Challenges About Love
Shun's POV
I gently moved strands of her hair out of her face as she slept soundlessly against me. I grinned as the sight and then slowly moved her, so that I could pick her up from the ground and take her to her bedroom. I carried her bridal style out of my room and into the guest bedroom where she was staying. I opened the door slowly and quietly and then slowly placed her in bed. I watched as she smiled and snuggled up to her pillow as I laid the covers on her. I slowly reached out and placed my hand on her cheek and smiled.
"I hope you know what you're doing Shun." Travis said from behind me as I ignored him and let go of her.
I turned to see Travis standing outside the door staring at me. I slowly made my way to the door and slowly and quietly closed it behind me. Just before I could past Travis, I felt his grip on my arm as I pulled it away from him.
"You realize what you're putting her through now right?" Travis spoke as I said nothing to him.
"Shun be realistic here . . . You know you can't be with her like you want. You're Fay and she's not and one day she'll-." Travis explained.
"I know!" I exclaimed.
We stood there in silence for a while, until I sighed and turned to him. He stared at me intensely with his dark brown eyes. Travis was a well-built person with tan skin and brown hair. However, he did not intimidate me.
"I know she'll one day die alright. I know that, but with everything that's going on with her I can't just leave her. Alice is my friend who I care deeply for. I mean I've always liked Alice . . ." I explained.
"Not always . . . there was another." Travis said pissing me off as I was about to walk off until he spoke.
"How do you know if she's not influencing you?" Travis questioned making me turned to him ticked that he said that.
"Excuse me! Are you saying that you believe Alice is influencing me!?" I exclaimed as he stared at me emotionless.
"She could be doing it without even realizing it just like a certain someone did to you. How can you be so sure that Alice isn't doing it?"
"Because I trust her!"
"You trusted her as well and look where it got you Shun. I'm not trying to piss you off Shun, but I'm just making sure you don't end up like you did the day we met. You looked terrible and would have died had I not helped you. I just don't want something like that to happen to you again. You are one of the few people I call my friend even if you're new to this world." Travis explained placing a hand on my shoulder as I took a step back from him.
"Look I trust Alice ok!? Besides Alice can control her influence unlike Fay. I know she'd never do something like that to me. I trust her Travis," I reassured him as he sighed deeply and then spoke after a moment.
"For both your sakes I hope you're right, but Shun . . . It doesn't change the fact that you're Fay and she's not. When the time comes what will you do? Make her Fay and live forever and ever together, or say good-bye before someone ends up getting hurt?" Travis said as he walked away leaving me uneasy about my decisions.
Alice's POV
"Alice," A voice whispered to me.
I stood in a field of beautiful colorful flowers while the wind blowing through my hair and the sun's bright rays shinning down on me. I looked to the sky and closed my eyes as I felt the warmth of the sun's rays. I felt my yellow summer dress flowing as the wind blew. Soon I felt two strong familiar arms warp around me making me smile as he whispered my name.
"Alice," He whispered sweetly to me.
As I turned around and expected Shun to be there, I nearly gasped at who was behind me instead. I took a few steps back startled by the Summer King's sudden appearance as he grinned to me.
"Alice?" A voice said behind me.
I turned to see Shun looking at me confused and hurt. I tried to walk over to him, but my feet wouldn't move. I was frozen in place and soon everything around me started to turn cloudy and dark. I would see the flowers withering away and the forest branches snapping and breaking in half as their leaves withered to the ground. I looked to the ground and saw I was just standing in complete dirt now.
"ALICE!" Shun shouted as he started to disappear in front of me.
"SHUN!" I screamed, but then I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I turned to see the Summer King frowning at me as we looked around our surroundings and saw all the plants dying and withering away into ashes and dist.
"I need you my Summer Queen . . . Only you can stop this, before it's to late." Luke spoke to me as I looked at him in fear and shock.
Suddenly he turned his head and looked past me. I followed his gaze and my eyes widen in shock and fear. My leg trembled and I screamed at the sight.
"SHUN!" I cried.
