Well, hello! And Welcome to My Little World of Weirdness!
I state for the record that, despite the fact I really, really wish I did, I don't own any of the characters that will grace this story; it's all CLAMP's! Always has been, always will be!
Also I don't pretend to have any Mastery over the language of Japanese or any clue as to correct grammatical structure. I put it in and hope it gets across the point I'm trying to make!
Also disclaimers for 'When I'm sixty four' by the Beatles, Rest In Peace, George!!
"Speaking"
*Stress/emphasis*
//Thinking//
Guardian Beast of the Seal, Wimpy, Scaredy Cat.
By Dr Megalomania.
Part four - I've got the beginnings of a headache . . .
[Getting there! Funnier. Next few chapters . . . PROMISE!! ALSO a warning about LANGUAGE: there's just a tiny bit of swearing in here . . . I promise the culprits had their mouths washed out with soap!!]
Meanwhile upstairs . . .
"Hey? Stuffed animal."
Syaoran's shoulders drooped, that always elicited some kind of response from Kero. He pressed a damp cloth against the lion's forehead. He noticed that the fur nearer the helmet Kero was wearing was sweating more profusely. While his nimble fingers worked on getting the clasp undone he thought back to the first time that they had met . . .
"I was just to explain that!"
Syaoran ignored the tinny voice behind him, the thunder beast was wounded and reorienting itself, Syaoran was concentrating on it when he noticed Sakura was pulling out the Windy.
"Baka!" He proceeded to reprimand her for being so dense as to use the windy against the thunder beast.
The tinny voice sounded again, "I've been in western Japan long enough . . ." it groused, "I can forgive 'idiot' . . . but I can't forgive 'Baka'!" It growled.
He still ignored it, concentrated as he was on the battle. The battle . . . Syaoran smiled fondly, the battle was their first together. He had beaten the thunder beast back with his trained control over the forces of the wind.
"Petals of the wind, answer my call!!"
Once Sakura had caught it with the shadow card, he joined her on the courtyard. Just as he was criticizing her for not know how to catch the card correctly a tiny, fluffy stuffed toy appeared beside her.
"Hey, don't ask for the impossible!" It yelled at him, "it hasn't been long since Sakura started to collect the cards!!"
"What the hell is this?" Li pointed at it with distain.
Sakura clearly hurt by his earlier words murmured, "Kero-chan. . ."
"NANI?!" That had surprised him; "this is Keroberos, beast of the seal? The strongest guardian beast with the golden eyes?"
He had raised his finger to point at the floating guardian in front of him, ". . . is this plush toy?!"
It was for that remark Li Syaoran received his first ever bitten finger . . .
. . . Syaoran lowered the helmet from Keroberos' head, and worked on the lower half of the armour.
"You can't leave her like this." He said softly, "She needs you. The cards need you." He shook his head and smiled slightly, "This whole business would never have been any fun without you."
The clasp for the lower half sprung open and he pulled it off easily. Syaoran stood and placed the two pieces of body armour on the desk, the scarlet jewels glinted in the moonlight. Syaoran frowned, and turned back to Keroberos.
The lion was now huddled up, lying on his side. Pillows bedded his head and paws; Touya had provided a long couch pillow to rest his back against. Picking up the damp cloth, Syaoran resumed pressing the damp cloth against Kero's forehead. He glanced up and looked at Sakura.
She was lying on the very edge of the bed, one pale arm had fallen off the bed and her face was contorted with the look of nightmares.
Syaoran's frown grew deeper.
"You can't leave her like this or I'll . . ." he repeated. "I'll never forgive you, stuffed animal."
Tomoyo knelt beside Yue; she put the steaming bowl beside him.
"At least try to eat."
The guardian buried his head deeper into his knees and muttered, "I'm not hungry."
Touya sat up slightly from the couch, "Yue. . . at least have something-"
He was interrupted by Yue's sudden transformation.
"What's happened?" Yukito looked around at the surprised but otherwise sombre expressions, "Did something happen? Is Sakura all right?"
Touya nodded, "The kaijuu is fine . . . it's Keroberos. He's a bit ill."
A flash of pain suddenly hit Yukito, he felt a bit nauseous, and his head began to swim. Touya press his hand against Yuki's back, to support him. Yukito's head cleared. "Yue . . . we're so weak . . ."
Tomoyo picked up the bowl of stew, here. "Eat."
Yukito felt better after about three or four bowls of the filling stew. The group were very quiet as they ate. "Where is Sakura-chan?"
"Sleeping," Touya murmured.
Yuki was quiet for a moment, "How is she taking this?"
"She's very worried," answered Tomoyo; "I think it's only just sinking in how serious this is."
Yukito nodded, "I can feel Yue's concern . . . he isn't taking this so well, is he?"
Meilin looked up, the weariness of the last few hours showed in her reddish- amber eyes, "He thinks Keroberos is going to die."
"Is he?"
The group left the question in the air, and returned to their meal. When Syaoran descended the steps, he was carrying Kero's body armour. "Where shall I put these?" He asked no one in particular, "I took them off, and he appears to be breathing a bit more easily now."
Touya stood and took them, "I'll put them in the washroom, and they'll need to be cleaned before we put them back on him."
Yukito stood and took the upper half of the armour from Touya, "I lend you a hand."
As they walked quietly into the washroom, Yuki waited until both pieces had been carefully put away, before he stepped in front of Touya.
"How bad is it?" Yukito asked, ". . .Really?"
"He's unconscious, he has a hot fever that keeps dipping and rising . . ." Touya rubbed his eyes, "He might just have a cold, maybe the flu, but we don't know what to do about it because neither Keroberos or Yue has ever gotten sick before . . ."
"Why is Yue so scared?" Yukito pressed, "Do you know why?"
Touya pressed his lips together; "Keroberos has the same symptoms . . . as Clow Reed." Yuki looked at him with non-comprehension, Touya's head dipped, he was tired and he was also beginning to give into the fear that was striking the rest, ". . . as when Clow Reed died."
Yuki's pale face grew impossibly whiter with his shock, then his amber eyes creased in sympathy.
"Yue's scared because . . ." Touya continued, ". . .Because he's terrified . . . history will repeat itself and claim the only remaining member of his family . . ."
The night continued, and the group failed to sleep at all. Midnight came and passed, and the early hours passed just as slowly, Touya stood in the kitchen washing the few pots that the group had been using. As he scrubbed the pans clean he thought about the night. He frowned, and pressed the heel of his palm against his forehead, he felt a headache coming on . . .
Syaoran walked into the kitchen, "Have you got any aspirin?"
Touya turned, "Why?" He winced, the headache was getting closer.
"I've got the beginnings of a headache . . ." Syaoran explained, and then winced, as it got stronger and stronger.
"You too?"
Yukito and Sakura both ran in from the living room.
"I've got such a headache!" Said Yuki, "It's even woken up Yue!"
Sakura clutched her head and wail, "Oooowwww!! It hurts worse than when I hit my head with my baton!"
"Okay, now it's officially strange!" Touya stated, "The four of us have the magical senses around here and we've all got headaches . . . can anyone explain?"
