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Kojiro wiped the remains of the golden sweet honey from his mouth and licked at his fingers for those last succulent drops. Beside him, his friends sighed in satisfaction. Kojiro couldn’t remember the last time they’d eaten like this and for once it wasn’t due to victory or their own labor or even another human! No, this time it was a Pokémon! Not just any Pokémon; a large hulking bear Pokémon! That was standing right in front of them watching.
It was hard to guess what it was thinking. It’s eyes stared blankly but under the curved snout appeared to be a smile. None of the group were used to seeing a bear as big yet cute yet menacing as this… or one that treated them like this.
At last, Kojiro broke the staring contest and pushed himself with a slide off the pile of leaves. “Well Kiteruguma, thank you for the delicious meal. We’d better get going.”
“Yes thank you,” chorused Nyasu.
“Sonansu!” Sonansu repeated.
“Guu?” Kiteruguma cocked its head as if not understanding.
“Um, we really appreciate you feeding us today but we should leave you in peace,” Kojiro tried.
Kiteruguma tilted it's head to the other side, remaining silent.
“We’re going to be getting out of your hair! Surely you want to have your home back to yourself, ey,” Musashi interjected loudly.
“Trust me-ow, you don’t want to be stuck with these two for the night, meow. They’re loud snorers,” Nyasu said with a laugh.
“I do not!” Musashi snapped.
Kiteruguma’s head straightened, finally blinking. Kojiro felt himself smile and he, Musashi, and Nyasu turned to leave the den.
“Sona?” Sonansu stayed put in front of Kiteruguma, a question mark floating above his head.
“Come on!” Musashi took Sonansu's arm and pulled him after them.
Kojiro stepped out of the hollow. The world had become ultramarine since they were last outside. Branches overhead shivered, the moon Nyasu loved so much peeking out behind them. Kojiro took a deep breath. The air smelled of plants and the faintest traces of salt water. It was wonderful.
“How wonderful will it be when we’re trying to find our way through this undergrowth,” Kojiro thought ruefully.
“I think this way, meow,” said Nyasu pointing. He stepped forward and began to lead the way. The little group had barely taken a few steps when Kojiro felt something grab him. He looked behind him.
“Um Kiteruguma?”
The bear had taken hold of Musashi as well. Slipping her and Kojiro under its arms as it had done both times before, only gentler, it picked up Nyasu and turned back around. Nyasu was too surprised to even move. Behind them, Sonansu followed squeaking.
Kiteruguma stopped at the leaf pile and laid each of them down on it.
“But don’t you want your home back to yourself, meow?” Nyasu asked.
“Gii” Kiteruguma replied. It (she Kojiro started to realize) took Sonansu and placed the Pokémon next to Musashi. Sonansu immediately wrapped its arms around Musashi and snuggled into her. Musashi sighed exasperatedly but Kojiro could recognize the hints of affection in it.
“I guess we could stay for the night… since Kiteruguma wants us to.”
Kiteruguma carefully collected some leaves from other ends of the pile and flew them over the quartet as if they were a blanket. “She didn’t have to do that.” Kojiro felt something hitch in his throat; something he couldn’t remember feeling before.
“I don’t know this feeling… but it feels good,” the TRio murmured at the same time.
“It’s only for one night.”
Kojiro heard the leaves crackle as Kiteruguma laid herself beside them, right behind Musashi. Before Kojiro could utter a sound, she laid her arm around them, covering them from the world, so gently and yet so tightly, as if she didn’t want to let go.
Kojiro felt a pang in his chest. What was this feeling? It felt so strange that something not his teammates or his Pokémon seemed to care about him (or… any of them really) this much. Normally no one did. Beyond what they could change-
Kojiro shut down the thoughts, fought back the feelings rising in his throat. As if she sensed them, Kiteruguma pulled the four even closer. For such a big creature, her sleep-filled breathing was so soft. Her heart beat audibly, so strong and defined yet gentle and comforting.
Musashi had a complicated expression. She looked as surprised as he was but her face was contorted as if struggling with a memory. Sonansu was already sleeping soundly in her arms and Nyasu was curled in a ball, his back turned to Kojiro in between the two humans.
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
“Guuu.”
And before he knew it, Kojiro drifted into the best sleep of his life.