Japanese Title: Holidays And Havoc! Promise, Promises And...The Orange Archipelago?!
Translation Horidee to Jigoku! Yakusoku, Yakusoku To...Sono Orenji Guntou?!
By: Pro_V
A/N: Real slight author note…Just wanted to point out that this chapter was originally 16 Microsoft Word pages, and then I "touched it up". Way up, actually, as the final count on pages is 24. Whee…So, just so you know, you'll see some wavering writing techniques through this. This is also where TAA's strong PG13 rating comes out for the first real time. That's all…
"Tomorrow's Christmas Eve," Lance partially bubbled as he sat on the porch swing and kicked up a puff of the new fallen snow.
"Yes, I know," Eevy nodded and rolled her eyes, "So you have forty-eight hours to wait."
"But you said Christmas Eve," he looked at her with a huge frown, "That'd mean twenty-four hours."
"Correction, dearest Dragon Master; I said the night of Christmas Eve. Which means later in the day."
"Huh?" his shoulders drooped as he whined, "Wha? No fair!"
Eevy laughed twice and put her right hand over his left, "I'll tell you what. From seven o'clock Christmas Eve night to seven o'clock Christmas morning, I'll stay with you. Provided," she stopped his twittering, "you follow a few simple conditions. First of all, I'll stop at your door at precisely seven o'clock and knock three times. If in five minutes, I have no answer from the inside of that door, you can forget about it. Secondly, you're ready when I get there. And lastly, you lock the door behind me. Then," she put her arm over his shoulders, "we'll do whatever you want."
"Don't worry," he smiled wide and saluted, "I can do that! In fact, I'll go start now. Get it done early!" he jumped up and ran inside, "Yes!"
"Note to self," Eevy thought with a laugh to herself, "Bribery works."
*^~^**^~^*
"We're leaving today," Pietro muttered and examined his Poke'Ball, "And I really hope Peter's happy with the information I've acquired."
"Me too," Paige nodded twice.
"And I still want to know what it is the Dragon Master and the angel are planning."
"Same here."
"Maybe a Holiday something? Or maybe something with you and me leaving? Or maybe even something with going after Peter?"
"We may never know."
"Yes, which really bites," his eyes widened and he froze solid, "Oh no. I just realized something. If Peter finds out those two are planning something and I didn't find out what it is, he'll toast me."
"That's bad," she murmured, almost in a questioning sense.
"You better believe it's bad! It's horrible! We can't tell Peter a thing about it. Not one word. We can't even let him know we heard anything. If we did and we then told him we never found out what it was, we'd be rotisserie for sure!"
"Definitely," Paige nodded vigorously.
"Come on," he stood up and slowly but surely straightened his composure, "Let's get going. Peter is going to want his information."
*^~^**^~^*
"Finally," Will muttered from behind Luri, "They're leaving. They were starting to bug me. A lot."
"Yeah, me too. At least, a little bit," Luri nodded back to him.
"Thank you again for helping Torpedo," Pietro elbowed Paige.
"Yes, thank you," Paige nodded a few times.
"It wasn't any trouble," Eevy shrugged, "I'll never turn down any Pokemon in need of help."
Vovo puffed by her side as he thought, "Unless you're curled up with Lance…"
"We'll be wandering around the City for another day or two, then we'll just be out and about Gertan Rin for a while," Pietro went flapping his gums again and gave away where they'd be if the group happened to figure out who he was related to and working for.
"Well, if you ever need help with your Pokemon again and you're in the area, you can stop by again," Eevy triggered an evil growl from Lance with that, "Do I have to get my book?" she turned around and snapped as he ducked.
"We'll be sure and come back again someday," Pietro turned and started walking, "That is, if you're all still here."
Will's eyes went narrow as the couple continued down the walk, "I do not at all like those two. There's something suspicious about both of them."
"Yeah. Same here," Jason nodded and looked overly thoughtful, "Anyway, it's the day before Christmas Eve, so I propose we go start getting the stuff under the tree."
"Good idea," Medira smiled wide and ran back in the door.
"Wait for us, Medira!" Yuu-Yuu and Rachel called, running after her.
"Some things can't go under the tree," Lance grinned down at Eevy.
"Very funny," she pushed him back, "Did you get the…uh…?"
"Yes, I did. All we have to do is wait 'til Christmas to hand the stuff out."
"So, you actually convinced him to go along with this?"
"You sound surprised. You didn't think I could do it," a statement, not a question, "But I did and you're amazed."
"Yes, you did. Thank you," she stretched and kissed him, "Let's go. If they get to them first, we'll never hear the end of it!"
*^~^**^~^*
"Peter! Yo, Peter!" Pietro looked side to side nervously, "Where are you? Peter!"
"No need to whisper. Who's going to hear us? The leaves?" Peter formed out of the shadow of a tree, "Did you do your job?"
"Yes, I did," Pietro gave an evil grin, "Here. This paper has everything you wanted to know."
Peter snatched the paper from his hand and scanned it, "Ah, yes. Very good, very good indeed. Well done, Pietro."
"Yeah, well, I didn't get the girl."
