detamarind

[detamarind]

Building Block (Guzma/Mom)

Continuation from Restoration on AO3. 

Guzma has been very patient.  (explicit)

Note: Just found this in my drafts from the beginning of the year! Oops.

Guzma had to be honest: he had reservations going into a relationship with Sun’s mother. These doubts did not revolve around her, but himself. Hala told him what a wreck he was and he couldn't deny it. She had her shit together whereas he had an embarrassing portfolio of fragility. It would be impossible to dance around his past and expect a relationship to work. He had to acknowledge his mess. For any chance with her, Guzma had to fix it all.

So, he came to realize change around Sun’s mother wasn't hard. He acclimated to her needs readily that he didn't question it. Around others, however, was proving to be a challenge. Considerable effort was required to swallow his pride and force himself to see Hala’s truths. It was only by coincidence this happened after the Kahuna pummeled him. Not long after brought him to an encounter with Plumeria following this so-called ‘new path’. The formalities lasted mere minutes before her anger resurfaced and she opted to knock him down a peg through battle. She almost forgave him after that, too. Also, strangely, he began to find Kukui less annoying these days. 

There will always be more work to undo, he knows, but in exchange for a lifetime with her it was worth it. It was weird to think about how Sun factored into all this---as the main instigator.

The kid beat him good and, while he will never say it, but he is grateful for the result. It was what led him to let go of the resentment which Skull stemmed from and into continuing to where he left off with Hala so many years ago. Not too long after, he had his fateful meeting with Sun’s mother. Thinking about it, he can’t help but chuckle under his breath.

“Guzma?”

“Hm?” Guzma tilts his head up slightly on the closed hand under his jaw toward the woman sitting across him at the table.

The woman wears a familiar set of sunglasses on top of her head and smiles. “You just laughed.” She sets down her cup, its contents cooled down to a preferable warmth. “What were you remembering?”

“Nah.” He shakes his head, mirroring her smile. “Nothing big.”

“Oh? And here I thought my joke from earlier was still a hit.”

He offers her a smirk as he crosses his arms and leans back in his seat with closed eyes, another laugh emerging from him. “Now that you mention it.” He feels something strike on his shoulder lightly. 

“Enough you.” She closes her eyes, hand empty from whatever she had thrown by her head. “No need to sugarcoat.” 

“Hey,” he leans forward, arms folded on the table’s surface, “I can’t help it if that’s what I want to do.”

“Praise?”

“Yeah. You, in particular.” 

She stands up, walks behind Guzma, and rests her hands on his shoulders. “Would you like to see the Ride Show with me tonight?”

“Yeah, but,” his hand overlays hers on his left, “the show starts pretty late, we got time to kill until then.”

“Hm. I don’t know. We could,” Guzma can hear her feigned obliviousness, “but what would we do?”

He snorts, a smile on his face. “Got some ideas,” he says quietly. He stands up, movements quick to catch her imbalance at the slight shock of change in positions. “Just a suggestion,” he whispers.

Her eyes soften and Guzma leans in to kiss her gently. Her hands roam up his arms to fold behind his neck. It’s a simple encouragement that brings his own hands around her waist, feeling her over her thin shirt.

Guzma had not become too intimate with Sun’s mother. The most they had done is similar to the current situation. Her fingers of one hand combing his hair while the other grips tightly to the collar of his jacket. He is spurred to draw more of her reactions, escalate their fervor. He leaves her lips to kiss her chin and jaw, drawing small gasps from her.

“Yeah? You like that?” Guzma whispers against her neck, making sure to linger his breaths on her moistened skin.

“Oh, Guzma. That’s–” A whine starts from the back of her throat. The sound is so encouraging. Guzma closes his lips along the skin of her neck, thoroughly tasting as his arms enclose her.

“Ahn!”

“You’re the best.” He says into her skin, nipping the skin below her ear with another hand moving to cradle her breast. He massages her gently through her shirt, allowing himself and her to become lost in their desire. 

In a sudden move, Guzma brings his hands under butt to lift her feet off the ground. He takes a few steps forward to settle her on the countertop. He breaks from ravaging her neck and collar, to look at her flustered face, elevating his lust to an insatiable level, and closes the gap between them.

“Going to give you everything you want.” Guzma says against her lips.

Without delaying a beat, she answers hurriedly, “yes.”

