Welcome Home

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"When we understand the connection between how we live and how long we live, it's easier to make different choices. Instead of viewing the time we spend with friends and family as luxuries, we can see that these relationships are among the most powerful determinants of our well-being and survival."

- Dean Ornish

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Kion continued to embrace his sister as the figure in the window dissapeared like a ghost.

"Kion?" his sister asked "is everything okay?"

Kion paused for a moment, his focus was distanced. Ever since that day, life outside the military had become more difficult for Kion. Finding the will to get out of bed become increasingly harder with the passing months. The pain from that day was permanently carved into mind leaving behind a trail of rigid scars. And recently he been seeing certain...

...things.

"Uh-yea. I'm all good, thanks sis." he said as he let her go.

Wanting to change the subject, Kion switched his attention from his sister to the newly decorated ball room.

"Wow Kiara...this is amazing." he said in awe. "Did you do this all by yourself?"

Kiara too turned her attention to her artwork.

"Well, not exactly. Mom and Grandma came over to help earlier this morning, and Zuri and Tiifu were supposed to be here-" she looked down at her smartwatch and let out a sigh.

"-Two hours ago."

The two laughed. 'Typical of those two he thought.

"It's beautiful Kiara. I still cant believe you did most this by yourself. Hey- were's Kovu and your kids at? It feels like forever since I last saw them" he asked.

Kiara laughed at this. Kion was always great with children, and Kiara's kids always thought Kion to be their favorite uncle. They always thought he was more interesting then there own parents.

"They went with dad to one of uncle Malka's ceremonies. They should be back in time for the party later tonight."

"Speaking of-" Kion turned back to Kiara and smiled "What's the party for?"

Kiara's face quickly turned from one of happiness to one of horror as she realized her fatal mistake. She gasped as she covered her mouth.

"Oh my gosh!"

"Uhhh...Sis? What's wrong?"

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh" she repeated as she covered her face, humiliation was quick to set in.

"Uhm...Ki, I uhm-need you to...go and uh...pick up my friends at- at the gym! Yes! I need you to go pick up my friends at the gym!" she said sheepishly.

Kiara paused.

It didn't take a genius to know that she was definitely hiding something from Kion. As a matter of fact, it didn't even take a moron to know what she was hiding something. But what that was puzzled him. Why would his sister be hiding something from him? Did she not trust him anymore?

"Oh, Uhm, Okay. Just call me when the party starts okay?"

"Yes for sure! Oh Kion, before you leave-" she walked over to one of the tables and picked up a briefcase. -"take this with you"

"Whats inside?"

"You'll know when you open it. But right now you have to go, okay?"

Kion was hessitant, but he took the briefcase from his sister. He hugged his sister one last time before he left the room.

He began walking down the long hallway as he stopped at a family picture, admiring the time when things were simpler.

A picture of his family at the Prideland Fair. They all looked as if they were in the happiest place on earth. Kion laughed as he passed by the happy memory. He continued his way down the garge wich housed easily over twelve cars.

It took him awhile to traverse the rather large estate castle, until he finally made it to his destination.

He passed by Kiara's creamy white Mercedes, his fathers candy apple red Ferrari and what he liked to call his mothers collection of "soccer mom vans". Allthough she had the money for better cars, Kion's mother was a woman who prefered practicality over aesthetics.

"It's cheaper, gets better gas mileage for your buck, and it has lots of space" Nala would use to say.

He pushed pass the assortment of expenssive cars until he reached his own dark, metallic red mustang, which had two sleek black racing stripes that each cut the center of the car in half.

He wasn't gonna lie. He hated the fact that he was stupidly rich and could get his hands on virtually anything he pleased without really having to work a single day in his life. Thats part of the reason he joined tge military; to prove that he wasn't a stuck up, rich douche-bag.

But he had to admit...Being born into one of the wealthiest royal familes in the world had it's perks...

...Like the toys for instance.

He put his keys into the ignition and turned them till he heard the noise he was listening for.

VROOM!

The car roared to life as Kion started it. He laughed as he relrelized his guilty pleasure had come into fruition. He slid into his comfortable black leather seat and set the briefcase on the passenger side.

He revved the engine twice more.

VROOM! VROOM!

"Atta' girl." Kion said. He took in all the smells of his car. It still felt brand new, yet, it had been so long since he had been inside it. "My day one, and my only one." he said as he kissed the wheel.

With that out of the way, he quickly backed out of the garge and raced down the straightaway leading to the entry way of the estate grounds. He was stopped by one of the security guards in a small office that controlled the gates and security cameras.

"Well well well, if it isn't Mr. Kiongozi himself." the large cape buffalo laughed.

"The one and only" Kion said sarcastically.

"Man, it's been forever since you've been back home. Where you off to in such a hurry? You just got back."

