It was sunset. Misty and I were sitting on a towel at the beach. We were talking about all the things we had missed in each other's lives for the past four years. In complete and udder honesty, I never felt closer to Misty before. She was so open to me. I knew that there was something different, though. She didn't smile like she used to. She used to be so happy, hiding her feelings with sarcasm. Now she's quiet, hiding her feelings with happiness. It worried me, wondering if Gary did lasting damage on her. I stared into her eyes. She was telling me about her last gym battle.

"His Ivysaur was no match for my Gyarados, especially when I - !"

"Misty, I love you." She looked at me. I knew it was sudden, but I couldn't hold it in anymore. I was ready to face rejection. Yet, her expression seemed to change completely. The silence was nerve wracking.

"Gary was right," she finally whispered. I wanted to question her, but I left it alone. Misty smiled. She was at a loss for words. Our eyes wouldn't break eye contact. I somehow found the courage to lean in...and kiss her. Our lips touched, and then locked. It was only for a few moments, but when we broke, Misty looked deeply into my eyes, as if searching for something. I stared back. "I love you, too, Ash."

Misty pounced on me, pushing me into the sand. She crawled on top of me, grabbed the collar of my vest, and kissed me again. Before I knew it, I could feel my tongue exploring her mouth. It felt almost natural.

Ten minutes later, I was chasing Misty back to her gym, Pikachu on my head. I don't remember exactly how it happened, but I do remember somewhat of her saying she wanted to show me something. "Misty, wait up!" I yelled, almost tripping over the sidewalk.

"No!" She yelled after me. "You speed up!" She teased, running faster. I groaned, forcing myself to run faster. All that swimming must've built lots of muscle in her legs, because I could barely keep up.

"Pika." I told you.

"I guess you did, buddy," I panted. I finally saw the gym and slowed down to a jog. It reminded me so much of when we were younger. I was usually the one in front, though, so excited that we were nearing the next town. Now I was trailing behind. I chuckled and opened the doors to the gym. Misty was there to greet me.

"Come on, Slowpoke!" She said, taking my hand. Pikachu jumped off me with a jerk and looked at Misty and me. She wasn't even breathing heavily, and she was running. My pulse regulated again, at least. She pulled me up a flight stairs, but then stopped to stare at me. Before I knew it, I was tripping up the second flight, making out with Misty. I was holding her in my arms, playing with her hair. She was was trying to pull away from me to say something, but I took control. Instead she pointed.

I opened my eyes for just a moment to see where. The room where I had changed earlier. I remember seeing a picture of me in there. It was me who damaged Misty. I realized what was going to happen in that room. I felt my stomach leap into my throat, but I took a deep breath threw my nose. I shut the door behind me. And locked it.

-

I woke up late the next morning in a bed. There wasn't anyone next to me, but it was a bed for two. Light flooded the room through the bay window and the air had a musty smell to it. I remembered last night. I got feel my face get hot as I wondered where Misty went. I shut my eyes for a moment, and suddenly the door burst open.

"Do I look good?" Misty asked, Pikachu on her shoulder. She was in all my clothes. I lifted the duvet off me and saw I only had on boxers. I stared at her. She looked hot.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu shouted excitedly, as if she was on my shoulder.

"Actually, yeah," I said. It was really bizarre.

"Thank you," she smiled. She came over to where I was laying down and pecked me on the cheek. "I'll give you your clothes back so we can go somewhere."

"Yeah, that'd be nice," I said, returning her gesture. Misty stripped right in front of me, revealing a matching lace bra and panties, and put on her own clothes. Pikachu hopped onto the bed and licked my face. "Hey, buddy," I smiled, petting her.

Misty threw my clothes at me. "Up and at 'em," she teased. I got up and put my clothes on. She made the bed and then sat at the bay window. I sat next to her, pecking her on her lips, only once. Misty kept her eyes shut, as if wanting more, but then she just smiled. She looked at me. "I love you, Ash."

"I love you, too." I kissed her softly again, and then looked out the window. I was going to be leaving for Sinnoh in a couple days, but I couldn't tell Misty yet. I can't hurt her again.

(Now, before I go any further, let me tell you how that was mistake number one. Never keep important information from girls like that. Especially ones you just had sex with the night before.)

"So what do you want to do today?" Misty asked me, putting her hands on my chest. "Want to go out to eat? The beach? Maybe I could teach you some dives..."

"Nah," I said quietly. I knew I shouldn't have said it, but I just really didn't feel like doing anything. I felt like lounging.

"Well, okay. You can come to my house, and we could watch the television or something," she said, laying her head on my chest. I began to mess around with her hair. It was so soft, but the smell of chlorine seemed to just be permanent.

"Sure, babe," I cooed, kissing her neck. Suddenly, I forgot what I wanted to do. I was too enveloped with Misty silky skin to think about Sinnoh. I had to call Brock, but I had to somehow escape Misty. Even though I knew how wrong that sounded, I had to get a chance.

"Let's go then," she smirked. Dammit, I thought, just when I was beginning to get somewhere, too.

She escaped my grip and began to walk out the door, Pikachu following her closely. I sighed, grabbed my bag, and began to head down the stairs. Misty and Pikachu were waiting for me at the entrance to the gym. Pikachu jumped on top my shoulder as Misty locked the doors. At the dead end of the street was the Pokemon Center. I had to get there so I could call Brock. I thought fast.

"Hey, Misty," I said, wrapping my arms around her.

"Mmhmm," she reached up to kiss me, and I let her.

"I'll meet you at your place, okay? I have to check for a package my mom sent me." Not a lie. She made me new clothes for my trek, which I had on, but I didn't get my new hat yet. She smiled.

