A/N: I do sincerely apologize for updating this chapter half a year later. I experienced something very very traumatic and have not been keeping well, unfortunately. But I am trying to get back into a routine of updating these. Hopefully, I can update these more regularly moving forward. I apologize again for the very long wait.
Lunick looked through their bedroom drawers one more time, giving it a final look through making sure he wasn't leaving anything important behind. Now that they were practically in autumn, they could expect cooler temperatures and had already started wearing longer sleeves and pants for their missions. Even though Johto's climate was much milder than Fiore during this time, there was still the chance for cooler weather to arise. And wetter ones for that matter. The western parts of the region were mainly low-lying and forested and contained most of the region's population. Nevertheless, it had been many years since Lunick last visited the region. As much as he may have wanted to go splashing in the waves in Cianwood City during their stay, there was the chance it would just be too cold and wet to do so.
Seeing nothing of worth to take in the drawers, he shut the compartment closed and turned to see Solana leaning against the wall in the doorway with Plusle at her feet. She was wearing an auburn Corduroy pinafore dress over a cream-colored long-sleeved thinly knit sweater with matching cream-colored knee-length heeled boots.
"All set and ready to go?" he asked.
"I guess so," she replied quietly as she stepped inside, crossing her arms and hugging herself. She timidly looked him over, letting herself take in the sight of him to try to draw comfort. He was dressed in his black Dubwool sweater, gray sweatpants, and white sneakers. "Lunick, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Absolutely. I think we're well overdue for a vacation. Don't you?"
"This isn't really a vacation. More like an extended weekend with your folks and your mom's family."
"I did promise you a trip to Johto. And I think after the last few months of stress and trauma we've had, a trip to western Japan would do us both some good. Plus, you'll get to finally meet Grammy Kat and try her amazing dumplings! She's wanted to meet you for so long."
"Yeah," Solana sighed nervously. "It's just…It'll be your mom's side of the family. Are you and Elvera even doing any better since that whole blowup at the hospital?"
Lunick shrugged casually. "It's a work in progress. She's trying, I'll give her that. But, you know, I don't want you to worry about that."
"How can I not?" Solana turned her back to him. "Your mom doesn't like me. And I'm going to meet matriarchs who are apparently more brutal than her."
Lunick wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his head on her right shoulder as he slowly rocked her.
"We are not going for them. We are going for us. To get some space away from here and do some healing of our own. Didn't you say Mrs. Yamamoto said it would be a good idea to go?"
"Something about it possibly being mentally soothing."
"Well there you go. Therapist seal of approval." He gave her belly a light squeeze.
Again Solana sighed. "I just don't know, Lunick. I'd feel a lot better if we were going on this trip by ourselves and staying someplace else."
He straightened back up and turned her around to face him, placing a finger underneath her chin. "Look, I spoke to Mom about it. The whole reason my folks are even coming with us is to do damage control. You were going to have to meet them all eventually. Might as well rip the Band-Aid off now."
"Why now?"
"Because they're all fussy over me over being shot and then almost killed by that psychopath. They have been pestering my mom about my condition and I'm finally well enough again that I can actually move without causing further damage to myself. And with a certain someone's birthday fast approaching, I thought a nice vaca in another region would be a more than amazing way to celebrate my badass GF. Besides, it's not like we'll be holed up in the house all day. It's Fall Festival season, which means we get to break out the yukata and kimonos and I know you will look so gorgeous in both of them, even though you're already stunning as you are."
"Lunick –"
"And we'll get to go to the Ecruteak Dance Theater to see the Kimono Girls perform with their Eeveelutions. We can visit historic sites like the Burned Tower and the majestic Bell Tower –"
"Lunick –"
"And there's even a little lake northeast of the city we can lounge by for a bit."
Solana rested her finger on his lips to get him to pause before slowly lowering it.
"Lunick, all those things sound amazing, and I'm sure they will be amazing. But I'm scared."
Lunick caressed her face. "What are you afraid of, Babe? A couple of old ladies?"
"Yes."
"Solana."
"I'm worried I won't live up to their expectations like I can't live up to your mother's."
Lunick kissed her gently on both of her cheeks and then on her forehead before resting his forehead against hers.
"I don't want you to stress yourself out worrying about appeasing these elderly women. You don't need their approval to be with me. And I don't need theirs to be with you. It doesn't matter. And this trip isn't about them. They're an unfortunate party we just have to deal with because of the circumstances surrounding this whole getaway. Listen to me, Solana. I'm not gonna let any more people hurt you, okay? We're going there and we're going there together. You are safe, not just because there is no threat or danger but because I will be there to ensure nobody takes a jab at your mental stability. I got you. I got you, Babe, okay?"
Solana nodded vigorously. "Okay, Lunick."
They leaned forward and kissed other softly on the lips three times.
"You're gonna be okay. We're in this together."
"Okay. I love you."
"I love you too."
They kissed other again, this time a little longer and more sensually. It didn't take long for it to become more passionate and lustful and they found themselves drifting towards the bed.
As Lunick laid Solana down, he slowly perked back up.
"Wait a minute. Do we even have time for this? We gotta meet my folks at the airport at 9."
