(Japan. Circa 1900)
Late afternoon sunlight, filtered through dusty windows, greeted Cerberus' eyes as they came open. He shivered the muscles under his skin to shake off the remnants of the spell that woke him and unsealed him from his sleep, stretched and looked around. Clow was waiting expectantly for his reaction. "Where's Yue?" asked the lion.
"Still sealed," answered Clow. "I wanted you to wake up first."
"Heh heh – that means I get first pick of the bedrooms, doesn't it?" Cerberus chuckled. He didn't wait for his maker's answer, but looked around, and spotting the stairs, dashed up them. After a running start, he spread his wings and flew the rest of the way.
The magician sighed with contentment. He was tired and dusty. It had been a long day's travel from Tokyo to the estate, and he had gotten a late start in the morning already worn from the distance of Yokohama to Tokyo. That part of the journey was, by necessity, via the limited conventional means of man and horse. Any use of magic would have been noticed. Still, he felt better, just from being on solid land again. He felt rejuvenated. This was a country rich with magic, and as England of old neighbored Faerie Land, other dimensional realms resonated close to the green plane of his new home. The dragon lines in the land resonated musically. It was going to be a good place to spend the last century of his life, in idleness and ease, with the two companions dearest to him.
It was time to wake Yue. Clow lifted the book from its temporary perch atop a steamer trunk and carried it up the first flight of stairs. He noticed the contrast of his dirty boots against the polished hardwood; in the future, he would go shoeless at home, as was native custom, he decided. He paused as the stairs let out to the second floor hallway, sat down on the top step, and carefully lay the Clow book next to himself. The sorcerer peeled off his heavy traveling coat, and with a small smile, he tossed his hat down to the lower level, watching it spin like a toy through the air. He shucked himself of his morning coat as well and unbuttoned his cuffs and the neck of his shirt. Finally, he set about unlacing his boots.
After kicking off his socks, he wiggled his bare feet and enjoyed the coolness of the air on his skin before retrieving the book and hopping up. He strode down the hall, eager now to wake Yue and show him the room that Clow had readied for his companion. It had been difficult, to put it mildly, to co-ordinate getting all the books in and unpacked before the three companions would arrive, but Clow had wanted the library ready before anything else.
Those hired to do the job had also taken the time to neaten the room. The floors shined, and the Persian carpet was lay over the gleaming surface. The comfortable chairs were arranged by the large windows. Though still dirty on the outside, the glass and sills were clean of dust on the room's side. All the books stood on the shelves with evidence of their packing removed.
The magician released the seal on his companion, and Yue appeared with a hushed rustling of wings. When Yue opened his eyes, he at first felt a brief pang of disappointment to see that they were no longer on the China. Then Yue registered the contents of the space around him. "I thought that you said that everything would be in disarray," he said at the unexpected sight. He walked over to a shelf; he ran his fingers lovingly over the spines of several books. "They are all out of order!" he exclaimed with a laugh.
The magician walked over to join him, wearing a bemused expression. "I didn't think you would mind… arranging them to your liking again," he said.
"No, I don't mind at all," breathed Yue. "I am just happy to see them out of storage." He pulled down a volume and let the pages relax open. As he fondly caressed the written words, he said, "No mold or damage at all. I know that I should trust your spells, Clow, but I have seen the damage that time can do… ." His words trailed off. He was smiling, already reading and lost in the prose.
"I'm glad, then," said Clow simply, knowing that Yue wasn't listening.
Cerberus inspected one room after another. The house was big, though not as big as the Reed manor back in England. He could see Clow's style everywhere. Instead of enclosed hallways, the upstairs had a walkway with railing on one side. It would be easy to fly from one level to the next. The second flight of stairs looked like it led up to the attic and the roof; he would explore that later.
The rooms themselves sometimes led into each other, and that was Clow's style, too. Cerberus opened doors to reveal closets or adjacent rooms; it was impossible to tell just from the door's appearance. There was at least one door that connected one room to another that wasn't adjacent. If Clow hadn't activated The Maze, Cerberus would eat Clow's hat. Articles of furniture – beds, tables, the occasional chair – were scattered without much thought in various places, delivered but not organized.
There were two rooms that he liked, and he debated which to claim as his bedroom. Both had tall, wide casements that opened outward and used handles that would give him no trouble opening the windows with his paws. Each room was of equal size, each of them completely empty and in different parts of the house. At last, he chose the one with the windows that faced south and east; he could wake with the sun rising and sleep on the comfortable-looking window seat in the afternoons. He padded around the room, inspecting the high ceilings.
