Author's Notes: I would just like to state, for the record, that Nakuru's p.o.v. is weird.
Part Three
Eriol has been lounging all day, which I guess is a good thing since he was so tired the other day. He usually goes out and works on the garden when he's bored, though. The flowers are really pretty this time of year. I like flowers. Especially the tea roses that he grows. Maybe if I gave a bouquet to Touya-kun, he'd stop trying to get rid of me. But he's not working on the garden. (Eriol, not Touya-kun.) He was in his magicky room reading all morning. He kept falling asleep, which is weird, because Eriol's not a sleepy person as a general rule.
Suppi keeps asking him questions, too, which I don't think Eriol is really too pleased about. And he keeps not answering, which I'm not too pleased about. It's weird for Eriol to not tell us stuff. He usually tells us everything. I guess he'd have to, since we're the only people he talks to. Well, he writes letters and stuff to Sakura-chan and Tomoyo-san, but he never talks to them. Though I guess he does now, since he's here. But it's not like he has any family or anything. Actually I guess he would somewhere. Cousins or something. I mean, you don't just appear out of nowhere. Unless you're Tsukishirou-kun. But even he didn't, really. Yue made him, and Clow made Yue. So you're always made by someone. Anyway, Eriol was made by his parents, and turned out to be Clow reborn, not like Clow made him or anything. It's weird, I don't really understand all of it. But the point is that his parents died when he was itty bitty, which you have to figure since they would have noticed when he got stuck at eleven. I mean, he's only sixteen and he's waaaaay older than me. So he has relatives. Somewhere.
Where was I? I sidetracked myself. Eriol. Eriol is sick, which is weird, because Eriol doesn't get sick. Well, I guess he does. Because he is now. Sick, I mean. And tired. He's been sick before, though. That thing with the chicken pox. He was mad about that because he couldn't get rid of it with magic, and he itched for days. Suppi and I hid. It was kinda funny, but also kinda scary.
So now he's lounging. Did I say that already? Right, and Suppi is asking him why he's so tired. All Eriol will say is that he doesn't know, so to stop asking. But I think Suppi thinks he knows, because Suppi just keeps asking. Eriol never not knows something.
Maybe I'll make him some soup. He isn't smiling as much as he usually does, and a not-smiling Eriol is weird. It's kinda creepy. Would he like chicken soup? I heard it's supposed to be good for sick people. Can't say that I know why. Do chickens have extra vitamins or something? I asked Eriol about it once and he said it was psychosomatic. Or something.
See? Eriol knows everything. How can he not know why he's tired? It's a pretty simple thing, you know. But he said he got enough sleep and he really wasn't doing anything big and magical. He just showed Sakura-chan some stuff. That's no reason to get tired. He didn't even get tired when he made me and Suppi, and that's a lot harder. Or that's what he said, anyway. Maybe a little tired, that's what he said.
But he keeps nodding off over that book of his, which is weird, and I don't like it. I don't want Eriol to be sick. I want him to be better. Right now.
So I'll make him some soup. And maybe pick some of those roses and bring them in to him.
***
No matter how many times I repeat that it's not necessary for me to eat, Sakura is insisting that I come to the 'family dinner.' I pointed out that I'm not technically a member of the family and got quite a glare. She made a statement about how I'm Yukito's brother, in some perverse way. And Yukito is part of the family. The 'perverse way' is my addition.
So I find myself sitting next to Sakura and across from Yukito, who are both giving me identical cheerful smiles. Touya looks faintly amused. Fujitaka-san places some food in front of me. I remind them all again that it's not necessary to eat.
Touya glares. "You eat because you like it," he said. "Learn to like it."
"Touya, be nice," Yukito says reprovingly.
"I am being nice. I'm giving him reasons to eat."
"You're bullying him," Yukito replies.
Touya looks straight at me. "Yue could use a little bullying."
I'm touched. Really.
Fujitaka-san smiles at me. He reminds me disturbingly of Clow, in the same way that Eriol does. With reason, I suppose, given that Fujitaka-san is the other half of his reincarnation.
So I eat. At least the food tastes good. Kerberos said something earlier to the effect that at least, if I was served bad food, I wouldn't need to eat it for hunger's sake. I don't think Kerberos can really say that, given that he's a trash compactor when it comes to food.
