Along the Trail They Went

It was about two weeks after Rika had made his attempt to help Sharaku when he was down. Following that event, he had gone back to work with a schedule that kept him busy for a good chunk of time leaving small windows where he could talk to his boyfriend. So when he actually got some good time off to recover from all the work, he did not hesitate to first sleep a whole day and then when he was sane enough again, actually take the initiative to ask Sharaku out. The activity horse riding and the goal? Well just to spend time with the guy to be honest. He missed being around the guy and after all that work it would be nice to not only have company, but also to be outside.

Looking forward to this the demon would put on a pair of comfortable pants, his boots, a nice button down black shirt adding color to the dark clothing with the the choker he had of red fangs and his red colored earrings. His messy hair was pinned back slightly today with a band that had a few feathers in it giving him a bit of an Indian flare, but not to the point it was overdone. The demon decided to be subtle in his choice of decoration both to reflect his calm mode and also to add to the casual look. That aside the red eyed demon would ride along side of Sharaku Cool Whip keeping in step with the horse the other had chosen as they moved down a path leading currently through a grassy field. Up ahead was some trees that marked a forest along with other paths that led to places like the lake or the hiking paths. Content to just follow alongside Sharaku, the demon was quiet as he closed his eyes a bit enjoying the wind and the sun against his skin.

“Mmm,” he would hum as a smile crossed his lips before he opened his eyes and looked over at the other. “Thank you for coming out here with me. I appreciate it,” he would say his tone soft, gentle and appreciative as he loosely held the reigns in his hands the horse pretty much following along side the other on its own accord.

Right. To be entirely honest, he couldn't say he was in the best state of mood/mind to be hanging out at that point in time. On the other hand, waving the other away wouldn't help him anyway, and at the very least, the activity in question was one he could get himself on board with.

He did, though, take his sweet time in choosing a horse once they were at the place. As much as he generally didn't have an issue with taming down wilder horses, he was not quite eager for an unnecessary challenge/fight this time, seemingly looking for something different. What exactly that was would go mostly unsaid, but he would eventually end up on the back of a bulky mass of a Clydesdale. Perhaps a fitting choice, a big horse for his own tall stature.


He was dressed in black pants, boots and a white shirt plus a black sleeveless jacket over it. He had his typical golden hoop earrings on, and oddly enough a black cowboy style hat on his head. He appeared to be completely unbothered by the initial silence, in fact, it was likely that he would have preferred it anyway, clearly seeming to be somewhat spaced out on this day in general. Though, his attention would snap towards the other briefly as words were suddenly spoken. "Is that something that requires gratefulness..?", he would question with a passive blink after giving it some thought.

Rika would take note of the other's behavior and think for a moment how to approach the question being posed. "Well, I think when someone ask for your time and you agree to give it that is something to be grateful over. You could've said no or brushed me off, but you didn't, so yeah. I am grateful," he would begin with a light smile as he watched the other for a moment and then looking forward again that smile would fade a bit. "Besides, I wonder if I might've intruded on something. You've been pretty quiet and distant today. You okay?"

While he knew Sharaku could be quiet and even moody, there was just something off about this situation that the demon couldn't quite pin. It made him uncomfortable, but he tried not to assume the worse right off the bat.

He would look off to the side at that, thinking for a moment. "I suppose the concept is a somewhat strange one to me.", he would state, a slightly musing tone. His eyes would narrow a little when the other spoke again, as he shifted a bit to hold he reigns loosely with one hand instead of both. "I've just...been thinking about things.", he would answer quite simply, going quiet for a brief while before sighing faintly as he used his currently free hand to tip his hat's front brim lower, having it cover the top of his face some more. There appeared to be a somewhat wistful smile playing on his lips.

"Perhaps I just have strange habits and ways," the demon would say a small smirk upon his lips for a small moment until the other mentioned thinking about things and in turn moved his hat where he could not really see his eyes. A bit confused, the demon tried to read him, but it was kind of hard without being able to see his full face and that smile was not helping matters to question posed the demon would hum.

