Since FA is still down, here's the next part of the Rene moving saga.

It was about an hour later when they'd reach the Battle Factory. Lee and Su-Lin didn't seem too perturbed by the direct area around the factory, or GENERALLY, what building they'd bought their daughter...but René would notice a difference certainly. It seemed Penny had been happily hard at work on the electronics, as now, systems moved automatically, the lights of the gantry shone efficiently...and now...they stood inside a hidden elevator, leading them up to the second floor.

René was carrying his bags as he walked next to Faith. “You may have wanted to TELL them about the Battle Factory you know?”

The girl tried to murmur. “Well...it kind of works...?” René nodded knowingly.

“Bit of a fixer-upper huh?”

“Well, it's working now?” She laughed.

Lee's ears flickered, but he said nothing, simply looking around calmly at the surroundings as René continued to question Faith as they headed inside.

“Do you even HAVE rooms for us all?”

“Well...it's an entire floor above the factory, they must have used it at one time for the secretarial stuff and files...sooo, I do have a lot of spare room.” She giggled. “We can all get the rooms ready!” The elevator doors opened slowly before them onto the gantry, as Faith stood out and waved her paw in an invitation. “Welcome everyone to my home!” René plastered on a big fakey grin.

“Sure is nice Faith!”

Faith's mother's reaction was more heartfelt. “Oh my!” She looked around, taking it all in as if for the first time. “It's such a large space...you've done so much with the Aura in here!” Faith giggled, as Lee made a beeline elsewhere across the gantry...but now, looked to René.

“Will we get you unpacked first?”

He nodded. “Um, okay. Where will I stay?”

“Well...” She lead him aside, to the first box-shaped building on the gantry. “This one should be nice!” Faith waved inside, pointing him in. It was basic enough a fold out bed that seemed rather old, but had been resown and refabricated, along with whatever sacrificed furniture Faith had managed to get her paws on and organize it there, but all the electrics and warmth again at least worked.

René poked his head in. “It's not as big as my room, but I like the idea of sleeping out here! It's like a sleepover!”

“lenty of room for you and Rosa and me.” She snirked.

“Faith! Shhhh!” René hissed at her.

“My...” Su-Lin peered in, walking through herself. “These rooms are even bigger than back home!”

“How long will I be staying here?” René asked as he put his bags on the bed.

Faith didn't know quite what to answer, but Su-Lin then walked forward. “Well...until your father properly makes arrangements, we'll do as best we can...with a little work, I could see this as a very nice home from home!”

“...Arrangements?” René repeated.

The woman rolled up her sleeves once more, unveiling her own Aura gloves...much smaller than Faiths, they only covered her wrists. “Well, he has to see what he plans to do now, doesn't he?”

“Yeah but....” René stopped himself. He didn't know what Mr. Sumisu had gotten his father to agree to or what would happen next. He changed gears. “So, what should I do now?” He asked as he started unpacking.

“Do everything like you normally would!” Faith smiled already leaning in alongside René to help.

Su-Lin nodded to him as well. “Well, you can let me help you unpack for a start?” Like it or not, they were both looking to help.

“I hate to impose...” The vulpix tried to object.

'”Didn't you say something to me once about being a host?” Faith giggled. René shook his head, but smiled as they start unpacking. At least until: “Uh, Faith?” He blushed as she starts handling his underwear. The girl just blinked, looking to see which pair of underwear she'd found this time!

“I've been updated.” Su-Lin raised a brow with a smirk at René, already holding up a pair of panties herself, causing René to blush and squirm as he tried his best to sink into the floor and disappear. The elder Ninetales just laughed, and drew the melting Vulpix into another hug. “Now, now, no need to be embarrassed! In fact, you should try wearing more female clothes!”

René, still hot cheeked, looked up at her as she held him ”Y-you think so?”

Faith chipped in with a nod. “Mmm-hmm!!” She held something behind her back as she approached her cousin. “Remember we talked about that too?” At René's 'umm...' she smiled. “Ta-daa!” She suddenly unveiled the object behind her back, unveiling quite a short-skirt!

“--Eeep!” René squeaked as he clung to Su-Lin.

The Ninetales chuckled, looking down to René. “I brought spares.” She added conspiratorially, causing René to whimper and look back and forth between them. With Su-Lin holding onto the Vulpix, Faith pounced, looking to get hold of him with the new clothes in paw! René squawked for help. What followed was something out of Loony Toons: clouds of dust, René's pants, and a few other bits and bobs, before finally...the dust settled...and slowly...the pair pointed René to the mirror.

