A/N – a lot of positive feedback, that's always good to hear. By the way everyone, I've started another story called 'Back to the Beginning'. It's not in any way related to this story, but you should give it a read.
Alrighty then, badges to win, relationships to sort out, pokémon to see – looks like we've got plenty to work with.
---
CHAPTER 6 - Complications
"So – you really think Spike likes Jo?' Ninetales mused, 'It certainly explains a lot. What were they thinking exactly?"
She was referring to their little voyage on the ferry. Espeon shrugged.
"The mind is much more complex than that, Ninetales, I've told you" Espeon sighed, "You can't just reach in and see what's going on in someone's head. Inside someone's mind is a tangled web of emotions. It's easier to read someone who's closed or antisocial and unwilling to share their feelings because they keep their emotions bottled up on the inside. For someone who expresses themselves openly, it's much harder to pinpoint exact thoughts. Unfortunately for us, both Spike and Jo walk a very fine line in the middle when it comes to expressing themselves. My ability can only reach so far with them."
"And this business with Kyle?"
Espeon stretched and clawed the mattress of the bed lightly in the same motion a cat might.
"If it will be, it'll simply be," Espeon shrugged "and besides, with a little luck, this might make Spike get off his ass and do something for once."
"In other words – we should just sit back and enjoy the show?" Ninetales grinned slyly.
Espeon grinned back, "Precisely."
---
Spike paced the lobby of the Pokémon Center as quietly as he could. Ok so technically – technically – he wasn't supposed to be here this late – especially when the Nurses were snippy about curfew. But no force on heaven or earth would let him sleep. Jo's date with Kyle – how had it gone?
Spike remembered back in the good old days when he and Jo were best friends and he didn't have a crush on her. They could always tell each other anything. Spike was always the shoulder to cry on when things went bad for her – especially if it had to do with guys. And he found himself often blurting out his girl problems – not that he had many of course.
Bottom line being, they knew pretty much every aspect of each others lives – love or otherwise. Yet, after the Hoenn League – after they'd grown farther and farther apart – in some aspects they'd lost the thread with each other.
Spike missed those days back in Hoenn when the group traveled and he and Jo would be up even after everyone had gone to sleep, just chatting about everything and nothing. And sometimes…
Wait! Was that a noise? Spike sunk into the shadows – a skill he'd almost perfected at one point in his life – and peeked out of a nearby window.
---
Jo shifted Kyle's jacket that hung on her shoulders. She had to admit it… she was giddy. Kyle was a real sweet guy – he could be when he wanted to be. But Jo knew there was more to him than that. After all, they'd hung out a lot back when he was Flannery's student. They'd shared a few pokémon battles, made each other laugh, knew each others flaws… well some of them anyway. And they both were quite ambitious when it came to training.
The night had started pleasantly, the small café had seemed more like a casual get together than the date it really was. Jo liked that. And it only took a few moments for her notice when he was flirting with her, and the only counter for this of course was to flirt right back teasingly.
They talked about all that had happened since they'd last seen each other, about the pokémon they traveled with and seen on their journeys. Where they went, who they met, what they accomplished. Catching up on old times.
After, they'd taken a walk through Apricorn Park. A quiet place filled with Apricorn trees – usually very busy during the day, but very quiet at night when the trainers were all supposedly asleep.
Seeing she was shivering ever-so-slightly, Kyle had immediately taken off his jacket and draped it over Jo's shoulders. Their walk in the park had then led them back to the pokémon center at around one o'clock in the morning. The center still had its doors open for any emergency of course.
"Well, this is me" Jo said indicating the pokémon center.
"Guess so" Kyle replied with a smile.
Neither of them made a move to… move… anywhere.
"Oh, your jacket" Jo said, starting to shrug out of the soft black leather.
Kyle placed his hand over hers, "Keep it – looks better on you anyway, luv."
Jo looked up into the green-blue of his eyes. Their gaze held for a moment.
---
Spike drew in a sharp breath as he felt his heart contract in his chest. He watched the scene before him. They were talking; she made a move to take off the jacket that was his. He stopped her and she looked up. Then they kissed. Alright, so maybe it was a small, slow 'first-date-getting-to-know-you-differently' type kiss. So he didn't exactly have his tongue down her throat - but still. The stabbing pain Spike felt go through him as he watched had never been quite so bad with anyone else. It wasn't right to spy – informative, a little disturbing maybe – but not right.
The kiss had lasted for several long moments (to Spike anyway) before the couple parted. Spike watched as they said their goodbyes and Jo walked through the front doors of the Pokémon Center. Spike slunk further into the shadows, watching Kyle linger a moment longer, watching the retreating back of his date.
'Probably checking out her ass – sick bastard' Spike thought with venom.
