Japanese Title: Tricky Romantics! New People More Than Friends?!
Translation Iuken Romanchikku! Nyuu Kokumin Ijou Furenza?!
By: Pro_V
"Only nine more days of this great sun to go!" Yuu-Yuu whined and sat drawing circles in the sand, "I don't want to go home!"
"What? Would you rather stay here with your swimming buddy?" Skiff cracked nastily.
"Stop that!" she scolded and flicked his ear, "He was just being polite. It's not like you came in after me, Mr. You'll Be Just Fine With Me Here."
"You…came back up before I got the chance to come in after you," he looked side to side frantically, hoping she'd buy that.
"Bull! You were sitting there staring at where I fell in when he pulled me up! You're a jerk, Skiff Frigate! A bona fide jerk!" she stood up and stomped off, growling wildly about his idiocy.
"Hey, Yuu-Yuu! Please don't be mad at me!" Skiff shot to his feet, "Yuu-Yuu! Oh, come on, Yuu-Yuu!" he kicked up a shower of sand, "Damn it! I don't believe I screwed that up!"
"Big jerk!" Yuu-Yuu kicked a rock across the sand, "Trying to lie to me! What a little dirt ball!"
The rock rolled up a pile of sand and right over the other side, "Ouch!" someone called from the other side.
"Oops!" Yuu-Yuu ran around the other side, "Sorry about that!" she apologized as she ran, "Oh. It's you."
"Good to see you too," the kid from the day before smiled wide at her, "I've been meaning to tell you. I'm Alax Heinz."
"Oh. I'm Yuu-Yuu. Yuu-Yuu Palm," she shrugged.
"Palm as in Professor Palm of Lily City?" he suddenly looked overly surprised.
"Yep. Professor Palm is my dad," she sat down on the pile of sand he was next to.
"You're here with the Champion Mistress, aren't you?"
"Yeah," she looked at him blankly, "How'd you know that?"
"Everyone's seen you around the island. You're really lucky, Yuu-Yuu, to know someone like her. But you sounded angry just now when you clunked me on the head with that stone. Were you?"
"Uh…A little," she looked off towards the water, "It was just Skiff being a little brat is all. Just his usual lying to try and get on my good side. Nothing much."
"Oh," he looked off and into the flaring red eyes staring at him, "You going to try and make amends?"
"I don't know. Maybe," she shrugged and shook her head, "Probably."
Those bright red eyes roared and flashed, causing Alax to swallow hard, "Why are you going to try and apologize after what he did?"
"What?" Yuu-Yuu looked up at him blankly.
"I mean, he let you fall in and didn't try to help you. It was me who helped you out of the water and into the boat while he sat there and you just said he was getting you angry."
"Well, I suppose that's true, but I don't know if I could actually stay angry with him. It was hard enough for me to just walk away from him like that."
"But why was it so hard if he got you so angry? I think you're just saying that because you're afraid to let him go."
"I can't let him go if I never had him in the first place," Yuu-Yuu partially huffed.
"Then why won't you forget about him? If he seriously got you that angry, why put up with him any more? Is it worth it?"
"Well, we've only known each other for a few weeks, but we've been through a lot together already," she put her hand to her mouth thoughtfully, "I don't know what I'll do."
"I'm sure you'll figure something out soon," he looked her square in the eyes, "Maybe I can help."
"…Maybe…"
*^~^**^~^*
Mizu sat at the counter of the bar and cracked her knuckles, "Hello again," someone caught her attention from the other side of the counter.
"Oh no," she choked and looked up slowly, "Hello. Saw you at the stand earlier, right?"
"Yep. Right before you wandered off on me," he held out his hand, "Rick. Rick Thomos."
"Mizu Mist," she shook his hand stiffly, "You're the bartender?" she cocked her head.
"Better believe it!" he gave a huge smile and leaned across the counter in front of her, "What is it I can get you? Beer? G&T?" he leaned right in her face, "A kiss?"
She acquired an annoyed facial expression, "Brandy," she scowled and looked over her shoulder at Eusine.
He sat with the older of his two cousins, staring at Mizu. He left his right arm and left elbow on the table with his drink in his left hand. His sights were trained on his girlfriend and the tapster, ogling one and scowling wildly at the other. He puffed once and took a drink from his glass, then returning his attention to them.
"Who's the guy you keep staring at?" the glass slid down the counter at her, "Brother? Cousin?"
"Boyfriend," she corrected indignantly, "Why?"
"Just interested," he went back to leaning in her face again, "Interested in you, that is," he smiled wide.
