Creatures of the Night
Chapter Three
By Crow Skywalker
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Disclaimer – I don't own Pokemon, nor do I claim to. Characters belong to their creators, I'm just borrowing them for my own fun.
Author's Notes – Sorry this update is late – I’ve been trying to do an update each week. But if anyone hasn’t noticed, I’ve been re-writing my other Pokemon fic, The Power of One : The Continuation. But yeah, I managed to finally get this chapter written. It was another hard one to write, because it was all talk and no action. Don’t worry though, the next chapter will be action packed. And hey, you’ll even get to meet some…old friends, shall we call them? *evil laughter* Heheheh..heh…yeah. When I originally planned this chapter out, Max was not in it. He got added in because I have to have so many words each chapter, and without that scene this chapter would have been shorter than expected. It still is a lot shorter than I’d planned, but I can’t help that *shrugs*. Anyway, hope you all enjoy.
Other Notes – AU. Rated R for dark and sexual themes, blood, violence and all that good stuff. Can't have a vampire fic without it, now can I? Normally I would put the pairings here too, but I feel that it would ruin the story/plot. You've been warned.
Summary – During the day, Celadon City is full of people and pokemon alike. At night, they aren't the only ones roaming the streets.
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Pikachu yawned, its ears swirling to one side as he heard a noise. The small electric Pokemon paid it no attention, its small nose telling him that it was only Ash, nothing to be alarmed about. With a soft purr the yellow Pokemon rolled over and stretched his paws, enjoying the feel of the soft silk bed sheets through its fur. It sighed in content, snuggling back into the bed.
"Have I ever told you that you’re quite impossible in the mornings?" Ash’s voice sounded through the Pokemon’s sleep filled head. "I’ve never seen anyone quite as lazy as you."
Pikachu snorted, opening one eye as it stared up at Ash, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. There was a small lamp lit on the desk, just barely lighting up the room. Ash had his back turned to him, but Pikachu already knew what his master was up to.
You clean that thing way too much, Pikachu yawned, sitting up enough that it could scratch its ear like a dog. That done, Pikachu started forward, opening and closing its mouth noisily as it tried to get the awful morning taste to go away.
"Here," Ash suddenly handed the Pokemon an apple, which Pikachu took delightfully.
Taking a bite out of the red ripe fruit, Pikachu sat back using its tail to keep it up straight, and watched as Ash continued to clean his gun in silence. Pikachu watched him, one ear tilted thoughtfully as it munched on the apple.
"Got a lead," Was Ash’s simple reply.
Pikachu’s jaw stopped moving, and he stared up at his master with large eyes. Geovanni?
"Geovanni." He confirmed.
The apple fell to the floor forgotten as Pikachu stood on all fours, taking a step forward so that he could see Ash’s eyes beneath his long ebony bangs. You’re planning on going after him, aren’t you?
"Of course."
You’re taking me. It wasn’t a request, it was a demand.
"No," Ash answered, not looking up from what he was doing, "You’re staying here with May. I don’t want anything to happen to you."
Ash glanced up, his face frozen in a ‘don’t argue with me’ look, though his eyes showed otherwise. "Pikachu, you know what’s going to happen when –"
I want to go. Pikachu was practically on Ash’s lap now, one small paw against Ash’s chest as he looked up into Ash’s eyes, pleading with his own. He really wanted to be there for his master when he faced his greatest enemy. They’d been together so long, and through so much – he wanted to be there when it finally came to an end.
"Gary’s going," Ash muttered, laying his silver gun down on the bed. He had hoped to change the subject, afraid that if Pikachu kept its begging up then he would finally cave in. No, Pikachu would be much better off left at home with May. He’d feel a lot better going into the final battle knowing that his best friend was safe.
Pikachu gave a small huff, sitting back on the edge of the bed as it narrowed his eyes at Ash. You’ll take him and not me?
"May and Professor Oak insisted upon it," Said Ash, looking down at the cloth he’s used to clean his gun in his hands. Furrowing his brows, he suddenly scrunched it up and tossed it over his shoulder. It landed somewhere behind him without a sound, and he stood from the bed. "It’s not like I wanted to work with that asshole!"
If Gary’s going, you have all the more reason to take me! Pikachu jumped down from the bed, following after Ash as his master headed for the door of the room.
"We’re not heading out until tomorrow night," Ash reached for the handle and turned it. "Please, just do as I say."
The living room was dark, the only light coming from May’s computer screen as she worked. If Ash hadn’t had advanced vision, he probably would have tripped over the couch and tables as he made his way around the maze to where May was busily working. She was once again engrossed in her work, and she didn’t seem to notice him standing behind her. He clicked on the lamp next to her chair.
"Haven’t I ever told you that staring at that screen in the dark is bad for you?" He asked, watching out of the corner of his eye as Pikachu jumped up on the couch. The small Pokemon gave him a withering glare and curled up in a sulky ball, refusing to look at its master.
