Kyo: *sits outside, staring at the post box*
Ash: Drew... what on earth is she doing?
Drew: *sighs* A reviewer told her to check out a manga called Il Gatto something, and she's been obsessed with it ever since
Ash: So what... she's waiting for the manga volume to be posted?
Drew: Yup, but that aside... WE ARE GOING TO DIE!
Ash: What? Why!
Drew: I was snooping around her drafts earlier to see if she's written what would happen next...
Ash: OMIGOD! She kills us?
Drew: Not quite... just look at her drafts *hands over drafts*
Drafts: Drew somehow turns into a kitty and some yaoi stuff happens... I dunno, figure the rest out as I go along... I'm hungry
Ash: O_O She's been winging it the whole time!
Drew: Yeah... we are so screwed u.u
x~x~x~x~x
It took a while, but after progressing steadily towards the cave entrance the trainer finally emerged into the outside world, carrying the still unconscious kitten on his back. In all honesty, Ash didn't have a clue what he was going to do next, everything was messed up and a complete blur. Just how on earth do you proceed when you find yourself in this kind of situation?
Attempting to clear his head if only for a few seconds so that he could at least think straight for a while, the raven haired boy clapped eyes on Pikachu and Flygon a few metres away, still asleep where they had been previously. Despite being physically and mentally exhausted form all that had just happened, Ash was determined to at least reach their pokémon and so gathered up all his remaining strength to get him and the co-ordinator to their haphazard campsite.
Although Ash knew that he didn't really have any time to waste, he couldn't stop his legs from giving out at that moment and lay on the ground for a while, clutching Drew to him. The trainer's heavy breathing roused the sleeping Pikachu, who looked up sleepily before seeing its trainer in an exhausted state and so it woke up fully, snuggling up to Ash and trying to comfort him in some way.
"Thanks buddy... I'm okay," Ash managed.
It was at about this time that Flygon also awoke, and as soon as it saw Drew passed out it became extremely worried. Ash did his best to calm the frantic pokémon down, but it was blatantly obvious that Flygon wouldn't become the least bit composed until its trainer's safety was guaranteed. Absol was in much the same state, and Ash decided that he had to take action now, even though his body was screaming for rest.
Eventually the trainer managed to get onto his feet and steady himself. He retrieved Absol's pokéball from Drew's jacket and returned him after reassuring the worried pokémon that Drew would be okay. Next, he focused on trying to come up with a plan on how to get the medical help that Drew needded, because the wounds Ash had tended to earlier were by no means a pefect solution and Drew didn't show any signs of consciousness. Alarmed at this, Ash quickly proceeded to search for a pulse in the younger boy, and let out a sigh of relief when he found that there was one.
Finally coming up with an answer to their current situation, Ash looked at Flygon.
"Flygon, will you be able to carry Drew and me? I think that finding a Pokémon Centre is our best bet, and I have the PokéNav. There's a town pretty close by."
Flygon understood what was expected, and despite still being injured from earlier, it nodded determinedly and indicated for Ash to get on.
"I'm sorry... I know you're hurting at the moment. But I promise that we'll get both you and Drew fixed up when we get to the Pokémon Centre."
x~x~x~x~x
Ash sat by Drew's side, holding his hand and refusing to let go no matter what. Nurse Joy had been extremely helpful and very efficient in sorting things out when they had finally arrived at the Pokémon Centre. She had taken action straight away, setting up a room for the two boys and taking Flygon straight to Chansey to be fully healed.
At present, Drew was lying in a bed in the room that had been designated to him and Ash, still unconscious. Nurse Joy had taken a look at him earlier, and concluded that rest was the best possible way for Drew to recover after she had dressed and bandaged any cuts and wounds he had incurred from Rayquaza earlier.
"Don't worry," she told Ash, "He will be fine. You should get some rest as well."
But Ash couldn't get some rest, he was far too worried about Drew. He hadn't mentioned the split personalities to Nurse Joy, and he had placed his cap atop Drew's head to disguise the fact that the small boy had kitty ears, and wrapped his jacket around his waist to hide the fact that he also had a tail. As far as things go, Nurse Joy knew the bare minimum as to what was really going on.
Ash squeezed the coordinator's hand, hoping for some sort of response but never getting one. He could feel tears welling up, and because no one was around to see him cry, he let a few fall.
"Drew... please wake up. Please be okay, I'm here for you..."
He laid his head on the bed, still holding Drew's hand. As he felt himself drift away into sleep, he was thinking about this mysterious other Drew.
He said that he only acts on what Drew really wants... so does that mean that Drew really did want to face Rayquaza alone? He also said that I was the only one that could save Drew... I wish he was more specific in telling me how to do it. I'll do anything...
