Sakura's Dream
Chapter 3
The golden rays of sun that usually covered Harvest Village were hidden as Sakura walked down the red cobblestone streets. Fog from the morning had drifted in from the beach, and a feeling of sleepiness engulfed everything in site.
"Wow...It sure can be dull here..." Sakura sighed, starting to feel some doubt regarding her new surroundings. Her striped red and white sundress fell at her calves as she strolled.
"Oh, thank you very much Nurse Burchton. With this herb I might be able to make at least five Turbojolt medicines," said Tim. Sakura jumped and hid behind a streetlight and a clump of bushes. She peered over the shrubbery, her blond hair dangling with curiosity.
"That sounded like Tim's voice! But who's this Nurse Burchwhatever?" she thought. She could see the Clinic not too far off. Tim, who could not be mistaken due to his white lab coat, and a girl who she presumed to be Elli due to the familiar nurse dress, were standing idly. Tim was holding a clump of green herbs, which Sakura recognized because Ryo picked them often.
"I-it's nothing. As long as I can help you, I'm content..." Elli blushed, looking away and teetering on her toes bashfully.
"S-she's totally putting the flirt on him!" gasped Sakura with her hand over her mouth. "That overly cutesy nurse...!" she clenched her right fist as it shook.
"Well, I greatly appreciate that," Tim said professionally, easily keeping his cool. The two medical workers then walked inside, leaving the hidden Sakura alone by the turned off streetlight. She walked to the town square and sat down on a redwood bench, legs crossed and deep in thought.
"Lesse...I can't let Elli or Nurse Burchbutt or whatever her name is to take Tim. What does he like...?" she held her head in her left palm as she thought. "Oh, duh! Herbs! Whoa, this works out great! Dad can help me find some rare herbs, and then maybe Tim will pick me instead of Elli!" Sakura exclaimed, riled up. "Oh...but Elli really doesn't deserve to get hurt...Oh well, all's fair in love and war," she sighed.
When she returned to the Twin Lilies Ryo and Haruna were both sitting down at the oaken dining room table. A small yellow board with white and black stones were placed in various parts of the board. The black stones held seniority, surrounding the majority of white stones.
"Ha ha! I got you surrounded, Haruna! Go Ryo, go Ryo!" laughed her dad boyishly, moving a black stone across the board. Haruna wore a tired but aggressive expression.
"I'm not going down so easily!" she declared, even though she was getting completely thrashed. Sakura rolled her eyes, embarrassed at how lame her parents sounded.
"Jeez guys, it's only a game," she commented with a hint of annoyance. "Oh, dad, I need your help finding..." Sakura was cut off by a male customer in the sales room.
"Hello? Aren't you guys open?" the smooth voice questioned.
"I'll get him," Sakura sighed, knowing her war strategist parents were too absorbed in their game to pay attention to anything except the small board. She walked through the back door to find smooth, smug, tan- clad Kai standing in front of the counter. She almost threw up her breakfast right then and there.
"Hey Sakura, I didn't know you ran this store! That's pretty hot," Kai grinned, looking at the various flowers and perfumes that the small seed shop sold for extra cash. The young saleswoman rolled her eyes in response.
"Did you come here to hit on me or to buy something?" she snapped, hands on her hips. The bandana-headed Kai ignored her, simply walking around, browsing the merchandise.
"Y'see, I need something for Popuri, y'know? It has to be fragrant, and have the right color and the right texture," explained Kai.
"Oh, your shopping for flowers?! That's so sweet! I really don't think the texture matters, since they all are relatively soft, but we have a huge selection of species, colors, and fragrances. What kind are you interested in? Roses, violets, carnations?" she suggested enthusiastically. Kai grinned, shining his almost too-bright teeth.
"No no, not flowers, but something that she can use to enjoy herself when she has an...urge," he grinned pervertedly, clearly not talking about flowers. "Like a...you know..." he leaned over, whispering name of the adult item into her ear. Sakura turned pale white for a moment, but her anger rose to boiling heat-red.
"WE DON'T SELL THOSE AT A FLOWER SHOP! GET OUT!!" she screamed, practically blowing out Kai's eardrums.
"Ow! What the hell are ya tryin' to do?! Make me deaf?!" Kai retorted angrily before he left the shop, his tanned hands over his throbbing ears. Sakura gritted her teeth angrily as she thought about torturing Kai in various ways.
"How dare he come here shopping for those! What kind of seed shop sells that sort of merchandise?!" she fumed. "Ack! Mom and dad probably heard me screaming at Kai! They'll be angry that I sent a customer away! What'll I do?!" Sakura whimpered as she walked back through the back door into the kitchen. "Y-you've got to be kidding me..." she said blankly. Her parents were still staring at the same board, moving the same microscopic stones around. This time the white stones had surrounded the black stones.
