So I had an idea...that turned into this XD I'm kinda part of the Fall Play this year at my school (Alyx's Wonderland) which most likely is the inspiration behind this story. I hope you like it! ENJOY!

"To imagine is everything, to know is nothing at all."
-Anatole France

He had done it! He had successfully broken through the seal! Oh, Master would be so pleased!

Unless...he couldn't get back.

But if he couldn't open the door again, (although the last time he more like broke through it) then surely she could. It was just a matter of finding her.

"Alright, I'll just blend in with the crowd until I see her. Easy enough, right? What do you think?" the man asked his falcon, turning to look at the frazzled bird resting on his shoulder. The falcon only twitched, staring at him with one beady eye. He took that as a sign of encouragement and began to crawl out of the bushes, ignoring the erratic clanking in his chest. It had been happening for quite some time. About 5 years, if he wasn't mistaken. Or was it more? Oh, he couldn't remember. Or could he?

He froze as his face twitched, pressing a hand to his jaw and waiting for the sparks to die down. He was in desperate need of repair, but he couldn't bare to return to master without her. Master would have been devestated. What good would he be if he couldn't even fufill his purpose? No, he was going to find her, bring her back, and then get repaired.

So where was she?

He finally reached one of the main paths in what he guessed was a garden. Hedges with various flowers of all different shapes and colors lined the path. Stone statues adorned glittering fountains in the background as sculpted trees provided romantic shadows for stone benches. These gardens were lush and filled with life. The ones he knew were sickly. Dying. Even the East Forest was withering. Even the moon here seemed vibrant and pure! Oh, everything was beautiful...he wished to stay forever. There wasn't much beauty left back home...or happiness. But she was supposed to change all that, to restore beauty and laughter in his homeland. That's why he needed to find her.

Where was she again?

Oh yeah! He was looking for her! He looked around. Where would she be? Ah! There! Lights, music, voices! Weren't those the sure fire signs of a party? And parties meant people. Surely she would be where the people were! Wouldn't she? Or would she? Would she rather stay alone? Oh, he didn't remember! He stood, blinking in the middle of the path. His falcon shifted his feet, waiting patiently for his owner's mind to clear. This had been a bad reoccuring habit lately. Sure enough, he began to walk again, following the general direction of the party. He passed several well dressed guests touring the gardens, blissfully oblivious to their strange looks or concerned whispers. Why would he care about them? He was only interested in one person...

He walked aimlessly through the paths for what seemed like hours, catching bits and pieces of information from random passerby. After a short while, he gathered that he was currently walking around in the gardens of some President Nakamoto, who was hosting a gala in honor of some very important people. That was all fine and dandy, but none of it gave him any clue to where she was. His patience was wearing thin. The emotionally drained man slumped down on a bench, resting his head in his hands. Oh, he was a failure! He had been searching for this woman for years and traveled so far, and he still couldn't find her! Perhaps he should just return home...if he could even break the seal again.

"Oh, you'll be there with me huh?!"

He straightened with a jolt. That voice.

"'Oh, don't worry, I'll be by your side the entire night!' Liar!"

It was her! He whipped around just in time to see a furious looking, raven haired woman stomping up the path.

"Leaving me all alone in there, surrounding yourself with celebrities!" she barreled right past him, not even acknowledging his presence. "Screw you Jay!"

He certainly had no idea who Jay was, but she was most definitely her. He had found her at last! Master would be so pleased! He eagerly turned to his falcon.

"Do you know what this means?" his falcon cocked his head, waiting for the inevitable answer. "Repairs! Oh, and maybe some treats!" he excitedly bounced on his toes and took off after the woman. He was going to bring her back to master and be rewarded! He quickly caught up to the woman, almost tripping up on her flowing red dress.

"Hello!" He poked her shoulder, prompting her to turn around. Her dark eyes widened, most likely shocked by his wore down appearance. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Z-zane?" she gasped. "What happened to you?!" a concerned hand flitted to his face, to small patches where he had lost his skin long ago. He blinked in confusion. Zane? Who was Zane? No matter, it wasn't important. He let a smile grow on his face.

"Master has been searching for you for ages!" he laughed, grabbing her hand. "He will be pleased to see you have returned! Come on, follow me and we'll go home!"

"Wait, who's "Master"? And what do you mean go home? Zane, what is going on?!" She tried to pry her hand from his, but his grip was too strong. He wasn't about to let her escape. She already did once and that was absolutely disastrous. "The party's still going on! What'll the be point of the Grand Ninja Gala if all of the Ninja aren't there!"

He stopped. "Ninja? What's a Ninja?" he blinked at her, genuinely confused. She gasped, suddenly pressing her hand to his forehead.

"Oh my god, did someone hurt you?"

"What? Well yes, but I am perfectly-"

"How could they?! Come on, lets get you to Jay as fast as possible!" she tsk'd, trying to drag him the way she had come. He shook his head. What was she talking about? Did she not realize the urgency of their situation? Surely she wasn't always this dense!

"No!" he tugged her back towards him, growing frustrated. "We have to get you back to Master! The entire East Kingdom will fall if you don't!" He began to stomp back to the door, ignoring her confused protests and adamant orders to "return to the others now before he got hurt even more". Honestly, he wasn't dying! He was perfectly sane and intact, just a little scuffed up.

"Please!" she hissed, looking a little concerned. "If we miss the speech it will make us look bad! Plus, you're kinda hurting me..." she wriggled her wrist in his grasp and tried to pry his fingers off unsuccessfully. He honestly felt a bit guilty of causing her any sort of pain, but if she was going to run off and get this supposed "Jay" instead of following him, it was necessary.

After a while more of walking through endless garden paths, they arrived at the marker. A stone statue of two dragons, their tails intertwined and wings outstretched as they both looked towards the heavens. A symbol of unity, power and hope for a nation long gone. The sight almost saddened him, reminding him that he never knew that light and happy nation. The one full of smiles and laughs. He lightly brushed his fingers along the edge of one of the dragons, wishing for the thousandth time that he had known his home then. That he had experienced the joy of his friends and witnessed the beauty that his Master missed so.

"Zane?" her whisper snapped him out of his thoughts and he sighed softly. Turning to her he smiled, knowing it to be a gruesome sight, what with most of the skin along his jaw thinned or gone. Still he couldn't help himself. She would make it all better, she would bring the smiles and happiness and unity to the land that desperately needed it.

"Here," he said, taking her other hand and leading her around the statue. Ignoring her concerned stare, he easily passed through the hedge, instantly feeling the change in the air. This was the barrier to the bridge. Only those with the power to open the door to the bridge were allowed to pass through. He was now completely on the other side, only his hands were left in the actual gardens. He could hear her call that ridiculous 'Zane' name to him uncertainly. Taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip on her hands and pulled.

"Ah!" she squeaked as she burst through the hedge and stumbled on her feet. He almost squealed, but restrained himself to a large grin. It was really her! She was able to pass through the barrier! "Zane, tell me what's going on right now!"

"I'm taking you home, Ayn."

FIRST CHAPTER DONE! God, you have no idea how many times I rewrote this T.T I think I tried 3 different angles? And I just decided this was the best. Oh well XD Please tell me what you think!