Heart within the beast

[Ricia]

"It is sad... that he has to go through with that... no one should have to say good bye to their family like that..." Rhea said turning around again to pet Kurogan's hair. "Even when he was with me, he always was missing home."

 

[Ixidor92]

"Of course no one should have to. But the world isn't built on such ideals."


The old one sat beside Rhea and started to produce a few things


"He valued his mother's teachings above anything else, which was why he was willing to go so far as to kill someone to uphold them."

 

[Ricia]

Rhea sighed softly. The world was hard and nothing can really change that. When her and Kurogan leave here, there is a large possibility that the war would still happen. Everything she knows will not mater. "I respect him for that... I wish he didn't have to do what he did... not even on my or his mother's behalf... but i'm going to support him..."

 

[Ixidor92]

(I'm trying to push forward just a wee bit )


The old one gave a smile as she pulled back the sheets and tended to Kurogan's wounds


"It's good to know someone will be looking after this fool."


------------------------------------


It was three more days before Kurogan could finally stand on his own two feet. The ceremony took place that afternoon. Kurogan spent several minutes saying his farewells. In particular, Faora hugged him for about a minute straight. With a deep breath he turned around and walked into the forest.

 

[Ricia]

Sage eventually escaped to go home. Rhea was not in any immediat danger and her mother needed her more then anything else right now. She would not remain there any longer. She left a few days before Kurogan could even get up, though she told Rhea to give him her regards and congratulated him on his victory.


Rhea let out a deep sigh. She didn't want to cry for Kurogan... as she felt like she might made it harder for him... but she did feel herself tear up. She wish deep breath she turned with Kurogan and followed him into the forest. It was silent for many long minutes... and Rhea was not sure she was comfortable with breaking that silence. Reaching for his hand, Rhea took it in her own, holding it while they walked. She didn't think apologizing for this was going to make anything better either.

 

[Ixidor92]

Kurogan's fingers closed in around Rhea's as they slowly walked through the forest. He hoped Sage had made it through the wilderness all right, she hadn't been fully recovered when she left. Then again, neither was he. The silence stretched on for several minutes, only broken by the sounds of the forest.


"Rhea."


Kurogan found himself almost startled at the sound of his own voice so suddenly breaking the void


"There is one more place I would like to go . . . before returning to your home."

 

[Ricia]

Rhea looked up at Kurogan as soon as he called her name. She was so focused on him, almost suspended on what he would say next. She felt like right now Kurogan could possibly fall to pieces... he was losing his home permanently this time and not by his own choice. "Anywhere..." She said softly. It almost sounded like more then what she really said.

 

[Ixidor92]

Kurogan was quiet as he continued to move through the forest. It was about fifteen minutes before the two of them arrived . . . somewhere seemingly no different from the rest of the forest. The only odd thing was a very young tree, likely no older than ten years or so. The young man knelt down in front of the tree and closed his eyes.


This was where his mother's final rites had been spoken, even if her body was taken from them

 

[Ricia]

Rhea had a small idea, but she didn't want to assume. She did however follow his league, getting down on her knees in front of the tree, right beside Kurogan. She looked over to him for a moment before looking back to the tree. Rhea then reached out to touch the tree lightly, running her fingers over the rough bark.

 

[Ixidor92]

Kurogan looked up after several minutes, standing up slowly.


"Thank you Rhea. This . . . was planted upon the eve of my mother's passing."


He shook his head slowly and offered his hand to Rhea


"I wanted to visit one last time before leaving."

 

[Ricia]

Rhea watch him get up thoughtfully listening to him. She looked back at the tree, guessing right and silently sending out a prayer. She looked back up at Kurogan after a few more second, at his hand that he offered her. She reached out to it, grasping it lightly and using his weight to help pull her body back up off the ground. She brushed off her knees, "I'm sure she is happy... That you did this for her.. that you did everything you have to keep her teachings alive... but I think she might be ready for you to do something for yourself once... I think I'm ready to do the same.." She blushed light, trailing off a bit. It was one of those moments, Rhea knew what she wanted, she always has, but she was too scared to ask for it. She felt right now she had a new fond bravery to stand up for herself now.

