20 April 2005

Dear Mist,

Sorry about the unusually long delay in writing my reply. It's been a long trek through the countless miles of bushes and forests to get to Fortree City, but we're finally here at the Pokémon Center. I never really got a chance to properly respond to the letter you sent just under two weeks ago, as I've only been able to receive it recently. Thankfully, Brock, May and Max are all asleep – Pikachu as well – so I hope I'll get a chance to, now.

There's just so much that I want to talk to you about – the least being more of the light talk we normally have in our letters – but I couldn't help but feel something weird inside after reading the last part of your letter. About all the others thinking that we like each other, I mean.

I'm just…really confused at the moment. While we were traveling together through Kanto and Johto, I always thought of you as being my best friend. You bugged me on occasion, and also were a real pain in the backside at times, but the more I traveled here without you, I couldn't help but feel that I was really missing something that was very important to me. At first, I just thought I was getting a little homesick like usual, but now, weeks after we started writing to each other, I realize that what I missed most about home was…you.

I miss everything about you. Your smile, your voice, the encouragement you give me…even your temper and the Mew-forbidden mallet you carry around. I miss my best friend.

Looking at myself now and at how clueless I was about May and Drew, I found out just how much you affected me while we were still together. I still remember the days when we'd laugh and chuckle quietly with each other whenever we saw hints of romance between two shy people, or even briefly share a snicker before you'd pull Brock away from a Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny. I don't do any of that now. I can't even recognize a slight hint of romance which would send Brock on a wild flight of fantasy, and only scratch my head in confusion whenever he does throw a tantrum.

Mist, I can tell you now that you mean a lot to me and that I think of you very often, but I'd never know if I feel for you in the way that you're saying we do for each other. I just…don't know.

Heheh…you must think that this is really Brock who's doing the writing behind my back. But it isn't, Mist. It's really me. I know it's hard to believe it, but…well…I guess people grow up eventually, don't they?

I'll be battling Winona for the Feather Badge in the morning. It's getting late, and I think Pikachu's beginning to stir in bed, so…until next time, Mist.

Miss you,

Ash.

2 May 2005

Dear Ash,

Sorry for not replying sooner. It's just that I was actually…shocked…to see a letter from you that was in such depth. It was a side of you which I had never even seen in my life, and it just completely took me by surprise.

After I first read about how you truly felt about me, I couldn't help but fall back onto my bed and read your letter over and over again. It was as if the boy I knew had grown up all of a sudden without my knowing about it.

Ash, I…have a confession to make. You see, ever since we first met, you've eluded me. I first thought of you as yet another nosy, arrogant trainer who grossly overestimated his abilities, but as time went by, I grew to realize that there was so much more to you. You may seem like a cocky guy on the outside to some who don't know you, but somewhere along the track, I realized that in truth, you're a guy who cares deeply about his Pokémon and his friends above all…and about me. I can't begin to count the number of times you saved my life, and I saved you in return. And I'm grateful that we were able to share such moments together, no matter how life-threatening they may have been.

I miss you, Ash. I've missed and thought of you every single day since we parted ways after I received my repaired bike from Nurse Joy. The bike meant nothing to me at that point – the real reason I traveled with you was because I had fallen for you. I gave you my handkerchief because I had hoped that by doing so, you wouldn't forget me. I now see that I didn't need to give it to you at all – it gives me so much joy to see that you think of me that way.

You may miss me as your best friend, but I miss you for being something that means so much more to me. A person who means everything to me, and for whom I would give up everything precious to me if it means I could spend another day with him.

Yes.

I love you, Ash Ketchum. I love you. With all my heart. I can't deny that for another second. Not to Sabrina, and not to you. Every morning after I wake up, I can't help but walk to my window and stare out of it, hoping that you'd be walking up to the porch of the gym despite knowing that it wouldn't be the case. I just can't help it.

If it's doubt that's making you hesitant to convince yourself of whatever your feelings for me may be, Ash, then I can only hope that you now feel more assured about yourself. And don't worry – I can tell that Brock hasn't had a single hand in writing your letter. I know you, Ash : ) .

Best of luck with all the battles to come.

I love you always,

Mist.

A/N: This might feel a bit rash and kind of out-of-character of them at a still-early stage in the fic, but I wanted to advance the story at an earlier stage rather than leaving it late. I don't think I'll take this story into the Sinnoh region as I basically stopped watching the anime during the middle of the Hoenn seasons. I'll probably wrap it up soon after Ash returns to Kanto and meets Misty at his house, so I wanted to build their relationship further before getting close to that point.