Some more edit in here! The whole conversation with Gokudera is going to completely change, I do too feel that this chapter is a bit lacking.
Disclaimer: Pocket Monsters and Reborn! are owned by their respective owners.
Pokémon Adventures: Diamond and Pearl
Chapter 4 – Gokudera Hayato; and the stolen Pokedex
Minutes after Professor Rowan gave away his prized Pokémon to the Twinleaf teens, the teens excused themselves for some extra celebration of their own. Once they're eyesight away from the honourable Pokémon Professor and his leading team of researchers, they celebrated themselves by dancing around outside of the laboratory in circles locking their arms to each other.
"We got a new Pokémon! We got a new Pokémon! We got a new Pokémon!" the teens immaturely sing around in circle. Pochama the Piplup covered his face in embarrassment, being a prideful Pokémon and all, he can not stand watching his happy trainer acted immaturely in open public. Hikozaru the Chimchar however is as happy and silly as his trainer is. He jumped up and down clapping his hands celebrating along his fellow fun-filled trainer.
"We got a new Pokémon! We got a new Pokémon! We got a—" the two teens stopped singing when the other young man, Gokudera Hayato, walked out of the laboratory door. Trying to hide their happiness and silliness, the two teens put up a serious face and act as if the singing and the dancing never happened. Gokudera looked at the two teens, he ignored them completely and walked past them.
"As cold as ever huh," Jun whispered to his best friend.
"Don't be like that Jun," Hikari shrugged. "He rescued us, and at least he was nice enough to support us back there. We should properly thank him." Jun looked away in thoughts, it is true that Gokudera acted supportive back in the lab. He was also nice enough not to rat on them with false information or lies, and he did rescue Hikari and Jun from the flocks of Starly.
"But he blew those Starly with those explosives," he objected. "I can't really forgive him for that!"
"But then again," said Hikari. "You were the one who's whacking them with a briefcase."
"Hey! I did that so I can protect you!" Jun fought back. "It's for desperate measure!"
"Well maybe what Gokudera did is also for desperate measure!" Hikari defend her hero. She took a hold of Jun's hand. "Come on Jun. Let's be polite okay?"
Jun looked at Hikari's hand that touched his, he can still see the scratches the Starly inflicted. Her arm looked more serious, some of the scratches are pretty deep. Jun hated for what Gokudera did for the Starly, but he hated those Starly more for inflicting some serious wounds to Hikari. If Gokudera didn't rescue them, who knows what those Starly will do to them.
"Okay, let's be nice and thank him," Jun gave in to Hikari. She smiled and drag Jun all the way to Gokudera, their Pokémon partner followed them behind. The grey haired boy was happily smoking by himself until he saw the young trainers approached him. He didn't know what they want now, but he can tell already that he wouldn't want to be around them.
"What do you want now?" he asked the trainers. Jun frowned, Hikari tried to keep a positive face.
"We would like to thank you properly Gokudera-kun," said Hikari politely. She lower her head down little bit, and forcefully lower Jun's head too. "Thank you for rescuing us from all of those Starly." Jun shook his head left and right, trying to get Hikari's grip loosen out. Too bad for him, her fingers grabbed a handful of his blonde hair, and she didn't look like she'll let those go until Jun thanked Gokudera too.
"Yeah, yeah thanks for rescuing us," Jun doesn't sound like he really meant of what he said.
"That goes for you guys too," Hikari said to Hikozaru and Pochama. The two Pokémon looked at her in shock, they both looked at each other and then at the grumpy Gokudera. Pochama normally would refuse her request, sometimes his pride is too much to handle. But, she did made a valid point about Gokudera.
"Pochama…" Pochama whispered under his breath while lower his head respectfully to Gokudera.
"Hiko?" Hikozaru looked at his rival questioningly. "Hiko! Hiko! Hikozar!" Hikozaru shrieked at his rival while pointing to Gokudera. Pochama, with his head still down, pull his rival's head down similar to how his trainer keep Hikozaru's trainer's head down.
"Don't be an ass kisser!" Gokudera interject into Hikari's conversation. Hikari lifted her head up immediately, Jun too, both angered from Gokudera's comment. Jun's hands are ready to lift Gokudera off the ground, but Hikari's voice came in action first before Jun's hands.
"Excuse me!?" Hikari asked roughly. "We came here to thank you, and that's your reply?!"
"Were you thanking me because you're in a good mood?" Gokudera asked. "Or because you actually mean it when I rescued you back in the lake?"
"Uh…Wha-?" Hikari asked confused.
"I don't need you to be 'polite' on me just because you're in a good mood and your penguin end up staying with you!" Gokudera's voice is harsh. And his angry look adds an additional punch to those comments. "And if you think that it's proper for you to thank me, at least say it that you actually mean it." Jun had enough of Gokudera acting like a total jerk, he grabbed Gokudera's shirt collar violently.
