Today was the day. The day Iroha would be Henry's girlfriend, or at least that's what he planned. Getting the ring took time. Once Hana open her shop with those rings on displayed, Henry knew that he needed it. He'd been planning on courting Iroha for the past few seasons, but was too nervous to ask. The ring may be the added assurance to Iroha that he was serious- and maybe a nice guy. It took sometime to save up the money. The ring was "only a mere 30,000G" as Hana put it. For a poor farmer like him, that was a big chunk of change. It wasn't that he didn't have the money. It was that if he spent the money he might have trouble buy seeds or animal supplies.
He began doing what he hadn't done since the first spring of his agricultural career- catching and selling insects. It took some time-a full season- to gather the money. Hana sure was interested in who was planning to give that ring to. He just blushed with an evasive answer or two. Hana was like a grandmother to him. She already had an inkling of who he was going to give the ring too and gave him a small wink on his way out saying, "Tell Iroha I said hello". She even put the flowers he grew into a bouquet for him, free of charge.
He was taking hike up to her home. His heart beating hard in his chest. The ring was in his pocket. She'll say yes. Hopefully. She was such a nice gal, pretty too. He was accustomed to rubbing his upper teeth on his bottom lip when he was nervous. She was a little reserved but she had such a warm smile. He loved trying to make her laugh. She even faked a laugh or two for him. He never was that funny and usually made a fool of himself, last time slipping off the bank into the river. Iroha helped pull him out. She even tried drying him off.
The bouquet was made from a few flowers on his property-mainly wildflowers that he picked. Standing outside her door, he breathed in deep and exhaled. He wasn't expecting it to be so loud. He gave a hardy knock. He heard some noises behind the door, a voice saying something like, "coming". When the door opened, Iroha's eyes lit up. Or that's what it looked like. He didn't want to over excite himself. "Come in, Henry" He stepped in, holding the flowers behind his back. He saw her eyes travel along his sides and then back to his eyes with a smile. Did she see? He was hoping that the flowers weren't exposed passed the edges of his body. "What's that Henry?" She asked. The fire in the hearth was bursting with flames licking its confines. She must've been working. "Oh, I uh, can I come in?" His voice had a shake. She moved to the side. She went to her work bench and started tidying up.
"So, I uh brought you something" Henry said, moving the bouquet from behind his flowers were fresh, picked that day. The bright moon drops had the most vibrant petals of them. "Oh, Henry, that's beautiful" her smile widened. "Thank you for this" she took them into her hands. His heart leaped. Yes, she likes it. His smile couldn't be suppressed. "Well, you see" he began reaching into his pocket. "Well, you see Iroha, I was thinking that maybe you and I-"
"Aaah!" She started screeching and tossed the flowers down like a hammer on iron. The petals scattered up into the air. "What? What is it?" She swatted at her face and body. He stepped over the flowers yet still smashing the head of a few strays.
"Henry!" she yelled. She rubbed at her nose. "What happened?" He kept asking. Her nose was red. "A bee! Your bouquet had a bee in it" She pointed down at the ground by a few petals. A small yellow and black bug was dragging its body towards the door. Poor guy. She fled to the kitchen. He scooped up the little guy and tossed him outside. The flowers were in a state of disarray. Iroha had come back into the main room with a bandage on her nose. "Hey, Iroha I'm sorry" he scratched at the back of his cap. She just said it was ok-no smile. He bent down to the flowers and petals and tried scooping them into a ball. "Here" he said in a whisper. He pushed the ball or crushed petals into the bouquet wrapping. She lifted her arms to it. The flowers looked mangled in her arms, oddly matching the crooked bandage on her nose. Her hair had gotten a little disheveled in the brawl with the bee.
"Thanks" she said. He was sweating' pretty hard. "Are you ok?" he moved in a little closer. "Sorry about that, I didn't notice any bees when I picked the flowers" He laughed a little, more of a forced chuckle. "No, I'm sorry for how I reacted" she said putting the flowers down on her workbench. "Yeah, well I was thinking-" Henry was lifting the ring in his pocket. "I should really get back to work" Iroha finished for him. "Could you…?" She turned towards the door. No, wait. That's not how it's supposed to go. "Uh…sure" he was going to just give her the ring but thought that now may not be the best time.
