Eivexst: Okay people sorry for the wait, and I feel that I might not be doing all to well with this story.

Marche: I don't see how after all you're following the story pretty well, while still giving Umbra a good role in this.

Eivexst: *sighs*

Shara: Oh well, you tried Marche any way, Eivexst does not own anything from final fantasy, now excuse us while we continue to try and make him stop being sad.

/

Marche's POV: I stood there in the middle of the pub, Umbra had agreed to making a joint clan with us but I still don't understand what that means. "Hey Montblanc?" He looked up at me from the apple he was eating. "Kupo?" that odd squeaking was still odd to hear. "What does it mean to be in a joint clan?" He smiled looking over at the members of clan Ritz as they sat next to a Kirin.

"It means we have a assist clan, Kupo to put it simply that means they'll help us from time to time when we go into missions and they'll travel with us."

I looked at Shara when I heard that and smiled. "I see, so that means Ritz, Shara Umbra, Leona and Nelly will be traveling with us right?" He nodded and then continued to eat the apple as I was approached by none other then Umbra.

"So, I see Montblanc has explained everything to you." he said with a emotionless expression except for a slightly hardened stare in his eyes as he kept his arm raised in its cast. "Yes, so how did your arm get injured like that?" He seemed to exhale a bit do to his shoulders slacking a tiny bit.

"I was caught in a fight and the judge did not appear do to this the wound stayed after the battle so it will take the rest of this moon till it's gone." I stared in shock. "The judge didn't appear!?"

Umbra scratched the back of his head as he frowned. "That is what I said Marche, there is something you should know, ever wonder why it is that the judge presides over a engagement?"

I shrugged. "Aren't they there just to watch the match to make sure the rules are kept?"

He just sighed this time and nodded. "Yes that is part of it but the judge is also there too-"

I couldn't manage to hear the rest as a loud sound like thunder came by but it turned out it was actually our gunner Cyrus practicing, he still needed to get used to the kick back that the riot gun had.

"So you see how it's a bad thing right?" I nodded even though I missed some of it.

"Yeah I get it, still though that is a bit of a shock." He smirked before he walked away back to one of the corners of the pub were it was hard to see him from.

[Well, now that leaves me with a couple questions, but I'm glad that I can travel with Ritz and Shara.]

Nelly's POV: I stood on stage playing on the fairy harp, I'd gotten better at it, the pubs bartender had heard me playing it a little and asked that I perform with the others, we were currently playing a folk tune that Ritz said reminded her of a song called Irish air.

"Thank you... a-all, it.. w-was fun to play." I gave thanks using the human language I'm still a bit bad at talking in that one since I still wasn't all that used to it but I was starting to form the words easier at least with every one in clan Ritz I could speak in my native tongue.

After shaking hands with the other people who played the song with me I noticed in the corner of my vision that Umbra was looking up at me and was one of the only people clapping but he had that small smile in place that Leona, Shara and I only knew. "Hey Nelly." I turned around to see that Leona had come up onto the stage.

"Oh hey there Leona, what is it?" She wasn't aware of it, but there were a couple people who stared at her taking in her entire form- some with perverted gazes- before looking away do to the cold feeling coming off of Umbra.

"I was wondering why it is you decided to play with those people, you know you and Umbra make a better pair at music." I put the harp into my satchel so I wouldn't need to keep holding it.

"He doesn't like crowds remember?" She just nodded before looking over where I was staring to see Ritz staring at Umbra and Marche talking with one another.

"What do you suppose they're talking about?" I shrugged my shoulders and went off stage but before I got close enough Umbra had some how gotten out of my sight and I couldn't find him, so with slight disappointment that I might not know what they talked about I went out side and started the summons to call Kirin.

As I waited for the magic to work my mind drifted back a couple years to when I first met Umbra, Leona had told me about the day she found him.

"Hey... Kirin, how are you holding up?" She placed her head onto my shoulder when she shrank to the size of a wolf and I started to stroke her fur. "I wonder would I be intruding if I checked on that?" I started to laugh at my own question. "Wait, why do I care I'm sure it's okay for me to check on that after all, Umbra probably wouldn't mind."

