Arashi was gratified by Mr Fugi's concern, and somewhat pleased that he was remembered and recognised so easily. This was one of the people he respected most, though he hadn't seen him in years. "It is good to see you as well." He responded, managing a smile. He felt a little guilty for causing the elderly gentleman such concern, though he knew it wasn't exactly his fault, and he proceeded to recount the events of the evening to him, upon the inevitable request. He didn't give an entirely full account, but there was sufficient detail to be going on with. He was a little startled when the kid broke into the conversation, but he let him say his piece, figuring that his perspective and input was required as well.

True to form, and just as Arashi recalled, Mr Fugi spoke kindly to the boy and took him under his wing. The fellow had long been a mentoring type, and had drawn kids' attention with his wise words for as long as Arashi could recall knowing him - not that the long-haired teen would admit to thinking something so cliched. He was amused by the name that this Tom boy gave to the Nidoran, as he'd encountered literature naming a goddess of victory such. No need to burst the kid's bubble, though, as he seemed sincere enough in his repentance, and Arashi was sure that Mr Fugi could handle things if he wasn't sincere. Tom taken care of, Arashi's priority lay with the Pokemon, and he asked quietly for access to the medical cupboard. In a place for abandoned and orphaned Pokemon, there was always a plentiful supply of medicinal goods - one could never be sure what condition the Pokemon would arrive in, after all.

It was a profound relief to Arashi to see his partners recover so quickly, though the feeling did not distract him from attending to his own needs, and he murmured reassurances and phrases of affection to them as he watched them heal. He had worried that they might have lost faith in him after the defeat, but it appeared that they understood that neither they nor he could have done much else. He told them softly of what had transpired, and they seemed much relieved that their struggle had not been in vain - and that they would have the chance to meet their rescuer tomorrow. Once he could see that their energy reserves were full once again, and that they were fully intact, he encouraged them to go and join the rumpus, which they did with glee. Arashi was of half a mind to join them in this, despite his usual tendency to remain aloof, when Fugi's query reached him.

"Well, we're on route to Pallet Town." He answered frankly, "Lavender was the first stop on the road, and we were wondering what to do with ourselves before crossing Silence. I suggested coming to see you and, since the only other option presenting itself was the Tower, the choice was more than obvious. Allora had apparently heard of you, and was keen to meet you. We were on the way here when Tom made our acquaintance. As to why we're in Kanto in the first place, which I'm sure is part of your question, we're going to see Professor Oak." As someone who had known Arashi as a child, Fugi was in a position to know that Samuel Oak was a person that the young Zadkiel had long wished to meet, so this wouldn't be too much of a shocker. Arashi trusted the old man enough to tell him this, though he had checked first to ensure that Tommy-boy was not eavesdropping. He hoped that the genial oldster wouldn't want to pry any deeper, as he really didn't want to have to decide whether to tell him the truth or not. "How have you been since I saw you last?" He asked, "It looks as though the place is the same as the last time I walked through your door. Oh, is Mandy still here?" Mandy was a traumatised Abra with whom Arashi had become close, and who had learned to write alongside him. By the time Arashi had left, she had been Fugi's primary assistant.

Relieved by Fugi's acceptance of his explanation, Arashi chuckled as he watched his friends play, before being mildly startled when the bespectacled Kadabra popped into the space next to him, complete with a clipboard. It appeared that her time here had been very good for her, and that her abilities as an assistant had developed - she seemed to have become as much a part of the place as Fugi himself, and that knowledge made Arashi glad. He recalled a time when Mandy wouldn't have believed that she would be allowed to stay after her injuries were healed, that the cruel trainer who'd mistreated her would come and reclaim her. It had taken quite a while to convince her that the twisted woman who'd had charge of her before had been imprisoned, but now it seemed that Mandy had really come into her own. He hugged back with an equal enthusiasm to hers as he greeted his childhood playmate, never having minded cuddles from those he was close to. Only few were accorded that privilege, and Mandy was one of them. Allora also, for all that he protested, though that was more recent, and more tentative. He wasn't sure whether she was aware that his protests were mostly bluster, but he wasn't yet ready to admit as much.

"You've certainly grown." He grinned, "Congratulations on your evolution! I missed you as well. It is good to know that you are well and happy." He brought his forehead to rest against hers briefly, before relinquishing his own grip and taking a short step back to get a better look at her. When Fugi hinted at some other factor, some new development, it was all he could do to keep from asking before the fellow got to it himself - if nothing else, Arashi's was a curious soul. Then, when he heard a light, lilting voice within his mind, emanating from the Kadabra before him, his face lit up in a mixture of pleasure and pride. His eyes aglow with elation at the achievement of this Pokemon he viewed as something between a close friend and a surrogate sister, he beamed at the Psychic type as she attempted his name. "Don't worry about my name, Mandy, even I didn't master it all at once. Remember when I called myself 'Rara'? You're doing marvellously, I assure you, and I couldn't be prouder. Have you learned to say any other words?"

