Ash and Misty's Love?

Part 8

Written By TwistedReality

Misty's POV

"Misty...I need to talk to you..." Mrs. Ketchum whispered, sounding urgent.

"What is it?!" I asked frantically, worrying about Ash.

"I-I'm thinking of taking Ash home when he gets better..."

"Of..Of course..." I stammered, not liking the finality of her tone.

"I mean...I'm thinking of keeping him home...to stay."

"W-what...?" I whispered, feeling my hands shake.

Mrs. Ketchum looked away, her hands nervously fighting with each other. "It's
the only logical thing to do..." she said sadly, looking at the hallway that
led to her son's room.

A part of me understood her, but another part of me felt angry. How could she
drop this on me when there was already too much for me to handle?

"But-" I started, not knowing how to protest. "I-I.." my head hurt, and I
started to feel dizzy. I didn't know whether to scream or cry. I was being
pulled several directions at once. The thought of losing Ash made me feel sick
to my stomach. "It's not fair!" I finally screamed, tears rolling down my
cheeks.

I turned around and ran outside of the cold and stuffy hospital, not watching
where I was going. I didn't care where I went...I just wanted to get away.

I ran until I collapsed on the high grass that had grown high enough to reach
my knees.

The grass was soft, comforting me, despite the fact that it felt itchy against
my skin.

For a few moments, I had forgotten everything. All I could think about was the
the fresh air, and the soft wind that blew the grass against my face, tickling
my nose. I wanted to stay there forever. Outside of the hospital I wouldn't
have to be reminded of death and dying. Everything outside was alive and full
of energy.

This bliss was short lived when I saw two wild pikachu jumping from tree to
tree.

they were both holding bright read apples, looking as cute and joyful as ever.
Their cheeks sparkled slightly with electricity from the joy they were
feeling.

I wanted to scream.

It wasn't fair! We would never see Pikachu creating mountains of ketchup for
lunch, or shocking Ash in the mornings!

Did Pikachu deserve to die?! Did Ash deserve to lose his best friend?!

An annoying voice in my head told me that life was not fair. I hated that
annoying voice now more than ever.

No matter how far I decided to run away, Pikachu would still be gone.

I started to cry at this realization. The pain wasn't going to just "go away."
Brock, Mrs. Ketchum, and most of all, Ash, needed me.

I struggled to my feet which were aching from all the running that I had done.
I had to go back. I had to see Ash.

Even if he hated me for lying to him.

***

When I returned, I saw Mrs. Ketchum sobbing, while Brock was holding his face
in his hands hopelessly.

"Mrs. Ketchum..." I whispered softly.

She looked up at me, her face was red from all the crying she had done.
"I'm sor-" she started.

I shook my head, refusing to have her apologizing to me. "I shouldn't have run
off like that."

Mrs. Ketchum looked like she was going to say something, but it was Brock who
spoke up first.

"You were under a lot of pressure." Brock stated, walking towards me.

"Can I see Ash?" I asked frantically , hoping that visiting hours weren't
over.

Brock smiled and nodded as he sat back down next to Mrs. Ketchum. I was
surprised that he didn't want to come too, but he probably knew that I wanted
to see Ash alone.

The hallway seemed like a tightrope as I walked towards Ash's room. What if he
yelled at me? What if he demanded that I leave? I felt so overwhelmed, that I
wanted to run back into the waiting room.

When I reached the door to Ash's room, I wondered whether or not to open the
door. I knew there was no turning back once I opened it.

I sighed and fumbled clumsily with the doorknob. Anything was better than the
air of uncertainty that existed in the waiting room.

The door squeaked slightly when I opened it. I cringed at the sound suddenly
intruding in the atmosphere of complete silence.

I bit my lower lip when I quietly shut the door behind me, hoping not to wake
Ash if he was asleep.

Instantly, I noticed that the room was dark. A thin beam of light penetrated
through the curtains which were fully closed.

