A/N: thanks to The Master Pen, Bipolar Ike, and asummer6 for the reviews (sorry for thanking you all so late)! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, so, please enjoy it. =)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, blah, blah, except for those mentioned previously, blah, blah, the rest belong to Nintendo.

(Sheik)

She could feel the butterflies fluttering in her stomach as they walked. She watched as Armageddon went from spot to spot, sniffing what he could. She smiled, that dog was definitely one of a kind and not just because he was a Hellhound. She glanced and saw Ike smiling, just looking at her and smiling. Her smile faded, she watched him carefully for a minute.

"What?"

"Nothing, I'm just smiling. Enjoying the day," he answered.

"Oh."

She smiled again and kept her pace, wondering if Ike had ever been where she was taking him.

"So, Sheik, where are we going?"

"Shhh."

"Are you-"

"Shhh!"

Ike put his hands up in surrender and nodded. She wasn't irritated with him, she just liked screwing with his mind some times. Mainly because she could but also, it gave her a type of pleasure to see him confused. She stopped and sat down, looking up at Ike as she patted the ground next to her. He sighed and sat down.

"Can I talk know?" He asked.

"You could always talk, I don't see why you'd need permission now," she answered.

He stared at her and shook his head, chuckling. She watched as he started looking at his surroundings. She had led him through some thick brush, something he had bitched about a little bit but it couldn't be helped that he had such a broad figure that couldn't exactly fit through the gaps. The clearing they had entered was surrounded by several thick oak trees, flowers of all sorts were dotted throughout the clearing, the breeze even managed to sweep through. It was like her little paradise that she could escape to, and yes, she did want to share it with Ike. Shinon was her brother by all means but by blood and yet she didn't feel the need, so much as the want, to share it with him. It was a strange thing for her.

"How'd you find this place? It's beautiful," Ike said.

"I don't know, I just kinda found it," she shrugged.

Armageddon strolled lazily up do them, laid down and watched them with his head resting on his paws. She wondered if he ever got cricks in his neck from having to hold his head up with his horns. She started petting the mutt, it was hard to resist his brown eyes that seemed to peer into your soul.

(Ike)

He watched Sheik as she petted Armageddon. He thought about last night and his mounting frustration that he had yet to see face. He knew he should let it go, it was her personal space and he should respect that. At the same time, how could he? He was itching to see her face, to see her smile for the first time. He stood up and started pacing, he had a few ideas of what she would do if he pull down the scarf. A) She would go into a violent rage and scream at him. B) He would receive a brutal slap to the face. C) She would glare at him. D) She would shove him away and run off into the woods.

None of these were good outcomes, he had thought of some worse ones on the way but they seem highly unlikely. He turned and saw Sheik watching him, she seemed curious, or worried, one of the two.

"Ike, are you okay?" She asked hesitantly.

He walked up to her, now only a foot of space between them.

"You're driving me crazy, I can't take it anymore," he said as he reached out and pulled down her scarf.

What she had hidden for so long was a button nose, a pair of soft red lips, and a gently curved jaw. They both just stared at each other, Ike in awe, Sheik in terror. He noticed a scar, one that was hard to miss as it ran from the right corner of her lips, stopping just below and past her cheekbone. (Readers, like a Glasgow Smile [or Chelsea Grin] only it's just on the one side.) He half-smiled, she was gorgeous.

There was a long silence then, "Sheik, you're beautiful, why would you hide?"

(Sheik)

Was he blind or stupid? She sighed, the scar was part of her past, a past that held a death grip on her still. Maybe it couldn't be called her past, not yet. She looked at Ike, his eyes searched her, trying to figure her out. She shook her head, noticing Ike's hand was still gently gripping her scarf. She moved it away.

"There are some questions that I don't want to hear, that's why I cover my face. It also helps when the Hyrulean court is scouring heaven and earth searching for me, keeps my identity safe."

(Ike)

He nodded, he understood what she meant. Not literally, but it made sense.

"I see. Well, I think you look much better without the scarf," he said, putting another foot of space between them. He got the message when she had removed his hand, she didn't want him so close in proximity. She looked up at him and nodded, then paused and gnawed on her lip for a moment.

"Ike, was it really killing you that you hadn't seen my face?" She asked.

"Well, yeah. It would kill anyone to have such a close friend yet never have seen their face. Hell, you've seen me shirtless and I hadn't even seen your full face. Seemed kind of screwed up if you ask me."

She nodded again and looked at him, almost like she was expecting something.