“Well?” Faith looked him over, tails bobbing animatedly. “What do you think...?”

Her question was met with a jaw drop and girlish shriek as René stood before the mirror in a otaku girl's school outfit with the miniskirt and all!

“Oh my: is that good or bad?” Su-Lin asked.

René held up the hem of the skirt and swayed from side to side, seeing how it moves. He briefly lifted it for a moment, before remembering he had an audience and, blushing, dropped it again.

Faith looked aside for a moment, while Su-Lin only chuckled, before nodding. “You look very pretty, René.”

“I--I do?” He asked happily. “Eeeee!” He jumped up and down, still trying to see how the skirt moved.” I love it!” Faith seemed to brighten immensely as well, watching him enjoy it now, her tails bobbing about once more.

“Think you'll try it more often?”

René nodded eagerly. “Remind me to hug Nigel in this!”

“You'll wear it to school?” She declared even more excited now at the prospect of taking him to school like this!

“Well.....that kinda depends if I go to school this fall, remember?” René reminded her gently, his face falling a touch.

“...Oh.” The girl blinked, then, ears fell, only half-smiled. “I'm sure everything'll work out, somehow.”

“Yeah well...” René twisted to make his skirt move. “Is there a blouse that goes with this?”



BREAK


Dinner with the Sumisu's was a bit uncomfortable for René...after all...this was Faith's family, and he'd already seen the kind of things the girl made. But the spread table Su-Lin had assembled certainly had plenty of choice, from waiting warm rice, pickled fruits, steamed fish, all kinds of simple delicacies were lined up before René, as Faith had already taken her seat, sighing, glad to be off her feet.

René slowly sniffed one unfamiliar dish, as if trying to make sure it isn't poisonous.

As the first of the Ninetales couple came, placing a large jug of honey-colored berryjuice upon the table, Su-Lin went to take her own seat. “Well, did you find anything to go with your new clothes?” She smiled as a conversation starter. To which René received a light bump on the leg under the table from a plaster-covered foot, as Faith tried to quickly incline him from his suspicious security check of the food.

He flinched and flushed. “I got a new pocket-book.”

“Well, as long as you're happy, dear.” The woman chuckled, placing down the pitcher in close range of the glasses. “René, would you please go get Lee before dinner goes cold?” She looked to Faith, telling from a look the girl had already worn her leg as much as she had today!

René squirmed a bit, wishing he'd changed out of his fuku before dinner. “Um, yes ma'am. Where is he?”

“Well...there aren't many rooms here.” She chuckled. “You'll find him in the next room on the right.” She nodded, lightly poking Faith's paw backward from taking a steamed fish.

Nodding, René pushed his chair back and stood. He bowed to Faith and Su-Lin and then backed out of the room. He went into the room Su-Lin directed him to and knocked. “Mr. Sumisu?”

The several box-like rooms were connected by the metal gantry, and so, there was certainly no confusion to which lay next door to them, as the door lay wide open, and there, standing with palms behind his back, was Lee Sumisu. “Mr. Sumisu? Sir? Dinner's ready...”

“lease forgive me, I'll be only a moment.” The Ninetales nodded vaguely, examining something before him.

“...Is something wrong?” René asked.

The Ninetales head poked back up, as if somehow surprised, turning to René and shaking his head with that wry smirk, short of a smile. “Nothing to worry about, perhaps just a sense of nostalgia.” And what René would see, as he stepped aside was a staff: A metal staff, of strange bronze, that lead to the metal ring, where several weights, shaped much like a Lucario's dreadlocks hung dormant, and contained within this ring, held within a cage, was a single, magnificent gem.

René's eyes grow wide as he looked the staff over. It sure looks impressive. The Ninetales followed the Vulpix gaze, as he suddenly took a sidestep, and then, gestured his palm. “You would like to see?”

He nodded slowly. “Yes, um, thank you sir.” René slowly walked over to the staff and looked at is. “Is this part of being a shrine-keeper?”

The room around René seemed to be a shrine in itself, photos of Faith with many unfamiliar faces, bags packed and ready to go, seemingly her farewell as she'd came to the academy, the walls strewn with pictures, gifts of well-wishes, and a large banner 'GOOD LUCK FAITH' plastering the walls...but Lee stood beside the staff, and shook his head, the wry smirk turning to a wry smile. “Not exactly. More a part of our history.” He mused slowly. René looked over the Faith motif.

