Alola my awesome readers! I'm actually quite surprised that this update came out right around my usual biweekly interval! I particularly love this little section of the story since it's where stuff really kicks off.
Originally there was supposed to be a lot more that happens in this chapter including stuff for the Hano Grand Resort and the Aether Foundation. When I was done with what you see here, it's already the regular length of an average chapter...maybe more actually. I don't know.
Either way, the Hano Grand Resort and Aether Foundation stuff has been pushed back for the next update. And why not have a little more time to add stuff in there that makes it even better right?
And now here we are. Be ready for a sappy chapter full of angst, family and a lot of shippy moments...right after Valentine's Day. :P
It's strange how things change.
I didn't really know what to expect from Leilani when I first met her. She was nice and all, but I never thought we would get along.
Turns out it was not as bad as I was expecting. She's an incredibly sweet person and it has been so cute in seeing how much Hau likes her. It's almost like watching two best friends fall in love without them knowing it.
And now she's fighting for her life. I never knew something like this could hit so close to home.
Either way, I saw Mister Brawly at the hospital here and he doesn't look too excited. Is she disqualified? Will she even heal in time to go wherever the next spot is?
Professor Kukui told me that the heat wave is finally going away! What a relief! Now I won't sweat so much anymore! He also said that Mister Faba is coming to the Hano Grand Resort to take Elio and Hau to the Aether Paradise. I wish I could go, but…I can't. I can't let him or Mother get their hands on Nebby again.
And why does Hau not seem like himself?
Leilani was falling.
The abyss stretched beneath her, swallowing anything within its pitch black void pull. Continuing her descent, she could only look with her arms outstretched and elbows bent as if free skydiving.
Wind rushed violently against her cheeks and she felt like her hair was going to rip out of her scalp. She tried to say anything, shout, scream...however her voice never spoke no matter how hard she tried.
A light suddenly spawned from the bottom, glowing brighter as she fell closer. She reached out, at least tried in an attempt to touch it, however her limbs never moved and mouth couldn't muster the strength to speak.
As she came closer, she could see the light wasn't just a single one. It was a rainbow of colors that almost felt as if they were eyes.
And then the body materialized. It had long limbs in perfect lines that moved sporadically. She barely saw the thing's outline of a ebony obsidian that glistened off the soft glow.
Something about this radiated an aura made of pure evil.
She felt fear icily grip her veins even as she free fell towards the pit of this thing's resting place.
The sky began to brighten before a loud clap exploded into a flash of radiant light. Leilani could see the thing fully now.
It was a creature, but unlike anything she had ever seen before. All of its body looked like an shadowed crystalline prism, with jagged spikes and spines lining on its entire body. The arms were wire thin, fattening out into obelisk gauntlets and razor sharp claws that looked as if they could literally split air. The entirety of its body was large in proportion to the much smaller legs, which almost looked as if they would fail to carry all of its immense weight.
The "head" of the creature turned up, gazing up at her with no visible sign of its soulless eyes. If there was such a thing, its face was a long white strip softly glowing triangular shapes in a rainbow of colors scattered randomly about.
It reached up.
Leilani still couldn't move in falling. She was completely defenseless.
The obsidian hand passed her and she finally turned her head to glance at a truly horrifying sight.
Four digits of ebony fingers stretched up towards the vast expanse of the brightness. As the longest finger barely touched its wispy surface, tendrils of black shadowy webs shot across in a nexus of fragments. It was as if the touch poisoned and tainted the light surface's purity.
Four sparks lashed out from the depths of the light, one of each color; yellow, pink, red and purple. They sped downwards on passing the shadows and attacking the obelisk-like beast. It snarled in response, swiping at the darting flicks as if they were gnats refusing to leave its head.
The creature seemed to have enough of its annoyances before it crossed its arms and unleashed four blasts of perfectly aimed laser beams that intercepted and snuffed out all four of the sparks. They lazily sputtered as if clinging to the last bit of life as the long arms gathered them all in its palm, bringing them together .
Leilani could see its eyes glow with a sort of wicked glee, as if wanting to devour and drown out the annoyances.
Its hands closed together, ready to squish the four sparks.
Only for them to shoot out from in between its fingers at the last possible moment, rocketing back upwards into the light to disappear. The creature snarled in frustration; an eerie earsplitting sound that resonated like machinery at its failure.
The Leilani saw it.
Another translucent being descended from above the light, gliding down with its arms and legs outstretched in a star formation to greet the shadowy being. Sensing the new presence in its domain; it shifted to face the new threat, as the four dimly lit sparks converged towards the arms.
They swirled together, forming a solid ring of light around the figure's wrist. She could now see its head slowly rise up before it opened two glowing white eyes. It spread its arms apart and focused them together again; unleashing a torrent of blue-yellow light.
The shadowed entity raised its own hands, shooting blackish lasers to intercept.
The two attacks rapidly approached one another, radiating unfathomable power. Leilani couldn't find it in herself to look away, just shuddering at the catalyst that would soon come to pass.
The aftermath of the "incident" was colorful to say the least.
Media were still peppering the Surf Association with questions that couldn't be answered. As the hours passed with no further news of Leilani's condition, people began to fear for the worst.
The intense heat from the wave was beginning to die out, much to a relief of Alola. Temperatures were still quite hot, however it gave the region a chance to breathe and return back to normal. The kahunas and weather station in Hau'oli City had dropped the risk of a Heat Alert, allowing activity to resume. The forecast was projecting it to end in the beginning of the next day.
Leilani was moved as soon as possible to the Heahea City General Hospital right in the heart of the locale's downtown. The EMTs had whisked her straight up to intensive care where nurses and ER doctors were more than ready with equipment.
That was six hours ago. The sun had already taken its leave from the sky and the streets were already packed with cars and ride pokemon as people left their places of employment to head home for the day.
All Elio could do was follow Lillie, Hau and Makoa into the waiting room and…wait.
The boy stared at his arms as if they were alien in origin as his mind swirled with the magnitude of his actions.
He remembered hearing his own heartbeat ringing in his ears to cancel out all other sound as he leaned down, covering Leilani's cold, salty mouth with his own warm lips. Deadly looking venom that dripped out from the cut in her left thigh.
The surfer's life was in his hands and he kept his head down, staring at the purple and white pattern on the room's carpet.
What if he failed? What if neither of them had gotten to her in time?
All over the news and television, the incident was competing for the top headlines of the current events. All titled about the monster tentacruel attacking unprovoked the highly touted surfer that Alola prided itself on. Alola's sweetheart was what she was affectionately called.
Theories were everywhere from foul play to the wrong place…at the wrong time.
Elio wasn't sure to believe and he knew that trying to find the motive now would likely turn up empty.
