Syaoran was quiet as Sakura led him down the road, holding his hand light in hers. His eyes darted to and fro, taking in every sight they could. The desert seemed to go on for miles and miles, extending past the horizon. The air was cool, but the sunshine was warm, and growing warmer the longer they walked under it. It must've been early morning when Sakura had found him, but as far as he could see, there were no settlements of any sort. No where that could be defined as a residence, especially for a god.

"Um… Sakura-sama? Just where are we going?" Syaoran asked tentatively.

"Oh!" Sakura replied excitedly. "To heaven, of course! We just need to get to a shrine, then we can go on up."

"O-oh…" Syaoran flushed. "Of course." Should've guessed that.

It felt like he shouldn't ask too many questions. Honestly, he didn't want to bother her, even though he felt like he would burst with the amount of curiosity in his head. How were they going to ascend? Just like that? Was it some sort of magic? Did she do it often? What would it feel like? How is it even possible?

Syaoran clamped his mouth shut, dragging his bare feet through the sand.

"See that up there?" Sakura said excitedly, pointing ahead of them.

Syaoran squinted, looking out at a small looking structure at the side of the road. "Is that your shrine?"

"Yes, and very nice one for travellers to pray at while travelling along this road. I'm grateful to the mortal who thought to place this one here. His name was Lars, I think…"

He nodded. Not knowing what to respond with, he examined the shrine as they approached. It wasn't very large, the height of it coming up to his shoulders, so it was over a meter tall. Measure lengths would probably be easier if he knew how tall he himself was, though. The foundation was built up of smooth stones, probably to withhold against the elements. It was constructed from light colored wood, those surfaces also weathered. It was very nice overall. Simple and pretty, just like the god it represented.

He shook his head, ignoring the light blush that came over his face. "So what do we do now, Sakura-sama?"

Sakura smiled and held out her hand, wiggling her fingers. Syaoran blinked, the flush in his cheeks returning. Slowly, he took her hand again. Sakura smiled brilliantly. "Hang on and enjoy the ride!"

There was a glistening around them and then they were lifted. It was faster than he could've imagine, the flashes of colors and lights zipping by at the speed of sound. It was insane, and weirdly felt very similar to the feeling of being transformed into his regalia form. This time though it was the world around him being transformed, not his own being.

As fast as it had started, it was over. The world settled into clearer vision, but… it wasn't the world of sand and wind. There were rolling fields and forests in the distance, no longer the sandy desert. The sun felt different somehow too, not just the different feel of is rays through different regions, but it was brighter somehow. Warmer in his very spirit. Surreal. This was no longer earth, and Syaoran resisted the nausea he felt. It was so alien and beautiful, but at the same time very off putting. But not just the sight, there was different feel to the air and to the ground as he walked across it. Heaven felt fluid somehow. Strange. It wasn't something he was used to, and he wasn't entirely sure he liked it very much.

Sakura was beside him, taking in a deep breath as she seemed to visibly relax, more than she already was. "It's nice to be back," she said contentedly, more to herself than to him. Then she leaned a smile at him which brought the color rising to his face.

"C'mon, my temple's just this way. Follow me!"

"Uh- okay," he got out, letting her drag him through the grassy field.

Syaoran woke up to sunlight on his face. He squinted his eyes against it, rolling into the pillow underneath his head. But it was no use, he was awake. Letting his eyes adjust to the light, he looked around the room. The tatami floor was covered with sleeping forms, tucked into futons.

Sitting up, Syaoran figured he was awake pretty early, since no one else had budged. He stretched his arms over his head, then carefully made his way to the door, trying not to step on anyone.

I wonder if Sakura's awake yet, Syaoran thought absentmindedly as he got ready for the day. He'd been at the temple for a couple days now, and decided it really was nice. The regalia were nice, and once he'd gotten used to it, the scenery was nice. It was just a pleasant, peaceful place in Sakura's heavenly temple.

