Be a Man

Aislin Oriel

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AN: I shall now address the topic of me putting Max & May as Oaks. It all goes back to the manga, which I'm splicing with the anime, in order to form my story. Sorry I didn't mention that before, I just like that idea more. I am aware of the fact that they aren't related to the Oaks in the anime – but in the manga, May was Gary's sis, and Max didn't even exist. So, I took some artistic liberty. There ya go! Thanks for pointing it out, I figured someone would. Also, I get the picture about Misty's "twisted logic" – but you have to take into account that she feels abandoned by Ash, and doesn't necessarily blame May. She hasn't seen her hit on the poor boy, unlike all the gals you mentioned. (Believe me, if this was that kind of story, Misty would blow her top.) More will be answered in this chapter. Thanks guys!

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The three in the lobby seemed taken aback as Ash trudged determinedly, as he occasionally did, yet frustrated beyond comprehension towards Brock.

"Hey Ash, what's up?" Brock asked in the way of his that he thought was cool.

"Brock, I can't believe it!"

"Can't believe what?" he asked, throwing his hands up to ward away his small attacker, and he noticed Misty enter the room, "Oh hey Misty,"

"You-"

"Ash, what's wrong with you?" May asked.

"Yeah, why are you so angry at Brock?" Max threw in, as he too, wanted to know.

"You knew that Misty was in love with me! Why didn't you tell me?" Ash huffed, aggravated.

"Huh?" was the overall consensus.

"Why doesn't anyone tell me anything!"

"Because you're stupid,"

"So Misty? You guys let me be stupid – you don't tell me what's going on – and I'm the last to know!"

"I didn't know, I just suspected." Max voiced.

"We don't count, because we only hear about it." May informed her younger brother.

Misty was tired of spectating; now that Ash had actually realized a bit of anything so transparent, he was reacting with anger, instead of confusion or recoil as she had expected him to.

It caused confusion and recoil to surface in her.

"Geeze Ash, I'm sorry I said anything – I think you should all leave now." she said, and hurried away, out the front doors, still in her swimsuit.

"This is all your fault!" Ash poked an accusatory finger in Brock's direction.

"Me! How is it my fault? You're the one who obviously didn't want to know – and now you've hurt Misty's feelings."

"You'd better go after her!" May prompted.

"No, he'd only make things worse, as you can tell. Give him some time to think about what has happened. I'm sure it will get through… eventually." Brock instructed.

"Still, I guess we shouldn't just leave her run off like that – someone should talk to her," Max pointed out.

"I will, she'd probably rather have a girl to talk to anyways," May offered.

"Yeah, and I guess you're the closest thing to a girl, huh sis?" Max joked.

"Shut up dearest brother," she turned to Ash, "Don't worry, I'll put some good words in for you Ash."

"Am I really that stupid?" Ash asked, seeming to not be able to grasp the theory.

May left the gym, to go find Misty.

"Wait, I just remembered something that Misty said – she thought I was in love with May – I think." Ash could sense the imminent problem he was facing, even if he hadn't quite realized it completely.

"My god man, you are a flaming idiot!" Max said.

"Huh?" he asked intelligently.

"Yeah, yeah, we can dwell on his moron-dom later, we'd better go rescue May, before Misty drowns her in the fountain." Brock advised.

"Although that would be funny, I guess we have to." Max agreed.

"Huh?" Ash wondered astutely.

"Would she really hurt May?" Max asked Brock, just out of curiosity.

"Doubtful, but-"

"Misty is violent, she likes to hurt me." Ash added his commentary on the subject.

"She'll probably just hurt Ash," Brock finished.

"Well, if that's the case, May will probably take her side and hurt him too." Max informed.

"What… hurt… me?" Ash whimpered.

"No one will be hurt." Daisy's voice came to their ears, and they took notice that she was standing behind them in the room, her two other sisters behind her, "But I'd like you to notice that you have hurt our little sister, and that only when our conditions are met, will you be safe from harm,"

"She's talking to you, Ash…" Brock nudged his buddy to get his attention.

"Uh, yeah?"

"It seems that your comprehension is very low, so we'll like, make this simple for you," Lily voiced.

"Yeah, so like, Misty loves you, and you're-"

"A flaming idiot." Max offered.

"Hey, I'm not like, finished Shrimpy," Violet huffed and continued, "And you're-"

"I know I'm dumb, but you guys aren't helping me at all!" Ash carried on like a child not getting his way.

"Wow, the slow one speaks, I thought like, we'd lost you, you were like, zoning out… Well, if there will be no more interruptions, we can tell you how we can help you," Lily paused, and let Daisy take over.

"I know we may seem kinda harsh, but it's all for the best, now come here Ash!" she ordered.

"I think you better do it, they scare me!" Max whispered to him.

"All the more reason not to…" Brock pointed out to himself, for he knew it was pointless.

"Enough of how Ash is stupid, we have to focus on what he needs to do, well, let's like, start with the first thing," Violet prompted.

"You must go and talk to her, alone, just the two of you, and not blow it,"

"Easier said than done, I always blow things with Misty!"

"Well, at least you acknowledge the fact that you do, but this time you can't. She may be angry, but it's only because you've embarrassed her and she's frustrated, you're lucky because she still loves you," Daisy informed him.

"You do love her don't you?" Lily asked.

"Oh, here we go," Brock rolled his eyes.

"Uh," Ash back-pedalled.

"Even I know he does, he wouldn't be here if he didn't," Max voiced.

"Let Ash talk, I'm sure he can summon the strength to like, admit it. So, Ash?" Violet waited. Daisy crossed her arms expectantly and the other two followed suit. Even Brock and Max leaned back and crossed their arms.

Ash stood, looking like he would be more comfortable with an enema, "Guys, why do I have to,"

"Begin the avoidance, and turn on the denial…" Brock sighed.

"C'mon now Ash, it's not like we're asking you which arm you'd like us to cut off, it's just like, if you love Misty," Lily encouraged.

"But it's Misty," Ash emphasised, as if they didn't know that it was.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you. Just say it if you don't feel the same," Misty's sombre voice came from where she stood at the front door, May slightly behind her, and looking disappointedly at Ash.

"It's not you I'm afraid of, it's your sisters," Ash said under his breath and slowly inched away from them.

"I guess that's as good an answer as any, so fine." Misty looked at the floor and pushed past her sisters and into the main hallway. May hesitated to go after her, but felt that she needed to tell Ash something.

"You know Ash, she's all worked up because she thought something was going on between us. I assured her that there wasn't. But that isn't as bad as what you're doing to her now. If you love Misty, you have to tell her, you can't just keep being proud – you've got to tell her how it is either way, for her peace of mind." May begged him.

"I'm glad you're not drowned," Max said to her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Anyways, yeah, so Ash, she went towards the pool again, so if you want to talk to her, go." Daisy told him.

"Yeah c'mon Ash, it's Misty, you can do this. She's known you longer than any of us, you can do this. It's Misty." Brock said in support.

"Yeah, I guess so," Ash trailed off, his resolve thickening, and balled his fists up at the sides.

"He looks like he's gonna blow," Max commented quietly to May.

"Max, he's finally facing her, so lay off," May growled at her brother.

Ash started to walk towards the doors but Daisy stopped him, "Before you go, like remember that you have to be honest with her. She told you how she felt. Good luck Ash,"

"Yeah, good luck man," Brock added.

"Be sincere, for Misty's sake," May advised.

"Don't slip on the pool deck; that would be embarrassing." Max offered his advice. Everyone looked blankly at him. "What?"

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AN: The next (and most likely last) part will be up and posted soon – please review!