Chapter Eighty-Seven

They landed in a grassy field surrounded by people with swords.

Syaoran clutched Sakura's body close to his chest, orienting himself in midair so that he landed in a crouch. As soon as his feet touched the ground, Syaoran craned his neck to look into the swirling mass above. From the dimensional sea, the others emerged, Mokona folding her wings as Fai clung to Kurogane. The ninja's coat, now missing one sleeve, glistened, the blood a shocking scarlet beneath the midday sun.

He hit the ground with an awful thud, already unconscious.

"Kurogane-san?" he squeaked, his throat painfully tight as he gently laid Sakura down and crouched next to the ninja's body. He smelled of metal. Of course he does, Syaoran thought distantly. Blood is full of iron.

"Hey!" someone called from behind him.

Syaoran's head snapped up, the familiarity of the voice jarring him out of his shock. He scanned the crowd, flipping through his clone's recollections as he tried to give the voice a face, a name. When he saw a woman with russet skin and dark hair, it all rushed back to him. "Souma-san!"

Souma's eyes snapped to his face, glittering with suspicion. In one hand, she held a blade as long as her forearm. Her other hand held onto the reins of a massive black horse. Six other horsemen flanked her on either side, each with weapons of their own. Soldiers, Syaoran thought, suddenly uneasy. His clone had befriended another version of Souma, in Outo, but that was no guarantee that he would find an ally in this one.

"Both of you, kneel," Souma ordered, sliding down from her horse.

"Fai-san—" he said, looking for guidance. The vampire made a sharp gesture to silence him, then knelt.

Syaoran glanced at Kurogane, then back at Souma and her troops, and went to his knees. These people may be hostile, but where there were soldiers, there would be healers of some sort. "Please," Syaoran said. "We need help. We have wounded."

"Quiet." Souma approached, her eyes shifting between them. Two of her men, both wearing the same black and red armor as Souma, followed, hands on their weapons. Souma stopped several paces away from them, her eyes flickering to Kurogane's body. "Get the medics," she barked, making a sharp gesture to the man on her right. He broke off, urging his horse into a gallop as he headed toward a cluster of tents a few hills over.

Syaoran glanced at Fai, then at Sakura. He couldn't make himself look to the side. Couldn't bear to see the gaping wound on Kurogane's shoulder, the blood dampening his clothes.

Souma approached. Instinctively, he shrunk back, still trembling after their abrupt departure from Ceres. But she didn't attack, only looked at him for a few moments, her face grim. Finally, she said, "There's no reason to cry about it. That idiot couldn't die even if he wanted to."

The words were so contrary to what he'd expected that he could only blink at her in confusion.

Souma crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Tomoyo-hime spoke of your arrival. You've been invited to Shirasagi Castle."

He flinched, then looked down. "I . . . I don't understand. Where are we?"

"The country of Nihon." Souma cast a glance at her medics as they rushed to Kurogane's side, and her expression softened.

Nihon? Syaoran thought, stunned. It seemed almost too convenient, that they would land not only in a relatively peaceful world, but in a world that knew of them. And more convenient that the first people we see have healers with them, he thought, glancing at Fai. It can't be coincidence. Kurogane wouldn't have bothered planning for this. But Sakura could have done something before the tournament . . .

No, he decided. That doesn't make sense, either. Sakura's last gambit had been splitting her body and soul in Infinity—even if she'd been worried about what had followed, she wouldn't have had the means to stop it. Fai must have planned ahead for this, knowing he was returning to a world that would very likely be fatal for one of us. Knowing he'd made a deal that jeopardized our survival.

"His condition is critical," one of the healers said, addressing Souma. "We have to bring him to the castle."

"Do it." Souma gestured to the rest of her band. At once, they fell back into line, mounting their horses and taking the reins. "You and you," Souma said, pointing first to Fai, then to him. "We have two spare horses. Follow if you can. If you get lost, head west until you reach Shirasagi Castle." She turned sharply, abandoning them there as she mounted her own horse. "Let's go!"

The group took off, dragging the wooden cart upon which the healers had laid Kurogane. Syaoran stared as the cart passed, throat closing up as the healers stripped away the bloody rags of Kurogane's shirt to expose the wound. Stringy red flesh stuck out of where his arm had been sheared off by Souhi's blade, and blood glistened along his upper body, not yet dry enough to turn brown, but no longer pouring from the wound as it had before. Though less gruesome, the wound on his side had been burned away by magic, exposing the bright red muscle underneath.

It was all too much. Syaoran turned away, knees wobbling. He staggered several feet before he collapsed, then started retching. His body shook as he threw up, and spittle dripped down his chin.

At some point, Fai came over and laid a hand on his back, steadying him as he retched. Syaoran stayed crumpled up, the nausea turning to desolation. Kurogane had been everything to him—a mentor, a friend, a lover. What would happen if he died on his way back to the castle? Who would fight for me? Who would love me?

"We should get moving," Fai said. "Kuro-pon might get mad if we're not around when he wakes up."

His mind registered the return of the nicknames, but he didn't move. He just crumpled where he knelt, chest heaving with suppressed sobs. He didn't dare speak. Doing so would rip away his last remnants of self-control.