Professor Kukui and Burnet showed up after they had sat in the waiting room for at least a couple of hours. They had brought sandwiches and chili from the popular Cutter's chain for everyone, but nobody was in much of a mood to eat. Lillie took a couple bites of her own wrap before she stuffed it back into the sack, insisting that the professors take it back to the apartment to eat for later.
Neither Elio nor Hau had taken a bite of their food and it quickly got cold. They didn't even bother to acknowledge the blonde when she wrapped it away.
"I feel so awful." She whispered while sitting in the chair between Burnet and Kukui. Looking over at the boys, Lillie wished she could do something to brighten up the mood. However nothing came to mind. They were hanging onto a thin thread of hope that Leilani would come out of this unscathed…if she came out of it at all.
"I know." Professor Kukui also had his own head bowed down and eyes closed. "It's such a hard feeling."
"Being powerless." Lillie whispered. Looking over at Nebby, who had nestled along with several of the boy's pokemon in the corner for a nap. "I've felt powerless before. But I want to help!"
"That's very admirable of you." Burnet spoke quietly so she didn't disturb the others. "But it's out of our hands. The only thing we can do is wait and see what the doctors will do. Believe me when I say they don't accept defeat."
"Elio looked so bad."
"He's been an influence on you. Hmm?" The woman leaned forward, putting a hand over Lillie's back. She couldn't help but nod and agree.
"I knew there was something up when you spoke so admirably about him. Almost reminds me of myself after I met Emilio."
"Really?"
Burnet nodded, leaning across to give her husband a gentle kiss on the forehead. "Yes. Back when the two of us were just friends…I introduced him to some of my college roommates who immediately took a liking and even secretly made bets that we would one day be married. How crazy to think they were right." She sighed. "It was just the way I loved his spirit and presence. He would always turn a head whether it was because of his charming good looks…or his one-of-a-kind personality. I can see almost the same thing with the two of you."
Lillie wasn't sure why, but her pale skin did little to hide the growing rosy blush tinting her cheeks.
Me and Elio? Married eventually? What if Kukui and Burnet already made that same bet? Could I see myself being married to him for the rest of my life?
"But the thing is that, I've had some harder moments too. Where times get tough and frustrating. That's when Emilio was there to rub my back, take care of me and give a shoulder to cry on."
She leaned forward, looking over at Elio sitting a few chairs down. "Go and be that person for him. It's times like this where someone needs a shoulder the most."
Lillie nodded. "Okay. I'll try."
Both of them must be going through a hard time right now. I didn't even do anything to help and even I feel bad.
She stood up, wondering if a simple talk would get Elio to open up about everything.
It's the least I could do as a friend.
"Elio?" She cautiously approached him from the side. By now, Hau had finally perked his own head up, mustering enough strength to make his way right over to the television and flip it on. The first channel was already covering the surfing incident with a reporter already on scene, having probably been there already to cover the event.
He paused, finally tilting his own head up and glancing her way.
She nearly froze at the weight from his drilling stare. His normally cheerful eyes seemed icy cold and distant and his mouth often possessed a quick smile was now pressed in a thin line that wasn't showing if he was happy or sad.
"Hey." He whispered. She thought she could see a smile flicker across his handsome features and it filled her heart with hope that it did.
"I thought you might want some company. Or maybe someone to talk about everything." She sat next to him, putting her hand on his shoulder.
I still can't believe how big and broad his shoulders are. If this was any other time…I'd just want to…touch them all day long.
Dare I say I want to see him shirtless again? I sort of found that…kind of attractive.
"Thanks." Her eyes full of concern, leaned closer. "It's nuts how much stuff flies through your mind when you're trying to keep a person alive. I didn't know what else to do…but I wasn't going to just stand by if it meant I could make a difference."
"You've saved two lives today." She pointed out. "Meghan's baby and Leilani. I'm just…so amazed that you knew exactly what to do in both those situations. Who…who taught you to do those things?"
Elio's eyes darkened. "My father." His lips parted in a humorless chuckle. "Yeah. My scumbag of a father taught me a lot of emergency preparedness stuff. Always said that it's one of the most useful skills to have. CPR especially."
"CPR?"
"Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. What I did to Leilani."
"I felt so bad."
"I felt so exhausted." Elio said. "It just had to be done."
"She'll get better."
"Will she?"
Lillie didn't have an answer. None of them did.
"Elio, you got points for bravery so many times with what you did today. I wish I was half as brave as you."
"You already are." She looked up in surprise at that.
"Yeah." He went on. "When we were at the store and I ran out to confront Adam about trying to steal the ice and we came back, you did exactly what I told, even though most other people would balk away from something like that. Then you went to meet the EMTs, leading them here right away. With those crowds at the beaches, it could've taken them ten minutes or even more to find us. You played a part in getting her this far too, whether you like it or not."
Lillie was surprised at how much he was praising her, even though she had hardly done anything. The way he had worded it suggested that she played the most crucial parts of both when he had done the heroics himself.
"You're an amazing person. No matter what people say or where you came from. You know what…you're just like that knight in shiny armor I used to read about in books who slays dragons, helps those in need and all while saving the beautiful princess."
"And you would be the princess?" A smirk tugged at Elio's mouth.
Lillie couldn't help the teasing giggle.
"Nah, I'm more like the wisecracking renegade who will irritate his foes with words and then dupe them with tricks. Then I rescue the princess, arguing with her all the way back to the castle where I go to expect a huge amount of gold and on my way."
"Stop that." She playfully pushed his shoulder. "I can't dream right?"
"Okay, I'll let you dream. Only if it's about me."
I dream about you a lot more than you think.
"Hey Lillie."
"Yeah?"
Elio gently moved her hands so that both of them rested on his shoulders. He leaned his head forward, gently touching their foreheads together. The exchange of honi seemed to erase the stress of the recent events as his own hands found themselves wrapped around her waist. Eyes closed, there were two distinct tones humming softly as they savoring the tender moment.
Neither of them noticed Kukui and Burnet watching them with unsurprised expressions.
He initiated leaning away, reluctantly at first, but he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. His eyes drifted down to her shapely body that looked even more amazing with a t-shirt.
I want to see her in that white bikini again.
"I want to thank you." Elio forced himself to banish that thought yet again from his perverted mind. He had to say something.
At first, the panic from nearly losing a friend gave way to a boiling anger at the authorities for not responding timely. He was pretty sure she could've died if left out there within several minutes.
But looking at Lillie, seeing her…her beautiful face, with eyes full of concern seemed to quench the rage fires that blazed in his own heart. He couldn't find a reason to further be angry; not with someone like her around.
"Thank me?"
"Yes. You've done so much for me…more than I've realized. You're…my right arm. My rock."
