Prologue
Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon.
The city in the brisk morning was exhilarating. The smells of the early morning street vendors waded through the rubber smells of tires being burned by those racing by. The skyscrapers closed in, their elegant shapes and designs admirable. It was crowded, people shoulder to shoulder with each other.
Yagami Keiji couldn't imagine any other way.
Stretching, his briefcase going up with his rising arms, he yawned and rubbed his eyes. He hated days where he had to start early, but alas…
Walking into the Starbucks, the barista waved him over. He smiled. He was one of the very few people who ordered ahead through text messaging. He needed his coffee quick and in a hurry. None of this line business.
He thanked Miki, the morning barista he was on a first name basis with. She even knew him so well that if he did forget to text ahead, she'd have it waiting for him. Handing her a few gold pieces, he winked and wished her a good rest of the day.
He'd heard the joke 'latte is French for you spent too much on that coffee' but a caramel macchiato with two extra shots of caramel was not just coffee, it was life. One of these in his system compared to drinking half a pot of black coffee so a couple extra gold or not, it would never be denied that it did the trick.
Keiji walked into the law firm he worked at where he was pretty low on the pole but was steadily making his way up. Filing papers, research…he expected that when he got into this business. But one day, he would be a lawyer.
His mother, Yagami Popuri, had been horrified when he moved to the city. He was confused about this as Kaede, his little sister, had been allowed to move out at just eighteen. But his mother protested that at least Kaede was just a walk away…he was in the city. The 'mainland', as it was called. But over time, she'd come to accept it as he did make a habit of visiting every other day. What could he say? He was a bit of a home body.
Finishing the venti sized beverage in no time, he sat down at his desk and started the daily grind. The secretary, Aki, gave him a list of things to do and flirted with him, as usual. It kind of bothered him at first but he knew nothing would happen with her so he just shamelessly repeated the action. No harm, no foul.
His luck with women was, well, nonexistent. He was ashamed during college of the few flings and one night stands he'd had, so much so that he talked to his father to soothe his conscience. Yagami Nerimaru, his uncle, was present as well and pretended to cough as Yagami Koji, Keiji's father, sent him a dark glare, flushing a little. Keiji, confused, questioned this and Koji, shamefaced, mumbled.
"Let's just say it might just be in your blood, son…"
Right. His father, the manwhore. Kind of hard to imagine.
But he wanted his perfect girl. Someone that he'd come home to and kiss on the cheek. She'd take his briefcase while he juggled groceries and ask him how his day was. He'd tell her…she'd tell him how hers was. She could work too and the whole thing could be turned around. They'd fix dinner and eat before cuddling or whatever else…
His female cousins thought it was sweet. His male cousins thought he was actually gay.
He chuckled, shaking his head. Well, whatever. It didn't come out of nowhere, after all. His mother and father had had that relationship for as far back as he could remember. He wanted it too…
The day moved on rather quickly and when 6 o'clock came, Keiji checked out and headed to the coffee bistro nearby where Ino worked. She got his cup of coffee ready and told him about her son of almost the same name as him, Keijin. He sounded absolutely adorable. Someone in the bistro would bump into Keiji on purpose for talking to the buxom, attractive woman and he'd scowl. Ino would yell. What would he do without all this?
Sighing, he grasped Ino's hands suddenly in his own and gazed at her. She blinked at him and laughed, "I'm sorry, Kei-chan, I'm taken. If you'd come three years earlier…"
He laughed as well, winking at her, "You'd have me for life. Any woman that can keep me as well-caffeinated as you is a keeper."
She swatted at him, grinning, as he chuckled, sighing, "But no, I'm just starting to bid you farewell. I'm going away for a year."
"What?" she gasped, "Where?"
His male companion at work, Uzuki Daichi, was a nice fellow…and he'd dodged Keiji out of a massive jam. Keiji had accidentally and unknowingly went into some restricted files, provided them to a lawyer for a case, and that lawyer would have faced dozens of penalties if he presented that evidence at the beginning of the case. However, Daichi was able to not only recover it but place the correct information in the file. Keiji probably would have been fired and been given a scarlet letter, preventing him from ever working in a law firm again if Daichi hadn't saved him so he swore to the man that he was forever in his debt.
And, of course, he was collecting on that.
Daichi informed Keiji that he and his wife were going to be moving to his father's land on an island far away. However, his wife was pregnant. Wary of how good the medical system was on this far off place, he wanted to keep his wife in the city until the baby was born…and stay two months after to ensure the baby was healthy. Problem was, the farm's original caretaker since his father had died had run off, leaving only Takakura, a man apparently only responsible for shipping.
So what was Daichi asking…? For Keiji to go and take care of the farm.
Keiji was almost at a loss. What kind of favor was THIS? That was a year of his life taken with farm work on a farm that wasn't even his. Could he even have a job by the time came back? Surely he'd be replaced.
