Link skimmed his feet across the cool still waters of Lake Hylia, his bare toes making ripples in the clear depths. His floppy leather boots seated beside him as he sat on the banks and watched Ruto swim about. She swam up to him and grabbed his feet playfully. " Come in!" she cried happily "The water's fine," and she splashed him, an impish grin lurking about her lips. "Hey!" Link said, in mock anger, pulling his legs out of her reach "I'll stay right here, thank you" he said with an air of boyish pride. "Oh really?" Grinned Ruto "We'll just see about that!" and with a leap she came out of the water and grabbed Link by the ankles "Help!" Link laughed, as she dragged him off the shore into the lake. She pulled him in then swam, for her life it seemed as Link pursued her through the lake's waters. Their aquatic game of tag led them to a secluded side of the lake where at last, Link cornered Ruto. "Alright," he said in a tone of such graveness that Ruto may have been frightened if Link's foolish grin didn't give him away "Now you're really going to get it!" and he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her in his strong arms. He was attempting to throw her into the lake, but his muscular arms apparently weren't strong enough and he ended up dropping her and she instead landed right on top of him. Link sank down into the lakeweed as Ruto rolled off him. "Oof," said Link, lifting himself up and looking at Ruto "Are you okay?" he said concernedly, but she seemed fine because she was nodding but making a sort of snorting noise as if trying to hold back from bursting into hysterical laughter. "What?" Asked Link "What is it now?" Ruto burst out snickering and pointed at Link's head. "What?" he said feeling his head "What's there?" She sat up and still giggling uncontrollably leaned on her hand and bent toward him and pulled off a huge slimy piece of lakeweed from his hair and dangled it in front of his face "Eww!" cried the ever-brave Hero of Time, recoiling from a dripping limp weed. Ruto chuckled and Link smiled at her. Just then Ruto's hand that was propping her up slipped off the slick lake bottom and she fell into Links arms "Whoop!" she cried, and draped herself back in Links arms. They sat there for a moment, looking into each other's eyes. And the Link lifted Ruto up and put his hands around her waist, she laced her fingers together around the back of his neck. They drew closer to each other until they were nearly nose to nose, the sun was setting behind them in a rosy glow and they pulled together in a tender kiss. They drew apart after a moment and Link looked at her, his childhood friend and now—this…and then he knew—"I love you," Link said softly, "Ditto," replied Ruto. And them they kissed again, sinking into the weeds.
*****