RuRu: HOWDEE! Here's an update. I'm stressed over a lot right now, so it's late.

I disclaim this, for I do not own it.

Chapter 6

THE NEXT DAY

10:28 AM

Thin Foggy, with sun streaming through

There was pain, not a lot, but there was pain. It was a growing pain, a jealous pain that could swallow you up if left alone. It hurt me, clawed at my sanity, tore me from my once quiet life, and I let it. I wanted to keep it with me, if it meant he could stay, maybe the medicine he gave me to calm my nerves is messing with my senses; but I know how I feel.

Confusing, yes? As usual, you need to know to understand the pain. Some would call you crazy; ask what you were thinking. Then they realize, you don't think, you just…do, if that makes a lick of sense.

I miss the power I once had of knowing what was going on in this valley; the knowledge of future events, but now I guess, I'm more aware in a way. I need sleep; I'm not making sense.

Blurs, blurs of color surrounded me. I could tell my eyes were open, but I couldn't make out any distinct figures. My head was throbbing, my body weak, I was a mess; a lost case.

I attempted to roll over when my vision was clearer, my eyes rested on Jack's face. He had been sitting beside the bed; he had probably laid his head down and fell asleep. He looked rather peaceful in a way; he had irregular breathing, but who didn't when they were asleep.

"Jack…Jack." I croaked; my throat was dry.

He mumbled and rubbed his eyes, then in a dazed form smiled at me. A warm and tender smile that made me shudder; I couldn't help but return a weak one.

"Good…" He checked his watch, "Morning."

I sat up and stretched gently, knowing my body was still worn down from my…previous ventures.

"How are ya feeling? I'm sorry all this has happened, it wasn't like this before I came." His face was a mixture of regret and nervousness.

I shrugged, "No, I tended to fall down hills a lot."

I didn't realize what I had said until Jack began chuckling a moment later. A joke, I had made a joke for the first time since my arrival.

"Oh, and I'm getting better." I quickly added, my tone rushed.

He smiled again, "I'm glad, I better be careful or you'll end up dead before I leave."

The words "before I leave" rang in my ears, my chest tightened. No words have ever had that much effect on me before; why they had that meaning I wasn't quite sure.

"You're…leaving?" I automatically asked before my brain processed it.

"Not for a few years, but I have to leave eventually." His eyebrows were cocked as if I should already be aware of this.

"Right…thought you meant now…" I wasn't sure what to say; what could you respond with?

"I just got here…" He thought for a moment, "Are you eager to get rid of me?"

I paused, "I don't know you well enough to make that assumption."

"I suppose not." He scooted the chair he had been sitting in towards his table.

This wasn't the first time I had been in his house, but this time it was a calm feeling…I actually felt safe here. That was…rare? Is that the word? I've never felt safe, ever.

Wait…why was I in his house? Wasn't I in my room at the Inn?

"Jack…why am I here?"

"Because I brought you here, sorry, again I carried you to my house. I doubt anyone in the village thought anything of it. I wanted to care for you personally." He was cutting something at the table, it seemed like he didn't want to make eye contact.

I also noticed how tense his body was, like he was afraid of something…or someone. Namely me I'm sure, he had every right to feel this way. I had acted like a bitch to him.

"It's okay," I was blushing; I knew I was, out of embarrassment.

He flipped around after a few more minutes and handed me a sandwich.

"I suck at cooking, but I can make a decent sandwich!" He laughed nervously.

I took it in my hand, holding it as though it were precious glass. Again, I'm not sure why, it's a sandwich, the worst it could do is fall to the ground…and fly everywhere. I took a bite, a tiny one to check.

It was actually pretty good, one of the best one's I'd had in a while.

"Weeeeeellllll?" He asked, hopeful eyes.

"It's ok." I replied plainly, eating it in larger bites now.

He smiled brightly, his eyes now flowing with color; which I found odd. I laid my sandwich down and cocked my head somewhat.

"Your eyes…" I stated, forming it in a sense that I wanted it answered.

"Oh yeah…there's a funny story with that." He chuckled again; his smiled grew wider.

"I'm listening." I was interested.

"…OH! You…actually wanna hear it…okay." He looked down in confusion; he was very animated.

"Yes, why wouldn't I?"

There was awkward silence, then I picked up on the "duh" look he gave me.

