A/N: Did you guys miss me? Naw?? Ow… At least you can lie and make me happy… ;_; Oh well… here is the chapter. Eight pages like usual, please enjoy. :D


Title: gylt

Disc: standard applied. I'm oh-so-lazy to even copy paste. LOL


Nobody noticed her when she turned and ran away from the openings. Her stomach churned badly. She halted and doubled over, her wet palm pressed hard to the tree's bark. Her other hand clenched her staff. Her breathing labored. She winced remembering the scene. Then she heard it again. Forest's murmur.

She died….

Why…

Her choice…

"Damn it!" She hit the tree with her fist. "Stop that!"

She always hated it when she was in the forest. She could hear lots of voices. Some were clear but some were just incoherent whisper in her ear. She could never fully understand what those forest spirits were talking about. Not that she wanted to. Forest crept her out. She always had her goose bumps raised when she was too deep in one. It had been that way since she could remember.

Could hear…

.Not imagining

Not all lost…

She ignored the voice and straightened up. She should be okay by now. She steeled herself and walked back to the Herbringer tree where everyone gathered. She slid her gaze to the lion tribe. She knew he must had realized her disappearance, unlike everyone. Indeed, he didn't disappoint her - though she would prefer to be disappointed at this point. She didn't like to explain. Beside, nobody would trust her if she told them that she could see the life remnants leaving the physical body on a dying living being. It had always made her sick. She had a choice of not answering though. It was better than lying. She ignored the curious gaze Lione had directed to her.

Approaching Wataru, she could see the magic crystal in his hand. The Herbringer tree's life was swirling white inside it. The tree had told her something yesterday. In a way that she believed nobody could understand.

Be strong, little girl. You are not alone in your destiny.

She had wondered what it meant. The words were as clear as crystal in her ear. Not chopped like the one she had heard along in the forest. The message was directed to her, she could feel it. Just like when the tree told Wataru that the question was his to solve. She knew it was a warning to her – a warning that she shouldn't help Wataru. It shouldn't worry that much actually. She didn't intend to let anyone know her ability. Honestly, she was all reluctant to join this journey. She preferred to be somewhere quiet, library for example. Somewhere where nothing could whisper and talk. She sighed inwardly. This was her Master's command.

"Go out and aid them to collect the jewels. It's time for you to see the world with your own eyes instead of books."

She put her staff to the tree beside her and pulling out a navy soft satin from her pocket. Patting Wataru, she extended her hand which was layered by the fabric, gesturing to take the crystal. "May I?" She carefully avoided the damp black iris which eyed her curiously.

Wataru handed her the crystal. It weighted like a feather in her left hand. She was a bit surprised; she thought it was as heavy as crystal glass.

She bit her thumbs and drop a few trickle of blood onto the clean fabric. She folded the fabric to close over the crystal. "Wrap and enclose. By my blood, I shall protect whatever inside it until I command it to reopen." She handed the wrap back to Wataru.

"Is that all?" He asked incredulously.

"Of course not. I shall perform more complex incantation after we're at the inn later. I don't want to make you wait too long." She replied. Frankly, she wanted to get out of the forest as soon as possible. But let that wish remained in her head.

Wataru cast a last forlorn glance to the blackened tree. He turned and made his way back to the village. Bresin looked at Wataru's back. Meena followed him loyally. Lione didn't move. He must be waiting for her. It was no wonder if he suspected her after what had happened just now. She wondered whether she should tell him that the Herbringer tree had descendant. Aided by the hearing she didn't intend to listen, she noticed there was a new bud at the left corner of its big blackened root. They had walked further and Lione was still waiting.

She shuffled her feet and followed them. No, she decided that she wouldn't tell. Let him understand how big the stake he had taken to get what he wanted. Let him suffered. It would be a good lesson for him. Nobody had been beside her when she suffered. Why she need to be responsible to soothe anyone else's pain? She shrugged inwardly.


"This…" Wataru stared at the horn in his hand. Meena smiled at him. He thought he had lost it. He grabbed the horn tight in his hand. It pickled his palm but he could be careless about it. Meena told him that she had something she needed to give him tonight. They were standing in front of the modest inn, under the starry sky and soothing night breeze. It was nice to stay in small village, everything was as silent as what you would never found in the city. Lione was sharpening his axe and Bresin was still busy chanting the jewel with protection magic.

"I was going to give it to you at the first meeting but a lot happened so it was sort of forgotten…" She said sheepishly.

Wataru waved his head in disagreement. "No, I should be thankful. You have kept it well for so long…" He opened his first and stared at the horn again. He wanted to meet the little dragon. Correction. He wouldn't be little anymore, he sweated inwardly. He brooded while tracing the small horn with his fingers.

"I wonder if he would come if I blew this…" Wataru said unconsciously. Meena's face looked distant when she replied.

