This is for Vulpixi Misa for placing first in my strange pairings contest! I hope you like it! (I worked my butt off on this story! Since I don't watch Pokemon, I had to look up a whole bunch of stuff to make this story sound even halfway legit. Thanks for reading anyway ^-^ )

Warning!: Comashipping!

"Fernape!" Infernape wailed as it fell to the ground, motionless and defeated.

"Infernape, no!" Ash called as he rushed to his Pokemon's side. Kneeling down before it, he picked it up carefully in his arms and smiled down at it. The Pokemon looked back up to him and gave him a look of disappointment. Despite his 4th defeat from his rival, Ash looked as if he had just beaten the champion.

"You did such a great job, Infernape. You really tried your best. Thanks," he said as he took out its pokeball. In a red flash, it disappeared into the red and white sphere.

"How pathetic…" Paul remarked quietly. Silently taking out Magmortar's pokeball and returning his Pokemon, he scowled down at it.

"Is that all you've got?" he asked it rhetorically.

Hearing this, the raven-haired boy stood from the ground and gave an angry look at the other.

"Why do you have to be like that, Paul? Your Pokemon do their best to gain your respect and they battle their hardest but you brush it off like they don't even try!" Ash yelled.

"Hn. I don't need your lectures," Paul stated bluntly. Burrowing his hands in his pockets, he turned without a word and began to walk away.

Seeing this, Ash growled and ran to catch up with him.

"Ash, wait!-" Dawn began to yell before Brock put a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Just let him go. You know Ash; he won't stop once he had his mind set on something," Brock reasoned. Dawn gave him a defiant look for a moment before dropping it and sighing. She knew he was right.

"Paul!" Ash yelled, gaining on the purple-haired boy.

Hearing the footsteps coming from behind him, Paul gave an exasperated sigh and stopped. He knew there was no escaping the annoying trainer when he had something to say, so he turned around to see the boy running full speed toward him.

Catching his breath, Ash stopped and looked up into his rival's angry, impatient scowl. Ash backed away a little and then broke out in a scowl of his own.

"What do you want," Paul stated more than asked.

"What do I want? I want to know why you always act like such an arrogant little brat that never shows any feeling other than hate and disrespect! Do you know that pretty much everyone you meet hates you, with the exception of Barry, because you act like such a jerk?" Ash yelled, curling his hands into fists.

Paul didn't move or show any feeling at Ash's request. Then, as if nothing had been said, he closed his eyes and began to walk away again.

Ash looked shocked for a moment and then ran to catch up with him once more.

"Paul!" Ash yelled. Paul continued to walk without slowing down.

"PAUL!" Ash yelled once more. Getting close enough, he grabbed Paul's shoulder and spun him around to where he could see the other's face. What he saw shocked him.

Paul had tears streaming down his face, showing no signs of stopping or slowing down.

Ash quickly let go of his shoulders and looked confused for a moment.

Paul was crying.

Ash didn't know what to do. He stood there blankly for a moment, watching more tears stream down his rival's face and listening to his uneven intakes of breath. Finally, he decided to speak.

"P-Paul. What… What's wrong?" Ash asked.

Paul didn't respond for a moment, but looked up into Ash's face.

"Nothing…" was his only shaky word. Turning once again, he walked deeper into the forest. Ash didn't stop him this time; he was too shocked to move.

Ash stood there with a dumb-struck look on his face. Maybe he had imagined Paul crying..?

No. Those tears were all too real.

Despite himself, Ash called out to Paul's disappearing figure.

"Paul! Meet me behind the Pokemon Center tonight! At 8:00! I want to talk to you!" he called.

Paul hesitated, then simply continued to walk.

Thinking about what had just happened, Ash's eyes widened.

He had just asked Paul, the meanest and most cold-hearted person he had ever seen, to meet him in a secluded place to 'talk'.

Oh well. The damage was already done.

Ash then doubted if Paul would really come. He could just blow it off and think Ash was stupid for even hoping he would show up.

He finally decided he would still wait for Paul nonetheless.

. . . . . . .

When Ash came back to the area he and Paul had battled, Brock and Dawn rushed up to him.

"Ash!" they both called in their usual manner.