"A thousand times," May tilted her study glasses down her nose as she looked up at Ash, grinning. "But do I ever listen?"
"No." Ash rolled his eyes, leaning over her shoulder when she turned back to her work. It looked like she had made a bit more progress with translating the scrolls, but he still wasn’t sure what any of it meant. "Any news on when Gary’s going to show?"
"You know him," May replied, her fingers dancing over the keyboard as she typed, "He’s probably going to make an entrance. He’ll wait until you start to get mad at him for being late, and then he’ll casually stroll in through that door."
"I hate when he does that," Ash muttered under his breath, standing behind May so that both hands were planted on the back of her seat.
May laughed quietly. "That’s why he does it."
"So is there anything new that I should be told about?" Ash asked, tilting his head in the direction of the scrolls. He was tired of talking about his ‘rival’, as May put it. He knew Gary would show up at some point, probably mouthing off and being as arrogant as he usually was.
"Yeah, I managed to translate the letter after the ‘o’. Turns out this little symbol," she pointed to the scroll, "Is a ‘n’." Her nose suddenly scrunched up as she gave him a frustrated look. "It doesn’t give me much at all. The only other ‘n’ in this is in the last word, whatever that is. However, I’m going to have a wild guess that the first word is ‘one’."
Ash took the scroll, raising a brow as he studied it. "Seems like a good guess to me."
"You hungry?" May asked suddenly, and Ash gave her a funny look as he handed the scroll back to her. She blushed, "It’s just that I haven’t eaten all day, and I figured I’d go out and get some take out or something."
"You now that –"
"Yes, Ash, you’re a vampire," she finished for him, "But I’ve seen you down human food just as good as my brother, and that’s saying a lot."
Ash looked at her in amusement. "Well then the proper way to ask would have been, ‘would you like some food?’ not ‘are you hungry?’. To me, they’re two entirely different things."
"I’ll try to remember that." She was standing now, her chair pushed back and her work momentarily forgotten. Striding across the room, she grabbed her long dark red jacket off the coat rack. When she was half way through getting it on, she suddenly glanced over at Ash, who hadn’t moved. "Do you think I should pick up something for Gary as well?"
"I’d let him starve." Ash replied, sitting in May’s comfortable chair. He ignored the glare she shot him.
"Well that’s why I’m not you. What do you think he’d like?"
"Chinese," came a male voice from behind her, causing May to jump. Both May and Ash stared at the man standing in the doorway, neither of them having heard him open the door. "Stir fry and that rice I like," he stated, and he walked into the apartment without being asked.
"Gary." Ash acknowledged him coldly.
Gary swept a stand of long unruly brown hair out of his face, looking at Ash with an equally cold expression. "Ash," he nodded, but said nothing else to the other man. Instead, much to Ash’s annoyance, Gary turned back to May and grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it. "May, long time no see."
May blushed, bringing her other hand up to her hot face as Gary grinned up at her, not letting go of her hand. "Well uhm, Gary…it’s nice to see you again, too."
Gary finally let go, straightening up as he continued to ignore Ash. "Likewise." His expression turned thoughtful, his gaze moving over her slowly. "You look nice," he commented, and May thought her face was going to catch fire.
"T-thanks."
"May, don’t you have somewhere to go?" Ash finally asked, snapping the girl out of it. The girl glanced back at him, her mouth falling open slowly.
"I almost forgot!" She smiled at Gary then, asking, "Chinese, is it?" Gary nodded, and she wrapped her jacket closer around her as she stepped out of the apartment. "I’ll be back soon!" She called, and then she was gone.
Gary closed the apartment door, and without a word he shrugged off his navy blue jacket and set it on the coat hanger. That done, he settled himself down on the couch, making himself at home. From where Pikachu was curled up, the Pokemon gave a small hiss in the brown haired man’s direction, sending him a glare as sparks emitted from its small red cheeks.
"Easy, Pikachu." Ash muttered, sending the small Pokemon a look that said ‘don’t even try it’. Pikachu mumbled something before jumping off of the couch and scampering a comfortable distance away from Gary. Turning around, the electric mouse stuck out his small red tongue before disappearing into one of the apartment rooms.
"So, Gary," Ash started, watching as the other man studied his nails, looking almost bored, "Did Oak fill you in?"
Gary snorted. "Of course. I knew before you did, actually." He sent Ash a smirk, "The perks of having a famous Pokemon researcher for a grandfather."
"Then you know that we’ll be leaving tomorrow at sunset?" Ash asked him, leaning back in May’s favorite chair.
"Yes. Though if it weren’t for you, I’d be leaving first thing in the morning."
Ash frowned. "We need the time to prepare."
