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Girard traversed the lakeside Route 110 path that wound its way lazily through a public park, Darcy at his heels. The distinguished Houndoom padded along dutifully, alert and watchful. Though his Pokémon companion was as vigilant as ever, Girard walked with an easy, relaxed gait, enjoying the mild November weather, a light breeze playing at his hair like a lover's teasing caress. It was rare for Girard to give himself an entire day off, but even the most dedicated businessmen knew that allowing for the occasional vacation day was the best preventative for burnout.[break][break]
A flash of something pearlescent caught Girard's eye, and he slowed his pace as he looked in its direction. A miniature dining table had been erected in the middle of a particularly well-kept patch of grass, facing the small man-made lake. The table was adorned with a pastel dining cloth, plates that looked suspiciously like fine china, brilliant white napkins, and freshly picked wildflowers. Even from a slight distance, Girard could tell that the food was gourmet and the silverware expensive. The whole thing was surreal, like someone had dropped a scene from an elegant ball into the middle of the Route 110 park.[break][break]
Curious, Girard left the path and walked over to the rather ridiculous set-up. "Well, if it isn't Miss Hasegawa," He noted, recognizing her immediately. Yumi Hasegawa looked both stunning and completely out of place. Her dress was a shimmering masterpiece of pearly white kissed with rainbow hues and her long dark hair fell lusciously down her back. Darcy sniffed at the food, eyeing the Fennekin in the young woman's lap.[break][break]
Is this how she spends her money, then? He wondered. For a woman who had appeared at his shop recently in need of a large sum of cash, such a display of luxury was rather surprising. And yet, the entire thing seemed to suit her; it was obvious that she preferred to enjoy the park this way.[break][break]
The corner of Girard's mouth quirked into a slight grin, once again finding himself amused by the woman.

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How quickly the woman's pleasant facade vanished. A different man might feel offended, but Girard merely took it in stride. After all, he had known what he would be getting into by approaching her.[break][break]
"I have not," He told her, which was not, technically, a lie. The more nuanced truth was that he had not actually attempted to sell them yet. The gorgeous sapphire earrings remained locked in the top drawer of his desk in the private back office of Fraser's Fine Goods. Why he kept them there, he could not say. Intuition, perhaps. The right buyer had simply not walked into his shop yet, he supposed. But Yumi Hasegawa did not need to know any of that.[break][break]
Darcy sneezed as his curious nose inched a tad too close to the primrose flowers adorning the picnic table. Girard settled a hand idly on the Houndoom's head, a gentle reminder to back off - he wouldn't be getting any snacks this afternoon, certainly not from a woman like Yumi, who did not strike Girard as the charitable sort. If she meant to offer him and his Pokémon a seat at her table, she would have.[break][break]
"You may call me Girard, by the way," he added, copper eyes sparkling. "If it suits you."

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Girard's gentlemanly demeanor was by no means a facade; however, it was not the only side of him that existed. Hidden beneath the suave conversationalist and keen observer, there was a highly trained Rocket field operative. The training had been mandatory when he'd joined the organization in Galar years ago, and Girard had worked to keep himself in shape, despite his role in Hoenn Rocket primarily being one of a non-violet nature.[break][break]
When the enraged - clearly ravenous - Ursaring attacked Yumi, swiping at her with its claws, it was as if a switch was flipped in Girard's brain. Instincts that normally remained dormant kicked in, and he leapt gracefully across the picnic table, immediately placing himself in-between Yumi and the massive bear. He caught the backswing of its paw, sandwiched between both of his hands, stopping the beast's forward motion. With a grunt of effort, he shoved the Pokémon back. It growled angrily and readied itself for a charge, but before it could act, Darcy - equally well-trained - was at Girard's side; with a coordinated effort, Girard and his Houndoom rushed the Ursaring. A FIRE FANG clamped down on the bear's leg just as Girard grabbed its arm and twisted it behind its back.[break][break]
"Submit," he commanded of the bear, normally pleasant tone hard-edged and cold. It whimpered and lowered to the ground, ears back, sufficiently subdued. "This young lady will not be giving up her picnic to you. Understand?" When he and Darcy let go, the Ursaring backed away, posture submissive. Soon, it had lumbered off - limping - in search of a different meal.[break][break]
Girard whipped around, falling to one knee beside Yumi. His hand went immediately to the torn sleeve of her dress, checking her injuries. He all but held her in his arms to ensure her overall wellbeing, her Fennekin between them. Darcy kept watch in case the Ursaring changed its mind.[break][break]
"Are you quite allright?" Girard asked with genuine concern.

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Girard had already thought Yumi Hasegawa beautiful, despite her tendency to scowl and judge, but as she gazed up into his eyes as he held her, a pretty blush coloring her cheeks, expression uncharacteristically vulnerable and tender, Girard very nearly kissed her. There was something about the way she was openly staring at him, disdain giving way to desire, that stirred a primal hunger, raw and needy, within him.[break][break]
He leaned in, the tension between them a palpable, quivering thing, but stopped himself. She smelled nice, like the wildflowers that had adorned her picnic table.[break][break]
"Well, I'm glad you're allright," he murmured, voice low. Though she ought to tend to her arm, with even a limited degree of medical knowledge, Girard could see that it was not serious - for which he was genuinely glad. A strange protective instinct had begun to take shape alongside his own desire, but Girard ignored it, prioritizing propriety. He gently let go of her before she could regain her senses and finish pushing him away, then stood back up, giving her space.[break][break]
Darcy nosed his master's leg as the pawnbroker moved back, seemingly convinced that the Ursaring was gone for good. Girard pat the Houndoom on the head in gratitude. "Would you prefer if I stayed for a bit?" He addressed Yumi, then. "In case there are any other hungry bears prowling about?"

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Girard drank in the sight of Yumi's pretty blush, like the petals of a red rose against pale white silk. In many ways, her flustered expression of gratitude was a more intimate moment between them than when he had been literally holding her in his arms. Girard felt a strange sense of possessiveness about the way she was looking at him, as if he wanted to be the only man she ever thanked for the rest of their lives - but of course, that was unrealistic. All the same, he nodded his head to her in respect, a small, pleased grin spreading across his lips. "You are very welcome."[break][break]
Girard motioned for Darcy to follow him back over to the lakeside path, to continue with their walk; they passed by Yumi's now mostly packed-up picnic - which had, thanks for Girard, been left mostly untouched in the aftermath of the attack. Before he left, he looked over his shoulder at her.[break][break]
"Until we meet again," he said rather cryptically, amber eyes glittering with amusement. He found that he was looking forward to whenever that would be.

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