CHAPTER 10
INTERLUDE 2: PARTY AT BILL'S CRUISE
"The plan is simple yet difficult", Silver said. "You go on and challenge the Elite Four of the new Pokemon League system while we prepare and wait near you."
"If things turn bad we attack with you", Sapphire said, batting in.
"But wait…don't you trust that I have a chance to win? ", asked Outlaw.
"Yeah! Outlaw already kicked some serious butt off! ", Deron shouted proudly.
"We're just making a sureball out of it", Silver finished. "We don't want this chance to slip away. I don't want spending my lifetime under the rule of Team Zexal."
"And I miss the old Kanto League", Sapphire said. "I'm yet to win on it once but they destroyed my hopes. "
Outlaw nodded at them. "Guess I'm off to my journey again. But where's Serena?"
"Here", said a short haired girl who is wearing a sleeveless black shirt and red skirt and pink boots. "Nice to see you again Outlaw."
"Yep", said Outlaw. "Can't wait to challenge your Gym."
Serena did not reply. Did she deny and reject his challenge?
"Outlaw there is no time to waste", said Deron. "Go on be the gentleman and lead her back to her gym."
Serena glared at them before she regained her calmness. "Here", she said as she tossed a badge towards Outlaw.
"Hey this is… ", Outlaw broke off.
"Your 8th and final gym badge. You can now challenge the Pokemon League", Serena said warmly.
"We didn't even battle!"
"I know but there is no need. You have proven worthy."
"Hey I cannot just accept it, battle me! ", Outlaw shouted like an idiot and both Silver and Sapphire tried not to laugh.
"Almost a year ago I went to Kanto to visit and explore only to get stuck", Serena began. "Then that Supreme Ruler, Cole Johnson, CJ as everyone call him, saw me and told me to become the new Gym Leader of Viridian City."
"And you declined at first", Outlaw guessed.
Serena nodded. "I don't know but he fell in love to me at first sight. He told me to marry him which I gladly declined. Thankfully he did not force me but instead ordered me to become the Leader I now am. I stood in boring moments waiting for challengers to challenge me and I cannot hang out much. Had I declined his orders he could easily hypnotize and mind control me and who knows what he will do?"
"Wise decision", Outlaw said. "So now I guess I'm on my way to the Pokemon League. I still feel sorry for us not battling and not following the League rules."
Serena laughed. "Says the famous Outlaw who doesn't follow the rules."
Then all of them laughed.
"But before you go", Silver batted in. "There's a private party to be held on Bill's cruise tonight. He organized it well and only members of the resistance are invited. It will be very well guarded from the outside."
Outlaw felt assured. "Shall I prepare a suit for the party?"
"Yeah you should", Deron batted in. "After all I'm invited too."
7:30 PM and Outlaw went to the said cruise. The ship is as big as the famous titanic ship from the movies.
Many people were invited and he saw some familiar faces.
"HI Outlaw", somebody greeted him and he turned around to see Erika wearing a very light green colored gown. Her hair is still the same and her make-up is mild which suits her.
"Hi Erika", he greeted her warmly.
"Already have a date?"
"What date?"
"Well everyone have a date with them for the party."
"Ah none", Outlaw honestly answered.
Erika took his right arm. "Then I'm going to be your date for tonight." She smiled and for some reason her cuteness made Outlaw smile out of nowhere.
He nodded and they went inside to choose their table.
"Erika…your gown looks good on you, you look gorgeous", Outlaw complimented her and she blushed.
"Uhm…thanks", Erika said. "And your suit also makes you look a great gentleman."
Outlaw smiled. "Thank you."
Around 200 people were invited for the party and Bill is yet to arrive for his opening speech.
While the two were busy talking a girl with black hair wearing a pink cocktail dress approached them.
"Hi Erika it's been a while", she greeted and she faced Outlaw. "Hi Outlaw."
"Oh hi Sabrina", Erika greeted her friend and gave her a friendly hug.
"So Outlaw", Sabrina began. "Do you already have a date for tonight."
Outlaw looked at Erika beside him. "Yes."
