Spring finally arrived, though if I hadn't looked at the calendar I'd still think it was winter. I've never experienced a colder Spring morning in my life, hopefully the Valley would be warmer than here. My mother drove me to Mineral Town, the town just over the mountain from Forget-Me-Not Valley. When I was younger we used to visit Mineral Town a lot, since that's where he grew up. I can't imagine anyone living there would remember me from the awkward little kid they met years ago. When we arrived in Mineral Town I gave mom a quick peck on the cheek before quickly retrieving my bags from the back seat.

"Good luck, honey. Don't forget to write!" she said. Which I just nodded and rolled my eyes to, not in a rude defiant way or anything, she was just being silly.

"It's not like you'll never see me again mom." I laughed, though she didn't seem to think it was something to joke about.

"Jillian. You will write." My mother had used her more serious tone this time, there was no joking around when this voice was used.

"Of course mom. As soon as I get settled I'll write. I might even keep a journal that I send to you at the end of every year." I reassured her. It seemed to work because she smiled and said the typical I love yous, becarefuls, and good byes.

Watching mom drive back down the road gave me the realization that I was all on my own. I was finally an adult. I mean, I turned 18 a few months back so I've been an "adult" since then. But now I had to be responsible and take care of myself. Part of me felt liberated while the other finally succumbed to feeling a bit scared. I managed to shrug it off enough to gather my things and make my way through Mineral Town to the mountain path. I was surprised that I remembered the way through town actually, being able to point out landmarks along the way. I even saw a few people I recognized, and a few that seemed to think I looked familiar. At least, that's what the look on their face told me. I managed to find the path, which was incredibly loud and windy. I was almost knocked on my backside a few times because of the strong winds.

"I don't think I'll be making many trips to Mineral Town if this is the only way, I don't want to fall don't the mountain." I thought to myself.

Once I made it to the end of the path, I finally looked up from my feet which I had been watching carefully on the decent. I was greeted with a charming little village, it was bigger and more spread out than I had imagined but it was very cute. To my immediate right there was a farm which I had initially thought was Takakura's until I saw a brown haired girl not much shorter than me working in the fields. She looked up to me and smiled, she seemed nice. Next to her was a taller boy, well- man. He looked older, at least 25. He was slouched over almost observing the girl's every move, it seemed it bit odd to me. When he saw her smile at me his head turned in my direction. I felt a chill run down my spine when his eyes met mine.

"Do I wave, or what?" I heard my mind questioning.

I don't know how long I stood there looking at him, but it felt almost uncomfortably long. He eventually rolled his eyes and returned his attention to the other brunette. As intimidating as he was, my curiosity about him was peaked. I knew I was going to meet him eventually but I wasn't sure if I was excited or scared for that moment. I suddenly remembered why I was even standing in the entrance of this village in the first place, I quickly pulled myself together and power walked over the bridge just past the farm. I wasn't sure if I felt his gaze following me, but part of me liked to think I did.

"Where did he say he'd meet me?" questioning myself outloud.

After scanning the village a few times I finally saw a familiar figure standing on the beach. A smile formed on my face as I quickly forgot about the boy who had distracted me before. I thought I heard him talking to himself as I first walked up, but I brushed it off. I talk to myself after all. Though I didn't want to interrupt anything I slowed my pace until I felt it was safe to make my presence known.

"Hello!" I greeted him brightly.

He looked over his shoulder in response and said, "Ah, I've been waiting for you. Are you ready to see the farm, city girl?" Though I was hoping "city girl" wasn't going to be a permanent nickname.

"Totally. You lead the way." I answered stepping aside for him to step past me.

He lead my up the trail I came down on, past the colorful hut and on up a small hill revealing a farm at the top. It was beautiful! May it was run down like dad said, but I couldn't notice. I thought it was wonderful, just completely wonderful.

"We don't have any of your city conveniences around here. But it'll grow on you. There are lots of things here you'd never see in the city." Takakura noted as we looked over the pasture behind the barn. I turned to him, trying to make sense of what he was trying to tell me. He didn't look at me, but he could tell I was wondering something, "It's up to you, Jill. Take your time to think about it."

"To think about what?" I asked, "I've already decided. I'm going to live here and help you."

Though he still avoided my gaze I could see a smile form on his face, "Alright, let's go look in the barn."

He lead me back around the pasture to the front of the barn where he opened to door for me to see a surprise he'd no doubt been planning since I'd first sent him a letter in the Fall. I all but ran into the barn when I saw her, Takakura had bought me a cow. He didn't even know if I really wanted to stay here and work and he went out and bought her, he must have a lot of faith in me.

I could hear him laughing from the entrance, "Why don't you name her?"

I smiled as I stroked her snout, "What about Daisy?"

I could hear the approval in his voice as he said, "That sounds perfect, Jill." He walked up beside me and began rubbing Daisy's back before asking his next question, "Are you ready to meet the villagers? Some of them are strange, but none of them are bad. I'm sure they'd all like you."

Unconsciously my smile transitioned into an uneasy frown as I remembered the strange man I saw when I first arrived. A million questions rushed through my head, who was he? What is he like? Where is he from? Is he mean? What does he do? Who's the brunette girl to him? Of course I couldn't ask Takakura all these questions about one person, how weird would that be? I ignored them all, figuring I'd be able to answer them myself eventually.

I returned my attention to him, giving him a smile that wasn't 100% genuine , "Of course. Let's go."