By: Pro_V of Pokemon: The Hokubu & Nanka Trek
What happens when Eevy and crew hit the shores of the United States?
A/N: La-de-dah and I return with part five! And remember: This is not a "What if…?" fic. This is to be held to the story, even if it seems kind of…Different.
Part Five: Ladybug, Ladybug…
"Oh my God," Misty shot to her feet, having been sitting in the meeting room of the hotel and watching the door opening, "Eevy!"
Eevy glanced around the room, glassy-eyed, dazed, and tired. Everyone who'd been waiting on both her and Ash stood and ran to her, taking her hands and trying to get her to say something, or asking her what happened that her hair was so strewn about and her cloak was slightly frayed. Ash stood tight beside her, his arm around her back to keep her standing straight. He still had not received an answer as to what she'd been talking about when saying she'd killed someone. But he was certain he'd get one, even if he had to beat it out of her. Pikachu stood at Eevy's other side, his paw on her leg and his ears dropped. Everyone buzzed about the Champion, but she never once said a word.
"Eevy, what happened?" Chenille asked for about the tenth time, covering her mouth slightly, "Eevy?"
"Eva, are you all right?" Gary questioned, looking her over, "Do you want some water? Somebody get her water!"
Yuu-Yuu ran out the door to fetch a bottle of water and Morty took Eevy's shoulders, "Baby sister, look at me. Please look at me."
He leaned back ever so slightly as she lifted her head and looked up at him, her eyelids fallen halfway, "M…Morty…Big brother…"
They locked eyes and Morty watched the colors in his little sister's eyes begin to darken, almost to the point that they were black. She looked away from him and over at Eusine, who edged his way in to her and took her chin in his hands. She shut her eyes, pulling her chin away to look down once more, then let them open again. This time they were not only dark, but beginning to shake. Morty reached out and held her close, as did Eusine, both having two reasons for doing so. One was to comfort her, the other was to see just what she'd been doing. When they smelled the familiar scent of a familiar object, they both backed away and each held an elbow.
"What's going on here?" Rachel asked frantically, looking left to right, from Morty and Eusine to Eevy, over and over again.
"Yeah, is she OK?" Lisle tugged Morty's sleeve, unable to detach his eyes from his sister, "Is there something wrong?"
"Somebody say something!" Mizu barked, "This suspense is killing all of us!"
"The truth will kill you more," Morty whispered, backing away from his sister.
"The truth?" Lance finally managed to jam his way in, "What do you mean the truth? What's going on here?"
Eevy's head shot up and her eyes focused on Lance, "I…" she choked back what she was about to say, then looked up and clenched both fists, "I killed him."
"You did what?" Jason grabbed her arm, "What in God's name are you talking about?"
"Yeah, come on, Eevy," Sooney patted her back, "Stop talking crazy and just…Tell us what happened."
"She's telling you the truth," Eusine noted, causing everyone to look back at him, "Or at least what she calls the truth."
"She…" Luri looked at Eevy, backing away, "She…Killed someone?"
"No," Morty spat, "Evangelina, I think it's about time you told them what we mean."
"No," she answered quickly, shaking her head, "No. No. No!" she stepped back twice, then turned to begin to run, "Never, Morty! Never!" her brother grabbed her cloak as she spun, as did her cousin, "Let me go! MORTIMER! EUSINE! LET ME GO!"
She pulled as tight from them as she could as everyone else backed away. She grabbed the knotted tie of her cloak and fought to untie it, all the while screeching for them to let go. When she was finally released from it, Morty and Eusine tripped backwards a few paces and she stumbled forward, falling flat on her stomach and sliding a few inches on the floor. Without her cloak, they could actually see the back of her belt. The Glock stuck there slipped out and everyone gasped. It bounced off her side and bounced again, then slipped across the floor toward the door. It spun around and around, then slowed to a stop, pointing directly at Yuu-Yuu's feet, and she recoiled a step, leaning on the doorframe and quivering, her eyes wide and scared. Eevy, still sprawled out on the floor, drew her right arm back to her head, wailing into the carpet. She brought her left arm back as well and propped herself up, looking back over her shoulder at everyone she'd brought into this. Seeing their stunned faces, she turned to Yuu-Yuu, who looked as if to scream in terror. Eevy then dropped back to the floor and continued to cry.
