The gang arrived at a grassy area with a forest in the background and a cabin house in the distance. They gathered their belongings and disembarked from the boat. Yuzu untied the boat and let it drift away.
''There!'' Yuzu said. ''Does everybody have everything?''
''Yea,'' Linn replied. ''Are you sure we don't need the boat anymore?''
''Yes,'' Yuzu replied. ''The rest of the path is mainland, so we shouldn't have to deal with crossing a river for a while.''
''I see'' Linn said.
''Guys'' Tomo said getting the two attention ''This is well and good but'' he looked towards the still tied up giant ''what do we do with him?''
''Oh yeah!'' Linn perked up ''Yuzu, why did you bring him with us?''
''That is what I want to know,'' the giant said.
Yuzu giggled. ''That's simple; he will be accompanying us from now on.''
''WHAAAAT?!'' Linn and Tomo shouted, eyes whited out. The giant raised an eyebrow.
''You heard me,'' Yuzu smiled ''he will be helping us on our journey-''
''Hate to burst your bubble little lady'' the giant interrupted ''but why would I go anywhere with you guys?''
''He's right, Yuzu'' Linn said ''We don't even know the guy!''
''Not to mention, we beat him up,'' Tomo added. ''It's only natural that he doesn't like us.''
''Don't worry about the small details, everyone,'' Yuzu said, still smiling, as she approached the giant.
''I believe we got off on the wrong foot, giant-San,'' Yuzu bowed. ''Allow us to introduce ourselves; I'm Yuzu Katagiri.'' she pointed to Linn and Tomo. ''The boy is Linn Tsukiyomi, and that is his beastkalin Tomodachi.''
''Uh hi…''Linn said nervously. Tomo merely scoffed.
''And you are?'' Yuzu asked.
The giant was thinking, and then he answered.
''Daisuke Taihama'' the giant, now known as Daisuke, introduced.
''Daisuke-San,'' Yuzu said. ''As you can see, we are on a journey together. While it had its ups and downs, it's been a lot of fun.''
''Is there a point, Missy?'' Daisuke asked.
''I'm getting to that,'' Yuzu replied. ''Unfortunately, we recently ran into trouble, and I don't think we can handle it alone. And you might be able to help us out of it. what I'm asking is, would you please accompany us as our bodyguard?''
Linn and Tomodachi are stunned and confused about this.
Tomo grabs Yuzu by the collar. ''Excuse us for a second,'' Tomo said to the giant as he dragged Yuzu away.
The gang was huddling a few distance away from the giant.
''What are you doing?'' Tomo asked Yuzu.
''What do you mean?'' Yuzu blinked innocently.
''Don't play dumb with me,'' Tomo growled. ''Why are you trying to bring that giant with us?''
''I told you why, to be our bodyguard,'' Yuzu stated. ''You saw firsthand how strong he is, and we don't know when the empire will attack. We need that strength, plus I feel bad for beating him up because of a misunderstanding.''
''I get that, Yuzu,'' Linn said, ''but do you think he can really help us?''
''Or if he would,'' Tomo added.
'I don't know for sure, but I'm going to try my luck,'' Yuzu said. ''Besides, he doesn't seem like a bad guy. He could have just run away when I asked him to get on the boat with us.''
''I don,t know…''Linn said, unsure.
''Linn, do you trust me?'' Yuzu asked seriously.
''Huh?'' He replied, confused.
''I'm asking if you trust me,'' Yuzu repeated.
'Y-yea, of course,'' Linn said.
Yuzu smiled. ''then you have nothing to worry about. I'm doing what's best for us, and having Daisuke-San with us is best.''
''Ok, if you say so, then I agree,'' Linn said.
''If the master agrees, then so am I,'' Tomo said.
''Thanks guys'' Yuzu said. The group dispersed and headed for the giant.
''Thank you for waiting'' Yuzu said ''so what is your answer?''
Daisuke looked at the gang. ''what in it for me?''
''You will be compensated with money and three meals a day courtesy of yours truly,'' Yuzu said.
Daisuke was contemplating as the gang looked on nervously.
''Ok, you got a deal,'' Daisuke answered.
