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| Ivy Dewshine: | Ryouko Hirosue |
| Jonothan: | Masami Kikuchi |
| Adam Ross: | Furuta Toryu |
| Joy Lewis: | Kouda Mariko |
| Lorrena Quimby | Mika Doi |
The
entire town was in a hush for the past two months.
It had been six weeks since the burial of Edmund Quimby. Lorrena
was not taking her husband's death well at all.
It wasn't unexpected. The pair knew he was dying. But it happened
so soon. They were hoping that he would hang on long enough to
see his baby born.
Relatives and close friends knew the condition the widow was now
in. Many thought the baby she carried wouldn't survive the emotional
strain that was taking a toll on her body.
She kept herself indoors, and left her father and mother-in-law
to tend to the inn and hot springs resort.
Sarah Ross stayed by her bedside every afternoon, bringing food
and drink, urging the woman to nourish herself. She did everything
possible to insure the safety of her close friend's baby. Her
husband Luke and their two-year-old song Adam served the ill woman
dinner every night.
Although her health was depleting rapidly, Lorrena successfully
delivered a healthy baby boy on the morning of September 30th.
Lorrena's health soon redeemed
itself, and she found herself greeting tired soldiers wanting
rooms at her husband's beautiful (and well-known) residence.
The guests were easily charmed by the new addition to the town.
The beautiful brown eyes of Jonothan rekindled many fond memories
of the father he would never know, but through his life, would
hear numbers of stories about, which would give him the feeling
of knowing his father like a best friend would. The achievements
he made, friends he helped, strangers he extended a loving hand
to…all would lead to a strong sense of admiration like no
other, the kind that make you strive to find your life's calling.
As Jonothan grew up, he started to help his mother and grandparents
keep up the inn. He looked more like the late Edmund every day,
and Lorrena fell in love with her husband all over again.
On her son's fifth birthday, she made the decision (with her parents'
full support) to enroll Jonothan in a well-known boy's school.
It would be another year until he could attend classes, and they
didn't waste any time in trying to find someone who would take
up Jonothan's duties.
It was soon settled between the families Quimby and Lewis that
the young girl Joy Lewis would begin work on her seventh birthday,
two days before Jonothan started school.
Jonothan's automatic reaction of going to such a famous school
was, quite naturally, sheer excitement. He soon became concerned
about his mother and the inn.
Lorrena laughed at her son's quick change of mood, and held him
close to her, and told him of the new girl that would come to
help her when it was time for him to attend school.
For the next year, Lorrena worked on making Jonothan nice suits
for school. Every stitch was put with a tear a joy.
"Edmund, dear…" she would quietly say, "Our
little boy is growing up so fast…"
The day finally came that the
Lewis girl would arrive.
She was precious. Her golden curls fell loosely on her shoulders.
Her round face beamed like the sunlight. Her thin pink lips were
softly pressed together as she clung close to the side of Mrs.
Quimby.
Jonothan shifted in his seat as his mother finished brushing out
his long, straight, jet-black hair.
"I'm almost done, dear…" Lorrena sighed, and separated
his hair into three parts when she heard the door close. She straightened
up, and knelt down to Joy. "Honey, do you know how to braid
hair?"
The blonde child timidly nodded, clasping her hands together,
and laying them on the frills of her dress, "I braid my dolls'
hair all the time."
Lorrena smiled, "That's a good girl. Braid Jonothan's hair
for me, okay?"
Both of the children's eyes widened.
"But Mother!" Jonothan wined as she left the room.
"I've never braided real hair before!" Joy called as
the woman ran to the front desk.
All was silent for a moment, until the little girl began to weep.
Jonothan fidgeted with his sleeve's button for a considerable
amount of time. "Don't cry." He quietly said. "I
promise I won't be difficult."
The cool blue eyes of the tiny Joy burned with the tears clinging
to her long, curly lashes.
Jonothan looked over his shoulder, and smiled an honest notion
of peace making.
Joy sniffled pathetically, and walked up behind him. "Please
tell me if I'm pulling too hard."
Jonothan agreed, although he didn't comply. There were a few times
he would wince, for Joy was awfully rough with his hair, and she
would occasionally tug it with frustration. But he would never
let her see.
