Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. Thanks to Amorous-Thunder for beta-reading~

The Part of Me I Will Never Forget

Chapter 6: Reflecting

"When she left..."

It was nine o' clock in the morning, and with his back aching, Ash Ketchum hadn't slept a wink the night before.

After a hectic argument with a reluctant (and not to mention unforgiving) redhead, Ash was afraid that he wasn't ever going to sleep again unless this problem was to be resolved...

"I remember the argument: when she was angry at me for not wanting to leave, but... How was it my fault?"

Shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot, he sighed as he glanced to the floor. "I can't tell her how I feel when she hates me..."

Ash had never felt this way about anyone else. He'd travelled with other girls... May... Dawn... But there was no doubt about it. Misty was special. She was special in the way she acted: how she argued with him, her stubbornness to admit she was wrong, her cheering for him in battles... Little things like that made his heart leap whenever she used to perform these traits.

He could never understand what he felt about her all those years ago. He didn't understand love properly, nor know if that was truly what he was feeling. But, as they say, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." And in this case, it fit perfectly.

He remembered when he first met her. Looking back, stealing a bike was the best thing he'd ever done in his entire life, in his opinion. At first, he found her as a slight annoyance: always following, moaning, and arguing. But as time went on, he realized there was something more than the "cute, but fiery redhead" that he wanted to know. He'd feel jealousy over a simple joke between her and another boy, and always felt a rivalry towards whatever boy she was getting along with. He wanted to be the one she was paying attention to, the one she would happily laugh with. But no. They always had argued instead.

This was proving to be his main problem, even now. Especially now.

Previous events since moving to Cerulean left him with a slap, a back ache, and what he thought was worst: no progress in resolving things.

"Argh, Mist, you've got to at least tell me..."

'Mist.' Quite a petname he used for her. But now, he didn't think he had the right to call her by any nickname. He remembered her smile when he first used it (accidentally) when they were alone after a gym battle.

*Flashback*

"So, Ash, was that gym battle a challenge for you?"

"Of course not!"

"I was only asking!"

Misty seriously thinks I'm a little kid sometimes. I'm way more experienced than her in battling, but still - she insists on questioning me. I can't understand why she starts with such stupid questions, making us argue all the time. I mean, I don't want to, but we just seem to never get along with each other.

"Fine, fine."

I haven't got energy left after today, so I'll let her have this one...

"Mm."

She gave me a funny look as if asking, "why didn't you argue back?" And I'm not surprised. We're always at each other's necks for the slightest thing.

"The sea is ever so pretty, don't you think?"

The sea. Both of us are watching the smooth, marine waves glide over into each other. Misty must be missing home right now. Her parents... She must feel so alone sometimes. I don't know how she keeps her head up everyday with such a burden.

"It sure is, Mist. Much like..."

"Did you just call me 'Mist'...?"

I felt myself freeze up, and my face redden like a tomato almost instantly. I can't believe I just...

"Well, Ash?"

I have to face her. She deserves an explanation, although I'm not sure how I could form one. As I turn my head to look at her, my eyes are instantly glued to her own. Blue orbs, much like the sea, shine back at me as I stutter, glancing at her expression which read: "I'm waiting."

Stifiling a choke, I brought a closed fist to my mouth as I coughed, turning sideways away from her, trying to hide my scarlet embarassment.

"Y-Yes, I suppose I..."

She knows. But how can she? Wait, she can't. I just called her by a nickname, didn't I? It can't hold much signifigance... But what does she know, anyway? I feel something else towards her, but it can't possibly be... Love?

This made my face grow even more ruby-colored as I waited for a reply. Glancing sidewards, I found she had a impish smile playing across her face, lips curved. Her arms were still crossed, but her body was shaking with laughter.

"Oh Ash, you're so funny!"

"Whaa...?"

She couldn't hold her giggles in, and seemingly laughed at whatever face I had pulled in my confusion. I hesitantly stood up straight, eyeing her while she chuckled to herself. Something caught my attention as I peered at her features: I noticed something that could be, but of course, couldn't be, a blush.

No wait. It was. Misty Waterflower was blushing at what I'd just said.

"Misty, you're..."

"Shh! You'll make me laugh even more!"

Turning around, away from me, she suddenly stopped laughing like she had realized what she was doing.

