Disclaimer: once more, Pokémon does not belong to me, so don't sue bother suing .. please ... cough
Chapter 4: A Kiss
"Hello? Anyone home?"
Silence welcomed her as she entered her home, which, to her delight, hadn't changed at all.
"Kiana! Long time no see!" a familiar voice called.
From the hall emerged two silhouettes both of whom appeared before her.
Smiling, she felt relieved to meet ice green eyes she saw as her own.
Her twin brothers looked at her, impressed.
"Well, it's good to see that at least you weren't killed!" one spoke.
Sighing, she pushed past the two of them.
"You two never change!" she complained, slumping onto a nearby sofa.
Keishi and Keishu regarded her with bright green eyes, the only feature the twins and her shared.
Their hair was silver, while Kiana's in contrast was purple.
Keishi's hair was longer than Keishu, who had short spiky locks while Keishi's hair barely brushed his shoulders.
"So how's your Vulpix?" Keishi asked.
"Ninetails- and it's fine."
"It evolved?"
"Of course it did! I caught a few other pokémon as well you know!"
Keishi sniggered.
"How about that Squirtel of yours?" Keishu added, smiling smugly.
"It's a Blastoise now. I only caught two other Pokémon from the Hoenn region. A Gardevoir and a Manectrite," she said.
"We have a friend from the Hoenn region, and he's a Pokémon Coordinator like you," he spoke.
"Oh? I wasn't aware you two had any friends outside your Garadoses," she said sheepishly.
Both Keishi and Keishu glared.
"Still annoying, as always."
"Oh! Enough of the flattery, you're making me blush! Just tell me who your friend is!" she spoke.
"He's won many competitions in Hoenn, he's famous too. Do you know anyone named Robert?"
Kiana choked for a moment, then retaining composure, she smiled.
"Right – I've heard of him. He's here?" Kiana questioned, looking around.
"Yes, I am."
A young man entered the room, dressed formally as Kiana had remembered him.
His long blond hair concealed part of his face, but she could still see his azure eyes flicking from her to her brothers.
Kiana stood.
"Well, I better leave you to it, you know ..."
"Running away, as usual?" Keishi spoke, blocking her path.
Closing her eyes, her lips curved secretly.
"I guess you could say so," she said simply.
"Wait!"
She felt someone take hold of her hand.
"I have heard a lot about you from your brothers, they say you are talented. Please, may I have the pleasure of a battle with you?" she heard him ask.
"Robert, I know you're our friend and all, but she still is our little sister, so if you don't mind letting go of her hand?" Keishi interrupted.
Kiana glared.
"Shut up!" she snapped.
Turning to Robert, she said, "We will battle, but not now, I have other plans, so if you would excuse me?"
Turning sharply, she marched out of the house.
Keishi laughed.
"She's growing up fast you know," he commented.
"It doesn't matter how fast she's growing up, she's still our kid sister," Keishu replied.
- Pika – Pika – Chu! -
"Sorry I'm late guys!" Kiana interrupted, bursting into the room.
Misty's face lit as her eyes followed her friend who was moving to the vacant seat opposite, next to him.
The dining room was alive with blue.
The surrounding walls were all in different shades of blue, as was the table cloth, as well as the plates and napkins, though the cutlery seemed to glow with a uniqueness of its own.
Misty stole a glance at Ash, who seemed preoccupied with a certain aura the plate held, an aura she could not see.
"Misty!"
Rudy was watching her, his dark eyes unreadable.
She smiled, nodding.
She stood.
"I thank you all for coming here tonight. I must say, I am very happy indeed, to be joined by old friends," she paused, glancing at Brock, Ash then Kiana, "As well as new," she spoke, smiling at May and Max.
"Well, I know we're all starving, so, lets eat!" she announced, seating herself.
Mixed aromas of warm rice, meat and vegetables filled her nostrils.
"Wow! This looks great Brock!" Misty commented, helping herself to some rice.
"Yearuff, rissis really gund Brook," Ash added, cheeks bulging.
Misty's eyes narrowed while Kiana grinned.
"Ash that is disgusting!" Misty snapped.
Glaring, Ash continued to chew loudly.
Inwardly, Misty was quite grateful at the fact that they could come together like this.
Her sisters were talking with Brock, Rudy with Kiana, while May and Max kept to themselves.
Only Ash was not talking.
Suddenly she felt compelled to say something but for some reason, she couldn't.
- Pi – Pi – Pikaaa! -
Ash's eyes began to droop as he slumped onto the sofa feeling absolutely satisfied.
"Thanks for the food Brock, that was great!" he heard Misty comment.
At Misty's voice he sat up, erect.
They had moved into the living room where everyone was now relaxed and just talking.
He felt like sleeping.
Suddenly the thought hit him.
"Where are we going to stay?"
Daisy who was nearby turned to him.
"What type of question is that? You're supposed to be staying with us! Misty's already arranged it," she spoke, smiling.
He sighed thankfully.
"Thanks Daisy," he spoke, attempting to stand.
She smiled.
"No problem."
When he finally gained his balance properly he felt someone slip their hand into his.
"Ash, do you want to go for a walk?"
He turned, seeing blue eyes staring so deeply into his own.
Nodding he forced himself to smile.
Okay," he replied, wriggling his fingers which kept on touching hers.
- Pika – Pikachu -
Outside was cool, the wintry breeze which had been present the whole day nowhere to be found.
"Which way?" Ash asked.
"Around town."
Dark buildings loomed ahead, made even more mysterious by the light of the full moon.
Everything was deathly still aside from the trees, whose leaves were constantly whispering a song of silence to the moon.
"It's so beautiful, so quiet, don't you think Ash?"
