What We’ve Been Up To!

****

Location and Setting: It took Ash a lot to drag her against her will, but he was able. Despite the struggle Misty put up, they were already there. The others watched as Ash was struggling to keep hold on Misty’s wrist. When they both realized that everyone was looking at them, Misty stopped struggling and Ash let go. There was a blush in Misty’s face, but not in Ash.

“Now, if you’re satisfied with everything, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Wait, didn’t you say you wanted a drink?” Ash mentioned.

“I said a drink of water, not soda,” Misty corrected.

“Wait, Misty,” Tracey getting her attention, “we actually brought water, too. Here’s a clean cup.”

“Come on, Misty, just stay,” May pleaded.

“Yeah, little sis. You only have another night after this to be a free woman. Like, I suggest you take advantage of it,” Lily advised.

“Yeah, stay,” Max also pleaded.

Knowing she was outnumbered, she decided to stay. “I wasn’t really that sleepy anyways.” She took a seat on the carpet next to Brock and Violet.

Ash then took a seat between Daisy and May. “So, anyone have a funny story to tell that happened the last five years?”

Everyone had their eyes on him not getting the joke. The topic would come out sooner or later; Ash felt that he at least had to pretend that it didn’t matter much when really it was a very touchy subject.

After a while the eyes wondered off somewhere else.

“Well, I do have a story about the first time my dad gave me a chance to defend our pokemon gym. It was sort of a spectacle, though I won,” Max admitted.

“Oh, yeah. Dad told me about this. I wasn’t there at the time since I was out competing for another ribbon,” May remembered.

“Well, anyways. When the challenger first asked, he didn’t expect me to be the trainer. He felt cheated, but then when we started the battle, he found out that I wasn’t a push over.”

“Okay, but didn’t you say it was a spectacle?” ask Ash.

“Wait, I haven’t gotten there yet,” said Max agitated. “Our initial pokemon were both fainted and on our second. That’s when I made the big mistakes. He had a Canea. Now, I had a lot of experience with Canea seeing that James always used one. I was feeling cocky after the first match. I even gave the guy the first move.”

Ash was disappointed hearing that Max had gave the guy the first move. During Ash’s journey in the Orre Region he had made up a few rules for himself. “Rule 1: never presume a match will be in your favor,” Ash said interrupting Max.

“Hush, Ash,” Misty ordered.

“I can’t believe she still does that,” Ash thought feeling lectured and embarrassed.

Max continued, “I was too cocky I forgot that Canea are able to use poison type moves. Since James never had the idea of using moves other than spike canon, I was caught off guard. Then I made the mistake at looking and my dad who was there watching the match. He was shaking his head. If it wasn’t for dad’s Slaking’s defense, strength and stamina, I would have loss the match. Afterwards, my dad gave me a lecture on the essential basics. It took about two hours going over the trainer’s most hazardous mistakes in a battle.”

Afterwards, it was Tracey’s turn to tell a story of equally disappointing moment. It was about getting stunned by a Vilpume in Prof. Oak’s estate.

Then Lily told them her story of a day in the park. It wasn’t new to any of the Sensational Sisters, including Misty. It seems that they tell each other everything about each other. Ash hoped Misty hadn’t shared with them about him so much.

It was another of the same story with Brock. He had met a girl, the girl had fallen in love with him, but he had to deny her offer because his ‘work’ as a breeder was much more important than a fling with another girl.

Ash leaned over to May and whispered, “I bet it was the other way around.”

May laughed.

“What? Do you think I’m lying. It’s true. You know how much the woman are lusting over me,” said Brock hoping they’d believe him.

“Come on, Brock,” said Misty not believing a word of his story.

“Of all the times we’d travel with each other, the only time a girl had taken a liking to you is if she’s too young, she’s a dead maiden, or if it’s a century old Ninetales,” Ash said mentioning all the times his charm had actually gathered the girls to him.

“Oh yeah. What about you, Mr. Pokemon Master,” Brock fired back at Ash feeling insulted. “What girls have you wooed. If I remember, you were much too interested with the pokemon rather than the girls. I think you were afraid of the girls.” Brock had a devilish smile as if he knew figured Ash out.