"What’s there to do?" Gary asked, making himself even more comfortable on the couch. Kicking off his muddy boots onto May’s nice hardwood floor, he put his feet up on the couch and sat back so that he was almost lying on the couch. "I brought everything that I need."
"You brought your Pokemon, a decent gun, and every other thing that we might need to sneak into a building?" Ash asked, raising a disbelieving brow.
Gary waved one hand. "Don’t sweat it Ashy boy, I brought my most powerful Pokemon and my favorite hand gun. This isn’t going to be a big operation, you know. It’s going to be super easy to get in, beat the shit out of a few people, kill Mr. Badass and get out of there."
Ash sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You mean you only brought one Pokemon and one gun?" He shook his head, "I can’t believe you!"
Gary gave him another arrogant snort. "You worry too much. I brought Arcanine – one Fire Spin from that puppy, and the whole building will go up in flames!"
"Don’t be so sure of that."
"Hmph," Gary scowled at him, "And what Pokemon are you taking?"
"None of them." Ash answered, turning around the chair so that he was side on to his rival. "I’m leaving them with May, just in case."
"Well get off my case then!" Gary snapped, putting his arms behind his head. "Here you are talking about how I only brought my toughest Pokemon and a gun, and you’re not even taking any! You’re such a hypocrite!"
Ash felt like smacking the smirk off of Gary’s face, or at least punching him so that he would shut up. There was a reason he wasn’t bringing any Pokemon, though Gary really didn’t need to know what that reason was. It would only be something else that the other man would constantly bring up and try to use against him. It was bad enough that Gary was always bringing up the vampire stuff and shoving it in his face!
With a growl, Ash got to his feet and started towards the kitchen. "I can’t believe they talked me into working with him," he mumbled to himself, "He’s only been here for five minutes and he’s got me frustrated to hell!" His voice got loudly as he neared the end of that sentence, and from where he lay on the couch, Gary grinned.
"Hey vamp boy!" Gary called out, sitting up, "While you’re in there, toss me a can of drink, will ya?"
He looked up just in time to see a can of Coke flying at his head. With one fast movement he grabbed it before it hit him, and sent Ash a glare accompanied by his famous smirk, knowing that it would absolutely piss the other man off.
Ash growled out loud, and Gary couldn’t help but snicker.
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The smell of cooked food and grease assaulted May’s nose as she entered her favorite Chinese take out restaurant, the small bell above jingling as the door opened and closed. It was a small place, build into the corner of Third Street, not too far away from she lived. Not many people went there, but the food was still good and May was a regular guest.
Leaning on the counter, May peered around looking for someone to serve her. There was an old couple in a booth near the window, but she could see no one else. Finally, she reached across the counter and pressed on the small bell that had a small note reading ‘Press for service’ leaning against it.
"Hey Max! You gonna serve me today or tomorrow?" She called, looking in through the small window behind the counter and trying to see if there was any movement. A young man with bluish black hair appeared a moment after, shaking his head at May through the small window.
"May," He sighed, leaning on the window ledge, "What brings you here at this hour?"
May pouted. "Is that any way to treat your older sister?" She suddenly grinned, opening her arms, "Come on!"
"I’m not coming out there to hug you," said Max, "I’m too old to be treated like a little kid."
"Well I’m older than you, therefore you’re still a little kid in my eyes!" May said impatiently, "So either you come out, or I’m coming in there!"
Max groaned, finally giving in. When he had followed May to Celadon City, he hadn’t expected her to stay so long. She’d been living there a few months before he can to visit, and after seeing her and being showed around town, he had decided to stay for a while. He hadn’t trust Ash, after all, and he figured that it would be better if he stayed, just to keep an eye out for May.
Never had he ever expected to spend his time working in a fast food Chinese restaurant. But he had insisted on having his own apartment, and would not take money from May or their father, who was a Gym Leader. No, he wanted to make his own money and live on his own, and he’d landed himself a job at Wong’s Chinese Take Out. Now, almost a year later, he was still working there.
Stepping around the corner and past the counter, he was greeted by May, who hugged him tightly. "How’s my little brother?"
"Same as always," he answered, and she pulled away to look at him.
"You got a girlfriend yet?" She winked at him. She loved teasing him; watching as his face reddened.
"No." He pushed his glasses up his nose, trying to hide his blush, "I never get time to go out, so I never meet any girls."
May patted his shoulder reassuringly. "You’ll find one some day, don’t worry about it!"
"Is that why you’re here?" Max asked, "To ask me about my non existing love life?"
May gave him a thoughtful look before shaking her head with a smile. "No, just here to order something for me and the boys."
"Boys?" Max asked her, one brow raised. He knew about her living with Ash, but he’d never known there was more than one guy! When did this happen?
"Gary’s staying the night," May answered his question, and Max made an ‘oohh’ sound and nodded his head. He knew Gary through Professor Oak; he seemed like a pretty nice fellow. "They’ve got a mission tomorrow night."
