Because I included some Japanese Characters in this story (that is, characters that don't have English names at the time of writing), I opted to go by EVERYONE'S Japanese name to avoid jarring jumping from English to Japanese (Hey, Ash? How is Hikari doing?). There's a character's guide below, so you can know who's who. Just because the list is being updated for all the names we now now, doesn't mean I'm going to change the story. I like it as it is.

Characters Guide: N/A means that it doesn't have an English name yet. An explanation will be given as to who each N/A is. Names are given in order of appearance.

Japanese – English

Joi – Joy

Saori – Solidad

Eievui – National Pokédex #133 Eevee

Jouto – Johto

Masato – Max

Takeshi – Brock

Satoshi – Ash

Shuu – Drew

Harley – Harley

Haruka – May

Shinou – Sinnoh

Hikari – Dawn

Pikachu – National Pokédex #025 Pikachu

Kanto – Kanto

Houen – Hoenn

I sat down and took in a deep breath. I had given Joi my Pokémon. They were tired after our battle. Our losing battle. Saori had creamed us, again.

At least Eievui wasn't in the battle. I held her to my chest. She purred for me, knowing I was upset. I had come all the way to Jouto to compete in Contests. For what, to lose? I sighed, stroking her soft fur. It was calming. Eievui is so smart. She knew how to make me feel better. I've come to rely on Eievui to replace my friends as my safety net for when I lose.

If my friends were with me, they'd be cheering me up. Masato would be telling me how proud he is of his 'Onee-chan'. Takeshi would say something profound about how I can take this experience and learn from it.

And Satoshi… Satoshi would say something like 'You'll just have to give it your all again next time!' He was so optimistic. He really believed in me. Shuu said he did, but sometimes I wonder. I don't think he thought I could beat Saori. Hell, I didn't beat Saori! I couldn't beat Saori this last time! I couldn't even beat Harley in our last encounter! I'm already falling so far behind my rivals...

I stroked Eievui. Was I only doing well with Satoshi as my training partner? He would down play it. 'You're great on your own, Haruka,' he'd tell me. 'I'm just the stone you sharpen yourself on!'

Satoshi… why was I thinking about him so much? I guess I missed him more than Masato or Takeshi. He had taken me under his wing and made it his mission to train me. I did grow as a Pokémon Coordinator under him. He helped me develop new strategies and always was there to cheer me up. He wasn't as dashing as Shuu, but he did have a sort of rugged quality to him. I guess I kinda liked him.

"What? No!" I told myself out loud. "Satoshi's a good friend, but a boyfriend?" I said to Eievui. "No way. Satoshi probably doesn't even like girls, yet."

He's also gone, far away, so I couldn't even ask him if he liked me. I talked to Masato one day, over the video phone. He told me that Satoshi and Takeshi had gone to the Shinou region. They met a girl there named Hikari. She was a Coordinator, too.

I'll admit, I was hurt when Masato told me the news. At the time, I thought it was because I felt replaced by this other girl as the group's token female. But, I've been given some time to think. Do I really have feelings for Satoshi?

Letting Eievui purr in my lap, I pulled out the ribbon. Not a ribbon. The ribbon. Well, I guess it was more like half a ribbon. He had the other one. The other half, I mean. Satoshi.

"Why was I so stupid, Eievui?" I stroked her with my right hand as I stared at the ribbon in my left. "I could have gone on so many adventures with Satoshi and Takeshi, but instead I wanted to go out on my own, like I was some kind of big shot. I should have never left them…" I felt my eyes watering, but I pushed them back. Eievui pawed at my chest, trying to take my gaze away from the half of a ribbon that seemed to be upsetting me. Eievui is really smart for a Pokémon.

"Haruka…" I heard a voice call for me. I looked up and wiped my eyes with my left arm.

"Oh, hi Joi-san," I sighed. "Are my Pokémon feeling better?"

"They'll be fine after a good night's rest," she smiled. "But that's not the reason I called for you."

"Then why did you call for me?" I asked. What was going on?

"You have a phone call," she smiled that perfect Joi smile that made me want to throw a brick at her every time I saw it.

"A phone call? For me?" I stood up, dropping Eievui to the ground. It's probably Shuu. He's gonna call me, tell me something and throw a rose in my face. Like he does every time. It was romantic at first, and I am still a fan of roses, but the last few times, I feel like he's been patronizing me. Especially with me current losing streak. I guess he was trying his best to take the sting out of it, though.

Satoshi wasn't as romantic. He would learn how I lost, and then we'd work together to get the kinks out of the system. Most girls don't think of Pokémon training as a romantic date, but I kind of looked forward to the late nights we would put in after one of us lost a battle.

Joi led Eievui and I over to a phone and sat me down in the chair. The nurse walked back over to the counter and transferred the call over.

"Hey, Haruka!" his voice was the first thing I caught.

There he was, grinning at me, with Pikachu on his shoulder.

