Ash and Dawn were at Lila's penthouse treating themselves with the TV on watching for any news regarding the hospital. Some bruises were covered up with bandages and plasters hiding most of their bad shape. Despite keeping Scrafty out of Pheromosa's hands they were beat up. Ash was just about to finish bandaging Dawn's arm having more of handling and hiding wounds.
"How's it feel?" He finished wrapping the cloth.
"Not too bad." Dawn moved her arm a bit to feel something. She was disappointed at herself.
"I'm still mad they got away. I should've come with you." Not agreeing with Ash in that she should stay at the hospital to guard the punk leader and actually help him fend off the woman and henchman.
"The mission was to keep Scrafty safe. You succeeded and only now security is going to be increased. You lost this battle but the war is still on. You'll get them next time."
"Thanks Umbreon." Dawn feeling a little better she had the skill but not the experience.
"Now. Get ready to demonstrate how they fight to the others. You have experience with how they fight so use that knowledge in your advantage."
The two getting the point the spirit made they got up on their feet to discuss teamwork between the two. Dawn meanwhile got close into Ash's face.
"Before we start I got a surprise for you. Close your eyes." Still done for now she needed to hold her end of the bargain.
"Close them?"
"It's a trust exercise." She told him. Ash did so as she leaned closer gave him a quick peck on the cheek where Pheromosa slapped him. Ash opening his eyes she smiled.
"That's for not falling for her." Telling the reason he received his smooch Ash smiled in return.
"I just got you. I'm not letting you go so soon."
Putting a hand on her softly not to hurt her arm she enjoyed his touch. Promising once more to genuinely try and have a healthy relationship she was all up for it. Feeling playful despite the pain she struck back verbally.
"As if you can catch me that easy anymore." Her progress from their first sparring match to now was evident. Ash held back somewhat during that fight but since then Dawn has proven herself capable and an equal despite some differences in powers and traits.
"Last time I checked I'm still faster. It won't be hard to catch you."
"You have to find me first. I'm a walking shadow."
"Not a problem since I can smell you and it's better than those perfume bombs."
"Speaking off smell you need a shower."
"Can't you and Riley carry a hot tub in here?"
"Who's going to pay for the water? Or are you going to 'borrow' some from Leona's parents next time you are invited?" Reminding Dawn of her other childhood friend that did not give trouble with crushes and broken hearts it's been some time they talked or hung out. She felt like she's been rejecting her but Dawn had no clue how to tell Leona about what's she's really been up to.
"Good idea. I can use a free hot spring dip about now."
"If you drown your friends can't safe you. I'm the only one now allowed give you mouth to mouth." As her boyfriend Ash was of the opinion only he had the right to perform CPR. Dawn giggled as she pecked him on the lips quickly kissing him once more.
The contrast between Greninja and Ash Ketchum was something with how much he was joking and flirting with her. When he wore the mask he was pretty distant only focusing on stopping Pheromosa and saving the hospital and its people. Breaking up the kiss Umbreon pulled them back into reality telling them to make a demonstration for their friends.
As they talked and made plans to show off someone came in.
"Hello Dawn." The woman owning the entire building moved into her home. Seeing Dawn and a boy dressed in outfits she made she smiled. Lila finally got to see another than Johanna's daughter that was quite special.
"So this is the person I made one of the outfits for." Ash a bit wary of the woman storming in Dawn introduced the two. The stylist one of the few outside of family and the group that knew the truth Ash reached for his mask trying to block his face but Dawn stopped him.
"Ash, this is Lila. She's the stylist and the one that kept Umbreon in storage and gave her to me." With the woman now knowing his face she was an ally of the Berlitz family. No need to hide it longer he introduced himself normally.
"Nice to meet you Lyla, I'm Ash. Or Greninja."
"Without the mask just Ash then. How has the costume been for you?" The stylist interested if it was comfortable enough and it did not restrain him in his motions.
"It's been doing it's job. It helps I can now go out during the day instead of only in the dark. Thank you." Ash thanking her on person now she seemed nice. They might not share interests but since Lila is a friend of Dawn she can keep a secret for a long time. Seeing the first aid kit on the table her smile became smaller.
"Healing your wounds after today?"
"Yeah. It's been a rough day." Dawn complained. The stylist had a fun idea to get their minds of the pain.
"Mind if I test you Ash?"
"Test me?"
