Disclaimer:
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles © CLAMP
OC © Author Sia Leysritt
Summary
Everything is going according to his plan. Or so he thought. Something unexpected happens when a lone girl decided to make a little twist to the cruel fate that awaits her companions.
Mana is a lone and mysterious girl who joined the group to search for Princess Sakura's feather. Nothing about her is known to the group. Not her wish. Not the price that she paid. Nothing. And she cannot give them any information either for she is unable to speak. Can the addition of this mute girl to the team change the twisted and cruel fate that will awaits them? And will this girl warmed the heart of a certain mage?
Sia Leysritt Present:
Thousand Words
Prelude
Act 3
And Thus The Search Begin
"If I cease searching, then, woe is me, I am lost. That is how I look at it - keep going, keep going come what may."
― Vincent van Gogh, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh
"This is the Hanshin Republic, The best of Island Nations. We are surrounded by seas on all sides, we get the odd hurricane, but we hardly ever have erathquakes. We have several trading partners across the seas and we export like crazy!"
Mana watched Sorata explained Hanshin republic to them using a hand puppet that just like him. The way Sorata explained things is simple and clear that it is not too hard for her to understand things that he explained to them. In addition, the hand puppet that he used just made it less boring and more fun.
It's not like Mana will get bored easily by a long explanation. She can sit through a three hour of history lesson when she was still in her world, but this new way of giving information is much more interesting and new to her. She likes it.
"We have four seasons, right now we're in fall, the seasons where rice tastes best! The main staple is wheat flour and our sauce is famous! We have the Hanshin Republic constitution and rule of law, and by law, we never make war with other countries."
Mana nodded in understanding while thinking how peaceful Hanshin Republic must be. Her world is constantly at war and even though one war ended at one side of a country, the other will still be going on or another one might just begin in another place. Simply put, one war end and suddenly there's another war going on. How she hoped that her world is just as peaceful as Hanshin and such law to never wage war with other countries will also stabilized in her world.
"Modes of transportation there are cars, bicycle, motorcycle, train, boat, plane, and one could consider a baby carriage to be on form of transport, right honey?"
Mana giggled when Arashi didn't answer Sorata's question. Either she's just ignoring him or she just doesn't care. Sorata then continue explaining the shape of the country, currency, and some sport they called baseball.
"Sir! I have a question!" Fai raised his hand while Kurogane asked what baseball is out loud, which of course, being ignored by everyone. It was clear while he looked like he didn't care about the stuff that Sorata explained, he still listened anyway.
"Yes, Fai-kun?"
"Does everyone in this country have an accent like yours, Sorata-san?" Fai asked curiously.
"Aww, don't be so formal, call me Sora-chan. My accent is unique to me. It's an older version of our language."
That pique Syaoran's interest.
"Yours is a language that used in the past?"
Seeing his eyes lit with curiousity, Sorata smiled. "That's right! Nowadays hardly anyone uses this language. I'm a history teacher, and I'm firmly against allowing all the old ways to fade away."
"You're a history teacher?" This time, Syaoran's eyes sparkled.
"I take it you have an interest in history?" Sorata's face lit up.
"Yes! In my world, I used to work on archeological digs."
"Then I'd say we have something in common!" Sorata said, looking happy at this new information.
Mana clapped her hands in awe, trying to show how impressed she is at the young boy. Fai chuckled. Though she seems quiet and calm, Mana gave off an innocent aura that made her look like an innocent little girl that had yet to known the cruelty of the world. It's not something bad though, Fai personally thought that it's cute.
"Ah right, I have one more question." Fai said as he raised his hand once more. "Now… Exactly where are we? Who owns this room?"
"Good question!" Sorata said. "This is an empty room in an old traditional apartment house that my honey and I manage." He said as he put his hand around Arashi and pulled her close. "Ain't it great? A beautiful apartment manager who is also a great cook?" Sorata said dreamily.
Mana sweatdropped as she saw Sorata is in his own world, while Fai just smiled and Syaoran just look at the older man with blank look. Kurogane didn't seem to pay any attention anymore as Mana noticed that the man has fallen asleep.
And Mana is not the only one who noticed.
"You! Wake up!" Sorata yelled as he pointed at Kurogane and suddenly something invisible hit Kurogane's back, making the ninja jumped in surprised.
"What was that?!" He asked as he scanning the room while Syaoran trying to shielding his princess and Fai also scanning the room for the sudden attacked while Mana just look at the scene unfold in front of her eyes with surprised and curiousity.
"I didn't feel an enemy, who did that?!" Kurogane asked. "Bastard! You threw that, didn't you!?" Kurogane turned to Sorata.
"You were in the corner. If he threw anything, it wouldn't hit you there. It had to come from above." Fai said, looking serious, very unlike his earlier smiley self.
"What? It was my Kudan, what else?" Sorata said, confused by their reaction.
"Kudan?" The three men asked as Mana just titled her head in confusion.
"You don't know? Ah right, sure you don't, you all com from different worlds! You wouldn't know!"
Sorata then put a marker on his doll's mouth and begin to write something on the white board. "Everyon in this world has a Kudan attached. Here's how it's written in kanji."
Mana looked at the words written on the white board, trying to make out what it's saying to no avail as the writings looked very much different than the writings in her world. It looked like just a random lines to her.
"Ah… I see." Kurogane said, obviously he can read it.
"Ahahaha I don't see at all!" Fai said. Mana also shook her head, not being able to read the word.
"Mokona can read!" Mokona said exictedly.
"That's great Mokona!" Fai said as he patted the white creature who look delighted at the praise.
"Can you Syaoran?" Mokona asked the amber eyed boy.
"Yes, I can read a little."
"Hmm, that means Kurogane's and Syaoran's world use kanji, but Fai's and Mana's probably don't. But you can understand what I say and I can understand you." Sorata thought aloud.
"Now, what kind of technique is this Kudan? And you used the word… attached." Kurogane asked.
This time, it was Arashi who does the explaining. "Even if you come from another world, once you entered this world, a Kudan will be attached." Arashi then went to sit beside the sleeping Sakura.
"Do you mind if I call her Sakura-san?"
Syaoran nodded.
"I cannot tell where Sakura-san's memory went… However, if someone has picked it up, it will become the cause of a fight." She looked over to Fai, Kurogane and Mana.
