Thank you for your kind comments on my first chapter! Now here's the second installment of the story. It's been such a difficult time; honestly, it has. I almost felt like I actually was Kurogane in the fic, though I was more desperate for a sense of hope whereas our character here doesn't quite care. Finding that comfort through Tomoyo through Kurogane has been... quite an interesting experience, actually. Hopefully I won't be disappointing anyone...? Feedback is welcomed and very much appreciated.

Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE belongs to CLAMP.

An unusual sound reached Kurogane's ears. Crimson eyes flew open and immediately he was awake. To his astonishment, he found himself staring at a very wide, very clean wall. There were no stains, no dents and absolutely no obvious flaws. Where was the wall that he had seen almost every morning for the past many years of his life?

Then memories of recent events flooded into his mind and he remembered: this was one of the chambers of Daidouji's Mansion. It was very large and spacious, unlike the compact little room he was used to. His new pajamas were very fine; he usually wore clothes that were old and worn. The bed he had been given was too soft - he had given it up and slept with his back against the door instead.

But of course; how could he possibly be suited for the life of the upper-class?

With his sharp sense of hearing trained over many years, he could still pick up the faint sound that was the first thing he heard that morning. It was not the loud screeching of birds outside the window and it definitely was not the scratching of insects in the walls; this place was far too clean for that. Kurogane decided that since he was awake, he might as well find out. Quickly, he stood up and left the room.

Sunlight was streaming through the tinted windows in the hallways, creating a beautiful rosy hue, but Kurogane did not have an eye for such beauties; he passed them all without a second thought. Although he could quite easily find his way around the Daidouji mansion, he felt strangely as though he was moving through a maze. What was it about the house that felt so strange and mysterious?

However, he soon found himself walking out of the mansion. Stepping out into the open forced his eyes to quickly adjust to the bright morning sunlight. He saw a wide front porch with pockets of smooth round pebbles and grass very neatly arranged upon clean white cement floors. He saw polished ebony frames for a fence surrounding the porch, connected to a majestic black gate that cast a long shadow like a carpet. He saw a simple low brown fence, the entrance to a homely eden-like garden where there were sounds of birds singing and water flowing.

Where there was the source of the sound that he had been hearing since he awoke that morning.

Carefully, he proceeded to enter the garden. He was nearing the source of the sound. Perhaps it was the short walk; perhaps it was the sunlight. His mind was beginning to clear. Now he could tell that the sound was produced by a violin. Then he reached a fountain, where a familiar figure clad in white stood playing the violin.

"Tomoyo...?"

He had whispered so softly that he could barely hear his own voice, but Tomoyo seemed to have somehow heard him or sensed his presence. Almost immediately, she stopped playing and turned to look at him. For a moment, she seemed mildly surprised to see him there; then she broke into a smile. "Ah, good morning, Kurogane! How was your rest?"

Kurogane blinked. How should he answer this? He knew that it was a very simple question, but he was not sure exactly what kind of answer a member of the upper-class society might be expecting. "Uh... it was fine," he replied, looking away and scratching the back of his head in an awkward manner.

Tomoyo watched him intently. Her amethyst eyes looked wise and knowledgeable. She seemed to have guessed that he was hiding something. "Are you sure?" she asked with a strange tone in her voice.

Kurogane noticed Tomoyo studying his expression and felt somewhat uncomfortable. "Yeah..."

"Really?" Tomoyo's question was probing at his conscience. Could he tell her the truth?

When Kurogane realised that Tomoyo was not about to move her gaze from his features too soon, he felt even more uneasy. What exactly did she want from him?

"Are you..." She seemed to hesitate on purpose. A strange glint had suddenly appeared in Tomoyo's eyes, but it seemed so unlike her that Kurogane wondered if he was imagining it. "You're not... afraid of the dark, are you?"

"WHAT?!" shouted Kurogane, shocked that anybody could get such an idea. How could anybody get such an idea of him anyway? He was not a child! He knew his character was stronger than most; his recent experiences had especially made sure of that. He was anything but weak and frightened, much less afraid of something like the dark!

But Tomoyo was giggling so hard; she had put her violin down for fear of mishandling it. Kurogane could only stare, bewildered. Nearly succeeding in subduing her giggling, Tomoyo asked, "Has anyone mentioned... that you look very funny when taken by surprise?"

Kurogane's eyes widened in shock, causing Tomoyo to burst into another fit of giggles.

"Oh, don't be so serious!" she said, laughing lightly. "I was just pulling your leg. We both know you're braver than that."

