frost bites
Almost trembling (but not quite), Misty unlocked the door to her apartment. Inside, she was shivering.
There were several reasons for this.
One: The landlady never turned the thermostat on.
Two: Ash Ketchum was standing right behind her in all of his came-back-from-the-dead glory.
Ho-oh, how did I get myself into this mess? she inwardly groaned. The door swung open, and she flicked the lights on to reveal her sparsely furnished apartment. A couch. A TV. A small coffee table. She walked inside, painfully aware of every one of Ash's footsteps. She turned to face him and, still unable to meet his eyes, asked as naturally as she could, "Want something to drink?"
He shook his head, seemingly preoccupied with his surroundings. She left him to turn several more lights on and came back to see him lounging on the couch which now seemed too small. Pulling up a chair, she sat down opposite from him.
She watched him, this person she didn't know, never knew. He turned his head to look at her, and a hint of that annoying half-smirk appeared at his mouth. His eyes fixed to her face, and she felt coldness tingle her spine. She shook herself, reminding herself that he still had to answer her questions.
"Why did you leave?"
"I had perfectly good reasons."
Misty felt like she could kick him for being so evasive. The old Ash would just blurt it out in five seconds, her mind told her. She kicked her mind and resumed. "I asked you why, not if you had good reasons."
"Fine," he said almost impertinently. "I guess I have to start at the beginning, then."
"Go ahead." Yes, go ahead, you selfish bastard.
"I will." He took a deep breath. "Seven years ago... do you remember what was happening around the time that I disappeared?"
Of course! her mind screamed. "Yes," she said. "It was the Flame Championship."
"And I disappeared the night before the first round began."
She nodded. The screaming fans, the reporters, all had been disappointed when it was announced that Ash Ketchum had disappeared. The uproar had nearly destroyed the stadium where the tournament was supposed to be held.
"I guess you could say that I was abducted, but it was more like I was caught up in something rather than kidnapped. The truth is...
"I traveled back in time."
Misty stared at him. "No you didn't."
"Look, I told you I was going to tell you the truth."
"Then tell me!"
"That's the truth."
She stood up, eyes smoldering. "You're a liar."
"What, so you want to believe that I came to you for money?"
"No, I want you to tell me the reason you left!"
"That's the freaking reason!"
They stopped, both of them panting slightly. "I'm sorry." Ash looked her straight in the eye. "If you don't want to hear the truth, then I won't tell you." He stood and turned to leave.
Reason told Misty that she should just let him go, the stupid selfish bastard... but something else made her say, "Alright. Alright. I can't guarantee that I'll believe you, but... I'll listen."
Ash nodded. "That's the most I was hoping for." He looked around and said distractedly, "Do you mind if I stay here tonight?"
The question took Misty by surprise. "What? Oh. What makes you think I'll let you?"
"Why wouldn't you?"
A small smile quirked her lips. "You sure are overconfident as ever."
"At least that hasn't changed about me, has it."
Misty sighed. "Fine. I'll let you stay. But only for tonight." She glanced at the clock, which read 11:30. "Crap. You want to eat something?"
"No. I'm fine."
"I'm getting something for myself, then." She walked to the door and hesitated, realizing what this meant. She was leaving her apartment to someone she barely even knew. Of course, you knew him seven years ago, her heart said. Just go. It might actually be better if he gets a chance to look around.
"Well? Are you going?"
"Yeah." Still hesitant, she opened the door. She looked back one more time... and stepped out.
Ash almost breathed a sigh of relief as Misty left. It seemed that whenever she was around, an awkward tension would begin in his chest until... until...
Well, he didn't want to think about the "until".
Slowly, he stood up. The apartment was fairly spacious, and as he walked around, ever so careful, he spotted Misty's bedroom. A bed and a lamp were placed against the wall to the right of the door, opposite from the window. Beside the window, there was a small closet. And to the left of the door, a mirror hung from the wall above a small dresser.
There were several items of interest on the dresser. One was a picture of Misty with her three sisters - the Sensational Sisters, as they called themselves when they performed water shows. Another picture showed Misty, this time surrounded by her Water Pokemon. The smile on her face was almost too happy for him to bear.
