I'm baaack! I had a splendid time down in the happiest place on earth (Disneyland, for those who don't know), but when I got back home I slept for almost a full day. Haha, good times, good times... But then I went to work on this story, and I've been trying to write a lot. I actually just wrote a scene I've had in my head for about a month or two, but it doesn't take place for quite a while... I've just really wanted to write it, and so I did. Even though it'll take a bit of time to actually get there.

But oh my gosh, you guys. 31 reviews?! ACK! That's so many! Wowzers! I'm kind of a lot gleeful right now. And to address what some people said about the battle scene... Yes, it was bloody, and yes, it was pretty brutal. However, I was adamant in my own head that it should be, since battles are often romanticised as being less awful than they really are. I didn't want it to be like that. People die and get hurt, and there is no mercy in war. And that's what it is, a war. And so that's why the violent imagery was so prevalent. It might also be that I got a bit carried away. xD But to me, at least, that was my favourite chapter to write.

And since I've been gone so long, and since you didn't get a chapter last week, you get an extra long one this time! Yay! Rejoice! And now on to this week's installment!

Chapter Twelve.

Gwen opened the front door and found Syaoran and Sakura waiting anxiously for them. Syaoran was pacing back and forth in front of the chaise in aggravation, fully dressed, while Sakura sat quietly looking at the floor, still in her nightgown, Mokona asleep in her lap. As the door opened, they both looked up. Sakura gasped when she saw August's bloodied and tear-stained face.

"What happened?" she said, standing quickly and hurrying to the door as Fai and Kurogane stepped through. They all looked rather grim, blood dripping from various wounds and bruises blossoming quite splendidly. Syaoran was very white. Gwen made August sit down on the couch; as soon as he sat he promptly put his face in his hands.

"There was an attack in the village by the people of the country of Sirian. They're our neighbouring country to the south, and they've long hated us. I guess they chose tonight to plan an attack. Though why they decided to stage it at--" she pulled a timepiece out of the pocket of her coat and checked it-- "Three in the morning is completely beyond me. Anyway, we had to take care of the situation." Kurogane and Fai were quiet, simply standing, faces curiously devoid of emotion, both lost in their own thoughts.

"How bad was it?" mumbled Syaoran, eyes wide. Gwen shook her head.

"Pretty bad. We managed to kill them all, but not without damage of our own." She sighed. Trust the worst attack on Seresan soil to happen under her rule.

"August-san," whispered Sakura suddenly, sitting on the couch next to him and leaning down to try and look at him. He didn't move until she tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder. August looked up quickly, focusing on the small princess beside him and trying to smile. It looked pained.

"Sorry, Sakura. I'm a little shaken, that's all." The fact that he didn't say why made Sakura frown in concern. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything a loud whistle made them all jump-- everyone except August, who was still deaf. Gwen recognised it a moment later as water boiling in the teapot.

"I'll be right back," Sakura said, darting into the kitchen. The five left in the living room sat in silence while Sakura bustled about in the next room, the sound of water sloshing about in a bowl signaling her re-entrance. She had towels and bandages slung over one arm, and the other held a large bowl of hot water. At the curious looks, she simply said, "I knew you'd be injured when you came back."

August was obviously the most injured, and so he received her attention first. Syaoran also scrambled to help, reaching toward Kurogane. Fai and Gwen sat on the divan perpendicular to the chaise, not saying anything. Sakura was clearly in her element as she cleaned August's cut on his forehead with a towel doused in hot water, using a bottle of salve to disinfect it. She attached a bandage to the area, pressing gently to make it stick. August removed his cloak, then his shirt, so that she could bandage the gash in his side. The bandages from his fight with Kurogane were still there, and it was upsetting for Gwen to see him looking so worse for wear. The whole time he was being bandaged, August kept his eyes on the faded jade velvet and dark wood lining of the chaise beneath him.

Kurogane was easier to handle; a quick swipe of salve on his bruises, a bandage on the worst ones, and he was done. This was a bit of a relief for Syaoran, as it was worrying to him that such an uneasy silence hung in the air. He tried to move on to either Fai or Gwen, but they both denied treatment.

"I've got to go back to the village to help clean up," said Gwen, standing. Fai stood as well, saying he was going too. Kurogane offered, but Gwen told him and August she wanted them to stay.