So he sat there, forcing his thoughts into a dark corner of his mind. While he collected himself, Fai walked over to the horses that had been left for them. Syaoran heard him secure Sakura's limp body to the front of one horse, tying a cord between her wrists and the reins so she wouldn't fall to either side. "I can still see Souma-san's soldiers on the horizon," Fai said, shading his eye with his hand. Syaoran wiped his face, ashamed of the tears smeared across his cheeks. "We should probably start heading that way."

Syaoran shuffled over to the unattended horse and pulled himself into the saddle. Fai took the lead, keeping their pace at a trot as they headed west. Syaoran let his mind numb, ignoring the worry battering around in his head. He kept track of Fai and controlled his mount, but that was all he did. He couldn't think. Didn't want to think.

They rode for over an hour, glimpsing Souma's soldiers several times before losing sight of them altogether. He wondered if their haste would make a difference, but part of him doubted. By now, Kurogane had been bleeding out for almost an hour and a half. Combined with the lesser injuries he'd sustained in Ceres, the shock alone would probably kill him.

"Look!" Fai called, pointing toward the horizon. Syaoran looked up dully and saw a squarish building rising from the rolling hills. "That must be Shirasagi Castle."

His heart stirred with renewed life, his attention sharpening. He nudged the horse's side with his heel, prompting it to speed up. "Let's go."

They galloped the last half mile, only slowing when they reached the gates, guarded by two men in plated armor. They stepped in front of the entrance, each placing their hands on their swords. "State your business here," one growled.

"Can you please tell us if this is Shirasagi Castle?" Syaoran asked, the politeness coming naturally despite the distress bubbling up inside him. His father had taught him the importance of being courteous, even with the limited time they'd had together.

"It is. Do you have business here?"

"We're looking for a ninja," Fai said. "About this tall, broad shoulders, kind of scary. He's missing an arm."

The guards stared at the magician with narrowed eyes, then exchanged glances. Syaoran fidgeted, feeling the waves of suspicion rolling off the two of them.

"You may relax," called a voice from the courtyard. "They are our guests."

"Tsukiyomi." The guards shifted, standing rigid before bowing to the new arrival. "We apologize. We did not know."

Tsukiyomi, Syaoran thought. Where have I heard that before? He frowned, then looked up, surprised to recognize the dainty figure wrapped up in ceremonial robes. He glanced around, then dismounted, bowing. "Are you Princess Tomoyo of Nihon?" he asked.

Tomoyo beamed, like a teacher who'd just overheard a particularly insightful observation from their student. "That's right. Kurogane arrived a short time ago."

His heart gave a peculiar squeeze. She calls him by name. "Is he all right?"

She hesitated a beat. "He will live. The arm, unfortunately, is irretrievable."

Of course, he thought. What would it cost to bring it back from Ceres? It's probably not even in one piece anymore. He shuddered, remembering the overwhelming pressure of the curse's magic. "I see."

"Come. There is much to discuss." She raised one hand, signaling the guards to open the gates. Syaoran urged his horse forward, and Fai followed, supporting Sakura's soulless body in his arms. Syaoran thought about offering to carry her once they dismounted, then decided against it. He'd sustained numerous injuries between the chess match in Infinity and the nightmare in Ceres, and he didn't have Fai's supernatural strength to keep him going. The last thing he needed was to drop the princess on her head.

"Before we address Kurogane's condition, we should bring Sakura-chan someplace where her body won't deteriorate without her soul," Tomoyo said.

He fidgeted, unsure which disturbed him more: Tomoyo's knowledge of Sakura's condition or the informal way Tomoyo had referred to her.

Tomoyo led them around the castle's perimeter, nodding at servants and noblemen alike as she crossed paths with them. In turn, people smiled and bowed at her passing, managing to look both adoring and regal. She must be well-loved by her people, Syaoran thought, remembering how Sakura—both Sakuras—had elicited the same reaction in Clow.

They ended up standing at the base of a massive sakura tree, pale pink petals fluttering down over their heads. Tomoyo laid her hand on the trunk, smiling softly as they dismounted. "This tree is sacred—it will preserve her body until the time comes when she can be reunited with her soul."

Syaoran nodded as Fai laid Sakura in a cradle formed by several intersecting branches. "Thank you. We're grateful for your assistance." He hesitated, unsure whether it was appropriate to bring up Kurogane now. The whole situation seemed less real in this lush garden, as if the natural beauty of the landscape could abolish any worry.

Tomoyo smiled. "You won't be able to visit him just yet, but I can take you to Lady Hinata. She'll be able to tell you more about his condition. Leave the horses; the stablehands will see to them. "

"That's very kind of you."

Tomoyo started walking, her flowing robes billowing out behind her. Once or twice, she looked back, as if to check that they were still following. As they reached a door leading inside the castle, she paused and laid a dainty hand on his arm. "He will be all right. You simply have to trust in that."

He nodded, doubting his ability to speak around the lump in his throat. He glanced at Fai, who offered him what was probably meant to be a comforting smile. Syaoran looked away. "I hope you're right about that," he said to Tomoyo. Because I don't want to live with the alternative.