Halves In Soul
By Timberwolf220
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokemon. However, the plot is entirely mine.
Chapter Four
Conflicting Emotions
In order for Ritchie to lay low for a while, Ash suggested he stay in Namida's room.
This obviously didn't go so well.
"No way I'm staying with…with…her!!!" Ritchie spluttered while Namida remained quiet. Ash rubbed his temple, "Look it's the safest place and there's really nowhere else to go. Come on, stop acting so immature!"
Ritchie's blue eyes narrowed, "This coming from the person who ran away," Ash winced, "Why didn't you stop to think Ash? You can't do everything on your own. And for a fact, nobody blamed you."
Ash said nothing. Ritchie continued, "Do you really think she would have blamed you for it?"
"I don't know…" Ash whispered brokenly, "I don't know anymore."
"Ritchie," Namida began, "Give him time."
Ritchie whirled at her, "But…"
Namida silenced him with a wave of her hand, "He has changed. He's not the same person you remember."
Ritchie was confused. But he restrained himself as Ash left.
"So," She said, "Where do you want to sleep?"
Gary looked up at the large expanse.
This was it. This was the building.
He could feel his blood humming. Ash…
He was here. He knew it. He didn't ask questions; he knew.
The problem was: how to get in?
Umbreon brushed its nose against Gary's thigh, mewing softly.
Its golden eyes glowed. Gary smirked.
He knew the perfect way to get in now.
"Secure all entrances!"
Ash groaned as he rose from bed. Scratching his head lazily, he spared a glance at the entrance. What he saw, was Team Rocket members running helter-skelter. He sweatdropped.
"Kin! Get up lazy bones!" Jessie came thwapping him hard on the head. Ash scowled at her, "I was sleeping. Is that a crime?" He said.
James came up to him, his eyes serious, "We have a problem. Someone broke in and is currently in headquarters, tearing up the whole place."
Ash's eyes jerked open, a flip-flop in his stomach. They couldn't have found Ritchie, could they?
"On my way." Ash said, pulling on his dark blue jacket, straightening his gloves.
Who could have broken in?
Jessie nodded, "Get it done with before the Boss comes."
Ash nodded his eyes impassive.
"Come on James, set the lock-down!"
"Aye Aye Captain Jessie," said the blue-haired man, mock-bowing and went. Jessie smirked as she followed him.
Ash's golden eyes flashed as he vanished.
"Feint attack!"
Umbreon disappeared and attacked the Raticate, flinging it against the wall.
Gary grinned unconsciously, "Is that the best you got Team Rocket!"
"You wish," said a cold sensuous voice.
Gary spun around to see him.
Ash.
He was the same as ever when he saw him last, except his hair had grown more, covering his eyes.
Gary loved his golden brown eyes.
"Ash…"
Ash's eyes widened as his breathing hitched. How did Gary get here?
In one moment, he wished there was some other way.
The feeling vanished. Ash narrowed his eyes.
"Gary, why are you here?" He asked, casting his eyes downwards.
It would hurt too much to look at him.
"I should have saved her…"
He glanced at everyone around him. They hated him. He could see the flames flicker in their eyes. A lump formed in his throat. They hated him.
"Go away Ash."
He spun to see Gary. The lump grew tighter.
"Just go away Ash."
He choked back a sob and ran.
They hated him.
He hated himself.
Gary hated him.
"I came to get you back."
Ash blinked. The old pain emerged, "You came too late then," He said tonelessly. Yet, he knew his voice was cracking like weight on thin ice.
He berated himself. Weakling!
"Come back with me."
"NO! I won't!" Ash yelled angrily, "I won't go back!"
"Please," Was Gary's voice tearful now? Ash almost regretted his harsh words.
"I can't." Ash whispered.
"Kin! What are you waiting for? Kill him!" a ruthless pierced Ash's reverie. He turned slowly to see Giovanni.
Uh-oh…
Giovanni stood there in his trademark deep forest brown suit, his ebony eyes narrowed at the pair. Ash tensed without knowing it and Gary had taken a fighting stance. Umbreon growled menacingly.
"Do it or I'll get someone to do it for you." Giovanni said.Namida was worried. The anger vibes coming from Ash were very powerful and he wasn't trying to conceal them from her.
Ash always hid his emotions.
"What's wrong? Is it Ash?" Ritchie demanded. Namida scowled at him.
"Shut up Blondie and let me concentrate," She said grumpily as Ritchie subsided.
Strangely enough, he hadn't said anything about the insult.
But then, he was too concerned over Ash to care.
She felt a pang of jealously. Ash had friends who cared for him. Will she ever have friends?
She doubted it. She was never the 'friendly' type.
Putting it mildly.
Her turquoise eyes pulsed.
"We're in trouble."
"What do you mean?"
"Gary Oak is here."
Ritchie's eyes widened, "But that would…"
"Exactly. Ash won't kill him. But I can't be too sure about Giovanni."
Ritchie paced across her room. His hair was a mess as he kept on running a hand through it. Her hands itched to do the same.
"We have to help!"
"You make it sound so easy," She commented sarcastically.
