A Pain Worth Bearing: Chapter Five
To everybody who has reviewed: Thanks, I love you! It's people like you that support me and make me want to not give up on writing this story. I appreciate it VERY much, so thanks. I'd never know if my fic was good enough to continue if it weren't for you, so thank you again.
About this story: Its RATED R! Will have bad language and sexual situations later on. Will not contain sick or gory crap that people write for strange reasons of their own. I write mostly for older people, but if young people can handle these kinds of stories then you're more than welcome to read it. Oh and I will NOT be held responsible if a child reads this... I've WARNED you, so parents don't get mad.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon or it's characters, only this story. Harvest Moon belongs to Natsume and all those other companies, NOT ME. On to the story!
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"What's wrong, Darling? You look flustered."
"Nothing, it's nothing Muffy."
"Tell me." Muffy said, putting her soft hand at the side of his face and turning him so he could look at her. "I'm worried..."
"If I had never taken that job at Romana's house... I would've STILL looked at Forget-Me-Not as a peaceful and trouble-free place."
"Hm? Something happened that made you change your mind?" she asked, sitting next to him on the bed. "I haven't seen you this upset since... since... since the day Nami left town..."
"Huh?"
"You and I were married... but when you heard that she had left... you were so sad that you didn't even smile when I told you I was pregnant..." Muffy said sadly. She looked down at her shoes as she spoke to him, if she's look at him once... I'd break her heart because of what she remembered. "Before we got together... you loved Nami too, right?"
"I had a crush on her."
"But you did like her, right?"
"That was the past."
"Do you still think about her? Even now...?"
"Muffy," Jack cupped her face and gave her a smile. "I chose YOU as my wife, if I had loved Nami I would have asked her to marry me, but I didn't. I asked you and all that matters now is us and the baby."
"Yes..." She said, patting her stomach lightly. "Now will you tell me what's wrong?"
"Okay..." Jack cleared his throat and sat up straight because what he was about to reveal would definitely shock Muffy as much as it did him. " Lumina is-
"Jack get out here!!" Takakura shouted, banging on the door. " Hurry, this concerns you!"
"Damn." Jack thought. He pushed himself off the bed and opened the door for Takakura. "What happened? It's eleven thirty at night, isn't it a little too late for-
"Lumina! It's Lumina!" Takakura said in a shaky voice. "She's been kidnapped!!"
"WHAT!? But how?"
"I don't know, but I saw two men carrying her into a boat that was on shore this morning. I thought it was just a ferry that brings us our goods, so I didn't think much of it. But that's not the ferry, and those men looked HIGHLY suspicious." Takakura explained, trying to catch his breath. "I saw one of them... carry Lumina towards the boat just now as I was taking my walk... and... I couldn't stop them..."
"Hurry we have to go now! They might still be-
"NO, Jack." Takakura grabbed him by the elbow and pushed him back. " They're gone... they've sailed away by now..."
"No... no it cant be..." Jack took two steps back and collapsed on his bed. "Oh no... what if... what if they do something bad to Lumina? She's a little girl... and..."
"Darling it's okay, don't worry." Muffy patted him on the back and tried to calm him down. "Let's just-
"NO IT'S NOT OKAY!! Those creeps could have been perverts or something!!" Jack shouted, throwing away Muffy's comforting hand.
"Jack..." Muffy gasped. She was taken back by his sudden use of force that she stepped away from him. "I'm sorry..."
"No, Muffy I'm really sorry. "Jack tried to hug her but she had pushed him away.
"So does Lumina hold something special of yours that I don't have...?" Muffy's eyes started getting watery as she stared at Jack for an answer. " Is she... more important to you... than... me...?"
"No Muffy, it's not like that."
"So then why are you always thinking about her?"
"What are you talking about!?"
"Muffy, please calm down." Takakura said. "It's bad for the baby."
"I HEARD YOU mumbling her name last night... in your sleep when I reached over for a kiss... when I kissed you... you said HER name!!!" Muffy shouted angrily, ignoring Takakura. "So do you love her or what Jack? Is that why you took the job at Romana's house? So you could see her everyday?"
"Muffy, that's ridiculous. She's a child... you know that! I know that!"
