Hearts Never Lie

A/N: Finally! I have finished this. And I've been working on this chapter for almost a month.

And just a quick disclaimer to everyone. If I want to include songs that aren't in the "Lion King" franchise, they will still be Disney; anything Disney-related. I was a little hesitant to include any other songs besides "Lion King", but then I remembered that little "Beauty and the Beast" reference in the live-action remake of "The Lion King." That part made me laugh so hard, so I decided to try it out.

If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But I thought it did. So, maybe you guys will agree. If not, that's okay, too.

Anyway, let's get on with Chapter 2. Roll it!

Chapter 2

A Secret Dream to Share

The night had just begun, and there was a gentle breeze blowing through the savannah. Kion and Jasiri were just walking side by side silently, away from unsuspecting eyes. It was quite nice out, and thankfully, there was no one around for miles.

Finally, Jasiri broke the silence. "So what excuse did you use to get out of your home this time?" She asked the lion beside her.

"I told my parents that I was going to do a solo patrol, and won't be back until late tonight." Kion explained. "I'm just glad that my parents aren't that overprotective of me."

Jasiri giggled. "The fiercest animal in the Pride Lands has doting parents. That's cute."

Kion rolled his eyes at her comment, but there was a little smile on his face. "What about your clan?" He asked. "How's everyone doing?"

"They're doing well." She answered. "Tunu and Wema have grown up a bit, but they're still as rambunctious as ever."

Kion chuckled. "Those two always make me laugh." He said. The few times that he had visited Jasiri's clan over the years came back into his mind.

Tunu and Wema were always the most excited to see him out of the clan, besides Jasiri, upon seeing that he wasn't a bad lion, and that he was a very good friend of Jasiri. They would always beg him to play with them, and those little games would continue for a couple of hours before the lion had to return to the Pride Lands. Jasiri and her sister, Madoa, were very impressed that Kion could keep up with the hyperactive twins.

Jasiri briefly snickered at her friend's comment. "Yeah, they miss you, too." She said.

"Missing their favorite lion, huh?" Kion asked. But then he smirked at the pretty hyena beside him. "What about you?"

Jasiri felt heat building up in her face when he asked that seemingly innocent question. But she still played it cool. "Of course I did, you goof." She said, playfully shoving his side.

Kion chuckled again, feeling his heartbeat accelerating at her action, almost like when they were cubs and she did a similar action that caught him off guard for a good few seconds. "All joking aside, I really missed you, too."

Jasiri just smiled softly at him. Now there was that feeling again, like from earlier at Flat Ridge Rock. It was new and unfamiliar, but at the same time, it's all she wanted to feel because it made her feel happy and secure.

The two of them continued to walk in a comfortable silence, side by side for a few more minutes. Occasionally, one of them would sneak a glance at the other, but when their eyes would meet, they would look away, their faces blushing.

Eventually, Kion stopped by a lake to catch a quick drink. Jasiri followed him, lapping up some water. But when both stopped, they looked down at their reflections and saw something interesting.

The reflections were kind of dark, even with the light of the full moon. Kion's left side looked like it wasn't there, as was Jasiri's right side.

The adolescent lion looked over at his hyena friend, and she returned the curious gaze. They both then looked back down at the halves of their reflections. Slowly, Kion scooted closer to Jasiri.

Catching on, she met him halfway until their shoulders were touching. By now, the reflections have merged into one. Both of them were a little wide-eyed at the sight, but then, Jasiri smiled softly.

"Sisi ni sawa." She said quietly.

"We're the same." Kion added.

Both of them could sense that this was a deeper meaning of the phrase. They looked at each other as the words that were said repeated in their heads, copper eyes meeting amethyst ones.

Then, Jasiri began nuzzling under Kion's chin. She could feel his heartbeat picking up as she did so. But soon, he started to nuzzle the top of her head. Eventually, the nuzzles came to their faces, and after a few more gentle rubs, they stopped, looking deep into the other's eyes.

Kion wanted to say something, but he wasn't sure of what. He knew that he did feel something around Jasiri ever since they met and helped each other. He did have a slight idea of what it might be, but he wasn't exactly sure if that's what it was. It did seem like a too strong word for right now, but he did know that his feelings for his friend extended beyond friendship.

She was his best friend after Bunga, and they do make a really great team, effectively leading their individual groups against a common foe. She always makes him smile, and she opened his eyes and mind to look beyond prejudice to see the heart inside. Because of that, she will always be someone special to him.

Slowly, he started to nuzzle the side of her face. She returned the gesture until they pulled away, nose to nose.

"Please tell me that I'm not the only one feeling this." Kion whispered as he took a small step back.

Jasiri shook her head, her violet eyes serious. "You're not." She said. "But you know as well as I do that this can't work." She added, her head down and eyes glued to the water.

