I'm back, with a long chapter and quite a few events here...read on, and enjoy. Tell me what you think too, if you can, I appreciate that highly.

How Charmingly He Behaved!

Aine had told Elle all about it.

After all, the person who so expertly introduces two other people, whatever may have been the perceived circumstances under which they met, automatically deserves to know all the details about what goes on with them afterward.

Aine had expected Elle's reaction to consist of excitement, when she made out that Elle was...disappointed, confused even, to say the least.

"Byron..." began Elle. "He...asked you out."

Aine's lips pursed. She herself couldn't believe its truth. "He did."

"Why?"

It was a genuine question. The answer, Aine could not figure out.

"...After I gave up the battle, he came over to me and all of a sudden he asked me, and I said yes after a while."

"Why did you say yes?"

Elle was being much more skeptical than usual, a trait that Aine would have never attributed to her bubbly friend.

As for the question, Aine answered the following, but she did not rely on her own words: "He was very polite...very kind...he saw that I wasn't feeling well and...I appreciated that, I suppose."

Elle's features relieved, and so did her mood, as though she heard satisfactory news that made her content when she was previously displeased, saying, "Oh. I see. He saw you weren't doing good, so, out of common courtesy, he approached you and comforted you! He is a true, kind-hearted person like that - I've told you many times before." Leaning over toward Aine, Elle started curling her red locks in between her fingers.

It seemed like there might have been another layer beneath those words, trapped inside the mind of the speaker. In spite of this feeling, Aine replied, "...I'm sure he is."

Elle beamed.

"So...at what time are you going to meet him? And where?"

"At six today...at his Gym. I have no idea what we're going to do, though."

"You should have asked him! But I'm sure you'll have a good time. Byron, in my opinion, is not capable of showing a woman a bad time."

She had dressed in one of her usual halter dresses for the occasion. Nothing special. She wasn't expecting to be impressed; therefore, she should not have been expected to do anything impressive herself.

You've come a long way... Aine's main psychic pokemon butted into her thoughts.

What do you mean?

Think about it. Remember all those rumors that this city had against you? They've all slowly disappeared. You haven't heard one in a couple of days, I would bet...In addition to that, you really seem to be pushing yourself now...

Aine had also noticed the rumors had gone, and was very glad of it; however, Bronzor's words about her "pushing herself" made her wonder...she was already getting ideas at what the pokémon was hinting at.

What makes you say that, Bronzor?

You know what I mean - this, what you're doing right now. I was in surprise when you agreed to go on this 'date' with that man, which is why I haven't addressed you until now. Don't you hate him? Find him absolutely repulsive? Isn't your main goal in this city to avoid him as best as you can, until you're able to leave? You've gotten a bit braver since first stepping foot in this town, and yet...I haven't expected you to go so far as to accept a date with him.

Me neither, answered Aine. But today, you must've seen what he did! He was so different. He seemed genuinely concerned for me and for what I felt. To the point where I willingly said yes. This doesn't mean I'm not suspicious of him anymore. I really do, at heart, loathe him, but today...today is an exception.

If you really do loathe him, you would not give him one exception.

Aine would not continue this subject. It worried her, that her pokémon might be right. And she didn't want to enter a date full of worry.

In this very moment, Aine realized, this was to be her first date.

Marvelous. How many people can say they had their first dates with someone they hated?

He waited.

Anticipation and regret were his main feelings at the moment. The first was as any guy might feel: 'Will the woman even show up?'; 'How's it all going to start?'; 'I won't know what to do when she arrives!' Nothing out of the ordinary.

The second feeling was because maybe he shouldn't have asked her in the first place. That woman really was taking him over, but he was not thinking of that when he asked her out. Instead, during the whole thing, he thought of how bad he felt for her, his inclination to make her feel better, her witty mouth, her witty mind, her nice smile; her.

He hung his head once he realized what he was doing.

If I tell anyone that I'm thinking like this about someone - whether it's the guys I work with, my pokémon, or hell, even my dad - I can only imagine their reactions.

'You must be in love, man,' Byron imagined. 'Who's the fortunate girl? What was it about her that got you into her? Is she even into you?'

"I can't tell anybody about her. The risks are too high that they'll ask who she is or whatever. I don't want that..."

"Byron!" called a gym worker, running to where the gym leader was, all of sudden. "Someone's here to see you..."

It's her...

"Okay," approved Byron. "I'll go see her. Thanks, Mervyn."

"She's a real pretty lass," said Mervyn. "But I wonder why she's here again. Didn't you say she forfeited the match? What could she possibly be here for again?"

