Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon, Karen, or any related characters or
events; to the best of my knowledge, they're all owned by Natsume. Any
resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is purely
coincidental. This story is based primarily on the plot of Harvest Moon 64.
Wine Red no Kokoro
by flame mage
Part 1: The Obligatory Cherry-Blossom Scene
**********
The breeze danced past my face, leaving my hair drifting behind it. I could see the cherry blossoms floating on the wind. One landed on the ground in front of me, and I kicked it away. I hate the sight of the pink flowers, smiling like they're mocking me. Cherry blossoms have always reminded me of death. They say my grandmother died the day they bloomed, too.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement and turned. Someone was coming up from the village. I set down the bucket I was holding to shade my eyes against the sun. I could see the bright blue and orange of a baseball cap. The person was walking slowly, shoulders slumped, toward the old farm. But no one lived there except the old man. I hopped up onto the fence, straining to get a closer look.
"KAREN!" someone bellowed. I flailed and toppled over, my face in the dust. Spitting, I looked up to see my so-called father, Gotz. "What?!" I snapped.
"Stop standing around and work! We're gonna have a big order coming in!" My father likes to think of himself as the strong, silent type, which I always assumed was because he had nothing to say. But he was talking now, which in my experience was a bad sign.
"Why?" I asked, still annoyed.
"Why?" mimicked my father in a smarmy high-pitched voice that I assume was supposed to be me. "Because the geezer at the farm just died! We're going to be working overtime getting the wine ready for the wake tonight!"
"What about the stuff we've already made?" I asked.
"Gone! Get up and do something!" He was glaring down at me, and for a minute I wanted to punch him. It'd be so easy to jerk his ankle out from under him and send him tumbling to the dirt. I managed to stop myself in time--he's a lot bigger than I am. So I settled for muttering under my breath and started to pick myself up. He stalked off, disgusted.
"Are you all right?" A strong hand grabbed mine and pulled me onto my feet. Kai, the only worker besides my family at this godforsaken vineyard, was looking at me with concern.
"I'm fine!" I snapped angrily, brushing the dust off my vest. I could feel tears pricking the corners of my eyes, and I whirled away from him.
He looked pretty scared, but he reached out to touch my arm. I swung my right fist around hard and caught him on the shoulder. "Just go away," I whispered.
"Karen! Why aren't you working?!" my father bellowed.
I spun violently to face him. "I'm sick of you! I can't even stop to talk for two seconds! We both can't stand each other, so why don't you just let me go to the city and we'll never have to look at each other again!
"What are you talking about?!" he snapped. "I won't let you go to the city. You're staying right here!"
I yelled at the top of my lungs, "What a terrible father! You should let me have my way!" I stormed out of the vineyard. Behind me I heard "What!! Don't be so selfish, Karen! What an undutiful daughter!"
I didn't really care.
The last rays of sunlight were dying, and I'd been on my feet since before dawn. I also had a killer headache, and I was definitely not in the best mood.
"Look," I explained again to the shipper. "You've reached your limit. I can't serve you any more drinks." He started to protest, but I snatched the mug off the table and pushed him toward the door. "Go home," I ordered before he could say anything.
He left, muttering under his breath. I wasn't worried. The bar was the only place in town to go at night. He'd be back.
Kai was in his regular seat by the wall, staring into his mug as if it held the answer to all the world's problems. Jeff, the bakery master, was at the bar. My father the tyrant hadn't showed up, for which I was thankful. It wasn't like I'd get fired if the customers saw us fighting. Everyone there was a regular. I just didn't want to have to look at his face.
That was part of the problem, actually. Everyone everywhere was a regular. I'd spent my entire life with the same people. Except for Kai, who'd arrived a few years ago, everyone in the village had been there for as long as I could remember. There was never anyone new to talk to, never anything new happening. I went through the same boring routine every day--same chores, fight with Gotzicus Rex, work in the bar at night. And I was wiping the tables down furiously and going on like this in my head when the door opened.
