"Hey, look at that one!" Kiara shouted silently, pointing at a constellation in the shape of a rabbit. "That one looks like a baby rabbit!"
"Indeed it does, Kiara." I confirmed.
What were we doing? Well, I agreed to come with Kiara to watch the stars in order to spend time with her after so long. After all, what better time to hang out until after all of the pride was asleep?
Smooth…
Noticing one with a cobra, I pointed at it. "And there's a cobra."
Giggling, Kiara sighed. "My father used to do this all the time. Said the great kings of the past watch down on us from the stars."
I raises an eyebrow, blinking at the prospect. Royal dead lions watching over us?
Ignoring the fact i'm royalty and am watching over you through your cursed mind..
"My idea of belief is different from yours." I told her. "In my eyes, they represent light. They represent peace. They represent all that is good."
"Well, that's actually similar to our thoughts." She laughed before turning at the stars. I looked down before speaking up.
"Kiara." I said to the lioness, who looked at me, confused. "I'm sorry for leaving without telling you."
I got up and walked up the hill, sighing. "I saw what Zira and the Outsiders were doing. Breeding them into fighters and ruthless killers. I knew I had to do something to protect you all, so I told Zuri to tell your parents, but nobody else because I knew you'd go after me."
The princess, walking next to my side, motioned for me to continue.
"I felt guilty for leaving after you told me what happened while I was gone, the anger and tone of your rant striking at the choice I made like a stampede." I said. "But now that I'm back, I'll be able to do something to help out other than be an idiot and go back to the Outlands…"
Kiara looked down, taking in the information, finally understanding the true reason I left before smiling. "You're an idiot, alright.."
But when she nuzzled me, the guilt washed away for some reason.
"But you're MY idiot." She confessed.
I'm gagging…
Don't vomit, old man.
You dare-!
"You're my friend, Connor." She continued. "I now understand why you left…"
"Good." I replied. "Because for your sake and the kingdom's, I'll only leave in short bursts."
"Asante sana, squash banana, wewe nugu." We heard someone sing as we were nuzzling, causing us to pull away and look around.
When I looked forward, a finger came up and touched my nose and Rafiki to pop out of the grass.
"You two! Come with ol' Rafiki!" He said, smiling at our confused expressions. "Come! Come!"
He then raced off as Kiara and I looked at each other.
"Let's get moving, then!" I said before chasing after the baboon, Kiara following me.
It looked like Rafiki knew what to do and we didn't.
Which is common.
I suppose so. Let's just hope it doesn't lead us to danger.
Well, whaddya know, we were now at a waterfall.
Yes, Rafiki led the two of us to an admittedly beautiful looking waterfall. As we looked at each other, we looked back at the baboon, who was cackling. Raising an eyebrow, I blinked.
''What's the significance of this waterfall, exactly?'' I asked the mandrill. ''It's nothing special.''
''Dat's where you're wrong!'' Rafiki said, coming up and putting an arm around me. ''You see, Shujaa...dis has something to do with a think called Upendi.''
''What?'' I blinked again. ''What's that supposed to mean?''
Suddenly, the baboon disappeared and put his hands on the back of both of our heads. Pushing our faces closer to each other, the blushes on us showing at being so close, he suddenly made us touch muzzles, which for some reason...felt...good?
''You'll see, you two.'' He said, guiding us to what looked like a thrill ride's seat. ''Go! Go!''
Hesitantly, we did so. Sitting down, we looked at each other, but turned away until he pointed his stick at the water, causing it to flow and send us into a cave. As we couldn't see through the darkness, we heard the mandrill's voice.
''Upendi is a place inside of the heart.'' Rafiki explained in the darkness. ''Through everything, all of the troubles, all of the discord, all of the conflict...one thing shall remain.''
The light began to show at the end of the cave, leading us to the end of the waterfall. As I panicked, Kiara put her paw on my shoulder, causing me to calm down as the seat dropped and landed in a river, which caused it to keep moving. As I was breathing repeatedly, my head was suddenly hit by a passion fruit, which bounced off and was caught in my paw.
