Just a disclaimer: I do not have any ownership (or whatever) over skittles, the product, or name whatsoever.
Chapter Twenty Eight: Blessings
"It isn't working." I grumbled while slouching in my chair with my head hanging over the back. Ignis was seated in front of me, his fiery mane of hair obscuring his face. His large hands hovered over my exposed stomach and his fingertips glowed with some weird golden light. The heat of his aura warmed me, and while I stared up at the ceiling I briefly wondered if it would be possible to roast marshmallows on him. "It would be, but I would never let you." He told me in response to my thoughts. I grunted a reply and shifted my neck on the wooden back of the chair. Again I considered the marshmallow idea, could I make smores?
"No." he replied. "Get out of my head." I mumbled. "Your head is my head, now stop squirming." He snapped. I stuck my tongue out at the top of his head and listened to his order for about twelve seconds. "It isn't working." I said again. Sparks flew through his aura as he retained his rising irritation. Every minute or two he would change the position of his fingers by an inch to hover over some other part of my gut. We had been sitting here for nearly an hour, and let me tell you, when you have nothing to do but study the contours of your ceiling it tends to get a bit dull. "It's not…" I was cut off by a mental shut up from Ignis. "If you are so bored, why not entertain yourself among my thoughts?" he suggested before directing his attention back to the task at hand. Following his advice, I focused my attentions on our mental link and felt the answering welcome from his mind as our thoughts knit closer together. You hardly observe my thoughts as often as I do yours. He said telepathically. It's because it distracts you. I responded.
Nonsense, I hardly notice it. He scoffed. So my presence in your noggin is of little importance? I asked. No! That is not what I meant, I just… Without looking, I reached my hand out and corrected his straying fingers. "When I do you always get flustered and distracted." I said out loud. "Not true." He said tartly. I lifted my hand to tap the side of my head with one finger. "Mental link, remember? I can tell when you're lying." I told him. "You try to examine all the cells of a human lower body, keeping the balance, preventing the oceans from flooding the shores, and not to mention the storm off the coast of Honolulu…" I groaned as snippets of different thoughts assaulted my mind. "Tone it down a bit will you?" I complained. "You need to get used to it." He responded. "Well your mind is weird" I answered. His hands stopped for a moment and red filled my vision as he stood up from his chair to bend over me.
The red of his eyes hypnotized me like embers in the heart of a fire. I never would get used to his eyes; they still caught me in their depths. "I am not human Hikari." He said with his best big bad Harvest King voice. I, of course already knew this, but I wouldn't be myself if I didn't have an argument with which to return. "Parts of you are still human." I said. He shook his head and sank back into his chair to resume his attentions. "I resemble humans Hikari. I have emotions, I am capable of intelligent…" when he trailed off I raised my head to peer at him. His red eyes were serious but I could see a faint smile play about his lips. "Capable of superior thought," I halfheartedly kicked him with my foot, "and this vessel is that of a human." He finished. "Don't forget the thoughts of one." I added. "Like I said, I resemble the real thing because I have to." He replied. "The body thing is something I already knew." I said, all sorts of thoughts running rampant through my head.
I felt more than heard his sigh as he stopped the glowing finger thing and lowered my shirt back over my stomach. Ignis stood and once again leaned over me with both hands on the back of the chair. I craned my neck to meet his eyes. "Well?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "I sense no other life within you but your own." He answered solemnly. I fought to keep the disappointment off his face and succeeded, but Ignis had no such luck. His eyes were half open and his lips were a stern line below his nose. "Ignis?" I asked gently. He raised his eyes and stared at me, after a few unblinking moments I became uncomfortable under his scrutiny. "What?" I asked. "Do you think it may be impossible after all?" he asked me. "Impossible for you to blink?" I asked in return.
Ignis did blink, but the serious cast to his eyes did not waver. "Are children impossible?" he asked. I sat up in the chair and winced as my neck throbbed in pain. Ignis reached behind me and pressed his fingers to the back off my neck, after a moment the pain faded. "Thanks." I said in relief. "And as for your question, no I don't think it's impossible. Apparently very difficult but not impossible." I reached for his hand which he allowed me to pull off the chair and settle in my lap. I examined his fingers to distract myself. "What makes you think that?" he asked suddenly. I answered without looking away from his hand. "Take us for example. Everyone, not to mention your very protective sister, doubted us and said what we have now they said is impossible. But here we are." I said.
Ignis watched me for a moment, absorbing my words, and then nodded once. "Smile won't you?" I asked him. His lips remained in that ever so serious frown. I reached up with my hands and pushed the corners of his lips up with two fingers while pinching his cheeks. His eyes promised retribution as he removed my hands from his face. "We just need to keep trying." I said with a smile. Ignis returned my smile, only his was pure mischief. "Oh no, I have a full day of harvesting tomorrow as well as tending my crops in the west field of my ranch!" I yelled while scooting the chair back across the floor to escape him. I scooted too quickly as the chair went from four legs on the floor to two and tipped precariously backward.
Ignis reached out a hand to steady me and brought all four legs back onto the floor. I ducked under his arm and backed away from his advance. He quickly caught up to me and trapped me in a bear hug. "I said no, big guy, give a girl a break." I protested while shoving against his chest.
I relaxed my arms around her slightly to give her wiggle room and then I tightened my grip once more and brought her closer to me. "Sneaky bastard." She hissed, brown eyes blazing. "Seriously Ignis, I need to get some sleep." She said. "You know," I said while lightly tracing a slow path up her spine, "I still love it when you say my name." Hikari looked at me suspiciously while her hands relaxed against me. I reached one hand up to massage the back of her neck and received a sharp intake of breath from her as a reward. She then stood on her toes and lightly pecked my lips with her own. I smiled and pulled her closer to return her attentions. Hikari slipped her small hands up to grasp my shoulders and run her hands down my arms.
