I. Perhaps Something to Worry About

There was something dreadfully wrong with this crossing. While he wasn't sure whether the others were sensitive enough to tell, during the crossing Fai could feel the magic being twisted in all the wrong directions. He was hoping that it was due to the quirks of the world they had just left and not the world they were going to…but he had grave doubts.

The cross had begun normally. Mokona's magic had swept them up with its usual suppressive warmth. Fai's own icy magic had stung in protest to the heat. Kurogane had grumbled something unintelligible about 'damn flashy magic things' and Syaoran had looked around nervously.

They were suspended between dimensions for only a fraction of a second while Mokona's magic picked their next location. Although he could understand little of it, Fai could feel waves of energy resonate once the decision was made, and was prepared to be throttled through time and space.

But as they burst forward, propelled by Yuuko's still powerful creation, they became snagged on something. Or maybe they were caught by something, Fai mused. But some strong, fiery magic had plucked them from limbo and thrown them into this exceedingly twisted world.

Fai had landed on his back with a dull thud. Whatever he had landed on was very hard and fairly wet. He already felt a headache surfacing, one that always came as his immense magic adjusted to a new environment. He didn't like the prickly and untamed throb that was already pounding on his temples.

Usually, the headaches feel like blizzards of crystal snow driving through my brain. The sting is always frigid and numbing. Even after the pain has dulled, I always remain frozen. But here the headache is very different – more like torrents of fiery needles. Each prick of magic is loaded with wild energy. It burns with shimmering heat and dangerous impatience.

He jerked his eyes open only to be greeted with damp darkness. He laboriously pushed himself into a sitting position, feeling that the rough surface he landed on was either brick or cobblestone. Still unable to see anything, he was struck with a desire to yell loudly for Kurogane and Syaoran, but the overwhelming silence weighed down his tongue.

Finally after a few bloated seconds Fai heard a soft "mmphh" from off to his right. The sound was repeated with an edge of irritation. Then in an unmistakably gruff tone, "Uhh, what? Oh…sorry, Syaoran."

Fai released a soft breath and turned to face the voices coming from the black.

"Kurogane?"

Grunt.

"Did you land on Syaoran?"

Grunt.

"How about Mokona?"

"…no."

Fai tried to get to his feet

Aghh! Is there lava behind my eyes?

But promptly sank to his knees.

"You know," he said, perhaps a little sharply, "this would be much easier if you just used that nifty little light at the end of your arm –."

"Idiot," Kurogane grumbled, "and risk giving our position away?"

"I think," Fai started, trying to sound more lighthearted than he felt, "that we risk more by not being able to see anything."

Silence.

Fai struggled to stand again

Oh god it's like fire everywhere, burning and singing

And failed again.

It was still very quiet, until finally

"Mokona can see things."

So the creature was fine, Fai realized with relief.

"Fai?" It was Syaoran this time, his voice thickly coated with concern.

"It's just the magic," he nearly whispered. He was still unaccustomed to speaking about his own discomfort, even when the magic around me is filled with lightning.

"The magic is different here. It's like fire."

Of course they wouldn't understand that. He didn't really know why he had said it. But even as he spoke, the pain receded slightly and he began to make out shapes.

They were in some sort of alley or tunnel. Kurogane was already standing, his back against one of the narrow walls and his crimson eyes dancing around in suspicion. At his feet was Syaoran. His nose was scrunched in annoyance, probably at Kurogane and the little white creature perched on his head.

Fai felt like laughing, but Kurogane's manifesting unease kept him quiet. Using the wall as support he slowly rose to his feet – glad that the smoldering headache remained at bay.

His vision continued to clear, but the surroundings remained dismal. It must be night, in the world that they were in. He blinked to keep the fire from taking his eyes and looked up.

The magic. He blinked again. I can see the magic.

Sometimes he could see magic when it wasn't being cast. It was beautiful - small glowing particles of energy that ran through and around everything. In its natural and unorganized state it danced like fireflies.

There against the sky! That's a lot of magic.

Now, he could see the magic panned high above his head. It was woven tight in a primal pattern that seemed shockingly familiar. Twisting spirals and writhing arrows glowing bright with energy.

I – no. This can't be. How could we have even landed here?

"Kurogane!" Too loud. But it won't matter if we are stuck here.

"Quiet! We don't know -."

A beam of light flashed down from the far end of the alley. It was accompanied by deep, angry voices. In alarm, Kurogane hoisted Syaoran up by his collar and began to step backward. He bumped back into Fai, but then grabbed his arm and said sternly:

"I think we should leave. Now."

"I – we can't."

"I don't like it here."

"No, Kurogane, we can't. This world is -."

The beam was getting closer, faster. They couldn't see the source of the voices around the bright light.

"Maybe they can help us, Kurogane. We should ask them."

A sharp band sounded, and Kurogane felt something bury itself in the wall, only a few feet away from his head.

Already he was running, nearly dragging Fai. Syaoran was close behind, clutching Mokona to his chest. Fai wrenched his arm back from the ninja and took the lead.

More bangs resounded behind them. Fai saw a turn to his left and immediately took it, trusting Kurogane and Syaoran to follow him. It led them into another twisting alley, but this one was littered with crates and ripe garbage.

He kept throwing his legs in front of him, knowing that they were still being pursued. The walls were getting narrower, but up ahead he could see some sort of opening. He hoped it was a road or a house or someplace to hide that wasn't this awful maze.

His heart was thrumming violently and he continued breaking through the darkness. He could hear shouting behind him as the dangerous strangers finally turned into their alley.

They were almost there, at wherever it was that would take them from this particular street, when Fai saw it. He almost missed it because it was so thin and magically concealed?

He barely had time to leap above the tiny glistening wire that was stretched across their path about two feet above the ground. He threw himself around, almost falling over from the loss in momentum. There was Syaoran, yelling as his foot was mangled in the wire. And there was Kurogane, his eyes growing wide as he fell over the boy and heavily landed on his left arm.

The mechanical arm snapped off with a sickening pop. He grabbed for it with his right had, and turned to look at Syaoran. His eyebrows elevated when he saw the boy curled on the ground with his foot facing an unnatural direction.

Soon the pursuers would be at firing distance again. Fai threw his head about and saw a tall pile of crates. He quickly dragged Syaoran behind them, struggling with the weight. If he weren't in imminent danger, he would think happily about how much the boy had grown. Kurogane was stumbling behind him, his false arm still hanging out of his hand. As he approached, Fai gave him a quick shove and he tumbled to the ground.

Fai noticed that Kurogane was trying to stand up again. He pushed him back down with a foot to his chest and heartily shook his head. It wasn't often that he got to see the stoic man in such obvious confusion, and he would have enjoyed it if he wasn't in such a hurry.

All he could offer was a smile brighter than he felt, and then a quick wink. A bullet bounced off the ground close to his feet. With that as a signal, Fai ran.

Kurogane held his breath as the two dark pursuers followed Fai without a second look in his and Syaoran's direction.

"What is he doing?" Syaoran breathed.

Kurogane leaned against the harsh wall behind him and momentarily shut his eyes.

"Idiot."