Chapter 12

Ash looked around the audience for the tenth time since he had taken a seat. The place was absolutely packed, both the ground floor and the upper balcony, and it was becoming a struggle to hold onto the empty seat beside him for Dawn.

They met outside of the concert hall, and Ash quickly learned how under dressed he was for this recital. It wasn't a black tie event, but coming in jeans and a t-shirt certainly made Ash feel out of place. While Ash had claimed two seats on the upper balcony, Dawn had gone off to meet with Nando before the recital began. She hadn't been gone for long, but the number of people that had asked Ash about the empty seat was starting to get on his nerves.

The audience was in a buzz with people chatting about some of the young musicians. Ash had even heard a few people behind him mention Nando's name. He never would've imagined Nando being well known around the city, not with how reserved he was.

Glancing back at the entrance to the balcony, Ash was relieved at the sight of Dawn. Rising to his feet, Ash waved his arms to gain her attention since he was at the front of the seating area. She noticed him and quickly joined him.

"Wow, you got some good seats." She noted once they were seated.

"So when does Nando get on stage?" Ash asked her. Opening the pamphlet she had received on the way in, Dawn quickly scanned its contents before she found a schedule for the recital.

It would begin with the opening remarks from the gentleman that was sponsoring the event. Then after that they would be introducing the guest of honor. Dawn gasped upon seeing the name listed.

Palermo.

"What's the matter?" Ash asked curiously after hearing Dawn's gasp.

"You won't believe who the guest of honor is." Dawn exclaimed as she turned the pamphlet for him to read it himself. Making eye contact with Dawn, he stared at her blankly.

"Who's that?" He asked causing Dawn to stare at him incredulously.

"Are you kidding me Ash?" Dawn asked him, but he shook his head. "You've never heard of the Palermo. The famous producer in Kalos. The woman who made Aria into the mega star she is today?!"

"Nope." Ash stated. He had never paid much attention to celebrities, but he did know the name Aria. So the person responsible for molding Aria into the incredible performer she is today was present in the building. Looking around the audience once again, Ash began to search for someone that stood out from the rest of the audience, someone whose stature was above those that surrounded them. "Do you see her?"

Dawn joined him in searching the audience, but neither of them could spot this woman. Ultimately, their search was cut short as the sponsor stepped out onto the stage with a microphone, calling for everyone's attention. The audience became quiet as the well-dressed man began to speak.

"Good afternoon everyone. I first like to start by thanking all of the young performers today who agreed to take part in this recital that I had put together. All of them have worked incredibly hard on the pieces you will be hearing today, so let's give them a big round of applause." He said, raising his hands a bit. Everyone followed and began to clap. "Now I'd like to thank all those in attendance. I imagine the majority of you are here to support those taking part in the recital. You support is appreciated and I sincerely hope that you are as amazed as I was after some of these performances."

He looked down to the front of the audience on the lower level, raising a hand to motion to that section of the crowd.

"And last but certainly not least, we have a special guest here today. An old friend of mine who happened to be in town, and a former performer, miss Palermo!" He exclaimed, and everyone's eyes were drawn to the woman seated in the front row. One of the spotlights from the balcony was pointed down at Palermo as she stood up for a moment, waving to the audience a bit as they clapped. "So now, without further ado, let's begin. Our first performance tonight is..."

Ash leaned back into his seat as the sixth performance ended, and the crowd burst into applause for the young woman. She rose up from the stool in front of the grand piano and bowed to the audience, her white gown sparkling under the spotlights. With a great smile she went off stage as the sponsor returned to announce the next performer. Ash missed the name that was called since he was taking his time to gather his thoughts.

Even though the musicians playing were considered amateurs, all of them were outstanding. Each performance was better than the last. As Ash listened to each song, the music would lift him out of his seat and take him to the faraway place that composer had envisioned while developing their songs. The musicians did a superb job of expressing themselves through song.

Feeling Dawn nudge his shoulder, Ash looked at her and she pointed down to the stage. Shifting his gaze to the stage now, Ash saw a familiar face in Nando. The tall young man was already seated behind the piano, stretching his fingers a bit as he prepared to begin playing.

On stage, Nando's gaze was fixated on the piano keys in front of him. He had blocked out the stage lights, the audience and the hundreds of pairs of eyes that were all focused on him. It was just him, and the piano. Raising his right hand, Nando used just this hand to begin, commanding the attention of the room with just a few simple notes. His tempo was just right, not too fast or too slow, allowing each note to resound through the room.

Ash leaned forward in his seat, anxiously awaiting the moment where Nando would whisk him away like the previous performances. Ash's eyes widened as Nando slapped his fingers down onto three of the lower notes and a pair of white wings sprouted from his back. Nando began to play rapidly now to set the tone, almost as if he was a painter with a vision that he was hastily trying to throw onto a canvas. Taking a breath, Ash quickly realized that Nando's composition was different from his peers. All of the prior places had shown Ash a place, but Nando's song didn't take him anywhere. Rather, it showed him a face.

The face of a beautiful girl. Her long eye lashes sparkled. Her almost royal blue eyes were bright and her cheeks rosy from a blush as she seemed to be laughing too hard. Then she took a moment to lift her hand, fixing a few strands of her hair that had fallen in front of her face. Her...blue hair.

With this detail, Ash immediately recognized the girl Nando was picturing.

It was Dawn.

She then took him by the hand and beckoned for him to follow as she led them. The scene around them began to take shape as Nando slowed his pace slightly. The speed and precision he had used to shape the image of Dawn as he played softly now, pressing gently on the piano keys. The setting became relaxed as everyone began to see pink flower petals gliding through the air around Dawn from a soft breeze. Her hair moved with the breeze as she led them to the summit of a hill.

Nando then began to move up, primarily using the high notes to change the scene once again. The surroundings around Dawn changed from that of a grassy hill to a sandy beach. The sky was dark and littered with stars as Dawn walked alongside him with pair of flip flops in her free hand. She glanced down at her feet as the sand continued to slip in between her toes. Motioning for her company to wait a moment, she sauntered down to the water, waiting for it to wash up onto her feet.

