"What if you didn't go to work today?" Yukito asked.

"Then I'd be hanging out with you, Ruby Moon, and two stuffed animals who are hell bent on pretending I can't see them."

Yukito laughed and lowered his head. he was sitting on Touya's bed, in the same position Yue had been in the day before, looking at him with hooded eyes. Touya turned to him slowly and raised a questioning eyebrow. The mark on his neck that Yue left was still there, peaking out of his t-shirt.

Yukito stood up and walked over towards him, placing his hands lightly on Touya's waist. Touya was struck by the way the two of them handled him so differently until Yukito said, "sorry for leaving that," as the back of his fingertips brushed against the mark on his neck.

"That was you?"

Yukito ducked his head, looking shy. Touya lifted his chin so he could meet those warm grey eyes.

"Ah… yes."

Touya could not believe it, he almost voiced it when Yukito continued speaking.

"Now that Yue and I are more connected… I've felt, uh… a bit more confident to.. um…"

"To have your way with me?"

Yukito's whole face turned red. Touya grinned at him. feeling utterly impressed that this conversation was happening.

"I find you adorable," Touya said, "and very sexy."

Yukito laughed, but his face was still red and he was very pointedly not meeting Touya's eyes despite being so close to his face.

"We should um, go on a date soon."

"You asking me out, Yuki?"

"Touya," Yuki's voice was so fond, and his face still so red.

Touya brought their faces together and kissed him long and slow. "I'd love to."

Yukito pulled away, his face somehow more red than before as he started nodding… excessively. "That's great! Um, I'll plan something? Yeah, uh... so, I should get going. I don't want you to be late for your job."

Touya crossed his arms over his chest, looking very affectionately at the scene before him. "The job you don't want me to go to."

Yukito looked like he had reached his limit. He had almost tripped over one of Touya's books on the floor. Touya figured he should probably stop messing with his insanely adorable and easily flustered boyfriend.

"If I finish early, I'll swing by."

"Botanical gardens today, right?"

"That's right." Touya confirmed. He liked that Yukito always remembered. It was a nice feeling.

"Maybe you'll run into Sakura and Syaoran on their date."

Touya stilled. "Their… what?"

Yukito giggled. "Oh Touya, don't be like that. I'm actually really happy for them. I think they both could use some fun."

Touya hated that he agreed with that. He did want his sister to have fun. He knew her being with that brat would make her happy. He knew that brat… Syaoran… would keep her safe. The kid cared about her and had magic of his own. He was actually… if Touya was being honest, probably the perfect person to date his sister. He was cognizant that this wasn't the first time that thought crossed his mind. That didn't mean he had to like it, though.

"As long as he keeps his hands to himself."

Yukito rolled his eyes, giving Touya a look.

"Come on, Mr. Protective. I'll walk you out."

As Touya and Yukito exited his room, he heard the unmistakable muffling of two stuffed animal guardians having a conversation. Touya slowed his steps, letting Yukito walk in front of him as Touya bent his ear to listen.

I hope today passes without incident. That voice wasn't Kero, had to be the other one. The black cat guy. Touya made a mental note to remember his name.

You got that right! That one was definitely Kero. It's not every day Sakura gets to go on a date.

Ok, that was enough. Touya leaned away from the door to see a questioning looking Yukito looking at him from the bottom of the stairs.

"Having fun?" Yukito asked.

Touya didn't have it in him to be embarrassed. Plus, Yukito looked like he didn't care much. And… his face was still a bit red from Touya's earlier teasing.

"Everyone's coming over to my place. Ruby's there now. If you come after work, you'll have more opportunities to eavesdrop."

"Ah," Touya lowered his head as Yukito stepped forward and grabbed his hand. "I already told you I'd stop by."

"That sounded like a maybe."

"Well," he squeezed his hand, "consider me changing that to a definite."

"For the eavesdropping?"

Touya kissed Yukito's lips and then his cheek and then lightly kissed his neck with tongue. Yukito shivered against him. "For you," Touya clarified.

Yukito's eyes flashed ice blue and Touya was momentarily stunned. He shook his head and then somehow managed to walk out the door. Yukito trailed behind him. Maybe to make sure the door was locked, maybe to admire the view. Touya turned around to wave goodbye when something dreadful suddenly washed over him.