*^~^**^~^*
Morty, holding one of his sister's arms, opened the door to her hotel room and led her in, with the help of Eusine, who had her other arm. Her entire face was a flaming red, and sob after sob escaped her. They sat her down on the bed and handed her a tissue and the water bottle Yuu-Yuu had retrieved. Rachel held the door open as everyone, excepting Ensign, who had been working in his room the entire time, stepped inside and stood along the wall. None of them knew what to do or say; they'd never seen Evangelina this way. She appeared broken, as if her life was shattered, and there appeared to be nothing for them to do. How could they help anyway? They had no idea what was bothering her. Though…It appeared that Morty and Eusine did, but wouldn't say. Lance sat down at Eevy's left and wrapped his arm around her, leaning her over on his shoulder. She whimpered slightly, but didn't have the ambition to pull away or push him back.
Morty, after helping Eusine to urge everyone they should sit down, knelt at his sister's feet, "Are you ready to talk?" he asked, covering her hand with both of his, "Please? They should have been told long ago."
"I can't," she shook her head, looking away from everyone.
"Please tell us, Eevy," Beth murmured, gripping Todd's arm, "None of us like seeing you this way."
"You told me before that you trust all of us with your life, Evangelina," Will noted from the corner, "Trust us now. Tell us. What is it that's hurting you?"
"Come on, Eevy. What happened to you that it bothers you so bad?" Skiff asked, tilting his head.
"Maybe if you tell us we can help," Tracey suggested.
"And if we can't, maybe we can find someone who can," Brock nodded.
She looked silently up at everyone, then looked down, "I've lied to you. I've lied to all of you again," she clenched the water bottle she held, "When I was sixteen, I had already graduated from college. Morty and my uncle Eric, Eusine's father, was one of the highest ranking officers in the Rose Town police department. I went to college for everything he did, and I came out prepared to go to work with him. But that was the year Eric quit, and the year his partner took his place…
~~~
(A/N: Prepare now for a long flashback. Have fun…)
"Hikoboshi, huh?" the officer behind the desk looked up at the teenager standing on the other side of his desk, "You graduated from RRCC and the police academy? You look a little young for the job."
"I assure you; I may be young, but I'm prepared," she puffed, narrowing her eyes.
"You're sixteen. I don't think we can accept anyone younger than eighteen," he shook his head.
"Look…I'm an emancipated minor. I finished my schooling, and I'm ready to do this," she leaned down on the desk, "I can do this."
The officer narrowed his eyes, "Fine," he reached into his desk and pulled out a pistol, "Come with me."
She followed quickly and obediently behind, eyes focusing on everything and everyone she saw through the windows along the hall they were in, "I take it you're going to test my marksmanship."
"That's the plan," the officer nodded, stuffing numerous things in her hands, "Put on the vest, put on the goggles, put on the earmuffs."
"They're not earmuffs. They're-"
"I know what they are," he rolled his eyes, "Geez…You are like your uncle," he shook his head and led her through another door, "Have you handled a gun before?"
"Once or twice," she murmured, checking to ensure the pistol he handed her was loaded, "Let me guess…Fire at the little paper man?"
"…Very funny," he stepped back and shook his head, "Good luck."
There was a series of loud shots as she pulled the trigger, closing one eye and aiming as best she could in the slightly dim room. She stopped when she knew the gun was empty and stepped back. The officer retrieved the target and pulled it down.
"I hate to say it…But this is excellent," he muttered, "Impressive accuracy."
"Thanks," she dropped the gun back in his hands, "What's next?"
"Follow me," he grumbled, frumping out the door ahead of her.
Four woman, each in one of the firing ranges, leaned out to watch them leave, then looked at each other.
*^~^**^~^*
"Well…" the officer still leading the teen around, hours later, turned to look at her, "From what I've seen, you could make the grade. But it's up to Jenny to decide, not me," she stepped in the door he held open for her, "Chief…?"
"Ian," Jenny nodded at him, then looked beside him, "Who's the girl? Can't you handle her alone?"
The teen snickered, "This is Eric Hikoboshi's niece. She's come to…To join us," Ian shrugged, "She's only-"
"Sixteen," she pushed in from his side, "And I've graduated from Rainbow Ring Community College from these classes," she grabbed the paper out of the cop's hands and handed it to Jenny, "And I finished at the police academy too."
Jenny grinned as Ian made a face behind the girl's back, "Well…It seems you really are following your uncle's footsteps. And I like the way you think. I'll tell you what…" Jenny took a pad and pen from the top of her desk, "You go and find this officer, and tell him you're officially his new partner. He used to work with your uncle. He'll set you up and you can start working with him," she tore the paper off and handed it to her, "Ian, you get back to your desk."
"Yes, ma'am!" Ian saluted and bolted out before the teenager could even take one step.
