A/N: I'm back with the next chapter people.

The identities of the two doctors are Sakura from Naruto and Masooma. Here's a whole lot of cookies for all those who managed to get it right.

Enjoy!

I didn't kill them… I was repeating the words in my head over and over again, hoping that maybe somehow this will all go away. But my voice in my head kept telling me otherwise, soon being joined in by the voices of all the ones I had once held dear. Every single one of them was agreeing with my other voice, after a while making me believe the truth.

It really was my fault. A sob tore through my throat as I sunk to the dark yet colorless ground which seemed to be made out of nothing at all.

My own mind voiced the question my other voice had raised a while back. Why was I still alive? There was nothing left to live for so then why was I still here? Why was I not being burnt in the deepest pits of hell for taking the lives of so many innocent people?

Their voices were still shouting at me for letting them die when I could have saved them.

I'm sorry… I apologized but the voices were not pacified. I'm sorry…

What for? A curious voice questioned, making me stiffen as all other voices vanished. I had not heard that voice for so long. I kept my eyes facing the ground as I answered. For letting you and everyone else die when I could have saved you.

I heard the pitter patter of a pair of light feet move my way, stopping a couple of feet behind me.

Do you really believe that it's your fault? She asked in a soft whisper.

Yes, I replied, still not looking up as a pair of legs became visible in the corner of my vision as she stepped closer. Afraid to raise my head to find a hollow, gaunt face with lifeless eyes stare back at me, I still kept staring at my feet.

Oh Fai I was enveloped in a warm embrace. My whole body stiffened at the contact.

It It couldn't be I had seen her vanish. Akira's spell had erased her from existence. But this?

This felt far too real to be made up.

H-how…

I never once blamed you, you know. She told me, the melancholic smile could be heard in her tone.

I-I saw her kill your soul, I said as my muscles relaxed at the comfort being offered. I thought… I thought that you were gone forever.

Akira lied, she answered as she pulled away, taking my hand and pulling me along as she started to walk. I remembered all the times she used to do this back in Celes. Nothing can destroy a soul. She said, her tone changing to one of teasing, I thought you knew that.

But your presence vanished.

Because I was trapped in her mind. She led me up a sloping hill covered with snow. Why had I not noticed the change in scenery? I finally raised my head to look around, only to be stunned.

There was snow all around us as far as the eye could see, but a forest of tall trees was visible in the distance. The sky overhead was a clear blue with white wispy clouds and a warm glowing sun. I looked to my right and saw an ancient Chinal tree standing proudly with its pale, bluish leaves and black leathery bark. Beautiful lavender-colored flowers blossomed on its branches with petals slightly larger than an average Sakura but somewhat similar in shape.

You used to bring me here, remember? I finally turned my head to look at my apprentice and my mouth hung open at what I saw.

Before me was not the bruised and burnt face of the girl I had failed to save but the smiling, unmarred face of Masooma. Her eyes were not dull and lifeless; rather, they were sparkling like a pair of gems, full of life and laughter.

You should see the look on your face. She laughed just the way I remembered.

I'm sorry. I looked away, guilt crashing over me once again as my own cold voice reminded me of how I had failed her.

Ugh! She stomped her foot in anger. Say that one more time and I swear I am going to hit you, Fai.

But- Wham!

I said I would hit you. Masooma giggled as she lowered her fist. I don't know why you like to make me repeat myself. She sighed, reaching out to cup my cheek and locking her fierce amber-eyed gaze with mine, I don't blame you Fai. It wasn't your fault.

You died, Masooma.I looked away, choosing instead to stare at the snow-covered forest. Kurogane died. Syaoran died. And Sakura… I don't even know what became of her. You were all hurt because of me. That bitch killed you guys because of me! How is it not my fault?! You had nothing to do with her and she stilled killed you all! Just to get to ME! How can you say I am not to blame?

Because Akira was crazy. She answered simply.

Wow, I gave a bitter laugh, after losing all of my friends you'd think I would have noticed that.

Then why do you insist on taking the blame? Masooma's tone was lighthearted once again.

You're still just as stubborn as I remember.

Look who's talking. She smiled, flopping down on the snow, leaning against the trunk of the tree as she picked up a fallen blossom. Her thin fingers were playing with the petals as she looked up at me, silently asking me to sit down beside her. I've spent so many years trapped in that witch's mind, constantly listening to her trying to convince me that you're the reason I died. But you know what? She plucked a petal free from the blossom, staring at it intently as I settle down next to her. I never once believed her. Because I knew you did everything you could to try and save me. Your healing spell, the one that you had cast when you had found me, it was the only thing that kept me from losing myself in Akira's mental captivity while every other witch or wizard that she drained wound up perishing.

I'm still me thanks to you. Her soft-brown eyes looked up once more. How can I blame you for that?

The grip that guilt had on me loosened at the sight of her grateful smile.

And I'm pretty sure your friends would never hold you responsible either.

-0-

The place where I was was one huge contradiction. It was not pitch black but there was no light there either. There was no sound here but it was not deathly silent. I felt like I was floating and standing and lying down at the same time. The thing that surrounded me was harder than concrete yet softer than velvet, and it was burning hot yet freezing cold.

It was disorientating.

I could not remember who I was, only that I existed. I had no idea where I was but I knew I had to go somewhere.

