Summary: Kurogane and Fai team up with Yasha-ou and get a few words about the future.

Warnings: Warning One: Swearing. Not a lot, but some. Warning Two: SPOILERS. If you haven't gotten to chapitre 68, then this is mostly chock-full of spoilers. If you have, then this won't be too big a deal. And this story is AU now if you hadn't caught the genre change. All will be explained at the end. Warning Three: More KuroxFai fluff.

Disclaimers: CLAMP rules all. I would be nothing without them.

Legend

Of Second Chances and the Future

The night past slowly in silence between Kurogane and Fai, but it was a companionable silence. Kurogane laid down next to Fai, and relaxed his grip on his tunic, leaving his hand to rest on his chest. It seemed like an eternity that they simply watched each other before Kurogane looked up to the moon. Fai continued watching Kurogane for a time before tentatively breaking the quiet.

"Why do you look at the moon?" He asked softly.

Kurogane hesitated a moment, then looked his partner in the eye. "I like the moon."

Fai smiled. "Do you? I knew a woman once who would say that you're a romantic for looking at the moon all the time."

Kurogane raised a skeptical eyebrow. "A romantic?"

Fai nodded. "She was a slave too, but she was very intelligent. We called her Kaho-sensei. She always watched the moon and said that the moon calls to the lonely and romantic." Fai smiled as he saw a slight blush creep onto Kurogane's face. "Going to deny it?"

"Shut up."

Fai's smile grew wider and he flung his arms around Kurogane's neck. "Kuro-puu's shy!"

"No I'm not," Kurogane snarled and attempted to pry his bowman from the leech-like hold on his neck. "Get the hell off me."

Fai laughed merrily before he fell quiet, not relinquishing his grip. He hugged him close for a moment before pulling back a ways. "I like it here though."

Kurogane frowned at him and grunted. "I suppose that it's a good thing I don't actually mind then."

Fai sighed and closed his eyes, resting their heads together. "So why do you like the moon so much?"

Kurogane let out a long breath. "Damn good question."

"So much for being a romantic," Fai teased. He looked up at the setting moon. "The moon always seems so alone."

"The moon's not alone," Kurogane said, sifting his fingers gently through Fai's hair. "I'm here to keep it company."

Fai looked back at his swordsman and smiled softly.

"We should probably get back to the camp," Kurogane sighed, looking away.

Fai frowned somewhat. He marveled at how strange it was that only a few days ago he would have done anything to be among others. Now, though, he only wanted Kurogane's company. But his partner was right, the moon had almost finished falling out of sight and the sun would be rising soon. The two sat up and Kurogane bent to tie his bandana around his head.

"Must you wear that?" Fai asked.

Kurogane paused a moment before tying the knot with a swift yank of finality. He did not look at Fai. "You can't convince me that it doesn't scare people." He felt Fai's hand gently brush against his arm. "It even scares you."

Fai edged closer to Kurogane's side and took his hand firmly. "It just…hurts to see it," he explained. "It doesn't scare me."

Kurogane looked down at their hands and covered them in his other, looking at Fai. "I just don't want to see that look in your eyes."

Fai looked down, leaning his head slightly against Kurogane's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Kurogane tilted his head to brush his cheek over Fai's hair. "What did I tell you about apologizing to me?"

Fai looked up. "I still feel bad about it."

The swordsman smirked. "I guess. Shall we?" He inclined his head in the direction of their camp.

"Indeed."

:-:-:-:-:-:

By the time the bowman and the swordsman returned to the camp, the ranks forming. The general gave the two a bemused look before instructing them to get into their places and Kurogane and Fai shared a look before separating. The general made the call and the warriors moved out.

What they did not know was that awaiting them at the end of their forested path was an opposing army, bent on destroying their enemies. When the warriors came upon them, they ambushed.

Fai was gazing absently in front of him when he heard the general shout. His attention snapped to the fore ranks and saw the lines of swordsmen fall under attack. He felt his heart stop as saw Kurogane fall under a swift sword stroke. The ranks broke and chaos ensued. Fai began battling his way to where he had last seen his swordsman, but the attacking army intercepted those in the back.

