22. Choices. Sakura.
She chose her own path.
Her entire life, people had done things for her. It had culminated in Syaoran losing his soul and would end with all of her dear friends dead. Sakura couldn't accept it.
Separating from them was the only way.
Oh, but the thought hurt. She loved them – each and every one, Kurogane with his awkward gentleness, Fye and his broken soul, Mokona, even Syaoran who looked like her Syaoran but wasn't. They tried so hard, so hard, and she would leave them.
She wasn't sure her companions would approve of her choice, but it was hers.
23. Ephemeral. Kurogane.
He had the feeling they all would disappear: the Princess, the kid, even the annoying pork bun. But it was worst with the mage.
Fye looked like he was dying and knew it. He laughed like he was about to disappear forever and Kurogane hated it, hated it so much he wanted to scream.
Why was everyone leaving?
Because the one kid already left, the Princess was almost gone and the other kid was so fragile he might break anytime and since when was he the only sensible one?
He grabbed the mage's arm and held on tightly and prayed.
24. Dream Weaver. Lantis.
Geo wasn't talking to him anymore. Instead, he dreamed:
It is time.
"Just lie to them," Eagle said, calm as usual. And Lantis couldn't decide whether he wanted to throttle his best friend or feel relieved. "Geo will believe you." Truth wrapped in lies. Undetectable.
"Isn't there anything we can do?"
"You don't even know those people, Lantis."
"No." He shook his head. "But we've been watching them. It feels… Like they should be happy."
"Many people should," Eagle said softly. "There is nothing we can do."
What was he a dream weaver for it he couldn't even do anything?
25. Responsibility.
The words were universal.
You are responsible for what you have tamed.
Fye had allowed himself to love the Princess. Kurogane had allowed them to get close to him. Syaoran was trying to atone – for whatever – and Mokona was caught, too, and all of them were responsible for their own grief and yet weren't.
It's still time, the Princess' voice rang in their heads. We're not too late. And, the most important words: The future is still in motion.
It made them move forward.
Because nothing one loves is eternal if one does not care for it and make sacrifices.
26. Tower of Bones. Fye.
He used the dead as a ladder.
Yui climbed and climbed and never reached the peak of the wall – it was their curse. From above Fye watched, as helpless as Yui.
Cursed twins, the two of them, but at least they were together.
"I'll find a way to save you," both of them promised, but they couldn't hear each other. It was what made Fye give up his own life and prompted Yui to take his brother's name.
"Did you really think I would hate you? You are my other half. As long as you are happy, I am, too."
27. Fearsome. Fye.
Kurogane was terrifying when he was angry. Terrifyingly calm, too. There was no sign for his anger than the coldness of his eyes, and that, somehow, was worse than anything else could have been.
I can't die yet.
Fye hadn't been woken yet, his promise wasn't fulfilled. But you have promised to serve the Princess, too, the voices in his head whispered. You have promised to continue forward.
There had been a promise to the ninja, too, it had been so very, very important but right now the mage couldn't remember anything.
Perhaps that was why Kurogane was so angry.
28. Interlude.
"I hate this," Kurogane grumbles.
Mokona, sitting on his head, is singing loudly. "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you!"
"Stop it!" Kurogane's hand descends onto her and clamps her mouth shut. It causes her to sing only louder – nobody wonders how this is possible.
"Don't be a party pooper, Kuro-chan, the Princesses had so much fun arranging all this!" Fye's gesture encompasses the garden, the cherry trees, the feast.
"Tomoyo I get," the ninja continues. "But how did the Princess know?"
"You forget she is a dream weaver," Syaoran interjects, looking up from a book.
Kurogane just sighs.