"Seishiro-san?"

His mentor smiled as he tossed Syaoran a water bottle.

Syaoran caught it but kept his eyes on his teacher. "Is it worse to refuse to kill someone who wants to die, or to refuse to save someone who wants to live?"

Seishiro laughed and started walking away. "This is coming from what happened yesterday I suppose."

"Yea." Syaoran nodded and quickly hurried after the Hunter. "That man seemed really upset that the other one wouldn't allow him to die. For me--I want to live but….that man wanted death. So isn't that just as bad as killing someone who wants to live?"

"Probably." Syaoran looked up curiously to the strange smile before taking a drink of water. "But there's no use worrying about other people's wishes, right Syaoran-kun?"

The teen nodded eagerly in agreement. "I should only care about my desires."

"That's right." He grinned and ruffled his student's sweaty hair. "Everyone who has a wish is the same. Some just choose a desire that involves more causalities."

"Everyone who has a dream is a killer by profession," he recited calmly. "In order to obtain your true desire you have to kill all other dreams that stand in your way."

"Precisely." Seishiro smiled and accepted the offered water. "And for that reason there is no regret, right?"

"Right," Syaoran agreed with a smile.

The two walked together through the now familiar town. They had stayed here for the past two days to train in the open field on the borders. Not only that but there was a huge library that Syaoran was taking advantage of for Seishiro-san. Syaoran looked up with admiration to his teacher as the older man smiled calmly to a group of girls who were waving to them. Syaoran blushed from the attention and looked away.

"There's a person here I want you to go to."

"Who?"

"A very cruel woman who's in a constant state of suffering."

"….o-oh"

Seshiro laughed at the face he made. "But she's very beautiful. Powerful too. You'll feel her magic right away."

"A magic user…?" Syaoran's eyes darkened before they were shaded with bangs.

"This woman will be able to help you fulfill your desire."

"...I don't want any help from magic users."

"You of all people know it's better to choose knowledge than to live in ignorance." Syaoran flushed but his face remained hard as they continued walking. It turned out the house with the beautiful woman was all the way at the edge of town. Seishiro stopped a distance from it and nodded towards the mansion-like house.

"Yuuko-san lives there. She's the one you're going to meet."

Syaoran looked between the elaborate house and Seishiro. "You're not coming?"

"No."

"Then why should--?"

"Do you want to fulfill your desire?"

Syaoran's hand curled into a fist. "Yes."

"Then you must go."

Seishiro had never led him in the wrong direction before and so after another long look at his smiling teacher Syaoran bowed respectfully and then started walking up the long stairway to the house. At the door he knocked and while he waited he turned to look back at Seishiro but….he was gone. Syaoran looked around and started to go back down the stairs but two sets of hands grabbed him. "A visitor! A visitor!"

Before he could even think to fight the pulling, Syaoran was pushed into a room. He immediately turned to leave but a voice stopped him. "Seishiro has fulfilled his end of the agreement," the women's voice sang. "We'll have to make sure Subaru-kun's body can handle that magic before all of it is given to him, Watanuki. And bring Sakura-chan downstairs."

"She's not awake yet," a boy called back, almost amused. "And probably won't be until she smells lunch."

"Ah! You're making something special aren't you?!" Syaoran turned and watched as a very beautiful woman in a white silk kimono stood up from a couch and clapped her hands together. "Make sure to bring out some sake too!"

"Always with the drinking! Even when there's children around! You're shameless! You and that other guy!"

The women ran out of the room with a broad smile and started saying things in protest. From the way she moved and clapped and teased whoever was in the other room Syaoran found it very hard to believe that this woman was in any suffering much less a constant state of it.

He tuned to leave but a hand covered his and pulled him into the room. Or tried to. Thanks to Seishiro's training Syaoran got away from her and held his place by the door with a severe look.

"My, my!" The woman smiled in amusement. "You're set on making things difficult for yourself. But I suppose that's inevitable…I've already foreseen this so we'll do the best we can right?"

"…what?" Syaoran asked in confusion.

"You've already decided that I'm not able to help you or else you wouldn't have acted so rashly. So--"

"T-that's not true," he said, flushing. "Nothing is definite until I know what surrounds the circumstances."

Yuuko smiled in a more gentle way. "Even if you don't like the knowledge?"

Syaoran stared back calmly.

"Seishiro was right," she said before turning and heading back to the couch. On the way she picked up a cigarette wand and as she lit it Syaoran looked around the room with wonder. It was very eloquent and elaborate just like the outside. This woman must be one of the Royals, he thought as he took in all the pure white fabrics. Not only that but Seishiro was right. Even Syaoran, who had no magic in his blood, could feel the powerful energy flowing from this woman. Syaoran swallowed back his distaste and took a step forward.

