AN: Hi everyone. It's been a while. I've had this chapter written for a long time, but my beta reader has stopped using this site unexpectedly. I'm super grateful for all the work they've done and I've been waiting to put this chapter out in the hopes they would pop back in. But they haven't, so I'm posting this chapter un-betaread. That being said, this story doesn't get much attention or reviews. My betareader was my main source of encouragement, so I'm not sure how often I'll be updating from now on. I love this story, and I'll try to keep writing, but I may not update as often. Hope you all like the chapter and stay healthy while this virus is floating around.

The puppy in the window stared up at my brother as it bounced and flopped around its cage. It blinked up at us with sparking black orbs barely visible past its wild mane of brown fur. Two points of fur atop its head might have shown where it's ears were. In a blink, Nathaniel had turned his own puppy eyes on me.

"No," I said, crossing my arms. "We are not getting a dog."

"But—" he stared at me in disbelief, like he couldn't fathom my ability to say no to the thing in the window. "She's so cute!"

Sakura laughed and leaned in to get a better look at the puppy. "He does have a point, Erin-san."

"Let me rephrase. We are not getting a dog, now. When I have a steady job and we have a place to live that allows it, maybe we can get one." A dog might be good. It could keep Nathaniel company while I was at work, and with proper training, it could defend us. I reconsidered the dog in the window. "But it will have to grow to be at least forty pounds." Anything less would make a good alarm, but wouldn't have much of a bite.

Nathaniel's eye lit and he scanned the window until he found the sign with the dog's information. His eye narrowed and he muttered under his breath as he scanned the characters. "Go—Ghalien Shepard?" He frowned.

We were getting better at reading the sounds of the characters, but that didn't do much of we didn't know the word. 'Shepard,' we understood because Nathaniel had read the word out loud, and it had translated. But for names of people and countires, which is what I assumed Ghalien was, translation didn't work.

"Can we go inside?" Nathaniel asked.

I shrugged. "Sure." The sun was beginning to set, but we didn't have a reason to be home early. Nathaniel grinned up at me before darting through the sliding glass doors.

"Have you ever had a pet before?" Sakura asked as we followed Nathaniel. Inside, a soft choir of chirps and barks echoed around the white walls. An employee with a bored expression welcomed us without looking up from her book.

"No," I said. I caught sight of Nathaniel, staring into the ceiling-high bird cage. Inside as flock of rainbow colored birds chirped and fluttered. I'd asked Adrian for a dog or cat, something to keep Nathaniel company while I was away, but he'd denied the request. "Have you ever had one?" If Nathaniel was going to have one, it would be worth asking about.

Sakura glanced at the cats in a nearby window with a puzzled look. "I think I might have had a cat." As she watched the tabby cat and its sleeping roommate her expression cleared and she smiled. "Yes, actually, I did have a cat."

"Do you remember how to take care of one?" I asked.

She blushed. "I think I fed her every so often, but I think the castle staff usually cared for it."

"Oh." That made sense, I supposed. I knew Sakura was a princess, but I always seemed to forget it. Whenever I imagined her in her daily life, riches and servants rarely occurred to me.

Nathaniel appeared at my side. "I want a bird!"

I flashed him a baffled look. "I thought you wanted a dog?"

Nathaniel gave me an exaggerated nod. "A dog and a bird."

"No," I said, my voice flat. "Pick one, then we'll talk." I would let him pick, and maybe later we could get another pet, but I wasn't sure I could keep a plant alive let alone two pets. It took all of my focus just to keep Nathaniel alive.

"But—!"

"Pick. One."

Nathaniel crossed his arms. "Sakura, don't you think a dog and a bird would be awesome."

Sakura laughed and raised her hands. "I think you should listen to your sister."

Nathaniel shot her a betrayed look before stalking into the fish section. A moment later the disgruntled angle of his shoulders vanished as he darted around the tanks with an awe-filled expression.

Sakura elbowed me gently. "You might have a zoo soon."

I groaned. She was probably right.

She fiddled with her jacket sleeve for a moment. "It's going to be strange."

"What is?" I asked, turning to see her staring at the tiles.

"Moving on without you. To different worlds. I'm going to miss you." Her voice caught at the end.

I blinked and looked away. It hadn't occurred to me she'd be sad we were separating. I hadn't thought much about how I felt. Finding Nathaniel and spending time with him had filled me with so much relief, and figuring out what to do next had been so stressful, I hadn't had time to think about much else.

They would be leaving, and I wouldn't see them again. They had places to be, and once they got there, the journey would be over. There would be no contact after they left. And the finals for the race were in two days. Once Sakura had the feather, they wouldn't have a reason to stay. Soon, they'd be gone forever. The thought twisted my stomach.

An instant later I felt angry at myself for it. Of course they were leaving. Each of us, except for Sakura, had started this journey knowing we would part ways. We all wanted different things, and to be in different places. There was no point in getting attached.

But I had, and there wasn't any point in denying it. I enjoyed their company. Maybe I didn't trust Fai and Kurogane entirely, but I didn't dislike them for it. And I would miss them. Sakura especially. When they left, it would just be Nathaniel and I. The thought left an empty feeling in my stomach. Nathaniel and I had lived alone in Elpedite, so why did that seem so lonely now? I took a deep breath and pushed it aside.

