Disclaimer: I do not own Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles.

Kurogane looked across the castle, towards the horizon. Shirasagi Castle is built directly towards the horizon, so dawn is always the best in view. The man wasn't able to sleep well, much thanks to the weirdness of his new arm, so now he waits for the beautiful sun to rise from the topmost balcony of the castle.

While waiting, he was able to sense another presence from this peaceful night. Just as he predicted, Fai walked gracefully beside him, awaiting the light as he stares into the sky. Silence greeted them both, and they enjoyed it.

"Hey."

Fai didn't turn to face him. Instead, a small smile stretched in his lips. "Hmm?"

"Back there, in your world… no hard feelings?"

"I should be asking you the same question," was the only reply.

"No." Kurogane shook his head.

"Well, there you have it." The man nodded and turned his sight back into the sky. Faintly, a line of light was visible far away. He was so engrossed in the thought of dawn that he almost didn't catch the whisper.

"Besides, that's not my world anymore." Then it struck Kurogane. He himself had happily returned to his home world and greeted by warm arms of his Princess Tomoyo. On the contrary, Fai lost both his worlds that used to be his home completely and found out that the king that he trusts most is a god damned bastard. It must be hard for him.

"It's not your fault," he said firmly, placing a hand on Fai's shoulder for comfort. The man finally turned and faced him, a sad smile on his face. "I know," he whispered. They were both silent for a while. "So, I guess you're staying, right?"

"Huh?" No really, he was confused.

"Your wish is granted. You're home now."

"This isn't my home anymore," he said, much to Fai's surprise. "It's my world, with people I love, yes, but not my home. Besides," he looked at the man beside him. "I can't let you brats have all the fun."

Fai's smile grew wider, all the sadness swept away. Silence once again crept the place. Kurogane looked down. Sakura Trees in the castle are dropping beautiful Sakura petals on the castle ground. He used to hate the softness of the trees, but now, it gave him a sense of pleasure and peace, despite all the madness around. A rest indeed.

"You know, home doesn't necessary have to be a place," said Fai, turning his face towards the sky. "It isn't made out of words, and sometimes it isn't visible. It's just somewhere we belong to, something that ties us together."

For the second time their journey began, he knew Fai was telling the truth. A home isn't really a place to live. It's a place our heart chooses to go, it's one of the very few things we are able to choose on our own accord, something no one could force us to get into.

So where is his home? No, where are their homes, both Fai and Kurogane's? The man closed his eyes to think. Where do their hearts belong to? His family died years ago, and so did Fai's, so that home is gone forever. What about their own home worlds? Not Fai's, no doubt. Celes is cold in all ways. Shirasagi castle? Well, it had offered much comfort, but that's not where he chooses to go…

Then he thought about the Dimensional Witch (or he rather called bitch) and Princess Tomoyo who planned to make him lose his sanity in this wild, crazy journey. He thought about both Syoarans, the real one and the clone, what place they had earned in his heart. Then he thought about the Princess, how much she had grown. Also, he had grown to like a little of the white manjuu, although only a little. And Fai… someone who earned his title of both a good companion and a great friend. After all that they had been through, Kurogane was glad he was able to finally value his own life and learned to trust them.

Yes, this is a strange family. Strange and broken, but still good. Hopefully, things will get better in the future, if not; he really considers whacking the white pork bun to send them to better worlds, not that they could. Suddenly, it struck the man that Tomoyo didn't just send him on this holiday to learn about the meaning of true strength. This whole thing had been testing him.

He opened his eyes. A golden light greeted him, blinding the ninja temporarily. After adjusting his sight, he stared out at the horizon, taking in the dawn, then to Fai, eyes gazing peacefully far ahead, face illuminated by golden light.

To him, home isn't a place. Home is all things that are precious to him.

Now this, is home.