A/N: All right, so you know how I said that Claire might be going on a date? Well, I'd been working on this chapter for a while, and in the end, it didn't turn out how I had originally planned. So it's not exactly a date, and wasn't planned at all, but Claire does spend some time with a certain bachelor. So I guess that counts for something, right? Heck, you could even interpret it as a simple friendship scene, depending on your personal preference.

-CCM

Chapter 15: Sapphire

It was a rare occasion – Claire had actually gotten a peaceful night of sleep, an undisturbed slumber free of nightmares or fearful tossing and turning that had become commonplace since her move to Mineral Town. Which was fortunate, seeing as the blonde had been in need of a little beauty sleep… those dark, almost bruise-like circles beneath her eyes hadn't always been there, nor were they at all attractive.

Also, to the girl's slight surprise, the Chicken Festival had gone on without incident. In fact, it had been simple enough for her to just forget any bad memories and act as if everything had been absolutely fine all along.

Though deep down, Claire knew she could never do that. Not until she got to the bottom of this mystery.

After her usual morning routine, now with the added chore of feeding the chickens and collecting their smooth, hard shelled eggs, Claire found herself becoming increasingly bored and at a loss of new things to do.

Taking in the sight of Sunshine Farm's vast fields, Claire took a deep breath and hoped that some idea might come to her. Though the nearest field had been cleared to accommodate her small garden of growing corn, onion, and tomato sprouts, much of the farmland was still blanketed in a layer of old logs, boulders, and scraggly weeds. Perhaps some field clearing work was in order, tedious as it may be.

Stepping back into her cottage, Claire checked the large tool chest in the corner for the necessary tools, naming each one off as she went. Hoe, sickle, hammer… Finally Claire came to a rusted, worn-out axe. Remembering the vast number of logs that dotted her fields, she decided that she should go after those first. Might as well put the old logs to good use, after all. Maybe she could build a fence out of the wood she chopped, so as to keep her cow and any other livestock she might purchase in the future from wandering away into the forest or town roads, while still allowing them the freedom to graze in the sunshine.

Solidifying her decision, Claire lifted the axe from the chest and carried it outside into the fields, past the sprouting vegetables.

With great effort, Claire took the old, heavy axe in both hands and did her best to lift it over her head by the handle, arms quivering at its weight. Goddess, I really do need to work out more…

Eyes squeezed shut in exertion, she brought the axe swinging down upon the wood log in front of her, chopping it in two with a dull thud. In temporary relief, the farmer released a breath of air. Whew…

She lifted the axe again to go after the next log, and then again, and then again. A small collection of wooden slabs began to build up in the field, though not nearly enough to build a fence out of. Unless she wanted to enclose a single tomato plant.

Lifting her axe again to chop up an especially thick chunk of wood, Claire brought the axe crashing down, only to have the worn tool hit the wood with a loud crack as the rusted metal blade split in two.

Claire stared at the now-broken axe in disbelief. Seriously…?

Perhaps a trip to the blacksmith's was now in order.

"Hello? Saibara? Umm… is anyone here?"

Claire entered the blacksmith's shop cautiously, unsure of herself. The room was empty, though the forge glowed faintly against the back wall, behind the low counter. To the right, a door stood slightly ajar, leading into another room. Most likely the living quarters of Saibara and Gray.

Suddenly, there was a noise from the back room, and the door swung open with a faint creak of its hinges. To Claire's surprise, it wasn't the bearded blacksmith, but his grandson and apprentice who entered.

Gray glanced at the farmer girl with the faintest air of contempt. "What do you want?"

Claire narrowed her eyes, though her face paled slightly in embarrassment. "I… I just needed to buy a new axe… mine kind of broke."

The young man raised an incredulous eyebrow at her. "It… broke?"

"Erm… yeah." Claire turned to lift the heavy tool from her rucksack, displaying where she had split the rusty blade directly in two. She hefted the axe forward, holding it up sheepishly with both hands and earing herself a reproachful glare from the apprentice blacksmith.

"Careful with that…"

Gray took one glance at the decrepit tool and rolled his eyes before abruptly turning away. "Let me just go get Gramps… stay here."

He went back through the door he had come, and in just a few moments, the young man reentered with his elderly grandfather Saibara at his side. The white haired old man approached Claire, one pale bushy eyebrow raised as Gray stayed behind, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned nonchalantly against the back wall.

"So… What is it that you need, young lady?"

