Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this fanfiction, nor am I making any profit off of this. So, Nintendo and Game Freak can just shove their lawyers up their-- Er… Nevermind.
Author's Note: Hey, been a while, eh? What's this? You don't know me? Oh, I see, new audience. Well, I am Kyoumi, and I usually write InuYasha fanfictions, but I tired of that and fell into a hiatus in one of my stories; after taking a couple years for a break, I decided to write again, but this time I decided to do it for fun, and not because I felt obligated to. And, I wanted to brush up on my writing skills, since I feel like all my stories are horribly awful (especially those first four). Then there's this whole Pokémon obsession I have lately…
This will be a first for me since I decided to make this story without much of an idea for a plot beforehand. This is also a first in that I'm writing a Pokemon story. So, let's hope it's good, for both of our sakes! xD
For the purposes of this fic, I'm giving the Pokemon genders based on my personal thoughts on that Pokemon. It makes it easier for me to write, and I think it's silly when they're called "it", unless they're genderless.
Ash: 15
Misty: 15
Brock: 20
Back Where I Belong
Chapter One
It was a comfortable day in the middle of June, but it almost felt like it was too hot because of the chilly winter and spring that had just passed. A slight breeze could be felt, which made the sun's harsh heat a little more bearable. Everything was peaceful in the town of Pallet.
It was too peaceful, in the mind of a certain boy. He ungracefully laid across the couch, his legs strewn about in odd directions, flipping through TV channels before settling on a re-run of a battle that he had seen before. Not only had it been on TV a thousand times since the Indigo League Finals, but he had been there as well.
"Remember that battle, Pikachu?" the boy asked the yellow electric mouse that relaxed on his stomach.
"Pi…" he agreed, used to being asked that question about that particular match. Pikachu had long given up reminding his friend that they had both participated in that match.
"ASH KETCHUM! Are you still watching TV like a lump?" shouted a woman from the kitchen.
"… No," Ash answered, pressing the red button on the remote and shutting the television off.
His mother walked into the room with an angry look in her eye. "Ash, go outside. You've been stuck in here moping for the past two weeks." She stayed in the doorway to the kitchen, making sure that Ash managed to pull himself out of the couch.
Ash headed out the door and sighed, the mouse Pokemon following loyally. They both sat themselves down on the front steps, not really sure what they were going to do.
He had been so close. He had been one win away from winning the League title for that year, and a chance to face the Elite Four. While the prize money for second place was good, it wasn't what he was aiming for.
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong, Pikachu," Ash said disdainfully.
"Pi?" Pikachu said, not really sure what Ash was talking about.
Ash pulled off his cap, running a hand through his black, messy hair in the process. "I've done everything I can to make my Pokemon the best team in the world, but it never seems to be enough. Not only did I fail at Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, but I lost at home TWICE!" shouted Ash, mostly talking to himself instead of Pikachu. "Whatever I do, it just never seems to be enough. My Pokemon are always ready, and strong enough to handle it, but maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a trainer."
Pikachu frowned. "Pikapi, pika ka chu pichu," replied the mouse.
Ash sighed. "Well, I don't feel like a great trainer. I feel like a failure," mused the boy.
The electric mouse got angrier at that admission. "Pika pichu ka chu pikachupi chu kachu."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Pi."
Ash ruefully smiled and scratched the mouse behind the ears, earning an appreciative sigh from the Pokemon.
After a few minutes of sitting in silence, Ash said to his Pokemon, "I think Mom's right; I need to get out. We should go on a training trip."
"Pikachu!" shouted the tiny Pokemon, pumping his fist in the air.
Ash smirked and led the two of them inside to tell his mother his plans.
- - -
While Delia wasn't thrilled that her son was going on another trip so soon, she was glad that he was getting out of the house. She had been starting to worry that her son was becoming some sort of delinquent or some such nonsense.
Ash wasn't going to leave for a couple days, but he decided that there was no time like the present to start packing for his training trip, even if it wasn't going to be very long.
