Author'

Author's Note: Chapter Six!! Ash has plans for getting Misty to listen to him. Will her ears be open, or closed to him? Brock makes an appearance! Yay! Well.. Um.. thanks for reviewing the last chapter, it gave me some motivation! Ash does reveal he has a brain! He can be sensitive. He can listen! (Something we've all doubted at one point..) Also, a certain someone makes a surprise return! So whatcha waiting for?! Go!

To The Faithful Departed

Disclaimer: Must own Pokemon. ::checks assets:: Darn! Still a broke! I'll be a broke thumb! Oh well.. read the story anyway, please?

Ash Ketchum walked the floor of his hotel room repeatedly. Slowing down every so often, he would pick up a pillow, and casually throw it at the wall. This method of mediatation was working, if not slightly, and he was slowly calmy down. Blocking the day's thoughts out of his mind, he ran an agitated hand through his dark, untamed hair. He began kicking his feet angrily. There was so much anger, he wasn't quite sure how to dispense it all.

How could Misty leave after a day, and go to him.. Gary?! They were acting a little too buddy-buddy for him. Since when were they friends? Treason is what it was. She betrayed him by turning to Gary. What did he have, Ash was lacking? He was annoying, and extremely rude. He was looking pretty smug, when they spoke just hours ago. That did not suit Ash.

Ash despised it whenever Gary could have something he didn't have. Be it pokemon or anything else, Misty was off limits. She was his. Well, not really his, but he had claim over her just as much as Gary. It had started when they were younger, the two of them. He would always brag that he had something Gary didn't have, or Gary would boast of having something that he didn't. It was a cycle. It wasn't far to bring her into the midst of it. She was off limits. He should know that. House rules.

"She's off limits!" Ash yelled out loudly.

"Who is off limits Ash?" Brock Slate, Ash's only travelling comapnion asked.

"Misty. Gary wooed Misty away." Ash said, crossing his arms, and looking down.

"Right Pikachu?"

The yellow rodent crooked it's head at it's master, and frowned. Shaking it's bright yellow tail from left to right, it jumped off the bad, and sat in front the t.v. Still saying nothing, when Ash asked it again, Pikachu continued ingoring him.

"Ash, I don't think Pikachu wants to comment on this." Brock said glancing down at the furry yellow rodent. "Nice move, little one."

"You should have been there! Misty brushed me off! She walked right by me without even talking to me! " He said jumping up from his place on the bed.

"Why would she brush me off?"

"Well," Brock began, giving Ash the 'Sit down you'll be here for awhile' look. "You did show u out of the blue... Without any warning, and you made her feel as if she needed you to rescue her. Misty's life doesn't revolve around you Ash."

"I know but-" Ash interjected.

"How would you like it if your friends from Pallet Town immediately followed you, and a day hadn't even gone by?" He said glaring at Ash.

"You were being rude, and it was mean spirited to expect her to come back to you. She hasn't even experienced anything yet. It's time for her to make her own journey. Weren't you listening?"

"Why does she have to make it with him?" Ash said weakly.

Brock sighed, and looked at his young friend. Ash was so dense when it came to affairs of the heart. True, he was not Casanova himself, but he knew a thing or two about letting things go. After all, he had done that so many times before. Rather, Nurse Joys, and Officer Jenny's knew when to tell him to go.

"Misty just happened to meet Gary on her train ride. What's so bad about that? Maybe she was supposed to meet him. Maybe fate struck. Besides, who Misty hangs out with is none of our business. She's our friend, and by coming here we've betrayed her trust. I for one, am going to apologize to her, before she leaves for her next destination." He paused, looking at Ash once more. "I'd advise you to do the same."

Ash frowned, and glanced at the boy thoughtfully.

"What do you think Pikachu?"

At the sound of it's name, Pikachu perked up, and turned. Smiling with bright happy eyes, it gave out a happy 'chu'. Brock's face faltered. Why did he always seek afvice from a rodent? Shaking his head in confusion, he turned away.

"You think Misty'll talk to me after today?" He said worriedly.

"Maybe. You'd better hope that she is willing to listen." Brock said picking up a recipe book, and writing dowm ingredients.

"I think i'll go look for her." He said, gathering a few of his belongings.

"Wanna come Pikachu?"

The pokemon shook it's head no, and headed to the mini bar. Choosing a bottle of ketchup, it ate the tomatoey goodness, and 'chuued' with pleasure. Ash rolled his eyes at the sight and walked to the door. Careful to take a guide book. Smiling one last time at his two friends, hegave thema determined look and headed out the door.

Euclid was indeed a big city. He didn't know where to start looking. The last time he was able to find Misty, was because of her cell phone. The phone came equipped with a tracking device. When she was at the karaoke bar, she must have left in on for a while. He turned on his own phone, and hoped that she'd left the tracking device on. She had! He was in luck.They were travelling on a what appeared to be 6th and Miller Avenue. He checked his guide book for the closest buildings and plavces teens woould want to hang out.

There was a library, a movie theater and a bunch of clothes stores. he knew Misty liked to shop, so she could have been going to a store for light shopping. Then he remembered whenever Misty went shopping it was never light. She always was a heavy shopper. If she was to go anywhere, it would be to do the most time ooccupying thing last. Judging that the movies seemed to be least time consuming, Ash headed off in that direction.

Even with the guide book, he still didn't know exactly how to get to the theater. Looking around the hotel lobby, his eyes searched for an information desk. Finding none, he walked over to a bus boy, and asked him where he might find the theater on 6th.

"Where do you want to go again?" The man asked.

Ash repeated.

"How do I get tot he 6th Avenue theater?" He said becoming impatient with the man.

"Oh right that.. Um.. what you should do is call a cab!" He said, walking off quickly.

