A/N: Hello to all I now return with my second and other story for Pokemon. As I states before, I have decided for now to only write two stories at the moment not three but, I feel really good about this one and AAML is a main theme. This is an AU story set in a world without Pokemon and were Ash and company are in their mid-twenties. I hope you enjoy and here we go.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or "Misty" originally by Erroll Garner and was covered many times including by Johnny Mathis from were I got the lyrics while listening to this song on YouTube.
Inside a small office in downtown Vermillion City a private investigator was relaxing after finishing a long case. His office was a decent sized with a bookshelf to the left of the room full of books. His desk was medium-sized and oak. He currently sat in an office chair taking a quick nap when the phone in the hallway rang.
"Mr. Ketchum, someone is requesting your services!" called Kristi, his brunette assistant from her desk outside waking Ash.
"Patch them through." replied Ash yawning as he picked up the phone in his office.
("Are you Ash Ketchum?" asked the girl on the phone.
"Yes I am." answered Ash.
"I think my boyfriend is cheating on me and I would like you to find out if I'm right. He'd never be honest herself." answered the girl.
"Just give me your address so we can met." said Ash who got the information.
"He's not here so we can met now." said the man.
"I'll be right there." replied Ash who hung up and quickly left his office, "Kristi, I'm going to met a client so hold my calls."
"Yes sir." said Kristi as Ash left and drove to an apartment in downtown Vermillion before finding the location.
"Are you mister Ketchum?" asked a gentle blue-haired woman as she answered the door.
"Yes I am." answered Ash recognizing the woman's voice.
"My name is Melanie. Please, come in." said the woman who led Ash to her living room were teas had been made.
"Now, tell me what's wrong." said Ash.
"My boyfriend Damien is cheating on me. He was so charming and nice when we first met but, since then he's been a total jerk. I shouldn't be surprised." said Melanie.
"Why not just leave him?" asked Ash.
"I used to live in small cabin taking care of injured animals before I met Damien and he convinced me to move here. I have no means of leaving and nobody to stay with." answered Melanie.
"What will you do if he's cheating on you?" asked Ash.
"I have to leave. Once that trust is broken it's gone forever." answered Melanie.
"I'll see what I can do." said Ash.
Ash kept to his word and followed Damien for several days finding more than enough evidence of his infidelity. It seemed every time he was away from Melanie he was at a motel with some cheap floozy. Damien was currently with another woman while Ash called Melanie to give her his finding knowing this would end badly. As she arrived at the cheap motel he could see in her eyes she knew the results.
"Hello Melanie, I hate to tell you this but, Damien is a slutty man-whore." said Ash, "Since you hired me he's been visiting these cheap motels with cheaper women constantly. I'm sorry to break it to you."
"No. I needed answers and you gave me them. Thank you." said Melanie trying to stay calm, "He's here right now, isn't he?"
"Yes. The women, to use that term loosely, left but, Damien hasn't checked out yet." answered Ash as Melanie spotted Damien through a window.
"I need to talk to him." said Melanie clearly hurt as she stormed off to the door.
"Wait." said Ash trying to stop her but, she threw the motel door open before he could stop her.
"Oh shit!" cried out Damien shirtless as she stumbled back tripping over the edge of the mattress and falling to the ground.
"How could you?! I gave you everything and this is how you repay me?!" cried Melanie.
"Baby, it's not what it looks like." said Damien falling backwards in surprise.
"Yes it is!" cried out Melanie.
"Melanie, please clam down." said Ash pulling the girl off Damien.
"Who the hell are you?!" asked the boy-haired man jumping up.
"I'm the Private Investigator your girlfriend hired to find out if you were cheating on her." answered Ash, "Luckily, gave me more than enough evidence.
"I knew there was no way you would tell me the truth. And I'm glad I hired him since you are cheating on me!" screamed Melanie.
"Please calm down Melanie. I know you're upset but, you can't lose control of yourself." said Ash trying to hold the woman back.
"Vermillion City Police Department! Everyone freeze!" ordered Officer Jenny and her partner charged through the door with guns drawn.
Ash, Melanie and Damien were arrested by the officers who were nearby when a call came from the people next door in the motel about the fight. They were all brought to the Vermillion Police station for questioning.
"So, tell us your name and what you were doing there." said Jenny as she sat with Ash in an interrogation room who was the last to interrogated.
"My name is Ash Ketchum and I'm Private Investigator. Melanie hired me to follow her boyfriend and determine if he was cheating on her. His infidelity wasn't hard to prove since he was constantly bringing women to motels. I had to give her the results and she confronted Damien. I was trying to keep her calm." replied Ash.
