Claire's heart thumped as she opened the doors to Mineral Town's clinic, giving a feeble wave to Elli at the reception desk. She figured the nervousness on her face must have been easy to read, as the nurse gave her a reassuring smile, leading her into the patient's room.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw him sitting up in bed, watching her enter the room.

"Cl-Cliff…"

His brown hair no longer shrouded his face; it had been trimmed shorter, and the sun-bleached tips had been clipped off. She took a brief moment to lament the loss of his longer locks, but his tousled shorter look still caught her interested eyes. While it was still a longer style than she saw on most men in general, the change was very drastic for her partner, and as his gaze locked with hers, his cheeks dusted with color. The new style left him looking younger; it still remained a bit shaggy and reminded Claire of his stories of his days as a rowdy young boy. Despite this, his eyes currently had an old tiredness that aged him more than she had ever seen before.

"Hi, Claire." There was a hint of a smile on his lips at her arrival, but she could feel the tension in the air. "I'm glad you were able to come back."

She walked over toward the bed and removed her pack, the letter inside feeling heavier than ever. "Of course. I'm happy to see you." Her eyes traced his hair once more and she fought a losing battle with the blush on her cheeks, her worries fading at his close presence. "Y-You…"

This is not the time to be –

He looked up at her with curious eyes, the sadness gone in them for a moment. They glittered in the lights above them as she felt her heart pound in her throat.

"H-Huh?"

She fingered the pendant around her neck. "You look really cute," she gushed, letting out a shy giggle.

His eyes moved toward the floor and she swore she could see steam roll out of his ears. "Ah, I… uh… I asked Elli to c-cut my hair…"

A small thrill came over Claire as she relished in the reaction she had garnered. "It suits you." She pulled a seat by the bed and took his hand in hers.

He looked back at her with a genuine smile. "Thank you. I thought it was time to start fresh."

"Oh?"

Her hand was given a squeeze in response. "Claire… there are so many things I need to tell you."

Their redness in their faces faded as a serious tone once again filled the room. She gave a nod.

Cliff let out a small sigh; despite all of his thinking on the subject, he wasn't quite sure how to start. "You've always been so kind to me, even when I've been so vague about so many things about myself… Thank you."

She said nothing, but squeezed his hand, feeling her throat tighten.

"I can't help but feel like I'm betraying you by not telling you everything."

Her eyes traveled to the beeping monitors by his side that had picked up in pace. Was there more to his hospital stay than he was letting on? Did he have serious medical issues? Her mind began to race, and she found that she couldn't make a coherent reply. "Your… heart?"

He watched the movement of her eyes and his expression turned apologetic. "I'm sorry. My heart is fine as far as I know. They're going to run some more tests, but I seem to be recovering alright." He paused. "They said my collapse was brought in by stress, and I can't say I'm all that surprised."

Not surprised?

Her heart sunk as she sandwiched his hand between hers. "Cliff, please tell me what's going on."

A sad smile and a nod were given in her direction. Cliff's free hand shook as he retrieved the photograph of his family and set it on the covers between them. "I… I always think of the time I left home when it snows like this. Winters have been hard on me for a while, but I finally found a place that feels like home… and that's kind of scary if I think about it too much."

Claire couldn't help but recall the worries he brought up when he thought he was going to have to leave Mineral Town.

Cliff continued. "I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of… like running away from home when I was seventeen."

He was surprised when Claire gave his arm a gentle stroke. There was longing in her eyes as they locked onto his. "Tell me more."

He gave a solemn nod.

Cliff's fingers moved nimbly along the frets of his sanshin as he sang. The villagers of Akiyama were singing along and clapping to the beat with smiles on their faces. He loved the seasonal town meetings that were held in the square – the hunters were home, and for a brief moment, he felt like he was on the same level as everyone else. News was shared by the elder, special praise was given to those who had been working especially hard (often the hunters, Cliff thought with a sigh), and the event always ended in a delicious feast. The scent of a hearty stew already hung in the air.

