Wootwoot~ Last Chapter people! *cries tears of joy after finishing first story and sadness after ALSO finishing first story*

This to me was inevitably the hardest chapter to write, with the scavenger hunt message reveal and this being the ending chapter. I needed some time to edit and stuff so I basically pulled all my writing power combined with the reviews to make it as perfect as possible ^.^ feel free to comment about my mistakes, since I'm not overall perfect after all~ so sorry if it took a little long, and if this wasn't up to your expectations~ school prevents me to edit stories and makes me crazy. *curse the abomination that is school*

Okay for the last time (so far...): Still Yaoi (check), Pokémon's still not mine (check), still OOC (check), still a fluff overload (check; WARNING: you might DIE. BUT DON'T WORRY IF YOU HAVE RESPAWNING POWERS kukuku), probably less boring since their meeting has arrived, and yes, please leave a review for me to cry about (check). ~.~

With that said, I hope you enjoy this last chapter of Advice. Thank you thank you thank you thank you everyone for reading :3

Ash Ketchum, I Love You

It wasn't too difficult for Ash to get to Jaune Plaza as the alleyway leading to it was only a few metres from where he stood chatting with Sakura. What was difficult though, was getting to approach the so called 'trainer and her Pokémon' standing in front of the yellow monument. If you asked him what he felt at the moment, the hazel-eyed boy probably would have described it as 'terrified for his life'.

Upon stepping foot in the plaza, he immediately felt cold eyes raking up and down his physique; the aura of the girl's eyes feeling way too deadly and menacing for him. Ash couldn't even directly look at her - she was that scary - but from a risky glimpse he noticed that she wore an entirely ragged black dress with crimson edges that fell down to her feet and vampire-looking makeup, complete with thick eyeliner and bloody red lipstick. He also didn't think that was for a costume party - her very red eyes were daring him to think so.

Eevee, Chespin, Fletchling and Pikachu also sensed the dangerous aura around the creepy trainer and immediately had their guards up. The sound of electric sparks combined with growling and snarling could be heard from behind Ash as he continued to pull the trolley into the heart of the plaza (and nearer to the intimidating girl). The ravenette swallowed a strenuous gulp of air, making it a goal to himself to complete the scavenger hunt even if there were, err, unapproachable people along the way.

"Hi..." He smiled shakily at the mysterious trainer after finally getting close to her. She merely glared back, carmine orbs boring their very souls into hazel ones. She reminded the Pikachu Trainer of a horrifying ghost Pokémon who couldn't speak and horrified the life out of people just by existing. Luckily for him, the hunt was almost over. 'Just ask for the Mail and gift, then leave...' He repeated to himself as a soothing mantra. 'Just ask for the Mail and gift, then leave...'

"Err, I'm Ash. You are?"

"..."

"Okay, uuh, I'll just..."

"..."

"Umm, uhh, are you the trainer I need to come to?"

"..."

"Errr, okay then."

Ash tried to subtly look around to see if there were other people in the plaza. He probably approached the wrong person, but she was unfortunately the only one around. She just kept glaring at him, which made him fidget nervously in the awkward silence.

"Lavinia. Yes. Here." She answered his questions monosyllabically in a quiet tone. Lavinia stretched out her hand to him as she held a sky blue and hot pink envelope, Ash's name delicately written on the front. A Lovely Mail for him. And he had to receive it. From her. With his hands. Even though she scared him. Well, wasn't that just lovely...

The hazel-eyed boy hesitated in taking it, but once he built up all the courage to move his limbs he had the girly-coloured envelope in his hands in no time. He was about to open it when perfectly manicured hands slapped his, startling him in the process.

"Don't. Open. It."

"But...?"

"No. Not yet."

"Yet?"

"YET. Open it later."

"Later?"

"With... Gary." She finished, turning scarlet as she mentioned his best friend's name. Lavinia's carmine eyes widened slightly at her sudden uncharacteristic behaviour so she turned her back to Ash to hide her humiliation, hoping he didn't notice why she acted that way.

"Pika?"

"Veee?"

"Chiichiirii..."

'What's her problem?' He eyed his Pokémon who seemed to have known why the girl was acting so strangely. He was so occupied in eye-communicating with his four friends that he didn't hear or see a flash of red light coming from a tossed Poké Ball behind him. What he heard though, was the loud cry of a familiar Pokémon.

"Sol!"

A white-furred, red-eyed, four-legged Pokémon caught Ash's attention, who stared at him as similarly as the creature's trainer did earlier. Lavinia was now facing him again but she was staring at the ground as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Yes, the ground, oh how very, ground-y and brown it was...

