A/N: Sorry for the late update. ;x Real life gets in the way, sometimes.

Kudos to those who can guess where my new character is from. I'm planning a crossover with his series in the future.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles or the series from which I grab another character… =3

Sacrificium Amoris

Written by Fenikkusu

Moment III – A Moment of Peace

Darkness.

It was everywhere. There was no source of light in this world, so everything was covered in blackness. He couldn't even see his hand in front of his face. There were no sounds, nothing to feel but the coldness of his own skin. He was truly alone in this realm.

That's what he thought, until he met another man. This other person was dressed in Egyptian clothing. A crown with the same design sat around his forehead, pulling back star-shaped hair. Deep crimson irises showed wisdom beyond his years, much like Fai's. The only reason why Fai could see was due to an inverted pyramid shining around the man's neck.

"I did not expect to find someone else sharing my same situation," the other man said when they first met. "You may call me Atem."

"Fai. Fai D. Fluorite," the wizard replied, extending a hand.

The pharaoh took it in a firm grip, and a shock of electricity was felt by both parties. "So you have magical prowess, as well. In the Realm of Light from which I come, not many people believe in such," Atem commented as he released the other's hand.

"I've been to my share of worlds as well, and I completely understand," Fai replied with a shiver. "There are many worlds in which I have had to hide my abilities, as those with magic have been persecuted."

"I share in that as well, wizard. Pray tell, why are you here?"

"It's a long story," Fai replied sheepishly, one hand reaching to the back of his head.

Atem chuckled, saying, "We both definitely have the time, trust me. I shall let you know when the Shadows are ready to return you to your original world." With a wave of a hand, two chairs and a table formed from the shadows scatted about their feet.

"So tell me, Fai D. Fluorite… why are you here?"

The familiar sound of reality being pulled apart caught both Kurogane and Shaoran's attention. The ninja immediately placed himself in front Princess Tomoyo while the kid positioned himself protectively over Princess Sakura's prone body.

"Seishiro!" Mokona shouted.

The man smirked. "It's been a while… or then perhaps not. I don't actually know how long it has been for you, since the flow of time differs between worlds." Seishiro turned to Kurogane and Shaoran. "But as for you, I don't know that I can say you're the same as always. You seem to have changed quite a bit in various ways."

Kurogane steeled himself as Seishiro turned once again to him. "You," Seishiro began. "You have mixed your blood with a vampire's… That's Kamui's blood, isn't it."

"And if it is?" Kurogane replied, his own glare in place. "It happened in another world, a place called Tokyo." He pushed his thoughts about the mage away as he answered, in order to keep his glare.

"Are the two of them still in Tokyo?"

Before Kurogane could answer, Fuuma did. "No, they've moved on. Once these guys had left."

"Moved where?" Seishiro asked, keeping his gaze even with his brother's.

Fuuma grinned. "Now do you really think they would tell that to your own brother?"

Much to Kurogane's surprise, Seishiro returned that grin. "They say that hunters are naturally drawn to their prey…" A sad smile appeared on his face, one so familiar. "But it seems the ones I truly wish to find continue to elude me."

The magician just stared at him with an indiscernible emotion shining in his remaining blue eye.

Kurogane let go.

"Je t'aime, Kurogane."

Did Seishiro feel the same about the twins? Is that why he looked so forlorn? Kurogane put a hand to his forehead in a temporary lapse of concentration. Why was he thinking about the mage now? It was most likely because Fai was alive. He just needed to find the damn wizard. He turned red eyes to the man he once battled. Just how long had he been searching for the twins?

"I suppose," Kurogane heard Seishiro begin, "I shall simply move on to the next world." The rainbow aura of dimensional magic began to spin around his form.

"WAIT!" They all turned to see Shaoran jump down from the cherry blossom tree.

"Your name is 'Syaoran' as well, yes?"

"Where is the feather?" Shaoran asked.

"I have it," Seishiro said, placing a hand against his chest. "Right here."

"Give it back." Kurogane smirked at the boy's blunt attitude. He'd rub off on him, after all.

"Back in Outo country, no, in the end it turned out to be Edonis country, I obtained the feather and left in something of a hurry. But this feather contains enough power to turn an entire fictional world into reality. Do you think this is really something I can hand over simply because you tell me to?"

"Give it back," Shaoran persisted, summoning his sword from his hand.

"I suppose there's no way we can just talk this over?" Seishiro replied with another grin, creating his demon sword.

Shaoran kept his aim true. "I've seen far too much evidence already, of just what kind of person you are."

"You're so very like your father in that respect. Though that may be precisely because you truly are your father's son."

Mokona peeked out from behind Fuuma's shoulder. "Is he talking about Syaoran's father who always took him traveling?"

