Wai! Another chapter! Created 6/7/04
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo, and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me and I own it.

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

Lance: I see …

Phantomness: Wai! Someone drew a championshipping picture for me! ^-^V

Ash: Its cute. And you’re all over the wallpaper.

Lance: I know… just wonder what’s going to spawn from the author’s mind now.

Chapter 2

< If they changed you they will not hesitate to do the same to him. It has already begun. >

< What? >

< You haven’t noticed? >

Lance shrouded himself in Mist as he walked inside, where Ash was happily playing cards with his new Charmander.

< See? >

< He has the ears already?! Then why doesn’t he notice? >

< I don’t think he can. >

< Invisible… > Lance glared. < So. They want to ruin my lives again. >

< Perhaps. But on the other hand, maybe they are making amends. >

< Lugia-san? >

< If you’re both mews, that takes away a lot of barriers, Lance… need I remind you? It would be so easy… >

Lance shuddered. < I… >

He didn’t want to face the temptation again.

< Lance… > Lugia sighed. < Why do you deny yourself? If he’s all that you want, then claim him. >

< I cannot! I will break him! >

< Did you? Last time, did you? >

< N-no, but… >

< Relax… take it slowly. Teach him; make him grow to love you, and then when you ask, he will answer yes. >

Lance turned golden eyes on the legendary. < When did you become such an expert in relationships? >

Lugia shrugged. < Well, when one watches people for fun, one learns a lot. >

< Ah… >

< Give it a try. >

< All right… >

Ash looked startled as Lance appeared. “Aniki!”

Lance hugged Ash tightly. “I changed my mind. I’ll come with you on your journey.”

“Yay! I’m so happy!” Ash cried, hugging him again.

Lance smiled, as Charmander yawned, and went to sleep.

The next day, they set off.

“So, you’re only taking Charmander?”

“Hai!” Ash nodded.

Lance noticed that luckily, he only had the mew ears for now. Good. If this rate continued, it would be a while before he noticed – and full transformation.

The more time the better.

Lance smiled, it wasn’t as if Ash had any other pokemon, but… “What about Pikachu?”

“Oh, he’s staying with Oak. He found a girlfriend it seems…”

“That means…” Lance smiled. “Congratulations!”

Ash smiled as he followed Lance onto the first Route. “Hai!”

They spent the day training… well, Ash trained his pokemon and Lance just kind of followed him around. But it was kind of fun just the same.

“Ah!”

“What’s wrong, Ash?”

Ash sniffled. “I forgot my sleeping bag at home.”

Charmander looked up from where she was eating a berry after having defeated her fifteenth rattata.

“Ash,” Lance smiled. “We can share a sleeping bag. I brought mine.”

“Okay!”

In his eyes, there was nothing wrong with it. They were brothers after all. Besides, it was nice to cuddle. Ash remembered that every time there was a thunderstorm, he would sleep in Lance’s bed.

After all, his dad was usually not home and his mom often left to go visit his dad in Rustboro, because that was where he worked.

Soon, it got dark, so they set up their tent, and Lance made instant noodles with soft-boiled eggs for them.

“Yummy!” Ash cheered, taking his chopsticks and bowl. “Arigato, aniki!”

Lance smiled. “Enjoy.”

They ate, and then sat together, Ash in Lance’s lap, as they watched the stars by the campfire.

“Did you bring marshmallows too aniki?”

“My, my, someone likes camping.”

“Well… if you didn’t, I have some!” Ash cheered, pulling out a bag of graham crackers, two bags of marshmallows, and a bag of Reese’s peanut butter cups.

“… You forget your sleeping bag but remember the marshmallows?”

“Different priorities I guess, aniki.” Ash smiled.

Lance chuckled, and they consumed half the bag of marshmallows between them that night.

S’mores were really sweet, after all.

Lance liked sweet things too. Of course, it wasn’t blood and sex, but it worked. It kept the cravings at bay at least.

Ash fell asleep with a smile on his face, snuggled against Lance’s chest. Lance smiled, wetted a napkin, and cleaned his face of the chocolate and marshmallow stains. He pressed a kiss against soft, soft skin and then closed his eyes.

< If Ash brought all these sweets then I’ll be fine… >

They slept in peaceful slumber that night.

Completed 6/9/04