Chapter One – Three years

Disclaimer: I am not the original author of this story I am reposting it and continuing it with Lady Paprika's permission. I must warn you: my updates may be a little slow as I just started a new job that occupies most of my time. I also changed the initial rating from M to T because I'm not going to lie, I can't write a lemon to save my life. If anyone reaaaaallly reaaaallly wants one, I might be convinced and change the rating appropriately.

I hope everyone enjoys this ficcie as much as I did when I first read it and only hope I can do Lady Paprika's story justice.


"Name please?"

"Touko. Touko White."

A startled look. Yes, she got that a lot. Especially nowadays. That attentive snap of the head, the sudden apologetic look in the eye. "Oh miss, I'm s-sorry!"

"For what?" Touko grinned as she looked at the secretary in front of her. She was attractive, Touko supposed. Long blond hair that was professionally tied up, timid green eyes and from what she could observe, she hardly has an ass. She could easily be a D though. Touko frowned. "Are you new?"

"Y-yes, I just started two weeks ago," the woman responded breathlessly, trying not to acknowledge that the Miss Touko White was staring at her boobs.

Touko's grin became all too understanding. "Figures," she responded.

"Excuse m-me?"

Touko uncrossed her legs with a flourish as she quickly stood up and suddenly she had herself pressed up against the secretary. Her chocolate brown eyes glinted maliciously at the secretary. "You look like a Vivian. Can I call you Vivian?" she asked, her mouth inches from the woman's ear.

The woman sighed in agreement, barely nodding as she felt the girl's warm breath against her ear. Her name was really Jane, but Vivian sounded a lot better when Touko said it, the way her teeth had to lightly scrape against her lower lip not once, but twice to say it. The secretary felt Touko place her hands on the back of her head and suddenly her blonde hair had unraveled itself and Touko was running her fingers through it. It felt so good, that even though they were in a public setting, "Vivian" did not mind. She wanted Touko right then and there. A dull flush rose up her cheeks when Touko withdrew her head slightly and whispered, "Much better, but still not perfect."

"Mmm?" she said vaguely, her mind too caught up in the heady moment and suddenly Touko's expert hands were at the top button of her blouse doing something very interesting with it. It took a second for Vivian to understand that Touko had quickly undone the first three buttons, baring a lot of her cleavage. Then she did something quite unexpected to Vivian at least: she took a step backward. She was disappointed. Why hadn't she gone further?

"You should wear tighter clothing. He likes that," Touko said looking over her work in approval. Vivian's jaw dropped, trying to register what Touko had said. "Oh, nice big mouth too. Why, it's like you practically rolled onto his lap. Which you should do as often as you can." With a smirk, the Pokemon Champion turned on her heel, preparing to walk deeper into the building.

"Where are you going?" Vivian managed to choke out.

Touko turned back and the smile playing at her lips were just as teasing as the look she gave her. "To see your boss of course."


It had been three years since Touko had defeated N. Three of Touko's easiest years of her life, for ever since that day, all of Unova practically worshipped Touko. And quite honestly, why wouldn't they? She was an ideal hero. She was confident, sexy and a damn good Pokemon trainer.

Touko appreciated it, took it all in stride. No longer did she have to wear that ridiculous ball cap and trailer trash shorts. She had enough money to buy the latest designer wear and she always let it be known that she did. Wearing the latest fashionable boots, skinnies and sleeveless blouse and toting an enormous Beautifique bag (A bag that hadn't even hit the runway thankyouverymuch!)

Yes, life was good. Life was grand even, but there was one figure who had benefited Touko's success even more than even she did and that was N. One would think that defeating N would mean that he would've been squashed to a pulp. One would have thought that the defeat of N meant the defeat of Team Plasma. Yet this was not the case.

As Touko rode the elevator, she tapped a heeled boot against the steel floor impatiently and counted the floors even before the tiny box beeped, indicated she reached another floor. She closed her eyes, folding her arms against her chest tightly. "Level sixty-one," a cool female voice said.

Touko cracked open an eye and opened them fully when she realized the doors had smoothly given way. She got out and the cool female voice said, "Have a nice day."

"Thanks. You too." She said dryly.

She strode across the long hall. Despite all the doors that lined the hall, there was only one occupant on the last floor of Team Plasma's Headquarters and he spent most of his time behind the door that was at the end of the hall. It seemed excessive that he had the whole floor to himself. Then again, Touko thought wryly, N liked excess.