"Let me go," said Syaoran, standing. "I wasn't able to help you earlier, so please let me help you now." Gwen hesitated a moment.

"Please," he repeated, looking desperate.

"Okay. We'll need all the help we can get." Syaoran thanked her gratefully, then ran to pull on his boots and cloak. The three left. Outside, Fai turned to Syaoran grimly.

"Syaoran-kun, I'm sure you're man enough to handle it, but trust me when I say that what happened was not pretty." Syaoran's eyes hardened a little, and he nodded solemnly. Over the hill, the view from before had changed for the better; the fires had been extinguished fully, and to Gwen's relief the damage was not as bad as she's feared. There wasn't anything so severe that she couldn't fix it for the most part with magic.

"Good God," whispered Syaoran.

Most of the bodies of the Seresans had already been returned to their families, but the bodies of the Sirians were being piled unceremoniously in a pile in the middle of the village square. The ground, usually white with ice and snow, was trampled and dark with blood and mud. A strange, iron-like smell hung in the air. Gwen scrunched her face in distate and anger.

"The Sirians will pay for this. How could their king have allowed such a thing? Does he honestly have no control over his people?" mumbled Fai, mostly to Guenevere. She shook her head and walked forward to the nearest Seresan.

"How bad are our losses?" she asked him softly, putting a hand gently on his shoulder. The man looked down at her, then bowed his head in respect.

"Not as bad as it could have been. We've lost a few warriors... But as I said, it could have been worse." Gwen looked consoled for a moment, then looked up at him again quickly.

"And Quinn? How is he?" By the look on the man's face, Fai assumed Quinn was the man's son.

"He's alive. He was injured a bit, but he'll make a full recovery." Gwen smiled, and said she was glad. As if to punctuate the conversation, the attractive, dark-haired waiter Fai had been jealous of a couple days prior ran out of one of the cottages and up to his father and Gwen.

"Guenevere!" said Quinn, surprised to see her. She ran up to meet him, hugging him tightly around the chest. He made a noise of pain, shying away from her.

"Sorry," he said apologetically. "Bruised ribs. They're a bit painful." She chuckled and hugged him much more gently.

"I'm glad you're okay." They continued to talk for a moment, going over damages having to do with population and property. Things weren't as bad as Fai's feared, fortunately. The death toll so far was up to twenty-seven men. He'd expected in the sixties.

"Most of us were hurt. A few managed to heal themselves during the battle, which probably saved their lives... Which is most likely why we had so few losses."

"Still, though, twenty-seven..." mumbled Gwen sadly. She shook her head, sighing. "This will not mean well for our fragile relationship with Sirian. Those bastards knew they were hovering on a knife's edge, why'd they do something like this? At least we killed their men. That will teach them not to take us lightly." Quinn blinked.

"You were in the battle?" he asked, perplexed. Her eyebrows raised.

"Why wouldn't I be?" she asked, confused.

"Well," Quinn mumbled, blushing a bit. "It's just, you know, you're our Queen, and our Witch. I thought you'd... I don't know," he finished lamely.

"You thought I wouldn't fight?" He nodded, a little embarassed. Gwen grinned.

"I'm as much a Seresan as you are, with just as much pride in my country. I had to show those bastards who they were dealing with." Then she looked confused again. "How could you not know I was there? Did you not hear the sound blast?" Quinn shook his head.

"I was outside the spell's parameter, I guess. I was near the eastern bridge, cutting off the exit for fleeing soldiers." Gwen nodded, saying it made sense. A small woman poked her haid outside the door of Quinn's house, calling him back in. After a quick wave, he left for home, his father with him. Gwen took a deep breath, then turned to look at Fai and Syaoran.

"Shall we help clean up, then?" They both nodded, and the three of them hurried to help with whatever had to be done.

Half an hour later the Sirians were in a pile in the center of the square, and most of the blood was cleaned off the ground. The smell had dissipated to the point where they hardly noticed it anymore. Gwen consoled every family that had lost a son, a father, a friend. She was devastated to find that Thomas, one of her friends from childhood, had been killed, and hugged his mother with tears brimming in her eyes. Finally, she moved to the centre of the village, before the pile of bodies.

