Chapter 45: Forced Passion And Cleave's Survival

"Your father!" Both Ashachu and Hunter exclaimed in unison.

Blade crossed his arms and turned away from the Weavile in the corner of the cave, refusing to look at him. "Yeah that's right. I thought he was dead." He then shook his head and began muttering under his breath. "This isn't fair. Why does HE have to be here?"

Ashachu moved to take a closer look at the sleeping Weavile. His belly was thin – so thin his ribs were visible under his fur; his body was covered in lacerations and his fur matted. But he had broad shoulders and his arms were quite large. Ashachu thought he must have been quite muscular at one point. He was also reasonably tall, even for a Weavile. His torso, even while he was curled up, was quite long. He had probably been quite attractive at one point.

Hunter shook Cleave in an attempt to wake him up. "Hey buddy, you okay. Wake up."

"Errr…I don't think you should do that," Ashachu whispered back. "We don't know anything about him. He could attack you."

"Not looking like this he won't." Hunter continued to shake Cleave. "Hey, come on wake up."

When he didn't so much as stir, Ashachu coxed his head and asked, "are you sure he's alive."

"Well he's breathing. Just! Hey Blade…Huh. Where'd he go." Hunter had turned to face the Sneasel, but he'd already left the cave.

"I'll go find him…"

Ashachu found Blade sitting on a ledge a little way from the entrance.

Blade was crying. His head was buried in his claws, and his body trembled as he cried. As if he hadn't been through enough, his greatest tormentor was still alive. How had he not succumbed to his wounds? There was no possible way he survived what Shadow did to him.

"Blade…Are you okay, buddy."

"Hmm." Blade's head whipped around to glare at Ashachu. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. Why are you crying."

"I said I'm fine," Blade snapped angrily. He wasn't angry at Ashachu, he knew that, it was Cleave. All the negative emotions he had towards his father were boiling up to the surface. "Leave me alone."

Ashachu gave him a warm smile and put a paw on his back. "Hey I get it. It's hard to see a loved one like that. I'd feel the same way if one of my parents…"

Wham!

Blade reacted instantly, slapping Ashachu hard across the face, making him stumble backwards and fall onto his back.

"Blade." He gave a cry of pain and stared up at the Sneasel with an expression of hurt and betrayal on his face. "What was…"

"My father was an asshole, okay," Blade had bared his fangs, and his face was twisted with anger. "And I don't fucking want him back in my life. He's supposed to be fucking dead."

It was at that point that Hunter, having heard the commotion from inside the cave, poked his head out of the entrance. "Guys' what," he begun before seeing Ashachu and rushing to his side. "Oh my. You okay." He pulled Ashachu back to his paws before glaring at Blade. "What the fuck man."

"Hunter it's fine," said Ashachu.

Hunter shook his head. "No, it's not okay. He doesn't have the right to push you. Blade, if you lay another paw on my mate, I'll."

"What…What will do you Riolu." Blade whipped around and brandished his claws to the riolu threateningly. He knew he was overreacting, but he simply couldn't help it.

"Please guys," squeaked a distressed Ashachu as Hunter and Blade stared daggers at each other. "Don't fight."

Fortunately, the tension was broken at that point, by someone else calling out through the valley, "Cleave dearest…Are you awake!"

The voice came from above, a pokemon who's body resembled the moon. It was moon guardian Lunala.

"Oh crap," mumbled Hunter, as the three of them gaped in awe at her.

"Who is that," whispered Ashachu, his heart pounding as fear flooded his small body. "Another ultra beast."

The creature's eyes swept the area and then focused on them, causing Ashachu to let out a squeak of fright.

"Pika!"

"Oh! And who do we suppose we have here." The bat like creature spoke in a soft feminine voice. It drifted down towards the rocky ledge until it was floating just an inch off the ground. "A Sneasel, a Pikachu and a Riolu. And just what are field Pokémon such as yourselves doing in this desolate dimension."

Ashachu, Hunter and Blade exchanged frightened looks with each other. Then after a moment of silence Hunter barked bravely, "Who-who are you?"

"Me," the creature replied, gesturing to herself with the claw on the end of her right wing. "Why, I am Lunala of course. Guardian of the Moone." She did a dramatic backflip in the air as she said this. "And this world is my home. Now tell me. Who are you and how did you come to find yourselves here?"