"You mean the Champion, don't you?" he turned around and smirked evilly at him, "I tried to tell you, didn't I? I told you your attempts would be futile. You wouldn't listen."
"Yes, well, I need some kind of payment for this."
"Keeping your life isn't enough for you?"
"No. I risked my neck way too many times to get that info. I need something for this."
"Why you greedy son of a bitch," Peter shook his head and stepped closer, "You got your money before hand, just like you wanted."
"Yeah, I got money before hand, but that was before I almost got caught spying. I deserve more for putting my life on the line."
"How much more?" Peter's eyes narrowed.
"Half my previous payment, at least."
"Half?!" Peter bugged, "A quarter maybe, but not half. No way, no how."
"You'd better hand something over," Pietro stomped forward and held his palm face up, sending out a fire ball, "or else."
"Or else what?" Peter jumped into his face and mimicked him, only this fire was much larger, "This is only a fraction of my full power. Even your flame-retardant skin would melt upon my touch. Or maybe I'll roast her instead," Peter raised his hand to Paige.
"Pietro!" Paige stepped back and shrieked.
"Don't do it!" Pietro grabbed his wrist, "Leave her alone. She's not as strong as you and I! You'd kill her!"
"No shit. You're turning soft. Sentimental bastard," Peter muttered, "Either take a quarter, or take nothing."
Pietro growled and shoved his cousin's arm away, "A quarter's fine," he spat and glared at him.
"You are not an Arbok, Pietro," Peter wisecracked, "Your glares will not paralyze me," he dug into his pocket, "Take your money and be gone with you. Your wife too."
"Yeah, whatever," Pietro pulled the money from his hand and grabbed Paige's wrist, "Let's get out of here, Paige, before he totally bursts."
Peter watched them go and shook his head as they disappeared from sight, "Once a Rubeus, always a Rubeus."
*^~^**^~^*
"Wow! A great big present for me!" Eevy snatched up the box, "And it's heavy too! What is it?" she tipped it around.
"Give me that!" Medira yanked it from her hands, "What are you? Five years old?"
"If it gets me a sneak-peek of what I'm getting, yeah!" Eevy snickered and crossed her arms behind her back, "I know what I got you guys."
"What you got them?" Lance snorted and narrowed one eye at her.
"OK, what we got you guys."
"What? What is it?" Yuu-Yuu jumped and stared at her, "Come on! Tell me!"
"No way! It's a huge surprise! I'm not saying!" Eevy pushed her back, "You'll love it though, I'm sure."
"We'll see," Jason stared at his stack of boxes, "What'd you guys get me, huh? I'll go nuts staring at these things all this afternoon and tomorrow!"
"Oh well," Luri laughed at him, "You'll just have to deal with it, won't you?"
"You people are cruel," Sooney eyed one marked for her, "I want to open all of these today! The one I opened today was no fun!"
"Same here!" Yuu-Yuu sniffled.
"Consider yourselves lucky to open even one before Christmas Eve. We'll each have to wait to open one tomorrow, but the rest wait for the official day," Will commented, getting scowls from nearly everyone.
"This is cruel and unusual punishment!" Mizu drooped as she stared at a box, "Evil people!"
"You can wait, I'm sure," Morty yawned and stretched.
"I don't have to wait," Lance snickered lightly until that usual book whacked across his face, "Ouch!"
Eevy cleared her throat, "Anyway, what say we all get to bed early tonight? Get up early tomorrow?"
"I say we sleep all tomorrow so we get up bright and early on Christmas," Beth smiled wide.
"I'm not gonna be sleeping tomorrow," the book again met his face, "Cut that out!"
*^~^**^~^*
"So what's up that you keep hitting Lance?" Medira watched Eevy carefully as she traipsed around the room, "And what're all these jokes he's making?"
"Nothing!" Eevy answered quickly and spun around.
"Do I detect some romance promised on Christmas Eve?" she gave a sly grin and narrowed one eye while putting up the other eyebrow.
"Well…" she looked side to side nervously, poking her index fingers together, "Yeah…"
"Aww! Cute!" Medira smiled wide, "So it's not just me!"
"You?! You promised Jason the same thing?!"
"Yep! But he has to wait until tomorrow."
"Lance refuses to leave his room. He's afraid he'll miss me tonight at seven, so he won't leave."
Medira started laughing, "I'm surprised I got away from Jason this long."
"Well, I'm Lance-free for another four hours, but I don't want to know what I find when I open that door tonight."
Medira's laughing doubled, "Yeah, I'm kind of worried about tomorrow!" she managed to laugh out.
"Scares you sometimes, huh?" Eevy started laughing too.
"Yeah, but sometimes they're really sweet. And sometimes you just can't help but really love them, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. Sometimes, though, they can really get on your nerves, right?"
"Right! But it always works out for the better."
"Yeah. I know that from personal experience."
"As do I."
*^~^**^~^*
"I do not believe I actually suggested this," Eevy murmured as Medira pushed her down the hall, her heels skidding along, "I really, really don't."
"Just calm down!" Medira reassured, "You never know; he might have candles and music and all that stuff!"
