Hi guys! Is anybody reading these? Well, if you are, this one is PURE MUSHY FLUFF. Oh god, its SO mushy. Sorry! Hope you enjoy it anyway ;D Check out the new site at denhyou DOT com!! It's got art from all of these stories.

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Oh god this day could not end quicker.

I glanced at the clock on the wall for the ten millionth time. It was 3:59 - that was good enough for me. I unbuckled my helmet, letting the straps hang limply down next to my cheeks, then turned to the mine workers closest to me.

"Hey, it's four, so I'm heading out..." I rummaged in my belt, tossing Onix's empty Pokeball to one of them. "Onix is in there digging or playing or god knows what, just return him before you close up and leave him at the Gym, please."

I high-tailed it away from the mine, dashing into my house and glancing at the clock again. I had to be on a train by 4:30, and it was already 4:10. No time for a shower...

But I can take care of that after I arrive, I thought happily to myself.

I shed my dirty work clothes and slipped into the black muscle-shirt and tight jeans that made my boyfriend go insane, then pulled a turtleneck over the shirt before slipping my boots and coat back on. It was already as bitter cold as deep winter, despite being late fall, and Sunyshore City would be even colder with its ocean winds. I gently tucked a purple scarf around my neck, then paused before slipping on gloves as well. I chanced a look in the mirror...

I looked like such a fag. Ah, well. I shrugged it off,grabbed the bag I'd packed earlier that morning, and headed out, locking the door behind me. Then I ran like a demon on fire towards the train station.

The train was on time, and I boarded it with a very dull three hours ahead of me. Outside, the sky was already getting dark. I rummaged in my bag, pulling out a gift-wrapped Pokeball and staring at it for a few moments before my phone rang. I fumbled, dropping the ball back in the bag and grabbing my phone. It was Volkner!

"Volk!" I cried happily.

"Hi, Roark," came the answer, and I squirmed happily. I was WAY too excited - I hadn't seen my boyfriend in almost two months. He continued. "Did you make the train?"

"Yes! I felt kind of bad leaving the mines early though," I answered sadly. "And I left Onix behind. I hope they don't forget he's in there."

"I'm sure it'll be fine, babe." I almost squeaked. Did he call me BABE? I bit my fingers excitedly. Can't this train go any faster? "I had a boring day, so I'm gonna leave the Gym extra early. I'll be there waiting for you at the station when you pull in."

"Yay, thank you Volk!" I bubbled. "Why was your day boring? Didn't anybody come to the Gym?"

"Three people. I beat them all."

I paused. "You ALWAYS beat them all. How many badges have you given out this month?"

This time, it was he who paused before answering. "None."

"None?" I'd given out ten. I blushed. "Volkner, there's gonna be nobody in the Pokemon League if you keep beating everybody."

"They have plenty of challengers, and I'm not going to deliberately let people beat me because I feel sorry for the Elite Four sitting and twiddling their thumbs," he said in a grumpy voice. "Maybe if everybody didn't suck, I'd hand out more badges."

"They don't suck, honey, you are just too good," I said smartly, partially because it was true, partially because all of the people Volkner'd beaten probably had my Gym's badge.

He paused again. "I'm sorry, Roark, I didn't think about what I was saying."

"It's okay, Volk, when it comes to love and war we are only evenly matched in love." I almost killed myself right after I said that. Shit, how cheesy can you get? Not to mention how badly using the word love had made me blush - again. Volkner didn't respond right away.

"Well, I'll see you around seven, then," he finally said, and I couldn't quite place the emotion in his voice.

"Yep... see you, Volk!" I said with a little too much enthusiasm before hanging up. I groaned - the clock on the wall of the train said an entire fifteen minutes had passed. I was going to die from boredom.

By the time we finally pulled into Sunyshore Station, I'd slept for an two hours and spent another half an hour playing with my hair. I'd found a purple scrunchie in my bag (it came in a set with my scarf) and now my usually springy mullet-like hairdo was tied up into a bushy ponytail. All I needed was a stuffed bra and I'd look just like a teenage girl. Actually, I thought I looked a little cute this way.

I skipped out of the train like a total fag (as I was), and my heart leapt. Volkner was standing there, waiting as promised, looking more handsome than ever before. I felt happy - he also had on a silly colored scarf and gloves! And it was a good thing, too, because Sunyshore was just as freezing cold as I'd predicted.

"Volk!" I squealed, and I jumped into his arms, forgetting that he was a twig-man and I was very heavy. He stumbled back, and I leaned the other way, hugging him tight and standing him upright again. I felt happier than ever as he hugged back.

"Next time it'd probably be better for me to hop into YOUR arms, Roark," he mumbled after a while, pulling back. He blinked, looking surprised as he stared at me. I suddenly felt incredibly self-conscious about my ponytail, reaching up to touch it. He just stared.

"What?" I asked, nervous. He smiled and walked a few steps, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I tried to stay cool and not scream happily.

