A/N: Thanks to wolf1380 for clearing up my queries on Fai's curse.

Summary: She observes with all the awareness of dreaming - painfully conscious of her surroundings, but as though watching from a great distance.

X

The boy looked up as a slim, white hand gently touched his shoulder.

No words were spoken. Only a soft smile and resigned understanding reached with a look. Slowly the young boy - who had told her to call him Syaoran – stood. He seemed to hesitate slightly, but then he turned away and moved towards the door. Against its frame a dark, dangerous looking man leant with strong arms folded across his chest in feigned nonchalance. She glimpsed tension in the gleam of his red eyes following the boy as he slipped quietly from the room. In the silence which followed Syaoran's departure, a discomfort settled.

She watched this moment as she had watched the other little moments since she'd awakened to honest, hazel eyes and Syaoran's expression of hopeful expectation. With all the awareness of dreaming. At times she felt as though she was not really in the room at all.

A thin man with blonde hair lowered himself into a crouch beside her.

'Princess Sakura?'

She nodded. Sakura. That was the name Syaoran had given her.

'My name is Fai D. Flourite'

The thin man gave a soft laugh.

'Some people find that a little too long though. You can just call me Fai.'

She dimly took note of Fai's conduct. He spoke gently and she sensed that a smile never strayed too far from his lips, but he wore this easy manner like a cloak.

'And that one lurking by the door is –'

'Kurogane.'

Fai's introduction was cut off by sharp words from the man in the doorway, whose attention had snapped back towards them, a scowl etched into his features.

The interaction held a familiar ring to it; the beginnings of an old argument reiterated between two good friends. Fai's blue eyes dropped away from her face and he bit his lower lip in order to suppress the genuine mirth which had fluttered to surface. Somehow the ambience was eased a little between them all.

Fai's voice contained a hint of laughter as he continued.

'And this cute one here is –'

'Mokona Modoki! But just Mokona is fine!'

A strange creature leapt from the palms of Fai's hands. White furred and round with long ears - very much like a rabbit. By its excitable tones Mokona established itself as a very self-assured being. She ran a finger down its spine. Its fur was soft and exuded that slightly milky fragrance of something new.

Fai was speaking again, but his words seemed remote to her.

As though she had dived down into a deep pool and settled at the bottom. To look up and watch the worlds shadow move through distorted reflections.

Numbed and without curiosity.