As she spoke her eyes caught sight of the landing craft and Ashachu noticed her frown.

"He's Ashachu. He's Blade and I'm Hunter," said Hunter, pointing to each of them in turn. "As for how we got here. It's a long story but let's just say we were kidnapped."

Lunala's eyes widened as Hunter pointed out the Sneasel. "Blade! The son of my dear Cleave!"

Blade glowered at her. His earlier rage replaced with apprehension. "You know my father."

"Your father is very dear to me," said Lunala. "He is among my closets and most intimate of friends. Come. I shall take you to him."

Blade refused, folding his arms again and shaking his head. "Oh no. I spent my entire kit hood with that prick. The last thing I want is to see him again."

Lunala was surprised. She gazed at Blade wide eyed for a moment then sadness crossed her face. "Oh. Well I'm sorry you feel that way. You see Blade, your father is in a bad way. I fear he may not be much longer for this life. He was attacked. By a monster. A dark creature of pure terror and evil."

Blade allowed a sneering smirk to grace his features at that statement. "If you're talking about my boyfriend."

Lunala didn't seem to know how to respond to that. She opened her mouth, then closed it again without making a sound.

Ashachu and Hunter looked between the Sneasel and Lunala, utterly confused.

"Ummm, what in the distortion world are those two talking about," Hunter whispered to Ashachu.

"Don't ask me," Ashachu whispered back. "I feel like I'm in a story, referencing some other story I didn't read."

Hunter frowned. "That's an oddly specific metaphor!"

"Why don't you three come and join me in our cave," said Lunala after a moment pause. "I have food. Enough food for all of you. You can meet Cleave."

She made her way inside, as did Ashachu and Hunter, but Blade remained outside.

'That explains it, of course! She saved him! Arceus damnit!' He stabbed the ground angrily. 'I'll kill him myself if I get the chance!'

*Inside the cave*

The food consisted of strange black tubes with some sort of green substance in the middle.

"You just suck marrow out," Lunala explained. "Don't eat the black part."

Hunter went to eating rather quickly, Ashachu on the other paw, didn't find them to be particularly appetising.

"Umm no thanks," he pushed the thing away. "I'm not hungry," though his stomach contradicted him by giving a low rumble.

The cave was even more cramped with Ashachu, Hunter, Lunala and Cleave the Weavile inside. Most of the space of course was taken up by the great bat like creature that was the Moone Pokémon.

Lunala herself seemed to fill nearly half of the space inside. Ashachu and Hunter didn't have much space between her wings, the fire and the wall.

"I know its not exactly roomy in here," Lunala had said apologetically. "I don't normally live in a den. I only needed somewhere safe to keep poor Cleave. To protect him from the Xurkitree. Hmm."

She levitated the unconscious Weavile into the air, and raised him to the level of her face, before proceeding to lick him tenderly.

"We met on earth many summers ago. It was a moonless light. I always visit earth on the night of the new moon. Cleave was just a Sneasel then. The perfect specimen of an earthling. I found him foraging for food in a snowy forest. And it was there under a dark sky that one thing led to another and…" she remembered it fondly, how they'd spent that night together.

"Whoa," Hunter interrupted through a mouthful of – whatever that green stuff was. He raised a paw, swallowed and continued, "too much information there."

"Our consummating our love I promised to see him again on every night of the new moon since. And so, I did. I shared with Cleave all of the moments of his life. His joys, his sorrows. He grew from that perfect Sneasel to be a magnificent alpha Weavile. He became the leader of a pack of Sneasel and Weavile. And through the seasons they prospered…Until the humans arrived in their home. Poor Cleave. He watched as his pack, and all the kits he had fathered and females he'd loved were captured. But Cleave was a resilient mon. He sought out another pack of Sneasel's, challenged the alpha and won the allegiance and love of another female Weavile. And together they built another pack. Until one day…" Lunala bowed her head and let out a sad sigh. Ashachu and Hunter exchanged confused and uncomfortable expressions. She remembered how Cleave used what little consciousness he had to tell her of the horrible demon that slaughtered and brutalized his pack, how it had taken pleasure in their screams and attempts to save each other. How it had apparently poisoned Blade's mind, against him.

"Why is she telling us this," mumbled Hunter. Ashachu just shrugged in reply.

Lunala continued. "…The monster came. An earthling I have never seen before. Dark as a shadow. Like a reaper of terror with a single red eye."

