Harvest Moon Natsume. Natsume Harvest Moon.
Claire had expected no one to be in the jungle hut at this time of day, when Wada would be hunting and his wife napping or cooking outside. But today Wada sat cross-legged in the center of the bear rug, concocting medicine in a tiny crock, and when Claire burst in, teary-eyed and hassled, he very nearly bulleted to his feet. She didn't notice him until she had blundered about halfway across the room, and by then was so humiliated that she could only sob harder. Desperate and frightened by this feminine outburst, Wada retreated several steps, and Claire murmured an inconceivable apology before crumpling into a hopeless heap on the ground. She still had no idea why she was such a wreck. It wasn't as if she loved Shiba…and he had only really looked at, and spoken, not to mention smiled at another girl. But the thought of him with another…she choked down a little cry and blurted unthinkingly, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU MEN?!" Wada was so taken aback and speechless that he could only shrug humbly. On the verge of screaming, Claire didn't quite realize what she had said at first, but seeing Wada's flabbergasted old face, sighed and calmed down instantly. "Wada, you know what it's like, having a son and all…so…could you tell me stuff about him? Please?" Wada paused uncertainly.
"You want know about Shiba?" She nodded. "Oh…well, I do not know that much about him."
She gawped, disbelieving. "Uh, he's your son, how could you not know everything about him!?"
Wada hesitated before replying dubiously, "Well, he like a son." Then it hit her full in the face, and she swallowed, trying to find her voice. When she did, it was cracked and hoarse.
"Y-you mean…how's he related then? Cousin? Nephew? What?"
Wada chuckled. "You mean he no tell you! Haha! I adopted him!"
Claire couldn't stifle a gasp. "You what?! Adopted him…like, A-D-O-P-T-E-D, him?" Wada shrugged.
"Well, yes. Oh. No, no, I no married. She not my wife, but she stays here."
It suddenly made perfect sense. Awestruck, Claire turned and darted out the door without a word, leaving a speechless and bedraggled Wada to brood.
At that moment, Shiba was taking a solitary, aimless walk through the jungle, and Claire spotted his bright spots from afar and dashed to his side. "Shiba! Shiba!" He stopped dead and stood, craning his neck over the bushes until she came barreling into him. "Oh…sorry," she apologized quickly, tearing herself from his arms. "Shiba, I-I'm sorry…I didn't know…" Shiba's eyes widened in shock.
"What you talking-
"I thought that Wada was your father…it all makes sense now…"
"…He is my father…" Claire made to speak but closed her mouth hard. Suppose he didn't know yet?
"Umm…never mind," and she disappeared, leaving a disoriented Shiba in her wake.
That night, Claire dined with Hama out over an open fire while Shiba walked with Natalie. His expression from where she watched looked bored, but once in awhile a smile lit his grave disposition and Natalie would laugh heartily. Hama decided to try something new that night, sidling discreetly up to Claire, and then wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "For warmth", he'd said, but she knew better. However, she just couldn't find it in her to smile. She wished that Shiba were there instead of Hama, no matter how shallow it sounded. As though reading her mind, she looked up to see Shiba staring at her and Hama, dumbfounded. After a moment, he snatched up Natalie's arm, ignoring her protests, and set off purposefully towards them, his outraged eyes and prominent brow flickering in firelight as he neared. Claire lowered her head to smother a grin. When he dragged Natalie up beside him, she plopped down, frowning, next to Hama, and Shiba crossed around the fire pit to sit beside Claire. When Hama pulled away from Claire and began chatting in earnest with a disgruntled Natalie, Shiba tugged on her arm, and her eyes darted to his. "Claire. I need to talk to you." And without waiting for a reply he swept her up by her elbow, smiling innocently at his cousin, though he didn't even look up, and then marched off, muffling her protests with his hand as he dragged her with him. Her heart beat hard and fast beneath her hide swath, and she stumbled in the cool sand, unable to match his long strides.
When they had rounded the side of the hut, he nodded towards his "looking tree", his eyes always on hers. "Up there," and again, he clambered wordlessly and swiftly to the top, she close behind. Just moments behind him, she pulled herself up beside him, breathless and confused.
"Shiba, what's this-
"Claire!" He whipped about suddenly and dug his fingers into her shoulders until she squirmed. "Just, listen to me!" She nodded fearfully, feeling small compared to his anger. Eyes softening, he pulled away, folding his hands in his lap and staring at them in earnest. "I-I know I no always do right thing, or say right thing, but…I can't stand it! Claire…" He drew her hands into his, and her eyes wavered, reflecting the full jungle moon as she stared into his fire lit ones. "I sorry if I-…I just, I don't want Natalie, and I know you don't want Hama! I just want you, Claire! And…I'm sorry," and before she could utter a remark, as though she would have one, he framed her face in his hands and kissed her then, a real kiss. The paralyzing shock and…something else, as though the wait was up, and it made her happier and more delighted than she had ever felt. And she felt…all sorts of things. This savage, whom she had never tried to make fall in love with her, was doing just that. But, maybe it was too soon to say. Whatever the case, she soared high above the stars until he brought her back down, nuzzling her forehead, and she could only sigh and say nothing at all but, "I forgive you."
Hehe, okay that's about as romantic as it's gonna get, and personally, I love cute little bits like that. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, even though it was short! )
