Something About You

A Touko and Bel fanfiction

By Nagone

Summary: After a rocky night in Raimon City, Bel and Touko find themselves torn apart by their own emotions. Nearly a half a year later, Touko finds herself receiving a ticket to a play and the amusement park in Raimon City. She discovers that some of the simplest moments with the one you love are sometimes the best thing in the world when Bianca asks her to ride the Ferris Wheel in Raimon City on a starry night.

Pairing: Touko and Bel

Genre: Romance/Hurt/Comfort with hints of Drama

Rated: T

Author's note: I've recently really taken a shine to the interaction between Bianca and Touko. Their interactions are whimsical, despite my friend's loathing of Bianca. I think she's cute and I love her outfit almost as much as I love White's. The simplicity the designers gave her is wonderful. Two thumbs up! Either way, I hope you enjoy this cute, sweet, and romantic short fic. Also, please note that for the sake of this fanfic, Bel and Touko are both 18, and it has been three years since their journey. Touko is now the new champion, and Bel is in training to become a Musical Coordinator. Also, I've named Bel's mother Aya, which means color in Japanese. I thought it was a good name for her.

The sunset was peaceful over the bustling, electronic city of Raimon. Every nook and cranny of the sparkling burg seemed to be decorated with jewels. Children ran about as parents bustled them home. The cries of various sports teams echoing from the stadiums as fans cheered loud and proud for either the Pewter City Gravelers or the Driftveil Drilburs. Touko took in the sights around her as she passively licked a Pikachu shaped ice cream, the yellow of the banana flavored concoction dripping down the stiff, wooden stick it was held on. She brought it to her mouth and with a flick of her tongue, quickly snatched the sugary treat up between her soft pink lips. Her big, soft blue eyes glimmered like sapphires in the constant glow of ever-changing lights. She hummed softly as she took up residence on a bench next to the mock-river that served as a moat to the Raimon Electric Amusement Park. She looked around anxiously, her eyes flickering from the entrance to the surrounding buildings. Surely Bel wouldn't be late. Although the girl was a slight ditz and a major klutz, surely she wouldn't forget their date. Touko sighed and rested her head in her hands, tossing the popsicle stick into a small trash can as it put-put-putted by, the electronic being set on its task of keeping the bright city clean.

Touko pulled out her xtransceiver and pushed the contact button. Bel sat at the top, her bright, peach toned face smiling brightly back at Touko. Touko clicked back and rested the device in her lap. She sighed once more. The image on the wallpaper was one of Bel slyly kissing Touko on the cheek. Touko's face was bright red with surprise, and you could almost hear Bel's bell-toned giggles erupt from the device and she swore she head a sing-song chorus of "You get sooooooooo embarrassed every time, Tou-ko-channnnn".

"Gosh," Touko muttered, "It almost sounds like she's here."

"I am silly," a voice muttered, gently whispering into the shell of Touko's ear. Touko shivered silently and held back from turning around. She's make Bel wait for her affections, not out of anger, but out of the sudden burst of playfulness that had erupted in her stomach.

"Well, you sure did take a lot of time getting here," Touko teased with a semi- serious tone. "I've waited for nearly half an hour. What's your excuse this time? What, were you stopping to pick flowers, or did your bike break down on Route 4?" Touko turned and pouted, only to be faced with a calm and collected Bel.

"Well, darn," Bel sighed. "You spoiled the surprise." She withdrew from her bag a small bouquet of white daisies. "Here. I stopped in Hiun City before I hit the desert. It sure was hard keeping these nice for you. No matter how much I shield myself, that desert is something! Geez," Bel exclaimed, taking off her hat for emphasis. She shook it out, leaving a small pile of sand. "You were saying?" she quirked.

Touko opened, shut, re-opened, and re-shut her lips. She must've looked like a magikarp with pie on its face: like a fool. She dipped her head down. "I'm so sorry. If I had known I-"

Bel giggled and smiled. "Tou-chan, it's not a big deal. All is forgiven. Now," Bel smiled brightly. "Let's go enjoy the park! I wanna get Cottonee Candy and go in the Pika-Bounce!" She quickly grabbed Touko's hand and tugged the girl up, leading her across the moat.

