References: The italics are fro Fai's flashbacks. The bold is for when Eagle speaks. This came out of the fact that I like Ashura; in the pictures he loosk kind and calm. So I like to think for a change that he maybe was gentle to Fai.

EVERYONE'S TRUTH

"His name is Ashura..."

"Wait." Kurogane interrupted. Fai looked at him, surprised. "First of all, why do you suddenly want me to know?"

"Because… I was resting with Eagle the other day and Hikaru-chan…"

"Fai-san?" the little girl called softly. The Mage turned to her, smiling.

"Yes, Hikaru-chan?"

"Why won't you use your magic?" she asked. "Today, we were so worried! You were injured very gravely. I don't want you to get hurt again."

Fai sat up in the bed and looked at her stunned. "I… there's a reason for me not to use it."

"If the reason gets you hurt, it's not a good enough reason." Eagle said gently.

"You could get hurt again if you don't use it." The girl touched his hand lightly.

"If I use it people could get hurt." Fai replied.

"There's no reason for that to happen if you don't want to."

"It's happened before."

There was a moment of silence as Fai looked at his hands, a sad expression taking over him. It was hard for him to keep that smiling façade when around Hikaru, and specially harder with Eagle. He knew the man couldn't see him but felt like he could sense his mask. Eagle was open and honest, and the softness of his voice and his calm spirit were soothing.

"That person" Hikaru took his hand. "That person that you hurt, I'm sure they forgave you."

"How could you know that?" Fai asked low.

"I know." Hiakru said a little sadly. "Because I did something I regret too, once. And I hurt someone too. But that person" she looked at Fai with her stunning red eyes. "forgave me as well."

"But… Hikaru-chan, you're a sweet person. It is not the same of that which I have done. I… betrayed someone."

Hikaru shook her head. "Fai-san, Cephiro had a different ruling system before. It was ruled and handled by a person called the Pillar. With her force of will, the Pillar kept Cephiro safe and beautiful. But the Pillar was always alone, because she had to care for Cephiro only. She was very sad. And that person who was the Pillar, her name was Emeraude." Fai's eyes widened, but he kept silent for the moment. "Princess Emeraude was lonely, and she fell in love with her guardian, Zagato. But The Pillar wasn't allowed to fall in love, because she ahd to focuse in Cephiro solely. Zagato wanted to take her away, so he kidnapped her even though cephiro was going to fall apart. That's why we were first called; we thought it was to rescue her, but in fact… we had to kill them."

"Ah… Hikaru-chan…" Fai stroked her hair gently when her eyes got moist.

"Later, we returned to Cephiro to save it again, because it could not exist without a Pillar." The girl kept going. "But we didn't want another to have to suffer what Princess Emeraude suffered! I couldn't forgive myself for having done that to them. I never even thought Zagato could have a been a gentle person. I couldn't forget what I had done."

"No one could blame youir for that, Hikaru-chan."

"No, the people that loved the Princess never blamed us." Hikaru said. "Clef, Ferio, and Lantis… Lantis who is Zagato's younger brother… they never blamed us. But I did. I blamed myself. I couldn't forgive myself. But" she added smiling. "I learned to do it, because my friends were with me. Umi-chan and Fuu-chan and all the other guys from Cephiro are all my friends and because of that I'm never alone, so I can forgive myself and be happy. I understood that, the only person that didn't forgive me was myself. All othe others had. Do you understand?"

Fai swallowed and nodded numbly.

"So, Fai-san" Hikaru reached with her arms and hugged him to her, his head on her shoulder. "You have to trust your friends, and that way you'll be able to forgive yourself and be happy. Because your friends don't want you to be sad or lonely. You can trust them. Trust them when you're sad, and when you're hurt, and they'll always be with you."

"Huh." Kurogane said. "I wouldn't have imagined she could kill anyone."

"You're missing the point, Kuro-chan."

"No, I'm not." The ninja said. "I get what she said and I agree. It upsets me that you don't trust me. So because of what she said you decided to tell me."

Fai nodded. "Because… I want to be forgiven."

