Hooked, pt. 5

I feel that this chapter needs some expository. In this chapter, I do some crossover with one of my other stories. Except I mess with the names, because 'Chris' is in use by the kid, so I used Marc, who is Chris's brother in Pokemon Legend, and shortened Gloria to just Glo. That is also the origin of the Cianwood trout and Conu fruits. Only a few of the events in Adventure and Legend actually took place in this story, though. Anyways, enjoy the super sappyness!

An hour and a half later, Ash drove his car past the police outpost at the south end of Viridian City. He slowed and he and Misty waved to Officer Jenny, who waved back when she recognized them. Both had their hair styled different than usual, to keep a lower profile, but it wasn't anything she hadn't seen before.

"I think it was about this time that I finally got to town," Misty said. "I was kinda slow, carrying my bike like I was."

"I'm still not sure why you decided to bring it with you," Ash replied, "though it really helped out when we fought off Team Rocket for the first time."

"Mostly because I was so angry I wanted to smack you with it," she told him.

"And that means that Pikachu was in the ICU and I was on the phone with Professor Oak," Ash said, returning to the initial topic. "I was really stressed out. Anyways, we're here."

"No way!" Misty exclaimed as she saw their destination. "We're really eating at The Island?" As its name implied, The Island was a restaurant that focused on cuisine from various islands from around the world. Still awed by the restaurant, she jumped when Ash opened her door for her.

"Oh, come on, Misty, it's not a big deal." Ash told her.

"Well, yeah, I guess so," she said quietly. "I just haven't ever eaten here."

"It's also only been open for a few months," Ash reminded her. "I'm ashamed to say it's my first visit, too."

Misty was about to ask why he was ashamed when they walked through the door. A young man wearing an odd white and red hat was standing at the reception desk. "Ah, there you are!" he exclaimed as they walked in. "Come in, come in!" He ushered the two of them to a table where a young woman in an orange, floral print dress was waiting.

It was seeing her that sparked a memory for Misty. "Oh! It's you two! Marc, Glo, how are you? I haven't seen you for years!"

"Oh, now it's been less than that, Misty," Glo replied. "You were at our wedding just a few months ago, remember?"

"Yeah, I do, but it still feels like forever!" she continued excitedly.

"I didn't expect to see you here tonight, Marc," Ash said as he sat down.

"Oh, nonsense!" Marc replied. "I don't normally meet guests at the door, yes, but we're here most nights. And when you called ahead, Ash, we decided to do this. It is our restaurant, after all."

Misty couldn't help gawking. "You two own this place!? I guess I haven't paid enough attention." Everyone shared a good laugh at that.

"Do you need a menu?" asked Marc. "Or do you know what you want?"

"I don't think we need a menu," Ash replied. "At least, if Misty agrees."

"I guess that depends on what I'm agreeing too," she answered with a smile.

"Let me guess," Glo asked. "The Cinnabar Trout for two?"

"Bingo," Ash replied.

Misty's eyes lit up. "Oh, that'd be wonderful! I almost never have that. And I'm guessing you have Conu juice to drink, right?"

"But of course," Marc replied. They then surprised the pair of them when they sat down next to them at the table.

"Wait, don't you need to relay the order to the kitchen?" Misty asked, confused.

"Oh, they're already making it," Glo smiled. "When we heard that you and Ash was coming, we figured that you'd most likely want that, so it's already cooking, and probably almost done."

"We figured that if you didn't, someone else would, and they'd get a surprise by their meal arriving early," Marc added.

They all laughed, and then the number 10 lit up on the sign by the kitchen. "I was right, it's done!" Glo said as she stood back up. She went into the kitchen and came back out with two well-loaded trays, which held four glasses, two large platters with the steaming fish on them, a unique bowl with pieces of fruit in it, and four smaller plates.

"So, taking your dinner break now?" Ash guessed when he saw both platters.

"Of course!" Marc replied as he helped unload the trays onto the table. Glo then went and put away the trays, and quickly came back and sat back down while Ash and Misty were still just staring at the dish.

"So, serving the Conu fruits out of the shells?" Ash asked as he took a piece of fruit. "Very nice!" He popped the fruit into his mouth, and couldn't help but smile at the succulent flavor.

Misty started with a bite from the fish. She and Ash never had this stuff except for when they were with these two, and she had missed the taste. The reason, of course, was that both the fish and the fruit were so expensive, normally. It was a bargain here, though, because these two grew up on the islands where they originated. She then took a drink of her juice, and nearly started laughing. "Oh, this is excellent! And this juice is intoxicating, did you guys make it into wine?"

Marc just shrugged. "Nope, but we've refined our juicing to get a better flavor."

"Is it just me, or is this stuff a little more expensive than you need it to be?" Ash asked, knowing that that was easily possible, because people would still buy it.

"Not really," Glo answered. "We pay his family and neighbors close to what merchants do for the fruits. Ok, not so much as that, but we're not just taking the fruit for free anymore."

