Okay, so I got this idea after I saw this picture of Ash and Misty. Well…I guess, technically, I DIDN'T see them, but you can tell it's them. And I was like, "OMG, SUCH A GOOD IDEA!" So I wrote it. I think it's one of my best one-shots in terms of cuteness. =D Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or anything associated with it, nor the picture provided in the link, though the picture is being used with permission.

This chapter's picture: bit . ly/1tfUxkN (remove the spaces)

The Story Behind The Picture
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Story 8: In the Dark

A painful accident, a slip, and old, rusty door hinges.

An odd collection of things, but such were the sources of Ash and Misty's current predicament. A late night stroll on Ash's part had led him to discover Misty sitting alone in the lobby. She had claimed to be thinking to herself, though she wouldn't confess what the topic of her nocturnal contemplation was. Rather than prod her about it, Ash had joined her, and the two had spent time conversing with each other. In that span of time, they'd come to realize how rare it was for them to be alone like that, where they could share secrets they would otherwise keep private. They found themselves liking it much more than people who were just "friends" would, but being as stubborn as they were, they were less than anxious to share that bit of information. Even so, they confided in each other caringly, relishing in the serenity of a moment in which they were unsure they'd be able to share again anytime soon.

Of course, they knew sleep was a necessity for their health, so eventually, they'd begun heading to their rooms to sleep. At one point, however, their eyes had met, and a silent message had been clearly sent, telling each other that they wanted that connection again. In their walk, they were slightly oblivious to what rooms they were passing, and as such believed that they were at Misty's room. Feeling gentlemanly, Ash offered to open her door for her. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't paying enough attention to his actions. As a result, he found the door slamming into his bare foot as he swung it open. His hand shot to his mouth as he yelped painfully. His other hand grasped his foot as he brought it up, hopping up and down to keep his balance. Misty moved to his side, helping to make sure he didn't fall. Unfortunately, she got to him moments too late, as he slowly began falling towards the inside of the room, which was in fact a closet. A slip of feet and an accidental grasping of the doorknob found Ash and Misty locked inside, as the door had jammed.

Currently, Ash was tending to his wound, a small bruise on the side of his foot. Misty was sitting beside him, not uttering a word. Due to a lack of a light bulb, it was far too dark to make out anything. Their shoulders brushed against each other, which was the only indication that they were next to each other. Their first idea had been to pound the door and call for help, but they deemed it a bad idea to wake the entire center. At this point, they figured just waiting until morning was the simplest solution, even if it meant sleeping in an old closet.

"Is your foot feeling any better, Ash?" Misty asked, concerned for the boy at her side.

"Yeah, I'm alright. It's just a little sore." Ash smiled at her, momentarily forgetting that she was unable to see it. He heard her shuffle next to him, her hip pressing against him. Tender warmth grew in his cheeks at their closeness.

"Where does it hurt?" He heard her ask. Her hand rested on his ankle, although it was the wrong foot.

He chuckled. "The side of my foot." He felt her move to the spot, gently rubbing it. "Wrong foot, Misty." He heard her make a noise of embarrassment, making him chuckle once more. He decided to aid her by directing her hand to the correct spot, taking a hold of it. He felt his breath get caught in his throat as he savored the softness of her skin. Slowly, he placed her hand on the sore area, though he was hesitant to release his hold. Eventually, he had to, lest he tempt her suspicion.

A different air surrounded them as Misty nursed his aching foot. They knew what it was, and it stirred furious blushes in their cheeks. Regardless…they enjoyed it, and they knew the other enjoyed it as well. Misty scooted closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Ash nuzzled his cheek into her hair, taking in the soft scent. It sent a shiver through his body, making him grin.

"Hey, Misty?"

"Yeah?"

"My foot feels better now."

"Oh, okay."

Her voice was littered with bubbly light-heartedness as she ceased her ministrations. She placed her hands on her lap, her legs bent and laying horizontally on the ground. It was still much too dark to see anything, so physical contact was their only indication of where their bodies where. For minutes, the closet was silent, leaving the two to their own thoughts. It was a comfortable quiet, as they sat together. Of course, they preferred to say "cuddled", though not out loud.

"Hey, Ash?"

"Yeah?"

"What are you thinking about?"

The boy rested his head against the wall, closing his eyes to relax. His dark blindness didn't change in the least, but it was more calming. "About what we were talking about in the lobby."

"What about it?" The girl asked next to him.

"You said that you always know when you REALLY like someone, 'cause you like liking them." Ash knew Misty was grinning, whether or not he could see it.

"And after that, you said you knew you liked someone." Misty replied, inching closer to him.

Ash nodded to himself. "I do."

