CHAPTER 4

Ten days passed since the last time Misty talked to Leaf. Her week went hectic as always, getting around fifty trainers for the badge and a new number of students enrolled to her swimming club.

She sighed to herself as she kept the last pair of rubber flippers into the locker. She provided the swimwear from her side for a one year training period. After that the students were supposed to bring their own stuff. She locked the locker door and just then her phone buzzed.

She had made a note to herself to keep taking her medications and for that she had put a reminder in her phone, which just buzzed. She has to agree, the medicines were helping her. She wonders why she didn't take them when Leaf told her to.

Coming out of the changing room area, she locked the door to it and then walked ahead to lock the swimming room's door since all children were gone and it's was six o'clock already.

She pulled the left door and then went to pull the right door and just when she was about to join them together, she heard a loud scream of a female voice which she could faintly recognise.

"WAIT UP!!! I'M COMING!!!"

"YOU'RE LATE!" Misty replied back without giving the person a look, and proceeded with locking the door. She wasn't looking anywhere else than the lock in her hand that she didn't notice a tall male figure approach the door and clear his throat.

"Excuse me mam! I want you to keep the swimming class open for another hour as my mother here needs help." He spoke in one breath, trying his best to catch the face of the person on the other side of the door, but the door was just a crack open.

"I'm sorry we're closed, you're late. Plus I can't provide help to your mom because it's only for children or teens under the age of sixteen!" Misty replied without caring to look up. She needs to hurry otherwise she'll miss her pills.

The person on the other side formed fists in is hands and punched the door strongly. "What rules are these!? This is the nearest swimming class to my house and my mom's here on her doctor's prescription!"

Misty sighed, anger rising in her blood! Whoever this woman is, she's sure that she's the one that had been annoying Darla, her assistant for getting in the class. She threw the lock to the ground and forcefully threw the doors to their respective sides, finally getting to see the face of the person and shove some brains into them. But when she did...

What!? Is it—

"A-Ash! Is that you!?"

Ash froze. "Misty, you own this swimming class?"

"Well duh, didn't you read the sign board when you came in. It's the Cerulean gym Ash!"

Ash slapped his forehead. He did see the sign board but was in too hurry to talk sense into the class owner. But now that he's here, he can only find himself smiling.

Misty allowed the duo in and they talked over how Delia was prescribed to get a hobby and it's the only swimming class nearby.

"But you two could never recognise each other?" Ash asked his mother and Misty together.

"No! She was never the one to talk to me, it was some assistant!" Delia pointed out and Misty agreed to that.

"Yeah, if I knew it was her, I would have never said no!"

"Well, now I want you to teach my mom swimming!"

"Oh I would love to, but are you sure you'll be fine swimming amongst younger kids?" Misty asked, wiggling her eyebrows to her.

"No, not at all! I don't want to be called an old hag! Can you arrange a different time for me?"

"Uhm... this is the only time I can spare. So, you can come from tommorow at this time, that is six o'clock, okay!"

Delia cheered happily along with Ash. Misty smiled at the two. It's been a long time when she saw this eccentric duo last. And it's always heartwarming to do.

"So Mist, do you mind showing me around here, it's been a while since I last came here!" Ash said, standing up from his seat, with a nostalgic smile gracing his lips.

"Sure, why not!"

Misty toured the two throughout the gym. From the actual battlefield to the big aquarium where usually the sensational sisters did their shows. Misty told him everything that had happened within the past eleven years.

She told him how she's the gym leader now and how her sisters' rarely visit her to which Ash pointed out that she loved the situation. Misty could help but smile to herself at the fact that Ash remembered everyone.

Where she used to think that he forgot about her.

"So, what are you upto Ash?"

"Well, I have a gym of my own now. I'm a Pokemon master!" Ash replied, giving his trustee Pikachu a look, who screamed his name with joy.

"That's great news Ash! I always knew you'd be able to do it! So, when am I getting a tour of your gym?"

"Whenever you want! It doesn't look as beautiful as yours because it still needs a perfect building and other things, but I do own a badge of my own!"

