Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon
A/N: Onward ho! I don't know if I'll have a sequel to this but most, if not all of my stories do have an epilogue. I have a lot of stories to finish, so don't really count on much of a sequel…sorry.
To Win a Woman's Heart
1st day of winter
Winter is finally here, snow upon the ground and winds blowing around. It isn't really cold though, just enough to be slightly uncomfortable at times and a little chilly at night. Ruby said my first winter here that because the valley protects us all our seasons are nice, even though summer sometimes becomes unbearably hot. I'm feeling better now; Hatori left me alone all of yesterday, save for delivering over another trick blue flower. I actually said that I liked the sashimi he had made, and I couldn't believe myself, saying a compliment like that. He either didn't want to bring up the fact it was odd or didn't care, because all he said was 'I'll make you more then when I go fishing again. If you ever want to borrow my fishing rod again just let me know, all right?' He left after that and I didn't see him for the rest of the day. I think he was really tending to his plants or fishing near the archeology site. I didn't know for sure, all I really knew was he was leaving me alone for the day I asked him to give me.
I did feel better now; all I did yesterday was walk around and talk to everyone. It was the only thing I couldn't do well, and that was really talk to people. I tried to but for someone like me that never really wanted to converse with others much it was hard.
"Good morning Nami, it sure is a cold morning, isn't it?" I turned around from where I stood by the pond and saw Hatori coming up to me with a smile on his face, just like always. I didn't think I needed that familiarity until two nights ago…I'm in love with him and that smile is how I know him best by.
"A little," I agreed. "What's up?"
"I planted strawberries this morning. They grow best in the cold weather. I can make a great fruit punch with all I've been growing and saving so I can't wait for you to test it out. I'm glad I'm really able to grow anything at all; it's a little hard sometimes to do it. I'm going to be getting a new cow soon as well, I mean, the male cow I got a while ago will be mature, and since my first cow isn't giving as much milk anymore Takakura said it was because cows have to give birth so I'm going to try and…you know…" He seemed too embarrassed to say it so I began to laugh. It was just a little funny. Here he was and I thought he could do anything or say anything…but apparently he can't talk about cows mating because it either disturbs him or he thinks it will disturb me. That was amusing to me; I really didn't have much of a reason for it. "Well I'm glad you found that funny." I looked at him and he wasn't mad. Rather, he seemed extremely amused with the fact I found him funny. "Hope that makes your day." Okay, now he was just teasing me.
"Well excuse me if you have trouble saying you need your cows to mate in order to get a calf. Is it really that hard to say?" I asked with another fit of laughter coming on. "And here I thought you could say anything…but when it comes to mating cows you're at a loss for words!"
"You know, I think you're taking this thing out of context," he said. "What's up with you? You seem lighter this morning than I've ever seen you before."
I straightened up and looked at him. "Well, I think I've just come to terms with a few things and that's that."
"Oh, I see," he said, looking thoughtful for a moment. "That's good then. Listen, this afternoon I'm going to have a big harvest of a few things and I was wondering if you'd like to help my pull them out of the ground."
"It sounds like fun, but no thanks," I said. "Pulling vegetables has never been anything of a favorite to me."
"Okay then, that's fine. I'll just have to bring you some of the good cooking that'll come of these 'vegetables' then later." He smiled at me and I let him see my sarcastic grin.
"You're cooking is always good. Who taught you how to cook?" I asked curiously. "Was it your mom or your dad?"
"Actually it was my dad come to think of it. He loved using everything that came fresh from the ground or fresh from the farm, except for meat. All the dishes he had ever taught me were meatless or made with fish. The only problem is right now the kitchen is a little to small for me to make many entrees or desserts and a few of the appetizers as well." He smiled at me. "I've wanted to expand the kitchen but Takakura says there's no need to do that unless other things happen so I'll just be without for now."
"Without what?" I asked curiously. "What are you without?"
"You wouldn't want to know, it would make you a little embarrassed…well actually, it would make me more embarrassed and ruin a few things for me too," he said.
"Whatever idiot, just do whatever you want," I said with a sigh. "You're impossible Hatori, I'll just leave now, leave you alone to whatever you're without." I turned to walk away from him.
"Hey, Nami, listen…um…wait, never mind," he said. He looked at me with his big eyes and I sighed. Times like this made me wish I could read minds, even for just a moment. I wanted to know what he was thinking right now!
"What is it?" I asked as I turned back to face him. "What do you want?"
"I can't say it
just yet, it's not the right time," he replied and I flicked him on the face
with my fingers. "Ow! What was that
for?"
"You're an idiot and you always will
be," I said and walked away before he could say anything else. Sure, he was an idiot, but this idiot I
loved.
TBC
A/N: All I can say is, sorry it's so short!
