Disclaimer: Don't own pokèmon (if I did Ash and Misty would have gotten together right now and May would've died in some tragic bicycle accident ^^')

A/N: Kasagi: Itai! ::trips:: Eheheh~! I'm happy and I don't know where I'm going 6_ Anyway, thanks everyone who reviewed! Thanks Kit Kat again, for writing that long review and telling me to write longer chappies. I try to, I really do! Thanks! Please review!

~(Kasagi Onaso)~

It WaS

* The Sick and the Tired *

Misty quietly slipped into new clothes and slipped on her backpack.

"'You ready?" came Duplica's voice from the other side of the door and she nodded, even though she knew Duplica couldn't see it. There was a quiet knock and Duplica opened the door. "I said, are you ready?"

"I'm sorry," said Misty, smiling. "I nodded."

"Oh. Well then, let's head! Brock's getting impatient. You know how he gets when one of his 'amazingly' brilliant plans are actually going somewhere." Misty uttered a quiet laugh and adjusted the straps of her backpack.

"I'm ready, I guess."

"You guess?" mused Duplica amusedly.

"Yeah." Misty shifted uncomfortably. "I guess. I don't feel so hot." In truth, she felt like she could barely stand. She had hardly wanted to get out of bed this morning but made herself. She didn't want to let everybody down.

"Really?" Duplica asked, slowing her pace so she could walk in unison with her friend. "What's wrong?"

"My head hurts a bit, that's all. I'll take some Advil or something."

"There's some in my pack somewhere, I think," said Duplica, her voice somewhat muffled as she pawed through her pack. Misty gratefully put her hand on Duplica's shoulder but quickly declined.

"I'm fine," she said, in a hopefully reassuring voice. Duplica stared at her with probing eyes before smiling and slipping her arms through the straps of her pack.

"If that's all over with," she began, walking through the door. "Then let's get going, eh?"

"Right," said Misty weakly, trudging behind Duplica. Her bag felt oddly heavy in her hand and everything seemed to throb dully, especially her head. It felt like something was poking through her temple from the inside, trying to get out.

"We're here!" announced Duplica so loudly people turned to stare. Brock winced slightly but flashed them a thumbs up as they walked to where he, Gary, Richie and Ash stood. They had obviously been talking but stopped as the two approached.

"Good," snickered Gary. "About time, too." Duplica glared at him but burst out laughing.

"This is going to be a blast," she hissed excitedly and Misty fought the urge to hold her head. Duplica's enthusiasm radiated loudly and it was making her head pang more than it had before.

"You okay?" Brock murmured in her ear as he came up behind her. She looked up, startled.

"Oh…yeah," she said, her mouth curving into a smile. "I'm fine. A little tired but I'll be okay." Brock nodded but said nothing. She wasn't too sure she had convinced him but that wasn't important to her yet. Now… Where did she put that damn Advil?

"They aren't expecting us," Brock was saying once she found the bottle and popped one into her hand. She quickly backed out of the group and made her way unnoticed to the bathroom.

She washed the pill down with a quick sip of water and went to wash her face with cold water. That sounded like it'd feel awfully good around now but as she approached the mirror, her face looked awfully flushed in the bathroom lights. She quickly washed her face with numbingly-cold water and slipped into a stall.

She pulled out her thermometer and was about to slip it under her tongue when Duplica burst into the bathroom. Misty quickly made sure the stall was locked before relaxing against the cool tile toilet.

"Misty?" Misty flinched. Her voice seemed increasingly loud in the small bathroom, echoing off the walls.

"In here."

"Are you throwing up?" Just hearing Duplica say it made Misty want to but Misty grinned to the maroon bathroom door.

"No. Of course not. I told you I was okay. I just came in here to take some Advil and decided I'd take a piss before we went so I didn't have to go."

"Good idea. When you're done, wait for me outside, will you?" Misty did so and waited outside the room. It was amazing how hot it had been inside the bathroom.

"There you are," said Richie as they spotted Misty leaning against the wall in the shadows. She just nodded and stared at the tile.

