Chapter 7: A Day to Remember
"There you are, Kion!" Fuli promptly called out to the Lion cub in the distance before making a dash towards him.
An automatic smile instantly graced Kion's lips as he observed Fuli running towards him. His breathing intensified as he watched the beautiful smile on her lips, the mesmerizing spotted patterns on her golden-yellow coat and her alluring, slender frame get closer to him by the second. Wait, why was he suddenly noticing all these little details about his Cheetah friend whom he had known for a very long time?
Fuli gave him her brightest smile when she finally got close enough to him. "Hi, Kion. Haha, what's gotten you so stunned?" she asked with a laugh while giving Kion a teasing look.
Kion let out a silent gasp and instantly straightened his face when Fuli said this. He certainly didn't want her to know how intently he'd been observing her while she ran toward him. Truth be told, he couldn't explain why he was unable to stop himself from staring at her earlier, considering she was his close friend whom he saw regularly. Was he really starting to fall for her?
"Oh, err… hey, Fuli! Sorry, I… I thought I saw something," Kion replied with a nervous grin and hoping she wouldn't noticed that he had started blushing.
But Fuli did noticed that his cheeks had indeed turned scarlet, so she gave him a playful nudge as a way to tease him which in turn, caused Kion to let out a nervous laugh and blushed a deeper shade of red. That was when Fuli noticed the yellow rose that he had brought and went over to pick it up.
"Wow, that's a pretty rose you got there," she commented as she held the flower in her paw.
Kion was both delighted and relieved when she said this. "Thanks. I know you like yellow roses, so I wanted to give you this one as a gift. Happy Upendi Day, Fuli."
This time, it was Fuli's turn to blush. She was truly touched by the simple flower that Kion gave her as a gift, partly because that no-one else has ever surprised her with a present before.
"Thanks, Kion! It's the most beautiful gift I could ever ask for," she replied with a sincere smile as she put the rose next to her left ear. She then slowly got closer to Kion before giving him a lick on his muzzle to show her appreciation. "Happy Upendi Day to you too."
Kion was slightly taken aback by her sudden display of affection, but he was able to maintain his composure and managed to smile at her back. "Glad you like it, Fuli."
A pregnant silence soon overcame the two as each feline waited for the other to say something.
"I have to tell you something."
"I have to tell you something."
Both Kion and Fuli looked surprised at first, but they finally managed to let out a laugh at how they both said the same thing at the same time.
"Okay, ladies first," Kion eventually said with a chuckle and earning a grin from Fuli.
"Alright, I'll start," Fuli began as she settled down next to Kion. "I actually wanted to apologise for making you leave after I told you about my past. I usually like being alone when I'm emotional or upset, but I couldn't help thinking that I was just being selfish for sending you off when all you wanted was just to cheer me up. And for that, I'm really sorry. Truth is, Kion, after we spent time together on Maua Hill, I kind of enjoy having you around for company."
Kion was at a loss for words when Fuli apologised to him. After all, the young Cheetah was widely known to be both snarky and uncompromising, so it came to him as a surprise that she was willing to admit her egotistic behaviour and was even more willing to apologize to him for that.
"That's okay, Fuli. I understand that sometimes you need your personal space and need to be by yourself, but I'm just glad that you still enjoy having me hang around with you," Kion softly replied as he gave Fuli a friendly nuzzle against her maw.
"Thanks for that, Kion," Fuli laughed as Kion settled down next to her. "You know, I couldn't help but noticed that you seemed… confused after I apologized to you."
Kion's lips curved upwards in a smirk when she said this. "To be honest with you, Fuli, I was actually expecting you to yell and vent at me for coming back and trying to cheer you up, but it's nice to hear you warming up to me for a change."
"Well, don't get used to it," Fuli replied before giving Kion a friendly nudge. "So, what was it that you're about to tell me?"
The smile on Kion's suddenly disappeared as he started having second thoughts on revealing to Fuli about his failed plan to give her a gift that was much more plentiful than just a simple yellow rose. "Actually, Fuli. I err… I didn't actually plan to only give you that flower as a gift. I actually planned something bigger but uh… it didn't go quite so well."
For the next five minutes, Kion explained to her everything that happened at the Maji Safi river. Fuli was deeply touched by Kion's effort to surprise he with a gift of fresh tuna, but she couldn't help feel sorry for him when he told her how Mwongo had betrayed him and ate all the tuna himself. By the time he finished telling her everything, Kion was so disheartened that Fuli almost attempted to comfort him with a hug.
"And that's how I ended up giving you only a simple rose as my Upendi Day gift for you," Kion concluded, trying to avoid meeting with Fuli's gaze. "I really wanted to give you something even more special to show how much I truly appreciate and love you as my friend… but I guess some things just aren't meant to be."
