A/N: I'm counting two more chapters after this. Perhaps three or even four, depending on how the chapter after this turns out...Real confidant on the chapter count, aren't I?

I'm so glad that this and hopefully another story are ending soon. I've started YET another story and four stories is a little much for me to keep up with.

Read, review, enjoy.


Syaoran's face brightened highly as Sakura's jade green eyes opened slightly. "Y-you're okay!"

"Hm?" Sakura's face turned toward Syaoran and a very small smile came to her face. "Syaoran. Yes, I'm okay..." She was so glad to see him. She was glad that he was okay and seemingly unharmed. She was glad that it had been her to be beaten rather than him. "Where's Father?" She tried to sit up a little bit, she knew she couldn't have been out for very long, and if that was actually the case then her wounds being gone had to be her father's doing.

"He's in the other room with Mr. Flourite. You should really stay laying down." Syaoran stood to his feet and pulled the bed covers more up over the girl's body. "Your father said that you still need a good deal of rest, even though he healed you completely, he said he had to draw from some of your energy. Whatever that means."

Sakura nodded slightly and lay back down as she was instructed. "Thank you Syaoran."

"Huh?" The boy frowned as he sat back down. "For what? Mr. Fai was the one who saved you. In the end I couldn't do anything to protect you."

"You did so much. You brought me out of the water to look for Father. You were kind to me, Father always told me that humans were greedy and didn't really care what happened to us. You disproved that by helping me, and by taking me here after those men hurt me..."

"It was only the natural thing to do..."

Sakura shook her head. "No. You could have been scared and ran away to let me die. You could have done so many other things other than pick me up and take me to the one who could heal me. Thank you."

Syaoran smiled in a sad manner. "You don't understand. I had to save you..."

The door opened and Fai the wizard stepped into the room. In his hands he held a small bowl. "I thought I heard voices from within this room." He smiled brightly and came deeper into the room, placing the bowl on the bedside table, "How do you feel?" He asked Sakura in a soft, loving voice as he pushed some of his daughters bangs out of her face.

"I feel okay, a little achey, and very tired."

"I figured as much." As Fai took the bowl and began mixing whatever was inside of it.

There was a jingle of objects clinking together and Sakura gasped, sitting up straight and looking around Fai's waist. "Your belt!"

The blond sighed in a very slightly frustrated way and placed his hand on Sakura's shoulder. He gently pushed her back into her lying position. "Yes, Kuro-wan gave me back my belt. However, this does not change the fact that you need to rest for a while. You can gawk and squeal when you're better. All right?"

Sakura pulled the covers up over her nose and nodded. Fai's bright smile returned. "Good." The magician dipped his fingers into the bowl and when he pulled them out he had a seemingly clear substance on them. "This is a salve. I'm going to put it at your temples to help you sleep and to help you get more energy while you sleep."

"O-okay." When instructed Sakura turned her head to either side to let her Father put the salve on. "Father, you should sleep too. I know, you're not very good at healing. It must've taken a lot out of you."

"Kuro-chu already told me that I have to sleep after this." Fai laughed. "But thank you for your concern Sakura." Fai pulled his fingers back and set the bowl down. "If you should wake up during the night, put some more on and try to sleep. If that doesn't work, come wake me up."

Fai's head turned to Syaoran. "We have a place on the couch set up for you if you want to take it, however, you are welcome to stay here and worry your head off over my daughter if you please. Under normal circumstances I would, so you have my permission to take my place."

Syaoran gave a slow, shy nod, "Yes Sir."

"G-good night Father..."

Fai smiled and stroked Sakura's hair once. "Good night Love. Sleep well." The blond then turned and left the room.

"You should try to go back to sleep Miss Sakura." Syaoran tapped his feet in an impatient fashion, but the impatience was not directed at Sakura, rather the impatience also gave off a worried air, an air that said Syaoran didn't like Sakura's current state of health and that he wanted that state of health to improve quickly.

Sakura nodded and sunk back down under her covers. For a few minutes there was nothing but the sweet sound of silence in the room before Sakura poked her head back out from the blankets. "Syaoran?"

"Yes? Can I get you anything?"

Sakura gave a small, but happy laugh at the eagerness that the boy's voice portrayed. He was so kind, so sweet, so innocent. She loved all that and so much more about him. She held her hand out slightly. "A long time ago Father told me that his teacher told him that if someone held your hand while you were sick, that it would help you get better quicker...Um..." She flexed her fingers slightly. "W-would you hold my hand? It would mean a lot to me."

There was a short pause in which nothing happened before Syaoran reached out and took Sakura's hand in both of his. "I would be honored to help you." He pulled his chair a little closer to the bed and closed his eyes while he still held onto the hand gingerly as if it were a glass object. "Are you sure there's nothing else I can do for you? Miss Sakura?" Syaoran opened his eyes and looked at the girl. A happy smile spread his face as he watched her. She was already asleep.

