Thanks for reading my Fan-Fiction. All the support you readers have given me is unreal and all the reviews are so amazing, from readers who have reviewed from Chapter One, to readers who have stumbled across my story and have supported me. Thank you all for that and it really means a lot. This chapter is called: "Je combats pour personne mais toi", which means "I Fight For No One But You". As promised, Ashura and Kurogane will come face to face in this chapter. A few song recommendations that I recommend you listen to whilst reading this chapter: "The Ghost Of You" – My Chemical Romance, "I'd Come For You" – Nickelback, "End Of All Hope" – Nightwish, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" – Kill Bill Vol. 1 Soundtrack.

Kurogane's POV

"KUROGANE!!!"

I tried to drown out the sound, I desperately tried with all my might to ignore those heart wrenching cries. The cries of the man I loved…they rung in my ears and they made my head heavy, my steps feeling suddenly unreal and strange, like I had two left feet rather than one left and one right. I stumbled and nearly fell completely on my face if it wasn't for the wall beside me. I steadied myself, grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw, as if to push the cries away. They continued to cut through me, sharper than any weapon, painful as any bullet. I felt my entire body tremble and quake as I struggled even more to keep moving forward. I knew if I even glanced back that I would go racing back to Fai's side, that I would wind up taking him in my arms and escaping this country with him, leaving that bastard Ashura living and breathing. That bastard didn't deserve such human things…he didn't deserve it…and he needed to die…under my hands and no one else's. This wasn't a matter of revenge…it was a matter of fair. Fai didn't deserve what had happened…and so help me, this guy will get what he deserved. My fingers itched to pound his face in, to see blood splatter, to see dull eyes that were unseeing…

I groaned. That was so sick…I breathed in through my mouth in an attempt to ease the nausea that claimed my stomach. My vengeful side was coming into this now, and revenge always blinded a ninja…I continued running, although now it was more like an unsteady jog. I had to keep Fai's face in my minds eye, to prevent myself from thinking about Ashura's painful demise.

The very halls I'd raced down to find Fai were now before me, retracing my steps almost. I felt helpless already. I had no idea where this Ashura was or where to find him. I didn't even know where that witch Masquerade was or her creepy goons. Right now, I only knew one thing. Fai was in Syaoran's hands and that made me so uneasy it was unreal. I don't know why, but I didn't feel confident although I'd seen the kid risk his life and fight plenty of times for his princess. I just wished it was me who was carrying Fai away from this place, and I wished with every fibre of my being that I knew what was happening right now to him. Before I could even consider running back and catching them before they left, I noticed the walls were slowly peeling, revealing their concrete back, the colours turning brown and peeling like wallpaper. I looked to the ground to see roots growing up from the stone floors to claim the walls. I felt a smirk twitch at the corners of my lips. The Kreatūra were coming.

"Finally, we're getting somewhere," I remarked aloud, I didn't even bother to keep it in my head. The louder I was, the sooner my "old friends" would find me and I would be a few steps closer to my biggest enemy. But the mere idea of Ashura being closer, only pumped adrenaline through me, excitement surging through my veins and pumping round my body.

I continued to walk but, much to my disappointment, I didn't come into contact with any Kreatūra, the witch or Ashura. I would've done a right old Fai pout if it wasn't for my frustration. I felt like punching the walls but resisted the urge. The walls…and the roots up the walls. Something deadly was nearby and I just couldn't contain my anticipation till I came face to face with whatever it was.

"C'mon Ashura," I muttered to myself, keeping my eyes strictly ahead for any sign of movements in the darkness. "You must know by now I'm not the type who likes to play games. I'd rather get to the final round before game over…" my palms became clammy as I drew my sword, my fingers curling tightly around the hilt. "So show your face so I can get a good look at it before I smash it in…"

I tore my eyes for a brief moment to glance at the walls to see the walls here were normal. Frowning, I glanced down and saw the roots weren't here neither. I looked back down the hall to see the roots were further down.

"They got…past me?" I breathed, my eyes widening to adjust to the darkness a little more, to ensure the dark wasn't playing tricks on me. I walked a little bit down, staring at the walls, then the floor, down the hall and back again at the wall. "How's that possible?"

"A ninja should always keep his eyes looking forward…" a voice hissed in my ear.

The voice made my hair stand on end, my body jerking as I jumped. I swung around as soon as my body was able, pointing my blade forward. I blinked, my breaths coming in sharp and ragged. Nothing was there…just the blackness that had been following me the entire time. I swore under my breath, refusing to lower my sword. I walked forward once more, hearing my heart pound with exhilaration.

"Didn't you hear?" I snarled under my breath, regaining my confidence as I walked. "I don't like playing games…"

"But why? Games are so much fun…" the voice sneered.

"Not when you're in my shoes," I retorted. "Why don't you show your face?"

"You have to find it first, ninja. Just follow my voice."

