More championshipping~!
Title: Akumu
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)
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. Pokemon Adventures/Special-verse
*DEDICATED TO ROXANNE DE WINTER! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROXY! *
Chapter 1
His dreams had been vivid for months now, but he had chalked it up to stress. Now though, the sixteen-year old trainer from Pallet woke up to find that he had screamed himself hoarse. He finally understood what had happened.
He climbed out of bed and showered, dressing in his normal jeans, t-shirt, and jacket, before he called the Kanto Governing Council. They were a bit shocked at his request to visit one of their maximum-security prisons, especially at this time of night, but as the Champion, he was allowed to have follies, and this was one of them.
He went in to see the prisoner. When he did, he had to bite his lip to keep from crying out. Previously bright golden eyes had dulled so much that they were now flat, almost brown color, and brilliant red hair was a disgustingly sickly shade of pink. The prisoner did not look up as he entered the room, alone, despite the guard’s warnings.
“You erased my memories.” He accused. “You erased everything…”
Lance did not reply.
“You made me forget.”
“So I did.” His voice was altered too, a thin, sharp thing now. “I suppose that the reason you are here is because you remembered?”
“Yes.” Red hissed. “Why did you do it, Lance? Why did you make me forget everything? Why?!”
“What did I make you forget?”
Red’s fists clenched. “That I was the mastermind behind the Elite Four.” He glared. “That I was the one who arranged the attacks on Kanto… that was the true reason why I collected the badges, because I knew they had power, and my experience with Team Rocket and the legendary birds only proved what great power there was…”
“Who would have believed you, Red? After all, you’re the darling hero and Champion of Kanto.”
“But…!”
Lance shrugged. “I am certainly paying for my crimes.”
“They’re my crimes too! It just doesn’t seem fair, that you’re here but all the others got away, and I bloody forgot everything! Why did you erase my memories, Lance? Why?”
“To keep you safe.”
Red glared. “And what about keeping yourself safe?”
“It does not matter. I failed. I deserve this.”
The guard coughed. Red shot him a glare, and the man dropped to the ground, paralyzed. Lance raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, I know that what we did to carry out our vision was wrong, but there is no way I am letting you rot here.” Red spat. “Let’s go.”
“Are you mad?” Lance demanded.
“Maybe.” Red smirked. “But not as crazy as you are. Where are they keeping your pokémon?”
“I sent them to Johto to stay with Clair.”
“Oh, excellent. We’ll drop by there before we leave.”
“Red, you are not seriously considering breaking me out of prison?”
“Why not? You swore me loyalty, but I promised I would protect you. Seems I’ve failed quite miserably in that aspect. I’m paying you back now. Besides, you saved my life. Several times. Let’s go.”
Lance sighed and followed Red’s lead. Outside, Red released his Gyarados and they climbed aboard, and sped off.
“… I don’t know what to say.” Lance finally said, when they were miles away.
Red shrugged. “Thank you for a start would be nice. Apologizing for blanking my mind would be good too.”
“You really want to remember all those things we did?” Lance said finally.
Red blinked. “Why not? After all, it would have worked, if Lorelei hadn’t frozen me… but that was part of the plan. We did not expect Pika to actually get away.”
“Your friends trust you too much.”
“I know.” Red shook his head. “But that wasn’t real, you know? You and the rest of the Elite are my real family, except for Bruno.”
“He didn’t even know you existed.”
“How lucky that I was the one fighting him in Cerise then. But enough of this depressing talk. How are you holding up? You look starved.”
“It’s not exactly gourmet food we’re served.” Lance said dryly.
“I know. And your movements are off…” Red trailed off. “They did, didn’t they? Of course they would. Selfish bastards.”
“At least I still had my power.”
“Yes, but it was more of a hindrance. They hurt you… and you healed, and then they hurt you again…”
Lance inclined his head in assent.
Red stopped talking as they flew through a patch of turbulence, but picked up again moments later. “It’s a miracle you’re alive. Your soul is screaming.”
“That’s your empathy gift, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Oh Lance, why did you do it for me?”
“Because I love you.”
“I know you do, but it makes me feel so guilty!”
“Why? I did it without your consent.”
“So? It doesn’t make your sacrifice any less!”
Lance smiled. “You’ve grown up, Champion.”
“I guess I have. Hmm. Odd how one’s character can change when one doesn’t remember.”
“Amnesia does tend to have that effect.” Lance said dryly.
“So how did you do it? I mean dragons don’t learn Hypnosis normally, do they?”
“Yes, Red, but remember who my Father is?”
Red snapped his fingers. “Ahh. Psychic. Of course!” He stopped Gyarados, and they dismounted. It was getting rather dark, as they had flown through several time zones between Johto and Kanto.
No one saw them as they slipped into Dragon’s Den.
Clair was waiting. “So you remembered, Red?”
“Yes. Can we have Lance’s pokémon?”
“Of course. I’m not sure where you two are going to hide out though. The alarm has already gotten out. Heard it on the news half an hour ago.”
“Hmm.” Red grinned. “We’ll hide in plain sight.”
Lance smirked, before he fell over. Clair caught him, wincing as she felt his ribs through the ugly orange prison clothing he was wearing.
“Red? You’ll have to take him upstairs and give him a bath. Getting some food into him wouldn’t hurt either.”
“You’re being calm, Clair. I thought you’d kill me for letting this happen.”
“Do you think so little of me, Red? Honestly, it was Lance’s choice. But I do wish he hadn’t done it.”
“So do I Clair. He’s such a martyr at times.” Red laughed. “All right. I’ll see what I can do.”
Upstairs, he bathed Lance, put him in clean pajamas, and put him to bed. No one knew that Lance was related to Clair save Clair herself, since her Grandfather had died of a heart attack only three months past. And even if people did come here, they’d need a warrant first.
She set her teeth grimly.
She would not allow her brother to be hurt again!
END CHAPTER
Completed 7/6/06
I blame the plotbunny that bit me and wouldn’t leave me alone!
Akumu = the Japanese word for bad dream
Yep, Lance went to jail. It’s for plot purposes, mind you. ^_^(). And yeah, he got beat up pretty bad… and other things there.
Lance and Clair are cousins, but they refer to each other as siblings. *Shrug*
Happy birthday Roxy!