September 21, Fall, year 20

…Saw Skye. Time to go give him the lecture of a lifetime.

Claire'd had the chance to cool down It had blunted the edge of the anger, but the hurt was still sharp enough to cut. She'd been throwing herself into things for distraction, and it was time for her to address the heart of the problem, a certain silver-haired thief.

It didn't really matter hat he was one of the People of the Moon, who could easily knock her out with a spell or tamper with her memories if he really wanted too, the only thing on her mind was getting a little of her own back for being frozen twice by the same spell.

Skye looked around carefully, and sighed a little in disappointment. He'd only waited to return because he wanted her to have the chance to be less confused—he'd seen that much in her eyes—and angry so that he could have a chance to explain exactly what had happened.

But she was nowhere to be seen, and he didn't feel like wandering into the village to try and find her. He sighed again and shifted his weight, debating. He could go back to Mineral Town… Maybe read some of the books he'd borrowed—legitimately—from the library.

His train of thought was cut off as a slim hand tapped his shoulder. Startled, he turned to see a familiar head of blonde hair. He smiled down at her, welcoming and relieved.

Claire looked up, blue eyes glittering with anger, and hit him with six months worth of built-up muscle. A solid punch to the jaw, intended to be as painful as possible without doing any serious damage to either person, a move she learned from Flora.

Surprised and, yes, hurting, Skye stumbled back from her, and slipped, tumbling into the Goddess Pond. Thankfully it was only a few feet deep, and he pushed himself to the surface with a splutter and coughed the water out.

Claire waited until he was looking back up at her before she spoke.

"If you ever, ever think to use that spell on me again, I swear to the Harvest Goddess I'll black your eyes," she spat. "And go for Harris."

She turned on her heel and started to march away, shoulder stiff with anger. Stunned, Skye reached up to touch his jaw, and winced, then quickly clambered out of the Spring to give chase.

He had hurt her, badly, Skye realized, and hadn't known the extent of the pain. He'd trusted her with the biggest secret he had, had built her up to believing in him, and then had ripped it all away with a useful spell. It was no wonder she'd punched him like that…

"Claire, wait!"

He reached out and grabbed her shoulder, instinctively leaning back to avoid the punch she threw as he spun her around. Using his free hand he caught her wrist and looked down to meet her eyes.

To Skye's utter shock… she was crying. The anger in her eyes had changed to a mixture of betrayal and pain, and she was crying! That in itself hurt more than his jaw. Despite the fact that he was soaking wet, he pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms tightly around her. In turn, he found slim hands wrapping into the fabric of his shirt, clinging in such a way that she could likely throw him if he made another mistake.

"Wh-why didn't y-you trust me?" Claire's voice was a plea, muffled by his shirt. "I w-w-was going to st-tall Vesta and l-let you g-get away!"

Skye was stunned, and pulled away slightly, trying to get a look at Claire. But she wouldn't look up at him, hiding her face and expression against his saturated shirt.

"But… I was disguised," he was very confused. "Why would you..?"

"S-stupid," she sniffed. "If they'd caught you, that would have b-been d-disc-covered!" Her voice dropped. "And I don't w-want you to g-get caught…"

For a moment he rested his chin on her head, trying to digest a simple fact.

She cared about him. For all she threatened him in her anger, she didn't want him to leave! The fact that someone cared like this was nothing new. He'd met and wooed—though never anything more—women all around the world, but had never found someone who'd been willing to help him after they'd discovered his "job."

This changed a few things… He just hoped that she would believe him.

"Claire," he said quietly. "I didn't intend to freeze you as well as that… woman. But the spell sweeps out in a half-circle, broad-ranged. I couldn't control it if I tried, and I have…"

His voice trailed off uncertainly. Had her really tried hard enough? Seeing Claire with the boss of the large farm had thrown him a little, annoyed him. She had still sided with them against him.

But her voice when she'd asked him to stop stealing… her tone had been equal part worry and fear. It hadn't been fair of him to act the way he had, when it had been clear from her eyes and voice that she was torn between head and heart. He had been striking out in petty anger, and hadn't bothered to think of what she might be thinking, even though it had been pretty clear.

When she didn't say anything, he pulled back again to look at her. The tears had stopped, but she still wouldn't meet his eyes. Gently, firmly, he tipped her chin back and shifted until their foreheads were touching, trying to make her look up at him.

She was blushing faintly, he noticed, but her eyes were still unhappy, and she still wasn't smiling. For a second he thought about using a tiny bit of magic to coax her into looking up, then tossed it away. More magic would make it worse, he would have to do this the human way, and simply be patient.

Seconds felt like minutes felt like hours until Claire finally looked up into sea-green eyes, searchingly. He tried not to tense up, wondering what she saw. Even knowing that she couldn't touch his mind as any of his people could—and would have in a second—he couldn't quit help himself.

Silence reigned, tense and uncertain. Finally, Claire looked away.

"Okay," she whispered. "Okay… I believe you. But!"

And she pushed away from him, needing to get away so that she could organize her thoughts.

Skye let her go, not without a little reluctance. He wanted to hold on, hold on and never let go. It shocked him a little to realize this, and he almost missed her next words. It was the serious look that caught his attention.

"But just because I believe you doesn't mean you're forgiven," Claire ran a hand through her now-damp blonde hair. "Nor does it mean I feel sorry for hitting you."

Her eyes glinted slightly, and he knew that while part of her didn't, a larger part did. And she was showing a remarkable amount of control, in continuing to talk to him.

"…I'm going to head into the city for a couple of days, I think," she said finally. "Talk to a couple friends. Maybe… maybe I'll talk to you again when I come back."

This time when she turned to go, Skye didn't stop her. In fact, for the first time he was having trouble not crying himself.

To think he'd been so foolish and hadn't even seen it. Or, more accurately, hadn't allowed himself to see it , trying his hardest to see her and him as two incompatible beings who could only be friends, if that... It would take a lot of hard work to earn back her trust.

He sat down in his still wet clothing, and thought. If she really was going into the city for a few days…. A slow smile crossed his lips. It would be hard work, but it ought to prove that he really was sorry.

Claire just sank down on the couch in her living room, and leaned her head back, eyes closing.

"I can't believe someone like him reduce me to tears," she whispered. "Is it really so important..?"

It was late, past midnight… But Lauren had said she could call any time, and Claire really needed to talk to someone. And the older woman did tend to keep late hours for designing.

The farm-girl sighed. Takakura was not going to be pleased with her in the slightest for leaving without an explanation. But there was a ferry running soon, and if she called Lauren now, the easier it would be to catch.

With one hand she dialed the number, the other hand writing out a quick note to her 'uncle.'

"Hi, Lauren..? It's Claire. I need a favor…"