The four looked at each other, then Touya's, Sakura's and Syaoran' eyes settled on Yukito as he appeared to be listening to Yue. Yukito winced, "Yue's not any help, mentally . . ." Yukito strained for the right metaphor, "Mentally; he's effectively buried his head under a pillow . . ." Yuki listened some more to his other half, and "He's swearing his head off . . . he's not making much sense . . ."
"Aside from swearing," Touya pressed the heel of his palm against his head, "What is he saying?"
"Something about a stupid cow . . . Doesn't realise that we're too tired to cope with . . . Bloody bright aura . . ."
"Can we talk to him quickly?" Asked Sakura, when Yuki gingerly nodded; she commanded, "Yue, I wish to speak with thou."
Yukito grimaced, and then his face cleared briefly as Yue's personality asserted it's self, Yukito's eyes narrowed into a deep frown as Yue stared at his mistress. He was about to ask her what she wanted when a tapping caught Yue's attention, he looked up and stare at the window. Yukito's amber eyes narrowed even more. "Bollocks!" He swore.
"Hey!" Chaste Touya, he didn't want his sister to hear such language.
Syaoran ignored Touya and looked out the window, "Oh, Bloody Hell!" He groaned.
"What is it with you two?" Touya growled as he turned to look out the window. He rolled his eyes and sighed sharply, "Oh shit!"
Sakura shook her head slightly at the language, and went to open the patio door, "Konbanwa Eriol-kun . . .
Oh! You brought ruby moon and Spinel with you!"
Eriol nodded as much as his large hat would allow, "Indeed . . ." he paused and searched her face worried; his lavender grey eyes were racked with concern.
"Nani?" Asked Sakura worriedly.
Eriol bit the corner of his lower lip, and remained silent. Ruby lent forward and said jokingly, "The master seems to think something's wrong, so we dragged him over to prove there was nothing wrong, and we were wondering is anything wrong?"
Before Sakura could answer, Spinel pushed ruby out of the way, "What my dear demented sister actually means is; is there something wrong with one of your guardians? . . . *Clow* appears to be worried . . ." he paused as his eyes settled on Yukito, "Yue. . ." he whispered threateningly.
"Spinel . . ." Yukito's eyes narrowed on the large panther, he raised his hand and flicked his hand under his chin.
At the sight of this motion, Spinel appeared to take offence, he gasped, and then he deliberately mocked Yue's name. "Yu-way."
"Spinner." Yue mimicked Spinel's tone.
"Yu-way!"
"Spinner!"
Eriol put his hand up to stop the nonsense, he sighed, "Is there . . .?" He began.
Sakura nodded wearily, her headache was much stronger now. She pressed her hand against her forehead, "It's Kero . . . he has a fever."
Eriol was silent for a few moments as he took this in, he glanced up at Yue, who held his gaze for a few moments then looked away. Eriol's shoulders slumped. He nodded slowly and turned away. He paused in the garden and stared at the night's sky.
Spinel and Ruby observed his behaviour, and then looked at each other. "Is there something that we don't know about going on?" Asked ruby, pushing past Spinel to enter the kitchen. The headaches got immediately worse.
"Ruby! Return to your bloody false form!" Roared Yue through Yukito's voice, he was literally trembling with rage, "Your true form's aura is entirely *too* bloody bright!"
Ruby's mouth fell open at Yue's loss of control, "Well; it's never bothered anyone before!" She screamed back at him.
"Now it is!" he snapped loudly. "Do it!"
"No!" she folded her arms obstinately.
Eriol stepped into the kitchen, "Silence!" He opened his hand and his magic staff appeared instantly. "Ruby Moon! Return to thy false form this instant." When she didn't comply, he barked, "Either return or be sealed in the book!" He rammed his staff on the floor to make his point heard.
She blinked briefly at him with complete surprise; first Yue's loss of control and now Eriol had lost his temper. "Yes, master," she said meekly as she quickly returned to her false appearance. Touya, Sakura and Syaoran sighed in relief as they felt their headaches receding. Spinel looked up at his master, Eriol's hand was much whiter as it gripped the golden staff tightly. His jaw was held tightly as he turned his attention on Yue, "Yue!" He barked, "Go. To. Sleep."
Yue was still trembling; he looked from Eriol, to Sakura, "Mistress?" He said, obviously trying to contain his anger, "Do you still require my presence?"
Sakura shook her head silently.
"Very well." And with that, Yukito instantly returned, "Ow!" He moved over to the table and sat down. Yukito clutch his head and murmured, "I'm so tired."
Touya moved over towards him, "Come on, let's get you to bed."
As the two moved out of the room, Syaoran cast one tired but threatening glance at Eriol, silently warning him not to try any funny business. Eriol glared at him, "This isn't the time, descendant!" He snapped. "Take my guardians into the other room."
"Master?" Asked Nakura, "What's going on?"
Eriol ignored her, and continued to glare at Syaoran, "Now!" He growled through his teeth.
When Syaoran and the two guardians had left the room, Eriol turned to Sakura. The sight that greeted him dissipated his rage instantly. Sakura was leaning heavily on the counter behind her; she had wrapped her arms around her arms. He could see now that she was pale, which, coupled with her stance, made her look more frail than usual.
Eriol closed his eyes and turned his staff back to a key with a few quiet words. He moved over to table and drew one of the seats out. Eriol sighed as he sat, "So . . . Yue *has* told you."
Sakura nodded, tearfully, she glanced once out the window, and then pushed herself away from the counter. She sat opposite the dark haired boy. She drew in one sorrowful breath, before she said quietly, "Clow died of a fever?"
"No. . ." Eriol couldn't quite meet her eyes, he chose instead to lean back and speak to the table, "I died because I wished to."
"Did you tell them that was why?"
"No. I didn't want them to think I was leaving them . . ." Eriol sounded weary, " . . . on purpose . . . so I allowed the illness to take me."
"So you let them think you died of a sickness, and now Kero's sick, Yue thinks the same thing's going to happen again." Sakura continued to stare at him, as he leant forward, put his elbows on the table and pressed his hands over his face. His voice was muffled, as it passed through his hands.
"It never occurred to me that they might get sick . . ." he said, "Why didn't I foresee this?"
Sakura stood and walked around the table to the reincarnation, she looked down on him. Tears filled her eyes; she raised a trembling hand to his shoulder, "Is he going to die?"
Eriol moved his hands from his face and looked at her, he stood, and walked away from her to the door.
"Hiirawagizawa! . . ." she called after him, still he didn't turn, ". . .Reed!"
He stopped at the sound of his former life's name. "Ruby Moon, Spinel Sun! We're leaving!" He called with his back still to her. His guardians quietly entered the room, Spinel cast one look at Sakura, his midnight blue eyes showed that they had been told, as he passed her wordlessly, Nakura placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. The false form of Ruby opened and closed her mouth silently; she couldn't find the words. Her tear-filled eyes were full of true fear. She looked down and quickly walked away to stand by her master.
"Hiirawagizawa Eriol . . . or Clow Reed . . ." Sakura cried, her voice cracking, " . . .Answer me!"
Eriol turned slightly, his jaw was clenched tightly, his face crumpled as the tears ran freely down his face. "I . . ." he stopped and shook his head, " . . . We don't know . . ." he walked towards her, he grasped her hands in his, as he spoke quietly, "I will study my books, if he doesn't wake within the next ten days, you must call me. . ."
And with that, the reincarnation signalled his guardians, and left.