"It's 8:30."
"We can do it in 30," he quickly said before hopping back on top of Solana and reengaging in their passionate kissing before moving on to more libidinous activities.
Murph typed perfunctorily at his computer. Today had been yet another busy day for him. He wasn't necessarily bothered and had come to expect the bustling nature that came with his new position, but that didn't make it any less aggravating to deal with. He found himself basically running on autopilot when he wasn't actually communicating with anyone directly, and those were the parts of the jobs that were the most muted.
The sliding doors parted as Leilani entered the Ringtown Ranger Base. As soon as Murph saw her, his lackluster unenthused demeanor changed to jaunty cheer.
"Leilani!" He greeted cheerfully. "What a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?"
"Do I need a reason to visit my amazing BF?" She said sweetly as she walked up to the counter he was seated behind. She rested her arms across it and leaned forward to give him a kiss. As she pulled back, she saw his amber eyes sparkling with delight.
"Seeing you has most definitely uplifted my mood. I was kinda in a funk before you came. These genetically modified Pokémon are being spotted more often, cases are piling up. Spenser and all the other Area Leaders and the professor are all preparing to hold a press conference regarding the whole situation to preempt public panic."
"It makes sense. The public was bound to notice eventually that these are more than isolated incidents. I am actually here more for business than pleasure about that exact thing," she reached into her pack snapped at her hip and unzipped a compartment, pulling out a vial from it before fastening it back. "Iyori asked me to deliver this sample from the simian amalgamated Pokémon we found in the Olive Jungle. Another rescue team is already carrying it to the Pokémon hospital."
Murph sighed. "They're taking up so much space at all the Pokémon medical facilities. Nearly every Pokémon Center, Pokémon Hospital, and sanctuaries are flooded with these mutated Pokémon. There aren't enough room for the civilians and Trainers for their injured and sick Pokémon. We're not like Kalos or Unova. Fiore is a relatively small region compared to those that are more Trainer-oriented. We don't have the resources to take care of all these Pokémon. We're already stretched pretty thin. I'm worried the citizens are gonna start demanding we stop using healthcare facilities for these Pokémon. There are some protesters saying we shouldn't even be attempting to save them, do you know that? They say it's more cruel trying to spare their lives than it is to humanely euthanize. That their quality of life is terrible and we're prolonging their suffering. And I'm here trying to manage the base while Spenser's trying to calm the civilians and also update the Union heads, send all the files to Professor Hastings – it's just too much going on all at once at times."
Leilani leaned back over the counter and caressed his face, brushing his bangs softly.
"I can't imagine how stressful it all is. Being PR is such a major responsibility."
He held her wrists. "Yeah, I'm still learning how to manage. But you've gone through and had to deal with things so much more severe than Union meetings and crowd control. Are you okay?"
Leilani smiled lovingly. "Yeah, I'm fine, sweetie."
"Are you sure? I know it's been a couple months. But the trial will also begin in a few months. You've been grinding a lot at work but…have you thought about, you know, seeing a therapist to talk about what happened? Like Solana?"
Leilani's smile lessened slightly. "I have. And I'm not ready yet."
"I know it can't be very easy, opening up like that, but –"
"Murphy, I'm not ready. Solana went to see one when she was ready. I'm not there yet. I don't want to think about what happened. I just wanted to focus on now, the present, and us. The past doesn't matter. It's a new start for me. A new Leilani with her wonderful amazing Murph by her side. Okay?"
Murph stared at her for a little before nodding slowly. "Okay. I won't push you. And I'll do anything I can to help you to heal and feel better."
Leilani pinched his cheeks lightly. "Maybe come by my house after you get off? That'll definitely help lots."
"I can do that."
Smiling, she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips one more time before letting him go. "Where is Iyori? She told me she would be here for a bit and to come here instead of the lab in Fall City."
"She's in the kitchenette for right now. She's reading up on a few of the case files with the amalgamates and comparing them with her analysis notes while having her lunch."
"Okay. Thank you. And just, try not to push yourself so hard. I know the job is weighty but I have no doubt you will figure it all out. You are a hero after all."
"No promises." He smiled as she walked into the kitchenette. He turned back to his computer when he heard the double doors to the entrance splitting apart. He looked above his monitor and his cheery expression immediately soured.
His eyes hardened into a cold stare as Aria entered the base. She was carrying a small package in her hands. Their eyes locked, coolness and animosity passing between them. Aria's expression was more of pained frustration to Murph's baleful glare. No words were said. None needed to be said. If Aria hadn't seen it for herself, she wouldn't have believed Murph was capable of bearing such a steely threatening expression. The acrimony of his disposition and the bitterness and revulsion he felt in his heart for her were palpable. It was uncomfortable. It was foreign. His amber eyes seemed to be ablaze under the fluorescent lights of the base.
Aria awkwardly walked over to the left wall of the base and rested the package on the floor. She glanced at Murph one more time, his hateful eyes baring into her soul, before she turned around and exited the base.
