Warning: This is slightly more violent then the last story. It's not that bad, though. I don't claim to own any of these characters in any way, shape, or form, except Zee, who doesn't really do much. As always, I think it's hypocritical for a fan-fic writer to claim ownership to anything in their story, so if you like it, it's yours. Please send comments to Ami Thest. (Really, I'm lonely!)
Jessie beamed at the image in the mirror as she held up a shirt to her chest. She rarely got days off, and she thoroughly enjoyed every moment she had to herself. This however, wasn't technically a day off. She had really quit.
It felt good. Real good. She had never realized what an oppressive job she had until she was away from it. Today, however, she felt like she really owned her life. She could do anything she wanted, without having to worry about whether or not her teammates approved.
"That's not really fair though." She thought to herself. James never really held her back, not unless he was seriously worried about her safety. Meowth, on the other hand, seemed to make a game out of it. And their boss... She shivered softly. He had always been a little eccentric, but lately he'd been acting creepy, like he had gone power-mad. She had picked a good time to jump ship.
She held up a knee-length skirt and twirled in front of the mirror. The skirt gracefully flowed after her, mimicking her actions. Pretty, but not her style. She put it back and selected another. Nope, not her. Finally, she found one she liked: a white mini-skirt. She shook her head and smiled at herself. She had been working there way too long.
She finally decided on an adorable baby-tee with a vulipix on it and a pair of barrettes. As she pulled out her wallet, her cheery spirit dropped for a second. She was broke, as usual. She could hardly pay for the two items.
"Of course, it's not like quitting is really going to change that. Paycheck, my butt, it's more like an allowance." And even then, it didn't allow for much of anything.
She stopped in the bathroom and slipped the new shirt on over the sleeveless black halter top she always wore under her Rocket shirt. Of course, her Rocket shirt was gone, she had given it to her sister, Zee, as proof that she had really quit. However, she had told James that it was in the wash. Then again, she had also told him she was going out to look for Pikachu. Zee would kill her. Jessie had promised Zee that she would try to stop lying to James about everything.
"Okay, fine. I'll tell him tonight." She tried to ease her conscience. Suddenly, she got very serious. She had to leave that night as well. She couldn't just hang out with the Team now that she had quit... It was way too dangerous. The idea that Giovanni would have her killed hadn't yet crossed her mind, but she knew he'd be ticked.
Deep inside, she felt a little guilty for abandoning James. Especially now, when he had just saved her from never being able to show her face in public. He'd get over it. He was a big boy.
She looked in the mirror one last time, checking her appearance. "Perfect." She told the beautiful young woman staring back at her. Jessie turned to go, not noticing the black-suited girl that had been hiding in another stall.
The woman looked around, then opened her cell phone. 'This is Orange, division four." She said quietly. "I've found that girl you were after. I must say, It was too easy. Are you sure this is worth it?" The girl had seemed like any other self-absorbed teenage girl, certainly nothing special.
"Of course it is. Are you questioning my judgment?" came the threatening reply. "Listen, you'll probably also have to deal with her partner, James Sassaké. He's stupid, but annoyingly loyal. You may find a problem with him."
"James Sassaké? Of the Sassaké family?!" She had no idea that someone so important would be working at such a low-paying job. That was one of the richest families in the country. "What's he doing with us?"
"The fool got himself cut out of his inheritance. He's certain that he can get his own fortune through stealing. But that's not your concern. The top priority is the girl. The boy..." The boss's voice seemed to tingle with sadistic pleasure. "...Is expendable"
The woman seemed stunned as she ended the phone call. "Expendable?" He wanted her to kill someone? And what was so special about this girl Jessie that made her more important than a millionaire's son? She shook her head. This was just too confusing... She headed for the door. As she left, she looked around for the girl. She was gone, but there was a small slip of paper on the ground. Orange leaned over to read it
Sucker.
Orange frowned. Perhaps this girl was worth taking after all.
Jessie got back to camp and looked around. No one was there, everything was the same as when she had left. She must be the first one back. She started a fire and began washing some rice. She had barelly started, though, when she heard a snap behind her, and felt eyes burning into her back.