"Hey, guys," Ash responded in a spaced-out way. He continued to walk straight past them without a word, leaving Brock and Dawn staring at each other with a confused look.

"Ash? What's wrong with you? What did Paul do to you?" Dawn asked, catching up with him.

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Listen, we need to get to the Pokemon Center… to heal everybody…" Ash stated blankly. He shoved his gloved hands in his pockets in a very Paul-like manner and walked off, once again leaving Brock and Dawn with confused stares.

. . . . . . .

When the trio arrived at the Pokemon Center, Brock did his love speech for nurse Joy, which, of course, failed thanks to Croagunk.

Usually, Ash would be embarrassed and try to apologize for his friend's ignorance, but he just stood there with a blank stare on his face. Dawn noticed this and turned to him.

"Ash? What's wrong?" Dawn asked from beside him.

Ash glanced at her with a look that told her that he wasn't going to say anything. She seemed to understand and brushed off her own question.

"Can we get a room please, nurse Joy?" Dawn asked.

"Of course!" she said happily as she pulled a key from her desk and handed it to Ash.

"Thanks," Ash said with no emotion.

Ash looked at the Pokemon Center's wall clock.

6:49 he thought.

"Guys, I think I'll go take a shower now," Ash stated while walking away to their room.

"Uh… ok…" Dawn responded, but Ash was too far gone to hear it.

"What's wrong with him?" Brock asked, returning suddenly from whatever place Croagunk had dragged him to.

"I'm not sure…" Dawn said.

. . . . . . .

After his shower, Ash put on clean clothes and looked at the clock. It read 7:45

He wondered if Paul would even show up, or if he would take it as a joke and not waste his time.

He finally decided to just go outside and wait. Maybe Paul would come through for him.

. . . . . . . . .

"Ash! Where are you going?" Dawn called.

Ash had placed his hand on the center's door handle and was almost outside when he heard the familiar voice coming his way. He sighed inwardly and turned to face her.

"Out," he responded simply.

"Out where?" she pressed.

"Just out to get some supplies," he lied.

"At 7:55 at night? Come on, where are you really going?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.

Ash inwardly sighed again and then quickly thought of a cover up.

"I wanted to go at night because there's bound to be a cute girl at the Pokemart, and I knew that Brock would go with me if I went out during the day, so I thought I would save us all the trouble," he said smoothly.

Ash could tell that Dawn was still skeptical, but after a moment, she nodded and returned to their room.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ash turned and walked outside.

The night air blasted him in the face. It was cold, but at the same time… relaxing. His fears that Paul wouldn't show up vanished as he took in the night scene.

The grass reflected the moonlight which gave it a beautiful white glow. Kricketunes chirped and Hoothoots called as he continued to walk towards the back of the Pokemon Center.

Finally reaching the back wall, he took a seat on the ground and waited patiently for Paul to come. Half of him wanted to believe that the boy would come, but the other half had serious doubts.

A few moments later, a strong, cold wind came, making Ash shiver as it blew past. Suddenly, his hat came off with it and the wind blew it towards the corner of the Pokemon Center.

"My hat!" Ash yelled into the air as he got up off the ground in an attempt to catch it.

All of a sudden, a hand came out from behind the wall and caught it. Ash stopped in shock as the person came around the corner.

Paul.

"Paul! You showed up!" Ash said incredulously. Paul's ever-present scowl turned deeper at his statement.

"Of course I showed up! You asked me to, didn't you?" he asked.

"Well… yeah, but I just thought that you would blow me off," Ash said.

"Hn," was Paul's only response.

"Uh… thanks for catching my hat," Ash said. Paul then realized that he was still holding the other's hat; quite tightly. Glaring down at it, he shoved it in Ash's direction disgustedly.

"Whatever. So, why did you want me to come here?" Paul asked.

Ash thought for a moment while he put his hat firmly back in its place. How did he exactly want to phrase his question? He finally decided to just be blunt.

"I wanted to know why you were crying today in the forest," Ash said sternly.

Paul flinched at his request. He'd forgotten that Ash had seen that.

"…" Paul was silent.

"Paul. Answer me," Ash stated again.

Paul hesitated before responding.

"It's... complicated," Paul said.

"I've got time," Ash said back.

