"That to love is to destroy and that to be loved is to be destroyed." Let's face it; Kurogane is becoming attached to the group...especially Fai. When they are transported into a world where the ninja is faced with his past of no attachments and no love, things get tricky for the company. Enjoy and don't forget to Review!

Enjoy,

The Author,

JP

Chapter 1: Arrival to Momoko Palace

The company found themselves kneeling at the foot of a genuine looking princess. Her long, black wavy hair floated behind her as a result of the traveler's windy arrival. Her hazel eyes inspected the group, sizing them up very quietly. She smiled down at them. Kurogane was set a bit aside from the rest. Seeing and hearing the rest of his group, but they could not see nor hear him, a spell that the princess had picked up from her brother previously.

"Who are you?" asked a boy standing behind the princess in an urgent voice.

"Kamiko," she urged in a calm voice, "Relax. They are travelers, I'm sure they are weary. Please stand young warriors," she continued to say, "I am Princess Hisako, welcome to my kingdom."
"Thank you very much," Syaron said, "I am Syaron, this is Sakura, Mokona, Fai and Kurogane."

There was a silence.

"Where's Kurogane-sama?" asked Sakura.

Mokona shrugged, climbing to Fai's shoulder.

"I'm right here you idiots!" he cried on the other side of the invisible barrier.

Fai tilted his head a bit wearing his false smile.

"Did we lose him in the transfer?" asked Syaron.

"Hey, stupid magician!" he called again.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, he's our Kuro-rin," Fai said, tilting his head in his false smile.

"Mokona agrees!" said the fluffy white creature.

"Guys! This isn't funny!"

"I must let my curiosity interfere. Why have you come into my kingdom?"

"We're writing a book," Mokona said, "about old legends."

"Yes," Syaron smiled, "Fai is the author, I am the researcher, Sakura is the note taker, Kurogane is the body guard and Mokona is the translator."

She smiled, "Well there's a small restaurant on the Main Road, and it's called The Glass Moon, you'll be sure to see it when you pass it. It's a great way to gather information, but be careful."

|nb xz
"?M |my cat helped me type

"Thank you ma'am," Fai said.

"Well feel free to take a look around. Momoko is a very peaceful, calm place, please find you stay…relaxing," she smiled and melted into the shadows along with Kamiko.
"Shall we go?" Fai asked.

They followed Saroyan out of the room, leaving the ninja calling after them.

"Guys! Hey Guys!" he called, taking a few steps after them, but the Princess's voice stopped him.
"They could not hear or see you," the princess informed.

"Why not?"
"I did not will them too. I wanted to walk to you in a brief privacy."

"About what."

"You don't remember me…do you?"
"Obviously not."
"Let's try this…I used to go by the name Masami and my brother, the prince, by the name Serichi, now changed to Katsu."
Something jumped in Kurogane's eyes.

"Why do you fight Kurogane?"

"To get better…"

"Wrong."
"To get stronger…"

"Wrong again."

"And to become experienced…"
"You're not very good at this game are you?"

"So that I can protect the ones I love."
"Very good."
"You still cut people off, don't you?"
"Far too often," she laughed, "You fight to protect the ones you love," she repeated, "but Serichi taught you physical fighting tactics right?"
"Yes."

"And his motto…"

They said it together: "Remove all weaknesses and you will become unstoppable."

She nodded.

"You have become close to your companions, haven't you?"
He looked down.
"Attachment is a so called weakness to him. So keep an eye on the closest. Serichi will want to 'protect' you."

He looked up.

"Go and join your friends, and stay alert."
He nodded and walked from the castle, puzzled in how they got into this world. Then he remembered.

Kurogane did find Syaron, Sakura, Mokona and Fai walking around trying to find a place to stay. They had already gotten clothes for themselves and for Kurogane as well. Kurogane and Syaron wore black tailored suits and Fai wore a white one. Sakura wore a black dress with gloves to her elbows.

He joined Syaron after he changed, watching Fai, with Mokona on his shoulder, holding up some sort of food to Sakura, smiling and she was laughing.

"They thought Fai was a girl and tried giving him a dress," Mokona informed Kurogane as she and Sakura walked back over.

Kurogane sneered.

'Fai did look sort of feminine, he thought, his face looked the part, he had a hint of curves, more so then me, obviously, Syaron or even Sakura for that matter, he also cooked on top of that. So it would not be weird if they were to…no, no, no. What was I thinking?'

"Why don't we stop at a place to exchange the currency and ask them there," offered Sakura.

"Where's Fai?" asked Syaron.

Kurogane looked up, a bit anxious, remembering what the princess had told him.

"Attachment is a so called weakness. So keep an eye on the closest. Serichi will want to protect you."

"Right here!" he called, waving them over from behind a building.

Once they all reached Fai, Kurogane spoke up, "I think we should all keep a really good eye on each other here."
"Aw, Kuro-puu, you weren't worried, were you?" teased the magician.

"No, I just have a weird feeling about this place."
"Alright," Syaron said, "Now Fai, what are we here for?"

He pointed to another building across the street.

"It seems that we can trade in the money there."
"Good work Fai," Sakura and Mokona cheered.

They walked into the small store, Kurogane looked backwards before shutting the door behind Fai. He had a strange feeling they were being watched.