To Love & Be Loved

A/N – Tomoyo: "Fai, teach him to love, and you will be loved deeply." Tale of Kurogane and Fai starts at the point when Fai loses his eye. It skips through swiftly to the end of the series to look at what might occur… after.

Chapter 10 – The Hunt Begins

He hugged back, burying his face in her shoulder, surrendering to her body and soul. The magic of this rite sealed in this one act.

The night before, Kurogane tried to sleep. He could not. As much as he struggled to convince himself that the kids were no longer kids and able to take care of themselves, that Fai was an excellent fighter even if he chose not to use his magic or at least exceptional at running away, despite those things, he could not stop thinking about them and worrying. With a great growl he threw off the blankets and stomped through the sanctuary. The sound of drums resounding like a constant gentle rumble or many heartbeats through all the floors. He closed his eyes and stretched his senses to pick up all the living forms. None felt like Sakura, Syaoran or Fai. He found his way outside and searched the immediate grounds. He search all night long with no success only to return at dawn to the sanctuary.

Rassin greeted him as if he completely knew Kurogane would be out all night. "I suggest to rest some and then have breakfast. I have good news for you."

"You found them!"

Rassin nodded, "I think so. They are at the Noble Dragon Inn. I will have someone guide you there at lunch when the cart arrives. It is a long walk and I suppose you want to be there before sunset. By cart, it will take but an hour."

"Tch! Fai has probably been teaching them all how to cook since he won't eat fish at all, dumb mage."

Rassin chuckled at Kurogane's anectdotal gruffness, knowing it for endearment. Kurogane gave in to a short nap after he bathed. He skipped breakfast, but ate a great deal at lunch before he took the cart to town. He had imagined that the chakra houses were close by one another. But they actually seemed to be many hours, almost a day each apart. The town indeed took a little over an hour to travel to by a rushing cart. Over a bridge, through a great orchard, down the road past the fields and farms and gardens. The cart slowed as it passed the outer caravans that were gathering for the season's market exchange. Kurogane narrowed his eyes as he stared out the cart window at the marked people who behaved like slaves and not servants. Rassin was right. Some handled the marking with respect for each place, valuing each position as necessary. Some regarded the marked as collateral assets, things to be used and abused.

When he stepped from the cart, people deferred to him, giving him space. He noticed how they stared at his odd clothing briefly, then up to his face and to the piercings in his ear. There the marked dropped their eyes in respect and scuttled away if they were the sort who were slaves. Servants spoke respectfully to him. It reminded him of the rare quiet time when his anger seemed at its least and he walked through the palace to see princess Tomoyo. People deferred to him the same way, calling him Lord or Master. He doubted Fai would ever give him that respect. He still could not get Fai to call him by his name beyond that one moment when he had. The memory gave Kurogane pause. Internally, for he would never admit it aloud, he decided he preferred the silly names. Fai calling him his full name in a serious tone only made him feel like a hated stranger or enemy. He never wanted to be that, not anymore.

Inside the inn, he demsnded loudly, "So? Where did those damned kids get to? Who got pierced and who's getting marked?" He had already made his assumptions.

Touya intercepted before this newcomer could create a problem. "If you refer to Princess Sakura and Syaoran, then you must be…"

"Kurogane."

"Ah, Kurogane. The princess was pierced last night. She's performing the marking rite on Syaoran as we speak." Touya's tone held that brotherly edge that spoke of disapproval yet resignation.

"She's… marking him?" Kurogane was flabbergasted. Maybe the other Syaoran before he became a mindless and heartless clone. But this one? This king in the making? This Syaoran carried himself with the same air as a prince who knew his place but did not flaunt it. To accept being marked as a servant… Kurogane sat in the nearest seat. " Huhn. I need a drink."

Touya sighed and retrieved a bottle, "You and me both." He sat and poured two glasses.

"They aren't… are they?"

Touya pressed his lips into a thin line for a moment. "I sure hope not, but the rite will dictate the need or their wills will. I still think they are too young, but I don't exactly have a say in this."

"Nope. Well at least if there is some deflowering it is between them and not with someone else." He huffed and scanned the room. "Speaking of annoyingness and deflowering, seen that mage anywhere?" While Fai gave off the appearance of a very gay fop, he also completely charmed ladies into giving up almost anything. It made Kurogane wonder sometimes.

"You mean a tall thin blond with one blue eye?" Touya shook his head. "Nope, not here. I have sent people about town to look and to check some of the nearby slave caravans.

The talk of slavery caused Kurogane to bristle visibly. Well, it would give him a very good reason to pick a fight. Day two was coming to an end. By the end of tomorrow, Fai would be in great need of blood and the only blood he could drink to survive was Kurogane's. He silently swore to himself that from now on, he was going to do as the other Syaoran did for Sakura, hold Fai to be sure they never got separated, even if it looked somewhat embarrassingly compromising. That thought tumbled into the variant descriptions of the rite of marking he had over lunch with Rassin. He had to wilfully shove aside the thoughts of Sakura and Syaoran having sex in a room above him. It was too weird to think about at this time.

"Thanks for the drink. Fine me a room and keep me a tab. I'm staying here to watch over the kids, but while they are… busy… I'm gonna look for Fai and end anyone who thinks they can claim him." He swallowed the remainder of his drink in one swallow, nodding to the owner of the inn and strode out with a mission. He was on the hunt. Sitting at the inn thinking about the kids having sex was intolerable. He needed to do something useful and find Fai.

Mokona attacked him with snuggles before he could reach the door. He rolled his eyes and told the pork bun he'd be back later but only if the marshmallow gave him some decent money that was usable in this world. Sack of coin in hand and Mokana reassured, Kurogane strolled through the town and markets.

He returned late, very very late, exhausted… and empty handed. No Fai.