Five days later, there was no change in Keroberos' condition, Meilin, Syaoran and Tomoyo stayed over. Sakura grew paler and more tired as she stayed for hours beside Kero's bedside; she wanted to be there when he awoke. But as the hours dragged by, it became increasingly clear that he wasn't going to wake up anytime soon. Ever so often Meilin would check in on her and find her crying; the Chinese girl, despite her constant barbs, would always comfort Sakura. Tomoyo tried to keep her calm, knowing that Sakura would not benefit from seeing her friend give into the real fears she was being to gather, not only about Kero and Sakura but Yue as well.
Tomoyo had pulled Touya aside after two days and asked him to keep a close eye on Yue. The instruction was unnecessary, not only would Touya not let Yue or Yuki out of his sight, but also Yue rarely appeared. The moon angel was either completely silent when he did appear, or answered in single syllables. After the third day, he would only appear if Sakura called him and even then only stay for a matter of minutes to assure her of his existence.
Touya had caught him once on the fifth night, sitting by his brother. Yue was sitting crossed legged; he tucked the blanket tighter, and fluffed the pillows. Touya stood in the doorway, not willing to disturb Yue; it was obvious that he needed sometime alone. He strained to hear the words of the song Yue was singing. The song was familiar, and he had heard his father singing it a few times before.
"When I get older, losing my hair," Yue's voice quivered, as he ran his fingers through the short fur on top of Kero's head, "Many years from now. Will you still be sending me a Valentine?"
Touya smiled as the name of the band came to mind, a British band called 'the Beatles', "Birthday greetings, bottle of wine. If I'd been out till quarter to three . . ." Yue's voice dropped to a softer tone as he stretched out beside his brother. "Would you lock the door?" Yue smiled, evidently this was a favourite of Kero's "Will you still need me, will you still feed me," Yue swallowed, and sucked in a tearful breathe, he whispered ". . .When I'm sixty-four . . ."
He stopped the song and closed his eyes, the cheerful song dying on his lips. Touya moved quietly into the room and crouched by Yue. The moon angel was now fast asleep, clutching the edge of the blanket. Touya sighed, and pulled another spare blanket over Yue.
When Tomoyo woke on the sixth day, it was very early. Meilin and Syaoran slept closely together, and Tomoyo put that down to the years they must have spent together as children. Tomoyo rolled her sleeping bag and tied it tightly. She walked down the corridor to the downstairs bathroom and prepared herself for the new day.
She was tying the last hair band around her ponytail as she padded softly out of the room; her hair had been in tight plaits or ponytails for the last few days. She wasn't so overtly concerned with it at the moment, as long as it was out of her way, she could deal with the day.
Tomoyo sighed, and paused in the hallway and glanced up the stairs. Her mind casting itself back to the many memories she had of being here, like the time she had walked in to find Sakura and Kero-chan binded by the woody, //or perhaps// she remembered with a smile, //the time Rika-chan was taken by the sword card and the first thing Kero could complain about was how we were having cake and we didn't think to tell him//
With this happy memory buoying her, she moved into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Tomoyo yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. //Maybe I should make a nice breakfast, that'll cheer Sakura-chan---
"Whoa!!" She screamed as she faltered and fell.
Meilin and Syaoran were at the kitchen door instantly. "What happened?!" Demanded Meilin, "Are you okay?!"
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just tripped . . . over . . . KEROBEROS?!"
Once the rest of the household had been roused, the group gathered around the sleeping form of Keroberos. "What's he doing down here?" Muttered Syaoran incredulously.
Touya turned to Yukito, "Did Yue bring him down?"
Yuki's eyes crossed slightly, his jaw becoming slightly slack. After a few moments he blinked and became aware again, ". . . No," he answered, "He fell asleep by Kero, but other than that he hasn't had any contact."
Sakura crouched beside the dozing guardian, she followed the line of his body . . . the way his paws were extended. She grinned then started to chuckle as she realised why Keroberos was down here.
"What's so funny?!" Snapped Yukito uncharacteristically.
Even Tomoyo jumped in surprise as Yue's tone came ringing through Yuki's voice. After Sakura got over her surprise, she pointed in the direction of Kero grasping paws. As the snoozing guardian snored away, Sakura began to giggle even more. The rest of the group caught on quickly, even Touya snorted with laughter. The fridge door was open slightly, and a pudding was splattered on the floor, evidently Kero had passed out before he could eat the jellied treat.
"I told you he'd wake up for a pudding!" Laughed Meilin, she turned to Yuki, "See Yue? The sponge toy will be fine!!"
Syaoran and Touya leant over to pick up the sleeping lion, and Sakura wiped the sleep, and possibly tears of joy, from her eyes, "The one thing Kero could never resist!"
Tomoyo smiled, "It's nice to see you smiling again, Sakura-chan."
Sakura blinked, "Hoe?" The honey coloured haired girl grinned and jumped up. As her brother and Syaoran struggled to lift Kero back up the stairs, she pranced after them delightedly. "Kero-chan, Kero-chan," she sang. Meilin quickly followed and Tomoyo and Yukito stood alone in the kitchen.
"I wonder when he came down . . ." Asked Yukito, as Tomoyo turned to the fridge. She retrieved some eggs to prepare some omelettes and turned to find Yue standing in Yukito's place, " . . .Probably very early" he said answering his own other form's question.
He folded his arms and shook his head. Tomoyo smiled as the version of Yue she was used to seeing resumed his place by the window. As she approached the cooker, she was surprised to notice he was leaning against the counter. She glanced at him, his catlike eyes were closed and he looked very tired, he was breathing deeply. "Yue-san?" She questioned quietly, "Would you like something . . .?"
The question died on her lips as she realised the tall moon guardian had fallen asleep. Tomoyo smiled and quickly rushed into the living room. She bumped into Meilin on her way back to kitchen.
"What's going on?" Meilin asked her, Tomoyo paused for all of three seconds to shush her and continued on to the kitchen. Meilin followed and found the purple haired girl snapping pictures of Yue, "What are you doing?" Meilin asked loudly.
"Shush!" Tomoyo pushed her finger against her lips, "He's asleep!" She whispered excitedly, "Isn't it simply kawaii?!"
Meilin's mouth fell open, she'd never seen the guardian asleep before, and he looked exactly as he normally did, arms folded, face set in a slight distaining frown. "Woooooow!" Said Meilin.
"Kero-chan's going to be fine!" Sang Sakura, she may have been in her early teens, but she still retained her complete genki-Sakura-ness. Touya smiled slightly, it pleased him to see his sister happy again.
"Yep, and as soon as he gets better . . ." Touya snapped playfully. "We're putting him on a diet! He weighs a ton!"
"Kero . . ." murmured a deep rumbling voice sleepily. "No . . . diet . . ."
"Kero?!" Sakura dropped to her knees by the lion, as he rolled over in his sleep. His wings disappeared as he rolled onto his back, and his golden eyes creaked open. "You'll be older too . . ." he murmured, "And if you say the word," he giggled nonsensically, "I could stay with you."
"What?" Sakura frowned slightly, "What do you mean?"
Kero yawned and fell back asleep. "I could be handy," he muttered then giggled, "Mending a fuse"
"He's delirious." Said Syaoran. "What on earth is he talking about mending a fuse?"
