I Don't Own Harvest Moon.

I Can See the Wind

By: RuRu

Chapter 7

Same Day 11:15 AM

I stared off into space momentarily, thinking about the father I hated. There had been my step father, whom I loved dearly and who had treated my mother right; then there was that bastard Tom. Who was the one who hurt her, and how you could hurt someone as pure and loving as my mother is beyond me.

"Nami…is everything okay?" Jack's voice brought me back to the room.

"Yeah…I'm just thinking." I replied half interested.

I wiped the remainder of sandwich off my face, and folded the contents in the paper towel Jack had handed me with the snack. His hands took it from me and laid it on the nightstand beside us.

Five days I have known Jack, and I've opened up to him more then anyone else in this village. Though this secret I held would stay locked away, not one word of it would escape my lips.

"So, I'm guessing you have mixed emotions about your father." Jack sighed, obviously feeling nervous in the long pause of silence.

"I despise him, I loath that man, he's only my father by blood, he's just a man that gave a few chromosomes to make me, I'd rather be a bastard child then know him." I could have gone on, by I felt like what I had said covered it.

Jack slumped in his chair, staring at the wall in deep thought. His lips moved up and down, I could only guess he was focusing on what I had said or counting the cracks in the wall. Usually I would have said for him to mind his own business, but I felt comfortable with him knowing the immense hatred I had for my father…as long as he never knew the full reason.

"So, what did he do to deserve that rank in your heart?" Jack asked, sitting up and resting his elbows on his knees.

I thought how to word it, "He backstabbed my mother and myself; he left our family in shambles, and I can never forgive him for that."

"Is that all?" Jack's eyes were full of questions; one's I knew wouldn't be answered.

"That's' all you will know, details are private." I answered, looking at the door now; a stern expression on my face.

"…Okay." He answered with his warm smile.

I shivered, is that the power that smile had? I recomposed myself and looked at him again; he didn't ask anymore, he didn't seem insincere about his answer either.

"I'll be you're ear if you need it." He stood up and stretched.

"I want to see him…" I stated bluntly.

He looked at me with a somewhat blank face; I stared back with a determined one. He shrugged and held out his arm; I took it slowly. He pulled me up carefully, positioning a hand behind me in case I should fall. He treated me so kindly; I wasn't sure how to take that.

"Well, let's get going." He didn't ask any questions; maybe he knew I didn't want to talk about it.

Whatever the reason, I appreciated it; my judgment was too quick with him in the beginning. I had already realized this earlier, but it became clearer each day I was with him.

I shook my head; I knew the main subject here was Tom. I would confront him and resolve this, and by resolve I do not mean forgive. My mother treated him like a king, she worked two jobs while he barely worked at the one he had. She made sure the bills got paid, that I was taken to school, that food was on the table, and that everyone was happy. I never understood how she was happy, but she always had a smile on her face that reminded me that things were okay.

Now that I thought about it, Jack reminded me a lot of my own mother in many ways. Excluding the nosy part, he had the same attitude, the same amount of caring, he put others before himself, and his smile…no…his was different. I'm not sure how, but it was.

"Nami, are you ready to head down the hill?" He asked me, nudging me gently.

I nodded and we began to descend; he carefully helped me step over holes in the ground, and chuckled when I tried to do it myself. I had to smile, I looked like an idiot.

We arrived at the Inn and the easy feeling Jack had placed over me earlier was now gone. My hand shook as I placed it on the door, I wanted Tom to be there, I wanted to figure this out and make him pay for what he had done.

Jack rested a free hand on mine, and helped me turn the doorknob. I should have pushed him off, but I was too busy concentrating on the task at hand.

The door swung open and there he stood, he appeared disgruntled and angry at Tim. I glared at the back of his head, waiting for him to turn around.

"WHERE IS SHE! I TOLD YOU TO TAKE ME TO HER AND YET YOU MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE IN LIEING TO ME!" Tom yelled, grabbing Tim's shirt and lifting him off the ground.

Jack's teeth gritted and he rested me against the wall so he could split the two apart. Tom refused and shoved Jack back towards me; I knew the city boy was no competition with Tom. Hell, he was a twig compared to him, and Tom would snap him in half if need be.

I touched Jack's shoulder, my way of asking if he was okay. He nodded and decided he knew his limits here. Tim had struggled away from Tom by now, which I knew he could do anyway. Since he had learned some unpronounceable martial art in some unpronounceable country he told me about.

"Where is she, I won't ask you again."

Tim knew I was there, but made no move to acknowledge it. I was oddly happy with that decision; since I was unsure of what to say exactly.

Tom turned and saw Jack and me; his eyes scanned me over. I could tell he knew my identity, I smirked.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my cool.

"Nami, let's go, court's order. You are going to make an appearance and tell them the truth about what happened that night." He growled, as if I had no choice.

Knowing him that was a lie, the court had found him guilty…wait.

"How the hell did you get out of jail! You were supposed to rot there!" I yelled infuriated.

"Your grandfather pulled a few strings my dear, and I am going to put the true criminal in my place."

I grew pale, how could he get out on those charges, how did he find me when this village is in the middle of no where and thousands of miles away from my old home. My color did not return either, he knew about what had happened.

"That was you! You did that! Don't pin this on me!" I cried, feeling my body tense,

"Nami, the court will have evidence once I give them you, and now you don't have that cowardly mother to hide behind…she's long gone and can't protect you anymore. It's time to grow up and face the harsh reality you've placed yourself in."

I clamped my hands over my ears, I didn't want to hear this, I just wanted him to disappear like he did that night. Jack held me steady, but I wanted the ground to swallow me up.

