Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
I have to admit, I'm a little surprised that this story has gotten so much positive attention! We're coming to the end, however sad that may make you. Another chapter or two, unless something happens to make me drag it out more. If you've got an idea for an ending, lemme know! I built the relationship between Fai and Aea up a little, as well as Kurogane's!
Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.
"She's suffering from nightmares again," Fai said tiredly, crouching over the sleeping form of Aea. She tossed restlessly, abruptly murmuring things in her sleep at intervals. "Whatever spell Zervian cast on her, it's a doozy. And since magic doesn't exist in this world, there's no one to ask for help either."
"…" Mokona sat near the young woman's head, looking depressed.
"How is she doing?" Tomoyo asked in concern, entering the room quietly. "Is she still sleeping?"
"Yes," Fai nodded, and her face fell. Tomoyo had escaped unscathed for the most part, while Fai had suffered some minor burns and Kurogane some bruises.
"Aea's spirit is fading," Mokona said suddenly, his eyes widened. "Mokona can't sense her power as strong as Mokona could before!"
"What?" Fai blinked in surprise, and gazed down at the sleeping woman. "Mokona, can you contact Yuko for us? I think only she can help us with this."
"Mokona will do his best!"
"I see…a shielding spell…" Yuko murmured, once she had been told the entire story as quickly as Fai could manage. "I expect payment for my services, of course."
"Will this do?" Tomoyo offered, carrying a bottle of liquor. "It's the best I could find – I hope it's enough…"
"Done," Yuko said briskly, and Mokona sent the bottle through the other Mokona. "Now, Fai, since you're the only other one able to use magic, you'll have to do exactly as I say. Rub this ointment on her wounds, and bandage them in white linen. Then leave her alone for the night, no matter what you may think is happening, understand? You must be the one to apply the ointment, Fai."
"I understand," he nodded, picking up the things Yuko had sent to them. "Thank you, Yuko-sama."
"I'm just pleased to have liquor to sample!" she said cheerfully. "Watanuki! Prepare something to go with this! Watanuki…"
"Is she real?" Tomoyo asked, when the images had faded.
"Yes. Now, please go find Kurogane and make sure he's all right," Fai suggested, not having seen the ninja since the battle. Once Tomoyo had left, Mokona sat by the door as Fai undressed Aea, taking no notice of her almost-naked state. Putting the cream on his fingers he began to rub it onto her wounds, which still hadn't stopped bleeding and were scattered on her legs, arms, and torso, all long and deep, sure to leave scars. "Aea, I could probably fall in love with you if there wasn't someone else," he said softly, forgetting Mokona was there. The white creature merely closed his eyes and sat patiently, waiting until Fai had finished bandaging her and had pulled a blanket over her body before saying something.
"Fai has a lot of love to give," it said suddenly, and Fai's eyes widened. "Just because there is someone else meant for Fai, doesn't mean he can't care for Aea in a different way. Fai should remember that no one will blame him for something he can't help."
"You're pretty observant, Mokona," he smiled sadly, taking his gaze off Aea, who had fallen into a deeper sleep than before. "Let's go – Yuko said to leave her alone for the night, remember? Let's see if Tomoyo found Kuro-tan."
"All right," Mokona nodded in agreement, and made his way to Fai's shoulder. Fai slid the door shut, leaving Aea alone in the dark.
"Are you all right, Kurogane?" Tomoyo asked sympathetically, putting her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure Aea won't blame you. From what Fai told me, it must have been instinct, that's all. No can blame you for that."
"She will," Kurogane muttered absently, and Tomoyo got the feeling he wasn't listening to her.
"You look hungry," she said finally. Seeing Fai at the doorway she made her way out. Fai remained standing, watching Kurogane with an intent look on his face.
"I've never seen you like this, Kuro-san," he commented, crouching next to his companion. "Tomoyo is right – it was instinct. Of course, I was a little surprised, but…you can't change anything now."
"Get lost," Kurogane ordered, and suddenly jumped in the air. "Get out, you damn pork-bun!" he yelled, grabbing Mokona and shoving him at Fai. "Get out, both of you!" he growled, and Fai quickly left.
"Kurogane feels very guilty," Mokona whispered, as they stood in the hall. "Mokona knows he cares for Aea, but he acted on instinct to protect Tomoyo. Now Kurogane is in two pieces."
"I figured as much," Fai nodded with a sigh, and headed for the kitchen.
"What was that?" Tomoyo asked, a little scared, as a scream suddenly pierced the quiet of the late night.
"It must be Aea," Fai told her, closing his eyes as her pain became apparent to all who could hear.
