I don't remember when it started, I honestly don't. This intoxicating thing I feel… for him. I think it may have been that day, two months ago, though it seems like much longer, when I was in the training room.

I had made three Level 9 versions of myself to fight. I'd been feeling in a rut around that time, like I wasn't getting any better, and I wanted to challenge myself to impress the Master. I had defeated two of myself twice and the other copy of me three times, and I was feeling good. My lungs burned, and I felt the sweat trickling down my body. I wasn't wearing my suit, just because it had gotten too hot.

I was in Picto-Chat, and I had jumped onto the clock hand slowly ticking around. A copy followed me, and when I attempted to jump away, I tripped and hit my chin on the ground. My teeth pierced my lower lip and it began bleeding instantly. I put my hand to my lips in shock, and then suddenly, the three copies had surrounded me. Electric whips were flying, kicks and punches and blasts from my gun hit me so fast there was no way to get away, even if I did have any energy left. My damage had to be over 150%. One blow would have me flying into that shocking white, and back to the waiting area for training. Master Hand was surely watching me, disappointed. If I weren't as stubborn, I'd have cried.

And then there he was, out of nowhere. Graceful punches and kicks at 90 mph. The clones didn't stand a chance. All at once, he high-kicked all three of them out of the room. They disappeared with cries and bright light, and before they could spawn again, he spoke.

"Quit." His words were soft, but his voice was commanding. As soon as the words left his lips, the scenery around us fell away, like tiles. When the arena had gone, we were left in a plain black room with no windows and one handle-less door. From behind him, I admired his graceful figure. The almost-masculine shoulders and slender but muscular legs and arms. Slight hips. I tried not to look at his butt, but I was on the ground and he was standing up and I couldn't help sneaking a few glances. He turned to me and caught my eye, and I was afraid he had caught me staring, but he offered me a hand.

I stared at it, not understanding what he was doing, so after a few seconds he knelt and grabbed my forearms, rising to stand and bringing me with him. We were of the same height, perhaps I was a bit taller, but that didn't change much. He pulled something from a concealed pocket and reached towards my face. Instinctively, I flinched. He pawed at my chin, wiping the blood away. After he was satisfied, he placed the handkerchief in my hand and walked away.

"Thanks-" I started, but he was already out the door, his blond braid swinging behind him. Before I left, I remember standing there for something close to 15 minutes. Somewhere in that chunk off time, my lip opened up again, and I got blood all down my blue jumpsuit, but I was thinking too deeply to care. My heart was pounding, and for some reason, a few hot tears slipped down my cheek. I quickly wiped them away and studied the droplets on the back of my hand, sniffling. The door swung open while I was thinking, and Ike and Marth walked in, laughing about something.

"Oh, Samus, hi," Ike said, his smile shrinking a bit on his face as the joke faded. "What are you doing, just standing there?"

I didn't say anything back. I couldn't have said anything; my mouth felt swollen and heavy, like it would be a struggle to open it. I took a few heavy steps forward, then walked at a hasty pace through the door, bumping both boys' shoulders on my way.

"What's with her?" I heard Marth say before I turned the corner in the hallway and broke into a run, heading straight for my room in the Manor.

I remember sleeping for days after it happened. Snake and R.O.B. had both come to see me, but Peach turned them away. I never thanked her for protecting me. I should have, because I don't know what I would have done without her.

It wasn't like I hadn't seen him before. I watched him fight alongside his… alongside Link. As much as I hate to admit it, they made a wonderful team. Regardless, I knew. I knew that he was really she, and she had Link and he had her. He had her and I didn't and it killed me.

I know that most of the guys in the house had a little thing for me. It was obvious in the way the acted about me. The snickers when I walked in front of them without my armor. The overt glances they think I don't notice. And I really do like guys, I do. But with Sheik it's different. It has to be difficult for us. Or, for me rather, because he has no idea I even exist. He… she already has everything she needs, and I'm not included in that.

Sometimes I wonder why I even try.