AN: In this chapter, the darkness is finally revealed. Who is this person? Heh heh. sounds like a soap doesn't it, ne? scratches head Anyways, uhmm...so basically, Sakura knows that something is happening, and summons Yue. While the two are alone the darkness is discovered, but the only problem is it is more closely related to Yue than he thinks.

Mirror Image

She was calling him. He could feel it in the wind, and in the air. It was not a call of panic, but a call of questioning. He could almost hear her words. Yukito and Touya were asleep now, and he could see Touya's stern yet kind face sleeping soundly. He had to go, however, there was nothing he could do. She was calling him, his name. He had to go. The ever familiar wind swirled about Yukito, and ever so slowly, basked in the starlight, Yue left the room.

The full moon had come and gone, and yet nothing had happened. He knew something was still inside him, waiting to be born. The full moon, his source of power, had no effect on him. He was listless and weak when he should have been at full power when the moon was complete, and he was frightened of this darkness and heat he felt surrounding him. Tonight was now the night of the new moon, and the sky was dark except for the stars that shone down from the heavens. Tonight he felt particularly feeble, and it took all his strength to fly the length over to the Kinomoto residence. He had no doubt that Sakura would question him tonight, for Sakura noticed the small things in life. The waxy texture of Yukito's skin might have gone unnoticed, and the dull gleam in his eyes might have been disregarded; but Sakura knew. She could feel his fear, as much as he choose to hide it. She could feel his fear of the shadows.
He was now at her house, outside her lit window. She had expected him, and the window lay open, the night breeze wafting into her room. He stepped in, quietly, wondering if she had perhaps gone to sleep, it was almost midnight. However, she was awake watching him enter. She smiled, a warm, friendly smile,but the smile was only a mask. Tonight would she would not be her usual happy self, instead she would be serious. He knew that she would be serious tonight, but she would wear her smiles like a mask none the less. She beamed friendly, and motioned for him to sit down. Obediently he did so. It was not really anything evil inside himself that he felt. No, it was something strange, and dark. He did not feel threatened by the darkness, only wary, and curious of what it held. In the dark he was frightened of things- emotions, could not hide.
Sakura looked up at him, and he had just noticed that in her hand was a cup of tea. A chinese tea of some sort. Perhaps jasmine. Its flowery scent absorbed and surrounded Yue, and yet he would not drink. Instead, he would be content just to inhale the sweet and pungent aroma of the tea. Sakura did not seem want to drink her tea either. Idly she stirred the small silver spoon in the jasmine water. Although Sakura was very wise in noticing the unseen, she was still hesitant to talk of feelings and premonitions. Over the years she learned, and realized that things unspoken of might cause problems in the future. She would ask him tonight, he knew that, but when, that was the question. The gentle tick of the clock continually sounded through the room. It was now 11:57. In three more minutes it would no longer be night, but day. The light would be illuminated, and the darkness once again cast into the shadows.
Suddenly, and without any warning, Sakura questioned, firmly, but kindly, "Yue- what is happening?"
She had asked him. And now, he must reply. This was the way it worked. Strangely, Yue found that telling her was a sort of relief off his shoulders, and yet it still did not hide this anxiety which he held onto so tightly.
"Something dark is growing. I think, in side of me."
Sakura's eyes were confused. She always presumed it was her battle she must fight, that she caused all the problems, and that she must fight them. But now, it was different. She could not battle- defeat this enemy. It was Yue's, and his only. She accepted that, but even as she did so, thousands more questions entered into her brain, as if my some will of nature.
"How?" her voice whispered, cold, confused, icy.
"I don't know. This is my turn, not yours. You did nothing to cause this." Yue sighed as he got up, and looked out at the night sky. It was too dark. 11:59. The stars did not seem so bright as they once had a few moments ago. He felt the ever familiar feeling creeping back into his body. Did Sakura had nothing to do with this? He was not quite sure. There was indeed a connection between this darkness and Sakura, but no direct link that he could think of. He understood that Cerberus knew. Cerberus was hiding something from Yue. 'To protect him' would be the excuse, no doubt. Something in his eyes that day- all this was predicted, and by chance he knew of Yue's fate all along. It might be a cosmic test- but...of what? His mind questioned. What was he being tested for?
He turned around. Sakura was now standing up, rummaging through her desk drawer. Strangely Kero was absent. Gone over to Tomoyo's house, of course, Sakura had not wanted him here. In her hand was clasped around her throat where the key lay entangled in a chain of silver. In the other hands were the cards, the cards that had caused so much, yet changed so little. What was she planning?

