Chapter 5

A Song…Is Only Love in A Sound.

"Good." Jemima turned back to return to Electra and the others who were already dispersing. Bast what am I going to do? I've never loved anyone before; I've never felt anything like this. I can't even think about him now without crying, laughing or feeling that odd thud below my stomach… I knew what that was too; I wasn't innocent anymore even if I had never let a tom make love to me.

I didn't want any tom but one to ever now, but I knew he could never see me that way. It wasn't like that, no matter what Bomba told me about the look he would get on his face at the ball. She just wanted to make me feel better; it hadn't worked though, because I didn't believe her.

This can't go on any more. A week had passed and I had yet to acquire the nerve to confess. I spent a great deal of time pondering just what to say, how to look, where to tell him. It was all useless.

There he was again, I watched him often; playing with the kittens, talking to old Deuteronomy, grooming, dancing or occasionally if I was lucky: singing. He was a wonderful singer; I had always thought so, now I just recognized what was so wonderful about his voice. It was very masculine, but slightly child-like at the same time, it roused a response in me every time I heard it and it seemed to be ever getting even better.

Be bold. Be bold! Be bold damn you!

I couldn't do it anymore, how many times had I thought that! This time though I'd really pushed it too far. Misto turned to face me as I came running up at top speed, and when I took a flying leap into his arms he caught me in mid air as easily as if I were a ball of yarn. He was a great deal stronger then most gave him credit for.

I didn't say anything, I just did something I had never done before; trembling I put my lips over his. Appearances do not always deceive, his lips were a great joy to kiss, unfathomably soft and ineffably warm and they had a faint taste that reminded me of something. I pushed my paws through his head fur and quickly began to deepen the kiss into less of a kitten's parting from a friend to a passionate lover's embrace.

As I reveled in the spectacular feeling of being in his arms, against his warm body while I devoured his lips I suddenly realized the most important part of this mind spinning experience. He was kissing me back. Gently, shyly, but as I lost myself, so did he.

Supporting me with a paw on my back, he returned my affection with an aggressive passion that I never guessed he possessed. I didn't have to be experienced to know he was a phenomenal kisser, it is the same as knowing that a piece of artwork is incredible and visually stunning without ever having set foot in a gallery before.

I let out a moan against his lips as we both toppled over unto the ground when Misto's strength gave out to me, and I decided I never wanted this moment to end. When it ended I would have to explain myself, I couldn't trust myself, and I may well make some excuse and bow out of the situation without ever telling him. I could find an excuse, a dare perhaps?

Stop it! You're not that stupid, you know damn well that you can't possibly hope to go on having kissed him, kissed him like this! You can't find out so much and feel so much and be so manipulated by such a talented lover then walk away! You love him you idiot! Tell him!

Amazed I could even have thoughts while such was going on I threw caution to the wind, to hell with them all! Nothing else can matter after this! I needed to tell him, and I needed to tell him now!

Not wanting to wait one more second, and reassured by the embrace, I broke the kiss, his eyes were shut and his lips hung barely open as though he were paralyzed. Misto licked his lips and pursed them once, then slowly opened his eyes to look at me, breathing heavily. When I gazed into those infinite black depths, I saw unshed tears glistening there,

"Now," he began in a soft, broken and unsteady voice, "are you going to tell me why you did that… Or am I going to spend the rest of my life dreaming of one kiss?" finishing with downcast eyes and a pose braced for rejection I reached out to caress his white cheek with a paw.

"I wanted you to know…" I rallied my strength and took a deep breath to prepare for the plunge, slipping a finger under his chin to force him to look at me again, "I love you." Those eyes that always captivated me, now so close to mine widened in shock and disbelief,

"But you…! And the letters and…!" then he was kissing me again. Caught by surprise I was knocked flat on my back, neither of us cared though, we'd waited too long for this, he longer. "I love you too, I've loved you since before I knew what love was." He breathed between kisses. "Bast I thought I'd lost you."

"Why?" I asked, he paused, hovering over me in a moment of contemplation.

"No reason, it doesn't matter now."