Pleased with his choice, he went out to further investigate the second flight of stairs. Clow's cast off outerwear decorated the steps. Yue couldn't be awake yet, Cerberus thought, or else he would have already picked up after their Master. The winged lion looked around; there was no other sign of Clow, but the sorcerer could be in any one of the maze of rooms.
Cerberus bounded upward to find that the stairs led to a single, large attic room. This would be Clow's preferred workroom, Cerberus reasoned. It had a glass skylight in the ceiling that allowed in plenty of sunlight and small windows where the eaves of the roof met the walls. From the skylight, Cerberus flew out to the roof and took in the view of the surrounding landscape. The sun was just beginning its downward drop under the rim of the horizon, its flaming light painting the forests and fields between in ochre and gold. Cerberus stretched his wings to catch the escaping light and bath in the last of the day's warmth. He turned around in a circle to view the panorama of distant ocean to the east, and signs of habitation out beyond the estate's boundaries. With a whoop of joy, he launched off the roof onto a waiting thermal current, delighting in the renewed freedom of flight.
Clow's face showed an expression of contained laughter as he walked into the breakfast room. He was carrying on a conversation with Cerberus, and Cerberus was happily using his newly acquired Japanese. The way he spoke had an oddly emphatic quality to it, but Cerberus tended toward linguistic flourish even in English. Still, Yue noticed Clow's smile and suspected mischief.
At Clow's suggestion, they had gone into Tokyo again shortly after their arrival. The sorcerer had taken the opportunity then to fulfill his promise to Cerberus, and now the lion had a native's knowledge of spoken Japanese. The merchant at the meat bun stall, a rather colorful character in Yue's opinion, hadn't even noticed the brief trance that the magician had put him under; the lively little man had continued the energetic praise of his goods as smoothly as if his advertising had been uninterrupted. Clow and Cerberus were well practiced in the maneuver, having transferred language and other knowledge several times before.
Yue disliked the practice. He didn't like the way mannerisms carried over from the native speakers, and preferred to spend the extra time learning the structure and rules of a language. And he didn't quite trust his Master's choice of donors; when Cerberus 'picked up' Italian, he'd developed a tendency to gesture largely while speaking it, claiming that it 'just didn't sound right unless you used your hands'. But if Cerberus wanted to speak Japanese like a nikuman vendor, that was really his choice to make, Yue thought.
"I think that we should become accustomed to speaking the native language at home," announced Clow after the three exchanged morning greetings. He pulled out a chair for himself at the breakfast table while Cerberus jumped up onto the long bench that served as the lion's seat. "Now that Cerberus can join us."
"It will be good practice for me," Yue contemplated. "I think that I still have a tendency to clip my vowels." Already using his studiously learned Japanese, he spoke more slowly than Clow.
Not looking at Yue, Cerberus said something that was completely undecipherable to Yue. Whatever it was, it made Clow bark with laughter, and then admonish his older creation with a scolding look.
"I'll guess that that was some kind of insult," said Yue dryly. "Really, Cerberus, it lacks sting if I can't understand it." He made a mental note to himself to ask Clow, when Cerberus wasn't around, what the colloquialism did mean.
"Let's keep a civil tongue around the table," said Clow with forced seriousness. "Remember that Yue made those scones you are so heartily enjoying." Clow began to serve himself. Yue joined the other two at table and served tea. Clow reflexively sipped at his cup as soon as it was set before him; just as the hot lip of the cup kissed his own lip, he remembered that he would need to add sugar. The mild taste of Darjeeling passed into his mouth, cooled with milk, and - to Clow's surprise - sweetened perfectly. He looked at Yue over the steaming cup. Yue showed a feigned interest at the view beyond the window.
Cerberus caught the pause and look. "Did Yue dip a kipper in your tea? Or was it pepper this time?" he asked with glee.
"Sugar," answered Clow, a combination of wonder and tenderness in his voice.
"Just drink it before it gets cold," said Yue lightly, looking at the table.
Clow set his emptied teacup in the range of Yue's downcast view.
Yue's choice of bedroom turned out to be the one that was Cerberus' second choice. It was on the western side of the house near Clow's bedroom, but the library, a study, and several other rooms lay between the two. After the two magical creations organized the lion's room, which took almost no time, they co-operated on setting up Yue's room. Like his sibling, Yue wanted very little furniture, but they took their time dusting and laying down the tatami matting to which Yue had taken a fancy. In Yue's room, they were safe from the Clow Cards that were whizzing around the house at their Master's bidding.
"Perhaps we should be helping Clow," suggested Yue, after a loud thumping impact echoed from down the hall.
Cerberus hopped up onto Yue's bed, where Yue was sitting with his feet up on the coverlet. "Nah. It's pretty dangerous out there. He cast The Little to pack, so The Big is doing the unpacking with The Through. I'd rather stay out of the way of The Power and The Shadow. Anyway, he'll call us if he needs us."
