This was meant to be last week but hey- it's up now. If I manage to stay caught up the next chapter will be on the 6th of March.
When Fai wakes up it is to a roaring headache, an exhaustion so full he doesn't know if he'd be able to make coffee even if he could drink it and an awareness that, just outside of all of that, everyone is in the same room as him.
Sakura holds one of his hands, the one not currently swung over his face to block out a light he knows will only hurt him more, and she starts a little, fingers tightening their grip on his just a little.
"He's awake." She gasps, relief so clear in her voice that he feels guilty for causing her to worry. He adds it to the rest of pile of regrets he has and squeezes her hand back weakly.
Mokona is instantly about his head, hopping about around him, avoiding him it seems given the creature's usual habit of launching itself directly at people.
"Fai-san! Fai-san! Mokona-chan is glad Fai-san's awake!" The little mokona cries, both ecstatic and scared as they nuzzle into Fai's neck.
"I'm okay." Fai manages to croak out to them, throat so dry he feels like he could never swallow again.
He hears that man in the background grunt, his lack of belief in Fai's claim clear and he just wishes he could deny it but he ignores it instead, focussing on the small creature which works its way under his arm.
"Yuuko-san wants to talk with Fai-san." They whine as Fai pulls his hand gently from Sakura's and pats Mokona's head.
"Already?" The princess asks, something in her tone catching, pulling at her words, "Fai-san only just woke up- he's not well..." Sakura says, trailing off as Fai forces himself to sit up, pushing his arms up beneath him and leaning back heavily into the sofa though it is not soft.
Syaoran looks away when Fai looks to him, lips tight, and the mage adds another piece of guilt to the pile.
"It's okay, Sakura-chan." He says as softly as he can, still petting Mokona, "I'll speak to her now if she wants."
It's another thing to feel guilty over but he knows that if the witch only wants to speak to him that the others will leave the room and he will, at least, not have to deal with everyone looking at him so sadly.
Sakura falters, looking at the ground first before meeting his eyes, and then nods, standing slowly, pushing herself out of the hard wooden chair she'd been on.
Syaoran rushes forwards to offer her an arm and she doesn't decline it, clinging to it though she still won't look the boy in the face.
Fai wonders if something happened while he was asleep but his head is ringing too much for him to think about it too much. He lets it fall into his hands, Mokona perched on his shoulder and patting his neck in what he presumes is meant to be comfort.
He appreciates the thought even as he is.
He can still feel that other man's eyes fixed on him as the door to the bedroom shuts, latch clicking softly.
Then he stands, fabric against fabric.
The kitchen door shuts.
Fai is alone with Mokona.