"You've lost your method of battle." It was not a question, it's more like a statement, as if she knew the answer and there's no need for her to actually asked. She sounds like she just want a confirmation.
"How did you know?" Fai asked.
"My Honey used to be a Shinto Religion Miko." Sorata explained. "She possesses spiritual power."
'A miko… is it like a nun in my world?' Mana wondered and really wanted to ask but she couldn't. She really need to find a new method to talk to her companions. Sign language is no good since none of them understand what she is trying to say by sign language alone. Mokona can translate it for her but there's no way she has to rely on Mokona too much while the creature has a job to find Sakura's feather. She's just becoming a burden by adding a job to the white creature. Perhaps she can asked for a book or something from Sorata and Arashi later for her to use to communicate with her friends.
"Well.. She's retired ever since she married me. Her beauty when she was dressed as a miko was God-send~" Sorata said dreamily while Arashi once again ignored her husband.
"Actually, I did give my magic power to the dimension witch." Fai said as he smiled sheepishly.
"And I handed my sword to that witch!" Kurogane said, fuming.
Arashi then turned her attention to Mana as did everyone else. The girl become flustered as she doesn't know how to explained her situation. There's nothing for her to use as a mean to communicate and she doubt any of them understand what she is trying to say using sign language.
"Ah yes, I heard from Fai that you cannot talk, right?" Sorata said. Mana nodded, looking apologetic.
"I understand sign language. So how about you try to explain using sign language and I translate it to your friends here?" Sorata offered. Mana nodded and try her best to explain what Yuuko has took from her. When she finished, Sorata translated what she just "saying" to her friends.
"She said what the Yuuko-san took from her is not a power or something that could hindered her in any way in a fight, but according to her it was one of her advantage in battle. So while she could still fight she is at a disadvantage without whatever it is that she gave to Yuuko-san." Sorata translated.
Arashi nodded as she more or less understand what Mana means while the three other men seemed to be a little bit confused but asked no more as they can see how hard the girl is trying to explain her situation and they sure can find out about it in action if a fight does happen later.
Arashi then looked at Syaoran.
"It wasn't any sort of power that I gave her. I never had magic or weapons or anything like that from the start." The boy explained.
"That may have been your good luck." Arashi smiled gently at the boy.
"Eh?"
"There are Kudan in this world. When it comes tome to fight, that Kudan should be a ble to help." Arashi explained.
"Then this Kudan was originally meant for battle?" Syaoran asked curiously.
"What you use it for or how you use it is all up to you." Sorata said. "One look can answer a hundred questions. If you want to see what your Kudan is, the only thing to do is see with your own eyes."
Mana sighed in relief, knowing there is a mean to fight and to protect herself in this world. She doesn't know how this Kudan things worked, but she will probably know how in due time.
Sorata leaned down to Mokona in Syaoran's hands. "What do you think? Is there a feather in this country?"
Mokona glowed, "Yes. There is a feather but it's far away."
Sorata smiled and looked at Syaoran "Shall we find this feather of yours?"
"Yes." Syaoran said.
"And you guys? Do you feel the same?" Sorata looked at the rest of the companions.
"I might as well." Fai said with his usual smiley cheerful demeanor.
Mana nodded.
"If I said I wanted to leave would you do it? White thing?" Kurogane asked Mokona.
"No! Mokona will not leave this country until Mokona finds the feather!"
Kurogane grumbled and look away while Mana and Fai just smiled.
"Thank you Mokona." Syaoran thanked the white creature on his hands.
"Alright, while you are in this world, I'll vouch for you." Sorata said as he stood up and held his wife's hand. Arashi blushed slightly. "I owe Yuuko-san a favor after all."
"This is an apartment building . We've got rooms. You can use these rooms until you go to the next world." Sorata explained again.
"Thank you very much!"
After that, it was decided that Sakura and Syaoran will share the room they are currently in as Syaoran told Arashi that he wants to stay by the Princess' side. Fai and Kurogane will share a room and since it's not exactly appropriate for Mana, a grown woman to share a room with two grown men, she was given her own room.
"Mokona will sleep with Mana so Mana won't get lonely!" Mokona said excitedly as she bounced up and down on Mana's head. Mana smiled and thanked the creature using sign language. Arashi and Sorata then brought her to a room next to Fai's and Kurogane's.
"Alright, you will sleep here Mana-san. Don't be shy to ask anything from us, okay? While all of you are here you will be our responsibility." Sorata said with a smile. Mana nodded politely and smiled. Then, she remembered what she was going to ask from the couple. She then poke on Sorata as he was about to leave.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
Mana moved her hands, attempted to explaining her situation with sign language as best as she could. Try to explain how she needs other method to communicate with her companions as they don't understand sign language except for Mokona.
"Ah I see… Hmm, I might have something that could help. I'll give it to you in the morning, okay? Now just try to get some sleep. It's past midnight after all." Sorata said as he put his hand on her head and pat her head then leave.
Mana put her hand on his head. That was the first time she was treated kindly by total stranger.
"What's wrong Mana?" Mokona asked curiously.
Mana shake her head and told Mokona it's better for them to go to sleep now.
"Right! We have to save up energy to look for Sakura's feather tomorrow so we have to get a lots of sleep!" The white creature said excitedly. Mana nodded and lay down on the bed beside Mokona.
"Good night Mana~"
Mana nodded.
'Good night Mokona.'
Mana opened her eyes to find herself in a dark empty space. She stood and scanned the atmosphere around her. All she could see is the color black. Mana blinked. What happened? Where is she?
Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her. She turned around to see some kind of blob appeared out of nowhere. The blob then materialized and change form into some kind of bigger blob with rabbit ears. It has two small yellow eyes without nose or mouth. Though in size the creature is much bigger than Mana herself, Mana can't help but think how adorable the creature is.
The creature looked at Mana and the girl titled her head to the side as she is confuse why the blob thingy didn't do anything yet. If it's here, that means it wants something for her isn't it? Instead, the creature just move away slowly as if it's afraid of her. Mana blinked, then slowly – seeing that the creature has no intention to come closer to her – she move towards the creature.
The creature looked shocked at her action and try to move away from the girl again, but Mana was faster. Before the creature could move, she put her hand on the creature's body as the creature is too big for her to put her hands on its head or face.