The question was left hanging in the air when Shaoran caught gazes with Kurogane. The ninja nodded, though he was silent. This was Shaoran's fight, not his. He'd permit the boy to battle, even though he wasn't truly his student to begin with. Kurogane felt a surge of pride when he realized even this Shaoran respected him enough to ask for permission to fight.

"Well then…" Seishiro said as he pulled out his glasses from his breast pocket. "Let us begin. We battle for possession of the feather."

"I bid you wait," Kurogane heard from behind him. He turned to see Amaterasu. "If you begin fighting like this, then Shirasaki castle will be damaged in the process. If you would conduct your battle within a kekkai…" She turned to her younger sister, who positioned her hands in front of her. The light of the moon appeared around the two battlers, but Kurogane felt his body move forward without his knowing.

"What the hell?" He asked as he stepped into the kekkai. "This is his battle, not mine!"

"Don't you wish for your wizard to return to you?" Kurogane whipped his head around within the kekkai. How could he hear that voice above the clash of the swords? Shaoran and Seishiro already began fighting. "Well? You're just as he. You hide your emotions."

"I am nothing like him in that regard," Kurogane spat.

"I disagree." Kurogane took a step back as the shadows of the kekkai materialized into a man. He was dressed as a king, though not one that Kurogane was familiar with. The tanned one opened his eyes, and crimson eyes eerily similar to Kurogane's own pierced his soul. "Your Fai-san… I assure you I've been taking good care of him. I've learned much about this wizard, though it took a bit of prying."

The ninja glared. "What do you want with me?"

The king chuckled. "It is not what I want, ninja. It is what you wish. I shall ask again. Do you wish for the wizard to return to you? With all of your heart?" That was the same thing Princess Tomoyo had asked of him back in Celes. Kurogane averted his gaze and muttered an answer. "I did not quite hear you."

"I said yes, damnit!" Kurogane shouted. "Why do you need to know all of this?"

The king nodded. "Because, ninja, I can return him to you."

Kurogane's eyes widened. "What?"

"Have you not been paying attention? Fai-san, I think it is about time you came forward." With that, the king disappeared in the same way he appeared.

True to his word, the wizard did appear. He wore a white furisode, its long sleeves brushing the rock below them. Kurogane found himself at a loss of words. "Why did you let go?" Fai asked, a frown marring his countenance. "I thought you cared for me, Kurogane. I guess I was wrong."

The warrior gaped, opening and closing his mouth like a fish searching for water. "That's not wha—"

"Then just what were you intending to do, Kurogane?" the mage inquired, his remaining eye narrowing into a glare. Blue shifted into gold, the pupil narrowing until it obtained the same shape as a cat's.

Kurogane shivered at the mention of his name, twice. This wasn't the Fai he knew. There weren't any silly nicknames or smiles. Fai only used his name when he was trying to get a point across, but that didn't mean that Kurogane was used to it yet. The Japanese man gathered his strength and squashed the negative emotions.

A flash of light caused Kurogane to shield his eyes. As soon as the light diminished, he removed his arm from his line of sight and gasped. "Mother? Father?" True to his word, his mother stood to Fai's right with a gentle hand on the blonde's shoulder. His father stood to the other side, arms crossed. He stared at Kurogane with a look of… disappointment? Sadness lingered in his mother's eyes, as well.

"He's not ready," his mother whispered to Fai, using her touch to try and turn the wizard around. "Give him time." Fai looked pressed to say something, but he turned his back to Kurogane.

It was his father's turn to speak. He turned to Kurogane's mother and said, "Go, and bring the wizard with you. I need to speak to our son alone." Kurogane, still shocked at seeing his parents, could only watch as Fai and his mother walked away. As much as Kurogane wanted to say something, reach out, he found he couldn't do either.

Kurogane turned his red gaze to the other man there. His father looked to him. "Women, mothers in particular, are rarely wrong. We'll return when you have a good answer. Do not forget what true strength is, my son. That will lead you back to him, to us." Before the shinobi could say anything else, his father disappeared in a wisp of shadow.

Kurogane fell to his knees, and to his surprise, tears stung at his eyes.

The ninja wasn't the only one crying. Fai wrapped his arms around himself as he wept. Kurogane's mother led him to a chair before she too disappeared. "Fai-san," the wizard heard in front of him. "Fai," the voice persisted. "Look at me." He opened his eye to meet those of Atem.

"He cares for you Fai-san. That I know for certain," Atem began. "Do not weep. He will come for you again."

The blonde was silent for a few moments. "How can you be so sure?" he whispered, burying his face in his shaking palms.

Atem stood up and turned his back to Fai. The wizard stilled at the soft tone of the other's voice. "Because... I, too, am waiting."