This is my first fanfic of FanFicton. I'm still not really pleased with it but I've decided, with the help of fellow writer Blood Butterfly, that it's time to srat publishing this story. I'm sorry about any of the characters acting out of chacter if they are. Please review, it would help alot with my confidence in this story.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tsubasa characters. I only own Mizuki, Tsubame, Masaru, & Kazuki.

Chapter 1

The Start of the Journey

But paradise is locked and bolted. . . .

We must make a journey around the world

To see if a back door has perhaps been left open.

-Heinrich von Kleist, On the Puppet Theater

"Wow. Sounds like he's become incorrigible." I told Tomoyo as she told me about one of the ninja that she'd taken in a while back. I didn't really know too much about her. She told me that she was a priestess and was from a different world and that everyone there called her 'Tomoyo-hime' or some other royal term or so she told me. Don't get me wrong she's never lied to me, I would know if she did. But she was a friend that I only spoke to in my dreams, which made often wonder if I just dreamt her up.

"Yes, he has. I don't know what I'm going to do with him." She sighed. This ninja of hers, as she told me, was only focused on getting stronger and gaining power. He was already the strongest in their country but he still wanted to get stronger. She would tell him not to kill anyone if he didn't have to, but he would kill them anyway. Me myself I'm glad I hadn't met the guy and probably wouldn't have to.

"Well if you want my advice you should give him one more chance. Then if that doesn't work, well you'll just have to punish him then." I was awoken by my alarm before I could hear her response. But somehow I thought I heard her saying 'happy birthday'. Those words were ringing through my head in her voice. I pushed the covers from over my head, and looked at my alarm and saw the date was January 17th which would make me seventeen today. I sat up on my bed and turned off my alarm. As I got ready for the day I couldn't help but wonder how Tomoyo knew it was my birthday. I'd only told her the date that it was going to be when I woke up.

If she knew and I never told her doesn't that mean I DID dream her up? Which means everything she told me I made up myself. That's too bad. I think it's interesting to think that there might be different worlds, with different customs and cultures. I thought as went downstairs and into the kitchen to make my father coffee and breakfast for us both.

"Mizuki, good morning." A familiar voice said from behind me. I turned to see my father.

"Morning, Dad. You're up earlier than usual. Is something wrong?"

"No nothing at all. I just wanted to see you as long as possible today since it is your birthday after all."

"What are you talking about? You'll see me after school today. And I've had other birthdays what makes this one so special?"

"It's not everyday a girl turns seventeen." he said smiling in his usual gentle way. I decided to leave that conversation at that. Once my father got started on something he'd never stop. Through breakfast we talked about other things. Mostly about how my school work and his work as a surgeon was going. After breakfast I made my lunch and got my messenger bag, which was filled with it's usual things: books; my sketch book; my journal; drawing utensils (i.e. drawing pencils, charcoal, colored pencils, etc.); and various other things, together for school and my dad went upstairs to get ready for work.

"Dad I'm going to school now. I'll see you after okay." I called to him before leaving.

"All right. Have a good day today, sweetheart." He called back as I closed the door and left, hoping that my birthday would pass by without consequence despite the weird feeling I had.

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Upstairs in his study Masaru Kurosawa, Mizuki's father, was speaking with an old friend of his, about what would happen later that day, by using his magic.

"So she'll begin that journey today?" he asked a little sad.

"It seems so." Yûko, the space-time witch replied. She was a person able to grant any wish, so long as the wisher paid a suitable price.

"Could you do something for me?"

"It would require a price. But you are sending your precious daughter on an unpredictable journey that will last for who knows how long and are risking ever being able to see her again. I suppose that's payment enough."

"If Kazuki ever asks why I sent her on this journey while knowing what might happen, tell him that I decided that it was time I give her back to the one I most selfishly took her away from. I would tell him myself but I don't I will be able to."

"Of course Masaru and don't worry. Your daughter will be in good hands."

"I know. Thank you Yûko-san, for everything you've done for my family and I." he said as he dissipated the spell that helped him communicate with Yûko and left the house for work.

