Disclaimer: I do not own Klonoa, but Kuroi or Ame and OCs are mine. You can't steal them unless you ask. X3

Chapter 5: Guntz, Medium of the Fifth Rozen Maiden

After all the commotion, everything was back in order and Suppi woke up to me strangling Guntz without my shirt on. I put on a simple long–sleeved shirt and tan shorts while Suppi transformed into her human form and we sat with the people who have already seen my true face. I wasn't in the mood to do much, but sleep some more. Although I didn't want to have those damn dreams and I wanted to show respect to the High priestess. Also I wanted to apologize to Klonoa's priestess friend, Lolo, for this mornings little incident.

I even heard from Klonoa that Lolo helped my wounds heal faster with her powers. I was satisfied with her work by seeing that not even a splotch of blood has even appeared on any of my bandages. Besides that we were all sitting at the eating table conversing about the big scene Klonoa and I made last week at the grocery store.

"I am very grateful that you and the dream traveler saved all of those people, I am obliged to give a hero medal any time you want." The High priestess bowed to me as I drank a whole cup of Jomon water.

I smiled sheepishly scratching the back of my ear.

"I was just annoyed that day. I don't think I deserve something so special." I smiled waving my hands in front of me.

"Besides that," Suppi began "it's thanks to Miss Lolo here you feel much better than the other times."

I nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Miss Lolo. I am forever in your debt." I nodded to her with a smirk.

She nodded back smiling sheepishly before Guntz made an unnecessary retort.

"Oh yeah, she acts just like a boy on the outside, but will always be a girl on the inside." He smirked reaching for the Jomon water.

I snatched the bottle before he could grab it and poured some for the high priestess, Lolo, and Klonoa.

"I may act like a boy, but that's because of six months in war can change someone like me." I shot back before I heard the High priestess gasp.

We looked to her to see that she must have seen through me.

"Are you from Dokyoo's army?" She asked only to receive a nod from me.

"What are you doing here?" She asked making me flinch.

I looked to the side sadly as I slumped against my chair. I can't tell them the truth, it would just make them worried and I might have to confront Dokyoo. I just shrugged showing a gesture I didn't want to talk about it yet. They seemed to have read my mind as they sat against their chairs looking down thoughtfully.

"Anyway I will attend your ball in disguise. Since I am an exile to them, I need to make sure that all of them stay within the ball room. We can discuss this a week before the ball." I suggested only receiving no from everyone.

"Huh?"

"It's been a week since you fell off the cliff and you're recovery was slowing down before Lolo came and healed, so actually it's already a week before the ball." Klonoa explained.

I dropped my head against the table only to grunt in pain, I guess I got a concussion.

"You shouldn't do that, you'll get hurt worse." Lolo told me concerned.

"Sorry, Miss Lolo," I apologized, "Anyway, during the ball some of the people from my squadron might leave and try and find me, mostly my old partners. I don't want to be seen, but I want to know what that jerk Dokyoo is up to, I remember him mentioning about us rarity cadets to becoming the greatest and most powerful weapons of all time."

The High priestess nodded.

"Dokyoo mentioned that in his last letter when he told me that one of his rarity cadets was just admitted into the military infirmary with very bad wounds, that wouldn't happen to be you, right?" she asked in a monotone.

"I was the last to be retrieved from the battle field after I lost in the Alice Game, after I was admitted into the infirmary I was told that I would have to stay there for at least a long time in intensive care. So you could say, it was living hell during the war." I nodded nonchalantly.

"What's the Alice Game?" They all asked making me flinch in anger.

"It looks like someone got drunk from drinking too much Jomon and openly told a certain partner of mines that I needed a medium to keep up my energy and didn't even tell anyone what the whole point I was here for."

I glared at Suppi making her flinch uncomfortably. I can't believe she drank from my stash that was for emergencies and she just drank more than half of it. Jomon is supposed to be good for everyone. It has this healing sense helping people with bad wounds heal quickly without difficulty. Also it tastes better than any type of water around.

Usually, you can only get this from the rivers of Yakushima and Kyushu in the water kingdom back at Tsubasa. When mixed together, the healing senses mix together doubling it over while the tastes emerge together makes a sweet thirst quenching sensation. It also feels great when it goes down your throat when you have a sore throat.

But if you drink too much of it in one sitting most of the water's content will block out your senses, and you end up unconsciously giving away important things. I had fifty bottle of Jomon and now I only have twenty left, I was saving that for special occasions too.