"I've got no idea..." lied Byron, and rightly so; a person attempting to hide something should not increase or encourage the suspicions of others; instead, they ought to lead them into another direction, "...She's probably here to tell me when she wants her rematch, yeah, I bet it's that."

"I guess so! You must have been dominating her so well in that match to the point where she forfeited!"

"Right? The girl was so devastated, so she deserves at least to schedule a rematch..." Byron pressed on even further.

It was funny, that right then, a thought occurred to Byron similar to that of Aine's.

This girl's the first date I've had in a while...

He shook his head, prepared himself, and made his way to where she was waiting.

Aine paced slowly back and forth, in the lobby area of the gym. Not desperately, but cautiously.

She wondered if he was making his way to where she was. Or if he planned to stand her up.

Anything was possible; especially since he was a gym leader and gym leaders tended to be very wild -

"Is that you, girlie?"

Swiftly, she swiveled around to where she heard the voice. And saw him.

He wore a confident grin. And dressed a little fancier than usual...

"You...look good." was all she managed, and she meant it.

"Well, thanks, although I really didn't need you to reassure me of that - I know I do." he said teasingly, and she let out a giggle; "And you...you don't get sick of wearing those dresses, do you?"

"You noticed?"

"Of course. You've worn those every time I've seen you, including now."

Aine chuckled again, crossing her arms and flipping her hair back. She wanted to get right to it, wanted to see what exactly Byron had in store for her. "So. Where are you taking me? I want to be entertained. I don't like getting bored."

"Nor do I," he said, approaching her, offering his left arm towards her, which she willing took. "But maybe you should wait till' we get there. Makes everything better." Byron actually had a particular place in mind. He had even set up a reservation in the restaurant earlier in the day, and it was obviously granted to him soon after, for reasons just as obvious.

He only hoped that she'd like it.

"Wow. This place...looks expensive. Are you sure you want to take me here? I don't need half this much." was Aine's first comment upon arriving.

The restaurant was not in Oreburgh; it resided in its neighbor city, Jubilife, the most developing place in Sinnoh. It definitely gave off the aura of luxury and grandeur. Luminous lights flashed into differently hued colors every five seconds on the outer decor, while the building itself was made of fine red brick. People of consequence surrounded it, waiting to get inside. Aine had been a little surprised when they took a bus to get there; she hadn't expected to be taken out of town, much less at a restaurant this fancy. Not only that, but Aine was surprised that the roads to exit Oreburgh City were now clear.

"I'm positive," replied Byron, pleased with her expression. "I'm not the type of guy to go to places like these a lot, but if I want to, I can. I'm a gym leader, and as you know, a good one at that. So I can afford this place. What...you didn't think otherwise, did you?" He eyed her.

"It's only that...I wasn't picturing a place like this. I wasn't expecting to be taken out of Oreburgh." Aine said, as her partner took her arm again, leading to the front of the line, skipping over a couple dozen people. "Hey! Are you even allowed to do this - "

"Girlie, I made reservation. No worry."

When the workers at the door let them in after Byron told them that he'd made a reservation, Aine's astonishment peaked.

But then her astonishment took the form of skepticism.

"...Byron...you seem liked you've planned this entire thing carefully...Should I be suspicious?"

"Of what?" He asked with a wary expression, leading her to their reserved table-for-two. "I planned this today, after you forfeited the gym battle. I made the reservation over the phone, and of course these people know me, so they gave it to me in an instant...Are you really worried?" His brows furrowed.

"Ah, no. Suspicious, yes. But not anymore. I needed you to clarify, that's all."

"Hm." He huffed. "Good, then. Wouldn't like to have you doubtful of me. If that's so, then what would be the point of this? If you're not enjoying yourself, I mean..."

"You want me to enjoy myself?"

Byron stuttered when they happened to sit down at their spot, which was by a wide clear window on the first floor of the restaurant, overlooking the rest of the impressive city at night. "I...uh...what I meant was, it's a waste to take a beautiful woman out on a date if she's not enjoying herself. Do you know what I mean? Don't twist my words, girlie, but then that's a bad habit of yours, isn't it?"

"Wait," Aine swallowed, catching on to what he said, "A beautiful woman? A date?" Aine flushed a little. "You may need to clarify some more."

Byron couldn't say anything for a while, till: "Don't get so self-absorbed. I was speaking in general terms. And technically, wouldn't this be a date? Or are you offended by that? You can't imagine yourself being taken out by a guy like me? Or -"

"...All right, all right," Aine laughed softly, but the flush in her cheeks was as present as ever. "You're getting carried away. But, ah, believe it or not, I do consider this a date. Why not, right? It's harmless...Now, why don't you tell me about any other beautiful women who didn't enjoy the dates on which you took them?" Aine said that last part mockingly, and Byron's irritated reaction pleased her.