Case in point: Vivian.

Touko wondered how long she would last but before she could come up with a concrete answer, her XTransceiver began to ring an Espeon's cry. She quickly pressed a button that would allow her to talk.

"Touko speaking," she said, not bothering to look at the tiny screen.

"Obviously, otherwise, why would I have called you?" Cheren's voice snapped at her from the watch. Touko brought her wrist up to her face so that she could see her friend's face. As usual his face looked downright irritable.

"What do you want, Cherry berry?" she asked, knowing full well that he hated her nickname for him. He also hated any variant Touko liked using in place of his name.

"Your mother wants to know where you are." he said, trying to ignore her nickname for him. "I've been lying for you for a while now, but you and I both know this can't last. When was the last time you spoke to her anyway?"

Touko paused. "I can't remember," she said, brows furrowed in thought. "Must've been two weeks ago..?"

Cheren's own eyebrow raised a notch. "Two weeks ago, Touko? No wonder she's been blowing my phone up. She seems more my mom than yours. When are you going to call her?"

"Soon, okay?" Touko responded. The door at the end was getting closer.

"Soon?" Cheren repeated. "When is 'soon' for you, anyway, a year? Touko, are you paying attention?!"

"'Course I am. I said soon, didn't I? I'll speak to you later. I've got business to take care of." Ignoring Cheren's exclamations, she firmly pressed a button on her XTransceiver, effectively ending their communication.

She stared at the door for a moment, squaring her shoulders. Then she fixed a smirk on her face and strode through the doors.


Cheren stared at the black screen with the words, "Call Ended" flashing across them. The nerve of Touko! He felt like smashing the wristwatch contraption every single time she did this to him. For once, he surmised, he wished he could be the one cutting the communication off just so she knew how it felt. But of course, that wouldn't happen anytime soon. Touko would have to call him first, and she hadn't done that in two years.

Things had certainly changed, he reflected as he called out his Unfezant. The male bird Pokemon stretched its wings out and clawed the dirt expectantly. Cheren felt a twinge of guilt; he hadn't exercised his Pokemon in a while. He kept telling himself that he would, but the fact of the matter was that each day was busier than the next. As he stroked the pink feathers of the bird, he said quietly, "Up for a trip to Castelia City, Fez?"

Unfezant gave an excited coo. As Cheren mounted the bird, his XTransceiver rang. He picked up and, thinking it was Touko, he drawled, "Business already taken care of, then?"

"Uh, no?"

Cheren cursed mentally. It wasn't Touko, it was Belle. The blonde had called and he hadn't expected it? Now that was a first. "Er... Hello Belle," he stammered, wishing his Unfezant would trample on him. "What's up?".

"Nothing, just checking up on you," Belle responded. "I just got to Nuvema, and I was wondering if you were around. I was hoping we could catch up."

Cheren resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He knew she was watching his expressions and he also knew that Belle was very sensitive particularly when it came to him. "Sorry, Belle," he said. "I was actually on my way to Castelia City. I'm in Driftveil right now."

"Oh. Well, that's okay! Maybe some other time then, huh? I feel like we haven't seen each other in ages!" she said. He noticed that she'd looked down when he told her it wasn't possible, but she now held the cheeriest smile. Typical Belle behavior.

"You can see me now," he pointed out.

"I mean in person, silly!" she laughed. "Anyway, why are you going to Castelia?"

Cheren bit his lip, wondering whether to tell her or not, but this act in itself seemed to tip Belle off. Her celery green eyes suddenly adopted a cool look. "Oh, I see now. You're going to see her." She said this casually, like she didn't care. However, Cheren knew she did.

"Belle…" he started.

She shook her head, disallowing him to continue. "No, Cheren. You don't have to explain it to me. Though I'm always going to wonder why you still put up with her shit."

"It's not that simple, Belle," he said.

"Of course. Not for you anyway." Belle said, rolling her eyes. "And I honestly pity you for being attached to her that way, I really do. But you can always get out." She paused. "There are other girls out there for you, you know."

"I'm not settling, if that's what you're saying," Cheren snapped.

Belle's pupils dilated as her eyes widened in surprise. And Cheren knew why, he hardly showed any sort of irritability around her. "This is what I want."

