Unresolved Resentments

By ~Sapphire Espeon~

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Author Note: This is my first attempt at fanfiction. Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo.

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Chapter 3

Breaking Point

The sun was high above them in the sky, radiating warm rays of light onto the earth below. The duo trudged along in an awkward silence, step after step through the maze of forest. An Oddish hopped by. A pidgey glided overhead. But neither of the two noticed, they were so wrapped up in their own thoughts. The forest whispered it's haunting tune, but neither listened nor heard.

Misty trudged alongside Ash in high spirits, inside cheerful, although she outwardly put on the facade that she was tired and frustrated. The silence soon dissipated, as she accused Ash of not having a sense of direction, and he retorted back laughingly that maybe she should lead the way through the forest. Misty agreed, and even though she knew she was just as likely as Ash to get them lost, accepted the challenge.

After walking around in circles for almost an hour, they came to a large tree, its emerald leaves billowing in the soft breeze. They sat under its branches, grateful for the dappled shade. Misty opened her bag to look for some food, but found nothing. It was probably stolen by a Rattata when she had left it on the ground last night. So she sat there, disappointed and starving, cradling Togepi in her arms. Ash, feeling almost as if it was his fault, handed her a sandwich. For a moment, he hesitated, then gave it to her. Their fingers touched, and both, startled, skittered back, the memory of the moment still fresh in their minds. Misty hastily ate her lunch so she wouldn't have to say anything, while Ash sat there for a while, gazing into oblivion, wondering about what had happened.

*

Misty was deep in silent thought. She gazed up at Ash, and started to speak, and then suddenly changed her mind again. Ash asked what she was going to say, and she simply replied, "Nothing…" He knew there was something she wanted to say, but when she would say it was not up to him. Her eyes softened, and she smiled at Ash, not wanting her burden to become his too. She would tell him, one day, but her love for him was hidden deep behind her nervousness and fear on the unknown.

The days passed, each one melting into the next. Hot, balmy breezes became torrential rainstorms. It had been a short yet tense week. Both had previously decided that it was time they had a break from the stress and demand of pokemon training, and would return to Pallet Town, the closest destination. They needed to relax and have some fun. The tension and stress between the two was at breaking point, though neither was fully aware of this. They both cared for each other, yet continued to bicker, fight and argue to cover up their feelings, pretending that nothing had changed.

*

They were reaching the border of Viridian city, and far in the distance, could see the large shadow of Ash's hometown looming overhead, beckoning to the two enticingly. Ash would never see Pallet Town as being anything but welcoming, for it was here that he could find reprieve from the demands of life. Misty was enthralled to see the sleepy town as well, and together, they bounded down the slope that would lead them both to a place that signified home. Misty felt more at ease residing within Ash's humble residence than she ever had at her childhood home in Cerulean. Pallet Town was the one true place she could be happy. She thought she had brought the punishment on herself, but it was not the truth. Her sisters had been the true reason why she felt guilt, even though she had done nothing wrong.

Pikachu was clasping on to Ash's hat for dear life, almost about to fall off after the dash. Ash saw his mum in the garden, watering the plants, Mr Mime was mowing the lawns. He ran up to her and was immediately enveloped in a warm, welcoming hug. Delilah greeted Misty, and she waved and smiled to the kind, gentle lady. She wished that Ash would love her like that, not just see her as the friend who wanted her bike back. She didn't even give a damn about the bike anymore! That was the least of her worries…

Misty was beginning to feel depressed. She had no family who loved her, she had no one. Ash wouldn't understand. He had people who cared about him.

She had nothing. Her feet willed her over to the large shady tree by the stream, entirely enveloped in her thoughts. She wished she wasn't all alone in this vast world. Tears trailed down her face, her eyes liquid sadness. She sat down in the cool shade of a towering tree, huddled in a ball. Misty was quite sure it was a mistake coming after Ash; she was only a tagalong, a black sheep. There seemed no point.

*

Ash, however, had noticed Misty's sudden disappearance, and even though it had only been about five minutes, he was worried about her. Night was falling, and the light was fading fast. It had taken longer then expected to get back to Pallet. Or maybe it was the ominous grey clouds gathering quickly overhead. He snuck out the front door, on his way to find Misty. He didn't bother telling his mother where he was going, he was a pokemon trainer after all. Off he went, wearing his raincoat.

