AN: I recommend reading "Anew" before reading this. Though "Anew" is mostly pointless, this is a sort of sequel, so that story will fill you in to some of the off-canon things in this story; most notably that Fai is still a vampire. I'm aware that my reason for this probably doesn't actually canonically make sense, though I do TRY to maintain some semblance of canon...but I like Fai as a vampire, lol! Also, in my stories Mokona can choose which world they go to, whereas it seems to me that in canon it's a sort of random thing, but I could be wrong. Because (at least at this point ;) ) I'm not completely comfortable with writing yaoi, this will eventually (starting at chapter 9) be a gender-switch story. Again, I'll try to keep this as logical as possible when doing something so un-canon, lol. If you don't like that sort of AU story, I certainly understand you not reading...I probably wouldn't read a gender-switch story myself, lol. If you don't mind, however, please read on! Hope you enjoy! Please review!
Disclaimer: I own nothin'. I beg forgiveness from CLAMP for my sins against them and their characters!! Seriously though...I'm not earning anything from this, or (at the time of this writing) anything from any source for that matter, which is why I have time to write fanfiction, so suing me will do no good, I'm broke!
Rating: Sort of a high-T at present for Kurogane's hells and damns, characters' dark pasts, etc. May go up to M eventually, if I decide to write (non-explicit) sex...
It was amazing, how fast time flew by. It was hard to keep track of time, truly. He'd taken to marking each day down in a tiny notebook he always carried with him, so that no matter what month or day or year it was in one world, he always knew a real year had passed when he ticked off the three-hundredth-and-sixty-fifth day. The damn magician laughed at him for it...but the damn magician had no grasp...or at least pretended to have no grasp...of practicality. They two might not have much to worry about as far as age was concerned, but in Syaoran's case...well, the boy should be able to keep track of his age, and if they were being constantly muddled up by changing time flows, how would he know? Once, the boy had had three birthdays in a year, in different worlds. Fai insisted on celebrating each, the idiot.
It had been five years since they'd left Clow Country and Princess Sakura behind. Finally, it seemed the journey was coming to an end...for them at least. Roughly six years ago, Kurogane had sworn to return home, and quickly....but things just kept getting in his way. Tomoyo didn't mind, in fact she seemed fully approving of his choice to continue journeying. Mokona saw to it that they frequently returned to Clow and to Nihon, so it wasn't so bad. Still...now, Syaoran was very nearly an adult. Two days ago, he'd addressed his companions in that solemn, kind manner he'd always had.
"Kurogane, Fai...you've both accompanied me for so long, through so much, with nothing in it for you. Now, I just want to make sure you know; if you desire to leave, whether permanently or temporarily, I will be completely accepting of that decision. My journey may never end...that is the price I paid. You however...you two should be able to live your lives as you will. You have no duty to me. If there was any duty, perhaps in that you could not leave a child to travel alone...that duty is fulfilled, I am a man now. I am fully equipped to travel alone, and Mokona will keep me company."
Fai took Syaoran's face between his gloved hands in that darned womanly, motherly way of his, regardless of the fact that Syaoran was too old for such affection even from a real mother, let alone a man. The blonde had smiled softly and spoken quietly.
"We'll think about it, Syao-kun."
At what point had Fai become "Designated Decision Maker for Ninja and Mage"? That night Fai had rolled over on his pallet to face across their tent to where Kurogane lay, and said quietly,
"I think we've travelled long enough, Kuro-sama."
Kurogane didn't argue.
There was never any question as to where Fai would go. He could not survive without Kurogane, and besides that, he had no home of his own anyway. He would come to Nihon.
Now, the parting had finally come. Mokona had brought them to Nihon, to a small hill about a mile from the castle. The fuzzball was cuddled in Fai's arms, crying.
"Mokona will miss Fai and Kuro-puu very much!"
"We'll miss you too, Moko-chan." Kurogane huffed lightly at the "we", but in a strange way, it was good to have the mage say the things he felt for him, when his pride and awkwardness prevented him from saying it himself. Fai drew Syaoran into his lanky arms and squeezed him tight. "Next time you see Sakura-chan, give her all our love. Remember, we love all of you, Moko-chan and Sakura-chan and you...and we'll be here if you ever need us." Kurogane had a memory of his mother doing that sort of thing, speaking his father's thoughts when pure maleness kept him from speaking, and he snorted, thinking for the eighth millionth time that Fai was a little....off. Still, it was true. He'd never say it, but Kurogane really did love the brats and even the bun thing. "Oh, and you be sure to come and get us for your wedding. And I want to be present for the births of your children! Don't you dare keep us from our grandbabies!"
