Okay, howdy! 5 reviews! I'm excited! (takes some of brother's confetti and throws it at him)

Kamiko-Zephuru- HEY!

KungPowKitty- Haha! I confettied you!

K-Z- (throws 2-liter open bottle of soda at KungPowKitty) Got ya back!

KungPowKitty- AUGH! YOU ARE SO DEAD! (proceeds by thoroughly attacking twin brother with a frying pan!)

K-Z- That hurts!

KungPowKitty- No duh!

Shard- Attack of the Flying Lawn Mower (A friend of ours)!

KungPowKitty and K-Z- (screech to a stop) what are you doing here? You're supposed to be babysitting K-Z's Inuyasha characters!

Shard- Have you ever seen Sesshomaru on a sugar-substitute high?! Are you nuts?!

KungPowKitty- Oh dear. Uh, read while we go duct tape Sesshy to a wall or something…

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The next few months went by fast. Mufasa's paws healed from where Taka had grabbed him, but there would always be scars. Taka was surprisingly warm now, spending as much time as possible with Mufasa, Simba, and particularly Zira. Simba and Nala were getting in trouble and ruining recent baths from their mothers, as usual. And Simba was constantly getting lessons from Mufasa.

But something was different about little Simba. He seemed more aware of others, and he seemed to always be trying to treat the pride members like he might never see them again.

And that wasn't all. Simba and Nala were growing. As the dry season swiftly approached, the lionesses took Nala with them more an more often to watch the hunts. She needed to be a great hunter by the time she was an adult. By then, she'd be one of the few lionesses left in the pride still in their prime, able to bring down a kill large enough to sustain an entire pride. The lionesses wanted her to get as much of a jump start on hunting as she could. And the betrothal? Nala and Simba had completely forgotten about their impending doom, or what they'd think was their doom.

The dry season hit. Simba was enjoying the shade provided by the outcrop of Pride Rock with Taka.

"Uncle Taka?"

"Hmm."

"Taka, wake up! If I'm gonna talk to you, I'd like it if you were listening!"

"Fine," Taka opened his eyes and hit Simba playfully. "Well?"

"Well, I was just wondering, why aren't you married?"

"What!" Taka was definably awake now. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Simba looked up at him and just kind of stared. In his mind, it was quite simple. He's and adult, Simba. You have to explain everything, even the simplest thing, to them. "Well, I look at it this way."

"Look at what?"

"It. Just humor me here."

Ah, we're getting closer to puberty, I see, thought Taka.

"Dad really loves Mom, right?

"Yes."

"And he's really happy about it, right?"

"Sickeningly so."

"Hey!"

"Just go."

"I just figured you'd like to as sickeningly happy as Dad and Mom are. And actually, I think you could be, but aren't letting yourself."

"What?"

"Come on, Uncle Taka. You're telling me you've never thought of marrying Zira? I see you two and love and you know it's real 'cause I'm a child and I know these things."

"What?"

"You like that word a lot, Uncle Taka."

"Just say that last part again."

"Uncle Taka, haven't you ever considering or dreamed of being with Zira? I mean, she seems to have! Whenever she's around you, she's so much happier, not that she isn't a ball of energy as is!"

Taka looked over at his nephew. He hadn't ever thought of things that way before. But now that he thought about it, he was happiest with Zira. She was always around when he needed someone.

"Hunh…"

"Get it now, Uncle Taka?"

"Yeah, I think I do." Just then, Taka thanked any god, if such a thing existed, for not letting him kill this wise little cub.

The dry season wasn't very dry that year. This worried King Mufasa. His grandfather had told him once of a great drought during Ahadi's cub hood that was preceded by two years of wet dry seasons. Standing at the top of Pride Rock, Mufasa watched as the sun rose to its zenith. Could history be repeating itself? he asked himself. And if so, what can I do to prevent something horrible from happening? If there is another drought, the entire pride could be destroyed!

Simba came out of the cave below with Nala. The two were playing and talking, as usual. Watching their joy at such a simple thing as each other's company, the thought of drought was pushed out of Mufasa's mind. It also made the king lonely for his mate. He turned round and headed back down to the cave where Sarabi still slept. It had been too long since he reminded her of how much he loved her. If his own son could remind Nala every day, he, the king of the Pridelands, could certainly take one day off every now and again to do so with his wife. But before he reached his destination, Mufasa ran into another love-struck lion.

Taka was waiting for Mufasa on the trail of rock that led back down to the main level of the pride's home. "Mufasa, brother, may we talk?"

"Well," Mufasa thought of Sarabi and his son… and his brother… "of coarse."

"Not here?" Taka looked as though he'd seen a ghost. Or maybe, had realized something very important that needed addressing immediately. So, Mufasa and Taka headed north east from their home to their favorite tree as cubs. It was at that tree they had shared each others deepest thoughts. It was at that tree that Taka had received his scar.

"So," Mufasa started, "what is the matter you wished to talk to me about?"

