DISCLAIMER: All characters used throughout this story, from Flame of Recca, Magic Knight Rayearth, to Cardcaptor Sakura, all belonged to the two of my most favorite manga and anime makers of all time. Anzai Nobuyuki and CLAMP, thank you for making my fantasy into reality.

A/N: I do not wish to say much. Just... "I told you I was gonna update fast. Now take THAT!" TeHee!

King Fuujin stared at the arriving first group of soldiers who participated in the battle against the Umis ealier, his eyes uptight as he scanned for any sigh on Fuuko or Recca. Beside him, his most trusted friend, King Shigeo, was doing the exact thing and he was not at all pleased to have his hopes smashed broken when he realized they were not there.

Shigeo's youngest captain, Li Syaoran, son of the Hikaru nation's most powerful sage, Li Yuuko, came up to them to relay his message. Captain Syaoran was the one assigned to safely transport the first troupe of soldiers back to the Fuu kingdom and from the disgruntled discontentment look on his face, the two Kings knew he was about to deliver something they had wished they wouldn't hear.

The young lad bowed low, stayed on the floor with one knee bended and fixed his eyes on both kings evenly. He didn't have the Hikaru's most common dark raven mane, his' was that of a darker shade of brown. Most of his features were derived from his Lantisian father, another great sorcerer from the neautral land, and even got his father's reddish brown eyes as well. But the way he held himself, with the same Hikaru stubbornness and unmistakingly the same penetrating eyes of his mother, Syaoran was every bit as Hikaru as everyone else.

"Your Highnesses…" he greeted with lowered head.

When Shigeo gestured him to stand up, he straightened and bade his news. He told his story starting from the time of the hanging (where both Kings continually frowned at their offsprings' neardeath experience) to the time where they heard the loud shriek of the God Guardian of the Fuus, until finaly, to the part where the Umi commander gave public orders for them to safely pass through the western boarder.

That last narration didn't seem to settle well with the Hikarus' skyhigh pride and both Shigeo and Syaoran visibly grimaced at the shameful thought of acquiring help from a sworn enemy.

"That must have been one hell of an emergency case right?" King Shigeo urged, finding a valid excuse to cover up what they perceived as an embarrassing means of escape.

Syaoran, who was more than contrite, nodded almost readily. "The Umi kingdom was falling apart. It wouldn't be a surprise if there will no longer be a Water Nation by the morrow."

This bit of information brought light to Shigeo's humiliated face and he agreed enthusiastically. "Yes, definitely. Nothing could make me happier."

King Fuujin had been silent far too long before he sighed, shaking his head. "I would be happier if I see my daughter soon."

Then the hall fell silent again. Syaoran had told them not to worry because Kurei was personally tearing off the Umi castle in search for them. If the monstrous cry actually came from the Fuu princess, she could only be situated at the high tower, and everyone, including Recca, had gone to retrieve her.

"I have this great feeling they'd be here with Kurei later, Your Highness," Syaoran said with conviction.

Both Kings wanted to trust the lad's judgment, but unless they see the two youngsters in blood and flesh, their hearts can never rest.

-TF—

They're falling…

…head first…

… on the ground.

At this point of time, his first thought should have been 'DEATH'. But instead, his thoughts were all about the angel embracing him with worried emerald eyes.

Well, this is uncanny. Isnt heaven supposed to go after death? Not the other way around?

She shouted his name against the wind that painfully slapped their faces and his closing eyes momentarily fluttered open.

"Tokiya, wake up! Don't you dare close those eyes! I swear I'll kill you again if you die on me!"

Tokiya smiled a little but he knew his consciousness was slowly slipping. Fuuko's tears burst out and was swiftly flown upward as they plunged through the strong wave of wind. "Tokiya!"

One moment, Tokiya was sure they were going to die in the most gruesome form of death, and the next thing, he was floating like a feather through a mild wind current.

He strongly fought the intense desire to succumb into subconsciousness and slowly pried his eyelibs open. If they collided into the ground and died instantly, he was surprised he didn't feel any impact or immediate pain. If this was his soul drifting aimlessly across the wind, he certainly missed the part wherein he's supposed to leave his mortal body.