As the attackers bore down on him, he knew that he would not be able to reach Kurogane.

:-:-:-:-:-:

The battle had ruined everyone. The fierce and unrelenting fighting left only a handful alive. The ones that could still stand had long since fled the grounds, and the only ones that remained could no longer move of their own volition. Kurogane lay on the ground, gazing up into the sky as the setting sun streaked it orange and gold, and absently reminisced of a time not too long ago when he had been in a similar position. He had killed his final attacker, but the body had fallen onto him, pinning him to the ground. He was not sure if he would be able to get the soldier off of him let alone walk, but he had to move.

He struggled embarrassingly with the body, but finally forced the man off from across his chest and sat up painfully, wincing as he felt more blood ooze from his wounds, staining his clothes and armor impossibly darker. He grimaced and convinced his body to stand, his shaking legs to support his weight. Staggering forward, he scanned the area, fervently searching for one person. He blinked his eyes trying to clear his vision. Watching the ground carefully, Kurogane swept his eyes all around, ignoring the blood-darkened earth and the stained grass crushed under the weight of the dead and mortally wounded. There was not a clear path for the swordsman to take, and he moved as gingerly as he could past the broken forms surrounding him.

Fallen warriors grasped weakly at his legs, begging in hoarse voices for help. He barely spared them a glance, pulling away and continuing past. His first concern was to find his partner and he would not pause for anything until he was found. The swordsman forced himself onward, becoming almost desperate in his visual search of the bodies that littered the ground. They all looked the same; faces and bodies ruined from harsh sword strokes, arrows protruding at crude angles from chests and backs, dark clothing seemingly saturated in blood. He was almost afraid to find Fai, for fear of his condition.

He could have chuckled to himself at his actions had he more energy to care. This was the second time now, and he could not erase the irony of it. He had sworn to keep his distance from the other man, but had found himself doing the exact opposite. Fai had been harder to persuade from that mindset, but he had finally admitted how he truly felt. Warriors could not afford attachments, yet here he was, forcing his wounded self to search for someone that might very well be dead. He did not care. Fai would be found, even if it killed him.

Then he saw the broken longbow protruding from beneath a body. As quickly as his injured legs allowed, he rushed to it, yanking it free. It was his bow; he had to be close. He had a difficult time compelling his body that he must stand again; he could not afford to waste time worrying over his own wounds. Finally, he struggled from the ground and moved forward again, scanning the bodies with a steely determination shining in his red eyes.

The sun had since set and the sky was washed in soft violet and blue hues, the stars beginning to dot the darkened west. Kurogane found it harder and harder to see, but he would not give up. Fai had to be here somewhere. Then he spotted a lithe blond figure clad in a familiar dark tunic and his entire world narrowed down to the man. Forgetting everything else he stumbled forward and fell to his knees beside his bowman. He pulled the still form into his arms, cradling him close.

"Fai," he choked, barely forcing the name past his lips. He swallowed and tried again. "Fai."

The man stirred slightly in his arms at the sound of his name and cracked cerulean eyes open. Even in the immense pain he must have been in, he smiled. "Kuro-tan."

Kurogane was barely able to hide the anguish that tore through him and forced a smirk. "Looks like the roles are switched this time."

Fai coughed weakly, still smiling. "Looks that way. We've no manner of luck at all, do we?"

"Looks that way," Kurogane said softly. His grip on his bowman tightened as the blond was racked with a violent cough that tinged pale lips red with blood. "I think you've got it worse this time."

Fai did his best to smile again. "It won't really matter in the end."

The swordsman brought his hand up to rest against the side of Fai's dirt- and blood-stained face. He looked his partner over quickly, ascertaining how badly he was wounded; what he saw was not encouraging. His partner looked as if he was on the verge of death. He forced the dread-filled tremor from his voice. "You…how…" He could not seem to find the right words. They were all too trite.

And still Fai smiled for him. "It's all right. Don't worry."

Kurogane swallowed his irritation. "You can't tell me that. You…"

"I know I'm dying, Kuro-rin," his partner interrupted. "You can speak plainly."

