Author's Note: I was looking at something today and realized that my church description is sort of like Waku Waku Animal March instead of Tree of Tranquility. Kind of ironic… Oh well. And is Poen the blonde boy with the white bandana? I was hoping I described him instead of Perry of Oz… which would be awkward if I did. ARG!! This would be so much easier if I actually had the game and a wii! Oh well. I only know for sure what the marriage candidates look like so I can better describe them and their family that resembles them—or at least that I would imagine resembled them. Apologies for screw ups anyway. Also I am totally undecided on who Arika will end up dating… not that it's the main focus although I'm open to suggestions. Also I'm sure some of you noticed the rating changed to M. I'm kind of thinking I went a little overboard on the foul language and seeing as Tao is turning out the way he is AND that Arika (Akari) and Takeru are as close as they are… it kind of has some adult themes. Sorry about that.

Today was laundry day/find a job day/feel like absolute crap day. I begrudgingly scrubbed at the washboard I had been given by Roomi and Kotomi. Why did a normal washing machine have to be so outrageously out of my price range? Takeru seemed to be having a perfectly fine day… much to my dismay. He should be miserable with me, but no. Of course my dearest brother was waltzing about our plot of land, a spring in his step, whistling away as he carried a hoe over his shoulder after having tilled enough soil to plant in. Cresson had apparently given him seeds for some random crop. I growled and scrubbed harder sloshing the soap up onto my face by accident.

"I hate you," I said to no one in particular really being that the bubbles weren't really alive. Jiji was gone for the day. Apparently I was in such a foul mood I had even scared my mini-me off. He had left this morning commenting that he hadn't seen Spic or Ton in a while and needed to visit them. I guessed that the two people he'd named were the white and grey sprites.

I had vowed to myself to take a break around five or so and head up to the clinic to see if I could get a job there… and if that didn't work then I would keep searching until I didn't have to accept the offer of working at the fishing place. Not that I wouldn't enjoy fishing. It was relaxing and had turned out to be much easier than I had thought, but I didn't want to deal with Tao. I would have to do other things in my spare time like help Takeru with our to-be-garden after today and I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, but there wasn't much that could be done. If I could have done anything I was actually good at maybe then I would have been a little more optimistic. Looking back on my previous experiences with farming this would probably not end very pretty. I could easily picture myself swinging that hoe right into my own shin by mistake.

"Do you want some help?" Takeru was standing above me running a grimy hand through his hair. Just how was he so talented at this hick life thing? He had it down to a science. I shook my head at the very thought of his disgusting hands mixing into my fairly clean soap water and getting on my clothes.

"You should rest a bit. Besides, I'm almost done. This is my last one." I mumbled only because that was all I could manage to do at the time. Oh, if only he knew how jealous of him I was at the moment. He was so perfectly suited to be where he was now.

"Then I guess I'll go over to visit Taylor and maybe stop by the inn. Good luck with getting a job," he said cheerily. I cringed. Takeru had stayed on working part time at the Souffle Farm. Of course he would. He'd liked the job and he and Taylor really did get along well enough. I was just stuck being unhappy and scared to say anything. I didn't want Takeru to think I wanted to go home. The incident the night before last hadn't been exclusively his fault. What drives a person to turn to drinking? They are upset about something or want to have a good time, or both. Takeru was apprehensive I would leave before that night and that was what had brought him to give in and drink with Taylor. I was sure of it. I hadn't been conceived at the same time as him for no reason. I knew my brother. So I would suffer in silence until I had convinced myself that I actually kind of liked this place. I'd get a job as reassurance of my permanence and maybe a boyfriend or something. On second thought, scratch that last part. I would die an old widow in denial.

And then I was done. I celebrated inwardly, then externally by giving the wooden bucket of suds-water a swift kick which sent it back a couple feet and toppled over onto its side letting the contents flow out into the grass. I would have to find out how much a washing machine was and put it on my "To Do" list. That entails making a list first which required paper of which I had none. Sighing I just made a mental note to swing by the general store and talk to them about it. Maybe that Phoebe girl would cut me a discount if she wasn't too disturbed by the last time I had seen her.

