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Edward listened quietly with a smile on his maw, although it looks more forced with each thing that Lilianna told him. He had kissed her? His ears folded back... and why did she keep saying that her feelings were strong around -both- of them. However, when she asked if they would still be friends if something happened between her and Endless... Edward frowned. A part of him wanted to tell her, 'Of course we will' but then another part didn't want to be 'just friends'. Nothing is set, she had just said.

A look of stubborn determination in his eyes as he stared at her with that smoldering gaze that Edward Elric was so famous for. Although it had been somewhat dormant as of late. Edward knew a last chance opportunity when he saw one. It was now or never really. He could just back off submissively and allow things to take their course between Endless and Lilianna, but Edward had never been the submissive type really.

There was a defeaning silence for a moment as he just stared at her, and then it happened. The alchemist deciding to take action in that impulsive nature of his. He had to sit up on his back legs a bit, being so short and all, but he did what he felt. The teen pressing his nose against hers and he... kissed her. But it wasn't the light and hesitant kiss that Endless had given her. Neither was it forceful, but rather a lot of feeling was put into it.. maybe even passionate. Lilianna's reaction would determine everything.

The gold of her eartips nearly disappeared as red heat surged through her. Even Liliana could feel the difference behind the kiss. She was running on an emotional high... to close to feelings she tended to pay little heed to though they always directed her actions. Logic be damned. So what if he was still a juvenile like her baby brother? For one brief sweet instant Lily forgot that. Forgot they were in Hai's kitchen in Endless' home. Forgot he was younger than she was. Feelings that had been awakened with Endless' confession a week ago were too close to the surface swept over her, moved her. Surprised green eyes shut & she kissed him back -tentative, but spurned a little beyond that from responding automatically to the feelings unable to be denied in Ed's kiss. Her heart raced.

"I... love you too, Lili" Pulling back her eyes snapped open, realization dawning as the pieces of the puzzle fell together and was expressed by a soft little "oh!" of sound. Her chest heaved in and out as her breathing came heavily. "Edward... That wasn't a dream-memory... you said it... oh! What am I supposed to do? I love you both!!"

Tears sprang up suddenly welling in front of her green eyes like a film without falling. Edward's image swam in her vision though her gaze did not falter from him. Her paw went to her wand, wanting... needing to get away; wanting to escape to the comforting embrace of her Daddy... but she could not leave them. Could not leave Hemi, asleep and unaware. Could not leave without saying anything, like a thief in the night.

The Daddy's girl who had once wanted to marry her father without thinking of what that would entail forced herself to calm and relax. As much as she was able. It was enough that she should be able to speak, though her body shook. After letting go of her childish dream of Remus, Lily had never once thought for romance or a mate of her own. Never once dreamed or looked or even hoped. Curiosity, yes, for how anyone knew if they were in love with someone else... but never a notion or thought of such things for her.

And now she had two who loved her that way. Her two dearest friends. "I... we'll... have to talk... later... Somehow..."

Then the tears silently began to fall. No matter what or why she decided, she would hurt one of them. The revelation of that pained her more than anything that had ever hurt before. The last thing she wanted to do was to hurt either of them...

Lily did not even think of how that hurt would hurt her in turn.

She did not know Endless had seen, nor that he was gone.

How could she feel so good and so bad all at once? She wanted... but Liliana was not sure what she wanted. Why was this so hard?

A haunting tune she had heard the kitsu Dazzler hum when she had visited struck her head. Trelweny sang it sometimes, and in her overwrought mind Lily wondered how they both knew the song.

A little girl's dreams she'd love to go back. for a day an hour... even for a minute. But life's too fast and love's to hard. And all she's left with... are a little girl's dreams.

Only she had no dreams. Ambitions only in potions. Living only for the moment... Have I been a fool? "I'm... gonna go say goodbye to Atae & Endless. Let them & Hemi know I'll be back. Then I'll take you to headquarters if you want. I need..." Daddy!!! Her body sagged, nearly drained of energy from the unaccustomed override of emotions within her. Leaning forward she nuzzled Edward then turned from the kitchen to see if she could remember the way to Atae's room. Passing Kitsyn she gave the female a slight nod of recognition, her thoughts not ordered enough for more. Painting on a smile she peeked into Atae's room. That she could do. But she did not have nearly enough training for the influx of emotions surging within her. On one paw "I'm in love & I'm loved!" squared. On the other confusion, guilt, hurt, pain, concern, terror, ache. Her tear moist eyes softened seeing the three snuggled together, noticing where Ed's coat was too. "Oh... he is asleep..." She kept her voice quiet so as to not wake the sleepers. A surge of love & protectiveness for family joined the other emotions as well as a trace of relief that she seemed to be doing better... but why was her head under a pillow? "I'm thinking of going home..." Suddenly she realized what was missing... or rather who. Hadn't he gone to check on Atae? "Ah... where's Endless?"

