A/N: I was just thinking, "Drayden doesn't come into Pokémon for 14 seasons – was he a Dragon Master during the first season?" But then I remembered that ASH and EVERYBODY ELSE DOESN'T AGE, they just gain experience and collect more Pokémon, so you know what? Drayden has been a dragon master since the first season of Pokémon! (I just decided that. Haha.) Did I mention he's sexy?
Previously: Misty refuses to have sex with Brock; Ash decides to tell Oak the truth, and finds out that he's at Krabby bay with a guest, Gary, and Delia!
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(Chapter 11 – the Hunt Begins!)
"Okay, I think we're ready," Oak said. He had Gary go over the list of luggage twice, just to make sure they had enough provisions to last the four or five days they planned to be out at sea.
"So, this is why you called so early in the morning and told me to pack up for a five day trip?" Delia asked.
Oak smiled. "Uh, yes… I'm sorry for the short notice, I only found out yesterday myself. Delia, we need you."
"Really?" Delia smiled.
"A place that only you know," Oak began.
Drayden came over, making Oak stop talking with a glance and a half smile. "You'll be paid handsomely, of course. I'm Drayden, by the way." He held out his hand.
"Delia," she said. "So, you're the reason we're out here?"
He nodded once. "Yes, I am. Sorry to get you up so early."
"It's fine," Delia said. She looked at Oak. "Anything for you, Professor."
Oak nervously noticed Drayden's glare as Delia threw out the flirty eyes and ran her finger down the side of Oak's sleeve. The professor was suddenly feeling like this was a bad idea. Although he had nearly zero choice in the matter. Help an old friend, call the one that knew where to go, and have Gary along for training purposes.
"Just like old times, right Professor?" Delia snickered.
Drayden put a possessive hand on Oak's shoulder. "We too go far back, don't we, Sammy?" Oak flushed. He hadn't been called "Sammy" in a long time. Delia glared at Drayden.
"Of course, Oak and I go back years too," she wrapped her arms around Oak's arm and he felt her chest. It wasn't very big. "He's practically the father of my son! Right, Oaky?"
Oaky? Oak felt the need to spit, as if to clean the stupid nickname from his mouth.
Drayden went still, his eyes focused on something behind Oak. When Gary tensed Oak realized there was something interesting behind him. Finally Delia froze and gasped as she stared over Oak's shoulder.
Oak glanced over his shoulder. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Ash stand a couple few away with May, Pikachu on his shoulder, and Taillow flying above. If he'd noticed the Taillow he would have known Ash was coming – Taillow weren't native to this area.
"Ash?" Oak said, breaking the uneasy silence that had come up with the arrival of Ash and May.
"You know them?" Drayden asked. Oak nodded once. He managed to free himself from Delia and turned to face Ash.
"Drayden, this is Ash and May." Oak looked into Ash's eyes as he spoke. "Ash, May, meet Dragon Master Drayden."
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Ash didn't like this guy, who looked extremely confident, very powerful, super sexy, and so damn sexy (he hated to admit it, but it was true. A fact that couldn't be denied.) A Dragon Master, huh? Ash wondered if he could take on the Dragon Master.
"So we're really… going?" May asked, as her and Ash followed the crew onto the boat. Ash was glaring at Drayden's back while he spoke softly to Oak, the both of them looking at a map.
"Yes," Ash said.
"But… why?"
Maybe because this asshole and my mom are after my boyfriend! Ash thought, but couldn't say that. Nope, he couldn't say that. May didn't know about his relationship with Oak. He really should come clean about it. Soon. "Uh… because I don't trust this Drayden guy around my mom."
"Really? He seems like a gentleman to me," May said, clamping her hands together and smiling at Drayden. Ash resented her for finding Drayden attractive – no, he resented Drayden for being attractive! "And besides," May chuckled. "He doesn't have eyes for your mom – he hasn't looked at anyone but Oak since we were introduced to him! Do you think he's gay?"
Fuck, Ash thought, because he already knew Drayden was gay. Or at least bisexual for Oak. "Really? I don't notice," Ash said dryly.