"Wow, an Absol. That's so amazing..." The sixteen year old dared to comment. He just hoped he wouldn't be pummeled for saying something.

"..."

The aforementioned Disaster Pokémon was succinct and wasted no time in presenting Ash the ninth Heart Mail. The Pikachu Trainer took it gladly but he remembered to ask Lavinia for confirmation. She didn't reply, surprisingly. She probably didn't care or see, as she was still mentally complimenting the awesome ground.

"Guess I'm opening it then..."

"Sol!"

And so Ash opened the ninth Heart Mail.

"Uttering words you'll soon remember dearly while I'm on my knees..." It read, the ninth and second to the last random sentence he had to read. The meaning of every sentence was still lost on him; all Ash knew was that they told him of Gary's feelings and he needed the last one to complete the message, whatever it was. Gary just had to make this difficult and perfect, didn't he? Oh how Ash loved him anyway...

"So, Ash. You're finally done with the ninth one. Arceus knows how impatient and nervous I am at the moment. Well, the good news is we finally get to meet each other. Yeyy, huh? I'm the one with the last gift, and the last Pokémon with the last Heart Mail. Surprise surprise... Head on over to Centrico Plaza and get up the fifth floor of the Prism Tower. See you then, love."

If his heart was beating fast before, then his heart was beating frantically at the speed of light right then. Yes, it did take him by surprise that he was to meet Gary next... and even though he was looking forward to it, the thought alone made him feel a thousand Butterfrees performing some ritual dance in his stomach. Did he even look that appealing? What if Gary laughed at his clothes, or get mad because he didn't even have anything to give him in return after everything he's done? What if Gary thought he was so stupid for not figuring out the message behind the hunt when the emerald-eyed boy worked so hard to make it perfect? Oh my gosh, he never even thought of the consequences...

"Chuuu! Chuuu-pikachu!" Pikachu yelped from the trolley behind Ash. They'd been together for six years; his buddy didn't even need to ask (if he could) to know that Ash was feeling like a Pidgey first learning how to fly. Ash managed to nod an "I'm okay" nod back, though. He let brown eyes land on Lavinia who eyed him warily for his agitated stance, then on Absol who scrunched its nose quizzically in reply. Time to go, then. Gary willingly did this for him. The Eevee Trainer said he loved him, so the sixteen year old didn't need to get panicky. He'd been waiting for this forever - it would be one of the most memorable events he could ever experience in his life, so it was going to be okay. Gary wouldn't reject him, or hate him, ever. Ash had to thank him for his efforts and bear-hug the guy for bloody pampering him like a baby, not to mention admit his own feelings to his best friend. It was finally time. Yeyy indeed.

"Soo err, Lavinia-" the girl glared fiercely at the z-scarred boy at this, as if he pronounced her name wrong, "-uhmm, I guess I have to go now. You know, to meet Gary-" with this she looked away and blushed, "-and all. Uhhh, thanks for the Lovely Mail. And, you too, Absol."

"..."

"Ab-sol sol."

He bowed politely before turning his back at them slowly, determined to find Centrico Plaza and enter the Prism Tower. Just metres from exiting Jaune Plaza, a loud and commanding female voice reached his ears, which he assumed was Lavinia's.

"TAKE CARE OF HIM, ASH. YOU'RE A LUCKY ONE. "

They traded small smiles before parting ways, and though she was quiet and mysterious during their encounter, she wasn't a bad person. Heh, another one of those 'you are so lucky' comments. She was right though, wasn't she? He truly was a lucky one. He was luckier than anyone else in the whole wide world for holding the heart of the most talented, most handsome and most loveable jerkface in all of Pallet Town. What a dream come true. All he had to do now was to tell the boy that, he, Ash Ketchum, dearly loved him too.

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o

Prism Tower... otherwise known to all as the "Heart of Lumiose" or simply, the "Electric-type Gym of Kalos". How could Ash fully describe it upon first inspection? Well, it was undoubtedly tall at three hundred and twenty four metres, framed with the most high-tech electric glass panels that shone an azure light even during the day and its ivory structure intermittently gleamed with dignity. The ravenette had no trouble in seeking out Centrico Plaza of course - it was just a street ahead of him and the tower was tall enough to be seen from Santalune City.

'Well, this is it, Ash. Your big chance with Gary. You better not screw it up or else!' The Pikachu Trainer berated himself mentally. It was acceptable at least. I mean, how many times has he actually had a crush on someone before and figured out that that same crush of his held feelings for him too? He wondered...oh, right. That's just it. NONE. He'd been agonizing over the situation even before they went to a trip to Camp Icinda, fantasizing about several ways a very impossible confession between themselves could happen, whether it ended good or bad. Now it was actually happening. It just felt... weird all of a sudden.

