Too Far?

By cultnirvana


********Chapter Two*********




Misty walked out of her lecture hall, throwing her bag over her shoulder. She placed a hand over her mouth, concealing a yawn. Three hours was really too long for one class. It wasn't as if she didn't enjoy the Pokemon medical course she was enrolled upon, but sometimes it could get a little too boring for her liking.

"Hey, Misty," Kaori called, making her way through the throng of people on the Mall. Misty had met Kaori on the first day of university, and the two had instantly clicked. Misty hadn't really had a close female friend since she was a little girl, and was glad to now have someone to talk to about those topics she was sure neither Ash nor Brock were interested in. "Wait up." She ran up next to her friend. "So, how was your date last night?" she asked, excitedly.

Misty sighed heavily, but put on a brave smile. "You don't want to know, believe me."

"Oh." She paused. "That bad, eh?"

"Really bad."

Kaori looked up at her friend embarrassed. "Sorry for asking."

Misty shrugged. "It's okay. I'm used to it by now." The two girls walked down through the Mall for a few minutes before she broke the silence, suddenly remembering something. "Speaking of dating, how is it going with Fran? How long have you guys been together? Over a month now I'm sure."

Kaori blushed. "Eight weeks tomorrow, and..." She pulled a hand through her almost luminescent, purple hair, eagerly wishing to continue. "...he told me he loved me."

Those few words hit Misty with the force of tsunami. She just stood there for a moment, stunned in shock. Yet another one of her friends was in a serious relationship. First Tracey had moved in with his girlfriend, then Brock had gotten engaged. And now Kaori. Everyone seemed to be settling down already, while the most serious she had ever gotten with a guy was a second date. The only other person she knew who seemed to have as little luck when it came to love was Ash, and she was sure he would be snapped up soon. The way girls flocked to him made her sick. She was just glad that Ash had realised that the vast majority of them were just after him due to his position.

Noticing her friend's forlorn expression, Kaori placed her arms around her. "I'm sorry."

Misty shook herself out of her wonderings, returning the embrace. "It's okay. Believe me, I'm really happy for you guys." Linking arms with her friend, the two began to walk once more.

Still worried about her emotional state, Kaori asked, "So, how about we go get lunch, maybe talk about it?"

At that, Misty's previous mood cleared, and a small smile rose over her lips. "Sorry. I'm meeting Ash."

She sighed. "Why did I even ask?" Kaori shook her head and laughed. "You've got it so bad, girl."

"What?" Misty stopped once again, turning to her friend, her face betraying her shock.

"Please, just tell the guy you're in love with him already."

I don't know why I even try to hide my feelings from her. Am I truly that transparent? she contemplated. "I can't, Kaori. He's my best friend. And..." she hesitated, beginning to walk again. "...he doesn't feel the same way, I'm sure of it."

Kaori raised her volume, irritation creeping into her voice. "Misty, open your eyes. The guy is utterly devoted to you. He meets you everyday, no matter what. He is so affectionate with you, always hugging and kissing you."

Misty thought about that one. They were very comfortable within each other's arms, and they had shared a few friendly kisses, but nothing more than pecks on the lips. Although those physical embraces had gone no further than friendly touches, they always made her quiver within. She tried to hide the blush spreading across her face.

"Everyone, when they meet you both, thinks you're dating," Kaori continued. "And to top it off, the guy moves to Cerulean for you. Not back to Pallet to live near his mum, not to Viridian to be close to his job, but to an apartment a block away from the gym. What other proof do you need?"

"I know, to people it may seem suspicious, but we're just friends." Misty began to giggle. "Although I'd love us to be more." The grin that her lips displayed almost reached from ear to ear. "Oh, Kaori, I don't want any other man. I want him so much. I want to spend every moment of the day with him. I want to marry the guy, have his kids."

Kaori removed her arm from the link, placing it around Misty shoulder. "You definitely have got it bad."

"I know. How am I supposed to be looking for 'Mr. Right' when I'm already in love? I date these other guys, but they are just nothing compared to him. The only way I can go on with my supposed love life is to somehow forget the emotions I hold for Ash, and that is something I neither wish to nor think I can do." A disgruntled noise escaped from her mouth. "What the hell am I going to do? He is the only one I want. When you love someone so much, you just don't have the ability to even feel a faction of those feelings towards another."

"I can understand that."

They continued to walk out of the university grounds, into the main streets of the city, and to the little cafe Misty and Ash always shared lunch in, spending the whole way giggling and chatting.

They looked towards the table outside the sandwich bar. Ash was already there, in his usual seat, sipping a mug of coffee.

"So, are you going to tell him?" Kaori tormented, a little too loudly.

Misty shushed her. "Are you crazy?! Of course not."

Kaori sighed. "Well, I hope you know I'm never going to give up teasing you about it."

"I know."

"Well, I'll leave you to lover boy. I'll see you on Monday."

