Warning: Reader Discretion Advised. Pokémon x Human relationships. I do not own Pokemon.


Chapter: It's My Birthday, I'll-

For my birthday I had the delight of eating the five-star cuisine at Shotai-nomi. The food was great, everything else lacked appeal. The entire restaurant was filled with sycophants, hundreds of them crowding the massive establishment; most had powerful Pokemon, though only two were allowed per person, and only medium-to-small sized. With one glance across the room the vivid display of diversity would seem welcoming, there were Pokemon from every region, and men and women of all ages littered the area like trash. But it was anything but welcoming, and despite all seemingly living in or around the same area, Celadon City(which Shotai was located directly in the center of), the people were visibly divided into sects, classes. Every now and then a trainer's eyes would sweep over to my mother, but when I caught them staring they'd quickly avert their gaze. Their mons seemed, to me, just like trinkets or accessories. Most of them ignored their Pokemon, only conversing with other humans, leaving their mons to sit silently, pick at food, or interact with each other. That seemed to me a very bleak existence, but thinking about it I wasn't much different from the mons. Sitting still in my seat, back straight, hands placed carefully on top of each knee, I was merely here because Mom dictated I be.

It was obvious who came with who, but Shotai-nomi was also known as a place meant for those willing to intermingle at times, so here and there a loud conflict would break out, or groups that obviously didn't belong together would merge for heartfelt conversations. The aggression of those involved in fights was often soothed very quickly, and more often than not the arguments took place near or at the bar. Despite that, Shotai-nomi still managed to not come across as trashy; it wasn't a shifty joint in the lesser-walked streets of Cerulean where thugs brawled for the sake of dick-measuring; this restaurant had existed as long as Celadon City had… a very long time. It has transformed over the years, but if you read the reviews online, only for the better… My mother would argue that the men who fought here were the best of the best, good, strong, real men who knew to only ever let their mons get the first hit in. And the women? Elegant, refined, and from my own perspective just as hungry for a battle.

My mother chose a window seat like always, making sure to give the paparazzi outside the best shot of her in her beautiful, trim kimono, the pale gray color of it offset by the deep fuschia sash around her waist. She made sure to only ever smile, or have a serious expression; she always had to appear put together. Her make-up, consisting of jet-black lipstick with a violet strip in the middle and pale powder applied heavily to her face and neck, gave her face the appearance of a precious porcelain doll. But she was not fragile.

Protecting us at all times, our strongest family Pokemon, a very old massive mamoswine, rested directly outside the window on his haunches, great tearing tusks fully on display as well. There was a crowd around him taking pictures. Siddhai the Mamoswine had won the award for "Kanto's Most Loyal Pokemon" for seventy years straight, and his deep-tan fur displayed that truth for all to see. He had scars all over his trunk-like limbs, and his right tusk was broken in the middle. My mother need only say the word and he would kill for her. He'd killed humans before alongside my grandmother, he was a war veteran, and a hero… and an adorable little pet if the way the kids outside treated him was anything to go by. Siddhai lost the title of 'Loyalest Mon' last year, but he was still very popular with other Kanto people, especially here in Celadon. He basked in the praise that humans buried him in, happy to take pictures, and I couldn't blame him; he needed love, my family was not the kind who showed, or were allowed to show, that sort of affection… unless in hard-won privacy.

Of course, the pictures people took were not for free if they wanted to be next to him. They could take as many as they wanted from afar, but there was a marked radius around his body that we had a right to as donors to this establishment. A parking spot, so to speak. My own bodyguard, Kin, had been assigned to Siddai duty, meaning she had to stand outside all day and collect money from anyone who wanted to take pics with Sidd while we ate, drank, and relaxed. This was her punishment for letting me get away, letting me see Akane… Every now and then she'd turn to glower at me, her eyes simmering from within her dark ninja hood.

I sighed wistfully, turning to peer across the room at anything but her. I couldn't escape my guilt though; because of me she had to stand out in the cold and collect cash from a bunch of people who had no idea the kind of family we really were… I distracted myself with the beauty of this place. The cherry-stained wood bar had a lovely gloss, and there were drinks abound in swirling, intricate glassware. The tables around us housed members of the elite, wonderfully dressed in obi-wrapped kimonos, the all-black wearing backstaff scurrying around like durants, their partner-Pokemon helping ease their labor. They darted, ducked around and under people, an endless tide of dark clothing.