"Ignis?" she whispered. "Yes?" I asked her, raising my lips from hers for a moment. "Time for bed!" She exclaimed before escaping my hold and running toward the bathroom. I caught up to her in a few easy strides and wrapped my arms around her middle. "Dang it! Why do I even bother?" she exclaimed while crossing her arms. "That," I laughed, "is a good question." "Do you think Jin could help?" she asked. I didn't even consider my answer before speaking. "I'm not sure; does he happen to have extensive knowledge of deity's reproductive capabilities?" I asked. "Smartass." She muttered. "I get it from you." I replied. "Maybe he could cure your inability to perform?" she snapped in response to my sarcasm. I turned Hikari around in my arms and kissed her hard and fast till she surrendered. "I 'perform' just fine." I growled after releasing her and coaxing her toward the bed.
I sat up in my bed slowly; sleep still clinging to my heavy eyes. I cracked them open and looked around. It was dark, wait it was dark? I felt around on my bed till I found the edge of my blanket and lifted it up. Red light flooded the room as Ignis's aura blinded me. I extinguished the light by throwing the comforter back over him and waited for my eyes to readjust. Ignis? I thought. His response was slow as he shook off the after effects of my sleepy thoughts. You should not be up at this hour. He responded. A ray of light escaped the blankets as he stirred beneath it. I quickly smoothed the blanket down and extinguished the light. Oh no you don't. I told him. Ignis groaned from under the blankets but didn't protest further.
I placed my feet on the floor and slowly stood to avoid disturbing my husband. I cautiously moved toward my bathroom and stumbled over Iris, who promptly hissed and ran off into the dark. After stubbing my toe on the doorframe I found the bathroom as my feet met tile and I quickly closed the door. When I emerged from the bathroom, eyes now adjusted, I shuffled back over to the bed and shoved Ignis who had rolled over to my side. He flipped over and took the blanket with him. "Ignis." I complained while climbing in and pulling at the blanket. Once I managed to get some of the cloth back I snuggled under them and poked his arm. He reached his arm out to me and pulled me close. I sighed in content as the nights chill left me but squinted as the darn man blinded me. Who needs to blast the AC when your spouse is your own personal space heater?
The next day Ignis rose to greet the day with me and left as I headed out the door. I decided that day to devote my time to Lemons daughter, Peach, and the young calf proved to be as stubborn as her mother. Each time I let the animals out to graze Peach would wonder off and I'd spend the next two hours looking for her. When she didn't decide to run away she was chasing my chickens, which had begun to shed a few feathers from the constant terror. Since the calf would chase the chickens, Peach's mother would likewise chase her, thus creating chaos. The thin thread that was left of my patience snapped after this morning's fiasco.
I was watering my small plot of land a little ways off from my ranch. The day had gone rather well, no shenanigans from a certain brown calf and no unwanted company to ruin my good spirits. That all was flushed down the toilet when my duck, Carl, shot between my legs and made me jump a good foot in the air. I lowered my watering can as Carl made his way toward the trees. "Carl, what in the world are you doing?" I asked the deranged bird. My question was answered for me when the ground rumbled beneath my feet. I turned around and all I saw was a blur of brown and blue sky as I was sent flying. My watering can flew out of my hand and landed in the grass shortly after me, and of course the water partially spilled on my head as well. Lemon soon followed after her calf as I rose into a sitting position. I glared through wet bangs at the animals a short distance away from me. Carl had ducked behind a thick bush while Lemon stood guard in front of him. Peach mooed angrily as she tried to circumvent her mother's superior girth.
I stood up, my bum now very sore, and stormed over to the bickering livestock. I pushed between Lemon and grabbed Peach by her large brown ears. I turned her head around to face my crops. "Look what you've done!" I yelled at her. In her pursuit of our feathered friend, Peach managed to tear down a third of my crops. Thick green stems only two days from harvest were now snapped in half, a whole chunk of my hard work destroyed. I pushed the cow forward and smacked her sharply on the rump. I turned around and parted the thick foliage to reach my duck. I cursed when thorns scratched my arms and wrists before I secured the bird in my hands and pulled him out. I held the bird in my arms and joined Lemon in glaring at her calf.
"Lemon." I said. The beast swiveled one ear in my direction. "Let's go back to the ranch; I believe we have a lesson to teach your daughter." I headed toward the ranch as Lemon led her calf in the same direction. I set Carl down among my chickens and headed over to the barn. After overturning a few milk containers I returned with a thick rope coiled in my hands. The small calf began to protest when I came near her, but a stern stomp from Lemons hoof kept the calf from struggling. I tied the end of the rope into a loose loop and placed it around Peach's neck. Repeating the same action with Lemon, both cows were then tied together. Lemon looked at me for a moment, but grudgingly accepted my judgment. Sighing, I then pulled my sickle and hoe from my tool box and headed back to my ruined field.
As I tore the stubborn roots of my dead plants out of the ground, I heard the familiar smacking of flip flops from behind me. I slowly stood up from my laborious work and held my sickle out to the side, the vicious blade gleaming in the sun. "You know that you're contributing to soil erosion by tearing the roots up." He said casually. I turned to face Sloan who was smiling brightly and wearing his usual thick black shades. "Good morning Hikari." He said, the extra foot of space between us telling me he was all too aware of my willingness to gut him. "What do you want?" I asked. His eyebrows raised in mock surprise from the rim of his shades as he surveyed my ruined field. "What happened?" he asked with false concern. "Cow on a rampage, now go away." I said while turning my back to him and crouching on the ground.
"But didn't you hear?" he asked me. I pulled a dead plant upward in one fist and slowly slid the blade across its roots. "Unfortunately I can hear you just fine." I replied. "That's good then, I won't have to repeat myself. As of yesterday I am now the proud owner of a residence here on Castanet." It was a good thing my back was to him, or he would have had the satisfaction of seeing my shocked expression. "Congratulations." I said coolly. "Thank you, I look forward to being neighbors." He said. I finished cutting another stalk and stood back up. "Well as your neighbor I am obligated to explain the concept of property lines." I said while dusting damp soil off my knees and facing him.
