Welcome to Gaia! ::

f he was being honest with himself he would have been surprised by her almost eager acceptance of moving from point a to his point b. The excitement that gurgled beneath the surface of his evergoing calm outward appearance was lighting up his eyes. Maji was excited to show her the prize that he had constructed, it was just for them. Something that would help to build their future and stabalize an idea that he wasn't going anywhere all in fell swoop - he wasn't foolish enough to think that it would repair all of the damage, but baby steps were in order.

"Okay, I need you to close your eyes and trust me." There would be multiple tests, ones that he hadn't considered difficult and yet they might be for her. "If you're okay with it." He asked instead of gingerly dancing around her comfort. It was important to him that she enjoy everything and although she was a usually confident lioness in his eyes he could see that she was vulnerable. "I promise that you'll like what you'll see when you open them again, it's only a few steps away now." He was smiling largely while stopping her and encouraging her to close those big beautiful eyes.

The surprise was perfect. He'd listened to the advice of a few more experienced Bumani and heeded the likes and dislikes of his beloved. He made her a home. The den was big enough for a family, one he hoped to create with Yukio one day. If she chose not to marry then he would eventually collect enough gems and rocks to fill the place, but he hoped with every fibre of his being that she'd cave once she saw it.

With every step that she took with him a little part of her fear shredded away. After all, he had clearly put so much time, effort, and care into this presentation even before her massive mental break down. It meant a great deal to her, not just because she was possibly receiving some great material item, but because it was proof of how much he truly loved her.

She only hoped that she could set aside her own demons to look at the wondrous man in front of her without clouded judgement. It would be one of the most difficult challenges for her to date.

"Alright, alright." She replied, one of her eyebrows cocked in mild amusement. "Just make sure you don't lead me into a wall, please. I don't think a broken nose is what this day really needs to end on." They had already traveled far across the Bahari's sandy beaches from her initial hiding spot, she recognized this area as being a new hot spot for new homes and growing families from her time spent building all of the new dens for said families! She had to wonder what exactly he had in mind with this area? Surely he wasn't planning on gifting her a home, or possibly a new work shop, was he? It seemed excessive to her that one person would go so far out of their way to craft something so grand for another!

Ah, well...she supposed the only way to find out what he had in store for her was to follow his demands. She trusted him more than her life, she had also trusted him with her heart. A few guided steps in darkness would be nothing.

Taking in a deep breath Yukio rolled her shoulders, working out the tension that had built up in them throughout this emotional day as she closed her eyes. Keeping her head up high she quickly synced herself to Maji's stride, following along obediently.

"Maji...?" She called out, her ears swirling forward to inspect any and all sounds around them. "Can I open my eyes now?"

Once she had accepted her fate leading her towards the end goal was easy and as promised it was a short trip. Soon his paw steps halted and he encouraged her to do the same. They had stopped just in front of a fairly wide mouthed den that he had worked to the bone for. "We narrowly avoided a few dangerous sections and have finally made it to our destination, with noses in tact I might add!" He boasted happily in a light and airy tone. "You may open your eyes." He said as the nerves began to catch up with him. Perhaps he should have taken his own advice?

The den behind him was plain, but warm. It featured a wide mouth opening with subtle plant features that he had learned to make especially for their home. "It's nothing too special, but it's something I wanted us to have so that we could move right away." He smiled to her. This was the proposal he had been planning. Fireflies were to be lit in small jars and placed about to light up a path towards the home, large palm leaves should have been organized in a path on the ground, and so much more. But they were small details he would have had to over look for the time being.
"It doesn't feature much in the way of personality yet, but that's where we come in - together." He turned his back to her to face the home and begin painting a picture. "The entrance will be covered in flowers during various season, there will be a palm bed or two - for us and the family." He smiled warmly back at her before turning to gaze at their home. "We shall have plenty of objects scattered about the place and a seating area for your family to visit - mine too." He sighed softly and turned back to face her. "They will want to come and see us, and our cubs too." He was fixated on starting a family with her.

"No matter what has happened in your past I want to help you see our future." He wasn't discounting what had happened, but he wanted to help her move on. "This home will be for us to overcome your fears. Some will be harded than others, but I'll be by your side for it all. Same as Ume, Zuberi and our friends. You will never be alone Yukio. Even if that means we don't get married today, tomorrow, or never - you will never be left to feel the way you felt before ever again."

There were the tears again - darn it. If the twins spied the antics he was sure he would get an earful later.

She couldn't help but burst into a fit of giggles at his light hearted joke. He always knew just what to say to make her feel better. Honestly, how could anyone say gloomy and sad around this beautiful dork?

Her dork. Her rock.

Wrinkling her nose a true, beaming grin broke out on her face. "I don't know, are you quite sure my nose didn't get possibly stolen along the way? It's hard to tell with closed eyes." She jested back, her tone finally lighter and airier, almost like it was back to normal, though in the back of it the still unmistakable harsh wheeze of a stuffy nose and worn throat gave away her previous breakdown.

