AN: I am revising stories that need it. Like this one. XD It's like Spring Cleaning except with words. Most of the plot is the same, just some scene changes to flow better. It's really up to you if you want to read the revision if you've already read it once before.

AU, but in modern times. Wacky, as most of my one shots tend to be, but drama because I can't stay away from it.

FS

FS

FS

The great expanse of forest was lush. Leon took a long breath in, taking in the clean, fresh air. It was sharp, almost like it was too clean, especially compared to the congested city air.

His cleansing breath was short lived however.

Leon couldn't fully delve into it - not with the feeling of being watched.

It was a particular feeling - predatory, but without ill will. If he had to describe it, it was more like a fascinated gaze, something he would feel upon entering a nightclub or that look of a stranger appraising him from across the café. He quirked a brow at his assessment.

The nearest settlement was miles away.

He had been in the city for far too long. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. The trek to the top of the mountain was no simple task but he reveled in challenges. Putting his pack down, he turned it about to grab his canteen in the side pocket.

His water was missing.

He frowned, looking about the area. The sun glinted on his metal canteen over by the edge of the rocky surface. He had never dropped anything while hiking. Work and personal life must have drained him more than he had initially thought. He grunted as he picked up his backpack. How humiliating to have dropped such an essential trekking item. He reached for the canteen, but it rolled off before he could grab it.

Curious.

He went down the path a little, stretching his arm out completely to reach for the canteen. Again, it toppled over, getting stuck in a little bush. He frowned deeply. Something was obviously off but he had no other explanations other than the canteen dropping into precarious areas that would cause it to shift. He climbed over the rock side, grabbing a natural handhold. The canteen wiggled. He paused in grabbing it.

It had seemed...playful.

He shook his head. He hadn't thought he was sun stroked.

His hand barely grazed the canteen when a strong gust of wind came through, blowing the canteen way off and loudly clanking down on some rock edge down below. There was no plausible way that a gust of wind had blown off a metal and nearly full canteen. As he looked down where it fell, he turned his head. There was an opening of sorts into the mountain.

He narrowed his eyes.

He was fairly certain that it was a trap, but he had not seen anything moving the canteen. Nothing but the wind. He knew for a fact that the wind didn't have a mind of its own to suddenly get the urge to screw around with him. It had to be a human. Somehow, they were moving his water without him seeing it or they were too fast for him to catch it. He clenched his jaw a little. He had a couple of people in mind whom might be inclined to screw with him.

"Enough of these games, May."

Silence.

He looked around. It could be one of her siblings. They adored their eldest blindly. As well as got into fights with her constantly. But such was the nature of siblings. His eyes grew somber. Once upon a time, he knew how that was like...The canteen rolled a little, the metal sound drawing him back.

"Bao, Zian. Cease."

Still no sound. He quirked a brow. The twin brothers were highly devious, especially together but they knew better than to test his patience. He muttered to himself, making his careful, slow descent to the edge with the opening. If it wasn't any of those three, he did not know who was messing with him. Whoever it was he was going to punish them.

The earth started to shake.

He quickly pressed himself against the cliff side. He should have set up the hooks and rope for a more secure climb down. But the earthquake shouldn't take too long and he had a good grip right now.

Then suddenly, the earth he held softened.

Wide eyed as the once hard earth crumbled in his hands, he grabbed at other hand and footholds, trying to stop his rough sliding. He grunted as his fingers stung as he slid down the mountainside, all holds immediately dissolving as soon as he touched them. He looked down the way, his mouth parting slightly. He was going to drop into pointed rocks. He could not recall seeing those there earlier when he had climbed the mountain. However, they were there right now and right now was what mattered.

He hadn't thought he would die so painfully.

He felt a strong wind swoop up under him, flinging him away from the sharp rocks, though it had not been fast enough for one thigh to be sliced. He grunted at the stinging in his leg, then suddenly he found himself in water. He struggled to the surface, gasping as he took in air before submerging under the fast waters of the river. With his leg injury he was finding it hard to stay afloat. He was so turned around he wasn't certain which way was up anymore.

He felt something bash his head and he knew no more.

FS

Warmth. And fur.

He felt both of these as he regained consciousness. Then pain. Sharp in some places, throbbing needles in others. There was this other area that was generally numb, namely his left arm. He half opened his eyes, seeing the fire next to him. He slowly - so slowly - turned his head. Even slower, he blinked at the head of red hair resting so comfortably on his left arm.