(Sheik)

Well? Where was the question? He had to be curious, even in the smallest ways. He couldn't just pretend the scar wasn't there, he would ask. Wouldn't he? Even if it wasn't today, then when? She did notice that he was looking into her eyes, not at her cheek. Did he really just not care? She smiled, Ike wasn't a half bad guy after all. Too bad Shinon couldn't see that. She sighed and pulled her scarf up.

"How long do you think Elincia's army will fight off the Hyruleans?" She asked.

Ike laid down in the tall grass with his hands behind his head, "I don't know, until they leave I guess. We'll end up assisting them in their attacks, it was our battle to begin with. Sheik, do you think they'll ever leave you alone?"

That was a question she had asked herself for years. So far, it seemed highly unlikely. She just shrugged in response, she certainly hoped they would.

"What about the Laguz? Are they going to help?" She turned her head to Ike.

"The agreement was to defend our camp, should we attack them outside of camp, they aren't obligated to fight with us then. But we've formed close bonds with some of them, they may help us yet."

Sheik nodded. They were powerful allies, she couldn't imagine having to fight against them. She had seen them fight before, when she had joined a few years back and left months later, they were brutal. They truly fought like the animals they morphed into, no remorse or regret for those who fought against them. It was far different from Hyrule where the only thing they fought was the undying evil that would rise up every couple of years. She gentle picked up a ladybug, setting it on Ike's chest and watched it wander around. As far as she could tell, Ike didn't notice.

(Ladybug POV)

What was that crazy white bitch thinking?! Marisha glared at the girl. She had gone and put her on this random man's chest! What in the damn hell?! Well if she was going to play her foolish little tricks, Marisha had somethin' else up her sleeve. She crawled up the man's neck, picking spot just beside his throat. She sunk her pinchers into his skin, deep as she could. None of her deep city roots would just let something like this slide.

(Ike)

"Son of a bitch!" Ike sat straight up, a hand on his neck. He noticed something flying away.

Sheik stared at him, "You okay?"

"Something bit me," he muttered.

Her eyes widen as she burst into laughter. Ike just watched her confused. He moved his hand away and saw a single dot of blood. He shook his head and looked at Sheik again, her laughter still strong. Whatever had just happened was apparently funny as hell.

"You just-" she broke into laughter again, it took her another few tries to get the sentence out.

"You just got… bit by a… ladybug!" She erupted into laughter, again.

He stared at her, "A ladybug? They can bite? Oh god…"

Her laughter trailed off, she smiled and stood on her knees, inspecting his neck.

"Is it noticeable?" he asked.

"Yeah, just a red mark though, you'll live. Unless you're allergic to them," she teased.

He snorted, "Looks like we're luck. I'm used to birds hating me but ladybugs? That was a new experience."

"Birds hate you?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah. When I was seven my father got me a slingshot, he was showing how to use and I hit him a few times but I got the hang of it. Eventually I killed a bird with it, it was an accident but afterwards a whole flock of birds came out of the tree and attacked me. Since then I haven't had the best of luck with them," he explained.

Sheik laughed, "Really?"

"Yep. Horses hate Gatrie, but he also has a fear of wyverns."

"Why?"

"Gatrie once tried to get busy with a girl on a horse one time, the horse didn't appreciate it and since then every time he gets near one it tries to bite him or kick him," Ike chuckled.

"Sounds like Gatrie, what happened with the wyvern?"

"Uh, well… They absolutely love Gatrie, they love him a little too much… We try not to talk about it but let's just say a wyvern tried to seduce him once and ever since then," Ike said awkwardly.

Sheik's eyes widened. Ike nodded.

"Titania isn't very good with deer, she tried to ride one when she was a little girl. There's a rumor that bears fear my father because he wrestled one and won. Almost every animal hates Boyd but he's afraid of ducks especially. There was this one time when we went swimming and a duck attacked him and broke his nose, it was one of the funniest things I had ever seen," he said with a smile.

Sheik laughed, "That's just karma."

Ike laid back down in the grass, Sheik rested her head on his stomach. He smiled to himself. This moment could go on forever, and I wouldn't mind it, he thought.

They stayed like that and talked for a few more hours, the gray day already beginning to darken. He sighed as they faded into silence.

"We should head back before it gets too late, plus, I'm starving," he said.

Sheik sighed and stood up, watching him as he stood, he looked at her for a moment.

"Let's keep that whole ladybug thing to ourselves," he said.

Her eyes squinted as she smiled, "I would have if you hadn't just reminded me."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes," she said before she took off running.

