The setting sun cast long shadows of four weary figures on the country road.
Ash walked in front, Pikachu perched on his shoulder, its tail drooping listlessly.
"I say, did we take a wrong turn?" Brock frowned, opening his rotom phone's map to check it again.
"According to the map, we should have reached the next town half an hour ago."
Xiao You wiped the sweat from her forehead and pointed ahead: "Look, there's a village over there!"
The four quickened their pace, and as they approached the village entrance, a striking notice was posted on an old locust tree.
The photo on the notice made everyone freeze - it was a frontal shot of James, with the words "Missing Person Report" written large below it.
"James?" Ash exclaimed in surprise, leaning closer.
"Isn't this James from Team Rockets?"
Pikachu also jumped up: "Pika Pika!"
The notice was simple: Seeking a runaway son, James.
If you have any leads, please contact the address below.
A generous reward will be given.
"This... should we go check it out?" Xiao You asked hesitantly.
Brock stroked his chin: "Although they are Team Rockets, if he really disappeared..."
Before they could decide, a well-dressed middle-aged woman suddenly rushed out of a passing car and excitedly grabbed Ash's arm: "You know James? Have you seen my son?"
Ash was startled by this sudden enthusiasm: "Uh... we do know someone named James..."
"Excellent! Please come with me!" The woman, without a word, pulled Ash into the car, and the car drove into the mansion's villa.
The other three had no choice but to follow.
The villa was much grander than imagined, with neat Japanese gardens lining the flagstone path.
The woman led them to an imposing residence, where a stern-faced middle-aged man stood at the entrance.
"Husband, they know James!" the woman said excitedly.
The man's sharp gaze swept over the four: "I am Kenichi Sasaki, head of the Sasaki family.
Do you really know my son?"
Ash nodded: "If you're talking about James from Team Rockets..."
"Team Rockets?" Kenichi Sasaki's face instantly turned ashen.
"That unfilial son actually joined such an organization?"
Xiao You keenly sensed the change in atmosphere: "Excuse me... has something happened to James?"
Mrs. Sasaki wiped away tears: "He ran away from home three years ago, and we've been looking for him ever since.
We recently received news that he might be active in this area..."
"Please come in, and we can discuss it in detail." Kenichi Sasaki stepped aside, making way.
The interior of the residence was even more luxurious than its exterior, with hints of modern lavish furniture blending into the traditional Japanese style.
The four were led to a spacious Japanese-style room, and a maid immediately served tea and snacks.
"So, have you seen James recently?" Kenichi Sasaki asked directly.
Ash hesitated: "A few days ago, we encountered him and his companions in the forest..."
"Companions?" Kenichi Sasaki sneered.
"Are you referring to that woman named Jessie and that talking Meowth?"
Pikachu's ears perked up alertly: "Pika?"
Brock cautiously spoke: "Mr.
Sasaki, with all due respect, you seem to know James's situation very well..."
Kenichi Sasaki slammed his teacup down: "Of course I know! That unfilial son neglects the family business and spends all his time with those lowlifes!"
"Husband!" Mrs. Sasaki gave her husband a reproachful look, then turned to the four with a gentle expression: "Please don't mind him.
We are just too worried about James.
He has been in poor health since he was a child, and we are afraid he is suffering outside..."
Xiao You felt something was amiss: "Then why are you suddenly so eager to find him now?"
The Sasaki couple exchanged glances.
Kenichi Sasaki sighed: "To be honest, we arranged a marriage for him.
The other party is Miss Rumika, the daughter of the largest zaibatsu in the Kanto region."
"Marriage?" Ash's eyes widened in surprise.
"James is getting married?"
"This engagement was decided a long time ago." Kenichi Sasaki's tone was firm.
"The wedding is next week, and he must return to complete this ceremony."
Just then, there was a commotion in the hallway.
The paper door was violently pulled open, and a familiar figure appeared at the doorway - it was James himself, but he looked completely different from usual.
He was wearing a formal black kimono, his hair meticulously combed, but his face was filled with reluctance.
"James!" Ash exclaimed, standing up.
James saw the four, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but it quickly faded: "Why are you here..."
"We saw the missing person report..." Xiao You explained.
James gave a bitter smile: "That's a trap.
They hired people to spread rumors and trick me into coming back."
"Shut up!" Kenichi Sasaki slammed his hand on the table.
"This is for your own good! Do you know the family's current situation? Without the financial support of the Rumika family, the Sasaki family will be finished!"
James stubbornly raised his head: "So I have to sacrifice my own happiness?"
"Happiness?" Kenichi Sasaki sneered.
"Is messing around with that woman named Jessie your happiness?"
James's face flushed red: "Jessie is my partner! We have our own dreams!"
Mrs. Sasaki cried, grabbing her son's hand: "James, please... just for your mother..."
The scene fell into a stalemate.
Brock quietly tugged Ash's sleeve and whispered: "Should we leave? This looks like their family matter..."
Just then, a sharp female voice came from outside the door: "Master James! I heard you were back!"
A young woman in a lavish kimono rushed into the room.
Her makeup was exquisite, but her eyes held arrogance.
Seeing Ash and the others, she frowned: "Who are these commoners?"
Kenichi Sasaki immediately put on a smile: "Miss Rumika, they are James's friends..."
"Friends?" Rumika scornfully scrutinized the four.
"How could Master James have such shabby friends?"
