One Week Later

"Thank Arceus, that I am finally freed from that bed!" Akira hollered as he pushed his way through the hospital doors and though Akira could see that he was getting strange looks for his behavior his joy at being released from the hospital overpowered any embarrassment that he may have felt.

Though still being new to the Tamer outpost, Akira wasn't quite sure on how to get back to his room and was just about to stop one of the strangers that were walking around the hospital when he noticed that a group of his friends were making their way towards him.

"Hey!" Akira called out as he made his way over to the group. When Akira reached them he once again started to speak. "What are you guys doing here?"

The group which contained Ash, Forrest as well as Gary were quick to respond though it was Ash who did the talking. "My mother told me that you would be getting released today and we thought that maybe you would need a hand getting back to your room." Ash explained.

"I'm glad to see you and yes I do need help getting to my room as I don't quite know the way to get there..." Akira responded and as he neared the end of his words a light red glow spread across his cheeks.

Though Akira assumed that his friends have noticed his embarrassment they did not comment on it which gave him a sense of relief.

"Well then, lets get you back to your room." Ash spoke out and with that the group quickly made their way from the hospital grounds and towards the barracks.

Akira had been hanging around his room for the last few hours and though his friends stayed with him for awhile they all had other business to attend to which left Akira alone save for his three Pokémon.

Thinking of his Pokémon, Akira decided to call out his newest Pokémon which was a gift from the Professor as well as the Commander for his deeds in fighting Team Rocket. Unclipping the Pokéball that contained this Pokémon, Akira called out his Pokémon. Once the red glow drifted away Akira was able to see that a mammal like Pokémon that was standing on two legs was looking back at him. Though this wasn't the first time that Akira had called out the golden yellow Pokémon that looked as if it was made out of bricks, he could still tell that the Pokémon hadn't quite warmed up to him yet.

"I'll eventually get you to trust me, no matter how long it takes. You're my Pokémon now Sandstorm and I swear I will always have your best interest in mind." Akira muttered to the male Pokémon that he was able to learn was known as a Sandshrew by talking to Doctor Ketchum while she was doing tests on him.

Though soon Akira was recalling Sandstorm back inside his Pokéball, so that he could go explore his new home. Once more clipping the Pokéball onto his belt Akira made his way from his room and out into the light of Kanto.

Though it took Akira some time to find the marketplace which is where he was told that most of the business was done which Akira hoped also meant this was where he went to get contracts.

Even with his hour search he has been unable to locate anything that looked like it would be associated with the Tamers, all the shops that he has passed so far had been for those who wanted to buy groceries, clothing, weapons and other items.

Just when Akira was about to give up, he noticed a sign. Which read, "Marketplace Command Center up ahead."

"Yes! This has to be what I was looking for." Akira contemplated as he followed the direction that the sign was pointing to. Even from the sign, Akira was able to spot a building with a black rooftop. With the building being within eyesight Akira was able to quickly make it to his destination and upon reaching the Command Center he immediately pushed his way inside.

"This is more like it..." Akira muttered to himself when he noticed all the individuals that were dressed in the garb that Akira has started to associate Tamers with.

As Akira was looking around he eventually caught the eye of one of the Tamers that were stationed at this Command Center.

"Can I help you?" The voice of the female Tamer fluttered out as she reached Akira.

Akira who was overexcited at the possibility of getting his first contract quickly responded. "My name is Akira and I would like to take on a contract."

"I should have figured..." The female Tamer chuckled out though she didn't stop her words there. "...well follow me and I will take you to go and get registered as well as properly outfitted."

With that said the female Tamer made her way towards a stair case in the back of the Command Center, though just before Akira and the Tamer would have went up the stairs the Tamer suddenly turned a sharp right and went towards a red haired female that was dressed as if she too were a Tamer, though from the band with a red cross plastered on the arm of her outfit Akira figured she must be some kind of medic.

"Good afternoon Miss Joy. I have a Tamer here that would like to register for a contract. From the looks of him I would say he is pretty new, probably an Acolyte." The female Tamer that Akira followed spoke out.

Though upon hearing that they thought he was an Acolyte, Akira decided that he should intervene and let them know that they were wrong.

"Actually, I am an Apprentice." Akira muttered out and though he spoke the words softly he still made sure that both females were able to hear what he has said.

Though Akira could see from their wide eyes that they were surprised by this information, neither of the women commented about it.

"Well okay then. Let me just check and see what contracts are available for one of your rank." The female that Akira assumed was a Medic spoke out. With that Akira was as she looked through files upon files until she eventually picked one up and handed it over to Akira. Though along with the file, the Medic also spoke once more. "This file contains the contracts that are currently available for you to choose from. Please give each one a careful look before you register for one and when you have decided, let me know and I will send word to the client that their contract was taken."

With that, Akira opened the file and started searching through the papers it held within.

Though Akira was tempted to just grab the first contract that he came upon, he decided to follow what the Medic advised.

Each contract gave detailed instructions on what the client wanted them to do as well as the possible rewards that could be given to the Tamer that completes the contract. As Akira was gleaming through the papers, he came upon one that caught his interest.

As soon as he came upon the contract, Akira started to analyze it.

"Hmm...so the client is the victim of a robbery and wishes for us to find the culprit responsible and bring them to justice as well as return the item that was stolen from them." As Akira was contemplating what the contract stated he saw that the client had stated that they live in Pallet Town. "Well isn't this surprising. I never thought I would ever go back to Pallet Town, especially after being thrown out of the orphanage."

All of this plus seeing that the contract was offering multiple different rewards for the completion of it caused Akira to decide that this would be the first contract that he takes in his life as a Tamer.

With that Akira handed the file over as well as the contract that he had decided to take. As soon as the contract was handed over, the Tamer that had brought Akira here started to speak. "Now that you have selected a contract, we should go and get you outfitted in Tamer gear."

Once more the female Tamer was marching Akira through the Command Center and towards what looked to be a gated room. Though as Akira and the Tamer got closer, he could see that there was an opening within the gate as well as someone standing behind it.

Upon reaching the gate the Tamer who has been accompanying Akira started to speak.

"Greetings Quartermaster Williams. I have a new Tamer here that needs to get outfitted before he goes out on his contract." Akira heard his guide inform the elderly male.

Though unlike when Akira was getting his contract, his guide decided not to wait for him this time and soon Akira was left alone with the Quartermaster.

"What is your rank and name, young man?" Quartermaster Williams asked of Akira who was quick to respond with both his rank and name and when he did the Quartermaster started to speak once more. "Since you are new to the Order this uniform and gear will be free, though in the future you will have to purchase them."

With that Akira watched as the Quartermaster vanished into what Akira assumed was an armory. Though it was only a few minutes before the man was back carrying a box of items.

As soon as the Quartermaster had returned he unlocked part of the gate and slid the box towards Akira.

"Here you go young man." The Quartermaster spoke out as he pulled the gate closed once more.

With his business concluded at the Command Center, Akira made his way back towards his room so that he could ready himself for his contract as well as his return to his home town

Akira's Pokémon:
Vulpix: (Shiny)(M)- Inari
Moves: Ember, Tackle
Ability: Unknown
Charmander: (M)- Natsu
Moves: Ember, Tackle
Ability: Inferno
Sandshrew(M)- Sandstorm
Moves: Unknown
Ability: Unknown

Authors notes: Thank you to everyone who read the chapter as well as your continued support in reading the story.