Wow I'm terrible! I can't even believe myself, I haven't updated in SO LONG! GUUUH I'm SO SORRY! Well I hope you can forgive me, I really like this chapter so hopefully you will too :3 Again, my most sincere apologies. Forgive me! Don't forget to review!

Everything was packed tightly in my big brown suitcase. I sat on the edge of my bed, tears clouding my vision. This was the only way... right? I sighed heavily and pushed my front door open. It was dark: around eleven, as I dragged my luggage down through Harmonica town. I was going to meet Pascal, I already had it all planned out. I still remeber my conversation with the unhappy captian,

"But you've only been here for one season," Pascal chewed on his pipe nervously, "Don't you like it here?"

"I love it here," I choked back tears, "But I can't stay."

"Well, why do you have to leave so suddenly?" His eyes showed genuine concern, it wrenched my heart even more,

"Maybe someday I'll come back," I hoped that was true. The captian was clearly unhappy with my answer,

"But you've been getting along so well, I thought you'd be staying," he furrowed his eyebrows,

"Please," I said, my voice breaking a little, "Please take me tonight,"

He nodded after a few minutes, and I rushed home to pack,

I had packed quickly, in between people coming in and out of my house. Kathy, Gill, Owen, Luke, Yuuki, Renee and even Maya had been stopping by frequently. Everyone knew that something was wrong, most of them knew the whole story. After three days, It was getting to be a bit much. I didn't like that they were always watching me, coming in and out, trying to take care of me. I was strong enough to handle this on my own. I understood that it was nice of them, but all it did was force me to realize what would actually happen if Kurt showed up: the people I had grown to love would be hurt. I couldn't let that happen... Gill was the most frequent to come around, which I'll admit was nice. He wasn't pushy the way most of the girls were, but he wasn't as laid back and non-chalant as Owen and Luke. Luke sometimes got that firey look in his eyes, but then would usually just drown it out with laughter. I was being a downer around Luke and Owen, who were usually peppy and happy. I didn't like it. But Gill just cared about me. I didn't have to pretend to be happy, or pretend to sad, worried... I didn't have to pretend at all. It was just how I felt, that was nice.

But that didn't matter anymore.

What mattered was me keeping everyone safe, and the best way to do that was for me to leave. Same as before, just pack up and get out. This time though, I'd have to go much further away. It wasn't as difficult carrying all my things on the way out, even though I had a considerably more with me than when I had first moved here. Maybe it was because all my recent farm work was really building up muscle; maybe it was just the adrenline rush. I knew that I needed to go quickly, if someone stopped me... I wasn't sure how solid my morale was: I really did love this place and more so the people. But there were a few things I had to take care of first. I put my suitcase down behind the bar and slowly crept around building, ducking to crawl underneath windows. Moving as slowly as possible: there were still voices inside the building. It sounded like Selena and Luna were having an arguemnt. I felt a twing of regret: I wanted to sit in and watch the fun, I wanted to try and calm them down, tell them that they shouldn't be jealous of each other. I heard Kathy's unmistakable laugh and my eyes started to well up,

I can't do this...

But I could. I had left an island of friends before, friends I had grown up loving... but it wasn't this hard last time... Maybe it was that I had more responsibility here... I shook my head, whiping my eyes as I pulled out the crinkled note I had written. I stuffed it hasily under the door and ran back, grabbing my suit case and running with as much stealth as I could towards the docks. I weaved in and out from behind buildings, stopping only once for a second as someone passed by. I could hear the familiar footsteps of mayor Hamilton. His steps were hurried and he stumbled past me, not seeing my shadowy figure pressed up against the building,

Why is he out this late? And walking in the opposite direction of home...?

My heart was pounding in my chest as I realized he was headed towards my ranch. I hasily darted out from the building and ran headlong to the dock: I could see it, it was so close. My footsteps reverberated aganist the hard cobblestoon of the pathway, my breathing was heavy: so much for stealth. I skirted around the corner nearly toppling over,

Another set of footsteps behind me?

