A/N: Ok, I finally figured out how to do it! :) But... now I don't remember what I was going to say. -_-' Heh. Oh, well. Constructive critisim needed!
Disclaimer: Do I really need to say it? Tsubasa isn't mine. T.T
Kurogane ordered his sake and sat, crinkling his nose at the simple flower box in the cold fire place. Fai held his bottle loosely between his fingers and sat down on the arm of Kurogane's chair.
Kurogane growled in warning, but Fai made no move to get closer. He just laughed softly, the setting sun highlighting his blond hair. Ayame sipped his beer, and with a content sigh turned to them. "Ok… the Festival of Colors started like this:
Many, many years ago a young man and a young woman lived here on Sydney's Crossing. Even though they were merely teenagers then, like most of our permanent residents, they were vendors.
Their stores were right next door to each other the day they first moved in. He sold masks, and she costumes. All the other vendors envied them, for in there young age they were very talented. Making them quite popular among the first time visitors.
Every morning they would walk out at the same time to open up, and the same time to close every evening. And they loved it, almost as much as they loved each other.
They loved each other from the start, but would never say it aloud. They didn't have to. They knew, as well did everyone else. She was off limits to all the other boys, and he would never consider any other girl. That fact was never questioned.
One day, they decided to combine their shops and become 'Hidden Colors', the mask and costume shop. People came from all around, just to buy their things.
They stayed together in that shop for years. Enjoying every day they had together. Then on the day before New Years Eve, that man decided to tell the woman he loved her.
He made two masks; one for the each of them. The mask for her was a Sakura tree in the moon light, and his was a lovely cream and pink feather floating lightly on a shady lake.
When they went out for a New Year's Eve party, he proposed to her. She said yes, of course, and proudly wore her mask the entire night. They were beautiful, and no one asked what they stood for. It seemed almost forbidden to ask, so it remains a mystery even today.
Years passed on, and as all people do, that cheerful couple passed on, too. After their deaths, the mayor declared a festival to be held in their honor. But when he went to retrieve their masks to place on display, they weren't there.
Nothing else in the store had been touched, and they hadn't been buried in them. No one could figure where they were. They had disappeared along with the couple. But never the less, every year someone claims they saw them.
It was said they were seen walking down an alleys, sitting on the beach, in that shop, all over. On occasion, they were even seen wearing those masks, but no one has ever gotten their hands on them.
It's said that only the lovers that the couple pick out themselves will ever get their hands on those masks… And maybe, just maybe, something amazing will happen…"
Ayame guzzled down the rest of his beer, and leaned back against the wall. "That may sound tacky, but it's been told like that since before I was born and I believe it."
Mokona yawned in Yuki's lap, "Mokona thinks it's a lovely story! Anything is possible…" Syaoran stared into the fire distantly, "Yeah…"
Sakura glanced at him from behind, knowing exactly what he was thinking. Kurogane knew to, it was almost like those masks were made for the brats.
Fai cocked his head, "Is that shop still open?" He asked quietly, stretching his arms above his head as he stood.
Ayame scratched his chin, "They don't sell anything anymore… but it's a national landmark. You can go see tomorrow if you'd like…"
Mokona jumped up, "That sounds fun!" Yuki and Sakura giggled at his enthusiasm.
Kurogane downed the rest of his sake. "Well, you'd better go to bed then…"
They all turned to look at him, surprised. He looked confused at first, and then scowled realizing he should have kept his mouth shut.
Fai turned and pinched his cheek, "Aw! Are Kuro-daddy's parental instincts finally shining through?" He said giddily.
Kurogane jumped up, and Fai just barley caught himself. "DAMNIT, STOP CALLING ME WEIRD NAMES!!!" He said as he stormed off.
Fai followed him across the room, "What weird names, Kuro-wan wan?"
As they continued to bicker, Ayame leaned down to Sakura, smirking. "This is their honeymoon, isn't it?" She giggled as Syaoran blushed.
"WHAT'D HE SAY?" Kurogane bellowed. Fai grabbed Kurogane's hand, "How'd you guess?"