He wished he didn't feel so uncomfortable though, but that was his own problem. He figured he'd get over it as he spent more time there. Got to know more people. It was a good place with many good people, he could already see it.

Sitting down at the step before the door, he tugged on the boots he'd been given and laced them up. Then he opened the door to the bright, morning sun shining brightly. He stepped out and found himself wandering around the spacious courtyard garden. It was a truly beautiful sight. There was green grass which shone with moisture, bulky boulders strewn about artistically, and even large golden flowers which were almost as tall as he was. They stretched up to the sun, swaying a little in the light breeze.

"They're called sunflowers," someone said from behind him.

Syaoran jumped, started at the sudden voice. He turned to see Sakura's lead smirking lightly at Syaoran's startled face.

"Keroberos-san!" Syaoran said. "Uh- good morning."

"Mornin'," Keroberos replied lazily. Keroberos was a tall man, a little more than a head taller than himself. He had blond hair tied back into a ponytail, showing off the red jewel piercing in his ear. Keroberos casually slipped his hands into his pockets, tilting his head at the flowers. "And there's no need to be so wound up, kid. It's completely safe here."

"Right," Syaoran said with a nod. It wasn't really that he felt scared or unsafe, he was just a bit startled. He frowned, then looked again at the sunflowers.

Keroberos breathed in a breath, then patted Syaoran's shoulder, "So how're you liking it so far?"

Syaoran half smiled, then shrugged, "It's nice. I mean, I've never known any other place before, so there's nothing to compare it to."

"Well, yeah," Keroberos replied. "None of us can remember stuff like that!"

Syaoran's brows creased. He knew he himself didn't remember his past, but he hadn't known it was the usual. "Really?" he asked, wishing there was some sort of exception to this rule.

"Obviously," the lead replied shortly.

He frowned at the lead, then the flowers which seemed more dull than they had before.

"One of the most important things for a regalia to know is how to defend themselves without milady," Rika said as she stood next to the bench where Syaoran sat.

There was a lot to remember as he trained to become a good regalia. Because of this, Syaoran was very grateful to Rika for volunteering to teach him. And that his teacher didn't end up being Keroberus. There was just an air about the lead regalia that was disconcerting, and Syaoran found that he didn't much like spending time with him.

Syaoran shrugged it off and paid attention to what Rika was telling him.

She stopped talking and lifted her hand. Before he could ask what she was doing, she sliced her fingers through the air.

"A line!"

Syaoran started at the bright light which appeared on the ground where she'd pointed.

"What is that?" Syaoran asked in awe.

Rika smiled as the line disappeared, "It's a borderline. This is something we regalia can use to shield ourselves. It'll act like a barrier between yourself and an ayakashi."

Syaoran stood in excitement, "How do I do it?"

"Well," Rika held up her hand to show the placement of the fingers. "You point with your first two fingers, and then you draw a line between yourself and what you want to protect against."

He nodded, then pulled his arm to try.

"A-a line!"

He drew the line before his feet, but nothing happened. Staring at his hand in disappointment, Rika patted his shoulder, "You don't have to get it on the first try. Keep practicing and you'll be fine."

He smiled, then turned and bowed, "Thank you, Rika-sensei."

She bowed back shyly, "If you ever have any questions, just ask me. I'll answer to the best of my knowledge."

"Yes, I will."

"So how're you getting along, Syaoran?" A voice said suddenly.

Syaoran jumped and turned to see the goddess standing right behind him. He took a few steps back and ducked into a low bow, "Good morning, Sakura-sama."

Both she and Rika giggled and Syaoran blushed. Sakura leaned down to his face level and smiled, "You don't have to be so formal. Just Sakura is fine!"

He stood up again, facing her, "Uh-"

"What have you been learning?"

"Oh," Syaoran said, glancing at Rika's encouraging face for a moment. "I just started learning how to use borderlines."

Sakura clapped, "I'm sure you'll pick it up right away, Syaoran."

