First of all May is ten (stated in first AG episode, I also believe Japanese version too), Ash is ten (stated in first ever episode). Face it, characters dont age. If they would, they'd say so.
Plus Ash doesn't like May in the romantic way. I think May looks up to Ash like a fan looks up to an idol. And the reason Ash is so protective of May is because he knows she's his responsibility because he feels her parents put trust into him to take care of May and Max.
The PokeShipping, which I think is more likely to happen
So many hints in the anime, even in the Japanese version
Ash and Misty have been with each other for a long time. They both know each other. Maybe they like each other as brother and sister or best friends. But it seems Misty is in love with Ash sometimes like in Love, Pokemon Style when Macey/Moe asks Ash out on a date and Misty acts jealous, and then when Macey/Moe asks who she is and why she's butting in on his personal life, Misty says she's Ash's coach and then Macey wonders why a coach would but into romance and Misty BLUSHES. Sorry if that took long.
Ash, some like EliteTrainerRaven say he is too dense to realize love. Others say Ash's not dense enough because he had a crush on Giselle from early Kanto. And some others say that crushes aren't the same as love.
To this, I do think he loves Misty in in a close way like a brother-sister type of thing because of the way he acted in "Gotta Catch Ya Later" but Takeshi was also leaving.
This leaves me confused...........