His eyelids lifted a crack and he was able to see a glimpse of an angel with her enormous white wings glowing enchantingly behind her, making her hair and face seemed luminous and sparkle like starlight.

"Tokiya?" the angel frenziedly called.

He smiled wider now, finally realizing who she was. "Fuuko…" he raised his weak hand and gently ran his fingertips against her face. He slowly wiped the tears off her eyes and sent his vision to her wings. Warmly, his eyes twinkled in admiration. "You're breathtaking…"

He meant it as a compliment but for some odd reason, the words just made her spill more tears. As her wings began to stop flapping, he realized they were descending slowly.

Gently, Fuuko placed his limped bloody body on the soft greeny earth. When she ran somewhere nearby, Tokiya took the time surveying where they landed. Oddly, it was in his private bathing waterfalls inside the virgin forest.

His eyes clouded as the memory of their first meeting here flashed through his mind.

"You are not anywhere from here, are you?" he had asked. He knew somehow that she had seen her somewhere, but not inside his kingdom.

"I came from the highlands and my laird sent me here as a present to the king. As his personal…concubine."

Technically, that wasn't the first time he saw her but it was the first time she met him. The memory he imagined was comical—he, naked and she, soaked down to her underpants. It was later on that day that he realized he had actually seen her before, and although he didn't have any idea she was the Fuu Princess, he knew he was a FUU nonetheless. That realization was the reason he tried very hard to drown himself with alcohol, for he knew that if he didn't pass out at that time, he'll be very crazy over her. But alas, the alcohol didn't do much to make him lose his wits. What he lost though, was his perfect sanity. Because wherever Fuuko was concerned, Tokiya was a wild possessive beast.

Another glimpse at the cascading waterfalls made him mentally shake his head. It was a trick of fate that his last curtain would descend and close here, in the place they first met.

Ironically, it was going to end where it all began afterall.

Fuuko immediately came back, frantically lowering herself over him. She had brought him water from the waterfall using cupped palms, mentally praying it would alleviate his pain and heal him.

"Drink this," her order was firm despite her trembling hands and hiccupping shoulders.

He didn't dare gave her a hard time as he feebly sipped the water from her chaliced hands, at other times, this water could heal almost any sickness and wounds but he knew, this was no longer enough to cheat him out of deathbed.

-TF-

Raiha felt like he was about to burst with fear when Fuuko unceremoniously passed through him and pushed herself and Tokiya off the highest landmark of the kingdom, the High Tower.

"No! Fuuko!" he gaped and acted on instinct, desperately grabbing Fuuko but to no avail. They carelessly dove down the ground like a defective rocket. "NOOOOOOOOO!"

"Tokiya-niichan!" Yanagi had showed from behind and ran towards Raiha's place but Recca held her before she could move anywhere.

"Stop, Hime!" Recca ordered, his face fixed with worry.

When they were very sure they were about to hear the sound of broken flesh and bones below, all of them screamed in delight when Fuuko's large wings soared high above them, mildly dancing and flapping against the steady wind.

Recca saw them disappeared in the virgin forest and he felt his heart made a tiny leap in his chest. All of them cheered in major relief. Even Raiha sighed contentedly as he held his pumping heart.

This vast happiness however, was suddenly halted by the arrival of the two people they very least expected to see. Raiha's face mirrored the large saucer eyes and gawking mouths of Recca, Yanagi, Nanashi and Vanni.

Nothing could have probably surpassed the awestruck expression they made as the man's feet landed softly on the floor, his giant dark feathery wings closing automatically on his back while his arms lowered the woman he was carrying.

After the woman's dainty white slippers touched firmly on the marble floor, it was Vanni who escapred the loudest sucking of breath, paralyzed on her track as she gasped, "Kenji-sama…"

And it was followed by another feminine squeak from Yanagi. "Mifuyu-neechan?"

