Blasting Off Again…Together
Part 1-Handcuffs and Old Flames
By Chibi Ruka Hime
This was a fic I had been working on a year ago for a friend and her Pokemon fanfiction site, but it never got finished…I thought I'd try putting up on fanfiction.net and see how the response towards this fic was. If there are enough good reviews and comments, I just might continue. *hint hint*
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"Hey! Stop kicking me!"
"Ouch!""
"This is crowded…"
3 familiar heads popped up from behind the bushes. Jesse, the leader of the trio, peered through a pair of binoculars, trying to spot Ash and his traveling companions.
"Stop complaining and shut up, James. Or they'll definitely hear us!!": Jesse turned around and shouted.
"Meowth! I see them coming!" Meowth purred.
Jesse hurriedly put the binoculars back to her eyes and scanned the forest, trying to see where they were headed.
"So, Misty, you lose again! Told ya I'd be able to beat that Pokemon trainer! Now you owe me 5 bucks," Ash grinned, oblivious of Team Rocket in the bushes next to him.
Misty growled. "I don't owe you anything! I meant it as a joke, got it, Ash? A JOKE. The bet wasn't for real!"
"Misty, stop being a poor sport. You know that you meant it. But you lost. Pay up."
"I don't owe you anything!"
"Yes you do!!"
"No I don't!!"
"Yes you do!!!"
"No I don't!!!"
"Ash! Misty! Chill out!" Tracey tried to step in the middle of them, with Pikachu shaking his head and sighing beside him.
Jesse and James looked at each other and snickered. The way Ash and Misty fought with each other, anyone could see that they liked each other.
Meowth: "Hey, those two lovebirds fight so much with each other…just like you and James! Except with less violence!"
Jesse pulled out her mallet and whacked Meowth on the head. "That's for opening your big mouth!"
A few hours later…
"Yay!! We finally made it to Lover's Lane!"" Misty threw up her hands in delight.
"I don't know how we let you drag us into this," Ash grumbled, still angry about the $5.
"Because…in 2 days, the most romantic event will be held there! The Lover's Ball! And…I hope to meet a really cute guy here," Misty giggled and blushed.
A few feet behind them, Team Rocket popped up from some bushes once more.
"Hmmm…Lover's Lane. So that was their destination!"
"The Lover's Ball. How I remember the first time I ever went to it." Stars appeared in James's eyes.
"Really, huh? And with whom did you go with, James?" Jesse stared at him with cold eyes.
"Aahhh. With my first love, of course." James was suddenly aware of Jesse's cold eyes penetrating his soul and mumbled quickly, " But of course, that's ancient history." But to himself, he wondered if she was really ancient history to him. Wondered if she still lived in this town…
Jesse saw the way James's eyes got all dreamy and the smile lingering on his face. She scowled. How could anyone ever like that stumbling doofus who always messed up? She thought. Not me, but still…there was a nagging sensation at her heart concerning that certain stumbling doofus.
"Mreow! Those brats are walking away! Jesse! James! Come on! We gotta follow 'em!"
As Ash, Misty, and Tracey entered the gates of Lover's Lane, 2 pretty girls, one with wavy blonde hair, the other with short black hair, popped up. They were wearing matching sailor uniforms, and the black haired girl held a pair of handcuffs in her hands. Before Ash and Misty could even bat an eyelash, the girl had snapped the handcuffs onto their hands.
"Wahh?!!"
"Why'd you do that for?!" Misty yelled.
"Oh, excuse me. I thought you two were boyfriend and girlfriend. This cuff is to strengthen your love for each other. You'll have to wear it all day and night until the annual Lover's Ball, spending every moment with each other, which is like, totally romantic." The blond girl smiled.
"What??!?" Ash and Misty screamed in unison. 'But we're not boyfriend and girlfriend!!"
"But…you two make such a cute couple." The black haired girl laughed. "Oh well, you'll still have to wear 'em until the ball. We don't have the key with us."
Misty mumbled something that wasn't exactly nice, and then dragged Ash along as she walked furiously away from the two laughing girls.
"Wahh! Misty! Hold up! Wah! Stop it!! Let me at least put my feet on the ground!"
But Misty paid no heed to his pleading cries as she continued walking, Tracey and Pikachu chasing behind.
A couple of minutes later, Team Rocket walked up to the gate, in hot pursuit of Ash, when the two girls popped out again.
"Welcome to Lover's Lane!" exclaimed the black haired girl, holding yet another pair of handcuffs.