They were leaving and I was staying. There was no point in agonizing over it.

I turned to Sakura. She probably felt worse than I did. She'd only recovered a handful of memories on our journey, which meant I was a prominent figure in her life. The thought flooded me with anxiety, but I wasn't sure why. But if we were parting ways soon I wanted to be honest with her. "I'm going to miss you too." I offered a smile.

She returned a smaller version of my smile and took a deep breath. As she did her expression cleared a bit.

"Erin, Sakura," I looked up to see Nathaniel standing in front of a fish tank, hands pressed against the glass. "These fish are glowing!"

About a half hour later I'd pulled Nathaniel away from at least ten different pets, denied seven more requests for one, and had nearly a dozen pet ownership pamphlets shoved into my hands. Holding his hand in mine, I towed him toward the store's exit. "But we need a dog. It could protect us, and I'd take care of it. It would teach me responsibility."

I stopped to look at him with flat look. He grinned up at me. "If, and I repeat, if you get good grades and we have a home that allows it, we can get one dog."

Nathaniel's eye sparkled like the sun on water. He half turned to Sakura. "We're getting a dog!"

"That's wonderful," she said, flashing me a knowing smile.

"Don't encourage him," I said as we exited the store. The sun had set while we'd been inside, leaving the white light of the streetlamps and storefronts to illuminate the pavement. I checked my watch and realized in was nearly 10:30pm. "Alright, time to get home and get you into bed." Nathaniel rolled his eyes but followed as we made our way to the nearest subway entrance.

Once I realized the trains of this city were underground, it made getting around a lot easier. And it meant I didn't have to drive that damn car.

A few people drifted around the station or sat at benches, either on their way somewhere else, or reading their phone's while they waited for their train. I glanced over the map displayed by the benches and decided we wanted the next blue train. Which would be arriving in just a few minutes.

"Erin," Nathaniel tugged on my sleeve. I looked down to see him flicking through one of the pamphlets. On the cover was a brightly-colored bird. "This bird can talk like a human."

"What?" Sakura and I leaned in to get a better look. "That's not . . . " I scanned the pamphlet and caught the words that meant 'human voice' in Piffle's language and paused. "That's weird. You're not getting a talking bird."

"But it would be so cool!"

I grimaced. "It would be creepy."

Sakura pointed to the picture of the bird. "I think we have these in Clow. Or something like them. I think they're cute."

I didn't think I could handle a creature that spoke words it didn't understand. Mokona was sentient, so they didn't bother me, but the idea of speech with no intelligence behind it made my skin crawl. I glanced at Nathaniel and smirked. "You'd just teach it to swear."

Nathaniel grinned.

A clattering roar announced the train's arrival. A gust of wind rushed over us as it slid to a stop and the doors opened with a soft hiss. Nathaniel and Sakura stepped onto the train, and I was about to follow, when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I turned to look back, pulling my hands from my pockets.

Kyle, or his look-a-like stood there, watching me with a neutral expression. I glanced back at Sakura and Nathaniel, who looked on in confusion. "What so you want?" I asked.

This Kyle hadn't committed the crimes his Jade version had, so I wouldn't hold it against him, but his face still irritated me.

He smirked, glancing over our group. I stepped to block Sakura and Nathaniel from view.

"Please stand clear of the closing doors," a soft voice spoke over the train speakers.

"Nothing," Kyle said, stepping back. "Just to say hello, Alec."

The echoes bouncing off the station walls died and Kyle took another step away. Cold crept up the tips of my fingers. Alec had been my name in Jade and none of us had spoken it since we'd arrived here. The only way he could know it was if he was the Kyle from Jade.

Kyle turned and ran.

I stepped forward and spoke over my shoulder. "Go home." Whatever was going on, Kyle had proved he could be dangerous. I wanted them far away from him.

"What? Erin—" Nathaniel's voice was cut off as the doors slid shut. As the train pulled away, I caught a glimpse of Nathaniel and Sakura leaning to look through the windows at us. Then the train raced away into the darkness of the tunnels. A brief twinge of regret ran through me. Nathaniel would be worried until I called him, but I couldn't do much about that now.

I activated The System and found Kyle. He was nearly halfway across the station but at his current speed I would be able to catch him. I set him as my target and The System light him in blue in my vision.

I pushed passed a woman who shot an irritated glare my way, but I ignored her. The press of my gun through the fabric of my shirt urged me to draw it, but I wouldn't yet. We were still in a crowd, and I couldn't kill him here. If I could kill him at all.

I realized I couldn't hide a body here, and doubtless there were cameras recording us right now. I wasn't sure what I'd do when I caught him. Interrogate him? I wanted to know how he followed us here and he wouldn't just tell me if I asked. I'd find out how and why he was here, and go from there.

Kyle was nearing the end of the platform. There was only one set of stairs he could take and they led back up to the street. He'd done just enough to catch my attention and then he ran, which meant he was leading me somewhere. I slowed as Kyle passed the stairs.