"Man, I wonder if I'll get through the night intact..."

The cordial waiter came with the menu, and left. After a few minutes of checking it out, he returned to take their orders, which were granted promptly.

Despite the mild chatter that filled the five-star restaurant, a silence existed between the pair while waiting for and receiving their orders. It seemed odd that two individuals out on a date, as they say, were not conversing.

Aine hoped that he'd start a conversation again as she dug a fork into her food, avoiding his eye.

You are getting very flustered with this man.

"Be quiet." Aine whispered angrily, to the pokémon speaking to her in her head.

"Huh?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing." Aine assured Byron, who was sure she'd said something, but let it go with a nod of the head.

Looking at her as he took a bite, he began, "You were pretty shocked at your first sight of this restaurant. I take it that you're not used to this kind of place. Are you from the country?"

Aine looked to meet his curious gaze. "I'm from Celestic Town. It's on the country side of Sinnoh, and probably the least advanced town in Sinnoh. So, yes, I was pretty shocked at seeing this place, this city...but I feel like that whenever I enter any new city; you know, compared to Celestic."

"I see. You're accustomed to a humble style of living."

"Exactly, that's why I'm so amazed."

Byron chuckled. "So you like the modest life, but you're not exactly so modest yourself, with that smart mind and mouth of yours..."

"I take pride in my personality."

"And I take pride in mine, girlie.

"By the way, Aine, don't think I'm all about this," Byron made a hand gesture which suggested that he was talking about the grand restaurant. "Deep down, I'm a miner; I love to dig fossils, train with my pokémon and whatnot. That's my life. And of course, show trainers who's boss during gym matches..."

Aine made a sound of uneasiness. She did not want to be reminded of what had occured earlier, not yet; and Byron caught on, so he stopped.

"...Did you hear what I said, Aine?"

"Oh, yes." Aine remembered, a little embarrassed. "You don't come across as the type of guy who'd be doing all these fancy things on a constant basis. Mining is what you're passionate about, right? I believe you, which is another reason why I couldn't believe you took me here in the first place. You certainly aren't about all of this. And...hopefully your ego balloon doesn't explode because of this, but the fact that you do have easy access to places like this...that's classy."

Byron grinned. "Glad to hear that, girlie. Thanks. I don't have to try to be classy, I just am, aren't I?"

Aine took a sip of her glass of wine. "Mmm. You have a high reputation, and maybe some class. Besides, you're a..."

"Besides? I'm a what?"

"Forget it," Aine brushed the subject off, and suddenly Bronzor talked to her again: You were about to tell him off...about what a horrible man he is! And you decide not to?

"Mind your business," Aine muttered a thought that was supposed to be kept internal.

"Excuse me?" Byron raised an eyebrow, hearing exactly what she'd said, and saw a strange facial expression on her, as if she were arguing with herself...

"Don't mind me, Byron," Aine tried to make him lose suspicion. "I mutter meaningless things at times."

Byron kept note of this odd behavior, but again, left it alone for the time being.

Instead, he seemed to want to start on another topic. Devouring a few sliced pieces of fish, he proceeded to approach the topic somewhat hesitantly, as if he were afraid he might have been doing her too much of favor by touching upon it at all. In truth, he'd been thinking about it for a while, and decided that now was a good moment to let his partner know.

"There's something I need to tell you..."

Aine felt alerted at his tone; she hadn't heard him speak reluctantly much before, but told him to go on anyway.

"The other day when we were at the Oreburgh Mine...remember, I took you? Not because I wanted to, but our friend Elle wanted me to take you."

Aine nodded, taking a sip of wine. "I remember. What about it?"

Byron cleared his throat before continuing. "Let's say that I don't think that was an entirely horrible experience, not like other times before with you." He was possibly going to regret saying this later.

Aine processed his remark in. Basically, he was saying that the experience was actually a pretty good one, and Aine didn't disagree. It was the first time the two had spent together when they were not at each other's throats completely. Hell, Aine herself had some fun; Byron had let her use a mining pick on his Omanyte fossil after he demonstrated to her how it was used. To both their surprises, albeit she was not a natural, she performed decently, and he went so far as to compliment her, admire her in more ways than one. Afterward, it ran across both Aine's and Byron's minds that they may have even flirted a bit, but this thought terrified them both equally, and so it was disposed of. However, this did not take away from what did happen, which, in contrast to their first few encounters together, was total peacefulness.

Aine noticed that Byron seemed like he wanted to say more, and let him do so.

