Fate Guides My Steps

Chapter Ten: All Roads Lead to Rome...

Author: YoseiAmbereyes

Velaterra, Hummai

6th of the Sixth Moon Month

"Colonel Asagawa, I have a special assignment for you."

Toya clenched his hands into tight fists to keep his form straight and still in the presence of his leader, his lord and master. The High Lord of Hummai was lounging on his throne, leaned back into its cold embrace with the look of ease on his pale face. No one in the world knew him well enough to recognize the lines around his mouth for the signs of irritation that they were.

"I am honored to be of service my lord."

Toya said placing a hand over his heart and bowing at the waist in the traditional salute of Hummai. The High Lord focused on his fingernails and idly began picking at some imaginary dirt that lay there. Toya for his part tried to focus on the High Lord himself, but the young man couldn't help the draining feeling that it brought him to look at him for too long. So, Toya was forced to let his eyes drift to the marble dais and lay there instead.

"Colonel, you are the only one that saw my Seer escape. The rest of the men that pursued her to the River, have been convinced otherwise."

Toya struggled to hold back a shiver that thrilled down his spine. He had spoken to the soldiers that had followed him in chasing the Seer; after they had seen the High Lord. All of them had shown clear signs of deep cutting fear, and had near point blank refused to even speak of what happened that afternoon yesterday.

"Yes, my lord."

The High Lord's lips curved into a small smirk; he was rather surprised by the fact that the young Colonel hadn't had any sort of memory relapse from seeing his sister so close. It seemed the Colonel's memory loss was a rather secure thing, the High Lord wanted to see just how secure, just how far he could push this young man, it would be entertaining. Not to mention the extra bonus of adding a bit of torture to the young green eyed woman who was running in the wilderness somewhere, thinking she was free.

"Well, Colonel. You are going to choose six men that you trust, and then you are going to go and find my Seer. You are not going to tell anyone of this mission. You do not act in the name of Hummai. You do not act in the name of the army. You and whoever you choose are on your own. There will be no protection offered to you if you are caught, or accused of any wrong doing."

Toya swallowed, trying to return some moisture to his suddenly dry mouth. What was the meaning of this?

The High Lord suddenly rose from his throne and left his voluminous cloak behind on its flat surface. The slight man rose on his lean, long legs and walked down from the dais. Toya was suddenly very aware that he was alone in the throne room with this man. The High Lord wore very simple clothing, brown leather breeches, and a rough weave black tunic. Around his hips, held up by a black leather belt was his sword. Toya had never seen the blade, but stories of its wicked appearance, were common among the soldiers.

"Colonel, it will come as no surprise to you that the Seer, over the past five years has become a sort of...icon for my men. She has also become an example of my dominance over my lands, old and new. No one, outside of this room, knows she is missing, I have made sure of that."

There was something in his voice, a hint of a cruel smile, that made Toya mentally shudder. He briefly wondered after the servants who were used to seeing the Seer everyday, those that cleaned her room, brought her meals, or helped her bathe. What happened to them?

The High Lord continued.

"In short, without my intending for her too, she has become a vital part of my control over these lands and these people. I need her back. And you are going to get her for me. Again, you may choose any six men you wish, any rank, any army division. You may choose to include them in what they are truly searching for or not, that is entirely up to you. But...Colonel..."

Toya looked up and met the High Lord's eyes. He was startled to find the man standing right before him, not more than three hand spans away. So close, Toya could feel the air he breathed from his lungs puffing against his neck. It was cold. What's more, the High Lord's eyes. They held Toya's in a locked gaze he couldn't break free from.

"Should there be even the slightest breath of a rumor of her not being at my side. I will know exactly who to blame for it."

There was no question in Toya's mind as to what would happen then either.

"So, Colonel. You would do well to choose your men very wisely."

Toya could only nod.

An hour or so later, Yukito found his best friend sitting against a building, his face in shadow. The young mage sat down cross legged next to him, and leaned against the brick as well. The late spring sun warmed the cobble stones, and now shone in their laps.

