25. Door
Sakura started closing her bedroom door after they reached Infinity.
Before, she'd never worried about it. She'd trusted her companions, and had nothing to hide from them. Until Tokyo.
Outside, the conversations withered. They were making an effort for her, to keep her from breaking apart. They didn't understand that the best thing they could do for her now was to close the door, just as they allowed the new Syaoran to do.
They didn't understand that the all she wanted was to forget him. To go where she wouldn't have to see Syaoran's face and remember what she'd lost.
26. Atonement
Syaoran waited for everyone to finish tending to their injuries before examining his own.
Most of the time, Fai was quick enough to avoid getting hurt. But Kurogane-san tended to absorb just as many hits as he dodged, and so received a vast array of small cuts and bruises.
Neither of those things were what prompted Syaoran to hang back, however. It was the thought that the aches and pains he endured contributed to his eventual atonement. If he had arrived in Tokyo a minute sooner . . . But I didn't. So it's my place to suffer for it.
27. An Offer of Friendship
Syaoran looked up, startled.
"Here's liquor," the ninja said, offering him a glass. "Can you drink it?"
"Considering the other me was able to . . ."
"I asked if you could drink it."
A pang went through him, half relief and half apprehension. No one ever acknowledged him without the qualifier—"this" Syaoran.
"I don't know . . ." he finally said, eyes dropping. Smooth glass touched his hand, and he wrapped his fingers around the drink automatically. Kurogane sat beside him, coming closer than anyone else ever did.
It was a moment before Syaoran could speak again. "Thank you."