Disclaimer: I don't own Professor Layton or Claire or anyone else in this story, they belong to Level 5 games and nobody else!

Learning how to love.

Hershel sighed, near bored out of his skull as he stayed up in what he called "his sanctuary" as he fiddled with a little puzzle box he had received as an early birthday present and he hummed a little melody beneath his breath, his hands and fingers twisting and working the mechanism out slowly but surely.

He may have found puzzles to be a very helpful way to pass the time, and he wouldn't lie because it really was, but he found his interest in them increase just a little bit whence he had been the victim of a very unfortunate circumstance. The lad with the bouncy Afro lain down on a single branch up in a tree that was growing in the courtyard of the school and it was a place where he would spent many of his free times nowadays.

Hershel hadn't seen anybody he knew so far today, other than that Claire girl, and he just couldn't really bring himself to care right now since he had been on the run from a certain young man who had a habit of antagonising him to such a degree that poor young Layton had to resort to the art of camouflage.

He knew that what he was wearing wouldn't match the colouration of the tree he hid in but the branch he laid down on was broad and strong enough to hide his moderately skinny outline and the leaves changing from green to orange-red colours made it easy to hide his big springy Afro from anyone who should happen to pass him by.

Despite this, though, Hershel grimaced when a very familiar voice pierce through what was the air of his favourite sound ever: silence.

"Oi, Layton! Come out from there and show me your face will you?!"

The young man fought the strong urge to groan in annoyance. He rolled on to his side, making the branch he laid down on shift a little from the sudden movement, and glanced down towards the ground where he found none other than Alphonse Dalston glaring up at him in an impatient contrast.

Hershel hesitated in asking as his rectangular face took on an annoyed expression "...What do you want, Dalston?"

Dalston tutted while shaking his head to the sides before looking back up at the young man. The fact that his face was redder than usual proved that he was either not in a good mood or he had been made to do extra laps in P.E. but either way the young big man answered the question with a small hidden smile all the same.

"I want to chat about summit is all, no need for the hostility." Dalston held his hands up as if to give a gesture that would say "I'm not going to hurt you" and he had a very secret frown even though the lad he spoke to saw it quite clearly.

Hershel sighed and jumped out of the tree with an expert somersault, landing perfectly on his feet and his arms were spread out to the sides. His face was stone and his eyes were filled with sternness and had a huge lack of emotion.

He looked at Dalston for moments at a time until he barked at the other boy impaitently "Well? What is it?!"

Dalston was shocked. Hershel Layton was cross, the goody-two-shoes of Stansbury was angry!? He was so surprised that he found all the words he wanted to say before lodged in his throat, he saw a small look in the young man's eyes as they burned from anger but then they looked guilty as he paused for a moment and glanced away.

"...I'm sorry, I did not mean to snap." Hershel scuffled his foot on the ground whilst he apologized. He seemed genuinely sorry for losing his composure for those few seconds and Dalston, despite his usual mean demeanor, decided to offer his condolence for the hurting young lad as he patted his shoulder with a glazed look in his rough eyes.

Dalstron frowned as he made Hershel look right at him and he said in a surprisingly low voice "No, Layton, I should be the one whose sorry here. I just wanted to offer my..." He hesitated in saying the next part "...consolations for Bratscot."

Hershel was now very unsure if he had heard the young man right. Dalston was feeling sympathetic!? This was a first, especially as it was directed towards one of his very best friends. He hung his head sadly, rubbing his eye patch irritably as he felt a sudden ache in his heart and that throbbing in his bad eye that usually signaled that he was ready to cry.

He didn't speak. He just lost his voice as it had seized up in his throat. He looked sadly at the other young man but heard his next words rather faintly.

"You know, Lameton, there are rumors flying about that you were the cause of Bratscot's death."

Hershel's eyes instantly narrowed and he managed to quickly find that a sudden adrenaline rush took hold.

How dare they, they think that he killed Randall!? Did they really think that he would be so low as to murder anyone -especially his best friend!?

He was the most earnest guy in Stansbury and the children here were all treated with unique and special ways to make them feel like an equal and that unique method was also used on yours truly.

How could he have it in him to kill his best friend!?

"but I think it was-!"

He didn't even realize it but he had quickly found himself lifting Dalston -cutting him off from what he was about to say- up by the collar of his shirt, just barely lifting him off his feet as he jerked around in the young man's grip, and he looked at Hershel through fearful eyes.

Hershel panted and gasped as he felt himself instantly calm down. His rectangular face softened very slowly from its intense anger and he gently and slowly lowered Dalston back to his feet, his hand shaking from fright of what he had just tried to do. The two shared a very uncomfortable silence as they tried to get over the terror of what had just happened.

Turning his gaze away, young 17 year old Layton choked back a sigh as he climbed back up the tree he had hidden himself inside, grabbing on tightly to the trunk as he scaled the tree and hurriedly latched on to the heavy branch that would so hide him from the hurtful world outside.

Dalston didn't say a thing but he did turn and leave without saying another word.