She laughed as her feet were submerged momentarily, saying how great this felt before calling for him to come join her. As he began to talk toward her, Nando's tone changed again, the melody becoming very distinct which caused the scenery to change with it. They were now placed in a large orchard, surrounded by low fruit bearing trees. Dawn was reaching for an apple, but it was just out of her reach. She smiled warmly as he reached out, snatching one of them off of the lowest branch and lowering it down for her to accept. She went onto her toes to place a small kiss on his cheek as thanks before going onto his side, interlocking arms with him.

Then Nando grew quiet, playing very softly like he had at the beginning of his song. The crowd hung onto every note as the surroundings around the couple changed one last time. Together they were walking down a city block that had just recently been cleared after a heavy snowfall. They were dressed to keep warm as they walked arm in arm, admiring the snow that was still pure white. Dawn exhaled, watching as a cloud formed in front of her. She giggled softly at the sight of her breath before noticing that her companion was staring at her. With a smirk, she gave him a wink before leaning on him as they continued walking.

Ash blinked several times as the imaged faded. Then he looked down at Nando on stage as he found the young man seated with his hands on his lap. He had finished playing, but it seemed as though the audience had yet to realize it. Glancing at Dawn who sat beside him, her gaze was still unfocused as if she was waiting for an ending to the vivid scenes Nando had shown them. Without much thought, Ash understood that Nando didn't want those scenes to end.

Gradually, people in the audience began to come back to reality and realized his performance was over. As a few people began to clap, everyone was awakened and soon the applause became thunderous. Nando rose from his seat and bowed graciously to the audience. Once he straightened up, he took a moment to scan the upper balcony in search of Dawn. It didn't take him long to find her, she was on her feet waving her arms wildly to aide his search. He stifled a laugh at the sight of her, but something else quickly caught his attention. The young man seated beside her.

It was Ash.

Nando felt his chest tighten momentarily, wondering why Ash was here with Dawn. Forcing himself to take a deep breath, Nando them smiled at the audience once more before he left the stage.

Up in the stands, Dawn was astounded by Nando's execution on stage. She could see why he had so much confidence in this piece. It was easily the best song she had ever heard him play, and after hearing it she couldn't help but think back to the night Ash had taken her to the subway station to see his friends dance.

Their hard work and practice was evident in their performance, and the same held true for Nando.

She could tell that he poured out his heart and soul, not only when he was creating this masterpiece, but as he performed it as well. It was oozing with love which left her a little flushed, but impressed nonetheless. Dawn had come in with high expectations of Nando, and he had shattered them!

"Wasn't that great Ash?" Dawn asked him, looking to the raven haired guy beside her. Ash glanced at Dawn, and he blushed when they made eye contact before looking away from her.

"Yeah." He replied in a mumble.

"What's the matter?" Dawn asked him curiously, wondering why he had become so withdrawn now.

"I'm fine, don't worry." He stated, pointing down to the stage where the next musician was already on stage.

Breathing a sigh of relief as Dawn's focus shifted, Ash relaxed into his seat. Nando had...opened his eyes with that performance. Ash took pride in his attention to detail, but there were minute details about Dawn that Nando had pointed out to him in that song that not even Ash had really noticed. The way her eyelashes sparkled. The way she'd wink as she tried to tease someone. The way she...

Ash shook his head, casting these thoughts aside. He knew now that Nando held this girl in the highest regard. She must have been the inspiration behind the song and images, and Ash could only hope that Dawn had seen just how much Nando cherished her.

Ash and Dawn quickly walked through the corridors backstage, making their way to the room where the performers were located. Dawn expertly navigated them through the hallways so that they could meet Nando who had invited them to come backstage now that the recital was over.

Rounding a corner, the two of them spotted Nando standing beside the entrance to the stage. His bow tie had been undone along with his shirt collar, and he smiled cheerily upon spotting them.

"Nando, you were incredible!" Dawn exclaimed as she embraced him in a hug. "The best one yet."

"Thank you so much for coming Dawn. " Nando said, returning her embrace. Ash had to admit that Nando was very relaxed around Dawn considering how strongly he felt about her.

"What did you think Ash?" Dawn asked after she stepped back from Nando, looking toward him now. Ash caught a flash of a frown on Nando's expression, but it quickly disappeared as he too wanted to hear Ash's opinion. Ash couldn't think of anything worth sharing, so he opted to give the acceptable answer.

"...I really enjoyed it. I'm not the biggest fan of classical music, but man can you play." Ash stated, receiving a small but grateful bow from Nando.

"I told you that Ash. Nando never fails to impress." Dawn said knowingly as she glanced at Nando. In doing so, Dawn looked into doorway that led backstage and caught sight of none other than Palermo. The older woman was surrounded by a few of the performers, requesting autographs from her. "Oh no way, she's still here? I'll be right back Nando!"

Dawn poked her head through the doorway, checking for any security that might deny her entry. Seeing that it was clear, Dawn darted over to the crowd around Palermo. Ash and Nando stood at the entrance, watching as the bluenette anxiously waited for her opportunity to spend a few moments with Palermo.

"So Nando, do you mind if I asked you something?" Ash asked slowly, gaining the attention of the dark haired young man. Nando raised his eyebrow at this, recognizing this as the first time he was speaking to Ash alone.

"Yes, anything Ash." He replied.

"You..." Ash hesitated, trying to choose his words carefully. However, after spending some time trying to be selective, Ash decided it would be better if he didn't beat around the bush. "...You love Dawn, right?"

Ash wasn't sure what to expect as a response from Nando. If he would sputter a few words, blushing as he tried to put together a sentence. Or if he would deny it in an attempt to keep this a secret...but the song he just played made this as clear as a cloudless day, at least to Ash.

Nando's gaze remained fixated on Dawn.

"Very much so." Nando responded, his voice firm. There was no question in his mind how he felt about Dawn.

"So, do you think she got the message in your song?" Ash asked him, causing Nando to take a short glance at him. Nando gave him a small smirk, but Ash could see the dejected look in his eyes.