”You must be very proud of her.” He said.

Lee let loose a small chuckle, shaking his head. “She never ceases to amaze...it must be said. When she was born, the doctors did not believe she would last through the night...faith held her with us...and so, Faith she was...” He turned, spreading his look over all the photos.

“I...didn't know that.” René said softly. “She does amaze.” René wondered if he should say anything about her lucario-glomping. Instead he merely said: “She learned Fire Spin VERY quickly.”

Lee began to pace, examining other little objects and trinkets... ears perked at the mention of Fire Spin. “Indeed? Despite her health problems, she does seem to bounce back quite remarkably, doesn't she?” René nodded.

“She battles excellently, even with her leg.....she can also crush ribs with astonishing ease.”

For once, the Ninetales didn't quite know what to say, a rather blank look on his face, as he cleared his throat, looking for an alternative topic...”Yes? Well...I suppose you're wondering about the Staff?”

“Yes sir!”

Lee let his wry smirk return, as he laid a hand upon the staff. René could see, unlike Faith or Su-Lin, he used no gloves at all, as he ran his paw across the length of the metal staff. “I don't suppose, Faith would have made you familiar with the tale of the 13th incarnation of Lucario?” Another difference...instead of adding 'sama' at the end, simply 'Lucario' he referred. René nodded. Then the Ninetales nodded, somberly. “On the day He vanished, this was all that would be found of Him. Passed down from generation to generation of the shrine as one of our only remaining heirs: the staff of Lucario.”

“Wow...” René said, his moment of awe promptly ruined as his stomach gurgled in hunger, invoking a blush. “Sorry---”

The Ninetales blinked, looking down at René in his fuku, hard to tell what was more distracting, as he shook his head. “No need to apologize: I believe your stomach is reminding us we have a place to be. Come now.” He swept his long-sleeved arm back to the door, pointing on to take them back to the others.

René blushed, hoping Lee wouldn't have noticed the fuku. “Yes sir...” He said as he followed him out.

“erhaps tales of old are for later...after all...beyond speculation, no-one truly knows what happened to the 13th Lucario...” He gave one last glance at the staff, at the room, and then, gently closed the door on it, the staff's gem sparkling in the last glimmer of light, before the door closed. René paddled alongside the older mon as they re-entered the eating area. Faith was sucking on her paw, apparently having tried to grab a bite before they arrived. “Ah... do forgive my lateness.” The Ninetales bowed, before sweeping himself into the first seat available, nodding to Su-Lin and Faith, René following suit.

“I was beginning to think you had left the realm and joined the Aura...” She snirked, pointing to Faith. “Your daughter was nearly chewing her own paw to stay alive!”

A roll of eyes, as she waved her paw in the open air again, testing it was alright at least! René giggled at Faith.

“Now then.” Lee cleared his throat. “Let us enjoy.” And simultaneously, all three Sumisu clapped their paws together...but before René could even join in, or wonder who was about to say Grace, they parted paws, nodded, and dug in! Seemingly, Grace was a short-lived clap in the Sumisu temple.

René sniffed the food appreciatively. “Smells good!” He said to Su-Lin.

“Well...not everything's as fresh as back in the mountains...but there certainly were plenty of supplies to choose from!” The Ninetales laughed, taking her time as she chose from the dishes.

As they all began to dig in, Faith looked to René slowly from her own dish...and again, he'd feel the light tap of a plaster-covered foot. “René...didn't you have some things you wanted to ask my mother and father...?”

René gave a start at her tap. “Oh, um, yes well I---I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about my, well, my new cousins? Faith's siblings?”

Su-Lin blinked, but certainly not annoyed at the question as she smiled. “Well...they are much older than Faith.”

“So Faith's the baby, huh?” He asked, giving the girl in question a teasing smirk. The girl rolled eyes, simply biting into a fish in response.

“We were quite worried about the age-gap when Faith was born!” Su-Lin chuckled. “Let's see...Shinji would be her closest age...sixty-four.” The woman mentally counted.

His jaw dropped. “Sixty-four?”

The woman blinked, more surprised at his reaction. “Well... yes, I told you there was quite a gap!”

“W-well, for us here ten years is considered an age gap! But Sixty-four?” René repeated, astonished.