He stepped out the door, she closed it behind him slowly. The ring was hard between his fingers as played and rolled over it with his thumb. His lip was stuck under his teeth. He lingered there for a little bit. Well, this sucks. He was half tempted to toss the ring into the river. But it cost a little too much to do that. After a few minutes of tarrying, he heard a startling thump behind the door. He didn't want Iroha to come out and see him hanging out like some stalker so he went and crossed over to where Rod and Neil would be selling animals.
"Hey Henry! I have some more doggies just for you" Rod called waving. Rod was a good guy. Henry sometimes went to just chill at his house in his free time. Other times they went on jogs with their dogs. Now, Rod's job is merely to sell the dogs but Rod always treats the dogs as if they are his. He's supposed to keep them caged overnight but Henry knows for a fact that those dogs are in the lap of luxury in his home. They even sleep in his bed while he lays on the floor. He was even nice enough to give Henry a deal on Henry's first dog. "Really? I don't think I could handle another dog" He laughed. Sure enough, when Rod gave him that dog it expected the royal treatment. Henry had to break the cycle when he found himself making it omelets in bed.
"Well they're in the pin if you're interested" Rod smiled. His smile was bright enough to blind. As he got closer, the dogs in the pin were jumping up and down. "Oh, they are cute" Henry bent down by them. Their eyes were so big. "Welllllll?" Rod was leaning forward on his table. "They are cute but I just can't take in another dog" He saw Rod's mouth suddenly expand, "-or cat or horse" Henry interrupted before anything was said. Rod pouted for a second but them lifted his head with a mischievous smile.
"Hey, what were you doing coming from Iroha's house?" Rod smirked. How'd he know? Oh, wait- Henry looked over his shoulder to her house. Yep- clearly visible. "I saw you hanging out for awhile too. What was that all about?" Well, Rod is his best friend and he's already aware of his crush. "Well, I was going to ask her out but…" he withdrew the ring from his pocket as testimony. "It didn't go so well" He tried to smile. He can't do it as well as Rod can. "Oh what happened? She said 'no'?" Rod laughed. Why would he laugh? Asshole. Maybe he isn't so nice.
"No, I didn't get to asking. I just need to make it up to her" He frowned. "Well I got an idea" Rod stuffed his hands in his vest. "Get her a dog. Girls like dogs right?" He could her Neil scoff from his booth. He ignored it. "Well, I don't know about that Rod" Henry sighed. "Nonsense!" Rod exclaimed and reached into the pin. "Here take this little guy" he cheered. Once Rod made up his mind, there was no going back. That night, Henry feed the dog and went laid in bed. It would be a lie to say his heart didn't hurt at the moment. He played with the ring. Maybe he should avoid her for a few days. He considered it. But then again, if he did avoid her she may not be interested in dating him when he does come around and besides he still had this dog to deal with. It was scratching at its head with it's paws.
The next morning after taking care of the animals, Henry trekked up the path to her home, the pup in his arms. "Arf, arf!" The dog started wiggling about. "Hey stop that. Hey are you listening to me?" Henry shook the dog. Outside her door, he was already irritated by the dog. He was having trouble wrangling the dog's squirming form. It's little legs actually kicked pretty hard. Damn dog. He banged on the wooden frame. "Stop it!" "Arf" the dog had an annoyingly high pitched bark. The door opened.