"We have no time for your stupid jokes." Jesse pushed her away and continued walking, nose in air. "Come on, James." She was about to push the blonde girl aside too, but she had her attention fixed on something else.
"Is…is that really…you? James?" the blonde girl asked breathlessly.
"Huh?" James looked at the girl, and a strange look appeared on his face. 'M-maurice??"
"James! I knew it was you!" the girl rushed over and threw herself onto James, hugging his waist tightly. James returned the hug halfheartedly. Beside him, Jesse coughed loudly.
"Oh? And who is this you've brought along, James darling? Did you get another servant since I last saw you?" Maurice stared at Jesse.
Jesse felt her temper rising. How dare that…that girl call her a servant. Her? A servant? How could such a beautiful person be accused of being a servant?!
James saw what was coming, and tried to intervene between the two.
"Oh Maurice. She's not a servant of mine. She's a fellow teammate of Team Rocket, Jesse."
"Ooooh! You belong to Team Rocket? How divine! Come James, you must tell me all about it!" she laid her head against his shoulders and pulled him along.
"Hey! Come back here! James! We have a mission to accomplish, you know!!!" Jesse yelled and started chasing after them. But a voice behind her stopped her.
"It's no use, Jesse. Once Maurice gets started like that, it's no use trying to interfere between her and her victim." The black haired girl smiled a dry smile. 'Especially if it has something to do with James. I can't believe that he actually came back here though. It's been so long since he's been here. Almost 6 years."
"When was the first time he came here?" Jesse asked.
"Oh, when he was 12 years old. His family was on vacation here, and as you may already know, he's pretty rich. So of course all the country clubs and cliques were open to him. And that's where he met Maurice and went to the Lover's Ball with her. It seems so long ago though," the girl sighed.
"Do you have any clue where they might have gone?" For James and Maurice were already far gone.
"Well…they might have gone to the Star Rapidash Café, where Maurice loves to hang out…But it's no…"
But Jesse was already running away, Meowth tagging behind, trying to rescue James from falling into Maurice's evil clutches again.
Jesse frowned as she scanned the Rapidash Café. James didn't seem to be anywhere in sight. "Meowth! Do you see him anywhere?"
"Meowth! I see those brats and Pikachu! But no sign of James or that girl."
"The brats?"
Not too far away from her and Meowth, Ash, Misty, and Tracey had settled down for dinner. Misty was eating away, busy tearing the meat off the chicken drumstick as fast as she could. Ash stared at his food glumly, not hungry for once. Each time Misty raised her right hand to use her fork or fingers, his left hand would have to go up at the same time, or else be dragged up abruptly. And it was tiring him out.
"Hey, Misty! Let ME eat for a while!" he protested as the up and down movement of his left arm continued.
"I'm hungry, and ladies should get to eat first," shot back Misty, taking another bite.
"Lady? Yeah right…" Ash mumbled. He tried using his left hand to hold his fork while he cut the meat with the right, but Misty's constant moving prevented him from completing this task successfully. "Miiiistty!" he protested again. But she ignored him.
"Pika pika," commented Pikachu, taking another slurp from his ketchup bottle as he looked on.
Jesse stifled a snicker at Ash's pathetic state, and reverted her gaze back to searching for James. A more thorough search found him sitting in a tight booth with Maurice, with ten dishes of delicacies set out in front of him. James was eating like a pig, for it had been a while since he had even tasted these kinds of foods.
"James, you seem to be awfully hungry!" Maurice said, giggling.
James gave her a sheepish grin. "Well, it's been a while since I've even tasted these delicacies. I haven't had any ever since I joined up with Team Rocket."
"Yes, Team Rocket! Tell me more about the organization! What do you guys actually do? I'm sure you must succeed at every mission you receive, James dearest!"
James scratched his head, and turned red. "Actually…we've been trying to steal this kid's Pikachu for the longest time, but never managed to."
Maurice twirled her hair around her finger, and gave James another big smile. "And I guess you work alone? That must be awfully lonely." (She's already forgotten about Jesse!)
James shook his head. "I work with Jesse and Meowth."
"Jesse?" Maurice asked, raising her eyebrow.
"That girl that I sorta ditched back there…when you pulled me away. Come to think of it, I better go find her and Meowth." He got ready to get up, but Maurice pulled him down again.
"James! Don't desert me so early in the night!" she whimpered, turning her puppy-love eyes on him. He sat back down reluctantly, knowing that he'd be in for an earful if he didn't go back soon.
