Chapter Twelve: Jumbled Thoughts, Arrogance, and Dedication
Hikari lied in her bed, restless. It was night outside; the sun had long ago receded below the horizon. To add insult to injury, it was pouring outside. The rain had been falling since early afternoon of the previous day. Hikari glanced at her alarm clock for what must have been the seventh time in six minutes. Thunder boomed through the night, so loud it shook the windows of Hikari's house. She rushed out of bed, scattering her pillows and blankets on the floor. She ran outside into the falling rain, getting soaked in an instant. She tripped over a rock, landing roughly on her knees. Mud splashed onto her pajamas, but she got up not caring, for she could hear the desperate bellowing of Lemon inside the barn. The beast's fear was igniting panic in the rest of her animals, soon it would be madness. Hikari burst through the barn doors and slammed them shut behind her. Lemon was bucking in her stall, terrified as the thunder crashed outside.
Hikari ran to the beast and cautiously watched her. Lemon met Hikari's eyes; the beasts own were wide with fear. "Calm down girl, it's alright." Hikari said soothingly. Her words had little affected for thunder once again sounded. Lemon roared in fright and reared up, ready to go crazy. Hikari took a chance. She diving at the cow and her flailing hooves, and grabbed the beast by the horns. Hikari wrested her head to the ground and forced Lemons front end down. The cow bucked, her horns glanced across Hikari's side. She grunted in pain but didn't release her hold. Slowly Lemon calmed down, the beast flanks were rising quickly with her breathing, and eventually she laid down on all fours. Hikari released Lemon's horns and sat down slowly next to the cows head. Her side hurt like crazy, but Hikari didn't leave Lemon's side. She eased the beast's great head into her lap and stayed with her through the night.
The storm ceased just as the sun began to return to the world. Hikari woke to a sad eyed cow staring up at her. Hikari moved to ease her cramped legs but pain flared up her side. She felt her ribs carefully and started when her fingers came back wet with her own blood. "Lemon." she said. The cow's ears pricked forward at the sound of her name. "I need you to take me to town, fast." The cow stood and helped Hikari to mount. She ran as fast and smoothly as the could, aware not to jostle Hikari to much. Lemon stopped in front of the inn and Hikari staggered inside. A grim faced Irene was there at the counter, grinding medicine in a bowl. She looked up to see Hikari clutching her side which was weeping with fresh blood. Irene dropped the bowl, which shattered on the floor, and rushed to Hikari's side. "Jin! Get down here now!" Irene screeched as she took Hikari into a room and eased her into a cot. Jin came rushing from down the stairs and around the corner into his office. He was clad in only a black pair of boxers and glasses. His usually tied back hair was loose and tousled by sleep. The second he grasped the situation he went into doctor mode.
"What happened?" He asked as he moved toward her and yanked up her shirt. He hissed as he saw the wound and immediately began to press her ribs. She gritted her teeth as his fingers drifted over the torn flesh. "No broken ribs," he said sighing in relief. "But you've bruised the bone and the muscle. The cut is shallow but I think you might have cut into the muscle a little, I'll have to perform some minor surgery to see how serious it is." A heavily pregnant Anissa came from around the corner with some clothes in her arms. She gasped in horror as she took in Hikari's condition. "What happened?" She asked while helping Hikari change into a hospital gown. "A scared cow that's what happened." Anissa eyed Hikari. "If she can still give me that kind of cheek she's not in to bad condition." Hikari smiled at her friend. Anissa helped Jin in to his doctor's coat as he started to dig through his cabinet and drawers. He pulled out a needle and a bottle of some liquid Hikari knew she could never pronounce the name of. "You're going to have to stay her for at least three days Hikari." Jin said as he prepped the needle. Hikari shook her head in defiance.
"I can't, I need to take care of my ranch! I have chores to do, crops to water!" Hikari protested. Jin pulled out her arm and stuck the needle into her vein. "Hard labor is not what you need to be doing." Hikari's vision began to blur and her limbs felt heavy. "I'll find someone to look after your ranch for you," Anissa assured her as she pushed Hikari down onto the cot. "That's not all… I promised to see him." Her eyelids felt so heavy… Before Hikari blacked out she heard Anissa talking to Jin. "Who is 'him'?"
