Touya looked on in bewildered amusement as Sakura ate her breakfast much faster than usual. He had only just set the plate down in front of her, and it was almost gone. Touya glanced at the clock. His sister was late so often that he was starting to forget when she actually needed to be at school, but the time seemed… somewhat early.

"Done!" She exclaimed. "Wow, that was really good."

Touya started laughing.

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm just… surprised you could taste it."

Sakura glared at him for a brief moment, but then started laughing too. Touya grabbed her plate and brought it to the sink as Sakura went to the refrigerator and grabbed a box of desserts she had made the night before.

"Are you working today?" She asked him.

Touya nodded and motioned to the board their dad made them write on. "Ice cream shop with Yukito."

Sakura made an excited noise, but Touya didn't know if it was for Yukito or the ice cream.

"I love that place. Tell Yukito I said hi!"

So, both then. Touya smiled at her.

Sakura made her way for the door, carrying the box of desserts in one hand and her backpack in the other. Touya looked around for the plush toy.

"Hey, aren't you forgetting—"

Sakura paused in the doorway and looked at him. "Forgetting what?"

"Uh." Touya started rubbing the back of his neck. He had spoken to his sister in the past about Yue, and returning magic, and… being careful on her missions that he still didn't know the full extent of – but, that was really just once and it was more… general suggesting than anything else.

Your guardian. Touya wanted to say. The one who's supposed to watch out for you and make sure your safe at school. Could Touya say that? Would it ruin things? There was a reason they didn't get into specifics, a reason they let all these things hang in the air between them. But as he looked at Sakura's confused face in the doorway he couldn't remember what it was and if it was really a good reason at all.

Touya exhaled. He supposed it didn't matter. He had felt a lot closer to his sister recently and he didn't want to pressure her with conversation of things she might not be ready to talk about and things he might not be ready to hear. He shook his head and Sakura giggled.

"You're getting old, big brother," she teased.

"Don't I know it."

As Sakura closed the door behind her, Touya walked to the window and watched as Sakura walked down their street. When she was just barely halfway, a small breeze flew in and ruffled Touya's hair.

"Morning, mom," he whispered.

The breeze flew around him and as quick as it came, it left. Sakura was almost down the block and out of sight, but he saw it quickly. He saw the breeze catch up to her and bring a flower to her hair. Touya smiled and walked away from the window.

Yue had once said that Sakura had 3 guardians, but he had missed a few. There was their mother, the invisible guardian, always observing and coming to their aid when they needed it most. And – there was their father, the silent guardian, who's trust and love strengthened them from within.

Touya didn't know what Sakura actually did day in and day out. He didn't know about the threats she faced or all the 'card stuff' she dealt with. And he often wondered how fully-knowing would change things. He had been tempted to start more conversations and show more interest, but each and every time something held him back from doing so. Maybe one day it wouldn't.

Touya looked towards the stairs. He could sense Kero in their home and Kero's presence was… strong. If he couldn't talk to Sakura about it, he would go straight to the source. Touya made his way across the living room and to the stairs, feeling the plush guardian's presence grow stronger with each and every step.

"You're gonna love this game, Spinny, I'm telling you."

Touya froze. He was in the middle of their hallway. Spinny? Wait…

"This is not what we came here for!"

Touya gulped. Two voices. That's why Kero's presence was so strong. it wasn't just him in there. Touya closed his eyes and leaned against the wall for support. Spinny was short for Spinner, which meant…

"Oh yeah, where is Ruby anyway?"

Dammit.

"She's staying with Yukito. I told you that on the phone. Way to pay attention!"

Touya slid down the wall, catching his balance before hitting the ground. He crossed his legs one over the other and tilted his head back. Ruby Moon. Great.

"Sorry, sorry. I was just so excited you were coming! Well… not because of… you know. but because now I have someone to play this game with!"

"You're impossible. Also… hand me that controller."

"Huzzah!"

Touya pulled out his phone and scrolled through his messages as muffled video game sounds began filling the hallway. Seriously, if this plush guardian thought he was subtle, Touya had news for him. There was no way he could go in now. No way he could ask him why he wasn't with Sakura, though... well, this was probably the reason.

Ruby Moon. Touya had barely gotten to see Yukito after his… day with Yue and now… now he'd bet anything he wouldn't get to spend time with either one of them.

Touya stared at the ceiling, allowing himself to zone out for a couple of minutes. He was just about to get up when he heard the video game slow to a pause.

