Part 3

MISTY'S POV

I was now at home with Ash, in my room. My sisters had offered me a television; they were so happy that I was alive. I guess sometimes miracle DO happen. But I wasn't happy not as much as someone who just got his life saved and who's starting a new one would. My new life didn't look that good to me. Gary had abandoned me. I couldn't believe that, he had vowed to always be by my side, how could he break such a promise? He was the one person who I trusted the most in this whole world. I looked at my wedding ring I was still wearing. It was supposed to be a proof of love, the symbol of the union of two persons by religion and love. Instead it only made me sadder but I couldn't throw it away, it was the last proof of love Gary had gave me… Gary was dead. He had committed suicide Sunday. That was the reason why he hadn't come.

It had been impossible to hide this to the media; everywhere in Kanto, Johto and Hoenn, newspapers were saying:

"The famous and handsome Gary Oak has committed suicide, last Sunday. We investigated and discovered that his new fiancé and long time girlfriend, Misty Waterflower, was about to die so we think that it was the reason why he did that horrible act. Only, she miraculously survived to her sickness and has been abandoned by her cherished boyfriend. What a tragedy, dear readers. Will one of the greatest novels in the world take place in reality? Will Miss Waterflower commit suicide too after discovering her Romeo's useless death for her?" or something similar. Personally, Romeo and Juliet was my favorite story when I was younger, it also was my mom's. I remember wishing that someone could die for me, thinking it was so romantic. I regret it, now. Destiny has a strange twisted way to grant wishes, how come it granted this one and not the last one?

So much unanswered questions but no one to whom I can ask it. Gary's funerals were next week and I was still unsure if I should be there or not.

Now, with Ash, I was unwrapping Gary's last gift that he had given me. The first one was a tiny necklace locket with a picture of both of us in it. There was a note with it.

"I'm closer than you think" I read aloud. So he had been planning this all along.

Ignoring this comment and all the pain it gave me I unwrapped the second gift. It was a tape. We went downstairs to watch it as I didn't have anything to read it in my room and I took Ash's offered hand to give me more courage.

"Misty and Ash or anyone who's with you, if you're watching this; it means that I'm already dead." He sadly smiled as one tears escaped from my eyes "Misty, I can't live without you in my life but you are strong, I believe in your strength, and you can live without me in yours."

"How could he say such a thing? Did he know about how many time I'd resist the urge to join him too? And how come he seems so sure that I'd survive? It was pure luck!" I thought, outraged

"That's why I did it" the video continued not stopping for me to calm down "Only my grandfather and sister know the truth and you deserve to know it too."

"What truth?"

"I won't commit suicide…or I didn't commit suicide out of despair but out of hope. Try to understand please. Ash, I'm sure you're there, remember when I asked you if you've loved someone so much that you'd give her your heart? I wasn't just talking about the expression; I was also asking if you could do it, literally."

My eyes widened as I was beginning to understand the awful truth. I didn't want to hear it nor even know it! But, powerless, I stood seated, waiting for the rest in submission.

"He wouldn't dare do that!" I wished more than anything else, but destiny again wasn't on my side…

"Misty, I-I'll shoot myself in the brain, tomorrow, so you can have my heart on time… It's the only way I'm sure my heart won't be damaged and it's painless." Gary was trying to smile to comfort us.

Tears were falling freely from both me and Ash's eyes.

"Misty, you are the most important thing in my whole life; your death would have killed me! But mine can save you, one death is better than two, right? I made sure that the best doctors in Kanto would assist yours so there's no way the operation fails. I'm sorry, Ash, if I've been selfish, I just couldn't explain my plan without someone forcing me to give up. Though I envy the free time you'll have with her, I'm glad that someone will be there to take care of her for me. Misty, the guy's crazy about you. Be happy together, that's all I want. I love you with all my heart, do the same with it. Love someone other than me like Ash; you did once why not twice? I know that Romeo and Juliet was your favorite story but I always thought that Romeo was stupid; because of him, his beloved Juliet dies. Don't make me look as loser as him, live your life okay? Ash I'm counting on you, if you ever break her heart, I'd have to come back from hell and kick your sorry ass. Well maybe I won't but if you do so you'd also break mine" he added smiling "okay bad joke, I agree with Drew about my sense of humor but you get the point? I apologized to everyone for my weakness. And Ash, there's something I'd want you to do, go ask my sister for more details. I guess that this is goodbye…Where I'm going, I go alone. I want no one to throw his life for me. I'm no hero, just in love. Misty, don't forget, I'm closer than you think" this last sentence said he put one hand on his heart and blow-kissed me goodbye before the screen turned to black.