"I think I know," Touya stood and paced over to the door, "YUE!"
"YUE!" Touya's voice rang all the way downstairs and the moon guardian's eyes instantly snapped awake, he glanced around, cleared his throat quietly and strolled out of the kitchen, sliding the door shut behind him.
Tomoyo and Meilin shrugged and turned to make breakfast.
Meanwhile, Yue flew up the stairs as fast as he could . . . only to come skidding to a halt outside his mistress' bedroom and strolled coolly into the room, as if he was paying Touya some kind of generosity for even responding to the call.
"You bellowed"? He peered contemptuously at Touya.
Sakura looked up, "Kero was awake!"
"Why didn't you call me sooner?" Yue instantly dropped to his brother' side.
"He was saying some thing about mending fuses? Do you know what that means?"
A tiny, tiny, (and I mean) tiny smile formed on the silver lips, and was quickly squashed. "They're lyrics from Keroberos' favourite song . . ."
"Oh?" Asked Sakura, she'd never heard Kero sing anything to do with fuses.
"The Book . . ." Yue looked at Kero, ". . . Was taken to England by one of Clow's chosen messengers from Osaka."
"Chosen messengers?"
"It's a long process, involves telepathy and other such stuff," Yue waved his hand as if it wasn't that important. "In order for your father to collect the book, and bring it back here to Japan." He glanced up at Sakura, "No coincidences remember?"
Sakura blinked, and nodded her understanding. Syaoran frowned, "But what does this have to do with Kero's favourite song about fuses?"
"We were left in England during the sixties . . . the Beatles were all the rage . . ." Yue leaned over to stroke Kero's fur, as he continued, "Yukito loved it. He was so at home with the hippies"
Touya gaped at him in surprise; "Yuki was around in the sixties?"
"Not as Tsukishiro Yukito, but as . . ." Yue trailed off as he tried to remember the name, "Oh, yeah, Julian Star . . ."
"Julian Star?" Said Sakura, "Why--?"
"British names are hard to come up with, especially since-"
A cough from Kero interrupted the conversation, "When your lights have gone." Kero sat up slightly and looked dully at Yue. "I believe it's your line . . ." he murmured. Yue hesitated as the other looked at him expectantly. He really didn't want to, not in front of his mistress, but Kero was looking at him with hazy eyes and it was clear the lion was only remaining awake to her the next part of the verse. Yue sighed, and began to sing softly, "You can knit a sweater by the fireside, Sunday morning go for a ride,"
Kero smiled, his wing grew out again and he propped himself up with them, Touya gave him a little help, not trusting the fluffy feathers to hold out against the lion's weight. "Doing the garden, digging the weeds," Yue continued as he began to sing louder, forgetting the audience he had and solely concentrating on Kero, "Who could ask for more."
Kero grinned lopsidedly, as he joined in, "Will you still need me, will you still feed me. . . when I'm. . ." he sneezed and Yue put his arms around the heavy lion, Kero leaned his nuzzle against Yue's chest as he murmured, "When I'm sixty-four. . ." Yue shuffled slowly along to lower his brother back onto the bed. Kero snorted with light laughter as sleep came again, "Yue . . ." Kero smiled, he whispered quietly just for Yue's hearing, "Cheer up. . ."
Yue frowned slightly, and replied in the same tone, "What do you mean?"
Kero chuckled one more time dozily, "Now who's making the mistress worried?"
Touya motioned to Syaoran silently, and the two got up and left the mistress and her guardians alone for a few moments.
Tomoyo smiled as she set the table, she looked up to see Meilin enter the room with Touya and Syaoran.
"And Yue did what?" Meilin asked
Syaoran shook his head in amazement, "Yue was singing to him!"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah." Syaoran confirmed, "And then Kero joined in. . ."
"The sponge toy can sing?!"
Tomoyo smiled more at the strange exchange, "How is he?"
"HE'S GOING TO BE FINE!!" Sakura squealed as she ran into the room, "Oh Tomoyo!! He's going to be fine!!"
The teenaged girl threw her arms around Tomoyo and the two danced in the room. Sakura stopped briefly and turned to Meilin and pulled her into the dance as well, the three girls giggled happily, as Sakura continued to jump up and yell, "Kero's going to fine!! He's going to be great! He's going to fine!"
Tomoyo broke out of the dance to grab her video camera, "It's so nice to see you happy again Sakura! I was so worried, but now I see everything's going to be okay."
Sakura stopped spinning and staggered; Syaoran caught her, "Careful!"
Sakura turned to grin at him, and Syaoran was nearly blinded by the sunshine that his cherry blossom sent through her smile. He smiled brightly back at her.
Touya shook his head, even he couldn't suppress the joy he felt at the sight of his sister happy. A light lilac aura behind him flashed, and then was replaced by a bright snow coloured one. "Hello Yuki." Touya said as he turned.
Yukito smiled, "Everything's okay now, isn't it?" He said quietly.
Touya smiled, his deep blue eyes twinkled lightly under the chocolate mop of hair. "My sister is happy again," he said so only Yuki could hear, and then louder he said, "The kaijuu is celebrating!"
He closed his eyes to prepare for the instant stab of pain that Sakura was inevitably going to bestow upon him. When none came, he opened his eyes. The pink aura of his sister glowed strongly behind him, he turn to see she was just looking up at him. Her eyes were brimming tears of joy, which she wipe away before saying, "Simply because Kero-chan is going to be fine," she announced grandly, "I shall forgive you!"
Touya frowned theatrically, "Eh-? Yuki . . ." he looked over his shoulder to his friend, he pulled his face into a disappointed frown, "It's going to rain!"
Yuki laughed and moved past him, he patted Sakura on the head. When he was standing behind her, he placed his hands on her shoulders. Sakura turned and hugged the snow bunny tightly. Yuki brushed his hands over her honey coloured hair, smiled and then looked up over his glasses. Touya blinked twice before he realised what he was seeing wasn't a mirage, Yukito's eyes was now a sparkling violet. //Yue's eye colour in Yuki's eyes?!// Touya thought. He nodded slightly, enough to alert Yue/Yukito that he comprehended the significance. A smile formed on Yuki's lips to show that the split being knew Touya understood the message that he was sending.
Yue had taken Kero's message to heart, and even though he wasn't about to further spoil his reputation as the ice-cold moon guardian, he would show his happiness through his other form, Yukito.
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And now it's time for LEAVE IT TO DOCTOR MEGALOMANIA!!
DrM: Konnichiwa!! I thought I'd get this next bit out now because that last one was a little sad . . . and I want to assure you that I haven't and won't be killing Kero in this ficcy . . . [Laughs evilly] I've already done that once . . . and even then I couldn't leave him dead . . . it's called 'Let me tell you a story'
Yue: [puts on a red balaclava and starts flashing] WARNING! WARNING!! STORY PLUG!! STORY PLUG ALERT!!
Real Yue: who the hell are you?
Fake Yue: [still flashing] STORY PLUG ALERT!!
Real Yue: I said who the hell . . . aw, to hell with it! [Gets lots of dynamite and blows up the fake Yue!]
DrM: Hey! I was enjoying that! [Sighs] he's such a mean co-host! . . . Cute though! Anyway, please R&R! And thank you for all the really nice reviews I've been getting lately; they're cheering me up a real treat!!
