We are lost AGAIN! All because you can't read a simple map, you should stop trying to be a Pokémon master and join a school first. Misty screamed yet again. The trio is currently somewhere in a forest on their way to the Ekcruteak city.
"Well, and then why don't you take the map and HELP US!" Ash yelled back. Pikachu was ready to use his thunderbolt if the fight became serious.
"Can you two stop bittering for a second, I am trying to concentrate" Brock said in a serious tone.
Ash and Misty glared at each other and crossed their hands on the chest and faced away from each other. Pikachu sighed at his master. They are sixteen for god sake, when will they stop acting like babies?
"Hey, are you lost pretty Lady?" a wanderer asked Misty. All of them turned around to see him. Ash frowned at him. He looked like someone of brock's age, probably 18 years old. He charmingly smiled at Misty. "No, we are perfectly fine here" Ash interjected coldly in between him and Misty. Misty glared at Ash again, what was he trying to do? of course they were lost. Misty shoved him away and spoke to the boy, "Yeah we are lost, do you know the way out of here? My name is Misty"
"Of course, I do, I was crossing this forest and heard you scream so I thought maybe I could help you, by the way I'm Derek, I am a Pokémon watcher." Derek winked at Misty. Misty blushed. Ash frowned again.
"Thanks Man" Brock greeted Derek.
They continued their journey with Derek leading the way, the whole time he was talking with Misty. Ash frowned at the back, "He doesn't even know Misty, she is a hothead and she's not even that pretty, why is he flirting with her?". Pikachu replied with a sweat drop, "pikapi pika chu"
"Oh no, he is not my boyfriend, he is just a reckless trainer I met 6 years ago" Ash heard Misty say. Her face was red. Of course, he was not her boyfriend, why do people always think like that? and why does he feel bad when they deny it every time?
Brock saw Misty's blushing and ash's frowning and smirked to Pikachu. It wasn't difficult for the Aspiring breeder to know that these two dense people have always liked each other romantically. Though it was easier to guess about Misty's crush, Ash was a difficult one, mostly because he didn't know about his feelings himself.
Time passed. "I guess we should camp here, it's getting late" Derek suggested. Brock and Misty agreed. They were near a stream of river, much to Misty's liking. They started to set up the camp and brock started cooking. Misty noticed that Ash was surprisingly quiet today, so she went over to talk to him but he went away with the excuse that he had to fetch wood for the camp fire. Misty sighed and went back to tug togepi in the sleeping bag.
At the Camp fire, all of them sat and ate the stew that brock made, "Brock this is the tastiest stew I have ever eaten, when Misty told me that you are good at cooking, I never thought this good" Derek said smacking his lips. "What a fake" Ash murmured under his breath. They continued chatting, mostly Misty and Derek were talking. Ash had never seen Misty talking to a boy like this before and the scene was hurting him. It was like a hitmonchan was punching him in the stomach. Why was he suddenly feeling so unwell? He couldn't take it anymore. "I am going to sleep; I have to train tomorrow" Ash announced and went to his sleeping bag. Pikachu followed him.
Soon after, all of them went to their respective sleeping bags.
Late at night Misty woke up by some sound, she feared at it was a bug Pokémon, she quickly put her hand at her poke belt to choose starmie. but then suddenly she saw that Ash was not in his sleeping bag. Pikachu was alone sleeping blissfully. Misty ran her hands on Pikachu's fur and smiled.
She walked out of her sleeping bag to find Ash and saw him by the river throwing stones in it. Sitting alone.
"Ash? What are you doing here alone?" Misty asked in a concerned tone.
"Nothing, go back to sleep or go talk to your new boyfriend" he replied in an irritated tone without even turning back to look at her.
"what's wrong with you? he is not my boyfriend, I just met him!" Misty walked forward sat next to him on the stone.
"I am not blind, you were talking to him like you know him for years, you never talked like that with me or brock" Ash replied, there was disappointment in his tone.
"Ash Ketchum, are you jealous?" she asked with playfulness. Is Ash Ketchum really jealous because of her? Does this mean even he likes her? Misty blushed at her thoughts.
