"Cleo. I know that we fight all the time and sometimes I say things that are mean and hurtful, but the truth is I don't mean any of it. I know that you must think I hate you, but I don't. In fact, I actually…I mean I really…"

Orphen put his head down and groaned. He thought that he had all this planned out yesterday. He glanced up and noticed the curious look that he was getting.

"Look, this is not easy for me to say, so just sit there, be quite, and give me a minute."

His only reply was silence.

"Thank you."

He knew that he could do this. He just had to approach it like he would a battle. He took in his opponent, and he already had the strengths and weaknesses of said opponent figured out. In the current situation, he felt that, despite his blunder, he still had the upper hand. He then surveyed their surroundings. They were alone in a large clearing with the other members of their party running around the nearby town. He didn't anticipate that they would be interrupted anytime soon. On three sides, there were trees. If anything went wrong he could easily escape into the foliage and regroup. He just had to rush in, say what it was that he needed to say, and not give his opponent the chance to even react until it was all over. He felt confident that this whole thing was going to end with him the victor.

He took in a deep breath and spared another look at his partner. Head tilted to the side, all he received was a wide eyed stare and a blink.

Well, at least it was quiet for once. The silence allowed him time to think of what he was trying to say.

With another deep breath he began again. "I know that our relationship has been a strange one. The first time we met, you thought I was a pervert trying to peep at you and your sister. After yelling at me, you tried to take my head off with a sword that you could barely pick up. I don't think a day has gone by since then that we haven't fought. I have said some things that I have regretted and I am sure you have some regrets as well. We may fight like an old married couple, which quickly leads to you storming off, but you must realize by now that I don't mean half of the things I say. It's all a cover, so you would not know my true feelings."

He noticed that little mouth start to open.

"No. No, don't say anything yet. Let me finish, because this is not easy for me, and I want to get it all out before you say anything."

As that mouth shut once more and a small smile spread across it, he returned it with a small smile of his own. Stealing himself for the next confession, he pressed on.

"There are times when you make me so mad that there's nothing I can do but lash out at you. If I didn't lash out verbally, I don't think that anything could stop me from grabbing you by the shoulders and kissing you. I'm sure that would have stopped your mouth for a while. You annoy me like no other girl before you, yet I can't stop thinking about you. Can't stop wanting you.

"You've been there for me though everything. You believed that I could save Azale when even I had doubts. You went through so much trouble to find me a red shell so my wish could be granted, and how did I repay you…? I yelled at you and almost hit you. I hope you know that I could never really hurt you. Yet you still forgave me and still wished to help me. I don't know if I would've had the strength to hold on with so many obstacles in my way… if you hadn't been there.

"You are so loud and obnoxious and selfish and amazing…I love you, Cleo."

He stared into those large blue eyes. A smile broke out on his face.

"Reiki! Where are you?"

Orphen's head snapped up, and the Wolven cub opposite of him yipped and jumped up to run in the direction of his master's voice. He could see Cleo's head start to show on the horizon.

"Shit." Orphen took off in a run and made it into the trees before Cleo had a chance to see him. Thank God for the escape plan.

"There you are," he heard her exclaim, as she bent down to scoop up the Wolven he had been talking to only moments before. He continued to stare after her as she walked back to town with Reiki on her head.

Looked like practice was canceled for the rest of the day. He would try again tomorrow.

***********************

I was reading Arcana by Eden Gray, and near the end of one of the chapters Orphen tries to tell Cleo he loves her and just can't say it, so he thinks that he needs practice. This idea, him practicing his confession on Reiki, spawned from that line. Hope you all enjoy.

Hugs and Kisses

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