A/N: Yes, guys. The story resumes...a year later. *cowers in shame*


Akari threw back the church doors and hurtled into the pouring rain. A zigzag of lightning struck the sky. She didn't know where she was going, and she didn't care. Her destination was as far away from the church as possible. Maybe even the island itself. As she ran, her heel sank into a small hole on the ground, and she stumbled forward, twisting her ankle in the process. Ignoring the onset of pain, she wiggled her foot out of the other one and continued her descent to Harmonica Town. A click-clack of footsteps followed close behind her.

"Akari!"

Akari paused and glanced over her shoulder. She could barely make out Kathy's figure in the distance, struggling to catch up to her.

"Leave me alone, Kathy!"

She limped down the cobblestone path, but Kathy sped after her. "Just listen, okay?"

Akari ignored her. The downpour began to relent as she made her way to the tailor's shop, eager to change out of her soaked dress. Luna was going to kill her for ruining it, and she felt bad that Candace had put so much work into it for nothing.

Kathy eventually caught up with her and grabbed her arm.

"Go away, Kathy! I don't want to talk to you!"

Akari tried to pry her arm out of Kathy's grasp, but she wasn't letting go.

"I know, but just listen! I'm sorry for kissing Owen. I really am. But what he said back there wasn't true. We're not seeing each other."

"Then why'd he say it?"

Kathy shrugged. "I don't know. To hurt you? To hurt me? It's not true. I'd never do that to you."

Akari exhaled sharply. "If you're going to make me do this, can we at least go inside?" She nodded toward the Tailor's shop which was only a few feet away. Kathy reluctantly loosened her grip on Akari's arm, and they both ran over there. Akari wiggled the door knob a few times before remembering that Luna locked it before they headed to the church. She glanced around for something that could help her open it. A steel pole with a ripped umbrella covering clattered across the cement. She took it in both hands and swung it against the window. Pieces of glass shattered and exploded into the air.

Kathy gasped. "Akari!"

Akari ignored her. Shelly would just assume the storm was responsible. She reached into the jagged hole, careful not to let the shards cut her, and unlocked the door from the inside. Akari looked back at Kathy who was still frozen in shock. "Are you coming or what?"

Kathy and Akari plopped down on the floor in the darkness and quietness of the shop. The shopkeeper's bell rang incessantly in the wind. Kathy glanced at Akari, but she was staring pointedly out of the window, avoiding her gaze. She reached for a long T-shirt hanging on the racks behind them and handed it to her friend. "Here," she said. "So you don't get sick."

Akari paused before accepting the shirt. She peeled off her dress and quickly put it on. The shirt was several sizes too big, but it was comfortable, dry, and warm. She stretched the fabric down to her knees and brought them to her chest. Meanwhile, Kathy changed out of her dress into a similar shirt.

"I meant it, you know," Kathy said, breaking the long silence.

"What?"

"About Owen. I'd never do that."

Akari huffed. "You didn't think about me when you were making out with him."

"You're right. I didn't. And I regret it so much. It wasn't worth losing my best friend."

Akari turned to face her. "So why'd you do it? Were you just waiting for us to break up? Did you think I wouldn't care anymore?"

"No, I wasn't planning for it. It just happened."

"You don't accidentally make out with someone." Akari rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the window again. There was a drizzle and a hint of sunlight in the sky. The cool, salty breeze settled in the room.

"It wasn't an accident. I meant to do it."

"So why are we having this conversation?"

"Because the truth is, yes, I loved him." Akari glanced at her sideways, curious. "It's true. But he was in love with you. So I backed off. I thought I had moved on. But when you guys broke up, all the old feelings came back. So that's how it happened. After that, I never talked to him again. Seeing him at the church was literally the first time I've seen him since."

Akari's expression softened and her shoulders relaxed. "You never told me you liked him, too."

"Why would I? You guys were so happy. I didn't want to get in between that."

Silence filled the air again. Akari pondered on Kathy's confession. She and Owen had always been close friends, but Akari never considered that Kathy's feelings ran deeper than friendship. Owen consistently maintained that she was like a baby sister to him. They did have that sibling rivalry-always competing, always bickering but always having each other's back in the end. Akari never considered Kathy as a rival to her relationship. How could she miss that? Was it so easy for Kathy to hide her feelings when she was deeply in love with him? Akari shook her head in frustration.

"Well, obviously he wants you now."

Kathy sighed. "No, he doesn't. Even if he did, I'm no one's second choice. He's just rebounding. Your friendship is more important to me anyway. I'm sorry I messed that up."

Akari inched closer to Kathy, and even though the awkwardness was still there, she felt the bitterness begin to lift.

