Title: Fate and Folly
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Ash/Red)
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #96, Kimono
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Warnings: AU, Het

Red watched the performance, enraptured. The girl was a wonderful musician, even with her face hidden behind it’s porcelain mask. The notes of the shamisen sounded, tinkling through the air.

Her kimono was of pale linen, unbleached, and there was a small bowl by her feet to collect coins, but he still thought her the most beautiful girl he had seen. The crowd dispersed as the performance wound down, and he stepped towards her.

She looked almost frightened, but of course, he was in his full samurai garb.

“Come with me.”

She followed him immediately, and he led her through the streets until he reached his abode. She said nothing during the time, and he watched as servants set tea and food before them.

“Your music is very lovely. What is your name?”

“Wataru.” She said softly.

He nodded. “I am Lord Satoshi. Henceforth, you shall be one of my musicians.”

She stared at him, but did not protest. After all, she was only a poor woman. With that, the meal concluded, he ordered servants to wash her and show her to her new quarters.

For a time, they were both happy. She would play for him, and she was content with her position underneath his roof. There was nothing between them, nothing at all, no matter what his jealous wife insinuated.

Then one night, an assassin came. She was the only servant in the room, and he drew his sword – too slow – but….

She moved like the wind, the ornamental chopsticks in her hair stabbed through the man’s eyes as he howled.

Red swiftly beheaded the man, staring at her in astonishment. “Wataru…”

“Satoshi-sama?”

“Who are you?” He asked. Her eyes had been a strange blaze of gold behind the mask slits, but now, as he watched, they were muddy brown again.

“I am myself.”

He was not satisfied by her answer, and he stepped forwards. “Let me see your face.”

She had frowned them, but had not disobeyed, and as she undid the strings, he sucked in a breath. Her eyes were once again gold, and her hair red as blood, and he recognized her, oh, he did…

“Lance…”

The name of Wataru had hidden her well. She had been born to a powerful clan, but after her father, Lugia-sama, had died, her whereabouts had become unknown. They had assumed she was also dead, but it was not so.

But to find her again, here and now, nobility trampled into dust was unthinkable!

“Yes.” She sighed. “Do you know why I could not tell you earlier?”

“… I understand the shame,” Red frowned, ‘But I would have accepted you here, Lance. We are friends, aren’t we?”

“Were,” Lance corrected. “You married Yellow. We can no longer be friends. Her clan murdered my father.”

“Kami-sama… I had no idea…”

“It is all right. I shall trouble you no longer.” Lance collected her hairpins and shamisen, and prepared to depart. Red caught her arm.

“Wait. What you have spoken weighs heavy on my heart. Do not depart yet. I have much to consider.”

“If you insist…”

And so she slept one night more, and prepared to leave in the morning, but Red, who was sorely grieved at the state of his friend, and at the secrets revealed of his wife, spent an uneasy night.

And in the morning, when Yellow came up to him with sharp tongue to demand of him his affairs, he heard from her own lips the truth, and was so angered that he drew his sword and with one stroke chopped off her head.

Months later, the olds friends were married, and no one was foolish enough to question why, or from where the lady had sprung.

~OWARI

Completed 8/4/06

Drabbles are much less taxing than series… and yeah, Satoshi and Wataru are Red and Lance’s Japanese names.