Author's notes: Not too much going on in this chapter really. Some stuff I needed to do or say with the characters, and setting up for the next chapter.

Chapter 10: Just another day.

Minako sat in the chair with Artemis, the white moon cat, in her lap. She'd been there everyday, often sleeping on the floor nearby, or in that very chair. Her master was still injured and had nearly died several times in the Oldtowne hospital.

While, he did have a strong constitution and seemed to have a high end healign rate for a normal human, he was still not capable of being healed as rapidly or as completely by the methods available as a pokegirl would.

The nursejoy on staff that had been assigned to him had rapidly cast regenerate, and even several applications of the cure spell family of magics, but the damage had been too extensive.

It was a miracle he hadn't died before reaching the hospital.

Normally using such high powered spells would have healed him almost completely within a few minutes. An hour tops. However, it seemed as though his spirit was resisting the outside force attempting to heal it.

It was as though Scott rejected the magical healing, to the extent that even a high end Curaja spell only acted in the fashion of a low level Cure.

Later it was revealed that he was not actually resisting the magic so much as absorbing it. His spiritual etheric matrix was extremely diminished to the extent that he barely qualified as a being with a soul.

Something had completely drained his mana and seemed to have drawn directly on his soul's core energy to try and replenish it.

Once they'd figured this out, they ceased the usage of spells save for regen, and began a potion drip. His medical records showing that he had some minor capacity to accept benefit from such.

As the steady hum of the life support equipment droned on, Minako absently stroked the cat's back fur. She'd steadfastly refused to let the establishment experiment on her new friend, citing that he was a unique magical specimen belonging to her master.

It was the only thing keeping Artemis from being drugged and probed. Though they did insist on a sample of his fur.

Who knew, maybe they could eventually patent his genetics and establish cats in the world again.

"Mina, he'll be ok. I'm sure of it." said Artemis to his charge, and friend. The cat had slowly began to remember her from the days of the moon kingdom. Though he was technically an advisor to the moon princess, he was a member of the house of Venus.

The blond pokegirl sighed softly and stroked his fur a little more. Her master was hurt badly, and it was her fault. If only she'd been stronger, faster, better. If only..

As the despondent girl continued to blame herself for Scott's current situation, the man in question was dreaming.

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A small meadow in the height of spring. Birds were singing and butterflies flitted about. The raw beauty of this place touched his world weary heart and he rested against a large oak tree.

He didn't know how he had gotten here, or why, but he knew it was his place. This space beyond the angry bitter world. He felt safe here, as though it were some indefinable part of him that was always there.

He wasn't sure of many things in his life, but he knew peace for a while. That is, until the time when memories began to assault him.

Memories of death and destruction. Thoughts of an ancient kingdom torn asunder by war and greed. Then to more modern thoughts of love, and hope.

Inevitably to return to violence.

Over and over in his mind's eye he would relive these moments of joy torn apart. Constantly one single thought would repeatedly occur. If only I had been stronger, faster, better. If only..

This mantra of the mind penetrated his thoughts deeply until a time came when he eventually relived the moments leading to his current physical trauma.

Scott opened his eyes wide in this paradise he found himself in and then he knew. He was hovering on the edge of death.

This beautiful place he found himself in was his last refuge from reality. The center of who he was.

He understood, and in knowing began to take action.

No more did he rest leisurely, but instead he trained.

Scott trained in this timeless place without pause or respite. He did not know hunger, or pain, or exhaustion. Only the drive to become stronger.

In this place inside his mind, he willed opponents for himself. He fought them with everything he had, and continued.

As the days in the outside world passed unknown to him, he would face many thousands of battles. Constantly forcing himself to continue on. He must be stronger. He must be faster. He must be better.

There were people counting on him.

Eventually though his thoughts centered around one thing. The magic. The one thing seemingly denied to him.

He knew he had a strong magical force within him. It's one of the only reasons he still lived. Stubborn determination only goes so far after all.

His struggles with his imaginary opponents ceased, and he focused on all his acquired mystical knowledge. He attempted to will himself more powerful magically.

