CHAPTER TEN

My eyes opened. I was still an ice wolf, I realized, as I licked my paw experimentally. Then I felt a bit embarrassed. I'd just licked my paw. That was really weird. I shook my head and walked towards the water barrier, that had begun to become really familiar.

The real Syaoran emerged from the barrier and walked over to me.

"That's what I looked like," he said, motioning to my pelt. I nodded.

"...I can't be my own person, ever, can I?" I asked.

"It depends what you think. You have a soul, which was from me, but everything that came after that, which includes your emotions, relationships, and your outtake on life, is all up to you."

I took a moment to think this through, then gave a nod.

"Right."

He smiled. "Good, got that out of the way." Then his face grew serious.

"I need to talk to you. It's about Sakura."

I tilted my head to one side. "I just saved her spirit, I think."

He nodded. "You did. But that's the problem. You obviously can't protect her 24/7."

"I can try," I muttered. "And we're not going to get attacked by Fei-Wang Reed's henchmen 24/7 either."

"No, I guess not. That's not the point. You also saw the feather disappear."

I nodded. "I was wondering about that."

"Her soul acquired it."

I stayed silent. Then I asked "Is that bad?"

"It's what Fei-Wang Reed wants. Those men were after you and Sakura. He wants Sakura's spirit, for the knowledge of each world she has, or something of that like, and he wants you, because you've stopped doing what you were created to do: collecting the feathers."

I whimpered.

"...You need to let her go."

I stared at him. "I don't follow."

"...You need to let Sakura pass on. If she's a wandering spirit, then she's as risk. Once she's actually passed on to the spirit realm, that's where he can't get her."

I felt my whole body tense. It occured to me suddenly that maybe the fact Sakura had always been there is what kept me sane, along with Kurogane's prescence and the fact Fai wasn't dead.

But I loved Sakura. Surely, the real Syaoran knew that. Letting go would feel like watching her die all over again.

"...I...I don't think I can do it," I finally admitted, my voice quivering.

"You have to. What's more important, Sakura, or the balance of all the worlds and time itself?"

I didn't know how to respond.

"When?"

"As soon as possible."

I looked around the area and changed the topic. "You'd think I would wake up soon."

"You were poisoned. I'd expect to be stuck here for a little while."

"Too bad we can't play cards," I joked with a small grin. We both laughed.

I heard a small dripping sound by my paws, and looked down to see the ice melting.

"You're probably reverting back to your flaming wolf status," He said with a slight nod.

"...Cool."

"...You're melting, and all you can say is cool!?" There was a large smile on his face, and we both laughed, hard. It wasn't even funny. But I guess it was one of those moments.

"...What do you do in the dimension you're at?" I asked him after it fell quiet.

"I float in a capsule with an eyepatch on while listening to Fei-Wang Reed rant about how you're screwing up his plans and silently laugh at him until he shocks me."

"...Nice life."

"It wasn't my idea."

I shook my head. "I doubt it was."

It was him who started to fade first.

"Looks like I'm waking up before you this time," He said, turning his back to me. "Remember: for her own safety, you really need to let Sakura pass on. Kurogane, too. You can't have them beside you forever." He disappeared.

"...But what if they decide to?" I asked the air. There was no answer except an echo.

I sat in a silence for a long time. The water barrier had phased away, and now I was alone in a featureless room. I wondererd, more than once, if I'd died. Did clones die in a different way then real people? Did clones not get to pass on?

I tormented myself with this for what felt like forever until I felt myself starting to fade.

I moaned and rolled over, my eyes opening. Every part of my body felt like it was on fire. Other then that, I felt fine.

It took me a moment to remember I was on fire. Then I felt a bit better. But not much.

I stood up and looked around.

"Fai? Mokona?" I called. There was no answer. I wasn't in the clearing next to Sakura anymore.

Then it hit me, sort of like a brick. (I don't know what it feels like to get hit with a brick from experience. I never want to, either. Getting hit with a fruit was bad enough.)

"Sakura!" I called. I looked around frantically, but there was no sign of her. I stretched my front and back paws experimentally. They felt alright at least for a short sprint.

I sprang through the trees and over the bushes.

"Sakura!!" I howled, looking around for her. Where was she!? I didn't know why I was so worried. How long had I been out?

A hand caught my "shoulder." It was a gentle touch. I swung around, and found myself staring into the eyes of Sakura.

