Chapter 11: A date

Two days later and back at Team Rocket Headquarters; in Lieutenant Norman's office Melody stood next to Ash as Norman held out a small box. "For your bravery on the field in the face of danger and using your mind to come up with a solution, I award you with this Boulder Badge."

He removed the cover of the box and Ash gazed at his reflection in the badge. He gently picked it up and posed. "I got, a Boulder Badge!"

Melody giggled as Norman just smiled. "I'm glad to see you like it, Ash. Because you've earned it; your father would be very proud."

Ash nodded. "I can't wait to show my friends and my mother."

"Just don't let it go to your head," Melody giggled.

"Well I hope that is the first badge of many you get," Norman replied. "Your father nearly earned them all and if he was alive today I bet he would have been running this Organization."

"Well then, I'm just going to have to get them all," Ash replied.

Melody was escorting Ash down the hall while he admired his new badge. "I'm going to work hard to get my next badge."

"I know you will, and to make sure I will work you twice as hard as I did before," Melody replied.

Ash's enthusiasm headed south from that comment. "Ah come on, you work me harder than any agent in the Beta unit already."

She turned to face him and giggled. "That just shows I like you."

His face turned red from that comment. "Melody, I thought we were not supposed to mention that in the Organization."

She childishly looked around the hall with her hand like a visor over her eyes. "I don't see anyone so I don't see the harm."

"But you never know..." he replied, but was stopped when she put her index finger over his lips.

"Well then, after any mission the troops that went on it get a day off. So that means tomorrow we can have our date," she answered with his cheeks turning red but then she turned away and said in a sad childish tone. "Unless you don't want to, I will understand."

Ash waved his hands defensively. "No, I want too, really."

She giggled and turned to face him. "I'm so glad to hear that, I will meet you at the same place at the Shopping District around ten. Sound alright?"

"Sure, no problem," Ash replied.

"Good, see you then."

In Misty's and May's room, Misty asked. "So, what do you want to do on your day off tomorrow?"

May shook her head. "I have no idea; I doubt we can go over to Ash's house again."

"Yeah, but there has to be something else we can do then just loaf around our rooms and sleep till noon."

May thought for a few seconds. "Hey, how about we go shopping?"

Misty thought about that idea. "Sure, I have needed to get a new fishing rod for while now."

"Not to mention the annual Team Rocket Ball is coming up in a month, and I would love to look for a new dress," May replied excitedly as the images of new dresses danced in her head. "Oh, I wonder what new designs they are coming out with."

"Why, do you have anyone in mind to ask out?" Misty asked.

The idea of her being led by Ash and arms entwined flashed in her mind and her cheeks grew red. "No, not at the moment. Why, do you?"

The idea of Ash asking her to dance flashed in her mind and her face turned red. "No, not at all; I doubt I will even go to it."

"Awe, don't say that. Because tomorrow I will help you find your perfect dress. And I won't take no for an answer."

"So, I have to?" Misty complained.

May nodded. "Yup."

The next day in their street clothes, Misty and May rushed down the stairs of the subway station. "Hurry up, Misty! Our train is about to leave."

"I'm coming!" Misty yelled back as just as the doors were closing they made it in.

The both took a deep breath and exhaled. "That was too close," May replied.

"You're telling me. But we would have been here sooner if you woke up on time," Misty replied.

May pushed her two index fingers together. "I didn't mean too, I was just having a great dream and I didn't want to wake up. Now if I could only remember what it was about, I hate when that happens."

"Well, first thing's first. We are getting my fishing rod before anything else, am I clear?" Misty asked as she sat down on an open seat.

May then smiled. "Yes, but right after that we check out the dresses, and you can't run out on me till we find one that fits perfectly."

Misty groaned. "Yeah, I know I..." she replied, but her tone drifted as her head turned to face the window into the next car.

"Misty, what's wrong?" May asked.

Misty pointed over into the other car and May saw Ash sitting down. "What is Ash doing here?"

"I don't know, but we probably shouldn't bug him. How many stops till we get to the shopping district?"

May opened up a map. "Two stops then we get on the Meguro for one stop."

"Alright, let's get this over with," Misty groaned.

But as they walked over to the next train, they noticed that Ash was taking the same path. They stayed a good distance behind as not to get caught. "So, Ash is heading to the shopping district as well?" Misty asked.

"It looks like. Do you think he is going to get something for someone he really likes?" May asked while both of their faces turned red, but from that they looked at each other, quickly looked away and shook it off.

"It's a possibility," Misty added.

From the last stop they followed the young man to the shopping district. They hid behind one of the stands as they saw him run up to a young girl in a white dress. A sharp pain started to throb in their chests. "He already has a g-girlfriend?" May asked.

"No, he would have told us," Misty replied.

"I wonder why he wouldn't have told us about her," May wondered.

But then as Ash got the attention of the girl, she turned and May and Misty was shocked. "Melody? He is going out with Melody?" May asked.

Misty remembered the day she spied on Ash with Melody the first time. "Well come on, we have shopping to do."

May was confused. "We can't think about that now, what about..."

"Don't worry," Misty replied in somewhat of a depressed tone. "That airhead of a teammate can take care of himself. So let's get going."

May looked back at Melody and Ash having small talk with her giggling from what he said. She looked down then followed Misty.

"So, were you followed?" Melody joked.

"Not that I know of," Ash replied.

She wrapped her arms around his. "I see, so let's go see a movie. Any particular one you have wanted to see?"

"There is horror movie called, The Locker. I've wanted to see," Ash replied.

Melody shivered. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it looks really good."

"You didn't just pick that because you guessed I would jump on you every time a scary part would happen, did you?" she asked with a smirk.

His face turned red. "No, I swear."

"Because taking advantage of a superior officer is a serous crime, even if one is off duty," she added in a more serious tone.

"I know, and I swear I thought of no such thing," Ash defended.

She examined the look on his face and smiled. "Alright, I believe you. But you're buying the tickets and snacks.

Ash looked a bit nervous. "How much snacks?"

"Well I am on a diet," she replied as she started to walk off, "so popcorn, soda, and see what else from there."

Something tells me this day is going to drain me of my money till my paycheck comes in, Ash thought in pain.

"Are you coming?" Melody asked.

"Yeah," Ash replied as he caught up with her and she re-wrapped her arms around his.

To Be Continued

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