Author: Gnine
e-mail: jmk69@cornell.edu
Spoilers: A little from the end of the manga
Pairing: T+Y
Touya leaned against the railing of the balcony watching the lone figure sitting on the sands below, staring out at the sea. Illuminated only by the pale moonlight, he still easily recognized his father.
Unaware of observation, every so often the older man would turn, lips moving, as if talking to thin air, but his son knew better. There was a time he could see her too, his dead mother, but he had given that up, willingly. Besides, he couldn't begrudge his father, there was no person who deserved the ability more.
But still, sometimes, watching them like that, he wished…
"Do you miss it?" A low voice from behind made him jump. Glancing back, he watched as Yuki entered the balcony, sliding the door closed quietly behind him.
"Miss what?"
His lover gazed at him a moment, eyes wide and considering through the glasses. "Your magic, the ability to see your mom…what we took from you?"
Turning his head back towards the beach and the parent he could see, he shook his head. "I don't regret giving it to you." Touya replied insistently.
Footsteps behind him signaled Yukito's hesitant approach. "That's not what I asked: do you miss it?"
He didn't respond at first, just gazed down at the couple, only half of which he could see. "Sometimes." He finally admitted.
There was a familiar swish, of wings unfolding and then strong arms reached around from behind to embrace him. For a moment, Yue's power seemed to hum around them both, startling Touya, then a soft voice in his ear instructed "Look."
His eyes widened as he did so. Shimmering in the air, floating beside his father on the sands, was the ghostly image of his mother. It was pale, far lighter than he once was able to make her out, but it was enough.
As if sensing his eyes on her, she turned and even from the distance, he could make out the smile he remembered all too well. And then, as suddenly as she's appeared, she was gone; the flow of power encircling them vanished with an audible hiss and the arms gripping him loosened.
"We're sorry," Yue murmured, regret clear in his normally cold voice, "we never meant to take that from you." He stepped back, turning to leave.
"Yue, wait!" Touya reached out, snagging his sleeve. "Yue, Yukito, you have to both believe me when I say I don't ever regret doing what I did. " His gaze bore into the other's pale face, willing the truth of what he spoke to be understood.
A nod, but the icy eyes still held doubt.
Touya went on. "Thank you for that gift, it means a lot to me…seeing her again--" Yue jerked his head slighlty, as if those words confirmed his suspicion. Touya, however, continued, still bent on alleviating that misconceived notion. "But," he gave the silver-haired man a rare smile, "having you and Yukito with me will always mean more."
With that, before the other could protest, he pulled him close, bringing their lips together, enjoying the sensation of the other's warm mouth on his.
When the kiss ended, it was Yukito he held in his arms, not Yue. He blinked, surprised.
Yuki grinned up at him. "He was too startled…and relieved, that he didn't know what to say, so he left it up to me."
Touya chuckled. "And?"
"What else?" Yuki tightened his arms around his lover, gazing earnestly up. "That he--we--love you!"
"And hearing that is worth more to me than my magic ever could." Touya breathed, pressing the slender form close. "Ai shiteru…Yuki to Yue."
C & C appreciated (please! I LOVE comments! ;), this was my first attempt at CCS, how horrible was it?