Misty was now wandering far from where Ash was, drenched by the rain, and lost in the sorrow of her thoughts. She was shivering because of the cold, and the rain didn't help much either. She stopped; she couldn't go on. Huddling under the shelter of a tree hollow, Misty sat and cried her heart out; her tough exterior forgotten. She hated the way she had to pretend, not just to Ash, but to all she met. Misty acted proud and haughty, yet beneath that she was shy and quiet. The reason for this was because it was the only way she felt able to survive. Surprised at how quickly Ash had come to accept her, Misty wondered if it was it because he had no choice, or for another reason altogether…

*

It was almost eight o clock, and night had definitely fallen. Ash however, refused to turn back. He had been searching for almost an hour. The light of the torch he had brought along was weakly flickering in the dark; soon it would go out, and the night would be his enemy. The storm was as fierce as ever, the thunder deafening. Ash listened carefully to every sound, hoping it was Misty, but it never was. He wanted to give up, but somehow he kept going on and on. I just have to find her, I have to! Lightning illuminated the earth, tingeing it a ghostly purple hue. In the distance the sound of a tree splintering could be heard. "Misty!" Ash cried, sure he would hear her voice. But the only sound that he heard was the shout of his own shaking one. Running blindly through the earthly maze toward the fallen tree, he found Misty huddled in a hollow of a tree, which reassembled a small cave. Her face was streaked with mud and tears. Ash had never seen her like this before, he felt guilt, even if it wasn't his fault. Or maybe it was… Kneeling down beside her, Ash took off his raincoat, and draped it over Misty's shoulders. Her smile was grateful, and said more to him then words ever could. They stayed with together through the storm, until the first rays of light crept through the clouds the next day. Together, the duo walked back, hand in hand, to Ash's house, and a waiting, angry Delilah.

*

"Where have you been?" she practically shrieked to Misty. "You, you put both yourself and my Ash, my only son in danger! How could you!" Ash was annoyed at the way his mother was acting, she was being be so selfish! It was like he still was a little kid, and he wasn't! "Mother, look!" He said in a firm, controlled voice. "Misty didn't make me go anywhere, she left and I went to look for her!" He blushed slightly at his outburst, partly from practically saying he was worried about Misty, partly from the humiliation he had to endure.

Misty quietly interrupted. "It was my fault Mrs Ketchum. I went out for a walk, got lost, and Ash came to find me. I'm sorry."

Ash's mum smiled sweetly. She never seemed to stay mad for long. "I'm just glad you're both ok." She looked relieved that neither of them were hurt. Misty was like a daughter to her. She would have blamed herself if anything had happened to her or Ash. "Go and get some sleep now, you need your rest. Goodnight." She turned on her heel and walked out of the room. Ash and Misty stumbled sleepily up the stairs to Ash's room. Ash crawled under the comfy sheets of his bed, Misty into her sleeping bag on the floor. "Ash?" Misty whispered, "yeah?" replied the black-haired, brown-eyed boy. "Thanks…for everything." "It's ok, don't worry about it" Ash assured her. "I wouldn't have let you stay out there on your own Misty. You know that." Misty's eyes glimmered with tears of gratefulness, but she turned her head so Ash wouldn't see. Maybe…maybe he did like her. He wouldn't come out in a raging storm to save her if he hated her, would he? That thought set her mind at ease. She was extremely worn out from the ordeal. They whispered goodnight to each other and drifted into a dreamful sleep.

*

Meanwhile, Delilah sat downstairs, thinking, in the dim glow of the light from the lamp sitting on the ornate mahogany table. She knew something had changed, Ash and Misty had always been good friends (well, except in the beginning.) But now it was different. She thought she knew what was going on, but she wasn't going to interfere with Ash's life. He had to follow his own path, not the one she wanted him to follow. But how much could a nudge in the right direction hurt? Surely not much, if at all.

Ash awoke with a start, not sure of why. He gazed over toward the window, at Misty's sleeping figure, so pretty. She as like a totally different person when she was asleep. Dainty, like a princess. Her orange hair was draped across her pillow, her eyes closed, and breathing even. Ash lay there for ages, watching the girl sleep. He so wanted to tell her, but courage was hard to find. He whispered to the sleeping figure, "I love you Misty…" She stirred, and then returned to sleep. Ash was worried she had heard him. But she couldn't have…could she?

*

Misty dreamed, she was sitting on the tussocked grass near the beach, the sand between her toes, sea-blue waves breaking in the distance. Someone was beside her…he looked intensely familiar…..Ash. His jet-black hair was being tousled by the breeze, and he wore an expression of nervousness. The boy opened his mouth to speak. "Misty, I love you…" he said. Before disappearing with a smile.

*

And that's the end of chapter three. Stay tuned for chapter four. Thank you to all who have read and reviewed!

~Sapphire Espeon~