"You don't need to ask me that." The man said. "I don't have the authority to forgive you. Forgiveness comes for those you harmed. I can't forgive your for something you didn't do to me. That's what I want you to understand. I'm not mad at you. No one is. That's in the past. Someday you'll be ready to go back to your world and see this Ashura, and ask his forgiveness. The you'll find closure for this regret. But until then, live the now, and don't think so much about that. You should think of going back and talking to him, so you have to stay alive. Even if it's just to return to him and say you're sorry, it will be enough for him. So don't die."

Fai nodded silently. "What I meant was, that I want to be able to forgive myself. I ahven't grieved for my mistake, because I was so sorry I couldn't even thinkg of it. I need to retold it in my mind, say it all again."

"It's alright then." The ninja added. "If you want to tell me anyway. I don't mind. Just know that it won't change anything. It won't change me."

Fai smiled sadly. "I was hoping it wouldn't. I've gotten used to your roughness."

"So… who was Ashura?"

break+

Sakura entered through the door to a beautiful garden with a central spring in form of a bird with its wings stretched out. The delicious sound of the running water and the whisper of the soft wind in the leeves of the treest around the spring was so soothing she though she could stay there a minute.

She heard a sound to her right and turned. That tall man, Lantis, walked to her. Apparently he had been up one of the trees, resting perhaps.

"Princess." He said politely, stopping a few steps from her. "Have you lost your way?"

"No… I can't sleep." Sakura answered. "It's because of the memory… Did I disturb you?"

"No. I come here to think. I could enjoy the company if you don't want to be alone either."

"Oh, thank you." Sakura smiled at him. Lantis couldn't help but thinking her smile was very much like Hikaru's. They sat in the edge of the sprint, side by side. Lantis was so tall she felt like an ant by his side, but she was used to that, what with her height and living with her father, her brother and now Kurogane...

"You said something about a memory that is troubling you?" Lantis asked gently.

"Yes… I just remembered… my father, he died a few years ago." She said low. Lantis looked at her, startled. She had just remembred?

"I am sorry, I didn't know."

"It's alright." Sakura said smiling. "He was a kind person and I loved him. He's gone to a beautiful place in the sky where he can be with my mother. He loved her very deeply."

"Those who leave this world never really leave us alone." Lantis said thoughtfully. "My brother said that to me when our father passed away. I was merely a child, so I don't remember him well. But I know he was honest and strong."

"He must have been to have a son like you." Sakura said sweetly.

Lantis looked at her wide eyed for a moment, and then smiled back. "You are a kind person too, Princess." He said lightly touching her head. "Much like Hikaru-chan."

"Hikaru-chan is your most important person, isn't she, Lantis-san?"

"Yes, she is." He said. "Hikaru is my most treasured one."

Sakura smiled at him. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, before taking her tiny hand in his. "You know, Princess, you are the one that those three want to protect the most." He said.

"Huh?"

"You are the core of that little group of warriors. This journey they started for you. Just like Hikaru, you are the person they would do anything for."

Sakura stared at him for a moment. She looked sad then. "I know." She lowered her eyes. "But I can't help them. My only power is to see ghosts and spirits. I'm not strong like Syaoran-kun or Kurogane-san, and I'm not agile like Fai-san. I can't help in battles."

"That's alright. They don't want you to fight. They just want you to be safe. You don't need to put yourself in risk; just be there when they returne, tired, to you. You are the one they will come back to always."

"I don't want them to be hurt."

"Your strenght is not that of wielding a sword." Lantis said similing at her. "Your strenght is in your heart and in your mind. That is the strength you must treasure. That strenght is the one that keeps them from falling apart."

Lantis let go of her hand and looked up to the sky, the stars.

Sakura dipped her small fingers in the cold water and twirled them around a moment. "This place" she said a moment later. "Cephiro reminds me of someone I knew."

"Someone in your world?"

She shook her head and looked up at him with a warm smile. "Someone I knew in a different world. She was kind and loving and so beautiful. Her name was Emeraude Hime."

She blinked surprised when she noticed the change in his expression, suddenly turning to shock.

"Are you alright, Lantis-san?"

"Ah… yes, it's fine." He said, smiling a little off. "Surely it's someone different. From that person."

