Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Pokemon the animated series.
A.N. I know I have a bunch of stuff going right now, but I have to put it down as I'm inspired. I'm going to try to work on several tonight. I just added a bit to Cherry Blossoms on the Moon's Gaze and planning a huge twist on Agape Lightning.
Ash Ketchum was born different; Delia knew this the first moment he opened his eyes in the dim birthing room, revealing a glowing blue gaze, shimmering wise with power, before the glow dimmed to his natural caramel.
As the boy grew it became obvious. He picked up the language quickly, but even before he could talk he could communicate perfectly with Mr. Mime, who always seemed to know exactly what the newborn needed. Delia loved her son but always felt a slight distance to him.
At two years old he was taken for his first haircut. Ash, unexpectedly began to lash out. "No!" he said, crying. His glossy black locks curled around his shoulders. People had always told her what a pretty little girl she had; she had thought the hair cut would be better.
After the haircut, he wept for days. Delia felt horribly guilty, and Ash never had another haircut again. Between the tears and surprising disappointed looks directed at her from Mr. Mime, she felt like a horrible mother. She began to realize Ash had more self awareness about himself than he thought, as at three years old she caught him reading a book about pokemon.
Ash was a Pokemon person, totally. But that never really stuck until one day at four years old he disappeared while visiting Professor Oak. Ash had been put with Gary to play, but when they went to pick up Ash, Gary told them bluntly.
"He's a weird girly boy, I told him to go 'way," Gary said proudly. A roar from outside near the lake drew them all. It was a horrifying scene. Next to a roaring Gyrados was Ash, who clapped his hands in delight.
They all rushed out there. Professor Oak attempted to send out his pokemon, but none of them came out of their pokeballs.
Ash shouted loudly, imitating the Gyrados roar, and the Gyrados roared again, knocking Ash back. Ash nodded, and seemed to talk to the large dragon before opening his mouth.
And then Ash Roared! Gyrados was flung back and everyone froze in surprise, before Gyrados launched forward. Delia shrieked in horror and the pokemon around watched impassively…
..Before the Gyrados licked Ashes face and nuzzled him, and Ash gave it a hug.
Soon Delia realized there was no threat from the Gyrados, and Ash noticed his mother and stumbled forward delightedly.
"Kaa-san! Kaa-san!" he said excitedly, using her 'nickname' for her. "Current-In-The-Deep taught me how to use Roar!" In her relief, she didn't scold the boy.
Professor Oak would test this subtly, but not subtly enough for the perceptive boy. He could indeed understand Pokemon as easily as Human language. His sharp eyes flashing over when Professor Oak would note interactions between the Pokemon and Ash were often seemed, and yet Ash didn't seem so offended.
Pretty soon Delia would realize her little boy wanted to be a little girl, and as she always wanted a daughter she would embrace it unconditionally. She also accepted that besides her and Professor Oak, he was always going to be more of a Pokemon person than people person, often running off to play with wild Pokemon.
It only took one day of cruelty from the school children for Ash to impassively ask to be tested out. He passed with nearly full marks; more than enough to leave. But both Professor Oak and Delia insisted on him waiting to start his pokemon adventure. As he wasn't sure he wanted to be a trainer, he agreed.
On a rainy day, a year before his Pokemon journey, Ash, staring out at the storm, finally turned to her and asked where his father was. Delia gave Ash a long stare, taking in the mature and resolved look in his eyes. She turned her eyes to the storm, unable to meet his gaze.
"Your father… is training in a dangerous place," she finally said, remembering when she was still called Green and her lover Red took to the mountains before he had realized she was pregnant. "So dangerous no one but a Pokemon Master can approach." Her gaze tilted toward Ash from where she was staring into the storm. "He left before he knew I was pregnant."
And the resolved look firmed further, and Ash leap up, shaking his fist in rebellion of the storm. "Then I'll become a Pokemon Master, and find him!" He declared confidently. As if for emphasis, the shutters blew open, and his long hair flowed behind him.
And so the journey of becoming a Pokemon Master began.