A bit of opening entertainment was customary for their gatherings, and for the past couple of seasons, Cliff's mother had left the planning and coordination to him, along with the overall agenda of the program. He had been frustrated at the notion of preparing a celebration for the hunters' return, but he did his duty without complaints, the dark cloud of resentment over his head only lessening slightly at the gushing praise he got from his mother and Elder Zinnia. This particular meeting's planning had been strange, however. His mother took a large share of the duties and allowed him to sit with the crowd. Too eager to be part of the group, he hadn't bothered to ponder his mother's facial expressions as he hurried to the square.

It had been a solo performance – he had made some tweaks to his original plan because Elder Zinnia had requested it. The music ended and Cliff took a seat between his sister and Wren, much to his pleasure. His sister's best friend gave his shoulder a friendly rub as he sat down and his heart pounded in his throat.

This is the best assembly so far.

General announcements went along as usual. He felt a brush at his left side and turned his face toward Wren, whose eyes lingered on him for far longer than he was accustomed to before wordlessly apologizing and ducking her head. His face got hot as he looked down at the ground, fighting back his blush.

"… and that brings us to the next order of business." Elder Zinnia cleared her throat as she gave the group a sad smile. "I had mentioned the concerns about my health during the last assembly. As you know, a few different doctors and specialists were called in from the city…"

A hush fell over the crowd and Cliff's stomach twisted as he realized she hadn't moved from her seat since the beginning of the gathering. She wasn't standing and pacing as she normally did, and during the past couple of weeks of lessons with her, he had picked up on her short temper.

"The mass… was found to be malignant… and inoperable." She swallowed thickly, pulling the emotions from her face. "None of us are really sure how much time I have left."

Murmurs broke out through the crowd, and it quickly turned to panic as the villagers expressed their concern, talking over one another. Elder Zinnia closed her eyes, the fatigue on her face more apparent than ever. She rapped her cane on the table before her.

"Silence!"

The square immediately obeyed her command; even in her compromised state, her influence was powerful.

"We have protocols for situations like these. There is the reason why I've been training others in my duties. I have had a successor selected for some time and I think now is the right time to make it an official announcement."

Cliff's eyes curiously looked at the way his mother was watching him and Elder Zinnia. His eyes traveled through the crowd, focusing on the hunters.

Probably one of the strongest men… Or maybe one of the wiser hunters; they're always having meetings at her hut…

"Cliff Yamamoto..."

He could feel all of the eyes on him and realized with horror that he had forgotten how to breathe.

"He has been training hard for years under my counsel, and I believe that he will be able to lead the village of Akiyama with a kind heart. I selected him years ago because I felt that he held the emotional maturity and honesty that any good leader requires. Being a strong falconer, I felt that his already honed skills would aid him in making decisions that would affect our livelihood and methods for obtaining food. It felt like a shame, pulling him from his hunting training at such an impressionable age, but as I look at him today, I honestly say I feel like the council along with myself have made the right decision. Let us not look at this as a time of loss, but rather a chance for new beginnings. I will do everything in my power to make sure Akiyama's new leader is well-prepared for the task ahead of him." The old woman's eyes locked onto his and he froze, his nerves on fire. "Cliff, please stand."

Hesitant applause quickly turned hearty as the crowd broke into a standing ovation. He blinked, struggling to comprehend what was going on. The teenager was deaf to the clapping and cheering around him, forgetting to be concerned with his clumsiness. Ivy helped him up to his feet, giving him a happy squeeze, and he felt numb as Wren threw her arms around him and leaned down to plant a congratulatory kiss on his cheek. His mother had left the elder's side and was nudging him along to the center of the square, his ears hardly picking up on Ivy chiding Wren for her taste in boys. He turned to look at his mother and he blinked at surprise at the knowing look in her eyes.

They reflected a fierce pride and something else he couldn't identify.

Even the young hunters were cheering along with the group, chanting his name. Cliff stared in confusion. They had never looked at him that way before – like he was one of the village, like he was one who belonged.

B-but…

Elder Zinnia gave him a weary smile as she removed the amulet from her neck and placed it over his head. A weight had visibly lifted from her shoulders as she passed along her responsibility, traces of serenity filling her features. Whether the weight was literal or figurative, Cliff wasn't quite sure, but the necklace was heavier than expected and his heart thumped with a terrifying finality.