Lee's wry smirk was there, as he conservatively took a helping of rice to his plate. “You don't want to ask about Alita then.”

“Alita?”

Again, Faith groaned, she could tell where this was going, as she just tried to silence herself with that fish in mouth. Her mother just clapped. “Of course, Alita: she's the eldest of the four... my... already a-hundred-nineteen!”

René gave her an even astonished look. “B-but h-how...How old ARE You?!?”

To that, the woman chided...waving a finger: “Now THAT, my dear, is a secret no woman reveals!”

“B-but how can you...but you look too amazing to be over a century old!”

She clapped a paw to her cheek, perhaps almost blushing. “You're too kind...”

“...Is that not conventional to Vulpix and Ninetales of this area?” Lee raised a brow, for once, quite perplexed, and curious looking.

“I----I dunno. I didn't know we got to be that old!” René looked at Faith, suddenly worried. “A-are you gonna outlive me by a century or two?”

“Of course I am, I'm younger than you!” She grinned, raising brows... leaving it there. A stern look told her perhaps the joke was in poor taste

“erhaps that's a matter for another time.” Su-Lin clapped her paws, signaling the end of discussion, before looking to René.“Alita! Of course, she's the pride of the shrine!” René shook his head, trying to get off of mortality and aging.

“Really?” He inquired politely.

A roll of eyes once more, as Faith silently sighed...apparently having heard this speal before. As she spoke, René would find incidentally he'd receive healthier amounts of portions on his plate! “Indeed! She's coming along so well in her studies, she's already mastered the seventh circles of Aura control!”

René nodded politely. “That's nice.” He had no idea what that meant, naturally. “I was just telling Mr. Sumisu how quickly Faith learned Fire Spin.”

“Fire Spin?” Su-Lin blinked, looking to Faith. And suddenly, Faith's ears regained some life, hopeful that she was about to best her sister in the conversation. “Ohhh, that takes me back!” Su-Lin sighed, “Alita learned that move when she was only 7!” Faith's face fell.

Feeling bad for Faith, René spoke up. “Well learning it with a broken leg and winning a battle with one is no small feat either.”

“Indeed! She may even become the successor of the tem-” A blink, as suddenly, something René said made the womon end her speel. “Faith won?”

He nodded eagerly. “She did! I was so proud! Even before I knew she was my cousin!” Faith beamed again and was promptly near tackled out of her seat, met with the double edge of her mother rushing into her, clutching hold and nuzzling in!

“My word, you won a battle!?” She exclaimed. Lee only shook his head in some amusement at the scene, helping himself while Faith nervously laughed, hugging back.

Again, René nodded with pride. After all--he WAS the one who taught her fire spin! “She did!”

Perhaps it was understandable, Faith's strange expression... her mother's comment a slightly double-handed one... was her mother really that shocked Faith could win? René leaned over and ruffled Faith's hair, trying to get her mind off it. “The first of many, I'm sure.”

“This calls for a celebration!” Su-Lin announced.

And as usual, the ruffling did the trick as Faith smiled a little more, looking to her mother, who suddenly returned to her seat. “Celebration?”

“You deserve one, don't you?” René shrugged.

“Well! I--” She nervously laughed, half embarrassed at the spot of unexpected attention.

“Before we leave... you can choose anything you like as a present!!” Her mother declared proudly, taking her place once more, her tails swishing back and forth!

René had been passed over for the center of attention rather quickly, but didn't really mind.

Lee however, who'd stayed more reserved, had not forgotten the main focus of the evening meal...as he looked to René. “...I believe you had some more questions?” Thus far...René knew now he had some very much older cousins. But not much more, apart from one seemed to shine above the others.

René was caught off guard. “Oh! Um, well....maybe a little. D-do you think your other children will like me, sir?”

“Shinji and Mako are good boys both, a little lacking perhaps, but they are certainly well-meaning...” Lee stated, a touch vaguely. René shot Faith a quick questioning glance as Su-Lin commented on how Alita was one of the most charming young womon René would ever meet—something he seriously doubted but was too polite to say as much.

Faith gave no audible answer to René's unasked question, but she made her eyes cross, as if to hint something was indeed, a little off about her siblings. René just looked more confused and curious than ever, but resolves to ask her later...in private. Lee gave another stern look...it was hard to make things pass unnoticed from his eyes!

