HeY yA'lL, iSn'T tHiS aNnOyInG? Okay I'll stop now! Oh yes, I can't wait for this chapter! He he^_^. Well, as you may have already noticed, I changed my penname to Mistys Shadow08. Pretty cool, ah? Okay here's chapter **ponders** 8!!

~!^*Chapter 8: Why Does This Keep Happening?*^!~



Misty ran as fast as her legs would carry her. I have to get there before Team Rocket gets me!! She looked behind her, no Team Rocket. She breathed a sigh of relief, just as she entered Pallet Town. She saw a figure up ahead, dressed in a blue coat.

"Ash!?" Misty yelled to Ash, knowing it was him the second she saw him.

Ash's head was hung low, but as soon as he heard Misty's voice, his head bolted up. They ran toward each other, with arms wide open.

{With arms wide open under the sunlight, welcome to this place, I'll show you everything, with arms wide open..sorry, I just had to put that, I'm in the mood, so I might as well.}

"Misty," Ash said calmly when they embraced. "What happened? Where were you?"

"It was Team Rocket! They kidnapped me and-" Misty said, but was interrupted by a large Meowth balloon above them.

"Guess who?" the trio said simultaneously as they jumped down from the balloon.

"Team Rocket!" Ash said, in that kind of way he always says it on the show, with his fist clenched and stuff. (a/n ohhh really descriptive there! Shut up, myself! Okay fine! Go ahead and ruin the story w/ bad descriptions! Shut up!)

"You have some nerve of kidnapping me!" Misty shouted. "And with no good reason, either!"

Jessie shook her finger, "No, no, no, little girl. We did have a plan, and we are still going to succeed!" She said shrilly.

"And what plan would that be?" Ash asked smartly.

James laughed, "You see, the plan was, to steal her and-" But James was interrupted by Jessie taking out her paper fan and giving him a good whack.

"Shut up James! Every time we tell them our plan, they always win!" Jessie yelled smartly. Then something caught her eye: something yellow behind the black-haired twerp. Could it be...? Jessie thought.

Ash whispered something behind him. And as you would have guessed, Pikachu hopped up on Ash' shoulder, then into the air, and released one of its oh-so-famous Thunderbolts-right at Team Rocket.

Team Rocket went flying through the air, and right before they were out of sight, you could hear them shout.

"No matter what we say..." Jessie cried with streams of tear down her face.

"Or do..." James said pitifully.

"We always end up blasting off..." Meowth cried.

"WITHOUT PIKACHU!!" They all yelled synchronously.

**DING** said the star.

Before Ash saw anything else, he saw a mess of orange, slightly crimped, hair.

"Thank you Ash," Misty said quietly as she hugged him fondly. "I don't know what Team Rocket would have done if you hadn't been there, I was so scared-" a tear formed in her eye.

"It's okay Misty, everything's okay," Ash said comfortingly as he tightened their embrace.

When they parted, they stared each other mindlessly.

Misty shook her head back to reality and said, "Uh, I guess we should probably go back now. I really need to spend Christmas somewhere where it's warm." She said as she tightened her grip on the blanket that was still around her.

Ash laughed, "Yeah, you do look a little cold. Here-" he said as he took of his coat and wrapped it around Misty, and wrapped his arms around her.

"Oh, no it's okay I-" Misty protested.

"Yes, you need it. You're lips are as blue as the ocean!" Ash said playfully, as they started to walk to Ash's house.

Misty only smiled, I hope there's a mistletoe hanging in the doorway... Misty thought with a grin.

When they walked up onto the Ketchum's sheltered porch, Ash stopped and turned toward Misty.

"Why'd ya stop?" Misty asked puzzled.

Ash pointed up, and Misty looked up. She saw three holly leaves with red berries in the middle, hanging above them.

They smiled, then nodded at each other. Ash moved some strands of Misty's hair that was in her face and then they leaned in closer to each other and shared their second kiss. It was longer this time, and they actually had some privacy. Misty instantly became warm when she felt Ash's lips touch hers. They wrapped their arms around each other.

The front door opened, revealing Brock. But Ash and Misty didn't notice, they were busy at the moment^_^! Brock leaned against the door frame. "I knew I made a smart move when I put that mistletoe up there!" Brock laughed at his two friends.

Ash and Misty parted and blushed.

"Why does this keep happening to us?" Misty said with a laugh.

**

Only 1 chapter left!! This is almost goodbye!! I'll miss you all:'( But check out my other fics such as "Hotel Paper", and I'm thinking about doing another one, based on either an Avril Lavigne or Evanescence song. Well, mata nee!!

~!^*Mistys Shadow08*^!~ p/k/a KasumiFlower08~