"Well, it's true."
"What are you two whispering about?" Gary grumbled from behind them. He was lugging the bags up the ramp. "You guys weren't even invited to come – the least you crashers could've done was helped with the bags!"
Ash glanced at the butler and the two… bodyguards? They were getting the rest of the bags.
"Yeah, I don't think we're needed," Ash said.
"No, you're not needed," Gary said.
May stuck her tongue out at Gary.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said from Ash's shoulder.
They got onto the ship and Gary and the other men took the luggage into the ship. Ash went to stand at the railing with Oak and Drayden, May hot on his heels. He stood on Oak's free side. Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and gripped the rail.
"Hey, Professor," Ash said. He looked at Drayden and gave the man a snobbish smile. "Hello, Dragon Master Drayden."
"Just Drayden is fine," Drayden smiled, although Ash couldn't be sure – the beard was in the way.
"Uh, ok… sure." Ash looked at Oak. "So where are we going exactly, Professor?"
"Pika, pika, Pikachu?" Pikachu asked.
"Well, you know Drayden is a Dragon Master," Oak said. "He collects Dragon Type Pokémon, and he's missing one very special Pokémon from his collection."
"Dratini," Drayden said with a smile.
Ash was interested. Bring out the Pokémon talk and he couldn't even stay mad at his rival of love. "Dratini? Really? That's pretty awesome, Drayden. So why did you need Samuel? P – Professor Oak. Professor."
Oak looked at Ash with an arched brow, but Drayden didn't seem to notice the moment of awkwardness.
"The Professor understands Pokémon, where they live, how they live, what they love…" Drayden's eyes captured Oak's and Oak didn't look away. Ash didn't realize he was gripping the rail so tightly that if it was alive… he would have killed it. "And I need my Sammy's help."
A little blush ran across Oak's face. Oak looked away. His eyes met Ash's. He looked away and cleared his throat.
"He needs my expertise." Oak said in a detached voice. Drayden nodded. He looked at Ash and smiled – again, Ash couldn't be sure.
"The Professor and I go far back," Drayden said.
"Oh… really?" Ash hissed.
"Pika," Pikachu breathed, awestruck.
"You're so amazing," May breathed. She'd been staring at Drayden.
"You haven't even seen me Pokémon battle yet!" Drayden laughed.
Ash glared.
"Oaky!" Delia called cheerfully, and Oak visibly shivered. Ash knew he didn't like being called that. Delia usually didn't call him that. Ash wondered why she was suddenly asking so flirty towards him.
She got in front of Oak and wrapped herself around his arm again. Ash never wanted to punch his mother out before this moment. He's let go of the railing and his fingers curled into fists. Why did everyone want Oak?
"Why is she here?" Ash snapped.
Delia looked surprised. "Well, gosh, Ash – no need to take that tone. At least I was invited."
May put her hand on Ash's back. Pikachu jumped from the railing onto Ash's shoulder and rubbed against Ash's head. He didn't loosen up. He just cocked a brow at Oak.
"Your mom has stumbled across the Dratini nest before." Oak said. "There's a Dragonair guarding them. She can lead us to the Dratini once I get us to the location, and then… you'll see Drayden in action."
Drayden smiled.
"Why don't capture the Dragonair?" Ash asked.
"That would rob the Pokémon of their mother," Drayden said. "And I want me and my Dratini to bond while the Pokémon is a baby – breaking in a fully mature Dragonair would be tough."
"Really, Dragon Master," Ash said. And for the first time Drayden looked at Ash with something other than kindness.
"Yes, Ash," he said.
Delia shook her head. "I stumbled across it when I was just a little girl, but… I'll never forget it…"
"Expect how to get there," Ash muttered.
"Ash!" May chided.
"God, Ash," Delia sighed.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu cried at Ash.
Oak and Drayden just looked at him.
"He's just tired," Gary said. "He's been through a lot lately – a trainer's hurdle. Cut him some slack, people."
