"You're suffering." Came the monotonous tone. A well-veiled hint of worry was interlaced with the seemingly indifferent statement.

Eriol pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can you tell?"

"Are you seriously asking me that question?"

Eriol sighed as he watched Spinel Sun settle himself comfortably on his lap. Running a hand through his sun guardian's velvety fur, Eriol smiled as he listened to him purr in satisfaction.

"Your guilt is overwhelming."

Eriol couldn't help but chuckle. "Can I ask you to keep your opinions to yourself for a while?"

"If you wanted that, you shouldn't have created a guardian who is too well in-tune with your emotions and thoughts." Suppi replied aloofly.

Eriol sighed again. He'd lost count of the number of times he berated himself for allowing Spinel Sun that ability.

"Do you want me to express what you cannot?" The cat-like guardian added.

Eriol closed his eyes. "Okay. Let's see you try."

Suppi nodded as he took an intake of breath. "You feel guilty because of the fact that you have created guardians who are, in a sense, immortal, and who will inevitably have to live through the pain of a life of eternity. You cannot bring yourself to imagine what we will have to endure – moving from master to master, having to be forced to become loyal to people chosen as your heirs regardless of their values and principles. And it kills you to not be able to grant us the one thing we wish – to die alongside you."

Eriol's eyes failed to conceal their surprise. "Spinel…"

Suppi looked at him aloofly. "What? Did you honestly believe that Ruby Moon is the only one who wishes to follow you all the way to your grave?" The sun guardian sighed. "Master Eriol, we'd follow you to the very ends of the Earth. All you have to do is ask."

Eriol felt his eyes prick, fighting hard to force back unshed tears. It didn't help at all that Spinel Sun stated it so casually, as if it were a comment on the weather.

"But you know our greater purpose. And you know you cannot break the pact with Clow Reed. We were created not to protect you." Spinel Sun paused, his eyes never leaving that of his masters. "You don't need to be protected." He added silently, a sliver of melancholy in his tone. "We were created to balance out the guardians of the cards. Like Yin and Yang. Our existence reinforces the equilibrium."

Eriol didn't even try to conceal the look of shock in his face.

"Why are you so surprised?" Came Suppi's amused tone. "You didn't need to tell me. I already knew everything from the very beginning. I am the mirror to your soul Master. You created me that way. I know everything there is to know about you."

Eriol simply stared at Spinel, unsure of what to say.

Suppi chuckled to himself. "What? Now you want to know what I have to say about my inevitable fate?"

Eriol looked away and nodded.

"I have to admit spending an eternity with Ruby Moon does not entice me one bit. Add in Cerberus and I would rather choose a gun to my head." Suppi stated as he shook his head. "But Yue is tolerable. He is reasonable and quiet. Competent and silent. Knowledgeable and unobtrusive."

Eriol chuckled. "Quiet, silent and unobtrusive mean the same thing."

"You think so?" Suppi asked in a fake innocent tone. "I feel the need to reiterate such a rare characteristic."

Eriol chuckled again.

"An eternity…" Suppi whispered as he looked away. "Can be lonely."

Eriol felt that same familiar gutting feeling, clawing its way up his chest. Guilt. Helplessness. Regret.

"But I get it." Suppi added, his tone steady and certain. "Since an eternity can be lonely, the only remedy is to have someone to spend it with."

Eriol could only look on as Spinel continued to talk, uttering words he was not allowed to say. "That is why I was made in resemblance to Cerberus, and Ruby was made as a counterpart of Yue. All four of us will be spending eternity together. And for us to be able to endure eternity, we need first to learn how to endure each other. That is something neither you, nor Clow Reed can force. It's something the four of need to work out. It's something only we can realize. That is why you kept it for so long. And that is why you will never bring yourself to tell me and Ruby Moon, or Yue and Cerberus."

A long moment of silence occurred. Eriol remained glued to his chair unable to utter a single word. Intermittently stroking the Suppi's fur, Eriol slowly brought his head down onto the cat-like guardian's own.

"Spinel Sun." He whispered, the exhausted but alleviated tone came breathlessly.

"Yes Master Eriol?" Suppi had his eyes closed and his posture was that of a sleeping cat.

"Thank you."

"Tell me again why I'm wasting time with you?" Ruby Moon looked Yue up and down as he floated in midair right outside the balcony of her bedroom. It's been almost two months since she last saw him.

Yue was silent, but his gaze was filled with determination. He finally had a clue on what Eriol really meant. He wasn't entirely sure, but he was willing to find out.

"I wish to converse with you on a few matters."

