Threaten, coerce, blackmail…

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

Chapter 10

“I…”

“Can you, or can you not? We don’t have all day if your message is so urgent.”

“How do I know you’ll keep your promise?”

“Now you don’t trust me? Tsk. Didn’t I teach you anything?” * that boy… what a waste of precious time… *

“Fine! I’ll do it!”

“Good luck.” Lance smirked. “I’ll stop the rain.” * It was so nice too… nice rain… tears for me? No, I doubt it but one never knows… *

He concentrated.

The rain stopped.

Ash stared in awe, before running off with mewtwo to find Rayquaza.

< Did you two have a fight? > Mewtwo asked, interested.

“No, nothing like that.”

< You know, that’s very odd, because I could have sworn you were friends. >

“Something came up.” Ash said brusquely.

< Oh well, that’s too bad… I thought you two were in love but I guess I guessed wrong… >

“I’m not in love!”

< Then tell him and put him out of suspense. >

“Why?”

< Because you owe him of course! >

Ash was about to argue, but realized that Mewtwo was right… “Okay. I’ll go back and tell him.”

Lance looked up as they came in again. “What is it? Double-checking? I do keep my promises…” * unlike other people… *

Ash winced.

“I…I don’t love you.”

“Thanks for being honest at least.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry solves nothing, remember?” Lance gave a half-smile. “Well, in that case, then… I’ll help you…”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then…”

Ash jumped as Lance suddenly pounced on him. * What-? * Lance’s eyes were blazing a furious gold as he just… faded.

What in the world?

What was going on?

“… Lance?”

< Oh dear. > Mewtwo said in an undertone.

“What happened?!”

< Well… it’s complicated. >

“Tell me!”
< Lance is very volatile and rash in terms of emotions… >

“So what’s going on?!”

< I don’t know, really. But it appears like he used some variant of teleport… no, that’s not quite right. >

“Hmm?”

< He’s erasing his memories of you and yours of him. Very clever! >

“He can’t do that!” Ash cried. “Lance, stop!”

< I promised I’d help you forget, didn’t I? > An oh-so-familiar voice taunted in his mind. < This will be much easier for both of us. >

< Why?! >

< Because… love hurts less if it doesn’t exist! > A burst of near-hysterical laughter followed this statement.

< Yamate! >

< Sorry, but… no. >

< Fine! I do love you! Just please! Stop! >

< If you think changing your mind this abruptly is going to fool me, don’t bother. Besides, you’ll still keep your skills. You’ll just forget I’m the one who taught you. What’s wrong with that? >

< But I… I might not love you, but we’re friends! And you’re still my teacher! Please! Please! Don’t do this! >

< … >

< Please! >

< Why do you care? I thought you didn’t love me. >

< But still! >

< Well? Still what? >

< How am I supposed to explain this? Just… calm down. That’ll be good… >

< … >

< …? >

< … Fine. But just once. >

Lance reappeared back into Ash’s normal field of vision. “So what now? Can you go capture Rayquaza?”

“I’ll do it right away!” Ash promised before he sprinted off.

Mewtwo sighed. * Those two seriously need help… *

Soon, Rayquaza was netted. Precisely two days and forty-seven minutes, eighteen seconds if anyone cared to know the exact time.

Lance took the poke ball without a word. “Well, you’re free to go now.”

“I’m what?”

“You’ve paid me back for training you, haven’t you?”

“But… I… I like your company.”

Lance raised his eyebrows. “Well, if you say so. However much you may like having me around, I can’t let you do that.”

“Why?”

“Because it hurts too much! Don’t you understand?”

“I…”

“Do you know what its like being in love and knowing the person you love will never love you back? Do you!”

“No.”

“Then leave me alone.”

“But I can’t do that! You might…” Ash stopped. He didn’t think Lance was suicidal, but then again, he hadn’t expected Lance to try and erase his memories either, so he was unsure about the situation.

“I might vanish? Fade? Disappear? Wouldn’t you like that? I’d like that. It helps with the…” Lance broke off, as a flash of pain crossed his face. He frowned, shaking his head. “Just leave. Okay? I’d rather not live a lie.”

Honest to a fault…

“Maybe we could think of something?”

“You have any ideas?”

“Er…” Ash blushed. “I’m not in love with you _now_, but…”

“Is that a chance you are willing to take? What if I lose control again? Can you live with that?”

Ash nodded. “I think so.” He said honestly.

“Positive?”

“Hai.”

“If you break my heart again I’m break _you_.”

“H-hai…”

“Promise?” Lance asked hesitantly. * Can I risk trusting again? * Seeing Ash’s earnest look, he sighed. * Very well… *

Lance extended his hand and they shook. “Promise.” Ash vowed.

“Then we’ll see how this works out… right?”

“Right.”

The End

Completed 10/2/04

Yikes! Angsty! Well, I tried fluff but that didn’t work for this fic. Least it’s done!

Shoyko: *collapses* Yes, it’s done

Kairo: *brings Shoyko and authoress hot chocolate*

Phantomness: Many thanks! *Drinking hot chocolate*

Lance: Must not kill authoress…

Ash: I thought it wasn’t that bad…