Guzma is hungry, to put it lightly, and he is going to get himself a snack. His hand runs under her skirt to squeeze her inner thigh. His fingers are firm as they move to press against the moist cloth and her breaths become quicker, breaking from his kiss. He takes the opportunity to push her skirt high and give himself a view of the front of her panties.

“Soaking.”

“Hnn.” She moans.

“Your boy’s got this.” Guzma presses his face forward, nose and mouth against the damp material, with a deep breath.

“Mmm!”

His hand comes to tease her taint and another hold her steady at her lower back. Guzma licks along the skin where her thigh and vulva meet, peppering kisses as another hands grips the opposite thigh and, thumb teasing hair and moist flesh.

He draws on her inner thigh with slow ministrations from his tongue as his hand moves onto her covered vulva. He bites tentatively onto the skin, eliciting louder cries from her. He can feel the heat and wetness immensely, so his fingers follow the silent pleas to move under the material to rub over her folds.

“Mm,” her hips lightly rock, “Guzma.”

He presses two fingers in immediately, with his mouth following to lick along the exposed flesh until his tongue meets her clitoris.

“Ah!”

One of Guzma’s hand moves higher along her side to her waist and then up to her breast while the other remains feeling the walls of her vagina. He grips her chest through her shirt tightly and soon has two of her hands holding onto his head and hair, keeping him in place. He angles his head to the side, swiping his tongue more thoroughly around her clitoris and towards her vagina. His tongue teases the vaginal opening with quick through stokes, barely hearing his name as a melody from her. Her feet secure themselves behind his back and he swiftly adds another finger and his tongue to the rhythm at her vagina, lips still at work.

He feels her movements inside, constricting on him in pulses and moves quicker, letting himself get lost to her whims. He lowers his hand to grip her waist and brings his mouth to her clitoris once again, lips carefully securing the organ with his tongue offering a flick in between his movements. 

Suddenly, the hands on his head break him away as he is lifted to meet her mouth in a kiss and his fingers are clenched in a convulse. She separates her mouth from his with deep breaths as he continues kissing to her chin and ear, fingers still slow within her. 

"Gu-” Her body locks up as the ringing of a phone fills the house.

“Oh!” She hops off the counter and answers the phone on the table in a display of impressive recovery. “Sun!”

Guzma restrains his comments as he wipes his face with a sleeve. This kid…

“Mhm! Yep. No problem.” She nods. “Bye!”

“What is it?” He asks with an elbow on a counter-top and a palm holding his disinterested face.

“Sun will be here for dinner soon! I’m sorry, Guzma, but I have to start cooking if I want to have a meal done on time.” She looks around the kitchen before facing him. “Can you help?”

“Uh, yeah, sure. I can do that.” This will be his first time facing the kid after...well.

“Great! What are your specialties?” She brings out a pot and a basket of berries.

“Um,” he scratches the back of his neck, “I guess…Malasada?”

Her eyes shine wide. “You can make malasadas!?”

He grins and feels pride. “Yeah! I can make ‘em quick, too.”

“Oh my goodness! You are so skilled, Guzma.”

“What can I say?” Guzma glows. “I give my woman what she wants.”

She flushes. “I’ll make sure to learn every step. Although, I can’t promise I will be able to recreate it with one demonstration.”

“That’s okay. I can always give extra lessons.”

“Guzma!” She swats his arm with more force than he expects. “Sun will be here soon!”

Note: Kukui, Guzma, and Mother are all the same age, right? Kukui and Guzma are alluded to be the same age and Mother mentioned seeing Kukui when she was younger, so I assume they are? 

It’s never head for head. 

[detamarind]

Annotated Repentance (Nanu & Ilima)

It is always overcast in Po Town.

This is a Nanu & Ilima-centric fic. I saw Ilima—youthful, enthusiastic, and in white clothing—as the polar opposite of Nanu. There is hinted nightschoolshipping, but that is the extent. See endnotes. 

A paw is on Nanu's cheek and he is vaguely aware of it in his sleep. He ignores it, an adequate rest still within reach so he breathes slowly to catch it. Weight settles on the hand at his chest, pressuring his nerves with discomfort as claws scrape his skin. Reluctantly, Nanu blinks his eyes open to the ceiling as the sound of rain fades from the deafening meows around him.

“Alright.” He says to no one and everyone around him as he gets up to feed his hungry companions. In the myriad of noises, Nanu is unable to distinguish a call going unanswered as a Meowth jumps onto his shoulders.

