A/N: I'm soo sorry this took so long. I was so busy last weekend and this week doing everything that I haven't had any time to write. I'm really, really sorry.

Disclaimer: I don't Pokémon.

Reviewer's comments:

Kit Kat::: Oh thanks. Ahh! I see you understand me. Now that's good. Don't we all. Don't we all. Hmm… I tried, but I couldn't. Sorry. Well… thanks for the review.

Overlord::: Hmmm… really. You got use to it? YAY! That means I can change the ending to this chapter and make it a cliffy… hmm joking. ^. ^ Hmmm… Oh, poor you. They never turn out the way to want to huh? Oh. I'm sorry. But… yeah… thanks for the review.

ZetaBee::: Who? Who? I don't know… wait I do, and so will you. Thanks for the review.

Nightswift::: Good point! How could he be there? Err… yeah third choice. The English version of what, the game, right? Yeah, it does stink sometimes, but okay over times. Hmm… how to get the master ball. You get that from Prof. Elm after betting the Elite Four… err yeah or is it after the eight badge… no… I think its after defeat Team Rocket at Goldenrod. Ahh! I forgot, but I know it's sometime after the Mahogany badge and before going to Kanto, and I know someone gives it to you. How to duplicate. Okay, first give the ball to a Pokémon to HOLD!! Go to the PokéCenter and open the Bill's PC (the one where you keep your extra Pokémon in). Go to an EMPTY BOX with nothing inside (not the box you are already in) and SAVE the game. Place the Pokémon with the master ball into the EMPTY BOX. Then go another box, any box and when they ask you to save push yes. When the message says SAVING don't Gameboy off, TURN the Gameboy OFF. Turn it back on, go to Bill's PC and you'll see that Pokémon in the empty box with a MASTER BALL. Then go to your party, and you'll see the same Pokémon there with a Master ball. You can do this for stones and other things too including Eevees. Hope the keeps. Yeah there are buttons I think to turn the ball into a master ball, but I'm not sure it works. You push the arrows by following whatever direction the ball goes, then when captured the Pokémon hold down both the A & B keys. Yeah, after I posted the chapter I realized I did it. I won't. Oh and thanks for the review.

Amber::: Err… nice review. It was really, really entertaining. I see you like Ash a lot. Err… and yeah… after reading this chapter… yeah… you'll probably already now by reading the first sentence. But don't give up hope remember Ash never breaks his promises especially to Misty. Thanks for the review.

Ash and Misty Forever::: Err… yeah… guessed it was Ash too… huh? You'll probably know the answer to your question after reading this chapter. Oh thanks I'm glad you like it. Hmm… you aren't the going one. I hate cliffhangers too, but I love writing them. Thanks for the review.

Labannya::: Don't know huh? Well that's why I'm posting this chapter. Oh I've already decided on doing an epilogue. I need an epilogue for this story or you readers are going to flame me so badly on the last chapter. Oh I already know my ending. I figured that out when I started this fic, and you'll understand to when I finally reach the end. Oh I didn't mean it like that. The thing on the ending, I just meant that in case something happens like… for instance people stop reading this fic, or I get bored I could end this fic anywhere. But if things go as plan, this fic shouldn't have a bad ending. That's right shouldn't. Hmm yes that was pretty funny the Misty and Haruka thing. Well, thanks for the review.

Etherelemental::: You didn't like this chapter? :looks sad: Ah you figured me out too. Oh! I see. You wanted to battle Eusine huh? I didn't think that battle was that big of deal, then again I don't like Eusine that much any ways. Oh… hmm I haven't got that guess yet. Oh… you like the Japanese names? There's a reason why I don't use them all the time, and I believe this chapter tells why. Thanks for the review.

Crystalstorm21::: Who'd you think it was? I'm curious about your guess. Were you right? Well… thanks for the review.

SulliMike23::: :picks hair up and places it back: Oh. I'm truly, truly sorry this chapter took so long. Thanks for the review and your long wait is on over. Thanks for the review.

Chapter 22

A tired and very dirty woman landed on Haruka's carpet. Haruka gave a mighty yelp of surprise as Misty gasped. She knelt down on the floor and ran of hand across the woman's forehead. The woman groaned passing out green goo that ran all over Misty's hand and across Haruka's carpet. Misty made a disgusting look as she held up her hand. Haruka returned the look before handing Misty a towel that was lying on a nearby table. Misty immediately wiped the goo off and stood up.

"She's definitely alive," stated Misty. Haruka nodded simply.

"Yep."

"So… err… what are we going to do?"

"Err?" Haruka's brow wrinkled as she looked down at the woman. Misty was already looking at the woman. Suddenly as if a strike of lightning had hit their brains, they immediately looked at each other uneasily. "Err… Misty… is that who I think it is?" asked Haruka uneasily.

Misty immediately paled before looking up. "Only if you're thinking who I'm thinking."