"Well, what I was going to ask you was this, James." She took a good look at his features before she continued. "You came at the perfect time back here! The Lover's Ball is just in two days, and I'm not going with anyone yet. Would you…go with me?" she asked hopefully, batting her eyelashes. "It'll be just like old times."
James gave her an uncertain look. Jesse would be furious that he was going with someone else, but when had he ever been ordered to listen to Jesse every single waking minute? And Jesse herself hadn't said she was going in the first place.
Maurice, sensing James's uncertainty, squeezed tears out of her eyes. "You-you're already going with someone-someone else?" she said, her voice wavering. "I guess-I guess that's alright with me…" her voice trailed off as she turned her gaze to her cup of coffee, tears wetting her eyelashes.
The uncertain look on James's face now turned to a look of helplessness. Maurice was crying…at his expense. Not that he had done anything really wrong, but he still felt bad. "Hey hey…" he began, "I never said I wouldn't go with you, did I? Cheer up. I'll go, for sake of old times and memories of fun."
The tears disappeared instantly. "James!!!" she shrieked, causing several people sitting near them to glance in their direction. "You are the best!" she jumped up and hugged James tightly.
James grinned goofily, until he sensed someone else's eyes on him and Maurice. He looked around, and locked eyes with a pair of piercing blue eyes. Jesse's eyes. He gulped at the cold look she was sending him. "Hey, let go," he hissed at Maurice. "People are looking."
Jesse, who had witnessed the entire "asking James out to the Lover's Ball" scene, glowered and stalked angrily out the door of the café, Meowth following her.
"Hey, there's Jesse!" Ash exclaimed through a mouthful of food. Misty had finally eaten her share, and Ash had use of his left hand again. "She looks kinda mad…scratch the kinda. She looks REALLY mad."
Misty shrugged. "That old hag? She's always glowering about one thing or another."
Outside the café, Jesse was still glowering as she continued her rampage. So, James had met a former sweetheart and was going to the Lover's Ball with her! Hmph. Why did she care? He could go have his fun, and she hers. An image of Maurice entered unbiddingly into Jesse's mind. Her lovely yellow locks, sweet doll face, angelic voice…no wonder James had said yes to her. Jesse sighed as she finally stopped, turning her head up towards the sky. "Meowth?"
"What?"
"Do you think I'm pretty?"
"Err….why that question all of a sudden?"
"Just answer it! Am I pretty?"
"You're pretty on the rare occasions when you're using your brain," he replied carefully.
Jesse glowered and whacked him with her mallet. "I'm ALWAYS using my brain. Forget I even asked you."
"But Jesse, what about James? Aren't you going to tell him where we're staying tonight?"
"I betcha he's staying with that temptress over there, so what's the need?"
"I guess you're right."
"Of course. I'm always right. Let's go."
An hour later, James and Maurice were still inside the café, talking about what had gone on the six years they hadn't seen each other. Maurice had had a new boyfriend every week, but she confided to James that her heart had always belonged to him. Maurice narrowed her eyes though as she noticed the mention of Jesse's name more than a few times when James was telling her about his past six years.
"So, you've been with her for a while," she finally said.
"I haven't been with her THAT way, but I have been working with her for a while, so I'm used to her and her abuse."
"Oh poor baby! I always knew from her looks that she was abusive! What does she do to you?!"
"Slapping, whacking, hitting me with her mallet, the usual," James replied nonchalantly. "Like I said, I'm used to it, so it doesn't hurt so much anymore."
Maurice frowned. This was bad…her James was USED to that other woman. She laid her hand on top of his, and smiled radiantly. "Well, it's getting a bit late, and Mother will be worried about where I am. She'll be really pleased when she sees you've returned though! You'll be staying with us, of course, won't you?"
"But what about Jesse and Meowth? I can't ditch 'em again."
"Ah…" she turned her nose up. "Well, I'm sure we have some tiny rooms down in the basement set for them. But…it seems like they're the ones who have ditched you. I don't see them anywhere around."
James looked around the café, and saw that she was right. Even the brats weren't there anymore. "I-I guess they have," he said, hurt that Jesse and Meowth would just abandon him like that.
Maurice noticed the expression on his face, and frowned harder. "All the more reason for you to stay with us. We can't have you living outside in the cold. It would just make me feel awful."
James nodded, flattered by all the attention she was giving him. It reminded him of the good, rich life he used to have before he ran away from home and became a member of Team Rocket. It made him feel…good for once. No worries about catching Pikachu or hearing Jesse complain on and on. He nodded again, this time with a smile on his face. "Well then, shall we go?"
