"I've got a present too!"
With that, Fuyuki ran to the other side and pulled out a stash of candy he had been hiding for a long time, something he had saved just for Entei.
Seeing this, Entei felt a deep warmth in its chest.
It leaned down to lick the child, then cast a glance toward Raikou not far away.
Raikou: "..."
That look seemed to say it all. Entei was the most important Pokemon by this human infant's side.
After the candy was finished, Fuyuki started rummaging all over Entei, patting and checking its fur as if turning it inside out.
The little one's behavior left Entei completely baffled.
Raikou, however, understood right away. The child was checking to see whether Entei had been hurt while it was gone.
The realization left Raikou with mixed emotions.
Once he confirmed Entei was unharmed, Fuyuki finally relaxed.
Now that Entei was back, the heavy weight in his heart settled at last. He no longer had to worry about Entei running into danger out there.
They could go back to living happily together in this new home, just like before.
Speaking of the new home…
Fuyuki looked down at the carpet and wooden floor beneath him and asked proudly, "Entei, I made our home like this. Isn't it awesome?"
"It's amazing." Entei felt its heart soften completely. It licked the child's hair and, for once, spoke gently to him. "The little one is the greatest child in the world."
"It'll get even better!" Fuyuki's eyes sparkled.
Once he had enough Shock Points, he could keep expanding this cave, turning it into a perfect home for himself, for Entei, Raikou, Marshadow, and for all Pokemon to live in.
And then… he'd raise a whole bunch of fluffy Pokemon!
"Mmm. I believe you," Entei replied.
After being apart for so long, Fuyuki finally snuggled back into Entei's warm embrace.
He was too excited to sleep, so he started chattering away, telling Entei everything that had happened over the past few days.
How he had shown magic tricks to the Pokemon in the mountains, how he and Raikou had planted Berry trees together…
Hearing that, Entei glanced at Raikou.
As he talked, sleepiness slowly washed over Fuyuki. He curled up against Entei, closed his eyes without a worry, and drifted off.
The two Pokemon watched quietly, neither of them disturbing him.
After a long while, Entei spoke through telepathy, its voice echoing soundlessly to Raikou.
"When will you leave?"
"What, afraid I'll steal your little one?" Raikou shot back.
Entei: "..."
"No." Entei shook its head lightly. Looking at the sleeping child, its tone turned solemn. "You're right. This is no longer something I can handle alone."
Raikou froze.
Entei continued, "We each have our own missions. We can't stay on Mount Tensei for long. With my strength alone, I'm afraid I can't take proper care of the little one."
"But I also can't leave the little one here alone. So, Raikou, I hope you'll help me raise him."
Entei looked straight at Raikou. Even though it worried the child might grow closer to Raikou, some things mattered more than that.
When it came to what truly mattered, Entei chose to share responsibility for raising the little one with Raikou and Marshadow.
With more Pokemon watching over him, the child would be safer and grow up more smoothly.
"Hmph." Raikou snorted, its voice proud and aloof.
Just as Entei thought Raikou was about to refuse, Raikou spoke again.
"In that case, starting today, I'm this human infant's father."
Entei frowned slightly. "I'm the little one's father. I was the first to meet him."
"You handed the human infant over to me to raise. That makes me his father too," Raikou replied coolly.
"It's me!"
"No, it's me!"
From the shadows, Marshadow watched in silence: "..."
It really couldn't stand it anymore and was forced to emerge.
The moment it appeared, both Entei and Raikou turned to look at it.
Marshadow's gaze was calm. "Don't misunderstand. I'm not here to argue about who his father is. I just want to say that, by human customs, we should give this human infant a proper name."
A name?
Entei and Raikou both froze.
They exchanged looks, then nodded.
"That's true."
"Calling him 'little one' or 'human infant' forever isn't ideal," Entei said thoughtfully.
It was fine for now, but once the child grew up, it wouldn't be appropriate.
The problem was, what kind of name should they give him?
"How about Rai?" Raikou suggested.
Entei frowned instantly, staring at Raikou. It could practically see the scheming written all over its face.
"No." Entei rejected it outright. "I think 'Little Treasure' suits him better."
After all, the little one was its treasure.
"That sounds bad," Raikou said coolly. "Rai."
"Little Treasure!"
"Rai!"
"..."
"Ma-sha…"
Marshadow sighed helplessly and spoke up at just the right moment.
"I've entered this human infant's dreams before. He already has a name, one given to him by his parents, who have passed away."
Entei and Raikou both paused.
They looked at Marshadow.
Marshadow continued, "Fuyuki. That's his name. His parents chose it with love and hope, wishing that he would be like a tree in winter. Even facing cold winds and heavy snow, he would stand tall and grow strong."
"..."
Entei and Raikou fell silent.
They exchanged a glance. This time, there was no argument. Instead, they turned together to look at the sleeping child.
After a long moment, Entei's solemn voice echoed through Raikou's and Marshadow's minds.
"In that case, let's call him Fuyuki."
Raikou stayed quiet, then gave a low grunt of agreement, no longer arguing.
"Ma-sha?" So it's decided?
Marshadow looked at the two Pokemon.
Entei and Raikou nodded their massive heads at the same time.
Only then did Marshadow relax. It slipped back into Fuyuki's shadow, leaving Entei and Raikou to stand guard over him.
"Has Ho-Oh still not returned?" Entei asked.
Raikou shook its head.
"And Suicune? Any news?"
Raikou shook its head again. "I haven't seen it in a long time, but I can sense where it is. It's in the Johto region."
"I understand."
Entei said nothing more.
After traveling day and night to return to the little one as soon as possible, barely stopping to rest, its body was exhausted.
Looking at the child sleeping peacefully on the soft carpet he had created, Entei felt completely at ease.
Before it realized it, Entei closed its eyes and drifted into sleep alongside Fuyuki.
=-=-=-=-=-==
You can read up to chapter 46 and more soon on patreon.com/NiaXD.