Title: Everyone Must Face the Dark
Author: Spirixx
Genre: Drama/Romance/Action
Rating: M for …mmhmmm good
Pairing: Kurogane/ Fai
Spoilers: Read up to Shara
Summary: The mysterious six months Kurogane and Fai spent together.
Word Count: Too lazy… about 1000 a chapter

Warnings: There is some talk of Yukito/ Touya but nothing REALLY graphic. Oh and there are very graphic scenes regarding Fai, Ashura, Kurogane and Fai's adopted father (a character I created). There is hot sex and violent rap in this story… somewhere so be warned. I tried to make the rape scene short because I don't like rape. There is only one of those scenes.

Disclaimer: As much as I wish I do not own Tsubasa or Card captor Sakura.
Distribution: Also posted on Media Miner and Ficwad.

Dedication: The patient people who read this and review it, even thought I only update it like once a month. I find no one really reads this story so I update others first. So if you want this to update sooner, please tell me so.

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Chapter 7

The Deal

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The magic broke apart with a flash. Kurogane felt the flesh sear from his body at every place the mage touched him, which was a grate deal considering the man was holding him. Shivering uncontrollably he looked at the flicker blonde and was only half relieved he looked like a man instead of a light house. Shifting to get a better look he noticed both their clothes were back and un-singed.

"Fai?"

A slight mumble revealed he was asleep. Kurogane wasn't surprised considering the day they just had. He sat up cradling his companion and looked about. The stone pillars had returned. He silently confessed they made him think of his home world, even though he had never seen the like of them.

"Kuro-rin! Over hear!!!"

The ninja turned to face a bobbing Fai-kitty and quiet Kuro-pup. They sat at a very obvious border between the two dream worlds. Picking up the blue-eye napper he walked over to this, in hopes he could return them to reality.

"I wouldn't do that!! Yuki-chan says that you cannot remove someone from their own dream world."

The cat continued to bounce and jump with the occasional roll or pounce. The dog sat and explained what was going on.

"You have to wait for him to wake up. He is the only one who can move himself out."

"You are in contact with that healer?"

"Yes. His magic is through skin contact so he is touching you arm to he can transmit this message."

Kurogane wasn't certain if he liked the idea of the man touching him but he had bigger fish to fry. Should he wait for the mage to wake up or just start shaking him until he does? It was a tempting idea he knew wouldn't work, but he was tempted none the less.

"Kuro-rin! Yuki-chan said you can come out without him. He shields are gone so he can be healed. Hurry over here."

"I just leave him?"

"Yepperz!! Your needed here anyways. There is trouble. Yuki-chan said that it may be better for Fai-chi to wake up without you around so it all works out."

Kurogane caved. If there was trouble he should deal with it before things got worse. He laid the sleeping man on the ground close to one of the heat radiating pillars. He didn't work so hard for the man to get a cold. Grunting is disagreement the ninja left the mage to fend for himself and entered his own world. He instantly awoke.

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"Yuki, what the hell is going on? The power roaring from this room is shaking the tents. You're making the men nervous."

"It's not me sir. It is the man the fourth patrol found last week."

Kurogane sat up to see what was going on. At the foot of the bed stood none other than the man the kid thought was his king, Touya something or other. He was grabbed in well used practice robs of a combat instructor which intrigued him greatly. Where had they landed? Was this a training camp?

"Kurogane-san, this is Kinomoto-Taichou, commander of this encampment."

Kurogane wasn't even shocked by this title. The man looked the part even if he was in work clothes. The way he held his muscled frame rang of a man in charge. Kurogane knew he should say something but decided against it. He was never one for stupid formalities and merely bowed his head a degree. It was only barely acceptable and he knew somewhere out there Tomoyo was shaking her head at him.

"Kurogane, interesting name but back to business. I don't have time for pleasantries so simply tell me why you're here so I can figure out what to do with you."

He approved of this straight forward man. It was rare that Kurogane met someone he liked. Kurogane hoped he would get a chance to duel this commander. He smirked a bit before answering. This detour may actually be fun.

"The mage here and I are travelers. We came here by chance."

"That's it?"

"Pretty much."

Touya smirked in a wolfish grin.

"You're a man of few words. Can you wield a sword like your name suggests?"

"Yes."

Yukito groaned and went to Fai side and rearranged the medicines on the end table. Obviously this has happened before.

"Yuki, is he alright to spare with or will you be mad at me for sending your patients back?"

"Just go. Don't worry about Fai-san. He won't wake up for another few days. Besides it would do you good to get established here while he is still asleep. No doubt his magic scared everyone. You will need to vouch for him at a later date."

The healer sounded exasperated. Kurogane couldn't care less as looked for his blade and saw it no where. The last place he had been in that damned tree. The memory of being stuck up there made him slightly sour.

"Kurogane-san, you blade it being held in head-quarters. We don't allow patients to keep weapons. Taichou will show you."

"Yuki, it's my day off. Could you please stop it? You make me feel old and distant. Look at me; I'm covered in bits of grass and a twig. Do I look like a captain right now?"