I wondered what he was doing. The only thing beyond the stairs was a small space for the platform and a vending machine.

A woman gasped as Kyle stepped off the platform and dropped onto the tracks. He barely slowed as he ran into the dark of the tunnel. Where did he think he was going? He'd been standing on the platform when the subway had arrived, so he had to understand the danger of the tracks, even if Jade didn't have trains.

"Hey," a man yelled after Kyle, "what are you doing? Hey!"

I stepped around him and gazed down the tunnel. The System amplified my hearing. The System estimated there were not oncoming trains for at least a mile. With how fast the subways had been moving, that didn't mean much.

I grit my teeth and scanned the walls of the tunnel. There were pipes to hang onto with room for me between the train and the walls, and there would be maintenance alcoves. Kyle was already a fair distance down the track, his figure fading into the dark. If I didn't catch him now, there was no way I'd find him before the race. And someone was responsible for the sabotage. I jumped onto the tracks, avoiding the rails for fear of electricity and ran after him. I snatched my sunglasses from my face and shoved them into my back pocket.

If a train was on its way, The System could give me enough warning to find a space to hide. If I didn't hear the train in the distance, The System would detect the vibration in the rails.

The tunnel curved gently and soon only dim maintenance lights lit our way. Something squeaked in the dark and scurried away as I passed.

We were out of sight of the public, which is probably what Kyle wanted. Maybe he was trying to eliminate the competition for the race. If so, he probably had some hired thugs waiting for me. But he didn't know I had The System, or years of training. As long as I stayed alert, and proceeded cautiously, I would win.

I drew my gun and calculated the sound verses distance back to the platform. The System estimated the sound of the gunshot would be audible on the platform. Besides, with the attention we'd just attracted, any harm to Kyle wouldn't go unnoticed. I glared at his back.

"Kyle," I yelled. "Stop running or I'll shoot." It was a lie, but it might work.

He looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Not yet you won't!"

I barely had time to be irritated by his statement before he darted into a maintenance tunnel. I hadn't seen it in the dark until he'd turned.

My boot splashed through a puddle of grease as I slowed to a stop. I crept closer to the entrance. The side tunnel was small, just a bit wider than I could reach if I held my arms out both ways. And the tunnel would have limited access. Any doors along it would be locked, so if Kyle wanted to leave, he'd have to come back the way he came. No reason for me to hurry.

The System flashed an alert in my vision. A faint thrum in the rails meant a train was on its way. I had about thirty seconds.

I suppressed a sigh and focused The System on the tunnel, scanning for any sound. Kyle's footsteps, slower now, receded down the tunnel along with his heartbeat and labored breaths. Several rats scraped and squeaked, water dripped onto the concrete, and pipes hummed against the brickwork. The roar of the train grew to drown everything out as lights flooded the tunnel. I raised my gun and stepped into the alcove.

Pipes ran alongside the right wall and vanished into the dark. One the left wall was a closed metal door. The maintenance lights at the end of the tunnel were out. Even with The System's aid, I couldn't see the end.

The thunderous roar of the train exploded behind me. A gust of air whipped my hair against my cheeks as panels of light flickered across the hall. My shadow flashed across the floor before me.

Kyle stood at the end of the hall, his back against the brickwork. Hands in his pockets, he smirked at me. Light flashed across his expression. I didn't bother talking, he wouldn't be able to hear me over the train.

I crept forward. My sense of hearing was gone, thanks to the train. But even without it, I knew there was no one else in the hall. So why had he led me here?

As I approached I scanned him. His hands were in his pockets, but he wouldn't have time to draw anything before I shot him. My hand twitched. It would be satisfying to shoot him now, but I couldn't risk killing him before I got answers.

Something shifted in my peripheral. A shadow, flashing in the lights of the train, had appeared.

I spun around, gun raised. In the flickering light, I caught sight of a man's silhouette and the open door behind him.

Before I could complete my turn, a hand closed around the barrel with a force that stopped it in place. A twist and The System released my grip before my finger and wrist could be broken. I shifted my weight in preparation to dodge or drive my weight into my attacker's stomach.

A foot hooked the back of my knee and kicked my leg out from under me. Before I could hit the floor, The System adjusted my stance, correcting my fall to a stumble and keeping me upright. I tensed to throw a punch, but before I could, the man grabbed the back of my jacket with a speed that shouldn't have been possible.

I raised my arms to block the punch, but couldn't avoid the knee that slammed into my stomach. The blow knocked the air from me. Panic washed over me. He was moving too fast! Faster than The System could follow. The man hooked the back of my ankle and shoved me back, twisting me around by my jacket as he did.

The concrete scrapped my chin and palms as I impacted with a skull-rattling crack. I swung out a leg to roll away, but the man drove a knee into my back.

My yell came out as a chocked gasp. The man twisted my arms up and behind my back.

Something cold closed around my wrists with a click. Handcuffs. I struggled to control my panic as I strained against the cuffs. Distantly, I noticed the train had passed. I could get my hands in front of me, but that would take valuable seconds. And he had my gun.

"We're going to have to work on that," a familiar voice sighed. My blood froze. Panic washed over me in waves as I realized why he'd won so easily.

