Chapter 2: Night in the Town.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon or anything affiliated with it. This is owned by the fine folks at Natsume.

Grade: PG…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The alarm clock went off for about five minuets before Rune got up to turn it off. He sat up in his bed and moved his hand around before he finally opened his eyes. The amount of dust in the room was better shown with the new morning light. Rune stepped out of bed and nearly tripped over the white snow wolf. He walked over to the antique armoire and opened the doors. Much to his surprise there was a little present for him, an object wrapped in a blue cloth. He opened the cloth to find that in it was the other half to his sword. He picked up the half his sister gave him and put the two halves together. He noticed the small weight change, nothing he couldn't handle.

"Ha. How nice of Grandpa to leave me a weapon… People say this is safe territory." Rune said as he slashed the air a couple of times.

The dog looked up to the Rune holding the weapon. Instinctively the wolf sprung to attention and growled at Rune. Rune turned a little to look at the dog, but he didn't notice that the point of the blade was pointing right at the wolf. The wolf pounced at Rune and only slashed his arm.

"What's wrong with you?! Huh? Oh, the sword… Guess I shouldn't do that huh?" Rune asked the wolf.

The wolf sat and began to look at Rune. Rune put the sword on the table and began to ponder an important question…

"What am I going to call you? How about Kaze?" Rune asked the nameless wolf.

The dog once again to growl at Rune. Rune was a little reluctant to challenge the wolf so he moved onto the second name on his list.

"What about Jaeger?" Asked Rune who was a little more careful in his tone of voice.

This time the dog gave a sign of approval. Jaeger walked over to Rune and began to lick his hand. Rune looked at the clock and he realized that it was already 9:30 am. Rune quickly got dressed and walked outside. A warm spring breeze blew that day. Rune noticed a letter stuck in the board at the foot of the door.

He opened it and read:

Rune,

I guessed you decided to indulge yourself and sleep in today. This is fine. I came by earlier to see if you wanted me to show you around town. I suggest that you go and introduce yourself today instead of doing work…

Enclosed it a map of the town to guide your way around.

~Mayor Thomas.

Rune picked up his sword, put it in his rucksack, picked up his rucksack, and left. The first place he walked by was the Smithy. Rune went inside hoping to find someone who could complete his sword.

"Hello? Is anybody here?" Asked Rune as he walked into the dimly lit room.

"Who's there? Tell me who you are?" Called a old hard man's voice.

"I'm Ru…."

"Don't have a heart attack, Saibara. I'm sure it's just somebody asking for some work." Called a younger voice.

"That's master to you, Gray." The elder voice called out again.

Rune walked closer to the smithy's fire to show himself. The two stopped arguing long enough to notice of Rune's existence.

"Right… My name is Rune, and I'm Kalance's grandson." Rune said without giving any thought to what he was saying.

"Who's Kalance?" The elder voice asked.

"Old man, Kalance next door to you. He ran the ranch before he died." Answered the younger voice.

"I want to know if you can repair my sword." Rune said as he put both halves of the weapon on the anvil.

"Ah such fine craftsmanship, a sturdy yet light weight blade." the elder voice said.

"Forgive the old man… We haven't properly introduced. My name is Gray. The old man's name is Saibara." Gray said.

"I can have this done in three days, if you want?" Asked Saibara.

"Sure that will be fine. Thank you." Said Rune as he exited the smithy.

Those are some strange people Rune said to himself as he walked down the street toward the Library. He looked at the map a few more times to make sure he got the right building and wasn't going to inadvertently walk into somebody's house. He walked into the Library and to much zeal, found a girl sitting a desk writing something.

"Um… Hello?" Rune called to the girl.

"Welcome." Replied the girl without even looking up.

Rune walked over to the desk and looked at the what the girl was writing.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I would like to know where I can find a good fantasy book." Asked Rune who was once again trying to get the young woman's attention.

The young woman looked up and Rune couldn't stop himself from staring into her eyes. She pointed to a shelf on the bottom level of the split story library.

"Um…. Er… eh…" Rune fumbled out.

"Could you stop staring at me, please?" asked the soft voice.

"Oh my goodness. Sorry about that. I would like to apologize." Said Rune.

The librarian blushed and looked down at her novel," You could tell me your name." said the Girl.

"Only if you tell me yours. My name's Rune." Said Rune as he stuck out his hand.

