Immorality - Avaritia & Invidia
#4 of Immorality
Okay gonna get into this chapter as quick as possible once again, just thought I'd start off saying that this is yet another no-yiff story setting chapter sorry guys :3.
thanks again to all who've fave'd, watched, rated, pawed and especially commented on my past stories, your support made me keep writing and I honestly can't believe what good reviews I'm getting on some of these submissions, thanks guys ^^
On with the chapter at hand, enjoy!
Avaritia & Invidia
Joe waited in the gigantic hall, nervously tapping his fingers on his leg. He had no idea why he had been called here but it must have been important as the room was huge and grand. Ornate carvings littered the walls and portraits of ancient and powerful pokémon were scattered here and there. A smallish circular oaken table seemed rather out of place in the centre of the room and a pair of twin staircases separated by a railing led down from a door leading to the interior of the building.
Joe sat in a comfy high-armed chair directly adjacent to the table observing all this with a shifty glance. A sudden noise alerted him to the wooden double doors at the head of the staircase bursting open as a rotund man in a sweat-drenched business suit strolled down the complaining stairs towards him. The man was certainly not handsome. Blonde and seemingly unwashed curly hair stretched to his shoulders and his grimy face did nothing to hide his slightly bent nose and squinting eyes.
"Ahhh!" The vile man roared like a wild Ursaring. "Joe, you've finally arrived, security didn't give you much trouble I trust?" Although something in the demeanor of the man told Joe that he secretly hoped that security had given him as much trouble as was humanly possible.
"No," Joe lied "It was fine, thank you."
"Fair enough then!" The man roared once more. "Now has it been explained to you yet, why you're here?" Joe shook his head.
"Just that there's some business and that I'd be paid well." He explained.
"Well, doesn't begin to describe it." The beast of a man removed a small item from his suit pocket with a glint in his eye, Joe recognized the item as a chocolate bar of some description, the man took a large bite before continuing, not bothering to swallow his mouthful. "However I'd like to think that in exchange for the exclusive pleasure of working with me the job would be carried out with a degree of... professionalism?"
Joe didn't like the tone the man took. "What are you suggesting that I'm not professional? I'll have you know that I've bested the Kanto pokémon league, twice! I've-" The trainer was cut short as the disgusting human blob opposite him finished the chocolate bar in two more large bites and held his hand up for silence.
"I'm well aware of your achievements, they're why I called upon you in the first place, however news travels fast and your disgrace at the hands of a psychic pokémon makes me wonder about your suitability."
"Suitability?"
"Yes, you see," The Large man paused to seat himself opposite Joe, the chair he choose giving a worrying groan as it adjusted to his weight. The man altered his position coming to rest with his elbows resting on the small table his hands making a steeple in mid air. "This, Operation, this deal... Involves you getting your hands on some very special pokémon... Ross's to be precise." He finished casually as if he had asked Joe to trim his garden not commit one of the worst crimes known to trainer-kind.
"Are...Are you kidding? Is this one of those freaking joke shows?" Joe asked incredulously.
"No joke, no cameras, no show... Just a very real offer." The obese man grinned knowing he had Joes interest, he had read the greedy trainer like a book the second he'd seen him.
"What kind of offer?" Joe figured he might as well see what this, clearly mad person was offering.
The man grinned wider reaching under the table and pressing a button which was concealed there. "I think you'll find the offer rather generous, after all this is not a simple task I am asking of you." A security guard that Joe remembered from the all too intimate security probing emerged from the door which Joe had entered from carrying a small metal briefcase. He placed the case on the table before silently turning and marching back out.
Joe began to get worried, this was starting to feel like a bad action movie, and something bad always happens to the evil guys in movies still he was intrigued and couldn't help but open it as the rotund man opposite him grinned leaning back in the heavily complaining chair and motioned to it.
It was all Joe could do to stop his jaw from hitting the floor as he opened the case revealing stacks of bank notes, now he knew this must be a joke, still a part of him wanted just to grab the money and run, not that he'd get far with all that security out there. He looked between the money and the man searching for any signs of trickery.
"I'm sorry, it would be a lot more but I took the liberty of investing some of it in acquiring something that will no-doubt assist you in your task... Something which may interest you even more than money if such a thing is possible." The man reached into another pocket removing another chocolate bar and ripping the packaging off ravenously.
Joe didn't consider himself a man of high moral standing, he'd cheated people out of money more times than he cared to remember, but this was heavy, this was a guy's pokémon, his livelihood. Still there was so much money on that table and, if this man, whoever he was, was to be believed there was an even greater reward awaiting.
"What is it?" he asked greedily. His host grinned sadistically reaching underneath the table again and clicking another button. This time however there was no security guard, instead a small section of the tabletop shifted away with a metallic whirring sound and a pokéball raised to the surface coming to rest with a click as the mechanism finished its action.