‡†††††††††‡

As I was walking to school I passed by Tsubame Maki's house just in time to see Tsubame herself walking out the front door. Tsubame was my best-friend and basically my protector. Although she did know that I don't need protection all the time she was always there when I did. She ran towards where I was when she saw me. She was wearing the same thing as I was. A long-sleeve shirt and a skirt. This was our school uniform in Japan. The only difference was that she had short, brown hair that had been let down, and I had long, black hair (it went down to my lower back went it was lent down) that was put up with a hair-tie and a hair clip and right near the front of my hair, which was free of the hair-tie as it was too short to reach, was a hair ornament that twisted around one lock of hair. It was actually quite beautiful. Hanging from the top of it was what looked like a bell but it was really a stone that I had no name for.

"Morning Mizuki. Happy birthday." she greeted.

"Thanks. Good morning to you too, Tsubame." I replied.

"So how was your night?" which was code for 'did you have any funny dreams or visions in your sleep'. She knew of my abilities, but didn't understand why I never used them to my advantage.

"I talked to Tomoyo-hime again." I'd also told her about the many other times Tomoyo and I had spoken. This time was no different.

"Really? What did you two talk about this time?" She always fond it amazing that I could talk to others in my dreams and that there may be many different worlds.

"She told me about this ninja of hers that wants to get stronger and more powerful. And even though she tells him not to, he kills needlessly." I explained.

"So what is she going to do about him? I'm sure she told you."

"I don't know. I suggested giving him one more chance and if he did it again I told her I thought she should punish him."

"So what did she say about that?" she was obviously amused. She was aware that I wondered if Tomoyo was even real or something I made up in a dream but she continuously assured me that the latter is definitely not the case.

"She didn't get the chance to say anything about it. My alarm went off before she had a chance. But she did say happy birthday, or I think she did."

"Well, that was nice of her."

"Yeah, but I never told her it was going to be my birthday, I only told her the date it was going to be."

"Well she did tell you she was a dream seer. Maybe that's how she knew."

"That or I did just dream her up."

"Stop saying that! You didn't make her up alright." she exclaimed.

"Okay, okay. I didn't make her up. I'm just saying how could she have known that January 17th was my birthday unless I already told her or made her up."

"Well then maybe you did already tell her, but you don't remember."

"Yeah, maybe." I reluctantly agreed as we walked into school for a hopefully pleasant, easy going Friday. At the very least it was only a partial day today and tomorrow.

‡†††††††††‡

The school day was over and Tsubame and I were walking home after a normal day of school. By normal I mean annoying and embarrassing.

"Why does everyone have make fun of me the way they do?" I complained on the walk home.

"Come on Mizuki, it's not that bad." Tsubame said attempting to console me.

"They call me 'Mizuki-hime'. I'm not a princess Tsubame. Why do they continuously suggest that I am? It's embarrassing … and annoying."

"Well first of all, it's the way you act."

"Pardon?"

"See? Like that. The way you talk, your posture, the way you eat, heck, you even have a higher vocabulary than most of our teachers."

"Well, I guess you have a point. But that doesn't mean they have to bother me with the entire day." Although none of those effects make me a princess.

"I know but you won't have to deal with it too much longer."

"Thank God for that." She just laughed at me. Everyone at school that day and everyday constantly called me 'Mizuki-hime' and, as Tsubame said, they all claim it's because of the way I act and they aren't lying about that but even after I told them to stop they haven't. I don't know why I talk, hold myself, and eat the way a princess most likely would but I just can't help it and when I try not to it just gets worse.

Tsubame and I walked home and headed off to my house. For as long as I can remember she and I spent most of everyday together. After school she would come to my house, on weekends I would go to hers, and holidays and school breaks would be mixed with a little of both. When we got to my house I saw that my dad hadn't arrived home yet. This wasn't odd, after all he was a surgeon and I'd gotten used to his late hours. It was just … today I had the feeling that he would get home early just like when he woke up early. That worries me. Tsubame and I went into the kitchen to make some snacks and then up to my room to do homework. After about an hour or so Tsubame had to go home and as she was leaving we heard my father's car come into the driveway. He was home early. We went out to see him and he was on his phone by the time we got to him he was finished talking to whoever it was.

"Dad? Is everything okay? Why are you home so early?" I asked worried something had gone wrong.

"Mizuki, I'm going to go home now okay." Tsubame said as she walked down the driveway. She knew she wouldn't get a response so she went ahead and headed home while I waited for my father to answer my question.