"Stop it bastard- Oh! Hey Iroha" he put the charm on. By the ajar look in her eyes, she was taken aback. "What- why do you have a-" The dog started barking and leaped from his arms onto the ground. "Hey, wait" he looked back to her. "Well, you see. Yesterday ended on a bad note" he smiled wide, "So I was thinking that I could make it up to you"
"With a dog?" Iroha asked, confusion evident in her question. The dog scurried between her legs into the home. "Ah, that dog just-" she began. "He'll be a nice companion don't you think?" She already started to follow it. "Henry, I don't exactly like- stop!" She started for a broom. "What isn't he cute thou-" he rounded the corner. The dog was taking a piss on the kitchen floor. "Hey!" Henry went to catch it. I shot up and scampered across the floor, spraying a trail of piss with it. Iroha swept at it with the broom. The little bastard jumped at her. Henry dove for it-sliding on the piss as well. The grabbed the dog in victory but the dog clamped down on his hand. The bite drew blood and Henry yelped as he opened his arms up. The dog leaped for it and went like the wind out the door.
Shit. "Well he's usually a good boy" Henry started. "He just was nervous and-"
"Henry, could you leave. I need to clean this up" Iroha turned away. "Uh...ok. Well see you later"
"Yo Rod! You're idea sucked!" Henry shouted over the plains as he approached his stall. "What? She didn't go for it?" Rod was standing his some pet treats in his hand. The dogs were bouncing in their pen. He was tossing bits and pieces of the treats to them. "No! You're plan sucked and your dog was a little shit" Rod tossed a piece at him. "Hey, don't talk about my dogs like that" Rod frowned. "Where is he anyway? I assume that she didn't take him"
"That's right. The dog pissed on her floor then bit him" Henry waved his bloodied hand at him. "Well you must've treated him poorly" Rod crossed his arms. "Well, some girls don't like dogs, but you know what else girls like? Cats" His smile was wide. "Rod, have you ever even have a girlfriend?" Rod's cheeks burst red. "That's not even important!" "So you haven't!" Asshole giving advice but doesn't know shit. "Well neither have you!" Rod tossed more treats at him.
"Can you two be quiet? Some of us are working" Neil said as he stood at is empty stall. Not a person in sight. How does this guy even make money? Henry rarely ever sees anyone at his stall. Rod on the other hand usually sold dogs to tourist. "Uh, sure Neil. We wouldn't want to interrupt" Henry scoffed. Neil always got on his nerves with his sour attitude. Rod rubbed at his chin as he glared at the sky in contemplation. He sauntered back to his stall, only snapping his fingers once he had on his stool. "I got it. Why not you giver her a bouquet"
"Did that already" Henry sighed. "I just want to give her the ring but I don't want to make it worse" Rod sighed too. "You really like her huh?" Rod scratched at his head. "Well, why not you go on a picnic with her?" That may be a good idea. Henry smiled. "You know I like that idea" Rod slapped his hands down on the stall. "Yeah and get her a gift. She's a blacksmith so get her some ore or something" Henry adjusted his cap. That may not be a bad idea. Get a picnic table set, slice up some sandwiches, get some glimmering ore for her and bam-girlfriend. He smirked.
Knock, Knock. Iroha was surprised to see Henry at her door with a picnic basket raised high. "Hey Iroha, I was thinking of going on a picnic. You wanna come?" His cheeks glowed. She stepped out from behind the door. "A picnic. That sounds pleasant" a smile on her lips. "Oh, but I wanted to take about yesterday" Oh no, what does she want to say? She already agreed-no backing out. "I'm sorry for how I reacted" It was her house that was pissed in, why's she apologizing? "I got short with you yesterday and I realize you were just trying to do something nice. I appreciate the sentiment" Oh, good. A smile creased his lips. "Yeah, well I'm sorry for what happened. It was my fault for getting you a dog without your permission and letting it run wild" She stepped out of her home and began on the path. Her hair was neatly trimmed and ebbed in the spring gust. "Where will we be having the picnic?" Iroha asked, her voice curious. Rod told him the best place would be in the forest. There's a clearing up there were just wildflowers roam. It's right off the path by a giant stump. Henry also thought that probably would be a good place. "It's a surprise" he said leaning in close with his finger on his lips. "Oh, Henry" He took her hand and began leading her down the path. He decided to take the river path since the scenery was so pretty. When they arrived to the scene he put the basket down in the grass. Checking his pockets he wanted to make sure he still had the ring. Check. The sandwiches and drinks. Check. The iron in the bottom of the basket. Check. He was going to make something but thought it maybe better to get her some glimmering gems but only could managed some iron.