“Actually, I had... have luck with the women. Correction, woman. Just ask Kasumi.” Ash was trying to let them in on a certain girl he met in the Orre Region.

“Is it the same girl you were talking about?” asked Daisy remembering what Ash told her when they went out to the scenery just outside Cerulean City.

“Yeah,” he answered.

“You have a girlfriend?” asked Misty flabbergasted.

“You act surprised.”

“I have the same sentiments, Ash,” Brock added, “it’s just that I don’t see you wooing the women. You just seem the type to care more about pokemon to chase girls.”

“Well, to be honest. I don’t even no if she was ever my girlfriend. It was just that... well, I’d have to tell you the story.”

“What are you waiting for, Ash, tell us the story,” Tracey suggested anxiously.

“It’s kind of pathetic. Considering how it comes together.” Ash seemed to be evasive in telling the story. He had not felt comfortable with this topic. He had wanted to talk about pokemon, but Brock had somehow steered the conversation to this direction.

“Quit pussyfooting around and tell the story,” Max exclaimed making Ash feel pressured.

“Alright, but don’t laugh if you think my courting is a little unconventional.”

“We all agree,” Misty said knowing everyone’s sentiments about the matter.

“Well, it all started when I had stumbled on this green, flush part of Orre where there were actually a sign of life. I had been walking in the desert for the last day or two and was running out of water and food for both my pokemon and me. I was about to collapse when an old man found me and took me back to where he lived. He fed me and gave me directions to a Colosseum. He told me where to go and asked if I was ready.”

“Okay, but when do we get to the part about the girl?” queried Brock.

“I’m getting to it,” Ash answered. “Anyways, I answered him by saying I was as ready as I could at the moment. He told me, ‘If you give me that kind of response, then I don’t think you’ll be able to win.’ I was going to argue with him but right off the corner of my eyes I see a glimpse of giant plaque. It turned out he won it earlier in his youth when he was still a trainer.”

“No way, it’s just serendipity,” Lily mentioned.

“If you want to know if you’re ready, you should battle me first.’ I couldn’t refuse a man of his distinct experience. He had been a champion of the underground Colosseums and others all around Orre. So, we battled. He let out his pikachu and I did the same. Oh, did I forget. Yes, I forgot to tell you this was about 8 months since I went on my own, so I still felt beaten by earlier battles.”

“Why did you feel beaten?” asked Violet.

“Didn’t I tell you? No, I guess not everyone’s caught up with what I’ve been doing for the last five years.”

“And whose fault is that?” asked Misty sarcastically just under her breath.

“I’ll fill you in later,” Ash promised. “The battle went underway and I immediately knew the reason why he was the champion. I was not even close to his level. His pikachu used moves I’ve never seen. He didn’t even use offensive moves, but somehow I was beaten. I knew that I wasn’t a match for him or even the others in the Colosseums. ‘You aren’t ready. You should train more,’ he said to me. He was right, too.”

“I’m sorry, Ash, but I have to ask to, when does the girl come into the story?” Ask Tracey fixated just as Brock was.

“Okay, she comes in this part. After the battle, the old man called his granddaughter over and asked her to treat pikachu for any injuries incurred during that match.”

“Is that when you fell in love with her, Ash?” asked Brock taunting Ash.

“No,” Ash answered, “she was sort of angry at me for getting her grandfather up and over exerted him. ‘I wasn’t over exerted’ said her grandfather. She just blamed me for everything. And of course I had to make it worse by saying that I didn’t think he was too tired.”

“You sure do open your mouth, Ash” observed Tracey.

“When her grandfather was back at the house, he told Kasumi to take Pikachu to a secret cave that’s said to have special attributes that heal pokemon faster. Just like the time we found that lake that soothed electric pokemon.”

“Hey, I remembered that,” Brock said reminiscing about the girl they introduced them to Zapdos.