"Nothing physical. A short quiz of some sort." Lila went towards a small curtain and moved it away as Dawn recognized it as the plateau Lila secretly took her measurements for her real costume.
It was a dark purple sleeveless dress with tiger lilies printed at the bottom. Sandals a darker color a red sash was around the waist of the figurine.
"Your new dress for a show?" Dawn asked finding it pretty though not her preferred colors.
"It's a beautiful kimono." Ash liked the sense of style and mixture of tradition and elegance mixed in. Lila smiled at the difference in their response where Ash called it by the right name instead of just a dress.
"Dawn mentioned you were a big fan of eastern cultures. You think there's something missing?"
"You're asking Ash on fashion advice?" Dawn whispered to herself.
"The Obi can be a different color cause to me the large piece of red clashes with the rest. A lighter purple maybe but the edges of it red so it doesn't distract."
"Obi? Dawn absolutely perplexed at how much he seemed to know about eastern fashion. She thought that all this time he didn't care too much about what he wore regularly. This and after seeing how clean his closet is there might actually be a little vain Ash hidden in there.
"An Obi is the sash on the dress."
"I knew that." Lila told Dawn as Ash just grinned before he continued to show off.
"The Zori seem a bit small. Maybe use Geta instead as it's a female kimono?"
"What are these words you're saying?" Dawn lost again Lila responded to her question.
"The sandals. Seems you need to read a bit more Dawn. Ash has you beat."
As Ash and Lila continued to throw out words she never heard before she slumped on the couch.
"We're a couple. Yet I'm the one feeling like the third wheel."
The five sworn protectors were all gathered at Heaven now. Ash and Dawn told May, Zoey and Riley how their day went the hospital with the incredibly quick woman that outpaced even Ash and carried her love potion bombs that affected regular people. Ash's own fight with the man build like a brick house told them about his experienced worrying the others.
"Do you know them Zoey?" Dawn asked her cause if Cacturne had such strong allies it would've been nice to know beforehand. Zoey in her full hero form with the green hair since she and the other three used it to get here shook no.
"I don't. His flunkies are normal people that don't give me much trouble so this is a first for me as well." She made the Veilstone residents aware of her situation and enemies in her hometown.
"He must have been saving them as a last resort if you would get help or work together with Roserade. Cacturne has always excelled at keeping his cards close to his chest with the amount of times he slipped through our green fingers." Leafeon telling the others Zoey's unawareness is not her fault and they had no reason to hide it from them.
"So what do we do? Go and look for them to see if we can catch a hint?" Ash wanting to go out there again and Dawn mirroring his attitude despite the sore spots. Riley held them both back.
"First thing is you two heal up. Remember our big search." Glaceon referring to finding the necromancer cause they considered him the biggest threat.
"You both need to be in shape. Risking further injuries now is a risk to you two participating in the search." Leafeon judged them. Ash and Dawn were both annoyed at being benched.
"You sure you won't need us?" Dawn asked them wanting to get back out there.
"No need to worry. If it really turns bad we got you on speed dial." May told her throwing Dawn's own phrase against her.
"And if we're busy fighting my dad has us covered on that one." May's father Norman the only policemen knowing about the group he acted as a direct line for the five if something major went on.
"Ok. If that's what you guys want." Ash not arguing against his mentor and the other two girls as the numbers were against him and Dawn. Still this break will make for a great excuse to hang out with Dawn and to finally settle the talk between him, Brock and Kenny.
Even if Ash and Dawn were told to rest they still took their way of travel back home. Getting at the point they should normally split to go to their own houses Ash wanted to hang out a bit more after getting dressed normally.
"So now that we got some time wanna go do something?"
"I'd love too, but…"
"There's always a but with us huh?" Ash joked used to it.
"I promised Kenny I'd see him in hospital. Now the hospital is out of the question but I can at least visit him at home."
"I understand." Ash sounded in a particular way which she picked up on.
"Ah, you're jealous. Don't be." She knew how to remove his jealousy pretty quick as they had an agreement.
"Also now that we got some time and the others forbid us to out on patrol how about that restaurant you were talking about?"
Their true first date at the place Ash wanted to take her to try and pick a weapon she can learn to use and master with her shadow. Ash smiled under the mask as he found it a great idea but a bit short notice.
"I'd like too but the curfew is still up. I don't think we can take the tour and eat in a calm pace. We can always order."
"Sounds good. Your place at 5 so we get the food early?"