Her stomach was once again churning, though not in disgust this time, but in excitement as butterflies tickled her insides. This was it, she didn't know what to expect when she opened her eyes but she knew deep down that it would be wonderful.

When she finally opened her large emerald eyes they immediately whelped up with tears once more. Her gaze flickered around as she rushed to take in all of the sights at once. From the warm colored walls, to the carefully crafted adornments that lined the walls.

"It's perfect," She thought out loud. On it's own her body strode forward, stepping just into the large entrance way of the den. With a shaky paw she tenderly lifted it to the wall, gently rubbing it as if she had to make sure that it was indeed real.

A home. Not just any home her - no - their home. Gods above, she could hardly believe it was real!

Her head shook softly as she finished taking in the wondrous sight before her as Maji described the future he had envisioned for the both of them in this home. It felt like it was too much, like she didn't deserve this. She honestly didn't know what she had done to deserve such a blessing to not only know Maji but...to love and be loved back in return by him.
If there was ever a moment to describe a out of body experience she was sure that this would have been the perfect example. It was so surreal to see this lovingly built piece of art in front of her.

More importantly though...she was amazed at his show of affection, trust, and a true want to plan a future together and keep it.

"I-I never thought I would ever have a permanent home. Even living here I mostly flutter between my aunt's den and my own little working space." Yukio confessed as her glazed over eyes stared off into the deeper depths of the den, taking a detailed mental image of the sight. "I have had visions all my life that plague my dreams of terrible things." Letting out a slight sigh she quickly used the back of her paw to wipe away the tears that were free-flowing now. "Yet...oh gods this is so much more than what I could have ever envisioned!"

Turning around to face him a soft, yet warm smile lit up her face. "Oh Maji.." She coo'd under her breath. Seeing him standing there, nervously waiting for her reply to all of this lit up her heart on fire.

How could she deny her soulmate anything? How could she deny that this was what destiny had in store for her?

"Maji, come here and join me? I want to do this right."

Emotions were running rampant in the look on her face as she finally opened those brilliant emerald eyes to take a first peek at what might be their future. Their laughter at small jokes had been brief, but enough to take the emotional edge off, which in turn made the next few moments easier and much happier.

It's perfect.

Time seemed to stand still for him as he heard the words from her lips, he had said it himself a number of times during the building process, but hadn't been sure. Now that he was seeing it with her he could see the perfection she talked about. It was their perfect little piece of the coast, their home. He stood still for a moment and allowed the pale lioness her time to absorb the space he'd chosen for them. Silently he hoped that she wasn't just putting on a show and accepting it because he wanted her too, but then again he had seen her emotional rollercoaster - there was no way this was fake.
"Well I'm glad you approve." He purred his satisfaction to her as she gushed over the build. Admitting her fears seemed to come easy to her as they travelled down this path of openness and eventual union. "I'll admit that I was worried for a moment." Had he already admitted that? Maji was losing focus on the past fairly quickly with so much in the future for them now. His eyes lit up and his own, much smaller, fears were washed away as she encouraged him to join her.

"Of course, my love."

Deep brown eyes were glued to the lioness as he approached her and took his place in front of her. This was what he had imagined would have happened. Not the way it happened in front of her parents. If he had had time to think on it he would have been infuriated by Zuberis inability to keep quiet, but he hadn't had the chance and so the feelings never fully grew. Instead he was focused on his mate to be with such intensity that he lost sight of everything around him.

"Yukio. The most beautiful lioness, most precious individual, you have so much to offer this world and so much to offer me." Were the tears starting again? Or had they ever stopped, he couldn't tell. "We've been together through so much and I wouldn't have expected today to go any differently." He laughed fondly. "I think that is what first drew me to you, even as cubs, I could sense the roller coaster ride you could provide. I mean that in a nice way - not the way it came out." His eyes grew widely as he realized how poorly that might have come across. "To say it simply, I love you." He smiled warmly. "Will you, Yukio, do me the honor of marrying me?" He finally got to it, finally was able to ask properly and it was as though a weight lifted from his shoulders. He sighed softly and waited, feeling much more confident than he had before.

"I'm sorry for giving you such a scare." She replied sincerely. The last thing that she had wanted to do was pass off her stress, anxiety, and fear off onto anyone, least of all the man that she loved!

Plunking down onto her rump so she could be closer to his eye-level Yukio's face lit up with a glowing smile, underneath all of her fur her cheeks were flushed bright red. Though her eyes were still glistening with tears, they shone with absolute love and affection as Maji made his way to meet her. This moment might not have been what he was planning, nor was it anything that most normal people would wish as their official proposal, but for them? It was fitting. Their life had been insane and unpredictable ever since the very first day they met, it should have been no surprise that this important moment would be no different.

"This will certainly be a story to tell the grand-kids." She lightly jested as he finally stood in front of her. Oh boy, if he thought the waterworks were on before he hadn't seen anything yet! With a loud sniffle Yukio's lips quivered as she desperately tried to keep her emotions in check during his loving speech
How could she respond to that? How could she seriously top that!? Well, here went the good olde college try!

