I can't say I'm proud of this one. It was written a long time ago! But some people really liked it, so I'm adding it too. So I hope you enjoy.
"Ash?"
Ash looked away from May and Max who were giggling as he told them a story from his older traveling days.
"Yeah Brock?"
Brock tried to find the courage, and the words, to say what would kill Ash.
"Ash…"
Ash felt the stress build up as he looked into Brock's eyes. "Guys, I'll be right back."
Brock and Ash left into their room.
"What's wrong?"
"Ash I… I just got a call form Misty's sister Daisy."
Ash felt his breathing shallow. "What about her?"
Brock bit his lip. "Apparently Misty's at the Cerulean Hospital. She was in a-um-accident."
Ash's eyes widened slightly. He waited for Brock to continue but Brock looked at the floor instead.
"Brock."
Brock raised his head.
"What happened to her?"
"Ash, she's gone into a coma. It's... She…" Brock's voice began to crack. "She isn't expected to live more than four days from today."
Ash stared at Brock with his mouth open.
"W-What?" he whispered.
"Ash… I'm sorry. This is just as hard for me as it is for you…." Brock stopped talking.
Ash backed up with an emotionless stare. Slowly reality began to set in. His gaze shifted to the floor as he let out a short gasp of disbelief.
"Ash I-I think…"
"I'm going to see her."
"What?"
"I'm going to see her." Ash repeated. He turned around and started grabbing various items, but Brock's voice intervened.
"Ash, she won't even know you're there! And even if she did open her eyes, which is highly unlikely, she wouldn't recognize you!"
Ash stopped moving for a moment and allowed his hat to cover his eyes.
Brock looked at Ash's back and felt his resolve harden in the air around them.
"Brock… Did I ever tell you how my… "Ash sighed. He raised his head and looked Brock strait in the eyes. "I'm going to see her Brock."
Brock knew he couldn't argue. Only two people could stop Ash once he put his mind to something: Mrs. Ketchum and Misty. Neither of which were here right now.
Brock consented with a nod.
Ash slung his back-pack over his shoulder and Pikachu jumped onto his other one.
With a quick, "See ya." He left.
Back in May and Max's room, both said kids had listened to the discussion through the open doors.
"Is Misty that girl he was just talking about? The one we met once?" Max asked his sister.
May nodded.
"So… she's in a coma?"
May nodded.
"Is… Is she going to die?"
"Max, stop asking me questions!" May exclaimed angrily. She wasn't really mad, but she didn't want to have to answer her little brother who was smart enough to see through a lie….
Ash grimaced as he entered the Cerulean City Hospital.
The sounds, the equipments, even the smells were so painfully familiar to him.
He bit his tongue nervously as he made his way to the front desk.
An old woman with auburn hair and blue eyes sat at the computer.
"Um, miss?"
She looked over her glasses at him, sending that familiar cold stare most librarians would use. "May I help you?"
"I'm looking for Misty's room. Misty Waterflower?"
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
She sighed before turning back to the computer. "One moment please."
Ash nodded while shaking.
She looked back up after a moment "Room 114 on the sixth floor."
"Thank you."
Ash went to the elevator and pressed the cold button.
Pikachu looked at Ash with a concerned face, but Ash didn't seem to notice. He just continued on his way.
He felt his legs turn to Jell-O as he reached her door. His breathing became shallow and a single tear escaped, but he quickly wiped it away.
He reached out and grabbed the door knob, quietly creeping inside the room and shutting it behind him.
His breathing completely stopped.
It was Misty. Her shoulder length orange locks gave that away.
She was wearing a hospital gown and had the scratchy white sheet pulled up under her arms. A couple tubes were connected to her right wrist. She had a few cuts, though not deep, on her arms and neck. Her face showed no expression.
Her hair was out of its usual ponytail, and lay loose and unkept on her pillow.
Ash pulled up a chair beside her he to touched her but quickly pulled away just as the tips of his fingers touched her cheek.
She was deathly cold.
Though it pained him, he grabbed her hand and held it.
Ash felt tears burn at his eyes, but held them down.
She was going to die.
