Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon DS Cute.
Note: Thanks for the reviews! I hope this chapter meets everyone's satisfaction. If not, I'm sorry—I'd like to know what you think, though, so please give me constructive criticism. :)
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Maiden of the Moon
By: Aishitewu
Two:
To Trust a Thief
She plagued my mind all night. As the dark celestial blanket above my head turned into a soft azure, the moon and stars fading into the blue to sleep from the passing night, I was caught in a dream though my eyes were open.
It made sense to me.
If a maiden such as she existed, then life was, undoubtedly acquiring the blissful qualities of a heavenly dream. Though she wasn't mine yet, the very thought of her existence got my heart going.
I was overwhelmed by the feeling. I hadn't felt it ever before, and it was so nice… How her eyes would normally be considered cold and soulless at first glance, but if you looked deeper into them, they had quite the effect…
That was how it'd been all night. Subconsciously, I'd drift off, deep into my thoughts of her. If I was not mistaken, I was, little by little, falling for some maiden I didn't even know the name of.
And I was—subtly, but it was definitely happening—going crazy (or perhaps crazier?) from the truth. The truth that she barely knew me, and I barely knew her. Sure, it felt like I had known her since the beginning of my life, and I wanted to believe that, but I knew that was just one of the senseless little mind illusions that love unjustifiably played on you.
One thing was clear, however.
I had to have her.
But if it was as simple as that, why was everything so frustratingly complicated, then?
Oh, that was right. Life was supposed to be complicated, or else it wouldn't truly be called "life".
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"Good evening, I am Phantom Skye." Skye, you really shouldn't be doing this…
"I'm here to steal your delightful bottle of wine, but I'm sure my note warned you of that, yes?" Skye, you don't need that wine… It has no real value whatsoever…
"Now, if you would be so kind as to stand still, my emerald-eyed bartender. Actually, I'll go on to make you cope—chick-beam, fire!" A gentleman would never do such a thing to a lady, even if she means nothing more to him than a sweet sight for the eyes…
"You…you'll never get away with this, you lowly thief! If Griffin was here, you'd be a dead pile of muck!" Look at what you're doing, Skye. Shameful, shameful, shameful—
"'You'll never get away; you won't get away with this'. Honey, that's what they all say," I whispered in a singsong tone, the wine in my possession. I held it before the struggling blonde, holding it by the tip and expertly swinging it back and forth. "And, unfortunately for you, my lovely, Griffin isn't here."
"Y-you're despicable, Phantom Skye!" The barmaid spat at me.
How disgraceful of you. Imagine if Mother and Father saw you now…
I didn't care, I didn't care at all. "I know I am," I murmured, a wicked smirk on my face. "Is ineffectively insulting me all you can do, my dear Muffy?" Sighing dramatically, I inched closer to the door. Just leave, Skye. You got what you came for, now get the hell out of there. No need to torment her further…
"Do not say my name. Ever again," she growled, verdant eyes ablaze. They didn't burn. They didn't burn at all.
"Your only weapon, words, are useless," I laughed humorlessly. "I'm afraid Phantom Skye can do whatever he wants, Muffy."
Imagine if she saw you now…
And just like that, I froze. My muscles locked, defenseless against the wave of memory that came crashing over me.
The whole scene from last night played in my head. A vivid reminiscence of our momentous encounter… I wasn't even at the bar anymore.
Everything was so clear. Her lucid silver gaze, how she saw right through me, piercing the core of my very soul…
An epiphany.
She isn't an object you can selfishly steal.
She is all alone; she hasn't anyone to belong to…
She is to be won, not stolen.
The fine wine in my hand felt nothing more than a plastic bottle of water. I walked towards the counter, slowly but…willingly…releasing the wine from my possession. With a slight bow, I took my silent leave.
Never before had I felt so…controlled.
Never before had I gladly obeyed.
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Her name.
I needed to know her name.
Oh, how I dashed towards her farm as if a bomb would go off on her property and leave her farmhouse, and her, in ashes.
And oh, how that thought was quickly and gladly forgotten in the next second. What a horrible thought to think in the first place…
My heart caught my attention in the next second. It began beating irregularly fast, and, I excitedly smiled, there was only one reason I knew why it would suddenly increase in speed.
There she was, sitting with her back against her humble farmhouse, looking up at the sky. Soundlessly singing at the sky as the shape of her elegant lips changed at every syllable.
There was that feeling again. Warm like sitting near the hearth on a winter's day, a swift attack of tingles on my fingertips, and, the strongest one of all, feeling like I belonged in the world, for once.
To belong was to have a reason to live for, a purpose to endure the days and whatever life may throw. And I'd found it. Or rather, her.
It was official then, wasn't it? Or, at least, undeniable.
I, Skye, was in love. Foolishly head over heels for a nameless beauty.
Ah, love. So many fitting adjectives for a single, powerful, concept. Unreasonable seemed to fit it very, very well…
The grass gave a quiet moan as I advanced, and immediately she looked to me. Our eyes met, moonstone with aquamarine.
The moonstone was clearly outshining the other…
Phantom Skye would've known the right thing to say. Phantom Skye would've known how to turn even her into a pleasant scarlet.
Skye, in contrast, was at a loss for words.
"G-good evening." I stammered, a behavior unusual to me. But no matter. None of the small things mattered now. Only she did. Uncharacteristically taking in an unsuccessful breath to calm myself, I threw caution to the wind and asked, "Would you like to go for a walk with me?"
She looked at me with the same empty, haunting expression. Much like the moon—uniquely beautiful in its uncanny way. Frightening almost, yet immorally…enticing…
"Yes."
Her answer made my heart leap into the sky, land on the moon, and fly back into my chest. One simple word, and such a strong rush of adrenaline.
I would've thought I was dreaming; it would've hurt, but at least I'd get a sense of reality. Reality had been getting more and more unfamiliar to me lately.
Well, reality would have to slide farther away, because I wasn't dreaming.
I wouldn't mind if reality never came back to hurt me again.
"I would like to address you by your name… Tell me, what is it?"
"Jill," she told me. Plain, and very, very fitting. "Yours?"
"Skye."
I forgot about Phantom Skye that night.
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Note: A little bit about the next chapter – I'm thinking Skye should learn about Jill and vice versa. I know it may seem a bit too fast, but keep in mind I'm only planning about four or five chapters.
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