He then let out a gasped and was stoned to the ground when Fuli suddenly started nuzzling against his left shoulder in a comforting manner. "Kion, you don't have to bring me gifts of tuna or roses just to tell me that! There were many things you did in the past that tells how much I meant to you," she said in a rather sultry voice as her muzzle sank deeper into Kion's broad shoulder.
"Really? Things such as…?" Kion slowly asked while trying not to make it obvious at how excited he was when Fuli nuzzled against him.
"Well, remember that time when Mzingo and the other Vultures tried to ambush me while I was exhausted from running too much? Haha, I still remembered how angry you were when you roared those Vultures away and saving my life in the process! It doesn't take a genius to figure out why you were angrier than usual when you roared them away, Kion…" Fuli replied while aiming a teasing look at Kion and causing his cheeks to slowly turn scarlet once again. "… and let's not forget that bashful look on your face when you fell on top of me back at Maua Hill."
"Okay, okay, I get what you meant, Fuli!" Kion laughed good-humouredly at the mention of the awkward position he was in with Fuli at Maua Hill a few hours ago.
"Whatever it is, Kion, I'm just glad that today turned out to be great… for the both of us," Fuli purred in her sultry voice as she comfortably nestled herself against Kion's body and resting her head against the smooth fur of his left shoulder.
In response, Kion gently nuzzled against Fuli before affectionately licking a particular spot behind her right ear and causing the young Cheetah to purr slightly louder this time. "Me too, Fuli. Me too…" Kion softly replied as he took his time to enjoy the feeling of Fuli's body nestled against his.
"AWWWW… that's so sweet of you, Kion!"
Both Kion and Fuli instantly leapt with a gasp and turned around when they heard the deep and gruff voice talking to them from behind. For the second time that day, Kion's jaw dropped open when he saw who the voice belonged to.
"MWONGO!" Kion angrily called out to the Serval before violently pouncing on him.
"Ouch! Hey, watta you doing, kid?! Get off of me!" Mwongo protested when he found himself flat on his back and with Kion on top of him, growling fiercely as he sank his claws into the Serval's chest.
"You got some nerve showing your face around here after you tricked me, Mwongo," Kion snarled as he flashed his deadly fangs to intimidate the Serval.
Mwongo squirmed uncomfortably at the look of Kion's razor-sharp teeth. He secretly wished that he hadn't underestimated the young Lion cub when he first met him. "Okay, okay! Look, kid, I'll admit. I admit that I tricked you into catching all those tuna fish. But tricking other animals into getting me food is how I survive while I'm on foreign lands, alright?"
"So everything you told me about yourself was a lie too, I suppose?" Kion asked, giving Mwongo a very unimpressed look.
"Actually, no. I only lied about helping you make the perfect gift out of the tuna fish that you've caught. The rest of it were true, including the reason why I'm travelling across Africa," Mwongo replied, trying his best to remain calm while still on his back and being held onto by Kion. That was when he noticed a growling Fuli, who was right beside Kion. "Say, is that the girl you're dating, kid? I gotta say, you've got really good taste!"
Kion and Fuli both exchanged awkward glances when he said this, but Kion wasn't about to let Mwongo distract him from the main issue at hand. "Why'd you come back here, Mwongo?" he asked in a serious tone.
"Look, kid. I can explain to you everything you wanna know. But first, could you please get off of me?! I swear, I won't run away!"
"I trusted you earlier and you used that trust to trick me. How am I suppose to trust that you won't run away if I were to let go of my hold on you?"
Mwongo desperately looked around, racking his brain to think of an answer. "Err… ok, look. I don't know how to respond to that. But I'll tell you this; I don't usually go back to the animals I've deceived into giving me free food, knowing they'll probably want to claw my eyes out the moment they ever see me again."
Kion raised a brow at the Serval's answer. Whatever he said certainly made sense.
"He does have a point, Kion," Fuli said, who was obviously convinced by the Serval's answer. "Maybe we should trust him just this one time."
Kion looked from Fuli and then back at Mwongo before finally deciding to follow Fuli's advise.
"Alright, I'm giving you a second chance, Mwongo," Kion eventually said as he got off from the Serval. "Now, explain yourself."
"Whew, thanks for that, kid," Mwongo replied, getting on his paws and dusting himself off from the dirt on his fur. "As I was saying, yeah, I admit that I deceived you in getting those fish for me. But after I ran away from you and was out in the clearing, I noticed that all the animals around me seemed to be hugging and nuzzling each other, you know, all those lovey-dovey stuff. And that's when I remembered today was Upendi Day, so err… yeah, I kinda felt bad for tricking you earlier…"
"Well, you should be," Kion interrupted him with a frown.
"Anyways… I felt bad about it, so… I tracked you down to tell you that I've got a surprise waiting for you both over at Maua Hill that I'll know you'll enjoy!" Mwongo continued and putting a wide, toothy grin at the end.
