A/N: I still can't believe how amazing this HM game turned out to be. Comic relief that had me laughing to my heart's content and then moments that made me feel genuine sympathy about certain characters and grasp a more profound message from their way of life. My only regret is that I didn't get to play it back when it first got out and had some fans' attention. But better late than never I guess! Have fun reading!

Summary: A pricey deed can easily make for a glass prison, the golden sands its remaining days; Leaf Valley's hourglass is already half-empty. An ambitious woman with a heart of ice means to tear down the village, an amusement park to rise from its ashes. Hopes now fall upon a young man's shoulders, but will those entrusted embers be enough to help him stand up against the fury of winter?

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Characters and universe in this fic belong to Natsume, Marvelous Entertainment, etc.


Chapter 1. A night with no end in sight

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"RENTON! CHAAARLES!"

Furious yells shook the entire organization to its foundations. Demanding for delivered results over mere vigilance, the message was clear.

"Be right there boss!"

It was another late night at the Funland company.

How many hours had they been in there? Or better yet, how much time had passed since they moved into this despicable, monotonous, life-sucking building? Twelve months. You had to be kidding right? That reality was a pill too big for the two staffers to swallow. They only wished throughout a whole year they'd have gotten used to the overtime slaps that queued one after the other almost on a daily basis; and some slaps they were. Two lone men blitzing up and down the floors of the company leaving no stone unturned in order to find the necessary documents that devil of a woman needed for her paperwork.

"Come on Renton! Do you see it anywhere?"

The auburn-haired man wheezed as if life itself was about to bail from his lungs, his chubby associate sweating buckets. They ransacked the entire file depository, drenched not as much in fatigue as in the thought of conceding failure in the presence of Alice's unforgiving gaze.

"I think that's the one Charles, it says— Hey! Give it back!"

In their upstairs expedition they would often trample each other, like game in disarray desperately trying to escape from the menace of a fierce tiger. From that point on it was always a competition of who hands it first. All that for a long shot at favoritism? Of course not. On the other hand, mercy had a nice ring to it. As if they were possessed they finally stormed inside her office, their etiquette all over the place.

"What the hell took you so long!"

Delicate hands slammed on the cluttered desk, the force enough to send a few papers momentarily airborne. Diamond gold earrings tinkled audibly as her petite physique stood with no room for excuses.

But oh dear god... Suddenly it was there! A reward that was above and beyond anything they could ever ask for. The two men swallowed guiltily, their throats reaching a new level of dry. No matter how many times they'd seen the same scene it'd always be a blessing from god.

Alice's impossible aesthetics at full display.

When it came to choice of garb their boss seriously didn't mess around, far from it. Slender arms clad into what otherwise appeared to be a high executive's black suit, with the exception of the sleeves burnishing with golden cuffs that were left unbuttoned. Her shoulders were padded to look puffy as one would expect, and then... If one made the mistake and started checking her from the extension of her arm upwards, they were in for an abrupt wake up.

A single black crop top bra, the band also golden, with a dragonfly-shaped brooch decorating the left side of it. A lariat necklace that cost more than their salaries combined hung almost all the way down to her cleavage. Her mounds were just at the ideal size, molded to shape the testament of an unblemished and youthful ripeness that blended perfectly with the rest of her dainty outline. Talking about light clothing, Alice's entire abdomen laid bare to everyone's unprepared gaze, revealing a naturally fit body and a pelvis with quite the curves.

She also wore a claret colored sash at her waist, tying to her right side with the ends reaching way down her polished thigh. Her skirt was short to a provocative yet professional degree, with golden cropped edges to complement the rest of her apparel. And while they couldn't peek further down because of the desk, the distinctive tapping sound was a giveaway of the golden high-heels she liked.

"We are on a clock here! Stop wasting my time!"

Whenever her temper got the better of her their boss's demeanor would become quite intimidating indeed, yet always in a manner that was no short of elegance. It was one among the many refined complexities that veiled her amazing leadership qualities and bewitching class. In their heads they always pictured her shouting at them with a dismissive whip of her majestic pigtails of pure platinum grace and her emerald eyes looking down on them with an aura of contempt. A woman that was truly the cream of the crop. If only she weren't such a workaholic.

"We are around the clock, you mean.."

Charles mumbled mostly to himself as he glimpsed away, posture at attention and forearms reserved behind his sleek build as always. No mutinous intent was going to slip from this man's honed discipline. The meek baldy on the other hand couldn't help but draw his brows together.

"Boss can't we call it a day? It's already 8 p.m. and we've been short of breath since morn—"

"Balance sheets! CHOP CHOP!"

Before those uncompromising green eyes they felt themselves shrinking, and with them, all the little courage they had to voice a grumble.

"Yes boss..."

[...]

Even when the pair had their work done Alice would keep them around to assist her in finishing her own assignments. Well, she'd keep them behind actually. Their job was to stand on each side and hand her important paperwork so she wouldn't have to cause further unnecessary upheaval on her desk. At first Renton and Charles believed this to be a form of unconventional enterprise culture stemming from Alice's own eccentric nature, yet over the years they grew used to it while realizing the significance of their seemingly tedious task.

