We work to live, not live to work. (open)

[Phantom]

"No, no. I am the one who should apologize. I am sorry if I sounded angry for a second there." Her stomach churned in circles, and she felt as if a crater the size of the moon was in it.

She listened to what else he had to say, and at the word 'special' she immediately felt warm and could feel her cheeks burning.

"Thank you- for your kindness and honesty. I understand what you mean, for I have felt that way before as well." she bowed her head in appreciation. She wished she could be so honest as him, or so kind. Phantom has always been trying to be that way, but no matter what she did, she couldn't seem to do it. She was always being a spunky, hardworking dog who got distracted easily and made smart remarks about and to her enemies.

An awkward silence passed Phantom. she did wish she knew how she felt for the dog, but she could not sum it up in words. Phantom thought about what she might say if she were to tell him, tell him how she felt about him.

In the little time they had conversed, Phantom respected him- looked up to him almost. She felt warm when he said her name and she loved the feeling of saying 'Shurikan' when she spoke to him. Phantom thought he carried an elegance about him, one that seemed to be like he was her protector or a guard.

Words evaded her for how she could say all of that to him in a different manner- one as wonderful as his. So she thought she might as well just say it straight forward.

"Shurikan, in the little time we have met, I respect you. More than respect, actually. I look up to you like a brother. I feel as if you would protect me no matter what and I am grateful of that."

There, she said it. Phantom left out the way she felt about saying his name, for she did not want to reveal that.

[Shurikan]

OOC: Shurikan has a cruush. Shuri: Shut up or i'll eat you. ))


Apologize! No, she had no reason to. what he had said to her probably came across as quite demeaning, he didn't blame her for being a bit defensive. He nodded as if to say it was quite alright. He didn't verbally give her his forgiveness thinking she might have more to say. He was right as her bell-like melodies rang to his eager ears again. He sighed quietly, taking in the lovely sound of her voice. The radiant moon smiled down on them but he felt its light pale in comparison to Phantom’s chocolate eyes. He almost found himself lost in them. He almost missed what she had to say, being so absorbed in how simply wonderful she could be, just by…being. Kind…honest? He blushed, but his red tint faded as she spoke of understanding. He smiled, comforted by this fact. He supposed that everyone held people dear and wanted to protect them and most souls sometimes took things a bit far. Shurikan wasn’t one to blow things out of proportion, but once more his thoughts drifted to how Phantom seemed to make him act unlike himself for brief moments, like in his blow-up at Luke after his exit.

Shurikan yawned slightly and looked kindly down to Phantom with his golden eyes. A small silence followed in which Shurikan prepared to speak to her. He thought about how wonderful she made him feel when he looked at her. She made him feel like he had something to work for, something to protect, a reason to live, not that he’d been doubting his purpose in life. Still, he’d been quite alone for a long time, and Phantom was such a light in the darkness, a drink after the desert, the sun after the storm, the smile after the sorrow. She was the momentary comfort that all spirits needed, and that most tried to hold on to. He couldn’t say all that, he’d sound not only strange, but maybe obsessive, and not at all in the way he meant it. He sighed, but then his ears perked as she started to speak. Her words brought a smile to his muzzle, and a little sting to his heart both painful and amazing. She respected him, looked up to him…like a brother. Kind and honest words with meaning poured into them, but why were they not causing him the great joy they should have? He was so ashamed. They had just met, it could be all he expected of her! ‘I’m so selfish…and without cause, I can’t even explain how I feel for her, how can I expect her to do anything more than respect me!’ he scolded himself. With a smile he walked closer to Phantom, and his smile was genuine. Her words were held close to his heart, although he mightn’t understand how he felt just yet. “Phantom…thank you. That means….so much to me.” He stammered in his deep voice, every word true in its own way. Even more than her words was what she meant to him, but he wouldn’t say that, not yet.

[Phantom]

OOC: Aww. That was a cute post!

Silence. Absolute silence.

Crickets chipred around her, and she listened as their tune made the night feel mysterious, but charming all the same. It perfectly fit the situation right now, for that was the way Shurikan seemed to her.

Unable to think of something to say in reply, Phantom sat on her haunches, staring at the moon above them. Fianlly, something popped into her mind.

"Shurikan? I want to ask you something, something I have not told any I have come across in my entire life," She paused for a moment and took a deep breath before continuing, "do you ever feel like... you are being watched over? Like you have a gaurdian amongst the stars, watching over you and making sure you are safe in your travels? Well, I often feel that way, and now i am starting to believe it more than ever. thik about it. I could have met any dog out here- any dog that could rip me to shreds- but instead i met you. You did not even threaten me when we met. I thank you very much for that, and i thank my gaurdian angel for allowing me to meet you. Before i had met you, I thought that all other dogs were blood thirsty and cruel. Now I now I had been wrong- more wrong than I could have ever been." Phantom blushed as she finished.