The creature froze and for a moment, Mana thought maybe she did something wrong.
"S-Sorry…"
The creature spoke.
"I uhm… the master of those who utilize darkness…" The creature was quiet again before continuing. "I… can feel that you are a suitable enough to control a Kudan like me…"
So this is a Kudan Mana thought. But if it feels that Mana is suitable candidate for it, why did it try to avoid her?
"…I do not know if you want me as your Kudan as darkness often feared by people… That is why I do not know whether you wish for my power or not…" The Kudan said as if it reads her mind.
Ah
Remembering what Sorata had said about Kudan, Mana was quite surprise to find a manisfestation of God to be timid like the creature before her. And Mana herself, of course doesn't mind to have this cute blob thingy as her Kudan. And it's not like she is afraid of darkness and she definitely doesn't care if other people avoid her for having darkness as her power. She is used to people being afraid of her.
And there is something in this Kudan that reminds her of herself.
I do not mind having you as my Kudan. Mana thought, hoping that the Kudan can somehow read her mind.
"You're… not…?" The Kudan asked, slightly surpirsed and Mana was happy that the Kudan can read her mind. It makes things a lot easier.
Mana shook her head.
I need power to survive and to protect my companions… And to fulfill a promise I made to someone very important to me. And I know you can lend me that power.
The blob looked at Mana for a while before relented and crouched down to let the girl pat its face. It has been a while since it last have any conversation with human being and it was glad to meet someone such as Mana.
"You have a strong and kind heart… You are the one I searched for." The blob said as it entered her chest.
Do not worry child…
Darkness is not a bad thing unless you choose to make it that way.
The boy walked through the forest will several soldiers walked behind him.
"You know, Wizard-sama I honestly think we should bring more people." The soldier said as he glanced at several soldiers who were brought along with the boy.
"Whatever that… that thing that attacked everyone who approached the forest is definitely dangerous."
The blond boy smiled a little to the soldier. He still cannot really grasped the concept of smiling but he still try anyway.
"It's alright. This way, less people will get hurt."
The soldier sighed. "You're too nice Wizard-sama."
The boy smiled then suddenly stopped approaching as he spotted a trail of blood in front of them.
They were close.
"Oh shit. We're close aren't we?" All the soldiers readied their weapon but before anyone could react something move swiftly and suddenly one soldier fell to the ground.
The boy was surprised and was about to use his magic when suddenly the next thing he knew, he was faced to face with a small figure holding one of the soldier as if he is her hostage as she put her hand on his mouth to keep him from shoutinh and her other hand is holding a knife that drenched in blood.
He couldn't make out the appearance of the attacker and the dream fade. All he remembered were a cold, lifeless grey orbs staring at his own icy blue eyes.
Fai has dreamed of this same dream for several days now. He never tried to really figure things out though he does curious of what the dream meant. However, he didn't expect to be stared by the same grey orbs he just saw in his dream.
Mana was hovering over him, smiling just like she was yesterday. A gentle and calm smile but somehow it didn't really reached her eyes. It looks like she only smiled just because she has to and there is no real meaning behind her smile. He watched as the lavender haired girl lift up some kind of small black board with the writings Good morning on it for him to see.
Understanding that this is her way to greet him, he smiled and get up. "Good morning Mana-chan~ You wake up so early in the morning."
He watched as Mana erased the word good morning and began to write something and showed the board to him.
The sun's already up. Arashi-san has made breakfast for us.
"Ah I see~ Got it~ And it seems you got an easier way for us to communicate, huh?"
Mana nodded.
Sorata-san gave this to me.
"Humm~ That's good. Well, I better get ready. Ah, why don't you go and wake Syaoran-kun while I wake Kuro-rin up?" Fai suggested.
Mana nodded and went to Syaoran's and Sakura's room.
Fai actually had wanted to ask if Mana ever met him in the past since he has no recollection of ever met the young lady. He actually doubt he ever met her before and forgot about it. Fai is confident enough about his memory and he doubts if he ever met Mana he would forgot her face. Honestly, it's hard to forget someone like her by appearance alone. Though he hasn't really started to get to know her, it's hard to forgot a girl like Mana, especially with the scar on her right cheek which makes her stand out and since yesterday Fai had noticed that the girl sometimes glanced towards him as if expecting him to say something and there are several times he noticed the girl looked like she knows him.
The reason Fai decided not to ask is because he doesn't really know the girl yet and he believed he is just thinking too much. After all, it's better if he doesn't get too attached to his companions.
But no matter how hard he is trying to shake off those thoughts from his head, he can't helped but think that grey eyes color is too uncommon for people to have.
"I must say the clothes suits you very much." Fai said as he try to whistle but failed to do so and can only make out a 'hyuu' sound.
Mana looked at him them write a thank you on her board and show it to him though Mana can't understand which part of the clothes suits her. She is currently wearing a simple white fuzzy sweater and torn jeans shorts (at least that's what Arashi said and she doubts it belongs to her and she is sure this belong to the other woman who dressed her up along with Arashi).
Fai took a glance at the girl once more and noticed that the girl's cheek is not the only thing marred with scar. A scar also run from her right calf to her tigh but the girl doesn't seem to mind having her scars revealed, it made Fai wondered how the girl got those scars. And for some odd reason he feel his heart ache at the sight of the scars.
The group were now standing in front of the apartment building with Arashi and Sorata.
"And so, you guys won't get anything done sitting in your rooms. You have to start your search for Sakura's feather someplace, so get out into the neighborhood and see." Sorata adviced.
"Okaaay~" Fai said cheerfuly.
"Alright." Syaoran nodded while Kurogane didn't answer, still having a sour look on his face.
"Oh no, It's about time for my lesson to start! If I'm late the whole class will be chaos!" Sorata said as he looked at his watch. "Ah, if you walk around, I think you'll begin to figure out what this Kudan talk is about."
"Alright." Syaoran nodded then turned his attention to the window of the room where Sakura is sleeping.
"I'll stay by Sakura-san's side for you." Arashi said as she noticed Syaoran's worry glance.
"Thank you."
"Is the white thing coming along too?" Kurogane asked, clearly still annoyed by the little white creature.
"Mokona is Mokona!" Mokona said as she jumped towards Kurogane.
"Stay away!"
"Well if Mokona is a white thing, then this guy here is a black thing, right?" Fai asked playfully as he shakes Mokona's little hand.