"You don't mean?"

"Musashi," stated Misty and Haruka at the same moment.

"Exactly."

After a lot of heaving and hoeing Misty and Haruka managed to drag the unconscious woman to the couch. Misty returned with a damp wash cloth and found Haruka breathing deeply. Haruka looked up and saw Misty standing there, gaping. "What?"

"You," said Misty trying hard to keep from bursting into a fit of laughter.

"Huh?"

"You're… so tired."

"Oh that," said Haruka chuckling. "Yeah, well I haven't had that much of an workout since… well… since never I guess."

"Really?!" said Misty will disbelief. She walked off and placed the cloth over Jessie's forehead before sitting down. "Never huh?"

"Ne… okay… okay fine I lied. I did once…"

"About seven years ago?" asked Misty quietly. She immediately turned away from Haruka and pulled out a kerchief from her purse and wiped her face clean. Haruka gave Misty a small glance before turning away. She knew that something… something most have happened. Misty had never cried over a few, simple words now. She used to all the time during the first few years. You couldn't mention the past, or she'll break down crying. It was actually very heartbreaking to watch. With a lot of patience and time, Misty got over it. She could talk about the past easily, but it even then it still was always "him", but something had happened. Haruka knew that. Something had to have happened to Misty. What was strange was it was started that night, at the eve of Thanksgiving. Everything was fine. She had even seen Misty smile just a minutes before. It was true smile. Haruka thought that she was actually improving. She could finally discover everything that happened that day and night when they had taken separate paths that day seven years ago. But the next day, when she mentioned his name, Misty sobbed and cried for hours. Her old habit had once again resurfaced a feeling that had been muted for four long years already.

"Wa! What's going on here?" cried a voice from behind the two young woman. The sound broke Haruka's trance and immediately bought Misty back to reality. Haruka turned around and found Brock standing there with the others. They all held a surprised look at seeing Jessie…well… unconscious. "I didn't know you invited Musashi."

"Err…eep… we didn't," said Haruka.

"Huh?"

"She kind of just… well showed up," said Haruka uneasily.

"Uh huh, just showed up," said Gary. In a voice that proved that he really didn't believe what they said. "Just showed up," muttered Gary under his breath.

"Gary, please," said Sakura in an embarrassed tone. She enclosed her arm around Gary's waist and immediately planted a few kissed along his cheek. Immediately causing the young man to ease up.

"Better?" muttered Sakura.

"Yeah."

Misty grinned at the love affection that the two held. It was so cute. It was so sweet. It was surprising how easily Sakura could ease up Gary. It reminded herself of her own youth. She longed for those days so dearly, but she knew the way things were going. They could never be. A light moan was heard at the corner of Misty's ear. She turned around swiftly to find Jessie had turned over. Her face was now tilted towards her. She could see her face so easily now. Her face was no longer smooth but stained with tears. Her face was red, so red. Misty looked up and motioned for Brock to come over. She muttered a couple of words into his ears, and the young man nodded. He placed his arms around Jessie and picked her up. As if knowingly, Jessie edged closer to Brock leaning so close to Brock's chest that made Haruka very uncomfortable.

"Sato," mumbled Jessie. She called the word out again before quieting. Brock gave everyone a questionable glance before walking away closely followed by Misty. Brock laid Jessie down upon the other spare bedroom before turning to leave.

"Brock," said Misty.

"Hmm?" He turned around and saw Misty laying a blanket over Jessie's body and gently smoothing it out.

"You think we should call Kojirou?"

"Why?"

Misty blinked before looking up. "You know why. He's probably worried sick about her."

"Oh," muttered Brock pulling the walkie-talkie from his belt. He gave a simple nod to Misty before walking out the room. Misty sighed before turning back to look at Jessie. She stared at the young woman's face for who knows how long before chuckling.

"Hmm… this is so ironic. For as long as we've known each other. We've been on opposite sides, but now… now… not any more. Well pleasant dreams Jessie." Misty got up and wiped a single teardrop from her eyes before leaving the room. She peeked one last time inside the door before lightly closing it shut.

**********

Night had settled in the outside world, as for the people living under ground it was also nighttime. The small gathering as the Harrison's had long separated leaving only Brock, Haruka and their two guests Misty and Musashi. The small suite had long been quieted not revealing that two of the residents were wide-awake and in deep thought. Misty sighed as she once again dipped the end of her pen into a bottle of ink. Quill pens were way out of date now, but Misty still loved them better than the pens with ink already inside. She muttered a few words before continuing to write in the book that was on the desk. Her handwriting had covered majority of the pages leaving no white spots. She yawned before dipping the pen back into the ink. This was going to be a long night. Misty knew that. She had tried to fall asleep many times but couldn't.

A light knock was heard on her door adverting her glance to the door. "Come in." The door gently swung open revealing a disoriented young woman.

"Gen. Kasumi."

