Hi everyone,

I'm so sorry for my unceremonious hiatus. I'd like to say I've been really busy, but I've just been dealing with personal things. I'm not sure how long I'll be updating these, but I have every intention of finishing these.

Hope you forgive me, and I'm sorry again!

Chapter 48

Arriving at the Pokémon Centre soaked to the bone, May couldn't help but laugh at Ash as he drenched her in a new wave of salty water. They'd spent the better part of the day soaking up some much-needed sun on the secluded island near Samiya's latest known location.

However, after much mucking around, including sand fights, hide and seek and a few mock pokémon battles, Ash and May had rolled up their sleeves to try to catch the elusive rendezvous water type.

'Ash Ketchum that is disgusting!' May giggled as she pushed him away, hoping to minimise the new spray of water flicking into her face. She laughed again as he landed into a nearby potted plant, not seeing the angry glare from the orange haired girl in a window above them.

'Thanks for your help in catching this one, May. It honestly means so much to me, I don't know how long I've been waiting for this moment' Ash beamed at her, scratching the back of his neck in the tell-tale pose which showed his embarrassment.

'No need to worry, Ash. We're friends, and I'd do anything for any of my friends, like you,' May winked at him, imitating Dawn's signature pose for comic effect.

With a chuckle, the Kanto man grinned, 'you know that's when I worry the most.'

Rolling her eyes, May let out a fake laugh before walking into the foyer, calling after him, 'I think that's when everyone worries the most. Arceus helps us whenever she says that phrase herself!'

Ash's hearty chuckle could be heard as May glanced around the deserted foyer.

Seeing the hospital wing's doors as they stood open, May hesitated slightly as she glanced at her companion. She'd been avoiding this moment since she was back, always finding something else to distract her.

'Go visit Drew. Everyone is so busy keeping you busy that they have forgotten why you need them,' Ash smiled at the woman, surprising her by the depth of his insight. The man was often scolded for being thick and clueless, but he showed moments of awareness and clarity, like these, which led May to believe that he was aware of more than he let on. However, if it meant that others wouldn't pick on him, she could see why he acted the way he did.

'Are you sure?' May whispered, her face contorting slightly in confused hesitation. She didn't want to alienate Ash if he wanted her company. After all, he'd always done his best to support her, even in his journeys to other regions.

'Yes, it will do you some good to see him. It's time to stop thinking about everyone else and to start focusing on what you need, May,' Ash grinned at the woman before nudging her towards the hallway.

Swallowing her nerves anxiously, May walked down the pristine hallways, and away from her friend. She'd memorised the corridors quite a while ago, and felt the urge to walk the halls alone, without the company of Roserade or Blaziken around her.

Reaching the strip on which Drew's room was, she was surprised to hear the sound of someone crying through a gap in the door.

Increasing the angle at which the door of Drew's hospital room was opened, May saw the distinctive outline of a woman crying into Drew's hand, pulling it closer to her face to kiss it in an affectionate manner.

Whilst the room was dark, May could hear the stranger's strangled cries, 'please wake up Drew. I need you and you promised to be there for me. I can't face this all alone, you know I can't handle the pressure. Come back to me, please. No one else understands it all the way you do. You're the only one who gets me and my problems. I'm scared, and you promised!'

Hearing the confession of another woman, May felt her heart plummet in her stomach. Rather than confront them, she left the room with her thoughts reeling, her hand grazing over Roserade's pokéball slightly, not registering it quivering at her touch.

She had no idea who the woman in Drew's room was, but she had a sneaking suspicion it was the same person from the café that had tried to hide from her before he'd followed her to Samiya.

Clearly the woman relied on Drew more than May did. Though it broke her heart to hear someone else pine for Drew as much as she did, May knew she couldn't come between the happy couple.

Letting out a strangled sob, she painfully scrubbed at her eyes as she snuck into her room and removed her clothing before jumping into the shower to wash away her tears.

Unaware of the brunette's plight in a nearby room, Ash Ketchum anxiously scratched the red patch of fur of Pikachu's electric sac. It had taken some coercing for Misty to allow him into her room this late at night, and she looked less than impressed with his face, where he probably had residual sand left over.

Handing the pokéball shyly to the beautiful orange haired woman before him, Ash struggled to suppress his blush. He should have asked May to help him with his speech to the Cerulean beauty, the fairest of the Cerulean Gym Leaders.

'Ketchum, what is this?' Misty glowered, her eyes narrowing dangerously. If he'd been a little less anxious, he would have recognised the irritated element in her expression, or Pikachu's hunched shoulders, but his mind was preoccupied with his plan, or lack thereof.

Rather than worry about her impeding anger, Ash sent her a goofy grin. Clearing his throat slightly, he said, 'it's a Luvdisc, May helped me catch it for you. I told her that I've been trying to tell you something for a while, and she gave me this idea.'

'May helped you find this? You came here to give me a Luvdisc that you two caught together?' Misty frowned, her eyes becoming strangely colder at the mention of her close friend.

'Yes, she knew where a colony was and I managed to get this one to come with me,' Ash grinned back, appearing oblivious to Misty's increasing anger.

'Ketchum, get out,' the Champion scowled, her voice unusually controlled.

'What? Come on, Mist, don't turn me away now! I haven't even told you what I came to say,' the man protested, appeal oblivious to Pikachu's cautious whine.

'I mean it, Ash. You've said enough. Get out,' the young woman snarled, surprising the man by shoving him out of the door.

'Hey, wait a moment!' Ash yelped before unceremoniously having the door slammed in his face.

The man grimaced once before hearing the usually tough woman sniffling behind the door.

Jack Walker stared at the group of assorted gang members in disbelief. He couldn't believe his ears. Team Bright Sun weren't just trying to take over Almia, they had designs on the world.

They needed someone on the inside, but he had no idea who. His first instincts were to enlist Max, May or Ash, but they were far too recognisable. Even though he wanted to employ them, it would only put them, and the operation, in danger.

No, he needed a wild card they'd never expect, and absolutely no one could know about it.

Feeling the rock slide out from underneath him, Jackie almost winced. However, rather than let his regret show, he straightened his back in the face of adversity. If you so much as showed your rivals even a hint of uncertainty, they'd pounce with everything they had. However, ironically, if they thought the opposition too strong, they attacked in a feeble manner, almost as though they were going through the motions.

'It's a Ranger!' One of the Grunts cried, causing it to be picked up by his colleagues.

'Well, as much as it pleases me to be here, I must take my leave. Adios!' Jackie winked before scaling the wall and popping out of the same piep hole he'd crawled in through.

With his heart pounding in his throat, he rushed away, hoping his little stunt had given him enough time to be a reasonable distance away before they got their bearings.