Belle looked cowed for a moment, but then her green eyes, normally soft and ethereal, crackled in anger. "It's settling if you're engagement is with a girl that doesn't even love you. It's settling if you're doing it for publicity!" They two glared at each other through the screen.

Then Belle's eyes narrowed dangerously and she said softly, "Maybe you're really in love with her, Cheren. Maybe that's why to you it doesn't seem like settling."

"Shut up!" he hissed. "You're being ridiculous."

She knew she'd gone too far, but she couldn't help herself. "It's true! You love her don't you? She doesn't even love you back. How pathetic are you?!"

Cheren's eyes regarded her coldly. "I'm sure you're familiar with unrequited love Belle, but that doesn't mean I am. Now if you'll excuse me..."

"What do you mean by that?" Belle asked, but her cheeks were turning a deep red.

"You know exactly what it means," he said. With that he pressed the button, ending their communication.

He usually loved flying, but this time he was fuming throughout the whole flight. The pulsing beat of Unfezant's wings only added to his irritation. He'd never seen Belle act out like that, but then they usually avoided the topic of Touko. It was a sore spot for Belle he knew.

He stared out at the fluffy white clouds, brooding. Castelia City's skyline was growing more visible by this point. Even though he was no longer constantly poor, dirty and tired, the way he usually was as a trainer, Cheren constantly missed those days that Touko, Belle and he traveled together. They'd been such great friends together and shared so many memories together on the road. So much had changed since Touko's triumphs three years ago, but at what cost? He shook his head. He never thought he'd be the first to think it, but he missed their easy friendship.

As Unfezant began his descent, Cheren forced these nostalgic thoughts away and pondered on where to find Touko. It was important he find her before she did something stupid.


Belle blinked away her tears. She knew she ought not to have yelled at Cheren, but this time she couldn't help herself. She'd never had the courage to yell at Cheren that much before. But to throw her feelings in her face?

"Belle?"

Belle hastily wiped the tears away from her eyes and turned to face Professor Juniper. If there was one thing that Belle felt calm at it was at Juniper's. She felt like nothing changed here and for that she was grateful. Professor Juniper was still the bright young and attractive professor that Belle remembered meeting her as, nearly six years ago. "Yes, professor?"

The professor looked at her sternly over her green glasses. "What did I say about that title? Just call me Aurea."

"S-sorry," Belle said. Honestly, Belle usually remembered that she was now on a first name basis with Aurea Juniper, but when she was flustered, she usually forgot and ended up calling Aurea by her formal title…which was Professor Juniper.

Professor Juniper smiled, and then said, "What's the matter?"

Belle shrugged casually and then held out her notebook. "I gathered some notes on the mating rituals of a Sawsbuck during Autumn and it seems to me like the results are inconclusive in that Deerlings originated during the Autumn time. If you look at my notes, you'll see why. I think it's more likely they came about during the Winter or Springtime."

Juniper took the worn out notebook from Belle's hands and set it on the table without looking through it. She put a hand on Belle's shoulder and said, "You'll have to do better than that, Belle. Now can you tell me what's really wrong?"

Belle's smile was even wider. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You just talked to Cheren, didn't you? You argued."

Belle's mouth fell open. "How did you know?" she asked.

Juniper smiled and steered Belle over to the couch so that the distraught girl could sit down. She rubbed her back comfortingly. "Oh Belle," she sighed. "Who else could provoke such loud emotions from you? You only yell at the people you sincerely care about and seeing as how you don't talk to Touko anymore..."

Belle stared at her hands bitterly until Juniper continued on, "Your father is dead and your mother is... Well... You know." she said. "The only person you're close enough to yell at is Cheren."

Belle laughed bitterly. "You make me sound like I'm pathetic and friendless."

Juniper pursed her lips. "Maybe because you are. Ever since you decided to sever ties with Touko..."

"You make it sound like I had a decision in that."

"You did. And that's not the point I'm trying to make. The point is," she said, taking a deep breath. "Is that you've refused to make any new friends since then."

Belle said, "That's not true! I have made friends!"

Juniper placed a hand on her hip. "Oh yeah? Name me one."

Belle was silent.

"I thought so," Juniper said. She got up. "Look Belle, I appreciate that you help out here a lot. You've been a big asset to my research, but I think you're using work as an escape to your personal life. You need to let go of the past and concentrate on the future. It isn't healthy to just push yourself in research and I'm sure Cheren would agree."

