Chapter 30
"Get some sleep tomorrow! We'll be heading out!" Captain Ketchum tells his platoon.
"Yes, sir!" They shout, and he walks away to his tent. Ash has been at war for a few months now, but the thing about a soldier who doesn't fear death is that he is really good at living. Since he goes into every battle fearless, he thinks with a clear head.
As Ash sits on his bed pondering the mission tomorrow, he takes a deep breath. Before and after every mission, he writes a letter to his mother. He only mails the After letter; however, his fellow captains know to mail the Before letter if he doesn't return. After he writes and seals the letter, he places it on the desk.
The last thing he does before going to battle is popping off the back of his old picture frame to read the inscriptions on the back of the photo. He's read it a few times already, and each time still makes him cry.
We're gonna be the best basketball players in college, Ashy Boy! -Gary Motherfucking Oak
He smiles sadly at Gary's inscription. They were supposed to play college ball together, but no one expected Gary to get hurt a month later. Ash misses playing with his rival; however, he misses having his best friend more.
I'm so proud of you, Ash! I know you'll be a pro! -Leafy
There was a time where everyone believed the small town boy would become a huge basketball star; nonetheless, that dream only lasted in high school as he quit the sport after graduating. Ash knows he never could've reached the level of the player he was without Leaf, so he attributes his successes to her too.
Now, this last inscription, he always reads at the end. Usually because it brings him to too many tears, which prevents him from reading the other two. Ash takes a steady breath as he reads it:
I love you, Ash! I can't wait to make more memories with you! Your Beautiful Girlfriend, Misty
He chuckles at Misty's signing. Yeah, she was his beautiful girlfriend, and he lost her. Ash feels the tears coming while he tries to sniffle them back. Misty is happy with Rudy now, and that is Ash's own fault for letting her go. But he's glad he did so now she doesn't need to worry about him being at war. Even though he still loves her, he knows this is best.
"I love you too, Mist." Ash whispers before covering up the back of the frame again. He then turns into bed since he'll have to be up bright and early tomorrow.
Johto Enterprises
"I need to see Department Head Gary Oak!" a panicking redhead exclaims to the front desk.
"Um. May I ask who you are?" the front desk assistant doesn't recognize the woman nor does he trust her attire. Misty is wearing a zip up hoodie and leggings while everyone at Johto Enterprises is in a suit.
"Tell him it's Misty Waterflower!"
"The department heads are very busy, so may I ask why?"
Misty grits her teeth. She knew this was going to be hard, but fortunately, she thought of a plan. "I'm a friend of his sister, Daisy, and she's in trouble, but he won't answer his phone. Since I live in Goldenrod City, she asked me to come by and get him." He still looks at her skeptically, so Misty says, "Gary Oak, 24 years old, department head at Johto Enterprises, born and raised in Pallet Town, won the Kanto High School Basketball Championship 7 years ago, suffered a career ending injury where he broke his right wrist."
"Sorry, ma'am, but you could just be a scary fangirl. Mr. Oak has asked us to keep them away."
"Look, just tell him my name. Please?"
The man sighs as he calls Gary. After a couple of minutes, he hangs up and looks at Misty. "He will be right down." Misty smiles victoriously while she waits.
When Gary finally arrives in the lobby, he instantly sees Misty since she is very underdressed for the building. He was surprised when his secretary gave him her name, especially since the last time they saw each other, she had slapped him. "What's up, Misty?"
His voice startles her as she gives him an awkward smile. "Can we talk?"
"Uh, yeah. Let's go up to my office." She nods while following him. Once they arrive at his office, he closes the door and Misty sits on one of the chairs. He then sits at his desk chair where he gives her a warm smile. "So, uh, how are you?"
"I'll make it quick, okay?" Remaining silent, he shrugs, so she continues. "Is Ash…" Misty can't find the courage to finish the question. Whatever confidence she had walking in is gone now as she sadly looks at Gary's desk.
"He's alive...as of last week when my gramps talked to Mrs. K." Misty lets out a relieved breath. She then slides an envelope over to Gary, which causes the man to look at her in confusion.
"Can you make sure he gets that? I need him to know..." She takes a shaky breath. "...before it's too late."
Gary looks down at the envelope and fights back his own tears as he nods. "He's Ash, Misty. He overcame a career ending injury and came back stronger. He'll come back."
"Thanks, Gary."
"Yeah…" After a few more seconds of silence, Misty stands up to leave, but Gary says, "I have Mrs. K's number...if you want. It'll probably be easier going through her in the future than me to gramps to her to Ash."
Misty smiles at him. "I'd like that."
He gives her a sad smile back as he quickly writes down the number from his phone and gives it to her. "Take care, Misty."
"You too, Gary."
Once Misty leaves, Gary collapses in his chair while holding his head in his hands. Maybe he should write Ash a letter too? A few tears fall down his face again as his hands shake from the fear of losing his ex-best friend, his rival, a man he hopes to be friends with again.
Exhaling an unsteady sigh, he makes a mental note to ask Leaf if she'll want to send a letter as well. That way, he can mail everything to Mrs. Ketchum (when he gets the address from Gramps) at once. Maybe a little bit of hope will bring that dumbass home.
Park
Gary has been spending a few months with Ava already. At first, Leaf would join to watch them, but since she works today, she asked Gary to be with the girl. Usually, Ava would spend time with the Kentas while Silver and Leaf were busy, so she tells Gary she wants to join them at the park.
As Jimmy, Ethan, Gary, and Ava walk to the park, the adults are talking. They've met a few times, but don't know each other too well.
"So how'd you meet Leaf?" Jimmy asks.
Gary smiles as he recalls the memory. "Playing basketball when we were 4."
"No wonder why Ava is good at basketball."
The auburn haired man gives a confused look. "She's good at basketball?"
"Yeah. Leaf won't let her play for some reason, but Ava's got natural talent for it." Jimmy says as they arrive at the park and the kids run off to the basketball court.
Gary watches Ava effortlessly sink a shot. "Did Leaf ever teach her how to play?"
Jimmy shakes his head. "Nah. Leaf avoids basketball all together. Like other sports are fine, but everytime basketball is brought up, she freezes and changes the topic. Ava is just a natural." He then hits Gary's shoulder. "Do you play? Let's go!" And runs to the court, but Gary doesn't.
The auburn haired man can't bring himself to step onto the court. He understands when Jimmy says Leaf avoids the sport all together. The last time he had anything to do with basketball was the night before he left Pallet Town. He can't play now. Not without his friends...not without Ash.
"Daddy?" the man's thoughts are shaken as he looks down at his daughter's matching dark eyes.
He gives her a smile. "Yes, princess?"
"Can we play against Ethan and his daddy?"
Gary gets down on one knee to look her in the eyes. He takes a deep shaky breath before saying, "Daddy got hurt and can't play basketball anymore." It's not a lie, but it's a good excuse.
"Where'd you get hurt?" She looks at him worriedly, so he shows her his right wrist. There is a faint scar on it, but nothing too noticable.
"I broke my wrist a long time ago, so I can't play anymore."
She pouts and hugs him tightly. "I'm glad you're okay, daddy."
Gosh, this little girl melts his heart every day. He'd do anything for her, except basketball. Gary hugs her back tightly and says, "Go have fun. I'm proud of you." She grins as they let go and runs back to the court, leaving the man to sigh sadly.