Ketchum's Twelve
06: Not Enough People
A PikaFlash's Studio Fanfiction
Disclaimer: All characters, songs and scenes belong to their respective owners...
An A/U Crossover Type fanfic...
Second Monday, Two Days Left
It's 10:00 am. At the Konoha Museum, Syaoran checks on the security around the GS Ball.
Somewhere in Konoha, Naruto does his morning exercises.
At Konoha Hotel, Ash gets himself ready by putting on his black t-shirt, blue-white shirt and his favorite red cap.
Sakura makes her way to the Ramen shop and orders her food.
As for everyone else, they are at the Konoha Museum. The security at the main entrance is very heavy due to the addition of metal detectors and added security keeping an eye out on any suspicious characters. Pikachu waits behind a family of Digimons, Metabee was by himself. Yugi stands in another queue, carrying a backpack while Eriol stands behind Yugi, who was carrying a backpack with the holographic device. Down the steps, Koji and Koichi arrived at the museum, helping Tai on to a wheelchair, who happens to have his hands bandaged up. Koichi pushed Tai's wheelchair to the disabled entrance while Koji waits at the car.
At the hotel, Ash was leaving his hotel room when he was followed by a couple of Chunins. As Ash walks down the stairs, he sees two more Chunin down below.
At the Ramen Shop, Sakura calmly eats her ramen while a group of Chunins sat the tables behind her.
Naruto moves on to doing his exercise while standing on a wall with the help of his chakra holding him up.
At the hotel, all four Chunins quickly caught Ash and arrested him.
As soon as Sakura finished her meal, she was arrested by the Chunins.
At the museum, Koichi and Tai were suddenly ambushed by Chunins at the disabled entrance and were arrested. Koji got straight back into his car and drives off. Up the stairs, Pikachu was recognized by the Jounins at the main entrance and he was quickly arrested. Eriol decides that it's best for him to leave. Metabee stayed in the queue. Bad mistake, the Jounins recognize Metabee and they arrest him. Yugi makes his leave, knowing that he won't be able to steal the egg almost everyone caught.
Meanwhile, Naruto finishes off his morning exercises as behind him is a computer with hidden surveillance cameras of the warehouse where the team have planned their heist.
At the warehouse, the ones that weren't caught and sent to jail were having a meeting.
"I mean, what's this guy's problem?" asked Eriol. "He stitched us up twice in two weeks, all over his own ego."
Koji was at the table, looking at the scaled model of the museum. "It was the one night we had some decent time together in I don't know how long," said Koji, talking about the previous night with his twin brother.
"Well, let's get back on point and go over the list," said Yugi.
Koji gives a look at Yugi. "Who died and made you Ash?"
"No one," replied Yugi.
Koji sighed. "Sorry, my emotions are all over the place."
"No, I was being a bit too forceful," said Yugi, trying to make Koji feel better. "I was trying to show good leadership."
"Oh, for Pika's sake, leave it out, Yugi!" yelled Eriol. "Let's get back on topic."
"You're a good leader," said Koji.
"Thanks. Now, let's go over the list. 'Swinging Mallet'?" asked Yugi.
"Not enough people," said Eriol.
"'Crazy Cody'?" asked Yugi.
"Not enough people," said Koji.
"'Megaman's Dozen'?" asked Yugi.
"Not enough people, obviously," said Eriol.
"'Tokyo Mew Mew Power'?"
"Without Sakura, we have no woman who has a wand," said Eriol. "Oh, and not enough people."
"'Magical Box Madness'?" asked Koji.
"I don't think we can find a Meowth and train him that quickly," said Yugi. "And..."
"Not enough people!" cried Koji, Yugi and Eriol in unison.
Yugi suddenly has an idea. "What about Misty?"
"Yeah, what about her?" asked Eriol
"You know how she looks like..."
"Yeah. What's your point? asked Koji.
"So, we do a 'Super Cosplay'. Actually, it's a 'Super Cosplay' with a 'Jumping the Shark'," explained Yugi.
"A 'Super Cosplay' with Misty," said Eriol. "And 'Jumping the Shark'? You're way out of your tree, my boy. It's totally mad. It's madness."