Yuzu breathed a sigh of relief. ''thank you so much.'' she pulled out a brown bag. ''here is an advance payment.''
The giant just stared at it.
''What's wrong you don't want it?'' Yuzu said, confused.
''It's not that,'' Daisuke said ''I'm just surprised that you're paying me already''
Yuzu giggled ''I just believe you'll do a great job, that's all.''
Daisuke looks puzzled at the girl. Tomo pipes up.
''I hate to break this moment, but we really need to get going. It's getting late.''
Everybody looked up at the sky to see the sun setting.
''You're right!'' Yuzu gasped ''here Daisuke-San, take the money!''
Daisuke tried to move his hands, but he couldn't. Everybody but Tomo looked surprised.
''What's wrong?'' Yuzu asked.
''I can't move my hands!'' Daisuke panicked.
''Why?'' Linn asked.
''I don't know!'' Daisuke said
''What do we do, Linn?!''Yuzu asked, panicking.
''I don't know!'' Linn said, equally panicked.
Everybody was panicking while Tomo merely facepalmed.
''Are you guys serious?'' Tomo deadpanned.
Everyone just looked at Tomodachi.
''Of course we are serious!'' Daisuke said ''I can't move my hands!''
''Of course you can't. You're still tied up, you idiot!'' Tomo barked.
Everybody looked down at the giant hands; sure enough, he was still tied up. Everybody except Tomo had an Oh, that's right expression. Tomodachi sweatdropped.
'I'm surrounded by idiots, ' Tomo thought.
''Here, let me untie you,'' Yuzu said.
Daisuke shook his head. ''No, I got it.'' Daisuke tightened his muscles and pulled his hands back, easily breaking out of the ropes. He then grabbed the money from Yuzu's hands and walked down the path. Linn and Tomo were stunned. Yuzu smirked.
''I think we are in good hands, guys,'' Yuzu said, walking down the path. Linn and Tomodachi looked at each other, shrugged, and followed her.
000
The gang was walking down the path, the sky now bathed in darkness.
''I know I probably should have asked this earlier, but where are we going?'' Daisuke asked.
''Well, according to this map, we should be heading to Tamerion village, which is 2 miles from here,'' Yuzu said with her flashlight highlighting the map.
The giant looked at the map. ''If you're going based on the closest village, wouldn't going there make sense?'' He pointed to a village in the west.
Yuzu was sweating ''w-we can't go that way, too many monsters.''
Daisuke raised an eyebrow ''Alright then'' Daisuke said, not prying further.
Tomo whispers to Linn ''master; she did it again.''
Linn blinked. ''did what again?''
''Whenever someone points out that village on the map, she gets nervous and panics.''
''Now that you mention it, she does, but what's your point?'' Linn asked.
''Don't you find that odd?'' Tomodachi said.
''A little, but it is not my place to pray. Like I said before, Yuzu has been a big help to us. I'm not sure what she is hiding from us, but I'm sure she has a good reason.''
''but-'' Tomo began saying.
''Hurry up, you two!'' Yuzu called out.
''We're coming!'' Linn called back. He turned towards Tomo and smiled.
''Don't worry, everything is going to be fine,'' Linn said as he walked away.
''If you say so, master…'' Tomo said as he was catching up to the others.
000
After walking down the path for a minute or two, the gang arrived at a cabin house.
''Here it is!'' Yuzu proclaimed.
''A cabin house?'' Linn questioned.
''Yes,'' Yuzu replied, ''We'll rest here for the night.''
''Are you sure we can just walk in and stay?'' Daisuke asked.
''I agree. What if somebody lives here?'' Tomo asked.
''Don't worry,'' Yuzu reassured. ''this cabin house has been abandoned for years; it's so worn down that it can't be used as a living space.''
Daisuke raised an eyebrow. "If that is the case, how will we use it?"
Yuzu winked. "Leave that to me," she said as she opened the cabin door. The boys followed her.
The cabin house
The gang searched the cabin house and noticed that it was clean inside and that the fireplace had been kindled.
"Uh, Yuzu? I thought this place was abandoned," Linn asked, surprised.
