I'll be here Waiting
Chapter 3 - Reborn Rivalry
… A couple of months, once Azurill evolved into Marill, and days after Ash leaves for Unova.
"Now though this is her first-time cooking for anybody but me and herself. I want all you to be honest." Explains Delia to the two Oak man and Tracey as they were sitting upon a couch within the Ketchum's living room.
"No problem, Delia." Said Professor Samuel Oak. "After missing both breakfast and lunch. My hunger might be up there with Snorlax's." Laughing at the end.
"I'm with Gramps on that. Stuck on the project that's fell in our lap yesterday. We've been too busy to stop to take a bite." Gary Oak added, joining in his grandpa's laughter.
"Make that three," Tracey said. But unlike the two Oaks. Tracey had tried Misty's cooking in the past; during a family meal that Daisy invited him too.
At first, with Violet being the closest one to make a suitable meal, she was in charge of cooking the dinner. But at the last second, Violet had been called to judge a Pokémon contest earlier that day at Cerulean's City Park. So she had no time for cooking. Leaving the task to the youngest Cerulean sister.
Recalling how Misty took, chicken soup and made it into a soup Tracey won't be eaten anytime too soon. He knew he never assumed someone. But that night. He was almost sure Misty tried to poison him and her sisters with the multi flavors in a simple bowl of soup.
"Relax, Tracey. I wouldn't give Misty the go ahead if I didn't think she's ready." Spoke Delia, breaking Tracey from thought.
Immediately catching the young apprentice of Prof Oak expression of dread. Delia wanted to make sure he understands he had nothing to worry about. "Believe me. You won't be disappointed." Tracey couldn't help relaxing by Delia's warm smile.
After this situation handled. Delia excuse herself from the living room to see if everything was ready.
Unfortunately, soon after she left the men. Tracey's dread was back. Enough to have the two Oak men, asking what is wrong, causing Tracey to retell of the unforgettable dinner. Leading to both Oaks reconsidering coming, despite their hunger.
"Okay, dinner's ready."
However, the men didn't have it in them to tell the smiling woman 'forget it'. Therefore, with fake joy, the men followed Delia into the kitchen, feeling like they were heading to their doom.
Right away stepping into the eating area of the house and kitchen.
The men were presented to a prepared table, with plates station at the seven sitting seats, filled with delicious looking food in them. While in the center of the table a spread of the same delicious food within the plates was displayed in elegant dishes. The whole setting seems like something Delia would whip up. Holding this thought, Samuel leaning over to Delia, whispers.
"Be honest, you did this." Not looking defended, Delia chuckles, shaking her head to Samuel.
"No, I didn't. Not even a little." With those words, Samuel could read the proudness within her voice just as much on her face. The same proudness she shows when speaking about her son.
At this moment Misty, coming from the kitchen area, that seems to be concealed behind a curtain hanging secured from the ceiling. Approached the table, resting a glass pitcher of water upon it.
The teen's wearing a sundress that starts white at the spaghetti straps but spills into deepening sea blue/green at mid-waist and ends down at the breezy hem edge where there are diamond-bright specks; giving the dress a 'sparkle' look. Resting above the deep-scoop neckline is a normal shrunken Pokeball; with a Cerulean blue teardrop in the center of the ball. Hanging from a bead chain around Misty's neck like a pendant. And although she has the same hairstyle since she was 10. With it grown longer within a year, her ponytail now rests slightly over her right shoulder, with a teardrop hairband not matching only the teardrop mark on the Pokemon ball, but also her tear-drop earrings. Sharing Misty's shoulder with her ponytail was her unusual looking Marill named Aqua.
Yet with a quick glance, you almost wouldn't see the differences from her and her kind. Mostly with her having the same round blue body and limbs like any Marill. However, the yellow lightning mark on its chest, above its white underside, and the bubble-like ball on the end of its black zigzagging tail is yellow. Makes it different from even other Marill. Something both the Oaks been wanting to study of the Pokemon. But Misty hasn't allowed them for some reason.
Though Aqua perch on Misty's shoulder gave a little, "Marill." In greeting. Misty said nothing.
However, Delia, who replaced her usual outfit for a light green polka dot top with white leggings and yellow flats while letting down her mid-back hair, knows why the teen was acting this way. Motioned everybody to take a seat. Which they all did, including Misty, Mr. Mine, and Aqua. The last one still station upon Misty's shoulder.