Ash blushed, "No, why-y would I-I be jealous" he replied in a hushed tone. Misty glared at him. Mew he looks so cute in the moonlight, Misty thought. "I just thought you like spending time with him, you don't even scream at him, he must be good' Ash continued.
Misty sighed and placed her head on his shoulder, she could feel Ash's body freeze but herself was not in a better state. It just felt good to do this after trying to find a moment for so many years. The only intimacy they ever hard were when they were fighting or when we would fall in Team Rocket's stupid holes. "You know I only like to spend my time with you and brock, well more specifically you, And I just talked to him because he initiated and he is an easy person to talk to, we have the same interest in water Pokémons. That's it" Misty explained.
"So, you don't like him, you know like girlfriend boyfriend type?" Ash inquired. Misty looked at him and smiled calmy, "do you think if I liked him, I would be out here with YOU, Resting my head on YOUR shoulder?"
"umm, no" he rubbed the back of his neck. "so does that mean, that you, um, like m-me?" Ash felt his whole body warm up specially his cheeks. Why does he have to ask this question? What if she says no? what if she laughs at him?
"Ash, you are really the densest person on this Earth, you never get the hint" Misty sighed playfully. This is Ash, why does she ever expect him to make a move. But she is happy at the moment. She is out here under the stars alone with the love of her life, where she could hear the sound of her favourite element. She doesn't want anything more from him or life right now.
Ash didn't reply for a minute. He was too absorbed by the surrounding, especially the redhead on his shoulder. This feels so good he thought, I don't know what I am feeling, it feels so warm and strange yet familiar, it is as if Pikachu is using light thunderbolt on me. He paused for a second and a sudden realisation ran down his spine. Does this mean I like her? Well, that's what Brock would have said. Maybe he is right. I guess this is love. I do want this for my whole life and I only what this from Misty Waterflower. Yes, I do Love her. OMG, I love her. I am in love with my best friend.
"Misty, I Love you" Ash said with pure excitement. Ash never thought before he said something. Always the type to speak his mind. Misty's heart stopped. What did she hear? Was she dreaming again? Did Ash Ketchum, the guy she has been crushing for since they were 10 years old, finally reciprocated her feeling? She wasn't able to breath. "what did you say?" she asked softly, almost like a whisper.
"Misty, I love you, I just realised. But I know I felt this way for a long time, I just didn't know what it was. Now that I know, I just want to be with you my whole life. You are a little crazy and gets mad really quickly but I still like you in spite of the fact that you can kill me any day with your mallet" Ash said in a monotone without realising how fast Misty's heart was beating. He was just smiling at her with his charming boyish grin that Misty just loved.
Misty couldn't take a second more and just crashed her lips on his soft ones. Mew she loved him and he loved her back. Ash was taken back for a moment but kissed her right back. This was just perfect. It wasn't exactly a passionate one but it was sweet considering that it was their first kiss. Ash's hands ran back at her waist whereas Misty's hand found its way in his raven locks. He was holding on her tight. Misty wasn't able to believe that this was actually happening. She had dreamed about this so many times. But the actual feeling was beyond that.
Unfortunately, they had to break apart because of lack of air. Both their faces were red and what they felt was so new to them. This adrenaline rush was similar to what Ash felt before a Pokémon match but this, had a certainty to it. Misty smiled at him and he smiled back. They were lost in each other's gaze.
"UHM" they heard a voice and turned back to see brock with a camera. "well, I just won 50 bucks from Tracey, all thanks to you both" Brock smirked at the new couple. Ash's mouth fell, he was too embarrassed to be seen kissing by one of his friends. Whereas Misty was angry that brock and Tracey made a bet about her love life and now took a picture of her kissing Ash.
Next day, the group finally crossed the forest and reached Ekcruteak city. Misty and Ash were holding hands for the first time, although Ash felt slightly uncomfortable, it was better than facing Misty's wrath. Plus, it wasn't that bad. Bad was the bump on Brock's head that he got last night from Misty's mallet. Derek was just smiling at his new friends. He was sure from the starting that Misty had a thing for this kid.