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Seventeen

"Teddi...Teddi..Teddi..Teddi."

Teddiursa, who she named Ro, chanted happily from his spot on the counter as she cut up some razz and nanab berries for his snack. They were small enough but she was mixing the chunks with cream, he bounced from one leg to another obviously very used to humans. She smiled at him.

"Touko?...Oh how cute where'd you find the munchkin?"

She smiled as Anthea bounced over to shake his paw Ro bounced more clearly liking the mood around him.

"That's Ro...your father gave him to me earlier he needed a nap."

She smiled.

"Father did...he must really like you, he'd never let the Grunts catch him giving out such a cutie, when he gave me a Pichu he made me swear she would never leave my bedroom. Concorida has an Emolga she spoils rotton and then N's Deerling, he wanted us to appreciate all pokemon but at first he gave us something that he didn't mass train for the Grunts. I wonder if the next time we go see them they can visit here."

"You don't have them here?"

"No at first the Grunts kept the trainer pokemon around and you know how violent some of them get around weaker pokemon...at least the ones trained here that we had to monitor. It just became normal to keep them out of harms way. When father completed the new gym and they weren't kept here anymore we decided they should just stay at home. Though if he though Ro was safe with you maybe we'll bring them, when he comes back we should plan to go home."

Ro stuck his paw in the bowl not all that interested in their conversation, they looked down as he shoveled the sweet treat in his mouth. Touko grinned.

"Where does he find these pokemon that are so mellow... he's so threatening to humans."

"Father and N are like that, they have a way with pokemon."

Looking up as he made a mess of himself Ro smiled as Touko patted his head gently.

"Hey Anthea..."

"Yeah?"

"What do you know about your father's crimes?"

"Well not much...but he's not like some of the old sages or bosses, Archie once came to a party with a date this pretty girl that was super friendly. He got a chance to address the room and he killed her, slit her throat like it was nothing."

Touko covered her mouth as Anthea shuddered.

"He's still a Boss, he's not pushing soccor mom memorbilia or toys for sick kids...but his place is secure he doesn't have to do anything to stand out. He once told us that he had killed someone in his rage before...but you know could be worse."

Touko looked down she knew turning a blind eye to what he could admit to wasn't the best idea but it was more a matter of what felt better to her. Agonizing over the past she didn't know everything about or torturing herself for worrying about anyone capable of what was actually wrong. She sighed until Anthea elbowed her.

"Don't look so worried, after a few incidents with Archie and Lysandre deals started to be recorded, Archie grew insane thinking he screwed him over though he signed over territory and couldn't remember after a night of drinking. He killed him too, the Triad was able to show us how he was then...father is in charge of moving pokemon and training, protection fee collection. He doesn't hurt anyone it's the others you have to worry about. That's why even though some are scared of him some want to replace my father, they he's not stern enough."

Touko moved to grab a towel even more lost in her thoughts.

"Maybe he shouldn't be stern...they should appreciate how he is as a boss without having to make an example of someone with every passing day."

"Some do, those are the only ones we care about, why so curious really interested in my father now?"

Touko blushed as Anthea squealed a bit, more a sign she was relaxing around Touko.

"Oh I was hoping he really is a good man...he can just survive in this world...that The Circle keeps so he's not going to be soft all the time, he just knows how to be. So it's okay to care."

She smiled at her.

"You really love your father don't you?"

"Of course."

"...I can't."

She pouted.

"Why not?"

"I've gotten a few memories back but still it's a blank I want to say I don't know him but that's not really true. I feel bad though."

Anthea's gaze widened.

"So it's true, the Triad really did work on your memories one of them said they had but it didn't seem like it. Usually their victims are much more dazed and out of it if it's more than a few hours of exposure to their abilities."

"Yeah...I told Colress I should keep away from him try and think of whatever we had but then I wonder if I should..I get it this isn't normal he's a fucking crime boss I can't find some innocent teddy bear there. I just have to see if I'm okay with that or not and what I can't remember makes me think I should be and I don't know if that scares me or not I'm so jumbled."

As she sighed Ro patted her hand with a sticky paw she smiled as she wiped his face, Anthea smiled still though it was saddened.

"You're..more like us than it seemed."

"You think?"

"I mean...it's still different obviously we're the kids you're supposed to be the wife but they aren't just business men..The Circle. We know that, you have to take the whole package and we've been around here longer seen so many horrible things from Archie, Cyrus, even Giovanni can be a nut but Maxie and father are very different from them though he'd never admit it Maxie is softer than his ways would suggest. Don't stress too much that's where you drive yourself crazy for what it's worth you could do a lot worse and I don't say that as the Boss's daughter but from one person to another. Okay?"

Touko smiled slightly.

"Yeah okay..." she did have a point, they had been around longer and his kids didn't seem to be insane, unable to really see the difference between right and wrong.

They took what they could what they were supposed to, that said something..glancing at Ro as he chewed on the towel she smiled. His way with more innocent pokemon said a little something too. Then there was the way she felt realizing she did know him...that voice was the loudest.

"What about Lysandre..did they split up his work?"

"He was busy with tech with Giovanni, keeping everyone connected so they got someone to replace him."

"Who?"

"Her name is Ivy and she's not too bad either I think she just likes having a lab where the bill is paid for by someone else. Giovanni has a thing for her, which distracts him and mostly keeps him out of trouble." she said with a grin.

Touko laughed understanding the 'even Giovanni' comment he had...at least seemed to have something to ground him.

"Hey why don't we pop some popcorn we can watch t.v. and gossip in my room."

She smiled.

"Okay...want to try some popcorn Ro?"

He wasn't sure what popcorn was but if it was anything tasty like berries and cream he was all for it.

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