A/N: Heh. I love idle threats. C'mon, you didn't seriously think I'd discontinue this, did you?

Tobias Pierce: Thank you kindly!

Miah Tolensky: Exactly. But I wouldn't fancy having Sashara's parent troubles.

Crimson Fuchsia: Yep, I love cliffhangers. But at least there's finally gonna be a bit of romance!

Cosmic Mewtwo: Again, thank you kindly!

Goldie: I like going for surprises. They're irritating yet fun.

VMorticia: Indeed, 'tis a revelation and a half. And now onto part 7!

Disclaimer: Sashara and Penumbra are mine! Anything else…damn it. Not mine, never will be, don't sue. I also don't own the song 'Loving You's A Dirty Job (But Somebody's Gotta Do It) by Bonnie Tyler. 'Tis that fine singer's own property as well as that of Jim Steinman.

Warning: Heavy doses of angst, along with references to abuse, addiction, rape…lots of healthy fun stuff. If you don't like this stuff, then seriously don't read any further. I don't wanna get flamed.

Italics denote Pokemon speech

Forgotten: Part 7

It was so blindingly obvious, even then. Her features, her mannerisms, her powers…all the trademarks of Giovanni.

And I ignored them because of what? A need for companionship, the urge to learn more about my predecessors…

My feelings for her…my attraction to her…

Giovanni's daughter.

I was attracted to the cloned daughter of my deadliest enemy.

How in the names of the gods was I supposed to react to that?

Sashara had taken only a brief moment to recover from the after-effects of the meld before she had left, Penumbra trailing along silently behind her.

'Trust me…'

I had trusted her. And this was what I had to show for it.

If this was what a broken heart felt like, then it was probably for the best that I never revealed my feelings to her.

A soft noise…a sob.

Not one of anger, but of pain…grief…

Hurt.

Even after that unwelcome revelation, I still couldn't help what I felt for her.

And my feelings told me to go to her.

Even in the forests surrounding Clarity Lake's basin, the moon was visible; a disc of pure white light shimmering in the dark.

Long ago, I once told Pikachu and Meowth of the life of a clone and that of a normal Pokemon…

'…The moon reflects the light of the sun. Pokemon born into that sun may walk freely in its light. But we were not born into that world. We are shadows. We do not belong…'

Sashara and I…did we still live in that moonlight world?

Even in the weak light I could still see her, curled up under one of the yew trees, the Eevee at her side, its paws resting against her leg. Tears trickled down her face. Evidently she had yet to dose herself with more neuro-suppressant.

I sat quietly next to her, staring up at the moon. 'Why?'

'What should I answer first?'

'Why you refused to tell me of your heritage, why you felt the need to rely on the suppressant…either of those questions would do.'

She sat up and rubbed angrily at her face. 'If I know Giovanni, he would have treated you in the same way he treated me…nothing more than a lab experiment. I hated him for that. Hated him with every part of me that didn't hate those who hurt me…hated him with every part of me that didn't hate myself.'

That caught my attention. 'Yourself?'

'Who wouldn't hate themselves…being related to him, even distantly…but me…' She stared at me, eyes burning with anger. 'I'm his daughter. For all I've done, I might as well be Giovanni.'

When the sky is falling and you're looking round
For somewhere to hide
Did you ever call out to someone?
Did you ever call out to me?
I've never been gone - I've been right here by your side
There ain't nothin' but clouds
There ain't nothin' but clouds in your eyes

A painful silence descended upon us. But I needed answers.

'And the addiction?'

'The drug represses subliminal memories…dreams…'

She looked up at the moon, tears spilling down her face.

'You think I would want to remember those tests? You think I'd treasure the knowledge of being the daughter of a master criminal? You think I'd want to remember those deaths…that rape…the result of that rape?'

Pain took over her mind and body from that moment as she cried.

I remained silent for a while. Penumbra stared up at her, pressing its little body into her leg as if it could offer some form of comfort.

It had the right idea.

I am not a physical creature. Some claim it is because I prefer to save my strength for battles, but to correct a misconception, I do try to conserve my energy – I simply prefer to remain still. Physicality is something only Pokemon and humans feel the need to seek. I have never felt that urge.

Until now.

She didn't even resist as I moved to sit behind her. Guessing that this was what she needed, I wrapped my arms around her torso and pulled her backwards slightly, trying to make sure my paws didn't rest near any taboo areas.

Fire, or rather what felt like fire burned through my stomach when I touched her. I tried not to wonder if she felt the same way…

Obviously, as she pulled away from me, she didn't.

Why don't you believe it when you finally found the truth?
You've been drinking poison water from the fountain of youth
Why don't you stop tearing up everyone you need the most?
You're so busy trying to get even
You never even try to get close

So odd. She was so strong; surviving a literal living hell for so many years, yet at the same time, so fragile. The meld, it seemed, had dissolved most of her defences against the outside world…

Defenceless.

Protection.

Me…

What was I thinking!?

She was the bastard child of science, the offspring of hatred and fear…of Giovanni. I could never see her as a being. I would only see her as Giovanni.

The one I hate beyond all measure.

I can't explain it away
It doesn't make any sense
To know what it's like
I guess you gotta go through it
It doesn't matter baby

And yet…Sashara Giovanni.

I could hate and despise her father.

I could claim she was a monster.

I could say I regretted freeing her body and mind.

I could even claim that I could kill her willingly.

Yet I could never ever hate her

Simply because…

Loving you's a dirty job
But somebody's gotta do it.

I love her.

TBC