Author’s note: Ash is so much easier to write than Syaoran, so I’m switching him to the main focus probably…

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo, and Shogakukan Comics. Runescape belongs to Jagex LTD. Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me and taking it is plagiarism. Don’t steal and don’t sue! Thank you *Phantomness bows*

Warnings: Will later be a harem fic. Both het and shonen-ai abound…

Chapter 43 – Ash

It was a long walk back to Hotaru. I mean, I had to navigate through that swamp again. So I get lost.

I bumped into a tree – which made the tree spirit inside really angry, so it attacked me, and I used Charizard, and then it vanished, but it dropped a cloak. It’s green and pretty, so now I’m wearing it.

Then, I fell into a pit of quicksand…

Okay, that took longer to get out of, because I panicked – well, as soon as I stepped in I sank up to my neck. I couldn’t think rationally in those circumstances!

Luckily, Sabrina was watching, and she pulled me out.

She also lectured me on thinking. I’m still a kid! But… I guess I was this old when I started capturing the cards.

It’s no fun being older though… oh well…

Anyways, after a bath in the river, I finally made it back to Hotaru’s house. She was waiting by the window as always.

“What news do you bring, Ashura?” She asked anxiously.

“I am sorry, but your parents are dead. I have killed the giant Dew in return.” I hold out the huge silver shield the giant dropped when he died.

“Oh no!” She begins to cry…

Ack!

I hate seeing girls cry! What do I do, what to do? I quickly pull a box of chocolates and a rose out of my backpack. “Please, don’t cry.”

Immediately, Hotaru lights up. Then, she kisses me on the cheek.

Hold thought there.

WHAT?!

“Oh my hero!” She gushes, as she kisses me again – on the lips this time! Hey! Private property there! Lance is going to be mad when he finds out… wait. No. The guardian curse kills those who aren’t guardians, right?

So… but I don’t want her to die! Not like that idiot girl who kissed me in front of Battle Tower while I was mourning Crystal!

She might be a good friend.

“Um… Hotaru! We just met!”

“But our fate is written in the stars to be together! And I can only repay your generous deed by becoming your wife!”

This is sounding like a fairy tale… oh no…

On the other hand, it’s only a game…

I think I’ll be okay then.

Lance wouldn’t get mad over something like this, right? Better call to make sure… where’s my compact?

Ah, here it is…

< Aniki? >

“Hi, Ash.” He smiles. “So, I see you’ve got a follower now.”

“Please don’t be mad!”

“I’m not mad. It’s only a game after all. Have fun. Besides, you’re a teen and have normal desires…”

I’m sure I resemble a tomato now. “Aniki!”

“Have fun~!” He winks. “Anyways, I think you’ll be there for at least a few months, so you might as well get used to it. I see you’re practicing your magic.”

“Hai!”

“Keep at it, and remember, I love you.”

“Love you too aniki…”

Hotaru’s still looking at me expectantly…

“Sure, you can follow me around?”

She hugs me tightly. It does feel kind of nice… now where should I go?

“Hotaru, do you know where I could get another quest?”

She frowns as she miraculously packs the whole house into her bag. “Oh. There are many quests here.”

“I know that…”

“A-are you angry with me?”

Gah! Not again… oh well, maybe I’ll learn politeness this way. Hmph. “I’m not angry with you, Hotaru. Just curious.”

“We all are in dire need of a hero.”

It’s weird being stared at in a love-struck manner. Now I know how Lance feels when I stare at him.

Hmm…

Why don’t I look twelve? Must be another game mechanic I haven’t figured out… we walk on, and then there’s another castle.

There’s a hassled looking cook in front of it.

“Um… hi?”

“Oh, are you an adventurer?”

“Yes, are you offering me a quest?”

“I must collect a bucket of milk, twelve eggs, and two pots of flour for his grace the Duke of Lumbridge’s cake! But I cannot leave this kitchen because I must supervise the birthday dinner as well!”

That sounds easy enough.

“I’d be glad to help, sir Chef.”

“Oh thank you Adventurer! They must be here ere three hours have passed!”

“Understood.”

This would be easy… he and Hotaru left the castle. Hotaru had already given the man twelve eggs from her pack. Apparently they had six chickens… that continuously laid eggs. Yum.

Well, now flour…

There are fields of wheat, but I don’t see a mill anywhere…

Hotaru and I pick wheat until we have enough to fill a burlap bag. Now where’s the mill?

“Hotaru, is there a mill whereabouts?”

She shakes her head. “The only one near here is in Draynor, a day’s journey away.” That’s bad… but wait, who said we had to travel by foot?

Hehehe…

“Pidgeot, I choose you!”

The Pidgeot card flares into existence. Hotaru stares as I help her on.

“My lord, you are truly a great hero! You are a mage as well?”

“Of sorts.” I nod, and we fly off. Soon enough, we’re at the mill… five coins for the miller to grind our grain, sure…

Well, now we have two pots of flour. The only thing left is the milk. There’s a cow right there.

So I tried to milk it but then it kicked me in the face. Hotaru laughed and said that it didn’t matter, milking was a woman’s job anyways, and milked it for me.

Now another Pidgeot-flight back to the Duke of Lumbridge’s castle…

Yay! I did it! Another quest completed! And as a reward, he gave me a special recipe to make chocolate pudding.

Hotaru’s making some now. Yummy. She did like the chocolates, said that they were too good for her.

But she’s a nice enough girl.

Maybe this game isn’t so bad.

End Chapter

Completed 4/6/05

I’m sorry if anyone is vastly OOC, but as this is AU anyways, I guess that excuses me a bit?