Hands hooked under my arms and pulled me to my feet. He shoved me with my back against the wall with one hand and patted down my jacket with the other.

"Really, Alice," Adrian said, his grin flashing in the dim light, "that was pathetic." Red sparks danced across his pupils and died away as his version of The System shut down. It was really him.

I stared at him dumbly as he pulled my phone from my pocket. As The System scanned his face, the identity alert flashed in my vision, mocking me. I canceled it. I'd gotten complacent. Once I'd found Nathaniel, I'd forgotten about the possibility that Adrian could be here. I'd been so focused on the future we could have here; I'd forgotten to beware my past.

He looked that same as I remembered him. It had only been a few months since I'd seen him, but it felt like years. I didn't know what to do. My heart thundered through my ears and scattered any thoughts I could scrape together. Run? No, he'd catch me. Fight? I couldn't with my hands tied. Talk? What could I say?

He tapped the space between my eyes. "Focus. We have a lot to talk about."

I blinked at him. Mentally, I took a deep breath, and smoothed out my expression. "About what?"

He grinned. "That's better."

Kyle appeared next to him. "Well, that was fun to watch."

I glared at him. "At least you're not hiding behind children this time."

Kyle curled his lip and opened his mouth to speak, before Adrian put a hand on his shoulder, cutting him off.

"Don't antagonize her," Adrian let his hand fall. "Even with handcuffs, she's my soldier and could kill you in three different ways."

Kyle glared at both of us, but kept his mouth shut.

"So, you're not going to kill me?" I asked Adrian. Last time I'd seen him; I'd stood against him for Nathaniel's sake. It was a betrayal I was certain he wouldn't forgive. But he hadn't killed me yet, which meant he had a use for me. The thought relieved me and filled me with dread at the same time.

Adrian stepped back and shook his head. "Of course not." His smile vanished. "Your behavior is something we'll need to address later. But for now, I'm going to give you the opportunity to redeem yourself."

"How?" I asked. I wasn't interested in helping him. I wanted to anywhere but here. But I couldn't run, so I had to play along.

Adrian reached into his pocket. I tensed, ready to run for however long that would last.

He rolled his eyes as he withdrew a phone. He tapped a few buttons and turned it to face me. On it was a picture of Sakura's feather.

"You are going to get this for me," he said. I locked my expression before any of my surprise could bleed through. Of course he wanted it. It was powerful.

"No," I said, realizing a moment after that I'd said it. My gaze fell to his shoes.

"No? Explain." He sounded more amused than angry. I'd have been less nervous if he had been. It would have meant he'd taken me seriously. I ignored the black pit opening in my stomach and met his eyes. He gave me a patient smile.

"This isn't Elpedite. You don't have Nathaniel. I won't work for you." The words were distant, as if someone else was talking. If I let Adrian take back control now, we would never escape him again. I couldn't do that. This was it. This was the last chance I would ever get. I hand to plant my feet and keep control.

"So your planning on living here?" Adrian asked, leaning down to catch my gaze. "You won't be able to. You may be hidden for now, but eventually someone is going to realize you don't belong here. You don't have the skills to blend in, or to find a decent job. Your skills lie in combat, and this country is weak. It doesn't need your skills. They will find you, and when they do, they will find The System. What do you think they'll do then? They will rip you apart to see how it works, and you will never see your brother again. If you stay here, it is only a matter of when."

I tried to deny what he'd said. I could find a job and I could stay hidden. But I knew it would be unlikely. All it would take is a closer look into my past, or the wrong person catching the light of The System in my eyes, and our lives here would be over.

"And," Adrian said, once again pulling a photo up on his phone. "It's not like you've been subtle."

The photo was of me. It was the moment I'd pushed my goggles off my face to make sure the camera's got a good shot. It had been to make sure Nathaniel could see me. I'd forgotten about the possibility that Adrian could be watching. He tapped the side of the screen and another photo filled the screen.

It was a photo of our house, taken from a distance and at night. My silhouette stood in the living room window. Adrian flicked through photos of the house, the restaurant we'd visited, the race, taken at different times and featuring different people. Nathaniel and I were the focus of most, but Sakura, Syaoran, Fai, Kurogane, and even Mokona all had their photos taken.

They weren't safe. We'd never been safe. He just hadn't let me know yet. I hadn't noticed who took the pictures. It could have been Adrian or a stranger. Either way, they could have just as easily shot bullets instead of photos. And even knowing that now, I wouldn't be able to protect Nathaniel. I couldn't watch everyone, always. My back would always be turned to someone.

Adrian pulled the phone back. "Five racers in one house. Ignoring skill, the chances one of you will win is one in four. If any of them win, it would be easy for you to steal the prize."

"It wouldn't," I said. "We share a house to reduce costs. That's it. They don't trust me." I knew it was flimsy, even as I said it, but I had to try.

He shook his head. "Yes. That's why you chat before the race and go out to breakfast together."

I glared at the sidewalk. "If I don't steal it?" I knew the answer, but I needed to hear it.

"Then your brother dies." His voice was so flat when he said it, like he was telling me what time it was. And he would do it too. Even if he had to stay here longer to make it happen, go through the extra effort, Adrian delivered on his threats. It kept people afraid of him.

