Gone Without a Trace [An AdvanceShipping Love Story]

Why? How? Who?

Ash's eyes went wide as May's lips met his. May grabbed his head with both of her hands and pressed her lips against his, adding pressure.

Ash didn't know what to do; did he want it to stop? Did he want to continue? He was paralyzed, so he did the only thing he could do.

"M-" Ash tried to say, but it was muffled by May's kiss. May noticed his attempt to say something, and broke the kiss, But not getting up off of him.

"Mmm..." Ash tried to say. It had been so long since he had actually spoke, he felt as if he had lost his voice, it was like trying to get an old clock to work after years of not being used.

"... Mmm..." Ash continued, trying to speak.

"You can do it, Ash," May urged, "Talk to me."

Pikachu had watched the scene unfold and scurried down the slope. He came to a stop next to Ash, watching his trainer and best friend try to speak. Despite the fact the Pikachu heard Ash talk to him through telepathy, he still longed to hear his trainer speak words aloud, there was something different about the audible communication that Pikachu liked so much better.

"M-M-Ma-" Ash continued trying.

May grabbed his left hand with her right. "You can do this, Ash," May said, "I understand it's hard, but you can do it."

"Pika Pikachu, PikaPi," Pikachu said, patting Ash on the shoulder.

"may..." He said weakly, his voice all scratchy and shaky. Ash covered his mouth and coughed several times. "M-May...?"

Tears began to build up in May's eyes. As well as Pikachu's, eyes. "Yeah Ash?" She asked, she was about to burst in happiness after hearing his voice again.

"W-what wa-as th-th-that for?" Ash asked.

May smiled and sighed. "Catching two Pokémon with one Pokéball, I guess," she told him.

Ash chuckled, "Y-you c-can't-t cat-tch t-two P-Po-Pokémon in one Po-Pokéball..." he said, "T-that's-s i-impossib-b-ble..."

May sweat-dropped, "It was a metaphor, dummy!" She playfully knocked on his head.

Ash tilted his head and raised a brow. "w-what?" he asked, he let out another cough. His voice still sounded extremely scratchy.

May rolled her eyes, "I mean, I accomplished two objectives in one action."

Ash raised his brow again, "What w-were the two ob-b-bject-tives?"

May laid her head down, not wanting to look Ash in the eye. "One, I wanted to get that mouth of yours to starting talking again, and second, to get a message across to you."

Ash tilted his head again, "W-what was th-the message?" he asked, coughing again.

May sighed and lifted her head again, looking at him, "You asked a lot of questions..."

Ash shrugged, "You don't give very c-clear answers..."

May sighed and laid her head back down on Ash's chest. "So what w-were you trying t-to tell me?" Ash asked.

May sweat-dropped, "Isn't it obvious?" She asked, "I like you! Gosh darn it! Why else would I kiss you?"

May was blushing a dark red at this point, but Ash couldn't tell. "Maybe... Uh... I-I had noodle on my lip?"

"Dear Arceus, you're hopeless..." May grumbled, but she smiled none the less, "But maybe that's why I've been so attracted to you."

"Wait..." Ash asked, "How long have y-you been attracted t-to me?"