Even after the double doors closed and Aria was long out of sight, Murph continued to stare at the glass doors as if his glare could melt them. He hadn't realized how much his body had tensed in that short period of time she was in the base. Remarkable that in one minute Aria had managed to completely alter his mood from light cheerfulness to hostile loathing. His blood felt like it was boiling, his nerves felt like needles were digging into his pores, his skin felt hot. He wanted to rip his monitor from his desk and yeet it across the room.
"That girl is so engrossed in her work," he heard a female's voice say who he immediately recognized as Leilani's. She walked back into the room, still looking towards the kitchenette. "She didn't once even look away from her notebook during that exchange."
Murph shot up from his seat and spirited for Leilani, enveloping her in his arms before pining her against the wall and kissing her firmly on the lips.
When he pulled away, he saw her startled and confused expression.
"Murph, what? Are you okay?"
His breathing was heavy. His mind was racing. He had to focus on Leilani. He needed to focus on Leilani. That was the only way he would calm himself.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking, you know, why wait till tonight. We can maybe have some fun really quick right now, right?"
Leilani was stunned. "Murph, aren't you in the middle of drafting reports for the Union? You said you had so much to do today."
"I do. But we do still have our breaks. Do you have to get back to Summerland right away?"
"Well, no. Not necessarily."
"Then maybe we can spend a bit of time giving each other happy endings?"
He leaned forward and kissed Leilani again, moving his hands down to rest on her hips. She returned it, but interjected before she lost herself completely.
"Wait, before we get carried away. I mean, you want to do this here? Who's gonna manage the base?"
"Slowking's got it. Right, buddy?"
"Slowking." He partner Pokémon sounded from the opposite corner of the room.
"And Iyori's in the other room. She's gotten a lot better with her social skills. She can handle it if a few requests come in. I was thinking I'd go ahead and take my lunch break now. With you."
"Okay. That's fine. I'm just surprised. I don't really see this lascivious side of you so often. It's kind of hot I must say. I didn't bring my lunch with me though."
"It's okay. For once, it's not food I'm hungry for." He reply huskily.
"Oh, Murphy. Rawr!" Leilani pawed him playing on his shoulder before he leaned forward and kissed her again.
His arms wrapped around the small of her back, pulling her slightly from the wall he had her pinned against close against him as his hands reached down to her backside, squeezing earnestly. He separated his lips hers to plant kisses down her neck before biting down and sucking near the base of it. His lips met with her once more as he cupped her right breast, squeezing firmly before going back to knead her behind. Leilani moaned as she leapt up and wrapped her legs around his girth. They continued to kiss each other hungrily as Murph carried her into the storage room and locked the door with one hand before taking her over to one of the spare beds.
Treecko lazily played with her tail, powering up her tail as it glowed with Leaf Storm and then powering down, only partially listening to the gathering her father was having with two clans of the Sekrian Forest trying to resolve a territorial conflict.
"I am telling you, Ssssssire, we haven't done anything wrong," said the leader of the Seviper. "We are being unfairly persecuted by these xxxxxxenophobic creaturessss."
"The serpent spouts lies, my King," responded the Zangoose leader. "My clowder have lived in this section of the forest for generations. We are demanding that these slithering parasites relocate to another area to call their home. Maybe to the rainforest or swampland further south is where they should reside."
"If these monstrous rodents knew anything of my kind they would know that during the wet ssssssseason, those areas are ssssssimply inhospitable for our ssssssspecies. We migrated to this forest as it is much more tempered to our needs through all the sssssseasons and sssssso that is why we must sssssstay here. This place is much better for the sssssssurvival of my nest."
"Please inform them, Your Majesty, that if they refuse to relocate, then they acknowledge they are willingly agreeing to battle for this territory!" Cried the leader of the Zangoose.
As both leaders growled and hissed, the King of the Sekrian Forest, Sceptile, held up his claws as he stepped closer to them.
"There is no reason this needs to devolve into a territorial war. Every beast is welcomed here in this forest so long as it does not bring harm to any of her inhabitants. I am very much aware of the ongoing generational feud between you two Pokémon. You have been bitter enemies for eons and I understand that being in proximity with one another will trigger your defense mechanisms. That being said, continually avoiding each other will do nothing but reinforce the hostility and animosity you have towards one another. Wouldn't you rather work on dissolving the hatred you have for one another and try to remedy this relationship so that you may coexist together?"
"That is a fanciful wish, Ssssssire," remarked the Seviper. "Thisssss dissspute is more than just over food and territory. Those rodentsss are heavily prejudiced and discriminatory against my kind. Sssstaunch in their ways and hot-blooded. There is no reassssoning with a creature like that."
"Vile varmint. We haven't a problem with snakes and in fact, are quite cordial with the Arbok and Ekans that dwell nearby as they know not to trespass on our land and are not hostile towards us. The same cannot be said of these ghastly vipers."
Sceptile's fine scaly skin spiked slightly as he felt a sudden change in the air current. Usually climate changes weren't of much concern but this sudden drop was quite unusual. More drastic than if a Gengar suddenly appeared and its presence dropped the temperature. No, this decrease was nearly identical to when that shadowy creature appeared in the sky many moons ago.
Sceptile looked up and scanned the sky, looking for any sight of that creature but saw nothing.
His eyes then landed on a single cumulus cloud, then widened greatly.
