Akari Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven (Volokari/Volo x Akari/Volo x Reader)

heaven's embroidered cloths

Akari grimaced, the midday sunshine nearly blinding her as she stepped out of Galaxy Hall. She rubbed her sore arm, cursing herself for believing Kamado wouldn't sumo-throw her given the chance, even if it had been in his weird attempt at comradery. She guessed she deserved it, and was glad she had gotten out of the Hall with only a sore shoulder and a stern talking-to. It was a relief, in a way, to know Volo would be allowed to stay, even if it meant she was his glorified babysitter, to make sure he was following through with his attempt at reform.

She blinked as her eyes adjusted, looking around the village. Her meeting with Kamado had been longer than she expected it to go, and she was anxious to figure out how Volo was doing. Rumors would surely start spreading that the man who opened the rift four years ago was back and had the protection of the Hero of Hisui.

She had no sooner taken a step towards the apartments, hoping Volo was sleeping late today, when a gruff voice called out to her.

"So that lazy bastard's back then,"

Akari turned to the good, seeing Ginter glaring at her. He grunted as he climbed off his stool, starting towards Akari.

"He came up to me this morning, asked how business was," Ginter said in his familiar scratchy voice. "The nerve of that bastard to act as if he hadn't abandoned us for some stupid attempt at meeting an ancient pokemon? I told him off but he said he was only here because of you. Left before I could get another word in. What's up with that?"

Akari glared at the grumpy merchant. "He's here because I believe he's changed. He wants to write a book of mythology to help the Galaxy Team catalog the Hisui Region,"

Ginter scowled. "Suppose he'll pay attention to that a bit more than mercantile duties. He still owes me for all those free potions he gave you,"

Akari groaned. "I've told you Ginter, I'll pay you back for them,"

"I don't want your money, not for that anyway," Ginter growled. "You're an excellent customer, you didn't ask him to give you wares for free.That's on him,"

"You never forget a debt, do you?" Akari snorted, taken aback as always by the blunt merchant's tone as always.

Ginter grunted. "I put up with that boy well before you fell from the sky. I was hoping I'd be done with him once you arrived and knocked a bit of sense into him. He was actually willing to sell merchandise to you while out on those idiotic scavenger hunts of his,"

"He was never particularly motivated by money," Akari giggled, thinking back to the time she insisted on giving Volo a strange fossil she found when she couldn't pay for the numerous revives he had shoved into her hands "free of charge!". He had accepted it eagerly, immediately going into a spiel about long-forgotten Pokemon recorded in ancient carvings on stone. How the man had ever been able to afford food, she would never know.

"You've got that right," Ginter muttered."Well, if he really is here to stay, tell him I expect my money. With interest!" he added, as Akari started laughing.

"Of course," she laughed. "Where did he go?"

"Somewhere over by the pastures. Didn't get any other information from him,"

"I'll find him," Akari promised, dipping her head to Ginter before jogging off towards the pastures.

The summer breeze felt wonderful on her face, but her anxiety about Volo's situation made it insignificant. It was bold of him to wander off considering his presence had been noticed by the Gingko Guild. Sought out, even, she realized, remembering that Ginter said that Volo had approached him first. He didn't have his team, after all. He could probably hold his own in a physical fight given his size, but it wouldn't stop the whispers that would follow him.