"Seishiro-san told me that you can help me fulfill my desire."

"If you think I can help, then I can," she replied as she fell backwards into the couch.

He walked farther into the room. "I would like to know where to find Princess Tara."

Yuuko's smile faded as she tapped her cigarette wand against a tray. "It's a very unfortunate thing that happened to your brother."

Syaoran's eyes widened in shock. "You knew my brother?"

"I will certainly grant your wish," she said without a pause. "But in exchange I require a price."

"…I don't have any money. I've been traveling with Seishiro-san for a year and he--"

"It's not money that's required for your wish. Your desire to met Princess Tara must be exchanged for something of equal value in your life."

Syaoran frowned. "Like what? Whatever it is I'll--"

"Yuuko-san!" The door on the left side burst open and a red-headed girl no older than himself tumbled into the room. Her hair was messy, her cheeks were bright red, her green dress all wrinkled, and when she threw he arms around Yuuko she let out an excited, purely joyful cheer. "Watanuki just told me what we're having for lunch! It's because you said so, right?! Right?!"

Yuuko and the girl nuzzled their noses together and smiled while Syaoran stared at the scene impassively.

Green eyes suddenly turned on him and that bright smile faded into a tiny, "Oh." The girl pulled back a bit from the hug and sunk into Yuuko's lap. "I've interrupted something?"

Yuuko just smiled and looked back up. "Sakura-chan this is Syaoran-kun."

Her smile grew into pure delight. "The one who's staying with us?!"

"Yes."

"W-wait." Syaoran took a step forward. "I can't stay. Me and Seishiro-san are leaving for the next town."

"That man has already left," Yuuko told him calmly.

"No. He always waits for me. We--"

"He brought you here as his price," Yuuko said as she ran her fingers through Sakura's hair. "That was all that was required of him as a payment. He left as soon as--"

"You're wrong," he said darkly "Seishiro-san needs me."

Yuuko's face became near expressionless before she closed her eyes. "Sakura-chan. Please show Syaoran-kun his room."

"And lunch?" she asked softly.

"Watanuki will call you when it's time."

Sakura nodded and climbed out of Yuuko's lap and walked right up to Syaoran with a small smile. She held out her hand but Syaoran didn't even look at the offering. He was still watching Yuuko.

"How do you know he's gone?" he asked in frustration. "How would you know unless--." Syaoran cut himself off when Yuuko opened her eyes. The truth seemed to come right from that cool look and pierce through his heart like a knife. Syaoran lowered his eyes with a dark expression. He didn't protest when Sakura took his hand and led him upstairs.

"It's a very big house," she was telling him as they walked. "The first time I came here I got lost a lot! Sometimes I'd have to scream really, really loud for Watanuki to come and find me! But even then it's no good to scream because the house is so big and it's drowned out! Doumeki-kun is much better at finding me but Watanuki will never admit it!" she said cheerfully and even giggled. "He thinks Himawari-chan is the best!"

Syaoran dragged his feet after her in silence. It felt like his insides were on fire. The last time he felt like this was--

Syaoran bit down hard on his lip to control his frustration. He must have unconsciously squeezed the girl's hand too because he heard a sharp intake of breath and 'ita!"

"…sorry"

"Ah! No, it's alright! It just surprised me, that's all. You're very strong," she added warmly. "Is it true you're a fighter?"

"…I've been training."

"That's great!"

Syaoran looked up to see the girl was smiling at him. He didn't understand why. Or what about him would make someone want to smile like that. Sakura stopped for a moment, pulled out a green handkerchief from her dress pocket and much to Syaoran's surprise, she leaned close to him and very gently wiped the blood from his mouth. "I sometimes bit my lip hard too! But don't hurt yourself, okay?" she told him as he flushed in wonder. "It's just a little father up the hallway and--wait! Here! This is it!" Sakura threw open a door and stood back with a "Ta-da!"

Syaoran looked over the richly decorated room without interest. But started watching the girl that was leading him with more attention.

"I helped Watanuki decorate it for you!" She pulled him further inside. "I heard that you like to read and so I brought up a lot, a lot of books from the library! Some I got from Fay-san a long time ago but I can't read them and I'm not good at reading so you can have them! There's books in different languages too so I brought those up!" Sakura pointed to the shelves. "Then there's also a desk and I got you paper and pens and notebooks too! I know you have been traveling so I picked out the softest nicest bed! It's just like mine! I'm sure you'll like it after having to travel so much!"

Syaoran's eyes widened as she said all these things. She continued on like that too. Telling him why and stating reasons about himself like she knew him personally. When she was done she clasped her hands behind her back, blushed and asked, "Do you like it?"

Syaoran bowed politely. "Thank you, Sakura-san."