"I've played many songs for her like this Ash. She hasn't noticed once." Nando remarked.

"Then...why do you keep playing for her?"

"You like asking questions, don't you Ash?" Nando asked him in return. Ash began to scratch the back of his neck with a faint chuckle.

"It's not one of my strongest points, but how else am I supposed to get to know someone?"

Nando gave him a small nod of understanding before he answered.

"I grew up in Sinnoh. When I was thirteen I told my parents that I wanted to study music abroad. So they made the arrangements, and I came to Kanto – to Vermilion City. This city was renowned for starting careers in the performing arts. I saw it as an opportunity to grow as a musician while I was young, and prepare myself for when I was old enough to launch my own career." Nando explained to him delicately. "I came from a small place called Solaceon Town to this big city. It was all so overwhelming at first that I had a hard time making friends, and the kids I went to school with made fun of my accent. I didn't like to talk much after that, so I remained rather withdrawn."

Ash had always figured Nando was from a different region with the way he spoke English. Nando was so proper in comparison to the way everyone else spoke.

"When I started high school, it was more or less the same. I spent most of my time by myself...until I met Dawn." He admitted openly. "She heard me playing after school one day. She didn't approach me until I was done and asked me how I had learned to play so well. I struggled to explain myself. I wanted to speak like how all of you do here in Kanto...and she sat there and waited for me to get my words right. She never stopped smiling, and I was grateful for that. I'll never forget her kindness that day."

Nando sighed softly, cherishing that small memory. That was just the tip of the iceberg. He began to watch Dawn from afar, beginning to admire the qualities that she displayed on a daily basis. He saw that her kindness wasn't selective, she extended it toward everyone. She was patient with anyone and everyone she met. She worked hard all of the time, no matter what kind of assignment she received.

At first, Nando wanted to keep his distance from her, but his heart seemed to ache as he did so. So he returned to the spot where he had first met her, and played there after school every day with her on his mind. Finally she happened upon him again, and listened to him as he played. This became a routine for the two of them, and before long, Nando found himself spending a portion of his time with Dawn every school day. As they got to know each other, Dawn invited him to hang out with her close circle of friends, and Nando was happy to become a member of this group.

"So you spend all this time around her, why can't you just tell her directly?" Ash asked him openly, though he kept his voice low to ensure that their conversation wasn't overheard.

"I've always wanted to Ash, but at every opportunity, I think about what that would mean for her." Nando replied softly, causing Ash to raise his eyebrows. Nando was taking everything into account, for both parties, not just himself.

"So what is it that you're thinking about?" Ash asked him.

"You've been around Dawn enough to see that she is always working." Nando pointed out, receiving a nod from Ash. "She's focused on becoming a designer, and I don't want to do anything that would steal her time, or change her priorities."

Ash now wished that he had taken the time to talk with Nando more since they had first met. He had never imagined Nando being so noble, placing the interests of others far above his own. Someone like that didn't come along too often.

"So you're telling me that you're fine not being able to...tell her how you feel?" Ash inquired tentatively, trying to be considerate of Nando's feelings. There was no way someone could be satisfied being just friends with the feelings Nando had.

Nando sighed deeply, looking toward Dawn once again. She was speaking with Palermo, handing the woman her personal planner. Dawn explained that she wanted Palermo to sign the back of this small book, and she smiled vibrantly once this action had been completed, thanking the producer repeatedly.

"I'll be fine with it...so long as she's happy."

Monday, October 24th

Seated behind the piano within the basement of North Vermilion High, Nando pulled his hands away from the keys with a great frown on his face, and his instructor Juan immediately took notice of this.

"What's the matter Nando?" Juan asked him curiously, leaning on the piano as he looked down at his pupil.

"This...this isn't how I played it yesterday." Nando muttered.

Juan wasn't able to attend the recital yesterday, so Nando intended to perform his piece again for his teacher. His goal was to give him the perfect performance he had given the audience. Even on his third attempt now, Nando still found that he was unsatisfied with how he was playing, and stopped partway through his song.

"Are you certain? You sound excellent to me." Juan replied. He could hear a notable difference between how Nando was playing today, and the way he had practiced the same song last week. Juan was hoping a little bit of encouragement would help Nando to work through his funk.

"No, something is wrong." Nando stated firmly, looking at the piano. This caused him to shake his head immediately. He knew better than to blame his instrument. "It's something...with me."

"But you said you were perfect yesterday." Juan noted, curious as to what was bothering Nando so much, though he was beginning to form a hunch.

"I was though." Nando said pointedly. He heard every note he played yesterday. His performance was flawless, so why couldn't he replicate that today?

"Are you still playing for your lady friend?" Juan asked with a playful smirk. However he quickly dropped this expression as Nando became mortified, his eyes widening.

"I'm...not." He said out loud, the realization now dawning on him. Dawn had always been in his thoughts as he played, and yet for the first time in a long time, Nando was playing without her on his mind.

"Did something happen yesterday between the two of you?" Juan pressed, poking the subject now. He could already tell what might have taken place, and he was quickly picking out what he wanted to share with Nando.

"I told myself that...I didn't want to get in her way." Nando said softly. He could recall word for word what he had told to Ash.

That he didn't want to do anything to disrupt Dawn from advancing toward her goals.

That he was fine not being in a close relationship with her.

That he would settle for just being...friends.

Nando remembered the pain in his heart when he saw Dawn in the audience, or rather, when he saw that she was seated next to Ash Ketchum. The thought made him choke up, but he knew Dawn well enough to know that she had taken up an interest in Ash. Nando wouldn't fight for her. He couldn't bear the thought of her being tormented by trying not to crush his own feelings. Nando's expression softened as he exhaled, lowering his shoulder as he finally said this to himself.

The relationship he desired to have with Dawn...was not meant to be.

Seeing Nando's sullen expression, Juan took a seat beside his student and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Love is a very tricky thing Nando, but it's a part of life." Juan stated with a straight face. Juan's usual charisma had been replaced by a firm, reassuring voice as he demonstrated his wisdom. "I believe the say was...'tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all."

Nando didn't respond.

