Now that Valentine's day and church are over, I will spend the next day
working on this very story. I hope you like it so far- it had a rough
start, but the pace is picking up, and we can now get this over with a big
finish. Who's with me?
... ... ... "BARK!"
Yeah! My dog is! Good girl! (feeds dog a box of chocolate.)
======================================
CHAPTER XIII
THE OTHER TWO
The library was dimly lit, and presented a warm mood to the red-head. Green lamps were evenly spaced on all the tables, and all the books were put in place. The floor was an interesting pattern of tiles, and the whole place was quiet. Misty headed straight for the newspapers- that was where she was going to start- at the beginning. She sifted through the latest copies back to the older, more yellow ones, where her story was printed on the front page of "Kanto Today". And, suddenly, there it was. One of the many titles she had overheard about at bars and conventions: POKEMON MASTER'S GIRFRIEND KIDNAPPED ALONG WITH RIVAL!
She read and reread the article, and she was surprised at how much the newspapers overstated things. But it was important for her to get a new view of what had happened. She had been told from the start that Ash was the bad guy- that ketchum was the one who did it, and not Gary. That was just his statement, though. She flipped the next few newspapers. MISTY AND GARY STILL MISSING and HOPE LOST? That was, such a long time ago, but the question was still unanswered. Could she finish it?
Misty finally finished what she had come to do. On the way out, she rented a book about the challengers of the elite four with no intention of bringing it back. She left her name, Amy Sandler, on the library card.
On the way home, she thought hard about what had happened. She wanted to know why Gary had kidnapped her, or saved her, he said. She could talk to neither of the Oaks, nor any Ketchums. She looked in the book for Ash's info.
As she flipped, a song came on the radio:
Every move you make
Every step you take
Every vow you take
Every claim you stake
I'll be watching you...
====================================
Ash was taken to the ER immediately. His legs- no one wanted to even talk about them. He had damage to just about every organ and bone in his body- and was not awake, not with the amount of pain killers in his system. For two days, he didn't have any visitors. That was until someone did come, by the name of Oak.
He sat next to the man's bed, just as he had sat next to another's many years ago. His first name was Gary. The nurses warned him that the pokemaster was not going to wake up for at least a day, but he could wait. He needed badly to talk to Ash. He lay in the bed, eyes closed, thinking nothing. And Gary waited, and waited.
The police, dislike ketchum as much as they did, had their duties, and had not let Gary into the room without a video camera and the door open, as well as a bug in his pocket. Perhaps, if the NYPD had read the newspaper that time ago, they would have not let the disappeared child to enter. Or maybe they wanted to have Ash killed. Maybe Oak had given them money. Whatever the reason, there Gary sat, waiting.
It was evening when Ash's heart rate quickened to waking pace. His eyes shifted and slowly opened. Gary did not notice at first. It was only when Ash spoke, "Who are you?"
The rival turned and looked at the scabby face. He felt sadness inside himself. "You know me," he said flatly, as if Ash were a disobedient four-year-old. Ash looked around at his surroundings. "The man that fell with me," he put aside his visitor's identity, "what happened to him?" "He's dead." "Who hired him?" Gary didn't answer. He couldn't- he was bugged. He looked at him thoughtfully. He wondered why Misty was so drawn to him. Even if they were rivals, Gary was mature enough, he thought, to look on Ash's good side. He saw nothing desirable. "I am Gary Oak."
Ash's face remained like a rock- unmoving and emotionless, for at least thirty seconds.
"Who?" "Gary Oak. We knew each other as kids." "Who am I?" Gary thought he heard Ash say. Why not? He had fallen and hit his head, just like Misty. Why not? Just say it. SAY IT. "Gary Oak..." Ash was now in deep thought, a concept that made Gary forget his frustration and want to laugh. Ash's mind clicked- Gary could see it. He looked at Gary's face and recognized him, eyes widening. His mouth dropped and his head rose. Then came from his mouth what started as a low moan until it grew into a loud talking voice.
"Oahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" He violently tried to sit up and attempted at yelling, again. The police must have been on donut break or something because they would have arrested Gary by now if they had heard what was being said. "Ahhhhhhhh... I remember you... Fucker! It was... you!" Gary could see Ash's hand try to grab his throat. It was actually kind of funny. Like some kind of joke two kids were playing with each other.
"You took Misty! You did it! P-police...!" Gary frowned him. "No need to stop acting like a lady." "H-how could you! And... you dare... come in here and..." his voice weakened and died. He gritted his teeth and made a final effort to jump out of bed and grab the scalpel on the tray next to him. Gary rested a hand on Ash's chest, preventing further movement. Ash looked up at him and was almost pleading. "Why? You... why?" Gary shook his head. He hadn't planned out what he was going to say. "It... was a bad call on my part." Gary said. He looked at the floor and stood. "I saw an opportunity and took it. She didn't remember who she was, and... I... I couldn't turn back after I thought it through." Ash's gaze followed Gary as he walked to the foot of the bed. It was then, when they looked each other in the eyes, that they saw nothing less than pure humanity in each other, and they felt the most respect for each other than they ever had in their entire lives.