The dark-haired, dark-winged man, however, wasn't very accommodating with the casual preliminaries as he solidly stared at all of them and asked, "Where's Fuuko and Tokiya!"

-TF-

He was losing it, he knew, as Fuuko's pale cold hand slapped his blood-drained face, waking him up before he drifted to eternal slumber. He had this feeling that if he closed his eyes now, he may never open them again. The feeling of the Umi's silvery water roaming inside his body and initiating its miraculous healing power was not doing much to keep his soul intact. Not even the life crest was being helpful. Instead, it was aiding him less and less. In order to surive, the life crest was feeding on what little life force he had, sucking in the very core of his remaining strength.

Not that he was complaining. He would give up everything to keep the crest alive longer, even if it meant his life. However, he would have wished for it to spare him more time with Fuuko.

But alas…

He was mistaken…

As Fuuko held another handful of water near his mouth, Tokiya smilingly shook his head, silently pleading she would understand that its no use. The water could close his wounds, magically bring back his physical vitality, but it couldn't do much to retain his soul.

Fuuko's heart was wildly beating, threatening to crack her ribcage. Her mind was clouded with mixed dreadful emotions, but above all, she was so afraid of what might soon happen. Her throat was painful as she tried to control herself from screaming, but she chose to suffer that minor agony. It was nothing compared to the extreme throbbing of her heart.

He reached out to touch her face once again. After forcefully making him drink a well of water, his complexion had thoroughly improved—it was pale still, but there was that faint flow on his skin and face now that Fuuko knew she should be thankful for, but she wasn't. Despite the closing of his wounds and the magical way his clothes had transformed into something new, the lack of life in his eyes was making her delirious with fear.

She begged him to drink another ounce of water, praying desperately for his divine recovery, but he shook his head this time.

"No, please, drink some more, Tokiya, I beg you."

"Fuuko," he gently, soothingly called in his angelic baritone, and deliberately ignored her plea. "When I die—"

"Stop it! I don't not intend to hear you say those words, ever!" It came out as an angry spat despite the crocodile tears passing from her blurry eyes. "You will not die, Tokiya. You understand! Not now. And not on me!"

To add up to the terror in her voice, a loud roar of thunder began grumbling above them, followed by a sudden pour of giant raindrops. Automatically, her wings closed above them, shielding them from the rain's heavy weight. But it wasn't doing much, both of them were still left drenched to their skin.

Fuuko was surprised when she heard him chuckle, it was small and barely audible, but it was as beautiful as silverbells—just like the person who made it. She felt him caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, and she took that hand to her lips, kissing it lovingly. Closing her eyes to thoroughly feel the skin of his fingers, he fought back teardrops from falling, squishing them inside her socket. She doesn't need those tears, it will do no good in making him recover,

A great lump seemed to have lodged inside his throat as he tried escaping some words, but it only came out as a choked coughing spell.

He tried to open his mouth once more, and was secretly thankful he finally got his tongue back. His eyes suddenly flicked n her face, basking on the banquette of her beauty and was disheartened by the way her face furrowed as she strived to compose her teary expression. "Please stop crying. Is this how you want me to remember you? In a tear-stained face?" his inquiry had a bit shade of humor in it, and he was smiling feebly as he asked.

The words, however, made her squirmed with loneliness. Without thought, she scooped his head and held it close to her face, angling him carefully so his head fitted in the small hollow between her neck and shoulder.

"Fuuko, do you remember the time of our wedding? When I announced my vows?" his smile was angelic despite his obvious attempt to keep himself conscious.

Feebly, even when she cant see his face, Fuuko nodded.

"Do you remember what I said?" his deep calm voice was weak but there was pure happiness in his tone as though the memory was one of his grandests. When she didn't answer and began sniffing back the tears that so dreadfully threatened to poor, he took the liberty to continue, "I swore and vowed to love cherish and protect you… till death do us part," his smile was that of contentedness and untainted radiance. "I'm just glad I've live long enough to honor that."

