Chapter 19

Dawn - italics

Ash- underlined

Both- bold, italics, underlined

As planned, Ash and Dawn were heading to the Wishing Lake, but with company. May and Leaf were stubborn to follow them and Dawn made it worse by allowing them. Ash was sulking while sitting on a rock, overlooking the river where as Dawn was enjoying his spoiled attitude.

She embraced him from behind and sweetly apologized,"sorry, but I just couldn't allow them to leave us." Ash gave her a scowl. She giggled and kissed his cheek,"You look cute when you sulk."

Meanwhile Gary and Leaf were busy exploring the area with May and Drew, who had come to this place for the first time. Ash hadn't even noticed that he and Dawn were alone.

He said,"Go enjoy with them." He was clearly annoyed. Dawn let out a soft laugh and sat beside him, her feet dipped in the cold cascading water. The cool water was a relief and staying beside him made her heart fill with happiness and love. She closed her eyes and started humming a tune. Ash smiled, she knew how to cheer him up.

I want to hear the sound

Of our memories opening up

So I will hold mine out to you

Dawn got up, standing beside the sitting figure of Ash and looking at the endless horizon her hands over her chest. She smiled, knowing she had caught Ash's full attention.

Ah, my thoughts and feelings

That are so dear to me

That the sands of time covered up

Have become hazy

Words such as that it's fate are cheap

Are you really that person

Who smiled together with me?

Ash smiled and sang the next verse with her, still sitting and beckoned her to sit beside him. She sat down, smiling and leaned her head on his shoulder.

No matter what

Everyone, everything important

I'll forget them little by little, so

Let me have these memories with you

Even if just a little

I doubt this puzzle would be completed

The last piece has been hidden

I want to hear the sound

Of our memories opening up

So I will hold mine out to you

Dawn got up, not knowing an unknown red-haired girl was listening to her song. She smiled on seeing the bluentte and her husband leaning against each other, singing and enjoying the moment. A blonde girl poked the red-haired girl and signalled her to come with them. She walked away, not really wanting to leave such a good song behind.

Dawn sang the next verse.

Ah, those memories

That are so uncertain

Like thorns, their silhouette

Press against my soul

I have ever always

Held back the feelings that were blooming

And left myself to voices from the past

But nothing will ever change with that

Ash pulled Dawn close to his chest and started caressing her hair. She placed her hand on his chest and they sang the next verse together.

No matter what

Everyone, everything important

I'll forget them little by little, so

Let me have these memories with you

Even if just a little

I doubt this puzzle would be completed

The last piece has been hidden

I want to hear the sound

Of our memories opening up

So I will hold mine out to you

Ash stayed quiet, where as Dawn sang the next verse by herself. She was enjoying his warm embrace and his touch, memorising every bit of him in her memory.

Everything will become clear

Everyone wants to fulfill those dreams

Even if everything was a misunderstanding

I will move ahead without fear

I will pick up and rescue that voice

Fallen in a deep, deep sleep

She stared into his deep chocolatey eyes and snaked her arms around his neck.

No matter what

Everyone, everything important

I'll forget them little by little, however

At the depths of my heart

They are waiting on us

The puzzle will be complete

The last piece was hiding

I want to hear the sound

Of our memories opening up

So I will hold mine out to you...

As soon as the song ended, Dawn gave Ash a kiss on his cheek. He was about to kiss her on the lips when he heard clapping. Not wanting to let her go, he turned around to see May and Drew clapping where as Leaf and Gary smiling at them. Ash didn't mind their presence now. He was happy that they were together.

...

"That was such a nice song, wasn't it," said the red haired girl while the blonde girl was driving.

"Yeah, it was Misty. Well, I haven't heard any song from you for such a long while," the blonde girl whined. Misty gave a smile and promised,"Well, I will not keep you waiting for long. Right now, I just want to enjoy the scenery."

"You always make up an excuse Mist," The blonde complained. Misty ignored her whining and poked her head out of the car, enjoying the fresh air on her skin.

...

Serena, Johanna and Daniel were having lunch in the lobby of the hotel they were staying at. Having finished her lunch, Serena got up and said,"I am going for a walk."

Johanna wiped her lips and smiled,"Sure, just don't go very far. And return soon." Daniel told her to stay safe. Serena nodded and waved them goodbye, saying,"I will. It will be a shame if someone misses the walk on such a beautiful day."

Once she left, Johanna squeezed Daniel's hand and softly muttered,"She looks happy." Daniel did the same.

...