"I don't know. I never had the courage to. I thought it will give him trouble again if he got caught..." There was a hint of guilt in her tone. Wataru peeked a glance at her direction. She had yet got pass the mistake she did years ago.

"You know you didn't mean harm at that time." Wataru whispered. He knew she hadn't known the evil intention the villains had.

Meena turned her direction into a opposite direction, avoiding Wataru. "Yes. I didn't know at that time. But… I've been asking myself. If… If only I know what their real intention was and they hold on to their agreement to take me home to my father no matter what… Would I do it?" She turned her glassy eyes to Wataru. "Would I still kidnap him and sold him to them?" She asked bitterly. Wataru stunned. He blinked in confusion; he didn't have the words to soothe her nor an answer to her question. Meena's gaze hardened.

"I come to an answer years ago. I would." Wataru could see her clutch in her dress tightened to white. She tore her gaze and fixed them on the black earth in front of her. "I am such a horrible thing, am I not?" She said forlornly.

Wataru immediately rebutted. "No you don't! In the end, it didn't happen that way."

"But if it did happen that way, I would have sold him away…" She still said in her stubbornness. Her shoulders were starting to shake; tears were rolling down her furry face.

Instinctively, Wataru wrapped her in his hug. Meena's sob halted. Wataru could feel her surprise. Patting her head, Wataru kept speaking. "You wouldn't do that. I know you wouldn't. The answer is what you have pondered for years by weighing a lot of considerations." He tore her from her hug so he could see into her eyes. "If it really happen, you could only decide in a split time. Your heart will be the one who decide, not your mind." He let his words sank. "And I know. You would have chosen to refuse." He smiled and hugged her back. "I know you would." He kept patting her head. Meena burst into tears, damping Wataru's shirt.

"Thank you, Wataru… Thank you…" She kept saying.

Wataru marveled at his own words. What a sweet words he had said. He was the real bastard. Meena was nothing compared to him. Your heart will be the one who decide, not your mind. His painful expression was blanketed by the night. Just because no one could hear the Herbringer tree didn't mean he could justify himself. He could have stopped the tree from dying when no one understood what was happening. He could have NOT sacrificing it for the crystal, for Mitsuru. But in that split second, his heart had decided. Mitsuru was far more important. He… had killed the tree. His goose bumps raised, he was lucky Meena was warm and too shaky to realize his light shiver. He crunched his own face. He had stained his own hands with blood. He had taken someone else's life. Meena was oblivious to Wataru's atmosphere change. Wataru bit his lips. Promise me that you will never ever sacrifice others no matter what happen. He had made Mitsuru promised him. He smiled ruefully. He was a hypocrite. He hugged Meena tighter, trying to sink him cold self in her warmth.


"Where shall we head after this?" Bresin asked him the next morning when all of them had gathered in the breakfast table.

"Hm… The tree told me to go to the West. I was starting to feel like the Monkey Legend…" Wataru replied and spooned his soup.

"Monkey Legend?" Meena questioned him. All of them eyed him in confusion.

Wataru realized they must have not the same legend. "Ah, it's more popular as Journey to the West. It told of a priest, monkey, pig and water youkai went to the West to obtain sutra." The others were still blink at him in confusion. He waved his hand in dismissal. "No worries, that's not important." He could have just explained the whole story but it would just waste time.

"I heard about a huge wolf in Dura Island yesterday." Lione interjected.

"Dura Island?" Wataru didn't remember hear it anywhere.

"It is a day trip by boat from here." Bresin explained. "And it's West from here." She added.

West from here. It was a good start. "What's with the wolf?" Meena inquired.

"It was starting to get rampage in the last month. Nobody had been able to defeat it. Highlanders were yet there. Probably because the island was isolated so news doesn't travel fast." Lione explained. Wataru nodded.

"Let's take a look."

They departed for Dura Island after breakfast. Apparently with enough money, anyone was willing to rent their small boat. There wasn't much space on it but they were not looking for comfort.


It was dark, he could hear water's soft trickling voice. He was definitely sitting on the floor. He could feel he was folding his knee and hiding his face. And he was… sobbing? He looked up. Everything was blurry – not because of the lights were off but because of his tears. Nevertheless he knew. He could make up where he was just by those hazy figures. That square table, those set of chairs, those kitchen set, that loose water tap … He was sitting at the corner of his old house's dinner room. Why nobody was at home? He could see it was dusk already from the small rectangle window at the top of kitchen wall. Moreover, why he had been crying? He wiped his tears away. He noticed something was off. His hands were smaller. He looked at his whole body. He was 11! He stood up in shock. What kind of sick joke was this? In his shock, he heard someone was sobbing at his back. The sob was accompanied with the trickling water. He could feel his goose bumps rose. The sob was eerily familiar. He turned back very slowly, dreadful of what he would find. He was supposed to be alone in this room. Or so he had thought for a few minutes back there. Cold sweats flowed at his back and forehead. He saw a boy sat at the corner of the room, the very corner he had just been sitting. The boy hid his face behind his knees, the same style he had just been sitting. He couldn't find his voice. He was afraid if he speak, he would made the boy looked up, and he was dreadful – awfully dreadful to see it.