"There's nothing to worry about Mizuki. They decided that they didn't need me as long as usual and sent me home early." He informed me. Although I could tell he was lying but I couldn't tell weather it was about them sending him home early or that there was nothing to worry about. He sounded a bit nervous and scared at the same time. I decided not push into the matter.

"Oh, alright. Well, then welcome home." I greeted. We went inside and I changed my clothes. I wore a regular red T-shirt, jeans, comfortable tennis shoes, a black sweater, and arm warmers that were meant to keep a marking (that was shaped like a wolf) on my right forearm from being seen.

"Mizuki! I was wondering if maybe you could go to the store for me to pick up some things." I heard my father call from down the stairs.

"Okay, Dad. I'll be right down!" I called back. I got my messenger bag, that I had a feeling I shouldn't empty, from my bed and went downstairs. My father was in the kitchen writing on a small sheet of paper. When he was finished he handed it to me.

"Here are the directions."

"Directions? Dad, it's just the store I've been there before. I don't need a map."

"This is a store you haven't been to before, Mizuki. You'll need directions to this one."

"Alright, fine." I said as I took the directions from his hand.

"That's my girl." He said ruffling the part of my hair that was free of the hair-tie and clip that was still holding my hair up as I walked out the door and he handed me some money.

"Stop it!" I exclaimed pushing his hand from my head.

"I'm sorry." He said softly. I could tell that he was very sad, but I couldn't tell what he was sad about.

"It's alright, Dad. I'll see you later."

"For sure." there sincerity in his words but it seemed like something about my words was troubling him. I had disliked going out that day because it was sunny and hot, or too hot for me at least, but it was for my father so I decided to bear it until I was indoors again.

‡†††††††††‡

I was walking down the street careful to follow my father's directions.

"Mizuki! It's nice seeing you again after only half an hour!" I looked up from the paper and saw Tsubame in front of me, also holding a small sheet of paper that had been written on.

"Tsubame? Where are you going?" I asked her questioningly.

"To some store. My parents decided that they needed something so the sent me to go get it. And you?"

"The same."

"Really? That's kinda' weird. It must be coincidence, right."

"Yeah, maybe." I was doubtful about that though, I had never really been one to think of anything as a coincidence. But that made wonder about the way my dad had been acting even more. For a good while it seemed like we were going to the same place but on the way there this one shop caught my eye. It looked like a traditional Japanese house but it was completely contradictory to it's surroundings, which were skyscrapers. The house seemed to have a lot of power but I could tell that it was created by someone. I had to practically tear my eyes away to look back own at the directions. I saw that I was were the directions were leading me too.

"Mizuki? Is something wrong?" I heard Tsubame ask from my left.

"This is it?" I said asking myself more than her. I looked at her and saw that she was checking her directions as well. I noticed that past the wooden gate in the lawn there was a beautiful woman in a lawn chair under an umbrella. She had long jet black hair (about the same shade as my own). Standing near the lawn chair were two girls, one had short, straight hair that went to just above her shoulders and the other had long, curly hair that were in pig-tails and went all the way down to the ground. I looked at Tsubame who looked up from the directions that had been written down for her.

"Me too. Another coincidence?"

"No. It's too weird to be one." I told her before we were noticed by one of them.

"Hey girls! Come on over here!" the woman called to us. She sounded very young, about the same as she looked, but deep in her voice, so deep I almost didn't catch it, there seemed to be some ancient knowledge in her that had been banned from the knowledge of all others. All that despite her voice sounding as if she was excited about something. When I looked at her more closely she seemed to have power as well, it wasn't psychic, but I didn't know what type of power to call it. Just that there was a mass amount of it. Tsubame and I walked through the opening of the wooded gate that had no door but instead one post on either side. They each had a crescent moon on top of them that had been mirroring each other. I had this odd feeling of déjà vu. I felt like I had seen the front of this shop once before or at least felt it's heavy presence. We came closer to the lawn chair and she began yelling her voice still cheerful. "Watanuki! Why don't you go get some food and drinks for our guests!"

I hadn't noticed that a boy who was about fifteen and in a school uniform had been there as well. He had glasses over his sapphire blue eyes and short black hair. He also had a bit of power, but it was psychic power. Although, I couldn't tell what kind of ability he had. As he was walking towards the door he started grumbling and complaining about being ordered around and how she had someone in her clutches. While he was gone the two girls started dancing around us singing about how their mistress had customers. From them couldn't sense anything but the fact that they were alive and a small amount of power of their own.

