A Love -Hate Relationship

26

I Swear By the Light House

A/N: This Fan Fiction is based on the Galar region and games (Sword/Shield) featuring CanonXOC

That night as they slept soundly in the Poke'mon Center's offered beds, Anani dreamed of Bede. Rather...she replayed through the encounter that they shared back at the mines.

"Don't mention it...ever!"

That's what he said but...

She sighed.

I don't know...Maybe I should have said something to him anyway when I saw him again...

It'd be rude not to, wouldn't it?

She sighed once again. She could no longer sleep. As she opened her eyes she noticed that it was actually early morning. Looking around to check on her mates, they were both still sleeping soundly.

Best not to wake them up right now...

She thought to herself and made her way outside for some salty air. As she stretched her arms to the sun the breeze blew cold around her. The Wingulls cried high in the sky and the smell of the ocean was so much stronger now that its crashing waves were up against the cliffsides of the city.

Bede...

She thought to herself.

I wonder how you're doing...

"Hm?" she blinked as a small crowd had gathered not far from the Poke'mon center. She rubbed her eyes so that they could adjust to the morning light and better make out who it was for. It was none other than Chairman Rose. And with him was...

"Bede!" she gasped, and quickly trotted over for a closer look.

"Our sincerest apologies...but the Chairman is quite busy at this time." a woman stepped forward and started gently guiding the gathering people back, "Everyone, please disperse!" she said, "Please leave now!"

Though Rose didn't seem all too thrilled to lose the attention of his adoring fans.

"N-No need to rush off! I can still do more autographs!" he stated before falling into a heavy sigh and turning toward the Woman that rushed them away.

"Oleana..." he sighed, "You know we need the support of our fans to keep doing what we're doing." he explained, "Chasing them off like that, aren't you being a bit too harsh?"

"Fans are very important, of course." said the woman called Oleana,"That's why you need to keep doing your work!" she stated, "For their sake!"

Though from Anani's perspective it looked more like the woman called Oleana was being jealous of the fangirls that surrounded him. Not that she knew much about love herself. She blinked as she noticed Bede was also standing by with patience behind the Chairman.

"I promise to do everything in my power to assist you too, Chairman!" Bede finally stepped forward and spoke up and the Chairman turned toward him with a curious expression.

"Oh." Rose blinked, "And you were...?"

"Uh..." bede blinked, "I-I'm Bede, sir..."

Anani twitched as she watched this and clenched her chest. Even she felt that sting.

"I was endorsed by the Chairman himself!"

That's what he said...but...

She watched heavily. Bede claimed to have been endorsed by him, but he didn't really seem to notice Bede at all...and it kind of made Anani hurt a little inside...with a familiar pain she couldn't quite peg.

"That's right-Bede!" said Rose, "I daresay I'm impressed with how far you've come since I gave you that Poke'mon all those years ago."

It was in this moment that Bede smiled.

It was a warm tender smile that made Anani's own heart flutter. It was a smile she has known herself to wear too...whenever she looked at Hop.

I see...So the Chairman is the reason Bede is a Trainer today...

Anani thought to herself.

That means he's kind of like me then...

She blinked.

He doesn't want to let the Chairman down the same way I don't want to let Hop down since he gave me MY first Poke'mon...

She smiled as she held Punkoon's Poke'ball tenderly in her hand and stroked it with her thumb.

Still though...

She thought.

I wonder what Bede's story is that brought him around to the Chairman in the first place...?

"Will you be the one to win the Gum Challenge Bede?" Rose blinked, "I wonder...or perhaps it may be one of the challengers endorsed by the Champion..." he pondered as his eyes gazed over the area where Anani caught his attention.

"Ah! Like that one!" he grinned and waved her over.

"What!?" Bede blinked and a soft gasp escaped as he noticed Anani standing there.

"Don't be shy, dear, come on up here and join us!"

"Ah..." Anani blushed, "Uhm...Yes sir..." She gulped and slowly stepped forward into the group, Bede however, though in shock, was not amused and he gave a silent scoff as he folded his arms.

"You're Anani, right?" Rose asked, "One of the two trainers endorsed by the Champion!"

"Yes, that's right." Anani nodded, "Hop is here too he's just sleeping right now."

"Ah I see...well. No need to wake him up then." he chuckled.

"Hmph." Bede snorted, "Careful he doesn't sleep his way through the competition..." he muttered.

"Come now, Bede! Rest is just as important to a Trainer as winning is." Rose chuckled.

"Well I assure you, Sir~ I will prove to you that your faith in me is well placed!" said Bede,"...I won't lose to anyone." he said this as he shot a sharp look at Anani who only blinked silently and looked away awkwardly with a slight color to her cheeks," Anyway...I'll be on my way now." he stated as he ran his fingers through his hair and swayed away.

"Ah-hey wait-Bede-!" But he was already too far ahead of her to hear. That, or he was just plainly ignoring her. She couldn't tell which.

"HaHa. Purely determined that one is, huh?" Rose smiled before glancing over to Anani, "Admittedly though, I am curious about Leon's reason for endorsing you." he stated, "Here's an idea!" he said, "You will be facing Nessa soon for you second Gym Badge, am I right?" he asked.

