Disclaimer: All Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle characters are (c) CLAMP.

Title: Collide
Rating: PG13 (Will go up as chapters progress)
Pairing: Fye x Kurogane
Warnings: Language and violence.
Spoilers: None
Status: In Progress
Word Count: 6,306
Summary: The group arrive to a world where desert predominates. With no water and Mokona unable to use his magic, what are they to do? Things get complicated when someone from Fye's haunted past appears and tells the Ceres' magician that he possesses power that can unlock secrets beneath the sand. What happens when this individual has more interest in Fye? Will Kurogane care enough to step up?



Collide

Chapter 3: Osiris' Tears

Cool and satiating liquid touched his lips and ran smoothly down his dry throat. The ninja coughed, eyes opening slightly to see blurs all around him. There was a figure in front of him; man or woman, he could not tell. He did not know, nor did he gave it importance when the urgency to drink more of whatever he was offered, overpowered him.

It was such a strange yet blissful feeling, of water running down his throat, after being neglected for two days. He did not hesitate to try and reach the cup with his own hands, trying to urge the friend or foe to press the container against his sand-stained lips. However, weak as he currently was, he couldn't hold the cup properly and so, almost spilled the precious contents in his haste to gulp it down.

He was helped, a hand he had not noticed before against the back of his neck was propping him up enough for him not to choke.

Kurogane did not reproach the help and drank greedily, feeling some of the liquid escape the corners of his bleeding lips and trail down his neck, making him shiver somewhat. Other than that, he left no drop to spare. He heard muffled speech; then again, he couldn't tell if it was directed at him or at someone else.

His vision was poor and as a result, he couldn't tell where he was, how many people were talking- or if it was just one. He couldn't even tell if it was night or day, although, by the cool breeze that tickled his skin, he guessed it was nighttime. There was warmth beside him, and he could see faint, flickering light- a campfire, perhaps. He tried to sharpen his senses enough to start recognizing his surroundings; it came natural to him, after all, he was an elite ninja.

The pressure behind his neck disappeared. He was gently lowered on what he felt was a pillow; maybe not as soft, but close enough to summon the darkness to come and take over his exhausted body. It was hard to keep his eyes open. The stinging sensation of dry eyes wasn't helping matters, and the blurry vision in front of him was driving him insane.

It was like a dream. A dream filled with fog that consumed him and null the senses to the point that nothing could be seen, felt or heard. It was mentally disturbing- but this was no dream.

It sunk down on him. Had his skin been in far better conditions, he would've smiled a toothy grin. He had lived, he had defied fate and survived the pilgrimage through the sandy hell.

He let out a sigh, letting his body finally succumb to a much-needed rest. His vision became dark, and he welcomed the darkness that engulfed him completely.


He could hear sobbing in the distance, echoing in his mind and piercing through the darkness he was in.

Someone was weeping…

Everything was hazy and hard to make out. There were two people with him, girl and a boy.

The weeping continued echoing in his head, haunting him…

A small creature crying out something he couldn't make out right. It screamed desperately and wept with no control. Tears streamed down its small body and fell lonely to the soil beneath them.

The girl looked straight at him- her emerald eyes were begging him to do something, but what? Her mouth was moving, but he couldn't hear anything.

The weeping was constant.

All of this was strangely familiar to him; he knew he had seen this before, but where? What had happened? It all was moving too fast.

Noise suddenly boomed in his head, deafening him. There were cries of pain, weeping and the voices of the girl and boy mingled all together.

He looked down at his hands, which were trembling. His eyes widened when he saw the blood that covered them and his clothing. The smell overpowered him and made him sick.

Suddenly, he remembered. Memories mingled and came back to him like a mad ocean wave crashing against a cliff.

He remembered the kids, the manjuu crying out-loud and sobbing a name that rang continuously in his head. The melodic name aroused bitter sweetness and reached down the most deep and occult emotions inside his hardened heart.

There was blood covering a pale figure that struggled to breathe amidst short gasps. Golden locks stuck to his beautiful and feverish brow in disarray, falling over sad blue eyes.

He heard Mokona's voice crying out more insistent the name of that angel that lay in his arms; his life escaping through wounds he could not control and covered him in a mad red color.

Everything suddenly came to an abrupt stop. All noise had disappeared, along with the kids and the manjuu bun, leaving him and the blonde in his arms in the darkness.

