Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or its characters and place names, but in the spirit of fanfiction I own this story and the characters I created around it.
Lemon Warning: Taste of lemon, but still…
This a resubmission with grammar corrections.
Sabrina's Journal
Girls Night Out
I suppose I could have called this entry 'Ladies Night Out,' but it started out as a night out with Jean and Yuki. Yes they are my employees at the gym and they look up to me, but I enjoy them as friends. They represent all that I denied myself those many years ago: Youth and fun. True these two have their problems but who doesn't.
It was Friday night and we were going to celebrate Yuki and Jean moving into a new apartment. They didn't see the need to celebrate. From my point of view that they found an apartment that:
1. They can afford.
2. They can agree on.
3. Is out of the bad neighborhood,
I believe is worth celebrating. Also they are both out of my apartment. They weren't bad house guests, but I need my mental space. My Pokemon have learned how to how to close off their minds from mine, but I feel too defensive around other humans.
"I want to treat you two," I offered.
"Sabrina sensei, you've been treating us for almost a week," argued Jean, who despite pleas and threats continued to call me 'sensei'. "We should treat you."
"Let a guy have some pride," added Yuki.
We were standing in their new apartment. The collective furniture and appliances were finally arranged. Yuki with her boyish haircut was wearing slacks and a light shirt. I was still wearing my 'work clothes', the red jacket and skirt with the high boots and gloves. I should have worn a summer dress like Jean, but I didn't mind.
"Yuki, you're not a 'guy', you just play one at the gym," I corrected. The both gave me a stare so I relented, "Do you two have any place in mind?" Yuki and Jean shrugged their shoulders. "I know the perfect place. Each dish is one of a kind and the service is excellent."
"Okay!" exclaimed Yuki.
"Where?" asked the curious Jean.
"It's a surprise. Just follow me," I teased as I headed out the door. The other two followed. Once outside, we mounted our bicycles and headed towards downtown Saffron City. As I lead the way, Jean and Yuki conversed and I couldn't help but overhear.
"Why is it that the richest woman in Saffron City rides a bicycle?" asked Jean.
"Exercise," speculated Yuki. "She's been training since she was a toddler, why quit?"
"If I wasted my money on fancy cars, I wouldn't be rich," I joked.
"But isn't 'living the rich life' a material based activity?" continued Jean.
"Perhaps, but then you know what I spent my money on." This got both Jean and Yuki to blush. The very thought of Saffron City's tallest skyscraper housing the bulk of Kanto's sexual activity for my purposes could send chills down the spines of people. That's why very few do know. "I have other passions and pleasures."
"Like teasing," quipped Yuki.
I stopped my bicycle in front of the Saffron Palace Hotel: The most exclusive and elegant hotel of the city. Next to the front door was a separate entrance to the Restaurant de Saffron Palace: The most exclusive and elegant French restaurant in Kanto. "You two did say you were treating, right."
"Here?" stammered Yuki. "It would cost us two month's rent for an appetizer."
"It would take us three months to get a reservation," speculated Jean.
I got off my bicycle. The valet on the red carpet gave our group an odd stare.
"Maybe Sabrina can get us a table," suggested Yuki.
I beckoned the pair to follow me to the side of the building. I stood near the kitchen door and told them, "Open you minds."
They did. I cleared away the background thoughts of everyone except the kitchen staff: "Miserable saucier, who does he think is the head chef?" "Two more months and I'm out of here." "I could blow my nose in this stuff and people would think it's great." "The dishwasher boy looks good in white…"
"This is not my kind of restaurant," I stated. The other two nodded. I led the girls to the Yoshida Department Store. We parked our bicycles, entered the store and rode the elevator to the tenth floor. We wound our way through the shoppers to my favorite noodle shop.
"Psychic Noodles?" asked the Yuki.
"How can a noodle be psychic?" scoffed Jean.
The restaurant was small and a small group was waiting outside to get in. Jean and Yuki looked over the menu on the ticket machine. "Get three 'Customs'," I ordered. Yuki put in the order and money and got three tickets in return. We sat on the waiting bench. I didn't bother to screen out the background thoughts.
Yuki swallowed hard as the other customers savored every spoonful of soup. Jean's jaws were cramping as she could feel every bite. They closed their minds to the others and waited in a shallow trance. Shortly we were seated at the bar. "Sabrina, why didn't you call ahead? I could have reserved seats for you," exclaimed the chef.
"Sonny, if you did that it would cut into your business, and I want you to be very successful. Yuki, Jean, this is Sonny a former student at the gym and that is his Mr. Mime. Sonny, these are Yuki and Jean, teachers at the gym."
"Sabrina…," whispered Yuki, who was still nervous about protecting her secret identity.
"Don't worry Yuki, he's one of us," I assured her. "Three custom bowls please."
The Pokemon cook was waved over and the other patrons at the three sided bar watched. Sonny and Mr. Mime worked wordlessly together. Mr. Mime stretched and kneaded the noodle dough. Sonny set a sauce pan for each of us and mixed a custom broth. Both cooks used telekinesis to mix and measure. When the broths were simmering and the noodles boiling, the other patrons returned to eating until a completed bowl of soup was placed before each of us.
Yuki and Jean tasted a spoonful of broth. "This is the best ramen I have ever tasted!" exclaimed Jean as she melted away.
"Oh, wow!" moaned Yuki.
I sipped the rich curry base of my soup and felt transported away to an exotic land. Sonny gave a glass of beer to Yuki, white wine for Jean and Payapa flavored water for me. I raised my glass and said, "A toast to the best noodle chefs in Saffron!"
"Best noodle chefs in Kanto!" toasted Jean.
With one hand stuffing noodles into her mouth with chopsticks, Yuki added, "I can't stop eating."
The other patrons at the bar laughed and toasted Sonny and Mr. Mime.
Between slurps, Yuki asked, "Why didn't you tell us about this place sooner?"
Jean sipped the broth again and marveled, "What is in this?"
"Your soup is a miso and mushroom broth with a touch of cream. Yuki's is a bonito and beef broth with shaved ginger. Sabrina's soup is of course curry."
