A/N: I'm sorry this is late, this chapter gave me lots of trouble! That said… *sniff* It's over! (Except for the epilogue. See you all on Thursday with that!) I'm not really happy with this chapter, but….it seemed like the best, and easiest, way to do things in the end. It came to a rather calm end, didn't it? A ha. But, yes, I'm not really happy how this turned out. It seems like an afterthought sort of thing.

That all said…I really hoped that everyone really enjoyed it! I certainly did! There are things I would have done differently, but I am very, very, happy at how it turned out.

Thanks to my beta, who was very patient all along the way.

To. Touch. The. Sky - I'm glad that most of, if not all, your questions were answered! :3 Also - I think most people portray Ashura like that just because we really don't see that much of him, so there's a lot of person-lore to him. And even when he went crazy, he was still trying so hard not to…Poor Ashura. Also, everyone seems to love a really dark and abused and depressed emo Fai, so Ashura becomes a scapegoat for it, ha ha ha.

1337kitsune - Kuro will always have his Kuro-Daddy moments, don't you think? Ha ha ha. I'm happy you loved all the Easter eggs, they were fun to put in. :3 Also - I hope you didn't get grounded! Ha ha ha.

EFM - Anytime I get a fan girl squeal, I count it as a good chapter. :D

Nazgurl - Maybe, maybe not. Hopefully the things said in this chapter justify Yui's decision for you a bit. :3


Kurogane woke up to the second most annoying sound in the world. The first was the sound of his alarm clock. The second?

Fai imitating his alarm clock right in his ear.

"Stop it," Kurogane growled, opening his eyes and shoving his hand into Fai's face, looming over him.

Fai laughed, pulling out of arm's reach of Kurogane. "I thought it was a fun way to wake you up." Without waiting for Kurogane to speak or response, he grabbed all of the blankets and pulled them off, tossing them to the side. "You've been called into work! Apparently they called in last night after you left to get me."

"What?" Kurogane sat up, irritated at the sudden cold. "What for?" He narrowed his eyes. "Is that my shirt?"

"Yep!" Fai spun around in a circle. "These are my jeans though. I didn't think you'd be happy if I was running around your house pantless." He sat on the edge of the bed, leaning back on his hands. "Anyways, I'll make you breakfast, since Sakura and Syaoran are still sleeping. Unless you want me for breakfast?" He winked.

"Idiot," Kurogane muttered, getting up and walking to the bathroom. Fai followed along behind him, only to get the door closed in his face.

"…Kuro?"

"You are not coming into the bathroom with me," Kurogane said, through the door. "If you want to make yourself useful, go make me something to eat."

"Okay, but first! Kuro!" Fai laughed on the other side of the door. "You have to tell me that you like me! I know last night was your attempt at a confession, but I want to hear it again."

"Oh you've got to be kidding me," Kurogane said, eyes narrowing at the door.

Fai tapped his fingers against the other side of the door. "I'm waaaaaiting Kuro-puppy - ah!" Fai barely caught himself when the door suddenly opened, and he straightened to look up at Kurogane.

"The hell is Kuro-puppy?" He growled, glaring down at Fai.

"I'll come up with something else," Fai said cheerfully. "So what would you like for breakfast?"

"You know what? Nevermind, I'll make it myself. Just go…watch TV or something." Kurogane closed the door again, stubbornly, rolling his eyes when he heard Fai's laughter fade away. He could just barely hear him walking down the stairs.

He set the shower to a heat just short of painful and showered and shaved quickly. As stupid as he sounded to himself, he really didn't want Fai to be alone too long. Who knew what might happen, what might send him off.

Nursing a small cut on his chin, Kurogane changed and walked downstairs. He spotted Fai on the couch, legs crossed under him, television remote in hand. With a glance at the TV, Kurogane recognized the program as the news. "So, what's new in the world?" he asked casually as he made his way over to the kitchen. He could do this. He'd cooked for himself before. (Not well, but that wasn't important.)

"Emergency report," Fai said, quietly, eyes glued to the television.

"What's the emergency?" Kurogane asked, giving up and getting a bowl down for cereal.

"Two of Celes Corp's buildings were destroyed," Fai said, quietly. His hands tensed on the remote. "Including the one you worked at, Kuro."

"What?" Kurogane forgot about breakfast, going over and staring at the television.

"Reporting live from the research building currently being used for fighting-build androids research, this is Primera," spoke the girl on the television, standing in front of police tape and a small crowd. A few people seemed oblivious to the serious state of affairs there - there was more than one sign declaring love for Primera. Well, she was quite popular.

"How's it look out there Primera?" Asked the young man in the studio. Was his name Shougo? Kurogane wasn't sure, he didn't watch the news often.

