Author's note: Thanks for the review, glad you like the story!

After collecting his Pokémon from the Centre, and recalling them to their Pokéballs with the exception of Pikachu, Ash led the way home, Miranda following him. They were silent for a while, including Pikachu, who could sense something was wrong.

Eventually, Miranda spoke up, "Ash, you didn't answer my question".

"Huh? What?" Ash mumbled, her voice breaking his chain of thoughts.

"Are you going to go out with me or not?" she stopped walking and placed one hand on her hip and began tapping her foot.

"Pika? Pikachu?" Ash's little yellow friend contributed.

"Uh…I don't know", Ash said.

"Well, you have to decide something".

"I do? Right now?"

"Sure. It's not right to keep a girl in suspense".

Ash was growing to dislike the pushy tone of her voice. He frowned.

"So, what's it going to be, Ash?"

He looked at her, "No".

She looked as if she'd been slapped, "No!"

"Yeah, that's right. I don't want to. And I don't like being pushed around like that".

For a while, she just stared at him, then shook her head in disbelief. Ash was becoming uncomfortable under her gaze, and he looked away.

"Well, fine. Let me get my stuff from your place".

"Huh? What for?" Ash wondered.

"I'm not sticking around with someone who leads me on like that only to break my heart, Ash Ketchum!"

Ash looked at her, as she stood looking at Ash like she was an annoying fly. She sure didn't look heart broken. He shook his head slowly in wonder.

"Well, if that's the way you want it, fine!" he said, "Let's get going. The sooner we get there, the sooner you can leave".

"That suits me just fine!" Miranda pushed past him and stormed forward ahead of him.

Ash looked at Pikachu and shook his head again in disbelief, then followed her.

Back at the house, Misty and Brock were arguing about Misty's feelings for Ash.

"Are you nuts?" Misty wondered, "I'm not telling him anything! I haven't told him anything for about four years. Why would I start now?"

"Because I think it would be for the best if you did it soon", Brock replied, nodding slightly, "If you keep it hidden deep down for so long, it's not good for you".

"But he'll say I'm being stupid and turn me down!" Misty practically pleaded, "I couldn't cope with that".

"You never know. I think he won't".

"He's still the same stupid kid at times, you know!"

"So why do you like him?"

The question took Misty completely by surprise. It was only by forcing it that Misty had admitted that she liked Ash to herself. And now Brock, who had managed to get the truth out of her, was asking WHY she liked him?

But to her shock, Misty found herself reciting, as she had done so many times to herself, "I… he's so sweet to the ones he cares about. He never hesitates to help someone, and he's so determined. He always tries again no matter what happens".

She looked at Brock, and realized she had gone too far to back out now. So she waded on, repeating the words she had spoken to herself in the past before while lying wide awake at night, looking up at the stars.

"And no matter how much he may drive me crazy with his cockiness and his silliness…I…I wish he would care for me. I love him".

They were both silent and motionless, letting the words hang in the air. Misty looked close to tears.

Leaning forward, Brock took her hand and held it tightly, "You have to tell him, Misty".

She brushed at her eyes quickly, "Yeah, you're right. Thanks Brock".

He got off the chair and sat down on the sofa next to her, and hugged her warmly, "Don't mention it. Friends forever, right?"

"Yeah. You're right. Friends forever".

"Look, why don't you cool down before Ash and Miranda get back? It won't do any good if they see you like this".

"Yes. You're right. I think I'll go take a shower".

She stood up and headed for the shower. Brock headed back to the kitchen to continue cooking the four of them.

Half an hour elapsed, and Brock was just serving out the food onto plates, awaiting Ash and Miranda's return, and Misty was dressing after her shower. The front door opened and Miranda stormed in. Ash walked behind, his head lowered and looking slightly grim.

"Hi, you guys", Brock said, "What's up…"

"Never mind, Brock", Ash replied, as Miranda slammed the bedroom door behind her.

Brock could hear commotion, the zipping of bags and the grumbling of Miranda. He looked at Ash, who was approaching the food on the table hungrily.

"What's up?" Brock whispered.

"I'll tell you in a minute. She's leaving".

"Leaving? Why?"

"I said I'll tell you in a minute. Wow, this food looks great Brock!"

"Uh…yeah. Thanks. So…I guess you can have Miranda's food if she's going".

"Alright!" Ash grinned, apparently his earlier grievances forgotten. He sat down and started to tuck in heartily.