He had gone through a wardrobe change. His baggy blue sweatshirt was replaced with a black vest with a yellow stripe around his chest. It certainly made him look slimmer, and black and yellow are definitely his colors (I don't know if that's because of Pikachu or not). But that goofy smile belonged to the Satoshi I knew and… liked.

"Satoshi!" I heard myself squeal. Was I really that glad to see him? "How did you find out I was here?"

"I just got off the phone with Masato, and he told me that you were in a contest today. A quick internet search and some help from Takeshi, and I found the center I thought you were at!"

"Well, I'm glad to see you," I found myself smiling at him. Wasn't I depressed earlier? "I lost again, Satoshi."

"Again?" he raised his eyebrow, as though he didn't understand the concept of 'losing again'. "What happened?"

"Yes, again." I looked away for a moment. "I don't know what's happened. I just can't seem go get back into the groove."

"Well, that means you've just gotta try harder next time!" he grinned at me, Pikachu chiming in as well. Same old optimistic Satoshi. "Just work a bit harder, and I'm sure you can do it!"

I felt a sort of queasy feeling. I wanted to tell him that I wanted his help, wanted him here. But how could I ask him? I chose to go off on my own. Eievui nuzzled my chest a little, as if to bring me back to reality, but it didn't work. I was stuck on this boy, half a world away. I loved him. I wanted so much to tell him, but the words just wouldn't come. And there came only silence.

That is, until I heard a voice from over the phone. "Satoshi?" I heard her call. "Who are you talking to?" She poked her head over Satoshi's shoulder to take a look at me. She wore a beanie cap on her blue hair, and looked at me with clear blue eyes.

"Oh, Hikari," he turned to her. "This is Haruka, the Coordinator I've told you about." He turned back to me. "Haruka, this is Hikari. We met shortly after Takeshi and I came to Shinou. She's a coordinator, too."

"Oh, that's great." I was all for him meeting friends, especially that far from home, but there was something about Hikari that just didn't sit right with me. Maybe I was overanalyzing, or maybe it was the way she leaned over Satoshi to see into the camera, but something didn't feel right. I felt like a part of me wanted to die, while another part just welled with anger. I tried my best to overcome the emotional onslaught, and I at least tried to remain pleasant. "Seems like you're getting along just fine in Shinou, Satoshi."

"Oh, wow, are you really Haruka-san?" Hikari wouldn't leave me alone. "Satoshi has told me so much about you. You're even more amazing now that I've seen you!"

"Oh really?" I was intrigued a bit by the last line. Satoshi's told her all about me? "What's he told you?"

"He's told me all about your contests, and how you've almost won an Grand Festival on you second try!" Hikari gushed with the kind of fangirlism that Shuu normally received. "He also told me about-"

"Hikari," Satoshi pushed her away, "why don't you go find Takeshi and make sure he's not bothering Joi. I'd like to talk to Haruka alone for a bit."

"Oh," Hikari glared at him, then at me. "I see." She stamped off. She was going to spread rumors. I knew it. It's what girls her type do when something goes bad for them. It made me kind of sick, to think Satoshi might replace me with a brat like that. But what else is there to do? After all, I'm not there with him, so I guess it can't be helped.

"Thanks," I acknowledged him for sending his friend away. "So what did you want to me talk about?"

"I guess I missed you since you've been gone in Jouto," he looked down at something in his lap. "And I could tell Hikari was rubbing you the wrong way."

"How'd you ever come to that conclusion?" I asked sarcastically, though I immediately regretted it once it was said. I didn't want to sound rude, but I let my mouth get the better of me.

Satoshi looked hurt. "I-I saw how your eyes changed when she came over," he avoided looking at me, messing with something in his lap.

"Satoshi, I have something I need to ask you." I looked down a little when I saw his eyes light up.

"Yeah, Haruka?" he asked eagerly.

"Well, I was wondering if you still had that ribbon we won back in Kanto, before I left for Jouto?"

"Y-yeah," he blushed, not looking at me. He immediately changed the subject. "Have you seen Shuu since you've been in Jouto?" I know that's what he's messing with in his lap. That ribbon. That half of a ribbon.

"Yeah, I have. We meet up at contests here and there. He's still giving me roses." I laughed a little, but he didn't find my thought amusing. "And the roses are still dieing. I couldn't keep them alive if I wanted to." He smiled a little after that. There was a pause, he didn't answer. It was time for a bit more direct approach. "Satoshi, what are you fiddling with?"

"It's... I..." he was reluctant to answer. Pikachu patted him on his cheek, prompting him to sheepishly raise the half of a ribbon he had been holding during our conversation. "If Hikari saw me right now, she'd just be making fun of me," he muttered softly, but not soft enough for me not to hear him. "I've been looking at this and thinking about you, Haruka."