Nonetheless, they took their seat. The three men didn't move to touch their plate. Because it's not unheard of to have a meal look yummy only to discover it's awful once tasted. So neither men budge toward the food.
Actions causing Misty's eyes downgaze at her own plate, hiding the embarrassment presented on her face that Delia knew was there. Leading the older woman to become frustrated at her guests. Which before she had time to hold it back, a slight growl escapes her lips. Where with nobody seeing him do it, Samuel's back stiff at the subtle familiar growl coming from Delia.
Knowing Delia as a delight child friend of his son, a cheerful former trainer, and later an old student of his. Samuel knew mostly everything about Delia. As such he knows about she having a short-temper in the past. And although that temper mellows out after Ash's birth. Samuel would know it anywhere.
Therefore, the elder man, feeling sweat form from his nervousness, watch closely in the corner of his eye at the quiet woman beside him, steaming in her seat.
Then, suddenly, while rolling her eyes, Delia comments, "And you call yourself men.", before forking a fried shrimp from her plate, biting into it. Though it was yummy, Delia wasn't surprised by this being it isn't the first time she ate Misty's cooking. "Like always Misty, outstanding."
Being she been stun, like the guys, at the remark Delia directed at them. Something herself would have said if she hasn't been nervous about her cooking skills. That's why it was nearly three minutes after Delia's complement to her, Misty finally speaks.
"Thanks, Delia. I was afraid of taking out your signature ingredient to add mine. Would ruin the fried shrimp."
"Just like my mother in law told me. You can't claim these recipes without replacing the holder of them first." Delia, motioning Misty to lean closer, put a hand at the side her mouth, before whispering to the teen. "But remember as long as you use the secret method every time you cook. Your meals will always be delicious." Adding the next part, Delia winks. "And if you can get a Ketchum man to admit your food is better than his mother's. Expect to have his last name in the future."
Although this wasn't new of Delia stating or assuming Misty will be her daughter in law in the future, just like her mother in law did to her before marrying Ash's father. Since learning to cook from Delia. Misty, blushing up a storm, had a denial statement already. After all, regardless of their secret relationship, Misty's never told Ash she loves him, or him saying it too. Then again it has been she, at the beginning, who didn't ever want to label hers and Ash's times together with a name. Despite her own deep feelings and hurt she couldn't see him off for his next journey weeks ago.
But, she never even got a chance to open her mouth.
"This isn't awful, it's great!" As a shout at the table caught everybody's attention towards Gary who's in the middle of nearly stuffing his face. "The best I ever had- mmmm", added before cutting himself off, chewing noisily.
Like everybody at the table went speechless to Delia's unexpected attitude. Gary was stun in the insult. Sure, as a little kid, he had his run-in with an angry Delia due to 'bullying' Ash. But nothing more than a lecture. So hearing a growl come from the gentlewoman. Was nearly Farfetched. However, it wasn't enough for him risk trying Misty's cooking. No his stomach's hunger sounds becoming loudly by the luring aromas on the table. Did it. So finally answering his stomach's call, he forked a piece of broccoli covered in a brownish-red sauce and stuck it in his mouth.
Instantly his taste buds were having a party. Leading the man gobbling his food down as if he were starving for days. The sight was something Samuel never seen his grandson do. But it wasn't just surprising to the Professor. Tracey, and though she's smirking, Delia too. Misty, on the other hand, felt her mouth drop as Gary, eating too fast to start choking, begun pounding on his chest until Tracey handed him a glass of water to help him finish swallowing.
Watching the entire scene, even Gary saying,
"Thanks, Trace.", before refilling his empty plate with the dishes in the center of the table and restart noisily eating his second helping. Misty was reminded of Ash at that moment by Gary's impolite eating; habit Ash has had since Misty known him. Causing her to imagine Gary was replaced with Ash at the table.
Resulting in the teen to fall into a daydream of Ash praising her cooking, and how much he missed her. Followed soon with the last memory she had with her and Ash physically 'together'; which been after watching Clefairy, Clefable and Cleffa hosted their dance to the 'Moon Stone' and once everybody, but them, was asleep. And despite it's been nearly a year since then. It doesn't stop her body heating and her lips tremble to feel his lips once again.
