literature

SkyexJill: To Catch a Maiden 11

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As fall came to an end, I made my trips to the valley less frequently. It was getting chilly, and the road was tough. I only occasionally went to spy on Jill. I would just watch her to see if I could figure out anything that she liked. My passion for curry was wearing away. Mostly because I hadn't gotten anywhere in the past little while. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how I was supposed to put "love" into my curry.

I climbed into the window of the guy's room at the inn in Mineral Town. Scaling one story of a perfectly vertical and flat brick wall was nothing for the phantom thief.

"I think they're siblings," Gray was talking to Cliff, "Because they came by the shop earlier today. The girl had way too much stamina..."

"Hmmm," Cliff nodded thoughtfully.

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked, taking a seat on one of the beds. Gray and Cliff were sitting at the table.

"The new farmers that just moved in," Cliff said, "The girl introduced herself to me at church. Her name is Claire."

"New farmers?" I asked. Don't we have enough of those..?

"Yeah," Gray nodded, "You know that really old, abandoned farm just south of town?"

"Oh, yeah..." I said thoughtfully.

"The girl scares me..." Gray shuddered, "I saw the mayor walking away from that farm, looking pretty beat-up. My grandpa said that Claire beat him up with a hammer..."

"Haha!" I laughed, "She sounds awesome! So, speaking of girls," I quickly changed the subject and walked over, nudging Cliff, "How are you and Ann doing?"

Cliff stared at the ground, turning red, "Fine..."

I laughed.

Gray rolled his eyes, "You and your women..."

I turned to Gray, "Things not going so well with you and your lady, hm? Whadja do?" I leaned in close to him, grinning.

"Mary and I are friends, idiot," he said, placing his hand over my face and pushing me away, "How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"Say that all you want," I said, laying myself on the table, "I'm not going to believe you."

"Whatever... While we're making the rounds," Gray glared at me, "What's up with Jill?"

I shrugged, taking in a deep breath and closed my eyes, "I see her about once a week."

"Once a-" Gray started.

"It's a long trek, ok?" I shot up, staring down at Gray, nose-to-nose, "And it's really cold."

"You're a wimp, you know that?" Gray remarked.

"Shut up," I growled, "That's how often you go to the valley."

"Because I don't have many good reasons to go more often," Gray replied calmly.

"I've got things to do," I said, starting to storm away.

Cliff glanced at the clock, somewhat worried. "You're not going to rob someone," he asked, looking upset by the thought, "Are you?"

I paused with my hands on the windowsill. 'Why do you always ask me that?' "I didn't make any appointments," I muttered, glancing over my shoulder. 'That should please you.'

"Oh," Cliff smiled, "Ok. That's good."

I sighed. 'Yeah, wonderful. I'm not eating again. Thanks for the consideration, buddy.' I set a foot on the windowsill and started to pull myself over.

"Skye," Gray said wearily, "What do you do on nights that you don't steal, anyway?"

I looked back at the others, somewhat confused. Both of them seemed concerned. Gray didn't show it much, but, after years of getting to know him, I could read the subtle changes in his expression. He was definitely concerned about something. "Hehe," I grinned back at them, "I usually just pick a spot and stare at the stars." I jumped out the window, not waiting for their response. I started walking away when I heard steps rushing across the room above me.

"I meant about food!" Gray shouted after me.

I spun around. Gray looked angry. "Hehe," I laughed at his face, "Use your imagination."

"That doesn't answer-" Gray started leaning out the window as I ran away.

"Not so far!" I heard Cliff raise his voice slightly. I glanced back. Cliff was pulling Gray back, helping him regain his balance after almost falling out the window.

I chuckled to myself and wandered south of town, passing the old farm house on my way toward Mother's Hill. There weren't nearly as many weeds in the field as there had previously been in the farmyard. The place looked significantly nicer. Less abandoned. I continued on towards the hill, ignoring the new farmers. They were probably poor. Especially having just started the farm. Not worth even trying to see if there was anything worth stealing.

As I kept walking, I could feel my stomach tightening. I tried to think back on when it was exactly that I had stolen my last meal...

I was slightly surprised by a sudden noise I heard behind myself. I turned and saw a young maiden storming in my general direction. Since I hadn't seen her before, I made the assumption that she must be the new farmer.

The blonde maiden stomped past me in an angry huff. She seemed too wrapped up in her rage to even notice I was there. Since she was heading in the same direction as me, I decided to follow her. I must have been following silently. That, or she was too angry with whatever had gotten her so upset to notice me before I was right next to her. She seemed quite startled.

"Augh!" she jumped, producing a hoe from her rucksack.

I quickly jumped back, "Woa! Easy! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Definitely the new farmer. What was her name again? It was something that started with a K...