"I believe this will be your next step as a musician Nando." Juan stated, deciding to pick out the positives for Nando's newest experience. "Music isn't always about love and happiness. Sometimes you have to express your pain and anguish...or tell a story to your audience about what you've been through and how you've overcome different challenges."

Nando raised his head a bit at this, realizing what Juan was alluding to though his instructor decided to say it for reinforcement.

"Love may not always be there for you Nando." Juan noted softly as he looked toward his desk across the room. On it was a wooden picture frame of a smiling woman, his wife whom he had lost years ago. "But music will always be by your side. No one can take that from you."

Zoey only stayed after school once a week. As a member of the photography club, these students met after school on Monday's to schedule club activities and projects. So it wasn't often that she was on school property after the school day had ended, but today was just such an occasion. Once her club meeting had ended, Zoey had been making her way to her car when she passed a group of seniors in the hallway. They were expressing some disappointment, and at the mention of Nando's name, Zoey perked up at the thought of visiting her friend.

She hadn't seen him much since they had become seniors, but if Nando's old habits held true, then she would find him outside of the cafeteria playing one of his many instruments. Making her way to one of the largest rooms in the school, Zoey found herself becoming anxious as she recalled the last conversation she had with Nando. It had been a few weeks, but she distinctly remembered advising him to act on his feelings for Dawn. Zoey had a feeling that his hesitation was going to be his undoing.

Entering the cafeteria, Zoey went straight to the staircase that led down to the seating area. Looking across the room, she soon spotted Nando seated alone at one of the tables right outside of the cafeteria. She furrowed her brow at the sight of him just sitting there. His guitar case was closed, resting behind him, and Nando was leaning on the table, staring off into space.

Nando couldn't focus. The school day had already ended, and out of habit he had come to this spot. It was where he always played after school for Dawn. His little sessions had become popular, with a number of students coming to listen to him each day. Today however, Nando couldn't find it in himself to play.

A few of the seniors that knew of his routine had passed by earlier to hear him. Seeing that he wasn't playing, they quickly approached him and asked if he was okay. Nando assured them that he was fine and just needed a...a break. None of them questioned his answer, telling him to enjoy the rest of his day before they left.

Nando was glad they didn't interrogate him about why he didn't want to play.

He had unknowingly given up on the love of his life, and the mere thought of that decision tore his heart to shreds.

"Earth to Nando~" Zoey called, waving a hand in front of his face. Nando blinked as his eyes focused on the red head that was seated across from him. There was brief expression of surprise from Nando, then his eyes darkened.

"Hey..." He said flatly.

"You okay?" She asked him, placing her arms on the table.

"Uh~" Nando drawled with uncertainty. He felt numb, but he wasn't sure if that was the right way to describe what he was feeling. "I'm not really sure."

"Does it have to do with Dawn?" Zoey clarified and seeing Nando stiffen a bit, she nodded slowly. "What happened?"

Nando lowered his shoulders, looking down at his hands that he had placed on his lap. He spent a few moments grasping the tips of his fingers before he made eye contact with Zoey again.

"...I invited her to my piano recital." Nando began. "I was hoping this time I could...tell her how I feel."

Zoey's face brightened at the mention of this. This had been Nando's struggle for as long as Zoey had known him. She was glad to hear that he had acted on his feelings. Then she realized that with his current expression, it must not have gone according to his plan.

"Did she, turn you down?" Zoey asked carefully. She knew that Dawn wouldn't reciprocate Nando's feelings. Dawn's interest firmly revolved around Ash.

"No." Nando said, shaking his head. "She came with Ash, and when I saw her with him, I couldn't find it in myself to tell her."

Zoey bit down on her lower lip slightly, watching as Nando seemed to shrink in his seat even more.

"I'm sorry Nando." Zoey said softly, watching him closely from across the table. For such a tall guy, he seemed so small now. Following the path of Nando's gaze, Zoey saw that he was looking at his hands that were beneath the table. Through the glass table, she could see that his hands were clenched tightly. "It's okay to be angry you know."

"I shouldn't be though." He said after a pause.

Zoey put on a straight face now as she stared at Nando. She knew him too well to brush this comment aside. He was trying to deny that he was in pain.

"Nando, stop that." Zoey stated, causing him to look up at her curiously.

"Stop what?" He asked in response, almost innocently.

"You don't have to pretend for me." Zoey continued, leaning forward onto the table.

"I can't." Nando said after a few moments.

He had been suppressing all sorts of negative thoughts since his recital, but with every mention of Dawn and Ash, he drew closer to a point where his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. Nando didn't want to cross that threshold for fear that he might say something he would regret. Envisioning Dawn once again, he could see her staring dreamily at Ash, abandoning her pursuits to spend more time with him.

"Nando-" Zoey began, but he interrupted her.

"She shouldn't be chasing after him." Nando said sharply, burying his face in his hand. "She should have chosen me."

There was a brief pause where Nando's mouth hung open. Zoey could see that he was surprised with himself for saying what was on his mind, but that just opened the floodgates for him.

"What on earth fascinates her about Ash?" He asked, looking up at the sky. "He saved her life. I've come to terms with that. I'm grateful for it...that he saved the girl I love. But, why? Why did she choose him?"

Nando shook his head, running a hand down the side of his face with an irritated sigh.

"He knows nothing about her. He doesn't know that her work ethic is second to none. That her kindness in unfiltered. That her positivity is contagious. That someone who actually loves her, would drop everything to support her and make sure that she reaches her goals." Nando slapped his hand down onto the table, causing Zoey to flinch slightly. He exhaled loudly, and Zoey allowed him a few minutes to cool off.

She had never seen Nando get angry before. His voice was always so calm and soothing, but to hear him speak so passionately about Dawn was a first.

"You really did love her, huh?" Zoey asked quietly.

"Damn it." He muttered, looking down. Blinking back a few tears, Nando raised his brow as he felt a hand grasp the hand he had left on the table. It was Zoey. "I shouldn't be angry at Ash. He even spoke to me after I had performed yesterday. In fact, he was the one who understood the purpose of my song, and asked me why I couldn't just tell her how I feel. You know what I said to him...? I told him, I was happy so long as she was. Why the hell would I say that?"

