I'm sorry it took a while for me to get this up! I had a writer's block. Gomen nasai!

Well, let's get down to it, right?!

sakura-fai: Yeah, gotta give 'em an easy one once in a while!

Aiko: Thanks so much! Kurogane's shirt is actually based off reality! There's a real shirt out there! (runs to get it)

sacred magician: Yep. Kuro just can't get anything. Wait 'till next chapter, though! (rubs hands together evilly)

RainForever: I'm still deciding what memories she got...hmm...if you or anyone has suggestions, I'll gladly look at them!

Angel Born of Darkness: Everyone loves Sakura! That's why it was so easy! Yep, that was it, indeed. Kuro is very entertaining!

Disclaimer: CLAMP owns all. Except for this next world: St. Ivalice. I'm not sure who owns it, but it's a game that I. Do. Not. Own. I don't own Marche, Ritz, Mewt, Montblanc...

Chapter 7

The group bid Yuko farewell (especially Kuro), and Mokona cried tears when he had to leave.

"Yuko, I'll miss you!!!" Mokona clung to Yuko.

Kero groaned, "Oi, can't we go yet?"

Mokona pouted, "Fine, meanie!"

The white creature pulled his wings out and sucked the group in, and waved bye to Yuko, Watanuki, and the black Mokona Modoki.

---

Sakura opened her eyes slowly. She saw beside her that Syaoran was still out of it. Fai observed, "Wow, you're normally the last one up, Sakura-chan."

"Syaoran-kun hasn't woken up yet?"

"Nope."

"Have you and Kurogane-san and Moko-chan looked around any? Do you know where we are?"

"Well, Kuro-rin and Mokona walked off a little while ago. Dunno if they've found anything yet, though."

"I see..."

"Mmm..."

"Syaoran-kun! You're awake!"

"Princess?...Where are we now?"

On cue, Kurogane walked back up, murder written on his face, clear as day, when they saw women with rabbit-like ears come walking behind him. They did a little fanfare and one held up a sign that said, "Welcome to St. Ivalice!" Then, they disappeared.

Fai muttered, "Well, that was something else."

Syaoran blinked and rubbed his head, "St. Ivalice?...Hey, where's Mokona?"

Mokona popped out of Kurogane's pocket, and he had red cheeks, "Pretty girls! I like it here!"

Syoaran and Sakura sweatdropped.

Then, they heard a call of, "Hey, what're you guys doing here?! An engagement's goin' on!"

They turned and saw a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, and on each of his sides, there was a girl with white hair and green eyes, and a boy with brown hair and blue eyes. The white-haired girl frowned, "What is that thing? A moogle? It doesn't really look like one."

"Ritz, Marche, maybe we should help them get out of here..." the brown headed boy murmured.

"Guess you're right, Mewt. Hey, you guys better follow us!" Ritz gestured.

Kurogane muttered, "Another Hanshin Republic."

Later...

The three people who'd rescued our heroes and heroine introduced themselves. Then, they followed them back to a pub place, where'd they'd seen a lot of strange creatures and another brown headed boy with blue eyes, who was Marche's younger brother, Doned.

Fai blinked, "So...what is this place?"

Marche stared at Fai, "You mean...you come from the real world, too?!"

"Real world?...What?" Kurogane frowned.

"See, this world isn't real. It's made up of people's dreams...and this book." Mewt held up a strange, open book, with a bookmark in it. "When this book is open, this world comes to life."

"This is virtual reality?" Syaoran inquired.

"No, it's real, but...yet, it's not." Ritz took the book, and sighed quietly, "I'm glad I finally deciphered this thing. But, here's what it says:

"'Long before Noah built his ark, the tales of an ancient land called Kiltia...a world where swords and sorcery reigned.'

"You guys know who Noah is, right?"

"Yeah." they all chorused, then gaped at each other.

Kero suggested, "How about letting her finish reading?"

"'Kay."

"Alright...

"'Its learning and power were swept away in the great flood, but one clue to its secrets remained: an ancient book known as the Gran Grimoire, hidden in darkness by the powers that once were.

'It is not certain how many copies of the book still exist, but it is said that whoever should hold one holds the power to change the world.

'Many lived out their days searching the world for surviving copies, but none were ever found.

'It was an illusion, they said. A myth--but one worth dying for.'"

Kurogane mumbled, "Sounds like a lot for a little book."