"Kurogane is going to see her!" Mokona prodded him. "Yuko said to leave her alone no matter what, remember?"
"Ah, yes," Fai nodded, and rushed from the room. He caught Kurogane as the ninja was about to open the door to Aea's room, and grabbed his arms to prevent him from moving.
"Let me go!" Kurogane growled, but Fai was stronger than he looked.
"Yuko said…to leave her be," Fai grunted, getting an elbow in the gut. "Aea will be healed by morning, Kuro-tan. Leave her or she'll be wounded again!"
"What? You involved the damn witch?" he demanded, whirling around. "What did she want now?"
"Just some of Tomoyo's liquor," Fai assured him, "Nothing serious, believe me. Come on, Kurogane – let's leave Aea to whatever is happening."
"Aea! You're awake!" Fai realized sleepily, as she awkwardly made her way into the kitchen. Her face was as pale as the white robe she wore, and there was a new look in her eyes that hadn't been there before – if Fai had taken a guess, he would have thought it was despair. "Should you be moving?" he asked, and went to catch her as she suddenly collapsed. Kurogane was quicker, however, having paced the halls throughout the night, and carried her to a couch nearby.
"You should have stayed in bed," he muttered, but she ignored his words.
"Whatever Yuko gave you worked," she said quietly, closing her eyes briefly. None of them had any idea what had happened the night before, but a long scar down her left temple, barely missing her eye, was the only evidence that anything had happened at all. "I have some scars, and my strength is still shot, but I'm not going to bleed to death, so stop fussing!" This last part was directed at Tomoyo, who was rushing around the kitchen to make her something to eat. "I'm not hungry," she shrugged off the plate offered, and struggled to stand up.
"Mokona will help Aea!" it happily volunteered, but it was obviously no help at all. Fai slung her arm around his shoulders and she sighed.
"Thanks. I want to get dressed – we should leave as soon as possible," she said, as Fai helped her out of the room.
"As soon as Mokona says so," Fai agreed with a nod.
"So, it was definitely Sakura's feather?" Aea asked Mokona, once she had finished dressing herself.
"Yep – Mokona is sure now!" it nodded, and she patted between Mokona's ears absently.
"So, that's what it was," she thought, gazing out the window. "Mokona, is everyone else all right?"
"Fai and Kurogane had some minor hurts, but nothing serious," Mokona told her, and she rested her chin in her hand.
"Damn Zervian…bastard," she added, and Mokona sensed she was calling someone else a bastard, not Zervian. "Mokona, when can we leave?" she asked abruptly, and it squinted its eyes shut.
"Mokona isn't sensing the feather anywhere in this world," it said finally.
"Good," she thought out-loud, having dressed in her clothes from the future Hanshin Republic, not the ones from the current world. "I guess let's get the others, then?"
"Yep!" Mokona agreed cheerfully, and bounced out of the room. Aea stood stiffly, still feeling some pain but nothing like before, and braced herself against the wall as she made her way out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
"Finally," Kurogane grunted, he and Fai already changed and waiting. "About time, you damn pork-bun."
"Mokona not a pork bun!" Mokona informed him. Aea rolled her eyes, supported by Fai, who merely laughed nervously.
"Good-bye, all of you," Tomoyo said, standing farther back. "It was wonderful meeting you."
"Same here," Fai nodded, and Tomoyo gasped as Mokona grew wings and shot up into the sky. Aea gripped Fai tightly as the wind began to swirl at their feet, and Kurogane's face was completely devoid of emotion as they disappeared into the next dimension.
"Are you all right?" Fai asked, supporting Aea as she gasped in air.
"Y-yeah…" she nodded. "Just a little out of breath, that's all. I'm fine, all right!"
"All right," he said calmly, looking around. "Where are we?"
"I don't know," Kurogane said sourly, fingering his cloak. "I don't like it. Something's not right about it."
"I agree," Aea said firmly, frowning a little. "I'm not sensing any auras nearby – not anything, even animals. But my magic isn't sealed, at least."
"That's good," Fai agreed, taking her arm as they headed into the town. Comprised of small white buildings with brown tile roofs, it appeared deserted, and several shutters hung loose from disrepair. A small breeze gathered dust clouds around their feet, and the trees were completely barren, as was the land.
"Mokona doesn't like it here," it whimpered, hiding in Kurogane's cloak.
"Then take us somewhere else!" the ninja suggested sarcastically, uselessly trying to get Mokona out of his clothes once again. Narrowing his eyes suddenly, he glanced up as a figure in dark robes suddenly lunged at them. Fai pulled Aea back, and Kurogane leapt to the other side of the man.
"That didn't take very long," Fai commented, as Zervian straightened.