I watched one of the workers trip, slamming into someone else, a woman with bright purple hair and eyes a vivid orange. If I had been the one he crashed into, spilling his jug of water all over me, I wouldn't have minded; as it was, the woman stood at her full height. Behind her, the woman's seviper hissed, baring its teeth in warning. The pathetic worker cowered, ducking his dark-haired head, and as he turned to look around for some kind of help as the woman started to scream at him, I recognized his freckled face… I'd worked my way through the basics of Trainer School with ease… I never expected to see Nato, one of my old buddies from school, again. His spiky brown hair, his vivid blue eyes, were unforgettable, as was his long, freckled face, not quite masculine, not quite girlish, some strange mixture in between.

"I-I'm so sorry!" He cried out again, and seemed to genuinely mean it; I would've given the guy a couple dollars, told him to be more careful, sent him on the way… other people were apparently not so kind, especially not this angry lady. The offended woman made a disgusted noise…

"Sorry?! What good is a sorry?! I need towels to wipe off the clothes that you ruined!"

He'd spilled water , the dress was hardly ruined. I wanted to say that, but when I moved to get up, my mom glowered at me from across the table. "What do you think you're doing?" She whispered, and staring at her, I wondered what exactly I'd planned to do… so, I just said nothing. I forced my eyes away, felt a rush of rage as the rich lady kicked out, sending her heeled foot directly into the worker's chest; the boy fell to the ground on his back, clutching his chest in pain. Nato's partner Pokemon, a raticate, screeched but did not dare interfere.

"Get me a towel! And your manager, immediately!"

"O-Of course! Forgive me!"

The scarlet floor had always come across as tacky to me, but it was supposed to represent the blood on the battlefields that had been spilled in Kanto years ago. Nato's all-black uniform stood out stark against the crimson floor, and many of the other guests laughed as one of the other workers helped Nato up, guiding him back into the kitchen. He was apologizing profusely the entire time. A few minutes later the manager came out, a man with sandy hair cropped close to his head.

"What kind of workers are they hiring here these days? The world is truly falling apart. They'll take just anyone at any establishment…" My mother commented coldly.

Nato, as far as I could remember, had been one of the hardest workers I'd ever met. That a poor kid like him had landed at Shotai-nomi meant a lot… but I had a feeling he wouldn't be employed long. The purple-haired bitch was ranting and raving, and even from here I could tell that she was making it out like Nato had been negligent, uncaring, when in actuality he'd just been working as fast and hard as he could… but it was none of my business. I didn't even know that kid anymore, only recognized him by his wild hair, so I sat out of it… didn't say a word.

"Back in my day, they never would've hired a hooligan like that," Mom commented coolly, and I fought back the urge to roll my eyes, merely picking at my food. Of course, the food was fantastic, but despite the delicious taste it somehow still felt lifeless in my mouth. I could taste the lack of joy in cooking…

As my mom went off about this and that, I pondered what little I knew of Shotai-nomi. The owner of this 170 year old restaurant was an elusive man who's father's father and who's father's father's father, etc, had been part of the military. It was a part of who he was. There were many men like that in prominent positions in Kanto, they'd won all kinds of property rights as soldiers, and their children carried on their militant love, often in politics too.

One of my mother's biggest adversaries was that kind of former-military guy. He was standing across the room with his poliwrath; my mom and him were pretending not to notice each other, yet I could tell that they were both thinking about each other by their body language, slightly facing toward each other, eyes constantly darting over. The tall, pale man with blue hair and dense side-burns was talking loudly, animatedly, with a group of other men. He was one of the only people not dressed traditionally, instead opting out of that for a white-silk shirt revealing his chest, tucked into just as pale hakama pants.

Mother never talked about him; I was only aware that they knew each other because long ago we'd come here with Dad, and that man had been here too; Dad told me something interesting. Back in the day having a rival was something taken very seriously. Blue-Sideburns, as I'd taken to calling him in my head, had been her childhood rival and betrayed her so strongly that she now despised him. Whatever he betrayed her for, well, he was willing to let her go as a friend, rival, everything.

"The audacity to show his face on my son's birthday," I heard my mother mumble to Eri quietly, under her breath. Her bodyguard said nothing, merely kept watch on our surroundings, idly spinning a straw in her mixed drink.

I watched as an old man walked into Shotai-nomi, noticed my mother was here, and then scurried out in a hurry. I recognized him, of course; he owed my mom money, and a lot of it. Eri noticed him too, making a gesture with her hands; two men near the doorway, our men, peeled off after him. He would either pay up… or be found beaten near to death tomorrow. It all made me sick to my stomach.