"Child or not, Jack, she's going to grow up one day." Muffy sniffed, wiping her tears away. "So is that when you'll leave me? When she's good and ready for you? Are you waiting for her to become a woman?"
"No Muffy, please... calm down..." Jack walked over to her and gave her a tight hug. He ran his hands through her hair and whispered into her ear. "I only want ONE woman... and that's you, Muffy. You're the only one that can ever make me happy..."
"You swear?"
"I swear."
"So what are we going to do? What will happen when Ms. Romana finds out?" Takakura asked. "Do we inform her?"
"Wait a minute!" Jack shouted. "You saw her getting carried away right? Just recently?"
"Yes, Jack I was getting ready for my late night walk, why?"
"Where did they abduct her from?" Jack impatiently asked.
"Ummm... you know that hill that leads up to Miss Romana's Mansion? Well I think she was kidnapped somewhere around there."
"You THINK?"
"I saw it happen, but I wasn't quick enough to help her I'm old you know..."
"Takakura take care of Muffy... I'm going to go somewhere right now." Jack angrily said through clenched teeth. He was boiling mad now... because he had just realized something.
"Why? Darling, what's the matter?" Muffy asked.
"Why the hell would Lumina be out in the middle of the night for?" Jack said. "Because obviously she was visiting SOMEONE behind my back... And after I had told her NOT to."
"Huh?" Takakura and Muffy were confused as hell. If Jack was mad, then it was something very serious... but they couldn't help but wonder... what was it?
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"Uhhh... where's this place...?"
"Goooood morning Lumina!!"
"It's night, Son, not morning."
"Oh... right... good night Lumina..." said a oddly familiar voice that was breathing heavily. "Finally somebody that won't leave me ever."
"Shhh, can't say our plan right now."
"Who's there!?" Lumina shouted.
"I can't tell you..." said a deep voice.
"Van? That's you... I know you're voice..." Lumina said, looking around the pitch-black room. "I know it's you!!!"
"Damn it!" Van shouted.
"Well at least she doesn't know who I am." Said the other voice.
"I KNOW it's your stupid son Chester..."
"Dang it, Daddy! How did she know?"
"Because she's smart..." Van sighed. "Well anyways, how do you like your new room?"
"New room...?"
"Lumina don't think of me as a bad guy... but Chester REALLY wanted you... and whatever my son wants, he gets. I give him anything... and unfortunately you were on his wish list." Van explained. "I respect the fact that you're a little girl, but Chester doesn't want you in that way you think. He's a little boy and he needs friends... he wants YOU to be his friend."
"But I don't want to be his friend!! I want to go home!!"
"Shhhh, not so loud..."
"Where am I!???"
"Lumina you're in our boat. Daddy is going to sail to Mineral Town and sell his-
"Don't touch me!!" Lumina shouted. "I want to go home!"
"But you can't, and you wont!" Van said. "I took the effort of disguising myself, my son, and everything else JUST to kidnap you. There's no way I'm letting you go."
"But why...?" Lumina mumbled. "Why me...?"
"I want to play with you... but you don't want to..." Chester said, pinning Lumina to the wall. "I want us to be together... forever..."
"NO!!" She screamed, kicking him away. She ran passed him and got her elbow grabbed by Van, who lugged her down to the floor. "What do want from me???"
"You'll be with my son even if I have to FORCE you to!!" Van angrily said. "Because you will learn to love him."
"No... I don't love him!!! I love... Rock..." She pulled her arm back and ran out of the boat. Looking around for someplace to go but... there wasn't anywhere she could run to. She could see Forget-Me-Not Valley off in the distance, but it was way too far. "Oh no... what'll I do...?"
"You can't run away from us Lumina."
"If I jump... maybe I can swim back..." Lumina stood at the edge of the boat and looked down at the dark blue water. "It's better than staying here..."
"NOOO!!!!!!!" Chester screamed.
Lumina dropped herself into the water and effortlessly floated back to the top. She turned around and swam as fast as she could back towards Forger-Me-Not Valley. She knew that Van was going to turn the boat around and try to catch her, but she wasn't about to give up. She didn't want to be his psycho son's friend or be part of whatever plan they had in mind for her.
