Author's Notes:
More stuff straight out of the manga. I like this chapter a bit better than the last, because there's a little more room for interpretation, but it's still not my favorite. And, naturally, we can't skip over it.
Chapter Eighty
"It's too dangerous!" Mokona squeaked, nearly tumbling out of Syaoran's arms. He clutched the creature closer to his chest, partly to keep her from falling, and partly as a comfort. He hadn't thought he'd ever face a situation worse than what he'd faced in Tokyo. I should have expected this. It always gets worse.
He heard Kurogane sigh and looked up. "If I see her again, I'm going to punch her lights out," he grumbled, closing his eyes.
Syaoran's eyes widened in shock. Not because of the threat—Kurogane often threatened people who annoyed him—but because of the qualification. The if. A sickening panic washed through his veins. He doesn't think we'll find her. He doesn't think we can save her.
Even as Mokona objected, Yuuko smiled. "Yes, be sure to do that."
"Yuuko!" Mokona wailed, straining to get free of his arms. Syaoran held on, bowing his head.
A hand rested on his shoulder. Syaoran grit his teeth, trying to find the will to meet Kurogane's eyes even as he struggled to resist throwing himself into the ninja's arms. He took a few breaths to steady himself. By the time he did, Kurogane had changed the subject. "Her body and soul, huh . . . Her body is the biggest concern, right?"
"But . . . but even if we tried to go after Sakura, Mokona can't control which country we go to next."
There has to be some way to control that, Syaoran thought. Yukito was able to send Sakura and the Other directly to Yuuko's shop. There has to be some way to travel with enough precision to land in the desired world. His eyebrows knit together. What price would they have to pay to guarantee that?
"I have a wish," Fai said, and the room fell as silent as a funeral parlor. Then, almost to himself, he said, "The power I have now isn't enough, is it?"
"There is a price."
Fai lifted his head. No hint of uncertainty tainted his features. "My right eye."
Syaoran must have been in shock because the first thing that popped into his head was Why is it always an eye? Why does nobody ever offer to chop off their arm?
"I suppose I could gouge it out and hand it over," Fai continued, as if discussing an upcoming trip to the grocery store. Everyone stared in mute horror. "It's the embodiment of my magic. And if I lost both eyes, I'd certainly die. But I can't die yet. So my price will be everything that this eye sees."
"You will turn over the vision in your right eye?" Yuuko asked.
"Yes. I want to go back to Ceres."
"No!" Mokona squealed. "Fai can't do that! If Fai does, Fai won't ever be able to see again!"
The magician looked down. "It's the only thing I have left that's valuable enough to pay the price."
A sudden movement drew Syaoran's eye. He flinched back as Kurogane raised his fist and brought it down, knuckles slamming against the top of Fai's head. The resulting thud reverberated through the quiet room, like a paper-sheathed vase striking the ground.
"That's what I punch people out for," the ninja said, scowling. "Why do you have to pay the price on your own? If the princess's body is in Ceres, you're not going alone."
"But I—"
Kurogane snatched Fai's tournament collar, yanking him forward. Fai staggered several steps, his eye wide. "Up until now, I've pretty much let you do as you liked." Kurogane's voice came out in a low snarl. "So now, I'm going to do as I like." His fingers unfurled, freeing the magician. Fai slid back, shrinking under the ninja's anger. "Hey, witch."
"You've always been rude," Yuuko said, and though her voice was placid, Syaoran heard the disapproval in the words. "And now you add an utter lack of sense in how you address people."
"To hell with that. How is the princess's soul doing?"
"You can't chase after it now, even if you tried. Only souls can go into dreams. Besides, it will take time before the other Syaoran comes."
If anyone else noticed that she'd sidestepped his question, they didn't show it. Calmer now, Mokona spoke. "Is Sakura lonely in that dream world?"
Yuuko gave the creature a knowing smile. "The princess isn't alone. She's met someone in dreams, and that meeting will once again change the future."
Syaoran felt a spark of premonition. His whole body went rigid, and a face he hadn't seen in a very long time flashed in front of his eyes. Could she mean Watanuki? He glanced up, hoping for some signal, some confirmation. And also hoping he was wrong.
His heart relaxed when he realized that Yuuko was smiling. "Watanuki will not vanish. And his future is changing as well."
Thank goodness, he thought, ignoring the puzzled looks the others sent him as he let out a breath.
"Who's that supposed to be?" Kurogane asked, glancing between them as if unsure who he ought to direct the question to.
"Someone who has had nothing to do with you. Until now." Yuuko's eyes darkened. "So what will you do?"
Kurogane closed his eyes. "The princess's body is the first priority. We'll go." His eyes flashed to Syaoran's face. "And you?"
This isn't the time to be indecisive, Syaoran reminded himself, squaring his shoulders. "I'm going to Ceres." He paused, weighing his next words. The others knew some things about their enemy, but apart from Yuuko, Syaoran knew more than any of them. And while he wasn't prepared to tell them everything, there were things they needed to know. "The one who imprisoned me . . . Fei Wang Reed sliced out the princess's memories and scattered them. Now he wants her body. We can't know what he'll do." But it won't be good.
The others nodded, then turned back to Yuuko. All except Kurogane—his eyes lingered on Syaoran's face, flat and unreadable. So he knows now, Syaoran thought. He knows I've been keeping things from him about our enemy. He closed his eyes again, not allowing the little stab of guilt to shake him. They would speak of this later, after they finished up in Ceres.
"Fai," Mokona said, bouncing out of Syaoran's arms and into the magician's. "Let's all go together. We'll each pay part of the price and we'll save Sakura."
"But . . ." Fai seemed to waver for a moment. His eyes slid over to where Syaoran stood.
Right. We have things to settle. He stepped forward, keeping his voice calm, detached. "I knew all along, and I never said a word. Sakura . . . The princess trusted you." Trusted all of us. Trusted me. "You may have lied. The princess put her faith in a liar." In three liars. "But she asked us to take care of you, and so we're going to trust you, too."
Fai drew back, looking stricken. "I . . ."
"You were right," Syaoran said, turning away. "I should have told her. But it's too late now. There's no point in regretting it." He glanced at Yuuko. "Is there anything else we need to know?"
"Not at this time. Good luck. And dress warmly."
He nodded once, then started for the door. Halfway there, he heard footsteps approaching from behind. A hand circled around his upper arm, forcing him to slow. "Prep room. Now," Kurogane said, his lips so close that Syaoran could feel his breath on the side of his neck. A coil of unease formed in his stomach. This is it, he thought. He didn't say anything when I told him I loved him. He's going to break it off so he won't have to deal with it in the next world. And I have to let him.
"Five minutes," he whispered back.
The hand around his arm tightened, then relaxed. "Fine." The ninja stalked off, heading to the elevator that would bring him to the prep room. Syaoran took a detour, heading down the stone steps that led off the edge of the ravaged arena. He'd take the longer route, he decided. It would give him a few minutes to brace himself. A few minutes of delusion before Kurogane's inevitable rejection shattered even that fragile peace.
He ended up in the lobby, though it took him a moment to recognize it as such, since all the people who normally milled about had vanished. They must have cleared this place out after they realized things were getting dangerous.
Half-disappointed and half-relieved by the lack of background chatter, he sat down on the nearest bench and folded his hands on his lap. He shut out all sounds, all distractions, and worked through what he wanted to say. What he had to say. And then, when he was ready, he descended into the prep room.