Kurogane shook his head vehemently, fury and denial flaring in his eyes. "You can't die! I won't let you!"

Fai smiled again, closing his eyes in exhaustion and turning his face against the other's arm, taking what comfort he could from their closeness. "You're warm…"

"No," Kurogane gently shook Fai. He could not leave him like this. "You can't go…"

Fai forced his eyes to open again, and Kurogane could see they were beginning to glaze over. "You're dying too, Kuro-mu. You can't stop either of our deaths."

"I don't care about me," Kurogane growled. "You can't die."

Fai found he could no longer smile for his partner. Everything was becoming gray around the edges of his vision and he had to struggle in order to keep his eyes focused. He wished he could do something. His swordsman seemed so distressed, but he could not bring his mind to comprehend why.

"Fai." The bowman felt Kurogane's rough hand caress his cheek lightly. "Come back."

"I'm so tired," Fai sighed, his eyes falling closed.

Kurogane hissed in barely suppressed anger over his helplessness, preparing to deny Fai death again, when a soft voice spoke.

"I can help you."

Kurogane snapped his head up to glare at the stranger standing in front of them. He hunched further over Fai's body protectively and pulled him closer. "Who the hell are you?"

The man seemed to have come from nowhere. His armor was spotless and in perfect order, his long, curving sword shone cleanly in the last rays of the sunset; there was not a scratch on him. He did not appear to have had anything to do with the battle, which made him suspicious indeed.

"I am Yasha-ou," he said. "I wish to help you."

"What the damn for?" Kurogane spat back.

Yasha smiled thoughtfully. "I am in need of warriors such as yourselves for my army."

"If you hadn't noticed, neither of us is going to be surviving for very much longer," Kurogane said.

"I can prevent that," Yasha said.

Kurogane sat up slightly from his hunched position, staring warily at Yasha. Fai took the opportunity to turn his head, blinking wearily.

"How?"

"I can give you my magic," he said. "I do not wish for it any longer." He looked down, a conflicted look crossing his face. "This has gone on long enough." He looked back to the two warriors. "My magic will be able to save your lives."

Kurogane snarled. "I don't trust you."

Yasha smiled. "Of course. You have no reason to do so."

"What do you want in return," Fai's voice was weak, and trembled slightly with the effort of making himself heard.

Kurogane looked sharply at him. "Are you actually listening to this guy?"

Fai looked back up to his partner, doing his best to smile reassuringly. "If his magic can save you, then I'm willing to do what it takes."

Kurogane shook his head. "If anything, it will save the both of us. I won't live unless you do too."

Fai reached an unsteady hand up to rest against Kurogane's cheek. "I don't care what happens. As long as you're still with me."

Kurogane leaned into Fai's palm and growled gently. "I won't let him use you. We have no idea what he really wants."

Yasha had allowed the quiet exchange, but chose to speak then. "I merely wish your loyalty in my army. I want nothing more from you."

Fai's hand fell away from Kurogane's face, landing against his chest; he looked as if that gesture had drained almost every ounce of energy left in him. He looked back, meeting Yasha's black eyes. "We would be nothing more than members of your force?"

"Correct," Yasha replied. "I want nothing more than your loyalty to me in battle. You won't have to do anything outside of fighting beside me."

Kurogane narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized the man. "And why the hell do you want us?"

"I saw you both fighting," Yasha said. "Never have I seen such a fire in two warriors. None fought today as the both of you did. I need that kind of talent."

Kurogane scoffed slightly. "So you saw the entire thing and didn't even care what happened?"

Yasha smiled furtively. "It is not my place to become involved in a battle between enemies."

"I hope that logic works well for you," Kurogane sneered. He looked down at Fai, fading further into death before his eyes. He squeezed his eyes closed, wishing futilely that none of this were happening. He looked back to Yasha. "So what's the deal?"

"My magic will only prevent your death now. It will not keep you from dying in the future. If you accept my magic, you will no longer possess your own eyes, but mine," Yasha explained. "If you accept it and are assured that your lives are the same afterwards, you will then be in my service, fighting alongside my army and myself."

"Your eyes?" Fai questioned blearily.