"Right!" Mokona answered as Kurogane grumbled. Mana only watched the scene quietly.
"You have to take Mokona or you'll pass the feather by and never know. Don't worry, nobody will give Mokona a second thought. This world is used to strange things." Sorata explained.
"Huh?" Syaoran looked confused. Sorata then take out a frog shaped wallet and gave it to him.
"Take this, there's enough for lunch in there, so the four of you should take your times and make friends. You can eat where you like, but you'll never find a better meal than what my honey makes!"
"Why are you giving It to the kid?" Kurogane asked.
"Cause he's the one who looks the most trustworthy!" Sorata said as he gives them a thumbs up. Arashi nodded in agreement.
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Kurogane protested and both Fai and Mokona laughed at him.
And so the four of them starting to walk around the city. It's a nice change of pace for Mana seeing a peacful bustling town and for once didn't find herself in the middle of warzone. Tall buildings are everywhere and there are people everywhere.
"It sure is a bustling place! Small buildings are bunched up next to the huge ones." Fai commented.
"People all over the place!" Mokona added.
"Everything's weird here." Kurogane said dryly as he narrowed his eyes, looking at his surroundings.
"Syaoran-kun, have you ever seen this kind of thing?" Fai asked the young boy.
"No. Never." Syaoran shook his head as he also scanning his surroundings in interest.
"Kuro-tan, how about you?" Fai asked the black haired ninja.
"Never! And why do you have to call me by weirder and weirder names!?" Kurogane asked in irritation.
"How about you Mana-chan?" Fai asked the lavender haired girl, ignoring the fuming ninja.
Mana, who has been quiet the entire time looked at the mage then tapped her chin. She then write something on her board that was hanging around her like a necklace and show it to her companions.
I have. The world I came from is pretty much like this. She said, decided to left out the part that most of the buildings there were destroyed due to war because she thought there's no need for her companions to know of her personal life. Not yet anyway.
"Humm so Mana-chan's world has tall buildings like this, nee?"
Mana nodded.
The group walked around the city for a while until they ended up in what appeared to be the amrket of the city. Mana looked around curiously. Though her world is similar to this world, but she had never really explore her own world as she spent most of her life in military headquarters, thus she hadn't really have the chance to explore the city much less going to the market.
"Come in! Come in!"
Mana stopped as she spotted a man holding an apple. She has seen apples before in a book but she had never actually eat it. She stopped and look at the fruit curiously.
"Oh, come in young lady. You wanna buy an apple from me?" The man asked kindly.
"That is an apple?" Mana turned to saw that her companions has also stopped in fromt of the shop and Syaoran currently staring at the fruit with confusion.
"If it isn't I have no idea what it is!"
"So it didn't look like that in your world?" Fai asked the young boy.
"The shape is the same but in my world the color is pale yellow." Syaoran explained.
"Isn't that called a pear?" Kurogane asked, joining the conversation.
And for a while the men began to discuss of how fruits looked like in their own respective world while Mana's eyes are still fixated on the red fruit. She then turned to Mokona who is currently on top of Syaoran's head and she use sign language to asked the white creature whether it wants the fruit or not.
"Want it!" Mokona said loudly, making the men stopped their debate over fruits.
"Huh..?"
"Nice doing bussiness with ya!" The man said and he gave each of them their apple. Mana then write a thank you on her board and show it to the shopkeeper with a small smile.
"You're welcome missy. Hope you come again soon!" The shopkeeper said, patting the girl on the head.
Once again Mana blinked, touching her head and feel confused. Why would the man do that to a total stranger like her?
"Well it's good that we have something to eat, huh? This apple looks delicious." Fai said as she leaned closer to Mana. Mana looked at the man for a moment, giving him her small, empty smile and nodded.
Fai smiled as well and patted her head. Mana blinked but smiled nonetheless at his action.
They then decided to eat their at the birdge. Mana however, hasn't eating it she just gazing at the fruit and turning it around, playing with it. She then felt someone stared at her and turned to see a little girl. That girl eyeing the apple she held. The three males look at the scene. Mana smiled then handed her apple to the girl
Mana then crouch to the girl's level and gave the little girl her apple. The girl beamed at her and take the apple. "Thank you!" the girl said. Mana nodded and the girl ran off to her friends.
"Mana-chan is so kind!" Mokona said. "Here, you can have Mokona's apple, Mokona has eaten them though but it's only a half." Mokona said, handing her the apple. Mana shook her head then telling Mokona she can eat it and that she is not hungry.
"Really? But Mana-chan barely eat anything during breakfast." Mana nodded and smiled at the white creature to assure her that it's fine and she is really not hungry.
"These apples are pretty good, huh?" Fai said out loud.
"Yes." Syaoran agreed.
"But it really is true that all of us come from completely different cultures." Fai commented as he finished his apple. "Come to think of it, I never asked… How did you get to the shop of the Dimension Witch, Syaoran-kun?" Fai asked as he turned to the amber eyed boy.
"There's a high priest in my land. He sent me."
"That's impressive. It's hard enough to send one person across dimension but he sent two."
The blonde man turned to the black haired ninja. "How about you Kuro-rin?"
"I told you to stop calling me that! The princess of my country sent me away by force."
"You did something bad and she did it to scold you!" Fai said, laughing as he pointed at Kurogane.
"She did it to scold you!" Mokona laughed along as well.
"Will you all shut up!?" Kurogane yelled in irritation. "What about you? Who sent you?" The ninja asked the blond mage.
"Me? No one. I sent myself there."
"Huh? Then you don't have to ask the woman for anything! You could have done this yousrself!"
"Not even close. Were I to muster all of my magical abilities, just getting myself from one dimension to the next world would take everything I can do." Fai said as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. He then turned to Mana.
"What about you, Mana-chan? Who sent you?" Fai asked the grey eyed girl.
Maan tapped her chin for a moment, thinking back of the person who sent her. She didn't know much about that creature and she didn't know how she should describe it to her companions, so she writes; My guardian angel sent me there.
"Guardian angel?" The three males asked in confusion.
That's what he wants me to call him. Mana answered.
"Why did you even went to that woman anyway?" Kurogane asked.
"Oh, come to think of it, none of us really know what Mana-san wish for, are we?" Syaoran wondered out loud.