As expected, Prism Tower was as fancy as it looked from the outside, with automatic glass doors and grand, mosaic tiles that may or may not have been made out of silver. Around the ceiling hung multicoloured LED lights shaped somewhat like the scars on his cheeks, to represent electricity maybe? Ash could barely pick up a burning rubber smell combined with citrus air freshener hinted in the air.

"Pika-pika..."

"Chespin-ches-ches!"

Even the ravenette's Pokémon could feel the nervous aura the boy seemed to emit. Clumsily, he looked around the first floor which had a crowdful of people, asking for directions to where the elevator was located. He left the trolley full of his gifts in the baggage claim area, taking only his Pokémon and the Mails he received so far.

"I wonder why there are so many people? This is supposed to be a gym isn't it? I doubt there'd be THAT many trainers wanting to challenge Clemont in here."

"Well that's because I happen to be a highly advanced inventor, so I've made the first floor sort of like a museum for them to see my latest inventions." A low, teenage male voice resounded from behind Ash. "If you didn't know, I'm also working on a new and better version for the Pokédex and contributed to the mechanics of the Holo Caster. Hey, Clemont's the name." The boy finished, using a controller to hold out the robotic hand from a multifarious invention of his, which he somehow wore as a backpack. He also wore an electrician-like blue jumpsuit, and on his face were circular glasses that obstructed his very cerulean eyes.

"Oh, hi! You're the gym leader of Lumiose right? I'm Ash from Pallet Town! I want to challenge you to a battle right now!" Ash replied impulsively, getting into a fighting stance before he knew it. Fletchling, Eevee, Pikachu and Chespin tilted their heads to one side in confusion.

The blonde, electric-type gym leader grinned at the quirky sixteen year old. "Well, you're Ash alright. Nice to meet you. And as for the battle, I don't think I can do that, seeing as I can't really compete with anyone when I know that a snobby brunette with green eyes and a lab coat basically decided to rent my top floor for the day."

"You mean Gary? Oh, I'm sorry he did that... gosh I'm such an idiot, having him do all this for me..." The ravenette shook his head disappointedly.

Clemont laughed in response. "No, no! I was just kidding! He sent me out to get you - I knew the instant you walked in that you've finally arrived. Have lots of cameras, you see. Glad to help out someone in need. And if you didn't know, my Gym is in fact the most beautiful place in all of Kalos and the best view for fireworks. Not even bragging, mind you."

"Pika-pikachu."

"Vee-veee!"

Clemont didn't need to tell Ash to follow him when the teen inventor bypassed crowds of people and stopped in front of a battery-shaped elevator. The duo and four Pokémon were soon looking out to see people's heads disappear through the translucent, grey elevator doors and caught glimpses of the other floors. While they made their way to the top most floor of the tower, Ash's hands began to sweat profusely.

"Nervous?" Clemont asked. He saw Ash nod a little timidly from the corner of his eye.

"Well don't be. He's actually worse than you; pacing back and forth the balcony like a Clefairy using Metronome on him, not to mention the hissing he tries to hide as he contemplates whether or not you got his message." Clemont smiled in reassurance. "If he asked me for help, I could have just made a card with a glassy screen to project a video of whatever he wants to say. Much like the Holo Caster, but with colours. Oh, we're here."

The opening of the elevator doors seemed like an eternity to Ash. He expected another glass-panelled place with random device contraptions on display but was instead met with white walls, several four-seated couches, rectangular white marble tables, a black granite table attached to one wall and adorned with cushioned high chairs. The walls had posters and framed pictures of Electric Pokémon, Clemont, his sister Bonnie and their beautiful mother. A cozy place, really.

"Chiichiirichichii!" Fletchling cried happily. The others followed the robin out into the balcony, and it was then that Ash noticed the glass doors that led to the viewing place was open. Gary was in there, no doubt.

Clemont ushered Ash into a seat, asking the z-scarred boy if he wanted any refreshments during his stay. Ash knew that it was only an excuse for the blonde so that he could leave the two boys alone to themselves while they worked things out.

"Just press this button to call me if you need anything." Clemont pointed at a red button ingrained on the couch's armrest. "I'll receive an instant message via this robot over here telling me that you need me. I'll come back, okay?" The blue-eyed teen directed.

"Okay."

The sound of Clemont's footsteps soon dissipated through the walls as he walked away. Great. Now it was just Ash, his Pokémon, Gary, Gary's Pokémon and the large but cozy top floor.