“Of course, I couldn't speak for them, you would have to meet them in person I'm sure to get acquainted to each of them.”

“Of course...” A sudden thought crossed the young vulpix's mind. “I wonder if I should bring Ni--” He realized that he was speaking out loud and clapped his hand over his mouth. Lee raised a brow at him. René blushed. “It was nothing. Sir.”

“If you have any friends you'd like to ask, I'm sure they'd be welcome, René?” Su-Lin offered.

Faith blinked, certainly wondering why René didn't want to talk about Nicole... but wasn't going to push it in front of her parents either.

René sat there fidgeting in his seat. “Well, I-I have a lot of friends but....” he took a deep breath and rusher through. “IstartedgoingoutwiththiscutegirlNicolewhoIreallylikealotandthat'swhyireallydontwanttomovebutidon'tknowhowshedfeelmeetingmyfamilyandithinkineedtostopandbreatherightnoworelseimgonnafaint!” He gasped!

There was an approximate two minute silence, before Su-Lin finally took the forefront, chuckling. “Now, now, I'm sure she'll be alright...”

René panted a bit. “R-really?”

“You COULD ask her to stay over for a sleepover?” Faith smiled invitingly. “You have plenty of room?” René's reaction was to turn redder than a charizard.

“In any case, we'd be more than happy to meet her.” Lee kept eating away, still and composed unlike the others. “Is there anything else you'd like to know?”

“Um, er, I-I guess I could ask....” René coughed. “Um, you wouldn't mind that she's a nidoran?”

“Oh, you wouldn't be able to meet Alita...she's on her seer's quest...” Su-Lin added, still a conversation behind. A rather confused look took Lee's face once more at René's question.

“Should we?”

“Well--” René looked down. “My father doesn't like poison-types....the fact that he found out I was dating one was the immediate reason he wanted us to move to Johto.”

A furrowed brow was Lee's reaction. “Indeed?” He made a bristled movement...even he and all the composure held couldn't keep him from expressing his further distaste of Robert...even as he tried his best to hide it. “The world was not born of fire types alone.” René mumbled about how his father disliked non-elemental types.

“Well...” Faith quickly looked to change subject. “This isn't his house, it's mine, so you can bring her here if you like!”

René looked relieved. “I--I'm sure she'd like it here. Thank you.” He shook his head. “Did you ever find out about my ancestor? The one who left the shrine?”

“Well...In a fashion.” Lee said. René shifted in his seat.

“I---I would love to know whatever you've learned.”

Lee placed down his cutlery, and cleared his throat, before reaching into his robes, much like Faith always did...and they emerged holding his mother's gloves. A gasp is caught in René's throat before it comes out, but he still looks rattled. “I spent some time...looking into these...and probing them...” Lee slowly offered them to René first. “Are you aware of the stones, used in our gloves and Aura practice?”

“Faith mentioned a little about them...” René slowly reached out with a trembling hand and takes them. “Thank you.”

Faith cleared her throat as she explained. “You see...in the mountains, in our village...grows a special flower, I guess you'd call it a Time Flower.” Lee nodded, letting the boy hold them while Faith would explain. René hugged the gloves close to his chest as he listened intently to Faith. “The 'Time Flower', is a naturally formed crystal, which we're told Lucario helped plant and nurtured them to flourish all over the mountain. An ever growing, beautiful network of crystal that covers the caverns of the shrine, deep within the mountain!”

“Totally unique, and so rare, you will never find another crystal like it, in all the world over.” The elder Ninetales chipped in.

“It gets its name... from a very peculiar effect that happens, when you introduce Aura to it. The crystal is sensitive. If you concentrate hard, you can inscribe messages within the crystals. However...even if you're not concentrating...the crystals still feel everything around them... and inscribe themselves...”

Su-Lin added in: “In the most emotional moments, when we feel our most sad, or joyous, or proud, or endangered, the flower will imprint itself with these memories, and lock them deep inside...” Faith nodded, continuing.

“And one who has Aura, can make them reveal the moments locked within the flower... taking you back in time... Hence the name 'Time Flower'.”

“...Amazing....” René said, as a thought crossed his mind. “Do the crystals in my ancestor's--my mom's--gloves, do they tell anything?”

“I have not tried yet, because I felt, we should wait and ask you for this permission.” Lee nodded to him slowly.

René nodded eagerly “Yes! Yes of course!”