I find these clothes aren't as bad as I'd feared. They look ridiculous (in my opinion, anyway), but they're very comfortable. And I can't figure out why they look ridiculous on me but not on anyone else. I hate shoes, though. Sakura says it's okay to go around the house and yard barefoot, but I have to put them on before I go anywhere else. If I just flew, half an inch above the ground, and maintained the pretense of walking, would anybody notice?
They'd probably notice my bare feet before they'd notice the half inch of space between them and the ground. But Sakura said something about 'no shirt, no shoes, no service.' Why anyone would walk around without a shirt is beyond me, but I perfectly understand why someone would go barefoot. Who invented shoes, anyway?
Dinner, thankfully, is over. I don't think I've said anything. Now, bizarrely enough, Sakura is turning and asking for my help with the dishes.
I must look confused, because Yukito is trying very hard not to snicker.
"Everyone does housework, Yue," Touya says, sounding altogether too used to this concept.
So I nod. What else can I do? It's a perfectly reasonable request. Even Kerberos helps with the housework. I carry a pile of dishes into the kitchen and stare at them. One would figure washing the dishes requires water, so I turn it on.
"You can use the dishwasher, Yue-san!" Sakura calls from the table, where she's gathering the rest.
Dishwasher. Where, pray tell, is the dishwasher? I should have been paying more attention while Yukito was helping out.
Sakura bustles in and gives me a sympathetic look. Then she shows me where the dishwasher is and exactly how to load it. I'm thankful, so I'm honest and tell her I'm never going to remember all this tomorrow.
"You'll learn!" she chirps. "You should see all the dumb stuff I used to do when I was younger!" With that, she bounces off elsewhere. Probably over to Li's. She spends an inordinate amount of time with him. Not that I mind, or that I mind him, but in retrospect, I'm glad she became the Card Mistress. I don't think Li and I could get along on a day-to-day basis. I'm also glad Sakura got over her crush on Yukito. That could have proved awkward.
"Ano . . . Yue?" Yukito is looking at me earnestly. "I wanted to give you something."
I blink. "Eh?"
Yukito hands me a box with a sunny grin.
I look down at it. "Can I open it?"
"Hai!" He nods vigorously.
I take the lid off the box. Inside, there is nestled a small Siamese kitten, blinking up at me. I look up at Yukito. "Why?"
"You seemed to like him yesterday. And you don't really have anything of your own. We'll have to find out when your birthday is. Anyway, it looked like you'd like it."
"Thank you." I must admit I'm a bit bewildered, but I take the cat out of the box and hold it up to get a better look at it. Him. It's a him. He licks my face. It is rather cute.
"What are you going to name him?" Touya asks, peering over Yukito's shoulder.
I blink again. It's becoming a common reaction. "I don't know." It's small, and cute. "Nezumi."
They look a bit startled at my choice, then Yukito smiles cheerfully. "That's a good name." He reaches out and pets the cat. "Anyway, Touya and I are going to the movies. Want to come?"
I blink. (Of course.) "I'll -- "
"Of course you do." Yukito has me by the arm and is dragging me along quite efficiently. Apparently he isn't going to put up with me moping in my room. He pauses long enough for me to put my shoes on, unfortunately, and settle the kitten on the sofa.
I must look terribly unwilling, because Yukito turns, gives me a huge grin, and says, "It'll be fun!"
I'm sure.
***
Yue, predictably, refused to wear a swimsuit. We didn't think we'd actually get him into the pool, but at least he's out of the house. He's spent the past three days spending every second that we allow him in his room. Grant you, he usually takes the kitten with him, which I suppose is progress.
I remember working at this place when I was in high school. And I remember Hiiragizawa pulling shit and making us think he was going to drown that girl. From the high-power glare The Brat is sending at him, he remembers too. Sakura, naturally, seems blithely oblivious to this. She can't be as naive as we think. It's just not humanly possible. Tomoyo, who as far as I can tell, always knows exactly what's going on, is just smirking between The Brat and Hiiragizawa.
I'm sending a few glares myself. The Brat is standing a bit too close to Sakura, thanks. I think she's ignoring us all on purpose.