The bedroom door opened and Miranda walked in. She glared at Ash and Brock.

"Goodbye, Ash Ketchum. Don't you dare come running back to me", she growled, then walked out of the front door and was gone.

Immediately after the front door was shut, Misty stepped out of the bathroom, having finished dressing, "Oh, hi Ash. Where's Miranda?"

"She just left. For good", Ash mumbled between mouthfuls of food.

"What? Why?"

"We had a disagreement".

Now Brock and Misty were both listening, taking seats at the dinner table, "What about?" Brock asked.

Ash swallowed a chunk of chicken, "If you must know, she wanted to go out with me. I said no and she stormed off".

Brock looked at Misty, and didn't fail to notice the spark of hope in her eyes, "Um…why didn't you want to?" Misty said tentatively.

"I don't want a girlfriend", he replied casually.

For a second, Brock saw that Misty looked crushed, then immediately she regained her usual calm composure. She must have had a lot of practice in masking her emotions, Brock realized.

"Well? Are you two going to start eating or do I have to eat yours as well?" Ash said hopefully.

Brock laughed and started eating. Misty picked at her food, keeping her eyes down at her plate. At their feet, Pikachu and Togepi were eating Pokémon chow from bowls.

Little did they know they were being watched.

Peering in through the window were the bumbling Jessie, James and Meowth,

"Hey, they're all there all right", James said, "And Pikachu too".

"Did you hear what the boss said?" Jessie grinned, "If we keep spying on the twerp trio, our debts will be broken off!"

"And if we don't, he'll just break every bone in our bodies", Meowth groaned.

Jessie smacked him with the back of our hand, "Don't be so pessimistic! We've got it made this time. This is our big chance!"

"Yeah!" Meowth and James chorused, then they dropped down to their hands and knees and crawled away.

Ash watched the two Pokémon duel in the arena before them. But he was not one of trainers testing his skills today. He was a spectator in the crowd, sitting next to Misty and Brock.

In the rock arena, Gary had just lost his Wartortle. His foe, who was sitting back calmly and not saying anything, was using a massive and brutal Rhydon. The rock Pokémon reared up and roared in a gravely voice.

"Go! Arcanine!" Gary ordered.

The flame Pokémon charged Rhydon. Ash watched intently as the Rhydon absorbed a flamethrower attack, then lowered its head and charged, smashing the Arcanine over. It was over already. The Rhydon was just too well trained and too powerful.

Nidoking was next up. Both Pokémon were of similar size, build and skills. But as Ash's Nidoking aimed a hyper beam, Rhydon leapt forward and seized Gary's Pokémon. The two wrestled, punching and thrashing urgently. It was a gruelling battle, but Nidoking seemed to be tiring while Rhydon was fresh as ever. Without warning, Giovanni's Pokémon seized Gary's and swung it around once, then let go. Nidoking tumbled to the floor, crashing into boulders along the way.

It groaned and writhed in agony as Rhydon approached again, the earth shaking underneath its massive footfalls. It growled and prepared to continue its assault.

Before it did, the referee intervened, "Nidoking is unable to battle, Rhydon and Giovanni are the winners!"

The announcer declared, "Well, what a match! Giovanni may be the best trainer we've ever had! One Pokémon took out three without even breaking a sweat!"

Ash stared as the crowd around him cheered, "Woah…he's good".

"That's a bit of an understatement", Brock said, "Gary's no push over, but that Rhydon just took him right out!"

Gary had his head buried in his hands. His knees seemed to be shaking. He was evidently devastated. Ash felt a twinge of pity for him, crushed as he was by the merciless foe that was the mysterious Giovanni.

Nodding once to the crowd in acknowledgment, Giovanni recalled his Rhydon and headed out of the stadium, dusting his amber suit down once. He grinned. All was going according to plan.

Ash, Misty and Brock were walking down a bustling street in the League town. Ash was still thinking about what he had witnessed in the stadium.

"I can't believe how easily Gary was defeated", he said slowly.

"It is sort of surprising", Misty agreed, "That man Giovanni must be a really strong trainer to pull something like that off".

"Giovanni…that name still sounds familiar to me", Brock scratched his forehead, "Where have I heard it before?"

A small thought occurred to him. His mind began ticking away, and he smiled. He could achieve two things with one action.

"Listen, this Giovanni thing is really beginning to bug me", he said, stopping in the road, "I'm going to check it out, if you guys don't mind".