Jonothan held in a sigh of relief when his mother returned. The
braid was completed, and Lorrena complimented Joy on a job well
done.
Jonothan was embarrassed when his mother had to remind him to
say 'thank you'. He stood up from his sitting position, and shook
Joy's hand earnestly.
They took an immediate liking to eachother, and this overjoyed
Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Quimby immensely. This broadened the horizon
for a not only successful, but also happy marriage.
It seemed to get better and
better as the years rolled by. The tiny and glowing Joy blossomed
into a beautiful and admirable young woman.
Jonothan was excited to see his dear friend wait for him at the
gates of his school every evening when he would finish his classes.
Every evening he would look forward to being greeted by her beautiful
blue eyes and stunning smile.
Sixteen-year-old Jonothan was the envy of every young man at the
school. It was clear why-he had a beautiful companion, a bright
future ahead of him…it was almost time for him to graduate
and already every top-notch school was offering him scholarships.
Jonothan could sense the resentment of his classmates. He was
thankful that one man was unaffected by all of his works: his
lifelong friend, Adam Ross.
The man was two years his senior, and was kinder than any soul.
Neither Joy nor Jonothan felt threatened by him, and they all
got along like family.
They usually went straight home together; Adam's house was on
the way. The boys joked with eachother, and Joy would jump in
with a sly comment every once in a while, and they would all crack
up.
Once or twice a month, Jonothan and Adam would have a study session
at Harmony, an up-and-coming coffee shop, with a wide variety
of desserts.
Joy would hear of this, and heave a sigh, giving the two boys
a pleading look. Neither would wane, however.
"As long as I live, I'll never be able to taste any of those
treats you two speak so well of!" Joy spun on her heel, her
blonde hair reflecting the bright sunlight. "You really know
how to torture a young lady." She would look over her shoulder
at the boys once more, as thought to make one last effort to persuade
them to take her along. Her eyes would lock with Jonothan's first,
trying to break him. Failing, she would then shift her gaze to
the older and probably stronger Adam. Her pouting lips would creep
into a smile at that, and she would begin her way home solo, with
a little more of a spring in her step. She sometimes would steal
another quick glance at the boys, and sometimes would even wave
to them, to which Jonothan would always respond.
The summer wind blew softly against the men's faces. They made
small talk as they turned around and headed towards Harmony.
As they looked through their textbooks at a table in the almost
silent restaurant, Jonothan's thoughts began to wander off of
his studies.
"You know, Adam, maybe I should take something home for Joy…"
he muttered, turning a page in his book of medicine.
Adam looked up, "And your mother?"
"Well, of course. I can't be rude." Jonothan scooped
up the last bit of parfait in his glass.
"What could you possibly get them with the money you have
left?"
Jonothan dropped his pencil on the table, and moaned, resting
his forehead on the table. "Oh, that's right…! I left
my wallet at home!"
"I wish I could help, I really do…" Adam closed
his physics book, "…but I am in the same predicament
as you."
Jonothan sighed. "Oh, well. Next time."
Adam nodded, and they went back to studying.
Jonothan's mind wandered again. "Adam?"
The fair-colored man looked up again.
"When I get married…you'd be my best man, wouldn't you?"
Jonothan's youthful brown eyes met with Adam's green.
Adam leaned back on his chair, as thought pushed by the force
of the question. After a pause, Jono spoke again.
"If I get married, I mean."
Adam smiled, "Certainly. As you would be for mine, right?"
Jono grinned, his heart racing with happiness.
"You'll probably be first, though." Adam put a book
back in his leather bag. "You practically have your future
drawn out for you. You'll become the land's youngest and best
doctor, coming from the best medical university…"
"It's in Ageis, Adam. I would have to move." Jonothan
began to clear the table of his books as well, for the sun was
beginning to set.
Adam paused, and looked up in surprise. "That far?"
Jonothan nodded, "I'd marry before leaving, of course. I
still have another year or two before I would have to leave."
The two men stood, and left the restaurant.
Before the men went their separate ways, Jonothan inquired to
what Adam's plans were the next day.