"Well, whatever. This is the land of St. Ivalice, which is actually our hometown, but it's a country in this world. This is the world of Kiltia, though." Ritz eyed the ninja oddly.

He glared back, "What's your problem?"

"I've been wondering, but are you supposed to be a ninja?"

"Got that right."

"Then where's your veil?"

"My what-"

Fai interrupted Kurogane, and asked, "Is there any discription about this world?"

"Yeah, somewhere...let me look." Mewt took back the book, and flipped through the pages. "Ah, here it is."

"Do you mind if I see it?"

Doned warned, "Don't close it."

"I won't." Fai took the book, and his eyes widened a little.

Syaoran cocked his head, "Something wrong, Fai-san?"

"This is the same language as mine. Hey, cool." Fai grinned, and Kurogane hissed, "Well, read it, then."

"Supposedly, this world is a game. Hey, listen to this:

"'Races and Jobs: Many races live in Ivalice. Often, members of different races adventure together in teh same clan.

"'Humans: Humans are the most common race in Ivalic. While they have no outstanding natural talents, they are generally good at everything. Compared to other races, they have a wide variety of jobs to choose from, making them fun to develop.

"'Viera: These female hunters are as beautiful as they are proud. Their supple limbs are highly agile, and their hearing is so advanced that it is said they can talk to the spirit world. Their jobs highlight their agility as well as their spiritual adeptness. Only Viera may handle summoned monsters.

"'Moogles: Moogles are clever folk who are able to handle any tool with ease. Their curiosity is only matched by their mischievousness. Moogles delight in surprising humans, and their jobs highlight their special talents. Their dexterity makes them the perfect candidates for jobs requiring delicate work.

"'Nu Mou: The Nu Mou are respected by all the races of Ivalice as the most adept wielders of magic. They can sense the flow of power and can read its sighns. As Nu Mou do not relish combat, most of their jobs focus on the magical arts.

"'Bangaa: At a glance, the Bangaa appear to be large, bipedal lizards. Bangaa are known for thei rough dispositions and their love of battle. They are the strongest of the races, and their jobs take advantage of this. If you need to deal combat damage, look no further.'"

Sakura beamed, "So those beautiful girls we saw when we first got here were Viera?"

"Probably. They're like a mini wlcoming group." Doned grinned, "Sorry, Marche, but I gotta go. Nono needs me for something."

"Okay. Be careful." Marche patted his brother's shoulder.

"I will. See ya, Ritz, Mewt! You guys!" Doned waved, and ran out of the pub.

Kurogane took the book from the magician, and looked at the pictures of the creatures, Kero, in his smaller form, bounding on his shoulder. The Viera were thosse women, the Moogles looked like miniature, colorful bats, with small, pointy wings, and an antenna with a fuzzy red ball on the end of it. The Bangaa was large, had two long, drooping ears, and looked like an overgrown lizard, or veloceraptor. Nu Mou had furry tails, long droopy ears, and looked like furry turtles without the shell.

Kero looked around the pub, and muttered, "I wonder if I'll look too out of place if I transform here."

A Moogle boy with blonde-ish hair on the top of his head, and brown eyes came up behind Marche, "Kupo! I wouldn't suggested that. The only kinds of people that can transform are Morphers of the Nu Mou tribe, kupo!"

Marche introduced, "This is my best friend in this world, Montblanc."

"Pleased to meet you, kupo!" Montblanc chirped.

Fai, Mokona, Kero, Syaoran, and Sakura all smiled and said hi, as Kurogane just shrugged and handed the book back to Mewt. The 'ninja'/ninja (confusing, isn't it?) summed up, "So this entire world is about these...clan fights?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Marche used to be wanted by the palace!" Ritz laughed, "By Mewt. He's the prince."

Mokona blinked, "Really?"

Mewt shook his head, "Not anymore. When Marche and Ritz and my dad, the Judgemaster, saved me from myself, we returned to our world, but when we came back, I decided not to go back to the throne. It wasn't right for me."

"Well, that's good." Fai nodded, "So...has there been any unusual power here lately?"

"Unusual? That's kinda a hard question. This world has so much power already." Marche sighed, "Why?"

"Oh, just wondering. So...is it possible for us to, like...make a clan of our own, or something?"

"Yeah."

"Can you tell us how?"

"Sure."

"Thanks a lot."

Yes, it was short, I realize, but a good bit of info...I hope.

Please drop a line on your way out!

---Sylph---