The waitstaff, the guests, the passerby; they were all hyper aware of my mother's presence, our family's deep wallet, and our great historical dignity. Immense respect was not what these people were giving us however, not in my eyes… it was subservience, submission, because they desired some gain. It had always bothered me that my mother never saw it that way, never cared that there was no real dignity in our interactions with these people, but I wondered vaguely why I had to think so strongly about shit like this when my birthday is supposed to be about me.

The truth: this was the last place I would've picked to go, and I would've chosen to have Kin here, or at least a few of my few friends, but instead it was me, Mother, and her bodyguard. Kin being outside was almost like torture to me, because she was my closest friend… For some reason, I felt empty. I was missing someone.

I stared wistfully at the doorway of the restaurant, hoping upon hope that a familiar crimson-haired figure would somehow show herself, take my hand again, and give me one more chance…

"… You need to get over that girl," Eri interrupted my train of thought, "I can see it on your face. Let the bitch go. Grow up."

"Akane is your enemy…" My mother said. My eyes drifted up, and I met her intense gaze. The pure hatred that simmered there was undeniable. She leaned slightly forward, placed one hand over mine, her fingernails gently brushing my skin. She lovingly touched me, but her words struck me cold, "You'll never see that girl again, I've made sure of it. Eri is right. Let her go. It's in both of your best interests."

"Made sure of it?"

My mother, Asahi Yukihiro, merely smirked. She went back to eating just like that, but I wasn't going to let it drop. "What do you mean by enemy, what are you talking about?"

"You should know that your little childhood friend is involved in so-called revolutionary organizations. I know people all across the region, and beyond. I didn't believe it when my men reported her presence at a meeting for these… disgraceful, gutless traitors-"

"What are you-?!... Revolutionary- I-I don't even know what you mean, Mother."

"You wouldn't know… because you're an ignorant little boy who can't possibly know about the world yet. My son." I was well-aware of the flash of a camera as my mother took both my hands now, staring into my face with some form of maternal affection. A great shot for the papers. "My little boy who she would love to disillusion, and always has… she doesn't love you. I have proof that she doesn't. Proof that she's associating herself with future terrorists, the next Team Rocket."

Eri was boredly picking at a dumpling. Hearing the current topic, her smile was massive. "He won't believe you unless you show him, so why not just show and not tell, Mistress?"

I tried not to clench my fists around my mom's hands, tried not to let my rage show. Akane… What in the world was she involved in? Was that why she wanted to join that stupid flower society, to create some chaos in the old traditional group? Future terrorists, revolutions, Pokemon and humans being together LIKE THAT…

"You're right, Eri. Jinnosuke… forgive me, but… you deserve to see the truth. Show him, Eri. You have my permission."

My mother's ninja bodyguard slid a slim yellow envelope across the table toward me. She giggled softly. "Happy birthday, Jin. For your present… a fresh dose of reality."

Shaking, I took the envelope into my hands. Their keen eyes were shimmering with a kind of malice I couldn't describe. This envelope was the destroyer of worlds, the destroyer of me… but I couldn't turn away from it. I peeled the paper, terrified of what lay within; a few photos fell out, along with a couple documents… but I didn't care about any of the documents, couldn't possibly. Not after what I saw.

"You didn't wonder how I knew she wasn't right for you? There it is. The truth about that little slut, and why I hated her. My precious one, the last of my line, my only child who wasn't a mistake… look at the truth, and free yourself." My mother's voice was silken, trying to appeal to me, but I almost didn't hear her. I was still gazing at the pictures. "She took advantage of you, has always been manipulating you, has never held you in her heart the same way that you regard her. She only wants you to get at me, to destroy a political enemy. Akane is sick, she is a radical pokephile… and so is your big brother, Jin. That's why he left. She corrupted him. She wants to do the same to you."

Perhaps it was true, because in the picture my oldest brother was kissing her. Hitogotchi, it was obvious from the photo, was immensely in love with her. They were at some kind of secret meeting, the photographer had clearly snuck the shot. There were posters and pamphlets scattered about for me to see with phrases like "Break the Chains, Embrace Pokemon's Freedom!" and some more extreme, "Humans for Poke Liberation, setting Pokemon Free, One Trainer at a Time." I knew nothing about "Humans for Poke Liberation", even less about where the fuck my brothers had been the last few years.

'How am I supposed to feel? What do I do?' I felt a mix of anger, betrayal, and confusion swirling within me. I'd just seen her yesterday, and Akane didn't say a word about my oldest brother, Hitogotchi. My heart sank as I realized the depth of the secrets that had been kept from me. The images in my hands told a story of deception and manipulation, tearing apart the bonds of trust that once existed between us. I couldn't help but feel a whirlwind of emotions - anger, betrayal, and a profound sense of loss. The truth had been revealed.

