________________
Misty's Awakening
Part 9
________________


Misty heard someone enter her room, and she turned around automatically.

It was Ash, carrying her bags, and smiling at her as he set them on the bed.

"Hi," he said. "So, you're moving around on your own?" He walked up to the window, too.

Misty shrugged. "Well, my arms are pretty strong now, so using a wheelchair isn't too tough."

"I see," Ash said. "You really do like your room?"

Misty nodded eagerly. "Oh, yeah! I love having a place of my own! I never had my own room as a kid, and now it's a nice change...." She looked up at Ash. "Really...thank you for letting me stay..."

"Mist, it's nothing. You and Brock have stayed here tons of times before. My mom likes the company, and I'm glad you get to stay here now."

"Yeah," Misty said, "but I wish I wasn't such a burden. I mean, I can't even walk, I'm always in the way and—"

Ash knelt down and touched her arm, causing her to stop in mid sentence. "Misty, it's okay. You can't walk, and that's just fine, because after a little more therapy, you will. But until then, helping you is no problem. Okay?"

Misty wished he didn't always have to help her. "Yes...I'm sorry. I'm just eager to do things for myself, that's all."

"Mmhmm. It'll take a little while, but after therapy, you'll be just fine again."

"Yeah."

There was a short silence. There were things Misty wanted to say to him, but she couldn't now. Looking at Ash now, she felt a fluttering sensation in her stomach. What was it about him? His face made her insides fly when she saw him looking directly at her. She tried to swallow, searching her mind for something to break the quiet.

"Um...well, maybe we could go outside for a while, Ash," she said at last.

Ash stood up. "Oh, okay, if you want. It's not too could, I don't think." He took her wheelchair.

"Thanks...again," Misty said softly.

Going by the kitchen, Ash and Misty were stopped by Ms. Ketchem.

"Wait! Take these sandwiches with you! I made them especially for you guys!"

"Oh— okay," Ash said as a plate of sandwiches was shoved into his arms.

"Enjoy!" came Ms. Ketchem's voice as they headed for the door.

"Er, could you...?" Ash handed Misty the plate.

"Sure, no problem." She held the plate on her lap, and Ash pushed her out the door.

Once outside, Ash wheeled Misty to a bench on the right side of the house. It was surrounded by bushes, and flowers planted on the sides of it.

"This okay?" Ash questioned, pushing her up to the bench.

Misty nodded. "It's great."

He sat down right by her on the bench, handing her a sandwich and taking one for himself before putting the plate aside.

She ate it slowly, observing the gorgeous fall garden, and found herself gazing constantly in Ash's direction. She had been thinking more and more of how she wanted him to go and do his training again, and yet, as she felt that rushing feeling again, she also knew she wanted him to stay.

It was almost like they were on the road again, stopping for a quick lunch, knowing they had a long walk ahead. But then again, it was so different from that.

They finished their lunch, neither of them reaching for more, and they sat in the quiet afternoon. Misty hugged her arms, wishing she could know what Ash was thinking right then.

"Ash?" she found herself asking, "Where do you think we'd be if I'd never gotten hurt?" She was staring at his face again. Was this just an excuse to stare at him?

Ash looked to her. "If you'd never run off?"

"I guess."

Ash thought for a second. "I think that we'd have kept going, with Brock with us, and I'd keep training and try for the league again.." He shrugged. "What do you think?"

"Maybe," Misty began, "you and I would keep on fighting until I ran off anyway. Maybe I'd leave for good...and you and Brock would just go on without me."

Ash shook his head. "No, because I wouldn't have gone on without you like that."

Misty blinked. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yeah. I'd realize how stupid I was, and I'd...I'd miss you too much."

"How do you know that?" Misty asked, unsure.

"I know, because that's what happened when you ran off and got hurt."

Misty felt her stomach turn circles. "Because...you missed me?"

He nodded. "Of course. I thought I'd never talk to you again, or be able to apologize, so that's part of why I stayed."

'Part of why he stayed?' Misty thought. Yes, yes...he'd felt obligated to take care of her all those years. He still did now, certainly, and that was why she was still here with him. It had to be...

Misty bit her lip. "Ash, I've had this on my mind for a long time. You've done your part now. You've stayed with me. You've apologized. You've helped me out. But you have done too much for me. I...I care about you, and so I want you to be happy again— like you were before my accident. I think you are a great trainer, and I have only been holding you back. Now... I really think that you should go on with your journey."

Ash looked at her blankly. She breathed in, and went on.

"Look— I can't get over how much you loved training, Ash. Ever since I woke up, I've felt bad about stopping you. Things are a little different now and all...I know Pikachu's gone, but I still know that you want to be famous and achieve your dreams, and you still can. So, I want you to. You don't have to stay here because of me anymore, Ash. I'm thankful that you've been here for me, but I can't help but feel like I'm at blame for shattering your dreams. Please, Ash— don't let me stop you from finishing your journey."

Within her mind, Misty had been dying to tell him two things. One, she had just said, to go on with his dreams and leave her. But the other, she couldn't even confess. She didn't want him to leave, but she didn't want to keep him here if all he wanted was to be free—

Ash looked into her face. "Misty. I know what you mean. I know why you're saying it. But there's something you don't know. The truth is..." he swallowed. "There's another reason I can't go."

