Chapter 6

Ash would not sleep, but how could he? He could hardly believe what happened, how this happened. For the longest time, he would pinch himself under the belief that he was dreaming. He was given a second chance to help Misty, to be with Misty...and, sure he didn't become a pokemon master, but she was safe. There was always a second chance to win in something like that, but there was no second chance with Misty.

While she slept, he carelessly brushed strands of hair from her face, delicately, brushed his fingers over her cheeks, and occasionally pinched himself, to remind himself that he wasn't dreaming again. Then, in the quite of the night, against the rustle of the trees, his breath hitched in his throat at his memories. Where Misty would never remember, Ash would always remember.

Your life, Xerneas warned him.

What did that mean? Was Ash going to replace Misty? Were they doomed for failure from the start? Then, Ash was still confused that Xerneas, a pokemon that shared eternal life, could send him through time in the first place. Was this time travel? Or some alternate dimension where he and Misty were...

She shifted in his arms, curling back until she faced him under the mornings rays through her sheer curtains. Her face practically glowed under the light, and Ash cracked a smile before leaning over for what felt like the millionth time and kissed her forehead.

"You're alright." He told himself. And for now, while she breathed against his chest, and her limp body smoothed against his under the blankets, the details did not matter.

XOX

Ash was not sure when he dozed of, when exhaustion finally got the best of him, and his head lulled beside hers. In his dreams, her bruised face, lifeless body and cold, pale skin was burned into his mind, but when he awoke, she was still there; snoring unapologetic, still beside him, still alive. Ash breathed a careful sigh of relief into her hair before rubbing her shoulders, and rolling onto his back to rub his eyes.

"You talk in your sleep." Misty blurted out, cracking her eyes open in the bright room. Ash turned to her glumly, then to the clock past her red hair. Barely a quarter after nine, and they were both awake. Misty had been awake for hours now, though, she wouldn't tell Ash that.

"Do I?" Ash questioned, a grin over his lips.

"Yeah." she said. "Something about being here this time? And car accidents?" Misty groaned, sitting up. Her back cracked several times while she stretched her arms up over her head and pulled at her uncomfortable clothes. She should have switched into her pajamas after all.

At the mention of the accident, Ash froze. Did he say something to her about it? He was not aware that he had been dreaming of the events, let alone talking about them! His eyebrows rose daringly; he licked his lips.

"What car accident?"

"I don't know...?" She grinned at him. "You were the one mumbling about it in your sleep." Misty huffed while standing up and looking over her shoulder him. In the light of the morning, she stood so tall, so proudly that Ash exhaled cautiously when she spoke next. "What were you dreaming of?"

Startled, he watched her. "I...uhh..." he stammered, unsure of how to answer her. It didn't feel like a dream to him. He was reliving memories, moments. Swallowing hard, he deflected her question by shifting his eyes to where her imprint and warmth still radiated from empty bed sheets.

"Where are you going?" he blurted while she tossed her hand over her shoulder. A little depressed he dodged her question, he could see that she knew that when the time came, if it came, Ash would tell her, until then, she would shrug it off.

"I missed my alarm. I'm officially late opening the gym, but don't worry, I'll be back." She assured him while stomping down the familiar hallways.

Ash waited until her footsteps were no longer in the hallway before he slipped out of the cover to and prepare himself for the rest of the day. This would be the first time in years that he and Misty spent a day together, happily. Something could easily go wrong, like it did before! Yet, he felt normal, no limbs were falling off and his head wasn't spiraling. If he was suddenly going to implode by words of Xerneas, now was not the time... Maybe Xerneas meant that his title was Ash's life? That Ash would give up all the titles he earned? His title and dream of becoming a Pokemon Master could have easily represented his life. After all, he spent over half of it getting the title. Until Misty's accident, the work he had led him everywhere.

While he pondered, an unsteady breath left his chest while he clutched the windowsill of her bedroom. Flashes plagued his mind, of what could happen to her, and he was determined to make sure that it never did. Misty would live a long, and happy life. They would live a long an happy life, the one they were supposed to live from the start.