Ah. Well that explains the numbness.

The figure's soft snoring continued. He closed his eyes, trying to wiggle his left fingers. His arm was so numb. It was starting to worry him. He opened his eyes again, lightly tugging his arm. The figure seemed to be attached to his limb. He sighed and then winced. Apparently, his ribs weren't well. The hand on his chest twitched. He looked down. He hadn't noticed it because it was under the furs. However, with that twitch of the stranger's hand, he came to a new realization.

He was naked under the fur.

He looked at the head, bringing his free hand over to tip the head back for a better look. Red lashes, small nose. He let go of her head. She was wrapped in her own furs, though her arm had decided to sneak under his blanket to rest her hand on his chest. The redhead shifted and softly yawned before nuzzling his shoulder. Was it the tiredness or had her canines looked sharper than usual?

"Did you sleep well?"

He slowly blinked. He was certainly hurting. But there were much more important questions like where was he, who was she, what happened...?

"Where," he cleared his throat, the sound coming out raspy," are my clothes?"

She hummed upon hearing his voice. "Drying," her nails lightly ran against his chest, "I don't want you getting sick."

"Stop."

She tilted her head curiously. "Am I hurting you?"

"Just...stop."

Her fingers paused and lay flat on his stomach. "Are you hungry? I can heat up some food."

"I am..." but first things first. With a breath in, he lifted his back off of the makeshift bed of furs. He gritted his teeth as he sat up.

"What're you doing?" she scolded, promptly sitting up to help him. "Silly goose, you're injured."

He grabbed her arm as he stayed sitting up. "Are you the one responsible for my state?"

She blinked at the firm hold he had on her arm. "Me?" She smiled and tittered. "Why would I want to hurt you?"

"You injured me in order to bring me here."

"No," she coyly smiled, "I moved your canteen to bring you here."

"What?"

A light blush colored her cheeks. "I've been watching you climb my mountain." She twirled a finger around some of the fur of her blanket. "You're stronger than I remembered."

...Remembered? "We have never met."

She smiled widely, the light pink turning red. "Yes we have. Four years and 239 days ago."

"..."

"You don't remember," she pouted. "I was stuck in a trap and you got me out." She pulled the tie out of her hair, a couple of wild locks curving to frame her face, "you even bound up my wound, remember?"

He let go of her arm and took the strip of cloth. His eyes narrowed. He had a shirt this color. He faintly recalled escaping to the woods after Sophie's funeral. He had seen a trapped fox and released it, even ripping some of his shirt to cover its bleeding injury. Sophie loved wild animals. He couldn't bring himself to walk away from the fox's mournful whines.

"...I do not understand."

"What part?"

"I used this..." he lifted up the cloth with confusion in his eyes, "to help a fox."

She blinked at his words and then comprehension dawned. "Oh! Silly me!" She lightly bumped the side of her head. "We were never properly introduced!" She turned herself completely towards him and then inclined her head. "I am Sora, of the Inari Kitsune," she lifted her head up proudly, "specifically, wind kitsune."

What he once thought was a blanket around her unwrapped and five poofy red tails were behind her bare form. He was slightly too bewildered to completely understand that she was naked and had been sleeping next to him as such. A kitsune? Surely, he had heard about some Japanese tales but his logical brain was not registering that the legend was not mythical.

"I've seen you around over the years, but I didn't approach," she suddenly lowered her gaze in a moment of shyness. But the feeling was fleeting as she lifted her head back up, "Now I have five tails." She leaned close to him, her dark amber eyes liquid heat, "Now I can do this."

"Do wha-"

Her mouth covered his, her petite hands cupping his face. For a couple of seconds, he was shocked - he, the unflappable one, the unshaken. In those seconds, a thrill like lightning shot down his body, his hands hovering over her hips in reaction to her movement. Feeling her skin made him snap out of it. He pulled away, averting his eyes.

"Put something on."

"Eh?" She looked down and then laughed. "Oh right. Humans are used to clothes."

He heard rustling as she dug through something. Then she was back next to him, her clawed hand resting against his face. He turned back to her upon feeling her touch. He had just registered the light blue yukata on her form when his eyes widened, feeling her lips on his again.

"Wait -" he cut himself off with a half groan, her sweet mouth moving over his face. "Desist," he grabbed her face, keeping her away from him. Such a sweet face. Soft skin. Soft lips. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What do you plan to do with me?"

