Disclaimer:

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles © CLAMP

OC © Author Sia Leysritt

Summary

Everything is going according to his plan. Or so he thought. Something unexpected happens when a lone girl decided to make a little twist to the cruel fate that awaits her companions.

Mana is a lone and mysterious girl who joined the group to search for Princess Sakura's feather. Nothing about her is known to the group. Not her wish. Not the price that she paid. Nothing. And she cannot give them any information either for she is unable to speak. Can the addition of this mute girl to the team change the twisted and cruel fate that will awaits them? And will this girl warm the heart of a certain mage?

Sia Leysritt Present:

Thousand Words

Act 6

To The Castle

"Whenever you go on a trip to visit foreign lands or distant places, remember that they are all someone's home and backyard."

― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

"Why do I have to work on somebody else's house, huh!?" Kurogane grunted as he hammered the nail through the plank of wood.

Mana, Fai, and Kurogane currently stay behind at the house while Sakura, Syaoran, Mokona and Chunhyan went out to the town today. Fai had said to Chunhyang that the three of them will be fixing her house as a thank you for letting them staying at her house for the night. Mana was helping Kurogane hammering some of the planks to the roof, despite Kurogane said that she doesn't have to but she insisted because there's nothing else for her to do.

"She let us stay over at her place last night. It's only natural, isn't it?" Fai said with his usual goofy smile, giving another plank of wood to Mana who took it from him. The girl had taken off her long sleeves so that it'll be easier for her to work. Kurogane glanced at her. Just like the right side of her face, both her arms are covered with battle scars and there are burn marks on her right hand. As one who lived in field of battle almost all of his life, he can tell which scars that came from battlefield and which one is not, and the ones the girl has is definitely one. He knew that she came from different world, but are there really worlds out there that let a girl as young as her to fight on the battlefield? She can't be any older than 16, right? Those scars that she has looked like old ones, it's as if she had them for a very long time.

"Anyway, a kid like that living on her own… And in this house!" Kurogane wondered out loud.

"Well, Chunhyang-chan did said that her mother died." Fai said as he gave the lavender hair girl another plank of wood.

"Okay… So how long do we need to stay here?" Kurogane said, sounding impatient as he really wanted to go back to his world as soon as possible.

"That's all up to Mokona~" Fai said with a sing a song voice, clearly doesn't mind staying in any world as long as it's not his world.

"Ah, dammit! Why does that stupid manjuu bun has to be on the brat's shoulder all the time!" The ninja complained as he hammered the nails on the plank of wood as hard as possible to relieve his anger.

Mana doesn't mind much how long they have to stay in this country though, after all her wish is to "find her most important person and fulfill her promise to him" which is exactly what's she is doing now. They just didn't know that the person is Fai. While both the ninja and the mage talked, Mana glanced at the big castle.

The lavender hair girl hadn't told this to any other of her companions besides Fai, but before she gave her voice away, she has magic ability. Of course, it's not as great as Fai's magic is because in order to use her power, she will need her voice which is, the very thing she gave to Yuuko as her payment in order for her to joined in this journey. But still, that doesn't mean all of her magical ability are gone. She can still tell magic source from far away but she cannot fight with magic.

There is also another ability that she can use other than magic, but that is something that she would avoid to use at all costs unless she really needs to.

That big castle (which she sure it's where the Ryanban lives) giving off magic vibes. Perhaps it's protected by barrier?' The girl thought.

"Oy, are you listening?"

Kurogane's voice snapped Mana out of her inner monologue and the girl looked at the ninja with a questioning look on her face.

The ninja sighed. "So, you didn't. I was asking where did you get all that scars."

"Ah, I was wondering about that too." Came Fai's voice from below.

Mana didn't answer immediately. She should not tell them much because that's part of her contract in order to join this journey, but she figured not telling them anything will make them suspicious and that is something she certainly should avoid. When you're on a mission with a group, it's better to form trusting relationship with each other even if it's just temporary, and that's exactly how the situation is for Mana. She tried to think of an answer that would sound believable enough but also vague so they won't know too much about her.