"By the way, what are your names?" I heard the woman ask just as the girls stopped singing and dancing.

"My name is Tsubame Maki and my friend is Mizuki Kurosawa. And yours?" Tsubame asked and answered. She always was the most upfront about things and the least polite between us. She was also always the one who never thought things all the way through unless my safety was involved.

"My name is Yûko Ichihara" she told us. Although there was a lie in that. I wondered what would make her want to give us an alias.

"The tea's ready." Watanuki came out before she was able to say anymore

"The tea! The tea!" The two girls cheered as he came closer with our drinks.

"Mmm. It smells nice." Yûko said. The smell was very lovely, "Watanuki, you are an accomplished tea maker." she complimented him, "Don't you agree Mizuki-chan?" she asked looking at me.

"Yes. This tea must have been made by someone very accomplished." I agreed. The girls cheered 'accomplished' as Watanuki told Yûko that her praise wouldn't get more work out of him.

"No! I speak from my heart! I don't even have this much ulterior motive!" Yûko emphasized her word by holding her index finger and her thumb about an inch apart from each other, "However, now that we're all feeling good, I thought the yard could just use the slightest smidgen of weeding. Right?" she continued holding her hand to the left side of her mouth as if that would make the conversation private.

Didn't she just say she did not have an ulterior motive? And now she's telling him to weed the yard. Sounds pretty contradictory to me. I thought.

"That's what I call a HUGE ulterior motive!" Watanuki screamed seeming to agree with me. He stopped and looked to Tsubame and I, we both had a look of shock and perhaps a trace of fear on our faces at such a violent reaction, "I'm sorry." He said bowing to us.

"No, it's alright. And you don't need to-" I started but I had been interrupted by rain suddenly falling from the now darkened sky. It took a couple minutes for anybody to react.

"It's sunny out … isn't it?" Tsubame questioned, obviously confused about the sudden weather change. After her question it started to rain even harder and Tsubame and I walked under the umbrella as we were closest to it

"Huh? What? How come all this rain is falling on a sunny day?" Watanuki complained as he ran under the cover of the umbrella.

"The fox spirit, Kitsune, takes a bride." Yûko stated calmly.

"Fox spirit?" both Tsubame and Watanuki questioned simultaneously.

"It's a phrase used to explain rain on a clear day, like this one." I explained. I had looked up many phrases like that one. They were very interesting to me.

"Yes, exactly. On a day like this one could do a 'Kyôchô'." Yûko continued.

"And what is that?" Watanuki asked.

"Maru? Moro?"

"Here!" the two girls, who I now know are Maru and Moro, exclaimed while holding up what looked like a compact mirror. They gave it to Yûko who held it over the table towards the three of us.

"You can use any mirror you want. A hand mirror, a compact. You hold it by your heart, close your eyes, and consider the first words you hear to be an omen." Watanuki seemed amazed at this, "It's a variation on the divination they call Tsujiura. In Tsujiura you put a mirror to your heart, walk down a path, and take the first thing you hear as an omen. On a day where the fox spirit takes a bride, the sun-drenched rain adds power to a Kyôchô divination and increases its accuracy. What you get is an omen that is almost a certainty." she explained looking at us. I couldn't help but pay attention to the 'almost' at the tail end of her explanation, "Want to give it a try?" she asked looking at me.

"I'm sorry, but I'd rather keep whatever lies in the future a surprise." I answered, "But maybe Watanuki-san would like to try." I suggested looking at him. He took the mirror from Yûko and she gave him the instructions.

"Close your eyes, and open your ears. You needn't concentrate or even think. Just listen for the first sound you hear." she said. It wasn't hard to tell it was working. I could almost see the power of divination surrounding him as it was letting him lend it willfully and peacefully. There was no color, but it was something that, when you saw it, you didn't need to name a color to know what it was. Who knows what it told him. I certainly didn't but the look in Yûko's eyes told me she knew exactly what it said. If anything what he said when the power flowed away from him and back into the sky where it belonged wasn't anymore of a clue than I'd thought it might be. Tsubame seemed disappointed that there weren't any clues in his words though. Perhaps I should have asked her if she wanted to listen.

"Was that it? Um … I don't understand a word of it!" he said looking behind him, at us. He seemed disappointed as well, but he was the one heard it. So his reason had been understandable. Yûko's demeanor suddenly changed from laid-back to cryptic as she stood up from the lawn chair.

