M-a-r-i-o-n-e-t-t-e

Summary: The battle ended in a tie. N told her to become his princess. She gave him the finger and told him to get lost. After going home, she came to a realization: Her every move was being controlled by N. She was his puppet, and he was her master. Who will win? N's desire? Or her heart?

~String 8~

It's been two months. Two of the most boring months of my life.

Ever since the day N brought me to his castle, he hasn't appeared before me. Not once. I'm beginning to wonder if he even thought this through. I mean...if he wanted me here...why wasn't he with me? Wasn't that the point!?

Whenever I attempted to interrogate the grunts, they just smiled and told me that he was very busy as the King of Team Plasma. I mean...I have no idea what he's doing. I can't figure out any information on the outside world.

I'm only allowed to explore everywhere in the castle, not leave its premises and travel to the nearest town even if I wanted to simply get a newspaper. I'm surprised N let me scour the castle as if I owned it's...it's as if he thinks he can control what I see and do when he's not even there! What a weirdo…

Yawning, I sit up in bed after I had been staring at the ceiling in sheer boredom. I glance over at the clock on the wall and see that it is only five in the morning. I'm up early. Yay….

I slip out of bed and scratch my neck as I head to the bathroom to get ready. Time for another day of doing...almost absolutely nothing. Well, that and eating…

After showering, I blowdry my long chestnut locks, and decide today I'm going to leave my hair down. There's no reason particularly...I mean...just moments ago, I was going to put it back, but now I guess I won't.

Unplugging the hairdryer, I put it away, and pull on a pair of jeans and a red, silky blouse with poofy short sleeves.

I suddenly get a flash of annoyance as I slam the door open and stomp towards the door to the hall. Well, not annoyance...anger.

I wish I had never gone with N! These last two months have been so frustrating and boring I can't take it! I've been thinking this the entire time, and I can't believe I was such a fool! Kyurem and my family out in the woods? Bah! I must've been hallucinating!

Walking into the hall, I head towards the stairs. That's when I stop. I'd always gone down when I came to the stairs...why was that? I try to contemplate this mental dilemma, but no answers come up to why the hell I never attempted to go upstairs. Well for whatever reason...I won't be doing that again. Frowning, I start scampering up the stairs instead, my feet lightly landing on each step.

The upper level of the castle is just as modern-looking as the other floors, but...there's more regalty...and royalness to the higher floor. I think this might be where N resides...why did it never cross my mind to come up here before? I just don't get it… I should've considered it at least once..but if my memory serves correct...I never have. But why?

Reaching the landing, I look down the hallway, as it only leads to the left before turning right. I follow its pattern, and a rich, blue carpet is draped across the floor in front of me.

This has to be the way to N's room. I'm positive.

Suddenly, I feel a shiver run down my spine, and gulp. N's room. Should I really be up here?

Shaking my head, I clench my fists, my resolve coming back. I'm going to demand that N let me leave. This is stupid! I shouldn't have to stay here for two months and not see him! It's...just bizarre!

Turning around yet another corner, I skid to a halt. There's a tall, blue double door, with bronze swirls placed intricately on its frame and two golden door knobs protruding at the center of both doors.

I blink. Definitely N's room.

Inching forward, I hold a hand to my chest as my heart flutters in erratic beats. Should I really be up here? It seems as if my mind is conflicted; half says I have every right, while another, foreign part of my mind tells me that I'm disobeying. But disobeying...what?

My left hand slips forward as I take control of my thoughts, and it clutches the handle. I let out a nervous breath before attempting to turn the knob.

That's when the vibrating heartbeat rockets through my body...like the times I was talking to my mom and Alder.

I can't be...passing...out...again…

My eyes begin to close and I crumple onto the ground in a heap.

Ba-thump.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The slow back and forth motion of walking pulls me from my unconscious state, and I feel my face resting against the crook of someone's neck.

Green tea.

N.

My eyes flutter open, and I see N's white shirt and black under armour. I tense slightly once I realize I am in N's arms.

Glancing in the direction we're headed, I notice how we're going back to my room on the floor below. Was he taking me back because I wasn't supposed to be up there? Or did he hear me when I...I fell, right? Yeah...I did…

I frown, trying to piece together what happened. Had I wanted to go upstairs? That's stupid, because I don't feel the need to go up there presently. Why would I go up there?

That contradicts what I was thinking earlier, doesn't it? My eyes widen; am I going crazy? Why would I know I thought one thing, then suddenly think the opposite thing just moments later? Why would I change my mind like that? I've never done that before! This is...all too confusing...I don't really want to think about it...my head is starting to hurt...

N shoulders my bedroom door open, and heads towards the canopy bed before setting me down on it gently as he sits at the end.

I blink up at him. Why was he treating me in such a tender way? When we had battled throughout the rise of Team Plasma, he had never showed any interest in me and tried to defeat me with everything he had. So what changed? When?

"Are you alright?" he asks, and I stare at him blankly before my eyes focus on his face.

"Y-yes…?" I answer, not entirely sure what to say.

He smiles at me softly and intertwines his hand in mine, holding it in a firm grip. I glance at our hands woven together; I find that I don't know what to make of it.

Suddenly, something in my mind snaps, as if all calmness N was trying to use on me just breaks. Oh yeah!

I glare, pushing myself up into a sitting position. "I have something to ask you," I bark, clenching my teeth. "What's the big idea with you leaving me here and not visiting for two months? What was the point of me coming here if you were simply going to ignore me? Was it only to say that you have the Hero of Unova as a prize?"

Rage boils in my chest. That'd have to be it! I can't think of any other reason why he'd want me here! I should be spot on with this assumption.

N doesn't seem phased by my furious aura and just blinks at me with his emerald eyes. "So you were lonely, Touko?" he inquires quietly.

I blink. I hadn't been expecting that response. It's a moment before I comprehend what he said. My eyes widen and a flush shoots up my neck to my face. "Y-you're wrong!" I yelp, and lunge forward with the intent of hurting him to cover my embarrassment, but slip on the sheets and only end up falling on top of him in a heap.

Groaning I push myself up onto my hands, and open my eyes to see N's face only mere inches from mine.

Oh shit.

"You were," he states, and I growl before trying to roll off him. Instead of succeeding in my plan, N foils it.

His arms immediately circle around my body, caging me in so that I can't escape his embrace. I turn bright red as he holds me there.

"Where are you going?" he asks.

I look away, my jaw firmly set in annoyance. This bastard! How dare he insult me and keep me here against my will!

N's arms close in further and I'm pressed against his chest, my surprised yelp muffled by his shirt. I try struggling to get out of his grip, but it's useless. I'm good at punching and kicking...not grappling.

"Don't worry Touko…" he says, and I stop moving. "I'm sorry I made you lonely...so for now, I will stay with you."

For once, I'm happy my face is buried in his shirt; that way, he doesn't see the massive blush that is burning on my face like his Reshiram's Fusion Flare.

Unfortunately, I end up falling asleep, curled up against N's form...my head pressing against his cheek as my chest rises and falls in perfect harmony with his.

~Misty/Ms. Ketchum