After carefully planning the route each time they stopped, Sorai made sure to remember the different little landmarks he had been sure to walk by.

Of course, while he was thinking on this, he very nearly ended up toppling down a hill that sloped into a crystalline lake. The dogboy stayed where he was, ears perked up. "So this was the water I smelled..." 

Ryo stepped up next to Sorai. "Guess it was," he said, blinking at the lake. His ears flickered back, then forward, listening to a couple of birds coo. "It's a pretty lake..."

Sorai nodded lightly, looking up at Ryo. "That could be why," he agreed before returning his dark gaze to the water, smiling a bit. "Have you ever seen a lake at night with a full moon out?" he asked after a little while, looking back up at Ryo from his little spot on the ground.

((I imagine it to be rather beautiful, though the thing I want to see the most is a sun setting over a lake that has mountains in the background.

Oh, that would be absolutely beautiful... <3~))

( *dies*
Rikaaa. )

"No, I don't think so," Ryo carefully made his way over to where Sorai was sitting, and squatted down next to him. "Have you?" he asked, ears perking up when he turned his head to look at the inumimi.

( I think I have. o3o There's a lake, like, right next to where I live, and I like to go down there at night with a friend or two. )

((I wish there was a lake here.

We have the mountains, though. :D))

Sorai nodded, leaning forward to rest his head on his hands, elbows resting against his criss-crossed legs. "But it's been a while. It was pretty darn amazing, though... The lake was crystal clear and reflected the entire moon perfectly. And when the wind blew, even though it wasn't very hard, the small waves it made made the surface of the lake glitter..." He closed his eyes, a soft smile spreading across his face.

((c: That's how I imagine a lake would look when a full moon is out. Just...radiant. :'D))

( There's mountain here, I think. o.o
Nah. e.e
There was mountains and lakes in California! D: )

Ryo shuddered and sat in the same position Sorai was in, careful not to squish his tail. "This lake is pretty, too, but I don't recall catching the scent of it the last time I was here. I guess I'm just not aware of anything anymore. Most of the time, I only recognize the scents of people, animals, food, and anything that smells...obnoxious. Nothing sweet...well, except for the obnoxiously sweet smell of...whatever it was." He sighed, picking up his tail and pulling it into his lap. For some reason, he felt like someone was going to step on it...

( xD Stolen internet is crappy. )

Ryo blushed, and hoped that it was too dark to see the red in his face. He looked down, letting his hair fall around his face. "I'm sorry, that was my fault..." In a way, that is. "I say weird things from time to time...That's not me, though. It's Darius." And I said we should forget that happened.

((Indeed. But it's better than nothing. :D))

Sorai looked over at Ryo and blinked, tilting his head slightly. After a couple moments of thought, he smiled lightly, reaching over to lightly pat the neko's shoulder. "It's not your fault I wasn't paying attention. It was mine," he told him, shifting lightly.

( Agreed. xD
I said that once. o.o )

"Whatever," Ryo mumbled, ears flickering back and pressing down on his head. "You can believe what you want, but I think it's my fault. Maybe I would've seen her coming, too, if I hadn't..." He let his voice trail off. "I'm not going to bother you with this." he said, looking back up. "It's kind of rude," 

Sorai pouted a bit, huffing softly. "Everything bad that happens isn't always your fault, Ryo," he stated, black eyes softening for what he said next. "You know, you really shouldn't be so hard on yourself... Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but you're a better person than you think you are, despite the little things. Nobody is perfect, but nobody is absolutely horrible either. Everyone has their good qualities, even Maria. And you, too, Ryo... you just can't see them because you don't know they're there..."

((I'm in one of my moods. xD))

( I can see that. c: )

"Um," Ryo blinked at Sorai. "okay. I don't know where you're going with that, but...okay. I guess I understand," He picked up his tail again, the let it drop back down to his lap. "You're a good person, Sorai, you know?"