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Chapter 40

Shifting uncomfortably in her oak chair, May wished the lining had a bit more... cushion.

It didn't help that this was the sort of place she'd never fre, with expensive wall paper and gold painted cornice. Either way, she found herself eating in a café called Le Wow.

Not for the first time did May glance apprehensively outside, where she could see a string of women giggling at the sight of her cousin. She'd noticed just how much positive attention he received from many people and she couldn't help but feel extremely self-conscious.

The man sat opposite her and had insisted they come here to meet Daisy, something May was quite anxious about. If she exuded nearly as much confidence and grace as Gary did, then she'd doubt if they even were truly related. After all, she was a klutz who was sorely lacking in the confidence department.

'Relax, she'll be here,' Gary chuckled as he sipped his sparkling oran berry juice, courtesy of Christophe, their water.

'You're not sitting in my shoes, are you?' May scowled back at the man irritably, wishing she could at least brush her hair out of her face. Unfortunately for her, Serena and Dawn had gotten their hands on her and created a stylish outfit to compliment the occasion they were calling a date. The notion alone made May almost want to gag in the nearest bin. At least Gary hadn't heard her friends call it that, otherwise she'd be in a whole other world of pain. The man seemed to thrive on seeing her discomfort, often encouraging her friends.

'I'm grateful for that, with your five inch heels,' the man mused as a tall, slender woman entered the café, her long, mahogany hair trailing down her back as she brushed a side fringe from her forehead, away from her sunglasses. She had accentuated curves in all of the right places and wore a turtle neck, above which a small moonstone could be seen dangling over her clothing. She was dressed in a black vest and a matching skirt and exuded a business-like air.

The woman made May flounder internally before her gaze focused on them. She smirked once before walking towards them, seemingly oblivious of the stares which she was receiving.

'Gary, it's a pleasure to see you,' a warm voice smiled as Gary stood up, surprising May by the tenderness with which he kissed the woman's cheek.

'You must be May,' the woman smiled, taking her sunglasses off to reveal brown eyes which were focused on the Johto woman with clear curiosity.

'Daisy? It's a pleasure to meet you,' May responded eagerly, holding out a hand, her Johto accent accentuated by her nerves.

'Honey, we're family. I think you can give me a hug, don't you?' The woman laughed before pulling May into a tight embrace, which left the younger woman almost tripping over her feet.

'I'm sorry I wasn't there when we were all growing up,' May began cautiously, uncertainly glancing from one cousin to the next.

'Please, you're forgiven. It's not like I thought of contacting you either,' Daisy laughed amiably as she took a seat in the empty slot beside her.

Christophe arrived to give them their meal—a sample of Miltank, Tauros and Bouffalant meat with a variety of berries to suit each individual flavours.

Once he was gone, May asked, 'so, what are you doing in Kalos?'

'I'm here for the same reason you are—the Wallace Cup, of course,' Daisy laughed again, her eyes never leaving May's sapphire ones.

'Really? You're a Coordinator too?' May squeaked, unable to suppress the giant grin which filled her lips.

'Yes, and I was a Breeder before that and a Masseuse before that,' Daisy giggled as Gary let out a small smile.

'How come you've had so many changes?' May frowned, blinking at the older woman.

With a flush, Daisy glanced at her brother, who explained, 'she spent a lot of time in hospital as a young child. It meant that she spent a lot more time studying than anyone else in Pallet Town. So, she studied to become a Masseuse for the health benefits it gave the pokémon in gramps' care. Then she studied breeding, wondering what could help pokémon reach their potential. Coordinating was the next best option, of course. I mean, she practically knows everything to make her pokémon shine.'

'Wow, you must be quite a formidable opponent,' May smiled at her cousin, who flushed at the compliment.

'Please, I've heard all about you from Ash, May. You're quite impressive yourself, a true Oak,' Daisy grinned in responseexplained, making her cousin blush.

'Well, I just did what I had to do, like Ash did,' May shrugged slightly as Gary smirked, 'are you sure he wasn't just trying to find an excuse to talk to you?'

'Gary, wipe that smirk off your face—you know that what he felt for me as a young boy has ended. You know as well as I do that he's got feelings for another,' Daisy glowered, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

The man, in response, raised his hands in apparent defeat.

'Am I missing something here?' May questioned as her eyes flickered from one Oak to the other.

'No,' Daisy began as Gary chuckled, 'nothing really, unless you count Ash's affections for my sister.'

'His what?' May yelped, feeling the blood drain from her face. How was she going to tell Misty or Serena that the man harboured affections for another?

