Omigod another chapter! Guess what. That's right, the confessions! I don't know about you, but I've been waiting a while to get this chapter out.

Disclaimer: MEH (see other chapters)

Confessions

I looked over at Zelda. Her eyes were moving across the page at a speed I've never seen before. I didn't want to look away, so I didn't.

She noticed me looking at her, and glanced at me a couple times. After a while, she broke the silence.

Zelda waved her hand in front of my face, trying to move my gaze. I took her hand in mine.

"You said earlier that I've been in a good mood," I said quietly. "I want to tell you that I haven't. I've been in the worst mood possible. Going through that dungeon, almost losing you, Mina popping in everywhere, Rylu assaulting you. It's all got me furious!"

I yelled the last part; Zelda flinched. "And yet, you can still look at me with a smile! You can go around as if nothing happened! How? How can you be like that? I try to act happy so as not to worry you, but I'm tired of it!"

I dropped her hand and took her shoulders. I brought her close and looked straight into her eyes.

"Do you like him?"

"H-him?" Zelda asked. Her face was red, maybe because we were so close to each other.

"Rylu!"

"No!" she exclaimed, "Wh-where'd you get that idea?"

I didn't want to ask this question, but it was eating at me. It was always at the corner of my mind, begging to be let out.

"Do you like me?"

"Wh-what?"

I didn't repeat it. Instead, I acted on impulse. I kissed her. Again.

This time, though, I wasn't slow. I wasn't gentle. I just kissed her like I've always wanted to. The feelings rushing through me at the moment were so overwhelming. I almost didn't notice her kissing me back.

I broke away.

"Did you feel anything?" I asked, hoping she would say something I'd want to hear. She was silent. Oh no.

I asked again. "Zelda, tell me. Did you feel what I felt? Did you feel it was right to kiss me?"

She brought her hand to her lip. "I- uh..."

Then she was silent.

"I knew it," I said. "I knew it was impossible."

She still didn't say anything.

"I guess I was stupid to think it. I thought that dungeon made us realize something. I guess I was wrong."

I got up and was about to leave.

"Wait! Link, I-"

She grabbed onto my sleeve.

"I-I-I do li-like you..." she said, gripping my sleeve tightly. "A-and I have for a while now."

I turned around to look at her. She was red, and there were tears pooling in her eyes.

I smiled a little as I wiped them off her cheeks. How did I predict this, but still be so surprised? Why was I so happy, yet so full of regret? I knew that this would make things complicated, and that's why I held back. I knew that if they ever found out that Zelda is my main weakness, they would take her from me and use her.

"You're such an idiot," I whispered. She met my eyes.

"You wanna know something?" I asked. She nodded. "When I first met you, I was in love with Saria."

Zelda looked away. "But, in times that I was about to die, I didn't see Saria's face. I saw your's. It wasn't Saria who motivated me. It was you. When I woke up from that seven years' sleep, I really wanted to find you. When you sent me back in time, I didn't waste a second. I came straight here."

She faced me again. I cupped her face with my hands.

"And whenever I have a spare moment, I think of how much I love you."

I brought myself closer to her. "If you want me to stop, just say so."

"STOP!"

It wasn't Zelda who yelled. We looked toward the door. Mina. She was... crying...

"I... I always knew it. I always knew you loved her. I hoped that you could love me. And you let me hold on to that hope! That was the last hope I had! I'm orphaned! I work in a bar! I live in a shack! The only hope I had left was that you could love me! Because if someone like you could love me, it would mean I'm not a failure!"

Mina fell to her knees.

"I hated it! I hated everything! I hated myself, my life, and all that surrounded me! All I had was a ratty dress and a rag doll from my mother before she died! That doll was my only treasure. It was almost destroyed by horsemen. I knew I couldn't get it, otherwise I would die. Then, when it was about to be trampled, a flash of green swooped in like a bird and saved it. 'He's a hero,' I thought. So I decided to pursue him.

"Then, when he gained popularity, it was hard for me to get near, to make him fall in love with me. After, he disappeared. He didn't tell anyone where he was going, but when asked, the princess could tell you where he might be.

"So I developed a hatred for the princess! The only one in this town who was close to him, the only one he looked at! I researched her to find anything wrong with her. But she was perfect! Nothing was wrong! Not. A. Single. Thing."

She punctuated those last words with a pound to the floor, sobbing.

Zelda took a few steps forward.