Mother gasped when I stood up, unleashing a sound I didn't know I was capable of, anguished and angry. Before I could stop myself, I suddenly shoved all the plates and silverware from the table, sending food and glass, porcelain bouncing everywhere along with the photos. Heavily breathing, I was so full of rage I couldn't see straight. I could've hated Akane if I let myself, I started to hate her, I could feel the emotions in my mom's eyes toward the girl simmering in the pit of my belly.

Nato came scrambling over, cleaning up my mess. Someone snapped at him to move faster, and his little Raticate's hands darted this way and that to help its trainer. The servant met my eyes, and he picked up the photos I'd tossed away in tan hands, offering them to me; recognition flashed in his eyes, and after handing the pictures over he scampered off. Glancing toward the door, I felt a sudden urge to run away. To sprint far from all of this.

"Sit down boy," Eri hissed.

"How could you do something like that in public?" My mom was horrified, her angry eyes red-hot.

I didn't care about the fucking public seeing me mad! She'd shown it to me, and she expected me to have self-control? I loved Akane. Staring at her kissing my brother, I realized I truly, truly loved her. And shouldn't have. Through the window, Kin was staring over, her mask pulled down. She mouthed simple words to me.

'Calm down. It'll be okay.' … it was her gentle face, her worried expression, that forced all the rage out of me. Suddenly, I wasn't even capable of being mad. All of it just drained out of me, replaced by a sorrow as thick as sap. I sat back down, exhausted, staring blankly at the photos on the floor.

I said nothing for a while. All eyes at Shotai-nomi were on me. "I'm sorry to disgrace you like this in public, Mother. It won't happen again." My words were careful, icy. Mom's anger melted away.

Asahi grabbed my hand again. "It's okay. I understand betrayal from someone that close… my own childhood friend ran me through just as viciously. I didn't want to believe it about Akane either, son, I'm truly sad for you."

I laughed brokenly. "Yes you did, Mom… I'm sure that after seeing this you were the happiest woman in the world. I'd already given her up… I'd already made a vow to fulfill whatever legacy you want me to… but it wasn't enough. Where, when is this from?"

"A few weeks ago. At a secret " Pokemon Liberation " gathering. There's more." The other photos showed evidence of Akane vandalizing property that belonged to the traditionalists, the political sect my mother was part of, setting fire to entire buildings with Flayr the Charmander's help. "I had her arrested this morning. They can't keep her long… they were petty charges, Champion Red secured destruction of certain private property as a genuine right to protest, that traitor… but hopefully she will learn that actions have consequences."

My eyes widened. I realized, then and there, that Mom got Akane locked up today so that under no circumstance would the crimson-haired rebel come to me. I wasn't sure if I was grateful or not.

"I've been keeping watch over my disgraced children for a long time… but-"

Eri spoke up, half-smiling, "Your brother's been fucking Akane for three years, and you had no clue."

"Eri! Enough! He understands." For once, my mother was appalled by her bodyguard's lack of empathy for me, or at least she pretended to be. "You do understand, right Jin? Why you can't ever go back to her? Why can't you let yourself get pulled toward these extremist ideals?" When her hands found me again, her thumbs gently massaged into my skin.

I wondered if my mom was a demon, a true demon. Why did she have to destroy my love for Akane like this? Why on my birthday?

'How can you do this to me, Akane? Why my brother..? How could you look me in the eyes all this time… and not tell me you and my brother… I truly thought that you and I-'

"A man crying. You're pathetic," Eri scoffed. "Your little childhood friend is a pokefucking whore with no loyalty. You should be laughing, you should be joyous."

"You should go fuck yourself Eri!" I snapped. "Fuck this… seriously, I…. I seriously can't be here! I have to go."

"Jin! Don't you dare-"

The last thing I heard was Eri laughing. "Let Jinnosuke go, Asahi. He'll learn. Better be back by 8pm!"


"Your mother is going to destroy you, if you let her. Everything that makes you you will wither away, transform. You'll become a shell of your former self." A strong, steady voice said.

I was rather far outside Shotai, sitting in a park. The cold surface of the park bench pressed up under me. I regretted leaving in the way that I had. Humiliation simmered in my belly, made my face burn, but that was dispelled as a hand pressed onto my right shoulder… spinning, I met the harsh red gaze of Blue-Sideburns, my mother's old rival. At some point, he'd joined me in the park.

"Sorry," He said softly, "don't be scared. I, uh, saw you leave kiddo… and I couldn't help but wonder why… I don't need to know everything to know that Asahi is the same way she always has been. That about right?"