"What else? Well, from what I saw of you, I thought that you had some potential...that uh, should not be wasted. Really. You're pretty talented. I can show you how to mine more in depth. I think you could do it."

Aine set her fork down. Was he really saying this? No, the better question was: did he mean it? This could not have just come out of his mouth so suddenly. She stared at him, studied him. The way he said it, he sounded reluctant, as if he did not want to admit the truth; and he hung his head slightly, avoiding her eye. He couldn't have been staging this - if he was an actor of some sort then her doubts would stay - but she could tell he was being real.

Not only that - he had just openly admitted that she had potential, that he believed her to be 'pretty talented', and offered to 'show her more' about mining.

When Byron decided to look up, he saw rose-tinted cheeks in the young woman in front of him. Perhaps he'd made her feel a little too good. He bit his lip. "I...seriously can show you more about how to mine. You'd have to meet with me more often for that, however, and you...can get intense. And I can't handle you; well, sort of. I'm learning." He laughed. Her blush reddened. "Honestly, you can become good at mining in no time; probably not as great as me, but good enough, don't you think?"

There he goes again. "...I hope you're being truthful! If you really believe in me like you say, then...I accept your offer."

He nodded, smiling coyly, suggesting of things to come, but his words meaningful nonetheless. "You're not going to regret it, Aine. I think I can bear with you, girlie..."

They finished dinner, drinking the rest of their wine and talking some more. Byron purposefully encited blushes in Aine for the sake of messing with her, but of course, since Aine was who she was, she'd too make comebacks that would make him flustered himself in turn. They decided against dessert because the bill would be high enough without it, and Aine didn't want Byron to pay so much, even though he assured her he had money enough, but she still refused. Once that was all said and done, they made their way out. Until, a woman who appeared like something along the ranks of a manager, stopped them.

"Byron!" She exclaimed, as if she and he had been acquainted for long. "Were you really about to leave without saying a word to me? The woman who made your reservations? Oh, no, but I must not blame you," here she looked at Aine with a wide smile, "A pretty young lady like you would have any young man's attention at her whim!"

The pair frowned but also flushed, when Byron said, "No, Ms. Rodella, it's nothing like that. We're only..." Byron looked at Aine for approval. She nodded. "Friends."

"Oh, Byron, that's the usual excuse from any two young lovers denying their love to the world! 'Friends'! How silly. But you two can trust me, I won't tell a soul." said Ms. Rodella, in a loud manner.

Aine intervened to prevent any misunderstanding and awkwardness between her and Byron. "No, ma'am, in all honesty, I'm a...friend of Byron's. Nothing more. What, can't friends go out for dinner without being accused of being a couple?" Aine shot in a determined manner, and the lady was evidently taken aback. "But, ah, you have a lovely place here. Thank you for the reservation." And with that, she pulled Byron away to leave, and so they did.

Byron wore an amused smile, and said: "Wow, thank you. That manager, she is pretty intrusive, isn't she? Your assertion was on point." He chuckled, admiring Aine's work. "Only one thing...that woman likes me and she gets my spots in there, so, ah, be careful."

"I don't have to be careful if somebody's bothering me." Aine stated, as he offered her his arm again, which she accepted.

The sky showed the sun gone, indicating the nighttime was about to fall. Byron checked his watch for confirmation. Two minutes till' eight. They waited for the bus back to Oreburgh.

The trip back was mostly silent. The two were unusually close together in their seats, though. At one point, her left hand appeared on his lap and he slowly took in his right one with a firm grasp. Aine made a squeaking sound, while her partner chuckled and teased her. Neither pulled apart, and their respective left and right hands remained intertwined for the rest of the trip.

They got off twenty minutes later. Byron thought it was appropriate to accompany Aine to the Pokémon Center and let her off. He was also thinking...

To offer her something else.

They were approaching the Center when he said, unexpectedly: "Hey, Aine. I was wondering..."

She looked at him, stopping in front of the Center. The air was cool and occasionally some refreshing breezes whistled through. Calmness pervaded the night and Byron hoped that she'd react well to his offer.

She gazed up at him. He was a couple of inches taller than her, she realized, and his mahogany spiked hair was a bit freer today in that the wind blew through it, flowing. The modest golden light of a nearby street lamp faintly shone on both their faces, and Aine saw his violet orbs regarding her with inhibition.

"You were wondering?" Aine encouraged him.

"Huh? Oh, yes. See, I think it must get really boring for you to stay in the Pokémon Center while you're here, and I wanted to let you know that...ah, you should really stay at my place for the rest of your time here in Oreburgh. Y'know what I mean?"

