Separation - Part Six
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Disclaimers: -_-;;...
Key:
"..." - Dialogue
'...' - Inner thoughts or stressed words
*...* - Annoying Voice
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A light shower of powdery snow fell from the sky in a gentle rhythm. The sun was almost set, and began to cast a blue-purple hue upon the land. The forest was silent, but not that of fear or destruction. It was a comfortable, serene and relaxing silence. Two sleeping forms slumbered under a massive tree as snow covered them in a thin layer of white. James stirred awake as a snowflake landed gently on his nose.
As he did so, Jessie was awakened. Her eyes fluttered open and she lazily took in the scene before. With foggy eyes, she realized that she was not inside the hotel room, but rather outside. Memories of earlier that day flooded through her with awakened thoughts and feelings as she remembered them in a flash. It was then that she realized that she was lying on James's lap. She sat with a muffled gasp and a blush.
James, thankfully, had been rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and therefore did not see her red face. He dropped his hand at the missing warmth. "Hey," he said with a slight smile.
"Hi." She began looked around in the forest. A sudden chill split down her spine, and she folded her arms across her chest, as if that would ward it off. She felt rather than saw James stand up and brush himself off. She snapped her head towards him when she heard him laugh. "What? What's so funny?" she asked.
He continued to grin as he leaned over and began to ruffle her hair. "Hey!" she complained, trying to swat his hand away. "Do you know how hard it is to keep my hair this way?" *Of course he does, hence being your 'best friend.'*
"There's snow in your hair," he responded, still grinning. It was quite a sight for him, with a thin layer of white mixed with her red hair. She looked up as high as she could and tugged at a loose lock. She laughed with him.
"Oh," was her only reply before she forcibly brushed the flakes off. "Well, so much as keeping my hair nice and tidy." They smiled at each other affectionately. Then, after what seemed for like hours, James cleared his throat and extended his hand towards her, offering her to take it. She lightly placed her hand inside his, and he wrapped his fingers slowly around her own and gently lifted her up. She gasped softly when she looked into his eyes. They were darker shade of green than they usually were; like that of the darker part of the sea.
She blinked and, sucking in her breath, and took a step back. "I-I think that we should be heading back. It's getting dark." With that, she turned around and began to walk back towards the city.
James sighed as he watched her retreating figure. She was a very confusing woman. One minute she would be quite and fun, the next she would be as shy as a turtle. In fact, a turtle was the perfect comparison of her. She would clam up inside her shell, taking in her problems and keeping them hidden, and then pop out and start biting and snapping at people. But, unlike the turtle, she was human, and could therefore be reached with dialogue and time. However, time was running out, and it would then be too late. He froze with a deep frown. 'Time was running out? What's that supposed to mean?' He shook his head to rid himself of that ridiculous thought, and continued on his way.
By the time they reached the back door to the hotel, the snow was falling harder and faster. They entered the building with soaked hair, along with equally wet clothes. They took one look at each other and burst into laughter. Despite the carpet, Jessie ringed out her hair and flicked her hands to rid herself of the water.
Still grinning, they ran to their room on the second floor. Jessie was the first to the door, but it was James who had the key. Thus, it was he that reached the restroom first.
"James! James, will you hurry up!" Jessie threw her boots off in a corner, and tried desperately to get rid of the water that made her cold.
"I'm trying! Besides, 'you' always take your time." She could hear the humor in his voice, and scowled at him.
"Yeah, well, that's because every beauty needs her...beauty...time." She grinned and closed the door behind her at his laughing voice.
When she was finally clean and dry, Jessie came out of the restroom. James, however, was not at his usual place on the bed with the flipper in his hand. Confused, she opened the door to the hallway and peeked outside. Not finding him there either, she closed the door.
Nevertheless, when she turned around, she let out a scream of shock and let her hand fly out. An equally surprised outcry echoed her own.
"My God, James! I told you not to do that to me!" Her chest heaved from the excitement and anger, and twaped him over his head.
"Ouch! That hurt, Jessie!" he pouted, rubbing his head.
"Yeah well, just be lucky that that was the 'only' thing I did to you," she grumbled.
He put his hand down and threw her, her jacket. "Hurry, we're going to be late." He started to push her out of the door while she struggled to put the jacket on.
"Where...where are we going?" He grinned at her as he continued to push her in the hall.
