Development (Pigeon x Kurobear)

[KuroBear]

Sensing Li-ya's fear, he gave a small smile, "About selling you, Li-ya..." He moved some hair out of the little one's face, taking a moment before continuing, "After losing everything, I can't possibly take you away from the last thing you have. The place I took you from was the only thing you had left, correct? I know you want to go back." This was probably the best thing to do. It was the best thing to do. He wasn't cruel; Haruto had no wish to keep this bird in a cage.

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya frowed slightly and looked up at the human. "You.. You're going to let me go back to the forest? B-but aren't I the only reason you're not cutting it down? I don't mind staying here if it means I can keep what's left of the forest safe..." He looked down at the floor again, his shoulders slumping in defeat "I... I'm sorry for being upset... I know that we made an agreement... I won't back out of it"

[KuroBear]

"A spirit of the forest doesn't belong in the city, Li-ya... I do enjoy your... company. So, you can forget about our agreement, but if you wish to stay longer, it'd be my pleasure." Haruto kept his smile and gently took the spirit's chin, raising it up to catch each other's eyes, "And please don't apologize. You've been through a lot and it's understandable, I'd probably be the same way. Yet, do you think your friends and family would want you miserable? No. So what I can do is help you make you happy in any way. Just name it."

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya looked away sadly. "I don't know... There isn't really anything that would make me happy anymore... If I go back to the forest then I'll still be all alone, I don't know if I'm even strong enough to get the forest back to being healthy. I might just die" he pulled away completely and buried his face in his hands. "I just don't know what to do with myself..."

[KuroBear]

Haruto looked a the poor spirit and tried to think of something that would change the sadness that dwelled inside of him. Li-ya may be weak in not being able to do anything about the remains of what was left of the forest, but maybe he could. Making a fist in determination, he closed more space in between them and takes the spirit's hands, "You can listen to what I ask of you while you're here... I'll help you. I don't know exactly how yet, but I promise you that I will. I won't let you die. I won't allow such a thing."

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya looked up at the human in surprise. He hadn't been expecting this much empathy from the other. The spirit had assumed that Haruto would just give a weak apology and then leave him alone... The idea of this person actually being willing to help him was almost enough to bring the spirit to years again, but he managed to hold himself together. "I'll do whatever you tell me... just please help me fix things"

[KuroBear]

Smiling in response, he let go of the spirit's hands and put them to his slender shoulders, "As soon as I think of something, I'm going to have to need your help. If I'm going to do this, we'll have to do it together. Nobody works alone." Haruto's usually sharp, observant eyes had gotten so soft, as if the magma in the color had become as gentle as a fine, red silk... Nobody had gotten to see them. Probably because nothing was important in his eyes, not until this, meeting a little spirit that had lost everything and everyone.

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya didn't hesitate to give the human a tight hug, burying his face into his soft shirt. "thank you so much! I didn't think that I would be able to get any help with this, especially not help from you... I mean" he suddenly pulled away as he realized how his words must have come out. The spirit looked away nervously. "I just... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have thought so badly of you when we first met... I thought that you knew what you were doing and just didn't care..."

[KuroBear]

"I get impressions like that more than I'd like but... it can't be helped." Haruto could stop grinning, finding the apology something happier than the thought of doing all of this for him. He really didn't want the forest spirit to hold any kind of hatred to him at all... he wanted to continue being friends, or whatever they were in their regards. With his eyes becoming more content, the man takes one of Li-ya's hands and raises it up to his lips, kissing the spirit's soft skin gently, "Everything is good, little spirit. I'm only human; I don't know how to do everything, but I've got a heart and I do care."

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya blushed deeply at the kiss. He slowly tinted his head to the side with a smile. "You're so much nicer than I thought you were... I'm glad that I managed to talk to you" His gaze dropped shyly to the floor. "I almost didn't talk to you in the forest... I was really scared that you might try to hurt me..." The spirit lightly twirled a lock of his long hair around his finger.

[KuroBear]

"No, no. I'm actually a pacifist. I'm against violence of any sort, and most importantly, how on earth would I be able to lay a hand on such a beautiful creature like you?" After another kiss to Li-ya's hand, he pressed his nose against it, closing his eyes for a smell. The aroma that was gifted to him from the car still lingered on the spirit even after the bath. He was very thankful for it too, because nothing had possibly gave him a greater thrill. Enjoying the scent probably a little too much, Haruto hummed in a low voice, overwhelmed with delight, "So unique... I've fallen in love.... With your natural aroma that is." He gives a chuckle and flickers his gaze to Li-ya's flustered expression.

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya's eyes widened at the man's words, his dark skin flushing red. "l-love? you love my s-scent?" he shyly pulled his hand away and held it to his chest, his gaze dropping. "I-It's really nothing that special... I'm sure you have lots of technology that smells better than me. I-I just live in the forest, I probably just smell like plants and animals" he protested, letting his hair fall in front of his face to hide his embarrassment. "And I'm not really that beautiful either..."

[KuroBear]

Haruto was quick to shake his head and bring his hand close to Li-ya's face to move hair hair out of his face, quite enjoying the cute, flustered look of the spirit, "Nonsense. You are the one and only... May I say that this 'one' is very beautiful. Such sweet scented and soft skin, big green eyes, long luscious hair~ Any description but beautiful is complete nonsense." Giving a perfect smile, the red head gave a playful pinch to Li-ya's chin.

