What's up, guys! It's yours truly...Toadettegi...wait, wait, wait, that's wrong... (Are you saying this isn't TG2012?) Pretty much. (Then Zelda...) Nope. (Who the hell are you!?) Ah, nobody much. Just a certain FanFicLash! Yeah, hey TG2012 fans, it's this one guy. As always, I'm winging my way through this for Toadettegirl2012, and I'm more than honored to be writing a one-shot for you!
Now, down to the knitty gritty you've been waiting for...
Disclaimer: As with others here, I don't own Pokemon...yet.
Ages:
Ash: 16
Iris: 16
Cilan: 19
Chapter 10: J is for Juggling
"Sorry guys, but I can't be around today. With today's Founding Festival going on, I'm going to be occupied with the Striaton Café," Cilan explained to his traveling companions. (FFL: An overused excuse for kicking Cilan to the curb, but it's also the most logical) After finishing the Unova League, they had decided it'd be a nice time for a break from all adventuring.
Ash stared blankly at the pistachio haired connoisseur, bright amber eyes blinking (FFL: If you know me, then you know this is a reference...) as he scratched at the hollow of his tan neck. "I know this sounds stupid and all, but...what is this 'Founding Festival'?" he asked innocently, raising the pitch of his voice at the end.
Accompanying her impending answer, Iris nudged him in the side with her elbow, teasingly, "Only a little kid wouldn't know what the Founding Festival is." Before he could interrupt with his usual denial, she smirked and continued. "It's a holiday exclusive to Unova to celebrate the creation of the region."
Her rich, royal purple hair, stylized in pigtails using golden hair bands, shifted slightly in a cooling summer wind. From the moving air Ash was able to catch a hint of freshly cut grass and iris flower scents, making him inhale heavily. Man, oh how he wanted to just hug that hair. Previous encounters told him that it was probably the softest thing in the world. Not that he liked Iris. Just the way her hair felt. Nothing strange about that.
Cilan rolled up the left sleeve of his crisp, white dress shirt, and squinted down at the Armitron watch that he adorned on his wrist. His eyes shot wide open. "I have to go right now! I'm running late, so 'tis farewell, for now, friends," Cilan addressed with a tone of a tensile rush, waving a hand as he turned on his heel and made his way across the crowded streets of Striaton City towards his restaurant.
"See ya!" Ash and Iris said simultaneously. The act caused them to glance at each other, a chuckle of recognition of how similar they were elicited from the two of them. Ash was pretty much addicted to that merry sound that was Iris's laugh. She herself was secretly in love with how Ash's lower pitched laugh felt against her ears, like a caress. Just a nice sound, that's all.
There they were, Ash with his Pikachu perched on the shoulder of his blue and white jacket, and Iris accompanied the Axew that had poked its tusked face out of her thick hair. Standing side by side on the sidewalk of Striaton City, dwarfed by the skyscrapers that surrounded them. Being towards the edge of the metropolis, the steel and glass buildings were shorter than the ones towards the center, plus there were fewer people here, but with the festival going on, a huge number of vendors out here, it felt just as stuffy.
Neither Ash nor Iris were big fans of cities. The thickness of both the air and the people, coupled with the feeling of being an ant compared to the towers surrounding them, just didn't feel like something they'd want to be around. It was like as if their entireties were being compressed.
Turning himself towards Iris, running his right gloved hand through the loose locks of raven hair that hung out from under his League hat in the back, Ash asked, "Sooo...what do you wanna do?" In all actuality, he just wanted to do whatever she wanted to. If it made her happy, it made him happy. A deep friendship bonding thing...at least, the doubtful side of his mind said that.
She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, not looking forward to roaming the streets of Striaton City. "Don't know. Maybe we can go get a quick bite?" Iris suggested, uncertainty clouding her usual tone.
A smile curled up one of the corners of Ash's lips. Food was on his mind now, and nothing was going to keep him from it. "Striaton Café?"
"Nah," Iris replied, lips pouting as she thought about a place they could go out and get a bite. As she did so Ash silently noted that the girl's puckered lips had rosy color that he found rather appealing. The sudden smile that turned those rosy lips upwards forced Ash to return his attention to the girl and he matched her smile with one of his own as she stated, "Maybe one of the vendors will have something good.
"Alright, then. What do ya think, Pikachu?" Ash asked his electric mouse. Pikachu answered with an excitable "Pika!" sparks jumping off of his crimson cheek pouches.
Iris smiled warmly as Ash began to search the street with a feverish style of scrutiny. Sure, he could be a kid at times, but he was a good guy.