"He customizes eat soup based upon what he can read psychically," I explained.
"It's like the ramen I had back home," praised Yuki, "only better."
"I was going to say the same thing," added Jean.
"If you think your soup is good, open your minds again." They did and felt the passion, joy, hunger, anticipation, fulfillment and satisfaction of both the customers and the cooks.
"I'd want to eat here every day," praised Jean.
Yuki topped her with, "I'd want to eat here every meal!"
"I can't take you two anywhere without you falling all over yourselves," I joked.
"You took us?" questioned Jean.
"I paid," Yuki pointed out. "Since I paid, can I have a taste of yours?" I moved my bowl closer to Yuki, who spooned out some broth and sipped. "Wow!" she coughed. "Are you trying to get even with Sabrina?" she asked Sonny.
"Sabrina likes a challenge. I have never seen her sweat from my soup. I'm still trying to find the right combination that will make the mistress gush forth praise and sweat." Yuki continued to cough and sweat. "Jean's soup will help," suggested Sonny.
Jean passed her soup down for Yuki to try. After one sip Yuki sighed, "That did it."
"The ultimate comfort food," praised Jean.
"Mother's milk," I joked as I gave Sonny a wink. Sonny smiled and worked his magic for a new customer. "Doesn't it remind you of every caring and soothing thing your mother ever made?"
Jean and Yuki nodded and returned to their meals. When we finished, we thanked Sonny and Mr. Mime and left, filled. "It doesn't matter what we do next," exclaimed Yuki. "That soup made my week."
Jean smiled then looked at me. "Sabrina sensei, do you have regular clothes?"
I thought of my wardrobe: Pokemon Gym clothes, regular gym clothes, sexy policewoman costumes, dominatrix leather body suit and sexy school teacher clothes. "I guess not."
"Then let's go shopping," ordered Yuki, who was on the same wavelength as Jean. They dragged me to the escalator and down the five floors to women's wear.
"But I like my sweats," I protested as they made me pose with sundresses, skirts, shorts and a variety of pants that I forgot the name of. I relented and let them pick some slacks, three sundresses and shorts. Floor by floor, we worked our way down the store, building up my wardrobe.
Floor two was shoes and, "Boots!" I exclaimed. I leaped into the air, psychically kicked off my pair of boots and landed in a chair. The clerk blinked in amazement. "Measure me up and bring me some boots!"
"In the summer?" whined Jean.
"I have this one pair of boots with these stupid heels that I always trip over," I explained as I scanned the display. The clerk took my measurements and I pointed out various styles to try. I tried on the first pair and said, "How do I look?"
"Like a dominatrix," muttered the prim Jean.
"Really?" I examined my reflection in a convenient mirror as I tested the heels for balance. The black pliable leather came up to my thighs. "How does it stay so snug?"
"Spandex lining," explained the clerk.
"Does it come in dark green, red, white and dark purple?"
"We could custom order those colors," offered the clerk.
"Then I'll take two of each color I mentioned. You girls want to try on a …pair?" I remembered who I was asking. "Never mind. I've found what I want, anything else?"
"I was thinking these," suggested Jean as she held a pair of deck shoes, "to go with the sundress."
Yuki held up the sundress. I looked to the clerk. He smiled and nodded. "Fine, throw them in the bag," I surrendered. I tossed the clerk my credit card, "Better ring it up before they drag me through cosmetics." Jean opened her mouth but I said, "No." The clerk collected all the items that Yuki and Jean dragged through the store, including some items that I thought I put back on the racks.
After everything was bagged and bought, the clerk asked, "Would you like these items delivered?"
"I should make these two carry everything, but it's supposed to be their night out." I concentrated on my bedroom and the space between the bed and the closet. In my mind's eye I could see the bags arranged in neat rows and with a flash of psychic energy it was. "Now what?"
"Let's get some air," requested Yuki; the beer with her dinner was leaving a mental mark. We left the store and collected our bicycles. Yuki and Jean were a little shaky but I kept them from crashing.
I tried to direct them back to their apartment, but Jean squealed, "Karaoke!"
"Yeah!" cheered Yuki.
"I've never been in one of these before," I confessed.
We were off key, out of harmony and laughed as much as we sang. After two hours I had to drag home the other two as the designated, sober psychic. I hailed a cab big enough for us and the bikes. I held the two in check mentally. Jean wanted to stop at a shoe sale; Yuki at a bar and both wanted to stop at the strip club (Male revue). Normally the cabbie could deal with drunken women on a Friday night, but I had to stop them from seizing the wheel, stopping the engine or pushing the brakes telekinetically.
We arrived at their apartment. I tipped the cabbie heavily then dragged Yuki and Jean to their rooms. "No fair," whined Yuki.
"When's she's gone, let's get back to the strip club," conspired Jean.
"If you two were sober, I could take you shopping," I teased.
"Whee!" squealed Jean.
"What's the catch?" asked Yuki.
"That you're sober," I replied.
"Shopping! Shopping!" chanted Jean.
"That'll take a while," mused Yuki.
I gave them both my wicked smile. "Relax," I commanded in a voice that resonated in every cell of the listener. "Jean, you are going into a trance. Your body is getting hot. The evening is catching up to you. You need to use the toilet. Go."
Jean did as she was commanded. As she sat on the toilet I accelerated her bloodstream, liver, kidneys and dragged the rest of the alcohol out of her. She returned from the bathroom much less drunken. I commanded Yuki to do the same. In the end they both sat on the couch and blinked.
"What happened?" asked Yuki.
"Were we going shopping?" asked Jean.
"Of course, but I recommend you drink a big glass of water, before the hangovers hit."
We left the apartment on foot and walked down the quiet streets of Southside; past the little parks and nice houses to an all-night convenience store.
I led them inside and purchased bottles of water and juice. "Shopping, whee," remarked Yuki dejectedly.
I check my Poketch and led them back outside.
"Was that our shopping trip?" asked the confused Jean.
