"Ya know," Ash grumbled through a mouth full of food, "This really isn't all that bad," He was sitting alone in the empty cafeteria of the G-Men Headquarters, having a mindless discussion with the Pikachu on his shoulder and his Espeon lying across his lap.

Pikachu nodded distractedly, trying to pop off the lid to a ketchup bottle, "Chu pika pika?"

The raven haired ex-Rocket, had taken a liking–or as he had begun to think of it anattachment- to the little mouse over the past day. After reclaiming Espeon from his possessions, the electric rodent had begun following him around, jumping on his shoulder and talking to him at every possibility. At first it had been a nuisance, but then after a while it just felt… Natural.

As for the others, that Misty, Alyssa and… He still didn't believe this one; his mother. They had stuck to shadowing him, he was trained to know when he was being watched or followed. And although the blonde was far better at it than the other two, probably due to her so called Rocket training, he could still spot them out in a heartbeat.

Like now, standing in the shadows of the entrance to cafeteria behind him was the red head watching him rather apprehensively. He was still unsure if everything was truly happening. That he'd been captured by the League forces, met the two girls who had taunted him, learned that he was some tool of Giovanni's…

He shook the thought away, he'd have his answers eventually. But right now he was rather… Happy? He smirked a little at the thought, this was the first time in God knows how long that he had free time to do whatever the hell he liked.

And right now, whether he looked like a slob or not, he was stuffing his face with whatever they had in stock in the cafeteria. And he was enjoying it.

"So tell me," He paused to take a sip of some wine which he had liberated from a hidden cellar. Apparently there was a limited supply, and it was only supposed to be used for official meetings or celebrations. But in this instant? That rule didn't apply to him.

"Why did I supposedly get you for a starter?" He asked the little mouse, "If Oak hands out a Charmander, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle to new trainers?"

Pikachu gave up his attempt at opening the ketchup bottle and handed it to Ash, "Cha pika, Pikachu Pikapi chu kaka." He replied as Ash undid the cap and handed him back the bottle.

He scratched Espeon under the chin, a scoff escaping him, "Please, I slept in? I'll be damned if that happened," He took another sip of his wine before continuing, "Well, actually I'll be damned if it didn't happen, there hasn't been a day since being with TR that I've slept in… Odd." He shifted on the bench of the table thoughtfully.

"But maybe I have slept in, an-"

"Chu pika pika chu," Pikachu interrupted.

Ash let out a genuine laugh, something which he hadn't done in months, "That doesn't happen anymore, I would wake up at the slightest sound," He started to speak louder, "Even the sound of a sneaker scuffing on the ground," Turning around he raised an eyebrow at the stunned redhead, "Look, if you want to say or talk to me or anything I'm not gonna kill you."

He turned back to the table and took a fry, "I got a deal goin with Cynthia so no… Violent outbreaks, or killing sprees," The muffled sound of sneakers quietly approaching him from behind kept him talking, "Although that may not be entirely under my control." He looked back to Misty who stood nervously behind him, poised as if she was ready to sprint out of the room and sound the alarm in an instant.

"Tend to get a bit cranky," He chuckled at the word, "at times if I don't take my meds. Headaches, hallucinations, I'll even go out on a limb and say lucid dreams." He placed the fry in his mouth and chewed slowly.

Misty was not as tense as she had been, her shoulders were relaxing, and her posture wasn't as stiff. However her eyes show curiosity mixed in with anxiety. "If you've come to talk then sit down. If you've come to stare, I'd rather you do it from a distance, my space is my own and I'd like it to not be filled with people staring at me like I'm a psychopath," With that he spun around, and resumed eating.

Returning to his conversation at hand with the electric mouse, he stroked Espeons fur thoughtfully, which earned a delighted purr in response, "Other than you, Esp, and the ones I've seen from the League tapes, which other Pokemon do I own?" He asked looking to the eagerly licking Pikachu on his shoulder.

"Chu pi pika, kaka, pikachu pika pi chu Pikapi,"

He tilted his head slightly, "Not bad," He mumbled approvingly, "Once this is all over, I hope you're all not disappointed when we don't enter any more Leagues,"

"PI!?"

"WHAT!?"

