Kurogane's Love

by LilyQuix

A new girl and wolf join the gang in their journey to find Sakura's e tells nothing about herself and even hides her face from the others until long after they first meet.Kurogane connects with her and becomes protective of her.

29. The Beginning to Something Better

Thank you to everyone who has read this story up to this point and those who have followed. I will not be continuing it though, although you will see the final chapter of this story in its orginality.

Maybe no one has noticed, but I noticed. While I was doing revising one day, years ago now, I realized that these characters were no longer the same characters of Tsubasa. They had changed and had become their own beautiful works of art in the process. (Not in the same way that Fifty Shades of Grey and Twilight though)

4 years ago, I put this project aside. I designed my character with more though and changed the names and chunks of the story to fit these people that I had created. As they changed, the world changed. And as that happened, so did my character need to change.

I have loved this piece more than any other piece of mine (original works included). I think of it more often than sometimes, and I go back and work on the parts I have loved and I remember their origins always.

I've been wanting to put this out for a long time now, I thought of it so much I clearly thought I already did it. Following this note, you will find the last chapter I wrote for these characters. I hope it strikes fantasy in hearts as much as it did me at one time. If you would like to read what I've developed, send me a PM and I can send you a chapter. The characters are different, but I think for a story such as this, to make it realistic, emotional, and painful all at the same time, it had to change.

Thank you again everyone and enjoy this final segment as I left it 6 years ago.

Nakieta Memories…

It's all I have left to call my own. My freedom belongs to Marina along with the knife and its artifacts. My sketch book once belonged to Hiro, and still does as far as I care. The bracelet has always belonged to my people, and even this necklace around my neck still belongs to Hiro. I own nothing but my memories now.

As I float in Marko's endless world, so many things come to mind. I remember how I tried to pretend I didn't like Toya when I was five because he was Hiro's friend and took his time away from me. He in turn pretended not to like me. We continued on like that for a month before we found our mutual enjoyment of the ruins.

I picture the lake in perfect detail even though I haven't been there since my Sara died. I even remember my father very briefly even though I've never been able to remember him without looking at my drawings. Arguments with grandmamma surface from right after my mother died. Hiro's arguing with momma about me learning to fight. Toya living in the ruins after his family died. Learning to climb in those same ruins with Hiro. Sleeping in the spare bedroom upstairs in my uncle's house. The hot long days spent drawing between papa's and momma's shrines. The short freezing nights I slept alone in that shack next to momma's garden right after she died.

I remember everything if only briefly.

I let out a sob and curl into a weightless ball. I'll never see home again. There will be no shrine for me next to Hiro. I won't be burned in silk and perfume. No one will be signing the ancient sings in our old tongue—

I thought I accepted this a long time ago. I knew what my deal meant to Marina and what I was giving up in return. I think it hurts more that it seems that I left home long before now, the time before people became rats

A warm arm curls around my back. Sara presses her check against mine immediately as I bring my face up. I wrap my arms around her neck and clutch at her. I'm so selfish. I should have stayed away from them, I knew that then and I remember the reasons why now. I should have—

I'm going to die. I've known this since the day I was born. This wasn't a surprise to me. I made a choice to make these people a part of my life. Sara will cry because I'm going to die. I'm so selfish.

Another hand curls around from my other side. I smell Syrus and tilt my head into his shoulder. I wrap an arm around his back. I'm going to make Syrus cry even. I let out another sob. That's so much worse than Sara crying.

I take my arms away and rub Hiro's necklace around my neck. It feels so unfamiliar. "I'll be okay," I tell them and they float back a few paces and smile sadly. I try to smile for them. "It wasn't home anymore anyways," I say and shake my head. The people weren't home at least, just the places.

"We're all here for you," Syrus says and rubs his eyes. I laugh a little. He's so much like a little boy sometimes, and others…he's a very strong boy who will one day be an even stronger man. I pat his check lightly.

"Thank you," I say and smile. I wish he didn't remind me so much of my younger cousins. I look forward as we're plunged into blinding white light. I know its snow right away when I hit it. I pick myself up immediately but the wind forces me back down. We've been dropped in a snowstorm. I'm not surprised.

"Nero!" I shout and look around. I can't even keep my eyes open. He brushes under my chin and I shiver. The wind is cutting right through my dress. I did wear my cloak because it had been too hot before. I should have known better. I use him to stand up. "Find the others!" I shout over the wind. He leads me to find Sara first who is clutched into Syrus's chest. I help her stand up but she almost pushes me over. I lead her to Nero and look around as Syrus keeps a hand in one of mine so we don't get lost.

I take a deep breath and double over in a coughing fit. I can't take it. Syrus holds me up and I mentally tell Nero to find Fynn and Kurou. I only hope he has some sort of bond with those two. My lungs already ache as we find Fynn. Marko is securely in his arms thankfully. Kurou is close by. I make a circular gesture and they get into a circle. The wind is a little less now. No one talks.

Marko hands us our warm clothes without a word. I pull on my cloak and bunch it up around my throat and try to keep my hood up despite the wind. It's not working too well. When I look forward again, Syrus hands me a rope and Marina's ball. I stare at it as it glows bright and vibrates.

It picks itself up from my hand and guides itself right into my face as I even out the rope. I make a sign for Syrus to tie a part around himself. We can't have anyone getting separated. A hologram comes up of Marina and I look at it. She smiles at me like a snake as snow sprinkles through her dark eyes. I stare at her (being careful not to glare).

"Your work starts now. This ball will lead you North to a temple where I need you to find me an ice mirror. Don't look into it. Wrap it immediately in a piece of black cloth, your cloak will do, and put it in your bag. I'll collect it from you at a separate time. No one is allowed to help you get the mirror and no one is allowed to follow you into the temple beyond the first archway. Am I clear?" Marina fires off. I nod my head very slowly. Marina doesn't accept questions anyways I remember. She smiles and the hologram disappears but the ball continues to float. I look out into the storm. We aren't going to last long out here without being able to see where we're going. I shiver violently. I won't last long out here in general. We need to find a closer place to stay except that temple. I can't imagine it being close knowing Marina.

"Nero, find somewhere safe!" I shout to him. He runs into the storm, quickly disappearing. Everyone stares at me then. My fingers are already numb as I grip my piece of the rope. I tie it tightly around my waist and point to the ball as it starts to move. It's too painful to talk out here.

Syrus takes the lead with Sara right beside him. I follow behind them with Kurou and Fynn on either side of me. I can't collapse out here. I'm dead if I do even with them both right here to carry me. If I stop moving, I'll freeze faster.

The snow is high. My boots are filled with it and I can tell Sara is struggling too since we're both so short. The boys are all doing better since they're taller, well Syrus isn't that much taller than us, but they're keeping pace with us so as to stay together. I think the wind dies down a little as time passes but I could just be getting used to it too. My consciousness is already slipping from the cold. We are not in a good place. I see Sara stumbling now and clutching at Syrus to stay upright against the wind. Kurou comes up next to me and he puts an arm under my arm. He holds part of my weight up and blocks as much of the wind as he can. I look up at him and he nods his head. I look forward. I don't need to thank him for him to know I'm glad he's here. I lean against him heavily. I can't feel my legs anymore.

Nero tugs at my mind. I close my eyes and see him give me a map. Wolves always have excellent direction skills. I shoot my eyes open and locate the ball. The cave is closer than the temple I assume.

"Stop!" I shout. I bend over in a fit of coughing as the air suddenly freezes my lungs. I can't breathe for a few seconds until I get the cloth back up to my face. Kurou keeps my upright but only barely considering I'm dead weight and he's considerably taller than me. I recover and stand up straight. I point to the direction of Nero. Syrus points to the ball which is now heading toward me it looks like. I shake my head and point slightly off course. He doesn't ask again. He moves in the new direction with me right behind him.

We're heading directly into the wind now thanks to me. I know we're close though. I don't bother trying to keep my hood up anymore. My face is numb no matter what. My ears shoot pain at me as I keep trying to move forward. Syrus stumbles into the cave first along with Sara. I trip down into the cave and look back. Nero's already started pushing the snow against the cave entrance.

"We need to block this entrance off," I say through my new fit of couching as I let my cloak bunch away from my mouth. I've always hated cold. I don't know if it's because I'm sick or because my people hate cold, but it always seems to kill me. I lower myself to my knees as I struggle to breathe in and feel like I'm suffocating again. Kurou puts a hand on my shoulder and helps me up when I'm breathing more normal. I'm dizzy from too much oxygen.

"Go rest, we'll take care of it," he tells me. I nod my head and move farther back into the cave so I'm out of the wind. I pick a place on the ground and lie down. It hurts to breathe and my body feels too weak to move again. This is stage three. I stare ahead as the other's work.

I can't do anything anymore. I'm still weak and I doubt I'm going to recover any more than this. I'm going to die soon, within a month at the most. It all depends on how I push myself. I could die today even if I stay in this cold. I can't imagine Marina's work is going to be easy either. That might kill me first actually. I curl into a ball and try to keep myself covered by my cloak as much as possible. I would have rather helped them work and die now than keep on living at this point. I might die alone in that temple while getting that mirror. They would never know. The same with any of Marina's next mission(s).

I still can't feel anything. My brain wants to sleep but I know that's a bad idea because I'm so cold. I need to stay awake even though it's hard. I let my mind drift to Kardia (the closest thing I now have to a home at this point). I've almost missed Raja's old house. I know I missed the mountain and dungeons at least. It always made me feel…strong.

The people weren't bad either. Cecilia and Nicholas were very devilish children sometimes and loved to hide other people's things most days. I smile…I think. I can't feel my face at this point. I remember watching them on the beach when I had to fish. They stole a net from Sabrina's shop and were playing in it in the sand. I took them to Raja's house then and introduced them to the tame monsters so they would stop bothering the working people.

I breathe out calmly. The library was always warm and comfortable. I probably read half the books in there during my off hours when I was supposed to be asleep. Felicity was always…she was always innocent. I never thought she would have picked someone else over Raja, the one who saved her life. Although, I also never would have believed that a stone that looked like a pebble had almost kill her.

