HEY GUUUYYYSS! Sorry I have updated in such long time. I had a case of writer's block XP and i was working on another story with my friend. Hope this chapter will make up for it!

Disclaimer ~ I do not own Harvest Moon

Chapter 8: Beware

I knock sounded on my door. It was 12:00; I had just finished my farming. Why was someone visiting? Not one had come to see me since…Howard. It was the 2nd of Fall currently, and the news of me had spread over to Bluebell, causing Howard to come and visit me. He had come at least once a week in order to help my health. My looks had improved, and he left after he thought I had formed the habit. I tried to keep up with it as much as I could.

I'd gained back some of my weight, and the bags under my eyes were almost gone. "Who is it?" I called.

A slight pause, and then, "It's Cam."

I slowly stood up and opened the door, to find him on the other side, smiling weakly. "Hey," he started, "Howard is busying Laney for the day and he's letting me come over and visit you."

I looked him up and down; he seemed the same as he did before. Knowing that it had been his birthday the day before, I rushed into the kitchen telling him to wait a while. I took out all the ingredients I had been saving for today, and put them all in a pot. I waited about 20 minutes before it was ready, and ladled the soup into two bowls. I carried them out and placed them on the table. Laughing as I watched Cam's expression change into an excited one, I placed the Tom Yung Goong onto the table. "Happy belated 19th birthday, Cam," I smiled.

His mouth hung agape at me, "Y-you made this?" he stuttered.

"Yep," I replied, "Try it!"

He eyed the soup suspiciously, acting like there was poison in it, before taking a spoon into his mouth. He dropped the spoon then, and looked up at me with sparkling eyes, as if pleading for more.

In the end, he ate the whole pot before he took me out to the river on the mountain. We spent the whole day there, reminiscing our lives 10 years ago, and recreating the experiences. Those times when my parents would fight and Phillip had to step in, getting himself in trouble. When Jessica had work to go to, and had to leave one-year-old Cheryl with Ash. Cam always seemed reluctant to cheer me up, but I found out that it's not like he didn't want to, it's that he never knew how.

So he would take me up that mountain and teach me about the flowers, and in his own way, he cheered me up.

He walked me home later that night.

*(~)*

"Lillian? Are you in there?" I heard a familiar voice call from the other side of the door, but I couldn't specify who it was.

"Yeah, the door's open." I called from my bed.

With a loud creak, the door opened, to reveal him, one of my past neighbors. He played violin 24/7 and made my dad march over to his house and make him stop.

Mikhail.

"Hey, Lillian," he smiled at me as my mouth hung agape. Even as nice as he was, I never had wanted a reminder of my old life. Never again. And now it comes back, every memory, flooding through me. A sudden migraine hits me, and I collapse onto the ground. "Lillian?!" I hear his call, fading by the second, until all I see is black.

*(~)*

Slowly blinking my eyes open, I found Hiro hovering over me with Mikhail next to him, both looking worried.

"Ah! You're awake, Lillian," Mikhail exclaimed gleefully, "Are you alright? You had me worried there…"

I pushed myself up and off the uncomfortable bed, into a sitting position. I decided to ignore Mikhail for now, "Hiro, how long have I been out?"

"Hm?" He turned to look at me, "Oh, about 2 hours, its midnight now. Stay here for the night if you want, or you can go back to your ranch, your choice."

I pondered for a minute. Neither bed was comfy. I was on one right now, the other one is on the other side of town. "Erm, can I sleep here tonight?"

"Sure," Hiro replied without turning his back, devoured in his work.

"Hey," Mikhail popped in, "You didn't answer my question."

"Eh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I just need some rest." I slipped under the covers turning my head towards Hiro, and away from Mikhail.

"Well, feel better, okay?" I could hear confusion in his voice. Dammit, the guilt. "I'm living in Bluebell, so if you need me or something, just come by the church."

"Kay," I replied, pretending to doze off, waiting for the echo of his feet to start, and fade.

*(~)*

I awoke, yawning and stretching. It's a new day. I'm not in my house. Where the fuck is this place? I searched my surroundings once more. Right.

Hiro. Ayame. Hospital. Faint. Mikhail.

Life. Sucks.

I looked out the far window. Rainy day. No Bluebell today, huh?

"Ah," Hiro scurried into the room, "Are you able to leave now?"