He looked down at the blue-eyed man with wide eyes and mouth slightly parted. He wished to speak, but his body was not responding to him. The blonde smiled gently at the ninja through half-lidded eyes and a faint smile. His pale lips parted and he breathed out his name in between gasps.

"Kurogane…"

Everything went blank.

Kurogane shot up from where he had been lying down with a gasp. Sweat covered his body and his breath escaped his lips in small pants. Such sudden movement blackened his vision and made him dizzy enough to urge him fight the wave of nausea that rose.

He doubled over and coughed, eyes screwed shut, trying his best to fight back the gags that threatened to spill his stomach's poor contents. He tensed when he felt a hand on his back trying to ease him back on the bedding he had been lying on not too long ago.

"Don't move. You're safe now." A voice spoke. This time, he could hear clearly and by the deepness of it, he could tell it belonged to a male.

Kurogane dared to open his eyes once again, and like his hearing, everything was much clearer yet, his eyes still protested against the light of the fire near him. He tried to stay awake, but his body demanded rest and he could not fight the darkness that consumed him once more.


When he came back to his senses, the world around him was spinning and his eyes reminded him of the stinging pain he had thought gone. A small gleam of light came from an unknown source above him- but it was enough to annoy him.

He waited patiently for his eyes to adjust and the pain to diminish. He took his time to sit up and wait for his body to give him any warning of illness. He pressed a hand to his brow and passed it through his spiky hair, grunting in disgust at the sand he felt in it.

He looked around him, studying his new surroundings and studying them, looking for any possible threat. He looked down at what he had been lying on- which somewhat resembled the bedding in Japan.

He noted he was inside a tent of some sort, which size was big enough to fit 8 people.

There was a small table with four cups set neatly beside a jar. Along with that set, there was a bowl with fruit and a plate with bread. By the looks of it, they had been touched already.

His eyes drifted behind him and fell on three deeply sleeping figures. The princess, the kid and that damned manjuu bun. He felt himself sigh in relief; they seemed to be all right.

Kurogane stood up when his eyes did not find Fye. He turned frantically, but it seemed that he was not with them anymore. He cussed slightly under his breath, but his senses were altered when a shuffle behind him revealed a tall… man?

Whatever it was, it possessed the body of a man, but its head resembled that of a black dog. Kurogane reached his hand for Souhi, but found his hand grasping empty air. The beast turned to face him, but whatever movement he was about to perform, was interrupted by the ninja's lunge.

Kurogane knocked the beast down on the floor and he straddled it in a way he suppressed movement. One of his hands was strategically secured against the humanoid's windpipe, giving him the upper hand to crush the neck if needed be.

His heart beat furiously on his head, arousing a horrible headache against his temples. The being under him did not struggle, which seemed strange to the ninja. He expected the demon to fight back but was instead surprised by completely coherent speech.

"Stop. I mean no harm. I'm a friend." The voice was familiar to Kurogane. A deep male voice he had heard before, not long ago.

All he could do was blink at it, dumbfounded at the strange situation he was in. He had realized that whatever he had thought the beast to be was merely a man with a mask. He removed it swiftly from his face, keeping a steady hand firm against the neck.

The mask revealed tanned skin, cobalt eyes and dark hair; an ordinary man, probable inhabitant of the strange world they had arrived.

Which sickly reminded him…

"Where's the mage?" he spoke with a demanding tone, his voice raspy with misuse.

The man under him seemed confused by the ninja's choice of words and stared back at him with a quizzical look in his eyes. "The mage?" He repeated after the gruff man on top of him.

Kurogane never considered himself a very patient man. It was truly not his forte. He was a reasonable man, but sometimes in delicate situations, much like these, he forgot all reason in him, leaving his compulsive side to act rashly.

"Yes, There was a fourth person traveling with us, he was wounded. Where is he?" He pressed, emphasizing his urgent tone and thinning patience.

The man coughed slightly when Kurogane pressed his hand down on the throat.

"I would appreciate if you first let go of me."

"I cannot trust you."

That elicited a chuckle from the man, which made Kurogane angry. He would definitely not laugh at someone with a deadly grip around his throat.

"Have I not saved you from death and brought you here to recuperate? What sense would that make if I wanted to harm you now? Might have just saved me the trouble and left you in the desert."

Kurogane grunted at the man. He had a point and so, he let go of him, standing up and watching him with a weary eye. The man followed suit, dusting himself and the mask he held in his hand in the process.

