Thanks for the likes and reviews! I guess you can say I was feeling a little inspired to write more. :)
Chapter 3
As Ash walks alongside Misty through Pallet's fields of wild flowers towards Oak Laboratory his mind reels as he tries to choose an appropriate topic of conversation. While this meeting has been tremendously more positive than their last run in three weeks ago, tension hangs palpably in the air. Arguing with Reggie and then whisking Misty away from the paparazzi gave him a boost of adrenaline and confidence that allowed him to speak so forwardly with her. Now, he remembers the argument they had three weeks ago just a few miles away; a fight that was reminiscent of the fight that broke apart their friendship four years ago.
"So how's the gym?" He asks, trying to sound casual.
"It's been fine," she sighs.
"Meet any strong trainers lately?" He asks curiously.
"A couple trainers here and there manage to defeat me with well trained grass and electric types," she admits nonchalantly, "I have to give out some badges I suppose."
"Yeah," he agrees. "Or else you wouldn't make a good gym leader if you're too good."
Then he kicks himself for letting the conversation fizzle. Too late now. Ash spots Oak's Laboratory up the hill and sets their pace a little faster. Misty easily keeps up with his fast walk and soon they arrive at the doors of the lab.
"Professor?" Ash asks as they enter through the glass doors.
"We're in here Ash," Professor Oak's voice calls from one of the lab rooms.
Ash and Misty follow the sound to the correct room where they find Professor Oak looking through a glass window. On the other side of the glass window, Misty spots a bold purple egg with squiggly lines on it. Gary Oak is inside the testing room wearing a pair of headphones.
"Ah, Misty," Professor Oak greets, "I'm glad you've returned."
"What's that egg professor?" Misty asks curiously.
"That is the egg you brought to me," he tells her, puzzled, "it seems it has changed in appearance since it arrived."
"It was mostly white - maybe pastel purple when I left." She explains in awe.
"It certainly is strange," Professor Oak hums, "and that's not all. We have been testing the egg daily and found that it emits a powerful signal. We aren't sure what species of Pokemon it is, but I do think it could be an electric or psychic type."
"I can't wait to find out what it is and meet it!" Ash cheers.
"Well that leads me to a question for you," the professor begins to explain, "I would like you both to take this egg out for a little adventure. Take it to Cerulean Gym - the creature inside might be quicker to come out if it senses powerful trainers.
"Both of us?" Misty asks in confusion.
"Why yes. You found the egg, but you are a full time gym leader. I can't expect you to care for such an egg full time. That is why Ash will be its primary caretaker as well as notetaker." The Professor explains matter of factly.
"On it, professor!" Ash answers dutifully, but Misty stays silent.
"Not so sure, Red?" Gary asks as he leaves the egg behind in the testing room. "I can come with you instead of Ashy boy if you would like."
"Gary, no one asked you!" Ash fumes at the thought of Gary taking his place in this mission.
"I'm a seasoned Pokemon researcher," Gary argues smugly.
"He has a point." Professor Oak shrugs. "I suppose it is up to Misty."
Misty blinks in surprise at the opportunity to choose. On one hand, there is Ash. The boy who broke her heart when he left four years ago. On the other, an annoying friend - the insufferable Gary Oak.
"I'm just messing with ya, Red." Gary concedes jokingly. "I have more important tasks here. Ash on the other hand…"
By now, Ash feels his gears grinding. It should have been an easy decision for Misty to choose between himself and Gary Oak. Where was her fire? Misty would have chewed Gary's head off for a suggestion like that four years ago.
"I'm just as valuable as you are, Gary!" Ash bites gruffly, breaking the silence. Gary just shrugs in response.
"We would like to keep the egg for one more night for a few more tests, but you're free to take it in the morning." Professor Oak explains while looking at the data shown on the computers.
The pair agree to return the next morning and then bid farewell to Professor Oak and Gary.
"You don't have to bring the egg to Cerulean." Misty says suddenly as they walk down the hill away from the lab.
"What?" Ash blinks, "but Professor Oak said to bring it to the gym."
"He said bring it on an adventure." She clarifies. "There are plenty of strong trainers out in the world for you to find. Besides, I'm sure you'll make a great trainer for whatever Pokemon is inside."
He stares at her for a moment trying to figure out how to retaliate.
"I told you that I'm back, Misty." He states firmly. "Maybe not forever. I don't know. But I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."