"That's true. What did you wish from the Witch of Dimension, Mana-chan?" Fai asked curiously.
Mana writes then show It to her companions.
I wish to able to travel through dimension to find someone and fulfill my promise to him.
"Hyuu~ You want to find someone huh? Does this person is your lover?" Fai asked teasingly.
Mana titled her head to the side, having no idea what lover means. She then writes again.
This person is someone who is really important to me.
"I see… I do hope we find this person that you are looking for, Mana-san." Syaoran said kindly. Though their objective is not exactly the same, it's similar in some way as they both went on this journey for someone important to them. Syaoran understand the feeling and he can't helped but think that he will get along just fine with Mana even though she didn't communicating much with them and he also believe that Sakura will like her too.
Mana nodded and smiled at the young boy.
"But still, the one who sent Syaoran-kun… And the princess who sent you, Kuro-chin, are people with a lot of magical power. But I'll bet it took all they had. I imagine anyone has the power to send someone to another world only once. That's the reason your high priest sent you to the witch's place." Fai explained.
"It would take going to a lot of worlds to be able to collect all of Sakura-chan's feathers. And I think the only one who can send someone to many worlds is the Dimension Witch."
Suddenly screams and shouts were heard above and all of them spun around to face a gang of men in goggles and scarf's standing on top of a building.
"We'll get you for sure this time! This territory belongs to us!" A different gang yelled to the first one. The leader of the first gang gave them a thumbs-down.
"Hyuu~" Fai tried to whistle. "They'are cool!"
"That bastard has a special Kudan!" One of the member of the second gang said.
'Kudan?' Mana thought.
Both gangs then jumped down and charged with their Kudans ready.
"So that's a Kudan?" Kurogane asked, not seemed to be bother by all the screaming around him.
"So that's why Mokona didn't scare anyone even though she could move around." Fai concluded. Mana only watched the scene unfold with blank face as if the scene is a usual view for her.
Both gangs then begin to fight one another, their kudan released laser beams and it destroyed some buildings around them and civillain escaped the scene as they don't want to get caught in the fight.
A large stingray materialized above the goggle gang leader and attack an on-coming Kudan. Some of the powers got out of control and headed straight for two identical boys.
"Watch out!" Syaoran shouted and he jumped to protect the boys. The impact never came of course, as fire materialized into a big, flaming, orange wolf in front of them, shielding Syaoran and the boys from harm.
"You seem to have a special Kudan don't you?" The leader of the goggle gang said, eyeing Syaoran.
Syaoran glared at the leader.
"A Kudan that can wield fire. Mine works water and yours, fire. This will be interesting." The man said as he put his hand on his stingray Kudan.
Their Kudan collide once more, causing steam to form everywhere.
"I'm Shougo Asagi. You?" The leader asked.
"Syaoran."
"I like your style." Shougo said, smirking.
"Shougo! It's the cops!" One of the men said.
"Damn. This is bad timing. You guys know the drill, split up!" Shougo looks at Syaoran one more time before fleeing. "I can't wait to see you again."
The fire wolf become smaller and disappeared inside Syaoran. Fai, Mana, and Kurogane then ran up to him "You were great Syaoran-kun!" Fai said.
"So that was a Kudan." Kurogane said, more to himself.
"I don't really know, but my body started getting hotter…" He then looked at the two boys. "Are you both okay?" The first boy shook his head. The second one bow and vanished into the first boy.
"It disappeared!" Syaoran shouted.
Fai pounded his fist on his hand. "So that was a Kudan too!" He put his hand over his eyes as if searching for something. "By the way where is that 'Kudan' of ours?" He asked.
Mana titled her head, not knowing who Fai is referring to.
"Ah isn't it squished somewhere?" Kurogane said with a small hopeful tone.
Knowing that it was Mokona they were talking about, Mana looked around and she then spotted Mokona who is surrounded by a group of girls. Mana then tug on Kurogane's sleeve and pointing at the group of girls who surrounding the white creature. All of them turned around to see all of the girls were surrounding Mokona, hugging and squeezing him. Mana smiled a little and Fai glance at her her again. He likes it when she smiled, but for some reason he didn't like it when the smile seemed empty and that's odd. Why would he suddenly care for a girl that he just met? For some reason Mana reminds him of the dream that he had this morning. He once again can't help but thought how similar the grey orbs he saw in his dream with Mana's own grey orbs. Cold and empty. But then, why would he care? In that dream the owner of those orbs attacked him, so why would he care for someone who attacked him? Or are there more to that dream?
"Mokona is popular with the ladies!" Mokona said excitedly before bouncing back to her companions and say her goodbye to the girls.
"Mokona, where were you?" Fai asked as the white creature hop on Syaoran's head.
"On top of Kurogane!" Mokona answered. "But then Mokona fell off! But just earlier Mokona went just like this! Mekkyo!" She said as her eyes opened wide and her mouth forming an "O" shape. "But nobody noticed!"
"You mean that Sakura's feather is somehwere nearby?!" Syaoran asked.
"It was, but Mokona doesn't feel it anymore…" Mokona said, her ears went down in dissapointment.
"Did you figure out who had it?" Syaoran asked, sounding hopeful.
"Don't know…" Mokona shake her head.
"Oh… I see…" Syaoran sounds dissapointed too.
Mana tug Syaoran sleeve, making the boy look at the older girl and Mana show him something she writes on her board.
At least we have a lead to find the feather.
Syaoran nodded, grateful for the lavender haired girl's attempted to make him stay postive. "True, we know now that someone close by has it. That's a pretty good progress." Syaoran said positively and turned to the white creature on his hands.
"And if you sense anything more, let us know."
"Yes! Mokona will go all out!"
Syaoran smiled gratefully at Mokona.
"But you know if Kuro-chin didn't drop Mokona, this wouldn't have happened." Fai said, smiling at the ninja.
"What makes this my fault?! And will you stop calling me those names!?" Kurogane said in irritation.
The boy that Syaoran saved earlier went to the amber-eyed boy and bow down. "E-Excuse me, I want to thank you! My name is Masayoshi Saito, please let me do something for you as a thanks."
"No, we didn't really do anything…" Syaoran tried to refuse.
"But… But…"
"Mokona wants lunch! Something really good!" Mokona said from the top of Syaoran's head.