"It's quite a mess out here. It seems like they're still clearing the rubble, and emergency medical personnel are tending to everyone they've found. Early reports say that the fire alarm went off a few minutes before the building came down. So almost everyone got out okay." She paused, closing her eyes. "According to the police and rescue teams, there's been two people found dead. The building was destroyed just half an hour ago, so it seems that no one was at work. The identity of the two have yet to be announced." She smiled then. "Back to you, Shougo!"

Fai pressed the mute button, and looked up at Kurogane. "Kuro..I…" Fai paused, seeming choked. "I can't explain it, but I think this was Yui's doing."

"Fai…" Kurogane frowned, then glared off as the doorbell rang. "Damn it. I'll be right back, let me get that." When Fai just nodded, Kurogane left the room, going to answer the door. "What-"

"Kurogane! Did you hear?" Tomoyo hissed in a whisper. Yukito stood behind her, along with an orange (Not red, orange, what the hell was Tomoyo thinking?) haired man. Judging by the lack of Kero, Kurogane guessed that she'd placed Kero in the humanoid body.

And of course (because Kurogane's day was clearly only going to get worse and worse), standing behind them all was Yuko with her three androids from before. "I'm sure he did!" Yuko stated, almost cheerfully, shoving her way inside the house, uninvited. The two girls with her gave out a cry in unison of 'Don't mind if we come in!'. Watanuki was much more polite, waiting until Kurogane gave up and waved them in before entering.

"Yeah, I heard, I was just watching the news," Kurogane said, slamming the door shut when the group was inside.

"Who would have known that Fei Wong would burn his bridges like this." Yuko said, pointing at the living room. "Is this the way to the kitchen?"

"Yeah, but-" Kurogane started, but it was no use, Yuko was already heading that way, dragging Watanuki behind her and telling him to cook them all something.

"Kurogane," Tomoyo said, resting a hand on his arm. "Are you okay? You were home, right?"

"Yeah, asleep…Apparently they called me in, but…well." Kurogane shook his head, then spun around and stomped into the kitchin-living-dining room when he heard a loud crash. "What's going on here?"

When everything was settled and Kurogane, Yuko, and Tomoyo were fed, and after Yuko bemoaned Kurogane's lack of anything alcoholic and tasty, they settled in, watching the television. It was the same report, more or less. Nothing new to report, so it stayed on mute.

"Well…I think it's safe to say our jobs aren't around there anymore," Tomoyo said delicately, sipping at a cup of tea.

"No, really," Kurogane muttered, glancing at Yuko in the kitchen, talking between Watanuki and Fai, Sakura and Syaoran. "Think we'll still get paid?"

"Oh, of course, paychecks for the most recent pay period went out yesterday." Tomoyo sighed against the rim of the mug.

Kurogane shook his head, looking back to the television. "Good thing I was already planning on finding a new job."

Tomoyo just nodded and they were both quiet. After a few minutes she set down her mug. "Miss Yuko told me." She sat up, hands clasped in her lap. "About it all. About Fai, and those three."

"I did," Yuko, appearing right behind the couch and leaning against the back. Kurogane jumped, and she laughed. "Don't be so jumpy," she teased, wagging a finger at him. She straightened back up, crossing her arms. "It seems to be spreading, so-"

"Won't it cause trouble?" Kurogane asked, narrowing his eyes at Yuko. "I mean, people see them as property-"

"Society used to see women as property too," Yuko countered, grinning. "The Clow Reed Institute will be lobbying a bill through congress over the next few months, to try and get things like that removed. Ah, of course the thoughts will take longer, but legally…" she sighed. "It's a start."

"How's something like that going to pass?" Kurogane growled, then narrowed his eyes when Tomoyo giggled.

"Kurogane, the Clow Reed Institute, and Miss Yuko's company, they're quite powerful." Tomoyo smiled.

"That's dirty," Kurogane growled, looking back at the television.

"Most things in politics is," Yuko said, with a laugh, then reached out and patted Tomoyo's shoulder. "If you decide to go through with your idea, do give me a call! I wouldn't mind buying a few shares of the stock myself." She clapped. "Maru, Moro, Watanuki, we're going!"

"The mistress is going!" The two said, skipping out of the room, hand in hand. Watanuki just grumbled something and finished whatever he was saying to Fai, Sakura, and Syaoran, waving before following Marudoshi and Morodoshi out.

"I'll be sure to," Tomoyo said, smiling at Yuko. "I wouldn't mind getting a few eyes like theirs, for Kero and Yukito. They have this Soul Program as well, correct?"

"That's right," Yuko said. "You give me a call too, Fai, I do enjoy our talks."

"Will do," Fai said, walking over, smiling.

"Ta!" Yuko said. After a few moments of shuffling, the door closed.

