Disclaimer: Hey I think you know what goes here....I don't own em...I just use 
em.

The Truth In a Kiss

Indigo Stadium. For many decades it was the site of many of historic battles  
The once joyful cries of the stadium, were now turned to boos and hisses as the 
last match of the Indigo Games has ended. It was apparent that the favorite 
lost. 

For years the two rivals competed against each other. This was going to be the 
definitive match. To prove once and for all the greater trainer of the two. Both 
wanted victory so badly that it was practically the only thing they thought 
about for the last several months. Winning wasn't an option, it had to been 
theirs. 

But now the games were over. 

A victor was chosen and so was a loser. 

The doors to the Indigo Locker room were thrown open. The loser stomps through 
the doors. The only thing on his mind was anger. Anger at himself, anger at 
losing, and anger at Gary. Gary. The thought of his rival finally winning was 
too much for Ash. He tore through the locker room. Tossing any lose objects in 
sight.   

The doors of the locker room parted once again as a young girl followed Ash. She 
was startled by his actions. Equipment. Empty Pokeballs. Several other items 
were discarded over the place. "Ash! Would you please calm down!" She finally 
shouted.

"Calm down! Calm down!" The young boy repeated. "Misty, I just blew it out 
there!" He yelled, while kicking at one of the lockers.

She dashed in between him and the locker. Her eyes locked on his. "I know Ash, I 
know..." She was surprised when she briefly looked into his eyes. Almost totally 
expecting to see nothing but anger. Instead she saw a deep sadness and despair. 
This was so important for him. And he lost. Not only the match. But it was like 
something else was lost too. She hated seeing him like this.

He looked away and sat down on a nearby bench. "I just can't believe it Misty, I 
tried... Oh God, I really did try. For the last 8 months all I did was train." 
Misty was silent. She knew that everyday for almost a year training was on the 
young boy's mind. Ash woke up a the crack of dawn everyone of those days to 
begin training. He was never sidetracked nor did he slack-off. He was determined 
to win..and should have too.

"I still lost. I tried my hardest and I still lost..." He balled up his fist and 
throw it at the locker. "DAMMIT it's not fair. I did everything right I followed 
the rules and worked so hard, but for what...I  LOST. And to who of all 
people...Gary..." 

He hit the locker again. "DAMMIT! Why did it have to be Gary. I could take 
losing anyone else. But him. Ever since we were little I've always lost. And I 
always lose to him." Ash blinked twice, in a effort to conceal his tears. But it 
failed. "Pokemon training was the only thing I could ever do well. And he still 
defeated me. I don't have anything now." He looked down. Suddenly everything 
seemed empty and hollow. 

Misty was in anguish. She wanted to say something but what. "Ash, we both know 
that Gary was playing dirty and..."

"And he won Misty...I battled my hardest and he still won... What does that tell 
you? Nice guys come in last." He nearly shouted. "Or maybe I was a fool for even 
trying..."

"No Ash, it's not like that..." She pleaded with the young boy.

"I'm such an idiot. Thinking I could win." He threw his hat down to the ground. 
"I was so sure....But all I did was let everyone down. My mom, Prof. Oak, 
everyone in Pallet..." He looked at the young girl. He was almost too choked up 
to speak. "You..." 

Misty shifted in her stance. She didn't know how to respond. 

"Especially you Misty..." Ash continued. "I wanted to win this for you. To show 
you that I could do it. To show you I could win for once. And to prove to you 
that I'm not the loser you think I am..."

His words alarmed her. "Ash...I...don't...think your a loser." She slowly 
replied. "I never thought you were..."

"Oh really?" He glared at Misty. It was if all the anger he just had toward Gary 
was now directed toward her. "Well, who's the one being called IDIOT, DENSE, 
MORON, STUPID!?!" He spit the last few words, like they were a foul taste that 
lingered with him for along time.

"I always tired...I always tried my hardest. I always tried my best for you, but 
I was still the fool, still the dimwit. I tried so hard, so that one day you 
wouldn't see the dumb, stupid kid from Pallet Town. But you would see..."

Her eyes widen at his phrase. "See what Ash?"

