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 Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:23 am
Ifrit stepped quietly into the cabin, a soft smile spread across his face. He hoped Xanabel was already here, but he didn't mind waiting either. He never minded waiting for her. And there was something... he hoped to tell her today. How he felt. If he could find the words. It was hard to find the right words... especially when it was so easy to get lost in her eyes and forget to speak for a while all together.
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:43 pm
Fortunately, Xanabel was already there. Already she'd returned to her normal cheerful self and looked forward to every single day, which was usually spent filling her head with memories of Ifrit and the wonderful way of the world. For better or for worse it was a world she still loved, and as he came in she twirled about to face him. Her ears flickered back and the smile made her very face glow. The teal stood out on her dark black fur especially nicely today and she hopped over to her best friend with her usual energy. "Hullo Ifrit!"
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 3:18 pm
Lovely, he thought. She was always so lovely, but today somehow she seemed even more so. "Hullo, Xana! Where do you think we should go today?" He wanted to let her pick... or at least give her the chance to. He was feeling so giddy he wasn't sure if he could make himself come up with a decision, vibrating with excited energy as he was.
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:24 pm
Life was a game without rules. A complete free for all. Easily ruined, utterly fun and totally destructive. All of these things could cause any wide variety of other things to happen. Games could lead to something dangerous or something playful. Relationships could lead to love and friends. A curious little kit could cause trouble for a whole group of adults.
One of many of life's mysteries were sprawled out for the exploring. All you had to do was look. And today, Xanabel decided she wanted to look. Yet, not in any where old or anywhere quite new either. But somewhere special, somewhere that Ifrit would pick that would mean something for the both of them.
"I was hoping you'd pick today Ifrit... let's go somewhere special!" Her cheerful smile always lit her up, and as her ears pricked back, she seemed even cuter. The teal of her fur really did stand out against such silky black velvet. Sure, usually she would've picked something... like a field or a pond or a forest. But still... wouldn't it mean more if Ifrit would show her something? Maybe something new about an old spot? Or perhaps a new spot with something old! Either way, she wanted to put her faith and happiness in him today more than ever.
Let the sun guide you and your dreams will follow.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:14 pm
Ifrit sat in concentration for a moment, trying to figure out where to take Xanabel. It was hard to think of going somewhere when all he wanted was right here... "Ah. I think I know just the place."
He led the way outside with an excited bounce in his step that was rather kit-like, and out away from the HQ for a distance until they reached a side trail that might be somewhat familiar. Then they were at that little stream-side meadow where he'd taken her that first day. The grass was coming up in shoots, the flowering plants not quite coming into bud as Spring was just starting to re-take the mountain. The fish either had not yet migrated back up here or were content to flit around in the water, for the flies had not yet returned either. The trees of the opposite bank that had been so heavy with fruit before were just starting to open a few early flowers, a small promise of more fruit to come. "How's this for a spot?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:57 am
With unladen excitement she had followed Ifrit, followed him as though she would continue to do so till the end of Time itself. There was so much to learn and see with him, and though not everything outside was good, being with him was. He had so much to teach her, to show her, and she wanted it to be that way forever. Definitely forever.
When they finally reached the destination, Xanabel's eyes widened in both recognition and shock. It looked so much more different now and simply because it was a different time of year! The world spinned as she twirled herself around to take it all in. Giggling like a tiny kit, she beamed at Ifrit and was tempted to nuzzle him as a thank you. Refraining however, she looked across the bank at the trees and her eyes flickered with amusement. "It's lovely Ifrit! It looks so changed... so fresh and new... like it's just waiting to be woken up. Oh... wouldn't it be amazing to come back when they would begin to bloom?" Her teal gaze turned on him, sparkling with a childish sincerity that made her coat shine. Beautiful.
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:53 pm
Ifrit turned a soft smile and loving gaze on Xana. "If you'd like to come back and see it when the trees are in bloom then we will." He leaned over to give her cheek an affectionate nuzzle and then stretched out by the water, never once managing to really turn his gaze from her. Not that he wanted to...
What should he say? How should he say it? When should he say it? If it was anyone else he could just be charming and flirty, but this was Xanabel... Looking at her made his breath catch in his throat sometimes in wonder. And what he wanted to tell her... how he felt... it was honest, and completely serious. He couldn't just treat her like another girl. She was special... and he realized he was staring off into space while his thoughts were elsewhere and blinked himself back to the here and now with a sheepish grin.
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:34 pm
Giggling at his affection, she watched him keenly. It was true they were good friends, true they were close too. There was no one else Xana would talk to these days. Even her father and mother didn't have that kind of trust. Only the sun she shined under had earned it. For a moment she drifted back to when she'd first met him... he'd been frightening, to say the least. Even now, he was so much bigger than she but really he was just a fluff ball. Her protector. Quite honestly, her everything.