"Time is of the essence. I am grateful we managed to get years of training under your belt. Your lesson times will be doubled as we make the transition. Make us proud, Cliff."

The sea of expectant faces around him caused his pulse to pound out of control.

His voice cracked with a sharp intake of breath; his lungs were screaming as the air rushed into his lungs. "I-I…"

His vision began to flicker.

A withered hand was placed firmly at his waist.

Elder Zinnia spoke quietly so no one else could hear. "Swallow it down… you're no longer a child." The look in her eyes was kind yet cold, and she spoke with the air of experience.

He struggled to choke down his emotion as the cheering continued. The teenager's trembling fingers closed over the heavy pendant around his neck. It was still warm from lying against Elder Zinnia's chest, and it felt as if it was burning through the fabric of his yukata. He blinked rapidly, fighting against the tears that were determined to slip out.

"You will be a fair, strong leader for our people, won't you?"

It was not a question, but rather a command.

His vocal chords refused to cooperate as he stared forward, his vision swimming. His dreams of hunting in the mountains with Cain and a group of fellow hunters were fading away, and a pang of pain stabbed his heart.

But I could've done so much… I'd have been so much more useful to everyone…

This has to be a mistake.

His breath came out as a wheeze. It was difficult to remember to breathe…

Ceremonial yukatas. Offerings and prayers. Sermons and speeches. The text swam in his mind. Choreography and music – blisters on tired feet and fingers. Sore throats and tired voices from too much vocal practice. Political lessons and biting his tongue as he received scoldings for not studying harder.

Those would be his duties. That would continue to be his life.

The scent of incense and burning wood on the hearth in Elder Zinnia's hut. Old texts and religious relics lining the handmade shelves. Even after she would be gone, the Council still remained and would make sure he upheld his duties behind closed doors, forbidden from entering the deep woods.

That would be his cage.

"I-I… I…"

The fuzziness in his hearing cleared suddenly, and even as the cheering died down, it was far too sharp and loud and rattled him. Her hand gripped him more firmly, breaking his trance.

This is all wrong.

The leather cord around his neck had become brittle with age. It was either that, or Cliff's nerves made him unaware of his strength. The necklace snapped as he pulled on it, and it fell to the cobblestones with a clank.

The old woman's gasp was audible, and the horror reflected in both hers and Katrina's eyes. Ivy's jaw was dropped in shock, and Wren's eyes were large.

The silence that followed was deafening. He didn't check anyone else's expression as his tunnel vision returned, focusing on his family's hut.

Run.

Elder Zinnia's tired old hands could not grasp his garment firmly enough to keep him in place; he felt and heard the fabric tear as he bolted from the square. The clopping of his geta and the pounding of his heart accompanied his ragged breath.

It can't end like this – it just can't.

They're wrong, and I'll prove it.

Throwing the door open, he flung himself inside. Cliff's vision was bleary as he rifled through a small decorative wooden box on his mother's dresser. Jewelry, coins, precious trinkets...

He found a small key and let out a quiet sigh of relief, retrieving his falconer's glove and sprinting outside. Cliff stopped in front of the mews for a moment, catching his breath and struggling to neutralize his emotions. He opened the door to the small building, pulling on the glove.

He was treated with a gentle chirp and curious look as he entered.

"Come on, Cain… let's get out of here. We just have to. We don't have any other choice, okay?" He closed his mouth, as he became aware of how hysterical his voice had become.

He worked quickly, his nerves on edge as he swiftly dressed the falcon in his hood and ankle straps. He rummaged through the crate of emergency food for the birds and tucked some packets in the crook of his arm. Fastening Cain to his outside perch, he rushed back inside, retrieving his knapsack, which he promptly stuffed with a few outfits and snacks. His sleeping fur was rolled and added. He gave the house one last glance before his eyes landed on the bow hanging on the wall. It had belonged to his father, and Katrina was under the impression that it was bolted down…

Cliff slid the weapon down with ease, digging in the depths of his closet for a hidden stash of arrows. Strapping them to his back, he turned to retrieve Cain…

"Why, Cliff?" Katrina's voice was thick with agony as she stood in the front doorway, panting.

