CHAPTER 10

REUNION

One bright and peaceful morning…

The streets of Pallet town is quiet. People are just preparing to have their breakfast or are just started leaving their beds. Most people are still asleep.

Charizard landed at route 1 and Red returned him to its pokeball. He also returned Pikachu to its pokeball to let him rest after the long journey home.

When Red is at the entrance of Pallet town he stared for a while at the town.

He saw the same town except that the trees have grown but the atmosphere and the structures are still the same.

He closed his eyes thinking about his past memories of Pallet town. The day he got Charmander, the day he lost, the day he first won the World Cup, the day he won his second straight World Cup, the day Leaf told her about her past. He also remembered the countless meals he and his mom shared while having good times.

Then when he opened his eyes he smiled.

Red of Pallet Town has returned home! He thought.

A few minutes earlier…

Leaf woke up and read a note left at the table.

Dear Leaf,

We are returning to Six Island for now but we will visit you occasionally

we love you and take care always

may you do always well on your future journey

Love, Mom

Leaf then decided to prepare breakfast for herself. She learned to cook better as years had passed thanks to her mom.

She was deciding what she wanted to eat when she realized she wanted fresh air first and some sunlight.

She stepped outside of her house and the first step the bright sunlight hit her. Of course it's still around 6 AM that's why the sunlight is still not going to burn you.

She took a deep breath to gasp the fresh air.

A few moments later she decided to return but when she accidentally caught a glimpse of the man standing at the entrance of the town she blinked. She closed her eyes then opened them again to confirm if she is just dreaming.

Close. Open. Close. Open.

Nothing changed and the man is still there. He is wearing a red cap, white with red shirt and pants and she knew him very well. Red have returned.

Leaf rushed outside the gates of her house, towards the entrance of the town, towards Red. She quickly forgot that she left the doors of her house open the moment she saw Red.

"Red…RED! ", she shouted to call him. She remembered a year ago that if Red returned she should be mad at him and make him apologize to her endlessly but all of that is quickly forgotten because he is back at last.

Red saw her and instead of rushing towards her too he remained standing at his place, he spread his arms instead.

Leaf launched herself towards him then wrapped her arms around him immediately and leaned to his chest.

She is crying again. Her eyes are wet.

Red is speechless. Instead he hugged her tighter for a few moments then kissed her forehead which surprised Leaf. Never once did Red have done it before.

Leaf brushed away the tears and regained her composure.

"So CHAMPION, you're back at last", she said in a serious tone.

She stared at him. Red had grown like 2-3 inches. He is a bit more muscular than when he left 3 years ago but his face is still the same.

Red also looked at her. She have grown more beautiful than before, her blue eyes are wet and her brown hair is let loose past her shoulders.

"I am back", said Red. He is lost for words. He doesn't know where to start. "You know what I did is unforgivable…"

"Of course it isn't! ", Leaf agreed madly. "We lost contact for 3 LONG years and you expect me not to be mad at you?"

"Sorry Leaf or Green or… ", Red is nervous. He doesn't know how he should start telling her that she is the most important person in his life.

He paused for half a minute and Leaf became impatient at him just staring at her.

"What? ", she asked. "If you're going to apologize fine! Even though it hurt me a lot I will forgive you Red." She looked at him and went closer.

"You know Leaf if I haven't realized one thing I might still be there at the top of Mt. Silver", Red began.

"Mt. Silver?! Isn't it one of the most dangerous Mountains?"

"Yeah", Red said. "I even had my previous clothes torn to pieces during my first few months, had to sew a new set."

She is looking at the cap he is wearing.

"Your old cap…I kept it", she said but is blushing already.

"Yeah, thank you", said Red.

"Now if you're planning to leave again I promise you I will punch your ass off until you decide not to leave anymore", Leaf said in a serious tone but her eyes looks sad.

Red cannot think of the right words anymore so he just let it loose. "Leaf you're the reason why I cannot wait to return home."

Leaf paused and looked at Red.

"I was afraid of defeat to the point that I want to always win dominately", Red said. "But I had forgotten that what made me strong is simply doing my best and believing in my Pokemon."

"Oh Red you overdid your best", Leaf said sarcastically.