Kurogane observed his every movement like a hawk. There was something he always took time to give, and that was trust. His whole life, after his parent's deaths, he had learned to not trust people and keep distance from them. After all, he was a ninja, independent and self-relying.

The only person he had come to somewhat trust was Tomoyo. Of course, all he felt towards her was deep loyalty, no more, no less.

It was only natural that he didn't let his guard down, especially around new places and new people. It was a survival instinct of sorts.

His eyes studied the man in front of him. He was taller than him by some inches, which was disturbing, having it that Kurogane was a very tall man already. The man's physique was that of an experienced warrior. He had scars on his body that spoke of battles past and a strong gaze.

The ninja's eyes trailed from the man's feet, to his head. He was wearing nothing but sandals and what seemed to be a skirt- Kurogane shuddered at that- the man wore no shirt, leaving his torso exposed. He had long shackle-like wristbands and a strange golden necklace around his neck.

Had the situation been different, he would've commented harshly on his attire.

However, he pressed on the matter of his missing companion when the man did not answer as fast as he would've liked him to.

"Where is he?" He demanded one last time, but that would be enough. The man turned around, placing his mask back in place and walked out the tent.

"He is safe. We had to separate him from you because of his condition. The children awoke not long after we found you, but they were exhausted and as you can see, fell asleep again."

That was a relief to the ninja; that would explain the already touched fruit and bread. At least they had eaten something.

"You haven't answered my question. Where is he?"

He looked back at Kurogane and said. "Follow."

Somehow, he did not like the way he had spoken. It seemed far darker and somber than his previous tone.

When Kurogane stepped out of the tent, bright sunlight blinded him, making his eyes sting in protest once more. He cursed under his breath and brought a hand to shield his eyes from the bright glare of the sun.

What he saw around him did not ease him very much. Set neatly in formal rows around the whole area, were tents similar to the one they had just exited. The sound of metal clanging coming from a blacksmith invaded his sensitive hearing, the busy crowd around him carrying weaponry and armor unknown to his country screamed warnings at him. The population- as far as he could tell- was all men.

It was all too obvious. This was no ordinary settlement. It was a war camp.

"Is something troubling you, my friend?"

Kurogane shot a glare at the man beside him. He brushed it away and answered nonchalantly, "Nothing."

He hated the fact that the man gave himself enough freedom to be so informal and call him friend. He had no friends and he won't start having any anytime soon. Even though his pride told him this, he knew that it was all a lie.

He had allowed the kids to get close to him, and as a result, they had grown close to him as well. Perhaps there were no endearing names or much contact between them- actually, there was none- in their little family relationship, but he did care.

Especially for him

His hands clutched around themselves in fists; nails biting down on raw flesh and leaving marks. Every time he found himself thinking about the idiotic blonde, he felt strange. He didn't like this new feeling.

Kurogane, on the other hand, had to admit to himself that it wasn't unpleasant. It was rather… pleasant.

However, everything that was new and unknown to the ninja was subject of distrust. He did not like this new feeling because it made him feel strange, weak and vulnerable. It increased the speed of his heart and left him breathless, making him weak around the knees.

The blonde had that charm on him whether he was physically there or as a mere thought.

They walked through the camp. The ninja was alert by now, taking in all of the new surroundings and people. The men in the camp looked at him with cautious eyes, being aware of him as much as the ninja was of them.

He could already tell that their arrival was not going to be taken lightly by this people. Kurogane couldn't care less, he did not interact much with others anyway, he just wanted to get the feather and move the hell out. The faster they found them, the closer he would get back home.

Somehow, that thought made him feel sad. He knew he wished to go home more than anything, but did he really want it as badly as he used before? If he went home, that meant he would be separated from the group, from the mage.

Why did he care? He hated the man; he was annoying, strange and a big liar. The same kind of people he hated the most and tried to keep away; moreover, he did not know the blonde as much as he knew him, which was disturbing.

What kind of a man was he? What was behind those smiles and carefree attitude he shone?

Maybe that's what attracted the ninja to the magician. No, not attracted, he was not attracted to that idiot, less a man. It was just curiosity; however, wasn't the unknown what he disliked the most? Then why was the blonde such an exception?

He pressed his fingers tightly in between his eyebrows, trying to suppress the headache that he knew was coming. It was the stupid mage's entire fault.