The boy was vulnerable to the question. He never expected her to even pay 
attention to what he said. 'She never did before...' Ash thought. Then he shook 
his head to the side and closed his eyes. "Just forget it..." He said coldly as 
he walked down the hallway.

"Ash?!?" Misty cried. As he was leaving her. She ran and put her arm on his 
shoulder. 

"Just leave me alone, Misty. Please..." He sighed while shrugging her off of 
him. Then he continued to walk down the hallway.

Misty looked at him as he left her. As he left, so did the feeling in her body. 
She was numb all over. Was that it? Was it over? Did their four year 
relationship that she cherished so deeply, end in a matter of seconds. Did she 
upset him that much to drive him away from her forever. She didn't know the 
things she said upset him that much. But sometimes that was the only way she 
could communicate to him period. 

"Ash, I love you. Even if you hate me..." She whispered as her tears silently 
ran down her cheek. 


Meanwhile Ash's thundering down the hall finally died down. His anger was 
fading, as he just re-played the episode he just had with Misty. 'Why did I say 
those things to her?' He wondered. Misty had always been by his side. Even 
during the months of his training for Indigo. Everyday when he woke up for those 
tiring mornings to continue training, shortly after Misty would always arrive to 
check up on him. 

'She didn't deserve that.' He realized. 'She didn't deserve that at all.' He 
look at himself in a reflection of one of the lockers. 'And I don't deserve 
her.' Ash admitted. He sighed as he continued down to the hall and opened the 
door....


Misty was devastated. 'He hates me. After all this time he really hates me.' 
Misty didn't know what to do. She didn't want to return home, cause she really 
didn't have a home to return to. And to be honest she didn't think she could 
ever return home again. Ash had been the only true family she had. She trusted 
him and wanted to be with him forever. Even if it was just as friends. She cared 
about him so much though. 

'But now he hates me'

Her thoughts were abruptly halted as the reverberating sound of something 
clattering and hitting the ground, was heard in the background. 

"ASH!" She said. Her thoughts were only on the young boy. She ran in the 
direction she saw him go. Suddenly remembering that the path he took leads to 
the equipment closet not the exit. She rounded the corner and found 
him.....lying on his back, submerged in a tidal wave of spare Pokeballs. He was 
just lying there looking up at the ceiling.

'Idiot...' she said to herself, while smiling. She slowly walked over to him.

At that moment she could have said a hundred and one ill-mannered comments, 
about the boy's current position. But she just looked at his helpless state and 
sighed. Then she slowly bent down to help the poor boy up.

He looked up to her as she slowly came over and to help him. He was patiently 
waiting for her to say something. He yelled at her. And he stomped away. Now he 
needed her help. He could only guess what verbal attack, the young red-head was 
cooking up. 

So he just patiently waited for it. While Misty dug Ash out of the mountain of 
Pokeballs.

And waited....While the two returned the spares to the equipment locker.

And waited...As Misty then preceded to help Ash to his feet.

And...Something wasn't right here. No comments. No one liners. No snide remarks. 
Ash took a quick glance at the frail red-head as he was arisen to his feet. He 
momentary held eye contact with her. He knew her eyes always betrayed her 
emotions, so it was easy to tell when she was angry. 

But that was the thing. There was no anger there. All she was doing was helping 
him. The boy smiled. That small gesture alone, made a tremendous impact on Ash. 
In that moment she never looked more beautiful in his eyes. 'Even after all the 
horrible things I said to her, she was still worried about me.' He couldn't 
believe he could say such things to her. How could he say such things to the 
girl he cared so much for. He couldn't believe he said those things to the girl 
he loved...

Love? That can't be right. Of course Misty was a big part of his life. And no 
one could ever replace her. And to be honest, he didn't see himself being with 
anyone else. There were times when she smiled or laughed, or just spoke that 
made the boy tremble in her presence. But that's not love. Is it?

He looked at her again. "Misty...."

She gaze up at him, the sparkle in her blue eyes where still present. "Yes, 
Ash..." She said softly.<br><br>"Misty...I'm sor.." He was about to say. When he 
felt something warm drip down over his eyes. 

