(I do not own Pokemon or any of the characters, that would be awesome if I did but I don't. I am not making any profit from this.)
Story inspired by MasteringAMuggleLife and their story "The Hat"
Mistakes
He sat in a booth at one of the local diners in Cerulean City. With him two of his oldest friends. May Maple, Brock Slate and of course his beloved pikachu. All three sharing equally worried expression for the young man they sat with. Ash Ketchum had been quiet for hours as he stared at old but well kept red and white league hat that he wore when he started his journey eleven years prior, the same hat he had given to his most precious friend as a reassurance they would meet again. A gesture anyone who knew him would take as a great sign of devotion. Now he sat quiet with two of his dearest friends in utter silence as he mulled over the events that happened a few hours before.
Flash Back
He stood in front of the Cerulean City Gym. Ash had been twelve the last time he had seen his most precious friend Misty Waterflower. He was happy to be able to see her again. Though outwardly he was overjoyed, deep down he was terrified. It had been nine years, and during that time he learned a lot about the people who were important to him as well as himself. Broke and May had come along with him and though they remained quiet they could see Ash was worried about the reunion that was about to take place. They both came up to him and both touched a shoulder to gain his attention as they silently nodded and smiled to him encouragement. Pikachu, who playfully sat on his head let out and encouraging cry as he jumped off onto the ground to walk in with is trainer.
He took a deep breath and slowly started to walk to the entrance and enter the gym. As they all entered, Ash, Brock and Pikachu all looked relieved that nothing had changed. May having never been to cerulean before simply looked about eagerly. As Ash looked around the main corridor something caught his attention. His old hat was on display, for what reason he had no idea. As he went to take his first step towards it a door opened and out walked an all to familiar red head, her hair it's usual length but not kept in it's usual side tail. She had not noticed the group in the room as she walked over to the display with his hat. She looked at it and could swear her heard her growl angrily at it as she picked it up. After a moment she finally spoke, though her voice held no kindness.
"Your such a liar Ash..." She said aloud her voice sounding angry and hurt. Prompting the young man to finally speak.
"Who are you calling a liar Mist?" He said loudly forcing one of his grins to try and seem like it was a joke, but deep down he knew she was angry with him, and he felt that she had every right to be.
She spun around quickly surprised at the deep voice. It took her a moment longer to recognize him as he was older and more defined then when they last saw each other. His voice much deeper, but his eyes, she knew the moment she saw those chocolate brown eyes who it was. Almost immediately after realizing who it was her eyes grew wide but just as quickly they grew angry. When she spoke her words felt like they were laced with venom as she gripped the hat in her hands tightly.
"What the hell are you doing her Ash?" She said angrily through gritted teeth, the air in the room becoming tense. Ash was still determined and pushed aside his nerves as he gave a small smile to her hoping to disarm her but saw she was only getting angrier as he stepped closer to her.
"I'm done." He finally said as he stood before her. "I've finished with my travelling Mist... I wanted to come to you first after my Mom. But I found Brock and May along the way..."
Mistys anger seemed to stop rising but it clear by look into those green/blue eyes of hers that she was still absolutely livid. Her words only gave a taste of how angry she really was. "Really now. Good for you Ash. Why bother coming to me though. You had no problem forgetting about me during you journey." She'd say as she glared at him.
Though her questions were rhetorical he still felt he needed to explain as a pained expression came over his face "Mist... I'm sorry... I knew I should have called, but... things got in the way..."
"Then you make time Ketchum!" She shouted angrily at him Brock May and Pikachu all flinching. Ash had been ready for her to yell though and managed to keep himself composed as he stood his ground. He was now a whole head taller then her but never once tried to seem intimidating.
"Mist please just listen to me..." He tried to speak but was cut off.
"Fuck you Ash!" She shouted. "Nine years and not a single phone call! You have any idea how many sleepless nights I had wondering where you were?! Or even if you were okay?!" Tears starting to form in her eyes as she finally started to vent.
Ash winced when he heard the emotion in her voice and saw the tears threatening to run down her cheeks. He was about to speak up when May interrupted, trying to be a voice of reason.
"Misty... try to listen to him he's been stressing all day about this he missed you to you know." She'd say calmly. Only to receive a glare of hatred from the angry red head as he anger soared.
"You have no right to speak May!" She'd shout. "It's because of you and all the other girls Ash traveld with that he forgot about me in the first place!" May flinched and shrunk back Brock reaching out to her with a comforting hand on Mays shoulder as it was clear Mistys out burst upset her.
"Misty!" Ash shouted gaining everyone attention "I don't know where you got that idea but it was never Mays or anyone else' fault that I didn't call! It's my own fault! I got to caught up in my goal! I'm sorry that I hurt you Misty, I really am... But I will not tolerate you blaming anyone for my mistakes." He'd say more calmly with a stern authoritative look on his.
"Your a liar Ash Ketchum." She say bitterly "You lied when you said we'd see each other again soon and gave me this hat. I didn't know nine years was what you considered soon. If you lied about that, who's to say you aren't lying to me now."
Ash felt hurt by that. She had no faith in him at all, and his hurt was evident on hir face. He wasn't able to come up with any words even though everything in his head was screaming at him to say the words he had intended to say if she forgave him. He suddenly felt a hand shove him in the chest pushing him away as his hat was dropped in his arms. He looked up to see he with her back to him as she started to walk away.
"Get the hell out of my gym Ash, don't bother coming back" Her voice was audible, her anger evident yet suppressed. Ash finally muttering out the words he wanted to say.