Kitsunes were tricksters by nature. Some were harmless while others...not so much.

"I thought that was obvious." Her hand came up to draw circles against his cheek. "Though, you are human..." Maybe he needed clarification. She cupped his cheek. "I want you to be mine -"

"Yours?" he blurted out in disbelief before he could control himself.

"- And I'll be yours," she continued on, her hand moving from his face to trail down his chest, "I've been working hard to get five tails," she turned her head, lightly brushing her lips against his palm, a canine coming out to lightly nip him, "I can protect you."

That felt...he halted his train of thought, lightly frowning. He should not be thinking about how that felt.

"I said to stop."

She smiled sweetly. "Get right to it, then? Humans wear clothes but are more forward in words."

"I'll not be yours."

Her smile waned a little. "What?"

"And you're not mine." He let go of her hand, seeing it drop. He pulled the blanket over his body - who would ever think that he would have to cover himself to make a female disinterested? - and set his mouth in a firm, neutral line. "I appreciate the help but I decline your...offer."

"Decline?" She tilted her head. "Being my mate," she trailed her finger along his arm, "is not a light 'offer.' "

He could not believe the situation he was in. "I'm human."

"You're gentle. Resilient," she ran some delicately clawed digits through his hair, "and handsome." She raised his hair up, taking in his scent. He smelled so earthy and masculine...her eyes closed as she softly shivered in delight. "Our kits will be marvelous."

"...Kits?"

Her eyes opened, but stayed lidded. "Our offspring will be part kitsune of course." She softly smiled, "But yours and mine, nonetheless."

His jaw slacked a little, the only indicator being the slight part of his mouth and the showing of just a tiny bit more of the whites of his eyes. Never, in all his life had he had a woman - any kind of female - shock him so much within five minutes, nor have a stranger tell him with a straight face that she was imagining the...offspring...they would have while being in their right mind.

"My answer," he firmly moved her hand away from his hair, "remains."

Her tails slightly drooped. He was serious. "Do I displease you so?"

His eyes looked at the mournful pout of her lips. He then turned his head away from her, looking at the fire. "You also claimed to be strong enough to protect me," he coolly murmured, raising one of his hands to show his bandaged fingertips, "yet here I am, injured."

He heard her shuffle closer, her hand lightly resting on his shoulder.

"I did not know how much you weighed," she defended with an unhappy whine near the end of her words as he shrugged her hand off of him, "or else my winds would have carried you properly." She calmed herself down a little, frowning. " So you're not interested in me?"

"...No."

Her eyes prickled but then her nose twitched, halting her sadness. "Liar..."

"What?"

"You heard me," she loudly proclaimed. She leaned over his ear, "I can smell it," she murmured, her warm breath tickling his ear.

He slightly shivered despite his effort to not show. "I do not take back what I say."

"That's ok," her nose ran along his cheek, "You'll take it back soon enough."

She stood up to heat some food.

FS

"I told you your leg wasn't ready," she lightly chided as she carefully dabbed a natural ointment to his injured thigh.

He had pushed his walking too far today, despite her warning. He eyed her wet hair. He was thankful that she was finally letting him bathe himself in her underground pool, but she still persisted in bathing with him. He kept his attention elsewhere for the most part. It was more difficult than one would think to avoid looking over when a flash of red from the corner of his eye made him turn.

"I will never heal," he muttered as she tended the wound, "if I don't exercise it."

"My friend Rosetta can use magic to -"

"No," he sharply cut her off. He did not need to owe her any more favors. He sighed, seeing her frown. "Thank you, but no."

"It looks better," Sora murmured as she re-bandaged it.

He let her dress it, not at all surprised when she placed a kiss on it. As the days turned into weeks, he was quickly learning just how affectionate she could be. He knew, now, that she had no ill will for him. He did not suspect any tricks in that regard. He looked at the fire lantern she had lit, watching the cinders go up and out of the tiny holes she made in the mountain. They were further into her den for the evenings and then they relocated closer to the entrance during the day.

But she was not comfortable letting him out yet. Or ever, was his thinking. He wasn't certain if she would be willing to let him go, even after he healed. He felt her turn his head. He knew what was coming. He turned his head just so, making her kiss his cheek.

"Still resisting?" she playfully murmured.

"Still trying?" he flatly shot back.

