Hello everyone, welcome back to my side series. I hope you've all been enjoying, cause it is close to finishing. I'm also sure you'll be pleased to hear that AngelUchiha-chan and I have decided on the future and conclusion of the original series and writing of it will commence very soon. I thank all of you who are reading this and "Welcome to My Guild, Welcome to My Heart".

The weather had turned once more for the worse in the small mountain town. It was very late in the evening and there was little business around the inn. Zilar was in the middle of a deeply challenging chess match with Kagura. Now Zilar saw why many claimed her to be more than a match for Erza. Her strategical deduction and execution was impeccable. Millianna had been watching them play, but had soon gotten bored and took a cat nap.

"Checkmate," Kagura said, moving her Queen into proximity of Zilar's King. He was also flanked by a Bishop and a Rook so there was no where to go.

"It would appear so," Zilar said, heaving a heavy sigh.

"It's getting late," Kagura said, standing up. "Millianna, are you coming back up to the room?" Millianna quickly arose from her nap and looked up at Kagura.

"I think I'll stay down here. I'm a night cat after all. Ryarr!" Millianna exclaimed, posing her hands like cat paws.

"Very well then. Goodnight." Kagura left to go upstairs.

"She is a formidable opponent to say the least," Zilar said stretching his arms.

"She's really tough," Millianna smiled. The two of them sat alone together and talked for some time. These two had been getting much closer over the past few days. Millianna always wanted to go with Zilar and Zilar was thankful for her company, immeasurably so. Though there were a few moments where her choice of wardrobe was a slight distraction to him. She once tried to help carry pails of water and wanted to see if she could balance it on her head. She tripped and while Zilar was quick enough to catch her, the water ended up splashing them both. He felt incredibly embarrassed holding a wet, half-naked girl in his arms.

"Zilar?"

"Yes, Millianna?"

"Why is it you left your guild? And why won't you tell me," she asked. The smile from before was now swept from her face. She had a look of seriousness and concern. Zilar looked down at the grain of the wooden table. This was about the 5th time she'd asked and he was no more ready to tell her than before.

"It is not important," Zilar said, trying once more to dismiss her question.

"It must be if it sent you all the way up here from Magnolia," she continued. "And it seems like it's also something that's been hurting you."

"It is none of your concern," he replied, adding more firmness to his tone.

"Please, I want to help you," she pleaded with him. "I won't tell anyone, I just want to know."

"There is no help you can offer me," he said. "No one can help me."

"But at least just let me try. What are you afraid of?" Zilar stood up swiftly. The corners of his mouth curved into a grown.

"I am afraid of nothing." Now Millianna stepped up. Still shorter than Zilar, but not losing her grip.

"If that's so then tell me already. What happened 3 months ago?"

"That is the thing, it is not only what happened 3 months ago that is troubling me. It is also something else."

"Then what!? What's wrong!?"

"Enough!" Zilar yelled. It was something he did not very often do, yelling. Even though Millianna hadn't known him long, she could tell him losing his temper in such a way was not to be taken lightly. The silence following his outburst made it so the wind and rain outside could be heard as if they were standing in it. He walked around the table and stood before her, all 6 feet of him. He glared down at her and Millianna was having serious trouble looking back at him.

"There is nothing anyone, not I and especially not YOU, can do to mend in any way what has been done." He brushed roughly past her and walked out the door into the cold, dark rain. Millianna stood there feebly for a moment. It hurt her, how Zilar emphasized the word "you". As though he no longer thought her of any significance at all. But for all her pain and anger, outside was a man whom she needed. And whether he knew it or not, at the moment, he needed her too.

"Zilar," she shouted turning to run out the door after him. She stepped into the open air and was greeted by a great gust of wind pushing her aside. It was more powerful than it had sounded before. She felt it had something to do with Zilar. She walked as quick as she could through the small river of mud at her feet. Scanning the area as far as she could through the heavy curtain of water for a sign of Zilar. She managed to spot him going up a large hill just outside of town. She ran and stumbled after him.

"Zilar," she shouted out, "Zilar, please, come back!" She made it to the foot of the hill by the time he made it to the top. She looked up in shock. A small tornado was forming around him. At first she was scared for his life, but then she saw that it was HIM that was the center of the tornado.

"So this is the true power of a Wind Mage." The wind became evermore powerful. She began climbing her way up the muddy hillside, fighting hard against the wind and the rain. The tornado around Zilar was only grower larger and stronger. Soon, it began lifting Millianna herself airborne. She managed to tear off her gloves and started using her claws to get up the hill. She climbed closer and closer until she found she couldn't go any further like this.

"N-Nekosoku Tubes!" Two orange tubes extended from her hand and bound themselves around Zilar's torso. Millianna began pulling herself up the tubes towards Zilar, the job made slightly easier since the tubes managed to siphon away a small portion of Zilar's magic. Still, it was a great task with the rain and wind still pelting her down and the tornado still blowing her away. At last, she reached him.

"I'm sorry, Zilar!" She wrapped her arms around him and dug her claws into his flesh so she could hold on. It didn't help, the storm he created continued to rage.

"Please Zilar, stop all this! I only wanted to help you! I know what you're feeling, I've felt pain like yours before! And I also want to help because...because I care about you! I care about you a lot, Zilar!" Tears began forming in her eyes and were instantly blown away by the wind.

"P-Please, Zilar! Stop," she screamed. She began wailing and bawling into his back. Zilar, in his infinite rage, could not help but hear Millianna's pleas and cries. Slowly, the tornado around him began receding back and soon there was nothing but rain.

"...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Zilar screamed, a terrible, heart-wrenching scream. A scream of such pain that it felt like someone was slowly drilling a hole through the side of his head. After which, he crashed to his knees and hung his head low as rain poured down his forehead and nose. Millianna took her claws out, but did not let go of him. She continued to cry deeply into his back. There they sat until Zilar gently placed his hand on top of Millianna's. Millianna looked up as Zilar turned around on his knees to face her.

"...I will tell you," he said plainly. Millianna once again burst into tears, flung her arms around his neck, and buried her face in his chest. Zilar put an arm around her back and another at her head, softly stroking her drenched hair.

Millianna has finally managed to break through Zilar's facade and he is now ready to reveal the secrets he has kept the past several months. All will be revealed next time. Make sure to check out "Welcome to My Guild, Welcome to My Heart" as well as the works by AngelUchiha-chan. Thank you. :3