Claire merely directed the man's attention toward the axe in her arms. Saibara bent forward to get a closer look as Gray let out a derisive snort. Claire shot an irritated glance toward his end of the room.

"Something funny?"

His expression was completely stoic, his voice cold. "No… just leave it to a city girl to mess things up."

Ignoring the exchange, Saibara took the axe from Claire's arms to more closely inspect the blade. With a stroke of his beard, he said gruffly, "Well… seeing as the blade's completely rusted through, it looks like we'll have to forge a new one for you. At a small fee, of course."

He gestured toward his grandson. "Gray should be willing enough to do that for you today."

At this information, Gray's eyes narrowed furiously. His voice barely concealing the irritation eminent in his expression, Gray said in a dangerous tone, "Gramps… I've been working the forge all morning! Can't I at least have a break? Reforging that blade will take up the rest of the day!"

Saibara narrowed his own eyes in response, his beard twitching slightly. "...And perhaps that's why you never get anything done! Always concerned about break time! Never willing to take your time, work through the finer details!"

The argument went on, until with one last huff of anger and annoyance at his grandfather, Gray stormed out of the blacksmith's without another word. Saibara turned toward Claire, slightly apologetic.

"I'm… sorry you had to see that. I'll have to fix up your blade myself, seeing as Gray seems in no rush to hurry back to work. Stubborn, lazy young man, that's what he can be sometimes." He sighed.

"It's no problem, though, so don't think this is your fault or anything. The axe should be done later today perhaps, if you want to come back around to check on it then."

Claire nodded, still uncomfortable from the small argument that had just unfolded before her. "All right… I'll see you then, I guess… Thanks."

She stepped out of the shop with one goal on her mind – to find Gray.

Unfortunately, Claire didn't know the first place to start looking for the young blacksmith's apprentice. Perhaps he was at the church? Probably not, she reasoned. Or maybe he was on his way toward the beach, headed for Kai's Snack Shack? She had seen him there a few times this summer already.

Though truthfully, Claire had a feeling that Gray frequented the library in his spare time, and that that was where he was hiding out now. It seemed like a perfectly quiet place to cool off, after all.

The library was dead silent when Claire entered. Silent as the grave… Claire shuddered at the creepy comparison that had entered her mind.

She glanced over at the front desk and saw that the young, black haired librarian Mary was sitting behind the counter, busily scribbling something into a notepad as she absentmindedly fingered the rim of her glasses. Claire peered around the nearby bookshelves, but Gray was nowhere to be seen.

The blonde approached the front desk where Mary sat, just as the other girl glanced up and quickly pressed her notebook closed. "Claire…? I haven't seen you around here before… Um, what could I help you with?"

Her voice came out in a whisper, as though she didn't want to disturb the books nestled on the shelves surrounding them.

Claire leaned forward, and found that her voice also came out in a near-silent whisper, though that had not been her intention. "Have you… Ahem, I mean, has Gray entered the library in the past ten minutes or so?"

Mary shook her head. "Oh, no… No, I've been all alone here today. Why? Is something wrong?" A slightly hurt expression crossed her face. "Is Gray all right? Normally, he comes to see me with any of his problems…"

This time it was Claire's turn to shake her head. "No, it's fine, Mary. He just had an argument with his grandfather, that's all. He stormed out of the blacksmith's shop in a rage, and I was just wondering if he had come here. I guess not."

"Oh… Well, that's not unusual by any means." She took a moment to think. "Perhaps… you should check the Goddess Spring for him? It's such a relaxing area, the perfect spot to cool off after a heated argument or whatnot."

"Sure… Thank you, Mary."

"Of course… Anything to be of help. And I'm sure Gray is fine…"

But Claire was already out the door. Mary watched her go, a strange feeling of longing building up in her chest. If only she were the one going to check on Gray… She was one of the closest things he had to a friend in Mineral Town, after all. But no, she had the library to tend to, and it wouldn't hurt for Claire to try and get closer to the other villagers like that.

The librarian turned back to her notepad. There was no point in worrying – she had a novel to work on.

A few birdcalls were heard in the distance as Claire entered the Goddess Spring clearing, their simple melodies mixing with the swiftly churning waters. Here, she at last found Gray, staring blankly into the crystalline waters with his hands in his pockets.

At the edge of the water, a light mist from the waterfall sprayed tiny droplets across their skin, cooling them off in the scorching summer heat. It was definitely relaxing, Claire thought. No wonder Popuri liked to come to the Goddess Pond. Something about the place just radiated a sense of peace, security, and tranquility.

"...Gray?"