"Of course!!!"
"I am NOT sleeping with her tonight!" Ash yelled indignantly, blushing crimson.
Misty was blushing as well. "As if I'd ever want to sleep with YOU! But…" she held up the wrist with the handcuffs. "We're stuck, whether we like it or not. And it IS time for bed."
"No no no!" Ash kept saying.
Misty sighed. She really didn't like the idea of sleeping in the same bed with Ash either, but…he was going overboard. An hour later…
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Ash grumbled. He had just gotten out from taking a quick shower. Since it was kinda hard to shower with handcuffed wrists, Misty had had to stand right outside the stall as he took the world's fastest shower, all the while unnerved at seeing Misty's hand in front of him as he was taking it. Misty had to go through the same procedure as she herself took a quick shower. Now, both were standing in front of the full sized bed.
"Tracey? Where are you sleeping?" asked Misty.
"I've got my sleeping bag," he replied, holding it up. "Since there is only one bed, I thought I'd let you two share it," he said, winking suggestively. "It's much more comfortable sleeping on the soft bed than on the hard floor."
Misty's eyebrow started twitching, but she made no comeback. "Now Ash, listen up," she ordered. "Don't you dare cross this line tonight." She piled extra pillows between herself and Ash. "If you do, you're dead."
"Why would I want to cross that line?!" he said. "Don't YOU cross it either, MISTY."
"You bet I won't."
The two grudgingly got under the covers, suddenly realizing that there was only one bed comforter to share between the two. Both of them blushed again, and Misty pulled the comforter to her side.
"Hey!" Ash protested. "I need some too, you know!"
Pikachu shook his head, satisfied to sleep on the floor next to Tracey in his own little lightning bolt sleeping bag.
Misty sighed and grudgingly handed him back some. "Satisfied?" She turned the lamp off, and snuggled under the covers. After a while, she had to admit it felt good. It was warmer to have someone sleep next to her, though it made her feel giggly all over to think that she was actually sleeping in the same bed as ASH. Weird events had weird outcomes, she reasoned to herself. A few minutes later, she could hear Ash snoring, and she choked back a laugh. If only I had a tape recorder, she said, grinning evilly. Soon, she herself dozed off into slumber land…. Until…
WHACK
Misty felt something whack her on the shoulders, and she opened one eye slowly, grumbling. It was some time around 3 am, judging from the sky outside. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark as she turned to investigate what had hit her. "A-Ash?" Ash, still deep asleep, had swung his other free arm across the pillow barricade unknowingly, and the arm was on laying on top of Misty's shoulder. She smiled a little, not having the heart to wake him up from his sleep to tell him to move his arm. In fact…it felt a bit nice. She turned back over, and fell asleep again.
James and Maurice arrived at Maurice's mansion around the same time Ash and his group went to bed. James felt a bit intimidated at first, having not been inside a grand house for some time. But he soon felt at home as Maurice's parents rushed forth to greet them as soon as they entered the main hall. He remembered them so well, and was glad that they hadn't changed that much at all. Maurice's little sister was just as he remembered too: Annoying, bratty, and stuck up. But even she seemed glad to see James again, and all formalities were forgotten as she rushed forth and hugged him, for James had been a guy she had been quite fond of. They engaged James in conversation until well after 12 midnight, when Maurice finally declared that the poor, tired guy needed his sleep. James gave her a thankful look as she walked upstairs with him to show him his sleeping quarters.
"Remember when you used to come over all the time, and this room was just reserved for your visits?" Maurice asked, a dreamy look appearing on her face. "You can stay here for the night."
"I remember," James said, all those long forgotten memories rushing back. Along with the memories came a rush of guilt, however. Guilt at not going along with Jesse and Meowth, and guilt that they were probably camping out again while he was living in the lap of luxury. He yawned, brushing the thought aside. I'll go look for them tomorrow, he promised himself.
"I see you're tired. We can talk more tomorrow." Maurice walked over to James and gave him quick kiss on the lips. "Good night kiss," she said, winking as she shut his door.
James stared at the door, brushing his hand over his lips. "Good night…kiss?" he said rather bewilderedly.
~*~ End of Part 1 ~*~
Chibi Ruka Hime: Hmm…the main plot seems to be revolving around Jesse and James. Please R & R! I need to see evidence of support if I'm to continue working on this story. ^^ Hope you enjoyed it!
