Part X – The (Accidentally) Concluded Clash

Misty was definitely out of her violent phase, and to think of it, she had been for about five or six years now. She had become relatively agreeable with him after only a while of travelling together when they were younger. Sure, they still had random fights about the most trivial and mundane things, but they were few and far apart. She had become somewhat of a support station, a friendly spectator that rooted for him throughout their voyages, and less of an annoyance.

And it happened quickly. Only when she left did he notice the difference. When they were together he was always concentrating on battles ahead, and the effect had seemed more gradual. He felt stupid for not taking notice, but he admitted, that often stupid was how he could be described.

Like now for instance.

He was so busy contemplating the inaccuracy of his words, that he failed to comprehend the situation he was in. He could vaguely remember hearing an angry, 'Is that so?! Thanks a lot Ash,' or something to that effect, but now he snapped out of his revelry completely and saw what he had really missed.

Blinking solidly, he alternated his gaze from the road to her a few times, before taking it in.

"Misty . . . I . . . uh sorry, I was only kidding." Ash said in apology.

She just sat in the passenger's seat, her fist propping up her head against the window, barely blinking, looking ahead like she was trying to hold something back.

Six years ago it would've been anger. But perhaps she wouldn't have held back. Now it was – well she didn't really know what it was. Some confusion or hurt maybe, at their joking gone sour. Yeah, it was definitely hurt, and it was definitely tears. But she couldn't show him that.

"I mean, you're not violent or hot-tempered; you always keep your cool . . ." he continued.

'Do I really? Cause I don't want to!' she screamed inside.

"And you're not scrawny either! But you're definitely not fat, I mean you look nice!" Ash sighed, he had never been very eloquent.

Although she was upset, this was still kinda humorous, and she let one side of her mouth tilt up into a half-smile, shaking her head and softly chuckling.

"Huh? Mist? And, and you're not scary either, and if you are in anyway, the only way that you could scare people away is when they come to battle you for a gym badge!" Ash tried to save his failing act of contrition.

"Now that's a little far-fetched now isn't it?" she sighed into the silence, and conceded that this was more insulting to listen to and let continue.

Although her return to the Cerulean Gym had far improved it's reputation, she was less-than feared when it came to battling. Sure, she was okay, but it was never really her strongpoint – running a gym that is – but rather something that she had been involuntarily thrown into. Perhaps that was why she needed out so desperately. She didn't want Pokémon battles to become a job like everything else about being the gym leader. She wanted to be like Ash, and be the one who could roam freely and battle when she pleased rather than have to wait for competition to come to her. It was good for some, mainly her sisters who deserved to be thwarted with the duty the same way they had done to her, but she couldn't be satisfied with that position.

Misty felt mildly resentful that she would be leaving the gym in the less than capable hands of her 'Sensationally' bad-at-anything-to-do-with-battling sisters, but then again, she was leaving them better off than they were when she came to their rescue. So maybe the gym wouldn't be renowned for battling, but if they knew anything it was showbiz, and it could be renowned for performances. What the hell, why not!

Ash took note of her sombre expression, and hoped that she wasn't thinking of how he was a jackass. After all, she had seemed to be amused by his pathetic request for forgiveness, but maybe she was still upset.

"Misty . . ." he tried hopefully,

She shot him a sidelong glance with a tiny smirk, "Are you done your grovelling?" She loved that she could read him like a book and he couldn't, it was so easy to perplex him. She pitied him – so dense, and so obvious. A living contradiction.

"Yeah, uh, I guess. Well, anyway, we're here . . ." the ever-transparent one pointed out.