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Akari huffed as she put down the final bundle of chopped wood onto the pile, and stepped back to admire the progress everyone had made today.
She had been helping the pearl clan with their winter preparations for a couple weeks now, and recently they've been working on building up wood stores for the winter, it was a truly impressive show of cooperation between everyone in the clan. There were a few "divisions" made, one that went out into the icelands and nearby territories to go and find suitable tree's chop them down and remove the branches, before piling them onto a sled pulled by Mamoswine which would be brought back to the village by another division, who ensured the woods safe passage to the village, where the last division would cut the tree up into sections, chop it and then pile it into a special communal building where everyone in the village could grab wood for their fires from.
Akari was on the last division, having been asked by Irida to help her since the extra manpower would help speed things up immensely, she was of course glad to help with anything Irida could need! The Pearl clan leader was a.. Very close friend to Akari, and she always enjoyed spending any time she could with her. Irida of course seemed to feel the same way, she thought, seeing as she kept seeking her out to help with tasks that she didn't seem to need much help with.
Akari turned to look at Irida as she spoke up, distracting Akari from her thoughts.
"I must thank you immensely Akari! You have made this process much faster than it would have been otherwise if i had been required to pile the wood alongside chopping it!"
Akari flushed, looking away to the side while scratching the back of her head idly. "O-oh yeah! It was no problem Irida! You know i am always happy to help you!" she felt she wasn't exactly being honest, as she had mostly been watching Irida chop the wood she placed in front of her and had to be reminded to pile it a few times, she blushed at this thought, trying not to think of Iridas.. very well maintained muscles.. being a student of someone such as Gaeric clearly had its upsides, other than the cold resistance!
Irida clapped her hands, bringing Akari's attention back to her. "I am still very grateful! we've completed all our wood collection ahead of schedule and will be able to just relax from now on, other than some minor preparations!" She smiles at Akari, putting her hands on her hips as she forwards towards her. "Though perhaps it is not much of a surprise! I hardly noticed how much time has passed due to your company! Working from dawn til dusk is much easier with a friend to pass the time with!"
Akari nodded along with the sentiment before snickering at something, causing Irida to look confused. "Huh?" She muttered. "Why are you laughing? Did i say something funny?"
"No- no-" Akari assured, still chuckling a bit, "Its just that you saying that reminded me of something, and i found it funny that it had slipped my mind"
"Oh? What is that?"
Akari looked up, smiling kindly as she stretched and cracked her neck. "I'll tell you in a bit! For now i just want to get something to eat and prepare to be heading back to the base camp!"
"Oh of course!" Irida exclaimed, "Don't think we will merely take your help and not feed you! They should be finishing up dinner in the kitchen now! Do come and sit with me!" she requested, a hopeful look on her face.
Akari's face lit up, "Of course! I'd be glad to have dinner with you!"
"Wonderful! Lets be off then!" Irida proclaimed, grabbing Akari by the hand before dragging her off towards the mess hall, which was merely a larger tent for the community to enjoy meals together.
Akari looked down at her hand that was in Iridas and smiled widely with a blush, today was turning out to be quite nice!
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It was later now, and the sun was due to set soon, and Akari was walking with Irida towards the nearest base camp, she had tried telling Irida that it had been a long day, and since they were both tired it was fine for Irida to stay and rest while Akari made her way back, but to her total lack of surprise Irida had insisted on being with her on the journey to the camp. She looked over at Irida and took in her features for a moment, admiring her greyish blue eyes and blonde hair, and her height and beautiful features and-
Akari looked away with a flush, scolding herself mentally for letting herself oogle Irida like that, the chances that Irida was attracted to women was..
"Akari?"
She jumped, looking over to Irida embarrassed and flushing slightly. "A-ah sorry Irida! I was a bit lost in thought there! Were you saying something?"
Irida gave her a look of slight concern before repeating what she had said. "I was asking if you were going to tell me what you found so funny earlier, you said you had remembered something? Every memory recovered is important after all!"
