What happened earlier:

"Ok, ok! You've won, you're already getting an explanation." he said and ran his hand trough his hair for a brief moment. Amethio already knew... This was definitely going to be a very long night for him...

~~~

The Rising Volt Tacklers were still looking at Amethio and Liko with curious faces, still eager for an answer from the former Explorer Admin, as the girl was still sitting on the teenager's lap. It was very obvious, that something was going on between the two, since Friede had seen exactly, how they had kissed earlier.

"Come on, Amethio. We're all waiting. And I think, Liko finally has a right, to know the whole truth, don't you think?" the leader of the Rising Volt Tacklers asked, looking very knowingly into his rivals eyes.

"You won't let up, until you get a sensible answer, am I right?" the teenager asked, giving Friede a slightly annoyed look.

"You've got it, my friend. I already advised you to do that, when we spoke back then. And apart from what I saw at the base earlier, there must be something going on between you and her. So go on, don't keep us in suspense any longer. " he added and then leaned back in his chair, in order to listen to Amethio's possible confession.

A short sigh escaped the teen, but then he turned his attention back to the black-haired girl, who was still sitting on his lap. "Liko, I..." Amethio scratched the back of his neck a little awkwardly. The whole situation was definitely anything, but relaxed. However, he still wanted to finally let it out, this one thing, that had been weighing heavily on his shoulders for several days after his conversation with Friede a little while back. " I mean... Do you still remember, that I wanted to tell you something important back at the base after we... Well, you probably know, what I mean, right...?"

Liko blinked briefly in surprise at this question, but the situation from earlier came back to her mind, when Amethio had kissed her and wanted to tell her something apparently important afterwards.

"Erm, I think so... What did you want to tell me, that was so important?" the young Trainer now asked the counter-question and looked at the 16-year-old knowingly.

Amethio had to scratch the back of his head again, embarrassed. 'Geez, this is really a lot more difficult, than I thought,' he heard his thoughts say. But then he took a deep breath and carefully lifted Liko off his lap, so that he could stand up and she was now sitting on the chair by herself.

Liko blinked a few times in surprise, when the teenager suddenly stood up and stepped right in front of her. But before she could ask, what the hell was going on at that moment, Amethio suddenly knelt down in front of her. No, it wasn't her imagination, the black and silver-haired was really kneeling right in front of her and had gently taken her hands in his own, causing the girl, to flinch reflexively by his touch, after realising, that he was no longer wearing his gloves.

Now the teenager took a deep breath before he began, to talk:

"Listen, Liko. It's like this now... I don't know myself, why it happened. But after you swore to me, that you would help me face my difficult past and get away from the Explorers... A strange feeling has flared up inside me, that I've never felt before in my entire life." he now said in a timid tone, which surprised even Friede and the rest of the crew. They had never been able, to observe this side of him ever before.

Now Liko was even more confused. "Amethio. What exactly are you trying, to tell me?" she now asked a clear question.

The teen swallowed once, before taking a deep breath, after Friede had repeatedly given him an encouraging look. 'Okay, it's now or never, Amethio! You can do it, tell her here and right now!'

After the 16-year-old had once again reflected on himself, he looked up at the young girl again and right into her beautiful blue eyes, which, at least from his point of view, sparkled more beautifully, than the sky. "Liko... What I want to tell you, is that... That I... love you..." Now it was out. The black and silver-haired had finally said it.

But as Liko still didn't show any particular reaction after a while, he became a little unsure. "Ehm, Liko? Why aren't you saying anything? Please say something!"

Liko internalised the words, Amethio had just said in her mind, as she noticed his tension. Then she looked down at him with a gentle smile. "Amethio, I..." she began and now her friends had all turned their heads in her direction waiting for, what the 13-year-old was gonna say now.

~~~

After almost half an hour of unusual silence, the girl finally started, talking again. "Amethio, I... I love you too! You don't know, how long I've been waiting for you, to finally say it!" Liko's eyes just sparkled like two excited shooting stars.

After Amethio heard this sentence, he pinched his shoulder, to make sure, that he hadn't just imagined it. But the look out of soft and almost heartwarming eyes, that were gazing down at him, almost spoke volumes for the teenager.

