A/N: No ranting from me this time. Just please review ^_^

"Ring, ring, ring. Ring, ring, ring. Phone call, phone call. Ring, ring, ring. Ring, ring, ring. Phone call, phone call."

"Hmm? Wha?" Ash groggily opened his eyes and squinted at the rays of sunlight in his face. Rolling onto his side he cried out as he fell off the couch. He sat up and rubbed his head, trying to remember what happened last night. The memories came back to him, a smile spreading across his face as he remembered kissing Misty.

"Ring, ring, ring. Ring, ring, ring. Phone call, phone call. Ring, ring, ring. Ring, ring, ring. Phone call, phone call."

"Alright, alright. I'm coming, I'm coming." He got over to the phone and picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Hey Ash. Did I wake you?"

"Brock? Ohh, what time is it?" Ash groaned and turned the videophone on. Brock's face appeared on screen and Ash recognised that he was in the Pokemon Centre.

"I did just wake you. It's one in the afternoon man. How long were you going to sleep?"

"It's that late?" Ash looked at the clock and saw it was.

"Yeah. Well I was just passing the centre and Nurse Joy wanted to know if I knew you."

"Just passing. I'm sure," Ash said sarcastically and raised a brow at Brock. "What did she want to know that for?"

"Your pokemon are still here Ash."

"PikaPi!" Pikachu exclaimed happily as he jumped up to the screen.

"Hey Pikachu. How's it going?"

"Pikachu chu pikapika. Chu chu pikachu pi pipika chupi," Pikachu said, waving its little arms about.

"You don't say. Well I'll be down as soon as I can to pick you up. See you later."

"Okay. See you later Ash."

"PikaPika."

Ash put the receiver back down and the screen went black. He stretched and moaned as he flexed his stiff muscles. "Gotta shower," he muttered and started for his room. He gently pushed the door open and peered in. Misty was still sleeping in his bed so Ash quietly snuck in. He got a fresh set of clothes and was about to leave the room but stopped beside the bed.

"Huh?"

Misty's hair was red again, not blond like the night before. Confused, Ash had a quick look around and saw a blond wig on the bedside table. He also noticed a small opened box with two small, green objects in it. Upon looking closer he saw that they were contacts.

'So that's it. Coloured contact lenses and a wig. No wonder I didn't know her.' He smiled down at the sleeping Misty and turned away, walking out and closing the door behind him.

Going into the bathroom, he shut the door and turned the shower on. He got undressed and got in, whistling happily to himself as he did. He stood under the running water, letting the warm liquid run over him soothingly. He closed his eyes and turned to let the water splash onto his face. His jet-black spiky hair went flat and stuck to his face. When he'd soaked for a while he started rubbing shampoo into his hair, now humming his favourite tune, '2B a Master'.

He was lost in his own world and didn't hear the bathroom door opening and somebody entering. Nor did he hear them undressing and going towards the shower. He only noticed them when the shower door slide open. His heart beat faster.

"Hey! Who's there?!" His hands dropped to cover himself, leaving the suds fall from his hair and over his eyes, so now he couldn't see. He heard the shower door close again and felt bare skin rub against his. He pulled away; only to jump forward as his behind touched the ice-cold tiles.

"Ohh stop jumping around will you?"

"Misty?! What are you doing?!" He quickly turned his back to her. It was less embarrassing that way, and he could hide his bright red face better. He washed the suds off from his eyes and rubbed the stinging out of them.

"If it'll make you happy, I'll turn my back to you too." There was a little shuffling of bare feet and then a small sigh. "There. Happy?"

"Misty, what are you doing in here? Couldn't you wait your turn?" Ash was trying to keep away from her, but the shower was very small, only meant for one person.

And so, butt cheeks met. Ash tried to keep them apart, but it was no use so he just blushed and stayed quiet.

"Better being back to back, ehh Ash? I don't think I could trust you the other way around." Misty chuckled.

Ash glanced down and blushed even more.

"Listen, I didn't intend on sleeping in but your bed is so damn comfy I didn't wake up until a moment ago. I've really got to get to work and there is no way I'm going without a shower. So I'm sure that you won't mind sharing for this one time."

Ash muttered something and let the water wash the suds from his hair.

"Quit being a shower hog. Let me get under that water for a bit," Misty said as she lightly elbowed him. They awkwardly moved around until Misty was under the showerhead and Ash was at the other side.

He sighed and pushed his hair from his face. 'Maybe I could ask her now.'

"Pass me that shampoo would you?"

"Here." He handed the bottle of shampoo over his shoulder and she took it. "Hey Misty, could I ask you a few things?"

She didn't reply as she handed the bottle back.

He took it and put it on the small shelf. "Are you ever going to tell me what happened to you?"

"If you're finished could you give me some room?"

"Stop changing the subject Misty. Please tell me," Ash pleaded with her, glancing sideways over his shoulder and catching a view of her firey red hair.

