Chapter 4: Tabby and Solitude

Hikari glanced over at the farm, it was 7:00 already… knowing Akari she'd be at it by now, although she probably wouldn't be too happy about it. She never had been a morning person. 'I wonder if Luke is a morning person at all' She looked over at the fields and got her answer. Akari was harvesting the crops, looking awake but tired, and Luke was running around watering everything in sight.

She saw Akari pulling the crops off, smiling showing Luke a Shinning Strawberry. He smiled and gave her a thumbs up. Hikari never could understand how Akari loved farming so much… after all ranching was so much better. Akari looked up and saw Hikari coming over and waved at her smiling warmly.

"Hey! Right on time! How are you doing?"

"ok… so um, what do I need to do?"

Akari dropped off the crops she had harvested into the shipping bin and motioned her over to a barn, that looked recently upgraded, and a worn out chicken coop. She raised an eyebrow at her sister when she saw the coop. Akari shrugged.

"It keeps them warm and keeps the rain and snow out. I see no need to upgrade it unless I get more chickens or ducks." She went into the barn and Hikari followed.

"Okay, here we have Fluffly the sheep, Oreo and Tabby the cows and flash the horse! Tabby is the problem child." She said glancing at the cow closest to them. "Fluffy is good about everything from brushing to milking…sheering you have to be extra gentle with her." Hikari nodded and looked at the pure white sheep.

"Oreo here is the world's gentlest animal. She is a sweetheart." Akari went over and patted her head and the cow mooed affectionately. "She was my second animal after my Duck Matilda. She LOVES it when you brush her, sometimes she doesn't let you stop!"

"Flash… if you feed and brush him, he likes you. He isn't the fastest animal in the town, but he'll get you where you need to go." Akari looked at her, "But he won't let you ride him until he trusts you. Which shouldn't take long." Akari giggled as Flash nuzzled her affectionately.

Hikari nodded, "Why Oreo?"

"What goes best with milk?" She exclaimed ,"Oreo cookies!" She giggled as fluffy raced over to Hikari nuzzling her hand.

"So, then is this one tabby?"

Akari frowned. And moved across from the cow, "yes, yes she is… and she is a problem. No matter what I do, I cannot get her to be good about anything. She bit me when I petted her, She kicked me during milking and brushing… she ran off with my sleeve attached to her bell…"

Hikari looked at her wide eyed, "Why do you still have her?"

Akari shrugged, "I honestly don't know, Luke wants me to sell her but…" Akari shrugged helplessly. "I just can't bring myself to do it. I was hoping you might be able to help… you've always had a way with stubborn animals and she's as stubborn as they come. Do you think you can handle it?"

Hikari looked at the beast wearily, "I can try… how bad can she be?"

Hikari lingered in the coop the next day, not wanting to go into the barn. SHE would be in there, that she-devil of a cow! The two ducks, Matilda and Annie, where quacking at her as she slowly petted them and the two chickens, Popuri and Lane, where in some battle over feed. The noise was getting to her but it was safer in here, at least in here she wasn't being chased out of the barn! She sighed and finally moved out. She would just save her until last. Tabby would not scare her away from the other animals that needed her care!

She went outside and saw with a sinking heart that Akari and Luke had already left, listening to her when she said they could handle it. Why did she have such a big mouth? Then she smiled seeing Callie the Collie laying by the barn, obviously let out to help her out in case of another yesterday. She looked around at the coffee, orange and Olive trees… the orange looked tall enough for her to climb up if she got chased again… especially since the two would be gone all morning paying a curtsey call on people who couldn't make the wedding, stopping in and saying hi.

She entered the barn slowly and felt her heart sink when she didn't see tabby anywhere, that was not a good sign.

The Wizard looked at Akari and Luke standing in the doorway. He had been so shocked seeing them there he had almost slammed the door in their faces!

"Hey Wiz." Akari said smiling and waving, holding Luke's hand. "Just came by to say hi!"

"H-Hello. Akari… Luke…."

"Sup!"

Akari glanced around her awkwardly, "Um, just came by to say hi and um, see how you were since you weren't at the wedding."

"I'm sorry, I had plans…." He realized then he might want to move so they could come in but he didn't.

"Um, so… You weren't here a few days ago but my sister is here right now along with my two friends… Apparently they all have jobs here, Hikari actually has one with me and the crazy cow."

"I see… no idea how to calm her down yet?"

They both looked down sad and Luke answered, "No, and yesterday I had to wrestle her away after she chased Hikari into the mill… literally!" He shook his head, "Do you know of any herbs or anything that could work?"

"I can… see…"

Akari rocked back and forth on her heels, "I suppose… we should be going then… um… see you later then… If you see Hikari can you say hi? She's having a hard time and could use a friend."

"…"

He watched them leave and go over to the inn. Slowly he shut the door, trying to recover. Seeing the wedding group had been bad enough, but now… at his door, it was a smack in the face. The girl he had loved… it was weird…

He thought about the ring he had seen on her hand and on Luke's, symbolizing the unity they had. Something he would never experience… he should have moved when he had the chance… not that it mattered… he was a wizard, doomed to a life of solitude… no one had broken his barrier, except her, and even she hadn't fully cracked it.

He moved over to his books and star charts. She never had understood his passion for stars. She liked them well enough, but as a romantic… not a serious way… maybe it was best he was alone after all… perhaps it was better if he stayed up in his house…

He thought of Hikari… she needed a friend? Why in the world did Akari think he could be it?