Kion rolled his eyes. "Uhg, Kiara wants me to go pick up some of her friends. Hopefully some of them are cute." He said as he pulled down his sunglasses just enough to wink.

The two laughed and chatted for a bit more.

"Well Kion, you know the rules. I cant let you out of here unless you give me the correct password."

Kion smirked as repositioned his sunglasses over his eyes and looked straight ahead, ready to blast out of there. With confidence, he replied.

"Pridelands Fiercest"

A brief moment of an awkward silencd insued.

"Uhmm... No, sorry but that's incorrect."

Kion gave him a puzzled look.

"What? I could have sworn I changed the password years ago..."

"Well...You did, but I'm not letting you out of here until you say it." replied the buffalo, giving Kion a teasing look.

Kion's confident and cocky smirk instantly dropped.

"Gary, come on. Let me through."

"Mmm, wrong."

"Gary."

"Wrong again."

"Please don't make me say it."

"Still wrong"

"Please?"

"Sorry Kion, but I dont make the rules, I'm just here to enforce them. Nothing personal, just doing my job."

Kion let out a sigh.He wasn't going to win this battle.

Not today atleast.

"...Moma's Boy 1 2 3..." he mumbled under his breath, his face red with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, what was that? It's hard to hear you all the way over here."

"Gary, please!"

"Alrighty, fine." Gary laughed as he opened the gates. "Don't do anything stupid while your out there, you here me? You just got back."

The two laughed and said their goodbyes as Kion raced off.

'Oh I'll get you back.' was all he could think.

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After a bit of driving, Kion finally pulled up to the place Kiara sent him too. Trying to find this place was a nightmare. He forgot how busy the city could be sometimes.

There was only one problem.

Other than their names and the name of the gym, he didn't have a clue as to who he was picking up.

Jasiri and Rani.

He waited outside the gym for about thirty minutes.

'Where are these guys?' he was starting to get ancy. After a bit more of waiting, Kion decided to turn his car off and enter the gym.

He walked up to one of the trainers/ employees of the gym, a fox.

"Hey, sorry to bother you but I was looking for-" he managed to say before getting cut off.

"Wait a minute, are you...Prince Kion?" the employee said in shock.

'Great. Another fangirl. Play it cool Kion.' he thought.

"Oh, haha I wish. But no, thats not me. I'm just an average, unimportant, normal-"

"What do you mean unimportant? Your a hero! Everyone knows who you are! And if we are being completely honest, your one of the top seven hottest guys in the world" she winked.

"Oh uhm...Thank you, your really too kind, but I'm actually just looking for some friends that go here. Do you think you could help me with that?"

"Sure thing! And what might be their names?" she asked.

"Uhm lets see..." he pulled out his smart phone and read Kiara's text

..."Their names are Jasiri and Rani."

"Ah, right this way." said the employee.

The two walked down a narrow strip of walkway, passing by several weight machines. It was apparent that Kion was catching glances from everyone. All of them admiring his appearance.

The two finally came up to a pair of girls working at a squat machine. One lioness and one hyena.

'Wow are they gorgeous' thought Kion.

"Hey ladies, looks like you two have a visitor. I'll leave you three to it, but hey, if you ever want to talk, you know where to find me" the employee winked at Kion.

"Oh..Uh, yeaa... thanks.."

The girls laughed at this.

"Thanks Jill, have a good one" said the hyena as she watched the fox leave

"So, you guys must be Kiara's friends. I'm Kion, it's nice to meet you." he stuck out his hand.

"Ooo, what a Gentleman." the hyena replied, smiling as she shook his hand.

The lioness followed her friends actions, and introduced themselves to Kion.

"Why it's very nice to finally meet you Kion. My name is Rani, and this is my friend Jasiri."

"Very nice to meet the two of you."

he bowed, wich warnented a rather large smile and a small laugh from both of the fine ladies.

"Well Kiara told us a lot about you Mr. Kion, but she never told us how cute you are" said Jasiri.

Kion blushed at this. He tugged on the collar of his shirt while he shifted his gaze somewhere else.

"Well-Uhm...t-thank you." he said sheepishly.

The girls laughed at him, which only made him feel more embarrassed. 'Why of all days, does everyone pick today to embarrass me?" thought Kion.

"Well, I'll just be out in my car. I'll pull it around the front, so when you two are done you can just hop in."

Rani the lioness was quick to respond.

"Actually you caught us at the right time. We were actually just finishing up here, right Jasiri?"

"Yes, we just have to grab our stuff and we'll meet you at your car. Does that sound okay to you?"

Kion smiled.

"Yes, of course!"

Realizing that not all of Kiara's friends were complete brats, (specifically these two 'cuties') Kion felt a flutter in his stomach that would leave a lasting impression on him. However, it would also keep him questioning himself as the days moved on.

He couldnt help but think:

'How would she feel about me? Does she still love me like I love her? Will she ever wake up?'...

...'Is it time for me to move on?'...