Part 1-Handcuffs and Old Flames
By Chibi Ruka Hime
This was a fic I had been working on a year ago for a friend and her Pokemon fanfiction site, but it never got finished…I thought I'd try putting up on fanfiction.net and see how the response towards this fic was. If there are enough good reviews and comments, I just might continue. *hint hint*
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"Hey! Stop kicking me!"
"Ouch!""
"This is crowded…"
3 familiar heads popped up from behind the bushes. Jesse, the leader of the trio, peered through a pair of binoculars, trying to spot Ash and his traveling companions.
"Stop complaining and shut up, James. Or they'll definitely hear us!!": Jesse turned around and shouted.
"Meowth! I see them coming!" Meowth purred.
Jesse hurriedly put the binoculars back to her eyes and scanned the forest, trying to see where they were headed.
"So, Misty, you lose again! Told ya I'd be able to beat that Pokemon trainer! Now you owe me 5 bucks," Ash grinned, oblivious of Team Rocket in the bushes next to him.
Misty growled. "I don't owe you anything! I meant it as a joke, got it, Ash? A JOKE. The bet wasn't for real!"
"Misty, stop being a poor sport. You know that you meant it. But you lost. Pay up."
"I don't owe you anything!"
"Yes you do!!"
"No I don't!!"
"Yes you do!!!"
"No I don't!!!"
"Ash! Misty! Chill out!" Tracey tried to step in the middle of them, with Pikachu shaking his head and sighing beside him.
Jesse and James looked at each other and snickered. The way Ash and Misty fought with each other, anyone could see that they liked each other.
Meowth: "Hey, those two lovebirds fight so much with each other…just like you and James! Except with less violence!"
Jesse pulled out her mallet and whacked Meowth on the head. "That's for opening your big mouth!"
A few hours later…
"Yay!! We finally made it to Lover's Lane!"" Misty threw up her hands in delight.
"I don't know how we let you drag us into this," Ash grumbled, still angry about the $5.
"Because…in 2 days, the most romantic event will be held there! The Lover's Ball! And…I hope to meet a really cute guy here," Misty giggled and blushed.
A few feet behind them, Team Rocket popped up from some bushes once more.
"Hmmm…Lover's Lane. So that was their destination!"
"The Lover's Ball. How I remember the first time I ever went to it." Stars appeared in James's eyes.
"Really, huh? And with whom did you go with, James?" Jesse stared at him with cold eyes.
"Aahhh. With my first love, of course." James was suddenly aware of Jesse's cold eyes penetrating his soul and mumbled quickly, " But of course, that's ancient history." But to himself, he wondered if she was really ancient history to him. Wondered if she still lived in this town…
Jesse saw the way James's eyes got all dreamy and the smile lingering on his face. She scowled. How could anyone ever like that stumbling doofus who always messed up? She thought. Not me, but still…there was a nagging sensation at her heart concerning that certain stumbling doofus.
"Mreow! Those brats are walking away! Jesse! James! Come on! We gotta follow 'em!"
As Ash, Misty, and Tracey entered the gates of Lover's Lane, 2 pretty girls, one with wavy blonde hair, the other with short black hair, popped up. They were wearing matching sailor uniforms, and the black haired girl held a pair of handcuffs in her hands. Before Ash and Misty could even bat an eyelash, the girl had snapped the handcuffs onto their hands.
"Wahh?!!"
"Why'd you do that for?!" Misty yelled.
"Oh, excuse me. I thought you two were boyfriend and girlfriend. This cuff is to strengthen your love for each other. You'll have to wear it all day and night until the annual Lover's Ball, spending every moment with each other, which is like, totally romantic." The blond girl smiled.
"What??!?" Ash and Misty screamed in unison. 'But we're not boyfriend and girlfriend!!"
"But…you two make such a cute couple." The black haired girl laughed. "Oh well, you'll still have to wear 'em until the ball. We don't have the key with us."
Misty mumbled something that wasn't exactly nice, and then dragged Ash along as she walked furiously away from the two laughing girls.
"Wahh! Misty! Hold up! Wah! Stop it!! Let me at least put my feet on the ground!"
But Misty paid no heed to his pleading cries as she continued walking, Tracey and Pikachu chasing behind.
A couple of minutes later, Team Rocket walked up to the gate, in hot pursuit of Ash, when the two girls popped out again.
"Welcome to Lover's Lane!" exclaimed the black haired girl, holding yet another pair of handcuffs.
