Grarrl!

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

Chapter 6

“Lugia gave you his life, didn’t he, so that you could live?” Red said softly. “He gave you his power, and his wisdom, and his memory, and in exchange, you would take care of the pokemon for him.”

Wataru reached out and brushed a stray golden feather from Red’s face. “Yes. Father was willing to die for me.”

“And so you stay here, and the reason you can defeat Ketsuban…”

“Is because I have the blood of a legendary in my heart, and the power of two guardians at my disposal. Kanna is a worthwhile leader and an excellent guardian, but her power is not strong enough.”

“What of Kasumi?”

“Kasumi is no longer tied to the demon, Red.”

“That’s a relief.” He sighed, before noticing idly that his tail feathers seemed to be waterproof. “So if Ketsuban had not come, you would have let us live out our lives separately this time.”

“Why not? I never intended to hurt you.”

Red laughed lightly. “Love… you hurt me more when you hurt yourself. I cannot imagine it, feeling memory flood you and having to live with it on a daily basis. When I do remember, it is only happy times, and I have time in the Dream Realm to recuperate.”

“Well, I can bear it better than you, and that is the way the dice fall.”

“And it’s unfair to jiggle the dice a bit?”

Wataru did not answer for a moment, before Red spoke again. “I saw no destruction in your dreams.”

“No, not yet.” Wataru shook his head. “It’s… peaceful here. Nice, almost.” His voice sounded wistful. “I didn’t have to worry as much, about the idiots chopping down the forests and drilling for oil. I could stay here and take care of the pokémon, and once a year the dragons would come see me… and I never kept any of them, though they would have all stayed if I asked.”

“You’re so brave. Braver than I am, because you remember.” Red sighed.

Wataru’s eyes were soft. “You are also brave, always trying to do the right thing even when you can never remember.”

“Yes, but we are not here to indulge in mutual flattery, are we?” Red looked at him. “Have we earned peace, Lance? Was his sacrifice worth it?”

Wataru hesitated. Lance… well, it was his name, just like all his other names and titles, but for some reason…

He felt closer to Wataru now, Wataru, who knew nothing and yet could be at peace without Red.

Did he still need Red? No, the real question was, did he need Ash, for it was Destiny who spoke to him, Destiny who had brilliant black hair and black feathers.

And it was Destiny who was reborn.

But… but he did, he could live like a monk, but regardless of it all, even if it was the vow he had made in the heat of passion years ago, his love for this boy in his arms would never fade.

And he didn’t mind.

“It’s worth it,” He smiled, and Red’s answering grin was all the reward he needed. For now.

End Fic

Completed 8/16/06

Happy ending! YAY! A bit ominous too…

Lance: *Hugs Red*

Red: *Blush*

Phantomness: *Videotaping with an evil grin*