Disclaimer: Guess (translated: Don't Own 'Em!)
A/N: Wow!!! Five reviews in one day! Thank you so much everyone who reviewed! I honestly didn't think this story was going to get anywhere. I'm not used to writing, um, uh, um…what's the word I'm looking for…? A little cliched? Oh, well! Thanks again and keep those reviews comin'!
~!% Kasagi Onaso %!~
It WaS
*The First Kidnapping*
She knew this would go wrong somewhere. Her plan was to not talk to him and vice-versa. It seemed to simple once she pictured his face that night. He hated her. It was obvious. It was. So why would he WANT to talk to her?
She slammed the door behind her and pushed the little button in, locking the door. This was going to be the longest period of her life, she realized with a sigh.
"Misty?" whispered Duplica, rapping softly on her door. She hastily wiped the drying tearstains from her face and pulled the door open.
"What is it?"
"What…why…" Duplica took a deep breath. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she said, slowly sinking onto her bed. "That was the first time in four years he's talked to me." She smiled sadly.
"I know that you told him you, er, how you felt," said Duplica, shifting uncomfortably. "But something else must have happened. Couldn't you two just go on being friend like you were before?"
"We were fourteen (well, he was going to be in four days), Duplica. Something like that isn't that easy to forget or put behind you. It maybe could've been different when we were eleven or something but…" Misty sniffed. "It would've been so awkward. And he told me that. He told me to leave because it wouldn't be the same." Her throat tingled unpleasantly as she tried to hold back tears.
"He told you to leave?" said Duplica, leaning forward. "But…that's so unlike him."
"You knew his eleven-year-old self, Duplica. People change." Duplica sighed and sat back.
"I guess you're right."
"Then I told him I didn't want to leave and that we could still be friends and then he yelled at me. I didn't know what to do or say so I packed up my things and came here. He didn't even say goodbye. I'll bet he still hates me."
"Hate you? YOU should be the one hating HIM."
"We got in a huge fight when he yelled at me." Misty bit her lip. "He told me he hated me and I said some things I didn't mean. I didn't want to say. I told him he was a loser I said…things I shouldn't have said. You know me. I tend to get carried away on self-defensive vocab." Duplica smiled sadly.
"What happened after that?"
"I told you. I just left. Now that we had said those things to each other, there was no way I was going to be able to stay." Misty shrugged. "So I came here."
"Jeez," mumbled Duplica. "Ash looked kind of surprised at the way you acted, though."
"Surprised?" squeaked Misty, flushing angrily. "How could he be surprised?"
"I guess he thought you might've forgotten."
"Something like that? It might've been easier for him but he wasn't the one who lo--" Misty broke off, her voice cracking. "Just forget it."
"Do you want anything to eat? Daisy was just getting out dinner as you were leaving."
"If you could get me some ocha…"
"Of course."
"I'll set up your bed, okay?" Duplica smiled widely as thanks and disappeared through the door. Misty sighed and pulled out a mattress from her closet.
* * * * * * *
"Here's your ocha," said Duplica, handing her a cup of the steaming tea. "Your sister almost wouldn't let me bring it up here," she admitted, setting the cup on a Goldeen coaster on the wooden nightstand next to Misty's bed.
"That's 'cause the last time I bought tea up here I stained the carpet," said Misty, wrinkling her nose and gratefully sipping the hot tea. Duplica chuckled and sat on her bed.
"I wonder if tonight's the night." Misty cast a swift side-ways glance at her friend on the floor.
"I hope not. I don't think I'm ready."
"You're not supposed to be," said Duplica with a shrug. "It's all supposed to be a surprise."
"It's not like they know WE'RE here," said Misty, turning onto her side so she was facing Duplica.
"True," replied Duplica with a small shrug. "Richie's up to guard first. We'll see what happens. Turn off that light and let's get some shut-eye!"
* * * * * * *
Misty heard a knocking on her door and she threw her covers off. Tip-toeing to the door, she cautiously opened it.
"Gary?"
"They got Richie," he whispered, his face oddly white in the moonlight.
"What?"
"Richie! They took him! They must've found out why he was there or something 'cause he's gone."
"You looked everywhere?"
"Yeah. Wake up Duplica. We're meeting in the kitchen."
"Right." She pivoted on her heel and shook her sleeping friend awake. "Duplica!" she hissed.
"Wha…what?"
"They got Richie." Duplica shot up, eyes wide.
"What? They GOT him?"
"They took him instead of my sisters. They must've realized that he was guarding or something. We've got to get downstairs."
"God, Mist. It's only two in the morning!" She grabbed the sub-consciously asleep girl by the wrists and lugged her to her feet.
"Come on." She put an arm around Duplica's waist and strung the girl's arm around her shoulder and helped her down the stairs. "You're not a morning person, are you?" she whispered.
"Yes," mumbled Duplica, going limp. "Just not THIS morning." Misty shook her head and stumbled down the last step and into the kitchen.
"Get me some ice, will ya?" she whispered to Lily and sat the slumped Duplica in a chair. Lily smiled and nodded. Misty jostled the cold cubes in her hand before tossing them down Duplica's shirt.