'Ah' Mana thought.
"Eh?"
"Guide us there!" Mokona said excitedly.
"Okay! Please follow me!" Masayoshi said as he led the group away. The group followed him but Mana stand still on her place, staring at the group with her empty, cold grey orbs that hid the sadness that she didn't know she had kept since they arrived in Hanshin. Her eyes wander towards the blond mage. She wasn't supposed to be sad. She was not allowed to be sad. No one cares for her to begin with, so having someone forget about her because it was happen to be her own doing is not something she should be sad about.
Yet, why does she felt her heart ache when she realized the mage doesn't even recognize her?
'Because he is the first person who ever shown a monster like you kindness'
More or less, that is true. But it is not the time for her to feel sad she found him now and she has promise to fulfill.
It's okay. It's gonna be okay.
'He might be someone very dear for you, but you are no one to him.' Her mind screamed at her.
Yes that's true. She is no one to him. No one at all and that's for the best.
Because she's already—
"Mana-chan."
Hearing her name being called, Mana looked up to see that certain blond mage is there right in front of her and leaning his face close to hers.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" The man asked. Though he is smiling like usual, one could hear worry etched on his voice.
Was he… worried about her?
I'm okay. Just lost in thought. Mana showed her writing, not realized how lame her excuse is.
"Hmm…" Fai still staring at her, his face still leaning closer. Suddenly Mana felt Fai's hands touch both her cheeks.
"You know Mana-chan, even though a girl is charming and beautiful when they smile, when the smile look empty it just looked sad." Fai said, staring at the girl. Hoping she would understand what he meant.
Mana titled her head to the side. Not understanding what Fai is trying to say.
"What I mean is that, you don't have to smile all the time. Just smile when you wanted to smile."
He knows he is in no position on saying such a thing when he himself hide his true feelings behind his smiles but somehow seeing the girl in front of him doing the same just make his heart ache and he doesn't know why it bothers him so much.
Mana was silent for a moment before she begin writing again.
I'm sorry. This is the only expression that I know how to make. She writes, and it was the truth.
Fai frowned. Her reasoning just makes the ache felt worst.
Sorry… Is that a bad thing? Smiling? Mana writes again and looked at the mage with blank face.
Fai opened his mouth, attempted to do another explaining when Kurogane called out for them.
"Oi mage, girl, you're gonna be left behind if you don't hurry!" He called.
Fai sighed and take the girl's hand.
"Let's go Mana-chan or Kuro-puu might eat everything~" He said.
He got to continue this conversation later.
Noodles began to sizzle on the table. It filled the air with delicious scent. Mana stared at the food blankly. She has never seen the food before but it looks delicious.
Fai stared at the girl and he realized that since they arrived, the girl barely give any reaction to anything. She looks like a lifeless doll and it worried him. But then why would he worried? They just met for goodness' sake! Why would he suddenly care for someone he just met?
'Or maybe you've met her before, you just don't remember.'
…There's that possibility, but he doubts that. It's hard to forget a girl like Mana.
"I like this Okonomiyaki is the best and it's quite good." Masyaoshi's voice stopped Fai's train of thoughts.
"I ordered Modanyaki but maybe Tonpeiyaki would have been better." Masayoshi muttered.
"Okonomiyaki? Is that what this called?" Fai asked curiously.
"Eh? Okonomiyaki is a staple of the diet in Hanshin Republic. If you don't know that must mean you come from outside the country?" Masayoshi asked.
"Outside? You could say that." Fai said. Kurogane was staring at the food intently while Mana just sat quietly with blank face, seemingly not interested in anything.
"Say, do those people always run roughshod around this district? Those guys with the caps and the ones in the goggles."
"That was… a fight for dominance. They form into teams and fight to see whise Kudan is stronger." Masayoshi explained sadly.
"And… the strongest claims the rights to the territory?" Fai concluded.
"But think of the lives put in danger when they fight in such a large public place." Syaoran said, sounded concerned.
"That's true, huh? Masayoshi-kun here was in big trouble earlier." Fai commented.
"That's because I'm just useless… Well, there are bad teams but there are good teams too!" Masayoshi said. "They patrol their territory making sure no bad kids cause trouble and if bad people are around, they take care of the problem."
"Like a local militia?" Syaoran asked.
"What about those teams before?" Fai asked.
"The ones in caps were the bad ones! But the ones in goggles aren't like them at all! When they battle other teams, some of the surrounding buildings get damaged, so the adults are afraid of them… But the wouldn't do anything else that's bad! They are really cool!" Masayoshi said. It was obvious that he admiered the ones in goggles. "Especially their leader Shougo-san! They say his Kudan is special level! It's so big and strong... Everyone wishes they had Kudan like him!" Masayoshi said, eyes sparkling.
Mana then write something then show it to Masayoshi and the others.
But destroying buildings with civillains around it still a bad thing to do. If she could talk, she would sounds like she was stating something that should be very obvious.
"W-Well… That's… true…" Masayoshi said, suddenly looking down.
"A-Ah…" Syaoran started to panic when he saw Masayoshi looked depressed. Fai chuckled. It seems the girl had a knack to say uncomfortable truth and doesn't have any tact.
Kurogane sweatdropped. He thought the girl is a a simple goody two shoes seeing how calm she is (though he is also bothered by how she is always smile as if her face is put to a permanent smiling face) but that was quite blunt.
Mana blinked, having no idea what she ahd done wrong.
Did I do something wrong? Mana show her writings to Kurogane.
"Well… Not really… What you did is not exactly wrong but you should choose your words carefully so you're not hurting someone else's feelings." Kurogane whispered to the girl. "Though I feel your words are not actually wrong, I thought the same." The ninja shrugged as he stared at the food in front of him once more.
Mana not really understand what she did, but she felt like she has to apologize, so she did.
I'm sorry, I'll choose my words carefully next time.
Masayoshi sweatdropped. That's not exactly… Making him feel better. "I-It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong Mana-san."
Fai laughed. This girl is something else.
"That aside, what do you think about Syaoran-kun's Kudan?" Fai asked.
"I also admired him" he beamed , "The top Kudan is with you, that's a great thing."
"What's that?" Syaoran asked.
"The best Kudan ; 4th level is at the bottom. 3rd level, 2nd level, 1st level and it goes up. The top is the best. Having the best Kudan was stopped by the countries a long time ago, but people still used it." Masayoshi explained.
