Whee! *Waves*

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon, as it belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. Please don’t take my non-profit and non-copyright infringing fanfic since I wrote it and its mine by international copyright laws.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Matsuba – Morty’s Japanese name

Natsume – Sabrina’s Japanese name

Chapter 2

“Wataru?”

“Hi, Matsuba.”

“You look tired. How long did you spend on that essay?”

“At least three hours. I probably shouldn’t have procrastinated.”

“No, you shouldn’t have.” Natsume scolded. “You’ll ruin your health that way.”

“As long as it isn’t my grades, I will be fine.” Wataru said softly. “After all… I need those high averages to get out.”

“I pity you.” Matsuba shook his head. “Do you have a life outside of school?”

“Certainly. I do four hours of community service a week, and I take Spanish at the community college.”

“That translates to no life at all.” Natsume teased.

“I can’t help it…”

“I suppose not, but Wataru, you should get a girlfriend!”

Wataru looked sideways at Matsuba. “Whatever you say…”

But I won’t take your advice.

I will be able to do this.

He liked being inconspicuous, he didn’t know why though. It was just… better, to be a shadow.

No one noticed you that way. He didn’t want to shine.

Well, there had been a few bad experiences in early elementary school, and now… he really couldn’t care less about popularity.

I just want to finish high school and get to college.

There was nothing else, really, in those empty eyes, once full of life…

What was there to live for?

“All right! Graph 2y + 7 = 3.1x – 1 on your calculators, and then write it in slope-intercept form!”

Satoshi sighed. He didn’t even like Algebra that much, but it was necessary…

At least he had free time.

He finished the workbook problems five minutes before the bell rang, and started on his homework.

Why did Ms. Taylor have to give so much?

Oh well…

It could be worse, right?

“I love you, Lance.”

“I love you too, my little one.” The Dragon Master smiled. “I’ll protect you forever.”

Ash smiled, before he hugged Lance tightly.

This was reality…

This was everything... the culmination of his final goals… this was…love, truth, beauty… everything!

“I don’t know how it happened, but…”

“I just did?”

“Hai!”

“I suppose we might be soulmates then. Would that make sense?”

Ash grinned. “Why wouldn’t it?”

“Well…”

“BEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!”

Satoshi cursed, as he hit the snooze button on his alarm clock. “It was just getting good too!”

This was such an interesting dream. It was a pity it was only a dream.

Lance couldn’t possibly exist in real life.

Sounds of slurred speech drifted upstairs, and he quickly ducked under the covers again. Soon, the heavy tread of his father sounded on the steps.

The door was flung open, but he stayed quiet, and after a few minutes, his father left.

He wanted to escape, but he was still a kid. He didn’t want to face foster care, either. He’d heard horror stories about that!
What to do?

If only Lance were real, maybe he could protect me?

But that was just wishful thinking.

Maybe he should skip school today, it might be safer… but after a few minutes he heard the car pull out of the driveway.

Satoshi quickly finished his morning routine, fixed himself toast with peanut butter for breakfast, and then went out.

It was time for another school day.

“Ohayo, Satoshi!”

“Ohayo, Sofia.” He smiled.

“I made you a bento!”

“Oh, you didn’t have to…”

“I’m practicing cooking for home economics. It’s stir-fry vegetables and rice, I hope you like it.”

“Arigato!”

He felt better as he got ready to face the horrors of Intro to Geology.

“Why in the world am I having these dreams?” Wataru wondered as he finished untangling his hair. Long hair was so annoying, but he liked it. Heavy red tresses fell past his shoulders, still damp from the shower.

However, he kept it hidden most of the time. His mom didn’t like it. She thought red hair meant betrayal…

This was an odd attitude to take, since she had been born with red hair but it had lightened to some indiscriminate shade of brown…

Well, he wouldn’t pry. It was safer not to know.

He carefully coiled his hair into one braid, tucked it into the back of his sweatshirt, and went downstairs.

A note was on the microwave.

Have gone to visit your Uncle Joseph at the nursing home. Be back in a few days.

Mom.

It was fine. He could make himself dinner… after all; they should still have instant noodles somewhere in the cupboard.

Wataru fixed himself a toasted bagel with cream cheese, and then walked off to high school. It was lucky he lived close enough to the school.

As first period – Biology AP – began, he shut out all thoughts except those required for the class.

Absolute concentration was the only way to go in these classes; he could not afford to fail.

End Chapter

Completed 7/15/04

Lance: …

Phantomness: Roxy sent me this plotbunny!

Ash: … Dear me, is that good?

Kairo: Well, it motivates the author to write, doesn’t it?

Lance: I suppose… I hate being so inelegant.

Shoyko: So… okay! Ash and Lance are just dream characters and they are really Wataru and Satoshi?

Phantomness: Good, you understand me! Yes.