I do not own Tsubasa or any of their wonderful characters, although Sammy Featherstone is my own creation.

~Featherstone

Chapter 5

'We're back!'

As I walked back into the apartment with the others they all started to announce the fact that they had returned. I don't see the point; if one person has told the host they are back, why continue to say it? Maybe it was a custom... Arashi turned her gaze from the girl Sakura who was still asleep on the floor and greeted us with a smile.

'Welcome. Come on in. Were you able to find any clues?'

'Yes!'

Syaoran rushed forward, obviously eager to get closer to the girl and I moved away from the door frame and sank into a corner. I looked up to see Sorata running at full speed towards the group.

'Oh, you're all here! How did it go?'

As he slinked closer to Arashi the others walked into the room and sat around Sakura.

'But… Before any of that… Honey! Where is my welcome home kiss?'

I cringed at the use of those words and wanted to punch something, although Arashi got there before me smacking him square on the head. I must admit, it was slightly amusing but I repressed any immature thoughts. After regaining his composure Sorata started to discuss the day's events with the rest of them. I stayed out the discussion to listen to their theories about this 'memory feather', after all, if I were to be travelling with them from now on it would only make sense that I should contribute in some way. If I didn't understand the situation then it would make things difficult for me. During the day they had got caught up with a gang much like the one which I encountered and Syaoran's Kudan had appeared. They had a meal before going out shopping for food supplies as they had assumed that I had gone back to the apartment. During their trip out Kurogane had fought with another gang in the area with his Kudan. Both of the males Kudans had been extremely strong apparently. There was one thing which bugged me, however. They talked about their Kudans coming to help you when in danger and mine certainly didn't help, so my Kudan was either broken or I couldn't control it properly. Mokona had sensed the feather when they were out, but only for a short period of time, so surely the location of the feather would have been obvious to them. They all went quite trying to work out where the feather would be. I decided to break my silence and contribute when the others were drawing blanks about the location of the feather; it actually infuriated me that they hadn't realised.

'I hope you don't mind me interrupting, but I believe I may know where the feather may be.'

They all turned their heads and seemed surprised to find me sitting there; I guess I can blend in so easily that I don't need my Kudan to make me invisible.

'Wait you do?'

Syaoran almost jumped up at the hope of finding a feather for the sleeping girl. I faltered ever so slightly at the sudden attention but then carried on with my idea.

'The waves which Mokona can sense come and go as well, what other things come and go in this area?'

They all looked deep in thought and I almost thought about reconsidering the way I told them my theory, it was a simple enough to work out for me but if the others couldn't work it out then maybe my idea was too far fetched. Just before I started to talk again Fai clicked his fingers.

'The Kudans!'

I nodded and then carried on again.

'The feathers which you talk about are her heart, am I correct?'

I searched for conformation from one of the group members and Syaoran nodded.

'I imagine that for her to be in such a state then she must have lost something which is extremely important and memories for many people can be strong. So I assume that the Kudan which the feather is in must be controlled by someone with and equally strong heart.'

I was making a lot of this up as I went along, but the more I said it, the more I was convinced that it sounded like a plausible idea.

'Sounds like an idea.'

Kurogane had just shrugged in the corner before Fai stretched out his legs taking up a ridiculous amount of room.

'So, looking for a strong Kudan seems to be a shortcut to finding Sakura's feathers.'

I sighed, finally relieved that they had managed to catch onto the idea whilst Sorata jumped up and announced that it was time to make the meal. I stood up automatically to offer my help; after all, you don't get anything for nothing so helping would be the only logical thing to do in this situation. He gestured for Kurogane and Fai to help and they started to walk towards the door. I followed and Sorata turned around and gave me a quizzical look.

'Where are you going?'

I frowned slightly at his stupidity before putting my face back into its neutral state.

'I was hoping that you may allow me to help.'

'Oh, are you not tired?'

I shook my head.

'Ok then. Well you go ahead and get some of the things prepared with this lot'

He gestured at Kurogane and Fai and then stepped to the side and I followed the other two out of the room.

xXx

'Right, can you chop these vegetables up for me Sammy?'

I took the bag full of vegetables from Sorata and placed it on the counter and started to cut them up neatly into bite size chunks before placing them into separate dishes ready to be added to the side dish. As I was cutting I noted that many of the utensils and ingredients were completely different to what I had used before to cook with. Kurogane was standing at the cooker poking some noodles which were on the boil and Fai had managed to get out of doing anything which made me irritated to say the least. Sorata made his way towards the door and turned back around before leaving.

'I just need to check up on a few things, I want to see a meal when I come back!'

Fai shouted ok before Sorata shut the door behind him.

'Hey, mage! Why don't you help?'

Kurogane had left his post at the stove and made his way towards the blonde who was sitting on a chair twiddling his thumbs.

'I wasn't given anything to do Kuro-puu.'

