Shortly after returning to the Kingdom's territory with his unconscious prize, Ash laid May gently on a bed, her possessions looted and bound, a palpable sense of shame emanating from him. Riley walked in with King Norman to give the final report on the mission.
"Everything is in place, Your Majesty. She's safe and our forces have the village well in hand. Aside from a few that managed to escape."
"Thank you, boys," Norman replied. "Keep up the search for the ones that got away. We can't risk them getting to her."
"Yes, Your Majesty. But on that topic, I'd strongly advise you and the other members of the family not to be in here alone with her. I feel it would be prudent to have a Guardian or Guard with you at all times when conversing with her." Riley then advised. Ash, standing off to the side in the corner of the room, wallowed in shame and disgust. Pikachu looked up at him sadly, understanding the weight of the situation.
"I used her..." Ash muttered, unable to meet Pikachu's gaze.
"Ash..." Pikachu responded. Hiding his face, Ash groaned in self-reproach. May began to stir, and as she opened her eyes, she found herself thoroughly bound. Ash shooed away Riley and the King just before her eyes opened, however, as he knew that she would not be in a good mood. Keeping an apologetic distance, he then turned to May as the captive ninja began to regain her senses.
"Huh…?" she mumbled. After a moment she finally noticed the restraints. "What the...?!" She blinked several times as the haze faded, memories of what happened rushing back. Her eyes quickly scanned her new surroundings until she spotted Ash, standing sadly by the foot of the bed near her feet.
"Sorry doesn't cover it... I know... but I really am... sorry. Like you said, it's important to think about why someone does something and not just the what..." he said quietly.
"...You have exactly 1 minute." she granted him, the coldness of her gaze unyielding. Tears welled up in Ash's eyes as he spoke.
"I was against this plan from the beginning... I really did enjoy our time together... and I really do like you... but after they saw you, the King and Queen became convinced that you were the daughter kidnapped 16 years ago... and they needed a way to get you here safely without harm... so... they forced me to use... whatever we had... to capture you... I swear I wanted nothing to do with this... I'm sorry... you'll be set free... I promise..." he tried to explain.
"And I am supposed to believe any of this why? You've already lied to me." May questioned his sincerity, obviously still skeptical. Ash cried silently and backed away, knowing that he probably wasn't going to make much progress right now. Not until they both had time to cool down. But he had one more comment for her in response.
"Because I'm in love with you," he confessed. He walked away sadly, leaving May alone with her thoughts. Pikachu ran after him, understanding the pain his partner was going through. Both Norman and Riley recognized the difficulty and made no effort to follow as Ash retreated to his room, his emotions overwhelming him. Instead, they stood out in the hallway, Norman watching May lay in bed sadly. He almost couldn't bear the heavy atmosphere of watching his long-lost daughter so upset and forced into such a difficult position. He wanted more than anything to embrace her and welcome her home, but he knew better. She was a trained weapon and knew nothing of him or his family. And even as restrained as she was, she was still a deadly foe. May, aware of his presence the entire time, spoke with an edge in her tone.
"I know you're standing there. Either say your piece or leave me alone." Norman hesitated, but ultimately walked into the room and finally spoke.
"I hate to see this as well... I assure you, we mean you no harm... I want to offer you a home here in this palace... to provide you with a better life that doesn't leave you clawing for each meal... there are plenty of girls here your age, and... a family who would give up their lives for you..." he offered as gently as he could. May rolled her eyes, dismissing his words without hesitation.
"Yes, the presence of bondage and trickery makes it very apparent that the word 'offer' is the wrong one to use." she spat at him.
"They would not be present were they not necessary..." Norman defended.
"A real choice wouldn't need anything forcing anyone," May retorted.
"The bonds will be removed in time. And you will have the choice to stay with us or return to your village... Either way... we will drop all charges against you... and you will be given this..." Norman set down a pillow bearing a beautiful tiara made specifically for her. "It is yours to keep... no matter your decision..."
"Yes, I'm sure it'll look great on my decapitated head after my execution." May sarcastically replied.