“She was still pretty ticked at me for ‘tiring out’ her grandfather. I tried to say it wasn’t my fault, but she just kept on blaming me. When Pikachu was healed, we went back to her grandfather’s house. This time her grandmother was there with him. She told her about her grandfather, but it didn’t seem to bother the grandmother. In fact, she seemed happy to see her husband so vibrant and excited. Then for some reason, I was staying the night. They took in the fact that I was still new to the region and asked me to stay a few. I didn’t know where to go and was tired of camping out in the desert, so I accepted.”

“Just like that!?” Asked Misty. “Didn’t you say that the Orre Region is unforgiving and harsh? Why would they just invite a complete stranger to stay with them?”

“I don’t know,” answered Ash, “maybe because they just...”

“... felt sorry,” Misty finished.

“No!” Ash protested starting to get a little irritated by all the interruptions. “I mean, maybe they thought that I was... okay, maybe they were feeling sorry for me.”

“Okay, just get to the story,” Max pleaded.

“Sure, anyways, I was given the door next to their granddaughter in the guest room. I don’t have to mention that it really got her steamed.”

“So, that’s how it happened. It’s so scandalous,” said Lily intrigued and hooked on the possibilities. It was clear Lily shared the same passion Misty had for corny romance stories.

“No, actually, it happens two days later.”

“Well, like, go on,” Lily urged.

Despite not liking the story so much, Misty couldn’t help feel like it was one of those romance stories she read. Ash was Captain Nathaniel to some degree and his Dorethea was this girl Kasumi. She loved and hated the idea of the story. Both intrigued with the occurrences, but despised the characters involved.

“The next day, Kasumi’s grandfather had decided to take me under his wing and teach me his style of training. This made Kasumi flair with rage. Kinda like you, Misty. Just kidding.”

“You should just stick to your story, Ash,” Misty said keeping and intimidating eye on Ash.

“That night, Kasumi ambushed me in the guest room when her grandparents were asleep. She told me to leave the next day. I was feeling as if I had overstayed my welcomed and so I told her that I would leave in the morning. Now, don’t take me wrong, I wasn’t afraid. It just wasn’t fair for me to take advantage of their hospitality.”

“Didn’t you say that she kisses you in the next day?” Lily ask hoping Ash would give a yes to her question.

“I’m getting to it. The next morning I announced I was going to take my leave. Her grandparents didn’t seem to mind me staying and even offered me to change my mind. Kasumi was there and I caught a glimpse of her giving me a mean look. I thought it was better to go.”

“Is this story ever going to get to the part when you two kiss?” asked Violet as impatient as the rest.

Daisy wasn’t much pleased just as Misty was. For some reason they felt offended by the story. Daisy fidgeted a lot, twirling her fingers and looking away as if she was going to see someone bleed after a punch in the nose.

“Okay, I’m getting there. Just before I was about to leave, Kasumi’s grandfather suggested I take some herbs in the secret cave slash garden in close to their house. Kasumi went with me and pointed to the herbs. ‘I really don’t like you, you know’ she said to me out of the open. At that time I had the same sentiments. So, I told her she was an overprotective hag, though I was lying about her being a hag. She was the complete opposite of a hag. In fact, she’s beautiful.”

“You called her a hag and she just let that go?” asked Max surprised.

“Kasumi, no! Not that girl. She punched me in the eye. It was lucky I saw just before it hit to move back lessening the blow. ‘Don’t ever call me a hag,’ she said angrily with the deafening howl of a banshee. Of course her punching me got me angry, too. So, I called her a hag again. She punched me again. Then I called her a hag again. She punched me. I called her a hag again, she tried to punch, but was able to catch her punch. She tried her left. But before it connected I instinctively thought to push her. So, she fell in the pond in the cave. I felt sorry for that and handed her my hand. Her reply to that was trying to punch me. So, I let her go right before she got to her feet causing her to tumble back into the pond. Then, I felt bad for doing it again and offered my hand. She tried to punch me again. It took four turns for me to finally realize she was going to try to hit me again and again. So I left her there. When she finally got out, I just stood there looking at her. I asked her ‘are you going to stop hitting me?’ She answered by trying another shot. I grabbed her arm and she tried with her left. So, there we were locked. Her arms flailing to get free and me trying to keep her from hitting me. Then, I thought she was going to head-butt me, but instead, her lips caught mines. Go figure.”

