Another chapter! ^-^

Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter…

There will be shonen-ai Championshipping (Ash x Lance) later

Chapter 4

 

            The next week passed in a sort of a blur.

            “I’m so happy for you!” Delia said, hugging Ash tightly. Of course, defeating Julia had just changed their annual income by a substantial amount. “I knew you could do it.”

            His mom didn’t lie, unlike Misty.

            It felt so good…

            Of course, then there was the addition of all the pokemon he had to carry… Luckily, a few thousand dollars and a few strings pulled had gotten him access to new technology from Silph.

            His new poke belt was black leather with a gold box on it. It could hold up to 300 pokemon in poke balls.

            Yes, he was happy…

            Professor Oak was also overjoyed. All those new pokemon contributed to his research.

            Possibly the only one unhappy was Julia, but being dead, nothing really mattered anymore.

            It was fine…

            He was happy.

 

            “L-lance!”

            “Hi, Ash.” Lance walked inside, as Delia smiled warmly and rushed to get a snack ready. “I just came to tell you that the pokemon and money were transferred.”

            “A-arigatou!”

            “No, it’s nothing. You did us a wonderful service.” Lance smiled. “But we’re keeping this a secret, so only Professor Oak, Bill, and your family knows. Is that all right?”

            Ash nodded frantically. He didn’t want fame.

            “That’s good then.” Lance smiled. “Also, we bumped your trainer level from 40 to 44 for this good dead.”

            Ash blushed. “Thank you.”

            Delia passed around lemonade and freshly baked poppy seed and blueberry muffins.

            Ash smiled timidly as Lance took a muffin, pronounced it delicious, making Delia blush in spite of herself.

            He was cute… ack! No! Delia smacked herself, earning a worried look from Ash. “Mom, you all right?”

            “H-hai…” She blushed. * Oh Mew… why? *

            She couldn’t be thinking now! Sure, it had been seven years since Joe had died, but still…

            He was too young!

            Lance blinked, taking a sip of lemonade. * Oh no… *

            He could already see the warning signs, although they were much more subtle in this case. But… Eew…

            He banished the errant thought promptly.

            “These muffins really are good.”

            “Hai! My mom’s a great cook!” Ash beamed. “She’s the best mom in the world!”

            Normally, Delia would have just smiled, but in these circumstances, she flushed redder and bent over the stove.

            Lance sighed inwardly. * Great. *

            This was not looking good…

 

            Ash led Lance outside, where all his pokemon, old and new, were running free. It was a large field, but it was natural.

            “What if someone tries to steal your pokemon?” Lance asked.

            “I don’t think they will. A lot of the pokemon I got are vicious and will attack everyone _but_ the owner.” Ash winced.

            “Well, that’s not your fault, blame Julia and her hired thugs, no, trainers…”

            “I can’t believe it!”

            “You can’t believe what?”

            “I mean, she was a kid, had millions of dollars, a mansion, lots of pokemon… why did she use it to beat other people up?”

            Lance shrugged. “I do not know.”

            “Lance… are most people really that bad?”

            “Most trainers, unfortunately, are cruel and only use their pokemon to earn money.” Lance said tightly.

            Ash looked at him. He looked sad…

            All those poor pokemon…

 

            It really was a waste!

            To his shock, he began to cry a little. Lance sighed, and held out his arms to the boy, as Ash flung himself into his arms.

            He let him cry.

            Crying was the first step towards healing… it wasn’t even his fault. Empathy had its own pitfalls…

            Ah, yes…

 

            Ash finally realized what an awkward position they were in about twenty minutes later. He was lying in Lance’s lap with his head buried in the older boy’s chest. He quickly blushed and let go.

            But it had felt nice…

            Ah! He shouldn’t think about it! Wasn’t it normal to like girls, not boys?

            “Are you feeling a little bit better, Ash?” Lance asked.

            Ash nodded.

            The pokemon were clustered around them in a large protective ring, worried. Ash smiled at them.

            Some smiled back.

            But even the most vicious were starting to melt under the force of the trainer’s naďve kindness…

            It was its own charm.

            He was his own kind of trainer, but he was the type they liked.

            Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres – all children, not yet full grown, were under the supervision of Ash’s Pidgeotto and a Noctowl.

            Good foster parents…

            Pidgeotto liked Noctowl, he could tell, they were doing the same kind of dance that Bulbasaur and Squirtle and done.

            That was fine. He wanted all his pokemon to be happy…

 

            “Lance, want to stay for dinner?”

            “I’d love to. But won’t your mom mind?”

            Ash shook his head. “She loves having company over. It’ll be fun!”

            “In that case…” Lance smiled. “Let’s.”

            Delia made a scrumptious meal. She also invited Lance to stay at their house for a few weeks, a bold move on her part.

            She couldn’t help it though. Ah, feelings and emotions are so easily swayed…

            Lance knew what was going on, but he decided to make the best of it. And Ash was rather kawaii, in his own way…

 

End Chapter

Completed 8/9/04

 

Lance: O.O

Phantomness: What? I thought it made sense.

Ash: My mom likes him? Isn’t there, like, major age difference?

Phantomness: I believe so…

Shoyko: Woah, differences can be deadly…

Kairo: *Zzzzz*