The man reached out with his free hand grabbing the top of the pokéball and lifting it clear of the surface, offering it to the startled trainer. "You are a dark trainer no? Yes I think this will most definitely interest you... If you pull a satisfactory job I may even let you keep it."
Joe accepted the ball wondering what pokémon could be worth more to him than the money and tossed the pokéball releasing its inhabitant into the room causing the human to gawk awestruck at the magnificence before him, he never thought he'd live to see this day.
"Surely Ross's pokémon aren't worth all of this?"
"As a matter of fact they are, besides, a couple of them have... Sentimental value to me." He reached up and tweaked his nose as he said this, finishing his second chocolate bar as quickly as the first. "But enough window shopping, are you in or out?"
Joe reluctantly returned the glorious pokémon to its pokéball staring in disbelief at the sphere he held in his hand, he could feel the power of the contained pokémon through the shell of the device.
"But how do you expect me to find Ross again, much less get a hold of his pokémon?"
"Ahh... Now that's the true plan, the rest of this deal is fully negotiable but this is set in stone. You will go to Sunnyshore city, the ex-champion, Cynthia, is holding a tournament there in four days time, known simply as the Gauntlet. The grand prize being the Badge of the champion which counts as an official gym badge, allowing anyone with any seven of the other eight badges entry into the Sinnoh league... Your name has already been entered, one of the first. In-exchange for funding some of the proceedings my little business venture has been given some air time during the commercial that is being aired for the tournament. You'll use that time to taunt, trick, whatever the hell you want but make sure that Ross can't ignore you, make sure that he's at that tournament."
"And then what?"
"Then battle him, beat him, destroy him, humiliate him in front of thousands of people, like he humiliated you... Use the pokémon I gave you or don't I don't really care, but get his Pokémon, and bring them to me."
"And if I do all of this, then I get to keep..." He nodded at the pokéball he was holding.
The man leaned back in his chair once more, nodding curtly making his jowly face wobble. "No time to lose then, I have a vehicle waiting outside to take you to Sunnyshore, after all the sooner you shoot the advert the sooner we can begin broadcasting!"
"But if I leave now we won't get to Sunyshore until like... two A.M... who's watching TV at two A.M.?"
The man simply shrugged, the large patches of sweat under his arms flashing at the disgusted trainer. "It really doesn't matter, this tournament is going to be broadcast practically round the clock, people won't be able to turn their television on without seeing this advert, so make sure it's a damned good one.
Joe nodded and turned around, closing and picking up the briefcase in his free hand as he did before being stopped by his host's voice. "Oh and Joe," The man plunged his hands into both pockets one coming out holding a third, slightly crushed chocolate bar the other a perfectly straight letter. Leaning forward conspiratorially he pushed the letter across the table towards Joe whilst ripping off the wrapper of the chocolate bar with his teeth. "Leave this with Ross, just wherever you take his pokémon from... It's an invite to a... Family reunion I'm having. Now go, and don't you DARE, mess this up."
Alba sat on the embankment staring into the lazily flowing water and the various pokémon swimming in the shallows near him. Catching movement in his peripheral he turned to see Ross kneel next to him, his chin covered in that ridiculous foam that he used when his facial hair became too long, a razor was in his other hand and he reached into the river, giving the blade a rinse before lifting it to his face and beginning the ritual.
Alba turned back to the stream; none of them had gotten any sleep. It had been almost two hours since his fight with Kaylen, he was so tired, he'd barely gotten any sleep these past two days and, the stress and anxiety of his situation made him feel old and withered.
The cut on his face burned proudly, a memento to his overactive lust and the mess it had gotten him into. He sighed and shook his head as Ross continued to shave next to him. Jutah had told the trainer everything, in those moments after the battle had ended, the Abra had spilled his guts to the human, and since then no word had been spoken, not for two hours.
It was getting unbearable, the silence, the tension everything, it had to stop.
"Can you forgive me?" He broke the silence. It was a lame question but he honestly couldn't think of a better one at the time.
Ross finished shaving before shaking his head, for a minute Alba was afraid that might be his response but the trainer opened his mouth to say something before deciding against it and closing it again, looking like a goldeen at feeding time as he ran a few options through his head searching for his answer.
Finally he sighed. "Look Alba, We've been together... seven, eight years? Twice as long as I've known Kayla, half of my entire lifetime. Try as I might, there isn't a single thing I can think of that I wouldn't forgive you for... But you know as well as I do that I'm not the one you should be asking forgiveness from." he cast his glance back towards the destroyed camp site and Kayla, who was still licking her brothers wounds.
Alba followed his gaze his eyes resting on the two Buizels, both of which he had hurt in some way or another, and he cowed his head in guilt. "How do I apologize to someone who doesn't even understand what I did wrong? I don't want to lose Kaylen either what do I do?"
