[FIN] Be mine... Haishan & Tuli (w/Scythe Maion Kimi Misaki)

[Syaoran-Puu]

Slowly he lowered himself to the ground to continue watching, somehow it simply didn't feel right to interupt them since they seemed to be having so much fun in the fresh spring air. It was nice to watch, and for the first time in his life Haishan found himself wishing to have children of his own.... that was a thought he shifted swiftly, it was not worth wishing for things you could not have.

He stayed for a while, a smile on his face, when suddenly one of the foals came booming towards him running backwards as they teased their sibling. He stood up quickly and flapped his wings to force him airborn and out of the way so that there wasn't a collision. He doubted that the foals had even noticed him, his eyes watched them playing -for the first time since he began watching he could not see Tuli.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

At the sight and sound of a soquili that had been laying in weight, Tuli quickly gathered the foals behind her until she could focus on the airborn soquili.

Her face and body relaxed when she realized who it was, "Haishan Fai! You remembered!" she called up to him with a large smile. She moved her wings so that the foals could come out and see him, surely they would remember him as well?

She trotted over to where he would land, waiting for him to come down.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

He watched as Tuli scooped up the foals protectively under her wings -a true maternal instinct- and prepared to question the stranger. He found his heart fluttering as she spoke his name, it seemed she did remember him after all. Landing before her he bowed his head gracefully and spoke, "Lady Tuli."

Raising his head once more he simply smiled and then looked to the foals giving each a smile as well. They seemed so different to when he had brough them here, full of life and fun, he was glad they were able to put the pain behind them -that said children always had a tendency to be resiliant and stronger than any adult when they needed to be, plus they had a kindhearted mother and a herd now.

Looking back to Tuli he spoke again, trying his best to keep himself composed in his usual manner. "I did indeed." He was going to stop there, but was worried that if he did she was simply continue playing and forget all about him. So instead he spoke once more, thinking on his feet of something that may interest her. "I was wondering if you would grant me the honor of joining me for supper this evening?" Yes! That was a good idea, he could take her to the place with all the flowers, he suspected it would look nice under the evening sunlight, he could fetch her berries, apples and greens so that she could have her pick -he would spoil her. That was, if she accepted.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

She couldn't really believe her eyes, he had returned. She had thought that surely he had just sent the family on their way and that she wouldn't see him again. She continued to smile and nudged the foals to go on about their play, which they happily accepted.

"Dinner?" Her ears perked, "That would be quite lovely," she spoke, but still kept a keen eye on the foals. "Are you just passing through again?" she inquired of Haishan. She hoped that he had planned to stay at least a few days, she had promised to take him out and about after all.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

Haishan turned his head for a moment to watch the foals as they ran away to continue their play, how nice it must be not to have a care in the world -if only there had been a time in his life when he had been so lucky. Returning his attention back towards Tuli he smiled at her acceptance, he had expected her to turn him down. "Well in that case I have a few things to prepare first but I shall meet you back at your home before dusk." He listened as she continued, "I am not sure how long I will stay." That sort of depended on Tuli. If she wanted him to stay he would, if she wanted him to go he would.

Before he considered to leave he had one more question for her, "What is your faviourite food? Just so I can try and find some for you. If you are going to be stuck with me for dinner you may as well have something you like to eat." He smiled, hoping that she didn't consider it as being stuck, hoping that she wasn't just accepting to be polite. After all this was the girl he had dreamt about for months and part of him was already attached to her -he didn't want to mess things up.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

"Well, I do hope you stay, at least for a few days. I promised to show you how pretty our lands were in the spring." she smiled and looked over him, he seemed much more..open..than the last they had met. His wounds had healed nicely, not really so much as a scar from the enounter with the skinwalker.

"Hmmm," she pondered on his question for a moment. She loved almost anything sweet to be honest, "I enjoy sweet food," she paused for a moemnt. "I'll let you decide what we eat tonight."