The young man reached out and turned off the oil lamp so that darkness completely filled the room.


"Kyle. Are you absolutely sure of this?" Fei paced the room as a very beautiful young man stood by the door. "Are you sure that he has his belt back?"

"Of course I'm sure." Kyle bowed his head. "As a former mermaid myself I can spot a belt like his a mile away. He's very powerful. When he came out of that house this morning it was draped around his hips."

"So that girl is the wizard's weakness?"

Kyle nodded, "It would seem that way."

"And that also means that the wizard is a weakness to the person who formerly had his belt..." A slow, evil smirk came to his face. "This is all too perfect. Backup plans are even possible under these conditions." A small chuckle escaped Fei's lips as he finally stopped pacing and turned to face the younger man full on. "Kyle. Use the girl. Bring me the Wizard. If you have to, use the former belt holder. Succeed at this, and I'll give you your own belt back."

Kyle swept back his arm and leaned forward into a deep, respectful bow. "Yes. I will not fail."


"Are you sure you're okay?"

Sakura nodded at her Father as she walked through the room. Syaoran followed close behind her. Although it was not forced, they were linking hand. It would be rather hard for one of them to walk without the other being in toe. "I'm sure. It's been a couple days. I feel great, and I think we're ready to go back to Syaoran's home."

"Are you sure? You are welcome to stay here if you still need more time. Right Kuro-chan?" Fai looked back at the large man with an intense look that said he better agree. Kurogane sighed at the look and nodded. Fai looked to the children once more with a brilliant smile. "See?"

"That's quite all right Father." Sakura laughed joyously and sat down dramatically in a chair. "I want to stay with Syaoran for a while. I know you'll be returning to the ocean now that you have your belt back, but I want to stay here for a little while longer. So...we should move back into his place."

"That's fine. You can visit me here."

Sakura looked a little surprised. "Huh?"

Fai nodded and sat in his graceful manner on the arm of the chair Kurogane was sitting on. "That's right. I too, am staying here for a while. Even though I do have my belt back, I feel like I should stay for now. I don't know how long, but I owe Kurogane, and I can't drag him under the waves with me, he'll drown!"

"So you're really staying here?" Fai nodded. "I hope you'll be happy."

"Sakura." Fai gave a chuckle and held his arms out wide for the girl to come to him. Once the blond was able to wrap his arms around her he spoke again. "As long as you're happy, how can I not be thrilled? As long as you're sure, you can go home now, just be careful. Take the sleeping Mokona with you."

Sakura pulled away from the hug, grinned, took Syaoran's hand, and went to the door. "Syaoran has Moko-chan in his pocket. Don't worry, we'll be careful! Take care, we'll visit soon!"

Fai waved as the door shut and almost immediately Fai stood to his feet. "I'm going to make a mini-ocean in the bathtub. Want to come?"

"You're really staying? Even though I wished..."

Fai put his hand to Kurogane's lips to cut off his words. "I know what you wished for. With that wish, I can do as I please. With that wish I feel a great...deal of emotion for you. I can't put my finger on what the emotion is exactly, but I do know that I do not want to leave yet. I will stay until my daughter returns to ocean...at least. If possible, I want to stay with you for that time. Is that okay?"

"Of course it's okay."

Fai grinned. "Great! Bath-time! Come with me Kuro-rin!" A very small argument seemed to be coming up, but it was suddenly stopped by a knock at the door.

Fai let go of Kurogane's arm and, without tripping, ran to the door and opened it. "Hello!"

"Sea Wizard Fai Blue."

Fai's face fell when he saw who it was. It was a young man. He wore glasses and had blue-gray eyes. In his hands he held a Mokona. Unlike his Mokona that he had gifted Sakura, this Mokona was black with a blue gem. "Watanuki." Fai tilted his head as he stared at the young one. Everyone under the sea knew of the young man that the queen had saved. Everyone knew that she kept him with her in repayment for her spell that allowed him to survive under the waves. "What are you doing here? I thought you were with the Queen."

"I am." Watanuki nodded his head slightly. "Can I come in Wizard Fai Blue?"

"Kuro-chan?"

"Whatever you want now, just go ahead and take it..."

Fai chuckled lightheartedly and stood aside for Watanuki to come in. "Sit. Tell me what's so important that Yuuko of all people sent you up here."

"I have a message for you and Sakura Pink...but she's not here right now is she?" Fai shook his head and Watanuki frowned slightly. "Well, I'll give you the message, then you can pass it onto her."

"That sounds reasonable." Fai sat down in a chair that was parallel to the boy's and Kurogane came up behind Fai's chair, resting his chin on the top of the chair. He watched the newcomer with great interest, as if he had always wondered what else Fai had known from his days in the warm sea. "What's the message?"

"I'm sorry to report this but, Fai Blue and Sakura Pink are to return to the ocean immediately. No questions asked. No reasons will override this order. Disobey and it will lead to your immediate and permanent expulsion from the ocean. Those are Yuuko's words."