A/N: Chapter 9! Enjoy!


The breeze whispered as they walked further and further into the snow. It whispered not of words but of a far distant melody. A gentle song that sank into the ice, and lifted off with flurries of white. They could see nothing but pristine white in all directions; they had long since left the forest behind. Yet, the sun did not rise any higher. The pale disc hung low in the sky with many hours laying between it and noon.

Time moved slow in this ivory plain, and Fai couldn't help but remember a certain tower. Hard, cold stone against bleeding fingers… and a child falling —

He stumbled, the motion jerking him out of his thoughts. What the hell was he doing? He needed to be alert, not loosing himself in memories. Not now at the very least. Fai steadied himself and hurried his pace. He plastered a smile on his face at Sakura's concern which he waved off. As he looked around again, his blue eyes caught red ones.

Snapping his vision back forwards, Fai continued walking.

No distractions. He had work to do.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Kurogane watched the mage as they walked through the snow. The determined look in those blue eyes did nothing to stem a wave of irrational anger.

The mage hadn't spoken to him at all. Not a single word since the night before. It was obvious now that the fool had come to some sort of conclusion which now drove the mage forward. Most likely an idiotic and highly dangerous decision that would not bear well for said mage. They had enough issues on their hands without the mage acting on his own. The ninja resisted the urge to heave a sigh.

They had been walking for god knows how long and still nothing had happened! Sure, they were moving in the direction of the feather, the bun reassured them almost constantly, but the snow spirit had yet to show herself! Frankly, Kurogane was getting annoyed. Or maybe annoyed was too soft of a word, more like he was getting pissed off.

The spirit better show itself soon, Kurogane's patience was wearing thin.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Strange. What more do they want? They walk even if they go nowhere…

He walks with them…

I don't want to be…alone.

I just want him to come back.

I don't want to be alone!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The wind howled and screamed. Great gusts tore at the snow, tossing the flakes in huge flurries. Icy cold air bit at their exposed skin, and threatened to knock them down. They threw themselves down into the snow to avoid getting blown away. The wind screeched and clawed at their backs as they pressed themselves further down.

"There's no cover here!" Syaoran shouted. "We'll be buried if we stay still!"

Kurogane heard the mage mutter something beside him. The ninja peered ahead. There was nothing they could use as shelter. They were stuck. He knew there was only one person who could be responsible for a sudden storm.

Mystral.

He could barely hear himself yell curses and challenges over the shrieks of the wind. The snow was piling up, and fast. They really would be buried.

Growling to himself, the ninja unsheathed Souhi.

"Hama Ryuuoujin!

Crack.

The force of the blow tore the wind as though it was a living thing. It screeched in a hurt fury. The snow and wind scattered leaving gouges of empty ground behind.

"Good job, Kuro-wan!" Mokona congratulated

He clicked his tongue in response. "Kid. You might want to see this"

Syaoran rushed to his feet, holding out a hand to the princess. As she stood, the boy looked about eyes wide.

"What is this?"

What had once been only snow now gave way to aged and broken cobblestone. Black and gnarly vines clung to bleached stone wreckage. The gouges from the ninja's strike had broken a forgotten street. Ruins of buildings rose from the snow, skeletons of a lost town. The black of the encroaching plants stood starkly against the ivory stone.

They approached cautiously, Kurogane and Syaoran leading. The kid reached out to the stone, and flinched at the cold touch. He brushed the snow off, fingers tracing an engraving.

"I don't understand" Syaoran breathed

"What is it?"

The boy looked up at the ninja. "These markings… When we were at Abby's I saw it." He hurriedly pushed more of the snow aside, revealing more of the design. It was a snowflake. Delicate branches that intertwined amongst each other, creating a greater whole.

"What does it mean?" Sakura asked

"It means Mystral."

The two kids quickly turned to face the speaker.

Kurogane's fist clenched. "Mage…" Fai was staring down the street, a light smile on his face.

The mage nodded. "That's what it means."

"But how?" Syaoran exclaimed

"It's a signature of sorts. Mystral needed her presence known here for some reason so she put it there." The mage turned to them slightly. "Or at least that's what I think"

There was silence. The breeze had returned and it rustled past them. They stood there, contemplating.

Kurogane felt uneasy. The snowflake, its connection to Mystral, the damn mage… all of it… none of it was making any sense. They needed the feather for Sakura, and they couldn't figure out how to get it! It was grating just how helpless they were becoming. It was as if they had played right into the spirit's hands.

Damn it! Just what did the spirit want?

"I don't know anymore"

The wind cackled.

The snow swirled down the broken road. It parted as it drew closer and a childlike figure materialised out of the snow. Silver platinum hair floated around a pale smiling face. Crystal ice blue eyes gazed solemnly at them. A white dress rustled in the wind.

In Mystral's hands lay an icy orb, its depths shining bright.

"My question for you, however, is what do you want?"


A/N: I really do enjoy writing from Fai's point of view. His whole character is just so... *sighs*

Anyways, I can feel the end of this fic coming, just a few more chapters. All the main actors have arrived on the stage and the time for the end is here! Hahahaha...

Well I hope you enjoyed reading chapter 9!