"Okay," I sighed. "And if none of us win it?"

Adrian smiled. "Then I'll need your assistance to retrieve it."

This wasn't fair. I'd been so close. I should have been free of him; this should have been over. But that didn't matter. He was here and he'd taken back control before I'd had the chance to notice. I swallowed back the anger and anguish rising in me.

"If I win, I'll bring the feather to you." I hated myself for saying it. Sakura trusted me, and I was agreeing to stealing a piece of her memories. I didn't know what she was to me. I wanted to leave it at traveling companion, but it was more than that now. We were friends, and I'd have to exploit that to protect my brother.

I glared at him. "But only if Nathaniel stays here. And if one of the others wins, I will be the one to steal the feather. No one else gets involved, no violence." I wanted to minimize the damage. Maybe my chance was over, but Nathaniel would not go back to Elpedite. I would fight Adrian handcuffed and weaponless until he killed me to keep him away from Nathaniel. No matter what, Nathaniel was staying here.

Adrian crossed his arms. "I don't have to be subtle about this. Once I have the feather, we can leave in an instant. I'll let you handle it alone, only as long as I think you can."

Which meant I would be allowed to handle it so long as it was more convenient than killing everyone in his way. And because he could leave this world once he had the feather, the only risk was what fight the winner could put up.

"About your brother . . ." I looked up to see Adrian regarding me with a thoughtful look. "What guarantee do I have that you will behave?" The only reason he was considering it was because I'd fought him for Nathaniel's sake before we left. He knew that, ultimately, my loyalty was to Nathaniel.

I shrugged. "What else would I do?" In truth, as soon as we'd left Elpedite, I would try to kill him. I wouldn't have a reason to listen to him anymore, and I wasn't interested in a life of obeying his orders. He probably knew that, and had a plan in place to stop me once we got there, or kill me. But so long as Nathaniel stayed out of this, I would go along with his plan.

Adrian must have guessed my demand was negotiable. "Fine. I will agree to leave Nathaniel here. Do I have your cooperation?"

"Yes," I said, already mentally stepping back from the situation. My objective was to get the feather. I didn't have to think about anything else.

"Turn around." I did and Adrian unlocked the cuffs. But just as they fell from my wrists, something else clicked shut around my left. I turned as raised my hand to see and sleek metal loop around my wrist. It looked like a plain bracelet.

"A tracker?" I asked.

"Yes, and a listing device so," he tapped my forehead. "Don't get any ideas."

"I know how this works," I snapped. If Adrian heard me say anything he didn't like, Nathaniel and I were dead. And the only person who could read what I wrote would be Nathaniel, and I wouldn't tell him about this.

"Good." Adrian pulled up a map on his phone. "Once the race is over, a celebration will be held on the top floor of Piffle Tower. During the party, if the victor is present, you will take the feather and proceed down the northwest stairwell . . ." Adrian outlined several different options, depending on opportunities and security present. If needed, Kyle would provide a distraction. He wouldn't tell me what the distraction was. The end goal was the loading dock behind Piffle Tower, where Adrian would be waiting. Once he had the feather, we'd leave immediately.

"What's in it for him?" I jerked my chin in Kyle's direction.

Adrian glanced at him. "Once we return to Elpedite, Kyle will be given a seat on the council. With his assistance, Elpedite will be able to utilize new resources." A council seat meant power and money. It would be an immediate boost from world hopping vagrant.

Kyle smirked. "I have the ability to travel worlds and I have knowledge of them. I will be quite the asset in your isolated one."

I looked back to Adrian. "Fine. Now what?"

Adrian handed me my phone and gun. I took it slowly and returned it to its holster. A part of me wanted to take the chance, but I knew I'd loose. "Now, we leave. If the plan changes, Kyle will be in contact. If you need to deliver information to me, speak into the band." He gestured to the listening device on my wrist. "After Kyle and I leave, a train will pass in about fifteen minutes. Once it does, you may return home."

Adrian stepped away and gestured for Kyle to follow. As he passed me, Kyle shot me a vicious grin. I stared straight through him, refusing to acknowledge him. Once Adrian reached the entrance to the tunnel he turned back for a moment, letting Kyle exit first.

"You may want to clean up before Nathaniel sees you." He tapped his chin, and stepped out of view.

I raised a hand to my own chin and found it rough and sticky with dried blood. With The System's help, I listened to Kyle and Adrian's footsteps fade away. Soon, I was left alone, with only the rats to distract me.

I leaned back against the wall and gripped the bracelet as hard as I could. The cold metal pressed indents into my skin. The fire in my blood urged me to break something. For a while, I stood there, gripping and relaxing my hold on the band.

The System caught the beginning rumble of an approaching train. I released the bracelet and turned to inspect the door Adrian had emerged from. It was easier to distance myself from my emotions if I kept moving.

The handle was bent and twisted, just barely part of the door still. He'd broken the lock to get in and shut the door behind him.

With a blast of air, the train flew past the entrance of the tunnel, once again flashing yellow light over me. I slammed the door shut with enough force to knock the handle from its fragile hold. It fell to the concrete, its clatter masked by the roar of the train.