He said nothing.

"We raised you better." She shook her head, stepping into the room. "Do you have any idea what you've done? How embarrassing that all was?" She gestured outside toward the square frantically, disappointment apparent in her voice.

His heart thumped.

"How do you expect anyone to trust you as a level-headed leader now?"

Leader – the word felt foreign in his mind. It had always been following others and keeping up with chores and duties. The thought of being in charge of someone else was petrifying.

Cliff found his voice. "I never asked to be a leader."

"You are being given a wonderful opportunity. It is an honor to be chosen."

The teenager scoffed. "Well, they should've chosen someone else. I want to be able to do something meaningful, not dance and sing when others are bringing home food for everyone!"

"This is meaningful," Katrina retorted, struggling to keep her frustration in check. "You are contributing to the village culture, and people need someone to look up to."

Look up to? Like that will ever happen! They'll probably treat me even worse after the excitement dies down. Besides, there are more important things I should be doing.

Cliff thought of the previous winter. Animals had been more scarce than usual, and he had gone to bed hungry on more than one occasion. "What good is culture when there are mouths to feed?"

Katrina furrowed her eyebrows and grabbed her son by the wrist. "Flint and I did not raise you to be so disrespectful-!" She fell silent as her eyes landed on the inside of his forearm. Cliff's sleeve had been pushed up, leaving the skin exposed. She caught him by the shoulder and yanked the sleeve up, letting out a gasp. A very fresh and tender-looking bruise ran across his arm in a thin line.

"You got snapped by a bowstring." Her words were accusing. "You snuck out again to practice."

"What am I supposed to do, Ma?" Cliff cried out in exasperation. "I'm at lessons all day with Elder Zinnia and practicing music every other waking moment. Going out at night is the only time I get a chance to-"

"Did you ever think there's a reason for that?" Katrina interrupted, shaking her head. "I'll tell you what you're supposed to do, because you obviously seem to be having a hard time understanding. You've been given a role to fulfill. Step up and meet it! This was not a decision that was made rashly – we've been training you for years! How could you not know that?"

His breath hitched as he blinked his eyes in surprise. It did seem like he was more in her hut than anyone else, but surely they wanted someone with more experience. Moreover, he never thought of his lessons with her as training for him to take her place. He felt his stomach drop as he vaguely recalled lessons on conflict resolution and conducting festivals. Since they tied in with what he was learning from his mother, he had figured they were just to reaffirm what he was being taught, never something he was actually supposed to do…

He became once again aware of his mother's tight grip and clenched his fists, tears stinging at his eyes.

How could they not know what I was trying to do?

"No one ever listened to what I wanted!" Cliff spat. "I didn't ask for this! I wanted to be a falconer, like Papa! I was very clear about it! I would've been great and you know it!"

Tears were streaming down Katrina's face. "I had to beg to Elder Zinnia to spare you – to keep you safe. I lost my brother, then we lost your father… Stop this foolishness now!"

Cliff had long forgotten to control the volume of his voice. "What's foolish about letting me follow my dreams? Most parents are happy to have their kids follow in their footsteps!"

"I'm not about to have you meet the same fate as Flint." She choked on a sob, reaching for him as her horrified eyes caught notice of the pack on his back.

"I know what I'm doing out there!" Their eyes both flew back to the bruise on this forearm and he sheepishly averted his gaze. He shook his head. "When Papa was around, I was allowed to practice with everyone else! When Papa was around, I was the one training half the adults! Now I have to train in secret-"

"Your father was reckless," Katrina cut him off, "and my heart can't handle something like that again."

Cliff recalled Flint firmly instructing him on safety precautions while out in the woods. A young Cliff could recite how to properly control a fire and handle birds with care by the age of eight. His father's friends would ruffle his hair and smile at a very adamant Cliff telling them to be careful in the woods.

What happened to Papa was a random accident and she knows it!

