watching and waiting the entire time, since they were discovered?"

"Exactly, as of yet they are harmless there are ways to close the small openings some of us use it's how the Triad and their apprentices do their work as quickly as they do time can shift there too." she said simply.

She rubbed her head it was a lot to take in, there had been more sightings and they always fascinated Cheren and Ash they would go looking hoping for a glimpse. Thinking of how they really hid she guessed their little trips hardly meant anything. No that's not entirely true, she loved traveling with her friends they were happy just to get up and go freely she smiled at the memory thinking of when Ash told them about his first sighting of Ho-oh some still thought he had mistaken one for another but the way his eyes lit up when he talked about a new pokemon there was nothing to question.

She wished she could see Ho-oh the world was filled with surprises and unknowns to just wave ideas off surrounding them seemed so...well simple minded. She wondered about those whose realm they borrowed either they didn't care about good and evil, they didn't really disturb them, or they couldn't sense the small tear. She wasn't even sure Cheren often teased her, good naturedly, for being confused and then coming up with ideas with little information. He admired her and when they were younger he often wondered why she bothered with Bianca at all.

She wasn't like them, Touko was glad that she pushed them to be friends their group was fairly large with revovling members. Cheren had mellowed out even more though he only teased Bianca when he was mad at her.

Though that went over her head.

"Don't be afraid though, you're going to be safe with us." N offered he spoke so quietly but there was some sort of authority that was heard.

Just like his father.

She smiled slightly.

"Yeah..."

"So what are you in the mood for?" Anthea said she shifted in the open space to plop down next to Touko showing her the lists of places they usually went.

Rood stopped at a red light waiting for orders.

"...I don't know anything is fine."

"No need to be uncomfortable, Roser's has the best waffles, there is a buffet in Orica, this one serves the entire menu all day...Mee way eats." Ghetsis said.

"Oh..well the buffet I guess I don't usually know until I get in the kitchen, you know what I'm hungry for."

Concordia bounced a bit.

"You picked sis's favorite, we're going to be there all day just wait till you see what she can put away."

Touko cocked her head smiling slightly thinking of Dawn she was just as small and slim as Concordia was and she could out eat most of her friends.

"Really?"

She blushed.

"Well..they have really good food and they trade it out a lot all the pokemon that hang out in the area get well fed so nothing gets wasted. There is a huge forest and an obstacle course for them."

She smiled at the thought.

"How about you, do you have a big appetite?" N asked.

"Well sometimes, guess we'll see after."

"You have to try the fruit salad it's dusted with little bits of sugared honeycombs."

"Oh it's starting already, either hidden realms or food she'll talk your ear off." N said.

She nudged him though he stuck his tongue out at her, Touko felt herself relax as they did, Ghetsis was still silent legs crossed chin resting on his raised fist. His eyes were closed though and he seemed so relaxed she could only wonder about the change just being away from the team made them seem like a very different family she might have seen the corner of his lips raise a bit he seemed to really enjoy times like this.

"Oh look Ms. Touko we're here...father looks pretty crowded."

He looked up.

"Don't worry we'll get a table."

…..

It was pretty full but it was also a very large building with two buffet areas one down and one upstairs they got a reserved area. Rood actually went in as well though without a word from Ghetsis he went to a table by himself. He seemed pretty satisfied to be away from his boss and his family. Concordia happily pulled her to the best parts to fill up her plate...though still keeping herself dignified which Touko thought was a hidden skill, Cynthia could do that too. She looked down thinking she was going to be a part of that...his family, she looked over his shoulder he only had a cup of coffee letting them grab their food first he seemed at ease in the nice booth.

Buffet or not the area was beautiful lit with crystal light fixtures, with a neat black, white, and silver theme. Everyone was fairly quiet and well dressed it just bled a different sort of class, though she felt a bit nervous and out of place again it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

They didn't start eating until Ghetsis returned to the table he mostly watched her, to see how she fit with them when it was just a family outing. There was a feeling of pride there he couldn't really describe it he guessed it had something to do with what they were exposed to he wanted her to get along with them. Be comfortable he looked down at his wrist, mostly looked like he was examining the watch he wore but he was only thinking of the scars he lost. He hadn't noticed any difference before Colress said something.

Still, even without a physical reminder he could almost feel it, he guessed it was all in head he frowned then thinking of it things continued smoothly.

She'd see his body and not know a thing about how it once looked though he would know what was there..what used to be there. He grit his teeth.

Fuck it all he was feeling...self conscious.

He needed a drink.

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