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Blood Red Roses - Chapter 2

Author's notes: Oooo. Aren't you excited? Well, I am. It's my birthday today and I'm going to London tomorrow! C-ya ^___^

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"Are you alright Ash?" She asked him with concern. She focused just below his eye, where the skin was throbbing a glowing red.

"Ugh, where'd he go?" Ash grumbled in confusion.

Misty gently placed her hand on his temple. "Nowhere. Does it hurt?" She asked, leaning in for a closer look.

Ash propped himself up slightly, and looked around. "Where's he?" He repeated dazedly, blinking repeatedly.

"Nowhere, now settle down." She insisted forcefully, and began removing the gloves from her hands.

Ash dropped down backwards, gazing at the tall ceiling above him. It was striped blue and white, and the stripes warped inwards at the center; they led to a distant shaded area. The left side of his face was screaming with pain, and it seemed to bulge outward below his eye vision.

The only feeling he had, besides the pain, was anger. Anger opposing his best friend - his best man. He looked to Misty's sudden movement. She had gone to the cover of the tent, and was looking outside with searching eyes.

She sighed heavily. "No Brock." She said wearily, and began rummaging through her belongings.

"This'll have to do for now," She rested down beside him again, with a bottle of water in her hand. She dampened a single glove and brought it to his face. "I'm no expert, but I'm sure silk feels better than cloth." She smiled lightly, continuing to dab it against his skin.

Ash accepted her nursing aid, relaxing as the chilled moisture cooled his bruise. He looked at the face beside him. Eyes filled with deep concentration, lips pressed into a firm position; until they'd break into a smile - just for him. Somehow he knew saying 'Thank you' would be worthless.

When she had finished, she placed the glove beside her and kissed his bruise better. "I think it'll be fine now." She examined him once again, and then stood up to her feet.

Ash awkwardly rose up aswell, brushing his black jacket with the back of his hands. He stopped to find Misty watching him calmly; he wasn't accustomed to her pure, angelic appearance.

"I've never seen you look so beautiful." He reached out and touched a lock of her hair, moving it across her bare shoulder.

Misty remained still. His words were like a weight of guilt on her mind. Why had he stolen the words from Brock's mouth? She hated its empty meaning. She felt his eyes continue to look at her, but they soon became distant; he was looking at nothing, no one. What felt like a kiss from his lips touched her cheek, and he proceeded to turn around, making a move towards the exit.

His intentions became clear to her. "Ash--" She cried. "Don't go after him."

He reluctantly turned to her again, his hand still hovering over the tent's cover. "I won't hurt him," He told her. "too much..." He mumbled under his breath.

"Ash, please don't." She rushed to take a hold of his arm. "You've already gotten hurt - don't make a show in front of all those people." She argued.

"Misty, I j--"

"Ash." Her grip had tightened, and he was lost in her pleading eyes below him. "Please."

He exhaled his tension into the air and let go of the cover. "Well, we should get going then. Are you ready?"

Misty felt faint. "What?"

"Are you ready?" He repeated slowly.

Her eyes fell to the ground. The same sickness came over her again - she had to deny it, she had to swallow it down this time. Ash was standing right beside her, waiting for her to say yes.

He still needs you.

She thanked Brock, only a million times in her head. He always helped her - she always needed it. But everyone needed her now. Everyone needed her to follow the dream she'd hidden for so long. She couldn't say no.

She raised her head up again, looking into the eyes of her fiancé. "Whenever you are."

---

Brock looked continuously at everything she had wanted for her wedding. He didn't see Ash anywhere - he hadn't suddenly recovered from the hit and returned for revenge. Maybe he had cooled off... The cloth! Brock jumped up from his relaxed position.

He had strained his thoughts and emotions so much; he had forgotten the one thing she had requested of him. How could he be so stupid? It was one thing after the next.

He turned to look at the tent they were occupying. Of course, it was still possible to remember the things he had just done: kissed Misty, punched Ash. But he found it somehow impossible to know what was going on inside that tent.

He lost his breath as he imagined them emerging from behind the cover.

"Excuse me, are you not the best man?"

He turned to see a frustrated looking woman.

"Yes, I am." Brock replied.

"Come on then, you're late." She turned on her heels, expecting him to follow behind her.

He did, skipping steps to keep up with her fast pace. "I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to be late, I w--"

"No need for apologies," She interjected quickly. "We need to get the Bride and Groom first."

Brock gulped as they rushed up between the two square shaped crowds. All this could be worthless now because of him. He was terrified as he joined the other Groomsmen at the top of the aisle.

"Hey Brock, what took you so long?" Richie moved towards him.

"Oh, I just got caught up in things..." He trailed off into mumbles, his eyes drifting to the long tunnel in front of him.

Gary smirked from beside them. "You were off with one of the bridesmaids, weren't ya?"

"Shut up Gary." Brock grumbled moodily. He was off with the Bride. But of course, it was more than that. A lot more.

Richie grinned, but his look soon became serious. "Why is he always late?"

"Don't worry, he's just putting on his make-up." Gary joked. They both laughed and continued talking, but Groomsman number 1 was isolated with his thoughts.

He wouldn't be surprised if Ash was putting on make-up; it'd cover up the bruise that he had given him. He massaged the skin on his face with his long fingers, stroking downward. His skin was hot and dry. This was hell.

Everyone's excitement was burning him up inside. Every second prodded another image of Ash sprinting up the aisle and calling the whole thing off. Cameras would flash! The whole tragic moment would be captured in eternal life! It would be printed on the front page of every newspaper: 'Ketchum wedding halted!!'

