Just Kidding Chapter 3, a tsubasa chronicle fanfic

Just Kidding, Chapter Three

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Notes:

Felixia—I chose Kurogane to be loyal but PISSED. You can love your mother very much but curse her out when you're mad. Well, I guess it partially depends on pre-existing relationship dynamics. At any rate, Kurogane is mad at Tomoyo. Thanks for your review!

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"Sir Kurogane!" Tomoyo greeted him in the throne room.

Kurogane folded his arms as he tried his best to glare at his Princess. The mage was standing to the side, attention completely occupied by the fixtures and decorations in the Japanese castle. The brats stood to the other side, their attention politely focused on the Princess.

Tomoyo clapped her hands together. "This is an unexpected surprise! I never thought that the Dimensional Witch would send you back to me so soon!"

Kurogane raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, so soon? I've spent the last few months following these strange people around. I think that it's about time for me to come back already!"

"Well, well," she said, smiling warmly and acting as if she had not heard Kurogane, "I guess that it's fortunate, in a way. You came in time for the festival."

"Festival?" Faye asked. Kurogane was somewhat surprised that he'd decided to join the conversation. The brats kept their mouths shut.

Tomoyo smiled even more widely, the smile that Kurogane knew indicated secretive behavior. "What festival?" the ninja asked. "There's no festival at this time of the year."

"Well, it's a special festival, celebrating my engagement."

Kurogane stared at his Princess. Anyone who saw him would have thought that he was angry about the engagement.

How could she get engaged while I was gone? Is that what she sent me away for?

"You're getting married?" Sakura asked excitedly.

Tomoyo nodded, then turned to Kurogane. "Sir Kurogane, would you mind introducing me to your companions?"

"Yeah, sure." He pointed at each member of the crew in turn. "Faye, the mage," he said. Faye smiled at the Princesss and waved. "Syaoran, some kid," he said. Syaoran bowed politely. "Sakura, some princess." Sakura curtsied.

Mokona jumped onto Faye's shoulder. "And this is Mokona!" he shouted, giving his own introduction.

Tomoyo bowed elegantly, and said, "It's nice to meet all of you. I am Princess Tomoyo, and this land is my Japan. Feel free to talk to me or ask of me whatever you need while you stay here." She smiled. "It's very nice to have the opportunity to meet Sir Kurogane's new family."

Kurogane gave a start. "Family? They're not even my friends."

"Oh?" Tomoyo's smile faded somewhat. "Well, that's too bad." She settled herself back down on her throne, and called for a servant.

"Kiyoko can lead you to your rooms," she said as the servant appeared. "I apologize for sending you off already, but I need to return to my duty."

"Princess Tomoyo," Kurogane said, not ready to be sent away again when there was so much to say. "Please tell me about the circumstances of your engagement."

"Oh, that?" she asked, smiling softly. "You don't need to worry so much, Kurogane. He is a good man."

"A good man?" he asked. The servant had begun to lead the others out of the room, but Kurogane persisted. "How old is he?"

"Nothing to worry about, Sir Kurogane," she said. "You'll meet him soon enough." She turned her attention to the servant. "Miss Kiyoko, would you please have tea ready for them as soon as they finish bathing?"

"Yes, Princess Tomoyo," the servant said. She bowed, and led Faye, Mokona, and the brats out of the room.

Kurogane didn't move. "I'm not satisfied with this."

"I know." She smiled. "You're not the only person who's unsatisfied right now, Kurogane."

He gave her a brief glare before turning to join his companions.

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"Another big bath?" Faye asked.

Kiyoko had brought them to the bath hall after showing them their rooms and allowing Kurogane and Syaoran to store their swords. She had told them that she would provide all of them with Japanese clothing, as she left.

Kurogane nodded as he looked over the expanse of steaming water in the bath hall. "This is how things are in Japan."

Syaoran stared at the bath. "Not again…" he said under his breath.

"Did you say something, kid?"

"No."

Kurogane gave his male companions a strange look. "I think that there's something wrong with the both of you."

Syaoran said, "I'm sorry about that." An idea suddenly struck him. "I-I need to use the restroom. I'll come back later."

He ran out of the room.

Faye played with the towel around his waist, and said in a soft voice, "I think it's strange that you would so easily share that with anyone else who would want to take a bath at the same time."

Kurogane shrugged, removed his towel, and entered the water. Faye didn't move, which irritated him to no small amount.

He thought about what Faye had said. "Share what?"

"Your body."

"You make it sound like nudity is special."

"Even if nudity is a part of your culture," Faye said, smiling at him now, "isn't it still odd to take off your clothes in the vicinity of people with whom you are not intimate?"

"No, it's normal." Kurogane knew that the mage was trying to piss him off again, like usual. "You were naked when you were born. Your parents were naked when they conceived you. You take your clothes off whenever you bathe or whenever you need to clean your clothes. There's nothing strange about it." He tried to relax, and put his arms over the sides of the bath.

Faye looked away. "Well, I guess that makes me strange, then." He surprised Kurogane by saying, "I will come back later as well." He left quietly.

Kurogane stared at his back as he left. Who would have thought that Faye, who had joked about 'Big Kitty' and 'Big Puppy' and all that crap couldn't handle public bathing? He sighed as he relaxed against the side of the bath.

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Sakura like the big bath. There was no one else on her side, so she was free to swim around. She laughed when she realized that she was acting like a little kid, but she didn't stop swimming either.

There was nothing like THIS back home!

When she finished bathing, she found a pink kimono waiting where she had left her dirty dress. There were also slippers. She put on the garment as best she could and left to explore the castle.

She found Syaoran's room first and knocked on his door.

"I apologize! I'm not dressed!" he shouted from inside his room. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Syaoran-kun!"

There was a brief silence. "Princess Sakura?"

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