"We'll catch her... there's no way in hell that little brat will EVER make it to shore. Her arms can't take the pain of so much swimming, she'll give up eventually." Van said.
"Daddy I want Lumina back here!! She's mine and she's getting away!" Chester shouted.
"Calm down son, you'll get to have her. Just be patient... she'll be yours... I'll see to it."
Lumina's arms were starting to hurt. There was no way in hell she was going to make it back to Forget-Me-Not Valley with a set of arms. She was still far away and Van's boat was getting closer and closer. The ocean's waves seemed to be against her tonight as they only pushed her back towards the boat and away from her home.
"Help... I need help..." Lumina thought, using up her last strength to try and beat the waves. "I don't want to be with Chester..."
Lumina felt something grab onto her ankle and as soon as she gasped it had dragged her underwater. She tugged on her leg, but the thing wouldn't let go. It kept dragging her deep into the ocean until she blacked out from lack of air.
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"I know that! But I want you to tell me why you were seeing her so late after I had told you NOT to?" Jack shouted.
"You're nobody to tell me to stop doing ANYTHING!" Rock argued back. "I could've walked Lumina all the way back home, but no thanks to you... I just walked her halfway."
"Thanks to me?" Jack repeated angrily.
"You were the one going crazy and I didn't want any problems, so I-
"So you snuck behind my back and continued to date her, am I right?"
"Jack, why the hell are you being such an ass for?"
"STAY AWAY FROM HER!"
"It's not my fault she got kidnapped!!"
"What the hell? Jack that's enough!" Tim interrupted, rubbing his eyes. "Kicking my son's ass isn't going to bring Miss Lumina back!"
"I told you, Rock, to stop seeing her!! Why didn't you listen to me?" Ruby shouted. "If Miss Romana finds out-
"Finds out about what?" Sebastian asked; his elbow wrapped with Romana's. "Is there something you're not telling us about Miss Lumina?"
"Where the hell is she, Ruby!?" Romana asked, hatred in her voice. " You better not be hiding that little brat."
"She was kidnapped." Tim said. "We have nothing to do with it."
"Tim!!" Ruby gasped, but it was too late because not knowing... Tim had spilled.
"How the hell was she kidnapped when she was in my mansion in the first place!?" Romana asked. "What the hell was she doing outside my house!?"
Nobody said a word, not even Jack. Everybody stood in silence, not knowing what answer to give to Miss Romana about Lumina's disappearance.
"She was supposed to have a piano test with Sebastian's nephew... but she wasn't in her room. I figured she escaped... but to where and to whom?" She asked, eyeing everybody in the hotel. "Why would she be with Tim or Ruby? She's never spoken to them... and if she were with Jack, he'd tell me right away..."
"Damn..." Jack thought. "She's going to find out..."
"So whom does that leave?" Romana said, with sarcasm in her voice. It was obvious she knew the answer and was toying around with them just for fun. She eyed Rock, who looked away, and smirked. "Rock... is it? Why the FUCK are you seeking out my twelve-year-old granddaughter for? Is she putting out?"
"Miss Rom-
"SILENCE YOU POOR BASTARD, I'M DOING THE TALKING!!!!!!!" Romana's face was red with anger and her eyes were popping out form her sockets. It was obvious she was boiling inside and ready to explode by the vain on her forehead. "I warned you Ruby, didn't I, to stay AWAY from my family!!! Didn't you get it, or did you think your son screwing with MY BLOOD was funny? Because you have just crossed the line..."
"Romana-
"DON'T TALK!!!!!!! Lumina was meant for MUCH MORE than HIM over there. That slacker, that poor Inn boy, that poor-hard-working bastard you gave birth to-
"That's enough!!!" Ruby interrupted. "Romana, I will NOT stand here and let you insult my family in this way!! Get out, you're NOT welcome here!!!"
"Give Lumina back!!"
"She's not here!!!"
"Romana, I love Lumina!" Rock shouted. "That's why she came over to visit me, but I walked her halfway. Believe me... I wasn't screwing with her or anything... but I'm sorry... it's my fault she got kidnapped and I promise I'll look for her."
