The Campagna Adventures

Chapter 33-The Return

Phil and Rachael stumbled when they arrived back at the hotel.  All their Pokemon, except George and Bellezza, had been returned to their Pokeballs.  Denny immediately slapped Phil.

"What were you thinking?  You could have been killed!"

"I did tell you what I was doing."

"I did not think you would actually do it!"

"When my friends are in danger, nothing is too risky."

"Denny, lay off Phil.  He had his reasons for coming," Rachael interrupted.

"That is no excuse!  We are spending the rest of the day, scratch that, week meditating in Maho Mura."

"I was going to challenge the Gym!"

"No buts.  Besides, Maho Mura has something you might find interesting.  Which you will be able to participate in, but I can not have you flying off the handle in a non-Aura civilization.  As you are technically my second in command, I expect you to consider that an order."

"Sir, yes, sir," Phil sarcastically responds.  His delivery must have been pretty good, because Rachael burst out laughing.

"Alright, Phil, Rachael, go gather you stuff.  We can head back with part of the investigation team so that we do not have to walk the whole way."

"Sir, yes, sir," Phil replies, once again making Rachael laugh.

They then left to gather their stuff, and heal their Pokemon.  George and Bellezza were nearly inseparable now, although it may have had more to do with George becoming more protective than anything else.  Bellezza may have also become more beautiful to the Gallade after evolving, if that was possible.

Although, it became clear to Phil after he packed his stuff that it was a two way street.  He had opened the door leading to the hallway from his room to see the pair kissing, in a very affectionate manner.  After standing awkwardly for nearly a fifteen seconds, the Aura Guardian coughed.

'Oh, uh, hi Phil,' George said.

'I am going to go back to Rachael.  She may, um, need help packing,' Bellezza said before darting off, as red as a fire engine, literally, her pale skin accented it very well. 

George turned to Phil, just as red,'Could you, uh, not tell the others that I was snogging Bellezza?' 

"Other than Blazer and Rachael, yes, but don't worry.  They won't poke fun at you, nor will anyone else who may find out.  If they do, then they will be sleeping very well for the next week.  Well, I can't actually say that about Rachael, but I suspect she will be fine with it."

'Thanks.'

"You're welcome.  Just pick somewhere more private next time, like a tree."

George blushed a little bit brighter, which Phil thought was rather impressive.  Chuckling, the teen led the way to Denny's room.  Where everyone else was waiting.

"Alright, Phil, glad you could make it.  We'll be hopping in trucks for a fifteen minute drive to Maho Mura.  Which would have been a about a three hour walk.  So I would hate to miss our ride," Denny informed them.

Rachael and Phil nodded, and they all grabbed their stuff.  When they got downstairs, a couple of the younger detectives, probably probies, helped them put their stuff in the back of the truck.  Then, the group piled into an SUV, George and Bellezza reluctantly went back into their Pokeballs, as there was no seating for them.  Denny sat shotgun, the probies sat in the middle row, and Phil and Rachael climbed into the third row.

"You ready, Denny?" the driver asked.

"As much as I ever will be, Joseph."

"Then we better get going."

"Yeah, let us hit the road."

"Why would you hit a perfectly good road?"

"That is the same question I asked, it is a figure of speech meaning that we are leaving.  Something like that anyway."

"Oh, did your trainee teach that to you?"

"Yes, although he would wipe the floor with any trainee at this point.  Maybe even you."

"Nah, I almost won against Alexander the other day."

"The Master of Arms?  What counts as close?"

"Lasting more than three minutes."

Denny laughed, "Phil could go at least four, unless he used Kyukyoku no Kumiawase."

"Is he going to participate in the,"

"Shush," Denny interrupted, "He probably will, but I do not wish to tell him more about it yet."

"Ah, well, we have some catching up to do."

"That we do."

Phil tuned out their conversation as Rachael nudged him, "So why did Bellezza run past Denny's room so red faced before I called her back?"

"I walked in on her and George kissing," Phil whispered, "The worst part was they were so into it that they didn't notice me for nearly fifteen seconds.  I almost decided just to wait until they noticed me."

"Were they that into it?"

"Don't ask me, I'm no love expert.  I may just be really quiet.  Which is something people have said I am."

Rachael laughed a bit, Phil was glad that she was enjoying herself a little more now.  Perhaps she had realized just how far he really would go.  Just then they pulled up to the small town.  Maho Mura had no hotel, just a few guest houses.  Phil and Rachael got two that were close together, and Denny said he was going to crash at Joseph's house.  After making sure she got to her guest house safely, the Aura Guardian went to his guest house, and crashed.