"I…I."
"There's no use denying it because I'm not taking no for an answer."
"Elio." She reached up, cupping the side of his cheek and tracing her fingers along his jaw. He had closed his own eyes, savoring the contact.
He began to lean forward, centering his trajectory on her lips as his own drew closer.
Is he going to?
Mere moments before anything else could happen, they heard the door to the medical offices unlock and quickly pulled away in embarrassment that they'd be caught doing something they shouldn't. Lillie felt her own heart drop inside her stomach, feeling disappointed at such an interruption.
Was Elio going to kiss me?
He averted his own eyes, still holding her close in his arms as they looked at the new presence in the room.
A man with a white lab coat and nametag of a doctor stepped in. He had a graying hairline going in a full retreat with well-maintained and groomed appearance that betrayed his older age. A pair of weathered hands were together and Elio couldn't really pin down whether the expression on his face was optimistic or grim. As if sensing the inevitable; the rest in the lobby had stood up as well to await the news. If he had to guess, the man appeared to have mostly Unovan features.
"Family of Leilani Taula?" He asked in a deeper masculine voice. Still there was little inflection of emotion.
"I'm her father." Makoa stepped forward. His eyes widened with anticipation. "These are her friends."
The ER doctor nodded, forgoing the rest of the introduction formalities and breaking the news straightaway, which was typical for such a position. "I'm Doctor Luther Hansen."
He launched straight into his report. "Leilani is currently out of the surgery ward and in recovery, but still in critical condition. The tentacruel attack had punctured her left thigh and she did receive a significant dosage of its venom that pierced her skin and entered her bloodstream."
Elio's breath stopped short.
"Now from what I understood, she had been pulled into the water after the attack and she has severe inflammation in both her lungs, augmented by the overabundance of salt in ocean water. They had spasms in water after not receiving oxygen for a long period. Much of it has been extracted, but we are still monitoring her breathing in case it acts up again."
"The venom." Makoa said. "It can cause heart attacks if it reaches the heart."
Doctor Hansen nodded. "No traces of it appear to have left her leg to other parts of her body. It was incredible. We also ran an X-Ray and MRI, finding out that she had a fractured sternum caused by a caving of the ribs when cardiopulmonary resuscitation had been applied. We managed to resume its normal heart rate and stabilize it."
Elio's own heart soared with hope and he suddenly felt incredible that he had done something right.
He turned right to him. "I hear you are the one who performed CPR on Miss Taula?"
Immediately all eyes fell on him and he almost shrunk back. Lillie sensed her friend's discomfort and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
Sun felt his mouth go dry, but he willed himself to be brave at being the center of attention. "Yes sir. After I found no other resources or means to help; Hau and I administered CPR on her until the EMTs had arrived."
He saw a spark flicker behind Hansen's blue eyes. "That's quite impressive. Whoever trained you on that did it well."
"Can we see her?" Makoa asked.
"Of course. She is still sedated and will likely wake up around midday tomorrow."
"Thank you Doctor." He said breathlessly.
"You should thank her two friends for everything. I wouldn't have had anything to work with had it not been for them."
Doctor Hansen motioned for a nurse to escort them to Leilani's room before insisting he would be back the next day to see her off if everything progressed as intended.
Elio kept a slight pace behind Makoa and Hau as Lillie stuck to his own side. Professor Kukui and Burnet had already stated they were going to see her briefly and make sleeping arrangements for Lillie and the boys at her apartment.
The nurse led them past several closed rooms until she stopped at number fifteen.
"If any of you need anything, Madison and I are here for the night shift. Doctor Hansen will be back tomorrow, but Doctor Austin is here. Come and get us."
The group murmured their thanks as she took her leave before opening the door quietly out of courtesy rather than waking her up.
Leilani lay in the wide hospital bed with her eyes closed and chest rising and falling peacefully.
It hit Elio like a sledgehammer at how helpless she looked. A breathing tube was stuck in her mouth similar to an athlete's with the rest going over the side to the ventilator. Beside an IV bag, he could also see a second smaller one that had a few drops of an ominous yellowish liquid. The red biohazard symbol was enough to tell him that it was what venom had been extracted.
Hau looked completely crushed while Makoa seemed more relieved.
Either way, it was hard seeing their friend like this.
"She'll be okay." Hau said quietly, almost as if he was telling that to himself. "She will."
Elio had a rather fitful sleep, even though Professor Burnet had fashioned what she could out of her comfortable front couch.
Despite Lillie's consoling yesterday, he was tormented with the evasion of rest since much of his body was still wearing off the shock and adrenaline.
Willing his body to fall asleep was useless until it finally did at two thirty in the morning. He didn't awaken until it was almost eleven. However it was interrupted by the catchy ringtone on his phone.
"Ugh." Grumbling as if he experienced a hangover, his hand groped the nightstand, trying to find the annoying device.
His fingers brushed the front screen and brought it up to his eyes, seeing a picture of his mother's smiling face which was an indication of whom was calling.
"Hi Mom." He said, trying to push the tiredness out of his voice.
"Elio." His mother had that stern edge to her voice that pierced the airways like a knife.
He knew he was in deep trouble.
"I just saw the news. Your face is all over it."
"What?"
"Oh you didn't know?" Elaine questioned. "Really? You do something like that and not even tell your own mother?!"
"Mom?" That particular despairing sensation began to resettle in Elio's stomach. He was sleeping in Burnet's living room, so he grabbed the remote, turning her older television on and flipping through the channels finally coming to the News Network of Alola.
"Authorities are still investigating the lack of rescue personnel on station during the incident at the Kumu Reef Triple Crown Surfing Tournament yesterday. A massive tentacruel attacked competitor Leilani Taula during the final heat of her performance. Leilani had disappeared in the attack and had not been seen for almost five minutes."
The anchors went back to a reporter standing on the grounds of the Hano Grand Resort. Elio recognized her again, Jessie.
"Right on this beach, thousands stood in complete disbelief. The Surf Association has never lost a surfer to unprovoked pokemon attacks, but that reality almost came true yesterday. Witnesses said that nobody was willing to go to her rescue, no lifeguards, no fellow surfers. Until two young men and a group of their pokemon had dashed straight into the surf. The massive tentacruel confronted them and the two trainers battled and fended it off while pulling Leilani out from underwater. Her surfboard's leash had snagged on rocks when she had been dragged under and she was unable to remove it before losing consciousness. The two trainers even had their pokemon battle the beast as they rode a ride lapras to shore."
Elio could still hear his own mother talking in his phone, but kept his eyes on the television as it played the final moments of the battle against the monster while riding the wave to shore. There were screams of onlookers and exclamations of what was happening, but the footage was so distorted with the camera phone shaking that it was impossible to tell.