"Hey asshole!" he swore. "Hikari's being polite to you! The least you can do is to acknowledge her back in return with proper respect!" Jun hated people who looked down on Hikari liked that, and it's his job to protect her from all of this.
"I don't need one if she didn't actually mean it and was just saying it," Gokudera's voice is still calm as ever. "It's pretty much lying."
"Why I oughtta!!"
"Jun, let him go," Hikari ordered her best friend calmly. Jun looked over to Hikari, her voice is calm but her stare is sharp. He had no choice, he released Gokudera but still stare daggers at him. Hikozaru mimicked his owner. "OK fine I might've push that boundaries a little with the smile and the bowing, but I still mean what I said," Hikari continued. "Thanks for your help."
"Yeah whatever, thanks for your help," Jun also said to Gokudera.
The thanks he received just now were truthful, not too happy or too angry, but at least it delivered the message with true sincerity. Gokudera looked as rude as ever, but a little hint can be read that he's pleased for the compliment. Gokudera blow off a smoke of his cigarette for the last time before he butted it out. "No problem," he replied back.
Hikari felt that she can smile now, Gokudera may seem to be rude but she felt a spark of kindness behind his bad boy attitude. Jun, on the other hand, still frown upon him. The image of the explosives and the injured Pokémon drill deep into his mind.
"So you live here in Sandgem Town?" Hikari asked Gokudera.
"No, I come from Japan," Gokudera replied checking the time in his mobile phone. "Ugh! No signal."
"Japan?" asked Hikari. "Where's that?"
"It's a country in region called Asia, it's one of the non-habited Pokémon regions," Jun answered for her. Hikari knew Jun long enough to notice that something is bothering him. As another sign of proof, his Pokémon partner is still frowning. "A ship came by today in Canalave City bringing couple of tourists from the Asia region. Didn't you see it on the news Hikari?"
"Must've missed it. I left after they stopped showing the red Gyarados," she replied.
"Ignorant," Gokudera rolled his eyes.
"Alright that does it!!" Jun raised his voice to Gokudera. "I don't know if they have manners in Japan, but we have them here in Sinnoh!!" Jun's sudden outburst took Hikari by surprise, he's not the type who usually raise his voice like that all of the sudden. "If you don't want to get your head ripped off, mind your manners!"
"What's up your ass blondie?" Gokudera took a step forward to Jun. Hikozaru felt the danger and jumped ahead of his trainer protecting him from any danger that Gokudera would bestow upon Jun. "You want to start with me?"
"OK! Time out for a sec!" Hikari walked in between the two men. She doesn't know why Jun's acting rude, but she wouldn't want any fight to start out between her new and old friend. "Jun!" she turned to him. "Go home and show Hikozaru to your mom. I'm sure she'll be delighted." She knew him long enough to know that something is indeed bothering him. And the best cure for that is for him to go back home and cool his head.
Jun looked at Hikari's eyes, it begged for him to calm down. Jun's not exactly the type of person with a temper, that role is already filled for Hikari. But when Jun's angry, he's out of control. And Hikari knew that, that is why she wanted him to cool his head before things can get out of hand. She wouldn't want to see Jun blare up, and Jun wouldn't want to do so either. He picked up Hikozaru and follows her suggestion.
"OK, I'll go home," he said. She smiled and thanked him for understanding. He avoid eye contacts with Gokudera and walked towards the Route 201, heading to Twinleaf Town. "You should go home too. Aunt Johanna would be delighted to see Poochama!"
"It's Pochama! You dolt!" Hikari half-screamed at Jun who quickly dash away from Sandgem Town. "Idiot..." But she's glad that he's now optimistic and cracking jokes again.
"Pochama!!!" the penguin Pokémon cried at the barely seen Jun feeling insulted. Hikari giggled and pick up the penguin caressing his steamed head.
"You have a weird boyfriend," Gokudera commented. Hikari immediately dropped Pochama.
"B-B-B-B-Boyfriend!!" Hikari screamed with face flushed red. "He's not my boyfriend!!!" She pointed to where Jun was.
"Looks like he was," he shrugged.
It's Hikari's turn now to frown upon Gokudera. "Look, Gokudera," she said. "Do you think before you talk? Some of the stuff you say can offend people pretty easily."
"Pocha!" Pochama nodded agreeing with his partner. Gokudera shifted one of his eyes at the Pokémon giving him the chills.
"If you don't want to be labelled as jerk for life," she continued. "I suggest you fix that attitude of yours."
"Not my problem if they don't like me for being me," he walked away from Hikari. "Show's over, I'm getting out of here."
"Wait! Hang on for a sec," Hikari called to Gokudera. "Do you even know where you're going?"