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya let out a suprised squeak at the pinch and tried to back away. "I-I'm not..." He whimpered. "I'm-" he cut himself off as he lost balance on the smooth floor. For a moment he scrambled on the ground but finally just fell forward against Haruto to avoid hitting his head. "S-sorry... The floor is just too smooth" he stammered, trying to quickly back away again.

[KuroBear]

"I suppose it very much is~" Haruto wrapped his arms around the spirit, catching him first, but then keeping him close... He was never one to miss opportunities and this was no exception. His eyes closed and he put his head onto Li-ya's, taking in the sweet combination of his natural smell and the shampoo. Luxurious, one of a kind, beautiful, lovely, intoxicating~ there's were only a few, meaningless ways to describe how this was to Haruto. It was like drugs and he needed it. In his 'intoxication' was clear in his voice, his strong nose getting the best of him in a way he didn't think could happen, "That's enough doubting yourself, little spirit. Everything I say is true because I mean it. Say otherwise and the universe may just have you slip into my arms again..."

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya squirmed in the man's arms, confused and overwhelmed by all the compliments and touching. "I-I'm really not though, there's nothing special about me... Compared to other spirits I'm just average" he regained his footing on the floor for just a moment before slipping again and clinging to Haruto's shirt. "I-I should sit down... I'm having trouble standing" he said softly, hoping to change the subject from his appearance. "I don't want to rip your clothes in my horns..." He frowned and tried to pull his head away from the man's clothing.

[KuroBear]

"These clothes are nothing to be worried about, I assure you!" He laughed and didn't take another second before deciding to scoop up Li-ya into his arms once more, "Maybe you should sit at the least, but if you're tired, then maybe it's best that you get comfortable in bed." Before the spirit would be able to protest, Haruto was already on his way to one of the guest rooms. It wasn't neary as nice as his own room, but for the spirit, the man doubted there'd be much to complain about considering where Li-ya may have slept in the woods.

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya clung to Haruto as he was carried, he didn't know what else to do. His eyes widened as he saw the new room. "wow... it's so nice... are all of your rooms so fancy?" He asked, momentarily forgetting that he was being carried around. The spirit tried to climb out of Haruto's arms, wanting to explore the room that he was going to stay in. "are all houses so fancy? they usually look so plain from the outside... I never thought they would be like this when I went in..."

[KuroBear]

Eventually with Li-ya's squirming, it was impossible to hold him any longer. Haruto let the spirit down, since he obviously thought he'd be able to walk fine again, "Actually, not all homes are like this. Mine just looks this good because I have a lot of money. Other people aren't so lucky, and don't have as nice of a place to live in as me." He looked at his friend's facination and added, "But as long as you're with me, you'll see nothing but the best."

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya stumbled around the room for a moment before collapsing on the bed. He rolled around on the soft mattress with a wide smile. "it's so fluffy!" he sat up and looked up at Haruto. "thank you for letting me stay with you. I'm sure I'll get used to walking on this floor soon, then you won't have to carry me" he blushed softly as he remembered how the man had held him. "um, so do I sleep on this?" he gestured to the bed. "it's really soft"

[KuroBear]

As much as Haruto didn't want that time to come that Li-ya could get around on his own, he'd be sure to cheer the spirit on nevertheless... "I'll help with whatever and whenever, but I might just carry you anyways!" He laughed, joking a bit even though he was kind of serious, "And yes. You can call this bed officially yours. This room is officially yours. Don't forget that you're staying with me and that when I say it's yours, it IS yours..." Oh how Li-ya looked so happy and cute. He actually wished that it wouldn't be awkward to hold him for a little longer.

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya's eyes widened in shock when he was told he could have the room "what? Really?" He bounced slightly in excitement and held out his arms for Haruto to come closer for a hug "thank you! This is really wonderful, I don't know what I could possibly do to thank you for being so kind to me" he beamed up at the human.

[KuroBear]

With Li-ya's arms open like that, he could almost assume that... Did he? Haruto never really was offered a hug ever and it was odd being wanted like this. It all showed up in his wavering smile and raised eyebrow as he came over, "Y...You don't have to do anything, Li-ya. If anything, I should be giving you more. But you're very welcome, little spirit." Wrapping his arms around the spirit, he was starting to feel clueless. That'd be a first.

[Kotorichan]

Li-ya happily hugged the man. "You didn't have to do all of this, you could have just helped me with the forest" He pulled away a little bit so he could look up at Haruto. "You're actually really nice, aren't you?" he said brightly. The spirit felt so happy that something good seemed to be finally happening to him. Without really thinking, he leaned up and licked Haruto's cheek the way an animal would to be friendly.

[KuroBear]

His face was already beginning to light up a bit from being called out and all of that jazz, but he tensed up and heated up more than he'd like from being licked. It was intimate, weird and more importantly kind of gross. Haruto jolted up and shivered, quickly getting a tissue out of his pocket to wipe any history of a tongue against his red cheeks, "L-Li-ya," he said sternly, but his voice quaked uncomfortably, "Don't do that... Don't do that, please."