Then, a small chuckle rose from the back of Ash's throat while he pinched the bridge of his nose and placed his head against the cold window, watching his breath fog up the glass. He sounded like some romance superhero! If Misty only knew she would...

"Is something wrong?" her voice tore through the small room, and Ash spun around on his heels to face her once more, startled by her feisty presence. Hands on her hips with dominant bed hair, Ash pursed his lips. It was Misty, the same narrow eyes, angry, and logical female he grew up with.

"Nothing." Ash managed with a breath while she crossed her arms, skeptic of his behavior.

"Well, you're being sulky, and weird. Did you bump your head last night?" She questioned while he approached her, quickly wrapping his arms up and around her back and squeezing her tightly for the second time in twenty four hours.

Misty was silenced under his heavy arms, and her face squished into his hard chest and she gulped strangely. Ash never hid his emotions, when he was feeling something, everyone knew about it, but a sensitive, physical Ash was still strange to her, and anomaly that she.. could get used to. Slowly, her arms wrapped acceptably around his back in return, and Ash sighed in relaxation.

"I'm never going to let anything happen to you again." Ash announced into the spikes of her hair, feeling her face heat up against his throat.

"..O...Okay." Misty stammered in confusion, unsure of his behavior.

Then for a long time, they remained just like that. Locked at her bedroom door in an entanglement of limbs and swaying bodies. Ash had no intention of letting go.

XOX

At some point, much later, and much to Misty pestering him and fleeing; she managed a shower while he attempted to prepare breakfast, or was it lunch now? There was not a lot of time to question his action, since many of her questions were answered with a grunt, and a tighter squeeze. He was acting like she had died, or was going to die.

"Oh god!" She shrieked from the door while she watched Ash set out two bowls for ramen, essentially, it was the only thing either of them could cook well; and oddly, was the only food Misty had in her house.

"What?" answered Ash quickly, with a worried, puzzled look at her agape features. She rushed over to him, and grabbed his shoulders in panic.

"Who is dying?!" She asked, watching his face fall instantly into a fit of panic.

"...What?" He asked again, eyebrows knit together tightly and his face frozen in fear.

"Well, why else are you acting so somber and weird! Something had to have happened? Oh, god, was it Brock? It wasn't your mom—oh, god, was it-" While her eyes filled with tepid worry, Ash felt relief course through his body once more, laundered by a heavy sigh while he pat her shoulders and shook her gently into silence.

"Misty, stop. No one's dying." anymore. He said, finding her reaction so odd, and ironic, and a bit worrisome. "I'm fine, everyone is fine. Just..." he felt his lips twitched while directing her to her seat. "...just sit down."
"But you're acting so strange." She whined while falling quickly into her seat with an unpleasant huff and beady eyes. Ash stared down at her while scooting his chair out from beneath the wooden table, and smacking his lips.

His eyes shifted nervously. "I'm not... strange."
"There it is again!" She accused, pointing at his face with a well trimmed manicure, ruined by time spent cleaning the pools. "You're being reclusive, and and... dodgy, and..."

Ash sighed and grabbed her hand from his face to stroke the edges of it; a motion that sent shivers down her spine, causing her to snap her hand far, far away from him. He watched her momentary panic, having believed they were past this last night, his brows scrunched up.

"It's just weird seeing you like this." it was the truth, she was perfectly healthy, whereas the last time he saw her, she was knocking at deaths door. "And then there's everything else." he added, playing his nerves off as exactly that, nervousness. While adult Ash, where he was now, mentally wasn't as unstable and uneducated in the world of romance as his prior current self; but he he would sooner cut out his tongue than tell her the truth.

"Oh." She blushed, recalling their physical activities last night. Kissing was foreign to her, in fact, she wasn't even sure she had been kissed before this! Suddenly, she groaned and slammed her elbows onto the table to support her weight and rub her temples.

"I'm sorry. It's weird for me, too." She announced, looking at him with mirth and embarrassment. Technically, he should have been embarrassed to, and given any other frame in his odd life; he would have been. But not right now.