Ruby Moon couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I don't have time to talk. I still have to get dinner done and-"

"If you beat me to the Tomoeda temple then I will leave you be."

Just like that Yue sped off out of the mansion.

Ruby Moon couldn't help but felt cheated as she transformed into her full form and sped off in pursuit of her conniving counterpart.

"You cheap sack of-"

Yue couldn't help but smirk at the strings of curses promising nothing but death and suffering. He had a good lead. His victory was assured.

Landing on the gates of the temple, Ruby Moon raised an accusing finger at the indifferent form of the silver-eyed guardian. "That was low even for you!"

Yue folded his arms on his chest defiantly. "Regardless, I won."

Ruby Moon swallowed her anger before donning a mocking smirk. "It's flattering though, how you need to cheat to beat me."

"Whatever makes you sleep at night." Came Yue's standoffish reply.

Ruby Moon felt her mouth fell open. Since when did Yue speak in such a manner?

As if reading her thoughts, Yue felt he needed to clarify his choice of words. "I hear it from my mistress's brother whenever they argue."

Ruby Moon blinked. She didn't know what surprised her more – his actual use of the phrase or his explanation of his acquisition of it.

"Now that we are here, I believe you owe me a conversation."

Ruby Moon felt disoriented. Yue's actions were unnatural and unpredictable. She hated the anxiety that it established in her. Letting out an impatient sigh to calm herself down, Ruby Moon placed a hand on her hip. "Ten minutes."

Yue nodded.

A long unbearable tension-filled silence followed right after.

Ruby Moon couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You asked for a conversation. So at least have the decency to initiate it!"

Yue looked away for a moment in uncertainty. "What are your thoughts on eternity?"

Ruby Moon simply looked at him like he'd grown another head. "I beg your pardon?"

"Eternity. What are your thoughts on it?"

"Why are you asking me such a ridiculous question?"

Yue sighed impatiently. "Just answer. We're supposed to be having a conversation."

Ruby Moon scoffed in disbelief. "A conversation is two way. I can refuse to answer or change the conversation whenever I feel like it." She concluded defiantly.

"Fine." Yue stated through slightly gritted teeth. "I'll ask, you answer."

Ruby Moon raised an eyebrow. "Since when were you the boss of me?"

"Since I won."

Ruby Moon narrowed her eyes in annoyance. Looking at Yue's superior demeanor made her want to blast his head off. "Yes. You won by cheating. I'm so glad that makes you feel so much better about yourself."

"A win is a win." Yue replied matter-of-factly. "Now answer the question."

Ruby Moon was now more curious than pissed. Yue was too prideful to risk cheating, yet he did. And for what reason? To ensure this conversation with her. Whatever it was, he must be going through something beyond what he could tolerate for him to revert to such an underhanded strategy.

"Eternity." Yue reiterated. "What is it for you?"

Ruby Moon remained silent, contemplating whether she would provide him an answer or piss him off further by avoiding the question.

"It's something you must have thought about at least once." Yue added silently, looking Ruby Moon straight in the eyes. "So tell me."

Ruby Moon felt oddly exposed with the gaze Yue was giving her. She looked away and cursed silently. She hated how much his look unnerved her. "Why the hell do you want to know?"

No answer. His expectant look was unwavering.

Ruby Moon sighed in exhaustion. "It's dreadful, alright? Eternity is… Just thinking about it…" She paused, the volume of her voice lowered down slowly. "It's downright unbearable."

Yue remained silent, watching his counterpart struggling to keep her emotions at bay.

"And you?"

Yue raised an eyebrow in inquiry.

"What is eternity for you?" Ruby Moon looked Yue straight in the eye, determination made her blood red eyes more vibrant under the moonlight.

Yue looked away in deep thought.

"Eternity… Is exhausting. Knowing there will never be an end… Is incredibly exhausting."

Ruby Moon slowly felt the tension leave her body.

Silver blue orbs met blood red ones. Another understanding was reached.

"Eternity is lonely." Ruby Moon added, surprising herself at what she had uttered.

"Eternity is grief." Yue mirrored. His eyes slowly showing the losing battle he was having with his emotions.

"Eternity is endless sacrifice." Ruby Moon heard her voice choke, feeling her eyes water up much to her embarrassment.

"Eternity is limitless agony." Yue whispered. His voice sounded closer than it was before.

Ruby Moon lifted her hands to her face to shield her humiliation. Of all the people she had to cry in front of, it just had to be Yue. She could feel him standing just an arm's reach away from her.

"If you had a choice…" Came Yue's nearly inaudible voice. "Who would you spend it with?"