"You don't look so good,"Ash said as the group was heading to a nearby tourist spot. Dawn shook her head, saying,"I am fine, it is just the pressure difference I suppose."

May and Drew were already waiting for them at the entrance of the temple. Gary and Leaf were a few meters ahead of Ash and Dawn.

Ash stopped walking and placed a hand on her forehead. He let out a sigh and softly said,"Just mild fever. Well, before it gets worse, I must bring you some medicine." Dawn said that she was fine but Ash decided not to listen to her.

Realising Dawn would not let her go, Ash called Gary and said," She has mild fever. I am going to a medical store to buy some medicine. You all go to that temple." Gary sighed,"Can't we get it when we will return to the hotel. Dawn is fine now Ashy-boy."

Dawn nodded,"I told him the same thing, he just doesn't listen." Ash gave a goofy smile and insisted,"I saw a medical shop just at a distance, it will take me just fifteen minutes." Dawn clinged to his hand and scolded him,"There is no need of it. No need to worry so much Ash."

He patted her head and placed a kiss on her forehead and smiled,"That's when I worry the most. I will be back within a flash." He gave Gary a nod and turned around, pulling his car keys out of his pocket. He walked a few metres and turned behind, waving Dawn a goodbye. Dawn stayed still for a moment, not understanding why he did that. Didn't he say he hated goodbyes?

...

After driving for five minutes, Ash found Serena walking on the same road. Her betraying Dawn and telling lies flashed in front of his eyes. He felt his blood boil at the sight of her.

Ash got out of his car when he saw Serena. The sudden halting sound of the vehicle had startled Serena too. She turned around and saw Ash coming out from the car. She quickly turned away, cursing her luck with every passing second.

"What are you doing here?" She asked on an impulse. The past memories came back flashing in her mind. She wanted to cry but she knew she had dug her own grave due to her naïveness.

"I can ask the same," he said, putting his hands in his pocket while standing behind her.

She unwillingly turned around and saw him looking at her for an answer. "I am here for a vacation," she said, a little rude but direct. She turned away again. There was no need of beating around the bush.

Ash looked at her in utter disbelief. He managed to growl out, "You knew we were coming here, didn't you?"

His false accusations took her by surprise. She turned to face him and almost wanted to slap him. Then realising it was of no use, kept her anger to herself. She fiercely stated,"Dad mentioned to come here, he believes that I should try to start a new life, from the place,which landed me here, in this mess."

Ash almost laughed at it, for him it was like prayer coming from a devil's mouth.

His laughter fuelled up her anger even more. She gripped his collar on an impulse and shook him violently.

"What is so funny Ketchum? I am a mess because of you, because of you I lost a sister, I lost the trust of my parents, I lost everything! I don't have the courage to face my sister, all because, because you made me blind due to your wrong decision."

He freeded himself from her grip and moved away, a little closer to the edge of the cliff. He harshly stated,"You lost them because you lied, you lied about Lucas, you betrayed your parents by telling about Dawn's real identity, you didn't even care how the truth would effect your sister. You say you love her, I don't see how that is even possible. I never cared about what Dawn's real identity is, so I had decided to marry her, I knew you never wanted to see her happy and when everything else failed, you tried to separate us too!"

She said quiet for a second but let out a small cry. She said between sobs,"Its all your fault, you should not have backed away from my marriage, because of you," she paused and again held him by the collar,"no one likes me. You made me a monster!"

Ash wanted to jerk away her hand but her grip was tight. "Leave," he angrily said but the grip didn't even budge.

"Leave!"

"No! You have to apologise for everything" she said while shaking him harder.

"Because of your selfishness you're a mess right now, neither Dawn nor am I responsible for this," he said bitterly, venom dripping from every word.

"You cheated me, you betrayed me," she said, her voice filled with anger, despair, hopelessness, fatigue and grief.

"Leave me alone, Serena, I said lea...veeeeee Aahhhhh" Before he knew, his leg slipped and he found himself slipping from the cliff.

"No! ASH!" Serena cried out loud but the damage had been done. He was already out of reach, falling from the cliff into an endless space.

Serena stood there for a second, comprehending what she had done. She wanted to rush for help but found no one around. She looked at the valley with shocked and wide eyes as if trying to find where the raven haired man had fallen. She quickly wiped away her tears and moved away from the cliff.

...

"Come on May, it has been more than one hour since he left," Dawn said at the verge of tears.

"Let that thickhead return today, he will surely get a thrashing from me," May said to cheer the bluentte crying in her arms.

With every passing second, Dawn's sob increased. She freed herself from May and asked Drew,"Did he pick up the call?" Drew looked away, she knew he hadn't. Dawn almost collapsed where she was standing. Had Gary not been there, she would have surely hurt herself.