Ash was shocked. Gary was sticking up for him? Why?
Gary walked up to his grandfather. "We were going to do some tests? Maybe if you're gone there won't be so much tension."
Everyone gave a nervous laugh, but it was true, they all knew.
"You're right, let's go," Oak said. He moved through the crowd.
Ash almost felt a crack in his heart when Oak glanced back at not him, but Drayden, and smiled.
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Ash got put in a cabin with Gary, and May got put in a cabin with Delia. Of course Drayden and Oak were sharing a cabin. "Just like old times!" Drayden said cheerful, while they enjoyed dinner on deck. Ash tried sitting next to Oak, but Drayden and Delia made sure no one came near.
What made Ash all the more jealous was Drayden was a truly kind man. He didn't treat the help like shit; he could talk and laugh with everyone, even his rival in love, Delia. He seemed to really – Ash refused to use a word stronger than – like the professor.
The way Drayden looked at Oak… it was the way Oak looked at Ash.
May sat on one side of Ash, and again to Ash's surprise Gary sat on the other side. They didn't sit too far away from the adults, but far enough that if they spoke softly their conversation would be private.
"So, what's up with them?" May asked, motioning at the adults. "Oak, Drayden, and Delia – it's a weird love triangle."
"Pika, pika, pika…" Pikachu muttered. "Pikachu…" he picked up some more food from his bowl and nibbled at it.
"It's no triangle," Gary said. "Neither of them have any feelings for Delia." He looked at Ash. "Sorry."
Ash sadly found that statement reassuring. The problem was he knew Drayden would be a tough opponent. He still equaled four rivals. Five, if it weren't for that damn beard…
"Whatever," Ash said softly. "I just wish they'd quit it."
"I'm sure," Gary said.
Ash looked at Gary, and realized Gary was the only one that knew Ash was with Oak. Ash felt his true feelings show through his eyes – the pain he felt, when Oak smiled at Drayden and not him, the fear of losing Oak – it surfaced for a moment.
Ash looked away quickly and got control of himself.
"Don't worry," Gary began, softly.
"Stop," Ash ordered.
The two looked at each other. This time Ash didn't show pain, but anger.
"I feel like I'm being left out of the conversation," May said.
They ignored her.
"Why are you being so nice?" Ash asked.
"Would you rather me be a dick?" Gary asked.
"It's all your good at," Ash said.
Gary jolted, almost going for Ash's throat. He restrained himself.
"You're a little fucker," he said through clenched teeth.
"Fuck you," Ash hissed.
"Um, you guys?" May said.
Gary and Ash reached for their pokeballs at the same time. They got up and went to the empty side of the deck. The conversations went silent and everyone turned their attention to Ash and Gary. Both selected Pokémon and were ready to summon them.
"What's going on?" Oak said, looking at the two.
"A Pokémon battle," Drayden smiled. "How fun. Dinner and entertainment, eh, Sammy?"
Oak managed a weak smile while he looked at his lover and his grandson.
"Maybe this isn't the best idea, on a boat," Delia said.
"Treecko, I choose you!" Ash yelled, tossing his pokeball. Treecko appeared and put the twig in its mouth.
"Umbreon, go!" Gary cried, throwing his pokeball, and his Umbreon appeared on the field.
"Treecko, bullet seed!" Ash yelled. Treecko got ready.
"Dodge and use tackle," Gary ordered calmly.
Treecko breathed out and released an array of yellow seeds, moving as fast as bullets. Umbreon leapt over the attack with ease. It sped up to Treecko and tackled it.
"Treecko, tail whip!" Ash cried.
Treecko whirled around to smack Umbreon with its tail.
"Dodge it, Umbreon," Gary said. Umbreon dodged and Treecko swung, missing the dark Pokémon. "Use confusion ray." Umbreon focused on Treecko. Suddenly Treecko stumbled backwards and started spinning around. "Faint attack, Umbreon."
"Treecko, dodge it!" Ash cried.
Treecko punched itself in the face when Umbreon disappeared. Umbreon reappeared behind Treecko. It slammed into Treecko, knocking it to the ground.