She only smiled, quickly bringing her tails up to turn his head and keep it in place. She leaned over and pecked his lips. "Of course." She stood up, smoothing her loose green leafed yukata. "Do you need help standing up?"

He lowered his hiking shorts over the bandage. "No."

They walked back to the sleeping area. She lifted a hand up, taking the flame from the torch she carried and threw it back into the main fire they had burning. He slowly lowered himself down, eyeing the red fox as she sat near the fire to dry her hair and tails. His hair was still damp but he didn't mind it so much. With the warmth in the room, it will dry up soon enough.

She turned her eyes to him. He turned his gaze to the flame. He could see her knowing smile in his head. He lightly fisted the fur underneath him.

"What game," she called out to him as her tails shook themselves, "would you like to play this evening?"

He looked over at her wooden, polished chest, then back at her. "New game tonight."

She came back and settled down on the furs near him, a bare leg peeking out from under her robe.

"I love new games."

He looked at her languid form and then back at her face. "It's Three Truths and a Lie."

Her tails paused in swishing. "How curious." She smiled. "How do we play?"

"We take turns," he murmured, "telling three truths about ourselves and then one lie, in whichever order. The opponent must guess which one is the lie."

"If you want to know more about me," she softly purred as a tail grazed his knee, "all you have to do is ask." She grinned. This time he did not push it aside. She was pleased to see his hand reach to touch her tail, but then halted as he recalled himself. "But I do admit, this sounds more entertaining. Who goes first?"

"I will, so you can see how it goes."

"How polite," she smiled.

He stared at the soft tail running along his jaw. Subconsciously, he followed the tail's touch slightly and then blinked hard. He looked at her pointedly. She looked back, her eyes lidded. His resolve was not as solid as it used to be. She withdrew her tail, putting it under her chin as she laid her head down.

"When you're ready," her fingers lightly brushed his arm.

"First, you need to sit closer to the fire." He tapped his nose. "You cannot scent out my lie."

The cinders would be enough to block if she was not trying to find his scent. She shrugged a little, moving a fur over to lounge on. She was more interested in the game than to complain about their distance.

"I am 27 years old," he slowly started, being sure to keep his voice even, "I owned a pet dog. I enjoy hiking. I do not like fish."

Her tails swished playfully. "I think..." she rolled over, looking at him upside down, "your age."

Her throat was bared to him, the smooth, slender skin looking golden under the firelight. It was a common animal thing to do, baring one's throat. He may be human, but even he could sense a sort of purpose to this action. She did this strange behavior every now and then. He had no experience in this sort of thing, but there was something...sensual about it.

Here I am, he could almost hear her purr, Come...

His gaze went back to her face. "I do not like fish."

Her enticing eyes widened, switching to surprise. "But I've been feeding you fish!" She merrily laughed. "Why didn't you tell me, silly man?"

He faintly smirked. "I just did."

"Oh how devilish you are!" she praised. She turned herself around to sit up. "Ok, so I go! Hmm..." The tips of her tails curled as she thought. The tips suddenly straightened. "I like udon. I am 225 years old, " she missed the quirk of his brow, "I love sea bathing and..." she gave him a sidelong glance, "I like to cuddle."

Well, he knew which one to rule out for certain.

"...Sea bathing."

"Wrong," she sang out. "I'm 224 years old!"

There was no way for him to know that lie.

She was getting quite comfortable with the game. They had even started making each round themed.

"Hmm...I think," she tapped her chin as she scrutinized his face. She slightly pouted. He had an incredible poker face. "The painting one?"

"...That one," he slowly murmured, drawing out the suspense, "is incorrect."

She looked at him approvingly. "One of your hobbies is painting?"

"Charcoal mostly," he amended.

"Show me."

He let out a nearly silent huff. "With what materials?"

"I got materials," she grinned, getting up and to her chest of things, "just a moment please!" She pulled out a piece of parchment. "I don't see any paint though..." she thought she had something. Her mouth down turned, her tails sinking a little.

"We'll improvise."

She turned around. "With what?"

He grunted as he stood up. His thigh was tired. "The fire."

She watched as he bent over, his long hair sliding over his shoulder. She stood up and gathered his hair. "It'll catch on fire," she shook her head. "I'll braid it when you sit down."

"There is no need."

"I want to."

He sighed. Of course she did. He couldn't think of meeting anyone that was so fascinated with touching him in whatever little way they could. He supposed he should be flattered. Honored, especially since it was a fox spirit of all beings that had the fascination. He fingered a piece of wood, stealing a glance up at her. One hand was holding his hair while the other played with the tips. Her expressive eyes held such yearning and fervor, he did not know how to respond to that.

