Duo Makkusuweru - Truth.Be.Told
&
Kairi - Das Tor
He didn't really want to go. But he knew he had to. He had things to do, creatures that were relying on him, and a niece and twin who would chew him out to Hell and back if he didn't get back soon. Duo sighed, cobalt eyes closing for a moment before opening again and nudging the crimson form curled up with him.
"Hey babe...wakey wakey..." He really would miss her. Hopefully she came to visit, well after things had settled down for him. If he lived through things. He really hoped he did.
Kairi's crystal blue eyes opened slowly, as Duo's voice drifted into her dreams and his nudging registered in her sleep-muzzled mind. She yawned widely, then looked up to him, curious. "Daylight already?" She stretched carefully, feeling rather languid.
"How'd you sleep, handsome?" There was something about his tone that bothered her...
Duo nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah. Sun's up and making the jungle look livelier. Kickin' the heat up a notch or two as well." He licked her ear affectionately. "I slept pretty damn well, considering I've had a pretty gal next to me the entire time. Maybe you know her, babe?" His smile grew to a grin as he gave her a suggestive look.
Kairi laughed brightly and made a playful swat at his nearer cheek, claws in. "Goofball. You're such a pervert sometimes, Duo." Not that she minded. She wasn't an innocent cub anymore...hadn't been for some time. And it was just part of Duo's charm, part of who he was. Who she cared for.
"So...want to get some breakfast before I head back to check on Silas and see which little ones I'm watching after today?" She kept a smile on her muzzle.
Duo made a mock-show of being wounded by her swat, rolling over onto his back and putting a paw to his chest. "You WOUND me so, my dear Kairi!" If nothing else, the fact he was barely supressing a laugh and the sheer dramatic way he did it was a clue he was just playing around.
"Mmmm...good as food sounds, I think I'm gonna have to turn down the offer." Sooner he got, the sooner his duties would come, the safer it'd be to visit him in the future.
Kairi giggled, pushing at him with her side. "Well words CAN be sharper than claws, my dear friend." She purred, enjoying his playful manner...then froze. Oh...so it was time for him to go. THAT was what the tone in his voice was earlier.
"I see...Time to go, isn't it?" She'd hoped she'd have another day with him. At least she had a keepsake of him, something to keep the memories stronger.
Duo nodded sadly. "Yeah. Time for me to go." He finished the roll onto his belly again, and scoot closer to her once more. "I wish I didn't have to leave...but I've got family waiting, and something to do. Something that, when the time comes and you want to visit me, will make it okay for you to come see me." He leaned into her carefully. "You're my friend...I don't want to see you hurt."
Kairi sighed, nodding. "I know." She let him lean, and tucked her head under his. "I'll miss you." She'd thought they'd gotten it out of their system yesterday but...the coming of morning had just brought all of it back up. The fact they would miss one another, that there was SOMETHING between them that was just a little more than friendship...but couldn't go any further. Not this way. At least she had a keepsake and the prior night.
Duo laid a front paw over one of hers, closing his eyes. "I'll miss you too, Kai. And I look forward to the day you come and see me." He would miss her sense of humor, so alike and yet different from his own. Where his could be grim at times, hers was always lighter, more full of life. It was the same with her smile. They were like two sides of one coin...he was Death, she was Life. He was Night, and she was Day.
"I look forward to it, too." She enjoyed his nearness for now, the simple fact that, for that moment, he was still there. He was still a solid creature right next to her, not just a dream conjured up by memory. "Be safe, okay? So you're whole when I see you again?"
Duo drooped a bit at that. He sighed and stood up, shaking his head. "I can't make any promises, Kairi. The thing I gotta do...it's pretty dangerous. And no, I can't tell you more than that. I never lie, Kairi. Ever. Not even a white one." He'd made the vow when he was little, after Dovev had told him about the world outside the Matembezi, even before G started his training.
Kairi nodded. She knew that, too. Lying was something Duo was vehement about...and she admired that about him. He always spoke the truth...even she told a white lie here and there, to ease things when the other party just couldn't understand. Like cubs and death. "Then try your best to come out of whatever it is you're facing whole. If you don't..." She frowned, thinking. "If you don't, I'll figure out a way to bring you back to normal and kick your butt!"
Duo blinked...then laughed, nodding. "Alrighty, babe! I'll try my best!" THAT he could promise. "Certainly wouldn't want you gettin' your pretty paws all dirtied up with my sorry hide!" He stood over her and nuzzled her a moment, before stepping away. "Care to watch me go? Good luck, y'know, to have a pretty gal watch y'go."
Kairi returned the nuzzle, then stood up and trotted to rest next to him. "In whose opinion, may I ask, is it good luck to watch your friend run off into the distance, danger awaiting them?" Despite the very serious tone of the words, there was an underlying quality to her voice that belied the fact she was more than willing to comply...to hold onto his solid form in her vision for just a little longer.
Duo grinned cheekily, bumping her shoulder. "Me, of course! I'll see ya later, Kairi! And I'll take good care of this necklace!" With that, he trotted off. And as soon as he was a good distance away, his grin fading. Damn...he really was gonna miss her.
Kairi braced herself, barely keeping herself from stumbling when his larger bulk bumped her shoulder. But she giggled quietly and stood there, watching him go off into the distance. She knew he'd have to leave eventually...but she'd dreaded it. Once he was out of sight, she took one last deep breath and turned, her crimson form disappearing deeper into the jungle she called home.
It was time to concentrate on what she had, what was still solid and there. She could remember later, after the sun set.
