This is my Valentine's Day fanfic for Ikarishipping. Sorry for the late post. I've been very busy lately, and let's just say that I haven't been in the mood to finish this fic. I only managed to get this done right now... better late than never. :3
Just a warning. Spoilers for D&P 66 and up.
Dedicated to the readers of my ikarishipping works. :3
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
White Valentine
Chapter 1: Honmei
What possessed her to buy a very expensive honmei chocolate anyway?
All she remembered was that she was staring at the honmei chocolate in Veilstone Department store that day, wondering how nice it looked and how yummy it would taste if she does get her hands on those. Arceus knows that she can never have those, because one box costs around twenty thousand Poke Yen. She may have the money, but she had far better things to worry about than to buy a box of imported chocolate from Hoenn.
Hikari knew how delicious those chocolates tasted like, because when Satoshi had received his honmei chocolate some years ago, he gave her one piece of a Cocoa Truffle.
The taste of it was heavenly.
It was pure cocoa heaven, in her opinion.
Smiling to herself, she walked away from the honmei chocolate stall, for she wanted to hurry up and go home to her apartment in the said city. There were still a lot of giri chocolates to be packed by her…
Unfortunately, her luck turned for the worse.
As if she had been possessed, the seventeen-year-old suddenly grabbed one box and bought it along with the giri chocolates.
Hikari only noticed it right after she had paid, when she had checked her purse. Only five thousand Poke Yen was left.
She nearly panicked and cried at the loss of her hard earn money just because of a measly box of chocolate. The money for that honmei chocolate was for her to indulge in, not for other people! Call her selfish, but she deserved to spend the money as she see fit. The blue-eyes young girl was living all alone now and was earning her own money. She was always careful about spending it because the girl knew already how important money was.
She just couldn't spend her hard-earned money easily!
But now, this suddenly happened?
She had the urge to return the honmei chocolate and have a refund.
Besides, no one was deserving of that honmei chocolate anyway…
Of course there is. Her naughty mind told her haughtily. We both know you want to give Shinji those, like before. But of course, you didn't have any money.
She suddenly blushed at the thought.
'N-no way I'm giving these chocolates to him!' she screamed to herself. 'Besides… he'll just throw it away.' Hikari was near to tears, thinking just how easy it would be for him to throw away her twenty thousand Yen chocolate in the trash. You'll just throw away my twenty thousand THAT easily?! She screamed mentally at the said person.
He didn't care for anyone.
He was much too selfish and cold.
Frankly, he did not deserve her chocolates, nor anyone else's for that matter.
'You mean MY twenty thousand Poke Yen worth chocolates!' She added angrily.
Oh, you're much too harsh, my dear. Her mind told her. We both know, yet again, how much you adore him. Admit it!
Ah, damn her noisy mind.
How could she deny her own feelings anyway?
The blue-haired girl sighed to herself. It has been quite some years since she had that stupid crush on Satoshi's Sinnoh rival, and to her surprise, instead of that 'stupid crush' fading away, it somehow evolved into something much more, for reasons she do not know. Hikari had to admit, he had the looks, but really, was he ALL that?
There were probably more men out there who better-looking than he was, really.
But why was it that her stupid heart chose him over the rest?
'I'll just have to find out now, do I?' she rolled her eyes, going over to the gift wrapping counter of the department store. Since she had purchased a honmei chocolate, the coordinator had the privilege of having it specially gift-wrapped.
She slowly watched as the saleslady expertly wrapped the said gift.
"There goes the money for Shinji…" she muttered to herself, eyes still on the box of chocolates.
She braced herself for anything that might happen later, when she gives him the honmei chocolate...
Shinji grimaced at the sight of the various cafés and stores in his hometown as he looked from the window of his house.
How he hated Valentine's Day.
That was his most hated day of the year. Not only was he stuck in his house for the whole day (unless he wanted to get mobbed by the girls), but Shinji had never been fond of sweets. He was alright with eating candies every now and then, but to be forced to eat a lot of chocolate on Valentine's Day would be pure torture on his part. Reiji always reminded him of how lucky he was to even receive a small box of chocolates because there were some boys who had never received a bar of chocolate from a girl their whole life. And the only proper thing to do, he said, was to eat the chocolates.
Who the hell was he kidding?
He did NOT want to sign his death contract so early in his lifetime!
The sugar will kill him.
He slightly shuddered at the thought.
"Any plans for today, Shinji?" asked his older brother.