The ferry comes to halt and a voice that Nanu can not decipher as a recording or a person chimes, “Melemele Island.” In his walk toward Hau'oli City he is suddenly struck with memories of the days when he was not an Island Kahuna. A strong distaste in his mouth reminds him it wasn't any better.

“Verdant Cavern, was it?”

Hala requested his presence to oversee his newest Trial Captain. Normally, Nanu would have turned down the invitation to play supervisor, but Hala mentioned a meeting with other Kahuna taking place the same day. “I’ll try and make it.” Nanu had responded, knowing he might conveniently miss the appointed day, but Hala reminded him thrice more over the following days. It is for that reason he is in the crowded hub on Melemele Island.

It was a strange request seeing how Trial Captains are accomplished trainers in their own right. Yet, Hala believed his input was needed. Nanu does not bother with most things, quite adamantly, but he can only laze around with his Meowth and Persian for so long. (Not true.)

People are abuzz in the metropolitan and, while he does not find himself listening in on conversations as he once did under orders from an intelligence bureau, repetition becomes easy to recognize. “Captain” and “Smeargle” come up often and he makes the connection. Why the heck is Hala sending him to lend guidance to a Normal-type user?

Nanu groans inwardly, slowly making his way to the site, when a familiar sound draws his attention to a grass patch within the city. A Meowth peers out from the edge of the lawn and he reaches down, fishing a single bean from his pocket for the lone pokemon. The Dark feline is careful to approach the morsel.

“Captain Ilima is quite resourceful, wouldn't you agree?”

There go the residents of the city again, paying no mind to the man crouched as they pass by and continue their conversation. Nanu’s hand remains steady as the Meowth attempts to swipe the bean away.

“Indeed. You can see how Hala recognized that sense of responsibility from Tapu Koko within Ilima.”

Hala sent him to survey an overachiever? Seems as if the Kahuna is as cunning as ever, orchestrating this cooperation with someone who is sure to test his patience with their enthusiasm. And here he thought he would at least be away from the noise on Ula'ula.

In one swift movement, the Meowth snatches the bean and leaps out of view with its prize. Nanu stands up and looks down the path out of Hau'oli. Verdant Cavern is not a long walk from here.

The Raticate on the ledge above him growls but Nanu is unperturbed. He knows not to encroach on its territory and incite its anger. A throat clears, redirecting his attention. Oh yeah. The Trial Captain. The young man stands next to the Raticate with his arms crossed and an unpleasant expression on his face. It is a stark contrast from his overall appearance of bright clothing, locks of pink hair, and skin inherited from Alola’s first people. Nanu had wandered deep into the Cavern when this Raticate nearly saw him as a threat. Ilima appeared from another exit not a second later and, after his initial surprise, asked about the purpose of his visit. Apparently, unexpected silence is not received well.

“Kahuna Nanu?”

“Yeah.” Nanu does not know what he is supposed to do here since his own Captains are not handled in the same manner as other Islands. Molayne taking on most of the formal duties himself, and maybe, that is why Hala is forcing him to do this. He sinks down to sit on a flat rock. “Don’t mind me.” Regardless, he is doing it in his own way.

The Captain scrutinizes from his higher elevation and Nanu finds it odd how guarded his eyes are. “How do you expect me to follow through on that with you right before me? You are here for a very important reason.”

“Mm.” Nanu assumes that is true. He will figure out what Hala needs him to do by observing the Captain.

A look of dejection flashes across the young man’s face. He closes his eyes as he kneels to jump down the ledge to Nanu’s level. His large eyes shine in the close distance and Nanu thinks he might be younger than he first thought. “Welcome to the trial at Verdant Cavern, Kahuna Nanu. I am Trail Captain Ilima and here, Raticate,” he gestures to the pokemon above him, “is the Totem pokemon.”

Now things are beginning to make sense. “A dual-type, huh?”

“Yes.” Ilima’s voice lowers. “I am a Normal-type expert and I know you are a Dark specialist. While I value constructive feedback, I do not wish for unsolicited directives.”

Nanu’s apathy is as present as ever. “You ain't got to worry about that.”

“As I see.” Ilima turns around to move closer to the Raticate and the pokemon looks down to him. “However, you are expected to address any concerns.” Hala had to ask him to assist a damn upstart. “In fact,” Ilima swivels to reveal a smirk as he brandishes a notebook in one hand, “if you could prepare yourself for battle with the Totem pokemon, I wouldn't be remiss at the research opportunity.”