Hershel turned on his side, turning his face gloomily away from everyone else and closing his eyes to block out all sights and other senses to prevent anything else from setting him off. He felt his heart ache and throb in his chest as he tried to disguise his anguish and pain with a calm and rather collected demeanour, this was something he had a huge difficulty doing.

He didn't even care if leaves and twigs got stuck in his Afro.

He lain on his side, wanting nothing more than to be swallowed up by anything and not having to worry about vicious rumours and false truths.

However he opened his eyes upon hearing a very familiar voice call out from somewhere below "Hershel, what are you doing up there?"

The young man's eyes opened. That voice sounded familiar! Could it be...?

He hoped that it was Angela, she didn't dare speak to him because she -like everyone else in Stansbury- thought that he killed Randall. Was she finally speaking to him again!? He lifted his head and turned to glance down at the mystery woman with happiness leaking into his voice "Angela, Angela is that you-!"

He stopped when he realized that it wasn't Angela there to forgive him. It was actually Claire and, as always, she seemed oblivious to his constant agony.

Letting out a sigh of disappointment and giving a sour face, Hershel returned to rolling on to his back to avoid looking at the girl below him. Right now he just wanted to be left alone with the excruciating pain of losing his best friend eating away at his heart and his good conscience and the puzzle he currently held in his hands.

Claire smiled up at him "Hello again, Hershel, what's up?"

Hershel didn't speak a word. He didn't want to talk. He knew it would be rude if he didn't answer her so he simply gave a noise that implied that he didn't know.

Claire smirked snidely at that response. She sat at the foot of the tree with her back against the oak wood layering the big, strong truck. She even closed her eyes peacefully and allowed the wind to bristle her vibrant red hair and carry her ponytail a bit as it fluttered loosely.

There was some silence until Claire spoke up again.

"Whats that your holding?" She asked, referring to the puzzle box the young man fiddled around with.

Hershel's gaze momentarily left the curious little box he held and he glanced back down to her. He didn't say anything for a moment before he answered the question with his tone low and heavy from depression, it even sounded a bit croaky "...Its a puzzle box."

Claire's head perked up. Her face twisted in slight confusion but a smile graced her lips all the same as she repeated "A puzzle box?"

Layton gave a small noise to confirm this, too lazy to nod. His eyes drifted down to the ground below the branch cradling him and towards the young lady sitting just beneath him but that frown remained plastered against his lips. His mouth stretched into a straight line across his face as he folded his arms leisurely behind his head and closed his eyes to relax.

He didn't wish to say anymore on the matter.

...He snapped opened an eye when his ears detected the sound of an impatient "ahem" sound and he looked back down at Claire whom glared at him impatiently. Her mood seemed to have changed from cheery to intense within the batter of an eyelid.

Claire shifted in place and folded her arms across her chest as she furrowed a brow. She said one, simple word as she done this "Elaborate."

Hershel fought the urge to smack his own forehead but the irritated groan did manage to escape his throat as he bolted up into a sitting up position. What he did not realize, however, was that this sudden rash movement was enough to make the branch he lain on top of creak beneath the pressure and he suddenly found himself zipping downwards.

Some free leaves flew in the fresh gust of wind idly as the branch fell to the ground with Hershel sitting on top of it.

A wide-eyed Layton sat there in silence as he tried to get over the shock of what had just happened. Did the branch just give up under the weight? What on earth could have caused that?! He thought that the branch was sturdy enough to hold him!

He gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes into tight slits. He gathered the puzzle box into his procession and he bolted upwards into a standing position to storm off into a new direction.

But that was rewarded with Claire grabbing his hand to prevent him from leaving and when Hershel glanced over his shoulder to snap at her and tell her to let go of his hand and leave him be, he was silenced by a puppy-dog eyed look. The young girl smiled cutely as she blinked her pretty eyes at him yet the frames of her glasses were glinting in the sunlight that penetrated passed the newly found hole in Layton's hiding tree.

Hershel couldn't deny it, she was very adorable.

His angered gaze melted under that cute look and he rolled his eyes and sighed deeply through gritted teeth that faded into that straight-mouthed frown he sported mere moments ago.

He just couldn't fight her like this. If she wanted to know about puzzles then who was he to say "no"?

Sighing in defeat, he managed to make her release his hand as he turned back towards her and seated himself beside Claire, adjusting the puzzle box in his grip so he could hold it up for her to see. He explained to her in a lighter tone of voice, making it sound somewhat like a teacher explaining something to her student.

"Now, Claire. If you think that I like solving just simple jig-saw puzzles then you are sorely mistaken; I like the brain-teasing puzzles that make your mind endure a thralling spin for the solution."

He didn't notice that his tone had taken a somewhat passionate twist. He spoke with this slight wistful breathlessness that had completely betrayed the fact that he really enjoyed the thrills and thoughts of solving such an amazing (and literal) mind-game. Ever since that incident, he had grown to appreciate puzzles just a bit more and he didn't know it himself but he actually found a desire to solve those puzzles.

Claire listened intently, taking every word into account.

