Link and Ghirahim walked out of the Bazaar with Link's new shield. The townspeople had taken to Ghirahim nicely; he, however, did not. Ghirahim did not like people. He much preferred to be alone (except when Link was around, then he loved people), he did not like to mince words, and he did not like smalltalk. Ghirahim hated the idea of not getting straight to it. Although he was guilty of it the past few days, he thought it was a waste of time.

The people were nice to Ghirahim and did not make fun of his pale white skin or strangely-cut platinum hair, or his choice of clothing. The kids especially liked Ghirahim's cloak, and tugged on it when he had his back to them. The shop owners did not turn him away when he needed their services, and he was invited to all town gatherings. They accepted him as a part of their town, and that meant that Ghirahim didn't have to hide in Link's room anymore.

Link and Ghirahim were headed toward the sparring hall when Gaepora yelled from the ledge above them, "Link! Ghirahim! Come up here!" Link nodded once, sheathed his sword, and he and Ghirahim walked around and met Gaepora in front of the Academy. Gaepora stood there in that way he does with his hands behind his back and looked at Ghirahim. After nights upon nights of pleading, Link finally convinced Ghirahim to be nice to Gaepora. He could not be warm with anyone, but when he knew it could mean Link staying in the Academy, he was polite to Gaepora.

"Ghirahim, would you like a job?" Gaepora asked, cocking his head to the side. Ghirahim blurted out, "What?" Link gave him a hard shove in the ribs and he corrected himself. "Sorry, I mean, what did you say?" Ghirahim asked, a small smile on his face.

Gaepora laughed and said, "I was wondering if you would like to take a job as a teacher. Owlan was so fascinated by the Kikwis that he's going to the surface to study them. In the meantime, we need someone to teach here at the school. I'll let you think about it." Gaepora walked away, leaving Link and Ghirahim to ponder what Gaepora had said.

XOXO

Link was writing on a piece of paper on his desk and Ghirahim was laying on Link's bed, quietly strumming Link's harp. The only sounds were Link's scratching and Ghirahim softly twanging the strings.

"67 times 42?" Link asked, not taking his eyes off his paper. "2814," Ghirahim replied instantly. Link nodded and wrote that down on his paper. They were both quiet for a long time, and then Ghirahim put down the harp. He sat up. "Do you love me, Link?" Link put his pencil down and leaned on the desk. "Yes," Link said softly.

He did love him. He really did, with all his heart. But he didn't want anyone to know that. He was afraid Zelda wouldn't talk to him, and he didn't want to lose that friendship. He didn't want the kids at the school to make his life miserable. But he hated having to act like he didn't love Ghirahim in public when he really did. And he really did.

Ghirahim came up behind Link and put a hand on his shoulder. He squatted down beside Link and moved his hair out of his face, and looked in his blue eyes. He knew Link wasn't lying. He could tell by the watering in his eyes that Link was not lying when he said he loved him.

Ghirahim leaned forward and touched the side of his nose to Link's and breathed in. Link always smelled like the woods and the soap they had in the Academy bathroom. It gave Ghirahim a sense of sercurity and familiarity. He turned his head to the side, wrapped his arms around Link and kissed him. Link sighed and pulled him closer, kissing him back.

Ghirahim breathed, "Should I take the job?" Link kissed him for a moment before replying and then said, "I don't know." Kiss. "It might be-" Kiss, hold. "kinda-" Kiss. "weird." Kiss, hold.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Aragh!" Link groaned, pulling away. Ghirahim simply smirked and sat back down on the bed, waiting for Link to open the door. He did, and Zelda- Hylia, whoever she was!- stood there, smiling sweetly with her hands behind her back. "Hi, Link," she said softly. Link waved and looked around. "What's going on?" Link asked.

Zelda smiled again and pointed to his training sword and Adventure Pouch laying by his bed, then noticed Ghirahim scowling at her from the atop it. "Oh, hello, Ghirahim," she said. "I can come back later, if you guys are... busy..." Link shook his head, focused now. "No. What's wrong?"

Zelda waved her arm toward the door, smiling once again. "Come along, and Ghirahim can come too. Follow me."

They journeyed down through the clouds and to the Sealed Grounds, where Zelda led a confused Link and an irritated Ghirahim to the temple doors, and used her magic to open them. They walked up the stairs to the pedestal where a glowing Master Sword was stuck in, hilt up. Link and Ghirahim stood back, waiting, while Zelda chanted over the pedestal. The sword glowed a brighter blue and then white, so much that Ghirahim and Link had to shield their eyes.

There was a clinging sound, like bells, and then a woosh. Link hurriedly looked back at the pedestal, and the beautiful blue woman with fishnets and heels hovered just above the ground in front of him. He gasped and Ghirahim sighed, and Fi said, "Master Link?"

Good? Bad? Let me know what you thought! Sorry the updates took so long, I've been really busy. And sick. You know how that goes.

This was a very sad day for the world. It won't stop the hurting, but rest in peace, Whitney. She made so many people happy with her voice.