Ashachu shuddered at the description. Given what Blade had said about his boyfriend he had a good idea of who the reaper of terror was.

"Cleave fought him bravely but wasn't able to prevail. I sensed my dearest was in danger. But I when I arrived it was too late. I found him in the middle of the forest on the verge of death. I did what I could for him, but it wasn't enough. He's never regained consciousness." She fell silent. A single tear dropped from her right eye and landed with a splash on the rocky floor.

"Blade told me his father was an asshole," said Ashachu, a little suspiciously. He wasn't sure who to trust, Blade was his friend, but Lunala was Cleave's mate, if anyone knew him, she would. And yet, the way blade acted, he was scared and angry, as if he had some terrible experience with his father.

"Did he." Lunala gave another sad sigh. "Some kits are never grateful for what their parents give them. The world Cleave inhabited was hard and Blade soft. Cleave needed to be tough with him to ensure he would survive and not bring down the pack…" how little she knew, Cleave had fed her lies of his compassion, his love for his pack. His love for her, all were lies.

Ashachu wasn't sure what to make of this. But before he could enquire further, Lunala changed the subject.

"But that's mine and Cleave's story. I want to hear about how such field mons as yourselves ended up in this world…"

Blade had heard it all from outside, he wanted to speak, to tell her the truth. He considered it as he traced a small scar on his neck, hidden under his fur 'Ungrateful...of course I am, why thank the man that tried to kill me since the day I was born. He may have fooled you, but he'll never fool me. After all, you didn't see the look in his eyes, the satisfaction on his face, when he told me I shouldn't have been born, when he was strangling me. He took pleasure in it, I could see it, I could feel it.'

Meanwhile Hunter launched into an explanation of everything that had happened since they'd been on the beach in Mossdeep. Team flare, the Centurion, the landing craft… The only thing he glossed over was any suggestion of a relationship between Shadow and Blade.

Lunala listened intently and considered. "Hmmm…Well. That's quite a story. I am truly sorry that you have had to endure all of…"

But she trailed off at that moment, suddenly looking alert. "What was that!"

"I heard it too," said Hunter.

It was from outside the cave. A mechanical whir. The sound of engines.

"Oh no. Blade!"

Ashachu, Hunter and Lunala, scrambled to stick their heads out of the entrance to the cave…In time to see a second landing craft descending from the atmosphere…

*Later*

Everything had happened so quickly. Humans showed up, "rescued" them and had left them in a strange facility. A facility Blade was semi knowledgeable about, as it was one run by the Aether Foundation. Though he hadn't seen the inside before.

The Sneasel wandered around the artificial habitat of the building and there was a mix of strong, musky sweet scents. One stood out above the others, and as Blade looked around he saw the Pikachu. Something was wrong, he felt a strange tug, like he was full of desire. And he couldn't resist the desire to toy with him. He pounced on the pikachu, pushing him onto his back.

"Pika…Pika." He squeaked and tried to push him off to no avail. He had only one option. He prepared to use thunderbolt.

"Hehe. Gotcha kid…" Blade's voice stopped him.

Ashachu's heart skipped a beat. "Huh. Blade," he called out. "Is that you?"

He brushed the grass from his eyes with his right paw to see the Sneasel sitting right on top of him, a wide grin on his face.

"Have you ever paid attention to what I told you during our training sessions," said Blade. "You gotta act on your instinct kiddo. Without thinking about It." He lifted his claw from Ashachu's chest to his cheek and gave it an annoying pinch.

Ashachu glowered at him.

"Thinking takes precious time. Time in which I could have cut your throat, or frozen you, or started to eat you."

"Thanks," Ashachu groaned. "I'll try and keep that in mind."

"Also, if you're gonna walk through long grass. Make sure you use those cute ears of yours and actually listen for danger." Blade pinched his right ear. "What are you, a human?"

Ashachu let out a deep sigh. "Get off me!"

Blade obliged and offered Ashachu a claw to help him back to his paws.

"So, I see the humans gave you a new tail," the Sneasel commented. "Nice. They may suck most of the time, but they're good at some things."

Ashachu ignored the comment. "Where are we? The last thing I remember is…Is Ash finding us back in ultra space. Then I think I fainted."

Blade smirked. "And how. You passed out right after he scooped you up into his arms. Almost cute. Almost." This comment earned him another glare from the mouse. "Oh, lightened up kid, I'm only messing with ya. I don't know where we are. Some human place They brought us here after we got back from that other world. Then they carted that kid off the police station!"