Ash was stumped.

'Holy Arceus, I am freaking out for dear life. What should I do now? He's my best friend, I love him, what's wrong with me? Why am I worrying about this all of a sudden?'

He was still all alone in the room, sitting on the couch and fidgeting incessantly with his fingers.

'Aghh, to hell with this, I'm gonna approach him.'

...

'Crap, I can't do it. It's like I'm glued to this seat. Why is this so hard?!'

...

'Come on!'

'Get off the seat, Ash!'

...

'I wonder if he knows I'm already here.'

"Kokikokikoki."

The hazel-eyed boy was too busy arguing with himself in his thoughts to realize a water creature was calling out for his attention.

'Of course he knows, my Pokémon is out there with him, for Arceus' sake.'

"Kikokikokiko."

'But why hasn't he come out yet?'

"Kikokiko."

'And why can't I hear him? I can only hear Pikachu and Chespin...'

"Kiko...!"

'Errr... what now?'

"KOKIKOOOOOOO!"

...And so a girly scream escaped from Ash's mouth as he was clamped on the shoulder by an offending crab's claw.

The sixteen year old turned around to glare at his attacker and found that it was a familiar Pincer Pokémon. Same big, shell-y crown, same red and white shade, eyes as big as pearls, same crabby personality.

"Oh, it's you, Kingler! Didn't have to attack me... that hurt, y'know!?" He complained. Then again, this was Gary's Kingler - the same, hot-tempered, slightly bigger water-type compared to his. They were only friends because of Ash's own crab Pokémon.

"Kokiko."

"How you doing buddy? Haven't seen you in ages!" He took the heavy crab in his arms and riskily gave it a hug. He was glad it didn't attack him in return. That Clamp on his shoulder still hurt...

"Kikokikokiko."

In one of Kingler's pincers was the last Heart Mail to complete the scavenger hunt and solve Gary's supposedly hidden message. Was Ash allowed to take it? Kingler WAS giving it to him right? And if he did get it, should he read it right away, or wait for Gary to say so?

"Hiya, Ash."

Speak of the devil.

The same baritone voice that made his heart skip a beat everytime he heard it echoed through Ash's ears. He was here. The hazel-eyed boy hesitatingly looked up from where he sat on the couch, and there he was. How the brunette stood there without him noticing how he got there, Ash didn't know, but the brunette was there nonetheless. Green eyes. Brown hair. Annoying smirk on his face, only this time, it didn't look annoying but a little forced on the researcher's part. White lab coat, fair skin, full, pink lips. He wore the Poké Ball white half necklace Monica claimed he brought with him everywhere and a tinge of pink stained the older boy's cheek. Gary. His Gary.

"H-hello..."

'Oh my Arceus, Ash, the love of your life is about to confess to you and you just say hello? Pathetic pathetic pathetic pathetic!'

"Hello yourself. How's it going?" Gary asked straightforwardly. He appeared to be fidgeting, and hell, Gary NEVER fidgeted.

"Err, good."

"Good, huh? Me too. Very good."

"Hmmm."

"..."

"..."

"So..."

"Errr..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"KIKOKIKOKIKO!" Kingler suddenly made an uproar, clearly not enjoying the stupid, uneccessary silence that loomed in between the two boys. Pikachu, Chespin, Fletchling and Eevee rushed back inside the room, wondering where the loud outburst came from.

"Veee!" Eevee ran to her one and only trainer, who caught her in his arms.

"Chespin?" The Spiky Nut Pokémon stared oddly at the angry crab.

"Chichiri!" Fletchling flew nearby to inspect Ash's new friend.

"Pika..." And Pikachu had to clean up Kingler's act.

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o

Kingler's mood change broke the ice for the two boys, and soon they were sitting next to each other on the couch exchanging stories about Ash's recent gym battle and Gary's sad, sad attempt at his latest research paper. They knew they were stalling. It wasn't exactly easy for two best friends, who, for their whole lives anyway, have been best friends and best friends only. Ash knew he had feelings for Gary and vice versa, and nothing society could do would change that. It was just hella awkward to say it out loud. What happened to the flying sparks and movie-like romantic music playing in the background?

"So, Ash..." Gary started... and for the first time, really unsure what to say.

"Uhm, uhh..."

"..."

"..."

"This is so weird, huh?"

"Err, yeah, like a lot." They both giggled, a little less nervously to their delight...

"..."

"Well, Ash, you do know I like you." Gary finally admitted with much determination and courage to fight off his anxiousness.

