Chapter 32

Misty frowns at the email in her inbox. She should be happy, but she's not. Two Years ago, she would've been ecstatic; however, this email signals her move from Goldenrod City, if she chooses. It reads that she got accepted to be an Athletics Trainer at Cerulean City University, which is the best swimming university in Kanto.

Misty had applied for the position over a year ago while she was still with Rudy because she didn't like running into her ex-friends in Goldenrod City. She was denied at first, but with a position opening up during the next academic year, they reached out to her. Plus, she'd get to be home with her family, but a part of her doesn't want to leave. One, because Cerulean City bears too many painful memories for her now, especially after breaking Rudy's heart, and two, because a part of her doesn't want to leave her ex-friends again. It must be fate that they're all here at the same time!

She has a week to respond, though, so she'll just take her time to think about it. Misty hasn't seen any of her old friends anyways. At least, not since the day she went to find Gary to give him her letter for Ash.

Ash. The name still pains her. Oh, how she wished she could've told him her feelings for him sooner. How she wished she didn't let him break up with her all those years ago. How he needs to come back and kiss her. A tear slips down her cheek as she thinks about the things she put in her letter to him.

After she broke up with Rudy, she came back to Goldenrod City where she just focused on work. She watched the news more often for any indication of Ash, and she'd be relieved whenever his name wasn't mentioned as one of the Goldenrod City fallen soldiers. Sighing, Misty decides, if she doesn't hear from Ash in a week, then she will accept the Cerulean City position.

Army

Ash writes his Before letters to his mom and ex-friends. He wasn't sure how to respond to Leaf and Gary, especially after not reading Misty's letter, so he only wrote a letter to his mother last time. But now that he's going out on a more dangerous mission with a smaller group of soldiers, he thinks he should write them all a letter.

He chuckles as he realizes how scared he is of death. After seeing what he has waiting for him when he returns, he doesn't want to die. He's terrified of death, but that won't stop him from being the elite soldier he is.

Once he writes letters to his mom, Leaf, and Gary, he's stuck on Misty's. He doesn't know what to write, but that's probably because he didn't read hers. Sighing, he pulls out the envelope from under his mattress. Ash hesitates as he looks at her handwriting: Ash it reads on the front. If he's going to die, he might as well die knowing her last words to him.

Ash, I've written this letter so many times now that my trash can is overflowing. I just want you to know that I'm mad at you. Mad that you decided to run away. Mad that you broke up with me. Mad that you didn't say 'bye' before leaving for war. And mad that you still have my heart.

He rereads that sentence. What? Wasn't she in love with Rudy who's a star athlete?

Yes, I still love you, idiot, so come back and give me a kiss! You promised to never leave me alone, but you did...twice now. I'm so mad at you, and I need to hit that dense head of yours, so you need to come back! Love, Mist

Ash sees the many tear marks on the paper and smiles with tears of his own. He read the whole letter in her voice, which causes him to find himself being more scared of her than the war. Chuckling to himself, Ash runs a hand through his short hair. He needs to go back now. He can't die out here. He won't die out here.

When he pulls out a new sheet of paper to write her, he doesn't know what to say. He doesn't want her to wait for him nor does he want her to know he loves her too because, if he doesn't return, he doesn't want that added heartache on her. Ash groans as he puts the paper away. He won't write to her. Rather, he'll just go back and tell her in person. He owes her that much after breaking her heart all those years ago.

Gary's Apartment

"Phew! Thanks for helping me carry all that stuff, Leaf." Gary sarcastically says to the woman holding a pillow.

"Pillows are essential, Gary." she snaps back. The two are helping to convert one of Gary's spare rooms into a bedroom for Ava. The little girl has been giving her input, but it's been the adults, mostly Gary, doing the lifting. "Can't you just hire people to do this?" Leaf asks the sweaty man.

"I'm not letting disgusting people touch my daughter's stuff." he scrunches his nose up while exiting the room to get more things in the living room. When he returns, the unsuspecting Leaf making the bed tempts him as he tackles her onto the bed.

"What are you doing?" she shouts.

"Wrestling, Greeny." he snickers. Gary has been using the childhood nickname more and more lately, so Leaf's gotten used to it. She's happy to see him returning to his old playful self.

"Too bad, but I'm not giving up!" Leaf exclaims as she pushes Gary around. Soon, the two adults are making so much noise that Ava comes to check on them. Seeing her dad pin her mom to the bed makes the little girl pounce on Gary's back.

"No fair, daddy! You're bigger than mommy!" she shouts. Gary turns his attention to Ava as he grabs her and tickles her, but this gives Leaf the opportunity to grab Gary.

"Let go of my daughter, Gary!"

"She's mine too!" he gasps out while struggling against her. Leaf puts the man in a headlock, so Ava can tickle him, but Gary Oak doesn't give up that easily. He shifts to free himself of Leaf and he grabs the woman to hold in front of Ava.

"Don't move or I'll tickle mommy!" Leaf tries to fight against Gary's hold, but he's too strong for her.

She gives her daughter pleading looks, but Ava just says, "Sorry, mommy. I'm on daddy's team now." As the little girl tickles the very ticklish Leaf that Gary is holding tightly. Leaf is extremely shocked by her daughter's betrayal, which makesGary laugh.

"She's a daddy's girl, Greeny." The doorbell ringing gets his attention, so he frees Leaf, leaving her alone to play with Ava.

When he gets to the front door, the man in the lobby has a package for him to sign off on. It should be a desk for Ava's room, and Gary signs the acceptance form. "Oh, and here's your mail since I'm up here." The man smiles while handing Gary the envelopes.

"Thanks, Mark." Gary says before closing the door. He kicks the package to the side so it's out of the way and then throws the letters on the table.

However, something weird sticks out to him as the letters disperse on the table. One doesn't look like bills, and the envelope is handwritten. Gary curiously grabs it to read the sender as: Captain Ash Ketchum. The auburn haired man eagerly opens the envelope. He's been waiting for a letter from Ash for over a year now, but the first sentence in the letter has him drop everything as he leans on the table in tears.

Leaf, noticing Gary has been gone for a while, takes Ava's hand to see if he needs any help in the living room. When the woman sees the visibly distraught Gary, she quickly approaches him with Ava close behind. "Gary, what's wrong?"

He just shakes his head as his hand covers his face while he sobs uncontrollably. Since Ava is currently hugging Gary's legs to console him, Leaf looks around for what could've caused this usually cool-headed man to cry. She spots an open letter on the table and grabs it.

Hey Gary, If you're reading this, I'm sorry, but I didn't make it.

"No." Leaf gasps. It can't be.

I wish you never got this letter. I wish I could've played basketball with you one more time. I wish we could've been friends again. I'm so sorry, man.

Like Gary, Leaf can't finish reading the letter she too drops on the table. As she cries, Gary somehow manages to grab her into his chest while he cries into her hair.