"Then, that leader's Kudan must be strong." Fai commented. "By the way, when did Syaoran-kun's Kudan joined up with him?" The mage asked.
"Now that you mention it… I had an odd dream last night."
That piqued Mana's interest.
'Odd dream?' she moved closer towards Fai to listened in to their conversation but was interrupted when someone shouted at them.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
Kurogane who was planning to flip over the Okonomiyaki was so surprised that he quickly let go of the food.
Two figures appeared, one man with dark hair and another with silver hair and glasses.
"KING! AND HIGH PRIEST!?" Syaoran exclaimed jumping out of his seat. "Y-Your majesty, what brings you here?!"
"Huh? I think you're mistaken… Your majesty is nowhere in my name." The dark haired man said. "And sir, please wait so you don't knock anything over."
"Y-Yes sir!" Kurogane answered, still pretty much shocked because of earlier. Both of them then leave, serving another customers.
"Majesty… was he a king in your world?" Fai asked, referring to the black haired waiter as Masayoshi explained that the waiters will do all the cooking for them.
"Yes…"
"And the one next to him is the high priest. It's like the space-time witch said, 'People you've met In your world, they've developed under completely different conditions on other worlds.'"
"So those are the king and the priest from the kid's world?" Kurogane asked.
"They are the same and not. Because, they have different lives. But at the same time, their connections are the same aren't they?"
"Connections?" Kurogane asked confused.
"Their names, appearance and heart." Fai said.
He… so does that mean we can meet another one of ourselves? Mana asked curiously.
"Hmm… who knows~? But If there's another Mana-chan I hope she's the same as the Mana-chan here." Fai said. Mana looked at him confused. Kurogane and Syoran sweat drop at her innocence and child like attitude. One minute she is like a child and later she could be very blunt and expressionless it was confusing.
Everyone then began to eat. Mana however was having trouble using chopsticks. Kurogane looked at her and stopping his tug-a-war with a piece of food with Mokona. "You have never used a chopsticks before?" Kurogane asked. Mana nodded. Kurogane then teach her how to, she actually understand it pretty fast and able to use it now. The girl take the food with her chopsticks and eat it.
And of course she didn't taste anything but she figured she at least has to eat a little as not to make her companions suspicious.
"Aww Kuro-poo please teach me too!" Fai said.
Kurogane glared at him. "DON'T CALL ME THAT AND NO, I'M NOT TEACHING YOU!" Kurogane yelled and continue his tug-a-war with a piece of food with Mokona.
Do you want me to teach you? Mana asked. Fai smiled widely. "Aww thank you Mana-chan, you're much kinder then Kuro-tan." Fai said, crying dramatically.
"I SAID STOP CALLING ME WITH THOSE FREAKIN' NICKNAME!" Kurogane yelled.
Mana then teach Fai slowly how to use the chopsticks and surprisingly he understand fast too so she has no problem teaching him.
"Mana-chan is good at teaching people" Fai said, Mana didn't give any reaction but Fai noticed she blushed a bit at that compliment and look away.
And he can't help but think how adorable it is.
"That was delicious!" Mokona said happily.
"So, what do we do now?" Fai wondered.
"How about we look around more?" Syaoran suggested. They all agree.
Masayoshi then offered to be the group's guide. Once the others agree, he went and told them he needed to call his parents, to show them around and went away.
"He sure does look up to you." Fai grinned. "Ah yes, about our conversation before, you were talking about your dream."
"About my dream last night, the thing that came from me was also in my dream about a fire beast." Syaoran said.
"I had a strange dream with a beast in it as well." Kurogane said.
"Me as well, it was very persistent." Fai said. "How about you Mana-chan?"
Mana nodded then went to draw her Kudan on her board and show it to them.
Kurogane furrowed his eyebrows. "What creature is that?"
Mana then writes Mysterious Blob upside her drawing.
"It looks kinda cute." Fai commented.
"HEY!" A fat man with a Mohawk came up. "Are you Syaoran? The boy that Shougo said he liked?" he questioned.
"What if I am?" Fai teased.
I don't think that question meant for you. Mana writes.
"I'm Syaoran." Syaoran said.
"You? You're just a kid!" He said in disbelief.
"He's the guy! I'm sure of it!" One of his gang members said.
The Mohawk guy tapped his chin. "Are you going to join Shougou's team?"
Syaoran looked confused
"Team?"
"Don't play dumb! If you join Shougo's team I will never forgive you!"
"I don't intend to." Syaoran said firmly
"Then join us!"
"I don't want to."
"Ha ha, Syaoran-kun speaks so firmly" Fai chuckled.
"DO… DO YOU PLAN ON MAKING YOUR OWN TEAM!?" The fat man screeched.
I think you should understand that he doesn't have any intention to make his own team nor does he has any intention to join anyone's team. Mana writes. If she could speak she would speak those words quite bluntly, not caring that her words just adding oil to the fire. And it seems the gang leader's eyesight is good enough as he's able to read what Mana writes down.
"Why You! I'm going to break you all to pieces!" A large fish (or crab?) Kudan appeared above the man.
Did I offend him? Mana asked Fai.
Fai chuckled. It's funny that the girl doesn't realize she just hit a nerve. "Not really, but that's a very good thing to say." Fai patted her again.
"I don't plan to do such a thing!" Syoran protested. The kudan swung its tail directly at him and Syaoran dodged it. People around them run away as the crab like Kudan move around dangerously.
"Not a good listener is he?" Fai said calmly. Mana looked at the situation in front of her and was about to step in to help Syaoran but Kurogane put his hand in front of her, stopping her in her tracks.
"This is getting boring. I'll take you on!" he said, smirking.
"Kuro hasn't been having fun up until now." Mokona said.
"Yes he's so happy to be in Republic Hanshin." Fai replied happily.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!"
"But Kurogane-san, you gave your sword to that woman." Syaoran said.
"It was special, it had a cursed blade, I needed it to cut spirits back in the country of Japan. This Kudan is not a spirit." Kurogane explained.
"What grade is your Kudan?" The fat man yelled.
"Don't know and don't care. Stop rambling and attack." Kurogane said confidently.
Should we help? Mana asked.