Ruby Moon stood frozen in shock at the sudden realization. Furiously wiping her tears away, she glanced back at Yue only to be met by an empty space.

He was gone.

Eriol sighed at the sight before him.

"She's out there again?"

"Yes, she is. Do you have the slightest idea why Spinel?"

"Your ideas are as good as mine."

Flying away from the window, Spinel turned back to give his master a final look. "Perhaps you should talk to her. As much as I love the whole week of silence in this household, seeing her look like an abandoned puppy makes even someone like me want to mope." He paused to give Eriol a knowing look. "And don't tell her I said that."

Eriol smiled as he watched the tiny cat guardian fly off into the kitchen. It was amusing how much Spinel cared about Ruby Moon but refused to show it directly. Materializing a few biscuits and some tea, Eriol began to head out into the patio.

"Fancy some tea and biscuits, my lady?"

Nakuru couldn't help but roll her eyes. She could never get used to her master's gentleman antics. For some unearthly reason, it just didn't seem to suit him.

"Thank you master, but you shouldn't have."

Eriol took a seat across her as he smiled. "Oh but I do. When my moon guardian sulks around for about a week, complimentary tea and biscuits are in order."

Nakuru could only sigh.

"So are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?"

Nakuru smirked. "Guess."

Eriol chuckled. He had expected her to go that way. "Let's see. It has something to do with a certain white-haired, pale skinned, silver blue-eyed, white-winged moon guardian."

Nakuru let out a long audible sigh. "That obvious?"

Eriol continued to smile.

"It's nothing really master. Just a few thoughts in mind."

Eriol intertwined his fingers before placing them under his chin. "Such as?"

Nakuru sighed again. "It's really nothing."

"Yes because a week of brooding is usually nothing, Nakuru, especially for you." Came Eriol's sarcastic but amused tone.

Nakuru looked up in the sky. She remained silent for a few good minutes.

"He asked me what I thought of eternity."

Eriol's eyes widened a bit in surprise. "Did he?"

Nakuru nodded, still looking up in the sky. "We had similar views on it."

Eriol remained silent.

Bringing her head back down, Nakuru looked Eriol straight in the eye. "We both hated it."

Eriol felt a lump grow in his throat, unsure of what to say.

"But us agreeing on something wasn't even the weird part." Nakuru chuckled bitterly, inspecting Eriol's reaction carefully. "He asked me who I'd want to spend eternity with, if given a choice."

Eriol failed to conceal the surprise on his face upon hearing what Yue had asked her. Did he already know?

"Then I realized." Nakuru paused to look down on her hands. "It's not who I want to spend it with, it was who I had to spend it with."

Eriol looked down on the ground.

"That's it, right? My other purpose." Nakuru stated in such a way that left no room for argument. "It's to spend eternity with Yue, along with Cerberus and Spinel Sun, protecting the cards, further strengthening their equilibrium. It's why we were made."

Eriol remained silent.

Hearing Nakuru let out another long sigh, Eriol couldn't help but glance back at her.

"Honestly master…" Nakuru paused to give Eriol a look of unveiled uncertainty. "I don't know if I can do it. No. I don't think I want to do it." She paused again. "I'm sorry master, for being selfish."

Eriol shook his head. "I'm the one who's sorry. I imposed it on you. If anything, it's my fault for resigning you to such a fate. Asking for forgiveness will never be enough."

Nakuru shook her head this time. "No. You created me. Without you I wouldn't even be here. You gave me life. You made me part of your family. And I will never be able to repay you that."

"And what has that life turned into now?" Eriol whispered quietly.

"It's a life filled with love and happiness. A purpose-driven life." Nakuru smiled genuinely. "A lifetime with you and Suppi-chan as a family is all I ever want, master. I never once wished for an eternity." Nakuru's smile turned melancholic. "However, I get it now. Why I need eternity. Why I was made. Why I have to continue to exist. The balance needs to be maintained. The world needs to be kept safe – for you, for your children, your children's children. My existence will create a greater avenue for happiness and security. And with this I will continue to exist."

"Ruby Moon…" Eriol looked on with a mixture of emotions. "I don't know what to say."

"It's fine master. You must have had a very difficult time trying to carry this burden on your shoulders. You don't have to worry anymore. Haven't I told you before?" Nakuru paused to give Eriol a sincere smile. "I will be your faithful servant. I will never deceive you, never question you. And I will stay by your side until the end of time."

Eriol felt his chest constrict at the words of sheer devotion uttered with much ease. Shielding his watery eyes with his bangs, he finally allowed himself a genuine smile. For the first time in years, he felt lighter.

"Thank you, Ruby Moon."