"Excellent! You're getting very good at this, Mandy!" Arashi beamed, caught up in enthusiasm for the Kadabra's learning of his language. "I look forward to your mastery of my native language - and I may even still be in the region when you get there! Mr Fugi, please give me a call when Mandy makes a breakthrough in conversation - I'd like to be able to congratulate her." As if it wasn't enough to see his old friend again, here she was learning to converse in his language - it was incredible! It was like a dream of some kind, but clearly reality, and Arashi felt giddy for his old playmate. It was worth being sent to a different region at so little notice, just for this, and he could well believe Mr Fugi's assertions.

Arashi was amused and relieved when Tom showed himself next, as the boy looked so sleepy and harmless. It was good to see that he didn't seem to be bitter about his defeat and subsequent rehabilitation assignment, and Arashi found himself hoping that the young fellow would get home okay. For some reason, he felt almost sure that they would bump into each other again, but he put it down to his wanting to visit Fugi after this, and probably see Tom then. "You're probably right, thank you, I know a route that gives the tower a reasonably wide berth, so hopefully we've had all our evening encounters for the day. Allora? It's time to go. It was nice to see you both again - I'm glad we dropped by. Hope to see you soon." With this said, as soon as the pair of them were done with their goodbyes, Arashi led the way out and in the direction he intended to travel. He had no intention of tangling with the Tower tonight - he just wanted to get some sleep.

Arashi could barely remember the last part of their journey to the Pokemon Center, so tired had he been, but  he was refreshed and hungry when he awoke in the morning. Knowing that  hospital food didn't tend to be very appetising, he resolved to pick up something along the road as they travelled. After all, with so many choosing to journey, there would inevitably be those who would make use of the market of hungry adventurers. "Should we eat before we meet with Erik, or will we not have time?" He wondered aloud, before deciding that - as his stomach was most insistent - he would grab something quickly from a corner store. Therefore, he was no longer hungry when the appointed time drew nearer.

Flushed with embarrassment, a direct result of Allora's unintentional kamikazi run, Arashi nodded. He had his supplies, and had retrieved his length of steel pipe from them earlier in order to not be unarmed in case of danger. It also made a useful lever, poke-implement, and possible cane if he got tired or injured. It had been inaccessible the previous day, thus not available to defend himself with, but he wasn't going to leave it out of reach again after the events of the previous night. After greeting Erik and Tiji, and giving them a brief update on Tom's improved behaviour, chores and supervision, Arashi and Hada gazed out at the bridge ahead. "Shall we be off, then?" He asked breezily, giving the group a rakish grin.

Arashi had decided to have his entire team out walking with him, as he felt that the fresh air and exercise would do them good. He wasn't entirely sure he had much of a bead on Erik as a person yet, but the newcomer to their little travelling party intrigued him. He wondered briefly what the other male thought of their destination, but he didn't ask, instead setting off after Allora.

It was a nostalgic feeling, being back in the woods he had so loved as a child, and he smiled as he immersed himself in the familiar sights, sounds and scents. It had been a long time, but he remembered this place still. He wondered whether there were any Pokemon here who would remember him. It would certainly be worth trying to make contact. There was a Pokemon here that he was quite interested in partnering with, but he didn't know whether he'd be able to find one - let alone whether he'd known one. Ditto, the amorphous blob that could change into anything else it so pleased. It was both fascinating and alluring, and he had always imagined that they would feel like jelly. That was a physical sensation he relished, to the detriment of a few early birthday parties, and jelly had a liquid kind of beauty to it that he found alluring. Therefore, it was his intention to find one if at all possible.

Seeing as this was his native soil, and he had played here often enough for the Pokemon he'd met before to not see him as a threat, Arashi wasn't worried about his scent or voice alarming anyone - he just hoped that his increased hight wouldn't throw them off, and that they'd remember him. Caught up in nostalgia, Arashi had begun to hum a song he'd favoured as a child, beginning to softly croon it in melancholy bass tones when nobody picked him up on it. It was a little eerie, but then again, he had been a child of Lavender Town. He'd painstakingly memorised it for a talent show, then never forgot it again afterwards.

As they made camp, Arashi was plotting to return to the forest under cover of dusk, to search for a Ditto to befriend. He'd been looking out for one along the way, but he hadn't spotted any. He helped Allora set up the tent, then, after picking up some wood for a fire, asked whether anyone minded him trying to find a Ditto before he slept. He saw no reason to not be honest about his intention, and felt it his responsibility to make sure that the others knew what he would be doing. He didn't blame Erik for not wanting to sleep in a tent with two effective strangers, but he did think it a little odd that he hadn't a blanket. Well, perhaps he was simply keeping it where Arashi couldn't see it... Yeah, maybe.

Arashi, seeing as nobody had objected to his search, was quite content to listen to the radio with Allora. What it reported, however, sat less easily with him. Legends going dormant? Their sacred sites neglected? That was the sort of thing that seemed designed to send shivers down the spine. As for himself, Arashi had long held a quiet reverence for Mew - ancient and mischievous, wise and fickle. Was Mew, too, in such straits? He hoped not - but then, who knew what all this meant anyway? It was possible that this was something that the Legends intended for whatever reason, but it just didn't feel right. How could he tell whether Mew was in a similar situation, and what was the situation anyway? Had the reporters not bothered to have analysts work on the problem? Or perhaps, they had, but had not found a cause, or did not want to cause a panic...