The sixteen year old boy nodded. It was then that the tomato impersonations have begun. "Of course I know that."

"And I did say I loved you, but like a brother before."

"Mh-hmm..."

"And I totally figured out you had a crush on me when you kissed me on the forehead during that sunset when I told you to kiss whoever you like..."

"Yeah... wait, WHATT?"

The seventeen year old beamed innocently at the ravenette's horrified expression.

"I wasn't really asleep that time. More like thinking with my eyes closed. I know I should have told you. I'm sorry about that." he claimed.

"Wait...so you knew, this whole time, about who I liked?"

"Uh-huh."

"So when I had that outburst at the beach, you already knew I didn't like May even though you teased me about it?"

"Yep."

"And when we were together during our tent sleepover, you also knew I was describing you? And you still let me cling to you?"

"Yes."

"And when you helped me up when I spraint my ankle, you knew then too?"

"Haven't we already established this?"

"..."

Ash was not very pleased at the moment.

"W-why didn't you tell me?" The boy pouted sadly. "Did you know I was dying inside from fear you'd hate me if you ever figured out or something? You didn't even tell me... I was so scared to lose my best friend... that's why I never risked it and..." Trailing off from his speech while he tried to calm his overreacting self, Ash buried his head in his hands so that his best friend wouldn't mock him for how weak he probably appeared to be. "Well, uhh, y-you don't h-hate me, right?"

Gary sighed. He knew that was coming, but he totally did not expect the boy to breakdown in front of him. Great, nice going, Gary... so what was he to do now? He didn't want to hurt him any further. Oh, the perks of falling in love with your best friend...

He took the ravenette into his arms and just held him, patting the younger's raven locks and rubbing circles around his back occasionally. He was glad Ash wasn't about to sob anymore, at the very least. He wasn't too familiar with the act of comforting people.

"I don't hate you, Ash. Never. If I hated you, do you think I would be here? No, I wouldn't. I didn't tell you because you weren't ready to know. I'm really sorry. Would you have left for Kalos and abandoned your dream, had I stopped you and told you that maybe I liked you too? Because I do, and I like you a lot." He confessed sincerely.

"Well, you probably would have left, but still, you get my point. I wanted to do it instead, you know. Tell you instead of you telling me since you couldn't. Hence this whole plan here. I still think my attempt at perfecting this plan was pathetic. I'm sorry, Ash. Really, I am."

"Gary..."

Before he knew it, the brunette was being engulfed into a bear hug from the adorable best friend of his that he so dearly doted on. Somehow, the emerald-eyed boy knew that was coming, too.

"...you are such a jerk."

If there was one place the Pikachu Trainer could wish to stay in forever and wouldn't mind, it was in Gary's arms. He always gave the Pokémon Researcher hugs, even in their childhood, but everytime he did so he still felt Beautiflys in his stomach and this warm, happy feeling in his heart. He loved being surrounded by his best friend's protective vanilla scent and nuzzling at the soft, soft fabric that was usually Gary's lab coat. Ash would always tuck his head somewhere underneath the other's chin, his ear so close to the boy's chest where he could hear a calming heartbeat. His arms were always woven tight at the back of Gary's coat, clutching, clinging, pleading desperately, 'don't go, I want you to stay'...

As if the the Eevee Trainer could read his mind, Gary whispered comforting words directly to him, "Don't cry anymore, Ashy. I'll always be here. I love you so much, don't cry, my love..."

.

.

'I love you...'

.

.

'Don't cry...'

.

.

It was as if the world stopped for a moment.

The Pikachu Trainer continued to listen to the seventeen's year old's heartbeat for a few more seconds before looking up at his best friend's face, teary brown eyes meeting shiny green ones.

"Gary... I l-love you, too."

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o

"You know you didn't have to do all this," the hazel-eyed boy said as he went back to cuddling and nuzzling at Gary's clothes. They both just sat there on the couch in each other's arms, holding each other and never letting go. Ash was so happy - so very, very happy, and though he was also tearing up, he was still extremely happy. Overjoyed. Ecstatic. The happiest he could be in his life. All the gifts he received didn't matter so much, because all he really wanted was in his arms - right there, right now.

"Oh, but I did." Gary answered. "How would you know otherwise? I dropped so many hints through my advice to you during our day outs, and not one of them was noticed. Being the blockhead you are, I had to spell it out for you, with this weird scavenger hunt thing." he inquired jokingly.

The z-scarred boy sniffled a bit as he tried to stop any more tears falling from his eyes. Any that escaped were wiped away with the pad of Gary's thumbs, who smiled at the boy he loved the most in the world.