"That's precisely what I don't want!" she shrieked as Medira stopped her in front of Lance's door, "This is a really, really bad idea!"
"Hey, you're going to let me go with Jason, then I'm going to force you to go with Lance."
"You're evil!" she shouted as Medira ran away, "Pure evil!"
"Muahaha! Thanks! Bye-bye!" Medira laughed menacingly as she ran down the hall, "Good luck!"
"Yeah. Thanks," Eevy murmured and tapped the door with chattering teeth.
She didn't wait but a minute before the door opened and she was dragged inside by a snap to her wrist. Medira stood at the other end of the hall, laughing wildly at the shriek Eevy let out. Lance kept one arm around Eevy and locked the door with the other. She opened one eye and would have sighed in relief, had their lips not been locked together. Nothing was different; just the usual Ryujin room. She threw her arms around his neck just as he pulled back.
"What? No candles or music?" she snickered.
He blinked twice, "I could if you want me-"
"No!" she shrieked and shook her head quickly, "No. That's…OK," she smirked and twitched.
He blinked again, suddenly smirking, "You're nervous," he started laughing as she scowled, "Why?!"
"I have every right to be nervous, you big jerk!" she stomped, crossing her arms and huffing lowly.
"And I repeat; why?" he asked again, hands then placed on his own hips, "You don't have to be nervous at all."
She slowly narrowed one eye, then turned toward the door, "We'll just see," she snorted, then looking down under her arms, only to see her belt disappear, "Um…Excuse me…Did I tell you to do that?"
"What? Going to start directing me at this too?" the hair band was next to go, "And as I rightly recall, the deal was whatever I wanted."
She growled slightly, shoulders drooping, "See if I ever make a deal with you again," the strings of her cloak were slowly untied, "Watch it, buddy…You do something I don't like and I'll kick your butt."
"Ooh…You're so romantic," he snickered crazily and pulled her elbow to turn her around, "Can't you be nice to me?" she looked off to the side momentarily, then looked back with a flirty smirk, "Hah! I thought so! You were playing," he poked her stomach, causing her to step back, "I knew it! Knew it, knew it, knew it!" he kept jabbing at her and continued to make her recoil to the point that she shrieked and turned to run, "Gotcha!" he grabbed her waist and dragged her back.
"No! Let go! Evil!" she kicked and screamed, pounding her fists on his arms, "Eeh!" she kicked his knees.
"Yow! High-heels!" he whined, stumbling over the edge of a rug and sliding along the tiled floor, "Ouch!" he banged his head on the edge of the dresser, knocking things flying, "Ooh…You're gonna get it now, girly!"
"Ahh!" she screeched as he rolled over, "You're squashing me!" she gagged as she planted her face on the floor and he laughed evilly on her back.
He leaned down and rested his chin on her shoulder, kissing her ear and snickering, "You, my dear, have been grounded."
She frowned as she realized he was right, "You are officially the first person to ever floor me," she reached over her shoulder and swatted his nose.
"I plan on being the first to do a lot of things for, to, and with you," she cringed slightly beneath him, "What?"
"Nothing…" she shook her head and forced enough space to roll over, "Just that you're heavy as Draco…You're flattening poor petite me."
He rocked his jaw with a nasty grin, "You're such a cruel little sweetheart."
"Thank you," she kissed him quickly, then slipping off to the side.
"Hey…Get back here, you," he fought to his feet and bounded after her, catching her shirt.
"Eeh!" he snapped her back and dragged her along, "You're evil!"
"Well, another thing we have in common," he knocked the back of her knees with his arm, causing her to buckle right into his grasp, "Now let's see you get away."
"If I was really trying!" she retorted, bouncing slightly as he literally dropped her on the bed and sat down over her, "You…You're gonna get it."
"Sure I will," he rolled his eyes, again catching her lips with his.
She pushed him slowly away and tilted her head, "What?" she asked, ogling the way he stared.
He reached behind her neck and pulled the Crystal Bell necklace away, setting it carefully on the side table, "You're just…So beautiful," she grinned as he fluffed her hair away, "Your eyes and your smile. Your hair and your skin. You're smart, you're funny, you're witty, you're crafty, you're cunning, you're intelligent…Everything about you…You're just brilliant," he nudged her chin up, "And God, how much I love you."
She watched him for a moment before tilting an eyebrow, "I'm laying here under you, totally submissive, and you're talking about my smile," a small grin tugged at the right side of her mouth, "That's crazy. But I like it," she grabbed the collar of his coat and jerked him down, "Now let's talk about something else."
"No…Problem," he swallowed, wide-eyed, as she wet her bottom lip, "Oh man…How do you do that…?"
*^~^**^~^*
Medira paced slightly in front of Jason's door, arms crossed and heels clicking repeatedly, "I love it…He bugs me for this, then he's not even here!"
"Medira!" she turned slowly around as Jason came sliding down the hall at full Sapphire-created speed and snapped to a stop, "Sorry I'm a tiny bit late," he coughed, "I was trying to pick the perfect bottle," he waved it slightly and grinned.
