How am I going to end this series?
Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws. Do not take my work.
Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks.
Chapter 9
Ash hung up, feeling better. Lance always knew how to cheer him up. * But can someone like me truly feel love again? *
He sighed.
Meanwhile, back at the modeling HQ…
“He hasn’t been doing much, boss.”
“I know.” Clarissa frowned. “We may need to contact him. Pity, he was doing well on his own…”
“Maybe he’s tired.”
“Tired? Him? That man can go through six women without breaking a sweat. Don’t tell me he’s *tired*?”
“Well, I was just making a suggestion…”
“Keep your moth shut, boy.”
Gary colored and exited the room.
“Lance?”
Lance looked across the table. “Yes, Ash?” He had insisted on taking her out to eat, although she wasn’t sure why.
“Are you not hungry?”
“No, it’s not that.” She took another bite of the cheesecake. Lovely chocolate. “It’s just that… why are you doing this?”
“I’m not trying to seduce you!” Ash cried, panicked.
“Don’t worry dear, I trust you.”
“It’s just that I feel I owe you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Why?”
“I mean; I feel like I’m taking advantage of our former friendship.”
“Ah…”
“Am I? Don’t you hate me?”
Lance winced. It was hard enough being nice without Ash bringing everything up. He must really be out for pain.
Deciding to get it through his thick skull once and for all, she slapped him.
Ash placed a hand to his throbbing cheek in shock.
“Ash, I love you, but if you’re going to continue being so stupid, then I don’t see why I should bother!”
Lance got up and stalked out of the restaurant. It was time for him to grow up.
Ash sat there, morosely staring in his rapidly melting ice cream, until the waitress handed him the bill.
Mew… what could he do now?
And yet… in spite of everything, she loved him?
Then he would grow up for her. But first…
Ash crumpled the letter in the mail. So that was it…
Very well then!
“I quit.”
“What?”
“I quit.” Ash repeated, seeing Clarissa’s stunned look. “I can’t do this anymore. It’s not right.”
“And since when have you of all people cared about morals?”
“What do you mean? I just don’t want this job anymore!”
Clarissa began to laugh. “So childish, Ash. But somehow, I don’t think it’s an act anymore, so I’ll say this. If you quit, I’ll make sure the world knows that you’re the father of Sabrina’s child!”
The trainer froze. “What?”
“You heard me. Still want to quit?”
Clarissa chuckled as Ash dropped to the ground. He was… crying. How odd.
Oh well. Emotional attacks can hit anyone. She left him alone and went to edit the next porn tape.
Ash didn’t know what to do. What could he?
If I don’t quit, I’ll never be able to face Lance. But if this news gets out-!
His dream of becoming a Master would be shattered.
What to do?
Ash left the building in a daze.
Death was looking more and more appealing.
He couldn’t!
Ash sighed.
He had to remove all sharp objects or else the temptation would return. Demo,
it wasn’t fair!
I didn’t get what I wished at
all! Instead, I get… a mess!
Why? Was I such a bad person that I couldn’t get a wish?
Does someone up there like messing with me?
I wish I knew… no, I don’t! If I make another stupid wish I’ll be in even more trouble than before!
I do wish this hadn’t happened, but there’s no way… no way…
Ash rang the doorbell.
“Come in.”
“Lance, I had sex with Sabrina and she kept the baby.”
“I know.”
“How can you still love me?”
“By remembering it wasn’t you. You told me yourself.”
“Yes, but how do you know? I mean, I had sex with Violet and this was after I! Oh Mew, what am I?”
“You’re you, Ash Ketchum, and you’ll always be yourself.”
“You love me?”
“I told you I did, didn’t I? Would I lie about that?”
“Lance, I love you too, but this just wouldn’t work out!”
“Why?”
“I want to change, and I’m trying, but Clarissa said that if I quit she’d make the news public! I can’t deal with that! I know I’m a coward, but-!”
Ash trailed off, seeing a steely glint in Lance’s eyes. “I can resolve this for you, but only once.”
“Honto Ni?”
“Promise you won’t hate me?”
“If you don’t hate me, how can I hate you?”
“Ah…. There is so much you don’t know.” Lance smiled mysteriously before she left the house.
Ten minutes later, she was back.
“It’s done.”
“Arigato, Lance!” Ash hugged her. * I don’t know what she did, but I don’t care! The past is past! *
And with bright eyes, they faced the future together. There was no happy ending yet, but they would work towards it.
There was nothing else to be done. The wish could not be undone. Brooding would do no good…
Wait… and hope…
End Chapter
Completed 1/14/05
It’s done! ^=^
Now I can work on another fic!