Hi! *Waves*

Disclaimer: : Phantomness does not own pokemon or CCS as CCS belongs to CLAMP and Kodansha and Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo, and Shogakukan Comics.

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

Ash = Red, Red’s the nickname, k?

Ash is 13…

Shonen-ai championshipping (Ash x Lance)

Warnings: insanity, hints at sex…

Chapter 5

It wasn’t so bad. Capturing cards, growing stronger in magic, Ralts evolved to Kirlia and that was good.

He was currently going after Electrike.

< Careful, Chosen. You do not yet possess a pokemon specially suited to defeat electric types. >

< What about Whiscash? >

< I hope you have enough magic to summon. It is worth a try. >

Whiscash used Earthquake!

Electrike used Thunder… and nothing happened.

Another earthquake nullified all HP and Electrike was captured.

He didn’t even feel tired. That was good, wasn’t it?

< Soon… >

Lance looked at him sideways. < Chosen, our time draws short. >

“What do you mean?”

< Your magic is growing admirably. You will not need me in a few months. >

“Why?”

< Because I must leave when you have captured all the cards. >

Ash’s jaw dropped. “Why?! Aren’t you my guardian?”

< Hai. >

“But why? Why do you have to go?”

< Because you will not need me. >

“I _do_ need you!” Ash cried, before he realized what he said. He might as well confess all then. “I’m in love with you!”

Lance looked startled. < Chosen? >

He was even more startled when Ash pounced on him and kissed him. Hard.

< C-chosen… >

“I won’t let you leave.” Ash smiled. “Mine…”

Lance gasped as they fell backwards onto Ash’s beds, making his wings vanish in time. < Chosen… >

“I want _you_.”

That much was evident.

Well, he had to protect the boy, right?

He didn’t struggle.

After all, he didn’t want to hurt my by mistake…

The penalty for hurting Chosen _was_ death, although death was better than dissolving…

And all in all, it was rather simple… although it nearly gave Cypress a heart attack when he walked in on them.

They had gotten to that stage so soon? It had only been four months. Ah well, young love at it’s best…

He smiled.

Lance was shaken when it was all over. Badly. Sure, his Chosen had held him and petted him and kissed him, but…

< What am I going to do? >

He sensed the card’s agitation as they flew around him in circles that night by moonlight.

< I can’t leave him, and yet… >

< We are worried for you, Dragon Master. > Kyogre spoke into his mind.

< Hai, I know, but I cannot leave him. >

< Why not? > Electrike’s brash voice broke in. < Isn’t he hurting you? >

< That is not the point, Electrike. > Roselia lilted. She laid a flower on Lance’s arm, even though she was spirit.

Lance smiled a bit warily.

Whiscash yawned. < He isn’t that bad. >

< That’s true… >

The guardian sighed. * What am I to do? *

He _had_ to do his duty as that was not an option he could choose or not. But…

I wish he wouldn’t…

Why did he?

Guardians don’t ‘do’ love.

< I don’t love him. >

< You can’t love. > Absol yawned.

< I know. But why is he? >

< That I cannot answer either. >

Lance consulted the Luvdisc that had been captured roughly two weeks ago, but it wasn’t much help.

So much for the rumors that Luvdiscs were experts on love…

He kept silent vigil over Ash that night, still pondering what to do…

“Ohayo!” Ash said cheerfully the next morning, as he kissed Lance.

< Good morning, Chosen. >

“Ne, you don’t have to call me that, Lance-chan!”

The guardian twitched slightly. * Lance-chan? *

“You can just call me Red!”

< As you will, Master Red. >

“That’s not much better…”

< Why not, Master Red? >

Red frowned, but ignored it as he went downstairs to get breakfast, and another day began.

< Mawile, use Iron Tail! >

And… now…

The circles glowed, pronouncing the other pokemon captured.

Got it, Solrock.

< Yay! >

Lance smiled a half-smile and followed him.

Forget… forget…

I will protect you, only you.

Forget…

End Chapter

Completed 7/18/04