Pokémon Obsidian | An Orre Fanfiction

Chapter 90: Rare

Four-times World Champion, Toru Oak, was a heartthrob. Blue was yet to hit the headlines, but River's arrest at the airport alerted fans that Toru was on his way. They took selfies with him at Saffron City International Airport. Those fans alerted others in Orre to which flight he was on. Baffled security guards and janitors, at the airport in Phenac City, took barriers from broom cupboards to contain them.

The World Championships never took Toru to Orre. It was his first visit. Fans who couldn't take time off, or simply couldn't afford to fly elsewhere to see his matches were ecstatic to finally see him in person. He stepped into the arrivals hall with two of his three kids and a perfect white smile.

Toru insisted all of his kids were from his on-off girlfriend. Everyone knew they were from three different mothers. In truth, Toru only dated married women. Specifically, married women whose husbands were away, because commitment terrified him and those affairs would always end.

Committing to his kids was different. Fatherhood was exhausting, but it certainly wasn't boring. He loved his kids like he loved nothing else. When he ran as fast as he could from lovers who offered to divorce their husbands, they called him cruel and he wondered if he was an unfeeling psychopath, but his kids proved otherwise.

The difference between the two youngest, in personality and appearance, was the most blatant. Shy Fuchsia nervously clung to her dad, while her slightly older brother Perry charged ahead with cocky enthusiasm as fiery as his red hair. The flashing cameras frightened Fuchsia. They didn't bother Perry in the slightest. If he saw someone filming, he yelled into the camera that he was going to be the greatest Pokémon Trainer in the world.

A deep purple car waited outside. Magenta's mom, Jenna, reluctantly collected them. She didn't think highly of Blue, either. She never experienced his level of fame to understand that he was protecting Magenta and Lavender.

Perry gazed excitedly out of the window at the posters and flags advertising the Orre League. Its Gym Challenge was known as one of the most challenging in the world. Whenever Perry saw a Pokémon Gym, he wanted to challenge it, but the problem was that he only had one weak Pokémon, Rowlet. Toru wouldn't let him battle or catch more. Even Perry's older brother, Jon, never caved to his pleas. As at ease as Toru seemed to be with glory, he didn't want his son to charge headfirst into the same all-consuming fame at the age of nine. It was bad enough that his kids suffered for being his kids.

No-one knew about Blue yet. Fans and press were yet to descend on Magenta's house. After asking Magenta if she was comfortable, Jenna left. As much as she loved her daughter, she didn't want to sit and listen to two of those insufferable Oaks rambling about Pokémon; or three, even, because Perry was clearly growing into another clone of Blue and Toru.

They weren't there to discuss Pokémon. Toru led Blue into the back yard while Magenta entertained the kids.

'They need to ask me about "the thing," I assume.'

'Yeah. Jamie does not want anyone to know. But I think they need to. Otherwise they'll think he's hiding a weapon of mass destruction, like his grandpa.'

'So I'll just tell them?'

'If you think that's the right thing to do, too... yeah.'

'More importantly... you OK, Dad?'

'I've been better.'

Toru knew about Lavender. He knew, as soon as he heard that Champion Jamie's girlfriend was murdered, that his half-sister had died before he got the chance to meet her. He also knew, through his own experience of fame if nothing else, that Blue never intended to hurt Mallow or anyone else he lied to.