"Mufasa, you are in love still, aren't you?" Taka said hesitantly. Needless to say the question caught Taka's brother off guard.

"Excuse me? I - I mean, yes, I suppose. Although it is a different kind of love than it was when Sarabi and I first … courted…" Mufasa said, somewhat suspicious. "Why?"

Taka ignored the question. "How is the love different?"

"Less … lust, I suppose. It's more about enjoying each other now. I personally prefer this love to that of our youth. Why?"

"So if I asked you, hypothetically," Taka stammered, " you would suggest to take advantage of being in love?"

"Well, if I understand you correctly. Why?" Mufasa was beginning to see where this conversation was going. Taka continued, nervously.

"Then if, hypothetically, I was considering marriage, you would support the decision?"

"I love this word you seem to use so much: hypothetically. It just so full of … well, something that isn't hypothetical, in this case," Mufasa teased.

"Just answer the question!" Taka begged desperately.

Mufasa sighed and looked into his little brother's eyes. Mufasa recalled when Taka, or really Scar, proposed to Sarabi. Taka had been devastated when she declined. And yet, he went on living. Putting himself in Taka's place, Mufasa had wondered how Taka had managed to keep living. Seeing him now, having a good idea of whom Taka might be thinking of, Mufasa knew that the love between him and that lioness was much truer than that Taka had once felt for Sarabi. True enough to maybe even compete with the love Mufasa and Sarabi felt for each other. Taka and the lioness Mufasa assumed were a perfect match.

"Taka," Mufasa started, quite serious now, "marriage is more than a word, more than a relationship. It is a commitment. It is a partnership. You will run into troubles, fights, and there will be times when you and your loved one will want out. But for every rough point, there are a thousand good points if you persevere through it. If you are willing to take that challenge, and so is your loved one, I will support you both through thick and thin!"

"Mufasa…" Taka looked up at his brother. He looked close to tears. And for the first time in years, Mufasa saw the innocence of Taka's childhood that was stolen from him when he was scarred. "Mufasa?"

"Taka?"

"Mufasa, I'm going to propose to Zira!"

Mufasa smiled. "I know."

Zira was catnapping in a field west of Pride Rock. The dry season was over now. Simba was over a year old now. No one else was around. For the moment. She woke up slowly, enjoying every last moment of her nap. Eventually, she got up, stretched, and yawned. She looked west of where she was. Time I was headed home, she thought sadly.

Going home meant seeing Taka. And seeing him was such agony when she knew she could never clean his mane, or lick his muzzle, or look into those bright green eyes and caress away the pain caused by that scar. No, Zira knew from the moment Taka came to her so long ago, heart broken from having Sarabi deny his proposal. How could I, how can I compete with her? She is a queen! And what I'm I in the eyes of my best friend? Just someone to go to for kicks. … Listen to me! I shouldn't think like this! I'll put myself in a worse mood!

Zira shook her head, as if she could shake the thoughts from her head. But when she turned east to go back to Pride Rock, Taka was standing fifty feet from her. Oh, please. It's bad enough when I have to pretend to be happy at home, but in my field?

"Hello, Taka," Zira faked joy. "What brings you here? I was just headed back if you…" But something in Taka's eyes made Zira stop talking. Something she hadn't seen before. It made her nervous.

"Zira?" Taka asked. Oh, that voice. Please stop, Taka.

"Yes, my friend?"

"Zira, I've been terrible to you." Taka was only ten feet from Zira now.

Zira hung her head slightly. "What makes you say that?"

"Zira, I've been so blind, so absorbed in my own stupid selfish thoughts, I … I haven't been there for you like you have been there for me all these years." Oh, please, Zira, please don't hurt me. Not now that I've gotten this far!

"You are the king's brother. You have responsibilities to him, and his son, … and his wife." Zira took a deep breath. She'd made it so many years without breaking, why was she now being so … something!

Taka was right in front of her now. He raised her head with his paw, letting her look into his green eyes. "That, Zira, is no excuse. You deserve better treatment, no matter if I'm the king himself or some crude rogue! And now, I'm going to make up for it. Zira …"

"Taka," Zira whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"Zira, will you marry me?"

"Where is Uncle Taka?" Simba asked Mufasa. The sun was set now, and the entire pride had gone in for the night for a long time. Simba hadn't slept a blink yet, and had demanded his father wait with him. "And Zira, too? Neither one have come back from the western field yet." Simba looked back at where he'd seen Taka disappear over the horizon early that evening.

Mufasa, half asleep, looked down at his son. Simba hadn't told him why they had to stay up outside, and now, the king had to bite his tongue not to laugh. He had stayed up half the night with his son, just to find out that Simba was worried about uncle.

"Son, believe me. Your uncle, AND Zira, are just fine. Come now. You still have lessons in the morning, no matter how much sleep you get!" With that, the king went to bed. Simba watched as his father went inside. He took one last look west, and smiled.