I ran over to him and saw his body lying on the ground bleeding to death. I saw his eyes wide open as the blood spilled from his body. I tried to add pressure to the wound, but it didn't stop the bleeding. I looked at my hands to see them covered in blood. I began to cry over Shun's corpse and suddenly looked up to see Luke staring at me.
"I need you Alice . . . Only you can stop this from happening. You are my Summer-." Luke spoke, but I covered my ears and screamed.
"STOP!" I screamed, suddenly sitting up in bed.
Suddenly I looked around and saw that I was in bed and was in the guest bed room. I felt my heart racing and my pulse rising and then I took a deep breath as I realized it was just a dream. I was sweating like crazy as I brushed my hair with my hand. I looked at my hands and didn't see them covered in Shun's blood much to my relief. That dream felt so real though. It was like everything around me was falling into chaos.
"Alice!" Mira shouted barging into my room as I looked to her in surprise.
"Is everything alright, I heard you scream!?" Mira exclaimed.
"I'm fine it was just a nightmare." I replied trying to calm myself down.
"Oh well there's some food for you downstairs when you're done getting ready. Shun isn't here right now, I believe he went to go visit some of his mortal friends. He told me that you woke up to remain here, until he gets back. I called Runo and cleared things up with her saying that you'd be spending time at my house this weekend, so you should be fine." Mira explained to me and I nodded as she smiled and closed the door.
I slowly got out of bed and realized I was still in this black dress. I quickly made my way to the closet and pulled out a purple shirt with black long pants and black flats. I opened the door and noticed across from the guest room was a bathroom. Perfect! I went in there and took a quick shower and then got dressed. I looked in the mirror and decided to tie my hair up into a high ponytail for today. Once I stepped outside the bath room, I went back into the guest room and laid the black dress on the bed and decided to figure out what to do with it later. Then I headed down stairs to see Mira smiling at me and offering me to sit with her.
"Here's some food like I promised." Mira said and I smiled and nodded to her.
As we sat there and ate together, we started to bond a little more. Although it was weird that she is Fay, she's actually really nice and sweet. Suddenly I saw Travis and Alex come in the dining room. They had a serious expression on their face as they both seemed to staring at me.
"When you're finished eating Alice, we'd like to have a word with you." Travis spoke as he walked away with Alex following behind.
I looked to Mira confused as she shrugged and we continued to eat. What exactly did they want to talk to me about?
Shun's POV
"Are you serious!?" Dan shouted as I slowly nodded to trying to stay cool unlike him.
"I can't believe it!" Marucho exclaimed.
I felt Dan place a hand on my shoulder and shook me a little as he smiled like an idiot to me. However, then he said something that reminded me way I was friends with him. Why he had my back.
"I'm happy for you Shun and I'm sure you and Alice will be fine." Dan reassured me.
"Thanks Dan," I replied.
"Besides it's about time you two hooked up, I mean Runo and I have been making bets about who would admit each other's feelings first." Dan admitted as I glared to him as Marucho laughed.
"Looks like I win this bet!" Dan shouted as a I rolled my eyes.
I was glad my friends thought Alice and I being together was good, but if only they knew the truth about all of us. Would their opinion change about us? Would they look to me as a freak? Would we even still be friends after everything I'm keeping from them to keep them safe?
Alice's POV
After I ate with Mira, I decided to go fine Travis and Alex and see what they wanted from me. I didn't exactly know where to meet them, but then I saw them outside talking with each other while looking down at the pond on the balcony. As soon as I opened the balcony doors, they stopped talking and turned to me with a serious expression on their faces.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked as they exchanged looks to each other before Travis spoke.
"We need to talk to you about Shun." Travis spoke up as I looked to him confused.
"What about him?" I questioned as Alex sighed.
"We know you two have just recently started seeing each other thanks to Travis running into Shun last night after he put you to bed. We need to warn you about the challenges you're facing now." Alex explained as I blushed a little since they now know about us.
"You realize he is Fay correct?" Travis asked.
"Well yes I-." I spoke, but was cut off.
"Then you realize since he is Fay and you are still mortal, that you two cannot be together. It's impossible for Fay and a mortal to have feelings for each other." Travis explained, but I shook my head.