"Do we need to cover the whole entrance?" Syrus asks. I open my eyes and see him kneeling down right in front of me.

"Yes," I answer in a croak. My throat feels tight now from this stupid cold. He nods his head and takes off a glove to touch my face.

"How cold are you?" He asks as he moves his hand to my ears. His hands are so warm and gentle.

"Focus on the entrance first," I tell him. He pauses and then takes his hand away. The entrance has already been blocked halfway. If the wind wasn't that bad we could have just used a tarp or something and have probably been fine. He gets up and goes to help again. I close my eyes and snuggle tighter into a ball. I can't feel my torso either anymore. I feel like a block of ice.

I think back to the ruins that were dug into the mountain. I loved fishing there. Sharon didn't talk much, but all her poetic lines sounded beautiful in her smoky voice. She loved the ruins so much and I know why. It's beautiful there. The ruins didn't physically pull her there, it was the beauty. I used to sit on the broken bridge all the time and fish. Sometimes I would sit in the middle of the giant lily pads on the water and once in a while I would take Cecilia and Nicholas there to pick water lilies for their parents. It was always calm there.

I snuggle into the dirt. I wish I could have had kids I guess. I never tried to think about it because I knew there was no point. If I have had kids, I imagine I'd be like my mother, kinda. I see myself wearing those tight plain dresses that momma used to wear. I would be mixing medicines and gardening by day, and at night I would have to entertain the children and sew them clothes. I would have told stories like Hiro did for me, I'd draw for them, teach them the old songs just like grandmamma taught me…

I open my eyes. The entrance is much higher now. And almost covered. I stare at Kurou's back. I'm going to die…I close my eyes. I wish he didn't have to watch. I've watched people die all my life, but it was always so much more painful to watch the families suffer. My throat closes up and I almost cry. I wish I could tell him to leave me so he can hurt now when I'm alive rather than close up when I'm dead.

A cover is thrown over me but it's too much effort to open my eyes. I'm conscious though. Bad idea to close my eyes. I can't hear the wind, but I don't remember if I could hear the wind at all before.

"Nakietra, are you awake?" Fynn asks. He presses a hand to my face. It's so warm. I know it's his because it's softer than the boys', but also bigger than Sara's. I struggle to open my eyes. It's his coat over me. He rubs my shoulder.

"We have to get you warm," He says and picks the top part of me up and moves me into one of those thermal sleeping bags. I forgot we had those. He closes it up but it's still cold. He tucks the top part of his coat under my chin. He's worried. I must look worse than I feel. I close my eyes. I'm still freezing. Our heater is brought out and connected to the generator. They've pined up tarps to try and keep the heat in I see. Kurou sits by my head and brushes a hand across my head. I hear them speaking but I can't understand anything they say. I close my eyes. My mind is too far gone.

Everyone is asleep when I open them again. I feel warmer. I reach down and carefully nudge off my boots. I toss them out along with Fynn's coat and my cloak so they can dry. Kurou lightly takes my hand. I look back at him. He sighs and lies down in back of me. I turn around and face him. Someone gave me a pillow while I was asleep. He touches his forehead to mine. I close my eyes.

He's gone when I open them again. My lungs feel raw. I push myself up and feel every muscle in my body complain. This is stage three. I breathe deeply. The pain doesn't get any less. I smell my medicine and look over. Everyone is awake. Syrus and Sara are whispering at the edge, Fynn is putting together some food, and Nero and Kurou are gone. I close my eyes.

Nero is outside. He's safe with Kurou who's digging us a way out of the cave. Kurou lifts him on top of the snow and Nero runs to explore. He's looking for food. I pull back and open my eyes. He's happy. He doesn't mind the snow, but he loves open places where he can run a lot.

"Here Nakie," Fynn says and smiles as he hands me a cup of my medicine. I try to smile back as I take it. It's bitter and burns as I swallow it. It's not like I can complain though. This is the only thing keeping me alive at this point.

I put the cup to the side and slide my feet out of the sleeping bag. I'm still cold but not as much. There are warmer clothes laid out for me. I slide the heavy pants on under my dress and pull my boots on after. There's a long sleeved shirt I pull on over my dress and then lastly my cloak. Fynn gives me a slightly warm bowl of soup and I eat it while he and Syrus take down the tarps. Everyone looks depressed. Sara scotches over very softly over to me.

"How are you Sara?" I ask her. I hope she didn't get sick last night. She smiles slightly.

"I'm fine," She answers, "How do you feel?" I smile a little.

"I've been better. Did you get to sleep in one of the bags too?" I ask. She smiles brightly.

"Yes. Me and Syrus shared one because there wasn't enough for everyone," She says. I smile brightly back at her.

"Someone could have shared with me," I say and pretend to roll my eyes. I know why no one did. No one knows how I'd react and Kurou wouldn't volunteer. We'd never hear the end of it from Fynn if he did. It'd be worse for him considering I'm not going to be around much longer anyways.

"We didn't want to wake you and ask," Sara admits and her smile falls. I don't like being the source of everyone's depression. I should get used to it I guess. I close my eyes and finish off my soup.

"We have a long day ahead. We should start moving," I say and smile to Sara. She smiles back a little. She helps me to my feet and we move to the cave entrance. A small hallway has been dug out for us. It's enough for two to walk side by side. The snow is well above my head. Fynn follows behind us with Marko.

"How's it going Kuro?" Fynn asks happily from behind. I smile and shake my head. Not everything has changed I can see. Kurou looks over and smiles slightly at me. I wish I could say something. I just pick my hood up though and tuck my hair back.

"The snow's stable enough on top to walk on," He answers and looks away. Nero barks from above. I lift my hand up and rub his cold nose as he leans down.

"Hey boy," I say. I close my eyes and take a mental step back. He shows me pictures of last night. I see myself still and my breathing bad. He shows me Kurou's rare worry during the night as well as bits of conversation. Fynn basically said that I needed to be treated delicately because my body is so weak. I take my hand away quickly. I don't want to see any more of that. He whines and I pat his nose again.

"I'm not mad. I just…don't want to hear that," I say gently and pay attention to the others as I take my hand away. Fynn is on top of the snow now and so is Syrus. Kurou helps Sara up and I step towards him. I put a foot in his hands and balance myself on his shoulder.

"I love you," I whisper. I see him smile as he lifts me up. Syrus grabs my hands and pulls me onto the snow. I step out of the way and watch Syrus and Fynn help Kurou up as well. Nero lightly brushes against my legs and I dig my fingers into his coat. It's clear skies now and doesn't seem as cold as yesterday. I see Marina's ball waiting for me ahead. I start walking toward it. I can't seem to focus on what anyone's saying to each other. The meaningless bickering doesn't seem as fun anymore. I touch my knife. I don't hear any of the voices. They only seem to come in my nightmares now. I sigh. I could actually use their distracting advise right now.

I touch Hiro's necklace. A heart just like my own. His is white gold though mixed with some silver. I press it between my fingers. It's still solid and much smoother than my black gold one. I rub my thumb over the symbol engraved: shea. Home. Even when we were traveling, Hiro always told me that no matter where we went, everywhere could be home because I was there. I was his onlyⱷ kas. Family. This was before he married Ira, and Toya…he was our brother and friend, but he wasn't blood. I wanted to call him family, but the term didn't fit right with him. I grip the heart. Blood doesn't even matter in that place anymore.

I look back as someone touches my elbow. I try to smile for Syrus.

"How do you feel?" He asks and keeps pace with me. The ball is leading us to the temple. A place I probably will die in. I try to think of a better answer.

"Not too bad," I answer in a very careful voice. I don't want to start coughing again because of the cold. Syrus hands me a scarf. I take it in one hand. This is one Sara made him. I stare up at him.

"I thought you might like to use it," He says and smiles. I clench my teeth and wrap it around my neck. It's warm.

"Thank you," I tell him. He doesn't say anything. "I heard from a little sparrow that you and Sara slept next to each other last night," I say softly. I watch his cheeks flush red as he looks at the snow. I squeeze his hand once and then rub my hands together. I wish I had gloves

"She may never remember you, but that never meant you couldn't start from scratch. Sometimes, it's better that way," I tell him. He doesn't say anything again.

"She won't ever remember me," He says. I sigh.

"No….she won't. That never meant that either of you stopped loving each other though. Even someone as distinct as me could tell from day one that you loved her. It took me a few more days to see that she loved you back even though she can't remember you specifically," I say. He nods his head slowly. "Marko once said something to me. 'The body remembers what the mind forgets,' Even if I forgot who I was, I could never fully forget how to climb even if my body was crippled."

"Thank you," Syrus says and squeezes my hand quickly before taking it away. I smile.

"One day in the future, you and Sara are going to be home in your desert city, together and happy. Sometimes, you have to go through the bad things in order to get to anything good in the end," I tell him. I stumble as he abruptly hugs me. I pat his shoulder even though I have no clue about what's going on and I doubt anyone else does either.

"I wish you could be happy," He says as he slowly lets me go. I stare up at him and see a tear glisten in his eye before he rubs it away. I walk around him and hurry forward, feeling my eyes water. I cover my mouth and feel it twisted in a frown. I wish I could live happy too Syrus. I've had plenty of happy days though. Plenty… I just wish I had more.

I hug my arms and rush forward. I rub Hiro's heart in between my fingers but it doesn't help me like my necklace did. My necklace had chips all over it and was engraved with Ɫ lamda. Freedom. Mine was…rougher too. My fingers glide over his heart like cloth while my own would catch my fingers and slow them down. Black gold must be denser than white.

The ball brightly flashes and I stop. I look up and take a step back. This is the temple. The doors are covered in ice but I can tell they're stone in the center of it all. There are carving alls over the stone. I brush my hand over the ice and see the ruins light up underneath it with a dark purple.

"Whoa…" Syrus says from behind me. I nod my head in agreement. I slid one of my hands over the ice. I take it away and see black power fade from the ruins where my hand touched. Those are like the symbols in Hiro's book that we've collected. I place my hand on the door again and keep it there.

