Hi guys! Thank you sooooo much for all the reviews for last chapter! It seems like as I wind down towards the end, interest in the story is winding up? uh oh, haha. Extra thanks to the people who have been leaving super long, or very consistent reviews: ToxicSyao, HimawariToki8826, Nanotek and MadamNoodle! You guys are so encouraging when I struggle to get things out.

Syaoran yelped as the rock beneath him gave way and he dropped into the water with an ungraceful splash. His feet found the smooth bottom and he stood up, shaking his head to get rid of the chill. Briina clapped and laughed merrily, clearly enjoying herself. The boy tried to wade through the current as quickly as he could without slipping so he didn't get run over by the next slider.

Briina reached out and pulled him closer and out of the way, unable to stop laughing.

Syaoran let out a laugh as well. That had been embarrassing but no one seemed to be paying him any attention.

They had all woken up early this morning, sweaty and confused. It was already scorching outside, the humidity adding to the jungle-like feel of the world. The birds were weirdly silent, but the insects were having a field day, the air practically vibrating with their clicks and buzzes. Syaoran figured it was just an early heat wave, a sign that summer was on its way. Yet Briina and Wrennen had been beyond baffled. Their concern slowly wore away at any notion that this could be a normal event, and Syaoran's heart plummeted.

He had never stayed in a world long enough to find out what happened when he stayed too long.

The boy sat quietly on his bed, still in his sweat drenched pajamas and stewing over the thought, until Wrennen caught sight of his expression and smacked his wife's arm. The man hitched a smile on his face and made an announcement. Briina 'oooh'ed, excited by whatever was happening, and ran off to dig through the back closet. Rifling through the fridge, Wrennen whipped them up a quick, cold breakfast, and before Syaoran could process what was happening, he had been given a small backpack with towels and water bottles, and they had bundled him into the car.

He sat in the back seat, windows wide open and the hot wind blowing everyone's hair around. Briina had even tied hers up in a half-assed ponytail just to get it off her neck, her hair not quite long enough for it to be entirely effective. Wrennen drove them drove them down through the town center, past the park and the museum, and then up the hill a little on the other side of the crater. They had to slow to a crawl when he turned the car onto a side street and the pavement fell away, replaced by worn dirt roads. Large rocks cropped up between the trees, twice as tall as any of them.

Syaoran hung partially out the window, avoiding touching any part of the hot metal. These boulders were huge and growing larger and closer together the further they drove.

There weren't any more houses out here, and the trees were dark and full, wild grasses exploding out in puffs wherever they could find a hold in the earth. There was more shade here than anywhere else he had seen in town and after so much sunlight it felt almost eerie. Mysterious. Branches hung low over the road, and more than once Syaoran caught sight of movement out in the forest.

He had seen the kite festival spirits more than once since that night, but here they flew around in droves. They clustered in the trees, preening and stretching their oversized wings.

"La-laa!" Briina piped up from the seat in front of him.

Syaoran pulled his head back into the vehicle and looked ahead. His heart fluttered in his chest in wonder.

There had been, at some point long, long ago, a rockslide of some sort. Or a waterfall had collapsed. Now the river had worn the rocks down so smooth that they glittered in the sun, the water branching out and creating different wavering pathways down the hill. Sometimes it leveled out and the water swirled in endless circles, carving big pool-like indentations in the stone, before overflowing and continuing its path downward.

Wrennen had to prod him to get out of the car, he was so fixated on the natural formation. He'd never seen erosion like this before and it was fascinating.

They weren't the only ones there of course. A few dozen people were already lazing around in the pools, sliding down some of the less steep chutes, and a cluster of younger children splashed around in a section of shallow spots. Voices echoed off the stone and added to the mystical feel of the clearing.

Briina splashed him, the freezing water shocking him out of his… okay he had just been admiring the waterfall again.

"Ah! Hey-" A second splash got him right in the face, and from the mischievous look in Briina's eyes, there was another one coming.

Syaoran turned sideways and ducked away from the oncoming water, waiting only a second before spinning around and sending a respectable amount right back at her.

