Chapter 5: Sucker Punch

The blinds filtered in narrow beams of sunlight into an otherwise dark room. Red had been lying in bed watching the light slowly creep across the floor and up the wall for the past few hours. Slowly slipping a hand into the light, he watched as it crept up his hand, providing a shallow warmth that didn't quite extend to the rest of his body.

If he found his light, would he find warmth as well?

He turned his hand left and right, observing how shadows dancing between his fingers. Closing his fist, his eyes followed the shadows as they descended upon his palm, the light slipping through his fingers as if mocking him.

He was still in the dark.

Heaving a sigh, he rolled out of bed. It wouldn't do for him to wallow by himself. Stepping outside, he made his way towards the lobby as his door shut with a click.

Breakfast had started as quiet affair with Red being greeted by a bleary eyed Touko in the hotel cafe. Introducing himself with the same name to the others, he had received a nod and a smile from Touya, a firm handshake from an eating Cheren and a rather limp handshake from a barely awake Bianca who seemed intent on falling asleep in her bowl of cereal.

The atmosphere was broken by a ringing from Cheren's xtransceiver. Picking it up, he frowned as the person on the other side relayed information to him. A quick conversation and halfhearted argument later, he hung up, shoulders dropping. Touko looked at him expectedly as pocketed the device.

Clearing his throat, he spoke up.

"I have to go back to the gym for a few weeks tomorrow. Apparently the person filling in for me is sick."

Touko frowned. "What about training? We need to work on some new moves and tactics together."

Cheren waved a hand at her as he chewed on another piece of bacon. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll be fine." Swallowing, he continued. "Touya is still here and I'm sure Bianca and Ash will help you. I'll be back before the tournament starts anyways."

Yawning, Bianca spoke up as she stretched her arms. "I'll be around for today but there's some research I want to do. The only way I got to be out here is by agreeing to do some research for Professor Juniper."

Touko leant back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Well I suppose that's ok since you have to do work. So that leaves me, Ash and Touy-"

"Actually, I'll be busy too." Touya grinned at her behind his glass of orange juice. "Elesa sent me a message last night saying she'd be coming in tomorrow. I agreed to train and spend some time with her before the tournament since I assumed Cheren would be around to help. Sorry!"

Touko groaned, her forehead hitting the table. Glaring up at her still grinning brother, she pointed at him. "You're just doing this cause he's pretty" she accused.

He raised an eyebrow."Jealous?"

"Of course not! Why would I be jealous of her?!"

"Because she's pretty."

"So am I!"

"Vain are we?"

"I'm not!"

Touya reached over to her plate and stabbed a piece of potato from her. "Well I won't deny that her being attractive isn't part of it." he said waving it in the air dismissively. "But she's nice, not as loud as some people I know, has a great personality and is an awesome trainer. Besides, you'd do the same thing if you were in my position."

Taking his plate, he shoveled the rest of his food onto hers. "Here, have some sausage. That will fix your problem."

"But I don't like girls! And stop stealing my food. I don't want anymore of your sausage," the double meaning of Touya and her own comments flying over her head.

Touya snorted and eyed her, a strange look plastered on his. "With what you just said and the way you reject every guy who asks you out, you're not providing a very convincing argument. You won't mind me taking this then" he said as he lifted a breakfast taco from her plate. "And I'm glad you don't want my sausage. That's just... weird."

Touko flushed as she realized what she had said. "That's not what I meant!"

"So, what you're saying is you love sausage? That you're a sausage fiend?"

"Yes! I mean, no! Just arghhhhhhhh!"

Bianca briefly raised her head as Touko pulled at her hair in frustration. "You know, I would probably do the same thing as Touya." she slurred said as she slumped back down onto the table, unaware of exactly what she had said.

At this, Touya smiled widely and slipped a hand around Bianca's shoulder. "See, someone agrees with me".

Cheren took a sip of his coffee as he watched the bickering siblings and a sleeping Bianca's beret slowly slip into her milk. He glanced at Red, his eyes peering at him over his cup, a hint of mirth in evident in them. "Don't worry, they're always like this. You'll get used to it."

