I haven't written anything for so long, so I apologise if this seems out of character or anything. Otherwise, I hope you'll enjoy this little ficlet! Feedback is much welcomed.
Title: For What's Worth
Character(s): Kurogane, Nihon!Tomoyo
Theme: Ritenuto
Genre: Hurt/Comfort
Word Count: 378
Rating: G
Warning: Spoilers for Kurogane's past
Summary: Kurogane trains. Tomoyo watches.
Disclaimer: Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE and its characters belongs to CLAMP.
He was always training.
Tomoyo saw Kurogane at the training grounds every day. She watched him as he cut through the air with his wooden sword. She had seen him put aside Ginryuu; she suspected that he deemed himself unworthy of wielding his father's sword.
If he knew that the sword he had received was only a replica...
"I know you're there, Princess," said Kurogane suddenly. He had stopped and inclined his head slightly towards Tomoyo's direction. She smiled as she stepped forward. Kurogane turned around to face her. "What is it?"
"You are always training," said Tomoyo. "You hardly stop to rest."
"Why should I?" asked Kurogane, staring at the wooden sword at his side. Only the hard expression in his eyes revealed the pain and sadness that he refused to speak of.
Tomoyo looked at him sadly. "Please do not strain yourself, Kurogane. Resting is just as important as training is. You need the rest to regain your energy and train properly."
"I don't want to rest," said Kurogane. In a lower voice, as though speaking to himself, he added, "I don't want to remember." There was a hint of weariness. He was tired of trying to forget. He was tired of remembering the memorable times he knew would never come back. He was simply very, very tired.
Tomoyo held his hands gently in her own. "Please do not forget them," she said softly. "Your father and mother loved you. They only wanted to protect you."
"But I should've been the one to protect them! If I'd been stronger, if I'd trained harder, if I'd..."
"What has been done is done. You did everything you could."
"It's still not enough. It's still my fault they're gone."
"No," said Tomoyo with a serious undertone. "It is not your fault that they died. Do not blame yourself. This is not what your mother and father would want you to do." She paused. "They gave up their lives for you. Do not let their sacrifice go to waste."
"..."
"Rest, Kurogane. Then you can train better and keep the promise you made with your father."
Kurogane's eyes widened at her last words. Tomoyo smiled.
"Your father and mother believed in you, Kurogane. Please believe in yourself as well."