An autumn evening, and three boys had been drinking. Two, identical in every way, were underage by appearances, but by the confused loops of time both had been through, they were much older than they seemed.
The only underage drinker had passed out some time ago.
How old were they? One had been fourteen, but rewound time for seven years. The clone had started life all over again, grown to adulthood, fathered a son (and a parallel timeline twin) and then grown young once more.
Syaoran regarded the drunken sleeping form of Kimihiro, his… brother? He thought it would make sense to think of him as his brother.
The other Syaoran sipped at his sake and looked on both his sons. It had been a victorious homecoming and reunion.
"Strange," said the first. "Kimihiro is an alternate version of me, in fact he is me. Why is he so different?"
"What makes a man indeed," said his father/clone. "Nature or nurture?"
"Is he what I might have become if I hadn't gone to Clow?"
"You mean, without all the hardships we went through? And the extra training?"
"He had his own hardships, I think."
"Because I left him behind to grow up alone."
There was a moment's silence.
"He is very forgiving though, even considering his understanding of hitsuzen," said Syaoran.
"I'm glad," said their boyish father. They both thought of Yuuko for a while.
"I'm sorry I tried to kill you," both said at the same time, then burst into laughter.
"I'm starting to feel buzzed," said Syaoran.
"Ha! Lightweight!" his father giggled.
"Runs in the family!" shot back the other. "One more please!"
"Last of the bottle. Ah, what good stuff Doumeki has."
"Kimihiro would nag us both."
"Let sleeping logs lie."
Syaoran the father/clone started clearing up the glasses and bottle (just one, none of his family could drink very much), and got onto his knees. The son was staring out the window.
He stooped, and gently kissed the top of his son's head.
"Father?" Syaoran turned, puzzled.
"I've… I've wanted to do that for… oh almost forever!" the father got up with the tray. He paused at the doorway and looked back. "Good night boys. Cover Kimihiro so he won't catch cold."
Syaoran did what he was told, and lay down beside, listening to Kimihiro's soft snoring and noting a little drool down his cheek. He grinned.
"Tadaima!"