Yuki stood, laughing. "Shh! You'll wake the other guests, Kuro-daddy!" Mokona yawned again, "Yeah, daddy, it's getting late!"
Ayame chucked, "Yuki, take them up to the suite. You guy's are gonna want to get an early start, if you want to get new clothes before the carnival."
Syaoran stood, "Thank-you, Ayame-san." Yuki grabbed the room keys off the wall, and started up the stairs.
"Follow me." She said cheerily. They climbed the dimly lit stairs to the third floor. "Here we are. Rooms 19 and 20, the last two. If you guys need anything, the sheet next to the phone has the tavern's number listed."
Syaoran accepted the keys from her, and Mokona hopped into Sakura's arms, "Thank-you, Yuki-san."
She bowed before walking down the stairs, "Good night."
Kurogane took a key from Syaoran, "Well, then…" He unlocked the door, but no one moved.
"Um… K-Kurogane-san?" Syaoran stuttered, as Fai took the other key. He raised his hand, "Kuro-sama, don't you think-…?"
"No." He handed Sakura the key and stepped aside, "Go on." She faltered slightly, before she walked in.
Syaoran turned to him, "K-…" He started but was grabbed by the back of the head and shoved in.
Fai scratched the back of his neck, "That was a little rough don't you think, daddy?"
Sakura gasped as the door slammed behind them and Syaoran tumbled in. She turned around completely and Mokona shouted, "Syaoran-kun, are you okay!?"
He grabbed his head, blushing. "Uh… Yeah, I'm fine."
Sakura walked up and touched the back of his head. "Are you sure?" He blushed harder. "Y-Yes. He just pushed me…" He said loudly, looking over his shoulder.
Sakura smiled, and giggled, "He pushed you awful hard!" Syaoran smiled, timidly, as Mokona laughed, too.
"Mokona thinks Kuro-daddy just wants to be alone with mommy!" Sakura blushed as if just realizing they were alone. She took her hand away from his head.
"Oh dear! Um…" She rambled, fidgeting with her hands. Syaoran's blush faded and placed a affectionate hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Sakura-chan, you can take the bed. I'll just-…"
"You can sit!" She exclaimed.
He stopped, "U-Uh, what?"
She blushed harder, flailing her arms. "T-there's no where else to sleep… S-so you can sit on the bed! There are enough p-pillows, s-so the headboard should be comfortable…" She said quickly.
He blinked at her, "Are y-… are you sure you'd be comfortable with that?"
Sakura paused, but nodded indignantly. "You've done so much to protect me, Syaoran-kun… I still don't understand why, but…"
She stopped when she saw the sadness creep back into his eyes. She shook her head, dismissing it.
"But I feel nothing if not safe around you. I trust you more than anyone…" She said. "You always make me comfortable." She added quietly, smiling sympathetically.
Syaoran blushed again, waving his hands. "Think nothing of it." He smiled kindly at her, "I'm happy as long as you… just keep smiling."
Sakura laughed softly, a happy pink settling on her face. "Only if you do, Syaoran-kun…" Syaoran nodded once, then gestured to the bed. "You'd better get some sleep…"
Mokona giggled, "Don't worry, Sakura-chan! We'll make sure nothing interrupts your dreams."
She giggled back at him. "Thank-you, Mokona." She crawled into the bed and lay down. Mokona hopped into her arms, as Syaoran turned off the lights.
He sat down next to her on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Sakura smiled up at him as Mokona yawned. "Good-night, Sakura-chan… Syaoran-kun." He mumbled.
"Good-night." They both said. Sakura rolled on her side, back to Syaoran. "Syaoran-kun?" She whispered.
He glanced down at her, "Yes, Sakura-chan?" She smiled as she reached back and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I don't know… thank-you I guess. I… I'm forever in your debt, and don't say I'm not! " She whispered fiercely.
She squeezed his hand tighter, "So… So, promise me you won't leave me… until I can make it up to you, okay?" She added in a rush.
He blushed, smiling sadly, "Okay, Sakura-chan…" He grasped her hand securely. "I promise."
She sighed contentedly, and as she drifted off to sleep, wondered why this hand in hers felt so familiar…
