Fai awoke on a fluffy surface, eyes staring up at a white canopy. He sat up and looked around him, noticing that he was in a bed room. A dying fire was crackling in the fireplace, and he crawled out of his bed to welcome it. Looking down at himself, he noticed that he was no longer wearing his shirt and gloves, but instead a loose cotton tunic. It hung over his pants, still damp and smelling of sea salt. His boots were over by an armchair, along with his coats, shirt, gloves, a sleeping Mokona, and a new outfit. He placed a log in the fire, and then sat before it, warming his hands and toes.
I wonder where I am. Where are the others?
He decided to have a look around, and changed into the new outfit, walking out of the room and down a hall with the sleeping pork bun in his arms. He stopped at the landing before the stairs, taking in the delicious smells of food. He went down looking around as he went. The home was full of all things seaworthy; old ship wheels, wooden figureheads, lines and flags. He stopped at a figurehead, tracing a pale finger along the wooden face of the woman.
"Fai-san!" Sakura cheered from the upper floor, rushing down to greet him.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, Sakura-chan." He mouthed to her. She smiled warmly.
Though I wish I still had my voice.
"Ariel-san has made food. Let's go and eat, alright?" Fai nodded; he was starving.
"She's going to be making a feast for all of us tonight!"
A meal of biscuits, bacons, eggs, and the like met the two travelers as they entered the room. Mokona quickly awoke to the smells and joined Hans, Kurogane, and Syaoran, who were already wolfing down what was in front of them. Ariel was politely picking at her own plate. She smiled when they entered; rising to get places set for them.
Sitting down again and serving food, Ariel began to ask questions.
"So, how long have you been here?"
"Since last night." Sakura answered. Syaoran, after swallowing his food, cut in.
"Have either of you seen or heard of a strange power source, or feather?" he asked. Hans nodded.
"Legend tells of how the merpeople received a strange power during a storm, about a century ago. They've been powerful wizards ever since. They've done strange things, but nothing too bad. Usually they just kill swimmers at night. Your friend is the first to have their voice stolen." Kurogane glared at Fai, who smiled back.
"The feather could be controlling them or something. I wouldn't have used my magic anyway." He mouthed to the ninja, who just glared again before turning back to his food. Hans watched all of this with a blank face.
"Can you use magic?" he asked, amazed. Fai nodded.
"Well, you're just full of surprises, aye? That mermaid must've really liked you or something. You weren't even near the water when it started stealing your voice. Or maybe it's something else." He laughed darkly. Fai stared at him with a wide eye.
"Your friend filled me in on what happened." Hans explained, shaking his head in Syaoran's direction. Fai nodded.
"Why would a mermaid be interested in a voice?" Syaoran asked.
"They just like them I guess. No one knows why exactly."
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Everyone finished their food, and Syaoran and Sakura and Mokona helped Ariel clear the table. Fai slinked away, going into a separate room, hoping to be alone for a while. He didn't notice the ninja following him.
Inside the room was a piano. The mage looked at it, smiling. He approached it, running a finger along the keys and plucking a few notes.
He still couldn't play, but he loved the sound; so serene and peaceful. He closed his eyes and sighed silently, letting his mind wander.
Careful to not make any noise, Kurogane walked in the room, leaving the door open, and leaned against the wall under a painting of a violent shipwreck at sea. His gaze was on the mage, watching him.
"That idiot is just going to keep smiling; and never let anyone in. Why? What is he hiding now?" He sighed silently, and the mage stiffened, finger poised over another key.
Who…?
"Shit." Kurogane thought
Fai whipped around, eye wide until he saw who was there.
Just Kurogane…probably is trying to get a question out of me or something.
He smiled, waving softly. The ninja rolled his eyes.
"Why did that fish have your voice?" he decided to ask. Fai stared at him blankly. Kurogane glared out the window.
"The mer-thing," he added. Fai then frowned.
"She stole it! What could I do about that?" He mouthed. Kurogane hadn't seen his reply, so the mage began tapping a key madly to get his attention. He then repeated his words, and the ninja shrugged.
"I'd fight to get back what's mine if it were stolen, not just sit around." He said gruffly, and then left without another word, shutting the door behind him. Fai glared slightly at the spot where the man had been. He stalked over to a window, peering out.
Just a short drop, good.
He grabbed a tailcoat off a rack and quickly pulled it on before cracking the window open, and leaping out. He needed some time to clear his head. He took off at a quick pace.
Sakura glanced out the window in front of the sudsy sink full of dishes.
This place is so pretty, don't you think?" she said to Syaoran, smiling, looking back at him and handing him a clean dish. He smiled back, gazing out the window. He caught a glimpse of a blond figure darting through the trees, and nearly dropped the dish. Mokona rescued it and began to dry it.
"Fai-san!" Syaoran cried out.
"What?" Sakura asked, looking confused.
"Nothing, Princess. Wait here, I'll be right back."
Syaoran walked out the front door, following the wizard. Sakura sighed, quickly finishing up the dishes before walking off to find Ariel to see if there was anything else she could help with. She had heard earlier, along with Syaoran, that she was planning on making a feast for dinner later that night. She could probably use all the help she could get.
"Let's go help Ariel, Moko-chan, alright?"