FINALLY DONE. Wow that took a long time ._.

Anyways, thank you for the support! It really made me happy that people enjoy my stories :D

(Chase's POV)

...What do I do now?

BUMP. BUMP. BUMP.

I felt my heartbeat get faster and louder. Heat rose throughout my body and sweat started to form from the tip of my temple.

Calm down, Chase. You can find a way out of this.

"Chase! Gill! What are you guys doing here?" Akari said, as she approached us slowly. I turned my attention to Gill. Perhaps he figure a way to bail us out.

Gill was as frozen and speechless as I was. Time slowed down as Akari took another step towards us. I knew there was only one option left. Run.

Every man for himself.

I lunged forward towards Gill and pushed him. I caught him off guard and he lost his balance. As Gill fell, I turned and ran for it.

"Gill!" Akari cried. This will buy me time to get away. I felt guilty but at the same time... it was worth it.

Even without the guidance of light, I moved forward. I made it pretty far, before my sandal got caught on a root. Unable to catch myself in time, I introduced my face to the ground.

"Owww..." I mumbled, as I rolled onto my back. I stared up at the sky, thousands of stars illuminated the night.

Just like those flowers illuminated the river

...Akari's expression when she saw me was burned into my mind. She must think I'm a creep. I sighed, not having the strength to get back up. What am I going to do now? Akari will probably start avoiding me... Before you know it, a silky white dress will envelop her figure. A gentle, smooth veil against her head. Illuminating like the sun, with every graceful movement down the velvet carpet. Then, she'll lift her hand and embrace her love's. That hand will belong none other than Luke's. She'll flash him one of her dazzling smiles, the same ones I fell in love with. Vows will be exchanged, and then soon later, her delicate hands will reach up, carelessly that barbarian's cheek. As they lean in simultaneously to confirm their eternal love. A sharp pain struck my chest, when I thought about that.

no, No, NO.

Akari...

Akari... is...

Is...

...mine.

Mine.

A tear stealthy made it way down my cheek. I wiped it off quickly, and groaned as my chest kept throbbing. Unaware of the sound of steps approaching my direction.

"...Chase?" A soft voice called. I quickly turned my attention to it. There she was, a few inches from me. She came to a stop as the wind brushed her silky hair with every gust. I began to start panicking. I wasn't ready to confront her yet... Especially, after the scene I made. I quickly rose to my feet, and fled.

...Or at least I tried. I made it a few inches away from her, before my worthless scandals betrayed me and send me crashing onto the ground again. I silently mumbled curses as I lifted myself back up.

"Chase, are you okay?" Akari cried. Her caramel brown eyes filled full of concern. Slowly, she kneed down and brushed some dirt of my apron. Speechless, I watched her, her movements were so gentle... A expression I no longer deserved.

"Akari... I'm sorry..." I managed to mutter, burying my head between my knees in shame.

"Huh?" Akari replied.

"I..." I gulped.

Don't say it. DON'T SAY IT.

The same sharp pain stuck my chest again.

"...I'm sorry I ruined your date..." I finished. A wave of pain followed quickly after I said it. Sending a shockwave of shivers throughout my body. From the tip of my fingers to my pinky toes, this aching feeling continued to explode. Leaving what was left to feel completely numb. Luckily, my head was still buried... So Akari wouldn't see my pathetic expression.

"Chase, you don't have to apologize. You did nothing wrong" She said, patting my head in attempt to cheer me up. Her tough fingers, the ones she used to work the fields and tend the livestock. Even with gloves, there was only so much protection it could provide. Yet, it had a soft touch to it, as she ran her fingers along my hair, I couldn't help but feel a little bit comforted.

"The river is meant for everyone!" She cheered. A stab of pain run throughout my body in a instant. Silence filled the air as the shock delivered by her words kept me speechless. Seconds later, I finally realized. Akari... Akari did not have even an ounce of romantic affections towards me. To her, I was probably just another person living in this world.

But.

But... Even so, did she not pick up on the signs? Surely, she would have realized my feelings towards her. My words, my actions, all these transactions were signs. Signs of how I longed for her. How I could never take my eyes off her once she enter my field of vision. How I secretly listen to every conversation you had with others as if it was an essential to my survival. How at every possible chance I reached for her, hoping to come in contact with smooth skin. She must have noticed right?

Right?

Pain was quickly consumed by anger. Rage, that she simply blushed off my affections towards her. That to her, it was simply an insignificant part of her life. Soon, fury clouded my mind, blinding me from reality. Allowing my true intentions to be released from their shackles. Before I knew it, I was off the ground and closing in on her.

"Don't you get it. I wasn't there, because I wanted to see the river" The tone of my voice seemed to frighten Akari, because just as I was in reaching distance, she backed up.

"Chase?" Akari said, with an unsettling expression on her delicate face. Her thin arms rose up, almost reflexly in a defensive position. Even so, I continued.

"How did you not notice! There isn't a day that goes by where I didn't think about you! Every moment, every hour, every second, every one of them have been occupied with you! Yet!" I stopped, and took a deep breath. Because, the next part would be the most difficult of all.

"Yet, all your attention goes to that idiotic manic! It's all about Luke, Luke, LUKE, with you!" I paused again, scanning her face for her reaction.

"Chase... What are you trying to say" Is all she could muster up. Adrenaline pulsed through my body, as my hand locked on to her wrist. Swiftly, I pulled her towards me. Her bright brown eyes registered with shock, however she wasn't able to react in time to do anything. My other hand reached up and cupped her soft cheek. Hastily, I leaned in and met her lips with mine. The anxiety that was filled with rage and fury, was completely substituted with bliss and ecstasy. For a moment, I completely lost within the feeling. The hand that grasped her wrist, had released it and instead found its way around toward her back. Tighten my hold as if I planned on never letting go. It wasn't until the need for oxygen, that I woke up from my trance. When I did, I quickly broke away from her.

What did I just do?

Wow, that got dark fast ._. To be continued!

Chase: ...YOUR MAKING ME SOUND LIKE A CREEP

Me: In my mind, you secretly are...

Chase: I'M NOT GILL

Harvest Moon: A Connect to a New World

Pffft, what a corny name. Cam is going to be in there too ~(* o *)~

Anyways, please review and tell me what you think about it!