"There are alot of things wrong with me," she said. "I can't cook. I can't play piano. I can't do a comedy act. I can't do my own hair. I can't win any card games. I can't whistle. I can't write with my left hand. I can't paint or draw. I can't fly. And I can't make Link love you. You've known my feelings from the start. I'm not perfect. I'm selfish sometimes, and I want to learn to do things I can't. No one is perfect."

Zelda held out her hand to Mina. "So, stand up. Find something else to hold on to. Find someone who will care for you, no matter what. Find something to make life worthwhile."

Mina took Zelda's hand and stood up. Zelda pulled out a hankercheif and handed it to Mina. Mina wiped her face, gave back the hanky and left.

We didn't move. She wouldn't face me. The situation couldn't be anymore awkward.

Just to ease the tension, I stepped behind her and hugged her.

"I love you, y'know," I said. Zelda placed her hands on my arms.

"You're an idiot."

She turned around. I bent down, and our lips met again. She didn't hesitate like she did every other time I've kissed her. She kissed me with a passion I've never seen from her. Every single built up feeling went into this kiss. Every single thought left my head except for Zelda. Zelda's lips, Zelda's warmth, Zelda's scent.

All was Zelda.

When we finally broke apart, we were both a surprisingly bright shade of red.

"Zelda...?"

"Mmm?"

"Was I your first kiss?"

Zelda made a weird sound (ack?) and looked at her feet. She shook her head.

"Who was it?"

"R-Rylu..."

I groaned. Him again?

"Am I your first love?"

Silence.

"Was it Rylu?"

She nodded.

I groaned again.

"That's not really fair of you, Link. You said yourself that you loved Saria before you loved me!"

"Yeah, but I'm a guy!"

"That's totally sexist of you! Girls are more prone to falling in love than guys!"

"So you loved him!"

"You loved Saria!"

"Loved! Loved! Past tense!"

"Same with Rylu! I loved him! Past tense!"

While we were fighting, my arms wouldn't leave Zelda's waist, and Zelda's wouldn't move off my shoulders. To an outsider, this might have looked very weird.

I let my forehead rest on her forehead.

"You really are an idiot," she said.

I smiled. "You fell for this idiot."

Zelda giggled. "I know right? I wonder why. Maybe I should change my mind."

I kissed the top of her head. "I won't let you."

We tried to get more research done, but... let's say we got too distracted.

But I don't regret anything one bit.

The next day, we decided to practice sparring. With hand to hand combat, Zelda won. I didn't go easy on her.

But, sword on sword, I won. Of course. I wouldn't be able to face the world if I wasn't able to beat Zelda with a sword.

Impa found us more books from the basement and attic. They were really old and covered with dust.

When I opened one, it wasn't written in Hylian like I expected. It was a weird writing full of curves and twists and loops.

"What the hell is this?" I asked. Zelda took the book from me. She looked over it.

"I... don't know..."

When Impa walked into the room with more books of the same language, we asked her what it was.

"I don't know," she said, "I thought you would know. If not you, princess, I thought Link would know. Seeing as he spent five years traveling."

"Where did these books come from?" I asked.

"From a friend of mine. We met in Kakariko Graveyard when I was small. He claimed he was from a place called... Yuessay. He was about nineteen when we met. He was dressed in strange clothes I've never seen before, and his Hylian was horrible. He enrolled in a fine school here, learned proper Hylian, and always had a book in his hand. When he graduated, he stayed in Kakariko for a while. Later, he moved to a secluded house somewhere in the forest. I haven't seen him since."

"Yuessay? Never heard of it."

"I could find him for you. Then you could question him. I don't know what he was studying, but it might be helpful to you."

"Yes, please," Zelda said, in a bubbly voice.

"Princess, I'm glad to see you're feeling happy."

"No, look! I found this old story book mother used to read to me. The stories are really cheesy! There's Cinderella, Rapunzel, all those princess stories. And here's one I don't remember. 'Light in the Dark.' Definitly Cyrillian."

Zelda started skimming through the book, every now and then she giggled.

Impa left. "I'm going to find more books, princess."

I sat across Zelda, and watched as she read with a smile on her face. She noticed me.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, obviously knowing I was looking at her.

"You."

"What for?"

"Well, you get this weird expression on your face when reading."

Zelda was about to retort, but then the door slammed open, revealing a grinning Mina.

"Hello!"

I nearly groaned. I thought she gave up on me. She walked over to me and pointed her finger toward my nose.

"Link! We are now rivals!" she yelled.

"What?"

She ignored me and went to Zelda.

