A/N: Chapter 7, it's coming to an end

A/N: Chapter 7, it's coming to an end. I've decided there will be an eighth chapter, but it will be more of an epilogue – a dedication to friend of mine.

Ok, before I burst out into tears, here it is:

It's Between Two Hearts

Chapter 7: End of the Circle

Misa sat down on her bed, Misty following. She couldn't believe that Misty and Ash had gotten together! She wasn't sure why, but it just didn't sit right. Am I jealous of Ash?

"What's on your mind, Mis?" Misty asked, worried. Misa had a vacant look on her face, but Misty knew her well enough that she could see behind the blank stare and find her true emotion: confusion.

"Are,…are you and Ash…happy? Together?" Misa prodded tentatively. Misty was suddenly lost in her own world; Misa crashed into one of reality. That clinches it.

"Yeah, we definitely are. I love him so much, Misa, it's wonderful! I've never felt more…more complete, in my entire life." Misa weakly smiled, but Misty was so lost in emotion she didn't even notice.

"Complete? You mean, completely complete?" Misty laughed.

"Of course, silly! I'm finally whole…Misa, what's wrong?" She finally saw the confusion turn to pain as Misa's eyes began to water. She turned away, trying to hold back the tears.

"Why can't I be that way?" she said in a hoarse voice. Misty was at a loss. "Why am I losing so much? I can't seem to keep hold of things in my life anymore! What did I do wrong?"

"Misa…what are you talking about?" Misa jumped away violently. Misty was definitely scared.

"What do you think?! I've been alone for six years, Misty! I was in a different country, without anybody but my parents. I had friends, but they couldn't replace what I had with you. That trust, that warmth was never there. And as I started to grow up a little, my parents were more and more distant. My need for independence started to kick in, so they agreed to let me leave when I turned 18. So I did, and let go of even them, the last people I had! I wasn't even sure you were alive, Misty. There was such a time gap between your sisters sending a letter and me receiving it, then replying. How did I know you weren't dead, or had just forgotten about me in that time? Then, I find you and my parents die. They died coming to see me! What did I do to deserve that?! What was so terribly wrong about my life, that they had to ripped away from me, before I even got to see them again?!" Misa was screaming at the top of her lungs, her face soaked with tears, yet red hot with anger. The full force of her loss, the loss that Misty had helped lock away, was finally being released. Denial was over, and anger was in full force.

Misty could barely stand to look into the girl's eyes. This wasn't her best friend, not the one she knew.

"Misa, I don't know…it was a freak accident, it could've happened to anyone!" At that moment, she was sure Misa was about to slap her.

"Why me!?! Why couldn't it happen to, to…I don't know, you're precious Ash, huh?" It was Misty's turn to be angry.

"Now wait just one damn minute, why are you dragging Ash into this? What did he ever do to you? You've known him two days!"

"I don't know, what did he do, huh? What did I do? What made us so different that his parents couldn't be dragged away from him!?" She started to tromp around the room in circles.

"Why him, Misa? Why didn't you use me or my sister-" then it hit her. Only a glancing hit, but it finally hit her. "You're jealous, aren't you?" Misa glared at her full force.

"What did you say?" An icy cold venom dripped from each word.

"You heard me. You, Miss Misa Petal, are jealous of me!" Misa flared.

"Why the hell would I be jealous of a spoiled little bitch like you?" Misty ignored the pain of the word and pointed an accusing finger.

"Ha! There, that proves it! You're so upset that I'm finally happy in life! Especially at a time that you're not! Well I'm sorry if I can't help it, but I don't see why I should put my happiness on hold just for you!" Misa simply absorbed the hurt. She couldn't stand it now, there was nothing left to do but to take everything in. Then I can throw it right back!

"Happiness? Oh yeah, of course you're happier than me, you totally ignored the fact that everyone under this damn roof thought we were lesbians! Oh, or didn't you know that?" she asked once Misty's expression had changed. "Even your thick-headed little boytoy thought that. They've thought that since we were ten, Misty. Ten years old and they thought we were in a relationship!!! Whaddya say to that, huh? Are you all nice and happy now? Well?! Are you!?" Misty was glued to the spot. Lesbians!!

"You're…you're insane."

"Oh am I? Why do you think Ash attacked Brock like that? It's because Brock said he thought that! They all thought it, especially your sisters!" They were both near tears. Ash attacked him for that? She quickly tried to think. That wouldn't have made him mad unless…. Her head shot up confidently.