She cleared her throat loudly, causing Eusine's eyes to narrow and his hand to tighten on the glass, "Don't do it," he muttered.
Mizu glanced off to the side and spotted the taps, "I always wanted to learn this kind of stuff," she blurted without thinking, then slapping her hand over her mouth, "Shit!" she muffled into it.
"Really?" Rick's grin grew, "It takes some work, but I bet for someone as pretty and talented as you, it'd be pretty easy."
Eusine growled a bit, startling Morty but remaining silent as Mizu continued, "Yeah, maybe…"
"How about," Rick looked off to the corner where a shadow stood with glowing red eyes, "How about you come through that gate there and I'll give you some lessons?"
"Lessons at what is the question," Eusine growled into his glass and took another drink, licking and running his teeth over his bottom lip.
"I-I don't know," Mizu swallowed the brick lying in her throat, "Eusine…"
"He's not protesting," Rick shrugged and snatched her hand, "Come on. If you change your mind, I'll let you leave," he caught her sight, "Promise."
"Uh…" Mizu peeked over her shoulder at Eusine who repositioned himself in his chair while drinking, causing a fountain of bubbles to come up from his drink; obviously something he didn't want to say out loud, "I suppose…it couldn't hurt."
"Great!" Rick pulled her to a stand and dragged her through the gate with Eusine glaring straight through him at the table.
"Son of a bitch," Eusine murmured into his hand as he ran it over his mouth, "Twisted little-" he cut himself off.
"I don't believe she actually went for him," Morty's jaw hit the table, "That's just sick."
"Yeah, well," Eusine watched Rick take Mizu's hand and put it up on the tap, "he'd better watch where he puts his hands or that won't be all he loses."
"Don't worry, cous," Morty leaned back with his hands behind his head, "She'll be fine. You don't see me worrying about Lisle, do you? No; because I know she's not like that."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Don't guess, Eusine. Know. Trust them. Just because they're women doesn't make them vulnerable or weak. Trust me," Morty rolled his eyes, "Eevy can kick me into last week and she is definitely not a guy."
"That's just 'cause you can't fight worth beans," he ignored the absolute evil look Morty acquired, "But I still have to worry at least a little bit. I really care about her and I don't want to lose her for the world. I'd die for her…I just hope she knows it."
"She does, Eusine," Morty nodded twice and put his hand on Eusine's shoulder, "I'm sure of it."
"I hope you're right," Eusine glared at Mizu and Rick again, "I really, really do."
*^~^**^~^*
Lisle sat on the deck railing, swinging her legs and painting her fingernails dark violet. She put out her right arm to the side to get more nail polish on the brush and accidentally hit the bottle. It tipped right off the railing and went flying towards the ground.
"Damn," Lisle grunted, "I only had two more to do too."
"Looking for this?" someone asked from below her, holding up the undumped bottle.
"Great catch!" she jumped down and ran across the sand and juggled it from his hands, "Don't want to get the paint on you. And thanks for the towel earlier, by the way."
"Yeah, don't mention it. Hey, I'm Tommy. Tommy Webber," he looked at her hands, "I would shake your hand, but uh…"
"Yeah, don't worry about it. I'm Lisle Illusion. That was a really good catch," she smiled nervously, "How'd you do that?"
"Lot's of practice. I'm on the volleyball team. Gotta be quick," he watched her shaking her hand wildly to dry the paint, "Here. It helps to hold them in the sun. It dries them quicker," he pulled her out into the sunlight, "There," he ran his thumb over her fingernails, "Done already."
"That was fast," she murmured, "Thanks a lot."
"No problem," he pulled her hand up and kissed the back of it, "Pretty color. Pretty girl. I just couldn't stay away."
She turned beat red, "I should probably…get down to the bar. I was supposed to meet my boyfriend there a while ago, but I got kind of caught up."
"Boyfriend, huh?" he frowned long and hard, "He's very lucky."
"Excuse me?" she didn't quite register that.
"To have someone as beautiful and sweet as you to treasure and hold on to must be nice."
"That's really very nice, but-"
"I'd love to have someone like you. Someday."
"Thank you very much. That's a really sweet thing to say," she reddened and looked away, not noticing the bright red eyes looking around the tree.
"So, who's the lucky someone?" Tommy broke her concentration at the sight of that blood-red gaze.
"Oh, the Leader of my Gym. Morty," she jumped to answer.
"Morty? Morty Hikoboshi?" he questioned and she nodded, "Then I'd say you come from Ecruteak City Ghost Pokemon Gym."
"You know your Gym Leaders."
