Part Three
The amber eyes followed the young man's moves as he moved somewhat brokenly into the small port town of Ebony Beach. The boy's tears had blinded the boy's vision many times, causing the youth to trip and fall, only to pick himself up again and continue limping and running interchangeably. The crimson lips curled into an evil sneer. She brushed her long black hair from her eyes and leapt nimbly off the tree branch and from behind the foliage that had concealed her in the darkness. She held a whip in her hands. She pulled it taunt and watched her prey limping further away.
"James, my dear, we shall meet again soon," she chuckled nearly to herself.
@-}—
Jessie stood outside of the small cabin, the constant ocean wind blowing through her hair. If James thought that they were not going to find him, he was dead wrong, she thought. She and Meowth had started after him only twenty minutes after they were sure he was serious and if Jessie knew James…well, she'd find him after quite a few tries. The search had not been easy. James was nowhere to be found in Vermillion or any of the other nearby towns and they had to be careful not to bump into other Rocket members who were common in the area. It was a big thing to catch a "traitor" of the Boss in Team Rocket. Jessie knew the procedure too well. They were all looking for James and possibly Jessie and Meowth in hopes for a huge bonus from the Boss. The third day took her to the seas, to where she was now currently crossing. The stars glittered so brightly that night that Jessie found herself being self-conscious about being a small insignificant speck in the univer-
She snapped out of it. Jessie of Team Rocket didn't think like that. She felt a fuzzy paw on her leg and she looked down at her feline companion.
"Meow. Jess, ya bett'a get int'a bed," Meowth said, handing her a blanket. "You'll fwreeze out 'ere." Jessie took no notice but she wrapped the blanket around herself all the same.
"What does it matter? We've been in colder climates than this," Jessie muttered. "You don't know the meaning of freezing. No one does except for the people who do freeze to death. No one knows true pain except for the ones who do," Jessie sighed. "Many don't know the true meaning of things."
"Well, ya can't take ME-owth for a protected litt'le pansy either!" Meowth grunted. "Ah've been through as much pain as youse or Jimmy have so don't take it out on me!"
Jessie didn't say a word, knowing Meowth was right. She wasn't the only one that suffered, although she liked to think so while in self-pity. She brushed the thought aside. What good did it do to dwell on such things anyways?
"Shut up, furball. What good is it to be optimistic if the whole world comes crashing down on you?" she said, belying her own thoughts, just to see what Meowth's mind would come up with as a comeback. Maybe he'd leave her alone.
"It's so we can pull t'rough da tough times, idiot," Meowth started dancing on the deck of the ferry boat in order to get Jessie to snap out of her funky mood. He spun around, clapping his paws together and chanting what seemed to be "para para para". "Optimistic Team Rocket! Dat's who we are!" Meowth finished. Jessie smiled wistfully and gazed out onto the sea.
"Idiot…" she murmered.
Looking towards the stars, she thought about what James had said earlier.
***
"Giovanni gave me to the experimentation team: Project G. They somehow transferred my life source into an inanimate object. They happened to find a rose that I had picked up that day, in my pocket and decided to transfer my life source into it for whatever reason. It responds to my emotions; that is why it was aflame when I was furious and wilted when I was sad, for example. The main purpose for the experiment, they told me, was to see what positive things came out of a Rocket who never died. As long as I keep the rose containing my life source safe and "living", I can never die."
***
But was it his spirit or his soul? Jessie had stepped inside a real church only a few times but she did stay long enough in one to recover from nearly freezing to death to hear the pastor preach about spirits and what separated them from the beasts of the world. Though she never really remembered what the old man had said that day, she had often wondered what the difference was between a soul and a spirit afterwards. A dictionary did no good and thus she concluded that they were one and the same. However, James' situation brought the old conundrum to the surface of Jessie's mind. If a person's soul died, the person could physically live yet they were "killed". The spirit, as far as Jessie knew, never died, even after the soul departed from a living being. Both were associated with a rational mind, thoughts and emotions. Which would have been the one that she would have killed earlier that day?
And why had he run away alone? His words of "It is better not to tell you now. Maybe it's best never to tell you" echoed in her mind. She felt dizzy thinking about it and closed her eyes to steady herself. She was suddenly so tired that she could barely open her eyes to see Meowth's concerned facial expression. Meowth led her from the deck back to the small cabin, which was behind them. Jessie slid underneath the covers and fell asleep almost immediately, feeling a slight tingling sensation in her right palm.