"You'll excuse me if that's hard to believe." She snaps harshly. "You had no problem leaving on a whim last time."
"And you had no problem letting me go!" Ash spits back, suddenly very close to her fiery eyes. "In fact I think the exact words were something like 'go off and have a grand adventure. Find a pretty girl to drag around. See if I care.'"
"And only a dense idiot like you wouldn't understand sarcasm! Who was I to tell you not to leave?" She retaliates fiercely. "Excuse me for thinking maybe all the fun we were having together would be enough of a reason to stay for a while!"
"And I thought all the fun we had would be enough to convince you to come with me like the old days!" Ash argues hotly.
As Misty fumes just inches from his face, Ash feels a raindrop slice down his cheek.
He stares into her burning gaze as long as he can stand to meet it.
"We better get back to my house before it downpours." He suggests coolly; his temper draining as he backs away from her.
"What makes you think I'm going anywhere with you!" She fires back, still enraged.
"You're not walking home through the Viridian Forest in a rainstorm." He insists, feeling annoyed that she is so blinded by her rage.
Just as she is about to shout at him for telling her what to do, the clouds open and rain begins to pour ceaselessly.
Misty growls audibly. Ash can see that she is furious and worked up over the revival of their biggest fight.
"Please come back with me before we get soaked." He pleads softly.
As he catches her gaze again, he sees her fury soften into pain and despair. Then she looks up and groans at the rain already wetting her hair.
She agrees wordlessly and begins jogging towards Ash's house. He follows closely behind.
When they reach the house, Ash opens the front door and holds it open for Misty. The rain had only dampened their clothes thus Misty is grateful to arrive so quickly at the Ketchum residence.
"Ashy?" Delia asks from the kitchen, "dinner is on the table."
"Hey mom," Ash leads Misty to the kitchen, "you remember Misty, right?"
Delia turns away from the dishes she is working on cleaning and is surprised to see her son's very first traveling companion standing awkwardly beside him.
"Raichurai!" Raichu waves and chirps happily from the kitchen counter where he happily slurps on his own designated bottle of ketchup.
"Of course!" she beams. Then she dries her hands and wraps her arms around Misty in a tight hug.
Ash is confused by his mother's intimate actions.
"Good to see you again, Misty," Delia assures her. "Please come sit at the table! There's enough dinner to go around! As long as Ash is willing to share that is!
Ash sighs deeply at his mother's joke.
"Thank you so much, Delia!" Misty says with sincere gratitude.
Delia leans in close to Ash and whispers, "when I said bring home a girl, I didn't expect so soon!"
Ash's face pales at his mother's innuendo.
"Mom!" he hisses. "Misty came back to the lab with me to see the egg she left there and needed a place to stay for the night!"
"Okay okay," Delia says with a giggle, but leans in to whisper again, "just so you know, I more than approve!"
His ghostly white skin heats up and burns in response. He gulps audibly and breathes deeply.
Delia leads Misty to a plate at the table and gestures for her to sit.
"Are you going to eat, sweetie?" Delia asks innocently.
"Yeah," he mutters and finds his own place at the table.
During dinner, Ash is surprised to find out that Misty and his mother have a much stronger relationship than he ever knew. Delia explains that Misty stops by for lunch or dinner every time she comes to town to visit the lab which is once every few months or so. She will even stay the night to avoid the Viridian Forest. Misty will come to Pallet Town to help Professor Oak with water Pokemon research or to receive his assistance. Once in a while she even comes to train with Gary or see their mutual friend Tracey who works at the lab as well.
At the thought of Misty visiting Gary and Tracey, he feels compelled to know more.
"So," Ash pokes, trying to sound nonchalant, "you and Gary?"
While he acts indifferent, he feels an urge to vomit at the thought.
Misty's cheeks and nose light up a brilliant red.
Is she embarrassed because it's true or because she's about to-
"OUCH!" Ash yelps as her shoe jams into his shin.
"Don't make me get out my mallet, Ash Ketchum!" Misty seethes in anger. "You know there isn't a single universe where I would agree to go out with Gary!"
"Uh," Ash fumbles, "what about Tracey?"
Misty jams her foot into his other shin even harder.
"It's just a question!" Ash complains.
Delia stays quiet, but snickers to herself.
"Gary and Tracey are just friends!" Misty insists with a roll of her eyes.
"Well I don't know!" Ash says with exasperation. "You used to read all those romance novels where two friends fall in love!"
