I don’t think I feel like being very nice to Claire in this fic…

Disclaimer/Notes: I don’t own pokemon. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Satoshi Tajiri and Shogakukan Comics! This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me and it’s mine.

So, I use ** for thinking, <> for telepathy, and italics on those rare occasions when pokemon actually speak.

Warnings: Hints at violence, sex, R rating… shonen-ai championshipping (Ash x Lance) If you are underage, I _highly_ suggest you skip the smut.

Chapter 22

Ash came back to reality with a bump when Lance asked him what was wrong.

“I-I was just remembering…”

“The first time we killed?”

“You did it, not me.” Ash defended himself, but did not bother to argue further. The fifteen-year old cracked a grin.

“Oh? And I suppose you drifted to what happened after.”

“I-I!”

“Judging from that rampant spreading patch of red that’s covering your cheeks, I’d say I hit the mark, am I right?”

Ash growled slightly in frustration, as he tugged at the waistline of his suddenly too-tight pants. “Yes.”

“It has been a while, hasn’t it?” Lance asked kindly. * Well, we have to keep it a secret… and I can’t just jump him when I feel like it… besides, he’s such a precocious little child that I have to watch out for both of us. *

Any further thoughts were quickly curtailed when Ash kissed him, hands on his shoulders tightly.

With a shrug, Lance kicked the mission out the window for the time being and worked on the present focus.

Ash squeaked when he felt Lance’s erection pressing between his legs.

“I’m warning you now.” Lance said mock-seriously, or maybe it was real. “I _will_…”

“I don’t care.” Ash said, as he quickly divested them both of their clothing. “I’m only yours, and I’m old enough now.”

“Cute.” Lance remarked, before he dropped down, tongue teasing one hard little nub and then the other, as his fingers found their way to the puckered ring of tissue and pushed inside, gently.

“Ow!”

“Maybe you aren’t ready for this after all.” Lance sighed, as he slid down the bed and nibbled on the tip of Ash’s hardness.

“N-no… I was just surprised.” Ash said, amazed he could still form coherent sentences since Lance was being very distracting. _Very distracting_.

“LANCE!”

Lance grinned as he released the softening shaft, and flopped down next to Ash. “You like?”
“Meanie.” Ash pouted, as he kissed Lance again. Lance shrugged, as Ash demonstrated that he had learned Lance’s skills, at least orally.

Sweet.

“You’re afraid of me.”

“Am I?” Ash asked, although he still ached slightly. Still, who would notice? It was hidden from prying eyes well.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Of course not.” He smiled brightly, sparkles in his eyes. “After all, I love you.”

“I’m glad.”

Ash grinned. “Can we do that again?”

Lance sweatdropped. * Insatiable little one… and control is _so_ hard to maintain around you. *

“No, we still have a mission.”

Ash sighed. “All right then.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

“Wait! Are we – what are we doing this time? I thought we didn’t have an missions because we’re guarding this gym!”

“Yes, but Claire is coming back, remember? So I have to be gone when she asks.”

“All right.”

“We’re heading to Houen…”

They were soon in Sootopolis City. The cave of origin beckoned.

“I’m scared, Lance.” Ash said truthfully. “There’s some kind of huge power that’s out there and I don’t want it to come to me but…”

“I’ll go by myself.” Lance said a shade arrogantly, as Lugia’s bracelets glinted on his arms in reply.

“But!”

“They won’t risk a legendary war, don’t worry so much.” Lance said, as he began walking in. Ash’s fear of losing Lance quickly outweighed his fear of the unknown and he followed him in, clinging to his arm tightly.

They walked down several rows of caves before they reached the center. There, sleeping was a huge pokemon.

“What is that?” Ash whispered softly.

“I believe that is the legendary pokemon Groudon. It causes the landmass to expand by evaporating the seas.”

“That’s horrible…”

“I know.”

“But… are we supposed to capture it? That’s just crazy.”

< NO. >

< Then why are we here? >

< Observation only, this is not a fight, so don’t worry… > they took a few photographs, and then snuck out quietly, despite the swarm of Zubats.

Plusle took care of them quickly.

So it was all right.

They walked in, as Claire left.

She had a look of utter confusion on her face. Well, amnesia did tend to do that to people… poor girl. It wasn’t her fault.

But to be safe does not always equal the right path.

Sacrifices are made, one for another.

So, if you get rid of the truth for the promise of safety and peace, there is no guarantee it will return to you.

Let this be a lesson.

“So, Marie was made Clan head.” Giovanni said conversationally as he took the photographs.

“Yes, father.”

“Are you not angered by their prejudiced and unjust treatment?”

“They don’t deserve my anger.” Lance replied.

Giovanni gave a few manly chortles, but it basically just scared the two so they escaped quickly, though reverentially.

End Chapter

Completed 6/26/04

Phantomness: Almost done!

Ash: Really?

Lance: Lemon! *-* I like.

Phantomness: Well, I hope my writing is not _that_ bad…

Kairo: It’s humorous in parts though. ^-^

Emerald: I hate this fic.

Shoyko: I like it! Too much angst is too much work for me, so as little as possible makes me happy!

Phantomness: Emerald, I’m almost ready to completely fire you, I have Pika-chan as backup!