Briina sputtered, stepping back and shaking her dripping arms. She looked more surprised than Syaoran expected, and he almost felt bad, but then she looked up at him with vengeance in her eyes. Syaoran turned a ran the best he could, laughing helplessly.

"You started it!" He cried in his defense.

It was so slippery, with the water up past their knees, that neither of them could go very fast. Briina caught up with him after a moment with her longer legs, and when she went to grab for him, Syaoran turned quickly and smacked a handful of water behind him. He heard a short cry and Briina's arm suddenly flailed by his face.

Had she slipped?

Syaoran spun and grabbed her before she had the chance to fall, holding firmly onto her arms to steady the woman.

Briina was taken aback but regained her footing and her smile. She tugged him in a for a grateful hug and Syaoran relaxed, relieved that she was alright.

And then she chucked him sideways into the pool.

Syaoran spent the rest of the day staying clear of Briina. That woman did not fight fair.

Wrennen was really no better. He spent way too much time going down the natural slides and imitating Syaoran's first tragic ride, overdramatized flailing and cries of terror.

The boy finally trudged out of the water and sat with a wet splat by their towels. He munched on the fruit they'd brought and cheered when a particularly quick slide ended in Wrennen yelping and splashing face first into the pool for real.

Finally vindicated, Syaoran leaned back on one hand and watched his hosts run about like a couple of children. Wrennen scooped his wife up and twirled her around, Briina's indignant squawking echoing around the cove. He tried to dump her into one of the deeper parts, but she held onto his neck too long and yanked him along as well.

Thoroughly soaked, the two retired to their rock and lightly toweled off. Wrennen inhaled two sandwiches and flopped face down on his towel, letting the sun bake him dry. Briina used him as a pillow and kicked her feet up, humming to herself as she stacked crackers on her growing baby bump.

Syaoran side eyed her, not putting it past the woman to find some way to shoot the water from her drink at him.

She looked up at his wary face and winked.

Syaoran scooted further away, taking his box of fruit with him.

Face pressed against the half-lowered window, Syaoran watched the town pass by with bleary eyes. He was completely wiped out from a full day of outdoor fun. They'd played in the water, had lunch, taken a hike around in the woods, swam some more, and finally when the sun touched the top of the tree line, Wrennen declared it time to go home for dinner.

The car was hot, but it felt nice after being in frigid water all day. It warmed his weary muscles.

Syaoran yawned, tired but content. His eyelids flicked down and came up more slowly. Briina and Wrennen talked softly in the front, their familiar voices comforting.

"Lowra meh sao la," Briina giggled. "Rammel gesme shia wo le. Oshun have seen his face, he never saw it coming."

Syaoran blinked groggily, his brows furrowing.

What..?

"That's because he's too nice. He'd never trick you and throw you in-"

Syaoran shot up in his seat, his damp towel falling to the floor.

"Wait!" Shock flooded his system. His eyes searched up and down the sidewalk frantically. "Stop, Wrennen, please!"

The car swerved into a parking spot and then Briina and Wrennen's disbelieving faces were turned back at him. They were just as surprised as he was to suddenly understand every word.

Syaoran was out of the vehicle in an instant, turning in place and craning his neck to catch any glimpse of his family. Fai and Mokona should be able to sense him, and he should be able to find them too, but he was exhausted and frazzled and too impatient.

"What's going on, Syaoran? Why can we-" Briina was suddenly at his side. "What's the matter?"

Wrennen was there too.

"Its Mokona," Syaoran explained hurriedly, not pausing in his search. "Mokona translates for us. We're… we're dimension travelers. But we- I got separated and we jumped at different times! If we can understand each other it means that Mokona and the others just arrived!"

The couple had identical faces of bewilderment, but they recovered quickly.

"Should we head to the Station? If they just came to town and are looking for you, I would assume they'd go there…" Wrennen asked.

Syaoran shook his head.

"No. If they're just getting here then they're probably just figuring out that I'm gone. And they might not even know who got here first. They could be waiting for me. I mean where would they…? How close are we to the park?"

He bounced on the balls on his feet as Briina and Wrennen processed the information.

"Um, well the park is a few minutes back towards town…" Wrennen said, thumb jerking over his shoulder the way they'd just came. "You think they're there?"