"Everything from the edge of this field," I said while pointing to my left, "and the twenty acres over there," I pointed to my right. "And not to mention all the land from the path to Flute fields and the beginning of the mountain pass," I stepped forward and closed the distance between us, "is mine." I finished while glaring up into his shades. He gave an uninterested glance around till his eyes found me once more. "You own quite a chunk of this islands finest property." He observed. "Yes and that means I decide who is and is not allowed on it." I replied. "What are you getting at?" he snapped, irritation in his voice. "I've told you twice already and the third time better be the charm." I hefted my sickle onto my shoulder and nonchalantly draped my arm over the hilt. "Stay off my land." I said with a false smile.
We both stood there for a moment, silently warring with each other, until Lemon's moos caught my attention. Not long after I heard the terrified squawking of my chickens. "It seems to me that your new calf is causing trouble, perhaps she needs to be more domesticated? I know a few others on this island who could use some training." He said bitterly. "Are you talking about animals or people?" I asked. He cocked his head to look at me. "There's a difference?" he asked sweetly. Anger burned through me as I tightened my grip on the sickle. "Get off of my land, now." I ordered. "Such a temper." He mused. "Now." I repeated. Sloan gave me a mock salute and turned on his heel. "I'll see you again." He called before walking up the path to Harmonica Town, his flip flops flapping all the way. He'd made a promise, but it sounded more like a threat.
Mood now officially soured, I headed back to my ranch to see what all the commotion was about. I found Lemon sitting on the ground and absently chewing some grass while her daughter strained against her bonds. I saw the reason why when Carl stepped out from among the chickens, the duck had apparently become a dare devil. He would wait till Peach gave up and slowly waddle within her reach. Peach, being ambitious and a bit dense, would then resume her futile efforts to reach the bird. Just as she pounced, Carl would open his wings and waddle backward once more out of her reach, thus starting the cycle over again.
Just as Carl began to back up, I snuck up behind him and his feathered rump hit my boots. He leaped into the air in fright and I caught him in my hands. "Perhaps you need a lesson in manners as well?" I suggested. I then relinquished the bird to Peach. The calf bellowed in triumph and, pinning the duck under one thick foreleg, proceeded to lick the bird's feathers. Carl quacked in annoyance as he struggled under the weight of her legs. A few hours later I called my animals in and smiled as Carl walked up the ramp to the coop, white feathers sticking out in all directions. "Your idea of punishment is slightly twisted." Ignis said while appearing out of nowhere.
I laughed low to myself as I headed into the house; Ignis was waiting in my kitchen as I closed the door behind me. "What have I told you about the kitchen?" I asked while turning the deadbolt. "Off limits." He answered. "Will you make me some pie?" he asked. I pulled off my work worn gloves and threw then on the table. "Pie?" I asked. He nodded. "Like the kind you made the night of the Starry Night Festival." A blush tinted my cheeks as I remembered. "Sure." I muttered while pushing past him to get to my fridge. I placed a pie crust and a few apples on the counter and washed my hands in the sink. As I reached over for a cloth to dry my hands on Ignis took my hands in his. I felt a little shiver run over my skin as he used the temperature of his aura to dry my hands.
"Are you going to see Jin as you suggested?" he asked me. I shrugged and Ignis pinched my finger till I gave him a direct answer. "You said yourself he wouldn't know." I answered. "Well it wouldn't hurt to see him." He said. "But you said…" he interrupted me. "I know what I said, but I am open to and suggestions." Ignis let go of my hands and I gathered a few apples in my hand and laid them on the cutting board. "Fine I'll go; do you still want that pie?" I asked, smiling at his eager nod.
Have you ever stood outside of some door and found it nearly impossible to go inside? That is my dilemma at the moment. My hand was curled into a fist at my side as I stared at the doorknob of the coral clinic. Its brass surface polished to perfection by Anissa's anal neat freak. Open the door. Ignis told me impatiently. I'm working on it. I said back. You've been standing there for twelve minutes, how long does it take to open a door? He asked. Shut it. I answered. He gave me a big mental humph and ceased pestering me. I took a deep breath and reached for the doorknob. Right before my fingers touched the cold brass surface I dropped my hand and turned to leave.
"Hikari?" Jin called from in front of the Ocarina Inn. Busted. I froze in my tracks. "Hikari?" Jin asked again while laying a hand on my shoulder. I turned around quickly. "Hi Jin!" I squeaked. "Is there anything wrong?" he asked me. "Wrong? With me? No, nope. Everything is just bright fine and dandy." I said with the biggest grin I could force my lips to make. Jin stepped back a little with worried eyes. He coughed and pushed his glasses up. "Well, yes I suppose that's all good and… dandy." He said. "So are you here for a checkup?" he asked suddenly. "No… I uh…" I gulped. "I can see you right now." Jin said while opening the door and stepping inside. I followed him inside and tentatively returned Irene's smile. "Come on in!" he called from the other room. I closed the door behind me and walked around the corner into the room.
Jin sat at his desk busily sifting through a pile of manila folders. "Take a seat." He said while gesturing to the cot in the corner. I sat down and the springs creaked under my weight. "Here it is!" Jin exclaimed while tossing the other folders on his desk and opening one that rested in his lap. He wheeled his way over to me. "So what can I do for you?" he asked while opening my medical file. When I remained silent he sighed. "Hikari, every time you stand outside of my clinic for so long I know it means you need to see me." He said while looking at me over his glasses.
I nodded and he put his stethoscope in his ears and pressed the other end to my chest. "Deep breaths." He said. After a few minutes he put them back in his pocket and held my wrist in two fingers to count my pulse while looking at the clock on the wall. After taking my blood pressure he scribbled down on a new piece of paper and tucked it into my folder. "Now what seems to be the matter?" he asked me once more. "Did you hear about Sloan?" I asked, immediately regretting that I chose that as a change of topic. Jin tapped his pen against the folder while looking at me. "Yes I have. He lives in the house up the street, an odd fellow, but that's not why you're here." He said.
I sighed. "Well you see…"I gulped. "I want... to have… well not just me but…" I felt the blood rise to my face. "Go on Hikari." Jin said patiently. "King and I… want… We want to have…" Jin finished the sentence that I couldn't. "King and you want to have children?" he asked. I eyed the door and Jin rolled in my way to block my path to freedom. "Why do you need to see me for that, you should understand how babies are made by your age." He said. I glared at him as my cheeks glowed red in embarrassment. His eyes widened in realization. "You're having trouble conceiving?" he asked. "Oh goddess I knew this was a bad idea." I said while standing. "Relax Hikari, sit back down." Jin ordered. I grudgingly sat back down and twiddled my thumbs.