"See?! I told you I'd get the advantage! Go Haruna, go Haruna!" cheered Haruna childishly as Ryo looked like the world was over.
"N-n-no!! I'll have my revenge!" he groaned. Sakura picked up a game box that was apparently what her parents stored it in when they weren't playing it.
"GO, The Legendary Asian Strategy Game, This game originates from ancient Asia, where normal people become military strategists and battle to secure surrounding areas using black and white stones. This game takes 2 to 4 hours to play," she read all across the box. "Wait... '2 to 4 hours to play'?! They'll be at it forever! Ugh...I guess I'll have to gather the herbs on my own," she groaned, imagining herself scaling the whole Green Mountains for hours.
After navigating through town using one of Ryo's maps that he got from Mayor Thomas, Sakura was able to find the entrance to the mountain range. It had been the first time she had ever been there, and she quickly fell in love with the beautiful wildlife. Majestic oak trees were everywhere, and the velvety green grass grew healthily under her feet. Wildflowers dotted the scenic area, and the whole mountains themselves seemed to all be part of a lovely painting. "It's so beautiful..." Sakura blushed, humbled by her gorgeous surroundings. After gazing in awe for a few minutes, she regained control of herself and decided to continue. "I need to keep a straight head. It's already noon, and it'll probably take all day to gather a fair amount of herbs, so I better hurry!" she nodded to herself and started up the thick, luscious path. It took her about one hour to find her first herb. "Jeez! I've only found one herb, and it's already one o'clock!" she exclaimed, listening to the distant chime of the town clock tower as the new hour approached. She put the green herb in her apron pocket and continued. It was two more hours before she found the next one, and one more before she found the next herb. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! "...Five chimes. So it's already five o'clock, and I've only gathered three herbs..." she sighed, disappointed. "Well, I'd better head back," she decided quietly. Fifteen minutes later, she was lost. "W-where am I?! I followed the main path all the way to the summit! Did I stray off it?!" she asked herself, her eyes shining nervously. All the elegant trees seemed to mold together into one big bubble, as if to keep her trapped forever. She looked up at the orange sky. The sun was setting, and the main path was still nowhere to be found. A wolf howled far off, making Sakura yelp with fright. "N-n-noooo! I'm gonna be trapped here and get eaten by wolves!" she broke down and wailed, falling to her knees with her palms against her face as she choked on her on salty tears.
"Sakura! Are you alright?!" exclaimed a familiar voice that she loved.
"Great...Now I'm hearing voices! I'm delirious...!" she thought, still crying. A man in a white doctor's coat rushed to her side.
"Snap out of it! Everything will be okay!" said the voice again. Sakura, hands over her eyes and crying, shook her head.
"I'm going crazy! I'm going crazy!" the girl trembled, scared. Suddenly, big arms wrapped around her, enveloping and holding her close. "Huh?...So warm..." she thought peacefully, "I feel safe..."
"Don't be scared. It's all right," the voice assured gently. Sakura opened her eyes, and looking down at her was Tim. He seemed to be having a hard time with trying to act professional or to show his true feelings, although his emotions had obviously won.
"Oh, Tim..." Sakura gasped. All of a sudden, like a mirror shattering in her mind, she realized everything that had happened on the hike all over again; walking for hours, getting lost, being threatened by the wolf, but this time she didn't need to go through it alone, because Tim was with her, consoling her. "I...was scaaaaaaared!" she wailed, sobbing into his chest.
"It's all right, your safe now. I won't let anyone harm you," Tim consoled gently, still holding her close.
"He revealed his true nature to me...He's so gentle..." Sakura thought, smiling to herself. Tim looked down at the blond head, and his face turned red as he sighed contently.
"You've seemed to have stopped shaking now. Are you alright?" he asked, letting go of her softly. Sakura blushed, inching back a little to give him his space.
"Yeah, I am. I was looking for herbs for hours, but I could find only a few scattered over the mountain..." she sighed, thinking about the measly amount of herbs she gathered. Tim's face lit up, quite surprised.
"Oh, I know some great herb spots! Er...I mean...I collect them often. Would you like me to show you some ideal spots tomorrow? It's already almost dark now," offered Tim. He was finally able to hide behind his professional mask again, but for those few heavenly minutes he held her in his arms had revealed to her his true feelings.
"Thanks, that'd really be helpful!" she smiled, accepting his offer. Tim nodded seriously.
"Very well. Um...please let me lead you back to Harvest Village. I wouldn't want you to get lost again..." his words tumbled over each other nervously. Sakura nodded, beaming.
"I'd like that very much..." she giggled, blushing. Tim nodded, and his whole figure seemed to relax before led her to the main path. They then walked down the path together, silent. Sakura looked away and searched blindly for Tim's hand. She smiled when it enthusiastically greeted her's, engulfing it in warmth as the two walked back together on the long journey back to Harvest Village.
