Here you are! The wait was worth it (I hope) A bit of a longer chapter here. Anywhoo, I hope you all like it :D Don't forget to review! And yes, as I've said: You reviewers are DEFSKII'S my most favorites ;D
I woke up easily the next morning, excited for what the day would hold. I hummed happily to myself as I watered my new crops and took care of Gary and Betty. My chickens clucked happily as I sprinkled feed in front of each of them: I nuzzled them individually this time, making sure they couldn't overpower me like they had done yesterday; the last thing I wanted was to be late for the circus.
I arrived at the church grounds at promptly 3 pm and met a very handsome looking Gill, wearing black slacks and a grey casual suit jacket. It hung open with a black skinny tie hanging nicely around his neck, causing elegant contrast between it and his white dress shirt. I eyed him approvingly,
"You look sharp," I grinned as he offered me his arm,
"I could say the same for you: that's a beautiful dress," I had worn my black Victorian dress that my mother had given me when I turned eighteen; I was always rather fond of the way it hung around my shoulders. It had a matching black headband that fit daintily on my head: I could never work wearing such a thing, and tonight was a great excuse to pull it out of the closet. I still remember the joy I felt when I had found it wasn't destroyed in the fire. I took Gills arm and smiled at him as he led me towards the group of people gathered outside. Kathy was chatting up Owen, as per usual, while Yuuki and Renee made goo-goo eyes at each other: I suppressed a gag. Kathy perked up the second she saw me,
"You're finally here! I thought you were going to miss all the fun," she exclaimed, throwing one of her arms around my neck and hugging me, "Tonight is going to be so much fun!"
"Hey Gill," Owen smiled politely at my date, to which Kathy gave him the thumbs up. Gill smiled back,
"Hello Owen," I gritted my teeth, hoping there would be no tension between the two of them tonight. Owen walked over to Gill and much to my surprise, clapped him on the back while grinning,
"Finally got the girl I see!" He laughed his booming laugh and Gill joined in, obviously feeling a little awkward, but still being friendly. I smiled at the two of them: things were working out nicely. We walked into the circus and I was met, for the first time in my life, with a rather tall and bright yellow giraffe. I grinned at the giant creature, watching Chloe slide down its neck repeatedly. Owen would usually catch her and then throw her into the air. Kathy stood beside him clapping her hands and laughing along with them.
"He's such a good brother," I sighed, my eyes feeling glossy,
"Well that's not really his sister," Gill said, running his hand through his hair, "but he's a good cousin. They're close enough that they could be brother and sister: that's why he just tells everyone they are. Neither of them have any family left, besides Ramsey" he shook his head and I looked back at Owen, pondering. My train of thought was cut short by the sounds of an argument coming from a large group of people walking towards us. I knew right away Chase and Maya were included here,
"Just go eat something Maya, leave me alone!" Chase was trying feebly to pull his arm out from Maya's grasp, but was not successful,
"Chase, come on, just hold my hand for a little while!" She pleaded, her braids bouncing slightly,
"No! Seriously, I can't believe you even convinced me to come to this," he made a face, "I hate this kind of thing,"
"Just relax, you think I enjoy being somewhere like this?" Selena said as she quickened her pace so she was standing on the other side of Chase as they walked towards us, "Just bring on the booze, that'll make it better," she rolled her eyes before stretching her arms out above her, "I might be able to pick up a little cash here though: busking and all that,"
"I'll give you ten bucks if you busk right now, for me," Luke had appeared beside her, and stretched his arm around her shoulders flirtatiously. Selena just scowled at him,
"Add a zero to the end and you're on," she winked before spinning out from under his arm. She had almost gotten away and had started her taunting laugh when Luke caught her wrist and pulled her into him. Her blush was deep enough that you could see it through her olive skin as she looked away from Luke's eyes, his face only centimeters away from her own,
"Don't be like that," Luke teased, wrapping his other arm around her waist. Everyone was staring at them, waiting to see what would happen and it was quite obvious that Luke knew this fact. Selena's eyes narrowed, a smirk appearing on her lips,
"Do you want me to kiss you?" she said, her voice dropping an octave, adding more allure then seemed necessary. Luke pursed his lips momentarily before staring down at her,
"Haven't you ever heard of playing hard to get?" He laughed loudly before releasing her, "But nope. I don't want you to kiss me just so you can prove to everyone here how bold and tempting you are," Selena's expression darkened, clearly angry. Luke must have hit the nail on the head with that one,
"You're an ass," she spat at him, turning around and sticking her nose in the air. Luke just laughed again,
"As true as that may be, I'm going to earn the right to kiss you anytime I want," He grinned at her and her expression softened slightly,
"w-what?" she stammered. Luke just shrugged before pointing his finger at her,
"You're going to be my wife someday!" He shouted loudly. Now everyone in the circus turned to look at them. Maya, Kathy, Selena, Renee and I's mouths all dropped open simultaneously. I could see Jake and Coleen at a few exhibits over chuckling quietly and Luke's father turned from the cotton candy stand to smack himself in the forehead. Owen and Yuuki burst into laughing fits while Gill and Chase both sighed, shaking their heads.