There were no secrets between Yukito and Toya. There were no explanations needed between them. There were no words needed between them, either.

Toya glanced at his companion, who looked solemnly back with pale blue eyes. But unlike those of the High Lord, these held warmth, and feeling. The young Colonel could feel himself recovering from his encounter in the throne room.

"We'll leave tomorrow. I've already decided who's coming."

He said, returning his gaze to the street in front of them.

"I imagine you've chosen, Darka, Coleni, Neprapo, Blarack and Suni."

Toya wasn't surprised that Yukito flawlessly named the men he had chosen to accompany him, in the exact order he had chosen them. They both knew nearly every man in all four armies, and where their loyalties lay. Toya had specifically chosen five men that would happily follow Toya to hell if he wanted.

"I chose Comtia as the sixth."

Yukito visibly stiffened, that he did not expect.

"What? Why?"

"The High Lord was very clear about this mission, Yuki. No one is to know about it. If so much as a passing thought about the Seer's escape reaches his ears, he will kill us all. I'll not have you taking that risk."

There was a slight pause, Toya could literally feel Yukito summoning his stubbornness that so very rarely showed.

"As if you have a choice in the matter. I am coming, Toya."

"I'm your superior officer."

"And I'm a mage. Your rank does not apply to me."

"That was when I was a major. I'm a Colonel, remember?"

"Perfectly. Very well. Then I'm your friend. I am coming."

"No, you're not."

Toya was glaring now, his infamous temper beginning to show in his narrowed eyes, and tensed hunch of his shoulders. Yukito was not glaring, he wasn't even mad. He was merely looking back at his friend with a simple smile.

"I am not arguing with you Toya, I am stating a fact. I am coming with you. You will need my help against that magical beast, and you know it."

"I'll get another mage."

"Who?"

Yukito asked. Toya ground his teeth. They both knew that Yukito was the only full mage in the army at the moment. There were a handful of apprentices that were still studying at the palace under the old Hummai master mage who had retired from active duty when he could no longer meet the rigorous physical standards.

"All the more reason for you to stay."

"My loyalties are to you first, everyone else second."

Toya's eyes widened and he looked about quickly, there was no one about but that did not make Toya feel any less at ease.

"Are you insane, Yuki?! That is boarder line treason!"

Yukito raised a light colored eyebrow.

"Would you like to know where the High Lord is on my loyalty list? He's ranked somewhere around 15,000,000th. Which by the way, is the estimated number of people living on this continent."

Toya paled, and continued to look around for anyone who might overhear what his best friend was saying. Yukito was valuable to the army, but not valuable enough that he could say these kinds of things without severe repercussions.

"What are you saying Yukito? The High Lord gave us a home, when there was no where else to go."

"Toya, the High Lord does nothing that doesn't serve his purposes in some way. There is no heart in that man."

Yukito looked down at his alabaster hands that were laying in his lap. Toya halted his perimeter scan to consider Yukito's words.

"That may be, but Hummai is my home. And I swore an oath to serve this country."

"And you know I would never ask you to break your word. So I am asking that you not make me break mine. I swore I would follow you, all the days of my life."

A silence settled on them, and the brightness of the day only seemed to dim their spirits. Toya knew Yukito well enough to know there would be no compromise on this. If Toya still refused to let Yukito come, the mage would probably desert the army to follow them.

"You're being very stupid."

"We are all very stupid."

Basick Valley, Northern Drume Mountains

6th of the Sixth Moon Month

Syaoran awoke the morning after his collapse in one of the best moods he had ever been in. And everyone noticed. Fearing that his collapse yesterday had somehow damaged his brain, they made him visit Eriol before letting him go out into the woods to hunt with the other men. Aside from being the strongest mage, and most educated man, Eriol also happened to be the only one who studied medicine.

So the young warrior climbed the stairs up to the second story of the only multiply story building in the small town of Basick Valley and knocked on the closet door of one of the rooms. Eriol called for him to come in.