"From war." Mana answered simply. Believing her answer to be acceptable and she believes that there's nothing wrong in telling them a little bit about her background, she just had to make sure she tells them as little as possible.

"How old are you when you were taking part in wars? Those scars look old." Kurogane grunted as he continued fixing the roof.

"When I was very young."

"Just how old were you when you started your first battlefield?" Kurogane grunted, feeling like he won't like the girl's answer.

"… I don't know. I don't remember my age." The girl answered. Though they can't hear her voice, but they can tell the girl was telling the truth and they were quite surprise. Both men had their share of unhappy childhood, that's for sure, but to spend your childhood on the field of battle is kind of ridiculous and sad.

'That explains why the scars look so old.' Fai thought as he glanced at the girl's arms.

Kurogane sighed and patted the girl's head, making the girl looked at the black hair ninja in confusion.

"It's nothing, don't mind it, anyway…" The ninja turned to glare at the blonde mage "What gives you the right to relax and drink tea while we're working our ass here!?" He roared as he threw the hammer he was holding to the blonde mage.

The blonde mage still smiling from ear to ear even though the hammer hit his head and only laughed at Kurogane's antics.

"But… I'm supervising Kuro-pipi's hard work!" He said nonchalantly.

"Get to work goddamn it!"

"If you want to go out so much, you should have gone out with those kids instead of staying here." Kurogane said as he placed his Go piece on the board.

After fixing the roof, both men decided to play a little bit game of Go as they wait for the kids to return. Of course, Kurogane has to explained the rules of the game to Fai first beforehand while Mana being the spectators but Kurogane noticed that the girl kept glancing at the front door as if she wanted to go out but she can't.

"… It's not that I wanted to go out…" The girl said, but still keep her eyes on the door.

"Then what is it? Something caught your attention, Mana-chan?" Fai asked curiously.

Mana turned to both men, but as she was about to say something, she felt a familiar source of magic not far from the house. She quickly stood up and literally run out of the house to find that familiar source of magic. Of course, it is not like her to just run out like that in panic, but that feelings she felt earlier was definitely come from him. Why? He is not supposed to be here, so why does she feel his presence in this world?

The girl looked around the house, looking for the figure that gave her that sense of déjà vu but found no one.

She frowned.

'Was it just my imagination…? No, that vibes and aura earlier was definitely—"

But all that greets her is the empty view of the forest and the wind that was blowing.

"Mana-chan, why were you suddenly went out earlier?"

Not finding the figure she was looking for, she went back to the house, just as Fai and Kurogane was about to go out to find her.

"…I thought I saw someone familiar…"

"Someone that you were looking for?" Kurogane asked.

Mana looked up to him, confused.

"Didn't, you say that the reason you're travelling with us is to look for someone?" The ninja grunted.

Ah yes.

She almost forgot about her own wish.

Truthfully, she had been thinking of what excuse she should give to the others if they were to asked who is it she's looking for. Of course, she believed that they are not the type that would pry into someone else's business but it would be very suspicious if she didn't start looking for this person. In the first place she didn't need to look for anyone because that person is right here, in the first place her wish to Yuuko is not to search for someone but she had to lie in order not to break the contract. She is not a very good liar either, but then she did lie about her wish so like it or not, she has to come up with another lie.

"Possibly, since the figure looked similar…. But when I went out earlier the figure is gone…" She said, hoping it sounds believable enough to both of them.

"Hmm… Are you sure that person is completely gone? Maybe they are still around here, me and Kuro-puu can help you look for them." Fai offered kindly.

Mana was about to refuse that offer since the figure was already gone when she heard several footsteps behind her. She turned to see Syaoran, Sakura, and Chunhyang had return, but none of them looked like they were having a good day, Syaoran even looked beaten up and has bruises on his body.

"Welcome back all of you~" Fai greeted cheerfully "What happened?" He asked with gentler tone.