"I know my competition. Both in Pokemon battles and in love jousts," he smirked, "Morty is the Champion Mistress's brother, isn't he?" she nodded again, "Everyone says she's really pretty, but I'd much prefer you to her, or anyone, any day."
"Thank you," she swallowed, "You're very sweet."
"I'm sure your kiss is sweeter," he leaned closer, "Can I find out?"
"Uh, no," she put her hand on his mouth and pushed him back a step, "That's a little too close for me."
"That's fine. I can understand and honor that. It takes a lot to stand up for yourself. I admire that."
"What don't you admire about me?"
"What is there left? Are you hiding part of you somewhere where I can't see it, because I admire everything I'm seeing now."
"Are you an islander or are you from the mainland?" she quickly changed the subject.
"I come from Kumquat Island. I'm just over here to spend the week. Why? Does that interest you in some way?"
"No, just wondering," she glanced at her watch, which wasn't there, "Look at the time! I should really get going. So, maybe we'll run into each other again before we each head back home? Bye!" she took off around the building, tossing her nail polish on the porch table as she ran.
*^~^**^~^*
Sooney was again sitting on the dock, Tracey's sketchbook in her hands. She flipped through it, page after page, and studied each sketch casually. He was off with Brock, looking for some way to Tangelo Island. She came across a picture of Officer Jenny and frowned, halfway annoyed. She kept flipping and flipping until the sound of a boat motor sent her soaring in surprise.
"Hey there! I'm sorry!" the guy from the day before stopped the boat and jumped out, "I didn't mean to startle you. Here's your sketchbook again," he started handing it to her but caught a glimpse of the picture, "This profile doesn't do you justice."
She took it from his hands slowly, "Thanks, but I bet Tracey wouldn't appreciate that at all. He already thinks the least of his work."
"Well, whoever this Tracey is he sure got the cream of the crop when he won you. So which game booth did he win you from? There must be some great prizes there if that's where he found you."
Sooney started laughing, "Be serious! I'm nothing special."
"I am serious, and yes, you are. You're very special and 'Tracey' had better think so or I'll slug him one."
Sooney's laughing melted to a large smile, "Thanks. You're really nice, uh…"
"Kyle. Kyle Johnson. I'm sure there's no name beautiful enough to suit you, but what might yours be?"
"S-S-Sooney. Shippou. Sooney Shippou," she stammered as he took her hand and kissed the back.
"I was wrong. That's the perfect name for you! Just as beautiful a name as the young lady carrying it."
Sooney nearly fell over, "Thanks. I think…"
"No need to thank me. Getting a smile out of you is thanks enough. Besides, why thank someone for compliments truly meant?"
"Aw," she ran the toe of her sneaker in circles along the wood of the dock, "You don't mean that…"
"Yes I do. I mean every word."
"Don't you mean you meant every word?" Sooney was a real stickler for proper English unless it was her speaking.
"No, I don't. Meant is in the past, meaning I only meant it in the past, but that isn't so. I mean it now and I'll mean it forever."
"Wow, thanks. Tracey never says stuff like that," she muttered off to the side.
"Well, Tracey had better wake up and see what he's missing in you. If he doesn't start paying you more mind, someone like me could come along and snatch you away," he locked their arms together, "Which wouldn't be so bad. For me."
"Me either," she whimpered before catching herself, "I mean! That's really rather sweet of you. All these compliments are going to go to my head though."
"All the compliments I'm paying you won't do half as much to you as the thank yous and remarks you're giving me will do to me," he smiled wide.
"Really? Uh…Thanks, I mean," she looked around him, "I like your boat," she commented sheepishly.
"Oh, I wish that were mine. That's my dad's boat," he stepped to the side and turned to look at it.
"Well, it looks great just the same. Do you take care of it for him or something?"
"Yeah. I just keep it clean and running. Maybe we could," he spotted a darkened figure leaning from behind a palm tree, "Maybe we could go for a ride sometime."
"Sure! That sounds like fun!" she looked at her watch, which was actually there, "But I'm afraid it can't be right now. I've got to go see what's going on with Tracey and Brock. I'll see you around, OK Kyle?" she waved as she started walking away with Tracey's sketchbook clasped lovingly in her arm.
"Sure will, Sooney! See you!" he called back and smiled wide, "What a catch!"
The figure he'd seen wasn't who he thought it was. A second person leaned from the other side. Tracey stomped out and started burning red in jealousy.
"No fair!" he cracked angrily and stomped his foot, "I thought I was finally getting to know her!"