Paul was surprised at Ash's willingness. Suddenly, Ash grabbed Paul's hand and pulled him over to where he had been sitting before. Not letting go, he sat down, dragging Paul down with him. Paul blushed and jerked his hand away.

"Now, what happened? Why were you crying?" Ash asked again, oblivious to Paul's blush.

Paul looked at Ash's sincere face and knew that he was genuinely worried and this wasn't just a way to make fun of him for being weak.

"… You were the reason," Paul said, looking anywhere but Ash's face.

Ash looked like he had seen a ghost. He was the reason? What had he done? He had never made anyone cry before.

"M-me? What did I do?" Ash asked.

"It wasn't what you did… it was what you said," Paul corrected.

"What I said? How did that hurt your feelings? You say horrible things to me every time we meet! If you expect me to apologize-"

"WOULD YOU SHUT UP FOR 5 SECONDS?" Paul yelled, cutting him off.

Ash shut up.

Paul sighed before continuing.

"What you said reminded me of when I… was little…" Paul began, "I used to look up to my father like a hero. He taught me how to ride a bike and play baseball; just like any good dad would. But one day, he got fired from his job. Then… my dad turned into a full-fledged alcoholic. He would come home every night after he returned from the bar and yell at my innocent mother for hours after. I tried to stop him a few times, but that only got me black eyes and insults, which would make the kids at school tease me. My father would tell me all the time that I was useless and disrespective. He told me that a spoiled brat like me didn't even deserve to be alive. Reggie was a different story though. Dad would praise him like he was an angel. His reason for thinking this was because he never got in the way of anything he did. He would always be out with his friends or be doing something that would 'change the world for the better' in my dad's eyes. He told me that Reggie was born lucky… he told me that I was lucky to be born. He told me that I should be… grateful to have a home…"

Paul stopped to avoid breaking into tears. Ash continued to sit looking at his rival with a horrified look. Regaining composure, Paul continued.

"One time I had a Pikachu… a lot like yours. My mother had given it to me for my 10th birthday; it was my very first Pokemon. I loved that little Pikachu. I taught it a whole bunch of incredible moves, including volt tackle. My mother and I kept it secret from my father, because we knew that if he found it, he would kill all three of us. I did a real good job of hiding it, too. I kept it completely unknown for 3 months. Then one day I went outside… and Pikachu got out. My dad found it and asked me and my mother if we had anything to do with this. We both knew that lying wouldn't help, since he would eventually find out anyway. He gave my mother and me an extra good beating that night. The next day… I found my Pikachu dead. Fearing for my safety, my mother packed mine and Reggie's things and told him to take me somewhere safe. That's how we ended up in Veilstone. A few years later, I went out on my Pokemon journey… alone… and that's the way it's always been," Paul finished.

Ash didn't know how to respond for a moment. He was lost in what his rival had just told him. Finally getting his thoughts together, he spoke.

"Paul… I had no idea… I'm so sorry-"

"Save your apologies. I don't need your sympathy," Paul said blankly. Little did Ash know, that's what Paul wanted most.

Ash paused for a moment before continuing.

"Paul, to me, you've always been hard to figure out. But now… I think I really get you," Ash said.

Paul turned to him and looked into his amber eyes.

"Now I know why you've always been so interested in my Pikachu. And I also know why you are so mean to everyone," Ash stopped and looked back into Paul's eyes, "it's because you're afraid, isn't it."

Paul seemed to be stunned by Ash's statement.

"You're afraid that if you get too close to anyone, they'll betray you, just like your father did. But you can't let one occurrence guide your life. You'll never be happy or have friends. And sure, even if it's working for you now, just think about when you get older. You'll be alone for everything. Can you even imagine how horrible that will be?" Ash asked.

Paul's eyes sparkled at Ash's words. Ash really cared, and it made him feel… good..?

"I…" Paul was speechless.

"Just think about what I've said. Thank you for coming and trusting me enough to tell me… what you told me," Ash said. He got up and began to walk back towards the front of the Pokemon Center.

Suddenly, a warm hand caught him by the arm. Ash turned around to see Paul giving him a look that told him that he desperately wanted to say something. Catching this, Ash walked back over and sat back down beside him, closer than before. After a long time of painful silence, Paul finally spoke.

