He was already at the bridge leading to the other side of the river before she managed to catch up to him. He did not attempt to make conversation, and Angel felt it would have been simpler to try and communicate with her suitcase. But she supposed she had to try. "Thank you for helping me. I suppose it must be very busy working on a farm?" She managed, it sounded forced even to herself. Marlin gave a small grunt in response, which she assumed to be agreement. She stared at the back of his head as they walked, a tad resentfully, before she gave a small sigh and began to examine the new scenery.
The Valley's main town centre, if it could be called such a thing, consisted of merely five buildings. A rather large one, with many windows and picket fence, which she assumed to be some kind of inn. Two identical two story houses, similar to the ones she'd seen on Vesta's farm. and a slightly larger building next to it, which gave her an ominous feeling, though she was baffled as to why. "What is that long building behind first?" She asked, unable to help herself. She pointed at the long building behind the supposed inn as clarification when Marlin shot her a contemptuous look at her vague statement. He turned to see what she was pointing at before speaking. His voice was rough and slightly splintered, as though he was not used to casual conversation. "Blue bar. Its run by a man called Griffin and a woman called Muffy." His description was so too the point it seemed to cut off all other conversation.
Well, she thought to herself, that's that.
The rest of the walk was completed in uncomfortable silence. They followed the pathway upwards, moving away from the rest of the valley, into a few acres of land that were sheltered by high ridges. The geology of the valley was just as puzzling as its distinct isolation. Angel was not overwhelmingly impressed by what she saw, in fact it made her feel rather sick. The farm was the definition of "disrepair." With weeds overtaking much of the soil and what remained of the fences eaten away by time. There was one standing barn, which seemed to be in slightly better condition than what was around it, with two single story houses little ways apart. Angel had a sneaking suspicion that the house in the worst condition was her own. Something confirmed when out of the other came a person.
He was rather hunched, with sun-kissed skin, small set eyes and a defeated looking appearance. Overall he did not do much to inspire confidence in her, but when he spoke she recognised the unmistakable rough tones of whom she'd been spending months speaking to over the phone. "So you're finally here, eh? Took your time." He grumbled. Angel gave a strained smile. Marlin promptly dumped her bags in a heap by her feet before shoving both hands into his pockets. "You can take it from here. Later." He said before turning away. Angel barely had time to remember her manners. But her quick and quiet thank you was either ignored or not heard. Takakura watched his retreating back before giving a wry chuckle. "Don't worry about him. He's a little shy." Angel thought this a generous description, but she decided not to press the point.
Takakura's eyes seemed to see right through her feigned confidence, and Angel felt herself shrink back a little at his analytical stare. She knew his type; you could not get a lie passed them. Those were not the kind of people Angel did best around. But, she reminded herself, she had little reason to lie these days. "Well... You look a little bit delicate. But I'm sure that'll change. I mean you've got a lot of work ahead of you to fix up this place." He said, gesturing around them with a wave of the hand. Angel grimaced, she could not help it, this was enough to get another laugh from the man. "Well then, come on. Lets go inside."
Angel followed him into her new home, and though she did not have high expectations, she was not completely defeated at what she saw. The house was small true, and everything seemed to be made up of a single room. There was one bed tucked into the far left corner, with a cramped bookshelf next to it. There was one large, ancient television, which Angel was almost certain did not work, and on the right side was an area cornered off from the rest; a small kitchen. There was a door to its left, and Angel assumed that was the bathroom. In the centre of the room stood a table, with four rickety chairs around it. Spread out on it were some intimidating looking documents. Takakura made his way over to the table, and pausing only to dump her bags, she sat down opposite him.
They spent around an hour finalising the details, which mainly involved going over old maps of land, signing in various places and making final payments. Takakura did not ask any personal questions, and Angel became a little fonder of him for it. He did not even raise too much of an eyebrow when Angel presented the entire amount for the house in cash. "Come from money Missy?" He asked, though his tone suggested that he did not expect a real answer. Angel merely smiled, a hint of mystery to it and he did not press the matter. Finally they were finished. There was a short pause before Takakura took a small bag and placed it on the table in front of them. Angel raised an eyebrow. "What is that?" She asked, pulling it towards her and fiddling with the string.
"Turnip seeds. A gift from me to you. The farm tools are in the stable. Another house warming gift. This time from Vesta. Just some things to get you started." He said with a kind smile. Angel blinked a little at this unexpected kindness, and for a mere moment could not find anything to say. "T-Thank you." She wondered if her foreboding showed in her face. Takakura gave her a pat on the shoulder as he stood. "Don't worry too much, kid. It may be a mess, but everyone starts somewhere right?" He was trying to be encouraging, something he was not so used to. Angel smiled in gratitude and saw him to the door. When he was gone she took the seeds from the table and headed to the barn. She grabbed a hoe and watering can before she made her way to the first field.
