Rated: PG. Nothin really bad in this one, just a small bit of cussage.

Authors notes: Ugh. This one needs editing, I think. Eh, whatever. An excerpt like thingy from a loooong fic I'm writing that has a big Rocket-Dan story arc. This kinda comes in a little late, so, let me tell you what's happened up to this point. Kojiro has left after accidentally admitting his feelings for Musashi during an argument (Don't ask me how that works, just wait for the long story). They're apart for a VERY long time (in our minds, anyway) and Musashi and Nyasu have been looking for Kojiro, ect ect. Meanwhile, Kojiro found out his parents really are dead (and left him nothing coz they disowned him). So, he runs off with Ga-chan, who eventually evolves into Windei. After a few months he can't stand it anymore, so he goes looking for Musashi. And here, in this fic, they've found eachother at last!! What will their reactions be?! (Really, it's not dependent on the rest of the story, so don't worry)

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I gaped at Musashi, unbelieving her current state. Her normally shiny red hair had fallen limp and dull to her back. She wore none of her usual make-up, or her usual earrings. She even left out parts of her Rocket-Dan uniform, leaving only the necessary boots, skirt, and black undershirt. But those blue eyes of hers still shone so bright, it was undoubtedly her. And she was beautiful. Always beautiful, to me.

"...Kojiro? She asked hopefully. Something in her voice made my newfound confidence falter. In our time apart, I, too, had changed. My usually heavily gelled hair was now tied back in a ponytail, forgotten. I hadn't worn the uniform since I left. I had grown accustomed to having only my thoughts and Ga-chan as companions. And now, to hear her voice, to hear her wonderful voice again, I nearly prepared for the impact to my head that usually followed such a sweet tone of voice. But I knew better.

Her eyes told me everything.

"Kojiro, is it really...? I...we looked, everywhere... You've been gone for months..." So, she felt like I did. Not knowing what to say, or when to say it. Thinking back to the last time I saw her was still painful. My accidental confession had shocked her into silence. I was forced to realize my fears. While I'd worried it might be true, I'd kept it quiet. I didn't think I could stand the heartache of ruining the relationship I already had with her. She had been my best friend since our days at Poke'mon Tech, and I had been a fool to ever hope for more.

But then, I'd been looking for her, right?

"Musashi..." Why had I spoken her name? I couldn't come up with any more words. Maybe I just wanted to confirm that she was really there. That I wasn't lost in another daydream.

Damn, it's so much easier in daydreams.

She looked up. I'd startled her. Was she thinking the same things I was? Were we really so similar? No, stop it. You're reading in what you'd like to believe. She looked away. Why does she look so dissapointed? Does she want me to say something? Should I make the first move? But what is there to say?

"Why... why did you leave?" she asked me. No, no, please, don't make me tell you again... I can't bear your dismissal again! "Rocket-Dan... just doesn't work without you. We thought about giving it all up." Give up Rocket-Dan? Because of me? Or...for me? "But, you know, if we quit, they'll come after us. Rockets don't just quit." She laughed nervously. Damn it, what do I say to her? "So, here we are, useless. I really don't know what to... what to do anymore..." Was it sadness I heard in her voice? She looks away from me now. Are those tears I see sparkling in her gorgeous eyes? Why is she crying? She, for who as long as I can remember, has been tough, strong, bad-attitude, get-the-hell-out-of-my-way, agressive Musashi? Has my absence really affected her so much?

Am I giving myself too much credit?

She's crying. She's really, really crying. I can see her shoulders trembling. Those shoulders that I so long to hold. I want to hold her, tell her it's okay, I'm back, how much I love her. But that isn't what she wants. She wants for things to be the way they were before, when she was only a friend to me. Before I left, before I told her those three words. Those three God damned words.

But things can never be the same, now.

But...

What if, for just a few minutes, I forgot that she didn't love me?

What if, for just a little while, I could hold her and tell her everything I was longing to say?

What if...

I've already ruined everything. And now, there's only one thing my mind will allow me to do.

And now I'm hugging her, warming her cold body with my own. How long has it been since she stopped caring about herself? I'm living a dream, my hand is on the bare skin of her lower back, another on the back of her head, pulling her closer. My heart's pounding in my ears, I'm so happy, I'm so sad. My stomach is jumping, doing flips. She's crying on my shoulder. She's clutching my shirt.

"Shh... it's alright...I'm here now..." I whispered into her hair. Three little words...

"Kojiro...thank you." She says to me, wiping her tears, looking up at me with those big, round blue eyes of hers. Not the three words I was thinking of, but hey, I'm not complaining. Why is she lingering under my touch...? "Kojiro, I'm so sorry...It's all my fault... I drove you away... I couldn't bring myself to tell you... all that time ago..." What is she...? Oh God, her lips, her full, red lips that I long to kiss... Why are her lips by my ear? God, she's driving me crazy. I can feel her hot breath teasing, caressing my skin. What? She's saying something? My mind's about to short circuit, I can barely hear...

"I love you." And she's kissing me. She loves me. She loves me! You hear me, God? If you can, THANK YOU!! OH MAN, she is KISSING ME!! And I'm kissing her back. She's accepting me. Accepting my love. I'm so happy. She's happy. We're happy. Amazing, how good it feels to call us "we".

Now, where was Nyasu to ruin this...?

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I snickered at the scene I witnessed through the bushes.

"S'bout time, eh Ga ol' buddy?" I said. The hulking Windei next to me let out a stifled bark. Yup. I walked away, my tail bouncing behind me. Sure, I'll leave 'em alone.

For now.