Two of the Sensational Sisters were intrigued and satisfied with the story while the other two contemplated on whether it was a work of fiction or the whole truth. They were right to be skeptical; it was a very unlikely story.

“That is farfetched, Ash,” Brock said hoping, wanting it to be false. He had dreamed of something like that happening to himself, but so far in his many attempts it has not even come close to that.

“Yeah, and don’t forget how sexist is it,” said Misty decidedly.

“Yeah, Ash, girls don’t do that. Maybe in the movies, but not in real life,” added May.

“You don’t have to believe me, but I’m obligated to tell you that it really happened. I don’t know what inhabited her to do it, but she did and if you don’t believe me that’s just fine.”

“Okay, say it did happen,” Tracey imagined. “Do you have a picture of her and if you do does it mean that you two are a couple?”

“First answer; yes. The other; I don’t know,” Ash answered.

“‘Yes,’ in you have a picture or ‘yes’ in that you two are a couple?” Tracey asked further.

“I have a picture,” Ash answered, “but I don’t know about your other question.”

“Is it because you were just lying?” Max teased.

“No,” Ash answered a little agitated that he wasn’t being taken seriously. “I don’t know because in the course of the last four years, I’ve been on the massive commute from settlement to settlement never staying too long in one place. Every three months or so I visit her along my travels, but I really don’t spend much time with her.”

“So, you just have an on-again-off-again relationship?” Violet asked not getting the gist of the walkthrough.

“Well, every time I come back she greets me with open arms,” Ash said remembering the many times she would give him a kiss on the cheek.

“Oh, I get it,” snapped May, “you’re just leading her on. You plan to keep the little Mrs. at home while you travel around the world. Then, someday when you finally want to settle down and knowing that no one else is going for her, you’re going to finish it off by marrying her.”

“What?!” Ash was shock to hear what she had said. She had no more called him a philanderer. “May, what kind of guy do you think I am. She knows the deal. She knew that I wasn’t going to stay long.”

“There’s a deal now, Ash,” said Misty adding fuel to the fire.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I just mean that we weren’t going anywhere. It’ just that I...” he was starting to stammer. He tried to think of a way to make them understand, but just realized that he was swaying himself to the others’ views. “Okay, so maybe it isn’t right for me to keep coming back to her like that. But, it’s not really all my fault. I was just there to resupply. What would she think if I hadn’t visited her when I was around. That would just be rude.”

“If you didn’t plan anything with her, stop pussyfooting, be frank and tell her that you don’t plan to,” suggested Tracey in his infinite wisdom.

“It’s not that simple. I’ve known her for, too long just to tell her that there isn’t anything. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any sort of feelings for her.”

“‘Like,’ is it really just ‘like’ or is it something more,” ask Lily.

“Never mind,” Tracey said remembering his other question. “Didn’t you say you had a picture of her?”

“Oh, yeah, I do.” Ash went over to his backpack and unzipped the pocket just in front. He took out his wallet and skimmed through pictures of his dearest friends and family. At the very end of his gallery, Kasumi had smiled at him leaning on the side of the bottom of a waterfall in baby blue tank top. She was wearing shorts that day and they had decided to take a little swim. He remembered the rays of the sun as they brightly glistened off her milky complection. Her legs were wet as she sat on the edge of the surprisingly warm waterfall. The luscious green grass, she said, tickled her legs. She was two years older than him, but she was shorter by a couple of inches or so. Ash remembered her face. Her petite wet nose, her beautiful white teeth as she smiled, her baby blue eyes that just complicated her baby blue tank top and finally her beautiful red hair. “Oh, no!” Ash just realized why Kasumi reminder him so much of someone else. A sort of nostalgia every time Ash had looked at her. The milky complection, the blue eyes, the fiery red hair; she had reminded him of a certain someone. “Why didn’t I notice this before. Was it because I’m stupid. Or was it because Kasumi was so much her own person that she just left a mark on me that I couldn’t tell?”

“What’s the hold up, Ash?” Brock said impatiently.