"Well, just keep it between you and me, eh?"

And with that, she walked away. It was a bit shaky, but she waved a dismissive hand at me. She left me standing alone at the window, mouth agape. But, before entering the room in which she was staying, she tossed her head over her shoulder in an angelic manner to look back at me.

Even though it was dusk and shadows lined the corridor from which we walked upon, her petite face was visible through the darkness.

I had never seen her smile so beautifully.

*End flashback*

"Aaaaand... Oh my! Jolteon counterattacks with a devastating thunder shock! That's sure to leave Corsola struggling, as the damage previously done is taking effect!"

"Yes! Go Jolteon!"

Pumping her fist into the tense air, Sakura rejoiced as her favourite team of "Lightning Rudy and Jolteon" took the light of the stage once again. It was a quiet morning at the Waterflower's residence... But Sakura wasn't going to let it stay like that for long.

"Arrggghhh! Sakura! Shut up! Me and Misty are trying to sleep here!"

"Ugh."

Misty, who hadn't actually slept at all, thrashed about in her duvet, like trying to shake off bad vibes or something. They all hadn't slept due to her, but her two friends didn't mind. It was Misty's birthday anyway, and they'd spent it with her whatever the costs.

"Ooops. I'm sorry. It's just..."

"Rudy, Rudy. Yeah, we know," Erika said in a sarcastic tone, pointing to Sakura's phone which came up with several unread messages. The background screen, however, housed a picture of her star and his Pokemon team, with all posing for a flashy photo shoot.

"Erika... You dare-!"

Snatching the phone from the bedside drawer it was residing on, Erika had already stood up in front of the television, taunting Sakura by waving her possession just in front of her eyes.

"Erikaaaa!" Squealing, the smaller of the two stretched up from her seat - a soft blue cushion she'd picked to kneel upon whilst watching battling shows.

"Nu-uh!" The purple haired teenager, who towered above her friend even when they were both standing, hap-hazardly clicked a few buttons on the device which dangled above her head, targeting the "images" icon of which held several hundred pictures of a certain Rudy.

"Ooooh, Misty! Look at this one!"

Pushing herself up from the floor, a drowsy teenager submerged from her hiding, with hands clasped firmly around her ears . "It better be good..." Biting her lip, she walked across to where Erika was being mangled by Sakura's grabbing fingers.

"It is! Trust me!"

"Nooooo!"

Laying eyes on the photo, Misty nearly choked as she saw Rudy, sitting in swimming trunks in the center of a luxury swimming pool - much like the one at the gym (but in a fancy hotel or something.) He was smiling at the camera whilst playing his trademark wink. Misty could almost hear the squeals of fan-girls in the back of her mind as she looked at it.

Sakura sat fuming, red in the face by Erika's findings while Misty burst out into a hearty laughter at both her expression and the photo. "Hahaha! Sakura, you seriously love this guy, don't you?"

"It's not funny! Give it baaaack!"

"Okay, okay, come on, Erika, we've had our fun."

Rolling her eyes (but her lips forming into a satisfied smile), Erika reluctantly passed the phone back to its owner who let out a sigh of relief.

"I'll get you back for this!"

"Sure, sure. We'll see."

The two stared each other down as Misty watched. She bit her lip as she debated with herself whether to say something.

'I've met Rudy once, and I've never told her... Would she resent me for not saying anything?'

Shaking her head with a faint smile, she reassured herself: 'This is Sakura I'm talking about. One of my best friends. There's no way she'd make an argument for this - even if it is Rudy.'

"I-I've met Rudy."

Both girls stopped their sinister glares and turned their heads simutaneosly. Sakura's eyes nearly fell from their sockets and jumped into her agape mouth as she stared in disbelief.

"Y-You've what."

"Met Rudy."

As she slid her eyes to the right while grinning, Misty thought over her plan once again. 'This may be Sakura I'm talking about, but this also concerns Rudy. Maybe a bad idea...' She sat up, ready for the outburst.

"Oh my - WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!" Sakura squealed at Misty, with Erika howling at her reaction, flapping her hands around whilst squeezing next to Misty as she helplessly confronted Sakura.

"I-I didn't realize you were this obsessed!"