"Druddigon, use dragon pulse!" The dragon let out a roar as it flew at Touya's Samurott, twisting in mid air as it prepared to unleach its fury upon the water pokemon. "Samurott, ice beam!" Opening it's mouth, the aquatic creature let loose a torrent of ice into the air straight into Druddigon's chest. Touko watched glumly as the the dragon took the full brunt of the hit, unable to dodge and was send crashing into the ground. Running over to the pokemon, she patted its head reassuringly before withdrawing it back into its pokeball.

They had been at it for a few hours now, the three main battlers working on moves with their pokemon and the occasional battle as Bianca and Red looked on.

Touko let out a sigh of disappointment. "I guess we'll have to work more on that move some more. I was really hoping to have him master it before today was over."

"It's not the mastery of that particular skill that's the problem." The four Unova natives turned to look at Red at that comment. Throughout the entire training session, Red hadn't said a single thing, choosing to watch in silence.

"Care to elaborate a little more Ash?" asked Touko curiously, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Have it work on a different move. Dragon pulse isn't strong enough."

Cheren nodded. "You know, he has a point. Druddigon is a pure dragon type and traditionally, dragon pulse is better for pokemon that excel at specials. In Druddigon's case, it's a much weaker move than say, dragon claw. And we've all see Druddigon use dragon claw before, so there's no point in him learning it."

Touko rubbed the back of her head, a sheepish look on her face. "I thought about that, but I figured I would give him some variety."

Flipping open his pokedex, Cheren pushed a few buttons until he found what he wanted. "Maybe you should try teaching it a different move. Something like dragon tail could be useful."

"Sucker punch."

Standing up from the rock he was sitting on, Red crossed his arms. "Druddigon is too slow. Either switch him out against ice or give him a choice band, teach him sucker punch and let him revenge kill."

Rubbing his chin, Cheren closed his eyes in thought. "Interesting. I never really thought about that."

Opening his eyes, he glanced at Touko. "That's a pretty good idea. Besides, you shouldn't be letting him get hit by an ice move like that anyways."

Reaching into his belt, he grasped a pokeball, the round object expanding to fill his hand. "Care for another round?"

"So Ash" Touya said as popped open his can of soda and heard the satisfying hiss. Taking a swig of the cool drink, he made a face as he felt the burn in the back of his throat. "Where are you from?"

"Kanto" came the short reply.

Behind the two, Bianca nudged Touko and whispered in his ear. "Not much of a talker is he?"

Touko shook her. She hadn't known him for much longer but she couldn't deny the fact that he didn't seem to be much of a conversationalist.

Unperturbed by the one word answer, Touya asked another question. "So what are you doing here in Unova? You're a bit far from that region."

Red simply shrugged. "No reason in particular." His eyes searched out the setting sun, not particularly interested in keeping up this subject.

"So you're not a trainer?"

"Not anymore."

"Ah."

A strange sort of understanding descended between the two, both of them looking out at the horizon.

Bianca nudged Touko in the ribs again. "This feels like a scene out of some random movie. Maybe one of them will say something really cool."

Touko rolled her eyes as she tossed her drink into the trash, Cheren following suit. She was covered in dirt, grime and sweat and her hair was a mess.

"Let's go home. I want to take a shower."

The next morning after breakfast, Red stood with the others as Cheren prepared to depart. "Do you have everything?" said a worried Bianca who was hovering around Cheren. "Do you have your clothes? Do you need any food? Will you need-"

"Bianca," Cheren said, patting her head, "I'll be fine".

Nodding at the group, he released his Unfezant. "I'll see you guys in a week or two. Say hello to Elesa for me Touya."

"Will do."

As Cheren disappeared into the sky, Bianca picked up her bag and slung it across her shoulder. "Alright guys! I guess it's also time for me to head out. Professor Juniper is counting on me! I'll be back in a little bit as well!"

After a quick few hugs with Touya and Touka and a very awkward one with Red, Bianca left, her faithful Stoutland trailing behind her.

"Well at least you're not leaving yet." Touko remarked only for the sound of Touya's xtranceiver to be heard. Touko let out a groan and hung her head, realizing what was about to happen. A quick conversation later and Touya hung up, a grin on his face. "That was Elesa wasn't it?"

"Sorry Sis, but I'll be heading out too. Try not to be a burden on poor Ash here." Giving her a quick pat on the back and a promise of seeing her later tonight back at the hotel, he too departed.

Touko sighed as she looked at Red.

"Well I guess it's just me and you now."

The tension was thick as they walked into the grotto together. Red meandered over to a stump and plopped himself down onto it, his gaze falling onto Touko as she stood around awkwardly.