"What did you do to her?" "Not now."
"Well, why the... hell not?" "She's alive- at least I think she is."
"I know she is."
Gary looked at him in surprise. "She called me... just before... last night." Ash had assumed his fall had taken place last night and not three days ago. "You mean three days ago?" Ash was silent for a moment, and then nodded. Gary walked back to the chair. "What did she say? Is she alright?" "I thought... that was why you... were here..." Ash was still making small efforts to sit every ten seconds. He was surprised Gary wasn't harboring her or holding her hostage. He was actually hoping someone knew where or how she was, but now knowing no one did, he was filled with fear.
"I spent," Ash said, "seven years... thinking day in and day... out... about how I was going to break your... neck." He muttered an obscene term under his breath. Gary was still fastened on Misty's whereabouts. "I'm just as worried about her as you are." "I'm not... so sure you... are." He tried to sit up and halfway made it. "I want to tell you that I'm not the one who hired that man." He put his coat on but never lowered his gaze from Ash's clenched fists. "Then who did?" Ash's eyes grew frantically helpless as Gary walked towards the door. Gary smiled at him. "Opinions," the rival said, "everybody's got them." Ash made one last effort to grab Gary's sleeve. "You mean to tell me that you've never suspected anyone but me who made her what she is today?" Gary looked at him a last time as he shuffled to the door. "I never thought you were that ignorant, but that's just me." The brunette had his hand on the door knob. "I'll let you rest now. But I'll leave you with a hint."
Ash waited, speechless. "Suspect someone else, like... Brock, for instance."
And with that, Gary Oak left his rival as he had last seen him seven years ago- pissed as hell.
==========================================
Misty stood on the doorstep of 217 Jey Avenue, knocking on a green door. It opened and a bare-chested man stepped up to her.
"What can I do for you?" he asked politely. He looked a little taller. "I'm looking for someone named Brock- do you know him?" The man looked at her for a few seconds, studying her as if she looked familiar. "You look familiar," he said, "But yes, I know a Brock. He lives next door." The man motioned to his left and smiled. Misty smiled back and thanked him for his help. She then walked down the steps and soon found herself in front of 215 Jey avenue. There was a red door, and she knocked on it. It soon opened.
---------------------------------------------
Ooooooh! Kida suspenseful, huh? I hope you liked it.
... ... ... "BARK!"
Yeah! My dog is! Good girl! (feeds dog a box of chocolate.)
======================================
CHAPTER XIII
THE OTHER TWO
The library was dimly lit, and presented a warm mood to the red-head. Green lamps were evenly spaced on all the tables, and all the books were put in place. The floor was an interesting pattern of tiles, and the whole place was quiet. Misty headed straight for the newspapers- that was where she was going to start- at the beginning. She sifted through the latest copies back to the older, more yellow ones, where her story was printed on the front page of "Kanto Today". And, suddenly, there it was. One of the many titles she had overheard about at bars and conventions: POKEMON MASTER'S GIRFRIEND KIDNAPPED ALONG WITH RIVAL!
She read and reread the article, and she was surprised at how much the newspapers overstated things. But it was important for her to get a new view of what had happened. She had been told from the start that Ash was the bad guy- that ketchum was the one who did it, and not Gary. That was just his statement, though. She flipped the next few newspapers. MISTY AND GARY STILL MISSING and HOPE LOST? That was, such a long time ago, but the question was still unanswered. Could she finish it?
Misty finally finished what she had come to do. On the way out, she rented a book about the challengers of the elite four with no intention of bringing it back. She left her name, Amy Sandler, on the library card.
On the way home, she thought hard about what had happened. She wanted to know why Gary had kidnapped her, or saved her, he said. She could talk to neither of the Oaks, nor any Ketchums. She looked in the book for Ash's info.
As she flipped, a song came on the radio:
Every move you make
Every step you take
Every vow you take
Every claim you stake
I'll be watching you...
====================================
Ash was taken to the ER immediately. His legs- no one wanted to even talk about them. He had damage to just about every organ and bone in his body- and was not awake, not with the amount of pain killers in his system. For two days, he didn't have any visitors. That was until someone did come, by the name of Oak.
He sat next to the man's bed, just as he had sat next to another's many years ago. His first name was Gary. The nurses warned him that the pokemaster was not going to wake up for at least a day, but he could wait. He needed badly to talk to Ash. He lay in the bed, eyes closed, thinking nothing. And Gary waited, and waited.
The police, dislike ketchum as much as they did, had their duties, and had not let Gary into the room without a video camera and the door open, as well as a bug in his pocket. Perhaps, if the NYPD had read the newspaper that time ago, they would have not let the disappeared child to enter. Or maybe they wanted to have Ash killed. Maybe Oak had given them money. Whatever the reason, there Gary sat, waiting.