"It's supposed to be," Yuzu said, just as surprised.
Tomo sniffed the air. ''apparently not, because it smelled like someone's been here recently.''
''Where did they go?'' Daisuke asked ''I didn't see anybody around here.''
''I don,t know'' Tomo replies ''the scent trails off…''
The group stands there in awkward silence.
''Maybe we should get out of-'' Linn begins saying. Just then, the cabin door flew open. The gang, startled, looks to the entrance to find a woman brandishing a spear.
''Who are you people?! What are you doing here?!'' the woman shouted threateningly.
''We're sorry!'' Linn apologizes. ''We didn't mean to come into your house!''
The woman didn't respond as she charged at Linn, spear in hand. Linn tried to defend himself from the assault. As the woman was closing in on Linn, The attack suddenly stopped the spear inches from Linn's face.
''Huh?'' Linn said, confused. He looked up to find Daisuke in front of him, holding the spear.
''Whoa, there,'' Daisuke said. ''There's no need for that. Let's discuss this like civilized people.''
The woman glared at the giant. ''Let go, you brute!'' she said as she tried to pull the spear out of Daisuke's grasp to no avail.
''Hey now,'' Daisuke said, ''there's no need for you to use language like that, especially from a pretty lady like yourself.'' Daisuke quickly pulls the spear out of the woman's hands and breaks it in two.
''Now then,'' Daisuke said, throwing the broken weapon aside. ''Let's talk.''
The woman grunted and sighed ''Very well.''
000
The three boys and the woman sat at the table as Yuzu emerged from the kitchen with food and tea, placing them on the table.
''Thank you for letting us stay here, and I apologize for barging in like this. I thought this cabin house was abandoned'' Yuzu bowed apologetically.
The woman smiled ''you're welcome, and no, I'm sorry for attacking you.''
''Why did you attack us?'' Tomo asked, food in his mouth ''I know we entered your house and all, but that was no reason to attack us.''
''Tomo-chan! Don't talk with your mouth full!'' Yuzu scolded. The woman chuckled.
''Forgive me. I recently had a run-in with an unpleasant group that was bothering me, and I assumed you all were part of that group.''
''Unpleasant group?'' Linn asked.
The woman sipped her tea. ''yes, they were asking me about someone, and no matter how often I told them I didn't know that person, they kept bugging me. It unfortunately turned physical from there.''
''I see.'' Linn said.
Daisuke got up, walked over to the woman, and grabbed her hands.
''Oh, I'm sorry you had an unpleasant experience, but don't worry my lady, your prince has arrived!'' Daisuke said. Everybody else sweatdropped.
''What's gotten into him?'' Tomo whispered.
''Beats me,'' Linn whispered back.
''So anyway miss-?'' Yuzu begins saying.
The woman smiled. ''my name is Cheerilee Amano.'' Linn got a good look at the woman. She has aquamarine eyes and long turquoise hair tied in a long side ponytail. She was wearing a green dress with blue tights and boots.
''I'm Linn Tsukiyomi, the hero,'' Linn introduced himself.
''I'm Tomodachi, master Linn's beastkalin, supposedly.'' Tomo introduced himself.
''I'm Daisuke Taihama, their bodyguard and your prince charming!'' Daisuke introduced herself, still holding her hands and wiggling his eyebrows. Everybody sweatdropped.
Yuzu grabbed Daisuke by the ear and pulled him off of Cheerilee. ''And I'm Yuzu Katagiri, the guide.''
''Nice to meet you all'' the woman, Cheerilee said.
''Cheerilee-San,'' Yuzu said, ''I'd like to apologize again for barging in, but I'm pretty sure this cabin house was abandoned not so long ago.''
Cheerilee sipped her tea and smiled. ''And you would be correct. This cabin house was indeed abandoned until I showed up. I decided to use it as a living space.''
''So you're a traveler like us?'' Tomo asked.
''Used to be,'' Cheerilee replied. ''Now I just live out my days in this cabin.''
''Used to be? Why did you stop?'' Linn asked.
Cheerilee put a finger to her lips and closed one eye. ''that's a secret.''
''I see'' Linn said.