There they sat, on an umbrella-covered table, across from each other about 3 feet. Ash had his elbows resting on the circular table, hands and mouth occupied with a Combusken wrap (FFL: The chicken has to come from somewhere) drenched in creamy ranch. The sun harshly struck the multi-colored umbrella, sending varying patterns of color down onto the slate grey, plastic table. Similarly, Iris was chowing down a wrap that was identical to Ash's, while Pikachu and Axew were munching on some Poke chow that had been purchased for them from a nearby vendor.
Just a few tables away sat a young man wearing an unzipped jet black jacket that matched his mediocre length hair, some of which fell over one of his eyes in locks. His sleeves were rolled up just above his elbows, revealing his toned forearms that he put to good use, all the while his dark brown, almost black; eyes were focused upon the laptop that sat in front of him on the circular table. His necklace, with its single Master key, Thing 1/2, and Shotokan Tiger pendant, dangled from his neck.
Sighing heavily, he began to wish she was with him then. He glanced up at Ash and Iris, whom were smiling as they told each other stories. He smiled as he adjusted the watch around his tanned left wrist, reminiscing about when he and his girlfriend were together, before she moved away.
Looking back at the laptop's screen, he tried to think of what he should write next. He really needed to finish this soon for his online friend. Then a thought popped up in his mind. He remembered that this was his world. A playful smirk crossed his face as he slammed the laptop closed, standing up and leaving the area, laptop and guitar case in hand...
"You eat like a little kid, Ash!" Iris jokingly scolded the Kanto native that sat across from her. He was almost finished with his wrap, and with every bite there was a sickening scarf that accompanied them.
"I'm hungry, though!" Ash retorted, thinking that it was a perfect excuse. Surprisingly, despite all of the reckless gobbling, not a single drop of ranch missed his mouth. Iris laughed at his response, accidently smearing her face a little bit with the ranch that leaked out of her chicken wrap. Smiling, Ash softly said, "Let me get that."
With the utmost gentleness that was physically possible, he reached over with his a free hand, hunching over and standing slightly to reach, and used his thumb to rub off the ranch that clung to Iris's light brown skin next to the corner of her lip. In that one moment, they stared at each other in the eyes, silently in awe.
Their moment was suddenly interrupted when they were met with a cacophony of sound. Ripping their gazes from each other, they looked towards the street and were met by a vivid traveling circus-like act. The two, along with their Pokemon, hurried over to the side of the street to watch.
Men walked on stilts, juggling balls of all colors, whilst women danced gracefully in colorful costumes all around, waving their banners as they passed. Various other acts followed them, including elephants, a large float with trapeze artists, etc.
Half-way through, the men on the stilts tossed out the balls to the crowd as they pulled out bowling pins from Arceus knows where. Out of pure reflex, Ash caught 3 balls that were headed straight for him. He stared at them, baffled at what to do with the balls.
After the traveling circus past them by and went on to another street, Ash stood there, balls in hand. Iris gave him a look over.
"Can you juggle?" she asked casually. "It'd be pretty cool if ya could." Crossing her arms, sleeves drooping off of her arms, she threw him a playful expression of challenge.
'She'd think it'd be pretty cool if I could...'Ash thought to himself. His pride got the better of him. Or, rather, his need to impress. For some strange, unknown, unexplainable reason.
Trying to cover up the fact that he was struggling to do so, he held all 3 balls in one hand, his other hand on his hip as he jutted out his chin. "'Course I can! Just watch," he declared confidently. A false confidence.
Consciously getting a grip on the sound of his heart beating in his ears as he nervously set himself up, he gave Iris his trademark naïve grin. Tossing two balls in the air at different heights, he quickly caught the lowest one, simultaneously throwing the ball in his other hand into the air to join its brother. As time went on he became more and more confident in himself.
Iris wasn't as impressed, though she really enjoyed the show. "Pretty sure anybody can juggle if they threw the balls 10 feet into the air, ya know," she teased. Ash paid it no attention, however, as he focused on the act on hand, unknowingly stepping on his own shoelace.
Before he knew it was happening, he tried to step but began to trip over his own feet, heading straight towards Iris. He yelped in surprise, the balls falling to the ground, bouncing as Iris reflexively planted a foot behind her and held out her hands to keep Ash from falling.
Ash hit her hands hard, making her elbows give a little as he sunk closer and closer to her. She had let herself absorb enough of the shock through her arms to let Ash come close enough to accidentally smash his lips against hers!
The warmth, the moisture, the soft texture, all of it sent tingles reverberating throughout the two. Their eyes were wide open, eyelids standing at full attention. Flabbergasted twinkles shimmered in amber orbs and chocolatey pools as slowly met each other in silence. Both of their eyes said the exact same thing: I don't even know what's going on!