He heard Misty giggle. He liked when she giggled. Made her seem more girlish, he'd thought to himself. In thinking that, he'd taken the first step in acknowledging that Misty was a girl, not just his best friend. He'd thought about it for a long time, before coming to the conclusion that he was indeed crushing on her. He didn't freak out upon reaching the realization; he'd simply went along with his feelings, and over time, they'd grown. He now found red cheeks to be his latest fashion statement, as many blushes had graced his face during his travels with her.

"Hey, Misty?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you like anyone?"

Misty shifted nervously next to him, twiddling her thumbs together. "Yeah."

Ash placed a hand on her shoulder. "Well, who is it?"

Misty laughed joyfully, loving his touch. "Well, he's a Pokémon Trainer. He's really dense, and always gets overconfident, but he's sweet, and always cares about his Pokémon and his friends. He's my best friend in the whole world, and…he's sitting right next to me."

Ash blinked. "But, Misty…it's just me and you in here."

Misty giggled once more. "I know."

Ash then got the idea, and grinned goofily. He closed his eyes, chuckling out of humbled happiness. She'd basically admitted to liking him, and he was sure she knew he liked her back. The atmosphere of the room warmed, as Ash couldn't remove the smirk from his face.

"Hey, Ash?"

"Yeah?"

"Wanna hold my hand?"

A gentle smile graced Ash's lips as he laughed lightly. Her voice was adorable, and the tiniest hints of meekness were in her voice. His hand found her bare shoulder, and he slowly descended down, making sure to take in the smoothness of her skin. He felt her shiver at his touch, his fingertips gently grazing her elbow as he moved further. He reached her wrist, where his fingers marched into her palm, which was facing upwards. Lovingly, his fingers intertwined with hers, taking a firm hold on her hand. The girl cuddled deeper into him, her heart bouncing wistfully.

"Hey, Misty?"

"Yeah?"

"Your hair smells nice."

The redhead laughed, shifting her head into a more comfortable on his shoulder. Ash was such a sweetheart, whether or not he knew it. And in a way, she liked that he wasn't aware of just how sweet he could be. Complimenting the smell of her hair was such an adorable comment. Or maybe it was because it was Ash saying it that made it so special. She inhaled softly as a cheery blush took its place next to her grin.

Peacefully, the two allowed the dark silence to surround them, leaning on each other as the atmosphere to adapted to their feelings. Emotions similar to the ones they experienced in the lobby returned to them, as they were calm and still. No words were spoken; none were needed.

With darkness around them, they weren't even able to tell if they were looking at each other. However, something in their pounding hearts assured them that their eyes were meeting. Ash jumped, startled, as he felt something touch his cheek. Misty's hand. He relaxed slightly, but his heart was still racing radically. He heard a shifting, and felt Misty's body turn, and he sensed the girl was facing her body towards him. He did the same, sitting on his feet. Ash heard Misty shuffle gently, and for a moment, they lost physical contact. Then, he felt a great weight sit on his lap, and two kneeling legs stationed themselves at the side of his legs. Next, a pair of arms snaked around his neck, and there was something pressing against his chest. Well, two things, really, and Ash felt his face heat up in embarrassment.

Gulping lightly, he inhaled, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. He felt something soft come in contact with his nose, and it only took him two seconds to realize it was the tip of her nose. Their intimacy sent his heart soaring speedily. He shivered, holding Misty for support, as he felt he would fly away without her grip. He felt her adjust herself on him, and he smirked.

"Comfy?"

"You're a good seat."

He laughed, as did she, at…well, they weren't sure. But it felt like the right thing to do. They felt incredibly comfortable with each other in that moment. No worries about battles, or owed bikes, or Team Rocket, or anything. It was just them, alone.

And they loved it.

"You know…I like you a lot, Ash."

The comment seemed to come out of nowhere, and it struck Ash like lightning. He blinked, realizing how hard his heart was pounding. He felt his face blush, and if he had access to his hands, he would have rubbed the back of his head bashfully. He wracked his brain, trying to think of the right thing to say in response. Of course, he wasn't known for his wit, so he made do with the first comment that exited his mouth. "I like you a lot, too."

He couldn't see her reaction, but he felt her body shift bashfully. Gingerly, her nose shifted, turning sideways. His eyes pouted, wondering what she was going to do. It was too dark to make anything out, so had no idea what to expect.

It was then that he felt a pair of lips press against his own.

Now, not expecting such an affectionate action, Ash figured he'd pass out, or be too shocked to do anything in response. In reality, his hold on her increased, and he pushed into the kiss, savoring the taste of her lips. There was something intoxicating about her, as his hands lightly tickled the skin above the back of her waist.

Misty. Misty. Misty.

Her name rang through his head, as if it was hypnotizing itself into his brain. This girl, this special person that meant the world to him. In that moment, he experienced what it meant to feel, see, and think nothing but one person.

Misty, his best friend.

Misty, his mentor.

Misty, the girl to give him his first kiss.

Misty, the girl he loved…

xxxxx

Alright, people, it looks like another winner, eh? Hope you liked it! See ya soon! REVIEW!