Submission (#921) Approved

LOADING...MEMORY FILE 05  -- 43%....

      When Kawa had first heard the news his disappointment had been immeasurable. The vague and fuzzy memories of the first Starfall Faire he had witnessed still left his chest with an odd feeling of warmth, and he had spent the following year excited and eager to be able to catalog a few more memories and purchase a lot more sweets this time around. His normal routine had long since been switched up since the unknown variable of Miyu had stumbled unexpectedly into his life and perhaps he would have known earlier had he not been spending the last few months fawning over his new found (crush, his mind whispers) friend. However, this morning Kawa spent alone. Miyu had been whisked away by her temporary caretaker and Skye had chuckled at the expression of mortification upon Kawa's face when the adult Elnin had said that she would be otherwise occupied for the entirety of the day and would not be able to spend time with her beloved friend. Kawa wasn't alone in his despair, as the aforementioned kittom clutched desperately at Kawa's shirt, lips drawn up in a pout and eyes beginning to glisten in tears. Skye had merely grinned and offered to buy them double the amount of pastries the following day which elicited a much more positive reaction and hushed whispers of how they would spend their reward. But spending the day alone felt bizarre and despite slipping easily into the familiar rhythm of his life 'pre-Miyu', he mentally corrects, Kawa can't help but feel a lot more lonely than before. As Kawa walks his way through the town, he makes note of the upcoming preparations for the light storm tonight. There aren't as many vendors here this year, but the cobblestone streets are still abnormally busy. Some owners have already begun to spin sugar to create treats and so Kawa digs in his pockets to produce enough coin to have the sugary threads shaped like a fox aquired. Not as good as milk bread, but passable for sure. He hums as he passes through crowds, small enough to dip under many of the larger species visiting. He waves in greeting to some of the more familiar faces, who nod and smile, and continue their task of winding twinkling lights around the base of the trees lining the streets. And at night the added light will make the town seem ablaze with life. 

       He shouldn't be so worked up about not spending a day with her and he's mentally despondent when his mind keeps drifting towards his friend (he would be caught dead admitting she was anything but that, despite the knowing stares he sometimes gets from the other locals) and wondering if she's having fun without him. His Pomu hasn't even come back yet but he's been enjoying tossing the strange ball that his shadowy friend had left behind while waiting for his friend (friend, friend, friend, he repeats the word in his head like a mantra, because if he keeps saying the word then maybe he'll start believing that's all she is?) to arrive. Kawa glances up at the sky, watching the sun crest over the horizon and starting to disappear westward and wonders how much longer it will be until there's nothing left but moonlight and the light storms. The remaining essence of light casts shades of warmth across the sky, resembling the colors painted upon the leaves of the trees surrounding him. Bellmoril has always felt like home to Kawa and most of the town folk jest that he was clearly meant to be born here, with his auburn coloration speckled with the colors of fresh embers of a fire. Yet recently his mind has begun to drift, floating away like an autumn leaf upon calm waters, and he's been moving by the warmth of her wind. He continues to gaze at the sky, watching the yellows and oranges melt into reds and purples--a slow decent into the midnight blue that allows for the stars to shine. Kawa can hear the festivities from far away, his little town beginning to light up in the dark of the forest. The light from the lanterns illuminating the tall, leafy trees that circle his hometown. 

        "You weren't waiting too long, were you?" Miyu's voice cuts through the night and Kawa feels his throat tighten when he finally hears her (friend, friend, friend, starts the mantra up again) but he manages to slip a practiced smile onto his face when he turns to greet her. He's thankful, oh so very thankful, that Skye had the foresight to have them meet when it was actually dark. The lack of light hides the obvious blush from her, but not from the back of his mind. (friend, friend, friend). She grins when he greets her, talking animatedly and gesturing with her hands about how excited she is to chase the lights, how much she missed him during the day, oh how wonderful he looks when he's dressed up (he didn't think his face could burn anymore, but now he thinks he could give the flame within those lanterns a run for their money) and how thankful she is to have been able to share this time with him. His ears are twitching and he can't help the slight sway his tail adopts as he drinks in her voice, her praise, her everything. Kawa takes a deep breath and in his moment of confidence, he grabs her hand (tiny, delicate, and as soft as the sands of the island she calls home) and begins to whisk her away into the forest. He's missed this; missed talking to her about her day, adventuring within the trees, and hiding in piles of leaves because he 'blends in just too well! it is just so not fair Skye!'. He's missed her but he would rather give up being able to eat milk bread every day than to actually speak the words into fruition. Her giggle at his eagerness has him counting to ten but she's soon catching up with his pace and its only a matter of seconds before they're walking side-by-side. She's still holding his hand and a wishful mind has him thinking that, yes maybe she is holding it back just a smidge more tighter than before. 

         They finally arrive at their destination. A shared hilltop that reaches just beyond the peak of trees they passed through and grants a relatively clear view of the night sky. The forest below them is a sea of leaves, cool and dark, which is a stark contrast to their warm colors during the daytime. The lights come slowly at first, just a few streaks every other minute, and Kawa and Miyu have started to create a game about what color they might see next. His smile becomes more pronounced when she claps in joy at a correct answer and pouts and whines when she guesses wrong. Soon the lights become more pronounced and begin appearing much more frequently; some even begin to dip and dive into the ocean-like forest below. While Miyu is watching the spectacle of falling lights, Kawa is watching her (friend, friend, friend, but the voice is a lot quieter now, a bit more hesitant than before) and he can't help his eyes softening as he watches. 

    It happens spontaneously; she's watching the lights fall from the sky when one zips by. When she turns to follow where the light's destination should be, Miyu finds that it has managed to land on her companion's shoulder. The white light is dim and will soon fade in a matter of seconds--but that's all the time it takes for Miyu to really see him. His pupils are blown wide (of course, it is very dark outside) and the spark of lights seems to ignite his eyes (were they always so bright?) as his gaze is cast towards her. His auburn hair is still perfectly styled (soft, it looks so soft) and she can't help the twitch of her fingers wishing to run her hands through them. There's a gentle smile upon his lips and his hand tightens around her own (when did their fingers intertwine?) causing her to softly gasp at the realized affection. The fluffy ears atop his head twitch at the sound, no louder than a whisper, and a crease of worry begins to make their way between his brows. He goes to pull his hand away but she stops him, a reassuring squeeze is enough to placate his concerns. Embarrassment soon begins to creep in and they awkwardly break their gaze (but not their hands) and turn back to the sky. Kawa speaks, his voice soft (vulnerable, she thinks),

"Thank you."

    She doesn't know what exactly he's thanking her for but she nods mutely and squeezes his hand again because she doesn't dare look at him. Her eyes affix to the lights in the sky and she wonders when she began to like certain colors so, so much. There's a heaviness in her heart; their time is fleeting after-all, but she swallows down those traitorous thoughts. She whispers back,

"You're welcome."

    Miyu loves the lights in the sky. She might not love them as much as the fireworks she's normally used to, loud and brightly twinkling over the ocean from the island she calls home. But when she spares a discreet glance at the boy next to her, his eyes smoldering from within and his face relaxed and calm, Miyu thinks she might have found something she likes just a little bit more.

    She squeezes his hand again, three short times. It's a shame their  time together will be as fleeting as the lights they were too eager to see.