“Yeah… it has.” Her solemn thoughts are interrupted when Azzy bumped her and she looked down, smiling slightly. At least it seemed Azzy’s spirit hadn’t been broken. 

Following the scratch on the door came Katherine’s knock. From inside the detective stirred. He was still in his hotel room, though he’d considered purchasing a house to live in. It seemed his daughter wasn’t leaving the region soon, and he wanted a place where his children could come if they wanted. His thoughts of the houses he was browsing in the paper were broken when the scratch came. He felt himself start to panic a little, a feeling of eeriness settling in his stomach. He stood up and walked over to the door, one hand in his pocket as always. From the bed, a Lucario studied the door silently. 

Looker opened it slowly, feeling relief when he saw Katherine.

 “Hey Katherine! You’re out a bit late, aren’t you? I mean–I know it’s been a year and all but–”

He opened the door further and then saw the odd cat-like creature next to her. He rose an eyebrow and glanced to it with curiosity, bending down. 

“What in the world is that? It doesn’t look like any Pokemon I’ve seen before.”

“Looker…” Katherine whispered. Her gut ached, knowing how he would react once she told him. “It’s Azzy.”

The detective froze, jerking his head up toward Katherine. That couldn’t have been right. Azzy was a girl. His daughter was a human being, not some Pokemon fusion! There had to have been a mistake! He slowly returned his gaze to Azzy, tears welling in his eyes. He didn’t want to believe it because if it were true, it meant he was too late. That he was unable to find her until they’d defiled her and put her through so much pain.

His voice got caught up in his throat, “Asphodel…?”