"Oh, was there an Emeraude Hime here in Cephiro?"

"Yes. There was one. She was our Princess and Pillar." He said. "My brother, Zagato, fell in love with her. Now they are both dead."

"I'm so sorry, Lantis-san! I've made you sad."

"No, you haven't." Lantis stroked her head. "Their love that was impossible is possible now, they are together… in that beautiful place in the sky you said before. I know he is happy now."

"My brother Touya is waiting for me back home." Sakura said. "I miss him, but I know he's alright, ebcause he's with his best friend. Older borthers always protect the younger, right?"

Lantis smiled enigmatically, apparently lost in old memories. "Yes. I suppose so."

He rose to his feet and extended her his long hand. "Maybe Clef has something that might help you sleep. Shall we look for him?"

"But, he's probably sleeping."

"No, he doesn't sleep much. He's very old."

Sakura took his hand and followed him.

break++

"Oh? Syaoran-kun?" the boy turned to see Umi and Clef walking together to him. They stopped in front of him. "Are you lost?" she asked.

"No." he answered. "I can't sleep."

"But you look tired." Umi said touching his forehead gently. "And you're a little hot. You should sleep. You pushed yourself a little today."

"Yes, but I lay on the bed and sleep just won't come."

"It must be exausted restlessness." Clef said frowning a little. "When your body is very tired, often your mind will refuse to sleep. I have a potion for that. Come with me."

"I don't want to be a nuisance."

"Don't be silly!" Umi slapped his shoulder lightly. "That's what Clef is for."

"Is that so?" Clef muttered. He got slapped, too. Only not as lightly. "Don't do that, Umi." He chided. "You shouldn't disrespect your elders."

"Oh, I'm sorry, sometimes I forget how very incredibly ancient you are."

"Brat."

"Ignore him." The blue haired girl smiled at Syaoran. "He's so moody. Syaoran-kun, is something bothering you, maybe? Something's keeping you awake?"

"No… I'm a little worried about Hime."

"Sakura-chan?" Umi asked. "She's strong, you don't need to worry! You only have to smile and she'll be happy."

He smiled. "Yes, I know. Because Hime is the same as always."

"Of course!" Umi agreed nodding confidently with her finger pointing at the ceiling, as if she knew Sakura from childhood and had seen her grow. "Sakura-chan is Sakura-chan!"

"Or do you mean because of those feathers, Syaoran-kun?" Clef asked stopping and turning to look at the boy. "Is it because those feathers are magical?"

"Those feathers…" Syaoran's smile faded. Umi touched his shoulder, feeling he maybe needed support, but Syaoran was fine. "The feathers are Hime's memories. Her… heart."

"Her heart?" Umi muttered.

"So that is what they are." Clef said. "That is why you have that strange creature with you" he added. "that creature that looks like Mokona."

"Uh? Mokona is Mokona." Syaoran said, not realising he had said what the bun always said.

"No, this Mokona you carry is not the original Mokona."

"It's not?" Umi blinked.

"Umi, Mokona was bigger. Think." He scolded. Umi glared. "Plus the essence is different. I can tell and so can Lantis. Probably Hikaru also noted the difference. After all, why would Mokona return to us?"

"Well, and what is this Mokona then?" Umi huffed.

"Perhaps a copy of the original." Clef said. "How did you get Mokona, Syaoran-kun?"

"The Witch of the Dimensios gave Mokona to us." Syaoran-kun answered.

"Yuuko-san?" Clef asked startled.

"You know her, Clef-san?"

"She came once, many years ago, to Cephiro, with a tall gentle man, and they remained with us for a few days. They left as suddenly as they had come. But, if it is Yuuko-san that is involved, surely there must be a catch, so be careful."

"Uh, so you know her pretty well." Syaoran said smiling wearily.

"On the surface her character is easy to understand. But she is wise." He shrugged. "Now let's get you that potion. Kurogane-san will be very upset at you tomorrow if you don't sleep."

"And he's kind of scary." Umi added.

Syaoran-kun surprised them both by laughing low, but definetely out loud. "Kurogane-san scares everyone who doesn't know him. But he's kind, too."

"Just like Clef, huh?"

