Another late update. I'm really sorry—I got busy with duty work, and at least tasted a little of my vacation.

Oh, by the way, my perfectionist side kicked in and edited a few portions of Chapters 3 and 4. Just a few chosen words, nothing special. I still kept the content intact.

Happy summer, everybody! Enjoy~

CHAPTER 5

Verdure Island

Year 5, Spring

Chelsea waded her bare feet onto the water. It was still a little cold from last Winter, but the temperature was tolerable.

The calm sea started to reflect the dawn sky and the slowly rising sun. After waking up from another dream, Chelsea couldn't go back to sleep, so she got dressed and walked towards the beach to think.

She gazed at the pier, reminding her of the day she arrived at the islands. Two years had passed since then—a little too long for a traveler like her to stay around. Half was spent on accomplishing the task of raising the other islands (to which she succeeded), and half was spent wondering what else was to be done.

Why am I still here? she asked herself. Is it because…I didn't get to see him yet?

She heaved a sad sigh. For the past seasons, she had tried ways to possibly entice her brother into coming here, or even hear news about him. After her conversation with the visiting doctor last Summer, she suggested to village head Taro on endorsing the islands to more tourists. Every single connection to places beyond the sea—ferries, letters and other visitors—were to be told of the islands' attractions. Chelsea made sure Carol's Inn and Mark's ranch were advertised as well. Taro found it very helpful to the inhabitants' businesses, so he agreed.

Indeed, it had worked well for the residents. However, Fall and Winter passed, and Chelsea still didn't see him.

She talked to a few guests at the Inn and asked for information about any traveling man they could have met on their towns. The only productive result she had came from two women who were sisters-in-law and neighbors with the visiting doctor.

Chelsea closed her eyes, reminiscing that one Fall day she talked to them.

"There was one…" the brunette of the two pondered, her bottle-green eyes deep in thought. "I see him sometimes when I go to the Inn there at night. But I'm always too drunk to remember."

"Karen," the other woman, who has pink curly hair and red irises, spoke up, "I think I saw him, too. He always stays at Church before."

Karen, the brunette, stared at Chelsea hard, in which the latter froze. "Now that you mention it…" She thought harder, then shook her head. She turned to her sister-in-law. "I can't, Popuri. My head's too fuzzy back then."

Popuri wagged her finger. "Drinking's not good, Karen. What's so yummy about wine, anyway?" Then Karen started to explain wine's intricate taste to her, completely forgetting Chelsea's question.

Chelsea opened her eyes. "Weren't they from…where was it—Mineral Town?"

If only they were able to describe that man…

HOOOOONK, HOOOOONK!

She turned to the loud sound, startled. That was a ferry, right?

She quickly ran to the shore, picked up her boots, and gazed at the horizon. A small ferryboat was approaching at a lazy speed. Must be shipment, or tourists, she thought.

Chelsea saw a figure standing on the boat deck. As the ferry moved closer, she squinted, trying to focus. From the dim light of the still-rising sun, the figure was a blur of brown. He—Chelsea assumed it was a man—seemed to wear brown pants and brown vest, and he had brown hair.

Brown hair?

Her heartbeat quickened; she had always felt that whenever she saw a man with brown hair. Calm down, it may not be him.

But why was she feeling so sure this time?

The figure retreated back to the ferry, making Chelsea whine exasperatedly.

"Chelsea?"

She jumped at the raspy voice. She whirled to see an old man in blue overalls.

She exhaled in relief. It was the wise village head. "Taro, you scared me."

"Why up so early?" Taro asked as he looked at her boots and bare feet. "Foraging at the shore?"

"No, I just took an early stroll. How about you, Taro?"

"I heard the boat, and I went here as fast as my legs could carry."

The ferry honked again, bringing both to attention. It had already reached the pier. Kirk, the island sailor who seemed to be awakened by the noise as well, was there to assist in placing the ramp while a crew member dropped the anchor.

"Kirk!" Taro yelled at the sailor. "What's in the boat?"

Kirk gestured as to say "wait", and chatted to the crew. He then shouted back, "Tourists! Said they'll stay for a week or so!"

Taro slowly approached the pier to welcome them. Chelsea, however, refused to budge.

She suddenly became anxious. That man I saw…I can't bear to see that it wouldn't be him. Still, she watched.

A blonde woman stepped out first. She was carrying something like it was swaddled; the least Chelsea could conclude was that it was an infant. She could confirm as well that the first tourist wasn't the one at the deck. That didn't relieve her from her anxiety.