---
She hated running; She had been running from her past for years, yet she was running through a forest, panting hard. The ground suddenly gave way and she fell to find herself on the deck of the boat. A wave of nausea hit her and she fell to the deck and held her head in her head, closing her eyes. When she opened her eyes, she was not on the deck any longer. She looked around to find herself in an area that was pitch-black. Meowth was nowhere to be seen. There was someone in front of her. There was no mistaking the boy with lavender hair. But he was so young…and dressed in fine clothing…
"James?" she asked. The small boy looked at her with the look of the happiest person in the world on his face, holding a single narcissus of the purist white. He smiled brightly and ran towards her with the flower in hand with a laugh that accompanied his smile. Jessie smiled, and though it seemed rather silly, she bent down to receive him in his arms. He vanished just as she was about to touch him. The flower lay on the ground, giving Jessie the chills as she picked it up. She cried out in pain and dropped the delicate flower that had suddenly transformed into a rose the color of dried blood. She looked at her right hand – the hand she held the flower with- and it was smeared dark red with blood, which was running from her hand to the floor in a steady stream. She looked down and realized there was no floor and that the blood continued to trickle forever downwards into the black void. Meowth walked up from behind her.
"Meowth? Wha-
---
James sat on the lonely bench below the dim streetlight. He licked his lips and took out his squirtle bottle and rose. Looking around in the obscure darkness, he found no threat and tilted the bottle enough to sprinkle the flower with water. He tucked both objects back into his jacket pocket and walked into a small club. Unnoticed by many, he took a seat at the bar and ordered a strawberry daiquiri, being tired of thinking and thought that he should at least try to get a load off of his mind for the present. The glass was slid to him and he sipped at it, lost in thought, barely tasting the drink. He set the glass down to take a deep breath when a gentle hand rested on his shoulder. James gave an involuntary gasp as he felt someone's breath in his ear. The scent of vanilla penetrated his senses.
"Hey," a woman smiled sweetly at him as he turned his head to see the person resting his or her head on his shoulder.
"H-hi..." James stammered. The woman seemed to be a year or two younger than him with long silky raven hair that reached slightly below her shoulders. Her eyes shut and she smiled sweetly at him. The first impression James had of her was that she was one of those girls who looked for free drinks or sex- and many of the times both. But first impressions were not always true so James remained seated. He gulped hard, the vanilla scent making him adjusting his collar uncomfortably.
"This seat taken?" the woman slid into the seat next to him as he shook his head.
"Umm…" James looked at her up and down, a bit stunned by her sudden appearance. She wore a tight blue shirt with tiny sequins sewn into the fabric, which drew even more attention to her chest, and tight leather pants with a belt with just as much sparkle as her top. He noted her amber eyes and the dark red lips. She was positively stunning. He watched her as she calmly reached for his glass on the bar and took a sip. She looked at him as he watched her.
"My apologies," the woman said with a chuckle as she set down the glass. "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Kat," she extended her hand.
"I-I am James," James took her hand. "Nice to meet you, Kat."
"I am pleased. Would you like a drink?"
---
"-t is going on? I don't like this place," Jessie said to him. "Meowth? Are you listening to me? This damn rose cut me!"
Meowth walked by Jessie without a look back. He disappeared after a while as she tried in vain to get his attention.
"Meowth? Don't leave me alone here!" Jessie called, clutching her right hand in her left hand. "Where did you go? Where did James go?"
She turned around and saw James, grown up now, at his current age, with dirty lavender hair and jaded eyes staring at her. He was dressed in all black; similar to a typical boy's Japanese school uniform with a matching cap. A wistful smile played on his lips.
"Jess," he said simply, with the same smile on his face.
"James! Where the hell have you been?" Jessie ran to him. She held him in her arms and despite the blood that continued to flow from her hand, she laughed. "You scared me so badly back-"
She looked up at James. His smile was lingering on his face but his eyes, though not physically crying, were filled with such deep sadness that Jessie had to look away. He placed a platonic kiss on her forehead and he disappeared in a flurry of pink rose petals.
"James! You come back here right now!" Jessie shouted in
---
"Umm…" James was at a loss for words. Kat ordered two drinks and pushed one to James. "What is it?" James asked, not knowing what she had ordered as he was too lost in his own mind.
"It's a favorite of mine," Kat replied. "Cheers." They clinked glasses and drank.
The alcohol burned in his throat but James swallowed and drank again. It was a strong drink, by far. James' chemistry screamed out against the alcohol but it had already taken effect and James was unable to tell when to stop. He finished his glass and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and laughed at something that Kat had said.
"Like the drink?" Kat asked sweetly.
"Loved it," James replied. He was blushing furiously and he laughed again. All of his fears and his carefully built barriers had disappeared.
"I've never seen you around here before, James. Where are you from?" Kat asked, leaning against her glass.
"Near Vermillion," James hiccupped. "I walked here."
"You walked all the way here?"
"Sure."
James looked at Kat. She was so nice and rather intellectual; quite unlike his first impression. Kat's hand slid into his and before James realized what he was doing, he brought his face to her's and kissed her.