"So you're keeping me trapped because you're scared of something that isn't even going to happen? I'm going to train by myself. I'll show you how wrong all of you are!"

She scoffed. "Hunting? Really? You have a responsibility to uphold! You're really going to leave all of us with the condition Elder Zinnia is in? We're going to walk back to the square and you're going to apologize to everyone and you are going to meet with her! This can still be salvaged…"

He stomped his foot. "I am not! I won't just give up the rest of my life to appease you!"

Katrina struggled to keep her voice level. "When I lost my brother, I thought it would be good to educate myself on hunting… I didn't ask for my husband to be taken away! And now my son…"

But you're forcing me to do something I don't want to do… to live a life I didn't get to choose…

Cliff's voice cracked. "You didn't think of me at all! How I feel about all of this!" He looked at the open door. "I'm taking Cain. We'll be back when I've gotten better at hunting and I can prove how wrong you are."

He wrenched his arm out of her grip and she sank to her knees with a sob. "Cliff, everything I've done was for you!"

Sadness turned to anger as his eyes hardened.

She'll never let me live my own life if I don't stand up for myself.

"No, it was for you! It always was! And now it's time I did something for myself!" His eyes moved toward the door as he shuffled his pack on his back.

"Please don't do this! I can't lose you, too!"

He couldn't stand the sight of her face anymore. Gritting his teeth, he pushed past her and slammed the door in her face, rushing to retrieve Cain.

He could hear her inside, sobbing loudly. He let out a deep sigh, his bangs fluttering as he did so.

She's making it all about her again…

"Let's go, Cain." He donned his falconry glove and took the bird, swallowing back his emotion.

Cliff hurried around the side of the house, freezing when Ivy and Wren approached him. He was grateful for putting on Cain's hood, because Ivy stormed up to him and grabbed him by the neckline of his yukata.

"What the hell were you thinking?!"

Cliff automatically moved his arm with the bird out of the way, but it was plain to see that Cain was distressed. He found himself unable to reply – how could one even begin to explain?

Another sob came from within the house. His sister let go of him and gave him a shove, shooting him a poisonous look before running inside.

There was a heavy silence as Wren stood before Cliff, mistiness dotting her eyes. One of her hands gravitated over her chest, her expression hurt.

"Cliff… I don't understand…"

His eyes moved to the ground. "Wren…"

Don't let them talk you out of it. That's all everyone's been doing this entire time. For once, do what you want!

He gave her one last look, swallowing the lump in his throat as he attempted to commit her to memory. She was a bit taller than him. The setting sun played at her black cropped hair, and her sharp dark eyes were locked onto his. She had angular cheekbones and a strong nose, but soft lips: a lovely combination of fierce and beautiful. He had always found her pretty, even now in her upset state. Her arms and legs were strong – he hoped her heart would be, as well.

When I return, I'll actually be worthy of her. I'll be able to provide, to be useful.

He tore his eyes away. "Don't follow me."

He hurried off toward the entrance of the village, blocking out the stunned gasp from Wren.

Cliff let out a heavy sigh as he averted his eyes from Claire. Now that he had finally spoken to her frankly about his past, he wasn't quite sure how she would react. "I-I'm so sorry… I didn't tell you sooner. I was afraid you would hate me." His soft chuckle was bitter as he shook his head. "And you'd have a good reason to. Abandoning everyone like that."

It was a lot of information to take in, but there was no hesitation in her reply. "I don't hate you."

He said nothing for a long time as he nervously twiddled his thumbs.

She really should, though…

"I found out later that Elder Zinnia didn't live for more than a month after all that. There was no one that had filled in my place…"

"You went back," Claire remembered.

He gave a solemn nod. "Part of me wishes I hadn't." He hung his head, looking back at the photo of his family. "And that makes me even more of a coward."

She was taken aback by his words, and her eyes traced his face. His eyebrows were furrowed in worry and his mouth was set in a grim line. He couldn't hide behind his hair anymore and she realized his heart was exposed as well.

"Did… you ever see Wren again?" Claire bit her lip; she immediately hated that she asked about his teenage crush first.

