Vanish

Chapter 20

"So, Ash... It turned out to really be for you...," May stated when Ash came back into the kitchen. "I can tell, since you took so long."

"Oh, yeah, it was for me alright," Ash replied, grabbing his glass of water and finishing it off in one gulp.

"Who was it?" Brock asked.

"Professor Oak," Ash responded nonchalantly.

"And...? What'd he say? Does he know what to do?" Misty inquired.

"Well, after I told him most of my very long story... He had a...suggestion..."

"Well?" Misty and May said in unison.

"He said the only way he could think of was to somehow get catch Pikachu-without a pokéball-and make him go down memory lane... He suggested that I make him faint first, so I don't get hurt," Ash finally said.

"Easy," said Drew coolly. "Just make all of your pokémon attack Pikachu, make him faint, get rid of those Team Rocket junkie guys... And voila! Easy Pikachu."

"Yeah, but if I know Ash, he won't want to attack Pikachu," May pointed out. "Right, Ash?"

"Yeah... But I guess I have to..."

"Once we get out of here, we can do that," Misty stated. "And we'll have Pikachu back in no time."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa... Where'd all this 'we' stuff come from?" Ash demanded. "You guys should know by now that I don't want yah coming with me. It's too dangerous..."

Misty shot out of her chair and came around the table to stare Ash in the face. "And I think you should know by now that I don't want you to give us that shit! We're going to get out of here, and we're going to get Pikachu back together."

Ash clenched his fists at his sides angrily. He didn't even bother trying to explain it to them again. He didn't want to do this but... He was probably going to have to run from them again. Ash sighed inwardly. He really wished they would understand, and he bet they wished the same exact thing.

Misty placed her hands on her hips. "Good. It's settled then. When Norman and Caroline let us leave, we'll all go and find Team Rocket."

A thought struck Ash right then and there. I do need help finding Team Rocket... Maybe if we just find out where they are... I can take it from there...

"...Um... Not to rain on anyone's parade but... I've got a contest to go to, you know," Drew said. "It's the day after tomorrow, and I'd really like to win my fifth ribbon."

Misty sighed. What more did she expect from Drew? He didn't know Ash, nor did he like him. "Fine. I'll call the helicopter again and get you back to Mossdeep tomorrow. Anyone else care to go?"

Indecisiveness chewed away at May's insides. She wanted to find Pikachu... But she wanted to go with Drew as well... If he were to get too far away, who'd know when she'd see him next? She had been thinking about him so much over the past few days... She'd never forget how he was there for her when Beautifly almost died... "I'm going too," May finally said.

"But, May!" Max protested. "Don't you wanna help Ash too?"

May instantly began to feel guilty for speaking up at all.

"No, let her go. She's got a contest to go to. Let her follow her dream. Don't get caught up in my problems," Ash said flatly.

"Thanks, Ash." May looked to Drew. "Then it's you and me."

Drew smiled slightly and nodded a little. "Right."

Max was dumbfounded. How could May even think about contests now? Unless... Was Brock right? Does May really like Drew? Ewwww...