"It's crazy," said Koji. "Japanese Game show crazy, and we're still one short."
"Think about it," said Yugi. "She can get near the GS Ball, during daylight hours with at least half the system down. I mean, it's a trifecta."
Yugi, Eriol and Koji rubbed their chins. It is their best and only chance to get close to the GS Ball.
"Alright, make the call," said Eriol. Everyone walked away, leaving Yugi's backpack behind.
Back in Cerulean City, Misty was on the phone talking to Yugi.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Yugi Moto, Junior-Grade Rookie Apprentice, you are not following the procedures Ash and I talked about if Seto Kaiba arrives," scolded Misty. "Something is wrong? What happened to Ash?"
Yugi (on phone): Ash is fine. He's with Sakura. During this part of the plan, he can't communicate with us.
"Promise me that he's not hurt," said Misty.
Yugi (on phone): I promise that he isn't hurt.
"You're going to miss the deadline."
Yugi (on phone): Well, Ash will be thrilled that if you come to Konoha when the job's finished. I know how much you love art, so you can go to the Museum over there. There's no downside here."
Misty smiled. "Wow, they're really bringing you along fast."
Yugi (on phone): And Ash will be even more thrilled if you catch the 7PM flight out of Celadon airport, which means that you will have to leave right now."
Misty catches her flight to Konoha...
Second Tuesday,One Day Left
At the airport, Koji was waiting at the car while Misty and Eriol arrived with Misty's luggage.
"I thought I ordered a midsize?" asked Misty. "Is Ash here?"
"He wanted to be," answered Eriol as he and Koji packed the luggage into the back of the car.
"How was your flight?" asked Yugi. "I didn't know if you were a window or aisle person."
In the car, Misty has her arms crossed as she sits between Eriol and Yugi in the back seat while Koji drives. "How long has Ash been in jail?" she asked.
"Only for a couple of days," said Eriol.
"He lied to me," Misty said, pointing at Yugi. "He lied straight to me. He said that everything was fine on the phone."
"What he means by 'fine' is that we are running low on funds, time and manpower," said Eriol trying to defuse Misty's anger. "...and we're deeper in debt than when we started."
"You know, her temper is just like hers," said Yugi, looking at Misty's expression. "And her hair and eyes are almost like hers too."
Eriol shakes his head. "You're right about the hair, but her voice is a bit too high. She needs to lower her voice. That's the first thing people will notice. Can you deepen your voice by a bit?" Eriol asks Misty.
"What the hell are you talking about?" asked Misty. "What is going on? What the hell is with this car?"
Yugi puts his hands together. "I'll be honest with you, Misty. Due to certain personnel losses we have sustained, various readjustments have to be made and you're going to have to play a small role. Now, if you could put these on." Yugi takes out a pair of sunglasses and puts it on Misty.
"Maybe loosen up your hair and add these hairclips." Yugi quickly unties Misty's ponytail and place two red hairclips on different sides of Misty's head.
"Put on this dress," said Yugi, passing a yellow dress to Misty. "And stuff this cushion underneath. We'll give you some space to change."
Both Yugi and Eriol looked outside the car window while Koji continues to drive, giving Misty some 'privacy'.
"A small role," said Misty. "Ok, who am I suppose to be?"
"Well..."
At the Five Star Hotel in Konoha, the hotel manager was talking on the phone.
"Of course. We can get the suite ready. Yes. She is welcome to return to our hotel. Ok. I'll get everything ready."
The Hotel manager puts down the phone and sighs. "Asuka Soryu Langley is coming here," he announced to the Hotel Staff.
End of Chapter 6
Author's End Note: I bet you never saw that one coming, Misty pretending to be Asuka from Evangelion. The idea is inspired by another fanfiction writer who is a big fan of NGE and also happens to watch Pokémon, before it went downhill. He happened to make a reference in one of his crossover fics of Misty being mistaken as Asuka, but I think that particular fanfic and author has disappeared off the net, unfortunately and I forgotten his author name. So, Misty's 'small role' in the GS Ball Theft is paying homage to the author who inspired the joke.