Is this camera guy treating it like it's a rattle or something?
"Oh my gosh!"
"Did you see that?"
At that moment, he could make out Nani uncoiling her serpentine form and unleashing a devastating dragon pulse at the tentacruel. Three booming explosions rang out, bringing a fresh wave of gasps and shrieks.
Jessie pulled the footage away and walked down one of the promenades by the beach.
"The two trainers have been identified as Elio Northstar, an island challenger that had completed the Mauna Wela trial just weeks ago and Hau Kealoha, the grandson of the kahuna of Melemele Island. Kahuna Hala has stated that Leilani and the two boys were close friends and that their acts were of no surprise. Elio has even been stated by him as encountering the guardian deity Tapu Koko of Melemele Island early in his travels as the waeia kekahi."
"Mom…I."
Elaine wasn't having any of it. "I'm speechless right now. What you did was incredibly dangerous."
Elio felt anger erupt within him. He had never seriously lashed out at his mother for anything, but here he was willing to defend his own actions, fully convincing himself he was righteous and only trying to help.
"Mom, I thought it's us as a family to help anyone we can." He quickly felt the stress building up. "Nobody was out there to help. No lifeguards, no rescue people. What am I supposed to do sit out there and do nothing? People's worlds could've been destroyed. Mine partially. Leilani is my friend and I'm not going to stand by while there was still a chance to save her. I understand you weren't happy with me and Hau putting our lives at risk…but I'm adamant I made the right choice. I'm ready to accept whatever to have to say."
For what seemed like an eternity, he heard no response. And then there was a muffled sound from the other end.
Almost like a sniffle.
Elio's heart stopped and his defiance quickly gave way to regret. Did I just make my own mother cry?
"Mom, I'm sorry."
Another sniffle. He wasn't just imagining things.
"I'm so proud of you."
What?!
"Mom?"
"Elio, you are becoming so much more of a man every time I see and talk to you. It makes me happy to hear you become more and more confident and assertive with your decisions."
Hold up, I thought I was getting chewed out here.
"I didn't know what to say or think that entire time." Elio quietly confessed. "I saw that thing attack her and I just acted."
"You did the right thing." His mother assured him. "That was the right thing to do and I'm glad you took that initiative. You're right in that she may not have had the same fighting chance if nobody did anything."
"I'm sorry if I scared you."
"I was so scared. I could've lost my own whole world."
Please not now! Her words began to bring tears to his eyes.
"It's my job as a mother to worry about you. I think about you every minute of every day and wonder if you're alright. No matter how much I try and think about it; you're just a pokemon trainer on a journey…just like I was. I can't help but miss you all the time. That's all."
"Mom...thank you."
"K'ou wahi anela. That's what you are." Elio's mouth curled up in a smile at hearing the Alolan term for the nickname she had often given him.
"You be safe out there okay. You're my hero, day in and day out."
"I'll be safe Mom. No more risks."
"I know. And tell Hau the same. His grandfather was very worried about both of you too."
Leilani's face stirred as Elio and Lillie were entering her ward again. At her side was Hau and Makoa, silently sitting and waiting for the same opportune time she would awaken.
Even though the heat from the wave had cooled off, Elio borrowed a hoodie from Professor Burnet to use while they walked to Heahea General Hospital. News broke out of their heroics overnight practically all around the world about the two boys who fearlessly dove into the choppy waters to save a girl. Clips of their battle and frantic practice of performing CPR had surfaced all over news stations, Festival Plaza and PokeTube.
Elio thought it was pretty cool to be famous, but the actions he had done for that status had been out of necessity. He wasn't seeking out the spotlight.
Even if he was being paranoid, he kept a low profile and tried to be as incognito as possible. They had set out when traffic was among the lowest and kept to a less traveled route. It took them a little longer to reach the medical facility after a stop at a grocery store for a small breakfast, but nobody was fawning or gushing. He didn't even get a second glance to his knowledge from anyone. They kept to their own business which both teens appreciated.
Hau had left Burnet's apartment even earlier in the morning to see Leilani, which was an oddity considering that he often woke up late for things. Elio saw his hand down in his lap, cradling hers.
Makoa's head leaned against the wall and he stirred when Lillie opened the door. Elio realized he was asleep.
"Hey. We brought breakfast since you both were already here." They had both perked up at the mention of food while he walked over to place a bag of takeout from Tanaka's. "She waking up?"
"I think so." Hau rasped. "The doctors said the sedative was starting to wear off."
It crushed him to see how devastated his best friend looked. Hau's long hair had that greasy appearance as if he hadn't showered. His eyes were sunken and there were wrinkles just underneath his eyelids. His movements were sluggish; as if a zombie trying to revive itself.
Hau must've had just as bad of a night as me.
He crossed over to his best friend, who didn't even look up at his approach.
Geez.
"You hungry?"
Hau shook his head.
It's strange seeing him not cheerful. Unsettling even.
"Have you eaten since yesterday?"
Another head shake.
"I think you should." Lillie agreed with Sun, holding out one of the bags from Tanaka's. "We got some fresh malasadas."
Elio held it open for Hau to see the confections, still feeling the heat coming from inside. "Hurry and eat them before they get cold."
"I'm actually hungry." Makoa said, grabbing one of the bags. "Better eat outside. Nurses can throw fits if someone eats in the same room as a patient."
Leilani's father was already having the appetite getting the best of him, but he was already out the door, nibbling on a malasada and heading straight for the coffee vending machine.
"Come on Hau." Elio put a hand on his shoulder. "Lillie and I will keep her company."
"You promise?" Hau broke his silence rather abruptly and glanced somberly up at his best friend.
"Promise?"
"Promise you'll tell me first if she wakes up?"
Of course I will.
"Yeah. I promise you."
"Actually Elio, I think I'll go and eat with Hau." Lillie said, standing up. As he slipped by her, grabbing the bag and walking out the door, she leaned back down to whisper in his ear.
"I have to make sure he actually eats. Plus I think Nebby is hungry too."
"Pretty sure malasadas will wake his stomach up." Elio joked, causing the blonde to giggle. "That's fine. I'll text him if anything happens."
As she left the door; Elio reached over and took Leilani's hand in both his. It had that similar warmth when she had hugged him several times already, but it was limp and unresponsive.
It didn't seem to matter that she was just in an enormous traumatic ordeal…her skin remained as soft and heavenly smooth as ever.
"Leilani." He began, not even sure she was going to hear him. "I didn't know what to expect when we first met after I moved here. Things were so unfamiliar and I kind of came from a bad situation in Kanto. Hearing the things about Alola…I hated this place to start."
