Another chapter! So soon? You know it! 'Cos I don't know If I plan on continuing this. It seems like it's okay where it is, but maybe if lotsa people like it, I'll continue to where they get together or something.x3

Harvest Moon belongs to Natsume Inc. and Marvelous Entertainment. Not me. Please enjoy my harmless fan written fiction. 333

Still in Gils POV. No confusion.8D

Chapter Two: That Might've been the Moment

I was shocked when I heard the news. That carpenter woman always seemed so lively to me, just like her idiot son. And just like them, the day seemed so bright and happy. It confused me, honestly. I hadn't really been to any funerals before, but I had always imagined them to be on dreary days when the sun refused to shine. Then after all the grieving, when everyone was leaving, it would rain… or something dramatic and epic like that. Well, that's how TV made it seem, anyway.

I looked around at the villagers' tears and frowns and found that despite the sun and many colored flowers, the atmosphere was surprisingly gray. I couldn't help but examine them. They all seemed so different. Mr. Ramsey's face was softer than I'd ever seen it and that Mira woman and her husband silently wept beside him and his red haired grandson, who stood surprisingly strong for a kid not much older than I. Shockingly enough, Barbara was being comforted by her husband, too. Not that it's strange, but I half expected it to be the other way around. That Simon's mind seemed to be so much weaker than his outrageous wife, but I suppose she's a woman, too. The Inn keeper family, of course, wept too, along with that blond lady and her daughter… oh, yeah, and her creepy husband, too.

I found as I neared the end of my list, the one who should be most impacted by this came to mind. I guess I stopped and anticipated it a bit longer. I know it sounds mean, but I was almost excited to see Luke's expression after practically telling me to get over myself a year ago. Now he'll understand exactly how I felt when my mother left me.

I eagerly searched for but seconds until I saw them at the front. It was weird to see Dale hunched over like that on the woman's grave. I didn't want to think a man like that could be crying about anything. But what really turned my stomach was the expression on Luke's face as he patted his fathers shoulder comfortingly. The ignorant grin that spread across his face, brighter than I'd ever seen it before.

"C'mon, pops, don't be down! You know how mama doesn't like that!" There seemed to be an understanding in Dale's eyes that only confused me as he held on to that blue-haired idiot. His eyes said "thank you", but mine were prepared to chew him out just as soon as I got the chance.

I watched everyone solemnly begin to go back to normal. I listened to them and their sympathy for Luke and his father. I seethed when I thought about that expression I saw, wondering if I was the only one and once again found myself on my lonely shaded bench.

"HA! Found you!" Called the bane of my existence. "I knew I'd find you sitting in the shade! So why are you upset this time, grouchy-pants?" I couldn't look at him. I could only imagine that annoying grin slapped across his face like I wanted my hand to be.

"Go away, Luke. You are literally the last person I want to see right now." Of course, though, despite my statement, he sat down next to me.

"Hey, did I do something to make you mad?" I clenched my fists at his obviously stupid question.

"You wouldn't understand."

"How do you know that?"

"You just wouldn't! Because you never understand anything! You're just stupid, Luke! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" I could see him flinch at my obviously raised voice, but it only made me feel triumphant. Like maybe me yelling was getting through.

"Hey, now." He said with an apologetic smile. "Whatever I did, I'm sorry, but you don't have to be so mean!" I could only glare at him. "Are you gonna tell me, now?"

"Don't think I didn't see you." I stood placing my hands sternly on my hips. "How could you smile so brightly at funeral?" Suddenly Luke didn't have a smile anymore, but it didn't stop me. I was so happy that I'd finally gotten rid of that stupid grin, that I felt a bit empowered. "At first I thought you were just stupid! Of course you wouldn't understand my feelings! But then, just when I thought you understand! When you finally had to go through losing her, too!" I couldn't find then words like I wanted to. I could only growl in frustration. "You just don't care about anything at all, do you?"

"She loves me." He spoke quietly looking down.

"What?" Was all I could say.

"She loves me… even though… you know. So I thought… she wouldn't want me to be upset." I stared at him while he put his hand up to wipe his nose. He wasn't crying, nor frowning. And before I could comment he grinned back up at me. "Plus everyone else is so sad, you know? What good would I be to my pops if I was all down in the dumps, right?" I slowly nodded in disbelief.

I had harbored so many emotions since my mother left up until this past week. So much hatred and anger. I believed myself to be so mature in understanding my actions and justifying them all. However, I think now that the justification was just an excuse to let myself be a brat without feeling guilty. I built up these walls around myself, thinking that putting all my faith in someone was something that could only end in heartbreak, but when I looked at that smile my idea of strength changed completely. And all my anger and hatred turned to remorse and admiration. It burned like fire through any wall I had bitterly held onto and made me realize that I had been selfish.

"Luke… I'm sorry." I looked down in shame. As usual, he didn't understand.

"Aww, that's okay, buddy! I know you get emotional and stuff." I forgave him this time out of guilt, but next time he won't get away with a comment like that.

"Look, if…" I scratched my head while I searched for less embarrassing words. "If you need to talk to someone. You know! I'll… listen… and stuff." I couldn't help the tomato color spreading across my face. For once something about the fruit I didn't appreciate.

"Actually…" I quickly set my gaze on him, surprised at thought that he would actually take my offer. "Could you sit back down next to me?"

"S-sure." I said somewhat dumbstruck, and completed that task, gracefully as always. What I didn't expect was the bridge of his nose resting comfortably on my shoulder.

"Thanks…" Was all he said. And even though I couldn't see his face, I knew this time he wasn't smiling. I sighed.

"How do you do it, Luke?" I asked leaning my head back on the bench, exhausted.

"It's so hard…" Came unexpectedly, followed by a deep inhale, dragging my head back up and into attention. "I don't even…" Was all he could say before choking out a sob and nestling his face in my neck. It was oddly comfortable and even though he was bigger than me, I felt right now like I was the bigger one. I reached my arms up to his back and rested them there.

It's funny how this moment played out. I remember a year ago when we sat in this very spot and fought because I couldn't accept that Luke might've been right. I think when he told me I shouldn't be sad was that first display f that amazing strength of his. Even though I was thinking only seconds ago about how this is the first time I've seen something like this. And even though we weren't very close then, I think that might've been the moment Luke first put this warm feeling in my chest. Just like fire.