Misty ran in the small roads of Pallet town between the green yards; panting and her heart beating fast. She finally got to the farm house Leaf has showed her: Ash's house.

She was wondering if yesterday had anything to do with the fact that he hasn't come this morning to see her. She tried to open the gate but it was locked. She kept banging hard on it.

"Ash!"

"Hey hey hey! What's all this shouting about? What's going on?" A voice shouted behind the large gate. It opened.

"Oh, it's you." Delia put her hand on her hip. "What do you want?"

"Look - I mean, what happened yesterday - it was an accident." Misty panted. "I meant that it didn't mean anything - it was just - Ash just-"

"What are you talking about?"

"There is nothing between me and Ash, Mrs. Ketchum. That's what I'm trying to say."

Delia kept staring at her. "Well..."

"Delia? Who is it?" Grandma came in sight. "Oh, it's the bride!"

Misty's eyes shot wide. "No! I'm-"

"She said there is nothing between her and Ash, my dear." Delia spoke in a flat tone. "I'm not sure what happened yesterday means then."

Misty didn't get why they stuck so hard to traditions. It was just a tradition. It didn't mean anything.

"What are you saying? Everything is so clear right now." Grandma pulled Misty by the arm inside the house. "You're the girl who's been going with him to the cliff! The rumors were true."

"Uh-"

"Come with me, sweetie. Ash is helping his dad with the wine packing but he'll be home soon." They closed the gate and started walking toward the house. "And we have a lot of things to discuss. Where are your parents?"

"But I'm not - it's not what you think it is! It has nothing - we're not together!"

When they got to the porch, an old man sitting asked, "Who is this lovely lady?"

"Don't stare too much, grandpa. Ash is marrying this girl."

"But - Ash!" Misty ran toward the raven haired when he showed up from the back of the house. He looked a bit surprised to see her.

"Misty?"

"Ash, tell them! They got everything wrong!" She shook his arm and pointed at his mother and grandmother. "They think you want to marry me."

"Oh."

"Okaaay. We're leaving. We got it." The two women got inside the house and closed the door.

Ash led her to the porch table and he sat down. "Come on, Mist. Sit."

"Ash-"

"Sit, it's fine."

Misty sat down and turned to look at Ash's grandfather.

"It's fine. He doesn't care." Ash chuckled. His grandfather was smoking a joint.

"Uh..."

"You look like you've seen a ghost, Mist. What's wrong?"

"The whole town got everything wrong!" Misty frowned. "Your fiancée Mina came this morning to Leaf's house! She was so mad. She thought we were getting married."

"What else?" Ash looked amused.

"Even Leaf thinks so - even your parents! And your grandmother!" Misty noticed Ash wasn't really taking her complains seriously. "This is not funny, Ash."

He shook his head. "But you just called Mina my fiancée and that sounded funny."

"Well! Your friend or supposed-fiancée or whoever she is!"

"Fiancée is a big word."

"Fiiine! Mina! Mina came and-"

"Stop freaking out, Mist." He put his hand over hers. "Would you like some wine?"

"You know I don't drink wine."

"You have to try."

"We've had this conversation before!" Misty pouted. "And plus, last time I listened to you, I spent the rest of the day eating."

"Hum, yeah, that's pretty bad. I'm sorry."

"Well, it was probably one of the things to try before dying..."

"Wine is-"

"No, please."

"Say, have you been drawing anything?" Misty had a feeling Ash was just trying to change the subject.

"Just usual stuff..."

"How about vineyards?"

"Huh?"

"I can take you to my family's. It could inspire you to draw something."

"I don't know, Ash. I don't want to cause you any trouble."

"You won't."

"It's fine. I can start painting some of the sketches I've already done."

"But you said you weren't convinced of how great they are."

"I only have four days left." Time flew so quickly. She's been enjoying her time so much she almost forgot she only had one month, and thank God her teacher called her yesterday to check on her and actually remind her of the deadlines.

"Wait... you're leaving?" Ash frowned.

"Yeah..." Misty felt a rush of sadness hanging over her head. "I need to start working on this."

"But..."

Misty looked at Ash.

"So, it's been almost a month since we met?" He asked in a lower voice.

"As it seems."

"It feels like... I don't know." Ash looked in front of him. "It's like I've known you forever."

Misty looked at him.

"I don't know why I feel like this. I'm... you're so pretty - it's a compliment-"

"I know it's a compliment." Misty smiled weakly.

"Misty..." He held her hands. "What happened yesterday - what I did yesterday... it wasn't an accident or a misunderstanding."

