So much time had passed. Time that also felt like none at all.
There was a time. A cool night breeze. A castle. A simple reflecting pool. The witch staring back up at him through it.
"The truth is," he said, "it?" His sapphire eyes should have shown discomfort at the revelation but they were hidden behind creased lids formed by the far too friendly smile that tended to keep itself plastered to his face. He'd run lithe fingers through his long blonde bangs in an attempt to hide his hesitation. "My, that certainly is a high price, isn't it?"
He'd given it to her though. It was worth it at the time. Then again, if it hadn't been, it wouldn't have been the price to begin with.
"...Tell me about your current predicament."
"Ah, so you do want truths you already know as well then..."
And on they went once answered.
"... And why is it you're making this particular wish?"
"Well that one is certainly easy. I feel as though you're attempting to lull me into a false sense of security here..."
There had been fewer questions than he expected and eventually their conversation shifted tone.
"...Now, given what I just revealed to you Fai, I want you to explain to me how that other wish of yours could possibly make any sense."
He knew it was coming. His demeanor changed drastically at that time.
"I can't allow myself to simply die off. Not with what's at stake if that were to happen any time soon. That other wish of mine comes first and foremost, and I won't allow myself to have this one until it's been fulfilled... However. If for some reason or another I were to be stricken down by forces beyond my own control, I would greet my wish to die just as gratefully as any other. Possibly just as much as you would given your own circumstance. It just so happens that a death like that would, unfortunately, be tainted with far more regret than I've ever had in this horrible life."
There were times, both before and after, of tender flesh mingling sensually with rough skin. Sweet, happy mewls melting together with low, warm grunts. A beautiful pleasure he'd never allowed himself to have in the past. A pleasure, and a time, that he could no longer allow himself to have going forward.
More recently, another time. A moment of desperation where he'd been willing to forego everything; his other wishes, selfish desires, the wellbeing of the ones he'd loved for so long, everything he'd worked for. Even knowing what it meant for him, he'd still all but begged his crimson-eyed companion to simply let him die. For their wishes, their own desires, for the wellbeing of those he'd gotten far too close to and everything they'd worked for. Because he truly knew what it meant for them if the wish he was making at that moment wasn't granted.
It wasn't. And it burned him to his very core.
As it stood now, time was moving on once again. Irreparable change would taint it. And he knew far too well how much worse things would be getting from here.
Welcome to a new world!" Mokona did her best to sing her usual happy tune as rabbit-like feet touched the new ground for the first time.
Fai decided to repay the favor, his voice ringing out gently in its ever sweet tune as a broad smile stretched its way across his face. "I certainly hope we've ended up better off than the last time." A chuckle pierced his chest that was perky, but still somewhat hollow, as the distortion around them began to melt away to reveal their new surroundings.
Even before the beautiful forest that surrounded them came into view, the sounds of insects and birds, life of all kinds skittering through the brush, and the gentle sway of leaves wafting in the wind managed to relax the tension in his shoulders just the slightest bit. Already, it was so much better than the still, stagnant air of Tokyo. At this point, he couldn't have even brought himself to ask for this much of a treat.
"Lovely," he sighed.
In neglecting to look over toward Kurogane to see his reaction due to the soreness turning his gaze on him caused at the moment, he abruptly turned himself bodily toward the two children they traveled with. He'd taken a breath to make a gentle comment on the sad state the heavily injured party was currently in, but was forced to pause when his beautiful flourite blue eye landed instead on their distinct lack of being there. He looked around slowly, and surely enough they were nowhere in sight.
Tension raced through him again. "Now Mokona," it was meant to be a gentle scolding in that same sweet tune of his, but as he stared at the spot where their companions should be, it took on a slightly darker tone that reflected his immense worry; one that had wiped that cooky smile right off his pretty face. "Surely it wasn't the best time for this again."
He knew the moment his attention had set there that they'd need to find them soon. Every single one of them was injured, each moreso than the last. The need already had him opening his newly gained senses in preparation. And had a bright gold color puddling into, and taking over the natural state of his eye.<|im_end|>
At least they hadn't landed in a pile this time... Kurogane ached from the tips of his toes up to the top of his head, which was pounding. Out of the four of them, he had garnered the least amount of physical damage but that didn't mean he was up for their usual dog pile when changing dimensions; and the other three would have wound up even more injured than they already were. Sakura's bloodied body, Syaoran's new Syaoran's weakened state, and Fai...
Something gripped at his chest, reaching inside the rib cage to claw at his heart. Fai was likely the worst off of all of them. The small wound on his wrist burned as he thought of the vampire's blood dripping into his own to be fed to the mage. The mage who didn't want it. Kurogane turned to look at his companion and tried not to flinch at that empty smile. He knew he should say something, but no words came. An apology was out of the question. It would be an empty lie, and Fai would be able to tell with ease.
He was given a distraction in probably the worst possible way. It only took a moment to scan the area to realize that their young companions were nowhere to be seen, and his own worry matched Fai's. Sakura was hurt, and not just slightly either, and he didn't exactly trust this new Syaoran to keep her safe the way he had the fake Syaoran. Or maybe this one was the fake? Did it really matter? The kid he knew was gone.
Kurogane gritted his teeth and reached out to snag Mokona by the cheeks. He pulled the little creature's face cruelly. "So," he started with an irritated growl. Mokona struggled in his grasp and kicked her little feet.
"Ow! Owowowow!" She complained, flailing her arms and ears.
Kurogane ignored the squirming and just pinched her harder. "Where are they?"
"Mokona doesn't know!" She answered.
"Are they even here?!"
"Mokona doesn't know!" She cried again, and squealed out as Kurogane pulled harder on her face.<|im_end|>