Hello Readers, Old and New. (^_^)

This story is the sequel to my other story 'Are Those Who Leave Us, Truly Gone'.

If who haven't read that first, I suggest to, because then this story will make a lot more sense.

I obviously don't own Pokemon, do you see any of this happening in the anime?

Anyway...

"Talking" Thoughts "PokeSpeech"

On with the Story...

Chapter One: Broken

*Ash's POV, Pallet Town, After Sinnoh League*

Here I am, back in Pallet again, after so long...

I'd better go visit Mom, then see Leaf...

I still don't know how May knew about her though...

Never mind, better get home.

I walked down the road all the way to my house, Pikachu on my shoulder

Once I saw the familiar white fence, I smiled because there was my Mom, gardening with Mimey.

Mimey saw me and waved and was about to tell Mom, but then I raised a finger to my lips, telling him that I wanted to surprise her.

I sneakily made my way into the house and to the Kitchen.

Time to make lunch.

I laid my backpack on a chair, and then turned toward the cabinets, "Where are the noodles?"

Pikachu jumped down from my shoulder, wanting to stay as far away from the stove as possible, fire and electricity don't well, then said, "I know you picked up some cooking skills from Brock and you already had some from when you were younger, but I am not going to stay here and watch you..."

Since I had known Pikachu for six years already, I knew exactly what he meant.

I nodded slightly then resumed looking for the noodles.

After a few minutes I found the noodles and put them to boil.

Then I got out some vegetables and meat and put them to fry.

After a while everything was cooked and I made a quick garlic sauce to pour on top.

As soon as I was done and had set out two plates, Mimey walked in, waving frantically, "Delia is coming."

I just laughed and went back to the sink to wash all the dishes I had gotten dirty, putting the leftover noodles in the refrigerator.

As soon as the Kitchen was clean, Mom walked in, "Mimey, did you make-Ash!"

Mom ran over to me and hugged me "You've grown so much! It also seems like you've picked up some cooking skills, ever girl likes a guy that can cook! Is it Misty?"

I blinked rapidly, "What about Misty?"

Mom laughed, "I know you like her silly!"

I blushed, "Mom!"

Mom smiled, "I mother knows all."

Yet, you still forgot Leaf.

Gary and I go through the trouble of remembering her and paying the hospital bills, so they don't stop looking after her in her comatose state.

You didn't have to learn a lot about Medicine so you could know exactly what was wrong with Leaf and why she wasn't waking up.

It's been over ten years and you still don't know.

Professor Oak paid her hospital bills until Gary and I started our journeys.

Gary and I then used the money we earned from battling to may for the bills.

Gary takes care of the Bulbasaur that Professor Oak reserved for Leaf, so we don't have to pay for a deposit box.

Most of our money goes toward Leaf, that's why I never had enough to pay for all the bikes I wrecked.

You don't know the trouble Gary and I went through, you don't know.

Mom was looking at me worriedly and yelling, "Ash! Earth to Ash!"

I rapidly shook my head, "Yeah Mom?"

Mom sighed, "You were so lost in your thoughts that I was worried about you... Anyway, let's eat."

Mom sat down next to a plate of food, but just as she was about to eat, someone yelled, "Mrs. Ketchum are you here?"

Mom yelled back, "In the Kitchen dear!"

I heard footsteps and guessed that whoever yelled was coming over, being a kind person I went to get a plate from the cupboard so I could set out another plate of noodles.

Form behind me I heard someone say, "Mrs. Ketchum, how are you? I just came over to visit and-Ash!"

I smiled and placed the new plate with noodles on the counter, then turned around, looking at the familiar orange haired girl standing in front of me, "Misty!"

Misty blinked rapidly, not believing that it was really me, then ran over and hugged me, "Ash! I missed you so much! You're actually taller than me now!"

I hugged her back and whispered in her ear, "I missed you too Mist."

More than I'll ever let on.

After a few minutes, Mom coughed, "I know how much you too missed each other, but can we eat, this smells good."

I laughed slightly, "That's what I usually say."

Misty sat down in an empty place and I set the plate of noodles I had taken out in front of her.

Mom and Misty each took a bite while I was sitting down, then Misty said, "This is delicious! Thanks Mrs. Ketchum!"

I sweat dropped, "Actually I made it."

Misty stopped eating and stared at me, "You actually learned how to cook in Sinnoh? I'm so proud of you!"

I smiled sheepishly, "You pick some things up from Brock."

Misty laughed, "I hope you didn't pick up his girl getting techniques!"

I laughed along with her, "I would never become like him, and he needs to learn that every girl likes things in certain ways, not all girls like guys throwing themselves at them."

After a while we stopped laughing and ate in peace.

When Misty and I were done, Mom took our plates and said, "I'll clean up, why don't you go out for a walk and catch up."