"Syaoran? Good, you've recovered. Gave everyone quite a scare yesterday, going unconscious like that. May I ask what happened?"

Syaoran plopped down into one of the spindly chairs, wincing as it creaked and groaned.

"Sure, ask away."

Eriol's lips twitched into an amused smile.

"What happened?"

"Well, I didn't get any sleep that night before. I was very restless for some reason. But I felt detached from it, like it wasn't me that was restless."

"You think it was coming from the person in those dreams? That's a large claim, to be linked closely enough to share feelings, you'd have to have a pretty strong connection with someone. Dreams are one thing, actual feelings are quite another."

Eriol looked Syaoran over with a critical eye, personally wondering if it was possible for the twenty year old to have that kind of connection to someone. Syaoran glared at Eriol darkly.

"I realize that."

Syaoran said testily, thinking back to the few moments before he blacked out...the familiar presence that had been right next to him. The warrior thought for a moment of telling Eriol about that part, but then refrained. It was...somehow very personal. Syaoran didn't know how he felt about the strange connection he had with the person. It was irritating, distracting, comforting and pleasant at the same time. And he felt unable to express this to anyone, like they wouldn't understand. So Syaoran said nothing.

"Why the happy mood this morning, then? No dreams?"

Syaoran shifted in his chair, causing it to suddenly slight to the left making him clutch the seat as he regained his balance.

"I did dream. But not the unusual kind, more like...regular dreams. Flying, walking in woods, that kind of thing. But I slept really well, and deeply, for the first time in years."

"Is your mood today just the result of that?"

Syaoran shrugged.

"It has to be. What else is there?"

Eriol was quiet for a long time, thinking about it.

"Well, it sounds like you channeled the restlessness from yesterday. Could you be channeling this as well?"

"Am I really that grouchy? Can't I just be in a good mood?"

"Yes. And, yes."

Syaoran rolled his eyes.

"I don't think I'm 'channeling' this. It doesn't feel the same. I'm content..."

The warrior thought back to the feeling he had when he woke up; how he had rolled over and looked up at the dark cieling a rare smile curving his lips.

"I'm happy for her."

Syaoran said suddenly, without thinking. Eriol sat up, and Syaoran started, confusion marring his features. They both stared at each other.

"Syaoran? What are you talking about?"

Eriol asked slowly, beginning to believe Syaoran's thoughts of being truly and deeply connected to someone. For him to just spit a comment out like that, was very strange, he usually was one of those people that considered their words before speaking them. Syaoran was racking his brain, trying to summon exactly where the sentiment of being 'happy for her' had come from. He thought back to earlier that morning. He closed his eyes, trying to think back, trying to figure it out. Nothing came to him. He could only remember waking up feeling content, and happy for the first time in a while. Syaoran raised his hands and rubbed them over his face, suddenly weary again.

"I don't know, Eriol."

Northwestern Hummai (once the northwest edge of the western forests of Arcadia)

24th of the Eighth Moon Month

"Seven days you say?"

Said one of the strange men that had come knocking on the Hannars' humble door very early that morning. They all wore plain traveling clothes and had introduced themselves as slave bounty hunters. Currently, five of the men were outside, tending to the horses they had all rode to this remote little farm. The other two, clearly the authority figures, crammed themselves inside the Hannars' miniscule hut to speak with the elderly couple.

"Yes, they left seven days ago, sometime in the night while my wife and I were asleep. Were they really run away slaves?"

The young man who had introduced himself as 'Yuki' gave them a wane smile.

"I'm afraid so, they belong to an important courtier in Velaterra. We have been hired to bring the two of them in."

The elderly couple thought back to the lovely girls that had stayed with them They had been rather close mouthed about where they had come from, withholding details and facts. But at the same time, the two girls had been open and friendly. Over a month ago, two young girls, both weary with travel, knocked on their door much the same way these men had. However, instead of information, the two offered their services as field hands, maids, whatever the Hannars needed in exchange for a place to stay for a few weeks. Mr. Hannar had accepted. Harvest time was upon them, and the meager plantings he had managed earlier that year needed to be harvested quickly before the early winters of the north set in. That was something he knew he wouldn't be able to do alone. Not with his health declining. With the two girls' help, he and his wife were set for the long winter months.

