Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon nor any of the characters. Also I haven't played Tree of Tranquility so I'm kind of improvising after getting hyped up and reading game summaries so any errors… were kind of planned for. I'm addicted to Harvest Moon games but I can't afford a wii.
When I boarded the little boat I was hesitant. Looking back over my shoulder I waved at my papa. I was forced forward by a rather harsh shove from my impatient twin, Takeru. "You've already popped dad's vertebra out of alignment before I had to pry you off of him. Would you just get on the damn boat so we can leave?" he sneered pushing me forward so that I stumbled with my luggage. I had such a nice brother.
"Well, at least I told him goodbye," I shot back. Takeru was so distant towards our father lately that I was in sympathy for my papa. Dad loved Takeru so much, and to treat him like this in return made me sick. One of the crew members passed by taking a double look of me dusting myself off as I glared at my twin. I could feel my hair getting unruly in the breeze as well. I silently cursed myself for cutting it off. There was nothing to do about it now though.
"The cabins are below deck. I suggest you go and put away your luggage so it doesn't get lost," the man directed with a small smile. I nodded and took Takeru's arm intending to fully slam his big fat head into the floor when we got to our room. He fought me, but not for long when he realized that he wasn't getting away. Small stature ran in the family, but it didn't mean we weren't able. Yes I looked sickly skinny, but I was tough—sadly that also meant that my brother's timid looks were a lie as well. The only reason I was overpowering him at the moment was because I was running off of adrenaline which stemmed from many things but mainly anger. I could envision our father shaking his head as he watched his children fight up on deck before disappearing below. I'm sure that was exactly how it had played out as well.
"One day Takeru—you're going to fall for some girl and she's going to turn you down for being such an asshole—and guess what I'll do. I'm going to laugh until my head explodes."
"That will be a happy day. I'll finally be rid of you," he mumbled flopping down on the other cot. I sneered at him before whisking out of the cabins and back up to the deck. Takeru didn't always act this way. We used to be inseparable, not because we were forced together, but because we loved each other that much. Mother had died two years ago and that was when everything went downhill. He stopped going out with our friends when they would invite us with them places telling me to go on without him and have fun for both of us. At first it wasn't all that bad but soon he became colder toward our father. He didn't talk at family dinners, which weren't often because papa traveled for his job a lot and wasn't home much. Soon after that he would seal himself away in his room only going in and out to the bathroom or to pick up the plate of food I left by his door. Our father had had enough and found a brochure for an "exciting farming adventure" which didn't seem all that appealing to either of us, but it was a new start for Takeru. Of course papa sent me along as well to make sure everything went smoothly and because he said it would be good for moral. I didn't doubt him, I just didn't like it.
"A hello miss. It shouldn't take far too long to reach the island. How are you feeling? Ill? You look a little pale," the captain stated smoking his pipe as he leaned on the railing. I wasn't sick. If I was pale it was because I was worried so I shook my head and stood beside the man a moment thinking and looking out at the threateningly dark clouds before he spoke again. "What is your name?"
I looked over to see the old man smiling. "Yumei Akari," I answered with a smile back. Hopefully other people where we were moving would be just as nice as well.
"And you're going to Waffle Town because of the land give-away correct?" A puff of smoke came out of his pipe and I nodded waving my hand in the air to redirect the fumes. Thunder struck then and the wind suddenly picked up and soon it was pelting drops from the sky. "It would be best to get below deck," the captain shouted over the suddenly vicious sea. I had to agree. To think we had just been in roughly smooth waters and now it was like when you drove along and hit the edge of where the rain started. It was an enormous change.
As I stumbled clumsily down the stairs of the rocking boat I tripped and fell hitting my head on the door. The last thing I saw was Takeru open the door and his indifferent face morph into another emotion for the first time in at least a year. He knelt down over me beginning to pick me up and I lost consciousness.
