Thanks for looking. Warning: this is a sad fanfic, beware. D:
Prologue "Grandma Claire! Grandma Claire! Tell me how you met Grandpa Jake again!" a young girl called. Claire laughed softly and turned to her brown-haired granddaughter. "Okay Lissa, I'll tell you the whole thing.." And Claira started telling the story. "It all started when I was just five years old. In fact, Jake wasn't even in the town yet!"
Ooohs and
aaahs came from the children as they settled into place....
Chapter one (Gray's PoV)
It was spring, pink blossoms tumbled in the air. Claire had came into town to visit her cousin Karen. Giggles were heard throughout Mother's Hill as the children of Mineral Town played about. However, three kids sat aside: their names Claire, Cliff, and Gray. They were talking about how they loved Spring. They were laughing together.
Ever since Claire had started visiting, Cliff, Gray, and her had become the tightest friends. They did everything together. Cliff was least shy of the three, and often played with the other kid. Slowly, Cliff separated from the group, leaving little Gray and Claire. Seasons passed, and their friendship grew. One day, something changed.
"I'm sorry Gray, Claire isn't home right now. She went out to play with Ann and Popuri!" said Sasha, her eyes looking a bit pitiful. Gray's face fell.
"Oh, I guess I'll go home then.." he remarked sadly, shuffling his feet. Halfway there, it started pouring rain; he had no umbrella. He returned to his home-away-from-home, where Saibara awaited him.
"Gray! We have work to do!" Saibara commanded.
"But Grandpa-" Gray started. Saibara shook his head and handed Gray an axe.
"What metal is this?" he asked gruffly.
"Silver," Gray replied blankly.
"Good, I guess that's about enough practice for today, you're drenched! Dry off and you can spend the rest of the day at the Inn, if you want," Saibara said somewhat kindly. Gray smiled. He loved these moments when Saibara was kind to him. He walked into the inn, still dripping chilly water.
"Ah, Gray! Would you like a towel?" asked Doug, her mustache muffling his voice slightly. Gray nodded, shivering. A blue towel was wrapped around his body. He sat upstairs, in his bed. Gray sighed at the sight of his family photo. Claire had made bunny ears over his head. He laughed a little. They were seven years old then, now they were 12.
Suddenly, something on the calendar had caught his attention. It was the last day of Spring, that meant Claira was going back home until next spring. It was their tradition to say goodbye to each other at the dock. His feet skidded on the rough wood as he darted out of the inn, into the pouring icy rain. Water drops sparkled in midair as his feet stomped through puddles.
Finally he reached the beach. A boat was pulling away.
"Claire! Wait" He cried out, running towards the boat. He stopped at the edge of the dock, the boat out of reach. "Goodbye.." he murmured. Tears welled in his soft blue eyes, and rolled down his cheeks as he ran home. Doors slammed, and Gray found himself sobbing on his bed, hugging the photo to his chest. "It was..tradition. I missed it.." He muttered darkly.
He didn't care what time it was, he forced himself to sleep until the next morning.
End of Chapter. Any comments? Questions? Thanks.
