Disclaimer: Me? Own pokemon? I wish o_o

A/N: Okies, the first part was a big all over the place. I understand that you want some explanations for Misty's new job and also why her and Ash didn't recognise each other. Well hopefully, in this part, some of your questions will be answered. Well on with the story!

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Exposing the Truth!
Part Two
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"Ash, it's me. Misty."

"WHAT?!"

Ash couldn't believe it. Misty? I couldn't be! The Misty he remembered was, for one thing, a red head, and this girl was a blond. The Misty he remembered had beautiful aqua colour eyes, and the Misty he was talking to now had dark emerald green eyes. Sure the Misty he remembered liked to show a little skin, but not this much!

This wasn't the girl he loved.

Ash shook his head and shut his eyes tight. It couldn't be Misty! It can't be Misty! Ash was now muttering to himself, too low for anyone to understand.

"Ash? What are you mumbling about?"

He opened his eyes and looked into Misty's. "Is it really you?"

"Well duh genius. I see that you've still not gained any extra brains over the last few years. You're still as dense as ever." Misty huffed and glared back at him, crossing her arms to cover her chest.

"Hey don't get ratty with me! I did nothing wrong," Ash protested.

"You were born weren't you? That's the biggest mistake that was ever made. I don't feel like talking to you right now. I'll see you later." Misty turned on her heels and stormed off the stage, leaving Ash standing there and the crowd started to call 'Aww' and 'Come back!' after Misty.

"What was that all about?" Ash muttered as he watched Misty leaving. A pang of hurt stung him and he sighed. Why did she always treat him like dirt? Even when he had done nothing wrong?

A thought crossed his mind and his anger suddenly rose. Turning around, he jumped off the stage and marched straight towards Brock. He found him chatting and laughing with Gary and Tracey. Grabbing his shoulder, he roughly spun him around and grabbed him by the collar. "All right, what's the big idea?!" he growled. Ash had grown over the last few years and was now at eye level with Brock.

"What? I thought you were looking forward to that. It's not my fault you said something to her and get her angry. What did you say anyway?" Brock grabbed Ash's wrists and tried to loosen their grip on him.

Ash loosened his grip. "Don't you know who she is?"

"Why? Do we know her?"

Ash let him go and sighed. "Brock, that was Misty."

"What?!"

"Exactly what I thought. Brock, what happened to her?" He turned around and spotted Misty walking around. She was now wearing a small string top to match the g-string and high shoes. Walking around the guys, she grinned at the wolf whistles and comments, soaking it all up. "This isn't like her," Ash added, looking down and closing his eyes.

"I don't know Ash. You could talk to her and ask."

"Why me? Why couldn't you ask her?"

"Ash, you know as well as I do that you two were close and you could get it out of her better than I could." Brock put a hand on Ash's shoulder and squeezed it lightly. "Your feelings for her are stronger than mine."

Ash sighed. He'd told Brock about his feelings for Misty a long time ago. He'd thought that after five years they would be gone, but now he knew that he still felt the same. He nodded and sighed. "Alright, I'll talk to her later." This wasn't going to be easy, if she was going to be in the same mood that she was in now.

Ash tried to get back into the party swing, but he found himself often glancing over in Misty's direction and keeping it on her for long periods of time. The one question burned in his mind, 'Why?'

* * *

"Great party Ash," Richie complemented, hanging off Tracey's shoulder, his breath stinking of alcohol.

"Ehh, thanks Richie. Make sure he gets back to the Pokemon Center okay Tracey."

Tracey nodded and helped the stumbling Richie out of Ash's home.

Ash sighed and flopped down onto the couch. He laid his head back and rubbed his temples. "What a party," he muttered.

"You can say that again."

Ash nearly jumped out of his skin. "Wha?" He spun around on the couch and looked over to see Misty. She was wearing a light coat over her skimpy clothing now. "I thought everyone was already gone. It's 3 A.M."

"True, but my job isn't finished yet," Misty said, smirking and making her way over to Ash.

"Ehh, what do you mean?" Ash gulped and followed her with his eyes.

"I had to wait until everyone was gone before I could complete my job here. You see, I was paid for the full works and that means that you get to spend the night with me Ash. I'm here to play with you." She sat down next to him and leaned up against him, stroking his cheek with her fingertips.

"M-Misty p-please..." Ash stuttered and pulled away from her. "Don't do this."

"Why not? It's not like I haven't done this before." As Ash listened to her he could hear her voice shake, like she was nervous. But she didn't show anything outwardly.

"Misty, we need to talk. You don't have to do this." Ash looked straight at her. "What happened to you?"

She stared into his deep brown eyes, so full of concern and care that it made her heart flutter. She sighed, almost relieved, and sat down, crossing her arms and looking down to the floor. "Nothing happened."

"Don't lie to me Misty. I know you well enough to know that you would never do something like this! Something happened to you and I want to know what that was!" Ash was on the verge of yelling but he quickly calmed himself down, settling back on the couch.

"Do you really Ash? Do you really know who and what I am?" She looked up once again to his eyes. This time Ash saw sadness and something else. Fear?