She didn't really understand Sakura's reply, as it was just a jumble of whys and "how could you do this to me?" mixed with a series of Misdreavus-like screeches.

"I've never seen her so wound up..." Erika whispered to Misty, who quivered with a nod.

"I've seen a Meowth get like this. You know the Team Rocket one?"

"Ohhh...Yes, I seem to remember you saying..."

The girls continued to watch Sakura like a movie while getting warm, huddling in a bedsheet as the cold morning breeze homed in on them. They made small comments from time to time, but after what seemed like forever, Sakura calmed down and started speaking understandable sentences.

"W-When was this meeting, then?"

"A few years ago, you know..."

Misty decided not to go into detail: 'he's not ruining anything!' although she knew deep down he was tearing her up inside.

"... When I used to travel."

"Ohh. So then, what was he like? Was he hot? Was he-"

Erika cut her babbles with a silent warning glare. Of course, Sakura knew Misty didn't want to talk about Ash nor her travels with him. She was like a sister, and basically, she knew Misty from the inside-out. So, she had "subtly" turned the conversation around to focus on Rudy. But of course, she wanted to know about her idol, anyway.

"Well... He was nice. Okay, very nice. He was a gentleman, even - so polite and kind. Focused on battling, social and easy to get along with, entertaining..." She paused, hoping Sakura wouldn't flip out again. "He seemed to focus his attention on me, though..."

Pretending not to be bothered by the last sentence, Sakura nodded, trying to look natural by aimlessly looking around the room. Erika, however, couldn't help blurting out: "'Focused his attention on you?' Ohhhh, so he had a little crush, did he?" Smiling impishly, her eyes darted straight to a unerved Sakura.

A faint blush adorned her cheeks at the memories of Trovita Island. Misty desperately wished it was because she liked Rudy in the way Sakura did. But the blush was for another boy...

A certain hated boy.

*flashback*

"Misty, I know you've already made your decision, but these are for you."

Flowers? They're so beautiful... But he keeps looking at me with those eyes like he's wanting to say something. And decision...? Does he mean my feelings for Ash? Are they really that obvious to people around me?

"I..."

He's still looking me directly in the eye, unnerving me with that solid expression. He wants me to say "I'll stay," I know he does, I can feel it. But I can't. I just...

"Thanks, Rudy."

I only manage to whisper and I can't look him in the face afterwards. I feel so ashamed, so I just closed my eyes and listen. Surprisingly, he only chuckles, and I hear him talk to Ash who is still marvelling at his new gym badge. Just so dense, whereas Rudy...

"I hope you know, you're a very lucky guy, Ash."

Lucky? What does he mean by...?

"Lucky? What do you mean?"

Trust Ash to mimic my thoughts. It's possible Rudy could be referring to me, right? I mean, he wanted me to stay and even live with him and his sister, altogether on this peaceful island. We could have the perfect, easy, life. Just the three of us residing in the magnificent house on the hill.

And I've thrown away that once in a lifetime chance for Ash.

Ash.

The dense, thick, frustrating, infuriating, stupid idiot that I...

love.

"You'll see someday."

*End Flashback*

Even now, Misty knew she'd make the same decision. Even in the situation they were in, how much pain he'd caused her, and how the mere sight of him turned her into a dwindling heap. She hated being weak. Hated it. Always showing herself to be strong in front of Ash was her main priority whenever she traveled. A simple knock to her pride and she'd argue and argue until she'd won.

Her fear was showing him her weakness.

And this had proven to be quite a challenge as her weakness was him.

Deep down, she wanted to feel loved. She wanted to have a chance to shine, to have someone just for herself. Her heart was set on him, and no matter how many times she'd tried, she wasn't going to let go. No matter what.

But, even if she wasn't trying to kill him, she'd still have to cope with the fact that he couldn't possibly love her.

'How could he ever love me? I'm plain Misty Waterflower. Plain. Ugly. Ugh.'

She'd forever asked this question, and had always viewed herself like this... Never to be persuaded otherwise.

Even after four years, Misty Waterflower still had the same description for the boy she secretly adored, and wasn't about to express her summary of him anytime soon.

Ash.

The dense, thick, frustrating, infuriating, stupid idiot that I...

love.

I hope you liked it, because I know that I enjoyed writing it! Please Review!