Well, here goes nothing. I would go in search of employment. Chiffon Tailoring was out of the question since Tao had pointed out that they weren't hiring anyway. The road I was on right now lead up by the Kirsh in and then down a little further and I would be at the clinic which was my first stop. When I entered the little bell on the door jingled and the older woman, In'ya, looked up from a book she was reading behind the counter. She then placed a silver string through the middle of the book, snapped it shut, and proceeded to stare at me.

"Miss Yumei," she began. "is something wrong?"

I shook my head and approached the desk trying not to look as annoyed as I had been all day long. "I was wondering if you would like some part time help around the office. I can do anything you need."

The older woman was silent in thought for a moment before she nodded and pulled out a slip of paper from a drawer in the counter. "Fill out this form and I'll discuss your application with the doctor while you do that. If you meet his expectations I don't see any reason we shouldn't hire you on." Then she smiled. "We do need an extra set of hands. It would be greatly appreciated."

Well that just made it sound like me getting hired would be a sure thing. This was a lot easier than I had thought it would be. I guess all that was left was to see if Wo—er the doctor liked the idea of having me around to help. I doubted I could get away with calling him by his name in a work setting being that if this turned out he would be my boss. I nodded to the woman as she went turned to exit the counter and go through a door to a room in the back. And then it was to writing. I filled out the application to the best of my ability. Name, date of birth, address, cell phone number, ground phone—didn't have one of those, family, blah, blah, blah…

"Miss Yumei," I heard and pulled my head up to see that the dark headed man had entered the lobby and stood about a foot away from me.

"Sir?" I asked setting the pen down so I wouldn't mess up the application with an accidental stray mark.

"What kind of qualifications do you think you have for this job?" Ah, so he was just going to shoot off questions like a real employer. This took me back for sure. My old boss back at the bakery had done the same thing.

"I'm an organized person, I have decent people skills so if you need me to wait on customers here at the counter I could do that. I've worked behind a counter before. I am fairly confident I can do whatever you ask of me, and I'm a fast learner." I answered. His dark eyes flicked to the paper I had under my hand on the counter.

"May I see that?"

I handed it to him. The immensely unemotional nature of this man was almost unnerving. I had noticed it before, but now he seemed so professional I could never doubt he was a strict and hard worker. Most likely he was the type to stay up late at night working non-stop in attempt to help his patients. He was a good doctor, I could tell from just that.

"I suppose I should show you the ranks then," he muttered skimming over the paper in one fail swoop. I waited patiently and then followed as he turned and walked into the room he had come from. "This is my office and the basic room that immediate attention patients or walk-ins are shown to. If we have a customer who is not in need over over-night care they will be shown here. Those stairs there lead to our stay rooms. Patients in need of being kept overnight for any reason will be taken there. Through that door there is a small kitchen for lunch breaks or for making food for patients. The medicine is stored in a back room we stock it in the cupboards you noticed behind the counter." I nodded as he looked at me. "That is the basic breakdown. Your first job will be to sanitize and then set to organizing some files for me." Yet again I nodded and looked around until I spotted a sink similar to one we had used in our labs in high school. I cleaned my hands, dried them, and then set to work on going through a set of shelves that Won pointed to from his desk without looking up. This really wouldn't be too bad. How lucky was I?

It was simple enough. Put the information on patients in numerical order by birth date then sort the folders which contain specific cases into a reversed Romanized alphabetical order. Then I was to get color coded stickers to put on all the folders which had completed cases. The unsolved ones—which were very few—I was to leave untouched and without a sticker. Once I was done I set all the folders up on the shelf again in an orderly manner. I was very tempted to say "what now?" but I knew it would be rude.

"Doctor," I stated to get his attention from scribbling on some forms while he seemed completely absorbed in a small vile of crimson liquid. I knew it very well to be a blood sample. He looked up after writing a couple more words and looked to the shelf. Then he reached up to push back his glasses.

"I'm glad to know you are capable of executing jobs ahead of schedule. Perhaps In'ya would have some work for you. We still have a couple of hours before closing," he mused.

"Sir," I bowed and walked to the front desk to visit the older woman.