All this had happened within a minute. During that time he felt the darkness over powering him, blinding his eyes, consuming his body. He stumbled and fell down to the ground, shivering, cold and yet hot at the same time. A battle of the two was taking place, but slowly, and gradually the heat won, and was consumed angrily, violently into his body. He could not breathe, and he coughed and gagged for air, and yet it was all over, but too soon. Suddenly, as quickly as it had happened it was over. He lay there, a pile on the floor, his clothes spreading around him as if he was a white pale rose. He was breathing heavily, and he hardly noticed as Sakura bent over him, tears in her eyes as she kept questioning him with his name. "Yue?!" He did not hear it, and it took him a few moments to return somewhat to normal. He was weak now, as if a chunk of his being had been taken, and destroyed. However, nothing could be created or destroyed, for it was always there. This is science.
Quietly, in a voice just above a whisper, he choked out, "I'm fine."
He found that Sakura had flung herself onto him, and was sobbing. Why would she cry so much? He heard her, in-between gasps of air and sobs, "I thought you were dead." He smiled, softly, as he unwound her arms. No, he had not been dead, however close it did seem. The darkness was absent now, as if it had never been there, as if the attack had never happened. He felt free, but weak, tired...and yet renewed. The month of this growing darkness had faded right before his eyes, and now he was completely normal. Perhaps it was all over. Perhaps. But, he knew better not to hope for the impossible.
Sakura was still crying, but it was not a terrible cry of pain and fear, just a cheerful sort of cry, for it was now all over. The two remained quiet, Yue waiting for Sakura, and Sakura waiting for Yue. The two did not look at each other, and a peaceful sort of quiet descended upon the room. It was now 12:01. Yue was now looking calmly out the window, his eyes slightly glazed over as if he was not concentrating on anything in particular. For some time now, he had been dimly aware of something moving in the shadows across the street. He felt something, like a warm breathe of air, surround his body. He blinked, and the world was suddenly in focus. Sakura had felt something too, and hey eyes were focused on the window, and the dark shaped which was there. The two starred, and then, in a blink of an eye it was gone, vanished, disappeared. Yue sprung up, and dashed to the window, his eyes wildly scanning the trees for the movement. He felt something now, it was the warm wind, but something dark and mysterious lingered in it. A new enemy, perhaps? His mind questioned. His silver eyes continued the search, but it was there. vanished.
Sakura was behind him, still on the floor, concentrating. Her eyes were closed, feeling the world out like a blind person, searching once again for this warmth. She spoke quietly, "I don't know what it is, but...it is an aura of something. We must go find it."
Yue nodded, admiring the strength which the young girl held. Her eyes were now open, these eyes were full of both truth, and strength, wisdom and innocence. "Do you think we should call Tomoyo?"
Yue shook his head, and said quietly, "There is no time. It is moving far away, we must hurry."
Although Yue was extremely weak, he would not reveal this to Sakura. He could not explain to her this darkness he feared, he could not explain anything. He did not want her to worry. Sakura became sad when she did so. Hurriedly, in case anyone should come into her room, she scribbled a note on a piece of paper, and put it on her bed. The two set out into the cold dark night. Yue had to grasp on to any remaining strength he had to fly. The wind stung his eyes, and pierced his skin. He felt as if he was a young child, being cruelly exposed to the elements. The world was quiet, too quiet. The wind did not stir any leaves, the sounds of animals could not be heard. The world knew what they did not. Sakura felt it too, anxiously she looked around as the two flew. They no longer felt the wind, and the aura which just a few minutes ago they could plainly detect. The two landed quietly on a deserted street. Their eyes were ever alert, and yet there seemed that there was nothing. All that lay in front of them was the dark road, and the luminous cherry blossom trees in full bloom that surrounded them. A sudden wind blew, both warm and cold at the same time, and the speckles of pink and white drifted lazily to the ground. The world was then quiet. Yue looked down at Sakura, "I don't feel the presence any more."
Sakura shook her head, quietly, "Neither do I. It's presence was unlike anything I have ever felt. It felt dark, but strangely warm." She looked up at Yue, their eyes met, "What does this mean, Yue?"
Yue sighed, as he whispered quietly, "I don't know."
"Really? You don't know, Yue?" Something behind them whispered. It's voice was deep and soft. It hung in the air like a mist. The two turned around, startled by the sudden voice. However, there was no one. The two looked around under the weak lamplight. It was baffling. Could it have just been there imagination? No, that was not possible, because they both had heard it. Yue shouted out, "Who are you?"