Mrs. Hannar brought the two men who were inside the hut cups of water. She handed them each a cup, the thin pale man thanked her, while the dark one with the brooding eyes merely nodded his thanks.

"Well, we don't know what else we can tell you. They said nothing of where they were headed, or how they were going to get there."

Toya and Yukito had been on the trail of the Seer and her slave for nearly three months, searching up and down the banks of the Kor River, posting up bounty sheets with the slave's description, rather than the Seer's. If the secret to the Seer's escape was going to remain a secret, they would have to track the slave, not her mistress. Yuki and Toya were the only ones that knew the slave wasn't what they were really looking for. But since they couldn't draw any attention to the High Lord's witch, they had no choice but to act as though they were simple bounty hunters, looking for runaway slaves. It made the task very difficult, since they were in the old heartlands of Arcadia, a place that was riddled with those who secretly supported old Arcadia. So far they had been close only a handful of times. Darka had even managed to lay a hand on the dark haired slave in the first village outside of Velaterra, but had been stopped by a rather vicious right hook from her companion. The two managed to slip out and hide in the forest that surrounded the town.

Toya sent regular notes of their non-existent progress by messenger bird to the High Lord. The High Lord never replied, or sent any kind of word of his thoughts or feelings on the matter. He had been serious about the six of them having no ties to Hummai for the duration of this mission.

"I'm rather surprised this courtier would bother hiring bounty hunters. I thought that runaway slaves were dealt with by the army."

A pregnant pause that was occupied by a heavy silence momentarily stalled the conversation. Toya and Yuki didn't look at each other but rather the clay cups in their hands.

"Yes, that is true, however the soldiers have less incentive to find the slaves than someone being paid for it."

Yuki remarked putting the clay cup down on the lopsided table. The Hannars seemed satisfied with that answer.

"Can't trust any of that army. Not a one. Give 'em half a chance and the'll take it all from you, family, home and livelihood."

The old man said, a bit of his temper flaring. His wife turned her face away, and stared mournfully at the floor. She hadn't said a single word throughout the entire interview, or the previous introductions. Yukito looked at her closely, wondering if there was a physical problem that stilled her speech. Toya, on the other hand, continued with his questions.

"Did the girls leave anything here when they left?"

The old man flinched, but answered 'no' anyway. After some prodding, the old man admitted that the girls had left a gift. A small sapphire jewel, left in the cook pot.

"Nearly cracked a tooth on it while eating the stew that night."

He said with a wry grin.

"Went down into the town and sold it for a few pretty pennies. Got enough to hire on some hands next spring and fall, get a better harvest. And it's all thanks to those girls. So I say again, I don't think we can help you...you understand, I'm sure."

The old man explained, looking at Toya meaningfully. Toya could only sigh and nod. Even if he believed the old man to be lying about not knowing anything, Toya knew he would be unable to get Mr. Hannar to betray the girls. They had been to kind to him and his mute wife.

"Well, then I thank you for your time. We will see ourselves off your land."

The old man bobbed his head in agreement and slowly rose to see them the two feet to the door. Yukito cast one more look at the silent wife, and followed Toya out. It wasn't until they were out of ear shot from the little lean too hut, that he asked Toya what he thought of the wife.

"She was just a mute, Yuki, nothing to it."

"She turned away when her husband mentioned the army. She seemed to be in pain."

Toya shrugged, the other men had already crested the small hill that over looked the dell where the Hannars' hut was, and Toya spurred his horse to catch up with them. Yukito hurried after him, wanting to continue the conversation at hand. There was something that was starting to really bother Yukito; something that he felt he had been ignoring for years. The pair crested the hill and slowed as they passed through a grove of weeping willow trees, not wanting any of their saddles or saddle bags to get caught in the branches.

"Toya, listen to me, there is something wrong here, or rather, wrong with Hummai in general."

