Blanket disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. I do not claim any rights to Harvest Moon Animal Parade or any characters associated with the game. No money was made from this fan fiction.

Author note: My thanks to Andi for taking the time to beta. I appreciate your help.

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Hikari waited patiently while Hannah searched for the object she wanted to give her. Cain had given her a token 'good mornin'' before rushing out of the store. Leaning against the counter, Hikari sighed as Finn took a seat on the counter in front of her.

"What's wrong?" The sprite asked, reaching forward to grab his feet and began rocking back and forth.

Sighing again, Hikari popped her chin into her hand. "I hope Cain isn't angry with me. He normally speaks more than that."

Staring up from his new position on his back, still holding his feet; he'd rocked too hard, Finn shook his head. "Doubt that. I figured Cain must still be a little embarrassed about the Mayor putting him in his place."

Moving to look out the window for a moment, Hikari looked back. "Think I should speak with him about it?"

Standing, Finn adjusted his hat. "Nope, sometimes being humbled is a good thing. Humans have a tendency to lump things together,even when they shouldn't. Besides, Cain is a strong guy, he'll bounce back and be a better person for it."

Hannah rushed around the corner holding up a faded blue ribbon. "Here it is." She called out, making her way to Hikari. "This is the first blue ribbon I ever won. I've always kept it to remind myself that hard work pays off, and to remember the first cow I ever raised by myself."

Smiling, Hikari stowed it in her rucksack. "That's wonderful Hannah. I'll take good care of it, I promise, and just as soon as I can- I'll return it."

Hannah walked behind the counter. "No worries dear, I trust you."

Just as Hikari moved towards the door, Hannah spoke, stopping her. "Cain insisted we stop by the clinic with Irene last night. He feels just awful about what he said, especially after he got a look at Wizard." Hannah huffed, and shook her head. "It doesn't seem right that something would punish a soul for doing something good. A fall from Ozzie's might really have killed you dear. He doesn't look any different from the other young men in town-certainly doesn't look to be older than Irene's grandfather."

Hikari shook her head. "He doesn't act like he's been around that long either. I got him to go to the Firefly festival with me." Smiling at the memory, Hikari asked. "Know what he said?"

Hannah shook her head, returning Hikari's smile. "What did he say?"

"He was interested in the idea of remembering those that came before, but he really liked the firefly. He said they were fascinating, and he wanted to figure out what made them glow." Both laughed. "Wizard is just full of wonder about things around him, he said something about that night had just made them more intriguing."

Hannah pillowed her chin in her cupped hands. "I can remember Renee saying something like that when she was just a young child."

Nodding, Hikari agreed. "A young child is what came to my mind when he said that too, but he's also very intelligent and kind. You know, he never asked for anything beyond when others came for advice about love and such. I'm actually amazed no one realized he's the same fortune teller that helped them when they were younger. The more people open up about Wizard, it comes to light just how many he's helped."

"Irene told me the story about the coffee beans-that he needed an offering to do the fortune telling for her."

The door pushed open, Renee took one look at Hikari and blushed. Grabbing her hand she pulled her towards her room. "I got something to give Hikari, mom." She called back over her mother's scolding for pulling Hikari around. Renee released her once they were in her room, and grabbed a book off her desk. "You promise to take real good care of it?"

Hikari nodded slowly, accepting the book. Turning it over to read the title Hikari questioned. "A thesaurus?"

Taking it back, Renee opened it to a page in the middle, one marked by a ribbon. "Not the book, what's inside." She explained handing it back.

Hikari smiled at the dried, pressed sunflower; it had still been in it's flower state before it developed seeds. "It's very pretty, but why this?"

Renee's blush intensified, reaching over she lightly trailed her finger over one of the bright yellow petals. "Toby gave it to me."

Surprised, Hikari took a deep breath. "Are you sure, Renee? I mean, I can tell it means a lot to you."

No longer the shy, blushing girl she'd been a few seconds ago, Renee smiled. In fact, she looked rather sly with that smile. "Well, after you admitted how much Wizard meant to you, in front of the whole town no less, I figured I could lend you this," Renee leaned over and tapped the thesaurus. " To help him."

Coughing, Hikari shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that."

Renee closed the book and gave it a pat. "Take care of it, and keep it in the book, okay?"

Hikari put it into her storage bag, if Renee was willing to forget what they had been talking about, so was she. "Thanks, got to go." Walking to the door Hikari stopped when Renee called her name.

"Hikari." Renee continued once Hikari looked back. "Before you deny something, make sure that's what you really feel. I screwed up once with Toby and it's taken a long time to rebuild it." She explained. "There is no harm in admitting you don't understand everything your feeling, and need time. You can't go wrong with being honest, and even if you end up hurting them with your honesty; at least they know you cared enough to be honest with them."

Hikari thanked her and left. She started towards Marimba Farms before turning and running over the bridge. Finn followed, wondering where they were going, but kept silent. Finn sighed as Hikari went to the back room of the clinic, where Wizard was kept, and took a seat beside him. Finn never once spoke, or gave her any form of comfort, he just let her cry. He'd finally learned sometimes even crying was part of the healing process.