A slender eyebrow raised at the sudden turn of conversation, but it smoothed out into an expression of understanding at Nabi's tale. Smiling softly, Yumi reached across the table to pat the other woman's wrist. [break][break]

"I appreciate you sharing this with me, Nabi. To be honest, my family has ties with Team Rocket, too. I grew up exposed to that life. So, we're more alike than you think," she said, attempting to be reassuring in her own way. "And because of that, I have no doubt you'll be able to succeed fearlessly, too." [break][break]

Withdrawing her hand, Yumi sat straighter in her chair and hailed a waiter. [break][break]

"Please give the chef our compliments," she told the woman who stepped up to their table, "as well as a request to speak with him in private." [break][break]

After the waiter departed to deliver her message, Yumi glanced over at Nabi. Triumph sparkled in her eyes. "I'll pay and then we'll have our chat with him, hmm?"

TAGS – nabi park[break]
NOTES – social | outfit

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Yumi did not know what came over her when she sent the flirty text to Nikkari. But he'd been occupying her thoughts of late, especially at night when she was alone, and his gifts had been so thoughtful. The Vulpix, who she'd named Kasai, shadowed her every move as she hurried to change out of her more conservative work outfit. [break][break]

After tearing through her closet, she settled on a casual sleeveless top and silk skirt with a long side slit. She touched up her makeup and hair and spritzed perfume she hoped he liked, then paused. [break][break]

What am I doing? Yumi asked herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. It's just Nikkari. Yet she couldn't deny the way her stomach was tying itself into knots. [break][break]

The knock came without warning. Her heart hammering at a breakneck pace, she opened the door. There he stood, unbearably handsome. She scrambled for words. [break][break]

"That was fast. Is it me you're really here for, or is it the wine?" she teased him, unable to stop from hiding her embarrassment behind cutting wit. [break][break]

At her feet, Kasai made a noise of greeting. Scooping him up in her arms, she turned to lead Nikkari into the apartment. "Come inside. And excuse the mess—Mei moved out, so this place only looks half-lived now."

TAGS – nikkari hect[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Marilyn's approval secured, Yumi practically preened, pride oozing from every pore. [break][break]

"I hope your mahjong skills haven't gotten rusty, because I'd love for you to visit the parlor often," she said, swiping through several interior design ideas. Her sketches showed collages for furniture, decoration, silverware and flatware, lighting options, and even menus. [break][break]

At Marilyn's question on properties, Yumi shook her head. "Not yet, but I have a contact in real estate. I want to reach out to him once I tally up some numbers." [break][break]

She wasn't sure if nikkari hect would be willing to invest in this kind of project, but the only way to find out was to ask. [break][break]

Putting aside her tablet, Yumi turned to regard her grandmother once more. "I knew you were born in Slateport, but not much else beyond that," she ventured. "Will you tell me some stories of when you were young? Before you married Grandfather and moved to Johto?"

TAGS – MARILYN HASEGAWA[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The smooth transition to business talk brought Yumi out of her spell. A part of her felt relief, knowing that her relationship with Nikkari was unaffected by what had transpired between them. [break][break]

Still, that did not stop the pang of hurt from a perceived rejection. [break][break]

She brushed it aside. He'd taken what he'd wanted from her, just as she'd done to others in the past. How was it any different now? [break][break]

"Yes, Wednesday is still good," Yumi said, hoping her voice didn't project any of her emotions, grateful to turn her back on Nikkari as she prepared a pot of coffee and her tea. "I have a reservation at our usual lunch place." [break][break]

By the time they sat down for breakfast, with hot drinks and hot food in hand, she felt more in command of herself. And when she bade him farewell, she squashed the insistent desire to grab his hand and drag him back into her bedroom. [break][break]

Still, that did not stop her from daydreaming of him after he was gone.

TAGS – nikkari hect[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Yumi's frown deepened at the question of Sen's devotion to Team Rocket. "I'll be honest, Grandmother: I have no idea what Sen thinks of Team Rocket," she admitted. "Maybe that's a conversation best had between you and him, though." [break][break]

She nibbled delicately on her forkful of dessert, listening to Marilyn's wisdom. The consternation smoothed out of her face, replaced by a mix of pride and delight. "I hope so, too. In fact, I did want to speak with you about business today." [break][break]

Yumi flashed her grandmother a grin. [break][break]

"I want to expand. The casino brings in good money, but one business does not equal an empire. And if I want to build my own empire here, in our name as Hasegawas, then I need to extend beyond the casino and Sootopolis." [break][break]

Removing her tablet from her tote bag, she turned it on and pulled up a few sketch ideas. [break][break]

"I want to open a mahjong parlor in Slateport that doubles as a restaurant and bar. Do you play mahjong at all?"