Yasha nodded. "It is my magic manifested. You will be the same, but your eye color will be black."

Kurogane flared. "No!"

"Kurogane!" Fai scolded, looking up at him.

Kurogane met Fai's eyes hiding the sudden desperation that flooded him. Fai watched quietly as the desperation past, followed by anger and resentment, until Kurogane finally hung his head in acceptance.

"It's all right," Fai soothed. "At least we'll still be here."

Kurogane felt his exhaustion and wounds finally catch up to him and he slumped forward with pain. He rested his forehead against Fai's and looked into his eyes. "All right," he said to Yasha, not looking away from Fai. "Do whatever you want. But I won't see it, so warn me before it happens."

Fai met Kurogane's eyes steadily, doing his best to keep them open for him, knowing that his partner was trying to burn his eyes forever into his memory. In truth, he did not want Kurogane's eyes to change either. As demonic as many described them, he had grown to love them. But he would rather that they both lived.

"I would close your eyes now, if that is what you want," Yasha said quietly.

Kurogane immediately closed his eyes, his brow furrowing in an effort to keep them that way. Fai likewise closed his eyes, not wanting to notice any kind of change, in himself or his partner. He felt Kurogane reach blindly for his hand and met it, entwining their fingers together tightly.

"Never leave me," Kurogane breathed.

"I'm right here," Fai said.

"It is done," Yasha told them.

Fai hesitantly opened his eyes. Kurogane still had his own closed, most likely trying to convince himself that it was all right to open them. He saw no difference in his sight, a good thing since he relied on it for his aim in battle. It truly must be just the eye color that changed. He peered at Yasha from the corner of his eye, noting that Yasha's own eyes were now a rich brown color.

He felt a tight squeeze on his hand and looked back into Kurogane's pitch black eyes. He could not hide his shock at the sight and saw a similar expression on Kurogane's face as well. He reached up a hand that no longer trembled to brush his fingertips across his swordsman's temple. He found a certain comfort in the fact that he thought the black eyes suited Kurogane just as well as his red ones did. Kurogane, it seemed, could not find a similar consolation.

It was then that he noticed the absence of pain. He felt every bit as healthy as he had that morning. He looked away from Kurogane to check his partner over. It seemed as though each of his wounds had been healed; there were not even scars from where there should have been. Blood still stained the torn cloth, but there seemed to be no evidence as to how it got to be there. Kurogane leaned back then and helped Fai to sit. He looked him over, his anguish easing from his face. They looked at each other astonished.

"Ah," Yasha broke the silence between them. "I neglected to mention one thing."

Kurogane raised an eyebrow, glaring at him. "An addendum to this whole thing now that we can't refuse it?"

"No, no," Yasha said. "Simply an oddity. This magic is singular, but is split between the two of you. It cannot be separated, and will remain whole at all times. If one part of it disappears, the other will as well."

Fai frowned. "So, you're saying that when one of us dies, the other will die at the same time?"

"That is correct," Yasha nodded.

The bowman and the swordsman exchanged a glance. Kurogane chuckled ruefully. "I guess it's a good thing that I wouldn't want to live without you then."

Fai smiled softly and brushed his hand against Kurogane's palm. "Shall we pledge our new allegiance then?"

Kurogane grunted his acquiescence and the two stood, moving forward to stand in front of Yasha. They knelt in unison and bowed their heads.

"To our new lord, Yasha-ou," Kurogane began.

"We pledge our services, until you release us, or death takes us," Fai finished.

Yasha smiled. "I do not believe you will disappoint me."

:-:-:-:-:-:

That night, Kurogane and Fai found themselves seated at the very outskirts of the Yasha clan's camp. As per Kurogane, they sat far away from the others, so as not even the firelight could reach them. They watched the group silently.

Kurogane sighed roughly. "It's no wonder Yasha-ou wanted us. It looks like these morons couldn't even hold their own against each other, let alone any kind of threat."

Fai laughed quietly. "Kuro-chan, you're too harsh."

Kurogane frowned at the nickname and grunted. "It's the truth."

Fai silently agreed. The men that made up the clan looked as if they had courage, but other than that, there seemed to be no talent for battle among them.

