Torn Between Two Loves

It has been several weeks since I learned I had aged seven years, as he had. I was still unsure of myself and had trouble understanding exactly why I had aged seven years. But I had also learned that I could do things. Not like riding a horse or anything like that. I mean do things. I can pick up things without touching them. I don’t even have to look at them. I can also control water. You know, tidal waves and stuff like that. And I can turn water into ice and hurl it at something to make it freeze. But the big one is more complicated than all of them put together. I can *pause* I can fly! I have the wings of an angel. (Not to mention I look like one too.) It’s SO cool! I’ve been practicing my skills with swords too. I’m starting to get really good. Every night I think of Link, and where he could possibly be. Last time he came to me, he had scratches all over him! He was lucky I had some herbs on hand. Anyway, I went to the ranch the other day and I saw this boy, no older than I. He was so cute with his smile and his, oh, do not get me started on his hair. It stood straight up in some places. It was red and black with yellow streaks. Calls himself Yugi. He is wonderful. I had to say hello but I couldn’t. But then, he saw me. That’s when our eyes met for the first time.

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“Hey, you!” he called. I slowly revealed myself, knowing there wasn’t a way out of this. “Um…uh…hi…” I said shyly. My crimson eyes met his midnight blues. He came closer and murmured something like, ”Uh…yeah…same to you.” We both stared at our feet. The only sound for a long time was the neighing of the horses in the corral. It was him who broke the silence. “What is a very pretty girl like yourself doing way out here at this ranch?” Flattery, and good flattery too, I thought to myself. I replied strongly, “I go where I please, and be where I wish. And, um…what’s your name?” He looked at me with a confused expression. “Uh…it’s Yugi. What’s yours?” “Victoria. And thanks for the compliment.” “Your very welcome, Miss Victoria.” I blushed. Even in the slowly dimming light, he probably saw me. I giggled. It had been a long time since anyone talked to me with respect like that. “I, uh…gotta go…see you soon?” “Sure. Tomorrow?” “No. How does the day afterwards sound? I have some errands tomorrow.” “Oh. Okay. The day afterwards is probably the best anyway…” He trailed off staring at the cloudless sky. Ah…just looking at him made my heart melt. Kind of like when I met Link for the first time. But there was something more to it. His voice, when I heard it, took my breath away. His eyes, when I saw them, made me smile like crazy. What is this feeling that I feel? I don’t know. I blow him a kiss and I leave.

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Here I am, sitting in my room, waiting for tomorrow to come. I smile at the very memory of him. Someone knocks at my front door. Is it Link? If so, he wouldn’t come here at a time like this. I furrowed my eyebrows. I opened the door to find…Yugi!? He had flowers in his hand. “I couldn’t stand waiting to see you again. I had to come.” “How did you find me?” I asked. “I followed you home yesterday, and I just couldn’t wait for tomorrow. It was a strange feeling.” He looked up and met my eyes. My eyes told him that I felt the exact same way. Those eyes of his, I couldn’t stop smiling. I smiled sweetly and tried to look innocent. “Um…thanks for the flowers, Yugi. They’re nice.” He hung his head low. Oh, he looked so cute when he did that. Staring at his hands looking even more innocent, I could tell his soul was pure and full of light. But there was something else. Something I couldn’t place. The shadowy aura around his pyramid-like puzzle seemed to pass my sensors. I walked over to my bed stand, and took out a small silver flute. He took a harp from the pack on his shoulder as a gesture. I smiled at him sweetly and he, for the first time, smiled back. I started to play a tune unfamiliar to him, but as soon as he listened to a few verses, he caught on. It was a slow, forest-like melody with many soft notes. I signaled to him to keep playing as I stopped. He played on. I sang the song my mother taught me a long time ago.

Hush now, my baby, you’re safe with me.

Hold me close till’ the night is over, just so I know you’re there.

And someday soon your cry will croon and I won’t be there to protect you.

You won’t have me around but someday you’ll have someone by your side…

Protecting you… from harm.

If you can find that someone soon, then you’ll live a nice long life.

I hope you can because I don’t want to see you suffer.

And someday soon your cry will croon and I won’t be there to protect you.

You won’t have me around but someday you’ll have someone by your side…

Protecting you… from harm.

When you do find that someone soon, you don’t have to let me know.

Cause I already do for I am in you, and you know that I love you so.

And someday soon your cry will croon and I won’t be there to protect you.

You won’t have me around but someday you’ll have someone by your side…

Protecting you… from harm.

When I finished my song, he stopped. “Goodness, that’s really sad.” “I know. My mom taught it to me when I was little.” “What happened to her?” Yugi asked. “My village was set on fire. I…was only able to find my father, but even he couldn’t…” I sobbed quietly. Yugi came over and rubbed my shoulder, to try and comfort me. He looked hurt and guilty. I couldn’t blame him. He didn’t know they died that horrible of a death. As soon as my tears stopped, I told him, “My father looked kind of like you.” Yugi was silent. His parents were still alive. They couldn’t be related. And his mother and father had no brothers. His dad had a sister, but that was it. He knew his family history. “Yugi?” “Hmm?” “Stay with me tonight please.” “I don’t see why I couldn’t.” She led him to the bed at the windowsill. She got the side by the window. He took the other side. They both fell asleep within minutes.

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The night passed swiftly and silently. I awoke to the sounds of birds and the warm, soft rays of the sun. Yugi was beside me, drooling slightly. *Sigh* He looks handsome even when he sleeps. He stirred. He opened one eye. “Morning, sleepyhead.” “Whoa…hmm?” “I said good morning, now get up. I’m starting breakfast!” I left him to get dressed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I went back in there and found him still asleep. I made some eggs, bacon, and an omelet, if he didn’t want it, I did. He walked out of the bedroom. “Nice outfit. It looks good on you.” I told him. He was wearing a white undershirt like Link wore and had a tunic on similar to Link’s but it was midnight blue, like his eyes and it looked less like a dress. Yes, he had pants too. “I see Mister. Handsome has made it to the kitchen.” “Ha ha, very funny.” I shook my head as I made some sausage. I sat down and poured some cider into our cups. He had the omelet and I had most of the bacon, along with eggs and a sausage. He finished his breakfast and browsed my bookshelf. He picked one and sat down to read. I finished mine and rinsed. I saw that his plate and cup were rinsed as well. I smiled, thinking that he did something Link always forgot to. I sat across from him stopping my reading only to glance at him for a second or two. Then I took long glances at him for minutes at a time. Then it was a full-blown stare. Yugi didn’t notice. There was a knock at the door. I walked over to the door and opened it to find Link barely standing in the doorway. “Link!” He collapsed. Yugi saw me drag him to my bed. He had many cuts and a severe jellyfish burn, but he would be okay. What “thing” did THIS to him?! I ran to my herb sack. I took out some cobwebs for the bleeding cuts, marigold to close the open ones, some wild berries, and some whistling grasses for the burn. I did everything that I could do, then I exited the room, and I left him to sleep.