Having her two trusted bodyguards at her side helped Alice go the extra mile she needed, a mile that was crucial for Funland. In times like this one could truly marvel at what made Alice the leader she was. Her tenacity and cold-blooded focus, never letting herself buckle even under extreme stress. That was Funland's CEO.

[...]

After half an hour or so she finally sighed in relief, following her example the two men silently exhaled the stale air as well. Judging from her pace she seemed to be wrapping up, so Charles decided to tend an eye when she suddenly seemed skeptic over some details. Normally he wouldn't even think about peeping inside his boss' work, she'd immediately feel the prying eyes and throw a fit at them. But hell, they were almost done, taking a gander after the worst was over wouldn't cause the second coming. If anything he was just concerned at what troubled her.

Charles' eyes widened as he discerned the context of the paper she was musing over. Payrolls. He discreetly cast an eye to assess whether Renton had caught wind of it, but.. God damn, Charles mentally facepalmed when he remembered Renton was about an inch taller than the desk. He faced straight again, this time with newfound commitment. Yeah, it was all up to him. This was his one chance to discover whether bonuses had been added in the next month's wages. Regrettably however, he was a moment too late in realizing Alice had stopped tapping her pen.

"Are you curious, Charles?"

The corner of her lip curled knowingly to a smile full of malicious leverage.

Her assistant had been caught in the act. A foreboding chill shot up his spine as Charles flinched and jerked back to place.

"No that's.. I mean..!" With a hand now barricading his mouth it was clear as day he was fumbling for words. "Boss I believe we got our wires crossed there, I didn't—!"

Next thing he knew Alice spun in her leather seat, arms already fastened on her chest and soon crossing one leg over the other to initiate the prosecution.

"You know, I think you're right worrying so much about the payrolls, they look quite inefficient."

Charles took notice at how Alice's elevated leg had begun to bob up and down dangerously, at the same time struggling to shake off the thought how seductive the subtle movements of her long elven legs were. He was digging his own grave there, and what's worse is that he knew he was playing right into her ruse like a simpleton yet couldn't help it.

"So I'll just scratch a digit from this month's wages and everything will be fine!"

Alice wore an exhilarating smile, case solved.

"Boss, a cut?" Pale color plagued Charles' expression, Alice had touched a sensitive chord there, "But that means I'd have to start buying my suits from discounts... like Renton does."

His rolled eye could just not unscrew from that cheap purple vest, how utterly... unfashionable. Had he scavenged that thing at the down-market or something?

"For real Charles, again..?"

Renton who was watching from the sidelines prepared his eardrums, he knew well this was just the calm before the storm. In a bat of the lid the silver haired CEO leapt from her chair and was up in arms.

"How many times have I told you it's really annoying when you poke your nose where it doesn't belong! Do you realize I feel like I have spies breathing down my neck!"

Charles was in a pickle, especially with a sharp manicured finger pointing right below his face. The only crossed wire here is the one that's going around your neck, that's what that finger meant. However the accused held his chin high upon hearing the last part.

"I'd never spy the boss." Charles released one of his hands to brush the strands of hair hovering without permission on his forehead. Eventually his hand stopped halfway through to address her with the edge of his eye. "You are too beautiful for me to venture such a lowly act."

He fixed his tie with tactful care, then returned to attention.

Renton was shamefully shaking his head, Alice had cringed; not in the good sense. She was wincing awkwardly and her expression was so blue and gloomy one could swear she was sick.

"Dear god.." Her tone was shaky and reluctant, as if some arctic frost had swallowed the room's temperature, "Why did I even ask?"

"Hey, do you hear that?" Renton turned over his shoulder, a brow cocking visibly above the opaque round sunglasses, "Is that the elevator coming up?"

They all fell to an extended pause with Renton and Charles exchanging uncertain stares. Silence was drawing yet again to awkward proportions, much to Alice's quiet wrath that was building up as nobody's tongue seemed to get loose.

"So? Who the heck fell behind schedule today?"

Arms latched at her waist, a heel tapping with abundant petulance as she awaited for the spilled beans.

"I'm sure all our employees have finished their shifts."

Charles seemed to grow cautious, facts were leaving little to nothing for questioning.

"Maybe the janitor?"

The short man suggested with a vague gesture.

"Don't be an idiot Renton." Insulted about Alice's eyes averted shut. "Like I'd allow a janitor lay their hands on an executive's office. This place is too valuable for maintenance to be any less than fastidious, hence I personally—"

"Heya!"

They were so absorbed in Alice's incessant rambling that no one picked up the footsteps behind them.

"Sorry I'm visiting so late, I was lucky the door was still unlocked so.."

The familiar friendly voice popped Alice's bubble who now stared blankly in front of her. She felt her ears were going to flap.

"...Jack?"

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03.12.16

End of CH.1

P.S: Don't forget to drop a review! Share your opinion with me, it always keeps a writer going! ~TBC