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

Chapter 9: Ame, 1st Hot Spring Trip

"I don't get why the hell I agreed to this, Kuroi." Guntz growled as he trudged beside me.

We were currently walking through a forest path along with Klonoa, Leorina, Lolo, Popka, and Tat. Before I asked Guntz that morning, the day before I asked Leorina if she and Lolo along with their big-mouthed sidekicks to come. Surprisingly, all of them agreed to come. The reason why I asked all of them was because I wanted to know if they could trust me enough to treat them to a day of relaxation.

Although Guntz' and Leorina's encounter kind of surprised me, they seemed to argue about something ridiculous, like Guntz asked me why I asked a bunch of girls to come along even though I was one. As for Leorina she complained that how I was able to cope with a meddling, mixed, hybrid mutt like Guntz. I was a bit entertained until both of them threw a boot to my head saying that this was a nuisance.

Lolo suggested that they should just go home, but the two protested saying useful reasons. Guntz said he just wanted to go so that he could relax while Leorina said that she was happy to take up my offer. In truth, I don't know what it's like to be in a hot spring, I read about when I was younger but that was it. I remember asking Kisho I wanted to go, but that was during the war, so I knew I couldn't go if I wanted to.

"Well, Guntz," I began "Leorina is my friend too and she's going to help me train you, so shut your trap before I throw you all the way back to Lunatea."

"I don't give a damn that she's coming, but why should I train with a sky pirate!" He protested pointing a finger at Leorina.

"Because," I smirked patting Leorina's back "She's way more agile than you, not to mention flexible. The other players of the Alice Game might attack you if they find you have a rose ring so it's better to start your training before the ball."

"You're going in disguise anyway, what's the point?" Klonoa asked questioningly.

I smirked darkly.

"Some people I used to know can see me through more than Suppi, right?" I asked to my guardian who was walking next to me.

The small cat twitched her ears uneasily as her lips began to curl. I smirked darkly, reminiscing back to the time when Spinal visited me and Suppi while I was in recovery and immediately knew I was Ame. Suppi couldn't even see through that, not even that bastard Rozen. I guess I still find pleasure in messing with people's heads.

"See, Ame's my friend too, so I should help her." Leorina smirked putting and arm around my shoulder.

"You do know we were trying to capture you, right?" Guntz asked in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Yes, but now that I know Ame more she's my new friend. Besides, I think she's way more fun than you." She smirked coolly.

Guntz growled at her as I stood in front of her with a sly smirk.

"Is someone jealous?" I chimed crossing my arms.

He narrowed his eyes in anger then scoffed continuing through the forest past. So he must be jealous that I might like her more than him, is that it? This is going to be interesting.

--

The moment we set foot in Nocturna it was completely empty, almost like a big ghost town. All of the houses' doors were closed and curtains covered the windows from inside and all of the stores and shops were closed. Though, that is normal for the inhabitants of Nocturna. Usually they're very lively during the night, but during the day they sleep like cats taking warm naps outside.

You could say the village was of the large type since this was the only place Nocturna people live they never leave the village at all. Although I know one Nocturna who is diurnal like us but he is blind during the day so he runs the popular bath house nearby for tourists.

"Why aren't there any people?" Lolo asked clutching Klonoa's arm

"Well, I should say it's a ghost town," I smirked slyly, making Lolo yelp in fear "during the day, but at night it's very lively."

"What do you mean?" Leorina asked questioningly.

"This is the village, Nocturna. The inhabitants here only stay awake at night and the festivities as well. I remember when I came here one night with my boss. Lots of the people here were enthusiastic and energetic. I can't remember a time when these people would even stay quiet for a whole night." I smirked with chuckle.

Yep, those were the good old days here.

"But if this place is only active at night then why are we here in the middle of the day. Won't the bath house be closed?" Klonoa asked.

I shook my head quickly.

"Nah, an old owl that is Nocturna as well is Diurnal like us and run the bath house during the day. But knowing him, he should be blind during the day since its very bright when the sun is up for him." I explained.