"We have no time for your stupid jokes." Jesse pushed her away and continued walking, nose in air. "Come on, James." She was about to push the blonde girl aside too, but she had her attention fixed on something else.
"Is…is that really…you? James?" the blonde girl asked breathlessly.
"Huh?" James looked at the girl, and a strange look appeared on his face. 'M-maurice??"
"James! I knew it was you!" the girl rushed over and threw herself onto James, hugging his waist tightly. James returned the hug halfheartedly. Beside him, Jesse coughed loudly.
"Oh? And who is this you've brought along, James darling? Did you get another servant since I last saw you?" Maurice stared at Jesse.
Jesse felt her temper rising. How dare that…that girl call her a servant. Her? A servant? How could such a beautiful person be accused of being a servant?!
James saw what was coming, and tried to intervene between the two.
"Oh Maurice. She's not a servant of mine. She's a fellow teammate of Team Rocket, Jesse."
"Ooooh! You belong to Team Rocket? How divine! Come James, you must tell me all about it!" she laid her head against his shoulders and pulled him along.
"Hey! Come back here! James! We have a mission to accomplish, you know!!!" Jesse yelled and started chasing after them. But a voice behind her stopped her.
"It's no use, Jesse. Once Maurice gets started like that, it's no use trying to interfere between her and her victim." The black haired girl smiled a dry smile. 'Especially if it has something to do with James. I can't believe that he actually came back here though. It's been so long since he's been here. Almost 6 years."
"When was the first time he came here?" Jesse asked.
"Oh, when he was 12 years old. His family was on vacation here, and as you may already know, he's pretty rich. So of course all the country clubs and cliques were open to him. And that's where he met Maurice and went to the Lover's Ball with her. It seems so long ago though," the girl sighed.
"Do you have any clue where they might have gone?" For James and Maurice were already far gone.
"Well…they might have gone to the Star Rapidash Café, where Maurice loves to hang out…But it's no…"
But Jesse was already running away, Meowth tagging behind, trying to rescue James from falling into Maurice's evil clutches again.
Jesse frowned as she scanned the Rapidash Café. James didn't seem to be anywhere in sight. "Meowth! Do you see him anywhere?"
"Meowth! I see those brats and Pikachu! But no sign of James or that girl."
"The brats?"
Not too far away from her and Meowth, Ash, Misty, and Tracey had settled down for dinner. Misty was eating away, busy tearing the meat off the chicken drumstick as fast as she could. Ash stared at his food glumly, not hungry for once. Each time Misty raised her right hand to use her fork or fingers, his left hand would have to go up at the same time, or else be dragged up abruptly. And it was tiring him out.
"Hey, Misty! Let ME eat for a while!" he protested as the up and down movement of his left arm continued.
"I'm hungry, and ladies should get to eat first," shot back Misty, taking another bite.
"Lady? Yeah right…" Ash mumbled. He tried using his left hand to hold his fork while he cut the meat with the right, but Misty's constant moving prevented him from completing this task successfully. "Miiiistty!" he protested again. But she ignored him.
"Pika pika," commented Pikachu, taking another slurp from his ketchup bottle as he looked on.
Jesse stifled a snicker at Ash's pathetic state, and reverted her gaze back to searching for James. A more thorough search found him sitting in a tight booth with Maurice, with ten dishes of delicacies set out in front of him. James was eating like a pig, for it had been a while since he had even tasted these kinds of foods.
"James, you seem to be awfully hungry!" Maurice said, giggling.
James gave her a sheepish grin. "Well, it's been a while since I've even tasted these delicacies. I haven't had any ever since I joined up with Team Rocket."
"Yes, Team Rocket! Tell me more about the organization! What do you guys actually do? I'm sure you must succeed at every mission you receive, James dearest!"
James scratched his head, and turned red. "Actually…we've been trying to steal this kid's Pikachu for the longest time, but never managed to."
Maurice twirled her hair around her finger, and gave James another big smile. "And I guess you work alone? That must be awfully lonely." (She's already forgotten about Jesse!)
James shook his head. "I work with Jesse and Meowth."
"Jesse?" Maurice asked, raising her eyebrow.
"That girl that I sorta ditched back there…when you pulled me away. Come to think of it, I better go find her and Meowth." He got ready to get up, but Maurice pulled him down again.
"James! Don't desert me so early in the night!" she whimpered, turning her puppy-love eyes on him. He sat back down reluctantly, knowing that he'd be in for an earful if he didn't go back soon.