I hesitated. Why should I trust this voice and why was I hearing this voice? Jeez…either I'd had a total meltdown and was hearing what I wanted to hear or I'd become insanely lucky that the bastard was willingly calling me forward. I would rather it be the second one…but I knew it was heavily unlikely…all the same, I had no idea. I no idea what to do and I was extremely confused…I heaved a sigh as I reluctantly followed the voice that repeated the words "follow my voice" over and over. My mind was easily distracted since I immediately wondered what was happening to Fai and where he and Syaoran were now. I wondered if they'd reached the Princess and the furball, and were now back in the other world getting Fai's injuries seen to. My stomach twisted as I remembered all of those bruises, those cuts, the fear that was embedded in his eyes and that coated his voice. It made me even angrier…my grip tightened on the hilt of my sword. I increased speed, not even wary anymore. I was going to get this son of a bitch and I was going to make him pay for what he did.

I halted as I came face to face with a door, a door that had a giant crack down the centre with no door handle. My heart sank as I stared at it, the rage within me ebbing away into a numb disappointment.

"What the hell???" I yelled, clenching my jaw, nearly biting down on my tongue. "You lead me to a dead end!"

"Don't be foolish," the voice whispered in my ear. "Push forward."

I growled under my breath. I reached out and pushed one half of the door. To my utter astonishment, the half moved forward. I stared, my breath hitching. So the voice had led me straight to Ashura…I couldn't restrain the grin that spread along my lips. My fingers flexed around the hilt, feeling the moisture break out along my forehead. I closed my eyes, steadying my breathing rate before kicking the half of the door, it swinging open and hitting the wall on the other side. I walked into the room; to see the room was pitch black. It was almost like I was floating in mid air, I couldn't see the walls or the floors. A clicking noise filled the silence and a bright light flashed on before me in the centre of the room. I raised a hand to my eyes, squinting through the direct light. As my eyes adjusted, I slowly saw two shadowed figures.

It took me a long while to see the features of the shadows before me, the features that would determine who the people standing before me were. As my eyes slowly adjusted, I felt the blood drain from my face and my grip on the hilt of my blade slacken. I felt my clenched jaw drop immediately, and I didn't even flinch as my sword dropped with a sharp clatter onto the floor.

One of the people before me was a stranger; he was tall and sleek like Fai, with long ebony hair that reached down past his shoulder blades. He had dark brown eyes; his features sharp and pointed. The second person was sadly not a stranger. The second person was on his knees before the taller man, hands limp at his sides. Pale blond hair and teary blue eyes; and I then noticed the first person's hand around the other's throat. I couldn't move an inch.

"Fai…" I breathed. "I-I don't understand…Syaoran…"

I trailed off as the stranger suddenly changed into the familiar form of Syaoran, the childish and usually warm features of the kid turned into a sinister smirk, eyes narrowing.

"You really do leave the ones you love in the wrong hands," Syaoran's voice cut through me like a slice of ice. The familiar features of Syaoran changed with a short flash to the icy features of the black haired man. "It was simply too easy to get my pretty little Fai back into my hands."

The voice…it was the voice that had beckoned me to this place. It was Ashura. I gawped at Fai, his face ashen with the lack of oxygen. I felt a lump rise in my throat, getting the same feeling I get when I choke on something. I felt like spluttering, like choking…I couldn't tear my eyes away.

"Let the wizard go, Ashura," I tried to sound rough and calm, but my voice wobbled uncontrollably.

Ashura looked towards Fai, his fingers twitching a little so the grip was tighter around his throat. I heard Fai cough as his windpipe closed, his eyes widening.

"LET HIM GO!!!" I screamed, helplessly reaching my hand outwards, terrified that if I moved forward Ashura's grip would tighten and snatch Fai's last breath. "I'M BEGGING YOU! LET HIM GO!!!"

Ashura looked as though he received pleasure from my misery, his eyes glittering as he pulled Fai upwards so he was looking down upon Fai's angel like face. His eyes drifted over to me one more time, a taunting smile twitching at his lips.

"DON'T!" I bellowed, it finally dawning on me what was about to happen. The thing that had turned the blood in my veins to ice, the thing that had made me feel sick and light headed.

Ashura claimed Fai's battered lips. My words failed me, everything going in almost slow motion as I saw someone else's lips brush with Fai's, saw Fai squirm helplessly, unable to take his eyes away from mine, his eyes pleading and guilty. I couldn't look away either, my eyes glued to his. I felt the defiant tears fill my eyes as I watched the bastard kiss the one I loved, feeling my own lips tingle as I recalled how soft and tender Fai's lips had been when he and I had shared that life changing kiss. I wound up looking down, my tears landing onto the floor with a light patter like drizzling rain on a window.

When I dared to look up once more, Fai was lying crumpled up on the floor. Ashura straightened up, brushing his lips with his sleeve, turning completely to face me.