I state for the record that, despite the fact I really, really wish I did, I don't own any of the characters that will grace this story; it's all CLAMP's! Always has been, always will be!
Also I don't pretend to have any Mastery over the language of Japanese or any clue as to correct grammatical structure. I put it in and hope it gets across the point I'm trying to make!
Also disclaimers for 'When I'm sixty four' by the Beatles, Rest In Peace, George!!
"Speaking"
*Stress/emphasis*
//Thinking//
Guardian Beast of the Seal, Wimpy, Scaredy Cat.
By Dr Megalomania.
Part four - I've got the beginnings of a headache . . .
[Getting there! Funnier. Next few chapters . . . PROMISE!! ALSO a warning about LANGUAGE: there's just a tiny bit of swearing in here . . . I promise the culprits had their mouths washed out with soap!!]
Meanwhile upstairs . . .
"Hey? Stuffed animal."
Syaoran's shoulders drooped, that always elicited some kind of response from Kero. He pressed a damp cloth against the lion's forehead. He noticed that the fur nearer the helmet Kero was wearing was sweating more profusely. While his nimble fingers worked on getting the clasp undone he thought back to the first time that they had met . . .
"I was just to explain that!"
Syaoran ignored the tinny voice behind him, the thunder beast was wounded and reorienting itself, Syaoran was concentrating on it when he noticed Sakura was pulling out the Windy.
"Baka!" He proceeded to reprimand her for being so dense as to use the windy against the thunder beast.
The tinny voice sounded again, "I've been in western Japan long enough . . ." it groused, "I can forgive 'idiot' . . . but I can't forgive 'Baka'!" It growled.
He still ignored it, concentrated as he was on the battle. The battle . . . Syaoran smiled fondly, the battle was their first together. He had beaten the thunder beast back with his trained control over the forces of the wind.
"Petals of the wind, answer my call!!"
Once Sakura had caught it with the shadow card, he joined her on the courtyard. Just as he was criticizing her for not know how to catch the card correctly a tiny, fluffy stuffed toy appeared beside her.
"Hey, don't ask for the impossible!" It yelled at him, "it hasn't been long since Sakura started to collect the cards!!"
"What the hell is this?" Li pointed at it with distain.
Sakura clearly hurt by his earlier words murmured, "Kero-chan. . ."
"NANI?!" That had surprised him; "this is Keroberos, beast of the seal? The strongest guardian beast with the golden eyes?"
He had raised his finger to point at the floating guardian in front of him, ". . . is this plush toy?!"
It was for that remark Li Syaoran received his first ever bitten finger . . .
. . . Syaoran lowered the helmet from Keroberos' head, and worked on the lower half of the armour.
"You can't leave her like this." He said softly, "She needs you. The cards need you." He shook his head and smiled slightly, "This whole business would never have been any fun without you."
The clasp for the lower half sprung open and he pulled it off easily. Syaoran stood and placed the two pieces of body armour on the desk, the scarlet jewels glinted in the moonlight. Syaoran frowned, and turned back to Keroberos.
The lion was now huddled up, lying on his side. Pillows bedded his head and paws; Touya had provided a long couch pillow to rest his back against. Picking up the damp cloth, Syaoran resumed pressing the damp cloth against Kero's forehead. He glanced up and looked at Sakura.
She was lying on the very edge of the bed, one pale arm had fallen off the bed and her face was contorted with the look of nightmares.
Syaoran's frown grew deeper.
"You can't leave her like this or I'll . . ." he repeated. "I'll never forgive you, stuffed animal."
Tomoyo knelt beside Yue; she put the steaming bowl beside him.
"At least try to eat."
The guardian buried his head deeper into his knees and muttered, "I'm not hungry."
Touya sat up slightly from the couch, "Yue. . . at least have something-"
He was interrupted by Yue's sudden transformation.
"What's happened?" Yukito looked around at the surprised but otherwise sombre expressions, "Did something happen? Is Sakura all right?"
Touya nodded, "The kaijuu is fine . . . it's Keroberos. He's a bit ill."
A flash of pain suddenly hit Yukito, he felt a bit nauseous, and his head began to swim. Touya press his hand against Yuki's back, to support him. Yukito's head cleared. "Yue . . . we're so weak . . ."
Tomoyo picked up the bowl of stew, here. "Eat."
Yukito felt better after about three or four bowls of the filling stew. The group were very quiet as they ate. "Where is Sakura-chan?"
"Sleeping," Touya murmured.
Yuki was quiet for a moment, "How is she taking this?"
"She's very worried," answered Tomoyo; "I think it's only just sinking in how serious this is."
Yukito nodded, "I can feel Yue's concern . . . he isn't taking this so well, is he?"
Meilin looked up, the weariness of the last few hours showed in her reddish- amber eyes, "He thinks Keroberos is going to die."
"Is he?"
The group left the question in the air, and returned to their meal. When Syaoran descended the steps, he was carrying Kero's body armour. "Where shall I put these?" He asked no one in particular, "I took them off, and he appears to be breathing a bit more easily now."
Touya stood and took them, "I'll put them in the washroom, and they'll need to be cleaned before we put them back on him."
Yukito stood and took the upper half of the armour from Touya, "I lend you a hand."
As they walked quietly into the washroom, Yuki waited until both pieces had been carefully put away, before he stepped in front of Touya.
"How bad is it?" Yukito asked, ". . .Really?"
"He's unconscious, he has a hot fever that keeps dipping and rising . . ." Touya rubbed his eyes, "He might just have a cold, maybe the flu, but we don't know what to do about it because neither Keroberos or Yue has ever gotten sick before . . ."
"Why is Yue so scared?" Yukito pressed, "Do you know why?"
Touya pressed his lips together; "Keroberos has the same symptoms . . . as Clow Reed." Yuki looked at him with non-comprehension, Touya's head dipped, he was tired and he was also beginning to give into the fear that was striking the rest, ". . . as when Clow Reed died."
Yuki's pale face grew impossibly whiter with his shock, then his amber eyes creased in sympathy.
"Yue's scared because . . ." Touya continued, ". . .Because he's terrified . . . history will repeat itself and claim the only remaining member of his family . . ."
The night continued, and the group failed to sleep at all. Midnight came and passed, and the early hours passed just as slowly, Touya stood in the kitchen washing the few pots that the group had been using. As he scrubbed the pans clean he thought about the night. He frowned, and pressed the heel of his palm against his forehead, he felt a headache coming on . . .
Syaoran walked into the kitchen, "Have you got any aspirin?"
Touya turned, "Why?" He winced, the headache was getting closer.
"I've got the beginnings of a headache . . ." Syaoran explained, and then winced, as it got stronger and stronger.
"You too?"
Yukito and Sakura both ran in from the living room.
"I've got such a headache!" Said Yuki, "It's even woken up Yue!"
Sakura clutched her head and wail, "Oooowwww!! It hurts worse than when I hit my head with my baton!"
"Okay, now it's officially strange!" Touya stated, "The four of us have the magical senses around here and we've all got headaches . . . can anyone explain?"
The four looked at each other, then Touya's, Sakura's and Syaoran' eyes settled on Yukito as he appeared to be listening to Yue. Yukito winced, "Yue's not any help, mentally . . ." Yukito strained for the right metaphor, "Mentally; he's effectively buried his head under a pillow . . ." Yuki listened some more to his other half, and "He's swearing his head off . . . he's not making much sense . . ."
