The rest of the town was already hard at work when they arrived, surprised to see even Ring Ring had decided to pitch in. She had mellowed out in the last couple of years, though she could still be petty and jealous, and even Pucca would be hard-pressed to call her a friend.

"I'm going to start with the berries," Ching went to grab one of the larger baskets stacked by the short wall. "Have to save the best part for last!"

Garu chuckled. She had always loved climbing trees, saying the best views in the world were from high branches; he had to agree. Pucca kissed his cheek, giving him a worried look before heading off with her, and he wished he had some way of assuring her that nothing was wrong. He knew his recent nightmares were trying to tell him something, but he couldn't begin to puzzle out what. Sighing, he grabbed his own basket, making his way to the rows of pear trees, where Policeman Bruce and Master Chang were well on their way.

"Hello, Garu, over," Bruce greeted, fumbling a pear before dropping it in the basket by his feet. "Uh, you didn't just see that, over."

Master Chang laughed.

"No, we didn't see anything, did we, Garu?"

Garu snickered, then shook his head, going off to a tree some yards away. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy their company, he just didn't want to risk either of them asking questions if they happened to catch some sign of distress or confusion on his face. He couldn't stop thinking about Pucca, how often he must have hurt her when they were kids, how terrified he had been the day he'd realized he was starting to return the intense feelings she had always held for him. His fingers tightened on the rim of his basket as he started picking, turning each fruit absentmindedly before dropping it in. He still wasn't sure he could be the man she deserved, but he was determined to come as close as he could.

He bit his lip, remembering another dream that had shown up over and over as of late, thankfully much more enjoyable than the starkness and shadows. He had finished the day's training and gone to his favorite hill outside the village to watch the sunset, sighing in contentment as the inviting blue shifted into purples, pinks and golds. He stretched, about to lay back when he heard footsteps, turning to see Pucca trodding slowly up the path. It was never clear what had made her upset, but as usual, spotting him was enough to put the smile back on her face. She sprinted the last few steps, sending them both to the ground when she threw herself at him, her enthusiastic kisses met with equal intensity as he held her tightly against him.

His heart thudded almost painfully against his ribs, and he shook the dream away, wishing he were brave enough to make it a reality. He pushed out a breath, tossing the pear unceremoniously in his basket with the rest, then set it on the ground to have his hands free as he leapt into the higher branches. It really was a beautiful day, and he hoped the weather would hold out until the festival, he felt it wouldn't bode well if he confessed during a storm.

From there, he could just see the raspberry brambles, wondering if the girls were talking about him and Abyo as they did their part.

Ching flicked absently at a dried leaf on the ground as she rested her head in her hand. The basket between them was nearly full, Pucca getting to her feet to go grab another when she heaved a sad sigh.

"I miss Abyo so much, Pucca," she said. "We talk every week and he sends me pictures almost every day, but it's still not the same as having him here."

Pucca frowned in concern, adding her latest handful to their haul before hugging her, making a little sound of sympathy.

"I know he had to go, and that he'll be back soon," she continued, letting her hand fall limply to her side. "I'm always sure to tell him how proud I am, though, and he's started saying how he can't wait to see me, either."

As different as Abyo and Garu were, one thing they had in common was having training as their top priority, though her kung fu man had always been more open about his feelings, something she enjoyed despite all the envy it had caused when they were kids. While Garu was expressive and wore his heart on his sleeve, it was often unclear what he was actually thinking, but that had never deterred Pucca. If anything, she seemed to be attracted to it. Ching sighed again, then shook her head.

"We'll never be finished if I keep moping," she said, getting on her knees as she got back to picking. "So now I'm just going to keep asking you about Garu to stop thinking about it."

They giggled, though Pucca could feel her cheeks start to burn, and she hoped Ching wouldn't be able to figure out her new favorite dreams.

"Haven't you ever been curious about Garu's parents," she asked. "Or yours?"

Pucca shook her head. Their families had abandoned them and never put in the effort to find them again; that was all she needed to know, and she was sure he felt the same. Ching pouted.

"Oh, come on, Pucca, you can't tell me you've never wondered where your powers came from, you could be a real Demi-god for all we know!"