She was unusually happy at this situation, normally, she would be a nervous wreck but this seemed almost normal. Perhaps it was because of their situation back in winter...maybe it was something more. She wanted to learn more about him, what he was really about. Curiousity, as always, came into play.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

He nodded at her suggestion, it was nice, but the truth was he still wasn't sure why she wanted him to stay -was it simply out of polietness? After all her father had also invited him to stay, and he doubted that was for any reason other than the herd being an open and friendly place. A safe haven to those who chose that life.

Sweet food. Inside he contemplated her preference, and he found himself having to resist laughing -sweets for a s sweet. He was sure that finding an apple or two, some berries perhaps to join them? He would have his work cut out for him but he was sure she would appreicate it. "Sweet it is," he smiled and spread his wings once more, "Dusk remember." And with that he was gone again.

------

He spent the rest of the day making his 'preparations' and panicking, what if she didn't like it? What if she laughed at him?

He had pulled the vines with the flowers on them this way and that, forcing them into the shape of an arch so that she could would have something pretty to walk through as they entered the little hidy hole in the forest. Just beyond the arch he had done his best to spread some of the petals upon the ground, and in the center was a small pile of food upon two giant green leaves that he had used to wrap the food in and carry here.

There where apples, oranges, sweet berries, bitter berries and even a carrot or two -he loved carrots but rarely found them.

Everything seemed perfect, and as the sun started to set the purples and red that shone over the land looked beautiful, contrasting the beautiful blue and pink tipped flowers.

It was time.

-------

Setting off once more towards her home as fast as his wings would carry him it didn't take him long to spot the herd. It seemed that most were enjoying dinner of their own, the foals were still playing and running circles around their mother, and the head of the herd seemed to be with a wingless mare he had not seen before -his mate perhaps?

Landing softly he looked around for Tuli, this time he dared not speak, he didn't want to draw attention to himself -just incase she had changed her mind.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

Tuli had played for quite a while with the foals in the field, once they were through they headed home for the evening. The sun was still up, so there was time to prepare herself. It had been so long since she had been alone with a stallion...now...Now she was nervous.

She had gotten her father's familiar to help her gather sweet smelling flowers. Once she had taken a dip in the nearby lake, she had the ferret rub the vibrant colored flowers over her coat and mane, leaving the sweet scent like a perfume. It was growing darker, so Tuli headed home.

Exiting the treelines, her eyes found Haishan. He was already there, she hoped she was too late...that he hadn't been waiting long. She fastened her pace to a trot, her still damp mane bouncing with each step.

"Sorry! Sorry I'm late!" she spoke as she neared the stallion.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

Haishan stood looking around for her for about twenty minutes, when the sudden aroma of perfumed flowered mixed with a familar scent hit his nose, turning around he noticed Tuli coming towards her. She looked beautiful in the colourful light of dusk. Though he would expect nothing else from the mist coloured mare before him.

Smiling gently he shook his head, "I have only just arrived" shifting his weight a little on his legs he looked towards her, he had never done this before, and although he had heard stories from the soquili he had encountered it didn't compare to the reality. What was he suppose to do? A little awkwardly he walked closer to her and spread his wings, unfortunitly he miss judged the distance and his left wing struck Tuli. Panic covered his features as he turned to look at her, "Sorry, I am so sorry." Lowering his head a little defeated he took a few steps back -he didn't want to cause more harm. How was it then when it came to fighting he could react and do everything perfectly, but around this mare he was a mess. That said she was the only person he had ever met who had risked themselves for her -he would be forever grateful and one day he would make it up to her.

"I..." he begun, trying to look composed and failing, "...we...em...the..." Why would the words never come to him? Maybe he should just return to saying very little?

Giving up on trying to stay lots, he just spoke one word, "Follow." It wasn't an order but a request, and with it he spread his wings -this time away from her- and pushed off into the air before staying on the spot for a moment to wait for her to join him.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

She was glad he had only had to wait a few minutes, but she had wanted to look nice for their evening together. "I'm glad, I didn't realize it had gotten so late."