I jumped and spun around to see a stranger standing in the doorway. He wore a blue and orange baseball cap, a pair of overalls that looked new (not to mention expensive), and a red bandana around his neck. He just stood there for a second, looking lost, then walked in slowly and sat down at a table by himself.
I sighed, rubbed my aching temples, and came over, trying to force a smile on my face. "Can I get you anything?"
He turned around and stared at me. "Umm...yeah..."
I put my hands on my hips and waited for the order. After thirty seconds of silence, I asked, "What?"
The guy was still looking at me. "What do you have?"
I was ready to scream. "The menu is on the table. When you figure it out, call me." My head was pounding, and I crossed behind the counter.
"You want to go home?" Duke whispered.
"Nah," I muttered back. "I gotta be here. Besides, I really don't feel like going home."
"Take a break then," he told me.
"Thanks," I murmured gratefully, and fixed myself a glass of wine. I was just about to sit down when the guy called over to me, "I'm ready."
I flexed my hands in a strangling motion and walked back to him. "What'll it be?"
"I'll have the Wild Grape wine," he said.
I couldn't hold back a laugh. "You? I think you meant to order a Shirley Temple."
He shot me a look like frost daggers. "Look, it hasn't been the best day. Can I have the drink without the sarcasm?"
I slammed a hand on the table. "You think you're the only one who's allowed to feel lousy? Think again, pal." Whoa. Where did that one come from?
He glared back, his face inches from mine. "Your grandfather died yesterday too?"
Realization dawned. "You're the old man's grandson?"
The kid nodded. "Yeah. I'm restoring the farm."
I laughed again, a short barking noise that sounded bitter. "Good luck. I've seen that dump. It'd be impossible for anyone to bring back, especially a city kid like you."
"How do you figure?"
"Maybe you haven't seen the shape that dive is in. The fields are a wreck, the house looks like a typhoon hit it...any animals in the barn have long since started rotting. And you seriously expect me to believe that you can bring it back, Mr. Armani- Overalls in your pristine white gloves? Give me a break. You really think people around here are that dumb?"
His eyes narrowed. "I'll show you."
"I'm sure." I stomped back to Duke. "I think I'll take that offer to knock off early tonight." Then I walked out without a backward glance.
As the door closed behind me I heard Kai's voice, calm and soothing. I didn't want to hear him. I didn't want to go back home and get yelled at. Without knowing why, I started to run. The words pounded in my head. 'It'd be impossible for anyone to bring back...'
Just like the vineyard.
I woke up the next morning in a strange bed and panicked. It took me a long time to recognize Ann's room at the Green Ranch. But I couldn't remember going there the night before.
I crawled out of the bed and saw the blanket piled up on the floor, and I realized what must have happened. Ann must've slept on the floor so I could have the bed.
But how'd I wind up at the ranch?
She came in while I was sorting it all out. "Good morning, Karen," she said cheerfully. "Are you feeling all right?"
I brushed a lock of blonde hair out of my eyes. "What happened?"
She started folding the blanket. "I found you lying at the gate to the ranch last night. Gray helped me get you here. What...?" She trailed off.
"I'm not entirely sure," I answered her unspoken question. "I left the bar and I was running. I had a big fight with Dad yesterday and I didn't want to go home, so I tried to find somewhere to go off the road."
Ann set the blanket on top of the bed and handed me a glass of milk. "You know, Kai was here this morning."
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Yeah. He was pretty worried about you. He said you got into a fight with some guy." She was pumping me now, in the sideways way that all best friends have. It didn't really bother me.
"That new guy, the old man's grandson." I clenched my fists, feeling renewed anger. "He's a total jerk."
"Hmmm." She shrugged. "I've seen that city boy. Forget about him--I think Kai likes you."
"Ugh." The pillow hit her in the head. "You're nuts."
She shrugged again and grinned. "Hey, I've gotta go run some errands in the village, and then I'm going up to the mountains. You want to come?"
"Naaah." I stood up and ran my fingers through my tangled hair. "I gotta face the music sometime."
"Are you sure?" she asked, looking concerned.
