Disclaimer: I do not own Tsubasa or any of its characters. They belong to CLAMP.

Rating: T

Warning: Boy Love, KuroFai

Chapter Two:

Anatoli, Russia

Yuui watched the white dove perched in the frozen, dead tree by his window as a servant girl adjusted his white Kaftan.

"It's snowing," mused the servant in throaty Russian.

"I noticed," Yuui replied. "Isn't it always? What makes it different now? I'm not so sure anything has changed for so long as I've lived."

"Ah, yes. But I was just remarking. Snow is so lovely and pure, you know"—she glanced at the small white bird—"like doves."

Yuui crinkled his nose. He didn't agree. The girl draped Yuui's light blue coat over his lean body and took a step back.

"There," she said, scratching her brunette head and smiling. "You look pretty, my Prince." The blond blinked and the servant girl blushed. "I-I mean, you look handsome, that is, your majesty!"

Yuui giggled and placed a pale hand over his mouth to quiet down. "It's quiet alright, Ludmila."

"It's Lizabeta"—once again she blushed at her rudeness—"N-n-not that is matters, your gracefulness! Call me Ludmila if you like! Call me what ever you like! Call me Fish-Face and I wouldn't even mind!"

The Prince let out another outburst of giggles and wiped away a tear from his blue eye. "Hm, let's see. What should I call you. . .What should I call you. . . Ah ha!"

Lizabeta squeezed her eyes shut and prepared for the worse—like Thunder-Thighs!

"Liza."

"Huh?" the girl whispered, looking up.

"Something simple—Liza. It's cute. Your cute." Yuui gave her a seemingly glowing smile. Lizabeta swooned. "Now then. I shall be late for my own parents' banquet." He turned and winked at the still-swooning girl and winked. "And you know how much I just love those banquets of there's."

And he skipped out.

He, of course, did not actually go to the banquet.

Nihon/ Japan

When Kurogane and Fai appeared in Nihon the first thing they saw was emptiness.

The whole courtyard in which they were standing in was pitch-black and deserted.

"Um?" Fai squeaked concerned, looking around wildly.

Kurogane chuckled, taking that as a "Where is everyone?" "Most likely asleep, but"—and as he said this an arrow wisped towards them, only to be caught swiftly by Kurogane—"there are bound to be ninjas guarding the place." He grinned and held up the arrow in which he broke in half with one hand. "Obviously."

"Kurogane?" came a female voice from the shadows and a moment later appeared Souma, hands on her hips. "I see. You're back. Woo-hoo!" She clapped her hands unenthusiastically.

"Yeah," Kurogane grunted.

"And you brought the foreigner. Joy."

Fai smiled and waved polity.

Souma gave something like a smile back. "Why'd you bring him?" she directed at the male ninja.

"Because."

"Because is not an answer, idiot." She blinked and glared at Fai. "So you'll be staying, huh? For how long? Forever? Does Tomoyo-hime know all this?"

Fai coughed and smiled sadly. "Я только что поняла, что-то. Я не понимаю, любой из вас."

Kurogane squinted and stared at the magician. "Oh . . . Oh yeah." He bonked his head with a fist. "You can't understand a thing we're saying, can you? Because I know we can't understand what's coming out of your mouth."

Fai sighed frustratingly.

Souma laughed.

Anatoli, Russia

It was snowing.

Yuui thought this was quite usual.

And quite lonely.

And quite sad.

He rested his chin upon his folded arms which were splayed across the open, stone window and gazed out into the coldness. I wonder where he is today. Is he in Nihon? What is he doing now? Does he think of me, as I think about him now? he thought with silent puzzlement. No.

It was impossible. Yuui bit his lip and shook his head weakly. He was so stupid. His thoughts were so juvenile!

"Yuui! Yuui!" he suddenly heard his brother call out.

"Fai," Yuui whispered. "I'm right here."

"Where were you? You were not at the banquet. Mother was worried," Fai asked with trifle concern.

I'm right here. I have always been. I always will be.

Fai grimaced. "This is getting old, brother."

Yuui knew this already.

He turned back to watch the snow.

What did Liza mean by 'lovely and pure'?