Chapter 5!

 

Like? Dislike? Oh well.

Disclaimer/Notes: See earlier group. I don’t own pokemon; it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit fanwork, so no copyright infringement is intended, and its mine since I wrote it!

 

Chapter 5: Obsession

 

            The next morning, Kin and Satoshi went shopping for his pokemon supplies. The gift certificate certainly came in handy, as he tried on his new dark blue backpack with the silver accents.

            It could hold quite a lot of supplies, and he chose a good assortment of pokemon items, as well as things for himself, before they left the place, nearly four thousand poorer.

            Still, the investment was worthwhile.

            Ash brushed off his new black jacket with the elemental shields woven into the fabric, which would provide good protection from elemental attacks. He had eight pairs of pants with the same specification, and an extra jacket, in forest green. A good chunk of the money had gone towards those.

            At least his mom hadn’t gone as far as to buy elemental shielded underwear for him. She knew he wasn’t that careless.

            He was ready to set off.

 

            His pendant glowed bluely.

            Ash smiled as he rubbed it under his fingers. It always made him feel better. Strange. Supposedly, a spirit lived inside.

            Ash just called her ‘Ai-chan’ because he couldn’t really think of another name.

            Lance smiled every time he talked to her.

            I’ll always protect you…

 

            And so, the next morning, Ash flew to Rustboro City. Well, he was not really flying on his own. Flygon was more than happy to carry him.

            Elementeon sat on his lap while they flew. It was only about twenty minutes before they disembarked.

            Poor Roxanne.

 

            She didn’t even last two seconds, Grovyle was too fast. Geodude and Nosepass lay crumpled on the floor, as Ash hugged Grovyle tightly and smiled at her startled expression.

            Poor, poor, Roxanne…

            He sadly enough, felt not much for her.

            It wasn’t as if she were a friend. Why would he feel sorry for anyone he didn’t know who he defeated in battle?

            Strange things people expected of him.

 

            Satoshi watched the rainfall.

            He yawned, as the drops splattered on the dry earth outside.

            Rain always brought purification.

            In some places, it was considered a symbol of hope. Unbeknownst to him, spots began to fill his vision.

            “I’m tired, Ai-chan…” He whispered as she rubbed the pendant.

            A pale blue glow wove him in its threads and ensnared him.

 

            I’ll protect you forever and ever. I’ll kill them all, they don’t deserve to be with you.

            Only some of the gyms are pure, and I know exactly which ones…

            Don’t worry, little one, I’ll never leave you. Never.

            I’ll do anything for you. Anything. You know that, right?

            Right.

 

            Ash suddenly had the strangest feeling of someone holding him. However, his vision was blurry and he couldn’t see, so he just accepted it.

            Lance stroked his soft, soft skin as she held him.

            “I’ll never leave you, I’ll protect you forever. I’ll kill them all to keep you safe. Don’t worry.”

            She placed a kiss upon his lips, before she faded away. He was about to wake up, anyway.

            Ash came to, feeling strange.

            “I guess I’m just hallucinating. Does Ai-chan really like me?”

            < Of course I do… > a warm voice whispered.

            Ash blushed. < Ai-chan? >

            < Who else would I be? >

            < A… > Ash didn’t say anything else, as he felt invisible fingers touching him.

            They weren’t invasive, just… different.

            He didn’t know ghosts could feel.

            But it was nice.

 

            It was like she was hugging him.

            Smiling, Ash continued watching the rainfall.

            It was nice to have a friend. Very nice, very nice to have a friend… after all, friends were hard to find.

            Especially if you were a loner

 

            Still, he could feel something warm trickling into his body in small drops. Warmth, pretty, pretty soft warmth, nice…

            Sunbursts and rainbows and pretty flowers bursting into bloom and clouds on summer days, misty fog and sparkling snowdrifts

            Pretty, pretty, pretty

            It was like a picture of colors, but he was feeling the colors.

            Did that even make sense?

            Shrugging, Satoshi took a sip of his water.

 

            Stars twinkled overhead as sunset bled into night, as it always did.

            However, Ash fell asleep and entered the dream realm willingly this time.

 

            The pokemon greeted him happily, even though his memories were still sealed it was better than nothing.

            Always.

            Plus, he needed companions. And if they were pokemon, so much the better…

            Pokemon are loyal and friends forever and they won’t stab you in the back.

            That’s probably the number one concern.

 

End Chapter

Created 2/6/04, completed 3/11/04