Nando wanted to hit himself. He had given up. He had chosen to put himself in the position he was in now. He had no right being angry with Ash.

This was becoming his greatest regret. Giving up on the love of his life.

Feeling an around wrap around his torso, Nando discovered that Zoey was seated next to him now.

"You know Nando...you're just too good sometimes." Zoey whispered as she tried to comfort him. "But..."

Zoey paused to think.

"Are you sure that...you would've been fine with that? Giving up everything for Dawn? Don't get me wrong, she's wonderful. But are you sure that you could give up on everything you have to be that devoted to her?" Zoey inquired, looking directly at him.

Nando opened his mouth to speak. Of course he would have! Dawn meant the world to him. He would have been perfectly content seeing her succeed.

Zoey though, cut him off before he could declare this openly.

"Think about it for a sec." Zoey interjected.

Nando shut his mouth, and began to go through his thoughts a second time. He would've been happy seeing Dawn happy. He was certain of that. Her happiness would more than suffice for his own. Right? It would be...enough?

…

If he was going to support Dawn, he probably wouldn't have the time to practice playing music enough to pursue it professionally. He could do without that though...right? Could he, give up on...music? Music was what brought him to Kanto. It was all he came to Kanto with. The lonely nights that he had suffered through being so far from his family, wallowing in homesickness, Nando's best friend was his cello. All of this was long before he had met Dawn Berlitz.

"Love may not always be there for you Nando...but music will always be by your side. No one can take that from you."

Juan's words rung in Nando's ears, causing him to blink. Then he realized for the first time in a long time, just as Juan had pointed out to him, he was beginning to think without taking Dawn into consideration.

"If you love something, let it go." Nando muttered, and Zoey gave him a reassuring squeeze.

"You'll pull through Nando." She assured him. "You will."

Friday, October 28th

Ash was seated on a bench by himself in the park a few blocks from his home. It was the last week of the month, and he had received a notice from the Red Skulls that they could use his help.

For a change, Ash was earlier than the member of the Skulls, affording him some time to sit back and relax. Leaning back into the bench, Ash thought back to the past week. It had been rather strange, in his opinion at least.

Nando had stopped coming to lunch this past week. Even when they were together in classes such as history and gym, he wasn't speaking that much. Ash was positive that his behavior had something to do with the discussion they had at the recital this past Sunday. Perhaps Nando wasn't quite ready to face Dawn, so he was keeping his distance for now.

Dawn and May had a different view of his current demeanor. After mentioning Nando to the two of them, they explained that he always got like this once he started composing a new song. Ash had shrugged off their explanation, frowning to himself. They knew Nando better than he did after all. Maybe he was reading into it too much. Regardless of that, Ash could only hope that their musically gifted friend regained his pleasant attitude. Their conversations weren't the same without Nando's calm and subdued input that would prevent Dawn and May from gushing over everything they talked about.

Blinking, Ash's focus returned to the present as he noticed a silver haired man approaching him. Seeing the black ivy cap on his head, Ash immediately identified him as the man he was going to be meeting with. Arriving at the bench, he took a seat beside Ash with a sigh of relief and looked straight at him.

Ash remained silent as the man sized him up and gave a nod of approval.

"Alright, so here's what's happening this weekend." He began, surprising Ash.

"Wait, don't you need to see my-" Ash began, pulling down the collar of his shirt to reveal the red neckerchief he wore beneath it. The man however, raised a hand to silence him.

"Kid, you've been coming to us for months now. Some of us are going to remember you." He stated, motioning for Ash to put away the neckerchief. "We can skip the formalities and get straight down to business today.

Ash raised his eyebrows at this. He had never thought that some of the Red Skulls would bother to remember him.

Was that good or bad?

Sunday, October 30th

"Are you sure you'll be alright kid?"

Ash inhaled sharply as the car came to a stop. Glancing out of the window of the passenger seat, Ash saw that they were indeed at his destination – the apartment building where Shauna lived.

Then realizing that he hadn't answered the question, Ash looked back at the driver of the car. It was the same man he had met on Friday who had introduced himself as Hun.

"Yeah, I have a friend here who can patch me up." Ash stated as he gave Hun a nod of reassurance.

They had been partnered together for the weekend, making a trip into Lotus territory just like Ash had last month.

This time however, it was just the two of them. Hun had given Ash all of the details, something Red Skulls hadn't done prior to this.

Hun had scheduled a battle with one of the top members of the White Lotus, but the battle was going to be hosted in Lotus territory. Due to the Skulls recent activity, there had been some tension between the two groups. So rather than Hun going in on his own, Ash was added as a bodyguard.

It had been an exciting weekend for Ash as he spent time with Hun. As it turned out, Hun was one of the elite members of the Red Skulls, frequently working in tandem with the King of the Red Skulls though Hun kept the name of his man a secret.

Hun had even shared with Ash that the Red Skulls have been watching him closely since his last job with them. The fact that they had selected him to join Hun this weekend was proof that they saw potential in him as a trainer. There might have even been a place among the Red Skulls for a trainer like him in the near future.

"Don't forget what I said now. The Red Skulls are always looking for good trainers. My boss would have the final say, but if I put in a good word for you I'm sure you'll get in." Hun said to him.

"Uh...I don't know at the moment. I think I want some time to think about it." Ash replied as he glanced at his left bicep that was wrapped in a portion of his t-shirt.

"No worries...but you know, why don't we exchange contacts, that way you can give me your answer when you're ready." Hun suggested, and Ash complied. They quickly exchanged this bit of information and Hun grinned at Ash once this was complete.

"It was nice working with you." Ash commented as he opened the passenger door to step out of the car. "I hope we see each other again some time."

"I'm sure we will. Hopefully next time you won't get all banged up." Hun replied.

"I hope so." Ash said as he opened up the back door now, retrieving his backpack and which he tossed over his right shoulder. Then he grabbed the small duffle bag he had received and shut the door.