Daisuke grabbed Cheerilee's hands again ''I can understand not wanting to travel anymore, but you must be so lonely in this cabin house. How about I stay here and keep you company?'' Daisuke said. Everybody's sweat dropped. Yuzu grabbed Daisuke by the ear and pulled him off again.
''Daisuke -San! you're supposed to be traveling with us!'' Yuzu scolded.
''Ow ow, I know, I know! Let go, Yuzu!'' Daisuke whined.
Cheerilee giggled. She then remembered something.
''Wait, your name is Yuzu Katagiri, right?'' She asked Yuzu.
Yuzu blinked ''yes, that's right, why?''
Cheerilee gasped. ''so it was you-'' Before Cheerilee could finish, a rock smashed through the window of the cabin house.
''What?!'' Linn said, shocked.
''What's going on?!'' Yuzu said, panicked.
Cheerilee looked out the broken window and gasped,
''Oh no, they followed me!'' Cheerilee shouted.
''Who followed you?'' Tomodachi asked. Cheerilee didn't answer as she walked out the door. The gang looks at each other briefly before following the woman.
O00
The gang and Cheerilee were outside the cabin house to find a group of about ten men with pitchforks and torches.
''There she is! I knew she went this way!'' one of the men said.
One of the men stepped forward. He had short blond hair, a white dress shirt, and black pants.
''We finally found you,'' the man smiled evilly.
''What do you guys want with me?!'' Cheerilee retorted.
''Oh please'' the man sneered ''it's not you we want.'' the man pointed at the gang ''it's her…''
The gang turned to the only other female besides Cheerilee.
''Yuzu?'' Linn said, surprised; Yuzu was visibly distraught and shaking.
"You thought you could get away from us," the man said, addressing Yuzu. "but we never stopped looking for you."
"First Detriment, now these guys? What did you do to piss off so many people?" Tomo asked Yuzu. Yuzu didn't reply as she was still shaking. Linn stepped forward and glared.
"What do you guys want with Yuzu?!" Linn asked.
"That's none of your business, kid," the man said. ''This is between us and her. It doesn't concern you."
"Yuzu is my friend, and she clearly wants nothing to do with you," Linn said.
"Look, we have no problem with you people. We just want the girl so just hand her over and we'll be on our way."
Tomo raised an eyebrow. "And if we don't?"
"Then we would have to use force, but we don't want it to come to that. We don't want to hurt you; we want the girl."
"Look, I don't know what's going on," Daisuke said, "but Yuzu clearly doesn't want to go with you guys, and I'm technically her bodyguard, so it's my job to keep her safe, and from the look of you guys you don't look like you have good intentions for her so…"
"Listen," the man said, agitated, "we are trying to be reasonable here, but you guys are trying my patience. I will only ask one last time: give Yuzu to us or else."
The gang said nothing as they all got into fighting stances.
"Fine! Have it your way! Attack!" The man shouted—the group of men charged at the gang. One of the men thrust his pitchfork at Linn. Linn dodged the attack and punched him square in the mouth, knocking him out. Another man tried to clobber Linn with the torch, but Linn knocked the torch out of his hand with a kick and then used his other leg to kick the man in the stomach, Knocking him out. A rather pudgy man jumped at Linn from behind. Linn twisted his body and delivered a clothesline to the pudgy man, turning him inside out.
Two of the men attacked Tomo. Tomo clawed at the first man taking him down. He then kicked the second man in the chest, knocking him out. A third man punched Tomo, but Tomo caught the fist with his mouth, biting down hard. The man pulled his fist back, screaming in pain. Tomo took that opportunity to deliver a headbutt to the man's skull, knocking him out.
Three men surrounded Daisuke as the giant stood there, unconcerned. The three men jumped on Daisuke, trying to bring him down, but Daisuke merely shrugged the men off of him. One of the men tries to punch Daisuke, but the giant is faster, delivering a quick karate chop to the man.
Another man tried to deliver a kick to the giant stomach. Daisuke grabs the man's foot and counters with a big boot. The last man tried to attack Daisuke from the side, but Daisuke lifted the man with two hands and slammed him down hard on the ground. And just like that, all of the men lay sprawled out on the ground unconscious.