The Harvest King was standing with his arms raised and palms facing outward. It had taken all his concentration to keep the storm contained. If not, the rivers would flood, the animals washed away, and the people drowned. He'd managed to push to storm far out to sea where it could do no harm to his land. With a sigh of relief he let it loose and he turned away from its chaos. The King surveyed the damage. No one was harmed, except for a small family of raccoons who resided in Fugue forest. He felt their souls drift over his mountain top, dancing about him. The young ones were confused as to why they were dead. He held the tiny, shaking soul in his hand. Such fragile creatures. He released them, urging them upward into the sky. They danced a bit more before leaving him to his solitude. Souls often came to the Harvest King, for he was the giver of life, and his power attracted those recently past. The Harvest King stretched his conscious outward, touching the mind of all the creatures, except the humans. He urged them to come from hiding, that the danger was long gone. He felt the Goddess's energy shimmer in greeting, and he did the same. The Harvest King turned away from her and studiously went about the rest of his tasks.
Hikari woke in one of the rooms in the clinic, her eyes opened to see Anissa running about with a bowl in her hands. She saw that Hikari was awake and rushed to her side. "Thank goodness you're awake!" She exclaimed. Hikari tried to sit up, but fell back into the pillow with exhaustion. "Jin gave you strong medicine to numb the pain. You were asleep nearly two days!" Hikari's eyes widened in shock. "My ranch?" She asked while clutching Anissa's hand. Anissa patted Hikari's hand reassuringly. "Chase volunteered and has been taking care of your ranch while you were asleep." She sighed in relief and let her hand fall back onto the bed. "Jin says you can leave this afternoon, but that you cannot do any hard labor. "Can you help me?" Hikari asked. With Anissa's help Hikari managed to sit up. She then felt her side, which was heavily bandaged. "Jin sewed the wound shut and cleaned you up. He says it may scar." Hikari shook her head. "That's ok, just a scar."
Anissa eyed Hikari, and Hikari grew uneasy under her gaze. "What?" she finally asked. "Who is 'him'?" Anissa demanded. "No idea." Hikari said innocently. "Oh come on Hikari!" Anissa said and sat down beside her on the bed. "Spill it." "You won't believe me." She said. "Try me." Anissa encouraged. Hikari sighed. "I promised to visit a God every single day to give him a snack." Anissa was silent for a moment, and then laughed as expected. "Not going to tell me are you?" Hikari shrugged her shoulders and then noticed something was very different. "Anissa your belly has deflated!" she yelled. "That tends to happen when you give birth." Anissa said sarcastically. "When…?" Hikari asked. "Yesterday. Poor Jin had to help me right after patching you up. He's exhausted."
"Can I see him?" Anissa headed up the steps without answering and came back with a squirming blue bundle. Anissa placed the small babe in Hikari's outstretched hands. She carefully cradled the small boy. "His name is Van." Anissa said adoringly. "He has your eyes Anissa." Hikari said while cradling the baby. "His fathers attitude though." Van started to fall back asleep and Hikari relinquished the babe back to his mother. "Congratulations." Hikari said. Anissa smiled in thanks and headed upstairs to put Van down for a nap. Hikari spent the rest of the day lying in bed watching TV. Nothing but the Sprite Rangers was on so Hikari mindlessly watched it. When the time came to leave Hikari would have leaped out of bed if not for the pain in her side. An exhausted Lemon was waiting outside. The cow looked up at Hikari sadly and butted her head against Hikari's good side. Hikari patted her head. "It's ok Lemon, no harm done." Jin scoffed and Hikari stomped on his foot. Shut up. Hikari said with her eyes. Hikari carefully mounted Lemon and the beast walked her home.
She arrived to see her animals running about on her land. Chase was chasing the chickens in an attempt to catch them, and by her animals rough appearance she could tell they hadn't been brushed. "Chase!" Hikari called while she dismounted. Chase gave up the madness and headed towards Hikari. "Your animals are crazy." He said exasperated. Hikari smiled and pulled a small bell out of her pack. With a small ring all her animals ran towards her, crowding around her and demanding her attention. With a practiced hand she led her animals inside their shelters and collected some fodder. She bent to place the food in their troughs but grunted in pain, her side throbbing. Chase took the food from her hands and went about the task himself. Hikari brushed her animals and then tended to the chickens. Chase had to collect the products because Hikari couldn't bend low enough to reach them.