"Okay. But be quick!" She said as I head off to the Center. I nodded.

"Pikachu?" What's up?

"I have to call Brock."

"Pika pi." Oh boy.

"Yeah, I know, buddy. Things will end up okay, though, alright?"

"Pi," Pikachu nodded.

Okay, things are good with the Pokemon, so everything will turn out fine. Heh. I was so dumb.

I opened the doors to the complex, being greeted by a Blissey and a frantic Nurse Joy. A little girl was bawling over her fainted Bellossom. I made a face and sat at one of the computer like screens, calling Brock. It rang a couple of times, but he picked up. He looked worn out, but I wasn't really interested in who or what he was doing.

"Ah, good. I'm glad you called, Ash," Brock said, smiling. "I'm ready when you are."

"Yeah, Brock, about that...," I began, taking my hat off and setting it on my lap. "I don't know if I'm going to Sinnoh."

"Family emergency?" He asked me coldly. I bit my lip and whispered into the cheap plastic phone so no one else could hear me. "When you say 'slept', I don't think you mean just lying next to her for the night, do you?"

"I think you know what I mean, Brocko." His expression was serious.

"This is not good, Ash. You do know that, right?"

"Well, of course I do. I know I didn't have to, and I shouldn't have, but it felt right. In a way," I finished, rubbing my eyes. I was still tired.

"Jesus. At least it was protected...right?" He looked me straight in the eye. Dammit. Brock could tell what I was thinking. "God damn it, Ash."

"I know, Brock, I know." I put my head in my hands. "I'm a hormonal sixteen year old boy, okay? I know I made a mistake. But it's not as bad as it sounds. We stopped, y'know?" I told him, lifting my head up.

"Before...?"

"Yeah. I think we're safe, but I just want to stick around, just in case."

"Makes sense, but I already got the tickets."

"Dammit. Well, I'll talk to her. I'm going to have to."

"Good luck with that," Brock scoffed. I stared at him.

"When is the ship taking off?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

"Dammit, Brock, that doesn't give me much time."

"Yeah...Well, uh, anyway. I'll talk to you later...I think Ethan needs me...," rather abruptly, the screen went blank. Sighing, I hung up the phone.

Yeah, I'm screwed.

I walked up to the counter, where Nurse Joy was returning from the back room. She came up to me, and immediately recognized my face. She smiled softly. "Hello, Mr. Ketchum. What can I do for you?"

"Hey, uh, do you have a package for me? From Delia Ketchum, please." She turned to the shelves behind her, scanning the boxes. Nurse Joy nodded when she saw the wrapped box. She pulled it out and handed it to me. I smiled.

"Here you go, Ash!"

"Thanks, Nurse Joy."

I sat over on a couch, setting the box on my lap. Pikachu jumped off my shoulder and sat next to me. She pointed to the package.

"Pika, pikachu?" So you weren't lying?

"I couldn't lie to Misty, Pikachu. You know that."

"Pika." You've done it before.

I ignored her and began to open the box. My new hat was looking so pristine in its condition. I grinned toothily as I traded the one on my head for the newer, better one. Pikachu put my old hat on her head. I pet my Pokemon as she jumped back on my shoulder. On my way out the door, I threw out the box. Pikachu, hat still on her furry head, looked semi-content. Probably thinking about Misty and what I was about to do. I walked up the street and to Misty's house. I didn't bother knocking. She was in the kitchen cooking something. She could tell it was me without turning away.

"Hey, Ashy," she giggled as she finally turned around to see me, with my new Sinnoh hat. "You look hot."

"As do you," I hugged her as she walked over to me. Pikachu hopped on my head to avoid being crushed.

"Pi ka chu." Oh, boy. Here we go.

"I made us some sandwiches," she pulled away from me, going to pick some plates up from the counter top. "Ham and honey mustard." Misty set the plates on the table, gesturing me to sit down. I did as gestured to and handed Pikachu, whom was now on the floor, a piece of sandwich I ripped off. She ate it hungrily.

"Sounds good," I began to scarf it down. "But...we got to...talk, Misty...," I said between gulps. She giggled again. Ever since the night before, she seemed to be so out of character. It began to scare me.

"Slow down," she laughed. "If you don't, you're going to get hiccups!" I was already finished my sandwich, though, and putting my dish in the sink.

"Yeah, but anyway," I dismissed her warning, "we have to talk."

"About?"

"I'm going to Sinnoh tomorrow, Misty." She bit her sandwich, not showing the least bit of emotion. Going from giggly to...emotionless. That wasn't a good sign.

"I thought you were going to stay here...?"

"Believe me, I want to. But you know how you had to stop traveling to come back to the gym? Well, it's almost like the complete opposite with me," I countered. Mistake number two was bringing her into something that was obviously my fault.

"But, Ash...," she didn't know what to say. "I...I guess it's for the best," she reckoned. "Yeah, you should go. I'll be okay. But...don't forget me, alright?" She stood up from where she was sitting and walked over to me. We kissed gently. I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Babe, I'll never forget you."

Hmm...didn't really like this one. I don't know why. "/ What do you guys think? Well anyway, Misty was a bit OOC here, but I had an excuse for it, and Ash points it out, too. ^.^; Oh, and I want to let you guys know that next chapter will be in Misty's POV. Ash is leaving for Sinnoh, and it's like her take on it and stuff. Just wanted to let you guys know. OH! And there's only two more chapters left. ;_; The next one will be decent length, but the last one will be like less then 1000 words. Well, as I am taking up a ton of space, I'll let you guys go. Later~