Chapter 1: The Beginning
Blanket Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon.
Author's Note: So in something of a promise to my old time readers who don't find Archive of Our Own as accessible, I will start this process all the way over and get the fanfictions back up on FF though I'm generally opposed. These are very much censored of content in the story so it's not my intended work but, oh well. I made it my January goal to get all the stories back up and I'm just getting started. I'm going to take a step back from my current story and try to get a fic up a day.
As you may or may not know, Step(s) Toward the Future was my Freshman work for my Harvest Moon series, Legacy. It was written back in 2004 and took something like a year to complete. So, yes, this story is twelve years old. I am always amazed and sincerely moved I do have people still with me the complete way, it's just insane, really. That aside, things to keep in mind are, yes, I wrote this when I was fourteen in the height of EMO and being a Gaia weaboo, though we did not have such known terminology at the time, I say from my rocking chair.
That being said, it's goofy as hell to me and one I actually cannot stomach to completely reread so it has been the most difficult to edit. Now, this isn't to chase you away as it does lay the ground floor for the entire series which I personally think gets much better and this is a fan favorite of all my series so I guess people find something in it. I'm just my biggest critic.
Again, I removed these stories from FF net mostly because of that one asshole group wandering around being conservative vigilantes. This story has anything not within the "M" rating removed and the section that has been removed will be clarified.
Thanks, and re or new enjoy.
Jill was lost in her own world of heavy metal and moshing as she walked through the concert of one of the local bands, coolly shoving past the riled up fans, cursing them silently under her breath. She wasn't in a good mood…she never was, but she definitely wasn't in a good mood now. The screaming rhythm that she had come to love wasn't numbing her disgust at all.
She'd been asked to take over her grandfather's farm and she was leaving tomorrow morning.
She'd whined for nearly three weeks but her parents demanded she follow her grandfather's last wishes. She had five other brothers, but she was chosen out of all of them.
Mumbling lightly, she started for the exit, seeing as the concert wasn't providing her any joy and tomorrow was going to be a long day.
And the sooner she got these next three years of hell over, the sooner she got to leave.
She heard the alarm beeping, but she didn't want to wake up...she didn't want to go. Why was she being forced to do this? What did she, someone who'd only known the city for eighteen years, know about farming?
She picked up her alarm clock and threw it across the room, burying her face into her pillow.
"Well, good morning, sunshine" said a sarcastic voice.
She looked to the door of her room to see her older brother and grumbled.
"Shut up and kill me."
He smiled gently and came further in to sit on her bed, "Aww, you know I'd go for you if mom and dad weren't so..."
"They're idiots."
"No, no. You'll have fun though, princess" he said warmly.
She sat up and hugged his waist, whining, "Big brother…"
He stroked her long blond hair and rested his chin on top of her head, "Mmm, tell you what: how about I come and help...once I'm out of school. Sound okay?"
She cuddled into his chest lovingly, a soft look of concern coming to her face. She knew one reason he wasn't chosen was because he was so much weaker than the others…but she didn't want to upset him, so she sighed.
"I guess..."
"Psh, you guess? Can you imagine Koji here actually farming?" said a snickering voice.
They both looked up and Koji glared at him.
"If I weren't comforting our baby sister, I'd so flick you off."
The guy gave him a large grin and placed his left hand on his hip. He shook a spatula at them.
"The nerve! And after I got up all early and crap to fix breakfast. I'm hurt."
Koji stood and rolled his eyes at his sibling, who in fact was his younger twin.
"How sweet of you. Did you hit your head or something?"
"Bah. I can't do anything out of the kindness of my heart?"
Koji raised an eyebrow, blinking innocently "Kindness? Is there any?"
Koji laughed and ran down the hallway as his twin threw the spatula at him. He glared in the direction Koji fled and Jill groaned. Those were her brothers… her stomach flopped and she winced, biting her lip as nervousness suddenly overtook her.
"What if no one likes me?" she whispered.
"What are you talking about? No ones ever liked you" he said almost too pleasantly.
She now was throwing things at himut she soon ran out of things because she'd packed everything. He quickly escaped away from her tirade.
"Stupid Nelly-baka!" she snapped, calling after him.
Jill folded her arms and grumbled. As angry as she was to hear it, it was true...they'd called her an icy bitch in high school and she had had only a couple friends her whole life. She was a loner anyway...she didn't need anyone. She slammed the door shut and dove into the shower, listening to Korn, her favorite American band, on her shower CD player. She started to wonder...
Did they have showers? Oh God, she was going to die.
She wandered out after a couple minutes and pulled on her black and purple halter top and her black pants, letting the suspenders hang behind her. Heading out to eat, she found most of her brothers swinging pots and pans at each other. She raised an eyebrow and shook her head. One pro: She was leaving this insanity behind.
Shin, her oldest brother, looked at her as she gulped heavily. He was driving and her other brothers had dozed off. Now she was all alone in her own world...Shin smiled.
"You okay, kid?"