"Not bad, dodging my attack," he complimented them, and grinned cockily. Fai abruptly pushed Aea away from him as Zervian attacked again, and the magician used his powers of levitation to avoid any serious injury. Aea landed on her side and Mokona bounced over to her. Momentarily stunned from the impact, she was in a daze as Zervian changed direction and headed toward her instead.
"Not this time!" Kurogane grunted, coming in-between the two enemies.
"Kurogane!" Aea shrieked, as Zervian blasted into him. The two men landed past her, and she scrambled over to Kurogane as Zervian rose, looking both pleased and disgruntled. "Kurogane…?" she murmured, kneeling next to him. He was unconscious, and crimson blood pooled underneath him. "You…"
"Now, now, calm down, Aea," Zervian said mockingly, and leapt aside as Fai suddenly attacked from behind. "He probably won't die, if that's what you're wondering."
"Bastard!" she yelled, her pupils suddenly dilating. Out of the blue, a narrow black light suddenly shot toward Zervian, and hit him in the side of his face.
"You little bitch!" he swore, his hand clasping the wound shut. "How dare you!"
"Screw you," Aea, now thoroughly pissed, shot more gravity blasts at her former comrade, who was unable to dodge the accurate shots.
"This isn't over – not by a long shot," he growled, disappearing using the power of the feather to travel between worlds once more.
"Is Kurogane going to be okay?" Mokona asked worriedly, crouching next to his head.
"I…don't know," she managed, going over to Fai's side. The magician knelt next to Kurogane, looking concerned.
"Do you know what Zervian hit him with?" Fai asked, rolling the ninja over on his side to examine the wound on the other side. A large hole was in his flesh, and Aea groaned at the sight.
"I don't," she said bitterly, inspecting the injury. "This is serious – Mokona, can you sense any water nearby?"
"Mokona thinks so!" it said brightly, and Fai heaved Kurogane over his shoulder. "Mokona will lead the way!" it volunteered, bouncing off through town.
"At least the well wasn't dry," Aea sighed in relief, finishing bandaging Kurogane up. "If it wasn't, this could have become infected."
"When do you think Kurogane will wake up?" Mokona asked, sitting on her head.
"I have the feeling he's taken a lot worse than this," Fai said thoughtfully. "Probably a few hours at best. Aea?"
"I'm going to take a walk," she said, heading out of the house. Fai looked after her for a moment before returning his attention to Kurogane, who lay on a bed in one of the deserted rooms.
"Kurogane shouldn't have gotten hurt," she told herself, walking aimlessly through the streets. "I shouldn't have put them in that position. The only reason Zervian attacked Fai and Kurogane is because of me…and Mokona, but they're my friends, and tried to protect me. If I wasn't around, then they would be safe, I know it."
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and murmured a brief incantation. A gravity ball appeared in front of her, and widened into a sphere, hollowing in the middle. After a few seconds a white light shone brightly, blinding Aea for a few seconds before a ripple spread through it and a picture appeared before her.
"Guilt a little too much for you, Aea?" Yuko asked calmly, peering through the portal that had appeared in her own dimension.
"I'm not surprised you've been keeping tabs on us," Aea replied just as coolly.
"I hope you've regained more of your memory since we last met," Yuko continued. "It's the reason I cast that spell, after all."
"I know," Aea nodded. "I've been remembering my past life just as you wanted, Yuko – and more of my abilities as well."
"Glad to hear it!" Yuko smiled brightly. "You were my apprentice, after all. But after you lost your memory, it was too much to try to teach you again."
"So you sent me to all those worlds with Mokona, to sharpen my skills and control over the elements. And finally sent me to that world, where I became an assassin and you waited for the time you knew we'd meet again," Aea finished. "And now that I've gotten my complete memory back, you want me to return and become your apprentice. I made the deal that I'd be able to get revenge on those people first."
"But you have, my dear," Yuko explained patiently, and Aea's eyes widened.
"What are you…"
"It's simple. The men whom you have fought in the past worlds were the ones that traveled to your own world and destroyed it. The bargain is completed," the witch told her, and Aea felt sick to her stomach. "But I know that's not the reason you contacted me – you would have used Mokona for it. You have another need."
"I know you sent me to Fai and Kurogane so they would learn where Sakura's last feather is," Aea informed Yuko, who grinned. "But they've been in danger from Zervian ever since I arrived."
"He's after Mokona as well, you know."
"I know…but when he discovered I was here, it became worse," Aea shook her head. "Mokona can continue to bring him to other dimensions, to conquer more – but now that he's unlocked the full potential of the feather, he has limitless power and can even direct Mokona's travel. I'm the one he wants now – Mokona is just his excuse."
