460. It's soft

----

Charizard soared like a comet through the starlit sky, its wings slicing the air with each beat. The gap between it and Team Rocket's balloon shrank rapidly fast enough to see it clearly with the naked eye.

In the balloon, Meowth peeked over the edge and nearly choked on his tongue.

"HE'S COMING FOR US!! It's Kai! He's right behind us on that flaming lizard!!"

Jessie whipped her head around. The moment her eyes landed on the fiery glow of Charizard's wings and the calm determination on Kai's face, her smirk froze in place.

"H-How!? We lost him didn't we!?"

"You seriously believed that?" James groaned. "We're talking about Kai. Even our boss can't handle him. Did you really think a smoke bomb would do the trick?"

Jessie's panic kicked in. "So what now!? He's gonna catch us we can't outfly that thing!"

James didn't hesitate. He yanked on the balloon's heat valve, trying to push them higher, hoping altitude might save them. But it was useless.

The balloon climbed, but Charizard was faster much faster.

A flash of orange light streaked past them. Charizard pulled ahead with a screeching roar, wings spread wide, cutting a sharp arc across the sky.

The trio went pale as Kai locked eyes with them, just meters away.

"This is bad… this is really bad!" Meowth mewled.

James groaned inwardly. 'Aren't we the villains? Why are we always the ones being hunted!?'

"We need to lighten the load!" James shouted. "Dump anything that's not essential!"

The moment he said it, Jessie and Meowth's eyes shifted toward the corner of the basket where Maya lay bound and gagged, glaring daggers at them.

"This woman's the heaviest thing we've got," Jessie barked. "And she's not even part of the plan—just toss her!"

James flinched. "She's still a person! A lady! We can't just throw her out!"

"Now's not the time for morals!" Meowth snapped. "Besides, Jessie, why'd you even kidnap her in the first place!?"

"She wouldn't let go of the staff! I panicked, okay!?"

"Look, just—"

But before they could argue any longer, Charizard struck.

It swooped past again this time with its mouth wide open.

A stream of searing flames erupted from its jaws, blasting straight through the top of the balloon. The canvas caught fire and collapsed almost instantly.

The balloon buckled.

Then the basket dropped.

"AAAAAAAAAHHH!!"

Jessie, James, Meowth, and Maya were all hurled into the sky.

The staff flew from Jessie's grasp, spinning off into the void.

Maya tumbled helplessly, still tied up and unable to scream. The wind rushed past her ears as the dark ocean below rushed up to meet her.

Then—suddenly—arms.

Strong, steady arms wrapped around her.

Her fall stopped.

She gasped, eyes wide, staring up into Kai's face.

He held her effortlessly in mid-air, Charizard's wings holding them aloft with power and grace. Just behind them, Gengar floated upward, clutching the gleaming golden staff like a mischievous prize.

Maya was safe.

Everything was.

As for Team Rocket?

Kai didn't bother looking for them.

They'd survived worse falls. Honestly, he was convinced they were indestructible. Let them bounce around a bit maybe it'd shake some sense into them.

But as he turned to reassure Maya, something made him pause.

He looked down.

And immediately regretted it.

In the moonlight, he realized that she was wearing a soft white silk nightgown. Barely there. Thin and semi-transparent. And right now…

His right hand was gripping her thigh.

His left? Firmly supporting her back and a bit lower than appropriate.

The warmth. The softness. The everything.

Maya blinked, her cheeks visibly flushing despite the night air. She could feel everything, too, and she was completely bound, helpless to adjust or cover herself.

Of course, she hadn't had time to change Team Rocket had burst into her room while she was already in bed!

Kai cleared his throat and quickly averted his eyes.

"S-Sorry," he muttered, shifting her onto Charizard's back and tearing the tape from her mouth.

Then he pulled off his jacket and draped it over her, untying the ropes around her wrists and ankles.

"You're safe now," he said, voice low and steady.

Maya sat up slowly, holding the coat around her. "Thank you… for saving me."

Her voice was calm, but her eyes flickered with emotion.

She was the High Priestess of the Sea Temple. Respected. Untouchable. But tonight, at this moment, with the adrenaline fading, Kai's face close to hers, and the moonlight bathing them in the silver glow, her heart beat loud and fast in her chest.

For the first time in years… she felt like more than a symbol.

She felt like a woman.

And Kai?

He felt... the tension too.

But he said nothing.

The night wind carried them onward, both pretending not to notice the lingering warmth between them.

----

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