"What isn't working?" he asked. "Huh?" I asked in return. "Is there any health problems interfering?" he asked. "You should know if I do doc, I'm fit as a fiddle." I replied. "And king?" he asked. "As far as I know as healthy and stubborn as an ox." I answered. Jin ceased tapping his pen and lowered his eyes in thought. "Perhaps your husband needs to come in for a checkup." Jin said. I held my hands up and shook my head. "There is no way I could get him to do that." I said. Jin nodded. "Perhaps he has trouble performing?" he asked. I wanted to smack my head into the wall. Ignis's damaged ego flew through my brain. You tell him that… I cut him off. Tell him what? That my husband is telling me telepathically to tell the doctor off? He won't refer me to another doctor Ignis; He'll have me sent to a psychiatric ward in the mainland.
Ignis glowered up on his mountain top but remained quiet. "Ah… no I think he's ok in that department." I said with a halfhearted laugh. OK? Ignis asked. Shut it you oaf. I snapped at him. Jin was unaware of my mental conversation as he turned back to his table. "I'll prescribe you some medicine that should increase the amount of eggs you deposit." He said while scribbling on a small pad. "It'll take about two days to get here so you'll have to come pick it up from Irene on Thursday." He said while ripping the paper off the pad and handing it to me. I looked at him and to the paper and back again. "From Irene? Then everyone will know!" I protested. Jin smiled evilly. "We'll all know." Jin said. "What happened to doctor patient confidentiality?" I asked. Jin shrugged. "Just because I don't tell anyone doesn't mean Irene will show the same discretion." I hid my face in my hand. In two days I was going to die of embarrassment.
After saying my goodbyes to Jin and running out of the clinic I rode quickly home and hopped off Cherry and returned her to the barn. I quickly burrowed under my blankets and curled up into a ball to avoid the world. "Hikari." Ignis said while pushing my cocoon. "Go away." I muttered. Ignis yanked the blankets off and peered down at me. "That went well." He said. "Well? Now everyone knows!" I exclaimed. "No parties." He groaned. My eyes widened. "Do you know who you're talking about? Once this gets out all the females in Castanet are going to throw me a huge baby shower the second my stomach shows signs of inflation!" I buried my head into the pillow. "What have I done?" Ignis groaned. "Sealed our fates, dear husband." I grumbled into the pillow.
The next two days I skulked around the island, keeping my ears open and my head down as I avoided all the villagers. What I couldn't avoid was my prescription that Irene called me to pick up. "I'll see you in fifteen." She said before hanging up and the dial tone buzzing in my ear. So I rode out on my horse and walked into the clinic. Irene lounged behind the counter with a sly smile on her face. Anissa was pretending to be busy with some packages behind her. I walked up to the counter and thrust the prescription form with Jin's flowing script written on the bottom. "Medicine please." I said. Irene took the paper into her hand and turned it around in her hand. "Medicine? Anissa do you know what she's talking about?" Irene asked. "No, let me see." Anissa took the paper. "Hmm is that in yet?" she turned around and pulled out a large bag. "Let's see… vitamins, arthritis medication, stool softener, pain killers, fever reducers…" she kept going the shook her head. "I don't see anything that Hikari would need in here." She said.
I glared at the two women, what were they scheming? "Oh wait!" Anissa exclaimed before reaching under the counter and pulling a small white bottle out. She turned it around and read the label out loud. "Fertility pills." She said and looked up at me. "Now what could our sweet friend Hikari need with these?" she asked Irene. "I've no idea, but it seems that's what Jin ordered for her." Anissa slid the bottle across the counter. "Here you go." They both said. My eyes darted back and forth between them as I tentatively reached for the bottle. When my hands touched it Anissa grabbed both of my hands and began to bounce up and down. "Hikari is going to have a baby!" she squealed. My head bobbed up and down as she shook me. "Trying." I corrected her.
Anissa released me and waved her hand. "Details, that's all." She said. Irene smiled. "Good luck Hikari." She said. I turned with my small bottle and stashed it in my rucksack. "Please keep this secret will you?" I asked Irene. "Fat chance." Anissa snickered from behind the counter. I groaned as I ran out of the clinic and smack into Phoebe. She smiled from behind her glasses with knowing. "What are you doing here Hikari?" she asked innocently. "Not you to!" I yelled a little too loudly. "Us to!" somebody called from up the road. I craned my neck to see Cathy and Selena waving to me. "Oh goddess." I said in exasperation. Phoebe patted me on the shoulder. "Best of luck." She said before walking into the clinic. "Tell King that if he needs any advice to just come and talk to me!" Selena called. "Or me!" Cathy added.
"You're not even married!" I shot back. "We know more than you!" Selena called back. Thoroughly embarrassed and wishing for a rock to crawl under, I rode out of the town and avoided the knowing eyes and broad smiles of the other villagers I sped past. That was embarrassing. Ignis commented. Whatever, I'm the one who had to deal with it. I grumbled. Your emotions were very… potent. He said. Good. I huffed.
The next day, it was official; everyone in Castanet knew the 'good news.' I went to the Garmon Mines to tell Julius about it myself but he already knew and feathered me with oohs and all that nonsense. Mira gave me her best wishes while Julius pleaded with me to let him design baby clothes. "For goddess's sake Julius, I'm not even pregnant yet!" I told him in exasperation. "Stop fussing over the details and tell me what colors you like best!" he demanded. My watch began to beep right as Julius was going through suggestions for patterns. He stopped when he watched me pull out the small bottle and dry swallow a pill. "Ew." He said. "Wimp." I teased. "Bottle says once every six hours." I explained. Julius only beamed at me as he continued his rant about floral versus stripes on babies.