"What's up?" asked Gary as the group of boys made their way towards her. She tried not to catch any of their eyes, especially not Ash's, so she kept them focused on that small crack in the peach tile. He would know there was something wrong with her. She knew that much.

"Nothing," she said as nonchalantly as she could. "Waiting for Duplica." Were they circling her? They seemed to surround her.

"Oh. Well tell her to hurry. We're leaving soon."

They were closing in.

She could hear their breaths. Or was that hers? Man, and she thought it was hot in the bathroom. She was sweating buckets. And since when had their been two cracks in the tile?

"Wait a sec," she heard someone say. Ash? Was it him? She could only hear her own heart beating and her breath. Who was that in the shadows? Was she hallucinating? "Misty, you don't look so hot."

"I'm fine," she said but she didn't believe it and neither did that person. She decided to keep her eyes firmly shut now. Everything was moving.

"No you're not," he said and Misty felt a freezing hand on her forehead.

"Ow," she whispered and tried to back away but the wall was pressing against her and she had no where to go. They were closing in…

"Someone get a thermometer…" she heard his voice rumbled. It was soothing but as soon as she saw the thermometer, she pressed her back flat against the wall. Its tip looked sharper than usual.

"It's a needle," she cried and shrunk away.

"Hold still."

"No!" she cried and closed her eyes as the needle doubled. "You're going to cut me." Someone was in front of her now, holding her shoulders against the wall, trying to hold her still.

"She's hallucinating," she heard someone mumble. Was she, though? It all looked so real… "Hold her still, Ash." Someone's rock-solid chest pressed against her own, pinning her to the ice wall behind her. She cried out and struggled under him.

"Ash? What the hell!" she heard Duplica cry with surprise.

"See if you can slip the thermometer into her mouth," Gary said to Brock. Brock nodded and moved closer to Misty. Ash struggled to hold her down, his cheek pressing against her hot one as he pressed her against the wall.

"Just a bit…There!" Brock popped the thermometer into Misty's mouth as she opened it to say something. He held her jowls closed and waited until the white wand beeped. "103.5," he read, looking up from the wand. "Looks like our trip's going to be postponed for a while, mates." Misty felt the person pull away from her and she fell to the ground.

"I'm sorry," she managed to choke out. "I… I don't feel good." Someone chuckled as her vision blurred again.

"All you had to do was say so." Duplica's voice was warm in her ears.

"I didn't want to…to make you…not going…" The words were hard to find. Her brain was foggy. "On thing. To Rocket places…" Duplica hugged the mumbling girl.

"Oh, don't worry," Duplica said. "I guess it can wait but I might have to kill you." Misty forced a smile on her face. "Now. Let me help you up to the room 'kay?"

"Mm-hmm." Misty let Duplica pull her to her feet, slide an arm around her waist and sling her own arm across Duplica's shoulders.

"Up we go," sung Duplica. "Meet you chaps down here for a cup-o-tea, then, hmm?" She winked and began to lead Misty up the stairs, one by one.

They slowly reached the room and Misty lay wearily on the bedspread, though she was tempted to pile the covers on top of herself because now everything seemed to be freezing.

"Will you be okay up here by yourself?" asked Duplica, placing a cool washcloth on the girl's flushed forehead. Misty nodded. "Call the front desk if you need anything. If you feel any better later, come downstairs. Okay?" But Misty was nodding off and seemed to not have heard a single word Duplica had just said. "Allrighty then!" Duplica said cheerily and bounded down the stairs.

"How is she?" asked Brock as she walked to their table.

"Asleep," she answered and grabbed a cheese Danish. "Mm. These are good," she said happily and Gary rolled his eyes.

"That's good," said Brock, nodding approvingly. "Poor thing. She was really spazing out back there. She thought the thermometer was a needle."

"Where could she have gotten the sickness?"

"Probably from last night," Ash said softly. It was the first time he had spoken in a while and he shrugged. "We were out there in the forest. She probably got it there."

