Hi All! I'm finally back!

Man I've had the biggest writers block ever…all starts no ends. I apologise to my readers for not having written anything in awhile. My writing style has changed a bit since my lost post, hopefully for the better but that will be up to you. Make sure to let me know in a review!

Now, a MAJOR thanks to LonelyWhiteCloud, to whom this story is dedicated to, for bringing me back! (I apologise it took me a bit to get this done…). I hope you like it!

As always, I love to hear back from all who read my work; flames and reviews alike. After all, one grows from the criticism from others!

Oh, fair warning: Yaoi Included! Also insertion of random person to help things along ;) It is a bit longer than normal and may be a little slow at the start (depending on how you look at it) but hopefully you'll stick around to read.

Right, I'll stop babbling now and let you read. Please Enjoy!

-Kain

Locked Up Inside

Chapter 1: Subdued Emotions

Kentaro slid his key card through the lock on the door, entering a long smooth white hallway which made his footsteps echo loudly. The sleeveless knee length white coat of his guard uniform billowed out slightly behind him as he strode down the hall, sliding his key card once again through the next lock to allow himself to exit the city. Entering the empty section that was situated between the large outer wall and the smaller inner wall, he cast his eyes upwards. As usual, thick heavy snow filled clouds covered the sky, hiding any hint of warmth the sun that was found above those clouds could offer. By the time he had reached the outer wall doors, white snowflakes had started to fall, quickly thickening.

Kentaro turned his sea foam green eyes upwards once again as he slid his card through yet another lock, a frown filtering onto his face. When it had first hit their city, the snow had been beautiful and everyone looked forward to running around in the snow on the weekends. But, after a week of near constant snow fall, the soft beauty of the snow had faded. It had been almost seven years now since that cloud had shown up and ever since then the snow was something to hate, something to loathe. Not many residents felt the cold as much anymore but all uniforms had changed to accommodate the change in temperature.

A shiver raced down his spine as he turned, opening the door and letting himself into the wall, brushing the snow from his shoulders and from his tousled sandy brown hair that was held back by the dark orange headband…also part of the guard uniform. It didn't him much longer to ascend the stairs that spun up the wall leading to the top where the guards patrolled for hours in the cold. He sighed, pulling the coat around him more as he stepped out into the biting chill, snow almost instantly finding every bit of exposed skin and settling on it. Kentaro brushed it off as his friend, James, walked past him, tapping hands lightly before vanishing into the wall.

Pulling on his gloves, Kentaro made his way to the wall that overlooked the large expanse of more or less deadened land before his expression softened at the sunshine that just showed over the cliff edge. No one from the city had ever been up there and it was forbidden to leave the city through the back door where Kentaro was guarding…from what though he didn't know. Right before he turned back to start his trek through the snow covered wall, his eyes caught movement in the sky over the cliff.

As he watched, a large sphere pulled itself from the sky, falling down like a drop of water from a tap. His eyes widened as he watched it vanish behind the cliff, the tips still attached to the sky. Then, slowly, the sphere withdrew and melted backed into the sky as if nothing had happened. His phone was out of his pocket and at his ear in the next moment, fingers tapping out an impatient rhythm on his upper leg even as he walked along the wall, eyes moving around in a practised sweep until his call was answered.

"Hi Allen, it's Kentaro, ID number 2574, I'd like to speak to Warden Marc and request a Leave Permission…Yes I have a reason…No I'm not telling you…No! Now just put me through…Thanks."

The finger started its tapping again as he was passed through the multiple switchboards until finally a gruff older voice answered with a simple but mildly annoyed

"What do you want Kei?" Kentaro smiled, leaning against the wall as he replied

"Hey Uncle, I need a favour. I want you to sign a Leave Slip for me…investigation purposes…yes of course I'll write up a report…I don't know, put it as a Security Sweep or something...no, I'm going alone…Thanks! I owe you…yeah yeah, cya." With that he hung up, a smile on his face.

He had a feeling something was about to make things a lot more interesting around Koto, the city of metal.

With our new arrivals…

She was missing.

It was the first thing Syaoran noticed as the disorientated feeling from their travel across worlds vanished. His eyes snapped open, darting around as worry wormed its way up, eating at his insides even as he called out

"Sakura!" The tone of his voice quickly alerted the easy going wizard to his left and the surly swordsman to his right, both standing quickly, eyes casting around the sunlight ruins they had landed in before turning back to the tense boy still kneeling on the ground.