The next few days were brutal as well as I explained to the Goddess about our plans. "You were serious about the red haired spawn?" she asked in disbelief. "Yep, imagine them running around your tree, climbing in it, asking to braid your hair and touch your wings…" I laughed as her eyes widened in horror. "Please Hikari! Don't let the child take after my brother!" she pleaded. "Huh?" I asked. The goddess leaned down and grasped my arms desperately. "If your child is anything like him he'll be wild! I'll never have a moment's peace in my spring again!" she explained. "But even if the child was like the Harvest King, would you still deny it access here?" I asked. The goddess bit her lip and closed her eyes for a moment. She sighed deeply and released me. "No… I wouldn't have the heart." She admitted. I smiled and gently took her hand in mine. "I have a question." I said slowly.
The Goddess returned my grip and urged me to continue. "Let's say that, hypothetically speaking, you fell in love with a human man and…" the goddess interrupted me. "Hikari!" she snatched her hand away and pressed her hands to her red cheeks. "Calm down Harvest Goddess and listen." I huffed. She looked at me warily. "And say you wanted children, would it be possible for you?" I asked. The goddess understood why I had made her uncomfortable. "I think it would." She said. I felt a small flicker of hope well in me, but the goddess quenched just as quickly as she ignited it. "But I am a female goddess, with powers over nature, you however are mortal." She said, her green eyes apologetic. She reached out and smoothed my hair down, a caring and comforting gesture. "But it may still be possible, so don't let what I said get you down. Where is that spirit?" she teased. I smiled and patted her hand, the Goddess truly was kind.
Later that evening, after taking the last pill for the day, I called Ignis with my thoughts. He appeared after a few moments with a stern expression. "What is so urgent? I was in the middle of steering a twister away from some small farm in Kansas." He said grumpily. I walked up and smacked him upside the head. He rubbed his head and glared at me angrily "Would you care to explain that before I let my anger loose?" he asked. "Oh sure, where to begin? For the past week I've dealt with embarrassing situations, endless teasing, mental torment, embarrassment, not to mention my frustration…" he cut me off. "Is that all?" he asked in a bored tone. I reached out and bunched his robes in my fist. I dragged him across the room and pushed him against my nightstand. "Have you lost your mind?" He roared, grabbing my hand and forcing me to let go of his robes.
He opened his mouth to voice his anger but I quickly shut him up by pressing my lips against his own. I pushed him back against the nightstand and pulled at his robes. "What in the world has gotten in to you? Are you drunk?" he asked while pulling away slightly. I shoved with all my might and managed to push him back on the bed. His eyes widened in alarm as I yanked off my gloves. "I intend to pay you back for each lewd comment, each tease, and each second of embarrassment I endured." I told him with evil glee glinting in my eyes.
Lately Hikari has become… unpredictable and a bit frightening. I'd never admit it to her, but she still managed to shock me with her strange outbursts. I didn't know how this Doctor Jin's white pills would do any good and according to Hikari it would help. But, as with all human inventions, I had my doubts. Aside from that we went about as normal, Hikari went about her ranch and tended to her animals, and I visited her every so often. It was odd, the routine we'd fallen into ever since we decided to try for a child, but with each unsuccessful examination my doubts only increased.
One night, as she lied asleep in the bed and the blankets curled around us, I contemplated the past few weeks. We hadn't been successful, not even close, and my interest in children was beginning to dull. I know what thoughts must have darted through your mind, how could I be so cold? As I constantly remind my wife, I am not mortal. I still wanted children, but as with other things in my long life, if I found the task to be tedious and unfruitful my interest slowly wavered. But how could I tell her this? Hikari very much wanted children; it is one of her hearts fondest wishes. But what am I to do when the one thing she truly wants I may not be able to give her? And so with great reluctance I woke her. She groaned in annoyance when I tapped the side of her head with one finger. "Ignis, if you don't stop poking me I'll bite your finger off." She threatened while turning her head in the other direction. "I must tell you something." I said. She grunted but turned around slowly to face me, eyes half closed with sleep.
"Perhaps we should… slow down." I said. She became alert and raised her head from the pillow. "Slow down?" she repeated. "Yes… it's just that we haven't had any luck and I fear that…" Hikari cut me off. "You are afraid that it really is impossible?" she asked me. At that moment I wished I could lie to her. However, I could not with our link and it was not in me to lie. "Yes." I told her. She sat up and pulled some of the blankets with her. "Ignis, do you even hear what you are saying? You're the one who was all gung ho about making babies and then… why now? It's too late to change your mind now when we've barely even started." Her voice cracked and she turned her face away from me.
I sat up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hikari please listen. I don't want to stop trying, but perhaps we should take time to really think about it." I tried to hold her but she pulled away from me. "I have thought about it Ignis, every single day I consider what my child would be like. Every morning when I get up I sometimes see a crib resting at the foot of my bed. You know how often I think about it." "Forgive me Hikari; it's just that I…" she held her hand up to silence me. "I need to be alone for a while." She said. "Hikari…" I tried to console her but she ignored my attempts. "Ignis! Please… just for a little while. I need time to think." I dropped my hand. She was hurting and was not ready for any explanations or comforts I had to offer. I brushed her thoughts with my own and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Remember, you can call for me. I told her before scattering my energies and whirling through the air back to my mountain throne.
The next day I woke to a cold bedside. I remembered the night before and I felt my eyes get a little moist. Ignis didn't ignore me, but he didn't push his thoughts onto mine like normal. I regretted what I said, but I wasn't ready to answer him yet. I slowly got out of bed and took a shower and dressed for the chilling weather. Autumn was coming and I needed to tear my dying crops to prepare for new planting. I pulled on my sweater and grabbed my hoe before stepping out the door. When I walked out Anissa was waiting for me. Slightly surprised, I waved to her as she met me on the path. "I thought I'd see how you were doing." She said. I patted my stomach. "Still flat." I said. Anissa frowned and poked my stomach. "Seems a bit pudgy to me." She teased. I smiled with her and headed to my fields. "Do you need any help?" she asked.