"O-oh! You don't have to call me Sakura-san!" she insisted. "Sakura is fine." She smiled warmly and Syaoran felt his cheeks darken a little. Her smile really was something and for a second Syaoran almost felt like he was in a dream. Something so powerful and so pretty couldn't possibly be real…

"I hope lunch is ready soon!" she said as she threw open the balcony doors. "It smells delicious! Doesn't it?!"

Syaoran walked after her onto the balcony and watched as she hopped up on the railing and kicked her feet out over the ledge. Fearless, he thought with wonder. Especially considering how high up they were. Syaoran could see the whole town from here. He could also see where Seishiro had been standing…and see that what that woman said was true. Seishiro-san was gone.

"I should have known," Syaoran whispered.

"Known what?"

He looked up to the girl. She wouldn't understand though and so he frowned instead and said, "You're a magic user."

"…s-sort of." She kicked her feet with an embarrassed blush. "But I can't really do anything! The most I'm able to do is talk with the Voiceless!"

"Voiceless?"

"Aa! The one's who don't have a voice! Like water and fire and the grass and the earth and ghosts and--"

"You're able to talk to the dead?"

"….yes." her smile softened.

Syaoran paused before looking out to the town again. "I've decided then."

"On what?" she asked eagerly.

"That I like you."

Sakura's eyes grew wide.

"Sakura-chan! Lunch is ready!"

Sakura looked more red as she twisted herself back around and landed on her feet. A moment of silence passed between them before Sakura shyly took his hand. "I-I'll show you where we have lunch, alright? Me and you can eat together!"

"What do you mean we're not eating with them?" Watanuki looked over his shoulder at Yuuko.

"Fay contacted me so you're going there."

Watanuki's anger faded "….where are you going then?"

"To Kurogane, of course!" She smiled. "We're in the middle of another lover's fight!" Watanuki made a face. "But since I'm so used to you and Doumeki going on in the same matter all the time it shouldn't be too hard to fix--!"

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?!" Watanuki shouted angrily. "Me and that guy...!"

Yuuko just laughed. "Serve the children and bring some food for us!" She disappeared but then peeked around the door frame with a grin. "Annnnd don't forget the sake!"

"…even though we're going somewhere?" he muttered in half hearted annoyance.

After setting aside some food for the four of them, Watanuki headed for the room where Sakura-chan and the visitor were waiting. Syaoran-kun. He was sure that was the name Yuuko had mentioned when he was helping Sakura-chan set up his room. All he really knew about this boy was that he had been training under Seishiro-san for a year. Not exactly the best person to have as a mentor he thought with a frown. He remembered the day that man came. It was hard to believe him and Subaru-kun were connected. He was very strange!

So naturally Watanuki was expecting an equally strange boy to be sitting with Sakura-chan but instead he saw a boy that was no older than his favorite cousin. And the way Sakura was facing him and eagerly talking made Watanuki like him instantly.

"After lunch I will show you the pond! And the backyard and--!"

"Lunch is here!"

Sakura turned at once and cheered. "Watanuki always makes the best, tastiest, most delicious things in the world!" Sakura told Syaoran. Watanuki smiled in pride until she added, "Doumeki-kun agrees with me all the time."

He shook off his irritation and smiled to Syaoran. "I'm Watanuki."

The boy stood and bowed politely even as Sakura pulled on his hand and said he didn't have too.

Sakura was already face deep into the food when he told her, "Me and Yuuko-san are going to visit Fay-san and Kurogane-san."

"Alright!"

"Are you sure you'll be alright?"

"Of course!" Sakura looked over to Syaoran and smiled brightly. "Syaoran-kun is here with me."

"Please watch her," Watanuki added kindly before heading back to the kitchen. As he did he thought he could hear Syaoran ask about Fay.

Yuuko was waiting in the car when he got outside. In the driver's seat. Watanuki came to the side right away and folded his arms. "Your license was revoked."

"On a technicality!" Yuuko looked over the brim of her sunglasses with a grin. "It was really a suggestion not to drive."

"A court mandate isn't a suggestion!!"

"You don't trust me?"

Watanuki's anger faded and he silently got into the passenger seat.

"You have money to cover any fines right?" Watanuki hit his head against the window as Yuuko laughed.

"So how long is Syaoran-kun staying?"

"He's leaving tonight"

"Really? From how much Sakura-chan was decorating his room I was sure he would be staying longer…."

"Sakura-chan is unaware of his plans"

"Oh...Well, I hope Sakura-chan doesn't take it too hard. She really seems to like him"

Yuuko just smiled.

"Is he going to be traveling with Seishiro-san again? And Subaru-kun?"

"No."

Watanuki frowned. "He won't be traveling alone, will he? He's still a bit young…"

Yuuko's smile faded as she pulled up to Fay's house. "He will be with another…"