Late that night, the travelers were awoken by Soma, Ryuu, and some of the servants.
"What's wrong?" Syaoran asked Ryuu groggily.
"Not entirely sure myself. Lady Kendappa asked us to wake you guys and bring you to the Star Room." Ryuu answered as he helped Syaoran stand. "I think Lady Kisshuten wants to talk to you. She's the daughter of the former god king and sees the future in her star mirror."
Ryuu helped him through the castle, eventually meeting the others. Soma was leading Kurogane and Fai, Ashura was holding Sakura's hand. Once in the large open room fully of windows, they saw Karura, Yasha, and Lady Kendappa standing on either side of a large circular mirror. Syaoran's eyes widened.
Inside the mirror was a majestic lady dressed in a volumous white gown, with pale skin, black hair piled high on her head and still long enough to trail on the ground around her. Her violet eyes stared at them with sadness of one who'd seen horrors no one should witness.
"Welcome, travelers from other worlds. I am Lady Kisshuten." The Lady's voice was soft but very clear and full of sincerity. "I have seen your coming from many years ago, but not the exact nature of your journey. I wished to meet all of you that the witch sent."
It took a moment for the words to sink in. "You know that conniving, evil, sneaky, greedy witch?!" Kurogane's outburst earned blinks and stares from everyone but Syaoran, Fai, Sakura, and Mokona.
Syaoran spoke first. "My name is Syaoran; this is Princess Sakura, Fai, Kurogane, and Mokona." He gestured to each of his companions in turn. "As for our journey, we merely want to return the Princess's memories to her."
"Are sure one of these memories is in Tenkai?"
"No, not entirely sure-" Syaoran was cut off by Mokona's "Mekyo!"
The white fluff-ball turned around and a pink beam hit the wall opposite the mirror. In the beam was a thin, pale woman with long black hair and red eyes, wearing a black kimono with read and blue butterflies.
"Yuuko! You haven't talked to us in a long while!"
"I'm glad to see you too, Mokona. You certainly seem to get around." Yuuko stated dryly, addressing the rest of the group. It's been a while, hasn't it, Kisshuten?" She inclined her head in a slight bow to the other woman. "I never would've thought this group would reach your land so soon."
"It's very good to see you, my old friend. Indeed, it is good to see any friends in this era, when that time is approaching."
Yuuko remained quiet, and then looked back down at the travelers. Her eyes fell on Kurogane and smirked. "Well, I heard that 'evil, conniving, greedy witch' comment, Kurogane."
Kurogane crossed his arms and turned his head away. "Keh! Damned wench. Just what are you doing contacting us anyway?"
"Just checking in on you, seeing how your journey is going."
Sakura stepped forward, Ashura still holding on to her hand. "Miss Yuuko, I want to ask you if you known where my feather is in this world. Mokona can't sense it because there are so many magics in this world."
"I can tell you, but it comes with a price. One equal to you question, for that is a wish." Her tone became serious.
"But I don't know what I can give you."
Syaoran stepped forward, no longer leaning on Ryuu. "Will these do?" He held out his goggles.
"Those were your Father's. He gave them to you before he died; they mean something valuable to you. Yes, those will do. Mokona?"
Mokona turned around and opened its mouth wide. The goggles became a small ball of light and were sucked into Mokona's mouth; not two seconds later, they were in Yuuko's hand.
"I have received the price. Your feather lies in Zenmi Castle, home of the god-king Taishakuten. I cannot tell you if he is the one who holds your feather, but it is there and has been there little more than 300 years."
"Thank you, Miss Yuuko." Sakura bowed deeply to her.
"Well, if you no longer require my services, I shall be going. I wish you luck."
"Bye bye Yuko!" Mokona waved a paw as the projection started going fuzzy.
Just before it was gone completely, she turned back to them with a sly look.
"Before I forget: Syaoran, Fai, Kurogane, I have yet to receive your White Day presents. Send them soon or I'll double the price." And she was gone.
"What?!" Kurogane and Syaoran exclaimed at the same time, with varying looks of anger and disbelief.
"Well, that's the dimensional witch for you." Fai said complacently. Mokona nodded, bouncing up to his shoulder.
Kurogane grumble under his breath while Karura turned to Lady Kendappa. "What's White Day?"
Lady Kendappa shrugged. "Apparently a day women receive gifts."
They gave each other conspiratorial looks and glanced at Yasha, who wasn't paying attention, until Fai came up to him.
"Lord Yasha, I don't mean to pry but what happened 300 years ago? You see, the feather have great power and we've seen them change entire worlds."
Yasha was silent but Lady Kisshuten spoke to him as well.
"Lord Yasha, I think you should tell these travelers of Kyou's prediction. They may play a part in it."
Ashura let go of Sakura and headed over to Yasha, who knelt down so he could sit in his lap. Yasha looked up at the travelers and his companions.
"Kyou said this to me:
'Six stars will fall to this plane
The dark stars that will defy the heavens
And you shall undertake a journey
One that begins when you fin the child of a vanished race
I cannot discern the child's alignment…
I only know that it is he alone who can turn the wheel of Tenkai's destiny
For it by heavenly mandate that through this child the six stars shall begin to gather
And then someone shall appear from the shadows
Even my powers cannot clearly make out his figure
But he knows the future and can manipulate but evil and heavenly stars.
A roaring flame shall raze the wicked
Six stars will overpower all others…
And inevitably…
They will be the schism that splits the heavens.'"
No one spoke for several moments. Mokona bounced forward to them.
"There's no mention of the feather or Mokona's friends in that story." It said, ears cocked.