Touya felt struck, paralyzed. This was nothing like the stunned sensation he felt just moments ago. No… this wasn't a positive feeling at all. This feeling was… the complete opposite of good. Touya's eyes widened frantically as his vision blurred and he fell to his knees. He thought he vaguely heard Yukito yelling for him, but maybe… maybe that didn't happen at all.

Touya stood up, but he was no longer in front of his house. No, Touya was… Touya was standing amongst plants and flowers. Touya gasped. Had he somehow returned to the dream with his mother and the castle? No, there was no way. He hadn't fallen asleep and this place didn't look like that. everything was normal sized and there was a sign next to him that said: Welcome to the botanical gardens.

Hang on. How did he… how did he get to work?

Touya rubbed his head and realized for the first time that he was holding a stick to pick up trash. How did he get this? Touya walked through a clearing when three different strong magical sensations hit him at once. Touya looked across the clearing to find Sakura, Syaoran, and… Yuna D. Kaito with some small girl all sitting together. Touya felt rage and fear bubble up inside him. He took a step forward and all of a sudden the small girl was in front of him. Wait, how did that happen? He didn't even see her get up.

"Sakura, it's your brother!"

What? What was going on? He felt like, he felt like time was fast forwarding.

Thinking of time magic, Touya looked to Syaoran who had a pained smile on his face. Touya looked closely. The kid was sweating and some plastered smile was on his face that wasn't genuine at all. He didn't look… he didn't look real. Touya looked to Sakura but she was looking at Syaoran and then all of a sudden Touya found himself face to face with Yuna D. Kaito.

Every emotion under the sun crossed Touya's face. Whatever strange hell was going on had to be this awful man's doing. Touya no longer felt afraid of him.

"If you go and hurt my family, I'll make you regret it."

Kaito seemed to back away at the words and Touya for the first time noticed that he was actually taller than this man. Why had he thought they were the same size before? They weren't standing face to face. Touya was looking down at him.

"Thank you… for the word of caution," Yuna D. Kaito smiled politely and Touya hated it.

He thought of forbidden magic, he thought of his mother talking about desperate men who believe they're out of options. This Kaito, right now in this field, no longer lived up to the scary concoction Touya had devised in his head. Touya looked to Sakura's friend. The girl his sister had grown so fond of. She just looked happy to be there. But Syaoran… still looked pained. Touya took another step forward.

"That goes for him too."

Yuna D. Kaito said nothing. He simply… walked backwards. Touya took a step towards him. He wanted to say something else, he wanted to know more, wanted to keep an eye on all of them, but then… then his head throbbed again and his vision felt fuzzy. Touya closed his eyes for a split moment and he was back at the entrance of the gardens.

"Touya! Are you ok?"

Touya looked up and the gardens were no longer there. Touya was on his knees standing in front of his house. His sister Sakura was sitting on the step. The smile she had been wearing at the gardens was gone, but… they weren't at the gardens anymore and Kaito and that girl and Syaoran weren't here. What… what had just happened?

Had they even been there at all? Was any of what Touya just experienced real?

"Touya, talk to me." Yukito was kneeling in front of him. Touching his face so gingerly. "You waved and then fell down. Are you hurt?"

"No, I…" Touya stopped talking as Sakura pulled out her phone.

"Syaoran," her voice said, "can you come over? It's important."

Did she… did she have the same vision?

"Let's go inside," Yukito said, hauling Touya up with a rather impressive strength. Touya met his eyes and they were blue. Yukito's short grey hair was also glowing and growing out. Yue was coming out. That had to mean… that had to mean something strange and magical occurred.

Touya ran a hand through his hair as a bright light shone throughout his house and feathered wings sent a spark of electricity up his spine.

"Looks like Yukito's getting his wish," Yue's voice was stern but Touya could hear the concern laced into it, "you're not going to work today."

And, yeah. Not after that he wasn't.

"Don't try and fight me on this."

"I'm not," Touya whispered and Yue stopped walking. His large wings circled Touya in a strained hug. Touya leaned into it, feeling the static magic dance along his skin.

"Don't scare us like that," Yue said.

Touya smiled despite the strangeness. "I won't."

Once Touya had called out of work and profusely apologized for 'suddenly coming down ill' he went to bed. He wasn't tired, but he also didn't have a desire to do anything else.