"You love her?" Romana repeated. "Boy... you're as stupid as both your parents combined. You DON'T love my granddaughter because you have nothing to offer her. She's fine, class, elegance and you're trash, poor, and a loser. Don't bother looking for her; I have somebody WORTH it already on the job. She doesn't belong with you and I WILL make sure that you will NEVER EVER come near her again."
"Romana..." Jack said. "Don't you think you're going a bit too far?"
"You can also kiss my ass, Jack." She laughed. "You're full of shit, as is the rest of you morons. How dare you even look at my granddaughter, you're not worth for even a GAZE."
"But Lumina doesn't think that way! She hates you because you're a bitter old woman who hates everybody!" Rock angrily said. "And if you ever lay another finger on her again, I'll be the one to kick your ass."
"Hahaha, good boy, good. Threaten me as much as you like, you'll regret every word."
"Same to you too, bitch!"
"Rock!" Ruby scolded. "Be quiet."
"NO! Why the hell should we all have to listen to this cranky old bitch for!? She's mean, she hits Lumina for fun, and she's always putting us down because we're poor. Yeah, we may be poor, but at least we haven't lost our manners or turned into greedy old witches like she has!!!"
"You'll regret the day we crossed paths Boy... "Romana said. "Come, let's go now Sebastian."
"Yes Miss Romana."
============================================"How did I end up HERE...?"
Lumina rose from the ground and looked around her surroundings. She was lying deep in the grass that was by the pond next to the harvest sprite's tree. She was as confused as ever. Just HOW the hell did she end up there when she was drowning in the ocean?
"Was everything a dream?" She wondered. Her clothes were still wet and it was still dark, which meant everything happened not that long ago. " I guess I should go home..."
Lumina stood up and walked down the dark path towards her house. She wasn't in the mood to go home now... but where else could she go? She'd eventually go back anyways, so stalling wasn't an option for her. She just had to know how to react when the time came for a beating from her grandma. Lumina wanted to tell her that she had gotten abducted, but would that be enough to convince Romana? No, Romana would still think she's lying.
"I'm glad you helped her."
"Me too."
"Yeah me too."
"We could all use a little help now and then. I couldn't have let Lumina drown like that... I'd be inhumane to have let that happen." The Harvest Goddess said, watching Lumina walk away. She turned around to smile at the Sprites and twirled around to disappear once more
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"Just where the hell were you!!??"
"I... I... went out for a walk..."
"At THIS time of night, are you fucking crazy!??" Romana shouted, slapping Lumina again. "What the hell are you thinking, that this is some kind of joke or what!??"
"No..."
"You're going down the same path your mother went through before she became a whore and married your good-for-nothing father!!! And now she's DEAD!! Do you want to end up like that??"
"No..."
"So you faked a kidnapping to walk around with your little boyfriend... You're lucky I'm not having you slaughtered you little bitch!!"
"Boyfriend?"
"Rock! Yes, I know about you two because HE TOLD ME!! THAT'S RIGHT, he confessed EVERYTHING and now I know!" Romana kicked Lumina towards the wall and Sebastian was trying to calm her down. She shoved him away and pulled up Lumina by the hair. "You KNOW how much I hate Ruby and her family, is that why you did this to me!? Well if you were trying to find a way to piss me off, you've found it slut."
"Ouch... Grandma... I'm sorry..." Lumina squealed, tugging her hair back. "That's not... why I did it..."
"What exactly have you done with him? Have you opened your legs to him!?"
"What...?" Lumina didn't know what Romana was trying to get at. "We just didn't do anything..."
"Liar! I know you! You're your mother's daughter, I'm sure you've done more than that you dirty little bitch!!"
"Miss Romana, please calm yourself. Your health isn't well and I worry for you." Sebastian said.
"Stay out of this!!"
"I can't believe it... Rock... he... he betrayed me..." Lumina thought as she kneeled on the floor shocked. "He told her everything..."
"Now get ready because you're going to take the piano test and YOU'RE GOING TO PASS!!" Romana threw Lumina to the side and let Sebastian escort her to a rocking chair that was placed in the living room. "Go get your nephew Sebastian."
"Yes Miss Romana."
"I thought... it was his son... that was going to test me...?" Lumina asked, wiping her nose with her sleeve.
