Disclaimer: I do not own Zelda or anything I could be sued for
"I don't like him! He's just…"
That night, Link sighed as he rearranged his feet to a more comfortable position on the couch he was laying on. "They're still fighting at this hour?!" He wondered in the living room as he watched Saya and Ryu fight through a window, watching their "conversation" grown more heated by the minute. Outside though Link couldn't hear, he could tell that the fight was going to end up with someone hurt.
Shaking her head, Saya stared at Ryu sadly with her tan eyes, unknowing that they were being watched. "Give him a chance! Ryu, he's my friend!"
Why don't you understand?
Why don't you understand?
"Really? Oh do friend kiss with each other?" Ryu sneered as he turned away from Saya angrily.
I saw you on the lake!
"Ryu, it's a joke between us! Can't you see that?" Saya cried as she walked up behind him reaching for his shoulder. "It's not like we're going out or anything!"
Why make me cry again?
Link sighed as he watched Saya continue to plead with Ryu as he kept shaking her off or sweeping her hand away. "Saya," Link whispered as he sadly watched her turn away from Ryu and shake her head. "What do you see in him that I don't? Why stay with him if he hurts you so?"
"Link is a good person! He's nice to me and he tries to be nice to you! Just talk to him!" Saya begged as she held out her hand for Ryu.
Ryu…please…!
"No!" Angrily brushing her hand aside, Ryu glared at Saya hard, his temper rising. "Link is my enemy and I want nothing to do with him! I can't believe that after all these years you still care for him! It was never anything else besides Link!"
You still hung on, no matter what I did!
"Link is my friend and I would never abandon him!" Saya cried as she took back her hand and closed her fists close to her.
Just like I'd never abandon you! Even though you were mean at times…I know you have a kind heart.
Link watched in silence as Ryu turned away, his eye twitching a bit. "He's going to hit her." Link thought instinctively as he got up and began for the door. "If he hurts Saya, I won't forgive him."
Turning back around, his fists clenched tightly, Ryu's gaze shot through Saya's like a bullet and paper. "Really? Are you two really what you say you are or are you really in love? Tell me Saya!"
Tell me lies…for I know the truth…
Silence.
Am I?
"Saya…" Link thought as he put his hand on the knob. "Are you going to admit that in front of Ryu?"
Then, Saya's voice came in.
I won't lie to you…
"Answer me!" Ryu cried as he raised his fist as if he was going to hit her.
Lie to me…
Don't! Don't hurt me again!
Quickly Saya closed her eyes and turned her head as she prepared for the slap. "I…I love…" But she never got to finish as Ryu finally lost it and drew back his hand to hit her. "Bitch!" he screamed as his eyes flashed lightning.
I hate you!
"Ryu!" Link yelled as he ran up to him, jumping in front of Saya, taking the full blow of the backhand that Ryu was going to give Saya. "Link!" Saya cried reaching for him. "Are you-…?" But Link held up a hand, stopping her from saying anything more. As Saya fell silent, she slowly looked up at Ryu, who was busy glaring at Link. "You were about to hit her." Link said simply as he slowly turned his face around, his blue eyes unforgiving. "You were going to strike her across the face, weren't you?" Ryu said nothing as he glared green into blue. "I…don't care." He said finally as he stared Link down, his eyes unmoving. "Why should you?" At this, outraged, Link growled deeply and felt his fingers tighten in his gloves. "Because…" he said as he narrowed his eyes at Ryu, who showed only a hint of nervousness. "I do."
Ryu shook his head, and then raised a fist to Link's head, who just stood in place, letting Ryu yell at him. "You loser!" he yelled as he put his fist threateningly close to Link's face. "You're a thief and a liar, you know that?! I hate you!" Link said nothing while he stayed calm. "I think," Link said quietly as he stared into Ryu's eyes. "You should leave. Leave now." But Ryu didn't go anywhere as he crossed his arms and stared back at Link. "Make me." He said simply. Link said nothing as he glared harder into Ryu's eye. "Now." He repeated, slow and dangerous. "Don't trifle with me. Not now." Ryu only shook his head as he backed off to the barn deciding that this was a fight he could not win. "Saya…" Ryu began as he walked away. "Some day you'll see…" And then, Ryu slammed the door behind him.