Ike chased after her, Armageddon passing him. The thick brush gave them an even wider margin, Sheik weaving through it easily and Ike stumbling through it blindly. They ran through camp, whenever Sheik saw someone she knew she would shout, "Ike got bit by a ladybug!"

Ike ran past Gatrie, who clapped him on the shoulder for a brief second, his laughter fading as they ran to the mess hall. They both slowed down at the mess hall and walked in calmly, taking a seat next to Shinon and Rolf. Both of them faded into silence as they sat. Sheik looked quizzically at Rolf, Shinon did the same to Ike.

"What's that red mark on your neck?" Shinon said squinting at it.

"Bug bite," Ike said quickly.

"Preferably of the female gender," Sheik muttered.

"Mosquito?" Shinon guessed.

"Sure," Ike said staring at Sheik.

Shinon threw his hands up in defeat and let out a long breath.

(Sheik)

She had to admit, having both of the guys worked up was pretty funny. She looked across the table and noticed a young boy with very light green hair, not a deep forest green like Boyd or Oscar. He kept glancing up at her and then quickly back down to his plate.

"Shinon, who's that?" she whispered.

"His name is Rolf, younger half brother of Oscar and the shithead Boyd, nice kid, just a tad bit too shy," he answered.

Sheik smiled at him, then realized he couldn't see it and looked away. Dinner went like usual, everyone dug in while she sat and watched. She just didn't have an appetite like everyone else, she was content with an apple or peach, a nectarine if there was any. Most of the men had bottomless pits for stomachs, especially Gatrie, Ike, and Greil.

"If there was an eating contest, who would win between you, Gatrie, and Greil?" Sheik asked Ike.

Ike swallowed, "My father. We already tried that once, between Gatrie and I it was close but he won then my father kicked both of our asses."

Sheik stared at him and shook her head, laughing lightly.

"They ate so much random shit, I was just watching and I felt sick," Shinon muttered as he took a drink of water.

"Then Gatrie threw up on Boyd's shoes," Rolf said in a small voice.

Both men burst into laughter as they remembered the day.

"Since he couldn't hold it in, Ike won by default," Shinon said when he recovered.

Ike nodded, "My father even drank half a barrel of beer, he didn't even look sick afterwards. Who knows how that man does it."

Sheik just laughed, she never knew how life was around here.

"That man is something else entirely," Shinon grumbled.

When dinner ended Oscar handed her an apple with a smile and left for his cabin. She did the same, Ike had stayed behind to get some table scraps for Armageddon, they had discovered he could eat anything without getting sick, raw meat, rotten meat, poisonous mushrooms, and even habanero peppers. She walked alone, the night sky still cloaked in a sheet of darkness, she rolled the apple back and forth in her hands.

"Hey, Sheik," Gatrie said behind her.

She turned and looked at him, he looked mildly uncomfortable. She raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

"I, uh, wanted to apologize for the first time we met. I know that was a long time ago but still. I wanted you to know that I'm sorry," he fumbled over every other word as he spoke.

She smiled, "Yeah alright, I forgive you. If it means you'll be my bitch for these next few days."

"Wait, what? Well, if that's what it takes…"

Her eyes widened, "Gatrie, I was kidding. Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Well, I don't know, Shinon and I have been talking and… I don't know. Just felt wrong the way I was treating you and the things I've said."

"Oh my god Gatrie. Are you trying to turn away from your man-whore nature?"

He laughed, "I wouldn't go that far but seeing how you and Ike are, well you'll still hear me making bad jokes but I'd rather have you be my friend than enemy."

Sheik nodded, "Sure, Gatrie."

He smiled a dazzling white smile and started walking away, "Awesome! Catch ya later, Sheik!"

Sheik looked back down at her apple and continued to walk, Gatrie was a good guy, funny too but he had a bad habit of chasing tail. She sighed, walking into the cabin, locking it and started changing into something looser. She even took off her scarf, there was no point in keeping it on in here when Ike already knew what she looked like. She sat on her cot and bit into her apple, it was imported from somewhere else, apples weren't in season here. Ike came in, Armageddon following him closely, licking his maw.

"You should have seen him, Oscar gave me a deer leg that had gone bad and he ate all of it. The bone was like butter to him or something. No wonder his breed comes from Hell," Ike said.

He unlaced his boots and kicked them off, removing Ragnell and then took off his shirt, plopping onto his bed. Sheik had lit a candle, the dim light making it hard to see anything much less each other's faces. She smiled as Armageddon came up to her, he stared at her apple, then back at her, then the apple, then her, and back again.

"Are you sure you gave him enough to eat?" She asked.