"I forgive you, Kathy. It's just...it's going to take some time."

"I know. I'm okay with that."

"What do you think is wrong with him?"

Kathy sat up straighter. "I have no idea. I want to believe he's just an asshole for treating us like this, but I think it's deeper than that. There's no way he'd make a spectacle like that in front of everyone. And obviously, he's drinking again."

"When we were together, I saw it. Even after he hit me. It was like he could go off at any second. I was always nervous. But then other times he was so sweet. It's weird."

Kathy nodded. "He needs help, but I don't think we should get involved."

Akari frowned. "Really?"

"Akari, you always had that savior complex. You can't save everyone."

Akari folded her arms across her chest. Kathy was telling the truth, but it still stung. "Yeah, but, you know...even after everything, I still think someone should help him."

"He has to want help. You should just focus on yourself right now. That's not selfish. You tried. And I'm always here for you."

After a bit of uncertainty, Akari rested her head on Kathy's shoulder. "Thanks, Kathy. I'm really glad we talked. I was for sure we'd never be friends again."

Kathy wrapped her arm around Akari's shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. "I'm just glad you gave me a chance to explain. Chase actually convinced me to talk to you."

"He did?"

"Yeah." She paused. "So what's going on between you two? I've never seen him look this happy. Well, maybe happy isn't the right word. Not so pissed off, maybe?"

Akari pulled away and threw her hands in the air. "Oh, no. You too? Everyone keeps thinking we're together."

Kathy smirked and shrugged. "Well, you spend every second with each other. At least from what I can see."

"No way. That's not happening," Akari said, shaking her head fervently. "He's just my friend. And sometimes that's even stretching it."

"He obviously likes you. Just saying."

Akari's breath caught in her throat. Chase? Liked her? The idea was preposterous and yet, more frighteningly, not totally out of the left field. How would one know if Chase liked anyone anyway? He was harder to read than ancient hieroglyphics. "Can you just drop it, please?"

Kathy held up her hands in defeat. "Okay, fine. Just...don't be so against finding love again. Both of you, really."

"Love is the absolute last thing on my mind. In fact, Gill and I are going away for a few days to find out what happened to me."

Kathy's hand flew up to her mouth. "Are you serious? Where are you going?"

"Gill thinks the witch in the Fugue Forest had something to do with it."

"Wow, that's crazy."

"He told me that someone saw me and Owen going in there before the typhoon hit. And somehow I ended up on the bridge. So, we're going to confront her. I mean, if there is a her."

Kathy chewed on her bottom lip. "I'm surprised Gill would suggest something like that. He's always been so...rational. But anything's possible, I suppose. But that sounds really dangerous. Especially if she's as evil as all the stories say."

"Maybe, but I just want to get some answers so I can put this all behind me."

"Is Chase going?"

After Kathy mentioned that he possibly had a crush on her, the sound of his name made her heart skip a few beats. "I haven't asked him yet. He thinks the whole thing is nonsense."

"I could go with you. If you want."

Akari fiddled with her fingers. "Kathy…"

"I know. But maybe it'll give us a chance to fix things. I want to earn your trust again."

"Okay. I'll ask Gill once we find Julius and Candace."

"Don't forget about Chase. I'm sure he'll do anything you ask him to. Make you breakfast, braid your hair, kiss your feet…"

Akari blushed. "Ugh, can you please stop?"

Kathy burst into a fit of laughter just as someone knocked on the door. The girls instantly grew quiet as the door opened and a familiar chef appeared. He raised an eyebrow at the shattered window before spotting Kathy and Akari on the floor. His hair was damp and disheveled and his suit was covered in sand and seaweed.

"There you are," he said. "What are you two doing here?"

"Avoiding the rain obviously," Akari said, although now the sun was blazing high in the sky, casting a serene glow into the shop.

"What are you doing?" Kathy said. "You're looking a little worse for wear."

Chase jabbed his thumb toward the door and ignored her last statement. "The wedding is about to start. Luna found them at Julius's hose. Apparently, he's terrified of thunderstorms so they hid until it was over."

Akari attempted to suppress a laugh and failed. "Okay, I'm sorry, but that's hilarious."

Chase grinned. "You've been hanging around me too much. Laughing at people's misfortune. Kathy, please steer this young woman in the right direction."

But Kathy was snickering too. "That is kind of funny. Can you imagine Candace trying to soothe Julius?"

"He was probably all like, 'Ohmagawd, it's ruined! It's all ruined'!"

"The catastrophe! My perfect wedding, ruined!"

Chase shook his head. "Wow, you guys are worse than me."

The three of them laughed and for a moment, it felt like old times. Akari didn't realize how much she missed her friends together. She vowed never to let a man come between them again.