I regained my footing at the same time that I realized someone else was here, running towards me, approaching fast,

"Hikari!" The famaliar voice called out to me

I darted up the ramp of the boat, praying Pascal would be there,

"Embark! Please! Go now!" I swung my suitcase hasily over the side of the boat, my eyes frantically scanning the Bridge, feeling a huge wave of relief as I saw the familiar captain behind the wheel. He nodded, concern and fear in his eyes and the ship started backing out from the peir. My eyes scanned the docks for the person I knew had been chasing me down. Gill was running frantically down the boardwalk, only alluminated by the headlights of the boat. His ice blue eyes cut through the darkness and sank into me,

"Hikari!" he yelled again, the boat was now almost at the edge of the pier. My heart sank and the tears started to spill over,

"Don't!" I tried to yell, seeing the fire in his eyes, but my throat was thick with guilt and regret. He took a few long, quick strides before launching himself off the end of the pier, I could hardly see him through the darkness as he jumped through the air, catching himself on the railing of the deck. I heard his dress-shirt tear loudly as he pulled himself over the jagged metal,

"What the hell are you trying to do?" He panted, swinging his legs over, his arms shaking under his own weight. He landed on the deck and I felt my legs collapse underneath myself. He rose, wincing as he looked down at his right arm. Illuminated only from the light cascading out from the Bridge of the boat, thick red blood was oozing from underneath the tears of fabric on his forearm, his eyes quickly darted back up to me and he took a few hard steps closer,

"What the hell," he breathed, repeating his earlier statement. He stood over me, looking down, his eyes shut tightly, "So you're leaving now?"

I nodded slowly, my mouth felt dry and I didn't trust what my voice would sound like. Gill opened his eyes only to hit me with his cold stare, the one I had almost forgotten. He tightened his hands to fists,

"So there's no reason for you to stay here right? No one here is worth staying for?" It was hardly a question. He turned his back to me and took a few strides away, looking out at the black water before dropping his head and realising a small, cold, chuckle, "And here I thought... but no, how stupid,"

"No," I said, my voice squeaking a little,

"What?" he turned his head slightly, but I still couldn't see his face. I was suddenly filled with anger,

"No you moron!" I shouted loudly, kneeling now, "Everyone is worth me leaving! They're worth me protecting! They're worth me taking all these problems away with me! You're worth..." my voice trailed off, and I fixed my gaze to the dark wood of the deck, "leaving," I said inhaling sharply. We stayed in silence for a few minutes that felt like hours before I heard someone clear their throat loudly. My eyes darted to the figure of an older gentleman, chewing on his pipe awkwardly,

"Gillian," he said shifting his weight uncomfortably, "I'll turn around if you tell me to,"

Gill turned towards the man, even in the dark I could see the utterly artifcal smile plastered on his face, "It's okay, I'll go home later,"

"Turn around," I mummbled quietly, lifting my head slightly,

"What?" The two of them chymed together, both evidently suprised.

"Your arm..." I said standing to my feet and stumbling over to Gill. He froze as I took his hand tenderly, raising it to study the damage. It was much worse than I thought it had been: a large gash ran from just below his elbow all the way down his wrist, "You need to get the doctor," I looked away, feeling queesy from the damage. I tried to focus on the sound of the waves slapping against the hull,

"I'm fine," Gill pulled his arm out of my grasp gingerly before turning to face me. He paused for a moment, studying me, but he suddenly gathered me in his good arm. He pulled me tightly into his chest, and I burried my face into his neck, breathing in the scent I thought I'd never smell again after tonight, "Hikari," he finally whispered, his voice shaking, "Don't leave," I felt his body tremble slightly and I filled my hands with fistfulls of his shirt,

"Everyone... I have to protect them..." He dropped his head onto mine, and sighed heavily. Pascal cleared his throat awakwardly again,

"So uh... should I head back... Or..?" He coughed slightly. Gill pulled me back and held me out at arms length, ignoring Pascal,

"So, you're worried about Kurt finding you?" He asked quietly, just stating the obvious. I nodded, my eyes downcast, "Because you're worried that he'll hurt other people?" He chuckled slightly, "You are something else Hikari." I stared back up at him, incredulous,

"What?" I asked, feeling completely lost,

"If Kurt showed up and decided to hurt, lets say, Kathy, he would literarly be alive for twenty seconds. Owen would gut him. In fact, almost anyone on the island would personally murder someone who even tried to harm the people they've all grown up protecting and loving. That's why Castanet is probably the safest place in the world for you!" He laughed louder before becoming serious, "Hikari, I'm included in that. If he shows up, he won't be around for long. I won't let him touch you," he pulled me back into him, and held me for a few moments in silence, "Come home," He finally breathed, "and stay home," I let my weight collapse againt him, a hot tear spilled from my eye, but it was accompanied by a large sigh of relief and a broad grin,

"Lets go home then," I said loud enough for Pascal to hear me. He was more than happy to scurry back into the bridge and turn the ship around. Gill didn't realease me from his grasp, and I was rather content to stay locked in his one armed embrace,

"Hey," he said after a long while. I Stood back and looked up at him, his face bathed in the dim orange light,

"Yeah?"

