Disclaimer: If I owned Tsubasa, Mokona wouldn't be in there or it would be a fish.

Sorry it took so long to write this chapter. I was busy playing with my cat and then ended up writing a bunch of one shots and alternate endings to different and absolutely pointless things. So on with it! Credit is given to the reviewers who love me! –Happy face and cookies to those who admit it-

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Shock. Pure, utter, recognizable shock. It was written on the warrior's face and Fai could sense it was even plaguing his way to speak. Maybe he had asked too soon? Maybe he shouldn't have asked Kurogane directly or Kurogane at all? When Fai decided to take another glance at the tattooed man, Kurogane's lips were parted somewhat and his eyes were narrowed in confusion.

"I thought I already had…"

Rain. Hollow, mocking, screaming rain. Down pouring outside the hut like there was no water on earth. In Fai's heart, it was also there. It was rain from hopelessness that drenched his heart and soul, claiming them both for its own selfish needs. Fai bowed his head, the smile removed from his face. Kurogane's answer hadn't been the one he was looking for.

"Maybe we both thought differently…"

Hearts. Broken, crying, longing hearts. They pounded in each other's ears from the distance they were at. They didn't want to move to get a closer listening of the hearts to see if they were real, but they did want to know if the other's heart was as shattered as his own. Kurogane felt like he had done something wrong, and maybe he had, but now he wasn't so sure if an apology is what Fai needed. Fai felt like the world was crashing down around him along with the rain. Just when he felt like he had found a new home…

Silence. Earsplitting, deafening, aggravating silence. The rain made no use of covering it up. Kurogane and Fai sat together and listened to this annoying silence and hoped that the other would break it soon. Kurogane chanced a glance at Fai, earning him an ache in the heart. Fai was silently…oh, so silently, crying. Tears were gathering at his chin, dropping down onto already wet fabric from previous tears. Kurogane bowed his head in what felt like guilt, glowering down at the fires laughing embers.

"The fish…are done…"

Fai watched as the native man pulled the cooked cuisine off the sticks and handed one to the blonde. Said blonde took it reluctantly, but not wanting to cause the man in front of him anymore trouble, he decided against refusing Kurogane's wishes. They sat in more of the silence, the rain gradually getting louder as more puddles were formed. Kurogane was the first to finish, standing up to look outside. When he didn't move from his spot, Fai looked at his bare back in curiosity.

"Kuro-pi?" He asked cautiously, earning a glare from the taller of the two as he hurried back inside.

"On the line of the sea…I saw more boats… boats that carry your banner… I sense a disturbance coming…" Kurogane said, tying a bearskin cloak around his shoulders and then doing the same around Fai's. Fai just watched him. There it was again, he thought, that same deformed feeling called shock.

"We need to warn the others… You gather up the food, snuff out the fires and wrap up a few blankets in that bag, I'll be back." And with those last commands, Kurogane vanished behind the curtain's pull. Fai took a moment to register those words and did as he was instructed. When Kurogane came back, he was shaking his head, a disbelieving look on his face.

"What's wrong?" the blonde asked, touching Kurogane's arm. Said man looked down at him, ignoring the water dripping off every part of him.

"The village has vanished. I don't know where they are. The huts are not full, the fires are not lit. I think they are still… oh no, I think they're still out by the seas gathering fish! But why would…" As Kurogane rambled his thoughts out loud, Fai peeked out the curtain again.

"Kuro-sama, we need to make haste. By the time you clear everything up in that head of yours, we'll be taken out for sure!" He hissed, glaring at the oncoming boats being rocked on the stormy waves. The tattooed man growled menacingly, wrapping his bow and quiver around him. Kurogane then raced out the door way, grabbing Fai's left arm and shot up towards the forest. This time, he would wait for Fai to catch his breath before going back to running uphill. At their newly achieved spot in the cliffs above the village, Fai and Kurogane sat down, ignoring the wetness of their backsides. Kurogane scanned the land slowly at anything moving besides the rain.

"Ah! They are coming back from another tribe! Why did they not come to council with me?" Kurogane quickly stopped talking when he saw where the ships were.

"We need to warn them!"

"No! We must stay here or we'll get captured as well!" Fai watched as Kurogane stood, slowly standing with him. Kurogane's face had an expression the blonde had never seen on the warrior before. When Kurogane turned to Fai, the wizard had to hold back a gasp. He knew what Kurogane was thinking the moment he did so.