 

[Ixidor92]

Kurogan gave a small, almost painful smile before he looked to the sky


"I've been in a self-imposed exile for so long . . . I thought it wouldn't be that different once I was actually exiled but--"


He shook his head


"I don't know what to do from here. I've been trying to avoid war for so long that now I don't have any other goals . . ."


His hand seemed to tighten around Rhea's, as if she could give him some kind of answer

 

[Ricia]

Rhea hold his hand tighter, "I... want you to be with me... As more then just 'Hikaru'... and more then just my friend or guardian." Rhea fidgeted, but didn't let go of his hand. She didn't want to look up at him, and she was not sure if she was entirely clear in what she meant...

 

[Ixidor92]

"Rhea?"


Kurogan looked down at the young woman, trying to meet her eyes, but she had turned her head down, as if she didn't want to meet his eyes. More than a friend or guardian . . . Kurogan knelt down so that he was eye level with Rhea, and slowly tilted her chin up so that he could see her eyes, not saying anything

 

[Ricia]

Rhea looked up at him, she was scared. Scared of rejection. Scared he would tell her he didn't want the same thing and move on. "I... I'm... in love with you..." She whispered, a dark blush rushed across her cheeks. "I was so scared... that I was going to lose you... I was so scared I'd never see you again before that!" She was almost babbling in nervousness.

 

[Ixidor92]

Kurogan froze momentarily, as a suite of images flew in front of his eyes. Lying outside the forest, bloody and injured. The pet shop where he was nurtured back to health. Seeing Rhea for the first time, and consequently going home with her. Adventures in the apartment that she had rented. The night he revealed his true form to her. Her parents dragging her back after she had left. And now here they were. Kurogan did the only thing he could think to do in that moment, the only thing that made sense. He leaned forward, and let his lips meet Rhea's.

 

[Ricia]

Rhea watched him for a moment before he touched his lips to her. It was gentle, like everything Kurogan ever did to her. At first she was not sure what to think, then thought thinking at this moment may not be the best option. So, she leaned closer to him, pressing her lips to his, just enough to know she accepted his advances.


She felt like her heart was going to explode at that moment, explode of a little bit of happiness, embarrassment and possible jitters of what was to come next. One of her hands reached for his hand on her chin, pulling it away lightly to just hold even as they shared the soft kiss.

 

[Ixidor92]

It seemed like an eternity passed between them, and yet when Kurogan broke contact it was over too soon. With a smile he leaned his forehead against Rhea's, one hand on the back of her head.


"I won't leave you. Not now, not ever. This I promise."

 

[Ricia]

"We don't have to go back to my fathers place..." She told him with a big smiled. She felt happy. Very happy. "We can go a way... together.. I don't care where." She shook her head lightly, even with their forehead's pressed against his. "I just want to be with you."

 

[Ixidor92]

Kurogan gave a smile and picked her up princess style.


"Then let's go far away from here."

 

[Ricia]

Rhea blushed but continued to smile, kissing Kurogan's cheek. "Yes!" She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her to their future.

----- 5 Years Later-----

​

Kagura and Rhea settled in a small town, eventually opening up a small children's clinic. They had a child named Raven. A 2 year old boy with black ears and a tail much like his father. Beautiful brown eyes like his mother.


They were happy and a lot of people loved the couple and the work they did for the people. Rhea loved the job she did, it was everything she ever wanted. The people were more then accepting of Kurogan and Raven's abilities. She loved that the most of the small town.

 

[Ixidor92]

Kurogan had at first been wary about revealing his true form in the small town . . . but after a year the truth had to come out sooner or later. Much to his surprise and gratitude, he found a place among them. He helped Rhea open up the children's clinic that she had wanted to, and now spent most of his time entertaining the kids in the waiting room. Otherwise, he helps with manual labor around the town, and recently . . . he raises his son as best he is able. Raven was a gift from mother Gaia that he would have never thought possible, but he was eternally grateful that he was now a part of both his and Rhea's life. He never stopped loving Rhea as they lived in that small town


The end