I relaxed my muscles and just stared at her for a little while.

"...You're beautiful, even when you're dead," I finally said. She giggled nervously.

"And you look cute, even like this."

I felt the flames on me die out and change to brown fur. The horn on my forehead retracted, which I didn't even know it could do.

I rubbed my head against the side of her leg, unsure how else to show any affection as a wolf. I couldn't hug her, or that's probably what I would do. I was not good at romantics.

She got down onto her knees beside me, and I allowed myself to rest. After the wave of fear, I was exhausted.

"That poison really took it's toll on you. You've been out for three days," she said.

I swished my tail. "It felt longer."

"Did you talk to the one you were cloned off of?"

My eyes fell shut.

"...A bit," I muttered. "It wasn't something I was too happy about."

She cocked her head, curious. She also seemed a bit nervous.

"...He said I need to let you pass on. And the thing is, if you want to, I'm not stopping you."

There was a long silence.

"No," she finally sighed. "I can't leave you. I don't care if it puts my life in danger to stay here, it's not worth leaving yet. I'm not leaving until I know you'll be OK."

I didn't object. "I'm actually not ready for you to go. I'm not going to fight you for that decision. I'm glad."

She sat down and allowed me to rest my head on her knee. Then she started scratching me behind the ear. I wasn't really embarassed, because I was sort of only half concious anyway.

I heard the sound of footsteps and beating wings. I nearly got up, but then I decided against it. I was a bit dizzy.

"Look at the love birds!" Mokona called, laughing as 'she' ran towards us. Sakura and I didn't jump or protest this time. I didn't see the point in denying it: We did love each other.

"How come Mokona's not allowed to give you a belly rub but Sakura's allowed to pet you?" Fai laughed as he landed.

I barked, but I didn't react in any other way.

Fai finally sighed. "Syaoran, can you get up? Are you feeling alright? We've been worried."

I glanced upwards.

"I'm feeling OK. A little bit dizzy, but I'm OK. I didn't die, so..."

Fai nodded and smiled, and Mokona got to 'her' knees and started petting me as well.

I whimpered, embarrassed.

Mokona giggled. I attempted to stand, but Mokona held me down.

"We're leaving this world, soon. Is Sakura coming?" Mokona asked.

"Of course," Sakura said, nodding her head.

"...Can Kurogane come in and see this?" Fai laughed, purposely speaking loudly.

"No..." I groaned.

There was rustling in the trees.

"Fai!" I protested quietly.

Kurogane sniggered as he appeared. "That's both weird and cute."

"I'll say," Fai agreed with a nod.

"What happened to his arm, anyway?" Kurogane asked.

"I guess it's not broken in this form. I'm going to guess it will be when he changes back, and we'll need new bandages. I found the old bandages in a charred pile."

"I did burst into flames," I reasoned quietly.

"This conversation is kind of strange," Sakura laughed.

"Our life is strange," Fai countered.

"At least we're not floating in a tube listening to a man rant about how we're screwing up his plans for us and laughing until we get shocked."

They all glanced at me.

"Eh!?" Kurogane asked, clearly not getting it.

"I'll tell you later," I said, my voice sort of slurred. I felt so much like a puppy at the moment. My mind was screaming in protest as Sakura and Mokona pet me, but I couldn't move, and, lets face the facts: I could've been in a much worse situation, given the circumstances. So I just stayed put.

"Are we ready to go?" Fai asked.

Everyone nodded, including me.

Mokona stood up, and Sakura picked me up as if I was a dog.

"You do remember I'm human?" I whispered into her ear.

"Which is why I won't get the chance to treat you like a puppy again, little dog."

"Heeey..." I whimpered, but this was Sakura I was talking to, so I actually didn't care.

I swear, that poison was making me drunk or something.

Mokona looked at the ground. "How do I do this?" 'She' asked.

We all exchanged glances. I guess we'd forgotten to think about that, seeing as Mokona was human at the moment. Oops.

"...Just do what you usually do?" Fai suggested.

Mokona gave a nervous nod, and leapt into the air. A pair of white wings unfurled from 'her' back.

"Mokona Modoki, ready to go!" 'She' cried. I noticed, to my surprise, that 'her' voice cracked. The symbol appeared on the ground below us. We all got absorbed into a ball, as we usually did, so I don't know whether or not Mokona inhaled us. You'll have to ask 'her'.