“If I may?” Lee held his paw out once more towards René, waiting for him to hand the gloves once more to him. René released the gloves back to him. Faith blinked...definitely wanting to see this.

And slowly, a blue pattern began to emerge on Lee's paw, without any aid from the gloves Faith or Su-Lin used...a single blue sphere began to hover inside his palm. And gently...he eased it down, keeping a gentle motion...until the sphere neared the glove's gem...causing it to glisten and sparkle alive!

Suddenly, years of neglect and dust began to simply fly away from the gloves, when the sphere touched the gem... merging inside it, and suddenly, the bubble expanded, a bright light covered them, and they were gone from the dinner table!

Faith didn't seem too surprised, as she looked around, and they found themselves...on the side of a mountain, in a field full of flowers, with a large, monumental looking temple in the background, a cool summer's breeze passing them over.

René, though, looked totally confused and amazed. “How is this possible...?”

That wry smirk held there once more. “Many things in this wide and wonderful world are possible... you need only open your eyes, to see the possibility.” Lee said. While he had the Vulpix attention...before he could ask, he nodded him in the direction of the temple. He turns and looks to the temple.

Breathless, a Vulpix was rushing down from the temple...a maiden in robes similar to Faith's, but much more old-fashioned looking. She was short of breath, a small haversack around her, as she rushed into the field of flowers...where slowly, another Vulpix emerged from behind a bush.

But for whatever reason...the two did not seem to notice all of them, as they ran to one another, grabbing hold, their momentum swinging them both round, and causing them to fall to the ground amid the flowers, laughing together.

“How romantic!” René sighed.

“The Time Flower only holds the imprinted memory within it.” Lee declared. “What you see before you, is a projection...the moment it sensed an emotion so strong. We may observe... but for better or worse, are unable to interact with what we see.”

“Does....does the temple have any records about this? About who she was? What her name was? Is?” René pestered him.

“Her name... is Nadessico.” Su-Lin smirked lightly.

“Nadessico....” René breathed. “That's so beautiful. How do you know?”

“Before Faith...no maiden left the temple except on their ceremonial Seer's quest...so the story of the young girl who eloped is not easily forgotten.” She answered.

“Really?” He winced. “Um, does this mean I'm not going to be welcome there?”

They watched on, as the young couple simply held together, murmuring sweet wishes of love to one another. “Well, I don't think we could hold anything against you that your so-many-great grandmother may have done.” Lee answered.

“How....how is she remembered? Well? Poorly?” René asked.

Lee seemed pensive. “There is no ruling or law that binds us to the temple...but we stay out of duty, honour bound to protect the Temple...that is the simple purpose of our lives as shrine keepers. Certainly...there was a great deal of surprise...many claimed to have never even known she had a love...but she was a young girl, brim with life, and certainly loved by her family.”

“I see. Is anything known about the boy?”

Lee looked to the strapping young Vulpix, adorned in a rounin's garb, sword swung at his side. “A simple swordsmon...a wandering lad...who had fallen to his wounds, and found his way to the Temple. As I understand it...Nadessico met Tenchi as she tended his wounds, and nursed him back to health. When finally, the time of a wandering Rurouni called for him to move...he could not bare leave without her: so it seems.”

Faith looked at the two there. “René...they look exactly like the etching we found in your album, don't they?”

He blinked and nodded. “So they do....” Another thought struck him. “Would those crystals have strong emotional moments for ALL my ancestors who wore them? Including my mom?”

The Ninetales slowly reached to the gloves held in paw...and began a sliding motion...as the scenery around them changed once more...to a village festival elsewhere, the same two mon dancing together, in wedding robes, held so warm together. Lee looked to René and solemnly nodded. “If you wish...we can look at the memories...but I do not advise it, René. You may find what you see to be distressing.” René looked up at him.

“I---I want to see my mom. Please.”

The other two Sumisus looked to him expectantly...and then, Lee simply nodded...as he slid over the gem. They watched, as generations past through them...the different mon who'd worn the gloves...and finally...now...centered upon the figure of Vera Kistunegari.

Reality seems to bend and shift until Sumisus and René found themselves sitting in a crowded arena as a battle is going on. One opponent is a titan of a machoke while the other....is a familiar looking vulpix “Wait, that's ME in the ring! I thought this shows the past, not the future!” René exclaimed.

“Well...” Faith walked right up to the ring, right through it, hobbling along with her cast, as no mon seemed to see her, or even touch her. “It can't really be you, can it?”