With a weary sigh Chase left to coop with Hikari. "How can you do this every day?" He said with a groan. Hikari shrugged. "Because I love my animals, that's why." Chase followed Hikari inside her house. "Thanks for all your help Chase. I owe you one." Chase rubbed his neck sheepishly. Hikari rummaged around in her fridge and pulled out a jug of orange juice. She poured him a glass and he took it eagerly. "I was really worried about you." Chase said quietly. Hikari turned to see him staring at his glass, a blush gracing his cheeks. "Really? It's nothing to serious." She said, embarrassed. "That's not what Jin said. "Are you sure you don't need anymore help?" "Well…" Hikari said, causing him to raise his head and meet her eyes. "Unless you want to help me shower and get dressed then I think I'm good." He turned at red as a tomato. Hikari couldn't help laughing. "I regretfully decline." He said, matching her humor. "Oh no, all my plans ruined." Hikari handed him a bag of oranges, each gleamed with its quality. "Oh I couldn't…" Chase protested. "Nonsense, consider it a thank you." Chase took the bag with a goofy grin on his face. "Now out with you I'm tired" She ushered Chase out the door. "Hikari…" "Thanks again Chase, you're a great friend." Hikari shut the door. Chase sulked his way home. Hikari rubbed her cheeks in an attempt to rid herself of the blush that crept up her cheeks.
The Harvest King sensed her coming. The human was at the base of his mountain, her fingers reaching towards the portal that brought her to his throne. She walked up the steps slowly, so slow she prompted him to turn his head. The human reached the top of the steps, her cheeks flushed with exertion. What the…? Her face lit into a smile when she saw him. Standing up straight she made her way over to his throne. The human handed him a cocktail and he took it. "Where have you been?" He instantly regretted asking. The human hesitated, debating on how to answer him. "I haven't been well. I'm sorry." With a grunt he sipped the cocktail, the sweet taste dancing across his tongue. "So… did you miss me?" She asked teasingly. The Harvest King spared her a glance. "Perhaps." He said, a smile tugging at his lips. She beamed at him, and then glanced at her watch. 'I'm sorry I have to go!" She made her way slowly to the steps, despite the urgency of the hour. "Goodbye… Hikari." He said quietly.
Hikari stopped for a moment, and turned to wave at him. "Bye!" She hurried home. Lemon eyed her skeptically, for Hikari's face was as red as it could be. She felt giddy, as if butterflies danced in her stomach. She tried to shake away the disorienting feeling, but it didn't leave till she reached her ranch. Hikari carefully lowered down in her bed that night, careful not to agitate the tightly bound wound on her side. She woke to a light knock on her door. At first she thought she imagined it, but it sounded again. Hikari rose slowly and smoothed down her bed head. With sleepy eyes she opened the door. And of course, it couldn't just be Chase and Calvin that had seen her when she was surprised; it had to be the Harvest King.
He looked from her eyes down to her feet, then back up. Again, someone had seen her in ALL of her pajama clad glory. He coughed and greeted her. The sun was just rising and its golden rays illuminated his red aura, causing it to shine like a flame. "Greetings." He said casually. Hikari felt that familiar fluttering in her stomach. "Morning." She said, relieved that her voice remained steady. "Hikari, do you like apples? These are quite good." He said, a shining apple appearing in his open palms. At first she thought it was a strawberry, but she didn't comment. "Thank you." Hikari said quietly, taking the gift into her hands. The apple was still warm from his touch. A warm smile lit her features. "I like your smile. I can feel the sincerity of your gratitude." Hikari was speechless. She looked up into his eyes, they were cautious, but warm in a way Hikari had never seen them. What was this? She thought.
The silence was broken. Not by the Harvest King and not by Hikari. It was Lemon. The cow had the fires of hell burning in her brown eyes. How did she get out? The cow stomped her hooves and dragged the across the ground. She lowered her head and charged, right at the Harvest King.
(Forgive me! My computer has been acting crazy and it's taken me awhile to type this an upload. Don't worry I have the next chapter almost finished so it should be up soon I promise. Thanks for sticking with me and being patient!)
(Review ;D?)