A/N: Err… yeah here's the next chapter. Uh huh. Oh and I promise this chapter ends the flashback, and I will continue the original story line again… whatever that was. Sorry I about this chapter being late and all. I didn't finish writing it till today so sorry about that.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.

Reviewer's Comments:

Labannya::: Err…yeah… well guess I can say you're right. I couldn't really think of anything better. Really? I'm glad. What hint? I gave a hint. Yeah… guess I did. I know it's sad that the writer can't remember what she put… unfortunately I'm one of those people. Huh? What do you mean Team Rocket's barely going to show up? They had one whole special to themselves without the twerps or anything I think. I think the special called "Enter Team Rocket" or something like that. It's the third special in the Houen league right after the first Misty special. What I'm worried about is the amount of air time Ash, Pikachu and Brock get. After meeting up with Masato, and the process of Pikachu learning ***SPOILER*** Iron Tail ***SPOILER*** A lot of the episodes are mainly centered on Haruka and Masato. Also *** SPOLIER*** In the sixth movie I think the main, important character is Masato not Ash. *** SPOILER*** So worry about Ash, Pikachu, and Brock being cut not Team Rocket. They are more set in stone than our favorite heroes are. Yeah. I don't like Aqua or Magmar that much. They aren't as lovable as Jessie, James and Meowth are. Thanks for the review.

Crystalstorm21::: Really? I'm glad. Yep. Thanks for the review.

Joy-girl::: :sobbing: I'm cruel? Really? Wait! I already know that. Course I can leave it like that. It's a flashback 'member? Oh wait… never mind. J (I love these smileys) Err… wish I could, but I didn't have this chapter written by the time I posted the last chapter. Sorry. Really. You think this story is cool. J A story within a story huh? Yeah! I guess I could write a whole individual fic with all these flashbacks I have. Ermm… 30 chapter? Really? This fic only going to have 30? I've already planned for more than 40… ermm… well I'll have to see huh? Thanks for the review.

Overlord::: Wow! I compliment. I rarely get compliments more you. I most have done I good job on the last chapter. I wonder what you'll think about this chapter. Thanks for the review.

Nightswift::: J Wow! I didn't know words could do that…. Any ways. Really you really like all the spoilers? Good! Cause most people don't like being spoiled. You don't like my flashbacks? -. - Err… I'll try to cut then them, but I doubt I can that much. Interesting idea for bring Ash back. Err… no I can't bring Ash back as a Pokémon. That's the idea I'm using for a different fic… oops… I shouldn't have said. The guardian angel thing… err… yeah… that's a good idea. I could write a fic on that, but nope not in this fic though. Yes, I know Brock's boring, but you haven't seen boring till you see the animated Haruka and Masato… now that's bad. Erm… another good idea for a different fic though. You know? You'll worked out the whole fic have you? Guess you'll see how close you are to my idea. I doubt though that any body's going to close even close to where I'm going with this fic. But hey I could be wrong. Who knows? I don't use OC very much. I just stick to the anime characters. Sometimes I make up one or two characters if I absolutely need to. Nah! I won't make a very good anime character. I'm kind of boring to write about. Sad… I know but true. Thanks for the review.

SulliMike23::: :slaps face: Sorry. I didn't mean it. Yeah, another flashback. I know… I know. I have a thing for flashbacks besides it was only place I could stop at. Sorry. Any ways thanks for the review.

Chapter 18

Ash moaned as he was thrown to the ground. He had been caught. Team Rocket had caught him and now he was tied up to a tree with a frantic Misty. They hadn't found Larvitar yet. A loud noise was heard. Ash looked up and groaned. It was Meowth with the overly large Gyarados contraption and there tied in a neat little bag was Brock, Pikachu and all their Pokémon. "Great job, Meowth," shouted Jessie.

Meowth nodded as he dumped the bag on the ground. A loud ouch was heard. The bag was untied and Brock and Pikachu were both tied next to Ash. "I see, you got caught too," muttered Brock.