"How are you?" Kurogane's question was soft and Fai barely heard it.

He looked at his partner, seeing that Kurogane was not looking at him, staring dejectedly at the ground in front of them. "I'm doing all right."

"I can't believe that bastard took your eyes," Kurogane groused.

"He took yours too," Fai reminded him.

"Like I care about mine? I never look at them," Kurogane said. "Bastard. Of all the things he could have taken…"

Fai reached over and took Kurogane's hand gently. "As long as we're together, that's fine with me."

Kurogane looked over at him, his expression unreadable. "That doesn't change the fact that I miss them already."

Fai smiled softly and squeezed his hand.

:-:-:-:-:-:

Several battles with Yasha's army had proven that Kurogane and Fai were indeed the best warriors the clan had. The two quickly discovered that Yasha's main focus in any battle was a rival king, Ashura. What their relationship was, neither could decipher. What they did notice was that Yasha's strength progressively lessened. Nothing was mentioned of it, but Kurogane and Fai knew it most likely had something to do with a sudden loss in magic.

One day, Yasha had gone off on his own and came back later on with a vicious gash over his right eye. He would not speak of how it had happened to anyone, but the man slowly began deteriorating in health; and death seemed to hover by him patiently.

Kurogane and Fai sat at the edge of the clan's camp again that night.

"He's not going to make it," Kurogane observed passively.

Fai glanced at him before nodding his agreement.

"What would we do next?" Kurogane continued. "We only swore loyalty to Yasha-ou, not his clan."

"You can save him, if you'd like," a soft voice came from over their shoulders.

The two warriors jerked, springing up from where they had been. Behind them, two young women stood, smiling bemusedly. Kurogane frowned at them. These two were the servants of the princess Tomoyo, Rika and Chiharu.

"What do you want?" Kurogane growled.

Rika laughed. "Princess Tomoyo has something that could preserve the head of the Yasha clan."

"Preserve?" Kurogane arched an eyebrow at them.

"Nothing can save him," Chiharu elucidated. "However, he and the other king have not come to terms with each other. And that would bring great unrest to the future. The princess can explain further."

"What princess?" Fai whispered to Kurogane.

"She's the one who gave me the sword that one night in the forest."

Fai remembered. Tomoyo had been the name he heard Kurogane call that allowed him to find his wayward partner that night.

"Follow us, please," Rika grinned.

Kurogane frowned at the girl, but complied, leading Fai into the small grove of trees. On the other side, Tomoyo sat regally beside a steed-drawn covered wagon. A small fire burned in front of her and several people, dressed similarly to both Rika and Chiharu, milled around. Tomoyo smiled widely at them. She looked over to a young man in loose black pants and a long silver tunic tied with a violet belt and wearing spectacles standing beside her.

"Eriol, I believe I have won," she said.

The young man smiled. "It appears that way."

"I told you they both would come," she giggled. Eriol shook his head, chuckling, and moved away.

Kurogane frowned at her. "I don't think I want to know what you're talking about."

Tomoyo shook her head. "Most likely not. Hello, Fai. It's lovely to finally meet you."

Fai raised an eyebrow. "The pleasure is mine. I think."

"Oh, Kurogane, you know how to choose them!" She said, clapping her hands, her grin impossibly growing. "I like him!"

"I'm so glad," Kurogane rolled his eyes.

Tomoyo motioned for them to sit. "I must say the black eyes do suit you, Kurogane."

Kurogane growled. "Let's not bring that subject up. So what's going on with Yasha-ou?" He sat down next to her, facing the fire. Fai followed suit, taking a seat next to Kurogane.

The young woman sighed. "It's all about duties with you. No time for pleasantries, hm?"

"Whatever."

She chuckled. "Very well. The head of the Yasha clan will not live for much longer. The way things are now, the future will not be as it should. In order to change, things must happen that will not occur on their own. Yasha and Ashura must make peace together; a young man fighting for his princess's life must aid that, and what will preserve Yasha's essence must be returned to that princess. Only if these things happen, will the future be as it should."

"You're talking in riddles," Kurogane frowned. "Speak plainly."