Kion raised a brow in suspicion at the Serval's last sentence. "So what kind of surprise are you talking about here? A pack of hyenas waiting to ambush and pounce on us?"
Mwongo scoffed at Kion's sarcasm.
"Get over with it, kid! I'm trying to do something good here, so there's no need to be sarcastic," the Serval snapped angrily at Kion and for once, taking the Lion cub aback. "If you still don't trust me, then you don't have to go to Maua Hill and see what I've prepared for you two. Simple as that."
Kion frowned at Mwongo and was about to say something else when Fuli suddenly pulled him aside. "Kion, let's not get into an argument with him and just see what the surprise is," she whispered into his ear.
"No. I don't trust him, Fuli. I just think-"
"Kion, please. I don't want the day to go downhill again by getting into an argument with him. He seems rather persistent, so let's just go and see what his 'surprise' really is and then quickly come back here."
Kion looked at Fuli and then towards the Serval. "Alright, Mwongo. We'll follow you to Maua Hill, but don't ever think that we'll let our guard down while we're on the way there," he finally said while giving Mwongo a stern look.
"Wouldn't expect you to," the Serval replied and looking somewhat relieved. "Now let's go."
And with that, the trio made their way back to Maua Hill with Mwongo leading the way while Kion and Fuli walked behind him. As they walked on, the amber evening sky slowly turned a hue of purple as the Sun slowly sank deeper into the horizon.
Eventually, they arrived at the familiar flowery meadow that surrounded the foot of Maua Hill. "Alright, you two! Your surprise is just up at the peak. So follow me, and prepared to be dazzled!" Mwongo announced with a grin as he led the way to the top. Kion and Fuli exchanged glances, wondering what the Serval had in store for them but followed behind him anyways.
When they did reach the peak, both their eyes widened as they were completely surprised by what they saw in front of them.
"Did anyone order a special evening dinner of fish for two with a perfect view of the sunset at the top of Maua Hill?" Mwongo asked in cheery tone and with a wide grin as he presented to Kion and Fuli an array of different types of fish beautifully arranged in the shape of a heart that was placed on the grass of the Hill. And from where they were on top of the hill, they had a perfectly clear view of the setting sun over the Pridelands, laid out right in front of them.
"Wow! I did not see that coming," Fuli exclaimed with a grin, impressed by the set-up that the Serval had prepared for them.
"Mwongo, did you do all this?" Kion inquired as he turned to face the Serval.
"Sure did, kid! It took me a while to hunt for all these fish, but it was the least I could do after I kinda ruined your Upendi Day today," Mwongo replied, smirking as he did so.
"Gee, I… I can't tell you how much we really appreciate your efforts, Mwongo. Thank you," Kion said to him, finally able to smile at the Serval.
"Ah, don't mention it, kid! Like I said, it's the least I could do!" He paused to look at the setting sun before turning back to face the two cubs again. "I'm afraid I have to go and continue on with my travels now, kids. It's getting kinda late for me."
"Wait! You can always stay here in the Pridelands for the night," Fuli offered just as the Serval turned to leave.
"Well that's awfully kind of you, kid, but I think I've been hanging around the Pridelands for too long. Don't get me wrong, this place is great and all, but I'm still planning to travel the entire of Africa until I find my childhood sweetheart, Bahati."
"Well, in that case, Mwongo, I wish you all the best in your travels," Kion cheerfully wished him as he patted the Serval on his back. "If you ever come back to the Pridelands, you're more than welcome to stay here for as long as you like. Just… try not to trick other animals into giving you free food next time."
"Oh, don't worry about that, kid. You'll probably never see me again," Mwongo winked at Kion and Fuli before heading downhill and away from the cubs. "Enjoy your dinner, you two!"
Kion and Fuli watched as the Serval walked away until he eventually vanished from their sights. They then turned around and settled down on the grass next to the array of fish as they observe the setting sun in front of them.
"Kion, before Upendi Day ends, I just want to thank you for all that you've done for me today," Fuli softly said, as she faced Kion with half-lidded eyes. "And… I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really appreciate and love having you as my close friend."
Kion grinned at her before giving her a brief lick on her nose. "Thank you, Fuli. I've never really expected you to ever say that to me, but… I'm glad you did," he teased her and earning a friendly nudge from the young Cheetah. "Happy Upendi day, Fuli."
They happily nuzzled against each other one last time as they watched the sun finally sinking below the horizon, marking the end of the year's Upendi Day Celebration.
A/n: Hope you guys enjoyed it. Thank you to everyone who's read, followed, favorited and reviewed my story so far! And also, a big thank you to Jaa88 for being my beta! Please leave a review and tell me what you guys think of the story and let me know if I should add an epilogue for this. Thank you once again!
