The magical clock vanished in a roaring ring. The sound caused the entire area to rumble violently for a split second before the vacuuming wind came to an abrupt halt. “Grrr!” Misty growled fiercely. Towamune’s blade tip was lodged deep within the black bead, by passing Ash’s heart painlessly. “You--(argh!)--lose!” Misty said. The cracked bead erupted with an array of light in the shape of thin rings, returning all of the stars that had been sucked up. It then burst to pieces like glass. “AAAARRRRRR!!!” Ryougen bellowed. His behemoth form corroded in a black smoke, allowing Ash’s body to float in mid-air for a moment. “D-damn!” Ryougen used his host’s voice one last time. His own heart had shattered and he could no longer hold out. Within the next second, a black speck of light escaped Ash’s body and dispersed wildly. Misty caught Ash’s body in mid-air and slowly lowered herself down onto a last, descent-sized platform beneath her. Ash’s heart followed, but was still distant from her body. “Misty…?” Tsukako levitated the others down to her. Misty dropped to her knees and set Ash on the floor gently. His heart hovered before her lightly. “Please return to your body.” She said. But the speck of light just floated there. “Ash…?” Misty reached up to it, but her fingertips went through it—as if it weren’t there at all. Disobedient to her words, Ash’s heart remained a float at her face. A wave of panic shot through her as she feared the worse. “Ash!? Ash! Wake up! I want you to wake up now!” Misty shouted, trying to shake him awake, “Ash Ketchem, wake up or I’ll sock you one real hard! Ash—!” “Misty…” Musou stepped forward. He, Tsukako, and Minako all sported a depressed, heavy look. She didn’t like that. “Misty…you hit Ryougen after the bell rung. Ash’s heart…cannot return.” “What!? No!” Misty objected. She didn’t want to hear it. She couldn’t have been too late—she tried so hard! She did her best—he had to survive! “I’m sorry, Misty.” Minako squeaked. May pulled her brother into her arms and buried her face in his hair. Brock put his hand over his eyes and Pikachu couldn’t even speak. Misty’s tears splattered onto Ash’s face. So, this was it? This was how it was going to end? She couldn’t save him. She realized that in the end, she never was strong enough. Her finding Towamune was a fluke; her defeat over Ryougen meant nothing. She leaned over her lifeless lover. Ash’s ronin heart began to float upwards towards the sky to join its fellow ronins. Ash had lost his heart….

       “NO! I refuse to take this as an ending!!” Misty sat up and shouted at the drifting speck of light. “I want to make one last wish while I can. Ash, I love you too much to let you go like that. So return…for me.” Misty calmed down and looked at Ash’s face. He looked so calm and innocent—she couldn’t let him go like that. She lowered her face to his slowly and gingerly pressed her mouth against his. The heart above suddenly came to a halt. It seemed to sit and watch Misty kissing its owner. Misty slowly pulled away from Ash. “Now…wake up for me, Ash.” She said softly. It was hard to see, but her body was beginning to fade from the feet up. Obediently, Ash’s heart descended down to him. Settling on his chest, it pushed its way into his body slowly in a dim flash. Misty held his hand in hers. Slowly, warmth began to reach back up to his fingertips. His life flowed throughout his body rapidly, eager to return to normal. “Ah…” Minako gasped. “Can she do that?” Musou blinked. Pikachu dared to near its trainer. “Pi…pika-pi…?” It voiced lightly.
       “…..Erm…” Ash’s eyelids flickered. He slowly opened his sleepy eyes. When his vision returned, Misty was the first thing he saw. He let out a smile to her, “Hiya, Misty,” “Ash…I’m so glad you’re okay.” Misty said. At first, Ash was thrilled to see her…until he saw that her body was beginning to vanish. “Misty?!” He sat up to get a closer look. “Misty! You’re vanishing!” “Yeah; weird, huh?” Misty giggled slightly. She was just happy to see him well. “But Misty—” Ash grasped Misty by the shoulders. “I was watching the entire time! I heard, saw…and felt everything that went on out here. I saw you fight Ryougen; I saw you fight so hard for me! Please, Misty, don’t leave! You can’t leave me because…” Ash’s eyes flooded with tears. He looked directly into Misty’s eyes as his heart drummed against his chest, “Because I love you too much. I LOVE YOU! Don’t do this, Misty!” Ash threw his arms around her, “Tell me Hikari no Towa has another way out.” He said to Minako and Tsukako. Tsukako shook his head and Minako answered, “There isn’t. This is the price of an ultimate attack.” “Ash,” Misty pressed her forehead to Ash’s softly. Her body had nearly vanished completely by now. “I love you—don’t you ever forget that. I want you to be your old cheery, naïve self again.” Misty said calmly. “Shut up—stop talking nonsense—?” Misty pulled Ash into a deeper hug. Ash calmly hugged her back, tears running down his cheeks. Before he knew it, Misty’s body disappeared, leaving his arms in the air. The only thing left of her was the glowing pink bead of her heart. It floated upwards, ready to finish what Ash’s heart started.