"I think I figured out why you've been acting so...distraught lately."
'Distraught? What does he mean, distraught? I am perfectly fine!' "What do mean?" she asked, starting to get mad.
He had a smile pasted on his that resembled what strangely looked like childish glee. "It's because it's almost Christmas. And, because I know how much you like the snow, I made us reservations."
'Christmas?' She looked around her, wondering how they had not only left the hotel, but were already two blocks away. She shrugged mentally and continued to follow him. "Reservations for what?"
His eyes ginned back at her. "It's a surprise!"
She sighed, not wanting to be 'surprised.' She wanted to know what it was now! The feeling of excitement filled her. James seemed to be excited about it, and therefore it had to be good. What could it be? Ice-skating? No, way! She'd never put on skates before in fear of falling and breaking something. Maybe a movie? That sounds reasonable. After all, when was the last time they'd seen a movie? But, why would he make reservations for 'that?' She sighed again. Perhaps it was just better to be surprised.
They rounded a corner and he pushed her forward. She gasped at what she saw before her, and froze in place.
A small sparkling white topless carriage with shinning gold lining stood with four large white wheels. The soft material of the seats were also white with gold lining. One large white Rapidash stood impatiently and dug at the ground with his front foot. Amazingly, the horse was white as well, including his flames. Had it been any other day, Jessie and James would have come up with some plan to steal it. He shook his mane and turned to look at Jessie, giving her a 'would-you-hurry-up-and-get-on-before-I-take-off-by-myself-and-watch-you-try-to-catch-me-while-I-laugh' look.
She felt James lean over her and whisper in her ear, "I also knew that you've always wanted to go on a horse-and-carriage ride as well."
She turned around and threw her arms around him, grinning. "Oh, thank you! You're so sweet!" Grabbing his hand, she pulled him towards the waiting carriage. They stopped in front of the company's sign and her eyes passed over it quickly. "Violet City Carriage Rides." She rolled her eyes. 'Wow,' she thought. 'How original.'
Jessie was the first to board, while James talked to the man holding onto the reins. After a few minutes, James also mounted. To both of their surprises, the man handed the reins to James.
"We're kinda understaffed, today. You don't mind, do you? Sacha trust you."
"I...I suppose not... Just don't come running after me if we come back with a black Rapidash and a broken carriage."
The man laughed at his remark. "Just remember to keep reins loose, and pull right rope to go right and vice versa. Good luck!" He laughed again after the two re-organized themselves. He waved after them as they trotted away.
James, having absolutely no idea where he was going, turned on random trails. The Rapidash, or "Lightning," seemed to have an idea of where he wanted to go. James struggled to keep hold of the reins, much to Jessie's amusement. She laughed whenever they slipped out of his hands and he went diving after them, or when he was holding them too tight, and Lightning pulled his neck forward and James was thrust forward.
"Damn Rapidash. Always finding a way to make it the master." He thought for a moment before grinning at Jessie. "I think I've just found your long-lost big brother!"
Jessie glared at him. "Ha, ha, really funny." As if agreeing with her, Lightening neighed angrily and pulled on the reins. James's attention was on the Rapidash immediately.
"Hey. Hey! Stop it! It's bad enough that I'm sitting next to one, so I don't need one in front of me too."
She punched him in the arm. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," he responded quickly.
Jessie shrugged and looked around at her surroundings. The snow had stopped long ago, and had left a blanket of pure white. No footprints were imprinted on the layer, nor were there clumps of dropped snow. With the bells on Lightning's harness mingling with the songs of the birds in the trees, and with James sitting beside her, she felt a strange feeling flow over her. It took her a while before she could name it, and was surprised when she realized what it was; peace. She had never felt just peace fill her before, but she liked it. She liked not worrying about where she was going to sleep that night, or if she was going to eat dinner, or if she would even survive to see the morning. Another feeling mixed within the peace and that was security. She felt secure with James, yet she always had. She had since she had first seen him at Pokemon Tech, and still did. She supposed that she always would.
She looked over at James, and laughed at what she saw. During her pondering, James had somehow gotten snow over him, and he was frantically trying to get it off of him. She peeked over at Lightning, who seemed to be skipping. She had a fairly good idea of how that had happened, and that it was Lightning's doing. He had probably seen the weak branch that held the snow and had deliberately slowed down until it broke.
