A/N: Whew. An update. I apologize deeply for the really late update, I've just recently escaped the claws of the evil enemy called School. Thank God for Christmas break! Anyway, here you all go. The last chapter. I hope you enjoy this one.

A/N2: Oh by the way, to the reviewer who asked why my titles are in Italian, it's simply because I am Italian. That sort of explains my far from perfect English. Thank you for reviewing!

XxX

"Uhhmmm…"

Something was wrong, that he was sure of. He knew he should be contented with the way things turned out, even though there was a huge part of the story that just didn't seem to fit right into the puzzle. There was a missing piece.

"Kurogane-san?"

And that was exactly what made him more annoyed than usual. He could accept "missing pieces", as that was the very essence of their journey. They were looking for the princess' missing pieces. But what he couldn't accept was that somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew just what the missing piece is. He was sure that he had something to do with it, and yet throughout the whole of last night, when he tried thinking, remembering whatever that damned something was, the information just seemed to elude him. And it did a great job too.

"Are you okay, Kurogane-san?"

Kurogane turned to face the owner of the voice that disturbed his thoughts.

"What?"

"Are you okay?" Syaoran asked, putting Hien down to his side.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well… I've been doing the same technique for almost an hour now, and you didn't give me your usual comments. Am I pissing you off?" the kid asked in a half-guilty half-curious voice.

Syaoran easily surmised that something was bothering his teacher. It was not usual for the ninja to just stare while he was practicing. More often than not, Kurogane would stand by his side, and correct his posture and handling every now and then. In fact, for Syaoran to be left to his own devices during training was a rare treat, although it wasn't something he was actually looking forward to. But Kurogane was acting weird today, and it seemed he was completely indulged in something. His brows were furrowed more than usual (if that was even possible), but Syaoran couldn't think of a plausible reason for this, unless of course, it was he.

"There is nothing wrong with what you're doing," Kurogane answered, avoiding the more sensitive issue.

"Then why can't we move on to another technique?" Syaoran asked.

Kurogane just stared at him.

Syaoran knew that look, and a large gulp emanated in his throat. Perhaps he had voiced the wrong question at exactly the wrong moment.

"I…"

"We continue tomorrow," Kurogane's voice rang with such authority and finality that Syaoran knew there would be no argument even though he wanted to continue.

Kurogane turned on his feet and started walking back to the café without so much a second glance at the boy. Syaoran took the rear, with Hien swinging wildly by his hips, all the while musing whether or not it was safe to ask the ninja what the trouble was. Because whatever it was, it was definitely blowing the ninja's patience up to shreds. It wasn't as if Kurogane was patient, in fact, it would be quite the opposite. It was just that Syaoran knew that there was more to Kurogane's mood this time than just mere irritation.

No. It was more than that.

"Is it about Fai-san, Kurogane-san?" Syaoran asked point-blank.

And Kurogane stopped in his tracks.

Bang.

Just the reaction Syaoran expected. He decided to continue.

"Are you mad at him?"

"Why do you keep asking if I'm mad at people? I'm not mad at the mage. I hate him."

Kurogane half-expected the kid to ask further or probe. But what followed was a strained silence, and he didn't know if he had said the wrong thing.

"You know that's not true, Kurogane-san. Not at all," came the kid's voice. Kurogane did not stir.

"Whatever are you talking about?" Kurogane asked calmly.

"You know you don't. You never did,"

Syaoran took a few steps until he was ahead of Kurogane. Then he turned to face the ninja with that trademark smile of his.

"And you probably never will. See you later, Kurogane-san. Thank you for today's lesson," he said, bowing. And then he was off, leaving Kurogane to his own thoughts.

A small smile made its way through Kurogane's lips.

"Some kid," he muttered, and he continued with his walk.

XxX

The wind chime sang as soon as his arm touched the door of their café. It was almost twilight when he decided to go back, for he thought that some time alone would probably clear his mind. But it didn't help at all; instead, it made matters more complicated. That was something he definitely hated with himself, his tendency to think and think and think, but arrive to no conclusions. It rarely happened in battle, but it always happened when it came to the more serious stuff.