"Maybe," said Richie, tapping his chin.

"My," said Duplica, following his movements. "Is that stubble, Mr. Richie?" Richie smiled and rubbed his chin.

"He fancies a goatee," said Gary, rolling his eyes. "I think he'd look absolutely ridiculous."

"You're just jealous," retorted Richie.

"Now we have to wait a while until we can get into the HQ," muttered Brock to himself but the whole table heard snitches of it. They peered at him intently until he repeated it.

"We don't even know where the HQ is," Duplica said sadly, pointing out something the guys hadn't wanted to even think about.

"We could go look for it," said Gary.

"And leave Misty here? What if she wakes up and comes looking for us?" snapped Duplica, glaring at him.

"Then how about you and Ashy-boy stay," suggested Richie, standing. Ash flushed underneath his tanned skin and shook his head.

"I don't want to stay."

"Come on," urged Gary, eyes glinting mischievously. "It'll be fun. You don't look like you want to go, anyway. And if she doesn't wake up, you can just sit here and sip your mocha until we get back. Got it?" In truth, Ash didn't feel like moving from the seat that he was in. But it was obvious, at least to him, what they were trying to do.

"All right," Ash agreed finally. "But come back as soon as you find the HQ. Let us have some fun too."

"I'm sure you'll have plenty fun here," said Brock with a wink and the three left, laughing loudly. Ash growled slightly and sipped his mocha.

"Aren't they cute?" said Duplica, smiling widely. "Hey what's wrong? You look like you swallowed a donut." Ash blinked at her and smiled softly.

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"Sounds like what Misty said and look where it got her." She almost choked on her tea and began feeling Ash's forehead. "You aren't sick, are you?"

"No," he said, gently pushing her hands away.

"Maybe you are," she said slyly. "And you don't even know it."

"Will you just stop?" he near-yelled, rising from his seat. His mocha tipped over, splashing the table with the smoky russet liquid. Duplica stared up at him with disbelief. He looked at the ground but continued to stand. "I'm sure Misty told you something about what happened," he said through clenched teeth. "But there's nothing between us."

"I know," Duplica said meekly.

"Then why does everyone keep suggesting that?" he wailed. Duplica patted his shoulder, surprised at his reaction.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "But it's too much fun." And she burst out laughing. Ash sat down with a thump. "Aw come on," Duplica said with a wink and punched him gently in the arm. "Laugh it off."

"I can't," he growled. "I'm sick and tired of it."

"Come on, Ashy," said Duplica softly, no trace of laughter in her voice now. Ash was temporarily thrown off by the dramatic change in her voice. "Lighten up." He slumped in his chair.

"I'll try." Once again, she was bright and happy.

"Care to tell me what happened, then?" she asked, leaning close.

"I thought you already knew," Ash said, obviously confused. Duplica giggled and rolled her eyes like it was the dumbest thing she'd ever heard.

"Misty's side," she said. "Duh. What's yours?"

"Depends on what she told you," Ash said, looking at Duplica questioningly. Duplica suddenly whipped back, her spine against the chair. Ash stared at her and she smiled sheepishly before slowly shaking her head.

"I can't," Duplica said. "Sorry. I told Misty I wouldn't." Ash sighed and ran his hand through his hair, sending it into his amber eyes.

"Then," he said after a moment. "Let me tell you my side of the story." Duplica leaned forward, sipping her English breakfast tea intently. "But first," he said, smiling slightly. "You gotta get me a new mocha."

Why can't I make it any longer? WHY??? It's a good cutoff, though so voici your trés bien reason. Viola! Thanks again and again to Kit Kat for reviewing. Your reviews are always so fun to read~! And there's a bit of AAMRN for the chappie, ne? Much more to come of course hehehe ^_~ Anywho, I've got some not-so-original (or maybe it is??? Who knows.) stuff for the next chappie but lemme guarantee you it will, er, spice it up a bit. 37 reviews until the next chappie. ::laughs evilly:: Thanks!

~ Kasagi Onaso ~