Chapter 3
The golden rays of sun that usually covered Harvest Village were hidden as Sakura walked down the red cobblestone streets. Fog from the morning had drifted in from the beach, and a feeling of sleepiness engulfed everything in site.
"Wow...It sure can be dull here..." Sakura sighed, starting to feel some doubt regarding her new surroundings. Her striped red and white sundress fell at her calves as she strolled.
"Oh, thank you very much Nurse Burchton. With this herb I might be able to make at least five Turbojolt medicines," said Tim. Sakura jumped and hid behind a streetlight and a clump of bushes. She peered over the shrubbery, her blond hair dangling with curiosity.
"That sounded like Tim's voice! But who's this Nurse Burchwhatever?" she thought. She could see the Clinic not too far off. Tim, who could not be mistaken due to his white lab coat, and a girl who she presumed to be Elli due to the familiar nurse dress, were standing idly. Tim was holding a clump of green herbs, which Sakura recognized because Ryo picked them often.
"I-it's nothing. As long as I can help you, I'm content..." Elli blushed, looking away and teetering on her toes bashfully.
"S-she's totally putting the flirt on him!" gasped Sakura with her hand over her mouth. "That overly cutesy nurse...!" she clenched her right fist as it shook.
"Well, I greatly appreciate that," Tim said professionally, easily keeping his cool. The two medical workers then walked inside, leaving the hidden Sakura alone by the turned off streetlight. She walked to the town square and sat down on a redwood bench, legs crossed and deep in thought.
"Lesse...I can't let Elli or Nurse Burchbutt or whatever her name is to take Tim. What does he like...?" she held her head in her left palm as she thought. "Oh, duh! Herbs! Whoa, this works out great! Dad can help me find some rare herbs, and then maybe Tim will pick me instead of Elli!" Sakura exclaimed, riled up. "Oh...but Elli really doesn't deserve to get hurt...Oh well, all's fair in love and war," she sighed.
When she returned to the Twin Lilies Ryo and Haruna were both sitting down at the oaken dining room table. A small yellow board with white and black stones were placed in various parts of the board. The black stones held seniority, surrounding the majority of white stones.
"Ha ha! I got you surrounded, Haruna! Go Ryo, go Ryo!" laughed her dad boyishly, moving a black stone across the board. Haruna wore a tired but aggressive expression.
"I'm not going down so easily!" she declared, even though she was getting completely thrashed. Sakura rolled her eyes, embarrassed at how lame her parents sounded.
"Jeez guys, it's only a game," she commented with a hint of annoyance. "Oh, dad, I need your help finding..." Sakura was cut off by a male customer in the sales room.
"Hello? Aren't you guys open?" the smooth voice questioned.
"I'll get him," Sakura sighed, knowing her war strategist parents were too absorbed in their game to pay attention to anything except the small board. She walked through the back door to find smooth, smug, tan- clad Kai standing in front of the counter. She almost threw up her breakfast right then and there.
"Hey Sakura, I didn't know you ran this store! That's pretty hot," Kai grinned, looking at the various flowers and perfumes that the small seed shop sold for extra cash. The young saleswoman rolled her eyes in response.
"Did you come here to hit on me or to buy something?" she snapped, hands on her hips. The bandana-headed Kai ignored her, simply walking around, browsing the merchandise.
"Y'see, I need something for Popuri, y'know? It has to be fragrant, and have the right color and the right texture," explained Kai.
"Oh, your shopping for flowers?! That's so sweet! I really don't think the texture matters, since they all are relatively soft, but we have a huge selection of species, colors, and fragrances. What kind are you interested in? Roses, violets, carnations?" she suggested enthusiastically. Kai grinned, shining his almost too-bright teeth.
"No no, not flowers, but something that she can use to enjoy herself when she has an...urge," he grinned pervertedly, clearly not talking about flowers. "Like a...you know..." he leaned over, whispering name of the adult item into her ear. Sakura turned pale white for a moment, but her anger rose to boiling heat-red.
"WE DON'T SELL THOSE AT A FLOWER SHOP! GET OUT!!" she screamed, practically blowing out Kai's eardrums.
"Ow! What the hell are ya tryin' to do?! Make me deaf?!" Kai retorted angrily before he left the shop, his tanned hands over his throbbing ears. Sakura gritted her teeth angrily as she thought about torturing Kai in various ways.
"How dare he come here shopping for those! What kind of seed shop sells that sort of merchandise?!" she fumed. "Ack! Mom and dad probably heard me screaming at Kai! They'll be angry that I sent a customer away! What'll I do?!" Sakura whimpered as she walked back through the back door into the kitchen. "Y-you've got to be kidding me..." she said blankly. Her parents were still staring at the same board, moving the same microscopic stones around. This time the white stones had surrounded the black stones.
