I don't own Harvest Moon; I only own Aikou Kizuna and Narumi Kokone, also even though she was only mentioned in Chapter 1, Mitsuki Kittoni. All rights go to Natsume.
This is based on Harvest Moon another Wonderful Life, DS Cute and More Friends of Mineral Town
Chapter 4 – A Sick Thief and a Sick Girl
Narumi's POV
Skye's in my home, in my room, in MY bed! Why is he here, and besides that- my stuff, a thief is in my house sleeping, is all my stuff here? I went and looked around my room to see if everything was here, and then heard him mumble something in his sleep. I turned back to him and remembered the last time I had seen him, I felt my cheeks become hot at the thought of it. I touched my mouth then saw him turn to face me, still sleeping. His cheeks were bright red, he looked kind of sick, like he has a fever. I moved his hair and checked his forehead, which as I thought was warm, I didn't have a thermometer around and can't take him to the clinic. 'Just great, what am I suppose to do with him? What if Aikou comes back and sees him, she'd freak out.' I thought as I realized I hadn't token my hand from his head, 'I can … almost hear my … heart beating. It's so … loud and fast..." I thought feeling my face get more and more warm; his eyelashes are so long like a girl's. His hair is straight and his face is like a child's, he looks like an angel while he's asleep, I closed my eyes because I felt so warm right now. It's almost like his fever is getting to me.
"It's rather perverted to stare at someone when their sleeping, isn't it Narumi?" I heard a male's voice quietly say, my eyes shot open and realized he was staring at me, awake. I almost gasped but then moved my hand away from his head and nearly fell backwards. He chuckled and sat up on my bed, and I felt angry for some reason at this. But what was there to be angry about? All he did was wake up, I couldn't be mad about him waking up … I feel like a pervert from what I just did. He was staring at me with his pale green eyes, their piercing through me like a dagger. My heart was pounding in my chest so hard that I think I might faint. He looked confused at my fear and anger then leaned his head on his hand and stared at me. "Why are you here? How did you know where I live?" I said in a harsh whisper. "Why are you whispering, it's only you here isn't it?" he asked calmly. I frowned and remembered that even though I'm alone now Aikou could come back at any moment. "But she could come back at any moment, now answer my question!" I said annoyed. Yet all he did was smirk before, what I think was, starting to think and remember.
Skye's POV
Well that was fun, never seen her so nervous except for that time. Toying with her like this may seem mean, but it's not my real intention to toy with her, it's just her reactions to everything that tempts me to do so. I coughed and she jumped and some of her hair stood on end, I looked at her again, her bright red face. She looks so cute, whatever was attracting me to her seems to be getting stronger each time I see her, and it's only been three times now. She's interesting, that's the only word that seems to fit her, interesting. "I don't really know why I came here. And I already knew you lived in Mineral Town, and you dropped a bag of seeds last time we met. So I guessed it would be a farm that grew plants." I said and saw her face flush when I mentioned the last time we met. "You're sick … aren't you? You seem to have a fever…" she squeaked sheepishly. I chuckled at her sudden shyness, and looked at her jokingly. "Maybe I am. What's it matter to you, Narumi?" I said as I stood from her bed, which was rather comfortable for an old farm house bed. But she didn't look happy about my words, or that I stood because I really am sick.
"Sleep, you're sick and should rest and not be up and around." She said as she stood and lightly pushed me back on the bed. "Are you worried about me?" I asked trying not to sound happy. "Shut up before I change my mind." She said angrily before leaving out of the room. 'What's with her?' I thought as I fixed myself back under the covers and glanced at the picture on the nightstand next to her bed. 'I wonder who the other people in this picture are. The Blonde Girl is obviously her and the Black Hair girl is probably this Aikou, but who are the others?' I thought as I stared at the frame. She never mentioned anyone else so far other than the farmer girl, Jill, from Forget-Me-Not Valley and Aikou, the girl she lives with. I wonder if I should ask.