"No need to bother yourself with me," Gokudera called out from his distance. "I can take care of myself just fine." Gokudera walked away further from the two figures and jumped over the off limit wire fence, trespassing into another forest. Hikari and Pochama sweatdropped watching the poor kid arguing with the town's local security, which just caught him in the act. The young trainer looked over at her partner Pokémon, they both have the same feeling what must be done for Gokudera.
Route 201
"You don't have to do this," said Gokudera. "I can take care of myself just fine!"
"Tell that to the police officer whose nose you broke," Hikari grumbled quietly. It took Hikari around 10 minutes to convince the local security that Gokudera didn't mean to break the law, and one of the security guard's nose. After all it was sort of his fault for putting his nose so close to Gokudera's elbow, one pull and blood is dripping all over his uniform. Hikari also convince Gokudera to come with her so she can get him some guide around Sinnoh.
"Where are we going?" Gokudera asked.
"To my house," Hikari replied. "My mom has a lot of connection around Sinnoh, there's gotta be at least one person who can help your way around Sinnoh."
"Look, I told you I'll be fine," Gokudera stopped walking. "I don't need your help."
"Well either you like it or not, you're coming with me," Hikari pestered on. "I'm not leaving you out here alone feeling lost and helpless. You don't even have a Pokémon."
"I don't need Pokémon to help me!" Gokudera replied feeling annoyed. "As long as I have my dynamites and my smokes, I'm good for everything."
"Gokudera, you can't just solve everything with explosives!" Hikari raised her voice. She's beginning to think that she should just dump this kid off by his own and not care what happen to him.
"I do it all the time," Gokudera snapped back. "It's best that you shouldn't get involved with me."
"OK fine!" Hikari gave up. She tried to be nice and properly thank him for helping her, but instead this boy just keeps pushing her away. "If you want to get rid of me that bad, then I'll be glad to! Don't expect me to bust you out when the police arrest you!"
"Pochama!" Pochama nodded agreeing with Hikari.
"Jeez! What's cracking up your ass?" Gokudera lit a new cigarette. "You're the one who's persistent to help!"
"Yeah, that's just my way of saying thank you for rescuing me and not telling on me as a thief. And…" Hikari stopped her sentence.
"And what?" Gokudera asked. Hikari is in a deep thought for a minute there, she walked closer to the boy looking at him straight in the eye. Gokudera felt uneasy for having a girl staring at him that close.
"Come to think of it," she looked away. "Why did you save me in the first place? And why were you so supportive back in the lab?" Gokudera felt better now that she turned away from him. Hikari waited for her answer, Pochama looked at his trainer first and then to the foreigner boy.
"Back there at the lake," he tells the story in his point of view. "You were protecting him," he pointed to Pochama on her arms. "Like as if he's something or someone worth living." Pochama glared at the foreigner kid angrily.
"Well duh," Hikari snapped.
"And that is something I can respect," Gokudera continued on.
"Yeah well… wait!" Hikari stopped midway. "What?"
"Pocha?" Pochama asked too.
"That's why I help you. I respect the way you would risk your own life to protect that," he pointed to Pochama. "I know a thing or two about protecting someone or something special, especially someone who you love or respect the most." Hikari started to smile. "That is also why I wound up helping you to keep that thing as well."
Hikari sighed. "Well now, I guess that made perfect sense."
"Don't push your luck kid," Gokudera smirked. "I respect the actions you did, I don't have to respect or like you guys. I don't even like Pokémon."
Hikari rolled her eyes before turning away from the boy. She looked over to the direction where Twinleaf Town is, soon enough she'll be back home showing off her first Pokémon to the residents who knew her. She's not going to stay any longer deciding Gokudera's fate, it's for him to decide what he wants to do next. She was about go and ask him on what he would be doing next, but before she can get the message out, a familiar voice called her out.
"HIKARI!!"
Jun ran up to Hikari out of breath, he looked like he ran all the way from his home non-stop. His partner Pokémon, Hikozaru, is sweating on the top of the trainer's head, feeling fatigue for some reason.
"What is it now Jun?" Hikari asked bored. She doesn't want another fight to break out from the two boys.
"We got to go back to Sandgem town!" Jun said quickly. "Now!"
"Wait! What? Now? Why?" Hikari asked confused. She just left the place, what more did that town want from her?
"Professor Rowan needed us!" Jun said in slower tone. "And what the hell is he doing here?" Jun added pointing to the grumpy looking Gokudera. Before Gokudera can even answer Jun's question, he started talking already. "Argh! Whatever! You should come too!"
For years of working under a powerful group in Japan/Italy, Gokudera recognised that sort of tone Jun used. It's something urgent; he decide that he should follow them for now. "Alright fine, I'll come," he agreed. The two men ran down Route 201, back towards Sandgem Town. Hikari followed later out of instincts.
"What's going on?" she asked Jun and Gokudera while carrying the penguin Pokémon on her hand.
