Another chapter! Did you like the first one?

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo. Angelic Layer belongs to CLAMP and Kodansha. I don’t own either of those, but I do own this non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic that I wrote myself.

Notes: Many references to Angelic Layer, it might be helpful to know what that is…

*Shonen-ai championshipping, but not for a while*

Chapter 2

 

            “So there’s a tournament here in a few days?”

            “Man, you are out of it.” Gary said, looking at his friend worriedly. “You feeling all right, Ash?”

            “Well, my birthday’s coming soon, I mean it’s nearing the end of school, and I’m not sure if dad will be home for it.” Ash said, as he hugged Lance to his chest.

            “Don’t worry, Ash.” Sabrina reassured him. “I’m sure that everything will work out right.”

            “Yes, why don’t you enter the tournament? It might take your mind off your dad. Er, maybe not…”

            “I doubt he’ll be competing here. And it might be fun.” Ash conceded.

            “Great! Let’s go register together!”

            Even though Ash hadn’t competed, he had been watching angelic fights for years. Thus, he could recognize winning strategies and how to counter them, but it would be different once he fought himself.

            He followed Gary and Sabrina to the registration booth and registered himself. it was a good thing his last name was different from his father’s.

            His father…

            He hoped Jacques Ketchum got what he deserved in the end. He didn’t hate his father, but doubted he loved him either.

            He just didn’t feel anything for the man. The way it worked, he didn’t deserve any thoughts, good or bad.

            The man had chosen a game over his family. Then, he had married anew. He had a new family now.

            Ash didn’t want him to be part of his any longer.

           

 

            “I hope you’ll like it too, Lance.” Ash whispered, as he sat with his doll in the practice booth.

            The angel blinked back at him. It was a pity they were only responsive in the Layer, because then the Deus could think actions to them, but not outside.

            “We’ll have to work really hard.”

            Lance nodded, and Ash began attempting the more difficult balance tricks and gymnastics. Luckily, this angel was built for balance so it was much simpler as compared to say, an angel built for strength.

            Once two hours were up, he went home and found his mom arguing with someone inside the house.

            Ash quickly climbed up the drainpipe to his room quietly, holding Lance inside of his jacket to protect him from the sudden shower that had started.

            He dried his hair with a towel quietly while he listened to the voices below.

 

            “Look, Delia, the boy knows what’s good for him! If he comes and lives with me I’ll turn him into an Angelic Layer star! A champion!”

            “What good will that do, Jacques? You lost the right to visit him when you left this family!”

            “Listen to me, Delia, it’s what’s best for him.”

            “I say no, and no is my final answer! He won’t ever compete! That angel might as well be a doll, for what it’ll do! I’m not going to lose him to some hi-tech game as well and you know it!”

            Ash froze. * What? But I already registered… *

 

            “Nonsense! My sources say that he registered for the tournament here in Tokyo this morning! He is his father’s son after all!”

            “You liar! You just want him for yourself!”

            The angry voices got louder and louder as Ash huddled under the covers, clutching Lance tightly.

            “Lance… I wish you could help me.”

            The doll was as unresponsive as ever. Eventually, the argument wound down and the sound of a door slamming and a car driving away spitting gravel was heard.

            Ash went downstairs to find Delia crying at the kitchen table.

 

            “Mom?”

            “Oh Ash, why did you do it?”

            “I thought that maybe it would take my mind off dad…”

            Delia folded her son to her chest as she sobbed herself out. “Ash, Ash, he doesn’t care about you anymore, don’t you know?” 

            Ash nodded “But…”

            “No buts. You cannot compete. I’ll cancel your registration. Don’t you see? He’ll find some way to take you away…”

            “And I need you.”

 

            “But….”

            “Ash, there’s more to life than that game.”

            “I know that, otherwise I wouldn’t be planning on going to college.” Ash said. “However, I think I should play.”

            “And why?”

            “To show Dad what he lost when he left this family.” Ash said firmly, despite his earlier quaking terror.

            Delia studied him, but saw no lie.

            “Well…”

            “Please mom, I’ve been a good student, kept my GPA above 3.5, and I’ve never let Angelic Layer interfere with my schoolwork, have I?”

            “No, but this tournament-.”

            “It’s during a two-week break, mom.”

 

            Delia sighed. “Very well. If you promise me you will not talk to your father if he approaches you. That’s what my main concern is. And do not go anywhere with him.”

            Ash promised, which soothed her somewhat, and then they ate quietly in the kitchen together.

           

            “Lance, we’re going to compete!”

            The angel looked placidly back at him.

            Ash hugged the doll to his chest. “Everything will be fine, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you. I love you.”

            He slept well that night; glad the conflict had at least been somewhat resolved.

 

****************Flashback*****************************************

 

            “Ash! Come on! Why don’t you compete in the regional tournament?” Jacques asked excitedly.

            The ten-year old boy went back to coloring a picture of his angel. “I’m sorry, but I don’t want to.”

            “And why? You seem to have a good grasp of skill in the layer.”

            “But I don’t want to hurt Lance!”

            Jacques chuckled. “So protective. It’s just an inanimate doll, Ash. It has no feelings. Plus, I have an excellent member on my staff; she is excellent at fixing angels. Why, she’s mended Mewtwo back to normal six times already! Once the head and both legs got torn off, but I still won-.”

            He stopped at Ash’s terrified look.

            “No! I won’t let anyone hurt Lance!”

            Ash took his angel and fled upstairs to his room. It was two or three days before Delia could coax him to come downstairs again, and even then, Ash kept a protective barrier around his angel the whole time.

 

            I won’t let anyone hurt you, Lance.

            You won’t tell anyone my secrets.

            You’re my invisible friend.

            Why can’t daddy see that?

            He only wants to fight.

 

            True, he did spend a lot of time with that doll, but being a star, Jacques didn’t think about it.

            A pity he wouldn’t battle.

            Well, that was why Jacques was taking Robert Miller as his new protégé, the boy would never be as good as him, but he’d be a good champion.

            Plus, Robert’s parents paid a good tutoring fee. Quite good.

            So he didn’t need Ash, not really.

            Robert could be like a son to him.

 

            Of course, Ash and Delia both noticed, but neither said a word. Delia as not to cause a rift in the family that was already starting to crack, and Ash because he didn’t’ care.

            He had his own angel.

            To love him and take care of him…

            That was his new goal.

            Ash hummed as he brushed Lance’s pretty hair and shined his black armor. Why did people use ugly angels like ‘Muk’?

            Oh well.

            He had the prettiest one.

           

 

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

 

End Chapter

Completed 6/7/04