Touya and Yukito walked into Meiling's house, Yukito looking around and making comments on the things Meiling's family had collected. Touya walked with a scowl on his face, and Meiling had a feeling that he was going to be the harder one to deal with.
"Miss Meiling?" Ai came downstairs, and Meiling whirled around, staring up at the smaller boy. She tried to get him to go back upstairs, but Yukito and Touya also turned when he spoke.
"Oh, hello." Yukito smiled at him. Ai stared, wide-eyed, at him. "I don't bite. Neither does To-ya, though he looks like he might. Come on down."
"No, he has a lot to do." Meiling tried to say, but Yukito cut across her.
"He can take a quick break, can't he?" He smiled up at Ai again. "Come on, little one." Slowly, his hand tight on his cloak, Ai walked down the stairs. Meiling groaned quietly and put a hand on her face.
"Hello." Ai said softly, his hand tightening slightly. Yukito smiled and placed a hand over Ai's. Ai stared up at him again.
"That's better." Yukito knelt down to Ai's level. Glancing once at Touya, Yukito placed his hand on either side of Ai's cloak. Ai froze again. "Now, tell me the truth, child. You are no longer alive, are you?"
"What a ridiculous statement." Meiling laughed nervously. "Right, Ai?" Ai didn't say anything. "Ai?"
"How is Sakura?" Syaoran asked, grabbing Chiharu's arm as she walked past his room. Chiharu glared at him, yanking her arm back.
"You've no right to ask about her after what you said to her." She hissed. "And the sooner you're able to get back to the land of the living again, the easier it'll be on all of us." Syaoran stared after her, a frown on his face.
"I've gotta talk to someone about this." He muttered. With a sigh, he strolled down the hallway. Frowning down at the floor beneath him, he didn't realize that anyone saw him until he heard his name.
"Li-kun!" He turned around and saw blue eyes behind thin glasses. Eriol closed the door to his room and stood next to the living boy. He motioned for Syaoran to continue when he didn't move. "Shall we walk and talk, then?"
"All right." Syaoran said distrustfully, keeping an eye on the other boy. Eriol didn't seem to notice.
"So, Sakura-chan and yourself, huh?"
"Don't get the wrong idea." Syaoran snapped. Eriol raised an eyebrow at Syaoran. "It was an accident. I'm engaged to someone else." Syaoran sighed heavily and glared at the floor again. "I just wanna get back home so I can marry her."
"May I tell you a story, Li-kun?" Eriol asked, forcing Syaoran to stop by placing his hand on his arm and frowning lightly.
"I'm a bit too old for stories, am I not?" Syaoran snapped lightly.
"It's an important story, about Hitsuzen." Eriol replied.
"Hitsuzen...?" Syaoran repeated, frowning lightly as well.
"Hitsuzen." Eriol repeated. "Inevitability. Fate. Destiny. Things like that."
"So, what's this story?" Syairan asked. Eriol smiled mysteriously.
"It's about a Princess." He said."A Princess and her best friend."
"Ai?" Meiling asked, a frown on her face.
"To-ya, look." Yukito said softly. Touya leaned down, frowning. "You see?"
"Ah..." Touya tilted his head to the side. "Answer Yuki's question, gaki."
"Q-Question...?" Ai stuttered lightly.
"Yes. You are not truly alive, are you?" Yukito tilted his head to the side and smiled. "In fact, I think I even remember your funeral...Ai-chan." Ai's eyes widened suddenly.
"Yukito!" He let go of the hood, and it fell back, revealing his face. Neither boy flinched. "Touya..."
"I was wondering why you looked familiar, Ai-chan." Yukito said, smiling. "I understand now. How is everyone, then? Sakura?"
"Everyone is fine!" Ai smiled happily. "Syaoran-kun is there, as well, and---"
"Syaoran?" Yukito tilted his head with a frown. "Do you mean...?"
"Perhaps we were too late after all." Touya muttered with a frown, glaring at the wall.
"What did you think?" Eriol asked Syaoran a few minutes later. Syaoran didn't answer at first, just kept his hands stuffed in his pocked and a frown on his face.
"I think I am too old for fairytales like this, Hiirigizawa-san." He said finally. Eriol sighed.
"Very well, then." He bowed lightly. "I shall leave you here, Syaoran-kun." As he walked away, Eriol shook his head. "But that story is more real than you think."
"Can you tell me something, Ai-chan?" Ai looked up at Meiling and nodded slowly. "How do you know them?"
"The dark-haired one, Touya-nii." He said. "Touya-nii is the big brother to one of my nee-chan's friends. Yuki-nii is Touya-nii's friend. They've been friends forever."
"I see." Meiling said. "Your nee-chan is...?" Ai smiled.
"Nee-chan is dead as well." Meiling winced lightly. "It just took a little longer for her time than it did mine."
"I'm sorry." Ai shrugged carelessly.
"It's ok, because someday Nee-chan and I will move on, and we'll be in a better place." Ai gave them all a big smile. "Yuuko-san says so."
"Ah, so Yuuko communicates with you guys as well?" Yukito smiled. "I'll be sure to ask her to send Sakura-chan a message someday. I want to ask you something, though, Ai-chan."
"What is it, Yuki-nii?" Ai asked, tilting his head and giving Yukito a confused look.
"It's about Syaoran-kun, and what he's doing down there."