Forgive me for getting this out so late!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Tsubasa…

Yes, Ashura came back, all. And I kind of twisted what really happened, and made it more what I wanted to happen. You'll understand why in future chapters. Yeah, this one took a while cuz I had writer's block and I have to make up song lyrics for writing club and I HATE WRITING POETRY OF ANY KIND!!!!!!!!!!!! I've never in my whole life wrote poetry for fun.

Iku-chan

After It All

Chapter Six: I love you

Fai looked up at the sky, so cold and grey and cloudy, and breathed out, watching his white breath in the freezing air. He reached a hand up to his cheek, smiling to himself lightly in a feigned attempt to cheer himself up. Of course, it didn't work. The smile immediately dropped from his lips as he heard a sound, standing up to look. His bottom lip was shaking as he tried to fake courage and steadiness as he heard a familiar and cool voice behind him. He didn't bother to turn around as he felt cold breath and strong hands on his shoulders.

"Fai," said Ashura, leaning forward, closing his eyes. "I haven't seen you in a while."

Fai whimpered.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"You bastard, what the hell did you do with Fai?" asked Kurogane, outraged, pinning Syaoran to the wall even though he knew very well Syaoran could beat him in any fight.

But he was just so damn angry. Syaoran gouged out his freaking eye and now he…. He… Kurogane moved his hand up so he was clutching Syaoran's white t-shirt so their eyes were at eye-level. Kurogane could see his blood red eyes reflected in those pools of blue and amber brown.

"Kurogane-san, I don't know where he is," said Syaoran, his eyes begging. "I… I didn't do anything to him."

"God, you better have not," said Kurogane, releasing him, sending him flying backwards.

Kurogane left, leaving the sleeping pork bun and the double-sided kid alone in the kitchen. He threw on his coat on and mumbled to himself something incomprehensible and opened the door. The cold rushed at his face just as it had to Fai's. He clenched his teeth and his fists and zipped up his coat and looked around. There were more people around than when Fai had left, now that the snow had begun to melt. They all looked at Kurogane like he was crazy as he stomped through the perfect white snow.

There were a lot of things running through Kurogane's head at that very moment as he tried to conceal his horrid feelings of sickening worry in the base of his heart. He, in spite of all the feelings he had covered up, was slowly breaking inside. In a way, all of the travelers were.

Fai was, but he had been breaking ever since Ashura started to abuse him. Mokona was breaking because of all the sad people around you. With all the sad people around him, who wouldn't start breaking? Syaoran had been breaking since Sakura had left and Kurogane… Kurogane… he had been breaking ever since he started to feel something for Fai.

Because he knew that nothing would ever cure Fai, and yes, the scars would stay there. Kurogane couldn't imagine what it would be like to feel like Fai, for everyone he had loved either die or betray him. Or hurt him. He couldn't imagine what he was feeling when Kurogane kissed him. Probably terribly scared.

"Fai?" asked Ashura when Fai didn't answer, shaking not only because of the cold.

"Why aren't you asleep?" asked Fai, turning around bravely and looking Ashura in the eyes.

He had the air of a very cold person, with his long black hair almost grazing his chest. He was wearing all black, reminding Fai of Kurogane, and his face was paler than usual. He looked nothing different than before he was put to sleep. Just looking at him brought painful memories to Fai. Memories of the scars and the bruises and the sleepless nights.

"I love you,"

How many times have those pointless words been uttered? It's not like they meant anything. It's not like they could make the wounds hurt any less… It had been three words that always brought fear to Fai. Always brought that sickening feeling to his heart. He wondered what it would be like to hear those words when the person actually meant it.

As Fai lay awake in a bed next to an equally awake Ashura, he thought of this. Ashura was always awake when Fai was, just in case he decided to rebel. Fai turned around underneath the heavy blankets so he wouldn't have to face his so called "lover". He had tried to smile, like Ashura told him, but it didn't work. Not ever.

And who would have known that years later he would be smiling and traveling without Ashura, with a man that he had grown to love… But then he couldn't smile. Everyone was gone; he was being controlled by a psychopathic maniac, who was addicted to him, and he couldn't find anything to live for.

Who wouldn't wish for death?

"I'm going to take you with me," said Ashura, when Fai was still in a trance-sort of state as he recalled not-so-fond memories. "Fai."

"No," said Fai, retreating from the light touch on his neck.

"You know I can overpower you any day…" Said Ashura, smiling and pressing his hand over Fai's eyes, immediately silencing him.

Ashura leaned over for a kiss as they both disappeared.

Fai awoke slowly in someone's arms, a throbbing headache engulfing his head. He groaned and looked up at Ashura, who was also staring down at him. Fai looked away, biting his bottom lip as he looked around at his surroundings. He was sitting in that familiar room… his room before he put Ashura to sleep. They were seated atop one of Fai's huge pillows he used to curl up upon and sleep after Ashura was… done with him.

"Let me go back," said Fai, backing away from Ashura's tight embrace.

"Don't tell me you want to go back to him," said Ashura, 'pfft'ing and taking a lock of Fai's blonde hair in his fingers violently, pulling him closer. "It's useless, don't you know?"

"How is it useless?" asked Fai, not bothering to back away, knowing that it would just hurt him.

"He obviously doesn't feel anything for you," said Ashura. "Your feelings for him are useless. He's just taking advantage of you. You're magic. And besides, once you're cured… of being what you are, he'll leave you. Just like everyone else. Fai, you do remember the rest, right? Yuui… Chii… you do remember?"

"What did you do to Chii?" asked Fai, his voice sick with worry.

Ashura reached into his pocket, taking out two feathers. Fai choked on his breath and put his hand softly against his mouth, not bothering to hold back his scream.

"Kurogane, you wish to find Fai?" asked the witch, appearing on the water where Fai had just stared deep into.

"Yes," said Kurogane, his eyes blank.

"You'll accept any price?" said the witch. "It will not be your life… But you will have to travel to another world by yourself."

"Yes," said Kurogane again, his patience dwindling.

After all, what if Fai was in trouble? What if something was threatening to kill him? What if… God, Kurogane didn't even want to try to guess what Fai was going through now.

"Your price is that you must stay with him forever," said Yuko, reaching out to thread a strand of her long black hair through her long white fingers. "Even when he is cured of being a vampire. Even if you two grow to hate each other, you still have to stay together. Are you willing to do that? Are you willing to keep him safe from everything that's after him?"

Kurogane looked down, considering this all, even though he already knew what he was going to say. What was his feeling for the mage? He surely didn't hate him… but eventually would they grow to hate each other? Did Fai hate him already? For not saying anything after Fai asked him if he loved him? And when he was cured of being a vampire they would have to part.

But Kurogane didn't want that to happen. He wanted to stay with Fai, even if Fai didn't like him. And… yes, he wanted to keep him safe. Even if Fai did hate him. Even if Fai would never express anything to Kurogane, he still wanted Fai. He wanted him so much…

"Yes," said Kurogane defiantly.

I think I wrote this one better than the last one. And do you think I made it clear that Kurogane likes Fai? If I didn't that's kind of pathetic… anyway… You know how the last one ended with 'No'? This one ends with 'yes'!! Yeah! Well, you didn't find out why Fai lied, but you will. I promise.

Oh yeah, do you think I should put Tomoyo in? Do you think Sakura should be saved? Do you think Syaoran should die? Please answer these questions for me! I need help!!!!!!!!!!!!