Yue looked across the room to where he had just hung the woodblock print that the magician had bought for him during their Tokyo excursion. It seemed to be hanging straight, but he wasn't sure about the placement. Slightly higher and more to the left would be a better composition on that wall, he decided, hovering upright and alighting across the room. "I'm not sure why he insists on so much furniture," murmured Yue. "The style of the native homes makes so much more sense in this climate."
"I like the house," defended Cerberus. His eyes roved over the minimalism in the room. "You look like you've gone native, yourself."
Yue glanced over at his sibling, and then down at himself. He was wearing a double layered kimono - another gift from Clow – instead of his usual robes. The silk was heavier and thicker than what he usually wore, but the skirted shape and loose sleeves were less binding. "This is our home now, Cerberus," the winged man answered.
Cerberus stretched out until his golden body extended the entire length of the bed. "Yue, is there a Japanese version of my name?" he asked. "Yours and Clow's aren't any different, really, but mine doesn't seem to work without switching back to English."
Yue carefully thought over his sibling's question. "Keroberos, I think, similar to the Greek form," he answered at last. "With the harder sound, and a lilt to the syllables. The language doesn't really have stresses."
Cerberus took interest. "Wheh," he said. "I think I like it."
"What – Keroberos?"
"Yeah," said the lion brightly. He jumped up to his four feet, mussing the neatly tucked-in bedding. "I am the mighty Keroberos," he practiced. He leaped off the bed and dashed out into the hall, calling, "Hey, Clow! What do you think of this?"
On a day that was sunny but beautifully cool, the three companions came upon a series of pools, laid out like steps, of very clear, cold water. A moment of investigation revealed that the largest pool, deep enough to swim in, was the outlet of a spring and the source of all the smaller pools as well as the stream that ran from them.
Exploring the acreage around the manor had become a favorite afternoon pastime. On any given occasion, one of them, usually Clow, would pick a random direction, and the three would begin walking until they found something of interest. On other days, Clow had pointed out faerie gates in two places, and they had also come across the nests of yokkai. Since the yokkai had thus far not caused any trouble, they left them undisturbed. Cerberus and Yue both notice that their Master was unsurprised about the dimensional gateways, but both of them had refrained from commenting, even to each other.
The pools were shaded with trees, and the air in the clearing was crisply moist and filled with a mossy scent. "Wonderful," Yue purred, crouching down and reaching his hands into the water. "It's so clear."
The winged lion investigated with the tip of his paw. "It's so cold!" he complained. "Clow?"
The sorcerer nodded. "Mm-mm, I agree," he said. With a smile and only a small magical effort, he asked The Earthy to adjust the underground path of the spring so that it became warmed by a geothermal pocket. In minutes, the water effervesced with the new warm flow. The magician stripped off his robes and splashed into the deep pool with Cerberus following and making voluminous waves. Clow swam to the edge nearest Yue and leaned against the rocks. "Come on in," he said with a wink. "The water is fine."
Yue looked at his creator in the water, at the sparkling droplets clinging to his lashes, at the wet hair coming loose from its tie and sticking to his cheeks. Mischief was in his Master's face. Yue felt an impulse of heat starting around his collar. He stood up quickly to hide his impending blush and stepped back before Clow could pull him into the pool, clothes and all. "Just a moment, wait," he said, feeling an unfamiliar shyness. His wings vanished. Efficiently, he disrobed and then set his clothing onto some dry moss.
He walked quickly to the pool and sank into the warmed water, closer to Cerberus than to Clow. "Hey-ey, don't crowd me," the lion grumped, and paddled around to the other bank. When Clow reproachfully raised his eyebrows at Yue, Yue felt the blush again rushing over his fair complexion and down his neck. He hid his face by ducking under the water's surface.
The temperature was perfect now, just on the edge of hot, the warmth relaxing Yue's muscles. Before Clow's intervention, the pool's cold to kept life from growing in it, so the stones were smooth, not slimy, and the bottom was sand rather than dirt and water weeds. The taste was sweet with minerals. Yue wondered if all the springs in Japan tasted like this.
The clear water eased the heat of his skin. There was no reason for this sudden shyness, he told himself, no reason to blush just from making eye contact with Clow. He wanted to take a breath, but held himself under for just a little longer. Feeling his self-control regained, he stood up gracefully, letting the water stream over his face and down the cascade of his hair.
When Yue came back to the air, he saw that Clow had immersed himself completely except for his face and was floating on his back, looking up through the trees. Maple branches with new green leaves framed billowy white clouds in a turquoise sky. It was as still as a painting.
"Could a moment ever be more perfect?" asked the sorcerer rhetorically.