He had so much to tell her. And for three days she would just be like this. Emotionless and lifeless.
The tears escaped Ash's strong hold and fell onto Misty's pale hand.
A young woman with a nurse outfit opened the door to the room and entered. "Sir, you can't…"
Ash quickly wiped his tears away and turned around for her to finish, still keeping his hold on Misty's hand.
Her face softened as she saw the pain in this young man's eyes. He must really care for her.
She dropped the sentence and approached them, picking up a clipboard on a desk next to Misty's head.
She read it over and frowned sympathetically. She turned to Misty's still face and, indicating to Ash, said softly, "They say sometimes someone in a coma can hear you. Even with all of our technology it hasn't really been proven how or when. But… But it's enough to know you have hope."
She turned to Ash and gave him a warm smile. "I wonder if she heard that?"
Ash looked at her with moist eyes before switching his gaze to Misty.
"I'll leave you." The nurse left the room and shut the door behind her.
Ash paused for a few minutes, memory after memory flashing through his head.
Flashbacks:
After a long day, Ash, Misty, and Brock had been invited to a festival. Everyone wore kimonos. Brock wore a brown one, Ash wore a mint green one, and Misty… Misty had refused show anyone hers.
About half an hour after the party started (while Ash was tinkering with pokedex out of boredom), Misty came out.
She was wearing a bright pink kimono covered in flowers and had her hair down.
Ash always liked Misty's hair down (though he never admitted it to anyone).
"Hey Ash! Wanna dance?"
Ash felt excitement race through his veins.
"Sure!"
Ash pulled away from the railing he was standing near and joined hands with Misty to the dance floor.
Separate flashback:
The setting sun was laying a golden glow across everything.
Misty stood across from Ash. She was leaving and perhaps never coming back.
With a small smile she asked, "Will I ever see you again?"
Ash looked her in the eye with his response. "You will…. I promise."
End Flashbacks:
Ash bowed his head allowing his hat to cover his wet face.
After a minute he wiped his face with his free hand. The words from the nurse earlier reran through his head.
"M-Misty?"
No action. There was nothing to prove she heard him.
He sighed. "S-someone just told me that maybe you could hear me."
He bit his lip. It was like talking to a brick wall. But he would never forgive himself if he didn't tell her. If there was even the smallest possibility she might hear him it was worth it.
"Well I have some stuff to tell you." He started. "Remember when we danced at Maiden's Peak? Well… you were really pretty, your hair and just… everything. I've always liked your hair down." Then he added nervously, "I never thought I'd tell you that."
"When you left I wanted to tell you something. But instead I asked you if you were in a hurry. Stupid thing to say."
He looked at her again. No expression. It was just like talking to a dead person. Ash shuddered and clenched his eyes shut. She wasn't dead. She couldn't be.
"I'm going to miss you." Tears fell again but this time he stopped them. "A-And then when I saw you again. I had so much to tell you. But I was just so scared. I know I used to annoy you a lot. I was real hard-headed, a-and… dense I guess… most of the time.
"I guess you're wondering why I'm telling you this. Gosh. Why am I telling you all this?"
Ash laughed through his tears, clearly bemused that he was talking to someone who couldn't even hear him. He squeezed his eyes together.
"People do crazy things when they're... I guess the point is..."
His hand pursed Misty's tighter.
"Mist… I'm in… love with you."
Ash gave up on holding the tears in, and let them fall at full force, his breath coming in short gasps.
At the doorway, Brock watched his younger friend sorrowfully. Pikachu, who had been quiet through the whole ordeal, hopped over to him. Brock led Pikachu out, and shut the door. Ash didn't notice.
Ash would've been content to stay by Misty's side for the rest of the three days. But for reasons he couldn't control, he left to the next town.
Six months passed after Misty's death. Ash never made it to the funeral; he wasn't invited.
Finally Ash was accepted to the title of Pokemon Master. His victory was praised by nearly everyone.
It was everything he had ever dreamed of… except in his dreams she had been there.
After his victory he wandered aimlessly around the party that followed. Once again, almost everyone was there.