They went back into the house, and Chunhyang told them about how the Ryanban's son was abusing the villagers because they couldn't pay their taxes (which is in ridiculous amount of money) and when Syaoran came to the rescue, the Ryanban's son use a fan (which was once belonged to Chunhyang's mother) to defeat them.

"I see, you were defeated by the wind of this Ryanban's guy again…" Fai said, concluding Chunhyang's story.

"But if the Ryanban is this bad why haven't you risen up against him?" Kurogane asked simply, playing with the Go piece in his hand.

"We did try… A number of times! A great number of times!" Chunhyang said, sounding very frustrated, "But we were never able to set one finger on the Ryanban. The Ryanban's castle has some kind of magic around it. Nobody was able to get close."

"That explains the magic vibes the castle is giving off." Mana chirp in.

"You can feel things like that?" Kurogane asked, narrowing his eyes at Mana.

Mana nodded. "I can use and learn magic before, but I can't use it anymore."

During her time in her world, she was required to learn all sorts of things so that she could become a perfect tool for her superior and magic was one of them.

"And that probably explains why Mokona is unable to detect where the feather is." Mana said, looking at the white creature.

"That's right! Because of the weird power, Mokona can't tell if there's a wave from the feather or not."

"Well if that's the case, what about that son of his? Have you considered holding him hostage or something like that?" Fai offered cheerfully, startling Syaoran.

"That's a good idea." Mana agreed.

"By my way of thinking, that idea is a little to late in coming… And you're agreeing to that so easily."

Mana shrugged at Kurogane's comment.

Chunhyang shake her head "We can't! The Ryanban uses magic to watch every part of the town of Ryonfi! If anything happens to the son…"

They were put in a very difficult position. They literally can't do anything towards either the Ryanban or his son and to add it up, they also cannot get closer to their castle.

"Hmm… You say the Ryanban suddenly got strong about a year ago…I wonder if that has anything to do with Sakura's feather." Fai concluded.

A conclusion that actually makes sense. Based on Chunhyang's story about the Ryanban, the possibility is that, he is a powerless man but suddenly he got very strong and there must be something that made him stronger.

"But… that doesn't really add up…" Mana commented.

"Yeah, didn't the feathers scattered throughout different worlds just a short time ago?" Kurogane added.

"We're in different dimensions, It's possible that times flows differently in each of them." Fai explained.

After discussing things a bit, Syaoran decided that he would take the feather for the Ryanban if he really has it.

"Wait! Syaoran-kun, you're wounded!" Sakura said, clearly worried about the young boy wellbeing. Mana noticed that the girl doesn't look as dazed as she was yesterday.

"Everything will be okay Princess, if there's a feather I'll get it back for you." He said, smiling gently to the princess.

Looking at Syaoran, Mana felt that they are similar in some way. Both are trying hard to help someone dear to them even thought that special someone will probably never remember them. She glanced at Fai and know no matter how much this weird tingling and strange pull playing with her emotions, things will never go back like they used to.

She has to get used to it.

"Well, we need to do something about the barrier first," Mana speak up, trying not to think too much about it. "It's no use if we can't even enter his castle."

"That's true, the Ryanban's magic is pretty strong, if you simply walk there, you'll never succeed. At the very least we need enough power to create an entrance to that castle." Fai said.

"Can't you do something about that? You're a mage, aren't you?" the ninja grunted.

"Impossible!" Fai said with a big goofy smile on his face.

"Quick pretending you have a plan when you don't!"

"Mokona will ask!" The white creature said cheerfully.

"Ask who? Yuuko-san?" Mana asked curiously.

"Yup!"

The red gem on Mokona's forehead shine and from there s light came out and from that light they can see the image of the Space-Time Witch, Yuuko.

"Ah, Mokona. What's up?" The Witch asked nonchalantly as if appearing from a light that came out of a manjuu bun like creature is something she does everyday.

"IT TALKED!" Chunhyang screamed, hugging at Sakura who is also as shocked as she is.

"Mokona sure is convenient at times!" Fai said, looking amazed.