Ashachu felt another wave of panic crash over him. "What…Shit. So, where's Ash now. The other human said!"

Blade grinned at him and shook his head. "Hehe trainer! Kid, ya don't need a trainer."

"Yes, I do! I need to find Ash."

"Forget him. Stick with me kiddo. You'll do much better."

Ashachu shook his head. "You don't understand. Ash isn't just some human who bosses me about. He's my. Ash, Pikachu. Hunter, Sniveon. They're my family. I love them. And they love me. I just gotta get back to them."

It was Blade's turn to sigh. The poor naïve boy. From what Blade saw when he watched them with Meowth and the other two, it seemed more like they treated him like a burden. "Alright. Well if it means that much to you, then I'm sure they'll give ya back to him soon. I did hear them say that when Ash handed you over to them."

Ashachu smiled weakly at him and coxed his head. "Thank-you Blade."

"And that Riolu friend of yours is around here too."

Ashachu's perked up. "Really. Where. Take me to him."

Blade rolled his eyes. "Sure kiddo, whatever you say. But first, we should probably find you something to eat." The Sneasel eyed Ashachu's belly. "You're looking a little peaky!"

Luckily for Ashachu the field was filled with berry bushes and fruit trees. Blade easily gathered an armful of berries and apples and brought them under a tree where he and Ashachu sat down to eat them.

Ashachu picked up a bright blue Oran berry and bit into it. Moments later wolfed the berry down, before picking up another and doing the same.

"Whoa slow down their kid," said Blade patting him on the back. "You're gonna give yourself a stomach ache."

"Stop calling me kid," replied Ashachu through a mouthful of berry.

"Whatever fuzz ball."

Ashachu groaned as he helped himself to a third berry.

"So, I need you to tell me something," he said, about halfway through the berry.

His tone had suddenly become serious, causing Blade to cox his head. "What?"

"What happened on the Centurion? That Darkrai, Shadow? Do you know him? Why was he hugging you?"

Blade sighed. He had tried not to think about what Shadow had likely done to him until Blade stopped him. "Yes, I know him alright. He's kinda…well. He's my mate."

Ashachu nearly choked on the Oran berry. He coughed, sending lumps of berry and spittle all over his fur and the grass. "Wh-what. You're mate. H-how can he be your mate."

"In the usual way."

"B-but you're. You're such a good Pokémon," stuttered Ashachu. "How could you ever want to be with such a dark creature like that."

Blade smiled weakly. "Oh, believe me Hikari, I know what he is. He's not a good Pokémon. He's a monster, but. Despite everything. He's always cared for me. Protected me. Loved me." The thoughts made his heart flutter.

"Loves you," gasped Ashachu, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "Blade! He tried to cut off my tail. How is a creature like that even capable of feeling love?"

"All Pokémon experience love, kiddo," Blade replied, his voice somber. "In the deepest depths of my heart I know he loves me. Shadow found me when I was at the lowest point of my shitty existence. I'd lost my pack. My family. I had nobody. I didn't really have anybody before. Except my mom. My family were shitty, too. And he came to me. He fed me, and he took me into his life. To his family. He looked after me. Shadow protected me from the harshness of the world. And I loved him for it. And so, we became mates…"

Ashachu's jaw dropped. He was struggling to comprehend what Blade was saying. Shadow. The evil creature who had stalked him, threatened him and his loved ones, and maimed him. That was Blade's lover and protector. It didn't compute.

Or did it…From the deepest corner of Ashachu's mind came a picture. A picture of a graveyard with the rotting corpse of a Sneasel slumped against a grey tombstone. Of a rocket with teeth, holding the Sneasel in its unnatural maw. He had thought the nightmares were to torment him. But they could have been to show what Shadow was feeling, how the cruel Darkrai was coping with being separated from Blade.

"Hikari, I am so sorry that Shadow did that to you," said Blade, his voice filling with emotion.

Ashachu looked up at him and saw to his great shock that there were tears in his eyes. "Blade."

"In all honesty. I don't know if I want to be his mate anymore after what he did to you." Blade was conflicted, Ashachu was his friend, he'd never lied to him, he was always nice and always there for the short time they'd known each other.

Ashachu put his paw on Blade's claw and squeezed it gently "It's not your fault."

