Thank you for all the reviews!

And MarianFontz, you seem to have this sort of psychic power to know when Angel and/or Devil Claire will appear... Good job XD

Disclaimer: Santa didn't allow me to take over Natsume this year again, so I still don't own Harvest Moon... Maybe next year...

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Claire yawned sleepily as she shuffled around her tiny house. Getting up in the morning was hard. The blonde decided quickly to drink coffee, nothing else would wake her up and she had a lot to do.

With a cup of caffeine in her hand, the smell alone allowing her eyes to open normally instead of drooping, Claire quickly changed out of her pajamas into blue jeans, a lavender sleeveless shirt and a gray jacket. While sipping her coffee and feeling more awake with every second, Claire walked up to her calender. Today was the 6th of Spring. Claire frowned. 6th of Spring... There was something she had to remember, something important. Something that wouldn't come back to her mind.

While she washed her cup, Claire went over the possibilities. Was it a wedding? No... A party? A festival? Double no. '...Birthday you idiot! It's Jill's birthday!' Claire jumped back slightly. Great. Both Angel Claire and Devil Claire were here now.

Angel glared at Claire, 'I can't believe you forgot! I thought you would have learned your lesson last time!'

Claire tilted her head to the side. Last time?

Devil sneered, 'You don't remember that either? That's it! Time for a flashback!'

Flashback

Claire was sitting in her tiny living room in her apartment. She was exhausted and had decided to watch TV, the cartoons burning the few brain cells she had left at the moment.

Driing! Claire jumped up at the scratchy and annoying sound the phone made when it rang. Irritated, she picked it up.

"Claire Collins," she mumbled.

"Hi Claire! This is Jill!" Claire arched an eyebrow, why was her cousin calling her?

"Hi Jill. Is there a problem?" Claire asked, Jill's voice was too sweet.

"Nooo, not at all except that..." Jill paused and Claire felt fear settle in her stomach, what had she done now? "Except that... YOU FORGOT MY BIRTHDAY AGAIN!!"

Oops. Claire's brain went into hyper mode, trying to find an excuse. A light bulb appeared over her head.

"I didn't forget Jill! I was just tired so I couldn't call this morning, I was going to call you later anyway!" Claire smirked, proud with her excuse, she was awesome.

"Nice try Claaaiiire," Jill said drawing out her name, "But that excuse won't work. My birthday was three weeks ago."

Oh. Claire laughed nervously, boy was she in trouble now! This had to be the fourth year in a row she forgot...

"I'm going to warn you one last time Claire," Jill said, her voice murderous, "If you forget next year, I will find you. Wherever you are, I'll find you and I'll chop half of your hair off in your sleep!"

Claire gulped and her hand went instinctively to her hair, her beautiful long hair.

"Anyway, it was nice talking to Clairie!" Jill said, all bubbly and all smiles once again.

The line went dead as Jill hung up. As she put the phone down, Claire promised herself to never, never forget her cousin's birthday ever again.

End Flashback

Claire stood in front of her sink with her mouth wide open. Satisfied, Angel and Devil Claire 'poof'-ed away. The young woman snapped out of her trance and into action, running out of her house.

"I have to find a phone!!"

The Inn

Gray got up from the table where he was eating breakfast, preparing himself mentally for another day at work. Even if it was his day off, Saibara wanted Gray to work a few extra hours. The old nag. Gray walked towards the door, nodding good-bye to Ann and Cliff. The latter completely oblivious to the way Ann was trying to flirt with him. With a chuckle Gray opened the door. Only to be knocked down to the floor and momentarily overwhelmed by blond locks and the smell of lily shampoo.

"Oof," Gray breathed out, rubbing the back of his head gingerly. Ouch, that stings.

Claire looked down and blushed bright red at their current position. How did she end up straddling him?! She quickly stood up and offered Gray a hand.

"So sorry!" Claire squeaked, "I need a phone!" And she was off.

Gray blinked, he didn't have time to put in a single word! Shrugging slightly, the redhead stepped outside. She didn't even let me say hi.. he thought reproachfully. Gray blinked again, what the heck had he just thought? That was weird... Weirder still was the fact that he cared about greeting her. He never cared if he forgot to say hi to someone!

Admit it, a little voice whispered in the back of his head, you're interested by this girl. She wasn't afraid of you and instead of cowering when you snapped at her, she snapped right back! You've got to admit you're a bit curious! Not to mention she's as slippery as an eel... Gray sighed, why were little voices always right? It was true that all the girls in this town were either scared of him or his sister. And even then, Ann would always find a reason to leave when he started becoming less... pleasant.

