*Phantomness dances the Macarena while her muses sweatdrop in the background*

Shoyko: Maybe I shouldn’t have put all that sugar in her coffee?

Lance: You think? A hyper authoress is never good.

Emerald: *runs off to the drugstore for pills*

Kairo: *dances along with Phantomness*

 

Chapter 1: Look in my eyes

 

            Ash sat by the bed as he waited for Lance to wake up, still unsure of exactly how to proceed. It was certainly an awkward situation.

            What would he remember?

            Would he at least remember their love? Ash hoped so.

 

            Slowly, the Dragon Master’s eyes opened, showing their golden depths. Sitting up, Lance looked around him.

            “Where am I?”

            “Fire Island in the Shamouti Chain.” Ash supplied helpfully.

            “Oh.” Lance said, frowning as he tried to remember what had happened. But all he hit was a blank wall.

            He could remember flashes, and who his pokemon were, and he even knew the name of this boy sitting across from him, along with the hint of something deeper, but that was all.

            “Ash? Did I get hurt in some accident?”

            Ash paused. * Maybe I should lie to him… remembering death is never pretty… and right now, my power is a lot higher, so a little influence can’t hurt… *

            “Hai.” Ash nodded.

            “Figures.” Lance said, checking himself over, and satisfied that there were no marks or giant scars. “I probably just hit my head too hard on something.”

            Ash nodded. * Good… *

 

            “Well… why am I here?”

            “Um…” Ash’s mind raced to find an explanation. “See, there was this explosion at the Plateau, and everyone else got killed or severely injured, but I managed to rescue you in time, and Charlotte and I patched you up here… everyone else thinks you’re dead.”

            “Oh.” Lance said. Stretching out, he folded his wings neatly and perched on the edge of the comforter. “I see.”

            “And, um… I figured you might like it better if you pretended to be dead, since all the fans…”

            Lance cut him off. “Yes, that is a major headache. I do appreciate what you’ve done for me. But why would you?”

            A pang shuddered in the chords of Ash’s heart.

 

            < He can’t remember! >

            Charlotte’s head snapped up. < I warned you. Give it time. >

            < I will try, aneki, but… >

            Ash coughed to hide his urge to cry, and then took a sip of water from his sports bottle. “We’re friends.”

            “We are.” Lance repeated, trying to find a solid holding. Unfortunately, he could feel the elusive memories run like smoke through his fingers, refusing to arrive. “I see… and… what about the wings?”

            “Ah… it’s a type of power.” Ash said. “You got them when you passed the test to become a Dragon Master.”

            “That was years ago, if I recall correctly. You have known me for that long?” Lance queried.

            Ash nodded. It wasn’t technically a lie…

            “So, are you hungry? You just woke up from almost a year of coma…”

            “A year?!” Lance looked stricken. “What about my pokemon-.”

            “Don’t worry, I took care of them.” Ash reassured him hastily. “They’re outside playing in the water.”

            Lance looked slightly more relieved and nodded, allowing Ash to push him back onto the bed.

            “I’ll bring you some soup, kay?”

            “… Okay…” Lance replied, now alone with his thoughts.

 

            Lance frowned, a hand under his chin, as he tried to sort out what was happening. * Ash… I know I know him, so what he says is probably true… its not like he has any motivation for lying to me… and yet, why can’t I remember? Was there really an explosion in Indigo, or did I just get careless when I was training? It’s so strange… and these wings. They feel right, but at the same time, it’s like missing pieces… what’s’ wrong with me? *

            “Am I really me?”

            That sobering thought was quickly banished to the depths of the conscious mind. Lance shook his head.

            “And why does Ash care? Even if we are friends, is that it? Maybe we were best friends? It’s so confusing.”

            Sighing, Lance lay back down and stared at the ceiling. * Who am I, and why do I have this power? *

 

            Ash finished heating the soup in the microwave, and then dried his tears on the closest dishtowel. < I can’t believe it… >

            < Ash… > Charlotte whispered. < You have to remember, this is how she feels when you don’t love her. >

            That had the desired effect. Immediately, Ash’s feelings flipped from self-pity to guilt.

            < What? >

            < Think about it. > Charlotte advised. < And give her time. She always gives you time, doesn’t she? >

            < … Yes… >

            < Then maybe, you should return the favor. > After that, Charlotte cut communications.

 

            Ash silently carried the soup up to Lance’s room.

            “Lance?”

            “Come in.” Lance said, sitting up. He could still feel a few twinges when he moved quickly. Must be all the stiffness.

            Ash sat down next to him with the tray and smiled. “I hope this doesn’t upset your stomach.’
            “What is it?” Lance asked, taking the spoon and dipping it into the broth experimentally.

            “Chicken noodle soup, the worldwide panacea.” Ash said brightly. “Enjoy.”

            Lance raised his eyebrows, but nodded as he finished the soup. Ash sat next to him quietly the entire time, just watching.

            It wasn’t unnerving, just strange.

            Sighing, Lance ignored it and consumed the rest of the fruit and juice Ash served, before Ash helped him find his way around the building.

 

End Chapter

Created 1/5/04, completed 2/28/04