A/N: I first posted this on my journal on Gaia (My username is on my profile), then decided to post it here. I've actually got a few chapters waiting for this thingy, but I've been working overtime on Gothix and my KuroFai Christmas story, Reason... Which, hopefully, will be done in a few days. Hopefully.

Childhood

It clicked into place, almost audibly in his mind.

A helpless, sobbing child.

"Ah."

This was what that mage hid; covered up with smiles, thinking that sugary happiness would cover everything up...

A small, innocent child.

He'd been denied that assurance, growing up. It was nothing like his own childhood, living in Suwa. With his kind mother and proud father. With someone to always catch him if he fell, to help him when he was hurt, to give him food, warmth, and comfort.

That man had nothing but a tower to look to, a twin to reach for, and endless bodies piling around him.

Stuck as a child who had no naivities.

As old as he may, or may not be, Fai had no reasoning abilities but the ones that were forced upon him.

A child, with a child's thoughts. A child's beliefs of right and wrong; of forgiveness...

He was not level-headed. He could not understand the urgency of the situation. He could not fathom the value of his own life. He simply could not understand that he was just as important!

A lost, scared child.

In many ways, Kurogane had always felt that Sakura and Shaoran were not his only "children", but that Fai was included in the mix, despite the blonde's cry of 'motherhood'. He was simply not coherent enough to be a mother. He was more fit to child's play.

A bitter taste that was only thought to be remidied by sweets. A penchant for horseplay. Unselfishness. Selfishness. Horror at the betrayal of a father figure.

It hit him, hard. That was the reason that the simple sentance, 'it doesn't matter' worked so brilliantly.

He turned to his companion, who was sitting complacently at his side, staring off at the cherry blossoms that surrounded Shirasaki castle.

"Childish," he grunted.

Fai turned his head, frowning, "What?"

"You're such a child," Kurogane muttered.

Fai gave a brilliant smile, "I'm older than you are," he reminded his ninja sweetly.

Kurogane rolled his eyes, turning away from the once-magician. Fai leaned into his side, his eye tracking a single, whole blossom, reaching out to catch it in an outstreched palm. He hummed in delight, spinning the flower between two thin fingers.

The ninja chuckled. He'd make a real effort to put up with Fai's antics from now on. Children eventually grew up... Hopefully, the blonde would learn the real right from wrong.

Because you can always overcome your childhood.