Drew tried calling Ash again but the phone went unanswered. May and Gary were busy consoling Dawn. Leaf had run off to find some water.

Giving up all hope, Drew called the local police station.

..

Serena hastily returned to her lodge, shaking and shivering out of fear. The last words of Ash was still ringing in her ears. She should not have gone for the walk, she should not have talked to him, she should not have accused him.

Not looking where she was going, she bumped into Daniel.

"Oh my God Serena, you look so devastated, are you okay my child?" He asked concerned.

She gupled and swallowed the lump in her throat. She was not ready to face anyone, let alone her father. She let go of the breath she didn't knew she was holding.

"Dad, please, let's go home, I am not feeling too good."

"We just arrived yesterday Serena, we can't move out like this!"

"Dad please, this place makes me sick."

"Serena, you wanted to move out of Saffron, for a break and now you want to back there? Is something bothering you?"

She tried her best to hide her nervousness and fear but was failing miserably. She swiped the sweat on her forehead and looked away. She was unable to even face herself. She knew what she did was unintentional, but who was going to believe her? She felt like throwing up, she wanted to disappear and to never return again. How would she face her sister if she comes to know the truth? The more she thought about it, the more sick she felt.

"If I tell you what is bothering me, I am sure you will never want to see this face again," she whispered to herself, and for the hundredth time of the day wiped away her tears.

...

"No officer Jenny, we cannot find him anywhere," Gary said.

Dawn was continuously sobbing in May's arm. The officers promised they would let them know if they get any news.

Just then officer Jenny got a call and picked it up. Her expression darkened.

"Is KN-7209 Ash's car?'' She asked. Dawn raised her head and nodded. She confirmed it was the car number they had hired.

"The locals have found a car near the Sinow river, there are no traces of accident or violence. It seems the driver had willingly got out of the car. May be, due to some pressure, Mr. Ketchum committed suicide?" She said.

As soon as she sad those words Dawn lost her control and was about to slap her but was controlled by combined efforts of May and Leaf. May angrily said,"That is not possible Officer, he was here for his honeymoon, why on earth will he do this?"

The officers apologized and left, saying they will look into the matter. Once they were gone, Dawn broke down into tears and May pulled her in a hug.

"May, he promised he will take me to mount Coronet, he never broke a promise before, he will not break it this time right? Doesn't he know how much I love him, how much I crave for his presence. It has been more than three hours. Please May, say he will return back to me." She said while looking at May with tear filled eyes.

"He has to come back, for you, for us,"Leaf said, hugging May and Dawn too.

She continued sobbing,"I wont take medicine, I won't eat, I won't sleep till he comes back. I won't listen if he says anything, he will be punished, he should be for leaving us alone. I will make him understand how it feels when one doesn't keep promises." She started sobbing again, this time harder.

Drew ran a hand through her hair while he side hugged May. He said,"Yeah, he will be punished. Let that fool return. I won't let him have ice cream for one whole month."

Leaf broke the hug and moved towards Gary who held her tight and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry, he is a tough Guy, he will return, from where ever he went." Leaf hugged him tight, praying that his words come true. Seeing her best friend and boyfriend's family so devastated, made her sob harder. She had always had Ash as a best friend beside her, a brother in need, a partner in crime. It was difficult for her to even think of the chances of losing someone so close to her again.

Gary kept wondering, if there was no sign of accident, no sign of violence, how and where did Ash go? Meanwhile another question popped in his head, who would tell Delia about this?

...

Daniel and Johanna were having a hard time calming down Serena.

Suddenly the phone rang and Serena stood up, almost taking the phone away from Daniel's grip.

"Calm down Serena, it is Dawn!" He said, getting as far as he could from the blonde girl.

While he was busy on the phone, Johanna hugged her tight and weakly asked,"Calm down dear, please, I can't see you like this."

Daniel returned with a sad and dull expression. He put a hand on Johanna's shoulder, gaining her attention. He said,"I have bad news," Serena flinched on hearing this.

"Dawn says Ash has just disappeared. No one is able to find or trace where he has gone."

...

The song used is the English translation of the Japanese anime, Nisekoi (false love) theme song, "Click". Well, I thought to use the song as it matches the upcoming situation.

It is 15th of August. So, happy independence day to all the Indians out there! Jai hind!

So? What do you all think is going to happen to Ash? Will he return to Dawn? Or will Dawn lose him forever? Stay tuned for the next chapter!

~ darkestlightofhope