He was grateful when Allora switched off the radio, as he had not wanted to hear a rehash of events he'd been at the centre of - not that sort of event, anyway. Though his mood was not quite so light as before, a Ditto search was just the ticket. While it was frustrating to not encounter a Ditto in the hours spent in search, it was a pleasant pastime to encounter the locals, and a few familiar faces. Several times, he saw an old playmate or two, some of them now with children. Allora's notion of flushing out a disguised Ditto was sound, though her methods made Arashi wonder, and he watched with delight as some of the Pokemon around them shifted from one form to another that should not have been compatible. "Ditto~" He exclaimed happily, selecting one that had assumed Pidgey form and slowly approaching it. A little way outside its personal space, he sat down gradually and pulled out a chocolate bar from his backpack. "Would you like something sweet to eat?"

"Ahh, I think this is a young one - see, so unused to this shape. Sweet." Arashi murmured, keeping his voice calm and sticking to soothing tones. He'd wondered why the little Pokemon hadn't flown away, and now he knew. "See, little one, it's good~ I knew you'd like it." He crooned softly, marvelling at the small creature's growing adeptness at assuming its chosen form. "You're getting good at that shape, aren't you? Such a quick learner, I wonder whether you like being avian." Arashi had always liked interacting with Pokemon on a basis like this, introducing himself with pleasantness rather than aggression. It often helped set the tone for his playing with them, or otherwise interacting with them. "Are you hungry, then? You seem quite eager for this chocolate. Don't worry, it shouldn't upset your digestion. I wouldn't disregard any Pokemon's physiological needs that way. I could teach you which of the forms you know are unable to eat chocolate, if you like. Then, you wouldn't have to worry."

He was gratified when the little being flitted to his shoulder, as he was sure it meant that the Ditto was becoming more accustomed to him, and as it indicated a furthering of the creature's understanding of wings. "This is how I've always interacted with wild Pokemon." Arashi responded, "Though not always with chocolate - I just happened to have some handy. With a versatile digestive system like Ditto's, it isn't a problem in most forms. It's mainly the feline and canine that will present chocolate-related difficulties." As he spoke, Arashi made certain to keep the chocolate within reach of the Ditto, not trying to touch the Pokemon yet. "You're getting better at the sounds, little Ditto. Would you, by any chance, be interested in travelling with me? There's more where this chocolate came from."

Arashi grinned, both at the Ditto and at Allora. He was quite pleased to have gained a Ditto companion without a fight, and decided to speak to the Pokemon before presenting it with a Pokeball. "I'm glad of your company, little one. How would you like to be called Kin? After all, a Ditto can call any Pokemon kin, and any other form of life big enough to shift into." Arashi allowed Kin to finish eating the chocolate before he introduced the changeling to one of his Pokeballs, and strolled with a quite satisfied air onto their campground. He did wonder where Erik had gone, but he figured that the other guy was experienced enough to pick his own spot to sleep in, and would not appreciate a search party disturbing him.

Seeing as Allora was already in the tent, Arashi got changed for bed behind some bushes - so as to avoid accidental mortification. At least he knew where she was, at any rate. Then, after performing his ablutions and introducing Kin to the rest of his team, he entered the tent with his fledgeling party and curled up in his sleeping bag. Kaer, being the largest, lingered near the entrance to act as an internal sentry, while the rest were content to snuggle with Arashi. Truth be told, Arashi would hug them all at once if his arms would hold that many without squishing them the moment he rolled over or something. At least, with most of them outside the sleeping bag, he wouldn't smother them. Kin, being malleable and quite adaptable, was likely to sneak in for extra warmth after coming in from the chilly outdoors, but Arashi was asleep too soon to know for sure.

It appeared as though Kin was something of a maverick, as Arashi had awoken to the sight of the Ditto trying out his shape for the other wakeful Pokemon. S/he wasn't yet very good at human appearance, but it was a new form to play with nonetheless. Needless to say, this sight upon awakening was somewhat disorienting, as being confronted with a distorted version of yourself  first thing in the morning was always going to be a nerve-fraying experience. When it had become clear that the subject of this piece of performance art had joined the waking world, however, Kin shrank down into the Pidgey form s/he'd worn the previous day.

Once they'd actually managed to set off, Arashi was torn between amusement and exasperation at Allora's persistent querying. It was reminiscent of little children that sit in the back seat when she behaved in this way, although Arashi possessed sufficient tact to refrain from making this comparison aloud. He suppressed a groan when she challenged a fisherman over his complaint regarding her volume - which was quite justified, and he watched with resignation as she was defeated. The occasion did provide an opportunity to register new Pokemon in his 'dex, however, and he consoled himself by registering Goldeen, Krabby, Tentacool and Horsea. Allora's battle having reached its logical conclusion, Arashi offered consolation in the form of a piece of fudge from the packet he'd been munching on. He didn't have many sweets on him - just the fudge and a few chocolate bars - but he saw no problem with sharing. "Are you alright, Allora?" He asked gently, tilting his head a little.