Tomoyo rolled her eyes. "Perhaps you should simply pay better attention." She glanced over at Fai. "Did you understand me?"

Fai bit his lip to try and stop himself from smiling. He nodded and saw Kurogane glare at him. He could not contain the small snicker.

"Ha," Tomoyo said haughtily. "Fai understands. It's only poor Kurogane that doesn't. A pity."

Kurogane growled. "So are you going to explain it so that I can understand, or are the two of you going to revel in your intellectual superiority some more?"

"Shall we, Fai?" Tomoyo asked. With a nod and another barely contained laugh from Fai, she looked back at Kurogane. "I have a feather. It belongs to the princess of a different dimension and must be returned to her. The only way that she can get it is by relying on a young man that travels with her. She is the most precious person to him and he will do anything to retrieve all the princess's feathers."

"Feathers?"

Tomoyo nodded. "In her own world, she was attacked and her feathers, her memories, were scattered to different dimensions. Since that time, the princess, the young man, a ninja, and a wizard have been traveling with the aid of the Dimension Witch to collect them. One of the feathers is in my possession. It must go to Yasha so that his essence will be preserved. Only Ashura can retrieve it, and he will only do so when he lets go of Yasha. He is torn by guilt for having wounded him, and will not want him to disappear. He will call the young man to him in order to make himself release Yasha and retrieve the feather. If these events happen, then the future shall be as it should."

"That sounds like an awful lot just to make peace with someone," Kurogane said.

Tomoyo smiled. "That would be in the eye of the beholder."

Kurogane grunted. "So what do we have to do with anything?"

"Well someone has to get the feather to Yasha!" Tomoyo shook her head in exasperation. "Really now, Kurogane, I thought you would be able to follow a little of what I was saying."

Kurogane glared at her. "Whatever, Tomoyo."

Tomoyo sighed. She looked to her side at Eriol. "Eriol, if you would please call Chii and have her bring the feather."

Eriol nodded and retreated to the head of the wagon. He held open the cover and helped a young woman down. Her long blonde hair fell far past her waist and was decorated with the same kind of crescent moon barrettes as Tomoyo's. A long, violet veil was fastened around her head and fell down the back of her hair. Her simple black dress was decorated with silver crescent moons stitched indiscriminately over the skirt. She blinked her deep brown eyes at the group in front of the fire.

"Princess?"

Tomoyo smiled. "Come here, Chii. It's time for us to hand the feather over to another."

The young woman tilted her head, as if trying to comprehend why they would wish to do such a thing, but complied and took a seat tentatively on the other side of Tomoyo. She fixed Fai with a confused look.

"I think I saw you once," she said.

Fai looked at her curiously. "I don't believe we have ever met."

That seemed to confuse her further and she looked up at Tomoyo. The princess smiled. "It's all right, Chii." She looked over to Fai apologetically. "You will have to forgive her. No one knows from where she came, but she seems to speak about other places in space and time a bit. Perhaps she, or a part of her, has met another version of you."

Fai frowned. "Another version of me?"

Tomoyo nodded. "Of course. There is not simply one world, you know. There is a potential for anyone and everyone to exist at the same time in another world." She shrugged slightly and looked to Chii again. "Can we have the feather now?"

Chii nodded. "Of course." She cupped her hands in front of her and gazed steadily at them. With a soft shimmer, a delicate feather materialized above her palms. She held it out proudly to Tomoyo. "Here it is."

Tomoyo smiled. "Very good, Chii. Thank you."

Chii beamed at the praise and leaned happily against Tomoyo's waist. Tomoyo fondly stroked a hand across Chii's veiled hair before taking the feather and holding it out to Kurogane. She paused.

"Are you sure you're going to be careful with this?" She asked suspiciously. "You have a tendency for recklessness."

"Give it to him then," Kurogane nodded at Fai. "I don't care who you give it to."

"That's a good idea," Tomoyo looked expectantly at Fai. "I'll trust you to see that this gets to Yasha."

Fai nodded and leaned across Kurogane to take the feather. It disappeared as soon as his fingers touched it. He pulled back his hand, eyes widening. He looked up at Tomoyo. "What happened?"