Syaoran blinked, then smiled, "Thank you, Sakura-sama."

"I told you you don't have to be so formal," Sakura pouted with her hands on her hips. He blushed again and nodded.

"I'm sorry."

He practiced a good while more with Rika until it was time for dinner. Syaoran ate, but just wanted to go out and continue practicing. Which he did, resolving to do so on his own, he didn't want to burden Rika anymore than he already was.

"A line!" Syaoran shouted, his voice echoing across the empty courtyard as the sun set across the sky, fading the light into twilight.

Not even a flash. He breathed out harshly in frustration. It shouldn't have been this hard! It looked like no effort at all when Rika did it.

"A line!" He tried again to no avail.

This was protection. It was important. He'd been taught, so why couldn't he do it?

He'd been found as an empty spirit, with no memory and nothing to give. Yet, he was taken in by a kind and beautiful goddess. She was the most amazing person he'd ever met. (Although he hadn't met that many people, but still). She'd given him everything, including the very name he had begun to identify as his own. He wanted to give something back to her.

But he couldn't even draw the borderline.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath.

"You shouldn't get too worked up."

Syaoran jerked his head up in the direction of the voice. What was it with these people always sneaking up on him?

A man with dark hair and brilliant blue eyes stood a ways away from him on the small, wooden bridge which arched over the koi pond. Eriol, Syaoran recalled his name being. Eriol smiled as he pushed his glasses up his nose. Syaoran eyed him for a moment before walking to join him on the bridge. They were silent for a few minutes, but it was pressing silence where Syaoran wasn't sure if he should say something or wait for Eriol to.

"Eriol-san, uh.." Syaoran started, but trailed off. Not entirely sure of what he was trying to say.

"What I meant before is that you shouldn't get too worked up, for the lady's sake."

His brows furrowed, "What?"

Eriol smiled at him again, his expression seemed strangely distant in the waning light of twilight, "Has no one explained it you yet?"

"I've just learned the borderline," Syaoran said, confused at how disconcerting it was to talk to this man.

"But no one explained to you to connection between the regalia and their master?"

The conversation was just getting more and more confusing. Between regalia and god? He and Sakura?

"No," he replied.

Eriol leaned against the rail, looking up at the pale moon, "Well, whatever a regalia feels directly affects his god. Happiness, sadness, shame, anger. Sakura-chan will feel it all."

Syaoran didn't say anything. He thought back to all the times he could remember, feeling lost or upset or angry. Had he hurt Sakura? Was he hurting her right now? He ran his hand through his already disheveled hair, face distraught

"Rika-san is your teacher, yes?"

Wordlessly, Syaoran nodded.

"I wonder why she didn't choose to teach you this first. It is very important. The pain a regalia can unintentionally inflict on their master can be quite severe. Deadly on some occasions," Eriol said this nonchalantly, as if he were talking about the weather.

It almost felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. Hard enough to leave him breathless. Deadly? He couldn't even imagine what kind of pain that would be to pass on a deadly amount. And without knowing, he could've done that to Sakura if he'd had such intense emotions. To even think of Sakura in that kind of pain hurt him down to the bone. He would do whatever it took to avoid that.

Eriol smiled and patted his shoulder, "Don't worry so much. Sakura-chan hasn't been stung in quite a long time. And if you keep a level head about you, then you won't be the one to break that record."

"Just be honest with yourself and with Sakura-chan. She values and relies on truly genuine people."

Syaoran closed his eyes, then nodded.

"Thank you, Eriol-san."

They were quiet again, but it was more comfortable on Syaoran's part. Or maybe that was because he was thinking about how wonderful Sakura was and how grateful he was for being taken in by her. Syaoran sighed softly, leaning against the rail of the bridge.

Feeling eyes on him, Syaoran glanced up to see Eriol smiling that vague smile at him. He shifted and rubbed the back of his neck, that comfortable feeling was completely gone.

