Chapter 3: Catching up
May quickly found a small café not far from the Devon Corp building, it wasn't large but it was out of the way so May and Ash would have less chance of being bothered.
As soon as they entered Ash immediately bought as much food as he could from the menu almost filling up the small table they had by the window, while May simply ordered a drink.
"So Ash how has it been working for the Elite Four?" May asked
"Oh it's great, I haven't faced that many challengers but the support I get just for being a recognised member gives me plenty of time to train along with other things, I feel I'll soon be able to challenge the Champion in no time." Ash said before gulping down more food.
"Still following the dream I see." May smiled at him.
"Sure am, so what about you? Are you still performing in contests?" Ash asked.
"Well not as much, after I won the Grand Festival two years ago I slowed down a bit and look into other fields of work." May replied.
"Yeah that's right, I just remembered you got into modelling a while ago." Ash spoke with his mouth half full.
"Well not full time but yeah I do go to the occasional photo shot now and again." May looked down a little embarrassed.
"Yeah I saw you in a magazine a while ago, I didn't believe it was you till I saw your name on the page." Ash smiled.
"You didn't see any of my um, more exposing pictures did you?" May asked nervously.
"You mean the ones were you're in your underwear?" Ash responded a little embarrassed himself.
"Oh no you did see them didn't you?" May placed one hand across her face.
"It's alright May I've seen you in bikinis and stuff before, remember when we used to travel together." Ash tried to lessen the awkwardness.
"I know but it's a bit different since were grown up now." May giggled slightly. "Please tell me you didn't see me doing those weird poses."
"I didn't look too far into it." Ash told a portion of the truth.
Ash had originally discovered May's modelling by mistake when he saw her picture in a magazine, that magazine also happened to have the pictures May was embarrassed about. Ash knew that all those sorts of photos were edited for effect but to Ash May looked better just as she was and as he had grown noticed May was a very attractive young women, however a part of her would always be the girl he travelled with all those years ago.
"Do you ever get any people coming up to you asking for autographs and stuff? Ash asked.
"Occasionally, most of them are young coordinators who recognise me from when I compete so that part is usually alright, what about you?" May replied.
"Yeah usually out of the blue I'll have trainers come up to challenge me, but so far none of them have won. However since I'm not the actual face of the Elite Four I can usually go about my day fairly easily." Ash eased back into his chair.
"I'm sure when you become the champion everyone will know you then." May laughed to herself.
Ash thought back to what Norman said about May being different, as far as he could tell she still seemed to be the same friendly, outgoing girl she was before. They had little contact over the years but looking back he couldn't notice any change in her at those times either. He knew he came here on Norman and Caroline's behalf and had to bring it up with May at some point but was cautious in case May reacted against him.
"So how is Max going?" Ash got the ball rolling.
"Well I guess." May answered "I believe he'll be competing in the Sinnoh league soon."
"And what about your parents, how are they going?" Ash asked.
"Good, yeah their good." May sipped her drink.
"You know they're a little worried about you." Ash spoke up.
"Hold on how do you know that?" May gave Ash a puzzled look.
Ash realised he dropped the ball a little early but trying to hide the truth from her probably wasn't the best plan to begin with.
"Sorry May I should of just told you." Ash confessed. "When I got here I rang your house to see where you were, after talking with your parents they seemed pretty worried about you so I offered to help them." Ash slumped.
"So are you really on holiday?" May asked more sternly.
"Yes I just thought it would be a good excuse-I mean reason to come find you." Ash blurted out.
"How did you know I was here?" May narrowed her eyes.
"Your parents said you were in the city, and to be honest it was complete coincidence we ran into you." Ash slumped even lower into his seat.
May continued to stare Ash down, she could tell he wasn't lying but got a little cross at him none the less. She eventually just sighed lightly.
"My parents are always worried about me, ever since I did that underwear shoot they think I'm struggling with money or something, I don't know I just need my own space right now." May spoke without looking at Ash.
The raven haired trainer was relieved May wasn't hitting him at least, he had to remind himself that it wasn't Misty he was talking to. Her tone was slightly different, perhaps this was what Norman had been eluding to.
"That's understandable May but they are still your parents." Ash sat up.
"If I call them in the next town will you stop talking about them?" May asked rather annoyed.
"Sure I was just doing them a favour was all." Ash raised his hands defensively.
May sighed again before looking up at Ash. "I'm sorry you were just trying to help them out it's just, I've had a lot going on over the past few months." May drifted off.
"What sort of things?" Ash got curious.
"It's noting don't worry." May assured him as she looked down at Pikachu who had been seated on the third chair.
"Come here you." May smiled as she picked up the small electric type and hugged him making Pikachu coo lightly.
"Still as cute as ever." May then rubbed her nose on Pikachu's making him squirm happily.
May was suddenly reminded that there was a chance she would have to battle Ash and that meant battling Pikachu as well. She knew if she could get Ash's Poke balls off him then he couldn't fight but Pikachu never went in his Poke ball, how would she restrain him? Especially since she knew both of them would give their lives for each other. May didn't realise it but she had been staring, it wasn't until Pikachu waved his hand in front of May's face that she responded.
"Sorry Pikachu I was daydreaming there for a bit." May then placed Pikachu down again before turning back to Ash.
"So what Pokémon did you bring with you Ash?" May asked warmly.
"Well I brought Pikachu of course." Ash motioned towards his starter.
