A/N: Am I really shady, or does this pair not get enough love?
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or any associated characters [but think of the fun to be had if I did]
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I sighed lightly. I had never bothered to go to sleep like everyone else had, for I knew I would never fall asleep. Who could on an adventure like this? So I decided to sketch instead. I took note of everything, all the different Pokemon, and their behavior, I wanted to know all of this for later on. I definitely never saw any of this at home, that's for sure. I may be in the wrong place in the time line at the moment, but my head was still buzzing with the excitement of all the new places, Pokemon, and... people.
My sketching was interrupted by a familiar groan. I looked over and found my new companion, Ash, sitting up, awake. He was the first to find me as I arrived here, and quite frankly, for a stubborn kid of tomorrow, he was alright. When I really thought about it, he reminded me of myself. We always seemed to have things in common, and the decisions we made were uncanny.
"Sammy, what are you doing? It's the middle of the night," he asked me, groggy. I laughed at the fact that he was still waking up.
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd sketch some more Pokemon," I answered, looking down at my latest work.
"Oh! Can I see?" Ash asked. He wriggled out of his sleeping bag and crawled over to the fire where I had been seated through the night. I nodded, and handed him my sketchbook, which was recently (to my knowledge, anyway) adorned with age. He flipped through it, obviously impressed. And in between his awes, I turned the other direction, and hoped that the fire was to blame for the temperature rise that was resting on my face. I did know for a fact that part of it was extreme modesty. I wasn't nearly as impressed. I just considered them notes, not works of art.
"Wow! This is amazing," Ash exclaimed, "this is just like a Pokedex, that's this machine that knows all about Pokemon."
An electronic Pokemon encyclopedia? That was a good idea.
"Wow, Ash. You sure know a lot about the future," I said. Now I was the one impressed. I loved it when he talked about what was considered my future. I knew if things went according to plan, I'd still be here to experience it later, but growing up already knowing wouldn't hurt either. So I listened, and smiled as I did. Ash wasn't the brightest boy, and was often at a loss for words when he was telling me some things about his time. Apparently they were over his head.
"Yeah I guess," he said, closing my sketchbook carefully. He just as scared as I was that it would crumble under forty years of wear and tear. Then he looked up at the sky. I found myself doing the same, and at that moment I realized, no matter where you are in time, the stars will always look the same. He continued, "I'm just glad I'm not stuck in it like you are."
That struck an emotional chord with me. There he goes again, not thinking about what he says. I stayed quiet.
I wish...I were stuck here. But I know I have to go back. I thought.
"Oh, hey, I didn't mean to make you feel bad, Sam, honest," he recovered. This made me smile lightly again.
He's so conscious of my feelings, I thought to myself again.
"It's alright, it's just..." I stopped to think, but I ended up continuing, "I want to be stuck here. I just know that I can't. Everything has it's place, and whatever time they just so happen to be in is considered a place for them too. If I don't go back to where I come from, things will go terribly wrong for you and your own time," this idea brought tears to my eyes, but I disregarded them. They would only serve as a distraction.
"What?!" Ash gasped, "why would you want to stay here, Sam? You said it yourself, this isn't where you're from!"
"I know that, Ash. I just want to stay here with you. My... best friend," I admitted. Ordinarily that wouldn't be such a big deal to anybody, I wouldn't think, but it was more than just that, and that was as extreme as I could make it seem without being frowned upon. I figured it'd be in my best interest that I do something about it anyway. It was a now or never situation, after all. And I was definitely never going to be in it again.
"Ash...you're the best, if not, only friend I've ever had, and after this adventure...it may be something more. I don't know exactly what that feels like, but this is different," I realized how sketchy I made myself sound, and stopped talking.
"Sam, I don't know what to say to that," Ash whispered.
"I don't either," I admitted looking down. I felt so embarrassed, I might as well have nothing else to lose now. Wait! Nothing to lose? I wonder...
Ash opened his mouth to speak again, and while I probably should have let him, I didn't. Instead, I quickly leaned over, and cut him off by putting my lips to his own. He seemed appalled, but he didn't fight, and for that I was thankful.
I know we're just friends, I thought, asserting myself into the kiss, but if it's going to be now or never, I prefer it be now. Even though that's what I thought, I pulled away as he started to respond willingly.
"Ash, I'm sorry. I'm just taking advantage of the situation. It's not right. I know you probably hated that," I looked down, embarrassed all over again. Real friends don't make things that awkward for each other, and I knew that. But to my surprise, he just shook his head.
"No, Sammy, I didn't. In fact, I may find myself liking you as much as you seem to like me," he said with a smile.
I could get used to this.
But I did not, for shortly after, I was brought back to the time that fate had originally meant for me.