He then proceeded to toss the twig at Yukito and they laughed together. These two were obviously close.

"Come with me Kurogane-san. I'm right in thinking you are either a ninja or a samurai correct? By your outfit you had when you got here I would say an odd mixture of both. This should be fun. There are few here to spar with that are at my level and the ones that are I know too well to get a good round out of. Let's go get your katana out of my office."

Kurogane just followed and used this opportunity to study the camp. It was clean and very well organized for such a young commander. Usually camps like this were run by old war horses. The white tents stood in crisp rows, all bleached to perfection. Kurogane noticed how comfortable everyone was. If this truly were an encampment then the men should a least be apprehensive of some form of war.

"Is there a war going on?"

"Ya but it is no big deal. We've been fighting it for centuries now. No one is in danger here until the full moon and that's three weeks away. This way."

The full moon? This was truly an odd place to only fight under the full moon. What kind of battle was this? Maybe they fought demons that only appeared in that timeframe. This was getting more interesting by the moment. Why couldn't all the other worlds be like this?

"Here we are! You can call me Kitomoto-sama if so inclined but I don't see why. You are not on of my men. Taichou is too much though."

"Let's let this match determine it."

Within second they stood in the middle of a big earth ridden circle. It was made especially for dueling. If you exited the circle you forfeit. They circled and sized each other up. Kurogane had received training gear which was basically a black hakama and a thin white cotton shirt. It was too hot to wear any more layers. Kurogane was not complaining. It was good to be in cloths familiar to him.

Touya was the first to attack but it was only half speed. He was attempting to draw Kurogane out and see his skill level. Kurogane was no rookie to be fooled by this and merely side stepped and swung his blade around to smack the flat of it on the back of the commander's neck gently. He didn't want it to end so soon.

"I see I underestimated you. Excellent."

The man's whole stance changed. It was now one of skill and wrath. There was no light or mercy within those killer pools. Kurogane assumed the same stance. If they were going to do this right, they were going to go all out, no turning back.

Kurogane lowered his body into a crouch and prepared to spring. Touya say this and leapt into the air at the same moment. The swords clashed in a loud ring as billows of wind whipped around them. Kurogane was in his glee and let out a laugh as he swung his body to kick Touya in the side. The other man hit the ground hard causing a small cloud of dust. Kurogane brought his blade down to slice the fallen man in the sand but hot only earth. Touya had bounced and flipped out of the way to attempt a surprise behind attack, but Kurogane was ready.

He brought up his sword to meet steel with steel, another bell like ring spread through the camp and it wasn't long before they had an audience. They clashed and parried again and again, neither backing down. Touya was much stronger than he looked which was a pleasant surprise for the ninja. He was tired of people would were just fast. He was able to grapple and slice without any restraints. An hour passed before the healer showed up.

"Taichou, Kurogane-san it is time to stop this. Dinner is about to begin and Kurogane-san, you just left my care. I suggest you head to the baths before I am forced to heal foolishly acquired wounds."

And with that the crowd and healer left. Kurogane was somewhat glad their duel was over. As much fun as he had he wasn't fully recovered and wanted something to eat. He though about how for the first time in what felt like years his entire meal would below to him, no pork bun to steal. Those thoughts reminded him of the mage. He wondered how the man was doing when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Your friend is fine. If Yuki says he'll be up in a couple of, he will. Yuki can also see the future. In the mean time we need to find you a couple of outfits and a tent. I would like you to stay here until you are ready to move on. Your friend will take a while to be travel ready so in the meantime how would you feel in helping train these green boys with me? I am really lacking in good help."

Kurogane just looked at him. This man was too trusting. He could be a thief or assassin for all this man knew.

"I have a gift to see people's true natures. I'm not a fool before you start thinking it. I can see you for who you truly are. I want to make you a part of this encampment. I think it would benefit everyone. Besides, you've been bored for too long. Think about it."

He started walking towards the smell of beef before turning around to face Kurogane again.

"You can call me Touya. The baths are on the northwest side past the sick wing. I'll see you in the mess tent when you're ready. Don't be long or nothing will be left."

Kurogane was left on his own again. Resting his sheathed blade on his shoulder he went in search of this bath area. Finding a natural spring he lowered himself him and relaxed in its warm, relaxing waves. His clothes and sword rested out of the moistures reach while he considered the offer to stay. Without the bun he was stuck there so he might as well take the job while waiting.

What would the mage think? In fact how would he talk to the blonde without that stupid bun. He would just have to teach the man his language. It was the only way. He sighed at the thought of such a chore. This was going to be a pain. At least it came with food... and maybe something more.

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END VII

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Well here is the long awaited seventh chapter. I have been so caught up in my other stories that I forgot the plot of this. I didn't want to write any half ass chapters so I put in on the back burner until I could figure where this story was going. I hope you all like this. Touya had to make an appearance because he is awesome.

It still surprises me how much attention this story gets. I even got a review yesterday. That's why I thought it wasn't fair to only update the other story. Have a great weekend. :D