I nodded. "Could you gather the last of my harvest for me while I tear this field apart?" I asked. Anissa gave me thumbs up and walked over to the plot a little ways off by the trail. As I tore at the ground I focused all my of my mixed emotions into each movement till at the end I was both physically and mentally exhausted. "You really went all out." Anissa commented. I smiled sheepishly and stood straighter. "Just had some issues I needed to work out." I replied. "By taking it out on the ground?" she asked. I opened the bin for her as she walked over to me with an arm full of shining produce. After dusting dirt off her blouse and arms she closed the bin. "I can't believe it's been three and a half years since a bumbling girl who never worked a day in her life stumbled onto my parent's farm." She mused.
I elbowed her before laying new holes down for my autumn crops. "A lot has happened since then." I said while bent over in the dirt. "Yes it has, it's like your presence on this island saved us all." I stopped my digging for a moment. She wasn't too far off… "Not really, I'm just the crazy tomboy next door." I laughed. Anissa bent down beside me and helped me to sift through the dirt. "I'm serious; everyone on this island used to be dull and bumbled around through life stuck in a rut. But you're like a…" she trailed off in a loss for an accurate description. "Heroine?" I asked. "A wrench." She corrected. I raised one eyebrow. "A wrench?" I asked. She nodded. "It's like when a frustrated engineer gets impatient with a broken machine and starts beating it with a wrench and miraculously it starts working again." Anissa explained, obviously expecting me to understand.
"A wrench?" I repeated. Anissa rolled her eyes. "Yeah, your strange personality and wild antics bombarded us day after day and slowly forced us to change, you got the wheels turning again." She said. "Thanks." I said sarcastically. Anissa shoved me in the arm. "You know that I'm trying to give you a compliment Hikari. If it wasn't for you all of us might still be like we were three years ago. Heck, if you hadn't encouraged me I wouldn't have married Jin." She said. "Oh come on, I didn't do anything." I said while awkwardly clearing my throat. It was Anissa's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Who was the one who burst into the clinic and grabbed Jin by his coat for not showing up for dinner?" she asked.
"I just shook him up a little." I muttered. "Hikari, you broke his glasses and overturned his desk." Anissa said. "Well he could have at least called you even if it was late…" I tried to explain. "What about the time you invited him to sit with you at the Moon Festival and pretended to run and get some food, allowed me to have an excuse to sit by him, and never came back?" she asked. I shifted uncomfortably on the ground. "Face it Hikari, you're like a force of nature, anyone who meets you has to change in order to keep up with you." Anissa moved a few feet away to start a new row. "So what is going on?" she asked me. After a few silent seconds I gave up and answered her. "King was being an insensitive ass last night." I grumbled while grinding my teeth. "Don't do that." She said till I stopped grinding. "And what exactly did he do to make you say that?" she asked. "He said he wanted to 'slow down'." I said while rolling my eyes. "Slow down?" she asked me, not understanding.
"He basically wants to stop trying for kids." I explained. Anissa covered her mouth which fell open in surprise. "But didn't you say he wanted children to?" Anissa asked. "He did, but he's beginning to think it's impossible." I said. "Are you sure? I mean you only got married two seasons ago, maybe he thinks things are moving too fast?" she suggested. "I doubt that is the reason." I said. "Have you asked him?" she asked. I suddenly became very interested in rock I found below the topsoil. "Hikari!" Anissa groaned. "What?" I asked sheepishly. Anissa reached forward and smacked me hard across the forehead. "I swear you must have a brain the size of an acorn. You got mad at him and didn't even let him explain?" she fumed at me.
"So you're saying it's my fault?" I asked irritably. "It's nobody's fault Hikari, but you sure as hell didn't help the problem by refusing to listen to him." As Anissa went on scolding me I felt Ignis's smug satisfaction through our link. Quit it before I come up there and beat your red but blue. I told him. "Hikari!" Anissa yelled. My eyes dashed back to her as I refocused my attention on the current conversation. "Are you even listening to me?" she asked in anger. I nodded to placate her wrath. "What the hell are you waiting for?" she asked me angrily. "Huh?" I asked her. Anissa stood up and took me with her. "If you were actually listening I told you to go to him and apologize now." She said while shoving me hard in the back and sending me forward. "But I…" I protested weakly. Anissa raised one hand and pointed. "Now." She said sternly.
I trudged up the mountain pass while muttering low to myself the entire way. I swear my arm must have creaked with how slowly I raised my arm to touch the faintly glowing runes. Once I felt the cold wind beating at my body I turned and marched up the steps, allowing what pride I had left to shatter on each step. Ignis didn't turn to face me as I neared him. When I cleared my throat he brushed his thoughts once more against mine but remained silent. I moved to his side and joined him in gazing at the world below. "Lovely weather today." I said. I heard the clinking of his earrings as he turned his head to stare down at him. His gaze was like a hot brand on the top of my head. "Look… I'm sorry I didn't listen." I grumbled.
"I apologize as well." He replied. Surprised, my head shot up to meet his eyes, my disbelief evident on my face. "Why?" I asked. His eyes seemed to burn a little brighter. "For distressing you, I shouldn't have told you like that." He said. I slid my eyes away from him, humbled by how easily he admitted his wrongs. The thing was, it felt like he hadn't done anything wrong. Ignis shook his head and reached down to cup my chin. "I did do something wrong Hikari. I am the one who fueled your hopes for children and I carelessly disregarded your feelings." He said. My eyes widened in shock. "Who the hell are you and where is my husband?" I asked. "Would you be serious for once please? I swear sometimes you can be quite stupid." He snapped. Never mind, it was him. "It's not like you to apologize so easily, I normally have to pout for four days till the guilt nags at you enough." I said.
"Well this time you managed to do it in three seconds." He grumbled before releasing my chin and taking my hand in his. "So…?" I asked. His eyes narrowed. "What?" he asked. "So why do you want to 'slow down'?" I asked. His eyebrows rose in realization. "Oh that." He said. "That?" I asked in disbelief. "Oh I've changed my mind. We can keep going, in fact let's increase the pace." He suggested. I yanked my hand from his. "Ha-ha very funny." I said. "Oh I am very serious Hikari. I made you a promise and I intend to keep it." He said. "What's wrong with taking it easy?" I asked in fright. "I find slow and steady bores me; yes I am much more suited to a faster more impulsive kind of thinking. It must be a side effect from our shared thoughts." Ignis prowled toward me. I held my hands up while backing toward the stairs. "Well that's nice and all but I have to go back home and finish sowing my seeds, besides I'll keep Anissa waiting and…" I gulped as his smile sent chills all the way to my toes. "You'll find it a bit hard to leave, since I might have sealed off the exits." He said evilly. "Crap." I muttered.