No matter what spells he tried, or techniques he envisioned, he could not touch that core of power within him. He was denied the one thing that could have made a difference in his last battle.

Finally he said aloud. "Dammit! What's wrong with me."

Scott stood there, his head hung in shame. The secret for the moment, would elude him.

--------

two weeks later...

Scott smiled up at Minako's fussy attempt at making him more comfortable. He still had to stay in bed for another week and rest according to the doc's, but at least he was conscious now.

"Don't ever scare me like that again!" exclaimed Mina as she fluffed his pillow, inadvertently smothering him with her breasts. His gasping for air gave her the wrong idea though and she giggled out, "Master! I know you need to tame me and SOON, but you're still injured!"

Scott groaned softly under her boobs and she giggled again. She'd have her master back and taming ready in no time. The nursejoy that came by was nice enough, but she didn't really want to be tamed by anyone but her Scott.

Artemis hopped up onto the bed with Scott and settled on his chest purring. He'd been trying to get to know the guy Mina was hanging around with since he'd woken up. Though he felt it necessary to pretend to be a normal cat for some odd reason.

Normally he'd of tried to be as secretive as possible, possibly even remove them from Scott's general area of habitation altogether. Mina had adamantly refused to be separated from him, so he'd had no choice.

The man gazed down at the moon cat and then stroked his fur. He'd always loved cats back home even if they were devious little hairballs bent on conquering the world.

"So, they let you stay in here despite the usual 'no pets allowed' stuff hospitals have?"

The cat gazed at him curiously and meowed. Scott smirked at the obvious attempt to continue acting like a normal cat. If they wanted to pretend to be normal, whatever normal passed for in this perverted world anyway, then sure whatever.

"Well I guess they think he's a good little kitty?" asked Minako nervously. She didn't like keeping secrets from her master.

Scott chuckled then said, "Yeah, probably. Either that or they don't know what the hell he is and figures he's just some sort of random furry mascot or something."

Artemis sniffed disdainfully and swished his tail about. Keeping quiet might be harder than he thought.

Their musing and good natured conversation was interrupted a moment later by knock on the door.

Minako opened it and revealed an older man wearing a sensible set of traveling clothes, with a sword sheathed at his hip. It took Scott a moment to recognize the man, due to not having seen him but for an hour or two nearly two months ago.

"Ah, thank you for allowing me entrance good lady of the house." the man said amicably, ever the gentleman it seems.

Minako blushed and stepped back. He'd already scored a few points with her apparently.

"So.. what brings the guildleader of Oldtowne to my room at the ungodly hour of two in the afternoon?" asked Scott casually. His hand stroking Artemis' back. The tenseness in the cat at this new arrival was not unnoticed by the man.

Aaron, the older gentleman in question nodded. "To the point I see. A good quality in our journeyman members."

Scott blinked at that. Last he checked he didn't even qualify as an apprentice yet. He was still in the initiate stages. "Well, I suppose it is.. for them."

The old man quirked an eyebrow thinking, 'boy doesn't miss a beat.' If Scott had heard those thoughts he would have pointed out that he was nearly thirty years old. Though, Aaron could readily have countered with something about him still being in diapers when he was in his hundred fourties. Ah the blessings of longevity.

"Yes, it certainly is. At any rate, I thought i'd come check up on you personally and deliver the good news of your appointment to journeyman." stated the man lightly.

Scott nodded at that, but was suspicious. It occurred to him to wonder why the guild leader had taken a personal interest in him.

Aaron seeing his suspicious gaze experienced a mental chuckle and said, "That and of course let you know that we've at last located a few suitable pokegirls to add to your team. I brought the data-pad with their type names and information, as well as the ball the one you choose will be placed in."

Minako frowned slowly. Suddenly the daper old man with the winning smile was becoming annoying. Though she knew eventually she'd have to share her master, she didn't expect it to be today!

"I'lll pass." said Scott simply.

