REVISED on May 3, 2012. Added a few things, fixed a few spelling errors. Nothing huge.

A/N: I don't know why I'm getting into the 'What if' fics lately, but I'm not complaining about it. Be prepared for a ton of angst.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles.


Sacrificium Amoris

Written by Fenikkusu

Moment I - Finality


"I don't have enough magical power," Fai whispered, staring at his blood-stained hand. Kurogane took a step back, eyes wide. The world continued to spin a powerful vortex around them, the sound of the whipping winds making it near impossible to think clearly. Both men stared as a hole suddenly opened in the cage that was once Celes.

Kurogane barely managed to grasp Fai's hand with his left, as he was pulled up and out of the closing world. The only thing keeping him there was his powerful grip on the mage. "Damn it!" he screamed, trying to tug the magician outside. However, the hole was only big enough to accommodate his arm.

"Go!" Fai whispered, resigning to his fate.

The shinobi glared before he got an idea. Fai had imbued his arm with magic, so leaving the arm here would make up the difference in the magic. However, that would mean he would need to let go of Fai's limp arm. The magician just stared at him with an indiscernible emotion shining in his remaining blue eye.

Kurogane let go.

"Je t'aime, Kurogane."

Something shoved the warrior out of the cage, leaving Fai behind. A true smile crossed Fai's face as he watched Mokona's magic activate around his… family. It was odd, how he could only admit this to himself at the moment before death. He closed his eye, tears freely flowing down his face as Celes ceased to exist. He could die in peace.

"Fai!"

Everything disappeared in a whirl of color.


Kurogane's eyes shot open before everything rushed back to him. "Where am I? The others…!" He jerked his head to the right, searching for any sign that the others were alive.

"This here is Nihon country," a soft voice came from his left. "The others who were traveling with you… are here, in Shirasagi castle."

His eyes widened as he whispered, "Princess Tomoyo…" He turned toward her, eyes narrowing slightly. "It's you…"

The girl nodded and closed her eyes. "Yes." She took a breath and reopened them, a tiny smile coming over her face. "Welcome home, Kurogane."

"The voice at that time…" Kurogane began, sitting up.

"It was me," Tomoyo finished.

"If you want him to go with you… If you wish for it with all your heart… you have to exchange him for something that has the same magical power as him."

Kurogane let go.

"Je t'aime, Kurogane."

Something shoved the warrior out of the cage, leaving Fai behind. Kurogane struggled and reached for the cage, but it shrunk away from his reach. He cursed beneath his breath as Mokona's magic surrounded the Kids and him, but he was relentless in his attempt to reach the wizard.

"Fai!" Kurogane screamed.

Everything disappeared in a whirl of color.

"The mage," Kurogane said in a low voice before he snapped his head up to look Princess Tomoyo straight in the eyes. "Where is he?"

The girl shifted to sit down, head bowed down slightly. "At that time… with that wound my talisman couldn't protect you from, you took a step very close to death. Even before their death, people dream."

"You crossed the dream and told me about a way to get them out, right?"

"That technique uses the one performing it as its core," Princess Tomoyo continued, caution coating her voice. "So once it is closed, the person who uses the technique can't get out of the circle. But to help you escape, he used up all the strength he had."

Kurogane was sick of the finality in her voice. "Where is he?"

Tomoyo raised her eyes, the indigo irises shining with tears. "He's gone, Kurogane."