Disclaimer; When I own Tsubasa I will be rich.
Promises
Kurogane sighed as he lay back on his pillows in his and Fai's hospital room. He glanced over at the sleeping mage, running his hand over Sohi for the dozenth time in as many minutes. The ninja still had no idea how he got out of that basement carrying the mage, just that when he got out Makayla and Syaoran were waiting for them, and they had tried - and failed miserably - to take Fai away from him. He yawned.
"Kuro-rin?"
The swordsman jumped.
"You're awake," he noted. The magician turned toward him and grinned.
"Kuro-chan seems to be disappointed," he teased, fake pouting. "I thought he loved me, too…"
The swordsman groaned as he sat up, disturbing his wounds in the process. The wonderful cream of usefulness had worn off an hour beforehand, leaving him wishing vaguely that time had stopped while they were in that godforsaken cellar. He hissed softly as he turned toward the magician.
"Watch it, mage," he snapped, really more for having no comeback than actually caring. "If I were disappointed I wouldn't have said anything, moron. I… I'm glad you're okay."
He mumbled the last part barely loudly enough for the wizard to hear him, face turning crimson.
"But you shouldn't be up yet!" he scolded. "They just sewed your chest back up, you should be asleep!"
The mage pouted again as he slipped out of bed and came over to the ninja.
"But it's cold!" he whined, slipping under the covers with his boyfriend and snuggling up close to him. "And you're so warm, Kuro-sweet."
The swordsman's flush deepened, settling back down and snaking one arm around his shoulders, hugging him to his chest.
"If you wanted some attention you could have just said so," he growled as the magician lay his head on the swordsman's chest, hands wrapped around his waist. "And you could have at least locked the door."
Fai chuckled softly, looking up at him.
"It's the middle of the night, Kuro-shy," he pointed out, kissing his chin. "Who would walk in on us?"
"You mean besides the nurses, surgeons, doctors, security staff, and Makayla?" the ninja chuckled dryly. "No one. But that's not what I was worried about."
The mage raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh?" he laughed. "Why not?"
The swordsman flushed as he remembered how he'd shouted at Syaoran when the wizard vanished.
"They'd all have to be blind to not know, with how I…" his voice trailed off, and he gently kissed his boyfriend's hair.
"Anyway, I was worried that Evron would get in," he muttered, tightening his grip on the smaller man. Fai laughed as he reached up and gently kissed the ninja.
"Don't worry," he said, settling back down. "I'll be fine."
The swordsman nodded determinedly.
"That's because that ass won't get you this time," he growled, clutching him even tighter to his chest. "If he comes this time, I swear he won't get you."
The magician chuckled again, closing his eyes.
"Thank you, Kuro-love," he muttered. The ninja kissed the top of his head again.
"At least we have the feather now," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. Fai nodded absentmindedly, stifling a yawn as his boyfriend looked down at him. "Get some sleep, moron."
The wizard nodded again.
Within minutes sleep had overcome them both.
--
Makayla sighed as she leaned back, shutting her eyes. Mokona was dozing nearby, snoring softly. A few feet away was Seth, curled up in a cat-like ball. The writer sighed again as she reached over and picked him up, setting him down in her lap. The four year old continued to sleep as an image of Yuuko appeared on the opposite wall. The author smiled at Mokona, who shifted slightly in his sleep.
"Hello, Kayla," the sorceress greeted, smiling gently. "How've you been?"
The twenty-one year old smiled in return.
"Fine, fine," she replied, running her hands through her son's hair. "I'm sorry for not getting to you sooner, but Kurogane-sama and Fai just fell asleep, and I didn't want them to wander out of their room and overhear me by mistake."
"Is what you're doing really that bad?" the witch asked. Makayla shook her head.
"No, but I already told Kurogane-sama how I traded those videos for that ointment," she said softly. "I don't want him to know what I'm about to do."
Yuuko nodded once.
"I won't tell them," she promised. "What is your request?"
Makayla gulped, smiling down at her son.
