I don't own Pokemon or Cherry Juice.

It's Another Year Gone

~ You'll share this special day with me, right? ~

*BEEP *BEEP *BEEP *BEEP

Misty struggled to turn that annoying ring off with her eyes closed. Feeling around, she touched something soft, like skin.

"What is this?" she mumbled.

"Good morning, honey." Ash was on practically on top of her. In his hand was her alarm. That explains it.

"Just what are you thinking? You're such a weirdo!" Misty kicked him off.

"Ow!"

What a nice beginning for such an important day.

"Hey, Ash, do you think I look okay?" Misty spun around in front of the mirror.

Their uniform changed. No more red and black striped ties and matching striped skirts.

Nope.

Now they had black/white sweater vests with white, collared shirts inside and black skirts/pants. On their neck was white ties with light blue lines running across it.

"Who cares, Misty?" She glared at his response. Unhelpful. "What is with this thing? I haven't tied ties in so long..."

Misty grinned. "You're such an idiot. Let your big sister handle this." Effortlessly, she finished the knot.

"You're like newly weds. It's sweet," an elderly voice teased.

"Professor Oak!"

"Why don't you just get married? I mean, you're used to sharing a room, aren't you?"

"Because we're siblings! Why don't you get that? And the only reason we're sharing a room is because of your back!" Misty argued.

"Your back already healed. Shouldn't you go?" Ash narrowed his eyes.

"You know, you say that you're siblings, but you aren't blood-related, so it's fine," Professor went on as if he never heard the boy.

That's true. Six years ago, Delia adopted me... And I, born on May 19th, became Ash's, born on May 22th, older sister by just three days.

And now...

"Hey, what are you gonna give me for my birthday?" Misty questioned as they were riding to school.

"Why do I have to give you something?" Ash complained.

"Oh! I have an idea! Let's go watch a movie together! How about 'Game Novel 3'? It's playing, and I hear it's good," she arranged. "You're treating of course."

"What?"

"Okay! It's final! Next Sunday, alright?"

"No, it's not alright!"

...It's almost our 16th birthdays.

"Hey, Misty! Ash!" Dawn high-fived her newly-arrived best friend.

"'Mornin' Dawn and May! I haven't seen you guys since yesterday!"

"Aw, Misty, you look so cute in your uniform," the blue-haired girl complimented, giggling.

"Hey," May directed towards the boy, her eyes piercing, as if she could read him completely. She probably could. She was always like that.

"Good morning," Ash nodded.

"The class list are posted, you know," a new person joined the reunion.

"Drew!" Misty smiled.

Drew is Ash's best friend and... the one I like.

"Are you happy you are in the same class?"

"Huh? We're in the same class?" Misty tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"I'm Ash Ketchum!" He grinned his signature grin that pulled people in as he was introducing himself to the whole class with confidence.

You meant with him...

"You see, there's no cooking club here. So, I decided to form one! I'm looking to recruit some cute girls," Ash proclaimed.

"Noooo... May has class with Drew... But poor Dawn, I hope she's not lonely alone..." Misty rested her head on her desk, listening to her brother talk in the background. "Argh, having class with Ash isn't any different from home!"

*Slide

The door was opened by a student. You can tell by his schoolbag that was lazily down on his wrist, as his hands were in his pockets. However, he was dressed a bit differently than anybody else in the room. For one, he didn't have any tie. Instead, he had several chain necklaces. He had some piercings in his ear too. Also, his dark purple hair and bored, black eyes alienated him from everyone else.

"H-hey, are you Paul Shinji?" the teacher asked, but he kept walking to an unoccupied seat like he didn't even hear the man. He was a rebel. And unfortunately for Misty, the only unoccupied seat was next to hers.

What's with him?

"Stop staring, ugly," Paul commanded, his tone hard.

Hey!

"You shouldn't call my sister ugly, jerk," Ash stepped in.

"Ash..." Misty gazed with amazement.

"Hm. Siblings? I thought you were going out..." Paul glared.

"What?" the redhead said stupidly out of shock.

"Yeah, we kind of get that a lot..." Ash smirked.

"Shut up!" the girl threw her pack at him angrily.

"Ow! That hurt!"

"I told you to shut up!"

Unknown to them, most of the class had overheard the conversation, not including the ones already dozing off.

"Wait, so they're just siblings?" a girl whispered to a friend. A long haired brunette.

"Yeah... Ash Ketchum, huh?"

"Argh! Just bite me, Paul Shinji! I want to change seats! No even better, classes!" Misty groaned.

"It's okay, Misty..." May comforted, patting her back softly.

"Isn't the Paul dude supposed to be super hot?" Dawn inquired, licking her lollipop. "He's pretty popular in my class."

"Well, your class can have him. Take him, I don't care," Misty grumbled.

"I don't need him. Ash's my only one," Dawn replied, assured.