After half a moment of considering, Cerberus interjected, "I wish we had some hot nikuman. I like those."
"You liked bao too," said Yue. "You said that the meat buns that Madam Chen made were as good as the ones in Hong Kong."
"They're different!" insisted Cerberus. "Lots of things are different. Takoyaki! Yakisoba! Botamochi!"
"Things beside food, too," murmured Yue.
Clow looked from one companion to another. "Are you two happy?" he asked with concern. "With the move?
"Sure!" affirmed Cerberus, paddling around the perimeter of the pool. "One place is as good as another. Right, Yue?"
"Anywhere with you, Clow," Yue replied. His eyes, reflecting the glimmers of light on the water, had a soft glow to them.
Clow smiled at the comment. It was as it should be; they belonged to him, with him. It always took time to adjust to a new place. Still, they always had each other to count on, in every new place.
"Yue, let me wash your hair," Clow said suddenly, taken with a whim.
"Here?!" Cerberus exclaimed, annoyed. He started to paddle away. "Wait, at least let me get out of range before you unleash that mess!"
Yue made a sour face at his brother while obeying his Master's wish. The magician made a seat out of a boulder and Yue settled between his feet, then helped Clow undo the tight wrapping that kept his waterfall of hair under control. Released, the silvery-white strands flowed around the two of them, swirling in the currents of their movements.
Yue dipped his head back, his eyes closed, to immerse the top of his head. Clow caught him in his hands, and Clow's fingers cradled Yue's scalp, sinking deeply into the wet hair. Yue kept his eyes closed, afraid of what a look might betray to his creator; he relaxed his breathing, letting himself fall into the light trance brought on by the intimate sensations. He felt the closeness of his shoulders and arms to Clow's bare legs, under the water. His head grew heavier as the water soaked into his hair. He had to depend on Clow holding him up.
Time seemed to melt. The air was quiet except for splashing sounds, so quiet that Yue could hear leaves falling. Deprived of visual stimulus, his body focused on the slight sounds, the warm water, the rougher skin of Clow's fingertips. His hair really didn't need washing; he could keep it clean in a simpler manner. This was just something that Clow liked to do, and something that Yue liked Clow to do.
And for some reason, that annoyed Cerberus to no end.
"I'm bored," the lion shouted loud enough to echo in the glade.
"Only boring people get bored," Yue answered him. He hoped that Clow wouldn't give in this time. He opened his eyes and fixed his leonine brother with an acid look. Clow hadn't touched his hair like this since the last time that they had been alone, and Yue wanted this selfishly.
The magician removed a hand from Yue's hair just long enough to gesture at his pile of robes. "Bubble?" he called. A Card spun outward from the folds and flew directly to Cerberus. Foam covered the lion's head as he protested.
"Aw, Clow! She spent all morning cleaning the house! Hey, that tickles!"
"Now you have something to do," said the Master simply.
Yue tried not to laugh. In fact, he tried not to do anything that would distract Clow from massaging his head. He especially tried not to think about what those fingers would feel like sliding over his chest, or touching his side along the hip. . . like Clow's foot was doing right now. . . !
Surprised and flustered, Yue hurriedly straightened up, moving out of Clow's reach. His wet hair slapped heavily against his neck and shoulders.
"Oh, did I tickle you?" Clow asked. His tone was concerned, but his expression was sly and teasing.
Yue walked into the shallows until he was only waist deep, then started squeezing the water out of his hair. Half its length was still in the water, trailing around his legs. "No, I. . . think it's time to start drying off," he finished lamely. "I'm starting to prune," he laughed, showing his Master his hands.
Clow bit back the lewd comment that he had been about to answer with; it would have been too much for his shy creation. Instead, he silently admired the way Yue's muscles flexed. The magician knew every physical detail of him, not just from his making, but also from living with him for so long. There were some emotional aspects of Yue, however, that Clow had recently found himself wondering about.
Clow released The Windy and The Firey to dry Yue's hair, and continued to watch Yue while they ministered to him. Yue smiled at Windy and let her place an airy kiss on his face. The two had always been close, and sometimes Yue referred to her as his "little sister". Windy acted more as an older sister to Yue, however, like when she scolded Firey for getting too close to Yue's tresses.
Cerberus jumped out of the water just as Yue was again binding his hair. After shaking himself, sending water all over, he demanded his share of attention from the Card pair. "Coming out of there, yet, Clow?" he asked, casting the magician a cryptic look.
The sorcerer swam over to the pool's bank and sloshed his way out. "Keroberos," he said, using the variation of his creation's name, "I don't think you fully appreciate a good soak."
"I don't think your brain can stand to get any more water-logged," said the lion. "It's rotten enough already."