Hehehehe…. *waves*

Warnings: Possible shonen-ai, dark themes

 

Chapter 7: Determination

 

            Ash sighed as he looked at the medical bill. It had only been a week and a half, and the expenses just kept coming…

            He could barely afford the care, much less special tests!
            There had to be another way…

 

            Ash shivered. Yes, there was… he had read about it, and it didn’t sound very nice, but if it paid…

            He had to provide for her. They would pull the plug if his payments didn’t come…

            It was the end of his road. No choice.

            With a heavy heart, Ash closed his eyes. * I’ll do it for her, because I owe her so much… and I have to help her… *

            That night, it was lucky Lance ran into him.

 

            “Ash, what are you doing?” The trainer asked, taking in what the boy was wearing… or not, for that matter. “If you’re in Indigo Plateau, why aren’t you challenging us?”

            “I…” Ash blushed, but he screwed up his courage. “Will you, I mean… do you want me? It’ll only cost-.”

            He was cut off as Lance yanked him onto a waiting Dragonite and flew off.

 

            The Dragon Master was seething when the two arrived at his quarters in Indigo. It wasn’t helped by the fact that Ash was touching him. What happened to personal space?

            Ash was quite surprised, after all, it was his first attempt at this… profession, and Lance certainly seemed willing enough…

            Right?

 

            The Dragon Master put Ash on the bed, handed him a cup of hot chrysanthemum tea, and sat down a convenient chair.

            “Now,” Lance said. “I’d like an explanation. Oh, and put this on.” He took off his cloak and tossed it to the startled trainer. “You must be freezing.”

            Ash blushed and looked down into the cup. “I didn’t mean to run into you…”

            “Well, it’s a good thing you did.” Lance scolded. “What were you thinking? You have talent, and skill, and all the badges needed to compete in Johto. Why would you throw your life away like that?”

            “It doesn’t pay well enough…” Ash looked down. “Misty…”

            “What of it? Don’t tell me she’s still harping about the bike money.”

            “N-no… she’s in a coma… and her sisters won’t pay for her, and I don’t want her to die!” Ash burst out. “They said they couldn’t afford it, which is true…”

            “So you’ll throw away your honor, your dignity, your very life, to keep her there?”

            “Yes! Of course!”

 

            “She’d do the same for you, then, right?” Lance said innocently.

            Ash frowned, staring into his mug of tea. “I hope so…”

            The Dragon Master hid a smile. * Yes… *

            “Well, then… if you need money that badly, I have a proposal to make.”

            Ash looked nervous, he wasn’t exactly sure what the act consummated, what if it hurt? But he had to do it for Misty.

 

            And again, Lance surprised him, by going over to a drawer and pulling out a checkbook.

            “How much do you need? I’ll loan you the money.”

            “Honto ni?”
            “Hai.” The trainer said, pen poised above the check.

            “Demo…”

            “No, don’t mistake my intention. I want a favor in return.”

            Ash blushed further, but named the price. Lance calculated the care for two months, and handed the check to Ash.

            After all, he wasn’t going to drain his own reserves just to keep this rival girl alive forever.

 

            “Now about that favor…”

            Ash screwed up his courage, as Lance sat down next to him. Even though Lance had been nice up till this moment, it might hurt…

            Lance mentally whacked himself as Ash kissed him. Obviously Ash hadn’t gotten the idea that Lance was not interested in his body.

 

            He pushed the younger boy off and shook his head. “Did I specify what I wanted yet?”

            “N-no…”

            “Then listen. I want you to capture a pokemon for me.”

            “Honto ni?”

            “Hai, hai.” Lance said impatiently. From his jacket, he pulled out a blue-and-white poke ball. “With this Eleball… you can capture Lugia, the guardian of the seas. That’s what I’m loaning you the money for. I expect you’ll be back in two months. Lugia lives in Whirl Islands.”

 

            Ash took the poke ball. “I see.”

            “And while you’re journeying, I’ll keep an eye on Misty, deal?”

            “Hai!”

            It was a very relieved trainer who made his way back to the Pokemon Center that night.

            Pikachu looked over his master anxiously. Are you all right?

            He obviously did not approve of Ash’s new… activities.

 

            “Well, change of plans.” Ash said. “I ran into Lance, and he lent me the money. He wants me to go capture Lugia.”

            Pikachu sucked in a breath. Dangerous! But definitely more honorable than what you were going to attempt. Let’s go for it!
            Yes!
Charizard added. I know where he lives, all Dragon pokemon do.

            Finding Lugia is easy; it is the capture that is hard. Bulbasaur added. But we will all try our best!

            With a new lease on life, at least for the moment, the next day, Ash set off. His goal? To gain the beast of the seas, and thus keep her alive.

 

End Chapter