Around the corner we went, just past the recycling containers and onto a warp tile. "I thought I'd show my thanks for this evening by taking you two shopping." Yuki and Jean looked around. The three of us were in a small, windowless shop. There were racks of clothes and accessories.
"Is there anyone here?" called out Yuki.
"No. This store is self serve. Select your items, pay, and then leave via the warp tile. Here: each of you gets a gift card. I insist that you each buy something."
Jean was already looking through the racks of clothes. "What kind of store is this?"
"This is a wonderful store Jean. They have a wide selection of swimsuits, lingerie, underwear and costumes. Plus they have leather, silk, spandex, lace and latex." I pulled a French maid costume off the rack and said, "Great for when you clean around the new apartment."
"That's not funny," cried Jean.
"How about this sexy nurse costume for the gym?" suggested Yuki.
"Oh, yeah? How about this Ninetails bodysuit for you?" countered Jean.
"That would look good on Yuki," I commented. "Try it on. As for you Jean, I think that you need to see the lingerie racks."
"Why?"
"You have a great figure, but you wear such frumpy clothes. I know that you want to set a professional image for the students, but that doesn't mean you can't wear something sexy for yourself. Those white, silk stockings look really tempting."
"Well…," she replied as she looked over that part of the selection.
Yuki managed to get into the bodysuit. Her slim figure went well with the sleek lines of a Ninetails. "I told you."
Jean was midstride pulling up the stockings when she saw Yuki and agreed, "Yes that is definitely you."
Yuki asked, "But what am I going to wear it for?"
"Who cares? Just take it. Pick out a swimsuit too."
"Are you going to get anything Sabrina sensei?"
"She probably has a closet full of this stuff," joked Yuki.
"True," I admitted. "But I can always use some extra riding crops." They looked at me with wide eyes. "I put them down," I made a motion of jamming the riding crop handle first, "and forget to take them home." Yuki and Jean doubled over with laughter. I took a dozen riding crops from the display and paid. They stopped laughing and stared with their mouths open. "Is that all you two are getting?"
Yuki changed back to her regular clothes. They both gathered their things wordlessly and paid. We left via the warp tile as they started feeling ill. I handed them both a bottle of water and said, "Drink." They drank some water and rubbed the chilled bottles against their foreheads. "That's the second reason that psychics shouldn't drink."
The night was still stuffy as we walked back to their apartment. They picked this neighborhood for the more wholesome and simple thoughts that leaked out of the homes. My neighborhood was dominated by a sixty-nine monument to sex that required the latest in psychic shielding and practice to resist. The traces of alcohol and the beginnings of a hangover had an effect on their training. The heat and stuffiness of the place was amplified by everyone else who felt it. I shielded their minds until I got them to their apartment and turned up the air conditioner. "What do you want to do tomorrow?" I asked.
"Be sick," mentioned Yuki.
"We could have a vomit contest. Should we decide the winner based on volume, distance or noise?"
"Sensei that's not…" Jean ran to the bathroom and shouted the rest of her comment to the toilet. I soaked two towels in ice water and put one on Yuki's forehead. When green Jean returned, she got one as well.
"My grandmother has a great cure for this. Would you like to try it?" I offered.
"Sure," replied the desperate Yuki.
I took a deep breath and shouted, "That will teach you not to get drunk! You're a psychic show some discipline next time!"
They both clutched their ears as they hoped their skulls wouldn't shatter. "You've got a cruel grandmother," groaned Yuki.
"I note a family resemblance," muttered Jean.
"Also note that your headaches have lessened because your defensive training."
For the next day, I proposed a bike ride to Jean and Yuki. Jean insisted on taking a picnic lunch. Yuki wanted to go swimming. So we compromised. I mentioned that Espeon and I found a great spot, overlooking the ocean, where we could have a picnic, and I was sure we could find a place for Yuki to go swimming.
I left the distracted duo to nurse their headaches as I went home to keep tabs on my business interests. The next morning I slept a little longer and had a hearty breakfast. Afterwards, I had an hour left to meet them at their apartment in Southgate, the southern ward of Saffron City.
I opened my closet and found my favorite bike shorts and matching top. The flesh tone fabric was crisscrossed with a chaotic pattern of dark green stripes that looked like a Tangela's body. The form fitting fabric gave a hint of my figure and the few bits of flesh color gave the viewer a teasing glance at the real me. But that is the most I'd give: just a tease.
I put on the suit's copy. Espeon sensed me dressing and came in the room. As she tilted her head the side, I said, "Yes, I'm going for a bike ride. The girls want to go for a picnic and a swim. Could you find that picnic spot again and access to the beach."
"Espeon," she replied with a nod. Then she asked, "Es, espe?"
"I doubt that the other two are going to dress like I am. They want to relax and not train."
"Espeon," commented my Pokemon.
"Of course they have the potential. Yuki has been disguising herself for years and could easily do this. But she disguised herself out of necessity, so what she wants is a chance to take off the disguise."
Espeon flicked her tail and suggested, "Peon esp, Espeon."
"Okay, I'll take the sundress too."
Later, the three of us were riding out the city on one of the quieter streets. I noticed a young man adjusting the limited controls of a Sliph Scope. I raced past him and flashed him a V. He almost dropped his scope as his eyes popped out. I laughed as the three of us went around the bend.
"What's so funny?" asked Yuki.
"That poor boy we passed," I laughed. My mind touched his and I laughed some more, "He's going to spend the rest of the day with that Sliph Scope, trying to see through women's clothes."
"Can it do that?" asked Jean, who tried to cover herself while riding.
"No, but he believes it can."
"Why should he believe that?" asked Yuki.
"Can't you tell?" I countered.
She squinted at my bike suit. "If you blocked out the green, it looks like you're not wearing anything."
I smiled and laughed.
"You're a cruel woman sensei," giggled Jean.
"This isn't cruel. This is just a little service."
We headed toward Vermillion City, and then took the trails around the city to avoid the traffic. We passed local people from the villages and young trainers searching for Pokemon. "Can we get to the picnic spot from here, Espeon?"