"Misty... I love you" His words stopping her in her tracks. Ash felt a little ray of hope as he saw her turn her head to look back at him. Her eyes only showed her anger and hurt.
"If you had come back a few years ago when you were home. I would have believed you." She'd say softly before leaving the group in silence.
End Flash Back
He sat quietly as he stared at his hat, still mulling over the event that had just occurred. Brock was about to speak when the door flew open, Dawn Berlitz came running in and to their table the moment she spotted them. She had wanted to go to the gym with them but had other matters to take care of. When she received a call from May about what happened her prior matters halted and she went running. The look on his face was something she had never seen before. Sure she'd seen him when he was sad before, but this look, she felt like he'd been broken. She looked to May having know about her feelings for Ash since they first met and saw that she was likely just as upset to see the person she cared for most so hurt. She looked to Brock and smiled sadly as she touched his shoulder gaining his attention.
"Brock, when May called me she said she wanted to talk to Ash alone for a bit. So could you come with me for a bit?" She'd ask giving Ash a brief and apologetic look as Brock stood.
"Take Pikachu to." Ash said quietly. "He probably need some fresh air." He looked to his partner offering a sad smile. "It's okay buddy. Go with Brock."
"Pika Pi...Pika" Pikachu said quietly his attempt at comforting his trainer. A moment later he jumped up onto Brocks shoulder and was ready to go. Dawn looked to May, offering an encouraging smile as she walked out with Brock and Pikachu.
They were quiet for a long moment before Ash finally spoke lifting his head to take a moment to look out the window. "What did you want to talk about May?" He ask while in his thoughts he was panicking, afraid of what she might want to talk about.
She just stood up and made her way around the table to sit next to him rather then across from him reaching out to gently take his hand. She felt him tense but a moment later relax. Taking another moment to find her words. "I'm...I'm sorry about what happened Ash... I know how much she meant...how much she means to you." She'd let out a quiet laugh. "I've know back when we were first travelling together...
"Yeah, apparently a lot of people knew." He'd say sadly.
"Ash... I... I know this is a bad time..." She'd start to stutter out. This gained Ashes attention as he looked to her curiously. "It's just that... if I don't now, I might regret it later..." She swallowed hard and looked him in the eyes. He returned her look, and in those deep blue eyes he saw hope and affection, it gave him a warm feeling. "Ash... I love you... I have since we travelled together... I know I'm not Misty... I'll never be able to give you what she could have given...but I'm willing to try... Seeing you so hurt like this Ash... It's painful for me... I never want to see you so...so broken again..." She started to tear up.
Ash just looked at her with a bit of surprise on his face. He had never thought anything of May from back when they were first travelling together. Other then reminiscing good times. Now that he thought back on her though. He could see her subtle hints and when she abruptly stopped after meeting Misty. "May... I'm sorry... I didn't notice..."
"It's okay Ash, you were focused on your goal, and that's why I was crushing on you... I stopped because when I met Misty that time she visited us. I could see just by looking at the two of you that something was there, even if you didn't know it yourself... So I stepped aside, because I wanted you to be happy." She said smiling a sweet and sad smile. "I don't want to sound catty Ash...but Misty was foolish to act that way... If it were me..." She started to blush "I would have waited as long as I had to... and I'd have held you and never let go..." Her blush deepened and she further embarrassed herself further.
Ash just looked on with a dumb struck look on his face. All this time he pinned over a woman who would turn her back on him, though for good reason, meanwhile here sat beside him a young woman he met years ago who had loved him since they were kids and still loved. Even more found the courage to confess to him. He was deeply touched and never breaking eye contact with her, he knew every word was truthful and heartfelt. Next thing he knew she had leaned in and pressed her lips to his as if to prove everything she had said was true. He was once again dumbstruck and was unable to kiss her back though he wanted to. She pulled back looking at him teary eyed still giving him the sweet and sad smile. "May..."
"It's okay Ash... I understand.. Misty is still in you heart." She held he hand over his heart. "I hope that one day there will be a spot for me there..." Tears started to stream down her cheeks as she began to tremble.
Ash just simply couldn't bare to see her like this and found himself pressing his lips to her in a soft and loving kiss. Though he felt guilty as a flash of Misty entered his mind, it wasn't fair to May when she was so ready to devote her heart to him. The moment she kissed him back and relaxed he felt a little better. He broke the kiss and saw her smiling brightly, so he offered his own half smile. May saw that he looked guilty and quickly pieced things together. Though her smile became less it was still sweet and loving. "May... I'm sorry... but my feelings for you aren't the same as they are for Misty... You are a very precious person to me... part of me wishes it was you who fished me out of that river right now...but it seems fate had different plans." He'd say sadly.
"I don't expect you to fall in love with me over night Ash... All I want is a chance. I never want you to hurt like you are today ever again. I just want one chance to prove to you how much I love you..." She'd say sweetly, her confidence boosted by the kiss Ash gave her. This made him smile.
"Alright May... Thank you...for caring about me." He said his smile seeming a little more genuine and relieved.
She smiled brightly and wrapped her arms around him holding onto him tightly as she let her tears of joy soak into his jacket. "I promise... I'll never stop loving you Ash... I'll always try to make you happy."
Ash slowly and carefully wrapped an arm around her and smiled a little more. He believed her when she said that. And he already felt the spot for her in his heart growing when she was so determined to follow through with her promise. Though he down he always knew Misty had a permanent spot in his heart.
All right I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please read and review and I would once again like to thank MasteringAMuggleLife for so enthusiastically supporting me in writing this story based off what they wrote. I look forward to seeing what you all have to say and expect the next chapter soon.
