Your reviews inspire me more and more every day. This is the penultimate chapter of the story, as according to my plan. Haha. I hope I give the story the ending it deserves after putting it on hiatus for two years. I didn't expect to find lots of people who love both Naruto and Harvest Moon. I feel like I found my place here on earth. XD Thank you all! Anyway, on with the story. c:

I placed the last dishes on the sink as I started to hum another song. Squirting liquid soap on the plates and pans that I used earlier, I gently stroked them with my finger till their ceramic surface was as smooth and as clean as they originally were.

I am now twenty years old, but still living like seventeen. I don't think I've grown much physically, though I've managed to get some curves and flats where they're supposed to be, and Sakura says I'm taller. Plus I've less stutters now, so they say. Still, life has been exactly the same as it used to be.

I don't know how to react when I recall the past seasons. The spring had been an excellent season to welcome someone who came from the dead of winter. The summer… and the fall as well. They had been very kind to me and Sasuke.

Sasuke…I whispered his name – hissed, actually – adding all the venom and bitterness I had in me. I placed the last dishes on the dish rack and wiped my hands with the kitchen towel hanging about. I sighed.

The morning after the starry night, Sasuke was nowhere to be found. He wasn't beside me when I woke up. Certainly nowhere near my bed, or inside my room, or about the house. He wasn't found inside the town as well. He was simply gone; as if he never happened at all. But he did leave a message on the bedside table, with a beautiful diamond securing the paper on the surface. It says "Adwang banwa." I have no idea what it says. I didn't care. He used me, hadn't he? I hate him. I hate him so much. I am glad he left. I am glad he left me, just so to prove that he and I weren't meant to be together.

…not. It's two years since he left me and I still can't get over him. There are still so many nights that I cry myself to sleep, and I just can't help it. I hate the fact that I still love him – him that happened two years ago. I still can't believe how stupid I am falling head over heels to someone I barely knew. I can't believe I fell for a wanderer, who would eventually leave me and, as his title suggests, wander around the world to pursue dreams. I fell and, damn, I fell hard.

"Hina-chan?" Sakura's voice rang outside the house. All of the townspeople gather at the summit to watch the sun rise and greet the new year. Sakura came to fetch me, like she did last year.

"Come on in, Sakura. The door's open." I called from the kitchen, taking my apron off. I smiled as she entered my house, bringing basketful of apples and honey. She had been so supportive ever since Sasuke left. The other townspeople have been sympathetic alright, but after several weeks they all went back into their daily lives. Only Sakura had been nice enough to stay back in time two years ago along with me.

"Good midnight, Hinata. Happy New year!" She said, jumping to hug me.

"Happy New Year to you, too!" I said, hugging her back, the basket swaying wildly, hitting me on my side.

"Oh I'm sorry for that," she said, smiling apologetically, letting me take the container. I assured her that it's no problem, and I offered my sofa while I went upstairs to change my dress. I comb my hair and fixed myself at the bathroom, and the next several minutes we're off to the summit.

The chilly breeze whipped my hair out of place.

"Why is it so windy tonight?" Sakura called beside me, her eyelashes fighting so hard to protect her eyes from the incoming wind.

"I d-don't know," I replied, fighting the wind myself. Snow had drifted along the wind as well, further lowering the temperature.

"Be careful," Sakura reminded me as I put one step on the creaking wooden bridge. We had just passed Lake Mine and were now half-way through the climb. The bridge creaked again, and I felt that it would never support my weight.

It did.

We gingerly hiked onto the peak after passing through the bridge, and now the wind had seemed to lie down. We could already hear the mutterings of the townspeople.

"Ah, good thing you were safe," Asuma called when he saw us rush in.

"Yes, the Harvest Goddess must have seen over us," Sakura replied, her cheeks flushing pink from the cold. The other people gave a hearty laugh, and Naruto was decent enough to offer his jacket for both of us.

"Y-you take it," I said to Sakura, who just nodded at me. I was a little bit chubbier than her, and her skin was already quite pale, so she needs the jacket more than I do. She took it and thanked Naruto.

"This has yet to be the coldest New Year's Eve yet," Kurenai mused, cuddling close to her husband.

"Sure is," Asuma replied in return, puffing fog out of his mouth. We all huddled closer together. We waited for dusk.

"Are you ready for your wish?" Gaara's voice came from beside me. I could feel his heat emerging from his body. He was looking at me, with an uneven smirk playing on his lips. Wishes… I've learned my lesson from them; you do get what you wish for. I wish for something new and incredible two years ago, and I got it. Only to be taken away from me. So I turned to Gaara and smiled.

"Of c-course," I started, looking at the dark sea that was as wide as the horizon in view, "I wish that you get to keep w-whatever you're wishing for."

With my response he blushed a little, then chuckled, then adjusted the cap that was on his head. He cleared his throat.

"Whatever my wish…? I get my wish granted, and it will never be broken?"

"Never. That's w-what I'm wishing." I told him, sincerely, and started playing with the snow that's building up in my foot. I stomped it for a while, then made some crude circles, then flattened them again with the heels of my shoes. Gaara hadn't reacted. I didn't know if I said a bad thing or not. But that's really what I want this year. He's been such a good friend all these time - I'm thinking of even giving him a chance, now that Sasuke's out of my life.

"This is it! The year of youth!" Rock lee calls, and we people gather around. Surprisingly, everyone is present; Jiraiya had even the congeniality to come. He was standing near the edge, warning everyone to stay behind him and so we did. Gaara stood on my right and Sakura stood on my left. Beside her was Naruto, then Kiba and Akamaru, and behind us were Neji, Tenten, Ino, Kakashi, and so on. What an incredible sight we must be.

"Here it is," Sakra whispered to me in a sing-songy voice. I shifted my weight, my heart pounding a little stronger than normal. Soon enough the sky turned from prussian blue into a light hearted sky as the sun slowly but surely rose from its slumber. Everyone was silent, each wishing into their hearts content.

I inhaled and sent my wish into a prayer. This time… whatever Gaara's wish is… let him keep it.

Then I smiled, looking at the sun continue its flight. The other townspeople were finished with their wishes, and were soon gasping in delight with some 'ooh's and 'aah's as the sun's ray filled the sky. Everything was sparkling golden now, and I could feel the heat on my cheeks.

"Happy New year, everyone!" Tsunade shouted, and we, her minions, shrieked in joy. Chouji declared party at his inn, and everyone was invited. Naruto and Kiba were the first to rush down the mountain, racing for the first place. We all laughed at their comical show, and soon we followed after them.

Gaara and I were the last on the trail; we were walking quite slowly in contrast of the other townspeople's joyous pace. I stooped to take a handful of snow on my hand, mindlessly making a ball on my palm.

"What d-did you wish for, Gaara?" I asked out of nowhere, laughing as we saw Lee tumble down the path.

He sighed, looking at the Lake Mine as we passed by it. He seemed to be deep in thought, his hands on his pocket and his eyes staring from one tree to another. He fidgeted in his reply.

"My wish… was your happiness, Hina-chan."