Disclaimer: I don't own harvest moon. Marvelous inc does.
A/N: Well, well. Here's another story I felt like writing…Don't worry though, I'm not planning to give up any of my other story's, not by a long shot! Infact I'm less than enthusiastic about this story…Haha, then again it's probably depression.
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It was a warm summer evening that day, I remember the time, the place…But who was that person? The person who was on the other side of the river in Forget-me-not-valley? I...remember his face…His brown hair followed the movements of the wind, and his kind eyes seemed so blue, it seemed to reflect the beauty of the sky itself. They seemed to be so deep, and able to swallow you in a warm embrace. And hold you forever…Not letting go of his eyes, I made my way closer to him, I walked across the bridge separating us and held out my hand.
He looked at it confused and stared at the flower I was holding.
''What are you waiting for?'' I snapped clenching my hand with the flower in it, forcing myself not to blush…Because that was so easy at that age…At that young innocent age.
''huh?''
What a delightful voice…
I pushed the flower to his chest. And looked down at the ground…
''Take it, asshole.'' I hissed.
He took it into his hands gently and smiled at me sweetly.
I guess he thought I would give him that crummy thing as a going away present eh…? NO! It was only a diversion for my real ploy you see. I grabbed his hand that was still close to me, hanging onto the flower, and I tied a blue ribbon around his wrist.
''There, now you'll always remember me…I tied it so tight that it'll never come off!'' I laughed maniacally as my friend blushed.
''Thankyou…Celeste…'' He held himself back, but both I and him knew that he had to depart…I held back tears as I saw him off, he went off to the hills and before disappearing into the distance…He turned around with his promises to return one day
Oh how…I wish that promise could keep itself…
''Celeste!'' He yelled waving frantically, leaving finally…Many times he suddenly stopped his footing and looked back with a lonely look.
Expecting I would follow? I couldn't…Forget-me-not-valley was my place…
He stared at me one last time my way and finally ran off…''Celeste…''
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''Celeste…''
''Celeste…?''
''Celeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeste wake up!'' Takakura shouted at the top of his lungs. I flung the pillow at him and glared at him dangerously.
''Get out, while I change.'' I ordered, showing him the door.
He chuckled softly…The old man seemed to think it was funny when I got bossy for some reason… I grabbed my jeans that I wore under a forest green mini skirt and got out my favourite orange t-shirt with the words bokumono written on it. I tied my brown hair up into a ponytail. I got the backpack out of the closet and held the heavy weight against my shoulders.
It was the 8th of spring in Forget-me-not-valley, it had been almost a season since I lived at this farm…why? My father had died a short time ago…It pained me, but I guess that's how life goes huh? People come…People go.
He owned the land I am standing on, I inherited the farm from him when he finally past away...weither with or without my consent he left me with the farm he had started…It was his dream…So I guess it was mine too…?
It's not that I hated living in the country or anything…Infact I loved living here…Which is why I always visited…In summer. Now that I finally could stay permanently here I rejoiced…But I had to leave my school in the city…It's not that I had many friends, but I really hated it when things changed…Plus I had to do a reasonable amount of studying in my free time at the farm…I guess working on a farm doesn't exclude you from homework…Grrr.
I went outside where Celia greeted me with a smile.
She had brought the turnips seeds that I had ordered just in time for summer, which was really soon.
''Oh hi…'' I said blankly, I took the seeds and stuffed them into my bag with a good shove, Celia gave me an embarrassed look.
''They…Would preserve themselves better if maybe you-''
I glared at her with cold eyes…Ah yes, my grand-ma's famous Mind-your-own-busyness look.
I walked passed her without saying anything, I sleepily walked to the barn with my hands behind my head. I had to get started with the farm work…My cow, Kohana, was waiting for me, and it's not like I was going to let her lie. Think about it, you'd people seriously believe that I let my cow die by accident? Yeah right, I doubt Vesta you'd buy that, and Rock or Muffy you'd probably start a rumour about me being a heartless cow murderer. And we wouldn't want that now would we?
I sat down on a stool and got the cow milker ready, I placed my hands under the utter and started to milk her. I finally got out 2 milk bottles out of the job. I walked out to the pasture and started to cut some grass for the barn's fodder storage. It was almost always repetitive…But I still liked it, it was better then being repetitive at school.
I think the best feeling is…Yes, when you finally get things working, when everything is fine. And you're left with a feeling of accomplishment, calm and warm cleanness from a job well done.
Yeah there will be some difficulties at first….Like, how DO you milk a goat? And what about chickens? Must you really feed them EVERYDAY?...Hard work I tell you, but somehow I think I'll get through…Sure, weird people sometime visited…Like Celia, who keeps talking to my grass fields, Marlin who keeps watching her with a dazed look while Celia speaks to grass, Rock who keeps lying to me and Daryl, a scientist that I should introduce to a hairbrush one day…He really needs one.
But I think everyone is pretty lovable here, even if I caught Daryl spying on me a couple of time, which is, of course, freaky…Then again I always have a nice little sickle by my side if he ever decides to go mental on me.
I went into the chicken coop, and petted each of my two chickens, Mila and Shay.
I went out to my crops and got the water can out, and watered my tomatoes one last time before they would be able to be harvested. They we're a deep red, but they still needed time…
They'll be ready for tomorrow…I bet.