I'm trying to ignore Akizuki, which is easier than it should be because she seems worried about Hiiragizawa. After a complete shrieking fit that I could have prevented if I'd remembered she was coming and worn a T-shirt rather than just swim trunks, she's subsided and is hovering over her master worriedly. Yue is standing as far away from her as is possible.
So Yue is wearing black slacks and a dark green T-shirt, and wearing them quite well, if I do say so myself. Of course, my vision is somewhat impeded by the fact that Yuki is sitting in my lap. Not that I'm complaining, not for an instant. He's shirtless; even better. This may also be why Akizuki is giving us a break.
But maybe not. Hiiragizawa really doesn't look too good. He reminds me even more of Yuki. Not so much the face, but . . .
After a second, I get it. I'm not used to having my powers back, I guess. It's his aura that resembles Yuki, not Hiiragizawa himself. It's kind of . . . fading in and out. That's what Yuki's was doing when he and Yue were having all the trouble. It's rather alarming, and I make a mental note to speak with Hiiragizawa at the end of the day. I'm not about to dislodge Yuki.
"Let's swwwwiiiiiimmmmm!" Sakura cheers.
She hasn't changed a bit in three years. She, Tomoyo, and The Brat all head towards the pool. Hiiragizawa is a bit slower in following, but does after a minute, leaving his glasses on the table. Akizuki looks between the two of us for a minute, torn, then starts after Hiiragizawa.
"Let's stay here a bit longer, hm?" Yuki asks, shifting slightly.
I nod. Yue leaves to get a drink. Most likely a self-defense reaction, since he can't be interested in actually drinking it.
****
Sakura-san, Tomoyo-san, and Li-kun all seem quite interested in splashing around in the shallow part of the pool. I have a headache, and decide some time floating on my back, away from a lot of people, will help. Unfortunately, Nakuru is following me.
"I'm just going to . . . do some laps," I say, picking something I know will bore her. "Why don't you go play on the waterslides?"
She looks torn. "Can I?"
"Of course." I give her a reassuring smile. "I'll be okay, Nakuru."
She splashes off. Waterslides are more her idea of fun than mine. I try to picture Yue on a waterslide and just can't. I'd probably enjoy them if I had more energy.
But I don't. And this annoys me terribly. Though I wouldn't admit it to anyone else, I'm also a bit worried. This lack of energy just isn't normal for anybody, least of all me. I didn't do anything that should have made me tired in the slightest, but my energy has been steadily wearing away since then.
I swim out to the deep end and start floating on my back. The sun is in my eyes, so I close them.
I can practically feel how worried Spinel and Nakuru are. It's hard to keep their power supply up, but I have to. I don't want them realizing how serious this is until they have to. It's harder for Nakuru; Spinel can draw on the sun's energy the way Kerberos can. Nakuru can only draw on the moon, and the majority of her energy is supplied by me. And if she so much as yawns, she's going to be breathing down my neck, demanding to know what's wrong.
I don't know what's wrong.
I came today because I didn't want anybody to know how tired I was. I came all the way to Japan to visit them; I certainly can't spend the time in my house sleeping. So when Sakura-san called me this morning, I said of course I'd love to go, and of course Nakuru would too, and I'm sure Spinel would love to keep Kerberos company. (And, more importantly, keep him from following us.)
Now I'm rather wishing I hadn't. It won't be long before someone notices how pale I am. Touya-san has already given me some rather funny looks. He's far more observant than is healthy for me. At least, from what I can tell, he didn't tell any of the others about what happened after the spell. Sakura-san, as usual, seems to have no clue what's going on. But I feel awful. It would be nice to just get some sleep.
Should've stayed home. In the pool. Cannot sleep.
Now I know how Yukito-san felt . . .
Did he ever faint at any inopportune times? He must have. The balcony, for example. Maybe I should ask him for pointers. Always sit, never stand. Don't go swimming. Why am I still in this pool? The logical thing, really, would be to swim to the side and get out. But I'm not sure I have enough energy for that. Maybe if I just float long enough, I'll float over to the side.
That sounds like a good idea.
Can't sleep though.
Definitely can't sleep.
****
If Kinomoto had glared at me for one more second, I would've had to say something. I mean, sure, Sakura and I are holding hands. She's in a bathing suit and I'm not oblivious to this fact. But who is Kinomoto to talk? His boyfriend is in his lap, and they're both shirtless, and they're getting way more funny looks than Sakura and I are.