"Nothing... you messed your scarf up." I squirmed with glee as he re-tied my scarf for me, then turned me around so I was facing him. "Also that you look really pretty."

I grinned like a maniac, leaning in for a quick kiss. "Really?"

"Really." I suddenly noticed Luxray standing a few feet away, looking at us with a disgusted face. I stuck my tongue out at him, and he looked shocked. Volkner turned to look. "Luxray is a little upset with me right now."

"How come?" I slipped my hand into his, interlocking our fingers together as we started walking.

"I didn't give the desired reaction to the birthday present he got for me."

I blinked. Cranidos never got ME any birthday gifts. "What...what was it?"

"Dead Rattata." Volkner rolled his eyes. "I just hope to god it wasn't some little girl's Pokemon."

"Oh. That's... morbid." I heard a growl and realized Luxray was walking close behind us, and had probably overheard. "Oops."

Volkner turned around and spoke in a sharp voice. "I explained to you, Pokemon don't make a very good gift, especially not dead ones that are covered in blood!"

I suddenly went a little stiff, hoping Volkner wouldn't notice as he continued to scold his lion. I tried to sound as casual as possible. "Hasn't anyone ever given you a Pokemon for a present?"

"Nah..." he turned around again. "I caught and raised all my Pokemon by myself, I think it's better that way."

"Oh." I wondered for a moment if he suspected, quickly rushing into an excuse. "Well, my Geodude was a present from my friend Riley." I wrinkled my nose. "Actually, I think he meant it as a joke, but I've trained it for three years now..."

"And it hasn't...evolved?" Volkner looked at me out of the corner of his eye.

"None of my Pokemon have evolved." I shrugged. "I don't mind if they want to take their time...Onix, I just like him the way he is, even though my Dad gave me a metal coat to evolve him a while back. I'm sure he will let me know if he ever wants to evolve into Steelix." I glanced at Volkner. "When did you decide... to evolve your Pikachu?"

"I didn't," he answered flatly. "I would have left him a Pikachu longer...but he evolved himself. Got into some thunderstones in a storage room in my Gym, and suddenly my fast little Pikachu came over to me, triple his old size and weight."

I giggled, the mental image playing out to be hilarious in my mind. Then I realized even though we were walking down a crowded road towards Volkner's place, nobody was staring at us as they usually would. I gasped.

"Hey! Everyone thinks I'm your girlfriend!" I yelped indignantly.

"What makes you say that?"

"Because nobody is staring at us!" I cried, pointing around. Volkner grinned.

"Next time, come wearing a miniskirt. Or, we could go buy you one right now."

I blushed deep red, shaking my head furiously. "No, no, no, if my Dad ever found out I'd put on a skirt, I think he'd dig his own grave and bury himself alive."

Volkner raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound like the only thing holding you back is Byron's opinion."

I kept shaking my head, feeling my face grow hotter and hotter. "No, no, no, I can't wear a skirt, I don't have the right body type... YOU have the right body type," I jabbed a finger into Volkner's thin chest. He stared at me.

"This conversation makes it sound like one of these days we're gonna be not only gay, but gay and crossdressing."

I laughed awkwardly. "Yeah... maybe."

We fell into silence, up until we got to his door. He unlocked it as Luxray slipped in through the huge-cat flap (Why bother locking it at all? is all I could ever think). As soon as we were inside he turned as fast as lightning, tearing off my scarf and throwing off my jacket and gloves. I barely had time to gasp in surprise.

"Volk?!"

"It's my birthday tomorrow, and you look REALLY hot," he grunted, pulling at my turtleneck. "Are you wearing ANOTHER shirt under this? How cold are you?"

"Very Cold!" I yelped defensively. "Volk, I have a REAL birthday present for you!" My voice was slightly muffled as he pulled my turtleneck off. He paused to stare at me, now down to the muscle shirt and jeans.

"... you wore this outfit to make me horny."

"Looks like I didn't have to!" I scoffed. He was still staring at me with a dumbfounded expression. I patted his cheek, tilting his chin up. "My face is up here, darling."

He seemed to snap out of it. "You said you got me a real birthday present?"

"Yeah, but..." I suddenly felt shy. "Maybe we ought to save it for later... I can tell how eager you are to stick your cock in my ass..."

From somewhere near the kitchen I heard Luxray make a disgusted sound. Volkner sighed.

"No, no, you're right... I was planning a more romantic evening anyway, I just got carried away."

I gulped. Volkner was planning something romantic? I'd thought lighting some candles and buying wine for me two months ago was the peak of his romantic abilities. He continued.

"Let's get something to eat, then I'll open my present. Sound good?"

"Sure," I answered, smiling brightly. It was all very normal for us, I thought, but somehow, something felt different. I wasn't quite sure what it was, but I knew it wasn't the strange conversation about skirts. It was something else.

Maybe I'd figure it out by the end of the weekend.