Usagi's eyes burned. In fact, everything burned. Her mind raced uncontrollably, and she felt the sudden urge to vomit. She sweated a cold sweat, and her entire body racked with grief.

The girl had witnessed it all. The sword cast through his stomach, the look of shock reflected in Link's gloomy eyes. She had seen the complete death of Taro.

Usagi didn't bother to look up; she could already picture the scene in her mind. The lifeless heap of mercenary, and even the alarmed expression on Link's face.

Her breathing was ragged, and she curled into a tight ball, sobbing into the hem of her outfit. 'Why?'

Link, on the other hand, couldn't believe his eyes. One minute he was standing in the middle of the room, the next… His sword thrust right into Taro's middle, lying sprawled across the ground before him. He glanced sideways in an instant, expecting to find a dead Usagi.

She wasn't- but pretty close. She was at the side, twisted painfully, choking out cries and moans. Link turned his vision towards the carcass of Taro, still stiff with disbelief.

Usagi sniffled and tilted her head around. 'Why?'

Link cocked his head sideways, obviously confused to the situation. 'What's wrong? What- what happened to Taro? I don't understand…'

Usagi's swollen eyes widened, tears continuing to flow freely down her cheeks. 'You happened, that's what. You killed him, Link! Just look what you've done!'

Link frowned in obliviousness. 'I-I don't remember any of this… I didn't… I didn't do this… Did I? I don't remember this! Why…?'

'How can I even talk to you anymore? How can I even be in your presence?' Her voice quivered with incredible fear, harsh to his ears. 'What did Taro do to you?' She looked up at him. 'He was only trying to make things better… Why did you do it?'

Link honestly couldn't answer the sobbing sage. He was, even now, in tremendous shock at the sudden and gruesome death of Taro… And she was blaming him?

'Irrational sage…'

Usagi's head bolted upright at the deep hissing voice, her eyes narrowing both in caution and fear. 'Who are you? I demand that you show yourself!'

As if on command, a shadow begun to appear, hazy and unclear at first, and then finally taking the shape of a human, male preferably.

Link backed up in utter confusion, his eyes straining to watch both Usagi and the figure at the same time. Hardly realizing it, he clumsily tripped over Taro's fallen remains, and landed cleanly on his backside. 'I-I think I know you… At the pond… I can… Remember…'

The shadow's shoulders shook as it cackled, more like a screeching sensation. 'Fool! You killed your own companion at my very order! You will live with guilt!'

Usagi only stared in horror, lips quivering. 'Y-you mean… You did this! Who are you!?'

The form whipped around to face her, almost with anger. 'I am the servant of the dark mistress!' he declared loudly. 'And the keeper of Storm.' With one flick of its wrist, the shadow was gone, and in its place, a tall man, messy black hair and gleaming eyes. 'That is precisely who I am.'

Usagi gave a muffled gasp, cupping her mouth with a hand. 'I've seen you before… I've talked with you… You… You did all this?'

He simply gave her a lopsided smile, his eyes twinkling with icy humor. 'Correct, my dear sage. I am Mamarou of the dark side, and I have come to slay the hero of Hyrule and take back what belongs to me… You.'

Usagi blinked at his gaze and quickly frowned. 'You… Of all people… Disgust me! For what you've done… To Link… To Taro… To the Sages… You shall pay!'

Mamarou chuckled, folding his arms. 'I don't think so, little sage. First, I will make you suffer. The trouble you have caused the Dark Mistress, you will pay.'

Before Usagi could respond, Mamarou had rested his palm on Link's head, muttering words under his breath. Link's eyes immediately went a blank, dull shade, and as soon as he had taken back his hand, Link had shot a harsh glance at Usagi, who shivered under his stare.

'What have you done to him?'

Mamarou raised upwards, a smug look on his face. 'You will see in time, dear sage, believe me.'

In an instant, Link was on his feet, a ferocious snarl escaping his mouth as he turned towards Usagi. His hand grasped for his sword, and he drew it out of Taro with one swipe.