"Welcome home, Kurogane-san!" the princess' sweet voice greeted him as soon as his feet touched the floor.

"Ah! Kuro-sama's home!"

Kurogane's eyes narrowed at the very sound of that voice. He scanned the room for the owner of that irritating voice. Sakura was sitting in the counter, wiping at the mouth of several glasses, with Mokona sitting on top of her head, while Syaoran was behind it, wearing his other uniform (that of a server) and serving drinks to some customers. But the mage was nowhere in sight.

"Where is that-"

"BOO!"

Kurogane's eyebrow simply shot up at the failed attempt at surprising him. He'd faced some fatally sly opponents, and this attack was nothing surprising to him.

"Awwww. Kuro-pon's not surprised!" Fai said, pouting.

Kurogane surveyed the mage standing in front of him. He looked a lot better than he had been these past few days, but he was still a shade paler than he normally is.

"What's that you're wearing?" he asked.

"Hmmm? My uniform," the mage replied.

Kurogane could feel his raised eyebrow starting to twitch involuntarily. This was going to have to start all over again.

"What the hell are you doing up?!"

"Ahm.. working?"

The twitching was getting way out of control, and Kurogane knew he had to control lest he gets his temper take the better of him and make all the customers leave the café. The said mage was standing in front of him, smiling that pestering, freaking smile, and holding a mop with his right hand. Kurogane took the mop forcefully.

"Ah! I'm not done yet, Kuro-rin! Give that back!" the mage pleaded, trying to reach the mop that had been stolen from his hands.

"Kuro-daddy's going to clean tonight! Yay!" Mokona sang, as it bounced from Sakura's head to Kurogane's.

"Get off, stupid manjuu!" Kurogane growled a little too loudly, and several customers who were sitting nearby turned to look at them.

"I understand now! Kuro-bun's really nice! He's going to clean tonight! Yay!" Fai sang, imitating Mokona, and clapped his hands dramatically.

"YOU!" Kurogane began, pointing at Fai.

"Me?"

"Yes, you! Back to bed," He ordered as he successfully managed to get Mokona out of his head. Sakura ran to catch the poor creature.

"But it's still early, Kuro-chi! It's not even-"

"Back to bed! NOW!"

This time, all the customers stared at them in silence. Syaoran stood behind the counter, the glass he was filling already filled to the brim that the wine was overflowing, Sakura, standing in the middle of the café with Mokona in her arms, Fai, with his eyes wide, and Kurogane pointing at Fai in all his bare fury.

And then, Fai clapped.

"Well done, everyone! I guess practice time's over. We're doing well for our play!"

The customers, upon hearing this, began to break the silence as they joined Fai in the clapping. Most of them laughed, unable to believe that everything was just part of a play.

Fai bowed once, grabbed Kurogane's wrist and dragged him upstairs towards the room they were both sharing. Once they were out of earshot, Kurogane tugged at his wrist, freeing it from Fai's loose hold.

"Aren't you going to thank me for saving your face down there?" the mage asked teasingly, the perpetual smile beaming on his face. He walked towards the bed, and sat down on the edge of it.

Kurogane leaned on the doorway, folded his arms on his chest and simply looked at Fai with furrowed eyebrows again. The room was dark, the lights were off and their shadows cast on the floor like a silhouette painting.

"Kuro-tan?" Fai asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Go to sleep," he ordered.

"It's too early for sleep, Kuro-wan! I haven't finished cleaning yet. It seems to me that you won't finish my job, so let me do it at least,"

"You're not even supposed to be up just yet. Go to sleep,"

"But-"

"Sleep. You're still not very well. If you get sick again, you'll be causing us too much delay already!"

Silence.

"I… can't…" Fai said, almost inaudibly.

Kurogane's eyes narrowed at this, and he thought he saw a flash of sadness cross the mage's face for a while before it was quickly replaced by the usual façade.

"Why not?" Kurogane asked.