"Uh…Thank you, ma'am," she bobbed her head and gave a quiet salute, stepping out the door and looking left to right.
Scratching the back of her head, she started asking numerous officers where she could find the Captain whose name she'd been given. They kept pointing her all around the room and telling her to ask the person down there. She stopped in a somewhat empty isle between desks and stopped to look over the name. She didn't notice the three officers sitting around the desk beside her.
"Hey, look at the cute little girl," one snickered, sitting on the desk.
"Ooh…She looks lost," the second grinned wide.
"Maybe we should show 'er where she oughta be," the last clapped his hands together.
"And maybe you three should go blow your smoke with each other," the teen spat, allowing her eyes to drift off to the left toward them.
"My-my, aren't we cruel?" the second smirked, "But you're a pretty little thing."
"What's your name?" the first questioned, "Maybe we can help ya' out."
She turned and shot them a filthy glare, "Hold it 'dere, boys," the third caught the other two by the shoulders, "See 'er eyes? 'Dat's Hikoboshi's niece."
"Ain't ya' a little young to be in here?" the second questioned, "And don't ya' know your uncle doesn't work here anymore?"
"Maybe my uncle doesn't, but I do now," she snorted.
"You? Workin' 'ere?" the third waved his hands, "Ya' gotta be kiddin' me. Get outta here before we hafta remove ya'."
She turned and raised a fist, "Go ahead and try it, you-"
"Are we having issues over here?" someone stepped up behind her, hands on his hips, "Are you on break, ladies?"
"No, sir," all three echoed, standing up.
"Then get back to work. And leave the young lady alone before I have to arrest all of you myself," he barked, crossing his arms as two of the three moved to the two desks behind the first, "I'm sorry, miss. Those three are always like that."
"Oh, that's OK," she turned around and grinned, "My uncle taught me how to handle guys like that."
"Your uncle?" he tilted his head slightly, "Well, by the color of your eyes, I'd say your Eric's niece. But you look too old. Eric's niece should only be sixteen."
"I am sixteen," she nodded, "Lots of people think I'm older than I am."
"Is there something you need help with? Did Eric leave something behind when he left?"
"No," she reached into her pocket, "I've come to work here. And I need to find my partner," she handed him the paper, "Do you know where I can find him? His name is Lee Tanabata."
"Hm…" he took the paper and looked it over, then crumpled it up and put out his hand, which she slowly took, "Welcome to the Rose Town Police Department, Miss Evangelina Hikoboshi. And I…" he shook her hand, then turned it and kissed the back, "Am Captain Lee Tanabata," the three officers at their desks behind her whistled and clapped as she blushed, "And those three are Detective Lieutenants Murphy Summers, Edward Down, and Roland Pinstrup. Or, as I so like to call them, the Three Stooges."
"Hah…Hah…Hah…"
*^~^**^~^*
"So…" Eevy looked left to right, then all around in a circle, "This is…Your office…?"
"Yeah…You'll probably wind up sharing it with me until they get you your own, if they even bother to," Lee shrugged, pushing piles of papers off his desk and chair, "Listen, if you'll let me clean up a little bit here, I'll take you to get your uniform. Keep away from the Three Stooges in the skirt though."
"Skirt?" she asked, eyes narrowing, "Any way I can get pants?"
He looked up at her for a second, "Sure," he smiled lightly, "Come to think if it, you don't really look like the kind of girl to parade around in a skirt."
"Parade around in a skirt?" she tilted her head, eyes narrowing farther, "What does that mean? Does Jenny like to show off?"
"A little," he sweatdropped, "But those jeans and that mid-sleeve you're wearing now suit you."
"Thanks," she murmured quietly, following him out the door.
*^~^**^~^*
"Look!" Eevy burst in the front door, holding both arms up and out, "I got in! I got my uniform!"
"Great!" her aunt clapped twice, "Did you get put on assignment yet?"
"No, not yet, Aunt Ellen," she shrugged, "But I got my first partner. Uncle Eric, I think you know him."
"Really? What's his name?" her uncle asked, taking a sip of his tea.
"Lee Tanabata."
He nearly spit his drink right across the room, "Captain Lee Tanabata?" his eyes widened as she nodded, "I trained that boy for many a shift. He's fast. And smart. Too smart for his own good sometimes. Be sure and tell him I said that."
"How well do you know him, Eric?" Eevy's father asked quickly.
"He was my last partner. He's a very good man. You'd like him," he nodded, taking another sip and actually swallowing this time, "I'm sure he'll make a good partner for Eva."