Grimacing as he shut each of the doors, Ash patted the top of the car and gave Hun a wave. Then he turned and made his way to the entrance of Shauna's building. He kept his mind off how his left bicep burned and ached. He only had a little bit farther to go before he could be treated. Entering the double doors that led into the lobby of the building, Ash opened one by leaning against it and slipped inside. Glancing through the door, Ash could finally relax now that Hun was gone.

He didn't want to look weak, not in front of Hun at least. There was an offer for him to join the Red Skulls on the table, and he didn't need anything to dampen his resume. He had to look tough, because it wasn't going to be easy as a trainer.

Dropping the duffle bag, Ash looked toward his bicep again and reached to tug at the shirt he had wrapped around it. He winced feeling the shirt move slightly against his wound, and he regretted even touching it at the moment.

Hun wasn't the only one who had a chance to battle someone this weekend.

-X-X-

"You're doing great Pikachu, keep it up!" Ash called out to his partner as it dashed around the small area they had been given for this battle. Even though it was rather confined, Pikachu was evading the attacks of the opposing Murkrow with ease.

The airborne Pokemon was struggling to keep up with Pikachu's ground speed, allowing Ash plenty of time to think of a way to strike this Pokemon out of the air. They had managed to dodge Pikachu's Thunderbolt twice now, so Ash had to find a way to get Pikachu at to a point blank range to give Murkrow the shock of a lifetime.

"Murkrow, use Air Cutter!" Their opponent hollered. Murkrow gave a squawk as it began to flap its wings rapidly. They glowed white before it began to fire off blades of wind at Pikachu.

"Pikachu, dodge it with Agility." Ash fired back. As if Pikachu wasn't fast enough already, it was now a blur on the ground as it raced around. Murkrow continued to launch its attacks desperately trying to predict Pikachu's movements in an effort to cut it off. This proved to be futile as Murkrow began to throw Air Cutters around haphazardly, hoping for a lucky hit at this point.

Racing by Ash, Pikachu changed directions on a dime to avoid another blade of wind, but this was followed immediately by a shout of pain. Coming skidding to a halt, Pikachu turned to find Ash on his knees, grasping his left arm in pain.

-X-X-

Ash had spent the whole weekend watching Hun prepare for his big battle, and then participate in it. It was incredible battle as well, one that lit a fire in Ash's heart. There were other members of the White Lotus in attendance for this battle, and Ash eagerly challenged one of them when Hun's battle was over. Unfortunately, the end result of this battle was Ash getting hurt. Being clipped by an Air Cutter, Ash's arm had been lacerated and all he could do was tear off a piece of his shirt to cover the wound. Hun helped him to make sure the bleeding wasn't excessive, and they immediately left to take Ash to Shauna's home.

"Ash?" Shauna exclaimed as she stepped into the lobby. "What happened?"

She had already seen his arm and the shirt wrapped around it which was stained red.

"How long has that wound been open?" She demanded to know as she rushed over to him.

"Not long." Ash replied as Shauna grabbed his bags.

"Come on, let's go upstairs so I can check it properly. I don't want my neighbors seeing this." She muttered as she looked at Ash. He looked like a mess with the lower part of his shirt being torn off and used as a bandage.

Taking the elevator up to her floor, Shauna was relieved that no one had seen them on their trip to her apartment. Shutting the door to her small home and locking it once they were inside, Shauna ordered Ash to take a seat on her couch while she went into her bathroom to retrieve some of the supplies she would need. Returning to Ash, she found that he had already removed his shirt as well as the make-shift bandage he had around his bicep.

Shauna frowned as she sat down next to him. The first thought that came into her head was that Ash had no problem being shirtless in her house. He had his shirt off more than she did, and this was her house! Keeping that thought to herself though, Shauna began to examine his cut, trying to figure out how he could be harmed like this. His skin was torn up around his bicep, almost as if the grooves of a blade had been run down his upper arm. It wasn't pretty as she dabbed at the blood with a cloth, clearing it all away. Ash wrinkled his nose at the sight of his skin now that it was dry.

"What did you do?" Shauna asked him softly as she put on a pair of gloves now. Ash remained silent though, causing Shauna to purse her lips. "Alright then. This is going to sting, but please, don't say anything."

Taking some of the ointment she had brought, Shauna began to apply it to Ash's skin. He bit down on his lower lip to keep from shouting as his skin became hot from the cream. Then Shauna began to massage it into his skin, causing Ash to groan as he balled up his free hand into a fist. He shot Shauna a glare at one point, and she stuck her tongue out at him as she continued her work. Once she finished, she showed him the two pairs of gauze she had brought. One was white while the other was tan. She first took a fair amount of the white one, cut it, folded it and placed it on his wound while telling him to hold it there for her.

Following her order, Ash watched as Shauna took the tan colored gauze and wrapped it around his entire bicep twice over. Once she had embedded two small pins through the stitching, she moved her hands back a little to make sure everything remained in place. Ash began to move his arm a bit before looking at Shauna.

"Thanks." He said simply.

"So what happened?" Shauna asked him again, slowly this time, emphasizing each word. He only looked at her, his expression neutral.

Ash wasn't quite sure what he wanted to do at the moment. His activity with the Red Skulls was better off remaining a secret, but he knew for a fact that it must have been torture for Shauna to treat him without any clue as to how this was happening to him. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to at least fill Shauna in...

Breaking eye contact with her, he struggled to get past his hesitation, instead looking for a way out.

"I'm going to the bathroom." He said, rising from the couch.

Shauna sighed loudly after he disappeared into the corridor where her bathroom and bedroom were located. Glancing at the shirt he had placed on the floor beside her couch, he had wrapped up the blood stained portion of his shirt within it. Picking it up from the floor, Shauna tossed it into the garbage in her kitchen along with the gloves she wore. Heading to her bedroom, Shauna searched through her dresser for one of the over sized t-shirts she would wear at night, hoping that these would fit Ash comfortably. Glancing up at the sound of someone trying to open her door, Shauna returned to her living room while trying to recall if she was expecting any visitors tonight.