"Yeah, well…At least you hurried," she shrugged and wandered in the door after he'd unlocked it, "I smell incense…"
"Yeah…" he scratched the back of his head, "It's not too over-powering, is it? The entire room smelled like the air freshener Karen used to use in here…It was gross."
"I kind of like it," she sniffed twice, "A nice…Summery smell compared to all the snow."
"Good," he sighed thankfully, "I kinda swiped it off Will, so…"
She sweatdropped slightly as she spotted him battling with the cork of the wine bottle, "Um…Corkscrew?" she offered, slowly holding it up.
He stared slightly, then drooped significantly, "Oy…I'm not exactly alert at the moment…"
"Not thinking enough?" she smirked slightly.
"Thinking too much, actually," he admitted while now attempting to open the bottle with the correct tool, "Too much about you, and not enough about other things."
"Ahh," she nodded twice, then changed the subject, "I just kind of…Dumped Eevy at Lance's door…"
"Yeah…While I was down in the kitchen earlier, he was down there bragging…" he rolled his eyes, "I was beginning to wonder if he was testing us. Trying to see if Will and I envied him for it, so he could squeal on us to Luri and you, and then beat us to a pulp or something."
"Wouldn't have surprised me," she raised her eyebrows, "Do you…Envy him…For it?"
He looked momentarily up at her, still attempting to pull the cork from the bottle, "Well…To be honest…A couple months ago, I might have. But that would have been before I saw you. You caught my eye like a magnet, Medira. When I thought you'd been with Peter…Him I really envied. And still do."
"You…Do? Why?" she questioned quickly.
"Well…He was able to help you when I couldn't. He calmed you down when all I did was upset you more. He shares so much with you, that I just kind of…Hate him for it. Even if he wasn't as evil as he is, but had still spent that time with you…I'd still despise him," he shrugged and went on about the cork.
She smiled weakly, "You're really sweet, Jason."
"Hehe…Thanks!" the cork budged a bit, "Hah! I'm getting it!"
"Um…I think you've shaken that…A bit too much," she inched away a few feet, "Be careful, Jason."
"Nah, don't worry! It'll be fine!" the cork suddenly fired out at warp-speed, "Whoa!" the contents of the bottle shot straight into Jason's face and the cork went ricocheting around the room.
Medira caught the cork just a few inches from the side of Jason's forehead, "Uh…I hate to say I told you so…But I already did."
He stood there a moment, then started wailing, "I can't do anything right!" he banged the bottle down on the table beside him and slammed down in a chair, "No matter what I do, I end up screwing it up! Oh man, I've got such a headache," he leaned his elbows on the table and rubbed his forehead.
Medira sighed slightly and pulled a tissue from her pocket, "It's not that, Jason. You just try too hard to please," she wiped the alcohol off his face, "Honest, Jason, you don't have to do everything perfect for me."
"But I want to…Try," he glanced up at her, "Try to…Keep you here."
She rolled her eyes, "You don't have to try to keep me here; I'll stay on my own," she carefully kissed his forehead.
He slowly stood up, shaking his hair up with his hand and spritzing wine in all directions, "Do you honestly mean that?"
"Definitely," she smiled and nodded, tossing the tissue in the trash with one hand and pulling his chin down to kiss him with the other.
He reached out to his right, fumbling without releasing from the kiss, and filled a wineglass to the very brim before moving away, "Uh…" he rushed and dumped half of it into the second glass, then turning back to her, "Um…Drink? Aheheh…"
"Thank you," she accepted the glass and took a slow sip, "Though all that wine on your face did it for me."
"Oh…Heh…" he swiped a drip running down his nose away, "Yeah…"
She leaned up and kissed his cheek, then his chin, then moving back, "There," she pushed his nose, "Good as new."
He smiled crazily, grabbing the bottle and corking it with his thumb before shaking it repeatedly, "Now where?" he grinned slyly as she gave him the most tantalizing of looks.
"As far as I'm concerned…" she unpinned her cloak and draped it over the bottom rung of the bed before laying down and kicking off her boots, "Anywhere you want."
He grew a stupid grin and nearly shot himself with the wine again as he restrained his leg from thumping, "Oh man…How do you do that…?"
*^~^**^~^*
"That was a great dinner, Will…Thank you," Luri squeezed the Psychic Master's arm and pecked his cheek.
Will just smirked in satisfaction with himself, "Absolutely any time," he nodded, "So…"
"So…"
"So…"
"So…" she repeated again, then sighed, "All right…Lead the way, Willie."
He nearly waved the V for victory, but held off on it, fearing he'd jinx himself, "Ladies first," he acknowledged, pulling her bedroom door open and grinning.
She bopped him over the head with her bag before tossing it on her side table and throwing her cloak on the hook, "You know, Will…I always wanted a guy like you."
"Pardon?" he glanced over at her while hanging his own cloak.
"Seriously," she sat down and rubbed her hands together to form a small snowball, "You're just like the guy I'd always dreamed of having. The guy I knew I'd love and who'd love me back, and the guy I knew my parents would approve of too. I don't know how it is Suicune was able to match us up so well, but now that we are," she flattened the snowball and allowed it to disintegrate, "I feel like a million bucks."