"Suppi,"

"Y-yes..." she stammered looking at me.

"How much did you drink?" I asked glaring at her.

She flinched hesitatingly.

"T-twenty eight..." she stammered.

I flinched in anger before slamming my fist on the table.

"Damnit, Suppi, and you tell me to lay off the sweets!" I growled.

"Excuse me for being worried sick!"

I narrowed my eyes when that memory of me and Dokyoo fighting played in my head. I looked down sadly before muttering an apology to my guardian. Even though Suppi has been my guardian since I was five, she never knew what really happened to me.

When I left for the war, she was sick from an ambush that took place at home so she never knew what I had gone through during those months. I still didn't know why they attacked us, but I was concerned for Suppi, she was the only thing her older brother, Spinal, had left of their parents. I still don't know the details about what happened to them, but I was obliged to have Suppi protect me. I believe he is at least the same age as my oldest brother, Jinjo, and is his guardian.

"Now," I began with a smirk looking at everyone.

"I'm going to tell you everything about me as a Rozen maiden, so don't interrupt. All the questions you have, I'll see if I can answer them when I'm done." I told them and they nodded sternly.

I nodded in acknowledgement and took a moment to see where I should start. I guess I should start with my name.

"I am Shippuu, the fifth of the five Rozen Maidens, making me the youngest. My other, older sisters' names are Suitou, Kira Suishou, Kanahina, and Suisouseki. In order it is Mercury, Snow Crystal, Small Canary, Jade Lapis lazuli Star, and Pure Gale. I am youngest of the twin gardeners and obtain the cutting shears. Suisouseki and I protect and revive the trees of people's hearts by traveling through their N-fields. N-fields are worlds created by people hearts and within the center of their worlds are trees that reveal that they are living happily and healthily. If it withers then that means they lose hope in themselves and chose give up in life.

"Guntz, you swore that you would protect me the moment you kissed my rose ring. You have become my medium... The rose ring is proof of that. While you have it on, Guntz, you will be my medium, continuously supplying me with your energy through the ring. In other words, you are a carrier or my power source. This is your wish as a soul taker to protect me for Konnichi and Kaguya, right?

I turned to him and he nodded with a stern look on his face, I grinned before continuing.

"The Alice game... is a game where one steals the Roza Mystica from the other. The loser dies mercilessly. The victor comes one step closer to Alice. That is we Rozen Maidens are destined for.

"Alice is a girl who lives only inside of Father. A girl of dreams, with lucid wings purer than angel's way stronger than a devil's. More sublime than any flower, purer than any jewel, without a single flaw. Unrivaled by any girl in the world, she is a girl of unsurpassable beauty. His pursuit of that Alice, his attempt at finding that form results in us, the Rozen Maidens. But one girl, two girls, no matter how many girls he found, it was no good. None of us reached Alice. But, if I win the Alice Game and collect all of the Roza Mystica, I can become Alice."

I looked around as everyone looked down thoughtfully, maybe to find the right questions to ask me. I wonder if it was right for me to tell them what Dokyoo was trying to experiment with me and the others. Am I being a coward by running away from everything? Of course I am, but I'm going to change that at the ball... If Kira Suishou finds me there that is. I flinched when I heard the High Priestess speak.

"Kuroi, why did you join Dokyoo's military in the first place?"

I looked at her blankly before looking down thoughtfully.

"I was recommended to go, so I did, end of story." I replied simply.

I don't want to remember that big mistake I made two years ago, mostly when it was closing the end of the Alice game. That was the biggest mistake I ever made and I'll never forgive myself for what I did to Suitou.

"How long are you going to stay here?" Klonoa asked.

I just shrugged, it depends on how mine and Suppi's situation goes, and everything seems fine here already.

Hopefully it'll stay like that for as long as we live here. John and Seion and his family are plenty of help and they seem to watch over me without giving me much trouble about hiding myself. They are very respectful people and I appreciate them for that. With any luck, I'll be able to repay them before I die soon. At least I'll be able to leave few people with happy smiles on their faces.

"Guntz," I called looking at him.

"I'm going to show you how we Rozen Maidens fight and how you can endure the pain." I told him standing up.

--

Currently, Klonoa, Guntz and I were walking deeper into the forest while Suppi and the others left for certain reasons I wasn't paying attention to. I was given a hero medal anyway, since many recommendations from many people whom I had saved or who now look to me as a hero. So now I have a black medal pinned on my shirt as I limped to our destination.