Misty turned around. Nobody currently staying at the suite would dream of calling her that unless… Misty placed the quill near the bottle of ink and screwed the lid back on. She slapped and locked on the book before turning around. "Jessie," said Misty surprised.

The woman looked uneasily before immediately flinging her hand up and placed it near her head doing a quick salute. Misty watched the process, confused before it suddenly hit her. Something was wrong. Jessie near showed that much honor or loyalty to anyone. Her brain immediately ran a billion different mental pictures of what had happened. What had caused Jessie to look so deranged and landing in Haruka's front door? Misty immediately followed in the same suite and gave a quick salute. She got up and motioned for Jessie to sit down. The woman immediately pulled up a chair and sat down. Misty acknowledged the whole process as she took her seat.

"Okay Jessie what's wrong?"

"Permission to speak, Gen. Kasumi," stated Jessie.

"Huh?"

"Permission to speak, general," repeated Jessie again.

Misty sighed. She knew what was going on. It was always think this before graduation. Someone in the graduating class would act like this. They would always think that the friendly, first name bases were over. There would be no more fun and laughter. It was always the status and the pseudo Japanese name that served from their middle to first. "Jessie, it's Misty."

Jessie immediately turned around. "Permission to turn, general."

Misty closed her eyes. This was hopeless. It was always that way. It took so much reassurance to get them to understand. "Jessie listen. The honor is only doing drilling, war, meetings, and other non-fun times. The rest, we can use our regular names. There's no need for permission now." As if filled with reassurance Jessie turned around. Her face was one that Misty never seen before. Her face was tear-stained. Misty mentally slapped herself for not noticing that Jessie had been crying.

She turned around and pulled out a tissue from a box. "Here," muttered Misty kindly. Jessie gave a small, small smile before taking the tissue. She wiped her face clean before looking up. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin'."

"Don't lie Jesse. I know something's wrong. You aren't the type of people who would waste a night of sleep before their big day 'morrow. Now what's wrong? What happened?"

"I… I guess. Well… I… don't know if I'm ready."

"Ready? Ready for what?" asked Misty curiously.

"Ready to graduate. Ready to be a soldier."

Misty scoffed before speaking. "You, not ready? From everyone in training the two people that I'm the lest worried about is you and James."

Hearing James's name Jessie gave a small sniff. "Really?"

"Yeah, really. How could I be worried? Nobody's ever graduated from Bruno or Sabrina's class in one session. It even took myself two years to actually gain the hung of shooting." A small giggle escaped Misty's lips. "You should have seen the first class Brock, Haruka, May, Gary, Sakura, and I took. It was torture. When we got the gun, and were issued to shoot. You should have seen the places we shot it. It was hopeless. Bruno almost gave up. And Sabrina's class… wow! That was bad."

Jessie looked up at the feet and moved them here and there. "But… but… we haven't perfected it either."

Misty snickered. "Nobody, but a true psychic can master her skills. The class is only to learn to deal with a straight on psychic attack. No more, no less."

"Oh." Once again Jessie went quiet.

Misty looked at Jessie and saw that she had once again gone quiet. She rubbed her hands together and started humming. Jessie looked up and saw that Misty wasn't looking at her anymore. Instead she was looking at the locket around her neck.

"Misty."

"Huhmmm?"

"What's special about that necklace around your neck?"

"Why?" Misty looked up curious.

"You always have it around your neck. So I thought it was special."

"It is."

"Oh." Jessie immediately turned red and looked down.

"Hmmm… curious who gave it to me?"

"Yeah," mumbled Jessie. She was currently very embarrassed at bringing it up.

"Ash."

"Huh?"

"Ash gave… no wrote it to me."

"Huh?"

"Ash gave it to me."

"Oh." Jessie looked up and saw that Misty was once again looking down. She could easily see a string of tears fall from her eyes. She immediately knew speaking his name was very painful for her, but why? It never made sense to Jessie. She never asked anybody, but still she was curious. "What happened to him."

Nothing was her only reply. "Nothing," muttered Misty again. She looked up and tilted her head. "Jesse what's wrong. What's seriously wrong?"

Jessie immediately looked down. She dreaded this question. Just a second ago she realized that Misty had figured it out. It wasn't that she was worried about graduating. She shouldn't have thought of that as her excuse. Misty knew her way too well for that. "What's wrong Jessie? You can tell me." Misty moved up and gently laid her hand over Jessie's.

"It's James."

"Yeah," said Misty curiously.

"He asked me to marry him."

A/N: I know. I know. I know I disappointed a lot of people who were hoping for the mystery person at the door to be Ash. But then again a lot of people knew it wasn't going to be Ash, so yeah. But to make up for the moments of hope that I dashed away I made this chapter not end with a cliffhanger like I usually do. I was going to take the last three lines to the next chapter. See I'm not all mean. ^. ~ Please review and tell me what you thought. I love reviews!!