Misty gingerly blinked her eyes open, her smile was unmistakably pleasant.
“Hi.” She said passionately, reaching up to hug him.
“Misty, you gotta get up.” He whispered.
“Why? Is it raining?” Misty’s attention was turned to the weather.
“Misty, get up we have to get out of here.” He quietly repeated.
“What? Ash, what’s wrong? Is it morning already?” She yawned.
“No there’s someone outside. Try to keep your voice down or they’ll hear us.” He whispered, “We have to leave.”
“Is it Team Rocket?” She asked, sitting up and gathering her backpack and the sleeping Togepi that had mysteriously rolled into the corner.
“I don’t know, but there are people out there who want to steal our pokemon. And they’re right outside of our tent.”
“Okay, let’s go.” She whispered, pulling on her shoes.
Ash slowly pulled at the tent’s zipper and looked around them. The rain had slowed to a heavy mist. A small lightning bolt lit up the sky. Both Tracey and Brock slept in their sleeping bags beneath a large oak. He grabbed onto Misty’s hand and quickly led her outside.
“I’ll go wake them up and you can go and warn Duplica and Todd.” Ash said.
They split up, their hands losing the warmth of each others and replaced with the cold bitterness of the night air. Ash ran quickly to his friends’ camping spot.
“Brock, Tracey, wake up quick!” He whispered, shaking their shoulders.
“What? We’re awake.” They both said, tossing their sleeping bags aside and sitting up.
“What’s wrong?” Brock asked.
“There’s someone in the woods, right behind our tent.” He whispered.
“Pi…” Pikachu mumbled, crawling out of Brock’s bag sleepily.
“Let’s go buddy.” Ash said to Pikachu as he started to jog off, motioning for Brock and Tracey to follow.
“How many are there?” Brock asked, catching up to Ash.
“I don’t know. But we have to find a clearing. There were voices all around us so there must be a whole team of them here.”
“I agree. Let’s find a clearing.” Tracey said, “But where’s there a clearing around here?”
Ash had an idea.
“I know.” Ash said, “Just follow me.”
Misty entered the dark blue, almost black tent spotting Duplica and Todd rolled up in a ball at the side of the tent. She listened to the slight squeaking of the tent material beneath her sneakers as she quietly walked towards them.
“Duplica?” Misty asked, shaking Duplica.
She yawned and rolled out of Todd’s loose grip around her shoulders.
“What’s up, Misty?” She asked.
“Get Todd up, there’s an emergency. Hurry.” She whispered.
“O-okay.” She said unsurely.
“Todd, get up.” She said, flipping him over on his back.
“What?” He asked groggily, “Oh, what is wrong with my neck?” He asked, shrugging his shoulders and rubbing the back of his neck.
“Let’s go.” Duplica said, grabbing Todd’s arm and running out the tent.
They ran into Ash, Brock, and Tracey and Misty followed.
“Where’re we going?” Duplica asked as the group lurked around the edge of the forest, leaving their campsites. Ash stopped.
“Does everyone have their pokemon?” He asked quietly.
They all nodded, except Duplica.
“Duplica?” Ash asked.
“I have my ditto. I just wanna know where we’re going.” She asked.
“We’re going to the nearest clearing.” Ash said.
They began to walk as quickly and as quietly as possible, avoiding as much noise as possible. The cool night air was refreshing in a way, but it seemed to envelope around them, making them feel anxious, nervous, and suspicious of their surroundings.
There was a loud SNAP and everyone gasped.
“Heh heh… sorry…” Misty said just above a whisper.
They continued, shooting nervous glances into the forest. The lake came into view.
“The lake?!” Misty whispered in Ash’s ear.
“It’s the only clearing I know of around here.” He replied.
“It’s the lake…” Todd said.
“Come on.” Ash said as they walked completely out of the forest and entered the lake’s territory. So they stood in a small field that faced the open lake- all around it and them was completely forest.
“Okay… I brought an extra tent just in case.” Brock said, handing them the supplies. “Set it up.”
Tracey nodded.
They all pitched in when building the tent. Todd looked at his watch.
“It’s eleven o’ clock already.” He said, surprised.
“Okay," Brock began as he attached the last poles together, “Who’s the lucky guy to volunteer as first watch?”
“I will.” Ash said, stepping forth.
“Alright," Brock agreed, “Everyone get in.”
One by one, they all filed into the tent. A few ‘ow’s were heard as they accidentally tripped over one another. Brock looked around into the forest hoping to see somebody but it was useless. He yawned and crawled inside. But before zipping up the entrance, he asked,
“Hey Misty, what’re you doing out there?”
“I…can’t leave Ash out here all alone…” She said quietly.
Brock nodded and closed up the entrance. They were alone out there. Ash sighed and sat down on a large rock protruding from the tall grasses that shielded the empty field.
“Do… you think that that was really Team Rocket?” Misty asked, trying to start up a conversation.
“I don’t know… they’ve been our worst enemies, so far…”
“But what if they’re some gang or something? Ash?”
“What?”
“What if they have weapons? Guns or knives-”
“Then I’d protect you.” Ash said quickly.