"Hmmmph. Speaking of the hunt... I'm not f-finished. Where's the last Heart Mail?"

Ash pried himself off from the Eevee Trainer for a moment, looking around for Kingler and his Pokémon. It just came to mind that their five Pokémon friends were all just standing there, quiet and in front of them, watching their trainers interact in such a loving way. The boys didn't even notice they were still in the room.

"Kikokiko." Kingler knew this was his cue to finally get rid of the Mail he held in his pincers.

Ash took it, ignoring the little crumple in the middle of the envelope and glanced at Gary for approval.

"Uuhh, can I...?"

The emerald-eyed boy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Go ahead. It is meant to be for you."

Oh joy. The Last Heart Mail. Finally...

Once the envelope ripping process was over, the hazel-eyed boy opened up the letter in his hands, revealing a single sentence which was printed clearly at the top of the pink memo.

"Making me ask just one true question, will you go out with me, please?"

.

.

'Go out with me...'

.

.

'I love you Ash...'

.

.

'Mine.'

.

.

The ravenette read that sentence again and again and again until he finally made sense of it. He smiled. It was nice to be in love.

"Well, will you? Go out with me or be mine for life, that is?" Gary's voice caught Ash's attention once again. He didn't even know how the brunette moved from one place to another but he did. The older boy, when Ash looked up, was then kneeling in front of him, a black box in hand encasing the most beautiful, silver banded ring he has ever seen. And yet it appeared to be a little odd-looking, with it seeming a little too big for any of his petite fingers...

"Always." He replied bluntly, a hand extended while another shielded his eyes from seeing what was happening. Happy endings always made him want to cry...! It was like one of the movies he watched by himself on television, and it was actually happening to him!

The ring Gary gave the ravenette strangely adjusted itself to fit the ring finger on his left hand. He only saw the tiny rainbow-coloured stone it held then, which oddly resembled one of the marbles he used to play with. So pretty... even though it looked a little girly.

"Don't worry Ash, that's not a piece of cheap jewellery I bought off a girls' jewellery store. I'm not awful like that. It's actually quite useful - it's called a Mega Ring. According to legends, It would allow you to bond with your Pokémon if they are given the right stones to enhance their mental power. Who knows, with the research I'll soon be doing on Mega Evolution, you might be able to do that with one of your Pokémon, someday."

Ash nodded understandingly. "W-where'd you get this?"

"I have my sources. I am a world's renowned Pokémon Researcher for a reason, right?"

The younger boy grinned at that remark.

"I hate you, Gary. You are way too perfect for me. I feel as if I'm not good enough."

"Whaaaaat? But you said you loved me!" Gary whimpered as though the comment hurt intensely, pouting at his newly appointed "boyfriend". Ash triumphantly grinned at the followed grimace that marred Gary's features.

"I can hate you too, you know. You're still a big jerk." He crossed his arms and turned away to avoid embracing the other to death for pulling a face like that.

"Fine then, Ashy-boy. The feeling is mutual. You are way too cute for me, and I can't keep up with your adorability."

"A-am not c-cute."

"Are to."

"N-no."

"Yes."

"F-fine. If I'm cute, then you're a b-big softie."

"Yes I am."

"And you h-have a obsession with c-cute things."

"Namely, you."

"And you buy so many g-girly gifts."

"Of course I do."

"But I still..."

"Still what?"

"I still l-love you."

If he believed in them before, then he believed in them even more now. There was such a thing as happy endings; Ash was one-hundred percent sure of it. He was so lucky to finally have his. And though everything was just starting, he knew that he didn't have to wait anymore. He had Gary, and he wasn't about to let him go that easily.

o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o

By the time they finished staring into each other's eyes for countless minutes and fighting each other for couch space as they cuddled, a clock somewhere in the room struck six pm. Fireworks. Their Pokémon were long gone, off to terrorize one of Clemont's rooms, maybe. It was still very peculiar that they had to borrow someone else's place to hang out and tell each other of their feelings. One thing was good though - the Prism Tower really was the perfect place to watch over the prosperous city and look up at the slightly darkening ultramarine sky. They left the room for the balcony, hand in hand, loud booms and bangs resounding all over the city as pretty lights of red, purple, green and blue painted the sky with such a memorable scene.

Ash was standing in front of the older boy, as if to imitate the "Titanic pose", complete with the Pokémon Researcher's arms wrapped protectively around him and his head rested in the crook of his best-friend-turned-lover's neck.

"Hey, Gary?"

"Hmm?"