"Well, I need to get some sleep. I start early tomorrow," Eevy tossed her hat at her mother, who caught it and hugged it, "I'll see you in the morning."
Her mother hugged the hat close, "Our little baby is growing up…So fast!" she shrieked before she began wailing.
*^~^**^~^*
"Ugh," Eevy groaned, stepping directly into the wall on the opposite side of Lee's office, "That's all I have to say. It's too early to be up."
"Two weeks and you're still whining about the early mornings?" her partner shook his head, "You're less like your uncle than I thought."
"Oh, very funny," she glared off at him, "You know, I should arrest you for harassment."
"You're very mean," Lee waved his hands at her, "Come on, go get into uniform."
"Fine," she grumbled, heading for the door.
She waved at everyone she passed and pushed a door to her right open. She ran faster down the hallway to her right, again, as Roland came from the hall to the left. She escaped him by running into the women's locker room. He grumbled and continued away.
Eevy stopped and looked left to right at the other four ladies that were digging through their lockers. She smiled nervously at them, then went on to her locker and opened it, rummaging around inside. She found her uniform and closed the door, jumping as she spotted someone who had been standing behind it.
"Hello, Detective Lieutenant Hikoboshi."
"Miss Narcissus," Eevy murmured, stepping away to the opposite direction.
"Elodie, leave the girl alone," one of the other girls snorted, "Just because you didn't get picked as Captain Tanabata's new partner doesn't mean you have to take it out on her."
"I'm not, Netta," Elodie snorted, "All I'm doing is trying to strike up a conversation with the quiet little thing. What's so bad about that?"
"Oh, forget it, Netta," another waved her hand, "Elodie is too clueless for her own good. And too stubborn."
"Laurel is right," the last agreed, "She is a Taurus, after all."
"That is not funny, Mazana," Elodie snapped, "Listen," she continued as she looked back on Eevy, "I was wondering if you could, maybe, get me Lee's number?"
"Get it yourself," Eevy spat, stepping around the corner to change.
"Well, you little snoot!" Elodie growled as Netta, Laurel and Mazana began laughing hysterically.
Elodie turned and thundered out the door, only to return a few moments later, pale as a sheet. She stumbled about until she reached Eevy, who was just snapping the last button of her uniform's top. As the other three looked Elodie over, she grabbed Eevy's shoulders, looking over her with wide eyes.
"Lee is…Waiting right outside the door for you," she choked out, "He asked me if you were still in here and I told him and asked him why and he said…He said…"
"Spit it out!" Laurel barked.
"He said…He wants to take you to his place…" Elodie whimpered, "Tell me! Are you seeing him?! Dating him?! What's going on between you two that he's taking you to his house?!"
"N-Nothing!" Eevy blurted.
"Well there must be something!" Laurel suddenly shouted, "Not even your uncle ever went there!"
"I…I…I…" Eevy whimpered, backing into the wall.
"What are you backing up for?!" Mazana asked quickly, "You're in uniform! You're going, aren't you?!"
"I don't know…If I…Should…" Eevy murmured.
"Listen, girl," Netta pushed her toward the door, "If you don't learn to take chances now, your career as a cop is over before it even started. And the rest of your life will be the same way!"
"Yeah, so go for it!" Laurel grinned, "And you can tell us all about him when you come back!"
They all gave her one tremendous shove to throw her out the door, and she tripped out into the hallway, "Hey, are you all right?" Lee asked, standing her up straight as she plowed into him.
"Yes," she nodded quickly, whipping her hat off and holding it in both hands, "I'm just a little clumsy sometimes is all."
He cracked a small smile, "Just like a ladybug."
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind me," he grinned nervously, "I think too much, remember? Your uncle said so himself. Now…I want to take you back to my place. I have a private firing range there. You can start practicing there until you get used to it."
"But I know how to shoot," she retorted pointedly, following him down the hall.
"You know how to fire, not how to shoot."
"…Huh…?"
*^~^**^~^*
Lee opened the front door and stepped in ahead of Eevy, "Excuse the mess. My brother came for a visit last weekend. He's…Well, he's your typical bachelor."
"Is this him?" Eevy asked, looking at a picture framed on the end table beside her as Lee ran around cleaning up.
"Yeah, that's Travis. He's older than me by almost four years."
"So he's twenty-seven, about? My brother is nineteen now. I haven't seen him in a long time. Or my cousin. He's twenty-one," she sighed and stood straight, arms crossed, "I'm such a kid compared to them."
"Is that the only reason you joined the force? To prove to them and to yourself that you're not a kid anymore?"