"Every Pokémon get down!" He shouted as multiple light blue beams of energy shot out from the cloud.
Sceptile raised his right foot and stomped powerfully on the ground, sending a slight shockwave throughout the land. Several large giant roots with spikes erupted out of the ground, all outlined in light green aura. The Frenzy Plant then encased all the Pokémon in a mangrove-like orb-shaped shield, protecting them all from the freezing Ice Beams.
After the attack ceased, Sceptile uncoiled the roots from his subjects and retracted them back into the ground.
"Go back to your dens at once. We will reconvene at another time to discuss this matter."
"Yesssss, Ssssssire!"
"Of course!"
The Seviper and Zangoose tribes each dispersed, while Sceptile's eyes locked on the shadowy Pokémon zipping through the sky before landing on the ground in front of him with a loud boom, creating a much stronger shockwave.
"Protect the princess!" Sceptile demanded as the two long blades on his wrists merged and extended into a long sharp glowing bright green point.
"Yes, my King," cried the small female Absol. She picked up the Treecko in her mouth and started sprinting away.
"What? No! Solie, what are you doing?!" The little Wood Gecko Pokémon asked.
"What the King has ordered. Keeping you safe."
"We cannot just leave him!" She cried as she watched her father battle the merciless creature.
It jerked about unnaturally and flecked goopy liquid from its orifice before unleashing a massive Hyper Beam at Sceptile.
He crossed his arms, forming a 'X' with the extended blades on his wrists and divided the Hyper Beam so that it would pass through him. But the creature pressed forward as it continued its attack, raising its elongated claws to strike Sceptile but he blocked the attack with his palm tree-like tail.
The shadowy creature then gave a horrendous cry as it raised its head and brought it down on Sceptile's. He grunted and stumbled back, losing the form he had and getting hit with the ongoing Hyper Beam which sent him crashing into one of the forest trees.
"Pa!" Treecko cried.
The shadowy Pokémon then released the multi-streamed Ice Beam again, this time hitting Sceptile squarely in his chest. The super effective hit caused him to cry out in pain as he didn't get the chance to recover to dodge the attack in time.
"Pa!" Treecko flailed and swung her tail rapidly at the adolescent Absol. "We need to help him!"
"The King can take care of himself."
"No! I need to save my Pa!"
"The King will not lose. Have faith in your father."
"Let me go!" Her tail glowed bright green as she swung it backwards and unleashed her Leaf Storm at her babysitter.
The attack caused Solie to lose her grip on the young princess and she stoped running. Seizing the moment, Treecko used her Quick Attack and sped to her field where her father was once again engaged in battle with the foul beast.
"Leave my Pa alone!" She cried as she swung her tail and unleashed a barrage of glowing green leaves at the creature. They hit it, the attack effective enough to give it pause but not enough for it to do any real damage.
"Treecko! What are you doing?!" Her father bellowed. "Get from here at once!"
"I'll not leave you, Pa! I will not cower like before! I shall fight beside you."
"You are not ready for a battle like this! Retreat at once!"
The shadowy figure gave a guttural scream as it swayed towards Treecko and readied itself to fire its Hyper Beam.
Treecko gulped nervously.
"No!" Sceptile cried. His star-shaped Miracle Seed necklace glowed from is center where a tea green mysterious stone with slivers of orange and darker green shone as Sceptile's body glowed reddish-orange. His head crests became more pointed with a round portion missing from the middle. The red rims under his eyes elongated into red markings and his eyes became sharper. The yellow seeds in his back grew larger, the last pair of seed turning red while the pair above it turned orange. Red stripes encircled the base of his tail and ran across his lower belly. The leaves on his wrists became more pointed and the upper ones had red tips and semicircles cut out of the middles. Covering his chest and shoulder were area of leaves similar to those that formed its tail and his tail had grown even longer and had developed a red stinger at its tip.
Shaking off the red-orange energy, Sceptile glared at the shadowy beast. He aimed his tail at the coagulated creature as it started to spin rapidly before firing the bush portion of it at it. The rapid spinning grass missile struck the shadowy Pokémon and it was sent crashing into a boulder a distance away.
Sceptile quickly closed the distance as that part of his tail regenerated. He struck it again with his Leaf Blade in swift succession. He didn't stop until he was sure the malignant creature was down for good.
Panting from exertion, Sceptile got up from the Pokémon and walked over to where his daughter stood and a few of his subjects were hidden in the forestry.
"Is every beast all right?" He asked.
"A great many thanks, Your Majesty," said a Tangela as it stepped out from behind one of the trees.
A few more Pokémon revealed themselves from hiding.
"I want you all to go back to your dens, nests, holes, trees, and everyplace you slumber. Far from this location. That creature, whatever it is, is incapacitated for now, but I know not when it will rise again. I do not want it catching wind of your scent or pheromones. Quickly flee from here. If your nest is nearby, relocate for the time being. I shall send my emissaries, envoys, and ambassadors to aide you in the interim until you can return here. For now, this area is unsanctioned. Gather what is most precious to you and leave immediately."
As the forest-dwellers shuffled about doing what the king asked, the young Absol approached the king meekly.
