Monday, June 19th, 1978, 1700

Vermilion City Citadel

My heart caught in my throat at Kiriel's stoic face. She wore a black silk kimono that looked unbearable in the humid weather. She looked more haggard than I had ever seen, with heavy bags under her eyes and a slouch to her shoulders only present in the height of the circuit after beating down dozens of challengers.

For once, she actually looked her age.

Arceus, why is she here? Did she actually come to see if I was okay?

I tried to stifle my racing thoughts, but it proved impossible, and I found myself elated at the idea her visit might be for me. I knew I was setting myself up for disappointment but couldn't help it. This would represent the first time Kiriel ever went out of her way for me if she was, in fact, here out of concern and not some ulterior motive.

Kiriel's face gave nothing away, but she raised a hand in greeting as she sauntered toward the carriage, oozing confidence even in her apparently exhausted state.

Kuon voicelessly mouthed an apology my way before climbing down to meet her.

Damn, bastard could've given me a bit more warning.

I braced to give the briefing I knew Kiriel would expect at my earliest convenience, breathing to steady my racing heart before I made a fool of myself with a tongue that now felt foreign in my mouth. Whenever I interacted with Kiriel alone, I stumbled over my words, which only worsened things as her frown inevitably deepened.

I may have been on the fence about contacting her, but my choice was stripped away before I could ever make it.

Only par for the course.

The least I could do was convey my report as efficiently as possible. The only thing that seemed to soothe Kiriel's seemingly intractable anger towards me was when I completed my tasks immaculately.

"Kiriel! I return at last with your intrepid son. He appears to be in fine health, with a few new scars to wear proudly," Kuon said, beaming even as he hobbled painfully over to the gates. "I rescind my earlier comments about the lad's appearance; I believe he will be fighting off the lasses if he's not already. He's even picked up another one on the way here if you'll believe it!"

"I see," Kiriel said drily, looking my way appraising even as she crinkled her nose. "I expect you to make a full report after cleaning up. The scent is unbecoming of a Seiichi."

I nodded, suppressing a flash of irritation I felt at her immediate barb.

"Yes, Kiriel. My apologies. I recently arrived in the city, and cleaning up was my first priority. I just need a few moments and perhaps a change of clothes if Kuon would be so kind," I said, turning to Kuon with a hopeful look.

The older man nodded, looking more than happy to provide the hospitality. He loved hosting visitors, and I always had good experiences at his manor, and I doubted this would be any different.

"Excellent," Kiriel said, turning fully to Kuon and ignoring me entirely. "May we make use of your private garden for Mare's report? I would love to hear firsthand what led to his delayed arrival. I expected him here weeks ago."

"Anything you need, dear Kiriel. Considering your situation, it's the least I can do," he said politely as he gestured at a few attendants, who took the heavy pack off my shoulders and waited patiently for me to follow.

"See you at dinner, Mare!" Kuon said with a wave. "I daresay a bath will do all of us some good."

I complied, recognizing the dismissal. I was more than a little excited to finally get some clean clothes and rid myself of the fish goop. We entered through the gates, and they led me off to a large section of the building reserved for the many visitors Kuon hosted as leader of a port city.

Kuon and Kiriel headed towards the main complex, chatting amiably as if I were no longer there.

Considering her situation? I wonder what happened while I was out of touch?

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The room I would be staying in reminded me of my own, and I practically salivated at the sight of the cushioned mat on the floor. Although I considered myself well adapted to roughing it, I couldn't deny the minor aches that accumulated after weeks on the hard ground, and I was ready to wake up pain-free.

Otherwise, there was simply a dresser filled with clothes my size, shoes, and a pail of fresh water. A large window took up most of the eastern wall, and I was afforded a mundane view of the thick granite wall surrounding Kuon's citadel.

The grounds around the complex were filled with various trees and foliage, giving the illusion we weren't in the center of a flourishing coastal metropolis.

My thoughts were interrupted by a demure voice behind me. "Sir, if you'll follow me, the bath is ready for you now. We were presented with your measurements before arrival, and clothes await you in the bathhouse."

The male attendant Kuon assigned to me was in their early twenties, with close-cropped blonde hair and blue eyes, a rare sight in these parts. He was polite but held himself proudly, indicating he likely wasn't a career staffer.