Ash lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. A shadow had covered his face, and
I couldn't see his eyes or his facial expression. He didn't seem to notice my
arrival.

"Ash..." I said quietly, trying to get his attention.

He turned to face me and I could see his haunted, red eyes, which were filled
with tears.

I quickly looked away, the guilt making me feel sick to my stomach. "Do you
mind if I open the window?" I asked, trying to sound cheerful. I wanted to cry
with him, but I had to be strong.

"D-don't.." he whispered.

"Why...?" I asked, hoping that he would respond. I knew I was being too
hopeful, but I was willing to try anything to get him to talk to me.

There was a long period of silence, and I knew that he wasn't going to tell
me anything. I sighed and sat next to him on the chair next to his bed.

When I was about to give up on Ash ever talking to me, he spoke up in a small
and soft voice that I could barely hear. "Pikachu would have still been alive
if I had given him to team rocket..."

My eyes widened in disbelief. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Ash!" I
cried out, horrified. "How could you say that?!"

Ash looked at me again with more anguish than I have ever seen in his eyes.
"Well, it's true, isn't it?!" he yelled, his voice cracking.

"You don't mean that..." I whispered, grabbing his shoulders and looking
straight into his eyes. He tried to look back, but he shuddered and had to
look away.

Ash hung his head low, and I could see his hands shaking while he spoke. "I
was selfish....I was so wrapped up in keeping Pikachu with me...that...that.."
He held his face in his hands and stopped speaking.

My voice was caught in my throat. Ash looked so lost and confused, when he
was usually so focused and determined.

Nothing seemed right anymore.

All I could do was hold his hand, which was cold and unresponsive.

I sat there holding his hand for five minutes, unsure of what to say. A part
of me wanted to tell him that Pikachu would have been miserable in Team
Rocket, that there was nothing else he could have done, but I knew he would
have never believed me.

Another part of me wanted to cry and beg for forgiveness for lying to him, for
being weak and running out of the hospital to get away from everything when he
needed me the most. But I knew that Ash didn't need this now.

He needed silence, and that was what I was going to give him.

***

I walked out of Ash's room, staring at the cold tiles on the floor. Brock had
fallen asleep on one of the waiting room chairs, while Mrs. Ketchum thumbed
through a magazine, robotically, not really absorbing anything. When she
noticed me, she stood up, shuddering with every movement she made to hoist
herself off the chair.

"How is he?" she asked, her voice sounding raspy.

I wanted to tell her that Ash was fine, but something in her eyes demanded the
absolute truth.

"He..he blames himself..." I whispered. "I...just don't understand how he
could blame himself?! He tried his best to protect Pikachu! There was nothing
he could have done!"

"Why do you blame yourself?" Mrs. Ketchum asked with a sad smile.

I turned away from her, unable to respond.

"Misty, dear, please don't beat yourself up over this..." Mrs. Ketchum started
from behind me. I didn't really hear the rest of what she said. All I could
think about was Ash.

After Mrs. Ketchum had sat down, I turned to her, looking down at my feet.

"Does Ash know...about..staying home?" I whispered, hoping not to wake Brock
in case he didn't know.

"I-I haven't told him yet.." Mrs. Ketchum said reluctantly. "I don't think
that he'll continue without Pikachu..."

I wanted to vehemently disagree with her, but the Ash I had just visited fit
her description perfectly.

"I-I need to go to sleep..." I whispered, after noticing how tired I actually
felt. I just couldn't deal with anything else today.

Mrs. Ketchum nodded approvingly, but I didn't acknowledge the gesture.

I was just too tired.

TO BE CONTINUED

First of all......Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I love reviews!
My evil little sister insisted that I finish this part by today and I...I...
I...finally...finished....it!!! It's a little blech..but I finished it!!!! Now
I am free to write my...five page paper..ugh! School! Um...I'm a little
tired and sleepy now...so please forgive my rambling.

READ/REVIEW!

An unrelated note: Precalculus is evil! (I'm hyper)