"And keeping the price a little higher will also help sustain the populations of both the fish and the fruit," Marc added. "I don't plan to let them become extinct because I was giving them away."

"That's a good point," Misty agreed. Ash nodded in agreement as well. They continued to talk as they ate, catching up on things that'd been happening over the past few years.

As they were finishing, one of the normal waiters came over and asked if they wanted dessert. They declined, having eaten the two largest fish that they had at the time. "I've been meaning to ask," Marc said as the waiter departed. "What happened to your head, Ash?"

Ash felt the bandage, and chuckled. "I kinda did a face plant into the river and hit a rock."

"No kidding?" Glo asked, and the other two both nodded. "Then let me guess, you had to fish him out again, Misty."

"Yeah," Misty replied, "especially since he was unconscious this time."

Glo's jaw dropped. "No way…I was just joking. Really?" They nodded again. "Oh wow."

"Was it scary?" Marc asked, trying not to sound like a kid.

"For me, not really," was Ash's reply. "But I was unconscious. For her, I think she was terrified."

"I don't know if that's strong enough a word," Misty added. Tears returned to her eyes as she remembered just how she had felt only a few hours earlier.

"Mist," Ash said gently, brushing her hair out of her face. He stared into her eyes, and knew just how afraid she had been. As afraid as he would be if he thought he would lose her. They stood slowly, and the table and chairs disappeared from their world. Marc and Glo were already long gone, for them. For a time, they merely drank one another's eyes, feelings they had tried to suppress rising to the surface. Ash slid his arms around her, and she put hers around him. They pulled each other close, into a long, passionate kiss. Their kiss that morning was nothing compared to this. The feelings that had been planted eight years before blossomed at last.

Like all kisses, theirs eventually ended, and they pulled back, a little. The rest of the world came into focus around them. Marc and Glo were staring at them, somewhat awed.

"You…that was…don't tell me that…" Glo stammered. She took a deep breath to try and regain her composure. "Was that your first kiss? It sure looked like one."

"Mmmm, not really," Misty said, somewhat dazed. "First one like that, though."

"Our first kiss was this morning, I think," Ash continued.

"Technically, our first kiss was seven years ago when I first gave you CPR," Misty said, giggling. Ash couldn't help but laugh along with her, nodding his head in agreement.

"Well," Marc said, finally finding his voice again. "That was memorable to watch."

Glo punched him lightly. "So was ours, according to the people there."

"True, true," he agreed. "In the hospital after we both got shot, yeah?"

"Uh huh! Now here's your prize for the right answer." She reached up and pulled him down into a kiss as well, though it definitely paled in comparison.

After, they said their goodbyes, and Ash and Misty left while Marc and Glo returned to work. They rode in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company.

Misty looked at her watch as they approached Pallet Town. "Hey, I think it was about this time when we first saw Team Rocket blast off."

"Yeah, I think you're right," Ash agreed. "Maybe a little earlier, but not much."

They continued through town until they got to Ash's mom's house, that she asked Misty to use as a hotel whenever she was in town. They kissed again before Misty got out of the car, and Ash was about to pull away when…

"Hold it right there, mister!"

"Mom!?" Ash shouted, panicked.

"You're not going anywhere without explaining that bandage on your head!" Delia said insistently as she reached the car. "That looks horrible! What happened?"

"Mom, calm down!" Ash almost shouted. His mother froze, and he continued, more calmly. "It's not a big deal. Okay, I guess it was a big deal, but between Misty and Nurse Joy, I'm fine. I just fell and hit my head on a rock."

"And then you would've drowned if I weren't there," Misty added, and Delia flinched.

"I don't think I'd have even been there if you weren't, though," Ash said.

"Oh, sure, blame it all on me. If you're shifting blame, you might as well blame that kid Chris for showing up today and helping get me angry." Misty sounded cross, but couldn't hold it and started laughing. Ash couldn't help but laugh along, and eventually his mom laughed too. A little.

"I guess that I don't need to worry as much, if you've got Misty around," she agreed, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Now, Mom, you know I don't mean to make you worry," Ash said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "But honestly, I make you worry by waking up in the morning." This time his mom was the first to laugh, though the other two joined her quickly.

"I know, son, I know. I can't help it, I guess."

"And it's not like that's a bad thing," he continued. "I need someone to do it, after all. Just, don't let it get to you so much that you give yourself a heart attack, ok?"

"Yeah, ok," she agreed, backing away from the car a little bit. "But could you call when you get to your place? With that bump on your head…"

"Yeah, Mom, I will." He realized that she had a very good point, there. "Goodnight, Mom! Goodnight Misty!"

"Goodnight, Ash!" they said together. Delia then went back into the house, but Misty watched the headlights of the car until she saw them arrive at Ash's house. She couldn't help but smile when she heard the phone ring as she went inside.