"Was that all? The hidden message you spoke of? Was it just about asking me if I should go out with you?" The younger boy turned around to face the seventeen year old to see if he had anything to say. Gary took this as an opportunity to kiss him in the cheek.

"Err, not really. It wasn't so much of a message to begin with."

"It wasn't?"

"No, not really."

"Then why did you make me collect all sentences in many different places of this large city when you could have just asked me if I could go out with you? You already knew I liked you, you know I would have said yes!"

"Well that would be way too unoriginal and boring. I'm Gary Oak, remember? My very image screams perfectionist."

Ash punched him in the arm. "Jerk."

"I'm your jerk."

"Yes you are. And what about those gifts... What am I supposed to do with them now? Don't get me wrong, I really love them all, but I'm travelling Kalos, if you didn't know. I can't carry a trolley around with me everywhere. I'll keep the 'Plushie You' though. I might get lonely without him..."

"I'll keep them for you until you come back to me."

Ash eyed him suspiciously for the comment, but didn't say anything. "Okay then. Now tell me what the hunt was for."

Sighing, the Pokémon Researcher had to give in to the request of his lover. He'd keep on being pestered like that, if he did not just tell him. Hmph, at least the guy obeyed what Lavinia asked of him...

"Well, Ash, if you really want to know, you already have the answer." Gary voiced out nonchalantly.

Ash was confused. Err, no? He didn't have the answer. He wouldn't be asking if he did.

"No I don't..."

"You don't get it. You know that Lovely Mail Lavinia gave you?"

"Yes? What about i- oh."

"Everything's written in there. You know, the whole, "...words you'll soon remember?" thing? Yeah, I'm sentimental, you're stuck with me, love. Didn't think you'd be able to figure it out on your own so I wrote the so-called message onto that. You can open it now if you want to."

"Okay." Ash dug into his pocket to find the same pink and blue envelope he received from the red-eyed Absol Trainer. He unceremoniously ripped it open and took in his hands the two pieces of paper that contained crucial information about the game he participated in.

In the first page of the letter, every random sentence was written out one by one and in order in each new line. The random sentences, when put together, was secretly arranged into a poem. The ravenette actually guessed it was one, with the fancy rhyming words and Gary's pure talent in writing. He read the poem thoroughly for the second time, but he still could not understand what really was hidden in it.

"A nature so sweet, so kind like a Jirachi

So many dreams you've chased and accomplished, you may as well chase me

Home is where your heart is, my love for you from the start

Kisses, hugs, my touches, you know you have my heart

Everything you are I want, you make me smile like Togepi

Together since forever, and forever I promise we'll be

Cliché and corny it sounds, I'll take care of you till the end

Here by your side like Plusle with Minun, I know I can't pretend

Uttering words you'll soon remember dearly while I'm on my knees

Making me ask just one true question, will you go out with me, please?"

The sixteen year old turned to Gary, still confused. "I really don't get it..."

"Keep on reading. Gosh, your patience is lacking."

"Read the first letters of every sentence, Ashy-boy. Everything I say is from my heart. You are my everything, and everything I do begins with you, hence this poem. I love you, Ash."

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A...S...H...K...E...T...C...H...U...M...

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"ASH KETCHUM! I got it now! The poem is spelt with my name?!" The Pikachu Trainer exclaimed as he read through the poem again.

"Ding-ding-ding. Chocolate for you, my love. Finally got it huh?"

Ash nodded, once again tearing up at the sacharrine gesture his boyfriend had done for him. "Y-you are r-really, s-something you know?" He cried, pouting away like the baby he was. Freaking feminine feelings of his...

His tears were once again wiped away lovingly by Gary, who showered him with butterfly kisses on his forehead, his cheeks and his nose. So much affection... Ash decided he loved feeling happy like this and wanted to feel it everyday. He was even more happy that it was Gary who made him happy, and in return, his happiness was the brunette's happiness too. Everyone was happy, and that was a good thing.

However, Ash wasn't finished reading the other page, and he still had to. After the many kisses he received, the hazel-eyed boy hugged his boyfriend once again before turning his attention to the second piece of paper.

"You know those Pokémon names I asked you to remember?" The letter read. Darn, Ash almost forgot about those... he didn't have the best of memories, but hopefully he'd still remember.

'Let's see, Illumise, Litleo... Brady's Oshawott, Alexa's Vivillon...umm, what was it again-ohh, Barry's Empoleon...then there's, there's... Monica's Yanmega... Octillery, then Sakura's Umbreon. How many was that, err, eight? Okay two more... uhh, Absol and Kingler! Got them!' He did a little happy dance for recalling the Pokémon names without reference which Gary rose his eyebrow at.

