WHAT AN UPDATE??? NO WAY!!! Well… Sorry this was out so late. But I just went to the doctors and got like FOUR SHOTS!!!! It was horrible. And now my arms hurt. Maybe that's why I didn't update faster… (Maybe. Or maybe I'm just really lazy. Whatever.)

Iku-chan

After It All

Chapter 11: Eyes

"Y-Yuko-san," said Watanuki nervously, staring out the window at the pouring rain.

Yuko Ichihara looked out the window beside her employee, staring out into the rain. There were three men and a strange creature balancing on the tall blonde's shoulder. They all looked sort of miss-matched; standing out in the pouring rain, looking around for someone they knew should be there. They all were wearing tattered, soaked and dirty clothes which looked like they were from different countries, different worlds, in which they very well were.

Yuko didn't bother to answer Watanuki, for he already knew where she was going. She slid open the doors and slowly stepped down the stairs, ready to greet her customers. It seemed as if they were all battered and bruised and tired, the blonde tiredly holding the tall tan one's hand, the white creature sitting tiredly on his shoulder. The child, no, he wasn't a child. He wasn't a child anymore. A child could not do such things to people and not feel any guilt.

No, he wasn't a child at all.

The blonde beside him was more of a strange sight, though. He had a black eye patch over his right eye and his light blonde hair was tied on the nape of his neck. His face was pale, and the hand that was linked with the man beside him was shaking. They were all pale, all sweating in the harsh pouring rain, all afraid and desperate for someone to help them.

But how could help come to people who all their lives been through such hardships? Why would they be helped now, of all times? Yuko didn't answer as she stood in front of the foursome, because she didn't bother to try to find out the answer.

It had happened so many times before. They came. They needed something, something Yuko could grant, and she granted it. She didn't feel anything for the people. They weren't friends. They weren't enemies. They were customers.

None of the people's wishes she granted had anything to do with her, and she wanted it to stay that way. But with these four, she had something to do with it all, and it sickened her. But what could she do?

She knew too much and this was the truth. She had involved herself too much, with Clow, with Watanuki, with everyone. And she was beginning to regret it. The white creature quietly bounced onto her shoulder and she softly stroked its long white ears. Watanuki was watching behind the window, but it didn't matter, because weren't they already too far in to get themselves back out?

"You… have a wish?" asked Yuko, placing her hand back on her side.

Syaoran's eyes were determined like always. But they weren't Syaoran's eyes. Oh no, these were the eyes of something totally different. They were the eyes of ko, the eyes of vermin. But if a person asked, she, of course, had to grant their wish.

That was her price, after all…

"I want Sakura back," said Syaoran.

His eyes were determined and dark. Well, I should say eye. The blue eye was light and unfocused, as if it couldn't really see what was going on. Perhaps it was because it still held a bit of Fai with it.

"There will be a price," said Yuko, not surprised. "You do know that, don't you?"

Syaoran didn't need to answer, only waited for Yuko's answer.

"The price will be," said Yuko, twirling a lock of her long black hair through her long white fingers. "That eye."

All four froze. Fai turned to look at Syaoran, expecting a fight, or at least a refusal. But there was… nothing.

Just… nothing.

He merely lifted his hand up, slowly but surely, and pressed it over his closed eye socket. Fai turned, not wanting to watch, already feeling sick to his stomach. Syaoran didn't say anything, didn't make any noise of pain or discomfort. He was past that. Fai turned to look at Kurogane, who was looking down at him, as always, with concern.

It wasn't only a romantic type of caring he looked down at Fai with. It was as if he was looking at his child, a child that needed protecting. Maybe after all of this, all that had happened, Kurogane was sort of like a replacement parent to Fai. A replacement for everyone. Chii, Ashura, Yuui… everyone. But… no. He wasn't just a replacement…

He cared for Fai. He cared for him more than anything.

And that was all that really mattered, wasn't it?

Fai let himself drift back to reality, turning to look at Syaoran, ripping his eyes from Kurogane's intimidating red ones. Syaoran's right eye was closed, and his fist was clenched. Fai bit his lip as Syaoran came closer to him. Fai closed his eyes (eye) and felt something go down his throat. Something cold and familiar.

He kept his eyes closed as he felt something returning to him. Something that shouldn't have been gone in the first place. In one swift movement, Syaoran took the eyepatch off of his face, leaving his cheeks strangely bare. Fai opened his eyes slowly. Everything was a white blur at first, everyone was, but then his vision began to come back to him.

