A storm brewed outside as Misty hurried through the water-streaked streets. Dark, thick clouds covered the sky, hanging heavily. Drawing her raincoat closer, Misty skipped over a puddle and skirted a trashcan, feeling the drops spatter on her coat. Who cared if she got a cold? She finally knew what she had to do. A shudder of pure delight filled her insides.

At last. Misty halted before an apartment complex, shivering slightly but elated. She'd heard stories of this place before. Worst place in Cerulean City, where all of the thugs and shady dealers were. Bedraggled, mangy Pokemon wandered the streets, not knowing where their next meal would come from. Occasionally, the residents would eat their own Pokemon.

Exactly the kind of place she wanted.

She stepped inside the complex, gave a number, and was immediately directed to her destination. She noted the mildew, the cracks in the plaster, the barely concealed spots of blood. Oh, yes, this was definitely the place.

As she passed a man smoking in the hallway, he gave her a leer that sent a chill racing down her back. He drew the cigarette from his mouth to speak. "Hey. You goin' in there?" He nodded at the room just down the hallway.

"Yes," she said, as bravely as she could.

"Heh. You watch out there. The guy's not called a lady-killer for nothin'." He gave her a long look, eyes raking over her body. "Unless you'd like to come over...?"

"N-no thanks. I'm not here for that kind of... thing," she finished lamely, and hurried to the end of the hall. A dim light shone from underneath the door. She gulped, gathered her nerves (trying to ignore the man chuckling darkly in the background), and went inside.

To her surprise, the apartment was furnished rather well. It even had some sort of cheeriness about it. A lamp stood in the middle of the living room area, surrounded by two couches and an armchair. To the right she could see a short hallway leading to another room, and on her left lay the kitchen area. Slowly, warily, she shut the door behind her.

"Hello?" she called out.

"In here," a voice answered from the hallway, sounding neither rough nor unsophisticated. Misty crept toward the sound.

At the end of the hallway, a door opened onto a bedroom. It was lit by a single lamp placed on a desk by the left-hand wall. The sole occupant of the room sat before the desk, leaning backwards on a chair as he read a book.

Shirtless.

Misty nearly blushed. The owner of the apartment looked up at her, slightly startled, but recovered quickly. He placed the book on his desk and turned sideways in his chair to face her.

"Sorry, I was expecting someone else," he said smoothly. He paused to flick his (perfect) green hair out of his emerald-hued eyes. "Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked, eyeing her wet raincoat.

"Uh, yes. C-could you..." this time she did blush, "put something on? It feels awkward talking like this."

"Oh." He flashed her a quick smile. "Sorry. I'll do that right away. Wait for me in the living room."

Misty walked back to the living room area and plopped down on a sofa. I wonder how many girls he's had in this place, she thought silently, looking around. It's odd, though. I thought he would be different. He actually seems kind of... pleasant.

"Hi." The young man walked in, wearing a dark sweater over a long-sleeved shirt, and sat opposite from her. He leaned on his hand and watched her, eyes piercing. It was obvious that he knew who she was.

Silence fell. Misty swallowed dryly as she felt his eyes run over her one time and then settle on hers.

"So. What did you come here for?"

"Oh. Yes." Once again her thoughts came back. "Yes. I would like to ask a favor."

"Oh? What kind of favor?" A smirk twitched at his mouth. "Would it happen to be... how would I say it...?"

"No!" she said quickly. "Er... no. I'd like to ask you to break the heart of a certain someone."

"To--" and he smiled, catlike. "Oh. Sounds fun. I do it all the time, anyways. Who is it?"

For an answer, she pulled out a picture, one that had escaped her shredding.

"Ah, May. From Petalburg. The gym leader's kid." He pondered the picture for a while, then set it down on the coffee table between them. "Could I know the reason...?"

"I would rather not say," Misty said stiffly, and the other one nodded knowingly.

"Is that it? Nothing special to add? I just have to break her heart."

"Yes." She stopped. "Do you need payment?"

"No. Not for this, it's too easy. Besides--" he gave a her a smile that spoke of experience, "--the payment comes in the fun of it."

"I-I see." Misty stood and turned to leave. At the door, she hesitated. "So... nothing else? You can just go on this?"

"Well, is there any information you could give me that could possibly give me an advantage?"

"Um." She paused. And then her face brightened with a hint of glee. "Yes."

"What is it?"

"May is currently in Pallet Town, focusing her attentions on Ash Ketchum. The Pokemon Champion."

"Hm. That might be useful," he mused. "All right. You can leave," he finished with a smile.

The door closed behind Misty, and the young man settled back into the couch, pondering the picture.

"May. Twenty years old. Won the Grand Festival two years in a row. Father's name is Norman, mother's name is Caroline. Kid brother is Max." A low chuckle issued from his throat. "Oh, she's going to be so much fun to play with."