In the darkness I hear him call my name…calling me back…
Started 6/16/04
Title: Moonlight Sonata
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me. Don’t take it.
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks
Alternate Universe
Shonen-ai Championshipping warning!
Chapter 1
They say Murkrow are the bringers of death.
If that were the truth, then we’d all be dead by now. My father, Jacques Ketchum, is a pokemon breeder who specializes in dark-type pokemon.
There is frequently a whole flock of Murkrow at our farm.
Who am I, you’re asking? Well, I’m his son, Ashura Satoshi Ketchum. I’m a breeder-in-training.
But that’s not important. The story I’m going to tell has absolutely nothing to do with Murkrow.
It does, however, have plenty to do with death. So where do I start? Ah yes, it was when my mother, Delia, died four years ago, and my father immediately remarried – too quickly, if you ask me – and I gained a stepbrother in the process…
“You’re going to do what?!”
“Lance, please.” Matilda pleaded with her son. “I’m lonely, and you need a father.”
The thirteen-year old boy put his hands on his hips. “Oh? So you’re instantly getting married to this guy you barely know?”
“No! I mean, we were in high school together, and he’s a breeder by trade, and I’m a researcher, so we clicked.”
“You ‘clicked’.” Lance repeated. “I see.”
“Please!”
Lance picked up his poke belt. “I’m going outside to train. Call me when you get married.”
“Lance!”
The red-haired boy flew off on his Dragonite.
“You’re going to do what?!”
“Ash, you need a mother.”
“This is too sudden! She’s barely been dead a month!” Ash cried. “Did you already have a girlfriend?”
“No! How dare you speak that way to me young man!”
Ash turned his back and fled outside to the reserve.
Houndoom followed him. Master Ash…
“What’s wrong with him?” Ash cried. “I don’t want a new mother! I definitely don’t want a stepbrother either! He’ll probably be some snotty, annoying rich kid!”
Houndoom licked Ash’s face as she tried to calm him down.
Finally, Ash gave up. “Come on, Houndoom. Let’s go train. Maybe it will blow off some steam…”
The ten-year old and his pokemon set off on the road to Celadon. Living outside Celadon was very convenient; they were close to Saffron as well…
“Let’s go.”
Ash had just defeated three trainers and was feeling slightly better. Houndoom, Murkrow, and Absol followed him.
His other pokemon, Sneasal and Umbreon, were sleeping in their respective poke balls.
“Itai!”
“I’m sorry!” Ash immediately apologized to the trainer he had accidentally bowled over.
Lance got up, brushing bits of dirt off his black pants, after Ash had pulled him back to his feet. “I’m fine.”
“I really am sorry. I’m just in a bad mood today. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Ash said. “Um… can I make up for it somehow?”
He’s… cute!
Wow…
Maybe it’s fate we met?
“I’m Ash! What’s your name?”
Lance studied the kid and shrugged. “Whatever.” Ash’s eyes started to shimmer, as he caught Lance’s elbow.
“I’ll take you out for tea!”
“… Okay…” Lance said, after a long pause. * What is with this kid? He’s really determined… oh well, maybe I’ll get cooled down, it’s not really my mom’s fault for falling in love… *
“My name’s Lance.”
Ash swooned. * What a cute name, too! *
They sat in a small roadside stand together, sipping green tea and eating cherry blossom mochi.
It wasn’t too bad.
“So…” Lance said, deciding that it might be good to make conversation. He was getting a little edgy too, why was Ash staring at him?
“Why are you in a bad mood?”
Ash sighed. “My dad’s getting remarried.”
“Oh? You don’t want him to.”
Ash nodded. “I’ve never met my prospective stepmother-to-be and it’s only been a month since my mom died. I think he’s being disloyal to her.”
“Very noble of you.” Lance nodded. “I wish I could help, but I’m in the same predicament.”
“Hmm?”
“My mom’s been single for years, she adopted me, but… she’s just fallen head over heels in love with this guy from her high school years, and now she wants to get married. I’ve never had a father and I don’t think I want one.”
Ash nodded. “You’re as bad as me…”
They looked at each other, fellow sufferers.
“Maybe we could be pen pals and help each other out through this?” Ash suggested timidly.
“I’d like that.” Lance said, while wondering just _why_ he was opening up to a perfect stranger. He couldn’t explain it. But the child didn’t look like he would betray anyone, plus…
He was kind of kawaii. Lance always had an instinctive urge to protect those little ones… so they exchanged phone numbers, finished their mochi and tea, and waved goodbye to each other before going home.
End Chapter
Completed 6/16/04