TAGS – MARILYN HASEGAWA[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Yumi had expected Hitoshi to feel reassured by her words, as he always was. The truth of reality was her burden to shoulder, while he remained innocent and devoted. But instead, he begged the same promise from her that she made him promise in the past. [break][break]

The gulf between then and now never seemed more obvious. A part of her wanted to burst into tears. All she wanted was to keep the one thing that belonged to a childhood she had lost, but neither could she deny the overflowing pride filling her at Hitoshi's declaration. [break][break]

Somehow, in the last few months, he had stopped being a dog and had grown into a man, one with fears and dreams and a heart to break. [break][break]

Yumi stood, eyes shining with emotion. She walked over and wrapped her arms around her dearest and oldest friend, putting all her gratitude into the embrace. [break][break]

"I promise," she murmured, not trusting herself to remain composed should she speak any louder. "We'll grow old and have grandkids and you'll walk in whatever light you want, with all your friends." [break][break]

Just don't leave me, she added silently, afraid to give her insecurities voice.

TAGS – Hitoshi Inoue[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Yumi's chuckle at Hitoshi's reminiscence of their trips to the arcade died at his sudden and serious confession. She looked at him with alarm, eyes wide. He had never admitted to such a thing before; indeed, she'd never known her bodyguard to fear dying. [break][break]

Of course, part of his duty was to protect her with his life. But he'd always been so skilled with the sword that she'd never considered he'd ever have to die for her. [break][break]

But that was no longer true, not in Hoenn. There, divine beings manifested, chose Avatars, and warred with each other. There, factions warred in the open, not in secret like in Johto. There, war threatened to fracture society and spill the blood of innocents. [break][break]

It was no wonder the pair had changed since their arrival. The region had forced change upon them. [break][break]

"If it will be the death of us, then we'll take it down with us," Yumi said, with all the cool logic and confidence of a crime family's heiress. The surprise had smoothed out of her face. [break][break]

She was no fool; death came for everyone. But this was her role: to lead. And a leader reassured her people. [break][break]

"But until then, we'll take advantage of everything that's available to us. We'll not only survive, but thrive here." Because Hitoshi was right: they could not leave. "We must."

TAGS – Hitoshi Inoue[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

An unexpected sense of reassurance settled where doubt and fear had started to grow, hindering their progress. Yes, Yumi was happier lately. She had business success, a growing network of business partners and friends, and time to pursue her creative passion. [break][break]

Hitoshi's attunement to her emotions was normally something she appreciated, but in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to redirect the conversation elsewhere. She sighed, still smiling. [break][break]

"Sometimes I wish we could go back to simpler times," she admitted. It wasn't technically untrue. "You and me as kids, walking home after school, eating snacks and playing games. It wasn't all fun or easy, but it was simple." [break][break]

Yumi looked out the nearest window at Slateport City's skyline. [break][break]

"Adulthood makes life more complicated somehow. Not that I regret it, mind you," she added quickly, glancing back at Hitoshi. "It's just a lot of stress, sometimes."

TAGS – Hitoshi Inoue[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Nikkari's wound didn't look fine, but Yumi wasn't a medical expert, and she trusted he could take care of himself. So she returned his warmth in the form of a smile. [break][break]

"I'm not trying to kick you out," she said with a light laugh, turning to pull plates and utensils out of cupboards and drawers. "But you're a busy man, so I suspected you wouldn't want to linger, either." [break][break]

Did she want him to linger, though? It was a dangerous thought, one she cut off before it could blossom into dangerous fantasies. Nikkari was a business partner, and sleeping where one worked was a high-risk game, especially for a young woman such as herself. [break][break]

Yumi set the table in a thoughtful, almost meditative silence, then proceeded with her morning ritual of making a cup of tea. "You prefer coffee, don't you? Black?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at Nikkari as she poured water into the electric kettle.

TAGS – nikkari hect[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]