"He ate every piece of that deer leg. Does he need more?"

"Well, it looks like he wants my apple too."

"You have got to be kidding me."

Sheik laughed, she moved the apple back and forth, Armageddon followed it.

"You know Ike, I think Armageddon resembles you a lot. He's brave, strong, fights well, goofy, and has a never ending appetite."

Ike laughed, "Good looking isn't part of that list?"

"No, no one can compare to the looks of such a handsome dog," Sheik smiled.

"Damn, cold hearted," Ike teased.

Sheik nodded and took another bite, throwing the rest of it to Armageddon. He snapped it up and finished it in a few bites. She chuckled, blew out the candle and crawled under the blankets.

"Up and at 'em!" Boyd opened the door and shouted at them.

"Damn it, Boyd! What the hell do you want?" Ike snapped.

"Oh, right, you guys went out screwing around all day yesterday. We're going to meet Elincia's army today. Greil wants you with them, Sheik, you're staying here to watch camp with a few others," he said before slamming the door and leaving.

"Asshole," Ike grumbled as he got to his feet.

Sheik felt her heart sink, she knew Greil would take some of his best, most which included Ike, Shinon, Gatrie, and the like. He would want her to be safe considering she was who they wanted. He would keep a few good fighters here, maybe Oscar and couple others. Rhys might stay, either him or Mist would stay, no need to take both of them. She got up and hugged Ike, she would miss him and Shinon, she loved them both but in different ways. Shinon, was her brother and Ike was one of her closest friends. He was even giving her butterflies as she hugged him.

(Ike)

He reluctantly pulled away, he wished this war would end soon. Some called it a beautiful catastrophe but it wasn't beautiful in anyway. It was an ugly stain in history, crumbling monarchies, kingdoms, and destroying lives since the day humans gained the will to be uncivil. He put his armor on and with Ragnell at his side, he left. Sheik told him to be safe then ran off to find Shinon. He wanted to say there was no good reason to leave her behind but Greil needed some good fighters to guard the camp in case someone attacked. Ike sighed and jogged up to a growing army. He saw Soren in the mass and joined him.

"Hey, Soren. How goes it?" Ike asked.

"It's not raining yet so, not exceptionally well. How do you feel having to leave your 'friend' behind," he exaggerated friend.

"Come on, Soren, she's just-"

"I know what she is but I also know what you want her to be. Soon your little, 'crush', will turn into something stronger and then you're going to regret not having the guts to admit your feelings in the first place. I would hurry if I were you, this war won't go on forever and she'll be gone."

Ike sighed. Soren could read people as easily as you could look up at the dark gray sky and tell it was going to rain.

"And if she rejects me?"

Soren rolled his eyes, "Then she leaves anyway."

"What if she stays?"

"Then go out to town and find a girl, damn it! If you fall for someone else then she'll see it and your friendship can continue. It's not like you're trying to turn lead into gold."

Ike snorted, "Then why don't you go find a girl?"

"Because I like the lonely life, if I wanted a girl, I would have one already. Being alone is less complicated, you don't have to worry about anyone but yourself."

Ike nodded but he knew Soren was just too cold hearted to ever fall in love. If he ever did, well, that would be a miracle. The only reason they were friends was because Ike didn't mind Soren's sharp comments and he knew about his lineage but chose not to tell anyone. Ike stretched and yawned.

"When are we leaving?" Jill asked, she was mounted on her wyvern, its scales shining duly in the gray lit sky.

Ike shrugged, "I didn't even know we were leaving until this morning. Soren?"

"Fifteen minutes or so," he answered.

A strong wind blew from behind them, thunder echoed in the distance.

"Great, lightening. Just what we need," Jill muttered.

"Hey, for the rest of us we have to try not to slip in the mud," Ike said.

A drop of rain landed on his forehead. He sighed, this was going to be a brutal battle. He hoped none of the wyvern riders would be struck with lighting, it happened twice before while sparring. Ike had considered taking Aaron but with the chance of rain and mud, it didn't seem ideal. He felt Armageddon lick his hand. He looked down, Sheik would be safe at camp and they could use all the extra help they could get. Armageddon didn't have to use his flames to get men to flee, a single bite could probably break a man's arm, even with armor. Ike closed his eyes momentarily until he heard the sound of armor shifting, they were off.

(Sheik)

She watched from the roof as the army departed, the only people left here were her, Oscar, Rhys, Rolf, and a few other people she didn't know yet but they seemed to have been with the mercenaries for a long time. She jumped off the roof as they faded into the surrounding forest and went to see Oscar, he was a friendly guy and full of conversation. She found him the back of the mess hall, in the kitchen. He was stirring something in the pot and the air smelled like a delicious mix of broth and spices.

