Fire and Ice
Chapter One: Burning
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"Hey Yawa, want to dance?"
Kasumi looked up from rubbing her sore ankles in slight surprise at the unexpected voice.
It was the night of Ookido-hakase's sixty-fifth birthday and Satoshi's mom had stopped at nothing to make it a grand affair. People from all around had come to join the celebration, including many of the people the famous trio had encountered during their journeys. There had been a large dinner, filled with much stories, laughter, and happy reunion between the many guests. And now as a finale of sorts, a dance had followed after the beloved and well-known professor had opened all his presents.
Shigeru Ookido, his grandson, was the last person she had ever anticipated to speak the words that had just smoothly rolled from his mouth. But there he was, standing in front of her with his face exuding his usual self-confidence and poise, the question hanging between them. Kasumi didn't know him well, having never been on very good terms with him due to his and Satoshi's constant rivalry. However, she knew that he had never been one to socialize with what he considered losers just as well as she knew that according to him, she fell into that category.
As she studied him, Kasumi idly wondered where the usual band of girls that hung off his arm had gone off too, deciding it was a nice change. His hair was styled in its usual messy fashion and his clothing were casual, in a just-threw-something-on kind of way that was somehow ridiculously attractive.
Startled at the realization that her mind had put the words 'Shigeru' and 'attractive' together, she failed to make any kind of response.
After a few more seconds of waiting Shigeru raised a brow expectantly, as if her answer should be obvious. "Well?"
Not quite knowing why, she accepted, slipping off her heels. "Sure."
Hiding the smug look that appeared, he led her into the crowd where they fell into step with the music without another word, their bodies balancing each other's moves perfectly.
"I guess I should have expected you to be slick on the dance floor as well as off," Kasumi finally spoke after a considerable amount of steps, amusement in her voice, "But I didn't think you'd be this good of a dancer."
"Yeah, I didn't peg you as able to work your legs right either."
Not sure if she was being insulted or complimented, she concentrated on trying to prove that she had better moves than he did. "So why did you ask me to dance anyway, Ookido? It's unusual of you to even speak to me."
"Perhaps I felt like being charitable and allowing you the privilege of my company."
She gave an unladylike snort. "Oh, how nice of you. Is this the part where I swoon and thank you endlessly?"
"No." He smiled devilishly, expertly pulling her into another twirl. "This is the part where we show everybody up with our dancing skills.
Kasumi laughed again, loving the way he could match her step by step. "You're on."
The unlikely couple began to draw attention as their dance quickened, following the beat. Coming closer together, their movements became more difficult and more intimate as they soon took over the dance floor. Most people backed away politely, while others stopped in appreciation to watch the now heated exchange.
When the song ended, the guests began to clap, some even cheering. Basking in the attention, Kasumi delightedly flung her arms around Shigeru. He was a little taken aback by the gesture, his mind reeling with thoughts of how sexy she looked tonight with her simple black dress and her fiery red hair falling around her face in loose waves. Why had he never noticed her before?
From a short distance away, Satoshi's brow furrowed at the sight of them together. Noticing this, Hiroshi spoke up softly. "All they're doing is dancing, Satoshi."
He looked at his long-time friend that he had been happily talking to for most of the night and shook his head. "I don't like it," he replied stubbornly.
"Shigeru's not that bad of a guy. There's no need to go and attack him."
"I'm not going to attack him, exactly, just nicely beat the crap out of him."
The auburn-haired boy put a hand on his shoulder, hoping to restrain him. "You don't want to cause trouble at Ookido-hakase's party, especially not with his grandson."
"You're right," Satoshi finally admitted. "I should only rearrange some of his teeth instead." At seeing Hiroshi's look he laughed, "Kidding, kidding. I'm just going to go see if I can talk some sense into Kasumi instead. I'll come back as soon as I'm done."
Leaving Hiroshi, he moved towards where the two were now standing, taking a break from dancing. His jaw clenched, seeing the way Shigeru was looking at her and the way she then laughingly responded.
He was not going to stand by and watch Kasumi get hurt.
"Can I cut in?"
Not happy with the interruption, Shigeru sneered at him. "Can't you see we're busy here? Get lost."
Ignoring him, Satoshi stayed where he was. "Kasumi, I need to talk to you."
She gave him a glare almost identical to the one on Shigeru's face. "Can't it wait?"
"No," He urged. "It's important."