Just as I finished we were already at the gate of the bath house. It looked like any other hot spring, the big wooden gates, the slanted roof, and the signs signaling open. Just like how I read about them, but I feel beat for some reason.

"Ame, Ame!" Before I could react Guntz slammed his boot at my head again.

"Fuck!" I cursed as I grabbed my head.

"What the fuck was that for, damnit?!" I scowled.

"Stop spacing out like that, I was asking why the hell you have that damn stare on your face. It looks like you're lonely!" he scowled.

"I was thinking about something, damnit! And by the way the faces I make mean nothing so don't scold at my ass if you know what's good for you!" I growled at him.

We both glared at each other angrily before Suppi stepped in saying that it was normal of me to do that. The others including Leorina agreed. Guntz was hesitant but he let me go.

I sighed as we entered through the gate and into the lobby. There we saw an old owl wearing a dark brown hakama with small reading glasses.

"Hey, Old man with the glasses," I greeted brightly with a wave.

The owl looked up immediately with a grin.

"Oh, Mr. Okami, it's nice to see you again. How are things back at home?" He asked smiling at me.

"Like hell," I replied and he immediately laughed.

"Well, that does make sense. I just heard a few nights ago you were thrown off a cliff what happened?" He asked in a humorous tone.

"I'll just say sibling rivalry, and you Nocturna know how to make something serious funny. I remember you chuckling when I caught that damn burglar last year, I think I crashed into a building or I fell off that one time. You even tried to put it in your newspaper." I grinned darkly.

"You crashed and they were asking me about the details. Anyway, every thing's on the house for you and your friends. You deserve the rest anyway." He told me before looking back down to what he was thinking.

"Thanks, Old Man," I smirked.

I yawned as I lay on the futon set in the room the girls and I was given. I watched sleepily as I watched Lolo and Leorina unpack there stuff. We decided to stay a night then go home the next morning since the walk here was pretty long. This village is near Lunatea, but it a little far from the border and it took us a few hours to get here so we decided to stay.

Since I made that suggestion the others agreed and we were given two rooms. It was Leorina's idea for boys to have their own while the girls did as well. I yawned again before stretching, I should have slept last night but I didn't want to sleep, I still don't. Leorina seemed to have noticed since she stood in front of me.

"What's wrong, didn't you sleep last night?" She asked concerned as she kneeled down to me.

I shook my head.

"I didn't want to sleep," I replied bluntly "if you want you can bring Suppi with you. I'm too tired to stay up any longer."

"Okay, but you should go to the onsen too." Lolo suggested as she picked up my guardian.

"Let Ame rest, I saw her sneaking out last night I believe she deserves some rest." Suppi suggested.

"Really, why?" Leorina asked.

Before I could hear Suppi's reply I already passed out from exhaustion. I don't want to dream, I just want to rest.

--

I walked through a void of light aimlessly as I heard a familiar lullaby play in my head. I couldn't remember when I heard it, but it was soothing. But the voice, it was different. It was one I never heard before. I looked around curiously as the voice grew louder.

Then when it was at its loudest a long white-haired girl clad in white, save fir her red shoes. Beside her stood a black cat, in her hand a large silver scythe that was taller than her and me. Although I could clearly see that the girl was taller than me.

"I'm Momo, of the Soul Taker Clan." She told me as she rummaged through her pocket.

I just stared at her as she produced a small ID card, she presented it to me. It printed "#A-100100." I raised a brow as she continued to speak.

"I am here to give you your arms of the Soul Takers to fight in this war." She told me.

I nodded understanding what she meant. It goes against laws as an angel to fight in wars. But the army never cared, but as for a Mitsukain like me it's a big deal. Angels taking lives are just ironic; those are soul takers and devil's jobs.

"Momo, how many of you are left?" I asked suspiciously.

"Two. Me and the Golden Shinigami," She replied blankly with a smirk.