"Those are just books," she seethes in return. "Clearly that doesn't happen in real life."
"Fine," Ash says heatedly, looking her straight in her cerulean eyes.
"Fine," she returns, matching his fiery gaze.
The two glare fiercely into each other's eyes for a minute before Delia has the sense to break it up.
"Ash, dear," she stands and taps his shoulder, "set up the television for Misty to watch in the living room please. Then help me clean up."
Ash grumbles as he stands, scraping the floor with the legs of his chair. He stomps off to the living room to do as his mother asked. Raichu trots after him.
"I can help Delia," Misty offers as she stands up and grabs plates to put away.
"Alright," Delia allows, "just with clearing the table though. Ash can help with washing the dishes."
Misty scrapes extra food into the trash bin and then sets the plates by the sink. Then, she and Mr. Mime put away the food while Delia starts washing dishes.
"Is everything alright, dear?" Delia asks Misty softly.
Misty sighs and closes her eyes briefly just wishing she was back at the gym where she wouldn't have to face Ash or his mother.
"Is everything alright with you and Ash?" She presses gently.
"We're not really friends anymore, Delia," Misty admits sadly.
"Why is that?" Delia dares to ask.
"When he left on his last journey we had a fight," Misty shares hesitantly.
"Friends can make up after fights," Delia assures her with a smile.
"Usually," Misty agrees, "but we didn't even talk until three weeks ago. It was four whole years, Delia."
"And before that you were friends for ten, right?" Delia persists. "You traveled the world together."
"Yes," Misty says with a soft nod.
"So your friendship was longer and I think it may even be stronger than your break up," Delia says with a smile reforming on her lips.
"Break up?" Misty mulls quietly to herself at the intimate word choice.
"Alright," Ash reenters with a remote and hands it to Misty, "it's all yours. I set it up on the PokeLife channel for you."
Misty stares at the remote momentarily before taking it from him. They used to watch PokeLife whenever they had sleepovers. She hadn't felt like watching it since they parted.
"Thanks, Ash," she smiles ever so softly at him before leaving for the living room. She has some thinking to do.
Ash wonders what flipped her switch as he watches her walk away. He doesn't even realize he's watching her so intently until his mother clears her throat.
Ash's cheeks tingle as they heat up for the millionth time tonight, and he mumbles, "how can I help?"
"Dry for me?" Delia requests.
"Sure," he mumbles as he grabs the dish towel.
As Delia hands him the wet dishes, he dries them and puts them away into the correct cupboard.
"So what is going on with you and Misty?" Delia asks sternly.
His cheeks retain their pink tinge.
"Uhm," he hesitates, "we just…"
"Had a fight?" Delia helps him along.
"Yeah," Ash admits, "it seems really stupid now."
"What was it about?" Delia asks curiously.
"Just about me traveling again," Ash says simply.
"What else?" Delia pushes.
Ash sighs, not wanting to get into the details, "I just wasn't really nice about it and she was not being flexible."
"Well," Delia hums, "if you are really back for good it's time to fix it."
"I know, mom," he huffs, "but she doesn't seem to want anything to do with me anymore."
"That is not true," Delia points out gently.
"She barely looks my way," he mumbles sadly.
"She is pushing you away because she is upset and she thinks you're going to leave her again," Delia insists gently.
"I'm not!" Ash argues. "I told her I'm back for good."
"It's going to take time and persistence, honey," Delia tells him firmly, "but she'll come around."
"Gary says she's changed," Ash says suddenly. Worry is evident in his voice.
"She has," Delia admits with a nod.
"She seems pretty much the same to me," Ash mumbles.
"That's because she's on the defensive with you, honey," Delia shares, "she really has grown up. Plus she has grown in beauty as well."
Ash doesn't respond, but Delia watches as his ears join his cheeks and nose with a rosy tint.
"I think if you just keep trying to talk to her without pushing too hard she'll come around," Delia assures him.
"I don't think our friendship will ever be the same," he admits sadly.
"No," Delia shakes her head, "but it could be different and maybe even better."
Ash contemplates his mother's words as he finishes drying the last dish and setting it into the rack. Misty and him had a very close friendship before he left. What could be better than that?
"Mimey and I will handle the rest," Delia assures him, "go watch tv with her. Just go be together."
He mumbles in agreement and walks towards the living room.
From the archway, he spots her cuddled up next to the arm of the couch with Raichu curled up on her lap. She tied her hair back in a loose ponytail and pulled a blanket over her body for warmth. She looks so cozy that Ash feels jealous of the blanket.