"You will not be harmed..." Norman assured her. May scoffed, unconvinced. Norman sighed, deciding to give her space for now. "Dinner is in an hour... you will be given anything you ask for..."
"Oh! I know just what I want! Freedom from this trap would be great!" May quipped.
"Your bonds will be removed for your meal..." Norman explained and then stepped away. May groaned in frustration as Norman left. Fidgeting against her binds, she winced as she got a slight rope burn.
"Ack!" she grumbled, cursing under her breath, trapped in a situation she had never imagined.
As the evening sky cast its warm hues outside May's window, the door slowly creaked open, and Ash entered with a bowl of ramen. May turned, looking at him as he approached.
"They were wise to send you. I would've punched anyone else in the gut," May remarked, her gaze piercing.
"Even now I'm not convinced you won't try to...set me on fire with your mind or something...you're trying right now, aren't you?" Ash teased cautiously.
"No. I'm trying to figure out why you would lie to me and betray me like you did," May replied, her tone serious. Ash gently set the bowl down in front of her, the aroma of the ramen filling the room. May continued to observe him closely. "I thought we made a connection out there... our first real one," she said, a hint of vulnerability in her voice.
"We did May…for the first time, we really did…I wasn't lying about that part." Ash admitted, the weight of his actions evident in his expression.
"Then why did you do this...?" May questioned, frustration lingering in her words.
"Because it was my responsibility... And your heart is as big as your brother's," Ash explained, his gaze steady.
"Don't talk like that. You'll feed their fantasy," May retorted, rejecting any notions of a familial connection.
"Look... say you're not their daughter. Their story is still true... My mother was living in the city the night it happened... their daughter was kidnapped by a ninja the night she was born, and they never saw her again... and a lot about you matches up with their baby... What if you were in their shoes, and you thought you found your long-lost child, and they'd been constantly committing crimes in your home?" Ash reasoned, attempting to shed light on the perspective that led to his actions.
"Well, my first move wouldn't be to kidnap her through the man she loves," May replied, her frustration unabated.
"I hate it as much as you, May... give me that punch... I deserve it," Ash said, prepared for the consequences. May, however, surprised him with her reply.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Staring at her in surprise, Ash watched as May clarified, "I don't lie to or hurt the people I care about. And, as I've made abundantly clear, that you are one of them." Ash winced at her words, a mixture of guilt and remorse etched on his face.
"I think a punch would have hurt less than that claim," he said, acknowledging the depth of her disappointment.
"You don't want to test that theory," May warned, asserting her position.
"I'm sure not…" Ash acknowledged with a heavy heart, "Anyway…the best I can do for you right now is make sure you got the best portion available," he added, pushing the bowl toward her and untying her arms before stepping aside.
"Would you at least stay? I'm bored out of my mind..." May requested, her eyes pleading. Ash nodded in reply. "Thank you..." May rotated her arms to get the blood flowing again before picking up the bowl. As she started eating, she spoke up once again. "I'd like you to answer this question truthfully."
"What question?"
"What did they do to my village?" Ash flinched slightly, mentally cursing himself for not thinking of the fact that May would put two and two together. Separating her from the village was of course for her own safety, but it was also to finally get the jump on the rest of her village. And knowing that he couldn't successfully lie to her, he carefully responded.
"They wanted to prevent interference without resorting to fighting if they could... I don't know for sure how it went, but they wanted to make necessary arrests and distract them from intervening..." Ash explained, providing some insight into the events that unfolded.
"Great, so my whole family could be dead right now..." May muttered, her concern evident.
"They wouldn't have done anything like that..." Ash assured her.
"I don't see why they wouldn't," May expressed her doubts.
"If they did, they'd have to answer to me," Ash stated firmly. May looked up at him, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"What?" May asked, genuinely surprised about his statement. He looked at her with a complete lack of hesitation and took her hand in his own. He of course had loyalty to the royal family and the Kingdom…but he also now had loyalty to her.
"Look if it'll make you feel better, I'll go down there tonight, and if anybody is dead, I'll get you out of here myself," Ash declared, determination in his gaze. May watched him in pure shock, having never heard him speak so strongly to her. After a moment of being speechless, she was finally able to respond.