"This is it?" Kurou asks softly. I nod my head. Slowly black power creeps from beneath my hand and out to the rest of the door. In high speed, I watch the ice crack and melt all over the place and in a minute I can fully see the two doors. Both are big enough for giants and hundreds of feet taller than me. The black power fades as I look over the pictures of spiders crawling in seas, jumping out to me it looks like, and screaming skeletons clutching their heads in insanity from every space available.

All the air leaves my lungs and I take my hand away. I clutch my hand and don't move. I hate spiders. I shiver as the image fades. What if this is a sign of what's inside? Spiders…insanity…or maybe fear? I look to the opening. It's only big enough for one person to slide through at a time. It doesn't make me confident.

"What do those pictures mean I wonder?" Fynn wonders out loud in as much dread as I feel. I don't answer. I can only assume that whatever is inside is going to kill me. Kurou grabs my arm as I move to go to the opening.

"Be careful," He says as I look up to him. I nod my head. I don't trust myself to speak. Syrus holds my bag out to me. I take it and slid it over my shoulders. It's lighter than usual.

"I took out everything you didn't need and added some food and rope…I didn't look in your folder," He says but doesn't smile. I clench my teeth and hug him.

"Thank you Syrus," I say and turn to leave as quickly as possible, "Good luck getting the crystal," I shout back and disappear through the door. I can't say goodbye. It'd be too painful. I always hated goodbyes anyways since Toya hated them as well.

I pause as I come into the light. It's different from the outside. I don't see any stone here. Everything looks like ice, hundreds and hundreds years of it. I look up. The ceiling is made of a thinner ice though and the sun is lighting up the room slowly. The ice doesn't melt though.

"Mistress!" The voices scream painfully. I wince and look forward. There are broken sections of something (a bridge?) that are separated and all kept at different heights. I follow the path to the nearest one. I'll need to get around them to find out where to go from here. If this was a bridge, it defiantly wasn't very flat.

I haven't heard from any of you since before Marina.

"We told you. We cannot talk outside the sacred grounds." I come to a gap. There's a broken rope bridge hanging down from the other side. I judge the gap and take a running leap before trying to think of a response to my voices.

What are sacred grounds? You never answered me before when I asked. You just repeated that they were sacred.

I'm on a higher place now and can see a little more. I'll have to climb along the walls for now to make my way to a smaller door at the far end of the room. It's covered in frost but I can tell it's a door. I jump to the nearest wall.

"Sacred grounds have been blessed by those who have wielded the full power of the Riehiru. Their blood once marked all entrances to the grounds and kept them safe from corruption."

What is corruption? Why would these places need to be blessed?

"To hide the power." I feel them shiver around my mind. It's a weird feeling. "The power to destroy, to control the weak. Our Mistress hid the powers everywhere to restore the balance against corruption. The Balance fell against her efforts after we were separated. We don't know why, three now fight for nothing, but they all see everything and nothing at both times."

I pause in my climbing. Marina is part of this. If these is some type of fight that is involved with the destruction of this Balance, I can only imagine that somehow Marina is involved. Either way, I can assume magic is involved somehow.

Does removing the artifacts from these places destroy the Balance?

I continue climbing. I knew Marina was bad from the start, but this Balance…I've heard legends about "The Balance". If it's the same, we could be in trouble. I stop. Should I be helping Marina…? By taking this mirror from here, could I be making it worse by making this world susceptible to the imbalances of energy that is flooding and starving worlds.

… if I don't do what she tells me, she'll hurt someone in my group though. She knows I want death, she knows that I won't be able to stand much of her torture. I can't die peacefully knowing she hurt someone I love though. She would go after Sara first.

"No, someone has stopped time. A name seeks a power to destroy the restored dead. The three have stopped time, created mirrors, destroyed lives. Hope could be destroyed if these artifacts are taken into wrong hands."

I bite my cheek. Stopping time…that's the Dimensional Witch's area. Where and why? Are these mirrors like the mirror I'm retrieving now? Whose lives are being destroyed besides my own? Is Marina considered the "wrong hands" here? Is this the same Balance that, when tipped, has wiped out life in several worlds already?

I shake my head. I'm going to die. Why does this matter? Once I'm gone, Marina won't be able to get artifacts unless she employs someone else, which of course she will. I look back and move over another inch. I'm at the door. I take a deep breath and launch myself backwards. I barely land on my feet.

What does an "ice mirror" do?

I wait for an answer before walking to the door. I need to know that I'm not helping Marina kill people.

"It shows the truth behind memories. Everything can be a lie, even memories. The mirror sees through fakeness and mirrors."

I walk to the door. Marina can only blackmail people with this. I don't see her destroying whole worlds or cities, not directly at least. The mirror sees through mirrors though…memories can be a lie…I don't know what those mean. What's there to see through a mirror? Silver? Memories can be lies…could Sara see Syrus in her memories if she looked into this mirror? Marina told me not to look in it though…I close my eyes. I shouldn't let anyone look at it, not even me. It could destroy Sara's mind because of the witch's spell for all I know. There has to be a reason I was told not to look in it. Not everything Marina tells people is a lie or meant to be cruel…even if I do have to give up my cloak and suffer in this cold.

I open my eyes and touch the middle of the door. This time I watch the images carefully.

I stop breathing.

Real Faces have been carved into the doors, screaming in fear as they stare straight ahead at me. I step back as the door starts to slide open of its own accord. I swear I hear echoes of scream as I blink, but it sounds too much like my own voice for me to be sure about it. When I blink again, my eyes focus on the path in front of me. There's no snow or ice. I step inside and every torch in front of me flares to life with white flames.

Kurou I turn away from the stone door and start walking back across the ice bridge. It's sturdy and looks like it was carved out hundreds of years ago. I stop halfway and look back. Syrus turns away from the entrance and follows me along with Sara and Fynn behind him. I clench my teeth. She's going to make it back, she needs too. They can't give up on her yet. It's too early.

I look up at the entrance. It's a face carved in fear. I continue down the bridge so I don't have to look at it. It keeps reminding me of the fear I saw on her face when she took her hand away from the door. We need to get the crystal as quickly as possible so she isn't waiting for us when we get back. It's better if she's moving around so she doesn't freeze waiting for us. I curl my hands in my pockets. She's too weak to be doing this stuff. She made a choice though, and now we have to live with it.

I stop at the end of the bride and wait. Marko hasn't told us where the crystal is yet exactly. I close my eyes and wait. She's going to die…what was I thinking? I take a deep breath. She's…there are a lot of people in this world who think that they can do everything, that is until they crumble and turn to those around them.

Nakietra…she was a kid I thought when we first met her. I was wrong and thought she was older because a kid isn't that wise. Even when we found out her true age, she has always been a woman. She tried to keep her problems to herself, never hinting that her nightmares were about someone from her home and that he wanted to kill her. She never shared her nightmares, never wanting to burden us with her personal problems. She dealt with her problems on her own, kept them on her own shoulders, until someone else told us to help. She tried to do the right thing in the end. It's selfish, yes, but she didn't want to guilt us into helping. That's honorable in a way because in the end she was the one who fixed the without us helping.

I open my eyes. She shouldn't have to suffer like this, living until she's too far gone to even sit up. I look at the snow. We can't fix what fate has given us though. I kick some snow up and watch it separate in the wind. I should have given Nakietra my gloves. She never has any. I can see why too I guess. You wouldn't need them when it only gets cold at night. I think she said no one goes out at night either. I shake my head. I can't remember.

"Ah, Kuro waited for us I see," Fynn says and I look back at him. He's not smiling like he usually does. I would have hit him if he was. The kid and Sara are both sad. I stare at Marko in his arms.

"Where's the crystal?" I ask. Marko thinks about it.

"That way," He says and point south-east. We need to go around this temple it seems.

"Let's go," I say and start off. Syrus doesn't move. I grab his arm and pull him out of his daze. He looks up and starts moving on his own. I can't let him freeze his mind yet. It's not good for anyone. If she dies, none of us can freeze up. Our mission isn't over yet.

Nakietra I sigh as I enter the room. Everything is made of stone I can tell from the self-lighting torches around the room. It's the blades that make me sigh. Some are spinning back and forth on the walls, others are swinging across the width of the room in certain patterns, and there are a few slicking downwards. I see places to climb on the walls but no direct way forward without killing myself.

Did your 'mistress' make this room?

The holes in the walls were made for climbing I can tell and the ledges have been cut in a way that will make them easier to grip. There are even footholds I can see and ones I can even use with my short height.

"Yes. The power was placed to keep the balance. Only Mistress was to be able to get it."

I take a deep breath and listen. There mistress must have been a tiny woman. There's no sounds from the blades. They're so sharp that they're slicing through the air with zero resistance. I let out my breath slowly. I'm going to die. How can I avoid them if I can't hear them? There are pictures above every torch. They show variations of people dying with their faces disfigured, or spiders consuming their flesh and leaving only their skeleton behind to scream.

I swallow a scream and close my eyes. I hate spiders. Why are there pictures of spiders everywhere? I look over the edge. Nothing but darkness. I'm tempted to throw a rock or something down there to see how far of a drop it is but I wonder if that's where the spiders are sleeping. If so, I really don't want to wake them up. I take a step back and look hopelessly at the nearest climbable wall and start to mark a path.

Tell me about The Balance.

"It is power. Time flows to keep energy moving, energy bears life, and life breeds power. The balance keeps the energy even, moving time in relative to the amount of power in a world. The forces of dark and light must always even out."

Yes…this is The Balance I remember hearing about. Everything needs to be equal in life. Life itself is power and power can destroy everything if you let it. Time being stopped destroys The Balance because energy stops moving then. Simultaneously, the forces of dark and light must also be equal. Something must be happening in the worlds now deprived of power. I bite my cheek. What could be happening to those worlds? I've only heard of what a dead world looks like, what happens to the people in it though?

What's happening to the worlds now deprived from time being stopped?

"They are greying while life fades. Over energized worlds are driven to war as corruption thickens minds and hearts of the strongest. Mistress will save it all again."