"Don't worry about it now. We're gonna take you out and celebrate your birthday tomorrow," May intervened.

"What?"

"Nice idea, May! We can celebrate Ash's birthday too!" the blue-headed best friend agreed.

"The more people, the more of a discount we have," the brunette approved.

"Oh, okay then. I'll have Ash bake us a cake. He always bakes cakes for us... Every year."

"No, thanks!" Ash declined when his sister requested him to make the pastry. They were both on a bed, reading something.

"Wha? But I already told them we'd bring a cake. Please?" Misty begged, shaking him.

"Why do I have to make a cake for everyone? That's a lot of pressure, you know."

"It's not exactly for everyone. It's for our birthdays. You'll make it, okay?" she smiled, looping her pinky with his. "Promise! Oh, I have a message! I'm counting on you, okay, Ash?" Misty scampered out of the room.

Ash was left alone, studying his littlest finger.

"A letter came from a white dog...

But before I could read it, a black dog buried it."

"Happy birthday!" Dawn sang, shaking maracas crashingly.

"That traitor..." Ash grunted, clearly irritated. He stared at the cake he worked so hard to make.

"Happy birthday, Ash and Misty!" It was written in cursive on the front, decorated with little, frosted flowers.

"Drew invited Misty to watch a movie," Dawn told them.

"Just like a girl. Choosing a boy over her friends..." May stated in disapproval. "Should we go?"

"No! We can have fun without Misty! Here I go, singing the great song..." Dawn started to rock her instruments again as she swayed through the room they had rented for the party.

Misty sat on the bench near the movie theater alone. On her hands was a ticket to see Game Novel 3...

"It's okay. There's another showing. So it's okay to rest," Drew arrived.

"D-Drew!" she turned her head, only to have see his face so close to hers and his hand on top of her forehead.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"I-I..."

"Yeah?"

"Good bye, Ash!" Dawn yelled unnecessarily.

"See ya," May gave a wave coolly, unlike her friend.

"Yeah, walk home safely," Ash mimed her action before walking away in the opposite direction. "Man, I'm hoarse." His hands fiddled in his bag before grabbing a small envelope. He opened it, revealing a ring. It was gold with the words "Peach Soda" engraved. "Oh yeah... Hmph, what's with her?"

"What's this?" Suddenly, the ring was snatched away. "Is it for your big sister?"

"Huh?" Ash looked up to see Paul Shinji, fingering the jewelry. "Paul!"

"So... You're in love with your big sister?" Ash's brown eyes widened. "But don't you think you should keep your feelings to yourself? You two are siblings, you know." Merely smirking, he stepped across to where the train tracks were. As if on a cue, the train came, cutting Ash's attempt to chase him down.

"Why, you...!" Ash cursed.

"He's so dead! I'm gonna totally beat him up tomorrow!" Ash muttered furiously in his pillow. The room was quiet. "You aren't coming home, Misty?" He closed his eyes, ready to sleep.

"But don't you think you should keep your feelings to yourself?"

"Hurray!" the curtain to Misty's side of the room shot open, and so did Ash's eyes once again. "Happy birthday!" Confetti fell on Ash's body. And then there was Misty.

"What the heck are you doing?" Ash observed her reaction to his quick query. Confusion, of course.

"What do you mean?"

"Aren't you early from your movie date with Drew?"

"I-I didn't watch it..." she hit behind the cloth.

"Why?"

"Well... Because..."

The tickets he got were for Game Novel 3...

"I promised to see 'Game Novel' with you..." They stayed silent for a couple of minutes.

"Oh yeah, the cake was really good," Ash ruined the stillness. "Because you two didn't come, we had to split it three ways."

"Aw, you didn't save me a slice?"

"That's just selfish, Misty." Misty flinched at the honesty of his words. "But if you help me, I'll make another one for you. Idiot." She brightened.

"Yeah! Of course! I'll help in any way I can!"

"Oh! We have some cream cheese!" Misty pointed. "Let's make a cheese cake! With some cherries!"

"Gosh, you're such a demanding person... You're getting fat, you know."

"Hey! It's just that-that... Your cooking is so good! Eating something you made makes me happy that we became siblings," she smiled.

"You're in love with your big sister?"

"Misty?"

"Yeah?"

"Happy birthday."

"Thanks, Ash, you too," she grinned.

For her, he took the cream cheese out.

For her, he made a cheese cake, with cherries on the top, just like she wanted.

For her, he would do anything.

It's amazing how much I adore you.

I didn't make up the very last line or the white and black dog line. I copied it right out of the original. Normally, I change it slightly, but I just thought that they were so... poetic. I dunno. I just had an urge to keep it. Yeah. And what does that dog line mean? I want to know what you think. :) Also, do you know what Game Novel 3 based on? Just take a guess. XP

Anyways, no reviews, but lots of favorites and alerts... Strange... Thanks though. :D

Interestingly enough, this month is my birthday month. X)