"It's not impossible, I mean Alex has done it before!" I exclaimed, but then Alex spoke.
"It was a huge mistake though Alice . . . I lost the only girl I ever loved because she was mortal and I wasn't. Unless you become Fay your relationship is futile." Alex explained and before I could talk Travis interrupted.
"No even if she were to become Fay, it's pointless." Travis spoke as he came closer to me.
"Could you love Shun for all eternity? Could you really see yourself with him forever? You two may have just started seeing each other now, but eventually you will have to make this decision. He'll live forever, while one day you'll die and nothing can change that." Travis spoke making me speechless.
I never even thought about all this before. I mean I really like Shun, but love? I'm just not sure if I'm at that level yet with him. I know in my heart I deeply care for Shun and will always stand by his side, but . . . forever? I looked to Travis as he stared down at me and I started to feel depressed and confused as he laid a hand on my shoulder and spoke.
"I'm not trying to be an ass, but Alice you have to think about these kind of things. Before I became Solitary I belonged to the Dark Court. I was born Fay and had fallen in love with a turned Fay. We had been together for fifty years, until I realized how much I didn't truly loved her anymore. The thought of her and I being together for all eternity sickened me. So I left her and my court to become Solitary and remained that way. So can you honestly say you can love Shun forever or even become Fay for him?" Travis explained and then I spoke.
"I don't know," I replied.
For a moment we stood in silence, until I felt his hand move away from my shoulder as he began to walk past me, until I spoke up.
"That being said, it doesn't mean I hate Shun. I like him a lot, but it's too early for me to decide whether I love him or not." I explained.
"Then let me ask you this, how do you know if he feels the same way? Maybe he doesn't like you, like you think he does?" Travis spoke, but Alex cut in before I could argue.
"Travis stop, Shun said it himself Alice can control her influence not like Fay." Alex spoke up and my eyes widen in shock and anger.
"You think I influenced him?" I questioned, but Travis didn't say a word as his back was turned to me.
I walked over to Travis and laid a hand on his arm making him turn to face me as I glared at him.
"I would never do that to Shun! She is my friend and he trusts me! You're right about me not being Fay, but that also means I don't act like one as I'm still mortal! I'm not like you . . . I don't know how Fay work when it comes to trust, emotions, or anything, but mortals we have loyalty, friendship, and know how to love." I explained to him, but he said nothing as I continued.
"I've known Shun longer than any of you and I know it's not easy for him to express his feelings. However, despite him now being Fay he's still the same Shun I know. It was hard for him to tell me how he feels about me and it was hard for him because he was worried about how I'd react and feel about the whole situation. However, I like Shun and I'd never hurt or use him. His influence doesn't work on me and I'll never use it on him. You may or may not believe me and I don't care, but I know my feelings for him just like I know he truly likes me for me." I continued as Travis pulled his arm away from me as he started to walk away again, until I spoke again.
"By the way, I know about you and Mira! You say you joined Solitary to be alone, but that's not true. You love Mira and are still with her even now after everything you said to me about it being impossible. Although I can't vouch for how long you two will be together, I know one thing for sure is that she truly cares for you Travis." I said.
Without any words left to say, Travis exited the balcony leaving only Alex and I as we watched Travis leave.
"That's a very good argument that you made, but it doesn't change anything. Mortals and Fay shouldn't be together. It only makes these worse for the other partner." Alex explained as he jumped off the balcony railing and walked toward me.
"Although Travis may seem like an ass, he is right. If you can't love Shun then there's no point in being together. There's really only a couple of scenarios' that can play out from here. One you could turn Fay and be with Shun forever, but possibly regret choosing to give up your mortality to be with someone you weren't even sure you love, two remain mortal and still be with Shun, but then one day die leaving Shun alone, three turn Fay and actually be together forever and live happily ever after, or four . . . end the relationship now before it's too late. You'll still be mortal and he'll still be Fay." Alex told me as I started to feel uneasy of my choices.
"Look Alice, Shun will always be Fay and there's no changing that. However, you can still decide your fate. To turn Fay, or remain mortal." Alex continued.