"He was doing it for me. To protect me. So, in a way it is my fault."

"No, its not," said Ashachu a little more forcefully. "You never asked him to do. Shadow did that because he's cruel and horrible. And really. You don't need a mate who's horrible and cruel."

"Humans can be horrible and cruel," said Blade. "And you still want to go back to Ash!"

"Some humans can be cruel yes." Ashachu wasn't sure whether he wanted to hug or shock Blade. "But Ash never is. Humans aren't a collective no more than Pokémon are. Everybody has a choice whether they want to do good, kind things or bad. And, I'm sorry, but Shadow chooses bad. You don't need him. And I don't blame you for what happened."

Blade gave him a weak smile. "That's sweet of you to say." And then he did something Ashachu wasn't expecting. He leaned over and licked him on the crown of his fuzzy yellow head.

"Oh." Ashachu opened his mouth to reply but couldn't force any actual words out.

His blushing and inability to speak made Blade smirk at him again.

Worse, Blade chose that point in time to squeeze Ashachu's paw back.

"Ummm…Can you take me to Hunter now," Ashachu managed to say after a moment or so.

"Actually, I got a better idea," Blade replied. "Why don't we have one last training session, for old time sake."

Ashachu bit his lip. "I don't know."

"Ahh come on fuzz ball." Blade poked him playfully in the ribs. "Damn humans are probably gonna keep me here. Or release me. Hopefully release me. Once your trainer picks you up, we might not see each other again!"

Ashachu had certainly not been expecting that. He felt a painful tug on his heart, as if the words were a thorn in his chest.

"Ummm…I don't…"

"Unless of course you're scared fuzz ball," Blade continued with a grin.

Ashachu glowered at him. "No way. You're on." He leapt to his feet and brandished his paw like a fist.

Blade's grin widened. "That's what I like to hear!" This was gonna be fun.

Had he really been baited so easily by the "scared" and "fuzz ball" comments. No, it felt deeper than that. He just really wanted to spend time with the Sneasel.

"Alright fuzz ball," shouted Blade from a short distance away, across the stretch of grass they were using as a battlefield. "Hope you're ready, because I ain't going easy. Remember to use your instincts. Ain't got no trainer here to hold your paw."

Blade had adopted a battle-ready position, his legs slightly spread apart so as to keep his centre of gravity low and his claws were raised in attack position. His body was tense and taut.

Ashachu could see the muscles of his chest and stomach rippling beneath the fur. And was surprised to find that, far from intimidating, it sent a strange tingling sensation through his body. He was mesmerized by it.

What would it feel like to touch those muscles? To run his little paws over that well toned chest and down his stomach. To press his body up against it and feel the Sneasel's fur and skin against his own.

"Ready or not here I come." Blade was not distracted the same way, or if he was he didn't show it. Blade sprinted at him.

"Oh shit."

Ashachu manages to scurry away just in time to avoid being caught.

"Too slow fuzz ball. Remember instinct. You so much as see my shadow, should trigger your flight or fight response."

Ashachu skidded to a halt, spun around and fired a thunderbolt attack back at Blade. Once again the Sneasel was too fast, leaping into the air to avoid the attack…

Once again Ashachu got a good look at him as he came soaring through the air towards him. A powerful frame of muscle, his fur slick with sweat, and…strangely a more distracting and lewd appendage had made an appearance.

Ashachu began to feel hot in a way that had nothing to do with the battle…

Blade grabbed him by the tail, pulling him back, and striking him in the face and taking him to the ground. Blade stood over him, a single foot paw resting on his chest, pinning Ashachu to the ground – As though the Sneasel were trying to make it clear who had won the bout. He looked down at the defeated mouse and grinned. "That was better fuzz ball. But you still aren't quick enough."

From this, unfortunate angle, gave Ashachu close up view of not only Blade's entire perfect body, but also of the distraction between his legs. Ashachu's face flushed once again and he felt that strange tingling sensation all over him.

"I could kill you right now and there'd be nothing you could do to defend yourself…" He pushed his foot paw a little firmer against Ashachu's chest to emphasize his point.

"Can you get off me know," Ashachu managed to say, still blushing furiously.

Blade obliged, allowing Ashachu to climb back to his foot paws. Unfortunately, this action exposed a rather big vulnerability of his to the Sneasel that he hadn't noticed up until now…

"Hmph…Are you impressed by my body, Hikari?" asked Blade, a rather smug grin spreading across his maw, as his eyes moved down Ashachu.

