I do not own Tsubasa.

Chapitre 11: Crisis

"No one is here." Syaoran said after they had called and looked around the store for Kyoki.

Kurogane had been the first one to notice the gun hole in the floor.

"Do you-" Syaoran began, but stopped when he heard gunshots coming from outside. It sounded close.

The two of them rushed outside and followed the gunshots.

As they turned the corner to see if it was Kyoki, Kyoki was running around the same corner. She slammed into Kurogane and fell backward, landing on her butt.

She looked up at them and smiled. "You guys... should... get out of here. The... leader of the... Shadows are here." Kyoki said as she slowly stood up. One arm was still hugging the book, and her other one was now clamping her shirt in the middle of her chest as she tried to breath. "It... was right... behind me... I don't know where... it is now... so you two...should leave now..."

"We're staying." Kurogane said as he looked around the area for the enemy.

"No! You... have to-owww!" Kyoki yelped in pain as she forgot about her foot as she stamped it in her small mad fury. She collapsed back to the ground.

Syaoran bent down next to her.

She closed her eyes as her breathing became more labored with each breath.

He gently put his hand to her forehead, and then removed it. "You're burning up. We need to get you somewhere you can rest. You've over exhausted yourself." Syaoran, looked at her with concern.

"I'm fine... the book is dangerous... the Shadows want it..."

"Why they want a book?" Kurogane asked.

"I don't know..." She replied.

"We want it so we can live forever." Thoth said as she came out from an ally.

Kurogane held his sword in that direction.

"I see you have friends with you now. Since I am alone at the moment, I shall come back when the odds are more in my favor." And with that Thoth disappeared.

"The book should... be... hidden... or something..." Kyoki said.

"You shouldn't talk now." Syaoran tried to tell her.

"But the book... I need to..." Kyoki tried to say, but stopped when her chest filled with pain.

"Just shut up already." Kurogane snapped at her. "Let's go back."

"Kyoki-chan, do you-" Syaoran was about to ask her if wanted to help him to help her walk, but stopped when she leaned forward, her head resting on his knee.

Kurogane bent over, took the book from her grasp, handed it to Syaoran and then picked her up and carried her in his arms.

Syaoran got up and hurried after Kurogane back to the apartment.

When they got back to the apartment they found everyone else pacing around anxiously.

Yume was the first to run to them.

"How is she? Is she ok? What happened to her? Is she sleeping?" Yume questioned Kurogane and Syaoran.

Fai put his hands on her shoulder to try to help calm her down. "Yume-chan, calm down."

"She's ok for now. Kyoki-chan over exhausted herself. And she's injured her ankle as well." Syaoran told Yume.

"Which one?" Yume asked.

"Huh? Oh, her left one." Syaoran told her. "Why?"

"Just wondering. She twisted that one a while back before we started traveling with you guys. Ever since then that ankle has been really sore for her at times." Yume said, rambling as she looked at her cousin.

"Are we going to stand here and talk all day or can I go lay her down?" Kurogane snapped, getting tired of standing there.

"Oh, right. This way." Yume said. "I'll take care of her."

"I'll help." Sakura said hastily. She followed Yume to the room as Kurogane followed them.

Kurogane came back out moments later and sat down at the kitchen table. Yume and Sakura were tending to Kyoki.

Syaoran was sitting on the couch, reading the book that may possibility hold the key to what was going on.

"So, Kuro-tan, what was it that you said you found out earlier?" Fai said, looking at him.

"..." Kurogane didn't say anything, hoping that the magician would just leave him alone.

"What's wrong Kuro-chi? You can tell dear Fai-chan." Fai smiled at him.

"There was some talk that the Demon Lord was suppose to be in the area tonight." Kurogane told him.

"And so you thought it would be wise to stay away from him, since we don't know what side he is on. Very good thinking, Kuro-tito." Fai said. "And... you want to fight him too, don't you? To see how strong he is."

Kurogane just looked away, not wanting to answer him.

Yume came back out, sparing Kurogane at the moment from being questioned some more on his real motives.

"She sprained her ankle, so it's not too bad. But it looks like it's going to be sore for her to walk for a few days. She hasn't woken up at all. Is that a bad sign? Will she be all right?" Yume looked back and forth from each man.

"She'll be ok." Fai assured her. He patted the chair next to him. "Why don't you sit here with me while Kuro-to goes to keep an eye on Kyoki."

"Don't decide things for me, you bastard." Kurogane snapped, staying in his seat.

Fai looked at him, blinking his eyes rapidly. "But she is your girlfriend. Don't you think that when she awoke she would want to see your face first?"

Kurogane growled, but got up and let to go to the girls' room anyway.

"I guess this means we can't give them the talk yet. We should wait until Kyoki is better. I hope she gets better soon." Yume said quietly.

Fai nodded.

There was something I was going to say here, but I can't remember... Oh well... I hope everyone is liking this story! Please let me know if you like how it's going so far.