*ah yeah* Akari thought, having forgotten about that already after the bustling dinner that had happened at the pearl clan, in truth she HAD remembered something, which was.. fine. Having lost all her memories upon falling into Hisui had been terrifying, not knowing who she was, or anything really, had left her scrambling to find herself.
"Yeah! i supposed i did say i'd tell you didn't i?" she mumbled, pondering how best to bring it up.
"If you do not desire to tell me i will not force you, i just-"
Akari interrupted, "Oh no no! its not that i don't want to tell you! Its just I'm wondering how its best to like.. put it?" she laughed at her self a bit, finding it silly how much weight she was putting onto something that didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things.
Irida nodded, understanding on her face, "I understand Akari, please do take your time if you require it."
"Ah no, i think its best if i just come out and say it really, its not a huge deal!" Akari steadied herself, before saying saying. "Its just during the festival, I remembered my old name."
Irida froze for a moment before continuing to walk as to catch up to Akari, her eyes wide as she stared at her. "Y-your old name? Akari how is that not important! I didn't even know Akari wasn't your real name!"
Akari chuckled a bit, rubbing the back of her head as she fiddled with the hem of her coat. "Ahaha~ Well Akari IS my real name, really, So i didn't really think it was important to bring up i had remembered my old one?"
Irida tilted her head, "What do you mean?" she said with confusion, "Wouldn't your old name be your real one? One would think you would wish to take it up again!"
Akari looked off into the distance, not answering right away, before speaking up. "I didn't remember anything when i fell from the rift Irida."
"Well yes, i believe everyone knows that-" Irida began, but stopped when she saw how.. thoughtful Akari looked.
"I didn't remember anything, Not where i had come from, how i had gotten here, if i had a family.. Not even my name." Akari continued, seemingly lost in thought as she continued walking, though she kept close to Irida.
"At first, i desperately wanted to know my name, who i was, why i was here. Akari was only supposed to be a temporary name, something given to me by the professor when i said i couldn't remember my name, at least until i remembered my own.. But i never did, so i kept the name Akari"
Akari looked over at Irida with a smile, before continuing, "But overtime, Akari became more than just a temporary name i guess? It was what everyone knew me as, its what i thought of myself as, overtime i stopped wondering about who i was and started seeing myself as Akari, because that IS who i am now"
Irida nodded along at this, "I believe i can understand that, it is hard to be attached to a name you do not know.."
Akari nodded at this, smiling, "You get it! Even now that i know it.. I barely remember anything from before Hisui, i don't think a single person in Hisui doesn't know it at this point. I vaguely remember a few things.. Kind grey eyes garbed in black, an energetic boy with blond hair, along with some memories that are barely anything more than sounds and some feelings" she began to look down, as her voice took on a sad tone.
"Dawn.. That was my name" she admitted, "Dawn was the girl who knew those kind grey eyes, and the energetic boy, and knew what those sounds were and what they belonged to. But I'm not Dawn.. Atleast, she isn't who i am anymore. Perhaps at one point i was Dawn, and maybe at one point being Dawn was important to me.." Akari felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up at Irida, who had put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a comforting smile.
"Akari.. You do not have to continue if this line of thought is painful." Irida said gently, squeezing Akari's shoulder.
Akari blushed, listening to the sound of her heart beating in her chest as she felt her face heating up, "No no! its not painful its just-" She huffed and shook her head, hoping to remove the blush from her face before continuing.
"Its just, Akari is who i am now! All my meaningful memories have been made here! Sure it hasn't been all great.. But the memories i cherish, like all the Pokemon I've met surveying, all the friends i've made here in the clans and the village, everything I've learnt and loved here while in Hisui! The name "Akari" has become who i am! And while i am sad that i've forgotten what its like being Dawn, I'm not going to give up being Akari just in the hopes that being Dawn will be more natural, you know? I barely remember anything and the memories i do have grow fuzzier by the day.."
She looked back at Irida to see how she had taken her little rant, feeling nervous about what she wanted to say next but not allowing her nerves to get the best of her.
"A-and besides!" She exclaimed. "Akari is what you've always called me, and hearing you call me Dawn at this point would just be weird!" Akari looked away shyly, "And i really like hearing you say my name.." She added quietly, unsure if Irida would have even heard it but mentally berating herself for saying something so odd.