I pause. They think their mistress is alive still? If I have this knife she can't be alive. We found in in Tomoyo's world in a crumbling temple and—

I shake my head. I'm going to die. I'll pass this onto Syrus and tell him what they've told me. I'll mark him so he's bonded to it so Marina can't take it. He can make sure Marina doesn't destroy everything. She can't be involved in this in a good way and someone needs to watch her. Yes, I will be breaking my deal with Marina, but there's little she can do once I'm dead. I need to get through this room though in the meantime.

How can I avoid the blades if I can't hear them?

They laugh in my mind. "We will be your blind eyes Mistress as we have always been. The blades can't hurt you with us as your guides. There is a trick, and we shall teach. Now jump, and we will reteach you time."

I take a deep breath and jump to the wall. How do you teach time?

Kurou The temple is longer than it is wider. It's covered in thick smooth ice without any patches of snow or rock at all. Me and Fynn noticed right away that encased in the ice are corpses frozen in fear and reaching out to us for help. I'm keeping the kid from seeing them, Fynn is watching the princess along with Nero. He understood the situation before us. I wouldn't have noticed right away if he hadn't shown me. That wolf is smarter than us most of the time. I smile slightly. I see why Nakietra always trusted him more than us.

On the other side of us is a mountain of snow and rock from another mountain. The path isn't wide and could be easily filled with snow if an avalanche happened. No one is talking so I don't think I need to warn them not to yell or talk loudly. They should know by now from Nakietra's scolding.

The path widens out in front of us into a circular clearing. The crystal is sitting on a pedestal wrapped in some sort of bubble. Why are there so many bubbles? Is it a defense mechanism by the crystals? ...or is someone leaving them for us to easily find? I clench my teeth. This is too easy after all the stuff we've gone through recently. Granted Nakietra said the people we encountered before she said were sent by Benjamin, but I don't believe it was just him. Most of the groups we fought looked nothing like the guards in her world. They wore black while the ones from her world wore grey. I could tell the difference even if she couldn't.

I stop by the crystal and we all stare at it. Syrus tries to touch it but his hand goes right through it. He looks at me confused. I try. It feels like water. I look at my hand. It's not wet.

"What is this?" I ask. He shakes his head.

"A hologram?" Fynn suggests. The kid nods his head no.

"Sara, you try," Syrus suggests. The Princess puts out a tentative hand. It passes through the bubble and her hand touches the crystal. It brightly shines and the bubble disappears instantly. Sara freezes as the crystal floats up her arm like the wind is blowing on it and is absorbed into her chest without pausing. The kid catches her as she collapses. I stare at her. We've never seen a crystal act like that before. There isn't any wind here that could have done that.

A scream echoes around us.

The ground shakes and I look back in time to see cracks appear on the sides of the temple. My eyes widen and I run. Nakietra's still in there and that was her scream.

Nakietra I land on solid ground and give myself a few moments to breathe in. I can't believe I made it out through those blades. The voices actually helped me. They gave me precise times to move. I thought I was going to die a few times before I moved and then I survived.

"This was made for Mistress. Only your body can move through here we told you. Mistress made the delays for you, she knew your thoughts."

I stop breathing…this place was made for me? How? This is someone who lived in the past but they knew how I would think in this situation? They knew I would pause before jumping when they told me to go? I don't like this.

Who is your Mistress?

"Mistress restored The Balance, controlled all times, and all powers. She was everything before she was trapped. You will understand it all in time, but not now."

I shake my head. I don't want to understand. This person…this woman, she knew me somehow. She's from the past though…which past? Time is relative to only individual worlds. Maybe…maybe I have yet to meet her or something. I shake my head. I don't want to think about this at all. It doesn't matter.

I stand up fully and walk to the door. I shake. On it, Skeletons are kneeling toward the opening of the door with their arms shaking in the air and their teeth twisted into fear as they stare straight up. Hundreds of them on either side of the door. I swallow hard and put my hand on the door.

I stop breathing.

The purple energy lights up the skeletons. They stand up and I hear screams echo through the room. They dance around, some tearing at their empty heads, a few sitting are twisting on the ground in insanity, and others are trying to come out of the door. I can't move my hand away. I can't stop watching them.

The energy fades, freezing them into new positions. All of them are doing something different, all more insane looking rather than in fear. I take my hand away and clutch it to my chest as the door opens inwards. I take a step back and stare at the new room that is already lighting up from torches on the ceiling. The room is filled with mirrors.

I'm frozen. I'm waiting for skeletons to come out and eat me alive, spiders creeping up from the pit to turn me into one of those skeletons, or even the ground falling away beneath me.

Nothing happens.

Minutes pass.

"Mistress is safe."

I hear absolutely nothing. I look behind me.

There's nothing.

I look forward.

Nothing.

I swallow and take in big gulps of air before carefully walking forward into the new room.

I see myself in every angle. It's a circle of mirrors that show millions of me. I can tell there's nothing behind me for sure here. I shiver and rub my shoulders. I'm more creped out than cold. The mirror I need is placed in a holder of glasslike ice. The edges are carved with swirls of vines and leaves it seems as well as imbedded with what looks like ivory. I carefully put my bag on the ground and swirl off my cloak. I don't look into the mirror part of it at all. I put my cloak over it and ease it out of its holder and then wrap my cloak around it. I put it in all bag and swing it back on. It's still light enough where I can climb easily.

I turn to go and watch the mirrors of the room fade and turn into ice. I grab my shoulders and scream.

Corpses frozen in the ice. All of them are screaming in fear: eyes wide, hands reaching forward, some are pulling their hair out and curled in a semi-ball. All different ages, races, genders. All overlapping each other through the layers of ice. And then the one directly in front of me…

It's me. I'm standing with my back arched and my hands pulling out my hair. I'm frozen in a scream.

I hear a scream and I know it's me.

The ice shatters and the ceiling cracks. I turn around and run out of the room. The blades aren't swinging anymore and there is a stone bridge in place. I don't question it. I run across it, feeling it fall apart as I leave each section. I can't think of anything except that mirror image. I keep seeing it. I want it out of my head!

The hallway is filling with snow behind me. Nothing hits me. Another bridge is available in the first room. It twists around the ice pillars. Ice is crashing off the walls, snow is avalanching in through the ceiling. It powers me and knocks over the pillars I hear. I slam into the crevice. My bag won't fit. I slid it off, pull it through after me.

It comes free on the other side. I run across the bridge. It's falling apart, the entrance is crumbling. I slam into the snow on the other side. I don't move. I'm too scared. I see her face. That was my face. That was my body wearing my white dress. The dress I have drawn and sketched for years in my notebook! The one with the silver deigns of curling winds winding all over my body. That was me! It can only be me!

My head feels like its splitting. Images of it are destroying my brain, memoires that can't be memories of going through that maze of blades. Images of the temple without ice, when it was among green hills and truly there were spiders.

So many voices talking…screaming voices in all tongues translated in my head in seconds after they're said. Warnings, curses, nonsense. I scream into the snow and dig my hands into my head. Make them stop!

Kurou I dodge the snow flowing over path as the temple collapses in on itself. It's starting to settle when I make it out of the pathway. I hear her screaming still. She's a black line in the snow screaming.

Her back is arched and her hands are pulling out clumps or her now loose hair. I know it was braided this morning. She's screaming nonsense. I grab her hands and pull them away from her head. They're dark red.

"Nakietra!" I yell at her. She doesn't register my voice. She just keeps screaming. There are frozen tears under her eyes and the snow is red. She saw something that has terrified her. I put both her wrists in on hand and bring her head up to mine. I touch her forehead to mind.

"Nakietra," I say in a strong voice. She stops screaming after a few minutes. Her breathing is fast and she strops trying to get her hands away from me. I wait and then pull back. Her eyes are still full of fear and her lips are blue. I pull off my cloak and wrap it around her. She's in shock now. I pick her up. I need to get her to Fynn before she hurts herself again. I look to the pathway. There's no one there.

I start walking. As I look down the path, it's slightly filed with snow and chunks of ice. The temple looks like nothing more than a mountain of snow. What did she see in there?

I dodge around the ice chunks and keep moving. I can't tell if she's shaking from fear or because she's cold. I shiver even. It's freezing out here and the sun doesn't help at all. I see Nero first before the others.

"Kurou!" Syrus says and runs to me. He stares at Nakietra and then looks to me. I don't know what to say to him. Sara is still unconscious in his arms.

"What happened?" Fynn asks when he sees me right away. There's no stupid smile or jokes. I shake my head.

"She saw something in there and it scared her. She was trying to tear her head apart and screaming when I found her," I say. Fynn doesn't say anything. "Marko, let's leave," I suggest, "It's not safe here." He nods his head. No one disagrees.

I keep her close to me. Did that witch know this would happen when she went in? I clench my teeth. There's a reason Nakietra doesn't like her, and I think I know fully why. I can't save her, I can't protect her. I squeeze my eyes shut. I thought I got past this a long time ago. Why did I train for all these years when I can't even protect the person I love?

Nakietra I concentrate on everything else. I concentrate on Kurou's hands holding me up and also the sounds of his heart beating against my head. It's steady. The voices are gone and so is the memory. I open my eyes and stare at his shirt. I curl my fingers into the fabric, clinging to him. I don't want to go back to that place ever again.

"Are you alright now?" He asks softly. I look up at him and nod my head. I can't remember leaving the temple. I don't want to remember how I got here. He nods his head and looks forward. I close my eyes as we're flung into a new world. Kurou lands on his feet and keeps me in his arms. The heat hits my face immediately. I enjoy it.

I open my eyes and blink at the sand around us. I sit up in Kurou's arms and he lets me down very carefully. I gather his cloak into my arms and look around. We're outside a small settlement built around an oasis in the desert. Marko lands in my arms and I kiss his head. He's annoying but at least he makes his landings softer.

"Nakie, how do you feel?" Fynn asks immediately and bends down to put his serious face in my own. I take a step back and try not to think.

"I'm alright," I answer unsurely. He slowly nods his head.