I smiled weakly. "Depends on what you mean by that."

"An anti-Pokemon fascist. A controlling woman who will do anything for the preservation of human power in this society. A cold-hearted evil bitch."

I was suddenly aware that I was sitting next to someone extremely dangerous. "Don't talk about Mother like that."

"I doubt Asahi acts like a mother, but I'll respect your wishes. Forgive my honesty," The man said. He had a broad, chiseled, very serious face. His features weren't the ones common to Kanto, he lacked the narrow eyes and dark skin; instead he was porcelain. He had a matching cerulean goatee that his sideburns flowed down into, and thick, firm lips. His poliwrath stood silently next to us, arms crossed as if his bodyguard. That reminded me… Somewhere, Kin was watching me, or Eri.

I had no doubt about that… so I talked cautiously. "You know we're not alone right now, right? Watch yourself."

"With that woman as your mother alone is a concept you should forget entirely."

"Tch. Not wrong about that… What do you want from me?"

"What do I want?" Sideburns sat back, crossed his legs, and sighed. He was very tall, very muscular, above average in weight and build. His silken white clothes looked beyond comfortable compared to my own stiff attire. "I want you to free yourself, the same way your brothers did. The same way your father did."

"...My father?" I started to stand up, but his hand grabbed my arm.

"I don't know what you saw, but I saw how you reacted. Don't believe everything you see, hear… don't believe it just because it's easier that way, more relieving. You're of age now… you have the right to know the truth about the world, she wants to hide it. I won't let her."

His vague, but harsh, almost threatening language, put me off. There were goose-pimples on my skin, and he did not stop gripping my arm. He offered me a slow, lazy smile, crimson eyes ablaze. "How did your father die, boy? And why? Why did your brothers leave?"

I forced his hand off of me. "He was sick! I-I don't know you, and I don't get what you're trying to say!"

"Your father didn't agree with Asahi on everything."

I started to retreat from him, disturbed. He smirked, standing and stuffing his hands in the pockets of his porcelain hakama pants. "You can turn away, if you'd like. But if you're ever interested in liberation seek me out, just like Akane did, and your brothers… My name is Iota Vastlione. Here… this is my card. Reach out when you're ready."

As I walked off, Iota's voice came peeling after me. "Everyone deserves salvation, boy! Everyone! If you choose your mother's path, you'll share her fate. Take this opportunity because the time for change is soon!"


For the next few hours I did whatever the fuck I wanted. Which wasn't much. I played arcade games at the local game shop, bought some snacks, and walked around Celadon; as 8pm approached I felt the irresistible pull of my responsibilities. I was to meet my fiance, Lady Setsuna, tonight… I didn't want to, not really, but my feet pulled me back to Shotai-nomi. Duty-bound, I didn't say a word as I nodded at the bouncer and re-entered the establishment, taking my place at the table with my mother and her bodyguard.

"Good boy," Eri smiled pleasantly, "a real man faces responsibility."

Asahi Yukihiro was less pleased. "Where did you go?"

"I'm sure Kin will tell you later… don't I have some woman to meet?"

"Jin! Why are you talking like that? So coldly…"

But I didn't have the energy to be gentle with the Yukihiro Matron right now. "Can we get this over with? Are we meeting her somewhere, is she coming here? You told me 8, here I am, can we go now?" I was incredibly impatient, and they could see it. I wanted to get out of here, I truly hated Shotai-nomi, and all the people here.

The two older women glanced at each other, and Mom frowned. "She is going to meet us at our household after we finish here along with her relatives, as is proper… and tomorrow you will become hers in marriage."

"Cool. Sounds like I don't need to be here, then, guess I'll just head home."

"This was supposed to be your last day with your mother, you should be ashamed. Your behavior is disgusting," Eri retorted, and for the first time, I truly wanted to make her suffer. She was a bitch, a true bitch. Couldn't she see that I was in pain? That I was angry, yes, but also just… sad.

"I just don't have it in me to perform the necessary way in public. I can't disgrace us anymore than I already have. My emotions are… they're getting the best of me. Forgive me…"

My mother stuck her nose up, but nodded slightly, giving me permission to leave without a word. She was infuriated, I could tell, she would never forget that I'd chosen to walk off and be alone instead of spending our "last day" together.

"Goodbye." I was far more polite as I left this time. On my way out, Iota was walking back in. He had a woman on his arm now, a beautiful one, with long flowing orange hair and eyes the color of a sea. The Blue-haired man smiled.

"See ya. Stay safe, kid. Don't forget my card."