What I've Been Through [PRIVATE: AC & Nakisisa]

[AustralianChaos]

Simba took a step back as the lion came into the moonlight, his pure black pelt and mane now clearly visible. As the lion explained what he wanted from him, Simba's face became grave. "I know I can't go back," he said slowly. "I know what I did, and that I can't change it...going back will just cause more problems."

But as the conversation shifted to this strange lion's parentage, and how he came here, Simba backed off defensively. "If it's really that important to you, I want tell her...you don't have to threaten me. And I'll ask her about everything later," he said, a cold edge coming into his voice as he remembered their argument. How could she possibly understand? he thought. She has no idea...and it's better if she never does.

"I do have everything I want here," he finally admitted. "Except...I know I can't go back...but I do miss everyone. Seeing Nala again has reminded me of everyone else...I just, I wish I could see mum again...just one last time, but..." he trailed off sadly, looking out to the east, where he knew the Pridelands lay. He could never go back, and he knew it...but he missed Sarabi terribly now. But you can't change the past... he reminded himself heavily.

----------

Tanga nodded softly. "Nala..." he repeated softly. "You have a nice name as well," he said shyly, looking up at her, taking in her appearance once more. He quickly shook his head, forcing his gaze away from her as he realised he was beginning to stare. No! he reminded himself. She's not Kulinda, stop thinking about her!

Trying to force the subject to move on, Tanga decided to speak up once more. "So...if you're not from around here, then where are you from? And why are you here?" he asked, trying to avoid looking at her. Nala looked so much like Kulinda it was actually rather scary, and he could not risk letting his old feelings for the dead lioness ruin what little social standing he had managed to get with Nala already. But it was hard...Nala was the only lioness he had met aside from Kulinda that had cared about how he felt, and did not tease him endlessly. If he let his feelings get ahead of him, he could kiss his short, worthless life goodbye.

He had loved Kulinda...as much as his shy nature would allow him to love a lioness, and Kulinda had loved him back. But Tanga kept forcing himself to remember that Nala was just another stranger, not a reincarnation of his dead love...seeing her as such would only cause tremendous problems. Besides, it's not there's anything to like about me anyway, he thought sharply, his face still grim as he waited for Nala to explain her presence.

[Nakisisa]

"No... You won't tell my mother... And if you ask her... Remember what I said about your death." he hissed, walking past Simba, back into the shadows hiding again. Wow dad, you were right, he is the most gullible lion you'll ever meet! But simbas lost comment was slightly unnerving. He wanted to see his mother again. But hadn't his father expressly forbidden that? Ahh well, tormenting Simba wasn't forbidden... Why not? he reasoned

"Ohh Simba... You woulden't want to see your mother, she is loyal to scar now, so loyal that she screams his name out of passion, she brought her cubs up scaring them so they knew pain, pain like she felt. She even scared me, but why would Sarabi want to see a lion she woulden't recognise and attack. A lion she forgot?!" he said, bitterly at the end.


---


"Thank you" Nala said kindly. Noticing the lion she was laying next to was staring at her, she blushed, and shyly turned away giggling. "Hey, stop, your making me blush" Nala added, giggling like a teen in love.

The next question caught her off guard, having to make her think. Knowing honesty was best she replied, "I live in the lands to the east. The pridelands, they are an amazing place to live... Or where." she trailed off sadly, a tear leaving her eye, she also didn't notice the lions strange behaviour.

[AustralianChaos]

As this lion taunted him with his mother once more, Simba's repressed emotions finally lost. "Enough!" he roared. "Stop it, I don't want to hear any more!" The thought that his mother had forgotten him, just as Nala seemed to have until he told her his name, tore his heart to shreds.

But it did have one massive effect...it removed what little reason Simba believed he had for returning. His past was lost to him...he had betrayed his family, and they in turn, had forgotten him. There was nothing for him to go back for any more...no-one missed him, no-one needed him, and if anyone knew what he had done, they would not want him back either.

Wanting to escape all the things this dark lion was saying, Simba turned and walked away, wandering aimlessly once more through the grass, his eyes glazed over with unshed tears. "I can't go back...there's nothing I can gain from going back...Sarabi, Nala...all of them will turn on me when they find out..." he once more looked up at the stars. "I'm sorry, father," he whispered, his voice laced with grief and sorrow. "I'm so sorry...it's all my fault..."