He had been staring at his clothes for about five minutes as he tried to figure out what to bring when he was snapped out of his revere when the telephone rang. It rang a couple times before his mother picked it up and called for him to come down and answer it.
Ash sighed and went down to the kitchen to see who it was, and was shocked to see who was on the videophone.
"Misty?"
"No, I'm your tax collector," Misty giggled. It had been a long time since the two had talked to each other, even longer since they saw each other, even on the videophone.
"Sorry, I was just surprised. I haven't heard from you in forever!"
"I was going to call sooner, but I decided to wait a bit since your loss at…" Misty trailed off, and looked up to see the hurt expression on Ash's face.
"Yeah," he mumbled, looking away from the screen, not really wanting to see the look of pity that everyone seemed to have for him lately. Of course, that look was better than the look of annoyance that her mother had been looking at him with since he had taken to sitting in front of the TV… "Anyway, what's up?"
"Ah, well… I actually wanted to ask you a favor," Misty said, looking at the floor and scratching the back of her head.
"Shoot."
Misty hesitated.
"What is it?" Ash said sharply. "If you want something, just ask."
Misty glared at Ash, but instead of yelling at him for his impatient attitude, she asked, "Can I come stay with you for a while?"
This took Ash off guard as he nearly toppled out of his chair. "What? Why would you want to stay here?"
"Well, my sisters have been a bit… testy lately."
And if to prove her claim, Violet shouted off in the distance, "Misty! Hurry up and get off the damn phone! I, like, need to use it! NOW!"
Misty sighed. "They've been this way for a while. I think it has something to do with some boyfriend of theirs. I'm not really sure. But whatever it is, they're taking it out on me. I really need to get out of here for a while," explained the girl.
"What about the gym?" Ash asked.
Misty shrugged. "They can take care of it themselves. Maybe they can take their anger out on trainers instead of me," she mused.
"Well, let me ask my mom quick, and then I'll tell you," Ash said as he got out of the chair.
He walked over to his mother and asked said question. Delia turned to him with a grin that threatened to engulf her face. "That would be wonderful! I love having Misty around, and maybe she can get you to go out once in a while. She can stay as long as she likes," she answered.
Ash was a bit taken aback by this answer, but walked back to the videophone as calmly as he left it. "She said it's fine." That was the understatement of the year.
Misty squealed and grinned ear-to-ear. "Thank you so much, Ash! I'll head out tomorrow morning. If all goes well, I'll be there late tomorrow or early the next day."
Before Ash could say anything to her, she quickly whispered, "I gotta go. Sorry, Ash. I'll see you later."
And he was left staring at a black screen.
Pikachu ran over to him and asked him simply, "Pika pikachu chu?"
The trip! I forgot! And with that, Ash slapped his forehead in frustration.
- - -
The next day, Delia had her son working harder than he had in months, cleaning the house and getting things ready for Misty. While she and Mimey (her Mr. Mime) did the housework, Ash was stuck outside doing the yard work in the sweltering heat. While yesterday had been a temperate day, today was one of those rare days that could wilt plants by just being mentioned. And so early in the season!
By noon, Ash was ready to collapse from the heat. Even with his Totodile and Buizel regularly hitting him with a water gun, he didn't know if he would be able to finish mowing the lawn, let alone the rest of the chores that were laid out for him.
When dinner rolled around, Ash could hardly finish his food without falling asleep. He managed to take a quick shower before heading off to bed, not really caring at the moment if Misty showed up this late or not.
He climbed to the top of his bunk bed (that was getting suspiciously small for him) and dozed off as soon as his head hit the pillow.
- - -
Morning came too soon for the poor, overworked boy. He heard the blinds over the window being pulled up and tried to block out the light that brightened the room behind his eyelids. Without seeing who would so rudely wake him, Ash just turned his head away from the light.
Next went his blanket. It was roughly pulled away from him, leaving him shiver in the cool air. Groaning, Ash curled up into a ball and hid his face in his pillow.