Ash looked at him, "How will you do that?"

"I'm going to go back to Pewter City and read my old gym records. I have a suspicion something will be in there".

"You're not going to leave us are you Brock?" asked Ash, surprised and a little alarmed.

"Just for a day or two. I can hire a Fearow from the bird stalls in the town to get me there and back. I'll be back soon, Ash".

Misty stared, "You're not going to miss Ash's next match, are you?"

"No, I don't think so. I'll be back as soon as I can".

"Wow, this is a bit of a surprise, Brock", Ash said.

"I promise I'll be right back", Brock assured him again with seemingly unlimited patience, "Come on you guys".

As they walked on, with Ash and Pikachu in front, Misty looked at Brock and he began frantically signalling to her to do something. She arched one eyebrow, but eventually figured it out. At least one reason for him going away was for her. He was giving her an opportunity.

At first, she felt irritated, as though she were being manipulated. But then she realized his intentions were the best, and she smiled her thanks at him.

Half an hour later, Misty and Ash were waving to Brock as he took off on a Fearow he had rented out and headed off over the horizon. Misty smiled at Ash. She had a day, two at the most. She needed to tell him.

As they turned and began the journey home, they passed a church. If they had looked closer at one of the bells in the tower, they would have realized it wasn't a bell at all. It was a Victreebell. It watched them go, then uncoiled from and leapt down from the church, hopping away to a crop of trees in the town park.

"Ah, here comes my good buddy now", James emerged from the undergrowth and awaited his Pokémon's arrival.

Jessie and Meowth followed him, brushing leaves and twigs aside. Victreebell unleashed its trademark scream as it approached.

"Now, what's she saying, Meowth?" Jessie asked.

"It's saying 'Food! Food!'" Meowth said calmly, and looked up at James.

James was quickly bowled over and attacked by his unruly friend. As he mumbled from within its abdomen, Jessie and Meowth walked over, seized it by the vine and after a little struggling, managed to yank it off.

"Now that that's over, what did you find out about the twerps, Victreebell?" Jessie folded her arms across her chest.

Meowth listened to its screeches and shrieks, "Uh-huh. Right. Okay…I see. Well, the over grown pot plant here says that the Brock kid has high-tailed it out of town! He's gone to Pewter city".

"Pewter city? What for?" James wondered.

Victreebell frowned and screamed again.

"She says she doesn't know, and that you're a stupid moron for asking", Meowth translated with relish.

James sighed, "Well, thanks anyway Victreebell", and returned it to its Pokéball, "Well, what do we do now? We let one of the kids get out of town!"

"We better tell the boss. If we tell him right away, maybe he won't be mad", Jessie considered, "After all, we've just done our job. We've kept track of them".

"Yeah, you're right Jessie. It wasn't out job to stop them", Meowth agreed, "Come on, let's go tell the boss".

"Alright, but remember, it was your idea, not mine!" James said as they headed off again.

Back in their temporary house, Misty and Ash sat down. They both felt slightly odd without Brock around. There was a permanent sense that something was missing.

After a while of moping around, Ash checked his watch, "Hey, we still got a few hours before our usual bed time. You want to do something? I'm not sitting around here bored all the time".

"Uh…what you got in mind?" Misty said uncertainly.

"Oh…I don't know. Since Brock is here, how about we get something to eat? You know the trainers here get to eat for free".

"Um…yeah I guess that's okay. Where shall we go?"

"We'll find out when we get there. Come on, let's go Pikachu".

"Wait, Ash!" Misty said, "Don't we need to get changed if we're going out somewhere tonight?"

"What? Why would you do that? We never normally do".

"Oh…yeah. I guess you're right. Let's go".

In a small restaurant in the town, Giovanni sat back in his chair at the table, sipping on a brandy, and occasionally eating a mouthful of steak. His eyes were lidded and half-closed, like a cat in relaxation, similar to the Persian sitting next to him.

He heard the restaurant door open, and he looked up to see two people dressed in overly large and covering coats and hats enter, followed by a Meowth that walked on two feet. His fist clenched in anger.

"Hello, boss", James said nervously.

"You fools are not supposed to meet with me in public!" their overlord snapped, keeping his voice down so as not to arouse attention, "Quickly, sit down, the three of you. People are looking".

They did as they were told, dragging chairs up to the table.

Giovanni took a long sip of brandy, then glared at them and asked, "Now, why are you here?"

