(Disclaimer:  I don't own Pokemon or any of the characters.)
 

                                Rainy Days
 

(Authors note:  This is very different from my usual fanfics.  I was in a very weird mood when I wrote this.)
Ash is 16
Misty is 17
 

     Ash and Misty were walking towards Pewter City.  Brock had borrowed Pikachu and Togepi for a breeder’s party.  They all agreed to meet in Pewter City.  It was a rather warm day.  The sun was blocked out by hundreds of dark gray clouds.  They walked along a well worn dirt path with an occasional tree nearby.  A hundred feet away from the path the forest began with countless blooming trees showing that it was spring time.  
     “It sure feels lonely,” Misty commented as she glanced at her black haired companion.
     “Yeah, no Pokemon, no Brock.”
     “No peacemaker,” Misty smiled at the five and a half foot teenager walking next to her.
     “Yeah, I’m in trouble now,” Ash laughed as he held up his hand to defend against the redheaded girl.
     “You’re always in trouble,” Misty giggled.
     “Let’s hurry up.”
     “Why?”
     “I don’t want to get caught in the rain,” Ash explained.
     “What, the Pokemon Master can’t handle a little rain?” Misty teased.
     “Don’t say it like that,” Ash warned.
     The two went silent and kept walking.  After a few minutes it began to rain.
     “Oh, great,” Ash moaned as he began running.
     Ash only got about twenty feet before he glanced beside him.  Misty wasn’t there.  Ash stopped and looked back.  Misty was standing with her arms opened to the rain.  She was looking up with her eyes closed and a smile on her face.  Ash ran back to her.
     “Misty, let’s go.”
     “Isn’t this great.”
     “What?”
     “Doesn’t the rain feel good?”
     “We’re getting wet,” Ash complained.
     “Come on.”
     “What?”
     “Enjoy it.”
     “How?”
     “It’s not cold, it’s perfect.”
     “Are you nuts?”
     “YES!  Get a clue.  This is water, I train water pokemon.”
     “Oh, that makes sense,” Ash said sarcastically.
     “Don’t ruin this,” Misty warned.
     “Whatever,” Ash muttered.
     Ash sat a rock and sat down.  The rain was starting to soak his clothes.  Ash watched to see what Misty was doing.  She was twirling around.  Soon she began doing cartwheels.  She seems to be genuinely enjoying herself.  
     ‘If it makes her happy then I can put up with it,’ Ash told himself.
     After a few minutes Misty stopped and looked at Ash.
     “What?” Ash asked.
     “At least try to enjoy it.”
     “Rain is your thing.”
     “Please?” Misty smiled as she grabbed his hand.
     ‘Do I have a choice?’ Ash asked himself.
     “All right,” Ash muttered as Misty pulled him up.
     Misty led him out to where she had been a minute ago.  Ash stood there and looked at her.
     “What now?” He asked.
     “Jump around, dance, SOMETHING!”
     “Do what?” Ash seemed confused.
     “Okay, try this to begin with.  Close your eyes and look up.”
     Ash complied.  He closed his eyes, looked up and put his hand over his eyes to protect them from the rain.
     “No, no.  Take your hand down,” Misty pulled his hand away from his face.
     “But I’ll get my face wet,” Ash complained.
     “That’s the idea.  Just do it.”
     “Fine,” Ash mumbled as he let the rain hit his face.
     “Well?” Misty inquired.
     “It feels good,” Ash gave in.
     “See?”
     “Yeah,” Ash said softly.
     Misty began twirling around him.  “Come on, loosen up.”
     “I’ll give it a try,” Ash said as he imitated Misty.
     Ash couldn’t help but enjoy himself.  Soon he joined Misty in some cartwheels.  Ash being as dexterous as he is only did a few cartwheels before he slipped and fell.  His face found a puddle of mud.  Ash rolled over and let the rain wash his face off.  After a minute he opened his eyes and looked around.  Misty was twirling again.  Ash watched her twirl.
     ‘She is so cute.  She really loves the rain.’
     Ash kept watching her twirl until he noticed something different.  The rain had thoroughly soaked her clothes.  Her shirt clung tightly to her thin body.  It was almost see through.  Ash couldn’t help but stare.
     “Hey!”
     ‘Oh, no.  She caught me.’
     “What are you looking at?” Misty demanded.
     Misty looked behind her and saw nothing.  Then she looked around to find nothing.  Misty looked back to Ash.
     “What’s going on?” Misty walked toward Ash.
     “N-nothing,” Ash covered his eyes and let his head fall back into the mud.
     “Yeah, right,” Misty said sarcastically.
     Misty walked to Ash and pulled his hand away from his eyes.  Ash closed his eyes.
     “What is with you?”
     “Uh, nothing,” Ash insisted.
     “Fine, then get up!” Misty yanked Ash to his feet.
     “I’m up, I’m up.”
     “Good, now grab my hands.”
     “Huh?”
     “Grab my hands!”
     Ash took Misty’s hands in his.  Misty began to circle around, forcing him to counter her movement.  After a minute they were smoothly spinning in a circle.  With the background going by so fast Ash could only focus on Misty.  She still wore a big smile with her blue eyes shining.  Ash couldn’t help but sneak a glance below her neck.  The quick glance turned into a stare.
     Suddenly Ash went falling backwards.  Ash fell into a thick layer of mud.  He had no choice but to wait for the world to stop spinning.  As the world began to focus a figure appeared over Ash, a figure with an angry expression on her face.
