Ahh… it's Friday once again, my Dearies!
Sincerest apologies for the delayed posting of Chapter 14-
I do my best, but sometimes Life just happens!
So on to Ch. 15!
DEATH*!

One Dark and Stormy Night

Chapter 15

As the sky began to lighten and chase away the darkness and shadows of the previous night, Fai prepared himself to awaken the sleeping hulk next to the fire. I guess I'll be extra-nice this morning and not ask Mokona to wake him… May the Gods protect me!

He tiptoed cautiously to within a few feet of the samurai and paused, trying to decide the safest way to accomplish the task ahead of him. Awakening a sleeping giant was very hazardous to one's health and must be done very delicately if one wished to remain in one piece. He had just about decided on his plan of attack when he heard Kurogane quietly warn him, eyes still closed and not the slightest muscle movement to betray any change in his state of rest… "Do it, and die, mage."

"Whatever do you mean by that, Kuro-Kuro? I wasn't going to do anything!" he said, hoping the innocence in his voice would convince Kurogane not to pummel him for awakening him. "I just wanted to… to check on the fire." Yeah… that's it! "We don't want it going out, do we?" He couldn't help but add a nervous chuckle at the end as he picked up a nearby stick and half-heartedly poked at the fire as if to gauge its health.

"Smart man." was Kurogane's only reply.

Fai turned and asked "Well, since you're up already… Keep watch for me? I need to step out for a little while."

Kurogane's left eyebrow lifted as he gave a hard look at his companion. "Step out?! Whacha gonna do… go shopping at the mall or something?"

Fai had spent half the night contemplating how (and exactly what) to tell his friend regarding his need to leave alone when morning came. "I just have something I need to go do… that's all." the wizard replied, purposefully avoiding eye contact with his friend.

"Right. Just gonna pop out for a quick drink at the local watering hole?" Kuro teased sarcastically.

"Heh, heh… in a way of sorts." Fai nervously chuckled. "Maybe something like that…"

"Why the hell can't you just tell me and quit beating around the bush!" growled Kurogane. "Is it so impossible for you to just give it to me straight?!"

With a girlie giggle and a shrug of his shoulders Fai replied "Because I am what I am. I would tell you if I could, Kuro-Dearie. But I be a wizard. And no wizard ever gave anyone a straight answer."

With that, Fai donned his cloak with his customary flourish and flamboyantly danced through the doorway before Kurogane could stop him. The ninja just rolled his eyes and grunted. "Crazy-ass wizard…"

A short while later Syaoran awoke, a sleeping Sakura still in his gentle embrace. Hoping that she might be feeling better this morning, he called her name. "Sakura-chan… " He again felt her forehead with the back of his hand and didn't like how hot it still felt. "Sakura-chan… come back to me. Wherever you have gone, please… come back to me."

Despair began to creep into his heart, an insidious, devious, ugly thing that weaseled its way in, despite Syaoran's attempts to keep it at bay. He gently embraced her, wondering how much longer she could hold out, and if she would even be able to overcome this mysterious illness.

Mokona began to stir, and when she opened her eyes, they met Syaoran's very worried ones. "Mokona thinks, by the look in Syaoran-kun's eyes, that Sakura-chan isn't better yet."

The boy's sadness was plain to see. "No, Mokona-chan… I don't think she is, and I have no idea what to do to help her."

Mokona stretched and yawned. "Would Syaoran-kun like to ask Yuuko-san for advice?"

The offer visibly brightened the boy's expression and he excitedly replied "Yes! Oh, why didn't I think of that sooner? Thank you, Mokona-chan… that would be wonderful!" For the first time since they landed in this world, he began to have hope.

"Sakura-chan, I will be back in just a moment, and hopefully with a means of helping you feel better!" He gently moved from where he sat behind her, and tenderly lay her back down on the blanket. He made sure to reposition the pillow under her head and pulled up the blankets to cover her again. As he stood up, Mokona jumped nimbly onto his shoulder.

"Let's go over there so we don't disturb her sleep." he suggested as he pointed to the other side of the room and began to cross the room.

Mokona hopped off of Syaoran's shoulder when they reached the far side of the room and the gem in her forehead projected the 'call' to the Time-Witch onto the wall.

"Why, Hello, Mokona." she answered pleasantly after the connection had been made. Mokona projected a view of Yuuko onto the wall in front of Syaoran. She was reclining on her lounge, a bottle of sake resting on a small table at her side, and a cup in her hand, . "What can I do for you on this fine day?"

"Mokona called so that Syaoran-kun could speak with Yuuko-san." Mokona said with a tint of seriousness to her voice.

"Good day, Yuuko-sama." he shyly said. "I am sorry to bother you, but Sakura needs help, and I don't know what to do." He proceeded to tell her about the girl's condition, answering the witch's questions promptly when she inquired about various things like their situation, when it started, and what they had tried to do so far to help her.

"I just don't know what else to do or even why she is ill." he concluded, the desperation of his feelings visible on his face as well as in his voice. "Please… tell me what to do for her… I'll do anything, pay any price, just help me get her better!"

Yuuko sat for a moment contemplating their situation before asking one last question.

"Mokona-chan."

"Yes, Yuuko-san?" Mokona quietly replied, the graveness of the situation dampening her usually cheery disposition.

"Do you sense a feather?" Yuuko plainly asked.

Mokona paused for a moment before answering, trying to determine if she did or not. "Maybe?" she hesitantly replied, a bit of confusion tainting her voice. "Mokona senses something… similar… but not exactly like a feather. Mokona does not understand this."

"Hmmm." was Yuuko's only reply. She contemplated the situation for a few moments before speaking once more. "Continue what you are doing and if there is no change by mid-day, call me back. In the meantime, I will think more on this and do some research on my end."

Syaoran was visibly disappointed that the Time Witch could not cure Sakura right away, even though he tried his best to conceal it from her.

His disappointment was not lost on Yuuko. "We will get her well again, Syaoran-kun… I promise. Tell you what… call me mid-day anyway… regardless of her condition."

"I promise to, and thank you again, Yuuko-sama." He replied, defeat tainting his quiet voice as he spoke.

As Mokona terminated the 'call', Syaoran sighed deeply and Mokona couldn't help but share in the boy's sorrow. They all wanted Sakura to be well and happy again. It was disturbing that Yuuko-san had not known right away what was wrong or how to help her. "Mokona knows Yuuko-san will find the answer, Mokona believes. Mokona thinks Syaoran should believe too."