"Yeah." She walked me to the door. "Thanks for everything, Ann."
"No problem!" She flashed her trademark grin. "Take care of yourself, okay, Karen?"
I nodded and started for home. But then I happened to look over the fence and saw one of the horses was missing. The little pony--the brother of their prize horse, Cliffguard.
"Hey, Ann!" I called back. "What happened to Cliff's brother?"
She blushed. "I...I gave it to the old man's grandson."
I stared at her. "Just because he's new here!" she protested. "Since Gray can't race anymore, we need someone to participate in the horse races for us. I told him I'd give him Cliff's brother if he'd agree to race."
"That jerk..." I muttered, my mood darker again. I started trudging home, taking my time--Dad would still be there when I got back.
Dad went ballistic, of course. I wanted to scream at him again, but then again, he was right this time, so what was I supposed to say? And I really didn't feel like another fight, which was what started the whole thing in the first place. So I took it and shuffled back out to work.
Two hours later, I was totally exhausted. I'd really thrown myself into it today. It was warm for spring, and my hair was limply down my back. Finally I dropped my vest on the ground and kept working in shorts and the tank top. The dust was starting to stick to my skin.
I'd just gotten down on my hands and knees to finish the planting when a voice behind me said "Hello." I craned my head around to see him, Farm Boy in the flesh.
I turned back to working. "What do you want?" I snarled over my shoulder.
He stopped for a second, probably nervous. If Kai was any indication, I seemed to have that effect on people. Then he said "I wanted to apologize about last night. I was in a bad mood and I shouldn't've taken it out on you."
"Save your breath. I don't care," I told him.
"Yeah, that's what Kai told me you'd say." Farm Boy sounded a little annoyed, but not as angry as the night before. "Anyway, I brought you something." He fished around in his rucksack and came up with three blue berries.
That got my attention. I actually turned to face him. "Kyaa...Veryberries?"
"Yeah." He adjusted his hat. "I heard that you like them, right?"
I gave him a sharp nod and set the berries carefully down on my vest, then turned back to work. "Don't talk to me so much," I said.
He turned and walked back down the path. I started thinking about Veryberry wine.
Wine Red no Kokoro
by flame mage
Part 1: The Obligatory Cherry-Blossom Scene
**********
The breeze danced past my face, leaving my hair drifting behind it. I could see the cherry blossoms floating on the wind. One landed on the ground in front of me, and I kicked it away. I hate the sight of the pink flowers, smiling like they're mocking me. Cherry blossoms have always reminded me of death. They say my grandmother died the day they bloomed, too.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement and turned. Someone was coming up from the village. I set down the bucket I was holding to shade my eyes against the sun. I could see the bright blue and orange of a baseball cap. The person was walking slowly, shoulders slumped, toward the old farm. But no one lived there except the old man. I hopped up onto the fence, straining to get a closer look.
"KAREN!" someone bellowed. I flailed and toppled over, my face in the dust. Spitting, I looked up to see my so-called father, Gotz. "What?!" I snapped.
"Stop standing around and work! We're gonna have a big order coming in!" My father likes to think of himself as the strong, silent type, which I always assumed was because he had nothing to say. But he was talking now, which in my experience was a bad sign.
"Why?" I asked, still annoyed.
"Why?" mimicked my father in a smarmy high-pitched voice that I assume was supposed to be me. "Because the geezer at the farm just died! We're going to be working overtime getting the wine ready for the wake tonight!"
"What about the stuff we've already made?" I asked.
"Gone! Get up and do something!" He was glaring down at me, and for a minute I wanted to punch him. It'd be so easy to jerk his ankle out from under him and send him tumbling to the dirt. I managed to stop myself in time--he's a lot bigger than I am. So I settled for muttering under my breath and started to pick myself up. He stalked off, disgusted.
"Are you all right?" A strong hand grabbed mine and pulled me onto my feet. Kai, the only worker besides my family at this godforsaken vineyard, was looking at me with concern.
"I'm fine!" I snapped angrily, brushing the dust off my vest. I could feel tears pricking the corners of my eyes, and I whirled away from him.