He couldn't help but hide the pleased expression he gained, "That's only a fraction of what you're worth to me. But I'm glad to hear it."
She smiled over at him, "What are you fiddling with over there? Come over here and sit with me."
He finally stopped nervously fingering his cloak and turned around, "I'm sorry, Dewdrop…No matter how much time I spend with you…"
She sniggered slightly, "You're sweating, William," she reached out and pulled his vest, yanking him over.
He sweatdropped a bit and sat slowly down next to her, "You know if you mention your parents…It…Creeps me out…" he swallowed.
"You really don't have to worry about them," she informed him, "You know my mother loves you, and you know what my mother loves, my father follows suit," she turned his chin, "So stop sulking and kiss me."
He kissed her slowly, leaning her back and brushing her hair away before sitting up a bit, "This from the one who was complaining not a week ago. If I wasn't so very tempted by you, I'd walk away right now for that."
She pushed his nose side to side, "You're such a crazy little Weedle."
He winked quickly and kissed her again, just laying her back, when her cell phone jingled on the table on the other side of the bed, "Damned phone," he hissed to himself.
"Mm…Let me get that," she pushed him off and reached for it.
"Let it ring," he snatched her hand and pulled her arm back, kissing the front of her wrist.
"I…Can't do that…It…Might be…Im…Portant…" she swatted at him and stretched farther, just about grabbing it.
"Just let it go," he placed a kiss on her shoulder, causing her to forget the phone to pull him away.
"No…Will," she ran her fingers through his hair and yanked him back by the aforementioned crimson mess, "Got it! Hah!" she rolled over and clicked a button, putting it up to her ear, "Hello?"
"Whoever it is, tell 'em to go away…" Will muttered, kissing her back.
"Uh…Hi, mom," she choked as Will tugged at her dress, "Um…Just wrapping some stuff for Christmas…Yeah. We decided to do it ourselves this year…Woah!" she punched Will in the gut as he kissed the center of her back, having undone the buttons in back of her shirt, "No! I just…Caught myself on the blade of the tape dispenser…Yeah, they're deadly little trinkets, aren't they? C-Can I call you back?" she looked over her shoulder and noticed Will's hand creeping for the disconnect button, "Thanks! Love you, mom! Bye!"
He pressed the button and yanked the phone away, pushing it off onto the side table, "Gee…Whatever will she think you bought?"
"You…Little…Ignoram…Us…" she spat as he slid his hands along her sides, "You almost…Got me…In…Trouble…"
"You're twenty three," he snorted, flipping her over and pulling at her shirt, "Why worry about your mommy getting angry? After all, you told me not to not even ten minutes ago."
"You know how much I respect my mother!" she growled, yanking her shirt back, "Stop it!"
He glared and sat up, turning around and crossing his arms, "You respect your mother more than me? Is that it?"
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, "No, Will. I just…Don't want to upset her at all. I want to make sure she thinks the most of me. And you."
"If you say so…" something suddenly whacked the back of his head, "Hey!" he looked off to his right side, finding a blue muddle of cloth before a second joined it, "Hey-hey-hey…" he whistled, "Shirt and skirt…"
She snickered and yanked at his vest, "Turn around slowly and nobody gets hurt."
"Well where's the fun in that?" he grinned evilly and turned slowly around, only to have a strand of blond hair waved under his nose, though his eyes focused elsewhere, "Phew…"
"You're sweating again," she smiled, "I can see it."
"Gee…Can't imagine why," he swallowed and blinked hard and she moved behind him and slid his vest off, giggling the entire time, "Oh man…How do you do that…?"
*^~^**^~^*
Yuu-Yuu's eyes were stuck open as she stared long and hard at the clock radio, "Two ten. Just five more hours."
"Yuu-Yuu," Rachel growled into the pillow, "Go to sleep!"
"But it's only five hours until seven o'clock! That's when we're all supposed to be up for Christmas!"
"Yuu-Yuu. Shut the hell up and go to sleep," Beth muttered, "It's too early to be awake."
"No it's not! There're only four more hours until six o'clock on Christmas morning, which is when I have to get up to be ready by seven! Do you realize that's only eight episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh! or Sailor Moon?"
"Yuu-Yuu, shut up!" Sooney shouted, "I want to sleep! Besides, we're not even supposed to celebrate Christmas!"
"But, Eevy and Lance have that really special present for everyone!" Yuu-Yuu squealed.
"For everyone! Not just you!" Sooney punched her pillow, "We have to get some rest!"
"Yeah. So close your sleepy little eyeballs and go to sleep!" Rachel shrieked.
"All right, all right! I'll try," Yuu-Yuu rolled onto her stomach and pulled the sheets over her head, "But I never said I actually would. Just because I "try" doesn't mean I "will"," she hit the light button on her watch, "Two fifteen. All right!"
