This is my first multichapter fic. I can't say I'm completely happy with the way this chapter ended, so review and tell me what you think.

Subconscious Desires
Chapter One: Nightly Rituals

Most sixteen year old girls probably would've blushed at just the idea of being alone in room with a shirtless boy. But then again, Misty Waterflower had never been like most girls her age.

The shirtless boy being one of her oldest friends, Misty wasn't the least bit embarrassed by the fact that he was only wearing a pair of dirty jeans and even dirtier socks.

But she wasn't really one to talk about wearing dirty clothes. The yellow T-shirt and denim shorts that she was wearing were caked with mud, grime, and a very odd colored slime that she didn't even want to think about it. She felt her temper rise again as she looked at the shirtless boy that caused the trouble that ruined her clothes.

The third and final member of the traveling group entered the small room wearing a pair of green pajamas that he had borrowed from the Pokémon Center that they were currently staying in. "Nurse Joy says that she'll wash our dirty clothes and they should be clean by tomorrow morning."

"We wouldn't need them to be washed if someone hadn't decided to take a 'shortcut'," Misty said angrily.

"It would've been a shortcut if somebody didn't freak out because she saw a bug and pushed us off a muddy cliff into a pond!"

"Do NOT blame this on me, Ash Ketchum. This is totally your fault!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

Brock sighed as he saw the two fight. Years of traveling still hadn't improved either of their debating skills. They still fought like the ten year olds they were when they first met. Brock turned to the small electric mouse sitting on one of the beds next to an egg-shaped Pokémon. "Pikachu, if it's not too much to ask...." Pikachu nodded, clearly as annoyed as Brock at the teen's fighting, and released a large Thunder on the two.

"I'm too tired to put up with this right now. I'm going to sleep, and I suggest that you two do the same," Brock said sternly.

"I'll go to sleep after I wash all this stuff off of me," said Ash as he made his way to the door that led to the bathroom. But just as he was about to grab the doorknob, he saw an orange blur push past him and go into the bathroom. Just before the door close in his face, he saw a smiling Misty laugh at him and say "Too late, Slowbro."

It took a couple of seconds to realize he had just been cut to the bathroom, but once he did, he unleashed all of the day's pent up rage on the door. "Misty! It's my turn to use the bathroom! You can't just cut me like that! Misty, get out here! Misty! MISTY!!"

"Stop yelling, Ash! The neighbors are going to think you're murdering someone," scolded a very exasperated Brock.

"If she doesn't get out of there, I will be!"

"Just let is go, Ash. Go to sleep and take a shower in the morning."

"Fine."

The still shirtless Pokémon trainer stepped away from the door, threw the trio's packs on top of the top bunk then climbed into the bottom bunk. Pikachu and Togepi had already fallen asleep on Brock's bed with him, which was rare because the electric mouse usually slept with Ash.

As soon as his head hit the pillow, Ash was out.

Misty came out of the steamy bathroom wearing the only pair of clothes that had managed to stay clean during their little escapade: a pair of light blue cotton shorts and a small T-shirt that clinged to her thin frame loosely, not leaving much to the imagination. She hadn't realized how exhausted she was until she stepped out into the dark room.

Her eyes still adjusting to the darkness, she surveyed the room. There was one lone bed and a set of bunk beds. The solo bed had a small yellow lump and egg shaped creature snuggled on top of a dark, sleeping mass, so that one was Ash. The top bunk had a shadowy silhouette that looked like Brock, so that left the bottom bunk for her.

Misty was so tired, she didn't even hear the disturbed mumbling of the person she unknowingly was sharing a bed with.