"Excuse me?" Selena whispered, furious,
"Oh," Luke blinked, "You didn't hear me? I'll yell it louder," He drew a deep breathe but Selena cut him off,
"I heard you idiot! Everyone heard you! I'm not going to be anyone's wife, let alone yours!" She got louder as she spoke and ended up becoming rather indignant. Luke just snickered,
"Maybe we should all just… uh…" Kathy stepped in, which I think everyone was thankful for. The two had already made a big enough scene,
"I'm going home!" Selena stomped her foot before letting out a string of profanities as she stormed off,
"I'll walk you home!" Luke jogged after her, laughing loudly as she threw insults his way. I sighed and shook my head,
"Well... that was… Interesting," I chuckled. Owen erupted with laughter and soon everyone else joined in,
"That was pretty stupid of him," Maya said once we had all calmed down, "Selena would never go for a guy who embarrassed her in front of the whole town: I think Luke just dug his own grave," She pulled on one of her braids, making a face,
"No," Chase shook his head, "Selena likes attention… it was probably actually a good move by Luke. No matter how obnoxious it was," he smiled slightly.
We all shared a few more laughs, but soon enough everyone had coupled off. Kathy and Owen went off to see the Lion, and from what I could hear, Owen was taking great amusement in hearing it roar whenever he taunted it. Chase and Maya decided to look at the special food being served while Renee and Yuuki decided to visit the Zebras; I could hear Renee cooing over a little monkey that must have been in the same pen. Gill led me over to the large tent set up right in the middle of the whole festival. I was amazed by all the lights and music everywhere; everything seemed so grand!
"The show will start pretty soon," he explained, sitting down on one of the benches that were set up to face a stage, "The ring leader comes out and does a show will all the animals," He smiled at me, pausing for a moment, "Are you having fun so far?" I nodded at him and he grinned down at me,
"It's the best circus I've been to ever," I returned the smile,
"It's the only circus you've been to,"
"Exactly," I winked at him. He rolled his eyes at me before laughing quietly, "Are you having a good time?" I asked, snuggling a little closer to him. He looked down at me, his ice blue eyes caught mine and I felt myself melt a little. He smiled down at me for a moment before answering,
"It's the best so far," he whispered. I felt a shiver run through my spine as his eyes moved down to the spot just below my nose. He moved toward me slowly, glancing at my eyes then back to my lips quickly before catching my mouth with his. His hand came up to just below my chin and I felt his fingers traced across my jaw and back into my hair. He pulled away briefly, chuckling quietly before placing another chaste kiss on my lips and then leaning back and looking over at the stage. I caught my breathe for a moment, "the show is starting," he smiled back at me and I tore my eyes away from him to the stage,
"I'm excited," I grinned, feeling my stomach lighten, I wanted to see this show very much, and all the hype from everyone just made it seem so much better. A few large lights twirled around the stage, splashing the area around it with purple, green, yellow and blue light.