The stranger stopped in front of a tent similar to the rest and turned to face Kurogane.

"Your friend is inside."

"I never said he was my friend."

The man's brows curved upwards.

"Ah, I see… lover, then?"

It was Kurogane's turn to curve his brows upwards. Surprise written all over his now flushed face. He frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, fuming.

"I never said anything of the sort."
"Oh, forgive me. I assumed he was someone special, since you look so engrossed on his well-being."

The ninja's eye twitched and he stomped forward and past the man, into the tent. He will not take such insolent remarks by the idiot.

His heart stopped as soon as he set foot inside. The powerful scent of medical herbs invaded his nostrils. He never liked that smell, it reminded him of wounded soldiers from past battles in Japan.

He hated recalling because it reminded him how he was kicked out by Tomoyo to learn what true strength was. He could not understand what she meant by that, since he was the strongest man in all of Japan.

The blonde was lying motionless on top of sheets, taking in soft, gasping breaths that were even more labored than the day before; his whole torso covered in clean bandages and over his eyes a damp cloth.

A man, wearing glasses, leaned over him.

The healer's hands worked on the wounds with skill, checking the conditions of his patient with full control of the situation. He had not noticed the ninja's intrusion, his full attention focused on the blonde.

Without thinking, the ninja's legs had carried him close to his companion and leaned kneeled down close to him, on the opposite side of the doctor.

"He's poisoned, you know that?"

Kurogane looked up at the man, whose gaze was still fixed on the mage, eyes wise with years of experience. The ninja swallowed hard and grunted with suddenly raspy voice his acknowledgement.

The doctor looked up at Kurogane, which made him feel uneasy. There was a promise of a dark future in those brown eyes.

"There's an antidote?"
"No"

The answer was blunt and merciless, much like Kurogane's former self before he started their journey. It had caught him off guard, and he admitted it made him feel useless, powerless.

"What will happen to him?" He felt like the question was rhetorical and unnecessary. He knew the answer to that, but somehow a part of him wished for an alternate answer, hoping, praying there was another way.

"That is a very strong poison. Every patient that is brought to me in this conditions, don't last long. I'm afraid I can't do anything."

"How much time?"

"I don't give him more than two days."

Suddenly it became hard to breathe, almost as if the air around them thickened with the tension that had built up with those words. The only sound inside the tent was the labored breathing of the dying wizard.

The doctor sighed and pulled out a small crystal vile, no bigger than his extended palm.

"This death is very painful. There's just one thing you could do to keep him from it."

The vile he presented to the ninja contained clear pink liquid; then again, what the content was, was unknown to the ninja. Had the doctor said there was no antidote? Why would he give him this strange liquid? Perhaps it was a painkiller?

"You said there was no antidote."
"There's none, but I am offering you to end his pain before it starts."

"What the hell is that?"

The ninja disliked the whole situation; the doctor was not giving him a straight answer. He felt threatened.

"Osiris' tears, a strong potion that slows the heart rate. This numbs the body and takes the patient into a deep sleep. In moments, the body gives away in a peaceful death."

Kurogane was speechless.

"He will feel no pain. You can decide to end it all, even now as he sleeps."

That had snapped the thread of reason inside the ninja.

Kurogane's hand reached over Fye's and grasped at the man's collar in a vice full grip, teeth bared in a snarl. Red eyes fixed on the doctor's brown ones. His fists around the man's collar, trembling with rage, causing the man to cower back, trying to pry off, his spectacles crooked from the sudden movement.

"You bastard, the hell I'll do that!" He hissed with rage.

"I-I'm suggesting what's better for him. I've seen in countless of times- believe me, anything is better than the pain that awaits your friend."

Kurogane glared hard at the smaller man. It was at times like this that emotions were required; however, because Kurogane won't allow himself to feel anything, even less weep- he took the emotion he knew best when his heart was breaking.

Anger.

"Just think about it. He's unconscious, he won't know better."

Kurogane let go of the man, pushing him away from Fye and making him fall backwards. The ninja was disgusted. He will not listen to the man, let alone leave him with the mage again.

"Get out." His voice was dark, his fists trembling on either sides of his body, eyes looking down at the mage's form. When the doctor made no movement to make his leave, the ninja looked up at him, making the man jump.

"GET THE HELL OUT!"

The healer needed no more persuasion, he quickly took his things and left. He took everything except a small vile, placed neatly beside the mage's pale hand.