"Oh, Ash your bleeding." She gasped. She then roughly took his hand, and 
directed him to one of the benches. While she went to the first aid kit for some 
bandages and rubbing alcohol. The young boy looked at her, while she was 
hurrying to find the supplies. He then took a seat. His mind was pondering so 
many things...

Misty took the seat right next to him. Glancing once into he's brown eyes. 
'They're beautiful,' she thought. Noticing she was just staring at him, Misty 
quickly dabbed some of the cloth with alcohol. 

"Ummm..this may sting a little.." She warned him. Ash nodded and braced himself. 
She applied the bandage to the wounded area. Immediately, he hissed an air of 
displeasure from the administered treatment. 

But after a few minutes his groans subsided. And he was silent. The two were 
silent. Misty still applying pressure to Ash's injury. While he patiently 
watched her. There was nothing but silence in the whole locker room. 

Misty held the gauze into place. Although the situation was kinda unusual, Misty 
was kind of happy at the moment. Granted she always complained about it in the 
past, Misty secretly loved taking care of Ash. She felt like it was her duty. 
Like he was someone only she was meant to look out for. Someone he could always 
turn to if he needed help....or love. 

Misty didn't fool herself. She knew she loved him. She knew she always loved 
him. But she also knew it wouldn't work out. He was too interested in Pokemon 
battles and winning, to really think about her. Granted he showed some interest 
in her at times. He complimented her sometimes, when she let her hair down, or 
dressed up. But that's how Ash was. And that was another reason why she loved 
him.  

"I'm sorry, Misty..." Ash said breaking the stale silence. 

"Sorry for what Ash?" she said smiling a little bit. "Sorry for having the most 
beautiful Cerulean sister, be forced to take care of you? Or was it for yelling 
at her before, when she was trying to help you?" She smirked a little bit. 
Hoping to at least get the boy slightly annoyed. As a sort of pay back, for what 
insult he was about to say.

"Both..." Was all he said softly. 

Misty starred at the boy open-eyed. Was this the same Ash she knew. The one that 
hardly ever apologized to anyone. Specially her. He apologized without any 
whining or complaints. That brought a new smile to her face. 

Ash sighed, while looking at her. "Misty, why are you still here?"

Misty was slightly confused. "Huh?"

Ash inwardly kicked himself, for phrasing the question so stupidly. He looked at 
her again and tried to think about what he really wanted to say. 

"It's...just...I know sometimes I can be a pain..." He slowly started.

"Uh..huh" She agreed nonchalantly. Then giggled. She still liked to tease him. 

Too bad, he wasn't amused. "Misty! I'm trying to be serious here.." Her giggle, 
was subsided. 

"I mean...why are you still here with me?" She stopped attending to him to pay 
closer attention to his words. "I mean why did you follow me for all those 
years? Why did you put up with all my bragging and boasting? I knew we weren't 
always on the best terms, plus you had many chances to go with guys that could 
make you a thousand times more happier. But why didn't you ever leave?"

She looked at him with slightly worried eyes. "Do you want me to leave, Ash?" 
She softly asked.

He shook his head to the side. "No....don't even joke about that." He couldn't 
bare the thought. "It's just....I just want to know."

"Well I don't know...well there where times when I thought about leaving. But I 
just couldn't...." She honestly answered.

"Why?"

She remained silent for a long time. She could be honest and tell him. But also 
lose her friend. Or she could just recall the fact she had yet to be reimbursed 
for her totaled bike. But in the end she said. "It's not important Ash. Come on 
we better get back. Your mom and Prof. Oak are probably waiting." She took his 
hand and started to make her way to the exit.

"Ok...." Ash said, as he started to get up. He then stopped in his tracks. 
"....No." He looks over to the surprised crimson haired girl. "It is important 
Misty!...Its important to me!... Tell me..." His eyes were both pleading and 
demanding at the same time. 

Misty speechless. She knew what she wanted to say but couldn't form the words. 
She loved him, she loved him more than anything. She shook her head slightly 
still unsure of what to say or what to do. "Ash I..." She stopped herself. She 
couldn't say it. No matter how much she wanted too, no matter how much she 
dreamt about it. She couldn't say the words that were in her heart.