Layton carried on regardless "A riddle is something that you need a good brain for and anyone could try their hand at such a puzzling query. It could even make a good hobby should you yearn for a job involving your intellectual skills."

He looked at her and stared, his dot-like eyes locking on to her big saucer-like ones. She was somewhat enchanting to look at but he didn't really think much of it, he didn't think she could ever love him. Shaking his head rapidly to snap himself out of his daze, Hershel glanced back at the puzzle box in his hand and she suddenly asked a question that surprised him:

"Can I try my head at one?"

The 17 year old Layton was astonished. Claire really wanted to try a puzzle so suddenly? He wasn't sure he should let her but he thought that, since she asked so nicely, he may as well test how smart she was. She did seem really clever in a sense, she had an intelligent air about her.

Nodding his head in approval, Hershel gave her an example "Alright, here is a simple one: what is as light as air and a million men can't lift it?"

Claire's face strained as if she was in deep thought. She put a finger to her chin as she hummed thoughtfully, thinking about what the solution could possibly be as she twiddled her knees against the blades of grass she sat on. The question probably made her head hurt and she even stressed her young brain over it.

Hershel looked patiently at Claire as she was apparently thinking it over. Maybe she couldn't think of the answer, maybe he had pushed her a bit hard despite it being a very easy puzzle to solve!

However, the answer simply slipped from Claire's mouth "Ummm...A bubble?"

Hershel was impressed. She solved it, she actually solved it! He didn't know that bubbly young lady could solve it in all honesty but he shouldn't be rude in thinking that. He merely nodded with a secret smirk, trying his best not to show the smile that he had suppressed for so long.

Layton put the puzzle box down on the ground beside him and he blinked his un-patched eye "Yes. Well done, Miss Foley."

Claire giggled, sheepishly reaching up and scratching the back of her head as she done so. She felt her fingers dig through her vibrant red hair and touch her scalp as she closed her eyes and tried to hide the blush painting her precious cheeks a deep shade of scarlet.

She bashfully lifted her spectacled eyes up to the blue skies above and she tripped on her own words whilst he tried to thank the young lad sporting the impressive Afro "W-Why thank you..."

The two wanted to continue this nice little chat. But, much like all good things, it wasn't meant to last. As they were about to say something and resume their friendly little puzzle bout, the bell rang and shattered everything like thin ice cracking beneath the weight of an obese person who just happened to have been standing on it.

The two stood up and went to go and reenter the school building.

Hershel gathered up the puzzle box he held previously and he stuffed it into his pocket to continue trying to solve later whilst Claire picked up her satchel bag and wrapped the strap around her own shoulder so it could stay on and not slip off and risk her things tumbling out.

The pair walked alongside each other as they walked along the school grounds. They didn't mind the stream of students also walking towards the entrance behind them and as they were about to go through the double doors welcoming their presence back inside the school, Claire smiled kindly as she shot a sideways glance to the lad she asked him "So are you going to geography next?"

Hershel shook his head and answered "No. I'm going to music next."

Claire seemed disappointed to hear that. Her eyes became downcast for a moment and she seemed sad to hear that answer, actually and unknowingly breaking Layton's heart in the process, but her face perked up a bit when she thought of a brighter side "Well, maybe I can come and see you at home?"

It was Hershel's turn to look sad as he reluctantly shook his head to the sides. He knew better than anyone that this wasn't possible for one reason and one reason he really didn't want to be. Sagging his shoulders sadly, the lad's voice mulled into a low mumble and he said grumpily "I won't be at home, I have work tonight."

Claire noticed that Hershel's entire demeanour changed at the mention of his job. It was probably the one he had at the lemonade shop, the one she met him at. She actually noticed something when she recounted yesterday's events when she saw Hershel last. He had a black eye yesterday, on the eye he just so happened to have been covering up with that patch!

Could Hershel actually be being abused at work!?

The young lady didn't say a word but was now very suspicious. Her face betrayed her suspicious feelings towards the lad's job and Hershel noticed. He gave her a stone face as his face tightened and his eyes became solid.

His voice wobbled shiftily as he turned his face away from her "...Never mind my job; I'll see you later, Claire."

With that, Hershel darted off into a different direction and he disappeared into the sea of students.

Claire reached out towards him to try and stop him but he was already gone. She wanted to yell at him to wait but she couldn't form the words, they had become tangled in her throat and her eyes grew saddened by this poor lad's obvious brooding.

Her heart ached for her newfound friend.

Maybe she could try and soothe the hurt he was all too obviously experiencing. Either way, he was clearly acting very strange and very much like he was forcing himself through the anguish.

He needed help...and she was going to provide that help!

A/N: Poor young Professor Layton, he seems to be utterly suffering with this.

Lets see what happens in the next chapter, at least Hershel and Claire had a bonding moment. They seemed to have enjoyed themselves very much and Hershel just might take Claire under his wing when it comes to puzzles and he might teach her.

Can Claire help Layton? How can she accomplish her goal?

Stay tuned and find out next!

-Chloemcg