Ash and Misty's Love?

Part 8

A/N: I'm sorry this part took a year to write...but I have no excuse. My bratty little sis remembered the existence of this story and is
holding my stuff hostage until I finish this part! ::groans::

Written By TwistedReality

Misty's POV

"Misty..." a voice whispered quietly.

I groaned and opened my eyes slowly. The world was spinning and my head hurt.

"What?" I asked, not making any attempt to sound friendly.

A gentle hand shook my shoulder, and I was more alert.

It was Mrs. Ketchum. Her eyes were filled with tears. "It's Ash-" she gasped, trying to speak clearly, although she was 
crying,  "He's not in his bed! The doctors think he might have run away!"

I shot up from my bed,  hastily putting on my shoes. "Where's Brock?!" I asked, struggling to put on my second shoe. I
was in too much of a hurry to untie it first.

"He's looking around the hospital already....I don't know where he could have gone!"

I bit my lip nervously, when an idea came to me.

"I think I might know where he went..." I cried, running outside.


***

I found him sitting in the grass. He was still wearing his hospital clothes. He didn't even notice me approach. He was
completely focused on playing with the blades of grass.

"Ash....." I whispered softly, trying not to startle him.

"Hey, Misty..." he whispered, with his back still facing me.

"I'll really miss this.....if I don't continue..." Ash whispered softly. His hand shook as he ran it through the grass.

"Ash...How did you know...?"

"Mom...told me last night..."

"You could always tell her that you want to stay...Right?" I asked, hopefully.

Ash closed his eyes, and sighed, allowing himself to fall back into the grass. "I...I don't know...I just don't want to think
about it..."

"Ash...why are you a pokemon trainer?"

He sat up and faced me, the expression on his face was filled with uncertainty. "Misty-"

"Just tell me. I want to know." I insisted, holding his hand. I barely realized what I was doing, but I kept on holding
his hand. I had to give him strength.

"I wanted to understand pokemon by working with them to achieve a common goal...."

"I wanted to be there for somebody...I wanted to be strong for them!" Ash's eyes filled with tears, "but I failed...I wasn't
there for them. I failed at protecting them and now...now..."

I squeezed his hand tighter, noticing that his hands were sweaty.

"I don't want to fail any of my other pokemon ever again."

My heart nearly stopped.

"I'm sorry..." Ash whispered softly.

"So you're just going to quit, right?!" I yelled, pulling away from him.

"All this time...I've been...selfish....I don't want to be that kind of person..." He looked down at his hands. "Not
anymore..." he added softly.

"Ash...I *know* that you love being a pokemon trainer! You can't just....stop!" I gasped. The emotions that I had been suppressing were
going out of control.

I expected Ash to respond, but he didn't say a word.

I didn't expect this at all.

"Ash..." I stated calmly, trying my best to get a handle on my emotions, "do you think Pikachu would want you to give up something
you really love? I know it will be hard without Pikachu, but-"

Ash turned to me and shook his head quickly. "It's not that! It's just that..." for a moment, the words seemed to evaporate from Ash's
mouth as he looked at me blankly for a moment. He stuttered, trying to find his words. "I...just..."

"...feel guilty...?" I finished softly.

Ash averted his eyes and nodded slowly.

"Ash...I'm...sorry.." I whispered.

He looked up at me suddenly with confusion evident in his eyes. "What....?"

"I could have pushed you away..." I tried to swallow down the sobs that were escaping from my throat.

"Misty...." Ash started, shaking his head softly.

"I...was right near you, Ash..." I interrupted, turning away from him. "I could have pushed you and Pikachu out of the way...I..I'm sorry.."
The tears were rolling freely down my cheeks now.

I was about to run away when I felt Ash wrapping his arms around me.

"Thank you, Misty...." he whispered softly. "You've always been there for me."

I was a little surprised. Why wasn't he mad at me? 

"But...Ash...I lied to you about Pikachu...I..I'm a horrible friend...I abandoned you..."

"Don't ever say that..." Ash sobbed. "Don't ever say you are a bad friend! You...never abandoned me..Don't even think that!"

My eyes widened at the force of Ash's words. I couldn't even come up with a response.

"I don't want anyone to hurt anymore....Not because of this...Not because of me...I don't want anyone to be in danger anymore!"

I carefully wrapped my arms around him. A part of me felt like he was going to break.

"Don't punish yourself, Ash...You tried your best to protect Pikachu!" I tried to reassure him.

"My best wasn't good enough!" Ash cried, burying his face in his hands.

I tried to reach for Ash to hug him again, but he moved away, shaking his head wildly.

"No...No..." he whimpered, before he looked up at me with a very decisive look on his tear stained face.

"I can't change my mind Misty..." his eyes looked uncertain for a moment. "I have to do this," he whispered, sounding like he was really
trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince me.

I knew what he was going to say, but I didn't want to hear him saying it.

"I'm going to quit pokemon training."

TO BE CONTINUED

Am I evil or what? ::Laughs like a maniac::

After a year's wait I finally put out a part and I end it in an evil cliffhanger. This story is nearing the end! Oh woe!