Eh, another chapter!

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

Pairing: Championshipping (Lance x Red)

Chapter 6

He was back the next morning.

< Well, Red. It's nice to see you. >

Red colored. “Lance… I’m still not comfortable with this whole… well, us being a couple thing, but if it will help with your illness, then I’ll give it a try…”

< Wait! I won’t force you into anything just because I’m sick. >

“I didn’t mean that! I didn’t say I didn’t want to do anything! I mean... I like you, so maybe it’ll work out…”

< I see. >

Red timidly hugged Lance. It wasn’t that hard, really… really, he could pretend nothing was wrong… he was shaking inside, but he had to be strong…

Inside Lance’s mind, the shields ground to a halt. < Child? >

< Seems he’s figured it out, Father. >

< Well, at least it will stop your condition from deteriorating more. Good luck. >

< Arigato. >

The new arrangement wasn’t really hard, Red decided, after a few days. School was out – shorter due to pokemon training, of course – and so he and Lance stayed at home mostly.

Red’s mother had just gotten a new job in Houen, and was glad that he could stay with someone.

They were playing music – well, all right, Lance was playing the flute and he was listening. Apparently Lance could play the flute… that was important. After all, in Houen they had a lot of flutes that could cure pokemon status problems.

It wasn’t girly or anything. Hah! Lance wasn’t girly. He was mature. That was different!

Still, sleeping in the same bed had been uncomfortable the first night – well, for him. Lance had slept like a rock, and he hadn’t wanted to wake the other trainer. The second night it was a lot easier. He simply didn’t think about it.

So he was adapting.

Lance was getting better too. That was good. He was willing to make sacrifices for his friend, but really, now that he thought of it, it wasn’t much of a sacrifice.

After all, he didn’t have many other friends.

Sabrina had been worried, but she had her gym to take care of, and she understood the situation better than he did.

She knew Lance wouldn’t hurt him.

“I’m not scared of you.”

“I know you aren’t.”

“Lance! Your voice!”

“Yes… it’s come back to me.” He pulled Red into an embrace. “I’m sorry for making you do this…”

“Don’t be! It’s nice…”

“Do you love me then?”

“… I guess I do.”

“Good.”

End Fic

Completed 7/2/05

See? I do write! Just not as much…