The night went by in a bright, electric blur. Elesa had opened her gym as usual, and the ride on the thrilling, no-holds roller coaster had been exhilarating. Bel and Touko had held hands tightly as they were whipped through the high-speed thriller. Once they had gone five times through Elsa's gym, they, as per Bel's request, went to the Pika-Bounce. Touko blushed as she realized that they were the only girls their age that didn't have a sibling or child at their side. Still, Bel's excitement grew as they got closer despite children giggling and pointing at them. Touko's face slowly grew redder and redder as her embarrassment grew paramount. Bel was so childish compared to her. Where Touko had become an accomplished trainer and was the youngest Unova Champion as of yet, Bel had set her eyes on her and her Oshawatt, Ollie, becoming part of the Pokémon Musicals that were famous in Raimon. Many a time Bel had told Touko that her dream was to become a star of the theaters there. Despite them both being 18, they were totally different. That fact stuck with Touko as they entered the Pika-Bounce and were suddenly surrounded by giggling children.

"Missth, aren't you too old for thisth?" a snaggletoothed child asked as he tugged on the hem of Touko's shorts. His s's came out with a sharp "th" at the ends.

"Well, yes, but..." Touko's voice drifted off. What more could she say? She was too old for this. This was a child's toy, after all.
Bel bounded over, whooping and hollering. "Touko, are you having fun?" she yelled, smiling brightly. Touko couldn't help but smile.

"Y-Yeah Bel. Y'know," Touko yelled in return. "I think I'm gonna go take a break outside. I need some fresh air. Take your time!" Bel nodded in response.

"M'kay! Have fun!" Bel bounded back off, flipping over and landing on her bottom. Touko giggled softly, a frown settling upon her lips.

Outside, Touka tugged her shoes on. She cast a glance around. This is so childish, she thought. I thought Bel would rather go to the theater, and maybe to dinner at the Cloud Café. I didn't think she'd like to spend time in a … bounce house. Touko pouted and sat down. Sure, roller coasters, shooting games, and the Swanna Ride on the lake are all really cool, but I really wanted to hang with Bel. I've been so busy lately, that it seems like the fizzle has just… fizzled out. Plus, the leader of all the gyms and Elite Four shouldn't be looking so… childish. Touko's gloomy mood soon overcame her, and she felt her heart priorities as the Elite Four Champion had changed her too much, especially ever since Alder had retired. Sure, she had been excited to see Bel, especially since it had been nearly five months since their last date, but Bel still seemed to be massively… immature.

After fifteen minutes, Bel excited the bounce house, her hair tousled and her body covered in a soft sheen of sweat. "Gosh, that was so fun!" She chirped. Touko chuckled softly and sighed. "Tou-chan… What's wrong?"

And in an instant, it happened.

"You're just an immature brat, Bel!" Touko screamed. She had never remembered being that angry ever in her life. More so, she had never remembered yelling this loudly, especially at Bel. But she was tired of Bel not being her equal. "You're eighteen, Bel! We're not children anymore!" The crowds around them slowed down. "You can't go playing in bounce houses anymore! We're supposed to be pursuing careers!"

Tears bubbled up in Bel's eyes. She rubbed them quickly and smiled, her pearl pink lips quivering. "I'm sorry, Touko." Bel turned on her heel, her dress fluttering behind her.

Touko's lips parted. "Where are you going, Bel?" Her voice dropped.

Bel smiled, tears rushing down her cheeks. She tossed a poké ball out in front of her and giggled. "Touko, we're over. Good night, and thank you for the cotton candy and trip. It was fun while it lasted." The ball opened and a Swanna appeared, the soft feathers glowing under the festive lights. Touko gently climbed onto the pokémon's back and squeezed her thighs against its back. In one smooth motion, the Swanna took off from the ground and towards the sky, circling around twice before speeding off towards the south in the direction of Touko and Bel's hometown of Kanako.

"Bel," Touko whispered. She tossed a poké ball into the air. An Archeops popped out and cawed loudly, flapping his arms silently in the air. Touko jumped up onto its back and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around its neck. "Follow Bel's path," she whispered. "Quickly!" Archeops took off at a breakneck speed, jerking Touko forward so that her cheek was pressed tightly against his feathers. She squeezed her legs tightly against him and bit back tears as Raimon City disappeared light by light, hoping she'd find Bel soon.

