Obsidian and Plum: Unlikely Events

Chapter 2 - Forgotten

Paul had kept a close eye on Ash during the past couple of hours – Ash's body having finally warmed up, but the young man hadn't shown any signs of regaining consciousness at all. By late evening, Paul's worry for the obsidian-haired trained had increased tenfold; he knew that Ash's state of unconsciousness didn't bode well.

Paul checked his pokégear – still no signal! He switched it off again to preserve the battery. Ash's pokégear was completely water logged – he'd already tried it – just in case. Sighing in frustration, Paul rested his eyes and leant against the wall. Alone, he knew he'd be fine to wait out the storm, but he was not alone, and Ash needed to be seen by a doctor.

Despite his anxious thoughts, Paul soon started to drift to sleep. He could hear the rain; a constant loud fizz outside the cave; the trickling drops as water joined and cascaded off the vegetation to the ground in small flowing streams. The wind howled, causing destruction in its wake. He listened to it all, hoping it would distract his mind, but he kept seeing images of Ash: Ash's naked, attractive body: Ash's obsidian-hair and bare chest: Ash's waist, only covered in thin boxer and... And that was the last thing he wanted to be thinking about!

He tried again to listen to Mother Nature's cries, and eventually he dozed off, but he couldn't restrain his last sting of thoughts about the trainer.

'Pathetic how damn attractive he now is. He was annoyingly cute in Sinnoh with that sickening, constant cheeriness. Even then he confused the fuck outta me.'

---OOO---

Paul didn't know how long he'd slept for, but he was woken up by Pikachu screaming urgently at him and tugging at his top to gain his attention. Groggily, Paul opened his eyes and groaned. He looked at Pikachu with an angry expression, watching the yellow rat as it run over to Ash. It was then, with a mixture of relief and worry, that he saw Ash moving slightly.

Ash's head slowly rolled to one side, his eyes screwed tightly shut, and his hands and arms twitching. Paul could just about hear the small groans over the still crackling fire, and very quiet mumbling escaping the trainer's lips.

"Pika, Pika ... chu. No, no..." Ash mumbled in distress, breathless, panicked and strained.

"Ash?" Paul called to him, rushing over and trying to get his attention. He wanted to Ash to wake up, that way he would be able to take water at least.

'I'm no good at this shit! The comforting, caring type of crap is Reggie's job. Fuck!'

Paul watched as Pikachu nuzzled Ash's face, calling out to him quietly in his sickly sweet pokémon tone – but Ash still seemed confused and unconscious.

"No –– gotta –– going." Ash's speech was mostly incoherent and strained as he continued to mumble. Paul gently shook him at the shoulders.

"Ash! Can you hear me? Ash!"

Ash's eyes opened a fraction but they fluttered. His eyes held no focus and looked pained. "G ... Gary?" Asked Ash, confused. His eyes rolled into the back of his head.

Confused himself, Paul's eyes narrowed as he frowned. "Errr ... No! It's Paul!'' He wondered who the fuck Gary was.

Ash's eyes continued to dance in his head, he seemed to be fighting consciousness – trying to stay awake, but not able to grab the cord back to reality.

"Brock?" Ash croaked out; his breathing laboured.

Paul sighed – he was worried about Ash's state of mind.

"Ash, It's Paul!" He tried once again, somewhat exasperated. "Paul! You need to wake up now see!"

"Pika Pii!" Pikachu cried, as if agreeing with Paul's words.