Brock stopped massaging and stilled his quaking face with his palms.

The reasons would probably never be known. Everyone would just assume it was Brock - The Best Man and 'The Lady's Man' - he stole the bride all right. But Brock knew he wasn't a womaniser. It was just impossible for anyone to believe Misty could fall out of love - especially with Ash Ketchum, The Pokémon Master.

"Brock!"

He looked up again. It seemed as if others were constantly interrupting his thoughts. "Hmm?"

"Brock, I just remembered where you need to be." The woman had made her way upto him again. But he was confused.

"Sorry?"

"You're giving Mrs. Ketchum away," She said. "How could we have forgotten that?"

"Aww, ya lucky guy!" Gary jabbed Brock's arm playfully.

Brock ignored his gesture. "Mrs. Ketchum..." He repeated to himself. Had the wedding taken place already? Hope was lost before he could find it. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Did you get much sleep last night?" She joked with a smile, before leading him down the aisle.

Brock followed her incoherently. Sleep? He didn't get a wink of sleep last night. Last night was only 48 hours after he had fought with Misty - 12 hours until the wedding - and 24 hours until Miss. Waterflower would be Mrs. Ketchum - how could he possibly sleep?

"Now, the Bride should be here any second, you just wait here for her. I'll give you the signal." The woman disappeared, and Brock was left standing on his own. He looked around. He was behind all the heads, all the chairs. He could see Gary and Richie making conversation a hundred chairs ahead at the stage.

It suddenly hit him.

He was giving Misty away. How could he have forgotten that? He remembered weeks and months ago, when everything was the way it should be; a couple and their friend were discussing the wedding.

Who's going to give me away?

She was wrapped up in Ash's arms some way or the other. It didn't matter to him back then.

What about Brock?

Ash suggested. Ash hadn't the best knowledge of weddings, and it was a strange arrangement; the 'planning committee' had objected to it at first. Afterall, Brock's place as Best Man was already cemented in the ground. But Ash and Misty's words were final.

Brock had accepted this assignment of course. For so many years he considered himself to be their guardian, maybe they saw it like that aswell. Now that they didn't need him, they needed each other. Watching them today - that was supposed to be the last stepping stone across a wide river. But somewhere along the way he had stumbled and fallen. Now the task of leading Misty up the aisle was a heavy burden rather than a pleasure.

"Brock."

That voice could never interrupt his thoughts.

"Misty, I..." His words trailed off. He watched as she took her place beside him. A few heads were turning at this point, finding the sight of her irresistible to the eyes.

"Ash is fine now, it's OK." She told him gently. She tucked her arm in underneath his and beamed up at him. "I'd forgotten you were giving me away."

Brock stood stiffly. Something was wrong.

It wasn't just the feel of her pressing his arm, or the fact that their last meeting had ended with a kiss. It was the smile painted on her face, painted over sorrow. She was concealing pain and fear; he had seen it in her tears. Now everyone was seeing a new face.

"I was just going to say that I'm sorry." He told her. He still had time. He had his eye on the woman about to make signals at them.

She smiled at him again. "Brock, it's alright. I told you--"

"I'm not talking about Ash."

Her smile disappeared, but she showed no surprise. The face underneath her smile knew his meaning already. "Don't be sorry about that."

Her words confused him. He hesitated with a reply, a question. He had an urge to ask her why not, but it just seemed stupid. "Yes, you're right," He mumbled. "It was nothing - you guys are getting married and that's all that matters." Brock said in soft candor.

Misty looked at him again ruefully. "I didn't say that."

Brock caught sight of the signal woman - flapping her hands frantically. "What?"

"I'll always love you Brock."

He looked to her unchanging expression, there was warmth; there was the sweetness of truth.

He longed to open his mouth, to break through this dream; but he looked up ahead, hearing the sudden explosion of sound into the air. Violins played, reaching his ears like underwater currents. He instinctively began walking with the rhythm, Misty following along at his arm.

The surroundings were surreal, so much beauty, so many people.

But his skin tingled, his face was frozen with shock, and his heart was aching with pain. That was real.

Each step brought him closer and closer. He dreaded the melody's end.

"Thank you." Misty mouthed as they reached the top. She slid her hand down to his and secretly held it.

She slid away a second later, Brock moved aside quickly. That must have been the longest leap between stepping stones ever.

They had rehearsed this scene a million times before, but he'd never been so anxious to stand beside his best friend. Ash didn't look at him twice. His eyes were fixated on his beautiful bride.

Throughout the ceremony, the cold sweat gathered on Brock's hands. He jingled the two rings inside his pocket nervously. It was the biggest lie of her life, and she kept it to keep everyone else happy. He was feeling the pain that she was hiding.

Why couldn't she make herself happy? Make him happy...

"I do."

Brock had given up the rings now. He was feeling numb. He had lost her.

And as they joint together for their kiss, Brock moved his eyes to an arrangement of roses close by.

Blood red roses. It was her choice.

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Author's notes; Well, I have one thing to say. You're lucky I wrote the two pieces together before showing it. Because you know I wouldn't have finished it ^__^ I give up all the time, what can I say - I'm a loser. heh. ^_^;; Anyway, getting back to the story, how'd ya like it? I know, I know, it sucked. And I know, I know, poor Brock. But poor Misty aswell, and if you want to go even further, poor Ash, and poor Gary, and poor Richie, and poor Woman person, and of course poor Pikachu - I didn't even put the little critter in this ;P ha.