New one. Oldrival I talked about in last fic :) This is like anime-related, and since Leaf doens't appear, I made it up that she was one of Pallet starters who gave up, but started again because of her friends success.

Enjoy!

Gary's POV

I grabbed the can from the vending machine. I opened it and poured almost half of its insides into my mouth at once. Then I went and sat down on park bench.

I had just arrived to Eterna City. I was supposed to meet professor Rowan there. Only that I was day early.

Black dog-like pokémon walked next to me. I kept it outside of pokéball at the times. It put its paw on my leg. That was its way to ask food. I gave it few blocks of pokémon food.

While it was eating, I thought what I could do. Well, since I was in Eterna City, I could visit Eterna Museum. I stood up.

"Come on, Umbreon."

I walked to Museum, and went in. I had heard lost of Sinnoh myths, and knew the Adamant Orb was kept there. So first I made my way there.

I read the description of the Orb and listened what two women talked next to me.

"My, it's so beautiful", another said.

"Yes. And so full of history", said other.

"Did you hear someone tried to steal it sometime ago?"

"Really? Was the thief captured?"

"No. But they didn't get the Orb, thank god."

Why did those three Team Rocked guys who were after Ash come into my mind? That sure sounded like them…

I walked away from the Orb-room to see what else was there. Umbreon pushed its head against my leg.

"What is it?" I asked. It nodded towards the wall near us. To girl looking at the one painting. I looked at her, first not getting why I had to do it. Why was she having umbrella? There hadn't been rain for who-knows-how long and sure wasn't any sign of that.

But then I started to get it.

The girl had long, brown hair. She wore blue tank top and red mini-skirt and hat with red line around it. I could only barely see her face from this angle so I had to move bit to make sure I was right.

I was. I'd recognize that face anywhere. I can't even remember how many times I had dreamt of it. I felt my cheeks get hotter. Until Umbreon's voice brought me back to reality. I smiled to it and petted its head.

"Thanks buddy." It grinned. I walked closer to the girl.

"Didn't think of running into you here." She startled, and then turned her head to me. After few blinks her face grew into bright smile.

"Gary?"

"Long time no see, Leaf."

She jumped to hug me. I hugged her back.

Yup, this surely was Leaf. Third starter of Pallet Town, choosing Charmander. She started same day as me and Ash. But she got tired at the half-way and gave up. But after seeing how well we did, she started again.

Normal POV

They separated. Then Leaf noticed Umbreon.

"Hey, Umbreon!" She knelt down and hugged the pokémon too. "Aww, you're cute as always!"

Umbreon howled happily.

"Leaf, I told you, if you want a lap dog, get it yourself", Gary sighed. She grinned.

"But your Umbreon is just so cuddly." Umbreon licked her face.

"Oh yes. You like it, don't you. Traitor", Gary said to his pokémon. It just grinned between Leaf's arms.

Leaf laughed and got up, pokémon still in her arms. Her umbrella dangled in other one.

"Um, Leaf? Why are you carrying an umbrella?" Gary asked.

"Huh? Oh! This." She tapped the umbrella with her finger. The umbrella shivered at first. Then it turned all pink. Then to something that looked like pink jell-o.

"Remember Ditty?"

"Oh yea, your Ditto", Gary laughed as the jell-o got up on Leaf's shoulder and smiled. Umbreon turned around to greet it.

They came out of the museum.

"So, how is your research?" Leaf asked.

"Fine thanks. I'm supposed to meet professor Rowan here tomorrow", Gary told. Leaf smiled. "So how about you? Doing well with gym battles?"

"Yup! Lookie!" She put Umbreon back on the ground and pulled something from her bag. "Tadaa!"

She opened small case, which revealed three gym badges.

"Nice work."

"Thanks", she said and put the case back to her bag. "Have you heard anything about Ash?"

"Yeah, I've seen him a couple of times", Gary replied. "He's same as always."

Leaf laughed. "Yeah, that's Ash for ya." Gary chuckled.

They talked while walking around. Umbreon and Ditto were on their heels, playing. After a while Leaf's stomach made a loud growl.

"Ahahahaa… No wonder I'm hungry, it's dinner time and we've been walking whole day", she said and scratched back of her head. Gary sweat dropped.

"Some things never change."

...

Evening came, and our heroes went to Pokémon Center to get rooms.

"So, how long are you going to stay in this city?" Gary asked as they walked trough the corridors.

"I don't know. I don't really have any rush", Leaf replied. "How about you?"

Gary raised his shoulder. "As long as I have to."

"That was very informing, you know", she said sarcastically.

"Yours wasn't any better", he replied in same way. She punched him playfully into arm. He chuckled.

They reached their rooms.

"Well, good night", Leaf said.

"Yeah, nights", Gary replied. They went in.

Leaf's POV

My heart felt like it could jump out of my chest. I knew all three of us were in Sinnoh, but I hadn't thought of running into him this fast. Just when I had thought about him.

I fell on my bed and dug a photo from my pocket. It was picture of three of us at the day before we started out trip. I had kept more contact to Gary than Ash, and we have been more friendly rivals from the start.

I hugged the photo, and put it back to my bag. Then I fell asleep.

...

When I went downstairs next morning, I noticed Gary was already up, talking to phone. I waited bit further that he finished.

When he finally did, I waved so he'd notice me. He came to me.

"Morning."

"Morning", I replied and smiled. I asked if he already had breakfast.

"No, I just got up and then got a call. And besides, I thought of waiting for you."

I felt my cheeks get hotter. Don't know why. He only said he had waited for me, that's all.

We went to cafeteria and took something to eat.

"Who called, by the way?" I asked, trying to get conversation up.

"Professor Rowan. He told because few problems, he won't be here until tomorrow", Gary told.