Before Ash could respond to her demand of time she slipped away. Feeling pretty tired she'd grab a quick bite at home before wearing something covering her wounds and heading to Kenny's house since Johanna told her patients that were discharged today could go home but at any sign of irregularity had to be admitted again.
Dawn rang the doorbell to Kenny's house. Giving herself a final check up she was pretty nervous at knowing Kenny crushed on her but she already had a boyfriend. Kenny's mother opened the door for her and invited her in pointing her to Kenny's bedroom.
Dawn opened the door and gently came in seeing him lay on his bed playing video games.
"Dawn!" He paused his game the moment he saw her. The joy made Dawn feel worse cause of the inevitable sadness she'd deliver.
"You came."
"A promise is a promise right?" At least she couldn't be blamed not keeping her end despite wanting nothing more but to drop on her bed and fall asleep fighting her fatigue after an exhausting day.
"But the curfew is going in soon. Shouldn't you be home?" Kenny did not want Dawn to get into trouble by being out late when she didn't need too. He could wait a day if it meant her safety.
"It's only a short walk. I can run home before they catch me out."
"And you've gotten quite good at the whole not seeing you thing." The spirit in the earring joked.
"Is everything ok? I heard what happened at the hospital and to most of the males. How are you feeling?" Not aware of how long Pheromosa's perfume lasted Dawn was still a little on guard.
"Doing well. The doctors said I should take it easy for now but I should be back on my feet pretty soon."
"That's good news." Happy he was in one piece she needed to cross a bridge without throwing it in his face. The first part out of the way they needed to continue where they left off. Kenny seemed ashamed of himself to her. A nasty look on his face Dawn asked why he was so sour.
"What's wrong?"
"I should've been stronger. I should've been the one fighting instead."
"You're talking about what happened at the basketball court?" He nodded yes.
"We just were unlucky to walk into the one place they saw as their turf. It all worked out didn't it? Just be thankful Ash was there to hold them off long enough for Greninja to show up."
Dawn waved it off as she copied Ash's story which he told Kenny and Brock in hospital circling back to where the left off in the café before the Scraggy interrupted them.
"But I made my choice. Not because Ash may or may not be better than you but because of who I am. If anything you should blame me instead of him cause it's just my personal taste. We all are different Kenny. It's just how we're born. I can't help who I am and who other people are. We might have the ability to influence people but you should never abuse it. Ash somehow influenced me more then you did."
"Look, I get it. Just stop talking. You're going to prom with Ash and nothing I'll do will change that." He said with gritted teeth. Didn't matter to Kenny how much Dawn tried to make it right he lost her as she can't give him what he wanted from her.
"I'm sorry. I said you were better at basketball than him. The team can rely on you in a pinch so you're pretty trust worthy. You'd be a good leader in keeping the team together and focusing on winning cause keeping Barry in line sure seems like a hassle."
Thinking a few compliments and skills thrown his way would cheer him up. It didn't work as he still had dropped eyebrows and his arms were slack as he clenched his fist hiding his frustration and failing.
"You apologized enough. I can tell you don't want to be here since it's uncomfortable for you." He did pick up on her unease at being here like she'd rather be anywhere but his bedroom.
"Isn't there anyone else you want to go with? I can do a good word for you to any of the other girls at school."
Dawn would try to help get him a date if he wanted someone else. Maybe she can ask May or Leona for a big favor she'd repay one day. It gave her a topic to see the hotspring heir about. Kenny nodded no and told her to just go.
"Ok. Still friends right?" Dawn wore a tiny smile. She meant it that she did not wanted to lose him as a friend. It be awkward if they attended the same classes and she cheered during his basketball games while this weird cloud hung above them.
"Yeah. It sucks, but friends."
"Awesome! You're great." She moved to him and sat on his bed to give him a 'get well hug'. Her arms around Kenny still was down on that it was nothing but a friendly hug but was happy Dawn was still a bit of the same. She released it a bit to soon for his liking and got off his bed.
"Bye Kenny. Wish you well."
"You too Deedee."
Usually hating the nickname she let it slide for once. Dawn went out of the house and was just exhausted from today and won't even bother dressing in her pajama's the moment she got home. Grabbing a final snack from the kitchen at her house and devouring it she skipped the stairs by using her agility to jump up and kicked her shoes off as she crash landed on her preferred place to sleep.
"Finally bed."
I know I posted this earlier but made a mistake in hindsight.
I'm a bit behind so updates might slow down for a bit.
See you around