(PikaTheftShipping)
Ash sat down at an outdoor cafe just outside the Lumiose City airport and stretched his arms above his head. Pikachu jumped up onto the table and sniffed the air, enjoying the scent of food.
Having parted ways with Alexa, he had decided to take in the sights of a new region before seeking out the nearest pokémon gym. Getting information was never a bad thing, after all.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the sound of someone sitting down across from him until they spoke.
"Fancy meeting you here."
Ash did a double-take as he met the gaze of one Hunter J.
She was clad in a skirt and blouse combo, black and purple respectively, with dark red leggings and black heels.
"Didn't expect to see you here," J said, sipping from a small glass of amber liquid. "Kalos doesn't seem like your style."
"You really don't know me," Ash said, placing a hand on Pikachu's back to calm it down.
J smiled slightly and set her drink on the table, crossing her legs as she then rested her elbows on the table and laced her fingers together. She rested her chin on them and looked at Ash thoughtfully.
"Maybe I don't," she said after a moment, "but, as I've said before, I certainly wouldn't mind getting to know you more."
"And my answer is still the same," Ash said, looking away.
"Hm...I seem to recall a night in Unova when that wasn't the case," J said, eyes gleaming.
Ash gritted his teeth and Pikachu growled at J, who simply chuckled and leaned back, picking up her drink.
"You turn the most interesting shades of red when flustered," she noted. "See? Another thing I now know about you."
"What do you want?" Ash snapped.
"For now?" J said with a shrug, "Nothing. I'm just here to take in the scenery. Maybe acquire some jewelry for me and my pokémon along the way."
"You never stuck me as the jewelry type," Ash said, crossing his arms.
"There's a lot you don't know about me," J said with a smirk. Her eyes moved to a point over Ash's shoulder and she frowned.
Ash glanced in the direction she was looking and saw a massive red and black bird perched on a rooftop, watching them.
"And that's here too," Ash said, throwing his hands into the air. "That's just great."
"Do tell," J said, taking in the bird's almost regal posture.
"It's been following me ever since I saw it on the first day of my pokémon journey," Ash said, stroking over Pikachu's fur.
"Ah," J said, snapping her fingers. "Didn't it kill those two buffoons with the talking meowth once?"
"No," Ash said, "I managed to change its mind on that idea."
"Wish I'd been there to see that," J said with a laugh. "That must've been quite the scene."
"I don't need a guardian angel watching over me," Ash grumbled. Pikachu frowned at him, flicking its tail as it chirped at him. "Really," Ash insisted, causing the mouse to roll its eyes. Ash looked back at the bird, but it had vanished.
"Well," J said, glancing at her watch. "I have a meeting with a client to get to, so I'm afraid this is where we part ways. Hopefully we'll run into each other again and you can show me your new pokémon."
"And I'll be informing the police about you," Ash retorted.
J blew him a kiss. "Your naivete is adorable. Good luck."
She got to her feet and vanished into the crowd.
J read over what information she found on the pokémon that she had spotted in Lumiose City and sat back, stroking her chin thoughtfully.
Yveltal didn't seem like the kind of pokémon to watch over someone, yet here it was, keeping an eye on one Ash Ketchum for whatever reason.
Given the boy's casual reaction to it being there, he was very familiar with it.
Could it be love?
J examined that thought carefully. Pokémon falling in love with humans wasn't unheard of - the folklore of Sinnoh had mentioned marriage, after all - yet for an embodiment of destruction to fall for a human...
"My, my," J murmured. "You are certainly quite the catch, Ash."
Unfortunately, a job was calling her to another region and she wouldn't be able to meet with Ash again. But she was more than certain that their paths would cross again.
She held up her hand, folding in every finger except the pinkie before pointing it forward.
"Some day, Ash, I will catch you, and make you mine."
"And why is that?"
J twitched as a voice echoed in her head, a shadow falling over her. She looked up to see the same bird pokémon from before - Yveltal - looming over her.
"Because he fascinates me," J said calmly, sitting back. "I suspect he's done the same for you?"