Adam sighed. "I'm helping the Lewis's build their fence back
up. The storm ripped I apart last spring."
"Hmm." Jonothan held his briefcase over his shoulder
blades, his elbows facing the sky. "It was due for a repair
anyway."
"Yeah. Well, I'll see you later, Quimby." Adam turned
onto a road towards his house.
Jonothan went straight into his room once he got home to study.
Joy brought dinner to him, and left immediately to clean up the
kitchen.
After an hour, Jonothan had to take a break. It was getting late,
and he needed to wash off his dishes. He quietly tip-toed out
of his room, and into the kitchen. He couldn't find Joy anyway.
She was usually still washing dishes. His mother would always
go to bed at this time, and he'd help her finish up the kitchen.
He set his dishes down, and paused, reaching for a dishcloth.
I guess she finished early tonight…
"Is it still open this late?"
Jonothan froze for a moment. Joy was still here! -But who was
she talking to? He knew that he shouldn't impose on private conversations,
and he had a sinking feeling in his stomach, telling him he probably
wouldn't like what he was about to hear.
"Yes. It doesn't close for another hour. Can you come?"
Jonothan's eyes widened. His heart jumped up to his throat. Wh…what's
Adam doing here?!
"Let me tell Jonothan I'm leaving…" Joy quietly
replied, and walked back in.
Jonothan immediately began to look busy. He kept his eyes glued
to his dishes, which he began to scrub aggressively.
"Jonothan?" Joy walked into the kitchen. "I'm leaving
now."
Jonothan couldn't gather the courage to speak. He quietly nodded,
and managed to swallow. "G'night."
"`Night." She replied, and turned away from the door.
Jonothan kept scrubbing his dishes, until his hands grew tired.
He didn't cry, but his heart certainly broke. He scolded himself
for not seeing it before. He dried his dishes, and threw the towel
on the counter. Forcing his tears back with a sigh, he walked
back into his room, locking the door behind him.
He threw himself on his bed, and buried his face in his pillow.
He lied there for a good hour. He didn't fall asleep. He just
lied there, staring at the candles burning on his desk. His mind
was empty. The candles soon melted down to short stubs. The sky
outside was black and moonless. Jonothan dragged himself out of
bed to blow out the flames of the candles on his desk. He gently
closed his textbooks, and crawled back on his bed.
He fell asleep before he could change into his nightclothes. The
sunlight stung his eyes as he woke the next morning. He sat up
and held his forehead.
It was a Saturday. He had no school.
Jonothan undid his messy braid, and brushed out his hair. Braiding
it again, he sorted out his plans for the day, which was mostly
helping out his mother.
He noticed his horribly wrinkled shirt, and threw it in a basket
to be washed. He got out his more casual blouse, and put it on.
Buttoning up the collar, Jonothan put on his glasses, and walked
into the kitchen, where he found his mother, as expected.
Jonothan took a dishcloth, and cleaned his glasses, "Good
morning, Mother." He bent over and planted a kiss on his
mother's soft cheek.
"Oh, Jonothan! Just in time!" Mrs. Quimby grabbed a
bag from the dining room table, "Joy forgot this and her
pay last night. Could you take it to her?"
Jonothan took the bag, his heart aching again. He just remembered
the conversation he overheard last night. "Sure…"
he quietly murmured.
"Thank you, dear. That'll be all for today." Lorrena
stroked her son's face. "You need to take a break, dear.
Have some fun. You've been studying and working for so long."
Jonothan looked away, sighing. "Goodbye, mother."
Lorrena stared at the doorway her son went through in such a rush.
Her brow furrowed with worry.
Jonothan heaved a sigh as he
headed towards the Lewis house. He resolved to give whoever answered
the door the bag, and leave. Politely refuse any invitations to
come in. Head straight to Harmony.
Jonothan vowed to keep the resolution even more eagerly when he
saw Adam working on the fence next to the stone walkway. Joy was
standing next to him, holding two cups of water.
"I'll take a break in five minutes." Adam wiped sweat
off of his forehead.
"That's what you said ten minutes ago!" Joy groaned
before the two turned to see Jonothan.
Jonothan's throat went dry. He managed to stammer out. "I…You…you
forgot your pay and this." He held out the bag. "The
money's in there."