"There's a limit of how convenient things would be!" Kurogane growled at the ridiculous event that happened before his eyes while Mokona explained to Yuuko the reason they contact her.

"I see, so you have to breakthrough the magic if that's what it is to enter the castle? But why would you need to contact me? Fai can use magic can't he?" Yuuko said, staring at Fai.

"I turned over the source of my magic to you." The mage said simply.

"The markings that made up your payment to me were a device that held your magical power in check, your magic now is what it was originally meant to be." She said as she stared at Fai who only smiled at her revelation.

"Be that as it may, without those markings, who could expect you to be able to use magic?" He said smoothly.

No one mentioned the fact that Fai did use magic so Mana can communicate with them, and if Yuuko know, she didn't speak about it.

"Fine. I'll hand over something that will help break the magic arts surrounding the castle. But I'll expect payment in return."

"But we don't have anything to give you!" Syaoran said.

That's true, they are literally penniless. But Mana had to wonder where Syaoran and Sakura got themselves new clothes.

Fai then offered to use his staff as the payment. He can't use magic anyway, so having the staff around would be useless.

"Yes, that will do. Send it through Mokona."

Fai put the long staff on the creature's mouth and she suck the whole staff until it was gone, making Chunhyang cried over the strange phenomena.

Mana blinked. Mokona is really useful for anything, and to her, it's fascinating.

Soon enough, Mokona throw out a round object that looks like a ball. Syaoran pick it up.

"This… Will defeat the castle's magic?"

"Looks like it."

"Welp, since we know where the feather probably is, and we have a way to enter that castle, I suppose we should be getting ready to enter the fray?" Fai asked.

Syaoran nodded. They can't waste anymore time, he has to hurry and bring Sakura her feather back.

"So us the guys will go to the castle and Sakura-chan, Mana-chan, and Chunyhyang will stay here?" Fai turned to the girls.

"… Can I go with you? I may not be able to use magic anymore but I'm a pretty decent fighter." Mana said.

In truth she is itching to move her body and to fight. It was probably because she was raised as a killing machine that she just felt strange not being able to be in the battlefield or just sitting back and do nothing.

"I'm fine with whatever. Just don't slow us down." The ninja grunted as he took the new outfit Syaoran and Sakura bought for them.

"Are you sure? We're going to the Ryanban's castle and it's very dangerous since it's protected by powerful magic." Fai said. He doesn't know why, but he doesn't like the idea of Mana going with them and facing danger. Especially after that incident with Primera in Hanshin. Back then they were lucky to have Kudan on their side but this time they're not armed with any sorts of weapon which makes their situation to be more dangerous than before.

Mana nodded with no hesitation. "Yes… We don't know what's waiting at that castle. If he has that castle protected that much from the outside, who knows what he has in store for us INSIDE the castle… So I thought the more people going, the faster we can retrieve the feather…"

Mana made a pretty strong argument. It is true that they don't have any idea what's waiting for them inside the castle, and even if back then they were supported by that thing called Kudan, Kurogane can see that the girl is not just an ordinary girl and she can fight. She show no fear even when she was in a dire situation back then in Hanshin so the ninja concluded that this girl can defend herself just fine.

Though he does wonder why the mage looked like he didn't want her to come along.

"That's true… But will you be okay, Mana-san?"

Mana nodded.

Fai sighed. "Then I guess that means the four of us will go." Though he doesn't sound to happy about it, Fai agree reluctantly. It's strange, he already seen that the girl can handle herself just fine back in Hanshin but for some reason, the thought of her coming with them and facing danger didn't sit well with him.

Just why in the world would he care so much about this girl that he's just met?

To be continued

Author's Note: I'M STILL ALIVEEEEEE. I want to continue a bit more but then I thought it's probably best if I put all the action in the next chapter so the next chapter will be the conclusion of the second world yay~ Anyway I'm sorry it took so long for me to update because internet is being mean to me these past few months and college too, ugh, don't even talk about that I feel like dying with all of these assignments. Anyway, I hope you like it. Sorry for any grammatical error and typos. Thank you for reading~