Toya turned to look over his shoulder at his friend.

"This again? Come on Yuki, Hummai is our home. Sure, it's not perfect, but it's the best there is."

"I don't think that's true."

"Why on earth not? Yuki, seriously, I know that the High Lord probably didn't save us out of the goodness of his heart, I'm not naive. My Uncle probably had to convince him to give me a home. But I'm okay with that, because I got one, I got a home. So did you."

Yukito frowned, and Toya spurred his horse out of the willow grove, eager to be done with the conversation and caught up with the rest of his men. Yukito lingered for a moment under the weeping trees, looking around as if he noticed them for the first time. Suddenly a stiff breeze parted the swaying branches enough so that the young mage caught a glimpse of a grave headstone at the foot of one of the trees. Yukito, curious, dismounted and pushed his way through the weeping branches for a closer look.

Aiden Hannar
1653 - 1670

Yukito swallowed a sudden lump that had risen in his throat. This year would be the fifth anniversary of this boy's death. Yukito stepped back, meaning to climb back on his horse and continue with his journey, when he spotted another headstone under the swaying branches of the neighboring tree.

Mitsy Hannar
1650 - 1670

The young mage felt he didn't want to see anymore. His mind was racing with facts that he didn't want to entertain. He knew the High Lord's methods of fighting, he had been trained in them. He knew how Arcadia had been taken, the older soldiers talked of little else. Yukito instead of backing up towards where he left the horse, like he thought, instead stumbled under another tree, and another grave.

Antony Hannar
1646 - 1670

This was insane! Yukito thought. This doesn't change anything! But it did. For the first time, seeing the graves of its victims, the consequences of the war became almost unbearably clear to Yukito. He remembered the large patch of undisturbed earth near the Hannars' current dwelling. It looked like there was a large amount of charcoal and charred debris underneath the brush and weeds. Yukito had given its presence no thought until now. He turned, looking about for his horse rather desperately now. But the swaying branches of the weeping willows were thick and obscuring his sight. He turned again, now facing yet another of the sad trees in this sad place.

Judith Botarn Hannar
and
her unborn child
1647 - 1670

Yukito tore out from under those trees, scaring his horse. Yukito grabbed the reins with one hand and heaved himself into the saddle with the other. Then he spurred the animal out from under the trees and back into the bright sunshine. Yukito hurried after his only friend in the world.

War was war. There would always be causalities. But here? The middle of no where? A place that had to be searched for, and trekked too? What could have been the purpose of coming to this far out? Toya was right, Yukito did receive a home when he had none. But how many lost theirs?

Northern Reaches of the Drume Mountains

30th of the Ninth Moon Month

"Sakura, let's take a break!!"

Kero roared over the shrieking wind. Sakura, who was leading the way looked over her shoulder at her two friends. Tomoyo was riding on Kero's back, hunched over, trying to hide from the vicious wind. The lithe young woman nodded, not willing to strain her already sore throat. The three hurried off the snow covered path and into the thick corpse of trees on the left side; there the wind lessened its shrieking to a soft wail, and it wasn't nearly as cold.

"We can't stop long, it'll be night soon."

Tomoyo slid off Kero's back and huddled down under one of the trees. Sakura scooted up next to her friend, trying to warm her frozen body.

"How close are we Tomoyo? Can you tell?"

Sakura asked, using her hands to rub up and down Tomoyo's arms in an effort to give her some more warmth through friction. Kero after making sure there were no forest predators stalking about, came over and curled up behind the two girls, wrapping his long, warm, fur covered form around them as much as he could.

"I think we are close."

Tomoyo's voice came out in a bare whisper, she wasn't doing so well. Sakura felt her brow furrow at her obvious weakening state. They had to hurry.

"On the path, I think I could see the outer mountains, we'll be to the mouth of the valley in a couple more days."

Sakura dug out a flask from their rucksack, and uncapped it. She put it in Tomoyo's shaking hands and helped her drink. Tomoyo coughed as the alcohol burned down her raw throat, but managed to swallow most of it. Once in her stomach, the drink warmed her pleasantly, and she felt some life return to her weary body.