"Nah. Don't worry too much Mana-chan I'm pretty sure Kuro-tan will do his best since he hasn't have much fun hyuu~" Fai said grinning from ear to ear.
Mana nodded but decided she will help if things getting too dangerous.
"I SAID SHUT THE HELL UP!"
"Syaoran-kun!" They turned to see Masayoshi run panickly towards them.
"Ah Masayoshi-kun perfect timing, do you know this man?" Fai asked, pointing at the fat man.
"That team hits our neighborhood. They fight Shougo-san for territory." Masayoshi explained.
"I wonder if that man is strong." Fai said, still smiling like an idiot.
"He has a first grade Kudan! That man himself is umm… big but the Kudan is very quick!" Masayoshi informed.
"Look at how my first grade Kudan move! HOT CRAB ATTACK!"
The Kudan swung its blade directly at Kurogane, but Kurogane dodge it. The blade hits one of the pillar there and it broke.
"It broke!?" Syaoran said, shocked.
"That Kudan's body is completely covered with sharp blades!"
The Kudan keeps attacking but Kurogane avoides it skillfully. But of course that doesn't stop Syaoran from worrying.
"Watch out!" He shouted as he ran forward, intending to help the ninja but Fai stopped him.
"I think if you try to get involved, He'll get really mad." Fai said.
"FALLING CRAB ATTACK!"
This time, it hits Kurogane. "KUROGANE-SAN!"
The fat man laugh and saying that Kurogane is weak… Oh how wrong they are.
"Annoying… Your constant talking is annoying." Kurogane said, smirking.
"My Kudan is first grade, it is very strong!" The fat man said.
"But it still has a weak point. If I had my sword I can end this quickly."
Suddenly a blue water dragon appear behind him.
"You are… from my dream."
The dragon then transform itself into a sword.
"I can use this eh? So you want to fight?"
"Is that your kudan? Well it looks like it's going to fall! This attack will stop you! GUNSHOT CRAB ATTACK!"
"SPIRIT DRAGON KING BLADE!"
Kurogane easily defeat that man's kudan with one blow.
Syaoran watched the scene in awe, while Fai only smile while Mana, once again, barely give any reaction.
The mohawk gang leader collapsed. His team huddled around him. He raised his shaky finger and pointed at Kurogane. "You… You already made a team…You are in team Syaoran, aren't you?"
"I'm not on anybody's team!" Kurogane stated firmly. "Listen, in my life I will only served under one person! And that's Princess Tomoyo."
Once they are back to the apartment, Mana excused herself first saying she is too tired from all the walking and went to her room. It's not a complete lie, she is tired but not physically. She is tired. Very tired. Mentally.
She sat down and sighed, hugging her knees.
Today's event was too much. He was too much. Mana thought it would be a lot easier since they haven't met each other for a long time but it's not as simple as she thought. Her heart always ache whenever she noticed he doesn't recognize her at all and that troubled her. She had never felt this way before towards anyone else, but then Fai is not just anyone.
Mana sighed, hoping that the ache in her chest disapperaed soon as she buried her face on her knees.
'It's okay. You'll get used to it soon.' She thought.
'Everyone leaves in the end. It's okay…' She thought.
"Mana-chan?"
Hearing her name being called, the girl looked up to see the blond mage had entered her room and know is sitting in front of her, looking very worry.
"I'm sorry if I walked in just like that. I knocked several times but you didn't respond so I thought something maybe happened to you." Fai explained. "Are you okay?"
Mana blinked. How come she didn't realize he was knocking? She must have been too caught up with her thoughts.
I'm fine. Mana writes and show it to the mage.
Fai frowned. He noticed Mana is not a very good liar because she is obviously lying. And again, he doesn't even know why this irritated him so much.
"Are you really?" Fai asked again, hoping the girl will be honest this time.
Yes. Mana writes again.
Fai sighed. Though it irritates him but he doesn't want to force the girl to tell him of her condition. If she doesn't want Fai to know then that's her right and Fai has no right to force her to tell him.
"Alright. Ah that reminds me, Arashi-san is cooking something downstairs, I thought you might want to eat a little bit since you barely eat at the restaurant earlier." Fai said, patting the girl's head. As he was about to leave, Mana tugged on her sleeve, stopping him from leaving. Fai blinked and turned towards the girl.
"Hmm? What's – "
He stopped abruptly as an image entered his mind. An image of a figure that grabbed on his cloak. The figure wear an oversized clothing and a lot smaller than the girl in front of him. The hand holding his cloak is drenched in dried blood, so does the clothes that the figure wear.
'What…?'
"What is it? Is there something wrong?"
He heard his past self talked to the figure but the vision stopped abruptly. He blinked and when he opened his eyes, the girl in front of her is staring at him with blank face and she showed him a writing she writes on her board.
Thank you for worrying about me. But I'm really fine, you don't need to concern yourself with me.
Fai felt his heart ache as he read those words but decided to ignored it.
"Alright. But make sure you eat a little, okay? Me and Kuro-puu will be in our room if you ever need anything." He said, putting on his usual fake smile and leave the room.
And Mana didn't came out of her room. Even at dinner she only eat a little portion of her dinner then went straight to bed after wishing her companions good night. She sleeps alone tonight as Mokona said she will stay with Syaoran this time and Mana didn't mind. However sleeping on a real bed (or in this case a futon) doesn't feel right for her.
"There's not enough bed in the camp."
"Let the girl sleep on the floor."
"Seriously?"
"She's just a weapon, you don't need to feel sympathy for her."
As she thought of how she was treated in camp before, she sighed. But it's true that she had never slept on real bed before and to this time prefer to sleep on the hard floor in sitting position. People might called her weird but that's the truth and a habit that she can't change.
She then get off her bed then went outside as her room felt too suffocating. She slept outside of her room last night and was glad she woke up before everyone else so no one caught her sleeping outside of her room. She went outside of her room quietly, careful not to make any sounds. She sat in front of her room's door, hugged her pillow and fell asleep.
Sleep well child
It will pass soon…
To be continued
A/N: I actually want to continue to the point the leave Hanshin republic but meh let's stop here. Anyway, if you noticed, Fai's and Mana's relationship is much more deeper in this rewrite version due to some plot changes and Mana's personality is so much different too and again, it's because of plot changes too and because I have stabilized her background story. Thank you for reading and sorry for any typos and grammatical errors.