"Well it depends on what I am thinking about, but sometimes yes. I wish there was," he would say and then tilting his head at the other he would continue. "Why?" He was curious as to where this was going while trying to keep his negativity from assuming too much too soon.

"Don't think it's you.", he would retort back, though there wasn't any sign of him wanting to argue about this in his tone of voice or such. He was just kind of stating a fact, in a way. Nevertheless...he was in fact sort of hiding his face on purpose there. Albeit, it was a question as to whether the other would have been any wiser if he were able to see his full expression.

"...I suppose to maybe change things...or to simply start over with some. Do it in a different way...", he would trail off with his perhaps mildly vague sounding answer, the corner of his lips giving a faint twitch. What was he thinking about indeed...

"Hmmm. If you say so," the demon would say deciding to just let this one go. Besides his mind was pretty preoccupied by the strange behavior Sharaku was displaying. Hiding his face and responding in such vague ways. It made him a bit confused and curious, his mind unsure how to react as he gave the other an uncertain smile as his eyebrows furrowed. "I am afraid I am not following very well. What do you want to change, start over or do differently?" Was he referring to something in his past....or....was he referring to the situation they had currently? Hmmm. =S well that certainly wasn't a good thing to ponder too far.

Silence is what the other would be met with at first once the question was posed, the taller man's hand dropping back to hold the reigns properly after a brief while of consideration. There was a tired seeming smirk on his face for a passing moment. "If you were to give an honest guess...what do you think I am referring to?", he would pose a question of his own in return, giving the demon a couple moments to process it before making a light whistle sound, and spurring his horse into an eventual gallop, giving the other a wave of his hand, seemingly a gesture to follow him, in case the guy would for whatever reason have a different idea in mind.

Silence. In the past this would've been a cause for trouble and huge panic, but perhaps the demon was getting used to it because despite the uncomfortable churn it caused he didn't freak out as he waited to see what the other might say and well....the question he got back was not what he was expecting. In fact it threw him off a bit as he blinked and thought on the question for a moment. Well when put that way he could indeed make a logic guess as to what the other referred to; however, before he could even form the words the other whistled and then took off down the road gesturing for him to follow.

"W-Wait a minute!" the demon would call before speaking with to Cool Whip to get the horse to pick up speed and in turn gallop to follow the other. What was this and why did the guy decide to take off when he had asked such a question? Rika wasn't sure how to feel about this, but perhaps he would poke at it a bit once they stopped....if they stopped. Hmm...the things today.

Why? Well, there could easily be a multitude of reasons, depending on how one looked at it. In a way, it could be said that this was his way of seeking a temporary escape from the situation, though one clearly can't outrun themselves in the end. Still, he kind of hated this. And especially the things he sometimes spit out of his mouth before his thoughts really caught up with the reality of things. This stupid feeling...what was it even? Guilt, probably? Honestly, he wished he just didn't have to deal with this. He wasn't having fun, but then again, could he really expect to be? Foolish question, kind of....

Regardless, as...nice as a bit of forced quiet could be, they couldn't keep this up forever, and he would eventually opt to hit the brakes, coming to a complete halt, wherever they even were at the moment. He wasn't too familiar with the area. There was a good amount of fluffy grass around though. With a huff, he would actually proceed to swing himself off of his horse, and flop himself down on his back on said grass. This was tiring...

This was strange and in a fashion scary. The more he followed and tried to catch up with the other, the more the demon got the feeling that he was chasing after something that was going further and further away from him. It made him uneasy and to be frank kind of wanting to cry. He didn't get this or what they were suppose to be doing, but something about this just was off even though he could not put his foot on the what.