Yasha looked down at the creature. "No, there's not. But it's possible what you seek is in Taishakuten's possession." He looked over at Sakura. "You've said your feathers have powers of their own. It's possible, that if he has one, that's what gave him the power to kill the former god-king."
Sakura said nothing but lowered her eyes to the floor. It didn't seem to matter if the memory within the feather was good or not, her feathers just caused pain and anguish everywhere one landed. She sank to her knees, trying to hold in her tears, and the feeling of guilt that threatened to swallow her.
Fai leaned down and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sakura, there's no reason to think it's your fault. You can't control the feathers. Besides, we don't know if this Taishakuten is using the feather. It could be hidden in the castle and no one knows where it is." Sakura nodded, somewhat comforted by his worlds, but still said nothing.
"Yasha," Ashura suddenly spoke to the man. "Let them come with us. We're going to Zenmi Castle as well. Won't it be easier if we all went?"
Yasha stared dumbly at the child. Before he could answer, Ashura was already out of his lap and kneeling beside Sakura. "What'd you think? I want you to come with us. We can take out Taishakuten together and get your feather back!"
Sakura blinked, and then smiled. "Yes, I would like that. What do you think?" She asked her companions. Fai grinned and nodded. Kurogane grinned wolfishly, anticipating battle. Syaoran nodded and addressed Yasha and his companions. "If you'll have us, we'd join you and your quest." He bowed, straightened, and waited for them to answer.
Ryuu was the first to speak. "It'll be fun! Those generals won't stand a chance against all us skilled warriors!"
"I think it might be for the best." Karura agreed. "They help us and we help them. What d you think Soma?"
"I would like to along aw well. But I will abide by the decision made." She looked at Yasha.
The tall man looked at each traveler, he eyes lingering on Sakura. His gaze softened. "Yes." He said simply.
Ashura tackled/hugged Sakura. Lady Kendappa stepped forward to Syaoran.
"I can't do much to help you, but I can make you and your companions less obvious. I will have new clothes sent o your rooms in the morning." She smiled and Syaoran bowed to her.
"Thank you very much. I'm sure you take on great risk helping us." Syaoran answered respectfully.
Lady Kendappa stared at him for a moment, then started to giggle, raising a hand to try and hide it, but the giggle escalated into full blown laughter. Syaoran just blinked at her. "Eh?"
"I'm sorry." She said trying to calm down. "I don't mean to laugh at you. It's just, you remind me so much of Tenou, all manners and soft words, for a moment I thought I walk talking to him!" She dissolved into laughter again.
Fai, now confused, looked to Karura and Soma. "Who's Tenou?"
"Taishakuten's son, the prince." Karura said offhandedly. "He's nothing like that monster. He's kind, considerate and wants to fix things. I've only met him once, but he's quite sweet on Lady Kendappa." She had a mischievous gleam in her eyes as eh looked at her friend.
Lady Kendappa finally calmed her giggles and addressed the entire group. "I will give you supplies and you will leave in the morning."
-
On the way back to their rooms, Kurogane hung back towards the rear of the group with Soma.
"I don't' suppose Princess Tomoyo is here as well?" Kurogane asked gruffly.
"I have never met anyone by that name. I head you explaining who you though Lady Kendappa was. She has no siblings. I'm sorry if you thought you'd find your princess here."
"Why are you apologizing? It's not like it's your fault or has anything to do with you."
"You seemed eager to find your princess. You're clearly very loyal to her."
Kurogane 'humph'ed and stayed quiet, letting Soma take him and Fai to the room they shared. Sakura shared a room with Lady Karura and Mokona, and Syaoran roomed with Ryuu. Ashura, of course, stayed with Yasha and Soma supposedly had her own room somewhere in the castle.
-
The black Mokona looked up at Yuuko sadly. She bent down to pick up the small creature and quietly pet it.
"Mokona and the others won't leave that world happy, will they?" Mokona said quietly.
"No, they won't." Yuuko answered, walking to the other side to of the storeroom to a red backed silver mirror with dragons etched along the border. "Those children don't understand at the moment but very soon that moment will arrive. Even Kisshuten can see it in her star mirror. After the tragedy that will hit Tenkai, they will suffer even more."
Mokona's ears drooped. "Syaoran and the other especially."
"That's right. Inevitably, our Watanuki will be hurt too. But not in the same way." She placed the hand not holding Mokona on the top of the mirror. It projected the image of a tall, lanky boy with black hair and miss-matched blue and gold eyes, dressing a black and white uniform. With him was a taller boy with two gold eyes and black hair, and a girl with dark brown pigtails and turquoise eyes. "Kimihiro Watanuki, Shizuka Domeki, and Kunogi Himawari. Those three's destinies are inseparably intertwined. Their part is soon coming to realization."
In the mirror, Watanuki was yelling at Domeki who ignored him a kept munching on a rice ball while Himawari was laughing at them, prompting Watanuki to turn to her with sparkly eyes as he offered her the bento box for he to select a delicacy. Yuuko couldn't help but smile at the scene.
"True, all these children will face hardship like nothing they've ever known. But, the bonds between them, and the bonds that will be formed, will tie them to life. They will pull through this tragedy."
Mokona hopped up to her shoulder and nuzzled against her neck. "Mokona doesn't want Mokona to be hurt. Mokona wants Mokona to be happy." Yuuko gently stroked the fur of the small being. "Mokona want to go where Mokona is." It had small tears leaking out of its eyes.
"I know. But you can't. You have your own purpose here." Yuuko said gently. "Don't worry Mokona. You two shall meet again."