"Aside from swearing," Touya pressed the heel of his palm against his head, "What is he saying?"
"Something about a stupid cow . . . Doesn't realise that we're too tired to cope with . . . Bloody bright aura . . ."
"Can we talk to him quickly?" Asked Sakura, when Yuki gingerly nodded; she commanded, "Yue, I wish to speak with thou."
Yukito grimaced, and then his face cleared briefly as Yue's personality asserted it's self, Yukito's eyes narrowed into a deep frown as Yue stared at his mistress. He was about to ask her what she wanted when a tapping caught Yue's attention, he looked up and stare at the window. Yukito's amber eyes narrowed even more. "Bollocks!" He swore.
"Hey!" Chaste Touya, he didn't want his sister to hear such language.
Syaoran ignored Touya and looked out the window, "Oh, Bloody Hell!" He groaned.
"What is it with you two?" Touya growled as he turned to look out the window. He rolled his eyes and sighed sharply, "Oh shit!"
Sakura shook her head slightly at the language, and went to open the patio door, "Konbanwa Eriol-kun . . .
Oh! You brought ruby moon and Spinel with you!"
Eriol nodded as much as his large hat would allow, "Indeed . . ." he paused and searched her face worried; his lavender grey eyes were racked with concern.
"Nani?" Asked Sakura worriedly.
Eriol bit the corner of his lower lip, and remained silent. Ruby lent forward and said jokingly, "The master seems to think something's wrong, so we dragged him over to prove there was nothing wrong, and we were wondering is anything wrong?"
Before Sakura could answer, Spinel pushed ruby out of the way, "What my dear demented sister actually means is; is there something wrong with one of your guardians? . . . *Clow* appears to be worried . . ." he paused as his eyes settled on Yukito, "Yue. . ." he whispered threateningly.
"Spinel . . ." Yukito's eyes narrowed on the large panther, he raised his hand and flicked his hand under his chin.
At the sight of this motion, Spinel appeared to take offence, he gasped, and then he deliberately mocked Yue's name. "Yu-way."
"Spinner." Yue mimicked Spinel's tone.
"Yu-way!"
"Spinner!"
Eriol put his hand up to stop the nonsense, he sighed, "Is there . . .?" He began.
Sakura nodded wearily, her headache was much stronger now. She pressed her hand against her forehead, "It's Kero . . . he has a fever."
Eriol was silent for a few moments as he took this in, he glanced up at Yue, who held his gaze for a few moments then looked away. Eriol's shoulders slumped. He nodded slowly and turned away. He paused in the garden and stared at the night's sky.
Spinel and Ruby observed his behaviour, and then looked at each other. "Is there something that we don't know about going on?" Asked ruby, pushing past Spinel to enter the kitchen. The headaches got immediately worse.
"Ruby! Return to your bloody false form!" Roared Yue through Yukito's voice, he was literally trembling with rage, "Your true form's aura is entirely *too* bloody bright!"
Ruby's mouth fell open at Yue's loss of control, "Well; it's never bothered anyone before!" She screamed back at him.
"Now it is!" he snapped loudly. "Do it!"
"No!" she folded her arms obstinately.
Eriol stepped into the kitchen, "Silence!" He opened his hand and his magic staff appeared instantly. "Ruby Moon! Return to thy false form this instant." When she didn't comply, he barked, "Either return or be sealed in the book!" He rammed his staff on the floor to make his point heard.
She blinked briefly at him with complete surprise; first Yue's loss of control and now Eriol had lost his temper. "Yes, master," she said meekly as she quickly returned to her false appearance. Touya, Sakura and Syaoran sighed in relief as they felt their headaches receding. Spinel looked up at his master, Eriol's hand was much whiter as it gripped the golden staff tightly. His jaw was held tightly as he turned his attention on Yue, "Yue!" He barked, "Go. To. Sleep."
Yue was still trembling; he looked from Eriol, to Sakura, "Mistress?" He said, obviously trying to contain his anger, "Do you still require my presence?"
Sakura shook her head silently.
"Very well." And with that, Yukito instantly returned, "Ow!" He moved over to the table and sat down. Yukito clutch his head and murmured, "I'm so tired."
Touya moved over towards him, "Come on, let's get you to bed."
As the two moved out of the room, Syaoran cast one tired but threatening glance at Eriol, silently warning him not to try any funny business. Eriol glared at him, "This isn't the time, descendant!" He snapped. "Take my guardians into the other room."
"Master?" Asked Nakura, "What's going on?"
Eriol ignored her, and continued to glare at Syaoran, "Now!" He growled through his teeth.
When Syaoran and the two guardians had left the room, Eriol turned to Sakura. The sight that greeted him dissipated his rage instantly. Sakura was leaning heavily on the counter behind her; she had wrapped her arms around her arms. He could see now that she was pale, which, coupled with her stance, made her look more frail than usual.
Eriol closed his eyes and turned his staff back to a key with a few quiet words. He moved over to table and drew one of the seats out. Eriol sighed as he sat, "So . . . Yue *has* told you."
Sakura nodded, tearfully, she glanced once out the window, and then pushed herself away from the counter. She sat opposite the dark haired boy. She drew in one sorrowful breath, before she said quietly, "Clow died of a fever?"
"No. . ." Eriol couldn't quite meet her eyes, he chose instead to lean back and speak to the table, "I died because I wished to."
"Did you tell them that was why?"
"No. I didn't want them to think I was leaving them . . ." Eriol sounded weary, " . . . on purpose . . . so I allowed the illness to take me."
"So you let them think you died of a sickness, and now Kero's sick, Yue thinks the same thing's going to happen again." Sakura continued to stare at him, as he leant forward, put his elbows on the table and pressed his hands over his face. His voice was muffled, as it passed through his hands.
"It never occurred to me that they might get sick . . ." he said, "Why didn't I foresee this?"
Sakura stood and walked around the table to the reincarnation, she looked down on him. Tears filled her eyes; she raised a trembling hand to his shoulder, "Is he going to die?"
Eriol moved his hands from his face and looked at her, he stood, and walked away from her to the door.
"Hiirawagizawa! . . ." she called after him, still he didn't turn, ". . .Reed!"
He stopped at the sound of his former life's name. "Ruby Moon, Spinel Sun! We're leaving!" He called with his back still to her. His guardians quietly entered the room, Spinel cast one look at Sakura, his midnight blue eyes showed that they had been told, as he passed her wordlessly, Nakura placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. The false form of Ruby opened and closed her mouth silently; she couldn't find the words. Her tear-filled eyes were full of true fear. She looked down and quickly walked away to stand by her master.
"Hiirawagizawa Eriol . . . or Clow Reed . . ." Sakura cried, her voice cracking, " . . .Answer me!"
Eriol turned slightly, his jaw was clenched tightly, his face crumpled as the tears ran freely down his face. "I . . ." he stopped and shook his head, " . . . We don't know . . ." he walked towards her, he grasped her hands in his, as he spoke quietly, "I will study my books, if he doesn't wake within the next ten days, you must call me. . ."
And with that, the reincarnation signalled his guardians, and left.
