COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The characters here only belong to CLAMP, well probably for some of those that I created myself. Other than that, they are strictly the property of the CLAMP manga team of four women and they suck rock!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Whooothis is the tenth chapter already? Quite fast, isn't it? Anyway, since I didn't write any chapter last week, I'll produce two weeks' worth of chapters then. And yes, this is the final chapter for this arc. Please don't be disappointed if you find this chapter rather boring. -smirks-

And yes, time for the mandatory reviews replying:

PeachPonta: Thanks for yer' 50th review! I didn't expect this story to actually exceed that many chapters after all. Anyway, I wish ya' all the best in going to Japan. Haha…I've been there already so I suppose I kinda' know the place a little. Try to visit all the places if you can!

Katari: Thanks for yer' review again! It's not really written well actually…I've just want to produce a nice story with much fluff actually…heheheheZZ

asga: Thanks for yer' long support and review! Don't worrythe update's here already, heheheZZ!

KakashiLvr: Hmmm…I'm not sure if this ending to this arc can be appealing to you all, but I hope you all can enjoy for it and prepare for the next arc happening.

japanfan: Well…Kurogane will probably come up with something…let's just do hope

Tamashii Kirisa: Heyyy…your pen-name is so nice…so JapaneesyheheheZZyah…it's a cliff-hanger…so it shows the manga nature of my story

3musketteers: Er…yesI'll update now

Dust-in: YES OF COURSE I'm a fan of fluff fanficssmiles

SasukeBlade: Yah…Tomoyo is never seen much in the TRC manga…just one of the minor characters who simply sent Kuro-chan on his journey…and about the arc matter…I have some rough idea of the arc after the next...and yes, I may have something like that

Omgso many reviews? Hehehe…thanks for all your reviews!

CHAPTER TEN: COMBINE! PRINCESS TOMOYO & NINJA KUROGANE

The black ninja reopened his eyes to find himself lying on the hard soil. He got up to find himself in a giant field surrounded by emerald hills. Surely, he had been in battle with the demonness. Was he in a dream?

I…I…am normal?

He looked at his hands. They had certainly transformed back into human form. The sharp claws had appeared to have withdrew back into his fingers and his muscle transformation had seemed to reversed itself, reverting back to his human-like form. His eyes caught something to the left.

"Y-You are…" Kurogane turned to the princess facing him from the left. "…that noble…"

She gave a slight nod and took one small step towards him. The ninja stood firmly on the ground, awaiting her arrival. "Yes I am," she replied to him. "Kuro-chan."

Kuro-chan?

That name was nostalgic. The black ninja's eyes softened at that name. The first person to ever befriend him, Tomoyo was in his sight. All in her grown-up form.

"It's been years," he gave a seemingly evil smirk with a similar look in his crimson eyes. "So what brings you here?"

She shook her head only as a response. Kurogane had a startled look in his eyes at her muteness. The sunlight grew more intense, causing the area to become more shimmering. Pointing to her throat, Tomoyo indicated her muteness.

"So you're mute, eh?"

"I need your help," her voice suddenly echoed in his mind. The princess gave a slight jump and began to float upwards towards him like a small feather being carried by the wind. Kurogane was surprised at her sudden action, and for the first time his eyes caught the state of her body – translucent like what a ghost would be. "Help me…"

His arms slowly caught her floating body as she drifted towards the surprised ninja. Her face was directly in front of his, although he could see through her, which was the background of the emerald hills.

"How can I help you?" Kurogane asked solemnly, directing his gaze at the princess's big black orbs. "Why are you only a spirit?"

"I'll lend you my power," she echoed in his mind once again. "Your life is being jeopardized by an evil demonic force. You're not fated to die yet." The princess closed her eyes and pressed her lips on the ninja's. His eyes widened at her reaction. Slowly, her body began to dissolve into his, forming a merger between both. He suddenly felt his power increasing by several folds, feeling something strange.