Looking up she saw Irida blushing, *Oh Arceus she heard me, she is going to think I'm a weirdo..*
Before she could speak up to save face, Irida began to speak. "I-I believe i understand what you mean!" She said in a slightly high voice. "Names are very important things, they are the first thing you give to someone as you meet, and it is who you wish to be seen as.." she looked lost in thought for a moment, but spoke up again before Akari could ask after it.
"I for one, am honoured to know your names, and to know you in general. You have brought hope back to Hisui and.. And have been a very dear friend to me personally, always willing to help and have been a kind and understanding person the entire time i have known you.. Thank you for sharing this with me Akari."
Akari looked away, attempting to hide the blush that grew on her face after the praise, the icelands were cold yet she felt so warm she she could imagine the snow melting away under her.. *Maybe i have a chance? I should- maybe i could- just ASK HER AKARI*
As she opened her mouth to ask, Irida pointed ahead, "Look! We've arrived!"
*Ah..* Akari was slightly disappointed, but resolved to bring it up later, perhaps after she had figured out what to say..
After they arrived it did not take long for them to part ways, Irida leaving her with a hug and a promise to come and see her soon
before taking off, seeking to get back to the village before sundown.
Akari stared after her for a small while, standing at the edge of the camp before turning around and entering a vacant tent, already feeling the sore muscles she will have tomorrow.
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Akari looked off at the waves of prelude beach while deep in thought, fiddling with the items she had in her hands as she considered if this was truly a good idea.
Some days ago, Irida had brought up perhaps leaving a.. Monument, to her old name, as a way to honour it and yet allow herself to move past it fully, Akari wasn't sure how Irida figured out about the regret she had about her old name, but Irida was a very observant woman who rarely let anything slip past her.
And honestly, Akari thought it was a good idea, she looked down at the odd ribbon she had in her hands, one that she hardly recognized at all but innately knew was important to her for some reason, alongside some other items she had either bought or had made for this purpose, This ribbon she had bought from the Gingko Guild, who claimed they had acquired it from a space time distortion.
Akari didn't really care where it came from, she just knew that it had meant something to her at one point, but that it wasn't giving up any of its secrets, in the form of memories or otherwise.
She looked up and behind her as she heard a voice calling out to her.
"Akari!" It was Irida, who was carrying a large stone, barely seeming to recognize the weight she had, it was the size of her torso and yet she carried it as if it was a bundle of hay.
"Irida! I thought i'd be waiting here all night for you! Maybe you should go get some lessons from time from Adaman~?" she said teasingly, raising her eyebrow at Irida as she gave her a small glare.
"I was merely enjoying the space that almighty Palkia has gifted to us! But in all honesty i apologize, i was a bit held up by some responsibilities before i could come over to join you."
Akari shrugged, merely smiling at Irida, "Its fine, i was enjoying the sight of the ocean anyways. So.. Are we ready to do this?" She asked quietly, looking off back towards the ocean.
Irida walked up to her and gave her a nudge, "If you are ready?"
She nodded, and the two walked off towards a specific spot of the beach, hidden from anyone who would come to enjoy the beach, and got to work.
The two worked wordlessly, working in tandem to set up the small shrine that would only mean anything to the two of them, before standing back and looking upon their work.
Before them was a small slab of rock with the name "Dawn" inscribed upon it, buried within the earth so that it would stand up strongly and not tip from the wind over time. In front of it were some candles and some various items that they felt would be fitting.
There was something that resembled a Pokeball, but split in half and nonfunctional, made of some strange material that Akari felt was called plastic instead of the usual tumblestone and apricorn, the ribbon she had bought from the Gingko merchants and a duplicate set of hair clips that resembled the ones Akari had fallen with, unwilling to part with the originals.
Akari kneels down with Irida, and lights a match that she uses to light the candles before putting it out in the dirt before sitting back and breathing out a deep sigh.