"If it was because of the letters… I feel a lot for whoever wrote them, I certainly know how he feels. But I love you, I can't let anything get in the way of that again, you're too precious to me to risk losing you for someone I don't even know." I smiled, "I've loved you for a long time, it's just taken a while for me to realize that."

"You do know the tom who wrote the letters Vici." Misto said, not letting me dismiss that unfortunate creature.

"Oh sure, but I don't know who it is, they'll find someone else."

"No they won't." I raised an eyebrow at him in confusion, he smiled and pulled me into a sitting position then sang in a soft slow tone with that gorgeous voice of his,

'Until the sun burns bright no more,

Until the moon falls from the sky,

I will love you forever and more,

And now there's always you and I.

For all eternity I'll hold on,

Never let go never let go,

Never will I carry on,

As long as you're with me there is no woe.

Until all flowers fade,

Until the stars are no more,

So long as the sunlight cascades,

For always and forevermore.

Now you have heard my voice,

Now you have seen my face,

Now you must make your choice,

And I implore you my case.

Will you love me forever and more?

Will you always stay by my side?

Will you guide me and protect,

Will you love me as I love you?'

"Misto… Everlasting Cat…" I stood and threw my arms around him, "It was you!" he laughed, a glorious sound. As much as laughing pleased me I had already devised a better use for his mouth and pulled his head down to mine to lock my lips over his.

He let a generous amount of time go by before pulling away from me, then pushing me back with a laugh as I attacked him again.

"I have something for you. You never let me finish my letters, ruined my plan actually; how will I ever forgive you!" he threw an arm across his eyes dramatically. I linked my arms around him and kissed his neck,

"Oh I'm sure you'll find a way."

"There'll be time for that later." I giggled at his tone, "Now, as I said, I have something for you, but I can only give it to you on one condition." The playful smirk widened as he waved his paw in the air quickly, uttering a quiet 'Presto!'.

There on his palm appeared a small box, a rather ordinary box all told, when nothing extraordinary was on the box I assumed there was something extraordinary in the box. I knew the artful conjurer well you see. It may even be something about the box, one never can tell with Misto.

He opened it slowly, holding it so it faced me. Within, as the light crept inside the contents glittered in multicolours and when the interior was revealed it took my breath away. It was the jeweled bracelet from the drawing! Set in silver with blue, red and violet stones edged by a golden line. It was a delicate thing, small enough to perfectly fit my neck.

"Vici, this is for you. I conjured most of the supplies and made it with my own paws, no cheating, but I must ask you to hear my one condition before you take it. The original bracelet was my grandmother's, it's really a family heirloom of sorts but I was an only child and with no queen to give it to my mother passed it to me for the one I would chose to be my lifemate.

"You know why I'm telling you this? Because that cat is you and," he knelt before me in mimic of an old human tradition, not so much for that reason as he wanted to show me that I was a higher being to him who must be respected and given loving worship. "I am asking you to lifebond with me, I know that that is not something to be taken lightly… But Vici, I am magical and I know that there will never be anyone but you and I know that I love you that much. You have to decide how much you love me.

"Even if you don't want to… I still want you to take it because I'll never give it to anyone else if err I live to be a thousand, I'll never love anyone save you." I reached back and pulled off my collar, tossing it aside, I picked up the intricate bracelet and held it up.

Misto rose, putting the box aside, he moved behind me and took the bracelet, firmly clasping it around my neck and brushing my shoulder with kisses.

"I love nothing in the world so well as you, and I want to spend this lifetime and eternity in the Heaviside with you." I said with conviction as he sat down again in front of me. I pulled him close, kissing him again and remembering that I had just changed my whole world in the space of a half-hour.

And I laughed.

A/N: Above banner made by Mr. Rumplejerrie, I just wanted the picture. If there were any doubters of this couple out there take it up with this SCREENSHOT! I wanted to include it because it looks much like a scene from this chapter, and I rather wanted everyone to see it. Please review and let me know what you thought, there may or may not be anymore to this story depending on those very reviews! Glomps to everyone and may Misto be with you!