Chapter 17: Stale Cupcakes

It was opening night.

Totakeke and Doctor Shrunk prepped together, cleaning the entire venue and setting up enough chairs for every villager to have a seat. As the clock drew closer to 8PM, Totakeke felt his nerves biting, and the good doctor called him on stage for a sound check.

"Nervous?" he asked as Totakeke took out his guitar.
"A bit," the musician admitted.
"Don't worry. It'll be fun."

The acoustics in here were wonderful. Totakeke's guitar sounded far more beautiful than he could imagine here. He sang a little as the doctor adjusted his microphone, and let out a small "Aha" when he felt it was perfect. He winked at the musician and sat beside him.

"In a few moments, we open those doors," he said proudly, "Totakeke, my dear friend, I am so glad you returned."
"Me too," Totakeke murmured, smiling.
"Of all people, I am glad to share this with you. My wife and son…well, they just don't understand how much this means…"
"I do."

Totakeke patted him on the back, smiling understandingly.

"You're the only one who understood me when I was stuck, the only one who made any sense to me," he said softly, "This is my thanks, doctor."

Doctor Shrunk grinned before hopping off the stage and walking to the doors, his hand on the knob, and he looked back to his friend.

"Shall I?"
"Do it."

The villagers were waiting outside, all of them excited. Totakeke felt his heart swell, especially when old Tortimer and Brewster led the group. He hopped off the stage and shook both of their hands, and Tortimer drew him into a tight hug.

"My boy, it's been so long," the old tortoise said, his wrinkled mouth a broad smile, "I hope you've been well."
"I have, Mayor," Totakeke answered, nodding.
"Oh. I ain't this place's Mayor anymore."

He chuckled lightly as Totakeke's face slightly fell.

"Oh, no, it's no reason to be sad," Tortimer clarified quickly, patting the musician's shoulder and laughing, "I'm happily retired now. There's a wonderful tropical island I've made residence on, and I'm happy to say I am quite comfortable living in the sun and warmth."
"That's good then," Totakeke replied, relieved.
"I came back to hear your debut. You, my friend, are worth my trip."
"And you're worth mine."

The two shook hands, and Tortimer gestured towards the back of the crowd.

"Before you begin, I believe you should meet our current Mayor. I'm sure you'll be pleased."

The various animals parted, and a lone figure walked through the new path to the musician. His eyes widened.

The human girl he had met so long ago, the silent girl, his biggest fan. She stood before him with loving eyes and a small grin, and she wrapped her arms around him.

"Welcome home, Totakeke," she whispered.
"You…talk now."

He hugged her back.

"I'm so glad," he whispered.
"It's thanks to you, for inspiring me to find my voice."

She stepped back a little and looked him over, her eyes shining brightly. She was dressed in a beautiful dress, her hair hanging down in a long, loose ponytail.

"This village has become very special," she said to him, "Because of you, and all of these wonderful villagers, I have become so much stronger. Where I grew up, nobody really cared."

She held her hand out to him.

"When you left, I was very sad, but I also knew how necessary it was. Tell me…did you find what you were looking for, Totakeke?"
"Yes. I did. After many years, my journey has ended."
"Will you do me the honor of ending it in this wonderful little place?"

He smiled and took her hand in his, shaking it gently.

"Miss Mayor…I would be honored to."
"Then let us all welcome you to Piccolo Valley."

The other villagers all cheered, and Totakeke hugged the new Mayor before waving to everyone and jumping back onto the stage. He sat with his guitar in hand and waited for the cheering to soften.

"Alright, all you hep cats," he said smoothly, a mischievous grin appearing as he spoke, "Who's ready for a little K.K. Slider?"

The villagers applauded again, and he strummed a few notes to ensure he was still tuned. He winked to the Mayor before calling out, "Then I'll begin with a little song our Mayor here would always request. I call it…K.K. Jazz."

