"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~"
Hypno teleported Airi from one mountaintop to another. As the weakest of Natsume's Psychic Pokémon and having already expended a great deal of energy, it had to stop and rest briefly on each peak.
Airi, however, didn't notice Hypno's weakened state. She simply clung tightly to its hand, fully aware of the dangers of Teleportation. To her, it felt like traveling through space itself. A powerful Pokémon like Hypno might not fear spatial turbulence or dimensional rifts, but she was only an Ordinary-level novice. The experience terrified her.
Although she didn't understand why Hypno hadn't created an energy shield around her, she didn't dare ask. She could only hope that it knew what it was doing.
"We're here!"
After resting, Hypno performed two more consecutive Teleports. When the young woman opened her eyes, she found herself standing before a familiar figure.
At that moment, Icarus was smiling at the pale-faced young woman.
"Brother Icarus!"
After everything she had been through, Airi finally saw the person she relied on most. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes as she threw herself into his arms.
"Alright, alright. There are so many people watching."
Icarus awkwardly hugged the distressed young woman while patiently comforting her.
The situation was admittedly awkward. He had only recently confessed everything to Natsume, and now another young woman had thrown herself into his arms.
He secretly glanced at Natsume.
The usually serene young woman looked slightly displeased, though she didn't stop them. She merely turned her head away.
Noticing Icarus's nervous glance, Natsume looked back and gave him a gentle smile.
The slight unhappiness she had felt earlier quickly faded.
She understood that Icarus cared deeply about her opinion, and that was enough.
"Phew~"
Icarus quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Being involved with a woman far stronger than himself was certainly stressful. Fortunately, Natsume didn't seem to mind.
"Oh, right, Airi. Let me introduce you."
After comforting her, Icarus pointed toward the young woman beside him.
"This is Natsume. And this Psychic Pokémon is one of her partners, Hypno. The other two have gone to find Ishi. I'll introduce them later."
Hypno merely nodded coolly in acknowledgment.
Even though it knew Airi possessed an Innate Extraordinary Talent, it wasn't particularly impressed. In Goldenrod City, Naturally Extraordinary individuals were common.
Meanwhile, Natsume's serene face blossomed into a smile.
Icarus had previously described these people as his brothers and sisters. Although this "sister" seemed to carry a somewhat special meaning, it still represented an important relationship from his past.
As his lover, Natsume naturally wanted to establish her position.
"Hello, Airi. I am Icarus's lover, Natsume."
Releasing her still-unstable Gym Leader aura, Natsume greeted the blue-haired young woman with a radiant smile.
Looking at the cold and exquisite beauty before her and feeling the overwhelming pressure of her aura, Airi couldn't help feeling a pang of sadness.
Although Icarus had already prepared her for this, and although she had once served him alongside Luna and Xiao Kui, she had always occupied the highest position among Icarus's women.
Now, it seemed she would have to step aside.
"Tensui Ling greets Sister Natsume."
After a brief silence, the sensible young woman bowed respectfully and addressed her as "Sister."
"Mhm. Sister Airi, if I'm not mistaken, you possess an Innate Water-type Extraordinary Talent and also practice a water-attributed martial cultivation technique."
Since the younger woman had willingly acknowledged her position, Natsume didn't mind offering a gift.
After all, she came from the strongest Psychic family in existence and possessed countless cultivation methods.
"Yes, that's right…"
Airi nodded honestly.
She wasn't foolish. This woman was likely one of the mysterious figures who had led them through the underground ruins earlier.
And that group had almost certainly been Team Rocket.
So she didn't bother hiding her concerns or resentment toward the Alliance.
"Swish~"
Before she could finish speaking, a purple light shot into her mind.
It was a high-level Water-type cultivation manual.
"This… this…"
Airi was stunned.
A high-level cultivation manual had simply been handed to her like that.
The Alliance's publicly available Water Spirit Art was merely a low-grade technique that only allowed cultivation up to the Elite level, and even that required 1,000 Alliance Merit Points.
Mid-grade techniques cost even more.
As for high-grade techniques, they started at 10,000 Merit Points and were rarely available.
