A few hours later Sakura retired to a room in the Pokemon Center with Xuangzang in tow. She was currently wearing a set of black pajamas and was lying down on the bed with Xuangzang sitting on a pillow himself.
"Today was a long day wasn't it." Sakura sighed.
"Indeed it was quite eventful." Xuangzang nodded.
"A dangerous mission, people getting hurt, familiar friends, new people and Pokemon being used for nefarious deeds, it never changes does it. Am I going to be doing this for the rest of my life Xuangzang?" Sakura asked as she raised up her hand and stared at it while lying down.
"I'm not exactly sure, it's pretty unusual that whenever there's trouble that you get involved. Even as the Hero of Ideals I find it quite fascinating how often you're in the middle of all this." Xuangzang noted.
"At least I don't get involved with every single one or I'd go insane, well more insane than I probably already am." Sakura laughed in a slightly bitter tone as she lowered her arm and covered her eyes.
"It's fortunate that you have other people that are also bound to you by fate in these situations now, myself included." Xuangzang reassured her.
"Hey Xuangzang why did you choose to stay with me so long, don't you have better things to do than to hang with me?" Sakura asked him.
"I typically bound myself to the Hero of Ideals until their life expires, then I go to sleep until I find a new one." Xuangzang reminded her.
"Huh like a contract with a between a master and a familiar?" Sakura pondered.
"I suppose, though if I find that they aren't worthy of my power I'll break it myself, I have done so in the past." Xuangzang said looking down.
"So I haven't disappointed you yet Xuangzang?" Sakura asked as she turned to him.
"Not even in the slightest." Xuangzang shook his head "In fact you're probably the one most worthy of the title, and you're probably the only one who's treated me like an equal, not as a tool for their Ideals or someone who is greater than themselves. You're the only one who treated me as a true friend."
"Well I'm sort of flattered." Sakura laughed sincerely "But weren't you sad when I decided to revert you back to stone 5 years ago out of paranoia? I mean that was a little selfish of me."
"It was a mutual agreement that we reached, I didn't want to put you in danger just as much as you didn't want to put me in danger. I didn't regret it, even if it was a bit uncomfortable though not as bad as a Pokeball." Xuangzang sighed.
"You really don't like Pokeballs huh." Sakura observed.
"It just feels sort of odd and unnatural to me, I understand why others prefer it unlike myself and they are convenient for a multitude of reasons, but I just can't feel comfortable in them. It could be the energy conversion process or maybe since I can go dormant myself I don't feel compatible with it, but either I just don't like it." Xuangzang mused.
"Well you're not alone in that, there are quite a few cases of Pokemon preferring not to stay in Pokeballs." Sakura said as she sat up and pet him on the head "Some people are researching why that is but I don't really find it necessary. Pokemon are just as different from one another as humans are and I don't want to change that."
"Yes I find that true as well." Xuangzang nodded. "Especially when I compare yourself to the people you come in contact with. I even learned more things about them today than I have years ago, I was even surprised how you and Taylor were able to forgive that crazy shorts guy."
"Well I know that it wasn't all his fault, Team Rocket was even stooping to fool their own ranks just to get Mewtwo. That shorts guy was just another victim and he clearly regretted his actions." Sakura explained "I may be probably one of the more irrational and paranoid people in the world, but that doesn't mean I can't let bygones be bygones."
"Yes and he seemed relieved by that, though I'm surprised that you aren't bothered by the many secrets that Merrick person is keeping. I still find it odd that his real name matches that of one of the talking cards he has in his possession, in fact they sort of look the same now that I think about it." Xuangzang pondered.
"Well considering his magical abilities and how dangerous some of those cards are I don't blame him, you remember how much trouble and bad luck he got into because of that and it seems that his organization or home or whatever is even more paranoid than I am for that reason. I'll admit I would like to know more about Merrick, but I understand why he's doesn't let me know everything even if he does trust me." Sakura justified.
"Yes I suppose that makes sense, if for example Sapph told people he was immortal people would either freak out or not believe him, it be better if he kept that secret." Xuangzang noted "I can understand why people must keep secrets to themselves."
"Yeah..." Sakura said looking sad.
"You're still worried about Sapph aren't you." Xuangzang realized.
"Of course I am, he just disappeared and I haven't had any contact with him in 3 whole years." Sakura sighed "And he's not the only one."
"Yes Dr. Wily and Ahrzayl have seemed to disappear without a trace as well." Xuangzang said looking grim.
"Yeah I'm still horrified with what Steiner did to Julia when we met up again, and how Steiner caught Ahrzayl in a Pokeball. I know Ahrazyl wasn't really human, but I didn't think she was part Clefairy of all things, her Ice Powers don't really match that conclusion even if Clefairies can learn Ice Beam and Blizzard. I hope Julia can find her and get her away from Steiner forever, that man is sicker than Wily's old personality." Sakura said with worry.
"Yes and Wily's old personality is pretty evil." Xuangzang admitted.
"Yeah, the poor Doc, he can't seem to escape his past no matter how hard he tries." Sakura said tearing up a little "He doesn't deserve that."
"Yes but at the moment there isn't a way to eradicate that side of him, and if we just suppress it it will just resurface later in the future. Not even Mewtwo can prevent that as powerful as he is." Xuangzang sighed.
"We have to find a way, we have to!" Sakura cried "I can't let him suffer like that."
"I know how you feel but you must focus on the task at hand right now." Xuangzang sooth "You can't let the weight of the world crush you, you have to take it one step at a time. Right now we must rescue Pyro, and stop Team Flora's ambitions but first you must rest, you won't be able to do anything without a good night's sleep."
"You're right I'm sorry." Sakura sighed as she hugged Xuangzang as close as possible for security "I haven't really been taking care of myself as I should, I even snapped at you when you told me I couldn't help my father in my condition."
"That's fine, I know how you felt and it was lucky that you had friends that saved him in your stead." Xuangzang dismissed "Don't worry about it and go to sleep, we have a big day ahead of us."
"Right I'm sorry I just needed to let that out." Sakura nodded as she lied back down still hugging Xuangzang like he was a stuffed animal "Is it okay if we stayed like for tonight, I know you prefer sleeping standing up and all."
"It's fine, I know you need this." Xuangzang replied.
"Thank you." Sakura said as she started to feel drowsy "Good night Xuangzang."
"Rest well Sakura." Xuangzang replied as he turned on his generator to keep her warm so she could feel safe.
Sakura eventually fell asleep as Xuangzang watched her in concern as he was worried about how insecure she felt, as well as her worries.
"This girl has suffered a lot, and yet she hasn't fallen apart." Xuangzang thought to himself "Most people in her situation simply wouldn't be able to handle this stress, they would have probably turn into a vegetable or fall into a coma or something. But it's still a lot to bare for one person, let alone the Hero of Ideals. It's very fortunate she has friends that can help her as well as myself. I hope I can help her put those worries to rest before her life expires from old age, she does not deserve all this suffering."
With that last thought Xuangzang himself fell asleep to prepare for whatever danger fate threw at them in it's own twisted amusement.