Miss Discovery!

By: Chibi-Suiko

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Ash: 15

Misty: 16

Brock: 19

Imuru: 17

Evette: 20

Mr. Gerou: 31

And just to let you know [...] means a time change, flashback-like. It could be backwards or forwards. You'll just have to figure it out for yourselves.

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Last time on Miss Discovery!: Misty was found preparing for the final act of Imuru's production, not to mention worrying about what would happen after it was finished, and Ash was acting just a bit sneaky, having not informed Misty that, all week long, he had been at the cathedral watching her work. He had planned on surprising her that night, telling her that he had been there to support her, even if she hadn't known it. But his plan had been disrupted by a kiss, the finale to 'Romance Dawn', of which Misty and Imuru were found being over-passionate with each other. Later, back stage, he confronted her about it but didn't give her time to explain that she had no idea about the script change and now the two of them are caught in the middle of the climax. And not talking to each other. Gerou is being fully unmasked and Imuru is bound to catch on to the situation soon. But will they use it to their advantage?

***

Chapter Fifteen: Culmination

***

"Hello, Misty." The words were simple but the tone sent her reeling. She spun around, only to come face to face with a more-than-angry Ash Ketchum.

"Um... Oh, God... Uh, hi Ash..."

"I just wanted to let you know... Surprise." And with that said, he stalked off, leaving her to wallow in her magnified misery.

...

I can't believe I let that happen... Ash has never been so angry with me. And, if we had still only been friends for a year, it probably wouldn't matter but... Now I care about what he thinks. And he probably thinks that I'm just a little ratty child who can't stick to something and keep her promises. He hasn't talked to me since last night..! Misty thought to herself as she sat in her soothing bathtub at eight o'clock the next morning. She'd found herself restless the night before when she'd returned and rushed off to find Ash, who was sitting in the dining room, staring at an empty glass as it twinkled under the candelabra light.

...

He seemed to have forgotten about the orange juice pitcher sitting next to him.

"Uh... Ash?" He made no movement showing that he knew she was there but she continued anyway, "Please Ash! I'm so sorry! I know I broke our promise but I had no choice! I was forced into it! I was pressured and, if I could have, I would have told Imuru no but--" She broke off as she noticed her raven-haired companion flinch at the name. He still made no other movement but began talking in a monotonous tone.

"You know what, Misty? I don't care. I don't care that you liked him, that it was a last minute revision, that he 'pressured' you into it, I don't care that you kissed in front of a crowd of six hundred people! All I care about is that you broke your promise to me. I don't know if it meant anything to you but... Misty, that you agreed to my stakes was what made me so happy that day. And I thought that I could trust you. But you proved me wrong in a way I thought impossible. You went behind my back, or so you thought, thinking that I'd never find out because I supposedly couldn't get tickets to see the show! Well Misty, it was a show all right... One I'll never forget." He ended simply and got up from his seat to walk up the stairs. But he stopped right in front of her and Misty couldn't help but notice (not to mention feel guilty for) the tear stains on his flushed cheeks, "You don't know how much it hurt me, Misty, to know that you'd rather go behind my back rather than tell me up front that you couldn't hold up your end of the bargain. And now, do you see this..?" He held up the glimmering glass in his left hand, showing how delicate it was, "Well, this is what you've done to our friendship." And he let it fall to the ground right there, the piece of china shattering into hundreds of tiny shards at their feet.

And that was when he bounded from the room, leaving her there to stare at the glass that was the simplicity of their broken relationship as a young woman came in and began to pick up the clear and scratched pieces.

...

And now she was sitting in her bathtub, scrubbing at her arms, and washing with almost frostbite-worthily cold water. She found it soothing in a way. It made her feel numb to the hate of herself, numb to the facts that were putting themselves together in her mind.

She couldn't go with Ash now. Really, think about it. He wouldn't say a thing to her. He wouldn't speak, act, or socialize in any way on her account. She didn't want to follow a mindless doll around until 'it' became a Champion.

She sighed and rinsed herself off then jumped out of the water. She had suddenly become attentive to how brutally cold it was. She trembled slightly as she pulled over a towel and put up her hair before stepping out of the bathroom. She quickly noticed a note placed on the vanity and walked over.

Picking it up, she studied the handwriting and read it over:

Please say yes.

She blushed and put it back down. Imuru really wanted her to come with him? That badly? She sighed and turned away. Believe it or not, she didn't really feel like pulling off the rest of this charade. She just wanted to curl up under the covers and sing hopeless melodies to herself while gathering up a stuffed animal into her arms to keep her company. Sure, that was childish and immature... But who in there right mind would pass up a chance to feel comfortably alone when in a situation like this?