James glared at her. "If we were in switched positions, I don't think that you'd be the one laughing."
"But we're not in switched positions, are we?" She continued to laugh.
He stuck out his tongue and threw her the reins. "You drive until I get this blasted cold stuff off of me."
She sighed and shook her head. "I still can't understand why you don't like the snow."
"I don't see how one 'could' like this stuff. It's cold, it's wet, it's a nuisance, it's cold, it ruins people's lives, it's pretty and light, and it's fun to play in, and...and..." He searched quickly for a word that summoned up his feelings and smiled triumphantly at her when he did. "And it's cold."
She sighed with a smile and lightly held the reins. As if knowing who held the reins, Lightning balanced out onto a smooth trot. Feeling courageous, however, Jessie gave him a small 'thwap' with the ropes. Lightning, feeling more than eager to comply took off in a canter. Jessie laughed as James was lurched back. He quickly grabbed onto the railing on his side and righted himself up.
"That was mean of you! You should have told me you were going to do that!" He paled as the horse picked up speed. "I think he's going to fast!"
"Oh, shut up and relax! I've always wanted to do this, so I get to go as fast as I want!" She laughed again as she urged the horse to go faster.
After some time when Lightning had grown tired, they turned around. The forest was full of light, and the trail they had left behind in the snow was fresh. There was no need to worry, Jessie tried to comfort James. Besides, Lightning knew he way around. He had probably done this a million times already.
"Still, I think that those reins would be safer with me. I can't trust you now! You'll just take off again."
She giggled and handed him the reins. However, when his hands had enclosed the reins, Lightning growled. "Is it just me, or did that animal just 'growl?'"
"I think you've found a new best friend, James."
Suddenly, Lightning stopped. His ears perked up to find and hear a certain sound, and went immediately back. It took off on a lurching dead run towards the way they had come, but in that process, James had let go of the reins and dropped them in-between the Rapidash and harness.
Jessie didn't laugh this time as she jumped forward along with James to grab the reins. Knowing that it was futile, and to Jessie's surprise, James climbed over the metal bar that kept people from doing just what he was doing. Nevertheless, with swift fingers and arms, James finally managed to grab the reins. However, just as his fingers clenched the ropes, Lightning ran over a large rock which caused the carriage to jerk. James lost his balance and fell onto Lightning's back, and just missing getting burned.
He pulled himself upright and pulled on Lightning's reins as hard as he could. After minutes of that, Lightning slowed to a canter, then to a trot, and finally a complete stop. He sighed in relief and slipped off. He didn't even realize that Lightning hadn't burned him.
Grinning, he came to the entrance of the carriage. "Well, it looks like we've had our excitement for the day."
To his complete astonishment, he felt something collide with him and he lost his balance. He struggled to sit up against the impact that had pushed him to the ground. His shock grew when he looked at Jessie's face, at its redness and how her eyes were full of tears. "J-Jessie?"
"I thought that you were going to fall," she whispered.
James was too shock to talk, for he had never seen Jessie in this state before. Sure, he had seen her cry before, but that was always usually over her own self-pity. He couldn't remember when she had ever cried over him, and they had been in much worse situations than this in the past.
He put a hand on her hair and lightly stroked her soft locks. His eyes drifted over her face and he saw her lower lip tremble, which she held under her teeth to stop it from doing so. He took a deep breath and let it out before talking.
"I'm fine, Jessie. I don't see why you should be so worked out about it."
She shrugged and looked at the cold ground. An uneasy silence took hold on them as they tried to figure out what to say. It was Lightning, however, who broke it. He snorted and dug at the ground, as if reminding them they were on a deadline. Jessie stood up and walked over to him, and pointed an accusing finger at him. "Well, we'd be there by now if you hadn't taken off like some fraidy-cat." Lightning lowered his head and flattened his ears, peeking up at her through lowered eyes as if he knew what she said. She laughed and hugged his snot. "I forgive you." She laughed again as he butted his head against her.
James watched the play with amusement. Yes, she had been acting terribly different lately, but it was a change he could readily get used to. She was acting like her old self, the old Jessie he had known at Pokemon Tech. Sweet, kind, and caring, yet dangerous and terrifying if crossed with. He hadn't seen her smile like that since...well, since a long time ago. She seemed so...happy.
