Wai~! Another Chapter

Disclaimer: It is very, very, lucky that pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. I know that if I were in charge of the manga the way I own my non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfics, the plotline would be different…

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

Chapter 9

They sat in silence for a while. Finally, Lance told Ash to quit looking nervous, nothing was wrong, and then he grabbed a set of clothes from the closet and walked into the bathroom to shower.

Ash played Solitaire on Lance’s computer and looked at all the books on the walls and kept himself occupied after Lance had returned, until Lance asked if he wanted dinner, so they walked off to the cafeteria together.

There were a few rockets scattered about enjoying the food, but most of them hadn’t come in for dinner yet.

“Wow…” Ash said, grabbing a tray. Lance shrugged, and they got their food and settled themselves at a convenient table.

“So, um…”

“We are in Team Rocket Headquarters.” Lance said for clarification. “Now, what else did you want to ask?”

“I…” Ash broke off, not sure what to say. It wouldn’t do to suddenly profess his love for Lance in the middle of the cafeteria.

Where had that thought come from?!

Ash kicked it out of his mind and sighed. This was too bad… the next thing he knew he’d be obsessed with Lance!
Wasn’t he already though? That fact is yet to be determined. He sighed inwardly. I’m too young for this, aren’t I?

At least he hoped so…

“Is the food not to your liking?”

“Oh no! It’s fine!” Ash quickly took large bites of his sandwich and finished it off quickly, along with the French fries.

Lance looked puzzled but nodded.

“Just making sure you are all right, you know…” Lance said with a smile. * I do worry about you, little one… *

Because even if the age difference wasn’t as big as it could be, Ash was still such a child!
I was more mature than he was at age eight… I guess it has to do with upbringing and circumstances then…

He smiled.

Ash finished off the tapioca pudding and smiled back. “Lance, you’re part of Team Rocket?”

“Hai.”

“But you’re not evil!”

“I suppose not, if you look at it that way…”

Ash nodded.

“So,” Lance said, leaning slightly forwards onto the table. “My father has taken an interest in you. You’re a very good trainer.”

Ash blushed. “A-a?”

“Would you like to join Team Rocket?”

Even if Ash could think coherently at that point, Lance’s closeness was making it very hard for him to concentrate…

He nodded mutely.

“Great!”

A few minutes later, he was contracted and dressed in normal clothes, except he had a little red ‘R’ on a pin underneath his jacket.

“So what do we do?”

“It depends on missions…” Lance said. Shrugging, he smiled. “I have a bit more leeway and since you’re my partner you do too. Basically, we’re just capturing strong pokemon for the Team.”

“Oh!”

“Sound easy enough?” Lance asked.

“Hai!”

“So, you’re back.”

“Hello to you too, Tamara.” Lance said with a smirk. “Come for a rematch?”

“Hell yeah! You’re going down!”

Ash’s eyes widened as four Electrodes all attacked Lance at once, but Dragonite grabbed him before he could interfere.

No! This is master’s fight! He’ll be fine.

Lance was a blur before all four Electrode and Tamara dropped down, defeated. He tsked.

“You don’t think of my dragon skills, do you? All that ‘clan’ training wasn’t for nothing…”

“Shut up!”

“This will be interesting explaining to your partner how you lost to a child four years younger.” Lance smirked.

Tamara ground her teeth.

“Come on, let’s go.” Lance said, as Ash mutely followed him back to his room. They were getting ready for bed when Lance slapped himself mentally.

Damn… forgot to tell them to get another bed, oh well…

Ash valiantly did not blush as he climbed into bed next to Lance and they closed the curtains. Nice curtains.

Giovanni seemed nice enough.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad?

In any case, he wouldn’t be alone.

That was very nice.

Besides, Lance was warm…. He made a good teddy bear, Ash decided, before he fell fast asleep.

Nice…

Lance was asleep before his head hit the pillows, but his dreams were troubled.

What was with that voice?

It kept telling him to find it, but he couldn’t, because he knew Dragon Mastery was off-limits until he was older.

Otherwise, he’d just get hurt and fail.

He didn’t want to fail…

It was death if one did not pass Dragon mastery.

End Chapter

Completed 6/23/04