After a short while, he awoke from his trance and slowly stood up again, with Amethio grasping Liko's hands and pulling the 13-year-old carefully to her feet as well. This gave him a much better view of her marvellous facial features. Her long eyelashes, her rosy lips... But most of all, the teen was fascinated by Liko's crystal-clear blue eyes. He never met a girl once, whose eyes were as enchanting as Liko's. Never before in his whole, entire life!

The way Amethio looked at her made little butterflies flutter around in Liko's stomach. "Amethio..." she began, but was silenced by a finger from the man in question. Her heart was beating rapidly and the young trainer felt an unusual heat rise in her cheeks. She was seriously blushing!

The 16-year-old looked at her gently and tenderly from his violet eyes, before his gaze slowly fell on her delicate lips again. God, how much he wanted to feel them on his again... Here and now! Slowly, Amethio bent down to the girl, pulling her slightly towards him by the waist, before his lips finally met hers and he found himself once again in a soft and soulful kiss with the girl, who had turned his head so much. But in a positive way.

It almost seemed as if time stood still for a brief moment, so absorbed were the two of them in this intimate moment. But at some point, the two teenagers had to pull away from each other again to avoid falling over from lack of oxygen. However, even after that, neither of them took their eyes off the other.

~~~

It didn't take long for the newlyweds to find themselves surrounded by a huge, yet friendly crew. Even Zir and Conia were included and congratulations poured in from all sides for the two newly in love.

After everyone took a step back, Liko and Amethio looked into dozens of happy, wide-grinning faces.

"This is simply amazing! I'm so happy for you Liko, for both of you actually!" Roy said and gave his best friend a quick hug.

Liko couldn't help but smile broadly in response. She was extremely glad to have such support. It was simply an unbelievably great feeling for the young trainer.

"I must also congratulate you, Amethio. I'm really very proud of you for deciding to listen to your feelings. That really deserves respect." Friede added and briefly tousled the teenager's hair, causing him to blush slightly around his cheeks and nose.

Somewhat ashamed, the 16-year-old took a few steps back, holding his hand over his mouth in embarrassment.

However, Friede reacted surprisingly calmly to this situation and put both hands on his hips. "I'm just incredibly proud of the progress you've already made. And believe me, with Liko by your side, things can only go uphill from here. I'm convinced of that." he said, still smiling broadly and full of pride.

This also brought a small smile to Amethio's lips, whereupon Liko gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and squeezed his hand in encouragement.

Murdock had a big grin on his face again. "I think we should celebrate this event properly, don't you? We're organising a huge party! I'll take care of the food, of course!" the chef said, already rubbing his hands vigorously.

The others, but especially Liko, looked at him in slight astonishment. "Murdock, that's all very well meant, but we really don't have to make a big deal out of it or anything like that." the black-haired girl tried to gently dissuade him, but he was already busily taking notes.

Amethio couldn't help but smile at the little spectacle, which unobtrusively elicited a smile from everyone else as well. Obviously all the crew members were happy that the former Explorer Admin had finally found the right path. At least Friede, Zir and Conia thought he more than deserved it after everything that had happened.

~~~

After the hours of toing and froing that followed, everyone had gathered outside on the wing deck of the Brave Olivine around a lavishly laid table and were chatting happily with each other.

Amethio in particular had a lot of fun with the group, which made Liko very happy. She simply leant against his shoulder, whereupon he simply continued to smile.

After a while, Friede raised his voice again. "Well, now that we're all sitting here together... Don't you think now would be a good time to tell us all about your past?" he asked, looking pointedly in Amethio's direction. "I'm just saying that it would certainly be easier for you to get away from all that pressure that way. After all, you now have Liko by your side and we are all completely behind you. You have nothing more to fear, Amethio. So don't you think it would be in the best interests of us all?"

This statement caused the teenager to slump his shoulders again out of uncertainty. "I..." He pressed his lips tightly together and it was clear that he seemed to be resisting something.

Liko naturally noticed his renewed tension, the same as before the whole conflict with Spinel had started. "Amethio, you can really be sure we won't mock you or do anything else to make you uncomfortable. Please... Tell us what your life was like before you joined the Explorers..." the black-haired girl said in a gentle tone, looking lovingly at her boyfriend.

The black and silver-haired boy sighed heavily. Apparently the time had really come to face up to his past and make a fresh start. With a determined look on his face, he turned his full attention to the entire group.

~~~

To be continued...