For a brief second Ashachu was confused, until he looked down and noticed his own "distraction" making an appearance. "Oh shit."

Ashachu went so red that if any other Pokémon were to encounter him at that moment, they might mistake him for a Flareon. Or perhaps as Charmander or Growlithe. The Pikachu quickly spun around and wrapped is new tail around his waist so as to hide himself.

Blade giggled and put a claw on his shoulder. The Sneasel's touch sent an electric shock down his spine and he shivered. "You want to know a secret," Blade whispered seductively into his ear. "I like your body too!" He gave the tip of Ashachu's ear a lick.

And that was when Ashachu exploded…

He didn't know why he was doing it. He wasn't entirely sure he was aware he was doing it, almost as if some invisible force had taken control of his body…

Ashachu snapped around and threw himself on Blade. His paws gripped the Sneasel's shoulders and pressed his maw to Blade's. The much taller Pokémon toppled to the ground…

His senses returned to him half a second later. He broke the kiss and was almost surprised to find himself standing on Blade's chest, while the Sneasel lay in the grass.

Blade was filled with desire and joy, but he couldn't let this little guy be on top.

"Oh…Ah…"

Wham!

In a flash Blade pushed Ashachu off his chest, climbed on top of him and pinned his arms to the ground, with his claws, and his knees wrapped around his waist. Ashachu's eyes widened in mild surprise. He couldn't move at all.

"Bl-blade," he gasped. "I…I'm sorry…I don't know why I…"

"That's instinct kiddo." Blade winked at him, before lowering his maw to his and kissing Ashachu's maw again.

Ashachu couldn't think straight. He felt Blade's wet tongue protrude from his maw and lap against his furry lips, begging for entrance. When Ashachu didn't immediately part his jaw, Blade pressed his maw harder against his. At the same time his right paw trailed across his body. Over his chest, down over his belly, getting dangerously close to his most private parts.

The sensation made Ashachu gasp with pleasure into the kiss. And Blade used that opportunity to press his tongue into Ashachu's open mouth. The Sneasel's tongue quickly dominated his own and seemingly driving all thought and sense from Ashachu's mind.

His body wanted this…He needed this…He didn't want Blade to stop.

Ashachu reached up with his now free paw, gripped Blade's fur and pulled him down so he was on top of him.

This kept up for…Ashachu didn't know how long. Then he found himself wanting more. Without really knowing what he was doing, he broke the kiss and wriggled free of Blade.

"Hikari," gasped Blade curiously as he sat back up. Blade was surprised and somewhat unhappy at the sudden end, but what he saw brought a smile back to his face.

Ashachu dropped to his all fours, spun around so his rear end was facing Blade, and raised his tail.

Blade got the message. "…Are you sure."

"Pika." Ashachu turned his head over his shoulder and nodded, raising his eyebrows seductively. At the same time, he gave his tail a little flick, as if to beckon to Bade.

A wide grin spread across Blade's face. "Alright fuzz ball, but I'm warning ya. I ain't going easy…"

Blade had never been on the giving end in a sexual situation, he was more inclined to receiving it, but such an offer, he simply couldn't resist. And so for a few uninterrupted minutes they did what could only be described as passionately fucking.

Of course those minutes were interrupted eventually, by a shrill cry of "Ashachu."

"Oh crap."

And suddenly Ashachu's mood was shattered.

"What the fuck is going on here?" The riolu asked, absolutely stunned and angry at the situation.

"Hunter," he said. "I-I-I can explain!"

"Oh really" Hunter barked. "You can explain… You have a good explanation for why that Sneasel's got his dick up your butt, have you."

"Ummm…ummm!" Ashachu had no response.

The Riolu's tone was a half a growl and half a yelp. A swirling mix of emotions from disbelief, to horror, to hurt and to anger. He was snarling at Ashachu, his teeth bared and his fur bristling. But Hunter's eyes were filling with tears.

"Come on. What's your explanation," barked Hunter. "I'm waiting."

"It's umm…." Ashachu looked down at the ground. "Blade gets off me." Ashachu rose to his paws and pushed Blade off him.

Along with the contents of what he'd left inside. Hunter wrinkled his nose with disgust.