"We saw you in the window", Jessie trembled, "There's something we need to tell you right away".

"What is it?"

"Well, you see, remember those three kids you asked us to watch?" Meowth chattered in his usual, conman's voice.

"Yes…"

"One of them left town today, the one called Brock. He's heading back to Pewter City".

Giovanni rolled his dark eyes, "You came in here to tell me that?"

"Um…yes sir", James mumbled, like a naughty schoolboy caught red handed at doing something wrong.

"I don't care about Brock. It's Ash I want to know about. He's one of the few trainers in this ridiculous League with the skill to even attempt to stop our schemes. An attempt that would be doomed to fail, of course".

The trio were astonished, "You really think the twerp is skilled?" Jessie queried.

"Certainly. There are a handful of trainers with what I would call skill in this League. He is one of them."

Wide-eyed, they looked on, "Oh…"

Giovanni exhaled heavily, "But you have done your duty nonetheless, and reported promptly. Keep up the work", he produced a small, hand-held data pad from his breast pocket, and began typing in it, "Your first debt, for the destruction of some property that Team Rocket's treasury paid for, is hereby deleted".

It took a moment for the words to sink in, "You…you really mean that?" James gasped.

"Yes. Continue to do my bidding and all of your outstanding debts will be cleared. This is but the first. Now get out of here".

They practically skipped out of the restaurant, nearly colliding into two people who had just entered. Giovanni frowned. It was that Ash and his friend Misty.

Apparently, neither group noticed the other and walked on blissfully ignorant. They were approached by a waitress who directed them to a table, and they sat at opposite ends of the table and began reading the menus. Pikachu and Togepi sat next to them.

Ash was facing away from Giovanni, while Misty was facing towards him. However, she didn't seem to notice him yet. He shrugged and continued sipping his brandy while watching them through narrowed eyes.

"So, what are you going to have, Misty?" Ash was asking.

"I don't know yet. I guess I might just have a sandwich. I'm not too hungry".

"How can you not be hungry?" Ash wondered, "I'm always hungry!"

She laughed, "Yeah, I've noticed. I don't know, I'm just not".

"Is anything wrong?"

"Oh, no. I'm fine…"

Her train of thoughts were interrupted by a man who approached them, with a basket of roses he was trying to sell to customers.

"Anything for the young hero from Pallet Town and his lady friend?" he asked with an ear-to-ear smile.

Ash looked at Misty, who was blushing and looking away. Pikachu was laughing.

"Um…well we're not exactly…" Ash began clumsily, "Uh…what the hey. Sure. One please".

Misty and Pikachu were both taken by surprise as the man handed a rose to the girl and Ash paid him. She stared at the rose as the man walked on.

"Ash, what are you doing! People will think that…"

"Oh, relax Mist. It's just a joke", he leaned back in the chair, chuckling.

She glared at him. His laid-back, dopey manner was infuriating at times. However, she placed the rose down gently on the table and managed a casual smile at him.

The waitress approached and took their orders, including two dishes of Pokémon chow for Pikachi and Togepi. As Misty took a bite of her sandwich, she looked up and started to gag on it. Ash looked at her.

"What's wrong, Mist?"

After some effort, she managed to swallow, and she leaned forward and whispered, "Don't look around now, but he's there behind you. Giovanni".

Ash turned cold. He felt compelled to turn and look, but managed to resist it. The man scared him, and he resented that. So he got angry.

"Well, we'll soon find out about him!" he growled, "Miss! Uh, miss, can you come over here please?"

"Ash, no!" Misty said, horrified.

The waitress approached at his bidding, "Yes sir? What can I do to help?"

Subtly, Ash indicated behind him, and kept his voice low, "There's a man over there in a red suit. He's called Giovanni. Do you know anything about him?"

The waitress, who took it as a trainer merely evaluating the competition, was happy to reply, "Oh yes! He's a lovely man. Very polite, pleasant, and generous. He makes massive contributions to charities, and he seems to love his Pokémon. He's a very respected citizen, sir".

With that, she left to start tending other customers. Misty and ash exchanged looks.

"It could be a front", Ash mused.

"I guess so. Well…come on. He doesn't seem to have noticed us. He won't spoil our evening", Misty sighed.

"Yeah, I guess", Ash continued chewing and gulping down his food.

Behind them, Giovanni smiled and continued his silent vigil. It would only be a matter of time before Ash Ketchum would be in his grasp.