"You're not good enough to be tested by his son yet. He's a famous pianist, what the hell is he going to be doing wasting his time testing a slut like you? Now go!!! SIT DOWN!" Romana shouted. "You'll be tested by his nephew."
"Yes..." Lumina sat down and set her fingers on the main row. She started practicing and spacing out at the same time. So Rock was just playing with her... why did he tell Romana everything? He was probably laughing at her right now... making fun of how stupid and naïve she was because she had believed him. She shook her head and tried to shake the thought out with them. How could she have been so stupid? Kate was right... he was only after a beauty, somebody like Muffy or Celia or Nami. They were gorgeous adults that had it all a figure, a face, and a personality to go with it. Lumina didn't have any of that... so she couldn't even be compared to three lovely ladies like that.
"Good job." Complimented Sebastian's nephew. "Your hands are expressing themselves quite well with the piano. Your sadness can be heard just by the melody you play."
"Miss Lumina this is my nephew, David." Sebastian said. "He's twenty five and has been in the music business all his life. He's here to make you an expert pianist and to test you."
"Please continue." Said David. "I want to hear you through the piano."
"Kay..." Lumina started playing a random melody, anything that popped in her head she pushed down on the key and let her mind take over. She was mad, sad, frustrated, and confused. She didn't care whether or not she passed this stupid test... either way her life was going to hell.
"Yes, yes excellent." David bobbed his head to the beat of the tune and closed his eyes. "I see anger and sadness... betrayal, right?"
"Psh, why don't you play how slutty you are?" Romana suggested. " You're a dumb kid, why the hell are you worrying about that poor boy? It's not like if he had anything to offer you."
Lumina ignored her and pressed down on the keys harder. She continued to play in a trance like way and ignored everything else. While she was still playing David stopped her hands and cleared his throat.
"Miss Lumina, you're quite talented." David smiled. "You've passed the test."
"That's perfect." Romana chuckled.
"I can take her back to my house across seas and raise her to become a famous pianist like my cousin." David said. "My wife won't mind, and I'd be happy to teach her."
"That's great." Romana smiled. "When?"
"I must leave by tomorrow night, the ferry comes by. Do you think it'd be okay?"
"It's perfect."
"... ... ... ... "Lumina quietly listened in on the conversation that was going on. They were deciding her future and fate. She wanted so bad to argue about this, but she couldn't get Rock out of her mind. He had betrayed her... and she was having a hard time accepting it.
"Good then everything is settled. "Romana said. "Lumina will pack up and leave with you tomorrow."
"When will she be back?" Sebastian asked.
"Never." Romana got off the rocking chair and headed towards her room. "She'll stay with David and then with the money she makes, I'll buy us a house far away. I don't plan to come back and live here in Forget-Me- Not Valley."
"Miss Romana that's an excellent plan!" Sebastian complimented. "I support you one hundred percent."
"Good."
Lumina wobbled up the stairs and locked herself in her room. She collapsed next to her bed and hugged her doll, rocking it slowly. Her kitty Luna was asleep on her bed, purring lightly as she shifted positions.
"Mommy... what am I supposed to do?" Lumina whispered. "Should I leave tomorrow? Forever? And not ever see Rock in my life again...? Or... or Jack...? I'll never get to see his baby... I'll miss out on everything... what should I do? What should I do?"
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SapphireDemon: Awwww right at the good part huh? Oh but this time I updated WAY sooner, so that's a good thing right? So what did you think? Oh and don't forget to review, I like reading opinions and comments that you leave and I GREATLY appreciate every single one. If you ever wanna email me for some strange reason, then go ahead and do so I don't mind. I'm not mean, just evil.I have a question! Has anybody played Harvest Moon A Wonderful Life and reached up to the point where the little kids are older? If so, does Lumina ever get with Rock? I've seen them walk near each other but NEVER talk about or to each other. I just want to reach into the game sometimes and push them against each other so they could talk damn it!
Next Chapter: So now that Lumina has passed the test... the thing is... WILL she leave Forget-Me-Not Valley or stay? What happens when both Rock and Jack find out about her passing the test? And most importantly... will Lumina stay with Rock or let him go? That and MUCH more on the next chapter of story. Coming soon! (I hope)