"Wha…Hikari what's wrong," said Blade, he was enjoying himself too much to notice the upset Riolu before them. "Why…Oh…hehehe." A wide grin spread across his face as his eyes fell upon the Riolu. "Oh. Oh it's you. Oh no…Awwwwkward!" Blade felt odd, like his mind was acting on its own, he hadn't wanted to make fun of him, but his mind simply wouldn't stop.

Both Ashachu and Hunter ignored him.

"Ashachu, how could you," Hunter yelped at his friend. There was no mistaking the hurt in his voice.

"Hunter…Please," said Ashachu, barely above a whisper.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but." Hunter's voice was starting to break. "Did our relationship. Did our friendship. Mean nothing to you?"

"Hunter," cried Ashachu. "You can't seriously be asking that."

"Hehehe…Hahahaha…Hehehehe…" Blade started to laugh. His mind was still making the situation funnier than it should have been.

Ashachu turned his head over his shoulder to see the Sneasel chuckling, his mouth hanging open in a wide grin.

"Hehehe. Aw man. This dork's certainly got it bad for you Hikari." Blade had said it as a joke, but he had seen it, the riolu was clearly in love with him.

Hunter glared at Blade and bared his teeth. "What's that supposed to mean?" He raised his paws and curled them into fists.

"Whoa calm down man," said Blade raising his paws. "You're really getting all worked up, cause your buddy here was getting some on the side."

Ashachu could have zapped him. "Blade, shut up!"

"Oh come on Hikari. He does realize that you only let him fuck you so Geyser the Dewott couldn't." Blade had said it out of spite and possessiveness. He knew they cared about each other, but it didn't stop him from saying something that could ruin Ashachu's life. Though Blade still only knew him as Hikari, he still wanted the chu for himself.

Hunter looked from Ashachu to Blade and back again, tears rolling down his cheeks. "No. No that's not true. Tell me that's not true Ashachu!"

Blade was rather surprised by that, from what Blade had heard when spying on them, none but Ashachu trusted him, so why would this Riolu immediately take his words as truth.

"Hunter…" Ashachu wanted to deny it.

"You know Ashachu," snapped Hunter. "After everything we've been through together, it would be nice if you would look at me when talking to me, instead of at the ground."

Ashachu couldn't do it.

"You know what forget it." Hunter was half shrieking, half sobbing now. "I love you Ashachu. I gave you my heart. Would have been nice if you'd actually taken care of it."

And with that, he turned tail and stormed away.

"Hunter," Ashachu called after him.

But Hunter did not reply.

Ashachu rounded on Blade. "Damnit Blade! This is all your fault."

"Whoa whoa," Blade replied, the obnoxious grin still plastered across his face. "It takes two to tango, buddy. You as much did that as I did."

"Why did you have to tell him I only said yes to him to stop Geyser," cried Ashachu, fighting hard against the urge to slap the grin from Blade's face with an iron tail.

"Isn't it true though," Blade replied. "I was watching you. You only went and kissed Hunter when you saw that Dewott was interested in him. I never saw you show any interest before then. You seemed fairly oblivious to Hunter's moves before then." He had seen their affection, but it never seemed he'd make a move until then. So why was he so angry.

"What are you, the love expert?"

Blade sniggered. "I've been around…besides, the way I see it, and I've done you a favor. You should be with me, kiddo."

Ashachu bit back the voltage he longed to throw at Blade. He swallowed hard, and then said as calmly as he could, "Blade. You are the most selfish, nastiest Pokémon I have ever met, except for your Darkrai lover. The two of you deserve each other. I can see why Cleave hated you!"

Blade's face twisted with rage. He held up a claw aggressively, "Careful. You're about to cross a serious line there, pal!"

"Whatever he did, you probably deserved…"

Bam

In one swift action, Blade stepped forward and hit Ashachu hard across the face with his claw.

It hurt a lot. Ashachu gave a cry and fell to the ground. He touched the spot where Blade had hit him and felt his paw grow wet. He was bleeding. He looked up into Blade's eyes.

The Sneasel was breathing heavily, and there was a snarl across his face. But there was shock and regret in his eyes.

"Hikari…I." Blade felt remorseful, he had acted on instinct, Ashachu didn't know what Cleave had done to him, all the cruel things.

"We're done Blade," said Ashachu as he pushed himself back to his paws. "Leave me alone."

He ran off through the long grass in pursuit of Hunter….

Blade watched on as they both ran off.