Kion glowered slightly. It was true, for obvious reasons. One, he's a lion and she's a hyena. Two, his father hates hyenas. Three, every animal in their native lands hates their kind.

But ever since he got to know her back when they were younger, there had been a burning feeling in his gut about the unfairness of how certain animals were treated. Not all hyenas are bad, just like not all of one species are evil. If his own father could give Makuu's float another chance, why not the hyenas?

Well, he was never one for tradition. He had been told that ever since he was a young cub. And neither was Jasiri, since she was as determined as he is, if their first meeting was any indicator.

"It may be a challenge, but I'll willing to face it." Kion finally said. "If you want to as well."

Jasiri looked up at the crazy lion with wide eyes. As much as the idea sounded... nice, it was really risky, not to mention dangerous. It was kind of hard enough to keep their friendship a secret from his homeland. But a possible stronger relationship? If they weren't careful, she'll have an angry king/papa lion on her tail. Not to mention the war with the Outlanders. True, she and the Hyena Resistance were spies working for the Lion Guard against them, but she was certain not even that will get through to everyone living in the Pride Lands.

But still, there was something telling that she should go for this. She also had a little bit of an idea of what she was feeling towards Kion. But she knew it was too strong of a word to use right now. Yet, that same part of her was daring her to hope. She knew that whenever she needed some help, she knew that Kion would come to her aid. And she would do the same thing for him.

But then, she realized that she had been quiet for a bit too long, because Kion's eyes turned worried.

"I understand if you think this is crazy." He said nervously. "And I know my dad is going to never let me go anywhere without an escort if he finds out about this."

Jasiri had to bite back a chuckle at how the usually confident and fierce leader was acting like a stammering teenage kitty. She then placed her small paw over his larger one.

"I could tell right away that you were never one for tradition." She said, making him stop. "I wasn't, either. Besides, you know that I'm never one to run from a challenge."

There was a little smirk on her face when she said that. Kion recognized that grin as he returned it with one of his own.

"Besides, you have my back. Just like I'll always have yours." Jasiri finished.

"Yep." Kion answered, a bright smile on his face. "My dad's a stubborn lion, but I get that from him. And I won't back down easily."

Jasiri laughed as she lightly splashed Kion with some water.

"I always wondered where you got that thick skull of yours from." She teased as she ran ahead of him.

Kion shook the water out of his fur and began following his hyena friend, a cheeky grin on his face. When he got close to her, he sprinted ahead and jumped onto a large rock, beginning to sing.

Kion: I know we might be crazy,
But did you hear the story?

The hyena slightly giggled as she jumped onto the rock beside him.

Jasiri: I think I heard it vaguely.

Kion: A lion and hyena.

Then, she jumped off of the rock, turning back to him with a cheeky smile on her face. Kion returned it as he followed her off of it and they began to run through the emptiness of the thankfully quiet savannah so that no one could see them.

Jasiri: Oh, tell me more, boy.
Sounds like a fantasy.

Both: Oh, what could go so wrong
With a lion and hyena?

Then, both of them stopped when they saw Pride Rock in the distance. Kion looked at it for a few seconds before they both turned towards the direction of the Outlands.

Kion: I'm from the perfect paradise,
And you're living on the darker side.

Jasiri: Ooh, I've got a feeling
If you get to know me,

The teenage lion then gave his friend a sly smirk as he lightly shoved her shoulder with his paw. But she saw through his little ruse as she rolled her eyes with a smile and just returned the playful shove. Then, they both began running again, smiling widely at the other.

Kion: Right from the start, you caught my eye,
And something inside me came to life.

Jasiri: Ooh, I've got a feeling

Both: If you get to know me,
Someday,

Jasiri: This could be, this could be ordinary.

Both: Someday,

Jasiri: Could we be something extraordinary?

Kion: You and me side by side,

Both: Out in the broad daylight.
If they laugh, we'll say,
We're gonna be someday.
We're gonna be someday.

Jasiri: Someday, someday.

Both: We're gonna be someday.

Jasiri: We're gonna be someday.

When they stopped running to catch their breath, the moon was shining down on them, highlighting each of their individual features in a silver glow. Kion did look very handsome in the pale light, his figure tall, strong and confident. But his eyes were always the key feature that drew her in. Jasiri didn't care if he was the most attractive living thing in the world, his eyes would always speak words untold between them. They spoke the true beauty of his soul, reflecting the strength, kindness and warmth he has to almost every creature he meets. And that made him the handsome lion that he is.

Kion had always noticed that Jasiri was different from the other hyenas that he had encountered in his life. But now, he truly saw why. Her posture was straight and confident unlike the others, her form sleek and slender, and her eyes were twinkling the bits of stardust shining down on her. And her smile had no sadistic curl to it, just playful mischief and kindness.