That darn Hala.

The police station outside Po Town is not abandoned so much as it has been repurposed, Nanu thinks. A Meowth appears on his lap from his seat on the sofa, stretching with soft cries as it makes itself comfortable. That new Champion even dropped by a few times before they were granted the title and never once reacted negatively to the place or its Meowth. Against a backdrop of a steady downpour, it really is the fate he deserves.

“Kahuna Nanu?” The former officer glances over the counters to see Captain Ilima in his doorway. As Ilima catches his sight he steps further in. “Greetings. Pardon my entrance without prior notice,” a smile stretches on his face as he moves through the gap between the counters, “but I was referred to you by your reputation.” In Ilima’s arms is a Meowth of different coloring.

“That’s not a native Meowth.”

“No,” Ilima raises the cream-colored Meowth to his shoulders, “this is Moon’s Meowth. She has entrusted me with its care while she is at Battle Tree and her mother is in Kanto.”

Nanu can’t remember the last time he last saw this kind of Meowth. During one of his last missions? Or could someone in Malie City have battled him with one only a few weeks ago? The days seem to blur together for him lately. Sometimes, it feels like time had stopped for him long ago. The Meowth in his lap scurries off.

“I deduced," the Captain continues, "it would be ideal to have it interact with other Meowth in a controlled environment to ensure safety."

Meowth begin to crowd around Ilima as others take to jumping onto countertops to get a closer look. Nanu raises a brow. “Oh?”

“And you are an expert in Meowth.”

Expert... “This one is a Normal-type.”

“Indeed, and that is why Moon felt I would best for watching this Meowth.” Ilima looks around the space and the Meowth at his feet before facing Nanu. “May I?”

“Go at it.”

Ilima sets Meowth on the floor and the other Meowth cry out at it. Moon’s Meowth offers its own confident cry, unbothered by the contrast in type. Ilima leans against the counter behind him as he watches the Meowth proceed to play with one another. Nanu gets up, readying himself in case his Meowth become aggressive, and stands beside the Captain. A few of his Meowth have already lost interest after an introductory whiff and have left to play with some of the toys sprawled in the area. Others stay and attempt to pounce the new Meowth.

“Do you think," Ilima whispers, a trained stare on the pokemon, "they know they are inherently similar?”

“Can't make that assumption. Maybe they are led by the differences.”

Ilima makes a sound akin to something that resembles disappointment and Nanu is familiar with being on the receiving end of that response. Nanu's default emotion is apathy because that is how he feels about most things; nothing. He doesn't try not to care, but it sure is easy. He looks over to the Captain engrossed with the pokemon before him and has difficulty with his signature characteristic.

“How long have you been watching this one?”

Ilima’s focus flickers to him. “Less than a week.” The response is off-hand.

“How much you got left?”

“Not sure.” Ilima looks to the ceiling. “Moon assured me her mother would be back before she would and that I would receive a call or guest at my house soon enough.”

“Huh.” A touch on Nanu's shoulder shifts his attention to the Meowth perched on the counter beside him. He scratches its chin. “Sounds like her.”

“This Meowth was a treat. My pokemon took to it kindly, but your disposition with Meowth is a common fact reiterated throughout Alola, so I thought to let this one introduce itself.”

He should reconsider the Champion dropping by if she is going to refer to him this way to other people. “A disposition, huh?”

“It is correct.”

Nanu does not necessarily agree with that claim. These pokemon keep his faults on the surface, to not be forgotten like he otherwise would have, with every glance, every demand. “Meowth tolerate.”

“Hm.” Ilima is back to that analytical demeanor. “They like you.”

Nanu does not want to bait into this. He knows the dishonorable man he is and how forgiving the Meowth have been. They know, sense the ills that have kept him up many nights, yet they stick around. “You overthink things.”

“Odd, that is usually given as a compliment. It has not done me a disservice."

Despite Ilima’s careful observation, he is not notetaking as the junior academic was keen to. Confidence allowing him to survey the pokemon while mentally recording the scene before him. Nanu looks at the Meowth pouncing on one another in their fight for dominance and wonders why he can’t hear the rain.

"Tapu Koko is a mischievous one, but I know now is the time for peace and restoration." Hala turns to the Kahuna gathered in his home. Olivia to his right sitting aside Hapu and Nanu to his left.

