Of Love and Death.

The Present Chapter 12: The Battle of Flames and Thoughts Pt. 3

      The sun was setting. It gleamed just like it always did when it went down. Every sunset was unique, and they were all beautiful. The perfect meeting of the day and night. When both the moon and the sun could often be seen. Aside from those times when the moon decides to be weird and come out at four p.m.. Then you can see the moon and sun together with ease. Just don't look directly at the latter.

     Gleaming golden, the stars could just barely be seen at the top of the sunset. The part that was dark purple, becoming the night. Leaving the day behind. There were a lot of metaphors that could be made out of that. But Shu was content to just watch the sun set. No metaphors needed.

     The wind blew across the ocean, causing ripples in the placid scene. The waves gently lapped against the snow-covered sand. Brilliant and beautiful, this was the spot. This was the place Shu and Valt had come countless times before and after their battles. And yet again they'd ended up here, standing alone.

      Rustling in the wind, Shu's hair blew across his face. If his lips were open, the white strands would have gotten stuck in his mouth many a time. It was a beautiful scene. Really it was. It was one of those times where you couldn't help but be calm, because of all of the nature around you. Even the snow wasn't bothering him right now. "That was fun," Shu said.

     "Yeah!" Valt breathed. The two turned to look at each other. A small but genuine smile found its way to Shu's face. It didn't even look demonically forced like most of his smiles apparently did. Just a cute little smile to express his joy. And, much to the white-haired blader's delight, Valt was smiling back.

     There was nothing in this world that felt better than this.

     Valt was able to stand here, a few feet away from the ocean, and be here. He was able to be with Shu, and for the first time in the last couple days, he was able to ignore all of the weird deja vu and annoyance at the snow, and, of course, the door, without having to consciously distract himself from it.

    It was like letting go. Even though Valt knew that very soon he'd have to face all of the doom and gloom that Venus and Valtryek seemed to be hinting at, he was able to relax right now. And, well, Valt turned to sneak a glance at Shu. His best friend's white hair glowed like flames in the sunset's light. Not really thinking, Valt took a few steps towards Shu, so that they were maybe a foot apart. "Hey!" Shu smiled.

     "Hey yourself," Valt smirked back. The two lapsed back into a comfortable silence again. Neither really felt the need to talk about anything. Perhaps because they were exhausted from the day's events. Perhaps because they just didn't need to talk to enjoy each other's company.

    Letting his mind wander, Valt took in the scene around him. The way it was still cold out, but in the direct light of the sun it wasn't too bad. He would never love the cold, but he could at least block it out right now, which was what he intended to do. A little ways down the beach, Valt saw the blue outline of Valtryek, seeming to be in a conversation with someone. Maybe Spryzen? If so, they were probably discussing the events of the earlier battle.

    Another burst of wind pushed at Valt. Not strong enough to make him stumble, but enough to make him aware.

    There was of course the calm chatter of Shu's thoughts in the back of his head, but there was more too. All of the fish and the seagulls, thinking their fish and seagull thoughts. Briefly, he wondered what it must be like to be a seagull. It came to him, diving through the air with a certain freedom that can only be touched on by swimming.

    The way that Valt would make annoying calls out and about, honking at the humans. How he'd occasionally let the very little ones come up and pet him, if he knew they were gentle. How the sky would seem to go on forever when he was up there, and the sea even farther. How the sun would reflect off of Valt's feathery back, and how it would feel to sleep in a nest. One wing resting on his mate's, just like how Shu held his hand yesterday.

     Oh. Yeah. That had happened.

     Uh, how had Valt been ignoring that for so long?

     Yesterday, when Venice had asked Valt about the whole spirit powers thing, he'd been a bit uncomfortable. And Shu had squeezed his hand to help him feel better. At the time it had felt natural and normal, so he hadn't questioned it or given it much thought. But now that he thought back, a giant smile graced his cheeks. Shu had held his hand. Even though the guy who could light himself on fire had surely meant it platonically but it was still awesome.

     All of the sudden, Valt felt Shu gently tap his shoulder. "Thinking about something good?" The fiery blader asked with an easy smile. Yes. Yes Valt was thinking about something good. Something very good. So he nodded.

     There was a pause.

     "You gonna elaborate?" Shu asked. A pang struck Valt's heart. Just how Shu spoke, calm and gentle but with a fierce intensity behind it, it got him every time. And it was going to be a while until he heard that again, wasn't he? After all, both he and Shu were going back home tomorrow, who knew how long until they met again?

     Something Valtryek said once came back to Valt. One day you will regret not having told him sooner. Because that would mean less time getting to date Shu. Which Valt always wanted to say was assuming that his crush liked him back. But he knew Valtryek was right. He'd been waiting around to tell Shu for years upon years. At some point he was going to miss his chance.

     And maybe this was Valt's chance. Maybe here on the beach, by themselves, was the best time to say this. There had been this feeling of doom and gloom following Valt the last few days. Maybe this wasn't just Valt's chance, but his last chance too. Am I going to do this? Valt asked himself.

     The answer was yes.

     So, quickly, before he could change his mind, Valt spoke up. Slightly stuttering with embarrassment and nerves. But still just blurting it out. Because how else was he going to get the words out? If he was doing this he wasn't doing this in half voiced whispers. He was doing this how he bladed. With all of his heart and you know what maybe this was a bad idea. All of that last chance stuff was just paranoia. Not actually a prob-

     NO, DON'T CHICKEN OUT! Valt ordered himself.

     Valt just had to do this. Right now. Open his mouth and say the words. Open his dry mouth and say the words. Eh, whatever. He'd said harder things in his life.

     Looking up,Valt stared Shu straight in the eyes. "Ummmm," he mumbled. "So, uh, I, um." Yeah, the resolve to get these words out before it was too late wasn't making them come easier. If anything it was making them come harder. Whenever Valt had imagined confessing his love to Shu it had always been this perfect moment. This wasn't it. Just some random day on the beach at sunset surrounded by snow.

     But that didn't make it any less special.

     "Yes?" Shu asked hesitantly, confusion written across his face. He tilted head to the side, just like how Free and the deer would. But instead of just being a thing that he did, this was a confusion head tilt.

     "Ummm," Valt muttered again, hiding his face in his hands. "I-I-I." Well he could feel the concern radiating off of Shu. What with this sudden inability of his to be able to say words. And Valt didn't even have to imagine what his friend was thinking. It was a lot of "what's going on?" and "oh my word is Valt okay?" which were very kind words that the blue-haired blader appreciated a lot. However, they were not helping him focus and say these words.

    "Valt are you okay?" Shu asked quickly. So, instead of answering with "yes, I'm fine," Valt decided that this would be a great time to skip a few steps and just jump straight to saying it. He wasn't even sure how he was able to say it but he was. In a single breath of air the words left his mouth. Not slurred together too fast, and not stuttered either.

    "I like you."

    Valt could hear Shu's brain stop working. Like literally just shut down and crash. Shu.exe. Had stopped working apparently. Tentatively, Valt lowered his hands from his face to see Shu just completely frozen. It was highly hilarious and mildly concerning. He waved his hand in front of Shu. "Um, are you okay?"