"Link…" Saya said quietly as she reached nervously for his shoulder. "Link…are you alright?" Link sighed a bit as he relaxed his muscles, his fingers stopped digging into his hands. "I'm fine Saya." Link said as he turned to face her, his eyes once again soft. "Are you alright? I should be the one asking that, shouldn't I?" Saya only sadly smiled as she nodded. "I'm fine Link." She said as she turned her eyes away. "I guess you could say we fight like this all the time."
All the time? Over me?
Link sighed sadly as he put a hand on Saya's shoulder. "Saya…" Link began as he turned to walk in the house. "Please…I don't want to see you hurt." Saya only nodded as she kept her eyes downcast. "Link," she said as she shook her head. "Thank you very much…for coming to my rescue again." But Link only shook his head and smiled, taking his hand off and turning to the exit of the ranch. "Saya, don't worry about it." He said as he pulled out the ocarina. "I don't mind saving you. I need to go find someone, so please, try not to get Ryu mad or anything while I'm gone, okay? I'll be back soon." As Link walked out of the ranch, Saya stared after him, the breeze blowing her hair around her eyes. "Link," Saya whispered once he was out of hearing range. "Thank you."
***
Inside, his room, Lencel suddenly opened his eyes. "So she really is who she is…" Lencel smiled as he fingered his bow. "Now all that's left to do is to take Saya and Link to the Dark Temple, offer Link as a sacrifice, and use all of Saya's power to call back my father…I will prevail! And I think I know just how to get Link to come to me willingly." Laughing, Lencel drew himself upwards, got a black cloak, and headed out of the door from a dark and dreary temple.
***
Ryu sighed as he began to walk out in the middle of the ring where the horses were kept. Saya had gone inside to try to let Ryu cool off. His unhappy thoughts and feelings his only company. "What am I gonna do?" he sighed as he looked up at the stars. "Saya…I love you…but…do you love…"
"Ryu…"
Slowly, Ryu turned around. "Who…?" he called out. "Who's there? Who is it?" As Ryu looked around the field of grass and fence, a black figure appeared keeping his identity secret from Ryu. "Ryu…" the deep voice said smoothly. "I know how much you care for Saya…and I know what you want…" Ryu stared at the figure as it slowly walked towards him, hiding his body under a black cloak. "I can see into your mind Ryu and I know you know that Link will take Saya away from you. You don't want that now do you?" Ryu stared in horror as the figure laughed. "No…" Ryu whispered as he backed away. "Stay away from me…" The figure only chuckled as it advanced. "You know what Ryu?" it hissed as it drew ever closer, chasing Ryu. "I think Saya loves Link too…" Ryu instantly clasped his hands to his head, closing his eyes and screamed, "NOOOOO!!! Get away from me!" Turning around, Ryu began to run, but his legs felt like lead and he fell to his knees, crying. "No, no, no!" Ryu moaned as he covered his ears harshly. "No! S-stay away from me!" But the figure laughed as it bent down to him.
"I can change that…"
Change…?
Instantly, Ryu stopped moaning and took his hands off his ears, his eyes wide. "What…?" he whispered not looking up. "What do you mean?" The figure smiled as it put a hand over Ryu's shoulders. "I can help you…" he said as he waved his hand in the air, creating a small black outline of Saya and Link holding each other as a dark figure of Ryu watched sadly behind them. "See? I can help you get Saya to love only you…and not Link here…" Waving his hand again, the figures moved so that Saya walked over to Ryu as the black Link fell to his knees in sadness as he watched Saya and Ryu and disappeared. "But…" Ryu looked up at the figure as the figure let go of his shoulders. "What?" Ryu asked urgently. "What? Please tell me! I'll do anything!" The figure smiled as it held out his hand. "Anything?" he asked again. "Will you become my helper to defeat the evil demon that lurks within Link's body?" Ryu stared at the hand for a minute, unsure. "But…Link's the Hero of Time…" Ryu sadly muttered as he looked away. The figure made a rude nose as he drew back in his hand.