He stood up and walked next to her. However, when he stopped next to her, jumped back at her sudden outburst. "But I didn't say that I forgive you! I swear, you're going to give me a heart attack by this week is finished." She brushed past him and jumped up on the carriage. He only shook his head and jumped up after her, taking the reins from her.
They walked back towards the rental station in silence yet again. 'Déjà vu.' *Well, that would happen if you'd say something,* his annoying voice said sardonically. 'What would you say.' When it didn't say anything, James snorted. 'Yeah, that's what I thought.'
It was only three minutes after he had that little disagreement with himself when they reached the spot where they had rented Lightning and his carriage. They would have passed right by it, if Jessie hadn't pointed out that that was the step-like rock she had used as a stool get onto the carriage. When they jumped down, a surprise hit them, for there was no sign, or man, or even any sign of that anyone had been there all day. The only sign of life that had been there were only two sets of footprints that they recognized as their own, a pair footprints, and wheel tracks.
Perplexed, James went to find a phone booth while Jessie stayed behind and looked over the Rapidash. She leaned against his neck, while she petted his nose. She liked how it felt under her fingers, that it was so soft and fuzzy. She laid her head against his mane as she tickled him under his mouth. He made a neighing sound that she could easy make out as a laugh, that is, if Rapidashs could laugh. She smiled and continued to stroke his soft nose. Then, it hit her. She jumped back in alarm at the sudden thought passed through her; he was not burning her. The two had only known each other for an hour, and yet Lightning already trusted her. She smiled in glee and looked him in his twinkling eyes.
"I think you trust people too easily, Lightning. You don't know anything about me, yet you don't burn me. If you knew my true self, than you wouldn't be so easily trustworthy." She laughed as he yet again butted against her. "Of course you wouldn't." She heard her name being called from behind her, and she turned around, expecting James to be standing close to her. When she didn't see him, she frowned in confusion. Shrugging it off, she started to turn around, but when she heard her name again, she flipped around.
Then, she saw someone running towards her. Still confused, she only stared at the man who now stood before her, grinning. "Jessie? Is it really you?"
"Do I know you?" she asked, annoyed.
The man frowned. "You don't remember me?"
"Should I?" she snapped.
"I'm your brother, Jessie."
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To be continued...
*******************************************************************
Disclaimers: -_-;;...
Key:
"..." - Dialogue
'...' - Inner thoughts or stressed words
*...* - Annoying Voice
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A light shower of powdery snow fell from the sky in a gentle rhythm. The sun was almost set, and began to cast a blue-purple hue upon the land. The forest was silent, but not that of fear or destruction. It was a comfortable, serene and relaxing silence. Two sleeping forms slumbered under a massive tree as snow covered them in a thin layer of white. James stirred awake as a snowflake landed gently on his nose.
As he did so, Jessie was awakened. Her eyes fluttered open and she lazily took in the scene before. With foggy eyes, she realized that she was not inside the hotel room, but rather outside. Memories of earlier that day flooded through her with awakened thoughts and feelings as she remembered them in a flash. It was then that she realized that she was lying on James's lap. She sat with a muffled gasp and a blush.
James, thankfully, had been rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and therefore did not see her red face. He dropped his hand at the missing warmth. "Hey," he said with a slight smile.
"Hi." She began looked around in the forest. A sudden chill split down her spine, and she folded her arms across her chest, as if that would ward it off. She felt rather than saw James stand up and brush himself off. She snapped her head towards him when she heard him laugh. "What? What's so funny?" she asked.
He continued to grin as he leaned over and began to ruffle her hair. "Hey!" she complained, trying to swat his hand away. "Do you know how hard it is to keep my hair this way?" *Of course he does, hence being your 'best friend.'*
"There's snow in your hair," he responded, still grinning. It was quite a sight for him, with a thin layer of white mixed with her red hair. She looked up as high as she could and tugged at a loose lock. She laughed with him.
"Oh," was her only reply before she forcibly brushed the flakes off. "Well, so much as keeping my hair nice and tidy." They smiled at each other affectionately. Then, after what seemed for like hours, James cleared his throat and extended his hand towards her, offering her to take it. She lightly placed her hand inside his, and he wrapped his fingers slowly around her own and gently lifted her up. She gasped softly when she looked into his eyes. They were darker shade of green than they usually were; like that of the darker part of the sea.