“I--I guess not, but he looks so much like me...” He follows her into the ring. It really DOES look like an older René, only without the glasses and with the muscular build of a professional fighter. “....Reynard?”

“...Reynard?” *She stopped, suddenly, thinking. “Your namesake?”

“My--my uncle.” He confirmed. “He reaches out to touch him but his hand passes right through. “I....I wish I knew him.”

“At least you have the chance to see him?” Su-Lin offered as she and her husband followed the two youngsters into the room.

“Yeah, I do----thank you for this.” René nodded.

Suddenly, Faith had a very bad feeling, as she turned her head left and right, looking for a familiar face among all the spectators. René looked to her. “What're you looking for?” Su-Lin also stopped herself, looking round. ”What's going on?” René asked again.

“If we're here...your mother is wearing the gloves! She's got to be close by, for us to be here too!” Faith answered.

Ignoring the babble, Lee Sumisu simply chose to walk through the crowd...looking over the front rows. Safe to say...the brother of the fighter would more than likely have one of the best seats in the house.

René looked around too. “There she is! In the front row!” He looked so forlorn as he saw his mother. “She's....she's beautiful.”

Slowly, one by one...they followed his gaze...and moved forward, indeed looking upon her.
“Wow...” Faith slowly looked her over, thinking back to the many dedicated clippings of her...how vibrant she'd looked...and now, Vera in her prime.

She is indeed beautiful. Vera is that rare combination of elegant beauty that isn't mere sex appeal. She's strong and poised, with soft white fur and the smooth grace and build of an athlete. Faith took a moment to take her in...but her smile quickly faded. “...I don't think we should stay here...” She murmured. “The gems only capture high moments of emotion...didn't you say something happened to your uncle?”

Behind them, Reynard is laughing, cockily raining a series of quick punches to his Machoke opponent. An enraged machoke crashes forward with a roar, his fist smashing into Reynard's face at with a strength and speed that would put a truck to shame.

Faith suddenly turned away...not bearing to watch, finding herself covered quickly by her mother's arms.

Lee stood impassive...but it could be told that he indeed not happy with what he saw...yet he would hold, if only for René's request.

René wasn't so lucky. He couldn't turn away. Reynard fell badly....his head hitting the ground before the rest of his body. A sickening CRACK! is heard that echoes across the entire arena...followed soon by a horrified scream of terror---coming from Vera and René simultaneously. Vera runs into the ring, screaming her brother's name as René starts crying helplessly.

Suddenly, everything went dark...and they floated in nothingness...as Lee let his head hang, looking to the boy. “I did say...that the memories in the crystal can be distressing...”

Slowly, René'd find Su-Lin's arms around him, hushing slowly, patting down his head once more. He trembled, falling to his knees in shock as he wept, burying his face in Su-Lin's arms. It didn't take much longer for Faith to hobble over and join them...whispering: “...Do you still want to keep going...?”

René whimpered. “What--what if I relive her accident next?”

“I have not looked at these scenes myself, René...even I do not know what to be expected it has recorded...yet...your mother must have had many more joys before any tragedy further afterward?” Lee offered.

“I---I guess so.” René sniffed.

Faith pulled back a little, waiting there. “We can keep looking, if you like...?”

Her cousin nodded not trusting himself to speak. With that...Lee slid over the gem once more...and the scenery would return elsewhere.

Reality warps itself yet again. Now they're in a hospital room. René let out a low moan as he feared that he was seeing his mom as she's coming in from her accident. “Not this---anything but this!”

Faith blinked, looking round their surroundings. “Well...I don't think your mother would remember being brought IN for the accident... this must be something else.”

“I hope your mother didn't inherit any traits that went with Faith also...” Su-Lin murmured, pensively looking around. They found themselves inside a hospital room. Vera was in a hospital bed, holding something in the crook of her arm. She looked a bit worn, but happier and more glowing than ever.

Faith looked to the Ninetales, and slowly, smiled in realization. “René...I think you'll want to look at this...”

“R-really? What is it?” He asked.

She grinned. “You remember that picture on the mantelpiece besides your mother's trophies...?”

“...no way..” René starts blushing. Slowly, Su-Lin began to turn him towards his mother.

And meanwhile, Lee began to look around, to see any other figures there..half-wondering if he should even expect Robert Vulpes to be present at this. True to form, he is no where to be found. It was a happy moment as Vera cuddled her newborn son. René was still hiding his face in Su-Lin's arms.

