Started 6/30/04

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, as it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. 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 2

“Hi!”

Lance looked startled as – no, it couldn’t be him – but it was!
Ash landed next to her on the ground, Plusle on his head. “I missed you.”

“Did you just get out of the hospital?”

Ash nodded. “I’ still have to wear these sunglasses so I don’t damage my eyes from excessive exposure to light, and I might need glasses later, but…”

“’Least you’re not blind.” Lance grinned.

Ash grinned back. “Remember that promise we made in the hospital?”

“H-hai.”

“Well, let’s fulfill it! I love camping! And you have to meet my mom too!”

Lance froze inwardly. No, she could pull off being a boy, if only for a little bit. If all else failed, well…

What was lying for?

There were explanations for everything if you looked in the right places.

“Where to, then? Mount Moon? Mount Silver? Waterfall Cave?”

“Hmm…”

“Well?”

Ash grinned. “Can you drop by my house first?”

“Hai.”

They flew there quickly on Lance’s Dragonite.

“Hi mom!” Ash waved. “This is Lance, the boy I was telling you about! He kept me company while I was in the hospital!”

Delia smiled at the young man. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you.” Lance said with a graceful bow.

They shook hands, and then Delia invited him in for tea. She scrutinized him all the time, but nothing was wrong.

Not visibly, nor emotionally… she felt nothing.

But…

What was wrong?

It was something she did not understand. It wasn’t as if Lance bore any malice towards Ash, quite the opposite, in fact.

She sensed affection and honesty, still…

Something was amiss.

What?

“Come on, Lance!” Ash said, as the exuberant fourteen-year old dragged his friend up to his room.

Lance smiled at the pokemon models covering the walls; posters and even the bedspread and rug were pokemon themed. But then, it was their world.

Why would it not be?

They slept together in Ash’s bed that night, as Ash refused to let Lance sleep on the floor.

It was very… noble of him.

Lance didn’t mind.

After all, there was nothing to indicate anything deeper than friendship.

She didn’t mind.

He didn’t need to know her secret yet. Even if he did, he probably wouldn’t like her. That was fine though.

If you don’t know, you can’t break my heart.

I don’t know _how_ I fell in love with you, I really don’t, but now I am and I have to hide it.

Somehow.

Someday, I’ll tell you.

The next morning, they brushed their teeth, ate breakfast, and then went off pokemon-searching together.

It was kind of fun.

Ash scared out a Pidgey, but didn’t catch it. He said he was dedicating himself to only electric-types.

“You could get an eevee though, and evolve it into a Jolteon.”

“Hai! And Jolteon know double-kick which is good against rock and steel!”

“Yes.”

“That’s great! You’re so smart Lance!”

Lance sweatdropped. * Maybe you just didn’t’ notice. No, that’s not it… *

Even when he was…blind, he was just so childish.

But Ash was still a child. Why wouldn’t he be?

A trainer was a perfectly respectable occupation…

However, there was one little problem. It was known as danger. Danger comes in various forms, not all physical.

Mental, emotional, spiritual, psychological…

The world is quite a dangerous place.

It doesn’t’ matter though. If you wish it, I’ll teach you how to play it safe and live.

“Yatta!”

Lance snapped back to reality as Ash’s Ampharos downed two Skarmory with one blow of Thunderpunch.

“That’s quite impressive.”

“Arigato, Lance!”

“Why are you thanking me? It’s true.”

“Honto Ni?”

“No one ever told you before?” She asked a tad incredulously.

“Well, not really.” Ash blushed.

“Why?”

“I don’t know… people just don’t’ like me.”

“I like you.” Lance said.

Ash smiled as he hugged her. “I’m glad.”

Still, she wanted to know what was really going on with him.

Hmmm….

Well, she would find out eventually.

Lance snapped back to reality again, when Ash trailed his fingers down her face. “You have such nice skin…”

“Ash?”

“I noticed when I was blind.” Ash said. He continued to touch, while Lance blushed lightly.

“Ash… what are you doing?”
“We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes, but!”

Lance’s eyes widened when Ash kissed her. * What is going on? *

End Chapter

Completed 6/30/04