"Yeah."

"Pikachupi?" The Pokémon pointed to the frantic girl next to Ash.

"What's wrong with Misty?" asked Brock.

Ash sighed. "Team Rocket." Brock and Pikachu both immediately understood and went quiet. The day dragged on. Brock had fallen asleep out of boredom. Ash could hear it all. He could make on Brock's snoring. Pikachu and Togepi were engaged in a conversation. It was kind of amusing hearing the Pokémon so cheerful in a situation like they were in. The other side of him was Misty. Her screams had turned down to mere sobs and whimpers. Ash pitted her. He couldn't do anything… zero to help her. Everything that she saw was an illusion. They were all in her head coming from Hypno. Ash felt so helpless. Tied to a tree and all pokéballs gone. One of your friends gone insane and the other asleep, Ash felt as if he was the only one sane out of the group. He too was losing his sanity as he listened the rockets argue about their fates.

They were arguing how to present them to the boss. Ash cringed at Cassidy's idea. She wanted to beat them senseless and make the hostage look harder then it really was. The others were just as bad and painful. But as the night dragged on, the rockets hit a very interesting topic. Why they had done it?

Cassidy and Butch had long gone to bed. It was decided that they take them to the Boss in one piece tomorrow. Ash had to sigh in relief. Meowth had left too. The feline had admitted its need to rest leaving only Jessie and James to guard them. Ash could tell that James was looking at him, and he immediately closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. From the slit of his eyes, Ash could see that James had turned away. He heard them laughing. "Serves 'em right."

"You got it James. No regrets hmm?"

"No regrets, 'course not especially what the twerp's girlfriend did to us."

"Uh huh. Definitely humiliating us like that," added Jessie.

Ash cocked his head. Curious at where the conversation was leading. He didn't get it. What were they talking about? What had Misty do that caused Team Rocket to get smart and loathe them so much? None of their past planks had hurt. It always involved some overly large robot trying to get their Pokémon. Wait! Could it be? Could they be talking about that day a few weeks ago? Ash remembered now. They were in the middle of a prairie with no trees anywhere. Brock had sent them out to find firewood. Ash remembered how Misty didn't show up till the next morning. She had giggling as if she was drunk. Ash remembered confronting her, and all she said was Team Rocket will never be the same again. Ash didn't get it then, but he had a feeling that was what Jessie and James were talking about.

"Yeah, like really. Getting us drunk like that…" James immediately stopped and went red. Jessie followed the same actions only she looked down. Ash could tell they were uneasy about what happened. It had only been two weeks ago. Ash giggled sinisterly. He couldn't help but grin. This was the prefect time to take over the situation. He could trap Team Rocket in their own hole and free them all before sunrise…

"Hey! Kasumi," said a far away voice knocking Kasumi out of her thoughts.

"Erm?" asked Misty looking up. She looked and saw that Haruka was sighing.

"Well… what's your answer?"

"Answer?" asked Kasumi looking confusing.

The young woman rolled her eyes before continuing. "Err… yeah. How do you want to prosecute them?"

"Prosecute who?"

"Err… Kasumi!" snapped Takeshi joining the conversation.

"What?!" asked Kasumi. She looked around. Rudy had fallen asleep… somehow. Before her were Musashi and Kojirou, they looked so helpless, so innocent. She couldn't help but feel sorry for them. She knew what they had done was wrong. She knew that them playing that trick on her, Haruka, Takeshi, Ziggy, and Junsar were wrong. But somehow, Kasumi was… amused by it. It had been a long time since she got a good laugh. Since she had been on a case like this, deciding whether to expel them or forgive them. Lately her life had been evolved around military actions. She forgot about being human… till Musashi and Kojirou joined. She had become a robotic figure. All her actions evolved around the war, the pursuit of winning, and fear.