He sharpened his gaze at her. "I told you to watch her."
"It wasn't her fault, Pa." Treecko quickly said. "I attacked her and escaped to aid you."
Sceptile's gaze shifted to his young one. "Treecko, you could have gotten yourself killed."
"I only wanted to help, Pa. That thing, it was hurting you."
"My duty is to protect this land and to protect my clan. I told you to stay away and you deliberately disobeyed me."
"I…I just wanted to help, Pa."
Sceptile continued to stare at his young one. His body glowed a soft white as he transformed back to his original form. He sighed frustratingly. "You are circumscribed and remanded to the den under constant supervision for at least thirty moons."
"What? But Pa –"
"I shall hear no grousing of any sort out of you. You are to go home immediately while I figure out what to do with this strange creature." He turned to the young Absol. "You are to escort the princess home promptly and watch over her until Lopunny or I returns. Do not take your eyes off of her for even a moment."
"Yes, my King."
"You have my leave to go."
Nodding, the young Absol butted the small Treecko.
"But, Pa?"
Sceptile hardened his stare and Treecko bowed her head sadly, turning anround and walking away with the juvenile Absol.
Sighing, Sceptile walked back over to where he had left the fainted shadowy Pokémon. But to his surprise it was gone. He was certain he had knocked it out. But it was nowhere to be seen. He looked all around the area but saw no trace of it – no fur, no blood, no scale, no claw. Nothing indicating any beast was there.
As Sceptile continued searching he stepped in something sticky. Stepping back and raising his foot, he saw what appeared to be a small puddle of black gooey liquid. The same goopy liquid that was flecking off the mysterious creature.
"So it appears it did leave behind some trace of it." He muttered to himself.
But what exactly it was, he had not a clue.
Solana had no idea just how far back in the woods Lunick's grandmother, Katherine Nishina, or Grammy Kat as she most often heard Lunick call her, lived. It seemed like they had been on the one-lane dirt road for at least half an hour. Of course, she had visited many people who lived further from a main highway in her career as a ranger, but it always amazed her that somebody would want to live so far from civilization. Even in Fiore where the region was more nature-oriented, the homes were still relatively close to one another, not isolated unless you counted the few cabins in the Sekra Mountain Range or Wintown Mountains, but even those were more of resorts and lodges than actual homes.
The flight was pleasant enough. The unusual lack of turbulence would have had her knocked out asleep resting against Lunick for the two hour flight, but her anxiety about meeting the maternal matriarchs kept her awake the entire flight, and it was Lunick instead who was lulled asleep in his seat for two thirds of the flight. The first third he spent reassuring her everything would be okay and reiterating that they would be spending this time going on outings and seeing the sights than spending time with his great aunts, also throwing in he had a special surprise planned for her birthday as well.
True that they could have also taken a ferry to the region as well, but that would be an even longer trip to the primarily rural region and Solana didn't think she could handle waiting that many hours with anxious apprehension before succumbing to lesser preferred coping strategies to bide the time, which was a big no-no since starting therapy.
Solana was also wishing she hadn't had three cups of coffee when they stopped for croissants at Ohayou Asagohan earlier that morning. She knew better than to ask for a rest stop. For one thing, Lou was a 'drive straight through' type of man. For another, Lunick would have used the opportunity to bring up some of the more embarrassing things about her with his parents as he usually did when they were all together. It was a sort of unspoken bonding activity he and his father engaged in when they all got together. Being the love of his life did not exempt her from certain forms of ridicule.
As they rounded a bend, they picked up their first view of the lake poking through the trees. Solana's impression of the pristine body of water was that it looked a lot like Wintown Lake, though it was actually a natural lake rather than a man-made reservoir. Save for the missing backdrop of distant mountains, she would have sworn they were the same place. Earlier in the drive, when they had turned off the two-lane paved highway on to the dirt track, Solana had been looking forward to spotting the water. That meant they were close to the house. Unfortunately, the sight of all that liquid, coupled with the sloshing of her bladder, did not make her the most comfortable young woman in the car. She would have believed herself a civilized person, until the pressure is on. At that moment, she wouldn't have minded having a great big diaper on herself.
She also envied Lunick a little bit. Instead of coffee or juice he ordered a king-sized cola. If he needed to 'take care of business' he wasn't letting on. Maybe he hadn't even noticed yet. Normally, if you mentioned it to him, he would have to go. Instead, there he was with what had to be almost half a gallon of cola. He even downed the sickly melt-water left from his ice. The only person she had ever seen put away more liquid refreshment than him was Murph.
Ick. Mind on something else, Solana, mind on something else.
There wasn't much else to keep her mind on. Every washed out rut, every bump in the road sent another twinge through her bladder. How was it that the girl who saved the world several times, who climbed the Sekrian Mountains, who solved the Jungle Relic challenges and stopped the prophesied disaster, who swam through the Safra Sea…
Ugh. More water.
It wasn't like she was going to be able to run right inside the moment they arrived either. Yes, the purpose of the trip was for Solana and Lunick to get some much needed R&R, but there would only be a short, intense burst of the old ladies (and one great uncle) fawning over Lunick and oohing and ahhing over his growth, many feats as a ranger, and lost time. In short order, they would turn their attention to the real purpose for this trip.