In'ya sent me to the kitchen with specific instructions on how to brew green herbal tea. She had left off muttering about how "that boy can't seem to keep himself nourished enough yet he's a doctor…" And only the man's grandmother could call him a boy and it not seem confusing because it was fairly obvious he was on a higher maturity frequency than anyone I had ever met. Such discipline…

I brought the steaming mug out carefully but stopped in the doorway to find that if I approached my new boss now I would be interrupting something. The girl whose room I had stayed in on the Souffle Farm was speaking with the doctor about something. I could tell that she couldn't possibly have been in for matters other than something on a personal level because he wasn't examining her and she was slightly pink in the cheeks. I back slowly back into the kitchen I had just exited and closed the door as quietly as possible not wanting to be noticed and be the one who broke their conversation.

I set the tea down on the counter and then proceeded to slide down the wall hugging my knees to my chest as I waited for their conversation to take a turn to where I could deliver it, or for Anise to leave, whichever came first. Actually now that I thought about it their relationship was pretty cute and were Won not my boss or well… were he not Won, I would probably pick on him about it. Some people though, were not the type to picked on. I shuddered at the though. Won and Anise also got me to thinking about Takeru. I wondered silently if he would find himself a good girlfriend. Maybe Kotomi… nah. She was not his type at all. Mai kind of was, but then she wasn't too. Anise I didn't know well enough to say, but I could already scratch her off being that she obviously had eyes for someone else. I wasn't going to allow Kotomi's sister near him. That left… "Phoebe or that Kathy girl," I sighed to myself. "No way is he dating a girl from the bar and Phoebe probably hates me so why would she go near my brother?"

"What on earth are you babbling about?" I heard and looked up to see Won looking down at me.

"Oh sorry!" I muttered standing up quickly but having to hold my head after doing so since I got a small case of vertigo. "I was getting you tea, but then you were occupied and I didn't want to interrupt."

He looked confused. "Interrupted what?" he asked. I blinked. Did he just say that to be polite instead of saying "get your ass out there next time"?

"Well, I saw Anise and I—"

He cut me off by holding up a hand to silence me. "She's a very sweet girl, but she was only bringing me some herbs. I don't really condole illegally growing medication in one's own backyard but she can't be stopped. It would be improper for me to have a relationship with a client."

But she had been blushing, her face lit up like there was something there. Was it one sided? Was he denying it because it was taboo? How was that taboo anyway? "Then you plan to die old and lonely?" I asked but soon covered my mouth realizing my mistake. "I'm sorry." I whispered staring at the floor. How rude of me. Were it any other guy I wouldn't have cared, but this was my employer.

"I'm assuming you're a romantic then," he stated reaching around me for his tea and taking a sip of it.

"Not really," I admitted. "I'm just worried about Takeru. He needs someone. Well someone other than me to be attached to. He's never had a girlfriend and I don't want him to be so dependent on me. I want to go back to the city one day and if he only accepts me then how can I do that without tearing him in half? Heh," I chuckled. "You're a doctor not a psychiatrist. Why am I rambling off to you? I'll get back to work now. Sorry sir." He nodded as if to say it was okay and followed me out into the other room again.

"Ma'am, what else?" I asked upon seeing In'ya.

"Actually that is about all I can think of for today. All the other jobs take too much time to complete and we have five minutes until we close," she said. Then she put a hand on my shoulder. "You haven't met Perry yet have you?"

"No ma'am." Who was Perry?

"PERRY!" the woman screeched making me wince. Who knew that someone like her could release such a horrible noise. A young man came quickly down the stairs with widened eyes and a frightened face. He was actually vaguely cute for a kid. My guess he was my age or a little younger.

"Yes In'ya?" he questioned coming to her side and standing stock straight. How cute. He was definitely well trained. Who knows how long he'd been working for them. His eyes strayed to me curiously seeing as the woman's hand still took up residence on my shoulder.

"This is Yumei Arika. She'll be working here with us for a while and I thought it best that she become acquainted with everyone."

A polite smile immediately appeared on the boy's face and he put out his hand for me to shake. "It's very nice to meet you," he stated. I studied him for a moment. He could have been more attractive were it not for that bowl haircut. Poor thing.