Daichi simply laughed though, telling him that he would take the load of Keiji's work to make sure that no one took his job. He'd already, in fact, cleared it with the boss. Keiji was helpless…but he had to agree. He could have lost five years of education if Daichi hadn't fixed things so, grudgingly, he agreed.
"Wasuredani?" he sighed to Ino.
"Wasuredani?" her eyes crossed, "Where is that?"
"I don't know…but a year from now, Ino, promise to have a cup of coffee ready for me."
Keiji grumbled as he stared around, at a loss, at all of his business clothing then his casual attire…even his casual stuff was too nice to take on a farming adventure.
Shaking his head, he looked over his shoulder as the doorbell rang. Sighing, he wandered over to answer. He blinked when he opened the door.
"Hi, uncle Keiji. I'm jus' here ta' know why ya' goin' away for a whole year? Who is mama and daddy going ta' throw me off on so they can party?"
Keiji smirked widely. Yukina Sachiko, his niece, only a year old, was held up in front of her father's face as he talked for her in a ridiculous voice. Sachiko was kicking happily and giggling, reaching for him, not going along with 'her' dialogue at all.
Yukina Steiner smirked, handing her off to Keiji, "We're going to have to work on your acting skills, Sachi."
Yukina Steiner married his little sister and they had a beautiful little girl, Sachiko. Keiji was very fond of his niece. As Steiner said, when the two wanted to 'party', what they REALLY did, Keiji didn't want to know, she ended up with him whenever his parents were off doing their thing too. Steiner was also one of his close friends, surprising from their history of hating each other at the beginning. But…he wasn't a bad guy.
Keiji chuckled, closing the door behind him, and nuzzling the baby's nose with his, "I have to go away…but I'll miss woo."
Steiner sighed, slamming down on Keiji's couch, "A year man? There's favors and there's favors. That's too insane, dude."
Sitting beside him, Keiji sighed as well, "I don't know…maybe I need a break to clear my mind. Do you know what Wasuredani is like?"
Steiner pondered, "Well…let's just say it's more country than Mineral Town."
Mineral Town had developed a lot over the years. Keiji considered it suburban…"Uh…a little bit more detail?"
Steiner smirked, "You'll be milking cows as a hobby, man."
Keiji groaned loudly, "Why me?"
"I feel for you, dude" sighed Steiner, tickling Sachiko's cheek.
"Well…whatever" he sighed, "Want to go to Seiyu's with me?"
Steiner's nose wrinkled, "Seiyu's? What's there?"
Keiji smirked, "I have good clothes and I'm not taking them to Nowheresville to get messed up."
Steiner nodded understandably, "$10 dollar jeans it is then."
The bright sun shone through the window of the attic of the farmhouse. Sighing as the rooster crowed in the distance, Celia turned underneath her warm cotton sheets. Yawning widely, she rubbed her eyes and stared out the window above her bed, smiling softly. It felt like a good day.
Crawling out of bed, she sighed and set out things for the bath she'd take at night. No showers here but baths were relaxing nevertheless.
Pulling on her loose white dress and a blue apron over it, she wandered down the steps of the house she called home. Oh dear, it was 8 in the morning. She'd overslept…Marlin and Vesta had already packed up the produce and gone on the ferry to market. Pouting, she went to the stove and made herself some tea.
Gathering things for a breakfast of biscuits and honey, she paused by the letter that Marlin had wrote her.
Celia, we're off to market. Don't allow any strangers in and most of all, don't do anything with strange men. Got it?
She rolled her eyes, irritated. Like she was that kind of girl. Strange men indeed! No one on this island was really what she wanted anyway. Rock slept around, Gustafa was just strange, and Marlin? Well, he frustrated her to no end. Three guys, huh…talk about slim pickings.
She sighed as she popped the biscuits out of the oven. No matter…her potential mate had to be near perfect and she didn't expect to find that anyway.
Sitting at the table, she spread the honey butter on the bread before biting, daydreaming. He'd be handsome, articulate, maybe even cultured. He'd show her things that she'd never seen…
But she sighed, staring at her hand woefully. White as snow. She was sickly. The reason her parents left her here was so the city air wouldn't make her even sicker. But…she wasn't that bad off, she thought. Well, whatever. The city didn't seem like her kind of place anyway. And she'd never be able to attract a city guy.
She wondered if she wanted a relationship sometimes. Maybe it was because she was weak but the need for intimacy wasn't her driving force. She thought about it but for some people it was necessity. The relationship, to her, was more important.
She sighed. But she wanted children. Maybe she wouldn't have to be too in to the passionate parts to make her spouse happy, right?
Shaking her head, she went outside and started to water the plants, flourishing in the newborn spring. Looking up, she blinked softly as she felt something strange…what was going on?
Why…did things feel different suddenly?
Celia yawned as she came down the steps, stretching. 7 o'clock. Marlin and Vesta had to be just stirring so there was no way they'd left. She prepared coffee for them, ready to go to the market area…
Glancing on the table, she growled and snatched up the slip of paper.