''That takes care of them,'' Linn said as he, Tomo, and Daisuke dusted themselves off. ''That only leaves…'' Linn glared at the last man standing. The man gritted his teeth.
''Dammit! This wasn't how it was supposed to go!'' the man said, frustrated. ''Where the hell is Regulus?! This was supposed to be his job!''
Linn and the boys stepped forward. ''so are you ready to give up?'' Linn asked.
The man took a step back with a panicked look on his face.
''This isn't over! Mark my words: We will get Yuzu one way or the other!'' The man yelled out as he ran away.
Linn stared at the man and then turned to his friends.
''Are you guys ok?'' Linn asked.
''We 're fine, but we have a problem…''Tomo said hesitantly.
''What's wrong? Is Yuzu safe?'' Linn asked worriedly.
''That's the problem… she's missing'' Tomodachi stated.
''What?!'' Linn said, surprised. He combed the area for the mother hen, but she was nowhere to be found.
''Where did she go?!'' Linn said, panicking.
''I don't know, her scent is gone,'' Tomo replied.
Linn turned to Cheerilee. ''Miss Cheerilee! Weren't you with her?! Didn't you see where she went?!''
''She was with me during the fight, but then she said she couldn't watch anymore and went to the cabin. Is she not there?'' Cheerilee asked, confused.
''No,'' Daisuke said, emerging from the cabin. ''I checked the whole cabin house, and she wasn't there.''
''Great,'' Tomo sighed. ''It's the forest all over again.''
Daisuke raised his eyebrows. ''does she do this often?''
''You guys!'' Linn said urgently ''We need to find her now! There could be more of those guys looking for her!''
''But where do we look?'' Daisuke asked.
Tomo sniffed the air. ''according to her scent, it seemed to lead that way.'' Tomo pointed to a forest area to the north.
''The forest?'' Linn questioned.
''That's where her scent points to," Tomo replied.
''Ok! We'll split up and check there, come on"! Linn said as he ran into the forest. Tomo and Daisuke followed behind him. Cheerilee waved and wished them good luck.
OOO
Linn was in the middle of the forest, searching for Yuzu. He looked through bushes and trees but found no sign of the little girl.
'Darn it, Yuzu, where are you?' Linn thought as he was thinking of looking into another spot. He heard a faint sound coming from the bushes opposite of him. Linn walked to the bushes and pushed them aside to find Yuzu curled up into a ball, sobbing.
"Yuzu!" Linn said, a mixture of joy and relief in his voice.
Yuzu jumped and turned to the voice.
''Oh Linn…'' Yuzu said, still crying.
''I'm glad you're ok; you had me worried-'' Before Linn could finish, Yuzu hugged him.
''Linn! I'm so sorry!'' Yuzu wailed.
Linn was slightly taken aback but regained his composure and petted Yuzu's head.
''Hey its ok'' Linn said ''just tell me what going on?''
"I... I," Yuzu said in between sobs. Just then, something came crashing down in front of the two. Startled, Linn pushed Yuzu behind him and stared at the dust cloud. As the dust settled, a human-sized figure emerged. Linn observed the figure and noticed that it was not human at all. The figure had bird-like features and a giant sword on its back.
''Ah there you are'' the bird spoke in a masculine voice ''I've been looking for you, young one''
Linn glared at the bird ''who or what are you?'' Linn asked.
The bird raised his eyes ''I say, have you never seen a beastkalin before?''
'beastkalin?' Linn thought. Linn vaguely remembers Yuzu telling him about beastkalins and how they are humans with animal features.
The bird continued ''It matters not, I am Regulus, and I am here to take the young miss to her village.''
''Her village?'' Linn questioned.'' but why would the people of Kido village take her back by force?''
''Kido village?'' Regulus said, confused. ''My dear boy, I think you are mistaken. I was told that she hails from Kolt village.''
''Kolt village?'' Linn said. Now, Linn was the one confused. He looked towards Yuzu and noticed that she was shaking like a leaf.
''Yes,'' Regulus said, bringing out a piece of paper. He read it out loud. ''Bring Yuzu Katagiri to her hometown of Kolt village. That was in the job description.''