A humorless laugh, more aimed at himself followed. "But you, Lillie, Hau, Professor Kukui and a ton of other people showed me that it doesn't matter my background or a haole. You showed me the spirit of the islands and how passionate you were about surfing."
"You're someone who lives life on the edge…to the fullest."
Elio turned her hand around in his palms. "I was so scared…we'd lose you. Hau was so scared…he was the one who convinced me to go out to sea to look around…I didn't even want to. Now I feel like an idiot for thinking that."
His thoughts drifted to his best friend and how he was worried sick for her. "Hau though. He saved your life. He persisted to think you were still out there, fighting. I'm…sorry for not thinking the same and giving up so easily."
Was that a twitching of her eyelid? Could she be hearing anything he said? It didn't matter; he was going to say it regardless.
"Hau cares a lot about you Leilani. He's liked you for a long time, probably before I even got here. Heh…I'd even go as far to say in love. So you better wake up from this and come back strong. I didn't pull you out of the drink just for you to go like this. And I'll be damned if Hau doesn't get an opportunity to tell you that you're the one he loves so much. The way he talks about you all the time is so fluffy and gooey that it makes me extremely happy. I didn't think he could get any happier as a trainer, but with you? His positivity is so infectious that it hurts seeing him like this!"
Elio wasn't sure if anyone was watching, but he got up, leaning close and gently putting his forehead against hers. He felt her breath go unchanged from the contact, but knew that this was the way to exchange the breath of life between individuals.
"You're strong. You made it through that and you'll make it through this."
Hau, Makoa and Lillie returned almost an hour later when the clock hit noon. It was almost right on the dot when Leilani weakly opened her eyes.
Elio saw her first; gently squeezing her hand and motioning to the others as she finally began to awake from the effects of the anesthetic.
"Hi there, my heavenly star." Makoa used her name's meaning which actually brought her lips upward in a smile as she still tried to get her bearings. "You've been out for a while."
"Wha-" Leilani tried to question, but she found her throat parched like sandpaper. All that came out was a muted croak. The breathing tube hindered part of her speech, so she pulled it out, letting it dangle at her bedside.
"Here." Lillie was quick to act, grabbing a cup and pouring some water from her bottle. She handed it to Makoa, who gently tilted it. She sipped slowly as he fed her the rest and gave her a moment to catch her breath.
"Thank you Lillie." The blonde smiled and nodded at the sign of appreciation. She then looked over at her father. "What…happened?"
"You were attacked." He said quietly. "A tentacruel just came out from the wave."
"And?"
This is the hardest part of telling what happened to someone who has no idea.
"It stung you and you fell underwater. Elio and Hau ran out to sea to get you."
Elio wasn't sure if he was going to go into specifics of the CPR. He had put his mouth over hers and touched her in a place…where no man should without proper consent.
Stop it. You saved her life. You're not a pervert.
That was right at the time where Leilani had felt a sharp pain right at the center of her chest. She winced, clenching her teeth together and arching her body, rolling her head back onto her pillow.
"What…it hurts."
Better just come clean.
"Leilani." Elio began, catching the girl's attention. "You weren't breathing or conscious when I used Hana to bring you back to shore." He held up his hands. "I…happen to know CPR, so Hau and I administered that to you to keep you alive while the paramedics got to the beach."
She wrinkled her forehead in confusion before it dawned on her. "So?"
He nodded. "While doing that, I cracked your sternum. It often happens when CPR is being applied."
"How long?"
"Your sternum will fully heal within five to six weeks." Doctor Hansen said as he strode through the door with a clipboard and took off the stethoscope around his neck. "Glad to see you're finally awake Leilani. I'm Doctor Luther Hansen, I was in charge of your operation and recovery."
"I…hello Doctor."
"Hello." He allowed himself an easygoing grin. "You're definitely lucky to have such loyal friends who stuck by your side during the whole thing in Elio and Hau."
She stopped, glancing over at Elio and then Hau, her gaze lingering on the kahuna's grandson before looking shamefully away.
"You've got a visitor as well, so I'll let him in after I'm done here."
Doctor Hansen checked her breathing on her back with the stethoscope before nodding with satisfaction and jotting down notes on his clipboard. He ran a few more simple tests and judging by his pleased behavior, things were looking optimistic.
"Everything checks out to my optimal satisfaction, you are clinically recovered enough to be discharged from the hospital, but I need to discuss some things with you."
"Okay?" Leilani had agreed, but Elio caught her tone in that she did not like where this was going.
"You suffered a significant sting on your left thigh from the tentacruel that attacked you." Hansen began. "Tentacruel stings can range from being mild to deadly and it's been nothing short of tapu intervention you survived the dosage you received."
Leilani remained silent, but Makoa had let his head down again, trying to process everything.
"We've managed to extract nearly the entirety of the venom injection from your body, however there are going to be some aftereffects."
"How long?" She asked breathlessly.
"I do not know." Doctor Hansen shook his head and took a set by her bedside. He sized her up behind his glasses and took another deep breath. "Some victims have scars that heal in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I think yours is going to last significantly longer."
"My leg hurts." Leilani said. "I know I can't walk right away."
"That's right. The venom is a neurotoxin that can disrupt the nerves inside your leg muscles, causing them to be contracted and cramp up. The majority of it will wear off within a few days and I'll set you up with some sessions with a therapist so you can practice walking again." He raised a curious eyebrow on her rather surprised and horrified face. "Trust me. Learning to walk again after being stung by a tentacruel is not easy. I've treated dozens of victims like yourself."
"So you're saying?"
Doctor Hansen knew that the revelation was coming and he did feel pained to tell her. Fortunately, he didn't have to.
Leilani's eyes widened at the new person who had walked in, she recognized the silvery blue hair and the brawny frame anywhere. "Brawly."
The former surfing legend gave her a thin smile. "Hello Leilani. Glad to see you are recovering."
"As soon as I can walk again, I'm going out there. I can still catch up." She declared, looking at him dead in the eye.
"But you can't." Hau revealed. "They won't let you."
"What do you mean?"
"There's no easy way to say this." Brawly started. "But with your long recovery ahead, I'm afraid we are going have to disqualify you for the Apex Championship title."
Elio was pretty sure she would've fainted had nobody else been there.
"What? What do you mean?" She looked at them in disbelief.
"Your recovery." Doctor Hansen said. "The tentacruel venom's lasting effects include intensive pain and involuntary muscle spasms and weakness in your leg. While you may be clear to be discharged from the hospital, which we will do later today, you are not medically cleared to resume your physical activity until the therapist and I both are satisfied with your recovery."
"Weakness?"
"Imagine walking and suddenly your leg stops responding to your brain signals. The venom acts as an inhibitor to the neurons in your muscles, canceling them out. You could buckle and collapse on that leg with little to no warning."
