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

Lance = Wataru

Chapter 4!

By mutual agreement, Red and Lance both decided that bringing up the past now would serve no purpose and so, they rented a teleport device, one-use only, at Cerulean’s Pokemon Center and then teleported to Pallet.

Back at home; Red was not surprised to find his mom missing and a note on the table. She had made several casseroles that were in the fridge, besides his normal allowance. Red sighed.

At least she was trying a little bit…

There were also several packages of Nest, Net, and Dive balls from her company, along with a new PokeNav. Interesting.

He clipped the PokeNav onto his arm and linked it to his pokedex for data transfer. Once he was finished, he left the pokedex at Oak’s, wrapped neatly with a thank-you note.

“Are you ready?” Wataru asked. “Or do you still want to stay here?”

“It would be nice to get a decent night’s sleep tonight.” Red yawned. “In a real bed, to boot. You can use my mom’s room.”

“Are you sure?”

“She’s never home in any case….” Red shrugged. “Go ahead.”

Lance shrugged and accepted the offer. The bed was large and invitingly soft, but cold. The owner obviously never slept here. A quick scan of the room revealed nothing of real importance… wait…

He rummaged through the drawers silently, knowing that Red was asleep next-door by the snores. Several hidden drawers yielded to his mechanisms.

Ah, bingo…

He spent several hours reading through Cornelia’s diary, but did not really derive anything interesting. The rest of the area was filled with feminine items – clothing, jewelry, and perfume…

Nothing of real value to him… it had been quite a waste of time… still, perhaps…

Some of this information might come in handy later on, so he filed it into his mind and then went to sleep.

The next morning, Red woke up early and found Lance still asleep. He did look rather adorable asleep… Red quickly banished the thought, flushing bright crimson. What was wrong with him?

He wasn’t attracted to Wataru, was he? But they had just met!

Poor Red did not know that love or lust had no boundaries set upon it, nothing was enforced, and anything was fair here in the arena…

Lance yawned as he opened his eyes blearily, finding Red watching him from the doorway. Red hastily fled.

Lance climbed out of bed and padded into the shower, belatedly remembering that his eyes felt gummed up, as he had forgotten to take the contacts out last night. Bloody things. If he wore them for much longer they would permanently damage his eyesight. He could not afford that…

Well, maybe Red would forget, but without them, the connection was too obvious. Golden eyes were rare…

Hmm. He would have to do something about that, later. For now, though, he could concentrate on his plan.

Showering, he applied another layer of white dye to his hair, making it lighter than usual, slightly. The dye would not wash out with water, only with oil, and he had no desire to dunk his head into a vat of oil any time soon.

He smiled as he emerged, clad now in a pair of black leather pants and a tight red shirt, dark gloves covering his hands. He could feel Red’s eyes linger over the exposed lines as he sat down, before the boy hastily jerked his gaze away.

Seducing Red seemed so simple! They should have employed this tactic before Cerise. Pity one could not go back in time and change the outcome of things…

He was adorable, too. Kawaii ko.

Yes, this would definitely be an interesting journey…

Red hastily busied himself with breakfast preparations. Bacon and eggs had been found in the fridge and fried, along with some toast, and now he anxiously awaited the reaction.

Wataru made himself a sandwich and smiled. “It’s good, Red. I didn’t know you could cook.”

“I hardly do. No time.” Red blushed at the praise.

“Well, I think you won’t have any trouble eating this.” Lance commented thoughtfully. Unless of course, too much oil and grease upset Red’s condition further.

Red didn’t seem to notice Lance’s words and busily heaped his plate, eating voraciously. Boys… he suppressed a smile.

After breakfast, they left the house, first having healed their pokemon in the Healing Machine set in the wall. Once that was finished, the two of them left and took the ferry to Houen.

Finally! An adventure, Red’s mind proclaimed triumphantly!

It said that the ferry would take three days to get to Houen, so Red and Lance went to their room and debated what to do next.

Challenge one of the trainers on board to a pokémon battle? Nah, too repetitive.

Lance dug out a pack of cards and they played gin rummy and such for several hours, than went to get lunch.

Lunch was a pleasant affair, as most of the other people on board were actually an elderly group of Cinnabar citizens on a cruise for their health. How interesting…

Lance yawned as he watched the angle of the sun. After lunch, he had decided to go sunbathing, and Red had joined him. Not only was it relaxing, he could make the Pallet trainer blush. That was fun.

Red was so easy to tease! Such a naïve little virgin…

Lance licked his lips. This would be a fun assignment… he’d be so fun to shatter, and if Yellow saw, well, even better…

Red of course was completely ignorant of any of these thoughts. Pity.

“Wataru?”

“Yes, Red?”

“Ah…. Um…”

“Go on, what is it?”

“You… have scars… are they from pokemon training?”

Lance hid a smirk. How direct. “Yes. I was once attacked by a Pikachu and had to undergo extensive surgery to repair the spatial damage.”

Red gaped. “I see…”

“Yes. I’ve been afraid of them ever since.” He lied effortlessly.

Red put a comforting hand around Lance’s shoulder, before realizing that the other trainer was shirtless and that might not be a good thing. “Oh…”

“Do you have one?”

Red tensed uncomfortably. “I used to, but someone stole it.”

“Ah… that’s a pity, but I’m glad you don’t have it with you. I’m afraid I’d go into shock if I did see one again.”

“It’s all right, Wataru. I don’t hold it against you.” Red said comfortingly. * I feel so sorry for him… *

If only you knew, Lance thought, even as Red leaned closer to him before realizing what he was doing, belatedly once again, and snatching his hand back. If only…

He smiled innocently and was rewarded with another rampant blush from the boy. My, my… This will be quite fun!

Red looked away suddenly wondering if this journey was a bad idea…

End Chapter

Completed 12/6/05

Lance: ^^
Phantomness: *Smirky smile*