Bright red eyes opened. They scanned the room, it was daytime. The sun was shining into his room and he could see blue skies out his windows. Another beautiful day in the country of Termina. Sheik could hear the people outside: talking, laughing, greeting. Terminans were very friendly people, especially to him. He was not used to people being friendly to him. In Hyrule, people were hostile and unkind, perhaps because of the horrendous war they were all in, no one was in good spirits, they were all busy trying to survive.
He got out of bed and went to the washroom. He turned on a lamp and saw his reflection in the mirror. He combed his hair and braided it. He saw himself again... Sadness. Like always in these past few days.
Sheik thought about Link. The Hylian was always in his mind, except whenever he was occupied, thanks to Anju. But when Sheik was alone, Link was always on his mind. Tears were filling his eyes.
"I miss you, my love," he whispered still looking at himself. "I didn't fight for you, my love. Oh, Link," he sobbed. "I didn't fight for you... Forgive me." His back was shaking from his cries. He sniffed a few times. Tears fell on top of his hands as they were holding the sink. Sheik had not been able to grieve for Link, except for that time that he told Anju everything. He forced himself to move on but he found it difficult. Link was alive but he didn't exist in this time. Sheik's heart felt like it was crumbling again, the pain was intense. He needed to calm down. He took a few deep breaths and sighed. Anju was great company and he needed some at the moment. She was probably downstairs fixing breakfast for the guests in the inn, perhaps he should go and help her. After all, it's the least he could do.
Sheik changed into a green long sleeve shirt, light brown trousers and brown sandals and went down the stairs. As he was going to enter the kitchen, Anju was sitting with someone else. This person was giving their back to Sheik. Purple hair and broad shoulders was all he could see and he felt embarrassed.
"Sheik! Good morning," greeted Anju happily as she stood up.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you had company," Sheik mumbled. "I'll leave."
Then the person stood up and faced Sheik. There was a kind smile playing on his lips, and his eyes were... Red. Does this mean...
"Kafei?" Sheik asked with a frown.
The purple haired man nodded. "Hello, Sheik. It's so nice to finally meet you," he said as he extended his hand, his smile never leaving his face. "Anju has told me about you."
Sheik took his hand and shook it lightly. "It's nice to meet you too," he said. "I'm sorry for barging into your life like this," he blurted.
Kafei chuckled and shook his head. "Nonsense, this is your home now. You are family."
Sheik gave Kafei one of his most genuine smiles ever. Anju was in tears. "Please," Kafei said as he patted Sheik on the back. "Join us for breakfast, cousin." They all sat down and began their meal.
-0-
Link awoke late that morning, and was now packing all his camping supplies. "I'm almost there, Sheik," he whispered as he kept putting things away. "Then we can be together."
Navi was watching her friend from afar. She had never seen him so determined, well, of course when it came to save Hyrule, Link was always determined, but not like this. There was a look of anticipation behind those bright blue eyes was something that Navi had never seen. He really does love him...
"Link," she called out gently.
The young hero stopped what he was doing and looked at her friend. "Yes, Navi?"
"When did you know you love Sheik?"
Link sat down on the grass and thought for a moment. "When I first met him," he said carefully. "He was very nice to me, so I liked him. I saw him as a friend. After I found out that Saria was a Sage, he comforted me..."
The Hero of Time's feet touched the ground lightly. He was outside of the Forrest Temple. He had just learned that Saria was the Forrest Sage. He would not see her again in this realm. Link sank on his knees and cried. He thought him and Saria would be together forever, playing around and enjoying music.
Navi hugged her companion's ear and whispered comfort words to him but it was not working. The young hero kept on crying.
Link felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see the mysterious red eyes that he had seen at the Temple of Time.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," Sheik said. "Give yourself some time to grieve, Hero."
Link stood up and threw himself at the surprised Sheikah and sobbed uncontrollably. Sheik wrapped his arms around Link and all he did was hold him. He didn't say anything. They just held each other until Link's sobs stopped.
"Thank you," Link said out of breath. "That really helped."
Sheik nodded.
"Every time I would leave the Chamber of Sages, Sheik would be standing outside of each temple waiting for me, to comfort me," Link remembered. "But when I knew that I loved him was at the Ice Cavern, when he taught me the Serenade of Water. His words were on my mind and I knew that I wanted to see him more and more. During my time in the Water Temple, all I did was think of Sheik. And when I saw him waiting for me afterwards, I knew that I wanted to be with him, I knew that I lived him."
Link frowned. "After I was done in the Shadow Temple and Rauru told me that the one was waiting for me and then I saw Sheik, I was happy but then... You know what happened next."
He sighed. "I don't blame Zelda," he smiled as he shook his head. "Now I understand what she had to do, I just wished she never had to send Sheik away."
"It's a new adventure," Navi tried to cheer Link up. "You get to see other places!"
Link laughed as he stood up. "You're right, Navi. We should get going. I slept all morning and it will get dark soon."
The young hero finished packing all his belongings and finally continued on his journey.
-0-
Kafei and Sheik were sitting on the roof of the inn, staring into the sky in comfortable silence. Night had just fallen, they saw the sunset together. That day, after their breakfast, Sheik had excused himself abruptly to his bedroom. Kafei was going to follow, but Anju told him that he was grieving someone that he lost in the Seven-Year War.
"Who was it?" Kafei asked.
"That is not for me to tell," Anju replied. "Let him tell you on his own. You're Sheikah, you know how it is."
"I'm more Terminan than Sheikah," Kafei said with a frown.
"Still," she insisted. "Let him tell you on his own."
Her husband nodded and both continued on their day.
Kafei kept stealing glances at his newfound cousin. He was very curious to see what kind of life Sheik had.
"You're wondering about what happened to me," Sheik said as he stared into the horizon. "Go ahead, ask away."
"Your mother," Kafei hesitated. "Where is she?"
"Buried in Kakariko. Soon after the Seven-Year War began, she died protecting the King of Hyrule. No one left in the castle survived the attack. Impa took Princess Zelda out in time."
Kafei nodded. "Where were you?"
"Mother hid me in the sewers of the castle," Sheik said still staring away. "I managed to hide very well until the attack was over. She was by the King's side."
"I was very fond of your mother," Kafei said. "She was my favorite Aunt. I'm so sorry, Sheik."
"Thank you," added Sheik quietly. "After that, Impa found me and told me of the plan to destroy Ganondorf."
Sheik told Kafei of his years in training, learning the songs, the locations and the Hero of Time. Then he explained his fate, the Hero's and everyone else's.
"The war is over," he concluded. "So... Here I am."
"But that is not all," added Kafei. "Anju told me that you lost someone. And she didn't have to tell me, I've been watching you all day. I heard you crying in your room."
Sheik took a deep breath and looked at Kafei with watery eyes. "I fell in love with the Hero, Kafei."
"Goddesses," whispered the older cousin.
"I loved him dearly," Sheik said with sadness. "I still do. And now he doesn't exist anymore, he's back in his own time, where he will never know of me."
Kafei scooted closer to sit next to Sheik and put his arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer. "You have been through too much, my dearest cousin. Tomorrow, we will pack our bags and I will take you to my favorite places here in Termina."
"Whatever for?" Asked Sheik shocked.
"You need a vacation," Kafei said with a smile.
Thank you for reading!