"I don't need the whole couch," Misty's quiet voice startles him. Somehow she had always had a sixth sense and knew when he was there without turning around.
Ash responds by walking around the couch and sitting carefully on the other end. It is a short couch so his thighs are only a few inches from where her feet are tucked under the blanket, and he is highly aware of that.
"What's on?" he asks casually.
"It's a sitcom made entirely of Pokemon with subtitles," Misty's soft voice is flecked with humor.
"Interesting," Ash comments as he starts to watch the show.
It turns out that the show was funnier than the two anticipated, and they found themselves laughing at the silly antics of the main character, a Machop, who continuously found himself in wacky situations. They barely registered when Delia popped in and said a quick goodnight before heading upstairs. The hilarity of the show helped both young adults to relax. By the end scenes of the fourth episode, Misty's feet had been tucked under Ash's thigh for warmth and neither seemed to notice.
"I suppose you'd like to get to bed," Ash says, "so we can leave early tomorrow."
"Yeah," Misty nods in agreement, "my sisters aren't happy that they have to open for me tomorrow. I had to silence my phone."
"They can deal with it," Ash shrugs his shoulders.
"Yeah," Misty says thoughtfully, "I guess."
"Come on," he stands up and stretches, "let's get you to bed."
"Okay," she agrees and stands with him. She pushes Raichu gently onto the couch where he continues to snooze. Then she covers him with the blanket that was keeping her warm earlier.
Ash leads the way upstairs and opens the door to his room for her.
Misty smiles as she looks over the trophies and badges that decorate every corner of the room. Below the trophies sit numerous tokens from traveling partners and the places he'd been. She could hardly believe this man's claims to settling down.
"You have many accomplishments," Misty compliments quietly.
"I know," he responds without a hint of boastfulness.
"What's your most prized piece?" she asks curiously. Her eyes wander across the momentos.
Ash thinks for a moment and blushes softly when his mind wanders to a small item tucked inside his backpack.
"Well, I, hm, I think..." he stutters as he goes to the bag that sits on the floor by his desk and digs through it.
"Something you take on your travels?" she asks curiously as she sits on his bed.
He hums a confirmation and announces, "aha!"
Misty tries to look around him out of curiosity, but can't see the item until he stands and turns around.
"My best friend gave me this," Ash says, showing off the small, worn, pink handkerchief, "and I've taken it everywhere I go."
Misty's eyes widen at the sight of the pink cloth that she had given him over a decade ago.
"I didn't expect you to still have that," she squeaks in surprise, "it was just to carry lunch the day I went back to Cerulean."
"Yep!" he confirms, holding tightly to it, "haven't gone on a single journey without you, Mist."
She doesn't know what to say in response, but knows her heart has never felt warmer. While she never believed that he walked away from her because he didn't care, she is assured at this moment that that idea couldn't be farther from the truth.
"Ash, what do you want from me?" she asks softly.
"What do you mean?" he questions, sitting next to her on the bed.
"I've been so angry with you for so long," she admits, chewing on her cheek. Tears threaten to fall with any misstep.
"I was mad for a while too," he shares thoughtfully, "but after a while I didn't care about being mad, and I just missed you. It was the toughest region I've traveled to, and I was all alone."
"I'm sorry I couldn't come," Misty admits quietly.
"Why couldn't you, Mist?" Ash asks, hoping for a sincere answer.
Misty hesitates and shakes her head.
"I don't want to talk about it right now, Ash," she bites sourly.
"But you will keep talking to me?" he asks, grabbing her hand firmly in his.
Misty looks up into his eyes seriously, "I don't know."
"Mist," he mumbles, "you have to give me a chance."
"I don't though," she shakes her head defiantly.
"I would really really like it if you would," he pleads, giving her his best Growlithe eyes. "We have such a long history together."
"Arceus, Ash," she snaps in frustration, "I'll think about it!"
That is enough of a yes for Ash Ketchum. He wraps his arms around her and pulls her tight against himself.
Misty's face burns at their proximity, but his hugs are all she dreams about so she leans into it and wraps her arms around his neck. How she wants to run from him and press further into him at the same time is the conundrum that she faces. She hears him mumble something into her neck which causes her to shiver.
"Ash!" she complains, pushing back against him, "I can't hear you!"
"I said I missed you, Mist!" he tells her sweetly without releasing her.
