Disclaimers: I do not own Zelda or any of it's characters. :'( Oh woe is meh...

Warnings: This is shounen-ai. That means that Link and Sheik are all googly over eachother. And I consider Sheik to be male, so NYAH! XP No actual yaoi in this one, sorry. Teh smex is in part two! So...go read part two! Rated T for mild language.

Notes: PLEASE REVIEW! Pleasepleasepleeeeease! This is my very first fanfic ever and my first posted one. So pleeeeease review. I'd love to hear what every one thinks AND I'd like to know how I can improve! I'm not sure I've got a hang of how to do things around here... Plus It"ll make me feel all yummy to know that some one out there likes what I do. :) Love ya'll!

Lostal


Hero of Mine

Chapter Eight: Kakariko Village

Link awoke in a dim room. He was lying in a comfortable bed, the blanket and pillows around him soft with cucco feathers. He sat up slowly, trying to figure out where he was. He had no recollection of how he had gotten here, or what had happened within the past twenty-four hours. He scanned the room and his eyes fell upon a dark figure sitting in a chair in the corner.

"You finally woke up…" the figure said. Link recognized that voice. Suddenly, everything came flooding back. The whipping, the pain, Sheik…. He fell back to the bed with a groan.

"Don't move…the healing potion I gave you hasn't taken full affect yet." Sheik was now beside him, sitting on the edge of the bed. His mask was down, and his long hair had been pulled free from the cloth. It fell down the length of his back, all the way down to the bed. The golden shine reminded Link of someone else's hair, though he couldn't remember who.

"Link, I'm really sorry about what I did to you…" Sheik began, looking at his hands in his lap. "I wanted revenge…you made me so mad in the crater. And in the heat of the moment, I didn't realize who I was extracting my revenge upon. I was so stupid…" his voice trailed off and he looked at the wall, away from Link. Link took his hand.

"It's alright, Sheik," He said softly. Sheik looked at him, confusion in his eyes. "I understand. I would have done the same thing. I should be apologizing for what I did. I'm sorry too…"

Sheik sniffed, and tears suddenly burst from his eyes. He leaned over and clung to Link. "I'm so sorry! Please, please don't hate me! I swear I'll never do it again!"

Link placed his hand on Sheik's back and rubbed it gently. "Didn't you hear me?" he said softly. "I said I forgive you."

Sheik looked up and sniffled cutely. Link smiled and stroked his hair softly.

"You're too kind for your own good, Link…" Sheik informed him, laying his head back down on Link's chest.

Link smiled and sighed, closing his eyes. He could never be angry with him…not Sheik. Sheik was his only comfort in this long trek. His presence was soothing. He felt at peace every time Sheik mysteriously appeared.

After a moment Sheik's breathing became heavier and retained a steady beat. He had fallen asleep. Link smiled again and stroked his hair softly, then drifted off himself.

Link awoke again to find his room empty. His wounds had closed, and he felt very refreshed. He climbed out of the bed and quickly dressed. As he was buckling the belt for his blade over his shoulder, he heard a terrified scream ring out from outside. Link ran to the door of his room and opened it, only to be blasted in the face with a thick wall of smoke. His eyes burning, his lungs wretching, he ran out into the small corridor, clinging to the wall, trying to find a way out. His hand reached a corner and her stepped onto the staircase. It led down to the main room of the inn, and he rushed to the door.

Kakariko was in utter chaos. Nearly every rooftop was aflame, villagers were running and screaming, and the thunderstorm brewing overhead wasn't helping the situation. Link looked around frantically, trying to spot Epona amongst all the terrified horses freed from the burning stables. His eyes fell upon the well at the top of the steps in the center of the village. Sheik was staring down into it, as though waiting for some one to pop out.

Link ran to Sheik, but before he could approach closely, Sheik stopped him.

"Stay back, Link!"

"Sheik…"

Before Link could say anymore, the wooden arch over the well was blasted off, and something purple flew out of the well. It wrapped itself around Sheik and tossed him behind Link like a pesky bug. Sheik screamed as he was flung through the air.

"Sheik!" Link yelled as the boy landed with a sickening thud. He ran to his aid. The odd thing that had appeared out of the well slithered all around Kakariko; on the houses, on the hills, on the ground. Link watched it, his mind boiling with anger. He unsheathed his sword and shield, ready for a battle. As it neared, Sheik regained his conscience and gasped at the sight he beheld.
"No, Link—!" He held up a hand, as though that would stop him, but the thing wrapped itself around Link, shaking him like a baby rattle, and everything went black.

Link awoke, once again, to Sheik's mysterious crimson eyes.

"Link, are you alright?" he asked quickly.

Link sat up and shook his head. "Yeah, I'm ok."

"Oh, thank Nayru!" Sheik exclaimed, throwing his arms around Link's neck in a tight embrace. Link nearly fell back, but caught himself and hugged Sheik back. When they broke apart, Link looked around.

It had begun to rain, and the water had put out the better of the fires. The horses had been caught, calmed, and tied to a post that had been hammered into the dirt. The villagers were no longer panicked, but rather helping repair the damage done by the fires.

"What was that thing?" Link asked.

"A monster," Sheik said, helping him up, "that has been sealed for years. Impa has gone to the Shadow Temple to try and reseal it again. Link, Impa is one of the Sages! You must go to the temple and help her! I will teach you the song to transport you to the graveyard, but I'm afraid that is the only thing within my powers I can do to help you."

Sheik reached around his back and grabbed his harp. He taught Link another song, the Nocturne of Shadow. This melody was dark and mysterious, and reminded Link a lot of Sheik. After Link had mastered the song, Sheik replaced the hard and stepped up to Link.

"Please be careful…" He slowly pulled his mask down and stood on his tip-toes, then pressed his lips to Link's in a short, sweet kiss. He pulled away quickly and replaced his mask.

"I'll never forgive you if you die in there!" He said sternly. Link chuckled.

"Well then I better not, or you might whip me again," he joked. Sheik smiled and hugged him quickly, then ran off to help the villagers.