"Geez, Tracey! Calm down!" Brock tried to calm him, "She was just talking to him! Take deep breaths and be still."
"But I don't get it!" he burst again, "What's so great about him?! Just because he's got a boat and paid her some compliments and sweet remarks and…I am such a failure," he flopped to sit.
"That's not true, Tracey! You're not a failure!" Brock sat down beside him, then mused silently, "If anybody's a failure here, it's me. At least he's got a girl…"
"Yeah? Tell Sooney that…"
*^~^**^~^*
"I can't believe Ash actually popped the beach ball," Misty grumbled and walked down the pier, holding up the punctured beach ball, "Now I have to buy another one. Stupid, lovable Ash."
She'd left Togepi with Ash and Pikachu, soon after realizing how big a mistake that was. She was vigorously hoping her little Togepi would survive them and she was kind of weary of what she'd find when she got back. After studying the selection of beach balls, she decided on the dark blue one with the bubble pattern. She stretched as high as she could, but couldn't quite reach. She was only an inch or so too short and had just about given up when someone reached up from behind her and pulled it off the hook, handing it down to her.
"Hey! Thanks!" she said happily and spun around, "Oh hi," she smirked nervously.
"Hi," it was the same guy from the day before, "Make sure you don't slam me in the head with this one, OK?"
"Yeah, sure. If I have my way, Ash won't get near this one. He and Pikachu made our last one explode," she frowned and tossed the old one in the trash can, "I'm sorry about that again, by the way."
"I've been hit with worse. What are you up to today…um, I don't believe I caught your name."
"That's because I never threw it. My name's Misty Waterflower."
"I'm Dillan Masters," he took her hand as if to shake it but quickly flipped it to kiss the back, "Good to meet you. Again."
"Yeah," she wriggled her hand free, "You too, I suppose. Anyway, what did you ask me?" she felt dense with having such a short-term memory at times like this.
"I was just asking what you were up to today. Other than replacing your beach ball."
"I'll probably go swimming again. I love the water," she looked out the window at the water, "Especially Water Pokemon. They're my favorites."
"You seem to have a real passion for Water Pokemon. How about your buddy Ash?"
"Ash? Oh, he's more than just a buddy. He's my best friend. And my boyfriend," she watched him frown, "Is something wrong?"
"No! No! Nothing. Now, what type of Pokemon does Ash use?"
"All different types. Right now he has Pikachu, Croconaw, Cyndaquil, Noctowl, Bayleef and Tauros. He went all the way to round eleven in the Rainbow League with the same team."
"So you're with Ashura Ketchum from Pallet Town. I should have recognized your name. I watched that battle with uh…Evangelina Hikoboshi. That was a great match, but I don't think that was anything compared to what you could do. At anything."
"Oh," she turned beat red, "Thanks, I think…Uh, what is it you're going to do today? Other than jabber with me."
"Other than jabbering with you, I was thinking maybe some surfing or some swimming. Maybe even do some flirting too," he acquired a grin, "Possibly even with you. That is, when Ash isn't around," he purposely gave an odd tone while stating Ash's name, then noticing how quickly that turned her away, "I blew it," he thought, "Big time."
"Eh uh," she leaned away and gave a shivering grin as her skin started to crawl, "I…don't think so…" she murmured, "I'd better be going. Ash may start to worry and I almost forgot I left my poor little Togepi with him. I'll see you around Dillan!" she ran out the door as fast as she could, zipping around people and Pokemon as she took off.
*^~^**^~^*
"You know," Eevy kicked Lance in the knee to get his attention, "I've seen some of the girls around with some of the island guys. You don't think they're shopping around, do you?"
"No, not at all. It's probably just a bunch of flirty guys looking for some fun," Lance yawned wide and held her wrist, "Don't worry about any of them and don't worry about any of the guys. They can take care of themselves, Eevy."
"Yeah, I know," she leaned into him, "But I can't help but worry. What if something does come of it? What will we do?"
"We won't have to do anything about it because nothing will come of it," he put his arm around her and pulled her closer, "These girls are strong. They won't let anything happen and neither will you or I. I promise, Eevy. Nothing's going to happen."
"But I've sensed Peter, and-"
He covered her mouth with his hand, "Stop. Calm down," he scolded, "There is nothing to worry about, Eev. Don't worry," he watched her worried eyes soften, "That's it. Just relax," he brought his hand away and threw his arms around her, "This is a vacation; you can't go around worrying like an ant in autumn. OK?"
"OK," she nodded once, "I'll try my best. Thank you, Lance."