He smirked, "So she talks?" He took his glass of wine and shook its contents. Deciding it could use a refuel, he took the bottle and refilled it to just under the rim. Placing the bottle back down he took a sip and sighed, "Are you going to sit down now? I mean am I in your seat or something, if I am say so and I'll slide over. But please just sit down; having you watch over my shoulder is just a nuisance."

After a brief pause, there were three footsteps until Misty sat down on the bench beside him, stiff and feeling uneasy. He took the wine and slid it in front of her, "Take a sip, it'll calm your nerves," He advised.

She looked at him, her cerulean eyes searching his face for something until her attention was brought back to the glass. Hesitant she delicately picked it up and brought it to her lips, taking in the cold liquid and savoring its taste, before setting it back down on the table.

"Better?"

She nodded slightly, tucking a stray strand of orange hair behind her ear. They sat in silence, except for the slurping of Pikachu and his ketchup bottle, and the occasional purr from Espeon.

"Why…" She trailed off as soon as she begun. Her voice just under a whisper, barely audible to Ash.

He sat there without saying anything; if she was going to ask him something then she'd do it on her own. If anyone should have been having trouble speaking it should have been him, not knowing who he was, not knowing his past, his future, family, the list goes on.

But this girl, woman, whatever you want to call her thought he was dead. Big deal! Suck it up and move on. Well that's how he saw it anyway.

She once again opened her mouth to speak but know words came out, so she quickly shut it.

"Drink," He stated nodding slightly to the glass of wine before taking a few fries and one by one placing them into his mouth. He watched as she took a few more sips, a small smile crept its way onto his face at how lady like she looked. "Better?"

She took a deep breath and nodded, "Why are you acting like this?" She whispered looking away from the glass and into his eyes.

"I'm hungry?" He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, he gestured to the plate of fries, "Want some?"

She continued to stare at him, a frown mixed with the barest trace of a smile on her face. Slowly she reached over and removed a fry from the plate and stuck it into her mouth, chewing slowly.

He watched her and chuckled slightly, drawing her attention. "What?" She asked slightly confused.

"Nothing, now what were you saying about me acting the way I am?"

She paused, feeling slightly uneasy, "Two days ago, you were ready to tear our throats out,"

"Still am if I need to,"

She tensed slightly at his cool demeanor, "Drink," she did as told and had another sip of wine.

Swallowing nervously she continued, "And now, your acting as if you haven't got a care in the world. You've done a full one eighty…"

He nodded thoughtfully, choosing his words carefully, "It's easier to be something you're not instead of yourself,"

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"It's easy for me to go around being a hard-ass, and cussing like a sailor at any time. Not sure why, but it's like second nature to me. While it's very rare for me to be myself with my reputation. How can I make friends when everyone avoids me for being a killer or some…?Specimen" He spat the word out bitterly, a hard light entering his eyes, "I can only care for those who allow me. And right now that's only Espeon… There was someone else…" He trailed off his voice getting distant as he thought of the blonde Team Rocket member who he had trusted for the past year.

"Who was it?" She asked carefully, she could see the shift in his posture as well as the tone in his voice that this was possibly dangerous territory to be going in.

"No one," He stated reaching for the glass of wine and downing the rest of its contents before refilling and placing it between them. "Doesn't matter… Yet."

A long silence fell between them, with no one entering the cafeteria or walking by. Pikachu had long finished his bottle of ketchup and was now fast asleep while draped over Ashs shoulder.

"Got any stories?" He asked curiously, getting up from his seat and bringing the tray of wrappers to the garbage.

"Stories?" She asked uncertainly, as Ash disappeared around the counter of the cafeteria and out of sight.

There was a call from the kitchen, "Yeah something that may spark a memory or something? While I'm back here do ya want anything?"

She laughed softly, "If you see something good then sure," She then bit her lip nervously. What story could she tell!? She then changed the thought, what story shouldn't she tell. The gym battles, Leagues, travelling tales, adventures, the list went on.

He returned from the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn a minute later and set it next to the wine, "Better leave something for the others, so this'll have to do,"

"It's like a dream," She stated taking a handful of popcorn, she looked over and saw the raised eyebrow asking her to elaborate, "Everything that's happened, a very long, very bad dream…"

"Surely not all bad, I mean there has to be at least one bright spot in the past however long this has been going on," He ate a few pieces and then had a sip of wine.