Fear gripped her heart suddenly like a vice. What if... Liliana... you are a fool!!

But he's not the same age as her 'baby brother' only about the same size. He's actually far older than many kitsu that are now adults. Would it really be fair to call him a juvenille when the only real difference was his size and the fact that he wasn't yet fully grown? Well.. Edward wouldn't think so.

Anyway, Edward was pleasantly surprised when Lilianna actually kissed him back, giving the teen a sort of rush. This wasn't something he'd really had much experience with, but well... like any young male, he enjoyed kissing a pretty girl. However, as soon as she pulled back... reality hit him full force. Already he started to mentally beat himself up for his stupidity.. especially as Lilianna's expressions seemed to change. He too hadn't noticed Endless, though.

Ears folded back again and he sat, frowning lightly and looking at the floor for a few seconds. "I'm sorry, Lili' he apologized, seemingly ashamed of himself as he reached a paw up to brush away her tears. But what was done, was done... although he knew that either he or Endless... and probably Lilianna too, would end up hurt. He didn't need to say it, but now... Lilianna would have to make a decision.

When she told him that she was going to say goodbye to Atae and Endless, then take him to the HQ...he just nodded quietly. The alchemist continuing to just sit there in the kitchen as Lilianna left, leaving him to his own thoughts. If Lilianna was a fool, then so was he.

Kitsyn moved aside so Lily could go back past her and stepped into the room to give Atae a motherly lick and curled up around the "kids". "It'll be all right, sweets. I've been where End's at. Well, one of me was, at least. I hope things turn out better for him than they did me, but he'll pull through eventually no matter which way things turn."

Atae just nodded and rested her head against the elder female's side. Kitsyn... knew about things. Sometimes even more than Valefor did. She had to be right.

Outside, Iris had finally made her way to where Endless had buried himself. "Trying to get a headstart on your funeral, sweetheart?"

It took several minutes before his voice made its hollow way out from under the tree. "It seemed... appropriate..."

Iris poked her head in. "I don't think Lily would appreciate that, hun." When Endless snorted she nipped him on the shoulder. "Just because you can't deal with yourself and your past is no reason to take it out on your friends, darlin'."

Endless half-snarled, half-sobbed. "And what the hell would you know about that?!"

Iris back out of the hole and settled down, one paw draped daintily over the other and tails curled sedately at her side. "I was hoping maybe you'd recognize me on your own, Neb. But I guess you were too young to remember us for that one visit you and Aunty got to make to us..."

Endless stopped his moping when he heard his given name. He also stopped thinking, and breathing, and for a few heartbeats of time he didn't have any of those, either. Then he scrambled part way out of the hole covered in dirt and leaves, a bit of mud clinging to his cheeks. "I... you?... ................................ cousin?"

He stumbled the rest of the way out of the hole and then collapsed, eyes wide and staring but not really seeing, and then he started crying again. Weeping, even, for his mother, for his life, for all the grieving he never allowed himself. For his fear that he'd turn out like his father. For his own stupidity and the fact that he was honestly thinking about just running away instead of facing Lily and the others again. Iris curled up next to him and put her head over his neck and made soothing motherly sounds. "It's all right, hun... it'll be all right... go ahead and let it out, you'll feel better..." Though this time Endless couldn't have stopped himself from crying even if he'd really had presence of mind enough to want to.

((And... I think that's where he'll be staying until Lily finds him... (and Iris tells him to stay and talk before he can think about trying to hide again.) XP))

Whimpering softly Liliana stepped forward to rest her chin lightly on his shoulder. "I'm sorry because no matter what I decided someone I love will hurt. You did not put me in this position, did you? I was here already, but I didn't see it. I simply would not have known... would not have seen... would not have thought. Thank you for opening my eyes, Edward. I... know I have to make a decision now, and it's harder... but... I don't have to make it tonight??" If her ears had been up at all they sagged the rest of the way, not flattened -just fallen. A soft whine underlayed her words and added to Lily's whimper that had not quite faded.