Then she kissed her. I fell out of my chair.

"W-W-What?" Zelda exclaimed.

"You told me to find something to hold on to. To stand up. Last night, when I went home, I couldn't get your words out of my head. So I decided to hold on to you!"

"But we're both girls!"

"Girl, boy, what's the difference on the inside?"

Zelda opened and closed her mouth.

"Anyway, I gotta go. See you, Zelda!"

For a few minutes, we just stared at the door.

"Is this how you felt before?" I asked.

"Define."

"Jealous, disturbed, slightly amused..."

Zelda nodded. She still stared at the door.

I got up and walked over to Zelda's chair. I placed my hands over her's and kissed her.

When I broke away, she asked, "What was that for?"

"To even it out. If she keeps kissing you, I'll keep kissing you."

"Oh, so you wouldn't kiss me anyways?"

"Mmm... maybe."

She poked my forehead. "You're horrible."

We didn't get much reading done after that.

Well, we didn't until Impa walked in and had a fit.

I had to bow to Impa and say, "Yes, Lady Impa," to everything she said. Zelda turned purple, because she was holding in a laugh.

When Impa finally left, Zelda burst out laughing. I flicked her nose to shut her up, and grabbed a book.

I looked toward Zelda, who was holding her nose, and chuckled.

"That hurt, Link."

"It was supposed to."

"You're awful!"

"Old news, sweetheart."

Zelda laughed. She took the story book again and started reading it.

Hours went by, and we finished half of the books we could read, and looked through the ones we couldn't. Since the words were unreadable, we just looked at the pictures. The pictures were colorful and appealing to the eye. One of my favorites was of a wolf in woman's clothing.

There was also a story about a fairy without wings.

Zelda liked that one. She said it reminded her of a children's story called "Thumbella."

An attendant called us down for dinner as we were laughing at a picture where a little girl is pushing a witch into an oven.

Impa was sitting at the table when we got there.

"Have you found anything important, princess?" she ask. Note that she is ignoring me.

"Not really. We just found a bunch of children's stories."

"Good. I've found my friend. He lives in the woods west of the Kokiri Forest. His name for today is YunYun."

"For today?" I asked.

Impa still ignored me as she said, "He changes his name every day so no one can steal his work. And so that he won't have to stick to any one style."

"Is he a writer?" I asked.

"He is a writer and he is very well known around here. Princess, have you heard of Tririan Hyra?"

"Yes. He wrote Underground right?"

Impa nodded.

"What's Und-"

"When would you like to see him, princess?"

Zelda looked toward me, asking for my answer.

I shrugged, letting her know anytime was fine with me.

"As soon as possible then. We could go there after we visit the Kokiri Forest."

"Why are you going to the Forest?"

"Link had this idea. He says we should try using the Wind Waker, but since neither of us know how to use it, we want to ask the sage. He's a Kokiri."

Impa nodded. "We'll get the preperations ready. You two will leave tomorrow, a little after dawn. Is that alright with you?"

Zelda and I nod, but I don't think Impa sees me. Impa, you're acting like such a child!

"Impa," Zelda said, "Where's Rylu, anyway?"

"We put him in an empty guest room. He's been cooperative, but I'm not risking letting him out."

Why does it irk me that she asked this?

"Okay. That's good. After all, he is a king, and could refuse support the next time we're threatened."

Still irks me.

After dessert is served and eaten, we went up to our rooms.

When we get to Zelda's room, I kiss her forehead and bid her good night.

"Link?" she asks.

"Yeah?"

"Why were you annoyed by me asking where Rylu is?"

I shook my head. "I wasn't."

"Yeah, you were. You tensed up when I asked. You still looked annoyed, even though I gave you a good reason to why I was asking it."

I said nothing.

"Do you think I still like Rylu?"

Still nothing.

Zelda pokes my forehead. "Link, I do not like Rylu anymore. That was long before I met you."

"Prove it," I said.

"What?"

"Kiss me."

"What?" she exclaimed.

"If you like me more, kiss me to prove it."

"Why don't you kiss me?"

"Because I'm always the one who kisses you."

Zelda went red.

I grinned.

"C-C-Close your eyes, f-f-first."

I did, and soon after, I felt her lips on mine. She was about to break away, but I didn't let her. I grabbed hold of her waist and leaned in further. Zelda made a little sound in her throat.

When we finally broke apart, we were both red. Then someone clapped.

We turned to the clapper and saw Rylu, leaning on a pillar.