I started, "Mom, I can-"

Mom interrupted me, "Nonsense, I can do it on my own. You young people need to have some fun."

Before Misty and I could complain any more Mom kicked Misty and me out of the house.

Knowing that there was nothing we could do, we just started walking aimlessly through Pallet, in silence.

After a while of walking, Misty and I reached Ketchum Cliff, the place where the rock slide that put Leaf into a coma happened.

This place has so many bad memories.

Misty leaned on the railing, watching the sunset, and then said, "I saw you compete in the Sinnoh League, and I believe you should have gotten second instead of fourth, but..."

I sighed, "I lost to Tobias in the semi-finals, not the finals."

Misty nodded, "But you should have at least gotten second..."

I nodded, "But that's the way it happened."

Misty said nothing, then after a while, sighed and looked me into the eyes, "Are you going anywhere soon Ash?"

I thought about it for a while, "I might go to Unova and participate in the League there, but I'm not sure. Mom and Professor Oak are going there on vacation, so I could tag along and check the region out..."

Misty sighed and sadly said, "So you're going to leave again?"

I shrugged, "I guess so..."

Misty and I stood in silence, and then Misty suddenly turned and slapped me on the face, "What was that for?"

Misty lowered her hand, tears streaming down her face, "You ALWAYS leave, it's like you don't want to be here, with your Mom, with ME! Don't you care about us Ash?"

I raised my hands in defense, in case she tried to hit me, "I do care about you Misty, Mom too. I just like travelling seeing new places."

Escaping the pain.

Misty sighed and started walking away, muttering, "And to think I loved you Ash Ketchum. You're just as much of a jerk as the others."

I froze in my spot, not believing a word she was saying, "Do you really mean that?"

Misty looked straight into my eyes, "You are a complete jerk."

I looked down muttered, "That wasn't what I meant."

Misty looked at me confused, but her face turned into shock when I leaned down to kiss her.

After a few seconds I pulled back suddenly, silently muttering, "No! No! No!"

Misty looked at me like she was floating on air, "Ash?"

I turned back towards her, "Forget that ever happened."

Misty looked confused, "What do you mean Ash? You love me as much as I love you."

I glared at her and said icily, "Forget that Misty. I don't love you. I was just using you."

Misty gasped, tears streaming down her face, "You-You-Jerk!"

Misty pulled out her mallet and hit me on the head, as well as slapped me on my other cheek, then yelled, "I never want to see your face again!"

I'm sorry Misty, but I'm not ready for this.

Misty ran away sobbing loudly, leaving me at Ketchum Cliff, all alone.

I always knew bad things would happen here.

After a few minutes I left the cliff and went to the hospital, wanting to see Leaf.

As soon as I got to her room, I saw her still lying on the bed, oxygen mask still on her face.

I sat in the seat next to her bed side just staring at her.

She had grown since I had last seen her a year ago.

I wish you were here Leaf, everything was better with you around.

After a few minutes of just staring at her, I fixed her hair and got up to leave, bumping into a nurse on my way out.

The nurse, was an old lady named Clara, she had worked at the hospital in Pallet for years.

She was the one that took care of Leaf and always talked to Gary and me when we came to visit.

After a few seconds, I helped her up, "Sorry, Nurse Clara."

Clara laughed, "It's okay Ash."

Then Clara looked at Leaf, "She hasn't gotten any better than when you were last here. What were you doing for a year?"

I chuckled lightly, "I was in Sinnoh for a year."

Clara nodded, "Shigeru, I mean Gary; I always forget he hates his full first name, paid for this month's bills, so you will have to transfer the money for next month."

(A/N: Gary's full name is Shigeru Okido Oak, but since Shigeru Okido when translated and derived into English is Garry Oak, he likes calling himself Gary.)

I nodded, "Thank you for telling me."

I left the hospital quietly and started walking back home, thinking about Leaf and what had happened with Misty.

If only you knew Misty...

When Leaf went into a coma, Gary and I promised to never fulfill our dreams until she could be there to see it.

I've purposely lost in a lot of Leagues just to avoid becoming a Pokémon Master.

I went easy on Tobias, but he was a tough opponent, so it wasn't hard to fake a loss.

I'm sorry Misty, but I can't be with you until Leaf is there to congratulate us.

I can't stop myself from falling in love with you, but I can distance myself from you by travelling.

I mostly travel just to stay away from the pain being in Pallet brings to me.

I'm sorry Misty, but until Leaf waked up, my spirit will always be broken.

To Be Continued...

Sorry to all Pokeshippers for Ash and Misty's fight, but this is a Pokeshipping story, so they will make up eventually...

*evil smile*

Anyway, I hope you all liked the start.

Review. (^_^)