Even though my wound didn't hurt at all, my leg for some reason feels weak so I have to limp for a while before I can walk freely. I 'm kind of happy that I'm used to it by now, during the war I had to endure many untreated wounds since rations and supplies were low I was only aloud medical attention if my wounds were serious like the ones on my right side. Usually for us Tsubasanian recovering was easy, but for some reason I was the only one of my kind who has a wound that won't heal at all and it's a big burden to me. It's difficult to rest when I want sleep on that side and whenever I fight it's hard to even endure the pain. But I learn to live with it, you know.

I stopped when we arrived at a part of the forest where it had been burned for some time now and mostly everything either became ash or burnt wood with dying leaves on the ground. Even though the sky above was a beautiful cobalt blue, here on this earth was singed and burned. I found this here a year ago when I was exploring this place out of boredom, I was pretty shocked by how such a scene could be hidden by this forest.

I investigated this place a month later after I had done a mission leaving me with wounds that needed to heal for that period of time. It turns out a battle took place here and it wasn't Lunatean. By indicating from the scorch and cut marks on the trees and ground it was an elemental battle, a fierce one. I wanted to restore this place, but without a medium and my powers not at its strongest I couldn't, so I decided to wait until someone would swear to me. Guntz and Klonoa were surprised when they saw this and how I found out about this. I just told them I was taught that way, nothing more.

"What are you going to do here?" Guntz asked as he and Klonoa looked around.

"I've been bothered about this so I'm going to fix it." I replied simply as a cloud flew in front of the sun.

I looked up to it and smiled warmly as a ray of light hit my face. I lifted my hands as a plume fell from the sky and into my palms softly. It felt warm, so warm it reminded me of my old self. Back when I wasn't Shippuu, or Kuroi, back when I was Ame. I sighed contentedly as my clothes transformed into my Rozen maiden attire. Dark royal blue clothes with puffy shorts from the Victoria era and a dark royal, blue poncho, black shoes with bows on them, and a black top hat with a dark blue ribbon tied to it. I looked down and smiled happily when I felt that dark blue cloth rose on my chest, I always wore it with pride and I loved that texture of it.

"Is that what you like?" Guntz asked with a hint of a smirk on his face.

I nodded.

"When I became this, I was somewhat happy to be awake, because usually I would be in a dazed state for a long time if I didn't have my Roza Mystica." I replied.

"Is it really that nice?" Klonoa asked.

I nodded with a bright smile.

"To a Rozen maiden, although you may fight while you're awake, you're able to see and hear many more things than when you're asleep. And then someday we can meet Father. Then, the Alice Game will be over. For us living is to fight, fighting is to kill, killing is to win, and winning is to becoming a perfect girl. But aside from that I find great pleasure when I'm like this." I smiled looking at Guntz.

He had a somewhat surprised look on his face. I guess this is his first time seeing me smile like this. Yeah, this is a first time for me too. I can't remember the last time I felt like this for the past two years. My heart feeling warm again just like when I was a child learning to become the best with Kisho's guidance. Now this heart was just cold and bare, every time I shot a bullet or hit a person on purpose it would grow colder and so would my body. Knowing Guntz, he had the same feeling too.

"I'm going to fix this place now, so try and bear with it Guntz." I told him with a smile.

I closed my eyes holding out my hands summoning my artificial soul.

"Renpika..."

My cutting shears appeared on my palms and I spun them around like a windmill. I began to muster energy to my shears and a mild wind began to blow as everything began to heal from wounds from the battle. I closed my eyes concentrating on the energy I was mustering trying to balance it.

This was kind of a first for me and I was trying my best to keep at a good pace. I opened my eyes to see the sun shining rightly as the trees were soon reborn and began growing news leaves. The ground growing crisp green grass, and burnt bushes returning to their original states. After everything was healed and repaired I turned around smiling to the others only to see Guntz panting hard with Klonoa kneeling next to him worriedly.

I narrowed my eyes in shock, how could this happen? I ran to my Medium and grabbed his left hand to see that the ring was glowing too brightly, that's right it's my first time with a medium making it harder for him and way difficult for me. Before I could speak, Guntz collapsed to the ground completely spent making me frown.

"Klonoa," I frowned to him.

"You should take him home and watch over him for the night, he should wake up in two days time." I told him before standing up.

"Where are you going, shouldn't you help me?" Klonoa asked looking up to me.

I shook my head.

