'I'll love you always'
A story by Shinougra
Summary: After Ash's death, Misty discovers that the ones you love never really leave you.
Ash gasped as the cold oxygen hit the back of his throat. He looked out of the back of the ambulance, and regretted it. Behind him were the burning remnants of what was once the Ketchum Residence.
He removed his oxygen mask to ask a paramedic where his mother was, but it was answered before he could even get the question out. A female shape was being wheeled by, covered with a green blanket. A hand came down on his shoulder, and an unfamiliar voice said, "I'm so sorry."
Ash couldn't hold it any longer. A stream of tears suddenly burst out, and, try as he might, he could not stop them. First Pikachu had died in a car crash, and now his mother had died in a fire. It was all too much.
From the doorway of the ambulance, Misty Waterflower was also crying. It pained her to see the one she loved, so upset, so alone. She slowly walked back to Cerulean City.
Three days later, the phone all that Misty had been dreading came. Ash, stricken by grief, had taken his own life. She, and all her sisters were invited to the funeral of both Ash and Delia.
Misty retreated to her room, and cried until there were no more tears. Then she fell asleep.
Misty was woken at exactly 11:59 pm, by a beautiful, gentle music. She turned, and was nearly blinded by a wall of light that had grown across her doorway. A dark figure was coming towards her.
"Ash?" she whispered. The figure nodded, and then came closer, and Misty could see him clearer.
"Misty, I don't have much time. I just came back to let you know, I'm sorry, and I'm gonna miss you."
Misty felt strange, being told this by someone who was dead.
"I'm gonna miss you too Ash." She whispered back, and then the two both smiled through tear-stained faces, and hugged. As Ash's hands came past her head, Misty saw the two neat red lines running across Ash's wrists, and the semicircle of red that soaked through his gloves.
Just then, another figure appeared at the doorway of light, a shape that looked distinctly like Delia Ketchum. Misty smiled. The two pulled away, and Misty saw fresh tears running down Ash's face. He turned to the light, and Misty knew that this time was really goodbye.
As the light closed up, Misty swore she heard three words echo out quietly.
"I love you."
She smiled, despite it all, and whispered her final farewell:
"I'll love you always, Ash."