Tomoyo shook her head. "Don't worry. It's still with you. When you need it, just open your hand and it will appear."

Fai nodded, looking at his hand in wonder. He glanced to Kurogane and found him watching. He smiled, waving his hand at him. "I hold the future in my hand."

Kurogane groaned, looking over to Tomoyo. "I think you're rubbing off on him already."

Tomoyo laughed. "Oh, he's always had it in him."

"I do not ever want to be around if you two actually had a casual conversation," Kurogane groused. "It would be an affront to my patience."

"I think you need to lighten up, Kuronpu," Fai winked.

"That's it, we're done here," Kurogane folded his arms across his chest. "You two are nuts."

Tomoyo and Fai laughed.

"If there was a deity, it's abandoned me," the swordsman sighed.

Tomoyo shook her head. "Don't worry, I have to send the two of you on your way now. It's time for me to go."

"Going to pull that disappearing trick again?"

"No, no," Tomoyo said. "I'm going to be mundane this time. As you can see, my tribe is with me. I can't make us all disappear into the night."

She stood, bringing Chii with her. "Off you go," she shooed.

The warriors stood from the ground and nodded a farewell before heading into the woods.

"Be well," Tomoyo said from behind them. "Remember you now have a duty to help the future. And may we meet again someday."

Kurogane resisted the urge to look back at her and forced himself to keep moving. He did not like leaving like that. It felt as if something had been left unsaid. And for some reason he thought it had to do with the 'young man's' traveling companions, the ninja and the wizard. Something about that nagged at him, but he could not understand why.

"I think it'll be all right," Fai said softly.

Kurogane grunted. "I don't know. I think she didn't tell us everything she could have."

Fai smiled. "Well, if it were important, she would have. She did tell us about the future and all."
"Hardly," Kurogane scoffed. "Things are going to happen, but if we don't get that feather to Yasha-ou, they won't. That's not really helpful."

Fai shrugged. "Why don't we just worry about it when it comes to pass?"

"You and Tomoyo really would get along," the swordsman grimaced. "It'd be like an unholy alliance."

Fai smiled and the two continued to the camp in silence.

:-:-:-:-:-:

Later that night, the head of the Yasha clan died from his wound and illness. Two warriors were there with him and placed a feather over his chest. It disappeared and Yasha opened his eyes again, understanding what had to be done. One step of this path was taken. The future now lay in the actions of a young king.

A/N: First things first: Shurano's Kuro and Fai are actually Our Kuro and Fai. But I don't care. For the purposes of my story, they are not the same. They are two separate versions of Kuro and Fai. I'm keeping some things from chapitre 68, except that Shurano Kuro and Fai are not Our Kuro and Fai. Actually, that might be the only thing that's going to be different… But even with this spin, it's sure to be exciting. I totally cooked up a really fun thing for the future.

I'd like to apoligize if this chapter is too close to the same thing as chapter two and three. I don't know. And I also apologize for the cliches. If you didn't notice the cliches, then please disregard and pretend I didn't mention them.

And Reviewers: I love you all. You rock my world and make me feel so special and loved. Never in my most ambitious dreams had I ever thought people might actually like my writing. So seriously, thank you. Love to you all.

I guess that's all I had for an author's note. Not quite the tome I had anticipated. But that's okay. I know how much everyone must love reading author's notes. Thank you to my wonderful beta-readers, Miss Duchessa and Youko-san. Oh yes. With this chapter, my new updating cycle will go into effect; from the day this was put up here (Sunday, March 6, 2005), there will be three weeks before the next chapter (Sunday, March 27, 2005). Unless something horribly untoward happens (or how inspired I become) I will stick with that schedule to the bitter end. Or until I have more time (if this project ends up going on longer than my classes…).

Next Chapter: I wade into the thick plot I've got going. This is going to be the time when I start blurring the lines between CLAMP's Tsubasa's reality and the reality of my fic. So be forewarned. And thanks in advance to Jamie (for she is so cool) the translator for the website Hyu. She has granted me her permission to use her translations for the parts that I weave in. Love, Jamie!

As always, thanks for reading!