"The puppy has fangs." Clef didn't even bother to turn.

"DO NOT!"

They didn't hear Syaoran's other laugh.

break++

"Ashura-ou was the Prince in my world, Ceresu. He was young when we met, only seventeen. But he was wise for his age, and he was always kind and gentle to everyone." Fai leaned against the wall as Kurogane crossed his legs to let him get more comfortable. "When I was little I didn't manage very well my magic. I made a terrible mistake once and oit was decided thet the best for me was to be imprisoned."

"What?"

"Shush." The Mage scolded. "So I was placed in prison, at age ten."

"WHAT?"

"Sush you."

"Don't shush me! Ten and you were thrown to prison?"

"Quiet or I'll make you mute." Fai warned pressing his index finger to Kurogane's lips. "Now. I wasn't 'thrown to prison'. I agreed that I needed to be controlled. And my parenats were afraid. I said goodbye, but they didn't listen. So I was to spend the rest of my life in a cell. I didn't really mind, the cell wasn't small and though it was rather uncozy, I could have managed it for the rest of my life. But, the loneliness I couldn't take. I started feeling so lonely and abandoned… everyone was afraid of me so I couldn't make friends. Not that I had much contact with others anyway. My parents hadn't loved me, and I didn't have friends. I didn't want to die without anyone loving me…"

Fai sighed.

"I don't know what happened. I don't know if it was my magic mixed with my wish that called for him, or just Hitsuzen, or just a coincidence. But the little blue bird he had given to his sister flew into my cell one day. The first living being I came in contact with in two years. He came to my barred window and gently asked me who I was. He had never seen the cells before, because he wasn't allowed so far off the castle until he turned seventeen. He talked to me for a while, but I couldn't answer, because I handn't talked to anyone in two years and I was shocked and my voice wouldn't answer me. But he said he would return. I didn't believe him."

The Mage chuckled low, rememberign with affection those times.

"He returned the next day, this time through the door. I had taken to lying on the floor curled on the light that shot through the little window and he found me there. I was so shocked!"

The tall young man leaned down and extended his hand to the little blond. "Here, allow me to help you." He smiled kindly.

Fai took it and he was brought up almost without helping, and the man helped him to the bed and sat him there. He smiled at him and lightly touched his forehead.

"You are a little hot. Perhaps you're catching a fever. I brought you something." Fai realized that the thing he had over his arm was a fur blanket. "You seemed cold yesterday so I thought it could help you. Your name is Fai" the little blond nodded. "I am Ashura."

The kid blinked. "…prince?"

Ashura nodded slowly. "Yes, I am the Prince. You knew that? I didn't think so." He shifted in the bed to put the blanket over the kid's shoulders and pulled it close at his chest. "This will keep you warm. But you shouldn't sleep in the floor. I'll have some blankets brought to your bedding. When you're better, you can tell me why you are here at this young age." Again he placed his palm flat on the boy's forehead. "Hmm. I don't like your temperature. You're so thin. Do you not eat?"

"Why?" the kid asked.

Ashura looked at him. "Why? Why am I here?" he smiled. "You're so young, Fai-san. Whatever you did, you don't deserve to spend your whole life in a cell. I'll get you out of here."

"No." Fai pushed away from the arm the young man had around his shoulders. Ashura didn't hold him close. The fur blankets slipped off his shoulders as he recoiled away from the tall man. "I'm dangerous. I did something horrible. You'll get hurt."

Ashura regarded him seriosuly for a moment, then he leaned forward again. Fai shied away. He paused. "I won't touch you." He said gently. "I promise." He moved slowly and pulled the blanket back over his shoulders. "Keep it close to you. I want you to have it."

"You'll get hurt!"

"I'm not scared." He answered calmly. "Even if you hurt me, I won't be angry. You didn't hurt someone because you wanted to, didn't you?"

"No!"

"Then it's alright. Fai-san." Ashura smiled. "If you didn't mean to, it's okay." He rose from the bed and walked to the door. He turned there before leaving. "I'll return tomorrow. Keep the blanket close to you, it will make you warm. I'll order new sheets and warm food for you. Please do eat. You'll get better. Do you mind that I come back?"