"If I want to tell you I will. Now if you please?" Misty turned and put both her hands on Ash's hips and pushed him out of the shower, opening the door with her foot and shutting it again when he slipped on the wet ground and fell out.

"Ow," he moaned and rubbed his head. Not looking back at the glass-door shower, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist.

While Ash was getting his stuff, Misty was watching him. She bit her bottom lip as her heart pounded in her chest. 'I wish I could tell you Ash, but for your own safety it's better if I deal with this alone.'

She looked at him from behind strands of hair. He'd grown so much, matured into such a handsome young man. He was well known for his battling skills but Misty has never heard any word about him going out with anyone. But then again, she'd lost contact with him a couple of months after they parted.

As Ash left the bathroom, soaking wet and covered with a single towel, memories came back to Misty.

* * *

Sixteen-year-old Ash turned to face the seventeen year old beauty that he secretly loved. "So why do you want to visit your sisters again?"

Misty sighed and shook her head. "Ash, I've already told you. My sisters sent me an e-mail saying that they needed me home right away because they have a message for me. They didn't say what it was about, but it must be important."

"Ohh." Ash turned back around and continued down the road, Pikachu trotting by his side. He'd interrupted his training to take Misty home to her sisters. Brock had stopped off in Pewter on their way and said that he'd meet up with them in a couple of days.

Misty knew that Ash was training hard and for him to just stop for her was really flattering. She'd always liked Ash, but over the last few years she'd fallen in love with him. She dared not tell him for she was afraid that she could be hurt if he didn't feel the same. So she just kept it all to herself. She often woke up in the middle of the night to watch him peacefully sleeping, dreaming of becoming a Pokemon Master, or so she'd thought.

Ash had actually many a night dreamt about her. Those nights he'd slept happier than others.

"We're here."

Misty snapped out of her thoughts and looked up. There in front of them was the Cerulean City gym, her home. She smiled and looked over at Ash. "Well come on!" She ran past him and towards the gym. She rushed through the doors and stood in the main hall. "Hello! Anyone home?" she called out. She heard some noises before her three sisters appeared in a doorway, looking somewhat down.

"Like, Misty, you finally got here," Lily said.

"Well I only got the e-mail a couple of days ago and we had a good bit to travel. I actually think we got here rather quick."

"We?" Daisy asked and looked around.

Just then Ash came in and walked over to Misty and her sisters. "Hey Lily, Violet, Daisy. Good to see you again."

"Like WOW! Long time no see Ash," Violet suddenly perked up.

"Pika?"

"Pikachu! You're still as cute as I, like, remember you."

"So what's this big message you guys have for me?" Misty butted in, getting slightly impatient.

"Would you, like, excuse us Ash?" Daisy asked him while taking Misty by the hand.

"Sure. No problem." Ash picked Pikachu up and headed off to the pool to look at the water pokemon.

Daisy, Lily and Violet hurried Misty into the kitchen and closed the door, locking it.

"What's going on guys?" Misty sat on the edge of the table and crossed her arms. Her beauty had grown over the last couple of years and it now far surpassed that of her sisters.

Her sisters saddened again and turned to her, glancing at each other now and then. Daisy finally spoke up.

"Misty, father is calling you."

Misty's eyes widened. Her sisters could see the colour drain from her face and Misty jumped up. "NO!" she screamed angrily. "HE CAN'T BE!"

"Misty, you knew this day would come and now that you're seventeen, it's time." Lily spoke with a quivering voice.

"But... what about Ash?" Tears welled up in Misty's eyes.

"We told you not to get attached to anyone. You'll have to leave him." Violet was taking this better than Lily or Daisy were. "There is nothing we can do now Misty."

Misty lowered her head and nodded. She watched the tears fall from her eyes onto the floor. "Okay," she choked out, "I'll go tell him." She unlocked the door and slowly walked to the pool where she knew Ash was.

When she got there, she could see him sitting on the edge of the pool and watching the Goldeen swimming beneath the water's surface. He looked so cute just sitting there with his Pikachu next to him. Misty smiled slightly and wiped the tears from her eyes and cleared her throat.

Ash looked over and smiled. He got up and went over to her. "So what was the whole thing about?"

"Ash, I'm... afraid..." She could feel the tears coming again. She shut her eyes and turned her head slightly away from him. "I'm afraid that I have to stay here with my sisters."

Ash didn't expect that. "What?! But why?"

"It's a family thing. I agreed to come back to the gym when I was seventeen and so, I have to stay," she lied. That was nowhere near the truth.

When Ash had left later on, he looked so depressed that Misty could feel her heart aching. She watched him walk away into the setting sun and even after he was out of view, she stayed watching where she'd seen him last. She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"It's time."

* * *

Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, mixing with the shower water. Misty covered her face with her hands and sobbed her heart out. 'Why me?'

Poor Misty. Well, I'd mentioned their splitting up a couple of times and I thought it best to put something about it in this chapter. The shower idea was actually the first in this story, made up when I was hyper one time and I had to make a story with it in it. So I hoped you enjoyed this part. Please R&R your views!
Slán for now!