"Hey, Jess."
"Hello, James. What's up?" She kept her back to him.
"You wouldn't happen to have anything to tell me, now would you?" He asked dubiously.
"I don't have a clue what you're talking about." She said cheerfully. "Is something wrong?" She finished with the rice and turned around. His glare surprised her, he never got mad.
"The boss called." He said simply.
"Really? Now what in the world could he want?" She asked with mock innocence. She did, however, turn away from him, avoiding any eye contact.
"He wants to know why you quit." She could have sworn she heard his voice waiver, but ignored it. "I would, too." He added more quietly.
"Well, I don't know, James. Maybe because he's overbearing, or rude, or because he scares me, or that I'd make more money flipping burgers part time, with no risk to my life, or just because I finally realized that I deserve better. Maybe I'm just moody. You know how we girls are." She put the rice on the fire. "I'm my own girl, and he can't tell me what to do. Tell him whatever you want. Pick an objection, any objection..."
"I already answered him."
"So what did you say?"
"I told him that there had been some sort of terrible mix-up, and we as a team were very sorry if there had been any confusion."
"Now, isn't that sweet. A true gentleman always takes the blame for a lady." She stood up and walked right past him to the video phone without looking at his face. "I'll go talk to him." As she began to dial, James looked at her suspiciously. She was up to something.
She dialed the boss's number. Instead, a black-haired young girl came to the screen. "Hello? Oh, hi, Beck. I just needed to speak with the boss." James sighed with relief. It was Rebecca, the secretary. If the boss wasn't in, then maybe Jessie would stop and take time to think about her actions before she talked to Mr. Giovanni himself.
"No, that's okay. Just be a doll and put me through to his machine, will you? Thanks, Becky, have a nice day. Good to talk to you too." Jessie paused for a second as Becky transferred her call to Giovanni's *voice?* mail. The familiar face came on, although it was just a recording, and asked her to speak after the tone. "Hello, Boss? This is Jessica Miyamoto, from group seven of division two."
She knew he would remember who she was. She was just buying time. "This is regarding an earlier conversation with my partner, James Sassaké." She motioned to the lavender-haired young man standing behind her.
"Hello, sir." He said uncomfortably.
"Anyway." She turned back to the screen. "He's full of it. I quit, effective immediately." She gathered courage for a second, then made an obscene hand gesture at the screen. She took a deep breath to tell him exactly what she had just told James, exactly what she felt about the overbearing tyrant.
Before she could continue, a pair of hands shot past her. One flipped off the machine, the other grabbed her wrist and spun her around to face him. With a surprising strength, he twisted her arm slightly so she was pinned between him and the phone. The other hand grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. The whole process took less than a second, and left her stunned.
His green eyes were livid with a mixture of emotions that she didn't fully understand. He seemed more horrified than anything else. "Jessica Ann, what on earth do you think you're trying to prove?" He barelly whispered. Any other time, she would have laughed at him for using her middle name, as if he was her father or something. As it was, she glared back at him.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?!" She shot back. She struggled a little, but he wouldn't budge. She frowned warningly and moved her free hand to slap him, and he released her face, catching it easily.
"Jessica, answer me!" Her full name, twice. He may not be her father, but she knew that he was serious when he used her name like that. Finally, she looked up at him. The anger in her eyes had been replaced with tears, and he realized he had gone to far. He quickly released his grip, and stepped back to let her move away.
She did, and didn't make any attempt to answer his question. Instead, she went to the fire to check on the rice. She was fuming. It wasn't what he had done, so much as the fact that she hadn't been able to escape his grip.
"I'm sorry, Jessie." He said.
She held her wrist and stared at the fire. It didn't hurt, not really, but it had surprised her. In all the time they had been together, he had never done anything to hint that he was stronger than her. This was a shock, and a very unwelcome one.
He watched her for a second. "So that's it, you're just leaving?" He finally said indignantly. "When? Tonight? You definitely can't stay around here." He sat down next to her and looked at her. "What are you going to do?" He seemed to be taunting her.