Before Kurogane had time to protest, the man was gone. He growled and made his way to Fye's side, taking the small container in his hands, looking at it with disgust. He was about to throw it away, but stopped when a whimper caught his attention.

He looked down at the blonde, hoping he would open his eyes. "Oy, mage." Another small moan came out from the blonde's lightly parted lips. Kurogane reached his hand to the damp cloth that rested on his eyes, and removed it.

He sighed heavily, placing the cloth on the ground next to him. The mage did not respond to his voice, so he reached a tanned hand and touched his pale shoulder, recoiling when it came in contact with cold flesh.

The touch was enough to stir the blonde awake. Ice-blue eyes opened slightly and tried to focus through the haze of fever. Kurogane looked right back at him. Fye's lips parted, but no sound came out of those once rose-red lips. The ninja leaned down to try and make out whatever Fye was wording out.

He could make out faint whispers that came out in warm breath that caressed his cheek and ear.

"-ter…w-te-" Kurogane rose from his leaning position and looked at him with furrowed brows. He was straining his hearing to try and make out what the man needed, but it was hard to make anything out through shallow panting.

Then it hit him. The mage had been unconscious the whole time and had yet not had a single drop of water.

"Water." You need water?"

Fye's eyes seemed to soften and his lips faintly tugged into an attempted smile. The ninja nodded and stood up and swiftly looked around the tent for water; it didn't take him long to spot a ceramic jar, filled to the rims with cool water. He took it, along with a small cup and made his way back to the thirsty mage. He poured the contents into the cup, almost spilling it in his haste.

He held the cup with his right hand, gently tucking his left under Fye's neck, elevating his head with care. He pressed the cup's brim to the pale lips and tilted it, allowing the water to flow slowly inside the waiting mouth.

Fye drank with desperate need, almost chocking in the process.

"Idiot. Be more careful- you'll end up drowning yourself." Grunted the ninja, placing the half-emptied cup next to him and propping Fye up into a sitting position. The blonde coughed up the water that had gone down his lungs, gasping in between breaths and his body shaking. He was as limp as a rag doll, Kurogane had to hold him up, supporting all of his weight, which was alarmingly light.

Kurogane was distraught by the fever, the cold and extremely pale body, and the pain the mage will feel soon. He placed a hesitant hand on Fye's bare back to try and help him ease down the coughing fit.

Fye moaned and panted heavily, reaching a trembling hand to his lips. He was gagging.

"Calm down."

Kurogane's voice had come out soft and kind; he didn't intend it to be like that, but his emotions were emerging against his will. He could feel Fye's body leaning lightly against his, the cold skin under his touch was trembling with cold, and yet, his brow was sweaty with fever.

Fye groaned and his weight fell completely against Kurogane's chest. The ninja blushed at that. He didn't know what to make out of it, and yet his heart raced hard against his chest. Fye had merely leaned on him out of support, right?

He looked down at the blonde, whose eyes were shut, eyes trailed down his bandaged torso and poorly covered body. The bandages being the only thing he wore and the white sheets and his dangerously low-riding black pants, the only thing covering his dignity. He could see a pale hipbone and much of his navel-

He immediately looked away, blushing and mentally kicking himself for feeling so embarrassed at the sight or thought of the mage's body. Why should he feel that way was unknown to the ninja. It's not like he hasn't seen any men naked, on the contrary. It was usual in his country to share a bathing place with many men at a time. He had gotten over it quite a long time ago, when he began training under Tomoyo's ninja's wing.

Again he found himself thinking. Why was the mage so special? What was it so different and mesmerizing about him that left him countless times pondering over his own beliefs?

He pushed the thought aside and went back to the task of tending to the man in his arms. He gently placed him back on the bedding, his eyes coming in contact with those beautiful half-lidded pools of blue.

He had never thought of that color any specially; it was the color of the skies and oceans, but other from that, he found the color not so distinctive.

After meeting Fye, blue became more than just the color of the skies and oceans. It became the color of hidden pain and mystery. Blue became the color of secrets and enchantment, of lies and pain.

Blue became the description of beauty and serenity, after he met Fye.

Such alien thoughts of the same sex should never cross a ninja's mind. He blinked somewhat when Fye smiled gently at him. He had seen his faint blush that stained his tanned cheeks a pink color.