Narumi's POV
'Why am I helping him again? I don't even know anymore.' I thought as I cut up some vegetables to attempt to make soup. I was good at cooking, just wasn't paying attention to well, my attention was split between cooking, Skye and Aikou randomly coming in and wondering why I was making soup. She knew I hated soup, and would only eat it when I was sick, or make it when someone was sick. And since we both knew I wasn't sick and she wasn't sick, she would start asking questions and looking around to see who was the 'extra' person here who was sick. And if she found Skye, she would let him stay because he's sick but she might jump to conclusions and say that we were friends or worse … dating. I shuttered at the thought and continued with the soup, I had to finish this before she got back, and I didn't know where she was, how far from here she was or how long she would take to get back. I continued to cut the vegetables, almost cutting my fingers on several occasions, and put them into the pot and stir, hoping that this will boil and be finished soon.
I looked at the clock on my nightstand and almost freaked out when I saw that it was already 4:30. The soup was done long ago and there was extra in the fridge, but I had to get going to the library, I had to be there before 5 o'clock. Well at least Aikou will be distracted during the time that I would be gone, then I would get back but … how long is Skye going to be here? If he stays all night where was I suppose to sleep? Aikou would get extremely suspicious if I was sleeping on the couch, and she always comes in the morning to check on me so how would this plan work out? I looked over at Skye who had fallen asleep again with the empty bowl on the floor next to the bed; I sighed and stood from the chair I was in. I walked over to him and checked his forehead again; it was cooler but still warm. 'At least there is still more soup in the fridge, I'll leave a note and go, hopefully I'll run into Aikou on my way out.' I thought as I grabbed paper and a pen, and then started writing …
Dear Skye,
I had to go out for something at 4:30, so just stay in my room. Aikou won't be back until I come home. So if you're hungry go to the fridge, just don't touch anything that you don't need to use when you eat. And if you make a mess clean it, by the time you hear the door make sure you're in my room with the door shut. Thank you.
Kokone Narumi
Finished. I left the note on the nightstand where he could see it, then headed for the door. Grabbing my boots at the entrance and my list of what she hates and loves and I walked out onto the farm and let the warm evening air fill my lungs before letting out a sigh and looking in all directions for any signs of pigtails. Nothing. From what I could see there was no one outside on the farm, I felt a bit panicked that she had been gone so long, especially since she has no sense of direction and still gets lost in the woods. It's been about a year since she came, she came last year on the 15th of summer. I came in winter, so actually I first met Kai on the 1st. I went off to town even though I was actually worrying of where she might be. 'Maybe she's already with someone, or talking somewhere in town. Just have to stay positive.' I thought as I walked over to the library with my list of what she hates and loves.
Aikou's POV
"Oww … My head hurts … where am I?" I said as I opened my eyes for the first time after I didn't know how long. I put my hand to my head and moaned in pain. "I have a headache and fever, man this sickness sucks." I complained as I felt the grass under me. My whole body felt stiff and I didn't have a clue of what had happened or how much time has passed since then. 'If knew that I was diseased, one worse than Lillia's, he'd probably either not let me work on the farm or make me stay at the clinic for observation.' I thought as I tried to breathe normally. My chest hurts so much, I could just barely breathe, my throat felt as if it were on fire. I forgot about my medicine this morning, so I probably fainted. If I could move I would go home, Narumi is probably worried if she's gone home already. "I can't move, and no one seems to be around … well at least everything coming back to order, I can almost see." I said as I looked around and waited for my eyes to come back to focus.
'I wonder if anyone will find me …' I thought as my vision faded back to black again and I became what I knew of as unconscious.
Nobody's POV
Aikou lay unconscious in the deep forest of Mother's Hill, a place where no one really ever goes to. Behind an almost unbreakable rock is where she was. Bird songs, insects, splashes in the water and many more sounds blocked the sound of her heavy breathing as a fever over took her. Aikou had a secret that no one in town but Narumi knew, she had a disease with no name, it wasn't in many medical books because of its rarity, and so far in the city they have made a pill to help the symptoms and an operation for severe cases. She was lucky enough to have a mild case but her life was still as much in danger as anyone else with the disease. But Aikou's biggest secret is not that she loved Cliff but something much more valuable, and deep. Neither love nor hatred, but something more, that she was determined to take with her to her grave, the only other person in Mineral Town who knew her secret past was Narumi, of course she knew almost everything about her. The almost completely anti-social girl wouldn't tell a soul, so Aikou's secret of sickness and her other secret was secured … or so she thought.