To turn Fay and be with Shun forever . . . or to remain human someday die. My odds weren't exactly in my favor right now. I felt Alex's hand on my shoulder as he leaned to my ear and spoke to me.
"Don't end up like I did and regret losing the one you love." Alex spoke.
As he pulled away from me, I looked to him and saw a hint of sadness in his eyes to my surprise as he started to walk past me. I was left alone and confused as ever. I liked Shun a lot, but loving him? I just don't know if that's possible for me right now in our early stage of relationship. I felt my knees give out as I fell to the ground and felt a single tear slowly fall from my eye. I placed my hand on my cheek to wipe it away as my heart started to ache inside. I hugged my arms and shut my eyes tightly unsure of what to do now.
"Alice," A voice said behind me as I turned to see Mira with a small sincere smile on her face.
She slowly came over to me and placed her hand on my shoulder and comforted me. I felt her help me up and placed her arm around my neck to help me sit down in a nearby chair outside. She then sat across from me at the outside table and gave a small smile to me.
"Are you ok?" Mira asked, but I shook my head trying not to cry in front of her.
"What am I going to do Mira?" I asked as she stared at me.
"I'm not ready for that kind of commitment yet! We only just started seeing each other last night! I never even thought of something like this yet!" I exclaimed, but then she spoke up.
"It may not look like it, but Travis is just looking out for you and Shun. I mean Travis was with the same person for the past fifty years. He didn't find the love that he was hoping for with her. There are times I used to believe one day he might stop loving me just like he did with her." Mira said.
"How do you know it won't?" I asked and she smiled to me.
"I don't . . . I'll just have to wait fifty years and go from there." Mira smiled to me and I slowly nodded.
"You're really strong Mira. I usually just get depressed and find myself unsure of what to do." I replied.
"You're strong to Alice; you just can't let people bring you down. Follow your heart and do what you think is best. I don't have an answer for you about you and Shun's relationship, but I know that maybe its best you talk to him about this first before making any decisions." Mira instructed me and I nodded.
I gave her a small smile as she smiled back to me. Mira has been a great friend to me and her advice made me feel a little better. However, I knew in my heart that this wasn't going to be easy even if I talked to Shun about this. If anything I feel like it would complicate things between us. Still no matter what, I have to talk to him.
Shun's POV
Once I got back home, I noticed a dark aura around the house. I saw Travis siting by the fire place and Alex looking outside the window with an apple in his hand. I saw Mira now walking downstairs with a look of suspicion on her face. I gave her a confused look, until he spoke up.
"I think it's best you talk to Alice, Shun." Mira spoke and my eyes widen in concern.
"What happened!?" I exclaimed, but to my surprise Travis spoke.
"We talked to her and told her the truth about your relationship." Travis explained and I frowned to him as he stared at the fire.
Without anything left to say I went upstairs to go see Alice not caring what they thought or said. As soon as I made it in the guest room, I knocked on the door.
"Alice, it's me open up." I spoke.
I waited a few moments and was about to knock again, until I heard the door unlock and I quickly barged in to see a surprised looking Alice. She took a few steps back to me and I sighed in relief to see she wasn't crying. I moved closer to her and was about to reach for her hand, until she moved away much to my surprise.
"Alice?" I questioned.
Alice's POV
I was just as surprised as he was when I pulled my hand away. I just couldn't let him touch me right now. What Travis said really bothered me. What if I was using my power of influence on him without even realizing it? What if Shun's feelings for me weren't truly his? Suddenly though I felt Shun's strong arms wrap around me in a tight hug. My eyes widen in surprise as I tried to pull away from him, but he held me tightly in his arms.
"Shun let go of me!" I exclaimed.
"No! I know what you're feeling Alice, but you need to stop thinking and feeling that way!" Shun exclaimed back as my eyes widen.
