Pokémon: Starting with Ash's Mom

Early the next morning, Cassandra had already prepared all the necessary herbs and tools for expelling cold poison.

Kazuki arrived at her pharmacy accompanied by Suzie and Misty.

A faint herbal scent lingered in the air. Two large wooden tubs stood in the center of the room, both filled with steaming medicinal liquid.

"The detox process is... a little special, so please be mentally prepared!" Cassandra explained, her cheeks tinged with a bashful pink.

"Special? How so?" Misty eyed the murky-looking medicine with growing unease.

Cassandra glanced toward Kazuki, then said, "First, you'll need to be completely undressed and soak in the tub so the medicine can permeate your body."

"Next, I'll apply the ointment and massage specific acupoints on your upper body."

She quickly added the last part, flustered, as though afraid the situation might be misunderstood.

"Then I'll burn some specially made medicinal incense to steam your body."

"The whole process will take about an hour."

Suzie and Misty exchanged awkward glances.

Misty, in particular, flushed scarlet despite her usual easygoing nature. 

Even though Cassandra was a girl, and they weren't strangers exactly, the idea of sitting naked in front of her for treatment was still wildly embarrassing.

"Wait—massage?" Misty's voice rose in alarm. Then she turned sharply toward Kazuki. "Hey, you're treating me, but what about Kazuki?"

Cassandra looked at Suzie and offered a wry smile. "Isn't that what Suzie's here for? The steps aren't complicated. I can just teach her quickly."

"She can help Kazuki with the detox session."

"Honestly, it's lucky you've got so many girlfriends, Kazuki. Otherwise, I wouldn't know who else could help us out here in this secluded little clinic."

Suzie's face instantly turned beet red, but after a moment she seemed to remember something.

"Me? But... I'm on my period!" she blurted.

Cassandra's face froze. "What?! You are?"

Suzie nodded earnestly. "It started yesterday."

Cassandra was clearly troubled now. She frowned deeply, muttering, "That... is a problem."

Seeing the hesitation, Kazuki spoke up. "Then how about I wait seven days to do the detox—until Suzie's period ends?"

"You can't!" Cassandra shook her head vehemently. "The poison's already circulating inside you. If we wait seven days, who knows what kind of changes might happen."

"If it mutates... this detox method might become useless."

Clenching her fists and her clothes, Cassandra took a deep breath and made up her mind. "I'll do it. The steam will provide some cover, and I'll be careful. It'll be fine."

Kazuki smiled gently at her flustered expression. "Thanks, Cassandra. I'll be in your care, then."

Their eyes met briefly, Cassandra's face growing warmer before she turned quickly away. "Go get ready... I'll fetch the herbs."

She fled the room, only to return moments later with several new ingredients in hand.

As she dropped them into the tubs, the herbal scent grew richer and more soothing.

"Misty, you go first," Cassandra said to Misty, then looked over at Kazuki. "Kazuki... I know you're Suzie's boyfriend, but since your body's poisoned, we can't let that get in the way of treatment, okay?"

"Mm. Got it," Kazuki replied calmly, stepping outside with Suzie to wait.

Once the door closed, Cassandra helped Misty undress.

"Your skin is so nice," she said with a smile, sensing Misty's tension.

"Really?" The compliment seemed to put Misty at ease.

"Yes. And your figure's amazing too—so curvy!"

Hearing that, Misty blushed again. She remembered she used to be flat as a pancake before Kazuki showed up. Her current figure was entirely thanks to him.

"T-Thanks... Yours is really hot too! I bet Kazuki loves that kind of body," she blurted, then froze.

Cassandra blinked. Kazuki likes my type?

She quickly shook the thought away and refocused. No time to daydream!

With care, she helped Misty into the steaming tub. "Okay, start soaking. I'll prepare the ointment."

After timing the soak, Cassandra began applying the medicated balm to Misty's body.

"These are the key areas where the cold poison tends to accumulate," she explained gently with each touch. "The herbs will penetrate through the acupoints and help disperse the toxin."

Then came the massage.

Some spots overlapped with the places Kazuki had touched before, but Misty didn't flinch. She wasn't uncomfortable.

Apparently, she was more sensitive with people she knew intimately.

Once the massage ended, Cassandra lit several incense sticks.

The smoke rose, enveloping Misty in a soft haze.

"Misty, close your eyes and relax your body. Let the medicine work its way through," she whispered.

Misty obeyed, gradually sinking into the peaceful sensation.

About an hour later, the treatment was complete.

Misty tried to stand but felt weak. "I can't... lift a finger."

"The first detox session is the most intense—it really drains your strength. Don't worry, I'll help you," Cassandra said, stepping forward to lift her out of the tub, gently drying and dressing her.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

Misty took a deep breath, a smile spreading across her face. "Like something cold just left my body. I feel... lighter."

"Good. That means it worked." Cassandra beamed. "Let's sit and rest a while."

Just as they were leaving, Misty paused. "Hey... Cassandra, will you do the same spots on Kazuki too?"

"The points are mostly the same for both sexes. Just a little variation."