There were, but all of them involved the time she spent with him once he returned. That was the most… Unbelievable, fantastic… Indescribable day of her life. "There were a few times," She said slowly.

"Like?"

"The day you came home to Pallet, the greatest day of my life."

He scoffed, "Of your life? Really?"

She nodded seriously, "We all thought you were dead, it had been four years, four years of uncertainty, of… Pain… But oh god you had it worse Ash, what you told us… What Alyssa has told us…" She shook her head as she began to shake.

"Drink," He said softly eying the girl curiously. She was a talker once you got her going, and hell he could probably get her life story if he got her drunk. He watched as she took the wine and drank half the glass, "Now deep breaths and then continue,"

After inhaling and exhaling deeply for a few moments, she swallowed the lump in her throat and continued.

"You should be dead," She whispered motionlessly. It killed her to say it, but it was absolutely true, "You've been cut… stabbed… shot, broken, you should be a fifty feet under but you're not."

"I should be. I should have been dead years ago, but I'm not." His auburn met her cerulean, "And I wish I was,"

Her mouth drooped open slightly, sadness washing over her as she felt heaviness enter her heart, "Why?"

He laughed; it was devoid of any humor, or happiness. It was hollow, cold, a very chilling laugh, "There is nothing out there for me." He began slowly, "For the rest of my life, I'm going to be known as the guy who disappeared, came back, and then died on national television. I'm going to be known as a killer, as a member of Team Rocket. I was a Trainer before all of this happened right?" He asked curiously, she nodded, "Can't do that anymore, they would never allow a Trainer like me to be a face for the Pokemon League, let alone a Master. I'm not a role-model for the next generation, I could have been had Giovanni never fucked with my life!" He clenched his fist tightly trying to contain his anger, with every passing moment he wanted Giovanni's head on a silver platter. When he got the chance, God was he going to murder that son of a bitch!

"Ash?" Misty whispered nervously, she could see the anger building up in him. Veins were starting to show in his arms as his fist clenched tighter and tighter.

His eyes darted away from hers, "Yes?" He whispered through grated teeth.

"Drink?" She asked quietly sliding the glass in front of him. He stared at the wine, extending his hand, he stopped immediately.

What. The Hell. Was he doing!? He was drinking his god damn problems away. He… He inwardly cursed himself, if he got drunk in his current state or any state at all. He'd be digging his own grave.

He shook his head, scooping Espeon up into his arms, "No, I'm gonna take a walk… Clear my head," He gave her a slight nod before hurrying towards the cafeteria door.

"Can I come?" She called after him.

He stopped at the door, contemplating her request, before he slowly shook his head, "No, better I go out on my own." And then after a long pause he added, "Sorry."

With that he left.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

He strolled aimlessly around the massive building. He needed something to get his mind off the subject at hand. Go see the Champions? They'd probably give him work or something to do, and as far as he was concerned today was his day off. Tomorrow he would help out, unless it was urgent.

He could go to the gym, work out or head to the pool… The pool sounded nice, they probably had a hot tub, which would be relaxing. Drown his thoughts away in steamy hot water… He could go outsi- he tossed the thought aside as soon as it entered his mind. G-Men didn't trust him enough to let him out yet.

From what he knew there wasn't a break room or anything… The place was quite the big disappointment thinking about it. He stroked Espeons soft magenta fur absent mindedly; the purple cat had dozed off in his arms and was purring silently. While Pikachu snored quietly on his shoulder, ears drooping to the side.

Making the decision, he decided to head back to his room for a nap. Right now there was no better way to kill time then sleep. Heading towards the barracks, he passed many G-Men officials, getting that look that made him want to punch them in the face, every time.

He was a few doors away from his room when he stopped cold in his tracks. From the other side of the door in front of him, he could hear a harmonica playing quietly. But that's not what stopped him, what stopped him was the song that was being played.

Pyrite huh?

He blinked as he heard himself speak.

I hated it there... I prefer it here, then that hell hole any day.

Pyrite City, located in the south western portion of the Orre Region. Population five thousand, mainly convicts, thugs, and petty thieves. He recited in his mind quickly.

