Chapter One
If there's one thing about a lost memory, it's not remembering why you are at a certain place. Kyle pondered this uselessly as he stood in the middle of Cherry Blossom Square, studying the pink petals on the trees as they slowly floated to the ground, some being caught in the wind and brushing against his sun-burned cheeks, caused by working long, sun-filled hours on the farm.
He reached out with a strong, tentative hand, to catch one of the blossoms, bringing it up to his nose, stroking it with his thumb, breathing in the sweet scent. This was the place where he had first met Mana, the innocent, sort of loopy girl that ran the Pumpkin General Store. Her and her father, Douglas, had been his first friends in this small, happy town.
But even still, after a month and several weeks, it was hard for him to get accustomed to all of these new faces, all of these people who were now the only memories he had. Every time he ran an errand for one of them, he could only think, as he ran through the towns and dungeons, that somewhere, someplace else, someone needed him. Someone was waiting for him. Wondering where on earth he could have disappeared to. Somewhere else, there were others he should have been running errands for.
He sighed. There was no use in wasting time just thinking of his currently non-existing past. He had spent hours, days, just thinking about what had happened before he had arrived in Alvarna. But…nothing. Not even an image of a face, or a place.
"Kyle!"
Kyle turned, shaking his head mentally to make the thoughts disappear, to see Mana running toward him, her long glossy hair flowing in the wind. She was giggling, as usual, and smiling her big smile. Kyle felt a sudden rush of affection for the girl. Sure, he had only known her for a few months, but she had been very kind to him, always sneaking him a special sale at her father's store, filling him on all the town gossip, and just smiling and joking with him, as if they had been best friends for years. It was nice, Kyle had to admit, to be around someone so free-spirited. Someone who could always cheer him up.
He smiled at her when she neared him, noticing how several cherry blossoms had somehow clung to her hair. It complimented the glow of her rosy cheeks nicely, along with the sparkle in her dark eyes. "Hey Mana," he greeted, running his hand through his bronze hair. His heart did a nervous jolt, and he cursed himself for being so dirty and sweaty.
She stopped in front of him and leaned over, panting. He watched in amusement as she tried to catch her breath, and then wondered if she had been running all this time, just to find him.
Finally, after several moments, she looked up, her hands on her skinny knees, and shook a finger at him. "I have been looking all over for you mister!" she growled, trying to sound annoyed and anger, but failing miserably. Kyle held in the urge to laugh.
"What's up?" he asked, holding out his hand. She took it, and straightened up, taking another deep breath before brushing her bangs out of her eyes.
Her face suddenly turned red, and she ducked her head, quickly retrieving her hand from his grasp. She studied her toes, poking out from the latest sandals Yue had been selling for the past week. They were embellished with fake white flowers, matching Mana's tastes. "Um…well…I was talking with Ceci and Alicia…and I…we…were wondering if maybe…you would like to…um…come to a dinner party with us."
Kyle looked at her in surprise. "A dinner party?"
"Um…yeah. I mean…Herman and his family are traveling down to Norad for the weekend and leaving the house for Ceci to take care of. And well…she was gonna cook and stuff…and…it would be great. I mean…Ceci is a great cook. And Alicia can do some free fortune telling. And then we could all watch the stars or something…and…" Her words were breaking now, and she looked almost close to tears. Kyle stared at her in wonder. Since when was Mana ever so…nervous? She was the brave one of the group. Well…maybe Alicia had more audacity, but Mana came close.
He put a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down Mana. I'd love to."
She looked up at him and smiled a smile so huge and bright he thought it would tear her cheeks. "Really? Great! The others will be so delighted…we'll have to make all of your favorites!!! Do you like apple pie? Ceci makes the best. And what kind of fish do you like because we were thinking of having a seafood sort of night…"
Kyle put a finger to her lips. "Shh Mana. Breathe between monologues. And just tell Cecilia to make whatever. I'm sure all of it would be great."
Mana grinned. "Okay. Show up at Herman's around…seven? That should be good."
"Sounds like a date."
Mana stared at him, smile forming an 'O'.
"With three girls," Kyle finished, laughing. Mana joined in, but he noticed how her smile didn't touch her eyes, and the laugh sounded wrong. Forced.
He was about to ask what was wrong, but she turned away before any words could leave his mouth. "I better go tell Alicia and Ceci the good news. I'll…see you later Kyle."
Kyle nodded, remembered she couldn't see him, then said, "Goodbye Mana. Maybe I'll see you later."
"Maybe." She walked away, her fists clenched.
Kyle stared after her, and sighed. He knew, somehow, he had managed to hurt her feelings. But the thing with women…he never knew how he had, or what.
Great. Now the dinner was bound to feel icy for a bit. But unlike farming and swordsmanship, which came naturally to him, the ways of women…would never be easy.
'Maybe I should bring flowers…' he thought as he walked back to his farm house.
0o0o0o0o0o0o
That night, Kyle had a nightmare. He was at Herman's mansion, in the dining area, his wrists and feet bound to the large plush chair that Herman usually sat in. He watched with sweat trickling down his forehead as Alicia, Cecilia, and Mana approached, their eyes red, their mouths agape with laughter, each carrying a tray. They placed the trays in front of him, and, watching him with an evil sort of glee, pulled off the silver that encased whatever food was inside. The first tray, Cecilia's, held the head of a dead Cluckadoodle, not cooked, with it's pointed tongue hanging limply from its mouth, and blood still gushing from the bottom, staining the white doily it was rested on. Kyle gagged. The nest tray held the heart of a Buffamoo, raw, and still pumping in time with his own heart. Shivers ran down his spine, and he could almost feel his skin turn green, and the world spin around him. The last, Mana's tray, he didn't look at. He couldn't. He closed his eyes in terror, heard them laugh, felt them stroke him with their smooth, girlish hands.
"Eat with us Kyle! Eat with us!"
He screamed, and opened his eyes, expecting to be back in his bedroom. But instead, he was standing in a field of colorful flowers, the beach roaring behind him, the sky blue and cloudless. He looked around in surprise. What was he doing here? It looked sort of...familiar.
"Kyle…"
Kyle turned, to see a young girl dressed in a very revealing white gown, came toward him, her blonde ringlets brushing her cheeks. He watched her approach with a thumping heart. She was beautiful. Her face was heart-shaped, her eyes a gorgeous cerulean blue. Her body was lean and curvy, her legs long and shapely, and her breasts (he couldn't help noticing them through the thin white fabric) were round and ample.
She wasted no time. She sidled right up to him, pressing her breast against his chest, and wrapped her arms around him. She smelled sweet, like lavender, and her skin and hair was soft. Her embrace felt familiar, and he wrapped his own arms around her without hesitation. It felt…right. Familiar.
"It is your destiny, I know," she whispered softly and sweetly in his ear. "But come home soon, my darling."
He shivered. "Of course B-"
He woke up then, her name on his lips. He tried to say it in the darkness of his room, but soon it faded, and he could no longer remember what it was. But he could still feel her against him, could still smell her sweet scent. His face was flushed and the sheets of his bed stuck to his skin, and he quickly threw them off and rushed to the bathroom, dipping his hands in the cool water in his sink and washing his face. He changed his night clothes into his work ones, and went outside to continue tilling the field he still hadn't finished.
He knew Ray and Natalie didn't approve of working late at night, but it helped him concentrate on other things, instead of the rambles in his head. Besides, there was no way he was going to work until he collapsed. He wasn't dumb.
The next morning, Kyle woke up in the clinic, with Natalie hovering over him worriedly, shaking her head.