"I have to visit my boss tomorrow, so I don't have much of a choice. I'll try and come by tomorrow and check up on him." I told him with a frown as I stuffed a certain item in the back of my poncho.

He nodded looking down sadly. I smirked putting a hand to his shoulder.

"He's my first medium, he'll get used to it sooner or later." I assured him.

Klonoa nodded and I helped him prop Guntz on his back. After saying Good-bye to Klonoa, he carried the unconscious Soul Taker back to the village while I walked back to the cabin. When they were out of sight I took out the rifle I had snatched from Guntz' holster after he collapsed to the floor. By its detail it looked old enough that it must have been made before Guntz was born, possibly made by his father. It was a red gun with a yellow contorted cross with a large black handle. It kind of looked like a mini-rifle to me since it was kind of a bit too big for me.

When I reached the cabin I was in luck, Suppi was still out and there was a note saying she would be back late. Enough time for me, to see if I can find out the secret past from this little weapon with a few tricks up my sleeve, I thought to myself. I quickly ran into the cabin and drew a transmutation circle on the eating table. I need to do this quick before night fall. After creating a complete alchemic circle out of chalk then nestled the rifle on it. I placed my palms on the edge of the circle and closed my eyes.

With the powers of Rozen, the Rose Alchemist, I command you tell me your past with the soul takers. Bring me to the time when you first saw me.

The next thing I see is a very bright angelic light.

--

I opened my eyes again to see that I was in front of an average sized home, it looked normal in every way and there was even a jeep in front, probably a few years old. This house seemed to be in a place a few miles far off from all the kingdoms seeing that I couldn't see a single village from here. I wonder what so important around this time?

It was then I heard a childish chuckle, I turned to see a younger version of Guntz playing in the front yard. He still looked the same it's just that he was wearing a black shirt with red shorts and his features were a bit younger even his ponytail was shorter. He seemed to be playing with a toy water gun and shooting at paper targets hanging from the large tree that was in front of the house. This must have happened when he was around seven or eight.

My ear twitched when I heard a familiar sound of foot steps, I looked down to Guntz to see that he must have heard it as well as he was looking up from what he was doing to see the new comer. I widened my eyes and dropped my jaw in shock. It was Kisho, my old master. He was carrying a large basket in one hand while holding a book in the other. Immediately, Guntz got up and ran to Kisho with a bright smile.

"Kisho, it's nice to see you again." He smiled as the somewhat young man patted his head.

"It's nice to see you too, Guntz. Is your father here?" Kisho asked with that same smirk he used to give me whenever we saw each other.

"Yep," Guntz nodded "he's in the living room right now."

"Let's go inside then, I brought some things you might like." Kisho smirked as Guntz ran to the front door.

No matter how you see it, he looked cute anyway. What I don't get how he became one of the cold-blood killers like me from such an innocent child like this. I guess we're both the same, we were both innocent cute kids when we were younger then damned events occurred leaving us scarred and to change. That damn bastard Dokyoo, I can't wait to throw him off a cliff someday.

I followed the two into the house to see that it was average looking inside as well, the only difference from the average ordinary houses and here was that this place had pictures of Guntz' father. He was in pictures with other bounty hunters along with Guntz in some of them as well. I walked steadily behind the two as they walked through the hall passing a door to the kitchen then entering a room where Guntz' father was fixing a blaster rifle. He was sitting in an arm chair with a small fold out table in front of him with the rifles parts on it. It looked authentic seeing how well polished it was, it didn't even have a single flaw. The young muscular man looked up taking the cigarette he was smoking out of his mouth.

"Ronin, what are you doing here? I thought you would be here next week." He asked questioningly.

Kisho looked down thoughtfully before sitting in the arm chair across from Guntz' father as the young boy sat on his father's lap happily. He laid the basket he was holding in front of his feet and rested the book he was holding on the table. Kisho closed his eyes for a moment as if hesitating about something he had to say.

"Butz, have you heard from Konnichi or Kaguya lately?" Kisho asked monotonously.

Butz frowned in surprise before looking to the side thoughtfully.

"Now that you mention it, it's been at least a month since I heard from them. Did something happen?" he asked worriedly.

Kisho nodded sadly.

"The night their new born daughter was born, they were murdered, that was at least one week ago." Kisho told him sadly.

Butz nodded patting his son's head as if trying to find comfort from him.

"How are Jinjo and the others?" Butz asked.

"He and the other thirteen are fine. We just put them into hiding so they should be fine."

Butz breathed a sigh a relief letting his shoulders slump a little.