Joy took it, and smiled at Jonothan. "Thanks, Jonothan!"
Jonothan's heart broke. Please don't smile at me like that…he
thought. It only hurts more.
"I really must be going." Jonothan stammered. "I..I
have things to do."
"Okay. Don't work to hard, Quimby." Adam said.
Joy slapped him on the shoulder. "Listen to yourself!"
The two laughed.
Jonothan forced a smile across his face as he turned away. It
quickly faded as he walked down the road.
He dwelled in self-pity the entire time he was at Harmony. He
scraped the last bit of cheesecake off of the plate.
"Hey, Quimby!" a voice called from behind him.
Jonothan looked up to see a red-headed boy from school. He had
a crooked smile which seems to enchant all the girls.
"Carter…" Jonothan muttered. "I didn't know
you came here."
"Oh yeah. All the time." Carter replied. "Say,
where's Ross?"
"He's over at the Lewis's, putting up a new fence."
Jonothan stood up, putting his payment and a tip on the table.
Carter followed Jonothan as they continued their conversation.
"Oh, I see…" Carter joked. "Scoring points
with the folks!"
Jonothan grimaced as Carter chuckled. He glanced at the windows
and signs of the shops they passed by, trying not to get upset.
"Say, Jono…" Carter's laughter died down. "D'you
think I might get a taste of Joy before she devotes herself to
Ross?"
Jonothan snapped like a twig at that. With a furious growl, he
grabbed the collar of Carter's shirt, and slammed him against
the wall of the closest building.
Carter began to panic. His voice rose an octave. "Wh-what's
gotten into you, Quimby?!"
Jonothan's temper was on fire. His face never looked so outraged.
He dug his knuckles further into the flesh of his classmate.
"It was a joke! Honest!" Carter's eyes widened as Jonothan's
face grew closer to his.
"You…" Jonothan growled. "…if I even
see you doing as much as look at her funny…"
"I swear! Please! Let go!" Carter squirmed out of Jonothan's
grip. Catching his breath, he looked to Jonothan. "You've
lost it, Quimby!" he ran off as quickly as possible.
Jonothan headed home after that incident. He walked in to see
Mrs. Ross and his mother sitting at the dining room table, tears
in their eyes.
Jonothan stood frozen in the doorway. "…what happened?"
Mrs. Quimby answered softly, "Adam had a severe heat stroke,
dear."
What?! Jonothan took in a gasp. He bolted into his bedroom, and
slammed the door behind him.
"Jonothan?" his mother quietly knocked on the door.
Jonothan didn't answer. He simply sat at his desk, and rested
his head on his books.
Lorrena walked in, and silently closed the door behind her. "Jonothan,
honey…I'm not positive if he'll get through this…"
"If he does, he will suffer some extent of brain damage."
Jonothan flatly said.
Lorrena looked to her hands. She slipped her wedding ring off
of her ring finger, and held it in her tired and worked fingers.
She walked over to his desk, and set it down next to him.
"This is my wedding ring, dear." She began. "You
already have your father's. I want you to give it to the girl
you marry."
Jonothan looked to the ring in silence.
"Jonothan, you have to go out, have fun, meet someone. You
can't expect Miss Perfect to walk in and fall in love with you."
Mrs. Quimby stood in the doorway. "Do visit Adam, dear."
She closed the door behind her.
Jonothan stared at the ring on his desk. There was a diamond in
the middle, with two heart-shaped garnet stones on the sides.
The gold band was beautifully polished. He opened a tiny desk
drawer, and dropping it in there. He felt the leather cord around
his neck, holding his father's wedding ring. He looked at it.
Adam was playing the role of a father he never had. Sure, he was
more like a big brother sometimes, but what other man had he to
look up to? He loved him so much! But why…why did Joy have
to love him?! They so deserved eachother! Jonothan hated himself
for wanting Joy so selfishly. He couldn't help it! There's no
better girl in the world! He stood up from his desk. He had to
push Joy to the back of his mind. She must be heartbroken right
now, the condition Adam was in…
Jonothan walked Mrs. Ross home, and stayed to check on Adam.