"Ah... well..." Misty scratched her cheek, hesitating. "Kazuki can be kinda naughty sometimes. If he accidentally reacts or something... just letting you know in advance!"

"Huh? Haha!" Cassandra laughed. "Don't worry. I won't take offense. I'll keep calm."

"And anyway, he'll just be lying there passively for the whole thing."

Then, just as Misty was leaving, she hesitated again. "By the way... Cassandra, you know Kazuki's... pretty big, right?"

Cassandra immediately understood her meaning. She grinned. "Relax. I'm a healer, remember?"

"I've never seen a man completely naked before, but Grandma taught me all the acupoints. I know where everything is."

"And with the water being so murky, I probably won't see much anyway."

That settled it.

Once she had composed herself, Cassandra went in to help Kazuki.

Kazuki, knowing he had to be completely undressed, was already by the tub undressing when she entered.

Cassandra had her back turned while preparing the ointment, but when she turned around—

"Ack! What are you doing?!" she cried, spinning back around.

"I thought I had to get in naked?" Kazuki said, confused.

"Y-Yes! But I still needed to add one more herb! Let me add it before you get in!" Cassandra stammered, her heart pounding.

"Okay, got it," Kazuki said, turning away.

Cassandra approached the tub carefully, doing her best to avoid looking at him. But when she got close... she couldn't help but sneak a peek.

Wow... what a body.

No wonder Misty and Suzie were both so into him.

She took a few deep breaths, dropped in the herb, and quickly backed away.

"Alright, it's ready."

Once she heard the splash of him entering the water, she walked over, ointment in hand.

She began applying it as she had with Misty. "This is where the poison gathers. The medicine will soak in from here."

But this time, her voice trembled more. She stammered as she spoke.

Then came the massage. Kazuki didn't react much—but Cassandra was short-circuiting.

Her mind kept flashing back to what she'd seen earlier. Especially when her hands brushed certain areas...

She caught herself sneaking glances again and again, cheeks burning.

Cassandra! Focus!

She bit her lip, forcing herself to stay present.

"Ahhh... that feels amazing. You're really good at this," Kazuki sighed.

"H-Huh?! A-Ah!!" Cassandra flinched at his sudden praise, hand slipping. She nearly fell into the tub.

Kazuki shot up and caught her just in time.

Their eyes locked for a second. Cassandra saw the entire dragon rising from the sea.

All the calm she'd fought so hard for was shattered.

Her face turned crimson to her ears. She stared for several seconds before jumping back and turning around.

"You... you shouldn't be standing! I'll go get the—uh... the incense!"

Heart pounding, she bolted to the supplies, her uniform stretched so tight over her chest she thought the buttons might pop.

Kazuki chuckled behind her, then settled back into the water.

Outside, Misty and Suzie were eavesdropping.

Suzie looked at Misty knowingly.

"Think he peeked at her body?"

"Definitely. Probably teased her a little, too."

"But not today."

"Huh? Why not?"

"Because the detox drains your energy, duh. I still feel weak from mine!"

"Thank goodness," Suzie sighed.

"Otherwise Kazuki might've made a move on her on day one. Then we'd have no peace for six days!"

Back inside, Cassandra was still trying to catch her breath.

She placed a hand over her chest, feeling her racing heartbeat.

And that was with him not even reacting.

No way.

No way I can handle this. I'll break.

She steadied herself, grabbed the incense, and approached Kazuki again.

She thought she'd composed herself, but as she walked around to light the sticks, she couldn't stop glancing at his body.

Every angle of his muscles burned itself into her brain.

Her steps grew lighter and quicker. Her breathing never calmed.

Focus, Cassandra!

Just a little longer... almost there...

Ugh! I knew I shouldn't have worn these tight pants. They feel so weird now!

Finally, the hour passed. The detox was complete.

Cassandra let out a deep breath and rested for a few minutes before calling out to the door.

"Misty, Suzie, it's done. Come help Kazuki dry off and get dressed!"

Suzie burst in quickly.

Thankfully, Misty had regained her strength. Otherwise, Suzie alone might not have managed to lift him.

They helped Kazuki out of the tub and began drying him off.

Suzie, of course, flushed again when she got a full look. Misty, the old hand, handled the more intimate areas.

Once he was dry, Misty teased, "Kazuki, are you seriously not moving at all right now?"

Kazuki, still catching his breath, chuckled. "You went through this too, didn't you? You should know—it leaves you completely drained."

"Oh yeah?" Misty teasingly pulled down her collar, leaning in so Kazuki could see everything. "Still no reaction?"

Kazuki turned his head, gave her a quick glance, and chuckled.

She leaned in even closer, lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "So... just 'average,' huh?"

"If that was average, I'd be long gone," Kazuki joked.

She glanced down, then added, "Yup, still no response."

"You're seriously tempting fate, you know that?" Kazuki said with a smirk. "You better be ready for what happens next."

Misty stuck out her tongue playfully. "Oops~ I was just curious. You're not gonna hold that against me, right?"

Then, like always, she helped him get dressed—handling his lower half without hesitation.

They'd done this so many times before, it didn't feel awkward at all anymore.

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