"I don't want anymore… dreams," Fai continued, his voice just above a whisper. The smile never left his face, although it never quite seemed to reach his eyes either.

It struck Kurogane. And somehow, a fragment of his memory flashed before his eyes, and he knew that whatever the missing piece was, the one he had been brooding about all morning, it had something to do with a dream. Fai's dream.

He closed his eyes, focusing his mind on remembering the dream. It was vital. It wasn't something he was supposed to forget, and yet…

"Thank you."

Kurogane's eyes opened at that.

"What?"

"Thank you." Fai repeated calmly, smiling that sad smile once again, and Kurogane felt that he would rather endure a century's worth of name abomination than seeing this same sad smile on his face.

Because deny as he might, he knew that it hurt him just as much as it did the mage. And once again, he felt as if he had already been through this feeling. And he could only construe that maybe, maybe it had something to do with whatever it was he saw in the dream. And it made him frustrated. And angry.

He was starting to become angry with himself for forgetting things as important as this one. He wanted to help. He wanted to reach out. And he knew that whatever the dream was would help him understand the mage. Because he knew that the other wouldn't tell anyway. Heck, he wouldn't even mention anything with connection to his past. And knowing the past, and accepting it, was the only way Kurogane knew how to heal. Because that was how it worked for him. He wasn't sure if that was a tried and tested formula, he wasn't sure if that was the panacea he kept searching for. But he had to give it a try.

But how could he even try if the mage didn't want to accept his help?

"You knew."

"Yes, I knew," Fai answered. Kurogane put his hands down and walked until he was standing right across the mage who was still sitting at the foot of the bed.

"Then tell me about it," he ordered, his voice dark, and Fai understood that this was no time for his jokes.

"No."

But there was always something he could never tell, even if it was Kurogane. Even if it was the man who had saved his life. He knew everything that happened, it was his dream anyway. And he knew what the oni could do, but he chose to risk his life anyway because there was no other way. Besides, he never really thought Kurogane would go that far just to be able to bring him back.

"I'm still not worthy enough for the truth, then," Kurogane said, his voice low.

Fai winced.

It's not how you think it is.

This has nothing to do with you, Kuro-chan

You are worthy of everything. There is such a brilliant light in your soul, that sometimes it hurts my eyes just to look at you. Because it's exactly what I don't have. What I never had. My past is shrouded in darkness. I just don't want to taint your light with it.

I wish you understand.

"Does Hitsuzen ring a bell? If Yuuko-san were here, that's exactly what she would be saying, Kuro-tan!" Fai replied cheerfully, acting as if they were having another of their casual conversations.

And Kurogane just stood there, in front of Fai. His eyes were covered, and there was nothing else to say. Nothing, because Fai wouldn't give him a chance.

Because Fai would walk away just when he was catching up with him.

"Oh, I totally forgot! I have to close the café now. Sakura and Syaoran can't do it by themselves." Fai continued, snapping his fingers spectacularly. He stood up from the bed and began to walk towards the door.

They both knew that Fai was yet again trying to avoid the situation. But there wasn't much to be done. No matter how much Kurogane wanted to understand, Fai wouldn't let him.

A hard tug at Fai's arm stopped him from going out the door. He was about to scold the larger man when he saw the look in his eyes.

A look of surprise betrayed Fai's ever smiling face.

"Whatever it is you're running from, it's bound to catch up with you sooner or later."

"I know. Let me go now. I have things to do." Fai replied.

But Kurogane did not let go of him. Instead, Kurogane pulled him close, too close, and the next thing Fai knew, he was locked in a tight embrace, with his head tucked under Kurogane's.

"Don't you dare die, mage." Kurogane's whispered, his voice muffled by Fai's blond locks.

Fai buried his head unto Kurogane's chest, silent, his face emotionless.

He had no answer to that.

Because that was something he could never promise.

Don't you dare die, mage.

At least not before me.

End.

A/N: It's finished! I just finished my first chaptered fic! Thank you all so very much for reading. It makes me giddy to know you stuck till the end, you'll never know how much you made me happy. Thank you.