He wasn't sure where Yue went. At one point he thought he heard Yukito's voice telling him he was going to run home and then come back, but hours later when Touya walked downstairs he found Yue, not Yukito, seated across from Syaoran at the kitchen table.

Touya felt a strong pull to hug Syaoran, to ask him if he was okay. But then Touya remembered that technically nothing had happened. According to Yue, Touya had fallen down and then was immediately brought inside. No more than thirty seconds had passed. Touya felt strange that he thought something happened at all until he overheard the conversation they were having.

"Sakura remembered going to the gardens with me, but we hadn't gone yet. When she told me we were there though, I started to remember bits of it. Like, I remember being inside the siege card, but that's all I remember. Just… just vague feelings of magic happening." Syaoran had a cup of tea in his hands. He didn't look pained like he did in Touya's vision of him at the gardens, but he looked worried. "She says she saw Kaito use magic." Touya perked up.

"Does she remember anything else about her interaction with him? About what kind of magic?" Yue asked.

Syaoran shook his head as Touya held his breath. "No, she doesn't."

Yue had his own cup of tea but wasn't drinking it.

"Did you see them?" Yue said, and it took Touya a minute to realize he was talking to him. "You've got to quit that habit, you know."

Touya walked out where they both could see him and reheated the kettle. He wasn't about to be the only one at this tea party without a drink.

"Why would Touya be there?" Syaoran asked, and Touya turned around.

"I was supposed to be working there. Though, I think I did."

Syaoran put his cup down and looked at him. Touya had never explicitly spoke about magic in front of the kid. He for sure thought he would freak seeing Yue address him so casually. Touya had to give Syaoran credit. He was a lot more perceptive than Touya had originally thought.

"You and Sakura were having a picnic with that friend who sort of looks like her and her butler." Syaoran gasped as Yue gave him a rather displeased look. Touya realized he probably should've mentioned this to him. Oh well, too late for that.

"I confronted him," Touya continued, and Yue looked downright furious. "Told him not to hurt my family…" he looked at Syaoran, "or you."

Syaoran's eyes softened as he leaned forward. "What happened then?"

"Then I was back here again like nothing had happened, with Yukito carrying me inside."

"Were you hurt?" the kid sounded concerned.

"Nah," Touya turned around and poured himself some tea. "You know guardians, they're overprotective."

"Says the brother guardian," Yue remarked. He still sounded pissed.

Touya walked to the table and sat down.

"Anything else you forgot to tell me?" Yue said, and Touya was not about to kiss him in front of Syaoran so he just shook his head as Yue sighed and focused on the kid instead.

"This most certainly confirms time magic is being used."

Syaoran nodded as he tapped the teacup. "How… do we fight that?" he sounded a bit far away, lost in thought. Touya wondered if maybe that was part of why he wasn't fazed seeing Touya talk about magic or sit so close to Yue. "Up until now," he looked at Touya, "Sakura was the only one who's kept memories of these events. I don't even know how many times this has happened."

Touya thought about that. if he was going by the uneasiness he felt and that terrible pull into dizziness that lined up with Yuna D. Kaito's actions, he knew it was at least three times. But Syaoran looked worried enough, he didn't want to add fuel to his fears by giving them more heat.

"I thought it was because she was getting stronger," he was still looking at Touya, "I thought that was how she could fight it."

"We all have our gifts," Touya said.

Yue kicked his foot under the table. "Not all of us are as mysteriously secretive about them."

Touya moved his foot up one of Yue's legs and Yue looked like he was seconds away from fighting him or ripping off his clothes. Honestly, with the kind of day Touya had, he was down for either.

"I don't get it, though," Syaoran was saying, thankfully oblivious to the scene playing out before him. "Using that much time magic is draining. Any time I used the Time card, that was the only magic I could do for the day, sometimes a couple days… a week."

"I wouldn't worry about how strong this guy is," Touya said, surprising everyone, including himself. "It doesn't matter."

"How doesn't it?"

"Because he won't hurt Sakura," Touya said on instinct. Syaoran's gaze turned fierce at the mention of Sakura. "None of us would let that happen, least of all her. Am I right on that?"

"You are," the kid answered. His voice was confident as hell and Touya approved.

Touya loved his sister, fiercely. He would protect her at all costs and so would everyone at this table and everyone in her life. Touya might worry and have this irrational fear inside of him at times. He might eavesdrop on her guardians and conveniently situate himself around her, but he did trust her. And he trusted in the people around her. He trusted in Yukito and Yue and despite his earlier reservations, Touya definitely trusted in Syaoran.