"Well, what I was going to ask you was this, James." She took a good look at his features before she continued. "You came at the perfect time back here! The Lover's Ball is just in two days, and I'm not going with anyone yet. Would you…go with me?" she asked hopefully, batting her eyelashes. "It'll be just like old times."
James gave her an uncertain look. Jesse would be furious that he was going with someone else, but when had he ever been ordered to listen to Jesse every single waking minute? And Jesse herself hadn't said she was going in the first place.
Maurice, sensing James's uncertainty, squeezed tears out of her eyes. "You-you're already going with someone-someone else?" she said, her voice wavering. "I guess-I guess that's alright with me…" her voice trailed off as she turned her gaze to her cup of coffee, tears wetting her eyelashes.
The uncertain look on James's face now turned to a look of helplessness. Maurice was crying…at his expense. Not that he had done anything really wrong, but he still felt bad. "Hey hey…" he began, "I never said I wouldn't go with you, did I? Cheer up. I'll go, for sake of old times and memories of fun."
The tears disappeared instantly. "James!!!" she shrieked, causing several people sitting near them to glance in their direction. "You are the best!" she jumped up and hugged James tightly.
James grinned goofily, until he sensed someone else's eyes on him and Maurice. He looked around, and locked eyes with a pair of piercing blue eyes. Jesse's eyes. He gulped at the cold look she was sending him. "Hey, let go," he hissed at Maurice. "People are looking."
Jesse, who had witnessed the entire "asking James out to the Lover's Ball" scene, glowered and stalked angrily out the door of the café, Meowth following her.
"Hey, there's Jesse!" Ash exclaimed through a mouthful of food. Misty had finally eaten her share, and Ash had use of his left hand again. "She looks kinda mad…scratch the kinda. She looks REALLY mad."
Misty shrugged. "That old hag? She's always glowering about one thing or another."
Outside the café, Jesse was still glowering as she continued her rampage. So, James had met a former sweetheart and was going to the Lover's Ball with her! Hmph. Why did she care? He could go have his fun, and she hers. An image of Maurice entered unbiddingly into Jesse's mind. Her lovely yellow locks, sweet doll face, angelic voice…no wonder James had said yes to her. Jesse sighed as she finally stopped, turning her head up towards the sky. "Meowth?"
"What?"
"Do you think I'm pretty?"
"Err….why that question all of a sudden?"
"Just answer it! Am I pretty?"
"You're pretty on the rare occasions when you're using your brain," he replied carefully.
Jesse glowered and whacked him with her mallet. "I'm ALWAYS using my brain. Forget I even asked you."
"But Jesse, what about James? Aren't you going to tell him where we're staying tonight?"
"I betcha he's staying with that temptress over there, so what's the need?"
"I guess you're right."
"Of course. I'm always right. Let's go."
An hour later, James and Maurice were still inside the café, talking about what had gone on the six years they hadn't seen each other. Maurice had had a new boyfriend every week, but she confided to James that her heart had always belonged to him. Maurice narrowed her eyes though as she noticed the mention of Jesse's name more than a few times when James was telling her about his past six years.
"So, you've been with her for a while," she finally said.
"I haven't been with her THAT way, but I have been working with her for a while, so I'm used to her and her abuse."
"Oh poor baby! I always knew from her looks that she was abusive! What does she do to you?!"
"Slapping, whacking, hitting me with her mallet, the usual," James replied nonchalantly. "Like I said, I'm used to it, so it doesn't hurt so much anymore."
Maurice frowned. This was bad…her James was USED to that other woman. She laid her hand on top of his, and smiled radiantly. "Well, it's getting a bit late, and Mother will be worried about where I am. She'll be really pleased when she sees you've returned though! You'll be staying with us, of course, won't you?"
"But what about Jesse and Meowth? I can't ditch 'em again."
"Ah…" she turned her nose up. "Well, I'm sure we have some tiny rooms down in the basement set for them. But…it seems like they're the ones who have ditched you. I don't see them anywhere around."
James looked around the café, and saw that she was right. Even the brats weren't there anymore. "I-I guess they have," he said, hurt that Jesse and Meowth would just abandon him like that.
Maurice noticed the expression on his face, and frowned harder. "All the more reason for you to stay with us. We can't have you living outside in the cold. It would just make me feel awful."
James nodded, flattered by all the attention she was giving him. It reminded him of the good, rich life he used to have before he ran away from home and became a member of Team Rocket. It made him feel…good for once. No worries about catching Pikachu or hearing Jesse complain on and on. He nodded again, this time with a smile on his face. "Well then, shall we go?"