"You're saying I can't walk?"
"You'll be able to walk again within a week. I estimate the inhibitor phase to last somewhere within three to four weeks, but not for now. The venom may be gone, but you will need to deal with its lingering aftereffects." The doctor pointed down to her leg. "You probably haven't felt much since you woke up. We've put an antivenom injector band on your thigh with a strong cocktail drug to mitigate your stinging pain."
Leilani pulled back the blanket over her legs, finally revealing to her and everyone else the device affixed to her left leg.
It was smooth and glossy black, with delta striations fanning out from a circular button. There was a small reservoir located beside it on the edge, filled with a clear gel liquid.
"Press that button and the injector will release the cocktail to suppress the pain. I'll prescribe you with three months' worth and you'll come in to get the band changed after that. A nurse will also be by with instructions on how to care for it."
"Hold on, what does this mean for competing at the next tournament in Oblivia?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to cancel those." Brawly said solemnly. "With the long amount of time in recovery, there's no way you'll be able to stay in the race for the championship."
"So that's it?" Leilani's brow furrowed and her dark eyes glared at all of them. None wanted to meet her gaze and Doctor Hansen quickly excused himself to attend to the drug's administration. He was sensing some drama and tension building up.
"My surfing career is done?"
"Judging by what the doctor had said," Brawly began. "No. Injuries like this is going to mean you'll be missing the rest of this season. Take your time with therapy and recovery. We'll be expecting you back."
"The season just started!" Leilani protested. "I can compete at the end! I don't care if I win…my mother."
Hau's breath stopped. As did Makoa's.
"I understand how big this was for you Leilani." Brawly said, sympathetically but firm on his decision. "I really do." He put his left foot on her bedside and rolled his pant leg.
Nobody said anything, but Elio was a little unnerved by the long scarred line along the back of his calf.
"I wiped in the first heat and with my luck…split my leg open. A sharp corsola branch cut it deep and I missed the rest of my season. The whole thing horrified my own family." He pulled the pant back down and refocused his gaze on the young surfer. "I've been hit worse. I've come back. You can too."
"This was my moment. This was where I was going to show the world how great surfers from Alola would be."
"Brawly, if I may?" Elio interrupted. "I don't mean to play the devil's advocate here; but prior to the competition we got a visit from Sabine Joyeux. I know she and Leilani have that rivalry going on and she tried to get under her skin…well all of ours to be precise with some not so nice words. I have to say that the exchange wasn't exactly the most pleasant and as we left, I wasn't particularly happy with what she was saying afterwards."
"So you're suspecting Sabine was in on the incident?" His normally carefree expression turned serious. "That's a big accusation you're throwing out there."
"I know. I can't shake the feeling that something like this could've happened. Sabine and Leilani have been longtime rivals…bitter ones too and while I never met Sabine in person until today, judging by her attitude I wouldn't put this past her."
I could ruin an innocent career with something like that…
"I see."
Elio wasn't done though. "But I really want to know was where the rescue teams were? I've always seen lifeguards on station at the beach, ready to spring into action."
Brawly closed his eyes, knowing the answer. "The two lifeguards covering the event were seen on camera flirting with a group of partygoers when the incident happened. They are no longer employed there as of today."
Sun felt his own anger boil over quickly at knowing that, but he refrained from saying anything. It wouldn't help or change anything that was already done.
Did the resort hire a bunch of negligent kids for that?
"We will be investigating all possible avenues for motives and causes. The Alolan Coast Guard did manage to recover the remains of the tentacruel that attacked and a further autopsy should provide us with more information. Thank you for giving me that piece of information Elio. Sabine is now a possible person of interest."
Brawly's cell phone began to ring with a catchy surf theme and he excused himself, walking out of the door to answer.
"That doesn't help me though."
"Maybe not," Makoa leaned down to give his daughter a kiss on the cheek. "But they're going to look into every possibility that this wasn't just an accident."
"But I want it to just be an accident. This doesn't need to blow up into something super dramatic. I just want to compete again."
"I know."
"Besides," Elio added. "If Sabine was behind it or backed whoever did; she's gonna face disciplinary action…maybe even attempted manslaughter. If she paid someone off; I'm pretty sure they won't hesitate to turn on her for a lighter sentence if they're caught." A grin came to his face. "Either way…she's not getting out of a scandal like this without having to look over her shoulder all the time."
Brawly had come back into the room looking much happier than before. "Well I got good news for you. The commissioner of the World Surfing League has agreed to give you a file for reinstatement at the beginning of next season once the Association is satisfied with you being back in surfing condition. You'll receive the invitation three months out from next season to come in for a performance test before qualifying just like you did recently." He glanced back at his phone. "I need to get going. I hope you have a quick and healthy recovery. Shock the League, just like I know you will."
"Mahalo." He gave a hang-loose sign with his thumb and pinkie finger before bidding everyone farewell.
As he left; Leilani sighed and seemed to sag even more into her bed, further depressed about her condition.
"You heard him." Makoa said, trying his best to keep her spirits up. "You've got an entire year to rest up, get stronger and recover. I'll help you through it…as always."
"So will I." Hau added almost instantly.
Elio nodded. "I'm not letting you sit and mope…not after you dragged me out of my home to enjoy Alola."
"Me too." Lillie said.
"See? Look at all the support you have."
She nodded, almost looking as if she was going to the brink of tears. "Mahalo…all of you."
"That's what we do." Hau assured her. "We are ohana."
Leilani smiled at his words. "Elio, Lillie, Dad…do you mind if I…talk to Hau? Alone?"
Sun thought Makoa would have a much bigger reaction than he did. He gave Hau a trusting look that didn't go unnoticed before standing up and kissing her forehead again.
"Of course, k'ou alola." He stood up and made his way out the door. Elio was right behind him, taking one of Lillie's arms to guide her out the door.
Hau smiled at her again as the others had ushered themselves out of the room. Leilani couldn't help finding it incredible cute the way he tried to steal looks at her. He was clearly nervous about something, fidgeting with his hands and looking everywhere except for directly at her.
"I'm glad you're alright." He finally said after a while. The fidgeting was still here and she could tell he was forcing himself to relax.
Why is he so jittery?
"Thank you." She whispered. "Thank you for saving my life. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"Heh…well actually it was Elio who did CPR on you until the paramedics got there."
"But he still credited you for a lot of it. I'll thank him later, but you were in on it just as much as he was."
"Knowing Elio," Hau chuckled. "He's way to humble to take all the credit, even though I was just moral support."
Moral support.
The teenage boy took a deep breath. "Now you can just relax, take things easy and rest up. Maybe even continue on your journey as a trainer during the offseason!"