"Fuck," Ash growled. "Treecko, quick attack!"
"Finish this with hyper beam, Umbreon," Gary said.
Umbreon focused and a ball of white energy appeared in front of it. Ash only had a few seconds to get Treecko to snap out of it. He started snapping his fingers and calling Treecko's name.
"Treecko! Hey, Treecko!" Ash cried. "C'mon, snap out of it! We can still win this if –"
Umbreon's beam came tearing by, colliding right into Treecko, sending the Pokémon across the deck. It smacked into the door of the cabins area and went down to the ground, its closed eyes indicating it was unconscious.
"Treecko!" Ash rushed over to his Pokémon, Pikachu leaping across the deck to join Ash. He pulled Treecko into his arms, cradling the green Pokémon. Treecko opened its eyes.
"Treecko, treecko, treecko," Treecko said.
"I'm glad you're okay," Ash said softly. "Good try, buddy." He pulled out a pokeball. "Return."
A red beam came out of the pokeball and sucked Treecko in. Ash stood up and whirled around. "This isn't over, Gary!"
"Yes it is," Gary said. He was praising his Pokémon for the easy victory. "You lost. Deal with it."
Ash gritted his teeth. He hated losing. May looked dumbfounded. Delia looked bored. Drayden looked unimpressed. Oak looked disappointed. It wasn't even a real battle. He was completely and totally smashed. He stood zero chance of winning from the first moment.
He regained his connection to his Pokémon. What happened to it? Where did it go?
Ash turned without another word and went to his cabin with Pikachu.
-P-O-K-E-M-O-N-
Ash came out to use the bathroom. There were two bathrooms, none in anybody's rooms. Ash went in and was out quickly, shaking the excess water from his bare hands. He looked through the glass covered porthole to see everyone sitting on deck, listening to Drayden talk, probably about how awesome he was.
Ash didn't notice May wasn't in the group until she appeared from down the hall. She smiled at Ash, and Ash couldn't help but smile back at her. It was like she brightened up when she saw Ash. She rushed down the hall and stood just a few feet away.
"Hey Ash," she said.
"Hey," Ash said.
"I'm sorry about your loss today," she said, her smile dropping. Ash's did too.
"It's fine…" Ash said. "I just need to work on it a bit more."
May nodded slowly. "I left shortly after you did. It's no fun without you."
Ash looked back out the porthole, at Drayden. "Mr. Dreamy isn't entertaining enough?"
"He's entertaining," May said. "But he isn't you."
Ash looked at her. She'd moved closer, into touching distance. She reached out, placing her hands on Ash's chest.
"I asked you to think about me today…" May said, her face turning redder and redder by the second, "Because you're all I think about, Ash."
Ash felt his own face burn. "M – May…"
May leaned in, slowly, and pressed her lips against Ash's lips. It was a slow, gentle kiss. Not sensual or forceful but careful. She moved Ash back against the wall. Instead of touching her, his hands touched the wall behind him. He felt her pressing her body against his.
He felt her taut nipples as she pressed her chest against his. She wasn't wearing a bra. Her hands went to his sides, and she pushed her midsection up against his.
She broke the kiss, and whispered against his lips, "Ash, I love you."
To Be Continued...
-P-O-K-E-M-O-N-
Coming Up: Things heat up as love confessions are given, true feelings are laid out, and Ash feels himself falling further and further away from his one true love…
A/N: I realized I didn't know the names for the ship. (What's this, what's that, blah, blah) My ignorance of the subject showed through vague mentions of the "deck" or the "cabins". I don't even know where the bathrooms on a ship are! It's something to look up in the future. I don't like not understanding things… btw, Drayden is a hottie. I think he deserves tons of fans. I'll be his first fanboy… :-)
I loved the line "Gary and Ash reached for their pokeballs at the same time." So entertaining! I was like, "that sounds dirty, I should word it differently", but then I'm like, "Nah, this is a dirty story – it's perfect!" So I left it in.