I nodded, "Thanks, see ya later," I sprinted out the hospital, shielding my head with my arms. It was pouring cats and dogs times infinity out here. Rainwater was already piled up on the grass and the sidewalks, about a quarter-inch. By the time I got to my ranch, I was soaked, dripping a ton of water wherever I went. I rummaged through my things to find a single towel, and dried myself off.

I fell onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Is it true that if you sleep with your hair wet, you'll catch a cold? I hope so; I really don't want to hear what Mikhail has to say to me when I visit Bluebell… I already know, but it's not like he's gonna give up any time soon. Please, please, I need to get sick. I don't want to talk to someone who reminds me of them. I don't mind spending everyday with Dad again. Just, I won't talk about it again.

Mikhail, you're a violinist, not a therapist.

*(~)*

Dammit I'm not sick.

And today has such good weather too… Fuck this shit. The rain yesterday kept the plants watered, overwatered really. I sighed; there wasn't anything interesting here, so I might as well entertain myself.

Fall 5th, huh? A week till Mikhail's birthday and 6 days till mine. I swear if any idiots decide to throw a surprise party, I'll sprint the hell out there. Trudging up the mountain in the Lower-Konohana region, a sprout poking up from the fallen leaves caught my eye. Bending over, I cleared the leaves. The sprout had a brown white-streaked body and 5 bright green leaves, forming a star-shape. I crouched in front of the plant, before stumbling back after recognizing it. The plant itself was beautiful; it was the meaning that scared me.

I sighed, since when had I become as superstitious as Mom? As I kept walking, a new thought formed in my head: Walking was slow. I should get a horse. But then again, riding a horse freaks me out. Ugh, is there now solution to this?

As I walked and pondered, I hadn't realized I'd reached Bluebell until I ran headfirst into someone. Looking up, I smiled. Ash.

"Hey," I said softly, "Well, there's a lot to talk about but I'm so sorry for forge-"

He put his hand up to silence me, "Cam told me everything. And, I really don't know what to say anymore…" He shifted on his two feet. Cam…That bastard…He wasn't supposed to tell anyone. And really? You tell the dense guy.

I took a deep breath, "Just treat me like you normally do. I'll find it annoying if you don't. But, I need to make up for your birthday, so, I was going to make you Doria, but it would get so cold by the time I brought it here, so I got this," I rambled, and dug into my pocket to produce a wrapped present, "Happy belated birthday, I got it from the city a while back."

Ash unwrapped it, and his face brightened, "Thank you! Ah," he stopped, remembering something, "I have to go deliver some goods to Phillip, and got off track."

I elbowed his rib, "Thinking about Laney? Eh? Eh?"

His face turned bright red before swatting my arm away, "N-no…" he stuttered.

I giggled before turning to walk away. Before I knew it, I ended up in front of the church, my hand raised and ready to knock. At the first tap, the door swung open to reveal a bright-faced Mikhail. "Hey!" he exclaimed, "Come in."

He led me to a private room in the corner of the church. He gestured to a chair before uttering the word sit.

My mind flew. Was this another session? Is he acting in front of the villagers again?

"How've you been doing, Lillian?" he asked, cautiously, but with that shrink voice.

"Fine."

"Tell me about how it's been here, looks like your broken smile's been fixed."

"What if I don't want to? What if it's a façade?"

He sneered, "Then why did you come here?"

I felt my stomach squeeze, "I came here, to tell you that it's over. No more. I can't stand it."

His eyebrow rose. "I don't know if I can accept that. I love you, Lillian"

I clenched my fists, sweat drops beginning to form, "I'm not asking for your opinion, Mikhail. You, you're crazed. Please, just leave me alone."

He laughed maniacally, "And if I don't? No one would believe you if you told them about this me." He gestured to himself.

"I-I know," I begged, "But please."

His eyes began to dance. No. Before he had any time to react, I jumped up and sprinted out of the room, hearing his voice call out "Lillian! Come back!" in a way that ought to have sounded pleading. But it was taunting. That man was worse than my father.

I should have taken it. The omen. Because that plant, the rhododendron, means beware.

UGH. MORE COMPLICATIONS.

To you Mikhail fans, I never intended for him to be evil. I was gonna make him a nice guy until imagination took over.

I have no idea where this is going.

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