"Weird," I smirked "I remember hearing only one was still alive. Unless you are taking refuge with the real Shinigami clan then you are officially dead."

The white-haired girl began to chuckle, then into a full-hearted laugh. It took her a few moments to recover before looking at me again.

"True," she chuckled "but I'm in charge of protecting you since I took that vow twelve years ago."

I smirked darkly before crossing my arms against my chest.

"I see, then I'll take your arms." I replied.

She nodded and began to twirl her scythe in front of me. Then as it twirled faster everything started to blur. What the...

--

I shot my eyes open to see Momo again looking down to me. I jumped only to have my forehead crash into hers. I grimaced as I sat up while she fell on her bottom. I looked around to see no one was in the room yet. I took out my alchemy watch and saw that it had been five hours since I fell asleep. I glared at Momo who was brushing herself off.

"Damnit, Momo, why the hell are you here?" I growled at her as I reached for my mask.

"I just wanted to see how you were doing," she replied simply.

"Where's Daniel?" I asked suspiciously.

"He left to talk with Suppi." She replied as I stood up.

"Well, since you're here," I sighed "why don't you go in the onsen with me? Knowing the others they should be having dinner by now."

--

I sighed as I slipped into a pool of warm, soothing water with Momo. We were in the stone bath, which unfortunately was mixed, but there wasn't anybody so we took our chances and decided to relax there. Mom and I are very similar in any way you see. The only difference was our hair, mine was short and black while hers was long and white. We both had sapphire eyes and the same stature. I met Momo in a dream when I recovering before my true battles in the war.

She was also the one who gave me the powers I use now to take lives of others without 'sinning', as they say in my home. She also saved my life after I had supposedly lost in the war. She stayed with me until I woke up in the infirmary in the water kingdom. She even recommended me to run away to here when word got out about a certain battle I took place in the war. Since then she was endowed as a protector to watch over me if I was in a bad predicament like I will be in a few days.

"Momo," I called looking down to the water.

"Hmm?"

"How's Guchuko?" I asked sadly.

Guchuko was kind of like a small Shinigami creature with purple hair and eyes. She wielded a small skull scythe and was a sweet lover. She used eat sweets with me a lot when I moved in with Rozen after I had cut my ties with my friends and family. I decided to live in Rozen's N-field so that I could go to Alice Games easily without being seen.

"She's doing fine. Rozen and his wife are taking good care of him. I heard from Rozen that his wife is expecting twins soon." She told me with a smile.

I looked at her blankly before looking up towards the sky, it was closing to night.

"He doesn't concern me anymore. Neither does his wife or expected children. Maybe you forgot, but it was because of him I was forced to a life like this. I hate that bastard and he can do whatever he wants to his second pair of twins. Both ways I'm not their sister and Maria doesn't know that." I growled looking down to the water.

I could see my reflection in the water. My left eye had changed scarlet again, which made sense as to why I saw red in my left eye. I frowned as it reverted back to sapphire.

"Ame, you do know that it wasn't you're fault for what happened to master, it was all planned out I saw it. You should tell everyone the truth, maybe they'll let you go home." She suggested to me.

I shook my head slowly.

"I don't want to go home anymore. I don't want to see those faces. I see them enough in the dreams, the dreams of my mistakes. I'm tired of living like this, I should live in my N-field, but I have to make sure Suppi goes home with Spinal." I told her as sadness began to overwhelm my body.

"If you want to leave, then stay until you defeat all of your sisters and you tell everyone the truth. I will not stand and watch my companion suffer." Momo told me sternly.

"Momo, if I lose, I want you to take my memory and destroy it. I want to go back to when I knew nothing, when I was still a young pupil learning from her master. Back to when I never entered the army and fought in that war. That is my wish. I want to forget my friends, my family, and my life. I want to live again, a new life."

Nya: Sorry for the long wait, I had to work on my novel. I'll start on the next chapter immediately and by friday the next chapter should be up. X3