A/N: I'm very sorry for not posting this sooner. Thank you, Hatter, for reminding me that this still needs to get done _ ... Don't ever be afraid to yell at me until I post another chapter. I won't be offended, I promise! Sometimes I need that extra nudge to get myself going. Anyway, I apologize for the tardiness of uploading this chapter. A lot has been going on and it's quite difficult to balance everything at once. I'll try to at the very least post a chapter a week and even more than that if possible. Thank you for reading this far and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Also, please read the Author's Note at the end of the chapter when you are done for a special announcement!


We Can't

Chapter 8

We sent countless letters back and forth, making plans and organizing the reunion of Bluebell and Konohana. I was so thankful for Dirk's role in our plan. Not only was he able to exchange letters between us, but he also had a lot of wonderful ideas to add. It only took us a week to nearly perfect our plan.

"Let's go over it one more time", Dirk said to Reina and me. "Since the Cooking Festival is the only time when Bluebell and Konohana get together, we'll use it to our advantage. However, all they ever do is brag and feed their ego if they win, or moan, groan, and dis the other team if they lose… that wouldn't help anybody. So, we'll—unbeknownst to everyone else—force a tie. Howard, Laney, and Cam have agreed to join the competition. At the same time, you two will have to join. The only problem now is finding a third person. Since I technically don't have a residency in either town, I can't." We all exchanged glances with each other and pondered this information. I had known from the beginning that asking Dirk was out of the option, but now that our plan was finally laid out, I realized the difficulty of our final task. We couldn't go around asking people randomly, especially considering my history with Cam that still seemed to be a buzzing rumor.

Reina sensed my worry and smiled at me. "Let's all give it a little thought and meet back at my place tomorrow."

"Thanks you guys."

Dirk placed his hand on my shoulder. "We'd do anything for a friend." Reina nodded.

On my way home from Reina's house, I peered over to the blocked off tunnel through the mountain. How simple it would've been if that path had never been closed. I walked over and peered inside. It was dark and cold. I took a few steps in, feeling my way around. I knew that I probably shouldn't have gone in, but something felt like it was pulling me. It didn't take long before my hands felt the giant pieces of rubble from the cave-in. The rocks were rough and cool against my fingers.

Suddenly, a flash of blue-green light resonated from behind me. I was startled and turned around quickly. When I did, I was only a few feet away from a beautiful woman. I knew instantly that she was the Harvest Goddess. I said the only thing that came to mind. "Y-You're real?"

She giggled. "Of course I'm real! Why do you think your crops have been growing so healthy and strong? It's not all because of your hard work, I assure you." I just stared at her, my mouth slightly agape. She continued. "Well, I suppose you're wondering why I'm here! It's quite simple, of course. I know what you and your friends have been up to. I'm quite pleased with all of you. You see… many, many years ago, I was the one who caused this cave-in. I feel quite terrible about it now, though. I'd clear it up in a jiffy… but if I did that, it'd just lead to more fighting. So! Here's where you come in! With your little plan, clear the nasty thoughts out of their minds so I can open the tunnel! Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezey, right?"

"Well, you see, Harvest Goddess… I'm really unsure. We need a third person from Konohana who wants to see the towns back together. I don't know how to find anyone."

"Kana is the one you seek, child, but it'll be much more difficult for you to win his acceptance than you think." She closed her eyes a moment. "I know you can do it, but you'll have to remain very strong. Know where your loyalties lie, Lillian. Know it well and do not falter. If you do, this'll get more complicated than you could ever have imagined. This journey begins sooner than you think." She looked up for a brief moment and sighed. "It is time for me to depart. I'll be watching over you." She winked and her body began to slowly disappear.

"W-Wait!" I called. "I don't quite understand. I've never even spoken to Kana before! How do I—" It was too late. Her body was gone and now I was just speaking to the empty darkness of the tunnel.

"This journey begins sooner than you think." What does she even mean by that? As I walked back home and came around the corner, my parents were outside and standing near the little barn with a horse and non-other than Kana.

"Welcome home", my mother said to me.

I was too busy staring at the horse. "What's the horse for?"

Kana came over and smiled. He reached out his hand and I hesitantly shook it. "Hey, I'm Kana. I know we haven't formally met before." He smiled.

"I'm Lillian. Nice to meet you."

"We just rented this horse from Kana, dear", my mother said. "He's much stronger than our pony Maribel, so he can help us pull the heavier carts we have."

"He's a very nice horse", I said. I ran my hand up and down his hind leg, which he seemed to like.

"We actually just adopted this guy so he doesn't have a name yet", Kana said. "Why don't you name him, Lillian."

I thought for a moment. "Umm… I'll have to think it over."

Kana smiled. "I'll be looking forward to hearing it."

We all spoke for a bit about the horse and then my parents and I went inside for dinner. It was the most awkward dinner of my life. "Kana seems very sweet doesn't he?" my mother said.

"Yeah", I replied.

"His hair is simply fabulous. It looks so soft… I wonder what he does to it."

"Yeah."

"And those tattoos of his make him seem so mysterious, don't they?" She winked. My mouth was nearly as agape as when I saw the Harvest Goddess.

"Yeah, mom… why are we talking about Kana?"

She looked over to my father who just proceeded to nod. "You see, darling. You're sixteen years old now and I understand that young ladies develop attractions to the opposite sex… and I think you're ready to start dating!" I took a large sip of water, avoiding having to reply to my mother's insanity. "That's why we've spoken with Kana and we've arranged a date! Oh, isn't this wonderful?" I spit the water out everywhere.


Important A/N: (PLEASE READ): So the name of Lillian's new horse is undecided! I'd like to give you guys a chance to pick the name. The process is going to be pretty simple. I've asked my mother to write a number from 1-10 on paper. I haven't seen the number and she won't give it back to me until the night of Sunday, August 25th at night. Just leave a comment with the number you'd like to guess and what you'd like the name of the horse to be. Please don't suggest an inappropriate name! On Sunday, when my mother reveals the number, the first person to have commented with that number will win. :) Good luck~