Espeon searched with her Future Sight. She held her tail in the air to feel the winds of fortune. Finally she nodded and led us through the brush and up the hills. As we hiked, we used our telekinesis to push back the brush. Two hours later, we emerged on a grassy meadow overlooking the ocean. The cool, salty breeze rewarded us for our efforts.
As Jean set up our lunch, I put on the sundress for some sense of decency and insulation. We ate from the bento boxes, as we watched the clouds and the occasional Pokemon fly by. Our minds reflected the peace and solitude around us.
I didn't realize that time had passed until Yuki said, "Wake up. Let's go swimming." Jean had already put away the picnic fixtures and was ready to leave. I got up and let Espeon lead us down the hill, across route 13 then through the marsh. We emerged from the woods at a secluded lagoon. Espeon was waiting on the beach and twitching her tail as she felt the breeze.
I let my mind stretch out. Yuki's mind was on nothing but the ocean. Jean's mind was her usual conflict of simple worries. Espeon's mind was a bubble of calm. The only other minds I could find were the simple mind of sea life.
"Let's go swimming!" exclaimed Yuki as she peeled off her clothes.
"I can't swim," I replied.
"It's not that bad…"
"No, I mean that I do not know how to swim."
Yuki blinked. She was mid-stroke of pushing her shorts and underwear down. "You don't know how to swim?" she asked and couldn't believe that she said it. "You have a pool," she pointed out.
"It's four feet deep and I float on a pool lounge," I countered. "Don't wait for me. We're here so you can enjoy yourself."
"But…"
"Yes I can see your butt. Now get undressed and go swimming or I'll throw you in the ocean, clothes or no clothes."
Jean threw Yuki a bottle of sunscreen and added, "Don't forget your butt. It's hard to ride home on a sunburned rear."
"One condition: You get undressed too. I don't care if you go in to your knees or make sandcastles. If I get to play like a three-year old then so will you."
I nodded then undressed as per our agreement. I watched how Yuki splashed about in the surf and laughing with joy of feeling the ocean. "I could teach you how to swim," she called out.
I finished peeling off my sundress and putting it in my bicycle's basket, so I walked past Jean, who was still changing into her swimsuit, out to Yuki. When I reached the edge of the surf, Yuki was floating on her back and riding up and down the gentle waves of the lagoon. I walked until the water was up to my knees. Yuki paddled closer and asked, "Did you come for a lesson? I'm told I'm a good teacher."
I smiled and lifted my right foot and placed it on top of the water. I brought my left foot up then walked over to a wide-eyed Yuki. "You must be an amazing teacher, just look at me," I said with a wink. "But we're here to play three year olds," I said suggestively.
"What do you call that then?" she asked as she treaded water.
"I could do this at three. I'm just here so you look the part."
"What are you doing?" asked Yuki when she noticed the spike in my psychic output.
"Don't thrash about or it will hurt," I warned.
"Ouch!"
"I told you so."
"What are you doing down there?"
"Doing: nothing; done." I walked back to the beach and Yuki swam after me. When she could, she stood up and looked at my handiwork. "I'm reasonably certain that you didn't have pubic or underarm hair when you were three. Enjoy your swim. I think I'll make a sandcastle."
"Use your hands!" ordered Yuki as she threw herself backwards into the surf.
Jean had finally changed into her new, white, side-tie bikini, coated herself in sun block and was marching to the surf. "Don't cheat and use telekinesis," she warned.
"Fine," I replied. "Jean, we're playing three year olds so, all for one." I stare at her swimsuit.
"What's the point of buying a new bikini if I don't wear it?" asked Jean with her fists on her hips.
"What's the point of wearing a bikini if there's no one to watch?" I asked.
"You two can."
"We don't count."
"Why not?"
"Good point. Okay, 'mom', you can be the respectable mother hen, and we'll be the three year olds."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
Yuki's thoughts came in and teased, "We understand: You've gotten to the age where fun is being able to chew your food."
"I'm not old. I'm only a year older than Sabrina!"
"Scary," I replied. "Does that mean I'll be like her next year?"
"I'm afraid so," added Yuki.
"Then I'd better get all the fun I can."
"Fine!" Jean tried to untie her bikini, but the bows got tangled and knotted. In her frustration, she peeled it off less dramatically than she hoped. "There, now let's see you make a sand castle. I'm going swimming." Jean walked out into the surf and swam in the lagoon.
So I did. I used my hands to make a mound of sand. Scoop after scoop, I learned a little more about the physics of sand structures. "How do I make it stick?"
Yuki was beyond the limits of my voice, but I asked, and she answered, psychically. "Get the sand wet."
"Thank you." I moved to the surf zone and piled up a double handful of wet sand that oozed through my fingers. "What is the ideal sand to water ratio," I asked.
"You're not supposed to know that at three. You're supposed to experiment."
"With what?"
"Bucket and shovel," replied Yuki. I could see in her mind many images of sandcastles, buckets of sand and a favorite shovel.
"I don't have that," I argued.
"Use the empty bento box. Fill with wet sand. Place upside-down and allow the excess water to drain. Remove form and repeat."
I went to the picnic basket next to Espeon, took out and cleaned the bento box. I returned to the surf zone and noted when the sand gave my feet the most resistance. There I scooped with my hands and filled the bento box. After turning the box over and removing the form, I was left with my first, albeit short, square and featureless, sandcastle. "Success," I mentally stated for all to know.
"Good for you," replied Yuki.
I searched the horizon and asked, "Where are you?"
"Over here!" she called back.
"That gives me a direction. How
far out are you?"
"Abou… … ..ile," was her broken
transmission.
"Yuki, repeat that!"
"Sa…a, I'm losi…"
I teleported myself a mile out to sea in Yuki's direction. "Yuki!" I called out. My feet sank into the water as I lost my focus.
"Sabrina! What are you… …ng?"
"Espeon! Help me find Yuki!"
Espeon used her Future Sight. I orientated myself to Espeon's vision and teleported. I landed hard on the waves and desperately searched for Yuki. I heard Yuki's real voice, "Sabrina, what's going on?"