Misty smiled and sighed. She remembered her journeys with him. Their useless arguements and how they always came to be the strongest pair our there when it came to Pokemon fights. And how they supported each other through difficult times.

She wished if she could possibly go through the same again.

After a few more minutes, the Ketchums took their leave and Misty was smiling blissful at the encounter. She took her time to lock the doors and climber upstairs to her room and took out a picture of her and Ash, smiling towards the camera when he had won the indigo league.

But then it hit her!

It's was already eight o'clock and she hadn't taken her pill yet!

She ran to her kitchen, slapping her forehead in the process.

"I never knew it was Cerulean gym where we went." Ash quietly talked to himself.

Pikachu woke up from his light nap and went to lie on Ash's chest. Ash started brushing his hands on him.

"We saw her after a long time right!"

Pikachu nodded silently. Ash sighed and smiled to himself.

He always had a weak spot for her and she seems to be hitting the right cords over again.

Maybe it's time he mends the gap between them and fills up the time he lost with her.

He chuckled to himself and turned his head around to stare at the night sky.

The moon looks like Misty today!

"Okay, thank you so much!" Gary put his phone down and sighed again. This was another one of his tries to get a psychiatrist for his grandfather in the last ten days and none has agreed to come home. How is he supposed to do this!?

"What happened Gary, you look stressed out!" Doctor Red asked while putting his belongings back into his briefcase. He was preparing for his leave when he saw the brunet on the couch.

"I don't know doctor! No psychiatrist is agreeing to come home for my gramps. How is he supposed to attend counselling if he can't even move!?"

Red sighed and took a seat next to him. The two sat in silence for a good ten minutes during which Red was thinking hard and Gary was rubbing his temples in frustration.

Red turned around to look at the man. Stress has been taking the best of him. He has bags under his eyes and his bright skin looks paler than the first time he met him. Surely, anxiety is playing with is health badly.

And just then Red realised something and then slapped his palm on his forehead and laughed loudly. Gary stopped and looked at him, bewildered.

"Haha, sorry for the outburst but I realised something! This thing has been staring right into my face and I didn't realise it!"

"What thing?" Gary asked, quite shocked at the sudden outburst. Is Red Ambers making fun of the mighty Gary Oak!?

"Actually, I completely forgot to tell you but I have one friend who's a psychiatrist and she works in the clinic on the outskirts of Viridian city. She's a bit busy but I'm sure she'll be able to give time for online counselling. You can talk to her about video conferencing and arrange it for Professor Oak whenever she gets time! I'm really sorry that I completely forgot about her. And don't worry, she's an awesome doctor!" Red explained with an amused smile on his face when he talked about her.

"If that's the case, then I'll try talking to her. What's her name?"

"Ah, it's Leaf Green. We've been the bestest of friends since the beginning of time. We studied college together and that's how I know her. I still am unable to believe how I forgot about her. Here's her number, or you can always visit her clinic!" Red told and gave Gary a green coloured card where 'Leaf Green' was written, along with her qualifications and her contact number.

Where have I heard this name before!?

"Okay, I'll be leaving now. Make sure to talk to her and if you'll tell her about me, she'll most probably agree to attending to Professor Oak. Good night and make sure you sleep, okay!"

Gary nodded, smiling lightly at how caring Red is sometimes. He's a doctor after all! He kept standing at the door till Red's car left and then closed his door and placed the card in his lab coat, just to make sure he doesn't lose it.

Sighing to himself, he drank water for the very first time during the whole day and went to check on his gramps.

Hearing his loud snores almost made him tear up. His grandfather had always been by his side whenever something wrong happened. And at his wrong moment, he's unable to be of any good help.

"I'll search the whole Kanto for you gramps, but I won't let you suffer!" He said in a small voice almost to himself and then turned the lights off and walked out, closing the door softly behind him.

Behind his back, his elderly grandfather smiled and sighed simultaneously.

I never wanted to worry you this much Gary

that was chapter 4. As far as I can see, people are enjoying the story. Please review people and tell me about something you liked or something you hated. Something you'd like to know about or just your wild suggestions! they are all welcomed.

thanks again for stopping by!

baaii baaii!