And with that last thought, Ash fell asleep.
x~x~x~x~x
My hand... it feels warm...
It took more energy than Drew first thought to merely open his eyes. When he had managed the task, he slowly moved his gaze to see why his hand felt so warm. He was soon greeted by the sight of a certain pokémon trainer holding his hand.
What...? Why is Ash holding my hand? And... where am I?
The co-ordinator glanced around the room he was currently in. He attempted to sit up, but a sharp pain ripped through him with the slightest bit of movement. He gasped sharply.
"Ah! Damn..." He tried to calm himself down before trying to come to terms with where he was and why he seemed incapable of movement. Sadly, something, or should I say someone prevented Drew from regaining composure.
"Hehe, poor little kitten... are you in pain?" Came a mocking voice.
"W-What?" Drew could barely manage a whisper at this point, but the voice heard him loud and clear.
"You're pathetic! You try and put up this cool, defensive front and claim you long for solidarity, when really you crave for the opposite. And look where all this disparity has led you!"
Drew longed to cover his ears, but his body refused to co-operate. The voice was getting louder and louder, making his ears ring.
"Who...?" The green haired boy needn't have finished his sentence as the voice knew what he was attempting to ask.
"Ha! You aren't even aware of yourself! I am you, it's time for you to stop running and face what you really want!" The volume of the voice was unbearable now, and Drew was shaking his head, trying to ignore what it was saying, trying to get rid of the voice.
"Well if you carry on like this, insisting on running away, then I have no choice but to take over... You may have subdued me earlier, but I assure you that I won't let that happen again. Drew, it's time for this to end!"
Silence...
Drew lay there, motionless. He wanted to scream, but that required far too much energy, energy that he didn't possess at the moment. He thought about what the voice had said, and his eyes drooped.
Everything he said was true... never once have I seriously acted on my feelings. It's just... so much easier to run away from them. If you keep yourself separate from everyone and everything, then you can't get hurt...
Drew clenched his hands into fists, but he forgot that Ash still had hold of one of them.
Upon feeling this slight movement Ash was wide awake, praying that Drew had woken up. His prayers were answered.
"Drew!" He said with joy and relief, hugging the co-ordinator close.
"H-Hey!" Drew protested weakly, "Quit it!"
Ash just laughed softly. "Sorry Drew..." He loosened his embrace but didn't break it. "I'm so glad you're okay."
Drew didn't say anything; all he did was stay motionless as the other hugged him.
Oh, I see... I never acted on these emotions did I? Drew very carefully put his arms around Ash, hugging him back. It was easier when he hated me...
After a few seconds, Drew felt uncomfortable and so hastily broke the embrace. Ash watched as the kitten did his best to try and sit up once again. It was clear that doing this caused him pain, but when Ash tried to tell him to stay lying down the other gave him a look that said 'I'll be dammed if this beats me!' Strain evident upon his face, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek and his breathing hard, Drew finally managed to sit up.
"I... don't understand..." he breathed. "Why am I so -mew- tired? Where am I?"
"We're at a Pokémon Centre," Ash answered. "Flygon is with Nurse Joy and Chansey, getting healed up."
"But... why are we here? How did we get -meow- here? What about Rayquaza?" Drew was utterly confused. I thought we were going to discuss what to do in the morning, so how have I ended up at a Pokémon Centre?
Ash had no idea how to answer these questions, would it be wise to tell Drew about what had really happened that night? It would just cause him to worry more... and besides, even I don't really understand why this is all happening. How can I adequately answer when I myself don't know?
"It's... complicated," are the words the raven haired boy opted for. Before Drew could ask what he meant by that, Ash went on to say, "Hey... you know you can talk to me right? I know that I haven't been the most supportive person in the world but... I honestly do want to help you Drew. So... if you wanna talk about something, I'll listen and try to help somehow."
I can't believe it took me this long to understand just how much you meant to me... it took all of this to make me see it, but now that I do I vow to help you in any way I can. So please Drew... tell me anything that's bothering you.
The kitten looked down at the bed covers, not making eye contact. "I'm confused..." was all Drew said. Ash waited for him to continue, not wanting to push him into anything. "It's like... I'm not -mew- me anymore... or rather, something else is -nyaa- taking over. But it doesn't make sense, because whatever -mew- it is that's changing me... is almost something that I want, but something I also want to fight." He rested his head in his hands. "I want to make my own -meow- decisions, but something else is rushing me..."
Drew was silent then, only speaking to say, "That sounds stupid, doesn't it?"
Ash's eyes were wide. So does that mean... Drew's aware of his other self? He looked for any sign of recognition in the younger boy's eyes, but found nothing. He doesn't seem to have realised what it really is, but he definitely knows that something is wrong.