'Don't worry, he's over me!' Daisy whispered as she dropped her cutlery on the table with a loud Klinklang.

'He'd better be, or quite a few girls I know will be really upset,' May whispered back, ignoring Gary's growing smirk.

'How can someone that thick attract so many babes to him?' Gary mused as his eyes lingered on the women outside.

'Gary, don't you even think about it. Leaf might not be here, but the papparazi will definitely ensure that she hears about this,' Daisy glowered at her brother, an edge filling her voice that May found herself very relieved that she didn't initiate it.

'What? Leaf? Oh, yeah, we're no longer talking,' Gary shrugged in an indifferent way, though both his relatives could see the slight strain in his eyes as well as the subtle frown on his lips.

'Gary Oak, what did you do?' Daisy seethed, her voice low and eyes glaring.

'Well, technically it was all her,' Gary shrugged as he brought his fork to his lips, tasting the meat offered by the prestigious restaurant.

'I am so not in the mood for your excuses right now. Give me the facts or I'll call her and demand them myself,' Daisy scowled as May busied herself with her food, suddenly no longer tasting the sweet spices on the meat.

'You might want to get to Ash first, or Misty, both of them were there to see her being an unforgivable little Miltank. There's no need to take her side over mine, I thought blood meant more to you than that,' Gary glowered back, an edge filling his voice at his sister's anger.

'Guys, can we maybe not do this here?' May squeaked as she glanced at the other patrons in the restaurant, hoping not to attract any attention.

'I don't see why not,' Daisy said, her anger momentarily directed at May, who blanched visibly, considering hiding underneath the table.

'Daisy, she had a go at May. I've told you what May's been going through, Leaf knew some of the specifics, and she went at her like a rabid Houndoom on a Wurmple,' Gary said, returning his sister's anger with a vengeance.

'She did what? She wouldn't have done anything without someone inciting her,' Daisy frowned, appearing shocked.

'Yes, I'll tell you how it happened. I got her to meet May with a razz berry cake, then she starts making snide remark after snide remark and then it goes too far. I've been taking the brunt of her cold hearted remarks for years, Daisy, and I know you've witnessed it too. I've tolerated it for years, but I'm not going to stand there and let her rip into our cousin!' Gary glowered, his voice rising with each word.

'Is this true?' Daisy asked May, who nodded slightly.

'Is Misty still associating with her?' The Kanto woman questioned, pointedly ignoring her brother's angry glower.

'Yes, though I think it's strained,' May grimaced as she made her left over meal dance around the plate.

'I'll have a chat with her,' Daisy frowned as she brought a small makeup kit out of her purse and began reapplying lipstick.

'No, you won't. I want her to be the last to find out, and I don't want you to tell her. She's crossed the line this time, Daisy. I don't want her in our house, either,' Gary said, surprising his sister by the genuine anger in his voice.

'She's really done it this time, hasn't she? And here I was, thinking it would be you who pushed her too far,' Daisy mused as her eyes met her brother's above her compact mirror.

'It's not like she'd ever have given me a chance anyway,' Gary shrugged, his indifferent act returning.

'For the love of Lugia and Ho-Oh, don't bring the cheerleaders back,' Daisy frowned as she snapped her mirror shut.

'I'm sure they've moved on,' Gary chuckled as May blinked, 'cheerleaders?'

Taking out her wallet, Daisy passed an old picture of Gary, seated in a café with six other women. Two had short, brown hair, another had hair as purple and wavey as Harley's, there was one whose hair was bright blue along, another had very short black hair and the last one had long brown hair.

'They were some girls who were my age. I used to be friends with them until I got really sick. Then Gary started to let them know how I was, and the next thing I know, they were all fawning over him. Needless to say, I don't associate with them anymore,' Daisy explained as May's face flushed at their skimpy beach attire.

Letting out a giggle, May couldn't contain her amusement at Gary's heated flush across from her.

'This is beyond adorable! He looks so confident here, it's unbelievable!' May gasped between giggles, causing Daisy to grin in agreement.

'Hey, give me a break! That was a dark time for me, ok?' Gary scoffed, though he couldn't help but smile as Daisy and May continued to giggle.

'Yeah, you were so worried about me that you stole my friends,' Daisy teased, pinching his cheek affectionately.

'Get off,' the man groaned before glaring at the woman, who smiled a bit too innocently.

'So, I take it we're going to be rivals?' Daisy mused to May, who flushed at the thought of another rival.

'Yes, I guess so,' May grimaced at the prospect of yet another rival.

'Then let the best girl win,' Daisy winked as she held out a hand for May.

'You bet!' May grinned back, shaking it.