Ash found himself forcing a few smiles. He had been doing that a lot lately. Whenever he thought of her, he felt leaden. Not that he wasn't excited about becoming Pokemon Master. He was. He had just always expected her to be there. He was surprised he had the concentration to get the title. But in a way her death had fueled his attempts. She had always told him never to give up on his dreams, and he wouldn't let her down.
He hadn't. Had he?
Ash broke away from the swarming crowds of people, and found his way to the balcony.
Resting his arms on the balcony he pulled out a gold badge that rested on a ribbon reading, "Pokemon Master!"
He smiled slightly then faced the darkening sky. The cool night breeze felt soothing and comforting.
"Ash?"
Ash didn't have to turn around to recognize the voice.
"Yeah Brock?"
"Are you enjoying the party?" Brock asked.
He walked up beside Ash and layed his arms on the balcony as well.
"Yes." Ash answered. "It's perfect… Well…" Ash bit his lip.
Brock sighed and placed his right hand on Ash's left shoulder. "You've just gotta let it go."
Ash glanced at Brock out of the corner of his eye, and then nodded. But really, how could he let it go? He couldn't tell Brock that though.
Brock pulled an envelope out of his pocket and fiddled with it.
"Daisy handed me this." Brock muttered. "It was from Misty." He handed it to Ash.
Ash gulped and accepted the letter.
"Daisy said you should be the one to open it. Since it was meant for you."
Ash nodded again as Brock left, and then squeezed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Oh well. No use delaying the inevitable.
"Dear Ash,
Guess who? It's me. Misty! I think I may finally be able to see you after all this time. If you want me to, I'll be meeting you in Pallet when you come home. If you don't want me to… Well to bad! I'm coming anyway!
I've really missed you. Also… I have something very important to tell you.
See you soon!
Misty"
Ash tears in the corners of his eyes as he realized something. He turned the envelope over with his hands shaking. The date was two days before he saw her in the hospital.
She had died because she wanted to see him.
Ash felt his face twist into a grimace. If he had contacted her like he promised… If he had been the one visiting her… If he had stopped putting leagues and battles above visiting her all the time… she wouldn't have died.
His mind went back in time. She had always been there. And after she left, he hadn't contacted her or anything.
Ash dropped the letter and the envelope, and started breathing deeper.
A couple tears came through and though he tried to fight it, they ran down his tan cheeks.
It was his fault. It had been hard enough before, but this…
"A-Ash?"
Ash turned around, his breathing beginning to steady. A girl walked up to him and picked up the envelope, looking for the return address. She frowned sympathetically.
Ash's tears prevented him from seeing the girl, though he knew it was May as he could see the darker shade of her hair.
"Ash, I'm sorry."
And right then and there, she kissed him.
Ash's eyes flew open. Wasn't May…?
After a moment she pulled away and Ash could see her clearly.
"Hi Ash."
Ash stared at her, the dark lighting dimming the colors but not her eyes. He looked her up and down as if measuring if she was real. His heart rate accelerated.
Finally, he grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and pulled her back into the kiss.
She gasped, then melted.
After they pulled away Ash wiped some tears away and with a smile said, "Hi Misty."
He was in shock. But the shock wasn't enough to keep him from hugging her, tears running down his face.
"I… I don't know-"
"You don't have to say anything."
Ash pulled away. "I-I want to. I love you Misty."
"I love you too."
Ash kissed her on the forehead quickly then pulled back with a smirk.
Misty blushed and looked down.
Suddenly Ash arched an eyebrow and tilted his head to the side a little.
"What?" Misty giggled. He was just too cute.
"You… You look beautiful." Ash wasn't going to let his chance pass again, even if he did feel uncomfortable.
"You let your hair down."
"Oh… yeah…" Misty whispered. A fine blush covered her cheeks. "Someone once told me they liked it that way."
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got till it's gone
They paved paradise and put up a parkin' lot
I don't wanna give it
Why you wanna give it
Why you wanna givin it all away
Cuz you're givin it all givin it all away yeah yeah
Cuz You're givin it all away hey, hey, hey
Hey, paved paradise, to put up a parking lot
la,la, la, la, la, la, la ,la ,la ,la ,la
Paved paradise, and put up a parking lot