"You are you, right? So that means that you have the ultimate control. If you do or don't want to do something, then its up to you to fight for the real decision you want. You're strong Drew, so until we obtain the Dragon's Breath, you have to keep fighting to make the decisions that you really want." Ash smiled at Drew, "Whatever it is that is trying to sway you... you can beat it."
Drew looked at his companion with uncertainty in his eyes, recalling what that voice had said earlier: "I have no choice but to take over... You may have subdued me earlier, but I assure you that I won't let that happen again."
Am I... really strong enough to beat this? I just don't know what's what anymore...
Sensing the worry in Drew, Ash grabbed hold of his hand once again.
"Don't worry, I'll be by your side. I'll do whatever it takes to get you back to normal again!" And he meant those words more than anything. No matter what I have to do... I will save you.
With those words restoring at least a little bit of Drew's confidence, the small boy let a small smile grace his lips.
"Thanks, Ash." But despite all of this... it was still so much easier when you hated me...
x~x~x~x~x
Ker-Chack!
"Uhn... huh?" Ash awoke to the strange sound that sounded like a door locking.
After their little heart-to-heart earlier, both boys thought that it would be best to get some rest. Although he insisted on staying by Drew's bedside, Ash found himself sleeping on the bed opposite to the co-ordinator due to the protests the other was giving.
Ash opened his sleepy eyes. Drew's bedside lamp was on and there was no light streaming through the curtains, indicating that it was still night time. Ash looked over to Drew's bed and...
It was empty.
"Drew?" Asked Ash, looking around. He finally caught sight of the kitten by the newly locked door, a glint in his eye and a mischievous smile fixed into place.
"Heh..." Drew licked his lips.
Realisation washed over Ash rapidly. "You!"
"I do have a -mew- name ya know," replied the kitten. He then smirked, "Did ya miss me?"
Ash glared at Drew's counterpart. "I thought he got rid of you!"
"Ha! How could he possibly get rid of himself? That doesn't make -nyaa- any sense whatsoever." The kitten was watching the trainer carefully, watching all his reactions.
"B-But... In the cave..."
"That took me by surprise, I'll admit. He's stronger -moew- than I thought he was. But he's -nyaa- weak at the moment, so don't expect me to be leaving anytime soon."
The other Drew started slowly prowling towards Ash, never once taking his eyes off of him. "Did you mean what you said earlier? About -mew- doing whatever it takes to get him back to normal?"
"Of course I did! I'd do anything for Drew, so you can just back off! He doesn't need you!"
"Hnn~ You really -mew- believe that? Then why am I here then?"
Ash wasn't sure how to reply to that. If what this other Drew said was true, then he only appeared when Drew needed to make a decision... or something to that effect.
"Looks like you ain't as -mew- dumb as you look. Well I'm here to offer you a choice, and your -mew- answer will determine how all this will end."
Ash looked at the kitten carefully, waiting to hear what his options were.
"You claim that you'll do anything to -meow- save Drew? Well then, your choices are: let me go alone to face Rayquaza-"
"No! I won't allow that!" Interrupted the trainer.
The kitten laughed cruelly. "I knew you'd -nyaa- say that. So, here is your second option: sleep with me."
"W-What?" Ash was sure that he'd misheard what the green haired one had just said. The smirk reappeared on the kittens face, his eyes glinting. "You -nyaa- heard me. If you're so -mew- determined to save Drew, then sleep with me."
x~x~x~x~x
Kyo: *sits outside, staring at post box*
Drew: ENOUGH ALREADY! What the Hell is going on?
Ash: Another cliff-hanger? That's just cruel...
Kyo: Well it makes things full of suspense! Now where is that damn postman? -.-
Drew: Forget the postman! I'm gonna be okay right?
Ash: Yeah, please say Drew's gonna be okay!
Drew: Screw you Ash -_-
Ash: 0.0 What did I do?
Drew: You were the one that pushed for an M rating dammit! If this was still rated T then it would have stayed cute and fluffy and probably would have ended by now!
Ash: I didn't think it was gonna turn into a drama when it was moved up to M! Passionate Rose didn't turn out this way!
Drew: *blushes* N-Nevertheless... I blame you!
Kyo: Look, stop quarrelling you love birds! Everything shall become clear at some point... hopefully...
Ash: 'Hopefully'?
Kyo: Well... you saw my drafts right? "n.n
Drew: Yeah... *sigh* We're so screwed u_u
Kyo: Meh, I'm 98% sure that you'll be fine! ^.^
Drew: WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 2%? Dammit, tell me what's gonna happen!
Kyo: ...Review please~! ^_^
Drew: GAH!