"Alright, you have 5 Pokemon so far! That's awesome Duri!" Fuyuhiko said. 

"Thank you," Duri flushed slightly. "But actually, I wanted to catch 6 Pokemon this trip."

"Huh? Six? Why?" Fuyuhiko asked. 

The other shrugged, looking at the fire then at his partners chasing each other around and just having fun before he sighed, "I just... have this strange feeling. Like I might need more Pokemon in case stuff goes south. I'm not that strong, and you know it. I'm worried it... it will cost us at some point. I learnt that lesson with... with Dr M 2 years ago..."

Fuyuhiko frowned slightly, "Hey, don't worry. We'll... we'll cross that bridge when we get there." 

As he placed a hand on Duri's shoulder, he was struck by how... how thin he was. Why was he so thin? 

He made a mental. note to call Fic after this to ask, but for now, he had to make sure Duri was okay, "Plus... You're not the only one who's made fatal mistakes in the past." 

"Huh?" Duri looked over, and Fuyuhiko closed his eyes as he looked to the night sky, "Before I joined the team, when I was working on my own with Peko by my side,  I... I didn't see anyone aside from myself as better. To me, my clan meant everything to me. Causing crime was our gimmick, so I went with it." 

"But then... the killing game happened. Sure it was a simulation, but it felt so real and..." He looked at his hands, "Peko... Peko killed because I was dumb enough to want to break every rule in the book. And she died because of me. The day she died was the day everything shattered around me." 

"Fuyuhiko," Duri whispered quietly. He hadn't known that...

"But... it taught me something you know?" he smiled despite the tears threatening to come out of his eyes. "It's why I reformed the Kuzuryuu clan, and turned it into an ambassador between the mystical creatures out there. It's why I took on the catering job, which doesn't pay well but we make it work. It's why we joined the team; for a chance, a small chance, even if it's minuscule, that our actions could change someone. I know I'm a criminal, yet-" 

He felt Duri suddenly hug him, and he stiffened up slightly at first. What had gotten into him? 

But then, his voice wafted into his ears, "You... You've worked so hard these past few years. I-I don't know if anyone's told you this, b-but... Y-You've done a lot of good, Fuyuhiko. D-Don't ever forget that, e-even in your darkest moments. S-So don't ever call yourself a criminal a-anymore. P-Please." 

His golden eyes shot wide open. Duri... Was he... crying?

He could feel the tears stain the jacket, and for once, Fuyuhiko, he didn't... care much about it anymore. 

The warmth, the acceptance he had opened up with those words, he... he liked it.

He just hugged back, letting his own tears out as he whispered, "T-Thank you... Y-You aren't a villain for what happened that day too, y'know... S-So you're no monster. Y-You're human and that's the truth... Y-You've done amazing things all this time, okay?"

"I-I..." His grip grew tighter. "T-Thank you, Fuyuhiko..." 

"N-No problem..." he smiled slightly, and the two somehow fell asleep in that position, much to the amusement of their Pokemon.

Let's just say when they woke up there was a heck ton of apologising while everyone snorted at that.

Thankfully, they soon packed up and headed off to Knuckle City, hoping to find some Pokemon nearby. 

And find some they did. 

"It's a Barikohru and Doryuzu!" Fuyuhiko recognised the two Pokemon that had nearly attacked them had it not been for his Tairetsu's Megahorn. 

"Alright, then, if that's the case, should we do a tag team battle?" Duri asked him. 

"Sure!" he grinned, and the two grabbed their Monster Balls. 

"Come on out, Shinishi!" 

"Let's do this, Toura!" 

"Gantle!" 

"Gard!" the Gillgard stood beside the Gantle as they faced the two. 

"Alright, Shinishi, use Stone Edge!" 

"Toura, Fury Cutter!" 

The two Pokemon sent off their attacks while the opposing Barikohru used Reflect as the Doryuzu used Fury Swipes. Both managed to dodge the attacks and Duri grinned, "Alright let's do this! Shinishi, use Rock Slide on the Barikohru!" 

He was definitely getting more comfortable with attacking head-on. Nice!

"Toura, use Sacred Sword on Doryuzu!" Fuyuhiko ordered. 

"Tle tle!"

"Ruga!!" 

With that, the two Pokemon were hit and sent back slightly, unable to counter it in time. 

"Time to finish this!" Duri yelled. "Stone Edge!" 

"Brick Break, Toura!" 

"GANTLE!" 

"GILLGARD!" 

"Ryuzu!" The Doryuzu used Dig, but the Barikohru wasn't as lucky as it got hit and stumbled back. 

"Oops!" Duri sweatdropped. "Guess we went too hard there." 

"Let's finish this up quickly then!" Fuyuhiko suggested. 

"Right! Shinishi, use Mud Slap once the Doryuzu is out of the ground!"

Thus, when it showed its face later on, it was slapped by mud and sent back flying to the Barikohru, knocking them both out. They had won the battle together!

"That was awesome!" Fuyuhiko grinned at Duri. 

"Thanks, but you helped out, so do you want one of them?" he asked. 

"Nah, I feel that they would be a good fit for your team," Fuyuhiko reassured him. 

Here, Duri's face flared up, but he managed to say, "Y-You sure?"

Fuyuhiko couldn't help the red that spread across his face either, "O-Of course you dummy! N-Now go and make some new friends!" 

"R-Right!" he quickly sped to where they were, and as he watched him compliment their fighting styles and then catch them, he felt a nudge from his feet, making him look down to see Natsuri and Y giving him a smirk. Oh, not to mention Toura and Shinishi.

"What the heck is up with you guys?!" he hissed at them, covering his face as he said this. "S-Stop staring!" 

"Ita ita, reita," the leader of the Tairetsu gave him a smirk that literally spoke volumes. 

"Thun thun," Y was nodding sagely, while Toura and Shinishi chuckled despite the death glare he was giving them. 

Then Duri walked back with the 2 Balls, saying, "We should probably head to Knuckle-.... Did something happen?" 

"N-Nothing! L-let's just go!" he grabbed Duri's hand and dragged him off, mentally cursing how easily embarrassed he was. Curse his Pokemon for teasing him with Duri! It was so clear in their eyes it was a wonder no one had caught on yet!