Ritchie glared at her, "Oh course you wouldn't care what happened to him," He said, his voice loaded with venom. She snarled at him, "You're the ones who abandoned him in the first place!"
Ritchie's sky blue eyes opened, "What are you talking about?" He said, generally confused.
Namida growled, "He left because he had no one else to turn to! He left because his friends didn't give the support he needed so badly! He left because of you 'friends' as you call yourselves. How's that for an explanation?"
Ritchie sank to the ground in shock, "I didn't know…"
"Damn right you didn't know. You didn't bother to. So you know where he ran to?"
"Team Rocket…" Ritchie said his eyes still wide with horror and guilt. Involuntarily, she felt herself melt.
The door clicked. Namida whirled.
"Hide!" She hissed. Ritchie dived under the bed.
"Mistress?"
"Yes? What is it?" Namida said coolly, stilling the constant drumming of her over-working heart.
"Your father desires your presence."
"Must I go?"
"It's urgent."
"Alright. I'll be there."
The door closed. Namida let out a sigh of relief and turned to Ritchie who was still under the bed, "You can come out now."
Ritchie came out, his shoulders covered in dust, "For the love of Moltres, do you ever clean your bed," He complained, brushing the dust off his shoulders and his head. She watched him amused, "No."
He scowled at her. Namida then turned serious, "Giovanni needs me. Stay here."
"Yes Mom."
"I mean it."
"Fine."
She nodded and in a flash of silver light, she vanished. Ritchie scowled at her previous position.
"Damn psychics," He muttered as a smile filtered through his face, "There's no way in Hell I'm staying here when there's something I need. An orb of power which has my name written all over it."
He opened the door slightly and vanished into the shadows.
Gary narrowly ducked the stream of golden fire that spewed out of Ash's hand. Umbreon's amber eyes flashed as it leapt to attack Ash.
However, Ash waved his hand, sending the petite fox flying.
"Umbreon!" Gary choked.
Ash said nothing. Pikachu glanced at his master, its button brown eyes creased in worry.
"Pika…" it said, its ears flattened against its body.
Gary let out a cough as he crawled towards Umbreon. Umbreon mewed as Gary tenderly took it in his arms.
"You'll be fine," Gary said smiling. He turned to Ash, whose face remained impassive.
Giovanni stood at the balcony, grinning from ear to ear. He had found another psychic!
And this one might just be the key…
Who knows?
Gary glared at Ash, his face a mixture of pity and anger.
"You're not Ash." He stated flatly.
If Ash felt any reaction to that, he hid it well, "You're right. I'm not Ash. My name is Kin."
Gary grinned suddenly, "Then can I have the pleasure of battling you?"
"You'll lose."
"I rather try first."
Ash shrugged, his eyes neutral.
Gary smirked, "Go Nidoking!"
"I choose you Azumarill!"
A large violet rhino standing on its forelegs faced off a tiny blue bunny with lop-sided ears and a cheeky smile. Gary felt a chill run down his spine.
How could Ash send an Azumarill against a Nidoking?
Some thing was up…
Gary shook himself from his reverie. No time to muse…
"Nidoking! Horn Attack!"
The lavender rhino let out a bellow and ran towards Azumarill.
"Dodge."
At the last minute possible, The tiny rabbit skidded underneath the Nidoking's thighs. Then, behind it, Azumarill let out a stream of powerful bubbles that battered Nidoking's back.
"Now finish it off!" Ash commanded in a steel tone, "Hydro Pump!"
Torrents of water poured out from Azumarill's mouth that had the great Nidoking slipping. Then, it flung itself at Nidoking with a rollout, slamming it in the stomach. The lavender rhino groaned as it eyes rolled up and it collapsed on the floor.
"I win," Ash said nonchalantly.
Gary sank to his knees unable to peel his eyes off his fallen pokemon.
"How…"
"Size doesn't always matter. You of all people should know that. That's how you lost in the Indigo League, remember?" Ash said an edge to his tone.
"At least my loss didn't have me running to Team Rocket," Gary said, his eyes as sharp as a pistol shot.
"Don't you dare tell me what I did was wrong!" Ash said, his eyes just as dangerous, "You made me run and you know it!"
"That's why we want you back," Gary said, his voice unexplainably sad, "That's why I want you back. We all make mistakes. And we forgive. That's what we do."
Ash's eyes softened into amber pools of sunlight, "Gary…"
"Kin! You're wasting my time," Giovanni said disgruntled, "Kill him."
"I can't," Ash whispered.
He knew it all along. Even if he hated Gary with all his heart, even if Gary hated him with all his heart, he wouldn't be able to do it.
Nothing had changed.
Giovanni's eyes darkened. He was slipping out of his grasp…
"Daughter come here."
Ash restrained a gasp as Namida stepped out of the shadows.
"Show these two how a real battle is fought," Giovanni said lazily.
Namida turned to Ash. He realized in a jolt that she might just do it.
"Gomen ne Kin," She whispered quietly as the thick silver aura surrounded her being, "Gomen ne.[1]"
R&R people. I'll try updating faster, I promise!
[1] Gomen ne: I'm sorry