The old man blinked slowly trying to comprehend that. Someone was turning down a free pokegirl? "I'm sorry.. i'm sure I misunderstood. Did you just turn down a promotion?"

Scott quirked his eyebrow, yet again. "I have to accept a new person on my team to be allowed to go up a rank?"

Minako unconsciously slipped a finger along her golden chain weapon. She wouldn't hurt such an innocent seeming old man, not really.. hehe..?

Artemis was attempting to decipher what was going on in the conversation. He'd learned quite a few things from Minako about pokegirls. Not that he believed much of it. Yet to hear someone so casually attempt to give a person to another was more than disturbing.

"You have to have at least two pokegirls in your team to go beyond apprenticeship. A journeyman member undergoes far more dangerous assignments than previous ranked members." said the man simply.

Scott sighed and said, "I'll tell ya what.. I could care less about promotions.. still let me see the pad. If there's someone that I think would benefit from working with us i'll talk to my team about it."

Minako pouted sadly. Well, there you had it. She just KNEW she'd have a new harem sister. Though now that she thought about it, it might not be so bad. At least she'd have someone else to tame her if her master got knocked out again. She never wanted to go back to being feral.

The man smiled lightly and approached Scott, but before he handed him the pad the younger man asked, "Hey wait.. wasn't my starter pokegirl privelege rescinded so I could get equipment instead?"

Aaron nodded, "Yes, of course it was. However, the guild heads convened their quarterly meeting just yesterday. One topic was advancement of rank. Your name came up due to the mission you'd completed."

Scott nodded. "So..?"

The old man continued, "When asked about what else you'd done, a report was shown citing how you knew a little of the nature of these new youma pokegirls."

Aaron suspected he knew far more than you let on, but that is neither here nor there. "The point is that with your statements that only magic can harm them effectively your candidacy for promotion was accepted."

The younger man considered this for a moment and nodded. Artemis, though, widened his little kitty eyes at the man he was sitting on. How could he have known that?

Scott held out his hand for the data-pad and Aaron handed it over.

He rooted through the fifteen names and types and nearly decided not to worry about it. One profile caught his attention though. At first he didn't know just why, but as he gazed at the information something inside him clicked.

"This amazon-chan? She was orphaned and raised on the Dellas ranch a few miles from here?" he asked casually.

The older man glanced down at the pad, and nodded. "That is what it says..."

Scott considered a moment. What were the odds that he'd found another piece to the puzzle this soon? Worse yet, could he risk NOT checking into this?

Minako became curious and wandered over to see who they were talking about. She noticed a tall pokegirl with a ponytail. Nothing seemingly out of the ordinary for her type.

"Orphaned when the plane her parents were on went down?" she asked sadly. She knew what it was like to be all alone in the world.

Scott took that as an admission of acceptance. Then he glanced down at the cat. "Whaddya you think kitty? Think we should add another lost soul to the group?"

The cat stared at him for a moment, and seemed ready to say no with a hiss. Something in the man's eyes changed his mind though and he simply mewed.

"Well then.. looks like we have ourselves a new team mate."

Aaron nodded. The young man's leadership style was strange, but hey whatever worked for him.

He coded in the information, and then excused himself to go finish transport via the pokecenter next door.

"Master..?" began Minako.

Scott nodded, "Don't worry Minako. Please just trust that I know what i'm doing. I have a feeling we may need the help in the near future, and besides.. I don't think any of us here can say we don't know what it's like to be all alone in the world."

Artemis rrawled and swished his tail, while the blond girl hugged him. At least this 'Scott' person seemed to be a nice guy. Couldn't fight worth a damn, but nice.

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Whelp there we have chapter 10. A nice bit of filler by establishing Artemis a bit, and showing Scott actually paying a little recuperation wise for once. Throw in to a lesser extent a mild bit of foreshadowing.

I'm not usually big on filler chapters, but unfortunately to tell a story decently one must actually have scenes link together somehow. hehe.

Otherwise a story would end up being a few dozen one shot chapters, and not a complete story at all.