"That's something I can't help you with, but I can't have animosity between you guys either... I'm sorry but this is something you'll have to figure out for yourself."
A silence descended upon the pair as Alba thought it over. "Ross... For a human you can be really smart
sometimes you know that?"
"Yeah, and for an Espeon you can be monumentally dumb." Alba chuckled in response and another silence followed.
"I saw Elice yesterday." Alba suddenly spoke up, "She was the one who..." He raised his chin showing off the cuts.
"Still got your way with the ladies huh?" Ross joked, suddenly something clicked in the humans head. "Elice? So that means?" Alba nodded, Ross shook his head and sighed. "Jade... It's been too long," Ross continued. "Boy that'll be awkward if we ever see each other... With Kayla and everything. I haven't seen her since... Since I last picked you up from day-care remember? After that she left for Kanto."
Alba grunted a neutral response. They sat in silence once more listening to the flow of the water. The silence was broken, this time by the ringtone from the tinny speakers of Ross's phone.
Ross searched through his pocket finally finding the item and checking the caller I.D. half expecting it to be Jade herself. The Contact name read: Kyle, good, that was about the only person he could stand to take a call from right now. Kyle had been a good friend back when he used to travel with Jade, one of the few human friends he had, but the breeder had since retired to a life of luxury after discovering a kind of anti-repel that was making him richer than he could ever hope to become as a breeder.
Still he had kept on good terms with Ross and still called him up to let him know about special events happening around Sinnoh. Ross got up petting Alba on the head as he did before turning and flicking the phone up answering the call. "Speak quick Kyle." He said wandering away to give Alba some alone time.
"Whoa not in the mood for pleasantries today Ross?" The cheerful breeder responded. "What's wrong? In the middle of a gym battle? I didn't hear about any upcoming gym battles."
"No it's not a Gym battle it's just... Something's come up kay?"
"Fine I won't pry, but listen where are you?"
"I'm on route 209 en route to Snowpoint, why?"
"Forget Snowpoint, I'll take it you're headed there to pick up your seventh gym badge?"
"Well yeah... Why?"
"There's something big going down in Sunnyshore city, a tournament!"
"And you called me at two thirty A.M. to tell me this?"
"Well I just saw the advert on TV I called you straight after."
"You're watching TV at two thirty in the morning?"
"Never mind that, the point is the tournament is being hosted by Cynthia herself, and the winner gets a badge that counts as one of the eight badges you need to get to challenge the elite four. Know what that means? You could go, do your amazing pulling a win out of your ass magic trick then head straight to the Sunyshore gym and you'd be set, there'd be no need to go all the way to Snowpoint."
Ross thought about it, he didn't really feel like going to Snowpoint, even if he could be bothered with the journey, that place would bring up memories for Alba and Kayla that just weren't worth it. "Tell me about this tournament."
"Okay well, it's known as the Gauntlet. There are people from all over Sinnoh coming to this thing so expect a long qualifying round but if you get through, you'll be up against the top forty trainers in Sinnoh outside of the league. The trainers are set against a random opponent and round one begins. Round one is straight up elimination. Loose one and you're out, so after round one there are only twenty trainers left. The second round is double battles; you pair up with a trainer of your choice, or get assigned one randomly. Then the ten groups of two duke it out until there are only three pairs left, then it's time for round three. Round three is harsh, you have to battle it out with the trainer you partnered with and only the winner goes on to fight in the final... The final round is a free-for-all between the last three trainers. You only get one choice of pokémon so you have to use your wits and choose which pokémon you have the best chance of winning against and try and take out the other before they take you out."
"When does this tournament start?"
"About four days time, oh and Ross, I wasn't sure if I should tell you, that trainer you totaled a couple of days back, Joe? He called you out man, said you were a nothing, washed up... Said that you beat him by fluke and that if you were really anything special you'd beat him at this tournament. On national TV too."
Ross was speechless, that worm of a trainer had the nerve to call him... "Thanks man, I'll be there."
"Destroy him, I'll be watching." The connection went dead, Kyle having hung up the phone. Ross shook off the shock of having the lesser trainer insult him and went to change into a new set of clothes.
Kayla stood next to her brother licking his already well licked wounds and tending to some of the bigger cuts with a weak water gun. Kaylen sat stoically on the ground, the fight had left him soon after the battle was over and now he just sat thinking.
Kayla finally decided that his fur was clean enough and turned looking for Ross, unable to find him she searched instead for Alba seeing him looking somberly into the river, he looked lonely and besides she needed some answers. She began to stride purposefully towards the Espeon but was stopped by a green blade-like arm, she looked up questioningly into the eyes of Nivven, who shook his head when she tried to push past his arm.
"Sometimes being alone isn't the same as being lonely." The Gallade said. He didn't speak often but when he did he spoke wisely. "Do you understand?"