She blinked and, sucking in her breath, and took a step back. "I-I think that we should be heading back. It's getting dark." With that, she turned around and began to walk back towards the city.
James sighed as he watched her retreating figure. She was a very confusing woman. One minute she would be quite and fun, the next she would be as shy as a turtle. In fact, a turtle was the perfect comparison of her. She would clam up inside her shell, taking in her problems and keeping them hidden, and then pop out and start biting and snapping at people. But, unlike the turtle, she was human, and could therefore be reached with dialogue and time. However, time was running out, and it would then be too late. He froze with a deep frown. 'Time was running out? What's that supposed to mean?' He shook his head to rid himself of that ridiculous thought, and continued on his way.
By the time they reached the back door to the hotel, the snow was falling harder and faster. They entered the building with soaked hair, along with equally wet clothes. They took one look at each other and burst into laughter. Despite the carpet, Jessie ringed out her hair and flicked her hands to rid herself of the water.
Still grinning, they ran to their room on the second floor. Jessie was the first to the door, but it was James who had the key. Thus, it was he that reached the restroom first.
"James! James, will you hurry up!" Jessie threw her boots off in a corner, and tried desperately to get rid of the water that made her cold.
"I'm trying! Besides, 'you' always take your time." She could hear the humor in his voice, and scowled at him.
"Yeah, well, that's because every beauty needs her...beauty...time." She grinned and closed the door behind her at his laughing voice.
When she was finally clean and dry, Jessie came out of the restroom. James, however, was not at his usual place on the bed with the flipper in his hand. Confused, she opened the door to the hallway and peeked outside. Not finding him there either, she closed the door.
Nevertheless, when she turned around, she let out a scream of shock and let her hand fly out. An equally surprised outcry echoed her own.
"My God, James! I told you not to do that to me!" Her chest heaved from the excitement and anger, and twaped him over his head.
"Ouch! That hurt, Jessie!" he pouted, rubbing his head.
"Yeah well, just be lucky that that was the 'only' thing I did to you," she grumbled.
He put his hand down and threw her, her jacket. "Hurry, we're going to be late." He started to push her out of the door while she struggled to put the jacket on.
"Where...where are we going?" He grinned at her as he continued to push her in the hall.
"I think I figured out why you've been acting so...distraught lately."
'Distraught? What does he mean, distraught? I am perfectly fine!' "What do mean?" she asked, starting to get mad.
He had a smile pasted on his that resembled what strangely looked like childish glee. "It's because it's almost Christmas. And, because I know how much you like the snow, I made us reservations."
'Christmas?' She looked around her, wondering how they had not only left the hotel, but were already two blocks away. She shrugged mentally and continued to follow him. "Reservations for what?"
His eyes ginned back at her. "It's a surprise!"
She sighed, not wanting to be 'surprised.' She wanted to know what it was now! The feeling of excitement filled her. James seemed to be excited about it, and therefore it had to be good. What could it be? Ice-skating? No, way! She'd never put on skates before in fear of falling and breaking something. Maybe a movie? That sounds reasonable. After all, when was the last time they'd seen a movie? But, why would he make reservations for 'that?' She sighed again. Perhaps it was just better to be surprised.
They rounded a corner and he pushed her forward. She gasped at what she saw before her, and froze in place.
A small sparkling white topless carriage with shinning gold lining stood with four large white wheels. The soft material of the seats were also white with gold lining. One large white Rapidash stood impatiently and dug at the ground with his front foot. Amazingly, the horse was white as well, including his flames. Had it been any other day, Jessie and James would have come up with some plan to steal it. He shook his mane and turned to look at Jessie, giving her a 'would-you-hurry-up-and-get-on-before-I-take-off-by-myself-and-watch-you-try-to-catch-me-while-I-laugh' look.
She felt James lean over her and whisper in her ear, "I also knew that you've always wanted to go on a horse-and-carriage ride as well."
She turned around and threw her arms around him, grinning. "Oh, thank you! You're so sweet!" Grabbing his hand, she pulled him towards the waiting carriage. They stopped in front of the company's sign and her eyes passed over it quickly. "Violet City Carriage Rides." She rolled her eyes. 'Wow,' she thought. 'How original.'
Jessie was the first to board, while James talked to the man holding onto the reins. After a few minutes, James also mounted. To both of their surprises, the man handed the reins to James.
"We're kinda understaffed, today. You don't mind, do you? Sacha trust you."
