Yin's POV 🌺

Ever since my frenzied zoroark side had been put to sleep and sealed away in the necklace, it surprisingly had been very quiet a few months later as of right now.

We've already told Adaman and Irida how the sealing process had turned out, and informed Cogita our status on what we learned and know about so far.

I still remember Shokou telling me that this is only temporary, so Arceus forbid who knows how much longer will it be like this for me, before my zoroark side awakens and breaks out of the necklace that it was sealed away in.

Other than the mess, I visited Shokou at the Diamond clan settlement within every chance I get, when I'm working on the Pokédex and the survey tasks in Crimson Mirelands.

As for the status update on Shokou and Okami's relationship, they both got married months ago.

And they'll also be expecting a child soon, since Shokou's currently 8 months right now, which explained why she was wearing a kimono occasionally instead of her diamond clan outfit.

Just thinking about that made me smile a little to myself, wondering if their child'll be a single zorua, an ordinary human, or a hybrid of both.

If not, I'd be surprised if they end up with a set of twins.

Phobos, on the other hand, is most likely just being how fathers are.

When he heard the news about Shokou and Okami becoming parents soon, he stayed over at the Diamond clan's settlement to help them out with anything, after I took him over there for a visit on behalf of his request.

Especially when it comes to his daughter and grandchild.

I also heard him mention that he'll be keeping a very close eye on Okami, just to make sure he doesn't try pulling any stunts or attempt on ditching Shokou when the time comes for the child's birth.

Just picturing that made me snicker a little, knowing Phobos would set Okami's ass on fire if he did try to do anything funny or ditch Shokou.

At the same time, I've already informed one of the elder female nurses in the medical corps department about Shokou, so they're already prepared and with her right now.

"That reminds me....I wonder how they're doing right now?" I thought to myself as I looked at the sky for a moment, before looking back at my pokédex.

Okami's POV 🎑

8 months...

It's been by 8 months since Shokou's father, Phobos, decided to stay at the Diamond clan settlement to watch over her.

Honestly, I can't tell you enough how nerve wracking this was, especially when he heard the news about us becoming parents soon.

Ever since Phobos came in, I was completely fine with it.

Looking after and treating Shokou well, I meant.

Even when she craved for some berries or vegetables that were naturally found in the wilds of Crimson Mirelands, he was the man of the job for it all, in helping his daughter out with what she needed or wanted.

But, at the same time, he would deathly stare me down when we approach each other, like he was gonna maul me to death if I make a wrong move.

It's already enough for me to know about him being intimidating when you anger him, but, it's worse to me if he's staring you down and making the atmosphere feel heavy, awkward or very uncomfortable between you and him.

Just seeing the death stare itself from him though, makes me agree with the fact that the meaning of his name lives up to it and says it all about him, despite me feeling slightly overwhelmed and a bit creeped out on the inside.

As of right now, we're currently sitting outside in our human forms, drinking Oolong tea together while Shokou was taking a nap inside the tent, getting herself some rest.

Silence then stretched between us, as Phobos was staring me down as expected.

I only sweat dropped a little when I felt his gaze burning into me and my skull, as the atmosphere grew tense.

In attempt to break it, I tried striking up a conversation with him.

"So, uh, how have you been with Yin and your siblings until now?" I asked.

"Doing alright..." Phobos answered simply before taking another drink out of his cup of tea.

"Cool." I replied.

Then silence stretched between us once more.

"Well, that ended short and quick..." I thought to myself as I sweat dropped a little again.

For a bit, the silence continued until Phobos eventually spoke up so suddenly this time.

"Just know I expect you to be a responsible father and husband to my daughter and grandchild...They're both very dear to me.

If you even dare try to cheat on Shokou, along with treating her and my grandchild poorly, I'll cut your dick off...

And to make things worse, I'll butcher the living shit out of you too." He says.

In response, and to show I was listening, I nodded my head in understanding as shivers ran down my spine from the piercing gaze Phobos made at me again after he said that.

"Yes, sir..." I replied as I looked at him directly in eye contact.

After I said that, Phobos' gaze softened a little as he relaxed.

"Good. I won't tolerate it if something happens to my daughter...It's already bad enough I've already lost her mother and sister." He finished before taking another drink from his cup.

"Damn...Overprotective much?" I thought to myself again, after he finished the conversation off.

By the time Shokou eventually woke up and I heard her, I got up and went inside the tent to check on her, leaving Phobos by himself for a moment.

"Hey..." I started before kissing Shokou on the cheek, once I helped her sit up on the bed. "Everything okay with you and the little one?"

Smiling a bit, she nodded her head while looking at me.

"It's doing alright. Nothing's happened yet either..." Shokou answered as she rested her head on my shoulder.

"Awh...I was hoping it'd happen soon, so we could meet our child." I went before pouting a bit.

"Anxious, aren't we?" Shokou asked as she giggled a little.

"Yes..." I replied.

"I figured as much...But, remember that the both of us and my father know that being patient is key.

Being in such a rush, or impatient all the time, isn't gonna get us anywhere and get things done faster." Shokou mentioned.

"I know..." I sighed.

Then I rested my head against hers as I looked at Shokou by the eyes.

Shokou's POV ⛩

In response, I smiled and started running my hand through Okami's soft hair.

"I will admit that you have very pretty eyes. I've always liked them since we met." Okami mentioned after silence filled the air for a moment.

After hearing that, I blushed a little before shoving him lightly in a playful manner.

"Shut up!" I laughed. "I know you're saying that because you're bored."

"True and not true." He replied before smiling. "I really did mean what I said about your eyes though."

Chuckling a little, I gave him a kiss on the lips and a boop on the nose, once I parted.

"Is there anything you wanna do while we're waiting?" Okami asked.

"Nah...Not really. All I wanna do right now is go to Lake Valor. I always find it nice, quiet and calming over there." I answered.

"I dunno why, but, I somehow feel drawn to it a lot."

"Maybe your ancestors had a connection with Azelf or Lake Valor in the past..." Okami mentioned as he helped me get off the bed and stand up to my feet, before we exited out of the tent.

"Maybe..." I went thoughtfully.

"You two going to Lake Valor again?" I heard my dad ask, making me look over at him.

"Yeah." I answered before smiling a bit.

"Alright then..." My dad says as he finished off the rest of his Oolong tea before getting up.

Then we started heading our way.

Surprisingly, Adaman wasn't over there this time.

He must be busy doing something else right now.

For a while, we just relaxed over there until I started getting curious about the cave that's at the center of the lake.

"Now that I think about it, I've actually never been in there before...It does make me wonder what it looks like on the inside." I thought to myself.

Looking over at Okami and my father, seeing that they were both taking a light nap, I pulled out my celestial flute and played it, calling for Basculegion after I left a small note behind.

"Sorry, you two..." I silently said as I looked at them, before carefully getting myself on Basculegion and telling it where I wanted to go.

Then we started heading off to the cavern spot that's at the center of Lake Valor.