"You scratched your head. When we're settled, I want to look at it," He tells me. I blink in surprise. He's actually acting…professional I guess. I nod my head again. He smiles slightly and turns away. I squeeze Marko for comfort. Fynn always smiles.

Syrus smiles at me and adjusts Sara's limp body in his arms. I smile back and follow Fynn who's heading to the town. Kurou puts a comforting hand on my back and I lean against him for a moment while Syrus is focused on Sara. I made them worry. I feel bad. I don't remember what I was doing and I don't try to think about it.

I go to the water where there are several camels drinking. I sit on the ground against a palm tree and stare into the water. There's blood over my fingers and around my hairline. I really hurt myself this time. I don't wash my fingers because I know my blood would contaminate the water source and also water is worth more than gold here. It's not my right to touch it. Everyone has gone to talk to someone. I'm not listening.

I rest my chin on Marko's head. I watch Marina's ball fly out of my bag (which I now notice Kurou is holding) and zips to a point right in front of my face. I straighten up as Marina's hologram appears. She smiles while she looks up from examining her fine tipped nails.

"You survived and got the mirror. Leave it wrapped up in your cloak and send it through my sister's pet in your arms. She will send it to me directly. After that, there is another artifact in the desert. An Ankh made of what will look like obsidian to you but feels like metal. Take it from the tomb of the princess buried with it but don't touch it with your bare skin. Use a thick cloth like one of your dresses," She fired off and was gone. The ball fell into the grass dead and I glared at it.

"Marko," I say and shake him a little. He wakes up and yawns as I carefully get to my feet. The others are coming to me. "Marina is sending me into the desert now to retrieve another artifact.," I say. They nod their heads.

"I'll stay here with Sara and Nero then. These two will get the crystal then. This man here has offered us maps and compasses as well as camels in exchange for anything he wants that we can give him," Fynn named off. I think.

"I have thickly woven blankets. Flints? Food? Water purifier?" I ask the man. He turns his head slightly to the side.

"What is this 'water purifier'?" He asks. I dig into my bag as Kurou continues to hold it. I put the mirror on the ground and dig around for the bottle. It's plastic and decently sized. It's pretty much completely full because Fynn has his own way of dealing with our water. I hold the bottle out to him. He examines it before opening it and smelling the sharp chemical. He winces.

"Two drops for every pot of water. Wait half an hour and then it's safe to drink," I saw. He looks at me suspiciously.

"We will see. I would like collateral in case though," He tells me. I think about letting him take the mirror but I know that is probably the worst idea of all.

"I have a bag of jewelry. Would you be interested in that?" I ask. He thinks about it.

"I have no use for such, but you do so I will take it," He responds. Marko hands out my bag without me having to tell him. I dig into the bottom and hand him the bag. He examines the contents and nods his head.

"Very good. You are free to my camels and I will keep the girl and man as workers until they are returned," He tells me. I nod my head. The man turns to his tent to put the jewels away.

"Marko can you send the mirror to Yoko?" I ask him and put him on the ground. He does as he's told and turns to stare at me.

"Why did you do that?" Fynn asks.

"Marina told me too. She said Yoko would sent it to her. We're going to need to take a bag of food each as well as a few canteens of water so we don't dehydrate," I say and stand up. I transfer some of my canisters to my actual bag and then give my herb bag to Marko. He gives me our food and I divide it and our water. No one tries to help or questions it. They're too busy setting up the tent. I set aside two bags for the boys and throw one over my shoulders. I take it to a camel and usher it over to the stuff. Soon three are loaded up with anything we'll need.

"Marko, are you ready to help the boys find the crystal?" I ask as I gather one of my summer dresses. He sleepily nods his head. I put him on one of the camels. I go to our tent that is now set up.

"The camels are ready. We should head out as soon as possible," I tell them.

"I need to look at your head first," Fynn tells me. I ignore him and crawl inside to change. Sara is asleep on the opposite side. I pull off my clothes and start to change when Fynn comes in. I ignore him. I adjust my dress and sit there while his shifts his fingers around my hair when herbs to clean the blood away. He doesn't ask me anything, I don't talk. He pulls his hands away and I leave without a word. I don't want to talk to anyone. I want to get this done.

The boys are already fading in the distance. I pat Nero on the head and watch him go into the tent while I climb on my camel and leave in the direction Marina's ball is now guiding me.

Nakietra I lean on Nero with both hands as soon as we land. The worlds are brushing by faster than my mind can remember anymore. The things Marina has made me do…it makes me not want to listen to anything the voices say or what my nightmares keep showing me. I haven't slept since I was home and it's been even longer since I haven't been in pain. I'm ready to die, but giving up would disappoint my brother and probably everyone here with me as well.

We're in a snow place again I see, but it's not always cold here. The massive amounts of trees say that it's only winter at this time and the snow is freshly fallen I can tell because it hasn't been disturbed yet. The sky is cloudy. Kurou puts my cloak over my shoulders and I try to hold it closed with one hand. I'm already freezing and I can barely breathe. I push my face into the cloth and try to breath. I don't have a lot of time left.

We're moving forward now. We rarely talk anymore, at least no one talks when I'm around. It's too painful I've assumed, knowing I'm going to die. I shake as I take another step forward and see my eyes tear up. Look what I've done to them…I've killed their happiness…

I lost track of how long we've been walking through the snow. I'm numb all over and can only focus on staying upright and not stepping on Nero's paws also.

The trees explode on either side of us suddenly. I look up and see black creatures. One darts to me. I fall back as I attempt to run. I know I can't fight anymore. Nero pushes it away. It pauses and shakes itself before trying to attack again. I concentrate and light it on fire with a fireball. I gasp for air as my body gives out. The creature swings back and screeches in rage. Nero stands in front of me, ready to fight if possibly.

Kurou swings in, killing the creature in a single stroke. He straightens up and is frozen after he puts away his sword. My whole body shakes from the effort of sitting up. Ruins are too much now. I shouldn't have used one at all…I should have let it kill me probably. Nero lets me lean on him as I climb to me feet.

"Kurou?" I question and cough heavily from just that sentence. He doesn't move. He always moves for me. He turns abruptly and heads forward down the path, not bothering to answer Syrus's questions about what they were and what's going on. I struggle forward just like the other's. Sara glances back at me worriedly but I wave her on. I don't want her to watch me struggle. She joins Syrus and leans against him slightly. I smile sadly. I'm glad they're happy. It will be better when I'm gone.

The group is moving fast and I'm falling behind. Nero wants me to ride on top of him but I know it's awkward for him because he needs to be careful so I don't fall. We could still be in danger as well. It's better that I don't burden him in case we need to fight more.

Kurou is rushing. I'm gasping for air and I can feel my lungs and mind giving out from trying to keep up. I'm still struggling forward, but I hear Fynn for once. He's being louder than usual. I think he was talking the whole time through. My heart and lungs usually block everything else from my hearing.

"Kurou you're going too fast. We need to slow down," He says seriously. I stop. Fynn's like a stranger in his eyes right now I can see as I stare at them. I close my eyes in realization. This is his home, the thing he's wanted the most and the reason he went to the witch in the first place.

My legs give out and I fall in the snow. Nero snuggles under my head and I use him for a pillow as I rest in the snow. They can leave me here to die. I can't go any further without rest. My heart breaks at the thought of them leaving me here, but it hurts worse to watch them help me struggle to keep going. Fynn touches my forehead with his hand. It feels warm. He walks away and come back. I drink my medicine like he wants me too and then he lets me rest a little with his coat over me. They talk because they think I'm out. It's about this world and Kurou but he doesn't say anything. We're walking too soon again. I ride on Nero's back for once because I know my legs won't work anymore today. I'll be dead if we fight again. Most likely because Kurou isn't focused on us, he's focused on getting to the people he loves.

We come through the trees and we are at a house. It looks like it's from old Japan, like the ones I've only heard about from Kurou and from my travels. There are three people in front of the sliding paper door I see. The one in the middle catches my eyes the most. It's Tomoyo. Well, Kurou's Princess Tomoyo that is. The person who saved his life and whom he protects.

On her right is a woman with skin a little darker than mine and black hair tied back. Her hand is on her hip where a knife rests. She's wary of us. The last is a man on the left. I tumble off Nero as he darts forward and feel the air rush out of me as I stare at the sky. I struggle up and look at the man. Nero runs up the stairs and barks at the man. He takes a step back and put his hand on his sword with unease on his face. I close my eyes and remember that same face staring at Dawn when she approached up after her brother was sent to jail for stealing from me. I open my eyes and stare at the man who looks exactly like my brother.

"Stop!" I yell and bend down in a fit of coughing. Sara runs up and tries to pull Nero back by putting her arms around his neck. I can't focus my mind enough to get through to him as memories rush forward from him, false memories because the man Nero is barking at is not my brother. It is only a man named Hiro who lives in this world, who doesn't have a sister or troubles like my own brother did.

"He is confused Guardian of the Princess. You remind him of someone we knew once before. He means no harm," I say as loud as I can manage and try to hold back my coughing. Nero slips out of Sara's arms and runs back to me with his tail between his legs. Sara scrambles back as the man stares down at her. Nero rubs my back with his nose and settles in the snow, confused but patient for me to get my head straight. I look up and watch.

"I see you've made some friends Kurou-kun," Tomoyo says with relief and smiles with a soft laugh held back. Kurou kneels in the snow before her. She picks up her robes and takes the three steps in front of her. She puts a hand on his shoulder delicately.

"Welcome home," She says and he looks up to her. She takes her hand back and joins it with the other inside her robes. "Please, all of you, come in," She says to us and turns to go back up the stairs. The woman and Hiro follow right behind her as she goes inside and Kurou follows behind them. I push myself up and lean on Nero and follow everyone else. We take off our shoes inside and then continue through several doorways until we come to a large room with a nice big table set up with dishes covering every inch of it. I think I hear them talking but my mind is fogged up and blackness is just waiting at the edges of my view. The thought of eating makes me feel sick right now.