The rational part of Spikes' mind contradicted, telling him that Kyle didn't seem like that kind of guy. And even if he was, had Spike himself been in that position he would have been looking too. Meaning to say wasn't it a guy thing?… well, wasn't it? Not immoral or anything.
Spike watched as Jo passed him without a glance. He was too far back in the shadows for her to see him. On a regular day she would have noticed – she was very sharp. But she seemed too happy… giddy even.
Spike sighed – she was happy, he wanted her happy, Kyle made her happy. And the best thing he could do for her… right now anyway… was step back and let her be happy – she deserved that much.
---
"Where were you?" Trip asked jolting awake from his sleep.
Spike swore under his breath – Trip was such a light sleeper. A pin could drop on a carpet and he'd sit up in bed like a marching band had walked through.
"Waiting up for Jo" Spike said, crawling into his bunk.
"Overprotective-big-brother syndrome, eh?" Trip grinned.
"You know me," Spike said, though it was only a half-truth Spike was thankful for the dark. He wasn't a good liar and had Trip been able to see his face, he would have caught the mixed emotions.
"She'll be alright – Kyle seems nice enough – and if he's not we can always pound him."
'Don't tempt me!' Spike thought viciously.
Without an answer to his friend, Spike rolled over and drifted into an uneasy sleep.
---
Jo flopped onto the bottom bunk of one of the beds, jostling Houndour from his sleep.
"How was your date? Do I have to bite him?" Houndour asked sleepily, moving to the foot of the bed.
Jo had already changed into her PJ's and slid under the covers, "You don't need to bite anyone, Houndour, relax. I had fun."
"Did you now? Was a goodbye kiss involved?"
"And more importantly, is he a good kisser?"
Jo sighed; she hoped she wouldn't wake her friends. But Daine and Artemis were already sitting up.
"Ain't sayin nuthin" Jo said amongst a yawn.
"Alright, but you'd better be prepared to dish out the goods tomorrow" Artemis warned, laying back on her pillow.
"A lady does not kiss and tell."
"Show me a lady" Artemis teased, Jo decked her with a pillow. At the same time Daine yelled triumphantly, "Ah-hah, there was a kiss – I knew it!"
"Daine, would you do me a favor?"
"Like what?"
"Shut up and go to sleep."
---
Jo entered the Azalea Town Gym slowly, Houndour plodding silently alongside her. Though she may have been the last to get to sleep, Jo was awake before anyone else. She wanted to avoid any questioning from her friends about her date with Kyle – not to mention getting the gym badge early was as good a time as any.
Suddenly, Trips' cousin leaped from one of the smaller trees, landing in front of Jo. Houndour growled, startled and Jo took a step back.
"You must be Bugsy" Jo said, regaining her composure.
"That would be me, and you are?"
"Jo Conners – I've come for the Hive Badge."
"My first challenger of the day" Bugsy gave a boyish grin. "Follow me."
---
Half and hour later, Jo walked out sporting the Lady-bug-like Hive Badge. It was a three on three battle, the trainer who had all three pokémon fainted lost.
Jo had taken the opportunity to train up Cyndaquil. The little fire pokémon had made quick work of Ariados and Butterfree, but still being small and a little tired after the first two rounds, Jo called him back before Scyther could slice and dice him. A fully energized Houndour was then called on and after some struggle, managed to beat Bugsys' Scyther.
On her way rushing out of the Gym, she bumped into something soft and warm. Jo looked up into the grinning face of Kyle.
" 'Lo, luv, thought I'd find you here" Kyle purred.
Jo's heart melted, what was it about that accent of his that made something as simple as a greeting make her go all gooey? Pretty weird – mushy feelings wasn't something she got that often.
"Well – I got my Hive Badge" Jo said by way of conversation, tugging his leather jacket around her shoulders.
Yes, she'd worn it. HEY… it was cold out. It was! REALLY, it was.
"Congratulations" Kyle smiled, "Care to celebrate, pet?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Umm… coffee at Starbucks?"
Jo giggled at the simple-ness of it all, "Romantic."
Kyle grinned back at her joking sarcasm, "It could be" he grinned lowering his voice seductively.
Jo pretended to think about it "Sure why not."
---
Maxie of Team Magma settled into his chair. Reports just in, the Bounty Hunter he'd hired was still tracking down the little bastard, Savage. Disappointed though he may be, Maxie had to admit that the Bounty Hunter had gotten closer to Savage then any of his men. Maxie contemplated getting the hunter to join Team Magma – maybe he could find a way to overlook the fact that this particular hunter never sided with anyone, only doing jobs for those who were prepared to fork out a wad of cash.
Maxie sighed 'I'll cross that bridge when I come to it' he decided to himself. Then he grinned menacingly 'Then again, maybe I'll just burn that bridge when I come to it.'
A knock on the door jarred Maxie out of his thoughts.
"Enter" Maxie snapped.