Misty smiled. “You would?”
Ash blushed, but quickly nodded. “Of course!”
“Would... you risk your life... for mine?” She asked slowly.
“Y-yes.”
Misty grinned and stood up. She walked to the tent.
“Where are you going?” Asked Ash.
She came back with a sleeping bag. It was hers.
“What’s that for?”
She laid it out on the ground upon the large amounts of grass.
“What are you doing?”
“What’s with all the questions? Come here.” She said, sitting down on and patting the sleeping bag.
Obeying her commands, he sat down on the soft sleeping bag, waiting for her to tell him what to do next.
“Ash, have you ever… kissed anyone before me?”
Ash lay down and stared up at the stars- the billions of shiny stars.
“No, have you?”
“Uh-uh.”
“Do you like kissing… with me, of course.”
“Of course I do.”
“Well…” Misty blushed, “I was just wondering… are you… um… capable... of making out... with me? Maybe right now?”
Ash blinked at the foreign words that she’d just spoken.
“What’s that?”
“What’s what?” She asked, looking up at the sky and wondering what he was asking about.
“Making out?”
Misty winced. Why did she always have to explain these things to him?
“U-um… It’s uh… It’s kinda like…” Misty laid down beside him, slowly in thought. “I… can’t really explain it… it’s more like an act than a feeling or thought and… it’s hard to explain…”
“Well, can you show me?”
“Uh-“ Misty blushed, “It’s more like… a two-person kind of thing, you know?”
Ash propped himself on his elbow to face her, “Well, tell me what I should do.”
Misty’s mind suddenly drew a blank. How do you teach someone something like this?
“Er…” She stuttered. This was going to be hard.
After a while she sighed. “You know, nevermind… I guess you’ll learn… one day…”
Ash felt a little depressed. She wasn’t going to teach him? But she wanted this... so... why?
“Well… this ‘making out’ thing… Is it something you’d… w-want?”
Misty looked surprised, but she nodded.
“But, I guess waiting is the best thing t-“
Without notice, Ash immediately planted a tame, feeble kiss on Misty’s lips. Misty, surprised by his sudden actions, crimsoned a rosy pink.
“I wanna learn. Now.” He said, pulling off.
Misty smiled passionately.
“Okay.” She said, kissing him back and wrapping her arms around his neck, “Just learn.”
^.~
Ash slowly opened his eyes and saw…
“Brock! Why are you up?” He said, sitting up and knowing a sleeping Misty off of his chest.
“Because somebody wasn’t keeping watch.” Brock said, looming above them.
“Uuhhhh… whaaat…” Misty moaned.
She unconsciously rearranged her sleeping position so that she ended up face-down on Ash’s lap. He blushed and shuffled out from under her, gently letting her fall.
“Uh. Good …morning…” She said, sitting up.
“It’s noon. What were you two doing, staying up all night?” Brock asked.
Ash cleared his throat and looked behind him to see Duplica, Todd, Tracey, Ditto, Pikachu, and even Togepi helping in packing up the tent.
“It’s… none of your business…” Misty said sleepily, falling back down on Ash for another nap.
“Oh, I see…” Brock said, turning away.
Ash scowled and stood up, helping his girlfriend up as well.
“C’mon, let’s go get some water or something. I’m parched.” Ash said.
He wrapped an arm around her and guided her to his backpack, which was lying against an old oak tree by the tent supplies. Misty sighed.
“I don’t know why I’m so bleary…” She said.
“Maybe you’re just worn out.” Ash chuckled, taking the water bottle from out of his bag.
Misty laughed.
“At what, are you suggesting?"
"Making out with your boyfriend shouldn't be that tiring."
"I don't-" Misty yawned, "Know what's wrong with me."
“Pika! Pi-pi-pi?” Asked Pikachu as it hopped on Ash’s lap.
“You want some water, Pikachu?” He asked, handing the bottle over.
The little pokemon nodded and gratefully took it, chugging down the warm liquid in tiny gulps.
“Pika!” It cried out refreshingly.
Ash smiled and watched as Pikachu ran off to entertain Togepi.
“I think I might be a little sick…” She said, “I have a little headache and my throat is a little sore…”
Ash turned his attention to Misty.
“Are your muscles sore?”
“A little…” She replied, shrugging her shoulders.
Ash felt her forehead with his hand, “You are a little warm…”
“Oh, do you even know what you’re doing?” She grinned.
“Nope, but it never hurts to try.”
Ash sighed and gave up trying to find something he wasn’t even sure of.
“Maybe you got a bug bite… A black widow or some-“
“B-BLACK WIDOW?!?!” Misty freaked.
She suddenly passed out.
“Misty?” Ash shook her shoulder after her head hit his knees.
Misty unconsciously rolled off the rock that they were sitting on and onto the ground in a heap. Her eyes were closed. She wasn't moving.
“Brock!” Ash jumped up immediately and ran to Brock.
Misty opened her eyes weakly as she watched Ash run away from her. Her whole world went black as a strong ping of pain in her left shoulder jolted through her body.
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And as the smile ceased, the emotion began.
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