"Wizard. I haven't known you for long, and you have not I. I accepted you into my home along with all my other siblings and friends. My mother has given you fine food and drink, and my father has kept you from death. I will keep my word to you. I will not die, and I… I will be the one to take you away, not those ships. Stay here. I'll return." Fai felt his heart skip a beat. He then felt Kurogane's arms encircle him in a chaste hug. Fai had never felt anything, nor heard anything so…pure…something so purely determined and full of hidden fear and horrible realization of the truth… it made Fai want to hug the warrior back and whisper sweet nothings to the older man or something like that.

But, without further mushy moments and ceasing any other seductive thoughts the magician might get, Kurogane picked up his spear and lunged himself over the cliff and into the waters. The ships had now reached the bay and were sending boats to shore where some had already sat. From what Fai could see, some men were attacking the arriving clan, pistol shots could be heard as they ricocheted off of the precipices. Fai felt his stomach sink to the bottom of his shoe.

What if Kurogane got shot? Not wanting to think about it, the blonde wizard focused on finding the said warrior. When he did see him, he was just getting onto shore, standing straight up with…what was that? A bow? Yes, Kurogane was aiming for some of the people getting out. From what Fai could see, he got a couple, watching them fall lifeless and squirming back into the sea. The others seemed to notice him, because when the blonde turned to look at the caravan, some of them were racing back towards Kurogane. Fai held his breath; this wasn't going to be easy…

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Kurogane held his breath as he hid underneath foliage. Those pesky travelers had not only captured his entire village, but killed some in the process. Some of those included his father, mother, and the some of the younger fighters. Kurogane had been lucky to hide at the spot, but boy he felt like a coward. In his position, he could see where his younger brother's body lay, strewn awkwardly as the bones in his body disagreed as they were snapped in two. The tattooed man closed his eyes, giving silent prayer and as soon as he made sure the coast was clear, he headed noiselessly and back up the mountain's edges fortunate enough not to be seen.

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Fai was hyperventilating. He had lost sight of Kurogane as soon as the cliffs got in his line of vision. He was afraid that if he moved too close to the edge, the cliffs would crumble from under him or worse, would send a rock toppling down to let the predators know he was there. He let out a small moan of aggravation and leaned against a tree. When he felt a hand go against his lips, he jumped a little, turning to see who it was. There sat a soaking wet Kurogane. On the side of his face was a small cut and his hair was now shorter than usual. Fai felt his heart shatter when he looked at the red eyed man's expression.

He had seen it many times before. He had worn that face long enough to know good and well what the owner was feeling. Kurogane was gazing at him with hopeless, lost eyes. His lips were curved delicately into a frown with a set jaw. Fai classified this expression with a heavy heart as; hollow. Kurogane bowed his head, letting the rain conceal his tears. He had never felt so numb. His body ached from climbing and fighting. His brothers and father had put up a good fight, but not good enough. He had tried so hard to keep his village safe and uphold his title. And now, as he clinched his fists into the mud, staring in deep loathing at it, he felt so weak and hopeless that he was afraid he couldn't go on any longer…

Fai watched as the broken man made no noise but continuously wept in front of him before hugging the taller man. The other whole heartedly took his embrace, silently watching as his village was hauled into the boats covered in shackles and rainwater. Fai felt Kurogane's body quiver once really harshly and noticed that he had stopped shedding tears and was actually feeling the cold air again. Fai unwrapped on of the blankets from the bag and covered Kurogane's shoulders with them. The blonde smiled at the man who just stared tiredly at him.

"…Are… Aren't you going to get cold too?" He asked, watching the blonde shiver against his wishes.

"I'll be fine, Kuro-qui. You need your strength though, so you…stay…" Fai said, trailing off as he felt a sneeze coming. As the cutest sneeze left Fai, Kurogane gave him a hardly seen smile. He lifted his arms up, holding them out to Fai. The blonde looked questioningly at the older man, then, realizing his point, snuggled up to him. He placed his head next to his chest, listening to his splintered heartbeats. As the rain slowly digressed and eventually stopped, Fai watched as the ships came and went with its cargo, wondering if they would be back. Kurogane must have been wondering the same thing, because Fai could hear him counting the ships.