Syaoran's feet were already moving. Hurried footsteps behind told him they were following.

"I don't know. I don't know what happened! We left the other world like we always do and then we fell into an ocean. When I got to the surface, I was alone," The boy struggled to grab onto the spark that was Fai. "We were only there a minute before we jumped again. They couldn't have gotten too far!" It was everything he'd been dying to say for quite some time.

He rushed down the sidewalk, weaving around the restaurant workers who had come out to turn on their lights.

"If they weren't that far when we jumped, then they shouldn't be that far from where I landed."

Syaoran looked back, catching Briina's face as she mouthed "landed".

He slowed when he reached the park gates, breathing heavily. His hosts were there a few moments later, looking a little winded. Briina leaned into her husband, pressing her knuckles into her hip.

"Are you okay?" The boy's already squirming stomach gave a flop at her flushed cheeks.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. It just feels weird, I'm starting to get uh… heavier. Running feels kind of bouncy, you know?" She joked.

Syaoran definitely did not know.

"Why'd you stop, kiddo?" Wrennen rested a hand on his shoulder.

Biting the inside of his cheek, Syaoran said hesitantly, "I didn't want to get too far ahead…"

The hand on his shoulder tightened briefly.

"You won't lose us that easy."

Syaoran looked Wrennen in the eye, emphatic.

"I could though! You don't understand. We don't get to pick when we have to go. I've already been here so long. Too long. We may have to leave immediately to stop things from… You don't understand. I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not supposed to be anywhere!"

They looked pained by his outburst and Briina reached out to hold his hand.

"Hey, hey, Syaoran…" Wrennen rubbed his back. "You're right. We don't understand. But if you do have to go in a minute, we'll be right there until the last second, okay?"

The boy nodded, his heart twisting.

"Now let's go find your weird, tall dads!" Briina announced.

Syaoran went scarlet.

"Please don't say that in front of them."

Briina shrugged.

"We'll see."

She tugged his hand and they entered the park, the setting sun glittering on the river.

It wasn't long before Syaoran could feel Fai, even though was still too frazzled to try. Mokona usually muted her presence until they knew if a world would react poorly to a talking rabbit thing.

It was behind him. He paused, peering around Briina towards the forest.

Just beyond the tree line, the shadows were moving. The bugs had quieted down enough that Syaoran could hear raised voices carrying through the trees.

"Listen, manjuu, I don't give a crap what happened. Next time you wait till we get the kid, got it?"

"Mokona did Mokona's best! That thing had Kurogane! Mokona tried to slow Syaoran down! Syaoran is close. Mokona can feel it."

Syaoran's heart soared as his mishmashed family stepped out from the forest, still dripping wet. They were one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. Kurogane was glaring daggers at everything in sight, Mokona riding on top of his head. Fai walked beside them, a hand on the ninja's false arm. It seemed to be hanging a little stiffly at his side, fingers clenched tight.

Syaoran took half a step toward them and Fai's head snapped up. A wide, relieved smile broke out on his face and suddenly Syaoran was sprinting.

He flew over the grass, feet barely touching the ground.

"No need to be so cranky, Kuro-sama. Syaoran is right here!" Fai was teasing, but his tone was genuine.

Kurogane and Mokona looked up only a moment before he collided with Fai. Syaoran threw his arms around the mage. He pressed his face into Fai's cloak, hardly believing they were real. Fai's heartbeat thumped softly by his ear and he relished the sound.

"All right, manjuu, you didn't do so bad. Good to see you, kid." Kurogane's large hand scrubbed the top of his head while Fai's arms circled his shoulders.

"Syaoran!" Mokona cried, snuggling by his ear. "Mokona is so sorry! Syaoran had to go first and had to be all alone! A big scary thing pulled Kurogane down and Fai was trying to get it away and Mokona couldn't see Syaoran and Mokona had to get everybody out!"

The boy was overwhelmed. Happy tears snuck past his closed lids and down his cheeks.

"Hey now, what's this?" Fai's kind tone had Syaoran blinking and looking up at his family, still holding on tightly.

"I'm just..." Mokona's little paws wiped some of the tears off his face. "I'm just so happy you're all here."

He grinned up at them through watery eyes and they softened.

