There will be angst!

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* Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto…

Chapter 11

“That was not the wisest decision you made. Will you tell him?”

“He does not need my power yet.” Wataru said.

Mikuri frowned. “You must truly love him.”

“I am not sure I know how to love.” The man retorted sharply.

Mikuri simply smiled. “I understand.”

Red passed through the first exam with flying colors. He had been paired against a girl named Mina from the Hidden Sand, who used mostly wind-based moves.

It had been child’s play to turn the wind to his aid and then send in fire.

His training with Wataru had definitely paid off!

Kasumi had soundly defeated Yellow, tricking her into employing her mind reading jutsu on a clone, and then slamming her with Psybeam.

Yellow was still crying.

Natsume had given her an encouraging smile after the match, and the kunoichi was deliriously happy.

Satoshi had barely held his own against Hiroshi, but eventually managed to gain the victory. Hiroshi’s dog had been an irritant, but still, the boy had prevailed.

Yes, Natsume’s team had don her proud in the first round, so she treated them all to dinner, and encouraged them to train, for the finals would come in the next month.

Still, she was focusing on Kasumi, and they all knew it.

Kasumi was the one best suited to learn Natsume’s style of psychic maneuvers, and that was nothing to be ashamed of.

Red certainly cared little for it – he still had Wataru to teach him, after all.

Things were going so well, but this state of affairs could not continue indefinitely…

It was only luck that Wataru was on scene when Genji had the gall to return to the village. He had joined an organization hell-bent on capturing the demons sealed inside children to use for their own purposes, and as Pikachu was still inside of Satoshi, that made Konoha one of their stops.

His partner, Natane, was from the Hidden Grass village.

They were drinking tea, discussing in low tones what to do, when Red walked into the restaurant, followed by Wataru. One look at his brother sent Red’s blood boiling, and for a moment he forgot about where he was, or even about the difference in their skill levels.

Wataru grabbed Red by the back of his collar. “Stop it. You’ll just get killed.” He hissed.

It rankled, but Red had to obey his teacher. He took a few deep breaths to calm down.

Genji gave him a flat stare. “Hello, Red. I’m not here to kill you today. In fact, I have no interest in you. You’re obviously still weak.”

Red ground his teeth together, but had no comment to make.

He was still weak…

“But Genji, you are a S-class missing ninja. You’re not welcome here.” Wataru said, his golden eyes narrowing.

“Oh, and who are you to stop me?”

Lance said nothing, before he blurred. Red blinked in surprise, and Natane gave a cry of pain.

He could see the aura of the silver dragon around Lance’s body, very clearly, which was odd, but he paid it no mind.

Natane crumpled with a cry.

For the first time in quite a long while, Genji actually knew fear. Red just looked at Wataru in a mixture of adoration and awe.

“You’re not welcome here.” Wataru repeated, his voice rasping into a dragon’s growl.

Genji stood, narrowing his eyes. “Listen. I do not care who the hell you think you are, but you are not stopping me.”

His eyes began to swirl, changing color to a deep red streaked with black. Red felt his heart quail in spite of his brave front.

The last time he had seen Genji’s eyes like that… had been the night his family had been slaughtered…

Genji couldn’t kill Wataru, could he?

“Oh? Finally paying attention to me in earnest, little brother?” Genji taunted. “I recognize you now, Wataru. You rely far too much on that shape-changing trick. But it won’t save you from this!”

Deadly, black flames boiled from his hands, and Wataru hissed, fully transforming as his wings came up, slicing sharp wind through the flames.

Genji just chuckled. Red watched in horror as the flames built up, a concentrated conflagration impossible to dispel, one focused beam…

What was he going to do? If he didn’t stop Genji, Wataru would – could die from that attack!

But he wasn’t strong enough, was he?

Was he…?

Before he knew what he was doing, he had rushed to Wataru’s side of his own accord, even as the deadly blaze encroached. He kept his eyes open, despite the searing heat, not wanting to die a coward…

And then there was cold brilliance in his hands, and what was it – a sword? It glittered, silver-sharp, and even as he brought it before him, the flames melted away like butter and tinkled into sharp bits of ice on the floor.

Genji stared at him, aghast.

Red did not think, he just moved, and before Genji could run or scream or cast another illusion or attack, the sword was pierced through his chest.

Impossible! How…

He collapsed, spitting blood, and that was when Red smiled, and brought the blade up, and cut off his head.

There was no way to recover from that kind of injury, he was quite sure.

And as the blood slowly stained the floor and bubbled away, his senses finally seemed to return, and he slid to his knees, adrenaline and vengeance draining away, replaced by a dull, dizzy throb.

He was so tired…

Wataru licked his cheek, and he hugged the dragon close, not sure what else to do or say.

End Chapter

Started 7/24/07

I know its cliché. I don’t care. I write what I want! And Lance didn’t have to die this time, either!