MWAHAHAHA!!! This one is really long! I TOLD you guys it would be!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything in here that belongs to CLAMP

Please review (as always). And also tell me any characters you love and want to be put in. Or pairings or story ideas or plot twists or whatever. (I am so bored…)

Iku-chan

After It All

Chapter 8: Voices

When the twins were small, they used to play out in the fields with the other children. The children of the nobles and the rich and the government officials, of course, not any of the normal children. The twins were always together, always holding hands or having their arms linked together. Of course none of the children could tell them apart, but that didn't matter. None of the people really mattered to the twins in their secluded world.

"Fai? If I died, what would you do?"

When Yuui asked him this, Fai turned to look at him in shock. They were only 9 and sitting in their room, looking out the window at the quietly falling snow together. This was merely a year before they were sent to that place and now there were questions of who would be the heir to the throne when no one knew who was born first.

"I don't know," Fai had replied honestly, looking deep into the snow, not able to meet his brother's eyes. "I don't think I'll be able to survive without you."

Fai had a light blush on his face as Yuui grasped his hand. They were only children, but they had already made up their minds. They were always like this, side by side, each other's mirror. They felt as if they both were the same, and people shouldn't be able to tell them apart, because they weren't different people. They had known each other all their lives, they needed each other, and they needed that support. Even if one of their lives were cut short….

"Me neither," said Yuui, looking at the snow fall in light snowflakes over their country, the country that would soon be destroyed…

The snow began to build as they stood there, just enjoying each other's presence. If Fai were to look back on this, he would have realized how foolish he was. How foolish they both were… for believing everything was alright, everything was going to be okay forever. But it wouldn't be okay forever. Nothing could ever be okay forever.

Because it was all just a dream wasn't it?

"Because," said Fai, pressing his hands against the wall. "I didn't want to show you weakness."

"Who cares about your weaknesses?" asked Kurogane, infuriated. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does," said Fai, looking away, trying to back away from Kurogane but he held him in his place. "I am a weak person. You know that, right? You know that I wouldn't be able to live alone? I… I never have been able to. So… I'm sorry if I get in your way, or hold you back, or… I'm sorry, okay? If I could have any wish, I would wish for you to be let go. To be let go of the bond we have. So… the next time we see Yuko-san… I don't know what I would pay, but…"

"Don't," said Kurogane. "I already went to the witch."

"You…." Fai gaze didn't waver from Kurogane's this time. "You asked her… to break the bond?"

"No," said Kurogane. "I asked to save you, but it took a price."

"A price?"

"I… I have to stay with you forever. Even if you're cured, I still have to. And it doesn't really bother me, don't-"

But he was silenced by Fai kissing him on the lips strongly. Fai, his eyes closed, began to taste Kurogane. He was so much like his blood, a sweet, tangy flavor. He suddenly got the urge to bite Kurogane, a sudden burst of bloodlust… Fai pulled back instantly, not wanting to do anything unless he really needed it. But Fai really wanted to do more.

Fai abruptly slid away from Kurogane's grasp while he was still dazed and started to pack their clothes into their small bag. Kurogane silently began to help him, knowing that no words would have filled the gap between them that appeared at that moment.

"Thirsty?" He was, but he didn't want to… he really didn't want to.

"What?"

"Are you thirsty?" asked Kurogane, looking at Fai with those horrible eyes of his.

The eyes that always made him feel uneasy.

Fai shook his head. "I want to try to hold back until I really need it. Because… Sometimes I feel as if I can't control myself."

Kurogane nodded. As Fai's attention shifted from his face to the things he was packing into the bag, he felt himself thinking back. To Ashura and everyone and… Oh god… Fai pressed a pale shaking hand to his mouth. He couldn't cry. He couldn't cry… not now. Fai squeezed his eyes shut, trying to stop himself, but then he heard a familiar deep voice.

"You know," said Kurogane, not looking at Fai. "I think what you said a while ago was true. It takes a certain amount of strength to cry when you should."

"Weak…"

"I need you,"

"Don't leave me, ever,"

"I love you,"

"If I died, what would you do?"

"I want to die,"

"Please…"

Voices… Then silence.

Fai felt the tears drip down his face as he cried.

"So everyone's all set?" asked Mokona happily, balancing upon Fai's thin shoulder.

Everyone nodded, even Kurogane, who was holding the bag. Mokona took a deep breath and quickly the wind engulfing them, leaving nothing behind.

"So where are we this time?" asked Fai happily as they landed face first on the ground of what looked like a deserted country.

All around them was emptiness, a very barren land, no people in sight, and only a few trees littered the brown sandy ground. They all got up, Mokona in Fai's hands. There was no noise except for the wind lightly brushing the sand around them.

"I don't know," said Syaoran. "But it looks familiar. Very similar to one of the countries my father and I visited once before. But… I was told that the country had died long ago…"

"So there's no people?" asked Kurogane.

"Are you sure you sense the feather, Mokona?" asked Fai politely, looking down at the white creature.

Mokona nodded. They kept walking down the deserted ground, every so often a tree popping up or a bush. But Fai had the eerie sense of someone following them… And every so often he heard a strange rustling behind him, or whispers, but he was sure it was just his mind playing tricks on him.

"K-Kurogane?" asked Fai, turning to Kurogane worriedly.

Kurogane shushed him. Fai felt silent, the feeling beginning to grow stronger as every moment passed.

"Ah!" cried Fai as a hand clamped over his mouth, quickly silencing him.

He heard the others being dragged down, even Kurogane's muffled swears, as Fai felt a gloved hand push on his pressure points, unconsciousness quickly washing over him.

"H-Haaah…" Fai breathed as he awoke on what felt like stone.

He opened his eyes slowly, looking around. It was pitch black. Fai felt around for something… anything but all he felt was stone… and some sort of bars, like those in a prison. Fai clung to them, even if they were coated in grime and dust.

"Kurogane! Mokona! Syaoran-kun!" yelled Fai, pounding his hands against the bars, trying to get noticed.

"Fai-san?"

"Syaoran-kun!" exclaimed Fai. "Where are we? Where's Kurogane and Mokona?"

"I don't know," said Syaoran, his voice close. "I think we're in some sort of prison…" (Really?)

Fai felt around once more, but there was nothing but dust. It smelled of mold and rotting flesh and something burning. Fai flinched as his hand hit a piece of glass. No blood, but part of the glass was stuck in his hand.

"Oi,"

A dull golden light shown through the crack of a door that was being opened. Fai heard footsteps growing closer to this cell as he tried to make out who the person was. He was… tall with wide shoulders, but Fai couldn't see anymore than that.

"Subaru-sama wants to see you," said the man as Fai heard the jingling of keys. "So don't try to escape, both of you."

Fai could see the shadowy outline of Syaoran as he was pulled roughly out of his cell, Fai following soon after. The man reminded him of Kurogane, only because of his muscularity and because he was 'a man of few words', but it still reminded it of him of Kurogane, and that made him lonely.

They were led down a poorly lit hallway that Fai thought was golden light but he was clearly mistaken, roughly being pulled by the man. Fai looked at Syaoran worriedly, but Syaoran had that determined look on his face. There was a feather in this country, the last feather, and they would have to get it no matter what.

It still smelled like mold and age and people, even if they were out of that place. They approached a door, slightly cracked open, and they prepared for the worst.

Holy (insert swear word here)!!! That was long! I was writing it and then I realized… god this is way too long! I really, really liked this chapter though. Especially the part between Fai and Kurogane and the crying. Fai is so much like me it scares me… Please review! If you do I will give you a cookie! (not really) And this is nowhere NEAR the end.