I dashed towards her and dived. When I grabbed her, I teleported us back to Espeon's location. I was on my hands and knees as I gasped and spat out sea water. I tried to focus my body on recovery. My breathing slowed. I opened my eyes. Yuki's face was inches away from mine and she was looking into my eyes. My breathing was deep and steady, but I couldn't slow my heart. The danger was past and the adrenaline levels should be dropping, but I was feeling flushed.
Yuki was blushing. As my breathing slowed, hers grew quicker. Her heart sped up to my rate. My arms wanted to let me fall. It felt as if gravity was pulling my lips to hers.
"Is everything okay?" came Jean's thoughts.
"Jean!" I exclaimed. "Espeon, give me Jean's location!"
My faithful guardian projected an image of Jean's location relative to mine. I teleported to Jean's location, grabbed her and teleported back to the beach.
Yuki asked, "What was all that about?"
I untangled myself from Jean and replied, "Sharpedo."
"Here?"
"Black dorsal fin, lots of teeth, immune to psychics," I listed.
"That's a Sharpedo," agreed the nonplussed Yuki.
"I knew it had to be a dark type getting between us. It explained the interference with our link."
"And why we didn't sense it," added Yuki with a nod.
"You seem rather calm about it," I observed.
"Sharpedo never bothered me before."
"Well, I'm not comfortable with dark types."
"You like being in control," teased Yuki. "You can't stand it if you don't know all the answers."
"Yes." My remark caught her off guard. "I'm not going to deny it."
"It's no fun to tease if you don't resist."
I stood and noticed that the sand had stuck to my body. "I spend all that time trying to get the sand to stick; now I want it off."
"Relax for a while. When it dries, it'll brush off."
"Espeon," announced my Pokemon.
"We're going to have company: Fisherman, looking for Sharpedo, this lagoon."
"Is he cute?" asked Jean.
"He's underage," I stated.
"Aw."
"Take her clothes off and she becomes an animal," growled Yuki.
"We could leave," I suggested.
"I don't feel like swimming," stated Jean.
"Fine, spoil my fun," grumped Yuki.
"Fun?"
Yuki pointed out, "I don't have a problem with Sharpedo."
"Of course not; you're on land and have all your limbs intact."
Jean and Yuki could then hear the boats engine.
"Hide now, change later."
We gathered our bikes and clothes and left the beach for the cover of the brush. When we couldn't see the surf, Yuki and Jean stopped and dressed. I went through the motions of putting on my bike clothes. We followed Espeon back to route 13. Once on the road, Espeon got in her basket and we biked for home.
We approached a snack stand on route 12. "Sensei?" whined Jean. I already sensed the trouble. At the snack stand were six men and their motorcycles. They were laughing, drinking and leering at us. The back of their jackets said, "Hound-vrooms," with a Houndoom logo. The leader's Houndoom was leering as well.
I parked my bicycle and put on the sundress. "If you ladies are tired, you can ride with us," one of them offered.
"Yeah! Sit on my lap baby and I'll take you for a ride," stated one of the cronies.
I laughed and pointed out, "You're too fat to have a lap. Besides, why would I want to ride on your slow noisemakers?"
"Sensei, don't antagonize them," silently advised Jean. Jean and Yuki stayed with the bicycles and looked ready to run.
I bought some drinks and snacks from the vending machines, while some of the bikers were laughing at the fat comment.
"What do you mean, 'slow noisemaker'?" retorted the leader who looked a lot like Lt. Surge.
I handed the snacks to the nervously waiting Jean and Yuki. "Isn't what those machines are designed for? Make a lot of noise so people will notice you. Go real slow so people will smell you?" In his mind I saw that 'Dog' had spent hours creating his cycle from parts and installed the strongest motor he could afford. I pointed across the tide flats to the gate house at the end of route 12 and the entrance to Lavender Town. "Want to race?" Everyone did a double take at my question. "'Dog' on his 'hog' verses me and my bike."
The joker of the bikers wanted to say, "Dike on a bike," but I made him choke on his drink.
"I'll make it more interesting: Loser walks. If I win, I get your bike. If you win, you get my bike."
"No deal. I don't want some sissy, trail-mix bike with a basket on the handles. My bike is worth a hundred times that bike."
"If you win, I'll pay you the value of your bike," I offered as I got in Dog's face.
"Will that be cash or service?" asked Joker as he tried to lift my dress. I stepped on his boot and psychically crushed his toe. To his credit, Joker only winced and didn't cry out.
"That's up to Dog, not you." I bent over at the waist so Dog can look down my dress. "Well, are you man enough to race?"
"I'll race ya. I'll beat ya, just to watch you walk home."
"Good boy, Dog."
Yuki's thoughts were screaming at me, "Sabrina, what are you doing?"
"Espeon, go with Yuki and Jean," I said out loud. Into their minds, I projected, "Stay together and stick close to Espeon. I can handle myself if it gets ugly."
"They are ugly," mentally noted Jean.
I strapped on my helmet and surveyed the route. This section of Route 12 followed the curve of the bay around a great field of mud, now that the tide had gone out. I felt the breeze play with the sundress and do what the other bikers hoped they could.
"Can we get in on this bet?" asked Joker.
"Are you betting your bike against my butt?"
"Unless you got the money, honey."
"I've got enough money and honey to cover all your bets." I crouched over my handlebars at the starting line. The bikers revved their engines behind me. Espeon stood at the starting line with her tail waving in the air. She dropped her tail and I set off down the wooden causeway. The bikers followed running their bikes as loud and slow as possible. I knew that the bottom of my dress was flapping in the breeze and they were getting a good show.
The causeway made its labyrinthine way on the left bank. Between me and the goal were some young Pokemon trainers up to their knees in mud. I peddled faster and went right off the pier. I cushioned my landing with telekinesis then pedaled as fast I could for the goal. Behind me I heard two bikes follow with a loud splash and cursing. I pushed the bike forward and above the mud with every ounce of mental and physical strength I had. My sunglasses were splattered with mud. I squinted my eyes and looked over the spray of salty mud. Halfway to the goal, I heard a crash as another biker slipped off the causeway and into the mud. Three were left weaving through wooden switchbacks and avoiding the dead end fishing spots. I spared a little mental energy to feel their thoughts which were solely on driving their bikes. I shut them out. I shut everything out except willing my bike over the mud as fast as possible.