"You too," I said curtly issuing a small smile in attempt to hide my disgust at his hair. Well at least it was clean and not washed with a bar of soap like Luke's. That carpenter was a fashion nightmare. Who wore flame prints in their twenties? I mean, seriously. I had thought that was a theme for elementary school children.

"So, that's all then?" I asked stretching my back a little and hearing a satisfying crack I smiled and stood straight again.

I felt a hand on my shoulder then and turned my head to see the hand was connected to Won. "Apparently not," he stated motioning for me to follow him. I looked at In'ya with questioning eyes she shook her head and left me to go to the counter perhaps to get ready for closing. I was drawn away by force now as someone had my arm. It wasn't Won, but Perry who had shoved me onto the examination table while Won went about scribbling something down on a clip board. My eyes widened.

"Um, I didn't plan an appointment—" but I was cut off.

"I didn't either, but this one is free of charge. Don't worry. I don't want an employee working with a back problem like that. It could inhibit you if we don't do something about it now." Won set the clipboard aside and approached me his hands falling on my shoulders. My eyes widened. I didn't realize I had a back problem. I had always had back pains but they went away when I would pop it. "I'll need you to relax and lay down on your stomach," he instructed.

I did as I was told and tried to relax, but this sounded like something painful. Was I really ready for this? Before I could even think about it warm hands were under my shirt and in one fluid motion they pressed down on two points. There was a loud snap and his hands were gone leaving the skin he'd touched tingling. I just lay there in shock for a moment. What was that?

"Arika," Won stated. "Are you alright?" I nodded. "Okay then, try to stand up for me and I'll make sure I did everything properly."

I pushed myself into a sitting position and then slipped onto the floor. Once the soles of my shoes touched the tile I felt like a weight had been lifted. A wide grin spread over my face. Wow. "To think someone is actually that good with their hands." My grin faded when I realized what I had said and I turned my gaze to the floor hoping that he hadn't taken that the way I just had, very aware that a blush was extending over my face. It wasn't like me to act this way. Come to think of it, I'd never experienced someone's touch that was quite that exhilarating either. I could still feel the impressions of his fingers and where they had trailed on my back.

"I studied chiropractic practices as well in medical school. It shouldn't be so surprising," he stated impassively. I was grateful that he'd either ignored the double meaning or brushed it off. But he really had improved my condition and I hadn't even known something was wrong with me.

"T-thank you sir," I muttered recovering all too slowly from the heat in my cheeks. Why was I still blushing? He wasn't that important to be this embarrassed over what I'd said. If I could have kicked myself I would have. I was being stupid and very like a pre-teen girl. I really had hoped I would never have this phase…

Won nodded and I hurried out of the room to the lobby and then out the door knowing full well I looked obviously embarrassed. I sighed defeated and threw my head back staring up at the now twinkling and dark sky as a few clouds cut between the conversation my eyes were trying to have with the stars. The air out here was much easier to take in than that in the clinic. I walked along with a frown cursing myself for acting so immaturely, but it wasn't my fault. I knew exactly what had come over me so I couldn't use that excuse. Hormones were the devil.

Strangely I found myself pitying Tao. He had hormone issues as well, but then I remembered he could use a bit more self-control but chose not to. I shook my head wishing that it wouldn't be awkward when I came in for work tomorrow.

"Aaach!" I exclaimed feverishly messing my hair in frustration.

"Arika?"

I opened my eyes and looked up to see Takeru stepping out of the inn's bar with a few people in trailing after him. One of them was Taylor, the other was a very burly man I had never seen before. My face flushed when I realized what my hair must look like. It was probably sticking up much worse than normal. I never used to have problems with cowlicks until I cut it. Now I really was just like my brother. I withdrew my hand quickly and let it fall to my side smiling nervously. Well, it was nice to know that now two people in town thought I was insane. What a wonderful first impression I must make.

"Did you have any luck?" Takeru asked with hopeful eyes as he approached me and took hold of my shoulders wheeling me over to their little group.

I nodded attempting to look indifferent by staring at random things as though they were interesting. Anything but to look anyone in the face. This was humiliating… plus I was still rather unsure of myself at the moment making me even more uncomfortable than I would normally be.

