Eight: Butterfly

Shortly after that, Gary went to Kalos.

I didn't go to see him off.

Leaf was lying down her bed, staring up the ceiling for hours. Her mother entered her room.

"You're sleeping again? That's all you've been doing."

"Go away.", Leaf bitterly answers.

"Is sleeping what you wanted to do?", her mom sighs. "Come on, get up! A parcel came for you."

Her mom hands her a small brown box before leaving her alone.

Leaf looks at the white sticker paper on the side of the box to see who had sent her the parcel, but the only thing she saw on the sender name was a drawing of a blue butterfly.

"At least he could've written his name!", Leaf exclaims. She hurriedly opens the box and sees a smaller case and a small piece of paper. The case had a key inside, and on the small paper was a map.

Leaf immediately changed her clothes and ran outside.

What has he sent me after taking off to Kalos alone?

What did he leave?

After following the map, it has led her to the atelier. It was now empty, the different cabinets and shelves vacant of any sewing tool. She pressed on forward to the room indicated on the map.

She inserts the key onto the lock, and opens the door. What welcomes her sight leaves her in shock.

Gary's words flood her mind as she saw the contents of the room.

I'll never sell any of these. They all have memories. I want someone special to wear them.

Tears fell continuously down her cheeks. What is in front of her is all of Gary's creations, from first to last. Towering in the center of the room is the runner-up dress that she wore for the Fashion Show.

Her gaze rested on the blue butterfly ring sitting by the bottom of the dress, in front of the sign that said "Paradise Kiss"

It was as if Gary was speaking to her.

That's my wish. Be like one. Walk on your own feet. I'll be waiting here.

Two years later…

Two people were by the pedestrian lane, waiting for the signal to cross the streets of Saffron. One was a black-haired male and another was a short-haired brunette.

"Brendan?", the brunette calls. The male was staring up a billboard with a female model in it.

"She's doing real well. I said I loved her, and she dumped me.", Brendan mumbles.

"What? Leaf Green?", the brunette asks, shocked.

Brendan shakes his head. "No! Just kidding!"

The signal for pedestrians went green.

"So Sapphire, have you got a job offer yet?" Brendan asks as they cross the street.

"No.", Sapphire answered. "But there's lots of time."

At a photo studio…

"Great! Let's take a break.", the photographer says with a smile. Leaf smiles back and walks toward the nearby chair where her manager was waiting.

"Good work.", Sabrina, her manager, says. "We're late, so we'll have to eat in the car again."

Leaf smiles. "I'm really sorry."

Sabrina smiles in understanding. "Then we have five magazine interviews... and the "Somehow Smart People" quiz show."

"And your Unova shoot's been set for next Tuesday. And then..."

After the shoot, Leaf proceeds to the old ParaKiss atelier. She places a new magazine on top of the stack placed on the table.

Another day without you, another cover I wish you could see.

She remembers the schedule Sabrina told her.

Unova, huh? Why couldn't it be Kalos?

Three years, and I haven't heard a thing.

Are you designing, or what?

Can you believe this, Gary? You found me this road.

At first I was afraid I'd end up torn to shreds... but you found me this road... and told me to walk it on my own feet.

But Gary... while I'm doing my best...

...it's no fun walking alone.

I want to see you, Gary. I want to see you.

Have you forgotten all about me?

I want to see you... and start out in love all over from the beginning.

A week later, in Unova…

"Perfect! Beautiful!", The Unovan photographer says as he took Leaf's photos.

Leaf changed poses. A click followed. "Just like that."

Another shift in pose. Another click. "I like that. Turn that way a little bit."

"Perfect!"

"Perfect! Just like that."

"That's beautiful."

It continues on with clicks and praises until the photoshoot finishes.

After the shoot, Leaf goes back to her temporary unit. She looks out at the view of Castelia City.

"Well, since I'm here..."

She proceeds to go out, a bag and camera in hand.

She walked through the park, taking photos of the scenery. After a walk, she went through the streets, viewing the different shops and cafes. A bakery reminded her of the one in Kanto, near the atelier, where she met Drew and Harley.

She passes by a juggler and took photos of him, amused by the tricks he was performing.

