Hi! *Waves*

*Phantomness cackles*

*Lance runs* Bad thoughts…

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

Chapter 10: Drown

“I don’t really know.” Ash finally confessed, after an indeterminate amount of silence. “I mean, you did save me?”

“The lava incident.”

“Yes!” Ash nodded frantically. “Thank you!”

“It was no problem.” Lance reassured him. “So tell me, why are you calling for me?”
“I… am?”
“In the dream world, yes.”

Ash blushed again. “I’m sorry…”

“Sorry? Why are you sorry? It’s not a crime to like someone.”
“But I have a fiancée.” Ash said. he sighed and decided he might as well blurt out the entire story, since it was obviously a hallucination.

Lance looked concerned. “And you don’t want to betray her.”

“I mean, I like her! I really like her…” Ash sighed as he looked down. “See, I know I admire you. And I definitely feel some sort of attraction towards you. But I don’t want to hurt her!”

Lance stroked his hair while Ash continued to mumble for a good hour. He was only dimly aware of the guardian’s hands on his shoulders as something seemed to flow into his body.

It was so warm…

Without a second thought, Ash pressed into the warmth.

It was so soft…

So bright…

So pretty…

He did not even know when he pressed a timid kiss on the older boy’s lips.

So warm and soft and pretty and bright and sweet, sweet like spun sugar and syrup and fresh snow…

Lance allowed a smile to linger on his features as Ash fell once more into his net of illusions. The child of light and shadows slept against his chest, breathing even.

< CHOSEN! What are you doing?! >

< Calm down, Lugia. I’m simply revoking his memories. >

< All of them?! >

< Of course not. That would take too long. I’m taking five lifetimes. >

< I hope you know what you’re doing. >

< Don’t worry, I am. And I’m balancing too. >

The cards and spirits danced in the dream realm as the first seal was unlocked.

Ash woke up to find himself cuddled up next to Lance.

Fortunately, there was no insane blushing this time.

His head hurt a little. For the strangest reason, Ash had the impulse to kiss him. So he did.

Sweet….

Lance’s golden eyes opened. “Ohayo, kawaii koi.” He slid his arms around Ash, preventing any escape.

Ash blinked.

“Pretty little one…” Lance continued, as his hands slid under Ash’s pajama top. Ash suddenly found the floor very, very interesting.

“So kawaii…so pretty…pretty little one…”

Ash did not even try to resist as he was pulled in. It was so warm….

Cold like ice and freezing and power but oh so alluring…

Darkness that danced around him, tantalizing, as the shadows brushed over his form.

Cold… but warm, in that cold…

Warmth…

Ice and fire that danced and held him through the pain and led him down the road of night…

Kiss me?

When Ash awoke again, who knew how much time had passed, he found Catelyn waiting with a tray.

“Breakfast, sleepyhead!”

“…Oh…” Ash blinked. * Was it all a dream then? *

He stretched out and smiled brightly. “Thanks, Catelyn.”

“I hope you like chocolate chip muffins.”

“Wow! Did you make them?”

“Of course. You thought they just appeared by magic?”

“Um…” Ash blushed, looking down.

“Well, I’m going to be at Erika’s gym today. Take the day off it you need it.” Catelyn said, as she waved goodbye.

“Okay.”

It was not until she was gone that the events from last night crashed into Ash’s skull, wielding mallets of doom.

For one thing, he was not wearing the pajamas he had worn to bed.

The second thing was how sore he was after he showered.

Ash was sitting at the breakfast table with a muffin in his hand when his conscience started needling him.

“I can’t believe myself! I slept with a guy I just met, right under my best friend/fiancée’s nose… and she has no idea! And this was after I confessed that I loved her! Talk about cheap words!”

“Oh my god…” Ash stared at his hands, as if they were new to him.

“What have I done!? I traded in my friendship for a one-night stand!”

“I don’t deserve her… after everything we’ve shared, I threw it all away for a roll in the hay… oh gods…”

Shame flooded the Pallet trainer’s body as he began to cry.

< I fail to see the purpose of this, Chosen. >

< I’m testing him. >

Lugia stared. < So trusting? >

< Look. > Lance began to pace. Sure, it was Whirl Islands, but she dropped by often. “I’ve seen him fall for someone else. Obviously, I need to see if he can stay true to me.”

“You’re not giving the poor kid much chance.”

“Charlotte, stay out of this.”

“As you wish. Just don’t emotionally kill my little brother, okay?”

< Would I? >
< Just maybe. > The fire girl laughed before she vanished.

End Chapter

Completed 3/18/04