“Wait, I... I... I have to... I have to somehow change the topic. What would they think if they saw what she looked like. I know what they would say. They’d say that Kasumi was just a replacement. They’d say that she was an ersatz form of her. Is that why I didn’t say anything to Kasumi? Is this why I just led her on? No, I didn’t lead her on. Did I? I have to find it first. ...Oh, wait, looks like I don’t have it after all.”

“You loose everything, don’t you, Ash,” said Misty disappointed. She would have like to see the kind of girl Ash was into.

He laughed it off pretending she was right. “I guess that you’re right, Misty. I’d loose my head if it weren’t attached.”

“Don’t be too hard on him, little sister,” Daisy defended, “if you were in his shoes, like, traveling all the time you’d probably be in worst case than Ash.”

“No, not likely,” Misty fired back.

“Sure you say that now, but what was life like before you had fished a boy off the river?” asked Daisy condescendingly.

“No way, I’ve taken good care of myself before I ever met him.”

“Like, that’s not what you told us when we told you to go off on your own when Ash didn’t come back. Don’t you remember what she said when you told her to go train on her own, Violet?”

“Yeah, but you promised, like, you wouldn’t speak of it. Remember!” It was clear that they were off in there own world, now.

Years ago when Ash had been missing without a word for the last six months, everyone was in a wreck as they panicked wondering where he might be. In all this haze of wondering, a few people were more than emotional. When they were emotional, they had confide in one another in secrets they would never usually share. There was a certain person in the Cerulean gym who was frugal with what she had to say.

Daisy backed off and stayed quiet. Misty, too, was silent feeling embarrassed and betrayed that Daisy would bring up something that she had confided to her older sister.

“Like, lets change the subject,” suggested Daisy. “Okay, Ash, you’ve, like, been traveling around forever now and I want to know what you’ve learned.”

“What do you mean?” Ash asked not understanding the question.

“Like, what tricks have you learned during your long excursions into the Orre Region.”

“Oh, well, I have to tell ya, it’s really hard to describe the grueling hardships the pokemon and I have been through.”

“Like what?” Asked Max intrigued to hear what Ash has put himself against in the five long years.

“Hardships like going beyond,” Ash answered.

“Going beyond?” Misty asked wondering, herself, what Ash meant.

“Have you ever wondered what happens when one puts in everything they have. What happens when they can’t go any further? When their levels are so high that they cannot go any further.”

“You’re talking in riddles, Ash” Brock commented.

“No, he isn’t,” Tracey defended. Tracey was the most intrigued to where Ash was heading. Tracey kept a close eye on Ash hoping his hunch was right, “go on, Ash. Finish what you were going to say.”

“Well, I’ve experienced it.”

“Are you talking about what I think your talking about?” Tracey asked dumbfounded.

“If your talking about going beyond the highest level and forgetting about levels altogether, then yes.”

It was confirmed. Prof. Oak had hinted about such pokemon. Many pokemon experts have hinted about such a thing, but they were too scared to research such ideas in that it would jeopardize their careers in mentioning. It would be catastrophic to even linger on such a concept.

“No, we must be talking about two different things,” Tracey said doubting they had been talking about the fabled concept.

Ash looked at Tracey as intensely as Tracey had looked at him earlier. “The concept of 101 percent.”

Tracey’s jaw was opened upon hearing. “You’ve heard about the concept?”

“Yes,” Ash answered. “Kasumi’s grandfather told me about the concept. He had told me the concept of pokemon exceeding the one hundred percentile and entering a whole new field of power.”

“You aren’t serious in saying that the old man has really... and you... really experienced the 101 percentile. There’s just no way.”

Everyone seemed lost in the conversation. It was as if Ash and Tracey were speaking a whole different language. Misty was actually amazed that Ash would learn so much and leave her in the dust of his success. Brock had taught almost everything he knew about pokemon to Ash, but this time it was the other way around. Brock had wondered when this had happened.

“There is a way. It’s just not a pretty one,” Ash explained.

“That’s it,” Max exploded. He had been sitting on the sidelines as Tracey and Ash mention concepts he had never even heard of. The way Ash and Tracey were acting, Max had felt left out. Max considered himself a savvy person why it came to pokemon and yet here he was lost. “Tell us what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, Ash,” added May who was silent not know what to say to provide for the conversation.

