Book 5

TRANSPARENCY ~ BOOK FIVE

Ash saw her falling and quickly caught her around the waist.
"...that was....that was.." She looked up at Ash and gasped out the words.
"Yes, I saw Misty.." He soothed
Misty felt strength return to her legs and Ash guided her over to the couch.
"But...why am I...it just...ME?" Her breathing still came in short gasps.
"Well Misty, you can't expect to spend the whole day with me and not be seen by the media. Their on my back night and day!"
He hugged her lightly around the shoulders and felt her ribs move in and out with each steadier breath.
"I know Ash, I guess it just never....sunk in."
"It hasn't sunk it for me either, I guess it's one of those things you just can't get used to."
She closed her eyes and let her body finally relax. The TV was still on and the commercials were playing.
"It's getting pretty late Misty, do you want me to take you home?"
The answer was on her lips, when the news came back on and the Breaking News story of her and Ash was the topic.

"We have just been informed by a reliable source that a woman has entered Ash Ketchum's life. Her name is Misty Waterflower, one of the four Cerulean Gym leaders. They were seen early this afternoon...."
The sound of the TV slowly faded in their ears along with the light in their eyes.

It was dark. Flickering colors from the TV danced on the sleeping face of the warm body nestled beside him. With smooth movements he stood and picked her up. She stirred only slightly and mumbled something indecipherable as he tucked the sheets around her.
"Goodnight Misty"
The whisper still hung in the air as he fell back asleep on the couch.

"I have to work in the gym today. Ick. It must be early, my alarm didn't go off. Well at least I can take a long shower, and eat a good breakfast."
The thoughts were going through her head as she woke up, but hadn't opened her eyes.

She jumped. Startled and shocked by her surroundings, everything from the previous day flooded back into her memory.
She had fallen asleep? Where was Ash? At least one of her questions was answered as she allowed her ears to hear the shower running. She was sitting propped up against the headboard of the bed looking dazed when the bathroom door opened and Ash emerged wearing only a towel around his waist. He didn't even look her way, his eyes seemed to roam the closet looking for something. Misty's eyes were on his damp, black hair and his bare back with beads of water rolling off. He took some clothes out of the closet and went back into the steamy bathroom.

It was only a few minutes before Ash again came out, this time wearing pants and drying his hair with the towel that was previously around his waist.
"Oh, you're awake Misty!"
She rubbed her eyes and blinked before groggily responding.
"Yea....."
He stopped drying his hair and just let the towel hang down on his head.
"You fell asleep last night. I didn't want to wake you up."
"That's what I thought!"
Ash sat down on the bed, still with the towel draped over his head, making Misty giggle.
"Hey! What's so funny?!?"
"It's....just...you look like a...shepherd or..something!"
"Oh, do I? Then let's see what YOU look like."
He took off the towel and was about to put it on Misty's head when she darted away. He quickly jumped up, and the chase began. Both of them could run fast, but Ash had a bit of an advantage. After a few circles around the room he put on a burst of speed and caught her around the waist, pinning her arms to her side. Then he flung the wet towel over her head.
"Gotcha."
"No!" She squealed, trying desperately to wiggle free from his grip. But he was much stronger than her, and the more she squirmed, the firmer his grip felt.
"Let me go! My hair is getting wet!"
Ash laughed a little then picked her up. She started kicking and screaming, but he managed to hold on long enough to drop her onto the bed. And once free from his hold, she quickly removed the towel and sat up, breathing heavily from the chase.
"You are so mean Ash!"
He just replied by giving her a little grin, and changing the subject.
"My match starts in a couple hours. Do you want me to drop you off at home before I go, or do you want to come watch it?"
"Now just how do you plan to get me a ticket the DAY of the battle? Hmmm..?"
"You don't need a ticket! I can pull a few strings! So, do you want to come?"
"Yea! My sisters will be so jealous!"
He started to put on his black T-Shirt and searched for his jacket.
"Where IS Pikachu Ash?"
"Well after each battle, I usually have all my Pokemon spend a day at the Pokemon center. They all have to battle a lot harder now, and it takes longer to recover. Where's Togepi?"
"Oh, my sisters have been trying to get Togepi to battle lately. So I leave it with them on their gym days. That reminds me! I have to run the gym today. I won't be able to go to your match...."
"Why don't you call them and beg them to take over?"
He finally found his Mater League jacket and put it on.
"Their not THAT nice you know..."
"Well it doesn't hurt to try."
He picked up the phone, dialed and handed it to Misty before she could even protest.