"Everyone is so happy that Syaoran is okay! We came here and Syaoran was gone and Mokona was so worried!" The little creature was near tears as well.

"How long have you been here? Hate to think you had to deal with all that Yama crap," Kurogane grouched dismissively, but he still didn't move his hand.

Syaoran sucked in a breath, hardly able to grasp it had been as long as it had.

"A little less than six weeks," He kept talking when the others' eyes went wide. "Its been okay though! Better than okay. This place is so peaceful, and I've actually been having a really good ti- Oh!"

He pulled away from Fai at last and waved Briina and Wrennen over. They had been holding back and keeping a respectful distance to let the boy have his private reunion. Now they eagerly came forward, eyes bright.

"This is Briina and Wrennen. I've been living with them since I got here. Briina, Wrennen, this is Kurogane, Fai, and Mokona!"

If Syaoran kept smiling so hard his face was going to start to hurt.

Once Mokona said that the earring wasn't going to start glowing immediately, Briina had invited them all back to stay the night at least. Fai had dried them with magic, (after asking if that kind of thing was okay here) and the five of them plus Mokona had walked back to the car, Syaoran chatting animatedly the whole time. When they'd reached the car Briina stopped, eyeing their large group and a bemused sound fell out of her mouth. Syaoran realized it would be very difficult to fit everyone inside. The instant he started fretting, Fai struck a pose and called out.

"Mommies in the front, daddies and children in the back!"

Briina snorted and covered her mouth, clambering into the driver's seat before anyone could object. Fai threw himself into the passenger's seat, leaving Kurogane to gawk at the low roof. Wrennen grimaced, but climbed in, Syaoran sliding in right after. Mokona danced around in Syaoran's hands, singing to itself.

"Daddies in the back! Daddies in the back!-"

Cramped… wasn't the right word for the situation in the back seat. Luckily it wasn't too long of a drive and the windows were all open.

Syaoran sat, pinned between Wrennen's shoulder and Kurogane's side, incapable of keeping the smile from his face. He had a feeling it was the only thing keeping Kurogane from killing anyone (Fai). Every time they went over a bump Kurogane's head banged against the roof with a dull thud. Briina drove as carefully as possible, apologizing sheepishly at each incident. Fai laughed openly, Mokona sing-songing that Daddy was too tall for this world.

The ninja grumbled about bastards calling shotgun, but when Syaoran worried that it was actually hurting him, Kurogane scoffed and told him to shut up.

It was a relief for them all when the house was in sight.

Syaoran raced up the stairs ahead of everyone, calling hello to all the neighbors now that he could do it properly. He greeted every frog and lizard on the balcony, unable to contain his energy. Mokona matched him bounce for bounce, drinking in the attention of the awed people around them. The rest of the group climbed the steep stairs like normal people.

"Wrennen and I painted the porch a while ago," He said proudly. "After that he took me to a museum! It was amazing! There were skeletons and these huge stones and gems that I've never seen before. They had so many things I couldn't ask about, but maybe we could go back tomorrow and I can show you?" Syaoran shooed a few tiny lizards off the door so Briina could unlock it. "And all these lizards and frogs come inside sometimes, and we feed them even though I don't really think we're supposed to."

He stopped talking when Briina didn't move to unlock the door. Curious, he looked back at the four adults.

"…What?" Everyone was staring at him.

Mokona wiggled on top of his head, giggling.

"Syaoran is talking so much!"

The boy felt a blush creeping up his neck. It was true, he hadn't stopped talking since the park. It was just so freeing to finally be able to say all the things he wanted to for the past month. He wanted to tell Fai and Kurogane everything. He wanted to ask Briina and Wrennen so much. And now that he could… Stopping himself felt like a crime.

"I… Yeah, I guess I am, huh?" He didn't apologize, and Briina smiled at him as she walked up and pulled out the key disk.

"Come on in and make yourselves at home, Wrennen and I can start some dinner," Briina stepped aside and waved them in. "What should we make, Syaoran? What do you all like?" She looked to Kurogane and Fai, but they looked unsure.

They had no idea what types of food this world had, Syaoran realized, and it felt strange to suddenly know so much about a place that Fai and Kurogane did not. A world that wasn't Clow, at least.