"I did." A bittersweet smile worked its way on his face. "By the time I got back, she was pregnant with her second child and happily was married to one of the hunters. I can't blame her for choosing someone else; a lot of people thought I wasn't coming back at all, and I don't know if she really felt the same way about me." He paused. "Things changed a lot when I came back, but I'm glad she found someone who made her happy."

She was a bit relieved that he was able to see a positive to the whole situation.

"I came back a few years later, much more experienced at hunting and ready to make everyone eat their words…" Cliff shook his head. "It was all I could think about while I was gone." He could still remember the sleepless nights, rambling to himself like a madman while he nursed he blisters on his fingers from using his bow. "Honestly, those three years were kind of a blur to me. And when I actually set foot in town again…" He paused and looked away, but Claire could see the teardrops fall. She took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze, but his hand remained frozen. "I… I really shouldn't be crying. It's my fault. I know that now."

She waited in silence.

Cliff bit his lip.

I'm going to lose her. I suppose I deserve it, after all. Besides, this is about telling the truth and being honest; she deserves that.

He wiped his eyes with the sleeve on his free arm. "It didn't feel like home anymore… They said it was pneumonia – they showed me my mother's grave, telling me what a horrible son I was for abandoning her." He didn't look up from the blankets. "And they're right; I was."

Claire found her voice. "Cliff… that's terrible."

His shoulders slumped with guilt. "I-I know it is, and I'm the reason it all happened…"

She shook her head, giving his hand a squeeze. "That's not what I meant."

The young man wasn't listening. "The house was empty and abandoned. There was not much left inside except for a note on the table addressed to me from Ivy…"

He could still remember every single word of the letter; he had carried it around and read it for years, after all.

Cliff,

If you're reading this, then I'm already gone.

I couldn't wait anymore. No one here knows how to do lead the songs like you did, or the dances we used to do together. No one has the time to learn the steps, and Elder Zinnia is gone with no successor. That's your fault. Why couldn't you do the job you were given? Why couldn't you be happy? I was.

I'm not anymore. Ma's gone. They said it was pneumonia, but it was really a broken heart that did her in. I'm leaving before I meet the same fate.

I used to be jealous of you. You made each instrument look so easy. You had the best voice, even better than Ma's. The dance steps came so easily to you. And the council and Elder Zinnia had selected you, too. I would have killed to be you.

If you're still reading this, know that I am furious with you. You were given the chance to be different and you threw it all away. For what? So you could be like everyone else?

What a joke. I'm ashamed to have you for a brother.

She hadn't even bothered to sign her name. He was dead to her.

Cliff's throat tightened as he gulped, attempting to clear the lump that had formed. "She was so mad… I can't blame her. After all, she's right – if I wanted so badly to stop being treated lower than everyone else, why on earth should I run away from being given the highest position? I was so focused on doing what I thought I wanted that I ended up giving up on… so much." He let out a tired sigh, trying to keep the tears back. "I can tell… she hates me. Still, I didn't want to lose what family I had left, so I went looking for her. I was told she was headed west… I guess I wasn't looking for her to forgive me – I can't really expect her to… I just wanted her to know how sorry I was…"

Claire suddenly remembered the letter in her pack. "Cliff…!" In her combination of nervousness and exhilaration, her exclamation was much louder than she meant for it to be.

He flinched at her sudden voice, looking down at his hands with a wounded look in his eyes. "I-I'm sorry… And I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble, too…"

"That's not what I meant. I have something-"

"Claire." His voice was steady, but he didn't look up at her. "Tell me what you think of me. Now you know how irresponsible I am. They said Ma's immune system got weak from a lonely heart… I might as well have killed her myself." His words gained momentum. "And I let all of Akiyama suffer for my own selfishness. They don't hold town meetings and traditional festivals anymore. I turned down a dying woman's wish – I shamed Elder Zinnia in the middle of the square during one of her last outings…"

Her hand was halfway to her bag and she froze as she felt his eyes on her. His mouth was set in a small frown and his eyes were wide and beseeching despite their sadness and regret.