"Don't get any strange ideas, mage. I'm here because the kids are worried sick about you." He did not lie; it was true that the kids were extremely worried for the waif's condition. In spite of this, he did not plan to let the mage know that he too was concerned.

Fye closed his eyes and coughed again, shooting pain through his chest, making him screw his eyes close even tighter. The poison was working fast.

Faster than Kurogane had expected.


He had not parted ways with the now sleeping mage. He sat by his side and watched him as he continuously drifted to and fro from consciousness to oblivion. The fever that had taken over the frail body was getting worse and making him even weaker.

The ninja had decided, that it was best to take the cloth he had removed from his forehead not long ago, and place it back to keep the now burning body, cool. Said cloth was beginning to lose its coolness, so he took it and dipped it on a bowl he had discovered with minty water. He screwed it off the excess water and placed it back on the hot brow.

It was a pitiful attempt to make the blonde feel better, but that was the best he could do. He had done everything to make the mage comfortable, but in the end, seeing the mage succumb lower into sickness made him realize how useless he was now. The knowledge made him fist his hands.

He could feel the warm object in his right hand. It was still there, sweaty from the constant hold he had on it. He looked down at the pink liquid and his jaw tightened.

He heard a soft whisper of what could have been his name. If the blonde had bastardized it again with one of his idiotic suffixes, the ninja wouldn't have known, it had been so faint.

Fye was trembling again.

It was no good, his body was extremely cold in one moment, and in the next it would be extremely hot. He did not reproach nor hesitate and his hands reached to the blanket and placed it over the ivory body.

Fye smiled weakly at him. The smile he gave Kurogane was unique. It was neither playful nor mocking. It was, for a change, honest, sincere, innocent and beautiful. The gruff ninja frowned and looked away, unable to see him anymore.

His heart was aching.

Damn it all… why the hell am I feeling like this? I can't even look at him without feeling so…sad; it does not make any sense, nothing does anymore.

He looked down at the vial he held in his hands, making sure Fye did not know what it was. He found himself asking continuously what will he do in the end, if Fye's condition became much more worse. He asked himself if he would be forced to end the mage's agony. Asked himself if he had enough guts to do it when it came down to it.

At first he thought it couldn't be too bad. He had killed before, not caring who or why as long as his task was fulfilled. Killing for him had been a sport, and he the best at it.

But yet again, when Fye is placed in the picture, he had recoiled back. He had doubted himself capable of, not raising his sword to end his life, but simply pouring the liquid in his mouth and watch him sleep away to death.

It was driving him insane. His eyes were so focused on the vial it could burn holes through it. He was being tormented by the mere thoughts coursing through his tired mind

He has changed, considerably.

Before he met them, he would not have cared less if any one of them were hurt or killed. He cared for himself and his own problems only. He did not give anyone the opportunity to get or grow close to him. He did not enjoy nor did he realize the beauty of simple pleasures in life. He had no friends, only a goal; but now…

After being with the kinds, especially after being with the mage, he had come to realize many things. He gradually and slowly learned it was all right to let people close, because they teach so many good things one does not know. He discovered joy in company and friendship. Most important of all, he found that his goal had no purpose and was incomplete, if he had no one to share it with.

Someone to share it with, to laugh, cry, be angry, care and be complete for.

Someone…

He jumped slightly, snapping back to reality when a much smaller, warm hand reached for his. Gentle fingertips tickled his rough skin as the hand rested on top of the hand that held the damned vile. Red eyes trailed up to meet Fye's kind ones. His heartbeat became somewhat faster, and he held his breath, gradually letting go. He could not pry his attention from him and Kurogane could only stare back.

The ninja's eyes softened and that elicited another beautiful smile. He came to realize, he loved that smile.

Someone…

The ninja rose his free hand and was about to place it on top of the mage's smaller one. Nevertheless, he recoiled when intrusion broke the moment.

"Kurogane-san."

Syaoran, followed by Sakura and Mokona, who was perched on her shoulder, came inside the tent. By this time, Kurogane's hand had abandoned Fye's, standing up and brushing away what had almost happened.

"Fye-san…" Breathed the princess, her voice breaking, as she made her way to the blonde's side.

"You're awake…" she kneeled by his side, and took his hand gently on hers. Her voice trembled even more than before, and tears appeared in the corners of her eyes.

"I was so frightened."

Fye made his best attempt to smile reassuringly at the girl, whispering softly.

"It is alright, Sakura-chan. I'm... alright now."