"Oh, I'm sorry..." the farm-girl said slowly, "I didn't hit you, did I?"

"No, I've got good reflexes, so you missed me by a lot," I said, eyeing the blue-eyed blonde before me, "So... You're the new farmer..?"

"Oh, right!" She nodded vigorously, "I'm Claire. I just moved into the farmhouse with my brother, Jack. Oh, by the way, I met all of the villagers already, so you musn't be from around here, so I'll warn you: I heard there was a thief that hangs around here sometimes. They call him, Phantom Skye. My brother told me to be careful, so you should, too."

I raised an eyebrow at this statement. She fits the blonde stereotype... Dumb. I tried not to laugh.

Claire let out a small sigh, staring up at the stars thoughtfully. I stared up at the stars beside her. We stood in relative silence for a few moments when Claire suddenly asked, "What are you doing out here this late, anyway?"

I smiled down at the little maiden, "I just come out here to clear my head sometimes."

"Ah..." Claire nodded, "I guess I'm doing the same thing, then... My brother's always so worried about me that I never get to do anything. I'm lucky that I'm faster than him. I told him that I wanted to explore out here, but he kept insisting that I shouldn't go alone, because of the phantom thief. I just wanted to have some time to think to myself. I mean, I already spent all day with Jack! Can't he give me some space?" Claire was making large gestures with her whole body, flailing her arms around like a spaz.

I laughed, "Well, with dangerous thieves around it's probably a good thing that he's careful."

"Oh, no," Claire objected, "I never heard anything about him being dangerous," she raised her hands and waved them in a windshield-wiper motion in front of herself, "Please don't misunderstand. I don't think he's hurt anybody. He's just mysterious. I know I just moved here, but I think the phantom thief seems relatively harmless. He probably just doesn't have a job, so he's stealing to get by. I actually feel bad for him..." Claire looked down.

"You feel bad for the thief..?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Nobody feels bad for a thief...

"Well, yeah," Claire said, "He mostly steals food, so he's probably stealing to eat, to survive. Because of that, people hate him. I know stealing is wrong, but... I don't know. It just doesn't seem nice to judge him based on a few things he's done. I mean, really, what does anybody know about him aside from his stealing? He doesn't steal every day, so what's he doing with the rest of his time? It's not like he's mugging old ladies. Even Jack heard rumors about a thief and now he won't let me go anywhere by myself, even though the phantom thief hasn't hurt anyone. My brother didn't even want me to go on this walk by myself because he was worried the phantom thief would do something bad to me. I don't think he'd hurt anyone, and my chances of running into him are slim, anyway."

I laughed at the slight irony to her words. "It's always good to be cautious. Jack's probably just being a good brother. I hear the phantom thief is especially good at stealing young maidens' hearts."

"Because he's cool and mysterious?" Claire asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"And a good-looking charmer," I added, "He uses phrases like 'beautiful maiden,' and 'fair princess' to address young maidens."

"Nah," Claire replied casually, "I don't really go for that type."

"Oh?" I looked her over. "Then, what is your type, my fair lady?"

Claire thought for a moment.

Is she really not getting what I'm saying?

"The quiet, hard-working type," Claire replied, her eyes locking on me coolly.

"I see," I replied, looking up at the stars, placing my hands in my pockets, "You like a strong man that can protect you?" I wonder if that's the kind of guy Jill likes... Is that how she sees Elvis..? My heart ached at the thought.

"Maybe something like that," Claire said, her blue eyes still locked on mine.

"Uh-huh..." I said, narrowing my eyes slightly. "Well, whatever the reason," I replied, returning to the previous topic and running a hand through my hair, "Pretty girls like you should be careful." Take a lesson from Jill. She's super cautious. Even if all of her precautions, like locked doors, are useless against me, she takes every precaution she can.

Claire sighed, not wanting ro return to that topic. She changed it again. "What about you? What kind of girl do you like?"

Jill. "I don't know," I replied, "Just someone that stands out to me... I like brunettes. Someone that isn't afraid to speak her mind, who works really hard day after day, with a voice that can be harsh and beautiful at the same time... And eyes that sparkle like gemstones..." Did those words actually just come out of my mouth? ...This is an odd conversation to have with someone I just met.

Claire smiled, "Sounds like you've got someone in mind." This statement made me give the blonde an odd look.

I sighed regretfully and looked back at the sky, "Yeah..."

Claire's smile faded slightly. "What's with that response?"

Something inside of me decided to make me blurt out more words about my situation with Jill to this stranger. This feels like some sort of corny movie... "It's just becoming increasingly obvious lately that she really doesn't want me around."

"Ah," Claire nodded knowingly, stepping somewhat closer to me.