"Please, take a seat where ever you like and eat as much as you want. All of you are welcome to stay here as long as you need," She says to everyone. I feel like she's been talking this whole time, but I haven't been paying attention. I just want to lie down and sleep. Talking seems like too much work. I take a seat next to Kurou because it's the closest to me. Tomoyo is at the head and he is on her left. I stare at the food. I don't want to eat, staring at it makes me feel sick. I know it's rude to reject food from any royalty though in most worlds. I consider eating because of that reason. Nero tells me he is sitting by Sara and getting fish and meat from her. I close my eyes as the room spins. I reach for Kurou's hand under the table. It's resting on his leg and doesn't react to my touch.

I'm not going to cry. It's better if he rejects me here, it will be easier for him. I know he will stay here, it's all he's ever wanted was to be home and he always has looked almost happy when he's talked about it with me. I didn't want him to watch me die anyways, its better if he ignores me here. It will be easier for both of us in the end. I wish I could die right now though so I don't have to suffer through this pain.

"Come with me, I can help," Tomoyo says and lightly touches my arms. I open my eyes and let her gently help me up. She's stronger than I thought but I'm also not very heavy. She takes my hand as I get to me feet and leads me away through a door to the side. We're only walking a minute before my dizziness sends me into a wall. I can't get up after I fall down it. Tomoyo puts a hand on my head. I lie against the wall, wishing the dizziness would go away along with the lingering sickness I feel in my stomach.

"I'm going to get help," She says and leaves. She's back soon. I look at her and my vision is better. She's with Hiro. He reaches out to touch me. He touches my shoulder but I press away from him. I don't want him to contaminate my memories of my brother any more than Marina and the voices have.

"Don't…touch me," I say and push myself against the wall to get up. Tomoyo nods for Hiro to stop reaching for me. He takes a step back but stays close. Tomoyo dives under one of my arms and helps me down the hall. We come to a room and she leads me through and helps me gets into the bed on the floor. I fall onto the pillow and let myself sleep.

I'm warm when I wake up to the much worse pain in my chest. I struggle to breathe and open my eyes. Tomoyo is there in white sleeping robes. She smiles softly at me and the brushes hair from my face. Her hands remind me of Sara's.

"You're awake. I'm glad you're okay. I was afraid you would die before I got a chance to talk to you," She said. I stare at her.

"Why did you need to talk to me?" I ask her as politely as I can manage. The pain makes it hard to be nice sometimes. She lifts a cup up.

"I have something to help you," She says. I struggle to sit up and take the cup from her. It's not my medicine but does make me sigh in relief as the pain bubbles down to very little and the tightness in my chest relaxes. I feel better than I have in a long time. I put the cup in my lap and stare down at it. Tomoyo is going to take care of Kurou for me soon, make him stay here. I don't want to look at her, it would make my heart bleed with envy I know.

"I can take your pain away completely if you want," She says. I look at her. She could only mean…

"You would help me die faster?" I ask. She shakes her head no hurriedly with shocked face that is genuine.

"No! I have a seikatsu fruit, from an Elder Tree, bottled. It would heal you completely from your illness," She says softly. My mind automatically translates the word. A life fruit…like the one I gave Dawn. My eyes close and I remember how mixed my emotions were when I watched it fix her mind and body completely after only seconds. Relief…a new life. One without pain...

I open my eyes and look at her. I shake my head.

"Why would you waste this on me? You've never known me," I ask. She pauses and smiles sadly before looking down at her hands. I continue to stare at her.

"I talked to the Tomoyo you knew. I cannot go in depth on why I did this, but in one of my conversations with her, she asked me to help you if I could, and I promised her I would," She told me and looked incredibly sad. I feel like crying. My Tomoyo…even though I will never see her again she is trying to save me. She's always tried to help us… She pauses.

"I can't take the fruit from you," I tell her. I have lived a good life, but the idea of living a life separated from Kurou and my family… it's so painful. What do I have to look forward to? Once all of Sara's crystals are found, everyone will go off in their separate ways and I will be left alone working for Marina. I may not even live to that point if I'm not lucky enough.

"Can I ask something else of you?" I ask.

"I will do anything for you besides helping you hurting others or yourself," She answers. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Where shall I start?

"Don't tell Tomoyo anything about me. I realize you are a priestess, and asking you to lie is a tremendous favor, but please could you pretend as though you don't know that I was here?" I ask softly. She nods her head. Hearing that Hiro was dead was bad enough for Tomoyo, I won't have anyone deliver the news to her that I too am dead.

"I will not tell her anything other than you have passed and only if that happens here," She responds. I hesitate and nod my head. Yes, I would feel better if Tomoyo knew I was dead rather than hoping for me to come back or to still be roaming around I guess. I don't want to cause her more pain, but wouldn't it be more painful for not to know?

"My second thing is…I want you to persuade Kurou to stay here…please," I choke out as my throat tightens. I shield my eyes as the tears fall. I don't imagine it will take much convincing considering how he's been so far, but I can't burden him with the memory of my death. I don't look at Tomoyo. "I don't want him to even consider leaving with us. It's better that way," I tell her. I can imagine her staring at me. Tomoyo's actions don't change from world to world usually.

"I apologize for my bluntness in advance, but…do you…have feelings for him?" She asks me. Do I need to lie to her? I will most likely die when I leave this place. Who would she tell anyways? No one will care at this point, and even if they do I doubt they will say anything about it.

"I love him," I say. She wraps her arms around me and rubs my back. I cry harder as I briefly remember Tomoyo doing the same thing to me when I first met her. I was crying about my mother who was long since dead, but there was something about the moon and air that made me feel close to her one night. She doesn't say anything else. I calm myself down and shield my mind from Nero. He is distracted anyways, roaming the nearby forest with Kurou watching over him.

"…my wolf companion also, the one that ran up to Hiro…I want you to take him in, and keep him here…Kurou will take care of him, don't worry, and I can distract him while we leave, but I want you to promise me that he will not be hunted or harmed in any way…" I ask softly, feeling my heart tear. I'm giving up the last part of my family. I would rather die alone though, just as I always pictured and wanted…at least this is what I think I want. I've watched families crumble when they watch a person die. I don't need to watch the last of my family crumble as well.

I know he will follow Sara when I am gone, but eventually she will go back to her desert city, a place very unkind to wolves and other animals. While his pack followed us from our homeland originally, they have adapted to the coolness of the forest. He will be alone, a single wolf of his kind in that desert. Its better he stays here, where there are packs that roam the forest daily I am told. Maybe he might find his own pack to join and finally be happy once more. She nods her head against my shoulder. She pulls back.

"I will protect him. You need to rest now," She tells me and gently pushes me down. I see tears at the corner of her eyes and I snuggle into the blankets. Why do I need to make everyone around me cry? I let more tears fall after she leaves through the sliding door. As I drift into sleep, nightmares come of my spirit forever being lost, never finding the City of Wind or my brother again. Though it forces me into more pain, I am content with this. I left my home, I accepted the terms and knew the consequences.

+++++++++++++++++++++ I don't know what amount of hours or days passed as I lay in bed. The longer I slept the weaker I felt though. I'm nearing my end, I can feel it. I don't want to die here, but I would rather die in this bed where no one will see rather than when everyone is around me.

Tomoyo brought me food and medicine at times. There wasn't a time I woke up and she wasn't there it seemed. She talked to me a lot, I don't know why. She asked about my home, my family, even my life at times. For once, I was able to talk about them. I don't know why…maybe because I'm just too numb and consumed from the physical pain I feel. Maybe I just know that in my heart these things will die with me, and will be forgotten.

Sometimes though, she would ask me about our travels…and even Kurou. She always seemed so…I don't know. When I talked about him, she always looked happy, and she was almost proud when I told her of any time when he had saved any of us. It made me feel empty inside on those days and when she would leave I could do nothing but sleep and cry. I don't want to leave him but I have to. I know this is true.

She asked once if I wanted to see any of my friends. I said no. I do not want them to watch me die. Syrus was collecting an artifact in my place and Tomoyo had handed over the crystal to Sara that she had. I told her that when Syrus came back, I wanted to leave. Time is slipping away from me fast, if I can help it, I want to leave this place alive.

The day came then when Syrus came back. Tomoyo brought him to talk to me and I could see the shock on his face when he saw me. He kneeled down next to my bed and revealed the twisted claw. A dragon's claw maybe I think. I waited for him to speak.

"How do you feel?" He asks. I shake my head at him.

"You don't need to ask when you already know the answer," I tell him. He nods his head and looks down. I raise my hand and pat his check. I let my arm fall back onto the bed. It already hurts from the effort.

"How was getting the artifact?" I ask even though I can already tell the answer from the bandages around the tips of his fingers. They must hurt from the climbing. He's not used to it

"It was fine. I'm glad-. I'm glad you taught me," He says, his face twisting like he wants to cry. My heart hurts to watch him like this. I take a rattling deep breath.

"Syrus, I'm glad to have taught you. I couldn't have had a better student…you were like the younger brother that I never had," I tell him and feel my eyes prickle with tears. I hear him sniffle and wipe his eyes. I rub my eyes and blink back the tears. I look over at my knife on the floor beside me. I block my mind from Nero.

"Syrus," I say and he looks up, "Put that knife somewhere when no one can see it." He does as I ask with a confused look on his face. I wait til he's done.

"Kurou is staying here," I tell him. He nods his head. "I want Nero to stay here as well. To do that, I need him to be distracted while we're leaving. Don't let the others notice he's not there," I ask him. The pained look on his face makes a tear escape from my eye. Nero is my family, I know what I'm doing.

"He needs to be safe when I'm gone, and a dessert is no place for a wolf," I tell him. He stares at me for a little longer before getting up. He tucks the dragon claw into his pocket and then carefully lifts me up. As soon as the cover leaves me I feel chilled. I pull my cloak tighter around me. Tomoyo helped me get ready to leave this morning into actual clothes but it left me chilled. I close my eyes as he takes me away from that room. I don't open them again until we're outside.

I blink at the sunlight. It's been so long since I've been outside. Fynn is already out in the snow with Sara and Marko. Nero comes up and I put a hand down to let him brush a hand against. I curl his hair in my hand before pulling my hand back up. I unblock my mind, telling him that I just realized I left my knife in the room I was in but can't talk. He believes me and darts inside. Tomoyo closes the door behind him I see. Syrus quickly joins the others and I bar my mind from Nero.