"People of Seresu!" said Gwen in a carrying voice. The conversations quieted at once. "What happened today will be known for a long time as one of the worst unprecidented sieges on Seresan ground. As Queen and Witch, I will make it my personal goal to punish the barbarians behind this." There were appreciative yells as she spoke, the villagers determined to have their justice. "I will not allow the Sirian king to escape unblemished from this occasion. We were at war with them before, and we will fight them again if they will not know their place!" More yells. "Those people will rue the day they decided to mess with Seresu, mark my words." As her empowering speech finished, she turned and with a quick sweep of spells, the mountain of casualties burst into flame. There was whooping and catcalls as the Seresan people celebrated the defeat of their enemies, as well as mourned their losses. Syaoran, who had helped tend to the wounded, looked up at Gwen in curiosity. She knew his question before he asked.

"In Seresu we believe that when someone dies, though it is a sad occasion, we should make their passing bearable." She sniffed. "That is to say, we don't believe in dwelling in our own depression forever. We all grieve for our loved ones, but that itself is... a more private matter." She fell silent, looking down. Syaoran felt vaguely as if he were missing something, but looked away respectively as Fai leaned in and kissed her temple.

"Let's go home," murmured Fai softly. Gwen nodded.

"What about the fire?" asked Syaoran quickly. "Should it be left, or..."

"Don't worry about it," said Gwen, smiling. "It's magic; it will burn quickly, cleanly, and leave no trace." Syaoran nodded in understanding, took one last look at the pillar of flame, and followed the two tall blondes back to the house.

Once back inside, Gwen was slightly upset to see August sitting tensely on the chaise, still looking downward. Sakura and Kurogane each had a cup of tea. Mokona was asleep in Sakura's lap. The young princess was looking tentatively at August, her hand comfortingly on his arm. They looked up as the three walked in the door, the cold gust of wind making the fire in the hearth flutter.

"Are you okay?" asked Sakura anxiously, addressing the question mainly to Syaoran, who blushed a little but said he was fine. Sakura accompanied him as he headed off to bed. Kurogane looked at both Gwen and Fai in turn, then let out a deep breath.

"Your brother isn't faring so well," he muttered, staring into his tea. Gwen didn't say anything as she swept over to August, sitting next to him and pulling his face up to look at hers.

"August," she said firmly. The man nodded. "Are you alright?" He nodded again, but looked away as he did so. She made him look at her again, annoyed. "Tell me the truth." August looked at her for a long moment, then sighed.

"I'll be fine." He voice was strangely garbled; as he couldn't hear himself speak, it was hard for him to judge how his voice sounded. Gwen sighed.

"Am I the only one who needs a drink?" She turned in the middle of the sentence to look at Fai and Kuro, but August held her chin and pulled her face back toward him.

"I can't read your lips when you look away," he said, grinning crookedly. Gwen's features grew worried, and she bit her lip, placing her hands gently over his ears.

"This is going to hurt," she whispered softly. August watched her mouth as she spoke, then nodded. He closed his eyes. Gwen mumbled something; a second later August flinched and screwed up his face against the pain, Gwen having popped his eardrums.

"Can you hear me?" she asked tentatively. He blinked a few times, then nodded.

"I really need that drink now," he said weakly. Gwen ran to the kitchen, filled four glasses with her strongest alcohol, and hurried back. The first glass went to August who wasted no time in tipping it back and drinking it all in one go. Kurogane copied him, but Fai and Gwen took their time drinking theirs.

"So what's wrong?" said Gwen after August had returned from refilling his glass. August leaned his head back against the chaise, his bare chest rising and falling gently. He frowned, looking sadly at his glass.

"...I thought you were going to die," he said, very softly. "I hope you never have to feel the sheer terror that ripped through me as I thought I was going to have to see you killed in front of my eyes." He looked at her seriously. "The worst part was knowing that I would be too late, knowing I couldn't save you." August took another long draught of alcohol, and a deep breath. Then he looked at Kurogane. "So... Thank you for saving Gwen. I guess I owe you my life, because without her, mine would be over." Kurogane shook his head.

"You don't owe me anything. You saved me from having my ears blown out. We're even." August huffed.

"I saved your ears. You saved a life. They aren't equal to each other," he insisted.