"See?! I told you I'd get the advantage! Go Haruna, go Haruna!" cheered Haruna childishly as Ryo looked like the world was over.
"N-n-no!! I'll have my revenge!" he groaned. Sakura picked up a game box that was apparently what her parents stored it in when they weren't playing it.
"GO, The Legendary Asian Strategy Game, This game originates from ancient Asia, where normal people become military strategists and battle to secure surrounding areas using black and white stones. This game takes 2 to 4 hours to play," she read all across the box. "Wait... '2 to 4 hours to play'?! They'll be at it forever! Ugh...I guess I'll have to gather the herbs on my own," she groaned, imagining herself scaling the whole Green Mountains for hours.
After navigating through town using one of Ryo's maps that he got from Mayor Thomas, Sakura was able to find the entrance to the mountain range. It had been the first time she had ever been there, and she quickly fell in love with the beautiful wildlife. Majestic oak trees were everywhere, and the velvety green grass grew healthily under her feet. Wildflowers dotted the scenic area, and the whole mountains themselves seemed to all be part of a lovely painting. "It's so beautiful..." Sakura blushed, humbled by her gorgeous surroundings. After gazing in awe for a few minutes, she regained control of herself and decided to continue. "I need to keep a straight head. It's already noon, and it'll probably take all day to gather a fair amount of herbs, so I better hurry!" she nodded to herself and started up the thick, luscious path. It took her about one hour to find her first herb. "Jeez! I've only found one herb, and it's already one o'clock!" she exclaimed, listening to the distant chime of the town clock tower as the new hour approached. She put the green herb in her apron pocket and continued. It was two more hours before she found the next one, and one more before she found the next herb. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! "...Five chimes. So it's already five o'clock, and I've only gathered three herbs..." she sighed, disappointed. "Well, I'd better head back," she decided quietly. Fifteen minutes later, she was lost. "W-where am I?! I followed the main path all the way to the summit! Did I stray off it?!" she asked herself, her eyes shining nervously. All the elegant trees seemed to mold together into one big bubble, as if to keep her trapped forever. She looked up at the orange sky. The sun was setting, and the main path was still nowhere to be found. A wolf howled far off, making Sakura yelp with fright. "N-n-noooo! I'm gonna be trapped here and get eaten by wolves!" she broke down and wailed, falling to her knees with her palms against her face as she choked on her on salty tears.
"Sakura! Are you alright?!" exclaimed a familiar voice that she loved.
"Great...Now I'm hearing voices! I'm delirious...!" she thought, still crying. A man in a white doctor's coat rushed to her side.
"Snap out of it! Everything will be okay!" said the voice again. Sakura, hands over her eyes and crying, shook her head.
"I'm going crazy! I'm going crazy!" the girl trembled, scared. Suddenly, big arms wrapped around her, enveloping and holding her close. "Huh?...So warm..." she thought peacefully, "I feel safe..."
"Don't be scared. It's all right," the voice assured gently. Sakura opened her eyes, and looking down at her was Tim. He seemed to be having a hard time with trying to act professional or to show his true feelings, although his emotions had obviously won.
"Oh, Tim..." Sakura gasped. All of a sudden, like a mirror shattering in her mind, she realized everything that had happened on the hike all over again; walking for hours, getting lost, being threatened by the wolf, but this time she didn't need to go through it alone, because Tim was with her, consoling her. "I...was scaaaaaaared!" she wailed, sobbing into his chest.
"It's all right, your safe now. I won't let anyone harm you," Tim consoled gently, still holding her close.
"He revealed his true nature to me...He's so gentle..." Sakura thought, smiling to herself. Tim looked down at the blond head, and his face turned red as he sighed contently.
"You've seemed to have stopped shaking now. Are you alright?" he asked, letting go of her softly. Sakura blushed, inching back a little to give him his space.
"Yeah, I am. I was looking for herbs for hours, but I could find only a few scattered over the mountain..." she sighed, thinking about the measly amount of herbs she gathered. Tim's face lit up, quite surprised.
"Oh, I know some great herb spots! Er...I mean...I collect them often. Would you like me to show you some ideal spots tomorrow? It's already almost dark now," offered Tim. He was finally able to hide behind his professional mask again, but for those few heavenly minutes he held her in his arms had revealed to her his true feelings.
"Thanks, that'd really be helpful!" she smiled, accepting his offer. Tim nodded seriously.
"Very well. Um...please let me lead you back to Harvest Village. I wouldn't want you to get lost again..." his words tumbled over each other nervously. Sakura nodded, beaming.
"I'd like that very much..." she giggled, blushing. Tim nodded, and his whole figure seemed to relax before led her to the main path. They then walked down the path together, silent. Sakura looked away and searched blindly for Tim's hand. She smiled when it enthusiastically greeted her's, engulfing it in warmth as the two walked back together on the long journey back to Harvest Village.