"Yeah?" I asked, holding up my half, to show him he wasn't alone. I wanted to let him know that I wanted to be there, with him. I missed him. Knowing that he missed me too, though, was comforting. But it still didn't seem like enough. Just missing him, even wanting to be there, just didn't seem adequate. Here's my half of the ribbon Satoshi. It's all for you. I love you, Satoshi. I miss you, and I want to be with you. Don't you feel the same? I hoped and prayed that he'd answer my internal plea. I couldn't put it into words. Understand, please Satoshi.

"Haruka," he said, looking into my eyes. I felt like time had just stopped for a moment. "Do you remember when we met, back in Houen?"

I nodded.Where was he going with this?

"I… I wanted to tell you that I thought you were pretty," he blushed. "I mean, that's not just it." He became flustered with himself. He was so cute when he was frustrated. "I watched you grow up. I mean, not like your father did," he scrambled with his hands, trying to make sure I understood. "What I mean is, when we met, you were so inexperienced, and I trained you. But you started training me, too." He shook his head. "No, I'm getting distracted! Why can't I get it out?"

"Get what out?" I played stupid, complete with an oblivious smile on my face.

He turned pale. Pikachu looked to him and cooed lowly, worrying about his trainer. "I-Um-Haruka..." I heard him swallow, "i-is there someone you... like?"

"Yeah. Why?"

He turned even paler, if that's possible. "…Oh…" he lowered the ribbon and began fiddling with it in his lap again. "T-that's fine. There's a girl I like, too," he nervously avoided eye contact.

There was a pause between us. I could see he was nervous, he didn't hide it well. He looked hurt, but he didn't realize that I meant I liked him. It almost would've been a clever game, if it hadn't been so real. He looked like he was about to say something.

"Haruka, I-, I was just-" he stumbled over his words.

"Satoshi," I stopped him. "I just want you to know that, you're not alone. Our ribbon can be our connection, Satoshi. No matter how far apart we are, all I have to do is look at my half of the ribbon and I know that you're rooting for me. I hope you know that I'm still rooting for you, in everything that you do." I turned away. It sounded too much like a goodbye. "Satoshi," I whispered, so softly I wasn't even sure if he could hear, "promise that I can always come back."

He looked stunned for a second. Then, whether it be from his realization that he no longer had to cover up his feelings or what I said, he cracked a smile. "T-Thanks. Thank you very much, Haruka," he grinned at me. His famous Satoshi grin. "Of course you can always come back. I'd love to travel with you again!" His face turned slightly red from his verbal Freudian slip, but he didn't seem to mind.

"I love you too Satoshi." I snuck in, thinking he might not notice, but secretly wishing he would.

If he did, it didn't seem to register. "If you want to come to Shinou, I'm sure we can meet up somewhere," he was still excited about the prospect of traveling with me again. "I'm sure Takeshi would-"

"Satoshi," I halted him. "No, I'm staying in Jouto. I'm going to get better and beat my rivals. I'm not going to run away from this challenge. That goes against everything you've taught me."

His expression darkened a bit. "I understand, Haruka," he said. "J-Just keep that ribbon with you, and know that I'm always cheering for you. I know you'll do great things. Don't let Shuu, Harley or Saori rattle you. You're a great coordinator."

"Thanks, Satoshi," I smiled. Satoshi's reassurance always made me feel better than getting a rose, anyway.

"Haruka…" he looked into his lap, again. He picked up the ribbon and looked sheepishly over it. "Haruka, I-"

"I know, Satoshi," I smiled at him. "And I feel the same."

His eyes were so bright after that. Pikachu looked at Satoshi and cooed sadly again. He must have thought Satoshi was sick. I don't think he knew his friend was love sick. "R-r-r-really?" he stuttered.

I nodded. I wanted to gush forth, shouting 'I need you, Satoshi! I miss you! I dream of you! You're my world, and I love you!' But nodding was all I could do.

As if on cue, our stomachs growled. "Ehe, I haven't eaten yet, tonight," he flashed that Satoshi grin again.

"Neither have I," I tried my best to mimic.

"I guess we need to go get something to eat, huh?" he seemed like he didn't want to go. I didn't want him to go, either. But I was getting hungry, too.

"Well, I'll be at the center until tomorrow if you want to call me back," I offered some condolence. I wanted to talk to him, too.

He brightened up after that. "Great! After I eat, I'll be back here to talk to you!" Everything seemed to work out so simply for him. I didn't want to complicate his thinking by telling him I might still be eating, too. "I guess I'll talk to you later, Haru-chan."

I blushed. "O-okay, Sato-chan." If he can call me Haru-chan, then Sato-chan isn't off limits, either.

"Bye, Haruka-chan."

"Bye, Satoshi-kun."

He hung up.

I guess separation does make the heart grow fonder.

As I took Eievui with me to the cafeteria, I thought about the stories I would tell him after we returned. I wondered what stories he would tell me. Hopefully not much concerning Hikari.

We were both due to have many adventures, now that we're apart. But as long as we have that ribbon, our hearts will never be distant.