There it was. Her deepest secret she swore she would tell no soul on this planet.

She could make an exception. Just this one time.

The stars sparkled as she said this word, as if they were listening in on this conversation and absorbing every word of it, as she had done.

Maybe she felt deeply for Shurikan, but if she did, she did not know it. Not quite.

[Shurikan]

OOC: Thanks, and aw. I LOVE the sound of crickets. I listen to them when I go to sleep -sighs dreamily-}}

The air around them took on an aura of silence, save for the serenade of crickets. He listened to them also, for in the silence there really was no alternative, not that he minded them. It really was one of his favorite sounds, the symphony of the crickets, gentle winds and songbird ballads, the perfect harmony. One of nature's finest choirs, although Mother Nature had taught many wonderful melodies the good earth.

Shurikan heard his name, at which his gaze focused solely on her, his ears perking. She held his full attention and he nodded his head just slightly to assure her of it. She spoke and his eyes softened. He thought of what she said and the thought crossed his mind of angels. He focused his attentions back of her delicate lyrics. Her guardian angel, her star had led her to him? He smiled. Her words sent chills through him, but the kind that came when hit with deep meaning. He smiled sincerely and nodded slowly. "My angel perhaps has led me to...you Phantom. Yes, I believe in angels, and if I didn't, after meeting you, I surely would have. You certainly look...like an angel." he said softly, meaning every word. He glanced up to the stars, thanking them for bringing him to her, his temporary angel. If he never saw her again, he would cherish the night beneath the silver moon till his final breath. Shurikan almost shed a tear. He felt so honored for her to tell him these things. He sat down, overwhelmed. "Oh Phantom, I am so happy that you...would trust someone like me with such a sacred and beautiful secret, I will never forget it..." he said softly, looking tenderly into her eyes. He was so lucky, so blessed to have met her.

[Phantom]

OOC// Same here. I LOVE the sound of the chirping. I listen to them an watch the fireflies in the summer.

Goo thing Phantom's fur wasn't white around her cheeks. After hearing the last sentence of the first thing Shurikan said, her cheeks burned and must have been rose-red. If her fur were white, you would probably be able to see the bright glow from outer space.

The sky felt so ominous- which made it feel all the more wonderful out- and she looked up at the milky way once more. Phantom listened intently at what Shurikan said. He said it with such eloquence- such grace. It was beautiful, what he said.

"...I believe that things in this world happen... for a purpose. I believe that I came here out of boredom so I could meet you- and you came here so you could meet me. I love the idea that everything will be alright in the end-that it is happening for something else to go right... but it fails to convince me. I am just glad that this time something happened that I am happy with. I don't think I shall ever meet such a dog as you again, so I will say it now. Shurikan, you are wonderful and honest and respectful and... so many other things, and I admire you for that.

Well, there it was. Here was half of her whole train of thought, poured out to one dog. she knew that it was the right thing to tell him- to tell him what she thinks- and she wouldn't have it any other way.

[Shurikan]

Shurikan tilted his head. did he see a faint tinge of red in the lovely vixen's fur? He hoped he hadn't embarassed her. He stood awkwardly and walked in small circles.He just couldn't sit still like usual. The thought had already run through his mind many times, but she changed him. He lost himself around her but now...he was beginning to wonder if that was so bad. He smiled as he waited for her to speak, though it didn't take long.

"...I believe that things in this world happen... for a purpose. I believe that I came here out of boredom so I could meet you- and you came here so you could meet me. I love the idea that everything will be alright in the end-that it is happening for something else to go right... but it fails to convince me. I am just glad that this time something happened that I am happy with. I don't think I shall ever meet such a dog as you again, so I will say it now. Shurikan, you are wonderful and honest and respectful and... so many other things, and I admire you for that." he heard. Shurikan smiled. She thought he was so special that she'd met him for a purpose? His heart soared as he looked at her. Her compliments warmed his cheeks, and he was glad for his ebony facial fur. He almost leapt to stand by her side. He leaned over and pushed his neck up under her's in a sign of affection, but not to rude. It was the genuine, non-flirtatious sort of affection. It was to show her how special she was and how much her words meant to him. He stepps back and looked into her earthy eyes. "And I....will never meet a lady such as you again in my lifetime, Phantom." he said, not knowing what else to say. He knew he was holding things back, or at least partially.

[Phantom]

Guess it is finished now, Lily?

[Lily {Whisper}]

Yes. ^^ Sorry, I said so in the c-box, should have said so here XD