Wrapping herself around him Lily waved her wand and they disapparated.


The room Edward had stayed in while healing from his first encounter with Envy was where they apparated. Slowly she disengaged from her friend, unable to calm her wildly beating heart. "You have the communicator still? You'll call me, for any reason?" She was like a kit then, worried & frightened and feeling very small. "I... don't want to hide while I decide. I'm sorry if I hurt you when confiding in you, Edward. I didn't know... & I was blind."

Closing her eyes Lily pressed her crimson muzzle to her friend's cheek. Yes... it was all out in the open now. "Thank you, Edward. For what it's worth... I do love you." A tear dripped onto his muzzle from her eye as the winged female softly licked his cheek just below where her nose had been pressed a moment before.

Then she drew back, hastily disapparating -a tear left behind falling through the empty air to land where she had just stood.


Apparating back in the Fierra kitchen almost as if she had never been gone Liliana spun once, her white and gold tails circling like banners. Orienting on the kitchen door she was out and heading through the house and back out the front door. Only vaguely did she notice anyone she passed on her way out the main room, not heeding if anyone still played videogames or if the permakits were still contained as she dashed for the open doorway.

Once outside she paused for only a moment, reaching in her bag and spreading a thin mist of powder. Two trails led off in the same direction, one the color of Endless' ruff. She did not care about the second, hardly giving it a thought. Endless... Her heart raced, mind feeling almost numb from thinking too much -from feeling too much. From thinking about feelings too much. Her wings furled a moment, lifting her from the ground until Lily remembered to hold them tight against her sides once more. A shaky call came from her, asking & pleading as much as seeking. "Endless? Endless?"

Endless flinched when he heard Lily call, though it was simply one of surprise. It had been several minutes and he'd started to think that maybe no one but Iris had even noticed he left...

Iris herself slowly uncurled from her 'baby' cousin's side. "Don't you dare run off on her, hun, you hear me? I know where you left from this time, so I can hunt you down a lot faster."

Endless rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out, though his expression was still pained. But Lily wasn't the only reason... and he supposed he'd have to make sure he told her that. He simply nodded at Iris and lay his head down between his forepaws.

He had no idea what a mess he looked with all the dirt and leaves and twigs in his fur, or the muddy tracks down his cheeks where his tears had wet the earth and caused it to clump together. He did wonder idly if he'd ever told Lily the whole story about what happened to his mother. Or if he had, if he'd told her the real version. He knew he told her at least part of it...

Not that he honestly had any idea what he was going to say to her. He wasn't sure he'd even be able to get anything out around the lump in his throat.

Iris strolled back the way she'd come, noticing the approaching glow of the finding dust and tilting her head at it. Some of that... wizardry she'd heard Lily and her family could do? And then Lily came into view and she gave the crimson-furred femme a... doting smile. She was a nice girl, in spite of the tizzy she'd put End in. "He's back over there, sweety. Got him calmed down a bit, so I don't think he'll run off again. Well, hope not, anyway. He's hard to track down when he wants to be."

She unconsciously gave Lily an affectionate body-length brushing with her own as she passed and continued her stroll back to the Place, bemusedly following the trail of lights back to the front door. It wasn't a personal thing, not really; that was just Iris for you. Flirty and affectionate and no nevermind who you were or who you were with unless it caused a problem.

((Weird eyes run in the family... so, I'm not sure if anyone but Lily is actually supposed to be able to see the trail, but between the odd nature of eyes in the family and the lack of pigment that makes her especially light sensitive, I'm just gonna say she can see it anyway. >>))

Endless held very still for a few moments while Lily licked him before finally letting a sigh of something like relief. His entire body shuddered briefly and he felt himself relax. Just having her there made him inexplicably happy.

"I guess... we're both a little new at this... huh?" He somehow managed to crawl sideways without really getting up to settle next to her and curled up part-way around her side. His mood had lightened visibly. "But I know... you're always good for a hug. No matter how things turn out..."

And boy did he need one right now. He started shaking again, not quite on the verge of more tears. Lily wasn't the only one feeling overwhelmed. He nuzzled behind her jaw for a moment before plunking his head back down between his paws. "And... well, it wasn't entirely you... that made me run out here... Me, more like..."

He both wanted to explain and didn't. But Lily had a right to know about all the broken and jagged bits of his past, especially if things ever did go any farther between them. He just... needed a little prompting.