She was definitely in her right mind and, therefore, was perfectly capable of collapsing into oblivion.

But she couldn't just not turn up. This was the after-party; one of those fancy house-things were you should bow and drink wine and act and prance around like a rich host/hostess. And it was Imuru's big break, in a way. Tonight, all the critics would tell him what they thought of his work. And, most likely, they'd want to meet the 'young woman' who helped pull off the stunt, if only by acting.

So she had no choice but to go.

***

"You know, I'm so glad that you decided to accompany me..." Imuru murmured with a soft smile as the two of them walked down the main staircase towards the crowd below. There was silence as they reached the platform and, suddenly, applause broke out from the mass of people.

Imuru bowed and nodded pleasingly to Misty to do the same, and she did, only without a care. The crowd parted to let them through and they went along their way, until they approached the peak. Misty kept her eyes to herself, trying not to pay attention to the people whose eyes bore into her back. She wasn't feeling up to this anymore. But she couldn't leave...

"Tell me what's wrong, Misty." Was the simple statement that made her turn her head in Imuru's direction. They were just standing there, watching as the people in front of them enjoyed themselves.

"...Nothing." She replied, turning away. His eyes still lay fixed on her and he didn't seem to believe her, which was made obvious when he placed his hand on her shoulder, keeping her from walking away.

"You need to tell me now. Otherwise there may be nothing I can do to help." He told her but she shook his hand off of her and broke their connection, turning around to face him.

"You just don't understand, Imuru... There's never been anything that you could do to help. Not when we first met, and not now. Ash isn't talking to me, isn't even acknowledging me, and there's nothing anybody but me can do about that!" And, with that said, she jumped from her spot next to him and practically flew towards the stairs.

"Misty; wait!" He asked, and she stopped, waiting for him to catch up with her. When he did, he began rummaging in his pocket before pulling out a small box (make reference to chapter 5), "Here; I bought this for you. A token of my thanks. Though you should all ready know... How appreciative I am." He handed over the box, and watched as she slowly popped the lid open, "Misty, I would be so happy... If you would choose to stay with me."

Misty sucked in a heavy breath as she felt her heartbeat race to the pace of a small field mouse. This... This was too much. She couldn't do this. No matter how long it would take Ash to forgive her, no matter how long he would ignore her, or hate her, or hound her and her personality... No matter how much she could look forward to here, with Imuru, a future, and new friends. There was no way she could forgive herself that easily.

"I'm-I'm sorry Imuru, really I am... But I can't." And she snapped the lid shut again and handed it back to him with a bow. You could imagine how surprised she was when she felt it being pressured back into her palm, "W-what..?"

"Misty, I knew you would say no. That doesn't mean that my gift is unattainable to you. I still want you to have it. My forgiveness. I'll do whatever I can to help you and Ash. Your relationship with him obviously means a lot." And, with that, he took her hand and held it, "Now, c'mon!"

***

Ash stood alone, watching as all of the people below him chatted animatedly with each other. He wanted to join in the fun but, well, there was just someone down there that he wanted nothing to do with. That he wanted never to see again... But he knew that he did. He wanted her to be next to him forever...

***

"Attention..!" A voice hollered over the PA system that had been hooked up for just that night, "Please proceed towards the front door. The time is 12:30 A.M. and therefore the party has now expired! Please take your coats and our thanks with you. We hoped you've enjoyed your stay!" And the crowd rose to their feet in order to make it out the main entrance. Misty and Imuru stood there, shaking the hands of those who'd come and congratulated the young stars' work.

After all was said and done, Misty and Imuru began the walk towards the bedrooms. She wanted to set things straight with Ash tonight and Imuru had happily agreed with her. He really did want to help them...

"I am sorry, you know, that I can't stay with you..." Misty stated awkwardly as they ascended the staircase to the upper hall.

"There's nothing to apologize about. I just want you to be happy. And I know that Ash is what makes you feel that way." He smiled respectively at her as they hit the upstairs landing. They were surprised to see Ash sleeping against the base of the banister and Misty began to wake him up.

"C'mon Ash. Come with me... I want to talk..." And he slowly rubbed the sleep from his eyes and rose to his feet. He saw who'd awakened him and turned his head. He didn't want to talk to her now. He didn't want to talk to her ever again.

But I thought that we'd all ready opposed that decision with the fact that nothing could allow you to stop talking to her... He said to himself. But, as his eyes rolled at his mild attitude, he realized that Misty had grasped his hand and was now pulling him in the direction of a new staircase.

It headed even higher than the second floor, and so he supposed it could have elevated to the roof. He didn't try and pull back from Misty, her hand warm, if not clammy, and he chose to let her say what she had to say.