When Haishan's wing touched her, she jumped just a bit, but laughed at his reaction. Poor thing, he was so embarassed. She shook her head, speaking softly, "It's okay. Really, it's okay."

Her words didn't seem to help much, he had trouble getting his last sentence out. Perhaps he would forget later on. She nodded and spread her wings at his request, meeting the skies she took to a position slightly under and behind him so that they did not collide.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

Relieved that his foolishness had not discouraged her from joining he flapped his wings and moved his legs to push himself forward in the air as he began to lead her towards the spot he had set out.

Landing just before the clearing so that they would be required to walk under the arch, he noticed that several fireflies began to dance in the air around him. He had once heard a story about how they where lucky to lovers and were often used in herd cermonies to join two soquili together -he didn't know how that all happened but he was thankful they where around as they made the place look even more beautiful. He just hoped that she liked what he had done for her. Nerves were not something he usually did.

"Tuli," he spoke, turning to see if she was still with him, "it's just a little futher" it seemed that the flight had done him some good at least. Slowly he started to walk forward, the arch of flowers stood before them as he past through it he noticed that the feast he had prepared was still untouched surround by the petals. It looked nice -if he did not say so himself. Standing just to the side of the arch he looked at her, hoping to pick up on her expersion, hoping to see her reaction.

Please like it. Please like it. He said over and over again in his mind.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

Tuli landed with a small studder step as she touched down. She followed quietly as her eyes took in the scene. "Fireflies!" she smiled and trotted over to a small gathering of them. She had chased these small insects with her brothers when they were young. Turning her attention back to Haishan, she moved towards him with a smile.

As she approached, she noticed the arch that had been carefuly crafted at the entrance. It was beautiful, the flowers were still blooming and the scent was just wonderful. "This is beautiful, Haishan!" she exclaimed. Just then, her eyes fell upon the gathering of food that Haishan had worked so hard to gather.

"Haishan!" she looked in awe at the scene set before her, "You did all of this?" she stopped and looked around, she felt...special.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

Unsure what to say in responce he simply smiled and nodded to her, he was relieved that she liked it -at least if everything else went wrong he had done one thing right. Why was he not better at this?

Sighing a little, and once again shifting on his feet he contemplated the next move to make. It seemed his words had once again escaped him, so instead he made his way over to the fruit indicating with his head that she should join him, before he lowered himself to the ground. He looked at the food, she had said sweet but not specified what type of 'sweet' food she liked, "Is there at least something you like here?" He looked up at her, trying to catch her eye contact if only for a moment.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

She walked over to where Haishan had took to the ground, it was beautiful here. She couldn't believe that he had done this all for the both of them tonight. She looked over the pile of fruit he had gathered, there was plenty there that she enjoyed. "Yes, you did well!" she wasnt' sure if she could take the tasty green apple yet, "That apple there looks delicious, I love green apples!"

Her eyes drifted from the food up to Haishan, he looked so much more...gentle. She took in his unique feathers, his beautiful coat.. This was the first time she had really really gotten to look over him. He was a handsome stallion, and very tentative. She smiled to herself, she was glad he came back.  

[Syaoran-Puu]

Haishans heart was racing, and although only a moment had past he felt as if it had been an eternity, he was not very good at talking and there seemed to be a silence that had blanketed itself between them -that and she wasn't eating. Perhaps she was expecting him to start? He had assumed the lady always went first? Then again she was eyeing one of the crunchy green apples. Lowering his nose towards it he slowly pushed it towards her, hoping that would encourage her to eat. He felt guilty for the amount of food he had collected, he usually only ate the bare essentials for himself so that the other creatures could enjoy it yet as he looked at her he felt indulgent.

"Enjoy," his voice was almost a whisper as he raised his head to watch her for a moment, forcing himself every now and then to look at the food as if he was still deciding what to have -he didn't want it to look as if he was staring.

Eventually he decided to take a bite of a carrot, the orange texture snapped in his mouth releasing a small amount of juice -he liked carrots because they didn't make a mess.