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Tanga blushed himself as Nala caught him staring again. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to stare," he attempted to apologise lamely, but trailed off as Nala began to talk about where she came from. "It...sounds beautiful..." he said, looking out to the east, even though he could see nothing beyond the foliage of the jungle.

"But why...?" his question trailed off as she corrected her comment on its beauty, Tanga turning to face her just as a tear fell from her eye. "Oh...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," he finally said, cursing his curiosity. "Is...is that why you left?" he asked, unable to stop himself. Nala was simply too much like Kulinda, and it left him wanting to comfort her, to help her in any way he could.

[Nakisisa]

The voice just laughed, "She was so ashamed they forgot you!" he changed, shouting similar things until he knew simba had gone. Yet, out of curiosity, he decided to follow, to see where the lowly lion would go. So he could tournemt him further

---

"Don't worry" Nala said wiping a tear from her eye. "It was beautiful until that monster came along and stole that most precious to me. How he destroyed the lands, destroyed me" Nala moaned at the memories, crying a river not caring who saw

[AustralianChaos]

Simba's mind ran through everything that had happened today, with meeting Nala, finding out some of what had happened since he had left. Nala...the two of them had basked in their reunion that evening...but was it all a lie? Was Nala really Scar's queen? Had she really left to escape her responsibilities, and not because she was looking for help? She had seemed so sincere when she had pleaded with him, and this strange voice was sowing doubt and uncertainty into everything he thought he knew. "I'm so confused..." he finally whispered. But how? How could he figure out the truth, without going back and seeing for himself?

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Tanga's shame increased as Nala started sobbing in front of him, moaning about how a monster had destroyed their lands, and destroyed her. It was that last comment that hit Tanga, as he realised what Nala meant. "Oh, Great Kings, Nala...that's...I'm so sorry, that must have been terrible!"

Unsure what to do, but knowing he had to do something to help her calm down, Tanga took a hesitant step forward, putting a forepaw on her shoulder consolingly, his shyness stopping him from giving in to the urge to wrap her in a comforting hug. "It's alright...you don't have to talk about it, I'm sorry for bringing it up," he said softly.

[Nakisisa]

The voice would follow simba until he had to go or he found something better to do. Watching a lion break down can be funny, his father had told him.

---

The paw and voice were comforting, but knowing she needed something else, she quickly moved, wrapping Tanga in a powerful affectionate embrace. She hoped like hell Simba wouldn't stumble across this, Nala hugging a lion on his back. But worse was to come. Loosing all rational thought, and looking into Tangas eyes, she moved her head closer to his, and kissed him affectionately on his lips. Napa pulled away, and blushed saying half understandable words like "I'm... Sorry, I don't know what came over me"

[AustralianChaos]

Simba looked around, and seeing no sign of the shadowy lion, even though he figured he was still hanging around here somwhere, moved back towards the jungle. He was too confused, and needed answers. He was going to find Nala again, and get the truth from her, one way or another. His initial instinct was to ask this black lion...but he knew he would only get half-answers from him. Nala was generally more direct, and he needed the cold, hard facts. It did not matter how hard and depressing the truth was to him any more...the uncertainty was killing him. but as he walked, he had no idea what he was very likely about to walk in on.

----------

Tanga was startled when Nala hugged him fiercely, but he did not pull away, even returning the embrace slightly, knowing she needed the comfort and support right now. She was obviously hurting, and Tanga, knowing what it was like, was determined to help her feel better. She had obviously gone through a terrible ordeal, and considering how young she appeared to be, and how much she looked like his late girlfriend just made it worse for him to witness.

But even that surprise was nothing compared to the shock he recieved when Nala kissed him. His entire body froze up, and for the briefest of moments, it was like he was with Kulinda all over again, as he actually returned the kiss slightly. But when he opened his eyes once more, and saw aqua blue orbs instead of Kulinda's soft brown ones, he remembered who he was kissing, and pulled back at exactly the same time Nala did, as the lioness stammered her apologies. "No, no...it's okay," he said, his own cheeks heating up fiercely. "I shouldn't have kissed back, I'm sorry, I just..." he stepped away from her, his head hanging. "You remind me too much of Kulinda, every time I look at you, I have to remind myself that you're not her, that she's gone...but I can't help myself."