They were going to determine if Solana Tsuki was a suitable bride for the only marriageable member of their extended family.
Solana couldn't get the image of a trio of overweight, elderly Christian women dressed all in jōe with crucifixes, crossing themselves at the sight of a slender young woman in her showy pinafore dress. It didn't matter she had on the most conservative thing she owned. Even with her hair pulled back in a demure ponytail and her light pinafore dress and sweater, she fretted that she looked like some kind of Hollywood tramp. She kept trying to reassure herself that wouldn't be the case. Katherine Nishina, or Grammy Kat as Lunick called her, was a carbon copy of her daughter, save that her hair had turned snow white and she wore cola-bottle thick glasses the last time Lunick saw her. The woman was a bit of an eccentric, dressing more like a Roma street performer than a family matron.
Lunick tried to prepare her for what she was facing as best she could. Esther Ro was the oldest, and therefore the family matriarch. She was very traditional in her views and was given to berating her younger siblings in Japanese. That worried Solana a little. She knew only the little bit of Japanese she had picked up during her free time with Lunick, and learned just a few common kanji. That never bothered her, since the only time she heard any of the Kanekos speaking Japanese was during a few home interactions and very few traditional ceremonies Lunick had taken her to in Fiore. The only Japanese she ever heard them use was 'itadakimasu' before consuming a meal. She didn't really know a word of Japanese, and Elvera was of no help there either since some of those she told the late teen she was not going to teach her. She at least still had Lunick to translate for her should need be.
Ida Shibata was the middle sister. She was traditional as well, but supposedly a little more modern than her elder. Apparently her choice of marrying a non-Yamato Japanese man didn't sit well with her older sister, making Solana wonder what had befallen Elvera since Lou Kaneko was of a more burakumin heritage. It seemed Solana's best chance of winning over the sisters lay in impressing at least her since it was supposed Aunt Esther would be a lost cause.
They turned off the dirt road onto an even narrower road that was little more than a pair of tire-worn tracks cutting through the woods. The trees were just sparse enough that grass was growing in the middle of the track. Apparently there was enough traffic to keep it from becoming overgrown. That only lasted a few hundred yards before they pulled up to a neat outdoor garden that wrapped around a minka traditional home with wooden verandas circling the home.
It was a large traditionally-styled Japanese home made of timber and clay. It sat all alone on the eastern shore of the nameless lake. Solana smiled, remembering the night she went 'skinny-dipping' with Lunick when they were sixteen. At least, that's what they said they did. Instead of being in the buff they were both wearing cut-off jeans, thinking they were actually getting away with something since it was just past midnight at the time. Lunick didn't even notice, or at least let on that he noticed, her t-shirt clinging to her when Larry came running out to chase both of them out of the lake and reported their shenanigans to Spenser.
Solana froze that smile on her face. She knew she would need it, especially since she didn't insist Lou stop at that gas station before they turned off the main road.
As she reached for the door handle, Elvera put a hand on her arm to stop her from the passenger seat in front. "Let the boys open our doors for us."
"Oh." Solana was just breaking out in perspiration. She hadn't even met the aunts yet and she was already about to commit a minor faux pas. She glanced out the window. The sun was as high as it was going to get, casting just enough glare to keep her from seeing in the windows of the home. When Lunick was there before, Grammy Kat had come charging out of the house as fast as she could on her cane to see her little grandson. This time, nobody had appeared to greet their arrival.
Lou got out and immediately opened his wife's door while Lunick made his way around to her door. The moment her high heeled boots hit the dirt of the driveway, the door to the house slid open, disgorging three very different-looking women.
She found her heart was in her throat as Elvera Kaneko's mother and Lunick's grandmother approached. Katherine Nishina was in the lead. Apparently, her arthritis wasn't acting up as bad as it had been several years ago as she was moving without her cane. Save for that, she looked exactly as she remembered the woman in the picture Lunick had shown her described. She was slender and perhaps a couple of inches shorter than her child. Her white hair was considerably longer, drawn into a single, adorned ponytail. She was wearing a long, tiered skirt and a hand-knitted shawl of some sort. All she needed was a bandana tied on her head to complete the Roma dancer image Solana remembered from her early teens.
"Elvera, my darling, it has been too long! How are you child?"
"Fine, mother. Just fine."
"So you say. But I hardly ever hear from you. Unlike your husband here who calls me on the regular. How have you been Lou? It's so good to see you."
"It's great to see you too, Ma," he replied embracing his mother-in-law earnestly.
The other two were not the aging Japanese matrons she had been expecting. It was unclear which of the two were which, considering she had never knowingly seen a picture of them. Both were slightly larger than their younger sister, though not big by any means.
Lunick came over to stand beside her while they greeted his parents. "You've got a little bit of a break before they even notice you." He whispered without looking at her. She felt his hand wrap around hers, giving it a light squeeze. She returned the hand-hug, trying to get her heart and breathing under control. Plusle and Minun each ran up beside their rangers.
The first aunt, a squarely built blue-haired woman of indeterminate age eyed Lou up and down with a seemingly disgusted expression.