Kayla nodded, although she wasn't quite sure and stopped resisting the arm which pushed her back. This was beginning to annoy her, she knew what Alba had done was wrong, why she wasn't sure, but why did it matter so much? No matter what she would always forgive him, surely he knew that... and yet everyone was just sitting around not talking to each other, it didn't make sense.
She sat down with a sulk, where had Ross gotten to? He'd make everything better; she'd just have to wait it out.
Elice watched silently from the surrounding undergrowth, the fur around her eyes matted with dried tears. She kept reminding herself that it was Alba's fault he was in this mess in the first place, but she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
She stared at Alba, despite herself she couldn't come to terms with how much he had changed. She had only known that he had evolved because Ross had told her trainer on the way to the day-care centre when they went to pick up a totodile belonging to Jade. She hadn't even managed to see him until last night.
She attempted to skirt the clearing until she got closer to Alba, hoping that he wouldn't hear her she crept forwards out of cover and closer to him. She didn't think she could talk to him, not after what he'd said, but somehow just knowing that he was okay was comforting.
"Elice." The little fox pokémon jumped backwards fearing that she'd been caught, but it appeared that the Espeon was speaking to himself "I'm such an idiot." Alba continued, Elice tried to remain as still as possible. "I want to change Elice, I want to change so much. Why the fuck did I say no?" Elice's heart did somersaults, her tails began to wag, this was exactly what she had wanted to hear, it was all she could do to stop herself from blurting something out, but she controlled herself. They were heading for Solaceon anyway, she'd just have to wait. She retreated stealthily to her original position, casting one last look back over her shoulder before disappearing back into the undergrowth and heading back to the small town.
The moon was still hanging low in the sky when Deo raised his head, hearing a noise at the door. The Mightyena looked to the bed where his trainer was sleeping uneasily then back to the door, walking over he propped himself against the door and nosed the hook out of its latch, it was a good job this inn was so old, he'd have no idea how to undo those complicated locks. Dropping back to all fours he let the door swing open and watched as Elice strode back in, calm as you like.
"And what time do you call this? Jade's been worried sick you know."
"It doesn't matter."
"Doesn't matter? Elice I've known you for a long time, and I've never heard you say something like that about your trainer, what's the matter? What's going on with you?"
There was a laugh from the corner of the room and a Totodile sat up brushing a tear of laughter from his eye. "Oh I think I've got an idea." He said standing up and putting his hands behind his head, making lewd thrusting motions with his pelvis. "Oooh do me Alba! Do meeee!" The Totodile continued to attempt to imitate Elice's voice as he did this before breaking down in laughter as the Vulpix growled softly at him so as not to wake up Jade.
"Fuck you Jay!"
"Yeah you wish I wasn't gay surprise, surprise, you little whore you."
Elice just continued to growl, quickly silencing herself as her trainer stirred before turning over and going back to sleep.
"Were you out looking for Alba?" Deo asked in a hushed tone. Something in the way he asked meant she could never lie to him.
"Yes."
"I knew it!"
"Shut the hell up Jay!" Both the Vulpix and the Mightyena spoke in unison.
"Any luck?"
"Yes, I found him..."
"And?"
Elice thought for awhile, searching for an answer that would not call for a witty remark from the Totodile. "They're heading this way. Alba had a fight with one of Ross's Buizels too so they'll probably spend some time in the pokémon centre."
"Male or..." Jay trailed off now sitting up with a look of concern on his face.
"It was Kaylen." Elice replied Jay now looked alarmed. "Don't worry it's nothing too serious, besides they'll make it to the centre by tomorrow, but we'd better figure out a way of getting Jade there too."
Deo just nodded and moved back to his place near to his master laying his head by the foot of her bed. Jay rolled over, still looking concerned and attempted to get some sleep. Elice on the other hand walked over to the window, propping herself against the wall to look out at the stars, watching the moons slow descent against the early morning sky.
Morning came torturously slowly and Ross returned his pokémon one by one starting with the wounded Kaylen and working his way round until only Kayla and Alba were left. Though he didn't expect to get much of a conversation it didn't seem right to return them after all the time they spent walking together.
They set off in much the same fashion he had expected, total silence, Kayla on one side of him, Alba on the other, both stoically ignoring each other and only occasionally looking at him. At about ten o'clock the first building in Solaceon town came into view. Ross picked up his pace wanting to get to the pokémon centre as quick as possible. The centre was easy enough to find in the small town, it was one of the biggest buildings there aside from the day-care centre.
Entering through the automated door he was greeted by a flustered nurse Joy who, despite carrying a large number of pokéballs in her apron, still managed her trademark curtsy. "Welcome to the centre. If you could just put any pokémon that needs healing on the desk. As you can see we're a little busy today."
