And… another chapter!
Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, but I wish I did! I don’t own the Count of Monte Cristo either…
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks!
Everything’s within a few days, unless otherwise specified.
Chapter 11/12: Between you and me
“My dear viscount, what a surprise.” Monte Cristo smiled as Ash entered his house. “I did not expect to see you again so soon.”
“My mother would like to extend an invitation to dine with us three nights hence.” Ash handed over a letter sealed in red wax.
“I would be delighted.”
“I am glad that you have accepted.” Ash smiled. Suddenly, his expression changed. “Count, is that running water.”
“Sharp ears, my dear viscount. You are quite correct.”
“But… how?”
“I shall show you presently.” Monte Cristo made a sign, and Claire rose from her seat by the door, put down her book on ice pokemon, and picked up a lamp. They followed her down two flights of long, winding stairs, before a brilliant light suddenly illuminated the darkness.
Ash’s jaw dropped. This was… an ocean! An artificial lake, at the very least, under Paris!
“Beautiful, is it not?”
“H-how much did this cost?” Ash gasped, before realizing that it was a very indiscreet question.
“Oh, I quit counting halfway through construction. Too much trouble…”
“Amazing…”
He could almost swear he saw fish in the water. He knew of goldfish ponds and fountains, had a nice one himself, in fact, but this was completely different….
Ethereally beautiful…
“My dear Count, you do nothing like anything else.” Ash finally said, after a long pause. “I should not be surprised if you were a magician, above all else.”
Lance hid a smile at this. Oh, if only he knew…
A warm, artificial sun rose above them, warming the area. For Ash though, he suddenly felt quite hot. Monte Cristo did not look the least disturbed, although he did slightly adjust his pristine white kid gloves.
Maybe he was used to the heat? Yes, that might be it. He had supposedly spent some time in the tropics…
Claire returned a few minutes later, carrying a tray of coffee and fruit and cream pastries, and exited again.
“I must say though, you have the most wonderful servants.” Ash said, between bites of a toffee apple tart.
“Is that so?” Golden eyes narrowed slightly.
“Why, they must all be mind readers. They can predict your every move…”
“Whatever you believe, viscount…”
“Of course! If only I had someone as devoted to me…”
Dragon’s eyes peered at Ash curiously. “Do you not have a fiancé? Is she not charming?”
“Mademoiselle Sabrina Danglars? Oh, Count, you have never met her, so you cannot possibly understand what…”
“I do not understand.”
Ash sighed. “The marriage is purely political. I hardly know her. Also, she spurns all men, it seems. But her family is rich.”
“Interesting…”
“She is beautiful, I admit, but her beauty is not that of Aphrodite – no, she is the virgin huntress Diana, and no man may gaze upon her and live…”
“You wax rather poetic, viscount. And you say you do not love her!”
“I don’t!” Ash burst out. “I know that love can exist in aristocratic marriages – like my parents, but it is so rare! And poor Green…”
“Green?”
“He is a friend of mine you have not met yet. He is engaged to Mademoiselle Janine de Villefort…”
“Interesting…”
So the flocks were uniting… such a pity…
Ash didn’t deserve to die. His parents did, but he was a child born of sin, but still innocent. Perhaps there was a way to spare him…
Why should the innocent be punished along with the guilty?
Delia and Giovanni, on the other hand…
Ash drank half a cup of coffee before he posed his next question. “Um… count, not to be indiscreet or anything, but do you have a mistress?”
“Oh, no, nothing of that sort.”
“Really? But I keep hearing a flute… such a lovely tone!”
“That would be Lorelei…”
“Lorelei! What a beautiful name!”
“Yes, Princess Lorelei…”
Ash’s eyes widened. “You’re nobility? I mean… a princess? Wow…”
“She is a princess no longer, unfortunately… her father fell years ago, but to me she is one still…”
Ash nodded. * They must be in love then. *
For some reason, he felt saddened… but on the other hand, wasn’t love among the aristocracy valuable? Sure it was! Like his parents! They loved each other!
Was he… no! nothing! He was just… the sea breeze was affecting his mind.
“Um… is it safe to swim?”
The Count raised an eyebrow. “You wish to swim now?”
“Oui!”
“Well… I suppose that it is all right…”
“Aren’t you going to?” Ash asked, as he rapidly shed his coat, boots, socks, and shirt.
“You’ll ruin your silk trousers…”
“Big deal. I’ve got twenty more pairs at home, at least…’
“I am… well, Ashura, may I trust you with a secret?”
“Oh? Oui!”
“I… suffer from an illness that causes numbness in my limbs…” With a gesture, he removed his white gloves.
Ash gasped, seeing the black symbols tracing the man’s veins clearly on his pale skin, interposed with streaks of red and blue and silver. “Count…”
“This secret is between you, and me…” Lance whispered. “I trust you…”
“I…”
Lance drew Ash closer to him, wrapping his arms around the boy, who made no move of protest as they sank to the sand below. “Between you and me…”
Drown.
End Chapter
Completed 3/2/05
Hehehe… twisted championshipping, if you look at it that way! Not going any further with this scene, Hehehe…