"What wouldn't I mind?" I swung my garnet staff at him before I realized who it was and sighed when he caught it.

"You fool, didn't I tell you not to sneak up on me?" He kept on a straight face even though it showed do to how he was sweating a little, how fast he forced him self to react.

"Of course Nelly, I just forgot about that is all." he said as he let out a soft breath. "Next time please don't swing so fast, I'm injured you know."

I smirked and flicked his forehead as we heard a odd chuckle like sound come from Kirin.

"Oh right Umbra, could you meet with me after our next mission?" He lifted up an eye brow at hearing this. "Why when you and I have free time now?" He asked with obvious curiosity.

"Okay fine then just meet me tonight there is something I'd like to tlak to you about!" He nodded before walking into a near by inn.

"The next mission is at night make sure you don't get drafted to take part in it if you want to talk." with that I couldn't help but grin, soon I'd be able to talk to him about it.

Marche's POV: I looked over at the bar to see Shara up there taking small sips from a cup with a amber colored liquid in it. "Hey shara, what are you drinking?"

She looked over at me when she took another sip and set the cup down. "It's just a herbal tea, I just drink this some times when I'm stuck on a thought."

I tilted my head before I looked at the mission roster laid out in front of her, there was one she circled but hadn't signed yet it was a mission at the Lutia pass. "what is it that has your mind so caught up about the pass Shara?"

She took a large gulp of the cup draining it of all the tea before placing it back down and wiping her mouth. "It's just..." She looked down at it with half lided eyes before she pushed some of her hair behind her ear.

"I get it Shara, you don't have to tell me, I didn't mean to pry." She smiled when I patted her back. "We'll take care of the mission for you all, okay?"

She looked at me with wide eyes before pulling me over in a single armed embrace. "Thank you Marche, good luck and thank you, I'll tell you about it when you're back."

I smiled and scratched the back of my head a little bit flustered. "Um, yeah you're welcome Shara." After saying that she let go and walked away waving and I couldn't help but notice how the light shined off her hair making her seem radiant. [wait a second, why do my ears feel hot?]

I looked down at the mission recalling the look that had crossed her face and couldn't help the small edge of anger to it, all I knew was that at the moment all I cared about was finishing this mission for her.

"Hey montblanc!" He flinched and came over from me shouting for him.

"What is it Marche?" He asked as he looked over my shoulder seeing the mission that was circled.

"We're going to take this mission, okay?"

Mission: Lutia's shadow. Rank: 3

There is something lurking about near the Lutia pass and the merchants are to scared to cross, some one clear the path so we can get things moving again.

Marco the shop keep. Reward: ruby earrings, fire robe, broad sword.

"Kupo, this sure sounds like an interesting mission doesn't it?" Montblanc asked as he seemed to shiver slightly.

"Yeah, and it seems like this mission is actually going to be hard." For some reason I had a odd feeling in the pit of my gut that this could turn out to haunt us.

Shara's POV: I was happy that Marche is being so considerate to me, but he really shouldn't try so hard, it's not good to keep moving that much he should probably rest soon, I went into the inn regardless to think for a while and when I came to my room and was greeeted by a very cross looking Umbra there was also a hole in the wall where his arm currently took residence.

"Shara, why the hell do people do the things they do?" He asked as he took his arm out of the wall it was bleeding slightly from the force it must have taken.

"I don't know Umbra, it's just how people are, some times they do bad and some times they do good nothing can change that." He looked at me with a hardened stare.

"Then why did you look at THAT mission?" I tilted my head not understanding. "That mission is... It's where" he punched another hole into the wall before leaving the room on the way out he said one last thing. "I hope that the they manage to stay safe there."

I looked out side as the sun started to set. [I hope so too, dear mateaus, please let him be safe.]

/

Eivexst: *still sad*

marche: Okay, I've tried pretty much everthing.

Shara: Me two, maybe he'll be better next time.

Eivexst: Please leave a review, I'll be better next time either way.

Thanks go towards: Scythemeister88 and OpenOtaku