Ross nodded in response and walked past her returning Alba and putting all his pokéballs apart from Kayla's on the desk which dominated the room. He turned and took a seat off to the side and Kayla hopped up in the seat beside him leaning into his side and receiving a scratch under her chin for her trouble there was a table for each set of seats with a pitcher of water and a glass on it and a waitress was taking orders for breakfast, Ross leaned his free arm on the table in front of him and scanned his surroundings.
The TV attached to the wall was playing some terrible cop drama and the waitress was serving breakfast to patrons on the other side of the centre so Ross allowed himself to drift into thought. Suddenly a change on the TV screen caught his eye. A beautiful brown haired spokeswoman stood in front of a large building. The building itself was surrounded by trainers and their pokémon.
"Greetings from the Sunny-shores of Sunnyshore! Do you think you have what it takes to be the first to earn the badge of the champion and be awarded the prize by Cynthia herself? Then come down and sign up for the qualifying round. Will you miss out on your chance to be called one of the greatest trainers Sinnoh has ever known? Or will you face... the Gauntlet?" The advert abruptly flashed to a blue screen which bore the legend: And now a word from our sponsors: Eiwoh-Corp. The blue screen quickly terminated and a man looking very much like he'd come straight from some secret organization with his black suit and sunglasses began to talk some nonsense about sponsoring a kids entry into the Gauntlet with the promise of extra prize money if anyone actually managed to beat him.
Ross largely ignored this commercial until he saw the "Kid" that this man was talking about. Joe stood parallel to the man looking extremely pleased with himself, still lanky and unattractive, but there was something different about the trainer, a new-found confidence which Ross found to be disturbingly unnatural.
"While it's true that Ross beat me once, it was not from lack of skill on my part." The interviewer had obviously asked a question while Ross wasn't paying attention. "He exploited a weak point that I was too much of a gentleman to use myself. If he truly is as good as he makes himself out to be then he'll make an appearance at this tournament, he'll face me and loose like the failed waste of life he is."
Ross slammed a fist on the table startling Kayla and causing a number of the pokémon centres other customers turn and stare. "How fucking DARE HE!"
"Sir I'm going to have to ask you to refrain from swearing while on the premises thank you."
"FUCK YOU!" Ross turned savagely on the nurse slamming his other fist onto the table.
"Sir please just calm down."
"Calm down? How in hell are you going to tell me to calm down? My entire reputation is being nationally trashed by some weedy whoreson of a trainer!"
"Well I'm sorry sir but there's nothing I or anyone else in this centre can do about that, now I advise you to leave and return to collect your pokémon when you have had time to calm yourself."
Kayla rolled her eyes and shook her head, this was exactly Ross's problem, he'd probably make human friends much easier if only his goddamn ego wasn't so big. The slightest threat to his pride and he just blew his top.
Beaten by Nurse Joy's logic Ross stood and pushed his way out of the building with Kayla in tow. All eyes were on them after that scene but Ross didn't seem to care half as much as Kayla who was sure she was blushing furiously.
As they reached the outside of the pokémon centre Ross turned and slammed his fist again against the wall this time. "I don't FUCKING believe this!"
"Bui-bui,bui,bui" Kayla attempted to reason.
Ross sighed seeming to calm down. "Yeah I know I'm an idiot, I'm sorry. Tell you what I'll make it up to you. How does a trip to Henry's sound?"
"BUI!" The Buizel replied excitably, jumping and thrusting a fist into the air, all was forgiven. Henry's was her favorite Restaurant ever! They had discovered it on their way back from their victory in the Veilstone city gym. It was just outside of town and they served the best smoked Remoraid she had ever tasted.
Elice yawned and stretched out, she must have fallen asleep because now the light from the window was casting a blinding radiance around the room. Sunlight? She panicked, what time was it? What if they'd missed them? She got up and ran to the window checking the suns position, it was still early, good, her trainer had something of a habit of sleeping in past midday. Movement caught her eye, the inn was directly opposite the pokémon centre and she saw a figure leave. Ross was now standing outside the pokémon centre with Kayla in tow, shit she had to get Jade up.
She leapt over the black mass of fur at the foot of her trainer's bed landing on Jades stomach the human giving a small "oomph" of shock as she awoke, her emerald eyes flicking open and staring into the amber ones of her Vulpix.
"You know there are gentler ways of waking me up Elice. Where were you last night anyways? I was beginning to worry."
"Pix, pix" Jade smiled at her Vulpix and petted the fire pokémons head throwing the bed covers off of herself as she did so and shaking her blonde bed-head out of her face.
"Well it doesn't matter now, I'll go grab a shower and then we can set out okay?"
"No, no, no! No time for a shower come on!" Jade of course didn't understand the Vulpix and she let out a small yip of frustration as her trainer disappeared into the bathroom with a couple of towels and a change of clothes. Didn't she realize how important this was? Elice began pace back and forth in front of the bathroom.