A soft, quiet, laugh could be heard echoing throughout the road. "Really, Yue, you don't know?" Movement from above their head caught the light, something cloaked in black stepped out from the shadows. His skin was the color of porcelain, or china. His face was long and shapely, his eyes caught the faint lamp light, hugging it, holding on to it. His long dark hair, as dark as sorrow, poured from his head like a never ending waterfall. It blew in the wind, quietly, and softly. He looked as if he was a white face peaking out from the shadows, for his entire attire was black. From the long black coat, with embroidered stars that glowed like the ones in the heavens, to his long, loose pants, which both hugged and released his body at the same time, he was dripping in the color of darkness, bathed head to toe in the color. His lips formed a smirk, and he ran his long fingers through his hair, which if they were close enough could smell the distinct aroma opium mixed with the pungent flower from the mandarin tree. The three looked at at each other. The man walked to the edge of the lamp's arm, and then without stopping, or even pausing, he strode off. In a mixture of falling and flying he landed right infront of Yue. He crouched now, on the ground, but slowly like some sick doll he wound himself up, his dark ebony hair draped over his shoulders. A smile was still plagued on the edge of his lips. The two were now facing each other, Yue and this...thing. Sakura looked on in horror, scared and frightened, but curious of this dark figure. She felt something in her body call out for this man, this mystery. She felt the heat that came to her, suddenly, and without her consent. No one moved, and finally after a few minutes, the figured in black turned towards Sakura, his voice once again gracing their presence, "My dear Sakura, can't you tell? I am Yue." Sakura looked at him, first in disbelief, but slowly and gradually, like the moon waxing, she accepted it. It was indeed a perfect match. It was as if some creature of the dark had cloaked Yue in the shadows. The same facial features, the long shapely nose, the small tight lips, the long flowing body, yes indeed, this creature was indeed Yue. However, Sakura would not allow herself to believe, not just yet.
"I am afraid you are mistaken. You can't be Yue." Sakura said quietly, as their eyes met. His slanted eyes, the color of fog rolling over the moors of England, flashed with hidden knowledge. She heard his voice inside her head, whispering things which she could dare not utter. His lips moved, still in that ever knowing smirk.
"Really? And why can't I be Yue?" A tone of sarcasm was in his voice, as he whirled around in one fluid motion to face Yue, the angel cloaked in white. "I am Yue, although no body may believe it, I am. I was born inside of him, I lived off his shadows, his hidden fear, and desires. I watched the world through his eyes, and saw the torture and hopelessness that lived inside of him. Yes, I am Yue, I am his darkness, his fears, mixed with hopes. But never the less, I am him." He was now eyeing Yue, laughter danced in his eyes. The two where close now, Yue, almost paralyzed with hatred and anger at this thing. Yes, they were twins, one the dark, one the light. It looked at Sakura again, his eyes roaming over her body like some scavenger, "However... for clarity's sake, you may call me Kurai."
Kurai...the word hung in the air, bringing danger, darkness, and excitement.
Yue, as if awakening from a trance turned suddenly to this thing, and from his hand the silver arrows of the night sky appeared. Kurai seemed unaware. Yue nearly grinned, he would kill off this thing before it would do anything to Sakura. He pulled his arm back, and released. Kurai swung around, placing his arm out infront of him. The arrow stopped, suspended in time. Kurai once again painted the smirk across his face, as he spoke quietly, "I suggest you not do that, Yue. For you see, because I am you, anything you do to me, happens to you. I don't know Yue, would you like to have this arrow in your heart? It does sound rather painful. And then, what of Yukito?"
He heard Sakura intake her breath. Yes, Yukito must live. The thing smiled as he wound his fingers around the arrow, allowed it to dissolve in thin air within his hands. He smiled, almost cat like, "That's what I thought."
Yue glared at the thing, this thing that caused him pain. He knew some how that this would all happen, that his urges and desire and love for Sakura would over power him, but he did not allow himself to believe. Kurai walked over to Sakura, and placed his long smooth fingers at the edge of her jaw line. He leaned closer, inhaling her scent, treasuring it, remembering it, holding it dear. And then, he kissed her. She did not try to break free, no, she stood and allowed herself to be loved by him. When her eyes opened, he was gone, and only Yue remained. Kurai, however, would return again.
Yue's eyes looked at Sakura, a mixture between betrayal and torture lay in them. Sakura stepped forward, trying to explain. It was too late, and already Yue's wings spread about him, and then only Yukito remained.

Kurai...the wind whispered...ment the absence of light...

AN: YOSHHHHH! Okay. so how was that. good. I hope. Anyways- yessire bob, hoped it lived up to my standards. Uhm- next chapter, Yue confronts Kurai, and they have a chat. Sakura hasn't had a chance to talk to Yue, which she has been meaning to do, but what will happen when Kurai enters her life?
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