Ash grunted in reply.
She felt disheartened.
"It's getting kinda cold, let's go back," she spoke suddenly as she stopped.
Ash stopped as well, turning to face her.
"But we only just -"
"I'm cold, and I – come on Ash," she spoke, letting go of his hand.
Suddenly, he reached for her hand back.
"You're cold? Here!" he spoke, unbuttoning his outer shirt and placing it around her shoulders.
She held it for a moment, not speaking.
Finally she turned, smiling.
Once more Ash had failed to see the moment but for some reason, she didn't seem to mind.
"Thanks Ash, come on now, lets go."
"Huh? Oh, lets go then."
- Pi – Pika – Chu! -
"Where's Ash?" Daisy asked Misty as they cleaned up the room.
Misty looked around.
Nearly all of them had retired to their room, including her other two sisters Lily and Violet apart from her, Daisy and Rudy.
She shrugged.
"Maybe he slipped off to bed without anyone knowing," she replied.
"He wouldn't have gone without anyone noticing, not with you watching him like you were anyway," Daisy whispered.
Misty blushed.
"What?" she defended defiantly.
Daisy giggled.
"Something wrong Misty?" Rudy interrupted from the other side of the room.
Misty shook her head.
"I saw you watching him like a hawk! You're so predictable, sister dearest! Anyway, I'm off, I'm tired, I'll see you two tomorrow," she said aloud, disappearing out the door.
"That goes for me too my sweet, I'll be off now," he added, kissing her on the cheek.
"Sweet dreams," he whispered, brushing her cheek.
She still felt warm long after Rudy had gone.
Sighing, she finally decided to get some rest herself.
- Pikachu – Pi – Pika! -
Ash, stumbling into the empty Gym, realized how late it was.
May had already gone ahead to her room but he had decided he wanted to go into the Gym arena, with the large pool.
It opened before him, large and placid, its impeccable surface not at all flawed, not even by a single ripple.
Standing, now fully awake, an idea sprung into mind.
Taking off his shoes as well as his clothes he remained with only the bare essentials, namely his undergarment.
Effortlessly, he dived into the pool, enjoying the rush of freedom now at hand.
- Pika – Pi – Pi! -
Slipping out of her room on tip toe, Misty moved silently into the hall.
As she shuffled, she heard other footsteps travelling down the hall.
Squinting, she saw the silhouette edging closer.
Finally recognizing the shirt, she sighed.
"Ash?" she whispered.
Suddenly she was met face to face with another face.
"Misty? Oh! Did I wake you? Sorry! I'll be off," May said hurriedly as she pushed past her, gripping onto a shirt that did not belong to her.
Misty just stood.
She had to take another glance.
Why on earth would she be wearing Ash's shirt?
Her face loosening, it dawned upon her.
- Pi – Pika – Pi! -
Dull aqua burst into view as she silently opened the doors.
It was here she came for peace, for comfort from the water which always seemed to understand, always regard her with silence.
At the foot of the pool, she could've sworn she saw something moving, disturbing the pool.
Moving, it became considerably darker.
Soon she began to rely on the dim light reflected from the pool.
- Pi – Pika! -
Ash's ears pricked.
Someone was here.
Half-dressed with only pants on he braced himself.
- Pika – Pikaaa! -
Too concentrated on being quiet, she slipped suddenly, falling through the air with her arms flying out to grab hold of anything.
- Pika – Chuuu!-
Ash felt someone grab him and hold him tightly.
He felt himself losing his own balance with the person still clinging to him.
- Pi – Pika – Pika! -
She was falling and it was only when a loud splash resounded beneath her did she realize that she was in water.
She let go as soon as she touched water and it was only then she realized that she had been clinging onto someone else.
The person was so close, she could feel their heat.
"What on earth – who are you?" she demanded.
- Pika – Pi – Pika -
Ash felt her breath tingling on his neck.
She was that close.
"Don't tell me that's you Misty?" he spoke.
Silence.
"Ash? ASH! Trust you to be swimming at this hour! What were you thinking? Look at me! I'm wet!" she screamed.
"I'm not the one tripping over and clinging onto other people, now am I?" he retorted.
Splashing about she pulled herself out of the pool.
"I don't care you idiot! You gave me a fright!" she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.
Pulling himself out he stood at her side.
"Now look at me! I'm soaked! The only thing not wet is my t-shirt!" he spoke.
She shivered, turning her back to him.
"I don't care! At least you have something DRY!" she yelled.
She felt him lay his hands on her shoulders.
"Calm down, you can take my t-shirt," he spoke, offering it.
"No thank you. It seems May is very comfortable in that shirt of yours, no?"
Ash sighed.
"Why do you have to be so impossible? I'm only trying to help!"
Ash heard her sigh as she turned to him.
"I'm sorry Ash, maybe it's just before-wedding jitters," she spoke.
It struck Ash that now would be a perfect time to seize her into his arms with the intention of keeping her there for the entire evening.
Blushing slightly, he was embarrassed at how he felt.
But at this moment, she looked more beautiful then she ever had before.
He found himself staring into her eyes and getting lost, watching the single droplet of water clinging to her lashes, waiting for it to fall.
"Misty ..." he attempted to find the words that could not be found.
Stepping forwards, he, once more, felt her breath, felt her tremble.
Leaning down, he didn't want to close his eyes, for fear she might disappear.
Her lips gently touched his own.
:X:X:
A/N: well, that's the 4th chapter! I must, once again, THANK YOU BEAUTIFUL REVIEWERS for your reviews, I really appreciate them! I thank you humbly. Once more, please review, the next chapter will come soon! (if you hadn't noticed, that last bit rhymed!)
Well, later days people,
Lady Sapphira!