Her eyes welled up a little as he began to play, and she and the others all swayed and danced along to the music. He sang out to his little crowd and happily realized that numbers didn't matter. In fact, less meant that he could observe and remember every face, that he could see every single visitor having fun and enjoying the music.

He took requests all night, and the crowd steadily thinned out as villagers shook his hand and departed for their beds. At the end of the night, only the Mayor remained, seated in the center chair, her hands folded into her lap as she listened quietly to the musician's art soaring through the venue. When he finished his second to last song, he set the guitar down for a moment and gazed into her eyes.

"Tell me, Miss Mayor…I never had the pleasure of learning your name."
"You'll laugh," she said, giggling softly.
"I won't."
"Hehe…it's Jasmine. My nickname was always…"
"Jazz," Totakeke finished, chuckling, "So that's why you like that song…"
"Yup. I like anything with my name on it!"

They shared a small laugh, and he patted his guitar.

"Jazz…you're a pretty cool girl, you know that?"
"I'm not so cool."
"You are…"

He picked the guitar up and strummed a little.

"Only the coolest people get to hear this song…" he murmured, "So pull up a chair…"

She smiled and pulled her chair closer to the stage. He hopped down, so he stood directly in front of her.

"My entire journey began because of this song," he said softly, their eyes locked, "When I was younger, I lost somebody very dear to me. She was a wonderful girl who was always looking out for me, who always put me first, who always loved me more than I can say most others have…"

He smiled gently at her.

"Until now…only two people have heard this song. My old teacher, and a treasured friend who helped me finish it. Tonight…"

He began to play the melody softly, and his eyes fell shut.

"…Tonight, I hope to debut the final product…for three very special people. For my new friend Jazz, for the wonderful Doctor Shrunk…and for my wonderful Lyric…"

He began to sing, the melody and words flowing together like a peaceful stream through the atmosphere. Doctor Shrunk, who watched from the corner of the venue, danced along slowly, his eyes closed as his memories flowed within the river. Jasmine swayed in her seat, taking in every word, and tears formed in her eyes as its melancholy tone tugged at her heart.

But she also felt…uplifted.

Totakeke sang softly, and he thought of the last time he saw her face. Every memory of her flowed through his mind, and he watched his own story unfold in a whirlwind of pictures that nobody in the world but him could see. The Doctor and the Mayor softly clapped when the song concluded, and Totakeke slowly opened his eyes.

He felt revived. He felt a weird sensation, as if there really was someone else in that room, listening in silently and remembering their own treasured bits of the past.

He hoped it was her.

Without a word, he turned around to his guitar case and pulled something out, and the small squeaks of a marker could be heard echoing through the now silent venue. Jasmine waited patiently until her new resident turned around and held a CD out to her, its cover a deep blue, the sad silhouette of K.K. Slider gazing into its depths. In the corner, in permanent marker, was a note:

"Please always treasure this, for it is the embodiment of my heart and soul, and you are the one I trust to forever hold it in your hands."
-Totakeke "K.K." Slider

She read it slowly, then held it to her heart, tears escaping her eyes.

"It's a promise," she whispered.

He descended from the stage again, and he gave her one last hug before packing his guitar and leaving the venue. She gazed at the CD again and took note of the title, the words a small whisper on the cover.

"Stale Cupcakes."

xxx

"Totakeke."
"Lyric."
"Why do you love me?"
"What kind of question is that? I just do. What more is there to say?"
"Nothing specific?"
"No…"

She gazed at him, her hands clutched around the white sheets of her bed. He was sitting on the chair, his eyes locked with hers.

"Why not?" she asked.
"Because love isn't something we have the capacity to explain," he answered, "Lyric, I could spend weeks trying to find an answer, but nothing I say will be satisfactory. I could tell you so many things that I love about you…"

He turned his stare to the ceiling.

"…but I could never explain why I love you. I could never explain what made our hearts connect, what brought us together, what kept one within the other's heart…"

He shook his head.