Pucca cringed. Of course she was curious about her abilities, but she cared more about the fact that she had mastered them on her own, that she was able to use them to help those she cared about.

"He's the only one who even comes close to you," Ching went on, dropping another handful of berries in the basket. Pucca's fists were clenched firmly on her thighs, though she couldn't be sure where that wave of agitation had come from. Her friend gasped in excitement. "Maybe he's from the same place you are, it would mean you two really are destined to be together!"

Pucca sighed happily, that would be amazing. But she also knew she would let him be with whoever he wanted, no matter how much it would hurt if he chose someone else. She focused on Ching when the girl started laughing, nearly falling over as she wiped a tear from her eye.

"We should go back to that sumo wrestling place in Japan, I'm sure he'd look amazing in that thing now!"

A dark blush flared across Pucca's cheeks, as she once again imagined what Garu must look like without his uniform, clad only in a mawashi; she was surprised her head didn't burst into flames. Ching smiled evilly.

"We should make a bet with him and Abyo that we're sure to win, and make both of them wear those for the day!"

She started to laugh again, the sound fading as her own face began to turn scarlet.

"Or maybe we shouldn't, at least not out in the village…"

Pucca just nodded, ducking into the shade as she tried desperately to cool herself down.

Garu set his overflowing basket with the other filled ones by the orchard gate before going to look for the girls, finding them in the higher branches of a gold-leafed persimmon tree, though Ching seemed more focused on the view than picking.

"I can see the ocean from here," she called to Pucca, sitting on the other side of the trunk. She stood carefully on the branch, starting to reach for the fruits above her head, crying out in surprise when it snapped beneath her. She seemed to hit every one on the way down, somehow managing to keep hold of the armful of persimmons she had already gathered. He sprinted the last few feet, making it just in time to catch her. She groaned dazedly, her head dropping against his shoulder. Pucca made her way to the ground with far less trouble, landing neatly with a worried look on her pink-cheeked face.

"I-I'm fine, Pucca," Ching managed, smiling at her, then she turned to him. "Thanks for the catch, Garu, you saved me from the worst of it."

He nodded, setting her down against the trunk in the shade of the leaves.

"I'll be fine in a bit," she assured them, waving away their concern. "And we can't fall behind, we don't know when the frost is going to come!"

She was back at work a half hour later, scaling the tops of trees like nothing had happened, though she had quit for the day just after sunset. Before long, he and Pucca were the only ones still at work, him building a small pile of fallen branches and leaves raked up during the day while she checked for any fruit that might have been missed. He lit a spark and stirred it into a steady blaze, hearing her giggles echo above his head as she simply jumped between trees, apparently seeing no need to come down. He smiled to himself, silently tracking her to the last one in the row, the flickering glow of the fire giving way to steady beams of moonlight.

He sighed contently, leaning against the trunk as he watched the sky, the stars fading in as the last vestiges of the day were swallowed by the gentle darkness of night. A hand flashed above his head, snatching the square, golden fruit, and he looked up to see her sitting on a branch, smiling so cutely back at him. Swallowing hard, he mustered his courage, and held out his arms, unable to hold back his joy when he saw hers; he caught her easily when she fell, and she threw her arms around his neck, her eyes shining as they looked so deeply into his.

It took all of his bravery just to lean those few inches closer, still just short of her kiss. Tenderly, she placed her delicate hands on his cheeks, laying her forehead against his. He sighed again, wishing his fearlessness extended to matters of the heart. Her soft pink lips had become his craving, but he knew he could never indulge unless she allowed him to. She combed her fingers through the loose hair that framed his face, then kissed him, and he longed for the day he'd be able to enjoy her without fearful restraint.

He panted lightly when she ended it, feeling his heart in his throat. She would never rush him, that he could be sure of, though he couldn't help but fear that she would grow tired of waiting for him. As painful as it would be, he wouldn't hesitate to let her go, if than time ever came. He wanted more than anything to see her happy, even if it meant seeing her in the arms of somebody else.

Is it bad that I couldn't stop laughing while writing out that second scene? I feel like it is. XD