"That woman is crazy," Kurogane muttered, and Tomoyo laughed. "What was she talking about, idea?" He looked over at Tomoyo, even as Fai sat down next to him and cuddled up to his arm.

"Oh, well, I've been thinking of starting my own business in the industry for many years…" Tomoyo smiled. "But the timing was never quite right. Now however, with this," she gestured at the television, "I was just thinking maybe it's time to think about it more seriously." Before Kurogane could respond, she looked around him, at Fai. "Fai?"

"Yes?" Fai lifted his head off Kurogane's shoulder slightly, blinking at Tomoyo.

"Kero and Yukito both have the Soul Program, but…They still seem the same. But Sakura and Syaoran, they seem different. I can't speak for you, of course." She laughed, picking up her tea again and taking a sip. "Because you've always had it, correct?"

"That's right." Fai smiled. "Kero and Yukito…They have it, but it's not awakened like Sakura or Syaoran's."

"Awakened?" She tilted her head.

"It's not quite awakened because…they haven't found a reason to really live, yet."

"A reason?" Kurogane raised an eyebrow.

"Yep!" Fai laughed. "But that's something I can't answer for you, everyone has to find that out on their own. We're not quite as lucky as you two." He smiled, gently, then looked at Tomoyo with a curious expression. "What'll you do with your business, Tomoyo?"

Tomoyo smiled brightly. "I want to design bodies for androids, and things for humans, that imitate the human body even better. I think there was always a reason that androids were built to resemble humans, but it's been stalled for so long. We need to take another step, and with this-" she stopped, looking at the television. She reached for the remote, pressing the button to unmute it. "Wait…"

"Breaking news," Shougo said, hands clasped over a paper. "The identities of the two bodies found in the rubble of the Celes Corp building have been released. Fei Wong, president of his own company, and Ashura Celes, one of the presidents of Celes Corp were both well known and well respected members of the community. They will be missed."

The report went on, but Kurogane didn't pay attention to it. No, he was focusing on Fai, who was gripping his arm so tight that it hurt. "Fai…Fai."

"Yui did it," Fai whispered. "Fei Wong must have gone there with him…And Yui broke free of the Tower Program…and Yui did it. I'm sure of it…I'm sure of it." He pressed his forehead against Kurogane's shoulder, helplessly. "I can feel it…"

Kurogane wrenched his arm out of Fai's grip and wrapped it around the blond's shoulder, holding him close. He gave Tomoyo a helpless look, but she only shrugged, just as helpless. With a sigh, Kurogane just rubbed at Fai's back, awkwardly.

"Well, might as well stay for lunch," Kurogane said, finally, mostly just to break the silence."Not like I can cook though."

"I'll make something," Tomoyo said, with a little laugh. "Yukito? Would you mind helping me?"

"Me too, I want to learn!" Sakura said from where her and Syaoran were sitting on the floor. Kero ended up going as well, as did Syaoran, leaving Kurogane and Fai just on the couch.

"It hurts," Fai mumbled.

"I know," Kurogane said. "But I'm here…You know. For you. If you need to talk or something…" When Fai just giggled, a bit pathetically, Kurogane growled. "What're you laughing at?"

"You're really bad at this sort of thing, aren't you Kuro…"

Kurogane just grumbled under his breath.


"I'll be going now." Tomoyo smiled up at Kurogane, even as Yuktio and Kero waved and stepped out ahead.

"Yeah yeah." Kurogane pocketed his hands. "Hey, if you do the business thing…I'll go along with it."

"Really?" Tomoyo smiled. "Well then, I'll take that into account when I'm thinking it over." She giggled. "Good night Kurogane, Fai, Sakura, Syaoran." She smiled and bowed her head at them before leaving, closing the door behind her.

There was silence, then Kurogane sniffed the air. "..Is something burning?"

"Dinner!" Sakura squeaked, running off. Syaoran followed, laughing nervously.

"I feel sorry for them. Yukito and Kero," Kurogane said, after a moment.

Fai looked up at Kurogane, rubbing his eyes and sniffling once. "Why?"

"The Soul Program. They've got to find something to live for. You said something like that, right? It's not as easy as it sounds, even for humans. You're just lucky." Kurogane's cheeks darkened as he looked away, pointedly. "You've got love, right?"

Fai laughed, despite himself. "Kuro, is this your newest attempt as a love confession?"

"Idiot."

Fai reached up, turning Kurogane's face back to him. "You're right, Kuro." Fai smiled. "That can be one of things that makes it complete."

"Sakura and Syaoran?" Kurogane raised an eyebrow.

"They found each other." Without another word, Fai stood up on his tip-toes and kissed Kurogane, smiling against it when Kurogane held him close and returned the kiss.

Fai wouldn't want to live any other way.