"Hello?"
"Hi, this is Misty."
"Where ARE YOU!? And what happened...?" Her voice had a sly, questioning air to it.
"Ummm...well, I fell asleep...and, nothing happened!! HONEST!"
"Yea right. So why are you calling?"
"Well I was wondering if you'd run the gym. Ash invited me to his match today."
"You are SO LUCKY MISTY! Getting to go one of the most popular events in Cerulean history, and being involved with Ash! He is so hot in the pictures, how is he in real life??!!? Or actually I should be asking, How is he in be-"
Misty quickly interrupted. "Wait, wait, wait. So you'll run the gym?"
"Actually we were planning on closing it, almost everyone is watching the battle anyway! So, tell me ALL the details about him!!"
"Sorry, I got to go! Thanks again! Bye!"
She heard her sister protest as she hung up.
"Sooo?" Ash questioned.
"I can go!"

"Pika!"
Pikachu ran up into Misty's arms at first sight.
"Oh, Pikachu! It's so good to see you! How have you been?"
It started to answer in his own language. Misty smiled and nodded, even though she didn't understand a word.
"Come on Pikachu, and you too Misty." Ash finally interrupted.
"Yea, you have a big battle Pikachu! I'm rooting for you!"
Again Ash interrupted "Hey, what about ME!"
"Oh, I'm rooting for you too! Don't worry..." She smiled at him sarcastically.
"Well you'd better be!"
He grabbed her hand and started dragging her.
"ASH!?!? Where are we going?"
"Oh, Thad gave me directions to the room I was supposed to meet them in. I'm trying to find it."
"Great, just great. I thought you said you had a better sense of direction now! We'll be wandering around in this huge stadium for hours now..." Her voice trailed off.
"Here it is!" Ash exclaimed, stopping in front of a plain, unlabeled, door.
"Umm, Ash? Are you sure this is it?"
"Actually yes I am, just trust me for once."
Pikachu scampered onto Ash's shoulder just before he opened the door.

The lull of conversation between the five occupants was quickly stopped as the door of the small meeting room opened. Ash walked in briskly and pulled Misty in behind him.
"Ah, I see your day together also turned into a night." The voice came from Thad over in the corner.
Misty suddenly felt very out-of-place and unwelcome, which was very unlike her bold, outgoing nature. Ash could sense it and motioned for her to sit down. No later, the only other woman in the room walked over and held out her hand to Ash.
"My name is Natalie, I'm with the Cerulean Recreation Department and I've been selected to read the rules and battle etiquette to you. If you would just please acknowledge the rules while I read them aloud I can get out of your way as soon as possible."
The rules were spilled out by her pleasant, yet drawling tongue as Ash politely nodded in response. He had obviously listened to the same, pre-written rules numerous times. Once the recitation was finished, as promised, she left promptly.

"Misty will need a seat for the match." Ash firmly stated, while sitting down beside her.
A man she didn't know by name quickly responded. "You're kidding! There's not an open seat in the whole stadium!"
"Then you'll just have to get a seat down on the floor now, won't you?"
The man sighed, apparently not having any grounds to argue, pulled out his cell phone, and stepped out of the room. It was beginning to resemble musical chairs, now only herself, Ash, Thad, and two other unknown people remained. Thad quickly captured the silence and smirked.
"So, how was your night Ash?"
This put him over the edge, he erupted from his seat and boomed.
"Is it REALLY any of YOUR concern!!?? I don't pay you to criticize and judge me you know. I DO have a life, and I'd like to live it!!!"
His breath came sharply back in, while everyone was in a sort of daze. He sat back down next to Misty and put her arm around her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, I should've known this would happen. You could go home if you like. Save yourself the humiliation..." He whispered.
"I don't want to leave. I came here to be with you and watch your match." She paused and thought "I don't think I care what people think."
This almost surprised her as she said it. But the more it registered, the more she realized it was true.
He hugged her lightly then stood up and offered a hand.
"There are some other battles going on right now. I say we go watch to get away from them." He motioned over to the three businessmen.
She took his hand and stood up.
"They ARE your employees you know."
He grinned and laughed.
"Yea, and it's weird too. To think, I'm a boss!"
Misty bust out in joyous giggles, it was a thought! Ash then tickled her ribs slightly to encourage the laughter, before calling.
"Hey Pikachu, come on!"

This story is © Rainflower
Thank-You to Nintendo and Game Freak for letting me use their characters (even though they don't know it).
All original Pokemon characters, etc. are © Nintendo and Game Freak, not me!