"I should teach you how to skate."
"What? Why?"
"Because if you're going to be my sidekick, you gotta be able to skate with me."
Ash knew Korrina was trying to get a reaction out of him. He could see it in her snickering grin, and the way she turned to look at him. It didn't matter though. He was more than happy to oblige.
"Get over here and lemme show you a side I can kick!"
Korrina broke out into a laugh as Ash leapt for her, diving out of the way of his sudden attack. There was no hesitation in the way he moved— If Korrina hadn't dodged, Ash really would've kicked her. He knew she could dodge though. She could always dodge.
"Besides, if anyone here is the sidekick, it's the two-bit Gym Leader who can't stop following me around!" He went a bit meaner with that one, and all of the offense was taken.
"Ohoho? Last I checked it was Mr. Zero-and-Two who asked if his group could join me!" With a spin, Korrina began to skate backwards, facing Ash as the two continued on their way. Ash could tell she was trying to show off, to show him that she could skate and spar.
"Only to help you figure out how Mega Evolution works." Bad move, Ketchum. Never go on the defensive, not around her. You better pivot, fast. "So what's keeping ya! Unless you still got some interest in me."
The cocky grin Ash put on that line seemed to trip Korrina up, as she stumbled for just a moment at his word. Ever the excellent sparring partner, however, she quickly fired back.
"Trust me, Ash, the only thing keeping me from Shalour is how slow your butt is moving." It was a two-fold jab, a partial reference to the foot race he'd lost to her the other day (stupid height advantage) and how many stops and detours Ash's party seemed to be making these days. They were on week two of a four day hike. "But hey, maybe we can make up the difference by getting you some skates."
Like that, their impromptu verbal spar came to an end, wrapped up in a neat bow where it began. Korrina had gotten the last word and had won the game. Another point to her, leaving the score 5-4 in Ash's favor.
"Heh, yeah maybe." Ash's surroundings came back to him at that moment, his attention finally focusing on something beyond the girl walking at his side. The two were trekking through a forest, startling alone considering the party they usually had with them.
Korrina was a fast walker and Ash was never one to be outmatched. So each day, she would forge ahead and he would keep pace. Then the day would end with them waiting around for the rest of the group to catch up. It'd been such a regular occurrence, in fact, that Pikachu and Lucario would stay behind half the time to avoid missing lunch. Today was one such day.
Ash and Korrina were alone.
"I'll say this though, I should teach you how to skate." Hooking her hands behind her head, Korrina broached the subject once again, much to the surprise of Ash. So that wasn't just an excuse to trade barbs. "You'd look good in a pair of skates, I think."
Ah, there it was. The one verbal move Ash had no idea how to respond to. More than any piece of goading or challenging insult, it was lines like that that left Ash without a word to say. Of course, he knew what her words meant, what they implied. He wasn't a kid after all. What he didn't know, was how exactly Korrina expected him to react.
If she was just trying to get a reaction, then he'll just have to play it cool.
He shot her a smile.
"I'll tell you what, show me how to Mega Evolve first, and you can teach me whatever you want."
Korrina seemed pleased with his response.
"We should ditch 'em."
"What, why?"
"Okay, maybe not ditch 'em. Let's just, run ahead, all the way to Shalour."
It was nearly noon, on one of the few days Ash and Korrina had stuck with the main party for lunch. Clemont had needed some wood for the fire and, of course, that instantly turned into a competition for Korrina and Ash. The title of 'most sticks' was firmly in Korrina's hands, whilst Ash was definitely winning in terms of sheer mass.
Yet, it wasn't their rivalry that was on Ash's mind right now, but instead, the absurd suggestion he just heard.
"That, isn't much better."
"Okay it isn't, but come oooon! You guys are so slow. It won't even be that long. Just you and me and our Pokémon, we'll make it to Shalour in like two days and have our gym battle!" In an instant, Korrina dropped her armful of sticks and turned to face Ash. He quickly followed her lead. "Then you can wait six to eight weeks for them to catch up, or whatever."
Ash couldn't help but laugh.