Deo woke and stood up with a yawn. "Can you stop that? It really is quite annoying."
"Well sorry but it's been ages since I had an actual conversation with Alba and Jade's been dying to see Ross since we got back to Sinnoh, if we don't leave now we could miss our chance."
After thirty minutes of seemingly endless tension the two pokémon heard the water stop and after awhile Jade emerged in skintight jeans and a grey hooded jacket. Smiling at the Vulpix who was now by the door to the room scratching at it to get out.
"What's the rush girl?" The Vulpix only whimpered in response. Shrugging with a sigh Jade returned Jay and Deo pulling open the door and watching the orange blur that was once Elice burn a trail out of the room and down the stairs of the inn to the front door.
Jade rushed to follow her and got to the door just as Elice managed to slip a paw around the frame and pull it open dashing through the opening not bothering to wait for her trainer. Wondering what had gotten into her pokémon Jade followed Elice outside raising her arm to block the blinding sun as she emerged into the street.
Elice was already at the entrance to the centre sniffing around for a scent, they had already gone. Her nose wasn't as good as Deo's but she could definitely smell Ross, although of course it was diluted by the smell of dozens of other humans and pokémon but still easy enough to follow.
As soon as she got hold of a decent scent trail she took off again leaving her trainer to catch up once more. Weaving between buildings and rushing down passage ways was tiring and Jade was slowing her down immensely, but she could smell Ross and Kayla's scent now much stronger and defined than it had been. Finally they rounded a final corner and came to the edge of town, Elice could smell Ross here so strongly she was sure they were right on top of them.
"Wha... What the... hell... was... that about?" Her trainer finally caught up panting between bouts of speech.
Elice lifted her head and sniffed the air, there it was, his scent heading just out of town. She took off again in the direction of route 210. Jade rolled her eyes sucking it up and jogging after Elice as fast as she could.
Ross emerged first from Henry's with Kayla following close behind, since it was only about eleven o'clock it had been hard to get them to serve fish, but luckily the waiter was something of a fan of Ross's claiming to have watched all his gym battles so far, he managed to get it done, still the remoraid had not been cheap as they were quite rare in Sinnoh.
He squatted down next to Kayla who looked up at him with a contented smile. "Well they say love is blind," Ross commented, patting Kayla as he did. "But being with you has made me realize it's also damned expensive." There was a good natured tone to his voice but Kayla blushed anyway. She leaned up to kiss him, despite the warnings he had given her about public intimacy. They hadn't kissed in too long.
Ross resisted at first but soon forgot about what would happen if someone caught him and returned the kiss breaking it after a few minutes, much to Kayla's displeasure. "I guess that was supposed to be repayment?" Kayla looked away embarrassed but she felt Ross's hand under her chin guiding her back to face him. "It seems I've overcharged you." He said with a smile before leaning in to kiss her again.
Kayla blushed harder to the point that she was sure it was visible through her fur. This was the ultimate, the proof that he truly did love her. Not the kiss itself but the fact that it was in public, he was risking the one thing he cared about aside from his pokémon, his reputation. It sounded shallow but then Ross was extremely prideful.
"Ross? Ross is that really you?" The kiss was instantly broken as Ross spun round to face the voice standing up as he did so. "Jade!" He had to hope she hadn't seen what he was doing. If there was a God she didn't see that.
"What were you doing?"
"Hallelujah" He muttered.
"What?"
"Oh nothing, it's great to see you again!" He replied covering his tracks by walking over and embracing her in a hug.
"I know and look at you, god you've changed so much!"
"Where did you get to after you beat the Kanto league?"
"Oh I traveled for awhile... Wanna see my Badges?"
The trainers pursued their conversation enthusiastically although a little awkwardly for not having seen each other for so long. Meanwhile Elice approached Kayla. "Where's Alba?" she asked the Buizel who was annoyed and slightly jealous at having Ross's attention stolen from her.
Turning to address the Vulpix Kayla looked surprised, "Elice?" The Vulpix nodded her response. "Ross left him at the Pokémon centre this morning, I think."
The Vulpix cursed in response and turned back to her trainer and Ross who were still chatting nonsense as humans were famous for.
"Catch any new pokémon?"
"Of course but I only travel with Elice, Jay and Deo now. Thought it was only fair on the other trainers y'know?" Jade said with a wink.
Ross laughed and Kayla turned crossing her arms with a displeased "Humph." Her jealousy getting the better of her even with this simple interaction. Elice became suspicious. "What were you doing before we got here?"
"We were just talking." Kayla replied, she didn't see the harm in telling Elice but just felt that it was probably best kept a secret.
"Hmmm... Okay." Elice's tone was accusing but Kayla didn't rise to the bait, it would only make her seem defensive. Since she got no reaction from the Buizel Elice went back to listening to her master's conversation.