Five days later, there was no change in Keroberos' condition, Meilin, Syaoran and Tomoyo stayed over. Sakura grew paler and more tired as she stayed for hours beside Kero's bedside; she wanted to be there when he awoke. But as the hours dragged by, it became increasingly clear that he wasn't going to wake up anytime soon. Ever so often Meilin would check in on her and find her crying; the Chinese girl, despite her constant barbs, would always comfort Sakura. Tomoyo tried to keep her calm, knowing that Sakura would not benefit from seeing her friend give into the real fears she was being to gather, not only about Kero and Sakura but Yue as well.
Tomoyo had pulled Touya aside after two days and asked him to keep a close eye on Yue. The instruction was unnecessary, not only would Touya not let Yue or Yuki out of his sight, but also Yue rarely appeared. The moon angel was either completely silent when he did appear, or answered in single syllables. After the third day, he would only appear if Sakura called him and even then only stay for a matter of minutes to assure her of his existence.
Touya had caught him once on the fifth night, sitting by his brother. Yue was sitting crossed legged; he tucked the blanket tighter, and fluffed the pillows. Touya stood in the doorway, not willing to disturb Yue; it was obvious that he needed sometime alone. He strained to hear the words of the song Yue was singing. The song was familiar, and he had heard his father singing it a few times before.
"When I get older, losing my hair," Yue's voice quivered, as he ran his fingers through the short fur on top of Kero's head, "Many years from now. Will you still be sending me a Valentine?"
Touya smiled as the name of the band came to mind, a British band called 'the Beatles', "Birthday greetings, bottle of wine. If I'd been out till quarter to three . . ." Yue's voice dropped to a softer tone as he stretched out beside his brother. "Would you lock the door?" Yue smiled, evidently this was a favourite of Kero's "Will you still need me, will you still feed me," Yue swallowed, and sucked in a tearful breathe, he whispered ". . .When I'm sixty-four . . ."
He stopped the song and closed his eyes, the cheerful song dying on his lips. Touya moved quietly into the room and crouched by Yue. The moon angel was now fast asleep, clutching the edge of the blanket. Touya sighed, and pulled another spare blanket over Yue.
When Tomoyo woke on the sixth day, it was very early. Meilin and Syaoran slept closely together, and Tomoyo put that down to the years they must have spent together as children. Tomoyo rolled her sleeping bag and tied it tightly. She walked down the corridor to the downstairs bathroom and prepared herself for the new day.
She was tying the last hair band around her ponytail as she padded softly out of the room; her hair had been in tight plaits or ponytails for the last few days. She wasn't so overtly concerned with it at the moment, as long as it was out of her way, she could deal with the day.
Tomoyo sighed, and paused in the hallway and glanced up the stairs. Her mind casting itself back to the many memories she had of being here, like the time she had walked in to find Sakura and Kero-chan binded by the woody, //or perhaps// she remembered with a smile, //the time Rika-chan was taken by the sword card and the first thing Kero could complain about was how we were having cake and we didn't think to tell him//
With this happy memory buoying her, she moved into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Tomoyo yawned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. //Maybe I should make a nice breakfast, that'll cheer Sakura-chan---
"Whoa!!" She screamed as she faltered and fell.
Meilin and Syaoran were at the kitchen door instantly. "What happened?!" Demanded Meilin, "Are you okay?!"
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just tripped . . . over . . . KEROBEROS?!"
Once the rest of the household had been roused, the group gathered around the sleeping form of Keroberos. "What's he doing down here?" Muttered Syaoran incredulously.
Touya turned to Yukito, "Did Yue bring him down?"
Yuki's eyes crossed slightly, his jaw becoming slightly slack. After a few moments he blinked and became aware again, ". . . No," he answered, "He fell asleep by Kero, but other than that he hasn't had any contact."
Sakura crouched beside the dozing guardian, she followed the line of his body . . . the way his paws were extended. She grinned then started to chuckle as she realised why Keroberos was down here.
"What's so funny?!" Snapped Yukito uncharacteristically.
Even Tomoyo jumped in surprise as Yue's tone came ringing through Yuki's voice. After Sakura got over her surprise, she pointed in the direction of Kero grasping paws. As the snoozing guardian snored away, Sakura began to giggle even more. The rest of the group caught on quickly, even Touya snorted with laughter. The fridge door was open slightly, and a pudding was splattered on the floor, evidently Kero had passed out before he could eat the jellied treat.
"I told you he'd wake up for a pudding!" Laughed Meilin, she turned to Yuki, "See Yue? The sponge toy will be fine!!"
Syaoran and Touya leant over to pick up the sleeping lion, and Sakura wiped the sleep, and possibly tears of joy, from her eyes, "The one thing Kero could never resist!"
Tomoyo smiled, "It's nice to see you smiling again, Sakura-chan."
Sakura blinked, "Hoe?" The honey coloured haired girl grinned and jumped up. As her brother and Syaoran struggled to lift Kero back up the stairs, she pranced after them delightedly. "Kero-chan, Kero-chan," she sang. Meilin quickly followed and Tomoyo and Yukito stood alone in the kitchen.
"I wonder when he came down . . ." Asked Yukito, as Tomoyo turned to the fridge. She retrieved some eggs to prepare some omelettes and turned to find Yue standing in Yukito's place, " . . .Probably very early" he said answering his own other form's question.
He folded his arms and shook his head. Tomoyo smiled as the version of Yue she was used to seeing resumed his place by the window. As she approached the cooker, she was surprised to notice he was leaning against the counter. She glanced at him, his catlike eyes were closed and he looked very tired, he was breathing deeply. "Yue-san?" She questioned quietly, "Would you like something . . .?"
The question died on her lips as she realised the tall moon guardian had fallen asleep. Tomoyo smiled and quickly rushed into the living room. She bumped into Meilin on her way back to kitchen.
"What's going on?" Meilin asked her, Tomoyo paused for all of three seconds to shush her and continued on to the kitchen. Meilin followed and found the purple haired girl snapping pictures of Yue, "What are you doing?" Meilin asked loudly.
"Shush!" Tomoyo pushed her finger against her lips, "He's asleep!" She whispered excitedly, "Isn't it simply kawaii?!"
Meilin's mouth fell open, she'd never seen the guardian asleep before, and he looked exactly as he normally did, arms folded, face set in a slight distaining frown. "Woooooow!" Said Meilin.
"Kero-chan's going to be fine!" Sang Sakura, she may have been in her early teens, but she still retained her complete genki-Sakura-ness. Touya smiled slightly, it pleased him to see his sister happy again.
"Yep, and as soon as he gets better . . ." Touya snapped playfully. "We're putting him on a diet! He weighs a ton!"
"Kero . . ." murmured a deep rumbling voice sleepily. "No . . . diet . . ."
"Kero?!" Sakura dropped to her knees by the lion, as he rolled over in his sleep. His wings disappeared as he rolled onto his back, and his golden eyes creaked open. "You'll be older too . . ." he murmured, "And if you say the word," he giggled nonsensically, "I could stay with you."
"What?" Sakura frowned slightly, "What do you mean?"
Kero yawned and fell back asleep. "I could be handy," he muttered then giggled, "Mending a fuse"
"He's delirious." Said Syaoran. "What on earth is he talking about mending a fuse?"