"I...I suppose not... Just don't come running after me if we come back with a black Rapidash and a broken carriage."
The man laughed at his remark. "Just remember to keep reins loose, and pull right rope to go right and vice versa. Good luck!" He laughed again after the two re-organized themselves. He waved after them as they trotted away.
James, having absolutely no idea where he was going, turned on random trails. The Rapidash, or "Lightning," seemed to have an idea of where he wanted to go. James struggled to keep hold of the reins, much to Jessie's amusement. She laughed whenever they slipped out of his hands and he went diving after them, or when he was holding them too tight, and Lightning pulled his neck forward and James was thrust forward.
"Damn Rapidash. Always finding a way to make it the master." He thought for a moment before grinning at Jessie. "I think I've just found your long-lost big brother!"
Jessie glared at him. "Ha, ha, really funny." As if agreeing with her, Lightening neighed angrily and pulled on the reins. James's attention was on the Rapidash immediately.
"Hey. Hey! Stop it! It's bad enough that I'm sitting next to one, so I don't need one in front of me too."
She punched him in the arm. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," he responded quickly.
Jessie shrugged and looked around at her surroundings. The snow had stopped long ago, and had left a blanket of pure white. No footprints were imprinted on the layer, nor were there clumps of dropped snow. With the bells on Lightning's harness mingling with the songs of the birds in the trees, and with James sitting beside her, she felt a strange feeling flow over her. It took her a while before she could name it, and was surprised when she realized what it was; peace. She had never felt just peace fill her before, but she liked it. She liked not worrying about where she was going to sleep that night, or if she was going to eat dinner, or if she would even survive to see the morning. Another feeling mixed within the peace and that was security. She felt secure with James, yet she always had. She had since she had first seen him at Pokemon Tech, and still did. She supposed that she always would.
She looked over at James, and laughed at what she saw. During her pondering, James had somehow gotten snow over him, and he was frantically trying to get it off of him. She peeked over at Lightning, who seemed to be skipping. She had a fairly good idea of how that had happened, and that it was Lightning's doing. He had probably seen the weak branch that held the snow and had deliberately slowed down until it broke.
James glared at her. "If we were in switched positions, I don't think that you'd be the one laughing."
"But we're not in switched positions, are we?" She continued to laugh.
He stuck out his tongue and threw her the reins. "You drive until I get this blasted cold stuff off of me."
She sighed and shook her head. "I still can't understand why you don't like the snow."
"I don't see how one 'could' like this stuff. It's cold, it's wet, it's a nuisance, it's cold, it ruins people's lives, it's pretty and light, and it's fun to play in, and...and..." He searched quickly for a word that summoned up his feelings and smiled triumphantly at her when he did. "And it's cold."
She sighed with a smile and lightly held the reins. As if knowing who held the reins, Lightning balanced out onto a smooth trot. Feeling courageous, however, Jessie gave him a small 'thwap' with the ropes. Lightning, feeling more than eager to comply took off in a canter. Jessie laughed as James was lurched back. He quickly grabbed onto the railing on his side and righted himself up.
"That was mean of you! You should have told me you were going to do that!" He paled as the horse picked up speed. "I think he's going to fast!"
"Oh, shut up and relax! I've always wanted to do this, so I get to go as fast as I want!" She laughed again as she urged the horse to go faster.
After some time when Lightning had grown tired, they turned around. The forest was full of light, and the trail they had left behind in the snow was fresh. There was no need to worry, Jessie tried to comfort James. Besides, Lightning knew he way around. He had probably done this a million times already.
"Still, I think that those reins would be safer with me. I can't trust you now! You'll just take off again."
She giggled and handed him the reins. However, when his hands had enclosed the reins, Lightning growled. "Is it just me, or did that animal just 'growl?'"
"I think you've found a new best friend, James."
Suddenly, Lightning stopped. His ears perked up to find and hear a certain sound, and went immediately back. It took off on a lurching dead run towards the way they had come, but in that process, James had let go of the reins and dropped them in-between the Rapidash and harness.
Jessie didn't laugh this time as she jumped forward along with James to grab the reins. Knowing that it was futile, and to Jessie's surprise, James climbed over the metal bar that kept people from doing just what he was doing. Nevertheless, with swift fingers and arms, James finally managed to grab the reins. However, just as his fingers clenched the ropes, Lightning ran over a large rock which caused the carriage to jerk. James lost his balance and fell onto Lightning's back, and just missing getting burned.