"Marko, let's go," Syrus says. Marko is dazed as he sets up the portal. Syrus faces the others. I look to Kurou, standing next to Tomoyo with his cloak on. I open my mouth and whisper one word.

"Goodbye," I say and I can't stop the tears from falling now. We're pulled up and we're safely in the in between world before Nero makes it back. At least Nero won't be alone and at least Kurou will be happy…I'm glad I loved them both in my life. I close my eyes. I've had such wonderful people in my life. I wished I would stop giving them so much pain to bear.

Kurou I clench my teeth as I watch her whisper. Why am I letting her leave? She cries and I have to clench my arms so I don't rush forward to her. She's going to die though…I'm more useful here. Princess Tomoyo needs me here. If she didn't, then she would have told me to go with them.

I open my eyes as Nero bursts through the door behind me. I step aside and watch him rush into the snow, sniffing and frantically searching. I knew she was leaving him here the moment she sent him inside. She always worried about what would happen to him when she was gone. I promised her that he would be safe. She's making me keep that promise to her even though she knows that he would be happier with Sara for as long as they needed to travel.

"Nero," I manage to say. He looks at me. Nero is the only wolf I have ever seen with emotions. He's sad, he's hurt emotionally. He shakes his head and snorts at me before curling into the snow. He whines in pain as he curls as tightly into a ball as he can.

"Will he be okay, Kurou?" Tomoyo asks me worriedly and puts a soft hand on my arm. I don't know how to answer because I'm asking myself that same question right now. I never fully understand when Nakietra said they shared a bond. I know they feel each other's emotions and physical pain, but they can close off one another also. Nakietra wouldn't have left him here if they bond would cause him permanent harm though.

"Maybe," I answer. She nods her head and watches him for a minute before turning to go inside. Soma follows close behind, frowning sadly at the wolf before putting her strong face on again. She always had a thing for animals. Maybe Nero will be her friend one day.

I nod to Hiro and let him go first. The man unnerves me a little. I follow through and hesitate as I close the door. Nero doesn't freeze and I can check on him later I remind myself.

Hiro. In Nakietra's world he was her older brother, but here she doesn't exist at all I assume. He doesn't talk very much. He says he's from across the seas, but hasn't said anything else. I shake my head a little. I asked him what his home looked like once. It sounded just like the fabled homeland of Nakietra's people. Maybe it is.

I pictured him differently. I expected a calm, easy going man. Someone like Fynn almost. He's very quiet in his voice and in his movements, but he is taller and more muscle than I am of course. I never quiet grasped the fact that Nakietra had a brother who was much bigger than her, but now I can. Tomoyo likes to watch him draw when we are sitting outside. It makes her happy and sad I can tell. I imagine she knows more about him than we will ever know. He sleeps on the deck outside our room during the day. He watches the sunsets and sunrises…all the things Nakietra loved about him.

It doesn't matter now. Nakietra is never coming back here. She doesn't have much longer to live and there is no way to extend her life. I'm needed here more than ever. Tomoyo has been traveling a lot. She says she is strengthening the wards, but it's almost like she's looking for something. We're too close to the barrier and demons are breaking through sometimes.

"I need to return to my praying now, excuse me," She tells us and closes the doors behind her that lead to the shrine. I sit down on one side and Hiro takes the other. Soma looks at both of us before leaning against the wall in front of me and examines one of her stars. She almost looks sad.

"I'm surprised you didn't go with them," She says. I look up at her.

"Why?" I ask back, irritated. I wanted to go with them. I want to be there for Nakietra but—Tomoyo needs me here more than Nakietra does. She doesn't want me these, I know she doesn't. Sara will be with her, right next to her probably. Syrus will be too and Fynn will be close by at least. She will not be alone. I close my eyes and replay the memory of her saying goodbye. She said she hated goodbyes most of all.

"It seems like they're really going to miss you," She responds and then runs her nail against the edge.

"Why do you hate goodbyes?" I asked her sometime after we left her world. We were alone at the time. I heard her Toya say that she hated goodbye. I was curious on why.

"Hiro told me that papa liked to say, if you never say goodbye, then the person is never really gone…just silent. It was like a silent promise that you'll see that person again. Toya had a similar idea which I imagine came from Hiro. I don't like the idea of never seeing a person again…so I adopted the idea as well," She had responded in such a sad voice. She never liked to say it, but I knew that dying scared her more than anything else.

She knows she's going to die. I rub my eyes to stop the tears from even forming. I haven't slept in days because I kept wondering how it would be if…if I went with her. I was too afraid to even ask Tomoyo how she was though…I'm a coward.

"They'll get by," I answer and reposition myself. I need to look strong. I can't afford to look weak here. It was my choice to stay, not one made me stay. She's staring at me when I open my eyes. She nods her head slowly and puts her star away in her belt. She doesn't say anything else. ++++++++++++++++++++

A city built of wood and brick, busy with people everywhere, shopping mostly it seems. The group lands softly in a distant corner. It was a different type of city than what they were used to, but still a city was a city. They immediately start look for an inn with very few words passed between them. Nakietra isn't doing very well and worsened fast as they walked around. The search then turned to finding a doctor. Nakietra was bleeding and her medicine wasn't working at all. The doctor found them though while they were letting Nakietra rest in a clean alley between houses.

He was young, but brilliant. He examined her for only minutes and knew what was wrong. He admitted that he had no way to treat it, but he knew someone that did: his father. He introduced himself as Richard then. Nakietra tried to speak but it was too painful. They knew she wanted to say something important but they didn't know what. They didn't try to figure it out and focused on following the doctor.

The young man took them to his house. It was four stories and was the home of not only his family with three children, but also for his brothers' family of seven, and his father. All were more than fantastic doctors and knew immediately to take their children away when Nakietra was brought in.

Richard brought them to the unused fourth floor and put her in a bed. It was built with soft colors and wood floors as well as rooms with comfy beds. It was when the father came to look at her that they understood what she had been trying to say.

"Nakietra?" The old man questioned as he stared through his glasses. She nodded her head in confusion while the man smiled brightly at her. "It's Richard." The group watched her nod her head in remembrance.

"Time has passed," She managed to say. He nodded his head sadly. He put his heavy bag on the bed and rested.

"It has been over sixty years now. The man you met was my grandson." He started while he opened his bag. He listened to her heart and took her pulse and temperature before speaking again. "I became a doctor just as I said I would. I married a trader's daughter, had two sons, and now they both are also doctors and live in this house with me," He quickly summarized. Nakietra couldn't manage a smile. She tried and stopped trying. The pain was too much for her.

He filled a needle with clear liquid and then injected it into her arm. She felt cool relief almost instantly. The pain was numbed and she felt just so tired. She was afraid if she fell asleep though that she would die. She wanted to talk to Syrus and Sara one more time.

Nakietra "Richard?" I said to catch his attention. He looked so sad when he turned to me. How do I manage to hurt everyone I meet? I don't understand it. I never have

"I gave you something to kill the pain and clot the blood. It's been known to weaken the immune system, but it won't have time to effect you. You don't have much time left, but I know that you already knew that," He said. I nod my head. I did know. That's why I left Nero with Kurou and why I refused the last time Tomoyo tried to give me my medicine. I don't want to live anymore. I'm done with it. I feel empty without Nero. Our bond is numb…I don't understand how I was able to live like this when I was little or even when I traveled with Hiro. I smile slightly. He always managed to keep my mind off it though.

"Syrus," I said. There's no cough, just my small voice with a little croak in it. I need to tell him something. I need him to bond the knife.

"I leave you then…You had a wonderful like Nakietra, I know that. Thank you for saving me and showing me that life was worth living all those years ago. I'm glad you got to see me one more time," He said finally and turned to go. I saw a tear fall down his check. He became a doctor for me…he wanted to save me and in the end he could only help me to death…I hurt everyone around me. Syrus takes a seat in the chair next to the bed. I'm going to hurt him now.

"Do you have my knife?" I asked. He reaches into his belt and takes it out. I nod my head.

"I need you to mark yourself with it as soon as I'm gone…There is something wrong in the worlds. Marina cannot get the knife. If you bond it, she can't take. Promise me you'll keep it safe?" I tell him. He slowly nods his head. "There's a book in my bag. Look at it. Chose any mark you want." He slowly nods his head again and then hugs me. I burry my face into his shoulder and want to cry. He was more of a family to me than my uncle's family was…they all were in reality. The tears fell.

He clings to me until I pat him away. He gets up and goes to sit against the wall. He looks for the book through my bag.

"Sara," I say. She takes the seat and is already crying before I say anything. I imagine it's just her and me in the room so I don't continue to keep crying.

"You are so strong…I'm proud of you, and I know your brother is too. Take care of Syrus and let him take care of you. I've always thought of you as my baby sister, so be careful, please. I can't be there for you anymore to save you," I tell her. She nods her head before completely breaking down. I stay strong and don't let myself break down this time. I look to Fynn. He looks sad.

"I trust you to take care of these two children. Don't break it," I tell him. He smiles sadly and shakes his head.

"You aren't much older than them," He says.

"I am older though," I tell him and he nods his head in agreement. I close my eyes and let myself sleep. I'm not dying yet, but I know I will soon.

I feel lighter now, freer. There's no pain in my black world. I look forward and watch Hiro fade into existence. I smile and wave at him. He smiles back.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him. The dead can only lead one person back to the city. Traditionally, spouses lead the other back. He should be waiting to lead Ira back.

"I wanted to be the one that brought you back. Mamma wanted to go, but I told her to let me," He said and smirked.

"Shouldn't you wait for Ira?" I ask sadly. He shook his head sadly.

"I love her…but she isn't alone. There will be others who will want to lead her back. She doesn't need me to wait for her. Not like you," He says. I smile. He extends a hand to me and smiles. "Should we start on our last adventure?" He asks. I glance behind me, seeing the people I keep hurting, watching Sara hold my hand and cry. Tears fall down my cheek.