Yuki's thought projection barely maked it past my focus: "You're almost there! You're in the lead!"
I saw my goal and my exit. I swerved to the left and went up a moss covered rock. I lifted myself up and forward. The spray of mud was gone. I could hear the roar of a motorcycle. I lifted myself too high and skidded across the roof. My bicycle crashed into the window.
As the motorcycle got closer, a concerned citizen came out of the building, saw me and then ran inside screaming, "Muk!"
Dog arrived. His two remaining bikers would soon be there, followed by Yuki and Jean.
I wished I had the strength to gloat as I said, "I won." I tried to crawl off the roof, but the mud was sticky and a roof tile came with me. "Pay up."
He parked the bike, turned it off and threw me the key. The other two bikers arrived. One of them asked, "What are you doin' Dog?"
"She won," he stated flatly, "I don't know how, but she won."
The local policeman stationed to the gatehouse stumbled out the door. He was as old as the rest of us put together. "What's all this then?" he demanded. "Is that your Muk?"
"I'm a woman covered in mud and I'm stuck on the roof."
"Did these 'men' do this to you?"
"No officer. I'm afraid to say that I did this to myself. We we're settling a bet. I believe I won."
"Oh ho?" he replied as he adjusted his spectacles. "We're you racing?"
The bikers were getting nervous. Yuki, Jean and Espeon arrived. "Officer, what person in their right mind would race a bicycle against a motorcycle?"
"Good point. So how did you get up there?"
"I was biking across the mud flat. I hit a rock and flew up here. I'm sorry about the window and will pay for a new one."
"You look like you were crawling across the mud flat."
"I didn't think it was that sticky. Do you have a ladder and a hose?"
"Sensei?" asked Jean's thoughts through the ringing in my head.
"I'm tired, but okay," I replied in my mind.
The old officer chuckled to himself as he went inside. He soon returned with a ladder. After I was helped down, he showed me the faucet and hose. "Normally we use the ladder and hose for the trainers who get stuck in the mud flats. I'm going to enjoy writing this in my log book."
Jean hosed off the mud, while Yuki and Espeon kept an eye on the bikers. The hose worked off the biggest clumps of debris but the dress was stained and smelled of a fish market. "Sensei," whispered Jean, "why aren't you wearing anything under the dress?"
I didn't have the strength to lie, so I shrugged. After I washed my face with the cold water, I could feel my strength return. I didn't care that the wet dress clung to my skin and revealed what the bikers lost and lost to. "You guys can keep the three bikes in the mud. I'll just take these three."
I held out my hand with Dog's key.
The other two were defiant.
The old policeman was watching the scene. I pushed whatever fear buttons I could in the biker's minds. When they handed over their keys, I added, "Don't worry boys; I'll give you a chance to buy the bikes back. Money or service: your choice." I pulled my sunglasses down and gave them a wink.
I took the remains of Espeon's basket off of my bike and put it on the chopper. Espeon lightly hopped into her seat. I tossed Jean and Yuki each a key. "Store your bikes here; we're riding home in style." Jean and Yuki took their bikes to the bike lockers.
"Sensei, I don't know how to ride a bike," worried Jean as she was out of sight.
"I do," chimed in Yuki's thoughts.
"We'll link up with Yuki's thoughts and do this nice and easy."
"Okay," replied a slightly less nervous Jean.
Under Yuki's mental guidance, Jean and I started up the motorcycles. As we revved the motors, a stray thought crossed my mind. I held out my hand to Dog and said, "Papers. I doubt that you would be a sore loser and claim that some woman stole your bike. But those two aren't as loyal as you are; are they Dog?"
Dog chuckled and took his bike's title out of his vest. He indicated to the other two to do the same. "How am I going to find my bike, and you?" he asked.
I ripped off the right sleeve of my dress and said, "Follow the trail, Dog." With that we rode off to Lavender Town. Out of sight of the gatehouse I called out to the other two. "I need a break."
"There's a convince store," declared Yuki.
Espeon kept the bike steady until I stopped and put down the kickstand. Yuki ran into the store, while Jean helped me to the bench. "Sensei, what's wrong?"
"I've never pushed myself so hard and so long in a day," I mumbled as I shivered.
Yuki returned with food, water and an emergency blanket. "Espeon," offered my Pokemon.
"Morning Sun isn't going to do much with the sun going down," I countered.
Jean released her Pokemon and ordered, "Misdreavus, use Pain Split."
"If we do this more often, one us needs to bring a healer," I joked.
"Shush!" ordered Jean. "I am the healer, so lay still."
So I laid still.
I opened my eyes. My head was in Yuki's lap, who was asleep. Jean was nearby and whispered, "Feeling better?"
"Yes. Let's go home. Yuki, wake up."
"Hmm?"
"Time to take Sabrina home," announced Jean. "You're going to insist on riding that pig back home," she scolded.
"It's called a hog and yes. 'To the victor, go the spoils.'" I looked for my bike helmet.
"I thought you would, so I bought you this," replied Jean as she handed me a proper motorcycle helmet.
"Thanks, mom."
"Oh don't start that," grumped Yuki.
"I'm sorry you guys," I replied. I put the helmet on and the other two laughed. I looked down at the mud stained dress and shrugged. The other two put on new helmets and started their engines. I started my bike and turned back towards the gate house.
"Sensei, we need to go this way."
"I know that, but Dog doesn't."
I rode back to a sign post indicating the direction to Saffron City. I ripped off the other sleeve of my dress, and telekinetically tied it to the sign.
"Are you really going to lead Dog all the way to Saffron City?" asked Yuki.
"Oh, I'm just playing fetch," I quipped. I wheeled the bike back to home. "How do I make this thing do wheelies?"
"Not in your condition," replied Yuki.