"Bye, Kaori." As her friend walked away, Misty moved towards the table. "Hey, Ash," she greeted him cheerfully as she sat opposite him.

His expression instantly brightened when he looked up into her happy face. There she was, the person he considered the light of his life. Her hair thrown up into two loose buns upon the top of her head, several little bangs of intense red filtering down to frame her delicate features. As usual she wore a baggy pair of combat trousers matched with a cute little top that just about revealed a tantalizing hint of her belly. Whether she was wearing an elegant dress or her everyday clothes, she always looked stunning to him, though her physical attributes meant nothing to him when it came to her heart and soul. "Hi, Mist. So how were classes today?" Ash asked her, his attention full.

"Okay. I'm finding Pokemon physiology a little difficult, but I'll be alright. I'll just have to really study."

"I'm sure you'll past with flying colours. You're really smart."

"I think you have more confidence in me than I do. So, how's your day been like so far?"

He shrugged. "Mmm, okay. A little boring."

"Didn't think the life of a Master could be boring."

"Well, it's not all battling, you know. It's mainly paper work, meetings and all other manner of drearier stuff."

"Not exactly what you signed up for, eh?" she laughed.

"Not exactly, but it's still worth it."

"Hi. What can I get for you?" the waitress asked the two.

"Ah, I'll have a tuna sub and a cappuccino," Misty replied.

"No problem. And you sir," she said, turning to Ash.

"A ham and cheese sandwich."

"Okay, I'll have them out to you in a few minutes."

"Thanks," the two returned as the young waitress walked away.

"A tuna sub," Ash said. "Why don't you try something else? You eat that everyday."

"Well, I like them, and I don't really eat meat except fish."

He tutted. "You're a water trainer to the bone. And so predictable."

"Hey," she cried. "At least I'm not dense."

"Runt."

"Ignoramus." The two began to giggle. "Were our fights always that idiotic?"

"Maybe we should ask Brock and Tracey. They were always stuck trying to prevent us from killing one another."

"We've grown up a lot, although we still have the occasional row. I can't believe the way we used to act. People must have thought we hated each other, although we were best friends." Misty paused for a moment, remembering those old days, a blush rising from her pale cheeks. "Don't laugh, but I kinda had a bit of a thing for you when we met. The bike wasn't the only reason I followed you. I guess I was a little intrigued. You were this cocky, stubborn kid who knew nothing about Pokemon...but had such a big heart. And you still intrigue me in that way." She looked down at the wooden table, embarrassed that she had just revealed something so personal, purely out of the blue.

Ash reddened as well. "Oh. Well, if we're being honest, I had a bit of a crush on you too. You were cute when you were a kid. Scrawny, but cute." He paused, then looked up at her, a cruel smile decorating his face. "Not anymore, of course," Ash teased. He noticed that familiar evil glint creep into her eye. He knew if he didn't apologise, he was in serious trouble. "Kidding. Kidding. Please don't kill me."

"You better have been kidding or you'll have an appointment with my mallet."

"Don't worry. You've grown into a very attractive woman, and you don't need me to tell you that. Sure you've done a bit of modelling and all. And guys are always chasing after you."

"They don't chase after me for very long." Her smile diminished.

Ash reached over and placed his hand upon hers. "Hey. No depressing talk today. We should be enjoying ourselves."

"Sorry. It's just that I'm nearly twenty and I've never been in even a semi-relationship with a guy. I haven't even had my first romantic kiss. And it kinda seems like all of our friends are finding the loves of their lives, and I've got left behind somehow."

The waitress placed their meals upon the table before making a quick retreat. The two friends sat in silence for several moments, mulling over their own thoughts, comfortable in each other's company.

"Ash?"

"Yeah," he replied, taking his attention away from his sandwich.

"Have...you ever, ah?" She began to blush again, embarrassed by her question.

"What?"

She shook her head lightly, waving the question away. "It doesn't matter."

"It does. You can ask me anything."

"Yeah, but it's maybe a bit too private."

"Well, then, if it is, I won't answer."

She slowly raised her head, awkwardly looking into his hazel eyes. "Ah, have you ever...slept with anyone before?"

He was slightly taken aback by the question, but answered it nonetheless. "My longest relationship didn't even last a week. What do you think?" She just stared at him for a moment, unsure of what he was insinuating. He picked up upon her confusion. "No. I'm still a virgin. Farthest I've ever wanted to go is kissing. A lot of guys think it's 'unmacho' to wait, but I guess I'm a little old fashioned in that way. I want my first time to be with someone I love. And if that's the only person I'm ever with, all the better."

She smiled. "Me too."


He paused for a moment, wondering if there was anyway to bring Misty out of this recent down spell, before he hit upon a novel idea. "How about we forget about our problems and go out to a few clubs together tonight? Have a bit of fun? It is Friday, after all. I don't have work and you don't have uni tomorrow."

She smiled. "Okay. Sure. I could do with a little fun."
******************

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