"I'd like to. I'd like to go back out there on a board next week."
"Next week? You'll still be in crutches!"
"I'm not letting that stop me." Leilani said with a fierce determination surfacing. "This is only a minor setback."
Hau couldn't believe his ears. "Leilani…you almost died out there. Shouldn't you…you know?"
"Know what?"
"Maybe stop putting yourself at risk until you can handle it again?"
Leilani gave him a dismissive eye roll, "I'm eighteen years old. In a year, I can legally drink and marry. I've surfed more than half my age. There's no way a little sting is going to stop me."
"That's not a little sting." Hau argued. "The doctor said you may not be able to walk properly for weeks and that band."
"I don't need this band. It's done nothing."
The kahuna's grandson rolled his eyes, still wondering why she was so stubbornly arguing back.
Can't she see that I'm trying to help and protect her?
"What are you getting at Hau?" She sat up, narrowing her eyes at him. "Why are you all of a sudden my parent?"
Both of them had sensed an argument brewing, but neither really had the initiative to stop the runaway train. "What?! No! I'm just saying that I'd lay off the surfing for a while."
"I can't lay it off!" Leilani hissed back. "Surfing is my life! I don't get why you're trying to make me stop doing something I love!"
"Because you almost died!"
"So?"
"What are you trying to prove by going out…against doctor's orders I might add?!" He waved a hand at the door. "I heard it loud and clear that you were not to take rigorous physical activity until he and the therapist deemed it satisfactory! Did you hear that? Or do you still have ocean water in your ears?!"
"I heard him…I don't care!"
"I do."
"Well I appreciate your support Hau." Her tone started to become even bitterer with sarcasm dripping like grease. "You're a true friend."
That felt like a nail straight through his heart. But he shook off the condescending remark as best he could. "I guess you'll understand when you're in my shoes. I don't want to lose you!"
"You're not going to lose me! You were so supportive all those years! What happened to that?! Huh?! Hau!"
He took a deep breath, dropping his voice that was barely heard over the beeping of the heart monitor. Neither had noticed her rate had increased.
"Because…makemake au iāʻoe."
Leilani had almost no time to act before Hau leaned forward, using his fingers to brush stray locks of her dark hair away from her face. She opened her mouth to say something.
Before he smashed his lips on hers.
Sparks of emotion danced among both of their senses as they experienced the phenomenon for the very first time. It was rough…unpracticed and neither of them had any prior knowledge.
At first, she tried to pull and struggle away, but he held her relentlessly with desperation. Her next attempt to free herself only ended up emitting a muffled moan. Ironically, it had encouraged Hau even more as he leaned forward, deepening the kiss between them. The boy was already in the thick of bliss that he had no idea she was attempting to fight him off.
Holy…freaking…by the tapu! Leilani was upset at the fact her body was betraying her by actually enjoying her first. I never knew Hau could kiss this good! I mean I've never seen him kiss someone else before…
Her own mind hit a euphoria that was more powerful than she imagined from the newly discovered intimacy that the rest of her body lay still, refusing to make any actions to push him away. A powerful flame had ignited from within and as Hau poured all of his emotions into the kiss; the flame only grew bigger and richer.
Hau finally left her having a need for air, parting their lips and staggering back with an equally shocked look on his face.
Several seconds passing felt like hours as they both felt the same feelings…yet neither had the brevity to declare or confess anything. She knew that somewhere inside her were those dormant feelings for him…and it was all so sudden she could barely process it all from almost dying, then fighting to survive and finally sharing a kiss with him.
My first…kiss…was Hau.
"That's fine." He quietly said, once again awkwardly averting his gaze elsewhere. "I just wanted a say in that you mean a lot to me…I care about you…a lot. A lot more than you think. Now that I've said what I wanted…go and do what you so wanted to do. "
The look on her face crushed his heart.
"Hau."
He had to get out of that room.
Before he further damaged anything else left between them.
Hau Kealoha's apologetic look didn't change as he turned on his heel and briskly walked out, not noticing her own conflicted expression.
"HAU!" The moment she said that, a sharp searing pain lanced around her left thigh, causing her to wince. It increased in intensity before a muted cry escaped her lips, coming to a sensation of a red hot knife gouging itself inside. She paid little attention to the rapidly beeping heart monitor.
"The band!" Her hands flew to blankets, flinging them away and pressing her thumb on the circular button in the center. The moment she hit it, a white light glowed from the striations as she felt streams of a cold fluid enter and spread around her leg. Counteracting the heat from the sting's pain, it quickly numbed momentarily before it dulled and finally subsided after about fifteen seconds.
She sat up, breathing heavily and whimpering from the pain's traumatic effects. The allure of sleep was tugging at her again when the nurses came back in after seeing the abnormality in her heart rate.
The pain was gone temporarily, thanks to the injector.
So why did she still feel like a knife was still there?
Elio, Lillie and Makoa were sitting in the lobby once again when Hau had walked through. Tears were threatening to fall from his eyes and he shook his head constantly as if to berate himself. He gave them a smile, but offered no greeting and headed straight for the doors which parted at his approach.
"Hau?" Elio asked, getting up.
"Hey." It was a little too late for him to wipe his tears away, but he had one of those forced smiles.
"What's going on?" He had a sneaking feeling of what happened, but didn't want to jump to conclusions right away.
"I…I just need some time alone. I'll tell you everything. I promise."
"Um…okay."
"Thanks for understanding."
"I get it. Go do what you need to do."
Elio just wanted to get his mind off Leilani for the rest of the day, so he and Lillie had gotten some extra food after Makoa went to check on his daughter, telling him they were going to spend the rest of the day at the beach.
They found a more secluded spot in a public area and laid their towels next to one another, lying down on their backs. Elio bought them both a pair of sunglasses to use while out there since he found himself squinting off the bright sand and reflection of the water. Lillie's pair were white rimmed with dark lenses while Elio's had a black and gray digital style camouflage and the lenses were a bright blue.
He opened up an umbrella, sticking it in the sand and raising it up so it shielded them from the rays of the sun. Sure enough, the heat wave had passed by, still giving it a welcoming warmth, but he was no longer sweating to death.
I hope Adam and Meghan got their conditioning repaired.
"This feels nice." Lillie was wearing the same bikini from before, a satin white that had a gold ring clasping the front and back together. Another one connected the cups of her breasts.
Elio found himself staring at her again…not at eye level either. And he did it probably even more than he should've.
For some reason, it drove him mad that there was a part where he could see an entire uncovered side of her skin.
"This is wonderful." Lillie said. "I'm so happy you've been so brave and considerate out there. I say we go and see her once she's out of the hospital."
"I'd like that."