"Then we're settled on weird." He said happily. "That's better than not settled at all, right?"

Her face flushed darker, glaring at his nonchalant response in pure frustration. He knew exactly how to get under her skin, and his little reaction was akin to a bad reaction, at least in Misty's books.

"How long will you be staying?" She questioned suddenly. Ash nearly spit out the forkful of noodles he started to slurp in their clumsy silence, and he raised his eyebrows, nearly choking.

"Uhhh. What do you mean?"

Of course, she assumed Ash had a million places to be. But he wasn't even affected by the fact he last the Master's cup. He was just so... so...

"I mean, don't you have another adventure to go off to? You just lost in the greatest battle of your life, aren't you a little...depressed?"

How could he be?
He forced his best grin and closed his eyes with a sharp laugh. "No." he smiled at her, then looked up at the ceiling with an optimistic drawl. "I've been traveling nonstop for years Misty, I'm due for a break, don't you think? After losing, I just need some..." He stammered, looking up at her, down time, he thought bitterly. Her face twisted and her nose scrunched while she sat back, assessing his response.

"Aren't you upset?" She asked again, and Ash shook his head affirmatively.

"I can learn from this. In four years, I'll try again." He said, then added confidently. "And I'll win."

Flabbergasted, she shook her head. Was she damaged or something? Did she not want him around? Ash felt his shoulders droop at her response.
"Okay okay." Misty put her hand up, face red. "So why are you here again?" because in all reality, he should be training. Previous Ash wouldn't have given a second thought about bailing on her after last night, and returning to his ultimate goal. He understood her fears, and thoughts; and that's what made his next actions all the more enjoyable to watch.

Ash grinned once more, this time honestly when he rose out of his chair and spun Misty's chair to face him before planting his hands on the small, wooden frames behind her. He stared into her sea-green eyes, blinking warmly before dropping his lips close to hers. His breath thinned the edges of her face and she shuddered beneath him.

"Because I love you." He said confidently, watching as the rhythm of the words worked into her skin, starting at her lips, she twitched into a half smile, her nose scrunched up to match her narrowed eyes, and her cheeks flushed a gently shade of powder pink. This was weird, all of this was too weird for her. Misty was a powerful woman, so when she crumbled like paper under his gaze, he found it endearing, and a grin pierced his lips.

"What?" He mocked her. "Do I make you nervous?" He grinned again, and finally Misty shoved him backwards, eliciting a coat of laughter.

"Your breath smells like ramen!" she shouted, standing up with a huff. "And if you're sticking around, don't think you get to be a mooch! I expect you to work." She shouted while collecting her thoughts and storming off to the sink where Ash watched her.

"I plan on it." He mused cracking her winning armor.

He missed this side of her.

XOX

It took a very long time for Misty to get used to Ash being around again; but she liked it. Correction: she loved having Ash around again. Some days, when he wasn't being mopey and weird or staying up super late from nightmares and drinking all of her coffee—honestly, she thought he hated coffee—it was like being kids again. They trained together, battled one another, and sometimes, they went off on little adventures to get new badges or pokemon.

Their friends knew after the first month; Delia was so pleased to hear the news she wouldn't stop calling everyday just to check up, on the odd day, Brock would stop in at their gym and send his condolences to Ash for having to put up with Misty all the time now. Unlike when they were kids, Ash never weaned the insults, rather, he defended her position of authority over him, and constantly reprimanded people who commented that she was doing anything bad at all.

Well, unless she was around, and then he would sing an entirely different tune, mostly to get under her skin and watch her squirm.

It was awkward at first, especially because Ash has weird moments of something similar to relapses, where he would hug her for minutes, sometimes hours, simply stroking her hair, or his new found insistence that she do nothing dangerous; even going as far as removing the battery from her car—not like she ever used it, anyways.

Pikachu was still the same, and even the small pokemon occasionally showed worry over his trainers odd behavior at times, but over all Ash was Ash. He worked hard, made horrible jokes, helped her out when she needed it, and was as sharp tongued as she remembered; especially in some other ways.

