I unfortunately don’t own Pokémon, except for the plot.

This is an AAMRN, rated for everybody. Hope you enjoy it. J

Italic means people’s thoughts.

Characters in this chapter:

 

"When hearts are aglow"

By A Crazy Girl

Chapter 5

Once in, she made him sit on the bed and listen to her attentively:

 

-         Ash, my pride, you know, since your father died, I have felt something alone.

-         Oh, Mum! I’m sorry, it’s my fault for travelling so much.

-         Of course not, Ash. I don’t mean that kind of company, not yours... I’m talking about a man, like your dad.

-         ... A man?

-         Yeah. I miss him as much as you, but it doesn’t mean I have to be without a companion for the rest of my life.

-         Sure, that’s true. - He said understanding her.

-         Ash, what I’m going to say is very important to me and so should be for you.

-         Come on, mum! Tell me what it is, I’m anxious!

-         Well, since a few months... I guess I have fallen in love with an other person.

-         What! Is that true? You might be kidding!

-         No, Ash. It’s not a joke. I just hope you understand me.

-         ... Well, I do. But, I can’t believe it yet. Who is he?

-         Well, you’ll know that at Christmas, Ash.

-         You mean, wait a minute, are you already courting with him?!

-           ... Yeah, Actually I am.

-         Oh, my God...!

-         I know, it’s unbelievable, isn’t it?

-          ...Let me tell you it’s not. I had never imagined something like this could happen, but you did right, mum. That’s for sure.

-         Oh, thank you very much, Ash. It’s really kind of you. I had thought you could get angry with me.

-         How could I get angry with you? I’m just surprised, that’s all.

 

After a big hug, mum and son went downstairs again. Delia started with the dinner, while Ash told Brock about the news. And just when they finished the conversation, they heard some knocks at the door. Brock opened it:

 

-         Tracy, hi! - Ash and Brock said together.

-         Hi, guys. I knew you had come back, Ash.

-         Right, we arrived this morning. - Ash said.

-         And how is everything? - Tracy asked.

-         I guess all is fine... did you know something about Professor’s couple?

-         Not yet, Ash. But they went out this morning.

-         Wow, now we have to meet two people: Professor’s girlfriend, and mum’s boyfriend.

-         Your mum’s boyfriend?!

-          Yes, she has recently told me that she’s courting with someone too, but I still don’t know who he is.

 

Brock seemed to be a bit confused.

 

-         Wait a second! - Brock shouted. - You mean Professor is going out with a woman, and at the same time your mum has found a match?

-         Of course, that’s it! - Tracy deduced.

-         I don’t understand. - Ash announced- What’s going on guys?

 

Brock and Tracy exchanged sights as according not to tell Ash that Mrs. Ketchum was going out with Professor Oak. They thought it would be better if he finds it out from his mum. Tracy invented something quickly before Ash could start to suspect:

 

-         We just mean it’s a big coincidence, don’t you realize?

-         Well, it sure is. But I’d thought you knew something else.

-         I don’t know why you expected so, Ash. - Brock said.

 

Delia heard Tracy from the kitchen and invited him to spend the night there. While having dinner, they talked about the years when they all travelled together for pokémon journeys. And later, before going to bed, Brock and Ash told Tracy what they’d been feeling about some certain girls. But Tracy surprised them too, when he confessed to be in love with Sakura. He also said that he has already invited her to go out a couple of times, and is going to tell her what he feels on Christmas party. After listening that, Ash thought that he could do the same, but he would have to gather up his courage to confess his feelings to Misty. So many years, the closest friendship, the strongest feeling, so much to win, so much to loose. Those were Ash’s thoughts before lying down and falling asleep.