All the tears I was fighting came back, Ash too was crying now.

"I'm sorry, Gary. I didn't know…" he kept on muttering

I had a painful bitter mix of pain, sadness and hatred. If those 5 men hadn't been there, none of this would have happened. If only the sea of my tears could put out the flame of both my hatred and passion…We stood here, Ash and me, crying our soul out.

"Gary Oak was a brave man…" I could hear the man in front of us say but I decided to stop listening. I hadn't slept in days, my appetite had shrink and I was as white as my robe was black. I looked distractedly around me, the shades of black reflecting my own soul were depressing me more than ever. May and Drew were there too. Drew was putting May in a embrace trying his best to comfort her, not really succeeding with her or himself for that matter... How ironic, my marriage turns out to be a funeral. I was married to death and tragedy. My swollen red eyes were witnessing that fact. It was time for the beloved one to say their goodbyes. The coffin was getting farther as my turn got closer. I couldn't even move my feet, how did he expect me to move on? Various people went up there, said some prayers and dropped some flowers. Finally it was Ash's turn before mine, apparently Gary, before his death, has insisted that I'd be last.

I could now remember with a sad smile him smiling with his usual trademarked smirk and telling me: "Save the best for last".

Ash had put something in the coffin; I couldn't quite see what it was. He muttered some words that only Gary could have heard and left, making me sign to go as well.

I gathered the remains of my torn courage and went to his coffin, shaking. I saw him, like an angel, peacefully sleeping. Even death hadn't succeeded in stealing him his beauty where it succeeded to steal him from me, at least not yet…

I put the single rose I had brought him and put it on his chest. The tuxedo he was wearing only made him look more handsome, I couldn't help imagining myself in different circumstances, with a different robe color.

"A thousand tears couldn't bring you back. I know because I've tried" I directed my thought to him along with my feelings. "Thank you" I told him. Simple words with all their meaning, I deeply kiss him on his faded lips. I could now understand Romeo's and Juliet's grief and unconsciously I was hoping for some of death poison to come over me. I think my gesture shocked everyone out there but they stood quiet. His lips were cold and I knew I couldn't ever warm them, ever again. I stepped back and watch as the undertaker's assistants buried him. I felt as my heart was buried as well…I couldn't take it anymore and ran to the toilets. May, Gary's sister ran after me.

"Misty!" she cried out my name, I didn't stop so she followed me in the restrooms.

"Misty, are you alright?"

"What do you think" I said, trying to fight the tears that weren't coming... yet

"I know, stupid question"

I didn't answer; there was no use to anyway

"You surprised me…" she said trying to relax both of us by throwing a subject to talk about

"By kissing a corpse?"

"No, by coming here today" she replied, surprising me as well. "It must have taken you a lot of courage just deciding whether to come or not."

I kept quiet, still shocked but somewhere glad that someone kind of understood me.

"You're in worse shape that I am…You're suffering more and I think that you loved him more that I did…more than anyone ever did"

"Love is love. You can't just measure it"

"I understand why he loved you so much" May smiled "you have no pretentiousness and a deep soul"

"You should hate me; I took your little brother's life away"

"If there was someone to be blamed it's that freak that attacked you and no I don't hate you, during the time he has passed with you, I've never seen him happier"

Misty jumped in May's arms and this time the tears came back with reinforcement.

"Misty, I know you're not okay, everyone can see it. You're on the edge of breaking down; the pain you wear each day is so much that people would rather see you dead and in peace and I'm not exaggerating a bit." May patted her back

"May do you know what Ash put on Gary's grave?" I asked after a long silence. I could see May hesitated before answering

"Gary wanted to be buried with the ashes of your heart instead of having the hospital throwing it away. He thought that it could only be fair that you have his and he yours."