This must be another nightmare. He thought helplessly to himself. This must be another nightmare. He tried to convince himself.

"Is it?" The boy said between his sobbing. Then he looked up. Mitsuru took a few steps back. His waist bumped to the table corner behind him. He had turned back to 19. He grasped the chair frame for support. The boy was him. Him in his 11 years old. Him in his grief-stricken and helpless state.

"Have you forgotten?" The boy asked him in his tear-spilled face. He still couldn't find his voice to answer. He just stood there, holding the chair frame tightly. Cold sweat streamed harder.

Finding no answer, the boy stood up. "Have you forgotten?" Once again he said. The trickling water was the only answer the boy could receive. As if dissatisfied, the boy sluggishly move his feet forward, approaching Mitsuru. He swayed heavily. Mitsuru retreated in panic.

"Don't come near me!" He managed to whisper.

"Why? Why do you forget?" The boy looked forlorn. He kept moving forward while Mitsuru kept retreated, matching his slow pace.

"I… I don't know what you are talking about." Mitsuru said, waving his head. "Stop. Don't come here… Stay away!" He could fear his own heart pumped in fear.

"Why do you leave me alone?" The boy asked in anguish. "Why do you leave?"

They had crossed the family room. The boy increased his pace. Mitsuru knew he couldn't, no he mustn't, stay in the house. He should run. He should get out of the house. He turned from the boy, running and extended his hand to the door knob. When at last he touched it, a moment which he felt like eternity, he felt it. The tugging at his pants. The boy was there, smiling mischievously at him. He could feel his heart skipped a beat.

"Come, let's see together!" He grinned unnaturally crooked.

"No!" Mitsuru opened the door knob and attacked with a blinding flash. Then he was suddenly stood at the side of the street, along with lots of people. The ambulance. People's whisper. Medical staff heaving the blanketed emergency bed.

"Do you remember now?" The boy was still at his side, grinning happily.

"No, I don't know a thing!" He wanted to run but instead he clutches his head and closed his eyes tightly.

"How come? It's you in there!" The boy said. Mitsuru opened his eyes and saw the boy was pointing at someone across the street. He followed the boy's gaze and his eyes stumbled upon him. Another him in 11 years old who had just returned from school. The soccer ball was in his hand and the bag was at his back.

"I… no…" Mitsuru stammered and took a step backward.

"It is a family suicide!"

"It is said the daughter was also dead…"

"Poor family."

"I heard they still have a boy?"

"No…" Mitsuru was completely overwhelmed. He was frightened. He knew this scene well.

"No… please…" He looked at the boy pleadingly. "Please… stop it…" He didn't want to remember. It was unpleasantly painful. He could start to feel it. "Please…" He begged to the boy.

The boy looked disappointed. "But why? I'm so lonely…"

"Just… don't. Please just stop it…" He pleaded again.

The boy sighed. "Fine. You have known it now anyway." He released his small clutches. "You will return. And we will be together again." He said with a sweet smile. And all suddenly vanished. He was back into the darkness.

He fell on his four. His heart was still beating fast, his whole body was trembling. Then he suddenly laughed. He laughed painfully. He knew the boy's words were true. He would return despite of how strong he refused to. He had started to remember. The death of his whole family. WHOLE family. He was alone. Oh how piercing that pain was – the pain of being left alone. Then he sobbed. A sob which escalate into a howling cry.


They arrived without much trouble the next morning. Wataru blew the silent horn the first time they arrived at the island. He had been considering the chances. They would probably stay a day or two in this small island. Because the island was small, there would be fewer ruckuses if he came here. He remembered it took a full day for mature dragon to reach where the whistle blower was.

Different from the previous harbor they had just left, this harbor was nearly empty. It didn't take long for them to know that most of the dwellers are gathering at the town square. Two persons stood at the center platform, a crocodile with glasses and tiger; both of them were wearing complete suit.

"We must exterminate it!" One of the bear tribe said.

"We've sent 3 parties and none of them return! How much lives you want to sacrifice before you're satisfied?" A cat elder replied angrily.

"But we're losing too even if we don't fight!" The other said.

"Why don't we wait for the Highlander to come?"

"We've waited for months! How much longer you want to wait? They don't give a damn to us!"

Wataru flinched. He was not sure what they were talking about but being someone who was being talked bad in front of your face… The meeting was a cacophony of shouting and arguments. The two standing at the platform seemed to have a hard time managing the crowds.

"Sir, if I may know, what is this meeting about?" Wataru asked someone stood at the back.