''I guess i've always been hard hea-'' But when I opened my mouth, another one fell right into it, causing me to choke. Dear christ, he's really going all out with this, isn't he?
Obviously.
Somehow, when Kiara kissed me on the cheek, the passion fruit sinked into my stomach, though I rubbed my throat in slight pain, which quickly faded away. I looked around and was instantly confused. Rhinos in a conga line, other animals dancing...it's...um..
But we suddenly fell in the water. Looking at Rafiki, who was dropping down and grabbing onto what looked like...wait a minute. We're in a-DRAAAAIN!
Yes, we were falling towards the seat, Kiara laughing and me screaming, but we somehow managed to land perfectly. Next thing I know, Rafiki puts a heart shaped floaty over my head as Kiara giggled.
''Where is Upendi?'' She asked, only for Rafiki to cover her eyes and rub the inside of her ear with his finger.
''No place you don't take with you.'' What's that supposed to mean? The baboon hopped off before getting into a conga line...with bushes...swinging them around with Kiara jumping out of the seat and joining him, leaving me to jump out as well to watch it with a smile.
You do realize Kovu isn't going to like this, right…?
Hm?
He was supposed to be the one to get close to Kiara, not you. Zira will see it as treachery and be furious.
Well, that's her problem. I never wanted to use Kiara, I wanted to protect her from Zira.
Catching up with the princess and Rafiki, the two of them jumped up and used large plants as a parachute, which I did as well when I jumped off and caught one. Flying down, I dropped a couple sweats.
Eventually, though, we DID manage to reach the ground and we DID manage to do it safely, to my relief. Looking at Kiara, who was grinning like a cheshire and moving towards Pride Rock, I followed her...but something ELSE was there.
No, not an object or noise...but an emotion. Something equal to love, but…
...I'll accept that.
I'm not going to enjoy this. Your mushy banter with my great-niece is going to be disgusting to listen to.
Ah, lighten up!
As we approached Pride Rock, we noticed everyone was asleep. Reaching the den, me and Kiara nuzzled each other before she went towards the den. When she saw, I wasn't coming with her, she raised an eyebrow of concern.
''Something wrong?'' She asked.
''No, of course not.'' I assured her. ''I just need to talk to Kovu for a moment.''
''Oh..'' She sighed, but smiled. ''Goodnight.''
Another nuzzle before going into the den.
''You too..'' I replied before walking to Kovu, who was watching us from the rocks he slept at. ''Kovu, I-''
''You're further jeopardizing our mission..'' He started. ''I was supposed to get to Kiara, NOT you! Do you have any concern for what my mother will do?''
Narrowed eyes came from me. ''I don't care about what your mother will do me or you. I am more concerned about what happens to Kiara and the pridelanders. I've known Kiara since I first came to the Pridelands and she was a large part of my time before the Outlands. I am NOT betraying her or the Pridelands just because of what that wicked lioness wants!''
Growling, Kovu got up in my face. ''Don't you EVER talk about my mother like that again..''
Minutes felt like hours as Kovu was growling at me, hell bent on killing me, but hesitating.
''You know if you kill me, this entire plan is ruined.'' I reminded him. ''I am key in this and if she hears you killed me, she'll be enraged regardless if I joined the pridelanders or not.''
Kovu eventually calmed down. ''Sorry..I just..''
I put a paw on his shoulder. ''Your love for your mother is understandable. Most children care for their mothers and what they say..you were bred to be a fighter, a ruthless killer...but you know what both me and Kiara see?''
''What?''
''...A lion just wanting a place to call his home.'' I said before walking back into the den, laying down next to Kiara.
A home...that I have...with a princess...
Note: Ah, Rafiki. Never get enough of him, eh?
NEXT: With Kupatana coming around, Shujaa teams up with Tiifu and Zuri to make it the best one for Kiara. But when a familiar hyena gang pops up in the Pridelands, it threatens to ruin the day Shujaa wanted to make perfect.