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The fields had sprawled themselves out before him at the base of the mountain, lush and green before dwindling to dry shrubbery once they took root within the hard soil of the mighty peak. The ancient wood stood at his back, and the kitsu took his time observing these new surroundings, his tails swishing almost lazily behind his sleek body. But soon, with a curious pricking of his ears, Zetsumei realized something seemed...off. Instinct told him to be cautious, and he slowly settled into his haunches, indigo eyes flickering across the landscape to pinpoint the oddity. And the culprit was...the air itself? Glistening pink, the ominous powder shimmered faintly, innocently, yet filled the air as far as the eye could see.

Curious, if wary, Zetsumei lightly trotted out into the open, his head twisting this way and that as he blinked in polite confusion. How strange...He'd never seen anything quite like this before, and, despite himself, the kitsu was quite amused with the extravagant shade. Ohh, his father would throw a fit about it and he could only hope that he'd be around to watch.

His paws kneaded at the ground lightly, the pink powder illuminating the reflective metal on the bands that were strapped around his forelegs. Zetsumei lifted his head to sniff faintly at the stuff in hopes of determining what it was--and promptly sneezed, shaking his head furiously as he batted at his nose. What a scent! It was strangely intoxicating, and for a moment, he felt a wave of dizziness overtake him. Grumbling to himself, Zetsumei glanced slyly about to see if anyone had caught his little blunder before settling back on his haunches. "Nasty stuff." He grinned to himself, feeling strangely...infectious.

A faint rumbling sound was enough to catch his attention and Zetsumei tilted his head, a stupid sort of grin still plastered across his muzzle as the delicious scent of the misty powder continued to engulf his sense of smell. Pushing himself to his feet, Zetsumei sprung lightly towards the source of the noise, his tails flicking themselves with pleasure when he saw Buttercup. "We meet again!" He called, grinning happily as he all but pranced towards her, his eyes bright with a playful spark on energy.

"Lovely, isn't it?" Zetsumei tossed his head at the powder that even now showered upon them both, settling on his fur like delicate, pink snowflakes. "I don't advise sniffing it," He chortled, grinning widely as he shook his head a little. "It smells nice enough, but it stings a little bit." Not to mention it had made him noticably more hyper. A strange side-effect? Perhaps.

"Have you found the ones you've been looking for yet?" He questioned casually, pacing to-and-fro, only stopping once to skirt around that formidable mallet that had been with her the last time they'd spoken, too. Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy--Zetsumei forced himself to sit still, though the tips of his tails continued to twitch with his enthusiasm.

His ears pricked lightly at Buttercup's mood, an excited huff of breath escaping from his lungs as he leapt to his feet once more. "I wonder where it came from." He mused aloud, his steps light as he danced eagerly in place. He had enough sense to settle a bit at the news, inclining his head apologetically. "I'm sorry--I've kept an eye out for them, but I haven't seen anyone that fits your description..." But, as he inhaled deeply again, his brain reminded him that there was a pretty female kitsu in front of him that didn't look at all unhappy to see him. And that was certainly a good thing! "I'm sure they have to be around somewhere close."

The heavy mallet dropped unexpectedly to the ground, and Zetsumei eyed it curiously, tilting his head up to look at her with another cheerful grin. "If that's the case, then I guess I'm just lucky." His tails swished through the air, and, playfully, the kitsu tossed his head, sauntering and swiping at the powder with a paw now and again.

"Have you been well?" Zetsumei questioned politely, still grinning like a fool as he sat back down and craned his neck towards her. "Right now, you look..." What was the word? Happy? No, that seemed too bland. His mind offered a suggestion, and, without a moment's hesitation, he chirped happily, "...more beautiful than the Mountain itself." And somewhere deep inside his mind, Zetsumei's sanity wept.

As soon as the words had left his mouth, Zetsumei's ears twitched, trying to flatten themselves against his skull. That'd...hadn't been a smart thing to say, not at all. Now, though a bit absent-minded at times, Zetsumei had enough sense to understand that Buttercup was a fiercely independent person, much like his father, and such a compliment would not be taken nicely. But that too, was understandable; that comment had brash and bordered on rude, especially since he had only met her once! A look of bewilderment flashed across his face for a moment, as though he was shocked by his own gall--but the pink powder was there immediately, reassuring him that everything was just fine. Well...okay.

The giggle and the swish of her skirt was enough to get him to grin all over again, his jaws beginning to ache from just how wide the expression had spread itself. She did look pretty in that outfit, didn't she? A pleased crooning thrum built up steadily within his chest, his tails twitching madly. And faintly, his mind persisted--this wasn't right, was it? She wasn't acting like she normally would--and he needed to stop acting so...so...flirtatious.

Indigo eyes softened at the blush that spread across her face, though his mind shrieked a warning when the mallet handle was snatched. And, against all logic, Zetsumei pushed himself to his feet to stride closer, close enough that his tails could lightly whisk against her paws. "I do. I've never seen someone as radient as you, nor as kind...I truly am lucky to have met such a beautiful person. I believe I can die happy now." A crooked smile sprawled itself across his muzzle, while inner Zetusmei took a moment to blanch and back slowly away.

The two sides grappled for a moment, with the puppy love holding the upper hand. But, Zetsumei's rationality protested, this wasn't right at all! Buttercup was a pleasure to speak with, certainly...but wasn't this happening a little too fast? And surely this wasn't under normal circumstances--something wasn't right here! But Zetsumei merely sighed with adoration, his eyes misted with the depth of his feelings.