The male looked at him in distraction. "We're having a meeting to talk about the wolf. Didn't you get the announcement?" He gazed back at the crowds, frowning.

"The wolf. What's with it, sir?"

The male turned to him with his full attention. The question apparently had pulled him into realization that the questioner was not a native. He looked at Wataru from head to toe, and then he glanced at the full party behind him.

"You guys came at a very bad timing." He said, waving disapprovingly. "We're not opening any tourist trip nowadays. Except if you want to be eaten by the giant wolf. Nobody would want to be your guide." He added, raising one eyebrow.

"Err… no, we come because we heard about the wolf news." Wataru held his smile.

The male looked more confused. "Then you're insane."

"He's a Highlander!" A feline beside him suddenly pointed to Wataru's hand. "Him too." She pointed to Lione. Her exclamation drew attention of those around her. Like water rippling, the noise gradually stopped and all attention were drawn to the incoming party. Wataru had a sudden urge to step backward and stammer. Nonetheless, he managed to glue his step on the brick road and forced a smile. He wasn't used to be a source of attention. Mitsuru probably did. He was, after all, always be the attention of girls. His sudden thought of his friend brought instant grimace to his expression.

"Are you really a Highlander?" The crocodile with glasses inquired in hesitation. His question saved Wataru's further inward curse.

"Yes, me and Lione are." He replied firmly. Low murmurs spread over the crowds.

"At last! The Highlanders are here!" The tiger said in relief.

"Thank you for heeding our request! Better late than none at all!" Wataru sure he didn't meant to be offensive, he could see he was obviously stressed. "Please, this way." The tiger politely gestured them to follow him. All eyes followed their every movement in silence. Wataru was sort of glad that both the tiger and crocodile walked hastily to a nearby building.

It was a red bricked house. Now that he had time to notice, all the buildings at this island were somewhat western like. The tiger opened and held the door for them. Crocodile walked in without hesitation. It was a spacious room, not much furniture decorated it. There were a few paintings at the wall. Some fluffy cushions spread artistically at the middle of the room, upon the red carpet, seemed invitingly comfortable. There were door less path at both side of the room end. The crocodile turned to the left and they were led to the work room. At least it looked like it. Sunlight penetrated through the window across the room. Low racks were lined at both side of the wall. Each of them has papers and books stacked carelessly upon them. Wataru wondered how they could search for something efficiently in short time.

"Should we open the window to let fresh air come in?" The crocodile walked around the desk, the chair and opened the window widely. A soft breeze blew in.

"Sir…" The tiger was going to say something. They didn't need him to continue as they could see what the soft breeze had done to the paper stacks. Suddenly, they were busy helping the tiger collecting the papers.

The crocodile immediately close the window. "Ah… ah… I'm sorry. I'm getting forgetful these days." He sighed. Wataru and friends finished picking up the paper. Lucky it was a soft breeze, a stronger wind would create a paper storm in this room.

"Thank you, thank you." The crocodile wipe his sweaty face with a handkerchief. "Please sit down." He gestured to the long wooden chairs facing each other, separated by a desk. He himself sat behind his own desk. The tiger stood behind him like a loyal butler.

"I'm the mayor of this island. My name is Heisei. This is my assistant, Taigra." He introduced himself. Wataru showed him the same courtesy and introduced his friends.

"I'm sure you know already what our problem here is." He said.

"Only in overall."

"Well, we have nothing aside from overall detail. No witness alive to tell a more detailed story." He wiped the sweat on his foreheads again. "The best information we have is, though it's a bit hard to believe, the wolf has two heads and as big as thrice human size."

"That's… big…" Wataru couldn't find another comment.

"We have sent 2 groups at the first week but none of them return. After that we sent another three groups to search for the first groups, however… it's a pity…" He shuddered. Wataru marveled at the fact that there was no survivor at all, the wolf must have been very outrageous. He wondered whether they could handle it. "There was only one guy returned." The mayor continued. Oh, there was survivor after all, he thought.

"He was badly injured. He lost his left arm and already lost a lot of blood. That was the information we had from him before he passed away." Heisei sighed. Taigra grimaced.

It was a dying survivor. Wataru sighed inwardly. This wolf needed to be stopped. It had taken too many lives.

"Nobody dared to approach the forest nowadays. Most of our livelihood was taken from there. If this goes on…" Heisei suddenly stood. "I beg you all, please kill it. Please help us." He bowed deeply.

Wataru pulled him back up. He wanted to help but he couldn't promise a thing that he couldn't be sure of. "We will see what we can do."


A/N: The title is taken from Old English of 'guilt'. It's referring to some of the characters feeling expressed in this chapter. Yep, that it - the end of chapter. You guys will need to wait until my 4th chapter of thesis to finish before getting another update. LOL Gomen, I really need to concentrate with my diagrams and code. Ja ne! XD