She didn't even notice the tears coming down from her eyes. "Look, Ash 
I....Can't we just forget..." Her words were muddle with her tears. "Ash I 
can't...Why are you making me say it?..." Her words died as he abruptly took her 
into his arms. 

He pressed his pressed his lips to hers. At first she was taken off-guard by the 
action. But she soon started to savored the taste of his lips. She kissed him 
back and put her arms around him. 

The two stay that way for a few seconds...Or maybe it was a few minutes. She 
lost track, all she knew was she would never forget the feeling. The feeling of 
him holding her. The feeling of his lips. The soft feeling of his gentle kiss. 

But just as the abruptness of the kiss started. So did it end. 

Ash released Misty. And she took a step back. There were so many things going on 
in Misty mind. So many questions. But all she could think of was... 

"Ash....Why did you do that?"

Ash was still slightly in shock of his own actions. He didn't know himself. It 
was like someone else took over for brief second. Of course he always wanted to 
kiss her. But it was kind of a good thing when she expected it also. "Oh...Misty 
I'm sorry. God, that was so stupid. I...didn't even think."

"ASH! I don't care that you did! But....why?"

"I don't know why!.." He shouted. He then started to fumbled through his 
thoughts. "I guess it just felt right, at the time." He sighed. "Look, I'm 
sorry. I wasn't thinking. I mean...It's just you've always been there for me, 
you know. Always been the one I could talk to. You always been the one I could 
share stuff with. You know things about me that  I've never told anyone."

He looked around the locker room, like the remainder of his words was outlined 
on the walls. Somehow it helped. He found more words. "I don't know where it 
started from. It was like for the longest time I thought you was the worst thing 
to happened to me... but after a while I couldn't imagine my life without 
you..."

"I mean. How do you tell your friend for 5 years...No..." Ash cut himself off. 
"How do you tell your 'best' friend...Your in love with her?" He asked honestly.

Misty smirked as she slowly walked forward. "Like this.." She brought her lips 
upon his kissing them. As she did more tears fell. "I love you, Ash." She 
whispered.

She looked into his eyes. The soft brown eyes she a long time ago grown to love. 
He returned her gaze, weaving in the elegance of blue that her eyes had.

"I...." He started. "I love you too, Misty." He finished with a smile. His 
statement was rewarded with another kiss from the crimson orange haired girl. 

The two teens eagerly continued they're new found extra curricular 
activity..when...

"ASH ARE YOU IN HERE!?!" Mrs. Ketchum shouted while entering the locker room. 
Ash and Misty froze as they both were caught by the older brown haired woman. 

"MOM!" Ash shouted while blushing. He slowly released, the girl he held in his 
arms. Misty took a step away from Ash. Face, also resembling a ripe 
tomato.<br><br>Mrs. Ketchum, took in the situation and frowned a little bit. The 
teens knew they were in for it. Making out in the locker room. The odds weren't 
in their favor. They just patiently waited for their sentence.

Suddenly Mrs. Ketchum smiled warmly. And took a step back outside and closed the 
doors. Outside the two teens could hear. "Delilah, did you find Ash?"

"Yes, Professor Oak. He said he would be out in 5 minutes."

Soon the sounds of the two adults could be heard moving down the hallway. Misty 
and Ash looked at each other. Both couldn't help but laugh at the weird 
predicament. But were also relieved that Mrs. Ketchum approved of their 
relationship.

"So Ash..." Misty said, when both their laughter died down. "Are you going to 
dance with me at your Runner-up Party?" She asked with a pleasant smile.

Ash smirked and put his arm around her. "Depends..."

She raised an eyebrow. "Depends on what?"

Ash blushed. "Well depends if you show me how to dance?" He said as the two 
started to make their way out of the locker room.

Misty giggled again. "You don't know how to dance?"

Ash smiled. "Well Brock, tried to show me once. But I think I would have more 
fun if you showed me."

"Do tell.." He nodded. "Well...we'll discuss it after you buy me lunch."

Ash frowned his eyebrows. "Since when was I going to buy you lunch?"

"Since now..." She said plainly. Then smiled sweetly.

"Oh...do tell." He replied as the two exited the room.

The End.