"I'll admit, it is tempting." Despite this not being any slower of a journey then he usually had, Ash could feel the days slip by more and more. They said time flies as you get older, but he expected that to hit when he was 50, not 15. "It'd be nice, to finally start moving at my pace."
"Then let's do it then! You and me! Let 'em go as slow as they want. People like you and me, Ash? We live life in the fast lane!"
As usual, Korrina's electric confidence lit a fire at Ash's feet, warmth spreading to his gut as he turned to face her. More than any other rival, more than any other companion, Korrina was the one that got Ash's heart racing the fastest.
Yet, when he saw the pile of the firewood scattered at their feet, the firewood they were meant to be grabbing for Clemont, he paused. Without saying a word, he shook his head and crouched down to start picking them back up.
"I wanna go, Korrina. I really wanna go, but, I can't. I promised I'd go on this journey with them," he explained, a distinct want in his eyes as he worked. "What kinda friend would I be if I didn't stick by them, like they've stuck by me?"
A moment of silence stood in the forest clearing, before Korrina sighed and knelt down.
"A really crummy one." With a snort and a smile, Korrina joined Ash's side, and collected the firewood again.
"I think, I'm going to leave."
"What, why?"
"I just, need to go."
Night had fallen upon the group's campsite hours ago. Dinner and late night training passed in no time at all. All there was left was actually going to bed, a task neither Ash nor Korrina were feeling up for.
That sat alone together in the warm glow of a smoldering campfire, their only source of light in the cool spring night. Ash had his back up against a log, while Korrina had her head laying there, on his lap.
She looked up at him with eyes that were reserved, and tired.
"What are you talking about, Korrina? We're almost to Shalour!" he exclaimed, sitting forward after Korrina pulled away from him. He watched as she rose to her feet, a warmness left in his legs even as she left him.
"We've been almost to Shalour for days now. Next stop is Avignon town, and who knows how long you guys will get sidetracked there." Stretching out, Korrina gave the campsite a once over. It was like she was looking for something. "Traveling with you Ash, has been amazing. The most fun I've had in years. But… I can't stay at this pace, your pace. I can't handle all this… wandering."
Ash wanted to shout, wanted to say that it wasn't his pace, but the words got caught in his throat. It may not be his pace, but its the pace he went at. The pace he had to go at. Korrina was just too fast for it.
In short order, Korrina packed her things, leaving Ash to just watch as her presence in the campsite slowly faded. Soon it was just her, her backpack at her side and Lucario's Poké ball stowed away in her pocket.
The warm feeling in Ash's legs was beginning to fade. He needed his own fire.
"You and Lucario better keep training then! Or else it won't be fun when we lay you flat!"
Korrina flashed him a familiar grin, as she tossed her bag over her shoulder.
"Trust me, Ketchum. When you finally get your sorry ass to Shalour City, I'm going to rock your world." Her language caught Ash off guard, but he kept his cool all the same.
"We'll see who rocks who, heh." Taking on a more amicable tone, Ash conceded their final spar. Point to Korrina, leaving them tied 7 to 7. They'd just have to break that tie the next time they met. "Until then, yeah?"
Ash offered his hand forward, clearly indicating a friendly handshake he expected from one of his rivals. Korrina looked at his offer and just snorted.
With a sudden jerk, she grabbed Ash by the collar, and pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was sudden and shocking, and Ash stood frozen as his whole body exploded with heat. Even after Korrina had her fill and separated, he didn't have a word for her, just a wide-eyed stare filled with awe.
He blinked as she giggled, the sound coming from her unfamiliar to his ears. He liked it though. He really liked it.
"See you around then?"
"Yeah." Ash shook his head clear, the initial shock passing even as the warmth remained. He wanted to be attentive for this. "See you around."
With that, Korrina turned and started off towards the trail, reaching the clearing's edge before coming to a pause. With a smile and a wink, she shot Ash a thumbs up, one he returned alongside a grin.
And just like that, Korrina slipped off into the night, leaving Ash behind. The air seemed to grow colder in her absence.