Aine remembered a similar offer she had received from someone else - Elle - not too long ago. Then, Aine did not feel like staying at someone else's home; the idea of it unsettled her, especially since she and Elle had not known each other long when the offer was made.

But in all truth, the Pokémon Center had been dulling her out lately; yes, indeed, the Nurse Joys were as charismatic and helpful as their job required them to do, but the presence of other bothersome trainers was making Aine sigh and wish she'd had another place to stay in. Not to mention that the daily meals also bored her as well, and she had never stayed in a Pokémon Center so long before. It was not until now that a solid, well-timed opportunity appeared for her to remain elsewhere.

The only real obstacle in her acceptance of his offer was...

"Do you think that you and me are going to be able to coexist together, for Arceus-knows-how-long?"

"Peacefully? If you would make an effort to do so..." Byron pressed.

"Then you'd have to as well."

"You'd be the guest, though."

"And you the host. What type of host doesn't adjust to their guest's needs?"

Byron cracked a smile. He just couldn't win with this girl. "Fine, then, we'd both have to make an effort to coexist peacefully. Do you accept my offer, girlie?"

Aine clutched at her bag, and flushed. She was blushing too much today, frankly. "Yes, why not, then? I am getting bored, even kind of tired of staying in the Center for so long."

Byron checked his watch. It wasn't too late, as it was barely nine yet. The transition might as well have happened now. "Tell me, Aine, do you carry many things?"

Aine was pleasantly surprised that he was considering her in this way. He hadn't been much like this prior to today. "No, I only carry this bag and another one that's inside the Center right now...are you thinking - "

"I sure am," he assured her, leaning on a nearby pole. "If you want to right now, then go ahead. I'll wait for you here as you get anything else you need."

And so it happened.

Aine and Byron walked to his home, after Aine retrieved her other bag from the Pokémon Center. It was a silent walk, but then a question occurred to Aine that had not come up before.

"Do you live with anybody?"

"I...ah, with my father. But he's away right now, doing work in the underground and whatnot."

"So...he's not with you at all currently? Just you?"

"Yes."

Byron's home laid on the outskirts of Oreburgh, where two other houses lay on either side of his own. It was on a flat, yet wide green hill, and was built just like almost every other house in town, wooden and with a little front porch.

He let her in, after turning the house's front door lock with a key.

"Welcome to my humble abode, girlie," said Byron, with an exaggerated voice. "...Make yourself comfortable, but not too much...and don't steal anything, if you can help yourself." He added, with emphasis on 'steal', alluding to a certain past situation.

"Excuse me? Did you...did you just...are you serious? I just got here, and you - "

"OK, OK, it's OK. Calm down - "

"If I'm going to stay here, you have to treat me with the respect I deserve. How can you even allude to that? Do you really still think that I was going to steal your fossil?" Aine snapped.

Byron sighed. "I apologize, if that makes you feel better. Let me show you your room, girlie. Follow me."

She did so; but her mood was unchanged. She didn't want to believe Byron said that to her, especially not after how much of a good time he just showed her.

He opened a door that was at the end of a decently-sized, lighted hallway.

"Goodnight," he said after she took a good look at the room. "If you need anything, tell me. I'll be in the living room..."

"Wait there." Aine told him, as she laid her bags down. She approached him. "Even though that last comment you made was inappropriate and unnecessary, I want to...thank you for taking me out. For dinner. I enjoyed it."

"It was the least I could do for you after the battle we had earlier today..." he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm glad to hear you enjoyed yourself...I did too." He whispered the last part, but she heard him anyway. She smiled as he patted her on the back. Soon enough, he left the room, leaving Aine by herself.

She then plopped on the bed, delighting in the sensation of her body squishing gently on soft, homemade sheets and pillows. Forgetting the minor incident that had just occurred, her mind wandered off to the date she had just been taken out on. It may have been outrageous, but she enjoyed everything about it; the food, the conversation, his laugh, the way he looked at her, the way she'd thrown off the manager, even the bus ride back to Oreburgh.

And now this?

She was doing very well, wasn't she? A woman in the process of falling in love delights in the little things as much the big things. In fact, Aine began to appreciate a certain little Omanyte fossil back in the Oreburgh Mine, which had, more or less, served simultaneously as a form of unison and division between herself and Byron, the man to whom she was growing a little more partial as the days passed.

Her Bronzor, although tempted to say something to its daydreaming trainer, knew that it could not save her.

Aine stretched and kept on in her peaceful reverie, until drowsiness befell her and sleep overtook her.

There it is! I hope this is good to you, I myself think so. But of course, I can't know for sure without your opinion...Tell me anything really, so as long as it's honest. Thank you, and see you in the next chapter!