Chapter 7: In the middle of the night

"Did Misty leave already?" Ash asked the moment he had returned home.

Delia locked the front door and turned the lights off. "No. she's sleeping upstairs. I couldn't let her go home so late, now, could I?"

May looked from Ash to Delia. is this my imagination or is Mrs. Ketchum looking more happy after a talk with Misty? thought May. I wonder what it is about Misty that makes the two of them so happy…

"I'm turning in," Ash announced.

"Good night, honey," Delia smiled at him. "Be up early tomorrow, Ash. You'll have to drop Misty back home."

Ash scowled. "isn't her boyfriend coming to pick her up?"

It was Delia's turn to look surprised. "Misty's got a boyfriend?"

Ash shrugged.

May answered for him. "well, we ran into Misty and Gary earlier," she explained. "And, well, Gary implied he was dating her though neither of them openly said that."

"Oh." Delia looked disinterested. "Anyways, you're going to be a gentleman, Ash, and drop your friend home tomorrow morning. I wont let her go home all alone," she said carelessly.

"Okay." Ash walked upstairs.

May looked at Delia and smiled awkwardly. "I guess I'll turn in as well."

Delia smiled at her. "I'm right behind you…"

Misty was trying to get some much needed sleep, sad and bleary eyes buried into the soft pillow.

Her telephone rang. Sighing, she answered it.

"'llo?" she asked sleepily.

Gary's voice greeted her. "Hey, Mist!"

Misty groaned. "Gary…"

"We're friends now, aren't we?"

"Yeah…"

"Okay, goodnight…" the line went dead.

Grumbling, misty drifted off again.

A moment later, her cell phone rang again.

Groaning, she answered the call. "Yeah?"

"We're close friends, right Mist?" Gary's was didn't sound the least bit sleepy.

Misty felt her temper rising. "Yeah, Gary…"

"thanks, good night!" the line went dead.

misty pulled her blanket over her –

and the cell phone rang again –

irritated, Misty answered the call. "Gary! You're making me mad!" she snapped.

"Excuse me?" a different male voice answered her softly.

Misty jumped, every part of her brain now fully awake and alert. "I'm sorry!" she apologized in a low voice.

"its okay," came the smooth, whispery voice. "The suspicions are true, Ma'am."

Misty's eyes widened. "You have new leads?"

"the best," came the reply. "He's sponsoring the tournament and the diadem is the reward."

Misty's heart was beating so loudly, she was afraid she'd wake Delia up. "Are you sure?"

"one hundred percent," came the reply. "And the final day of the tournament is fixed on the day of the 'Unforeseen Eclipse', two days before the arrival of the 'Red Moon'."

"And the Diadem?"

"it is safely hidden and protected by the Spirits of Supreme Water Caves," said the voice. "The cleansing ritual of the Mermaid's statue in the Entrance Tunnel begins on the 1st of June. That will take place thrice on that day, dawn, dusk and midnight."

Misty frowned thoughtfully, calculating. "Then Round One begins on-"

"June 1st Midnight, exactly after the cleansing ritual is complete," said the voice. "And it will be held in the Nature Stadiums."

Misty sighed heavily. "Just as I expected…" she spoke softly. "Are you safe out there?"

"As if anyone can get to me…" his voice seemed to be smiling. "See you at the Swearing In ceremony, Ma'am. Good luck to you."

"Thanks…" she whispered back in a concerned voice. "Please…be careful."

"I'll keep you posted." The line went dead.

Misty wasn't sleepy anymore. Rather, she felt wide awake. The phone call had left her heart beating loud enough to wake others in the town.

Misty was doing some serious thinking.

He's lost. That cant be changed.

I love him. That cant be changed either.

But even so…even if he wont remember me –

-I will.

And I will do everything in my power to help him…

Misty knew she couldn't stop loving Ash as long as she existed in body or soul. And her despair would always live on with her, entwined with the very name, Ash.

But for the present, she knew her own personal life wasn't important. There were more pressing matters forced on her shoulders. She could concentrate on her personal life later. There was something more important at stake.

I'll talk to him tomorrow. Its time I told him about it, She decided.

If he accepts… maybe we stand a chance.

If he doesn't…

I cant see Ash refusing a win in any battle.

The thought made Misty smile.

I do want to see him win –

No matter who is at his side. Misty's eyes filled with a certain determination. But that didn't mean it was any less painful.

If I have sacrificed so much for that half of my heart…Misty thought pressing her heart with her palm, as if trying to calm down its pain. I guess one other sacrifice wont matter…

TUD! TUD!

Misty opened her eyes, listening carefully. Is someone knocking at my door?

TUD! TUD! TUD!

Someone's definitely knocking the door.

Misty slowly got up from the bed, covering her body with the blanket. She walked to the door.

TUD! TUD!

"Who is it?" Misty hissed.

"Open up! Hurry!"

Misty's hand froze halfway to the doorknob. She could recognize that voice anywhere. It was a part of her. "Ash?" but she still had to confirm.

"Open the door, damn it!" Ash hissed.

Misty opened the door and Ash was inside, closing the door in an instant. Misty held the door open. "What?" she whispered. "Why're you coming in?"

"Just shut up, will ya!" Ash hissed back, glaring at her. "And for God sake, keep your voice low! I don't want them to know." He pushed past her and closed the door.

-

Neither of them saw May peeking through the slightly open door of her room in the darkness, her hand over her lips, trying to stifle the shocked gasp.

-

They stood for few whole minutes in the darkness, in silence, holding their breaths.

Then Ash's hand reached up to turn the light on –

Misty realized his intention and raised her hand to slap his hand away –

Only to find she was a second too late.

The lights came on –

Ash blinked –

Misty turned blood red with anger and embarrassment.

Ash's jaw dropped -

"Quit staring at me, will you?" she snapped at him, flustered.

Chastised, Ash looked away, looking just as embarrassed.

Still fuming, Misty hunted for the dressing robe and firmly secured it around her body, while Ash faithfully stood facing the wall.

"I'm sorry," Ash apologized, with more humbleness than that was necessary. "I didn't mean to-"

Misty sighed, calming herself. There are more pressing matters. I cant lose my temper for something as silly as this. "Its okay," she said in an exasperated voice. "Chill."

"Not just for what happened now -"

"Quiet!" Misty hissed at him and turned the lights off.

"What-?"

Misty put her fingers on his lips. Gosh…they feel so soft… Misty jerked the thought away. "Privacy," she said.

Ash blinked.

She locked the door and glanced around the room to ensure the curtains shielded them from anyone standing on the outside.

"Would you explain what you're doing?" Ash asked, frowning.

Misty gave him an incredulous smile. "You sneaked into my room in the dead of the night telling me to keep my mouth shut because you don't want anyone to know," she said. "Obviously, we need privacy if we're going to do it, right?"