"My name is Mary." Mary said as she went back to work.

Rune exited the library and leaned up against the door. He put his hand over his face and thought about what an idiot he was just because he was with a beautiful girl… He walked to the next place on his list… The local Supermarket.

Rune walked towards the door of the Supermarket and was about to enter before the door flew open, knocking Rune back onto pavement. A man came out and Rune looked at the himwho very much resembled his father.

"Dad?" Rune asked to himself in his dazed condition.

The man looked at Rune for a few seconds and then started to walked down the street again. Rune quickly snapped out of his daze and look through the open door. He saw a man being yelled at by his wife and daughter.

Rune overheard the woman yelling something about letting the man get away without paying again, so Rune decided to help the shopkeeper out.

"Excuse me sir?" Rune asked as he put his head on the man's shoulder.

"Yes?" Asked the man who promptly removed Rune's hand.

"I think you should go back and pay the owner of the supermarket." Replied Rune.

"Boy, I'm in awe of your integrity. I will go back and pay him." Boasted the Man.

"Thank You, sir." Rune thanked the man as he walked him back into the Market to pay.

The man walked into the Supermarket and paid back his entire tab. The man told him how Rune inspired him to pay his tab; he made a promise to pay for his items every time he returns to the market. Rune began to walk out when the shopkeeper's daughter walked over to Rune and grabbed his hand. Rune quickly turned around to see what was going on.

"Hello…" Rune brought himself to say.

"Thank you for helping my father back there." The shopkeeper's daughter said.

"It was nothing really… I'm just trying to make a good impress…" Rune blurted out until he found himself being given small kiss by bye the girl.

"Uh… Uh… Uh…" Rune muttered.

"Name's Karen. Don't be a stranger now, bye." Karen stated as she disappeared into the backroom.

Rune left the super market and walked towards the Clinic. Rune opened the door and jumped to the side expecting somebody to jump out. When he realized the coast was clear he walked inside. Instead of seeing a argument or right of some kind, he met a problem of a different sort… He saw a beautiful woman talking, no laughing with the town's doctor. Rune walked up to the desk when he saw the doctor leave the immediate area.

"Welcome." Said the Nurse.

"Hiya… I'm Rune. I just moved here to take over Kalance's… what's the matter?" Rune asked.

The Nurses head was hung low and he could see her tears hit the table.

"Your Kalance's grandson?" asked the Nurse.

"Yes I am… Look I'm terrible sorry for saying anything that may…" Rune got out before he was cut off in mid sentence.

"OH my gosh! Your arm, it's bleeding. Let me help with that." Interrupted the Nurse.

Rune couldn't help but stare into her eyes as she cleaned the wound. She was about to put the band aid until Rune grabbed her soft warm hand.

"Don't bother wasting something on me, especially if I made you cry." Rune apologized as he walked out of the clinic. He decided it was getting late and he wanted to go home. He walked by the Library and found a small boy crying. Rune approached the boy.

"Hello. What's wrong?" asked Rune.

"I was chasing a butterfly and I fell down and hurt my knee" Replied the boy.

 "Here take this band aid" said Rune.

"Thanks mister… Where did you get that?" asked the Boy.

"I got it from the Clinic." Replied the boy.

"Maybe sis gave it to you?" asked the boy.

"It is quite possible… Say where were you headed?" asked Rune.

"To the Chicken Farm." Replied the boy who had completely forgotten about his knee.

"Could you show me how to get there? I'm new here, you see." Asked Rune.

"You must be Mr. Rune." Said the boy.

"You can call me Rune… I don't need a Mister, just think of me as a big brother. What's your name?" Questioned Rune.

"His name is Stu." Said a familiar voice.

"Sis! Hey sis! Rune helped me when I fell down." Exclaimed Stu as he ran to his sister.

"Thank you, Rune." Said the Nurse.

"I never got your name. What is it?" asked Rune.

"Elly." Elly replied as she walked away to the Clinic.

Stu showed Rune the way to the Chicken Farm. He listened to Stu tell him about the village and himself.

"Hey, Rune?" asked Stu.

"What is it, Stu?" asked Rune.

"Are you going to marry sis?" asked Stu.

"What would make you ask that?" Rune questioned.

"Mom and Dad died along time ago and she's been takin' care of me. She hasn't had any time to date and I just wanted to know. So are you?" continually asked Stu.