Fortunately, from the looks of it, they're talking to Yue. That's good, because I think he would have a coronary if they were doing anything else. And I wouldn't want him to feel left out. He's had a pretty lost look about him lately. I think Sakura's right, being separate from Yukito-san is good for him.
Also fortunately, we're now pretty much out of sight from the others. I say this because Sakura just hugged me, and I don't want her brother to have to kill me. Where the hell did Hiiragizawa-kun get off to, anyway?
I scan around and don't see him for a second. Oh, wait, there he is. He's floating in the deep end. He looks asleep, but Hiiragizawa-kun is way too smart to fall asleep in a swimming pool. He's probably just thinking. More evil schemes or something. Animated penguin statues.
Though that would be his head sinking underwater.
It jerks back up again, quickly. I keep watching. Now his whole body is sinking.
This is bad.
Sakura notices at the same moment I do and shrieks. "ERIOL-KUN!"
Can't use magic, too many people. I take off for the end of the swimming pool. The lifeguards are jumping in, too, but I'm closer and get to him first. He's sank completely underwater and is drifting towards the bottom. Even when I grab him by the arms and tow him to the surface, he doesn't wake up. I manage to get my arm under his chin to keep his head above water, and tow him to the side of the pool.
Sakura is beside us in an instant. "Eriol-kun!"
He's out cold, but coughs up some water and then starts breathing normally. Thank God.
"Eriol!" Akizuki-san comes up behind us and kneels next to him. Before she can do anything, the lifeguard pushes past all of us and starts checking on him.
"Is he okay?" Sakura asks anxiously.
"Yeah, he'll be all right," he reassures us. "We'll just take him to the infirmary."
"He's usually such a good swimmer . . ." Tomoyo is hovering behind Sakura.
"He looked like he was asleep," I say. "But that can't be right."
Akizuki-san jumps as if I've hit her. I look at her suspiciously.
"Hey, what happened?" The others join us as we follow to the infirmary.
"Hiiragizawa-kun fell asleep in the pool and nearly drowned," I state. Kinomoto blinks, then looks suspicious. Does everyone know about this but me?
No, Sakura still looks confused, as does Yukito-san. Tomoyo does too, in fact. Yue looks . . . panicked. That's rather odd, because the last time I checked, he didn't care for Hiirgizawa-kun that much. Then again, he's part Clow, and Yue had that thing for Clow, and . . . never mind.
The lifeguard settles Hiiragizawa-kun in the infirmary, wrapping him up in a blanket. Akizuki-san and Sakura volunteer to stay until he's woken up.
"I'll walk home and get the car," Kinomoto volunteers. Sakura's brother can be a surprisingly thoughtful person at times. "So I can drive him home. He shouldn't have to walk."
"I'll go with you," Yukito-san volunteers.
Kinomoto smiles, something that doesn't happen very often. "Thanks, Yuki."
Yue is, bizarrely enough, eating an ice cream cone. I half-expect him to volunteer to go too, but he doesn't. I guess he must be having a halfway decent time. I won't question these things.
***
I have a headache. And the world is blurry. This can probably be explained by the fact that I'm not wearing my glasses. I fumble on the bedside table for them, before realizing that there is no bedside table and I'm not at home. I sit up, blinking, then dizziness presses upon me and I lie down again.
"Are you okay?" Nakuru's voice. Anxious. What on earth happened? The world smells like chlorine. Chlorine . . . pools . . . water . . .
I didn't.
"I'm fine. Do you have my glasses?"
Nakuru hands them over. Her eyes are as wide as saucer plates. "Are you sure? You almost drowned!"
"I'm aware of that." I don't mean to be so harsh, but my head aches and I want the world to leave me alone. "What exactly happened?"
She shrugs. "I guess you must've fallen asleep in the pool. I mean, you've been so tired lately . . ."
I notice Sakura-san in the room and let out a mental groan. I didn't want her to know that. I didn't want anyone to know that, and now everyone does.
"You're awfully lucky," Sakura-san says, her eyes also wide. "If Syaoran-kun hadn't seen you, you might have actually drowned!"
