This fic is CHAMPIONSHIPPING. (Red x Lance).

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 5

< I can’t… Father, it hurts… I’ve never quite had this problem before… >

< Shh, child, I know…. >

Lance lay on a slab of crystal while Lugia ran healing magic of Restoration Rain over him. < How much longer can you hold out? >

< He doesn’t know – I can barely hear his voice… and I’m starting to lose muscle coordination. That’s harder to hide. >

< Then… >

< I’ll change. >

< No choice then? Will you let Crystal out then? >

< No, I’ll let Catelyn out. She’s been very patient… >

< All right. How long? >

< I can hold out for a few more weeks before I fall. I’m sorry. >

< Don’t be. You can’t help but love him. And he’s always returned your love before, you know... but now, somehow… well, in the beginning, you didn’t have the dependency. >

< I know, but somehow, now it’s here, and the binding seems to have worn off… I’ll still protect him, but does he still care? >

< Shh. Sleep now. I’ll send you home tomorrow. >

Lance’s eyes closed as he slipped into healing sleep. Lugia sighed.

This was troublesome…

He let Lance sleep though. His child needed it.

“Red? What are you doing here?”

“I came to see Lance.”

“Oh…” Clair looked down. “Father took him home. He’s not here.”

Red blinked. “Father? You still have parents? I thought…”

Clair laughed. “Same mother, different fathers. We’re half-siblings... Both mine are dead, but Lance visits his occasionally…”

“Oh!”

“He’ll be home tomorrow, at the latest.”

“I see.” Red smiled. “Will you tell him I said hi?”

“Sure. By the way Red – great cookies.”

“Thanks!”

Red ran off, feeling a bit disappointed. But he couldn’t begrudge Lance his time with his Father after all…. That was family!

The next day, it was still a weekend, so Red popped over to Lance’s house again. He’d been going there more often, trying to make the most of their time left…

It wasn’t fair!

Luckily, Lance was home…

“Hi Lance!”

“Hello Red.” Lance smiled. “How do you feel?”

“Me? I’m fine. What about you? You’re the one who’s sick.”

“Oh. I’ll live.” Lance said cheerfully, but that wasn’t quite the right thing to say. Red turned pale and flung himself onto the other trainer in another spontaneous hug.

“No you’re not, Lance! How can you stand it? I told you that I understood, but there’s nothing but darkness…” He stopped and stared at Lance’s blank eyes with a horrified expression. “Can you… are you listening to me at all?”

< I can’t hear you anymore. >

No, no, it couldn’t be, it couldn’t! He was going to lose his best friend for no reason! It wasn’t fair!

“Lance…”

They were sprawled on the floor. Lance sighed inwardly. < Yes, Red? >

“I… I wish you could hear me… I wish…” Red sighed. “I don’t know… I’d give anything to have you back to normal…”

< Would you? >

“What? I thought you couldn’t hear me.”

< I can feel your thoughts. You’re broadcasting them. I’m a little psychic after all. How do you think I find my way around? I can ‘feel’ some things. >

“Oh…!”

< What would you give? >

Red turned. “What? What would I give? I…I don’t know.”

< You said anything, or at least something like that, didn’t you? >

“Mm.” Red nodded. “But I’m just a normal trainer. What can I do? This isn’t like where I can donate a kidney and save your life….”

< Red… >

“I wish I knew…”

< No you don’t. If you knew, you’d hate me for it. >

“What?” Red looked at Lance incredulously. “Why? It’s not your fault you got sick! You couldn’t help it!”

< No, I couldn’t, but that doesn’t help anything! > There was a crackling noise as the windows in Lance’s room shattered. Yes, all four of the full-length windows – Lance liked seeing the stars at night.

Red stared.

Lance lowered his hands with a sigh. He was too busy trying to dampen the pain to care about control now. As long as he didn’t hurt Red or Clair or any of his other Masters, it didn’t matter…

“Lance…”

< I can’t… I can’t do it anymore. >

“You… Lance, please. What can I do to help?”

< You can’t do anything. You’ve already proven your sentiments on the idea quite nicely. It’s all right, Red. I’ve lived enough. >

“You’re just going to give up and die then? This isn’t like you!”

< Tis the truth… there’s nothing I can do – no, that’s not quite right. There is something I could do, but I won’t stoop to that level. >

“What do you mean?”

< I could… take you against your will. Even without sense, I have enough power to destroy this entire town – and most likely Kanto and Johto with it. But I won’t. >

Red colored as he finally pieced together what Lance was saying. “You mean you… you… well, I suppose I’m flattered…”

< But I won’t, unless you want me to. Not even if that’s the only way to save myself. > Lance smiled. < Because I can’t become what I hate just to save my life. >

Red didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want Lance to die, but the idea of… well, anything, was scary!

Besides, he was… sixteen… well, he wasn’t that young, but he still wasn’t ready!

“I’m sorry…”

< Don’t be. Forget I said anything. >

“I can’t.”

< You’re not going to act on it. It changes nothing. Have I ever been… forward in my attentions towards you? >

“No! Of course not!”

< Do I make you uncomfortable? >

Red shook his head.

< It’s all right then. >

He knew he was selfish, but… he got up. “I’m sorry. I need some time to think.” With that, he practically raced out the door.

Lance nodded. At least Red knew now. It was better than nothing.

End Chapter

Completed 7/2/05

Lance: More angst, more torture… *sighs*

Phantomness: Sorry…