"No." Rex said, though he immediately grimaced. "Yes."

Still, he didn't shy away from the waves that lapped at their feet, at their legs, at their waists. It was by that point that Rex turned to her, concerned that they would soon have to float to stay above the waves, relying on the buoyancy of salt water to stay afloat in such pristine waters.

"Sorry, I should've told you, but..." He reddened as she started working on his shirt with surprising fervor, and he quickly moved to shimmy from it. A few cuts revealed themselves, though Rex did his hardest to put on a brave face for Keiko. "...you were excited. I didn't want to ruin the moment."

A lot of wounds marked him. Many were old. Scuffles with wild Pokémon, reminders of Littleroot, a few from wrestling Pokémon at Sea Mauville.

"But I'm fine." He wrapped his fingers around her hand and squeezed tightly. "Seriously."

The waves lapped shortly after, and he tensed slightly at the sting of salt.

---

keiko mori

Time froze as she took the initiative. He didn't mind that. Her mouth tasted like Pinap as well. He didn't mind that sensation either.

In fact, Rex thought it improved her. It fit her. Delicious, yet biting when the opportunity presented itself. She was at her best like this, with her gaze ahead and a purpose before her. When Keiko had control over the situation, she shined. When she had control over him, she shined even brighter.

Rex wanted to see her blind him, but he wouldn't let her beat him that easily.

This contest was not yet over.

"I'd hate to see you covered in dirt and blood." Though he didn't hate that aesthetic either. How had she found a way to stun him, even when her hands were covered in his blood? It was a deranged thought, but he had never been particularly reasonable. That was Keiko's job, but even then...

"Don't worry." He kissed her lightly. "I'm an adult. I can handle some salt."

Famous last words. He unsteadily rose to his feet with the courier's help.

"Come on."

---

keiko mori

As expected, Rex opened his mouth.

"That's not-MMPH!" She pushed a chunk of Pinap past his lips, almost causing him to choke. Keiko looked remarkably pleased with that little gambit, especially as she started to clean his wounds. Each time she did so, he twitched slightly in recoil. Eventually, the pain became a constant companion, and he did not recoil from its touch.

Nor did he recoil from hers.

It didn't stop him from looking embarrassed as she moved his face around. He looked terrible.

After a moment of chewing, he finally swallowed and glared at her. "You're so cruel."

He pouted for a moment.

"You're good at this. Your guild taught you how to dress a wound, then? Not a bad skill to have. I approve." He shivered as she wiped his face, leaving only the fainted imprint that blood had once stained his skin. He would've threatened to fuss, if not for the fact that she was working. "You'll get dirty if you keep doing that."

---

keiko mori

"But the Gogoat... are they okay?" Nearby, Gogoat demurely chewed on a few leaves and berries, before snorting at them. Rex immediately relaxed. "That's good."

Immediately, the rush began to slow down and become as tranquil as a lake. Yet that tranquility was stabbed through with bites of pain and needles of aches. That Pangoro had roughed him up pretty good, all things considered. He would've won in the end, but Keiko's order had saved the day in the end.

Another debt.

Another thing owed.

"Fine. You win." The words came begrudgingly. He hated losing as much as she did, but a loss offered room for improvement. Either her words were getting stronger or he was getting weaker. Both were unnerving. "Gallade, keep an eye out for that Pangoro. Bring Gogoat back to camp. You know the way?"

The Gallade nodded once, then twice.

"Good. Off you go." When the two disappeared, Rex's head turned back to Keiko. "Help me? It's hard to move."

---

keiko mori

Luckily for them both, he wasn't concussed. He was just an idiot, but Keiko already knew that from the origin for this entire escapade.

Most of what had occurred over the past day had been because of his odd nature clashing with hers. One would've called it a disfunctional relationship. Rex would've called it a very functional partnership. They hadn't killed each other yet, though it was likely that this Pangoro would.

"A leash? Do I look like a dog?" Rex grinned, delirium flickering through his pupils. "Don't worry. It's an easy match. Eh, Gallade? We're gonna become Top Champions together, right?"

In the midst of clashing blows, Gallade nodded once, before attempting to push the bear away with his mind. The bear's Dark-type protected it, but Gallade simply pushed it back with a mighty Force Palm. A Moonblast emerged between the knight's hands, before firing out towards the Pangoro.

"When I make it to Ever Grande, I'd really like it if you were there." He wiped a red scratch on his cheek. "With me."

As Keiko suggested, the Pangoro was sent flying by the mental attack.

---

keiko mori

There were many trails on the island, forgotten to time and overgrown with age and a lack of people to traverse them. Perhaps people had lived on the island years ago, or perhaps it was simply a series of paths walked by the wild Pokémon that populated this lonely stretch of land.

Eventually, Keiko would find marks on trees, freshly carved into the bark as a reminder. They were remarkably similar to those on the young man's Gallade, a loyal knight that followed his foolish lord to the ends of the earth.

Eventually, the distant sounds of his voice rang out, whispering through the trees.

"Leave Gogoat alone!" The sound of blade meeting bark and flesh erupted, followed by a ferocious roar. The skittish grumble of a Gogoat quickly followed. "Fight me instead!"

The trees parted to a clearing where Rex and Gallade faced a giant Pangoro, the young man's body scratched and bleeding as he grinned up at the giant bear. Gallade quickly crossed the distance with an Agility while the Pangoro released a Breaking Swipe.

Gallade dodged. Rex was not so lucky.

"Guh!" He slammed into a tree, grunting as he wiped his mouth. "Not bad."