Narumi's POV
I finally arrived at the meeting and they all started panicking when I asked if any of them had seen Aikou. Everyone, well almost everyone, was there, Mary, Ann, Popuri, Elli, Karen, Gray, Kai, Cliff, and Rick, what why is chicken boy doing here? Anyway moving on, we all thought more of where she would be than what we should do for her party, so the meeting was completely changed to a search party. "Maybe we should look in the places she wouldn't be. With the heat she could have fainted." Kai suggested. I thought about that and nodded, it seemed pretty much like her. "If that did happen then she would need medical attention fast. What if she hit her head?" Elli squeaked with overwhelming fear. I wanted to groan from her squeaks but Gray beat me to it and we all stared at him. "If anything I'm only sure of this, we have to find her fast. Her health isn't actually at its best in the summer and something bad might happen if we don't find her." I said as I stood and headed to the door. "But where are you going to look?" Ann said as she stood and followed.
"Well since it's already obvious that something is wrong, I'm almost certain that she is unconscious. So I'm guessing maybe Mother's Hill, since I saw her go back to the farm, but she probably went past the farm and fainted somewhere in the forest of Mother's Hill." I said as I opened the door and motioned for everyone else to follow. "How can you tell so much from just a small guess, what if she's actually fine?" Gray said without worry, which set me off because I almost had a sixth sense to know when she was in trouble. "Listen here you! Just because you have a hard day working doesn't mean you can come to a place where everyone is worried and be a snob! I've been trying so hard to be nice to everyone because of this party! You hardly know Aikou, as for me I've known her for years! I just about have a sixth sense to know when she needs help, now if you care about her then come one if you don't then just go home now you bunch of wusses!" I screamed angrily which brought the room to a dramatic silence. No one even dared to breathe for a moment before I stormed off and heard a trail of footsteps follow.
I glanced behind me to see everyone following, even Gray who had been complaining just a moment ago. Now that I think maybe Aikou is right about how much alike we are, we both complain or become annoyed when someone acts dumb. I turned to face them and scanned the sky and noticed the sun setting. "We have to hurry while there's still day light, I don't want to take the higher risk of wild dogs coming around." I said as I turned and continued walking on the path to the forest. My mind filled with thoughts of Aikou and yet again Skye, who was in my bed back at the farm.
Gray's POV
Well she sure seemed to be a bit full of herself. Aikou had no idea if she thought we were anything alike. Yeah I might have gotten a bit grumpy from Grandpa's yelling, but I didn't need her yelling on top of that. It was annoying to hear her yelling I was only coming for Aikou. To be honest I didn't really know if she was alright but I did know that if wild dogs got to her she defiantly wouldn't be. She was strong, but I doubt she would be strong enough to match wild dogs, especially if she is sick or anything. We walked through Claire's old farm and I noticed some of them looked around in awe, from the sight of such a well fixed farm. I couldn't help but take a peek of the big piece of land that the Aikou and Narumi now shared in Claire's memory. I smiled at the memory of first seeing the small girl being dragged to the church by Claire, her angelic voice. I've fallen in love with Aikou Kizuna, and I was proud of that fact, but never had the guts enough to tell her about my feelings, feelings that other guys share for her.