He pulled himself upright and pulled on Lightning's reins as hard as he could. After minutes of that, Lightning slowed to a canter, then to a trot, and finally a complete stop. He sighed in relief and slipped off. He didn't even realize that Lightning hadn't burned him.
Grinning, he came to the entrance of the carriage. "Well, it looks like we've had our excitement for the day."
To his complete astonishment, he felt something collide with him and he lost his balance. He struggled to sit up against the impact that had pushed him to the ground. His shock grew when he looked at Jessie's face, at its redness and how her eyes were full of tears. "J-Jessie?"
"I thought that you were going to fall," she whispered.
James was too shock to talk, for he had never seen Jessie in this state before. Sure, he had seen her cry before, but that was always usually over her own self-pity. He couldn't remember when she had ever cried over him, and they had been in much worse situations than this in the past.
He put a hand on her hair and lightly stroked her soft locks. His eyes drifted over her face and he saw her lower lip tremble, which she held under her teeth to stop it from doing so. He took a deep breath and let it out before talking.
"I'm fine, Jessie. I don't see why you should be so worked out about it."
She shrugged and looked at the cold ground. An uneasy silence took hold on them as they tried to figure out what to say. It was Lightning, however, who broke it. He snorted and dug at the ground, as if reminding them they were on a deadline. Jessie stood up and walked over to him, and pointed an accusing finger at him. "Well, we'd be there by now if you hadn't taken off like some fraidy-cat." Lightning lowered his head and flattened his ears, peeking up at her through lowered eyes as if he knew what she said. She laughed and hugged his snot. "I forgive you." She laughed again as he butted his head against her.
James watched the play with amusement. Yes, she had been acting terribly different lately, but it was a change he could readily get used to. She was acting like her old self, the old Jessie he had known at Pokemon Tech. Sweet, kind, and caring, yet dangerous and terrifying if crossed with. He hadn't seen her smile like that since...well, since a long time ago. She seemed so...happy.
He stood up and walked next to her. However, when he stopped next to her, jumped back at her sudden outburst. "But I didn't say that I forgive you! I swear, you're going to give me a heart attack by this week is finished." She brushed past him and jumped up on the carriage. He only shook his head and jumped up after her, taking the reins from her.
They walked back towards the rental station in silence yet again. 'Déjà vu.' *Well, that would happen if you'd say something,* his annoying voice said sardonically. 'What would you say.' When it didn't say anything, James snorted. 'Yeah, that's what I thought.'
It was only three minutes after he had that little disagreement with himself when they reached the spot where they had rented Lightning and his carriage. They would have passed right by it, if Jessie hadn't pointed out that that was the step-like rock she had used as a stool get onto the carriage. When they jumped down, a surprise hit them, for there was no sign, or man, or even any sign of that anyone had been there all day. The only sign of life that had been there were only two sets of footprints that they recognized as their own, a pair footprints, and wheel tracks.
Perplexed, James went to find a phone booth while Jessie stayed behind and looked over the Rapidash. She leaned against his neck, while she petted his nose. She liked how it felt under her fingers, that it was so soft and fuzzy. She laid her head against his mane as she tickled him under his mouth. He made a neighing sound that she could easy make out as a laugh, that is, if Rapidashs could laugh. She smiled and continued to stroke his soft nose. Then, it hit her. She jumped back in alarm at the sudden thought passed through her; he was not burning her. The two had only known each other for an hour, and yet Lightning already trusted her. She smiled in glee and looked him in his twinkling eyes.
"I think you trust people too easily, Lightning. You don't know anything about me, yet you don't burn me. If you knew my true self, than you wouldn't be so easily trustworthy." She laughed as he yet again butted against her. "Of course you wouldn't." She heard her name being called from behind her, and she turned around, expecting James to be standing close to her. When she didn't see him, she frowned in confusion. Shrugging it off, she started to turn around, but when she heard her name again, she flipped around.
Then, she saw someone running towards her. Still confused, she only stared at the man who now stood before her, grinning. "Jessie? Is it really you?"
"Do I know you?" she asked, annoyed.
The man frowned. "You don't remember me?"
"Should I?" she snapped.
"I'm your brother, Jessie."
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To be continued...