Claire spoke up hesitantly, afraid that the young man would antagonize her yet again. However, he merely drew a deep sigh.

"Yes?"

The farmer girl's mind searched frantically for something to say to him – a question to ask, perhaps, or a few comforting words. But instead, she stood in silence beside him, and it was Gray who took the first step.

"...Sorry for acting the way I did with Gramps back at the shop. You probably didn't want to see that." He scuffed at the dirt with one shoe, his eyes hidden in the shadow of his cap. "...He really gets to me sometimes."

Claire nodded, her gaze fixated on him. "Yeah... yeah, I can understand that. I felt the same way sometimes, back when I lived with my mom and siblings in the city... It was like they were always expecting something big out of me. Like I was being pressured to do better than I already was, better than I knew I could... We're all only human, after all."

She looked away and shrugged. "But remember... your grandpa's only human, as well. He just wants the best for you, and his attitude with you is just his way of urging you to be the best you can be."

Gray's face reddened at her words, and he snapped in response, "What would you know?"

But Claire ignored his angered outburst, saying nothing as she twisted a lock of golden hair around her finger. For a while, they stood together in silence, staring into the clear sapphire waters of the Goddess Pond.

"Hey, Claire…"

Startled by his sudden decision to speak, Claire turned her head toward the voice.

"What?"

Without another word, Gray stuck his hand into his jeans pocket, digging around until he recovered something from within; some small item that fit snugly within his closed fist.

Silently, Gray motioned for Claire to bring her hands forward, and he dropped something small and hard into her outstretched palms. She lifted the item to her face in order to inspect it more closely.

It was a brooch. A small blue sapphire cut into an ovular shape, outlined in silver, its surface glinting beautifully in the sunlight. And to her surprise, it was the very same brooch that she had been admiring at the blacksmithing booth during the Chicken Festival. There was a small pin at the back, so Claire could attach the ornament to her clothing if she so wished. Overall, the detailing on the piece was exquisite.

Claire's crystal blue eyes widened, and she cupped the brooch within her palms in wonderment. It matched her own sapphire irises perfectly. "What… what is this for?"

He shrugged his shoulders, trying to look indifferent to the situation. "I just noticed you were admiring it at the Chicken Festival, is all."

Claire stared at him, a smile forming across her lips. "That…that was really nice of you, Gray." I didn't think he had actually been paying attention to me whenI was observing the jewelry... I thought he wasn't bothered with me. But it seems I was wrong.

The young man narrowed his eyes at her. "It's nothing. I made that brooch myself, anyway."

Gray might pretend that the gesture was nothing more than a simple act of random benevolence, but Claire could tell that it was more than that. She could feel it.

Maybe Gray isn't so bad after all… Maybe he's just a shy guy who wishes he were someone different, but doesn't quite know how to go about things. And... perhaps this is his way of thanking me.

The blonde girl grinned. "You know what, Gray…? You're all right."

Gray merely shrugged. "Whatever."

"Well… thank you."

For a split second, the faintest trace of a smile crossed Gray's lips, and Claire couldn't help but giggle at his stubbornness. He immediately broke into a frown at the girlish noise.

"What?"

"Oh… nothing."

And yet, Claire felt some discomfort in accepting the gift from Gray, and even in speaking to him. Something just didn't feel right. A strange feeling tugged at the girl's heart, but at the current moment, she could not decipher what exactly that feeling was.

Perhaps someday she would figure everything out, but that day wasn't today.

Back at the farmhouse, all was quiet. Even Bailey, the energetic puppy he was, lay asleep within the comfort of Claire's bed, emitting only the sound of his own gentle, rhythmic breathing.

Suddenly, a penetrating ringing noise pierced the silence, echoing around the empty walls like the shrill screech of a banshee. On the smooth surface of the bedside table, perched beside a flower-filled vase, sat a telephone, the source of the deafening ringing. The small Caller ID screen on the phone lit up, displaying the words 'Unknown Name: Unknown Number' in harsh, blocky lettering.

Roused by the sound, Bailey lifted his head from the pillow, ears perked in interest. He barked once, but with no response. The phone rang on, and no one was around to answer it.

After ringing three times continuously, the mysterious caller hung up with a soft click, not bothering to even leave a message.

The house was left in silence once more.

A/N: Well, I'm sure this chapter appealed to some Graire fangirls, at the very least. Not exactly a date, but sort of, in a sense. It depends on how you look at it, I guess. And who do you think this 'mysterious caller' was?

-CCM