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy yawned and slowly allowed her eyes to flutter open. She stretched her arms above her head and sighed long and hard, then smacking her mouth tiredly and folding her left arm behind her head. She looked off to her left, finding the bed to be empty. Odd, she thought. She sat up, wrapped up in a blanket, and looked left to right, her eyes immediately adjusting to the dimmed room. She was beginning to wonder until she heard the shower running. She shook her head and laid back, staring up at the ceiling fan. She grinned as she realized why Lance stared at it so much; it was slightly entertaining. She spotted his coat on the dresser beside her, having most likely been flung there (She wasn't sure where any of her stuff was.), and reached for it. Bringing it over, she nearly smothered herself with it, taking a deep breath and giggling. She sat there practically hugging the thing before the water stopped running. She jumped slightly when the door opened and quickly laid back down, chucking the coat back where it'd been. She covered her head with the blanket and sniggered slightly when she saw he was dressed in only one towel and using the other for his hair, which was never spiked up after getting wet, but was in its natural flat position. He heard her snicker and she immediately quieted and he glanced her way.
"Hm?" Lance looked up toward the bed, spotting those miraculous two-toned eyes staring at him from a slight break in the sheets, "Oh, you're awake. Sleep well?" she nodded slowly at him, "I didn't wake you up, did I?" she then shook her head, "Good."
He dried his hair slightly and threw that towel back in the bathroom. Her gaze followed him exactly as he wandered over to his dresser, milling around in one of the middle drawers after flicking his coat away. She leaned her right ear in her right hand and stared contently at him, not saying a word. He paused slowly, looking off at her a bit.
"What?" he questioned, then digging again.
She just shook her head again, this time quicker, and played with the thought of snatching that other towel away. She shrugged it off and continued watching him, still entirely silent. He looked off at her again, this time laying both hands on the edge of the drawer.
"All right. What's the matter?" he looked down at her.
She blinked a few times and ducked under the blanket, slowly peeking out at him. He couldn't help but snicker and bent down to look at her head-on. She blushed slightly, and though he couldn't see it, he could tell that by the way her cheeks raised she was grinning. Still, she hadn't said a thing.
"Why so quiet?" he then asked, tugging the blanket away enough to see her whole face.
She bit her bottom lip and batted her eyelashes slightly, lowering her head and looking slowly up at him. He started snickering, then laughing, and ran his fingers through her hair. He kissed her forehead and pushed her nose.
"I told you not to be nervous," he shook his head, meeting her eyes with his, "And I'll tell you right off that you had absolutely no reason to be. And before you even ask; yes, I mean that. Feel better now?" a drip of water ran down his nose and onto hers and she smirked, "How's about me?" she raised two fingers, "Two?! Hey!" she waved both hands, "OK. Try that again," she raised two fingers, then a fist, "Heheh…Ah…You're too kind, but go me just the same. Why don't you go take a shower now? I'll wait up for you," he kissed her ear, then buried his face in her hair, breathing deep, "Hey…You already did. That's my shampoo," he flicked her nose as she snickered, "Snot."
"Mhmm," she nodded and grinned, pulling something from under her pillow, "Looking for these?" she waved his pajama bottoms, "Beat you to it."
"Gimme those!" he snatched them away, "Holding them hostage on me…No wonder I couldn't find them. Devil woman."
"Thank you," she acknowledged.
She covered her face with her pillow as he changed, though she wasn't sure just why she bothered, "Here," he tossed something at her, "Now I beat you to it," her nightgown draped over her head.
"Now who's the snot?" she asked with a grin, pulling her dress on over her head and pushing it down.
He hopped under the covers and put his arm around her, pulling her closer and snuggling against her, "Do you know how long I've waited for this?"
She shrugged, "No…About as long as me, I suppose," she looked over at him, "But it was too long, no matter how long it was."
"Way too long," he noted, hugging her tighter and kissing her shoulder, "I love you, Eevy," he signed.
She moved as close to him as she could, "And I love you, Lance," she returned, kissing his forehead.
He brushed her hair away and carefully kissed her cheek, then around behind her ear and to the back of her neck. She shrieked and pushed him away, scratching furiously at where he'd kissed last. He blinked a few times, tilting his eyebrow, before pulling her hand away and kissing the back of her neck again. She squirmed and kicked around, as he'd caught a spot that was nearly crippling to her.
"No! Stop it!" she wailed, "Stop that! That tickles and itches and just all around bugs me!"
He merely laughed evilly and rolled her over, pulling her arms around and holding them together by her wrists at her back, "But it's fun the way you wiggle," he whispered in her ear, "Such a turn on."
She puffed slightly, "Oh yeah?" she snorted, elbowing him quickly and causing him to flop backwards, "I'll show you a turn on."
"Oh geez…" he backed away, banging his head on the foot bar, "Ow!"
"You're such a turkey," she snickered, crawling up on him and grabbing his wrists, "Now I've got you," she snickered.
"Be nice! Be nice! Be n-" he went wide-eyed as she kissed his throat, his eyes then rolling back, "That's nice…"
She glared slightly-nastily down at him as she sat up, her hair draping down, and glanced at the clock, "Merry Christmas," she smirked.
"Merry…Christmas…" he swallowed, watching her untie the drawstrings of his pants, "Oh good God…I'm gonna need another shower."
She leaned up into his face, "I've got a better idea."