"Of course, lead on," I replied, smoothly shutting my door as I stepped out into the hallway.

We exited the sprawling complex, approaching a smaller but no less important building: the bathhouse. Steam wafted heavily from vents on the ceiling, dissipating nearly instantly in the sweltering heat.

My attendant gestured to a door on the left-hand side of the building. "Sir, we've cleared the men's chambers for you. It is currently five thirty. Miss Seiichi strongly suggested you finish bathing by six, and she will be waiting for you in the central gardens. Dinner will be at seven. Do you have any questions at this time?"

I shook my head. "No, thank you. I'll be back out shortly."

Opening the door, I reveled at the sight of the large pool awaiting me. I stripped off my grimy clothing and tossed it into a nearby refuse bin before gingerly stepping into the steaming water, wading up to my chest. I gasped as the heat washed over my still-healing wound. "Fuck, that hurts."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Sir?" A muffled voice pierced the door.

"I'm fine!" I shouted back, embarrassed at the outburst.

"Sir," the voice deferred, but I heard a slight hint of amusement in his tone.

The rest of the bath was uneventful but blissful. The bathhouse helpfully contained any amenities I could have possibly needed, even some I wasn't sure what to do with. There were at least thirty bottles of pungent liquids and oils that I combined together to drown out the lingering scent of fish.

Hopefully that does the trick.

My hair, which had grown oily and ragged over the last few weeks, was now sleek and glossy. I decided not to put my hair up, letting it fall loosely to my shoulders in silky waves. I felt clean in a way I hadn't since the first day of the journey.

Not that being clean will help me deal with Kiriel.

The thought of my impending meeting with Kiriel soured my mood in seconds, and anxiety filled my veins like icy water.

The clothes Kuon provided were more formal than anything I had been wearing; a hunter-green kimono with sandals awaited me. True to the helpful staffer's word, they fit perfectly, and I felt like a new man in the stylish attire.

I couldn't help but wonder what Dani would think of me; I personally thought I looked quite dashing in the outfit.

After dressing, I went back outside to get the dreaded briefing over with. I hoped I made it in time but wouldn't be shocked if I inadvertently enjoyed the bathhouse's simple pleasures for too long.

Stepping out into the sun, I was met with a low whistle.

"They say clothes make a man, and they're not wrong! I picked those out myself! Whaddya think, Mare? I hear you have a lady or two if my idiot husband is to be believed."

The voice was deep for a woman's, and it sparked a smile on my face immediately as I turned to greet its owner.

"I love them, Liza!" I replied enthusiastically to the gray-haired woman who must have swapped out my previous attendant while I was bathing. "However, don't believe Kuon for a second. I have two companions; they are not my ladies."

Liza, Kuon's wife of fifty years, pulled me in for a big hug. I gratefully leaned into it, enjoying the silent support she offered. In contrast to Kuon's rough hug, hers was gentle and loving and melted some of the ice in my veins.

"It's good to see you. I heard you've had a rough go lately," Liza said as she pulled back, examining me even as she held me at arm's length. She had kind brown eyes surrounded by deep smile lines. "You look stressed, to say the least. Anything I can do for you before I ship you off to your mother?"

"I doubt it; the hug will have to suffice. Unless there's something you can clue me in on why Kiriel is here? Kuon said something that set me on edge earlier," I replied grimly.

Liza nodded in understanding. She had long been aware of the tension between Kiriel and me.

"I'm sure he was just trying to be helpful, but it's really not my place to say. For brevity's sake, let us just say your mom isn't very popular right now for several reasons. You can ask her the specifics yourself if you have the courage for it," Liza explained with a frown.

"Got it. Let's get going before I'm late; Kiriel called me out for being a minute late on the first day of my journey, and I have no desire to repeat the interaction. I just want to finish this and meet up with my companions. Will you look out for them when they arrive, please?"

"Consider it done!" she said, beaming. "I'll keep Kuon away from them as long as I can. I hardly want to jeopardize my favorite nephew's love life."

She winked, and I scowled to hide my embarrassment at the comment. I wasn't actually her nephew, but for all intents and purposes, Liza might be an elderly aunt who doted on me during our biannual visits.

"Thanks," I muttered as I followed her through the winding maze of passages into the center of the manor.