Syaoran blushed bright red at that, and Kurogane's eyebrow twitched.
"Our grandbabies?! That's taking it too far, mage!"
And then they'd all laughed...and so, they'd parted on a happy note. When Syaoran and Mokona were gone, with promises to visit often trailing in their wake, Kurogane and Fai headed towards the castle.
For all that his goal, from so long ago, had been to return home eventually, Kurogane found himself almost dreading the homecoming. It had been too long. Things would have changed. Someone had undoubtedly replaced him as head of palace security. Laws may have changed. Some of his old comrades were likely dead. Tomoyo had grown and matured; but that at least, he already knew from his visits back. There were many things he hadn't been updated on during those visits, however, and he was suddenly uncertain. Was this even home, now?
As they were approaching the palace gates, he hesitated just slightly. Fai, walking behind him, distracted by the scenery, bumped lightly into him. Settling one hand on the taller man's shoulder, the blonde leaned around and grinned up at his friend.
"Nervous, Kuro-rin?"
He debated over using one of his classic, angry lines in response...but after six years together, it seemed a little pointless.
"A little bit."
The wizard latched onto his arm like a leech on an unfortunate swimmer, grinning madly.
"Awww, poor Kuro-rin! Don't worry, I'm with you!"
"All the more cause to worry."
The mage pouted like a child, deliberately tilting his head to hide his eyes behind unruly blonde locks, as though he were crying behind them. In his absurd clothing (a white coat with enough fluff to put his old one to shame, a blue tunic down to his knees with black leggings beneath, and mid-calf-high black boots) Fai could easily be mistaken for a woman at a distance. Kurogane had a suspicion that the guards at the gate thought he was one...either that, or they weren't very choosy about gender. The way they leered at Fai was just downright disturbing. They also didn't recognize Kurogane...if they had, they wouldn't have dared leer at anyone in his company, man or woman.
Fai, dropping his pretence of sulking, pushed his hood back and, still clinging to Kurogane's arm, grinned at the men. One looked surprised and glanced away; he must have mistaken Fai for a woman. The younger, however, smirked back, and ignoring Kurogane completely, winked at the blonde. Though it was rather tempting to lop the fellow's head off...more for ignoring him in a place where he had once commanded respect than for flirting with the idiot...he chose not to react, since doing so would be like claiming the mage as his own...and he really didn't need those sorts of rumours flying around when he'd only just gotten back.
Kurogane just kept walking. He was rather curious as to whether to mage would stay behind and chat with the guards, but Fai never let go of his arm, just waved cheerfully at the two men as they walked through the gate. Kurogane scowled.
"You're glowering. Jealous, Kuro-sama?"
Kurogane snorted.
"No. I'm frowning because security has gotten so lax. Those two were so distracted by you that they didn't even ask who we were, just let us through. They didn't know who I was, and you're obviously not from anywhere around here. For all they know, we could be assassins sent in after the empress and princess, but they just let us through. Under my command, such a thing would have never happened."
"Nyaa, Kuro-sama is a good commander!"
"I swear, six years and I still wanna kill you every time you open your mouth."
Fai just smiled, and Kurogane suddenly wondered what the idiot gate guards would have thought if they'd been close enough to him to see the small fangs in his smile.
The guards at the doors of the palace were men who had served under Kurogane in the past, and they jerked to attention and saluted curtly.
"Kurogane-sama, welcome back. Do you desire an audience with the empress and princess?"
"Yes. Arrange it for me, will you?"
"Yes, sir. But...umm..."
"What is it?"
"Well...the foreigner doesn't have clearance. We'll have to keep him out here until he does."
"He's been here before. Still, it's good to see the security is still tight somewhere. Stay here, mage. And, for Kami's sake, behave."
Fai threw his fluff-clad arms in the air dramatically and addressed one of the guards, batting his eyelashes exaggeratedly like a poorly trained harlot.
"Behave, he says! Do I look like I'd ever misbehave?!"
The poor fellow retreated, taken aback. Kurogane set a steadying hand on the man's shoulder and gave him a sympathetic look.
"Good luck, you'll need it."
He entered the palace, chuckling to himself at the audible gulp from the guard. He could hear the wizard giggling maniacally behind him.
AN: So, there's the first chapter! Please note that since the first 14 chapter are already written, I won't be responding to reviews and comments in Author Notes, chapters 2-14 won't have any, that I remember. Anyone who has questions or important comments, I'll try to reply to with the reply link-y-doo-dad. REVIEWS and constructive criticism appreciated, but hold the flames!
The countries around Nihon and the names of the people therein are entirely products of my imagination and not meant to reflect anything historically or realistically accurate.