A/N: Wow I haven't been on this site in 3 years! College and professional life took over so I had no time for my old hobbies. I recently replayed Pokémon Platinum and fell in love with the fandom and characters again. This was my favorite story and I always hoped to complete it so that's just what I'm going to do! I also went through each chapter and updated some of it but the plot is going to stay the same. Sorry for long A/N, I will remove it eventually. Please enjoy, after 3 long years, chapter 7!
The early morning greeted Akagi and Hikari as they packed to continue their path to Veilstone City. As they strolled along the dark grey rocky path, the nerves and tension were starting to overwhelm Akagi. He struggled to stop fidgeting and biting his fingernails which were almost at the state of drawing blood. Hikari smacked her hand across his mouth to stop the biting and held onto his left hand tightly. This had calmed the man down but created a different kind of anxiety for him as a pink shade brushed along his cold cheeks. Hikari's petite thumb graced along Akagi's hand with a gentle movement and soon enough he found himself returning the tender interaction. This had caused an accelerated heartbeat along with a shade of pink along Hikari's soft face. They turned to face each other and as soon as their eyes met they let go.
After an awkward moment between the pair they were interrupted by an oddly familiar presence behind them. They turned around only to come face to face with a girl sporting vibrant red hair. The girl lunged herself at Akagi, tightly wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her slightly chapped lips against his own. Akagi, eyes wide open, pushed the girl off him and took a safe step back.
"Mars?" Akagi asked cautiously, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Akagi it is you! Oh thank the heavens you weren't just a random lookalike!" She squealed awkwardly.
Still the same Mars, she hasn't changed a bit, he thought to himself. She had matured physically but still had that rash and quirky nature that made her Mars. The thing that struck Akagi as odd was that she was still in her Team Galaxy outfit.
"Mars I have to ask, why are you still in uniform?" he asked with a strange expression.
"Oh Akagi it's been hell without you around. After you disappeared I refused to ditch the uniform! Everyone said you were dead but I refused to believe it, I was right!" Mars exclaimed. "I spent years visiting Sunyshore City and your office to see if you had come back but…" a glimmer reflected off her trickling tear. "You never returned".
Mars took Akagi into another; more gentle, embrace and whimpered onto his shoulder. He didn't know what to say or do, shocked that his team members actually cared and were worried about his disappearance even though he was close to abandoning them and going solo into the 'new world'.
"Where are Jupiter and Saturn?" Akagi simply asked.
"Saturn is here! He bought a house in Veilstone actually. He said he enjoyed the atmosphere and loved the games corner. He occasionally visits the Team Galaxy Headquarters to check up on how I'm doing. As for Jupiter, I honestly don't know where she is. When you disappeared, we all returned home and she stormed out of the building, never to be seen again".
Akagi was in a state of shock, to the point where he wished he never returned to Sinnoh and stayed in his dreaded imprisonment. He obviously had a huge impact on these people's lives and it was only now that he was realizing it.
"Could you get Saturn to join us at our old headquarters. I have some explaining to do and some stuff to collect." Akagi requested. Mars nodded vigorously and took off to fetch Saturn. She felt all giddy again that the old gang were finally reuniting.
"Are you coming with us Hikari?" Akagi asked. "Hikari…?"
He turned to see the young girl standing further away from him with her head lowered. He moved closer to her again and lifted her chin so their eyes could meet.
"I thought you were going to start a new life." Hikari asked sounding disheartened.
"I am, I just need to retrieve something from the old headquarters and then I can move on." He reassured. Hikari smiled again and trusted that he keep his word.
A few moments later, Mars returned to the old headquarters with Saturn and met up with Akagi and Hikari at the front door. Saturn was shocked to see the two old enemies together but after their explanation, he understood.
"Wow boss, your skin is so pale! You need some sun." Saturn teased.
"You no longer need to call me boss." Akagi replied sternly.
Saturn and Mars both looked at each other with strange looks. Although Akagi was unaware, they were plotting something. They were just waiting to enter their old headquarters with their leader so they could carry out their plan.
Akagi gave himself some time to collect his thoughts before entering the looming building. This giant dark blue and grey building contained all the plans, records and memories of his dark past. Whilst lost in though he felt a gentle hand on his arm.
"Are you sure you want to do this? I don't want you turning all Galaxy boss insane on me again. You were such a pain in the ass back then and I really couldn't care to defeat you again." Hikari joked.
Akagi smirked and shook his head as he approached the middle door. He clenched his fists and looked up and without hesitation he simply uttered:
"I'm ready."