They spent a couple more hours, laying around and chatting about other things. She didn't seem to want to go into the water, but he didn't mind either.
"Would you…do the same to me?"
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"If I was drowning."
"Geez Lillie, don't say that."
"But I want to know." She pleaded. "If I was drowning…would you come and save me?"
He had no hesitation in his answer. "Yes. Without a doubt."
"Thank you."
"I'd take a bullet for any of my friends." Elio said.
"And you would make an excellent lifeguard." Lillie agreed. "Maybe the resort should hire you instead of whoever was on duty."
"Maybe."
"If you weren't a trainer or an aspiring basketball player…what kind of job would you have?"
Elio hadn't really thought about that. His dreams were always one or the other of being a professional pokemon trainer or basketball superstar.
He had so many skills to use beyond that, emergency preparedness, video games…cooking was out of the question. There was also the small-time hobby of carpentry where he would help his father build things like hooks or mounted shelves to display decorations easier.
"I think I'd be a paramedic." He finally said.
"A paramedic?"
"Even though they cover a lot of generic stuff in emergencies," Sun explained. "We're also specialized. Give diagnosis of patients, keep them alive while they're whisked to the hospital. Basically Mom's job, except we have less time and more things to worry about. Training for an EMT is rigorous too."
"Sounds stressful."
"It is. I'd go as far to say it's one of the most intense and difficult jobs to do since every case is different."
Lillie turned to face him, leaning her head on her arm. "So why would you do it?"
"Well…considering it's a job that's always going to be in demand. And it's challenging. They're not doctors and hardly get recognition from others. Someone has to do it. They don't go "Oh doctor, thank you so much for saving his or her life!" You go from one job…onto the next and the next until your shift is done."
"That's really commendable Elio."
"Thank you."
Something hit the sand close to them as he moved automatically to find and assess the threat. Lillie jumped in surprise, but as soon as he saw the foam football, they both visibly relaxed.
"Sorry!" The high squeaky voice of a young kid came from further down the beach. "I'm sorry!"
"It's all right!" Elio shouted back. "Here, I'll throw it back."
He picked up the football, tossing it in his hand before slipping his fingers on the laces and throwing.
Lillie was amazed at the accuracy and the lean muscles that rippled in his body as he moved; the boy hardly even had to move before reaching out with both hands to grab the ball.
"Wow! You're really good! Are you a quarterback?"
Elio shook his head and smiled. "When I was a kid. I played catch with my father and friends a lot."
"That's awesome! Do you want to play catch with us?"
He looked over at her, "You want to play?"
"I don't know how to play." Lillie looked away dejectedly.
"We're not going by any rules. Just tossing it back and forth. I'll teach you how to throw and catch."
"I'm alright. I want to watch you." She shifted to lie on her stomach, propping her head up dreamily with both her elbows.
Lillie couldn't help but smile as Elio laughed, threw and caught the football with the group of younger boys. That faded when she realized that the number of times she had experienced something this fun before meeting him were minimal.
It's almost like I can count them on one hand. But Elio…Elio makes even throwing a football look so entertaining.
A buzzing sound and catchy ringtone broke the tranquility and she rolled over on her back, finding that it was Elio's phone that was getting a call.
She almost had to laugh at the goofy picture of Hau smiling rather smugly that came up on the caller ID. Lillie wondered if he had a picture of her when she would call him.
Elio was too engrossed in the game still, so she answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Hi El…wait…Lillie?" Hau was probably looking at his own phone to make sure he had dialed the right number. His voice was also a lot more monotonous. "Lillie hi."
"Hi Hau. Elio and I are at the beach just relaxing. He's playing catch with a bunch of kids."
"That's awesome. Hey, tell him that I'm at the Hano Grand Resort right now. The weird glasses guy from the Aether Foundation sent me a message that he'll take us to see that awesome place now that the heat wave is gone!"
"Um…okay." Faba is coming here? I need to hide Nebby!
"You're more than welcome to come! I'll even ask him!"
Fear shot up Lillie's veins. "No! Don't do that!"
"Wait…why?"
"I…I have other things to do. Professor Kukui wanted my help on his research." Truth was that he was planning to have a date night with Burnet, but he didn't need to know that.
I need to call Professor Kukui and have him make a story up. Anything that doesn't make it sound like I can't go!
"Oh okay. I swear he was going to go to dinner with Professor Burnet. But okay, you'll miss out!"
"I know. I'm sorry. We are about to head back over, so I'll make sure to tell him."
"Thanks Lillie."
"So…is everything okay?"
"Okay?" Hau tried to laugh it off. "Um…heh…yeah, everything's fine. Not to worry."
That didn't put Lillie at ease and she genuinely felt bad for her friend, especially if he was acting odd like this. No point in pressing the issue.
"Okay if you say so. I'll see you later then."
"Yeah. See ya."
"So what was that all about?" Elio asked, right on time as she slipped his phone back into his pack.
"Hau just called. He says someone from the Aether Foundation is going to come and take you to see something later today."
"Oh that's awesome! But did Hau sound…you know. Off?"
Lillie nodded, now realizing it wasn't just her. "Yeah he did. I wonder what's wrong."
"Not sure. I'm going to find out. Hopefully it isn't serious. As much as I love his bubbly self, seeing him all like this is starting to be very unusual." He reached out to help her up as they started packing their things. "Do you want to come with me? Maybe the Aether Foundation can help answer some questions about Nebby."
Lillie's insides went into ice again, but she put on her sunglasses quickly enough that he wasn't able to see the fear in her eyes.
"Well…it would be great. But I have to go with Professor Kukui tonight on assignment. Nebby and I will be safe right here."
Her brain went into a full on panic at the last sentence, realizing she had unknowingly slipped out her reasoning.
But thanks to the tapu's intervention…Elio didn't seem to catch on.
"Okay." He smiled again to make Lillie's insides melt like candle wax. "Suit yourself. Come on, I'll walk you back to Burnet's apartment before I go over. I need to change anyway."
Phew. This one was fun and exhausting to write. I hope everyone enjoyed it. Will Hau's confession be in vain if Leilani doesn't reciprocate his feelings? Or could we see the first blossoms of love between these two?
I feel like should add that for cliffhanger stuff!
Translations:
K'ou wahi anela - My little angel
Waeia kekahi - Chosen one
Haole - Haole literally means "no breath" in pidgin. Native Hawaiians use the term in a derogatory manner towards people not native to the islands (mainly towards those of Caucasian descent) It is a similar racial slur to gringo which in some Latin American countries, is geared towards Americans...particularly Caucasians.
K'ou alola - My love
Makemake au iāʻoe - I am in love with you
As always, mahalo for reading and reviewing. You give my writing purpose.
Brav