The persistent knocking at her door immediately reminded her that Serena was supposed to come over. She had forgotten all about that after receiving a phone call from Ash earlier. Answering the door, Serena grinned brightly at Shauna who was clearly annoyed by all of the noise Serena was making.

"What was the door locked for Shauna?" Serena asked as she tried to step past Shauna. Her tan skinned friend stepped into Serena's path though, keeping her in the doorway. "What's the matter?"

"Uh..." Shauna muttered, struggling to think of something on the spot. Serena though, took a quick glance around the living room and spotted the extra bags on the floor beside the couch. Donning a sly grin, Serena glanced back at her friend.

"Oh, you should've told me you were having company over tonight." Serena said suggestively, winking at her friend.

"It's...nothing like that." Shauna began before the door to her bathroom opened up. Serena leaned to the side a bit, waiting to see who would step out of the corridor.

Her eyes became wide as a shirtless Ash Ketchum joined them in the living room, and he froze upon seeing Serena in the doorway. Serena's cheery expression faded quickly as she had a few moments to stare at Ash, her gaze becoming focused on his arm.

The discussion she had with Brock last month suddenly came back to her. She had pestered Brock to get him to share what Ash had been doing since he wasn't going to tell anyone on his own. Now though, she intended to make him share this information no matter what.

"Serena-" Ash began.

"What happened?" She interjected immediately.

Shauna immediately noticed that Ash's expression hardened once again. If he had been close to sharing what happened with her moments earlier, he certainly wasn't feeling the same way now. Shauna could feel the tension in the room increase tenfold as Serena stepped past her. With no choice, she shut the door as Ash and Serena stared intently at each other.

"Why do you need to know?" He asked in return, rather defensively.

"What kind of question is that Ash?" Serena asked sharply, raising her voice as she motioned to him. "Just look at yourself! The last two times I've seen you you've been hurt. I'm worried about you."

Ash opened his mouth, but lacked a response. In the mixed bag of emotions he was experiencing, guilt became the predominant one due to Serena's concern. He had been keeping everything a secret to stop everyone from worrying about him, but that only accomplished the opposite. Shauna felt relieved as Ash took a deep breath and his expression relaxed a little.

"Okay...I've been working with the Red Skulls at the end of every month." Ash admitted, leaving Serena surprised that he had told them this so easily now despite being so stubborn in the past. Not to mention Brock had been so tight lipped about it when she last spoke to him.

"Why?" Serena almost barked, causing Ash to wince. He broke eye contact with her now. "You know those guys are dangerous!"

"Serena, I know what I'm getting into when I work with them." Ash stated, irritation evident in his voice. "I'm not sitting here wondering why I keep getting hurt."

"You shouldn't be getting hurt in the first place." Serena pointed out, placing a hand in her hair. Her heart was beginning to race already as she thought about engaging Ash on a subject the two of them hadn't touched in ages. "Why are you doing this to yourself Ash? Why do you keep forcing the issue and trying to become a Pokemon trainer?"

Ash looked back at her now, his expression hardening once again.

He knew that he hadn't shared much of his personal life with Serena, despite how much time they had spent together in the past. She couldn't possibly know that he was putting himself through this month after month for his family. She had no idea what happened in his home. Yet, all of those thoughts didn't stop him from snapping at her.

"Forcing the issues? You don't know anything Serena so why are you butting in?" Ash asked her sharply.

"I'm butting in because you won't tell me anything!" She retorted, raising her voice once again as she pointed at him.

Ash sucked in his lips, trying to let his conscience do a bit of work. Serena had said herself that he had kept her out of the loop. That she was questioning him because she didn't know what was going on. The faint voice of Ash's conscience couldn't compare to the booming voice of his frustration. He couldn't believe that his closest friends still questioned his goals. Why couldn't they just support him? Why did they oppose him?

"I don't tell you anything because I already know what you're going to say, just like everyone else." Ash barked at her harshly. "'This is too dangerous Ash.' 'You need to stop.' 'Why are you doing this to yourself?'"

"How many times do I have to say this Ash? We say all of those things because we have seen you get hurt, over and over again!" Serena shouted over him. "We care about you, and none of us want to see you hurt!"

Ash laughed scornfully in response.

"You all can be a bunch of hypocrites when you're ready. If I wanted to be something else...anything else, you wouldn't have a problem with it. But since I'm trying to become a trainer, if I get hurt, you all just say 'oh, it's too dangerous!'" Ash said mockingly.

"That's because it is!" Serena screamed at him, finally losing her temper. "Do you even look at the news Ash? A Pokemon could level the entire building we're standing in all by itself! How can you stand there and tell me that Pokemon are safe to be around?!"

Shauna wasn't quite sure if Ash and Serena had realized it yet, but they had gotten very close as they shouted at each other. Ash was a full head and shoulders taller than Serena, but that didn't stop the brunette from glaring holes into him as she stared up at him.

"I know you're better than that Serena..." Ash voice had lost all of the anger that had been fueling it previously. His usual calmness had returned despite the fierce expression he wore. "You never let people tell you what you should think, so why are you letting them tell you how you should look at me?"

Serena's eyes widened momentarily, and then she opened her mouth to speak.

"I am not!" She protested, her blood boiling. "Why are you being so stubborn? Can't you tell that we genuinely care about you Ash? We hate seeing you get hurt. I hate seeing you get hurt. Are you really so thick headed that you don't understand that?!"

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Serena only needed a glance to know that it belonged to Shauna. Serena returned her gaze to Ash, and their stare down recommenced. Shauna followed up, giving Serena light nudge.

"Let's stop this guys, before someone says something they can't take back." Shauna stated, forcing them to break eye contact. "Here Ash, you can bring this to me when you find some time."

Ash accepted the t-shirt Shauna had brought for him, and took some time to slip it over his torso. Once he was comfortable in the shirt, he collected his belonging and left without a word. Serena watched him silently the entire time, hoping that he would make eye contact with her one more time. The temptation to apologize to him grew with each passing moment, but his refusal to even look at her further irked Serena. He was just too hardheaded for his own good sometimes!