Yveltal regarded her for a moment before nodding.
He...is a special child. Almost as pure as Xerneas, in a way."
Xerneas was a name J recognized, for it had come up often wherever Yveltal was concerned; the life and rebirth to Yveltal's death and destruction.
J could see why Ash would attract such an admirer.
"So, you're interested in Ash because he reminds you of Xerneas, who I guess was...special to you?" J asked casually.
"Do not pretend to think that you know of what I desire," Yveltal hissed, feathers rippling angrily.
J raised her hands soothingly. "My mistake," she said.
Yveltal snorted, tossing its head. "You think you have a chance with that boy? Someone half your age? That is quite laughable."
"Yet here you are, a beautiful creature beyond reproach, who thinks the same," J countered, smirking when Yveltal twitched. "I doubt either of us will ever win his heart, for he seems far more in love with the spirit of adventure."
"Then why pursue him?" Yveltal asked.
"Because he fascinates me," J repeated, crossing her legs. "And that is what drives me to learn more about him. I'm sure he'll never be interested in me due to our previous history together, but it's a fun way to pass the time. And his reactions to awkward situations are quite priceless."
"I'm quite aware," Yveltal said, eyes gleaming. "Your night in Unova was quite a sight to behold and a memory I quite enjoy revisiting."
"You saw that?" J said, blinking. "I wasn't aware you followed us into the Abyssal Ruins."
Yveltal smiled as well as a beak allowed, tilting its head. "I have my ways," it said simply. "And as much as I'd like to stay and watch over Ash, I have my own duties to perform."
It left as quickly as it had come and J relaxed, before returning to her notes.
Ash relaxed on the beach outside Professor Kukui's house and sighed, enjoying the late afternoon weather.
His pokémon were off training further down the shore and Ash closed his eyes, listening to the waves.
He then heard the sound of footsteps on the sand approach him and stop and he cracked open an eye.
A pair of long, slender, tanned legs greeted him, and he lifted his head to see a familiar woman wearing a dark purple two-piece bikini standing over him.
"Seriously?" Ash grumbled, tugging his hat over his eyes. "Even here?"
Hunter J put a hand on her hip, tilting them as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She let her other hand drop to her side and she looked down at him with a wry smile.
"Believe me, I'm just as surprised as you are," she said. "I didn't think you'd ever go to somewhere with no gyms or frontier."
"The island challenge is just as fun," Ash replied, sitting up and brushing sand out of his hair.
He heard the cries of his pokémon and he looked towards them to see them headed for him. Pikachu was riding on Lycanroc's back, with Rowlet and Torracat close behind.
J glanced at them before letting out a sharp whistle.
Her Salamance dropped from the sky like a rock, causing the ground to shake and it roared a challenge at the pokémon.
"Relax!" Ash called to his team. He gritted his teeth and looked at J for a moment. "She's harmless."
J put a hand to her chest and sighed. "You flatter me. Of course I'm not here for pokémon and the like. I'm on vacation."
"Poachers don't have vacations," Ash pointed out.
"Poacher?" J said, offended. "Me? Oh please. I'm a hunter. I'm what poachers wish they were."
"Same thing," Ash muttered.
J ruffled his hair affectionately, and Ash slapped her hand away with a scowl. J crossed her arms and tapped a finger against her bicep.
"So you think a poacher and a hunter are the same, hm?"
"They both take pokémon that aren't theirs and sell them for money, so yes," Ash replied.
"Still as naive as ever," J sighed, smiling as she shook her head. "Quite adorable."
"I don't need compliments from you," Ash growled.
"No, you probably get enough praise from your haremettes," J said, admiring her fingernails. "I'm rather envious of them. Especially after they put you into a Nurse Joy outfit. It's a good look for you."
Ash rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Go away."
"I will, once I finish my tan."
Ash glanced at her and frowned. "You're already tan."
"Yes, but I have tan lines that I'll need to get rid of as well."
Ash jumped to his feet. "Right. Well, good luck with that," he said awkwardly, striding away, as J laughed behind him.
A/N - I don't know why this ship amuses me so much