Belle sighed. "Maybe you're right," she said. But where would she even begin? Belle used to find making friends easy but now it seemed too hard for her to just go up to that cute research assistant she'd been eyeing at Nacrene City's Museum the other day or anyone else for that matter.

Still, she thought miserably, her life wasn't going the way she'd expected it to go.


"I don't recall inviting you here, White." The voice was smooth, alluring and completely male. Touko's eyes shot to the man who'd spoken and found him casually draped over a cushiony couch. He was reading a stack of papers, one leg trailing the floor, the other bent so that the foot rested on the arm of the chair. His back was against the other arm of the chair and one hand was arrogantly draped over the back of the chair. He did not deign to look at Touko who strode over to him, the same maddening smirk on her face.

"Oh, so now I need an invite?" Touko asked. She stood in front of him, arms crossed. She cast a shadow over his papers making it difficult for him to read. With a sigh, he righted himself up and finally swept his eyes to hers.

In Touko's more naive years, she would have blushed. But now that she knew the kind of person N had become, she no longer deigned herself to do so. She grudgingly thought he was beautiful though, with those beautifully green eyes, the calm and self-assured smile, his flawless pale skin and mesmerizing cheekbones. And of course, nobody could forget his most distinctive feature which was his hair that ran down his back-messy but totally sexy. When he'd faced her four years ago in the Ferris wheel, she'd nearly swooned despite the fact he was very socially awkward.

But ever since he'd suffered a crushing defeat by Touko, N had reinvented his image with such alarming alacrity that in one short half of a year the public had named him the number 1 eligible bachelor by nearly every single magazine. Not only had N turned Team Plasma into one of the greatest corporations in Unova that mostly dealt with Pokemon technology, but he was the CEO of it. And at a cool twenty-two years old, it was safe to say that every single girl in Unova, aside from the ones that really knew him, secretly hoped that they would be his next date.

This was one facet of N that had also changed. Before, he'd never really had any sort of interest in girls; Touko doubted he even knew what sex was. But with his new business image, N had suddenly become one of the biggest players of all time. It was the reason Touko had, in the end, decided to stanch her feelings for him.

"The reason I switched secretaries in the first place was because I didn't want you in here." he said getting up and towering over her by at least a head.

Touko took a step backward so that she wouldn't have to crane her neck up as much. "Oh," she said, "I assumed the reason you changed was because you got bored of looking at the other one. But this one's a lot hotter. She definitely has bigger tits."

N's eyes narrowed. "Are you assuming that I only hire my secretaries for their looks?"

Touko shrugged. "I only point out what I see. And hear." she added as an afterthought. A couple of months ago, she'd noticed that his previous secretary was absent from her desk and went on ahead. When she got to his door she'd heard the secretary making loud animal noises. Funnily enough, N hardly made a peep. Strange.

N turned away from her to glance out his office window, which was really a wall. The sun was glaring through at five o'clock in the afternoon. It was getting ready to set. "My current secretary and I have a strictly platonic business relationship." he said. "Not that it should concern you. he added silkily, turning around to face her again, the dying sunlight outlining his lithe figure. He smiled as he approached her. It wasn't a nice smile. Touko backed away from him, but he continued to advance on her until he had her backed into a corner. She pressed herself against the wall and turned her face away from him when she realized he was very nearly pressed against her. She looked down at her shoulder, unwilling to look at him this close.

His grin widened. "Does it bother you?" he said softly, as he trailed the back of his hand down her exposed cheek, ending at her jawline. He twisted his hand around so that he could cup her jaw gently. His other hand was placed next to her head against the wall.

"Does what?" Touko asked. She was finding it very difficult to breathe.

N gave a low chuckle. "Look at me, Touko," he whispered. She pretended to ignore him, but then he grasped her jaw a little more firmly and pulled so that she was close to him. "Does my... Extracurricular activities with my secretaries bother you?"

"No…" Touko said, her breathing coming out in shorter gasps.

"No?" N smirked. He let go of her jaw and let his hands brush over her neck. Touko felt bumps on her arms that had nothing to do with the cold. He leaned down so that his mouth hovered just above her ear. He lifted a strand of hair and breathed in deeply. She smelled like clean shampoo but he couldn't identify what it was. "She's very beautiful isn't she? The things I could do to her. I could fuck her all night. Maybe I already have."