"You can't think I really buy that crap." spat Jenny clearly playing bad cop.
"I know you have no evidence. I'm familiar with the way things work here." replied Ash.
"Listen, I'm not screwing around with you so don't screw around with me." spat Jenny clearly trying to up the ante.
"You have no evidence I broke the law because I didn't. You have my license, you know who I am and you have nothing on me." said Ash clearly agitating Jenny.
"Actually, you've been charged with disturbing the peace!" replied Jenny fiercely pounding her fist on the table.
"Which is a very minor charge. Hell, even if I'm convicted I might only get community service or a fine without any jail time." shrugged Ash.
"Send him in before I lose it!" spat Jenny storming out of the room.
"Oh dammit." sighed Ash as he immediately identified the man entering the room.
"So, you've crossed over to the dark side." said Detective Gary Oak with a wide grin as he entered the room.
"I was just on a job and the cops got called." replied Ash knowing he wouldn't hear the end of this.
"Well, this is quite the dilemma." said Gary smiling.
"Quit the crap and let me go." said Ash too used to his friends taunting.
"Now then. I can't just let a criminal go." said Gary intent on dragging this game out as long as he could.
"This is getting really old fast." said Ash.
"Fine. Frankly, there isn't enough to bring any serious charges against you anyway. You got lucky." replied Gary as Ash stood up and stretched.
"What about Melanie and Damien?" asked the Private Investigator.
"They're being let go too but, they're being trespassed from that motel so they can't go back. You would be too but, luckily you have me as a friend." answered Gary as the two left the interrogation room and headed for Gary's office.
"Man, it's getting late." noted Ash as he could see the sunset outside the office window.
"Oh come on, you're losing it old-timer." laughed Gary.
"You know I've never had the carefree lifestyle you do." replied Ash.
"By the way, you should have seen the girl I picked up last night: blonde, curvy, nice bust, shapely legs, nice round ass. The total package." said Gary.
"Still a womanizer." sighed Ash.
"She wasn't complaining. You can't ignore my girth." said Gary who then got serious, "Speaking of which when will you find a girl?"
"I've had girlfriends before. Don't forget May and Dawn." answered Ash.
"Now May's with that Drew guy and Dawn is with that Paul." replied Gary.
"Neither of them were what I was looking for." shrugged Ash.
"I know your mom wants to have grandchildren." said Gary.
"How about you? When will you settle down?" asked Ash turning the question.
"Gramps doesn't want to be a great-grandfather." answered Gary referring to his grandfather Professor Samuel Oak, a renowned zoologist.
"You know, when we moved here from Pallet Town after high school I thought it'd be cool. I wasn't expecting you to bug me about settling down." said Ash.
"You take things more serious so really I'm just surprised." replied Gary shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, I should get going. Kristi is probably wondering where I am." said Ash as he stood up and stretched.
"See ya later man." said Gary.
"Bye." replied Ash who left and returned to his office, "Thank God I got the payment in advance."
"Oh, I was getting worried Mr. Ketchum when you hadn't come back." said Kristi at her desk.
"I got arrested during my assignment but, luckily Gary helped me out." said Ash, "Want to grab a drink?"
"No thank you." answered Kristi knowing there was no romantic interest behind this.
"Suite yourself." replied Ash who then left and drove to his favorite bar in Vermillion City.
Brock's was a hotspot in the bustling city. Ash entered the front door took a left and walked down the hallway to the bar/lounge. The was was large and very-well lite with a large number of people present as there often were. Booths lined the wall from near the bottom of the dozen-step staircase then around almost one whole side of the room while tables filled the center of the room. In the back of room opposite the stairs was a small stage with instruments most notably a grand piano and a lone microphone stand stood at the very edge. The bar was a solid oak bar counter with stools lining around it. Behind the counter the shelves were stacked with all types of alcohols. The owner and bartender was Brock, originally from Pewter City, a man a few years older than Ash who usual dressed in black pants and a white button-down shirt during work.
"I was wondering when you'd show up." said Brock as he spotted his friend approaching.
"Crazy day today." said Ash as he took a seat at the bar, "Whiskey on the rocks."
"What happened?" asked Brock as he poured the drink.
"Woman hired me to see if her boyfriend was cheating and needless to say he was. I gave her the answers then she confronted him but, the cops showed up and took all three of us. Luckily, they didn't have enough evidence and Gary helped me." said Ash as Brock handed him the drink and the private investigator took a drink.
"You owe him so much." laughed Brock.
"Don't mention it." replied Ash clearly distracted.
"There's more to it than that." said Brock seeing right through Ash.
"He talked about my love life. Mentioning Dawn and May." said the man.
