19. First Words (200 words)

"Candle," Fujitaka said, holding up the appropriate item. He kept hoping for the boy to echo a word back to him—any word, even if it was the wrong word—but the boy just nodded as if he understood.

Fujitaka picked up another item. "Book."

A nod.

They went back and forth with this for a few minutes, as they did every day. It was clear from the boy's responses that he understood. But it surprised him when the boy pointed to himself.

"Syaoran," he said, though he'd taught the boy his name weeks ago.

The boy nodded, then pointed to him. "Fujitaka," the man said.

This time, the boy shook his head. He pointed more forcefully.

"I don't understand," Fujitaka finally said.

The boy looked at him in dismay, then pulled a sheet of paper from the table. There, he wrote a single, clumsy character.

Syaoran handed him the paper, solemn as ever. Fujitaka examined the character, trying to make sense of the crooked lines. When he did, his face softened. "This is the word for 'father.'"

Syaoran took the paper and pushed it to the man's chest. In a soft, unpracticed voice, the boy said, "You're my father now."

20. Nine Months

Syaoran rested one hand on Sakura's abdomen. "Maybe I'll be here for the birth after all."

She laced her fingers with his. She was nine months pregnant.

He leaned in closer to her face and planted a kiss at the base of her jaw. Sakura giggled.

"You'll be a wonderful father."

"When I'm here," he sighed.

"Even when you're not."

Syaoran felt the tingle of magic on his neck. He bit his lip. "It's time for me to go."

Sakura's smile vanished as the magic wrapped around her husband. She kissed him.

"I'll see you soon," he promised. And disappeared.

21. Mismatched

It had been a long time since Kurogane had felt fear. But now he was afraid—for the princess, at the bottom of the reservoir—for the rest of his companions' survival.

But it wasn't until he saw the kid, holding the mage by the back of his cloak, that his fear turned to panic. "Boy!"

Everything went still in the reservoir, as if time itself had slowed to make the moment surreal. The kid tilted his head up and met his gaze, expressionless. Kurogane's fear faded to numb disbelief.

Mismatched eyes returned his stare, shattering the nightmare and making it real.