---

keiko mori

As soon as Keiko mentioned the card game's principle, Rex raised an eyebrow. What principle did card games even offer, besides entertainment? He couldn't comprehend her logic. She baffled him.

It wasn't the first time. It wouldn't be the last.

"Yeah, I did. And I'll do it again!" He said boldly, before poking a thumb at his chest. "Plus I didn't see you complaining when I did it."

Maybe he did need to drink something. When was the last time either of them had water? A day, most likely. They needed to find a more sustainable source of water, like berries or whatnot. It meant that Rex's goals had a greater purpose. Besides, Keiko needed a few moments to fume in silence.

"Be back in a minute!"

That had been several hours ago.

---

keiko mori

"Right on!" Rex clapped the princess on the shoulder as he meandered around the room, poking at people. Togepi followed as well, tapping individuals with a Life Dew or a lucky Metronome to heal their wounds.

It did not take long for the Sea Mauville workers to be healed between the duo.

"Had to teach Togepi a healing move at some point. Glad I did. Got really sick of stubbing my toe, but I'm glad that it has other uses as well."

It was hard to tell if the Littleroot civilian was joking or not. He laughed and joked with an engineer as he helped them to their feet. He gave Elise a smile as they hobbled towards the door.

"I'm gonna get this one to the top. Says he's the 'chief engineer of this deck', so I bet Ollie will want to see him. Think you can make sure everyone else gets up safely?"

---

Elise Calcifet

"Oh yeah?" His gaze grew mischievous as she rose to challenge him. "You must really like this card game, then."

He'd have to improve at it in order to beat her. All of the best trainers had rivals, so all the best card game players had them too, Rex reasoned. It had been a long road of stomping children and weaker players, but now that Keiko had reached the top, she needed that competition.

He could understand that.

"But tell me, Keiko. Why can't I go find him? Leave the camp, go off on my own..." Rex smirked smugly at her as he crossed his arms. "Could it be that you'll miss me?"

Either that, or Keiko would move mountains to see justice done for her precious game of Yung-i-oh.

---

keiko mori

He senses the blade before it falls. Slow motion. Quiet. Silent. Uproarious. It sounds like a guillotine. Yet as it prepared to free his head from his shoulders, Rex fell back, pushed by Hoenn's Head Ranger.

"YOU-"

Unfortunate. He was prepared to go out in the way of the warrior, as long as there was a cry of triumph on his lips and the blaze of glory in his heart. Instead, another's blood fell to the ground in drops of red. Rex watched them as they fell.

It would've turned to indignation, if not for the matter at hand.

"I'm good. You're not." Rex said, clearly irritated. The Empoleon blinked drowsily, before falling into a heap. Immediately, Rex's Gallade sheathed his blades. There was no honor in defeating the dreaming.

'Toge.' Togepi waddled towards the sleeping penguins, before tapping one on the body. 'Pi!'

All of the Empoleon teleported away, and Rex turned to face the Head Ranger.

"I had 'em, you know. It was a good fight." Rex huffed, crossing his arms as he did so. Though his eyes widened as he recognized Ollie. "Wait... I know you."

---

ollie morales

Another thing that Rex had learned on the island: Keiko Mori was adorable when she pouted.

"Now?" Beyond distracting the courier from ripping the island asunder, there was still much to do. There were supplies to stack, foodstuffs to acquire, and materials to accumulate. Pelipper was... somewhere. If push came to shove, Rex could try to use Togepi and teleport to Dewford, but he didn't want to risk Togepi's health.

Besides, he didn't want to leave Keiko alone. Not now.

"I'm gonna chase down Gogoat." He didn't move for a moment, before standing up. "To make sure he's okay."

Gogoat was likely fine, but there was no use in alienating one of the only allies they had on this island. Especially since Rex had gotten oddly attached to the Pokémon. Maybe it was a sunk cost fallacy, or maybe it was a desire to see Keiko pout more. Either way, he was going to find the goat.

"And you." He poked her in the chest. "Are going to be good and apologize to him when I get back."

---

keiko mori

"Ha..." They broke apart, gasping for air. Their lips were mere centimeters apart as he took several quick breaths, drinking in the air and her scent. "Ha..."

This was such a meaningless thing. It was an encounter that had been dictated by sheer misfortune and poor luck. There was no Almighty Sinnoh that had deemed this meeting need happen, nor would it care to intervene. Dialga did not care, and it did not will time stop just so they could kiss.

But maybe... Rex thought as he leaned in to kiss her again. ...there's something else out there. Not Dialga. Not Palkia. But something.

Her faith was, strangely enough, a comforting thing.

"Hey." He brushed a pink strand of hair behind her ear, his own hair an utter mess from earlier today. How did she keep it so smooth on a deserted island? Their entrapment felt like a distant memory, now. His smile mirrored her own, and he was flushed with embarrassment.

"Still mad?"

---

keiko mori

Gogoat had fled, but the goat's daring escapade was hardly relevant. Instead, Rex felt the flicker of satisfaction at having bested Keiko in allowing the criminal to escape. Not that the poor goat was one, but Keiko was acting as the judge and executioner.

It was Rex's obligation to be the jury. Her jury.

"No. You're not." Another obstacle, yes. But he was one that she would not be allowed to overcome. "And I think it means a lot. You try to solve everything. You always have a plan. A purpose. A sense of control that guides you."

His hand forced Keiko to look at him. His eyes flickered uncertainly, before he smiled mischievously.

"I want that." A soft whisper, his lips brushing against her ear as he shoved against him. "That drive of yours."

So he did the only logical thing: he kissed her.

---

keiko mori