But, there were the other things, too. His drive, motivation, and situational awareness was shot. Since joining her at the gym almost three months ago, after his loss at the Masters Cup, and his feeble reaction, he never left her side. Not that she minded, especially because he was absent for so many years, it was just... uncommon, and unusual, and sometimes invasive. When Erica and Casey would arrive; sometimes when Sakura or Duplica would visit—and sometimes when Georgio who was clearly batting in a different field than her or Ash, he would become overly protective of her.

Drinking was out, she was not allowed to get inside moving vehicles or so help the heavens he found a way to make it 'go boom' before she step foot inside; and if she even suggested traveling out of Kanto for a vacation without him, he lost his mind.

It was great, having him around; but where he was neglectful before, he was suffocating her now, and it came alive in her at the simplest of moments. When he would sneak into the kitchen while she was doing dishes to wrap his arms around her waist, she would snap. Or when she would be studying for her exams and he would place quick kisses on her forehead before scampering off, she would stew for hours.

His helpful, second-in command nature that she never got from her sisters, was amazing. How he helped her manage her students, and prepare every morning was relaxing and she was grateful.. and yet all she could return to him were feelings of frustrations and pint up rage.

So when his lips casually found perch on her neck when she crawled into bed that night and his arms wrapped around her waist to bring her in close, she nearly hissed in her frustration; a noise so common to him now, he barely heard it.

He kissed up the length of her neck, below her ear, and finally her cheek when Misty jerked away from him and rolled her eyes while shifting on her side.

Ash blinked at her stupidly.

"Did I do something?" He asked innocently, to which she huffed in response. What was worse, that she was miserable and he didn't notice, or that he was so immature he had the nerve to ask.

"Figure it out." She replied hoarsely. She couldn't see it, but she knew he had that look, that hurt expression he made now, the last three months; that mixture of confusion and acceptance. He never fought with her anymore, he bickered, played occasionally and challenged her, but they didn't fight. He wasn't as...

Passionate.

"How can I figure it out if you don't give me a hint?" he mumbled quietly into the darkness of their now shared room, his arms snaked around her waist once again, and right as he was about to shift his chin against her shoulder, she slide out of bed, her silky pajamas screeching against the sheets when she threw her arms up.

"What is wrong with you?!" She yelled, to which Ash reeled backwards, looking around in the darkness.

"With me?" He echoed, unsure of what in the world he did to upset to redhead.

"Yes with you" She hissed, as if the answer was obvious! He wasn't himself!" You're...you're! What's wrong with you!?" She practically shouted, turning away from him to catch her breath. Staring at him made her so angry and jittery.

Now, Ash slipped from the bed, slipping his legs over the side to watch her figure as she paced the ends of the room. He cleared his throat.

"I'm not sure what you..."

"You're too helpful!" She yelled suddenly, jarring his concentration with a shocked expression. "And you're possessive and overly protective and sometimes, you're romantic, and you buy me flowers and, and—" the words coming out of her mouth; oh man, she knew they sounded stupid.

"But," She insisted, the anger lost in her voice, replaced with howling fear. "You're not you. What's wrong with you?"

For a long time, nothing stirred the silence between the two of them, her pale limbs glowed under the moonlight from the window, and he was a shadowy figure on her bed. His expression was lost in the darkness while he clenched the bed sheets below him. His bare chest pounded rapidly at his increased heart; he knew in many ways there were things he couldn't say, wouldn't say.

In fear that this could stop. This could end.

She would go away.

And then there was...

She sniffled, pawing at her eyes. "What's wrong?" She questioned, and felt the nerves leave his body.

"There's nothing wrong with me!" He snapped, his voice edging on a shout, though he restrained himself. Barely. "What's wrong with you?"

He breathed, standing up to face her. "I treat you nicely, I help you run the gym, we host tournaments together, I support you; what else do you want from me?" Ash saw the way that she looked at him from across the room lately, when he was smiling and acting happily and she was simply... not aware of why he was acting that way.

