Author's Note: Okay, I have to warn you that this chapter contains Yaoi. I don't want to
be flamed by people who are against m/m relationships.
Chapter 7-A Strange Night
As Vincent walked down the dark, deserted streets, the cool night air blew around him, tugging at his cloak. He felt bad about slipping out without telling the others, but he needed to think. Everything that had happened since he had left home seemed like it fitted together, but he couldn't think how. Were his brothers involved? Even worse, had he dragged his friends into this without knowing what he was doing? Vincent had no idea, but the thought that eight trainers had already gone missing in the last year made him uneasy.
As he stood half in the shadows, something touched his arm, causing him to jump. "Misty" he said, half relieved and half angry to see her next to him. "You scared me. What are you doing out here anyway?"
"I wanted to ask you something. I never get a chance when we're all together. Someone else always seems to be around and I wanted to talk to you alone"
"Alright, go on. I'm listening"
"You know that day we first met you? That night I had a nightmare and when I woke up, I thought that you were there. Was it really you, or was it just another dream?"
"That was me. I was under a bush, not far from you guys. I heard you crying out in your sleep so I came over to see what was up. Sorry if I scared you"
"No, it made me feel better. I wish that Ash was that thoughtful sometimes"
"You really like Ash, don't you?"
"I don't know Vincent. I used to, but now I'm not so sure. You see, I've been thinking about you a lot and I'm really confused"
"Don't worry Misty. You're not the only one. I'm getting pretty confused myself"
"Would this help?" Misty stood up straight and kissed him hard on the mouth. Vincent kissed her back for a moment, then came to his senses and pulled away. "I'm sorry Misty," he said gently. "I can't do this. Ash likes you, I can see it in his eyes, and I know that you like Ash, even if you are confused at the moment. I'm really sorry, you're nice and everything, it's just…"
"I know" Misty let go of him and took a step back. "You don't have to explain. I saw the way you were looking at Gary Oak last night when I woke up. I guess I'm the one who should be sorry. You're right. Oh and can we keep this conversation between ourselves? All of it, I mean?"
"I won't say a word. Oh and Misty?"
"Yes"
"Thanks. Thanks for everything. Go back now. Please. It's safer in the pokemon centre"
"I will. And you be careful, okay?"
"No problem"
As he watched her walk off, he had a sudden urge to run after her and tell her that she was wrong, that he had no feelings for Gary. Yet he couldn't live a lie, so he said nothing.
When Misty had disappeared into the pokemon centre, Vincent was about to set off exploring, but he saw a movement in the bushes. As he watched, Gary Oak jumped up and begun to ran towards the pokemon centre. Vincent could tell that he had seen what had happened between him and Misty and it had upset him a lot. "Go get him, Sol-leks" Vincent told his pokemon. "But please don't hurt him"
Sol-leks ran after Gary and caught the bottom of his sweatshirt. Gary tried to pull away, but Sol-leks wouldn't let go. Vincent ran up to Gary and grabbed his shoulder. "Look at me, Gary" he demanded. "I know what you just saw, okay. I can explain, but don't run away from me. I'm your friend and if something is bothering you, you can tell me"
"You're…you're my friend?" Gary stared at him, forgetting how upset he was. Vincent shrugged and gave him a small smile. "Of course" he said. "You're all my friends. Unless you don't want to be my friend"
"No, I'd love to be your friend. But I haven't exactly had many friends. Only Ash, but that was when we were younger…I guess most people find me too cold to be friendly with"
"Gary, I've never had a real friend, other than Sol-leks here. Before my parents died, or should I say, my mother and stepfather, I was taught at home and didn't have many opportunities to be with other people of my own age. When Damon became my legal guardian, he went out of his way to ensure that I had no real friends. For some reason, Jack supported him on this. I like all of you, even Jessie and James, but it's still all new to me. The emotions and everything"
"Vincent" They sat down on a park bench and Gary turned to his friend. "What happened between you and Misty back there?"
"Misty likes Ash, but she's confused because she has feelings for me. She kissed me, but I just couldn't do that, to her or to Ash. Why were you so upset about it anyway? Don't tell me that you like Misty too?"
"No, I don't like Misty. Her heart belongs to Ash and no one else gets a look in. I like…I like you. I mean…I have feelings for you. I'm attracted to you"
"Oh Gary" Vincent smiled at the younger boy. "I like you too. I mean, I guess I'm attracted to you. But I can't have a relationship with you. Not yet. At this point, friendship is all I can offer. Maybe in the future, when this adventure is all behind us. In the meantime, maybe you'll grow out of it"
"No way" Gary shook his head. "I've never felt this way about anyone, Vincent"
"Maybe, maybe not" Vincent shrugged. "Guys our age, sometimes go through a stage of being attracted to other guys. We may both grow out of it, or one of us, or neither of us. But it's better if we just wait and see"
"I understand. Thank you for not holding it against me…Vince, could I just ask you one favour?"