Moments later, the train ended and flew away into the tunnels. The silence it left felt deafening. I made my way towards the exit. I didn't know what I would say to them, when I got back. Probably what I'd thought while I'd been chasing Kyle. He'd lead me to a group of thugs that I'd taken care of, but I'd been pushed into a wall. That would explain my wounds.

I dropped onto the tracks and jogged back to the platform. Only two people were here now, and neither of them even glanced at me as I hauled myself back onto the walkway. Adrian and Kyle were nowhere to be seen, as I'd expected. Adrian was probably researching the racers, seeing who he could manipulate, and who would be a problem.

The wait for the train and the rest of my trip back passed in a foggy blur. It felt like five minutes before I stepped back onto the street. The house was a ten-minute walk away. The moment I left the underground my phone buzzed. I withdrew it and saw I had six missed calls from Nathaniel. As I looked at it, it rang. It was Nathaniel.

I answered as I kept walking towards home. "I'm okay."

"Where are you?" Nathaniel yelled into the phone, his panicked voice edged with anger.

"On my way back now. I'll be home within the next fifteen minutes." My voice sounded flat even to me. I didn't know what else to say to him.

"What happened?"

"I'll tell you when I get back. Is Kurogane home?" If Adrian or a hired hand attacked, Kurogane would be their biggest problem.

"Huh? Yeah, he is. Why?"

"Just wondering. I'm going to hang up. I'll be back soon."

Nathaniel huffed. "Fine. I'm calling back if you're a second late."

"Got it. Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up and scanned the street. A twenty-four-hour convenience store stood on the street corner. I stepped inside and passed the clerk.

"You okay, miss?" he asked.

"Yes." I found the restroom in the back of the store and locked the door behind me. I faced myself through the mirror and examined my injuries. My chin was a mess of dried blood that had dripped onto my jacket. Once I wiped it away it looked like a minor scrape, and I got most of the blood off my jacket. I gave my hands the same treatment. The bruises on my legs and back wouldn't be visible. I pushed the bracelet up and under my jacket sleeve, then left the bathroom.

I exited the store and made my way to our house without incident. The kitchen and living room lights were on, and as I approached the curtains fluttered in the living room.

Before I could reach the handle, the front door flew open. Nathaniel stood in the doorway. With a tight expression he looked me up and down before slamming into me and wrapping me in a hug.

The bruise on my back ached from the force, but I smiled. "Sorry for worrying you, but I'm fine."

"What happened?" I looked up to see Sakura in the doorway. I stomped down the guilt that welled up in me.

I nudged Nathaniel towards the door. "I'll explain inside." Nathaniel reluctantly let go and followed me into the house.

Inside, Syaoran sat at the coffee table, the smoke detector disassembled in front of him. He looked up as I entered.

At the kitchen counter, Kurogane glanced up from his magazine. "Did you kill this world's Kyle?"

"No," I said.

"Hmm," Kurogane's attention returned to his book.

Someone shook my arm and I looked down to see my brother glaring up at me. "What. Happened?" Sakura, who watched me expectantly, nodded along.

I sat down on the couch and he plopped down next to me. "Kyle called me Alice. He must have heard it at some point. I thought he'd said Alec, so I chased him down to try to get answers. He led me to a group of men who tried to beat me up, and they mentioned the race. I think he was just trying to eliminate a competitor." It's what I'd thought when I was chasing him, and it sounded believable.

"You're not hurt?" Nathaniel asked.

I shrugged. "No. They weren't very good fighters."

He relaxed back against the couch and watched me with a skeptical expression, but it was more concerned than suspicious.

"Shouldn't we notify the police?" Syaoran asked.

I shook my head. "Not much they can do about it now, and I don't want to deal with the hassle. Besides, the race is the day after tomorrow. He won't have time to try again." Even as I said it, another wave of cold seeped into my bones. I didn't even have forty-eight hours before I betrayed them and left Nathaniel behind. I pushed the thought away.

"We'll have to watch out for him," Kurogane said without looking up.

Sakura nodded. "Tomoyo-san invited us to lunch tomorrow. We should mention it to her then." I didn't know if Adrian would approve of that, but he hadn't provided me a specific cover story, so he'd have to deal with it. If I contradicted Sakura's comment, it would look strange. Besides, there was no proof Kyle had done anything.

"That's a good idea." I checked my watch, already knowing what I would say. "Nathaniel and I are going to bed."

Nathaniel groaned, but he must have seen how tired I was, because he didn't fight me anymore than that.

The others offered a chorus of 'goodnights' and in Kurogane's case an acknowledging grunt. I waved them goodnight as Nathaniel followed me up the stairs.

I'd picked up a bed for Nathaniel a few days ago, but we still shared a room. I didn't bother changing out of my clothes, simply kicking off my shoes and dropping into bed. Minutes later, I heard the rustle of fabric as Nathaniel climbed into his own.

"You're really okay?" he asked.

"I promise I am." I said, my chest aching with the knowledge I only had days left with him. My eyes burned and I struggled to force down the despair growing in me. I managed to get control and settle into numbness. I focused on sleep, and denied any other thoughts. And soon, I drifted off.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"What about this one?" Tomoyo asked, flicking through the pages of her sketch book before thrusting it under Sakura's nose.

