A/N - This story runs in parallel with my other Tsubasa fanfic, Crimson. 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!

Note: You do not need to read Crimson to understand Sapphire, or vice versa.

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.

Fai smiled gently at the warrior's stubborn refusal to show any softness, although he was careful not to let anyone see.

But then, I'm always hiding my feelings too, Fai thought dryly. I really shouldn't be so hypocritical.

The townspeople waved and let loose their last farewells as the three travelers and the strange white creature (Mokona would hate being called that!) 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!"

Fai chuckled inwardly at Mokona's comments. They did have rather nice sweets.

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

Noble Syaoran, always thinking of others! Fai smiled at his younger (technically, they were all younger than him, but Syaoran was the youngest and the least wise) companion. He was in a rather good mood today, what with the blue sky, gentle breeze, and general peacefulness in the air … and in himself.

But if he was honest, he was relieved to be on the move again.

I'm always running away. If not from Ashura-ou, then from …

"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."

What home? Fai felt bitter as the memories of ice, snow, and a great beautiful castle … No. He refused to dwell on the painful shards of his past, and suppressed his thoughts of his countries, both Valeria and Celes.

"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. I lost myself when the real Fai died … and what's the point of a home without a self? Ruval Palace was almost like a home, until my king went on a murdering rampage and killed everyone I tried to protect, then tried to get me to kill him …

Fai saw Kurogane looking at him out of the corner of his eye. He was grimly pleased that the handsome (handsome?) man had seen him and wondered what he thought of the pain that was probably evident in his eyes.

Enough. Fai squashed all the depressed thoughts into near nothingness and concentrated instead on happy things, forcing his lips to curl slightly upwards again. Be happy.

Syaoran babbled apologies for being insensitive, clearly mortified at having said something so seemingly harmless but yet so obviously painful.

Fai waved him off; after all, it wasn't his fault. He was only trying to relieve himself of some of his own guilt, Fai reasoned. I bet Syaoran feels bad for being so happy that we all chose to accompany him.

Not that I had too much of a choice, Fai mused. There is something I must do …

Mokona bounced along; oblivious to Fai's dark thoughts, and the four travelers walked along in silence. Fai saw Kurogane tilted his head back to observe the midmorning sky, and wondered what he was thinking about.

I have no idea, Fai realized. I've travelled with Kurogane for so long, yet I still don't know how or what he thinks about in moments like this.

But then, Kurogane probably didn't know about the thoughts that plagued Fai and the memories that still haunted his dreams, or he would have tried to intervene by now.

Who are we, really?

Fai took a deep but quiet breath and erased all traces of sadness from his face.

"Cheer up Kuro-pu!" Fai 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, sounding more discontent than usual.

Have I done something to upset him again? Fai wondered. Wait …

Why do I even care?

"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."

You never know where the next threat may come from, Fai reasoned. Now that Fei Wong Reed and Yuuko were both gone, the title of most powerful magician across the worlds is open for grabs.

Fai found himself automatically speeding up to keep pace with Kurogane as the taller man almost started running towards the forest. He glanced around for anything that could have startled Kurogane, wondering what had spooked the ninja. Usually, Kurogane just seemed fearless, but even he had softened a bit over the course of their previous journey, learning how to show emotions other than just anger and disapproval once in a while.

Not enough to let us know what he's thinking, Fai thought. He hides his emotions even better than I do.

Kurogane, however, was not one to dwell on things past.

Fai, unfortunately, was.

Kurogane suddenly slowed down again. Fai looked at him with concern, as did Syaoran, 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 a loaded 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.

Life is everywhere, Fai thought. Life, as a whole, cannot be destroyed.

Only as a whole.

Fai 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 was kneeling 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, where it had appeared not two seconds ago.

"Would you please stop moving?" Kurogane growled and turned away, only to whip his head around right when Mokona sailed through the air.

Mokona landed squarely on Kurgane'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. They had been travelling for a month already since leaving Clow Country, but had yet to fight or draw blood. 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!"

Fai couldn't pass up an opportunity to tease the ninja, even with a death glare trained on him. "Really Kuro-chan, you must take care of your children, not throw them off without even knowing where they're going to land!" He scolded, once again trying to shove all his inner turmoil into a little box in his mind.

At least Kurogane was a great distraction. He pranced around Kurogane, poking him and giggling.

"What if I do know where they're going to land?" Kurogane eyed Fai menacingly. Fai correctly predicted his next move and leap out of the way just as Kurogane made a lunge for him.

He looks quite amusing clawing at empty air, Fai thought, entertained. "Nyaa nyaa, you'll never catch me! Besides, I'm Fai-mommy, I'm not a child!" Fai laughed and threw his hands up in a carefree manner as he ran away from the sword wielding ninja.

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 to the clearing where Syaoran and Mokona were 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.

I should let him catch me one day, Fai toyed with the idea.

Of course, that means I'll have to stop running.

"You know, this still doesn't feel natural," Kurogane 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!" And they certainly weren't going to find one in Fai, who had enough issues to burden them all.

"What children? I see only one child with us," Kurogane spat out. Fai felt his conjured happiness slip away like flowing water and looked away quickly. He heard a stuttered apology and then Syaoran stepped forward to smooth everything over again.

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

Fai kept his gaze trained on distant trees and clouds, not meeting any of his friends' eyes.

However, he had didn't have much time to drown in his own thoughts. 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. The snow whipped across the land of endless white ferociously. This country is cold … both like Valeria and Celes. This time, when the memories came, he was powerless to stop them.

… twins of misfortune …

Tears threatened his eyes and he quickly allowed his blonde hair to lie over his eyes, essentially hiding them from close scurtiony. He clambered to a standing position after a muffled yell from the ninja hinted a painful death if he didn't move.

Fai noted that Kurogane took the time to give them all a once-over, and seemed satisfied with the results.

"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, comfortable in his Celes robes and accustomed to weather like this, tuned out Mokona's voice and looked into the distance.

What misfortune awaits us here?

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! You may noticed, Sapphire is longer than Crimson - Fai simply thinks too much for his own good! 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!