DISCLAIMER: I own only bad ideas. Everything else (including Fai and Chii) belongs to CLAMP.

***

Fai walked along a crowded street, happily pretending to whistle a little tune. He was in a nice little marketplace, with vendors on either side advertising their wares to the throngs of people- everything from bells to paint to jewelry was set out on display for the world to see.

He was just walking, though, or at least that was the plan. He had no intent of buying anything today. Of course, even the best-laid plans can go awry, so he had brought a little pocket money with him, just in case.

A vendor to his right did end up catching his eye, although it was more the girl standing before it admiring a particularly elaborate necklace than the wares themselves. He strolled up to her.

"Why, hello there," he greeted her cheerily. The girl looked up at him and smiled so brightly she could have outshone the sun.

"Hi," she said. She seemed very happy, almost elated, even, to see him. It was infectious.

"My name's Fai, what's yours?"

"Majo."

"Oh?" said Fai. How odd, he thought. "What an interesting name!"

Majo smiled and put the necklace back down on the cart. "I'm sorry," she told the vendor apologetically, "I don't think I could ever afford something as pretty as that."

"You want it? It's yours!" said the vendor enthusiastically. Majo's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Sure!" he said with a smile. "You'd be surprised how rare it is to meet someone as friendly as you!"

"Oh- thank you so much!" she gushed, picking it up and admiring it again.

"Here, let me tie it for you," Fai offered. Majo smiled her thanks, and as Fai moved he slipped one gold coin across the table without her noticing. She lifted up her short brown hair and he quickly clasped the ends together, his fingers brushing against her neck. She stiffened at his touch, but only briefly. "There you go, all done," he said, leaning his weight on the table. Something cold and round lay underneath his palm- the coin he had tried to pay the vendor with. So the necklace really was meant to be free, after all.

When Fai looked up, Majo had already flounced a few steps ahead, and was now looking back at him, wondering if he was going to follow. He did so happily.

"If you don't mind my asking, why are you named Majo?" wondered Fai once he had treated them to an ice cream sundae. They sat down on the edge of a fountain that gurgled and sparkled brightly. Majo smiled.

"Names are what people call you, right?

"Well, that's one way of putting it, I suppose."

"People call me Majo."

"Interesting," said Fai. Far away, the giant bell tower in the center of the city struck six o'clock. "Oh, my! Is that really the time? I must be going."

"Already?" said Majo, disheartened.

"Afraid so," said Fai. Majo looked down at her lap, the epitoe of misery. "Oh, don't look so sad. I'll be right back here tomorrow, alright?"

Majo immediately brightened.

"Okay," she beamed. "Promise?"

Fai laughed. "I promise."

"Good," she said as he turned to leave, and he walked away, happily pretending to whistle a merry little tune.

***

~For those of you who are uninformed (including me until two hours ago), 'majo' is Japanese for 'witch', so the story literally reads, 'people call me witch', 'witch smiled', etc. Her full 'name' is Kokuzoku Majo, which translates into 'Traitor Witch'. Such lovely thoughts, eh?~