Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of saying this; I do not own anything so you can't sue.

Author's Note: Please leave some reviews that I can build off of. (Grammar, how you like the story so far, suggestions, etc...) And please, DO NOT give me reviews telling me to rewrite my story to suit your needs. Not to be rude or anything, but an author's writing is indirectly affected by the authors feelings, hopes and dreams. You can flame (or use a blow torch, your choice) but don't use profanity! Now that's said and done, I hope you understand why I started out the way I did. Okay… now I'm babbling, so on with the chapter!

Chapter3 – Returning the Lost

Ash arrived late afternoon in Cerulean City. By now, Ash's hunger would have gotten the best of him, but something was missing. He had lost a zest for life suddenly. Many people noticed him as he walked through downtown.

Standing before the gym doors, a memory flashed before him. He shook it off and griped a red bag. Knowing he still had something to do. He gave the door two good knocks. A voice echoed from behind the closed doors.

"Enter challenger!"

The heavy doors slowly swung open to allow him inside. Misty's sisters relaxed as they saw Ash cross the threshold.

"Like, how you doing?"

Violet ran passed Ash and checked out the double doors.

"Where's Misty?"

Ash didn't know what to say, he just stood there staring at his feet. Just then Lilly noticed something in his hands.

"Why do you have Misty's bag, it's not like she's…"

Ash looked up slowly. The moment she saw Ash's eyes, she knew.

"No. Ash, please don't tell me she's… she's…"

Ash carefully placed the bag in Lilly's hands. She fell to her knees. The others rushed to their side.

"Wh…when did she… go…" Daisy started just managed to stutter.

Ash replied simpy, "Two nights ago."

"What happed?" Violet asked, speaking between sobs.

Ash began to speak, his voice was dull and no emotion, as if he were on a trance

"We were at a party for me and Gary. Then… somebody shot through the window, she pushed me out of the way. The bullet hit her."

Ash looked down at his hands, trying to fight back tears. Flashbacks riddled his head, reliving that night as it happed.

Ash: She died in my arms. She looked up at me. She told me she…

They sat in bitter silence. Ash's mind was racing, putting events together, blaming him.

"It's all my fault."

The remark took the girls off guard as Ash sprinted to the open doors.

"Wha…?"

"No! Wait!" Violet screamed after him.

But Ash was already down the street. He ran through the streets of Cerulean, bumping and shoving people. They stared after him in disgust. But he didn't care what they though. They would never know what he was feeling..

He came to a bridge near the cape. Ash stood there, a cold breeze swept across his face. Just as he was about to launch himself over the railings, Daisy grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Ash don't!"

Ash tried to pull him away. But Violet smacked him hard across the face, brining him back to his senses.

"Ash, think about what you're going to do!"

But Ash couldn't think. He felt angry at himself, he felt angry at the world, but most of all he felt dead inside, He just wanted it to go away, he wanted it to disappear. He wanted the feeling to be true. Ash continued to wrestle him self out of the girl's grip.

"Let me go! I deserve this, it's all my fault…"

Lilly placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to freeze instantly. She spoke carefully to him.

"No, you don't, nobody does. And if you die now… everything that Misty did would have been for nothing. Ash… she died for you."

Ash stopped struggling against Daisy's grip.

"You know were right," Violet said.

Daisy released him

"It was her choice… nothing would have changed that."

They sat down and leaned against the railings. Not speaking, each of them deep in their own thoughts. Then Ash was the first to break the silence.

"You're all stronger then you look."

And with that Ash got up and left down the road to Vermilion.

Write form the Heart.