"Fine." She turned back to Shigeru. "I'll be back in a couple minutes."
Arms crossed, he didn't respond, only silently watched her go off with Satoshi instead.
When Satoshi determined they were far enough away, he stopped. Kasumi whirled on him, annoyed. "What is it?"
"Uh… so you're having fun?"
"Yes, I'm having fun," she snapped with a look of impatience. "Why?"
"Well I was just thinking that maybe you should dance with some other people too. I mean Kenji over there looks a little bored, maybe you should go ask him to dance."
"Kenji hates to dance," Kasumi reminded him.
"Oh, right. Uh… why not dance with Hiroshi then?"
"Hiroshi is a sweet guy, but I somehow get the feeling that I'm not his type… or his gender for that matter."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Satoshi asked, confused.
She grinned inwardly. "Nothing. Forget it. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get back to--"
"Stay away from him," he suddenly warned, cutting her off.
"What?"
"Stay away from him," Satoshi repeated. "He's nothing but trouble."
Kasumi narrowed her eyes at him. "I can date whoever I please."
"Date? You want to date Shigeru?" He looked almost stricken at the thought. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing is wrong with me," she hissed. "And no I don't want to date him, and even if I did it is none of your concern. What the hell is your problem anyway?"
"You and Shigeru flirting with each other is my problem."
"It was just a simple dance!"
"A dance that could lead to other things. Kasumi, you know as well as I do that he'll only use you and then drop you when he gets bored."
"Shut up."
"Do you think he actually likes you?" He continued, despite her forceful demand. "Don't you find it suspicious that after years of never saying anything to you but insults he suddenly grows an interest in you?"
"Shut up!" She wouldn't admit it, but his words had dug up doubts she had held inside her. Nearly shaking in rage, Kasumi's voice dropped back down to a low growl. "You're really starting to piss me off Satoshi. I don't want to hear it anymore."
"I'm just trying to look out for you," he explained exasperatedly, desperate for her to come to reason.
"I don't need you to look out for me, I'm a big girl."
"And Shigeru is a big jerk!"
"I'm not stupid Satoshi, okay? I can make decisions on my own. And I don't need your dumb competition against him to interfere with my personal life."
"Listen, it's not just because I don't like or trust him very much, it's because of all the stories I've heard about how he's broken so many girl's hearts." He looked at her pleadingly, placing a protective and loving hand on her shoulder. "I don't want to see yours get broken."
She softened, hand lifting to intertwine her fingers with his. "I don't intend for it to." When he still didn't seem reassured Kasumi gave him a small, confident smile. "Besides, I'd crush him first anyway."
He gave her a conceding grin in return. "You're right. He doesn't stand a chance against the great man-eater, Kasumi Yawa."
"Of course he doesn't." She let go of his hand then, looking serious again. "You know it's important to me that you don't disapprove of my relationships. I mean it's not like I want to pursue something with Shigeru or anything, and even if I did I wouldn't need your approval," she added quickly. "But it just makes me feel better knowing that you would be happy for me too."
Satoshi considered and then finally gave a long, grudging sigh. "If you think Shigeru might make you happy then I'd be happy for you too."
"Good." She beamed. "Now enough of this, let's go dance!"
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"So, what did he want?"
"Who, Satoshi? Oh he was just being his usual foolish self," she replied, rolling her eyes affectionately as she allowed Shigeru to lead her in the slow dance they were now swaying to.
"I don't see why you still hang out with him."
She frowned. "He's my best friend, I care for him a lot."
"You've never been… together, have you?"
"Once, but it didn't work out. We realized we had confused love-love with friendship-love. We're more like brother and sister, really. Same with Takeshi. The three of us are practically family."
He wasn't sure whether to be displeased by this information or relieved. "Oh."
"What about you? Any girls in your life?"
"In the past? Too many to count," he replied offhandedly.
Kasumi fell silent.
"Well," he began, not liking the awkward moment that had descended between them. "What do you say that we blow this loser convention and go to my place?"
Her movements came to an abrupt stop as she tried to gauge the meaning of his question. "Sorry, I don't think so."
"Why not?"
Kasumi stepped away from him, Satoshi's words ringing in her head. "I'm just not that kind of girl."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm not going to just be another one of your one-night stands, Shigeru."
Deeply insulted but quick to hide it, his expression remained unreadable. "Who said that was what I was looking for?"