Syaoran slowly stood, stance strong as he set off saying

"I'm going to look for her." Kurogane sighed, watching the boy vanish into the ruins before turning to the for-once-silent blonde who looked at him with a smile and tilted his head to his left and asked

"What do you make of that Kirgy?" Kurogane levelled a glare on Fai, the wizard simply hugging Madoka to his chest; his smile never falling as Kurogane looked behind him, to Fai's left. Slowly he frowned at the sight he was greeted with. Above them the sun shone strong even while it slowly lowered itself toward the West. But to the East was another story. Thick clouds were gathered as far as the eye could see, white flakes spiralling downward in a constant and thick snowfall.

"I don't know…" Kurogane admitted slowly. The wizard nodded and, even though his smile was present, he had that thoughtful look in his for-once-open piercing blue eyes. Then he smiled wider and said simply

"Then let's go check it out kirgy!" He walked off with Kurogane stalking after him yelling

"Don't call me that! How many times do I have to tell you it's Kurogane!?"

Fai just chuckled, one ear listening to Kurogane while the other listened out for Syaoran. He could hear the boy calling Sakura's name as he ran around the ruins and, each time that worry filled voice called Sakura's name…another pain hit Fai in the chest. Truth was, the boy had grown on him rather quickly and, even though he knew Syaoran would never choose him over Sakura, Fai still harboured affection toward him. But, knowing it would only hurt him and scare off Syaoran, Fai had tucked it away and sealed it shut with lock and chain, burying deep within his heart.

The blonde came back to reality when Kurogane grabbed his shoulders suddenly, pulling him backwards. Fai ended up against the warriors chest, the man's large hands holding onto his more slender shoulders tightly as his breath washed over his neck. Repressing the shiver that wanted to run through his body, Fai looked up at Kurogane who was looking down at him and said

"If you wanted a hug then you could have just asked. I know you're just a big softie!" Kurogane scoffed and firmly, but gently, pushed Fai away from him replying

"No thank you. But you need to watch where you're going. I didn't feel like Fai Pancakes today."

Fai just blinked slowly, not comprehending the man's words, before turning his eyes in the direction he had been walking. Barely a metre away from where they were standing was a cliff ledge. Edging over to it, he looked down and noted that, if he had taken another step and fallen, he would have indeed become a pancake…or a scrambled egg. He backed up and grinned at the warrior saying

"Well then I'm glad you're not hungry, Kurogane."

Kurogane coughed and turned away, hiding the happy blush that crept onto his cheeks as Fai thanked him…in a roundabout way but that was Fai for you. It was then that Fai asked in a slow voice laced with a bit of excitement and confusion,

"Hey Kirgy, what would do you reckon that is?" Kurogane didn't even bother flaring at the grinning blonde, simply sighing and turning his gaze in the direction Fai was pointing. Over the cliff edge and under the thick mass of clouds was a city. The surly man frowned, eyes narrowing before widening.

Laid out before them was a medium sized metal city. Snow covered the walls, giving the city a kind of otherworldly…which it was…glow. Each building was connected in some way; whether it be by the walls, or by a bridge made by the large archways that lined the narrow streets. Circling the city was a good sized wall and, a few metres further outwards, was another much larger and much thicker wall providing a solid outer defence. Even from the distance, Kurogane could see the guards patrolling the wall….they kind of stood out with the orange strips on their pants. It was a magnificent structure but the beauty of it was taken away by the dead grassland surrounding the city.

Fai sighed beside him saying

"It seems the grass dried away because of the lack of sun…it's a shame really." Kurogane simply nodded as the sound of running footsteps approached from behind them. Syaoran stopped between his two comrades, looking out over the cliff at the city before murmuring

"She could be in there…but how we get in?"

"You'd need a key card with high level security access that's given to the Chief Security Officer."

Well that sums up the first chapter. For once, I'm not rushing it. So let me hear your thoughts on this! The next chapter will be up as soon as I write it. Now I've got no clue how long this will be so be patient with me please.

Reviews and Criticisms are appreciated!

Cya real soon,

-Kain