Naomi yawned and stretched, 'Tai entwined around her naked body under the covers. Yesterday had been an exceptionally long day, and her second wind had petered out on the way to her host's place. Neither she nor 'Tai were up for anything other than an exhausted, sound, deep sleep.<br/><br/>Her dreams had been strange, fleeting, disjointed and now completely forgotten in the morning light. On the chance that one of the dream-eaters had visited her and kept her from nightmares, she murmured a little prayer of thanks.<br/><br/>With a spirit forest so close by, it wasn't as far-fetched a thought as it seemed. Which reminded her, she wasn't sure where Loon was. It didn't avoid the pokeball, but, like 'Tai often did, it seemed to prefer being free to roam around, following when she traveled.<br/><br/>Still resting in bed, Naomi reached for her multifunction 'Dex. It wasn't as capable as a standard 'Dex in some ways, but it had greater versatility. She pulled up the To-Do app and started making notes.<br/><br/>1. Fix Eleyna's 'Dex. Data recovery?<br/>2. Fix Red's? Dex. Dat recovery? How to get data to him?<br/>3. Investigate broken Master Ball. Personal interest, low priority. maybe?<br/>4. Help raise the Torii.<br/>5. Clothes. Wash. Repair? Use as bait?<br/>6. Restock. Important but not extremely urgent.<br/>7. Get advice about training. Clueless. How to motivate 'Tai to push himself?<br/>8. What to do about Loon? Trade?<br/>9. Challenge Brollem for badge? Never thought to earn one.<br/><br/>She groaned softly, looking at the list. There was far too much to do for a single day. 'Tai yawned, his head resting on her soft breasts, and instinctively suckled on one of her nipples. He squeezed against her body, waking up langorously.<br/><br/>Her breath caught.<span style="color: #6495ED">"H-hey, I see you're awake. We've got a long day, and we can't laze around in bed. Even if we want to."</span><br/><br/>'Tai churred, a plaintive complaint about having to get up.<br/><br/><span style="color: #6495ED">"Mmm. Don't give me that. I wish I knew how you really felt about battling and trying to get better, because I want you to.. to grow. To stretch yourself, reach the potential you have in you."</span><br/><br/>'Tai gazed into her eyes, deep black eyes with lambent purple iris locked on her amber ones, staring for a long moment before he replied, simply,<span style="color: #3399cc">"Dratini."</span><br/><br/>Naomi raised her hand to his cheek, caressing it.<span style="color: #6495ED">"Okay. We really need to get up. Get washed, get dressed. Get some food, and then.. I don't know. See what we can do."</span><br/><br/>*****<br/><br/>The preparations for the matsuuri were still underway when Naomi returned to the field. Her host had been gracious, if a little distracted with all the things that needed to be done.<br/><br/>She hadn't had time yet to talk to the others, but just listening to the conversations of the villagers, there were quite a few things to be done. There was a cluster of people around Aiko, all talking at her, giving advice and just generally seeming concerned.<br/><br/>Others were handing out baskets and looking like they were going to go harvest something, who knows what.<br/><br/>And of course, Brollem and Eleyna looked like they were busy talking while they were moving planks around and building the stage. The Torii was still unassembled on the ground.<br/><br/>Which brought another thing to mind for her to-do list:<br/><br/>10. Submit her reports and observations to the professor and to her employer.<br/><br/>But what to do first? She needed some direction here. Maybe find one of the others. She had a pretty good idea where at least one of them would be, as it was still early morning.<br/><br/>She headed to the training grounds, 'Tai at her side, expecting Steven and Tyrogue would probably be there.<br/><br/>As she walked, she thought about what she was going to do, and in what order.<br/><br/>First, she supposed, was seeing if Steven was there. If so, perhaps train a bit.<br/>Then either help with flower collecting or raising the torii.<br/><br/>It was tempting to challenge Brollem for the gym badge. It was just as tempting to ask him for advice about training.<br/>Cleaning clothes could wait. It had only been a couple of days, she still had clean clothes left. Maybe just soak 'em and pin them up to dry. Hand washing wasnt' something she was familiar with.<br/>And hopefully after all that, she could find a workbench and fix Eleyna's 'dex. She thought it wouldn't take more than an hour, there didn't appear to be anything irretrievably wrong with it.<br/><br/>She couldn't help but wonder, though. Something felt incomplete.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>