"I see." she said, "It's today."

"No, what I mean is-" he tried to explain.

"We'll have to prepare. Prepare for their coming." she said. She turned to me, "Mizuki-chan, I have a gift for you."

"Really? For me?" I didn't understand why she would have something for me. Did my father arrange for me to receive something without me knowing?

"It your birthday, isn't it?"

"Well, yes. But how did you-" I was interrupted when she pull out a silver charm bracelet. It had many symbols on it, many of which I couldn't find any meaning behind. One charm was two spherical gems on the same ring, one was ruby red and the other was sapphire blue. That one was directly on the left side of the clasp. And on the left of that one was a tiger followed by many others. There seemed to be some power around it too. I wasn't sure what kind of power I was supposed to call it, but it was power. I just couldn't tell if it very strong or very weak. I was guessing on strong though.

"Hold out your wrist, I'll put it on for you." she ordered. I did as I was told. There was nothing in her voice, eye, expression, or even her presence that told I should distrust her. She wrapped it around my wrist I noticed the aura of power surrounding the bracelet grew and the moment she clasped it seemed to latch on to my skin and dig itself inside. When it was finished attaching itself to me, I felt extremely dizzy. The world turned circles and then finally became even more black the onyx stone.

‡†††††††††‡

I caught Mizuki as she fell backward so that she wouldn't hit the ground. I looked up at Yûko with anger and resentment. Those emotions started clouding my outer senses, I could only fully focus on Yûko, I vaguely heard Watanuki behind me shouting Mizuki's name in worry and concern.

"What did you do to Mizuki?" I demanded. I couldn't help but be angry about what just happened. It seemed like she hurt her. No one was going to get away with hurting Mizuki, no one.

"Don't worry Tsubame-chan. Mizuki-chan isn't hurt, she fainted from mental exhaustion." she explained. But her explanation only confused me more than what I just saw.

"Mental exhaustion?" I questioned. I didn't understand, how could she have passed out from mental exhaustion if there was nothing to be mentally exhausted about? It didn't make any sense, "How?"

"Mizuki-chan is able to sense the power of anything that has magical or psychic power. She sensed the power in this shop, the power in me, in Watanuki, in Maru and Moro, as well as in that bracelet. It was a lot for her to handle in just a few minutes" she explained, it made more sense to me now, why hadn't I thought about that before, "But anyway, we'll have to prepare. Prepare for their coming." she said now looking at nothing in particular, maybe at some far off object, she looked to me again, "If you could have a wish, what would it be?"

"To stay with, be able to protect, and help Mizuki" I answered immediately.

‡†††††††††‡

Watanuki and I had been standing outside the shop, waiting for Yûko to come out. Before she went inside she was going on about preparing for someone coming here. Did she do this for all her customers? Not that it really mattered I was more worried about Mizuki. She hadn't woken up yet and I wondered if it was because we were still at the shop. Watanuki had helped me pick her so that I could carry her piggy-back style, which was the most comfortable way to carry her. At least, easiest to carry her for long periods of time. Her head was resting in the right side of my neck, hiding that hair ornament of hers. It was still raining, which made my situation worse. It would have been bad if she got sick from this. I decided that I would dry her off if she hadn't woken up by the time I got her home.

When Yûko finally came out she was wearing this weird dress that had a crescent moon as it's theme and her hair was up but still was long enough to reach to her butt.

"Yûko-san? What is that get up?" Watanuki asked her.

"I'm prepared for the children to come." she answered not looking at us, "Here they come." I went a few feet in front of her and was about to tell her she should at least look at us when talking to us, but I noticed this blob-like thing coming from the sky. Directly above me. I got out of the way, stepping a few feet to the right. When it finally touch the ground it seemed to pop like a bubble. Inside the bubble was a boy a couple years younger that Mizuki and I with brown hair and amber eyes. In his arms was a girl around the same age as him with light brown hair and she looked unconscious and very sick. I couldn't recognize their clothes from any culture, but from their style I could tell they lived in a very hot place.

"Are you the space-time witch?" he asked urgently.

"I have been called that." she answered.

"Would you please …" he seemed like he couldn't finish his sentence, and he started again, "I need you to save Sakura!" he finally exclaimed.

"I've been waiting for the two of you. You're not the same ones, but you are the same of a different world."