"I don't think you have a couple more days Tomoyo, this sickness is taking everything from you."

Sakura said gravely, putting the flask back, not bothering to take a sip of her own. Tomoyo sighed, and leaned further into Kero's warmth. The magical creature didn't get cold, apparently, something about his connections to the sun. Kero had tried to explain, but neither of the girls had understood much, their experience in magic small or non existent. However, they understood perfectly that Kero was a source of warmth during the freezing nights, and without him, they would have perished in this inhospitable place days ago.

"I'll be fine, Sakura. I'll make it, I promise."

Sakura forced a mischievous smile to her dry, cracked lips.

"Gotta see that Prince of yours one last time, huh?"

Tomoyo grinned a weak smile, but her eyes were dancing with laughter.

"Tease all you want, Miss. Kinomoto, but I'm telling you, there is nothing between me and Eriol."

"And that's the way you want it to stay? Please, I haven't been traveling with you for nearly five months to believe that for a second."

"Haven't we already had this conversation?"

"Yes, many times. And we'll continue to have it until I get you to crack."

At that, Tomoyo did manage to laugh, but it turned into a fierce cough that made her double over in pain. Sakura did what she could, which wasn't much, much to her utter frustration. She could only offer small comfort by patting her back. Tomoyo sat back up once the fit had passed and looked at Sakura with another weak smile.

"Besides," she continued the previous conversation in a rather raspy voice, "I'll admit to my supposed feelings for out dear Prince of Arcadia, when you my dear friend, admit to your feelings for a certain rebel warrior."

"Tomoyo, I knew him for what? Six months? Five years ago? Nothing there, I promise."

"Five months of travel, I know when you're lying."

"Okay, fine. So I had a childish crush; it's long gone by now."

Tomoyo smirked.

"We'll see."

She said simply, then turned her head to look out at the path they had just been traveling.

"I think the wind is letting up, we should go."

Sakura nodded, and then stood, helping Tomoyo to her feet and then on to Kero's back once more. They set their shoulders and returned to climbing a mountain in the bitter cold wind.

Kero, Tomoyo and Sakura had been on the road so to speak for nearly five months. After their hasty exit from Velaterra, they had fled to the first large town up the Kor River to stay at one of the inns. Unfortunately, by morning, a group of bounty hunters had also moved into the village looking for two 'runaway slaves'. Specifically, "a fair skinned slave with long black hair and violet eyes, and her auburn haired companion." That was what all the bounty sheets described Tomoyo and Sakura as, and thanks to Tomoyo's rather distinct colorings, she was spotted. The three of them were forced to run, but not before one of the bounty hunters got close enough to grab Tomoyo. Before Kero could do anything, Sakura socked him with a hard right hook she had learned from her brother what seemed like an age ago.

After that, there was no chance of going to another town, despite the pace at which the girl's pushed themselves for the first few weeks. They tried desperately to get ahead of the bounty hunters, but to no avail, they had horses and were used to long days of travel. Pretty soon everything from large towns to tiny villages were off limits. Tomoyo was too easily recognizable and everyone knew what the High Lord's green eyed witch looked like. So, they were forced to start traveling at night, and take longer, less direct paths to the Drume Mountains. They couldn't use the gems they had brought, since that attracted far to much attention and made them easier to remember. With no hope of buying horses, or replenishing their meager supplies, they had to stop at isolated farms, or hamlets and offer their services as field hands, maids, cleaning ladies, scullery maids, cooks, and seamstresses. Once, Sakura even offered her services as a fortune teller in exchange for dinner, making sure that the hood of her cloak was pulled down to cover her eyes. Tomoyo sang for bread and drink whenever they came across traveling parties.