As Touko thought, Bel was tucked away in her house back in Kanako. As Archeops landed, she could see the light illuminating her window. She thanked her pokémon as they landed and left him outside the ball so that he could stretch and relax in the soft grass. Touko gathered a breath and walked up to Bel's home.

Knock. Knock. Knock knock.

Touko waited for a moment. She gasped as the door opened and Bel's mother Aya appeared. "Oh, Touko, welcome," she smiled gently. Soft smells of fresh baked bread flowed from the doorway. "Come in, come in. I think Bel just got home." She dashed off towards the kitchen, muttering about bread.

Touko nodded, nervous to say that she was the one that sent the girl home, but she entered despite her thudding heart. "Thank you ma'am." She walked in and took off her shoes, sliding on a pair of soft black slippers. She took a seat at a plush cushion that rested on a deep red rug.

Aya smiled as she returned from the kitchen, placing a small tray of bread and butter in front of Touko. "Eat up! Tea?" she chirped. Touko winced. Aya's voice was only a pitch lower than the lovely blonde.

"Y-Yes please," Touko smiled. Aya dashed back and brought out a pink teapot balanced on another tray with three small teacups with white poké ball emblems printed on them. Aya poured a steaming stream of liquid into each, the smell of roses, peaches, and ginger floating up to Touko's nose. She sniffed and felt her eyes water: peaches were Bel's favorite fruit.

"So… What's the story?" Aya's voice dropped, low enough that she and Touko could hear the words. "I know Bel's upset. She's been locked in her room for the past two hours she's been home, and she didn't even come in through the door. She flew in through her window."

Touko sighed. "We… We broke up."

Aya's eyes flashed. "You what? Touko, what happened now?"

Touko shrugged her shoulders. This wasn't the first time that Bel and Touko had been strained, but usually, they recovered quickly. But not this time. "I… I called her childish and immature at the amusement park because she was playing in a bounce house and we were getting laughed at, and I have a reputation to uphold since I'm the Unova Champion now, and…"

Crack.

Aya's tea cup fell to the table and shattered, tea spilling across the table. "Touko! How could you?" Aya shouted. "You and Bel have been friends since you were three! Regardless of how you feel, how could you do that? As Champion, people look up to you to be open and caring, not mean!" Aya was yelling now, but Touko knew it was proper. After all, Aya had a point: Touko was a public figure now, and was expected to be serious, but was still allowed to have fun. After all, how many times did she see Alder hanging out at a street fair or playing with children?

Up in her room, Bel had heard the entire conversation. She muted her television, her eyes puffy with tears, her hair messy and unkempt. She tip-toed across the room and pressed her ear against the door, listening.

Touko sighed, sitting down her cup of tea. "Perhaps it was wrong of me to come here," she said, lifting her head. Her eyes were glassy and watery as though she were holding back tears. "Bel was right to break up with me. I'm too caught up in being the Champion to have a relationship. I'm not good enough for Bel. I'll be taking my leave."

Bel struggled to get the door open. "Great," she hissed. "What a wonderful time for my lock to get-" She squealed as she went tumbling down the stairs and smacked into the wall before tumbling over and down the remaining few steps. "Ouchies…" she whimpered. She stood up, running a hand through her hair.

Touko gasped, having already pulled on her shoes. "Thank you for the tea ma'am. I must leave. I have challengers in the morning."

Bel rushed forward, tripping over her feet and falling. "Touko," she yelled. "Don't go! Please… I'm sorry," Bel's voice trailed off, but in her heart and gut, she knew she was too late.

Touko smiled sadly and waved. "Sorry Bel. It's over, like you said. We can't keep going like this, seeing each other three times a year because we're so busy. I hate it." Touko's smile cracked, and her voice threatened tears. "I'm sorry, love. I hope you'll do good in the musicals."

Touko was out the door and on her Archeops before Bel could even call out her heartfelt response of "I love you" into the still, chilly air that hovered above Kanako town.

Author's Note: Originally, this was going to be a really cute one-shot, but it seems like, as all good writing does, this has taken a twist. I'll probably drag it out over another chapter or two. Keep watch for more.