"So you automatically hold that against them? Ash might have thought that, but that doesn't mean he believed it. Why else would he have confessed he loved me?" Misa stared dumbly. "Didn't think about that, did you? So you are jealous, but not just of the fact I'm happy, but because I actually have trust in people! Trust you can't seem to hold!" Misa was furious. Misty, how could you!? Even you've turned on me…

"Fine, I'm fucking jealous, are you happy now?! You've finally got your little counterpart and you're all nice and happy in dream world, all because that jackass Ash took you away from me!"

Misty was finally hit full-force. Oh god, what have I done? Misa wasn't finished, though. She was pacing back and forth in a heated rage. Misty walked over to stand where Misa could see her, but she made sure she was safely near the wall and out of the pacing path. As Misa turned though, she stopped, her back to Misty.

"Now. I'm. All. ALONE!" she spun quickly, punching full force. All of her hate, anger, pain, ever last bit of emotion was flowing behind her fist. Misty shut her eyes and screamed as she heard the glass shatter beside her ear. There was a sickening thud, followed by the piercing sound of cracking bone. A stray piece of glass sliced her cheek, letting a small trail of blood make its way down her face. When Misty risked a glance, she could see glass stuck in Misa's hand, which now looked like a bloody, bumpy ball. In Misa's eyes, Misty could only see exhaustion.

After a few seconds, she collapsed. Misty was in a state of shock. She looked over to the now shattered picture frame, wobbling in its position on the wall.

It was the photo of her and Misa when they were six years old, cradling each other in their sleep.

Misty shrieked.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Misty's cry pierced through Ash's foggy state of mind. He launched himself up off the couch and ran up the stairs. Knocking over a bewildered Brock, he nearly shot past the door to Misa's room and had to skid to a stop.

Misty was still in shock. The cut on her face was dribbling a little faster now, adding to the small pool around Misa's fist. Ash had to admit guiltily that he was actually satisfied with the scene, or at least Misa's part of it. Still, he had Misty, dear, sweet Misty to think of.

"Brock, get in here and help me carry Misa out to the car." He waited for Brock to stumble in before getting a hold of her by the knees. Brock shook himself, getting back in to sorts with the world and slipped his arms under her armpits, locking them across her chest. As they lifted, Ash looked over to Misty. "Do you want to come, Mist?" She shook her head. Actually, it just kind of quivered side to side. "Just wait in your room, okay?" She didn't nod, but simply walked out, zombie-like. Ash sighed and followed Brock, carefully directing him down the steps and out the door. After a few minutes of struggling with the frantic trio, they managed to slip Misa's still unconscious form into the back seat.

"Brock, have Lily take you, ok?" Brock opened the front passenger door, but didn't get in.

"Aren't you going to come?" Ash shook his head.

"Misty needs me now." Brock smiled and sat in the car. Lily got in on the driver's side, while Violet and Daisy went to get the other car. Ash watched them drive away until he couldn't make them out anymore. Only then did he turn and walk back into he gym.

Once he made it back up the stairs, he realized it was awfully quiet. He quickened his steps toward Misty's room, and to his relief, found her safely curled up on her bed. She was rocking back and forth slowly, eyes wide open and glazed. He walked over to her, but she didn't seem to see him. His heart broke. Maybe she doesn't need me… He start to walk away, but a cold, shivering hand grabbed his. He looked back into her pleading eyes and immediately turned around, sitting beside her on the bed and holding her. His warmth broke the dam inside of her, and suddenly, all the tears flooded out. She was sobbing so violently that Ash was sure she'd pass out. He tried to calm her down, and it worked at a slow, maddening pace. Her face regained some of its normal color, the strained red fading away with the rivers of tears.

"Sssssh, Misty, she'll be alright. She's on her way to the hospital right now."

"I, I, I…it's…I'm so-, sorry, Ash," she managed to gasp over the period of thirty seconds. Ash was patient, though. "It's all, all my fault. I ca-can't believe I di-di-did this to her. I can't believe I-I did this to, to you." He looked shocked as her bright aqua eyes implored his. To me? "I'm sorry I ig-ignored you, when Misa showed up. You do mean, s-s-so much to me, Ash. I jus-just missed her, t-too, and, and…" she broke down into sobs again. Ash searched for something soothing to say. Then he determined that later, he would search for Misty's mallet and knock himself upside the head for all the stupid comments that first came to mind.

"It's ok, Misty, I understand. I guess you heard about why I, um, clobbered Brock…" Her strangled gasp was enough for him. "I'm sorry I ever thought that about you. Or Misa. And I'm sorry I wasn't more, receptive toward her. I know you care about her very much, Mist." She looked up at him and managed a quivering smile.

"I do. But I care about you more, Ash." He leaned down and kissed away the rest of the tears from her cheeks. Her breathing slowed with the gentle caresses. He held her against his chest, his heart smoothing her down even more.