"About your troubles with the borderline. Just remember that it's protection not just for yourself. It's a shield to protect those things that are most precious to you. If you stay calm and focus on that and nothing else, you will become much stronger than you are now."

Syaoran looked back to the rippling water beneath them, the now risen moon reflected its light on the uneven surface.

The thing most precious to me. Syaoran frowned at the thought. I don't even remember what that could be.

There was plenty of space in the temple, but there really weren't many places to go where he could be completely alone. Apparently everyone enjoyed chatting with the newest members, which was nice, but a few days of near-constant attention was incredibly more draining than he would've imagined.

At the end of the day, when most everyone was settling down to sleep, he shut himself in the bathing room and let out a shaky breath. It was almost as if a barrier fell as soon as the others couldn't see him. A sort of numbness, spreading a creeping heat and chill across his shoulders and neck, then down his arms and over his chest. A twinge of nausea settled in his stomach.

The benefit of being alone was that he could think without so many distractions, and he definitely had accumulated plenty of things to think about.

Why can I feel this?

That was one of the only facts he knew to be irrevocably true: That he was dead. Then why could he feel those physical things? Goosebumps had risen along his bare arms in the warm, humid, bathing room. He breathed in the steam and could smell the herbs that were infused in the water. On his fingertips there was scratches from when he'd climbed the wall out of the pit, where Sakura-sama had found him. They'd healed some over the few days he'd been at the temple, though they still throbbed a bit when he touched them.

It was strange to say the least. Jarring. His thoughts were a jumble, separated into the things he knew and an empty space of the things he didn't. Those vanished memories which should exist, but somehow didn't. It didn't make any sense.

He put it aside for the time being, and concentrated on cleaning the dust from his skin. He needed something to do with his hands, to distract himself from thinking right then. Rising off the excess dirt and soap from his skin, he sat himself in the bath. The water was hot, but comfortably so. The world was dark outside the window, thus the light reflecting on it from the inside room illuminated the glass. He could see his face in its reflection. Save for the condensation from the steam, it would have been as clear as a mirror. Biting his lip, he wiped his hand across the surface until the image was discernable.

It was the first time, that he could remember, seeing himself. (He hadn't really looked hard at a mirror much). Syaoran leaned towards the reflection, taking it in. His first thought was how young he looked. Much younger than he would've expected. It startled him, realizing that he most likely couldn't have died of natural causes, not at such a young age.

He swallowed nervously, wanting to put aside those dark thoughts. Instead, he focused on the other features he possessed. His hair was brown, darkened with dampness. His eyes were brown as well, the light catching flecks of oranges and reds in his irises. Being dead, he would have expected paler skin, but his tone was closer to the tan color of the dusty desert. He'd probably spent a lot of time in the sun. Taking in a sharp breath, he turned away from the reflection.

Before fully turning away, he caught sight of the red mark on his back. He tried to twist to get a better look at it.

The name, Syaoran thought as he looked at the word ingrained into the skin of his left shoulder, above the bone. The lines of the design swept together neatly to spell out the character.

Ran. His name, bestowed upon him by Sakura-sama. He touched his fingertips to it, feeling the surface. It didn't feel like ink, or paint, the texture was identical to the rest of his skin. It was as if it was some sort of birthmark. Ingrained into him. Part of him.

He settled back into the water, right hand sliding to the front of his shoulder. There was quiet in the room as he thought; the lapping of the water against the edge of the bath echoing being the only sound.

Who am I?

Syaoran thought again. It was almost like an itch he couldn't quite reach. An emptiness in his mind and heart. The only sense of identity he had was something given to him that morning. Before that, he had nothing. No childhood, no family, nothing. It scared him. There were so many questions, but he wasn't sure how to word them or who to ask.

Syaoran sighed. He shouldn't be thinking about so many things. His negative emotions could harm Sakura. He laid his head back against the tub, letting the steam swirl around him, trying to think of nothing.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more Fai and Youou (Kurogane) in chapter 3! Also don't forget to go read the xxxHolic side of this!