Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

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

Summary: This fic was written for Darkest Evil’s birthday in 2006. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARKEST EVIL!

Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)

Warnings: Shoujo-ai. Yes, two girls! Semi-AU Pokemon Special/Adventures manga-verse

Timeline: Post-Cerise, Book 7

Title: Hana no Namida

Chapter 1

Fighting to regain consciousness was an uphill battle all the way. Her nerves were raw and red, and she was sure that if she tried to move, it would send agony streaking through every part of her body. However, the sheets she was lying on were soft enough to be comfortable, and besides, she really wasn’t that thirsty…

Footsteps sounded, and she felt someone place a cool cloth on her forehead.

“Thank Lugia! You’re awake.”

Red…

What was she doing here?

“I know you can’t talk,” Red continued, her voice quavering slightly, betraying her worry. “But you’re all right now. You’re safe. I… put Yellow to sleep, so she won’t come in here, and I sent her back to Viridian.”

She wanted to know where they were. If it was Pallet, they were not safe…!

“We’re not in Pallet,” Red said, almost as if she had guessed her thoughts. “We’re in … well, I knew you didn’t want to go home to Blackthorn City, so I took us to Cinnabar Island.”

True, Cinnabar was rather remote, but… even so… wouldn’t they be recognized?

“Not as a girl, Catelyn.” Red said dryly. “And no, I’m not psychic. It’s just that I’m pretty sure what you’d be asking if you were awake and talking.”

That was when Lance realized that she wasn’t wearing anything under the blankets. An uncomfortable feeling began to grow in the pit of her stomach as she opened her eyes and glared at Red.

“I couldn’t just bring you in dressed in those clothes, Cat! They’d have recognized you right away, so I put you in that bikini you left at my house while you were visiting once… and then I said that we’d been out swimming and gotten bashed into a few rocks, and maybe we got chased by a school of wild Chinchou, but they bought it… and er… yes. Plus the salt water and your power got rid of the worst of the burns… and I gave you some Burn Heal to help before we went in…”

Glaring took too much energy. She flopped back down a few inches onto the pillow.

Red grinned. “Right well, you must be hungry…. Say, do you have to go to the bathroom?”

Actually, she did, but moving her legs hurt a whole lot more than moving her arms and torso, and she scowled, especially when she saw the wheelchair that Red was unfolding.

“Come on. It’s not like you can walk, and you’re too heavy for me to carry, though not by that much. Have you been dieting?”

She bit back a reply she couldn’t make, and scowled, but Red’s words did make sense. Her arms were probably strong enough…

They were not. This was ridiculous! She wasn’t some helpless maiden! Red noticed the strained expression though, and hastily reassured her friend.

“Cat, it’s all right. You’ll still recovering from your fall into the lava, even with your healing power. I think you might have…” Here her voice caught, “Died if not for that… so don’t worry about anything except recovering now, all right?”

Lance did not answer, and Red wheeled her into the bathroom, helping her onto the toilet seat.

Lance grimaced. She hated being helpless.

But maybe, some very small part of her appreciated the attention.

Lugia, it wasn’t fair! She didn’t want Red’s pity! She wanted admiration! That was why she was Dragon Master and Champion of the Elite Four.

But they had failed…

Damn that Yellow and her insufferable ways! Damn her!

Lance sighed as she brushed her teeth, washing her face with cold water and glad that the sink in the bathroom was pretty low set.

Speaking of which, this didn’t look like a hospital… She managed to wheel herself three steps outside of the bathroom, where Red was waiting.

“Where are we?”

Red blinked. “You can talk?”

She wished she hadn’t. Her throat screamed in protest. She shook her head.

“I told you not to speak, Lance.” Red reprimanded gently. “And we’re still on Cinnabar, but this is a hotel. Not exactly a very high-class one, but the man running it is pretty unlikely to ask questions as long as he gets paid.”

Ah…. That explained why there was only one bed…

She reached for the pad of ugly hotel stationary and pen on the little table with lamp next to the bed, and wrote “What about you? Have you been sleeping on the floor?”

“Lance, I have a sleeping bag. I’ll be fine. Plus, the bed isn’t big enough for two.”

“You slipped.”

“Oh… well, it’s not like this place is bugged… sorry Cat. But I know you hate your real name.”

“What name did you use?”

“For this hotel and at the hospital? Scarlet.” Red shrugged. “It’s my real name, anyways, but no one’s called me that in years…”

Scarlet was a rather pretty name, Lance thought, but she did not pen her opinion down. There were more important things to ask about.

“What happened to my pokémon?” That was of pressing importance.

“I’ve got them.” Red pointed to her backpack. “Along with mine. They’re fine, Lance. I got them healed at the Pokemon Center. Nurse Joy didn’t recognize me.”

Well, that was a relief!

Red nodded. “It will be all right, Cat.”

She wrote a few more words, and watched as Red blushed.

“Oops, I almost forgot about that.” She poured hot tea from the little coffee pot for both of them, and Lance sipped gingerly.

It did not taste too bad.

“I can’t really cook though, so um… what kind of take-out would you like?”

She wrote a flurry of kanji and hiragana. She hadn’t had Japanese cuisine in a while. Living on Cerise Island did tend to put one on camping rations, and she had gotten heartily sick of broiled fish after a few weeks.

Lorelei had brought back fast food once or twice, but she didn’t like fries and such so much.

“Sukiyaki beef and vegetable tempura? Okay… that I can do.” Red nodded. “I’ll leave Aeroy to take care of you, all right?”

Certainly. She did not mind.

The fossil dinosaur was a bit surprised to be released, but promised to watch, and when Red had left, hopped up onto her lap.

Lance placed her hand against Aeroy’s forehead and looked into his mind. Yes, there it was. Red had found her at Cerise, and had hidden her in a small grotto, and then had gone back to Pallet, and in the dead of night, had come back and tried to medicate her before she realized that it was too much to do, and then she had flown her to Cinnabar.

Luckily, she had the sense of mind to put on the adorable sailor skirt and top she was wearing now before she went to the hospital.

Well, the story checked out, and Aeroy harrumphed slightly, shifting to be more comfortable. Are you all right, Dragon Master?

< As well as can be expected, given the circumstances. >

Aeroy looked relieved. Master was very worried about you, you know.

< Yes, I know… >

She would be very sad if you died.

Lance half-smiled. < I suppose so. >

Aeroy looked at her incredulously. You think she doesn’t love you?

< I think she pities me… I mean to say that I cannot even walk… >

Yes, well, you might be surprised. Aerodactyl said, and went back to guard duty as Lance shook her head.

Impossible.

Red wouldn’t love anyone broken… like she was now.

End Chapter

Completed 7/13/06

And the title of this fic means, ‘Tears of Flowers’.

Yes, I named Red Scarlet. *Shrugs* note however, that this name does not really come into play. It is just for information purposes in case anyone cares…

Red: *Blush*

Lance: *Sighs*