"Of course!!!"
"I am NOT sleeping with her tonight!" Ash yelled indignantly, blushing crimson.
Misty was blushing as well. "As if I'd ever want to sleep with YOU! But…" she held up the wrist with the handcuffs. "We're stuck, whether we like it or not. And it IS time for bed."
"No no no!" Ash kept saying.
Misty sighed. She really didn't like the idea of sleeping in the same bed with Ash either, but…he was going overboard. An hour later…
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Ash grumbled. He had just gotten out from taking a quick shower. Since it was kinda hard to shower with handcuffed wrists, Misty had had to stand right outside the stall as he took the world's fastest shower, all the while unnerved at seeing Misty's hand in front of him as he was taking it. Misty had to go through the same procedure as she herself took a quick shower. Now, both were standing in front of the full sized bed.
"Tracey? Where are you sleeping?" asked Misty.
"I've got my sleeping bag," he replied, holding it up. "Since there is only one bed, I thought I'd let you two share it," he said, winking suggestively. "It's much more comfortable sleeping on the soft bed than on the hard floor."
Misty's eyebrow started twitching, but she made no comeback. "Now Ash, listen up," she ordered. "Don't you dare cross this line tonight." She piled extra pillows between herself and Ash. "If you do, you're dead."
"Why would I want to cross that line?!" he said. "Don't YOU cross it either, MISTY."
"You bet I won't."
The two grudgingly got under the covers, suddenly realizing that there was only one bed comforter to share between the two. Both of them blushed again, and Misty pulled the comforter to her side.
"Hey!" Ash protested. "I need some too, you know!"
Pikachu shook his head, satisfied to sleep on the floor next to Tracey in his own little lightning bolt sleeping bag.
Misty sighed and grudgingly handed him back some. "Satisfied?" She turned the lamp off, and snuggled under the covers. After a while, she had to admit it felt good. It was warmer to have someone sleep next to her, though it made her feel giggly all over to think that she was actually sleeping in the same bed as ASH. Weird events had weird outcomes, she reasoned to herself. A few minutes later, she could hear Ash snoring, and she choked back a laugh. If only I had a tape recorder, she said, grinning evilly. Soon, she herself dozed off into slumber land…. Until…
WHACK
Misty felt something whack her on the shoulders, and she opened one eye slowly, grumbling. It was some time around 3 am, judging from the sky outside. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark as she turned to investigate what had hit her. "A-Ash?" Ash, still deep asleep, had swung his other free arm across the pillow barricade unknowingly, and the arm was on laying on top of Misty's shoulder. She smiled a little, not having the heart to wake him up from his sleep to tell him to move his arm. In fact…it felt a bit nice. She turned back over, and fell asleep again.
James and Maurice arrived at Maurice's mansion around the same time Ash and his group went to bed. James felt a bit intimidated at first, having not been inside a grand house for some time. But he soon felt at home as Maurice's parents rushed forth to greet them as soon as they entered the main hall. He remembered them so well, and was glad that they hadn't changed that much at all. Maurice's little sister was just as he remembered too: Annoying, bratty, and stuck up. But even she seemed glad to see James again, and all formalities were forgotten as she rushed forth and hugged him, for James had been a guy she had been quite fond of. They engaged James in conversation until well after 12 midnight, when Maurice finally declared that the poor, tired guy needed his sleep. James gave her a thankful look as she walked upstairs with him to show him his sleeping quarters.
"Remember when you used to come over all the time, and this room was just reserved for your visits?" Maurice asked, a dreamy look appearing on her face. "You can stay here for the night."
"I remember," James said, all those long forgotten memories rushing back. Along with the memories came a rush of guilt, however. Guilt at not going along with Jesse and Meowth, and guilt that they were probably camping out again while he was living in the lap of luxury. He yawned, brushing the thought aside. I'll go look for them tomorrow, he promised himself.
"I see you're tired. We can talk more tomorrow." Maurice walked over to James and gave him quick kiss on the lips. "Good night kiss," she said, winking as she shut his door.
James stared at the door, brushing his hand over his lips. "Good night…kiss?" he said rather bewilderedly.
~*~ End of Part 1 ~*~
Chibi Ruka Hime: Hmm…the main plot seems to be revolving around Jesse and James. Please R & R! I need to see evidence of support if I'm to continue working on this story. ^^ Hope you enjoyed it!