Yay! It's another FranticShipping fic!

*squeee!*

This was supposed to be a one shot but it was soooo looong so I've decided to divide it into three chapters… I typed this on my phone (which I regret doing now DX) and now, I'm slowly transferring it to my computer…

I'll try uploading everything by the end of this month. :)

By the way, this takes place around 10 years after the RSE arc in the manga.

:FranticShipping: and implied :MangaQuestShipping: somewhere in the end…

Pokemon Special and all of its awesomeness do not belong to me.

Please review and enjoy!

It's been almost a year since Ruby went back to Jotho. He said he'd be going to Kanto afterwards.

"I'll be gone for only a little while," he said. "I'll just reconquer the contests in Jotho and try my luck in Kanto."

"It's a waste of time. Ya could always do the Gym challenge for a change." I tried persuading him but his heart was already set to go back to his hometown. He always did prefer Jotho to Hoenn. He ran away from home to return to Jotho on his eleventh birthday but his plans were accidentally thwarted by yours truly. I sighed as I remembered what he said as he was leaving.

"Let's keep in touch over the 'net, okay, Sapph?"

I. Hate. Computers. Pokédexes were computers too but at least those are more useful and easier to handle than the technological monstrosity known as computers. The first time I tried to use one, it took me an entire hour, even with Papa's help, just to turn it on and access Flype just so I could video chat Ruby. Sigh. The things I do for my boyfriend.

So now, eleven months later, I'm waiting for him to log on. I look at his user image and smile, remembering the time I took it. He was grooming Mimi, his Milotic. He looked so happy here. My use image, on the other hand, was a picture Ruby took of me scowling. It wasn't my idea. Papa set it as user image 'cause he said I looked like this whenever Ruby forgot to log on. I still haven't tried changing it though. Too much effort.

Speaking of Papa, he seems giddy and happy every time I logged on or talked about Ruby. I wonder why.

Waiting for him to log on is such a pain. He didn't go online the entire week before today so I'm probably waiting for nothing to happen.

Then his status changed from 'offline' to 'online'. I quickly scrolled over, clicked his picture and selected 'video chat'. As it loaded, I waited nervously and excitedly to see if he would respond.

"Hey there, Wild Girl."

And there he was. He was so darn hot that I swear I almost burned myself just staring into his scarlet eyes. His smile was so distracting I almost forgot I was supposed to be angry.

"You're late" I said sternly. He laughed his musical laugh and gave me another smile.

"Sorry. I just got home from another contest. Guess who just won in every category in all contests in Kanto? He's handsome and gorgeous, by the way."

I rolled my eyes. His vanity knows no bounds. He laughed again.

Aww. C'mon Sapph, don't be mad."

"Well ya haven't been online for an entire week and ya didn't tell me ya weren't gonna log on so I waited until two in the morning for seven frickin' days in a row." I gave him a glare.

Ruby looked amusedly at me. "I'm sorry Sapph, I really am. I was just so tired the entire week. You should've seen the condition of the Pokémon here. They all looked so magnificent that even I had a hard time in the contests." His eyes shone brightly. He kept on and on, telling me stories about the Hyper rank contests, how he almost missed the registration because of an overturned ice cream truck, how irritating a particular competitor was and something about new accessories for his Pokémon.

I can't help but smile at his happiness. Listening to him ramble on like this used to piss me off. I used to say "Shaddup, Prissy Boy! I ain't listening to any of your boring contest escapades!" then we'd fight for an hour. I really do miss him.

"Are ya comin' home now, Ruby?"

He stooped talking and looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"I'm not sure yet."

I stared at him.

"But ya said you'll just reenter the Jotho contests and try entering the Kanto ones. Then you'll come home. Ya promised."

I felt absolutely crestfallen. I haven't seen him in person for a year and I was really looking forward to his homecombing. Ruby's face looked guilty as I repeated his promise to me from the year before.

" I know I promised, Sapph," he reasoned. "But I can't come home yet."

"Why not?" I sounded like a whiney little kid.

"I still have some things to do here in Jotho. I can't tell you anything about it at this point. I'm sorry."

"Toro! Use Fire Punch!"

"Poli! Counter it with Ice Punch!"

Both attacks hit their respective targets and both Pokémon collapse at the same time.

"I guess it's a draw then." Senior Red smiled. I hate it when he smiles like that. With his scarlet eyes and raven hair he resembled Ruby. Only thing was he loved battling while the latter prefers to pamper and parade his Pokémon. I wonder why I didn't end up with him; we were both alike on so many levels. Oh, right. He likes and is already married to Senior Yellow.

"I guess so." I grumbled. Battling would be a great distraction from the 'chat' I thought. Apparently, battling a guy who looks like one's idiot boyfriend was not such a good idea.

"Wanna talk about it?"

I looked at my senior questioningly. "Eh?"

"Your problem, I meant. Whatever it is."

"How'd ya know I had a problem?"

He looked at me thoughtfully. "Well, you suddenly barge at my house at 8 AM, giving me and Yellow a fright, saying 'Let's battle now, senior' with a scowl on

your usually smiling face."

"Oh. Yeah." I felt my cheeks grow warm with embarrassment. "I'm sorry."

Red laughed. "No, it's okay. So do you want to talk? It's okay if you don't want to."

I sighed. "Actually, I really need to get this off me. I just can't talk to the girls about this even if I should. Would ya really be willing to listen?"

"Of course. Let's go in to talk then."

He led me into the house and motioned me to take a seat at the couch. Red went into the kitchen and came back with two cans of tomato juice. He offered me one and sat down beside me.

"Thanks." I gratefully accepted the can.

As I took a sip, Red suddenly spoke. "It's about Ruby, isn't it?"

I almost spat out the juice in my mouth. Red thumped my back.

"How'd ya know?"

He laughed. "It's written all over your face."

"That obvious, huh?" I mumbled.

"Not really." He opened his can. "You rarely get this worked up. But whenever you do, it's always because of Ruby."

I stayed silent. Yeah. He did have a point. Ruby was the largest problem I have yet to overcome. He's so vain, he nags at every single thing I do, and his prissyness knows no bounds. And yet I still like him.

So I told Red everything about the video chat we had a few nights ago. Mostly, he stayed silent. He, then, nodded his head after I'd finished.

"So you're angry because he doesn't want to come back to Hoenn yet and because he won't tell you the reason why?"

It sounded so petty and childish when he said it. "I know it sounds stupid." I reasoned. "But it just pisses me off to no end these past few days. And he promised."

Red stayed quiet for a while.

"How long have you known Ruby, Sapphire."

I counted back mentally. "'bout ten years. Why?"

He smiled warmly. "So you trust him."

"Course I do! He's the guy I'd trust to keep my back safe if ever I had to go to war." And I'd do the same for him.

"Then trust him on this."

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Trust him on whatever he's planning."

"But-"

"Wait, okay? Hear me out." he interrupted politely. "You said you'd trust him with your life."

"Yeah."

"This thing you guys are going through is trivial compared to your 'war' scenario a while ago. If you'd trust him with your life, why shouldn't you trust him on this?"

I silently realize he's right. Ruby may be a hardheaded pansy but he'd never do something stupid deliberately just to worry or piss me off. I look at Red with admiration.

"Ya should become a psychiatrist, senior."

He laughed and patted my head fondly. "Feel better now?"

"Loads better!" I stood up and gave him a big hug.

"Thanks senior Red! You're the best! See yah!"

I quickly ran off, but not before hearing him chuckle. I pulled out my foldable bike and sprayed a can of max repel all over me. As I pedaled rapidly one thought kept repeating in my mind.

I gotta get to Jotho before the day ends.