She shrugged, "I don't know, really."
"Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was destiny."
"Maybe," she sputtered.
"Do you want something to eat? Or something to drink?" he pointed to the kitchen door, "You've got to be hungry, or at least thirsty."
"You cook?" she tilted an eyebrow as he headed for the next room.
"Sure I cook. I live on my own, don't I? What am I supposed to do? Starve?"
She snickered, "You never know."
"Have a seat if you want. And try this," he sat something down in front of her.
"What is it?" she asked hesitantly, looking it over and over from all angles.
"Don't worry; I promise it's not poisoned," he smirked, "My mother is from New Orleans. This is my great grandmother's jambalaya."
"It hasn't been in your fridge that long, has it?" she asked, giving an evil smile.
"Very funny, Evangelina. Very funny indeed."
"Is it spicy?" she questioned, "I like spicy food."
"Yes, it is," he nodded proudly, "I don't cook for northerners. My mother is from Louisiana and my father is from Texas."
"What else?" she asked, eating slowly, "What else are you? Other than American, I mean."
"I'm only Native American and English. What about you, Evangelina? What runs through those veins of yours?"
"My mother," she paused to swallow, "Is Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, Italian, German and French. And my father," she paused again to sip her iced tea, "Is Native American, English, Irish, Scottish, British, and just a little Japanese."
"…Wow…" he blinked, "I hear you yelling at the Three Stooges all the time, but I never know what you're saying. What is that you speak?"
"Japanese mostly. Sometimes German or French, and once and a while Italian. I've been studying different cultures since I was little, and because of this, I learned the different languages associated with the different countries. I know Japanese, Chinese, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Finnish, Swedish, Latin, Russian, Greek, and Dutch. I might know some others, but I forget after a while," she shrugged, not noticing the odd look he was giving her, "Thank you for the lunch. It was very good."
"…Glad you liked it. Follow me and we'll get to work on getting you ready for the real police business."
*^~^**^~^*
Eevy pulled her hair back in a tight ponytail, popping her hat back atop her head, and followed Lee obediently down the stairs to his basement range. He flicked a switch to light the room, then motioned off towards the wall behind them. Eevy turned around and gasped. Along this pegboard wall was a seemingly endless supply of guns. Pistols, automatics; you name it, it was probably there. At the opposite end of this wall stood a tall glass case, which Eevy stepped over to and looked into. Inside rested a shiny double-barreled rifle and a stack of boxes of bullets. Eevy gawked at it in slight awe of the fabulous piece of machinery before her partner was standing behind her.
"My pride and joy," Lee grinned, "My Beretta S682 Gold E Sporting. Two and three-quarter-inch gauge, o/u boxlock action, and an optima-choke, all packed into a seven-point-six pound gloss walnut finish for an astounding forty-seven and a half inches of beautiful craftsmanship."
"Ooh…You studied it," Eevy murmured, eyes slightly wide, "Do you ever use it?"
"Only when I think I've truly found a reason, or a decent target," he nodded, "I don't want to go wasting bullets, do I?"
"I guess not. It looks expensive," she noted.
Lee laughed quietly, "It took me two years to save for it."
"Wow! It really cost that much?!"
"In all truth," he said as he tugged her away from the case, "It cost me almost four grand."
"WHAT?!" Eevy yanked her arm away and clapped both hands over her mouth, "No way!"
"Sorry; yes way," he grinned and handed her a pistol, "Here, this is for you. Take good care of it and bring it back to me if it needs and tune-up."
"You mean…You want me to keep it? But I don't have a-"
"Permit? Here, sign this," he held out a paper and pen to her, "This will do as a temp until you get an official one."
"Tell me what this says before I go signing it," she glared, eyes narrowed as she tapped the paper with the pen, "And you'd better tell me the truth."
"Well done. Spoken like a true cop and a true Hikoboshi. All that is, is a note to say I signed my permit over to you for the time being."
"I suppose I can believe that," she nodded, scribbling her name down on the sheet, "Here ya' go."
"OK," he folded it in half and put it in the drawer of the long table beneath the pegboard wall, "Now…Do you have your vest on?"
"Are you kidding me? If I didn't, my mother would never let me out of the house."
"Ah, your mother is like mine," he snickered, "Anyway, put your headgear on and I'll get the target set up."
"Right," Eevy nodded, readjusting her shirt, "Can I ask you a question?"
"If you want to," he replied while pinning up a target.
"Why did you bring me here when you wouldn't even bring my uncle? There's a firing range at the station."