"Tokiya, please… please…," Fuuko bit her lips in constrained emotions. Don't leave me…

"I have one more thing to say before I—"

"No, no, No! Oh please, spare me! I do not wish to hear more!" she screamed and caught his face against her palms, searing him in a kiss they both wanted never to end. However, it wasn't long, it didn't last a minute. But for Fuuko, it would be in her memory for a lifetime. The kiss was meant for him to temporarily shut up, but his response was not she was damn expecting.

His kiss was meant to say goodbye.

"Don't you dare die," she repeated her previous threat, faltering at midsentence until the last word came out as a sorrowful hiccup.

"I wont," he lied. Then adding more life in his tone, he said, "Now, why don't you fetch me another handful of your healing water so I could regain my full strength? He requested in a casual tone, maneuvering a fake lopsided grin.

At that, her face contorted with worry but she chose to grant his request. "Open your eyes until I get back. I'll be just a second, okay?" there was that tinge of panic in her voice and he wished nothing more than to alleviate it.

Before she ran off, he held her wrist with a weak handclasp.

"I love you." It was firm and deliberate as though what he said wasn't a declaration of his feelings but a declaration of a fact, just like how a lawyer would defend his case with book-based knowledge. And he wanted her to remember that fact forever.

That seemed to pacify her a little when she responded with a much calmer tone. "I'll be back before you know it."

She stuttered swiftly away and his smile went broader.

And now, he can finally rest, he thought as he closed his eyes in a slumber where he would probably not be awakened again.

-TF-

Her eyes only averted for a second, but when she looked up to glance at Tokiya again, there was a woman clad in a silver gown hovering over him, touching her lips to his forehead as tears came sprouting endlessly from her eyes.

It wasn't the woman that made Fuuko's mouth forced an 'O' and made her clumsily dropped the handcupped water she just fetched. She knew her, of course, and her presence was much surprising, but it was her gesture that totally made her lose her mind.

Her bare feet began running towards them, cold splashes of water exploding out from her every step. The woman's silver locks were soaked to death and even each strand was dripping rain drops, like they were also crying for their loss. When she saw her, the woman's eyes were all consumed with pity and hopelessness, making Fuuko leaped out towards Tokiya.

With just a few more steps left to reach him, someone grabbed her from behind and detained her using his arms tightly wrung around her waist.

"No, Fuuko! Stop!" Kenji's voice didn't do much to make her halt. She was screaming, crying and fighting at the same time.

At that moment, she knew she was going to be insane. The glow that had faintly emanated from Tokiya earlier was all gone now, leaving a sickly bluish hue on his already porcelain pale skin. Her mind was in terrible turmoil, realizing her greatest fear had just been laid in front of her. In cold dead flesh.

Searching Mifuyu's eyes, she found nothing that would dissuade her from what she was seeing. Lady Mifuyu shook her head slowly, confirming her brother's eventual death and immediately lowered her face as not to see the distortion of Fuuko's distraught features.

"I'm sorry, Fuuko. I don't think even my healing powers would help him now. It's the lifecrest, you see. It's sucking up his remaining life force."

Right there and then, Fuuko let out an agonized howl of sorrow. Kenji's face visibly distorted as he heard the extent of his sister's desolation before eyeing his wife again. Mifuyu nodded as though understanding his thoughts and before Fuuko lost what little amount of sanity she had left, Kenji's wings spread out in its widest length and took off, not stopping even once until they successfully crossed the west border and out of the Umi kingdom.

-TF—

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Three Weeks later…

"How is she?"

King Fuujin anxiously inquired as Lady Vanni came out from Fuuko's room. Beside him were his wife, Ganko and Kenji.

Three weeks earlier, they hardly took the return of Kenji from the grave and as soon as he stepped foot inside the Fuu palace and met his parents, Queen Ganki immediately collapsed on her throne.

The Fuu Prince's comeback had been the means of the entire kingdom's rejoice but this was easily turned upside down when Kenji announced to them about Fuuko's state.

Since the day she was rescued and brought back to the Fuu nation, Princess Fuuko was a lot worse than dead. She refused to utter a word, go out from her room or eat anything more than a few biscuits once in a while.

