64. April Fools Day (150)
"Should we really be doing this?" Syaoran glanced down the row of bookshelves.
"Mokona is sure. All Syaoran has to do is call the librarian over."
Syaoran hesitated. "And then?"
Mokona smiled. After a moment, Syaoran walked across the room and addressed the librarian. The man gave him a questioning look, then approached.
"It was this book." Syaoran pulled a random tome off the shelf.
"What's wrong with it?"
Before Syaoran could answer, Mokona opened her mouth and inhaled. The pages fluttered, like a bird taking flight. The librarian recoiled from the roaring wind. Mokona swallowed the book, then closed her mouth, going as still as a stuffed doll.
Several seconds passed, as the librarian struggled to understand what had happened. "What was that?"
Syaoran shrugged. "An April Fool's prank?" he suggested, as if he truly had no idea.
Mokona repressed the urge to smile until the librarian was gone.
65. Names
Syaoran grew to hate his name in Infinity.
He wouldn't have minded the others calling him Syaoran, except for the reason behind it. Because he was nothing more than a replacement of the boy they'd lost in Tokyo. They called him Syaoran out of convenience, not respect.
It wasn't as bad as his real name.
Tsubasa. Wings. It seemed bitterly ironic that his name was a symbol of freedom, yet he'd been held captive for seven years. Ironic how he was pinned down by Sakura's coldness, by this broken city in this broken world.
As if his wings were broken.
66. Waiting
She stood on the sand dune and watched them disappear.
Her heart gave a spasm of grief. Time flowed differently in every world—how could she know if they'd even return in her lifetime?
Behind her, Touya sighed. She looked at him, vision blurring with nascent tears. It was the first time in a long time that her brother didn't look irritated, or arrogant, or anxious, but she took little joy in his solemnity.
But Syaoran had vowed he would return someday, and she had never known him to break a promise. Not to her. She'd wait here until he returned.