Nightfall came soon enough, and Kurogane, becoming hungry quick and in need of warmth, made a small fire in the opening of the cliff. Fai watched him, turning away as he removed his clothes until he got to his under cloth. Fai blushed as he did the same, not wanting to get ill again. They hung up the wet clothes in the branches and laid out two of the blankets next to the fire; one on top, the other on bottom. Fai sat on these while Kurogane set out to get some food again.

The wizard listened to the night noises, intrigued by how many there were. Crickets, Chirps, Hoots, crying, a howl, some galloping…wait, crying? Fai shot up from his position, looking about to see where the noise came from. He stood, noticing it was close by. It was too high pitched to be Kurogane, and it was more than one person doing so. Fai searched around the camp, getting closer.

"Hello? Is anyone there? If you are, come to my voice!" Fai called out, trying his hardest to keep silent. He heard whispers and less crying. Then he heard rustling to his left. He turned, seeing three children. One had a cut on her knee, dried blood where the brunette girl tried to wipe it away and visible tears in those huge green eyes. The other girl's forehead was bleeding, directly in the middle. She had been the one crying the most, for there were tears streaming down her pale cheeks. The only boy in the group was glaring defiantly up at Fai with his one good eye, the other having a slice across its lid. All three of them were soaked to the bone and shivering. Fai smiled sadly at them, recognizing them to be Syaoran, Sakura, and Mokona.

"Children, do you remember me? I'm Fai, White Dove. Kurogane…oh what was it… Strong Panther, is here with me…" The girls instantly stopped crying when Kurogane's Indian name was mentioned and Syaoran grabbed their hands.

"Where is he?" The boy asked, once again returning Fai's stare. Fai led them to the fire where the blankets were. Fai dug in the bag for the other two blankets and laid them out. The three of them made a game out of getting undressed the fastest and whoever won would get cleaned up first by Fai. Said magician only smiled as the three kids played, ignoring their wounds and Mokona ended up being the first one to be treated. Fai sat her in his lap, ripping his hanging shirt up to bandage it around her white haired head.

"Is this ok, White Dove?" She asked timidly, wincing as the makeshift bandage caressed her open wounded forehead. Fai smiled, gently tying it in the back.

"I'll just borrow Kuro-can's shirt later, he won't need it. Besides, this is all we have at the moment."

Later, after the kids were all bandaged up and tucked in, Kurogane appeared out of the woods with two deer on his shoulders and his spear in hand. He laid them down lightly noticing the sleeping children.

"They escaped?" He asked Fai quietly, who in return nodded. Fai had Sakura's head in his lap and he was gently stroking it. Kurogane thought that he looked so caring around the children, smiling to himself as he imagined Fai and his kids running around. Then he mentally slapped himself. Wasn't this person a man, after all? He bit his lip on the inside, trying to ignore the provoking thoughts as he skinned his next meal.

Fai shot him a look, noticing his cheek was still oozing slightly. The magician set Sakura's head down lightly, who, in return, snuggled up to Syaoran. He smiled at the two before grabbing the remainder of his shirt and headed over to Kurogane.

"What is it?" the red eyed man asked, not looking at the blonde. Fai put a hand on his cheek to make Kurogane face him.

"Your cheek. It needs to be attended to." He said, waving the cloth around. Kurogane gave the blue eyed man a look before scoffing.

"It's nothing and it'll heal on its own. Don't bother with it." He said, going back to skinning the deer. Fai gave him a small smile, sitting next to him.

"At least let me clean it." He said, and, knowing Kurogane didn't want to argue, he watched as the said warrior set down the bloody blade with a sigh and turned to the magician.

They sat in the earsplitting silence once again, staring at each other absentmindedly and stealing glances at the children to make sure they were still asleep. When the mage was done, he let his hand linger.

"All done, Kuro-myun." He said lightheartedly, feeling the butterflies softly flutter in his stomach. Kurogane felt his lips tug upwards on the sides.

"Thank you, Blue eyes." And with that, Fai placed a small, but still very pure kiss on the bandage, feeling the hollowness and the broken pieces vanish with the earsplitting, yet very welcome silence. Kurogane could've not hoped for anything better.

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Meah! I tried ok!? I really, REALLY tried! I started on this at…6:34 am and got it done at…9:39 am. Yeah, I'm weird like that. I stayed up all night to do chores. What now? Ok, I think I'll go pass out now. Reviews, options, kudos are welcome! Flames are ignored and laughed at! Tootles

Mirika-puppy-san