"It's so beautiful here" Iroha rested on her knees. "I come here sometimes just to look at all of them and the foxes" Henry opened the box, being careful not to let her see. "Yeah it's really nice" he reached in. "Here's some food" He gave her a sandwich- sloppy at best. She just gratefully received it. "How's it taste?" Henry spent a good two hours making them. Even tossing out the first batch that didn't make the cut. Her smile was crooked after consumption. "Oh, Henry it has an… interesting texture"
"You think so?" He leaned back onto the stump. My girl likes my cooking. He smirked, once they marry he'll do all the cooking and she'll praise him richly- and give an extra special reward in the bed. He could see it now. "Well Henry?" He jerked back from his fantasy. "What?" She wiped her mouth with a napkin. Her sandwich had a few nibbles along the edge. "I was asking if you heard anything strange?"
"Like what?" Henry looked up to the treelines. There were some foxes nearby he could see. They were moving through the dead branches. "Oh, nothing I guess" She took another bite of it. "You know Iroha, I was thinking… well I got you something" He reached in and slid his hand under the hidden flap. "Since you're so good at blacksmithing…" He withdrew the black bars. Her eyes lit up. "Oh, Henry that's so sweet" She reached forward to the cool bars, her slender fingers over his as she held them.
"Henry, you're so thoughtful" She turned away, blush like a wildfire on her face. "I was also thinking that maybe-" "Did you hear that?" Iroha's face was uplifted and over her shoulder. "Henry I thought I heard something, maybe an animal" Her eyes were squinted. "Oh, I uh" He was gripping the ring. "I didn't hear anything" He didn't put too much effort into looking around. "Well, you see I was thinking that-" She burst forward onto him, her finger on his lips. "Sssshhh. I'm sure I heard something" She was leaning on him so much so, that it got him a little excited. Her bust was more evident at this angle. This is going well. "Henry, I don't think we should be he-Ahh!" She leaped back, inadvertently pushing him forward a she did so. "What is it iro-" he didn't finish before he saw the bear looming over him. Shit! He rolled like a log off a cliff back towards her. "Stay behind me, Iroha!" He shouted, his arms out in defense of her. "Henry, no"
"Don't worry, I've seen this bear before!" He recognized the furred monstrosity. It usually resided a little down further. It's a complete pussy. But maybe Iroha doesn't know that. Time to show her what a real man looks like. "Hey, come at me!"
"Henry!" Iroha gasped. She grabbed him by his jacket. "Don't. Just don't Henry. You shouldn't be so reckless" He just held his arm out in front of her. "Don't worry, Iroha" He stepped forward. "Hey. Bear. I'll give you 10 seconds to get outta here or else" adjusted his cap with the other hand. The bear turned its husky body towards him from the ground it was just clawing at. Henry smirked. This bear won't do shit. He's seen it many times before on his morning foraging journeys. It comes sniffing really close but then catches a sight of Henry in all his manliness, and takes off running. Henry broke a low hanging branch off a nearby tree. "Hey, are you listening to me?" He waved it. "Henry! Stop. Let's just leave while we still can" She was pulling him back with her hands. The bear stood up on its legs. "No, don't worry. We're gonna have this picnic" Henry stepped forward. "No, no. Henry, it's fine. We can eat inside. Leave the bear alone" A growl escaped the bear's furled snout. "Don't worry" He returned a grin to her. Her jaw was clenched. He wore a flaunting gait as he walked a few steps towards it and spat into the grass. "So what's it gonna be?" The bear lowered to the ground with its paws propped in front of itself. "See Iroha? He's bowing to me" He boasted, his head turned over his shoulder back at her. "Henry, Look out!" She gasped, shooting out her pointer finger in front of him.