"You're… you're allowed to feel however you want about me. I can't hold that against you," he murmured. "I know I'm being selfish, but please…" Cliff's voice cracked. "I have to know what those feelings are."

It was a lot to take in. She closed her eyes for a moment, resting her hand over her heart, focusing on her emotions. She was never under the impression that he was perfect, and she knew that he had done things he wasn't proud of. She still found herself stunned at what had happened, though. "I don't hate you, Cliff," she repeated.

"But you really should. After all, I disobeyed my mother and walked out on my duties." He gave her a desperate look that she didn't quite understand.

She thought of her reckless decision to take over Mystic Acres. Selling off her possessions, leaving her relationship with her parents strained…

This isn't exactly the same, though…

"You wanted the life that you grew up dreaming about. One where your father was still alive…"

Cliff let out a sad sigh. "And I killed my mother in the process."

She shook her head. "That's not true! You can't blame yourself for her getting pneumonia."

"Do you know why I am in the hospital right now, Claire?" Cliff's voice was uncharacteristically brusque.

She blinked in surprise.

"Stress. I blacked out because I had a stronger panic attack than I was used to. Stress can really mess up your body. I caused Ma so much distress that she got sick."

Claire shook her head. "You don't know everything she was going through at that time-"

"Because I wasn't there," he interjected miserably.

She didn't miss a beat. "So then you wouldn't know if she was around someone else who had it and spread it to her that way. Immune systems can only handle so much."

"It's the same with hearts, too…" He looked up at her and quickly averted his eyes once more. "I'm aware that what I did doesn't make me trustworthy-"

Claire jumped in before he could cut her off again. "When I first met you, we were in the church. You've been working at improving yourself – that's something I always admired about you. No one is perfect, Cliff."

He hung his head. "Especially me-"

"Stop fighting me!" Claire's voice rose in volume and caught them both off guard. She blinked as she snapped back to reality, looking at his surprised expression. It wasn't completely unlike the face she had first seen when they first met, both struggling for something to say.

She looked into his eyes – they were tired, worn, aching for relief. Claire could still recall the dark circles she had associated with him when they were new friends. His eyes held a similar fatigue today. In some ways, it felt as if time had stood still for the past year…

No.

We are different people now, both of us.

We've grown.

He looked as if he was keeping himself from saying something in reply; his lips were a grim line and the worry lines on his forehead were prominent. He was holding his words back out of respect rather than timidity this time, and she realized with a sense of wonder how much he had opened up with her since they first met.

"I believe…" Claire supplied him with a sympathetic smile, hoping her love would reach him. "I believe that if people really want to, they can make a change. I've seen what you've done. Maybe I've only known you for a year, but one thing I do know is that you've tried to be a better person after all of this. You have a good heart. I've seen the kindness in your eyes when you play with Stu and May, when you took care of Ann when she was sick. And I can't even begin to explain how much I relied on you when Gray broke my heart. Cain wouldn't look at you the way he does if you were a bad person, and Tucker and Koro absolutely adore you."

Tears flowed freely, creating dark spots on the blanket before him. She watched his fists unclench and he meekly reached a hand out to her, which she gratefully took. He said nothing as he took a handkerchief in his free hand to bury his face into.

Claire stroked gently rubbed and massaged the offered hand, easing the aching in her heart. "People make mistakes and choices they regret… but it also sounds like you were pushed farther than you could handle. All you can do is move forward and live your life with purpose." She wondered if she sounded too much like Carter, but he squeezed her hand in response. A slight smile played at her lips. "And you've been doing a good job of that so far. I think Mineral Town has been a good fit for both of us."

Cliff removed the cloth from his face, giving her a sad smile. The tears fell harder this time, but it wasn't completely out of sadness.

That steady hand on his shoulder at the church, her soft words as he sat at the Inner Inn frozen in shock… He was sure that she didn't remember it, but he could still see that kind smile as she drank him in with her eyes last summer, the flames of his campfire growing as their eyes met.

"You look like Cliff, resident of Mineral Town."

It might have been the kindest thing she had ever said to him.

This. This is what I've always wanted – what I've needed.

He blinked, looking up at her.