"Of course not" she grumbled.
He gave her a warmer smile, "You'll be fine, imoto."
"Yahhh, if you don't scare the living crap out of your neighbors first" said a drowsy voice.
She glared back at her own male twin, Tony. Shin cut his eyes at him.
"You're not helping, itoto."
Tony smiled, "I kid...however, remember, these people probably don't even know what a CD is so you might now want to be blasting your goth rock immediately."
She gasped at this revelation then sobbed into his shoulder.
"I'm gonna die!" she wailed.
Tony patted her head, "You'll be fine, Jilly…"
"Who knows? Maybe you'll find a boyfriend too" said the final, and youngest, brother in the group.
She glared behind her, "Not bloody likely, Shaun."
"Yeah, you better not" grumbled Tony.
She glowered at him, "Even if I was capable of getting a guy to talk to me, I wouldn't want some back-country hick."
Shaun laughed, "You definitely won't get a boyfriend with that attitude!"
"She won't get one at all!" snapped Tony.
Shin scowled them both to silence before he smiled again, "Just try to enjoy yourself to the fullest, Jill."
"...If you say so, Shin."
She didn't know...maybe this would be the worst experience of her life...
She was alone…all alone. Electric eyes gave her suspicious looks as she slowly wandered through town to find a grocery store. She needed food…everyone needed to eat, right?
Everyone knew she was a newcomer and yet no one seemed to want to lend a hand… She had NO idea where anything was. Jill watched them whisper and raise eyebrows at her. Chills ran up and down her spine and her stomach was twirling. So this was it, huh?
Her whole life she'd been a pariah just because she was richer than most kids…girls ignored her because she was, well, as guys around her loudly noted, 'hot as hell'. But those same guys said she had a horrible personality and wouldn't talk to her, even if she was hot. But…she wasn't really like that. She…she liked things too. She liked being talked to, she liked hanging out…why was she so easily judged?
Her lips began to twitch and before she knew it, she had stopped and started to wail. Everyone on the street looked positively startled and started to quickly walk away from her, disturbed. Why? Did she look THAT scary? She cried into her hands, wishing her brothers were there to help. How could she survive when everybody judged her before they even got to know her? This was going to be three years of hell!
She choked on sobs, rubbing her eyes. Her knees became shaky and she dropped on a nearby bench, continuing to cry. What was wrong with her…? She was having a nervous breakdown for what reason? And still, no one approached her…
Suddenly, a shadow came over her…someone sat down next to her and awkwardly patted her shoulder. She sniveled, very startled, and looked to her side, about to glare and question what they were doing? Everyone was ignoring her or hadn't they noticed?
But her eyes widened and she had to keep her mouth from falling open. A guy was beside her, a concerned look on his face. But that wasn't what got her…
She didn't think hot guys existed in this part of the world.
He had golden brown hair with bright blond highlights that reached a little bit down his back, past his shoulders, pulled back in a ponytail. His eyes were bright blue and full of something warm and captivating...and he had on a black shirt and ripped jeans...
One thing was for sure, this was not your average town person.
He tilted his head slightly to the side and finally asked, his voice soft and gentle, "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
Now could she really say to this rather extremely handsome young gentleman her reason for crying like a complete idiot in the middle of town? No, she couldn't.
"I...I can't find the grocery store" she sobbed.
Then again…
He gave her a breathtaking smile and chuckled, "That all? It's all right. This town isn't set up very conveniently."
"It's just no one would help me..." she blubbered, feeling like a moron.
He frowned, "You're new here, right? No one offered to show you around?"
She shook her head. Even the mayor hadn't asked if she wanted a tour. He just ran away as soon as he showed her to the farm. That loser... the guy frowned momentarily, then gave her another bright smile.
"Well then, allow me the honor. I am Izumi Cliff" he introduced himself, standing and putting his hand out to help her up.
She reached slowly towards his outstretched hand and took it. So warm…
"H-hi, Cliff. I'm Yagami Jill...um, sorry for the random...breakdown. It's probably not the best way to meet someone…rather awkward, I'd say" she blushed.
She never blushed…what was going on…?
He smiled pleasantly, "Why? I have them everyday. This town is about as fun as getting a physical."
"Eek" she winced.
"Indeed..." he smirked, watching the snooty Anna walk by.
"So...you're going to show me the grocery store?" she asked hopefully.
"I'll do more than that! I'll show you where the few things that exist are in this town" he said in an almost haughty manner.
She smiled shyly, "I'm honored."
…And now she was smiling…at some random stranger…?
"Believe me, the honor's all mine" he replied, holding his arm out to her.
She blushed again, confused for a moment, but figuring it out…she hooked her arm through his and reddened a little more as he started walking. This should prove to be interesting...
"Oki doki, square one" said Cliff, having led her back to where she'd started in the first place…
She didn't feel annoyed, in fact, she fought off giggling, "Um...my farm? I kind of got down where this is."
"Well, I'd hope you'd know your way here, I guess" he grinned.
