A/N: Written in light of chapter 203. I am SOOO happy that Fai's character has progressed in such a way that he doesn't go all emo like he used to! Tho'... I still wanted to slap Syaoran for saying what he did... Gr. He's pissing me off a lot lately (Him and his Oedipus complex...)

Three: Time

"You've changed," Kurogane commented, watching Fai walk down the deserted passageway.

For the longest time, the only sound were their footsteps and their breaths in the time-frozen hallway. Fai turned, a warm smile on his lips, "Time does that," he replied, stepping forward to Kurogane.

The swordsman snorted. He wondered if he answered the way he did because of the situation; if he did, it was appropriate. Time had changed everything, even the slightest details of their lives, past and future, as they had found hours before.

Fai stretched, clasping his hands behind his head. "If I had been stronger then… I'd have chosen the same thing as Syaoran-kun— that much is true. But I can't imagine the strength required to do that! He's so much stronger than you or I…"

Kurogane gave a noncommittal grunt; he did admit, it took a certain type of strength to sacrifice everything for one person, and the strength required to consecrate a love like that was something the ninja had forgotten until just recently.

The blonde leaned forward, laying his head on Kurogane's shoulder, burying his face into the cloth of his companion's cloak. He sighed deeply, Kurogane's scent filling his nose, sending his body into relaxation, while his instincts perked with the slight tang of blood amidst the combined smell of the ninja, cloth, and sand.

It was such a long time ago that he'd been in that valley. It had been so long of a life. So many years to become stronger or weaker—Fai wasn't sure which he achieved. A little of both he assumed. He was strong enough to live, but not enough to live alone.

"But that was then," he murmured, reaching out to wrap his arms around Kurogane's waist.

"And now?"

"…If it were you… I would."

Kurogane hugged Fai tightly, lowering his head just enough so that his mouth rested on the vampire's forehead. "Don't."

"You wouldn't, Kuro-sama?"

Fai's voice trembled with the question. All this time, and he was still afraid of rejection, Kurogane realized. There were some things that time could not change; he was more honest than before… which made him more vulnerable… and so that fear was ever present.

"I'm not strong enough for that," the taller man admitted after a long silence.

Fai gasped softly, looking up, bewildered; "What?"

Kurogane scowled, looking away from the amber eye that sought to search his soul for him meaning; it would be better to tell him than for the man to come up with some far-fetched reasoning. "I couldn't bear knowing—watching—someone with my face be with my loved ones, with you… To watch you fall in love without me, with someone that was me, but not really… Then to watch that me hurt you, and not be able to protect you the way I wished… I couldn't sacrifice our time, your memories… just for more time that I couldn't spend with you…" His arms tightened around Fai, as his frown deepened; "To me, more time isn't worth that. If you died… yes, I would be sad… but I would go on, knowing that I did everything I could to save you, knowing that you wouldn't want me to sacrifice everything for you…" He clenched his metal hand softly, sighing. "I'm not saying what the kid did was wrong—it was right for him… but it's not right for me."

A look of pure adoration spread across Fai's face, and Kurogane looked at him, his cheeks flushing a pale pink; "Not that I care or anything," he muttered lamely, scowling.

Fai stood on his toes, kissing the ninja gently, "Then I won't waste anymore of our time with useless deliberations," he whispered.

"Better not," Kurogane growled, moving his hand to grasp the back of Fai's head as he pulled the slighter man into a firm kiss.

"I love you…"

And that was something, from then on… that time could not change, no matter how it turned.