Was Pyrite important? It must have been, why else would he have heard himself and… Alyssa? Was this her room? He raised his hand and knocked on the door without thinking. The harmonica came to a stop and there was a muffled thump on the other end, before the door handle shook, twisted and opened.

"Ye-Ash?" She finished in a whisper with wide eyes.

"Sorry for interrupting you, but I heard… Was that you playing?" He asked curiously getting straight to the point.

She nodded, her blue eyes filled with confusion, "Have I heard it before?"

Once again she nodded wordlessly; it just seemed unreal that Ash was here. Talking to her. Without cussing his brains out.

"When?" It took a minute for what he said to click, but when it did she looked away from him and gestured for him to follow her in.

The room was neat, slightly larger than his. A bed, dresser, mirror, and a bathroom. She sat down on the bed and swallowed nervously, as Ash cautiously entered the room, "Did… Did you remember?" She whispered. Her tone belayed curiosity and the nervousness in her tone .

"I think so… I heard you playing, and then I heard us speak. That's it… You dislike Pyrite?" He asked sitting down next to her on the bed, placing Pikachu and Espeon onto the bed.

"Your calm, not shouting, or swearing. And you've got Pikachu with you," She said quietly.

"I've grown attached to the little guy, he's good company." He looked carefully at the blond, she was sitting slightly defensive, her arms crossed over her chest and had her eyes cast down, "You're scared," He said softly.

She looked up caught off guard at the remark, "No I'm just confused," she answered removing the green beret from her head and holding it in her hands.

"About?"

She paused, "You don't know who I am right?"

He was slightly taken aback by the question, but he replied, "That depends on how you look at the question. I know, and knew you from what I've gathered. I knew you before Team Rocket…" He stopped unsure of what to say.

"Faked your death?" She answered, before adding in, "The second time."

He laughed softly, which brought a small smile to her face. "Yes the second time, you were… We were friends yes?"

"The best of," That brought a small grin to his face.

"And now, I recognize you. I may not… Remember everything about you, but it's coming back. Faster now without the drug. Just as it is with Misty and Pikachu…"

"Are you ever going to fully remember?"

He paused his face turning serious, "Tell me, say I never remember everything," She nodded gesturing for him to continue, "Would you still be… My friend?"

"Of course," She replied instantly, which brought the smile back to his face.

"How come? I'm basically a strang-"

She cut him off, "You may not remember but you're still Ash," She said sternly, "You and I… You are and will always be my best friend Ash. Nothing could ever change that; I'll always be your friend, now, a week, a year from now, always."

"We've been through a lot together?"

She leaned against his arm, and sighed, "More then you could ever imagine,"

He smiled softly, talking with Misty and now Alyssa felt… Right. As long as he kept his temper in check, it felt natural talking to these two. Even with Pikachu, that persistent little electric mouse, talking with him felt right, natural.

His thoughts drifted back to the harmonica, when he had asked she had closed herself off immediately. The inadvertent change in topic, as well as her body language. The song held a deeper meaning then just some random riff. He knew enough about music to understand that some songs hold a memory or special place with a person. Such as the song that a bride and groom dance to for their first dance, or the favorite song of a person played at their funeral.

The song she had played had held a deeper meaning.

He'd wait until later, until he got to know her better to ask about the song. Right now though, he decided it would be best to drop off his Pokemon in his room before going to find the Champions before turning in for the night.

"Alyssa?" He asked softly. She mmm'd in response, "Thanks for talking with me,"

She smiled looking up from where she was leaning to his face, "You don't need to thank me, we're friends right?"

He couldn't help but smile, three, maybe four including Cynthia, friends added to his small list in a matter of hours. And he had that feeling again that these were people he could trust, that he'd feel safe by in a dangerous situation.

"I'm gonna head to my room, drop these to off to get some sleep. So I'll talk to ya later?" He asked as she stopped leaning and helped place Pikachu onto his shoulder as he scooped up Espeon.

"Sure thing, I'll see you in the morning Ash. Sweet dreams," She said softly as he left for the door.

"Goodnight Aly, sweet dreams," He walked out the room and towards his room. Leaving a shocked Alyssa standing in disbelief by herself.

A smile crept across her face before it turned to an ecstatic grin.

He's remembering, it may be slow going. But it's only a matter of time…