Sabrina wanted to glare at them but she kept her cool and smiled back. "Okay then." But she took her seat beside Erika who doesn't know that she's feeling uneasy.
"So how's Saffron City? ", asked Outlaw.
"Well nothing new. Still peaceful but Team Zexal controls mostly the City and Silph Co. continues to do bad business with the enemies", Sabrina replied.
Outlaw isn't dense. He remembered that Sabrina once told him that his battling skill is a major turn-on. He also remembered that he lost his first kiss to Erika. He just kept quiet, he don't want this night to be ruined.
Then he caught a glimpse of Deron talking to a random beautiful woman who is slightly taller than himself.
"You already have 8 badges", Erika said as she noticed that Outlaw is wearing the same under shirt beneath his black suit.
"Yeah", he managed to say.
"Congratulations", Erika said and smiled.
"Outlaw", Sabrina batted in. "You have done well. However may I ask you do you already have a full party?"
Outlaw lied and nodded but she frowned.
"I can feel you're not telling me the truth", Sabrina said.
"Uhm…relax Sabrina", Erika said. "And Outlaw Sabrina just wants you to have a full team no bad intentions."
"I know", said Outlaw. "But that can wait. I already stocked up tons of ultra balls, on my way to Indigo Plateau I can manage to get 3 more."
Sabrina laughed. "Seems you said that to me months ago."
"Hey! ", Outlaw said and even Erika laughed. Deep inside Outlaw is happy to see them happy and he don't want to ruin their friendship.
When Bill arrived he gave the opening speech and formally opened the party.
Soon after some disco balls and song numbers the dance floor is opened.
Outlaw took Erika to a spot and they danced which Erika holding onto his shoulder and him onto his waist.
"Uhm… ", her voice is shy but she managed to continue. "About last time."
"Yeah? ", Outlaw asked.
"The kiss", she said as silently as she said.
"Yep. You can forget it if you want, I know how embarrassing it is for you."
"No", she said and he looked at her eyes. "Outlaw don't. The kiss I mean it."
Outlaw just stared at her. She's cute. Her lips are within his reach, he can kiss her anytime but he did not. He remembered well that he cannot afford any distractions to succeed on his mission. And he's not sure about his feelings because for the rest of his life he never felt love and he don't know love.
After the first song Sabrina walked towards him and she took him as her next partner.
"So", she said.
"What? ", Outlaw asked.
"How's life of not following any rules?"
"Fun. I get to do things my way."
She smiled at him. "So like you Outlaw."
For moments they just swayed with rhythm. Sabrina is staring at him seriously and he cannot read her facial expression nor her eyes.
"By the way, what do traits would you like for a girl? ", she asked out of the blue.
Outlaw blushed for a moment before finding his voice. "Nothing. I mean I don't know what I should feel about girls."
She stamped her foot to his shoe which hurt him a bit.
"Hey that feels like Weedle's bite", he joked.
Sabrina blushed. "Sorry but come on. You don't really feel anything for girls?"
"I don't know. I just don't know the feeling called love."
Sabrina is shocked from the last words that came out of Outlaw's mouth. Those struck her like lightning. It is a though he just told her that he don't know how to fall in love.
When the song is finished she said her last words to him before leaving him for a while and said that, "You know you're really a major turn-on."
The party is still going on and is bound to be finished at 1 am.
Most people are having alcohol now at their tables and Deron is happily talking to some hot chicks.
Outlaw is alone at the top balcony of the ship. He is looking across the sea.
"Why are you there alone? ", Erika asked him and joined him. "You know…it's rude to leave your date alone."
"Sorry", Outlaw apologized but did not face her. He is looking to a faraway distance. Once he thought that he wanted to become a great trainer like Red but with his absence and with the League rules for Kanto changed his dream also changed, he just want to free Kanto from the hands of Team Zexal.
"Outlaw if you're going through that much you can always open up to me, I'm ready to listen to you whatever you will share", Erika said and he felt her pat his shoulder.
