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

Chapter 8: Jinjo and Spinal, Ame's and Suppi's Big Brothers!?

I opened my eyes too restless to sleep, and I didn't want to have another nightmare. I was still confused about what the high priestess told me earlier today.

You know that if you cannot face what you are fated for, someone besides you will die, right?

"Y-yes, but...

Ame, you have to make a decision. Would you let, Guntz, Klonoa, Lolo, Leorina, Popka, Tat, or even your guardian, die because of your mistakes?

"B-But I had no choice, I had to run.

Is there really no choice? There is always a choice and that is that.

"If I face my fate for you to condone, will you forgive me for my cowardice and imprudence?

Yes, and I want you to live the way you want, it pains me and your other friends to see such an angelic child spill blood.

I frowned seeing that soft smile she had when she told me, I sat up on my bed looking to my side to see Suppi snoring. Man, I can't and won't sleep, might as well check up on Guntz and Klonoa. Knowing them and the manager at that inn, they're not like the Nocturna who roam around this time.

--

I looked down to Guntz' serene face as I leaned against the back rest of the chair I was leaning against. He should wake up by sun rise, I might as well wait. Klonoa was already asleep anyway. I put a finger to Guntz' neck again, to feel that same irregular pulse. I wonder if I can heal his wound with the Roza Mystica power. Guntz furrowed his brows as he batted away my hand unconsciously then turning on his side muttering something about me being a brat. Asshole...

I looked out the window to see that it was almost a full moon, a few more days and it'll be full on the day I die. I wonder... why I like that small moon so much. I always felt a nice cool feeling, the opposite of what I felt when I had that feeling when the high priestess touched my face. It felt like the wondrous gusts of wind from the air kingdom flowing through my body when I looked at the moon. But when people show such affection as to hug me, it feels like the flames of the fire kingdom make way into my heart and let it burn until it turns ashes.

I looked back down to Guntz as he slept heavily again, why did he become a bounty hunter? Was it because he wanted to be his dad or was it something else? I put a hand to his forehead and did the same thing I did with his rifle.

With the powers of Rozen, the Rose Alchemist, I command you tell me you're past.

Again, that angelic light appeared before me.

--

The moment I opened my eyes, my eyes widened in shock, the place where was supposed to be Guntz' home, was on fire. Even Guntz' favorite tree was on fire too. It was then I felt that dark, malicious presence of a murderer, and it was fresh like a thick, moist fog appearing before me. This was the dark night of a dark day.

I ran into the flames only to gasp when I heard a cry of agony. I looked around quickly trying to find the small seven-year-old. I ran around everywhere trying to see through the flames. It was then I heard that cry of agony and sadness again. I turned around to see a small figure huddled up in a partly opened closet. I ran to it and saw that it was Guntz.

I couldn't see his face because with his knees drawn up, with his arms around them, his head rested in his arms. His clothes were tattered and splotched with blood, while cuts and bruises were covered on his body. I could hear the despaired, muffled whimpers from him. I guess this was just after his father died. I crouched down to him as his shoulders shook and his crackled voice spoke in despair.

"F-Fathers g-gone... Why am I... always alone? Why can't I just be with father?" he muffled a cry in his arms.

So that's why he has such a negative point of view of other people. He didn't want to feel the pain of losing his parents. I guess he thinks I'm lucky. I was born an orphan and I never actually got to meet my parents. I thought being an orphan was easy, since I don't have to worry about where my parents are and I can take care of myself than kids with parents. But there are backfires, Guntz and I can't remember what it was like being with both of our parents, we get uncomfortable when people show affection to us, and we don't know the true meaning of this 'love'. Although knowing Guntz he knows more than I would in ten to twenty years.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a very loud 'snap', the seven-year-old wolf-dog shot his head up and looked around with teary eyes. His sadness was soon replaced with fear as a loud creak was heard. I felt a cold hand grip my heart as the flames grew larger and more snaps could be heard.

Suddenly, I saw him. Just as Guntz was cowering in fear like the pup he was, a young teenage boy appeared. He was hard to see with the mask over his face as he picked up Guntz and quickly escaped the house with great agility. I raised an eyebrow in interest before quickly following after them.