"Well aren't you cute!" The still unnamed man's voice boomed as he set a large hand on top of my head. "It's too bad that your brother isn't a girl too! That'd be some interesting stuff!" He winked at me before taking another swig of the bottle in his other hand. My eyes widened and Taylor laughed nervously off to the side as Takeru knocked the guy's arm away from me.

"I think you've had enough for one night Owen," Taylor stated before skillfully swiping the alcohol out of his grip. Said "Owen" looked stunned as he couldn't figure out where the bottle had run off to.

"I'm not finished yet," the large man wined like a five year old. "I swear to drunk I'm not god, just give me the damn bottle back!"

Oh how cliché… I took a carefully measured step back and eyed Owen with sudden anxiousness. Situations like this made me rather uncomfortable. The man's ears were starting to grow red and hostile drunkards are not my basket of daisies. I clutched Takeru's arm instinctively when the door to the inn reopened and a pretty woman with long blonde hair came out brandishing a rather intimidating expression. Her hand latched onto Owen's earlobe pulling him back inside the inn while she muttered a sling of profanities. I only caught a little of what she was saying though. Things along the lines of "damn idiot, always rilin' up the customers… I knew I shoulda' kicked ya' out sooner."

Both the men outside with me released a breath in relief. "Well," Takeru started. "You got hired! That's great! Where are you working now?"

I jumped at my brother's sudden enthusiasm. He'd probably had a few drinks himself although it wasn't as bad as that first night. So much for remorse. "I'm working at the Meringue Clinic from one until ten Monday through Friday." A grin spread over my twin's face as he linked arms with me and drug me into the inn so fast I had no way to retaliate.

"Cathy!" he called to the blonde woman. Not many of the occupants paid us all that much attention as we entered. They were all conversing and laughing amongst one another though I did see a dark haired carpenter do a double-take as he caught sight of me. Yeah, it wasn't exactly my thing to be in a bar… as that was what this part of the inn was this time of night.

"What can I do ya' for handsome?" the woman smiled after delivering some cocktails to a couple of woman at a corner table. "You want another round?"

My brother shook his head chuckling. "What the best non-alcoholic beverage you serve? We're celebrating."

Cathy's hazel eyes strayed to me and she smiled. "I'll go tell the chef to pull a masterpiece then." With that she disappeared behind a door in the back and Takeru led me over to an empty table taking a seat beside me. Taylor followed silently smiling as he sat next to my brother.

I was not comfortable at all. The atmosphere was smoky and stunk, people were being obnoxious all around us, and was it just me or was I getting a lot of sideways glances. It was as if they knew I was uncomfortable and they were trying to torture me.

"What are you doing here?" a sudden voice beside me stated curiously and I spun my head to see a flame print bandana. It was just Luke.

"Ask him," I muttered sinking lower into my chair after motioning toward Takeru. Luke grinned before slinging his arm around my shoulders and turning to my brother. I tensed almost seething at how the situation was turning out.

"She's gotten hired at the clinic," Takeru stated almost too cheerfully. I didn't even look at him feeling betrayed. He knew how much I hated social events of this manner. I had attended parties before, but business parties. Our father owned a law firm back in the city so you can imagine that this was a definite step down, crude, and far too much on a personal level. I still was completely unaware of where my brother had gotten the farming gene from. Perhaps it had been some sort of mutation. Yes, it had to be a mutation.

"Awesome!" Luke cheered taking a large bite of the mayonnaise slathered piece of toast I had just realized he had. His arm around my shoulders tightened encouragingly. Just then there was a dull plunk as a thick leaded glass was almost slammed onto our table. The server, I should have guessed, was an irritated looking strawberry-blonde jerk. After a good glare in my general direction he retreated to the back. I stared at my drink feeling an odd foreboding. I wouldn't put it past the guy to have spat in it.

"Geeze, what crawled up his ass and died?" Taylor muttered.

Takeru seemed to have sobered up at bit and still sat with a narrowed glance staring at the door Chihaya had disappeared behind. "If he gives you any problems, tell me." His eyes flicked to me and I nodded vaguely before hesitantly taking a test sip of my drink. I could have melted then and there, though I would never admit it. Was everything Jerk-face made this good? The three men at my table stared at me as I inhaled the rest of it as though I'd grown a third eye.