"Could we make pancakes?" He piped up, grinning when Fai's face lit up. Kurogane bit back a grimace but didn't complain.

"Did you hear that, Kuro-pippi? They have pancakes here! Syaoran was right, this is a wonderful place!" Fai leaned his face in close to the ninja's, and Kurogane closed his eyes like he was praying for patience.

Briina hid her face in a cabinet and Wrennen didn't seem to know what to do with whatever was going on.

Mokona hopped onto the counter, twittering, "Pancakes, pancakes, pancaaaaakes…"

"What do you want me to do?" Syaoran grabbed the eggs out of the fridge for Wrennen.

There was an odd pause where his hosts snuck a meaningful look at each other.

"Syaoran why don't you go take a bath? We're all going to need one after the day we've had, but you can go first, okay? Briina and I will take ours after dinner," Wrennen took the eggs from him and patted him on the back.

Syaoran was confused. Why would he when Fai and Kurogane had just gotten here? He sought them out for help but the two men said nothing, leaning against the half wall and watching.

"But…"

Briina pushed him gently in the direction of the bathroom.

"You've had a big day and you're exhausted. Don't think we didn't see you nodding off in the car earlier. Go take your bath before you eat so you don't drown later like you almost did with your soup."

A scandalized sound escaped him, and he sent Briina a look of betrayal.

"That was one time!"

He couldn't believe she would bring that up in front of Kurogane.

Syaoran made his way out of the kitchen to avoid any more embarrassment but paused at the bathroom door. His heart was suddenly heavy. He wanted to stay here with everyone else…

"Mokona wants a bath with Syaoran!" The creature bounced over and Syaoran turned, catching Mokona as the magical creature collided with his chest.

His heart lightened, and he petted the top of Mokona's fuzzy head.

"Thank you, Mokona," He whispered. The boy nodded to the others. "I'll be right back."

He closed the door behind him and bent to turn on the tap. Mokona explored the bathroom and hummed to herself as the tub filled. It was so warm in the apartment that Syaoran kept the water lukewarm, not wanting to overheat. The boy peeled off his dirty clothes and sighed, he really wanted to be out helping with dinner, but Briina and Wrennen probably had a lot of questions for Fai and Kurogane.

Syaoran slipped into the bath, holding out a hand for Mokona. She hopped on, holding onto his thumb. The water calmed his nerves and reminded him that he was exhausted. He leaned back against the tub and watched Mokona splash its feet in the water, giggling at the ripples it caused. There were quiet voices coming from the kitchen. The day insects were winding down and the night bugs starting their symphony of chirping. Out the window Syaoran could see the sun's rays flickering weakly, low in the trees. It was the same scene as the first night he stayed here, and at the same time everything had changed.

"Syaoran is so happy, but you still have a worry on your face…" Mokona trailed off, looking up at him.

"I… Mokona, I like it here. I don't want to leave Briina and Wrennen," The boy answered softly. He pulled his knees up and slumped down until the water hit his chin. "But I know we can't stay. I just… The weather today- Things are starting to go wrong."

The little creature nodded solemnly.

"Mokona can't tell exactly when… But we will have to move on to the next world soon."

Syaoran laid his head against the side of the tub, watching as the last beam of sunlight faded out.

"But you know, Mokona's earring with bring us back here again, Syaoran. Briina and Wrennen have lots and lots of memories of Syaoran, so I'm sure we'll be back again!" Mokona hopped over to look out the window as well.

Syaoran's eyes widened and before he knew it, he was tearing up again. He cupped his hand around Mokona and watched the first stars flicker to life above them.

"Thank you, Mokona."

Writing ACTUAL dialogue was so strange, holy mackerel. And Fai, Mokona, and Kurogane are so difficult to write, seeing as they are all so distinct in how they talk and act.

You can bet your butt that there is a serious Parent-Host Meeting going on out there. It felt too weird to have them all talk while Syaoran was right there. So he gets to chill in the bath with Mokona and get a pep talk while the adults gossip about their collective child.

One more chapter and then there WILL be an epilogue. FallenHope-Angel has talked me into it.