-----------------------------------------------------

Kurogane reopened his eyes, showing the transformed red orbs. He stood up in front of the demoness, grabbing her hand and pushing her away. He could feel a surge of power traveling throughout his body. The black ninja gave a loud growl at his attacker.

"What?" The demoness took a step back with a startled look on her own face. "H-how can this be?" She raised her arm into the sky, materializing a silver sword in her hand. "It seems that you refuse to be annihilated, my dear brother?"

"Y-you took her power away," Kurogane demanded, his voice sounding demonic. "Give her soul back."

"Oh?" The demoness gave a smirk. She snapped her fingers, summoning the vessel for the magic power. "You mean this?"

"That handmaiden?" He turned back to the demonness. "You manipulated her?"

"A naïve girl, I must say," she chuckled. "But if you want to get back what you want, why don't you defeat me first?" She raised her silver sword, pointing at the transformed Kurogane. "I'm sure this ginryuu is thirsting for another valuable life like yours."

"I don't care whatever rubbish you're blabbering about," Kurogane drew out his katana again and pointed it towards his opponent. "I'll kill you and end this nonsense!" As quickly as he could, the black ninja began charging at the female demon, who had just only stood there with her silver sword.

"Foolish," she grinned at his charge. Muttering out some words of strange origin, she drove the entire sword into the ground causing it to generate tremors in the ground. With the other hand pushing the sword into the ground, she raised her hand to create a powerful fireball that aimed at the charging ninja.

Kurogane stood back at his charging as he noticed the giant fireball his opponent was conjuring up already. He would die if he was to be engulfed in such a big fireball thrown at him. Correction, he would be completely eradicated.

You can do it.

The words of Tomoyo echoed in his mind. Determined as he could, the black ninja raised his sword and continued his charge against the powerful demonness who had also tried to thwart his movement by the tremors she created.

Break the youki the fireball is developing from…

His eyes closed to sense the traveling youki that was fueling the summoning of the fireball. Through his mind, he could see the vast streams of yellow and red youki enveloping the demonness, circling around the fireball that was already beginning to enlarge, ready for release. (A/N: HeheheZ…I copied from somewhere)

Kurogane reopened his eyes, observing his opponent who had pointed her silver sword at him. He was startled to see as the fireball began traveling down to her sword through her body, causing the blade of the sword to turn from silver to crimson.

"Kukukuku," she lowered her crimson sword and looked at him. "To think you have stooped so low to just observe my youki." The demonness raised her sword once more and began to walk towards the transformed Kurogane. "Now you shall die under the Kazan no Yaiba from my treasured Ginryuu."

"Pah! Who cares about your worthless sword?" He raised his katana again and charged towards her, trying his chance at wounding his opponent. His attack was suddenly blocked by her crimson sword in which she made another grin.

"So this is it?" She made a disappointed tone. The demonness snapped her fingers again, forming a bluish barrier around herself, which threw Kurogane out of it. "Plain brute force won't bring you anywhere."

The black ninja turned to his right to see the handmaiden who was hovering in the air. Similarly, she was engulfed with a blue aura that glowed all around her floating body. He turned his eyes back to the demoness who raised her sword in front of her face.

"My turn now, isn't it?" She commented as she swung the crimson blade, causing a rain of fireballs to rain down on the ninja. Kurogane could only use the thin blade of his katana to block his own face. "Is this all you've got?" She swung another wave of the fireballs on the ninja.

Kurogane fell on the ground with his arms, panting at the double waves of fireballs that had rained down on him. His upper clothing had been completely burnt off, only revealing his naked torso. Even the black ninja helmet he had worn had been completely eradicated by the two waves of attack. He looked up to see her standing before him, with the blade still glowing.

"My, my," she shook her head as she looked at the almost fallen ninja. "You were really reborn into a perfect human body. It's too bad I have to waste it." She began to swing the blade down on him to give the final blow.