"You saved me at your own expense. I saved Gwen at no expense. It was nothing to kill that man. We're even," Kurogane grumbled insistantly. He glanced sharply at Fai when August and Gwen weren't looking. Fai shut his mouth; he'd been ready to 'remind' the ninja of Tomoyo's curse, but realised Kurogane didn't want them to know about it. August had to admit that Kurogane had a point, but it didn't make him feel any better. Perhaps if the dark-haired man realised how deeply August's affection for his sister ran, he would understand why it didn't feel like a fair trade. The blonde man opened his mouth to argue further, but Kurogane interrupted him.

"Look, if you really feel like you should, you can pay me back another time, if I'm in trouble. But until then, just drop it." August shut his mouth, then hung his head.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "It's just..." He didn't finish, but rested his head against his sister's shoulder. Gwen turned her head to place a kiss on her brother's curls.

Fai coughed quietly. "So... Should we plan something? You know, for a counter-attack? Sirian would not have done something like this without a secondary plan. They'll have something else up their sleeves, mark my words. I just think that we should have some sort of defense, a plan for attack ready." Kurogane nodded, once. Gwen looked between them, then at August, who was looking up at her while still leaning on her shoulder.

"Not now. It's late, and we've just fought a very tiring battle. The Sirians are a dangerous, battle-loving people, but not necessarily intelligent. They won't have planned another attack this soon, and even if they had, we've annihilated any men that could attack again. I think we should get some sleep tonight so that we can plan with clear heads tomorrow."

"I agree with Ginny," said August. "By tomorrow we'll have rested and calmed down a bit. Then we can plan for our retaliation."

"Okay," said Fai, standing. "We'll plan tomorrow." Kuro stood silently, and watched as Gwen helped August to his feet.

"I'll take him upstairs," said Gwen. "You two should get to bed. It's going to be a rough day tomorrow." And without another word, she and August left the room. The sound of August's boots was curiously loud as the two walked up the stairs to the loft, or maybe it was just very quiet in the house.

Kurogane frowned in the several moments of silence that followed their departure. Fai looked at him nonchalantly.

"You look like you want to say something," he murmured. The ninja huffed, looking a little confused.

"Why are they so close? So... Dependent on each other? I have the feeling I'm missing something."

"Ahh," indulged Fai. "I was wondering when this would come up. Yes, their love for one another is curiously strong, but not without reason." Suddenly Fai looked slightly embarassed by something. "I'm not entirely sure Gwen would want you knowing this, as she's a very proud person and doesn't like to... Well, it's more that she had a difficult past, and... She's only ever talked about it a few times. With me, at least." Kurogane could sympathise. He didn't like talking about his own past; it wasn't that he was embarassed by the horrors of his childhood, and it wasn't like it was a particularly touchy subject, it was just...

"But I guess it wouldn't hurt you to know. It's not like she's had a dreadful life, or anything." Fai took a deep breath in preparation for his speech.

"Well, August was born five years before Gwen. To be specific, he was born five years, two months, and eight days before her." Kurogane blinked, surprised that he had it down to the day.

"August's birthday is the seventh of April, Gwen's is the fifteenth of June," Fai supplied quickly. "Anyway. Their parents, Nikolas and Jane, were good people. Very nice. But, well, when August was thirteen-- Gwen was eight-- they died unexpectedly. I guess to put it more accurately," said Fai softly, "The Finlaures were murdered. Evidence points to that conclusion, anyway. Both were young, spirited, very clever, and good fighters... In perfect health." Fai shook his head.

"It was devastating, to their children especially. You see, in Seresu children are apprenticed at the age of twelve into a profession they've shown a certain aptitude in. Before that, parents tutor their children, traditionally. August had been apprenticed into the Royale Guard, which didn't surprise anyone as Nikolas had been a bit of a legend in the Guard's ranks, and had taught his son to handle a sword from a young age. But only a year after being apprenticed August was suddenly alone in the world, thirteen years old, and with an eight-year-old sister to care for. Gwen, similarly, was at a loss for what to do for a while. Thirteen is very, very young to have to make the decisions of an adult, after all.

"My parents and the Finlaures were pretty close, and so when Nikolas and Jane died we offered to take care of Gwen while August had his training. However, August seemed determined to stay with his sister, as she was the only family he had left. Gwen, likewise, did not want to be away from her brother. It shows August's iron resolve, I think, that he balanced tutoring Gwen, feeding her, dressing her, and generally caring for her at that age while simultaneously managing his own life. It was pretty remarkable, looking back on it. He used to joke that his parents made it look far easier than it was.