"None." The younger of the two said grumpily. "This day was supposed to be an ordinary day, but what the hell are they doing? This is just a day wherein all department stores across the world gain a higher profit. Stupid marketing strategy."
Reiji laughed. "I'm not complaining." He said, pointing at the couch where there was a huge pile of chocolates. "I happen to like chocolate, and this is the only time of the year that I get a free supply of it."
Shinji looked away in disgust while his older brother laughed harder. "But really, you don't even have a date today?" the Pokémon breeder was concerned. "Shinji… you haven't had a girlfriend since the day you were born. Do you intend to join the NGSB?"(1)
NGS what?
The eighteen year old Shinji stared at Reiji. "NGSB stands for 'No Girlfriend Since Birth'. At this rate, I think you'll become a permanent member of theirs."
Laughter came from Reiji's mouth for the third time already.
Sorely, the Pokémon trainer was ready to bash his brother's head with a very thick book.
Before he could begin to look for a thick book (he was looking for a dictionary), the elder one was quick to say, "I'm going out for a little while, alright? Look after the Pokémon while I'm gone, okay?" before the trainer could even protest, Reiji was already out on the street. And the direction he was heading for happen to be the small park in the city.
Shinji sighed both in frustration and relief.
At least he would have some peace and quiet.
Hikari nervously strolled down the sidewalk, a box of chocolate on her arms.
She knew where Shinji lived, because Sumomo had been kind enough to point the direction as to where Reiji and he were staying. From her apartment, it was a long walk, but she didn't mind the distance. As long as she could give her chocolates in one piece, she would be fine. Of course, if Shinji doesn't accept it… well, there was always Reiji. Of course, she would have to tell him first that the honmei chocolates are to be given to him as a giri chocolate.
'But no doubt, he'll love these.' She told herself, referring to Reiji.
It was a known fact that the handsome, older man loved chocolates.
"Hikari-kun!"(2)
Only one person called her that…
"Reiji-san!" as soon as he had approached her, she bowed at him. "How are you?"
"I'm doing fine, as always." He told her, eyes on the box. "Oh, chocolates? For me?" he teased.
Her eyes nearly bulged out of its sockets. "E-eh?!" W-was that a joke or what!?
He laughed heartily at the sight of the young Coordinator gaping at his rather bold statement. She looked funny. "I was just kidding, Hikari-kun."
If Shinji acted like this, I think I'll get cardiac arrest. Numbly, she nodded. "H-Hai…"
It really was a mystery as to how a ruthless trainer could have such a sweet, gentle older brother.
"So, what are you up to, Hikari-kun?"
She suddenly turned red at the moment she had been reminded of what her purpose was today. "A-anou… is… Shinji home?"
Somehow, at the back of his mind, the ponytailed young man knew that the coordinator would ask him such. He decided to play dumb. "Why? Is something wrong?"
Hikari shook her head vigorously. "N-no… I-I…"
"… will be giving him his Valentine's Day present, correct?" he guessed. Upon seeing a darker shade of red on her pale face, Reiji knew for a fact that that was the case. Hikari was going to give his brother a gift, but was she even aware of that tiny tidbit about his younger brother and chocolates?
"Yes, he's at home." He told her. "I'll be in the park in a little while, so if anything happens, go to the park. I'll meet you there, alright?"
"Hai!"
The two parted ways, and as she approached her destination, her heartbeat quickened, her pulse rate probably shot up at an all-time high, and her hands turned icy cold. The girl never felt this way before. During contests, she was nervous alright, but not like this! Never had she experienced her hands turning cold like ice! To calm down, she began humming a tune…
… And before she knew it, she was standing on the front door of the house.
Taking a deep breath, she rang the doorbell.
Several seconds later, the door opened, revealing Shinji.
But he wasn't alone, for he was carrying a Cherubi in his arms. Probably, he had been asked to take care of the Pokémon while Reiji was out.
She blinked at the sight before her, but before Hikari could even start daydreaming of how cute he looked holding a Pokémon in his arms, his voice snapped her back to reality. "What do you want?" he muttered.
"Oh! Ummm…" she started to hand over the box of honmei chocolate when he suddenly interrupted her.
"Are those for Reiji? Funny that you're handing them over to me, and not giving it to him directly." Shinji told her in his usual arrogant voice.
She raised one slim eyebrow. "E-excuse me?" she clarified.
Shinji rolled his eyes. "Give it to Reiji directly, you troublesome girl." he hissed at her.
"No! These are not for him!" she insisted. "These…"
This was it.
No turning back now.
"Theseareforyou!" she screamed much too loudly and quickly for her own liking.