"I don't know… It depends on things, Stu." Replied Rune, "Besides I think the Doctor is quite interested in her."

"I don't like him… He gives me the creeps!" Exclaimed Stu.

Rune stopped and put his hand on Stu's head. "I think that you just need to get to know him more" Rune said.

"Maybe your right, bro." stated Stu.

Rune's heart raised a little to know that Stu thought that greatly about him, only if he was a kid.

"Hey Stu, why did Elly cry when I mentioned Kalance's name?" Rune questioned the young boy.

"It was because he was like her father and my grandpa." Stu stated with a melancholy tone.

"Father? Grandfather? I don't understand." Rune blurted out with thinking.

"He would take care of me and sis when Grandma couldn't. He would let me feed the chickens and ride the cows and even go fishing in his pond. But when it came to Elly, it was totally different." Stu began to say, "Elly was constantly worrying about every one and every thing. So Grandpa took some of the work away and helped Elly get a job a the clinic."

"I see…" Rune stated with a duller and sadder tone than Stu, "Thanks Stu."

Stu said goodbye to Rune as he went to his friend, May's house. Rune walked up the path to find himself at the Chicken Farm. Rune walked to the opening into the fence only to see a pink haired girl crying as she ran passed him. Rune walked over to the man who was standing there beating his hand on the fence.

"Um… Excuse me? Is something wrong?" calmly asked Rune.

"Yes! That… That… That woman!" The man exclaimed.

"I know this may be rude but, is she your girlfriend?" Rune asked while preparing to defend himself.

"No… She's my sister." The man calmly said," Can you go fetch her for me? She should be by the hot springs."

"Um… Sure." Rune said as he was baffled by the man's request.

Rune walked up to the hot springs and saw the girl crying by the waterfall. Rune slowly walked up to the girl. She flung herself around and leaned against Rune's chest. Rune caught off guard almost stumbled back but quickly reasserted himself. She was still crying hard and didn't know that she was leaning on a complete stranger.

"What's the matter? Why are you crying?" Rune whispered.

"I'm sorry about the chicken, Rick please forgive me…" cried the girl.

"I'm sure he forgives you." Rune said a little louder.

The girl looked up at Rune and smiled a little. Rune hoped he had helped her a little and that was the case until she stepped back. The girl screamed and smacked Rune across the face and ran back to the Chicken Farm. He walked back to the Chicken Farm rubbing his face. The man, who had calmed down, walked over to Rune.

"Thank you very much… The name's Rick." Rick said.

"Your welcome." Rune said," Did she really have to smack me?"

"Sorry about that… I'm sure she she'll apologize later" Rick laughed.

"What's her name?" Asked Rune.

"Her name, It's Popuri." Replied Rick.

"Popuri? That's a nice name." Stated Rune.

"What's yours?" Rick asked.

"My name is Rune, I'm taking over Kalance's ranch." Replied Rune.

"Ah, Kalance's ranch. He was a good man and customer." Rick stated.

Rune started to leave when Rick grabbed his shirt. He had that deep look like he was about to go to war.

"Can you do me another favor?" Questioned Rick.

"Uh… I guess." Stated Rune.

"Can you…date my sister?" asked Rick.

Rune stepped back from being startled. He was quite confused at why he kept getting asked this question. Except this time the reason was for a much different reason.

"A man comes here every summer and flirts with her… I don't trust him… I think he might…"

"I think I may understand." Interrupted Rune.

"Well will you?" questioned Rune.

"No… I'm sorry but I don't think I can go into any relationship right now." Rune replied.

"Ah. I guess I'll be seeing you" Rick said as he walked into the chicken coop.

On that note Rune walked back towards the hot spring and looked at the map. He was trying to find the Inn and it was getting dark. He walked through his ranch and through most parts of the town. He made a turn by the Clinic and walked towards the big building. He was in awe. He thought that is was going to be a small pub like place, but instead it was a real Inn. Rune walked into the Inn and found it empty. He sat himself at a table and began to wait for any sign of life…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sorry about the lack of updates. I also have to apologize for the fact Ann wasn't in this chapter. And for those who read this and didn't want or bother to review you better thank the people who did. Their review inspired to write this 'cause it knew that at least some  person read this. ^_^ Anyway you can expect Ann and a few other people to be in the next chapter. And that's all I'm going to say about that, I'm not going to spoil it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*