Before he could form a puff of breath, he lost it. The bear was a blurring mass, he felt the push from behind. The hit to the ground knocked whatever wind he had left in him. The gargled growls and grunts of the bear overshadowed his momentarily empty mind. He wobbled as he tried to push himself up off the ground. His head felt heavy. Blood trickled from his nose. "Iroha…" He turned his face to the blurry mass of bear hovering over her. "No, I'll...protect...you" Beneath him, his fingers were split on a few jagged, broken rocks. He spun over and clawed across the ground to the picnic basket- now torn on its side. The sandwiches were tossed about and some fruit had tumbled out.
The bear was now down in front of her on all fours. It pushed its body against hers. "Iroha!" He gripped the dark iron from the basket. He huffed as he rolled over. After regaining his breath he stood to his feet, gripping the iron hard. "Iroha!" He shouted. The bear turned to him, some fruit dangling from its mouth. "Henry- don't worry. I'm fine" She reassured him, waving. "I'll save you!" He went running at it. "Henry no!" The popped its jaw and charged. "Iroha- run!" The bear came in leaps and bounds over broken logs. He slugged that iron at the bear. "Henry, I'm not leaving withou-" The toss took all his energy and with the bear last leap onto him, he fell back onto the basket.
"Hey!" A sudden burst of a smoke burned Henry's eyes leaving him screeching. The bear grunted bouncing back off him. "Henry, hold still!" A thick voice carried. His eyes were squeezed tight enough to rip the lids. He was seeing white. "Henry!" The voice repeated. Henry could only hear the bear scurrying away into the brush. "Henry!" The voice was beside him and lifting him by the shoulder. "Get up. We have to go to Klaus" Henry grabbed at the figure. Something thick and bristled rubbed against his hands. A beard? Dunhill?
"Is that Iroha over there?" The voice was definitely Dunhill. He lifted him off his back. His footsteps receded from him. "Iroha, Iroha" Henry felt his head go fuzzy all over and fade into the black. When he sees white again, it's the hospital ceiling. Henry's vision is still hazy at best. Dunhill was talking to a skinny pole. Klaus? It turned to face him. "Oh, it seems you're awake. Somehow I knew it wouldn't be long before I would see you again. Fighting a bear? I really shouldn't be surprised considering why you were here last time" Yup. Definitely Klaus. Henry turned his head to the bed beside his. The curtain was half open. Iroha was lying with a bandaged wrapped around her head. Her hair was loose on the bedding.
"Iro…" Klaus flipped the pages of his clipboard. "I don't know why you are whispering. You're vocal capabilities haven't been damaged in any sort. You can say her entire name if you wish" Henry rose from his bed slowly. "Don't push yourself Henry" Dunhill stepped in. "The only injuries he sustained were to his nose and his eyes. I cleaned his nasal cavities from blood and dirt-disgusting work- and washed his eyes from the bear spray" Henry shifted out of the bed and moved to Iroha's bed.. She was awake. He dropped to his knees. Reaching over her, he grabbed her hand and gripped it with both hands. "I'm so sorry Iroha. I didn't mean for it to get so outta control" Her eyes were closed. "I just wanted to impress you. I know it was stupid and you could've really gotten hurt" He felt tears welling up. "I...I I just wanted to ask you to be my girlfriend and I messed it up each time. I shoulda just been straight with you and-"
"Henry, I need you to lower your voice" She whispered. She raised her other hand to her bandages. "My head hurts" She shifted under the covers. He pushed his face into her hands. "I'm sorry, Iroha. Will you ever forgive me?" She squeezed his hand. "Henry" She turned to face him, still holding her head. "You acted irresponsibly. You were rash and reckless. I expected more from you Henry" He shook his head. "I know. I know. I'm horrible. I understand if you don't want to see me anymore"
"Oh, Poor Henry" Henry could hear the sarcasm in Klaus' voice. Iroha rubbed her fingers through his brown hair. "Henry, I just don't know what to say" He rolled his face up to hers. It was such a big bandage, the one around her head. From just above her long slender eyebrows to just above her hairline. "I can't believe I let that bear hurt you. I was just so, so…!" He weeped into her mattress. "Well actually…" Dunhill coughed. "You did that" Henry raised his head, surprising Iroha by the suddenness. "What?"
