Fallen For You

By Invader Aqua

Author's Notes: A new story! I'm so thrilled! I got a really great idea, and I'm just glad to put it down on "paper" for those of you who are worried about the "Unlikely" series, I promise that I will finish that after this fic, but right now, I need to get this story out. My cousin demands it. Please don't hate me.

Warning: This story contains yaoi. If you don't like manlove, LEAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, blah blah blah. Isn't it obvious, if I'm writing fanFICTION?

Prologue: Meet

The sun creeps up in the east, setting the horizon on fire in a vast display of color for yet another peaceful spring day. I sit alone, watching the wind blow through the flowers in Peach's garden, sending their alluring fragrances in my direction. The breeze does what it can to dishevel my short, blue hair, but it doesn't bother me. It's almost soothing, really. The sun's golden rays illuminate my untouched breakfast, but do nothing to make it more appealing to me. I haven't had an appetite in quite some time.

I can hear a small commotion as the other Brawlers make their way out of the mansion to begin their training, but I know that no one will join me here, in the gazebo.

They all know better.

I sit here, and I wait; for what, I'm not sure. Zelda has relieved me of my responsibilities until sundown. She told me that I needed a break. That I hadn't yet come to terms with what happened. She felt that it was in my best interests to be alone with my thoughts, so that I may come to terms with that which I refused to even think about.

The flowers, shining with dew, bob their heads happily, enjoying the breeze. Another perfect day in Mushroom Kingdom, taunting me. I look out at the field that stretched out to the west of the Mansion. The gazebo was elevated, and had a perfect view of the rolling plains below.

"Look at the field, Ike! The grass moves in waves! Isn't it beautiful?"

His voice. It hurts to even think about it; heartbreaking how clear it rings in my mind, even after all these years.

"You think everything's beautiful."

"You say that like it's a bad thing. Hey, will you lay down with me, please? I want to watch the clouds."

"Homesick?"

"No, it's just a beautiful day."

'Just another beautiful day without you,' I thought bitterly, looking out into the same field. At the far end, something yellow caught my eye. When I spotted the brown hair, blowing softly in the wind, I assumed it was Princess Daisy, here to visit with Peach, and perhaps have tea. As the figure grew closer, I recognized her.

"Mist?"

She smiled and broke into a run. She wasn't a little kid anymore, but she still had her energy. That made me smile.

"Ike!" she called, making her way into the garden, and up the steps into the gazebo. I opened my arms, and met her at the entrance. She embraced me tightly, whispering, "I've missed you so much!"

"I missed you, too."

"It's been eighteen years," she exclaimed, silence forgotten, and pulled away just enough to give me a peck on the cheek.

"I know. You've grown up. I hardly recognized you at first."

She giggled. "If it wasn't for your hair and headband, I probably wouldn't have recognized you either." She looked me in the eyes and her smile slightly faltered. I may be able to fool a lot of people, but never Mist. I have no doubt that she can see the pain that I still harbor, deep down, but instead of pointing it out right away, she turned to the Mansion. "Is this where you've been living?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it's great. A lot more than I need, but it's home."

Her smile returned to its full radiance. "I can see why you left. This place is so nice," she said, looking around the gazebo, taking it all in.

"This place is so big! I believe even my Goddess would be comfortable with such accomidations!"

I did my best to drown the memory before it could fully surface. Hearing his voice was hard enough, but seeing his face in my mind's eye might be more than I can bear.

"You're welcome to stay for a while," I said, mostly to distract myself from my thoughts. "I hope that you didn't hop dimensions just to say 'hi' and go."

"Oh, I'm staying for a while! It will be at least a month until Soren can reopen the portal between our worlds, so you're stuck with me."

"Oh, the luck," I said with a smile. "It's good to know that Soren's well."

"Mm-hm. You know that he wanted to go with you, when you left, but the invite was very strict about how you, and only you, would be allowed to come to this dimension. We always figured you would come back, but after so many years, we didn't think you would." She looked up at me, her eyes pleading for me to tell her that I had every intension of returning to her.

"I wanted to come back, but… so much has happened."

She must have sensed the hurt in my voice, because she moved on, "I know what you mean. I actually planned on visiting you a lot sooner, but then I had Hale, and it didn't feel right to leave him, because I didn't know if I would be able to return."

"Wait a minute, are you saying that I'm an uncle?"

"Yes, you have two nephews, both grown enough to take care of themselves. Boyd stayed back to take care of them, anyways. He said that he wanted me to go, because you're my brother, and he's just your friend. He thought it was important that I see you, because the stress of not knowing if you were alive or dead was starting to wear on me," she gave a light chuckle to try and cover the fact that she had been seriously concerned for me. So I gave her a light hug.

"You don't have to worry about me. I'm a big boy, and I can take care of myself."

"You're right, you're right," she laughed. "So, what about you?"

"What?"

"Don't 'what' me. It's been eighteen years! Haven't you met someone by now, or is there no one in this dimension to catch your interest?" she looked up at me. I thought that I was keeping my expressions under control, but she saw right through the façade and sobered immediately. "Ike?"

It just seemed that everything came back to him. There were no exceptions; even though he was no longer here, I found him everywhere, and I couldn't dodge it anymore. I sighed. "Yes, there is someone…" I trailed off, because it was so hard to go on.

She saw my pain too well, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know, we don't have to-"

"No," I cut her off. "I think I should. I haven't even talked about it with anyone, and it's all well that you would be the first. We could always talk to each other about anything, and this will be good for me." 'I think.'

She nodded. "Okay, please tell me. I want to know what happened to you."

"It's a long story," I warned.

She shrugged. "I have all month."

'But I only have until sundown,' I thought as a guided her over to the gazebo's padded bench. She sat, and looked out at the field with me. I struggled to find a beginning to my story. "This will probably shock you," I warned again.

She was unfazed. "I'll love you no matter what. You'll always be my brother."

I took a deep breath, and tried to put my ideas into words. "Mist, I never thought I was different. I always thought I was just every other guy, but, something just- I don't know. When I saw-" I sighed and stopped my ramblings. Mist was patient, and waited for me to find my place. I wanted to start at the beginning, but that would involve saying his name, and I didn't know if I could. I began anyways, figuring she would continue to understand even if I rambled again. "Okay, this all started when I met-" 'I can't do it; I can't.'

"Ike?"

"Hey, are you new here too?"

"…Yeah, I guess so…"

"Well, it's so nice to meet you! … um…"

"Ike. I'm Ike, and you are?"

"Oh, my name is"

"Pit."