The wedding was a success. Julius was not the groomzilla she was expecting him to be. In fact, his attention was solely on his beautiful bride. Candace looked radiant. She straightened her long blue hair and a diamond-encrusted tiara was placed on her head. Her dress was a strapless, shimmering, Cinderella-esque ball gown number. Julius, of course, couldn't do with just a classic black tux. It wouldn't be him. Instead, he wore a maroon tailcoat with a pink bowtie. Innovative indeed.

While Akari did have reservations about returning to the church after all the drama, she was glad she did. Owen was nowhere to be found, and no one even brought up the ordeal. Well, she was sure they were all reminded when she and Kathy arrived in oversized T-shirts, jeans, and bare feet. Luna definitely noticed and almost fainted. Akari, Chase, Kathy, and Selena sat together in the front row, the former two wedged in the middle. As Julius and Candace's lips met, the church raged into roaring cheers and applause. Akari peered at Chase from the corner of her eye and to her surprise, he was looking back at her. He quickly turned away, however, and watched the couple walk down the aisle. She wrung her hands in her lap, and she couldn't dismiss the thoughts in her head.

Was it true what Kathy said? Did Chase actually have feelings for her? And more importantly, what did she feel?

None of it mattered. Love was the last thing on her mind.

As they all stood up to head over to the reception outside, someone gave Akari a quick tap on the shoulder. She turned around and found Gill standing behind her. "Akari. A word, please?"

She reassured her friends that she would come out shortly, and she and Gill stood around until the last islander left the church. He wrinkled his nose. "You couldn't have found more appropriate attire for the wedding?"

Gill's lack of sympathy astounded her sometimes, and she wanted to remind him, quite violently, that she was humiliated in front of all her neighbors and looking prim and proper was dead last on her list of priorities. But she decided against it.

Akari learned a long time ago that the best way to handle Gill's nagging was just to ignore him and change the subject. Otherwise, she would be trapped in a never-ending, futile debate. "Is that why I'm still here and not in the buffet line? Because I'm starving."

He turned his eyes toward the ceiling as if he were beckoning God to vaporize right her then and there. "This won't take but a moment," he said. "How soon are you able to go with me to Fugue Forest? Assuming you haven't changed your mind, that is."

She was taken aback by his question. She knew she would be going eventually, but she didn't realize just how soon. "What day did you have in mind?"

"Tomorrow morning. I need your answer by tonight. You were right about needing some skill with an ax to get through the forest. Luke is, unfortunately…" He winced. "My alternative."

Akari snorted. Luke and Gill in the same vicinity for days on end? No wonder he looked ill. "No alternatives needed. I'm going. I just need to find arrangements for my farm, and…" She remembered what Kathy said about asking Gill if she and Chase could join them. "Actually, I was wondering if two of my friends could go with us."

"Why on earth would that be necessary?"

She shrugged innocently. "Four eyes are better than two, right?"

"...That's not how the saying goes. Technically, that would mean eight eyes."

"Anyway," Akari said. "Can Chase and Kathy come? For moral support."

He gawked at her. "I don't have an issue with Kathy. But Chase? Absolutely not."

"I know you guys don't really get along, but I can deal with him. He'll be on his best behavior. I promise."

Gill looked unconvinced. "Who will take care of your farm?"

Damn Gill always thinking about the details. He'd make an excellent personal assistant, if only he were personal. Robotic assistant, perhaps? "I'll figure it out."

She and Gill agreed to meet at Flute Fields before sunrise. A sudden heaviness gnawed at her stomach. Kathy would be thrilled to come along. Chase didn't know he was coming, but Akari was sure she could convince him after an hour or two. But she was so close to, possibly, discovering the truth. Only…

Was she ready for it?

As Akari and Gill prepared to leave, the front doors were thrown open, and a blast of warm air hit them. Akari flinched. Luke rushed in, red and panting, still wearing his tuxedo. For the first time, she noticed that he wasn't present for the rest of the wedding after he and Bo escorted Owen out of the church. His panicked eyes lit up when he saw Akari.

"There you are!"

She reached out for him. "What's wrong, Luke?"

He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look straight into his eyes. She didn't know Luke could ever look so intense. It seemed impossible for him to be serious and yet here he was and it scared her. "Owen needs you."

All the color drained from her face. A cold wash traveled down her spine.

Kathy warned her. Don't get involved. Stop trying to save him.

But…

"No, Luke," she said. "I can't."

"Akari, you don't understand. If you don't come with me right now, he's going to jump."


A/N: Yep, that escalated quickly. Hope you all are doing well and staying safe. Because this crew isn't.