"So I heard you're really tearing the place up, winning badge after badge, I think I heard that you earned your... sixth not long ago? Psyched to go to Snowpoint city?"
"Well actually I'm not going to Snowpoint."
"What? Why not?"
"I'm heading to Sunyshore, I'm entering the Gauntlet, gonna try for the badge there so I don't have to bother with the walk to Snowpoint."
"Oh yeah I heard about that tournament... but what if you lose? You'll have to go all the way back to Snowpoint."
"Point taken, I'll try and avoid losing as best I can." Jade rolled her eyes at the sarcastic comment.
"Well since I've already beaten all the gyms here in Sinnoh I thought I'd have another go at beating the elite four here since they destroyed me last time, but I'm in no hurry and I have to go to Sunyshore to get to the league anyway, so I guess... Mind if I tag along? It'll be just like old times, besides I can't miss the opportunity to cream you in the title winning match myself."
Kayla gave a small evil smile of victory, he'd never let her travel with him now, not after she said something like that. "Sure that'd be great, just like old times."
Kayla gave a shocked "Bui" that went unnoticed by the two trainers, she had just insulted his pride, usually the people who did that got at least an angry glare and yet here he was offering to let this woman join them on their travels. She had never liked Jade, even back when they used to travel together she was a tramp, always throwing herself at the then fourteen year old Ross, even if she was two years older than him.
Back then the Buizel had accepted it because she had thought there was no chance of ever getting with Ross anyway, but now she was competition. "When were you thinking of heading out?" Jade continued.
"Well to be honest I was kinda thinking of... Today, I mean, if I get on the road by about midday, I think I can get to Veilstone city by say... two, three o'clock tomorrow afternoon, maybe later if we sleep in." He shrugged, "But the competitions in four days time and it'll take another two days to get from Veilstone so that'll leave us just less than a day to get registered and throw breaks for meals into that.... we'll be cutting it pretty close as it is."
"Well I've got nothing tying me down, I just need to get my stuff and then I'm good to go!"
"Fine then, it's settled, I've just got to go collect my pokémon from the centre so... meet back here in fifteen?"
"Sure, see ya."
The day had passed quickly for Ross from then on, it was fun catching up with his long time friend, it had never gone further than friendship but there was always a kind of chemistry between them, but Ross soon began to feel guilty, it was as if he was betraying Kayla. They barely got enough time alone together as it was how much worse would it be with Jade and all of her pokémon with them too?
They had decided to set up camp at around nine in a field off to the side of the path, it was a little earlier than usual but the better rested they were the better progress they'd likely make tomorrow. Ross had decided to keep all his pokémon aside from Kayla in their pokéballs up till now, pokémon kept inside their balls weren't using up energy and didn't need to eat as much and Kayla had been full all day from the meal at Henry's but Ross felt it necessary to feed them at least once a day. He wasn't looking forward to the awkwardness though.
Alba shook his head as he was released into an unfamiliar setting. This disorientation was exactly why he hated traveling in his pokéball. He scanned this new area first finding Ross sitting next to a new tent which he had apparently purchased, then Kayla who was sitting next to him, on his other side lying down was... Jade? That meant one thing for sure and he scanned the area more fervently, his eyes moving over the rest of Ross's pokémon eating some way away and finally coming to rest on the silhouette of his vixen in the distance.
"Elice!" He rushed over to her stopping a short distance away, the still burning wound on his face reminding him to stay out of range of her claws. "I-I want to talk to you about... before."
"Yes?" She smiled evilly, she wasn't going to make this easy for him, she was going to drag this out.
"I... I want to say, I'm sorry... I'm sorry for everything I said, everything I did, and the things I... almost might have done."
"And?"
"And what? There is no and, which "And." do you want?"
"Are you ready to change? Ready to give up control?"
"I already told you I have no big thing about control."
"Well it's not massive I'll grant you, but you shouldn't be so hard on yourself, it's personality that counts after all." Elice retorted with another evil grin.
Alba sighed "Yes! Yes... I'll change... If it'll make you happy I'll change, I swear it."
Elice walked closer to him brushing her muzzle against his in a brief kiss. "That's all I wanted to hear." She turned and began to walk away. "But my heat is over," she spoke over her shoulder. "You'll have to work for your fun now, your training begins tomorrow."
He smiled after her as she went, loving her was going to be the end of him. "Never have I seen anything or anyone quite so beautifully dark." He spoke to himself before following her.
Ross lay down on the grass next to Jade and joined her in staring at the stars which were beginning to appear in the sky. Kayla finally got tired of trying to kill Jade with pure rays of envy and joined the rest of her friends who were slowly beginning to talk again albeit without Alba whom she could not see anymore. Jade's pokémon were there too but with the exception of Jay the Totodile and Kaylen her brother they didn't really talk to the group.