After some more walks, she finds herself on Broadway Street.

She stops in front of the big theatre, where many people were gathered. Her gaze falls on the promotional poster outside.

It was a picture of a woman wearing a purple dress. As she inspects the dress, she sees a purple butterfly sewn on the waist area of the dress.

Catching her attention, she immediately cast her gaze on the lower part of the poster containing the staff members of the play.

Costume Designer – Gary Oak

She turns her head towards the entrance and sees purple hair going to the direction of the back door.

There's no mistaking that… Harley!

She ran to the back door, only to be blocked by the guard.

"Miss, you are not allowed in here."

"Why not?", Leaf begs. "Please!"

"This is a private area.", the guard says.

Leaf protests. "He is my friend-!"

"Leafy?", Harley's voice was heard. He was wearing black slacks and a green button-up shirt.

Leaf gestured to him, and the guard let her enter.

"Harley!", Leaf hugs him in greeting.

Harley hugs her and lets go. "This is a surprise! Did you know we were here?"

Leaf shakes her head. She then notices the pink haired female beside Harley.

"Oh, this one here is Solidad, my and Gary's workmate. Sol, dear, this is Leaf Green, Gary's muse."

Solidad smiles at Leaf and shakes her hand. Leaf smiles back.

"She's into crossdressing as well, and we found each other. Explains how I look now.", Harley says with a smile.

"Oh, Harley!", Leaf's eyes were welling with tears.

Harley just chuckles. "Stop crying. Save those tears for Gary."

"Is he in Unova?" Leaf inquires.

"Yes. We came last year. He's had a change of heart." Harley explains. "Ready-to-wear isn't the only way to design. He says there's no need to make clothes just to sell."

Leaf smiled at the thought. Musicals and plays did suit Gary better.

"Wait...I can give you the address of his studio.", Harley tells Leaf.

"His studio?"

As soon as she got the address of Gary's studio, she bids goodbye to Harley and Solidad and immediately hails a cab to take her there.

She enters the building, climbs up the stairs to the second floor, and when she reached the room number indicated in the address, the sign "Paradise Kiss" was hanging on the door.

She knocked on the door to see if there was anyone in. Hearing no response, she opens the door and enters the studio.

It still contained tables and shelves filled with sewing tools and unfinished dresses.

On the table were papers containing designs. The window was left open and a breeze blew inside the room, scattering the papers. She quickly went to the window to close it, preventing wind to blow away the papers. She picked every paper that fell, and when she was turning to place the paper in the table, she bumps her thigh into a stack of magazines.

The fall catches her attention, but her eyes widen when she sees the contents of the magazines.

They were every single magazine that featured her, from the first to the most recent, even including special photobooks on her.

He was watching her. He hasn't forgotten her.

Her tears were starting to well up. She heard footsteps; someone entered the studio.

She looks behind her, and sees the man she had been wanting to see the whole two years. Wearing a white long-sleeved button-down and a black coat.

Gary Oak was standing in front of her, equally awestruck as her.

Gary was speechless, seeing his muse in flesh in front of him.

His face broke to a grin, and both of them ran to each other's arms. Leaf buried her face into his chest, clutching him tightly.

Gary tilts her head up and presses his lips on hers, all longing, love, pain, and emotion poured without restriction. Leaf reciprocates with her own share of feelings, turning the kiss into something passionate. They held each other closer as they kissed, never letting go until they had the need to breathe.

When they pulled away, both smiled at each other in bliss of finding each other again. Their eyes did the speaking for them.

I love you.

As if not close enough, they held each other tighter as they shared another kiss.

-END-

Author's Note: Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! To be honest, this was done in a whim. I had no plans on publishing a new fanfiction yet, but since I finished writing the whole story, I might as well publish it right? Hahaha. This was originally intended as a oneshot, but as you can see, someone got carried away. (xD)

Dear readers, if you want a good manga to read, I suggest you read Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa-sensei. It's a real masterpiece, a true work of art. Do read if you have the time. Oh, it's for 18 years and up. If you want a toned down version, where this fanfiction was based on, I recommend you watch the live-action film. It's good, too, I guarantee.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed reading. Reviews will be very much appreciated. Au revoir!

~mirror-sound27