It felt as though I was wading through some thick gooey thing to reach my destination. Or was I gliding through it? Maybe I was just running on it. It was so confusing yet there was this sense of urgency in me. This burning need to go someplace.

A place that was beckoning me towards it. Wordlessly calling me, beckoning me, summoning me...

I wanted to just go there.

But something held me back. It was preventing me from reaching my goal. I tried to wrench myself free of the restraints. I had to get there. I needed to go there. Wonders awaited me.

With a great deal of effort, I managed to break away from whatever had been restraining me. I was now zooming towards this place, moving faster than I ever had before.

But then a sharp jolting pain shot through my chest, tugging me back.

No! I felt like crying out. I was so close. So close. I was almost there. Why was I being pulled in the other direction? I didn't want to go back.

Another jolt and I felt myself move even farther away from the place I had so desperately wanted to go to.

Hold on. A faint voice whispered in my ear as I was dragged away, Hold on Sakura.

Sakura

Did that name belong to me? Was that who I was?

I still could not remember. All I knew was that I did not want to go back. That place was wordlessly telling me that I would not like what awaited me there if I went back. It asked me to come to it instead, where everything would always be alright.

Please don't die... that voice. It was so familiar. Who did it belong to? I knew that person. Who was it? You have to live…

Live?

Why? That mysterious place questioned, summoning me once more. Without a second thought, I obeyed, following the direction of that soundless call.

Because you can't leave him like everyone else. This voice was new. I had never heard it before. But what it had said Was there someone depending on me?

Yes! Another jolt of pain, sharper than before attacked my heart, forcefully halting me, just when both those voices yelled. A wind picked up around me, lights beginning to flash through my vision. Sounds I could hear sounds. They were frantic. Worried.

The call of my unknown destination began to fade from my mind, the sense of urgency to get there leaving me.

You can't just give up like that. The familiar voice told me. You're stronger than that so please, you have to stay alive.

The wind had reached an almost gale like velocity, its strong force pushing, whipping everything around me.

Live… the voice told me gently. You have to live.

I had to live

The frantic voices continued to assault my ears, growing louder and louder, the lights getting brighter. I was tumbling through a void, a strange tunnel, where everything was mixed up. It overwhelmed me, making me feel like I would explode. But just when I reached my breaking point everything just sort of went away.

-0-

I looked at the girl sitting beside me with a horrified expression.

Y-you were trapped inside her all this time?

Sort of. She shrugged carelessly. According to the spell Akira had performed, I was supposed to just become a part of her, you know, sort of exist but cease to exist at the same time. It drove her crazy. Not that she wasn't crazy in the first place but she got crazier than before.

But, she fell silent as her expression grew solemn. She rubbed the flower petal in between her fingers, feeling it's texture as her eyes grew distant, then she came up with some sort of binding spell. I just sort of faded away to the back of her mind. I was still there, mind you, just no longer aware of what was going on. Time lost its meaning and then, she looked at me, a small smile forming on her face, before I knew it, I was seeing you attack her beyond the barrier as she tried to kill your friend.

I lowered my head in shame. I had put her through so much suffering, just like the others.

Fai, if you're blaming yourself for this again, I swear I am going to cross over right now. And I won't even come back to talk to you again.

Cross over? I blinked in shock, making her laugh lightly.

I can't hang around here forever you know. I'm free now. I can move on.

Oh. I guess she caught the disappointment in my tone because the next second I was once again enveloped in her comforting hug.

Thanks for everything Fai. She tightened her hold around me as she buried her head into the crook of my neck. I inhaled deeply, breathing in her familiar scent of orange blossoms and snow, perhaps for the last time.

You're welcome Masooma. I whispered, returning her embrace. We stayed like that for a while before she let go, a grin forming on her lips as she brushed her fingers on top of my head.

Even in the dream world, the petals are attracted to your hair. I looked at her in confusion before I remembered how she used to laugh at me for the very same reason back in Celes. It was really strange but the petals of Chinal blossoms always landed on my head, covering my hair in a layer of pale purple.

I shook my head a couple of times, making the petals rain to the ground in a beautiful shower of lilac. The snow glinted in the light of the sun overhead as they landed on top of it.

I must say though, you're little friend, Syaoran, is quite an amazing boy.

You've met him?

Well, I wasn't the only one Akira managed to absorb into herself. She was trying to do the same to that ninja, Kurogane I think his name was but I started resisting her, stopping her from using my magic to heal or empower herself. I might not have been able to do it alone but then suddenly I felt him by my side. And believe me when I say this, he fought against her more furiously than I could have thought humanly possible.

He's got one hell of a determination.

That's Syaoran-kun for you. I chuckled lightly, feeling relieved to know that he was okay. Sort of. Where is he now?

Where do you think? She gave me a lopsided grin as her eyes sparkled with hidden laughter.

-0-

A/N: Syaoran is still around but what will become of Sakura? Fai's guilt is finally being reduced but will he be able to wake up from this dream? And what about Kurogane who was completely absent this time? All this and a lot more will be answered next time.

I'll try my level best to put up the next chapter this coming Monday but it might get delayed a week or so due to my upcoming exams. Wish me luck guys.

And DO NOT forget to review! ;)

Ciao.