He ran his hand through her hair, "You've got to promise to keep your mind clear, all right? If you get all bent up with negative emotions like that stupid William, you'll be lost forever, so please," he pushed her chin up to stare him dead in the eyes, "promise me."
"I promise," she managed a sad attempt for a smile, "I promise to at least try. All I can really do is t-"
"Stop it," he cut her off, "Just-Just stop it," he lost his composure and slowly and steadily leaned to kiss her, pulling back slower than ever, "Well," he swallowed, "That got you to stop."
"Yeah," she breathed, "It sure did," she threw her arms around his neck and pushed him backwards, laying him out beneath her on the bed, "I'd much rather be silenced by that than by your hand," she put her hands threw his hair and laid a hard kiss on him.
"Yeah, same here," he said out of the corner of his mouth before returning it.
*^~^**^~^*
"Are you sure you're all right?" Medira walked along side Jason, "You inhaled a lot of water."
"I'm just fine," he hacked a few times, "But salt water is really gross tasting."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know I left you down there that long," she'd pushed him under and actually temporarily forgotten about him, "You're sure?"
"Yes! And I didn't inhale it; I swallowed it. There's a difference," he slightly puffed as he sat down.
"If you say so," she sat down next to him and locked her fingers together, "I'm really sorry, Jason."
"Well stop being sorry," he poked her shoulder, "I survived and I'll keep on surviving. A little water never hurt anybody."
"I hope you're right," she reached between the chairs and brushed the hair plastered to his face by water away, "I really didn't mean it."
"I know," he grabbed her hand, "But I'm fine, aren't I?"
"Yeah, I guess," she slouched and looked away.
"Hey. Look at me when you talk to me," he grabbed her chin and turned her face to look at him, leaning between the chairs, "I hate talking to the side of your face or the back of your head. I can't kiss your lips if they're facing away from me," they leaned closer together and just barely got close enough between the chairs to actually kiss.
"Damn chairs," Medira muttered out the corner of her mouth.
"Yep," he said simply and grabbed her elbows, standing up while still kissing her.
He sidestepped in front of her and pulled her to a stand. He backed slowly away and pulled her stumbling with him. He backed up, guiding her with him and hit the couch. He sat down slowly, causing her to bend to continue kissing him. He stretched his leg around and knocked her knees away, pulling her into his lap and falling to the left. How he managed to do all that while kissing her, Medira would probably never find out.
*^~^**^~^*
"You feeling any better?" Luri stared down at Will as he laid out in the recliner.
"I'm fine, Luri," he reached up and pushed her nose, "I just needed a little bit of rest."
"Are you sure you sensed Peter? You're sure it wasn't just because you were in the sun too long?"
"I'm sure, Dewdrop," he cut her off before she had the chance to continue.
"I wish you wouldn't call me that. Puppy names aren't really big on me."
"Then stop calling me Willie," he narrowed one eye.
"Point, strike, true," she partially scowled, "I guess it could grow on me."
"Seeing as how you managed to grow on me, I'm sure one little nickname could grow on you."
"Hey!" she glared down at him.
"I was only kidding!" he put his hands up at his sides, "Sorry!"
"You can be a real skunk, William Logos," she put her knee up on the arm of the chair, "But, you know something? I'm still wild about you," she pulled herself up and over, crawling on top of him to meet his eyes.
"Oh really?" he tipped his eyebrow and stared into her ice blue eyes.
"Really," she nodded multiple times, "Are you rested now, Willie?" she breathed about an inch from his face.
His eyebrow fell back down to its original position, but the sides of his mouth curled up in a smile, "I could be dead to the world and still want this," he leaned up and met her lips in a heavy enough kiss to cause her to lean back.
"You're playing rough, huh?" she snickered out the edge of her mouth, "Well fine then!" she pushed back, though he wasn't really trying to fight.
"That's better," he leaned up and pulled off his vest, tossing it across the room and onto the other chair before falling back under her again, "Better still."
*^~^**^~^*
"This is going to work out nicely," Peter snickered evilly, "It's already working fine. They get the girls and I get any info they may recover. It's amazing what lust can generate, isn't it?" he looked down into Magmar's projection, "Medira," he breathed in a murmur, "Stupid Peruwa!" he smashed his fist on the tree next to him, "Damn him! Scan away from them, Magmar!" he'd had enough of seeing that, "Oh, hell. Just drop the whole thing. I don't want to see the intimate relations of those goof balls. Just wait, little miss angel. You may be happy and having fun now, but soon you'll be dangling on the very brink of all destruction."
The Next Chronicle:
Rickety Relationships