"I see you're still espoused to Elvera here?"
"Yes, ma'am. She is my wife and I love her dearly. Committed to her fully, for life," he said, giving her a peck on the cheek to punctuate his point.
She scrunched up her face, repulsed.
"I see you still have the lowest of standards, Elvera. I'm saddened to see you still have not come to your senses even after all these years," The other aunt, were it not for her attempt at stylish clothing, would have looked at home in one of those scenes of stereotypical traditional Japanese women she always saw on TV and in the movies. In fact both of the older women were wearing tasteful clothing that somehow seemed out of place on them. There was something strikingly familiar about the two of them, but she couldn't quite place it.
Her heart jumped back into her throat as Elvera took a step back next to her husband. Lunick stepped forward, pulling on her hand slightly before letting go.
Esther's eyes shifted from Lou and she immediately lit up upon seeing Lunick. She instantly engulfed him in a hug and squeezed as tightly as her aging bones could, soon followed by her younger sister.
"Oh, Lunick, oi. Genki?" Nephew. How are you?/Are you well? (informal)
"Genki dayo." I'm well.
"Your mother told us you got shot," replied Ida, worried, her right hand flying to her cheek. "How she let you go into such a dangerous profession we shall never understand."
"Really, ōobasan, I am fine. I have recovered really well." Great aunt.
Lunick stepped back slightly, reached for Solana's hand and pulled her forward so she was beside him. Solana muffled her shriek.
"Ōobasan Esther," Lunick nodded toward the blue-haired woman. "Ōobasan Ida. This is my girlfriend, the love of my life, and future fiancée, Solana Kaneko."
Solana's heart jumped into her throat as she shook hands with the two women. They were all smiles, but she could tell they were looking her up and down. Ida was about her height and Esther was perhaps a couple inches taller, but they seemed to tower over her. Suddenly she felt like a frightened little girl in their presence.
"I have seen you on TV." Esther said pleasantly. She had a faint accent, with just a touch of Kanto thrown in, making her think that was where she either lived, or had lived for a large portion of her life.
"I thought you would have been taller." Ida said with a smile.
"I'm so pleased to meet you." Solana finally got out. Despite the distraction, the pangs in her bladder were getting worse by the moment. Mentally gritting her teeth, she bore on with the almost ritualistic examination.
"So this is the one young Lunick has chosen, eh?"
Almost immediately, Esther reached for Solana's left hand. Solana gulped, silently thanking Elvera for her suggestion that she still wear the pink pearl Luvdisc and Alomomola ring and sapphire and emerald moon necklace for the trip. It almost made her sad to think she would had thought of taking them off temporarily out of fear that they would disapprove of them moving too fast. She had never taken them off save to shower before and she promised no matter what it would remain that way moving forward as well.
Esther eyed the ring and necklace as if she were a jeweler inspecting an item in her stock, making Solana wonder if that was what she once did for a living, or perhaps what her late husband had done.
"At least the boy has good taste in jewelry." She said once she let her hand go.
Ida took her turn examining the necklace and ring. "Hmmm. A expensive-looking for such young people, though I guess that's what we should expect considering his father is such a criminal."
Solana glanced nervously at Lou, though he seemed unconcerned at the cut. Maybe he was used to it, or perhaps he had given up trying to impress his wife's aunts long ago.
Esther looked her up and down. "My, you are a frail, skinny little thing. Do your parents not feed you?"
"I…I've got a pretty active lifestyle. It pays to keep in shape." She tried her best not to let her unease about her recovery and battle with her eating disorder show through her nervousness.
"Saving the world's good for that." Lunick added helpfully.
The older woman seemed not to notice her grandnephew at all. "You're going to wish you had a bit more meat on your bones when the babies come."
"Oh, don't mind these two." Katherine reached for Solana and gave her a big hug. "I knew the two of you belonged together. Ever since I saw you together on TV all those years ago defeating that Gordon fellow."
"Gordor." Lunick corrected.
She let go of Solana and hugged her grandson. As if that were some sort of pre-arranged signal, the two older sisters turned around and walked back toward their house.
"It's great to see you, Obāchan," Lunick said.
"Look at you. All grown up, practically married." She looked Lunick over and lightly caressed his face." I would have never imagined you would get so tall. You're almost as tall as Hideki was. I'm so glad you got his genes. Look at you. You're not a little boy anymore. You've grown into a handsome and strong young man."
"I'm glad someone in this family knows it," Lunick replied heartily as he embraced his grandmother.
She pulled back and looked over at Solana. "And she's as beautiful as ever. You've really found yourself an amazing young lady. Treasure her."
"Oh believe me. I do." He said assuredly as her wrapped his right arm around Solana's shoulders.
Katherine nodded. "You two have been woven together by the red thread of fate. I know you two are not officially engaged and are too young to maybe be talking about such things, but believe me when I say the red cord that destined you two to meet one another has linked you both as each other's true love. At least, I take it that's how you both see it?"
"You are correct, Grammy." Lunick answered. "Solana is my forever. I cannot imagine the rest of my life without her." He said glancing lovingly down at her, hugging her a little tighter to reassure her as she looked back up at him.