"I was told to tell you everything! And if I came here you might have a way to help me save Sakura!" Yûko knelt down to them and put her hand just over the girls head.

"This child's name is Sakura, isn't it?" she asked him.

"Yes."

"And you?"

"I'm Syaoran."

"This child has lost something very precious." she stated as if knowing more that she seemed to.

"Yes." he replied weakly.

"And that something has been scattered to many different worlds. If nothing is done this child will die" she continued add a heavy intensity to the air and Syaoran pulled Sakura closer to him, "Watanuki?" she called. So much had been going on I almost forgot about the boy.

"Y-yes?" he stammered shocked at everything going on about as much as I was.

"Go to our treasure room, there is something I need you to bring back." she ordered him and then turned to Syaoran, "You wish to save this child?"

"Yes!"

"There is a price."

"I will pay any price I can!" there was so much determination in his voice and eyes that, even though I didn't know him, I was kinda proud of him. Suddenly, there was a change in the air. Similar to the change when the blob carrying Syaoran and Sakura.

"Here they come." Yûko said again just before two more blobs showed up. The one closest to me cam from the sky and the one on the other side of Syaoran came from the ground. When they revealed the people inside them it was two men that were a perfect contrast with each other. The man closest to me was wearing a white and blue coat, and had blonde hair and eyes that could shame the blue sky. He was standing up straight and was holding an ornate staff. The other one was wearing black and red, and black hair and crimson eyes. He was crouching low to the ground and was holding a sword, he was obviously some sort of warrior. But they both were definitely not from this world.

"Are you the dimension witch?" the blonde said and the same time the warrior spoke.

"Who the hell are you?" their personality differences immediately showed themselves. They glanced at each other for an instant and the Yûko began to speak again.

"Please give me your names first."

"Me? I'm Kurogane. What are these weird buildings all around? I mean … what is this place?" the warrior introduced and asked. The way he said it was almost rude but she didn't seem to care.

"It's called Japan." Yûko answered.

"Eh? My country's called Japan, too." He said in a confused rudeness that I never thought could come from someone combined before now.

"Yes. A different Japan."

"I'm not getting any of this!" he said standing up. I had to admit, it was confusing but he could have been more polite about it.

"And you?" Yûko asked turning to the blonde.

"The wizard of Seresu. Fai D. Flourite." he said politely introducing himself.

"Do you know where you are?" she asked him.

"Yes. A place where any wish can be granted if a suitable price is paid." Fai answered. I wondered why she hadn't mentioned it to Mizuki and I when we showed up.

"That's exactly it. And so the reason why all of you are here is because each of you has a wish."

"My home world…" the two men started saying the same things but then their words were different and sounds like jumbled up sounds. But I could vaguely hear Fai saying 'is the place I do not want to be" since he was closer. I guessed Kurogane asked for the opposite since he was saying something different from Fai. Kurogane glared at Fai with a sideways glance.

"That is a tall order for both of you. No… for all four of you perhaps." Yûko started, she seemed to be including me into all this, "Even if you offered the most precious things you own, none of you has enough to pay … but if all four paid together, you may just be able to afford it." she said confusing me and others.

"What kind of crap are you spouting?" Kurogane said just getting even more rude each time he spoke.

"Mr. Black, can you keep you insults down?" Fai asked at the side.

"I'm not "Mr. Black"! I'm Kurogane!" He yelled at the wizard.

"All four of your wishes are the same." Yûko said. But what did my wish have to do with traveling between worlds, "You want to go to many worlds in order to restore the memory of this child." she said to Syaoran, "You want to return to your own world." she said to the tall warrior, "You want to go to different worlds to avoid returning to your own." she said to Fai, then she looked to me and said, "And then there's your wish." she started addressing all of us again, "You have different reasons, but the method is the same. Travel to different dimensions… that is what you need. Each of you individually cannot make that wish happen. However, if the four of you combine payment for one wish, then you can afford it."

"Then what would my payment be?" Kurogane asked.

"Your sword." she said. The sword which he had out earlier was now resting on his shoulder.

"Wha-?" he exclaimed, " I'd never sell away Ginryû!" he yelled.