Fai swallowed. He shook his head.

"Okay." Ashura smield at him. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Since then he kept coming whenever he could, almost every day if he could spare but a moment. They were soft words, but they made me think… perhaps I wasn't evil, perhaps it wasn't me that was dangerous. Ashura-ou helped me become human again, and eventually he convinced me to leave the cell. He took me with him to the Castle. We became best friends. Spent almost all of our time together. But, even with him that had a good measure of control over magic not being a Mage, I was afraid. My magic… I never really controlled it well. I took classes with the Priest in the Castle by Ashura's suggestion, but the fear of again killing someone wouldn't leave me."

"Fai…" Ashura sighed. "You can't keep going like this. It was an accident."

"I nearly severed the man's arm off, Ashura! Uh, Ashura-ou, sorry."

Another sigh, this one louder. The bed shifted and Fai knew Ashura had sat by his side on the edge of the mattress. His soft hand stroked his back. "Fai, the Priest said it was him that was careless. You don't really think I'll punish you, do you? You know me better than that."

"You favour me too much."

"I have to spoil someone." Ashura chuckled. "My sister's married and it can't be her anymore." The hand in Fai's upper back slid down and rested on the other side of his body, so Ashura was looming over him. "Come now, Fai." He insisted. "Why won't you look at me?"

"I'm dangerous, so just leave me alone!"

Ashura didn't sigh this time, but it was clear that he felt defeated by the way the bed shook a little when he dropped his shoulders brusquely.

"Stop this, Fai." He whispered. "Don't make me do it to you."

The Mage turned now, to look at him. "Ashura, please." He begged. "You have to. You know you can."

"the King of Ceresu has access to a certain kind of magic." Fai explained to Kurogane. "That magic can restrain the magic of the Magicians in Ceresu,. This is to avoid armed revolutions caused by powerful Magicians. Ashura had become King a little before that and I had asked him repeatedly to use it on me. He refused stubbornly for years. He insisted he wanted me to loose my fear and learn to control it myself. So after that incident with the priest I simply refused to use magic. It was then I learned to fight, or dodge, rather" he grinned at Kurogane and the ninja grunted. "I got hurt so many times. Years went by. Ashura was upset, I knew, but I was stubborn too. One day in a battle I was careless" another grunt from the ninja. "and I got severely injured in the right shoulder."

Kurogane noted the long fingers brushing uncosciously said shoulder, remembering the pain.

"Ashura-ou stormed down from the Castle. I'd never seen him so furious before. He was scary."

"You could have died, Fai!" the King hit the table with his fist, towering over the sitting blond. "Why do you do this to yourself?!"

"I'm fine, really." Fai smiled.

Ashura's eyes went wide, and his fingers grasped suddenly at his friend's chin, tilting his head up.

"That smile again." He said distastefully. "You don't smile to me anymore."

"I'm smiling now, Ashura."

"That's not a smile." Ashura released his chin. The king turned around, moving like a caged snow tiger, fury clearly showing in his aura. Fai was scared; Ashura had never acted so roughly with him before. But suddenly the aura changed; Ashura was defeated, again. He turned to Fai and leaned back against the wall, lightly touching his fingers to his forehead. He was tired, so tired.

"Why do you do this to me?" he asked weakly. "Do you not know how much it pains me?"

"You know I don't seek to hurt you. Ashura." Fai said soothingly.

"Ah, but how much you do." The King shook his head sadly. Fai looked down, ashamed to be causing his friends so much pain.

"Will you stop this foolish behaviour… if I agree to taim you?" he asked tiredly.

"So he taimed me, after all. He hated himself for it, I know he did. He was disgusted. He always averted his eyes when I gave him my back."

"Ah, so that tattoo." Kurogane said.