"M-hm", I replied. So I'd get to be with him still bit longer. "Mind if I stick with you today?"

"No. But don't you have to go to next gym?"

"Naw, I don't feel like going on road yet."

Normal POV

Gary raised an eyebrow and then his shoulders. Of course, he was quite happy that Leaf stayed. He liked hanging around with her. At least he didn't have to spend his boring day alone.

After eating they went outside to feed their pokémon. Gary only had his Umbreon, Electivire and Blastoise with him. Leaf in the other hand had whole six: Ditto, Charizard, Glameow, Riolu, Mawile and Misdreavus.

"You have got new pokémon." He knelt down and petted Glameow. It meowed happily and purred.

"Yeah." She smiled. They gave their pokémon food, and sat down while they ate.

While sitting there, they suddenly heard an explosion. They jumped up. There rose pillar of smoke from the city.

"What the heck was that?" Leaf asked.

"I don't know, but let's find out", Gary said. They quickly returned their pokémon and rushed towards the smoke. On their way they saw a helicopter flying to the opposite direction.

They noticed the smoke leaded them to the Museum. There was crowd of people standing there, and police lights were shining further. They stopped behind the crowd.

"What happened here?" Gary asked from one man.

"Someone stole the Adamant Orb", the man told.

Leaf gasped. "Do you know who?"

The man shook his head.

Gary thought of what he heard. Then he started to make his way trough the crowd, Leaf quickly on his heels.

He caught Officer Jenny. "Is there any clue who did this?"

"We have two suspects", the Officer replied.

"Can you tell them?"

She looked at Gary for a while. "Other one is Pokémon Hunter J", she finally said. Gary gnashed his teeth. "And other is criminal group called Team Galactic."

"Team Galactic? Never heard of them", Gary said.

"Yes, neither have many else."

Gary scratched his chin. Leaf looked at him with questioning look.

"Could I help finding them?" Gary asked from the Officer.

"What? But it's dangerous", she replied.

"I have been in situations like this before", he said. "Please, let me help."

Leaf looked at him. "Well, if you help, I will too", she said. Gary turned to her, stared at her. She smiled. He then smiled back.

Officer Jenny looked at them for a while. Then she sighed. "Well… Okay, but you must be careful."

"We are", Gary said. They went inside. There were some cops.

"Is there anything else known about this thief?" Leaf asked.

"Only that they escaped with helicopter", Jenny told.

"Helicopter? Then it wasn't J, she doesn't use them. And besides, I can't see why would she want the Orb", Gary said. "So that leaves that Team Galactic." Then Gary remembered that helicopter they saw on their way there.

"I think I saw them on the way here. They were going to east."

"East? Alright, we send someone to check there", Jenny said. She called few men and gave the orders.

"We can go too", Gary said. Jenny hesitated a second, but then nodded. Gary leaded Leaf outside. Most of the crowd had already vanished.

"Are you positive it was them?" Leaf asked.

"90%", Gary replied. "Can your Charizard carry two people for long time?"

"Yeah, pretty long…" She said. "But…"

He looked at her. She stared back, and then sighed. She took out a pokéball and released her orange dragon-like pokémon. She jumped on, and Gary sat behind her.

Gary's POV

I studied her face for a few seconds. She looked like she was in pain. But why? She put herself into this on her own. Or was it just because of the flying part? I knew she didn't like flying.

I put my hand on her arm. "You don't need to come if you don't want to."

She turned and smiled weakly. "Don't worry. It's just the flying." She laughed nervously. I somehow felt she was lying.

Normal POV

They took off. Leaf ordered her pokémon to go to east. Gary held his hand where he had placed it.

"They do have pretty good lead", Leaf said.

"Yeah… No wait… I hear it…"

They listened. They really did hear a helicopter.

"Could it be the same?"

"I don't know. Why would they slow down?"

"I don't know… no, wait! Look, they're landing over there!" Leaf pointed. Gary looked there. The helicopter landed behind the forest.

"You're right. Let's go little bit closer", he said. Leaf nodded, and gave orders to Charizard. They landed into the trees.

They sneaked closer to the edge of the forest. Instead of one, there were two helicopters. Outside of them stood about seven men in same kind of outfits. They were talking something, but Gary and Leaf couldn't hear what.

Gary winked Leaf bit further so they could talk better.

"Why do you think they're here?" Leaf asked and sat on the ground.

"I'm not sure. It would be better if we'd get bit closer so we could hear them", Gary replied.

"But they can notice us", Leaf said. "It's very risky."

"I know." Gary scratched his chin. Then he took quick look of Leaf. She looked at him from down, arms tightly around her knees.

"You can wait here if you want to", he said.

"No, no, no!" Leaf jumped up and smiled weirdly. Gary raised an eyebrow. She walked to him.

"Of course I come too. You can't beat all those guys alone if they see you."

"Well, it's not like two of us have much chances either", he said.

"But better", she smiled.

"No, I'm still saying that you wait here"

"But…"

"No. That's final word."

Leaf was still about to protest, but Gary didn't let her finish. He quickly pulled her closer into deep kiss. Leaf's eyes shot wide open. After recovering from the shock, she kissed him back.

Gary slid his hand from her hair to her neck. Suddenly Leaf felt small pain in back of her neck. Gary caught her in bridal style when she fell, unconscious.

"Sorry, but you said yourself it would be risky", he said. "And I don't want put you in danger. Especially when you felt that bad about this thing."

He kissed her forehead and then put her on Charizard's back.

"Take her to nearest Pokémon Center", he said to the pokémon, which nodded and jumped into air. Gary watched after it before turning to Team Galactic.

I hope to get next one soon. Maybe this won't be so long.

EDIT: Changed Leaf's team, since she only had old generations' pokémon :3 and I like these more