Disclaimer: Tsubasa belongs to Clamp, not me.

Title: Behind His Smile

Author: doxtater

Summary: After Fai under goes what appears to be a personality transplant; the others grow worried and wonder what's wrong with him. KuroFai, SS.

Rating: T

Pairings: KuroFai, SS

Warnings: Major Fai oocness, implied sexual situations between two men, language, probable violence but not in this chapter.

Author's Note: So I came up with this idea and deciding I'd try and run with it. Fai is supposed to be ooc by the way, please don't let it ruin the story for you because it's vital to the plot. Any other oocness is an accident, I don't claim to be a master at getting into other people's character's heads but I try. Seeing how I don't know much about any of Clamp's other works, I'm not bringing in any crossover characters so any similarities between characters brought in for this fic and other Clamp character are purely coincidental.

Fai curled up against Kurogane, a content smile plastered upon his face as the tendrils of sleep tugged at him gently. They'd arrived in this new world only a few hours ago and Mokona immediately sensed the presence of a feather.

Angry men and women carrying swords surrounded them. One man stepped forward demanding to know if they were demons, seeing how they appeared out of nowhere with a strange white creature and a man dressed in black with angry red eyes.

Needless to say, Kurogane didn't take kindly to that. Before he managed to persuade the crowd into further suspecting their innocence, a young woman stepped forward, apologized for her husband and neighbors' behavior, and asked if they were travelers.

This particular misadventure resulted in the woman, who introduced herself as Keiko, offering to house the group, despite her husband's qualms against it. Having no currency for this world and the lack of means to obtain such funding as nightfall was fast approaching, they were very grateful for the offer.

Consequently, there were three rooms available for use. Keiko blamed there emptiness on their lack of children- she gave her husband, Tomeo, a glare then, to which Tomeo snorted, grumbling, "No bratty kids are gonna be running around here anytime soon, not after the hell we went through with your goddamn brother's kids"- and said they had three extra rooms in the first place because, until quite recently, they'd been living here with her brother and his family. Looking at Tomeo, Fai was under the distinct impression that if they hadn't got off on the wrong foot, Kurogane and Tomeo could be the very best of friends.

Fai found this thought highly amusing and decided it had been a while (read: a few minutes) since he'd showered Kurogane with the love and attention Kurogane enjoyed so very much.

Needless to say, Kurogane's mood was steadily getting worst after the assumption that he and Fai were going to share a room. Fai only managed an overly happy smile in Kurogane's direction and a nickname before the ninja had whipped out his sword and began chasing the mage around, claiming this time he was absolutely going to kill him.

Now they lay in a heap on their bed- a double bed, which further invoke Kurogane's annoyance- bodies pressed together, arms and legs tangled, clothes everywhere, a general mess decorating the room. Luckily, Fai hadn't forgotten to lock the door between dodging the blade and initiating the kiss that resulted in their current position. While nobody had attempted to enter, he imagined it would have been awkward if some had tried and managed to gain access.

Kurogane was fast sleep beside him. Fai stared at his face with the slightest trace of a smile and lazily drew circles on his chest before allowing sleep to claim him.

ooo

When Kurogane woke up the next day, he was very much alone (not that he cared or anything, frankly the less he saw of that damned mage, the better). He was just annoyed that he'd been sleeping deeply enough that he hadn't sensed when the mage left. Glancing around room, he growled and cursed the fool for leaving him alone to clean up the room. He shrugged to himself and stumbled around the room, gathering his clothes and dressing. He left the room as it was, he was nobody's goddamn maid, and closed the door behind him.

Downstairs, he found the brat, the princess, and the white pork bun sitting at the table- well in Mokona's case, on the table. Syaoran looked up at him and a blush spread across his face, he turned his eyes back to the breakfast in front of him.

"Good morning, Kurogane-san," Sakura said brightly.

Kurogane grunted in response.

Keiko laid out a plate for him on the table before taking a seat beside her husband.

"Where's the mage?" Kurogane asked.

Syaoran looked at him, the blush creeping upon his face again. "We thought he was with you, Kurogane-san."

Kurogane narrowed his eyes. "He's not." To avoid an awkward conversation with the boy, he said nothing more on the subject.

"He must have gone out," Keiko said, "I've been up for a while now, I haven't seen him."

After he'd finished eating, Tomeo reluctantly left to go to work. By then, Kurogane was the only one still eating but seemed to have taken to poke at his food rather than eating.

"Oh! Kuro-tan's worried!" Mokona chirped bouncing happily over to the ninja and jumping onto his head.

"Gar!" Kurogane grumbled swiping at Mokona with the strange utensil he'd been given (he'd seen it in other worlds; in this world, they called it a fork). "Get off me!"

"Should we go looking for the feather soon?" Syaoran asked, looking out a nearby window, "Fai-san isn't back yet but maybe we could have it by the time he does."

"If he shows up while you're gone, I'll tell him you've went searching for Sakura's feather," Keiko said grabbing the empty plates and placing them on the counter.

So they left, adorning clothes Keiko had offered them so they wouldn't stand out as much, and Kurogane wondered if they'd run into Fai as they journey across town in the direction Mokona had sensed the power. Keiko had told the group about a demon who'd recently shown up in the area, this demon was the cause of the villager's hostile welcome, they were suspicious that Kurogane and the others had some involvement with the demon.

Kurogane wondered if Fai had journey out of the town… not that he was worried he'd run into the demon or anything, it's just that if something happened to Fai, the kids would be upset and Kurogane didn't want to deal with them like that. No, he wasn't worried, he simply quickened his pace because the sooner they found the damn feather, the sooner they could go to the next world; perhaps the next world would be Japan, his Japan.

Mokona's path led them out of town finally. Syaoran seemed to drift closer to Sakura now. Kurogane wondered if the brat was wishing they'd left the princess behind with Keiko.

Again Kurogane found his thoughts wandering to Fai. What could that bastard be up to? Probably something mischievous, probably something that would irritate Kurogane; Fai seemed to enjoy provoking his anger. At least he knew where Mokona was, if Fai and Mokona were lost together, Kurogane had no doubt he'd be tempt to end his misery and rid himself of the pests once and for all.

"Fai-san?" Sakura said suddenly, pointing ahead of her when Syaoran looked at her, confused.

Kurogane followed her gaze to see Fai standing quite a distance down the path, staring into the sky. He narrowed his eyes. Ok, this was definitely strange. Syaoran and Sakura broke into a run, Mokona called out to Fai from his place in Sakura's arms. Kurogane followed, running only to keep up with the children, he wasn't an all anxious to be near Fai, no way in hell.

"Fai-san?" Sakura said again when they'd gotten close and Fai had yet to address them, "Fai-san, are you ok?"

Kurogane's eyed widened ever so slightly.

Fai turned his head slowly to look at him, his eyes were void of feeling and he wore an empty smile. This wasn't what surprised Kurogane however; he was surprised to see blood running down the side of Fai's face, a small gash above his right temple. Fai's eyes met with Kurogane and for a moment, the ninja thought he saw fear flash through those blue orbs before they slowly fell shut and the mage was falling.

Kurogane dashed forward and caught the mage, not because he cared but because… because Fai was… aww screw it, Kurogane didn't have to explain himself.

A/N: Well, that's chapter one. Like it, hate it? Should I continue? The main conflict should immerge next chapter (aka major Fai oocness ahead).