They had found themselves back at the witch somehow. He found it a bit unsettling, to once again be positioned in front of that little storefront, but to be a completely different person. Before the true realization of what the curse would mean to him was he had sworn not to let it change him, and then not to let the journey itself change him, and then not to let his companions change him. Each revising of his promise to himself was even more proof that he in fact was changing, although he would never truly admit it to himself. Not until now. He knew that he had changed. He could only hope that it was for the better.
He glanced at the man next to him, briefly allowing himself to explore the changes in his traveling companion. The first things to catch his attention, like always, were his eyes. He had both eyes when they had begun the journey, his bangs not long enough to hide the truth in them that never wanted to be seen. Now, he could see the change in these eyes. They were both still there, even though sometimes out of the corner of his eye he could see shadows cast over one like the eye patch had covered it. They were different colours. Even with his magic, or at least a part of it, returned, he was still not human. Sometimes Kurogane wondered if he had ever really been human. It was a strange thought, but he shrugged it off, continuing to analyze the mage. He didn't look quite as lanky as he had when they had first met, in that exact spot so long ago. Even without what he would consider a substantial food source, he seemed to have a stronger bearing in the way that he walked. If Kurogane didn't know better he would have said that it was self confidence that had changed his gait, but even in his personal agony, he was never uncomfortable with the way others viewed him physically. Still, he seemed to have a strength in him that he had lacked before, as if a small piece to the puzzle that was his soul had been returned to him. Maybe his hair added to the affect. It was longer now than it had ever been. In the beginning, it had been long enough for short bangs but cut even and cleanly, as if along some sort of untold guidelines. Now it had grown out, long enough to be pulled back with a thick strip of dark leather. The bangs hid his eyes, although now they wanted to be seen open and honest. He was a strange contradiction indeed.
Kurogane knew that there was a physical change in himself, just like in the mage. He knew that their travels had aged him, even if just in the slightest. He knew that his look was softer before, even if only his companions could tell. He knew he carried himself differently, for his left arm was still awkward in its socket, still not quite second nature to use. Yet, the mage had not physically aged a day, even with all his changes. That worried the ninja, although he didn't quite know why. He knew that it meant he would probably die before the mage, but there were more immediate problems to be dealt with at the moment.
He noticed that the mage had directed his eyes toward him and he looked away. He hated to be caught staring, at the dancers in exotic worlds, at the delicious looking sweets in shop windows that he would never admit to actually liking, at the strange clothing of all the worlds, at the mage… Well, it had been rude on his part. He blinked, wondering where the witch was. She usually had impeccable timing, always butting in when her presence plagued him the most or just in time. At the moment, she seemed to not even be there. The landscape was eerily quiet, the only comforting effect being the incense burning from its hanging outside. Kurogane sniffed, looking back over at the mage when he heard the slightest rustling of cloth. Making himself presentable for the hag, he supposed. The mage looked at him for the briefest second, then looked to the sakura trees, sighing heavily without a word. Kurogane always appreciated silence, but considering the nature of the, well the only word he could bring himself to use was situation, he wasn't too pleased. He would end up speaking first.
"What?" He questioned the mage's sigh, finding nothing better to say in the moment. The mage continued to stare into the pink flowering buds.
"For some reason," he started, reaching up towards one of the buds, but pausing warily, "I just never really thought our journey would come to an end." He pulled his hand back, never touching the presumably soft petals. He looked at Kurogane with a small smile. "I suppose it shouldn't be this surprising, ne?" Kurogane frowned, his brow furrowed. The smile wasn't completely sincere.
"Not really." The end had been a bit of a shock to Kurogane as well, even though he had been thinking about it from the very beginning. What he wanted hadn't completely changed, but enough so that his home world, well, it would wait if it had to. "We need to come to a decision." He didn't mean to say it so quietly, but it was heard nonetheless.
"About what, Kuro-kun?" The painted smile was there again. He had thought that after Tokyo it might be gone forever, but old habits seemed to die hard.
"About what happens now, of course." The mage's eyes faltered for a second. A breeze blew past, ruffling his delicately fixed hakuma and hair. The mage looked in the direction of the wind, brushing his hair back. Kurogane waited.
"I'll go where Yuuko sends me. And you'll go home, am I right?" He smiled again, but even the smile looked blank.
"No." The mage's eyebrow raised. "You still need me to survive, just as much as I need you." Kurogane found his mouth was dry, but all the mage did was shake his head.
"I can find a way to survive through my magic until I find some sort of substitute. There has to be something on one of those worlds…" he trailed off. Then, after a moment, he said,"And why would you need me at all? There's no reason for that." He continued to stare at where the breeze came from as it pulsated through the air in small intervals. The ninja almost left it at that, waited until he had really no other choice, but that was what he was trying to avoid by doing it then, right? He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a grand total of two seconds before he spoke.