Their progress to the mountains slowed to a bare crawl, staying two weeks here, and three weeks there. Kero was forced to stay in the woods whenever they stopped, slipping to meet the girls invisibly at night. While they worked, he hunted for his own meals, and traveled around looking for signs of the bounty hunters. At present they knew the group was made up of about seven men, at least one of them was a mage. However, it was unclear who their leader was, and who it was that hired them. Kero had his suspicions that they were actually Hummai military undercover, but he kept his ideas to himself, not wanting to frighten the girls any more than they already were.

The flip side to all this intense traveling was that by now, Tomoyo and Sakura were the absolute best of friends. To pass time as they walked, the two girls told stories from their childhood, and get to know one another better. Tomoyo learned all about Sakura's bother Toya, and who he had been before they had been captured. Sakura learned about Tomoyo growing up in Cornith, having the entire palace as her play ground. She knew every corner, every passage, every nook and cranny of that palace. Sakura, who had also spent a great amount of time exploring her gilded cage, asked if Tomoyo knew about this gilded hall, or this stained glass window. Tomoyo told Sakura in detail about the secret passageways that crisscrossed around the palace. Sakura spoke of the things she had learned reading through the Ex-Prince's library. Tomoyo talked about learning to sew, and finding that creating clothes was something of a passion of hers. During one particular grueling trek through some deserted plains, they even took the time to figure out exactly how Sakura and Syaoran Li were related. (Since Kero told them that Li, if he was really a member of the old Li Clan was related to the Avalons.) (Sakura's great to the 12th power grandfather was Syaoran's great to the (most likely) 13th power grandmother's 2nd cousin by marriage.) Tomoyo assured Sakura, much to her utter embarrassment, that she could still marry Syaoran with no worries about incest.

"Sakura!! Sakura!! Tomoyo! She won't wake up!!"

Sakura whirled and stumbled down the path to where Kero had stopped. She got to him and gently shook Tomoyo by the shoulder. The young woman was slumped over the great lion, her arms dangling limply at his sides.

"Tomoyo? Come, wake up!"

There was no response from the ex-slave. Sakura clenched her fists, and held back tears. The coughing sickness Tomoyo had picked up while in the mountains would only continue to get worse. They had to make it to the Basick Valley...now. Sakura turned and looked through the swirling snow to the north, trying to make out the mountains Tomoyo thought she saw. Squinting, she vaguely saw fuzzy outlines of two giant monster mountains, steep, craggy, unclimbable mountains. Sakura swallowed her fear, forcing it down past the pit of her stomach.

"Kero, how far could you fly us in this weather?"

Kero considered it for a few precious seconds.

"Because of the already thin air, I can't fly us above the storm, so I could maybe do halfway Sakura. But that would take much of my strength."

"Could you carry Tomoyo the rest of the way?"

Kero ground his sharp teeth.

"Even if I can't, I will."

Sakura smiled, despite how serious the situation had become. She unclasped her cloak and then climbed on Kero's back. She sat Tomoyo's unconscious form up, and then leaned her back against Sakura's own chest, and closed the folds of her cloak about them both. Sakura's worry deepened when she felt how hot Tomoyo was, and how much she was shivering.

"Take us as far as you can, Kero. We have to get to the entrance of Basick Valley tonight."

A/N: I do not own any of the characters used in this fictional piece, nor do I stake any claim on them with the publishing of this work.

My editing skills leave much in wanting. Such is how I am made.

Whoot! With this chapter, Fate Guides My Steps has broken a hundred pages!!! I honestly can't believe it. But here ya go, chapter ten. And I swear on whatever is holy to me, next chapter Syaoran and Sakura FINALLY meet face to face AND exchange actual words!! Good God, how on earth have you guys been so pacient? Espically all you hard core SS fans? I'd have given up chapters ago! Well, I certianly appriciate you sticking around.

Well, we are into part three now, and this is where all the fluffy, pointless, plotless romantic stuff has been hiding. (rubs hands together gleefully) I've been looking forward to writing this part since Thanksgiving. I've got TONS planned, and most likely there will be alot that works itself in there somehow.

Okie, hope you enjoyed, now I have to go and memorize all the proviences/districts of China and Japan.