[Nakisisa]

Napa stopped apologising, and spoke with renewed determination. No, you shouldn't have kissed me back Nala replied fiercely, looking down at him as he to said his feelings. What he didn't know would come soon, but Nala needed a moment to make an answer at what Tanga had just said. When she finally had one, she looked back down at him.

"I'm sorry, for your loss, and at your past..." she started, slightly unsure if she should say her thoughts. ...But were both here now, here for each other, ready to talk about our pasts." she said looking at him again.

And if you hadn't have kissed me back I woulden't have the courage to do this" Nala said as she leaned in to kiss Tanga again, more pationately this time, loving the taste of his lips, and all the carelessness it made her feel

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga's shame increased as Nala reprimanded him, and was just about to turn and leave when the lioness spoke up again, saying that they were ready to help each other. He managed a very weak smile at her, only for it to be wiped from his face as Nala shocked him by kissing him again.

Tanga knew he shouldn't do it, that he should pull away and remind Nala that they were barely strangers. But the fact that she had been kind to him so far, just like Kulinda had been like, caused him to lose rational though, and once again returned the kiss, losing himself in the feel of Nala's muzzle against his own, as the paw that had been on her shoulder returned, wrapping around her neck softly.

But again, Tanga's rational mind finally regained some semblance of control, and he once more slowly pulled away from her, breaking the kiss, but this time not backing away from her completely. "But...we barely know each other," he forced himself to say, his nervousness clear as he stared into Nala's eyes. "I feel like I'm betraying you for doing this, knowing some of my trust in you is because of your similarity to Kulinda. I just..." he sighed, finding few words to express himself. "I like you, Nala. Aside from my parents, your only the second lioness I've ever met that has not given me a hard time because of who I am. But this seems too fast...I just...I'm confused, I don't much about this sort of thing at all," he finally admitted.

Kulinda had been the only lioness he had been in any sort of relationship with, but she had been taken away from him before their closeness could really progress. They had been going out for only a couple of weeks, really, and had been friends for a while before that. Yet here was Nala, kissing him with almost as much, if not just as much passion as Kulinda ever had, mere minutes after meeting him.

----------

Simba moved through the foliage with a fierce determination. He was going to get answers from Nala, no matter what it took. He needed to know the truth, about the Pridelands, about Scar, about her children, if there were any...about everything. Too much doubt was running through his mind, and it was killing him.

But when Simba came into sight of the spot where he had left Nala, he froze, hidden in the thick bushes and nighttime gloom. There was Nala, pretty much right he had left her after he had stormed off...and she was with another male. Simba was only able to stare in horrified shock as the lioness who had just come back into his life, and won his heart, kissed this golden-furred, black-maned lion, who wrapped a paw around her shoulders in the process.

"No..." Simba whispered, backing away slightly, wanting to tear his gaze away from the scene but finding himself unable to, as the two broke the kiss, but remained close to each other. "No...she wouldn't..." But the evidence was right there in front of him, and Simba found himself heading back into the jungle, away from Nala and this strange male, feeling his heart dying in his chest as he sought to escape the scene he had just witnessed, leaving no sign that he had ever been there.

[Nakisisa]

"Yes..." the voice taunted. "Yes she would" he finished the taunt. "I told you she didn't love you..." he said snidely dropping out of a tree and walking over to him, surrounded by shadows. "She's only here as an escape, and what your seeing just proves it..." he said laughing at his misfortune.

---

"If anything... I'm taking advantage of you... I'm sorry" Nala said sadly, waiting a moment before she spoke again. In that moment she looked into Tangas eyes. She moved so she was laying by his side her head in his mane.

"I'm sorry, I'm just not feeling right, and there's this other lion..." Nala said opening herself up, "He used to love me, but I don't know if he still does, he was the king of our pride, before he ran off... I found him out here... At first I thought I'd rekindled my love for him, seeing him for the first time in years, but I don't know wether I love him, and if he loves me..." Nala said, purring slightly as she spoke.