She licked her lips. He said, "I know I don't really sound like a twenty-five years old guy. I know I'm really immature and I do a lot of stupid things-"

"-Like offering me marijuana."

Ash chuckled nervously. His smile soon faded. "But..."

Misty's eyes didn't leave his.

"I like you."

Misty felt her heart race. She turned deep red.

"I know I'm ignorant compared to you! You're in college and you graduate this year and you know so much and you've been to places - I know I'm not your kind of guys and you probably have a boyfriend back in the city even if Leaf said you don't but I just wanted to say it because it's been bugging me for a very long time..."

He was panting by the time he's finished his little speech. He frowned at the redhead. "I'm sorry... I'm really sorry, Mist. I couldn't help it. I couldn't stop myself from liking you."

Misty didn't say anything.

"I know you can't date me or be with me or marry me or anything - you wouldn't, right?" He looked cautiously at her.

Misty was still silent.

"I knew it. I mean, I'm way too ignorant for you anyway - and you grew up in a city and I'm just- you can't waste time with me - I know I probably look ridiculous most of the time - I know that. I try hard but I just can't help looking like..."

"A villager?" She finally spoke up.

"I was going to say crap."

Misty shifted closer and placed a hand over his shoulder. "Ash, you're handsome."

"Thanks for the compliment."

"That was not a compliment!" Misty giggled. They were both blushing. "That was a fact."

"Do you like me?"

"Wasn't it obvious?"

"No!" Ash chuckled a bit. "I was assuming you'd think I'm ignorant or something."

"Ignorant? What even? Don't speak nonsense. I like you the way you are - villager and all." She moved close and hugged him.

"You can't like me."

"Yes, I can. I like who I want to like." Misty pulled away and smirked. "You're a rough town guy and I like that."

"Rough?"

"You climb trees, you jump off cliffs into the water, bugs don't bother you, your belly is hairy, you pick me and swing me over your shoulder when I'm tired and you worry about me and follow me until I get to Leaf's house."

Ash blinked.

"I'm a little weird, am I? It's fine. I like you the way you are."

"I don't think you know what you're talking about."

"Why?"

"I don't know. This seems so weird. I never thought you'd like me someday."

"Why are you saying that?"

"I was thinking we're words apart and you've seen better."

"I've seen better?" Misty giggled. "Please. I've only been seeing worse."

"And... it seems unfair to you."

"Why?"

He took off his straw hat and put it on the table. "Because I'm ignorant, compared to you."

"But I don't know how to manage vineyards."

"You're an artist and I'm..."

"You are?"

"I'm nothing."

Misty sighed "You're not nothing; you're Ash. And I'm not an artist; I'm Misty."

"You can date a lawyer or-"

"Maybe, but they will only want me for my body."

Ash looked uneasy. "I'm not like that - not that you're ugly or anything but-"

"I know, I know."

He cleared his throat. "I waited impatiently for the ceremony to do that, Mist."

"Maybe you could have just told me."

"I wanted everyone else to know, that," He brushed her cheek and smiled. "I'm in love with you; I'm in love with a city girl; I'm in love with a woman who is not from Pallet, that's okay and it doesn't change anything. We're all humans."

"Oh, Ash..." She felt like crying. Misty was really smitten with him, but she was leaving soon. "I can't stay and you can't leave."

Ash brought her close to his chest. "I just wanted you and everyone to know. I wanted to break the silence. Someone had to break this taboo and apparently it had to be me... and you."

"Ash..."

"People in here are very close-minded. They don't like outsiders. They don't like it when you don't marry a native. They feel offended." Ash smiled to himself. "I've always thought it was racist, but who would ever listen to a kid like me?"

She laughed. "You're not a kid."

"I knew you were different from the first time I saw you."

"Same."

The two pulled away. Ash got up. "I guess this is goodbye, then."

Misty got up as well. "We still have four-"

"Oh, no, I'd rather not see you anymore. It hurts, you know?" His voice was slightly shaking. "Thanks for everything. You made me feel this way - I never felt like this before. No woman made me feel this way before. It feels good - and bad at the same time, but it's alright. Thanks, Misty."

"I'm sorry..."

They hugged. Misty walked slowly over to the gate, her eyes getting teary with every step she made. She's never felt this way before, and Ash was right, because it felt so good yet so bad. She felt her heart sink. She felt her whole body sink. She felt like drowning when she thought that she'd never see Ash again. It's like he was a part of her; it's like leaving him is leaving a part of her... and lacking something.

"Yes."

Ash stopped in his tracks when Misty turned around and shouted. Even his grandfather looked up.

"My answer is yes." Misty breathed heavily. She smiled. "To the marriage proposal."

-

who can't wait for the epilogue?