Kai's POV
Wow Claire sure did a good job here, and Aikou and Narumi followed up with it quite nicely as well. Narumi is obviously freaking out about this, and everyone else seems to be also. Sure I was worried but it wouldn't help showing it, so I hid it. I remember meeting her on the beach last year; she just came out to see the water as I was closing down the shop. She was singing something, it her voice was so sweet like an angel. She sang so clearly, I thought that maybe all of Mineral Town could have heard her. It was a beautiful song as well, let alone the memory itself. Her hair dancing with the wind, painted with the sun's setting colors, and her eyes sparkling like two priceless gems. I felt attracted to her and still do, if you wanted to call it love then I guessed it could be, but all I knew was that she was one of the two main girls on my mind…
's POV
I wonder if she was really alright, by the sound of it she didn't seem like she would be in a good position. I could tell that Narumi was worried; I think everyone could see that. I first met her at Mother's Hill, on a Wednesday, I was looking for grasses to make, well try and perfect, a tonic I got from another town. When I saw her come looking for bamboo shoots, her hair was up in a bun, she wore a red overall dress that only went mid-thigh, her boots went to her knees and they were black, the same as her hair, she looked like she had come from heaven she was so beautiful. Her eyes were filled with curiosity, pain and most of all determination. Until she looked my way and they looked almost scared, the question that still bobs in my head was 'Why did she look scared?' With a small wave she went on with her business but I couldn't take my eyes off of her, when she was ready to leave she turned to me smiled and said 'good morning and good-bye.' Then left with the bamboo sticking out of her rucksack, as quickly as she had come she was gone, but I still couldn't stop thinking about her. Love, like, I still couldn't think of my feelings, I think it was more of a crush more than anything else, but anything could be possible I guess. But the feelings continued even after I got to know her, so what would those feelings be.
Rick's POV
I wonder how healthy the chickens are, and if they lay good eggs. I remember first meeting Aikou, she was getting some chicken feed for Claire after she became a little more social. It was in the afternoon around 2 so I was outside tending to the chickens when she came onto Poultry Farm, my home. She strode on to the dirt opening in dirty jeans and a t-shirt, her hair loosely waving around. Soon turning and going into the house also the store, not even noticing me, or not caring that I was there. No hello or anything just a simply glance around then continue her business. I went to the door of the house and peeked inside, watching her I forgot about the chickens. When she left the house and Popuri, my little sister, followed and told me to take chicken feed over to Claire's farm. I agreed of course, since I was the only one who could do this, and went to get the feed. Aikou stood at the entrance and talked with Popuri, like they were old friends of some sort. When I finally got back and told her that I was ready to take it over she briefly nodded and started walking towards the farm. When we got there she pointed to the chicken coop and said "It's over there." Then left into the house as if I wasn't there, I still don't know if she was in a bad mood, (Probably not since she was laughing with Popuri a few minutes earlier) didn't want to speak with me or was ignoring me on purpose. Whatever the reason I fell for the black hair beauty, and she treats me the same way, she won't exactly talk with me unless I say something first, and even so it still is brief.
Cliff's POV
Aikou was missing, it couldn't be that she ran away right, I mean really she has been pretty happy for a while wasn't she? Was she sick, or did something happen, what was happening right now? I couldn't calm down; I could literally hear my own heart beating. I was so scared that she might be hurt that I was ready to faint from terror, but I continued walking. I remember first meeting her, Claire dragged her into the Church to see Mr. Carter one day and wasn't going to take no for an answer. She was so cute and small; struggling for dear life as if she was going to die is she went into the confessional. Yet when she came out, her face was tear-streaked and she could just barely stand straight. Claire went over to her to help her out, but she didn't struggle at all, but she looked at me and stared at me as if I was an alien. I should have noticed that she was blushing but wasn't completely focusing on her face; I was staring at her eyes, so dull, lifeless and empty, they reminded me of how I first felt when I came here. She looked so distance and then softly said "I'm sorry for the disturbance." Then retreated with Claire out of the church and into the afternoon sunlight. My first meeting with her, I should have noticed then, it would have saved me trouble. I should have noticed that she liked me from when she looked at me, well I didn't actually know when her liking me started but it was obvious that she had so sort of feeling when she looked at me. 'Aikou…………where are you right now?' I thought as we continued into the mountainous woods in the evening light.
Nobody's POV
They continued on their way to the forest, hoping and pleading that she was alive and safe. Yet even though she was alive, the place where she was wasn't a good are for someone who was unconscious to be. Wild dogs were nearby and would attack at any moment. Being in a part of the forest where hardly anyone goes to, unconscious and sick at the same time wasn't the best position for anyone. And Skye was still sick and sleeping in the farmhouse, during all of this.