Title: Denial
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Milkshipping (Ash x Whitney)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #30, Denial
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Warnings: AU, mental illness, het

“I don’t have a problem.” He said. Why was she butting into his business, anyway? The bike had been paid for long ago!

Misty sighed. “Look, Ash. I’m not your enemy. You can trust me!” He just couldn’t seem to see it!

He was a lot moodier than he had been while they were journeying together, and she did not think it was because he had matured. Since when would Ash Ketchum grow maturity (or a brain), anyway?

“You’re crazy.” Ash snapped. “I’m not depressed at all!” He stalked off without a backwards glance. Misty sighed.

“Maybe I am, but ever since you went to Mount Silver to train alone for two months, you’ve been acting strange…”

She sighed as she watched his retreating figure. He released Charizard and flew off, presumably to brood in silence.

Why didn’t Ash understand that she was trying to help him? He was obviously depressed, and if left untreated, he might die… he had been getting in quite a few training accidents lately. Plus, he healed more slowly now that he had stopped growing.

True, depression was more common in girls, but still!

If only he’d listen to her…

“I’m not depressed, right?”

“Of course you’re not.” The pink-haired girl reassured him. “I would tell you if you were.”

Whitney could not imagine how anyone could believe Ash was depressed. He was always so cheerful, just like she was! And if he got down in the dumps once in a while, he soon popped back up! Even getting lost didn’t faze him!

Ash smiled sweetly, and he believed it, as she pulled him into a kiss. “Okay!”

He was right! Misty was just jealous or something…

“Want to go to the hot springs later?” She suggested.

“Sure!”

They ate the picnic lunch she had prepared, beef stew with onions over rice. It was perfect for the colder weather.

He finished his portion with a good appetite, but he did make an effort to eat a little more slowly. Whitney giggled.

“I made enough for seconds.”

Ash grinned. “Awesome! This is good, Whitney!”

“Thanks!” She replied, scooping up more steamed rice.

Yes, why wouldn’t he be happy? Pikachu sat next to them, munching on his own portion. Charizard had gone flying, needing more exercise.

He shook his head. * Nothing’s wrong. *

Denial was a wonderful coping mechanism, after all, and someday, he would realize that maybe he would need both friendship and love. That was his problem. He focused too much on one thing at a time.

Pokemon Training still occupied most of his attention, but time would tell. Was he mature enough for a relationship?

Wait and see…

End Fic

Completed 12/4/06

Edited 8/30/09

Yes, I know that I usually leave the last theme for last, but I didn’t feel like it this time. *Shrug*