Hello ^^

First of all, I am really sorry for not updating any sooner. I had to study a lot lately, but I will update regularly in the next weeks...as long as I get some reviews. I decided to upload ch. 4 after getting at least 4 reviews per chapter. To make my long absence up to you, I am going to upload two chapters today ;)

There might be some mistakes, I'm certainly no native speaker ( i wish I were though)...

I really like to thank the people who favorited my story and gave some reviews. I was really happy :)

16.8.2008- A treaty?

It was a wonderful summer's morning, a gentle breeze was caressing the leaves of the trees, the sun shone on the pond which made it look like a giant diamond and the cicadas sung their songs in unison with the birds. It couldn't have been any more mesmerizing; however Akari was in a really bad mood. "Today is the day", she thought to herself. "I have to go to the mayors' and see that stupid brat to give him back the deposit. Well, it is only 7 am; I guess I still have one hour left. I should probably do something that tires me out, maybe knocking some trees down to calm myself."

"Akari? Akari? Please stop spacing out, someone's knocking at your door, for like 5 minutes". said Finn. Akari looked at him and frowned for a minute, did she really miss someone knocking at the door just because….

And anyway, who would visit her at that hour? Most of the towns' people were still fast asleep. Well, except for maybe that brat. Could he be the one that was knocking? Well, she wouldn't open then, because…

"AKARI, open the door now, it's starting to annoy me", said Finn with a slightly angered tone. That said, he commenced by leading her to the door and Akari opened it warily.

"Hey, if I have woken you up, I am really sorry. I just figured you'd be already up and running. But it took you a while to open the door so…. But anyways, I just came here to ask you whether you'd like to taste my new dessert for me. I wouldn't know who else to ask, since Yolanda is on vacation and you're the only other person on this island that is a decent cook, " said Chase.

"It's….you. I was already up and running therefore it isn't that big of a deal to visit me at this time. Come in, I just made coffee,"said Akari.

Having spoken that line, Akari opened her door and took Chase by the hand to lead him to her desk. After a nice breakfast and a pleasant conversation, both stood up and decided to walk together to the town.

"So you are going to give back the deposit? That was really fast, your farm seems to be a little wellspring of fortune", said Chase.

"Well I'm coming by I guess. But you can't complain either with your two jobs. And you're always winning some cooking contests. By the way that Strawberry-Vanilla Tart was just perfect. I might be a bit prejudiced though, because strawberry and vanilla are my favorite flavors".

"I know…no…I mean it's just that you asked me to teach you a vanilla flavored dessert, so I figured….well. By the way, you know that the summer festival is coming up, right?," uttered Chase blushing a bit ,while looking at her bright green eyes.

"What's up with all of you guys? Don't you think I possess a calendar too? You're like the 6th person that asked me that question. I mean yesterday I met with Owen and Luke to go mining and they asked me. A couple of days before that, I was fishing with Toby and afterwards went to Mira's shop and both Julius and Toby asked me. And when I met Jin while picking some herbs ,he asked me too."

Chase looked at her with a disbelieving expression in his face, "you know, when we first met I thought "what a funny and smart girl and she has to be strong to live on that broken-down farm all on her own" but till now I never knew you were THAT dense, too."

"Why are you so mean now? I don't need you to lecture me before I meet with the little brat. I' m already furious just thinking about him. Well and I hope his hand is fine by now, otherwise he will surely sue me…"

Chase slowly shook his head, "I'm not mean, just a bit surprised. But it seems as if you're quite the innocent one, in that regard, even if you're a city girl. Well, don't let him bother you. But you know I have no idea why he is like that towards you. I mean you're really nice and Gil is an okay guy. He is a bit stuck up, that's true but he can be quite polite and friendly. Maybe a bit stressed out sometimes ,but still. But you, somehow, you really stir up his nerves. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. You know, initially I came to your house to…"

"Let me taste the dessert?" Akari perked up.

"NO, I mean well yes, but that was just like the entrée you know. I'd just needed a reason to visit you and then… Well, I'll just do it I guess. Akari, will you come to the summer festival and watch the fireworks together with me? ", Chase said quietly.

"You're my best friend, so the answer is yes, said Akari, brightly smiling.

"…yeah that's why I wanted to go with you…as friends… to watch fireworks… Well I guess it's a start right? So I fetch you at your place at 6 pm three days from now", said Chase seemingly a little bit disappointed.

"Sounds fine to me", Akari said, and came to a halt. "We are already here, I have to go and see that brat now, bye Chase, I see you in three days". Having spoken those words, Akari took the challenge and walked towards the mayors house, while Chase watched her go with a mix of longing and laughing in his expression, "she really is slow, going to a romantic festival together because we are best friends…well, I am going to chance that "friend" status pretty soon, just you wait Akari."

Gills' POV –Inside the mayor's office

Gill felt awkward. He arrived rather early today, but had finished nearly nothing, even when he was already in the office for about three hours, three hours and 42 min to be exact. He wouldn't even dare to remember the last three days, when Elli, ELLI! had to correct some mistakes HE made .And even worse, his father asked him if he needed a short vacation since he seemed to be spacing out a lot lately. As if he, Gil (he refused to think of himself as Gilligan) Hamilton would ever space out. He had just snorted at his father and left the room afterwards.

But something wasn't quite right. Maybe he hadn't just hurt his hand? Maybe he had hit his head somewhere without noticing? Stop, he couldn't get irritated again, he had a lot of things to do. Like doing research on that harvest goddess and her sprites. Not that he would believe in any such thing, but you should always be informed. He didn't look it up because he saw something blurry, sitting on Akari's shoulder sometimes ... It was just to broaden his horizon.

Akari! She was coming by today right? She still had to hand in the deposit. She was lucky that his hand was okay though. She was really annoying, that girl, she had ever been... had ever been? What made him think that…?

When he looked up, after suddenly hearing the door bell ring, he saw that girl stepping in, but without the usual happy grin on her face.

"Here is the deposit, she said taking out some banknotes. You can count it while I'll wait here, Gilligan. I hope you enjoy the weather today and I also hope your hand is better. I am really sorry for having inconvenienced you," said Akari with a stern face.

"It is fine, as long as you brought the money. My hand is definitely better; therefore I am willing to refrain from suing you. But you should really be more aware of the people around you, in order to avoid hurting someone again," said Gill equally stern.

"I would love to engage in discussion with you further, but since your sight alone makes me want to tackle you, I want a treaty. Let's just promise each other not to talk too much and not to meet unless absolutely necessary. I heard that you seem to be an okay guy, unless you're with me. Therefore, I seem somehow to trigger your inner hulk, you know. And you are making me equally angry with your attitude towards me. I really tried to be friends with everyone, you know. But I give up. Let's just ignore each other from now on", said the girl, and left the office without waiting for his answer

"Would you like to go outside for a bit to calm your nerves?" Elli, having heard everything, that smirking.

"I don't think that is really necessary. I'm fine. When I don't have to see her face, Kari's face, anymore I'm really fine. It's totally fine with me. Let's just do our work", with that Gil concentrated on the papers again ignoring Elli.

"He said everything is fine four times and he has given her a nick name? I wonder if that girl is," thought Elli to herself, observing hr younger cousin closely.