He kept silent. He felt his heartbeat moving faster than usual. He tried to keep his composure but he don't know if he can keep it even for an hour.
"Outlaw there is something I wanted to tell you but I waited until today", Erika began.
Outlaw is still not looking at her. His thoughts are faraway but he can listen to her and understand her simultaneously.
"When you saved me near Cerulean I thought I was just infatuated to you", she began. "When you saved me the second time at Celadon I realized how cool you are…"
Outlaw kept himself silent and he let her continue.
"…Your quick decision making and caring for others, your willingness to sacrifice your safety to save others, your battling skills, your eyes, your… ", Erika broke off.
"But I'm like almost 7 years younger than you", Outlaw finally had the strength to speak.
"Age doesn't matter", Erika continued. "I love you Outlaw. I love the way you protect me. I love the way how serious you are when you battle."
"Erika stop", Outlaw said seriously but she went on.
"I love the way your eyes looks when they change from serious to easy. I love how handsome you are especially when you are serious, you look so cool, and I love the way… ", but she broke off.
"I said stop! ", Outlaw shouted. He knew it is impossible for him to go out with her. He have an impossible task ahead of him.
"Why did you kiss me back then when I kissed you? ", Erika finally asked but her eyes are starting to get wet.
"Because…your kiss don't deserve to be ignored", Outlaw finally faced her. "You're an awesome girl, you deserve an awesome guy."
"You're an awesome guy", Erika is starting to cry. "You deserve an awesome girl like me."
Outlaw clenched his fists. Is it fate when he saved her? Is it fate when he saved her the second time? Is it fate that she fell in love to him?
All of a sudden he remembered his mother who died when he was just 7 years old. She died because his father did not return to them anymore, thus he never believed in love since. But now he don't know anymore.
"But Erika… ", Outlaw broke off trying to say something but she spoke again.
"No more Outlaw", Erika continued. "I love you. I want to make you happy too. I want to make you feel you're special and not alone."
He's completely losing his composure now. Suddenly he realized that after going through many challenges and problems he deserve to be happy too. He deserve to be loved. He deserve to have someone with him and this might be it.
He let his emotions loose, completely losing his composure. He looked at Erika and she blushed when their eyes met.
"Erika…how do you make me easily fall for you? ", Outlaw lost his patience and Erika's faced turned red. She blushed and her heart skipped as fast as the fastest swimmer on earth.
"Outlaw you don't mean that…. ", she broke off but her eyes are wet already.
"Yes! I'm tired of holding back", said Outlaw. "I love how elegant you are. I love how perfectly a lady you are. I love how you dress especially in a kimono, damn you look very cute and gorgeous out there! I love the way you suddenly become shy…"
When he halted he felt that as if he's not a robot anymore. As if color is returning to his gray colored eyes.
"Outlaw, I love you", Erika said but she is pulled into a kiss by Outlaw. This time their kiss is different as the emotion is mutual. Outlaw kissed her aggressively, conquering her mouth and she kissed back. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she cupped his face with her hands. She tipped toed a little. The kiss lasted more than a minute.
When they pulled back Erika is shocked to see that Outlaw smiled warmly, no, very happily for the first time.
"I don't know if I'm cut to be your guy. But I want us to know more about each other. I love you too", Outlaw said.
Erika nodded and smiled as Outlaw brushed away her tears.
" I don't even know if you're willing to wait until all of this is over", Outlaw said.
"Oh I'm going to wait for you", said Erika. "What are weeks or months of separation? The great Leaf Green endured 3 years of waiting before Red came back from his training."
She kissed him again. "Now this is official. We're dating."
Outlaw nodded. It was he who was conquered. "Well I hope for a bright future now."
As they embraced each other tightly none of them knew that Sabrina had been watching from distance. He even told her that his true name is Allen Striker.
Her eyes are wet as well but she smiled. I'm happy for both of you, she thought. You both deserve each other. I was too clumsy Outlaw but there's no need for me to tell how I feel for you anymore. You got Erika now. She's going to take care of you from now on.
As she let the tears fall from her eyes quietly she wished them good luck in her mind.