"...Well, aren't you quite valiant." May teased, blushing a little at his turn in attitude towards her. Looking her in the eyes, Ash made sure she understood there was no wiggle room in this promise.
"I won't..."
"I'll hold you to that. And... I promise not to try and escape while you're gone... as a thank you," May added, acknowledging Ash's sincerity. With a relieved sigh, Ash smiled softly.
"In the meantime, you should eat. Your food will get cold." May nodded and began eating, and she patted the spot on the bed next to her. Ash sat beside her, and although the temperature had dropped a little, the flavor of the ramen was exceptional. May leaned into his side as she ate, finding some level of comfort in their proximity. Ash wrapped an arm around her, and she relaxed a little more.
"...Would you have gone out with me... if they hadn't ordered you to?" May asked, seeking reassurance.
"...Maybe not specifically today... but... I think you know the answer already..." Ash admitted, a tiny smile playing on his lips. May smiled a little in turn.
"Yes... but it's still nice to hear it from your mouth instead of mine..." she hinted.
"Yes...eventually, I probably would have." Ash responded softly. May kissed his cheek, and Ash blushed. Smiling, May continued to eat, and Ash watched her with affection. As they shared this moment, the complexities of their situation seemed momentarily distant, overshadowed by the connection they had forged in the midst of chaos.
After a bit of time to relax, the room was still hushed as May carefully set aside an empty bowl, its remnants of ramen long gone. The air was thick with the weight of unspoken emotions. Ash, sitting nearby her still, remained silent, his gaze directed at her, filled with a mixture of remorse and understanding.
"Thank you, Ash," May spoke, breaking the quietude that enveloped them. Her voice, soft and sincere, held a gratitude that transcended the confines of their current predicament. Ash looked at her, his eyes reflecting a spectrum of emotions.
"What for?" he inquired, his voice carrying a touch of curiosity.
"For staying here with me," May confessed, her words imbued with a rare glimpse of vulnerability and a tender smile on her lips. "It makes me feel less alone. It means a lot to me."
"You're welcome." Ash's acknowledgment of her gratitude was met with a self-reflective admission. "I'm sorry I got you into this mess," he conceded, his gaze dropping momentarily. May, however, displayed a magnanimity that transcended the circumstances.
"Well, I certainly can't fault you for following the orders you were given. I forgive you," she offered, extending a gentle reassurance. In a tender gesture, Ash reached for May's hand, a silent acknowledgment of the connection they shared. May blushed softly, meeting his gaze with sincerity. The room seemed to shimmer with the unspoken tension between them. Their eyes locked, and then, with a shared understanding, May leaned in to kiss him. It was a moment that held a fusion of longing, regret, and an unspoken promise. Ash responded in kind, the exchange of emotions conveyed in the shared warmth of their lips. As their kiss deepened, soft moans escaped them, a symphony of shared intimacy. May nestled into Ash's side, seeking solace and connection in the midst of uncertainty. Ash, responding to her unspoken needs, held her close, a silent pledge of support. Yet, the tenderness of the moment was fleeting. Ash, with a gentle withdrawal, broke the kiss, leaving May with a soft smile that lingered in the dimmed room. The weight of their situation, the reality of their roles, hung in the air like a delicate balance.
"You promise you won't try and escape, right?" he asked, the question laden with a hope for trust.
"I promise. At least not while you're gone." May responded with a sincere promise. Her words carried a vulnerability that resonated with Ash, bridging the gap between their worlds.
"And I can trust you to keep that promise if I..."forgot to tie you up?"" he added a teasing question.
"I don't lie to you," she affirmed, her honesty a thread binding them together.
"Alright. I'll be back by morning. I promise." With a shared understanding, Ash stood up, signaling his intention to check on the village. May, before his departure, pecked his lips one more time, a subtle reassurance. As Ash left, the door closed behind him, and May, once again alone, sighed. The room held echoes of their shared moments, a delicate interlude in the midst of the storm that surrounded them.
To be Continued...