"Goodbye," I whisper to them and then reach for Hiro's hand. I'm ready to join my family, I'm ready to be happy and free again.+++++++++++++++++++++

Kurou I kneel down on one knee in front of Princess Tomoyo. "You called me." We had moved to her room now as night came. Only Soma guards her from the inner doors and me and Hiro take alternating guard form the outer ones.

"Why did you stay?" She asks. I look up.

"I'm needed here," I answer. She shakes her head, almost sadly like I had just given her the wrong answer.

"Why did you let her leave alone?" She asks in a broken voice. I stare at her, wondering how I could have upset her. "She loves you, and now she's dying because she thinks you love your home more than her." I see a tear fall from Tomoyo's eyes.

"What are you talking about?" I ask softly. Tomoyo shakes her head again and takes a shaky breath before reaching into her robes.

"I offered to save her. She refused because she thought she was going to lose you whether she died or lived," She almost shouted as she revealed a vial filled with a golden bottle that glowed mystically. I recognize this bottle, Nakietra had one.

"How?" I ask. I was told there was nothing that could save her. Nothing at all except…

"I have a fruit that can heal anything. A seikatsu fruit," She says. I stare at it. Nakietra used her own to save Dawn. That must be why she was crying…she had given up her chance for life to give it to someone else. I stare at it, feeling my heart beat in pain. Did I drive her to give up on life? Tomoyo looks at the mirror in her hands.

"She's dying, right now," Tomoyo says staring at it.

"Can I save her?" I ask. She looks up at me.

"I can send you to her, but you can never come back here most likely. Can you give this up for her?" She asks. I don't need to think about it. Yes, this world keeps me connected to the home and family I have known my entire life, but Nakietra…I do love her and being apart from her is the worst part ever.

Chapter Twenty-Six

"How?" I ask. I was told there was nothing that could save her. Nothing at all except…

"I have a fruit that can heal anything. A seikatsu fruit," She says. I stare at it. Nakietra used her's to save Dawn. That must be why she was crying…she had given up her chance for life to give it to someone else. I stare at it, feeling my heart beat in pain. Did I drive her to give up on life? Tomoyo looks at the mirror in her hands.

"She's dying, right now," Tomoyo says staring at it.

"Can I save her?" I ask. She looks up at me.

"I can send you to her, but you can never come back here most likely. Can you give up your home for her?" She asks. I don't need to think about it. Yes, this world keeps me connected to the home and family I have known my entire life. But Nakietra…I do love her. The idea of being able to have a life with her…I would give up anything for that.

"Yes," I answer. She smiles sadly and hands me the vial. She claps her hands and Nero is let in from the outside. He brushes up against me. Tomoyo quickly hugs me and steps back quickly.

"You were a great friend to me Kurogane. Thank you, for everything," She says and starts the spell before I can respond. I breathe in as the floor disappears and me and Nero gently fall through into a new world.

It's a white room with a single bed and a few wooden chairs, one of which has Sakura sitting next to the bed.

"Kurogane," I hear Fai breath. I rush forward to where Nakietra is lying in the bed. Sakura steps back and I stand where she had just been sitting. I carefully uncork the bottle and then raise her head before pouring the potion into her mouth.

Slowly, golden trails trace her veins, shining through her clothes. I breathe in and take away the bottle, waiting for her to open her eyes.

Nakietra "I can't wait to se Mama and Papa again," I say as I hug him. How long has it been since I've been able to wrap my arms around him and smell his familiar scent. I breathe in that scent and feel tears come to my eyes. It's been so long.

"It will take us some time to find them. We are far outside our usual spirit trails," He answers. I smile.

"We have all of time to find our way home," I say and smile up at him. His smile falls as he looks behind me.

"What?" I question and look back. Kurogane is trying to save me. "No!" I scream and cling to him. I don't want to leave Hiro again. I don't want to go back! I'm tired of being in pain all the time! I'm tired of crying over everything!

I feel Hiro push me away and I look at him. "Live my sister. You have the chance to do it, please don't fight it," He says painfully. I stare him in equally as much pain.

"Why!? I don't want to live anymore! I want to be safe! I want to be loved!" I scream at him and break down to my knees.

"You are loved though. I see that in those you travel with. I see that in that man's eyes when he looks at you. You promised me that given the chance you would live. Please keep that promise, for me," He says. I look up at him, shaking my head as I'm pulled back into my body.

I open my eyes and I see Kurogane staring down at me with worry. My face scrunches up in pain and betrayal. Why is he here? Tomoyo told me he would stay away, WHY IS HE HERE!?

I push him away from me and quickly tumble off the bed. He tries to touch me and I slap his hands away from me. I see the pain but I don't care. I was almost able to go home. Why did he need to take that away from me?! I was content at this point!

No one tries to stop me as I reach my bag. I close it up as I head out of the door with Nero behind me. I just need to be alone right now with my homesickness. I don't want to be around any of them right now. Mokona clasps onto my arm and I pick him up and hold him in my arm. He comes with Nero, I've understood that at this point, and I don't want to throw him since he's been so kind to me. I hear Kurogane asking me to stop. I'm not listening.

No one tries to stop me as I push out the door. With the extra room, Kurogane grabs my arm to stop me. I look back at him as tears blur my vision. The pain and confusion is evident on his face. I see Syaoran also come out the door, just as confused as he approaches us.

"Why?" He asks. I shake my head.

"I was ready…to die. My brother was going to take me to my family…" I say and feel the tears slide down my face. He closes his mouth and lets my arm fall away. He doesn't know what to say.

"You can't decide you need someone at the last minute. You…can't," I say and take a step back before turning around and heading forward down the street. Mokona snuggles into my breasts and Nero brushes against me. They both feel my pain, I know that I must be hurting them both by not shielding my emotions.

"Nakietra," Syaoran shouts and grabs my arms. I'm tempted to pull away but I stop when I look back at him.

"Please don't go off on your own. I know you're upset, but we…" He starts and I see the tears. Is it hurtful that I'm upset that I'm alive instead of dead? Yes, it probably is. I'm sorry to bring more pain to them but…

"I just need to think, on my own for a little bit. I just…I was with Hiro. I saw him, I felt him," I respond softly. Maybe he thinks I'm not going to come back. Maybe I won't for all I know. I'm in so much emotional and mental pain right now it's questionable if I'll be able to make my way back to them before it's time to move on.

I feel the earth rock then. I stumble and Syaoran steadies me. I look around. That was strange. Kurogane is walking toward us, also unsure of the rocking. Nero hangs close to me, unable to comprehend what's going on.

It shifts again, this time more violently and involves more shaking. Both me and Syaoran fall and I see the earth crack in multiple places, one of which is behind us. Nero stumbles away from it as we crawl. I see Kurogane struggle towards. I see a building collapse, and then another as well. Another crack stops our path. We crawl back just a little bit, gripping the ground as we go.

I reach for Kurogane. No, I don't want to die this way. I'm alive, while I haven't come to terms with it yet, I don't want to die. I feel him grasp my hand, but the widening crack forces us to let go. I see the pain on his face. Mokona lifts himself away from me and floats into the air. I stare at him until I see the familiar circle around us. I breathe in sharply.

"NO!" I scream but we are whisked away before we can jump out of it. We tumble through Mokona's world, feeling as though we're in a tornado until we are dropped in a new world. I fall through a tree and hit the ground hard on my back. I take a few minutes to catch my breath and wait for the pain while I scream for Nero mentally.

He tells me he's shaken up, his paw twisted from the landing but still he can walk. He can smell Mokona and is intent on finding him. Slowly I find the strength to sit up. Syaoran is sprawled across the roots of a tree, looking about in as much pain as I'm in.

"Syaoran," I manage to say. He picks up his head and slowly crawls toward me. I lie back on the ground and wait for Nero to come toward us. Did the others follow us? Is Kurogane here too?

"Do you think the others are here?" Syaoran asks. I don't know if I should answer. I feel like the answer should be no because they weren't in the circle. We were all connected through Mokona though so anything is possible with magic.

Nero comes to us and drops Mokona carefully into my arms. He's unconscious.

"What happened?" I wonder out loud and ask Nero to smell around for the others. He does so. I sit up again.

"I think that would be something to ask Mokona," Syaoran answers. I nod my head in agreement.

"He didn't transport us on purpose. I think someone must have been controlling him somehow," I say.

"The dimensional witch?" He questions doubtfully. I shake my head. I feel like this has happened before where someone has controlled Mokona or tried to disorientate our travels so we'll land somewhere else.

"No, I think it's someone else. I don't know who it could be though," I say. It wouldn't be Marina. Why would she need to control Mokona when he's going to go to worlds she's going to want me to go anyways?

"Not Marina?" He asks. I shake my head.

"She wouldn't try messing with Mokona without the dimensional witches permissions," I say. Nero comes back dragging my bag. He reports that he doesn't think the others followed us. There's only two ways to make sure, one of which is unconscious. I take the bag and tell Nero to lie down. I take out some bandages and also the orb. I stare at it and then press down the plate I know is used to call Marina. I put it on the ground and start to wrap Nero's paw.

"Nakietra, I thought you had died," She remarks to me. I don't smile at her as I work.

"We were suddenly transported to a new world by Mokona. Did you have something to do with this?" I ask even though I know it wasn't her.

"If I wanted to send you somewhere then I have the orb. Since you aren't dead, I have a task for you in this world. There is a special tree in this forest, called a heartwood tree. You know what it looks like. Gather some of the greenest leaves you can," She says.

"Can you tell us who did this then and where the rest of our group is?" Syaoran interjects before she can disappear. I finish the wrappings and look to her.

"Get me some bark from the trunk and I will tell you what I know," She says greedily and disappears. I sigh. This can't be as easy as it sounds. I put the roll of bandages in my bag and pat Nero's head. Telling him he can stay here if he wants. He says he will and he will guard Mokona. I agree with this and take my bag.

"Nero will stay here with Mokona while we do this," I say to Syaoran as he gets to his feet. I lie Mokona down in front of Nero and then proceed to follow the orb into the forest.