Olivia nods. "I have to agree the same is true over on Akala."

"And you, Nanu?" Hala asks.

"Tapu Bulu has been quiet." He leaves off that he has been summoned to see the Tapu later that evening.

"Good!" The Melemele Kahuna nods.

"What about Poni, Hapu?" Olivia glances her way.

"Prosperous. All thanks to Tapu Fini."

"Gramps!" Hau rushes through the door with Plumeria at his heels.

"What is it, Hau?" Hala steadies the energetic boy with a hand to his shoulder.

"Plumeria and I keep having a draw! Can I battle Miss Olivia after you are done with your meeting?"

"And I would like to battle Nanu." Plumeria looks in the Dark Kahuna's direction.

"I would be happy to, Hau." Olivia stands up. "We are finished here," she clenches a fist in front of her, "so show me how far Hau has come!"

"Okay!" Hau huffs with enthusiasm and runs out, surely waiting atop the battle stage. The other Kahuna and Plumeria follow into the strong Alolan sun.

Olivia joins her challenger on the wooden battle platform as Hapu and Plumeria move closer for a better vantage area. Nanu opts to watch from beside the house, in the shadows of the trees. Hapu calls for the battle to begin when Nanu hears a second set of distracting voices. In a clearing to nearby, Ilima is there with that former Skull boss screaming at the top of his lungs. The Captain clad in white is seemingly unperturbed with a smile on his face at the flailing man.

"Ilima is teaching Guzma a valuable lesson." Hala speaks from beside him, surprising Nanu with his appearance, looking on at the same scene.

"Weren't you doing that?"

"I am. He is learning to respect every trainer."

"Hm."

"Ilima volunteered to help. He battled against many Skull members and never belittled them, regarded each one. He's a good opposition for Guzma."

Glossing over the similar beginnings as gifted trainers, huh? "Not hard to find an opposite to Guzma."

Hala lets out a booming laugh. "This is not a unique truth, I admit. I do not shy away from the opportunity to praise my Captain. Ilima is an amazing trainer. Did you know when I first asked him to be Captain, he refused! Said he had unfinished business at school. He accepted my offer the next chance I had."

Fatigue makes a sudden return in Nanu's bones as an iron weight drops onto his chest. "The picture perfect wunderkind."

Hala gives him a stern look, cautioning. "I permit a lot from you Nanu, but Ilima is undeserving of false praises."

The message has its intended effect and Nanu lets the remorse wash over him. "It was an honest statement." He says in his attempt to pacify.

"Hm." Hala's temper subsides. "I expect respect for my Captains. They are as trusted by the Tapu when the Tapu chose us."

"I respect," Nanu exhales, "yeah."

Hala doesn't say anything and after some odd moments Nanu thinks he might have left except he didn't hear footsteps and he isn't going to check. "I warn you," Hala quietly affirms his presence, "to not tamper with someone's best interests." It is not a precaution that is needed. Nanu knows he is deserving of his misery. A hand comes to his shoulder. "The same for yours."

This time he hears the Kahuna walk away and Nanu looks at the vacated space next to him.

"And big bad police officer Nanu is here." Nanu turns his head to find himself inches away from Guzma's sneering face. "You want some of this, too?"

"Back down, idiot." Guzma flinches back at the voice as Plumera steps into view. "You want to battle everyone so badly? Battle me."

Guzma's eyes narrow and he holds the stare for a moment. "Feh. I'm outta here. Later, Hala."

Plumeria's eye twitches as she huffs angrily. She turns on her heel to stalk away toward Hala's house.

"He's improving," Ilima voice comes from his side, opposite the noise, "even if it may be difficult to believe." Knuckles are at his chin and he is glancing in the direction Guzma left.

"Was it hard?"

"Battling him? No. It's a thrill, I must admit. His battle style fluctuates, but not in a way that is erratic. It's changing with intent." There is a glint in Ilima's eyes. "It's fascinating to witness."

The feat of rehabilitating a syndicate's boss deemed possible only by divine intervention made a reality through the Melemele Kahuna and his prodigal Capitan? Consider Nanu (not) shocked as he looks back at the clearing the two battled in earlier.

"From what I understand, you are responsible for Plumeria's improvement."

"I said one thing." Nanu quickly corrects. If Nanu ever 'helps' anything, it is because he is stating the obvious: knowing no one else deserves the depths of remorse he has earned. "Don't really consider that as a reason for improvement. Molayne is better for that."