The noodles had started the boil over and I rushed towards the pan and turned down the heat to a simmer. I put the chopsticks in the pan to stir the noodles and they were completely stuck to the bottom of the pan. Kurogane was supposed to stir them! I took the pan off the heat and then drained the hot water and scraped the noodles out from the pan and into the bin. This was all met by the sound of a laugh from behind me.

'Kuro-mew is not very good at cooking! Now we don't have any noodles!'

'Stop calling me by those weird nicknames!'

I quickly washed out the pan and then added more water and put it back on the heat so the water could heat up. I looked for some more noodles but they had all been used up. I cursed under my breath and then went to turn around to see if the others knew where the noodles were but Fai was at my side before I got the chance, leaning over my shoulder to see what I was doing. I stepped to the side to get away from him and crossed my arms.

'Hmmm, looks like we are out of noodles. Kuro-tan –'

'SHUT UP!'

'- can you go find some more noodles?'

'Fine, as long as I can get away from you!'

Kurogane stomped towards the door walked out and then slammed it. I almost felt sorry for him, having to deal with the idiot's nicknames. I put my arm out to turn off the heat and then took the long way around the kitchen to avoid getting anywhere near Fai so I could carry on chopping up the vegetables. It was nice to have something systematic to do, my thoughts just wondered off by themselves.

xXx

'So, did you have a good time while you wondered off today?'

I jumped and cut my finger as Fai had appeared just in front of me. I hadn't even been aware of him moving around. I couldn't believe how stupidly I had reacted and pulled out a paper towel to quickly clean the cut.

'Oh, sorry. I guess you're jumpy.'

I turned my attention back to the vegetables and carried on cutting.

'You don't talk much.'

He said that earlier, either he has a five second memory or is trying to make me mad. I finished cutting the vegetables and washed up the knife and the board in the sink before drying them and putting them away. Fai was becoming more annoyed by the sounds of it, his fingers constantly tapping the work surface like he couldn't cope with silence. I used the same board again and took out the beef from the fridge and cut it into cubes.

'Can you get a pan out for me please and put some oil in it.'

'Sure!'

He almost seemed happy that I had said anything. So he dislikes silence, I can tell I am not going to get on with him at all. He got the pan out and poured some oil in before taking the cubes of meat from the board and frying them in the pan. I looked around for something to do and settled on washing up again.

'Kuro-chi is taking a while to get the noodles.'

I scrubbed the board down and put it on the side to drain.

'So how is the trip going for you?'

'Ok.'

'It must be a bit of a shock to you for all of this to happen.'

'I guess.'

'You should have been more careful when you gave blood to Yuuko, you were lucky that you didn't lose a lot more blood than you did by cutting your wrist like that, you should have gone for a spot where you were less likely to bleed to death. I had to carry you all the way to the apartment because you passed out and Mr. angry pants was to busy carrying the other two.'

I turned my head back at him with a slight amount of shock and found my dislike for him increasing even more. That was not something that I thought had happened and I certainly did not want it to. Just the thought of him even coming anywhere near made me cringe.

'So why are you travelling with us? You said you didn't want to go back to your world.'

I thought back to the shop, it seemed like a distant dream. I wanted to find out more about the people I would be travelling with, so if I could exchange a piece of information for the other I might as well give a quick answer.

'I just ended up at that place because I didn't like the situation I was in.'

'So how did you get there? You had been teleported so you sent yourself.'

'I'm not sure. You?'

'Just needed to get away from where I had been, so a bit like you.'

'And how did you get there?'

'I transported myself to the shop, and when to travel with all of you I gave away my magic source so as a price. I must admit, your price was awfully strange. Do you know magic or anything like that?'

I shook my head. I had only just become aware that magic was even real today. I was satisfied that I had a certain amount of information to work on to understand him. I walked over the vegetables and put them on the side so he could add them to the pan. I washed up the bowls and then dried them and put them away. Just as I finished the door swung open and Kurogane slammed the newly aqiured noodles onto the table.

'I had to go into the city just to get some stupid noodles and it is your entire fault you idiot!'

Fai pointed at himself and started laughing.

'But you were the one who ruined the noodles.'

'And it was your fault for not doing anything!'

All the shouting started to form a headache, I get them quite easily, and I walked around their argument and started for the door. When I get headache is makes me feel nauseous and being around this group who are so prone to getting into arguments didn't seem like a sensible idea.

'Oi, where you going?'

I turned around and tried an apologetic face, it didn't come very easily. I was glad to have the chance to get away from them to be honest.

'When my headaches start they usually get worse and make me feel ill, so I don't think I will be eating tonight.'

'Are you sure, we have made plenty and even this big one here couldn't eat it all!'

'Shut up!'

His shouting was increasing the headache and I turned back out of the door and made my way to the room I was staying in.

'Yeah, don't save any.'

'Ok, night!'

I wondered out of the kitchen and pushed the door open into the vast and empty room which I was staying in. My headache was now becoming a constant thump right between my eyes and I couldn't concentrate on getting ready to go to sleep properly. I gave up trying and just sat down with my back against the wall massaging my temples, beckoning sleep to take me before I started to feel sick.