Misty didn't move, her eyes still on Ash. She felt like she was being pulled under water...

It was like time was slowing down...Ash mechanically moved his face closer, and Misty found herself pulling towards him. They closed their eyes, their lips met, and they kissed.

Of all the things that Misty had tasted yet, this was the sweetest. The kiss was simple, even a bit novice, but Misty never wanted to pull away.

She felt Ash's hands trace her back lightly, and she felt her own hands find him, reaching his arms and sliding up to his shoulders. She pulled closer to him, and wondered suddenly if his heart was beating as fast as her's was right now.

The kiss ended, Ash slowly pulling his lips away, and a stunned Misty found that as nervous as she was, she wanted to pull him back. They were staring at each other's eyes, and it suddenly occurred to her: Ash Ketchem had just kissed her...and she had liked it.

Ash was breathing faster now. "Misty— are you... okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah...more than okay..." She was so lost in is eyes.

He caught his breath, pulling in one slow wisp before speaking. "That's why I can't go and leave you." His arms were still around her, and she still held to him. "I...I love you, Misty."

* * * *

A red leaf fell from a tree above, lingering in the air and plummeting slowly to the ground. A small whiff of a breeze tousled the leaves of a nearby bush, and the white of the bench seemed to glow in the sunlight. It was the only reality Misty saw through her blur of emotions.

She couldn't believe what her ears were telling her.

Ash had just said that...that...

He loved her.

She was lost for words. It was like falling through a warm, comfortable dream, not completely sure what's real, and not sure when she'd land on solid ground.

She heard Ash's quiet breath by her, pulling her into her senses again. "...Ash..." She forced herself to breathe. "Ash...did you just say...did you mean..."

"I meant it, Misty..." His voice sounded afraid, but sure.

"You...love me?"

He nodded.

She was scared, the words almost being too much for her. But they were exactly what she had wanted to hear.

"Misty...I went looking for you, and when I saw you lying unconscious on the beach...that's when I knew for sure. It was like I couldn't go on without admitting it to myself. Maybe I thought it before, but right then I knew for certain. And every time I'd see you after that, I'd realize more that it was true." He stopped, watching her. "It hit me then, and since I've never felt the same. I don't know if you feel...that way...." He drifted off.

Misty swallowed. Her heart was beating so fast...but words managed their way out of her mouth, quite slowly at first. "I saw you walk into my hospital room...and I felt something. You were...crying for me, so happy to see me... I couldn't believe it was really you. But I'm so glad you stayed with me, that you care enough about me. Ash, I love you, too. I really do."

She found herself throwing her arms around him, holding him close to her heart, tears falling from her eyes. For the first time in a while, they were tears of happiness. As she felt Ash's arms wrap around her, she knew she never wanted to let him go.

* * * *

"Ash! Misty!!" Ms. Ketchem was calling from the door. It was like a distant voice interrupting a wonderful dream...

Ash slowly looked up, and he and Misty wiped tears from their eyes. He smiled at her, touching her hand gently. "I'll go see what she wants...okay?"

Misty nodded, smiling back at him. She didn't want him to go anywhere: not now. To think that, just a minute ago, she was telling him to leave her! All she wanted now was to have him close.

When Ash returned, he had a portable phone in his hand. "It's for you...great timing, isn't it?"

She gave a nervous laugh, taking the phone. "Heh...hello?"

"MISTY!" Unmistakably, it was one of her sisters.

"Oh, hi."

"Look, Misty— we're sorry you didn't come to stay with us..."

Misty bit her lip. "Oh, well, I would have, but— "

"No, Misty! It's okay. I understand— you must feel like we're too busy for you."

"Uh..." Misty hadn't wanted to explain herself, so she put the situation to use. "Yeah, that's it..."

Her sister went on. "Well, we all talked, and..."

Misty took in a sharp breath. 'Please, *please* don't let her ask me to stay in Cerulean...' she thought desperately.

"...and well, we all wanted to take you shopping at the mall, sometime...say, this week."

Misty let out a sigh of relief. "Oh...sure, yeah. Shopping..." She smiled despite herself. "Why not?"

"Great! We'll pick you up some time and, like, get you some cool clothes and stuff, 'k?"

"Yeah."

"Well, see ya, sis!"

Click.

Misty set down the phone, realizing that the scenario hadn't changed at all since she had picked it up.

"So..." Ash said, a little uneasily, "what's going on?"

"Oh, my sisters feel bad and want to take me shopping..."

"Aw."

Silence. Awkward. . .such a strange mood hung over them. It was like they had started something, but it remained still unfinished. Misty wasn't sure what to do now, to be honest.

Ash looked up then, and took Misty's hand. She was glad that he had done something first...

"Misty, I think that maybe we need to go somewhere to talk."

"Yeah, yeah, I think we do," she said quickly, agreeing completely.

Ash nodded. "Come on. I think we've got a lot to say to each other."



________________
...To Be Continued...