Chapter Two: Arrival
Oh the ocean. The deep blue sea, the briny blue, the last great frontier. Well that great blue wet puddle that people loved to romanticize so much just swallowed my last meal. I bent over the railing of the boat, which bobbed up and down, heaved back and forth, and caused me to go green in the face. Pascal, the boat Captain, whistled a cheery tune as he manned the boat wheel. Great. I'm heaving up everything inside me and he's oblivious, or just ignoring me. I walked unsteadily toward him, clinging to the railing for dear life. "Are we there yet?" I groaned out like a little kid who sat in the back seat of the car to long.
Pascal took a puff of his pipe and gestured to the North. I turned and squinted at the horizon. I could make out a sliver of brown that stood out against the vast blue of the ocean. "Land!" I exclaimed. Pascal gave a hearty laugh while smoke streamed out of his nostrils. "You don't have very good sea legs do you?" he asked. I shook my head vehemently. I could barely swim either, but I didn't tell him that. It was my own embarrassing secret. Well it's not that I couldn't learn how to swim; I just had an irrational fear of water. But on to another topic. "So Miss Hikari…" Pascal said. "Hikari is fine."
I said while trying to keep a grip on whatever remained in my stomach. "I was just wondering, what is someone so young doing going to a secluded island in the middle of nowhere?" I smiled. "I'm going to start a ranch." I said confidently. The boat gave another heave and I scrambled to the side of the boat as my stomach once again protested. "Are you now?" Well I wish you the best of luck then." Pascal said with an amused grin.
The island of Castanet. Home to many a villager whom all processed unique… qualities. The villagers and a tight knit community so word of a new arrival spread quickly. And when the news hit the ears of a particular person, he went nuts. This person's name, which I would soon find out, was Toby. Toby was an average guy, according to the villager's perspective, but not from my own. He had white hair and squinty eyes; well that's what I thought until he got up close and personal. His eyes were slanted upwards like a cat and they were literally closed.
How did he know where he was going? Despite the disturbing quality of his eyes he had a kind face and a warm, lazy smile. He helped me onto the dock as I grabbed my suitcase off the boat. "I'll see you later Pascal." I said. The grizzled seaman shook his head sadly. "I have to leave first thing tomorrow, got to bring another youngling home." I frowned sadly. After two weeks sailing with him he had become a good friend to me, I was sad to see him go. As I said my farewell and wished him a good journey Toby led me to the Mayor's office.
"It sure is nice to see a new face." The fisherman said brightly. "To be honest I'm a bit nervous about starting a ranch." I said. His eyebrows lowered over closed eyes in confusion. "Then why come at all?" he asked. "I need a new start, a place where nobody knows." I whispered the last part. "Knows what?" Toby asked. But then a severely short round man dressed in an eighteenth century styled garb bounded up to me. His cheeks were red from the exertion of his short sprint. I stared at the impossible hair of his that stood up and swirled at the end.
He reminded me of an odd ice cream cone and I briefly wondered if it would be rude to top his hair off with a cherry. "I'm Mayor Hamilton." The short man said while offering his hand. I took the meaty hand in my own and shook it. He was as round as a balloon, I wondered what would happen if I took a needle… "Would you like to see your house and get settled in?" he asked me. I nodded and motioned for him to lead the way. I bent and picked up my luggage.
"It was nice meeting you Toby!" I called over my shoulder, for a short fat man the Mayor could move fast. "See you soon!" Toby yelled back. I waved and ran across the bridge, struggling to keep up with the Mayor. We arrived at a shabby house with an equally shabby barn and coop. "It's not much but it will do." Hamilton said. On the phone he'd said the house was old but still in good shape. You fat little lying… "Thanks." I said with a forced smile. "I'll pay you the five thousand gold when I can." I snatched the key out of his hand and unlocked the door. "Oh no need to rush, do it when you…" I didn't hear his last words for I had slammed the door in his face.
I threw the suitcase on the bed and dust flew into the air. Great, old house, a hundred years of dust needing to be cleaned. I unzipped the bag and an angry sprite flew out of the bag. "It's about time! I nearly died in there!" He squeaked in fury. I shrugged. "Well your ok. Come one we have cleaning and unpacking to do." After a very long time and about seventeen piles of dust swept out, the inside of the house began to look presentable. With a satisfied sigh I grabbed Finn by one little leg. "Time to go meet people." I said. "We have to see the Goddess first!" He protested.
I ignored him and kept dragging him behind me. I learned that the place was called Harmonica town. I had already met Toby and the Mayor, so I would start with… I spotted the clinic. As I came up to the door I glanced at the sign that had a needle insignia plastered on it. I shuddered and stepped inside. The smell of lemon scented cleaning supplies filled my nose. I walked inside to see an elderly woman with a sour expression. Her angry demeanor was emphasized by the tight bun that pulled the skin of her face tight around her eyes.
"You're the new arrival?" She asked. I bowed low in greeting. "My name is Hikari; I'm going around town to meet everyone." The woman walked from behind the counter and examined me over her bird like nose. "That's awfully polite of you. My name is Irene, welcome to Castanet." Irene smiled warmly and I felt relieved. "Are you the doctor?" I asked. Irene's smiled turned to a sad frown. She walked over to the counter and pulled a photo off the counter. She handed it to me. "No. Jin isn't here so be careful not to get seriously injured or ill, I can only do so much."
I nodded and examined the picture. There was a man with long black hair wearing the traditional white coat of a doctor. He was leaning over the desk, writing furiously on something. His bangs concealed part of his face and all I could glimpse was the edge of a silver pair of glasses. "His name is Jin?" I asked Irene without looking up from the photo. "Yes." She replied. I smiled and met her eyes. "I can't wait to meet him."
Yes I know a short chapter, I'm a busy person! So how did you like it? Please review ;D!