He continued to follow the path laid out by the other ahead of him and when they finally stopped, he would stay mounted as he watched the other get off and in turn flop down on the grass. However the demon would hesitate a few seconds as he looked around the area taking note they had come pretty far out in the field where they were pretty much alone for miles on end. There was nothing, but a sea of grass and a few scattered trees about. He would watch the landscape for a moment before sliding off of his horse and cautiously approaching the other. Standing for now he would look down at him.

"Sharaku...what is wrong?" he would ask as he held his left arm feeling uncomfortable for some reason. What was this and why did he feel like something bad was about to happen?

Well, he was the cause of his own insanity after all. As much as the weight of these real life matters did contribute to making it a good chunk harder for him to work out though. And well, sometimes he honestly didn't want to focus so much on the problems, but this was kind of constantly forcing him to, one way or another.

For a while, he would stare up at the sky and the clouds lazily passing by as he laid in the grass without making any movement. After a short time though, he would glance towards the other, as the question posed bounced about in his skull. Well, many things were wrong, but that was not really a new thing, was it now? He would sigh as he closed his eyes. "Hm. What would you say is what makes our experiences feel real?"

The demon would stand in the silence watching the other watch the sky and not moved. He didn't like the feeling he was getting from all this, but even so he tried his best to keep the negative thoughts at bay as he simply waited for an answer....or rather a question since that is what he got.

To the question, he would blink a few times as he tried to process the matter and find a reasonable answer, but in the end he would sigh as he looked out towards the field still holding his arm as his eyes brows furrowed.

"You pose a question I am not sure I have an answer for," he began softly before becoming quiet for a bit thinking. Then opening his mouth once more, he would continue. "Though I suppose the meaning we give to them is what makes them real. After all if you believe something is fake then it will be...even if physically it isn't." Well he tried, but how well that answer would work he would have to wait and see.

"What if...you cannot really do that?", he'd question with a frown, his eyes still closed for now. It wasn't necessarily like he believed things were fake. He knew what happened and what didn't. How do you give things a lasting meaning though? Besides, he was asking mostly in terms of 'real', as something that actually affected you, rather than whether it existed or not, seeing as those were two somewhat different areas.

The demon would continue to watch the field as the wind picked up and played with the grass though he was getting no enjoyment out of it as he stayed locked within the conversation of the other. When he heard the question, he would sigh a bit as he closed his eyes his head bowing a bit.

"You asked before what I thought was bothering you...and I think that it may be our relationship. And that you're questioning how to make things like this real right?" He wanted to be sure he was on the right track before attempting to tackle what was just asked.

He would cross his arms over his chest as he lay there, a somewhat bleak smile passing over his face. "Yes and....maybe. I can't narrow that one down as specifically.", he would answer after a brief moment of consideration.

Well that at least cleared up some things, but still left plenty in the dark. However instead of assuming the worse and breaking down right then and there, the demon would reopen his eyes as he looked over at the other catching the smile. It would take him a moment before he answered, but he would.

"Then I think...my first answer is the best answer. And when can't do such a thing...well..." he would shift to sit down resting on his knees as he looked down at the ground. His hands would rest on his legs. "I don't know how to answer that." At least he was being honest even if the situation was not putting his nerves in a good position right now. He was dreading where this was going, but...he wouldn't run. Not this time.

He would tilt his head back slightly. "I suppose some things I'll never have answers for...."

"Maybe some things don't have answers..." the demon would say as his eyes remained focused on the ground and his stomach in knots as he did what he could to not freak out or assume things.

He would snort weakly. "Then what though? You just suffer because there's no answer for you?" If there is nothing, how are you supposed to do anything about it?

"I...I dunno. I would suppose you'd have to try and find the answer somehow. I just don't how you can teach or help someone to find such answers that you seek." It was a tough topic that was often confusing. On one hand the trek seemed pointless, but on the other finding an answer could be rewarding, but still..."On the other hand...what if you do all the work and discover there is no answer after all? Do you keep going just because or...what?" The demon would shake his head as he looked off to the side. "I don't know. I don't have an answer."