"Now list them all in order, and read their initials just like the previous poem. It would be much more helpful if they were visually written down."

Great, more brain power for Ash to use since he didn't have anything to write with on him. 'Okay, Ash. You can do this. The answer's already spelled out for you, so you don't need to think further but only remember the names. Illumise, Litleo, Oshawott, Vivillon, Empoleon, Yanmega, Octillery, Umbreon, Absol, Kingler. I for Illumise, L for Litleo, O for Oshawott, V for Vivillon, E for Empoleon, Y for Yanmega, O for Octillery, U for Umbreon, A for Absol and K for Kingler...'

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I...L...O...V...E...Y...O...U... ...A...K...

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"I love you, AK. AK... my initials...hahaha..." Ash was half laughing, half crying at the moment. "That's the most interesting way to say I love you... spell it with Pokémon names... Dear Arceus, Gary. What was in your brain when you thought of this?" This time, Ash blinked away the tears and with his arm, got rid of the falling ones so Gary wouldn't have to do it again.

"Well if you really want me to answer that, it was you that I had in my brain when I wrote it." Gary moved closer to the shorter boy, daring to cup a scarred cheek with a hand and ask for a kiss with his emerald gaze. His other arm snaked around Ash's waist and a violent red colour stained his fair face.

'I love you.' Green eyes screamed to the ends of the earth.

'I love you back,' brown eyes replied, pleading the other to kiss him already.

...And so they kissed. Pink lips met peach ones in a shy and gentle manner, as if assuming the other would break had they been alternatively harsh or rough. After sometime, the older boy's tongue riskily licked at Ash's bottom lip, requesting for permission to enter the other's mouth. Ash's arms were around Gary's neck, letting one his hands play through his lover's soft, chocolate hair while Gary dominated their very passionate kiss.

They pulled away to take a breath of air and proceeded to stare at each other's emotion-filled eyes. There were so many things to say to each other and yet they found none that could compare to the way they were feeling.Love, glee, safe with each other, contented... it was very hard to describe. Around them, the setting sun stained the sky with orange and pink clouds, while the first stars began to glisten as they formed constellations with their shining light. And although they were gone, it felt as if there were still fireworks exploding in the sky, and the bird Pokémon chirping around as they flew sounded as if they were singing soft love songs dedicated to the two of them.

"Come on, Ash. We'll go rest for the night now. What a day huh?" Gary whispered loud enough for Ash to hear. Ash nodded in his embrace, refusing to let the brunette move away from him.

He mumbled something that the Pokémon Researcher didn't catch fully.

"What?"

Ash repeated his comment. "I bet when you propose to me, I'd be in even more tears. What are you gonna do? Rearrange the stars for me in a message? Take me hot air ballooning so I can see "Will you marry me?" spelled out by trees you planted by yourself somewhere?"

"Heeey!"

"What? You are Gary Oak, my perfectionist of a boyfriend."

Gary thought for a while about those suggestions. "Those aren't bad ideas, though. Who knows? Maybe I'd go along with them. Just you wait, dear." he decided out loud, ruffling raven locks with a hand.

"Whatever... I'd like to give you some advice about it though."

"What?" Gary questioned hysterically. "I thought there would be no more of that...?"

"I dunno, Gary. I rather liked you telling me what to do."

"...What is it then?"

Ash inhaled deeply before letting the other know what was on his mind, "No more fancy-fancy. I'm stupid, so I can't decipher messages like you could. You kept me waiting long enough... but for you I'll keep on waiting, even if it takes years. Just... just promise me you'll never leave. And you'll never hate me or let me go, even though I'm imperfect. Okay...? Stay with me forever?"

Gary smiled at his one and only lover, remembering the one word reply Ash gave him earlier. "Always."

Kyaaaaaaaaaa~! Damn that was hectic! But I've finally finished it omg! Please bear in mind that: a) I cannot write proper endings (whatever a proper ending may be...), b) I cannot write kiss scenes (seriously...), c) that probably had way too much dialogue and awkwardness, and d) I just died. My brain is messed up right now. I had to listen to "This I Promise You" by N-Sync on repeat for-and-ever so that I could get into the 'zone' of romance.

I was editing this on the train to the city and was constantly kyaaa-ing out loud at the scenes that people were staring at me with a confused, "damn she's crazy" expression. Hehehehehe.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that. Please please please review and tell me what you thought of it. Thank you for reading Advice :D till the next story, I hope, should my free time be more in hours and less in studying or homework. Tata for now~

Signing off, ChiiRyeeBiee! *runs away to hide in Fluffy Yaoi Land*