Spring - 10:23 am

A soft breeze was blowing across the cobalt skies, causing the clouds to soar across the blue vastness of that was the Spring sky. Nature played it's familiar melody, orchestrating the sounds of wind whistling through grass, and birds chirping between trees and leaves. The rhythmic clip-clop of a horses hooves as it pulled forth the carriage acted as the metronome to this great symphony of nature.

This is where my story begins; lying against bushels of hay, feeling the sweet scent of spring air caress my skin, as I journeyed to the island of Castanet. As the horse carried me along, I could distinctly feel the pure country air cleansing out my lungs, ridding it of the soot stains the city had left me with. It has been twelve years since I've made a visit to Castanet island; twelve years time that has completely erased all existing memories of the island from my mind. At this point, it was as though I was visiting the island for the first time, with no memories or experience of life on Castanet, despite how much I used to frequent it as a child. It all started when I was seven years old, and when my father declared I would be spending the summer on a tiny secluded island with my grandfather, to get a taste for hard work and manual labour. Like any spoiled child, I was hesitant to the trip, but regardless, my father shipped me off to spend one whole summer with my grandfather on his tiny ranch.

Despite the entire three months I spent with my grandfather on his ranch, I've somehow lost any recollections of the place whatsoever. I couldn't recall how the ranch looked under the summer sun, nor how the animals would bask in the fields every morning. I couldn't even remember any of islands residents….except for one.

Upon my first ever arrival on the island, being immediately abandoned by the caregiver who had brought me there, I began to do what any scared seven year old did; I cried. I wailed until tears stained my shirt, and red had carved itself beneath my eyelids. My eyes had been buried in my hands for so long, I was scared to open them again. But when I finally did, I was greeted with a sudden sight. A pair of big eyes, who's colour I could not even remember, filled my vision until my vacant look was erased as a fist knocked down hard on my skull.

"Boy, you sure cry a lot. Who are you anyways? I've never seen you before." The boy spoke, with a wide grin on his face. Still crying, I replied innocently, "My name is Hikari..." When he saw that I still had tears in my eyes, the boy once again slammed a fist down hard on my head.

"Hikari…That means light doesn't it? Well, it fits, considering how much attention you attract. Maybe I should call you lighthouse from now on. Your head is pretty damn big after all."

I stared at the boy grimly, fists clenched. "Yea, well, maybe I'll call you Chihaya, considering how vicious you are!" That was the only memory I had of those forgotten summer days.

"Chihaya," I whispered to myself, with half closed eyes, as the carriage continued to be treaded along. I curled my hand up against my chest, holding the memory tightly to myself. I spent three months on Castanet that year, but the days I spent were blank, as if they never happened at all. Once I returned home, I never did go back. My family's simple lack of funds, and lack of time, didn't allow it. So now, twelve years later, I'm returning to this echo of my past, to confront what I'd lost so long ago.

The reason for this is due to my grandfathers recent passing. Although I was unaware, my grandfather had left his ranch, the Sprite farm, to me in his will. The news of his death broke my heart, despite the time I spent with him was one I could not recall. I felt somewhat relieved to know that the farm had been left to me. Although I loved the city, I never fancied the idea of settling down with a repetitive office job or the sort.

My thoughts were jerked to a sudden stop, much like the carriage, which had nearly thrown me off due to its abrupt stop. "We're here," Cane, the carriage driver, spoke. A nervous feeling grew in my stomach, as I lifted myself off the carriage. Cane grabbed the two trunks of luggage I had brought with me, and began trudging up the slope that led to the ranch. I tried to envision what the farm beyond the slope would look like; luscious grass, wild roaming vegetation and barns full of lively animals. The smile that had crept onto my face was wiped off by my sheer disappointment. As we reached the top of the slope, my vision was greeted by my new home, if one could even call it that. The place was a complete wreck; the shingles on the roof of the house were all but falling off, the paint on the structures of the barn and chicken coop were peeled away by termites and weathering, and the field was covered in sticks, stones and other debris.

Cane released my luggage at the foot of my splinter-heavy doorstep, and walked off with a nod. As I turned to face him as he left, a plump man entered my sight. He wore a ridiculous tuxedo, that had two tails licking the wind as he walked, and a pompadour that you'd only see in an anime.

"Hello there! You must be the new rancher, Hikari, here to take over the farm!" No shit, I thought to myself in my head. This man was way to enthusiastic for my taste. Proudly, he exclaimed. "I am the honourable mayor of Harmonica Town, surely you must remember me?" I didn't. He rambled on, "Regardless, I'm sure you will enjoy your stay here. We're all very happy to have you back.'

This mans peppy attitude, clearly inappropriate in this situation, lit a fire inside me. "You hope I enjoy my stay here?" My words were enunciated with fury. "Yes, why wouldn't I enjoy my stay in this complete excuse of a ranch. Or have you not seen the condition of this place." The mayor fidgeted uncomfortably, as though he expected me to overlook the state of the ranch.

"Yes well, I'm sure you understand your grandfathers sickness and old age prevented him from properly tending to the ranch. Oh my, I almost forgot, my condolences on your loss. It must be a terrible time."

"You don't say." I mumbled to myself, nearly scoffing.

"Anyways," The mayor continued, eager to change the subject. "The town residents wanted to host a welcoming ceremony to best integrate you back into the Castanet community! Please join us this evening in the town square, after all the party is, well, for you. I trust you remember how to get there?" The mayor asked.

"Well, actually Mayor, for some strange reason, I can't remember. All of my memories of Castanet seemed to have vanished." I looked at my feet, conflicted with my strange memory loss. Sure, it had been a long time, but still, I spent three months here.

"Ah well, it has been a long time. Twelve years, if my memory serves me well?" Oh, great. Even this old geyser had a better memory than I did, and he was easily pushing 100 years old. "No problem, I have a map for you." He handed me a crumpled piece of parchment, that seemed to have been drawn by a child. I looked at it, entirely unconvinced by the legitimacy of the paper, but what else could I expect? Everything about this island was an utter joke so far. "Well then, I'll leave you to settle in." With that, the old man tottered back down the slope, towards the town square. I sighed, and pocketed the map. I made my way past my house, and the livestock sheds, traversing the overrun crop fields and stood by the edge of the ranch. The edge of the ranch was a cliff, overlooking the road I had taken to get here, and held a widespread view of the bare ocean. The waters danced under the afternoon sun, glistening like hundreds of silver jewels.

In the cool breeze, I found myself speaking aloud. "I may not remember anything, and my new…home…may be really crappy, but I made a promise to my grandfather." I spoke, with a sudden spout of compassion. "But still…Why can't I remember anything? Not the buildings, not the smells, not the people…"

Except for one, the thought poked it's way into my mind. Except for one.

As I peered out towards the sea, I spread my arm outward, as if reaching for my forgotten memories, as though they had somehow escaped into the wind.

"Chihaya," I breathed. The words echoed upon the voice of the wind.