"I don't know!" She hissed, throwing her arms down as her shoulders slumped and she leaned against her long dressed to brush strands of her growing hair from her face. "I just..." She breathed, feeling stupid. "I don't know."

After a short time, Ash shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Aren't you happy?" He questioned suddenly, to which she stared up at him wide eyed. He could see the tears sweltering in her eyes, falling from her cheeks, and for once in a long while, he felt like a failure again.

"Yes!" She shouted, then exhaled shakily. "I just—you just..." her thoughts were all over the place, meshed with accusatory blame, current self-loathing and worry.

"Why don't you go on adventures, anymore, Ash?" She asked, hiccuping and Ash stirred.

"What?" He mouthed. "So you want me to leave?"

"I didn't say that!" She said quickly, throwing her arms up at him in her defense and exhaling to explain: "It's just, since you lost three months ago, it's like you've been...a different person, or something. I know it sounds stupid, but you...It's weird you being stationary."

What Ash wanted to say didn't dare leave his mouth; questioning what her damage was; how she could still be unhappy with everything he was giving to her. "You're mad that I wasn't around, and now you're mad that I'm here too much?" he asked and Misty exhaled.

"That's not—don't be unreasonable Ash."

"I'm not the one being unreasonable! I've bent over backwards to help you these last three weeks! I've given up a lot to help you, to be here for you and you've been nothing but a jerk!"

"But why?!" She screamed immediately following his spill. "Why are you trying so hard!?"

"I told you before it's because I-"

She grabbed his hands, forcing his eyes to face her own with his own eyes questioning him. Three months? They couldn't even make it three months.

"I know that you do." her words were gentle, calming to Ash, who watched her with curious eyes. "but why now, what happened? I've known you for a very long time now, Ash, and you've never been one to just settle down because you lost a battle, if anything it's always made you try harder..." She stammered. "What happened to you? I've let it slide for this long...so...tell me... Please."

Ash's eyes narrowed very slowly at her question, his head titled almost ninety degrees when he didn't answer right away, Misty felt inclined to continue in urgency. "It's just, I don't need you to watch over me every two seconds, I can take care of myself, and I don't want you to stop going after your dreams because of me, Ash. It bothers me so much because you have so much more to do and I...don't want to be the person who takes that away from you." She announced quietly, watching his expression falter from confusion, to acceptance, and finally, he leaned down and kissed her forehead, and wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

"I...haven't told you everything." He mumbled quietly into the darkness, unsure of the words himself while he watched her expression. Ash wasn't sure where to start, but he had to start somewhere. A part of him worried that if he told her, they would revert, they would be in the same boat, but if he didn't...then she would continue acting this way—being unhappy, and Ash didn't save her just to watch her become bitter and miserable.

Still, how could he tell her the truth?

"I thought you died." He announced blatantly, his heart racing. Puzzlement embodied her face while her brows rose.

"What?" She gasped, shaking her head. "What do you mean you thought I died? What in the world gave you that idea?"

His face scrunched up. "I...it doesn't matter... it put some things into perspective for me, and I can't..." leave you again. He wanted to say, but her hand landed softly on his face, and stroked the length of his strong chin, and stopped at his lips to silence him.

"Do you think if something happened to me, I'd want you to stand still?" She asked as his body felt stiff and cold. "I still want you to be you." She added, to which Ash exhaled nervously, and finally collapsed onto her in exhaustion.

She accepted him into the grasp, hugging him warmly and exhaling into his shoulder.

"People die, and change, and move on everyday, Ash, that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice everything you've worked for over an unnecessary fear." She smiled into his neck, and he could feel her warmth radiating into his skin, lapping at his heart and warming him from the inside out. "You're being silly."

He chuckled into her hair, rubbing his nose there and taking in her scent while squeezing her tightly.

"If only." He muttered, causing a puzzled Misty to blink at the offhanded remark.

XOX

Life was better, a little bit, at least. Ash was trying not to be so protective of her, and Misty was trying to shrug off when he was. He stopped insisting on coming with her for nights out with her friends, but he hadn't let up on the vehicle ban whatsoever. If Ash wasn't a fan of phones, she might have thought that he had a phobia of new age technology.

