Whew, it sure has been long since I last updated! I assure you, I don't forget about this story and all of you ^^ That said, without further ado...

Ever since their encounter in front of her grave, Klaus did not see Raelyn around. However, since Oak Tree Town was a small town, news travelled pretty quickly. The spring that came right after Madam Eda's death, Raelyn apparently decided to go back to her hometown. Klaus managed to get her hometown address from the Guild, but decided not to write for her birthday or sent some sweets for the Spring Harmony Day (something that Iris berated him for). It seemed that she thought the same, since he received no news from her on his birthday. She came back on Summer, though, and ever since then she worked on the farm industriously as if catching up for the time she had abandoned her work. Ever since then, except for occasional sight if she visited the town or festivals, Klaus barely saw her.

Two seasons passed without so much event.

Last spring, he heard that Ibuki and Raelyn were dating. It came as a shock to some and disappointment to others; apparently, Raelyn had been one of the most sought-after bachelorettes. Klaus took the news calmly, assuring both Iris and Marian that he was perfectly fine. He could tell that they did not really believe him, but he could not care less. All he needed to know that Raelyn had managed to move on; plus, Ibuki was more of her age than him.

Before he knew it, now snow started to fall on Oak Tree Town again. Feeling bored being inside of his house, Klaus decided to put on his coat and took a short walk outside.

"…he cares about the likes of me…"

Klaus stopped on his track. Somehow, that voice didn't sound very foreign in his ears. Klaus looked around and found a small crowd forming on the stairs in front of the Town Hall. The raven-haired man walked towards the crowd. When he realized what happened, he held his breath. At the same moment, the man standing at the center of the crowd noticed his presence, "Boss!" he exclaimed.

Klaus quickly composed himself and made his way through the crowd towards him. "I think you have said enough," he told him calmly.

The reporter lady was not having it, though, as she pointed the microphone towards him. "Mr. Klaus, so you were really that different when you were young?"

Klaus waved her away as he left the crowd as quickly as he could.

They made a glaring companionship: a well-dressed man and a thug. It was even more unusual that it was the thug who adopted a more submissive demeanor. Nevertheless, they sat facing each other at one of the outdoor tables of the restaurant; each of them having a drink.

"How do you know I'm here?" Klaus asked.

"Um… actually… I don', Boss."

Klaus raised one of his eyebrows. "Hm?"

The thug cringed. "N-no! Really, I don'!"

The perfurmer sighed long. "Never mind that," he said in defeat.

"B-but you changed a lot, Boss! I don' expect you get all class and stuff!"

"Yet, you still recognized me."

"O'kors! Always know 'he alpha!"

Klaus glared at him. The thug immediately shut his mouth and looked down. "O'kors… must be ashamed if people know you are buddies with the likes o' me."

When he heard that, a pang of guilt struck his heart. His features softened at the person sitting in front of him. "I don't mean it to be that way, Bud."

"Boss…"

"So… how long are you going to be here?"

"Truth is, 'm leaving soon. Got business to run."

"Oh? What business are you doing now?"

"Shipping stuff—legit, o'kors!" he quickly added after noticing Klaus' reaction. "Been stayin' on the right track!"

"That's good to hear," Klaus told him sincerely. "Next time you're here, tell me. Don't go to reporters again."

"Roger that, Boss!"

Klaus saw Bud off, waving his hand at his old friend. Apparently, now he was working with the trader from the Wheat Country. Klaus chuckled at the thought that he would be seeing Bud often from now. Unlike him, Bud did not change a lot.

After the wagon that carried Bud was out from his sight, Klaus turned around with the intention to go back home. However, a figure caught his attention and he stopped on his track.

"…Raelyn?" he called hesitantly.

Raelyn nodded slightly and approached them. "I saw you earlier," she stated in an even tone. This unsettled Klaus; how should he react? What could he say when she didn't offer anything to carry on with the conversation? "Perhaps we could talk?"

"Of course," he replied, perhaps too quickly but he could not care less. "Perhaps we could do it while we walk back to your farm?"

Raelyn nodded and they started walking towards the mountain. Of course Klaus did not forget how they often did it in the past. Klaus glanced at her and noticed the ring she wore around her neck.

"How are things with Ibuki?" he asked, trying to sound calm about it.

"We are fine."

"He is a good person," he noted. "I'm glad for you."

Raelyn nodded while making a "mm-hmm" sound. Nothing else was said between them afterwards and a heavy silence sunk in. They simply walked through the mountain trek, leaving their footprints behind.

Should I ask her? Klaus thought bitterly. He had tested the water earlier and was not sure whether he should proceed; but, what else would he lose by asking, anyway? Better strip the bandage fast to get over with the pain as soon as possible. "Are you planning to marry him?" he asked while carefully eyeing her reaction.

She seemed surprised by the sudden question, but she quickly composed herself. "It would be ludicrous to date him if I don't consider marrying him, wouldn't it?" she asked back.

Klaus chuckled wryly. "You have changed, you know that?"

"Pardon?"

"You are much more mature than when you first came here."

She sighed long, forming a white cloud of warm smoke in front of her mouth. "I guess it's inevitable, given the circumstances."

"What circumstances, exactly?"

She gave him a sharp sideway glance, but that look changed into a gentler expression soon enough. "Lots, Mr. Klaus. Lots of them."

"Is that why you suddenly came up to me and asked for a conversation?"

After a brief moment of silence, she nodded. "Partly."

"Please do go on."

"I…" Raelyn stopped on her track and looked down as blush started to cover her cheeks. For a moment, she reverted to the Raelyn he remembered in his memories: shy and nervous, but adorable all the same. "I wanted to tell you how sorry I am."

Klaus held his breath. "I beg your pardon?"

"I… I regretted what I told you that time. If you're willing to look past that, I…"

"Raelyn, a lot of things happened to you at that time. It's perfectly fine, I can understand that."

Finally, she looked up and Klaus noticed the tears that welled up in her eyes. "I lost so much that winter."

Klaus, not knowing what would be the best response, finally simply nodded in acknowledgment: "It all a part of growing up."

He saw her chuckling and quickly rubbed her eyes. "I can walk the rest of the way myself, Mr. Klaus," she said. "Thank you for accompanying me this far."

He was about to offer to walk her back all the way to her farm; they were more than half-way through, anyway. However, Raelyn picked up her pace and left pretty quickly. Klaus simply watched her back slowly getting farther and farther away from him. It was a truth that, however bitter, he had to accept: she had changed.

So much for a change, huh?

Thanks for reading! Please rate and review ^^