"I also brought Charizard, Sceptile, Gabite, Krookodile and Greninja." Ash picked up some more food.
"Some powerful Pokémon then." May nodded half thinking of how to beat each one.
"What about you, who's on your team?" Ash asked between gulping down his food.
"On me right now I've got Blaziken, Glaceon, Beautifly, Delcatty and my new Mismagius." May answered.
"A Mismagius? Doesn't sound like a Pokémon you'd usually catch, hold on what about your sixth Pokémon?" Ash questioned.
"I keep only five on me so if I catch one I can get to know them straight away." May lied. She did have a sixth Pokémon on her but she didn't reveal it so she had a secret weapon in case she did have to fight Ash.
"Well I guess that makes sense." Ash finally finished his large order.
"You sure you don't want anything May?" Ash asked having been the only one apart from Pikachu to eat.
"I'm fine Ash remember I'm a model so I've got to keep in shape." May flicked her hair back.
"Well that's certainly a change from when you couldn't eat enough of those noodles back in the day." Ash crossed his arms.
"Well my metabolism isn't what it used to be." May shrugged. "Come on we've got to get going to the next stop.
Ash nodded and paid the bill, Pikachu jumped on his shoulders and the trio began walking out of the city heading for May's next destination.
They continued to catch up as they entered the woods, the last they met was one and a half years ago when Ash got his current position in the Elite Four which meant there was plenty to talk about. Neither noticed the other when they did it but both trainers kept noticing how each of them had grown in that time.
May knew Ash must have had to have had a growth spurt because she now only came up to about the bottom of his ears in height. He was also broader along the shoulders and though she couldn't tell for sure she guessed he was stronger than the last time she saw him. She could only really she the muscle development in his arms but she could see that wasn't all about him that had changed.
Despite having seen May in pictures with a lot less clothing Ash couldn't get over how well she looked. Her body overall seemed a lot more fit, like she had gone through a major training regime, remembering however that she was a model now Ash tried not to stare. She had an excellent figure, though he was only two years older than her Ash couldn't help but feel slightly sleazy when his mind kept going back to it. For multiple times along the trip Ash pushed those thoughts to the back of his head with much effort.
As the afternoon sun began to set they decided it would be best to camp since making it to the next town before nightfall was impossible with the limited amount of ground they covered.
Being experienced travellers both Ash and May set up their camp quickly and soon had their own meals ready. Ash was happy to see May eat a substantial amount this time and was keen to continue on with their conversations when May announced she was going to bed.
"It's still pretty early isn't it?" Ash asked.
"Yeah but I've got a sleeping schedule to keep to." May said with a yawn.
"I don't think I've had a schedule for sleeping since I was ten." Ash half laughed.
"Why does that not surprise me?" May tilted her head comically.
"I guess some things never change." Ash smiled.
"Yeah, yeah I suppose so." May drifted off. "Anyway good night."
"Night May" Ash replied as she crawled into her tent.
Ash wasn't sure what to do without May to talk to and not wanting to disturb her sleep Ash decided to get into his tent with Pikachu and despite his sleeplessness attempt to get some shut eye.
"Well apart from our little argument this morning everything worked out pretty well huh Pikachu?" Ash uttered as he got into his sleeping bag.
"I bet your happy to see May aren't you buddy?" Ash asked.
"Pika" Pikachu nodded.
"She seems to be doing well for herself, I guess Hoenn was the right choice for our holiday after all that training we did with the Elite Four and all." Ash positioned his pillow.
"I mean I knew being that high up in the Pokémon league meant I was an official keeper of the peace like the Pokémon Rangers but I didn't realise I'd have to do all that physical training and self-defence stuff." Ash remembered the schooling he went through with Lance.
"Pika-chu" The small mouse shrugged his shoulders.
"I guess it makes sense since I'm now in the public eye more but still if someone attacks me and beats me in a fist fight doesn't mean anything. They have to beat me in a Pokémon battle for it to count for anything." Ash spoke more to himself. "Still I guess it's better to know these things then not to know them.
Pikachu nodded as he curled up ready for sleep, unlike Ash he had no trouble dozing off whenever he felt like it.
"May's looking really good too." Ash said quietly.
"Pika?" Pikachu looked up suddenly.
"Healthy, I meant healthy." Ash responded to Pikachu's reaction.
Pikachu narrowed his eyes not quite sure he believed Ash but curled back up none the less. Ash stared up at the tent cover in silent contemplation. "I'll admit she's become quite attractive as well." Ash thought to himself trying to remember if she was always like that.
May herself was under her covers with a low level light reading her next mission details. Her target was the police station in the small town along the route her and Ash were on. She'd likely have to do it at night to avoid Ash's suspicions and her modelling career provided a reasonable cover. Ash was an unforeseen burden but she did enjoy his company and with all the time she had he wasn't slowing her down that much. She had been assigned to keep him out of the way and she had to deal with it, maybe by taking on this extra assignment New Magma would see how effective she could be in future operations. After she memorised the stations layout she lay down and while trying to sleep thought of the best ways to counter Ash's Pokémon. She didn't want to battle him but if he intervened she knew her goals came first.
I'm hoping to release at least one chapter a week. I've kind of dug myself a hole as I'm also working on two other stories I've posted but I enjoy working on them all and I hope you all are enjoying my writing as well. Any reviews are welcome.