I don’t’ want series to drag on too long though… started 7/8/04

Disclaimer: CLAMP and Kodansha own Angelic Layer. Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic belongs to me under international copyright laws, taking it is plagiarism.

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

Chapter 5

Cascade Badge.

That was very easy, Thunderpunch and Thunder his pokemon had already learned. Easy.

Of course, he’d been training for almost two years before attempting the badge quest, so it wasn’t saying much.

Clefairy and Jigglypuff were strong though. Friendship is a harder bond to break than mere acquaintances.

So it was fine.

Thunder was a bit harder, but he managed.

Rainbow, Soul, Marsh…

Then, there was the Volcano badge.

Cinnabar Island made him jumpy. He didn’t’ know why. Lance offered an explanation.

“Your father in the past was an Angelic Layer Champion. This was his favorite stadium.”

“He was mean, wasn’t he?”
“Quite like Ernest I’m afraid.”

“Lance… you don’t think Ernest might be my father reincarnated, do you?”

“It is possible.”

“That would explain a lot!”

“It would, but don’t jump to conclusions so fast, my Deus.”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t worry, I promised to protect you, remember? I’ll protect you with my life. Trust me.”

So he did.

After all, whom else could he trust? His mother was just a weak woman, he had no father that he knew of…

He most certainly did not trust Ernest.

That left Lance and his pokemon. No winners there.

It was fine with him, though. At least he was safe.

That was his main concern. Safety. Love was a warm blanket of security around him. So nice…

And Lance was very pretty, that helped too.

Use every weapon you have to your advantage, right? That’s how it is in war, why not in love?

It was fair.

And really, he love Lance. No words needed.

Wasn’t that enough?

It was.

He was safe now.

He had his protector…

He was safe!
That was all he ever wanted.

Lance smiled as Ash hugged him tightly. < Deus? >

< I don’t care what the world says. I love you! >

< Honto Ni? >

< Hai. >

< I’m glad… >

< Really? But I don’t quite show it. >

< I can read your emotions, and you’re too honest to hide them. >

< Oh. >

< Do you think it honestly matters to me that you’re not showering me with tokens of love? >

< Um… I guess not. >

< Then don’t worry. >

< All right. >

He wouldn’t worry! He _would_ keep them both safe now that Ernest was gone. Who cared about Ernest?

He had everything he wanted.

He didn’t need a Champion position, he had all he needed, really. No glory necessary.

It was… life.

And that was all.

He kissed Lance, and relished in the feel of reality, not fake bits of shiny plaster. This was _real_.

He had been waiting for it all his life, only he hadn’t known it. Now, his secret wish was granted.

He had red thread tied to the other.

That was… all.

But it was enough.

It was everything and nothing and life, and that was important and shining and flying and reality – so real!
I love you.

He loves me.

It doesn’t get more complicated than that.

THE END
Completed 7/9/04

Well, I liked writing it. ^-^

Lance: …

Ash: Well, it could be worse.

Phantomness: Don’t complain, or I’ll make you regret it.

Ash: O.O that means…

Emerald: She might write another AAMRN

Shoyko: NOOOOOOOOOOO! That’s too dark for me! I hate them! *Flies around in a circle dizzily*

Phantomness: Actually, I was thinking of shoujo-ai championshipping. That’d be interesting. *Muses*

Lance: ^-^; Well, better not give her any ideas. *Kairo drags Phantomness offstage*