She nearly shrieked from the pent-up frustration and hit him. "I don't know, I don't know!" The tears were back, now streaming down her face. "Look at me, James. I'm seventeen. In another few months, I'll be an adult. What do I have to show? I have nothing, all these years have given me nothing. I've never even been on a date. I work all day, and at the end, I've got nothing to show but a few new electricity burns. Everybody hates me. I can't take it anymore. I want more." She turned to him with a determined look. "I deserve more."
He had considered the dance they had gone to together his first date, but at this moment, he didn't think she wanted to hear that. "I don't hate you."
"You don't hate this job, either. I don't think you hate anything."
"I never said I enjoyed it."
"But you haven't said you didn't, and you seem to think I'm crazy for wanting to leave. That seems to be the same as enjoying it."
"Not wanting to leave, Jessie. Actually leaving. There's a big difference. Of course I want to quit. But I can't, and I know it, so I don't say anything." He looked at her, his face dark with concern. "I know they'd kill me. They'll kill you, too."
"Then let's go together!" Her face suddenly brightened, as she had apparently only heard the first half. "Safety in numbers, and everything. We can act just the same as we've always been, only without Giovanni to boss us around and tell us we're worthless. Doesn't it sound like fun?"
"For one day, which would be all we had before he found us. Jessie, this is silly, you're being silly about this. In a few days this'll pass, and you'll wonder what came over you." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Trust me."
"No." She pulled away softly and looked at him for a moment, her face downcast, then turned. "No, I guess not."
"Huh?"
"I guess you wouldn't, huh? That's not your style, is it? You always were the safe one. I understand." She walked over to her pile of things and began packing. James just watched solemnly. He knew he had lost more than just the argument.
She lifted her bag onto her shoulder, then turned around one last time. "No hard feelings, right?" He just nodded gloomily, knowing he couldn't speak without his voice cracking. She cleared her throat nervously. "You are right about one thing, though." He raised an eyebrow, she never admitted he was right about anything. "They'll be here soon. I should go."
"Take care of yourself, Jessie." He choked slightly, and couldn't say anything more.
"I always do. Good luck, James." She hugged him tightly, like a little girl who's brother was going off to college. "Goodbye."
"Bye." He hugged back as long as he dared, not wanting to let her go. Finally, however, she pulled away. He stepped back and watched the outline of his best friend slowly disappear, as the glare of the sunset made her blend in with the trees. It was all he could do to keep himself from running after her, but that's what he thought she wanted. All he could do was hope that this was just a ploy for attention, and she'd get bored when no one played along.
When she was just almost out of view, she turned around and grinned brightly, waving at him. He gave a more half-hearted version of her smile and waved softly. Then she was gone.
"Where's she going?" came an annoying voice. James looked down in surprise.
"Meowth! When did you get here?!"
"A few minutes ago. But you didn't answer me." Meowth looked up at the boy, with more of a vague curiosity then actual concern. "Where's she going?"
James sighed and looked at the spot where he had last seen her. "I really don't know." He said worriedly.
"Ohhhh..." Meowth nodded. "When will she be back?"
"I really don't know." James repeated, and Meowth went quiet.
James tossed nervously, unable to sleep. Meowth watched with an uncomfortable silence as the boy rolled from side to side, mumbling softly. Meowth had only been able make out one word, but that one word but that one word had explained more then anything else James could have said.
"Jessie." James softly whispered again. "Don't go." Meowth looked away. Jessie's actions the previous day had surprised him, as well. Meowth wasn't a human, but he had been around them for a long time. He thought he could at least partially understand their emotions, and he could have sworn he felt a strong one between the two humans on his Team.
He knew that Jessie had never really shown much affection for James, but she showed more loyalty to him then she had shown to any other person he had ever seen her with. Even if it was a small amount, it was something... it had seemed like it was growing into something more. Meowth sighed. This was all just way to confusing for him.
James rolled onto his back and opened his eyes. He hadn't been sleeping anyway, so why bother to pretend? It was a beautiful night, if cold. He wondered if Jessie was asleep yet. He wondered if the boss had sent out men after her yet. He wondered if Jessie stood half a chance. But most of all, he wondered if he'd ever see her again.
