Chapter 23

After the display of raw power from Ash at the tournament all the participants gave it their all and tried to go beyond their limit some trainer more than others and those people were those who were associated with Ash

" I have to make it to Ash .... i know he won't listen to us normally but if i can get to him through our match " thought Max

" I have to set things straight " thought May

And such thoughts were abundant in a lot of people

After Ash left the stadium he had somebody to meet up with

Anabel who was dressed to impress as she nervously twitched and kept glancing between the clock and the door sat in a fancy yet secluded cafe as if waiting for someone but her nervousness reached an all time high when she heard the bell of the restaurant door clang and there at the doorway stood the person she was waiting for.

Ash dressed in a plain black shirt which hugged his frame showing his well developed muscles and simple fitting jeans with combat boots made him look astonishingly attractive to a lot of refined ladies in the cafe as they watched him make his way towards the couch Anabel sat at as he stood infront of her and saw her nervousness at an all time high

" Is this seat taken ? " joked Ash with a small smile to ease her

"....." Anabel sat quite just staring at him with her conflicting feelings

" ....." Ash noticing the silence flicked her in her forehead

" Ouch..... what was that for " whined Anabel as tears formed at the corner of her eyes

" To bring you back to reality now may i sit down ? " questioned Ash jokingly

After the whole interaction and both got seated down Ash was normal as he casually placed his orders but Anabel on the other hand had some many questions that needed to be answered

" Ummmm is it alright if I ask you something? " questioned Anabel as she hung her head low

" I'll try to answer but i won't be able to answer all " Ash replied forming a stoic face

" Understood.... why have you never contacted me after you were set free " Asked Anabel as she looked him dead in his eyes

" I couldn't i had very little choice in people who i could contact without endangering them " replied Ash

" But why didn't you try could i have not been of any help " asked Anabel feeling a growing doom inside her

" No far from it ..... with your skills, resources and links it could have made my task easier " replied Ash

" than why didn't.. yo .." Anabel asked before being cut off

" Tell me Anabel how do you feel about hurting people or their Pokemon " Asked Ash as he now started back at her

" what does that have to do with the question " replied Anabel

" You see the world where i was stuck in had many sacrifices i and Lu- .... someone had to make many people innocent and guilty... had to be sacrificed to attain our goal " replied Ash with a sad smile as he placed his hand on his heart

" What do you mean tell me i want to know " begged Anabel seeing how weak Ash looked right now

" I just simply didn't want you to be stained .... you have a lot of things ahead of you .... it was better for you not to have been involved " replied Ash

" You make it sound like you are gonna disappear for good " asked Anabel with a growing fear

" ... " Ash remained silent

" what happen Ash answer me " begged Anabel now on the brink of tears

" I'm sorry Anabel i will not be around for much longer " said Ash as he had his head down

" WHY TELL ME WHY HOW CAN I HELP YOU I JUST FOUND YOU... AND THERES NO WAY IN HELL ILL LET YOH SLIP AWAY AGAIN ... I KNOW I MAY NOT BE AS STRONG AS YOU ... IAM EVEN WILLING TO KILL .... JUST DON'T LEAVE ME LIKE THIS PLEASE " cried Anabel as she started growing more and more desperate

Seeing how desperate she was to try and save him it worsened his thoughts as he instinctively hugged her tightly as he rubbed her back

" No Anabel don't say those words i don't want yours or anyone's hands to be stained not anymore that's why i never contacted you or anyone... you may think those feelings will just disappear but they never do they stick to you like a stigma and with it comes consequences just don't talk about being it " said Ash

" But than how can I save you? " asked Anabel who was holding on to him for dear life

" Just be you live normally and happily " said Ash as he caressed her hair

" But i want you around ..... there's no way .... I'm letting you go now " cried Anabel

"..... " Ash remained silent as he felt a hurtful sensation in his heart seeing how much he has hurt her