A Love -Hate Relationship
31
Kabu, Man of Fire!
A/N: This Fan Fiction is based on the Galar region and games (Sword/Shield) featuring CanonXOC It based on the GAMES and NOT the anime version.
"Anani!" Hop called her name repeatedly.
"Anani, please come back!" said Marnie, "I'm sorry!" she sighed, "These mines can't be that big...can they?" Marnie sighed, "Where can she be?"
"Hey...Marnie?" Hop spoke softly, "I think...you should go on ahead." he said to her.
"What?" Marnie blinked, "But...Hop..."
"Look..." he said, "There's no telling how long it will take to find Anani." he said, "You shouldn't delay yourself..." he said, "So you should go ahead and get your third badge."
"But what about you, Hop?" said Marnie, "You and Anani are challengers too, and If I go and you stay then you will be delaying your chances." she said.
"Then so be it..." said Hop as he clenched his fists. Of course he wanted to be Champion...but Anani was more important to him than some title.
"I won't leave here without her." he said.
Marnie blinked for a while and let out a soft sigh with a ender smile as she rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Anani is lost in here because of me and my bad jests." said Marnie, "The least I can do...is help to find her too."
"Marnie..." Hop blinked and returned a softened smile,"...Thank you." he said softly placing his hand on top of hers and giving it a warm squeeze of gratitude. She returned his smile when suddenly something caught her attention in the distant shadows.
"Hop...look!" said Marnie, "It's Bede..." she said, "And look...he's carrying..." She blinked as she tried to get a better look and gasped softly, "He's got Anani!"
"What!?" Hop blinked and felt himself weaken in relief as he ran to meet with Bede. The curly haired individual blinked a few times and sighed.
There are her friends...
He thought to himself and sighed in relief.
"Anani!" Hop called to her but she was out cold, "What happened?" he asked.
"She's stunned." said Bede.
"Stunned?" asked Marnie.
Bede nodded.
"Her ankle looks like its bleeding..." said Marnie.
"Yeah..." said Bede, "I wrapped it up when she passed out the first time from the pain and shock..."
"Right proper job you did then." said Hop with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "She's already passed out twice with you!? Are you mad or what!?" Bede twitched.
"Oi! I never said I was a nurse!" he huffed, "This is rather tough talk for someone she ran away from-!"
"Wh-That's not-" Hop stammered.
"-You know, if you're that worried," said Bede, "Then maybe you can try helping rather than running your mouth!" he grunted, "She's a dead weight when she's asleep!"
"What's all this ruckus?" an older gentleman sounded from the darkness and slowly came into view.
"Ah...Y-You're Kabu!" said Hop, "The Gym leader of Motostoke-!"
"Please!" Bede stepped forward before Hop could fully finish speaking, "Please, please help us!" he said.
"I heard screaming..." said Kabu, "It was disturbing the Poke'mon so I rushed over to what the cause was." he stated, "What's going on?"
"It's this girl here." he said, "She was stunned... she stepped on a Stunfisk and it bit her..."
Kabu's eyes went wide.
"That's not good." he said as he leaned over to check her state, "How long has it been,"
"Over an hour or so..." said Bede, "I managed to stifle the pain but the stun hasn't worn off." he said, "She's been in and out of consciousness since then..."
"That might be the best thing for her until it wears off." said Kabu, "Still that doesn't make this situation any less dire." he blinked, "Stunfisk are dangerous...they hide themselves in the ground and leap out on unsuspecting prey...We must hurry." he said, "We should get her to the Poke'mon center and into a proper bed to rest."
"Thank you, sir..." Said Hop.
With Kabu's guidance, the lot all managed to make it out to safety into the cool air of the night.
"You're gonna be all right...Anani..." Bede gave a small chuckle in relief as he looked up to the stars, that soon got blocked out by Hop's shadow.
"Look..." Hop said softly, "You...have my thanks for helping Anani." he said, "I can take her now..." he said and offered his open arms, "You needn't...waste your time with us anymore..." Hop said with a bit of contempt.
"It's all right." said Bede, "I've got her."
"What?" Hop seemed confused by this, "But you hardly know her, let alone care why are you insisting?" he asked, "I know you're in the Gym Challenge too, I'll can take responsibility of her while you continue." he stated, "I know that's what you want anyway-"
"Truly? Am I the one who doesn't know her?" Bede asked the sting seem to twinge in Hop.
"You think you know her better than me?" he asked.
"Can't say." Bede blinked, "But then how much can one really say they know of a person they've only been around for a month?"
Hop twitched.
"You..." Hop blinked, "...How do you know that...?"
"When one is in panic...talking helps calm the nerves." said Bede, "It seems Anani can be a bit of a Motor Mouth when she's in such a state..."
"Gh..." Hop growled lightly and began to tighten his fists.
"Look." said Bede, "It's probably best not to move her too much until she's seen by a doctor." said Bede, "So...just this once...I'll do you lot a favor." he scoffed.
"But-"
"I've got her." Said Bede, his violet eyes sharp and intense, silencing Hop immediately while he moved on ahead to catch up to Kabu.
"Hop..." Marnie said softly gently squeezing his shoulder, "If he insists...just let him carry her." she said, "He's probably right anyway...she could have more Paralysis venom and if we move her around too much it could mess her up."
Hop gritted his teeth. His fists clenched and tightened until they began to tremble and he heaved a heavy sigh before releasing them.
"Fine..." he said softly, "Let's go..."
"Continue on down this way." said Kabu as he pointed down the road not far from from the mines, "There's a Poke'mon center straight down that way, get her there quickly."
"Thank you, Mr. Kabu sir!" said Hop, both he and Marnie bowing politely before rushing to keep up with Bede, who wasted no time waiting on them.
XXXXX
Hop Layed the sleeping Anani down gently in her bed at the Budew Drop Inn after insisting he be the one to take her back once she was cleared by Nurse Joy.
"Nurse Joy says all we can do is let her rest now." said Marnie, "We got her there just in time..."She glanced over at Bede, "Thanks for your help and all." she said to him.
"Hmph." he shrugged and didn't respond with much of anything else.
"We should go to bed too, Hop." said Marnie, "We ought to be well rested if we want a Hope's chance against Kabu tomorrow."
He hung silently over her Anani's bed and gently stroked her limp hand while she slept. Marnie sighed and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Nurse Joy said she's gonna be just fine." said Marnie, "She just needs to rest now...and so do you."
"Aye..." Hop sighed, "You're right." he blinked, "I'm cream-crackered...I'm for heading to my own room for some sleep as well."
"As am I." aid Marnie, "Good night, Hop."
"You as well." said Hop, "Thank you for your help."
He passed by Bede with a look. It was a mix of contempt, annoyance and a twinge of envy as he nodded his head in thanks to the trainer and passed him by to the room next door.
To Be Continued