And on top of all of it, I was rescued by Li-kun. Perfect. Wonderful. I suppose it's only fair since I kept him from skiing into that tree.
"Oniichan is getting the car so he can drive you home," Sakura-san continues. "We didn't think you should be walking."
"Thanks." My head aches and the world is spinning. Though I don't want to admit I'm not okay, I definitely can't walk anywhere in my current condition. I just hope I can make it to the front gates.
As if on cue, the door opens and Touya-san looks in. Yukito-san is hovering behind him like a loyal second shadow. "Feeling better?" he asks, not surprised at all that I'm awake.
"Better than drowned," I can't help but answer.
He sighs. "C'mon, crabby. You're going home."
I allow Nakuru to help me to my feet. She's so worried, she's barely even noticed Touya-san's presence. The world is wavering alarmingly. Perhaps I'd better let her help me to the car, too.
"Sakura, go ahead and tell the others we're bringing him home," Touya-san says. "And tell Yue not to have a heart attack."
Why would Yue be having a heart attack? He doesn't even like me.
"'Kay," Sakura-san says. "Will you guys be back later?"
"Yuki and I will," he says, then looks questioningly at Nakuru.
"Of course Nakuru will," I say.
"No I won't!" She glares at me fiercely. "I'll be home making you dinner."
I sigh. There's obviously no way to deter her, and though I could order her to come back, I certainly couldn't make her stop worrying, so it would be pointless.
"Okay," Sakura-san says, and gives me a very careful hug. "Jaa ne, Eriol-kun. Feel better, 'kay?"
I nod. Sakura-san has the amazing ability to know when to not ask questions. She bounces out of the room, not looking as cheerful as she normally does, but trying her hardest.
"We picked up Spinel, by the way," Yukito-san informs me.
Oh, good. I can just imagine his reaction.
I imagine it correctly. Spinel is glaring. "What on earth did you think you were doing swimming?" he asks. "You know how tired you've been!"
I look at Touya-san. "I don't suppose I can just go home with you?"
"Absolutely not!" Nakuru declares.
"You're going home -- " Spinel begins.
"And going to bed -- " Nakuru picks up his train of thought and runs with it.
"As soon as we get there."
"No arguing!"
I sigh. Again.
Nakuru helps me into the front seat, then piles in back with Yukito-san. (And Spinel.)
"You know," Touya-san says, "why are you this tired?"
I'm getting really sick of that question. "I don't know." I'm also getting really sick of that answer.
"Mind if I venture a guess?"
I blink. "Be my guest."
"You're running out of magic." He says this as if it would be normal. "Your aura looks just like Yuki's did when he and Yue were running out. Well, except that his is blue and yours is red. But it's fading. And flickering, sort of, when you get really bad. Like when they pulled you out of the pool, it kept . . . disappearing completely for seconds at a time."
Trust Touya-san to pick up on a fading aura. Not that I'm not grateful. It would explain quite a bit, and will keep Nakuru from dragging me to a doctor.
Of course, this is far more worrisome than a mere disease.
"But wait," Nakuru speaks up. "If his magic was running out, wouldn't mine be, too? He supplies me with most of it."
Touya-san looks a little surprised that Nakuru said something intelligent, so I answer. "It's my responsibility to keep you supplied with energy. Just because I'm getting tired doesn't mean that I'm going to short you."
She looks shocked. "But Eriol -- "
"I don't want to hear it."
She subsides, looking hurt.
Spinel speaks up, cautiously. "But what could be causing that?"
Touya-san shrugs. "I see auras. That doesn't mean I know what's going on."
"Someone must be doing it purposely," Spinel says. "Magic doesn't just disappear."
"Yeah, but who would challenge Eriol?" Nakuru's voice is incredulous. I can't help but blush a little.
"I don't know." My head aches. I want to sleep. I don't want to think, and I don't want to be nagged.
"Take it easy on him." Yukito-san speaks up for the first time since we got in the car. Yukito-san is my new best friend. "He's had a rough day."
There's the understatement of the century.
"Besides, I know how he feels." Yukito-san gives me a sympathetic smile.
Nakuru practically has to carry me into the house, which is terribly embarrassing, but my knees feel awfully weak and the world won't stop moving. She helps me up the stairs and promptly dumps me on my bed, upon which I promptly fall unconscious.
***