Just Kidding Chapter 2, a tsubasa chronicle fanfic

Just Kidding, Chapter Two

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Note: Okay, I'm gonna use the damn Japanese honorifics. Kiki, you were right…it doesn't flow right.

PS anyone seen the Tsubasa Chronicle movie? I love how Syaoran missed that kick…I can't get over how funny it was.

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Kurogane relaxed in the new hot spring. It wasn't as large as the one that Faye, the girl, and the manjuu were using, but it was alright in its own way. He closed his eyes and hoped that the brat didn't have any questions for him.

Syaoran had his back to Kurogane (partly because he wasn't as comfortable with nudity as Kurogane) and he watched the general direction of the others' hot spring.

"Trying to peep, kid?"

Syaoran blushed. "N-no, Kurogane-san. I just want to make sure that princess Sakura doesn't get hurt." He sighed and propped his head on his hands as he kept up his vigil. "I hope that nothing bad happens over there."

Kurogane knew that Syaoran was worried about Faye and Sakura. He doubted that Syaoran thought that Faye would 'try something'; rather, he didn't want Sakura to feel uncomfortable around Faye, and he didn't want trouble to find her either.

That mage really pissed him off, and in the strangest ways. 'Just kidding'—as if he'd save him either way! Acting like some damn damsel in distress…

He looked up in surprise, as did Syaoran, when they heard noises coming from the 'girl's' hot spring. Kurogane sighed and said, "Damn trouble-causing princess…" while Syaoran looked from his clothes to the hot spring, and back, unsure of whether he should defend Sakura modestly or defend Sakura quickly.

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Faye saw three armed men a short distance from the 'outdoor bath' he was sharing with Sakura and Mokona. He smiled at Sakura and said, "I think we're about to have some company."

Sakura gave him a curious look. "What do you mean, Faye-san?"

He smiled back.

The men approached from behind Sakura. One of them said, "What do we have here? Are you two foreigners?"

Sakura looked at Faye nervously. "Somewhat," he said.

Another scoffed. "Foreigners sure are disgusting. Letting a man and a woman share a hot spring…" he started to look over Sakura's dress, which was soaked through. "And why are the two of you wearing clothes?"

Sakura cowered under his gaze. "Well, in public…"

"It's rather indecent any other way, isn't it?" Faye asked the men. He smiled gently. "Besides, what's wrong with this? We may not follow the customs of your land, but surely we're not breaking any laws."

One of the men caught the sight of Faye's fake smile and decided to do something about his attitude. "Well, there's actually a law here in Japan stating that men and women can't bathe together in public."

Faye touched the side of his face. "Really? My bad."

The man growled. "Well, then," he said, grabbing Sakura's arm and hoisting her out of the water, "we'll just bring her somewhere else."

Sakura looked around. "W-what do you m-mean?" She stared at the guards in horror, still confused, as they started to pull her away. "Syaoran-kun!" she shouted.

Faye sighed. "What do you gentlemen mean?" he asked.

One of the men pulled his sword out (Faye realized that it looked much like Kurogane's sword) and pointed it at Faye. "You can just wait here. We'll give her back soon enough."

"Faye-san!" Sakura said, looking at him for help. He smiled back.

"Don't worry, Sakura."

She looked back at him, confused. She tried to pull away from the man who was holding her, but he tugged back on her wrists.

"F-Faye-san?" she asked again.

He climbed out of the water, and approached the guards, still smiling like nothing was wrong. The armed man who had drawn his sword prepared to attack Faye.

"Just don't ever worry," he said softly.

The guard attacked, and Faye jumped back, side-stepping him and kicking his side. The attack caught the Japanese man off-guard due to Faye's behavior and the strength of the kick. The guard landed in the water, weighed down by his armor.

The man holding Sakura threw her to the ground behind him and both guards drew their swords. His expression still a fake smile, Faye attacked both of them at once.

"Faye-san!" Sakura shouted. She had seen Faye fight, but she only now realized how reckless he could really be.

