Chapter One; The Pianist

It was like they were in the past. They were back in that lovely town, the one where they had met the junior photographer named Snap and had rented that house from the old couple for that week. For one week, a full week, Jessie, James, and Meowth had eaten well, had only to sit in the house for a week while they waited for snap to "capture" pikachu. For one week, they lived normal lives.

The house was a humble one; two stories with one bedroom on the top floor (in which Jessie and James had alternated sharing the bed as the other slept on the floor in a sleeping bag), one bathroom, and a joined kitchen and living room. They couple had various knick-knacks adorning the house, most of which seemed like junk. But they did have one treasure: A hundred year old piano, out of tune, dusty from years of dormancy, the ivory keys peeling. Although it was in sad condition, it was obviously an antique treasure.

It was their fifth night in the house, and Jessie's turn to sleep in the bed. She had turned in early, sick with a mild head cold. Meowth had gone into town, hoping to earn some extra money with a secret plan "that I ain't gonna tell youse twose 'cause you'd just screw it up!", leaving James alone, which suited him just fine. All week, he had been eyeing the piano, escaping Jessie's notice. He had yearned to clean it, to restore it to its original beauty. Now that he had been left alone. he finally had his chance. He searched through the house, gathering supplies to clean it, and two hours later, it was sparkling as if it was brand new. Then, under his expert fingers and skillful ear, he tumed it perfectly, making it sound like an instrument from heaven. James viewed his work with pride, looking on it as if it were a jewel. Then, without thinking, he sat down and began playing "Carnival Wheel", a song Jezebelle had taught him as a child, but one he loved none-the-less.

His fingers danced accross the keys, not missing a single note as he filled the house with his beautiful music. It even reached the slumbering Jessie, who woke with a start. At first, she was angry. She needed her beauty sleep, after all, as she had stressed to them many a time. But her mood softened as she heard the song emanating from the livingroom downstairs.

She stood up slowly, a bit dizzy and taken off guard by the lovely music, the short shorts and tight tank top she had worn to bed feeling loose on her now. She didn't know the name of the song, but she knew it yet, and it brought back happy memories for her. She opened the door cautiously, trying to avoid making any sound as she crept out. Once the door was open, she walked out, and upon seeing James, fell to the floor softly, wanting to avoid being seen. Jessie gripped the staircase bars as she peered below, feeling like a child as she watched James play, as if entranced. He seemed like a totally different person looking on him now. He played with such confidence, such skill, such emotion. It seemed the most beautiful experiance, just to be there as he played, just to watch him at that moment, just to hear as his beautiful music reached her ears. She closed her eyes, remembering as her brother Kim would play this song for her in the palace, as she danced like an inexperianced, awkward ballerina to the music.

She opened her eyes as he finished the song, showing skill that Kim had never had, but no less emotion. Jessie stood up and quietly walked down the staircase, still escaping James sight as he examined the polished ivory keys, running his fingers over them in deep thought.

As she stepped from the staircase, he turned around abruptly, blushing as he began to pull the cover back over the keys.

He began to speak, flustered, "Oh, Jessie, I'm sorry. I, I didn't mean to wake you up, I just..."

He stopped as Jessie caught his fingers, rising the cover up again to reveal the polished keys. She seemed in a daze as she spoke.

"Don't be sorry James. It was...so beautiful." she said, uncharacteristically calm and seemingly deep in her own thoughts as her entrancing electric blue eyes caught his swimming emerald eyes in her own. James looked away, embarressed.

"Why did you stop playing the song?" she said, sounding as if she was half asleep.

"I...I...reached the end." He rose his eyes to meet hers, knowing at that moment that this was a side of Jessie that she worked hard to keep hidden behind a rough exterior, but that she now showed to him unconditionally.

"Oh," she said, almost sadly as she turned away to head back upstairs. He caught her hand as she did. She turned around, looking straight into his eyes.

"Do you...Would you like me...to play it again?" The awkwardness of the moment seemed to affect them both profoundly as they looked at each other in a way that they had never before. He moved over on the bench, making room for her to sit down.

She smiled brigtly, despite how tired and worn out she looked."I'd like that very much" she said sleepily, sitting on the bench beside him.

He began to play again, showing no less emotion and skill than before, but his confidence had obviously taken a drop. As he played, she rested her head on his shoulder. He even surprised himself as he allowed himself to play just as well, even with her head weighing down his shoulder.

Jessie shed a few tears in remeberence of her brother as he finished the song. After a moment, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder as she leaned on his. He turned slightly as she gripped his other shoulder in her free arm, and he drew her into a close hug, unsure of what had caused her emotional state. She seemed happy, yet saddened, and in a dreamy daze all at the same time.

"You...like that... song?" he asked her quietly.

"I do." she answered in a whisper.

After a few minutes, she withdrew from their embrace, facing him with admiring eyes, their faces within inches of each other. James only stared back into her eyes, wondering what she would do.

She brought her lips to his cheek, kissing him with as great a passion one could feel from a kiss on the cheek. He melted as her lips left his face.

"Thank-you, James." She said, getting up and turning away to hide her flushing face. She walked up the staircase before saying, "Goodnight", still not facing him.

He held his cheek, his mind in a faraway place when he finally returned with an awkward, confused, "See you in the morning."