Already, he missed her. The sound of her breathing, the way she mumbled their motto in her sleep, how she giggled as she won match after match in the arena of her mind. He missed having her around, even when she hit him. Jessibell had treated him roughly the same way, he was used to it.
There was only one thing besides their different hairstyles that set the two girls apart, and that was dreams. Jessibell had always tried to cram him into the mold of what she wanted from life. Jessie was different. Although she was rather oppressive, at least she had the same dream. Until now, he had always assumed that they would see their dreams come true together. Hadn't Jess always felt the same way?
James finally gave up and closed his eyes. He wasn't figuring anything out like this. Maybe he'd think better in the morning. With any luck, she would have time to think, and would be back before he woke up. He replayed the scene he had created the night before of waking up to burnt toast and grumbling. She would be back. That was comforting, if misleading, and he finally fell asleep.
"Hey, you!" A gruff voice broke startled James out of a dream. Something about himself as a superhero Chansey who flew around delivering ice cream, donuts and clean socks (Red, of course) to lost trainers while wearing a cape and a pair of spike heels.
"What?!" James sat up in his sleeping bag and looked around sleepily. A very mean looking man wearing the standard red-on-black Team Rocket uniform glared back at him.
"Aren't you part of Team Rocket? What are you doing, sleeping at a time like this?" The man asked angrily.
"A time like this?" James looked at his watch. His eyes were still too blurred to read it. "Whatever time it is, it's a good time to sleep in my book." He said drowsily. "Why? What's happening?"
"Haven't you heard? The boss issued an all-member alert, a total manhunt. Or in this case, a womanhunt. She's been listed as a traitor since last night. Whoever can haul her back into headquarters gets an instant two-rank promotion and a bonus." James gulped. The boss never gave bonuses. He must really want the girl. The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a wrinkled photo. It was a picture of a very familiar red-head, winking and giving a peace sign. "Let's see." He looked at the back. "It say here her name's...
"Jessie!" James grabbed the picture.
The man looked surprised. "You know her?"
James stared at the picture blankly. "She used to be in my group." He said quietly. The grave danger Jessie was in was just barely beginning to sink in.
"Do you know where she went?" The bigger man asked menacingly. James looked around a little as if trying to remember, then pointed the opposite way he had last seen Jessie go.
"I think she went that way." He said, managing to keep the fear out of his voice. The man stared at him suspiciously, and he gave his most convincing that's-the-best-I-can-do smiles. The man ran off down the path.
James barely hesitated until the scary man was out of sight before leaping to his feet. He had to help her. Quickly, he slipped his boots on. Without getting anything, or even bothering to wake Meowth, he took off running down the right path.
He wasn't sure how long he had run when he came to a fork in the road. He paused to catch his breath. The chances of finding her seemed pretty dismal. He had no clue which way she went, and she already had a full day-and-a-half head start on him. But something told him she hadn't gone far, he could catch up with her. He had to.
He looked around a little. He was in a forest. That made it even harder to find his way around. There were mountains on two sides, with a sheer cliff on the right. He looked at it, and just for a second, he could have sworn he saw a flash of something red at the top. He took one last deep breath and ran toward the cliff side.
It was rather steep, and he hadn't bothered to find a very good path. He was totally out of breath when he finally got to the top, and his side ached terribly. He collapsed into the cool grass and panted heavily for several minutes. After a while he managed to sit up, and looked around.
No Jessie. He sighed disappointedly and slumped down, breathing normally. Suddenly he heard a twig snap behind him, and he leapt to his feet, whirling around. He found himself face-to-face with an angry cobra.
"Arbok, Glare!" A voice came from behind the huge snake.
"Charrrr." Arbok said threateningly, his eyes glowing a menacing red. James stared back, horrified. He knew what glare did... He tried to turn away, but the attack had already taken affect.
"Charbo, charboku?" Arbok seemed confused as he recognized who he had paralyzed.
"What's wrong, Arbok?" Jessie asked, walking over beside her favorite Pokemon and rubbing it under the chin. Then she turned to him. "You!" She seemed horrified.