But Kurogane continued to look at her suspiciously. He knew he had his paranoia as well as his pride. After all, it never hurt to be too careful. Other people had been fairly easy to decipher, but this person was abnormal. He could not be certain if she was still pulling his leg.

Tomoyo noticed this reaction and smiled in a warm manner. "I really mean it, Kurogane," she said softly, "don't be so serious. If you're serious all the time, you're going to lose out on all the fun. Look there; those creases on your forehead show that you're getting old already!" She grinned like a child who had just received the candy she wanted.

"Hmph." Kurogane could hardly care about how old he looked. As far as he was concerned, he was old enough to take care of himself and not rely on anybody else. However, he was obliged to obey his mother's last wish...

"Oh, no," whispered Tomoyo suddenly. She had glanced at her violin and turned to look at Kurogane with eyes with realisation. "Oh no, I'm so sorry. I must have woken you up!"

"Hey, hey! Look, it's okay! It's okay!" said Kurogane quickly, flustered over the fact that she was seriously overrating the importance of his sleep. "It's... it's just me; I shouldn't have interrupted your practice..."

"But I should not have disturbed your sleep!" Tomoyo was really upset. "Oh no, I'm really so sorry! Everybody should be getting the sleep they deserve. You need it especially after the ordeal you've been through..."

"Hey..." Kurogane felt extremely uneasy. He had been disturbed in his sleep many times before, but no one had ever been so upset about it. "You're... you're the master of the place, aren't you? So... you can do whatever you want, whenever you like." Although he had never particularly liked the upper-class society - they always seemed to have the advantage, privileges that those of lower classes could never enjoy, and the power to wrap everybody else around their little finger - the Daidoujis had been very kind towards him thus far and he was truly appreciative of that.

"Kurogane." Tomoyo's voice was calm, but her eyes seemed strangely fierce. Kurogane was somewhat taken aback. "Kurogane," she repeated. "You must know that we're not gods. We cannot control people, although many seem to have the mistaken impression that we do." The expression in her eyes softened into something more melancholic. "Actually, if you'd care to look a little closer, you might notice that it is we who are being 'controlled' by society. You're one of us now; sooner or later, you'll have to realise that."

"Yeah, sure." Kurogane looked away, feeling uncomfortable. He was not quite convinced that the upper class society could have many problems, but he knew that, as Tomoyo had said, he would definitely find out the truth soon enough.

"All right, then," said Tomoyo, suddenly cheerful again. She returned her violin to its case and closed it. "I don't suppose you've had breakfast already, have you?"

"Uh..." Kurogane could only stare. Was it not just a moment ago that she was delivering a stern lecture? Why was she in such a good mood all of a sudden?

"I'll take that as a 'no'. Now let's find something to eat." She picked up her case and nodded at Kurogane. "Shall we go, then?" She proceeded to walk back to the mansion.

Perhaps his feet had found a mind of their own; Kurogane soon found himself walking after her. For a while, he stared blankly at the back of her head. Then realisation hit him with full force.

He had never really listened anyone before; his parents had been the only exceptions so far. Yet, just a few moments ago, he had so readily obliged this person he had barely met. He shook his head in disbelief.

"Is something wrong, Kurogane?" inquired Tomoyo innocently, pausing to turn back slightly to look at him.

For some reason, Kurogane felt his face heating up. Why was his face heating up? He quickly shoved that thought to the back of his mind. "Nothing," he answered as nonchalantly as he could manage.

"Oh. Okay." Tomoyo nodded; but before she started again on the path to the mansion, she hesitated and turned around again. She asked, "Hey... you don't happen to have any plans for this afternoon, do you?"

Kurogane stared. What could she possibly want now? "No," he replied truthfully.

Tomoyo grinned happily. "Then you won't mind if I show you around the place? It won't do if someone gets lost in his own house."

"His own house?" The words slipped out of Kurogane before he could catch them back. What did Tomoyo mean...?

"Of course." Tomoyo was smiling. "We may not bear the same surname, but you're one of us now, aren't you?" She held out her free hand in invitation. "If you'd like to be," she added softly.

They had already accepted him. Kurogane blinked, unsure of how to respond; but he really did not have to worry. Tomoyo had already taken his hand and was pulling him ahead, laughing at his awkwardness as he stumbled along.

"Hurry! After breakfast, I'll personally give you a tour of the Daidouji mansion! How does that sound?"

Quite to his astonishment, Kurogane found that he could not put down the offer.