Kion: Girl, you look delicious.
Oh, I mean gorgeous.

Jasiri giggled at his little slip-up, making him blush underneath his golden fur. She came over to him, giving him a sly little grin while her head was almost sliding under his chin. But then, she playfully shoved her shoulder into his. He didn't move very much due to him being much stronger than when he was a cub, but he still returned her snarky smile.

Jasiri: Well, now you're getting fearless.

Kion: No, I'm just rooting for us.

Then, both of them quickly raced ahead until they decided to skid to a stop, facing the other with the view of their homelands behind them.

Jasiri: If different was a super power,

Both: We'd be so flawless.
Yeah, we could make these two worlds ours.
I'm rooting for us.

Kion then stepped closer to Jasiri, a playful shine in his eyes as he walked past, not knowing his tail had flicked under her chin. Even though she kind of liked the supposedly flirtatious gesture he did, she shook her head fondly as she caught up with her friend, knowing that he can still be a bit thick in the head when it comes to matters like that. Besides, it was most likely an accident.

Kion: Two lonely hearts meet in the dark.
Imagine it, now they start a spark.

Jasiri: You got my attention.
What happens next, then?

Kion: No more secrets after dark,
Hanging out anywhere we want.

Jasiri: I like the way you're thinking.
I can almost see it.

Then, the two of them started to chase one another through the savannah grasslands again. Once in a while, one of them would stop for the other to catch up, then they would resume the chase, still remaining a bit from the other's reach.

Both: Someday,

Jasiri: This could be, this could be ordinary.

Both: Someday,

Jasiri: Could we be something extraordinary?

Kion: You and me side by side,

Both: Out in the broad daylight.
If they laugh, we'll say,
We're gonna be someday.

Jasiri: Someday, someday.

Finally, Jasiri managed to tackle Kion down and pin him onto his back, both of them laughing and feeling like they were young cubs again as they rolled around in the savannah grass. They managed to calm down a bit when they stopped as they started nuzzling each other again as she started to sing, the possibility of them being together pounding in her mind, knowing that he was most likely thinking the same things she was.

So let them talk if they wanna.
Let them talk if they're gonna.
We're gonna do what we wanna.

Let them talk, let them talk
If they wanna, they wanna.

This new hope swelling in them at the thought of being with one another without any secrets to keep was turning into a dream. It wasn't going to be easy, but whatever challenge they might face, they'll face it together to make that secret dream of theirs a reality, no matter what anyone else might think of them, if they were crazy, blind or just plain stupid. This wonderful, fantastic feeling whenever they were together was stronger than anything they ever felt before. And that is what will keep them going. 

With one more nuzzle, Jasiri jumped off of Kion, tempting him to start chasing her with a twinkle in her eyes as she winked flirtatiously at him. He shook his head fondly at her with a cheeky smile as he quickly righted himself back on his paws and gave chase.

Both: Someday,

Jasiri: This could be, this could be ordinary.

Both: Someday,

Jasiri: Could we be something extraordinary?

Kion: You and me side by side,

Both: Out in the broad daylight.
If they laugh, we'll say,
We're gonna be someday.

Jasiri: Someday, someday.

Kion: We're gonna be someday.

Jasiri: Someday, someday.

Kion: We're gonna be someday.

Jasiri: Someday, someday.

Kion: We're gonna be someday.

Jasiri: Someday, someday.

Both: We're gonna be someday.

When they finished singing, they saw that they were back at Flat Ridge Rock. The moon was almost at its highest point in the starry night sky.

A look of sadness came into Kion's eyes. "Jasiri..." He began.

"I know, Kion." She cut him off. "But we still have a couple of more nights after this."

That brought a small smile to the young lion's face. "Yeah." He said.

"And one day, things will be different." She added, a tiny hopeful grin on her face. "No more hiding."

"No more secrets." He finished.

The two of them shared one more affectionate look and gently nuzzled each other's faces, their noses rubbing against each other. Then, Jasiri reluctantly left the rock and headed back into the Outlands, taking a few glances back at Kion.

Kion stayed on the rock for a couple of extra minutes, even after she had long since vanished into the shadows of the canyons.

"Someday." He breathed. Then he turned around and headed back to his own home of Pride Rock.

A/N: Yeah, the song was "Someday", from "ZOMBIES." I really like this song, and I saw a video on YouTube that featured this song with pairing up Kion and Jasiri, as seen above, so that was my inspiration for using this song. But I don't own it in any way or form.

Well, I hoped that using another Disney song worked okay here. If not, then I'll try to fix it up.

I'll see y'all in the next chapter! Please leave a comment about what you think.

Got to fly!