---
an upward direction as there was pure black in every direction. It was strange that the whole place was dark yet she could see the people she knew around her perfectly…
James appeared again in front of her…with a girl at his side. She smirked at Jessie, taunting her silently. Jessie scowled at the young woman who seemed to be slightly younger than James. She infuriated Jessie; infuriated her with those cat-like amber eyes and the evil grin. James however did not seem to notice in the slightest and held the young girl in his arms lovingly. Jessie was overcome with emotions of anger, confusion, and something she couldn't place her finger on. A tremendous sadness? It couldn't be. James took another look at Jessie before walking away.
"Wait," Jessie's voice
---
"So you have nowhere to stay?" Kat asked. James shook his head, which felt disconnected from the rest of his body.
"How about you stay over at my place. I have enough room in my apartment," Kat smiled. James gave a small nod and Kat helped him to her car.
She drove them to her apartment and guided James into the room. She pointed out that he could sleep on her bed and got extra blankets from the linen closet. James sat on the bed, still feeling the influence of the alcohol within him. What would Jessie say? He thought. He shook his head. He might not ever see her again. Why would he care?
Kat walked into the room with a bottle of wine and two champagne glasses. She was dressed in a translucent slip the shade of blush pink. James noticed the vanilla-like smell again surrounding the woman, making him fidget around.
"I thought we might want a bit more to drink," she said. James looked greedily at the bottle and licked his lips in anticipation as Kat opened it. She filled the glasses with a golden wine and handed one to James who emptied it quickly.
"More," James demanded, more than asked. Kat refilled his glass…and refilled it again as she took out a packet from her pocket.
---
had been reduced to a whisper. The blood continued to flow. Jessie scowled. How much blood did she have in her system anyways?
"Help me, Jessie…" James' voice echoed around her.
"Where are you?" Jessie asked into the void. James appeared again without the girl. Jessie gasped in horror. James' arms were the scythes of a Scyther. They were covered in rust-colored blood. "James…what happened to you?" James' eyes pleaded.
"Help me…" he whispered. Jessie advanced towards him cautiously.
In a flash, James' expression went from fearful helplessness to one of pure hatred. He lunged at her and Jessie dodged the first attack. She spun around to see James crouching down in a position to attack. Their eyes locked and Jessie's fear grew stronger. This wasn't the James she knew.
"What are you-" Jessie didn't have time to finish her query when James leapt and pinned her to the non-existent ground. A scythe dug into her side and another in her right hand. Her scream penetrated
---
Kat tipped a fine powder into her glass of wine and swirled her glass until the powder dissolved. She smirked playfully at James and tapped him, who didn't seem to notice her (or her subtle action). James tried his best to focus on her though he saw at least four images of her.
"Want to drink from my glass? It would be so romantic…" Kat smiled as she filled James' glass again. James nodded and they switched glasses. Kat drank slowly as she watched James gulp down the contents of her glass. James hiccupped and looked at Kat who had finished her drink and was leaning against him. When he looked at her, a sudden sense of desire was aroused in him. The vanilla scent and the close proximity made his desire intensify. Whether by accident or intention, Kat's breast brushed against his arm as she twisted to look at him and a tingle of excitement ran down his spine.
"How is it, James?" Kat asked seductively as she kissed him lightly on the nose.
"Damn fine," James replied thickly before kissing her passionately and pushing her against the bed. She kissed him back passionately and as she pulled him closer to him and started to undo his belt, James lost complete control of himself.
---
the void. When she came to, James was gone and so was her sense of control.
"JAMES!" she cried out as a stab of pain came from her hand. Someone was shaking her and crying her name.
"Jessie! Jessie!"
---
"Jessie! Jessie!" the cry was real.
Jessie awoke with a start, sweating despite the cold air around her. Meowth stopped shaking her and crying her name. She felt her face and realized she had been crying. She looked around and saw Meowth on her stomach.
"Jessie!" he cried. "Wha' happ'ened? Youse swtarted screamin' an' cryin'- Meowth didn't know whatta do!"
"Nothing…" Jessie averted her face before pain overtook her hand again and she was barely able to keep the cry of pain from being voiced.
Emotions started to flood her mind; James' heated emotions along with disturbing images. Jessie closed her eyes and shook her head, denying what was happening where James was. But she couldn't! She could feel the disgusting hands of that girl from her dream! She could feel them roaming the body of James…she could feel him returning the action. There was no denying what was going on. She bit her lip hard as something small but powerful shattered within her.
The cry and the tears tried their best to claw their way out of her throat, ending up in convulsion-like movements which elevated into a heart-rendering howl. Meowth was deeply worried. For the second time that week, Jessie the Ice Queen had lost control of her emotions.
"Jessie!" Meowth shouted but Jessie had already burst out of the door, tears already blurring her vision. There wasn't really an explanation for why she was so upset. For some unknown reason to Jessie, just seeing James with another girl infuriated her beyond belief. Knowing that he was sleeping with another girl was just over the edge for her. Her feet carried her to the stern of the ferry and she heaved herself onto the railing. Without a rational thought, she pushed off with her feet and felt the frigid air cut through her as she fell to the sea below.