The door creaked open and Sam walked in with Vixie close behind. Maxie glared at his two 'best' executives.
"You sent for us, sir?" Vixie inquired.
Maxie nodded "Any news?"
Vixie handed over a red folder with a black 'M' stamped on it.
"Is everything ready?" Maxie enquired, taking the folder and flipping through it.
"Everything is in place" Sam grinned maliciously, his scar stretching at the movement.
"Our Mole in the Radio Tower has uncovered plenty" Vixie informed proudly, "Team Rocket is up to something."
"Make sure he doesn't succeed" Maxie smiled thinly, "What ever Giovanni is up to, it will gain him more power. I will not let that happen. GO! Let the troops be on the alert, we have to move quickly."
---
Spike and Artemis strode into the Pokémon center with a victorious bounce in their steps. Winning the Hive badge had been a piece of cake – it was simply a matter of Arcanine and Flareon blasting a powerful jet of flames at whatever bug pokémon Bugsy managed to send their way.
The twins dropped themselves into seats at the table where Daine was sitting.
"Victory?" Daine asked, not bothering to look up from a sheet of paper she was marking.
"You know it" Artemis grinned.
"And victory smoothies are on us" Spike grinned, "Where's Trip and Jo?"
"Trip's at the videophones – calling home. And I think Jo went out for her badge early this morning, I haven't seen her since. Maybe she ran into Kyle."
Spike scowled and changed the subject, standing suddenly "Hey, how 'bout that smoothie – what flavor d'you want, sis?"
"Strawberry's fine."
"Daine?"
"Grape's good thanks" she said without looking up.
Spike left.
"What are you working on?" Artemis asked interestedly, looking over to the paper Daine was working on.
"Oh – just my report of the Azalea Hatchery, I'll have to fax it to Professor Elm today. Everything seems to be in order" Daine smiled, putting down the pen.
"You're authorized to do that?" Artemis asked, surprised that Daine had that much authority.
"Oh, it's nothing major. I'm just checking in on the breeding center too make sure it's functioning properly and the pokémon in their care are in no danger. It's part of my job as Professor Elms' assistant – I have to run errands that he's not able to do himself. And since I'm traveling already it makes no sense not to."
"Well, at least that's clear" Artemis grinned.
"Hey, guys, what are we talking about?" Jo asked, suddenly sitting down at the table.
Daine and Artemis jumped – they hadn't seen her come in.
"Daine's work" Artemis shrugged, "Did you win a Hive badge yet?"
"Did this morning" Jo nodded, "Spent the rest of the morning with Kyle."
Daine and Artemis shared knowing grins before bursting into a chorus of "Jo's in love!"
"Hey hey hey – enough of that now!" Jo rolled her eyes, still grinning, "Love is such a strong word, nowhere near there yet – I'd prefer to think of it as something slightly stronger than a mutual friendship."
"Really – we thought you would've jumped him already" Daine said jokingly.
"Daine!" Jo protested, "Mind out of the gutter, girl!"
"Hey, I have no love life, so you're just gonna have to share the details" Daine grinned innocently.
Jo rolled her eyes and looked at Artemis, "Would you please control her?"
"There's a mission impossible if there ever was one" Spike said, appearing with four smoothies on his tray, "Thought you'd be here, so I got you one."
Spike handed out the smoothies to each of them.
"Thanks – blackberry?" Jo asked, reaching for her smoothie.
"I remembered" Spike smiled slightly, sitting down.
Trip suddenly came up to the table – soda in hand. Daine hadn't missed a beat.
"What's wrong?" she asked, seeing his slightly worried expression.
"Hmmm? Oh, not much" Trip said, sitting down next to Spike, "I just called my mom. She's worried about Wally. He was staying with our relatives in Verdanturf – for his heath you know – and mom said that Uncle Max called her and Wally's gone!"
"Gone? Whaddya mean gone?" Spike blurted.
"I mean gone. He's vanished, disappeared, is unavailable, not here at present…"
"Alright, alright, we get it" Artemis interrupted.
"So he just left home?" Jo asked worriedly, Trip nodded, "Any idea where he is?"
As Trip opened his mouth to answer someone in the pokémon center yelled, "Turn up the TV!"
The group turned to the large Pokémon Center TV screen. It was a news report.
--"Live from Slateport City, where a daring new group of young pokémon trainers have just saved the lives of hundreds of people from the burning wreck of Captain Stern's Shipyard."
Daine gasped, "The Shipyard burned?"
"Slateport Police reported that the sudden incident of the Shipyard going up in flames was now accident. Fortunately four young hero's used their pokémon to control the flames until the firefighters could make it through – as well as sent in more of their pokémon to rescue the occupants of the building. Thanks to these four brave trainers there were no casualties and because of their control of the flames, Slateports' museum residing just next door remained untouched, and the priceless artifacts inside were unscathed. "--
There was a video of four trainers using a Mudkip, a Wingull, a Marill and a Quagsire, to douse the flames, as various other pokémon were rushing into the building and pulling people from the fire.