When I got home later that evening Anissa was waiting on my porch and biting her nails in worry. "Anissa?" I called while coming around the corner. Her head snapped up and her wide eyes turned from worried to angry. "Where have you been?" She asked while standing. "Making up with my husband." I grumbled. "And?" she asked. "It's taken care of." I answered. "What did he say?" she asked. My mind flashed back to Ignis's parting words till he finally opened the portal and allowed me to leave. "I won't be able to visit you for a few days Hikari, I'm afraid I'll be too busy." He had said to me. "Doing what?" I asked stubbornly. "Helping to tilt the earth's axis, anything else?" he asked me. "Smartass." I said. "What did you call me?" Anissa snapped. My mind came back to the present. "Oh not you, I was talking about King." Anissa rolled her eyes and gave me a quick hug. "I need to go, Jin probably has his hands full with Van, my son can have quite a temper when hungry." She said before running down the trail and calling a last goodbye before disappearing. "So I'm a wrench?" I mumbled before going into my house.
The next few days were a little lonely without Ignis, but he helped to up for that by being a little more present in my thoughts. Poking around and occasionally sharing a specific memory with me. I satisfied my need for company by visiting Julius and Candace at home or running errands in town. With each day I began to notice a few odd things. Like my tastes in food. I began to despise anything dairy, and that was a problem since all my livestock produced was dairy. I could barely stomach the smell of cheese when I put the milk in the cheese maker. The next day I started having hot flashes. Autumn was close at hand and the air was chilling rapidly, but I found myself wearing t-shirts and capris outside. Ignis was too busy to take much notice and I didn't bring it up.
The third day the hot flashes went from random to constant, I sweated so much I took two showers. Hey yeah I know, too much information and a need to know basis only, but you try staying clean when your sweating like a sinner in church! Anyway, the fourth day was the last straw. I woke up that morning with an insatiable craving for something fruity. I harassed Craig at the Marimba farm but nothing seemed to satisfy me, so I headed to the Garmon Mines general store and hunted around the candy section. I then found what I had been looking for. Skittles. Skittles, skittles, and more skittles. I ended up buying all of the stores stock.
Distracted as Ignis was, he began to notice my odd behavior. Are you sure you don't want me to… he would say in my head. No, keep doing your 'Look at me I am the Harvest King' routine. I told him. He became a little sour after that comment and proceeded to ignore me as I wanted. By the fifth day and my third visit to the General store I carried out a box of tropical flavored skittles and tied it to Cherry's saddle. The horse whinnied in protest under the burden. "Hikari?" Phoebe called from the General store doorway. Calvin was behind her. "Are you alright?" he asked. I looked between them in confusion. "Yeah, why ask?" I asked. They looked at each other and words passed silently between them. "You're scaring us." Calvin said after a moment. "How so?" I asked, a little insulted. "You're taking all the skittles Hikari." Phoebe said. "It's just one box." I muttered. "A whole box Hikari." She replied. "The sixth one this week." Calvin added. "You're overreacting." I said while fanning my face. Phoebe's brow creased in concern as she stepped out of the store and came up to me.
"Are you feeling well?" she asked me. "Yeah, just a little hot." I answered. "It's fifty two degrees." Calvin commented. Phoebe put her hand to my forehead and her eyes widened in alarm. "You're burning up!" She exclaimed. "Nonsense." I told her while pushing her hand away. "I don't have a fever, I'm not dizzy or weak or anything." I protested. "I'm taking you to the Clinic." Phoebe said. "No." I replied. Calvin came forward and put his hands on my waist. He hefted me up into the saddle and Phoebe climbed up in front of me. "Hang on." She told me. "Wait just a second." I said after kicking Calvin in the face. "I didn't give you permission to ride my horse." I said while reaching for the rains. Phoebe elbowed me in the ribs while snapping the reins and kicking Cherry into moving. I held on as Phoebe urged the horse to go faster and we quickly passed my ranch. "Lemon!" I called in passing. The cow raised her head in alarm and pricked her ears forward. Her brown eyes found me as we sped past and she mooed in anger.
The cow quickly followed after me, but as fast as Lemon was, Cherry was faster. Lemon kept pace but was still a few feet behind us, hot on Cherry's hooves. As we neared the clinic Phoebe pulled back on the reins a little too hard and Cherry stopped in her tracks and started to buck. I reached forward and took hold of the reins, forcing Cherry's head back till she stopped her attempts to throw us. Lemon soon caught up to us, her flanks heaving and brown eyes spinning in anger. "Don't kill her Lemon." I told the cow as Phoebe slowly got down from the saddle. "That," I said while dismounting and checking on Cherry, "is why you don't ride my animals." I said while stooping to examine Cherry's horse shoes. Her legs were shaking from the huge amount of energy it took to run without slowing from the upper part of the island to the coast.
I reached into my bag and pulled a small bag of carrots out and fed them to her. "Sorry." Phoebe muttered before grabbing my arms and pushing me inside the clinic. "Hey!" I yelled while grabbing the door frame. Lemon moved forward and I stopped her in her tracks. "Don't break down the door!" I told her before Phoebe managed to push me in all the way and close the door behind us. "What in the world is going on?" Jin yelled in anger while coming from the other room. "I just got Van to take a nap and then you come in here and…" Phoebe pushed me into his office. "She has a fever." She said and Jin immediately followed us into the other room. He helped Phoebe shove me onto the cot as he dug around in his cabinet for a thermometer. I crossed my arms in anger as I glared at the green haired woman.