"Mage." He didn't move, only nodded in response. Kurogane tried again. "Fai." This time he turned, looking questioningly at the ninja, eyes unblinking. "I do wish to return to Nihon." He felt himself reach out and grasp the mage's wrist, turning it over in his palm to reveal the white underside. He was too pale for his own good. He needed to stop neglecting his health. "But I want you to come with me." He felt the pulse in his wrist change and turned it back over, not wanting to feel his reaction. "I love you, and I plan on going wherever you go. You can make my home yours too…" He stopped, not sure how to continue. The mage was quiet, his face blank. His eyes were wide, shock showing through the mask. His bottom lip quivered slightly, as if there was something he wanted to say. The wind picked up again, ruffling his hair again so that his eyes were blocked from sight. They stood like that for a moment, both unmoving and silent, until the door to the shop slid open. The kids ran out, happily surprised to see their companions, followed closely by the white thing and the witch. Kurogane dropped his wrist.
"Kurogane-san! Fai-san!" the princess yelped with pleasure as she ran over, enveloping the mage in a daughterly hug. He just stood there for a moment, clearly having not quite recovered from shock, and then, lifted his arms around her, returning the hug. Syaoran had walked over to the ninja, shaking his hand in silent thanks. Kurogane looked at him much more softly than he had last time they had been there and ruffled his hair affectionately. He knew he'd never see the kid again, might as well let him know that he was proud of him. They traded off, Fai putting an arm around Syaoran's shoulders in a half hug while Sakura proceeded to glomp the startled ninja. He couldn't help but smile a little as he raised his arms awkwardly around the princess, looking up to meet eyes with the mage. He smiled in response to the moment, but didn't meet the ninjas eyes. The hug broke, and Kurogane couldn't help but feel a strange emptiness overtake him. His eyes wandered to the form of the Dimension Witch. Damn her, and her timing. It was as if she had planned that from the beginning. He hadn't even gotten an answer from the mage, and the time for a decision was finally then. He wanted to wrap his hands around her skinny white neck and squeeze. He resisted though, to his own disappointment. She was, of course, his gateway home. If he was going home that was. He didn't dare glance at the mage, not just yet anyway. The witch cleared her throat.
"Well done," she nodded in the direction of each of the companions, the stupid white thing bouncing from her arms to land on Kurogane's head, singing happily. He swiped it off with his mechanical arm. The thing wasn't too fond of that arm and hopped back to the hag dejectedly. "Your journeys are complete, it seems. Considering what you've each accomplished, I believe that Mokona can give you each one final trip, to wherever you'd like to stay. You do have the rest of your lives now in peace." She said this directly to the children, casting a twisted smile at the two adults, as if it were hardly over in their cases. Kurogane swallowed heavily. Surely, that was not good. "So, young ones, where would you like to go?" The Mokona danced a happy goodbye dance from its position in her arms. Syaoran linked his hands with the princess's.
"Home, back to our home. She misses her brother." Sakura nodded, gripping his hand tightly. "Please." She added, quietly. The witch nodded and the white fur ball jumped down.
"And you two?" She raised her eyes two the mismatched pair behind the children. Kurogane made to answer her, but was cut off immediately.
"We'd like to wait until after Sakura-chan and Syaoran-kun are safely home before making that decision, if you don't mind," the mage said evenly, looking directly at the witch. She nodded. The children turned to them, Sakura with teary eyes and Syaoran with the upmost respect shining in his, as they said their final goodbyes. Once they were ready, Mokona jumped up and opened his mouth and then the children were gone. There was near silence; only Mokona's sad noises were heard. It seemed as if an eternity passed between them.
"Have you decided?" It was a horrible question. His decision rested solely on that of the mage's. It wasn't even as if he had gotten an answer! What if he was hated now? How could he keep the idiot mage alive if he wanted nothing to do with him? It was hard enough after Tokyo, but this was different. This was potentially worse. Why hadn't he thought of this beforehand? Why did he not just follow the stupid magician? It wasn't as if he could actually take care of himself and that was more important, even than Nihon, and-
"I have." There was no more time to think. Fai's voice shook him from his dream. "My home's been destroyed so I have none to return to," he looked down, hair covering his face, "I suppose I'll go where he goes then." Kurogane felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see the mage looking at the witch with a gentle look, a sincere look, no lies this time. The witch turned to him.
"And where is it that you will go then?" He looked from the witch to the mage and then back a few more times as he spoke.
"I wish to return to Nihon. If you do, that is." The mage nodded. Nihon was as good as anywhere else, Kurogane supposed as the hand fell from his shoulder. It felt oddly cold now, but he ignored it.
"Fine," the witch began, "you do, however, realize that you will still have to act as E in your position back in your homeland, don't you? Otherwise he will not be able to survive. So no acting in the royal guard after he has fed unless you want to get both of you killed, understand?" He nodded, glaring at the mage. So that using your magic to survive crap was just that, he thought. Still lying to me.
"Then," she paused, dropping to one knee to pet the white Mokona, "enjoy the rest of your lives." And they were gone.