Sakura leaned back, her eyes flicking over the page with a nervous smile. "I really like it." It was about the same response she'd given to all of Tomoyo's sketches.

I looked back to the book in my hands. It was one of the educational books I'd bought to learn Piffle's language. I'd brought it as a prop. There was no point in learning now.

As soon as we'd arrived to Tomoyo's lunch date, she'd dragged Sakura to the table. She'd been presenting different outfit designs for nearly half an hour now. At my elbow, Nathaniel worked on his robot project. The little bodies for Mika and Ruetile looked nearly complete now, with individual fingers and eyes. Nathaniel was hoping to finish them today. I was glad his project was progressing so well, it gave me comfort that he'd thrive in this world, even without me.

"Oh, Erin, Nathaniel, before I forget let me give these to you." I looked up to see Tomoyo gesturing one of her body guards over. The woman handed her a folder. Tomoyo flicked it open and withdrew two small cards. She held out one to each of us.

She flashed me a smile as I accepted it and sat back to examine it. My own face stared back at me in the upper left corner. I couldn't read the words around it, but it was undoubtedly an ID. The photo must have come from the pictures taken after the preliminaries.

It was exactly what I would have needed to get a job, and it had come too late.

"Why did you make these?" I asked. It was useless to me, but she'd given Nathaniel what he needed to live here. I wanted to know why.

Tomoyo flashed me a smile. "I figured you would need them. If you and Nathaniel choose to live here, anyway." I'd figured Tomoyo knew we weren't from here, but her knowledge that we wanted to stay was off putting.

"I can't pay for this," I said, my voice flat. Here was where she'd offer some kind of deal. Just a small favor, some simple task and I could have the IDs. I wasn't going to play that game. I was leaving soon, but I didn't want any debts I had here falling to Nathaniel.

She rolled her eyes. "They're gifts. And slightly illegal ones so; don't mention it. Seriously." She smirked.

I looked back at the ID, blinking. She had a point. If I wanted, I could rat her out to the police.

"And another thing," Tomoyo said, "I've heard you're looking for a job."

I nodded. I wasn't anymore, but I needed to keep pretending.

"Well," Tomoyo glanced at the body guard stationed behind her, "I think I could give you one. If you want it."

"Why do you say that?" I asked. When had she seen me fight? I'd almost fought with her body guards when we first met, but nothing that would have shown off my skill.

"Shougo mentioned you," She said. "I've had a word with him, by the way, about his tactics. I apologize for what happened and I promise it won't happen again. He was impressed with your skill though, even if he didn't word it that way. Plus," she pointed to the face of her bodyguard. "You already have part of the uniform."

I reached up to touch my own sunglasses. If I'd been looking to say here, this job would have been perfect. I could have hidden The System with the glasses and had a position I could excel at. I didn't know if I would've accepted, and I didn't want to think too much about it. If I thought I could trust Tomoyo, the opportunity would have thrilled me. It would have been perfect.

Maybe I could find a way to tell Tomoyo about Adrian. She had resources, and she might be able to protect Nathaniel. But she would want to know who Adrian was to me, and why he considered me an asset. And there was no guarantee she could keep Nathaniel safe. Adrian had a way of slipping past defenses. There wasn't a way I could tell her that Adrian wouldn't find out.

"I'll give it some thought," I said. I tucked the ID into my jacket pocket. "Thank you."

Tomoyo flashed me a smile before returning to Sakura and her sketchbook. I returned my gaze to my book, staring through the page at nothing.

A tug on my sleeve. Nathaniel looked at me with a worried expression. "Are you feeling okay?" he asked in a low tone.

"Just worried about the race tomorrow," I lied, guilt sparking in me as I did.

He gave me a warm smile. "Don't be. You're going to do great."

I returned his expression. "Thanks." Was it really tomorrow already? Time was moving too quickly and the details of the world around me seemed dull and distant. Maybe that was better. For the rest of the lunch, I pretended to read my book. Occasionally, I had to respond to small talk, but I forgot my own responses as soon as the conversation moved on.

What seemed like moments later, Tomoyo was waving goodbye.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she told Sakura. "I'll have you outfit delivered in the morning. You're going to be amazing!"

Sakura blushed, wringing her hands. "Thank you. I promise to try my best." I kept my gaze on her shoes after that. Looking directly at her was too difficult.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

I exited our house into the humid night air. The mutter of voices, Nathaniel explaining his machines to Syaoran, Fai and Mokona bothering Kurogane, and Kurogane snapping at them, cut off as I shut the door. I needed to get away from them.

A part of me desperately wanted to spend as much time with Nathaniel as possible. But every second I did, all I could think of was how I was leaving. I found myself watching the clock, counting minutes and feeling seconds fly away. It had gotten to the point I found myself paying more attention to my own panic than to Nathaniel. And I couldn't keep up the façade of normalcy. He'd noticed I wasn't feeling well, and my own anxiety was amplifying his. It would be better if I kept some distance between us. Once the post-race party started, I'd put on my best smile, and force myself to enjoy just a few minutes with him. Then I would leave, take the feather, and be gone. It was better he remembered me smiling, rather than anxious and pacing.

