Chapter 1 ~ A New World

"I swear your landings are getting worse," Kurogane grumbled, squirming under the dog pile they had landed in yet again.

"I'm sorry," Sakura cried, quickly leaping up and dusting herself off.

Fai smiled, holding a hand out to help Kurogane up. They stared about them at the close set trees. Mokona zoomed down from a branch to settle on Syaoran's shoulder as they crashed through the dense forest. The trees suddenly parted, showering them in lavish daylight.

"Ahh, so this is our new world?" Fai sighed, staring around them at the gently swaying fields of wild flowers. A short distance away a waterfall splashed into a crystal clear pond sparkling under the branches of tall willow trees. Mountains, capped in snow, peeked over the horizon as they stretched to touch the clouds. "I must say, I rather like it here."

"Mokona too!"

Syaoran nodded, smiling at Sakura who lifted her face to the warm sun. "It's so calm here," she sighed as Mokona bounced into her arms.

"Well?" Kurogane asked impatiently, "Is there a feather here or not?"

"Aww, we just got here."

"Come on you little fur ball. That's your job, right? So, is there or not?"

"Kurgi," Fai chuckled, grabbing his arm, "don't be in such a rush. Let's relax for a while. After all, this seems like a rather nice place and we've been working so hard lately. I'm sure we could all use a rest."

"Yeah!" Mokona agreed.

"How about it, Princess?" Syaoran asked. "Do you mind if we take a break from searching?"

"I don't mind at all," Sakura giggled. "It'll be ok, Kurogane. After all, you guys fought so hard in the last world for my feather. You should rest."

"And Mokona too!"

"Yes, and you," she laughed.

"Let's go over by the pond," Syaoran suggested, leading the way. "We can relax in the shade."

"At least tell us if you sense the feather," Kurogane muttered as they got closer.

"Mokona always tells you, silly."

Sakura delicately sat at the edge of the water, removing her shoes and wiggling her toes in the coolness. Syaoran sat beside her, laughing as she playfully splashed her feet back and forth.

Fai smiled, leaning against the tree that Kurogane sat under. "There's nothing like young love to warm the heart."

"Don't start getting all sentimental on me," Kurogane growled, leaning back against the trunk of the tree and shutting his eyes.

"Surely you've felt that pang of the heart before, right Kuro?"

He shrugged, eyebrows narrowing. "Why don't you ever pick on anyone else?"

"Because it's not as much fun," Fai smiled, jumping back as Kurogane threw a pine cone at him. "Aww somebody's cranky."

Kurogane yawned, placing his arms behind his head, "Go bother someone else for a while, ok?"

~~ooOoo~~

Sakura woke some time later as the sound of laughter filled the air. She rose, walking to the water's edge where the boys were wading in the clear pool, Mokona bouncing between them like a furry beach ball. Smiling, she sank onto the warm sand at the water's edge, tucking her legs under her as she lifted a handful of damp sand.

Before long she had two tall towers before her. Syaoran splashed his way over to her, plunking down beside her as she carved a simple design onto the ground around them with a stick.

"Those look like the ruins," he stated, watching her work.

"They're always there in the background of my memories," she replied softly, sketching random swirls into the sand. "I know they must be important. I just can't remember why."

Syaoran sighed, wanting to comfort her somehow but unsure how. The glanced up as Mokona danced over, laughing, and hid behind them.

"Mokona's hiding. Kurgi is angry."

"What did you do?" Syaoran asked, receiving a glare from Mokona.

"Mokona didn't do anything."

Kurogane appeared suddenly, jumping out from the weeds at the edge of the water and tackling Mokona.

"Gothca, you little cream puff," he laughed. "That's for scaring the fish away."

"Fish?" Syaoran asked while Sukura and Fai laughed at Mokona struggled in Kurogane's arms.

"You were planning to eat while we're here, right?" he replied, chuckling.

Fai came to stand by the group, Mokona happily perched on his head. His gaze wandered up to the sky where the clouds had begun to build. Kurogane following his thoughts, nodded.

"It might be a good idea to find some kind of shelter for the night," he stated. "You guys handle it, I'll take the kid."

"Alright then," Fai agreed, turning to Sakura. "Looks like it's just you and me."

"Oh and take the fur ball with you!" Kurogane added, tossing Mokona at him as he walked off with Syaoran.

"Let's take a look around here," Fai suggested, nimbly climbing up the rocks by the side of the waterfall. He reached out, grabbing the princess' arm as she slipped. "Careful. Syaoran would never forgive me if I let something happen to you."

She giggled, plucking a dandelion head and lightly blowing on it. "He does get a bit overprotective of me doesn't he?" she asked, watching the seeds float away on the calm breeze.

Fai turned, hiding his smile as he examined the layout of the land. Below them Kurogane was teaching Syaoran how to catch fish with his bare hands, laughing heartily as he missed and fell backwards, soaking himself.

