"How goes our rescues?"

Akihito turned from organising some medicines to see Asami moving through the door with his umbreon at his heels. He smiled at the ranger as he crouched down a little way away from the box the skitty's had called their home over the last few days. His delcatty chirped at him, clearly pleased to see her owner and her look was almost like that of a proud momma.

"They are mostly doing better," Akihito replied. "Saki has been a huge help. She keeps them calm around other Pokemon and during their check-ups."

Asami smiled softly at his Pokemon and she came forward eagerly to accept the attention he lavished on her.

"You've done so well," he praised while he continued to rub her ears. The skittys picked up on their idols ease around the man and immediately began to cautiously approach. They skittered back when he moved to sit fully on the floor but quickly moved up after Saki climbed onto Asami's lap. "You said mostly?"

Akihito sighed and rubbed his eyes. "The littlest hasn't been doing so well. She was one of the ones with fur so matted we had to shave it all off and she's been requiring round the clock care. Her growth has most likely been stunted by malnutrition and her healing has been much slower than the rest. For the most part good, nutritious food, medicine to help any ills, and lots of proper, comfortable rest has done wonders for the lot of them." He yawned as he approached to peer inside the box at the small shivering ball that was the smallest skitty. Two nights of not much sleep was starting to catch up with him but he wasn't about to complain, he would do far more for these Pokemon.

"You look like you could use a good rest yourself," Asami observed and Akihito flushed slightly under the intense stare that was levelled at him.

"I've dealt with worse," he said, dismissing his need for sleep out of hand before promptly yawning again.

"If we get someone to look after this little one," Asami replied, gesturing at the tiny skitty who was watching them wearily. "Can you be spared for a few hours?"

"Yoh helped me release my two other charges this morning so other than the skittys, I've just got check-ups left."

Asami nodded and carefully removed Saki from his lap. "Would you like to stay here or come with me?"

The dalcatty chirped again and moved back to the box, clearly giving her answer. The ranger stood, careful of the curious Pokemon underfoot.

"Wait here, I'll be back soon."

Asami didn't give Akihito a choice as he strode from the room with his umbreon trotted behind. He looked down at his eevee with a bewildered expression. What was he planning? His companion rubbed against his leg in comfort before walking forward to play with his new friends. The skittys had quickly taken a shine to Fuku and it was nice seeing them playing happily even after all they had been through.

The intimidating man returned not long after with Suoh, another ranger in tow. He was certain the man wasn't supposed to be walking around and his limp confirmed his memory about his ankle sprain.

"Should you be walking around?" Akihitio asked in place of a greeting and maybe that was a little rude but he couldn't help but be concerned. He knew how important adequate rest was. Suoh grimaced at his words.

"I don't need any more mothering," he replied and instead crouched down in front of the skitty box. "Is this her? The one who needs the extra care?"

Akihito nodded then realised that the ranger wasn't looking. "Yeah, she needs round the clock care at the moment to keep her fully stable but she is doing better."

"I'll take her for a few days," Suoh said looking up at Akihito. "I'm not able to go out on patrol until my ankles healed up so I have some free time. Just let me know what I need to do."

"Having some one on one care might actually do her some good," Akihito mused as he grabbed a piece of paper and a pen to start writing down some instructions.

Once Suoh was loaded up with medication, food instructions, and the small skitty, Akihito found himself being ushered outside by Asami. The man had Saki and his umbreon, Rei, bring all their rescues along too. The man wouldn't tell him what he was planning until they were out in the grassy area a short distance from the lab. There waiting was Asami's huge arcanine with some of their mareep flock grazing nearby.

"Lie down, take a nap," Asami said as he approached his arcanine and Akihito noticed the large brush sitting in the grass at the pokemon's feet. "I need to brush out the tangles in Ren's fur so I can keep an eye on the little ones with Rei, Saki, and Fuku's help."

It was a beautiful day out; a slight breeze to take some of the heat off with clear blue skies as far as he could see. Fuku head butted his leg, clearly to get him to move and he gave in. He was tired and the fresh air would be good for himself and their rescues. He sat down as one of the mareep wandered over and bleated a happy greeting. Their flock of mareep were very friendly and loved approaching the lab workers for attention. Akihito settled himself in the grass with his back against the wool of the mareep once it plonked down behind him.

It wasn't long before his eyes wouldn't stay open and he drifted off to sleep in the soft warmth of the afternoon sun

VF

Asami couldn't hold back his soft chuckle at the sight of the cute young doctor sound asleep in the grass surrounded by Pokemon. More mareep had ambled over to join in on a communal nap and Fuku had quickly nodded off at his side. Three of the skitty's had draped themselves over the doctor and where using him as a sunning/napping platform while the others ran around under the watchful eyes of both Rei and Saki.

It was a little bit adorable and perfectly fit the image Asami had already formed of the endearing young Pokemon doctor. Quite frankly, it made him want to join in the nap pile himself, not that he would ever admit to that of course.

He decided that he needed to get to know the cute young man some more.