His breath had hitched in his throat, and Zesumei felt as though a balloon had inflated inside of his chest, pressing against his lungs, making it impossible to breathe. Was this...was this love? His mind frantically denied it, but his heart boomed with approval, beating like a big bass drum within his chest.

His muzzle was turned downward gently to look at her, looking surprisingly regal, presenting himself as a protector, a guardian, one who admired and worshiped the very ground she walked upon. He had to catch his breath for a moment, his tails twitching and trembling with his emotion. She was perfect, the deluded part of his mind cooed, so why worry? She was happy, he should be happy too. But, Zetsumei's sanity moaned, this wasn't real! Another deeep inhalation banished his feeble protests, however, and the voice said nothing more.

"With pleasure." Zetsumei purred, his tone deep-throated and amused. "Perhaps that was what drew me to you in the first place...You were an angel, gracing the cold, bitter world with your illuminating presence...Your vivid eyes--it was as though they could see straight through my soul, and that was why I could not bear to leave you when we first met. You had captured me with your divine beauty, with your gentle words..."

A sigh trailed from the kitsu, and he lowered his head, his muzzle gently brushing against the sleek locks of her dark hair, "Just being around you is worth more than the world to me. I simply could not ask for someone more perfect." He crooned softly, his eyes half-lidded with adoration as he watched her.

His muscular body trembled faintly, overcome with his desire to lavish her with his affection, to prove to her that his words were true. But were they really? Inside, something balked within his soul, hesitant and fearful of allowing this to continue. His fur was beginning to clump, raising itself in aggressive, emotion-driven bristles. Yet, when her muzzle rubbed against him, he seemed to melt, swaying a little, nibbling affectionately at her hair.

"Yes." He stated thickly, his eyes closed as he tried to memorize her scent. "My angel." She seemed so frail, and even the love-induced side of his mind was beginning to grow hesitant. It was though she could break at any moment, delicate and small. All the more reason for him to protect her.

Her purr was mirrored with a deep, throaty sound, his muzzle slipping down the slender nape of her neck, ears flicking as he listened to her words. "I will do all within my power to prove this to you." Zetsumei murmured, his eyes sliding open to watch her, "I will never leave your side--I will be your guardian, your shadow. Whenever you have need of me, I shall appear, and only death will ever be able to seperate me from you."

His body coiled around her tightly, leaning against her, offering his strength. "I am yours." His own whisper was shushed by the mist that continued to shimmer about them both, casting rays of glittering light upon them. "I will do anything for you... I will travel to the end of the world and back...I will die for you." He grew silent, having no more means of proving the truth of his words. "Believe in me." Zetsumei whispered faintly, bowing his head.

Zetsumei too, drifted throughout a dreamless sleep, his mind filled with vivid flashes of hot pink and bright, burning reds. His tails twitched, desperately trying to wake him up, but the kitsusagi was oblivious to their efforts. But with sleep came sweet release from the mind-numbing mist from before. He stirred faintly, his eyes peeling themselves open with bleary confusion. What had happened...Where was he? He shook his head, and dark hair spilled over his face, earning a groan from the resulting pounding within his head. It hurt. Suddenly, he grew still, hearing someone shift above him, and his tails lashed with lazy curiosity. Who...?

Something was swung, and it was only the ninja reflexes that had been beaten into him as a kit that saved him...had his unknown assailant been actually aiming at him. Zetsumei had lunged, sure--but he'd rammed right into the side of a vaugely familiar, yellow mallet. With a yelp of pain, he lunged clumsily to his feet, his head throbbing, but now surprisingly clear as he stared at Buttercup. Confusion flashed over his features, and Zetsumei sat down without a word, his head tilted to the side.

"I didn't realize that it was an alarm clock, too." His tone was amused, if mildly puzzled. "I didn't even hear you..." The kitsu frowned suddenly, flashes of odd, disorientated memories trickling through his mind as the pink powder trailed across his nose. "...What happened?" Zetsumei asked softly, all mirth gone as he seemed to realize something had happened--something that sent a cold, gnawing fear deep into the base of his gut.

When the mallet had ripped itself out of her paws to sprawl harmlessly on the ground, Zetsumei blanched. What just happened? She had been so powerful when he had seen her last--and more of those twisted, throbbing flashes gripped him, and his own words whispered themselves within his ears--confessions of adoration, of promises--of things he didn't feel. Or did he? One paw lifted to rake at the side of his face, and a wordless sound of shock and revulsion for what he had done gripped him.

Fear had gripped her sweet scent, and Zetsumei started at her accusation, his eyes widening. "Nothing! I swear to you, I have done nothing, I haven't..." His mind bore down firmly on the facts, and the kitsu nearly wilted under the reassurance that he had not taken advantage of Buttercup. "I'm so sorry." He spoke, his tone dull with confusion, his eyes staring blankly at the powder that had been stirred by the mallet's fall.

"The powder." He said quietly, his eyes seeming to grow dark, shoulders hunching as he berated himself. Then, he straightened, pushing to his feet so he could apologize properly. "...For what happened, for anything I might have said or done to you...I'm sorry. I wasn't in my right mind...but that is no excuse." Zetsumei felt sick with himself, his ears pinned back with self-loathing. "I can't...I can't recall what happened. Or what I was thinking." He said apologetically, his tails still with the seriousness of the situation.

He fell silent for a moment, feeling helpless and unable to explain himself. "...I'm so very sorry. I can't..." His head lowered, "I can't explain what happened...I don't know what happened."