Biting her lip, she met his gaze as a soft breeze blew through. Why is it always so awkward with this guy?

Dropping her bag onto the ground beside her, she spoke. "You don't have any Pokemon with you?"

Red shook his head, confirming what she already knew.

I guess its time to have for a battle royale.

"Your Pokemon are pretty strong."

Those were the only words he had said since they had entered the clearing that morning. He could tell that he had startled her as she fed her Emboar. He had watched silently all morning has her Pokemon engaged in fierce free for all, filling the air with fire, smoke and all sorts of other dangerous elements. Touko herself had been forced to dodge multiple times, having to dive behind a tree more than once when stray technique came her way.

"I was the Pokemon Champion of Unova," Touko said proudly as she stood up and walked over to him, her hands on her hips. "I'm not just some beginner who doesn't know a thing."

Red raised an eyebrow at this. So I was right. She's not a normal trainer. He had suspected such a thing as he had watched her Pokemon battle and her bark orders. Her team was strong enough to rival those of the Elite four he had fought at the very least and he had to say that he was impressed. Despite the precision and power that her Pokemon brought, he could see several minor flaws in both her battling and in her Pokemon.

Seeing his raised eyebrow, Touko grinned. "I'm a better trainer than Elesa if I say so myself."

Confused at the lack of recognition on his face her smile slightly slipped. "You do know who that is right?"

Red shook his head. She frowned.

"She's a gym leader in this region. And also a model." she trailed off as realization hit her.

"Wait! That means you didn't know who I was either!?"

"Nope."

Touko didn't quite know what to make of that answer. She was almost slightly offended that he hadn't heard of her, but it explained the lack of recognition when they first met. It didn't, however, explain the lack of expression or excitement now that he knew. When most people found who she was, they would immediately fawn over her and ask for an autograph. Well, that or a Pokemon battle.

"So uh, you're not going to ask for an autograph or a picture?"

Red looked at her oddly. "Why would I?"

Touko rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, pulling on her hair slightly. "It's just that most people ask for one when they find out who I am." Great, now I seem like an attention whore.

Red looked away.

"In the end, people are still people despite their accomplishments."

Turning his head slightly to the side, he brought his hand up to rest his chin on.

"Besides, I know how you feel."

Touko smiled, happy that he wasn't awestruck. It seems we have may have more in common than we think.

"Thank you for waiting. We've restored your Pokémon to full health. We hope to see you again!"

Taking her Pokemon from the tray, Touko thanked the kind looking nurse before leaving. Exiting the sliding doors and leaving the merry melody of the Pokemon center behind, she started to absentmindedly make her way back to her room.

The rest of the day had passed relatively quickly. While they still weren't entirely comfortable in each other's presence, they had grown more accustomed to each other. Red had offered Touko some points and tips and she had even made him agree to help her out even more tomorrow. She had found his company to be informative and not unpleasant and so she had pestered him into until he had agreed to her proposal. Touko had to hide a grin as she recalled that conversation. With her usual training partners away, she had pleaded and bribed him until he finally agreed. A quick dinner later, they had parted shortly after as she had to stop by the Pokemon center to get her Pokemon healed up before heading home.

Touko found herself musing about Red and how much he knew about Pokemon. She made a mental note to thank him for helping her teaching Druddigon how to use sucker punch so quickly and to find out how he knew so much. Maybe she'd ask discuss it with Touya when he came back from "training" with Elesa.

Turning the corner, her thoughts were interrupted as she ran smack into a hard body, her ass taking the brunt of the fall as she bounced off the ground. Rubbing her rear, strong hands grasped her free arm and pulled her back up.

"Sorry about that. And thanks for..."

The words died on her lips as she got a good look at the person in front of her, a strange mix emotions welling up with in her. It almost felt like she had been sucker punched herself.

Oh shit.

N grinned.

"Hello."

Author's Note: Hi guys! Sorry for the long wait but I fear that my chapters in the future are going to take this long to deliver. Between school and interviews and applications I haven't had that much time to write!

To answer a few questions, Red's old team is what you fought at the end of HG/SS. I haven't read that much of the Pokemon manga, so I am mainly based on what I have seen in game and my own interpretation. It's less like the Red in the manga and more of a badass(not that he isn't in the manga)

Anyways, please review!