"You're going to regret this." I warned her. "Sure." She said while helping Jin to find some gloves. "Open." He said, not waiting and shoving the thermometer in my mouth. He watched the clock on the wall for about four minutes until he yanked it out of my mouth and held it under the light. "One hundred and three!" he exclaimed. Van began to cry from upstairs and he looked at me in apology. "I'm going to have Irene run a few tests." He said before calling her in and leaving the room. For the next two hours I had to have a few uncomfortable questions answered and a terrifying moment with a needle and nearly fainting at the sight of blood. After Irene locked me in the bathroom with a small plastic cup she left for the next three hours to run whatever 'tests' upstairs.
The entire time Phoebe and I sat in uncomfortable silence. Ignis paid little attention to the situation; he told me that he was controlling a change in the islands wind patterns. Irene then came into the room, the usual stern expression on her face as she shuffled through some papers. I pulled a bag of skittles out of my rucksack and began to eat them. "Hikari." Phoebe groaned. I glared at her till she shut up and continued to eat my candy. "Hikari… I found out what's wrong with you." Irene told me. I nodded and pretended to show interest as I shoveled more candy into my mouth. "The fever, loss of appetite…" her eyes met mine as she observed my munching. "And the gaining of an appetite all mean one thing." She paused. "Are you listening?" she asked me.
"What is it? The flu? Allergies? Mental disorder?" I asked sarcastically. "I have no doubt about a mental disorder but what I have to tell you is very serious." She said. I continued to eat. Irene glared at me and crossed her arms. "Your pregnant." She told me. I skittle got caught in my wind pipe and Phoebe pounded on my back till I stopped choking. "WHAT?" I screamed. "Congratulations Hikari!" Phoebe yelled. Anissa came around the corner. "Is she ok?" she asked Irene. "She's more than ok, she's pregnant!" Irene replied. Anissa clapped her hands and turned in the doorway. "JIN!" she yelled. "WHAT?" he yelled from upstairs. "HIKARI IS PREGNANT!" she answered. "Hikari is pregnant?" Candace asked while conveniently coming into the clinic at the right time. A high pitched squeal came from behind her. Julius ran into the room and took my hands in his. "Hikari! We are pregnant yay!" he cheered. "Darling, Hikari is pregnant, not us." She said with a blush.
"That's what I said, we are pregnant!" Candace humored her husband as she joined me in congratulations. Hayden appeared in the window and Anissa opened it to tell him the good news. "Hikari is pregnant?" he asked in disbelief. "Yes! Isn't it wonderful?" Anissa asked. "SO WHATS WRONG WITH HER?" Cathy asked from down the street. Hayden turned to his daughter, and with mustache quivering, yelled back. "PREGNANT!" "WHAT?" Cathy asked. "HIKARI IS PREGNANT!" he yelled again. "So she's ok?" I heard Selena ask faintly. "HIKARI HAS A BUN IN THE OVEN." She answered. Jin pounded the floor from upstairs. "WE GET IT NOW SHUTUP!" he yelled as Van began to cry once more. I was numb, sitting there on the cot while all the commotion around me bombarded my ears.
"Hikari?" Julius asked after a moment. He bent to look me in the eye. "I'm… pregnant…?" I mumbled. "Yes, Hikari your pregnant." He assured me. "No… it can't be…" I shook my head. It couldn't be, after so long! "Hikari?" Anissa asked in worry while placing a hand on my shoulder. I shot up from the cot and pushed past them all; I escaped Phoebe's seeking hands and ran out the door, startling Lemon and Cherry awake. I didn't stop to wait for them as Lemon ran after me in worry. It couldn't be true, it couldn't! "Hikari?" I heard Julius yell from the clinic as I ran.
Tears started to fall from my eyes as I ran through the dark. I screamed when I fell off the path and landed roughly in the sand. I looked up to see the ocean sparkling in the moonlight. I tucked my knees into my chest and let the tears fall. It was too good to be true. "Hikari?" Ignis said while appearing before me. I felt the sand shift as he sank to his knees in front of me. "Hikari? What is wrong?" he asked while reaching forward and squeezing his hand between my arms. He forced my head up and cupped both of my cheeks in his warm hands. "Why are you crying? What has happened?" he asked with concern, his red eyes glowing in anger as he considered the cause of my distress. "Ignis." I bawled. He wiped my eyes with his thumbs and leaned in close. "Hikari what happened?" he asked again. I felt him attempting to sift through my most recent memories, but my mind was to muddled and whirling with emotion for him to get hold of any information.
"What is too good to be true?" he asked after a moment. "Lie? What lie?" his confusion was obvious as I only covered my eyes with my hands and choked out a sob. Ignis pulled me to him and rubbed my back, attempting to sooth me. Once my sobbing subsided into sniffles he pulled away slightly. "Tell me." He said while wiping my swollen eyes with the edge of his robes. My tongue felt too heavy as I tried to form the words, so I told him the only way I could. I took his hand and clutched it to my stomach. "Hikari? What in the world are you…" his words trailed off. "Is it true?" I croaked. Ignis pushed me backward and I flung my hands behind me to remain slightly upright. Ignis lifted my shirt up and pressed both of his hands to my stomach.
His eyes narrowed in concentration as I felt his probing power spike through me. I clenched my teeth as the tension in my body increased. Ignis then lowered his head to rest his ear against my stomach. He closed his eyes, a smile lighting his face. "Well?" I asked fearfully. His eyes opened and my heart nearly stopped. Ignis's eyes glowed with a warm and radiant orange like the setting sun, a kind of tender joy that I knew he'd never experienced until this moment. He closed his eyes again, taking a deep breath as his head rested on me. He reached for my hand and took it; he placed our clasped hands beside his head. "I sense life within you Hikari. A new life, a small one deep inside." He whispered. I bit my lip as fresh tears began to fall. Ignis squeezed my hand. "Our child, my son."
Hello everyone! Been waiting long? So sorry for the wait, and even though its very, very, extremely late, Happy Holidays! Teehee I hope your year is going well. Please forgive my late update, I've had a major writers block and absolutely no urge to write, that is until now. I apologize once more and for the people who have been faithful to this story I thank you. And when I was writing this I was like WOW. There is so much corn that I need to stop going to the supermarket! (and apparently I buy my jokes from there as well). Thank you for your patience and please go on tolerating me .!
Please review, I've missed you guys!
Madame Joker