"Do you want to go see her now? We can just walk." She slowly nodded, but didn't let him get up. She touched his face, savoring every sensation that came through her fingertips. Then she reached up, kissing him full on the lips.

"Thank you, Ash," she whispered in his ear, throwing her arms around him. Ash returned the embrace, and they sat that way for a few minutes, lost in their own world, a pocket of comfort. Eventually, they made their way to the hospital, walking hand in hand down the street.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ash paced in front of Misa's room, wary of how quiet things were. Misty had asked to talk to her alone, hoping to resolve things as soon as possible.

That was twenty minutes ago.

The girls had gone back to the gym long before Ash and Misty even found the room. Brock waited around simply because he had nothing better to do. Now, he tried to relieve the increasing pressure that was a worried Ash Ketchum in love. His attempt were in vain, of course.

"She could kill her, Brock! She would've smashed Misty's face in!" Brock sighed. Back to this argument….for the fifth time!

"Ash, they are best friends. What could happen?" Ash stopped pacing and stood in front of Brock as if he were the dumbest creature on the planet.

"She had four fractures in her hand, two in her wrist and enough cuts to turn her hand into meatloaf! Right next to Misty's head! I don't think that's your typical friendly handshake!" And, as with the last four times, Brock couldn't argue with it. With that, he decided not to waste his breath anymore, and proceeded to let Ash wear a ring in the hospital hall.

After another fifteen minutes, Misty emerged, unscathed. Ash was immediately by her side.

"What happened? She didn't try to hurt you, did she?" Misty laughed softly at Ash's concern, kissing him on the cheek.

"No, we pretty much…settled things. She's planning on going to school in Viridian, she'll probably leave when we do. We're going to keep in touch, just like we should've before. The rest are just…minor personal details." He could tell they weren't that minor from the fact her eyes started to water.

"Will you be ok, Mist?" She gave him a genuine smile, easing his fears.

"Yes, yes Ash, I'll be just fine. I'm with you now, I can make it."

"Are you two ready to go? I can drive us back. I think you both need a rest, and the doctor said she'd call us as soon as Misa's released." The two of them nodded as Ash put his arm around her shoulders. Tiredly, they walked out of the hospital.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A little less than a week later, our trio (and poor Pikachu, who was unfortunately left out of the rest of the fic) and Misa were ready to go there separate ways.

"Come on, you two, we're ready to go now!" Brock called from a block away, Pikachu waiting on his shoulder.

"We'll be there in a sec, Brock!" Ash called back. He looked down at Misty. "Do you want me to wait with them." She didn't turn her gaze away from Misa.

"Please, Ash? I'll only be a little while." Ash nodded and looked toward Misa.

"It…was nice meeting you, Misa," he said slowly. She smiled weakly at him and nodded.

"You too," she whispered. Ash accepted the dismissal and walked off, leaving them alone.

"Well," Misty started once she thought Ash was out of earshot. "I guess this is it for now."

"Yeah, for now."

There was an uncomfortable silence, punctuated by the occasional "Pika!" call.

"I'm sorry for causing so many problems, Mis." Misa shook her head quickly. "It's not all your fault, Mist. It's as much mine as yours." The silence settled in once more. "I, I still love you, Misty," she whispered. Misty pulled her, surprised, into a hug.

"I love you too, Misa. You take care and keep in touch, ok?" Misa slowly returned the embrace, then just as slowly pulled away.

"I will. Goodbye."

"Bye, Mis. Till next time," she called as she walked toward the others. Misa watched her walk off. I truly am alone now…

Ash picked Misty up as soon as he could, spinning her around in his arms.

"I love you so much, Misty Kasumi Waterflower. With all my heart and all my soul." Misty was instantly dazed. Another dream come true…what other surprises does he have up his sleeve?

"Oh, Ash, I love you, too!" she cried, putting her death grip around his neck. He didn't mind one bit. Once she released him, she quickly crushed his mouth on hers, their tongues meeting in a passionate dance.

"Aw, guys, come on! Can't you wait until we get a hotel?" They pulled apart laughing, and walked on, chattering all the way. Every now and then, Misty and Ash would look deep into each others eyes, silently communicating the love they shared.

It's between two hearts.

*~-_-~*~-_-~*~-_-~*~-_-~*~-_-~*

Well, that's all for now. Chapter 8 will be up sometime soon, depending on how much I can write at one time without bawling. So what'd ya think? Ending wasn't exactly what I expected, but I kinda got over-emotional as I was finishing it. Not quite thinking, just feeling, ya know? Like I said, Chapter 8, or the epilogue, basically, coming soon.