     “What was that?” Misty demanded.
     “Oooh, I think the rain made my hands slip,” Ash tried to change the subject.
     “Not that.”
     “What?”
     “I saw you staring.”
     Ash covered his eyes with his hands, forgetting they were all muddy.
     “Aaaah!”
     “Serves you right,” Misty teased.
     Misty stood there and watched Ash get the mud out of his eyes.  After a few minutes he was able to see again.  Ash looked up at Misty.
     “Well?”
     “What?” Ash said defensively.
     “What were you staring at?”
     “Uhh,” Ash flopped back into the mud.
     Misty leaned down and grabbed Ash’s shirt.  She pulled him to a standing position.  They were standing eye to eye.
     “I want an answer,” Misty said sternly.
     Ash wiggled out of his jacket and held it up.  Misty looked at it blankly.
     “Please put this on.”
     “Huh?”
     “It would make me more comfortable,” Ash added.
     “Okay,” replied in a ‘this is stupid’ voice.
     Misty slipped her arms through the sleeves.  She pulled the jacket closed in front of her.  Then she realized what Ash saw.  She had been in such a rush that morning that she had forgotten to put on a bra.  Now with her shirt all soaked it was practically see through.  Misty slowly looked up.  As her eyes met Ash’s they both turned a deep reddish color.
     “I’m sorry,” Ash muttered.
     Misty suddenly acted on instinct.  She did what she always did when Ash did something wrong, she yelled at him.
     “You should be!” Misty yelled as she pushed him back into the mud.
     “Mis…” Ash began.
     “Shut up!” Misty began to scream.
     “Pl…” Ash tried again as he stood up.
     “Why don’t I just take my shirt off?! It would have the same effect!”
     “Wh…” Ash kept trying.
     Misty slipped her arms out of the jacket and let it fall into the mud.
     “Misty,” Ash said nervously.  Then he turned away from her.
     Misty was still in a state of rage.  She grabbed the bottom of her shirt and in one quick motion pulled it off.
     “There, you happy now!” Misty screamed as she threw down her shirt.
     “Please put your shirt back on,” Ash requested.
     “Isn’t this what you wanted?” Misty asked sarcastically.
     “No,” Ash said flatly.
     Misty didn’t know what to say to him.  She just stood there watching him.  Ash was waiting for Misty to calm down.  After a couple minutes Misty did calm enough to think.  Misty realized what she had just done.  She felt mortified.  Another minute passed as she fully regained her composure.
     “Oh, great.  Now my shirt is all muddy,” Misty complained as she looked down at her shirt lying in the mud.
     Misty looked up to see Ash holding his shirt behind his head.  Misty stood there looking at him.
     “Misty, please put this on.”
     Misty stepped forward and grabbed the shirt.  “Thanks.”
     Misty hugged the shirt and smiled.  Misty saw Ash standing in the rain, topless and facing away from her.  Misty watched as Ash slowly sank to the ground.  He sat down with his legs bent.  He folded his arms and rested them on his knees.
     Misty couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him.  She walked over behind Ash then turned around.  Misty sat down with Ash.  She gently leaned back against him.  Ash was so startled by the feeling of Misty’s skin against his back that he jerked his head up.  His head collided with the back of Misty’s head.
     “Oww,” Misty moaned as she held the point of impact.
     “I’m sorry,” Ash apologized.
     “It’s okay.  Ash, we need to talk.”
     “About what?” Ash inquired.
     “What happened?”
     “I’m sorry about your head,” Ash apologized again.
     “Not that.”
     “Oh.”
     “Ash, I just don’t get it.”
     “What’s that?”
     “Why did you do it?”
     “Do what?”
     “The past few years I’ve gotten used to guys looking at my, uh, you know.”
     “Yeah.”
     “But I’ve never expected you to look.”
     “Why not?”
     “You just never seemed interested in looking at girls,” Misty explained.
     “I’m not,” Ash said lowly.
     “I don’t understand.”
     “I’m not interested in looking at girls.”
     “Still lost,” Misty reminded him.
     “I’m interested in you.  Only you,” Ash clarified.
     “Ash,” Misty whispered.
     “I could mess things up a lot by saying this but I have to.  I like you.  I really like you.”
     “But y,” Misty said in a shaky voice.
     “I know I can be dense much of the time.  I’m still trying to be a Pokemon Master.  I mess up a lot.  I still have lots to learn.  And I’m…”
     “Perfect,” Misty interrupted.
     The two sat in silence for a few minutes while thinking about what the other had said.
     “Misty,” Ash finally broke the silence.
     “Hmm,” Misty responded dreamily.
     “Are you still covered?”
     Misty came back to reality.  “Yes, why?”
     “I’m turning around,” Ash said as he stood up.
     Ash turned to Misty and faced her.  He offered his hand to help her up.  Misty accepted it and Ash pulled her up.  He looked into her blue eyes and smiled.
     “Ash, wh…” Misty began.
     Ash grabbed Misty’s face with his hands and pulled it towards his.  They collided in a kiss.  At first Misty was startled.  Then she wrapped her arms around Ash to bring him closer.  She had forgotten about the shirt she was holding.  The shirt fell into the mud below them.