"Ash… what you said was true. My dad just really hurt me, physically and emotionally, so I guess I just built a wall, blocking everyone out…" Paul said quietly.

-AN: This is where Ash gets way OOC-

"It's not uncommon that people get in your same situation. How often do we hold onto our meager scraps of life, clutching them so closely to us, failing to realize that we gain everything by letting go. We nurse our grudges and anger over pasts slights and abuses, telling ourselves we are entitled to our resentments after all we have endured, destroying ourselves and our happiness in the process," Ash said.

Paul looked into Ash's eyes very intently, listening to every word like his life depended it.

"Ya know," Ash continued, leaning against the back of the Pokemon Center and looking up at the stars that beautifully decorated the night sky, "we expect miracles to happen every day, and when they don't, we become disappointed because we are not satisfied with what does happen. But honestly, we often fail to see the splendor of the simple everyday things and seize the moments that present themselves to us," Ash stopped and looked back at Paul with happy eyes.

"We seek peace but remain so busy doing, planning to do, or remembering what we have done that we have no time for it. You have to learn to let go and move on. Do you understand?" Ash asked.

Ash looked into his rival's eyes and saw that the other did understand- very well.

"I… never wanted to get close to anyone else because I was so afraid that what happened to me as a kid would happen again… I didn't even want to take the chance…" Paul said.

Ash could see the years of pain and battling emotions in Paul's deep amethyst eyes.

"You took the chance, though, Paul. You got close to me," Ash said smiling.

Unbelievably, Paul slightly smiled back.

"I… guess I did," Paul admitted. Violet and amber eyes stared at each other intently for a moment before Ash blinked and his expression noticeably changed into something unreadable. Paul confusedly blinked back.

"I want to give you something," Ash said.

Ash smiled and took one of Paul's hands, turning it upwards to where Ash could see his palm. Paul blushed but didn't pull back. Ash reached into his own pocket and dug around for a moment. Finally seeming to find what he was looking for, Ash pulled out something that was not visible because his hand was covering it completely. Paul was very curious and watched as Ash delicately held Paul's hand and placed his curved fingers softly on his palm. Opening and releasing what he held, Ash moved his hand and Paul looked down to see a beautiful silver soothe bell with a small yellow ribbon tied around the top lying in its place. His eyes widened and Ash smiled at this.

"You… kept it?" Paul asked. Ash nodded and continued to smile.

"I have had this since the day you gave… threw it at me," Ash said, smiling sarcastically. Paul gave him a look of silent apology.

"I've kept it because I thought one day that you might need it back… so… there it is," Ash continued sheepishly.

Paul glanced down at the small round object and then back into Ash's eyes. Wide pools of happy amber stared back.

"Thanks… Ash…" Paul said. Ash's eyes widened and he looked shocked. Paul looked back at him confused.

"What?" he asked the other.

"It's just… you've never called me by my name before. It's always been 'loser' or 'idiot'," Ash said. Paul blushed and closed his eyes, looking anywhere but Ash's. Ash looked more confused than ever.

"Paul… are you… blushing?" Ash asked. Paul's blush deepened as Ash scooted closer.

"Hn… of course not… only losers blush," Paul countered. Paul's eyes shot open when he felt one of Ash's hands touch his face. Ash giggled.

"It feels like you're blushing. You're awfully warm," Ash smiled. Paul glanced at Ash and scowled, still blushing. Ash's smile dropped and he also scowled.

"This'll probably sound really cliché, but if you keep scowling like that, your face will get stuck that way. Why don't you try a different expression for once?" Ash teased. Paul's scowl deepened. (If that was possible.) Ash thought for a moment before his face lit up in amusement.

"Well, if you won't change your expression…" Ash paused and caught Paul's shoulders, "I guess I'll have to change it for you."

Suddenly, Ash pulled Paul into a hug. (Fooled you, didn't I? ;) ) Paul's eyes widened in complete shock.

Surprisingly, Paul didn't pull away like he thought he would. It was almost… nice..? And… comforting. He felt so safe and content, like he really belonged in Ash's arms. Slowly and hesitantly, he began to wrap his own arms around Ash. Once his arms got all the way around the other, he closed his eyes.