He turned first to look at Kurogane. Their hands were apart, polar opposites, tan and pale. When had he let go of his hand? Fai broke the short eye contact and turned to look at what was happening. Syaoran, where Fai's right eye used to be, had the eyepatch over his eye and he was watching intently as the familiar magic circle appeared silhouetted against the ground around the space-time witch.

She raised her hands, the black Mokona on her shoulders, closing her eyes. She muttered something, in Japanese or in some other language. It sounded as if ancient, powerful. Wind rushed around them all, Yuko still muttering to herself determinedly, her long black hair swirling around her kimono, even if Mokona was finding it hard to hang on to her shoulders. The wind closed in on itself, becoming more like a small tornado, coming to the center, a shadow forming in its middle.

The circle broke, engulfing them all in grassy dust, and Fai squinted to see the figure in the dust closer. It was a figure of someone familiar, someone dear to them all. The figure was splayed onto the floor, her long arms stretched out to the ground. Her dress was white and flowing and her hair was silky and short around her pale chin.

"Sakura!" yelled Syaoran, running out to the figure, his personality changing suddenly and his eyes becoming bright again.

Yeah, right. (Insert a 'pssht' here')

She said something, her eyes opening wide and smiling, but then wrapped her arms around the brown-haired teen, burying her head in his neck, brown hair against brown. They held each other tightly, looking up at each other and smiling happily. A smile which hadn't grazed Syaoran's lips for months. Her eyes were a beautiful green, like the grass beneath them both, and they sparkled as they both got up. Her eyes met with the rest of the group and Fai allowed himself a smile, and half of one fell across Kurogane's mouth as Sakura held Mokona, laughing, her green eyes bright.

I've never seen eyes that beautiful. Thought Fai as Sakura embraced him. He let himself close his eyes as Sakura's small hands clutched the back of his shirt. She was so small, as if she was going to break in his arms. Kurogane watched over them, feeling as if he had accomplished something, seeing the magician smile. Fai released Sakura from his arms and they all turned to look at Yuko.

"Then are you ready to leave?" asked Yuko, looking upon them all with her kimono-covered arms crossed.

"Can we?" asked Sakura nervously, she looked over at the blonde, sensing his hurt.

Fai nodded, smiling although he wouldn't see the princess again. Mokona was rested on her shoulder and Syaoran was grasping her hand. Fai couldn't tell if Syaoran was back, though. He couldn't bring himself back to his former kindness, if he had done all that he had done. But he still smiled at her, acting as if everything was alright.

Kurogane was sure that if Fai left Sakura and even Syaoran it would be like leaving his children. He cared for them all, looked over them all with smiling eyes, and he would have liked it better if they would have stayed. But he wouldn't say anything. He never said anything if he thought it might hurt someone.

"I suppose Fai is staying with you in your Nihon, then?" asked Yuko, turning to the ninja and the magician.

The ninja nodded. Sakura and Syaoran turned back to the two.

"We'll try to visit you," said Sakura, smiling as her hair flew around her as wind surrounded the two teens as Mokona began to transport them. "Bye!"

"Good-bye, Sakura-chan," said Fai, smiling, waving as they disappeared.

Kurogane could tell it was a full-hearted smile. He… truly cared for the princess. He was like a mother to the two teens. He was taking care of them all, in spite of everything that had happened to him, he loved them all. Yuko looked upon Mokona as he hopped over to Fai and Kurogane.

"We'll miss you Mokona," said Fai, kneeling down to shake the strange creature's paw.

"You can always stop by for a drink," said Yuko slyly, eyeing Watanuki. "He'll make some."

"No drinking!" Burst out Watanuki, like a mother scolding her child.

Fai smiled as the windswept around the two and they were soon engulfed in a cloud of dust.

That was… that was… THAT WAS HORRIBLE! I AM SO MAD AT MYSELF! Well, I just started a new story (Fan fiction? No. It may be on fictionpress though.) And I'm kind of absorbed in it. I had to write this chapter. Trust me… the next chapter will have Fai going partially insane and Kurogane and Fai going back to Nihon!!!! (Claps ecstatically)

Oh yeah, I want to know how old you guys think I am. Start guessing now!!!!!! (Phantom angel, you can't guess. You already know)