He paused a moment, then went on about hanging the target, "Well, I wanted to give you that gun, and I figured it'd be easier for you to start shooting here, without the Stooges and everyone else hovering over you. Your uncle had no use or reason for that."
"…Oh. OK then!" Eevy grinned, "I'm all set. Is the target ready?"
"Yes; it's all ready," Lee nodded and stepped up behind her, "Now put both arms out straight. Hold the gun up even with the tops of your arms. Now," he stepped off to the side, "Pull twice."
After both of her shots had been fired and he'd hopped the barrier to examine it and came back, she watched him expectantly, "Well? How was it?"
"When you shoot more than once, your aim drops. I think the kick edges your arms down. Try it this way," he pushed her arms up from behind her, "Hold the gun in your right hand like this," he covered her hand with his to have her hold the gun correctly, "Good. Now put your left hand under the grip. Like this," he took her left hand and wrapped it around under her right as a kind of rest, "Now give it a shot. Uh…No pun intended."
He stepped back and watched her shoot, "Any better?" she questioned.
"Just one question," he noted without moving, "What's with the one-eyed thing you've got going there?" he asked, shutting one eye and causing her to snicker, "What are you? A pirate?"
She laughed hysterically as he hobbled over, dragging one leg, "I thought-I thought-I thought it was the best way to aim!"
"No-no-no!" he shook his head frantically, "Why do you think pirates always had wooden legs? Because they only had one eye and couldn't aim!"
"And why did they always have one eye?" she questioned, causing his head to tilt, "Because they were always drunk. But I suppose you'd say because they shot it out when they closed the other to aim."
"Now that is pirate profiling if I've ever heard it," he took his Glock from his belt, "Anyway, the key to aiming well is to keep both eyes open. Double the vision, double the accuracy."
He pulled off three rounds, then brought the target back for her to see. When he held it up for her, she couldn't help but allow her eyes to widen. He seemingly had expert accuracy. She took it from him and looked it over, then looked around it at Lee. Then the target again, then Lee. Then the target once more.
"Problem?" Lee asked, crossing his arms and blinking twice.
"Impressive accuracy, really," she nodded, then handed him the target and stepped up to shoot, "Just watch me now that I'm not playing Popeye."
He grinned away behind her as she raised the gun and pulled off a few after taking the time to reload, "Much better."
"How can you tell? You didn't even go look."
"I don't have to," he noted, again crossing his arms and grinning stupidly, "I can compare your shots from before with the shots you took just now."
"Oh…Neat!" she smirked crazily, "Do you think I'm getting better? I can't really tell…"
"Yes, I think you're getting much better," he nodded, "I'm proud of you, Evangelina."
"I never did tell you. Please call me Eva," she smiled brightly back at him.
"Eva," he agreed, grinning, "I've maybe got an idea," he turned quickly away, rubbing his temples.
She watched him head over to the glass case in the corner, for which he drew a key from his pocket, "Wha…Lee, no! I can't use that! That's that expensive gun!"
"Yeah, and you're my partner," he pointed out, handing the Beretta over to her, "Now just do me a favor and be very, very careful with it."
"Don't worry about your precious gun," she chided, giving a coy laugh, "I won't scratch it or dent it or drop it; honest."
"That's not what I'm worried about. The kick is minimal for this particular gun," he helped her to hold it correctly, "But for you, the newness of it might be a little too much."
"Oh…" she looked the shotgun over, "Well, I'll try."
Eevy held it straight out, almost shutting one eye. She squinted both, then shifted the firearm ever so much. Lee noted to her that she should hold it tight to her shoulder, and so she did so. Another few seconds and-
"Woah!" Eevy shrieked, tripping backwards; the kickback off the gun knocked her right off her feet, "Ooph!"
Lee stumbled over to her and got down on one knee beside her, "I told you to be careful! Are you all right?" he watched her shoulders begin to quake, "…Eva…?"
She looked up at him, laughing so hard her eyes were watering, "I…Am such…A klutz!" she choked out, throwing both arms above her head and falling over backwards.
Lee looked her over worriedly but a second longer, wondering if maybe she'd lost her mind, then let his worry fade, "You're something else, you know?"
"Heehee…" she giggled and began to sit up, "Thanks for noticing. Oh, ow…"
"What's the matter?" he asked quickly, looking her over, "Are you hurt?"
"Just the back of my head. I bumped it when I fell. Shouldn't phase me too much," she acknowledged with an open grin.
"Hmm…Let me see just the same," he pushed her hair away, "It'll be black and blue soon enough."
"Oh great. Just what I need to make it even harder to sleep…" she puffed.