So, she's unfocused the rest of dinner even though Professor Oak and Tracey, once starting on their plate, compliment her cooking.
Fortunately, pretty sure what or who Misty was thinking about; though not on the detailed event. Delia kept the men within a conversation, distracting them away from the unresponsive orange haired teen.
…
"That was a great dinner," Samuel said outside the Ketchum house, directing his words to Misty inside the doorway of the house, before, while looking to Delia standing beside him in the yard, whispered in a low tone. "You might need to be careful. The apprentice might just outshine the teacher."
"Trust me, that's what I'm hoping for." Reply Delia in the same low whispering tone. Winking at her old teacher and friend, smiling. Delia bid him and the younger men, waiting at the walkway, goodbye before entering her home.
As the three men headed toward the Oak Lab and the Oak estate. Tracey began laughing, grabbing the younger Oak's attention.
"Hey what's so funny, Trace?"
"Huh? Oh. Just recalling the last conversation, I had with Ash. You know last week when you let it slip to him. I'm dating Daisy."
Recalling bits and pieces of that event, but not much about Tracey's and Ash's conversation after Ash stopped asking Tracey if he was crazy. So Gary just shrugged, saying, "Not much, but what of it?"
Actually, Gary's mind was mostly on the water gym leader back at the Ketchum's resident. He had always considered her cute in their first encounter. But a year after coming back to learn under his grandpa a bit. He got to see how much the orange haired has blossomed, mostly when Tracey had dragged him to one of the Cerulean sisters' shows. Which it had been a rare time when Misty chose to perform in it. Playing a lovely mermaid and then the orange haired went from cute too full out beautiful. However, since he holds a tight list about what he wants in an ideal love interest. Misty was missing one final a thing.
"Well one thing led to another, not to mention I wanted him to stop thinking I was crazy dating Daisy, so I somehow brought Misty up. Anyway, long story short. Ash admitted Misty is an ideal dream girl, even with her short temper. But couldn't be an ideal wife because she can't cook." Here Tracey started laughing again, missing the pale look Gary was wearing. In fact, Tracey carried on, while still laughing. "Just think what he'll say when I tell him Misty can cook as good as his own mom- "
"Sounds to me like a bad idea." Quickly Gary added. Not only did him and Ash have a similar idea of what an ideal wife is for them. But Gary was now remembering why he tried to forget that conversation between both the raven hairs. Its what Ash said before ending the call. A statement or confession Gary only heard because Tracey had been called over to help Gary's gramps, so he didn't hear it. But Gary did. And even though he and Ash had in some way put their rival to rest.
Why is it now, thanks to Misty having cooking skills, Gary's fearing his rival side is back? But this time around Gary's certain Ash would win. Therefore, Gary had to make sure Ash didn't find out Misty's new skills. Fortunately, with Ash's only connection from Unova to Kanto now, was through Professor Oak's phone line. Gary's sure he could keep this from Ash. He just needs to convince Tracey telling Ash the news wouldn't turn out well.
"Come on, Trace. If Red didn't want her sisters to know she can cook. Why would she be okay with Ash knowing." Tracey slowly nodded to this, but Gary knew the raven-haired wasn't fully convinced yet. "Not to mention if you tell Ash and not Daisy, how would that look for you? Mostly if Misty would be upset you told Ash, anyway." Gary knew that did it, as the other man flinches at just imagine what the two Cerulean sisters would do to him.
"That sounds like a good reason to me," Tracey said as they reached the Oak estate. Smiling to himself, Gary pat Tracey on the back.
"Hey just looking out for you. I mean we scientists in training need to stick together, right?"
"Right," Tracey said, smiling. Not realizing he was helping Gary in getting what he just finally found he wants.
Meanwhile listening to the two behind him, and even picking up on his grandson was behaving like his trainer years, Samuel stayed quiet. Though he didn't know Misty as well as he knows Ash, despite meeting them both, in time, at the same moment as he did Brock. The Professor knew the relationship of the two matched that of Delia and Ash's fathers. And sure, despite his grandson's interring, the two will end up the same way.
That's why Samuel played it off like he didn't know his grandson at the moment was working on a plan to win Misty, as all three men enter the estate.
To Be Continued