Kindred

"Kindred," he smiled contemplatively. "When two people share an unspoken connection together. Two star crossed lovers from very distinguished backgrounds who posses very different personalities find each other against all odds, against all opposing forces, through thick and thin, find a way to be together. A mystical relationship defined in the stars, marked by destiny and fate. It's the reason why there are such things as true love and soul mates..."

"Ash."

"... an unbreakable bond founded on more than just hobbies, interests and mere physical attraction. Yes, kindred spirits are bound by emotion, understanding, trust, and above all, love..."

"Ash!"

"... beyond the physical, the empirical, the measurable, there lies something more, something greater, something only experienced by a lucky few. The truth that, there is someone out there that compliments you perfectly, makes you whole and makes you happy..."

"ASH!"

He shook his brain back into reality. A case of giggles infectiously spread throughout the little group sitting in a circle, their budding smiles dimly lit by the waning firelight.

"Kindling."

"What?" he asked the red head in front of him.

"I said 'kindling,' not 'kindred," Misty said, enunciating every word slowly. "You know, as in: 'Get us more kindling before the fire goes out.'"

"Oh." He looked down at his shoes rubbing on the dirt, avoiding the faces of Misty, May, Dawn, Iris, Cilan, Brock and Tracey trying to restrain much more heavier laughter. But despite the shade of vermilion growing against his cheeks, he reluctantly obeyed, and shuffled off into the forest for some more fire wood.

"You should have let him finish," May whispered in Misty's ear. "He might have dropped a name, or something."

She thought about it for a second. "Nah, let him suffer for a bit."

Regrets were never her thing.