Written by: Sakura
Chapitre 2: Kioku no Taika | The Price of Memory
In Japan Country, Kurogane easily kills off the assassin enemies when he hears the princess speaking to him. Returning to where she is, the princess Tomoyo reprimands him for his unnecessary killing while he says all ninjas must kill those who attack them. His only goal is to be the best, regardless if anyone lives or dies. Tomoyo agrees that Kurogane is indeed the strongest and then decides to use her magic to send her ninja on a journey, so that he may learn the true meaning of strength. Before he is sent off, she places a curse on him, that every time he killed a person, his power would decrease.
In Selece Country, in a floating fortress, men are seen lying dead and/or injured on the ground. Faye surfaces and climbs out of the pool, with Chii waiting patiently for him. As he dons his coat, he's well aware what he must do. He tells Chii that he must leave this country - this world - to some place far away from there, a place without King Ashura. He asks Chii to do one last favour for him, to tel him when Ashura awakens. Chii agrees, since Faye had made her, after all. He uses her magic to change her and with a sad smile, he wishes that Ashura will have good dreams as he sleeps. using his magic once more, he sends himself to see the witch and vanishes from the country.
Going back to Syaoran, Sakura, and Yuuko, Yuuko knows immediately that Sakura lost something important that disappeared to different worlds and without it, she would die. Yuuko sends Watanuki to the treasure room and then warns Syaoran that there will be a price. Resolutely, Syaoran says he will pay any price he can. Yuuko pauses for a moment and knows that at the moment, two more people will be joining them. Sure enough, at that moment, out of thin air materialize two figures beside Syaoran and Sakura. Both speak at the same time and Kurogane glares at the taller, fair-haired man. He's confused at his new surroundings and is even more lost when Yuuko says they're now in Japan - a different Japan than where Kurogane is from. Faye introduces himself and he alone knows exactly what Yuuko's place is, somewhere wishes can be granted for a price. Kurogane wants to go back to his world while Faye expresses he doesn't want to return to his own world. Because they had spoken at the same time again, the former continues to glare at the latter.
It seems that each of them do not have enough to pay for their wish, but if all three together pooled together, their prices together would suffice, especially since they all have the same general wish under different circumstances. Kurogane's price is his sword, which he is most reluctant to give up. He continues to refuse until he is made to understand that without Yuuko's help, he can never leave this world. He gives her his sword along with his word that he would come back for it when he is free from Tomoyo's curse. Next, Faye must give up the tattoo on his back. He tries to bargain by giving up his staff at first, then, as reluctantly as Kurogane though not so vocal about it, he gives up the tattoo. Yuuko turns to Syaoran and warns him that aside from needing his price, the only thing she can do is give him the means to travel through different worlds. He still needs to find Sakura's memories on his own. No matter what she says, he is determined to accept it.
Watanuki returns, carrying two little creatures, one black, one white. She presents to them the white one, calling it Mokona Modoki. Kurogane wants to take the black one with him, but he cannot, as that one is to stay behind with Yuuko as means of communicating with them through the Mokonas. As for Syaoran's price, it's relationship. Even if Sakura were to get all her memories back, his relationship with her will not be the same. She asks him what Sakura means to him and he admits then that Sakura is his most precious person. Yuuko reminds him that even if all her memories are back, the one memory of him will never be retrieved. Even with such a price, Syaoran does not back away and is willing to pay it.