''Job description?'' Linn questioned.
''Yes,'' Regulus ''I am a mercenary, and the people of Kolt village hired me to bring her back.''
Linn turned to Yuzu ''Yuzu, what's going on? please tell me!'' Linn said. Yuzu ignored him and stood there, still shaking. Linn shook his head, turned his attention to the bird, and glared.
''What do you guys want with Yuzu anyway?! What did she ever do to you?!'' Linn asked furiously.
''She has done nothing to me personally,'' Regulus replied,'' I don't know all the details, but she must have done something unspeakable if they were seeking my aid.''
''If she didn't do anything wrong to you, then why are you helping them?!''
''Because it's my job, child,'' Regulus replied. ''I have no quarrel with the girl, but I was hired to bring the girl to Kolt village by any means necessary. That includes force.''
''You're going to have to get past me first!'' Linn said, getting into a fighting stance.
''Very well…'' Regulus sighed. ''I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but so be it!''
Regulus charged at Linn. Linn, undaunted, charged at Regulus. Linn punched Regulus, but Regulus caught the punch and elbowed Linn in the jaw. Linn staggered back a bit. He then delivered quick jabs and kicks, but Regulus countered all the attacks, giving punches and kicks of his own. Regulus grabbed his sword and slashed Linn clear across his chest, blood gushing out. Regulus then kicks Linn in the face, sending Linn flying. Linn landed on the ground with a thud. He got back up, holding his chest and panting heavily. Yuzu ran to Linn's side.
''Linn, are you ok?!'' Yuzu asked, Worried.
''I'm fine,'' Linn said, spitting out blood.
Regulus approached Linn, sword in hand. ''What do you say, child? Do you yield?''
Linn smiled at the bird ''no way, I'm a hero, and heroes never give up.''
Regulus raised his eyes. ''my dear boy, do you not see the state that you are in? I have clearly bested you; surely you do not wish to continue?''
''If it means protecting Yuzu from you, then yes, I will continue.'' Yuzu looked surprised. Regulus raised his eyes again.
''You would go this far for this girl? Even risk your life?''
''Yes, Yuzu is a good friend of mine. I'll do anything for her,'' Linn said. Yuzu was surprised again, and she then looked down.
''Very well,'' Regulus said, raising his sword.
''Bring it on-''
'*clonk*
Linn suddenly felt a sharp blow to the back of his head, causing him to fall to the ground with a heavy thud.
'What just happened?' Linn thought.
As he lay there, He turned slightly to find Yuzu with her ladle stretching outward.
'Yuzu? It couldn't have been...' he thought.
Regulus looked at the scene bewildered.
''I say, what's going on here?'' Regulus said, confused.
Yuzu put her ladle back in her hoodie and replied ''nothing you need to worry about. I decided to let you take me back to my village.''
''What?!'' Linn thought. Regulus raised his eyes.
''And what about the boy? Aren't you his friend?''
''Him?'' Yuzu looked down at Linn, and she then turned to Regulus. ''I was just using him for my own goal. I no longer need him.''
'What?!' Linn thought again.
'' I see'' Regulus said.
''Yes,'' Yuzu said. ''So, are you going to take me back to the village or what?''
''Very well, hop on,'' Regulus gestures to his back. Yuzu climbs onto Regulus.
''Y-yuzu… wait,'' Linn said, weakly fading in and out of consciousness. Yuzu merely stares at Linn; she mouths something, and then Regulus takes flight with Yuzu in tow.
Linn lay in the dirt as he watched Regulus and Yuzu take flight; he flashed back to all the time he and Yuzu spent together, from the time in Kido village to the time in the forest. He remembers how she would cook for him, clean up after him, and even scold him when he did something dumb. Linn has always liked Yuzu, even if the mother thing was a tad grating. He considered her a real friend, so why? Why did this happen?
His vision blurry, Linn reaches his hand in a futile gesture to try to take Yuzu back, but Regulus and Yuzu are already out of sight. He remembers what Yuzu mouthed to him.
''Yuzu….'' He speaks out before he finally passes out from the pain.