"Well...yes." Anani nodded, "Of course I gotta go put my registration in first for later today."

"Well if you get a Gym Badge from her, then I'll hold a Celebration! he said, "I'd like to get to know you a little better after all~"

"Oh...really?" Anani blinked,"Uhm...What about Hop?" she asked, "We're traveling together you see and we have another Challenger with us named Marnie..."

"Oh, you have travel companions do you?" he asked, "Well why not bring them too!" he chuckled, "Perhaps even Bede will join us...if he's still present in the city, I know he's well on his way in The Gym Challenge too."

"Chairman, sir, we should really be going..." said Oleana.

"Yes, I suppose you're right." said Rose with a sigh,"Anani, be sure to do your best for teh sake of Galar's future!"

"Yes sir!" said Anani as she waved while he walked away.

"The Chairman will be hosting a meal at this Town's local seafood restaurant." said Oleana,"You and your friends should meet us there after your Challenge with Nessa today.

"Understood." said Anani,"See you soon then."

XXXXX

While Anani waited around for the Gym to Open up for registration she wandered to the Light House nearby. She figured she'd enjoy the view from there for a while until it opened, and then go wake her traveling companions for registration of the day's challenges. However she wasn't the only one there...

"Bede!" she called out to the familiar curly haired individual.

"You again?" he scoffed as he turned his attention to her, "What are you doing here!? Haven't I see you enough today?"

"Well apparently not." said Anani,"Chairman Rose invited us to join him at the restaurant today after our challenge..." she blinked, "I'm just waiting for the Gym to open up...it's still kinda early.

"He did WHAT!?" Bede huffed, "Oh, brilliant! So not only must I deal with you, but your little posse too!" he sighed stubbornly crossing his arms as he overlooked the sea.

"Well whatever. Just make sure you and your little friends don't do anything stupid to humiliate the Chairman, will you!?"

"We're not all that bad, you know..." Anani chuckled.

"Hmph. I'll believe it when I see it." he stated. A long silence settled between them. It was awkward, but some how, not in an uncomfortable way.

"So..." Bede was the first to break it,"...How's your ankle?" he asked.

"Huh?" Anani blinked. She was stunned to see he was curious about it. More than that, that he cared to show concern for her.

"Oh...it's loads better now." she answered, "I owe you one."

"Don't bother." he stated, "Nothing from you could possibly be worthwhile."

She sighed.

"But you know..." she blinked curiously,"...I thought you didn't want to mention it?"

"Hmph." he snorted, "I told you not to mention it." he stated,"I didn't say anything about bringing it up myself."

"No...I guess not." she chuckled softly and even Bede, while giving her a sideways glance, managed to crack a bit of a smile. The two stood in silence once more. It was a comfortable kind of silence. The kind of pleasant feeling you get just knowing you're not alone. That there's another person in the silence with you. Even as you each mind your own...it's still nice.

"You know..." he said softly, "The gym ought to be open by now." he stated, "You better go register otherwise you might not get in today."

"But what about you, Bede?" Anani blinked, "Don't you need to challenge Nessa too?"

"Me? I Challenged Nessa yesterday." he stated as he pulled out his badge ring, "I won of course! See?" he held it up to her and indeed there were two shiny Gym Badges locked in place.

"Amazing...!" Anani said in a soft gasp.

"Naturally~" said Bede as he stepped back and ran his fingers through his hair, "I'm off to get ready for today's luncheon." he stated, "As for you..." he blinked, "You be sure not to lose to anyone else...you got that!?" he huffed,"...Not until I've beaten you flat! Ta~" he waved his farewell as he walked off.

"Hey, wait-" once again he was gone.

Was that his way of...wishing me luck?

She blinked.

"Anani!" Hop's familiar call pulled her attention and she found he and Marnie calling her from the top of the steps, so she ran to greet them.

"We're all registered for today's battle with Nessa!" Marnie, "If you don't get a rush on, you'll miss your chance!"

"Not to worry." said Anani,"I was on my way to do that now anyway!"

"By the way..." Hop blinked, "Who were you talking to?"

"Huh?"

"We heard you say something like 'Hey! Wait!' but when Hop and I looked to see who you were calling, we didn't see anyone." said Marnie.

"Oh...I see." Anani blinked as she glanced back by the light house.

"Hmm...I guess I wasn't talking to anyone then." she shrugged with a chuckle as she walked between them, each of them exchanging a curious look with the other as they watched her walk toward the Gym. But she did glance back at that light house once more...

"I won't lose to anyone!"

I swear to you, by that light house...

She thought to herself.

I won't lose to anyone either...Bede.

XXXXX

As the three friends walked away together for their Gym match registration, a person stood watch from the shadows of the light house. Bede smirked as he watched the three of them wander off together. But only one of the three had his attention.

Don't you dare lose to anyone...

He thought to himself as he focused hard on the wine colored hair of the girl in the center while it swayed with her motion in the ocean wind.

Not until I've beaten you flat!

To Be Continued...