She probably just wants to tell me in private that she's going to stay. Let me go softly... He thought to himself just as they padded through the door at the top. That was before he noticed Imuru following behind them. He wasn't smiling, wasn't frowning... And so there was nothing that could give away his attitude. No way to determine what Misty's decision had been.

A shadow climbed through after them.

"I just wanted to tell you..." Misty began, shaking him out of his quiet reverie, "That I'm sorry. That I know I did wrong and there's no objection and no excuse. But... I'm still going to come with you and earn your trust back. I don't care about anything else but that. I'll wait as long as I have to, just for you to forgive me. In other words, I'm not staying here. I'm coming with you, because I want to be with you." And that was that.

Ash smiled and Misty returned it, happy that they had finally gotten somewhere.

"Not so fast." Came a snide tone from the door leading back into the manor. All of them turned as the shadow revealed itself to be Mr. Gerou, holding up a 20 mm caliber pistol.

"W-what's going on here?!" Imuru shouted. Ash and Misty were standing stark-still, staring at the weapon that was being pressured in their direction, "Gerou, what do you think you're doing?!"

"I see that none of you understand. Very well." He took a deep breath and an insane smile produced itself on his face, "You see, Miss Waterflower, I can't afford to lose you now. And I can't afford for your friend to take you away. So, I guess that, in order to make you stay, he'll be the first one to go--!" He chuckled insanely as he gripped the gun tighter. Ash's pupils dilated, his throat ran dry; he couldn't move for the life of him. And, unfortunately, that was exactly what it would cost him, "Because he is the one thing that is strong enough to make you leave. He is a threat to everything you are needed for and so he must be annihilated."

And, without waiting for them to even digest the information, the trigger was pulled and the bullet was shot towards Ash, who had no time to react...

"GOD, NO! ASH, MOVE NOW!"

"ASH, GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!"

But his feet were still glued down. He couldn't do anything. And the bullet was approaching in slow motion...

The shell was like an arrow, slicing through the air towards his chest. It would be a dead hit if it made contact. And he would be a dead idiot who never got a chance to be with the girl he cared so much for...

Was it over?

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A/N: HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA! I bet you hate me now, don't you. Well, too bad. At least I got this chapter out on time, though. Tell me what you think after you've read the climax, or, at least the beginning of it... Heh. I hope you all enjoyed it. I know it was kind of rushed but, well, I mean... Gunshots aren't necessarily slow things, are they? And being shot down only takes--what?--two seconds? Anyway, tell me what you think. I hope you like it. And I hope you plan on telling me if you do. (.^_^.)

And now, for this weeks shout-outs! I hope you all don't shoot me when I say that I haven't yet reached my goal and, therefore, I won't be reciting every one of you. But, within the next chapter or two, the fic will be finished anyway. So then, and only then, will I let you know how appreciative I am.

First, to Maria: I'm happy that you approve of my storyline. Just keep the infatuation down to a bare minimum. And, if you wanna, email me and I can give you secret information to my next fic! It's a little more funny than this one, not a sequel, and takes place along the lines of 'Ash and Misty, sitting in a tree; k-i-s-s-i-n-g. First comes love...' Well actually, it's a crush. And they aren't stuck in a tree; they're stuck in a dank, dark cavern. But there's plenty of AAM-ness! Just email me if you want a sneak peak!

Next, to Myst (who is a newly revealed fan, I might add ^_^): Well, your wish is known and I'm so pleased that you find my story that intriguing. I hope you continue reading, as there's only a couple chapters left (though I've all ready started up my next story)...

DayDreamerz: I'm just as gleeful as you are that my fic is that fascinating. Keep reading and reviewing and I'll keep posting!

Divine-Red-Crayon: Lol, well, we all have those days, I guess. I know that I do. Still, I'm glad that you saw fit to read again. I thought that if you really thought that it was over, you wouldn't bother continuing. Still, I'm happy that you like it. ^_^

DaJollyMan: You never answered my question from last time. What was with that thing about the 'This isn't the Teen Titans section..?' thing? I was just wondering why you'd ask that for the first three reviews you were giving me. Couldn't you tell taht it wasn't the TT section? Also, I updated 'Blackfire's Return', if you wanna check it out.

There we go. I think that's enough for this week. Email me/IM me if you have any questions or praise to spout! I'll be waiting appreciatively since fan-to-author contact makes me feel all mushy inside!

Thanks for reading and I hope you found enjoyment in this chapter; I also hope none of you plan on sending me death threats. I mean, I'm only killing off Ash... Anyway, review and tell me how angry you are! I still swear by AAMistyR so there's absolutely nothing to worry about! It will, and forever always be, Ash and Misty all the way for me.

End transmission--

--Chibi