A few short minutes later, we arrived at Kuon's private garden. It was centrally located and was curated by the finest floral designers money could buy. A beautiful spread of yellow tulips, blood-red chrysanthemums, and indigo irises were spread out in configurations specifically designed to catch the eye.

In much the same fashion as our personal garden back home, there was a small spring that let out a steady trickling sound, making it ideal for private conversations, of which I was sure this qualified.

The garden may have been difficult to eavesdrop on, but 'private' was a bit of a misnomer. The field of flowers was easily visible through large panes of glass. Kuon was quite proud of the sight and made sure it was as visible as possible for visiting dignitaries. He never hesitated to display the Kumire clan's wealth and status whenever he could.

As such, I had a clear line of sight on Kiriel. She sat alone on one of the few stone benches surrounding the central spring. She appeared to be sipping a cup of tea and reading a book. However, I could tell there was more to the story as her foot tapped restlessly on the loamy ground.

She must be really upset.

Although I knew Kiriel was somehow human like the rest of us, she rarely displayed any signs of anxiety or fear. Her usual manner was of quiet competence, interspersed by rare outbursts of acute displeasure.

Liza coughed, interrupting my anxious waiting. "You gonna be okay? You're tapping your foot something awful."

I blanched, quickly ceasing the movement I wasn't even aware of. "Sorry," I said. "I'm good to go. See you at dinner in a few? If I survive, that is."

Liza rolled her eyes. "You're going to be fine; stop overthinking it. Your mother is a wee bit rough around the edges, but I firmly believe she cares about you somewhere in there; she's just bad about showing it. You don't know what she's gone through. Maybe she'll finally show some affection now that you went through something dangerous alone?"

I chuckled bitterly. "If only I thought that was true. Do you know what she said when Sula and I almost died in Hoenn? I'm sure you recall the Salamence attack after Sula stormed into an unknown section of Meteor Falls. It was only a few years ago."

She nodded, cocking her head. "I do. I imagine she said she was grateful you two were alright. Am I wrong?"

I couldn't help but laugh outright now. I raised my pitch in a poor imitation of Kiriel's voice. "It's too bad about the soldiers, but at least Sula was there to cover for you freezing up."

"Mare…" Liza said, trailing off as she realized there was nothing she could say to cover for Kiriel. She looked away, clearly uncomfortable.

I hardened my resolve, preparing to deal with the many questions and critiques I knew Kiriel would have about my journey.

Turning to Liza with a false smile, I reassured her, "It's fine, Liza. Thank you for the lovely clothes and kind words. Kumire Hospitality has no competitors. I'll see you at dinner."

Not waiting for a response, I pushed through the finely crafted wooden doors and walked up to join Kiriel next to the burbling pool of water.

"You're late," Kiriel said pointedly, not even bothering to look my way.

Of course I am. Nothing I do is ever fucking good enough for you.

"Life happens, Kiriel. I'm here now, isn't that enough?" I snapped, unable to keep the hard edge out of my voice. "I almost didn't make it, if I'm being honest. I'd appreciate it if you showed any sense of relief I'm here at all. Would you rather be delivered a corpse?"

Her gaze snapped towards me, this time with a distinct sense of anger. Her dark eyes were cold, colder than I could stand. "Still your tongue, son of mine," she hissed. "If you think I'm going to weep like some pathetic civilian simply because my son managed to make it through a deserted stretch of land, think again. You're not a corpse, so it's a moot point."

I looked away, unable to hold her gaze. I swallowed, feeling the familiar sense of rejection I often experienced when talking with Kiriel.

She scoffed. "What? Did you want me to say, 'Good job?’ Mare, you barely made it through Fuchsia peninsula with years of private tutoring, powerful thoroughbred Pokemon, and the finest equipment available on the market? Yes, a fine job indeed."

My chest burned with shame, and it was all I could do to maintain my composure at the scathing comments.

"My apologies," I gritted out. "I don't know what came over me. It must be the heat."

"The heat," she mused. "Yes, I suppose it is quite hot. See that it doesn't happen again."

I breathed a silent sigh of relief as the tension settled as she chose to accept my contrived rationale. "Yes, Kiriel. It won't happen again."

This time, she turned to me with an expectant look. "So, care to explain why you arrived in three weeks instead of the expected ten days?"

I nodded, standing to give my report.

"Things started to go south after we encountered this creepy hidden inn," I began.