"So this is who you fell for, Zel?" he asked.

"Yes, it is."

Rylu laughed. "Oh, Zel. You're hilarious. How long do you think this love will last?"

Neither of us said anything.

"Exactly. But with me, Zel, you could have an eternity. You did love me once."

"I know I did. But who rejected me? Oh, yes, I believe it was you."

"You were 10, Zel. I couldn't say yes to a ten-year-old. Princess or not."

"You said yes to a five-year-old!"

"I didn't. Our fathers did. I never gave a damn about you."

Zelda stepped back.

"Yes, that's right, Zelda. I never had any feelings for you. If you cry, it'll mean that your feelings for me never died. And that will make your newfound love fall."

"W-Why would I cry?"

"Because, you still love me."

"I couldn't love a bastard like you! You're a monster! A bastard! A piece of horse shit! I hope you rot in a cell!"

Rylu laughed again. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Watch your mouth young lady. This piece of horse shit happens to know how your mother died."

Zelda gasped.

"But, I won't tell you unless you kiss me. Kiss me like you just kissed him," he nodded toward me.

"Funny isn't it?" I asked with my teeth clenched. "How you say you have no feelings for Zelda, but you want her to kiss you. Are you... jealous of me, your majesty?"

Rylu's amused look disappeared. It was replaced with anger.

"How dare you, peasant!"

"This peasant saved your ass! I didn't have to bring you out of that dungeon. I could've killed you the yesterday."

Rylu's anger turned into full out rage.

"Well, fuck you! I'm not jealous of you! I hate Zelda! I hate you! I want to see you crumble with the fact that Zelda doesn't love you as much as she loves me!"

I pulled out my sword. "You think that will make me crumble? You're right it will. But not in the way you think. I'll be furious. So furious, I could destroy your race."

Rylu pulled out his dagger and came charging at me. I was about to strike, when he went pass me and hit Zelda.

At first we couldn't see anything, then a line of blood went down her cheek.

He looked triumphant. Then I punched him in the face.

I knocked him clean out. I picked his body up and we looked for Impa.

We found her in the study.

"Impa, please put this piece of Moblin shit in a cellar."

"What? How? Link! How dare you call the king such a foul name!"

"Impa, take a look a Zelda's cheek."

Impa looked past me and at Zelda, whose cheek was still bleeding.

"Do you think I did that?"

Impa gasped and looked from me to Zelda. She then took Rylu from me and told some guards to put him in the dungeon for a while.

"But, Lady Impa, he is-"

"I know very well who he is. Just do as you're told!"

They saluted Impa and walked off.

"Princess, are you alright?"

"Yes, Impa, I'm fine."

"Does it hurt at all?"

"No, Impa. All I need is to wash it off."

Impa nodded and walked away, following the guards. I turned to face Zelda and touched cut.

"You sure it doesn't hurt?"

She gave me a small smile and shook her head. "It hurt at first, but I'm fine now."

"You sure?"

"Yes, Link, I'm sure."

We walked back to Zelda's room after she cleaned the cut. She went inside without a word.

I stood by her door for a while. Then I heard sobbing. I knocked on the door.

"Y-Yes?" she answered, hicupping.

"Zelda? It's me, Link."

She opened the door, revealing her tear stained face.

I was just going to talk to her from here, but she pulled me inside. She started to cry into my tunic. I put my arms around her, trying to comfort her.

"It shouldn't hurt. But it does! Why does it hurt?"

I knew instantly what she was talking about.

"I don't love him anymore, it's just... I loved him for so long, that finding out that he didn't... it hurts!"

"Wanna know something?"

"W-what?"

"He's under Mind Bending. There's no way someone could know you for that long and hate you. You, Zelda. No one can hate you."

"Mina did."

"Does she now?"

Zelda shook her head and laughed, most likely remembering earlier events.

"I think Cybalt hates me."

"He's crazy."

Zelda stopped crying. "Thanks, Link. I needed that."

"Do you know what I need?"

"What?"

"Another kiss from you."

Zelda laughed. "Nope. You need to kiss me."

"We're never gonna get to kissing if we can't decide who's kissing whom."

"Well, then start leaning, lover boy."

"Nope you-"

She cut me off with a kiss.

When we broke apart, she said, "It's about time you shut up."

"I love you," I said.

"You're an idiot."

Then there's more kissing.

Aren't you happy I gave you a kiss without something happening afterwards? You should be, not many more will be like that! It's just something to stir things up.

Review please!