A/N: Aww, reviews seem to be slowing down. Shame, but I'm not going to stop writing this story. I will ask that if anyone does read this story, please review it! It only takes a click of a button and to type a few words. Thanks to those who have stuck with me through this! Coming up with ideas isn’t the easiest, but thanks for waiting ^^ Now, enough jibber-jabber! Here's part 9 of 'Exposing the Truth!'

PG-13

"That's the shopping centres, the hotels, the Pokémon Centres... Where else is there to look?" Ash asked, frustrated. They'd been looking for Misty for the last three hours and so far, nothing. They'd looked everywhere they could think of and asked tonnes of people, but it wasn't any good. Brock's friend, that gave him the phone number, was out of reach so he wasn't of any use.

Ash sighed in frustration and dropped onto a park bench. He leaned his head back and rubbed his temples. Pikachu sat next to him, looking at his trainer sadly.

"Don't worry man. We'll find her," Jeff said as he sat down next to him, trying to comfort his friend.

"That's what I thought at first too," Ash muttered and sat up.

"Wait a second, you're not giving up already are you?" Jeff was shocked. This wasn't like Ash at all.

"Maybe I am."

Pikachu growled and placed a paw on Ash's leg, cheeks sparking. "PI-KA-CHU!" The small electric rodent sent a huge shock through Ash.

Jeff yelped and jumped out of the way, tumbling off the end of the bench and landing on his backside.

"YEOW!" Ash yelled and collapsed on the bench when Pikachu stopped the attack. He twitched a few times, his hair sticking up everywhere.

Jeff chuckled and got up, wiping the dust from his combats. "I think Pikachu's cross with you."

"Gee, what was your first clue?" Ash groaned and sat up, glaring at the small pokémon.

Pikachu crossed his little arms and glared right back. They stayed like this for a while before Ash laughed and patted the pokémon's head. "Thanks buddy. I needed that."

"Kachu!" Pikachu chattered and grinned.

"Erm, who’s supposed to be the trainer around here?" Jeff asked in a mocking tone.

Pikachu left the two of them chatting away, or more like quarrelling with one another, and went sniffing around. He loved coming to this park, it was so peaceful and beautiful. He trotted along on all fours, smelling the flowers now and then. He came onto the path again and stopped.

"Pika?" He sniffed the ground again to make sure he wasn't mistaken. He wasn't. Misty's scent! Taking a quick look around he saw a crumbled piece of paper in the grass. It looked out of place, being the only bit of litter in this whole area. Pikachu went over and picked it up, unfolded it and took a look. His brown eyes lit up. He grabbed the paper in his teeth and scampered off as quickly as he could back to Ash and Jeff.

"I bet that I could burp the whole alphabet better than you!"

"Yeah? You wish! I've had more practice that you!"

"Just coz you're a year older than me, Ketchum, doesn't mean you're better!"

"Wanna bet?"

"Bring it on, dude!"

Pikachu skidded to a stop and watched as the two started a belching contest, seeing who could burp the alphabet faster. He shook his head and went over to them. "Pikapi? Chuchupi?"

Ash stopped and looked down to Pikachu. "Yeah? What have you got there pal?" He squatted down and took the paper from Pikachu and stood up again.

"What's that?" Jeff asked, forgetting what they had just been doing.

"Dunno." Ash unfolded it and his eyes widened.

"Hey, ain't that Misty and yourself?" Jeff peered over Ash's shoulder at the picture he was holding.

"Yeah... This was taken on Seafoam Island's beach a few years ago. But, what's it doing here?" Ash took out his wallet and opened it. There, inside, was an identical picture. "There were only two of these, so this must be Misty's." Ash looked down at Pikachu. "Where'd you find this?"

"Pika." Pikachu led them to where he'd found the picture.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Jeff observed, looking around.

"Except this," Ash said. He was squatted down and looking at the ground. "Something happened here. See there? There are scratch marks from some pokémon’s claws and here, there's some powder." Ash traced his finger along the ground and lifted it to his nose. He sniffed it and nodded. "Yeah, sleep powder."

"Whoa, how do you know all that?"

"Comes from being a good trainer." Ash grinned and stood up, wiping the sleep powder off onto his pants. He grin dropped to a frown and he lowered his head a little. "Now I'm more worried than before. Pikachu, sniff this place out."

"Chu." Pikachu nodded and started sniffing the ground. He followed Misty's trail for a while then stopped. "Pikapi. Pika pika chuchu pikachu kachu pi."

"What's he saying?" Jeff was feeling rather left out right then.

"He's saying that there's a scent of Misty, an Exeggutor, a Pidgeot and another human. Man or woman Pikachu?"

"Chuka."

"A man." Ash's eyes narrowed and he clenched his hands in fists.

"Handy nose there Pikapal. Nice work," Jeff complemented and gave the small pokémon a thumbs-up. "Now all we have to do is follow the trail!"

"We can't," Ash said dully.

"Why not?"

"It's too old. It's been here a few hours so it'll be no use. Come on, back to the streets!" Ash spun around on his heels and took off.