 

Next morning, Brock found a note of Mrs. Ketchum on the table, saying that she went for a walk with her boyfriend, and was coming back soon. Tracy decided to look for a nice present to buy for Sakura, but Ash just wanted to go on sleeping. Three hours later, Delia came back with a  happy expression on her face. She didn’t even notice the boys were in front of her. The only thing she did was smile, until she felt a bit hungry, so she asked the guys if they wanted to eat something. Later, after some time of silence, she wanted to have an other conversation with Ash, this time it was shorter. Tracy and Sakura had gone to the cinema half an hour before, and Brock had gone to visit his brothers and sisters. When Ash saw his mum, he saw a little box she was holding on her hands:

 

-         Ash, I wanna show you what I have here. - She said.

-         Mum, are you all right? You hardly said a word during all day.

-         I know, I’ve been thinking... and that’s why I want to give you this. Here, open it.

 

She gave Ash the box and expected him to accept it. The first reaction of Ash was to not say anything; he just stayed watching it. He didn’t understand what she was planning him to do with it.

 

-         Mum, isn’t this your necklace? The one dad gave you when you engaged?

-         Yes, it is. I’d love to conserve it, for being my best memory of him. But now I think it would be better if I gave it to you.

-         But, what for? Why would I want it?

-         Your father gave it to me because we were in love, someday you’ll also have strong feelings for someone who will be very special for you. I’d love you to do the same with that special girl, once you know you have found her. Maybe for a special occasion, or whenever you want... I don’t know.

 

Ash stood looking at his mum attentively. He seemed as wanting to say something, but he couldn’t speak a word.

 

-         I see. - Delia said- You don’t need to say anything, Ash. Just keep it with you.

-         I never expected this, mum. I don’t know what to do...- Said Ash with a lost sight.

-         It’s allright. I have to do some chores now, so I’ll leave you alone. Come to talk later, if you want to.

-         Mum...!

-         Yeah?

-         ...Thank you.

-          

After those last words, she smiled and left the room. Ash remained deeply moved thinking about that necklace, and what he was going to do with it. He thought that giving it to Misty would be a grat idea, because it would be a good start to confess everything. But there was still something that couldn’t let him get ready to do it. “If I told her, -he thought- I’d finally know what she feels about me. But if she doesn’t want me... maybe I’ll finish as the foolest guy. - He said to himself- Wait...-he went on- Maybe she does! Yeah, why not?” - Ash stood up very hopefuly while he heard Brock was coming back.

 

-         Hey, Brock. Can I talk to you for some minutes? - Asked Ash

-         Yeah, sure Ash. - Brock answered

 

Ash started to speak as fast as excited he was.

 

-         Tell me, what would be better? Do you think I must tell her? Or maybe I should shut up just in case...

-         I think you should...

-         Because I really wanna tell her, -Ash interrupted- but if we didn’t share the same feelings, I wouldn’t like to know it.

-         So why don’t you...?

-         Anyway, late or early I’ll know it all. I mean, someday we’ll all be married with someone, won’t we?

-         Yes, but...

-         And I think it would be better if I knew it from now, so that we could define our destinies. If I waited so much time, maybe it could be in vain.

-         Ash...

-         Apart from that, if she says she wants me too, we’ll live the rest of our lives happy and quieter because we’ll have already known what in each other’s minds is.

-         Sure, then...

-         I better go getting ready to do it, I also should gather up my mind if I were pushed back, right?

-         Right, and...

-         I know I’ll do my best, so I’m almost sure I’ll have to get ready to receive the answer I’ve been expecting from always rather than any other.

-         Ok, now...

-         Great! It’s all decided now. And thank you very much, Brock. I couldn’t have thought of anything it if it wasn’t for your help.

-         ...Whenever.

 

Ash was totally decided to say all the truth. Though he could receive lots of bad things as an answer, he has only thought about the good ones. He really didn’t take a long time to call her. Immediately after Brock left the room, he went downstairs to use the videophone. He has thought to invite her to go to his house. Fortunately for Ash, it was Misty who answered:

 

-  ... Oh, hi Ash! I was just about to call to your house. Satsuki agreed to invite you all to have dinner here tonight. Will you come?

-  ... Sure, the guys are a bit busy now so I’ll ask ‘em later. Anyway, I don’t think they’ll have any problems. Brock is helping mum with the lunch, and Tracy hasn’t arrived yet, he’s still with his future girlfriend.

