WARNING!!! SLIGHT LEMON IN THIS CHAPTER!!!

JAMES' P.O.V.

'I can't believe it. They're just gone! Ash is dead... Mew and Lily have been captured... This sucks!', I think.

As I sit in my apartment, I close my eyes, and the entire memory comes flooding back.

Three Hours Ago...

We walk onto the streets, right outside of The Detective Corporation.

"Where should we look first?", Hope asks me.

I look around.

"We should start at Ash's apartment, and we'll go from there.", I say.

Hope nods.

We head towards Ash's apartment.

But before we can get very far, we're stopped by a familiar voice.

"Hello again James.", I hear from behind.

I quickly turn around, and there she is.

Sam.

But she's not alone this time.

"S- Sebastian?!", I stutter.

Sebastian smiles.

"Long time, no see James.", he says.

Hope and Lily growl, while Mew frowns.

"Where's Ash? He didn't come, so I'm assuming you've do something to him.", I say.

Sebastian smirks.

"Nice observation skills detective. You're right, we did do something to Ash.", Sebastian says.

"What did you do to him?!", I shout.

"I killed him.", Sebastian says in a flat tone.

My eyes widen, and I gasp.

"You're lying!", I yell at him.

I look at Sam, and she avoids looking at me.

And that's how I know it's true.

"You fucking basturd!", I yell.

I pull out my pistol, and point it at Sebastian.

I pull the trigger, but Sam tackles Sebastian to the ground, causing the bullet to miss by inches.

Sam immediately gets up, and kicks the pistol out of my hands, as Sebastian slowly gets up.

The pistol, slides across the road a few feet.

Lily runs at Sam, jumping onto her, and she starts punching Sam.

Mew fires off an Aura Sphere, and it hits Sebastian right in his chest, causing him to get blown back, and fall to the ground again.

Hope goes for the pistol, and she grabs it with one of her ribbons.

I reach my right hand out towards her, wanting her to give it to me.

But instead, she aims the pistol at Sebastian, and squeezes her ribbon on the trigger.

The pistol goes off, and then flies out of Hope's ribbon.

I look at Sebastian, and see that he's bleeding from his right shoulder.

'Holy shit! Hope actually got him!', I think.

Sam hits Lily in the back of her head, knocking her out, and then she grabs Mew by her tail, slamming her to the ground, also knocking her out as well.

Sebastian groans from the pain of being shot in his shoulder, but he gets up again.

"Let's go! We can get him back another time!", Sam says to Sebastian.

Sebastian glares at me, and then they take off, running towards a parked car with Sam carrying Mew and Lily.

I chase after them, Hope right at my feet.

Sam gets into the drive's side, while Sebastian gets into the passenger's side.

The car starts up just as I reach the drive's side door.

I try opening the door, but it's locked.

The car's wheels screech, and then quickly drives away.

I run after them for a few seconds, but then stop, knowing that I won't be able to catch up to them.

I watch helplessly as the car speeds away down the road.

I look at Hope, and she looks at me.

I pick her up, and hug her against my chest, tears in my eyes.

Hope wraps her ribbons around my arms as I begin to cry.

*****

I open my eyes again, and I see Hope standing there.

She hops onto my bed, and she curls up between my left arm, and my left side.

"I can't believe they're gone Hope.", I say.

I look at Hope, and she looks at me.

"We'll get them back James.", Hope says.

"Not Ash.", I say.

"We don't know for sure he's dead.", she says.

"That's true, but I have this gut feeling that he's dead.", I say.

"What can I do to help you feel a little better?", Hope asks.

I sigh.

"I don't know.", I say.

Hope blushes.

"I have an idea.", Hope says.

"What is it?", I ask.

Hope blushes even more.

My eyes widen as I realize what she's suggesting.

"It'll be our little secret James. No one has to know about it.", Hope says.

I sigh.

"Hope, I don't-", but she cuts me off.

"Please? Just this once? I wanna know what it feels like. What true love feels like.", Hope begs.

I sigh again.

"Okay. But just this once. For you.", I say.

Hope instantly gets up, her tail wagging rapidly.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you James!", Hope says in joy.

She licks my left cheek, and wraps her ribbons around me.

I slightly smile at her excitement.

This'll be a first for both of us.

And as we begin a few moments later, our bond grows closer.

Hope completely enjoys our closeness, and I myself, finding it very enjoyable as well.