The third item of interest on the dresser was a crumpled-up piece of paper. Ash picked it up, opened it, and nearly laughed. The note was from one of Misty's fans, asking her to go out with him. Beside the sender's name, Misty had drawn an arrow and the word, "idiot". The picture the fan had sent of himself had been scribbled over, especially the face. Evidently Misty didn't take kindly to letters of this kind. Ash re-crumpled the note and placed it back where he had found it.
"You really haven't changed too much, Misty," he whispered.
Glancing around, he approached her bed, the covers of which were rumpled and on the verge of sliding off the edge of the mattress. A fluffy yellow pillow, depicting a Psyduck's face, lay buried beneath the covers. On a sudden hunch he reached underneath the pillow... and grasped something.
Slowly, he pulled it out. Another piece of paper, except that it was smooth. He stared at a picture of himself from seven years ago - the day before the tournament was to begin. Originally, the picture had been taken with other rookie Pokemon trainers of his caliber, but the frayed edges of the picture told him that Misty had cut him out alone.
So you're always thinking about me even though it's been seven years. Even if you don't admit it...
He lifted up the pillow and placed the picture back where it belonged - then stopped. A small smile came to his face as he pulled the picture out again.
"I'm back," Misty called warily, shutting the door. Unfortunately, she had returned later than she had hoped. Ash's jacket lay on the couch, but the owner wasn't there. Where is he? she wondered.
You'd better hope that he hasn't been snooping around your stuff, her mind told her sternly.
He wouldn't, insisted her heart. Unless he has very good reasons, of course.
"Shut up," she told herself.
As quietly as she could, she tiptoed to the guest room and stopped. Ash lay on the bed, without the covers on, and jacketless. It seemed to her that he was sleeping very soundly, his eyes closed like an angel's... She silently thanked Ho-oh that he was not sleeping with his shirt off.
Otherwise, you'd stare at him for more than an hour, her mind said wryly.
"I thought I told you to shut up," she whispered.
The door to the room closed silently behind her as she walked toward her bedroom. Passing by the couch, her eye caught a slip of a paper sticking out of the pocket of Ash's jacket. Curious, she pulled it out and smoothed it. It was crumpled and worn down to a thin film, but the words were still legible. Her heart almost stopped as she read the first three words.
I love you.
"What?" she whispered to herself. She froze as she heard him stir in the other room, but the sound ceased. She resumed.
I love you. I don't understand why, because the last time I saw you was when you were only a kid. Tch. Well, I shouldn't be talking, because I was even younger than you.
"Oh God..." Her eyes were riveted to the paper.
I used to be such a stupid little kid, and at first you hated me. Well, maybe not hated, but you despised me. To you, I was one of those bugs that you always freaked out about. I always thought that was kind of funny...
I still remember how we met. You fished me and Pikachu out of the river, and then I stole your bike... I had no idea that you were going to follow me to the ends of the earth just to make me pay you back. But then you didn't. I think we both forgot about the bike, and then we were just two kids, traveling with their friends and their Pokemon. I'd like to believe that you stayed because you wanted to.
I don't want to remember the day that you left. Of course, I just went on and traveled with May, Max, Brock, and Dawn, but none of them can replace Misty. At the time, I didn't understand why something in me was breaking, but now I know.
Misty. I don't know why, but I love you. Ironic that I should realize this when I can't even see you or hear you or touch you. I don't know. And I don't know why I'm writing this. What's the point? Even if I somehow manage to get back home, whatever we had will be gone. I've changed so much that even I notice it, and you must have changed even more. Ho-oh... I wish I had never left, but if I hadn't, you probably wouldn't even exist anymore... only in my dreams.
I sound so depressing, don't I? Great. Now I'm talking to the paper. Or writing to it. Because I'll never see her again.
Misty sank into the couch, struggling to understand the meanings of the words, her eyes scanning across the simple writing, the places where the paper had been stretched by water - tears? What did it mean? Her mind ran over the sentences, trying so desperately to connect the dots. Over and over again she read the short note - letter? - and tried to make sense of it. What did he mean, she would only exist in his dreams? And... he would never see her again? But he was right there.
Maybe he wrote this before he knew he could come back, her mind said. This time, her heart agreed.
"Ho-oh..."