After the crew unloaded their luggage, another person stepped out—this must be the figure she saw, because he had brown hair and he matched the clothes she was able to describe. He looked around the place as Taro and the woman shook hands, then he unintentionally turned to Chelsea's direction.

She couldn't believe what her eyes have been registering to her mind. "N-nii-chan?"

He may have been gone for six years, but Chelsea still hasn't forgotten his brother's features. He still had his brown hair long and wild (but it was now kept in a ponytail), and the part on his face where his eyes were had glinted indigo, resembling their father's.

They maintained eye contact, but she couldn't decipher any emotion from the man due to the distance. Doubt slowly kicked in. Is it really him? Should I…should I move closer?

Suddenly, he ran towards her with urgency. "Chelsea!" she heard him call his name. It was the same voice who told her stories of travelers before going to bed. Now, it had never sound so outstanding to her ears.

As quickly as the questions set in were as quickly as they were answered. "Nii-chan!" Her legs now moved on their own, running to meet him halfway. When they did, she crashed onto him, locking her arms around his shoulders and sending them sprawling onto the sand.

She couldn't believe it. After six years, she was now able to embrace the only family she has left. And she wasn't doing it anymore in dreams; she was doing it in reality.

She hugged him tighter, tears now streaming from her eyes. "Nii-chan, I finally found you!" she sobbed.

Her brother sat, hoisting her up, and returned her embrace. "Chelsea…I'm so, so sorry. I'm so sorry I left you all alone." He stroked her long brown hair, a characteristic they both have. "After I heard of Mom's death, I lost all the will to travel. I have always remembered you, and I stuck to the hope of seeing you again, but I didn't search for you because of fear. I was a coward for that, and I'm really sorry."

When Chelsea looked up, his cheeks were wet with tears. She slapped his shoulder. "You really have to say sorry, because I did the searching for us! Just so you know, travelling's difficult! I can't see why you loved it so much!"

Somehow, frustration was the first of her pooled-up feelings to show, but this was what she knew her brother must have missed the most from her. Memories flooded in: he teasing her about her height and childlike temper were the most prominent.

And she was right. He chuckled while wiping her tears. "You're still a short hothead as always."

"Hmph." Looking away, Chelsea glanced at a pouch that must have fell down when she tackled her brother. Lying beside it was a picture, capturing them from years back. She was embracing him while their mother rested her hands onto their shoulders. All were beaming gaily at the camera.

She picked it up. "So this was with you. I looked for it back home, and I thought I lost it in the fire."

"At least I would have something from Mom and you to look at during my travels. I always carry with me."

Seeing her smiling mother in the photo brought another round of tears. The guilt that she repressed for years resurfaced. "I…I regretted leaving her at home that time…she asked me to buy ingredients for curry that we always cooked for her. Then, when I went home….all I saw were ashes…"

He stroked her hair again, trying to calm her. "I felt bad for leaving, too."

"Then I guess we both owe Mom a 'sorry'." She turned to him. "But you know what, Nii-chan? If Mom will be able to talk to us now, she would probably say that we should move on now, and that we didn't cause the fire, so we won't need to apologize." At least, that was what she realized a long time ago.

"I guess you're right. And—" He hugged her again. "—she'll be glad we found each other now."

She smiled, finally sealing the sad past they both went through.

Both saw the woman with the clothed bundle brisk-walking towards them, followed by Taro. Chelsea almost forgot they had an audience. but she didn't care. Her brother helped her get up as the woman and Taro reached them.

"Claire," he wiped what was left on his indigo eyes as he spoke to the woman, "this is her. Chelsea, my sister." He turned to Chelsea and gestured to the former. "Chelsea, she's Claire, my wife."

So, her brother got married after all. And had a cute baby, who was gurgling beneath the cloth. "N-nice to meet you, Claire."

Claire smiled. "I've heard stories about you, Chelsea." She handed a handkerchief to Chelsea. "Dry your tears. You two must be happy you finally met now."

"Chelsea." Taro harrumphed with a smile on his face. "Didn't tell us you had a long-lost brother; we islanders could've helped you with that!"

Chelsea beamed. The people she slowly loved really care for her, too. Her brother should get to know them all; now, she couldn't wait to tour them around.

Taro asked, "So what was his name again?"

"His name…is Cliff."

Yay, they finally met! It took me a while to figure out this scene, so I hope I haven't disappointed you guys.

But, this is far from over. I made another chapter for fun and some fluff. And that will be soon~