You're a weird person. I don't even know you. Don't stand so close... I inched away from her, "Seriously, though, pretty maidens like you shouldn't be out alone. Especially this late at night." I'm so glad my Jill isn't this stupid... It'd be dangerous with Elvis around. It'd be much harder to keep her to myself.

Claire laughed, "Why? Because a charming guy like you might try to steal me away? I really don't think you would."

"And what if I did?" I asked, leaning in and holding her face in my hands, "What would you do?" I leaned in closer.

She burst out laughing hysterically when I did this.

She's laughing..? This action puzzled me more than anything else she had done this evening. The normal reaction would be to blush furiously and close her eyes. Or try to beat me off with a shovel and rock-solid protests. That's what Jill would have done. Especially since we're alone on Mother's Hill. This is a popular dating spot.

"Okay, I guess I see your point," Claire said as I backed away, "But I still don't think you'd go through with it. You just don't seem like that kind of person. I don't think you'd hurt me like that."

I sighed with frustration, "That's not the point I'm trying to make. You're too trusting. You don't even know my name and you're talking to me like we're old friends. It's kind of weird."

Claire blinked, "Oh, that's right! What's your name?" her eyes were locked on me with the utmost interest.

I inched away slightly. "Why? It's not like it really matters..." I stared up at the sky and Claire followed suit. We watched the stars in appreciative silence again. Claire  was the one to break the silence with her nonsense again.

"Sometimes, people get confused about their emotions," Claire said, still looking up at the sky, "Fear and love are such similar emotions that people get them mixed up. That's why couples go on dates to watch horror movies. Sometimes, it just takes a little push to get someone pointed in the right direction."

I looked at her with an odd expression. "What are you talking about? Where did that come from?"

"Hm?" she looked over at me, "Oh, I'm sorry! I guess I just drifted off for a minute there... I was thinking about the phantom thief," Claire declared, "People are afraid of him. He says a few nice words and the girls mix adrenaline up with some other emotion. He's really just taking advantage of the situation."

I'm taking advantage of the situation..? Maidens are charmed by me because I'm charming, not because of adrenaline! You insult me by doubting me!

I'd never had anyone say something like that to me before. It gave me an odd feeling in my stomach. I didn't like it. "You're an odd maiden..." I muttered.

"You keep calling me a maiden. It's weird," Claire stated, "I've never heard anyone talk like that before. Why do you do that?"

I blinked. "I never really thought of it... It's probably part of my 'lady's man' thing."

"You're a lady's man?"

"Yes!" I cried indignantly, "You haven't noticed?!" Although I haven't really been trying to charm her...

"Oh!" Claire spoke suddenly, "It's getting late. I really wish I could keep talking with you, but my brother's probably worried. I'll see you later, uh... What was your name again?"

I laughed, "That's not important. Get going, Jack's probably worried. Especially since you left in such an angry state."

Claire made a puzzled face and nodded slowly, "Okay... Well, I'll see you around, then." Claire started down the hill, allowing herself to build up momentum, building up to a full sprint by the time she reached the bottom. She spun around, waving back at me and tripping over her own two feet in the process. Almost as quickly as she fell, Claire sprang back up to her feet, shouting, "I'm okay!" She whirled back around and jogged in the general direction of her home.

Odd maiden. Someone like that is a danger to herself and everyone around her, I thought to myself, Talking with a guy she barely knows on Mother's Hill... People go on dates up here, you know...

An odd thought hit me: That was kind of like a date... Oh, my GODDESS! My thoughts started racing. That wasn't a date! It couldn't have been! I don't even know the girl! I have Jill. I don't need to be seeing any other girls. Oh, no... Jill! She'd be so mad at me if she knew about this! It wasn't my fault! It wasn't a date! It couldn't have been... How can I face Jill if I went on a date with another woman..? Those amethyst eyes will be so disappointed... No. She won't know. This wasn't a date. I was just talking with a random stranger on a hilltop where young couples often go on dates... It wasn't a date. It wasn't a date. It couldn't have been a date... No, no, no, n-

My stomach interrupted my hysterical thoughts by growling. I'm really going to need to get something to eat tomorrow... I'll steal from someone in the valley, so I can see Jill. Two birds with one stone...
I rewrote this three times. And I'm still not sure I like it. Just to be clear: Claire and Skye are supposed to just be natural friends that aren't romantic with each other at all.

She's basically here for me to have some plot to work with in all those chapters later on where Skye isn't present. Claire is my slightly philosophical idiot that gives abstract advice.

Original story by :iconsimplechica:. I've just rewritten it from Skye's POV. So, I actually wrote this chapter mostly by myself, just using her advice on some things.

First: [link]
Previous: [link]
Jill's POV by :iconsimplechica:: [link]
Next: [link]
© 2012 - 2024 KireiChokoreto
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minamimeme's avatar
i missed the next link in the early chapter.... Oops! * mumble*No, I disagree!