"Fine! Instead you will wander this world looking like a costume-contest loser, and get picked up by the police for carrying an unlawful sword, and get plastered all over the TV for being a freak! Is that what you want?" Yûko said while playfully poking him. He seemed very confused by many of her words. Particularly 'police' and 'TV', "You realize that you are trapped here, and I am the only person in the world who can get you out?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"That's got to be a lie!" he exclaimed loudly.

"It's all true." Fai told the warrior

"You're kidding!" Kurogane said with Fai just laughing.

"What will you do?" she asked him holding her hand out. He seemed to thing about it for a short while.

"Damn it!" he yelled putting the sword in it's sheath, "When I am free from this curse, I am coming back for it!" he shouted, thrusting it towards her. The sword was lifted by what seemed like pure energy. But if a wizard exists I'd say it was lifted by magic.

"Your price is your marking." she said turning to look at Fai. I didn't see his reaction but he tensed up becoming like he was nervous or something.

"I don't suppose this staff would do instead?" he asked holding up the staff in his hands. It was taller than it's owner and the top of it there was a gem that didn't look like it was held be anything.

"It won't." she replied he seemed disappointed, "I told you, the price is the thing you value most."

"I guess I have no choice." After he said that a black marking lifted through his clothes from his back. It's shape reminded me a phoenix. It floated over to Yûko's left and the sword was at her right by that same energy that I couldn't see. Then she turned to me.

"Your price, Tsubame, is that you will never be able to set foot in the birthplace of the child your carrying." I didn't understand the price she gave me, but I agreed anyway.

Her birthplace? How would that be my price? What kind of importance could Mizuki's birthplace have to me? I thought and she turned to Syaoran.

"What about you? Now is the time to hand over you item of highest value. And you will be able to travel the worlds."

"Fine!" he said.

"You realize that I haven't named your price yet."

"Yes!"

"The only thing I can do is send you to other worlds. Finding the child's memories is something you will have to do."

"Fine!"

"I like your attitude." she said to Syaoran. Watanuki finally came out of the shop carrying two odd looking creatures, "Here they are." she said. When Watanuki got closer she took the white creature from his arms and left the black one, "The name of this young one is Mokona Modoki. Mokona will lead you through the worlds."

"Hey, you got an extra. Give it to me. I'll go home with that." Kurogane said holding out his hand to Watanuki.

"No. That's how we keep in contact. The only power this one has is to stay in communication with Mokona." Yûko said, "Mokona will take you to different dimensions, but there is no way to control which dimension. For that reason, only fate will decide when your wishes will be granted. However, there is no coincidence in the world. What is there is 'Hitsuzen'. And what brought you together was also 'Hitsuzen'. Syaoran your price is … your relationship. The thing you value most is your relationship with her. So that is your price."

"My price? But how-" Syaoran started.

"Even if this child's memories are completely restored your relationship with her will never be the same again. So what is she to you?" She asked him.

"A childhood friend … and the princess of a country … and a girl who is precious to me!" he answered clutching her tighter to him.

"I see. However, if you want to accept Mokona, that relationship will end. Even if you retrieve all of her memories the one memory that you will never retrieve will be her memory of you. That is my price. Will you still pay it?" she told him making the air heavier than she did before.

"Lets go. I will not let Sakura die!" his words were full of his determination. She seemed to accept this and continued.

"Travel between worlds is more difficult than you imagine. There are a wide variety of worlds. For example, the worlds these three come from. You can tell just from their clothes, can't you? All of them come from different worlds than yours. People you know. People you've met on your world … they've developed under completely different conditions on other worlds. You may meet different versions of the same person time after time on different worlds. And just because that person is nice to you on one world doesn't mean you will find an ally on the next. You'll find worlds where you can't communicate - where even common sense doesn't work. Scientific development, standard of living, laws … all change with the world. There are worlds full of criminals, worlds of liars, worlds locked in constant wars … and you must live through them all. It will be a journey in which you won't know where you are nor how close you are to collecting all of the fractured pieces of memory. That said … are you still determined to seem through?"

"Yes!" Syaoran answered.

"Sincerity and determination. No matter what a person wants to attempt, those are needed. And it seems that you are well provides with both. And so … you may go." as she was finishing her sentence great, big wings appeared on Mokona. Some type of circle appeared under it. It opened it's mouth and I felt myself being sucked in by it.

‡†††††††††‡

Yûko looked up to the sky as the rain began to clear from it and the travelers.

"I wish you four the best of fortune on your journey!" she hoped for the four travelers