King Fuujin had personally attempted to reach out to her and even Kenji tried talking her out from her self-induced isolation, but not her beloved father nor her long-missed brother could bring her back to reality.

Vanni wished nothing more than to tell them Fuuko was back but she knew she couldn't lie even just to temporarily relieve them out of heartache.

Hesitantly, she shook her head. "No progress at all, Your Highnesses," lowering her head as to not see the Royalties' blatant loss of hope, she gently asked permission to be excused and went off before she cried her heart out as well.

"Oh Fuuji, what shall we do?" Queen Ganki wiped her tears with a white handkerchief as she let her husband cuddle her close.

Poor King Fuujin looked like he aged fifty more years now with those creases on his forehead. "Time heals all wounds, my dead. We do nothing but wait."

-TF—

Being confined inside the Umi kingdom for too long had made Raiha missed his nation's lengthy transition of day and night at sunset. The three-hour battle of the sun and moon beyond the horizon made him calm his thoughts and think. The Hikaru sunset always had this uncanny effect on him and he was more than happy to be back.

"A peso for your thoughts, nii-sama?" Recca invited himself on the grassy ground beside the fire lord, holding a thin gleaming piece of ruby coated in a bronze circumferencial lining.

Raiha didn't take the Hikaru coin but smiled at Recca in greeting, surprised by his arrival but was glad for the unexpected company. Together, they silently watched the near-end transition of light and darkness, sighing at the breathtaking scenery and wishing it goes on forever.

Before day completely turned into night and crickets began substituting the bird's cuckoos, Recca decided it was his time to execute what he came for.

Clearing his throat, he gently said. "I heard you broke your engagement," he asked in the most nonjudgmental tone he could muster.

Raiha's tone was calm and smooth as he replied, "Yes. I did."

Recca could clearly hear the secret message from his cousin's voice—Raiha obviously didn't want to discuss it any further. However, this was Recca's main reason for coming over, and he no doubt knew Raiha was expecting his next question anyway.

"Why?"

There was a pause. For one second, Raiha's mouth began to open, then as though an afterthought, he closed it back. He held on for a minute, watching as the moon fully shone roundly above them. The moon in this side of the world was not as big as the other lands, but it could have been just as beautiful.

When Recca was sure Raiha was going to discard the question, he surprised the Hikaru prince with his next words.

"Because I love her."

Recca's mouth itced to ask more. He had practiced an exclusive five-minute interview once he sees Raiha, but now he knew the questions would be useless…

…For Raiha just said exactly the ultimate answer to all his questions.

-TF—

"Had he fallen asleep yet?" Mifuyu asked the old man sitting patiently beside Kal's bed, singing ancient lullabyes until the boy's eyes totally fell close in deep sleep.

Automatically, the frail man stood to bow to his princess, his sleepy eyes widening. "He's been a bit resistant tonight, but he's in his dreams now, Your Highness," the old man said with a wee bit of a smile.

Princess Mifuyu drew near Kal's bedpot and ran her fingers over the child's face, lovingly savoring each touch. "His father would have loved to see him already grown up," she whispered carefully as to not awaken the young toddler. "He missed his son dreadfully," she placed a gentle kiss on the boy's forehead before casting her full attention on the old man.

"I could only assume you did, Your Majesty. Kal has been away from home too long. There wasn't a single day when he would not miss his parents so," the man was obviously constraining his tears as he said his emotion-filled words. "Kal loves you and Prince Kenji so much."

Princess Mifuyu took the man's wrinkled hands inside hers and they both stared at each other in teary-eyed rejoice. "Mr. Morgan, I don't know how to thank you for taking care of my son. My husband and I will be forever in debt with you," she paused to sniff back her tears. "When we found out Tokiya had rescued Kal from the bandits who kidnapped him before we could, we had dreaded more about our son's life. We weren't sure if Tokiya was aware who Kal was but we couldn't live with chances."