"You can't deny me of what I want, ninja," Ashura said, stepping towards me. I didn't even consider bowing down to collect my sword. I was staring at Fai's still form. I wanted to run to him, to cradle him and see if he was okay. But I couldn't even do that…what was wrong with me???

Jealousy…

I didn't even realise that Ashura had come to stand directly before me. My blood was no longer searing hot, it was no longer boiling and I felt no strength in my arms, my legs…I felt like letting my legs sink beneath me, to kneel down and sob pathetically. I continued to stare at Fai's still form, the lump in my throat seeming to swell and block my windpipes.

"You know…he kept saying your name when I took him," Ashura ate up my silence, feeding off of my misery, like a leech. "He kept crying and asking for you to come but you didn't come did you?" I felt his breath against my ear and I closed my eyes, trembling. "You didn't come for him…but I came for him…if you get my drift."

Unfortunately, I did get his drift…but it wasn't a minor drift. It was more like a strong current, dragging me into the depths of dismay and despair. All of the reality suddenly hammered down upon me, pelting me, getting sharper and more painful each time. Ashura's words struck home and my mind instantly turned to the moment when Fai's body was declared Ashura's. I hated it…but in a strange, demented way I was sort of glad that Ashura said these things because they re-boiled my blood and gave me the strength to reach out and snatch him by the collar of his clothes. I expected his laugh to die on his lips but instead, they only got louder. I pulled him upwards, my hands shaking violently as I held him.

"Shut it!" I hollered, bringing our faces closer to invade his personal space. "Just shut that fucking hole in your face!!!"

"Oh dear," Ashura giggled, eyes drifting over to Fai. "My dear, Fai-uke, you really must train this dog to heel. He's getting creases in my clothes…"

"Don't you DARE speak to him!" I interrupted him, my knuckles turning white. "And don't worry about the creases. I'll sort them out for you, you piece of shit!" I punched him then. I drew my fist back as far as possible and went for his face full throttle. I kept a hold on his collar so that he didn't fall down at the impact, tugging his now limp form back upwards. He wasn't laughing now. His cheek was already turning a dark blue. It wasn't long before his eyes had reopened and a smile had split across his face, a trickle of blood at the corner of his lips.

I growled, feeling like the temple on my forehead would burst, my face going red with barely suppressed rage.

"What you smiling at…" I drifted off once more. Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement. I turned my head ever so slightly and saw Fai was in mid air. It took me only a mere moment to notice Ashura's index finger was flexed upwards. He was just like that Masquerade bitch. He could control Fai's body with a slight movement of his fingers. I turned back to him.

"You hit me," Ashura broke the silence, sounding very smug and pleased with himself. "And I hurt him. Now, if I were you, Kurogane-san, I'd think twice about any movement you do. Just one twitch of my finger and I close up his windpipes and he's gone."

I literally felt like breaking down right there and then into tears. I wanted to literally sob and wail like a child who had fallen over. I was helpless. Fai was vulnerable. I had no clue where the kid was or what had happened to him. I'd fallen so badly into Ashura's hands…I'd let Fai down after I'd vowed to protect him and keep him safe. I hadn't done any of that. I'd done nothing but let him down again and again. I'd allowed him to be taken away to his place and I allowed Ashura to rape and beat him and now I allowed this. There was no way out. It was like Fai and I were mice and Ashura was a cat, taunting us, keeping us in one place to toy with us and then kill us in the end, our faith going up and down like a rollercoaster, faith that we'd make it out somehow…

"What do you want us to do?" I asked my voice quiet and shaky.

"I want nothing specific, that's the funny thing," Ashura replied, his eyes glittering once more with some sort of sick joke that I couldn't get no matter how hard I tried. "I just want what's fair. But in this backward world, it's hard to get that, now isn't it? You gave up something very precious. You lose it soon, don't you? Yuuko's going to take it away."

I had to bite down hard on my tongue, my eyes locked helplessly on Fai's limp figure.

"What did you give up, Kurogane-san?" Ashura inclined, loud enough so Fai could hear.

I looked down. I couldn't say it…

"Tell us, Kurogane," Ashura pressed, emphasising the word 'us'. "You gave up…?"

I felt Fai's eyes on me, seeing his blue eyes in the corner of mine staring at me, looking perplexed.

I couldn't break the gaze as I opened my mouth and said: "I gave up my home…"

"For what, may I ask?" Ashura continued, a fake innocence to his tone, as if it was just some small talk.

"I gave up my home so I could find Fai and bring him home," my throat was dry and sore as I looked at him, the man I loved, his sapphire eyes widening slowly as it sunk in. "I can never go home…once I rescue Fai and leave this world…"

To Be Continued…

What has happened to Syaoran? Will Fai and Kurogane ever get out alive? And what will happen between them? What will happen to Ashura and Masquerade? Find out tomorrow in the second to last chapter…