Something though... something seemed to be bothering him. The way he kept looking at her, a different look than one he had used to share with her. Together they would laugh about everything and his eyes would sparkle with the same joy hers did, but now he looked at her with something quite unknown. It wasn't unnerving, it was simply worrisome.
"Ifrit..." she said softly, going to sit by him. She curled herself up neatly by his side, nuzzling him and watching him with those glowing eyes of her own. She offered a bright smile, happy that he would come back with her at another point, especially when the flowers would bloom. "You're silly... you keep staring!" She let out a light playful laugh, as if kindly poking fun at her best friend.
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:48 pm
Ifrit blinked again, grin growing a bit more sheepish. "Yes. I do." He tilted his head, giving her a contemplative look, and then said a bit off handedly, "Did you know, a long time ago, that silly didn't mean... well... silly? It meant "beloved"..." He was quiet for a moment. "Xana? I want to tell you something..." His sheepish grin returned. "I'm just not sure what's the best way to say it."
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:27 pm
Now it was Xanabel's turn to tilt her head as she looked up at the other. What could he possibly mean? It seemed like such a strange thing to say, not like him at all. Yet, almost impossibly, her heart skipped a beat and she blinked lightly. "Beloved..." She ran the words across her maw and under her tongue, and then in a louder voice she said, "Go ahead, you can tell me anything... I'm listening."
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Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:36 pm
Ifrit just watched her for a moment, his own heart skipping a beat and then speeding up. It was best to just... say it, wasn't it? As much as he wished suddenly that he'd had a poem or a song ready for the occasion he didn't, and try as he might the only thing he could think to say were the simple words, "I love you."
It took him a moment to realize he'd said it out loud as he thought it. His fur would have made the blush on his face near impossible to see, but the way he nervously stared at his paws afterward and picked at a rock in the damp earth at the edge of the stream would have belied that what he'd said was more than just a friendly offering. Finally he wrestled his nerves down enough to look back up at her, into her eyes, and tried to say it again. "I-I love you, Xanabel."
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Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:56 pm
There was an unceremonious way about the whole thing, and Xanabel couldn't help but feel awkward. There could be nothing but a nervousness overwhelming her now and she flicked her ears back and sat up, gracefully on all fours. "Ifrit..." she murmured peacefully, smiling. They were friends, of course he would love her! Best friends felt love for one another, didn't they? It was normal.
So when she went to return the statement and look up into his eyes, she paused. He was looking back, speaking her name, saying it again. Differently. Passionately. A meaning totally unlike the previous one, and it felt unreal. Wholly unreal. For a moment more, she stared up into his eyes, lost there and then looked away. Her three tails flickered back and forth and she caught the tip of one in her paws. Playing with it gently, she mewled under her breath in confusion.
To say the least, this whole thing made her someone undone and she thought back to how the only thing she'd ever wanted was to be with him. Could that really be called friendship only? Now that she really thought about it... the way they looked at each other was similar to the way her parents looked at each other. Not ever having realized it, she had always looked upon Ifrit with that unbridled affection and sacredness.
Slowly, at last, she padded forward and wove herself underneath his chin and nuzzled the top of her head to the underside of his fuzzier one, she purred slightly, "I... I love you... I love you too Ifrit..."
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:07 am
He'd been worried... very worried about her reaction for those moments before she ducked under his chin. He let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and felt himself relax, bit by bit. Then he smiled, letting his head rest lightly atop hers. He curled one arm and one tail around her and just... held her. It felt... wonderful. "I'm glad, Xana. When I figured it out, and I was sure, I wanted to tell you. I don't want to hide things from you." Words failed him after that, and a joyful feeling started bubbling up in him. He unhooked his arm from around her, but not his tail, and rolled on his side. Then he pawed at her gently like a playful kit with a joyous, silly smile plastered on his face.
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Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:26 am
Nuzzled there against him, she felt at peace. They had been together before, but not like this. This was new and different, and being the adorable kitsu she was, Xanabel loved new. Anything new was fascinating to her and even the old things had a tint of new to them. It felt surprisingly good to find something like this, something she could cherish. There were no words she could say at all. She knew he wouldn't hide anything from her, and as for her? She had nothing to hide anyway. Ifrit had always been there for her and she had spoken to him, been comforted by him, all of it. Even during her bad times she still had him.
When he started pawing at her playfully, she laughed at him, the melodic sound making a joyous echo. If anything else, she did know how to play. She had done it with her brothers and sisters all the time when she was younger, and now, she could play again. With a grin that seemed unlike her, she pounced at him playfully, entwining one of her own tails with his.((  ))
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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:20 pm
Ifrit's rumbling chuckle mingled with Xanabel's laughter in the air, almost like the drum beat to her melody. When she pounced him he flailed carefully in mock suprise and then reached for her with a paw, leaving her room to escape if she chose but having the intent of pulling her closer so he could nom ever so gently at her ear in a playful manner. It was a silly game they played, sure, but he had no care if anyone saw. It was their own wonderful time together, and he'd never trade it for anything.
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