"I'll never understand how you cook so well," Sheik commented.

He chuckled, "Well, being the person to raise Boyd and Rolf, I had to learn a few things. Cooking was one of them and I have to say, it's something I enjoy. Fighting is something I'm good at but to be good at something and to do something you enjoy are two completely different things."

Sheik smiled, "You have a good point there. I met your younger brother yesterday, Rolf. He is pretty shy."

"Yeah, he's probably out shooting his bow. He was pretty upset that he couldn't go with the others, it made him feel like he wasn't good enough to go."

"Did you tell him what you were doing here then?"

"No, I asked what he thought you were still doing here and why Boyd was gone. You should have seen the look on his face. Then he ran off saying how he wanted to be better than 'Uncle' Shinon. Don't ask me why he calls him that, it just happened one day."

"I shoot a little bow myself, Shinon and I used to compete against each other. Maybe I could go help the kid."

Oscar nodded, "Go for it, there should be some bows and arrows left over in the armory."

(Ike)

The enemy was closer than they had predicted, they hadn't gone farther than a few miles before they came up on them. It looked like they had been trying to go for another attack on the camp while trying to flee from Elincia's army. They must have been a special kind of stupid. Jill took to the air next to him, making everyone around her brace as they were pushed back by the wind it created.

"Good luck," Ike called to Soren as he jogged into fray.

"Don't die!" He called back.

Ike rolled his eyes, Soren said that every time someone said something nice, it was the only nice thing he could think to say. Ike unsheathed Ragnell and blocked a downward blow. His enemy cried out in agony, looking down he could Armageddon with his maw around the man's knee. Ike cut him down, Armageddon stayed at his side and attacked anyone who threatened him. There was only man Ike wanted to see and that was Malum. He knew he was hiding somewhere in this mess, he was a coward though, he may have just been cowering in the woods. By the size of the army though, he intended to destroy their camp. If it wasn't for Elincia's army, they would be struggling.

"You're the pretty boy that's been whispering in my daughter's ear, aren't you? Greil's kid," Malum's thick accent sounded behind him.

"No, it was her choice to leave in the first place you disgusting bastard," Ike argued.

"It was that pain in the ass Shinon that took her."

Ike shook his head, "We both know you're trying to make your family look like it's perfect when it really isn't. Your daughter resents the man you became after her mother died, from the looks of it, you blame your children for her death, don't you?"

"You don't know my life!" He shouted at Ike.

"You can't let go, can you? Leave her where she's happy, prove to me you don't blame her or her brother for her mother's death. Just leave her here where she's happy."

"We both know I can't do that. We also know you left her at your little camp, didn't you? Prove to me you're the same man who challenged a mad king and won and save her before it's too late."

"You're bluffing."

"Why do think I'm fighting? Link usually leads our army," Malum smiled at Ike.

"No, he told me…" Ike looked down for a moment then back at him. He ran at him, dodged the sword, pushed the Hyrulean king over and kept running. Armageddon led the way, flames billowing from his mouth. The rain was failing harder now.

(Sheik)

The rain was failing quicker than it had been before but she wanted a challenge anyway. Shooting bow wasn't ideal in rain but it wasn't pouring yet. She pushed open the door to the armory and used a rock to prop it open. There wasn't much light but enough to find her way around. She smiled when she found the bows.

"Picking up a bow again, sis?"

Her blood ran cold, she turned and saw Link in the doorway.

"What? Surprised to see me? Father is leading the army, he sent me to find you before we left. Yeah, this war is becoming tedious and we all know there's a much simpler way to get you home, it's brutal but not difficult."

He started walking towards her, she started backing up, shaking her head.

"C'mon sis, you're making this more drawn out than it has to be. Just give me a hug, a quick one and we'll be done," the front of him was black against the light from behind him.

She hit the back of the armory. He put one arm around her, a sharp pain came from her gut. He twisted the dagger and pulled it out.

"Love ya sis, see at home," he said as he lowered her to the ground and walked out.

She could feel the blood drain, her body slowly going numb. Her hand was warm with blood as she held it over the wound. The world slowly faded until the sound of rain faded with the light of day.

A/N: Um, yeah... I have some explaining don't I? Sheik's death won't go unjustified though, I promise. Pff, and you guys thought Ike was going to die first. Well, I'll try not to keep you guys waiting for the next chapter. Besides the death, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. =)