"I'll be right back." Shauna said as she followed Ash out into the corridor. He was waiting for her outside so that they could speak privately. Shauna shut the door to her apartment before approaching him.

"Sorry you had to hear all that." Ash apologized in a low voice as he opened up the duffle back hanging from his shoulder.

"Don't fuss about that." Shauna said, hoping to help put Ash at ease. It was so rare that Ash became visibly upset, but for him to get so angry with Serena was something Shauna would have never anticipated.

Ash pulled a sizable stack of dollars out of the bag which had been bound together by a rubber band. This was the money he had received from the Red Skulls, no doubt. Shauna just couldn't figure out where they got this much money that they could hand it out. Ash pulled off the rubber band and began to count through the stack, separating eight hundred dollars for Shauna.

"Thanks for patching me up tonight." Ash replied as he placed the money in her hands. "I hope I didn't ruin your night though."

Ash had glanced back at the entrance of her apartment with a look of concern.

"Don't worry, we always find something to talk about." She assured him before her face became serious. "But please Ash, for her sake, be safe."

Ash looked down the corridor to the elevators that he would be heading for. He wasn't sure if he could make that promise.

He gave Shauna a wave before he left, and she watched him until he disappeared into one of the elevators. Tucking the money she had received into her pants pocket, Shauna returned to her apartment where she found Serena seated on the sofa. She had turned on the television and was now aimlessly flipping through the channel networks in search of something to watch. She wore a frown, fighting to conceal how she felt.

"Serena, are you okay?" Shauna inquired as she took a seat beside her friend.

"Yeah, I'm good." Serena stated, shaking her head before she repeated herself. "I'm good. If Ash doesn't want to be good, that's completely on him now."

"Casey, Macy, come on. Go get washed up for bed!" Cassidy said as she clapped her hands. The three of them had been watching TV together in the living room to wrap up their Sunday night.

It had been awfully quiet this past weekend with Ash's absence. Cassidy and Casey had grown accustomed to it, but Macy still spent the last two days asking when he would come back home. Fortunately they could promise her that he would be home by the next day.

Per Cassidy's request, the two young girls rose from the couch and went upstairs, leaving Cassidy to sit alone in the living room. Casey and Macy had been watching cartoons, something that Cassidy struggled to even feign interest in for them, so she was thankful she had an opportunity to watch something to her liking now. As she began to go through a few channels, Cassidy winced as felt a pain run through her chest. Placing her hand above her bust, she leaned back into the couch to relax and ease the pain.

She breathed slowly for a few moments, shutting her eyes to go through a silent prayer. The pain eased up after some time, and Cassidy gave a sigh of relief. She could only hope that Ash would be home soon. She didn't feel comfortable having this pain while he was away.

With the thought of Ash on her mind, Cassidy perked up after hearing a knock on the front door. She needed a few seconds before she stood up, slowly heading over to the door to look through the peephole. Even with the streetlight on she could hardly make out the person standing outside, but a familiar voice confirmed her suspicions.

"It's Ash." He called out. He was back early!

Opening the door for him, Cassidy was glad to see him though he had a backpack on his left shoulder, a duffle bag hanging from his right shoulder and a large brown bag of groceries in his right arm. She chuckled softly at the sight of him holding all of this before inviting him inside.

"How have you been?" He asked her as she shut the door. Turning to look at her, Ash furrowed his brow after studying her for a moment. She looked pale...

"I think I should be asking you that." She retorted as she motioned for Ash to head to the kitchen. Heading down the corridor, Ash went into the kitchen and set the brown bag on the counter for Cassidy as she came to kitchen at her own pace.

"Well I'm alright." He responded, before adding that he would be right back. Ash left her to go upstairs to his room, and Cassidy assumed that it was to release Pikachu from his backpack. The poor thing probably spent the better part of this weekend stowed away in Ash's bag.

Ash had been trying to keep her in the dark about his activities at the end of each month, but Cassidy had put the pieces together some time ago. Whenever Ash disappeared, Pikachu would disappear with him. Not every time, but that was the only reason Cassidy needed to know to figure out that Ash was out of the streets battling during the weekend. She didn't like that he was doing this, and she had voiced her concerns to him, but that didn't stop him.

She didn't make it a point to oppose him anymore. Ash wasn't her son, and she only had so much authority over him now that he was almost eighteen.

Not to mention his efforts did relieve some of the stress Cassidy went through after having her funds exhausted each month. For the time being, she would leave things as they were and trust that Ash would take care of himself.

Separating the fruits and vegetables Ash had brought, Cassidy began to tuck them away into the fridge before wincing again. Her chest became tight, forcing her to lean against the counter as her body became numb.

Cassidy drew a shaky breath, a white noise ringing out in her ears. She blinked back some hot tears, the pain overwhelming her. She wanted to scream, but her voice faltered in her throat and her strength faded. It was an agonizing experience as her chest locked up. She hunched over, and the only hand she had on the edge of the counter slipped off of it.

"Cassidy?" Ash called out as he came back down the staircase. Reaching the base of the stairs, Ash turned into the corridor to see Cassidy laying on her side on the kitchen floor. "Cassidy!"

A/N

And with that, we conclude a very emotion fueled chapter, or at least that how I'm hoping it came across. I got to say that this chapter is my second favorite, a really close second. In fact, I'll just say its tied with chapter five.

I really enjoyed getting to focus on Nando for the last two chapters. It was kind of based on an old story of mine from back in high school. There was a girl I absolutely adored, I would do anything for her and I mean ANYTHING. Unfortunately it didn't mean much to her, and I could tell. It was something I could live with. We parted ways after graduation, haven't seen her since but that's just a part of life. What can you do? :P

So as I've said before, and I'll say it again, I've been setting the stage for the meaty part of this story. I'll remind everyone that this is a Pokemon AU, and I was taking the time to establish how things work rather than just dump all of the information in a note at the beginning of the first chapter. I will say that we are definitely diving into some of the heavier stuff now, so look forward to it.

Much respect to my beta-reader MjrGenMatt. He was banging out these chapters left and right to get ready for this upload spree we've started. Thanks for all of the support everyone and I'll see you at the end of the next chapter!