Drip. Drip. Drip.
It was so cold.
It hurt so much...
...yue...
A brief stirring at the edge of his mind. A murmur of discontent as magic struggled to awaken.
Then...nothing.
...~*~...~*~...~*~...
"I have a wish."
Touya watched as the magical bunny's jewel on its forehead began to glow. A beam of light shot out, forming a sort of glowing window through which a teenaged boy could be seen. The boy had short black hair and wore a dark green kimono decorated with embroidered flowers and white birds. His blue and brown eyes watched them expectantly through round spectacles. It looked as if he was sitting on a wooden porch, and a slim black pipe was held idly in one hand, white smoke trailing and curling lazily through the air.
"Watanuki! Please help us!" Mokona exclaimed, its face scrunched up in worry.
"What is it you wish for?" The shopkeeper asked, eyes not wavering from Touya's.
"I wish to save Yuki."
"You cannot pay that price." Watanuki's face remained impassive, but his eyes held an edge of sadness as they rested briefly on the princess and each of the travelers. Was it just Touya's imagination, or did the shopkeeper's eyes linger longest on the brat?
"However, I can grant a different wish. I can give you the means to locate him." Watanuki turned sideways, calling out,"Moru! Maru! Bring it out!"
There was a scuffle of running feet and two girls came into view. One had short pink hair and the other's light blue hair was pulled into two long pigtails. Both were clad in white and black dresses. Their faces were almost doll-like, with wide smiles and blank eyes. One held black lacquered box in her arms. The other was carrying the black manju bun. They skidded to a halt, the black bunny bouncing onto Watanuki's shoulder.
"Larg!"
"Soel!"
As the two magical rabbits greeted each other enthusiastically, the shopkeeper took the box from the pink-haired girl.
"Thank you", he said, smiling gently. He ran his fingers over the container's glossy coat before snapping open its golden clasp. The lid opened smoothly, exposing its red velvet-lined interior. On top of the velvet lay a...
"What the hell!" Touya exclaimed.
It was a key. The key had a golden star centered within a plastic-looking pink ring. Two tiny white wings and a small red jewel decorated it. The key had only two notches, and it hung on a short black string.
"It may look like a child's toy, but it's a very special key." Watanuki said calmly. "Using this, you can open a certain book in the royal library. You'll understand once you open it."
How is this going to help me find Yuki?!
"Now for the price." The shopkeeper regarded Touya gravely. "You will pay-"
"Please wait!" Sakura cried. "Yukito-san is my friend too. I want to pay part of the price too."
"Sakura, you don't have to-", Touya began to argue.
"Onii-san! I want to! Please let me." Sakura turned her wide green eyes imploringly towards him, hands clasped tightly together. "Please!"
Touya groaned. There was no way he could resist that look. "Fine, you can help."
Sakura threw her arms happily around her brother, hugging him gratefully. At the sound of a throat clearing, both looked up at Syaoran.
"Yukito-san is my friend also. Allow me to help too." His face was set determinedly. Sakura smiled, running to hug him.
"Thank you Syaoran!"
After a moment she released him, both of their faces tomato red.
Fai laughed lightly before turning to address Watanuki."We will need to extend our stay here, if we are going to help. So I wish that Mokona's earring will not glow until we have safely retrieved the priest and returned him here."
Kurogane ran his metal hand through his spiky black hair, eyes fixed on the shopkeeper. "I'll help pay for that wish." At his words, Fai swung his arms around his neck in a tight hug, singing out, "Kuro-daddy's so sweet!" Kurogane peeled the mage off his back and proceeded to chase him around the room, brandishing his sword.
"Very well." Watanuki smiled sadly.
"Sakura, you'll pay by staying behind. You must wait in the castle without contact with the others until they have completed their mission." Watanuki cast his eyes down, his face expressionless. "Sometimes, waiting without knowing is more painful than being there yourself." Sakura nodded bravely, glancing worriedly at Syaoran.
"Syaoran, your price will be the same as Kurogane's and Fai's. The next three worlds you travel to will be hostile and war-torn. All of you will have to battle constantly to survive. In each world you will have to stay at least three days. Are you willing to pay this price?"
Each of the travelers nodded, faces set grimly. Kurogane smirked. "A little battle is nothing. In fact, I'll enjoy it."
"Hyuu~ Kuro-daddy is so manly!" Fai called out, running with his arms in the air, as Kurogane began to chase him around the room again.
"Touya, your payment...is an item you will have to retrieve for me. When you are searching for Yukito, you'll come across a small town called Tomoeda. The town's shrine maiden, Mizuki Kaho, will have the item there." Watanuki's eyes were devoid of any emotion. Touya nodded, a bit confused.
"What is it?" The king asked.
"It's a bell."
"A...bell?"
"Yes." Watanuki lifted the pink key out of the box by the black string and handed to the black Mokona, who promptly swallowed it. The white Mokona spat it out a few seconds later, sending it shooting across the room. Touya grabbed the key as it flew through the air. It was so light, an almost nonexistent weight, and it seemed dwarfed in his broad palm.
"Now I wish you luck on your mission. Goodbye." Watanuki's waving image winked out abruptly as they called out their thanks.
Touya stared silently at the key clutched tightly in his hand.
Wait for me Yuki...I'm coming!
...~*~...~*~...~*~...
A/N: Sorry for late update! I really don't have a good excuse. '^_^ I've been working on my other fic and I've been busy lately. Anyways, I hope it wasn't too dull. Reviews are welcome!
