Author's Note: Not as much romance in this chapter, but still some. Lets see... they finally make it to the party and that will be described. What else... Cloud makes his first appearance. He and Kid have alil chat.

Other Important Stuff to Know: There is justa tiny bit of AU in this one. Serge is thinking about the past and when him and Kid first went into the Manor. In my story it was just the two of them, no third party and also Serge got knocked out a lot when they were trying to sneak in, so that is in case u get confused when he thinks about waking up a bunch of times. If there is anything else confusing about Serge or Kid's thoughts, well just don't be surprised, my line of thinking was messed up when I was writing parts to this chapter. Also I don't know anything about alcohol and you will know why I say this later.

Disclaimer: I do not own Chrono Cross or Cloud from FF7.

Chapter 9 Just Friends...

"Yaaayyy!!!" Orlha cheered with her hands in the air like it was a joy ride. They were off on the trail to the Manor as the stars started to poke out one by one eventually setting the sky a blaze with sparkling colors...

Finally they arrived at the manor all still alive even after Glenn's steering. Glenn hopped out of the carriage and offered a hand to Orlha as they headed in front of the Manor. Serge and Kid followed close behind.

As the four of them headed through the golden gates Serge and Kid both stopped as Glenn and Orlha continued to walk forward, for the scene was all to familiar to them. This had happen before, Serge had once approached the Manor in the starry night long ago with Kid by his side. He remembered seeing that night sky oh so many times. He had been knocked out several times that night long ago only to wake up to that sky and Kid's eyes and he had remembered peering up at it twice when the two of them first came to the Manor, once in a dream the other time had been real. Well it was that same night sky from long ago and here he was looking up at it again with Kid except now emotions had flourished, back then things were to new and to fast pace for him to be so passionate.

Finally after the thought Serge glanced at Kid who stood beside him, she seemed shorter then he remembered. When did he get tall? He ignored that thought to gaze at her. She stood with her pink lips open a bit and her eyes wide, like she was looking at it with great wonder. Her blue eyes looked dark except where they took in the white moon light. She looked so beautiful to him and he had a feeling she to was remembering.

Then a smirk crossed her face Serge now became very startled by it, he really wanted to know what she was thinking.

"Hey you two coming!" Glenn yelled impatiently. Orlha hit Glenn up side the head. "What?" He questioned her annoyed.

"Can't you give them a moment! You are so unromantic you know that." Orlha whispered in Glenn's ear.

"Oh yeah were coming!" Serge called as he jogged up to them and Kid walked up slowly. Orlha hit Glenn again.

"See now you ruined it." She whispered. Glenn stuck out his tongue at her.
"What are you to fightin bout?" Kid asked.
"Can't you guys grow up?" Serge complained.
"Well it does not matter now..." Orlha answered as she passed a glare at Glenn who just smiled at her with his eyes shut to make her mad.

"Now come on.." Glenn said, he grabbed Orlha's hand and pulled her away.

"Hey...!" Orlha said.
"Hmm..." Kid pondered. Serge knew what she was thinking and he looked annoyed by it. "I wonder where Clou.. Ah!" Orlha grabbed Kid's hand and began to pull her away. Kid then reached out and grabbed Serge's hand. He had not expected it and was a little embarrassed by it as he was dragged too. So now they were all being dragged into the building with Glenn out in front.

When they approached the wide open doors Orlha let go of Kid's hand and waved good bye as Glenn continued to drag her right into the crowd.
"Well we won't be seein them fer a while." Kid replied.
"No I would imagine not." Serge sighed as he took a look around the Manor.

It was just as he remembered with the red rug from the door way across the entrance hall to another open doorway where the stairs were. Up those stairs was an even bigger room where more people could be heard. the golden and black marble tile was as shiny as ever and the chandeliers made the room glow gold.

"Well lets not sit around here, lets get something to drink!" Kid cheered as she began to march off straight up the stairs.

"Hey wait!" Serge followed her dodging through the crowds, he was having a hard time keeping up with Kid. She headed up the stairs to the next pair of wide open doors into the biggest room in the Manor. The main assembly hall.

It had such a high ceiling that you couldn't see the top, not even the giant crystal chandelier hanging from it revealed the top. The carpet in this room was dark crimson red and very plush. The neatly shaped pillars went for miles down the hall. And at the end was a large platform, an elevator with a podium of controls. To the left of the room there was a big stage set up. On the Stage was a band playing. Nikki and Miki singing and performing. In the right corner of the room, closest to the entrance, were tables and bars for food and drinks. To the whole right side of the room along the wall were tables for guest to sit. In the middle of the huge hall, from where Serge stood all the way to the elevator in the back of the room, were people dancing.

Serge finally caught sight of Kid he ran to her.

Kid had found the table where alcohol was being served and she headed up to it now walking slowly to try and fit in with the classy crowd of people, most were older though.

"Sir," she said to a servant behind the bar, "Can I have a glass of Champaign please?" She asked. The bartender looked at her quizzically because Kid still looked to young.

"How do you take it, miss?" He questioned with a suspicious tone. Kid gave him a dirty look with her pretty eyes as he smiled at her. Then a hand came out towards Kid's face. In it was a glass, with red wine to the top.

"Here, miss. I believe this is your favorite. Am I right?" A voice asked. Kid took the glass and looked at the owner of the hand and the kind voice.

"Cloud!" She exclaimed. He lowered the part of his scarlet cape that covered his mouth and smiled at Kid with a nod.

"Hello Kid, it's been a while." He stated as he dropped to one knee and kissed her hand.

"What are ya doing!? Get up." Kid demanded under her breath as she looked around with her other hand over her mouth embarrassed.

"No, no don't worry. At this type of gathering, a man is expected to kiss a women's hand as a greeting." Cloud replied with his bright blue eyes looking up at her.

"Well that's weird." Kid added as he stood up.
Cloud was wearing basically what he usually did except with a more uniform type manner. He had a sash across his broad chest full of metals and not to mention the scarlet cape. Kid had never seen him wear that. Also his normal shoulder armor that was much more fancy and very silver. Not battle scarred and iron gray. As for his dirty blond hair it still stuck up as much as ever. Not like Glenn's, whose hare was fuzz, but more like in tall thick locks.

Cloud's eyes went from Kid's face, and then slowly went down to her toes. She looked away feeling strange as he looked at her that way.

"You look as beautiful as ever." He said. She looked back at him her cheeks a bit pink and her eyes shining.

"Thank you, Cloud. You look good your self." He seemed taller then she remembered. Could it be he had grown some despite how old he was. No maybe she was getting shorter she thought. What it really was though was Kid's own mind playing tricks on her. The way she had changed made her see men as taller than they really were, as if they were so much stronger then her. She was feeling very feminine at the moment, so much so it was a little awkward to her so she had to break the silence.

"So where you staying now?" She questioned.
"Same place, how about you?" He asked her.
"Same also, with the same crowd of freaks." She laughed.
"Yeah," he responded with a smile, "So how are you and Serge?" He questioned. Kid looked up at him a bit surprised, but she made the look go away.

"Oh well, we don't fight as much anymore, other than that I guess were the same." She answered.

"Aren't you two, ...um, together?" He said with a cough trying not to be rude. Kid didn't feel like he was. She thought for a moment. For the first time ever, after all the years people had asked her that before. This was the first time that was a hard question for her to answer. When she really put it in her head.

"Serge and I... No, not really. No, were just friends. Yes, that is all." She said after a pause, sounding like she was trying to convince her self of that too.

There, Serge and Kid are not considered together in this, just friends. Cloud will be in the next chapter, he plays a massive role in the plot of this fic.

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