When the princess paused, Morgan respectfully filled in the silence. "King Tokiya wasn't aware of it in the beginning, Your Highness. I can assure you that. He only cared that the child was an Umi, even if he was just partly so. Despite His Highness's vile hatred to the Fuus, he had only pity for these innocent halfblood children. He would never harm them in anyway," he paused to sigh. "He learned who Kal was eventually though. I told him immediately after the first time Kal told me his parent's name. That knowledge, however, just made the King more protective over the lad."

With this, Mifuyu had to force a smile. "Trust Tokiya to execute the greatest revenge over those who offended him. And to fully understand the extent of his loathing, he even hid you and Kal in the remotest place in the kingdom where there was almost no chance for us to find you. He had never forgiven me and Kenji for betraying his trust," she sighed dejectedly. "Not that I blame him. I would have felt the same if I was in his place."

Morgan merely nodded and then an inquiry struck him. "If I may, Your Highness, I would like to ask you something," he hesitated.

"Anything, Mr. Morgan," Mifuyu's smile of permission was all the encouragement that he needed.

"You see, I am pretty much aware of the ongoing feud between the Umis and the Fuus and it urged me to wonder… Will Kal be caught up in this?" Where would he settle? Will the child be forever deprived of his birthright?"

There was an evidence of concern in Mr. Morgan's face that made Princess Mifuyu mentally thank him for his extreme love for her child. But she had to admit, with all the commotion she had to endure for the past twenty one days—rebuilding the nation—she haven't given that important thought much mind at all.

Not until now.

"Actually, I… I don't know. Kenji and I haven't personally talked about it yet. T'was a fact we haven't seen each other for almost a month now. It might depend on the final outcome of this crisis," she said, but that obviously didn't make the old man feel relieved so she immediately added, "However, Mr. Morgan, I have a proposal I wish to discuss with you and frankly, your approval would bestow me tremendous joy."

"Consider it done, Your Majesty," Mr. Morgan slightly bowed, heartfully committing himself to the unknown.

"Well, like I said, I have not yet a clear idea unto where my family would belong after this feud but if you do not mind, Mr. Morgan, would you desire to stay in my family, wherever we will be, as Kal's personal caretaker?"

The mere thought brought an instant mist of happiness in the old man's eyes and he had tears all over his face as he graciously nodded. "Oh, Your Majesty, I would wish nothing more."

Princess Mifuyu didn't hesitate as she captured the fragile man in a warm affectionate embrace, "Very well then, welcome to my family… Ojiisama."

They exchanged tender goodnights and Mifuyu finally dismissed Mr. Morgan so he could also take his rest. She was about to lay next to her son when consecutive anxious knocks made her jumped off her bed.

She went to the door and silently opened it.

It was Proteus and Mifuyu gestured for him to enter but he graciously declined.

"Pardon my intrusion at this late time of the night, my dear, but this is a matter of fatal urgency."

Mifuyu gazed at her foster father for many years and even without the words, she could have guessed that much. The commander was shaking like a wet chicken.

"What is it?" She hoped she wouldn't have to hear about the Fuu's plan of invasion. With the state of the Umi nation at the moment, even Proteus could possibly not brag about fighting back. The nation was much in chaos, one attack wlll most likely pulverize it.

"It's His Highness…"

Mifuyu's cerulean eyes widened at that.

"He has finally awakened."

A/N: -sniff-... I know the ending part isnt much of a tear-jerker but I cant get over the previous dying-Tokiya scene. What's more embarrassing is that I'm the author of the story but for one moment there, as I was rereading, I almost BELIEVED Tokiya was really gonna die! And then in the end, I was all like... "WHY DID I LEAVE IT HANGING LIKE THAT?"

I know, i sounded pathetic. For a second there, I just made my OWN review to my OWN chapter.

Well, anyway, if you dont want me to humiliate myself more. (AND if you want another fast update), you will have to click the magical button! REVIEW!

And another thing, I submitted this chapter as soon as I encoded the last so please help me search for the glitches. Would really appreciate it.

PS. One or two chapters to go and were all set! Oh how much I hate ending this story... -grumbles-