Usagi backed up against the wall, sliding upwards as Link drew nearer in a slow pace, blade directed towards her. A lump formed in her throat as he came closer, eyes flashing dangerously. 'Please… Stop it…'

Link smirked ironically, and quickened his footsteps. Usagi bit back the urge to scream as he thrust his sword forwards, sinking deeply into the wall. The blade was inches from her cheek, slicing off a few hairs. Her closed eyes snapped opened in alarm, and she painfully examined his expression. 'Why?'

His brow furrowed at the shrillness of her voice, barely a whisper. 'Because you are worthless,' he replied huskily.

Her eyes widened at this, staring back at him in shock. He was so close to her, she could feel his warm, rapid breaths against her face and neck. He seemed exhausted.

'I can't kill you,' he said lowly. 'But I want to.'

'That isn't you talking,' she whispered, bowing her head. 'It can't be.'

She winced at the sound of his sword being pulled from the wall. He steadily drew to his side, watching her without any trace of emotion. 'Attack me.'

Usagi looked up hastily, her breath still. 'I can't, and I won't.'

He scowled, aiming the tip of the blade at her throat. Her delicate skin was sliced only slightly, a trickle of blood emerging from the small cut. 'Then you are a fool.'

Her body twitched at the feel of cold metal pressing against her. 'Nothing you can do will make me retaliate. This isn't the true Link. I don't care what you say.'

He growled, removing the blade from her throat. 'What if I decide to kill you, right here? I won't hesitate to slice your throat. I don't care if you die by my hand.'

She smiled faintly up at him. 'Then you would have done it already. You do care, Link. You just… Don't seem to understand it yet…'

He looked surprised at this. 'Understand what?' Usagi gave the impression of embarrassment as he closed the large gap between their faces. 'What am I not understanding, sage?'

She turned her face away. 'You don't know how much you're hurting me.'

'But I'm not even touching you,' he replied with a perplexed frown. 'How could I possibly hurt you?'

Slowly, Usagi twisted to meet his confused stare. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she gently grabbed his free hand. 'No, Link,' she whispered suddenly. 'Not that kind of pain…'

He bent his head, observing carefully. 'What…?'

Usagi hesitantly raised his hand, placing it softly on her chest. 'Here. It hurts right here.' She bit her lip, and then rested the side of her head on the back of his hand. 'And it wounds me more than anything.'

Link watched with widened blank eyes, stunned at the softness of her cheek against his calloused skin. As if realizing it, she released her grip on him with a faint blush. 'I don't know how you feel inside, Link, but please… Know how much I care for you…'

'Pathetic.'

Usagi glimpsed upwards, Mamarou hovering right above them. 'What a useless sage you are. You're going to let him easily destroy you, just because of your heart?'

Usagi swallowed quietly, tilting her head towards the ground. 'I won't fight my ally, no matter what the consequence. Link is…' She paused nervously. 'He's important to me…'

'Well you're not important to him. Your life is meaningless,' he replied coldly. 'I do not see why the Mistress is requesting to spare your mere life.'

Usagi lifted her head reluctantly, staring Mamarou straight in the eye. 'I have the will to care for other people, unlike the coldness of your heart!' She threw out an arm protectively in front of Link. 'I will never allow you to slay Link like you did to Taro! He was protecting me!'

Mamarou scowled in return. 'Hero of Hyrule, I command you to slaughter this sage! The Mistress will not regret this decision! Now, go!'

Usagi forced back tears as she felt Link's strong grip on her arm. Bracing herself, she clamped her eyes shut as Mamarou's insane cackles echoed through the room.

Link whipped her around; sword mounted high in the air, and plunged it back down, lightning fast. Usagi gasped aloud, not at the sensation of metal lashing through her chest, but at the sudden clanking of metal from beside her.

Two arms swung around her middle, and she was rapidly forced forwards, directly into Link's firm yet soothing embrace. He practically collapsed into her, his head buried deep into the back of her neck. His breathing was incredibly heavy, chest rising and falling to the same rhythm as the smaller figure in his arms.

Usagi had immediately frozen stiff with shock, cerulean blue eyes wide with astonishment. She faltered under his weight, trembling at his breaths against her neck. The Song Sage was utterly speechless.