"So?" asked Brock.
"He said he was surprised I was still single and frankly, he's right." answered Ash.
"Man, you shouldn't worry. You'll find the right girl." replied Brock as people began walking out on the stage.
"Looks like I made it for the show." noted Ash.
"Oh man you did. I hired this new girl a few days ago and she's something." replied Brock as the woman walked out on the stage, "Here she is now."
"Wow." said Ash taking in the beauty on the stage: a woman slightly older than him in white heels, a long blue dress, fiery red hair and deep green eyes.
"Hello everyone it's good to preform again. You all know this one, it's my signature song." said the woman as the music began to play and she began to sing:
Look at me
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I can't understand
I get misty just holding you hand
Walk my way
And a thousand violins begin to play
Or it might be the sound of your hello
The music I hear
I get misty the moment you're near
You can say that you're leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do
Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost
That's why I'm following you
On my own
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Never knowing my right foot from my left
My hat from my glove
I'm too misty and too much in love
On...my own
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Never knowing my right foot from my left
My hat from my glove
I'm too misty, and too much in love
Look at me
"Unbelievable." marveled Ash as the song ended and the crowd began applauding while the female singer bowed.
"Yeah. She's incredible. It's almost a shame she doesn't try to get a recording contract. She's got the talent." replied Brock.
"Yeah." was all Ash could manage to get out as the woman walked over to the bar.
"I'm guessing you want a drink." said Brock.
"A martini. You know how I like it." replied the woman.
"Coming up." said Brock who went to work.
"You were amazing." said Ash still awestruck by the performance.
"Thank you." replied the woman, "I don't think I've seen you around here before."
"I come in often but, I've been busy at work lately. I'm a private investigator. The name is Ash Ketchum." said the man.
"Nice to meet you." said the woman shaking his hand.
"Likewise." said Ash as Brock handed the woman her martini and she took a sip.
"You really should get out there and get recorded. You could be a big hit." said Brock.
"Thanks but, as I have said before I have no interest in fame or fortune. Besides, there have been many recordings of the song "Misty" and I can't claim it as my signature song if I record it because Johnny Mathis already has that claim." replied the woman.
"However, he doesn't have the connection you do." noted Brock.
"What connection?" asked Ash.
"Misty is also my name. That's why it's become my signature song." answered Misty.
"Oh that's cool." said Ash.
"Hey, I need to go to work early tomorrow so I have to leave early." said Misty to Brock.
"You know that's no problem with me." replied Brock.
"Where else do you work?" asked Ash.
"I have a regular job at the Vermillion Aquarium." answered Misty.
"That's cool." replied Ash.
"Thanks. I love to sing but, I also love aquatic animals. I'm trainer there full time then at night I sing. It was my fellow employees who convinced me to sing part-time and that led my here." explained Misty.
"I just hope you're safe." said Brock.
"If you need a lift I'll drive you home." offered Ash.
"Thank you so much. Just let me get my things." said Misty who headed to the back and grabbed her personal belongings.
"Let's go." said Ash who then left with Misty while a grinning Brock watched.
"You don't have to do this." said Misty as she sat next to Ash in his car while the ran past the street lights outside, "Do you mind if I take my heels off?"
"It's fine and taking you home is the right thing to do." answered Ash.
"You're really sweet." replied Misty slipping her heels off, "To be honest I hate heels. I'm a tomboy a heart, I just wear these when I preform. My feet are killing me."
"So, are you from here?" asked Ash.
"No. I'm from out of town." answered Misty becoming coy, "Being a private investigator must be an exciting job."
"It's not bad. My friend Gary is a detective here too." replied Ash who would usually recognize when somebody was changing the subject but, for some reason he was too distracted.
"You're really lucky." said Misty staring out the window.
"Is something-" began Ash only to get interrupted.
"This is my apartment." said Misty.
"Okay then." said Ash stopping as Misty stepped barefoot onto the sidewalk holding her heels behind her back.
"Thanks again so much. Goodbye." said Misty bending over and giving Ash a kiss on the check before leaving adding to herself, "Come on Misty, you have remember why you're here."
"Wow. She's...amazing. Talent, beautiful, charming." swooned Ash as sudden realization hit him, "I'm in love."
A/N: We'll end the chapter there. So, things have begun and Ash will now begin to win the affection of Misty. I did make some changes to fit this story like Ash notably though I did try not to make them totally different such as Misty working a the aquarium. Other characters will appear too so keep an eye out for them. Also, I'm not trying to back May or Dawn here (not a fan of character bashing) it's just I am a fan of Ash and Misty and always will be. The next chapter will be out in four days so please review.