I walked towards my dragonfly, not really with any purpose in mind. Before I reached it, movement from Sakura's dragonfly caught my attention. I looked up to see her leaning back against it, gazing at the city.

"What are you doing?" I asked. I'd assumed she was somewhere inside, maybe in bed early in preparation for the race.

She startled and turned to see me. "Oh, just, thinking I guess. You?"

I shrugged. "Same."

"Hmm." she faced the horizon again, the city lights lighting her strands of hair at the edge of her silhouette gold. Her brow furrowed.

I walked to the space next to her and leaned back against the dragonfly. "What's bothering you?" It felt wrong to ask her when I knew I'd be betraying her in less than a day, but I wanted to anyway. It felt like a pathetic attempt at atonement, but it was all I could do.

She rubbed her hands together. "I'm nervous about tomorrow, I suppose."

"Why? We've practiced and Kurogane and Fai were the first two to finish in the preliminaries. It's not a guarantee, but we have pretty good chances." I realized I didn't want myself, any of the others, or especially Sakura, to win. It would feel like a greater betrayal than if I had to take it from a stranger. Which didn't make sense, because that memory was Sakura's, no matter who won it. But it would be that much worse to let her think she'd won it, only to take it from her.

"I want to win," she said, her voice firm. "Not just one of us. I want to win." She turned to me, her expression torn. "And I don't want to seem ungrateful. I am grateful for all of your help. You've helped me learn, and you've protected me, and you've all enabled me to travel and find my memories . . . but I've done nothing." He voice fell. "I know you all paid something so we could travel, and since then I've been nothing but a useless."

I gripped her arm. "You have not. When I met you, you were barely awake. Since then, in a span of a few months, you've learned to live all over again. You helped me relearn how to fight in Outo and you helped us find those kids in Jade. You're someone I—" Did I tell her the truth, knowing what I would do? I decided that in this moment, it was something I wanted to say and something she needed to hear. "You are someone I can rely on. And I haven't had that for a while. I trust you." I kept my gaze on her hands. I knew if I looked up, I wouldn't be able to speak.

"Besides," I took a deep breath, wondering if I was doing the right thing, "you did pay." It was something that would affect her for the rest of her life, and she deserved to know, as much as she could, about it.

Sakura tensed. "What?"

"Its . . . hard to explain," I said. Sakura couldn't know it was her memories of Syaoran, that she'd paid, but she could know she'd paid something. I just had to decide how specific to be. I looked her in the eyes. It was easier, now that I was talking about something that didn't involve me. She stared back at me with confusion and growing concern.

I raised my hands. "I can't tell you much," I said, "not because it's a secret, but because your price was knowledge, not something physical."

She blinked. "But how did I . . ?"

"Because Syaoran brought you to Yuuko, he was able to act as your representative. Yuuko proposed a shared price for you, and he agreed on your behalf. In my opinion, it was the right choice."

Sakura frowned, and I could see the thoughts flying behind her eyes as she tried to work out what it could have been.

I gave her arm a slight shake. "Sakura, if you remember it, you will forget it. It's . . . you did pay something, and it was valuable," I said slowly, searching for the right words, "but I think it's something you'll know again, you'll just learn it in a different way." It was as close as I could get to telling her it was her memories of Syaoran. They already had a new friendship growing, and I could tell she liked him. Maybe their relationship would be different, but they would have it again. "Don't let it bother you. I don't think you lost is really gone."

She stared at the ground for a long time, her expression unreadable. "You can't tell me anymore?"

"No. If I did, you'd forget." Telling her she'd forgotten specific memories would be too much of a hint.

"Have I figured it out before?"

"Once."

Sakura rubbed her arms. "It's not something important? I'm not . . . broken?"

"No," I said, "you're no different from any other person, just with a little amnesia. I promise, nothing is wrong with you. You're going to be fine, and the more you make new memories, the less you'll miss what you paid."

Sakura sighed and leaned back against the dragonfly. "That's . . . sort of a relief, actually."

I raised an eyebrow. "You're okay?" I'd expected a bit more panic, even with my reassurances.

She gave me a small smile. "I won't lie, I am worried. But I believe you. I know you don't sugarcoat things, so that helps. But it's nice to know I helped get us here, even in a small way." She nudged me. "Thanks."

I smirked. "No problem." And then I remembered what would happen tomorrow, and who might be watching now. My smile died, along with the little warmth her words had given me. I stepped away. "Don't worry about the race. We all know you're doing your best, and you'll do great. I'm heading to bed. You should come in too. You'll need rest for tomorrow."

She huffed a laugh. "I guess you're right."

We made our way back to the house. She entered first, and I paused to look back. The roof or our building was empty. Nothing moved, and all our equipment lay nest to the dragonflies where we'd left it. But the bracelet burned into my wrist. Nothing I'd said would have made sense to Adrian. He would have no concept of Yuuko's prices or powers, and I hadn't drawn any specific parallel between Sakura and the feather.

I entered the house, locking the door behind me.

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