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Derez let out a sigh in frustration. He could tell that this was going to be a very, very long conversation and his patience was already wearing thin. Maiko couldn't stay on track if she was chained to it like a dog. Why was it that out of all the cute and single vixens in their tribe, he had to like her. Talking to her was like talking to a fish...A cute fish.

Derez looked at her bouncing around in the snow and his annoyance subsided. She was just to cute. And she meant well. That counted for something right? But he would never be able to actually have a real conversation with her because he mind jumps around to much. Was he really prepared to deal with that? Then again, if he ever said something wrong and screwed up, she'd just forget about it and move on like nothing happened.

"I came here to clear my mind and think." Said Derez patiently like he was explaining something to a kit. "Did you come here to see me or did you need me for something?" He pressed.

Derez stared at the light colored vixen. Did she always talk like a little girl? A thought sticking to his mind? She did know she was an adult right? It wasn't the first time he'd questioned this. And it probably wouldn't be the last he thought now. But oddly, she was right. He did have a thought sticking to his mind. A thought about her. Even though she spoke as a child and had no memory, she had a cuteness about her. Something about her small body and never ending enthusiasm called him to her. Sometimes he almost felt obligated to protect her, even though he had just recently met her in though the tribe.

"You came here to me to something?" He asked after a moment. "You forgot what you came here for didn't you." It was more of a statement than a question.

Now this was a surprise. For the first time since he'd known her, Maiko actually sounded her age. A moment ago, he had wished for her to be mature for once. Now that she was, he almost wished for her not to be. It was very out of character for her and gave Derez a strange feeling like he had crossed a line and made her snap on another personality. He felt the conflict of his own emotions bubbling up inside him.

"Oh." He said. "Really? So you've forgotten it for now but you usually remember later? That seems..... Odd." He finally finished after a long pause. He hadn't travel very much but he had met a few foxes in his travels and he didn't feel like anyone had such a weird memory as Maiko.

Derez couldn't help but stare at her again. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he was staring stupidly at her way to much during their conversation but he just didn't know what else to do when she said such things. She didn't even realize what she'd said. She just admitted the whole reason she was here was because Nika sent her but when asked directly she couldn't remember. Was that just how her head worked? She just couldn't find the answer to direct questions but if asked in a round-about way she could?

"Nika sent you to fetch me?" Although he was glad he had helped her remember, a small part of him was saddened by the fact she had been sent here and hadn't come looking for him on her own free will.

So she had just come here on Nika's orders. He had figured as much but his heart sank a little bit at it's confirmation. His ears drooped back slightly and his shoulders slumped. When she had shown up batting her eyes at him, he had hoped for something more.

"I see." He said and couldn't keep the sadness from his voice. "That's... disappointing. I was hoping you had come here to see me for a different reason." A sad sigh escaped him as he finished his sentence. He wondered if Maiko even knew what attraction to another fox was. She seemed so innocent and naive.

He stood and shook the snow from his fur. "I guess I'd better head back then."

Unexpectidly, a blush spread across Derez's muzzle. He quickly looked down to hide his face. He couldn't remember the last time he had blushed, if ever. But her question had caught him off guard. He was expecting her to just bounce away towards the tribe, not block his way and demand an explaination.

"Well..." He started, trying to keep his voice steady. "I was hoping you had come to find me because you, I don't know, wanted my company or something." He began to fidget and paw at the snow himself, feeling like a child admitting to something embarrassing. He peeked up after he finished to gage Maiko's reaction but didn't lift his head all the way.

Ugh. Derez mentally groaned. She was naive. It was becoming obvious that he would have to be the one to really confess his affections for her before he could really know how she felt about him. Or if she was even capable of feeling like that for someone. But how could he tell her? They had only known each other for just a few short weeks. Other foxes usually knew each other for months and were good friends before they confessed feelings for each other.

But maybe if he made her think about racing while he confessed his feelings, if she didn't return them, she'd forget he'd said anything and made a fool of himself. Or maybe he should just gather his courage and just say it.

"Yes, but you like me as a friend, right?" He asked, a sad smile on his face. "And that's why you came to get me. But I like you more than in a friend way. That's why I'm... sad I guess." He finished looking down to avoid her gaze again.

Is that really how he came off? Derez thought back to all the interactions he'd ever had with the lighter blue vixen. It was true, he realized after a minute of thinking. He didn't really ever talk to her or ever approach her really. Of course they had been around each other while at the tribe grounds but now that he thought about it, it was easy to see himself as standoffish and not liking anyone.

"I.. Uh..." He started then broke off when he couldn't form an answer. "Well... I guess I'm not the friendliest fox but that's only because I want to be accepted and I'm afraid the others wouldn't accept me if I was all outgoing and bouncy like you are. But that's why I like you. Because you don't care. You're just... You." He sighed a sigh of relief. It felt good to say his fears out loud. "I like you in the romantic way." He added on to the end almost as an afterthought.