"Well, that was before…when I was an asshole." I defended.

"Again with the colorful language." He was aggravated.

"Well I'm sorry it's how I've always talked!" I was on the defensive now.

"My father once told me that people only cuss because they have nothing better to say." He crossed his arms.

"In case you haven't noticed Jack, I don't really have much to say." I frowned, he was getting aggravating again.

"No need to get snappy, just don't say things like that as often…"

"Don't order me around." I sensed a turn around.

"Look forget I said anything! I'm sorry, I was in the wrong."

"Now you expect me to believe that corny and sarcastic remark? I'm not an idiot Jack." I felt my anger boiling inside me.

He was too "goody, goody" after all, he was just a simple, wanna-be farmer boy. One that lacked brain cells and common sense to know not to change people. He was beginning to piss me off even more then he had before; because I could have sworn we came to a silent agreement that I was me and he was him.

"No, I'm tired of the arguing, I'm tired of offending you. If want to cuss fine, but at least don't bite my head off when I suggest a doable task." He stated rather calmly for the subject matter it contained.

I took a few deep breaths to calm myself; remembering some technique Ruby had thought me about clearing your mind and what not. It really helped actually, just 15, or whatever your lucky number is, deep breaths, wait a seconds, inhale 3 more times, and exhale. Then you should be calm… which I kind of was.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled, turning my head away.

I'm not proud, I'll admit I have a problem, and that's being wrong. Most would assume that I didn't really care…I do. I do care, and I care about voicing my opinion, but that can sometimes stay confined in my mind.

Jack smiled warmly at me, or what I caught out of the corner of my eye was a smile…

"Thank you." He bluntly said, now leaning forward a little in his chair.

"I'm…gonna eat my sandwich now…" I picked it back up, unsure of how to continue this conversation anymore.

"Oh yeah! About my eyes! When I was younger I fell into some thorns, which…well…poked my eyes out?" I guess he uncertain of how to put that gently.

"Sounds like the prince in Rapunzel." I noted, taking a slightly larger bite. (Sorry if I misspelled it!)

"Well I was only 7 and I was scared to death, couldn't see a thing around me, and I was pretty much wandering aimlessly in the woods. When I finally came to water I decided it'd be smart to wash my eyes out. After all, the water where my grandpa lived was clear. So when I finished washing them out my vision returned slowly to normal; confusing yes? Well suddenly the Harvest Goddess popped out of nowhere…or at least I thought it was nowhere.

"Anyway, she told me the water from her spring was the purest and my eyes were better then ever, so, yeah…they this way cause of the "Goddess Water"." He explained, repeating himself with 'Anyway' and 'Well' quite a few times.

His story was a little hard to believe, and really corny. Goddess Water? That's crazy, and a goddess appearing out of nowhere is crazier still. I decided to humor him a little though.

"I see." I simply replied, it would have been a better story if he had explained in more detail.

"That's corny." He replied a moment later, sarcasm rang high in his voice.

It took me a moment to realize exactly what I had said, but then I shook my head throwing the rest of my sandwich jokingly at him. He barely caught it and immediately threw it back at me, and it hit my face. Turkey, mayonnaise, the works splattered all over me and dripped of my chin, but I couldn't help but smile. I felt closer to him; he'd been the only person to reach out to me in this town mostly full of presumptuous idiots. Even if we were throwing a sandwich back and forth at one another.

"Oh by the way, a guy was looking for you today when I went to tell Tim I was planning on keeping you here." Jack said slowly, staring off into space now.

I cocked my head a little, "A guy? What'd he look like?"

"Tall, kinda stout, dark brown hair, unkept beard, wore a bowler hat, with a long brown jacket on. He looked really nervous, and he reminded me of a cheap lawyer." Jack was rambaling now.

It was a somewhat crappy description, maybe the cheap lawyer comment gave it away, butI knew. There was no doubt it my mind who that man was, no second thoughts either. I grimaced when I realized the identity of him, the man that had caused my mother and me so much pain.

My father.

END CHAPTER 6

RuRu: It was crap. Bad update, but I wanted to write a cutesy chapter where they just talked and bonded and stuff. Anyway, I've been majorly stressed, sorry if this chapters crap. Can't wait for the "cheerful" reunion next chapter though.

Cheers to the fans of Harvest moon. PEACE!