"But I'm…glad I can't answer it. I don't want to know why I love you. I don't want or need an answer. I just know that I love you, and that's more than enough for me."

She sat silently, then held her arms out to him. He walked into them, and they tightened around him until he was nearly deprived of air.

"Totakeke…"
"Lyric…"

She drew him into a passionate kiss.

"I think…this is the one thing I'm okay with not knowing," she murmured, smiling gently, "I've prided myself on knowing so much about this world…"

She hugged him tight, her head resting on his shoulder.

"…but I think I'm okay just knowing you love me."

She gazed into his eyes.

"…and knowing how much I love you…"

xxx

"I have to say…that song was quite beautiful," the doctor sighed.

The two sat together on a bench overlooking the beach, a carton of strawberries between them, hot tea in their hands.

"Almost six years in the making…I hope she's happy," Totakeke murmured softly, throwing a strawberry into his mouth.
"She is, I can assure you," Doctor Shrunk chuckled, sipping his tea, "I'm sure she was listening…"
"She was…I felt it."

He smiled.

"I'm not the most spiritual person in the world…but I know I felt her in there. I know she was listening. There's no other way to describe that feeling…"
"I am happy, then."
"I feel so…at ease. Like a million pounds have been lifted off my shoulders."

The doctor ate a strawberry and smiled.

"So…what will you do now?" he asked.
"Stay," his friend answered simply, smiling, "My life and future continue where hers began. It's no mistake that I ended up in her birthplace."
"No, it's not."
"It's only fitting that I stay. She never wanted to leave this place, and neither do I. I intend to do right by her and remain here."

The doctor patted his shoulder and stared at the moon. Stars were poking out through the night sky, shimmering delicately.

"Why Mayor Jasmine?" Doctor Shrunk asked.
"She has the same eyes…" Totakeke murmured, "She's been through a lot, but she presses on. Before I left Piccolo the first time, she was mute…but she was my biggest fan. Through all my experiences, I've never forgotten her…"
"She's special to you?"
"Very."

Totakeke laughed softly.

"She was my first true fan…"
"Hey!"
"Aside from you."

He nudged the old doctor's shoulder.

"I want to keep an eye on her," Totakeke continued wistfully, "I want to watch her bring this little village into even more prosperity. I want to keep playing for her. I want to remain nearby. I don't want her to lose that beautiful voice again…"

The doctor smiled and ate another strawberry.

"What was the name of that song?" he asked.
"Stale Cupcakes."
"How fitting…"
"You remember?"
"Of course. I never forget a patient's story."

He took another sip and leaned back, closing his eyes.

"It's hard to believe there was a time when I felt like I couldn't do this," Totakeke mused, tracing out constellations with his finger, "I was so sure I would fail. Now, every time I play, I feel like she's really out there listening, like she's proud. I miss her every day, but I think of her every time I perform, and I feel a little more at ease…"
"You've kept her in your heart," the doctor said.
"It's like you said…a woman never truly leaves you…"

The doctor chuckled gently, and they tapped teacups.

"It still hurts though," the musician continued.
"It always will…but love is a pain worth bearing."
"It is…"

The two went silent, and Totakeke laughed softly and took the doctor's hand. He guided it along the stars, tracing a familiar shape in the stars.

"Do you see it?" he asked.
"See what?"

Totakeke smiled, and traced it out again until the doctor finally smiled in realization.

"A cupcake…"

Author's Note: And it's done. I sincerely hope everyone enjoyed the journey and the read (I know I enjoyed writing it). I hope those of you who have read and enjoyed will keep this little story within your hearts and remember it fondly.

Maybe someday I will journey, once again, into this wild world of writing for Animal Crossing. This was an unexpected load of fun and I can't wait to start up another story someday (It's certainly a nice change of pace from Harvest Moon~).

So if you see my name pop up again, I hope you'll remember me and give another one of my little stories a shot~ Thank you to all who have taken the time to read, review, and enjoy. You're all the best~

-Serif