"So I guess the reason they love each other so much is because... They're all they have in the world. The only family still alive. In Seresu it's uncommon to have more than one or two children to a family, and so extended families tend to be small, also. They grew up taking care of each other, having to learn to communicate like adults in order to make their way of life work. It was a close call, sometimes-- for instance, if they got into an argument and infuriated each other, they wouldn't speak to one another lest they do something irreversable, or leave a permanent scar on their relationship. But in the end they came out stronger for it, I think. I'm an only child, so it's hard to try to relate with their situation, but watching it from an outsider's point of view was a humbling experience. Not at the time, so much, but in hindsight."

Kurogane slouched in his seat, staring hard at the wall. "It's pretty amazing they aren't more messed up than they are." There was no other word for it.

"Yes," said Fai lightly. "I'm pretty glad, though, that August made it work, because if Gwen had come to live with us, our relationship would probably borderline incestuous. And that would be uncomfortable." He tittered a bit at his own joke.

Not entirely satisfied yet, Kurogane leaned toward Fai to question him further. "So when you brought him here, her brother said that they hadn't seen each other for eight months. Where had he been?" He had to admit, he was curious about Gwen and August's unusual past.

"Well, it's nearly December now, just so you know, for reference. In March August had an opportunity to rise up in the ranks to General, which for a twenty-four-year-old-- since he was twenty-four at the time-- is a huge opportunity. He's always been rather gifted in the areas of combat and strategy. But he was hesitant to leave, since Gwen was here, and if he accepted the proposal he would be moved down to a station further south. But Gwen told him to leave, because then she was nineteen and fully capable of taking care of herself. At that time she and I were both apprenticed to the High Wizard. So August left, and was gone for eight months. Very shortly afterward I became Wizard, and Gwen was... My apprentice, funnily enough. But about a month later..." He trailed off, looking guilty.

"You left," supplied Kurogane. His tone was not accusing in any way, which Fai appreciated.

"Yes. I left, and... Gwen has been ruling since."

"She doesn't have the tattoo, though?"

"No," said Fai, frowning in thought. "You see, that tattoo is bestowed upon the High Magicians because it works as an amplifyer for our magic. It by no means increases them, rather, just focuses them."

"I don't get it," said Kurogane.

"Hmm... Okay, think of magic like the flame of a candle. On its own it provides light enough, but if you need more light it doesn't really help. It give off a lot, but it isn't concentrated, and goes in all directions. Then say the tattoo is... Um... A mirror. The light reflects off the mirror, making it more concentrated, and brighter. The flame itself gives off no more light that it did originally, but thanks to the amplifyer it's more controlled, and brighter where you need it. That's sort of how it works."

"So the tattoo is the mirror to your flame?"

"For lack of a better analogy, yes."

"Ah." Kurogane thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, that makes sense."

"Good," said Fai, letting out a breath of relief, "Because I have no idea how else I would explain it."

Gwen's soft footsteps signaled her return to the sitting room; Fai turned to look at her, and Kurogane straightened slightly.

"You two are still here?" she said, yawning. "You ought to go to bed. We're in for quite a day tomorrow." Kuro stood up, then walked to the hallway, where Gwen was currently standing.

"Goodnight," he mumbled, blushing just a bit as she hugged him tightly.

"Goodnight, Kurogane. And thank you." He nodded, then walked past her, down the hall a bit and into the first door on the left into his room. Fai, too, stood and walked over to Gwen.

"Do you want to be alone tonight?" he asked softly, placing his hands gently on the sides of her face. She shook her head slightly.

"No. I'll need you to distract me. Or keep me sane, whichever."

"Keep you sane?" he asked. She smiled crookedly.

"I've just had a near-death experience, silly. I could, I don't know, suddenly freak out and run around the house in naught but my underwear screaming about fish." Fai shook with silent laughter.

"I would like to see that."

"Well, that makes one of us, at least."

Back in Gwen's room, it took a while to get ready for bed; Gwen insisted on showering to rid herself of the grime of battle, and then dressed in her nightclothes and brushed her teeth before finally hopping between the sheets. Fai wasted no time in wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. He kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, Ginny."

"Goodnight. Again."

End Chapter Twelve.

I really need to write more if I'm going to keep up with my updating trend. Be patient with me if I ever end up having to skip a week... Hahaha. I'll try not to let it get to that, though.