“Yeah, what’s ‘101 percentile all about,” asked Lily.

“I’m not surprised you haven’t heard about it,” Tracey blurted, “only an esoteric amount of people have heard about.”

“Uh,” Max moaned in agitation, “what are you two talking about?

“It’s the concept of going beyond level and being unlimited. Or, at least that’s why people say.”

“That’s just a vague explanation, Tracey, what are you two talking about?” Misty asked almost as impatient as Max was.

“I don’t really know what it is or if I have experienced it, but the thing about unlimited is sort of true,” Ash explained.

“I’m sorry, Ash,” said Brock, “but I’m still in the dark with this one.”

Seeing that Ash and him weren’t going to go anywhere with everyone asking questions, Tracey decided to elaborate on the subject. “The concept of 101 percentile is based upon a pokemon’s growth. As a pokemon gets stronger, they learn new moves and build stamina. But, with the time, a pokemon ends up at the same peek, staying there unable to go any higher. They are unable to learn anymore moves, evolve or even build. They are peeked.”

Still confused, but more educated on the matter, Max was able to formulate a thesis. “So, pokemon who reach 101 percentile are unlimited?”

“That’s not how it goes,” answered Tracey, “it just mean they can go further, but not unlimited.”

“My head’s starting to hurt,” May said still not getting the concept. “Can we just change the subject?”

“Wait, May; I want to ask one more question.”

“What is it Tracey?” asked Ash.

“You said you’ve experienced a 101 percentile, what do you mean by that?” Tracey was rather forceful in asking. This didn’t surprise Ash at all. If Tracey hadn’t been so persistent they way he was a long time ago, Ash would have never called him a good friend.

“Yes,... I have,” said Ash pausing a little to add to the dramatic explanation he would soon give. “If I’m right, then we’ve all experienced it.”

“Wait, we have? If we have what did we see? Can you elaborate? Does Prof. Oak know?” The barrage of questions kept coming without an end. It would have seem that Tracey might have been overwhelmed by such a discovery, he had even drooled by accident with his third question.

“Tracey,” May moaned, “you said you only had one more question.”

“I’m sorry, May, but inquisitive minds just have to ask.”

“I have to agree with May, Tracey, we’re really boring everyone,” Ash pointed.

“But, Ash. Do you know what kind of scientific gold mine you’re sitting on? This would be a new in the world of pokemon research. The arc of knowledge that would stem from this discovery might just get the blacklist out of the concept.”

“I know, Tracey, but this isn’t the time. Besides, I can’t tell whether it is or not. It’s better if I show you tomorrow.”

“Like, that’s a great idea, Ash,” Lily jumped in at last finding something to add to the conversation.

“You seem overly excited about this, Lily,” Ash pointed out.

“You just helped me with such a humongous dilemma, Ash. Tomorrow, I have a class and you can be our guest visitor.”

“I didn’t know you held classes here, Misty,” said Brock.

“Oh, yeah. We started it after many of the parents asked about the gym. It was Daisy’s idea. Parents can enroll their kids here to learn about marine pokemon. Of course we do ask for a little fee,” Misty explained.

“Like, yeah, tomorrow is my turn to hold the class. It’s a good thing you’re here, Ash. We were just going to swim with the pokemon tomorrow.”

“Great, it sounds like a good idea. I’d love to show off what I’ve learned,” Ash agreed.

Finally, it was a chance to find out whether or not Ash’s sacrifice had paid off. Ash knew the pressure he had put himself in. He knew he had to give a great show tomorrow. A lesser show would confirm a misused venture.

****

Location and Setting: The hour turned to 3 in the morning and with it came the weight of eyelids for one of them; namely Max. He had gone to sleep an hour ago and the music had slowed down. It was suggested by Brock 2 hours earlier and there were no objections to it. Another attempt to get the girls, though the choosing was limited. Two of the girls were his best friend and one of them was untouchable. Then there were the other three. Why not, they were free and clear.

