I'm still not getting very many reviews… -looks sad- But maybe they'll start clearing up. Come on reviews!

--Starry

CHAPTER FIVE: Lost and Found

When Lumina woke up on the floor of Muffy's loft the next day, she had a splitting headache and didn't remember any of the previous day's events. She woke Muffy up to ask for a Tylenol. The hostess groggily fetched her one and laid back down to sleep. Lumina did the same.

She was the last to wake later that morning. When she opened her eyes, the three others were staring at her. She rubbed her face blearily and tried to smile a bit.

"Hi, guys. Why are you staring at me? Did I fall asleep during the party?"

Celia gasped. "She doesn't remember!"

"Remember what?" Lumina asked nervously.

Nami shook her head and started to descend the stairs from the loft. "She'll remember. Give it time."

Ten minutes later when the quartet were eating breakfast, Lumina remembered. She shrieked and put a hand to her lips, as if reliving the past. "Oh no!" She cried. "Is that what you were talking about? Oh...no...no…no, I didn't! I couldn't have…why did you give me that drink? And now Jack will know…ohhh…I've got to apologize…!" She dropped her toast and ran out the door, barefoot and with hair flying everywhere.

For the second time in less than a day, Jack was awoken by the door being pounded on by a female. He peeked out of a window and spotted the girl. His shoulders tensed up. Oh, dear heavens, she's back! Now what do I do?!? He worried to himself. After looking skyward for a few moments, he opened the door. Lumina burst into tears.

"J-Jack…I'm s-so s-sorr-rry! I d-didn't know wh-what I was d-doing! M-Muffy tricked me into d-drinking that s-stuff…please f-forgive me and d-don't hate me forever!" She sobbed out. Jack found it hard to be upset as the girl nearly melted into a sad puddle of goo on his porch. He pulled her into a purely platonic hug and nodded.

"Forget about it. But you know…people are never more truthful than when they are drunk." Lumina blushed deeply and shuffled her feet.

"I guess I'm no different. Do you…I mean…would you like to take a walk with me?" She asked him. He considered it and quickly agreed. She grinned and began to walk wordlessly.

Nami was sitting beside Gustafa on a log. Her face was serious and mirthless as she watched him spread paint on a canvas. He eventually noticed her lack of animation and put his paintbrush in a jar of water.

"What is on your soul, my friend? I haven't seen you this quiet in a long time." He asked, sitting down beside of her. She shifted uncomfortably.

"Gustafa…have you ever liked someone?" She asked him slowly.

"Of course! I like everyone in this town. It helps you get in tune with yourself and with nature!" Nami shook her head.

"Not like that. You know…like as in like. An affinity. Something more than just friendship." Gustafa gave a teasing smile.

"Oh? Has little Nami developed feelings for one of the free souls in our midst? Who is it?" He asked, quite interested. Nami looked disbelieving.

"You…you don't know?" She swallowed and took a deep breath. "Why…it's…it's you. Didn't you know that?" Gustafa looked thunderstruck, very out of character for the usually sunny man.

"You don't mean it, do you?" He asked her. Nami paused before nodding. He leaned back and scratched his head. "Nami, I don't know what to say. I-I didn't mean to mislead you in any way by spending time with you. Nami, I promised myself that I would never marry and would devote my time to nature instead. I don't break promises." He finished, looking pityingly at her. Her face turned white.

"There isn't any way…?" She asked quietly, barely above a whisper. Gustafa shook his head gravely.

Jack and Lumina were walking down the path and happened to end up beside the stream…within hearing distance of Gustafa and Nami's conversation. As he watched the water gurgle by, he couldn't help but hear snippets of the exchange. When Nami finally came out and admitted that she liked Gustafa, his mouth dropped open. Lumina glanced up at him.

"What's the matter?" He looked towards the pair sitting by the yurt and signaled for her to be quiet. Lumina shrugged. "Oh, I've known that she likes him for years. Anyway, there's something I'd like to ask you. Jack? Are you listening?" He nodded, but was too interested in what was being discussed.

"I'm sorry Nami. I'm already in love with a woman. Her name is nature." Nami nodded mutely and stood up. "I'm sorry." Gustafa said sadly. She tried so hard to smile, but couldn't muster one up. After hovering for a few moments, she turned and walked away briskly towards the Inn. He shook his head again and ducked into his yurt.

Jack couldn't believe what he had heard. He felt sorry for Nami…but she had been rejected. That meant that there was nothing between she and him! He smiled a tiny secretive smile. Lumina grinned at him, misinterpreting it.

"So, Jack…would you like to…go out…you know, like on a date with me sometime?" Jack barely paid attention to the question.

"Um, no." He said distractedly. Lumina's sheepish grin fell instantly.

"Wh-what?" She asked him. He craned to see where the redhead had run off to.

"Sorry, Lumina. You're…a sister to me. It…we…no. I'm sorry." She, like Nami before her, nodded her head and hovered before scampering away down the road towards the Villa. Jack sighed and ran his hand through his hair, feeling like scum. He hated breaking hearts. What should he do now? Nami needed time and that is what he would give her.