He couldn't give her what she wanted.

"...I found a good piece."

Any signs of wistful longing were hidden behind a playful face. "Took a while."

"A true hobbyist," he coolly intoned, the gleam in his eyes giving away his amusement, "is a disconcerting one."

Her smile widened as they sat down. He looked down at the parchment as she braided his hair. So smooth. So unlike anything she had ever touched before. She contently sighed as she parted more hair. When his neck was revealed, she ran her nose up, her lips lightly touching his skin.

"What," she softly, so softly, asked against his skin, "will you draw?"

His eyes closed for a moment and then opened them. "...You."

Her fingers paused near the end of his braid. "Nani?"

"You did not mishear me."

The braid slipped from her fingers. "Me?" Her cheeks lightly tinted. "Demo...I do not think anyone's ever drawn me."

"First time for everything."

She softly tittered, lightly biting her lip. Was this a sign? She stood up and sat in front of him. She could not read anything from his face except a calmness. No, she should not assume anything. She had made assumptions before and nearly had her heart broken. If it weren't for her nose, she would have been. But she felt like he was close - so close - to accepting. She just needed to be patient for a couple more days. Then he will be hers, wholeheartedly. She smiled to herself. She could wait a little longer.

"How do you want me?"

He looked up from testing the charred stick. "Just as you are."

Her fingers toyed with her obi. She could take his words anyway she wanted. She reached behind her, tugging at the loose knot. The obi fell from her waist. Smoothly, she shrugged off the yukata from her shoulders, letting the material pool around her seated form. She focused inward, letting her ears shift to the top of her head. Her fuzzy fox ears turned with the sound of the fire. She shook her head a little, making her hair fall forward. She relaxed herself on the furs then looked up at him, signaling that she was ready.

He did not draw yet.

He let her image sink into his mind, her five tails still behind her like sentry men while her white tipped ears flicked a little. Her red hair was wild and loose, covering her chest, the tips resting along the top of her smooth stomach. Her curved hips peeked out a little before the green fabric pooled around her like a great mossy bed...

His hand had started sketching without him fully realizing it.

"So which one was the lie?" she murmured.

He looked down at the sketch. He will do the details of her face later. It needed more attention and a thinner stick.

"I do not like to hunt."

"Really now?"

"Stay still," he quietly chided.

Her tails halted. "Gomen." She silently watched him for a while. "Leon," she paused, letting his name roll off her tongue like a drop of sweet nectar, "how do you like it here?"

His hand had paused as she used his name. "The forest is nice," he murmured. "Your friend is accommodating."

He had only met a younger fox named Rosetta when she would drop off some fish and game outside of the cave opening. Sora had told him that she did not hunt for his own protection. Protection against what, she never said and would not say anything further than that. He could only assume that it had to do with how he had been injured.

After all, she had said she was a wind kitsune. The strange phenomenon that occurred on the mountainside led him to believe that there was an earth kitsune around. But why it would harm him, he did not know. He could only assume that the kitsune not as benevolent as she was.

"Yes," the forest was the reason she came to settle in this area, "but how about...with me?"

"Tilt your chin down."

She blinked at that. "Ah, like this?"

"That's too low."

He stood up. She started a little when she felt his hand along her chin. It was the first time he initiated contact with her. She looked up at him through her lashes as he tilted her chin and angled it. He could see her tentative hope in her eyes. Every part of her spoke of her feelings, from her swishing tails to her fiddling fingers. Then, of course, her lip biting and her open eyes...She was terrible at hiding her emotions.

Not that she ever claimed to be adept at it.

"It's your turn," he murmured as he adjusted his charred stick for details. "Three truths, one lie."

"Oh." She supposed he wasn't ready to answer her. Then again, she had told herself to be patient. "What topic?"

"Kitsune."

"Curious, are we?"

"If you want," he slowly drawled, "we can make it more interesting."

That made her tails flicker. "How so?"

"Place a bet on this round."

She grinned. "I did not take you for a gambler."

"It's not gambling if you win."

"Quite the confidence," she laughed, "considering that it is in my favor."

"All the more reason to bet."

"What is the bet?"

"If I guess correctly, you're making the bed tomorrow."

She laughed. "And if I win, I get a kiss."