Mokona peeked through the princess' shoulder, ears lowered.

"Fye…"

The ninja swore that the pork bun would have been the peppiest to see the magician awake; yet, the ninja noted with sinking awareness, that Mokona knew, Fye was lying.

He was far from all right, and even when death loomed over him, he managed to smile to protect the children.

Kurogane thought of lies as the most deceitful and cowardly act. It was impure and dishonest, it was all that was low and dishonor Being a ninja, he grew up to remain loyal to codes, honor being one of them; honor meant everything a ninja was, because it defined strength, loyalty, power and truth.

Lies was it's exact counterpart, and so, he looked down upon people who dwelt in it. He had felt disgust towards the magician when they first met. Besides being a liar, he was a coward, a fleeing rat that would cower in the darkest corners of his mind whenever confronted with questions about his past.

To Kurogane, Fye was one of those beings he looked down at. The lowest he had ever come across. The blonde revolted him; no amount of beauty the magician possessed could cover the fact that his games of deceit were being played on him. It was one of his weapons, and pissed him off to no end.

The ninja observed the children get close to the blonde, sitting beside him and talking to the sick man. It was a heart-warming sight, and the gruff man couldn't help but smile faintly. Fye may be, through the eyes of the code, the lowest being to ever draw breath in this world; even so, Kurogane had seen through that.

The ninja had come to understand that Fye had been lying to protect them from a harsh truth, from reality, much like he was now. Kurogane preferred silence over reassuring lies, because a lie was a lie, no matter how you looked at it. However, lies could have good and bad purposes. In the mage's case… it was a good one.

If Fye was lying to stay away from pain he did not want to share, then he will let him be. He had learned to overlook the deceitful appearance, and finally understood the true strength behind it.

True strength.

Fye was one of the strongest people he had ever known, because of his selflessness.

He stole one last glance at the vial in his hand.

It marveled him, how such small and insignificant object could rouse so much fear and doubt.

His eyes looked at his small family. Yes, a family, they were his family now. His hand tightened against the object in his hands and swallowed hard, jaw tense with stress. He was no one to break them apart, to annihilate one of their own. He was no one to take such precious person away from them.

He was no one to decide what the mage wanted.

However, what if the mage embraced it? Will he, on request, let the man suffer death by the lethal liquid?

That was what he had come to fear. His mind screamed logical reasons at him, but his heart was a whole new story. It hurt thinking of the mage letting himself die. It hurt to think of living without his company. Even if the man lied and smiled to cover up his inner misery, he had come to enjoy those moments with him.

Fye, in reality was their support in more than one way. He truly and with all honesty cared and loved them. Kurogane could not take that away.

He sighed heavily, and placed the vial on his pocket, trying to rest his mind from the torment that invaded him, and joined his small family.

Only one question kept ringing inside his heart.

When the time came, will he make the right decision?


A.N.

Phew! That was a long chapter! (at least to write, it was)

I hope it wasn't slow, there was definitely a lack of action and tons of Kuro angst.

I'm trying to keep the characters true to themselves, so I don't want to rush Kurogane into falling for Fye just like that. There's a process, ya know? ;D

It's a torture for me too! I just want to write Kurogane ravishing Fye in all ways.. but I have to suppress it until the right time comes xD

Thank you so much for your reviews! I adore all of you huggles reviewers

Your reviews helped a lot, you have no idea how much.

I'm sorry I took longer to update. Life is sucky when you work 40 hours and go to college.

There's a bonus this chapter. I made fanart (I'm not a newbie, don't worry) of my fanfic.
Go to ( http :// Elenatha. Livejournal. Com ) make sure to delete the spaces in between.

I post a lot of my sketches and Tsubasa fanart in there.

-One of the images should be under 12th-Oct-2006 (Fye dressed in Egyptian garments)

-The second one should be under 19th-Oct-2006 (Kurogane in Egyptian attire!)

If you don't find them... just scroll down ;D

Anyway!

I promise I'll do my best next chapter. There will definitely be more action and less talk.

Ashura will finally make his appearance!

To be honest, I had the fic written in paper about a week now, but I didn't have time to type it.
Chapter 4 is already 5 pages long! So I will definitely hurry to update sooner.

Thank you so much for sticking with me. You're so kind for reviewing.
Please don't forget to review again! Let me know what you feel of the story so far and if the characters are IN character xD

Until ch. 4!

Elenath