She hopped off of him, pulling his wrist, and backed away to drag him to his feet. He stumbled slightly as she tugged him along, walking backwards and constantly motioning for him to follow, though he would have anyway. She backed up to the closed bathroom door and he shoved up against her, smirking crazily down at her, but she reached back and turned the doorknob, then spinning around and pushing him in. He went wide-eyed suddenly, and nearly fell flat on his face. His jaw dropped slightly and he twitched a bit as she closed and locked the door, grinning crudely.
She slowly approached and wrapped her arms around his neck, "You-I-We-Uh…" he swallowed as she kissed his chin, then his jaw, and pulled his arms out around her waist before putting her hands on his chest.
"What?" she asked innocently, the handles in the shower creaking as they turned, seemingly on her own, and she hopped in, tossing her dress over the top of the door, "Something wrong?"
"Nothing!" he blurted suddenly, thinking way too much for his own good, "Just…" he coughed, "Um…Wait for me!"
*^~^**^~^*
Peter sat quietly on a thick tree branch just a few yards back from those lining the yard of Rainbow Mansion, one leg pulled up and the other swinging free. He pondered silently his past. Before he'd become the Champion, he'd been just like every other trainer, most closely compared to Cain. He loved his Fire, even back then, but not to as destructive an extent. He had once loved Christmas and he spent it with his brother and sister before they'd passed, only a year apart. As far as he was concerned, he was alone in the world now. His parents were rotting in prison, his uncle and aunt wanted nothing to do with him (as if he cared) and his cousins were about as close to him as Water was to flowing through his veins. He wanted to count Medira as the one close companion he hand. He'd kill to count her! Maybe even die to count her. He loved that woman. Loved her like he never thought he was capable of loving anything but power. Yet she'd become distant; drawn away from him by Jason Peruwa III. If Peter ever had his way, Jason would pay dearly for ever separating them.
He stood slowly up and stared at her window, slowly blowing a kiss at it. He quietly whispered a Merry Christmas to her, as well as pleasant dreams. Pleasant…Not something he ever thought he'd catch himself thinking, let alone whispering to a woman who couldn't even hear him. He hopped down to the leafy forest floor and stuffed his hands in his pockets, slouching slowly away and into the trees. As far as him killing to have her, he had the perfect people in mind, and always had.
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy yawned and looked at the clock, "Six forty-five," she mused, "Maybe I can sneak out and he won't wake up until after seven."
She started to stand up, but Lance grabbed the other side of the sheets, creating a loop and pulling her back, "Where do you think you're going?" he asked as she sat back down, "Stay here with me."
"We live together, Lance. What more do you want?"
"You already know," he ran his hand up her back and over her shoulder.
She slouched and yawned, "We promised we'd be up at seven. Come on and get up."
"We can't do what I want to do standing up and dressed."
"What can we do in fifteen minutes?" she asked pointedly, digging around the bottom drawer of his dresser for an over-sized shirt and throwing it on.
"A lot," he frowned as she stood up and walked away to change into her own clothes, then using the mirror to see her the entire time, "What was that supposed to mean anyway?"
"Nothing. I was just kidding with you. And stop watching me," she came back out after dressing, "I'm sure there's a lot you can do in less than fifteen minutes."
He stood and sauntered over, tossing his arm around her waist and pulling her closer, "You should have learned that last night. But it's less than fifteen minutes now. Care for a refresher course?" he grabbed her chin and kissed her.
She forced him off and looked at the clock, "It's seven o'clock. Twelve hours of my non-refusal isn't enough for you?"
"No," he let her go and walked away to change for himself.
"Are you telling me this kind of thing is all you wanted out of this relationship?" she crossed her arms.
"No!" he shouted and slid out of the bathroom, buttoning his pants and tucking his shirt in, "Not at all and you know it!"
"Yeah…" she crossed her arms, "Sure."
He buckled his belt, "You know better," he walked up behind her and picked her up, as if she was like a featherweight to him.
She gave him an evil look, again crossing her arms, and looked away, "Maybe I don't trust you."
"Or maybe you're just being stubborn. Don't be this way, please. It's Christmas morning. And what happened to all the stuff you said last night?" he shook her slightly, "Or was all that a simultaneous reaction with the screaming and shouting?"
"Don't be sick."
"Not sick; truthful."
"And you should talk, since you were the one what was moaning and groaning and the whole bit."
"I don't find that at all funny."
She looked slowly back and shook her head, "You know I'm only playing with you. Come on," she held his neck and swung her legs out of his arms, "Let's go," she basically led him down the hall with her right index finger under his chin.
"Whatever you say," he murmured in a twitter.
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy was beaming in no time as she saw what was in that big box Medira had for her, "Wow!" she caused Lance to growl at how thrilled she was, "A laptop!" she was close to acquiring hearts popping from her head.
The Elite Fourth twitched a few dozen times, "Dammit…"
"Told you you could get it," Jason whispered to Medira, who nodded.
"This is the last one," Yuu-Yuu held up an envelope, "I wonder what it is."
"That's the big surprise," Eevy acquired a bigger grin than even the laptop had given her.