"It's beautiful tonight" Jade hummed in a dreamy tone.
"I... Yeah." Ross finished lamely. He practically leapt up as he felt Jades hand rub the back of his own.
"You know I really missed you, I'd really hoped you would come with me to Kanto... But you never did, why?"
"I just... I didn't see leaving as much of an option, I was still fixated on training I never wanted anything other than to get stronger."
"You could have got stronger in Kanto, with me." Jade was glad that they were laying down looking at the sky because she was blushing furiously.
Ross had no good answer for that... He could have gone with her to Kanto, but he didn't that was as far as he'd ever thought it through. Jade had stopped rubbing the back of his hand and had forced him to hold it now, this was quickly becoming uncomfortable.
It quickly took a turn for the worse as suddenly Jade swung herself up and over moving her leg over his body so that she was straddling him, she then leaned forward onto her hands and knees so that she was looking directly into his face.
"Wha, what are you doing?" It was Ross's turn to blush feeling his body react to the position she'd put him in, in less than desirable ways. He had to get her off before Kayla saw. He realized then just how far past the limit he was, he was willing to reject the only woman he had ever actually liked for Kayla, he had truly gone beyond, there was no turning back.
Jade was leaning in for a kiss, two years ago he would have returned it gladly, tonight he turned his head, avoiding the kiss completely and making Jade bring her head back with a confused look on her face.
"What's wrong?" Her voice began to break. "Don't you like me?"
"I... Yes but just... not like, that."
Jade gave a confused smile. "But... Ross come on. I love you! I have for so long, and I know you were only fourteen but I thought you at least had feelings for me too. The only other girl you're even comfortable being around is that Buizel, so unless you intend to start dating her..."
He watched her face go through a mix of emotions as she figured out just how close she was to the truth. "But that look, the guilty anger, I-I'm right aren't I? Ross are you... are you attracted to your pokémon?" His silence further incriminated him and she got off him covering her mouth with her hand.
Ross picked himself off the ground also trying to placate Jade who was backing away. "Jade listen, will you just listen?" He looked down and saw Kayla standing there watching them, how long had she been there?
Kayla looked at them confused, she had only seen them from the back but it had looked like they were kissing, they couldn't have, Ross wouldn't have. She turned and fled still confused blinking back tears as she ran.
"Kayla wait, Kayla, Kayla!" He took a couple of steps after her but she was much faster than him. He stopped turning back to Jade who shook her head at him, still in disbelief before turning and walking away, slowly but he had no desire to catch up and attempt to explain. He stopped, slumping down into a squat and burying his head in his hands. Life was such a mess!
Kayla sat alone on a small rock dangling her legs over the side, an hour or so had passed and her envy had become anger, not towards Ross. Jade! She had clearly led him on, Kayla let her jealousy overtake her and came up with a plan to find out whether Ross loved Jade as much as he loved her.
Quickly she turned the amulet that she still wore round so that she was facing the knot at the back which kept it attached. Fumbling with it for a while before finally managing to loosen it and remove it from around her neck. Holding it between her forepaws she began to scamper back to camp.
By the time she got back to the site Jade had disappeared, probably for the best, Ross was asleep on his side in the tent and all the pokémon seemed to be sleeping nearby apart from Alba and Elice who were nowhere to be seen. Kayla snuck through the camp site eventually coming upon the backpacks of Jade and her trainer. It took a number of attempts to get it perfect but by balancing the amulet in one of the front pockets of the bag she had created a time bomb. She backed away feeling only slightly guilty and looked back to the sleeping group checking that they were all still sleeping. Her heart froze when she saw the yellow eyes of Deo regarding her from the darkness.
"It's, it's not what it looks like." She whispered. The Mightyena seemed to think about something for a long time before lowering his head again and closing his eyes. Kayla waited for a response but he just lay there, thinking maybe he'd fallen asleep again she began to turn away.
"Your interests aren't really that different from my own," He startled her by speaking up. "Let's hope you can handle the guilt better than I can." Kayla didn't understand, but knowing that she wouldn't get a full explanation anyway she simply shook her head and wandered back to lie next to her trainer in the tent.
She would make sure in the morning that Ross knew there were no hard feelings, not towards him anyway. She curled up next to her trainer pushing herself against him for warmth and trying not to wake him up, she fell asleep almost instantly, exhausted by the day's activity.
So that's it for chapter four, personally I thought it started well but fell apart a bit towards the end :( but then I did pull an all nighter to finish this.
Chapter five may also be a no-yiff chapter or it may not but I intend to definitely have Human x Pokémon yiff by chapter six so... I'm not sure...
Anyways as always the more ratings and comments the more I lovez ya xP (even if they're bad comments and ratings so honesty plz)