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After work, in the afternoon, I skipped along out of my farm, diary in hand. Why wait until night? I always wrote in it when I had free time. I always went by the river to write, I guess the river inspired me or something, or maybe just because it brought back memories…
I sat down on the rocks and started to scribble.
Dear diary…
10 years, 8 days and counting…I'm still waiting. The farm is going well, although my cow has been a little sick lately…Maybe it's just the heat. Anyway, I'm thinking of maybe buying a sheep soon. I'm so happy, summer is coming! In two days…I'll still be waiting at my usual spot like I do every year at that time…I wonder what's taking him so long eh?...Sigh…When I look at myself write this stuff I find it really pathetic…I should be worrying more about the farm and less about that boy I met when I was 8…I guess it's hard to put off. There are 3 guys in this valley that look about my age…Rock, a blond kind of goofy guy. Marlin a cold yet plant loving Elvis-person-thing…And Gustafa, the hippie. None of them seem to even be potential friends…
''Whaaat? What is this?'' Muffy, one of the villagers of the valley, picked up my diary without asking and browsed through the pages.
I clenched my teeth, holding off the sudden urge to pin her to the ground and take my diary back…
''…Teehee! Interesting!'' She exclaimed, her eyes not leaving the book.
''Sooo….You're the new owner of the farm? Huh? I'm a little disappointed you're not a guy but…I guess it can't be helped.'' She sighed and kept reading as I nodded and struggled to get my book back..
''What's this, what's this?'' she looked at me with a malicious smile.
''Already have your sighs on boys I see…Just remember…Griffin's mine!'' smiling widely she returned the book to me, and kneeled down on the rock with me.
I gave her a dirty look and got up right after she sat down, dusting off my jeans.
''T-That's not true…! I don't like anyone here, the only thing I like is my cow.'' I said, nodding, agreeing with myself.
The short tempered woman rose up and frowned at me. ''Fine…But if you ever need dating advice don't come to me.''
I shrugged. I didn't care…Who needs her advice anyway? I don't believe she has a boyfriend.
''Fi-i-i-ne!'' I shouted back angrily ''I'll just ask Celia instead!'' I defended, sticking out my tongue.
I stormed off towards Vesta's farm. Ready to behead anyone brave enough to pull on my chain just a little more. I barged into the farmhouse without ceremony and smacked my hand right down on the living room table. Celia looked over her shoulder startled, where she was quietly doing dishes, her expression softened when she saw me and she gave me her most welcoming smile.
''Welcome!'' She exclaimed, waving slowly. ''What do you need today, Celeste?'' she asked sitting down at the table pulling a notebook out.
''Just say the word, and I'll write it down and ship it to you later.''
I came to my senses and pulled my hand away from the table, I looked blankly in front of me, lost in thought.
W…What am I doing here?...I don't need her advice.
''I…Don't need anything.'' I lied, uneasy. ''I just went the wrong way is all…''
Celia got up and patted my back sympatically. ''It's okay, you can tell me.''
Ok…So I'm a bad liar.
I sat down on a chair and placed both my hands on my knees.
''I…I'm enjoying the farm work so far…'' I admitted shyly '' But…Recently…''
''Yes?'' Celia asked, her eyes wide open from curiosity, awaiting I would go on.
''Well…I keep thinking of this boy…'' I said slowly.
''Yes?'' she repeated.
''Someone I met a long time ago…''
''Yes?''
''But…I don't remember his name.''
''…Yes…?''
''And I'm starting to wonder if maybe he lives here…In this valley.'' I finished.
''Oh…''
Talking to Celia is impossible…sigh.
Celia got up and went to a bookshelf we're she got out an old dusted book. She blew on it and dropped the overweight book on the table.
''What's this?'' I asked looking over the book.
She opened up the first page and slid the book to me.
''The records of forget-me-not villagers…?'' I asked as Celia nodded.
''See if you find anyone familiar.'' She pointed out. She put her shoulder on the table and waited patiently as I looked through the contents.
I finished the book and gave it back to her, she could tell by my expression that no good news would be told.
There was a short uncomfortable silence and she finally spoke again.
''Celeste…There are three men currently living here in this valley…Well, maybe…'' she stopped, searching for the right words of encouragements.
Before she could say more, Vesta came into the room with a bag full of tomatoes and other vegetables hanging of her shoulder. I sighed and got up off my seat, heading for the door.
Celia held out her hand and called to me ''Celeste! W-wait…!''
I looked over my shoulders and smiled quickly, hiding my discouragement.
''It's fine…It's not of much importance anyway.'' I turned to Vesta and threw her a pen.
''While I'm here, Vesta…I'd like it if you guys could bring me some fertilizer tomorrow morning at the farm…I need to much to carry them myself…''
I slid through the door my head down and continued along the path back to the farm.
Celia got out from her house and ran after me, tugging on my shirt.
I looked at her confused and tilted my head, awaiting an explanation.
She panted heavily but finally coughed out what she had wanted to say.
''Celeste…'' She said through breaths of air.
''I have a plan''
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Yep, chapter one! I hope…You guys liked it more then I did. I like the story itself…But just not writing it…Maybe I'll enjoy it more when I get down to writing more chapters. That's usually what happens. I think he best part is…That I know what's going to happen in my fic…but you don't!(Well jeez, no shit Sherlock.) Anyway tell me if I need to work on something in this fic…