He looked pretty scared, but he reached out to touch my arm. I swung my right fist around hard and caught him on the shoulder. "Just go away," I whispered.
"Karen! Why aren't you working?!" my father bellowed.
I spun violently to face him. "I'm sick of you! I can't even stop to talk for two seconds! We both can't stand each other, so why don't you just let me go to the city and we'll never have to look at each other again!
"What are you talking about?!" he snapped. "I won't let you go to the city. You're staying right here!"
I yelled at the top of my lungs, "What a terrible father! You should let me have my way!" I stormed out of the vineyard. Behind me I heard "What!! Don't be so selfish, Karen! What an undutiful daughter!"
I didn't really care.
The last rays of sunlight were dying, and I'd been on my feet since before dawn. I also had a killer headache, and I was definitely not in the best mood.
"Look," I explained again to the shipper. "You've reached your limit. I can't serve you any more drinks." He started to protest, but I snatched the mug off the table and pushed him toward the door. "Go home," I ordered before he could say anything.
He left, muttering under his breath. I wasn't worried. The bar was the only place in town to go at night. He'd be back.
Kai was in his regular seat by the wall, staring into his mug as if it held the answer to all the world's problems. Jeff, the bakery master, was at the bar. My father the tyrant hadn't showed up, for which I was thankful. It wasn't like I'd get fired if the customers saw us fighting. Everyone there was a regular. I just didn't want to have to look at his face.
That was part of the problem, actually. Everyone everywhere was a regular. I'd spent my entire life with the same people. Except for Kai, who'd arrived a few years ago, everyone in the village had been there for as long as I could remember. There was never anyone new to talk to, never anything new happening. I went through the same boring routine every day--same chores, fight with Gotzicus Rex, work in the bar at night. And I was wiping the tables down furiously and going on like this in my head when the door opened.
I jumped and spun around to see a stranger standing in the doorway. He wore a blue and orange baseball cap, a pair of overalls that looked new (not to mention expensive), and a red bandana around his neck. He just stood there for a second, looking lost, then walked in slowly and sat down at a table by himself.
I sighed, rubbed my aching temples, and came over, trying to force a smile on my face. "Can I get you anything?"
He turned around and stared at me. "Umm...yeah..."
I put my hands on my hips and waited for the order. After thirty seconds of silence, I asked, "What?"
The guy was still looking at me. "What do you have?"
I was ready to scream. "The menu is on the table. When you figure it out, call me." My head was pounding, and I crossed behind the counter.
"You want to go home?" Duke whispered.
"Nah," I muttered back. "I gotta be here. Besides, I really don't feel like going home."
"Take a break then," he told me.
"Thanks," I murmured gratefully, and fixed myself a glass of wine. I was just about to sit down when the guy called over to me, "I'm ready."
I flexed my hands in a strangling motion and walked back to him. "What'll it be?"
"I'll have the Wild Grape wine," he said.
I couldn't hold back a laugh. "You? I think you meant to order a Shirley Temple."
He shot me a look like frost daggers. "Look, it hasn't been the best day. Can I have the drink without the sarcasm?"
I slammed a hand on the table. "You think you're the only one who's allowed to feel lousy? Think again, pal." Whoa. Where did that one come from?
He glared back, his face inches from mine. "Your grandfather died yesterday too?"
Realization dawned. "You're the old man's grandson?"
The kid nodded. "Yeah. I'm restoring the farm."
I laughed again, a short barking noise that sounded bitter. "Good luck. I've seen that dump. It'd be impossible for anyone to bring back, especially a city kid like you."
"How do you figure?"
"Maybe you haven't seen the shape that dive is in. The fields are a wreck, the house looks like a typhoon hit it...any animals in the barn have long since started rotting. And you seriously expect me to believe that you can bring it back, Mr. Armani- Overalls in your pristine white gloves? Give me a break. You really think people around here are that dumb?"
His eyes narrowed. "I'll show you."
"I'm sure." I stomped back to Duke. "I think I'll take that offer to knock off early tonight." Then I walked out without a backward glance.