"I can help you. Please just tell me what is wrong." He went a little closer and put his hand on hers. "Mist?"

"Don't call me that!" she yelled and roughly pulled her hand from his. She stood up and stomped off a few steps towards the front door.

"Misty! Wait up a second!" Ash leapt up and ran after her, stopping at the front door. "You can't leave now. Anything could happen to you around here. The streets can become really dangerous after dark."

"I know Ash. I've been working these streets for the last two years. I know what I'm doing." She turned the handle and pulled the door open. She shivered as a strong and icy cold wind blew in.

"Just stay here tonight," Ash pleaded. "You can have my bed and I'll take the couch." He'd been hearing on the news that the amount of rapes on young girls was on the rise and if some one of those weirdoes saw Misty, she was done for. He was also hoping that if she stayed, she would tell him what happened and why was she now earning her money by selling herself.

Misty stood on the front step, considering Ash's offer. She felt a drop of rain hit her nose and she looked up to the dark sky. No stars could be seen, nor no moon. Soon the rain started to fall heavier and Misty quickly jumped back inside and shut the door. "Alright Ash. I'll take you up on the offer." She looked over at him and smiled half-heartedly.

Ash sighed and smiled back. "Come on then. This way." He led her towards his room and opened the door. He flipped the light switch and cringed when the state of his room was lit up.

"I see you still live like a slob," Misty observed, looking around the room. Ash's clothes were everywhere and the bed was stacked with presents he'd gotten, not to mention it wasn't made.

Ash quickly dashed forward and started to pick up the clothes. "Sorry about this. I didn't think I'd be having anyone in my bedroom." Ash paused for a second and replayed what he'd just said to himself. His face flushed bright red and he turned his back to Misty to cover it.

Misty chuckled, but did blush slightly herself. She started to help him tidy up. The first piece of clothing she picked up was a pair of his boxers. They were a baby blue colour with pokéballs all over them. On the front was a large pokeball with the words 'The Master!' written across it. Misty laughed aloud and Ash looked over to see what was so funny. His eyes widened and he tried to grab them off her but she pulled them out of his reach.

"Big expectations, ehh Ash?" she asked with a playful grin, waving the boxers around in the air.

"They're not mine!" Ash yelled and tried to grab them again, missing once more.

"They're not yours?" Misty stopped suddenly and stared at him. "Ohh... Ash I didn't know you were... gay."

"GAY?!" He snatched the boxers from her and shoved them into a drawer. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant that I didn't buy them! I'm not gay!"

Misty sighed with relief, inwardly. Then something else came to mind. "So, who got them for you? Your g-girlfriend?" She crossed her fingers behind her back. 'Don't be a girlfriend. Don't be a girlfriend,' she thought.

Ash looked down and shuffled around. "My mom."

Misty started laughing again. "Your mom! She still buys clothes for you?" In her laugher, she dropped the few bits of clothes that she'd picked up after Ash had snatched his 'Master' boxers back. She clutched her sides and laughed, more than she had ever laughed since their separation five years ago.

Ash snorted and grabbed her wrists, pulling her to him. "They were a present! I do my own clothes shopping! Not her!"

Misty opened her eyes and the laughter stopped. Her face was so close to Ash's that she could feel his warm breath brush against her skin. Her skin under his touch seemed to tingle and her heart started to beat faster.

Ash started to feel the same, noticing how close he was to Misty. His grip slowly loosened on her wrists and their arms lowered, but they didn't break eye contact. Ash studied her face and slowly started to see the Misty of old and not this new Misty. He looked at her lips, the luscious lips that he wanted to kiss so badly. Without realising it, they were slowly edging their way closer to each other, now merely a hair's breath apart. And then their lips met.

This kiss was not like the one Ash had gotten on stage. This one was full of love and compassion, not full of haste and business. He wrapped his arms around her waist and closed his eyes, savouring the taste of Misty's lips on his.

Misty wrapped her arms around his neck both to hold him, and to hold herself up. She was feeling light-headed from the kiss but it was a good feeling.

When they finally parted for breath, they stared into the other's eyes in silence. It was Ash who broke the silence between them.

"Better get some sleep. It's been a long night."

"Yeah. Good night Ash," Misty said disappointedly.

Ash let Misty go and walked to the door. He turned around and smiled warmly at her. "Good night Misty." He closed the door gently behind him.

Misty shivered, now feeling the cold without Ash's body near hers. She sighed deeply and sat down on the edge of the bed, the scattered clothes forgotten. 'Could he like me?' Not wanting to believe anything else for now, she cleared the bed of presents and curled up under the covers. Ohh how she wished Ash was in the bed with her right now. With happy thoughts of Ash on her mind, for once, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

* * *

Ash wandered over to the couch in a daze. 'Did I really just kiss her? Did it mean anything? She does it all the time. It probably meant nothing to her.' He got a couple of pillows and a blanket before lying down and covering himself. He smiled as he closed his eyes. 'Just maybe...'

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To be continued...
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Okay, so not many questions were answered. Maybe in the next one, heehee. Please R&R folks! I really appreciate feedback. Until next time.
Slán!

~Ashla~
E-mail: pokemonbundle@hotmail.com