"Isn't that what you're always looking for?"
"Isn't that what all guys are looking for?" He retaliated.
"No. Believe it or not, there are actually some decent guys in the world." She pressed her lips together firmly. "And obviously you're not one of them."
"Try me."
Hands on hips, she titled her head and stared at him. "Why should I?"
"Why shouldn't you?" His eyes glinted of arrogant challenge as he moved closer. "Are you afraid?"
Her own eyes flashed momentarily, aqua darkening. "No." Kasumi paused, "Simply uninterested."
Shigeru didn't bother to conceal his outrage at that statement. "How can you not be interested? All girls want me!"
"And just when I didn't think it could get any bigger..."
His scowl deepened. "Hey, I can't help if it's a fact that I could have any girl I want. They literally fall to my feet. I mean just look at my fan club; they adore me!"
Ignoring him, Kasumi feigned concern and placed a hand over his forehead, as if feeling for a high fever. "Wow, Ookido I think you should really sit down and take some deep breaths."
He stopped and looked at her in irritation. "What are you talking about?"
"Well you see, if you keep feeding yourself ego instead of oxygen I think your head will have no choice but to burst. And you know girls don't really go for that whole missing head thing anymore. They find it too gross now or something, who would have figured? And anyway, what would your air-headed little groupies do without you to drive them around in your car? After all, that is the only reason they follow you for.
"Hey shut up, that's not true," he snarled. "And you're just as conceited as I am!"
"Excuse me?" She cried indignantly, her temper and nostrils flaring. "I am not conceited!"
"This coming from the girl who preens in front of a mirror for hours each day --futilely, may I add-- and thinks she is oh-so-better than everyone else."
"I'm not like that at all!"
He smirked. "Right."
"Yeah well everyone knows the only person Shigeru Ookido loves is himself," she shot back huffily. "No wonder you can't keep a relationship for longer than a week."
Without warning he took another step forward, boldly invading her personal space. His expression was dark and intense as he glared at her, his voice sounding almost dangerous. "You don't know a thing about me, Yawa. Back off."
The red-haired girl found herself at a loss of words, captured by his unexpected but not entirely unwelcome movement. He looked so wild at that moment, with his jacket and hair askew and his breath falling hotly onto her face.
It was strangely exhilarating.
"You're right," sounded her thoughtful murmur as she stared up into his face. "I don't know you."
"Probably better you don't." Shigeru backed away, releasing her from his mesmerizing stare. "All I've been doing is wasting my time with you anyway."
"Just what exactly do you mean by that?"
"I mean that you're just some scrawny and unattractive girl. Nothing but one of Satoshi's annoying friends. I don't know why I even bothered coming over here."
Remembering now why she had disliked the man standing in front of her so much in the past, her expression and voice became as cold as a Dewgong's ice beam attack. "Then I guess there's no point of you staying, is there? Make us both happier and leave."
"Gladly."
And with those parting words Shigeru strode off briskly in the other direction, pushing a startled Satoshi out of his way without so much as a glance back. After giving a furious scowl to his rival's retreating back, the raven-haired boy pulled himself back onto his feet and sent a curious and worried look in her direction.
Kasumi avoided his questioning gaze and instead turned away, willing herself to look nonchalant as other pairs of eyes looked at the door Shigeru had stormed out of and then turned towards where she now stood alone in speculation. Figuring now was not the time to make a bigger scene and that the wild stomping of rage would be best left until a crowd of familiar people did not surround her, she instead decided to seethe in silence.
How dare he? She thought angrily. First he had been flirting and being half-nice to her and then just like that he was back to being egotistical and insulting. She sighed, no longer wanting to dance, and spotted an empty chair nearby. Frustrated, she plopped down onto it. What had just happened tonight? The hot and cold signals Shigeru had given her were almost as confusing as the man himself.
However, despite her confusion, one thing was seemingly clear in Kasumi's mind.
She never wanted to see him again.
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End Chapter One.
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character of Pokemon, I just like torturing them with my twisted little mind.
Author's notes: This was an idea that popped into my head from no where and soon began to form into a fic. Probably influenced from the lovely writings of the talented dana-chan and Kayley Laskitt, here is my attempt at writing an egoshippy fic. This was the first chapter of two, and you can expect the second one within the next week or so, depending on if the mood strikes me to write.
As always, comments, questions, constructive criticism, etc are all very much appreciated!
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