"Jessie?!" He said worriedly. She didn't look like the same girl who had left camp the previous night. Her normally perfect hair was ratty and tangled, and her clothes were torn. She had several new bruises, and large bags under her eyes. It was obvious that she hadn't slept since she left. Her eyes were bloodshot and tiered, but also full of fear bordering on lunacy. He was about to ask what happened when she cut him off.
"I swear, James. Out of all of the people I expected to find after me, you were the last." Her eyes were full of pain. "I expected more out of you."
"But, I...." James tried to protest. She silenced him with a slap.
"You can tell your boss that I wouldn't work for him again if he were the last person on earth. His little operation is the most vile, repugnant excuse for a hell hole I've ever heard of. I'll never go back. I'd rather tongue a snake." She turned to her cobra. "If you'll excuse the term, Arbok."
"What? What are you talking about?" James asked, bewildered. Why was she so mad at him? He was only trying to help. She really didn't think he would.... Did she? "But, Jessie, I wasn't trying to turn you in, or whatever you think. I was worried, that's all. Really!" He pleaded.
She grinned, and her eyes flashed maniacally. "Of course, James." She cooed mockingly. "You were only worried about me. I believe you." She laughed. "They all are 'just worried' about me. Why didn't I see it before?" Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. She turned to Arbok. "We can go home now, sweety. It's okay, they're 'just worried." The large snake stared sadly at its master, afraid of her strange new attitude. She whirled back toward James and glared at him.
"Do you expect me to believe that? Honestly, do you think I'm that stupid? I'm smarter then you. Don't push me, Jim. I might push back." She put one hand against his chest and pushed lightly, and he tipped dangerously toward the cliff.
"Stop that! It is true!!" He yelled, trying to reason. He was shaking horribly. Even with all the times she'd hurt him, she'd never gotten so close to killing him as she just had. "Jessie, we've been best friends for years. Do you really think I would turn on you for a stupid promotion?! Is that all you think of me?"
For a moment, her eyes seemed to get their old life back as she considered what he said. Then the grin returned as she walked towards him. "Of course I don't." He smiled with relief. "At least, I didn't. But then, I never thought most of you would. For the past day I've been running for my life. Old friends, people we went through training with, even a cousin! James, I've been betrayed by everyone I knew and trusted. You were the last."
"Jessie..." She was scaring him. Finally, he thought of something. "What about Zee? What about your brother? Have they turned on you?" he seemed confused by this. Zee and Charley were both rather different, but they were really very important to her. Also, they really hadn't done anything to hurt her.
"I... I don't know... Have they?" She looked around nervously. "I'm not sure. I don't know anything anymore, James. It's all a lie, everything is a lie."
James stared nervously at his partner, her sanity was rapidly deteriorating. He struggled against his body, it seemed unwilling to move. "That's not true, Jessie." He attempted to reason with her again.
"That's right, James. It's not true, It's a lie." She grinned smugly, as if she had just tricked him into admitting that everything she had said was true. Or, maybe, that it wasn't.
"Jessie, stop that! You're scared, I can understand that..."
"No you don't!" She cut him off, fuming again. "You don't have a clue what I'm dealing with! What I'm going through, what's happening, you couldn't understand." She was still furious, but at least now she was mad at him for being insensitive, not for betraying her.
James just let her speak. He really did feel sorry for her, but he really had no idea what to do. Everything he said just made her more angry, and tore her apart even more. And that tore him apart, too. "Jessie." He couldn't say anything more.
She turned around and looked into his soft emerald eyes for a moment, studying his face intently. Finally, she seemed to realize that he really wasn't after her, and smiled weakly. "You really meant all of that, didn't you? Aww... James, you're just too sweet. Poor thing. It must be hard to be so naive." She walked over to his still-frozen body, taking his face in her hand. She continued her gaze for a second, then leaned forward, kissing him softly on the lips. His eyes widened in shock for a second, then closed tightly, savoring the feeling. Before he could get over the surprise though, she pulled away. Jessie glanced back into his bright green eyes for a second, then spun around. "Come along, Arbok."
"Charrrr..." Arbok looked at her, then turned back to the still paralyzed young man nervously. "Charbok, Charr?"
