A/N - This story runs in parallel with my other Tsubasa fanfic, Sapphire. Crimson is told in Kurogane's POV, while Sapphire is told from Fai's POV. This is set post-epilogue, because it killed me to have all the characters head off to another journey and not know what happens to Fai -insert fangirl squeal at mention of Fai's name- , so here we are! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1 - Running From Nostalgia

"Goodbye!" Fai called out as the group headed out of the village. "Thanks for everything!" Syaoran added his thanks as well while Mokona waved its stubby little arms enthusiastically. Kurogane simply grunted in acknowledgement and shifted impatiently as he waited for them to be off.

The townspeople waved and let loose their last farewells as the three travelers and the strange white creature headed out of town and into the forest.

"Mokona is sad to see them go!" it announced as the small settlement faded from view behind them. "They were all nice to Mokona and they had yummy food!"

"Hai," Syaoran agreed. "They were pleasant people. I am sorry to make you leave, Mokona."

"Mokona doesn't mind going with Syaoran!" The magical white thing trilled. "Mokona loves seeing all the worlds!"

"But still," Syaoran bowed his head as they walked. "This is my payment alone for me to make, and I regret keeping you from your homes. I know what I'm searching for may not even exist, but I can still hope."

"Nonsense," Kurogane growled. "It was our choice to come along with you. Now stop your moping and let's just move on."

"Besides, Syaoran-kun, I don't have a home to go back to, remember?" Fai reminded him.

Kurogane cast the mage a sharp glance, but to his relief there was no fake smile plastered onto his face. Without it, it seemed like one could almost drown in the sorrow in his sapphire eyes when he thought of Valeria and Celes, his two icy countries. Kurogane was not entirely sure he approved of the naked sadness in his companion's eyes, but at least he wasn't acting anymore. That was something, right?

Syaoran babbled apologies for being insensitive; Fai waved him off; Mokona bounced along; and Kurogane tilted his head back to observe the clear midmorning sky.

How many times had he walked under the same blue, blue sky, on another journey, in what felt like almost another lifetime? How many times had he wished for a peace like this while he watched over the mage, the kid (or clone, whatever), the princess (again, clone, whatever), and even the white manju bun?

Of course, the answer is never, he replied to his own questions sourly. They were in a world they had never visited before, somewhere called Gaelsieq.

"Cheer up Kuro-pu!" Fai, who had evidently taken his own advice, pointed ahead of them to a dark mass rising up from the ground. "Look, the forest is right there! Once we're there, we only need to find some sort of clearing or something for Mokona to work its magic!"

"Remind me why we had to come all the way out here again?" He grumbled. His own nostalgic thoughts had put him in a bad mood.

"It's best not to trouble anyone that we can prevent troubling," Syaoran replied solemnly. "If there happened to be a stray villager out here, who knows what wild tales of magic he might spin back at home if he saw us? This is what's best for everyone."

Kurogane just sped up and plowed forward, determined to get to the next world as quickly as possible, almost as if he hoped to leave behind his memories on this world.

However, he didn't get far before another stray thought crossed his mind.

I'm turning into the way the idiot used to be, he thought disgustedly. Running away from my problems, even though my problem is something that's completely in my head!

It was enough to slow him down again. Fai and Syaoran looked at him with concern, but he walked with his eyes glued to the forest. They wisely chose not the press him for information, and the rest of the trek was passed in silence.

The forest seemed so alive. Animals called out everywhere, from the chirping of songbirds to the – was that barking? Even the vegetation whispered to the winds, their leaves dipping and dancing until they achieved flight at last.

Too bad that flight comes with death, Kurogane thought drily as he watched a tree branch sway. He shook himself irritably. What was with all of these depressed thoughts?

He chose to concentrate on the scene in front of him instead of brooding on the past and on things not yet to come.

The kid knelt before an injured bird he had found, concentrating as he attempted to bind its broken wing.

"Syaoraaaaaaaan!" Mokona called out. The white creature bounced impatiently on Fai's shoulder.

"Would you please stop moving?" Kurogane could feel a headache coming on just from looking at the white manju bun. He turned away in disgust, only to whip his head around when he detected movement.

His timing was perfect. Mokona sailed through the air and landed squarely on Kurogane's face, happily saying at the top of its lungs, "Don't be so grumpy Kuro-pon! We're not in any danger, so you should be happy!"