"The second feather," she muttered. "It has to be returned to Sakura-chan, right?"
"That's right," the sorceress confirmed. "What will you do?"
She looked up at the witch again.
"I…I know… that it's impossible to bring someone back to life," the writer started hesitantly. "But would it be possible… to trade my own life for his?"
Yuuko observed her for a moment.
"There will be a price for this, as well," she informed the author, who nodded. "Then I'll see what I can do. Hold on a minute."
Makayla sat in silence as the image faded, still running her hand through her son's hair. I know this won't be cheap, she thought, kissing Seth's forehead softly, but it'll be worth it.
Yuuko's image appeared again, carrying a small bottle.
"Fill this with your blood and have him carry it around," she instructed. "When the feather is removed, your blood will replace it, and he will survive."
"And I'll take his place," the writer said, mostly to herself. Yuuko nodded.
"As soon as the feather is removed and the glass shatters, you will need to add a small amount of the ointment you gave to Kurogane to the wound, only about two fingers worth," she continued. "This must be done the second the feather is removed, or it'll all go to waste, understand?"
Makayla nodded.
"I know, Yuuko," she said sadly. "What do I owe you?"
The witch seemed to think about this for a moment.
"The videos you have of your family together," she said finally. "Do you have them with you?"
The writer nodded, pulling a large box of tapes from under her desk.
"I was intending to give them to Seth," she said in response to the questioning look on her friend's face. "Looks like he'll never get them, huh?"
Yuuko smiled sadly.
"He'll remember his grandparents well enough without them," she reassured her. "And Fye-san will still be there for him."
Makayla chuckled dryly.
"Thanks, Yuuko," she muttered, catching the jar as it flew through Mokona's mouth and the videos were sucked in. The witch nodded once more before the image vanished. The writer absent mindedly ruffled Seth's hair.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to him. "Don't hate me, okay?"
She glanced out the window. It was nearly dawn. The author gently placed the four year old on the couch and stretched, watching the sun rise. Sighing, she grabbed a pair of scissors nearby and opened the jar, placing it on her desk. Glancing at the sleeping boy again, she expertly slit her wrist, catching the blood that flowed forth in the glass container. As soon as it was full she replaced the lid and stuck her wrist in her mouth as she pulled out a bandage and began to wrap it.
"Makayla-san?" The writer turned to face Sakura, smiling softly.
"No titles, Sakura-chan," she reminded gently. "It's just Makayla."
The princess flushed and was about to respond when she saw the bandage wrapped messily around her wrist.
"What happened?!" she cried, rushing forward and taking the twenty-one year old's hand and pulling the bandage off. "Did you do this? Why?"
Makayla grinned at her as she pulled her hand loose.
"It was a promise," she said vaguely, beginning to rewrap the injury. Sakura frowned.
"Why would you promise someone something like that?"
The writer laughed.
"You'll find out later," she replied, frowning as she messed the bandage up again. "Can you help me with this, please?"
Wordlessly the princess took her wrist and wrapped the bandage tightly.
"Thanks," Makayla chuckled. "It's been a while since I was wrapping my own wrist."
Sakura looked alarmed and opened her mouth to say something, but the writer cut her off.
"Sakura-chan, I need you to promise me something," she said, sitting down. The princess frowned.
"What is it?" she asked The twenty-one year old sighed.
"When you leave this world, take Seth with you," she ordered, locking eyes with the younger girl. "I paid the price years ago, waiting for you to show up. And he can't stay here after you go, Dad agrees. So take him with you."
The princess opened her mouth to object, but the sad certainty on the writer's face stopped her.
"Alright," she agreed. "I promise."
Makayla smiled at her as she stood and stretched again.
"Then there's one thing we have to do before you leave," she muttered to herself. Sakura glanced up at her.
"What is it?" she asked brightly. Makayla frowned.
"Kill Evron."
A/N; Dun dun du- wait. Yay? I dunno. Take your pick.
Reviews? Pretty please with strawberries, fudge sauce, vanilla and mint ice cream and Seth on top?