Waking up I found myself in an unfamiliar room. Our things were all setting on the other bed so I knew that we had only arrived here recently. Takeru would have slept if I had been out for longer. I stood, stretched, and made my way down the hall following the voices that could be heard below Takeru's among them.
"Oh my, is it safe for her to be coming down the stairs on her own?" an old woman asked as I gripped the handrail and descended into their view. My brother rushed up the stairs to me grabbing my shoulders as I swayed slightly and raised my hand to my head holding it where it throbbed. "Looks like she's never been sailing before. She's not too graceful to get knocked out on a ship when it was only a little storm." A little storm? Did they have frequent hurricanes here? The ship was practically at a one hundred and eighty degree angle.
"I'm honestly surprised you don't have a concussion," Takeru whispered. I frowned. "It's good you woke up, I was afraid you might have lapsed into a coma. You wouldn't wake up before."
"I thought you would be happy to be rid of me." At least that was the last thing he'd told me before I collided with a door.
I saw that my bad face was contagious and a spark of pride flickered in me. Takeru's frown was a little deeper than my own only annoyed one. The old woman looked on worriedly with another younger woman as we finally made it all the way down. I refused to sit and clung to Takeru's neck, which my arm was slung over, childishly even though I was offered a chair. In reality—I would never mention it to him—I was happy that he cared if I was okay or not. I wanted to still be close to him since this contact would be the closest to a hug that I would get, I think he knew that was what I was thinking too because he looked rather irritated.
"This is my sister, Arika," Takeru stated to the women politely. Well, it was nice to see him being social.
"Twins too, aren't they adorable," the elder lady cooed with a wizened smile. "My name is Yuba and I'm the chef here at the inn."
"I'm Cole and I am the innkeeper." The younger woman smiled warmly. I nodded not able to really manage a genuine smile at the moment so I didn't feel like trying.
An middle aged man approached us seemingly out of nowhere as well. "Ah, awake," he said. "You were tossing around in your sleep rather violently, how do you feel? Was it a nightmare?"
I thought back trying to remember if I had even dreamt at all. Then it hit me, I remembered a woman with large wings and long oddly colored hair who seemed to have been dying like she was getting all the moisture sucked out of her—which happens to be rather gross mind you. When I explained the dream the old woman piped up, "An angelic woman with long hair. I know I'm beautiful but—"
"She's not talking about you, mother," the man cut her off. "It sounds like you have a very active subconscious. I'm Jake by the way, the owner of the Kirsh Inn in which you stand."
Takeru rolled his eyes without being noticed by anyone but myself. "Thank you all very much, but we really need to find a place to rest. It's been a very long night."
"Yes, of course. It would be wonderful if you both would stay the night here. We will take good care of you," Cole smiled at my brother warmly.
He nodded. "Thank you again." Then he walked back up the stairs with me in tow. I breathed deeply once we were safely in the confines of the room I had woken in. "I'm already so thrilled to be here," Takeru deadpanned. I smiled and nodded in agreement. This was not my favorite place either. Besides, who names a town after food? Seriously, "Waffle Town"? What was even worse was the island itself was practically begging me to think there would be pretty multi-colored unicorn ponies all over the place. Rainbow Sash Island was one hell of a name.
"Tomorrow I'm going to the doctor to check out this bump," I announced quietly. It was throbbing.
"No need," Takeru countered clearing off the other bed as I climbed into the one I had slept on before. "He came to check on you when we got here."
"I'm going to go anyway and get some pain medication," I muttered indignantly. I knew my head was going to pound for a day or two at least. That was a bad hit. Instead of crawling into his own bed I felt Takeru's presence beside me and the bed sinking under his weight. My brother lay beside me his hand grasping mine. It was something we had done as children, to cope. I was still a little surprised, but I was contented. To be honest I think we both needed the reassurance right now. After that contact no words were spoken. It was an understood form of affection. It meant, "I'm here for you if you're here for me." Even though we were now eighteen and old enough to be well out on our own, I still had to admit I needed Takeru and he probably felt the same way especially now.