Ash sweatdropped.

Why couldn't you have told me that earlier?!" He shouted off to the man.

Cabs were expensive. What he needed was a cheap way of travel. There was little time left. The train was going to be leaving again in five hours. Then he would never know where she was! Eureka! A subway! There had to be a station close by, this was a busy hotel. Spotting what looked like a subway sign, Ash raced over to the sign, and grinned widely when he saw it did indeed lead to a subway.

Before paying his fare, he made sure to ask if the train led to the led to 6th Avenue, and Miller. It did. Only 1 stop away, and he'd be there! With Misty. He was going to brink her back. If Gary wanted a war, he got one! They were so close, he could taste it. Running out of the subway staion as quick as possible, he spotted the theater. Racing inside, he bought a ticket, and ask the usher if she'd seen a orange haired girl, with an egg pokemon.

She said she might have seen them go into the theater. He thanked her, and headed to the auditoriums. It wouldn't be that hard to find her. All he had to fo was think of the type of movie Misty would see. Something stupid with lots of romance. Starring a girl. The only poster on the wall similar to that description was some stupid guy looking into the eyes of a dumb girl. Misty would love it.

He walked into the room. He saw her! She and Gary were swaiting for the movie to begin, and standing outside in the lobby, buying popcorn! He had his arm around her! There was another girl with them, she looked vaguely familar. Was it.. Casey!? The baseball fan Casey? Electabuzz Casey? Things were getting interesting by the minute.

He walked over to them. He smiled at Misty. Misty glared at him before turning away. Gary stood there uncomfortably. The only person who didn't seem to notice was Casey.

"Ash?! Is that you?!"

She said smiling. She ran over to him and gave him a hug. Surprised by her affection, Ash stood still for a moment, before returning the favor.

"How are ya doing Casey?" He asked her friendly.

"I'm cool. How have you been? Misty tells me she left your group?" She said.

"Yea, Misty left recently."

"Yesterday, to be exact!" Misty said bitterly.

"I just met your friend Gary.." Casey saod, oblivious to the tension between the two.

"Yea.." Ash replied quietly.

"What are you doing here Ash?" Misty asked in a non threatning tone.

"I wanted to talk to you. You just ran off." He said frowning at her. "With Gary.."

Gary opted not to interrupted the rondevous. It was really none of his business, but Ash was getting way too carried away. He wanted to to talk to bothof them, but then he'd be accuse of taking sides. Looking at Casey, he noticed the confused look on her face. She doesn't have a clue, he thought.

"Casey, come on, let's go look at the other movies playing." He said, leading the girl away.

"Um.. Okay, Gary." She said.

When they were out of earshot, Ash began.

"Misty, we need ot talk. Why did you leave earlier?"

"Why do you think Ash! You followed me!" Misty said angrily.

"I know, I came ot apologize. Brock says he sorry too."

"Are you?" She said with disbelief.

"We betrayed your trust by coming here to see you..." Ash said somberly.

"Is that you talking or Brock?" Misty eyed him suspiciously.

Ash frowned.

"Okay, so Brock said it, but I mean it too! I'm sorry I came to apologize. I trust your decision." He said looking at the floor.

"Then why did you come?"

"I didn't want ot lose you... I like you." He said still looking down.

"I like you too Ash, but only as a friend. I thought I liked you in a different way, but it was just my own flattered fancy you could say. I was making something that wasn't real, become real. I just hadn't realize it yet." Misty replied sincerely.

"Why Gary, of all people? You hate him!" Ash said defensively.

"Gary? I never hated him. I barely knew him. I don't know what you too have got going on, but I'm not involved. I admit, I thought he was a jerk too. When I first met him, but then I got to know him. He's kind of cool, in a fascinating sort of way. I consider him a friend.. I think!" Misty said.

"Misty don't lie to me! I saw you at the karoake bar, and I saw him holding just now!" Ash lashed out.

"So what?! Look Ash, you've said your apology and I heard it. Now ifyou'll excuse me, I'd like to go back to my friends now!" She said angrily and stormed off.

Before she could reach them, Ash pulled her arm.

"That's it?! You're willing to throw away our friendship for him?! WHy Misty? Why!" He said angrily.

Misty swatted his arm away, and thwapped his head.

"Ash, you'd better watch it! I'm willing to forgive what you've done, but you're skating on thin ice! If you keep accusing me of things, and interrogating me, there won;t be a friendship to save!" She threatened.

This time, Ash let her walk off. Shaking his head in defeat, he left the theater, he would get Misty back. Something was wrong with what she was saying. He'd taker care of her, and Gary. Ash would show Gary. No one was gonna take Misty from him! She had to liked him a little bit. She wasn't thinking hard enough.

Maybe he could forgive her. Not now though. Now, he needed a plan. If being so smart, and cool was why she wwanted Gary, then Ash would blow her mind. He smiled devishly, and headed back to the hotel. She still didn't know that he knew how to reach her. Everything was falling into place. At least they soon would be. Misty had promised his mother she'd keep the phone on at all times. In case of an emergency. This was an emergency enough.

Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Checking his watch, he calmly walked out of theater, and back to Brock and Pikachu. At least they appreciated him. Slinging his book bag on his other shoulder, Ash smiled brightly. He too could play devil's advocate.

Footnotes: I sincerely hope I'm not making Ash out to be a monster. I've got a big surprise for him anyway! Well at least he got totell her how he felt. Even if he didn;t believe her! Why was Casey there? Is she now apart of the drama? Does Misty really consider Gary a friend? Is Ash now a foe? Find out in the next installment of To The Faithful Departed! Two more chapters left! The next to last chapter coming up! Thanks for reading.. How about a review?