What Mokona said was true. He had travelled with the idiot, the kid, and the annoying white thing for a month since leaving Clow Country, but had yet to find a need to draw his sword. It seemed without the princess's feathers, there were no major disturbances in any world, although since they had not stayed in any place for longer than a week, it may just been they were lucky enough to avoid any trouble.

Kurogane pried Mokona off with an irritated yell and threw it into the forest. There was an indignant squeak as it landed with a rustle amongst some bushes.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Kuro-tan's being mean to Mokona!" Mokona wailed loudly once it was back on Fai's shoulder. "Fai, save me!"

Kurogane glared at the mage, daring him to say anything. Of course, he could not resist a chance to tease the warrior, glare or no glare.

"Really Kuro-chan, you must take care of your children, not throw them off without even knowing where they're going to land!" The idiot was now prancing around Kurogane, poking him and giggling.

"What if I do know where they're going to land?" Kurogane eyed Fai menacingly. He lunged for the mage, hoping to surprise him (and maybe even catch him for once!).

Mokona, who had been dislodged in Fai's flight, hopped over to Syaoran with fake tears building up in its eyes. "No one loves Mokona!" It cried, clinging onto Syaoran's hair.

"It's alright Mokona, I love you!" Syaoran reassured it as he finished up the last of the binding and plucked Mokona off his head. "I'm done with the bird now, so we can leave. I'm sorry for the wait!"

Kurogane returned in a huff, having once again failed to do any harm to Fai, and was grumpy as they all gathered together, ready to be sucked into Mokona's mouth again.

"You know, this still doesn't feel natural," he grumbled. "I mean, getting eaten all the time by this tiny white thing? Not to mention, its landings are still terrible."

Fai slapped Kurogane on the back in a gesture of mock comfort. "Now, now, don't be such a pessimist Daddy! Our children need a good, strong, role model to look up to!"

"What children? I see only one child with us" Kurogane spat out, then regretted it when he saw the sadness that crossed all of his companions' faces at the mention of Sakura. He was stuttering out what may have been an apology when Syaoran interrupted.

"It's alright, Kurogane-san," he said gently. "We all miss her, but at least we know she's safe and sound."

Kurogane just nodded gruffly, glad for the quick forgiveness from the kid. He glanced around to see Mokona's mouth pulled down by sorrow and Fai gazing off into the distance. Kurogane frowned. He had thought the mage was over hiding his feelings all the time.

However, he had no time to ponder. Now that Syaoran was done, Mokona spread its wings and prepared to travel onto the new world.

"Puu!" it said happily, the temporary down time forgotten, as it gobbled up its fellow travelers. Its wings folded, its magic circle disappeared, and soon the only sign that the four had been there at all was the bird with a splint around its wing.

They arrived in an undignified heap.

"I swear, the white manju bun drops me on the bottom every time on purpose," Kurogane's low voice was muffled by the mound of snow his face was pressed into.

"We've arrived in a new world!" Mokona proudly announced from its comfortable perch on Syaoran's head.

"Hyuu, look at the all the snow!" Fai gazed around from Kurogane's back. He clambered to a standing position after a muffled yell from the ninja hinted a painful death if he didn't move.

Kurogane dusted off all the snow and looked around. His gaze passed quickly over his friends (did he really just think of them as friends? he wondered. The word seemed foreign in his thoughts) and determined quickly that they were all unharmed.

Although they were unlikely to remain that way if they stayed out here.

"It's freezing!" Mokona complained as it burrowed into Syaoran's cloak. More snow whirled around them angrily and the wind howled and clawed at their faces.

Fai, in his Celes robes, was the only one who looked remotely comfortable.

And yet, Kurogane prayed that he had imagined the look on Fai's face when he looked into the distance.

A/N - So what did you think? Please leave a review for me, and I'll promise not to let loose Kurogane on you while you sleep, mwahahaha! *ahem* This chapter started out as just fluff, but I am terrible at writing fluff - angsty all the way! As for updating, it'll happen once I have a chapter in both Crimson and Sapphire done (right now, Crimson is on chapter 4, but Sapphire has only made it to chapter 2, hehe). Reviews will of course inspire me to write more!