Misty couldn't take this day off her mind; it had been a couple of weeks now since it. She was in a bus leaving in direction of Pallet. She had decided to live for awhile with Ash and Mrs. Ketchum. Her stuff was already over there so she just had her purse and some personal stuff with her in her bag. She looked out the window, the rain was dropping. Everyone had been relieved by this decision; they were all seriously concerned about her health. She hadn't accepted to go out with Ash yet and it was understandable but she didn't seem to get better at all yet she was improving…she'd often give rare smiles. But it was clear that she wasn't enjoying life that much and even every of Ash's effort couldn't help even though she appreciated them. Gary had let a very valuable amount of money to her and rumors were worsening everything. The bus stopped to a stop and a young girl got in. She was a young girl of about 15, wearing jeans and a red shirt. She had a big baggage with her and happened to recognize Misty and went sit down next to her. She tried to dry her umbrella before saying:

"Hi! Aren't you Misty Waterflower?"

Misty nodded, not really in the mood to chit chat.

"Oh my god, my friends won't believe it when I tell them! I love your shows and you're one of my idol. Can I have an autograph?"

Misty, again, nodded and signed the piece a paper the teenager girl gave her.

"My name's Amanda by the way"

Misty handed her back the paper, now stained with ink.

"Not really talkative right?"

"I'm just not in the mood…"

"Is it because of your…" she was cut off by a ringtone to which she answered

"Hello? No I won't! I can't believe you did that! For my sake? My ass, you betrayed me! I thought you loved me…No I won't come back and don't bother calling me again" she then close her mobile phone

"Sorry, it was my boyfriend…or rather ex-boyfriend"

"Why were you so mad at him?" Misty couldn't but wondered aloud

"I wasn't feeling too good lately and I told him personal stuff…he told my parents about it and they now want me to go see a shrink! I ran away from home."

"I think he was just concerned about you…"

"He betrayed me, you couldn't understand! I trusted him! It's not like he committed suicide or anything!" she let out angrily then gasped at what she just had said "I'm sorry, you were just trying to help me…"

"You know…you have a great boyfriend. He sacrificed your trust and betrayed you but only for your sake which is more important. You may hate him but he's helping you right now. I think you're the one not understanding"

"Is that what happened with Oak?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know…You seemed to know what was happening and everybody's saying that you're just faking your tears and that in less than a month you will spend all the money which sources and magazine said you did…Personally I think you were such a great couple and couldn't wait to see your wedding live on television"

"I did love Gary…" Misty started; the trip was a long one so she continued telling the stranger everything that had happened. "And for the money, I did spend it all. I gave it to charities." She ended. It never felt this good since his death…she finally drop out everything to someone who didn't have an opinion or prejudices on her. When she finished her tale that unfortunately truly happened, she realized that her young audience was crying.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have told you all this…"

"It's okay, thank you for trusting me"

"No, thank you to you. I feel a lot better now, Amanda"

Amanda's eyes widened in pleasure to hear her idol say her name.

"You know Misty, I think I now understand why Jason did all that…he did it because he loves me it would have been the opposite if he hadn't done it"

Misty smiled to see that her new friend finally understood.

"Oh here's my stop" said Misty "It's been nice meeting you…hum here my email. I'm sure we could chat sometimes. Thanks for your help"

"Thank you so much too! You bet we gonna keep in touch!"

Misty smiled to her and got off the bus after handing her, her email. She saw that Ash was there. He was soaking wet; he must have been waiting for her for awhile now. To his surprise, Misty greeted him with a big hug, she almost threw herself on him, and luckily Ash was quick enough to take her before she falls. Ash returned the hug, smiling, but wetting her as well. What made her genuinely smile, her first real smile since a long time…

Amanda watched the scene with a fond smile through her window, the same one with which Misty used to watch the rain fall. She opened her phone a dialed a number:

"Hello Jason? It's Amanda…"

End

I lied…it ends up pokeshippy. Thank you for reading.

michelicious