"Yes. It was his. I treasured it, even if he despised it. He told me he only controlled me so far and that if I ever wanted it removed it would go away by my own will. But I promised him I would never use my magic without it." Fai looked sad even though he was smiling. "I will never forget the look of sadness he gave me when I told him that, even when I was so happy. He grazed his fingers over his chest like it hurt him, turned around and left. He was so pained…"

"But, well, Ceresu is a big country. And our neighbours wanted it. So a war started. The magicians and warriors of Ceresu united to defend Ashura-ou, a loved ruler. I was still scared, though; so when the last battle came, I was ordered to stay in the castle and protect it. Ashura ordered me that also to keep me safe. The battle started early in the morning, I watched form the elevated Castle. It was ferocious. Ashura-ou was right in the middle of it. The councelors had said to stay behind, safe, but Ashura had refused. He wanted to fight with his soldiers."

"He was a good commander, then." Kurogane said softly.

"But… around noon an arrow hit him in the flank. It was poisonous. Even of he wanted to stay, the generals sent him back to the Castle to be attended. He was out for hours and I stayed right by his side. When he finally came around, he asked me to go to the battle field and protect him men. When I hesitated he dropped the subject."

"Fai…"

"I know." The mage said thickly. "I should have gone. But I was so scared… I fell asleep at some point, I don't know when. When I woke up, he was gone. He didn't even have the strength to be up, but he was gone. I rushed around and saw him riding already back. I was so scared for him! I got a horse and caught up with him halfway to the battlefield.

"Fai! Go back!"

"No! What are you doing? You aren't in any condition to fight!"

"They are waiting for me, Fai! Go abck to the Castle now!"

"You'll get yourself killed!" Fai reached forward and grasped at the reigns of his friend's horse. "You're coming back with me."

"Let go at once! I am going to my soldiers where I belong!"

"We need you alive! You have to rest and get better!"

"Let go, Fai!"

"Listen to me!"

"Fai, you will let go this instant! I won't repreat myself."

Fai knew it wasn't a shallow threat… but he wanted Ashura to go back to the castle and rest.- rest, and get well. Get out of danger for once. Stay back, and let the others fight! Why did he always have to be in the frontline? Why did he have to be the first to fall on the enemy?

"NO! STOP!" Fai shouted shutting his eyes and grasping the reigns so hard his knuckles were white.

Ashura didn't answer. Fai looked at him tentatively, alarmed. His eyes widened at the look in Ashura's eyes.

"What… did you do?" the King asked hesitantly. He stumbled forward in the horse and fell down. Fai caught him in his arms, but Ashura was so much heavy that he dragged him down with his body.

He fell under him, calling desperately his name.

But he wouldn't wake up.

"So… what happened?"

"I lost control. I wanted so hard for him to stop… that I put a seal on him without realising."

"I get it. But why didn't you break it?"

"I don't know how." Fai answered. "Supposedly, once I wished it away it would shatter. But Ashura was weak by the wound and the seal I made was powerful. He is still asleep, safe under enchanted waters in the Castle., where no one can reach him to hurt him."

"Can he wake up on his own?"

"Probably. I'm hoping he will. And when he does" he added sadly. "He'll come for me."

"You think you betrayed him because you went against his will, right?"

Fai nodded.

"Look, Fai." Kurogane said. "Ashura was—is your friend. You were trying to protect him just like he protected you. He knows you never learned to control your magic. And out of what you said he sounds like a kind man. He wouldn't want revenge. And after all he did to protect you, would he be happoy that you let yourself die?"

"No… but I feel…" Fai choked and swallowed. "I… betrayed him so lowly! Denied him his own decision, his choice!"

Fai sudenly stopped when Kurogan placed his hand over his head.

"Ashura would want you to use your magic freely and without regrets." He said. "I didn't know him, but I think he really cared for you. When he wakes up, he'll come for you, but to return you home safely. So stay alive, Fai." He smiled toothily. "And wait for him. He'll come find you again. He did it once when you were in that cell. Believe in him. And meanwhile, stop regretting that mistake and live with us the present. We need you."

Fai's eyes filled with tears. Kurogane didn't dissapprove of him? He wasn't angry? He wasn't blaming him, punishing him, rejecting him? He drew his hands up to hide his face and felt Kurogane draw him in gently to hug him, his forehead falling to his chest.

"I'm a horrible person..." he choked, sobbing.

"You're not." The ninja said, to his hair. "You're a good person. You're one of my favorite persons."

He patted his back while the blond cried silently.