Chapter Two- Hands off Ash!

Ash watched Misty sleeping. He hadn't seen her for so long-about two years. She had changed and hadn't changed at the same time. She was taller but than again so was he. Ash looked at Misty's face. It seemed to glow. It looked angelic. How come she looks so different and the same at the same time?

Misty awoke to see Ash looking down at her. "GAA!" she shrieked and jumped up.

"Hey Mist. It's only me!" Ash said cheerfully using her old nickname.

Misty suddenly remembered that she had traveled down to Pallet Town the night before.

"Oh yeah, I remember…" she gave Ash an apologetic look, "I'm so sorry I fell asleep."

She examined Ash closely. Same messy hair, same goofy grin…he's taller, but then so am I.

"Did you have fun in Hoenn?" Misty asked enthusiastically.

"Boy did I ever!" Ash grinned.

Misty felt her heart pounding. Don't smile like that. It absolutely kills me…ARGH! HE'S SO CUTE!

Misty and Ash had a really interesting conversation, Misty feeling sick every single time Ash smiled. May watched them jealously.

"SICK!" she announced to herself. "Absolutely sick! This Misty is soo dead!"

May went off to her room in a bad mood.

Next morning, Ash woke up to the sound of two very familiar voices arguing in the kitchen.

"No, I'm making breakfast for Ash, May."

"I'm making breakfast, MISTY!" May fumed.

"I wouldn't want you poisoning Ash's food!" Misty said.

"Who me? You're the one who can't cook!"

"At least I'm a better cook than you!"

"No way!"

"Yes way! Brock's been giving me cooking lessons!"

"Cheat." muttered May.

"Besides, I've known Ash longer than you," Misty retorted.

"So? He likes me better than you!"

"Does not!"

"Does so!"

"Does so not!"

"Well what's there to like about you? You're hot-tempered, you're ugly, and you're fat!"

"I am so not fat, MAY!"

"Ash does like me best."

Misty looked thoughtful at this statement. "Maybe he does…" she said quietly, "but whoever he chooses is totally up to him. We can't force him to choose either one of us so he makes his own mind."

May sniffed. Yeah, I know she's right but who is she? Miss Maturity?

"Good morning everyone!"

"Oh hello Ash!" May gushed. She ran over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Ash blushed bright red. May went back over to the table and gave Misty a look that said, I told you so. Misty felt a little jealous but she said nothing except, "Hey Ash."

"Hi Mist!" Ash said happily.

Misty felt a lot better.

"Pika Pikachu!" What about me?

"Hi Pikachu!" Misty said cheerfully.

Pikachu had always liked Misty a lot. It jumped onto Misty's shoulder. May pretended to be just as friendly as Misty. "Yeah, Good morning Pikachu!" she added.

Pikachu gave her a wary look.

May sniffed. She thinks she can get to Ash just because his Pikachu likes her better than me.

Misty and Ash chatted happily about Ash's trip on Hoenn all through breakfast and for most of the day. May was really ready to kill Misty.

Meanwhile, Ash was pondering his feelings fro Misty. Yeah, I know we used to argue a lot when we were traveling together, but when I wasn't with her I missed her so much. I really can't stand to be away from her. Well, we seem to be getting on really well right now; I guess how they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder is really true.

Later that day, Misty, Pikachu and Togepi went off to do something. (Maybe they went fishing or something.)

May decided to tell Ash how she felt about him. Misty wasn't there so it was the perfect time. "Um Ash?"

"Yeah, what May?"

"Er…um…Ash, I-I-"

"Yeah what?"

"Ash…I-I think…I love-"

"HEY ASH!" Max interrupted their conversation. "Can you take me over to Professor Oak's today?"

"Okay, sure." Ash said. "Now what were you saying, May?"

"Um, I was saying…I was saying how I really really love… um…fish! Your Mum's the best cook! Plus, your mum's so nice." May cried, losing her nerve.

"Yeah. I really really love her too!" Ash added.

Unfortunately, Misty, Pikachu and Togepi overheard the conversation but misheard the words. Misty felt her blood drain. What? Ash just told May that he loves her too! It…it can't be…why? WHY? Why did Ash have to choose her over me? Why... Misty found herself crying. She brushed the salty tears from her face but they fell nonstop. Why do I care if Ash loves May? I said that it was Ash's choice…why does my heart hurt so much?

Misty covered her face in her hands and walked off slowly.

"Pika pika Pikachu chuu?" Did Ash offend her or something?

Togepi shook its head. "Toge Toge Priii Piii Toge pi!" Ash doesn't return her love!

"Pika piii!" Oh no!

Ash tried really really hard to get to bed. He tossed and turned but sleep would not come.

He could not stop thinking about Misty. He tried to stop thinking about her but the pressure was too strong. After a while, his mind just drifted off…

Where am I? Ash glanced around. There was nothing around. Just lots of mysterious people with no faces walking past.

"ARRGGHHHH!"

Who? Ash turned his heard swiftly. Misty, is that you?

Ash saw the orange-haired girl on the floor. Blood gushed from her chest, her hair was sticking to her face and her face showed the anguish of someone in dreadful pain.

"Be quiet, girl." A tall dark figure appeared. Ash couldn't see anyone, but a dark figure or shape gliding towards Misty. "I'm sure you meant no harm but I want something… and you're in my way…"

The figure reached into his pocket and pulled out…a gun? He put the gun up to Misty's head. "Don't…" Misty whispered. "ASH! Where…are you…" she cried weakly.

I'm here! I'm here! I won't let him kill you! STOP! Whatever you're doing to Misty! Stop it right now! Ash shouted and yelled until his throat hurt. But Misty couldn't help him. Just the helplessness of Misty stabbed Ash. His inability in help her was worse.

"Ash…where are...you…why can't hear…me? ASH!" Misty's voice was barely audible now. Tears welled up in her eyes.

STOP! Stop that! Don't you DARE hurt Misty! Ash couldn't speak now. He felt as though he had no voice left.

The figure pulled the trigger.

MISTYYY!

"MISTYYY!" Ash sat bolt up right in bed. Sweat dripped from his forehead. He felt uncomfortable. He looked down. He had wet the bed.

As Ash went to get clean sheets, the same images replayed over and over again in his mind. Her tears. Her face. The helplessness. Ash couldn't forget. Misty's helpless face crying for him to help her. The blood running over her clothes.

What did it all mean?

Wow. These chapters are really short compared to the other chapters of my other fanfic. But I just love leaving things at a cliffhanger. I'm really impatient when I reading or watching something else and it ends in a cliff hanger, but I love to cliffhanger other people. Hahaha… So what do you think? It's getting deep now. Read and Review! AAML 4 Eva!