I was a bit surprised by the boy's speed, must be of Tsubasanian blood. When I made it out of the house, I found the boy with Guntz still in his arms and whistling quite highly as if calling someone. I ran up to the seemingly tall boy and looked at his feature, besides his face, which was mostly covered up by the mask. He was tall maybe around five feet, pretty slim kind of like the body statures needed in wars and the Tsubasanian militia. He kind of looked familiar, but his features were too young to the person I was comparing him to. Although this was twelve years ago, so I could make heads or tails that I might know this person.

I turned to see a very familiar figure approaching us. It was jumping with great agility through the nearby woods, kind of like a cat. After a few moments of jumping from tree to tree, the figure jumped down to actually reveal a black cat with fairy wings and serious, blue eyes. T-that was Spinal... Suppi's older brother and Jinjo's guardian!

Then if he's here, that means...! I turned to the tall boy and finally pieced the familiar features. This was my eldest brother, Jinjo, the last Mitsukain of light.

I only saw him once, when I was still recovering after that big war. He only came to visit once, because it was the only time he would see me since he was going to get married and have kids. I remember him telling me he wanted to bring me with him, but I said no immediately. Back then the war had taken a large toll out of me and I had changed. The once innocent cheerful girl with angelic sapphire eyes became the sadistic, malicious girl with the scarlet, Killer's eyes to prove it. I told him I never wanted to be with anyone again if they would reveal their faces of sorrow in front of me, and to me that was a lot of burden to put on them. During the time I just wanted to be lonely.

"Jinjo," Spinal called making me flinch back to reality, "what are we going to do with that soul taker?"

Jinjo shrugged looking down to Guntz in his arms. The small wolf-dog was unconscious it seemed since his eyes were closed and he was breathing deeply.

"We should let him stay with a friend of the second last Soul taker since this one is the last one. No matter what, we need to make sure he stays alive." Jinjo replied simply.

Spinal looked down thoughtfully before looking up to his master again.

"I heard your parents mentioning a fellow clan of the soul takers, their name was Ryoushi. They'll take him if he has the qualities like the last Soul taker, right?" Spinal suggested crossing his arms.

Jinjo nodded resting the limp boy on the ground and wrapping him in his warm, red jacket.

"We should better get him to this clan before he comes to," Jinjo suggested picking up the small boy.

Spinal nodded before turning towards a certain direction.

"It's best we stay inconspicuous..."

--

I lifted my hand from Guntz forehead with narrowed eyes of surprise. No wonder Guntz' jacket was familiar. It was Jinjo's favorite jacket, the one he told me about at the hospital. But why was he in Phantomile during that time? It goes against the rules of Tsubasa. This was a world where Tsubasanians should not be known about at all. Maybe it must have been a strict order from Kisho to check up on Guntz.

I flinched when I saw Guntz shifting a bit before opening his groggily, sapphire eyes. They looked up to the ceiling sleepily before turning to the side opposite of me to see Klonoa still sleeping in his bed. Finally he turned to me only to yelp in surprise and jump to a sit.

"Why the hell are you here?! And how did you get in here?" He asked loudly pointing at me.

"What, I can't visit my medium before dawn? I do have the eyes of a Nocturna." I smirked devilishly.

Guntz growled at me before looking around questioningly.

"H-How did I get here?" he asked confused.

Just as I thought...

"Klonoa dragged you here after you passed out. Luckily, you just got a fever. The usual medium loses half of their power and begins to lose their vital needs of vitamins and minerals and possibly hydration. I guess you're a special human, Guntz." I smirked resting my chin against the back rest of the chair.

He raised an eyebrow at me questioningly before changing the subject.

"Why are you wearing your mask? We're in a private room, you know." He suggested.

"The maids here are flirts, I'm just being cautious." I replied with a simple shrug.

Then that small conversation I had with Leorina popped up in my head.

"Guntz, do you and Klonoa want to come to the hot springs with me? It'll help you maintain the energy you and I need, and you can relax." I suggested with an evil smirk.

Nya: Now you know the secret of Guntz' jacket, I thought what the hay since some should know one of Ame's older siblings. I couldn't find any place to make this chapter hilarious, so I put it in the next one with all of the characters. It'll be awesome so stay tuned. And will someone please review this like BadLuckCat and Chibikawa, I'm feeling disappointed about other people not reviewing this. T-T You rock, BadLuckCat and Chibikawa! X3