13. Now what?
After Meowth and Jessie had said their apologies, they decided to help Ash and Misty find Brock, as a way of turning over a new leaf and proving they'd really quit Team Rocket. It would mean that they would be more difficult for Giovanni's cronies to find, and they'd have a better chance of the survival. Also, Jessie was secretly hoping they might reach James' hometown and stay there in his sanctuary of a mansion. Even if Jessiebell was there - she could cope with that so long as she wasn't on the run any more.
So, no sooner had Mrs Ketchum got her son home than he was leaving again, but at least he was in better spirits than when he arrived. In fact he practically skipped down the road and the other three had trouble keeping up. Eventually he slowed to a brisk, almost marching, walk, carrying Pikachu proudly on his shoulder. (The effect was somewhat ruined when Pikachu fell off but Ash didn't mind.) The atmosphere was friendly between the old friends and even the new ones for the first time in a very long trip.
After several run-ins with some Team Rocket assassins, Jessie and Meowth were getting sick of hiding, and Ash and Misty were getting just as sick of lying for them. It was quickly established, however, that the assassins only recognised Jessie from her uniform, seeing as how she and James were the only members who still wore that style, so at the next town, Jessie and Misty went shopping, leaving Ash and Meowth sitting at the side of the road, sulking. "Women!" they sighed, and embarked on a game of scissors-paper-stone.
In the shop they had picked, Jessie and Misty were sorting through a sale rack, having worked out the most they could afford to spend and still have some money left over for emergencies. They found one thing in Jessie's size, which she tried on behind a screen, and ventured out for Misty's opinion. It made a world of a difference when the imposing 'R' was gone and she looked far more approachable in jeans and a tee-shirt. She stood in front of a mirror and regarded the outfit with interest.
"I look like Ash." she decided. Misty laughed.
"Yeah, all you need is the Pikachu and the hat." she agreed, and went to investigate a rack of very expensive clothes, just for fun. The light, cheerful atmosphere suddenly became very quiet and ominous, as Jessie looked herself over again and then dropped her head. Misty got to her just in time from the other side of the shop as she sank to her knees and began to cry uncontrollably. "Hey, what's wrong? You don't look that bad."
"I'm sorry, it's just… being out of uniform reminded me… James used to love dressing up." she managed, already starting to calm down after letting it out.
"Well I'm not really the right person to be talking to." said Misty, and called Meowth into the shop. Jessie didn't have time to question her before she was answered. "He's known James nearly as long as you have and he knows both of you better than I do." Meowth wandered in, followed by Ash, who was not content to sit outside playing the game with himself.
"What's goin' on?" he asked. Misty pulled Jessie to her feet and handed her a tissue from the pay desk, then picked up Meowth and placed him firmly on her shoulder.
"Jessie needs to talk and you're just the cat for the job." They both protested this.
"But -"
"NO BUTS!" Talk!" And with that, she pushed them towards the door; they walked off slowly and silently. Ash joined Misty, thoroughly confused by the whole matter. He took off his hat and scratched the back of his head.
"What was all that about?" he asked. Misty understood completely. She grinned and rustled his hair, just to irritate him. He hit her hand away, looked immediately guilty and put his hat back on as a diversion, but Misty didn't seem to notice.
"You'll get it one day, Ash." she said, and walked off. He ran after her, shouting.
"Hey! What's THAT supposed to mean?!" Ash hated it when Misty got into 'girl things', which she seemed to be doing with regular monotony, because half the time he didn't get it, and even if he did, there was bound to be some reason why he shouldn't. The only problem with her being the only girl on the Team was that nobody, apparently, understood her. Especially Ash. Which was why he was glad that Jessie had come along because at least Misty would have someone to talk to. Two girls and two guys, and Meowth - they couldn't really go far wrong… except that Meowth and Brock DID understand 'girl things' and Ash didn't, and nobody was prepared to explain it to him either. (And of course, Brock was still somewhere else so the girl:guy ratio was a bit off.) The best explanation he ever got was "You'll understand one day" like just now. He mentally reminded himself to ask his mother the next time he saw her, then realised that while he'd been thinking, Misty had decided to go window shopping, so he ran after her.