The road of true love never runs smooth… but then again, neither does the road of fake love! Anyways…
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me!
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Angst is fun to write!
Chapter 9
Quit… angsting.
What did that mean?
And what about what else Lance had said? ‘Don’t worry about me’.
Was he sure?
Hmm… should I leave him alone then? Ash flopped back down on his bed after a luxuriating shower and frowned. * I’m still confused… why exactly did I have sex with him? Was it just lust? If so… *
Then he felt sorry for doing it.
“Lance?”
The Champion looked up from his book of crossword puzzles he was using to pass the time. “Hai?”
“A-are you angry-.”
“No. I said that already.”
“B-but I’m not sure I love you!”
“Then find out.” Lance said sharply. “Otherwise, just forget this ever happened. You can do that, yes?”
“H-hai… I can do that…”
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Just in case… things happen.” Lance said smoothly. “It’s for your own safety.”
“A-all right…”
It’s raining prettily. It’s nice rain. Rain is nice. Rain doesn’t hurt people.
“It’s
flooding!”
Lance put down the telephone
as he smiled. *Click*
Pretty rain will wash away all of those evil people and then it will be safe for the pokemon again… all my precious dragons.
Pretty, pretty dragons.
I love dragon pokemon. They’re so loyal.
You know, the rain reminds me of tears. Crying is so odd. Why do humans bother with it? It’s not like it makes the hurt, hurt any less…
I bet they just like the attention.
Tsk.
“Lance?”
He looked up from his desk. Slightly vacant blue met glaringly bright brown. How odd… a contrast of warm and cool tones and shades…
“Is something the matter?” He asked.
“Flooding! It’s a crisis! You have to do something!” Ash was certainly panicking.
“Why? I can’t do anything.”
Which was true… to a point. He _could_ summon his dragons to stop the rain, he could have Articuno turn the rain to snow, he could ask Father to help, but…
Why should I help?
What did they ever do for me?
“Of course you can! You’re a Dragon Master!”
… The dragon master, he automatically corrected in his mind, but outwardly, nothing changed his façade.
“… You have a Mewtwo. Why don’t you help?”
“I’m afraid.”
“So what? If it truly means so much to you, shouldn’t you put your fear aside and take the step to help?”
Except you were a coward and didn’t help me… I still let you go, you know. we left the realm of time together… and you didn’t die… since I protected you, but you’ll never know _that_.
How long has it been? Only days? Strange… it felt so long.
Oh, I forget! Time in the realm of time only counts seconds here…
Five days? Six days? Something like that…
But in either case, why should I care?
“I should? Is that another lesson?”
“Quit that, I’m not your teacher anymore.” Ouch, that was a bit harsh… the boy’s wincing now.
“You are angry with me! I’m so sorry!”
“Sorry doesn’t help anything.” That’s true enough…
Water cleanses though, and purifies, and it’s _so_ pretty…
I like water.
Purify me again…
Frustrated brown met blue again.
“Then tell me what you want! I’m sick of this!”
“I don’t want anything.” Except for you, but you’re not going to give me that, never, so I won’t ask.
This isn’t cruelty. It’s common sense.
Amazing how _uncommon_ that is…
He adjusted the cuffs on his dark red jacket and stared across the desk at the irate child. Such a child.
“I’m just a trainer. Why would I be able to do anything?”
“Because you’re the Champion!”
“Perhaps it’s time you learned the difference between fantasy and reality.”
“I’m not dreaming!”
True enough, that… You’re not dreaming. You’re too cruel to dream. You’re breaking me into a million pieces, but don’t worry, I’ll _freeze_.
Then I won’t hurt anymore!
I hope they _all_ die. Father will be happy.
“…Please?” A heartbroken sob forced itself out.
Lance didn’t move. Emotions could be so easily counterfeited. Tears… what did they mean? It was possible to cry for show, everyone knew that.
I’m not falling into that trap again!
“Why do _you_ care?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do!”
Self-righteous, how very… amusing. He stood up, watched as the boy’s eyes widened in surprise. pity I’m going to dash that hope…
“Very well, Ash. Shall we make a deal?”
“A… deal?”
“Yes or no.”
“Tell me what it is first!” Ah, he’s learned… smart of him. Clever, very clever… but how noble are you really?
“Capture Rayquaza for me.” I asked this once, now I’m giving you a second chance; are you smart enough to take it?
If not, you’ve failed.
Third tries are worthless.
Ash’s expression was quite descriptively red…
End Chapter
Completed 10/2/04
Lance: *throttling Phantomness*
Phantomness: Gah! *Can’t breathe*
Ash: Oh dear…
Shoyko: Should we help?
Kairo: Nah, she needs a break anyways…