On the easy ride back home, Yuki gave us a quick course in riding, turning and stopping. As we neared the city, Jean asked, "Where are we going to park these things?"
"Sabrina's got room, I bet."
"This thing won't fit in the elevator, and I don't have the strength to teleport."
"Don't you have a warehouse or a parking garage?"
"Maybe I do," I replied. We rode the bikes to Saffron Tower. We went around the building until we found the entrance to the parking garage. I used my Poketch to get the bikes past the gate and we parked them. Jean and Yuki had to help me to the elevator and to my apartment.
I was met at the door my Gardevoir. Espeon relayed the day's events to her as she helped me to the bath. Once in the tub, I blacked out.
"Geng?"
"Too tired to play…"
…
I awoke in my bed. Yuki was dozing in a nearby chair. She opened her eyes and saw mine. "You're making a habit of this," I joked.
"A habit of what?"
"Watching me sleep," I replied. "If I didn't know better, I would think that you're trying to get in bed with me."
Yuki blushed as she whined, "That's a mean thing to say Sabrina."
I didn't ask her if it was true. It was once. "I smell rice." I pulled off the covers.
"Do you want to eat in bed?"
"I want to walk on my own two feet," I replied to her almost romantic suggestion. I staggered my naked shell into the kitchen. Gardevoir served me tea and rice. Yuki woke Jean off the couch.
"I'm glad to see that you're better, sensei."
"Thank you, Jean. Thanks to all of you for getting me home."
"Um, sensei, we couldn't find your bicycle shorts and top. Where did you leave them?"
I laughed.
"Are you okay?"
Gengar appeared on the kitchen counter holding the green clothes and chuckling. I interpreted the punch line, "They were in the closet the whole time."
"I don't get it," replied Yuki.
"Yuki, you of all people should get the joke."
"Why?"
"What did you do when you had to go home wearing only a bathrobe?"
Yuki stared out to the garden as she recalled, "I projected an image…of a winter coat." Yuki spied my pool float. "You were naked the whole time?"
"Except when I wore the sundress," I corrected. "Thanks to Espeon and her Future Sight, I took along something to wear. That's why I was exhausted: I had to project a mental illusion that I was clothed the whole time."
"Does that mean the boy with the Sliph Scope saw?" gasped Jean.
"After breakfast, I think I'll take a ride," I declared with a smile.
That would have been a good punch line to end this entry, but Yuki insisted that I get proper motorcycle lessons, clothing, and license. Jean insisted that I was in no condition to ride and the bikers would be looking for it. Gengar wanted to ride, but Gardevoir scolded him. So I settled for floating in the pool on the SS Godiva.
While I floated in the pool, I hatched a plan. I called down to the gym. Ivan answered, "I'm sorry but the gym is closed today. The Great Sabrina deserves some time off."
"That's nice of you to say Ivan Petrovich Geller."
"Mistress Sabrina!" he exclaimed in surprise.
"Stop bowing to the phone and go to the Pokeball storage room." I'd have made him an instructor if he had a backbone. Then again, Jean showed more progress in telekinesis than he did eight years ago. If Ivan wants to rise up, he'll have to do it on his own.
"I'm in the Pokeball room gre…"
I cut him off, "Release Natu and put him on the phone."
"Nat?" asked the little bird.
"I need you to be my eyes for a while, can you do that?"
"Natu," agreed the little one.
"Thank you. Fly out to Eastgate and watch the road." The little one Teleported outside and projected to me his thoughts. "Thank you Ivan, you can hang up now."
"Thank you Great Sabrina…"
Click.
I laughed to myself as I said out loud, "Maybe Yuri can teach him how to grow a pair."
"Gengar," offered my Pokemon as he removed his pair with a loud dry pop.
"I'm not giving Ivan your balls. He's got to learn to work with what he has. He's spent a decade hoping I'd notice him, and I've never liked what I saw." Gengar put his balls back and massaged them. "You want to be alone?" Gengar shook his head. "If they come off so easily, then I don't want to touch them." Gengar moped since he was caught in his own joke.
I let my mind synchronize with Natu's. I felt the air over his wings and watched the scurrying of people in their morning routines. I lost myself in the sheer joy of flying. I saw the secret world of the tree tops and the hidden nooks on rooftops. I listened to the everyday sounds of children playing, breakfast cooking and phones ringing.
The phone was ringing.
I snapped out of my trance and answered the phone. "Hello?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you Great Sabrina, but there is a strange man outside the gym."
"Oh? Hold on." I directed Natu to teleport back to the gym. When he flew past the entrance he saw Dog fixing my bicycle. "It's okay Ivan. He's a mechanic and he's fixing my bicycle. I took a spill yesterday."
"Great Sabrina, is there anything you need?"
I sloshed the pool water and said, "I need a massage. When he finishes with the bike take it inside and store it for me. I'll take care of the mechanic." After a pause I asked, "Are you still there Ivan?"
"Yeth Mithdreth," he replied.
"Were you thinking dirty thoughts and did your nose bleed?"
"No Great Sabrina."
"Good." I hung up the phone and watched Dog through Natu's eyes. Dog was sitting on the curb, with a small toolbox by his side. The bicycle was upside down and he was truing the wheels, one spoke at a time.
Dog saw Natu watching him. "Hello." Natu hopped closer and looked into the box. The tools inside were shiny and smelled used but clean. "Could you hand me the adjustable wrench?"
Natu cocked his head to the side and looked into the box. I mentally noted which wrench Dog wanted. Natu took out the wrench and hopped over to the mechanic. Dog took the wrench and said, "Thank you." Natu spied two Pokeballs on his belt and hopped closer. "Those two are my Magneton and Houndoom. It seemed best not to brandish a dark Pokemon in front of the famous Saffron City Gym, eh Sabrina?"
Natu nodded and hopped up on Dog's shoulder.
"I could say that you're awfully trusting, if I wasn't sitting where I was."