Whatever fight was coming to his sister, he knew they would all be ready.

When Syaoran finished his tea he went home, once again leaving Touya alone with the moon guardian.

"Did you tell him we were together?" Touya found himself asking.

"I did not." Yue looked offended. "Nor do I think that's his or anyone's business."

"I know and I agree, I just found it strange how comfortable he was with me here talking about all of this."

"Oh."

Touya didn't like the look on Yue's face. "Oh?"

Yue turned to him confirming that whatever he was about to say was definitely about to annoy him.

"He asked me if I was aware of the magic that dwelled inside you," Yue began, and Touya braced himself. "He said he sensed something powerful but entirely new. He couldn't place it for it's a type of magic he's never sensed before."

"What'd you tell him?" Touya finished the tea he was drinking.

Yue seemed to hesitate, but continued on. "That I could feel the same, and that your power would present itself when it needed to. Which I believe is what you told me some time ago."

"I did."

"Are you alright with me telling him that? He seemed to know already so I didn't think there was much harm in it."

"I'm ok with it, Yue," and truthfully Touya was, but there was something else… something else the man in front of him wasn't saying. "Is that… all?" He reached for his hand, interlacing their fingers as a bit of static united them.

Yue relaxed into the chair, looking at their joined hands. "He's not the only one who can pick up on your power, Touya. Anyone with a magical ability can sense it."

Ah, he supposed that was true. "Couldn't you say the same about Sakura?

"What would you say if I told you…" Yue paused, and withdrew his fingers, "that there was a protection spell placed on Sakura, preventing that?"

Touya gaped at him. That sounded… incredible. That sounded like exactly what they needed. That sounded like… something that would squash his worried big brother heart. But it also sounded… kind of unbelievable. Touya studied Yue's face.

"Yue…"

"Yuna D. Kaito was just strong enough to break through."

Touya tried to put the puzzle pieces together, tried to think about when this spell could've been placed and who could've done it and if he should've been informed. "Who put it on her, you?"

Yue shook his head, but there was something in his eyes that gave Touya pause. Sudddenly, Touya was less concerned with this news and more concerned with the man in front of him. What good was worrying about the past when the present was in front of you.

"His name is Eriol. He's…"

Similar to Clow Reed. Touya didn't know the specifics, but he didn't need to. He reached out, retaking Yue's hand. Yue let him.

"Have you always known about the spell?"

"Does it matter?" Yue was smirking at him, back to normal.

Touya leaned towards him, as Yue danced his fingertips up Touya's arm causing his hair to rise. "I remember thanking you for your honesty and updates… thoroughly."

Yue's ice blue eyes turned to flames. "I remember enjoying that… thoroughly."

Touya laughed as their bodis moved towards each other. Yue brushed the hair out of Touya's eyes as Touya stared at his lips.

"I'm glad he did it." Touya said, closing their conversation. "We had quite a bit of peace for a while."

"Which I only enjoyed because your magic sustained me." Yue's eyes combed over him as Touya brought their foreheads together.

"You bring that up a lot, you know."

Yue traced Touya's bottom lip with his thumb. "It still means a lot to me."

"You mean a lot to me," he countered.

"Seems like we're just saying the same things now."

Touya laughed and surged forward, kissing him on the mouth. Yue kissed him twice before pulling back

"Are you staying over?" Touya asked.

"Your dad will be home soon."

"He's given us his blessing."

"He's given me sans wings his blessing – Don't give me that look – I've stayed over here enough as it is. Yukito has a home that's been rather empty as of late."

"Because Ruby's in it."

Yue smiled, but then quickly recovered. "You could still stay over. She wouldn't jump in the bed with us."

Touya gave him a look.

"Alright, maybe she would, but the door has locks"

Touya shot him another look as he pulled the front of Yue's robe, drawing him closer.

"I have magic."

Touya winked at him. "As do I."

"Well, I have non-secretive magic I use to fight and protect in front of people that know about it."

Touya pulled him closer and whispered into his ear. "Stay."

Yue's hand sat on Touya's knee. He looked at him with such intensity. "Convince me," and one of his eyes turned grey.

Touya growled. "Gladly."