Kasumi looked from Haruka to Takeshi. Both were giving her two different looks. Neither was helping, neither was giving her ideas. She could tell from their looks that it came down to her judgment… to forgive or to not forgive. She looked at Musashi and Kojirou. She tried forcing herself to forget they were ex-rockets members. It was ironic that she forgot that Sakaki was the boss of Team Rocket, but she couldn't get over that Kojirou and Musashi were just members. She knew that if she didn't forgive them. She could get back at them all the things they did to her. Ranging from nearly killing Ash to all the problems they caused for them.

Kasumi couldn't decide. How could she? It was either black or white. There were some things she couldn't forget. She looked at Musashi and Kojirou. She saw within them the faces of two ex-rockets. Kasumi sighed. She tried to push that aside. She tried to forget they were no longer rockets. They were on her side, but were they really? If they could pull such a cruel joke on her on, could they be trusted in battle? She remembered Shiba's report on their progress. He had told her. They were two of his best students. He had told her that they could even graduate for schooling in December of this year.

Kasumi knew they were valuable to the team. How could they not? There were well-trained fighters. They were born fighters. She could see that. But with their skill bought another question, if their betrayed her once would they betray her twice? They had nearly killed her tonight.

If they could kill her so easily outside of battle, would they try to kill her in during battle? In the battles, everything depended on trust. Without the trust they could easily lose. It was all a matter of trust. They had to trust each other to make the alliance work. Without trust they could easy be defeated. Kasumi knew that during times like these, that try men's soul. Now it was her time to make a judgment. She knew that she could expel Musashi and Kojirou. Throw them out, into the outside world and never open the doors for them again. She could kick them out and let them die at the hands of Pokémon.

You won't Mist. You're too nice for that. No matter how much someone hurts you, you won't turn your back on them. Will you Mist? Even your worst enemies someday may help you in times of need. Never close your door on anyone, Mist. Remember that.

Kasumi sighed. She knew he was right. He got so wise as the years went on. She knew that he was right. But sometimes his ideas were harder to follow, and this was one of them. How could she forgive them? If she expelled them, she could get back at them.

An eye for an eye, Mist. Never do what you can't make up, but even that saying has its limits.

Kasumi tried to shrug those words out of her mind. It was too hard. Her conscience was finally getting to her. It never usually did. She usually could block it. She would push it further and further back each year. But now it was coming back, she heard it more often now. Kasumi knew what being a soldier meant to Musashi and Kojirou. They had pride. To them pride meant everything. It was hard, so hard.

Kasumi could tell from the looks on their faces. They were sorry. They looked sincere and sorry. She knew from her past encounters that they were sorry. They both had pride. Kasumi knew about revenge. She had done it many times. It could come in a form of a simple hit on the head to a mean joke. She remembered the alcohol incident. It was so long ago, but she still remembered. They had almost killed them that time. They had almost killed her beloved him one time too.

It was mean, so mean. Team Rocket had kidnapped Pikachu and Larvitar by taking both Pokémon underwater. Ash knew know vulnerable Larvitar was to water and leaped into the river. Team Rocket won't let Ash go. They had nearly drowned them all.

What you did. Didn't that match what they did to you? Doesn't it mean you're no better? But to be better you must fix the wrong and keep the right. Take a stand.

It wasn't working, and she knew it. She already knew her answer. Being on Sakaki's team meant the world to them. It was everything. She saw the hatred, the jealously that Musashi and Kojirou displayed when they saw Yamato and Kosaburou. Kasumi saw the hidden rivalry that was displayed between the four. She knew that something in the past most have triggered such hatred. Something terrible must have happened to display such venom to each other.

Kasumi knew her answer. She looked at Haruka and Takeshi and nodded. She saw the stunned look on their faces. They must have disapproved or were overly surprised at her ruling. But it didn't matter it was her choice. Kasumi got up and faced Musashi and Kojirou. They could see that she had made her verdict.