"Bright as ever. So, what do you want?"
"I want you to transport me to my world – my second one – so I can face Zervian myself and end this, without bringing more harm to Kurogane."
"Not the magician as well?" Yuko asked in amusement, and Aea clenched her fist.
"I…I love Kurogane," she announced firmly. "I don't want him hurt again for me. I don't know how strongly he feels about me, but he almost died today protecting me, and I don't want there to be another time."
"So, you want to keep them out of the final battle?"
"Yes," Aea nodded.
"You do realize what you'll give up – what is most precious to you at this moment will be lost," Yuko said, suddenly solemn. Aea nodded gravely, and Yuko sighed deeply. "Such a shame…but it is your decision, after all. All right, with one condition – when Zervian is destroyed, one way or another, you will return to Japan and become my apprentice once more. With your immense power, you are a goldmine of potential, and could easily become a space-time witch like me – once I retire of course."
"Deal," Aea agreed, and Yuko held her hand out, palm up. Aea closed her eyes a sphere emerged from her body, a pale pink and giving off the appearance of glowing crystal. She gasped as it entered the portal and into Yuko's open hand. Yuko closed her hand over the object and looked into Aea's eyes.
"Here is the device that will bring you directly to your world," Yuko said, and a flat circular disc floated toward Aea, brown with silver embellishments on the carvings. "It is only able to be used once."
"That will be enough," Aea nodded, and her fist closed over it. The portal closed abruptly, leaving her alone.
"Mokona? What's the matter?" Fai asked, seeing the white creature suddenly alert.
"Mokona is sensing a magical object in the area," it said. "It's very powerful…not a feather, though."
"Let's go see," Fai stood up, glancing back at Kurogane. "He'll be fine for a moment."
"Yep!" Mokona agreed, jumping onto Fai's head. The magician raced through the town, following Mokona's directions, until they came upon Aea. She was gripping the object in her hand tightly, and her hair swirled around her as the powerful aura surrounded her own.
"Aea? Aea!" Fai shouted, realizing she was unresponsive. He tried to move closer, but a barrier blocked him.
"Aea's using something to travel to another world!" Mokona told him. Her eyes glowed white, and her clothes had transformed into robes of tan and pale red, the loose parts billowing around her as she levitated into the sky.
"Those are royal robes," Fai realized with a blink. "What was Aea in her past…?"
"A princess of a destroyed world," Mokona told him quietly. Fai shook his head in amazement, but rushed forward as the object suddenly seemed to grown and envelop Aea.
"Aea!" he yelled, but a blast of light blinded him and threw him back. When he was able to see again, there was nothing left except a small crater where the power her destroyed the earth.
"Aea left this world," Mokona said unnecessarily, and Fai groaned.
"What?" Kurogane shouted. He had woken several hours later, and Fai had finished telling him what little he knew about Aea's disappearence. "Are you saying she left? How!"
"It looked like an object Yuko had," Mokona told them from atop Fai's head. "It can only be used once, but it takes a person directly to a world they need to go to."
"I think she went to confront Zervian," Fai thought, and turned to Mokona. "You said Aea was a princess of a destroyed world. What happened?"
"Aea was a princess, and used to be Yuko's apprentice years ago," Mokona began. "But a bunch of men entered Aea's world, and their combined magical powers affected the core of the world. They escaped, but the core of the world was gone, and the world slowly began to disintegrate. Aea's memory was lost as a result of the power, and Yuko sent her to many different worlds with Mokona, honing her powers. A few years ago she remained in a desert world, and became an assassin."
"And who's Zervian to her, other than a former assassin-in-arms?" Kurogane demanded roughly. Mokona remained silent for a moment before answering.
"Zervian and Aea were lovers for a little while," it said finally, and Kurogane slumped slightly. "But Zervian became corrupted by Sakura's feather, one he found, and Aea tried to kill him. He escaped, and she was tricked and abandoned on an island as punishment. That's when she used her powers to contact Yuko."
"And why'd Yuko send her to us?" Fai asked.
"She knew you would only learn of the last feather if you met Zervian," Mokona continued. "And Yuko cast a spell on Aea, that each world she went to she would meet one of the bad men that destroyed her world. With each world and man, Aea gained part of her memory back. Now she has her full memory, and once she defeats Zervian, she's going to be Yuko's apprentice again."
"And what did she give up?" Kurogane grunted, grabbing Mokona by the ears.
CLIFFHANGER! Yes, I know I'm evil, but I couldn't resist. It was such a good place for it! Now you all know the history between Yuko and Aea, happy? Please review!