Someone to just listen… and understand.

"Cl-Claire… I… I'm so glad I came here." He closed his eyes and tears streamed down his cheeks. "I still can't believe you don't hate me." He let out a congested chuckle in bewilderment.

"Cliff, I could never hate you." Claire leaned forward, cupping his cheeks in her hands and brushing away a stray tear. "You've been through a lot, but that doesn't make lo- care about you any less."

He gulped, his face turning bright scarlet as he struggled to take in her response. "Ah."

She placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "I l-like you a lot."

Don't drop the word love on him in a time like this, Claire…

He let out a nervous yet delighted breathy chuckle as their eyes locked. "I like you a lot, too."

She stood up from her chair and leaned over the bed. She brushed her lips against his and relished in the way the blush crept all the way down to his neck. When she pulled away, his smile drooped a bit. Claire gulped as she quietly pulled back the blankets and began to slide into bed beside him. She looked toward him, her cheeks blazing. He instinctively rolled on his side to accommodate her despite his shock. His eyes nervously flicked toward the direction of the doctor's office. Regardless, when she crawled into bed, arms immediately found their way around her and he rested his forehead against hers with a grin; he didn't realize how badly he was craving her closeness.

"I just want to be right here."

"Me, too," he whispered.

She ran her fingers through his shorter locks, getting accustomed to the vast change of length. She hazily wondered what her parents would think of her current actions, but she brushed the thought away. "We'll have to stay quiet so Elli and Doctor Trent don't find us. I don't want to get you into trouble."

She suddenly became aware of the increased pace of the beeping monitor beside Cliff. He bashfully averted his eyes, and she was once again aware of his flushed face. It was such a delightful contrast to the way he had been lately. Still, seeing him so shy… She placed a hand on his arm.

"I'm sorry. I can give you more space if you like." She tried to hide the sadness in her smile.

He shook his head, clumsily attempting to lace his fingers with hers. "Please don't go."

"I won't," she whispered, leaning in to rest her head in the crook of his neck.

They laid together in silence for a few minutes, listening to the beeping of the monitor and the sound of each other's quickened breaths. He smelled of an unfamiliar soap and the borrowed clothing felt foreign compared to the hides she was used to. A soft sigh escaped his lips and grazed her ear. A shiver ran up her spine at the experience, reminding them of the night he spent at her farmhouse.

It was comforting, she decided, for their hearts to be so close together. There was a great sense of relief in simply sharing the moment together.

Everything is going to be alright…

Her eyes snapped open with a sudden jolt as she remembered the letter in her pack. The weight that had been lifted from her heart pressed upon her once more. "There's also something I was asked to pass along to you." Her throat was tight.

His hand gently cradled the base of her skull. "Just a few more minutes, please," his voice slurred with emotional fatigue.

Her heart relaxed a bit as she closed her eyes, leaning into him.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading along!

So much has been building up to this chapter that I found myself incredibly intimidated to write it. Even posting it now, I find myself exposed and incredibly anxious. Writing fan fiction can be safe and comfortable because you work within the canon of the original piece. The back story I have written for Cliff has virtually been all from scratch, so I really hope it fits in with the rest of the story and the canon of the game. I had so much fun creating a town and culture he was from and I enjoy sharing that with all of you. That's not to say I'm completely finished writing about Akiyama, though!

This has been emotional for me to write. Trying to put myself in the point of view from the characters; I'm sure I made all sorts of weird faces while I was typing, haha. I hope it was able to make you feel something as well.

Additional Notes: Cliff's haircut is not only symbolic of the changes he wants to make in his life, but also an homage to his new design in the remake. The name of this chapter is from a song in Mana Khemia. In Back to Nature, the bachelorettes each had their own theme songs. I feel like if Cliff had one, this song would suit him. Either that or "Alone in the World" from Wild Arms (PS). They both have that brooding, emotional feel to them that has a hint of hopefulness as well.

I'd love to hear what you think of the back story, of Akiyama in general, of how I retold this version of the event in the game.

I hope everyone's been well. Please take care of yourselves and try to find something that brings a smile on your face. :)