"Hey, that looks like Wally!" Trip exclaimed.
--"We may not have been able to interview our heroes. But we've identified the four courageous trainers as none other than Brendan Birch, May Owens, Sara Stone and Wally Matthews. This is Christina Crandall, Slateport, Hoenn National News."--
The TV was turned down once more.
"Well, at least now we know where your brother is" Daine said, leaning back in her chair.
"Oh, my mother's gonna kill him" Trip said, eyes widening in shock.
"He didn't tell anyone he was leaving, did he?" Artemis said in realization, "Oh, if we ever did that, grandma would have our heads."
"No lie" Spike snorted.
"Paging Trip Matthews, Paging Trip Matthews, you have a call, line seven" the PA announced.
Trip groaned, "Man, I just hope it isn't my mom again." He knew the yelling he'd get if his mom had seen the report.
Jo sent him a sympathetic glance, "Better get it over with."
---
Trip groaned and lifted himself from his seat. Making his way over to the videophones. He picked up the nearest one, sat himself down and pressed '7'.
"Hello?" Trip said.
"Trip? Trip, is that you?" a voice said over the line.
The screen blinked on and Wally came into focus, green hair mussed with a big grin on his face.
"Wally Matthews! Where the hell are you!" Trip practically yelled.
Wally winced, "Please don't shout – I just had half an hour of screaming from Mom and Dad."
Trips face softened, "Out of concern for Mom and Dad I'm pissed as hell that you ran away without telling anyone."
Wally offered him an apologetic look.
"But as your brother I say, good on ya!" Trip grinned.
Wally smiled brightly, "Guess what, we're in Dewford now!"
"Really?"
"Yep – we're winnin' badges" Wally grinned, "I already got a badge from Wattson in Mauville. Now I'm gonna fight Brawley, and then I'm going back home to see Mom and Dad and fight Norman."
"You say 'we'…"
"Me, Brendan Birch, May Owens and Sara Stone" Trip grinned.
"Those names are all familiar" Trip said thinking, "Hey, Brendan Birch – he wouldn't happen to be related to Professor Birch of New Bark, would he."
"Brendan's his son" Wally said, "And May is the daughter of Norman…"
"Thought I knew that last name…"
"And Sara is the daughter of pokémon league champion, Steven Stone."
"Knew it!" Trip exclaimed suddenly, "Wow, you just managed to tag up with a whole buncha celebrities haven't you?"
"God, don't tell them that!" Wally laughed, "They have famous parents – it's hard enough having to walk in someone's shadow. They have a lot in common cuz they can identify with having to live up to their parents' reputation. By the way – don't you ever become famous – I don't want to have to go through that."
"Promise" Trip vowed.
"Though, some people here recognized my name – since you came ninth in the Hoenn League you have a few fans here…"
Trip blinked, "Really?"
Wally grinned, "At least your name is known – I introduce myself as Wally Matthews and everyone says 'oh – you related to that Trip guy or something?'."
Trip laughed, "Well that's embarrassing."
"For me maybe."
"Hey!"
"Joking, bro" Wally grinned.
"Well, I'm glad you're alright – have fun journeying and be careful. I don't want to have to explain to mom how her youngest son got eaten by a Gyarados something like that."
"I'll be careful – I have my pokémon and my friends with me, so we should be alright."
"How are you feeling anyway?" Trip asked. Trip was still quite frail looking, but he seemed healthier. There was more color in his cheeks and he looked happier than he had in a while.
"Better then I have in a long time, actually" Wally grinned, "The air in Verdanturf was good for me. Good enough to get me on the open road anyway."
"Just as long as you're alright – watch your health…"
"Stop right there – I already got that speech from mom" Wally said, covering his ears.
"Alright, alright – well I have to go. We're going through the Ilex forest tomorrow. And hey, if you're stopping in New Bark, better pick up a Pokédex, Pokégear and a Pokénav if you can manage it."
"Ah – trainers and their toys. We were planning to do that anyway – Sara also needs to register for the league. Then we were gonna head to Rustboro to battle Roxanne – I think I have that one in the bag."
"Just don't get to cocky, bro – and take care of yourself," Trip admonished.
Wally bowed mockingly, "Don't worry, Trip, if I die I'll never speak to you again."
---
Oh, didn't that take forever for me to post.
It took even more time because the damn editor thingy wouldn't let me post certain symbols - argh! I had to change the pokemon speech symbols.
I'm really really sorry for the delay – but life keeps getting in the way as does writers block. I'll try to have the next chapter up sooner but I can't make any promises.
Bear with me people please – I'm sorry if anyone's pissed off (but I also have two other stories that I'm tending to as well).