He unexpectedly grasped her even closer to him, as if realizing her confusion. The only room left between the two was enough space to breath.

Gradually, and a bit hesitantly, Usagi returned the hold, standing on the tips of her toes and folding her arms around Link's neck. She exhaled absently, gently caressing his back.

'You… Smell good…' Link mumbled quietly. His cheek was rested on her shoulder, and both eyes were drowsily closed. 'You smell… Like… Flowers…'

Usagi smiled warmly at this. 'You're starting to understand… I'm glad.'

'What the hell?' Mamarou snapped angrily. 'I said take her life, not her body!'

Usagi could feel Link straighten at Mamarou's voice, and she felt a little frightened. 'Link?' she murmured nervously, looking up at him.

Link released her in an instant, grabbing for his sword. Usagi's heart sank as he glared with fury, his blade once again focused on her. He dashed forwards, brought up his sword with an wrathful cry and… It flew out of his hands, right into the air, purposely striking a startled Mamarou in the back.

Usagi gasped and avoided the scene as Mamarou plummeted from the sky, the blade still plunged deeply into his back. 'You- you betrayed me…' he hissed.

Link's eyes twitched with fury as he sprawled across the ground with a loud thump, a few feet away from Taro. 'Go to hell,' came his husky response.

Usagi slumped to her weak knees, vision blurring. 'I-I thought you were going to really hit…' she said, breathless. 'The look in your eyes… It scared me…'

At first, Link didn't reply. Usagi looked over curiously, her eyesight hazy. He, too, was on his knees, rubbing his head with both palms. 'Are you alright?'

She crawled over next to him, eyeing him with concern. 'Link?'

Finally, he looked up, and his eyes were back to normal. Usagi smiled warmly, if not tiredly, and she leaned into his side. 'I missed you- a lot.'

            Link stared forwards in disbelief. There were two bodies lying across the floor before him, his sword drawn into one of them.

Usagi had fallen asleep on his shoulder, mumbling softly in her slumber. He felt somewhat uneasy at her closeness, but for some strange, ironic reason- he felt like it had already happened.

With a small sniff, she opened her eyes halfway, tilting her head to the side. She found herself looking right up at Link, and yelped in surprise. Usagi scurried away in embarrassment, covering her red face with her hands. 'Ah… I'm sorry about… Falling asleep like that…'

Link blinked in confusion, scratching the back of his head. 'But… What happened to Taro? Who is that?' He directed his finger towards Mamarou.

Usagi glanced downwards and shook her head. 'Don't worry about it… Taro died… Boldly…' Tears escaped her eyes. 'It was good of him…'

'I… I don't understand…'

Usagi smiled bitterly at his reply. 'Neither do I…' She paused sadly. 'There is nothing more we can do for the mercenary… But… I'll always be… Missing him…'

Link rubbed his temples. 'I wish I could remember…'

She simply shook her head. 'It's best you don't, for now…'

'Then… Where is the Storm Sage?' Link asked suddenly. He got to his feet, scanning the room hastily. 'What happened to it? Is it gone?'

Usagi stood by his side, eyes fixed upwards. 'Storm will come, when she feels its time.' She turned towards him with a slight blush. 'Do you… Remember anything?'

Link stared at her for a moment, and then shook his head. 'I can only remember… You… You were at the side of the room, crying… And Taro was… Just lying there…'

Usagi smiled gently, twirling a strand of hair through her fingers. 'He doesn't remember… Being so near… He was so close to me…' She reddened and averted any eye contact. 'He doesn't remember telling me… Saying I smelled of flowers… And I… I'll never forget it…'

'Usagi?' Link paused, bewildered at her sudden embarrassment.

'At least… I can remember…' She glanced up towards Link with a reassuring expression. 'I'll never forget, Link, so you don't have to worry…'

He frowned, running what she had just said through his mind. 'Forget what? Are you feeling all right?'