He was lead to his room by Mr. Ross.
"He hasn't come to yet. He's had a horrible fever."
Adam's father looked broken. His strong stature was destroyed
by his son's fateful turn of health.
"You're a doctor, Jonothan. Tell us what we can do!"
Mrs. Ross begged outside of her son's bedroom.
"Shh…" her husband calmed her. "Let him spend
some time with him first."
Mrs. Ross wept in her husband's arms. Jonothan walked into Adam's
room.
He swallowed when he saw Joy in a chair, asleep next to Adam's
bed. He put his left palm on Adam's head to feel his temperature.
Jono drew his hand back in surprise.
"Quimby…" Adam's voice was weak and tired.
"You got a heat stroke. Don't move…" Jono pulled
back the sheets on his bed. "You need to cool off…"
"Where's Joy?"
Jonothan froze, "She's asleep. Over there." He pointed,
but didn't look up from the sheets.
Adam looked to Joy, and sighed with relief. "She's alright."
"Peachy." Jonothan replied with accidental bitterness.
"I'm sorry." He corrected himself.
"Mm…" Adam sighed. "I'm in love with her,
Quimby."
Jonothan ignored Adam, acting as though he wasn't hurt.
"If you're going to propose to her, I won't stop you. I couldn't
have chosen a better man for her to marry." Adam continued.
"But I am not going to hesitate asking her."
Jonothan headed to the door. "Get some rest. I'll check back
with you tomorrow."
Adam silently watched Jonothan slam the door behind him.
"I'm going to come back
tomorrow to check up on him." Jonothan told Mr. and Mrs.
Ross, "I want you to know, there is a strong chance his left
leg will be permanently paralyzed."
Mrs. Ross covered her mouth, and gripped her husband's arm.
"Keep cold compresses on him. Be sure he keeps cool, and
in bed." Jonothan ordered, "I'll be over tomorrow afternoon
to check on him."
Adam's words stuck in Jonothan's
mind that night. He tossed and turned in his bed, unable to sleep.
Every moral bone in his body told him to forget about Joy, and
let them get married.
But he loved her so much…!
Jonothan put his mother's ring in his pocket before departing
the next morning. After checking on Adam, he would at least take
the chance of winning Joy's heart.
"The good news is, your fever's gone down." Jonothan
sat next to Adam, "Bad news is, you need to stay in bed for
about four more days."
"What about my leg, Quimby?" Adam asked.
Jono was afraid of this. "Well, let me check."
Jono did the usual procedures…checking his reflexes, feeling
muscles…Jono's heart sank.
"I…" Jonothan paused. "I'd have to wait a
week to see if it's permanent."
Adam looked away, anguish on his face.
"I'm sorry, Adam. There's nothing I can do." Jonothan
sighed. His thoughts were along the same line as Adam's.
"How will I ever support Joy now?" he muttered, covering
his eyes with a large hand.
Jonothan felt horrible for his best friend. He stayed with him
for the entire day, to help him through the emotional strain he
was going through.
Days began to pass, and after school, Jonothan would visit Adam.
His leg's condition remained the same. Adam's mind changed its
focus to something else for the time being.
"Have you proposed to Joy, Quimby?" Adam asked.
Jonothan shook his head.
"Your days grow short." Adam smiled. "If you don't
beef up and ask her, by the end of this week, I'll have lost my
patience."
Jonothan looked up. Did Adam really think he was going to get
better?
As the hours passed, Jonothan had to meet a responsibility at
home with his textbooks.
The next day, Jono vowed to ask Joy to marry him.
He built up the courage to speak to her after his mother retired
for the evening. They were cleaning the kitchen.
"Joy…" he began, but the girl quickly interrupted
him.
"Finally! Jonothan, there's something I've been itching to
tell you all day!"
Jonothan looked up from the dishes. "What's that?"
"Oh, you won't believe it!" Joy rinsed her washcloth.
"Adam and I are engaged!"
Jonothan felt a rush of cold flood through his body.
"He proposed to me this afternoon!" Joy was overjoyed.
She hugged Jonothan, "Isn't that a riot?!"
Jonothan was speechless.