Touko shivered at the way his breath caressed her skin, and closed her eyes before opening them. "No you haven't."

N's fingers, on the wall tightened to a fist. "What?" he demanded.

Touko smirked. "I said you didn't," she murmured. "Want to know how I know?"

N pulled his head back to look at her. His green eyes betrayed annoyance and curiosity. She knew he didn't want to ask but would. And sure enough, curiosity won out in the end and he said, "How do you know? Not that I'm saying you're right."

Touko laughed. She placed an arm around her neck and forced him closer so that this time her lips were against his ear. He had a good view of her cleavage if he lowered his eyes, but she didn't care. "Of course I'm right, N. Because your dear secretary is a lesbian."

N stepped back in shock. She almost missed the closeness they had shared previously. "What?" he said. His eyes shot to hers heatedly. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying it's true. The reason why she's not drooling all over you is because she's too busy drooling all over me. I like her," she added, stealing a glance at him. He looked absolutely furious.

"That's a lie!" N sat down on one of the plush couches that adorned his oversized office.

Touko smiled. "Whatever you say, boss. Anyway," she said, making her face grow serious. "That's not the reason I'm here."

N raised a brow. He was clearly still irritated, but he said, "Go on."

"The reason I'm here is because of this." She pulled out a stack of papers from her designer handbag and threw it at him. He caught them easily and looked over it with a casual elegance. "What the fuck are you doing, N?" she hissed. "What do you mean by doing this?"

Realization dawned over N's face as he perused the paper, a pleased look over his face. "What do you mean, my dear?"

"You've bought more than half of Nuvema Town!"

"So?" N fixed her with a look. "It's hardly your home anymore Touko. I really don't understand why this is such a horrible prospect for you."

Touko glared at him. "Are you shitting me? My mom still lives there! Not to mention Cheren's family and... and Juniper... and..."

"And your pathetic friend Belle?" N finished with a smile.

Touko was about to tell him to shut up, that Belle wasn't pathetic. But then she realized that it didn't matter because N was just trying to spite her. Besides, she no longer felt the need to defend her former best friend. "I don't care about her," she said angrily. "But these are my friends and family. It's where I got my Oshawott for goodness sake."

N rolled his eyes arrogantly. "Oh spare me the nostalgic memories, Touko of friendship and family. It will be lost on me."

Touko's voice trembled in anger when she responded, "I've never met somebody who never cared about a single person in the world. I pity you."

N's eyes slanted towards hers as he regarded her lazily. "You don't know what you're saying. You don't pity me. You just can't get enough of me."

Touko's eyebrows furrowed so much they were practically touching. "Don't be disgusting. Get away from my home town."

N's eyes appraised her as if he were thinking about it. "No." he said, narrowing his eyes. "And don't call it disgusting. You know it's true."

"No it isn't!" Touko shouted. "I would never like such a disgusting, reviling man like you. I'm engaged anyway!"

N's mouth smirked as if he were secretly mocking her. "Oh yes, you're engaged to that nerd friend of yours. Congratulations. It was all over the papers. Should I throw the wedding?"

Touko gnashed her teeth angrily. She didn't know what made her angrier; his appearance of utmost calm, the fact that he had the upper hand on her, or the fact that he didn't seem the slightest bit disturbed about her engagement with Cheren. "I don't care," she said. "Just stay away from Nuvema. I'm warning you, if you do anything at all to it, then I will defeat you again and make sure you stay down."

N yawned, covering his mouth politely. As his fingertips swept away from his lips he regarded her with an amused sort of boredom. "Yes, because that worked perfectly the first time," he responded sarcastically, then jumped to his feet. "You can't beat me Touko," he growled, facing her directly now. "No matter how many times you fight for dominance, I'll always stay on top of you," he finished in a dangerously silky voice.

The sexual innuendo was not lost on Touko, which made her blush deeply. But she forced herself to glare at him. "We'll see about that," she growled back and with that she whipped around and exited the office with a bang of the door.

N stared after her, enraged. He hated when she just did that. Acting like she owned the place, going and coming whenever she wanted! He sat at his desk heavily and linked his fingers together in front of his mouth, debilitating. After about a minute, N reached for his desk phone and pressed a button. "Jane? Yes, can you please come up. I'd like it very much if you were in my office in about ten minutes. No, there's nothing wrong, I just would love if you came up here. Thank you so very much."