He's suppose to be pure…
"So?" he growled. "Even the Hero of Time can have his faults. I guess…" As the dark image of Saya appeared again, the figure brushed it away with his fingers. "You don't really want Saya by your side. Oh well…" As the figure turned he watched over his shoulder as Ryu stared at his hands.
Saya…I love you so much…you would never comprehend…
"Wait…I'll go with you…"
Link…
The figure smiled as he drew back to Ryu, putting a hand on his shoulder. "That's a good man…" he said drawing back the head of his cloak. "I knew you would come through…."
Have I made the right choice? Gods, guide me through…
***
"Ryu?"
Are you here?
Saya slowly opened the door and peeked out, Malon not too far behind. "I don't think he's here, Saya…" Malon said as Saya opened the door wider. "Why would he run? And where could he have gone to?"
Now you've left me alone…
Sadly, Saya looked around as she walked out to the field. "Malon…" Saya said as she dropped to the ground on her knees. "I…Ryu…and Link…" Feeling tears of frustration well in her eyes, Saya hid her face in her hands. "I don't know what to do Malon!" Saya cried as she quivered. "I'm so lost!"
Link! Ryu! Someone, help me!
As Malon quickly ran up to Saya and took her into her arms giving her a reassuring hug, Malon slowly rocked her like a small child as Saya cried. "Shh…" Malon said as she stroked Saya's blue and silver hair. "Shh…Saya, everything will be alright…Link and Ryu are just as confused as you I bet…give Ryu some time off…he'll be back."
Ryu…you left me alone…why are you being so angry? You've never acted like this before!
Saya slowly pulled away as she wiped her eyes. "But Malon…" she whispered as she wrung her dress in her hands. "I don't know…" But Malon only shook her head, causing her red hair to sway as she put a hand on Saya's shoulder. "Just tell me…" Malon said as she watched Saya control her sobs. "Tell me what you think…" Saya sighed heavily as she let go of her dress.
The truth…
***
Link and Navi sped through the night as they thought about the water demon. "Link!" Navi said as they stopped for a break. "Let's go over the facts…" Link nodded as he jumped down off Epona. "Alright Navi," Link said as he sat down. "We know that the demon can be anyone, and they have the power to control water and they're going to go to the Dark Temple to give their power to Gannondorf. But what we don't know is one, where is the Dark Temple and two, who the demon is. But…Navi…" As Link put a hand to his chin, in confusion, Link muttered, "Shouldn't we have seen the demon by now? Lencel said it wouldn't be too hard to find…" Navi sighed as she fluttered down to Link's head and flew in his hat. "Well…she said. "Then maybe we should focus on the Dark Temple while we're waiting." Link nodded as he looked around Hyrule field. "I don't get it." Link said as he stared at the field of grass and plants. "Where are we gonna find a temple underground when it's…well…underground?!" Navi sighed sadly as she played with a strand of Link's hair.
Ouch…that one was a baby…
"Well…Link forgive me for saying…but Saya has water powers…" Navi began. Immediately, Link shook his head violently, causing Navi to fly around in his hair.
LIAR!
"No!" Link firmly said as he shook Navi. "Saya IS NOT the water demon! Just because she has power associated with water doesn't mean she IS!" But Navi could only sigh as Link got up on his horse. "Link…" Navi said as he mounted. "It's just that I don't want you to be hurt…" Link was silent for a minute as he thought. "Navi…" Link said as he began to trot. "I KNOW Saya won't hurt me. I trust her."
I put all my trust in her…
As she watched Link go for a minute, Navi sighed. "But will you trust her if she turns evil?" she asked into the wind, following Link back to the ranch.
Water…flow through my fingers…sweep all the lies about her away from my ears…
***
In a small room underground, Ryu stood, sighing to himself. The room was small; so small, only a bed and a dresser drawer could fit giving the inhabitant a mirror and enough room to turn around in. The bed was hard and the pillow on it harder. The sheets were white at least, but as one looked closer, one could see the sheets had holes and was extremely thin. The dresser was old, breaking wood and chipped edges, it looked like the dresser had been buried under the earth for many years. The mirror wasn't bad, but it still was lined with rotting wood and the glass was cracked just a bit in the top corner.