"No, you are right. This kind of change has to have provenance from the person themselves. It would be equally erroneous to imply that your suggestion did not have an effect, however." Nanu's head feels stuffier, heavier. He has been responsible for devastating mistakes. A few efforts deemed admirable can't counteract that. "You are a good influence."

The man chuckles. "That's a new one." He shakes his head. "Coming from the one who has a whole fawning city behind him."

Ilima's eyes widen marginally. "I'm curious as to why you don't believe in the positive collaborative impact we, as Island Challenge leaders, have. Tapu Bulu is obviously familiar with your own ability to restore and repair."

If that is true, it doesn't extend to what he can do for himself.

Ilima doesn't wait for him to respond. "Guzma's battle against me and everyone he challenges," Ilima's face attempts to remain stoic and fails, "isn't with the opponent. He is battling himself at all times. That is why there is no definitive battle style...yet."

It has been years since Nanu's time in the International Police and almost a year since enlisting the help of Moon to track down the UBs. A serenity has been renewed in Alola, but whether he had a hand in that? He did what he had to out of repentance and duty.

"May I show you something, Nanu?"

Nanu shrugs. "Why not?"

Ilima produces a notebook from his vest and flips to a page near the back. The pages are littered with arrows pointing, explanation points, symbols, large X's, and few words throughout. "Well, I suppose it's enough if you can answer a question." The Captain hums, possibly aware of Nanu's disinterest. A really poor cover, Nanu thinks. "It is only a theory, but I would like your opinion: what do you think are the evident connections in battle style and the outcome of a battle?"

Nanu tilts his head slightly back, taking a moment to ponder. "A conclusion in mind."

"That is...an unexpected answer."

Nanu's eyebrow quirks. Was the answer surprising because it was from him? "It's a simple route. Having one, that is."

"And what is the strategy you go into battle with?"

For some reason, this question causes Nanu to think about the UBs, Fallers, his Meowth, Team Skull, Moon, Looker, and Anabel. He does this with the same void of emotions in his form and thinks when was the last time he allowed himself to have peace? His appearance is proof he has been stressed to hell and back and, well, he doesn't know if he has a right to live without it. "Finding a solution," he mutters.

"For?"

Himself.

Tapu Bulu is a solitary deity and Nanu is completely fine with that. His contact with the Tapu is minimal compared to the other Kahuna. Still, he obeys whenever he is summoned. This is what has led Nanu to draft up plans to tear down the walls of Po Town. Since the collapse of Team Skull, the place has been deteriorating at a rate faster than the other relics on Ula'ula and the Tapu felt necessary to call on him to address that. Tapu Bulu isn't responsible for rebuilding after 'fixing' areas, or anything really, that was up to them.

Olivia caught up with him not too long after his orders, while he was on the outlying cliffs of Po Town figuring out how to start the project. She greeted him with the usual "decrepit hermit" remark that she took to counter Nanu's insults her lack of a dating life. He doesn't think he is being too hard on her. Surely, he is only aggressively encouraging.

After tensions eased enough, Olivia informed him she was there on Hala's behalf to find out the reason behind Tapu Bulu sightings and had figured out the gist from his actions and the clues littered in the police station. She gave four suggestions before leaving: Hapu, with her lifetime experience in Poni Island's structures, the former Kahuna, and her arsenal of highly skilled Machamp; Acerola, for connections to Aether Foundation and their knowledge on grand-scale projects; Ilima, for his work on Hau'oli City's infrastructure; and to utilize the influx of listless former Team Skull members to assist in various tasks.

A week after the impromptu meeting and Nanu, of course, ended up not consulting anyone. He is in Sushi High Roller for his evening meal when Hapu and Ilima walk in after him.

"I have many good memories of Malie City," Hapu says to Ilima as they stroll toward him before she addresses him. "Evening, Nanu."

"Greetings Nanu." Ilima nods.

"Hey." Nanu responds nonplussed. He knows this is Olivia's doing, but he wants to be sure. "Did someone send you here?"

Ilima nods. "Olivia said there is something you need help with."

"You don't say 'no' to a woman of that caliber." Hapu shakes her head, focus offside. "I am ready to hear you out."

Nanu is too hungry to argue with anything they have been told. "Okay. Let's eat. It's on me."