"I think I know," Touya stood and paced over to the door, "YUE!"
"YUE!" Touya's voice rang all the way downstairs and the moon guardian's eyes instantly snapped awake, he glanced around, cleared his throat quietly and strolled out of the kitchen, sliding the door shut behind him.
Tomoyo and Meilin shrugged and turned to make breakfast.
Meanwhile, Yue flew up the stairs as fast as he could . . . only to come skidding to a halt outside his mistress' bedroom and strolled coolly into the room, as if he was paying Touya some kind of generosity for even responding to the call.
"You bellowed"? He peered contemptuously at Touya.
Sakura looked up, "Kero was awake!"
"Why didn't you call me sooner?" Yue instantly dropped to his brother' side.
"He was saying some thing about mending fuses? Do you know what that means?"
A tiny, tiny, (and I mean) tiny smile formed on the silver lips, and was quickly squashed. "They're lyrics from Keroberos' favourite song . . ."
"Oh?" Asked Sakura, she'd never heard Kero sing anything to do with fuses.
"The Book . . ." Yue looked at Kero, ". . . Was taken to England by one of Clow's chosen messengers from Osaka."
"Chosen messengers?"
"It's a long process, involves telepathy and other such stuff," Yue waved his hand as if it wasn't that important. "In order for your father to collect the book, and bring it back here to Japan." He glanced up at Sakura, "No coincidences remember?"
Sakura blinked, and nodded her understanding. Syaoran frowned, "But what does this have to do with Kero's favourite song about fuses?"
"We were left in England during the sixties . . . the Beatles were all the rage . . ." Yue leaned over to stroke Kero's fur, as he continued, "Yukito loved it. He was so at home with the hippies"
Touya gaped at him in surprise; "Yuki was around in the sixties?"
"Not as Tsukishiro Yukito, but as . . ." Yue trailed off as he tried to remember the name, "Oh, yeah, Julian Star . . ."
"Julian Star?" Said Sakura, "Why--?"
"British names are hard to come up with, especially since-"
A cough from Kero interrupted the conversation, "When your lights have gone." Kero sat up slightly and looked dully at Yue. "I believe it's your line . . ." he murmured. Yue hesitated as the other looked at him expectantly. He really didn't want to, not in front of his mistress, but Kero was looking at him with hazy eyes and it was clear the lion was only remaining awake to her the next part of the verse. Yue sighed, and began to sing softly, "You can knit a sweater by the fireside, Sunday morning go for a ride,"
Kero smiled, his wing grew out again and he propped himself up with them, Touya gave him a little help, not trusting the fluffy feathers to hold out against the lion's weight. "Doing the garden, digging the weeds," Yue continued as he began to sing louder, forgetting the audience he had and solely concentrating on Kero, "Who could ask for more."
Kero grinned lopsidedly, as he joined in, "Will you still need me, will you still feed me. . . when I'm. . ." he sneezed and Yue put his arms around the heavy lion, Kero leaned his nuzzle against Yue's chest as he murmured, "When I'm sixty-four. . ." Yue shuffled slowly along to lower his brother back onto the bed. Kero snorted with light laughter as sleep came again, "Yue . . ." Kero smiled, he whispered quietly just for Yue's hearing, "Cheer up. . ."
Yue frowned slightly, and replied in the same tone, "What do you mean?"
Kero chuckled one more time dozily, "Now who's making the mistress worried?"
Touya motioned to Syaoran silently, and the two got up and left the mistress and her guardians alone for a few moments.
Tomoyo smiled as she set the table, she looked up to see Meilin enter the room with Touya and Syaoran.
"And Yue did what?" Meilin asked
Syaoran shook his head in amazement, "Yue was singing to him!"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah." Syaoran confirmed, "And then Kero joined in. . ."
"The sponge toy can sing?!"
Tomoyo smiled more at the strange exchange, "How is he?"
"HE'S GOING TO BE FINE!!" Sakura squealed as she ran into the room, "Oh Tomoyo!! He's going to be fine!!"
The teenaged girl threw her arms around Tomoyo and the two danced in the room. Sakura stopped briefly and turned to Meilin and pulled her into the dance as well, the three girls giggled happily, as Sakura continued to jump up and yell, "Kero's going to fine!! He's going to be great! He's going to fine!"
Tomoyo broke out of the dance to grab her video camera, "It's so nice to see you happy again Sakura! I was so worried, but now I see everything's going to be okay."
Sakura stopped spinning and staggered; Syaoran caught her, "Careful!"
Sakura turned to grin at him, and Syaoran was nearly blinded by the sunshine that his cherry blossom sent through her smile. He smiled brightly back at her.
Touya shook his head, even he couldn't suppress the joy he felt at the sight of his sister happy. A light lilac aura behind him flashed, and then was replaced by a bright snow coloured one. "Hello Yuki." Touya said as he turned.
Yukito smiled, "Everything's okay now, isn't it?" He said quietly.
Touya smiled, his deep blue eyes twinkled lightly under the chocolate mop of hair. "My sister is happy again," he said so only Yuki could hear, and then louder he said, "The kaijuu is celebrating!"
He closed his eyes to prepare for the instant stab of pain that Sakura was inevitably going to bestow upon him. When none came, he opened his eyes. The pink aura of his sister glowed strongly behind him, he turn to see she was just looking up at him. Her eyes were brimming tears of joy, which she wipe away before saying, "Simply because Kero-chan is going to be fine," she announced grandly, "I shall forgive you!"
Touya frowned theatrically, "Eh-? Yuki . . ." he looked over his shoulder to his friend, he pulled his face into a disappointed frown, "It's going to rain!"
Yuki laughed and moved past him, he patted Sakura on the head. When he was standing behind her, he placed his hands on her shoulders. Sakura turned and hugged the snow bunny tightly. Yuki brushed his hands over her honey coloured hair, smiled and then looked up over his glasses. Touya blinked twice before he realised what he was seeing wasn't a mirage, Yukito's eyes was now a sparkling violet. //Yue's eye colour in Yuki's eyes?!// Touya thought. He nodded slightly, enough to alert Yue/Yukito that he comprehended the significance. A smile formed on Yuki's lips to show that the split being knew Touya understood the message that he was sending.
Yue had taken Kero's message to heart, and even though he wasn't about to further spoil his reputation as the ice-cold moon guardian, he would show his happiness through his other form, Yukito.
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And now it's time for LEAVE IT TO DOCTOR MEGALOMANIA!!
DrM: Konnichiwa!! I thought I'd get this next bit out now because that last one was a little sad . . . and I want to assure you that I haven't and won't be killing Kero in this ficcy . . . [Laughs evilly] I've already done that once . . . and even then I couldn't leave him dead . . . it's called 'Let me tell you a story'
Yue: [puts on a red balaclava and starts flashing] WARNING! WARNING!! STORY PLUG!! STORY PLUG ALERT!!
Real Yue: who the hell are you?
Fake Yue: [still flashing] STORY PLUG ALERT!!
Real Yue: I said who the hell . . . aw, to hell with it! [Gets lots of dynamite and blows up the fake Yue!]
DrM: Hey! I was enjoying that! [Sighs] he's such a mean co-host! . . . Cute though! Anyway, please R&R! And thank you for all the really nice reviews I've been getting lately; they're cheering me up a real treat!!