Aishitemasu [愛してます] (A Gladion x Reader Story)

Chapter 12

And I'm back with yet another chapter. I have got to hurry up with my books though because I have some new ones that I'm itching to publish. Also that pokémon rival guessing thing is still going on. I'll give another hint later.
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       "The back of the store. In the changing area, there's a hole in the wall there!" Hau quickly said as he looked to (y/n), his expression still a pure reflection of panic.

         "Rei, try and hold them off until we can escape," (y/n) said to Rei who gave a very noticeable ete roll. Hau was already making his way to the back of the store so (y/n) followed him without another word to Rei despite his obvious attitude.

       "You first," (y/n) told Hau when he'd uncovered the hole. Since he was slightly injured, he needed to be the first one to leave. (Y/n) could hear Rei and the other pokémon growling and barking at each other as they engaged in battle.

        Once Hau had disappeared through the secret exit, (y/n) whistled for Rei to join the escape and went through the secret route herself. She found Hau anxiously waiting for her outside in the midst of the vegetation that covered the area.

      "This way, quickly," Hau said as he began to lead them away from the apparel shop and into the wilderness. He seemed ro know his way as if he'd been that way before. They could hear the howl of the midnight form Lycanroc and the barks of several Rockruff could be heard as well.

        Even so, Hau still kept leading them and (y/n) surely hoped that the pack of pokémon could be outrun. As far as she knew, Rockruff and Lycanroc didn't travel in such large groups.

       "Here. We should be safe here," Hau said as he stopped and crouched down in a group of shrubs. (Y/n), however, did not see how the vegetation would hide them from the pokémon.

        "They're catching up," Rei reminded her through his thoughts. (Y/n) was about to question Hau until he disappeared. It surprised (y/n) so she peered into the shrubs to find an open hatch that Hau must have gone into.

      Rei didn't hesitate to follow which left (y/n) outside to contemplate her next move. It didn't take her long to follow after Hau and Rei and she closed the hatched behind her.

         As she climbed down the rather short ladder that led into what seemed to be an underground hideout, she could hear the distant howls of the Lycanroc and Rockruff outside. Their hurried footsteps could then be heard above and some of their claws clattered against the metal hatch.

      "What is this place?" (y/n) asked as she took in the sparsely decorated room. There was a bed, a chair, a small shelf and several items in the room.

        "This is where I live for now. Moon hasn't been able to find me but I doubt she's even tried. I can't hide very well. I'm just lucky to have stumbled across this place. I have no idea how it got here," Hau said as he made his way to the bed in the corner.

        "What exactly is Moon's goal in all of this? What does she want?" (y/n) muttered to herself. Hau gave her a weary look and although he didn't say anything, his thoughts spoke for him.

        "Whatever it is, I want it to end. I want to be able to stop running all of the time," he thought. (Y/n) glanced at him but said nothing.

        "You keep reading my thoughts too. Stop that, it really bothers me," he also thought with a slight frown. Surprised that he'd even known, (y/n) glanced at him again before sitting down and looking through her bag.

       She didn't know how to control these new psychic abilities anyway so she hoped that keeping her mind busy would keep her from accidentally or even purposely hearing Hau's thoughts. As (y/n) looked through her bag, she came across her pokéball section and an idea came to mind.

        "Hey, Hau, exactly how often do those Lycanroc and Rockruff show up in this area?" she asked as she already began planning.

        "What is that?" Hau asked, referring to the pokéball that (y/n) now held. He didn't even try answering (y/n)'s question.

        "It's a normal pokéball. I have five others of this kind. Now about those pokémon," (y/n) replied. She needed to know their pattern if her plan was going to work.

        "Oh, they were here first. I'm actually in their territory. It's safer here than outside of it though because none of the other vicious pokémon come near this area," Hau said. He seemed glad to share the information which in turn made (y/n) a little happier.

       "I need to do something and it's going to be dangerous. I need you to stay here until I come back. I'm taking Rei with me and since this is your place, I'm assuming you can handle yourself until I get back, right?" (y/n) said.

         "You're leaving?" Hau asked, his expression showing the heartbreak that he likely felt.

        "Not permanently. I'll be back really soon, I promise," (y/n) said. Hau gave her a skeptical look that she returned with a smile. He gave a small nod but still didn't seem to be taking the announcement any better and that's when it happened again.

        "I hope you're the type of person to keep your promises. The last time someone promised to come back, they never did." (Y/n) kept staring at him and her expression must have given her away because Hau sighed and looked away from her.

        "You read my mind again, didn't you," he softly said as he kept himself from crying again.

       Seeing her friend in a state such as this one, no matter what world he was from, made (y/n) sad as well so she did what he would have done back in the Alola she knew. Hau was startled by the sudden contact but he didn't pull away from (y/n)'s hug.

        "I'm going to try not to do that anymore, but seriously, I'll be right back and I'll be bringing new allies with me," (y/n) said as she let Hau go and returned Rei to his pokéball. Hau still didn't look her way though.

        (Y/n) decided to put the matter aside for the time being and went to the short ladder that lead to the surface. She could no longer hear the sounds of the Rockruff and Lycanroc's pursuit so she assumed it was safe to go outside. She was going to need to find the leader first and then she could solve the entire problem. Hopefully she could do it with just twelve pokéballs in total. The rest that weren't normal being ultra pokéballs.

        "I bet Gladion would have done this too," (y/n) thought as she exited the shelter to track down the midnight form Lycanroc.
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And so this concludes this here chapter. The hint for the pokémon rival is: they can't participate in the contest spectaculars, there isn't one in their region. Until next time you incredible readers!