Soon, his grip began to get tighter and tighter. Ash noticed this, smiled, and also began to grip Paul tighter. Scooting closer, Paul melted further into the embrace, Ash responding in the same way. Their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly; like jigsaw pieces.

Paul felt his blush return as they continued to hug. He actually liked having the other this close.

Sooner than Paul wanted, Ash slowly began to part.

Ash had to smile at the other's expression. His scowl was completely gone and a deep red blush covered his face.

"See? Was that so hard?" Ash asked rhetorically. Paul simply blinked in response. Ash laughed.

"Ya know…" Ash began, "you're actually kinda cute when you blush."

Paul's blush deepened again. Ash busted out laughing and fell back on the ground at this.

"WHAT'S SO FUNNY?" Paul yelled. Ash continued to laugh. Paul felt completely embarrassed and his pride had taken a huge blow. His scowl returned and his blush completely faded.

"Y… You! You're what's funny! I've never seen you so… so embarrassed! It's so… so… funny!" Ash said through laughs. Paul growled and then pulled Ash up from the ground, bringing his face just a few inches from his. He wasn't going to let Ash get all the enjoyment out of this. Ash immediately stopped laughing and his breathing hitched.

Closing the gap, Paul pressed his lips to Ash's. Now it was Ash's turn to be shocked. His eyes widened, he blushed deeper than he ever had in his life, and his heart rate skyrocketed.

Paul, being completely inexperienced, just pulled Ash closer. He was going to make Ash feel just as embarrassed as he had felt. Then, just as he was about to pull away, something happened that he never would have expected.

Ash started kissing back.

The shock finally wearing off, Ash's eyes closed and he felt completely indescribable. He had never been kissed before, but he instantly fell in love with the feeling. He, like Paul, had no idea what he was doing, but finally decided to just melt into it. They held each other in place for a few more moments.

Finally running out of air, the two parted at the same time.

Despite Paul's plan to make Ash the one embarrassed, the moment the other boy had begun to kiss back, he began to blush again. Ash had the same expression. Their mouths hung open and their eyes were wide; deep blushes covering their cheeks and the bridges of their noses.

"What… was that for?" Ash asked shakily, his breath hitting Paul's face. They were still only inches apart from each other.

"I-I… was… trying to make you… embarrassed," Paul said quietly.

"Well…" Ash began, "congratulations." He smiled. Paul smiled back.

Suddenly, Paul busted out laughing, startling Ash in the process. For some reason, Ash started laughing, too.

"W-why are you… laughing?" Ash asked through his own laughs.

"W-why are you laughing?" Paul answered with a question.

"You look so funny when you're embarrassed!" they said at the same time.

Soon, the two were on the ground, holding their hurting stomachs.

Finally stopping, the two laid on the grass-covered ground looking up at the stars, only a few centimeters apart.

"Hey, Paul…" Ash said from beside him.

"Hm?"

"… Never mind… it's dumb…" Ash said, turning away from the other.

Paul looked surprised for a moment before he grabbed Ash and turned him over to face him. Ash's breathing hitched, but was surprised to see Paul with a very content look on his features.

"Come on. What were you going to say?" Paul asked. Ash blushed a little from the close contact, but quickly shook it off and sighed.

"I just thought that if you could trust me now… I was… just going to ask if… you maybe wanted… to… travel with me… er, us," Ash stuttered. Paul smiled widely and chuckled a little.

"Sure. I do think I can trust you. And I also think that it would be… fun. That is… if your friends don't mind," Paul said.

"Oh, trust me. They won't," Ash said with a mischievous look on his face.

Paul smirked then wrapped an arm around Ash's shoulders, bringing him even closer. They both blushed, but enjoyed the close contact.

"Thanks," Paul finally said. Ash looked up at Paul with a confused expression.

"For?" Ash asked.

"For helping me let go. I just didn't know how, but what you said really broke through to me. I'm glad I came here tonight," Paul sighed, closing his eyes. Ash's eyes sparkled as he smiled and closed his eyes also, lying peacefully in Paul's open arms.

I hope you liked this! It was super hard to write since I don't know their personalities or anything. But I'd love a review! (Please don't bash me on this. I really am not very good at writing romance, but I really wanted to write a comashipping story for Vulpixi Misa.) Thanks for reading!* - Dawn ^-^