"Ooh, Fai look up ahead there," Sakura suddenly called, pointing to a small crevice between the rocks.

"Wait here and I'll go make sure it's safe," he advised, peeking into the space beyond.

"Be careful," she called as he darted inside.

"Not bad," he said a moment later, poking his head back out. "Come on, I think you'll like it."

He stepped aside, allowing the full effect to hit her as she examined the large space hidden just out of sight behind the falls. The edge of the rocks was set back from the spray that made up one wall of the enclosure and the late afternoon sun that spilled through the pouring water cast rainbows about the room. Near the back a small pool had formed from water dripping down from the high ceiling and dotted around the area, short stalagmites rose between the rock formations.

"It's so beautiful," she gasped, walking towards the ledge and holding her hands out towards the water.

"This should do nicely," Fai agreed, turning as Kurogane called out for them. He ducked out the entrance momentarily, beckoning them inside. "Look what Sakura found for us."

"You found this?" Syaoran asked in awe.

"Don't sound so surprised," Kurogane chuckled. "You really think that knucklehead would do any real work?"

"Aww Kurgerburger, I'm hurt."

"Good," he replied, tossing the fish they'd caught into the small pool. "Get to work on that, will you? You're supposed to be the cook here. Make yourself useful for once."

"Papa Kurgi is hungry," Mokona laughed, ducking behind Sakura as he turned, glowering.

Before long they sat around the small campfire, stomachs full of Fai's wonderful cooking. The sun had long since slipped behind the gathering clouds as night slowly fell. Beyond the veil of water lightning flashed, followed by a low roll of thunder in the distance.

Sakura rose, wandering towards the back of the cave to begin setting up the bed rolls. Syaoran followed behind her, offering assistance. Sighing, Kurogane stood, walking towards the ledge and staring through the wall of rushing water to where lightning streaked across the dark sky.

"Those two have been getting awful close lately," Fai observed, nodding towards Syaoran as he helped Sakura spread her sleeping roll on the ground. "I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. Even with her memories of him gone, she still has him here beside her, creating new ones."

Kurogane glanced over his shoulder at the two, nodding in agreement. "She does seem happier now. Betcha anything it's because of that kid."

"Of course it is. You only have to look at them to see they're meant to be together. He'd do anything for her. Absolutely anything…" He sighed, stretching out his long legs. "I wonder what it must feel like knowing there's someone out there, willing to sacrifice everything for you."

"She doesn't know what he gave up," Kurogane pointed out.

"She probably never will. It'd be too much for her. He knows that and that's why he'll never reveal the truth."

"Sounds like someone else I know," he muttered, turning his back on his as the two slowly walked up.

Thunder rumbled overhead and Sakura ducked into Syaoran's side. He smiled, wrapping an arm around her. Kurogane and Fai shared a quick glance, nodding, quickly turning away as Syaoran looked up.

"So how long do you think we should stay here?" he asked softly.

"Mmm, now that's a good question," Fai responded, crossing his arms behind his head and leaning back against a rock. "What do you think, Kurgs?"

"I think you need to start using my real name," he growled, lowering his voice as he noticed Sakura's eyes drooping shut. "Are we curtain there isn't a feather here?"

They turned to stare at Mokona who merely shrugged. "Mokona's not sure. There's something powerful here..."

"But is it the feather?" Syaoran asked, carefully repositioning so as not to disturb the princess.

"It's really faint."

"Where is it at?"

"It's really high up," Mokona stated, pointing towards the ceiling of their cave.

"I say we check it out," Syaoran said anxiously.

"Now calm down, kid," Kurogane warned. "We're not gonna set off in a storm to chase down what might not even be the feather."

"Kuro is right," Fai agreed, receiving an odd glance from him. "Let's wait until morning when it's light out and we can go look then."

Syaoran looked slightly disappointed, staring into the flames with such determination. Fai smiled over at him. He really would do anything for that princess of his.

"Mokona is sleepy," Mokona suddenly informed them, bouncing over onto Fai's lap.

"You probably wore yourself out swimming all afternoon," Syaoran replied, looking up.

"I think you're not alone on that, Mokona," Fai agreed, nodding to where Sakura sat dozing in his arms.

"I'll take first watch," Syaoran volunteered, lightly shaking her awake.

"Relax kid," Kurogane said. "I don't think anything's gonna attack us here."

Syaoran nodded, yawning widely as he led Sakura over to her sleeping bag.

Mokona bounced over to where Fai was just starting to curl up beside the fire. "Mokona will sleep with Fai tonight."

"Aww that's very kind of you," he said softly, snuggling down beneath his blanket. "Does Kurgi snore too loud for you?"

"I heard that," Kurogane growled, stretching out on his own bedroll beside them.

~~ooOoo~~