"Hey, wait for me! Ketchum! Come back! SLOW DOWN YOU JERK!" Jeff yelled after him as he tried his best to catch up.

Pikachu giggled and passed Jeff out easily.

"Show off," he grumbled.

* * *

Hours passed yet there was no sign of Misty. Ash wandered the streets with Jeff, who at this stage was ready to collapse from exhaustion.

"Ashman, can we please stop for a break? My legs are ready to drop," Jeff moaned.

Ash laughed and stopped, turning around to face Jeff. "Alright. You get five minutes."

"Five minutes!" Jeff dropped to the ground and moaned. He glared over at Pikachu as he laughed at him. "Ohh shut up!"

Ash chuckled and looked around. They were in an alley now; a dark, dingy alley that smelt worse than it looked. He wrinkled his nose at the stench and looked back at Jeff. "Ready yet?"

"Few more minutes and I'll be flying it again. Hang on," Jeff said, his voice tired and his eyes drooping. It was late now and the sun had set. Streetlights didn't cast much light down where they were and that only made the place look worse.

'I wonder how Gary and Brock are doing?' Ash thought.

* * *

"You're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen. Will you marry me?"

"What?!"

"BROCK!" Gary yelled and grabbed the love-struck fool by his collar. "Would you quit this messing around already? Finish you food so we can get going again."

The two of them had stopped off at a small fast-food shop and had gotten some burgers and chips. Gary was long finished his, but Brock was too busy drooling over the girls there to even notice he had food in front of him.

"Hmm?" Brock managed to take his eyes of the redhead at the table beside them for a moment to turn to Gary. "What'd you say?"

Gary rolled his eyes and sighed. "I said, finish eating so we can go back to looking for Misty again."

"Ohh, right." Brock started on his chips, but his attention was short and he was soon flirting with the girl again.

Gary tapped his fingers on the table, his anger rising and his patience gone. They'd been there almost three-quarters of an hour and it should have only taken fifteen minutes at most. Gary didn't want to be sitting here when they could be looking for Misty. Gary didn't know her that well, but he knew she meant a lot to Ash and that was enough for him. Ash maybe his rival but he was also his friend since childhood and he knew that Ash would do the same from him if he were in Ash's position.

Brock on the other hand...

"Ohh those eyes of yours, they're like the stars in the heavens."

"THAT'S IT!" Gary exploded and got up. He grabbed Brock's collar and a fistful of chips. "EAT!" He shoved the whole load of chips into Brock's mouth.

Brock, taken by surprise, nearly choked but Gary kept stuffing the food into his mouth until there was nothing left.

"Now, we're leaving!" He pulled Brock to his feet and shoved him towards the door. Ignoring the silence that had fallen over the packed shop he kept pushing Brock until they were back on the street.

Brock was coughing, still trying to swallow the large amount of food Gary had stuffed into him. When he finally managed to swallow, he glared over at Gary. "What was all that about?"

Gary, too aggravated to answer, stormed off down the footpath. 'You owe me big time, Ketchum, for sticking me with this dork!'

Brock scratched the back of his head and sighed. He followed Gary and they continued their search. 'I wonder how Ash and Jeff are doing?' Brock thought.

* * *

"Pi?" Pikachu's ears perked up and he looked behind them.

"What's the matter Pikachu?" Ash looked in the direction Pikachu was looking but couldn't see much.

"Pikachupi!" Pikachu cried and jumped from Ash's shoulder, running down the alley.

"Pikachu wait!" Ash took off after his pokémon, leaving Jeff behind again.

He groaned and pushed himself to his feet. "Great. Here we go again. I must remember to nail that guy's feet to the floor!" Jeff grumbled and took off down the alley after trainer and pokémon, though at a slower pace.

"Pikachu, wait up!" Ash called after his pokémon as they rounded a corner. He stopped dead in his tracks when the bright neon lights shone into his face. He squinted until his eyes got used to the light. "Goldenrod Gals?" he read.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu pointed to the door.

"She's in there?" Ash asked as Jeff came up behind him.

"What's this place?" he asked breathlessly, leaning on Ash's shoulder for support.

"I'm not sure, but I think Misty's inside." Ash looked at Jeff then back to the door. "Guess there's only one way to find out. Pikachu, I want you to return for now."

"Pika! Pikachu?" Pikachu frowned and his ears dropped.

"Why? Because I don't what you getting into any trouble, plus, that sign there says no pokémon allowed inside unless in pokéballs. Now come on." He took out Pikachu's pokéballs and pointed it at the pokémon. Pikachu was sucked inside and Ash hitched the ball to his belt. "Coming Jeff?"

"You bet. Let's go."

The two of them went up to the door and pushed it open.

"Hold it right there!"

Ash and Jeff cringed and looked over at a large man in a suit.

"Err, yes?"

Yay! Another chapter ^^ This is good fun for me. I hope it's as enjoyable to read, as it is to write. Please review! Thankies!

~Ashla~
E-mail: pokemonbundle@hotmail.com