AN: as usually I don't own anything

Chapter 3

The Gift

Amaterasu, Tomoyo and Kurogane lead the counsel back to the counsel room. As everyone returned to his or her seats, Kurogane took his old post next to Tomoyo. Serus, who had disconnect himself from Kurogane's face, settled back down onto Tomoyo's lap. For a couple minuets Amaterasu and other officials updated Kurogane on what had happened since he had been gone. When they were done an older gentleman rose to his feet and said,

"Your royal majesties."

"Yes General Yamadero," asked Amaterasu

"Continuing with the discussion we were having concerning Tsukuyomi's future, surely the return of Lord Kurogane is a sign that there is hope for Tsukuyomi, we have discussed several times about what to do about her condition and…."

"Wait," said Kurogane in a confused voice

"What's going on, what do you mean by, "there is hope for Tomoyo?"

An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. No one wanted to be the one to tell the dark ninja about what had happened to the princess. Seeing that no one was answering his question Kurogane knelt before Tomoyo.

"What going on?" he asked. Tomoyo cast her eyes down at her hands,

"I…. I no longer have the magic to see the future in my dreams," she said in a quiet whisper.

"What, how!?!" He asked in disbelief.

"That magic was taken from her," said Amaterasu.

She walked over and placed a reassuring hand on her sister's shoulder. She looked at Kurogane and continued,

"It happened about a month after you left, Tsukuyomi hadn't been sleeping well since you're umm departure, I was on my way to her rooms to say goodnight when I heard her scream in pain. The gurads and I rushed into her room. I found her collapsed on the floor, her breathing was labored and her fist and eyes were clenched tight. I had the healers called for as well as more guards. As I picked her up and carried her to her bed, she opened her eyes. As I laid her down I asked her what had happened. She told me in a weak voice that some of her magic had been striped from her. She couldn't tell me who had done this too her and in the end we discovered that it was her prediction magic that had been taken. Fortunately nothing else was wrong with her except a bump on her head from the fall."

Kurogane whirled around and faced Souma, "How could you let this happen to her, and you," he said as he picked up Serus "Where were you?" "Kurogane" scolded Tomoyo. "Lord Kurogane," said Amaterasu, "What happened was no ones fault, Souma investigated the matter but no one had seen or heard anything that might have given us a clue. Serus had been put under a powerful deep sleep spell so he could tell us nothing either," she said.

Kurogane scowled but said nothing more. After a short pause Tomoyo got up and said, "Older Sister I would like to retire for the night." Amaterasu nodded her consent, as Tomoyo and Kurogane began to walk out, other guards began to follow. Kurogane shot them an annoyed look. Tomoyo glanced back at them and said, "Thank you but I do not require any other escorts."

Once Kurogane and Tomoyo reached her rooms Kurogane took off his helmet, cape and sword and placed them on his sleeping mat, which was still right next to Tomoyo's. Meanwhile Tomoyo with the help of her maids changed into a green yukata and then sent them to bring the evening meal. As they waited for their meal to come Kurogane told Tomoyo and Serus about some of the places he had been. Once the meal came Serus flew in between his humans taking the tidbits that they offered him. When they were done they went and sat on their sleeping mats. Tomoyo giggled as Kurogane and Serus played tug of war with an almond cookie.

"Kurogane I have a confession to make to you," Tomoyo said. Kurogane looked up from his "battle" with Serus, "Confession? About what?" he asked. "I lied to Souma and my sister, about not knowing who took my magic." "You What!! His face darkened, "Tomoyo did whoever take your magic threaten you. Tell me who it was." He instinctively reached for his sword.

Tomoyo put a hand on his hand, "You cant hurt the person who took my magic," she said, he gave her look that said 'your joking right'. " You can't hurt them because it was me, I striped my magic away from myself." He cocked an eyebrow at her, "Why did my mistress do that?" asked Serus as he rested on Kurogane's shoulder. Instead of answering him Tomoyo got up and opened a chest that was hidden from view by a screen. Kurogane and Serus gave each other a questioning glance. She walked back over to them with a long bundle that was wrapped in silk. She knelt down and began to unwrap it. "Today has been a day of reunions for you Kurogane. I believe you deserve to be reunited with an old friend." She stood and held out a sword to him. "Ginryu" sang Serus. Kurogane couldn't believe his eyes, his father's sword. He never thought that he would be able to hold it again. "The price to buy back Ginryu was the magic that would allow me to see when you would come home," said Tomoyo. "It was because of me that you had to give it up so I got it back for you. I put Serus under a sleep spell so that he would not be able to stop me and then.." she smiled, "I do not regret what I did." "Thank you Tomoyo" said Kurogane, his voice full of emotion. He couldn't imagine the pain she went through to get Ginryu back. "Thank you."

As the three of them laid down to sleep that night Tomoyo couldn't help but ask a question of him. "Kurogane,"she said. "Yes" he replied as he turned his head to face her, "Did you find out the true meaning of strength?" He smiled and took her hand in his, "Yes, yes I did."

AN: All right another chapter done, I think there will be one more chapter after this. Thank you everyone for your reviews.