"He'll be okay in a little while. We'd better go now." She turned to James. "It looks like this is goodbye, for good this time. Please don't follow me. I don't want you to have to get involved." She smiled bitterly. "I don't have much time left. He'll find me. There's nowhere to run."
"But, Jessie..." He said, still recovering from the shock of her unexpected affection. She was already gone. He sighed. He was where he started. He was freezing, but he still couldn't move at all. He tried to get his mind off of it by debating whether or not he should go after her. He knew she didn't want him to, and, In a way, he agreed. He would probably just end up getting in the way. On the other hand, he couldn't really leave her face things alone and still call himself a friend...
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!" Jessie's shriek shook him out of his thoughts. He snapped his head towards the trees where he had seen the noise. It was too dense to see, but he could tell that far off, not more then a hundred yards. If it weren't for his 'problem', he could have been there by now. As it was, he could only listen.
"Let go of me, you son of a-ouch!" he heard her growl, quickly followed by the sound of a mallet against a skull. Several obscenities, angry hisses and 'Char's, and general noises of fighting ensued. Suddenly, three gunshots rang out, and everything went deathly quiet.
James felt his stomach tighten as his legs went weak. He had never felt so happy to have his knees go out as the paralysis began to wear off. He landed on his knees and gazed blankly at the patch of trees as he waited for feeling to return. His whole body was on pins and needles, but it was a welcome change to the numbness.
Slowly, painfully, he rose to his feet, his legs wobbling unsteadily. He began to make his way through the trees. Several times he faltered, barely catching himself on shaky hands. Cautiously, he rose to his feet and continued. He was just beginning to get the hang of his body when he got to a clearing.
A giant snake was lying in the middle of it, wheezing softly. James ran towards it. "Arbok!" He yelled, sliding to his knees beside the wounded pokemon.
"Bok... Bok char." The snake answered weakly, turning toward the boy. James gasped as he saw the bullet hole through Arbok's hood.
James pulled out a Pokeball. "Arbok, return." He moved the small ball towards the giant snake nervously. "You'll be safer in here." He hastily explained. Unlike Weezing, or most pokemon for that matter, Arbok really made him nervous. James had never been particularly fond of snakes, and at over eleven feet long, He had James beat in size and weight. Weezing could blow smoke at you, but Arbok could crack your ribs, and probably eat you whole.
However, Arbok seemed to understand, and went willingly into the ball. James sighed thankfully and returned it to his belt, looking around. There was no sign of Jessie, or anyone else, for that matter. There were a few broken branches and other signs of the fight that had taken place, but nothing that gave any hint as to which way they went.
James lowered his head in defeat, fighting back tears. He wondered if she was okay. He knew Arbok had received one of the shots, but there were still two unaccounted for. He was pretty certain that Jessie didn't have a gun.
He shook his head quietly, then looked up. The sun was beginning to rise. Meowth would be awake soon. He would have to feign innocence and play along, pretending that he didn't know what had happened. With luck, someone would drop a hint.
He turned back to the clearing one last time and closed his eyes in a silent prayer for his partner's safety. He pulled out a single scarlet rose and held it to his face for a second, then tossed it into the middle of the small clearing. "Goodbye, Jess." He whispered softly as he left.
Giovanni reminds me of my father, so when I write, I tend to make them act the same. That's why Giovanni acts so evil in my stuff. (Honestly. My father is scary) I apologize to Giovanni fans.
I had no idea what, if any last names they had, and I couldn't use English namesakes, cause they shared one. (I guess it could be Jessie James & James James, like in the Mario Bros. Movie. What? None of you out there have seen it?! Figures. I envy you)
Anyway, their last names come from Musashi Miyamoto & Kojiro Sasake, their original namesakes. I added an extra 's' to Sassaké the third time my brother complained that I made James related to Giovanni. Sakaki, Sasake, I don't think they sound anything alike. The é makes it seem a little more classy... But that's just my opinion. If you don't like it, Then send me better ones.
Send comments, complaints, grammatical corrections , suggestions, ideas (good or bad), amusing anecdotes, bad puns, good recipes, or just about anything else to Ami When this story originally ran at my site, it only go one review. I hope it does better here.