They were silent for a moment before Luke flung my hand into air like a referee does to the winner in a boxing match. "And it's down!" he announced grinning from ear to ear.

That night I struggled to actually fall asleep at all. For one Takeru was treating me like a stuffed animal by manhandling me in his deep state of unconsciousness and I had gotten a little worried about Jiji. He hadn't come back yet. I wiggled onto my side facing the window next to our only bed. My eyes strained looking out into the night for any sign of the little guy. I heard a sigh behind me and wondered if I had accidently woken my brother up.

His arms around me tightened as he scooted closer pulling me back into the uncomfortable sweaty heat of being in too much contact with him. Our home didn't have air-conditioning installed yet so sharing a bed was actually worse than I had imagined it would be. God, I was going to die.

"What's wrong?" Takeru whispered confirming my thoughts. Why the hell was he snuggling with me if he was awake? I frowned but didn't move seeing as I was kind of out of options being trapped between him and the wall.

"It's hot," I stated bluntly. My brother tossed the rumpled covers off and replaced his arm around my waist.

"Better?"

No, not really. I just sighed and pressed my forehead against the glass. It wasn't cold like I'd hoped. Damn. "Takeru, do you like any of the girls you've met here?"

"Sure," he mumbled settling his head against my back. "They're all really nice I guess."

"No, do you like them as in potential date interest," I explained my mood turning sourer by the moment. Why does this room have to be so damned hot?

He took his time thinking up an answer. "I don't really think so. Not so far anyway. I don't know that I'm all that into any girls…" I gave up and turned around to face him. He stared at me questioningly but smiling slightly. What had he been in such a good mood about all the friggin' day long? This was driving me insane!

"Are you jealous or something?" he inquired lacing our fingers. "You'll always be my twin. You know that."

I growled. "No, I want you to get a girlfriend. It'll be good for you," I snapped. "What's with you today? You're too happy."

His smile faltered. "I'm just in a good mood about the house I guess." Oh that liar. He didn't like the house. It was too small, too dingy. I knew my brother and I knew that wasn't the case.

"Are you sure you aren't interested in some girl?" I asked suspiciously. This time I could see him. I wish I could have watched his face when he'd answered before.

He smirked. "Interested in you." He waggled his eyebrows and I rolled my eyes. Not like I didn't see that one coming. He was avoiding the question. He was interested in someone, but why wouldn't he tell me who?

"Fine," I stated pulling away from him so I could sit up. "I'm going to get some oxygen, if you change your mind and decide to tell me then you can find me outside."

He caught my arm and pulled me forcefully back to the bed before I was two steps from it. He hugged me tightly and settled his mouth by my ear. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I don't want you to get mad at me… but I-I'm not sure you would understand sis."

I turned my head taking a deep breath before asking him what I hoped was not the case. "It's not… me is it?" That would of course be worst case scenario. I wouldn't exactly revel with the idea, but I could deal with it. It wasn't entirely impossible.

"I wish it were that simple."

Then what? A married woman? That wasn't possibly worse than incest. Wait…

My eyes widened and I turned around fully to look my brother in the face. How… he'd never shown that kind of interest before. Suddenly I let out the breath I'd been holding in relief and smiled. Was that all it was? Thank goodness. I flung my arms around him tightly, but I could feel him tense. He was confused.

"You could have told me sooner! I shouldn't have to pry something like that out of you!" I wailed. Only then did I realize that I had started crying.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you!" Takeru said pushing me off of him angrily.

"No! I'm not upset!" I stated wiping frustratedly at the tears. "I understand Takeru. It's okay, I don't care. I'm just happy you like someone."

He studied me a moment before accepting what I had said and drawing me back to him. "What should I do?" he asked pitifully.

I smiled and stroked his hair. "Whatever makes you happy." My curiosity was almost bursting so I couldn't help but ask, "Who?"

Takeru tightened his arms around me keeping silent for a good thirty seconds before his answer came, and even though I thought I couldn't be more happy for him, I was when he spoke that one word. "Taylor." And suddenly I remembered something I had forgotten. I'd missed meeting Gil at the church.

"Shit." Even though I hadn't implied that his choice of attraction was bad he didn't know that. My twin looked hurt. Takeru's fists clenched.

"You suck."