Sunrise Part 3
A familiar figure was coming up to Kent. "Kenneth!" he called.
"D-Dad?" Kent asked in disbelief. "What-?"
"Kenneth, we need more help at the cafe. We better go."
Kent turned to Misty. "I'm sorry, I..."
She nodded. "I know. Your family needs you."
Kent placed his charm in her hand. "I'm really glad that I met you. Come by the cafe again the next time you visit." He began to walk away.
"Wait!" Misty called. She began to rummage through her pouch, feeling for her charm.
"Misty, don't give me your charm just because I gave you mine," Kent said. "You know as well as I do that you should give yours to a certain someone else." He took her hand and kissed it. "Bye Misty!" He ran back to the cafe.
Misty looked at the charm he gave her and put it in her pouch. She looked down at Pikachu and smiled. "We better go back to the hotel."
Ash and Cordelia sat in the River Cafe. "And she said 'no, but I have Seakings!'" Cordelia finished her joke.
Ash sat back in his chair and laughed. "That was a cool joke! That's really funny!"
Cordelia smiled. She liked Ash a lot. It was just a coincidence that they met, but she was very happy. Someone came up from behind them "Are you ready to order?" the someone asked.
"Two strawberry-pineapple smoothies," Ash said, not looking up from his menu.
"Kent?" Cordelia tone was surprised. Ash looked up and saw Kent, standing ready with a small steno pad and pen in hand. "I thought you were at the festival with Misty."
Kent frowned. "I had to help out here, so now she's al by herself. I feel really bad about leaving her."
Ash just looked at Kent, with an unusual expression on his face. Cordelia looked over to Ash and she could read concern and worry in his eyes.
"So, where'd she go?" Ash asked.
"I dunno. I hope she's not mad at me though," Kent answered. He tucked the notebook and pen in his apron. "I'll be right back." He left the two alone.
Cordelia smiled at Ash. "So, where to after this?"
"Oh yah, Misty will be fine," Ash quickly responded without thinking. He looked over to Cordelia and then realized his answer did not relate at all to her question. "Uh..."
She sighed. She pulled from her pouch the good luck charm. "Here. I'm giving this to you because I care for you. I hope we'll meet again Ash."
"Huh? But--."
"Not another word Ketchum," Cordelia smiled. "You got to look for Misty. She's all by herself!"
Ash took hold of her charm and put it in his pocket. "Um...I'm sorry Cordelia. I'll see you around." He quickly dashed off.
Kent approached with two long cups filled with their fruit smoothie. "Here's the drinks..." he placed the mug in front of her.
"Kent, do you have any free time?" Cordelia asked.
"Why?"
"Because...a girl shouldn't be alone when she makes a toast."
Kent sat in the chair that Ash once occupied. He held the cup and Cordelia made their drinks touch. "So...what's the occasion?"
Cordelia stared into her drink and then looked up at him. "That our friends finally find each other."
"I'll drink to that," Kent took a long sip.
Ash had been running around town for hours. He was genuinely worried. Misty...Misty...where are you? He spotted girls that resembled her and nothing more. She was nowhere to be found. She'll be ok, she'll be ok, she'll be ok... He couldn't give up. After circling for a few hours, he found himself at the Helios Inn. He decided to get out of his yukata and get in his normal clothes to look for her.
When he entered the room, he saw Brock laying on a futon, sleeping. He was hoping Misty was in the hotel too. I guess not... he found Pikachu fast asleep next to Brock. Ash gathered his jeans, his blue shirt and his lucky red cap. He opened the door to the bathroom and to his surprise, he saw the very person he was searching for.
Misty stood in front of a foggy mirror, her hair slightly damp. She wore a white t-shirt with...no bottom. Her pink underwear and long legs were very visible to Ash. In shock, he dropped his garments, shook for a few moments, closed the door and turned his back to it. "S-s-s-sorry Misty! I-I-I-I didn't know..." as he stammered, he could feel his face heat up.
"It's ok Ash," her voice came from inside the bathroom. "I'm not mad this time."
Ash sighed in relief but his cheeks were still a little flushed.
"Why are you here? I thought you were on a date." Misty's tone was monotone and harsh.
Ash stood silent for a few moments. Then, "Actually, when I heard Kent had to leave, I got worried that you would be all by yourself."
"You felt sorry for me?"
"Not exactly. I just didn't want you to be alone."
"But Pikachu was with --."
"I mean I didn't' want you to be with another guy," Ash admitted without thinking. He slapped his hand over his mouth.
He heard the door open and every muscle in his body stiffened. "Don't worry," Misty read his body language. "I have shorts on now." Ash hesitantly turned and saw she spoke the truth. "You really didn't?" she asked, making sure.
He slowly nodded his head. "I don't think I have a right to saw that. I mean, I was first to go out with someone else."
In his eyes, she was his genuine feelings. Misty smiled. "It's ok. What time is it?"
Ash shrugged. He had been looking for her for so long, he lost track of time. Through the window came orange rays of sunlight. "It's sunrise..." Ash said. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the charm Cordelia gave him. He opened it and pulled out the scroll. There was one word on it, written in black ink. "Strength..."
Misty picked up her pouch and pulled out the charm Kent gave her. She pulled out the scroll that was inside. "Courage..."
She noticed a charm with Ash's name on it fell to the floor. "You...you didn't give yours to Cordelia?"
"Uh-huh. What about Kent?"
Misty shook her head. "He told me I shouldn't." She grabbed a hold of hers and handed it to him. "Here. I guess I should give you mine."
Ash took it and put his in her hand. Together, they opened the charms at the same time. They looked at the scrolls in utter silence, looked at each other and showed the writing. "Love..." they both said, confused.
Ash was the first to laugh. "Love? What a coincidence; we got the same scroll."
Misty smiled. "Yah...thanks Ash."
Something in Misty's eyes made Ash relax. It was something he never felt before. "Thanks Misty."
The sun was slowly rising.