But that was gone now, too, and Ash found himself falling into his mattress. There was no falling asleep now. He turned towards the thief and shouted, "WHAT THE FU—"
He stopped as he saw who it was. Smirking at him was a familiar scrawny redhead… except she wasn't so scrawny anymore. Ash was dumbfounded. Misty didn't look the same at all. The two years since they saw each other last had done wonders for the girl. She was taller and her hair was a little longer, while her ever short t-shirt and Capri's didn't do much to hide her figure. While these things were all very different, the one thing that was the same was her bright blue-green eyes. Ash found himself blushing, but couldn't really figure out why.
Maybe it was because all he was wearing was his boxers right now.
"What are you doing here?" Ash asked after he figured out how to form sentences again.
"Did you forget that I was coming?" She had answered his question with another question.
He could honestly say that he hadn't really believed that she was coming to live with him, but that was proven wrong. Besides, she would probably get pissed off.
"I meant, why are you in my room?"
Misty looked a little angry with this and coolly responded with, "It's almost one thirty. I've been here since eight waiting for you to wake up."
Ash quickly did the math in his head. He had gone to bed a little after dinner, which was about seven, so he had been sleeping for… EIGHTEEN HOURS?! Ash looked panicked. "Mew, how could I sleep for that long?" Ash asked himself. Misty gave him a puzzled look as he slapped his forehead. He noticed this and nervously explained, "I, uh, actually went to bed at about seven…"
"This morning?" Misty asked, shocked. The thought, he stayed up to wait for you, ran through her head a couple times.
"No, last night." Ash looked embarrassed and hung his head so she wouldn't notice his blush.
The redhead's brow ticked in annoyance. Muttering a simple "Oh," she walked out of his room and slammed the door, rattling a couple picture frames and some less stable furniture.
Ash stared at the door for a couple seconds before thinking, what's her problem?
- - -
After getting his breakfast (or lunch if you want to get technical), Ash went outside to find Misty playing with Pikachu in the yard and his mother watering her tomato plants. A mischievous grin formed on Ash's face as he walked over to his mother and asked if he could borrow the hose.
She looked at him quizzically, but simply said, "Make it quick," before handing the hose over to him.
Ash snuck up behind Misty as she crouched on the ground, petting Pikachu. Pikachu noticed him coming, and cocked his head to the side at him.
"What is it, Pikachu?" Misty asked as she turned around. She gasped as she was met with a face full of water.
Ash couldn't contain himself. After shouting out, "That was for this morning!" he busted out laughing at Misty's expression of pure annoyance. He, of course, failed to notice her stand up and grab for the hose before it was too late. As soon as Ash realized what was happening, Misty had pulled open the back of his shirt and stuck the hose down his back.
The boy gave out a cry of shock as he tried to pull the hose out from his shirt, which took a good minute and a half. Once he accomplished this, he ran after Misty, trying to soak her from head to toe.
Their fun went on for a half hour until they both collapsed on the ground in a fit of giggles.
Wiping away some of his soaked hair, Ash breathlessly said, "I'm glad to have you back, Misty."
Misty turned her head towards Ash as he looked up at the sky, a content smile on his face. "I'm glad, too."
The two hardly noticed the footsteps approaching them, but they both jumped from the sudden shock of ice-cold hose water sprayed on their faces. After wiping their eyes, they looked up to see a slightly annoyed Delia Ketchum.
"A half hour is not 'quick'," she said before going back to her plants and finishing with the watering.
The two were silent for a moment before Ash collapsed back on the ground, laughing until tears rolled down his cheeks. Misty didn't find it nearly as funny, but she hadn't been moping for two weeks straight.
After a while, the two had fallen asleep on the grass, trying to dry their clothes in the sun.
Chapter End
Author's Note: Well, there's chapter one. I actually have an idea of what to do for a couple chapters, but after that I'm not really sure of what to do. I guess if I still need help by then, I'll ask for it.
The speech Pikachu gave to Ash in the beginning translates to, "Most trainers don't make it to your level/expertise in their lifetime."
