There was a man standing at the water's edge.
Rally, an angelic youth with a man's voice and jaw, stood alone on the beach, gazing over thesapphire water with his pure leaden depths. His brick-colored hair danced lightly in the oceanbreeze, tickling against one cheek as he smiled to himself with anticipation, resting his cheek against one hand as he traced a finger along his silver necklace. He wore a flaming sleeveless dress that showed off his pale, tinted with sorrel, shoulders and legs. His hair flowed in a cherry torrent past his shoulders, complementing his unblemished bloom-colored-flushed lily-whitevisage. He stood, awaiting his love.
It started on that day, when he had found herself facing mortal danger, desperately in need of a savior. He came in the form of Yusei, who cut down what danger he could and swept him away from the rest. From then on, they were inseparable. They shared every part of their life with each other. That was how it was to this very day.
"Rally," Yusei said simply with a smile on his face. His sapphire globes complimented his charcoalmane, brushing against his ears, belying his spotless heart. He was dressed in his usual everyday clothes. He was toast-colored and sturdily built. A prominent scar stood out on his sorrel skin. As Rally drew nearer, he caught a note of Yusei's familiar scent of lingering iron and steel. He smiled to himself. It always reminded him of the time they shared.
"Oh, Yusei! You came!" Rally said breathlessly, reaching out to take him into an embrace. Yusei laughed and put his arms about him, holding him as they turned about once on the sand with their momentum. With that, they began to walk along the beach.
To their surprise, Rally was the first to speak. "I-I've never really... had anything like this." He clung a little tighter to Yusei's firm hand, resting his head against Yusei's
"Never?" he asked.
"Oh, never," he said breathlessly. "You are my first true love."
"I love you," he replied, landing a peck on his soft scarlet hair.
"I love you too."
They strolled together for a few moments, the beautiful clear cobalt sky decorated with only a few hints of loamy clouds. The sun struck Rally's locks in a russet halo about his face.
Yusei looked at him admiringly. "You're beautiful," he told him. Rally blushed.
"W-Why do you say that...?" he stuttered, still recovering from Yusei's compliment.
"Because it's the truth." Yusei placed his hand around Rally, drawing him nearer. "Not only that," he continued. "You're talented as well. We couldn't have saved the world without you."
"I caused a lot of trouble for you," he mumbled. "You were really the one who did all those amazing things. And you're so strong..." His eyes wandered over Yusei's face, his innocent depths, his starless coiffure. "... And handsome. I'm so lucky to have met you."
"It must have been destiny." He gave him an assuring squeeze. "But I never want you in that kind of danger again."
"As long as you're by my side," he whispered, letting Yusei draw him into an embrace, "nothing bad will happen to me."
"I swear it," Yusei affirmed.
"Nothing..." he whispered, his hand seeking out Yusei's firm ones.
After a few moments, they found themselves walking down the beach again. Something rose to the front of Rally's mind -- something he had been trying to beat back all this time. It was so special to him to be with Yusei, and he didn't want to pass that time making them both feel horrible. But it just wouldn't leave him alone.
With concern, Yusei turned his blameless orbs toward Rally. "Rally? What's wrong?"
"Yusei... it's..."
And at that moment everything came together, all of the magic and the hurt that had been building that day, and he locked his crystals with his and whispered, "You can tell me."
It was like a floodgate burst, or some barrier of fear had been struck down. Rally shook his head and everything came out at once. "It's... sometimes I wonder where my parents are. My mother, my father... they must be somewhere.... If they're still alive. Given how things have been, I... -- I don't even know what it is I want. I just wonder... what would it be like? I just wonder, and it hurts, Yusei."
Yusei listened silently and solemnly. At last, when all the words had left Rally and he was at a loss for words, Yusei reached out to him and took a deep breath to whisper back, "Rally... I know it's not the same, but, my mother and father... they died. I think I can imagine how that... your parents' absence... how that is." Yusei laid his hands upon Rally's shoulders. "How... hollow... things feel." Rally's eyes began to burn, and he abruptly pulled Yusei into a fierce embrace. Yusei's globes widened at first, but then he too felt overwhelmed by emotion and succumbed to the warmth of Rally's touch.
"You," Rally whispered, his breath hot on Yusei's ear. "As long as you're here, I'll be all right."They held each other as tears trickled down cheeks and dripped onto the shifting sands to be carried away into the sea. With time and soothing embraces, their pain dissipated into a mist swept out by the ocean breeze and into the setting sun.
They basked in each other's quiet companionship for a few moments.
"Look... it's the sunset."
Rally lifted his head at Yusei's words to behold the dying sun's fiery radiance. "How beautiful."
After a moment of silence, Yusei took Rally's hands in his and said quietly and seriously, "Rally, I need to say something. Without you, I would be the sea without the moon -- the moon without the sun -- You are irreplaceable to me."
"Yusei," he breathed in response. "You are special to me too. You are my moon and stars."
Yusei brought their clasped hands to his lips. "Then... so long as you will it, we will never be parted."
Rally sighed with contentment and brought Yusei closer. He gazed at the beautiful honey-colored rays of the falling sun, thinking about everything that had transpired on this day and all that would pass between them.
"I love you, Yusei."
"I love you too, Rally."
Their lips met, and russet strands met atramentaceous ones, aflame in the dying light. The sand was their witness and the rumbling ocean their approving audience, and Yusei, his eternally faithful lover. Rally thought to himself that nothing could be more perfect in the world.
