Another chapter!

Disclaimer: No, I don’t own pokemon. I really wish I did though… well, anyways, this is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction written by me, and it’s _mine_.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks.

Chapter 21

           

            “I’m actually not here to battle.” Claire told Ash.

            “Oh? Then why are you here?”

            “I need to talk with Giovanni.” Claire said. “My grandfather died, making me the new Blackthorn City Gym leader, but on his deathbed he said that my brother wasn’t dead and he was with his father.”

            “Really?” Ash asked.

            Claire nodded. “But I haven’t seen him in years, so I don’t know anything.”

            “Hmm…” Ash nodded. “So, what’s his name?”

            “Lance.”

            Ash froze. < What? Lance, she’s your-. >

            < Cousin. >

            < I thought Giovanni was your only family! >

            < No, he’s not. But I’d rather not think about the other half. Claire is the only one I can tolerate. > Lance spat.

            < Oh. >

            < Yes… so don’t tell her I’m here. >

            < Why not? >

            < I need to do something… > Lance’s eyes glowed faintly as he began scanning.

 

            “No, I’m sorry.” Ash said. “Um… Giovanni’s busy right now, but he should be free this afternoon.”

            “Oh.” Claire deflated slightly, but nodded. “I’ll be back later than.”

            She left the gym quietly.

 

            < Lance? >

            Lance stepped outside, eyes flaring down. < It has already begun. >

            < You’re not making any sense… >

            Lance frowned. “It’s quite simple, really… she fell for his lies, in the end. She really believes that Marie is the one to lead the Clan.”

            “Why?”

            “Because, it was more convenient to do so.”

            “You were gone, right? You ran away?”

            “It had to be done. He kicked me out and then sent Team Rocket to kill me. That was how I found my real father.”

            Ash gulped. “Oh.”

            “Well, no use trying to bring back the past…” Lance finished.

            “What are you going to do when she comes back?”

            Lance smirked. “Amnesia wave. That will eliminate all obstacles.”

            “… Um, and what about Marie, she is the one they picked instead of you, right? Are you going to-?”
            “Kill her?”

            Ash nodded. * It wouldn’t be that strange… we’ve done this before… *

 

*******************************Flashback Mode***************************

            “Ah!”

            Lance snarled and pushed Ash down to the floor as bullets whizzed overhead. < Be careful! >

            “Gomen.” Ash whispered, fear in those wide eyes.

            Lance threw out four kunai swiftly, hearing a yelp as one hit. * Father shouldn’t have let Ash come along; this is too dangerous! *

            < Hakuryuu, now! >

            A slam attack caught the unsuspecting man in his back, banging his head hard against the wall. Since he couldn’t fire in that position, Lance swiftly did a few midair flips and made one quick stab through the heart. < Done! >

            Ash was still trembling, Lance quickly carried him onto Dragonair’s back and they flew off.

            They had needed a vacation after that quite badly, and Giovanni had understood, let them stay in Seafoam for a few days to unwind.

            But then… unwinding wasn’t bad.

 

            “Are you all right now?”

            Ash sipped the hot tea slowly, not wanting to scald his tongue, and inclined his head in muted response.

            “Are you angry with me?”

            This time, there was an audible snap as his jaw clicked shut. Faint twinges of pain still came from his bitten lip, but he was all right. There had been no real physical damage. Emotionally, on the other hand… well, that was harder to fix.

            “I-I’m scared…”

            Lance nodded. “It’s perfectly reasonable, and I would be worried if you had not reacted. I bet that was the first time you saw someone die.”

            He nodded miserably.

            “Shh, it happens, Ash. Team Rocket isn’t all wine and roses. We have to fight to keep what is ours.”

            “But what did he do? Why did he die?”

            Lance’s eyes narrowed. “Well, he was a convicted rapist who escaped from prison… I believe he murdered six or seven girls who weren’t even ten yet, while working as a janitor at a private boarding school. The real pity is that two of them were children of Team Rocket agents.”

            “What?”

            “Yes… so I think he deserved death. He murdered and raped innocent children who had done nothing and consigned them to early death.”

            “Still, I do not understand this, it does not seem real… you can judge life and death then?” Ash demanded suddenly.

            “No, not really… but…”

            Lance decided it wouldn’t be too bad, so he rolled up his sleeves, showing Ash the bracelets he wore as part of him.

            “These give me the authority to do so.”

            “B-but!”

            < It was Lugia’s Choice, not mine. He chose me, I don’t know why, but now I’m his Chosen. >

            “That doesn’t make any sense…” He was too jangled to use telepathy as a means of communication.

            < No, I suppose it doesn’t. I can’t make you like it though. >

            < But I love _you_. > Ash said firmly, as he clung onto Lance and pressed his lips to the older boy’s roughly. < I love _you_. >

            < Yes, sweetling. > Lance whispered, elation flaring to life. < Mine. > * Mine, only mine now… you will break and then I’ll take you. *

            < You are mine. >

            Ash let out a strangled gasp, before his vision hazed over in pink.

 

*****************************End Flashback******************************

End Chapter

Completed 6/26/04