      “No, Misty! If you can do it, I can do it too!” Ash clenched his teeth and reached up; he clasped his hands around the speck of light fiercely. “Uhaa! Again? There’re no rules to this!” Tsukako exclaimed as he and the others sweated anime style. “Listen, Misty—I ain’t gonna’ lose you like this. Not after what I just told you. Call me selfish; call me crazy; but I won’t lose you!” Ash pulled the light closer to his face and held it to his cheek. “You get two kisses today, Misty.” He whispered to it. Allowing it to float over his palms, he brushed his lips against it. Misty’s heart trembled warmly. Ash let it drift out before him gently. The speck of light just sat there for a moment before beginning to take form once more. The stars above shimmered in reaction; they seemed to be helping Misty’s heart re-create its body. “I understand,” Minako closed her eyes and grinned. “What do you understand?” Brock turned to her. “It’s simple; with Ryougen’s black heart destroyed and all misunderstandings cleared, the hearts in this world can finally be open to love again. Thanks to Misty, They all have a second chance to return—to feel the warmth again. The curse on Shirube has been lifted and these ronin hearts will now be able to find the light.” Minako explained.

 
       Misty slowly opened up her eyes. The sunlight poked into the window of a room she was in. She could feel that she was laying on something soft, like a bed. When her vision came into to focus, she realized that she was in room of the Poke’mon center. She glanced to the side to see Ash leaning on her bed. Misty’s mouth turned up into a sweet smile. “I was really worried about you, Misty.” Ash said. “And I was worried about you.” Misty responded. She looked in his eyes for a moment before sweating anime style. She glanced under her covers and turned red in the face with embarrassment. Someone had changed her clothes to her pajamas! She glanced around to see if anyone else was in the room, but found that it was just them. “Ash, did you—” “No,” Ash said flatly. “Because, if you did—” “But I didn’t,” He answered even flatter. Misty sat up and shook her head. “I’m glad to have someone like you, Misty.” Ash said emotionally. “You can be bull-headed and a little thick sometimes, but I love that you’re always there for me, Ash—?” Ash suddenly pulled Misty into a kiss. Misty was surprised at first, but then calmed down and kissed him back. “What was that for?” She asked when they pulled away. “Kissing a speck of light just doesn’t cut it.” Ash blushed. “Nor when you’re asleep,” Misty blushed back.

       BOK-BOK-BOK! A knock came to the window. Ash and Misty glanced back at the glass. Behind the window, Minako and a guy with long white hair (they figured it was Tsukako) waved to them. “What the heck!” Ash shrieked. He pulled the window open and motioned for them to hurry up inside. Since they were on the second floor, it wouldn’t be good to see them floating in broad daylight. “Sorry ‘bout that.” Minako smiled. She certainly seemed more cheery than usual now. Ash made sure no one else was looking before shutting the window. “What’s up?” Misty asked, “I thought you two would be long gone by now.” “Actually, we guard the Realm of Ronin Hearts now.” Tsukako smiled. “As a couple, of course! It’s our job to make sure all of the ronin hearts find their way back to the light.” Minako finished for him. “Actually, we came to give you something.” Tsukako smiled. He snapped his fingers and something long appeared out of thin air. It was wrapped in a cloth so she couldn’t see what was beneath it. “Here,” Tsukako handed it to her. “Wha?” Misty blinked at the item. “What is it?” Ash asked as Misty began to pull back the cloth. “…huh? But this is…?” Misty gasped. From the cloth, she withdrew Towamune, her companion in the fight against the darkness. “What am I supposed to do with this?” Misty asked. Minako winked, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

 


Hanshen of Hearts:

                        Shirube Chronicles

       Well, that was so much fun to write! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did--especially the ending! If you missed the meaning, try re-reading the third paragraph up from here. R&R please ^_^! And now, back to homework....