I had almost forgotten Shun could taste and feel my emotions. He slowly pulled back to see my face as I tried to hold in my tears. As I gazed into his hazel eyes, I started to feel my heart aching inside. I looked down at him and just couldn't stare into his eyes anymore. There are so many challenges I have to face right now and to drag Shun in it wouldn't be fair to him as I could end up either losing him, or hurting him. Suddenly though I felt his hand on my chin as he lifted it so that I would met his gaze. He slowly then leaned forward and placed his lips on mine. As much as I wanted to pull away I couldn't. I really wanted to be in Shun's arms like this and let all my emotions out. Tears slipped from my eyes as we kissed. It was tender and yet heart-breaking for me as we ended the kiss and pulled away from each other a little with me still in his arms.
"Shun we can't do this," I cried as he wiped my tears away and had a look of concern in his eyes.
"As much as I like you Shun, I just don't know if I can do any of this. Travis has a point I'm mortal and you're Fay. I'll one day die while you'll stay the same and live forever. Plus what if I'm using my power of influence on you without even knowing!" I explained, but then he placed a hand on my cheek.
"Just calm down Alice, let's just talk about this ok?" Shun spoke as I slowly nodded my head and he sighed.
"Look as far as your power of influence goes, you have control. Only if you truly want to use those powers, you can use it. So what I feel towards you isn't because of your powers, it's just how I truly feel. Besides it's like I told you last night. My feelings changed for you after my battle with Komba when you told me I couldn't fight my battles alone and that I needed my friends . . . That I needed you . . ." Shun continued as I stared at him.
"Shun," I spoke.
"Look as far as me being Fay, I don't want anything to change between us because of this. I like you Alice and I'd like to see you a lot, but there is a problem with that. I'll live forever and you won't, but no matter what I will not allow you to turn Fay like I did." Shun explained shocking me.
"But Shun, if I don't turn Fay then we can't exactly be together." I replied, but he shook his head.
"Alice for one it's a big commitment for you to turn Fay for me. Two the life of a Fay is a lot harder than you think it is. You know about our way of living, but to actually live it is a whole other story. Three you have your life as a mortal to think about. All your friends and family, could you really just throw it all away?"
As soon as he explained that to me realization hit me. Even if I were to turn Fay for Shun, I'd be leaving behind my family and friends. I'd be leaving the brawlers and would never see them again because I'll never die like they will one day. I felt Shun brush my hair out of my face as I sighed.
"I never even thought about all those things before. You're right about all of it." I admitted.
"Look it's still too early into our new relationship to commit to anything right now. I'm not mad or upset if you don't love me now or ever. The fact that you're by my side is all that matters." Shun explained.
"One day though, we'll have to come back to this conversation if I chose to be with you as Fay, or remain mortal." I replied and I saw a grin on his face as he stared into my eyes.
"So you'll still stay with me." He grinned and I gave a small laugh and smile.
"No matter what I was always planning to stay by your side. After all I do like you Shun and you're also my friend. You've done nothing to hurt me and you've been protecting me all this time. So I'll always stay by your side whether as a friend, or girlfriend." I simply replied as he grinned to me and gave a quick peck on my lips before grabbing my hand and leading me out of the guest room.
"Where are we going!?" I exclaimed.
"You'll see," He replied, but suddenly he stopped as Travis now stood in front of us.
I half expected Shun to say something to him, but the other half of me believed Shun would ignore him and walked past him. No surprise Shun said nothing and walked pasted him with my hand still in his, until Travis spoke making us both stop.
"I take it you're staying together." Travis spoke up and then I saw Shun give a small grin and turned to face him.
"Thanks for the advice Travis, but for now we're just going to see where our relationship takes us as both Fay and mortal. If Alice decided later she wants to be with me forever and become Fay I'll consider it. Like I told you before Travis, I never wanted Alice to be exposed of this world, let alone become Fay as well. I like her just like she likes me and we're going to keep seeing each other." Shun explained much to my surprise as I blushed out of embarrassment.
Suddenly though I heard Travis give a soft laugh and then to my surprise I saw him give a small smile and nod to us before he started to walk away. I looked to Shun who smiled to me and I smiled back to him. There are going to be a lot of challenges we'll face, but we'll face them together. I not sure whether or not Shun and I will always be together forever, but for now I'll stand by his side and be there for him whenever he needs me as his friend, or girlfriend.