"I wanted to become so strong so that I can always protect you", Red began. He held Leaf's shoulders and her face is all red. "I made a mistake when I left…I never told you the most important thing in my life…"

"And that is… ", Leaf said, her heart skipping fast.

Red paused for a moment and he took a quick deep breath.

"That I love you Leaf", Red confessed and Leaf controlled the urged to shout how happy she is hearing that he also love her. Instead she stared at him.

"Really Red? It took you 3 long years to realize?"

"No, I already loved you way back, it's just I had a hard task to accomplish."

"Which I assume you did."

"Yeah", Red said.

"You know Red you're the one who changed my life. Because of you I'm not the thief I once was. Because of you my luck changed. All the wonderful things happened to my life because when I met you."

Red nodded.

"And I'm lucky that I met you", she added.

"Same, I am also lucky that I met you."

"Red…when you were about to leave 3 years ago, I also wanted to tell you that I love you but you were in a hurry and I felt the time wasn't right… ", Leaf broke off.

"If you told me way back then… ", Red started.

"You still would've left right? Because I know you, you work your hardest and never stop aiming for the best", she finished for him.

"So wait…if you love me and I love you then… ", but Red was stopped by a kiss from Leaf. For minutes nothing else matters except the feeling of their lips kissing passionately. Leaf's hands are cupping his face and Red can hear both their heartbeats.

When Leaf pulled back her eyes are wet again but she is smiling. "I love you Red, I missed you."

Red nodded. "You know Leaf you're a thief after all, you stole my heart."

Leaf laughed. "Really sweetie? Suddenly trying to pull a line?"

Red smiled back. "I love you too Leaf."

Red opened the door to his house and when he entered his mom rushed to embrace him.

"You have grown so much my son! ", she said then she turned to Leaf. "My dear have you told him already? "

Leaf nodded.

"Told what? ", asked Red.

His mom giggled.

"MOM?! ", Red asked patiently.

"Oh isn't it obvious Red? 3 years passed and Leaf is the one worried about you the most to the point that we became close to each other", his mom replied. "Of course I know how she feels."

Both Leaf and Red blushed before he had the urge to speak again.

"Ah…I see", Red realized that his 3 year absence had made a lot of people worry about him especially his mom and Leaf.

He held Leaf's hand.

"I won't leave again, I promise", he said.

Leaf nodded. "I believe in you."

They had breakfast at Red's home and all the food prepared was all of his favorite food. He ate a lot and the news had spread that he had returned.

"Blue cannot come, he is at the Hoenn Region right now", his mom said.

"Ah how about Professor Oak? ", Red asked after he swallowed.

"You can swing by his laboratory later."

"Ah I will."

After having breakfast and his mom teasing him and Leaf, Red headed to the Laboratory and Professor Oak shouted in delight.

"WELCOME BACK MY BOY! ", he shouted energetically that it woke all the sleeping pokemon in the Lab.

Then Professor Oak noticed he and Leaf are holding hands.

"So you two are dating I assume? ", he asked.

"Yes", Leaf answered while Red just nodded.

"Good, now that you're back what will you do? ", Professor Oak asked.

"I plan to join the Kanto League Conference once more to qualify for the World Cup…", Red began.

"Oh Red boy you're still a boy", said Professor Oak in a joking matter before he turned into his serious voice. "Since the next world cup is your first one of joining the world cup since winning then that means you're automatically qualified."

"What?! ", both Red and Leaf were surprised.

"And Leaf was the runner-up last year so she is also qualified to join", said Professor Oak.

Red almost jumped in surprise. He just heard that Leaf reached the Finals of last year's World Cup. She became stronger like him too.

"I don't have any plan to join", she said.

"Leaf? ", asked Red.

She faced him. "When you left I trained hard, even won the Kalos League Conference but fell short in the world cup. I kept following your footsteps only to realize one thing…instead of following you I decided that lets take our footsteps together."

Red smiled. "Then how about your dream?"

"Me? I already proved them all that I'm a great trainer", she replied. "And I'm already back with my parents, there is nothing else I dream of anymore."

Except being with you, she thought.

Professor Oak nodded. "Very well, I will simply inform Lance the organizers that you're participating in this year's world cup and you're automatically registered."

Red felt suddenly excited. He can finally put the results of his training into a test.

"Okay, it's time to make history! ", Red said energetically and Leaf smiled at him.