"...Remember when you threw that iron bar?"
Henry flung himself from the bed. "No! I didn't do that- I couldn't have!" He shook his head wildly. "But you did" Iroha interjected. "I saw you throw it, right before I passed out" She still held her wound. He just held his head and sobbed. Klaus scoffed. "Oh, don't you play the victim well? Instigate a fight with a bear, throw a iron bar at your girlfriend then sob on the floor. All the while, she lays in her bed with a skull fracture" "A skull fracture" Henry halted his sobbing to peer up from his spot. "Lucky for you not too severe. Rest and pain medication are all that will be needed. You apparently aren't the strongest man in the valley, lucky for her. She only sustained minimal damage that will heal on its own" Klaus pushed his glasses up the bridge of his long nose. "But, she will need some rest. You no longer need any medical assistance. Leave"
"Wait" Iroha swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "May I speak with Henry? Alone." Klaus didn't bother to answer, he just went to the door with Dunhill. "Only a minute" He warned and closed the door behind him.
"Henry" She turned to him. He faced her, sure that his red eyes and lowered demeanor isn't looking too cool to her. "Is it true what you said?" He blinked. "That I didn't mean to hurt you? Yes that's definitely true" She shook her head. "No, that this was all a ploy to impress me?" He sunk his head into his chest. "...Yeah. I wanted to give you this" He fidgeted with the ring, almost dropping it, "I wanted to give it to you when I gave you the bouquet but that quickly went south. Then Rod suggested I get you a dog, and that turned out to be a bad idea too so I thought I'd give it to you at the picnic"
"That doesn't explain why you tried to go one-on-one with a bear" He scratched the back of his head. He felt dirt under his fingernails. "Well I know that bear. Every morning I see it and it scampers away. I just assumed it'd do that again. I was hoping to impress you with my manliness" Iroha bore down on him. "You think instigating a fight with a bear would impress me. I like you the way you are. You don't have to try and be someone you're not" Henry winced slightly at the small jab to his masculinity. He could've taken the bear on. It just attacked when he wasn't looking! Coward. "Henry. I would've accepted your ring if you just showed it to me earlier"
His eyes widened. "You would've? Will you...now?" She closed her eyes and rolled back into the bed. "...I will but there's a lot we need to talk about" He jumped to his feet. "Really?" He came over to her and practically put the ring on her finger for her. This is great. He bent down and hugged her. "Thank you Iroha!" he straighten up. Klaus opened the door to the room. "You received more than one minute but that's because I became occupied with another patient" His gaze caught Henry's from across the room. "Now you must leave" Henry bowed his head and turned back to Iroha, "I'll be back tomorrow" he smiled. As he left he found Kosaburo behind some of the privacy screens. His skin was burnt red and he was bandaged at the head. Before Henry could ask, Kosaburo started talking. "Hey! How are you kid. What are you doing here?" Henry leaned passed the screens into easy view. "Oh, just an incident in the woods, and you?" "Oh just yer typical fishing accident" he laughed. "Oh, but I heard from Hana that you got a girlfriend. That blacksmith up the way" Henry blushed. "Yeah, but I did something I shouldn't have and I gotta make it up to her" Kosaburo rolled his head back. "Oh, do I know that for sure. Hana had be goin' round buying her all these gifts one time. Hey I know!" He turned to Henry, looking him square in the eye. "Girls like fish. Hana sure does. Why not you take her fishing on the bank?" Henry scratched at his chin. In light of prior events he thought about whether he should. He got the idea to get a dog from Rod. That went bad. Then he was told to go on a picnic from Rod. That went bad. Now he's being told to go fishing by Kosaburo. Hmm. Well fuck Rod, he doesn't know shit about women. Kosaburo here, he's classy. "That sounds great!"