He immediately recalled the matter that had appeared last night. The 'Fairlight' issue. Jack needed talk to Celia--now. Where would he find her, though? Oh, right. Vesta's farm. The boy turned and trotted towards his destination.

Celia was enjoying the frosty wind that was gently swirling her hair around. She had always liked cold more than heat--heat was sticky, sweaty and thick. The cold was invigorating as she rubbed her arms up and down. She was surprised when Jack came barreling up to her, breathing hard.

"May I talk to you? Er, somewhere private?" He asked her. She agreed and they stepped into one of the greenhouses. Marlin scowled as they disappeared together. Once inside, Jack looked at Celia strangely. "Did Lumina call you 'Fairlight' yesterday?" He inquired, eyes huge.

Celia scowled. "Yes, she did. It was my name before I moved in with Vesta. But I am Celia--do not call me that."

Jack started to bounce up and down excitedly. "D-Did your mother name you that?" He asked.

Celia stared at him. "Yes. How did you know that?!?" All of a sudden, Jack wrapped her in a huge bear hug.

"I've been looking for you for years!" He said softly. She pushed him away gently and made a confused face, to which he replied, "You're my long-lost big sister, Fairlight!"

Celia's eyes filled with tears.

Two days later, the news of Jack and Celia's newfound kinship had spread all over the valley. Marlin had been the most interested in the affair, asking questions and looking like Christmas had come early. Of course, as you should know, oh beexiquent reader, he was excited because now his girl had no cause to like Jack. Now she could turn her attentions to him. If you think about it, that's the same logic Jack used with Nami. But anyway, back to our story.

Nami and Lumina had both kept to themselves after the fateful day of rejections. Whenever they came out of their houses to eat or take a walk, they avoided the villagers and looked at the ground. Nami especially--sure, she was quiet before…but now she was the dead walking. Everyone knows that the first crush is the hardest. Lumina recovered more smoothly and even had the grace to smile briefly at the farmer boy once.

Jack had finally gathered up his courage to go talk to the redhead. He stood outside the Inn and fiddled with his work gloves, as if that really affected his appearance. After staring at his reflection in a window, he pushed open the door to the Inn and stepped inside. Knocking on her door was useless. It was unlocked, but when he peered inside, he found it completely empty of…personal things like posters, knick-knacks or even discarded clothing items. It was as if no one lived there anymore. Jack tilted his head, confused. Where was she?

Ruby was once again in her kitchen, sipping tea and grinning from ear to ear. Hallelujah. She's gone for good! What a relief! I should celebrate. There should be a holiday every anniversary of today. She thought, running her fingers through her hair. I know, I'll make her least favorite food tonight, sashimi. That'll show her. Her celebratory thoughts were interrupted by Jack's entering of the kitchen. She stood up and bowed slowly.

"May I help you on this fine day?" She simpered.

The boy nodded quickly. "Can you tell me where Nami is? Her room was empty and I was wondering…" Ruby interrupted him.

"She's gone! Can you believe it? Gone!" She squealed happily. Jack furrowed his brow in a panicked expression.

"What do you mean, 'gone'? Like…for good?" Ruby nodded excitedly. The farmer gaped, stamped his foot and dashed out of the kitchen, leaving the plump cook free to sit back down in her chaise and bask in the glow of Nami-less air. Now she didn't have to worry every morning about trying to…well…never mind.

Nami's POV

I looked back at Forget-Me-Not for a last time, remembering with a shoot of pain…just how much I had fallen in love with the area. I remembered when I first met Lumina (Goodness, her music was terrible), I remembered when Gustafa presented me with his miniature harp (It was still in my backpack), I remembered the recent sleepover (I'd never see Stone Oil the same way again) and oddly enough, I remembered the last time I had seen that kid at Calendula Farm. He had fixed me with a gaze that was difficult to forget.

As if conjured by my memories, Jack burst into view, running at me pell-mell from the Inn. He skidded to a stop and panted.

"Where are you going?" He asked in an odd tone. I crossed my arms impatiently.

"I'm not sure. Away from here." I replied carelessly. He looked up at the sky and then back at me.

"You can't…we need you here." He tried to reason. I snorted and waved away his statement.

"Please. Forget-Me-Not was fine before I came and it will be fine after I'm gone. Besides, what do you care anyway?" I asked him curiously, slightly touched at the concern.

"…Well…I need you here. To…help me with experiments. On bugs. And the other things you're great at. You can' t leave!" He was nearly pleading. I turned around and walked away from him, towards the path leading out of the valley, past Mineral Town. He didn't pursue me, he just stood there like a kicked puppy.

The last thing I heard before I left the town was music. Gustafa's guitar music. Sweet, lilting and gentle, it swirled around my ears; twisting my emotions. I very nearly turned back, but I remembered that there was nothing to go back to. No family, no boyfriend…no Gustafa. Instead, I hoisted my pack and continued at a quicker pace, refusing to look over my shoulder to see if Jack was still standing there. I'd just as soon have heard some of Lumina's piano music. It wasn't as painful. But I guess that's all in the past now. As Jack once said to me, "The past is the past. You can't hold on to it too tight, or you'll miss the present and future!" How right he was.

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