"Anything"
"I've never been kissed before" Gary admitted. "Would you mind…?"
He broke off as Vincent pulled him into his arms and gently brushed his mouth against Gary's. "You mean like this?" he teased. "Or like this" he whispered, kissing him deeply. Gary happily returned the kiss, until a shadow fell over them. Looking up, they saw two men in dark clothes, standing over them. "Well look at what we've got here" one man said to the other. "If I'm not mistaken, this is Jack's other younger brother"
"Why yes. I do believe it is" the other man stared hard at Vincent, but Vincent met the man's gaze. It was the man who looked away first. "Listen kids" the first man told them. "We've been ordered to watch out for you and to either take you prisoner or dispose of you. But your brother can be a nasty fellow and I don't like him much. If you promise to get out of here as soon as possible tomorrow, my friend and me never even saw you. There's bad things going on here, and youngsters like you don't want to get yourself messed up in it. Damon tried, and Jack locked him away. The same will happen to you if you don't get out of here" Before he had even finished speaking, they had begun to walk away. "Wait" Vincent called after them. "Did you say, 'Jack locked Damon away'?"
"We sure did, young one" the second man replied. "Damon was interfering with Jack's plans and Jack felt threatened. We have to go, before Clive finds out that we're missing" Before Vincent could say anything else, they had gone…
"Jack" Vincent whispered. "It can't be true, it can't. Jack can't be the bad guy in all of this. That makes no sense. Come on Gary" he stood up and signalled for Sol-leks. "Let's go back to the pokemon centre. There's something strange going on here and I want to find out what. If it's anything like I'm thinking, we could be in real danger"
"You think so," Gary sounded worried. Vincent put one arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry," he said. "I'm here, remember. Come on Sol-leks, we're going back"
While Vincent and Gary had been talking, back at the pokemon centre Misty and Ash were also talking. When Misty had come in, she had immediately pulled Ash away from Brock and now she sat facing him in her room. She took a deep breath and said, "Ash, I have to tell you something. But please don't hold it against me if you don't like what I'm saying"
"Misty, I'm your friend. I know I may not act like it sometimes, but I am. I won't hold anything against you"
"Ash, I love you. I've had feelings for you for a long time" Misty admitted. "I've wanted to tell you, but I was afraid too"
"Afraid? Why?"
"I was afraid that you would reject me I guess. Are you going to reject me?"
"No Misty. I…I love you too. But I was scared to tell you. I didn't think that you felt the same way"
"Ash, we're a pair of idiots aren't we? If it weren't for Vincent, we probably never would have told each other how we felt. So, will you be my boyfriend?"
"Sure" Ash leant forward and gently kissed her. "I would love to"
In the next room, Jessie and James were having a similar conversation, while Meowth was pretending to be asleep. It all began when Jessie asked James, "So, what do you really think of that guy then?"
"What guy?" James asked, looking blank. "Oh you mean Vincent? I kind of like him. For a young kid, he sure talks a lot of sense"
"Yeah, he does" Jessie gave a sigh. "But I'm curious about that pokemon. If he belonged to Team Rocket before, then why did our boss give him away?"
"Meowth told us, remember? He hurt his leg in a pokemon battle and the boss gave him to a trainer"
"Oh yeah, I remember now"
"And now he wants him back" James said slowly. "Well he seems to be a good pokemon, I'll admit that. But anyone can see how devoted he is to Vincent. It sounds stupid, but I'm not sure that I can take him now"
"James!" Jessie looked shocked. "But they were our orders. If we don't obey them…we'll be out of Team Rocket"
"Stuff Team Rocket" James said quietly. "All I know is that watching how Vincent and his pokemon act towards each other has got me thinking. We have no luck at being bad guys, so maybe when we get back we should try something else. Like being pokemon trainers"
"What do you mean 'we'?" Jessie asked. "Maybe I don't want to leave Team Rocket"
"Then I guess I can't make you. But Jessie…I love you. And I want you to come with me. Please"
"James…I'd go anywhere for you" Jessie said slowly. "But to be honest, the thought of being on our own, without Team Rocket is scary"
"You've always got me" James took her hand and looked loving at her. "And I swear I'll never leave you. Or Meowth. He's our friend and I love him too"
"Oh James" Jessie threw herself at him, knocking him backwards onto the bed. And in the corner, Meowth smiled to himself and shut his eyes, allowing the couple some privacy.
