Here it is ladies and gents! The next chapter! The stage is almost set!

Disclaimer: Naruto, Sailor Moon, and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles, their characters, settings, etc., belong to their respective creators. All original settings, characters, etc., belong to ME!

Chapter Three: The World of Ninja

The travelers walked out of the Kazekage tower into the sunlit day. The events from before still rolling in their minds.

An entire nation, or country, or whatever they were called in this place…knew their stories...Who else had been there but their band of friends and clones? It couldn't have been the clones because they had been long gone. Who else knew everything?

Lord Hokage had told them the only way to get answers was to journey to the Land of Crystal. There was apparently a quick way to get there but they would have to wait quite a long time to do go that way. The three opted to walk instead but not before at least exploring Suna.

"Whew…the people here sure have some protective rulers, ne?" Fai chuckled. "I swear that ninja ruler guy would sooner kill us then ask any questions." He looked at Tsubasa. "This place must be a bit painful for you, huh? Syaroan-kun…"

"A bit but…Not really…" The boy with two names smiled. "It brings back good memories though…"

"So you're from that story huh?"

The woman that came into the office with Selene-sama was leaning against a nearby building. They hadn't noticed until now, but a jewel encrusted blade was at her hip. Her clothing didn't scream ninja nor did her white shirt and slender sand colored pants spoke of nobility however she carried the mixture aura of a noble person and a warrior. She had the feel of someone who expected others to follow her without question.

"You are from before…" Tsubasa stated. "My name is—"

She raised a hand. "I already know who you are kid…I'm Haruka…Haruka Tenno…"

Kurogane frowned. "You're from that Crystal place. Everybody's been talking about…"

Haruka paused.

"In a…weird way yes…though I really haven't read those…Tsubasa Stories…I just know you because Selene told me."

"Well, pleasure to meet you Tenno-san…" Fai grinned. "Please don't tell me you're here to hurt us…"

A shake of blonde hair. "No…I'm waiting for someone."

"Oh? Who?"

"She is waiting for me."

Selene-sama was there with another woman with wavy sea green hair behind her both dressed in the desert clothes of Suna.

"Please forgive my sudden intrusion upon your meeting with Kankurou…He can be…quite overzealous sometimes when it comes to my safety. My husband as well, when the need arises. I was worried they might hurt you over a simple misunderstanding."

Haruka snorted then muttered, "He should've drawn and quartered them…" which rewarded her with a nice smack over the head by the other woman, a woman with wavy hair.

"Honestly…" The woman shook her head. "I swear you all are impossible!"

"It's alright…" Tsubasa reasoned, not wanting to get in the middle of whatever this was.

"Please, as an apology, let me show you around Suna…You might also want to get some local clothing."

"You are most kind Lady Selene." Tsubasa frowned. "However, aren't you supposed to be resting?"

Selene-sama just smiled. "As the lady of this land, it is only proper I welcome guests. Especially ones such as yourselves."

She told them how the world was ruled by six figures, known as Kages, who governed the six ninja villages. Suna, the one they were currently in, was ruled by Gaara, the current Lord Suna and of course they knew Kakurou, the Kazekage who was the leader of the ninjas in Suna. This world was a place Kurogane would be more knowledgeable about to say the least. Hopefully the ninja here carried about themselves like those did in Kurogane's home world.

"The gates of my homeland were opened one year ago and since then we have had nothing but peace." She nodded over to the white cloaked people. "Those are White Ninja from my homeland…They are governed by the Crystal Kage."

"Are you sure you should be telling them all this?" Haruka was still not trusting the newcomers.

"Well if they didn't know anything then how are they supposed to address people correctly, Haruka?" Michiru, the wavy haired woman, smiled. "Will you just breathe?"

Haruka crossed her arms, frowned. "Strange men suddenly appear with no basic knowledge of the world…That doesn't sit well with me. And it doesn't suit well for Selene to even be near them in the first place."

"True…In most of these cases they were…unpleasant fellows ne, Haruka?" Michiru placed a hand on Haruka's shoulder. "Those days are done, Haruka…remember?"

"I take it you've had some…trouble with strangers before…Michiru-san." Fai asked.

"Oh, nothing too worrisome…" Michiru smiled. "Haruka is probably just mad because she hasn't had a decent sparring partner in over six months."

Kurogane raised an eyebrow. "You're a ninja?" No way this woman was a ninja! Sure the short sword at her hip was interesting but it was too ornate to be a weapon. It had to be some status symbol or something. Still though the woman known as Haruka DID carry some sense of warrior-hood about her. Like a warrior, she was very vigilant of her surroundings

"Retired…" Haruka stated then her gaze went to Selene. "I've…a different calling sort to speak."

"Yatta! Why don't you show him the sparring area, Haruka-chan?" Michiru gleamed. "You seem like a fighter to me, Kurogane-san…"

Haruka raised an eyebrow. "What do you have scheming in that brain of yours, Michiru?"

"Nothing! Unless you WANT to help shop for clothes…" Michiru's smile was sparkling.

Haruka huffed. "Come on, Kuro-whatever…"

Fai grinned. "Hey! I like that! Kuro-whatever!"

Kurogane glared at Haruka. "Why the hell would I go with you?"

She frowned. "Trust me…You don't want to go clothes shopping with Michiru…" She nodded over at Fai. "You think he's annoying? Well she's worse when she's in shopper mode. I don't think you can handle two wackos at the same time."

Kurogane paused. "Fine…And it's Kurogane, got it?"

"Fine…It's this way." She went the opposite direction, Kurogane following her.

"Kuro-poo wait for me!" Fai went after them, grinning while leaving poor Tsubasa at the mercy of Michiru. She grabbed the young boy's arm and dragged him into an indoor shop, Selene smiling as she watched on. Mokona settled contently in her hands, the creature already taking a liking to her.

"Is Mokona popular too, Selene-chan?" The little creature wondered.

"Of course!" She giggled. "Who wouldn't love you, Mokona?" She petted the creature. "You really are as cute as you are portrayed." She frowned. "Were you sad…When Yuuko died?"

"A little…" Mokona's ears drooped a bit. "Wait! You know Yuuko too? Wow! You really know everything!"

"Selene-dono." Their conversation was interrupted by two white ninja, who had heard everything since the group split up. The one that spoke looked perplexed while the one next to him couldn't avert his gaze from Mokona.

"Did that ninja dressed all in black…were my ears deceived or did he call himself Kurogane?"

"Yes…" Selene nodded. "I am as shocked as you are…" She smiled and her next words had to two ninja reeling. "It really is him…isn't it Mokona?"

"Yep!" Mokona jumped up into the air and landed right back into Selene's hands. "Kurogane is Kurogane and Mokona is Mokona! Fai is Fai and Syaroan is…Oops! Mokona forgot! He's Tsubasa!"

The two White Ninja stared at one another, their eyes wide at the little creature.

"Yes…" Selene knew what was in their minds.

"The boy without an existence…is real…He is in the clothing shop with Michiru."

The White Ninja froze. They quickly bowed then disappeared, making Mokona frown.

"Did Mokona do something bad?"

Smiling, Selene petted the small creature once more. "No dear..." She giggled. "Though I believe we have let the cat out of the bag… Sort to speak…"

"Mokona doesn't understand Selene-chan!"

"You will…in a few moments…"

Next Time: The Journey Begins