"Sorry. I guess I should have waited until you had a little more experience," he noted, taking her one hand and pausing, "But let me kiss you, and make it better."
Just as she prepared to question him, he leaned down over her from her side and settled a kiss on her. It was quick and sudden and seemingly held no meaning. Until she saw his eyes. Those wonderfully pale blue eyes. After just one look into the soft color, it held all the meaning in the world. She looked down and flushed.
"I…I'm not a very good kisser," she whispered.
He grinned slightly, "So very much like a ladybug," he took her chin in his right hand, "Always showing her spots."
He kissed her again, this time a little harder and more serious. She wrapped her arms up around his neck and tugged him down. At the sudden jolt, he leaned farther over her. She dropped one hand to his arm and gripped it, attempting to wrap his arms around her waist. When he realized their grips were tightening on each other and that she was willingly falling to him, he pulled her left arm from his shoulders and shook her right arm from his elbow and pushed her away. She looked him over worriedly, brushing her hair from her face, as her hat had fallen off.
"I shouldn't have done that," Lee murmured, running the back of his hand over his mouth, "Oh good God, I'm sorry."
"…Why?"
He looked quickly back at her, but had to turn away, "What I just did there may as well be illegal. It wasn't right of me to kiss you like that. To kiss you at all. I shouldn't even have brought you here."
"But I didn't mind," she shook her head.
"You're only a teenager; a child. That wasn't right of me."
"A child?" she spat, "A child wouldn't take the risks I am right now. And a child wouldn't have the courage to do what I'm about to," he looked back as she picked up her hat, "Take your stupid gun and shove it, Lee Tanabata, and while you're at it, get a new partner."
He ducked as the Beretta hit the floor and looked up at her as she popped her hat back atop her head and stomped up the stairs. She slammed the door at the top shut and he scrambled up and shoved it back open. Too late; she was gone and the front door hung open.
*^~^**^~^*
"Oh, hello. You must be Captain Tanabata."
"Lee, yes, that's me. Is Miss Evangelina home? I'd very much like to speak with her."
"She's in her room, but she doesn't feel well, I'm afraid. Perhaps you'd like me to give her a message?"
"Actually, sir, ma'am, I'd like to see her myself if you don't mind. It's involving a case and I'm afraid I can't discuss it with anyone but my partner."
"Oh…Then would you please come in?"
All this Eevy listened to through the door of her bedroom, then glowered and turned her headphones back up and went back to her book. When her mother poked her head in, announced Lee, and let him in, she refused to lift her head. When he started talking, she reached out and turned the headphones up. He narrowed one eye and stepped down on the cord of the AC adapter for her portable CD player, pulling it from the wall. She shot him a filthy look and reached out to click it over to battery power, but he reached out and covered her hand with his. She snapped her hand away and pushed her headphones back.
"What do you want?" she fumed, crossing her arms.
"I came to check on you, and to apologize to you," he answered.
"You just don't get it," she shot up and prepared to jump off the bed and throw him out the door, but instead stood up on the mattress, "I don't want you to apologize!"
He looked up at her, then grabbed her and set her feet on the floor, for which he received an inhuman snort, "Evangelina, not only did I kiss you, but I- -Oh good grief…" he shook his head side to side, "Evangelina, I don't want to apologize to you, but it's all I can do."
"Why? Why is that all you can do?"
"Fraternization between officers."
"So what?"
"Stop being difficult!"
"You're the only one being difficult! It's my age, isn't it?"
He grunted and turned away, "I'm seven years your senior. It wasn't your age that attracted me to you. It was your innocence and your sincerity. The way you seem to be so helpless, but you can always carry yourself so high and be so strong. And the way you always showed your spots; both modest and misleading."
"Like a ladybug?"
"Just like a ladybug," he sighed quietly, "I shouldn't have let myself slip like that."
"…Slip?" she murmured, "I'm a slip?"
"I didn't mean it like that."
"Yes you did."
"I'll never think like that. Remember when I said maybe it was fate or destiny that you were on the force? I think maybe it was," she watched him as he sat down, then watched as he took her hands and pulled her to sit next to him, "I just don't think it could work."
"We'll make it work," she squeezed his hands, "If it really was fate, my brother once told me that fate doesn't make mistakes."
He looked her over, watching her eye colors change and marveling at the dramatic difference, "I want to meet this brother of yours, Eva. He sounds smart," he brought her hands up and kissed the backs.
"You will," she nodded, hugging his shoulders, "You will."
*^~^**^~^*
"Hello, Stooges," Eevy grinned sadistically, heading past a series of desks, "Good morning, ladies."