"I chose to forgive and forget." Kasumi could see that they were stunned. She knew that they had tried to hide it. They had tried to remain neutral during the whole thing. "No body will know about it. No body will speak of it again." She grabbed the newspaper out of Takeshi's hands and held it tightly. "Agreed?" Kasumi gave Takeshi, Haruka, Musashi, and Kojirou a hard saw. Takeshi and Haruka uneasily nodded. Kasumi smiled then ripped the newspaper into half.

It was the thunderbolt's way of saying it was no more. Everything important was printed in the newspaper. When one rips a paper in half, it is a serious crime unless a general did it. Tearing a paper in half meant it was no more. It was void, null and no longer working. Takeshi glanced down at his waistband before looking up. "We got to go."

Haruka immediately agreed. Kasumi knew that the two had a busy schedule. Not only were they generals but people, regular people… no not regular. No body was ordinary anymore. No body was… how could they with fear that the Pokémon would warp out their race in the next fight. They never knew why their held back, why they didn't force that last attack.

Musashi and Kojirou both stood up at once. Takeshi opened the door and the three walked out leaving Haruka and Kasumi alone in the room. Kasumi eyed Ziggy. He looked so peaceful… no she couldn't start thinking like that. "Misty," muttered Haruka.

"Huh?" Misty looked up. The business manner was removed at once. They were once again, themselves. No longer was another living creature's fate in their hands.

"Why you let them off so easily?"

"Surely you know the answer to that by now, Haruka."

She simply shook her head, and all Misty could do was sigh before uttering one word unity. Misty could tell that Haruka didn't understand. She sometimes didn't understand that word either. She had almost forgot if he hadn't reminded her. "There has been enough blood shed and hatred upon this world already. We don't need anymore."

"But… but they almost destroyed…."

Misty chuckled silently before shaking her head. "No… no… They didn't destroy it. My love for him was strengthened. Because of it, I know I can wait an eternity for him if I must."

Haruka couldn't help but shed a tear. She felt for her friend dearly and immediately enclosed her in a long hug. "Misty," muttered Haruka. She looked up, and Misty nodded. "I hope he comes back," muttered Haruka.

"Me too, me too," muttered Misty. Haruka helped Misty into the wheel chair before the two took off out the room. Haruka walked on ahead as Misty lightly pulled the door closed. Just before she sealed it tight, a white glow shinned in the room followed by a childish, familiar laugh.

"Huh?" Just as Misty pulled the door open, the light vanished covering the room once again into darkness. A small pat was felt on her shoulders as Misty turned around. There standing was Musashi.

"Jessie," exclaimed Misty.

The woman immediately flushed red. "Kasumi… I…"

"Misty," corrected the woman. Jessie went even redder.

"I… I want to say t… thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything," muttered Jessie. "Nobody ever did what you did back there for me or James. Every since we were young, we have always had to fend for ourselves. We couldn't trust anyone. We… we thought we would have been kicked out for sure."

Misty grinned before sticking out her hand. "Friends?"

Jessie nodded, and Misty could see a single tear fall from her eye. "James and I would be honored." A mutual trust and honor was formed before the two. Misty knew she had Jessie's trust. She never seen Jessie shed a tear for her before, so she knew she could believe. Misty watched Jessie walk away before Misty rolled on ahead. She pulled the door of her hospital room open to find Haruka waiting inside.

"What did Jessie want?"

"Friendship."

"Oh. Well good night."

Misty knew Haruka understood. Misty nodded before smiling. Haruka helped her into bed before walking to the door.

A sudden shock hit Misty, and she knew. "Haruka," muttered Misty. The young woman turned around.

"What?"

There upon Misty's face was something that Haruka hadn't seen in days, months, years from her friend. For once in seven years there upon Misty's face was a real smile. It wasn't one of the fake ones she use to give. It was a real smile that Haruka saw from her when they were younger. "What?" asked Haruka again.

Misty grinned as her eyes twinkled. She simply said. "I saw him."

A/N: Heh… What you think so far? I won't say anything. Nope, please review while I write the next chapter.