As if being woken up from a daydream, Usagi shook her head. 'It's… It's nothing…' she replied, beaming cheerfully. 'I don't think I was paying attention…'

Link blinked again. 'Of course…'

Usagi laughed, if not timidly, and clasped her hands together. 'What exactly is Storm waiting for?' she muttered impatiently. 'Makoto, we don't have all day…'

Link continued to stare at the side of her face in wonder. 'Why is she acting so strange? She seems… Uncomfortable… Why?'

'Makotooooooooooooo!'

'Is she threatened by my presence?'

Usagi shuddered for a moment, bringing out Storm's crystal from beneath the folds of her robe. 'Makoto, I've got your soul right here…'

'Usagi… I'm sorry, for whatever happened…'

She laughed aloud again, more exaggeratedly. 'This isn't funny anymore, Makoto!'

Absently, Link silenced her with his finger. Both stared back at each other in confusion, Link surprised at his own actions, Usagi flushing with awkwardness.

'I just wanted to know… What happened…' he explained uneasily, removing his finger. 'When I couldn't remember… Why you were crying…'

Usagi hesitated for a minute, touching her lips absentmindedly. 'I was crying… I was crying because…' She paused, trying to find the rightful words. 'Because I couldn't defend Taro… Because you were… Suffering…'

Link watched her mutely.

'And… It hurt me to see you like that… The lifelessness reflected in your eyes… The way you demanded for me to use violence against you...' She looked up at him. 'But you finally realized it, in the end.'

He didn't say anything, but continued to gaze down at her for a few moments. Slowly, he extended a hand and grasped Usagi's wrist lightly. 'It hurts…' he said quietly, bringing her arm up. 'What hurts?' Usagi questioned with concern. 'Were you injured?'

As if in a daze, he shook his head, and rested her hand on his chest. 'It hurts right here.'

Usagi's eyes widened as he met her eyes. 'How… How did you remember that?'

Link gave the faintest of smiles. 'You smelled like flowers… I almost forgot…'

Before Usagi even had time to breath, the room flashed a bright yellow, and a young woman appeared in the middle of the room, head bowed.

'Storm!' Usagi cried, hurriedly rushing over to her. 'Makoto!'

The woman lifted her head slowly, face holding no emotion whatsoever. Usagi fumbled beneath the folds of her clothing, eventually retrieving the small crystal. She paced up to Storm, who was staring at her blankly, and thrust it right into Storm's chest.

The life returned to her green eyes, and she blinked a few times. 'U-Usagi?'

Usagi nodded in response, a smile on her face. 'Hello Makoto.'

Storm, otherwise known as Makoto, grinned widely. 'That's quite the guy you've got with you, Song… Such good taste in men!' she laughed, referring to Link.

Usagi blushed and scowled at the same time. 'Sorry to break it to you, Storm, but I'm not with him in that way. You're still boy-crazy!'

Makoto giggled and bobbed her head reluctantly. 'It was very kind of you to put me back together, so I suppose I shall come with you two?'

Usagi nodded in return. 'That's correct.'

Makoto shrugged her shoulders and stole a glance at Link. 'I know you like her, am I right?' With a wink, and a series of mutterings from Usagi, she disappeared and returned to a crystal.

'Just ignore her…' Usagi mumbled, turning to Link. She handed him the glowing crystal, still shaking her head. 'She should honestly be the sage of nonsense…'

'I don't think she was that bad,' Link replied with a slight smirk.

            'One more temple, Link… I'm actually kind of nervous…' Usagi folded her arms over her chest with a deep sigh.

'It could be a lot worse…' Link responded, grinning widely. 'And I mean a lot worse.'

Usagi narrowed her eyes in an instant, tilting her head towards him. 'If you're going to say what I think you're going to say, let me advise you not to…'

'Oh look! A gigantic flea!' Link shouted amusedly, pointing behind her.

Usagi cocked a weary eyebrow, tapping her foot against the ground. 'I hate you.'

Authors Notes: I actually enjoyed writing this chapter, but it didn't come out quite like I wanted to… Oh, sorry I killed off Taro so soon. But you want to see some romance happening, don't you?

ChibiBear: O_o Link is freaky when he's all… Hypnotized like that…