He nodded his head as he started outlining her eyes.

"Ok...We like dirt baths. We like to chase. We like springtime. And we like honey."

Two of them he immediately knew were true. But the dirt baths and honey he wasn't certain of. That is, if he was only listening, he would not know which is false. He looked at her from over the parchment. But he had been paying attention to her tails, the center one specifically. The others hovered normally, but the middle one...

"Dirt baths."

The middle tail straightened for a fleeting half a second and then swished along with the others. "I guess I'm making the bed tomorrow."

He started drawing her nose. "One more?"

"Oh yes please! This betting is great fun!"

His hand clenched the stick for a moment. "...Topic?"

"Hmm...your firsts," she grinned. "If I win, you give me a kiss - a proper one on the mouth, so no tricks!"

"And if I win," he started drawing the curve of her happy mouth, "I leave tomorrow morning."

Her smile was no longer there.

"...I don't want to play anymore."

"The topic has already been given," he neutrally said, "and the bets placed."

"Then I take my bet back!"

"My first date was in high school," he intoned with no inflections, only looking at his drawing, "my first painting when I was 10."

"Please, Leon! Stop it!"

"My first lie when I was 7," he continued, "my first heartbreak in college."

Her eyes were watery. She couldn't tell if he was lying but if she specifically scented out for it under the smell of the fire - but she already knew the answer. Her fox ears were out, letting her hear his heart beat. No matter how much of a poker face someone had, they could never fully cover the natural responses from the body. She lowered her head, her bangs covering her eyes.

"...Your painting at ten."

She picked wrong. She could have guessed correctly, but what was the point of that? If she won, he would just find another way to leave the den. She lost either way. He just finished her lips. He had to do it from memory. When she responded, he stopped. He looked up at her, analyzing her.

"You guessed it," he quietly murmured.

Her clawed hands clenched. "I'm going to bed," she whispered. She kicked her yukata out of the way and then wrapped her tails around herself.

He sat there, still working on his drawing.

FS

She was awake, but she kept her eyes closed.

He was awake and rummaging around, undoubtedly gathering his things. She gripped one of her tails. Maybe this was just some awful dream. Leon hadn't tricked her and he wasn't leaving in a few moments. A few tears slipped out. If only she could fool herself into thinking that.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. She stiffened.

"I did not give you your prize."

"I lost yesterday," she tightly snipped out, her tails tightening around her.

"Sora."

Her eyes widened a little, turning her head at the sound of her name. He had not used it before now. He tilted his head down, giving her a proper kiss. She couldn't help herself. She put her arms around his neck, bringing him down on her. It was the kiss she had dreamed of; the kiss she longed for him to give her.

Tears streamed out.

She broke it off with a miserable cry. He lifted off of her, letting her curl into herself. Her tails wrapped her as tight as they could, muffling her as she cried and cried. He knew she would honor their bet. If she wanted to, he was certain she could keep him here forever.

"I'm going." He put a hand on where he assumed her head was. "Thank you for the care."

Her cocoon quivered. She wanted to make him stay. She wanted to block the exit with fox fire and mark him as hers. But he did not want that. He couldn't even bear to be here anymore. She couldn't bring herself to trap him where he didn't want to be.

"Good bye," she whispered, though he had already left.

FS

The black haired female stood in front of Leon, her mouth still open.

She was a lot more quiet than he thought she would be. He highly doubted it would last long, if at all.

"Where in the hell have you been?!"

"I did not mean to worry you, May."

"Worry?" The petite woman put her hands on her hips. "You go missing for freaking two months and all you can do is apologize?! First, you ditch your own bachelor party to go who the hell knows where - without so much as a note or your stupid cell phone on you - and your car is gone too but no freaking body can find it," her voice was reaching ear splitting by now, "and then you show up out of nowhere in some stupid hiking gear and your smelly old car to apologize!"

He put an arm around her, bringing her head to his chest.

The furious female started to shake and quiver. "Bastard." Her hands fisted his shirt, her eyes watering without her permission. "Everyone said you got cold feet."

"...I needed some fresh air." He looked up at the sky, feeling the light breeze.

"You're a stupid pile of crap," she sniffed, "you know that?"

He sighed and closed his eyes. He could still see a familiar figure sitting down patiently, her tails swishing as she waited to be drawn. May didn't have to tell him that.

He already knew he was.

FS

FS

FS

AN: This is not the end. This will be a three parter.