This didn't really change anything, Dawn had been just as gone as before they had made this shrine.. But looking at it brought a sense of finality to it all, and that was relieving in its own way. Dawn was gone, and Akari was here, and she thinks this is a wonderful way to finally put her worries to rest.
She looks over at Irida, who's eyes were closed and she seemed to be praying, "Irida?" she asked
Irida opened her eyes and looked over at her, "Apologies Akari, i was merely paying my respects"
"Respects? I'm not dead Irida" Akari said, tilting her head with a incredulous look on her face.
Irida laughed quietly, Akari thought that she looked very beautiful, with the beach wind gentle rustling her hair and the moons glow shining off her. She felt herself smiling just from the sound of her laugh.
"Not those kind of respects! I am merely thanking Dawn for having existed before, because if she hadn't then i never would have gotten to know you!"
Akari blushed at her words, but didn't look away, continuing to gaze at Irida despite her rapidly beating heart and internal panic.
"I am.. very glad i've gotten to know you as well Irida, You are incredibly kind and thoughtful, this shrine wouldn't exist if you hadn't brought up the idea and gotten it made for me, it really means a lot." she said, before slowly reaching over and resting her hand on Iridas and shifting her gaze away back to the shrine.
A few moments passed yet Irida didn't pull her hand away, instead she moved it so that she could wrap her hand around Akari's, causing her breathing to halt for a moment as she panicked internally. *She is holding my hand! Is she doing it to comfort me? could she possibly..*
"Akari.." Irida interrupted her thoughts, and she continued to speak. "Do you.. Have any plans for your future?"
Akari was confused at this question, glancing at her wondering why Irida would bring this up now, but she began to answer. "I- well i've finished the Pokedex, so as a survey member all i really do is go and check out mass outbreaks and report back after clearing them." Seeking out all Pokemon was what Arceus had asked of her, and she had done so.. but she never really thought of any goals after that..
"I see.." Irida said, she sounded disappointed, Akari feels as though she answered wrongly, she began to speak up quickly, attempting to fix whatever she had done.
"But, i umm-" Think Akari think! Irida had made this beautiful moment for her and she was just floundering with her words? She shouldn't think, she has to speak!!
"I think now that i have this shrine i can accept the loss of my past.. and look towards the future! And Irida i.." She hesitated for a moment, but Irida looking at her curiously causes her to continue. "I know that no matter what i do with my future, i want you to be there with me! I- I really care for you, and i-" she continued awkwardly, attempting to find a direction to bring this but her mind was uncooperative.
Irida then suddenly, leant in, getting close to her face, causing Akari to blush and begin to stutter, unable to process what was happening. "Akari" Irida asked.
"Can i kiss you?"
Akari couldn't believe her ears, had she heard that right? She didn't know if she was dreaming or not.. but she didn't want to let this opportunity slip.
"Yes"
And upon saying that, Irida leant in and pressed her lips against Akari's, and it was.. Amazing, Iridas lips were soft and warm, Akari could smell the soap she used to keep clean and yet also the sweat from a long days work, everything she could sense was overwhelming and she could barely think, and yet with what little brain function she had left she managed to close her eyes and kiss back, enjoying the moment.
It didn't last long, Akari didn't mind, opening her eyes and looking upon Iridas blushing face, she could just feel the dumb smile on her face but she could bring herself to care.
"D-does that mean-" Akari began, still slightly in disbelief.
Irida smiled at her, squeezing her hand. "It means I'd like to be a part of your future as well, and i would like for you to be a part of my space in turn."
They sat there a bit longer, staring at the candles as they burned, leaning on each other and enjoying each others warmth, Eventually they had to get up, as it was getting late, but they kept their hands linked.
Akari looked up at the moon, it was very clearly in the sky, and going back to the pearl clan at this point wouldn't be very rational, Irida would have to stay in Jubilife. "Irida? Would you like to stay with me tonight?" she asked
Irida smiled and nodded, pulling herself closer to Akari, "I'd be glad to share your space tonight Akari, thank you for having me"
"You are always welcome!" Akari said, laughter in her voice, still giddy from the nights events, and as the two began to walk off back towards the village, hand in hand, Neither looking back at the shrine, but towards their future, together.