"Not so fast," Kurogane looked up at her again, his hand gripping the blade which was burning his skin already. His eyes had appeared to glow more, with his claws growing more prominent. "I was born to be as hard as steel. Your blade can never cut through me." He replied her with an evil-looking smirk on his face.

"H-how can this be?" She had a shocked look in her eyes. "It means you're not exactly human." She withdrew the blade, whose grip from Kurogane had loosened. Giving a great jump backwards, she lowered the sword and threw it aside on the ground. "Fine, you win this time, my brother." The demonness chanted a few words, engulfing herself in a green glow. From the green glow emerged a giant silver dragon that flew into the sky impressively.

"Wait you bitch!" Kurogane ran after the dragon flying.

"Kukukukuku," the silver dragon spoke psychically as it flew away into the sky. "I'll be back, Ninja Kurogane. And remember, you're not exactly human. Kukukukuku!"

"Huh?"

Kurogane fell back onto the ground, his entire body already exhausted from the battle he had with the strange demon. His crimson eyes stared blankly at the sky while his body began to transform back into his human shape. It was surprising for him, with no idea how his body could suddenly transform into such a demonic shape. Perhaps he was already a demon actually, the black ninja thought to himself.

-----------------------------------------------------

The princess' body still remained motionless in the middle of the onmyou circle. A dark figure appeared on the edge of the circle and began to move in. The body of the handmaiden was dropped to the ground, with her bluish glow began to leave in the form of tiny orbs back into the princess' body.

"So…the princess' soul depends on this magic power?" Came the curious voice of the black ninja as he bended down to look at the princess' revived body. "So…this girl after all…is ojousama?"

The princess regained consciousness, opening her eyes. She sat up from the floor, looking at the ninja who had just saved her. Kurogane turned his face away, pulling a long face.

"Thanks for saving me," she spoke gently, slowly warming his cold heart. "What's your name?"

"Don't you know, little girl."

"You're quite straightforward, aren't you?" She gave a slight cheerful laugh at his reaction. He had a shock expression but hid it away quickly. "My name is Tomoyo, what's yours?"

"Kurogane," he replied back, his back facing her. "Ninja class." Little did she know that his face was quite red.

This girl is cute…

"Your name is nice, Kuro-pon…"

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?" He suddenly turned his face around, showing an angry look with sharp teeth and much sweatdrops coming down the back of his head. "I'M NOT A…" He stopped when he saw that Tomoyo's face had lowered.

"S-sorry!" He suddenly changed his attitude and tone towards her. "I didn't mean to offend you, Tomoyo-ojousama!" She suddenly looked up at Kurogane who was a little confused over the princess' strange behavior.

"Ojousama?" She spoke in a curious tone. Putting a finger to her mouth, she was suddenly in deep thought. "That sounds familiar. Did you ever call me that before?"

"N-no…" He lied through his own teeth. "What's the matter?" He demanded when he saw the princess lowering her head once again.

"Y-you are…" She pointed a finger at him, with her head still lowered. "…topless." All of a sudden, the black ninja's face went red, turning himself not to face her.

"Sorry," he was sarcastic in his own reply. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"No it's not," Tomoyo replied softly again. "It's just that…you look strong. We're in need of strong guards like you…" Kurogane's expression changed suddenly as soon as Tomoyo had mentioned palace jobs. Perhaps he could try to use her in taking a stable job.

"Really?" Kurogane suddenly went out of character as he responded with a hypocritical tone. "What kind of guards?"

"Guards…to protect us…"

"Us?"

"My family household," Tomoyo replied back and looked back directly at his crimson eyes. He was surprised that she was not afraid of his eyes which had always cursed him to make people have a bad impression on him. "We use them to protect our family."

"I shouldn't be looking at you," Kurogane averted his gaze again. "I'll curse you if I do."

"You may have an evil look in your eyes, Kuro-chan," she began to speak the few words that made him irritated again. He turned back towards her, wanting to remind her not to repeat those tender words.