"Tell you what. I'm in such a great mood, I'll clean up the
rest of the kitchen! You get yourself to bed!" Joy pushed
Jonothan out of the kitchen, giggling madly.
Jonothan looked to Joy, who went back to cleaning the table.
He asked…Jonothan turned back around, and walked back into
his bedroom. He closed the door, and locked it. He walked over
to his bed, and pulled out his mother's ring. Tears blurred his
vision when he gazed at it. His brow furrowed, and he threw it
across the room, letting out a tearful cry. He buried his face
in his hands, crying bitterly. He sat on the floor, and leaned
against his bed. He vowed never to tell anyone of his feelings
for Joy, in fear they could ruin his friendship with her. The
thought of such an event pained him. If it ever occurred, he would
surely die!
Jonothan and Adam never spoke of the incident again. The engagement
was a shock to everyone. The Lewis and Ross family members were
certainly not against it, but they were nervous concerning how
the children would support themselves.
After a few months, Adam learned to get around with his disabled
leg. He was able to accomplish most of his tasks.
Joy and Adam both agreed to postpone a big wedding ceremony until
they could afford it.
With Adam's major in architecture, he was able to have a direct
influence on his own house. It would be quaint, but open to renovation
later on, if they ever wanted to start a family.
A year passed by quickly. Jonothan was gradually putting his feelings
for Joy behind him. Their house was near completion now.
Jonothan had his own decision to face, however. He had finally
graduated with highest honors from his school.
Seventeen-year-old, going on eighteen, actually---Jonothan's college
application papers were laying on his desk, waiting to be signed.
Joy had to quit working with them at the inn. It was understandable.
She was supporting herself now. She had to get a higher-paying
job.
Mrs. Quimby could probably find help elsewhere…but would
they ever be as reliable as Joy? Jono had his doubts.
His mother would be upset, he knew. She so wanted him to be successful
in medicine and marriage. He already failed one of them.
But she couldn't take care of the inn by herself. He could open
a small private practice someday….he owed his mother so much,
he should stay.
A day after the deadline for the application, Lorrena found the
papers while cleaning Jonothan's room. Jonothan wanted to be killed
for making his mother cry, but he convinced himself it was for
the best.
Jonothan would be lying if he
told you that he found satisfaction in running the inn for two
years. But in the year of his twentieth birthday, he had finally
made peace with his one-sided love for Joy without having to be
distracted by another girl.
Of course, no girl could ever compare to Joy, by his standards.
Not that he'd seen, anyway.
But if you spoke with him presently, he'd tell you, all of the
weeks of boredom were all worth it for the one fateful early autumn
day in mid-September.
He swore to himself millions of times, that if he saw one more
soldier that day, he would go out and get a job.
His mother wanted that statement on paper.
That would be the day an odd group, like none he'd ever seen,
would stay at his home.
They consisted of a giant, a dragon, an elf, a kinder, a mage,
and a girl. (Later, an oni would join them, but that's a different
subject entirely.)
Oh! And the girl! He had no idea what she was! He'd seen nothing
like her before! What was she? Who was she? She fascinated him
to no end!
If only things went better that day.
His head throbbed more where he was pinned with a shoe the morning
after it took place. His exotic guest had hurled it at him during
an accident the previous afternoon.
He packed his bag eagerly with every medical instrument he could
find. It's a shame he couldn't find anything to take away the
puffiness in his black eyes, which the dragon gave him after yet
another accident with the girl.
Jonothan collected that some of the members of the party were
not all too fond of him.
He searched through his desk drawers for a pen and paper. He froze
when he came across his mother's ring again. He stared at it for
awhile.
He swallowed. Could this be it…? Could she possibly be the
one? He took the ring, and held it in his young fingers.
"Jono! Get the lead out!!"
Jonothan smiled at the brash words of the girl, which made her
all the more charming in his eyes. With a note of confidence,
he took the ring in the palm of his hand, and closed his fingers
over it.
Dropping it in a tiny pouch, he put it in his satchel, and tied
his bag shut. "I'm coming!"
I can't force her to love me…Jonothan thought to himself
with a hopeful smile on his face. But at least with Ivy, I'll
get a chance!
End Installment Four-G