“Aww... “ Faith giggled, hobbling over to the bed, on tip toe as she tried to get a better view of the little one.

Blushing René let out a muffled whine. “Fa-aith!”

She blinked. “What?”

“It's embarrassing...” He mumbled.

“You WERE quite an adorable child...” Su-Lin chuckled. “You're not going to say hello to yourself?”

René slowly lifted his head out of Su-Lin's arms and tentatively tip-toed over to his mother's side, more interested in her than his younger self, really. But he does look down to see. “....I look like an ugly pink, hairless , wrinkled raisin!” He exclaimed.

“Oh, pffft!” Faith stuck out her tongue

Her mother chuckled. “Oh, you should have seen Faith, she was--”

“Mom!!”

“Hah!” René laughed as it was FAITH'S turn to blush right through of course...rolling eyes upwards.

“Hee...” He pinched Faith's cheek. Just then, Lil' René looked up and seemed to stare right at his futurely visitors. “Eh?”

Faith blinked, looking down at lil' René, even though he couldn't...shouldn't...have been able to see them...right? “Eh?”

“Eeh!” The newborn said as he waved his stubby little arms at Faith. Vera chuckled and patted her son's head.

Blinking again, Faith looked to René “Okay... I'm a little weirded out...”

“How do you think *I* feel?” He retorted.

The girl laughed nervously. “Well... I don't think we'll see your mother any happier than this?”

The scene shifts again, flashing across Vera's life: Her laughing softly as she held a spoon full of baby mush...most of which ended up on baby René's face rather than in his mouth.

The Ninetales smirked lightly, watching on as he slid over, letting them go further...and seeing where now, they would emerge. Faith giggled again. “I won't say it.”

The scenes keep moving, much to René's embarrassment. Vera clapping happily as an infant René waddles over to her, his footsteps wide and unsteady. Vera giving René a bath as he giggles and splashes water everywhere. Vera leaning against the doorway as a three-year old René sits naked on the potty.

The girl smiled, watching them all. “...Notice anything, René?”

Blushing furiously and moaning, René asks: “...what?”

Faith placed a paw on his shoulder, watching on. “Your mother's happiest memories... they all involve you.”

His cheeks are still burning, but now his eyes are starting to tear up. “R-really?”

She nodded forward for him to look at what they saw...really look...and think about it. “Why else would be seeing this?”

René sniffled. “I just thought the universe got its enjoyment by embarrassing me...”

She gave him a light hug, watching on. “I think your mother thinks otherwise, René...”

He looked on as he saw the happiest moments of Vera's life—and his own: Vera dropping René off on his first day of school, her eyes are tearing up out of pride for her son. René running home to show her a picture he drew or an A he got on a quiz. Vera giving René a hug in the morning, René giving Vera breakfast in bed on mother's day, snuggling, cuddling and reading a bedtime story...

“...Thank you Faith.” René whispered.

She just smiled...and said nothing.

“You don't need to say a word...” Su-Lin chuckled, following suit.

Another series of scenes: Vera chasing after a naked René-kit as he runs out of the bath, both of them laughing. René running out of the door in just his underwear so he can jump into the sprinklers....René trying on one of his mom's dresses.

What followed was a reverent silence, just basking in the glow of these warm memories that had filled Vera's heart, and found such impression in the gloves gems...no-one would speak up as they watched on. René stepped back, sniffling a bit as he stood close to the Sumisus. Faith made sure to stay close to him, watching on, as all would progress as it would. Finally...the scene draws to a close and the Sumisus and René find themselves back in the battle factor.

And there, they sat upon the table once more...as Faith yelped...having moved about so much, she overbalanced, and fell back, with a yelp, rubbing at her bandaged head and casted leg, giving a small grin. “Well...?”

Stunned into silence, tears glistening in his eyes, René could only murmur: “I---I don't know what to say.”

This time, Su-Lin saw to Faith first...helping the girl back into her chair, easing her into place and propping up that leg before she'd look to René with a smile. “Like I said... you needn't say anything at all.”

Slowly now, as the light dimmed, Lee pulled his palm away from the gloves, and now, offered them to René once more. ”I believe, these belong to you.”

Slowly, shakily, René took the gloves and rubs them against his cheek. “...Thank you...”

To Be Continued...