Author's notes: A quick one-shot I came up with, and a quick break (for me) from When a Dream is Done.

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Another city, another gym badge, another step towards the Pokémon league, another step to becoming the world's greatest Pokémon master.

That was Ash's plan of doing things. He already had one badge under his belt, he wanted a second, so he was on his way to Cerulean City with his best friend Pikachu, and his travelling partners.

At least that was the plan anyway. A certain fiery redhead was making this plan very difficult. There were those select times when Ash rued the day he stole her bike (the wrecking part was not his fault!), now was such a time.

Misty had put herself between him, Brock and Pikachu, and the road to Cerulean city. With arms spread open, she was going on about this place named Vermilion city (it had a gym, so it was just after Cerulean on his 'to go to' list), but she kept going on about other things he didn't care about.

She'd clasped her hands together, her eyes closed in an expression Ash couldn't name as she finished her little speech about the city.

"...and there's a little park way up on the hill where you can sit and watch the sunset that's so romantic."

Ash took note of one word out of all that.

"Romantic."

Romantic! Romantic! Romantic! ROMANTIC! She'd been going on about that word for days, and it was really getting on his nerves!

Before she could continue; "Misty!"

She was snapped right out of her pose, visibly shocked by Ash's sudden outburst.

"I don't care about anything romantic!" He missed the hurt look which flashed across her face, instead rampaging right on. "Look, I'll make you a deal! You shut up about romance, period. I don't wanna hear it."

With that the look was gone, replaced by a potent anger mark. How dare this little brat be so insensitive! Didn't he know how to treat a lady? Her hand discreetly moved to her back, aiming for her bag. She needed her best friend. She'd beat that insensitivity right out of Ash's head, but she'd see what he'd come up with first.

The more tactless the "deal" was, the harder she could hit him.

"And in return I promise you, if I ever do care about this romance junk I'll come straight to you. Deal?"

Her hand stopped moving, and she felt her face suddenly burning. Did Ash just-?

"Misty?" He was utterly oblivious to what was in front of him, a trait he would hold...for the rest of his foreseeable future. "Do we have a deal?"

Yes...he had. After a brief, stunned silence her head stiffly moved.

That was definitely a nod. Ash smiled. "Good." He walked past her, utterly blind to yet another expression he couldn't possibly have identified.

Misty was still letting what Ash had said sink in. He had absolutely no interest in romance now, but when the time come he actually did, he'd-oh Arceus!

Ash had pretty much promised to be her boyfriend one day! She'd practically bagged that dense, cute little boy from Pallet Town! He was (eventually going to be) all hers! She could squeal, but her voice seemed to have vanished. Nothing could bring her down now. Come hell or high water, nothing, absolutely nothing in the entire world could possibly bring her down!

Nothing!

"Now can we get to Cerulean city already!?"