"Something happened at the professor's lab," Jun explained briefly. "We'll get further details from the professor himself."
"Wait!" said Hikari. "How did you know something happened at the Professor's lab?"
"Aunt Johanna told me," Jun kept it brief. Hikari's loss for words, how is she connected into all of this?
"What?!" Hikari exclaimed. "How is my mom connected to all of this?" As far as she knows, her mother is just a regular retired house wife. Even if she was a Pokémon coordinator, she doesn't think that they're somehow related to Pokémon researcher.
"Argh! I got no time to explain it to you!" Jun snapped. "We're moving too slow, we have to go to Sandgem Town now!" Jun speed up his pace and dashed away. Hikari watched him in awe, he sure know how to run despite carrying Hikozaru on his head.
Back to Sangem Town
5 minutes later Gokudera, Hikari and Pochama arrived in Sandgem Town. The two kids could've arrived quicker, but they were slow down by some wild Pokémon during the journey. Gokudera were forced to use some of his dynamites to distract them while they run away, truth to be told Hikari prevent him from hurting them instead. Pochama helped too, he learned a new attack called "Bubble" during the journey. The two friends waited in front of the laboratory building trying to regain the oxygen they lost from all of that running.
"Finally we're here!" said Hikari catching her breath.
"It's about time you got here," Jun commented standing right outside of the laboratory.
"Hiko!" Hikozaru mocked Pochama. Pochama twitched in anger watching his rival mocking him.
"Give us a break punk," Gokudera murmured.
"Now's not the time to rest!" Jun replied. "Something terrible just happened!"
"Oh yeah do tell," Hikari dared Jun.
"The Pokedex are stolen!" Professor Rowan answered Hikari's question. Jun jumped after seeing the intimidating professor walked out of the laboratory. Jun gasped hearing that something was stolen, not that he knows what it is. Hikari too was shocked to hear that a burglary occurs in the quiet town.
"A pokedex?" Gokudera asked. "What the hell is that?"
"A mini encyclopaedia detailing all the Pokémon that lived in Sinnoh region," Professor Rowan explained. "It's one of the kind technologies that can not be find anywhere else in Sinnoh region."
"Wow!" Hikari exclaimed. "They're THAT valuable!"
"Have you heard about this thing?" Gokudera asked.
"Are you kidding me?" Jun answered for Hikari. "A pokedex is an essential tool for Pokémon trainers! They're only given to trainers of exceptional potential and skill."
"Yes," Professor Rowan nodded. "And I was planning to give my last two to you both, Jun and Hikari."
"WHAT?!"" Hikari yelled out at the top of her lungs. Jun jumped back again from the sudden scream, Pochama fell down on his knees and Gokudera's cigarette fell on the ground. "A Pokedex?" Hikari stammered at her question. "For me?" Her knees are shaking, she could not believe what she's hearing. The most valuable tool for a Pokémon journey is ready to be given and hand out to Hikari all for free. She would never thought that a simple girl like her who just got her first Pokémon is chosen to be a Pokedex wielder. Tears are beginning to stream down her eyes, a dream come true.
"Don't get too happy yet," Gokudera broke her dream. Hikari faced Gokudera and wiped her eyes clean. "They were stolen remember?"
"Yeah," Jun agreed. "And we have to get it back!"
"Hiko!" Hikozaru agreed jumping back up on his partner's shoulder.
"I sent Lucas to chase our little cat burglar," Professor Rowan tells his story. "But I'm worried that boy is no match for that thief."
"So that's why you asked for us to go and assist if necessary?" Gokudera asked. Professor Rowan nodded.
"I want you three to go follow Lucas and retrieve those Pokedex back from this petty little thief!" Professor Rowan ordered. "When you retrieve those Pokedex, you are both welcome to keep them."
Hikari took a deep breath and toughen up. This is no time for her to cry and to be happy. Her dream is practically not true yet, for it to be one she must retrieve those Pokedex first. She looked at Jun who is itching to go and chase that cat burglar. He looks like he really wanted that Pokedex so bad. She looked over at Gokudera, he's not getting a Pokedex for this task but is he willing to help?
Gokudera sighed. "Alright, but this is the last time I'm going to help you."
Hikari smiled and look back to her final partner, Pochama the Piplup. Pochama nodded and put his flippers up in a boxing mode. He is ready for a battle and to made his trainer's dream come true.
"Alright, let's get those Pokedex back!"
WELL THERE GOES THE EDITTED 4TH CHAPTER. GEEZ IT SURE TAKES ME A WHILE TO MAKE THIS. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S READING BUT I GOT A FEELING THAT I WILL BE UPDATING THIS FANFIC PRETTY OFTEN FROM NOW ON. WELL SEE YA FOR THE NEXT EDITTED CHAPTER.