He led her upwards and stopped in front of an old looking building with smoke looming from it.
"Well, this is the blacksmith."
She raised an eyebrow, "Blacksmith? For what? It's the 21st century."
"Here...it's like...the 19th century. 4 channels of television and they're still using books. I mean, who actually reads anymore? We have the internet for that" he mused.
She laughed despite herself, "So what's the use of the blacksmith then?"
"I think he makes tools and stuff...I think. I dunno, I don't talk to these people. All I know is his grandson is like, Satan."
"What?" she exclaimed, rather surprised by this sudden comment.
"Well, maybe not Satan, but Lucifer" he 'corrected'.
She laughed, surprised at herself, but very amused, "Those are like the same thing!"
"Okay, okay, he's evil...VERY evil" he grinned.
She chuckled and nodded. He led her forward a bit to another house.
"This is the house of Duke and Manna...they're like, upper class to the max but they sell wine and grape juice..." he said before breaking off, musing.
"Hmm?" she questioned, sensing he had more to say.
"Well, I suggest avoiding Duke...he doesn't like youth."
She smirked at that, "Sounds kind of…old."
"Yea, he's kind of weird…"
Cliff led her forward to another house,"This is Anna and Basil's house...the local botanists. They also have a snobby daughter named Mary. She's all smart and 'I know so much more than you, loser' and she works in the library. Not that I really go there..."
She grinned, "Yeah, I won't be running into her a lot. I like my internet reading…"
He waved his hand, "Damn straight! And that said place you should avoid is right there. The library…gives me the creeps."
She chuckled, "Looks evil enough."
"It's the Legion of Doom" he said, nodding.
She chuckled again and he led her around the bend.
"This is the mayor's house right here...he lives with this photographer named Kano and he's not married, if you catch me" he winked at her.
"Oh my God, really?" she said, shocked.
"I dunno. I mean, the guy needs someone to keep him warm at night. He's not exactly a looker."
She giggled as the mayor's appearance popped into her head, "He has a top hat. I thought those went out of style."
Cliff laughed, "Yeah, about 200 years ago but what can ya' do?"
Walking up a bit to the next house, he smiled.
"Well, this lady is pretty nice. Her name's Ellen and she has a grand-daughter named Elli and her grandson Stu. She makes a nice apple pie for everyone on Thanksgiving" he smiled.
Jill smiled softly, more at the look on his face rather than what he was saying, "At least someone pleasant exists, huh?"
"Oh, they are few and in between."
The place next door happened to be…
"Here it is, milady. The grocery store" he said, waving his hand.
She groaned and blushed, "I feel so stupid..."
"Don't, really. This place looks like...the rest of the houses..."
She smiled at his comfort and then noticed a random girl glaring at them from the benches nearby. She was wearing a white tube top, a pair of jean hot pants and a purple vest. Her hair was blond in the front and brown in the back and she had piercing green eyes.
"Why are you hanging out in front of our store? Get lost, losers!" she snapped.
"And that would be the store owner's lovely daughter, Karen. Don't worry. I find her mother Sasha to be rather kind. Wonder what happened with her daughter..." Cliff remarked.
Karen glared furiously at him and he grabbed Jill's hand, quickly dashing by. She blushed at the little contact, her heart fluttering. He released it once they were a nice distance away from the angry Karen.
"Best not taunt that one" he grinned, shaking his head, "I mean, she's nice, just tends to get a little irritable if provoked."
"I can tell" she smiled, finding the gesture becoming oddly comfortable.
He looked around and then pointed at a white building.
"That is the doctor's office. Note that everyone calls him 'The Doctor'...his name is Tsumaru though."
Jill frowned, that name ringing a bell…Dr. Tsumaru…
They rounded another corner and he pointed up a walkway.
"That's the church...they have confession and services, y'know, stuff like that."
She nodded and they walked up the path a little more. He frowned and blinked a little.
"This is the Inn slash restaurant where I stay. Here is where Doug and Ann live..."
He looked upwards for a moment, as if thinking, then laughed.
"Never mind. Let us continue!"
She stared at him as he passed her then continued to follow. He showed her everywhere that day and she felt so grateful to him. They went back to the store where they got a lot of dirty looks from fellow shoppers. Great... but Cliff smiled as if he didn't notice them.
And she did the same, which was definitely new for her.
They walked back to her house and she smiled at him, "Thanks so much...I'm glad I found someone in town that's nice."
He smiled sheepishly, "You bet. And no need to thank me. It was my pleasure."
He then grinned, "Well, I'll leave you to unpack and stuff. Hope to see more of you."
She nodded and watched him walk off...wow...
She was actually starting to look forward to these three years a bit more.
End Dictionary:
My cousin and I had two different files on HM64 and she said was going to marry Elli, so shouldn't the farmer's name be Nelly? o.O Well, that was years ago…his real name is 'Nerimaru' but Nelly is a nickname.
Itoto- little brother
Imoto- little sister