"But you are a nice person actually." He was startled by what the princess had said. He had only heard this type of sentence once, with the young Tomoyo once telling him like this. The sitting princess smiled at him.

"Alright enough!" He folded his arms and closed his eyes, trying to look cool in front of her. "So where's my reward?"

"Hmmm…" Tomoyo pondered over as she tried to think over one.

"Do you even need to think?" Kurogane had a giant sweatdrop over his head, expecting some fortune from saving a princess.

"You'll come work for me then?" She smiled back at the black, frequently grouchy, ninja. "Why don't you be my guard as a reward?" Kurogane suddenly pulled a long face at his 'reward', his mouth wide open.

"So that's my reward?"

"Yes it is, ninja-chan," she answered back quickly and enthusiastically. Kurogane suddenly had blue lines written over one of his eyes, rather 'surprised' at his own reward.

"Pah! As if it's some reward," he began walking off, not caring about the princess. "I would be a guard on my own, not by some underhand means!" He began walking into the distance impressively, which was actually out of the building.

"Stop!" Tomoyo stood up abruptly, making the ninja halt with his shocked eyes at her suddenly commanding him.

"Now what again?" Kurogane groaned as he turned back towards her. His face now had a bored look with droopy eyes.

"You listened to my command," the princess spoke and walked towards him. "Well…aren't you my guard now?"

"AM NOT!"

"You are."

"I'm not some crazy childish weak princess' guard!" Kurogane gave a repulsive reaction. "The law of the ninja says so!"

"Really?" Tomoyo argued back but in a calm mood. "I never heard of it before." Kurogane pulled another long face, knowing his trick had fallen through.

"Of course you didn't!" He exclaimed back at her, knowing what to do. "You're not a ninja after all!"

"My family uses ninja to guard us," she spoke back. "How can I not know the way of the ninja if I have to use them as my guards?"

"Wait…" the black ninja was startled at what she had just mentioned. "…if your family uses ninja, aren't you part of the imperial family?"

"Well…my otousama is called the emperor or something…"

"What's a princess like you doing here?" He questioned her again, leaning his tall frame against the wooden wall. "Shouldn't you be kept up in the palace or something?"

"That is stereoptyping, my dear Kuro-chan," she replied back nicely again.

"NEVER…EVER…CALL…ME…" he was getting irritated at her again. "…my dear kuro-chan." He lowered his head upon saying those words.

"Would you like to be my guard?" She questioned again, giving a slight chuckle at his reaction. "Kuro-pii?"

"Yes…" he answered back softly, knowing that the princess would keep tormenting him with these effeminate words if he continued to refuse. "Just stop saying those disgusting words." (A/N: And now you know why Kuro hates Fye saying these…hehehe…this is purely fiction)

Tomoyo only gave a slight laugh.

-----------------------------------------------------

The image of the two was embedded in a magical mirror. A dark figure came out to observe the mirror which was displaying them. Apparently, the mysterious person was a woman as she raised a hand full of ladylike fingernails towards the mirror.

"So the princess and ninja has come together," she spoke to herself as she revealed her shape, a woman with long, flowing black hair and with a bun on top of her head. "The time has started."

END OF CHRONICLE TEN

CHRONICLE ELEVEN: THE MYSTERY OF THE HAUNTED CHAMBER

SYNOPSIS: Tomoyo and Kurogane come across one side of the palace that is believed to be haunted. Can they solve this mystery or get themselves in danger instead? Check out in the next chapter The Mystery of the Haunted Chamber!

GLOSSARY:

Ginryuu: Kurogane's famed sword…read the manga if you don't know

Youki : Demonic energy/aura

THANKS FOR READING! HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER! PLEASE REVIEW IF YOU PLEASE! AND SORRY IF THIS CHAPTER HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD ONE…WELL, I'M KINDA' QUITE BUSY AT THE CURRENT MOMENT. SEE YOU SOON!