They take their orders, Hapu more enthused, and Nanu explains the situation as soon as they are seated. He tells them it was an order from Tapu Bulu and that his plans involve any remaining forces from Team Skull. Hapu and Ilima share contemplative faces as they begin theorizing about the efforts required when their food arrives, to Nanu's relief, and pauses any development plans.

"What is this?" Hapu asks through bites from two separate dishes of her Z-Kaiseki.

"I believe it was the Ronin." Ilima answers from beside her.

"S'delicious!" Hapu points to Ilima's set. "Now don't dally on yours, Ilima. It'd be a shame to let any of go to waste."

"Of course."

Hapu takes a few more hearty bites before pausing for a refreshment break. "This is a good little eatery you got here, Nanu." She nods to him from across the table. "Allow me to show you the same hospitality at the floating restaurant in Seafolk. They make a Noodle set that is second to none."

"Oh," Ilima's intrigue evident in his voice, "I must agree. I've been there with Mina a few times."

"Sweet Mina took you there?" Hapu asks, "You are a lucky man, Ilima."

"We, unfortunately, have little choice when she arrives too late for her mother's cooking after a day of painting with Smeargle."

"Mhm. She is a spectacular artist! We are very proud of her on Poni." She nods to the older Kahuna across from her. "You hear that, Nanu? When you are in need of a painter, I can recommend none other than Poni's own Mina."

"Hm." Nanu breaks from his eating, having created a visible mess. "I don't think Po Town will need that level of painting."

"You're right," Hapu nods, "we are at too early of a stage to be thinking about the painting required."

"Yeah." Nanu says, although that is not the reason.

"What are the initial steps you have planned, Nanu?" Ilima's face holding some caution in the question.

"To take down the walls."

"That adorable girl of yours," Hapu quickly adds, "has spoke about Aether Foundation willing to help on that."

"They would be swift with it, too," Ilima speaks with expertise, "meaning you should be ready with the next step. Hapu can oversee the direct implementation of the drafts. Are the plans all done on your end?"

"No," Nanu adds flatly.

Ilima's eyebrow ticks.

"Enough chitchat!" Hapu speaks with a weight over both of them. "The food will definitely go to waste at this point." The three continue their meals until Hapu finishes her set with a languid smile. "Hearty," she says with a nod.

"I have to take my leave now," Ilima's hand is on his chest, "I am scheduled to teach first thing in the morning at the Pokemon School. Please inform me of any changes. Thank you and enjoy the rest of your night."

Once Ilima is out of sight, Hapu comments, "that Ilima is a real heartstopper." Nanu gives her a undiscerning look. "With that brain of his, good for him to be working with Mina."

"She's your Fairy Captain, right?"

"Correct. She's got a wonderful mind and can get the job done in surprising ways if you need her."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Now," Hapu's voice and demeanor much more authoritative than her appearance, "I can't supply all my Machamp for the project, but I know Kiawe can have some of his winning Mudsdale and Tauros over for other hauls."

Nanu brings a hand to his temple, a pained look on his face. "This is years worth of requests from Tapu."

"And that is why it must get done. Everyone is familiar with Tapu Bulu's patience. You thank Olivia she convinced Ilima to participate. He will probably have the entire project planned from start to finish. You let me know when you need everything by. I have Machamp always ready."

Convinced? "Ilima didn't want to?"

"He has a misconception about you that runs rampant in others, I have come to find."

Nanu doesn't suppress a weak groan.

"I don't hold any reservations until I am given means to; it's just how my grandfather taught me. You aren't necessary pleasant or easy, but there are worse things to be."

Nanu has received similar sentiments many times and from many people, but he was never once bothered by it. He thought he was reserved around the Normal Captain and others, in his own way though.

"Many of our Captains our young, Nanu," The Ula'ula Kahuna thought this was an odd phrase coming from her, "you don't need to provide for them, only respect them."

Then again, who's to say anyone really respects Nanu? Why bother, right? Nanu thought he had learned to live without. "I'll...do that."

"You don't get forgiveness by not looking for it."

Nanu always thought he didn't need it, that he learned to accept whatever outcome was supplied to him. Maybe, this isn't the case anymore.

Jerks gotta change.

Later on, Nanu does eventually arrive to a point where he begins to think “why wasn't there anyone like him when I was younger?” But he gets over it because his emotions are mixed up in his vulnerable state. He learns that it isn't too late to try and pick up the pieces in his life with his new friend.