Yet Natsume had casually given her one.
"Thank you, Sister Natsume."
Airi's gratitude instantly became far more sincere.
"Mhm. Use this one for now. We're family. When we return, I'll see if there's an even better one available."
Natsume smiled faintly.
To her, such manuals were among the cheapest rewards she could hand out.
But to ordinary people, they were priceless treasures.
This world was controlled by great families, and knowledge was often the easiest thing to monopolize.
"Natsume, what about me…"
Realizing this had become the rich young lady's gift-giving session, Icarus shamelessly spoke up.
"Icarus, don't worry. You're my lover. I've already thought about what to give you. I'll help you once we leave this place."
Natsume smiled gently.
"Good, good. I'll listen to you."
Icarus immediately grinned.
At that moment, Airi, having finished scanning the cultivation manual, noticed that Natsume was still wearing rough men's clothing.
"Sister Natsume, you can wear one of my outfits. I still have several changes of clothes in my backpack."
She immediately took out a set of women's clothing and handed it over.
"Mhm. Thank you, Sister Airi."
Natsume accepted without hesitation.
After all, she truly disliked wearing clothes stripped from a dead man.
"Whoosh~"
A burst of purple light enveloped Natsume.
When the light faded, she stood before everyone in a sky-blue dress.
Elegant.
Cold.
Beautiful.
The dress fit Airi perfectly, but it was slightly tight on Natsume's taller frame.
The white lace hem fell just above her knees, while the fitted design highlighted her graceful figure.
"Could it be I guessed wrong…"
Icarus stared for a few moments and muttered to himself.
Apparently, his earlier judgment had been inaccurate.
"Wow! Sister Natsume, your figure is amazing!"
Airi praised sincerely.
It wasn't entirely flattery.
Before, Natsume had been wearing oversized work clothes, making it difficult to judge.
Now the difference was obvious.
"Mhm. You're too kind. Sister Airi is beautiful as well."
Natsume returned the compliment with a smile.
The two women soon began chatting naturally while waiting for Alakazam and Mr. Mime to return.
Watching them, Icarus was surprised.
They seemed to have become close remarkably quickly.
Not long afterward, two flashes of light appeared.
"Miss Natsume, Lord Icarus, I found your male companion."
Alakazam was the first to report.
"He encountered an unexpected opportunity and is currently accompanying a white-haired old man and a squinty-eyed young man. He is completely unharmed."
Mr. Mime immediately jumped in.
"Boss Alakazam had me lure away a Gym Leader-level powerhouse first!"
Alakazam shot it an annoyed look.
"Alright, second-in-command. I wasn't going to forget your contribution."
After some brief bickering, Natsume promised to compensate Mr. Mime with Psychic resources once they returned.
Only then did Alakazam continue.
According to Ishi's account, after being critically injured and losing consciousness, the perfected Di Sha Fist within his body automatically absorbed earth energy and kept him alive.
When he woke up, he was discovered by the Wu Neng Family.
After examining him, the old man not only healed him but also recruited him.
The price was simple.
He would become the personal bodyguard of the young Gym Leader, Takeshi, and receive treatment equivalent to that of a Gym disciple.
When Icarus heard this, he couldn't help laughing bitterly.
"Ishi really is the protagonist, isn't he? He almost died, yet somehow ended up with an even better future."
Afterward, Alakazam relayed Ishi's final message.
"Brother Icarus, Airi, I probably won't be able to continue traveling with you.
I hope both of you stay safe.
Although no restraints have been placed on me yet, I heard they eventually will be.
But don't worry.
I am your man in life and in death.
If necessary, I'll risk everything to pass information from the Rock Gym to you.
I hope we meet again at the next Indigo Plateau Conference."
Alakazam even perfectly imitated Ishi's voice.
It sounded as though he were standing before them.
"Ishi… you bastard…"
Icarus slammed his fist into the ground.
His emotions were far too complicated to describe.
"Brother Ishi…"
Airi's eyes filled with tears as well.
Only now, faced with true separation, did she realize how painful it felt.
Even their Pokémon looked saddened.
After more than two years together, they were finally being forced to part ways.
-------------Author---------------
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