Uzuri passed them heading the other way and chuckled. "You two lovebirds been out walking again, eh?"

Misha's ears flattened in embarassment as Tanabi's fur spiked along his back. "Yeah...well, I mean no! That is, we're not-"

The lioness smacked him playfully with her tail as she passed. "Uh--huh. That's what I thought." She grinned and shook her head. I always knew you two were made for each other."

Tanabi writhed in total embarasment. "Uzuri! "

She laughed softly and nuzzled him. "I'm just teasing, honey tree. You go ahead on and play, now." The lioness headed away, still chuckling softly to herself.

Misha groomed herself self-conciously. "I, uh, better get back. I promised Malaika I'd help babysit while she went out hunting."

"Okay." Tanabi stared after her thoughtfully. He abruptly turned and trotted up the slope to thw promontory of Pride Rock. Seeing his father, he walked over slowly, uncertain now of what he wanted to say.

Simba was in the middle of taking a report from Zazu when he saw his son sitting quietly behind him. Breaking off, he looked at the cub curiously. "What's up, Tanabi?"

The cub squirmed uneasily. "Uhh, Dad, can I talk to you alone for a second?"

Simba raised an eyebrow. "What about? I'm in the middle of something right now; is it very important?"

"Weelll, sort of." He lashed his tail, embarassed. "It's about...uh, a friend of mine."

Simba's forehead furrowed. "Who? Is somebody in trouble?" He looked at his son sternly. "Have you kids been teasing Uzuri again?"

Tanabi sighed in exasperation. "No, it's about Misha."

Simba's mouth made a soundless "Ohhh, " as he turned to look at Zazu. The hornbill smiled knowingly and cleared his throat. "Well, Sire, that concludes my report for now. I shall return later and inform you should anything else come up."

"Of course, Zazu. Thank you." Zazu flapped off as Simba turned to his son. "Well, Tanabi? What's on your mind?"

Tanabi's brow wrinkled alarmingly. "Dad, I can't get her out of my head! " He sputtered helplessly. "I feel so weird. I want to go play with Habu and the other guys, but I want to go play with Misha, too. I don't want them to come with us, though. She's my best friend, after all, but..." he trailed off, uncertain.

Simba cocked an ear. "But...what?"

The cub looked at the ground, embarassed. "I thought she looked looked kinda pretty, today, so... I gave her a kiss."

His father chuckled. "She IS pretty, isn’t she. So, was it fun?"

“Was what fun?”

“Giving her a kiss.”

“Well it wasn’t fun. It was more like... I liked it. I wouldn’t say it was fun, though.”

Simba drew the cub close to him with a forepaw. "Son, whether you know it or not, you're growing up. There's nothing wrong with wanting to spend time alone with Misha, if that's what you want to do." He rose, stretching, and began to meander up the path to the peak of Pride Rock. Tanabi followed slowly, listening.

"Tanabi, this may be difficult for you to understand, but it's perfectly normal to want to be with a girl at your age." Simba grinned. "I remember when I thought girls were there so I would have someone to play jokes on."

"Really?"

Simba nodded.

“Know any good practical jokes?”

“There is no such thing as a ‘practical’ joke. Not when you get to be my age. I like the kind of jokes where everyone gets a good laugh and nobody feels like a fool.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

Reaching the summit, the two lions padded over to the edge and sat down. "This is just the beginning, my son. Miracles are happening inside you every day, and life itself is a miracle to be appreciated for the wonder it is. These changes used to frighten me. I didn't have someone I could talk to. I want you to remember that I'm not just your father..."

"You're also my king."

"No.... Well yes, but I mean I'm also your friend."

Simba nuzzled his son gently as they stared out over the Pride Lands together. “Son, do you know what day you’ll be grown and a lion?”

“When I’m given my mantlement?”

“In the eyes of the Pride, yes. But there is no day in your whole life when you’ll wake up and be a totally different person. A mantlement can be pushed up a week for convenience’s sake. It can be pulled back a couple of days. It’s just a ceremony.” He thought it over. “Not JUST a ceremony—it’s very important—but still there is nothing sacred about the moment it’s held because growing up is a process, not an event.” He patted Tanabi on the shoulder. “Son, you’re at an age right now when you’re a little less of a cub every day and a little more of an adult. That leads to some very confusing feelings. Like the way you felt when you kissed Misha. Fact is, I kiss your mother all the time. Some of the time it feels just like when you kiss me. But there are other times, special times, when you get to be my age. You’ll kiss her, but then you feel like there’s something else waiting to happen. Like that kiss isn’t the end, but the beginning.”

“Yeah, ” Tanabi said. "That was it. I felt like I was waiting for something to happen.” He looked down, embarrased.

Simba said quietly, “Misha loves you, son. One day when you kiss her, she will be waiting for something to happen too. And I know what that something is."

“Kombi said I’m supposed to…” He stopped.

“Kombi is very clever, but he doesn’t know everything. If he did, he would know that the love between a lion and a lioness is a holy and beautiful thing." Simba smiled. “Just how many times has Kombi done this thing he talked about.”

Tanabi’s ears flattened back and he looked down. “None, I guess.”

“Then how does he know he’s right?” He smiled slyly. “On the other hand, your father is happily married and has a son.”

Tanabi looked up and smiled. “Yeah.”

Simba nuzzled him. "So who are you going to believe? Your dad, that’s who. It's time we put these rumors aside and had a heart to heart chat."

The sky above had faded to the dusky purple of twilight. And as the great kings of the past took their places one by one in the vault of heaven, Tanabi sat quietly next to Simba and learned about love.

SCENE: THE WAITING GAME

Misha never formally fell in love with Tanabi. As youngest cubs they were the best of friends, practically inseparable. Most pride members never thought of one without the other. They would nurse together at Ajenti or Nala, which was their mothers' way of recognizing the budding relationship, for out of this friendship Ajenti was expecting a new son and Nala was expecting a new daughter someday. Of course by this time they had long since taken to an adult diet and a more adult appearance. And with this came a more mature love that deepened rather than replaced their old feelings.

Ajenti still had authority over her "little girl, " and forbade her to carelessly lead on Tanabi because she was still not a lioness. Indeed, Misha was still her cub despite her feelings, and this would not change until she had become a lioness in the eyes of the pride. As her new feelings for Tanabi grew and deepened, she longed for the rite of passage and the freedom it would bring.

Misha was sunning herself on the rocks when Tanabi came by. "Look, Missy, notice anything different about me?"

"Oh yes! It's wonderful! Look, Mom, his mane is one day longer than the last time he asked! "

"That's not very nice, " Tanabi said. "After all, I mainly came by to wish you luck on this evening's hunt. I hear it's your first?"

"You know good and well it is." She smiled. "I talk about it as much as you talk about that stupid old mane--forget I said that; it's not stupid at all. It's beautiful, like you."

Tanabi bussed her cheek with his tongue. "Tomorrow is my mantlement. I guess I've run it into the ground by now, but I delayed it because of you."