Max frowned. "You’re staying home, right?" He did not approve of Ash and everything else that went on concerning the man. He especially didn’t want May caught up in the battles that seemed to always find Ash. If something happened to May, he didn’t know what he would do!
May rolled her eyes. "Of course! I never get to go out and do stuff like that! He’s the muscle man, I’m the brainy girl. I don’t do violence and gun shooting."
Her brother shook his head, reaching for a note pad and pencil. "What ever happened to the good old days when you wanted to travel and enter Pokemon contests?" he mumbled. "At least then I’d know you were somewhat safe and I wouldn’t be so worried all the time."
"Hey!" Ash protects me," May protested, "He’d never let anything bad happen to me!"
Max decided to change the subject before May got upset. "What did you want to order, anyway?"
May leaned backwards against the counter and started counting off all the things that she wanted. Max wrote them all down, and when they were finally finished he ripped the paper off the note pad and calling out to the chef, he handed the paper off to be made. During this time, the elderly couple finished eating and got up and left, leaving May and Max to talk alone.
"How’re you paying for all that food, anyway?" Max asked, coming back to stand by his sister. "It’s not like you have a real job."
May grinned, taking a credit card out of her pocket. "I’m not paying for it – Daddy is!"
"You make Dad pay for everything – food, books, your apartment.."
"Well he’s a Gym Leader…what’s the point of having a Gym Leader for a father if you don’t use all of his money?"
Max couldn’t help but smile. "How is he, anyway? Have you talked to him recently?"
"He’s the same as always," May kicked at imaginary dust on the floor, "Busy and all that."
"He was really hoping you’d stay behind and train to become the next Gym Leader, you know."
May sighed, looking up at the ceiling as she leaded back on the counter further. "I know…I just couldn’t stay there any longer, you know? I had to get out and do things on my own. I wanted to travel and everything, but fate lead me here." She kicked at the floor again, gazing up at him from behind long brown hair that had fallen from the handkerchief on her head. "You could have stayed, you know."
"I know." Max looked away, "But I chose to follow you, to make sure you were safe."
May gave him a weak smile. "My place is here, Max. You need to go out there and find your own life. I’m fine where I am." She lifted a hand, messing up his neatly combed hair. "There’s no need to worry about me."
Silence followed as Max searched for something to say for that. It was true, he really did need to go off on his own and find his own life. He definitely wasn’t going to find it here in the Chinese take out. Somewhere out there, he was going to find his own adventure, much like May had managed to do. But, looking up at his sister who was smiling at him, he decided to wait a little longer. His life could wait, he still wanted to make sure his sister was going to be alright.
"Order’s done!" Came a gruff voice from inside the kitchen, and someone pushed two big paper bags onto the paper ledge. Max made his way over to get them, handing them to May over the counter. She took them in one arm, using the other to swipe the credit card and pay for the food. That done, she gave her little brother one last smile.
"See you soon, okay?"
"See you next time you’re craving Chinese," he joked.
May grinned, shifting the bags as she opened the door. The bell rung overhead once again.
"Take care!" Max called after her, and she was greeted by the cold air when she stepped out onto the sidewalk.
The walk home took less than five minutes, the elevator taking up most of that time. When she finally got to the door, she struggled to get the keys out of her pocket so that she could unlock the door. If there was one thing she’d learned since moving to Celadon, it was to always keep the door locked, no matter what.
"Ash! Can you please open the door?" She called loudly, giving up her search. She knew that if Ash was awake then he’d hear her, and hopefully he and Gary hadn’t killed each other yet.
A moment later the door opened, and Ash’s dark eyes were staring at her. She shoved both paper bags of food into his arms and strode into her apartment, taking off her jacket and finding a place to hang it up on the rack.
"I see you two haven’t killed each other yet," she commented as she looked from Ash to Gary.
Ash closed to door with his foot, making his way towards the kitchen. "I was tempted to."
May followed after him with an amused smile, motioning for Gary to follow as she passed him. The brown haired man got up from the couch and took one last drink of Coke before he crunched it up using one hand. He threw it in the garbage as he passed it.
"Ash couldn’t hurt a fly," Gary laughed as he took a seat at the table. "Especially me. If he ever tried anything with me, I’d pound his face in."
"Pound my face in, huh?" Ash suddenly bared his teeth, his sharp fangs glinting in the light. Gary backed away, and Ash smirked, making sure his fangs were still visible. That’s right you bastard, I know you’re scared of the darker side of me!
"Ash!" May scolded from the table, looking up from the food she was taking out of the bags. He glanced at her and realized she was giving him her ‘stop it, this is me getting really mad’ glare, and finally walked past Gary and into the kitchen, taking a seat.
May sighed and shook her head. Boys!
To Be Continued…