Ok, so this girl, Claire caught his attention. So? It wasn't like they were friends. Gray winced immediately, he could almost see the little voice materializing behind him to smack him on the head. That's why you want to know her you idiot! You'd like her to be a friend! I can't believe I'm the conscience of somebody this thick-headed!

Gray sighed as he entered his grandfather's shop. This was going to be a long day.

The Inn again

Claire bit her lip as she held the phone next to her ear. Come on! She thought, come on, answer! As time passed and no one picked up,Claire's mind began drifting off, the encounter with Gray had been embarrassing to say in the least. She realized that they still hadn't talked under normal circumstances.

Too wrapped up in her own thoughts, Claire didn't realize that Jill finally answered the phone.

"Hello? Who is this?" Claire didn't respond, her mind floating around somewhere else.

Jill stayed silent for a second, "Haha, very funny." And hung up.

The dial tone rang harshly in Claire's ears, what? Oops. Burning from embarrassment, Claire quickly called her cousin again.

"Yes?" Jill's snapped as she answered.

"Hey Jill?" Claire said, mustering up some cheerfulness in her voice, "Happy birthday!"

"..." Claire snickered, she could picture Jill standing there with her mouth wide open.

"Surprised? See I didn't forget!" Claire said, smiling brightly, "Ever since you told me to never forget about it, well... I didn't!"

"Claire?" Jill's voice was emotionless.

"Yeah?"

"Remember how last year, when I threatened you, it was on the 6th of Spring? What did I tell you?"

"You told me you would chop my hair off!" Claire said, proud of herself.

"I told you that my birthday was three weeks earlier." Jill said, her voice dangerously soft, "My birthday isn't on the 6th of Spring. It's the 12th of Winter."

"...!" Claire's voice stayed in her throat, "12th of Winter?"

Jill laughed at the stunned silence, "It's ok Claire, at least you remembered something... You always were a bit of an airhead so this was a nice surprise..."

"Yeah, I kno-what?!" Airhead?

"Anyway, I've got to go! Bye Claire!"

"But I...!" Claire sighed and put the phone down, Jill had hung up. Stupid witch with a b...

Later that afternoon

Gray slammed the door of the Forge. Stupid old man! The redhead was pissed. Extremely pissed. His extra day of 'work' had been spent arguing with his grandfather. Saibara had started making sarcastic comments the moment Gray had put his foot inside the workshop. So of course, they had started fighting. And like most of the time, Gray had stormed out of the workshop a few hours later without having done any work.

Grumbling under his breath, the redhead decided to go pound a few rocks in the mines to cool his temper. With decided steps, he stomped down the path towards the forest and consequently the mines. As he approached the small path that would lead him to Gotz's house, Gray passed Popuri who gave the a small cry of fright and jumped out of the way.

Wow, Gray thought, I must look really angry. Eh, whatever... He continued on his way. As he came near the carpenter's house, something caught his eye. There, hiding behind the house facing away from him was the little blond that had occupied his mind earlier that day. She was looking around the corner at something that Gray couldn't see. Anger was completely washed away and forgotten in the dust to be replaced by curiosity. What is she doing? Puzzled, Gray saw that she had a few sheets of paper and a red marker laying on the ground next to her feet.

For a few moments, Gray stood there, uncertain of what his next actions where going to be. Should I go over and talk to her? A minute later, Gray sighed and turned to continue on his way. I'm a coward. But slender fingers wrapped around his arms and pulled him next to the house before he could take three steps.

Surprised, Gray looked down and saw Claire smiling at him brightly, a finger on her lips.

"Don't make a sound," she whispered and she turned back around to peek around the corner of the house.

"What do you mean-" Gray didn't have time to finish his sentence as a hand clamped over his mouth, efficiently making him shut up. Claire looked at him with an annoyed expression.

"I told you to not make a sound!" she mumbled quietly, "if they hear us, we're dead!"

Gray arched an eyebrow. …? Claire slowly removed her hand.

"You can look too, but try to be discreet and do not get in my way, understood?"

"But I..." Gray was careful to keep his voice low as he pointed towards the mines.

Claire shook her head, "They'll see you." And without another explanation, she turned around to peek again. Gray sighed but decided to see what the whole thing was about and shifted so he could sneak glances around the corner too.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Hihi, another tiny cliffhanger XD but this one isn't too dramatic so no worries...

But this chapter...! It took such a long time to write!

Uh, so I won't be able to write that much anymore since I'm getting out of the hospital and I have to catch up all the work I missed ^^' but I'll try to upload the next chappie as soon as possible.

El: Sure... Please review! That will make her write faster!

Me: Totally! Nothing makes me more determined than a good review!