Ryu sighed sadly, as he looked at himself in a full sized mirror. His tunic was now solid black and had purple and red lines tracing around the edge of his silver chest plate. His shoulders held thick shoulder pads shaped like a dragons mouth on each side and his cape which came to his knees shimmered with it's black cloth and gold lining shaping the Triforce and three goddesses. On his forehead, a ringlet of gold laid and on his hands, brown knuckle-cut gloves showed. On his knees, dragon claws held up two brown boots with a strap of silver lining the toe. And to finish it off, a sword with metal as black as night lay in a brown scabbard.
"Do you like it?"
Ryu looked up to see the cloaked figure watch him, his violet eyes full of false sympathy. "Lencel…" Ryu said, as he again looked himself over. "Never have I been so richly dress…" "Excellent!" Lencel interrupted happily as he swept out of the room. "Soon Saya will be here shortly. You two will be…reunited. Then I can deal with Link…" As Lencel closed the door behind him, Ryu turned around to stare at his unhappy reflection in the mirror.
"And never have I been so lonely…"
I want Saya back…
***
Malon sighed as she watched Saya fumble with her dress, still sad Ryu had gone. "So…" Malon said as she sat down cross-legged. "You love Link…but you know Ryu cares for you…and you don't want to hurt him do you?" As Saya shook her head, more silver tears silently came out. "Malon…I don't know what to do." Saya cried as she wrung her hands. "I want to tell Link, but that would only hurt Ryu and I don't WANT to hurt Ryu…because he…" Malon only stared as Saya shook her head. "Malon, tell me what to do!" Saya begged as she grabbed Malon's dress. "Please!" Malon could only stare as she gently pried Saya off her. "Well…" Malon said as she put Saya's hands down. "Does Link love you?" Saya was silent. "I…" she said after a while. "I don't know…" Malon smiled and got up. "Well…if Ryu really loves you, he'll let you love who you want to love. And if Link loves you, then so be it. It all works out in the end."
Saya nodded as she smiled a bit. "Thank you Malon…" she said as Malon began to walk away, yawning. "Good night." But Malon could only wave as she sleepily went inside the house. As Saya turned back around, she sighed happily and looked up at the stars. As they shined back to her, she smiled. "So…" she said into the wind as it blew her hair. "I meet all of you again…"
The stars were silent.
Slowly, Saya held out her hand palm up. "Where did I get these powers?" Saya asked herself as a small orb of water shone above her hand. "Did I get them from my parents? Was I enchanted? I just…don't know anything." As she turned the orb over, she made it to the size of a baseball. "How…?" she asked the orb as she stood. "How do others see me? Do they see me…as a friend? An enemy? A demon?" Sighing as Saya made the orb turn into a figure of Ryu, Saya smiled. "Ryu…" she said as the figure smiled back at her. "I miss you so much…where are you?" As the figure slowly dropped to the floor, Saya sighed again. Again, picking up her fingers, Saya traced out a figure of Link. Staring as the picture only smiled and blinked, Saya let her head fall a bit. "Link…" she cried as more tears began to fall. "How will I ever tell you that I-…"
"Saya!"
Hearing her name, Saya quickly turned her head as she heard a neigh and the flutter of a fairy behind her. "Link!" she whispered as the moon shone above her. Link smiled as he jumped down from Epona and watched his horse run off back into the wilderness where she would stay until Link needed her again. "Well, well Link." Navi teased as she headed for the house to sleep. "Good luck lover boy." Watching Navi laugh and go into the house, Link only rolled his eyes and ran over to Saya.
Link…
"Saya!" Link said happily as he stopped next to her. "Hey…what are you doing out so late?" Saya smiled as best she could as she turned around and closed her eyes. "I couldn't sleep." She lied. "Too many things to think about." Grinning, Link slowly put a hand on her shoulder. "Need a ear for someone to listen?" he asked. "Really I do." Grinning back, Saya shook her head. "No…" she said as she closed her fist. "It's nothing too big, really." Link sighed, slightly disappointed as he watched Saya make another water orb float in her hands. "Saya…" he said as she let the orb drop to the ground. "Everything you do is important to me. Please tell me."