Faye pushed one of the guards into the pool using his own sword swing, and then narrowly dodged an attack from the last guard. He spun around quickly, watched the guard's feet, judged his attack, and then placed both his hands over the guards and used his opponent's motion to spin them around and to push him into the pool.

By the time that Syaoran and Kurogane arrived, Faye was helping Sakura stand up outside the hot spring, and three armed men were practically drowning in the hot spring due to the weight of their armor.

Faye smiled as the others approached and he said, "Well, that wasn't much fun at all."

Kurogane shot him a strange look and pushed him aside so he could question the men. Faye let himself be pushed and he nearly fell. At the same time, Syaoran looked over the scene. I didn't reach Princess Sakura in time, he thought. If Faye-san hadn't been here…

As he looked at his princess's face, he saw that she was watching the older men. He didn't ask for her attention, and inwardly reprimanded himself for failing to protect her.

As the three men clambored to get out of the hot spring—or to remove their armor—Kurogane realized just where they were.

He pulled one of them out of the hot spring, looked over his uniform, and asked, "You're from the Japanese guard, aren't you?"

The man coughed up some water and stared up at Kurogane. "You're…..you're Kurogane!" The man suddenly became very nervous. "Uh, yes, Kurogane sir, yes, we belong to the Japanese guard."

"Under Princess Tomoyo?"

The guard nodded. "Of c-course, sir! The dear and wonderful Princess Tomoyo!"

Syaoran, Faye, and Sakura stared at Kurogane as he burst out in laughter.

"I'm back! I'm finally back!"

The other guards had climbed out of the water and greeted Kurogane formally.

"Pleased to meet you, Kurogane, sir!"

"Sorry for any troubles we may have given you!"

Faye smiled at the scene. He smiled when he saw how happy—or murderously excited—Kurogane was when he realized that he was back in his own world. Kurogane didn't see him smile, but he smiled for him anyway.

Kurogane let go of the guard he'd interrogated, and turned back to his 'comrades'. "Come on, I'll make that damn princess put the four of you up for the night."

Mokona appeared out of nowhere, and settled himself on Faye's shoulder. "Kurogane, this is your home?" he asked.

"What the hell do you think?"

"Well, that's good," Faye said softly as he smiled at Kurogane.

Kurogane didn't like that smile—he never liked it. Faye's smiles meant trouble, whether it was Faye playing around with him or Faye hiding some sort of pain.

His attention was torn from the blonde mage when one of the guards said, "K-Kurogane, sir, we'll lead you back to the castle, if you would like!"

Kurogane snarled back, "Of course that's what I'd like! Time to see that damn bitch!"

The guards all looked uneasy hearing him insult their princess, but respectfully kept their mouths shut.

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A short ways into the walk, Faye turned to Kurogane and said, "Hm, Kuro-pipi, you must be pretty important for those men to call you 'sir' like that, and to be so afraid of you."

Kurogane frowned at him. "Of course. I serve Princess Tomoyo directly, the bitch."

"Oooh." Faye's face lit up with surprise, then he smiled. "You call your sovereign some pretty bad things, Kuro-wanwan."

"She's the one who sent me on this damn voyage anyway," Kurogane spat.

Faye looked away. "I see." His eyes looked incredibly sad, but that completely escapted Kurogane.

Meanwhile, Syaoran followed Sakura quietly.

It had been very painful for him to watch Faye defend Sakura from the guards. He had heard the argument in the distance, had understood what the guards intended to do to his pure-hearted, innocent princess. Syaoran wanted to be the one to defend Sakura.

He knew that it was selfish, but he wanted to enjoy the little bit of the relationship he had with Sakura. If there friendship had to be sacrificed as a condition for the opportunity to regain Sakura's memories, then he wanted to be her protector. Syaoran silently punished himself.

After all, Sakura's safety was all that mattered.

He trudged after his Princess, clutching his sword unconsciously. He would definitely protect her the next time, and every time after that.

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