"And the newborn is she still alive?" Butz asked sternly.

Kisho smirked removing the small blanket covering the basket and picked up a small bundle of ocean blue blankets, carefully cradling it in his arms. I walked up to him and looked at the bundle of blankets only to widen my eyes in surprise, it was a new born baby. It seemed to be sleeping, seeing that she hadn't opened her eyes yet.

"R-Ronin, is that...?" Butz couldn't finish his question as Kisho handed the baby to Butz.

"I received the will from Kaguya and Konnichi and they both agreed that she should be under the protection of the soul takers if she ever set foot here on Phantomile." Kisho told him as Butz looked down to the baby me.

I walked over to him and saw that the baby already woke up and was looking into his sapphire eyes with her own. Guntz looked down to the baby intrigued as if seeing a real live baby for the first time, hesitantly he poked the baby's cheek gently before she began to giggle and grasped his finger. Guntz smiled brightly as the baby giggled waving his finger around slowly. Butz smiled down to them as they played happily together before turning to my master. I smirked myself seeing such a cute scene, I almost forgot I was changing back to my feminine self.

"This baby is Kaguya's and Konnichi's alright, but why would they want us soul takers to watch over her? Wouldn't she be alright with you and the other guardians?" Butz suggested as the baby grasped his finger with her other hand.

Kisho shook his head slowly.

"I can't trust most of my companions now, because they believe that the Mitsukai clan is dead and having the children take up certain elementals and transformations can mask them well. But for this little girl is special, she can already control the four basic elements and seemed to take care of herself when I'm not with her." He smirked down to the baby as it giggled.

"What does it have to do with us?" Butz asked.

"I'm having a weird feeling that she would come here when she's older to possibly go into hiding if forced to, she might be at her weakest at the time since now she is at her most powerful. I'm almost positive a certain screw up in her future might make her end up with her parents, and as one of the princesses of the fallen Mitsukain kingdom I entrust you and your clan to watch her if you ever find her again." He replied.

Butz twitched his ear in acknowledgement as the baby gurgle a little, waving her arms freely . He smiled softly down to her, until I saw a mark glow on her forehead. I widened my eyes in shock, that's the same mark I have on my forehead. I examined the baby's features closely, sapphire eyes, dark royal blue hair, glowing, angelic birth mark, and furry ears on top of her head. I dropped my jaw as Butz turned to Kisho.

"What's her name, Ronin?"

"Ame, Ame Mitsukai, the last born from the fallen kingdom." He replied.

I narrowed my eyes in surprise, so that's why Guntz was so protective over me. It was the wish from Konnichi and Kaguya. That made sense as to why he brought me back to the cabin and why he stayed in my cabin. I flinched when I heard Butz speak again.

"Then as a loyal friend to Konnichi and Kaguya, I, Butz of the soul takers, shall bring it upon myself to protect Ame Mitsukai with my life." Butz bowed.

Guntz hesitated before copying his father's movements.

"As a loyal friend too, I, Guntz of the soul takers, shall bring it upon myself to protect Ame as well." He bowed to Kisho.

Kisho frowned in surprise like I did, and then he smiled warmly to Guntz.

"Be sure to protect her with your life." He smiled.

Guntz nodded determinedly before the baby began to make loud noises. By the way I sound, I was hungry. Kisho chuckled as he took the baby from Butz and began to feed the baby with a bottle filled with a formula mixed with Jomon seeing that it was giving off an angelic glow. Afterwards they conversed how they would try and find me and how they could track me down if I ever showed up in life. It was then I found out an interesting thing about Guntz. He was very, very determined to watch over me.

He listened to every word Kisho said nodding as if finishing taking down every word in his head. While they were conversing, I was smirking to myself. So, it looks like Kisho, Kaguya, and Konnichi thought ahead of me. What a smart bunch and I don't even know Konnichi or Kaguya that much, go figure. I smiled softly before closing my eyes getting ready to leave.

I, Ame Mistukai, wish to return to the time I belong.

Nya: This should be enough for a few days until I start with the next chapter, and now everyone knows why Guntz was entrusted to protect Kuroi, you're welcome Chibikawa. Anyway, Kuroi is actually me, since we both have really short hair, we're both flat-chested, and we both look like twelve year olds even though I am fourteen and she is the age she is. Thank you so much for the reviews BadLuckCat and Chibikawa, as another thank you gift just tell me the days you want me to update this so you can read more f you want, okay? X3 See ya.