Letting out a long breath out to regain her senses, her paws hovered over to his, wrapping around them in a tender embrace. "Maji, my rock, my most precious friend, the light of my life." She could go on all night with the varies titles that she had for him. But there was one that stood out to her, "The most important person in my life."

With a small giggle she scooted closer, lowering her head to press her forehead against his. "You are by far the best thing I have ever tripped over in my life, I would gladly do it all over again a thousand times just to share this crazy ride with you. And I know that we have many, many more fun-filled years ahead of us. There will be challenges, ups and downs, and perhaps even some new faces coming into our lives but...there's no one else I want by my side through it all. So, Maji,"

There was a pause as she let out the breath that she didn't realize that she had been holding out. This was it. No turning back.

"Yes, I will marry you. I love you so much, Maji. Nothing would make me happier than to have the honor of calling myself your wife."

"You had better be sorry." He gave a small chuckle, then his eyes widened at the small joke she made as she scooted closer for a more intimate moment with him. "Whoa, whoa.. I'm only promising children." Wide brown eyes suggested that he fully realized where this was headed, but they were still bright with excitement at the prospect. Cubs, grand-cubs and heck great grand-cubs were definitely in their sights now. Especially with her next words.

Maji listened intently to her own version of the speech with ears forward and eyes glued to her. She could have said any number of things, just so long as she said yes, but what she said made him blubber a little bit. Travelling down memory lane had been a common event for him lately and today would be the same. He closed his eyes briefly to think about their past and recall that fateful day that she tripped over him while he was collecting rocks. Since then they had very nearly become inseperable.

"You will, no joke?!" He was ecstatic! It was a hard road travelled to try and reach this destination and finally they had come to the stop he had been waiting for. "My wife, my beautiful wife." He lifted her head, which didn't need much, so that he could pull her nose to nose and look her in the eye. "You've made me the happiest lion Yukio."

She couldn't help but laugh at his overwhelming enthusiasm. He was just so dark cute, she couldn't handle it! Ah, if this was any other time she would have gladly taken up the open bait he had laid out before her and teased him a little by recanting her offer. But this was far too important to do that, she feared it would honestly ruin this tender moment.

With a low rumbling purr coming from deep within her chest she stared back at him with half-lidded eyes. "And you've made me the happiest lioness. I still can't understand why you would choose me of all people but.." Pursing her lips she leaned forward, pressing her muzzle against his tenderly. Pulling away she gave a playful lick on his nose, a impish grin lighting up her face. "I'm certainly not going to take this gift for granted."

And that was the truth, this was the most precious gift that she could have ever received. It was something she was determined to cherish for the rest of her life, and beyond, if she got the chance!

Letting out a soft sigh her head tilted upwards, her eyes scanning once more around their new home. "This all feels like a dream, I don't even know where to begin." She mused thoughtfully.

Phew. He was safe from the torment his mispoken words often brought for the time being and managed to laugh it off. Maji was about to speak up again when she pressed her muzzle to his and the world faded away around him for a moment before he was returned to the vision of her impish grin. He was doomed, but in the best way possble.

"You better not, I put blood, sweat, and tears into this abode." He smirked slightly. "So don't be alarmed by the red stains here and there." He mused, but was sure she'd have known about red clays. There were periodic viens here and there that dappled most floors he figured it looked more unique that way. "We should probably focus on necessities." Maji admitted with a paw behind his head. "I did scrape together a place to sleep, but I don't think it will be good for long term use."

Pondering for a second left him silent, but he wasn't silent for long. "Why don't you see what Ume has to offer? Maybe she has a spare item or two that we could use, plus we need to gather your things and bring them here. One place, one home." He smiled warmly. This could easily be converted into a work space, unless she wanted to keep it separate. "The choices are endless!" Maji beamed happily.

Plopping down onto her rear she rose herself up onto her hind legs, a paw coming up to rub under her chin. "Hmmmmmm," She hummed under her breath, her eyes giving away the cogs that were already hard at work in her brain at designing every single last detail. "We can definitely set up our temporary living area like in the front here. I'm sure my Aunt wouldn't mind if we borrowed a few things from her." Using her free paw she patted the ground below her. "So we can have a free canvas for the rest of it! I'll have to get my paints asap - ohhhhhhh~! I'll have to make some new ones! Purple over there maybe? Or blue? No...perhaps yellow?"

He was right! The possibilities were endless!

Yukio's smile only grew as she lifted herself up to her feet, spinning around in her place she continued to point out ideas for different ideas. "We could use tree sap to glue your rock collection on the walls, and when the light comes in they'll sparkle in the most beautiful way! Giving us both extra light, and bringing a light show inside our home every single day!" She proclaimed excitedly, her paws beginning to do the hyperactive tap-dancing that she had been known to do ever since she was a child.

Letting out a tiny squeal of happiness she spun back around to face Maji, padding over to him before she unceremoniously tugged him into a tight hug. "Ohhh Maji I'm so excited! I can't wait to get started to building this home," Pausing she lowered her head, smiling down at him tenderly. "Our home."

"You ready to get started?"