"Now that Sakura is aware she's making the cards," Kero began, "she's probably going to do something about it and anything she can't handle… I'll deal with."

Wow.

"Wow," Spinny answered, echoing Touya's thoughts. "You have a lot of faith in your new master."

"Please, this is Sakura we're talking about."

Despite himself, Touya smiled and got up from sitting on the ground.

"Which means?"

"Which means we can play video games!"

Touya walked to his room and closed the door behind him. He didn't like that Ruby and Spinner were here and not just because Ruby never let him be. He didn't like it because it meant things were probably getting serious for his sister.

Last time Ruby was here, so was Eriol, and Sakura was challenged like never before. Touya let out a breath and sat down on his bed. He supposed he should've expected this. Ever since Yuna D. Kaito showed up, things had been strange and more tense than usual. The extra support, though annoying as it may be, was for the best. More guardians. The more help Sakura had, the better.

Yeah – he would just have to keep that in mind.

A few hours later, Touya showered and changed into his uniform for work. He kept the silly ice cream parlor hat in his backpack though. Nobody needed to see him ride his bike looking like an ice cream man.

As he walked through the hall, he could no longer sense either plush toy's presence in the house, meaning – everyone was officially somewhere else. Touya walked down the stairs and into his kitchen but paused when he felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket.

He smiled wide as Yukito's name flashed across the screen.

"Hey—" Touya started, but then he stopped.

"Touya."

It was Yue.

Touya's breath caught in his throat. He looked around the kitchen as if he hadn't just confirmed that he was alone. Yue had never called him before.

"I hope you don't mind the intrusion."

"I don't," he answered before he could think about it.

"I just… wanted to tell you that Ruby Moon and Spinner Sun are visiting."

Touya lowered his head. "I know."

"Ah, of course, you do," Yue's voice kicked up and Touya felt himself blush. Unbelievable. Yue was… unbelievable and he missed him more than he thought he could. "I keep forgetting how perceptive you are."

"I'll let it slide," Touya replied, "this time."

He stood rooted in his kitchen as he listened to Yue breathe on the other end of the phone. Touya closed his eyes and imagined for a moment that they were together. Yue had never answered him when he asked if they would see each other again. But, Touya had memories. Rich, full memories of the two of them together. If this was all he had, for now, he could make do.

"They have their suspicions about you, Touya, but they don't know that you're aware of them."

Touya's lips quirked up. "I'm surprised you haven't told them."

Yue was silent for a moment, and Touya wondered what he was thinking. He wondered where Yue was right now. He wondered if everyone was with him at his house for another secret meeting. He wondered if anyone knew he had excused himself to make this phone call.

"There are some things I keep for myself," Yue said. "Though I think I'll take a page from your book and say, 'they'll know when they need to.'"

Touya's smile deepened. "Glad to hear you listen to me."

"Always."

Touya took a deep breath and let it out. Though Yue wasn't physically with him, Touya still felt affected. He allowed himself a few more seconds of getting lost in Yue's voice before opening his eyes. "I won't say anything. Kero can keep his stuffed animal identity."

Yue said nothing, but Touya could picture him nodding his approval.

"I guess this means… I won't be seeing you for a while."

Yue breathed out and Touya prepared himself.

"That's why I thought it best to call."

Touya gripped his backpack a little tighter as he held the phone close to his ear. "She never lets me have a moment with either of you." He said it softly and mostly to himself, but he knew Yue had heard it.

"We're each protective in our own ways, Touya."

"I can protect you," Touya said, which was dumb considering Yue was stronger than all of them.

Yue… laughed, and the sound reverberated in Touya's ear. He found the brief disappointment he had just felt vanish as he leaned into the sound. letting it circulate in his brain, Touya saved it to memory.

"Well, between the two of us," Yue said, "I prefer you."

Touya's blush returned, and the beautiful laugh was still echoing in his ears. He missed Yue, that much was obvious. But, he would see him again and who knows, maybe it would be sooner than expected. Touya eyed the clock in front of him that was telling him it was time to go. He sighed into the phone, not wanting the call to end, but knowing that it needed to. More guardians, he told himself. More guardians are a good thing.

"Thanks, Yue. And thank you… for calling."

"Goodbye, for now, Touya."

"Goodbye Yue, and make sure you remember—"

"Remember what?"

Touya grinned as he walked to the door. "That I'm always with you."

Yue laughed again and Touya was just about to hang up when he heard: "And I you, Touya."