"WHAT THE--?!" Duplica yelled, sitting up, eyes wide. "Damn, Misty. I'm awake," she said, throwing the melting cubes at Misty. Laughing, Misty knocking the cubes away.
"Now that everyone is consciously present," said Professor Oak, smiling. "We've much to discuss." Daisy, Lily and Violet took a seat, their faces pale.
"I feel, like, so bad," wailed Violet. "He got kidnapped, like, 'cause of, like, us!"
"Now, now," said Brock, patting her hand. Misty smiled inwardly. He was better than the last time she had seen him with her sisters.
"It's not your fault, Violet," said Professor Oak. Violet hiccuped pitifully. "I should have known this would happen," he continued thoughtfully.
"We gotta get Richie back!" declared Misty, tapping her nails on the table.
"I agree," said the Professor, eyes crinkling into a smile. "But we don't have enough essential information."
"We don't even know who it is," said Gary with a scowl.
"Or where they are," added Brock.
"Or if they have guns," mumbled Duplica, head knocking against the table. Misty swatted her arm and she jerked back up into sitting position.
"It would be easier if it was Rockets," said Ash, putting his head in his hands.
"They always have the most obvious headquarters," mumbled Brock, agreeing.
"I don't know who else it would be," said Gary, narrowing his amber eyes. Professor Oak shook his head.
"Me neither. But assumptions are the worst thing to make." Misty stood.
"I'll be right back." She walked swiftly into the Gym room. Bleachers loomed all around the large stadium and the water in the familiar pool rippled silently. "There's gotta be some clue," she whispered.
Something moved to her left.
She twisted around and saw nothing. You're getting paranoid, she told herself, rapping her head slightly with a balled fist.
"What's this?" she whispered, nearing the pool. A black piece of torn material floated near the surface. She kneeled and fished it out. A half-circle of red material stood out near the top right corner. "I've got it," she whispered to the air and raced back into the room.
"What's wrong, Misty?" asked Duplica as the flushed girl slid into the seat next to her.
"Bathroom," she answered cheerily.
"Oh."
"It's almost two-thirty," said Professor Oak, looking at the clock. "Get some sleep. We'll discuss it more over breakfast."
"What can you make of this?" whispered Misty, putting the cloth piece into Duplica's hand as they stood up.
"Omigawd!" she squealed and all eyes turned towards her. "Eh-heh-heh-heh," she laughed. "Never mind."
"Let's go before you do anymore damage," hissed Misty, smiling and pushing her friend up the stairs.
"This is so a piece of a Rocket uniform! Remember that one time you, me, Brock, and Ash dressed up as Rockets?"
"Yeah," said Misty, smiling faintly at the fond memory. But then she snapped out of la-la land and frowned tightly. "I meant to tell the Professor tonight but it looks like that's not happening. I'll try to catch him tomorrow around breakfast time."
* * * * * * *
"Erm, excuse me Professor?"
"Oh, heh, hello there Misty!" said Professor Oak, putting down the paper he had been reading and a piece of toast.
"Could I talk to you?"
"Sure, sure. What's wrong?"
"Nothing but last night, I went into the Gym arena and found--?"
"G'morning Gramps," yawned Gary as the other boys filed in behind him.
"Good morning, Gary, Ash, Brock. Now Misty, what was it you wanted to show me?" Gary raised and eyebrow and the boys began to advance closer. She sent a quick, fierce look at the approaching boys and shook her head.
"It's nothing Professor." Oak's bushy, gray eyebrows knitted together.
"Are you sure?"
"Uh-huh," she mumbled, backing up into Duplica.
"Hey, guys, what's--?" She didn't get very far as Misty grabbed her arm and pulled her into the next room. "What're you doing? Ouch! That hurts!"
"Sorry," she whispered. "I didn't show him."
"What? Why not?" demanded Duplica crossly.
"Oh, come off it," snapped Misty. "You saw the boys. They were trying to eavesdrop on us while I was LOOKING at them, for Lugia's sake!" Duplica giggled nervously.
"Ladies," said Gary as he entered the room, nodding to them. "We're about to head out for some breakfast. Coming?"
"Yes," said Duplica swiftly and Misty sent her a reproachful look. "Get some fresh air," she hissed to Misty as they filed into the van.
"Who wants to drive?" called Ash, running up the stairs.
"I nominate myself," said Gary, sliding into the driver's seat.
"I wonder why these damn buses don't have seatbelts," mused Ash, an amused smile on his face. Misty giggled as she and Duplica made it to the back of the bus. As she passed Ash's seat, he caught her eyes for a moment. She held his glance, her heart beating fast.
What did it mean?
"All aboard?" called Gary, looking in the review mirror. "All righty, then! Let's book it!"
This might not be so bad after all.
Sixteen reviews? Dare I ask??? Well I have a surprise for you in the next chapter, those who bother to review. I speak 'fluent British' (luv ya, Toma!) now thanks to that fifth Harry Potter book (I BEAT YOU CAMI!!!) LOL~! Thanks again for all the great reviews! Keep 'em comin'!
~ Kasagi Onaso