The music at first was fast and mostly to move around to. Then the music had softened to a melody. It was time to stop the ruff-housing and be a little formal. Daisy had missed her chance to dance with Ash the night before and she didn’t want to pass up another chance so she asked. Ash, not the type to ever say ‘no’ to a gentle request, got up and showed off what his mamma taught him. Daisy had be surprised to see him so light on his feet. Max, who was also taught by the talented Mrs. Ketchum had decided to put good use of he newly acquired talent. On the dance floor, at first, was Daisy with Ash and Max with Misty. Tracey and Violet had taken the floor also and Brock and May took at it with each other. This left Lily by herself and looking for an opening every time Daisy let on a little space between her and Ash. They made fun of each other for their lack of experience. Feet stepping on toes was very common. Except for the Four Sensational Sisters and Ash who did very well.

As the night waned, partners were traded off. Daisy had let go of Ash and Lily had somehow found a way in. Brock who had stepped so much on May had stopped all together. Max who feel asleep on his feet was laid down on a top bunk. Violet had to freshen herself and Tracey was able to catch Misty. When violet came back her chance was gone.

Both pair of partners were sleepy when they had notice everyone who had stopped somehow fell asleep. Lily and Tracey had, too, wanted to stop. Tracey and Lily went out the door to separate bath rooms to freshen before bed leaving Ash and Misty to sit and listen to a very nostalgic song they had both heard a long time ago. When Tracey and Lily came back, they notice that everyone had gone to sleep on everywhere and on anything.

May laid on the top bunk with her little brother Max. Brock and Violet had somehow managed to share the same bed facing different directions from each other. Seeing that modesty had left the room, Tracey took a bottom bunk while Lily took the corner with the big snorlax doll. The belly of the snorlax served as a comfortable bed.

When Lily and Tracey had come back, Ash and Misty left the room and went to separate directions in their turn to freshen up before bed. When the two had come back, it was as if the room was hit by Jigglypuff with all the sleeping bodies in the room.

Both Ash and Misty had realized that the radio was still on and just before Misty turned the dial to turn it off, a song had started. It was a great song that both of them had loved in the past.

“Do you remember the time we first heard this song, Ash?” Misty asked.

“Yeah, actually, yes. It was a long time ago,” Ash answered.

“Hey, how come you never told me you were so good in dancing?”

“It never came up,” Ash answered.

“How come?”

“We never had a reason to dance. Besides, I wouldn’t call it good dancing. It was just basics my mother taught me when I was a kid.”

“Okay then, what about now?”

“What about now?” asked Ash who didn’t know whether he was playing stupid or didn’t really know what she meant.

“I mean dance. This is a great song, wanna dance?”

“Yeah, sure. Final dance of the night.”

And they danced. It was a sweet dance and Ash felt nothing knowing it was only that. A dance between good friends. Just like he had convinced May earlier, he had also convinced himself. It was only a dance and they were good friends.

The two were both light on their feet. It was a good combination; Ash was the leader and Misty, being relatively smaller than him, followed. Ash swayed, Misty moved.

“Are you ever going to tell me what you’ve been doing for the last five years, Ash?”

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yeah. I thought you said we were best friends and we should tell everything about each other.”

“We are, it’s just that it’s a long story. You might just fall asleep before I’m finish.”

“Okay, if that’s the case, would you mind if I told you a little story? Best friends tell each other everything, after all.”

“I’ll listen. Don’t worry, I can stay up.”

“I wondered a lot,” Misty began.

“So it’s about you?”

“Yes,” she answered. “I wondered a lot. I remembered that you told me it didn’t matter. It was only going to be for three months. Only three months. It didn’t seem long, but it was. Then on the final day of the third month, I was anxious. I even waited by the phone. I was so excited when it finally rang that day. But,... there was no answer. I have to ask? Was that... you?”

“It might have been. I did hear your voice, but then I just hang up.”

There was silence as he swayed her; slower now. The area they moved was limited from what they had taken earlier. The song was winding down to it’s last notes and Ash would let go in a couple of seconds. To his surprise, he had not wanted to let go. He had wanted to stay that way. Not doing anything, just swaying to the calm, melodic song.