Before she realized what she was about to do, she shoved the box of chocolates straight at Shinji's face, earning a string of curses from him. Hikari cursed her stupidity. She had hit his nose!
Hikari looked up at him, checking to see if his nose was bleeding. Thankfully, it was nothing major. Just a small mark indicated the place where he had been hit.
"O-oh my, I am so…"
"Get out."
"W-what?" she didn't quite get what Shinji had told her, for many thoughts ran through her head.
"GET OUT, YOU STUPID GIRL! I DON'T NEED YOUR CHOCOLATES!" for the first time in years, the trainer had lost his temper. Shinji had always been known as a cool and collected trainer who rarely had outburst. But now, this was different. He was in pain, thanks to that troublesome girl's stupidity and clumsiness.
He still did not understand why she was still handing over those chocolates to him.
"B-but…!" she tried to explain her side, but unfortunately, he wasn't in the mood to listen anymore.
"Get your damn chocolate and get out!"
"FINE! Then I'll just give it to someone else!"
She got the point.
He didn't have to yell at her…
Before she knew it, tears were falling down from her eyes. As much as she wanted to control herself, Hikari couldn't. The pain in her chest was hard to ignore. She had braced herself for the rejection, but the girl did not anticipate that it would hurt her so much. "I… I get it already. I know you don't like me… it is obvious." She said, though it was more to herself.
Shinji was about to say yet another biting comment but the coordinator held up a hand to stop him. "I braced myself for this… but I really had no idea that it would be this painful. Sorry, I sound like a wimp… but that's how I feel right now.
"Actually, I was supposed to tell you something. I know you might just ignore this but… I just have to say it." Taking a deep breath, the blue-haired girl said it through choked sobs.
"I like you, Shinji."
No sappy lines.
No stupid declarations of never-ending love.
It was a very straightforward confession.
He was caught off-guard.
He did not expect this from her…
"Anyways… Happy Valentine's Day, Shinji… I hope you're happy now." Using her right hand, she wiped away the tears that temporarily blinded her sight. "I'll… see you when I see you, I guess."
Or maybe never. She thought bitterly.
Shoulders slumped, she walked away from the house, tears still falling down from her eyes. The chocolates were still on her arms, and she was holding unto it as if her life had depended on them.
Everything she had planned for today was a failure.
She decided to head to the park.
She needed to talk to Reiji.
As soon as Shinji went back inside the house, he suddenly felt guilty. Had he been too harsh? He didn't think so.
He felt confused.
Were the chocolates really for him, or was she merely making up an excuse? But then again, no one would be THAT insistent to give it to him.
Wait a minute.
Did she just confess to him awhile ago?
To his dismay and horror, the purple-haired trainer felt his pulse race at the thought.
She likes him?
To his horror, he felt… content.
Was it because it had been her who had liked him, and not some random girl who only knew him as 'that hot trainer'? That may be the case. Years ago, they DID meet up before, even if it had only consisted of one major fight between them wherein she almost kicked him in the face, it if wasn't for one of her male companions restraining her. Though he would not like to admit it, he was thankful for the restraining. He did NOT want to get injured just because of her.
Who knew what she was capable of?
Back to the current problem at hand, he did not know what to do next. He had no clue as to how to treat girls. Almost his whole life, his life revolved around Pokémon. He had no time for anything else, most especially girls…
What should he do now...?
Notes:
(1) NGSB - No Girlfriend Since Birth. I don't know if such a thing is true though. If it is, then it is so true in Shinji's case. XD
(2) Hikari-kun - This is how Reiji calls Hikari.
Notes on Japanese culture:
(1) Honmei - literally means 'favorite' or in some cases, 'sweetheart'. Honmei chocolate are given to the men whom women are serious about. In Hikari's case, since she was serious about Shinji, she gave him a honmei chocolate. These chocolates are very expensive and may even cost up to USD 200 (around €136) if the woman chooses to buy them from another country.
(2) Giri - literally means 'obligatory'. Giri chocolates are given to colleagues, friends, your boss, etc. In some cases wherein your friends give each other chocolates, you call that 'tomo chocolate'. Tomo means 'friend'.
You may also be wondering why it is the girls who give the chocolates and presents on Valentine's Day. In Japan, that is their custom. This is also the time when girls suddenly get broke because they are expected to give chocolates to their acquaintances, family members and the like. XD;
How about the guys?
Well, they have exactly one month to respond to the girl they like, thus, they have a White Day on March 14. :3
And that is the time I will update next. :D
Thank you for reading, and please review!