It was evening when Ash's heart rate quickened to waking pace. His eyes shifted and slowly opened. Gary did not notice at first. It was only when Ash spoke, "Who are you?"
The rival turned and looked at the scabby face. He felt sadness inside himself. "You know me," he said flatly, as if Ash were a disobedient four-year-old. Ash looked around at his surroundings. "The man that fell with me," he put aside his visitor's identity, "what happened to him?" "He's dead." "Who hired him?" Gary didn't answer. He couldn't- he was bugged. He looked at him thoughtfully. He wondered why Misty was so drawn to him. Even if they were rivals, Gary was mature enough, he thought, to look on Ash's good side. He saw nothing desirable. "I am Gary Oak."
Ash's face remained like a rock- unmoving and emotionless, for at least thirty seconds.
"Who?" "Gary Oak. We knew each other as kids." "Who am I?" Gary thought he heard Ash say. Why not? He had fallen and hit his head, just like Misty. Why not? Just say it. SAY IT. "Gary Oak..." Ash was now in deep thought, a concept that made Gary forget his frustration and want to laugh. Ash's mind clicked- Gary could see it. He looked at Gary's face and recognized him, eyes widening. His mouth dropped and his head rose. Then came from his mouth what started as a low moan until it grew into a loud talking voice.
"Oahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" He violently tried to sit up and attempted at yelling, again. The police must have been on donut break or something because they would have arrested Gary by now if they had heard what was being said. "Ahhhhhhhh... I remember you... Fucker! It was... you!" Gary could see Ash's hand try to grab his throat. It was actually kind of funny. Like some kind of joke two kids were playing with each other.
"You took Misty! You did it! P-police...!" Gary frowned him. "No need to stop acting like a lady." "H-how could you! And... you dare... come in here and..." his voice weakened and died. He gritted his teeth and made a final effort to jump out of bed and grab the scalpel on the tray next to him. Gary rested a hand on Ash's chest, preventing further movement. Ash looked up at him and was almost pleading. "Why? You... why?" Gary shook his head. He hadn't planned out what he was going to say. "It... was a bad call on my part." Gary said. He looked at the floor and stood. "I saw an opportunity and took it. She didn't remember who she was, and... I... I couldn't turn back after I thought it through." Ash's gaze followed Gary as he walked to the foot of the bed. It was then, when they looked each other in the eyes, that they saw nothing less than pure humanity in each other, and they felt the most respect for each other than they ever had in their entire lives.
"What did you do to her?" "Not now."
"Well, why the... hell not?" "She's alive- at least I think she is."
"I know she is."
Gary looked at him in surprise. "She called me... just before... last night." Ash had assumed his fall had taken place last night and not three days ago. "You mean three days ago?" Ash was silent for a moment, and then nodded. Gary walked back to the chair. "What did she say? Is she alright?" "I thought... that was why you... were here..." Ash was still making small efforts to sit every ten seconds. He was surprised Gary wasn't harboring her or holding her hostage. He was actually hoping someone knew where or how she was, but now knowing no one did, he was filled with fear.
"I spent," Ash said, "seven years... thinking day in and day... out... about how I was going to break your... neck." He muttered an obscene term under his breath. Gary was still fastened on Misty's whereabouts. "I'm just as worried about her as you are." "I'm not... so sure you... are." He tried to sit up and halfway made it. "I want to tell you that I'm not the one who hired that man." He put his coat on but never lowered his gaze from Ash's clenched fists. "Then who did?" Ash's eyes grew frantically helpless as Gary walked towards the door. Gary smiled at him. "Opinions," the rival said, "everybody's got them." Ash made one last effort to grab Gary's sleeve. "You mean to tell me that you've never suspected anyone but me who made her what she is today?" Gary looked at him a last time as he shuffled to the door. "I never thought you were that ignorant, but that's just me." The brunette had his hand on the door knob. "I'll let you rest now. But I'll leave you with a hint."
Ash waited, speechless. "Suspect someone else, like... Brock, for instance."
And with that, Gary Oak left his rival as he had last seen him seven years ago- pissed as hell.
==========================================
Misty stood on the doorstep of 217 Jey Avenue, knocking on a green door. It opened and a bare-chested man stepped up to her.
"What can I do for you?" he asked politely. He looked a little taller. "I'm looking for someone named Brock- do you know him?" The man looked at her for a few seconds, studying her as if she looked familiar. "You look familiar," he said, "But yes, I know a Brock. He lives next door." The man motioned to his left and smiled. Misty smiled back and thanked him for his help. She then walked down the steps and soon found herself in front of 215 Jey avenue. There was a red door, and she knocked on it. It soon opened.
---------------------------------------------
Ooooooh! Kida suspenseful, huh? I hope you liked it.