“The song stop,” Ash pointed out.

Another song began.

“Another dance,” Misty said not suggesting but commanding.

So they dance. It was a solemn, but also a good feeling.

“But, why?” Misty finally had the courage to ask.

“I... I...”

Misty leaned in closer, ever so closer til she had rested her head between Ash’s shoulder an neck.

“I can’t tell you right now.”

“Why not?” Misty asked close to a whisper next to his ear.

“I’ll tell you when you get married”

“Ash, please tell me,” Misty pleaded close to tears.

“I just can’t tell you right now.”

Things were quiet again. They swayed slower now standing in the same position habitually putting pressure from foot to foot.

“I hated you, Ash.”

“Are you kidding?” asked Ash seriously.

“No, ever since I found out that you were okay and you didn’t want me... to come with you, I had hated you. I remember my birthday that year. I had hoped you had at least sent a card or maybe phoned. Maybe you just forgot my birthday, I thought. I wanted to know why. And, I had wanted to ask you for the longest time. I felt I wasn’t going to ever be justified if I didn’t find out.”

“I remembered your birthday, Misty.”

“See, that’s why I hated you, Ash. You knew, but you still didn’t do anything.”

“That’s not true, it may not be much, but at the end of the night, on your birthday, I looked up to the crescent moon and said, happy birthday, Misty.”

“It would have been better If you were there.”

“I know it would have been. But, I couldn’t come.”

“After a year, I thought less about you. I didn’t care so much as I did earlier when someone had mentioned your name. But, I still hated you. I hated you as much as I had ever hated you.”

The song stopped again and this time nothing took it’s place. But, they still danced. Still swaying their bodies not really moving anywhere.

“Then, after another year, I didn’t respond to your name as badly as before. When I saw your picture on my vanity mirror, I just said it was fun while it lasted. But, I still hated you as much as I had ever hated you.”

Ash felt low and couldn’t justify his actions. Nothing he can say would justify his actions. It was similar to having had killed someone. There was just no excuse.

“When Dorien and I had gotten together, it was bittersweet. I had finally met someone, but it felt like a consolation prize. I had still hated you as much as I had ever hated you.”

Both of them were now sleepy and had their eyes closed half awake half asleep.

“What do you want me to say, Misty? Do you want me to say sorry. That’s all I can say. Anything else wouldn’t do.”

“No, I don’t want you to say anything. I just want to tell you a story.”

“Please, stop telling me. I don’t want to hear anymore,” Ash pleaded now with a faint tear sliding off his cheeks. It was luck that Misty had rested on his shoulder so she wouldn’t see.

It was the same for Misty. She, too, had started to tear up with drops already on the carpet.

“I started to see Dorien a lot more and after a while I didn’t feel as if he was a consolation prize. I had enjoyed his company. But,... to tell you the truth, I would have rather been with you.”

“Why are you telling me all this? Is it your way of telling me... you...”

“Another year had passed and on that new year, Dorien asked me to marry him. I answered, yes.”

Tears now profusely drained down her cheeks. It had dripped til it hit Ash’s shoulder and he knew she was crying.

Misty had tried to talk, but always sniffed. She was embarrassed that she had started crying, but was compelled to keep telling her story.

“I... I gave up. I was happy, yet not happy. I wanted to be happy. I just couldn’t understand. For everything I had. I had Dorien, I was having a great time being a gym leader. But,... for some reason. For some reason I just didn’t know...” She began to cry. She was tearing up before, but now she was crying. She held Ash tight and he did the same. “For some reason,... I just... I hated you still.”

Ash sniffed. “Do you... still hate me?”

“Yes, with all my heart.”

They stopped swaying and everything was quiet. The tears had stopped and Misty was asleep.

Ash walked to the lower empty bunk bed with Misty still resting her head on his shoulder and arms around his neck. Ash then collapse backwards on the bed with Misty still in his arms he had fallen asleep with her on top of him for the rest of the night. Despite how emotionally charged they were when they went to sleep, Misty and Ash had the greatest sleep they have ever had in a long while. 

****

There you are, again, review? This one is posted on Oct 17, 2005