I instructed Natu to nibble lightly on Dog's ear. "Does this count as paying off my debt with service?" Natu flew up to the ledge and waited until Dog said, "Finished." Natu flew down to the front door. Dog took the bike inside to the waiting Ivan. Natu led Dog outside and to the nearby Pokemon Center. Dog checked in his Pokemon. With his Pokemon in Nurse Joy's care, Dog returned to the front of the Pokemon center and asked Natu, "Where now?" Natu hopped up onto Dog's head and looked over the scene from a human's height. By pecking on Dog's head, we directed him to the gaudy, but discrete entrance to Fantasy Castle Love Hotel. "Do I get an audience with the Queen?"
"I usually go by the title of, 'Empress', but yes. Just step on the platform," I instructed over the speaker system. Dog did and was transported to the Royal Garden Room. The walls were faux stone on three sides and the third was a projection of further gardens. In the center was a reflecting pool that I was using as a hot tub. "You've had a long trip. Go get washed up and then we can negotiate your payment plan." Natu hopped off and perched in the maple.
Dog put his tools down by the entrance pad and found the bathroom. Twenty minutes later he emerged shiny, smelling of soap and wearing a light kimono. "Will this do Empress?"
"That will do."
"How else may I serve you Empress?" he asked in flat tones.
"You can start by telling me your real name and why you look like Lt. Surge."
His real name was Douglas, or Doug, and he was the younger brother of Lt. Surge. When his brother served in the military and led men, Doug served as a mechanic. Since leaving the service, Doug has been a drifter and biker.
"Would you like to soak in the tub and rest?"
"No ma'am, I'd rather stand. Unless this action would consist of service to be used in barter for the return of our bikes."
I stepped out of the tub and let the water drip off my naked body. As I strolled in the small garden, I mentioned, "I was like you once."
"I doubt that Empress."
"Pride, Douglas. Your brother has so much of it that it makes him arrogant and a bore. You have so much of it that it makes you cold and stubborn. I had so much of it that it made me cold, aloof, domineering and destructive."
"'…had…,' ma'am?"
"Good point. But I'd like to think that now I'm hot and inviting."
"I couldn't say ma'am."
"Since you like punishing yourself, I've got a treat for you: you're going to take me shopping."
"Shopping ma'am?"
"I've been told that I need the proper clothes to ride a motorcycle."
"Yes ma'am."
I walked up to him and handed him the key to his bike, then said, "You drive." I teleported us to the parking garage. Gardevoir and Gengar appeared with Doug's somewhat cleaner clothes and toolbox. I took my helmet off the back of his bike and put it on.
"Ma'am, are you going to go out like that?"
I pulled the kimono off of Doug, wrapped myself in it, and then sat on the bike. He could easily see the bottom of my kimono was open, but he didn't react. He put on his clothes without a word or reaction. He mounted the bike and took us to a local store that catered to the motorcycle crowd.
"Dog!" shouted the older man behind the counter. Douglas waved to the man and pointed me to the selection of bike suits. I made sure that the old man paid attention to Douglas and not me. I picked out a gold and black suit with a generous amount of safety and cosmetic padding. I paid using my cash card and waited by Douglas' bike.
I left the suit partially unzipped and asked, "How do I look?"
"It'll do, ma'am. Now what?"
"Drive. I don't care where, just drive," I replied as I got on. So he drove to the Pokemon Center to collect his Pokemon and then he rode toward Vermillion City. I held him tightly from behind. I listened to his surface thoughts, they were on the road, the sound of the engine and the clouds that floated by. There were fleeting images of Yuki's and Jean's bikes, but they were lost amid the clouds of his mind.
When I opened my eyes I saw the back roads of Vermillion City's light industrial district. Douglas stopped at a small bike garage where the other members of his gang were working on their bikes. Joker wanted to be the first to speak, but Douglas cut him off with, "Shut it."
Where Douglas' mind was a cloud, the other's minds were clearly on Dog. They respected, envied and even pitied him. He fetched a small trailer from the garage and attached it to his bike, and then we rode off.
"Douglas, stop at your brother's gym."
"Yes ma'am."
Douglas idled in front of the gym. While the engine roared, I called to Surge's mind to come out and look. When he exited the front door, he saw me without the helmet and the bike suit zipped as far down as was possibly decent. I stuck out my tongue and pulled at my eye as Douglas sped away. I called to the gym leader's mind, "Bye Sergio."
Surge's jaw dropped so low that he tripped over it.
At long last, Douglas laughed, if only a little. "Why did you do that ma'am?"
"I won't tell unless you call me Sabrina."
"…Sabrina?"
"I did it to make you laugh. I also did it because your brother is a jerk."
"He's not that bad."
"He needs to learn when to back off and let a woman have her space."
We didn't say anything until we reached the gatehouse on route 12. I collected the bikes and Douglas secured them on the trailer. "I wish you could relax."
"Sorry ma… Sabrina."
"Is it because I'm psychic?"
"…"
"You have secrets that you must keep. I understand and I don't want you to compromise them."
"With all respect, but you don't understand."
"Douglas, when you served you were more than a mechanic. The mental discipline you have is displayed by Special Forces, trained psychics, and intelligence agents. As I said, you have secrets to keep. You can't be free in your thoughts when I'm around. With your level of training I'd assume that you are never free in your own mind, unless you're riding."
"I…"
"Maybe one day your secrets won't need to be kept, until that happens I'll leave you alone. If you take me home, I'll trade you bikes."
He nodded yes, so we rode along the path I took yesterday. This time I enjoyed the clouds, scenery and the winding road through the hills. Douglas found his way back to Saffron Tower's parking garage. He swapped the bikes and prepared to leave.
"Douglas, I hope you get a chance to be happy," I said before I gave him a kiss on the cheek. "If what I think is true, then I can't thank you enough for your service."
"Thank you, Sabrina."
"If instead you are just really, really good at playing hard to get, then I'm going to break you and sex you up till you can't walk."
Dog kicked his engine over. As he idled the engine, he said, "You could do that, but I think you appreciate a challenge." He revved up the motor and slipped away.
Author's note: I don't know if the psychic wearing the allergy mask in the anime had a name, so I decided to name him after Ivan Petrovich Pavlov. Notice how he drooled when the phone rang?
