Hearts Intertwined By Fire

Nyarth knows Musashi loves him and he knows he loves her. But Musashi knows she loves him and doesn't know that he loves her back. Kojiro notices the change in both of his friends and pulls Nyarth aside to question him. With his friend's support, the scratch cat, finally confesses to Musashi.

Something was... off about his two friends. They seemed a little, awkward around each other, Nyarth especially. It didn't help that, as they walked, he was in the middle of the two and so, he was able to pick up the sideways glances the two gave each other.

When he had woken up, the two were already up and about but the awkwardness was still there, like something happened between the two. And he was still yet to apologize to Nyarth. The only reason he would've asked him that question was because he was cold. He had been tired and irritated and had taken his anger out of Nyarth, not being able to think properly.

He hadn't meant to hurt him like that and the hurt expression on his face still bothered him. He needed to tell him he was sorry, while also finding out just what was up with his friends.

Glancing down to the feline in question, Kojiro simply said, "Can I talk to you Nyarth?"

The scratch cat shifted his head, as if his voice had snapped him out of some sort of trance. Looking up to him, he responded, "Uh, sure. Talk away Kojiro" He seemed on edge, like something was bothering him.

"Alone?" he pressed as the three stopped.

Musashi shared a brief, confused glance with Nyarth as she turned and sat on a stump at the edge of the dirt road. "I'm not even going to ask what you want to talk to him about, but just make it quick" she said lazily as she tried her hardest to avert her eyes from Nyarth. She was failing though.

Carefully, Kojiro led the feline to behind a few bushes a little bit away from the road to which he crouched down to his level, noticing the nervous movements of him.

"Look Nyarth, I'm sorry for my outburst last night. It wasn't your fault and... I know I hurt you. But I'm sorry" He never was good with apologies, especially with the stubborn feline that was one of his best friends.

The scratch cat looked up to him, a slight wave of confusion encasing his gaze before he snapped out of it, remembering the ordeal the night before. "It's alright Kojiro. I forgive ya" he simply said.

This caught Kojiro off guard. Normally, he would jump into a long and drawn out explanation on why he shouldn't forgive him but then end it with his forgiveness. This time, he had jumped straight to the end and now, he stared at him. The smile plastered on his face was fake, that was obvious. There was no spark in his voice or his eyes and he basically looked on edge, like he had something on his mind.

Something was bothering him and Kojiro was going to get to the bottom of this.

"Is dat all?" Nyarth asked simply, his voice sinking to an emotionless one. That was the final straw for Kojiro.

"Actually, no. You and Musashi seem a little... different today. I was wondering, what happened?" he asked carefully, unsure of the reaction he was going to get.

He was right to be careful with the situation for Nyarth seemed to freeze up, the smile fading away from his face. He seemed almost in a panic and if he didn't know him as well as he did, he would've thought that he was scared.

Maybe he was.

"I-I dun know what ya're talkin' 'bout K-Kojiro..." he stuttered out. Nyarth never stuttered. That was a severe red flag.

"Please Nyarth. Just tell me, you trust me right?" Kojiro gently questioned him.

The one in question averted his stubborn gaze downwards, as if the question was so hard to answer. After what felt like an eternity, he nodded his head but still refused to look up.

"'Course I trust ya" he stated quietly. That was so unlike Nyarth that Kojiro carefully reached his hand out a grazed his fingers against the top of his head. It wasn't really a pet though. If there was one thing he knew about Nyarth, it was that he hated being treated like a Pokemon. He respected him, he wouldn't do that to him.

Surprised by the gesture, he looked up to him and simply stared for a few long moments before he looked away, his tail twitching slightly behind him. Letting out a soft sigh, he looked back to his friend and spoke, "Okay Kojiro. Ya win, I'll tell ya" His voice wasn't really defeated but it was lowered in volume.

"So, last night, afta ya... Ya know, rejected me. I-" he started but was interrupted to which he hid his annoyance.

"I'm sorry about that" Kojiro added quickly.

"I know but, afta dat, I-I basically t'ought I would probably freeze ta deat' an' dat would allow me ta cry maself ta sleep. But den, Musashi... Sh-she must've heard me or somet'in' 'cause she came ova ta me an'... She asked me ta sleep wid her" Nyarth explained quietly, his thoughts in a jumble as he remembered when she had come to him in the cold.

The mere thought of Musashi asking someone, Nyarth especially, to sleep with her came as a surprise to Kojiro but he decided to not interrupt him.

"Da strange t'in' 'bout all of dat is dat when I tried to get closa ta her... She pulled me closa ta her, an'-an' I liked it" he paused briefly, remembering the feeling of surprise and warmth that had overtaken him in that moment.

Shaking his head, he continued on. "We-We were 'bout ta fall asleep when she said somet'in' an' afta t'inkin' 'bout it. I-I t'ink I feel da same way" By this point, he had completely looked away.

Kojiro could tell that something was still bothering him, something just needed to get off his chest. But what could Musashi have said that Nyarth could feel the same way about which would lead them both to acting like this?

"And what was that Nyarth?"

He couldn't hold it in anymore, he needed to tell him. "She said dat she loved me an' I love her taa" he stated confidently as he looked back to his friend.