"Hey, Evangelina," Roland leaned backwards in his chair, "Word has it you went to Tanabata's place last night. What's the news?"
"The news is how your big dopey body has managed to function so long without a brain," Eevy puffed.
"Ooh, good one!" Netta clapped from her desk across from Roland, who shot her a dirty look.
"What'd you do while you were there?" Laurel chirped, "Anything fun?"
"Anything juicy? Tell us!" Mazana chimed.
"Leave the young lady alone," Jenny barked from her office door, "Evangelina, can I speak with you for a moment in my office?"
"Sure."
Eevy headed in Jenny's door just as Lee came in the front. She waited for Jenny to step in and offer her a seat before even attempting to sit. She wondered just why she was there, hoping it wasn't anything too drastic, as Jenny stepped around to the other side of the desk. Jenny flatted her skirt and had herself a seat behind the desk.
"Evangelina, I don't mean to sound like those guys out there, but word has been going around that you were escorted by Captain Tanabata to his residence last evening."
"That's correct."
"My question for you is if he in any way made intentions of ill conduct. Did he somehow attempt to take advantage of you? If you disapproved of it, did he persist?"
"Nothing happened that I disapproved of, Chief Junsa."
"If you're lying because of a position he put you in, or to protect him, you need to-"
"Jenny, please," Eevy raised both hands, "Yes he made some moves, but no, I did not disapprove."
Jenny's eyes couldn't decide whether to narrow or widen, "Are you telling me that you and he-"
"What I'm telling you, Jenny, is that I think…I'm in love with this man, and age and status makes no object. And neither should you."
"…All right," Jenny nodded slowly, "If that's how you feel, I suppose…Though I don't quite agree with the whole idea…But you're not…" she waved her hands, "…Are you? That I'd have to take action on."
"No, Jenny," Eevy shook her head, "I promise. I'm not that stupid, and neither is he."
"I still really don't think-"
"Jenny…" Eevy looked up at her before standing, "Sorry, but what you think about this doesn't really matter."
As she turned for the door and opened it, she heard the faint echo of her partner's voice, "Back it off, you nosey dogs! Stop poking your big empty heads into other peoples' business!"
"Hey!" Jenny snapped from behind Eevy in the doorway, "Cut the bullshit, you guys!"
Eevy shoved numerous other officers from her path to reach Lee's side. Those who had been gathered tight around Lee backed off the closer she got. She reached out and took his hand, finally finding herself safe on his arm, away from the Stooges.
"And you wondered why I said I didn't think this would work," he whispered down to her.
"We'll make it work," she muttered up to him.
"All right, now listen up!" Lee turned, holding Eevy tight to his side, "I'm not going to lie to you. Yes, I took Detective Sergeant Hikoboshi to my residence yesterday evening. And yes, we did have a slight confrontation of an intimate nature," he glared around the room, "However, it lead to nothing more than a kiss or two. And I assure you what little did happen was consensual. If any of you have a problem with that," he looked at each individual standing around them, "You bring it to me. Leave Evangelina out of it. You got that?!"
The room remained quiet for a few seconds before, "Yes, sir, Captain Tanabata!"
~~~
"Evangelina…" Lance leaned forward and over to look at her face, "Is this what you were so worried about telling us?"
"Yeah, what's so bad about it?" Rachel questioned, scratching the back of her head, "Other than the fact there was a big age difference?"
They watched her for a second or two, but she didn't reply, "…Eevy?" Luri leaned down to her, "Are you all right?"
"I don't know how…I can explain it to you…Except by saying…" Eevy murmured, wrapping her cloak tight around her shoulders, "It all gets much, much worse."
*^~^*Part Five: End…*^~^*
A/N: Wheehah! Insanity! Insanity! YAY! Erm…Yeah. The reason, by the way, these things have been late is because I typed Part 1 and Part 2 before I posted 1, then 3 before I posted 2, and 4 before I posted 3. And right now, I'm just getting ready to post 4, because this is 5. And this one will go up after I've finished 6. I know, it's bizarre. Oh well. Nobody ever said I had to be understandable, did they? And even if they did…Ah well.
*^~^*Pro_V*^~^*
.:O=Usagi-chan=O:.
*))~Itachi-chan~((*
-=O~The Other Pokemon~O=-
Next: Special Edition: TAA USA: Part 6.
TAA Pokemon Of The Month: September 2003: Castform
Still don't own anything but my original characters and my original world. Don't own Pokemon, don't own Beretta, don't own lots of things actually…