She stood there for a long time, lost in thought. So this was her life now. She remembered Vesta's farm, and enthusiastic smile. Was she really supposed to compare to that? When she had hardly done an honest days work in her life? Angel's hand subconsciously closed around the pendent at her neck.
I have to do this. For Maria. She looked out at the fields once more, and saw a single tree in the middle of her field. She approached it slowly, scatterings of cherry blossoms falling around her like a dream. They had always been Maria's favourite.
That was enough to make her smile, and lifting the hoe above her head, she plunged it into the earth for the first time.
The weeks that followed passed in a blur of repairing, weeding and new friendly faces. Angel spent whatever time she was not working sleeping, sure that she had never been so exhausted in her life. But the fruits of her labour were nothing to be dismissed and Mist Farm was beginning to look less like a wasteland every passing day. Angel had hired an incredibly intimidating breaded man called Gotz to repair the fences; whom despite his growls and grunts was about as friendly as everyone else seemed to be. He worked incredibly efficiently, and in the days that followed she thought she'd made a friend in the man.
The weeds were something else entirely in this valley, Angel was sure she'd never seen anything so resilient. But after a pitying lesson from Takakura, Angel had slowly proved more and more of a match for them, and she'd finally managed to make 5, 3 by 3 patches of crops. Angel getting used to everything she needed coming by mail order - something that was incredibly efficient in the valley- and felt she had gone a little overboard with the different seeds she had bought. But on the day the turnips she had been given flowered for harvest, Angel felt like the entire ordeal had been worth it.
It had taken almost a week before Angel had worked up the courage to explore the valley properly, and everything was as beautiful as the first impression had assured her. Everything from Romana's golden mansion to the brilliant blue waters of the beach left the impression of fantasy. Angel was still unsure that this place was real and not some kind of dream. The people in the valley were just as kind and bright as Vesta was, with Marlin's brooding nature seemingly the exception to the cheerful demure that existed within everyone else. The only thing that bothered Angel was that some of them were more than a little curious about Angel's origins, and she had spun a carefully vague tale to satisfy them. The only sour note in her new life. Angel's current closest acquittance was a cheerful, bubbly blonde woman whom she'd been introduced to as Muffy, the barmaid Marlin had mentioned. Muffy's chatty nature allowed Angel to have lengthy conversations without much input on her part. Something she found ideal. Muffy seemed to be the sunshine in the Blue Bar, with her boss Griffin being rather downtrodden in comparison.
She had been having a drink to celebrate the first harvest with Muffy when the chiming of the bell had broken the conversation. The man that entered was unmistakably a policeman. Everything from his 'top-of-the-morning' outfit to the severe expression on his face assured it. Angel felt her stomach clench in an iron fist, and before panic set in she reminded herself that this man had no reason to be here for her. She wasn't in the city any more.
"Hey Harris. Stopping for a drink?" Muffy said easily. "No thanks Muffy. I'm just here to deliver a poster and a warning." He said, his tone was friendly despite his words, and Angel felt some of her unease soften. He gave her a rather curious look, and Muffy was quick to pick up on it. "Oh right. Harris this is Angel. She's the new farmer that moved into town. Angel this is Harris, he's Mayor Thomas's son." Angel gave a gentle smile and Harris raised his hat to her. He then placed a poster down on the table. Which consisted mainly of large writing. Angel and Muffy looked at it curiously.
Warning.
All Villagers are advised to tighten security at night owing to a recent string of thefts in the area.
This warning is issued by the Mineral Town Safety Committee.
Angel blinked in surprise at what she read. Thefts? She had not thought crime existed in a place like this. Though it exists everywhere, she supposed to herself. "Is this because of the Phantom Thief?" Muffy said, a catlike smile spreading across her lips. Angel frowned a little in confusion and Harris gave a heavy sigh. "I suppose it is. Though I'll be damned if we can prove it. Anyway just make sure to double check your doors ladies. Goodnight." He said with one last wave before he took his leave.
"Phantom Thief?" Angel asked once he had gone. Unable to help herself; she had never heard something so odd in the valley yet. Muffy gave her a mischievous smile and a rather animated explanation. "Lately there have been a few thefts. Never anything overly major. Some rare spices, some wines. Things like that. But the kicker is, that before each theft the house owners always get a note. Stuff like 'Tonight I'll visit your home'. But even so no-one has ever caught him." She finished, a tad dramatically. Angel gave a slightly indulgent smile. "Oh? Him?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. Muffy gave a slightly forlorn sigh. "Apparently he's a real pretty boy. Like a prince. God, can you imagine? Maybe we should lay a trap and catch him, eh? Doesn't that sound like fun?" Muffy giggled, rapping Angel lightly on the hand with her knuckles. Angel shook her head a little before smiling and assuring her it would. Though she privately made a promise to herself not to in any way get involved in such a thing.
That she thought privately to herself as Muffy refilled her glass would be way more trouble than its worth.
Guess who will finally make an appearance next chapter? Thanks for reading!