Ash couldn't help but retort: "Hey, isn't that a bit much to say!"
Rumika completely ignored Ash and walked directly to James, embracing his arm: "Master James, I missed you so much!
You're not allowed to leave again now that you're back!"
James stood stiffly, his eyes full of disgust, but he dared not break free.
Kenichi Sasaki watched this scene with satisfaction: "Alright, now that everyone is here, the wedding will proceed as planned.
James, your room is ready, and from now on, you are not allowed to leave the residence one step."
James suddenly looked up: "Are you going to imprison me?"
"This is for your own good." Kenichi Sasaki said coldly, then turned to Ash and the others: "Thank you for leading the way, now please leave.
Butler, show them out!"
Several burly male servants immediately appeared at the doorway, gesturing for them to leave.
Ash still wanted to say something, but Brock held him back, shaking his head.
The four were "politely" escorted out of the Sasaki family home.
Walking on the cobblestone path of the village, Xiao You said worriedly: "Are we just leaving like this? James obviously doesn't want to get married..."
Brock sighed: "This is their family matter, we have no right to interfere."
"But..." Ash clenched his fists, "James is our opponent, yes, but forcing him to marry is too much..."
Pikachu also seemed very uneasy: "Pika Pika... (Yeah)"
It was late, and the four decided to find an inn in the village to stay for the night.
Just as they were checking in, an orange-red figure quietly slipped into the inn.
"Growlithe?" Ash looked at James's Pokémon in surprise.
Growlithe held a letter in its mouth, placed it in front of Ash, then anxiously pawed at the ground.
Ash opened the letter, on which was James's messy handwriting:
"I'm locked in the west wing.
My parents have people guarding me 24 hours a day.
Growlithe will lead the way.
Please help me.
- S"
The four exchanged a determined look.
In the dead of night, Growlithe led the four around to the wall of the Sasaki family's backyard.
Brock sent out Onix, having it quietly dig a hole under the wall.
"Isn't this too risky?" Xiao You whispered.
Ash had already slipped in: "We can't just stand by and do nothing!"
The courtyard was silent, with only a few dim garden lights on.
Growlithe skillfully avoided the patrolling servants, leading the four to a detached Japanese-style building.
A window on the second floor was slightly open, and James's face appeared at the window.
He saw the four with surprise, made a shushing gesture, then threw down a rope.
Ash was the first to climb up.
In the room, James had already changed back into his usual Team Rockets uniform, with his packed backpack beside him.
"You really came!" James said excitedly in a low voice.
"I knew I could trust you!"
Xiao You frowned: "How can your parents treat you like this?"
James gave a bitter smile: "They've always been like this.
Since I was little, they've kept me in this gilded cage, making me learn this and that, never caring about what I wanted."
Footsteps suddenly sounded downstairs, and everyone immediately held their breath.
After the footsteps gradually faded, James continued: "Three years ago, I couldn't take it anymore, so I escaped with my Growlithe.
Later I met Jessie and Meowth... Although we often fail, that was the first time I felt free."
Brock mused: "So you joined Team Rockets to..."
"To escape this home." James said frankly, "Team Rockets at least allows me to be myself."
Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open violently.
Rumika stood at the doorway, followed by several servants.
"I knew it!" she shrieked.
"You want to escape? No way!"
James stood up: "Rumika, I will never marry you!"
Rumika's face contorted: "Who do you think you are? Without my family's money, the Sasaki family would have gone bankrupt long ago!
You're nothing but a spoiled young master!"
"Then let's decide it with a Pokémon battle!" James suddenly said, "If I win, you cancel the engagement!"
Rumika sneered: "You, with your Pokémon? Fine, if you lose, you'll marry me obediently!"
A clear space was quickly made in the courtyard.
The Sasaki couple were also woken up and stood on the veranda to watch the battle.
"Go, Vileplume!" Rumika sent out her Pokémon.
James took a deep breath: "Growlithe, I choose you!"
The battle was exceptionally fierce.
Vileplume used Solar Beam, Growlithe skillfully dodged, then counterattacked with Flame Wheel.
After several rounds, Vileplume finally fell.
"Impossible!" Rumika shrieked.
"How could you possibly beat me?"
James recalled Growlithe and said calmly: "Because I have a reason to win."
Kenichi Sasaki walked over, his face ashen: "You think this is over? Someone, seize him!"
Several servants stepped forward, but Growlithe stood in front of James, growling menacingly.
Ash also stepped forward: "Enough! You have no right to treat him like this!"
Brock and Xiao You also stood by James's side.
Kenichi Sasaki looked at the scene, suddenly appearing much older.
"Go," he finally said, "Since you prefer to associate with these people, then never come back."
James bowed deeply: "I'm sorry, Father.
But this is my life."
At dawn, the five left the mansion.
When they reached a fork in the road, James stopped.
"Thank you," he said sincerely, "I have to go find Jessie and Meowth."
Ash nodded: "Next time we meet, we'll still stop you from doing bad things."
James smiled: "Of course.
But... maybe we can occasionally cooperate like this?"
Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder: "Pikachu!"
James waved, turned, and walked down another path.
Growlithe followed by his side, its tail held high.
Xiao You watched his retreating figure: "He's not so bad after all."
Brock smiled: "Everyone has the right to choose their own path."
As the sun fully rose, Ash and his companions also resumed their journey.
The wind blew across the fields, bringing the scent of a new day.