"So, how soon can I expect before the two of you going to do it?"
Solana gulped, then realized she was speaking of the wedding. "Not for a while yet. We wanted to get through college first, Mrs. Nishina.
"Dear, you can call me Sobo. Or Grammy Kat. Don't let my sisters bother you. You're family." She leaned closer, giving them a conspiring whisper. "Why don't the two of you wander off for a little bit. I'm sure those old bitties are going to be all tied up in the kitchen for a while getting the lunch and tea ready for you all."
Katherine backed away and then clasped her hands together. "I know our ancestors are smiling proudly from the heavens at the two of you. So long as you both remember Kintsugi, you will be fine and can make it through anything and everything life throws your way."
"Kintsugi?" Solana questioned.
"I'll explain it to you later, dear." She then turned her attention to Lunick's parents. "Come, come. You all have had a long journey to come here to our little nest in Eckruteak. Please, come in and rest your feet.
"I'll get our suitcases from the truck first, Ma. You go on in, 'Vera."
"Come, sweetheart." Katherine said, extending her had towards her daughter. "We have much catching up to do."
"Y-Yes, mother."
Solana watched them walked towards the house.
Lunick rubbed her left shoulder, his arm still around her. "Well, Solana? What do you think?"
She growled just slightly. "I think I've just been insulted twice, and your father once in the space of two minutes."
Lunick ran his other hand down his face. "That's one of the good things about my great aunts living further west. Aunt Esther can't stand Dad. Once she gets going, she'll call him a whole bunch of things in Japanese. Notice he hasn't said one bad word to her yet?"
"Uh huh. Lunick, your mom said I'm going to have to cook for them. What's that all about?"
He grimaced very slightly. "It's kind of a Mom's family thing. Don't get all tweaked about it or anything, but when it's time for dinner, all the women are expected to work in the kitchen, while the men all sit in the den watching TV or something."
"How quaint." She said dryly.
"Just stick to easy stuff. Mom knows about your cooking and all."
"She does? I wonder who told her about that." She shot him a sharp glance while a hand went to her hip.
"Solana, all of Ringtown and damn near half of Fiore know better than to let you within twenty feet of the kitchen. It's just basic survival stuff."
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence there, Lunick." She sighed. "Maybe I should just take Grammy's advice and just disappear for a little while. Maybe we could go for a walk, you know, let them see your parents for a little while."
Lunick frowned, looking at the elderly women bustling around in the house through the open window on the right side of the garden. "Nah. Don't let them fool you for a second. They may look like they're all over my 'rents right now, but every eye is on you."
"Great." She moaned. All she could think of at the moment was the insistent pressure in her lower half. If this went on any longer, she was going to have to make a break for the house or head into the woods. She could just imagine what that would look like to them. Lunick's got a real good one there, real mountain woman.
Lou finally came back from taking the luggage into the house and stood with his wife and Grammy Kat near the doorway. Solana watched as Ida came back outside and spoke with him briefly. Esther appeared to speak with her sister and just acted as if he wasn't even there. Normally he was such a powerful presence. At home he was the true leader of his family. Here, he apparently was just the black sheep, good for nothing save the fact he fathered a superstar hero.
"How long are we going to have to stand out here like this?" She asked through gritted teeth.
"Just a bit more. What's wrong?"
"Remember how long ago breakfast was?"
"Yeah."
"Remember how much coffee I had? Notice we're a hundred feet from a lake? A lake filled with water? Water I can hear lapping against the field?"
Lunick looked at her quizzically for a moment, then realized what she was saying. A grin started spreading across his lips.
"Lunick, if you mention anything to do with water, I'm not the only one who's going to be embarrassed by what happens next."
"Not saying anything, Babe. Just, you're going to have to race me when we finally get inside."
"You are so not going first."
She couldn't take it any more. As if they had a mind of their own, her feet started moving toward the house. Solana almost broke into a run as she headed inside, not caring about the confused expressions from the matrons outside and inside. She rushed through the house and found a bathroom on the second floor. It was all she could do not to let out a long moan of relief when she finally sat down.
Great first impression to make there, Solana.
A/N: Before anyone mentions it, I am aware that the way Lunick addresses his great aunts is not correct. He should not be saying Ōobasan 'first name', but just respectfully address them as Ōobasan. For the purposes of the reader being able to identify which aunt he was addressing, I added their first name afterward. I just wanted to note this. I apologize for the representation here. If I can find a way to rework that exchange where I can make it clear who he is addressing without using their first names, I will amend it. But for now, that was the best way I could think of to identify them.
Hopefully, the updates will come more regularly. Pokémon Ranger: Origins should be updated with the week as well. I'll also be finishing up the honeymoon Rangershipping Oneshot, Vaca for Two, and I will additionally be resuming working on my Pokémon Colosseum origin story, The Story of a True Hero, which I haven't updated in 14 years! (~_~') I am so ashamed! My God! But I will get back to it in the coming weeks/months (~_~').
Anyway, next updates should be coming more regularly now. Thank you so much for being so patient with me and bearing with me. Thank you so very much again for your support on my stories. They mean so very very much and I cherish all of you guys so much!
Always Do Everything With Love
XyKPfan