I can't believe this. I can't I can't I can't. But the words were right in front of her, and she couldn't deny the words. Maybe he let you see it on purpose, just to gain your trust. But maybe he didn't; he's not the kind of person who would stoop so low. But he's changed.
He does love you. Accept it, her heart insisted. She rolled her eyes. What a stupid romantic you are, her mind told her. Even if he did feel this way before, it's not likely that he has the same feelings now.
But then why would he keep this in his pocket?
Suddenly she started as she heard footsteps, and her head turned in the direction of the sound. Ash stood in the doorway, an inscrutable look on his face. Slowly, almost as if he was trying not to startle her, he stepped closer until he was standing before her. Her heart stopped - and her mind, too - as Ash lowered himself onto the couch and pressed his forehead against hers. She closed her eyes almost instinctively... and he kissed her.
Something seemed to warm her insides, and she blushed. "God..." she murmured, because there were simply no other words for her to say. Ash pulled away slightly, but her fingers had somehow entangled themselves in his shirt. He stopped to watch her, eyes half open, as if he was almost asleep. A small laugh came from him.
"You read all of it?"
Misty blushed even deeper under his gaze. "Yes."
"It's fine." He ran a hand through his hair, making something stir inside of her as she watched. "I intended for you to read it when I first wrote it."
"When did you write it?"
"About three or four years ago." His eyes met hers. "But my feelings are still the same."
Misty felt her breath catch when he drew her close again. Somehow, the warmth of his body against hers just seemed so natural, so perfect that she even found the courage to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him back. A surprised smile came to his lips as she pulled away to look at him.
"I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything then," she said softly.
He nodded. "I don't ever want to leave you again."
"Then don't leave."
Ash shook his head as he unconsciously ran his fingers up and down the back of her neck. "It's not as easy as that."
"Why?"
He simply shook his head again, and a pained look crossed his face for an instant. "Reasons."
"Stop being so evasive," she complained. "You wouldn't do this seven years ago."
"Well, now I have reasons for being evasive. Just believe me. Or just listen. Because you probably won't believe me." He glanced at his watch and groaned. It read 5:30 pm. "Ho-oh... I still feel so tired."
"Why?"
"I changed Time Zones, silly." He smiled.
Misty grew still as she contemplated his play on words. "So. You're still going with that story."
"Yeah, because it's the only story."
"I wish you had something more believable," she murmured, leaning against him.
"Well, I don't. I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
They sat in silence for a while, trying to think, trying to understand each other.
"You know, I knew you for so long," Misty began, "but now that I look at you, you're a completely different person. I mean," she struggled to find her words, "you still look the same, but you act differently. You've grown. And not just in height."
Ash watched her for a few seconds and then spoke. "Well, at least I'm still overconfident, aren't I?"
"Yes. You even took advantage of me."
"Your lips, not you. Don't even suggest otherwise."
"Alright."
"And I'm still really annoying." He moved closer.
"Yes." Misty's eyes flickered from his eyes to his mouth. "You are."
"And," he said, his face a mere inch away, "I'm still totally, hopelessly, head-over-heels in love with you."
His kiss this time was not gentle - it was wild, it was ravenous - it was as if he had been starving for all of those seven years and now... now...
"Oh God," Misty gasped as they broke away again. Ash was breathing hard, his forehead pressed to the hollow of her shoulder.
"You're right. I am taking advantage of you," he muttered.
"Serves you right for not listening to me," she said weakly, smiling.
"Yeah." He stood, letting cool air rush between them, and walked back to the door of the guest room. "I'm going to sleep some more." The door shut behind him.
Misty shivered. Not just because it had somehow become colder, but because-
He had taken a part of her with him.
From the Authoress:
I just couldn't wait to publish the second chapter, so here it is! I can't wait... I wonder what'll happen next?
Ash is so. Freaking. Hot. *high-pitched fangirl squeal* Angsty... broad shoulders... tall... really romantic... *sigh* I should stop being a fangirl of my own fic... it's unsightly.
Anyways. I'm not sure how long the third chapter will take, but I already have some ideas for it. Might take up to a week, two weeks. Even though the second chapter came out really really fast, it was because I was SO DANG HAPPY that people were reading and reviewing, and I also really really wanted to finish that scene. So just keep an eye out. And review. Please tell me how I can improve; it'll be a big help!