"Welcome!" I heard a voice say loudly, I looked down at the ring leader and felt my eyes bulge, my stomach twisting into a tight knot, "To Theodore's circus of wonder! I am the ringmaster, Theodore!" A familiar red top hat, red coat wearing short little man stood in the middle of the ring. I felt myself start to shake and my mouth get dry.
Theodore… Mayor Theodore.
My hands tightened to fists and I froze. I couldn't move,
He found me? No.
He was just the ringmaster of a circus, surely it couldn't really be him, was my mind just playing tricks on me? I swallowed hard. Gill was looking down at me,
"What's wrong?" he whispered into my ear, his face now worried. I couldn't speak; I just shook my head quickly, my eyes never leaving the man who had been the mayor of my town before I left. Gill's eyebrows furrowed as Theodore called out the Zebra and monkey. I could see the others now filtering in to the circus. Renee and Yuuki were laughing; Owen had his arm around Kathy as she leaned into him. Even Chase and Maya seemed to be a couple as she fed him some cotton candy. My eyes started to brim with tears,
This can't be happening.
"Hikari?" Gill grabbed my hand, but I still couldn't look away. I felt a single tear spill over and run down my face, "Shit," Gill breathed. He stood up, lifting me by the arm so I could stand but I couldn't move. My body wouldn't let me; all I was doing was re-living everything from my past. I couldn't stop thinking about the flames… my parents screams… Kurt…
"No!" I heard myself scream, "Please! No!" everyone turned to look at me but I didn't really notice, I had been discovered and Kurt was sure to be on his way soon. If Theodore knew, then he must have known. Suddenly I was lifted off my feet and felt wind rushing by my face. When I was finally put down, Gill hovered over me,
"Hikari, what's wrong? What happened?" He was so upset… I couldn't say anything. I wanted to tell him it would be alright but I didn't think I could lie that convincingly,
"Theodore," I breathed, "my mayor," I felt myself erupt with sobs as Gill's eyes widened. He glanced back at the tent, only about twenty yards from where we were.
"Hikari? Is that you?" It was Theodore. He must have followed us out, which meant the show had been canceled… or stopped abruptly. I shouldn't have screamed before…
"Yes," I mouthed, standing to my feet. I held Gill for support and he looked down at me, worry smeared across his face.
"This is where you've been?" he said, grinning at me. It made me feel sick, seeing that expression, "I thought I would never see you again! Oh everyone will be so happy to know that you're here! You're so close… just think about Ann, Blue… and Kurt! What will they think?" He grinned once more but I felt my eyes widen,
"You can't!" I shouted, shutting my eyes tightly, "You can't tell anyone!"
"What? But I—" Theodore started,
"Listen," Gill interrupted him, his voice was gravelly and low, "You will not tell anyone Hikari is here," He said stepping towards Theodore. I had never seen him like this and the former mayors eyes widened as he stared up at the white blonde,
"You don't understand," Theodore said, "So many people miss her, and it's my duty as mayor to—"
"You're still mayor?" I asked softly, none of this made any sense to me. Why was Theodore here? Why was he with the circus?
"Well yes dear," he said blinking quickly, "I run this circus as a way to make more money for Flower Bud village. I started it as a hobby but once you're parents farm burned down… you've no idea how much more sustaining our island needed," He took off his hat and brushed off the dust, "Hikari, you should come home now, I think you've run away long enough. Your island needs you in order to be successful. We don't have the farming commodities that we did when your parents ran their farm. Come back, we need the money,"
"She's not going anywhere," Gill said, his hands tightening into fists, "So I suggest leaving. Immediately," he spat through gritted teeth. Theodore took a step back, shooting Gill a dirty look,
"Well Hikari, we'll all be waiting…" he smiled before turning and walking away. He took about fifteen paces before turning back, "They'll all be so happy to know I've found you," he hurried off back to the circus as I felt my legs give way under my weight, Gill turned around sharply and the thing I remember before everything going black was his anxious expression,
"Hikari!"
Oh the drama in this chapter, it's all just so... so... so... delicious. :P What can i say, i'm a sucker for angst and fluff. Don't forget to let me know what you think! REvieeeewwwww! Love you guys!