I care about you…don't lie to me…
But Saya only turned around again and said quietly, "Link, I'm fine, really. I guess I was a bit confused about Ryu…" Quickly, Saya began to walk away, trying to stay with Link any longer lest something she did want to say but shouldn't would be told.
"Don't lie to me Saya..."
As Saya stopped, behind her Link stared at the back of her head, his brows a bit furrowed.
"…Please…"
As Saya felt more tears coming on, she thought, "No! Come on Saya, don't cry in front of Link! What are you doing? GET A GRIP!" Her fists quivering and her gritting her teeth, Saya didn't turn around but said, "Link, I'm not lying." And then she began to run off. Quickly, thankful for his fast reaction, Link dove forward saying, "Saya wait!" and grabbing her hand making her stop again. As the two both stood there, not really knowing what to say to each other, Link felt himself blush a bit as his gently but firmly gripped Say's hand. After a long silence, Link said quietly, "I didn't believe you when you said you were fine Saya…" Link began. "I know something is wrong with you, tell me!"
Don't hide the truth…it will come out eventually…the longer you wait, the more painful it becomes…
But Saya, already feeling tears seep out of her eyes quickly shook her head and pulled away crying, "Link, let me go!" and then beginning to dash for the exit of the ranch. "Saya!" Link called as he ran after her, running past her and the catching her shoulders and pulling her into a hug, gripping her firmly to him.
Don't run from me…
"No!" Saya cried as she began to fight him, trying to push him off her, not really wanting to hit him. "No Link! Let me go! Let me go!" But Link just stood there, his eyes closed and didn't say anything, waiting. Link kept his arms around Saya and shook his head no. "Let me…let me go Link!" she whispered as she still continued to push gently from him, tears falling from her eyes and onto his shoulder, wetting his tunic.
I don't want to tell the truth! Don't make me!
But Link didn't let go as he held her, just a few feet away from the house. "Saya…" Link repeated softly as he gently held her head close to him. "Saya…Saya…Saya…please don't cry. I hate it when you cry…"
When you cry, I feel like I should be crying too…
But Saya only shook her head as the tears continued to fall. "Link!" she whispered. "Leave me alone!" But the only response to this was the furious shaking of Link's head and a slightly tighter hug. "I can't…" Link admitted as he blushed a bit. "I can't leave you like this…tell me what's wrong Saya." Saya slowly shook her head as her eyes stared in front of her, not moving. "You wouldn't understand…" Saya said sadly as she stared. "You'd never understand…"
If Ryu doesn't, then why should you?
"Really? Try me…"
Are you going to tell me? I want to hear it…because then I can tell you…
"Promise not to get angry or laugh?"
Don't hate me after I've said this…
"Saya…I would never laugh at you…or get angry with you."
I can't be…
Saya slowly pulled away as she and Link stood facing each other.
"I…"
I love you…
Saya…you're so much stronger than I am. I can't say what you are about to say without you showing me how. I want to say it, the gods know. But I need help. The Triforce of courage will not pull me through this battle. I need you to be there. Water…flow through my fingers…give her the courage she needs…
Link watched Saya's slightly bowed head, tears still coming out of her eyes. "Come on Saya…" he thought as he watched her. "Tell me…" Gently reaching up, Link gently brushed a tear away from Saya's eye with his right hand with his finger. "Go on…" he said.
Tell me, please…
But as he pulled his hand back, Saya caught it with her left hand. "Link," she began. "I know I'm just some street kid not really having a home after I was abandoned and Kakariko Village was burned. And that I've bothered you a lot over the years. And that I'm annoying and pushy, and stupid, but…" Saya sighed and closed her eyes, not able to look Link in the face, her hand quivering over his. "No matter how hard I try not to, it only gets worse."
Say it…then I can too…
"I love you."