They held that pose for a while as they tried to comprehend what was going on. A few pedestrians that had passed them by gushed, "Awww!" loud enough for Ash and Iris to hear. The teenagers glanced over at those who did so, still frozen in thought.
Their brains finally wrapped around the action that their lips were participating in. For some reason, their eyes gradually closed as their arms wrapped around each other, pulling their bodies close. They began to actively kiss. Was it the hormones? Was it the situation? Was it random?
No, it was something they had been hiding for the longest time for each other. It was hard for them to admit, as it was their first time, but they loved each other. Not for what they've done, how they look, or their flaws. Simply because she was Iris and he was Ash. That's all they needed.
Pulling, reluctantly, away each other, lungs burning for air, they stared at each other, he in her stunning jasper eyes, she in his bright amber eyes. They took each other's hands, a heavy red blush setting upon their cheeks.
Out of the blue, Ash darted in for another taste of Iris's lips, gently caressing his lips on hers. She was more than happy to oblige.
After finishing, Ash felt it was time."I...I really didn't know how to say it...Iris...but...I...I kinda...love you?" Ash said, hesitating slightly.
A merry giggle escaped Iris as she replied, "Kinda? I'll one up you, then...I love you, Ash." Ash's complexion relaxed into a true smile that brightened his face.
"Love you, too..."
Later that night, in the midst of town square, among towering skyscrapers, Ash and Iris stood in a crowd, bright lights casting over the audience as the next act to perform came up onto the large stage. The squeals of fans filled the air as confetti fell from the sky. The new young couple's hands were intertwined.
There he stood, in the center of the stage, his Lakewood Signature M-32 NC guitar, microphone in front of him with a background of thousands. To his left was his loop pedal and mike. A gentle wind blew through Striaton city, fluttering his black jacket that he wore. Nonchalantly, he flicked a lock of hair out of his eyes. A smile crossed his lips as he saw Ash and Iris standing there, shoulder to shoulder. He had done a good job, then.
Taking a breath, he began to play and sing...(FFL:All rights of "One" go to Ed Sheeran; the character isn't Ed Sheeran, though)
(Tg2012: But it just might be the ever so clever FanficLash who added himself to the story. Whoops sorry didn't mean to interrupt...)
Tell me that you turned down the man
Who asked for your hand
'Cause you're waiting for me
And I know, you're gonna be away a while
But I've got no plans at all to leave
And would you take away my hopes and dreams and just stay with me?
All my senses come to life
While I'm stumbling home as drunk as I
Have ever been and I'll never leave again
'Cause you are the only one
And all my friends have gone to find
Another place to let their hearts collide
Just promise me, you'll always be a friend
'Cause you are the only one
Ash lightly squeezed Iris's hand, reminding her that the last lyric fit her perfectly in his eyes. She smiled back at him.
Take my hand and my
Heart and soul, I will
Only have these eyes for you
And you know, everything changes but
We'll be strangers if we see this through
You could stay within these walls and bleed
Or just stay with me
Oh lord, now
All my senses come to life
While I'm stumbling home as drunk as I
Have ever been and I'll never leave again
'Cause you are the only one
And all my friends have gone to find
Another place to let their hearts collide
Just promise me, you'll always be a friend
'Cause you are the only one
I'm stumbling off drunk, getting myself lost
I am so gone, so tell me the way home
I listen to sad songs, singing about love
And where it goes wrong
All my senses come to life
While I'm stumbling home as drunk as I
Have ever been and I'll never leave again
'Cause you are the only one
And all my friends have gone to find
Another place to let their hearts collide
Just promise me, you'll always be a friend
'Cause you are the only one...
With that, the "backlash" of cheers erupted from the crowd. In the middle of it all, in the center of the singer's focus, Ash and Iris fell into another blissful kiss.
Finished! Took me longer than it should've of, so sorry about that, but here it is! A nice little one-shot, I guess.
As always, leave TG2012 a nice little review there!
Okay, guys, this is my signature ending that I just have to do here...
Favorite it, Follow it, Review it! Until next time, stay awesome!
FanFicLash, signing off.
Toadettegirl2012: I have to admit that was a amazing one shot, come on everyone you know you wanna give him a big round of applause *insert applause here if you want ;3*! If you want to read some more awesome Negaishipping fanfics you should check out his stories! I also just wanted to say thanks to FanficLash for writing this chapter it was wonderful. And if you would like to write a chapter for the Negaishipping A~Z fanfiction please PM me about it with your idea and what letter you wanna do (however letter L, M, P, T, V and W already had veeb taken so that leaves N,O,Q,U,X,Y and Z up for grabs) so please Pm me if you got an idea for a chapter. 'Cause honestly coming up with a word for each chapter isn't easy and you other lovely writers help would be greatly appreciated!