Celia, we're off to market. Don't allow any strangers in and most of all, don't do anything with strange men. -Marlin
If she just was a tad more psychopathic, she'd kill him once he walked back through that door.
Slamming down on the couch, she crossed her arms and pouted angrily. It was no fair…Marlin and Vesta, his older sister, left before her because they thought it was too 'stressful' despite the fact that she'd been many a time before and was okay every time. Marlin was just being a jerk and didn't like the stares she got from men. Jealous idiot.
Scowling as there was a knock at the door, she flew to her feet. If it was company, she'd have to quickly deny them. No strange men, of course. She wasn't in the mood for any of those old perverts that visited to stare at her anyway. Swinging the door open, she opened her mouth but faltered extremely.
This…wasn't an old man.
He was a tall fellow, having her by at least eight inches. His skin was tanned, kind of sinewy but not without his muscles that were apparent under the white dress shirt with rolled up sleeves he was wearing. His features were elegantly defined. He had messy brown hair that was weirdly charming. And his eyes…they were…scarlet?
…He was gorgeous.
She blushed, at a complete loss. His hands were stuffed in his pocket and he was giving her a smile, "Hello, ma'am. I…will love you forever…"
Her heart skipped a beat as he groaned, "…If you can tell me where I can get some caffeine."
Celia's eyes widened and she couldn't help but laugh, "You're in luck."
"Ugh, thank you so much, you're an absolute life saver. I'm a zombie without my coffee in the morning."
She sat across from him at the table and watched, wide-eyed, as he managed to drink at least half the pot. He was practically chugging. He glanced at her before grimacing, laughing sheepishly, "Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Here I am drinking all your coffee like that…"
"No, no" she waved her hands quickly, "The two that actually drink it are away and will pour it out when they get back."
He looked horrified, "Pour out coffee?"
She giggled, "They don't like it cold."
He shook his head, "Still…"
She stared at him as he poured himself another cup. He was really pretty…if she could call a man pretty. But what was he doing all the way out here?
"Excuse me, uh…" she blinked, realizing she didn't even know his name.
He glanced at her before looking stunned, standing, his cheeks pink. She was startled as he bowed. "I'm so sorry, I'm so rude."
"No" she laughed softly, "Just pin it on the lack of coffee."
He straightened up and gave her a breathtaking smile. Who was he? Why was he so devastating?
"All right…but I'm Yagami Keiji."
Yagami Keiji…"I'm Sawamoto Celia."
He sat again and frowned, "Celia."
Her eyes widened and he blinked before blushing, "Sorry, that's just a new one for me. I think I've been back in Japan too long…"
"Oh, you're a foreigner?"
"Oh, Japan born and raised. I just studied in America a lot but I haven't been in a while…Celia. That's a lovely name" he complimented.
Do not blush, silly, she told herself as she fought off the reaction. She smiled instead, "Thank you. Um, you…studied?"
"Ah, yes, I'm trying to be a lawyer. I studied in college for five years…not something I want to do again" he laughed, shaking his head.
Celia gaped a little, "Five years…? How old are you?"
"24" he chuckled, closing his eyes as he drank.
"Wha'? You look like…eighteen at most."
He laughed again, "I expect to look like this forever. My dad's like, 50, and looks like he's 20. It's strange."
24…she was five years younger than him…did that matter?
"So Sawamoto-san…I have to ask you a very important question."
She glanced up at him and smiled, "Anything."
"Where do I get coffee?"
She laughed, "Very important, Yagami-san. You have to wait for Van."
"…Van?"
"He's a trader. He comes on Wednesdays and Fridays, or, any other day if he pleases and we buy things from him."
He stared at her, horrified, "But…it's Monday. I can't live that long."
She giggled and stood, walking to the cabinet and pulled out the canister that was almost empty but enough for about three pots. Handing it to him, he quickly shook his head, "Oh no, I've already taken too much."
"I have another canister out in the shed" she offered, "Take this as a gift…but in exchange, I have to ask you a very important question."
Keiji hesitantly took the jar and smiled, "Sure."
"What brings you to Wasuredani?"
He closed his eyes for a moment before chuckling, "For a year, I have to restore that farm over there to…the left…right…."
Celia was surprised, "Oh goodness…and after the year is over?"
"I go home" he sighed, "Then my coworker takes over. I owed him a favor."
She nodded, smiling encouragingly.
It was always dull here…
But, she knew this next year would be fascinating.
End Notes:
Play A Wonderful Life on Gamecube and pull up the map. In the corner, it reads 'Wasuredani', the original name of 'Forget-Me-Not Valley'.
Seiyu's is a company in Japan like Wal-Mart, a super retailer (also Wal-Mart seems to own stock in it). However, unlike in America, Japanese are apparently more wary of it because they translate cheaper into less quality. Or so the businessweek article I read from two years ago said. But this is why Steiner's like 'what?'
