The Viridian City gym was silent and uneventful, like any other day. Hardly any trainers passed by to challenge the gym leader, and when a trainer strong enough would push the gym doors open with a determined look, the look would eventually be shattered while admitting defeat, trudging out of the gym in hopes to return later with a stronger strategy.
At the very end of the gym sat the gym leader, petting his Umbreon slowly, waiting for the last ten minutes to tick by so he could finally go home and do something that would most likely be more eventful than that day at the gym. Although, he did like the silence of the gym at times. He could finish things that would be procrastinated about at home there at the gym because of the lack of events, and because his was the last gym a trainer had to challenge before heading off to the Pokemon League, every trainer that entered gave him at least a bit of a challenge. He liked it that way. The silence and the usual challenge. Everything was oddly perfect.
Well, except for his best friend wiping off the face of the planet.
Gary's face hardened at the thought. Yes, it was true that everyone missed Ash dearly, but if anyone missed him the most, it had to be Gary Oak. Not only did they share the same hometown, but both boys started their journeys the exact same day, crossed paths many times, and ended up being rivals along the weren't only rivals; they were childhood friends and brothers. Every scornful remark and rude comment spat at each other had a dosage of friendship in it, no matter how angrily the other replied.
Now, Ash Ketchum was gone.
His lack of presence stung Gary's heart greatly, but what hurt Gary the most was the words he himself said before Ash disappeared. They rung in his head almost daily, some days more than once, some days ignored, or some days like that day, where the silence and the words were a deadly combination.
The words snapped in his mind loudly.
"It'd be better if you were dead!"
He said those words with rage in his voice during a petty fight. It was such an excuse for an argument that he didn't remember why and how they'd gotten into the fight. It didn't matter now, the fight itself. What mattered is that Ash was gone, and he'd do anything to take back his words and see his best friend.
After he said those words, a cold silence settled over them, followed by Ash storming out of the room, Pikachu giving Gary an icy glare before running after his friend. Gary was too angry to do the same.
Now he was gone.
If only Gary had done the same. If only he'd run after Ash, taken his words back, and apologized. Sure, Ash would be mad at him for a few days, but... He wouldn't have disappeared for a year, either.
Umbreon's relaxed face faltered when his master's petting began to slow down uncomfortably. When the petting finally stopped, Umbreon shot his red eyes open and peered up at his trainer. Gary's amber eyes were watery as he stared off at something that wasn't there, obviously deep in thought.
Umbreon stood, rested his two front paws against Gary's chest and rubbed his head against his neck. He knew exactly what he was thinking about, and things didn't end up good when his thoughts roamed far enough. He couldn't speak, and could only comfort his master with his actions, but at least they seemed to speak louder.
"Let's close up," Gary muttered with a tight throat and a shaky voice. He stood, hugging Umbreon close to his chest as he walked towards the entrance of his gym. Before he could walk out, a trainer burst in.
"I-I'm here to challenge Gary Oak!"
"Sorry kid, I…" Gary looked at the trainer. He was hugging a pokeball close to him, a distressed look on his sweaty face, knowing he was a bit too late. But the trainer had a sea of dedication in his eyes Gary just couldn't say 'no' to; that dedication Ash always had.
"…Alright." The trainer smiled, enlarging the red sphere with a click of a button.
That day was another of the few days a trainer beat Gary Oak. Those days seemed to be getting closer and closer to each other as Ash's absence dragged on…
-…-
That night, Gary couldn't sleep. Umbreon sensed his unease and refused to sleep in his pokeball, instead curling up into a ball and resting on Gary's chest. His presence didn't seem to ease Gary, though. The whole night, he stayed the same, lying on his back, staring at the ceiling, and breathing in rhythm. Umbreon fell asleep to the rising and falling of his chest long before Gary even began to grow tired. He stared at the blue blankness above unblinkingly, unable to go to sleep. His mind was restless, and not because he was counting sheep. Sheep was the last thing on his mind.
"I killed him."
At that silent and deadly thought, images of Ash began to flash through his mind. His smiling face, his stupid pose whenever he wanted to catch a pokemon, the look on his face whenever he saw Gary win yet another battle. That lead to the argument replaying. He could vividly see every single detail of the fight. The anger and frustration in their faces, the hurt flashing through Ash's face, and just how loudly the doors slammed close once Ash left.
His mind then roamed to thoughts of what Ash did after the argument, the main topic being suicide. How would Ash have done it? Did he run off to somewhere far away where they'd never find his body, bring a gun to his head, and without hesitation, pulled the trigger? Did he gulp down a handful of pills, lie down, and let the numbness take over? Where was he? What happened to his Pokemon?
What if he had gone after him?
The multitude of questions swarming his head gave him an immense headache. His head throbbed as the world began to pull away from him. He desperately tried to find the answers to questions only one person could answer, and that person was gone.
Two things woke Umbreon. One, Gary's chest began to rise and fall in quick, broken motions. Two, there was a knock at the front door.
Gary was almost glad that someone was knocking at three in the morning. He forced all of the overwhelming thoughts out of his head, for at least the moment, and got up, Umbreon jumping off his chest and staying by him. Gary walked up to his room's door, pressing his ear against it.
Sure enough, another few knocks softly rapped at the door. He wasn't sure who would be at his door this late, or some would say early, but he decided that a person that would've wanted to kill him wouldn't have knocked, so he walked forward with a bit of calmness. With an alert and tensed Umbreon at his side, he began to open the front door just as another few knocks rang out.
He was surprised to see his grandfather standing before him, hands running up and down his arms to give him warmth. Under his thin white lab coat, Gary could see striped pajamas. It looked like he'd just woken up.
"Grandpa," Gary began, reaching for a coat hung on the coat hanger next to him. "What are you doing here?"
Prof. Oak gladly took the coat Gary offered, but didn't put it on immediately. He held it in his hands, glad to have something to occupy him. But even with his hands busy, he couldn't find a proper way to deliver such news. Even worse, he knew the look on his face was worrying Gary.
"Gary," Prof. Oak faltered, his voice wavering and expression hardening. Gary did the same, furrowing his brow.
"What?" Gary mumbled, heart racing and stomach churning. How his grandfather was acting could only mean something bad had occurred, but what?
Had he found Ash, lifeless and bloody?
Prof. Oak took in a deep breath. He didn't know how to start off his sentence. The news he had to deliver was too harsh for anyone to have say or hear. Already, his throat was tightened, the cold air was too much for his sweaty skin, and he was stiff in front of his grandson. He had to be strong. He was the adult, and an authority figure over Gary. He couldn't show how weak he felt; the fear pounding lightly at his chest.
"Your friend, Misty…" Prof. Oak's lips were too dry, throat was too tight, and he simply couldn't continue. But he clenched his fists under the coat and took in a deep, shaky breath.
"She was murdered."