-         He really wants her, doesn’t he? Sakura seems to be in love with him too. Ain’t it beautiful? - She said with a big smile.

-    Yes, it is. I hope they have good luck together.

-    I hope we have good luck too.

-    What?

-    Nothing. Forget it.

-    Ok. And what were you calling for?

-    Well... -he thought something quickly-, I was just a bit bored and I wanted to speak about anything.

-         Fine. Have you sent Gary’s letter?

-         Oh no, I totally forgot about it!

-         What? You had enough time, Ash, what have you been doing?

-         I don’t know, I guess I’ll have to go now. Do you wanna come?

-         I’m sorry, I can’t. There are some things I have to do first. What a pity.

-         Ok... Tracy is home. I’ll tell him about tonight.

-         Well, don’t forget to bring something to drink.

-         Allright. See you.

-         Good bye, Ash.

 

Ash didn’t say a word about the necklace because he thought it could be better to give her the surprise that night. So then he had the free time to go to put Gary’s letter in his mail box without being seen, and to buy some Christmas presents. He hadn’t thought before about what to buy to everyone else when he did the shopping for them, except for his dear friend. Misty won’t resist to his present, it’s a great opportunity you have once in your life, so she will surely take it. Ash didn’t want to tell anyone what he’s been planing for her, because he wanted to surprise everybody. Besides this, he wouldn’t forgive himself if Misty accidently got to know about it. Before leaving, he talked to Tracy:

 

-         Hey, Tracy. How was your date?

-         It wasn’t a date, Ash. Sakura’s just my friend.

-         But we all know you want something else from her, don’t you?

-         Yeah well, but...

-         Anyway, how was it?

-         Pretty nice. We ate ice cream and then we went to the cinema.

-         So you were fine... Did Sakura enjoy it?

-         Sure, it was her who wanted to go there.

-         Not bad. You gotta let her choose the date sometimes or else she could get bored.

-         Thanx, that’s a good advice. What are you going to do now?

-         I’m gonna buy some Christmas’ presents.

-         I thought you’d already bought them. Didn’t you say that last night?

-         ...Yeah, but there are still some missing... Well, I must leave now, do you wanna come with me?

-         No, I’m tired. I want to lie down for a while.

-         Fine. I won’t last so much... Oh, by the way, there’s a meeting at Sakura’s tonight. Tell Brock.

-         Ok, I will, bye.

-         See you.

 

Then, Ash took the letter and part of his money and went out.

 

That night, the three boys were running to and fro preparing everything for the meeting. Brock seemed to be the most enthusiastic:

 

-         Well, ready to make your best impression, guys? ‘Cos I am.

-         Don’t exaggerate, it’s just a friendly dinner. But we’ll surely have so much fun! - Tracy added.

-         I just hope not to put my foot in it, I want everything to go all right with all of us. - Answered Ash with a worried face.

-         It’s Ok, we’ll do it fine, boy. - Tracy tried to calm him down.

-         Tonight I’m gonna give Misty something very special and I don’t want anything to ruin that moment.

-         Are you going to give her a kiss?

-         No, something else. You’ll see later.

-         All right. But don’t forget to tell us if we don’t get to see your romantic scene. – Tracy says while laughing.

-         Oh, shut up! – Ash said a bit angry.

-         Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go and get there the earliest possible! - Brock sounded very excited.

-         Yeah, let’s go - Ash and Tracy shouted in chorus.

 

The three boys left the house and went walking. A while later they were all at Sakura’s main door.

 

To be continued...

 

I’m back at last!! I’m sorry for all those who had to wait so much time, but I couldn’t update before. Now that I have my new PC and I’m having some free time in the evenings I’ll go on typing the story, so I won’t last so much updating next time. If you wanna contact me, tell me your opinion, or anything, just e-mail me at crazy_girl_88@terra.com. See you. With love...

A Crazy Girl Y

P.D: Maybe some people have already read this chapter, but I had to change some mistakes I had made when I updated it for the first time, because I hadn’t realized. Sorry.