"Don't ever scare me like that again," He squeezed his eyes together before flicking me in the forehead, "Stupid girl," I blushed

"Sorry..." I mumbled quietly. My gaze fell down to his arm and I felt a pang of guild, "Does it hurt?" I whispered, looking down at the once light blue arm of his shirt, now completely covered in the thick, red-black blood,

"Yeah," he said quietly, letting out a few breaths of awkward laughter. I frowned down at him,

"Reckless boy," I muttered, grabbing his shirt at the shoulder and tearing off the arm in one swift motion. He winced as I slowly removed the stained garmet, ripping it again above where the fabric was wet with blood,

"It was worth it," he said, painfully serious. I glanced up from my work to see his ice blue eyes boaring into me. I gasped slightly at the intensity of his gaze. He took a small step towards me and lifted his good arm up to my face. He ran his fingers lightly across my jaw-line before tilting my face up towards his, my stomach fluttered and I could hear my heart pouding in my ears. He moved slowly towards me, his eyes focused intently on my mouth, but stopped suddenly, as if a thought had just occured to him. His gaze shifted to meet my wide eyed stare,

"W-what is it?" I stammered, feeling my cheeks redden.

"I love you," he said it as if suddenly realizing this himself. He stepped back for a second and looked up at the sky, beaming. I felt my face heat up, no one had ever said that to me and meant it. I mean, I was sure Kurt had thrown the word around but even back then I scoffed him. He never loved me. My parents told me they loved me frequently, but that was different. I had only ever said it to one boy in all my life, and that was Blue when I we were four years old. That didn't count.

Gill grinned at me again, "I love you!" This time he almost shouted, and it was followed by happy laughter. He pressed the palm of his hand into his forehead and laughed again, "I really do, I really love you! I didn' t think this could ever happen to someone like me, I mean, I really love you!" I couldn't help the fact that mouth was being pulled up at the corners into a large smile. He was right,

"I love you too," I beamed back. He ran back over to me, nearly skipping and quickly placed both his hands on either side of my face, kissing me in a very exubrant manner. He pulled away to let out another burst of giddy laughter and I couldn't help but join in. He pulled me back into another passionate kiss. He started to knot his hands through my hair but stopped suddenly and pulled away,

"Oh right, ow, ow, ow," He held his injured arm at the wrist, cradeling it into himself. I laughed lightly and caught my breath briefly before tearing the piece of fabric in my hand once more,

"Come here," I said, holding my arms out to him. he was more then happy to comply, his white blonde hair touseled slightly from all the craziness. The cut was still oozing out blood slightly, and I felt a empty heaviness in the pit of my stomach,

Don't pass out, don't puke, just fix it

I shook my head before tying the strips of fabric tightly around his forearm. He winced and let out a string of profanities with each piece I tied, but after much cooing of assurance, he complied. He watched me devilishly out of the corner of his eye as I finished tieing the last one. I couldn't help but giggle,

"Stop staring at me, creepy,"

"Can't help it, I'm in love," He winked before kissing me lightly on the cheek, "Thanks," He said holding up his arm, "But I think you did it wrong," he studied my work closely,

"Whatever, you could have stopped me," I said, crossing my arms. He just chuckled,

"We're back," he breathed, "Luckily we hadn't gotten too far," He went over and tried to pick up my suitcase in his good arm, but made a face once he realized the weight of it,

"I'll get it," I laughed and rolled my eyes dramatically, "I'm strong and stuff, don't worry,"

The boat pulled up to the dock and he walked slowly down the ramp, making sure I was following. Pascal waved us off, advising us to head straight to the doctors. It was past midnight, and I had to pull Gill towards Jin's house, I didn't care that it was the middle of the night, I didn't want his arm to fall off or something.

I mean, after all... I'm in love with him.

Well there you go, I hope you guys liked this, I'm not so sure ;D THEY FINALLY KNOW THEY LOVE EACH OTHER! awwhzzz, Don't forget to review. I love nothing more than hearing what you guys think! They encourage me to update extra fast times ;P Each reviewer as a little piece of my heart reserved soley for them ;D LOVE YOU GUYS!