Crimson Tears

Chapter Nine: Tell Her! Mom Says

"Waz sup?"

Misty nearly jumped a foot in the air. She spun around to face the boy that stood in the door frame watching her. She hid the suitcase from view.

"You're leaving? Already?" Ash asked sadly.

"Well, my sisters called. Uh… The gym is in trouble and like always. I need to rescue them," Misty sighed trying not to look into Ash's eyes. She knew this would hurt him. Deeply.

She heard foot falls and looked up to see Ash standing before her, "Anything I can do to help?"

Misty smiled.

"No. I've got everything under control-" She dropped something out of a shirt she was holding. It fell to the floor with a clatter right at Ash's feet.

Ash looked at it. I seemed to be some sort of locket with the words 'Forever' engraved into it.

"What's that?" Ash asked as Misty scrambled over to pick it up.

Misty plucked it off the ground and placed it next to her heart. She looked up to Ash and smiled, "It was my mother's."

Ash looked taken aback. Before he could apologize she continued.

"My father gave it to me a little ways before he too d- went away." Misty held back her tears, "It used to play me and my mother's lullaby… but… but-"

Misty opened the locket tenderly. No music played this time. She looked longingly at the picture in the locket's frame. It was a picture of her two parents together, holding hands…

Misty yanked the picture out and put it in her pocket. She flung the locket in the trash. Ash looked at her shocked.

"It's trash now… I broke it when I was eight out playing with my friends…"

Misty zipped up her suit case and looked at Ash sadly, "Goodbye, Master Ash."

And with that she exited the room. Ash stood frozen staring at the door she had exited from. He then looked down at the locket in the waste paper basket. He lifted it out and stared at it sadly, "Forever?"


"WHAT!" Gary screamed looking at the phone bewildered, "What do you mean the mouse is loose?"

"That's what I said Gary." Lily's anxious whisper came from the other line, "He was riding your silver mustang. He came home with Misty. Going by the name Aj."

"Stop talking in code! What do you mean- My car!" Gary screamed again.

He looked out the window and sure enough there was no car in sight. He let out a deep groan.

"Did he blow it up?"

"No. No. The car is fine." Lily laughed, "He seemed to know what he is doing. Gary give him a chance. He has been in hiding for nearly three years. Can you cut the kid a break?"

"Someone could be listening in…"

"Gary don't change the subject." Lily hissed, "I want you to give Ash a chance.

"Okay. Okay. But he is still in trouble for stealing my car."


"Mom!" Ash hissed pulling her into the shadows, "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here, Mister?!" Delilah scolded, "You are supposed to be with Gary. Why are you driving his car?"

"And you are supposed to be living in Goldenrod," Ash snapped.

"I moved," Mrs. Ketchum protested, "A while ago. Gary needed info on this base… I came."

"But we already have Lily!" Ash snapped.

"Yes. But-" Delilah looked sadly at Ash. "I missed you, Ash. I really did. I'm glad to know you are alive but… Each day, I can only pray that you will stay that way."

Ash stared blankly at his mother and then grinned, "Aw Mom. You don't have to worry bout me. I'm fine."

'Not counting the fact that he almost died a couple of minutes ago.' Pikachu snickered jumping onto Ash's shoulder.

"Ash! Is that true?!" Mrs. Ketchum growled.

"Uh yeah…" Ash smiled sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck.

Mrs. Ketchum's face went bright red, "Ash! What happened! I want the whole story this time!"

"Okay. Okay."


Once they had arrived in Delilah's nice apartment, Ash began the whole story. It took a while but he finally was able to tell her every detail… with Pikachu's fill-in. Every part, except for the time when he and Misty went into the grotto. She didn't need to know about his slight crush on the red head just yet.

Delilah sipped her tea thoughtfully and leaned back into the couch, "Well, Ash. It looks like we have a problem?"

"What?" Ash asked.

"Seems like Misty might have a crush on Aj."

"No."

"Yes.

"Really?" Ash asked hopefully.

Delilah let out a sigh of annoyance, "Yes. Ash, I think she deserves to know who you really are."

"But Mom… I can't," Ash whispered, "She would hate me."

'Better you telling her then Team Rocket,' Pikachu hissed.

"Pikachu has a good point," Delilah nodded.

Ash bowed his head looking depressingly at the floor.

"Ash," Mrs. Ketchum said softly squeezing his shoulder."I know this is hard for you to understand, but Misty's heart won't break as much if you were to tell her."

Ash didn't look up.

'I have never asked you to do anything I knew you couldn't do,' Pikachu mimicked Ash's old saying. 'And you can do this, Ash.'

"Okay." Ash breathed.

There was sudden banging sound as if the door had just hit the ground. Both Ash and Pikachu jumped to their feet covering over Delilah.

"What's going on, boys?" She asked nervously.

The door had indeed been blasted open. Two shadowy figures stood in the smoke.

"Prepare for trouble…"

"Make that double."

Cassidy and Butch stepped out of the smoke and glared at Ash.

"Did you think you could away from us that easily, Ash?" Cassidy hissed, "If you did then you are bout as stupid as Jessie and James."

"No offense." Butch added.

"No, I didn't think I got away. I just thought that if I waited long enough you pop out again," Ash smiled coolly.

'You two just can't get enough of this ancient art of butt whoop,' Pikachu smiled.

Cassidy and Butch had no idea what Pikachu said but they knew it was a insult at the way Ash and Delilah's face cracked.

Cassidy and Butch looked at each other and nodded. They each pulled out a pokeball. The Pokeballs enlarged in their hands.

"Now… you will pay," Cassidy hissed.

To Be Continued…

Please r + r!

Hey! Uh oh! This doesn't look good for Ash…Well…actually…hehehe…What happens…hehehe…ahem…till next time…