"In an envelope?" Sooney looked left and right at the others, who shrugged.
"Yeah. It's bigger than it is."
"Huh?" Mizu stared at her with a blank face.
"Just open it," Lance shook his head.
Yuu-Yuu hesitantly opened the envelope, "It's a folder. OK," she closed her eyes and looked away while opening it, then peeking back, "Woah. Woah! Woah!"
"What?" Lisle watched her shriek happily, "What is it?"
"It's-It's-It's boat tickets. Boat tickets to the Orange Archipelago. Tomorrow," Yuu-Yuu started laughing, "through the fifth."
"The Orange Archipelago?" Beth's jaw hit the floor, "Now there's a way to spend Christmas."
"I bet it'd be a blast," Rachel nodded and looked overly thoughtful, "Oh yeah."
"What do you mean would be?" Eevy attracted everyone's attention, "We're all going. From tomorrow to the fifth, just like Yuu-Yuu said."
"No way," Medira murmured, "Wow! I've always wanted to see the Orange Islands! I just can't wait to go!"
"This is gonna be so cool!" Luri cheered, "All that sun!"
"All that sand!" Lisle sprang to her feet.
"All those beaches!" Mizu shouted.
"And all that totally cool island food!" Beth jumped, "Burgers and hot dogs with all those sodas! Stuff you can't get around here until spring!"
"This just rules! I just can't wait! This is too awesome!" Medira cried, "Just too cool!"
"Told you they'd like it," Lance whispered to Eevy.
"Yeah, I guess so," she smirked as she answered.
*^~^**^~^*
"This is just so great!" Yuu-Yuu leaned over the rail of the boat, "This water is so beautiful!"
"It sure is!" Rachel watched the blue water rushing around the boat, "It got so warm after just a few miles."
"So," Eevy leaned next to the woman driving the boat, "You're Skiff's cousin Maren."
"That's me," she continued driving, "And you're the Champion Mistress."
"I sure am," Eevy repositioned the straps of her bathing suit, "But please call me Eevy."
"Sure," she looked to her and gave a quick smile, "So what do you think of the Orange Ocean so far?"
"Can't say much about the name being appropriate, but it sure is beautiful just the same."
"Hey, Eevy," Lance stepped up behind her and threw his arms around her waist, "Having fun?" he rested his chin on her right shoulder.
"Yeah!" she grabbed his hands as they sat on her stomach, "Thank you," she turned and kissed his cheek.
"You are very welcome," he kissed her back, "Especially since you look so good in that outfit."
She giggled and leaned her head into his, "Thank you," she ran her right hand up through his hair, "You're lookin' good too without your shirt."
Maren reddened and started going faster, "We're getting closer to Mandarin Island."
"I'm sorry, Maren!" Eevy pushed Lance away, "We'll cool it down."
"It's fine," she gave a nervous smirk, "So, I'm coming back for you on the fifth or early the sixth?"
"Early the sixth if possible," Eevy walked to the bar and looked out at the water, "This is gonna be so great."
"It sure will be," Sooney sighed and put her hair up, "What a beautiful place."
"I come from Tangelo Island, you know," Tracey jumped up next to her.
"Really? Is it nice there?"
"It's great. A really pretty place all year round."
"Great! Maybe we can go see it."
"Sure we can, but after we stop by where we're staying," Eevy paused, "Come to think of it, where are we staying?"
Lance facefaulted behind her, "In Lorelei's summer home on the beach of Mandarin Island."
"Cool!" Mizu smiled wide, "I'm staying in Lorelei's house!"
"Yeah, well, we've gotta keep the place in top shape. If anything's messed up when my mom checks it out, we're all history," Luri swallowed.
"You're acting like you're a fifteen year-old having a forbidden party," Will got a sudden stroke of questioning, "You did ask her, did you not?"
"Yes, I asked her! I just…neglected to tell her how many of us there are," Luri swallowed twice as hard, "She thinks it's just you and me."
"Oh, great!" Lisle slammed her head on the railing, "Just lovely! We're going to be in so much trouble!"
"Don't even worry about it. Like I said; as long as we keep the place cleaned up and straightened out, we'll all be fine!" Luri tried desperately to reassure the frowning Elite and their guests.
*^~^**^~^*
"Magmar, I choose you!" Peter released his Pokemon out into the center of the clearing in front of him, "OK, Magmar. Give me a view of Rainbow Mansion. Scan the rooms one by one," he snickered evilly, "We'll see who's where and attack according to that."
"Magmar mag," Magmar opened a view of the Mansion and started sifting through rooms.
"Hold on here," Peter leaned in for a closer look, "The entire place is empty! Where the hell did they all disappear to so quickly?! And all at once!" he started turning red and stood up straight with a roar, "Pietro!"
The Next Chronicle:
Inklings
Notes
Ya' know...Doing a 24 page chapter's HTML manually is a real cramp in the rear-end. Anyway, so what do you think? Please do not flame me...Now I'm off to start the HTML on the other stuff...*slouches off while grunting*
*^~^*Pro_V*^~^*
-=O~Her Pokemon~O=-
Happy Holdays!
-The TAA Team