I was the one who wanted to disappear here, escape what was happening.

"Breathe Nami; he's just trying to freak you out." Jack soothed, stroking my arm.

I slumped towards the ground; Jack set me down gently, but still had an arm around me protectively.

I didn't want to remember it anymore; I had forgotten and lived my life that way. Now he comes and makes it all fresh again; returning me to my living nightmare.

"Now let's go. I don't have long here." Tom snarled again, I felt his footsteps as he drew closer to me.

"Stay the hell away from her." Jack threatened in a low voice that sent cold chills up and down my spine.

My father stopped moving, "This is none of your business boy, and if you knew what she did you'd hand her over eagerly."

Jack wrapped both arms around me, as if to say 'Back off.' I was off in my own little world; I knew what was occurring around me, but had no control over my actions. I was caught between flashbacks and the present; my head began to throb again.

My father took a deep breath, he was thinking about something. I heard him snicker moments later, having already devised a plan.

"Fine Nami, you can come to me willingly and I will make things a little easier on you…or you can resist and face another charge. You have 5 days, you agree to this yes?" He spewed out; he said it as if he were the one holding all the cards.

He was.

I hated to admit that, but he had complete control over my fate as of the moment. Jack was whispering words of advice to me, and yet he had no idea what Tom and me were discussing…well, I wouldn't call it a discussion.

"Fine." I croaked, making an effort to stand again.

Jack lifted me up and held me there again; I wondered for a split second whether he was getting annoyed with that.

"I'm staying at the Inn in the village near here…I except to see you soon." He walked past me and left me with so many unanswered questions.

I was powerless here, and no one could help me. Tears stung my eyes as I tried to hold them back, I wanted to cry so badly. I had never wanted to cry in my entire life, I had always tried to appear tough like my mother. Then just like that, everything broke; everything I had once known had fallen to pieces and I was left at square one again.

Alone.

"Come on Nami." Jack took me outside, leaving Tim standing there in bewilderment.

I clung to him, just out of shear pain. I wanted someone close to me, someone to hold me and comfort me again. Jack took me away from the crowd of people that had gathered to figure out the noise. My legs gave out and we stopped momentarily; he hesitantly scooped me up in his arms and carried me like a baby to the top of the mountain.

His shirt was becoming stained with my tears, I must have been choking him with my grasp, and yet he just tried to ease my grief. After we reached the top he set me down on the ground, but I didn't release him. I cried for what seemed like forever, and I didn't want to stop. I felt like bawling my eyes out, and Jack held me close and allowed me to do so.

5 days until my doom would be decided, and that was something that should upset any human being. This valley was too perfect, and that's what I had sought in the beginning. Perfection was what I had always wanted, that way I wouldn't have to feel regret. I could just relax and enjoy life, but I should have known that would be a mistake. I mentally kicked myself for accusing the Valley and its people of being boring and easily predictable. I must have been just as boring and predictable, after all, I seemed to fit in here whether I accepted it as a fact or not.

"Nami…please…I want to know if I can help." Jack begged, pulling me apart from him for a minute.

I didn't want to talk, I wanted to cry; I buried my face in his chest. Hoping that would be an obvious signal, I stunned him; and myself in a way. After a few seconds though his hands were back in their places and his words of reassurance filled my ears.

My tears didn't stop flowing until I could produce no more. Only then did I realize how warm Jack was, but I was still shivering. His arms still encircled me, like they had the whole day.

"I-I'm s-sorry." I stuttered, hiccupping while I talked.

He placed a finger on my lips, my cheek grew warm, and I closed my eyes to calm myself. I needed to think my words through before I spoke.

"Don't apologize; you were doing what any normal person would do in a situation like that." He spoke, as if he knew everything that my father had spoke of that day.

"You don't understand how serious this is Jack!" I exclaimed, having cured my hiccups.

"Well I would know if you told me what the hell is going on!" He was becoming annoyed.

"I don't want you involved!" I screamed, trying to push away from him.

His grip grew tighter, "Listen Nami! How do I help if I have no idea how to do that?"

"Just leave it alone Jack! I don't want you to take responsibility for my problem!"

"WHY NOT! GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON!" Jack exclaimed, looking me straight in the eyes.

Frustration boiled inside me, "BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT YOU AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SOMEONE ELSE I CARE ABOUT!"

His eyes grew huge, he was speechless.

My face was burning as I stood up, too abruptly for my ankle, "There! Happy?"

I stormed away from the spot we had been in, I was angry with myself as usual. He has kept pushing the matter and I wasn't going to be the one to hurt him. I heard his loud footsteps coming up from behind me, I couldn't quicken my pace anymore.

I whipped around and glared at him, "JACK LEAVE ME ALO-"

Before I could utter another word he drew me close to him and covered my lips with his.

END CHAPTER 7

RuRu: hears death threats from fans Yes, I have been gone a LOOOOOOOONG time. And yes I am rusty and yes that was a kiss scene kinda, and yes it was not a dream, and no I am not non descriptive with it because Nami had no time to register feelings towards his abrupt act of passion! OKAY?

Ah, where to begin, school, that's why I haven't updated, school and everything that has to do with it. And I haven't been inspired…in fact I can't write right now…I'll explain that later.

Review this chapter, Flame it, hate it, read it, love it, whatever, your opinion matters no matter if it's a, "OMG thiS storrie ish sO StUUpd! I hopE FF t8kes it off." Though those do piss me off.

Cheers to the fans or Harvest Moon. PEACE!