As the door closed behind me I heard Kai's voice, calm and soothing. I didn't want to hear him. I didn't want to go back home and get yelled at. Without knowing why, I started to run. The words pounded in my head. 'It'd be impossible for anyone to bring back...'
Just like the vineyard.
I woke up the next morning in a strange bed and panicked. It took me a long time to recognize Ann's room at the Green Ranch. But I couldn't remember going there the night before.
I crawled out of the bed and saw the blanket piled up on the floor, and I realized what must have happened. Ann must've slept on the floor so I could have the bed.
But how'd I wind up at the ranch?
She came in while I was sorting it all out. "Good morning, Karen," she said cheerfully. "Are you feeling all right?"
I brushed a lock of blonde hair out of my eyes. "What happened?"
She started folding the blanket. "I found you lying at the gate to the ranch last night. Gray helped me get you here. What...?" She trailed off.
"I'm not entirely sure," I answered her unspoken question. "I left the bar and I was running. I had a big fight with Dad yesterday and I didn't want to go home, so I tried to find somewhere to go off the road."
Ann set the blanket on top of the bed and handed me a glass of milk. "You know, Kai was here this morning."
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Yeah. He was pretty worried about you. He said you got into a fight with some guy." She was pumping me now, in the sideways way that all best friends have. It didn't really bother me.
"That new guy, the old man's grandson." I clenched my fists, feeling renewed anger. "He's a total jerk."
"Hmmm." She shrugged. "I've seen that city boy. Forget about him--I think Kai likes you."
"Ugh." The pillow hit her in the head. "You're nuts."
She shrugged again and grinned. "Hey, I've gotta go run some errands in the village, and then I'm going up to the mountains. You want to come?"
"Naaah." I stood up and ran my fingers through my tangled hair. "I gotta face the music sometime."
"Are you sure?" she asked, looking concerned.
"Yeah." She walked me to the door. "Thanks for everything, Ann."
"No problem!" She flashed her trademark grin. "Take care of yourself, okay, Karen?"
I nodded and started for home. But then I happened to look over the fence and saw one of the horses was missing. The little pony--the brother of their prize horse, Cliffguard.
"Hey, Ann!" I called back. "What happened to Cliff's brother?"
She blushed. "I...I gave it to the old man's grandson."
I stared at her. "Just because he's new here!" she protested. "Since Gray can't race anymore, we need someone to participate in the horse races for us. I told him I'd give him Cliff's brother if he'd agree to race."
"That jerk..." I muttered, my mood darker again. I started trudging home, taking my time--Dad would still be there when I got back.
Dad went ballistic, of course. I wanted to scream at him again, but then again, he was right this time, so what was I supposed to say? And I really didn't feel like another fight, which was what started the whole thing in the first place. So I took it and shuffled back out to work.
Two hours later, I was totally exhausted. I'd really thrown myself into it today. It was warm for spring, and my hair was limply down my back. Finally I dropped my vest on the ground and kept working in shorts and the tank top. The dust was starting to stick to my skin.
I'd just gotten down on my hands and knees to finish the planting when a voice behind me said "Hello." I craned my head around to see him, Farm Boy in the flesh.
I turned back to working. "What do you want?" I snarled over my shoulder.
He stopped for a second, probably nervous. If Kai was any indication, I seemed to have that effect on people. Then he said "I wanted to apologize about last night. I was in a bad mood and I shouldn't've taken it out on you."
"Save your breath. I don't care," I told him.
"Yeah, that's what Kai told me you'd say." Farm Boy sounded a little annoyed, but not as angry as the night before. "Anyway, I brought you something." He fished around in his rucksack and came up with three blue berries.
That got my attention. I actually turned to face him. "Kyaa...Veryberries?"
"Yeah." He adjusted his hat. "I heard that you like them, right?"
I gave him a sharp nod and set the berries carefully down on my vest, then turned back to work. "Don't talk to me so much," I said.
He turned and walked back down the path. I started thinking about Veryberry wine.