Still, they worked out their kinks, and by the sixth month mark, traveling was even on the table again.

Though, Ash was determined to bring her with him.

"Ash, I can't go with you." She said behind a mug of steaming coffee. He puffed his cheeks out.

"And why not? I've seen this place during off season; you have at least six months of the year to come with me." He urged her, tapping his fingers on the table.

Her face scrunched up. "That's not the point."

"Really?"

"Go by yourself." She said hotly, watching his serious expression.

"No." He growled. "Come with me."

"No!" She huffed, placing her mug down while they sat at a stand-still. He glared at her over the table, and she was determined to refrain from traveling.

"I'm not going with you, and that's final." She said and Ash blew air from his mouth.

"Okay, fine. I'll let it go..." He paused, allowing Misty to believe that she had won for a single moment. "...if you can tell me why."

He had her, Misty always backed out of a good explanation, outside of private, intimate moments when it was just the two of them laying awake in the dark when he couldn't see her expression, she was as quiet as a church mouse.

"I don't have to explain anything." She stammered quickly, slurping her drink again, coughing because it was still to hot to do so. Ash smirked.

"Really? What about all those times you made me explain myself? I thought relationshipswere about sharing?" He said warmly, marking on her least favorite subject, their relationship; which was still trying to find footing in an otherwise messy background.

"Fine." She huffed and sad forward, but looked away from him. "I know you've stopped that whole over protectiveness, but you need to have some time to yourself, too; you know, see the world again; get away from constantly thinking about me." Ash wasn't sure what to say back to her at first, however, his scoff was evident.

"It's not about that." He rolled his eyes playfully. "Did you consider that I just wanted you around because I like having you around? Because we're dating?" His voice was mocking her, watching her with a sly smirk. Underneath the table, his leg brushed sensually against hers, and she snapped away from him. However, it was the tone of his voice that made her skin crawl.

"No!" She blurted out, face beet red. He grinned eagerly at her response. "Pervert!" She yelled, chucking a napkin at his face, which he caught and laughed into.

"I don't mean it like that! We used to travel together all the time; I think it'll be fun! Besides if I wanted to do it only to 'protect' you, don't you think I would leave you here? Traveling isn't safe, you know." He mocked her beet red expression while her foot thumped on the ground and her mouth twitched. Her arms twisted up, then around her chest while she looked furiously at him.

"That's...that's" She started, her argument growing less appealing each time she started. Ash waited eagerly for her to break, when a sudden ringing from the gym floor brought their attention to her duty as a gym leader.

"A challenger?" Ash mumbled, "This time of year?" he added half-baked while she jumped from her chair.

"Oh thank god." She hissed fleeing the kitchen quickly, and leaving Ash chuckling while he and pikachu followed after her slowly. The mouse hopped onto his shoulder and squealed eagerly at him in poke-tongue about how excited he was that Misty would be coming with them again; and Ash couldn't agree more.

Until he saw her face while the supposed to be challenger raced away after dropping off a letter from the league. Misty cracked the letter open instantly, before Ash could make any quip that she scared the poor guy off, she swallowed hard and looked up at Ash with concerned eyes.

He feared the worse; of course he did. Anything could happen, anything could go wrong; but he waited for her to speak before making an assumption. Ash knew better.

"...My sisters are suing me." She said, handing Ash the envelope and his face screwed up.
...Was it that time of the year already?

Author's Note:

So, I -was- tempted after some reviews to write this into a full length story, but I still think I'm going to stick to my original outline and wrap this up in 10 chapters. It's supposed to feel 'rushed', given what happens in the next few chapters. I dunno, maybe this just isn't my best work? Was supposed to be a short story. PERHAPS, someday, I will write something like this again with the intention to flesh everything out.

...ARE YOU GUES CONFUSED YET!?

Anywho, thanks for all the support -hearts- I appreciate all the awesome feedback.

Thanks for reading!

NINT