Ash's hands fall across her back and rub her gently. His face is buried in her hair which he notices smells like the ocean and chlorine. Misty can feel how her breasts are pushed up against his chest and his face is tucked deep into her hair, so she continues to blush. Old feelings stir inside her at the thought of how close his lips are to her neck.
"Ash," she whispers in agony.
"Mhm?" he hums vibration of her cheek on her ear makes her melt.
"I just -this, um," she stutters out nervously.
"What?" he asks, pulling away to find her face beet red.
"I just wasn't expecting such a uh," she pauses to find the right words, "a tight embrace."
"Sorry, Mist," he chuckles in response, "I guess I really missed you."
She is stunned into silence by the possible implications, but dares not ask him about it. She wonders if there is more to Ash's choice of words.
"I suppose I should leave you to sleep," he grins and stands again.
Ash digs out an old T-shirt out of his drawers and sets it on the bed.
"That should be comfy for you," he says with a smile.
Misty nods in appreciation. Her clothes still felt slightly damp from their walk through the rain earlier.
Then he goes to grab his sleeping bag from beside his backpack. He spreads his sleeping bag out on the rug and takes one of the two pillows from the bed.
"What about Raichu?" Misty asks.
"He'll probably wake up and come find us in the middle of the night." Ash waves it off.
"I'll be right back." Misty takes her bag and Ash's shirt to the bathroom to change.
Ash turns off the light and settles into the sleeping bag. He sighs happily. From Misty's hostility when they were first reunited he didn't think they'd make it so far in just one month. He hopes he'll be able to squeeze back into her heart. He closes his eyes and thinks about their friendship. Before they parted they had been so close. They had been teenagers then, but Ash had known there was something different about Misty compared to his other friends. She had always been different, but he could never really pinpoint why his feelings towards her were so unique. Then he thinks about the fight they had before he left her, and again wonders why she wouldn't go with him. However, he won't ask again for a while - not until their friendship is solid again.
"Ash?" she squeaks as she pops her head back into the room.
"What is it, Mist?" he asks.
"Don't look," she tells him seriously. He detects the shyness in her voice.
"Yeah yeah," he chuckles.
She grunts in defeat, turns off the light, and enters anyway; sprinting to the bed.
Ash's eyes widen at the sight of her wearing his T-shirt, and he knows he really shouldn't have peeked. He didn't think of it as a big deal when he leant it to her, but he is surprised by how attractive he finds her. In the moonlight, he can see how his shirt fits her like an extremely short dress which attracts his eyes to where the hem of the shirt brushes her upper thighs and leaves little to the imagination. Thoughts about her that he finds inappropriate swarm his head. Quickly, she jumps into his twin bed and covers up. A deep, primal part of himself wishes that the bed was big enough for him too. Well, he could probably fit very snuggly next to her. He shakes his head and curses his mother for giving him the idea. He feels a rush of hormones spike in his body at the thought and groans in response. Then he shifts onto his front side in embarrassment. It had been a long time since he's felt these feelings arise. He had always been able to push them away during his travels despite meeting many beautiful women on his journeys. However, he could never bury them deep enough when Misty was around. He once thought it was simply teenage hormones around a pretty girl, but now he knows that it goes far beyond that.
"What's wrong?" she asks, looking down at him when he groans into his pillow again. He looks distressed as he pushes his face deeper. She wonders why he is unwell.
"Nothing," he snaps. There is no way he could ever tell her about the way his eyes objectify her, and how his body responds to his imagination.
"Sorry." Her words are laced with sarcasm. She knows that something is wrong and she doesn't appreciate his tone.
"I just remembered something that I had forgotten," he tells her defensively, "that's all."
"Okay," she pretends to buy it even though she knows there's more he won't say.
They lie in silence for a few moments as they both try to find the right words to carry on.
"Remember that night when it was just us at your gym?" Ash asks quietly. He tries to look up at her, but can barely make out her silhouette atop the bed.
"Which night?" she asks almost silently. Misty knows the night he is talking about, but doesn't dare mention it.
"The night before our fight," he reminds her hesitantly, "when your sisters had that spa night at the Cerulean Hotel."
"Yeah," she chirps, nodding to herself.
"That was fun," he laughs softly.
"Yeah, it was," she agrees just as softly.
"Yeah," he smiles at the memory.
In the moonlit room, both trainers are stuck inside their heads wondering if they would be able to be close to each other again like they had been four years ago.
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