In This Tainted Soul

by Dr Megalomania

Someone's come back from Clow's past and he wants Keroberos and Yue dead, but why? What possible mistake could Clow have made? Go back before Yue, before Keroberos . . . before the cards . . . find out what new evil threatens Sakura and her friends . . .

13. Yue

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 official characters that will grace this story; it's all CLAMP's! Always has been, always will be! I *DO*, however, own Marcibay Hilligans and Hei-ying Reed!! I also own Mystrasa Kyree, and the dragon isn't mine, it's on loan from my good friend, the Blue Goo! And what the heck . . . I own the mansion as well! [Laughs] 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! And I don't pretend to be able to write any sort of accents so please don't hate me!

"Speaking"

*Stress/emphasis*

//Thinking//

In This Tainted Soul . . .

By Dr Megalomania.

Part Twelve: Yue

It was late when Clow stretched and yawned, he rubbed the back of his neck and got up, he had finally finished, he had bound the bundles of papers into books, there was one book for Keroberos, one for the cards and one for Hei-ying, each book held detailed descriptions, how to defeat the cards, where to find each guardian on the Clow book. He had decided to put Keroberos on the cover, just as he and seen in his vision, Keroberos would be in a fearsome looking picture. As a picture, it would show Keroberos with golden eyes, and his large white wings, and he would have his symbol, the sun, on a chain in front of him. It would symbolise his position as the guardian of the seal. Hei-ying's symbol would go on the spine of the book, symbolising his position as the adviser, his symbol would be a long thorny rose, with a chain twining around it, then the chain would have a dozen little stars on it.

Clow got up and walked over to his window seat, he picked up the Clow book as he sat down. He passed his hand over the front cover, the spine. He turned over the book, and rested his hand on the back. There he had decided to put his own magic circle, it was etched with gold upon the scarlet surface. He smiled as his hand slipped below it to rest on the empty space below. He looked out the window, it was getting late, he thought.

Keroberos yawned as he hopped onto his bed, the sun had been setting earlier and earlier and he was having trouble drawing power from it. He shook his head and rested it on his summer yellow pillow. He was just beginning to dose when he heard a knock at his door, //Who is it?// he thought, thinking it might be Hei-ying.

//It's me. . .// Clow thought back uncertainly.

//Oh. . . well, come in// Keroberos sat up to greet his Master as Clow came in quietly. Clow was carrying a small lamplight, and was staring at Keroberos puzzled. "Why did you ask who it was?" He asked.

Keroberos yawned, "Just curious," he answered simply.

Clow nodded, and moved over to place the lamp on Keroberos' bedside. He smiled at the slightly worn stuffed bear he had made for Keroberos. It was in the form of the false form Clow had been considering, Clow picked it up gently, the poor thing had been chewed when Keroberos had been teething, it had been thrown about when Keroberos had had tantrums, and was lovingly slobbered over because Keroberos used to carry it everywhere with him. It's faded yellow fur was mussed but still soft, one of it's widely set black button eyes was hanging loose, but they still had a certain shine to them. Clow smiled as he held the tiny toy towards Keroberos and moved it's arms towards him. In a high-pitched voice, Clow squeaked, "Modern-yaki! Modern-yaki! Make me modern-yaki!!" he sat on the bed next to Keroberos who was now laughing quietly, "Modern . . . yaki?"

"I don't sound like that!"

Clow reached over and patted his head. "Of course not, it's much more deeper!"

Keroberos snorted, and then lay back down. He yawned widely, he was sleepy, "What are we going to do tomorrow?"

Clow sighed, "Probably some more training . . . although I think we have covered most of everything that you need to know . . ."

Keroberos was silent for a bit, "What about teaching me about the cards?" He was curious about them, and although he knew their names, he only knew the barest of facts about them, how to catch only a few of them.

"Keroberos, you are the appointer, Hei-ying will be the adviser, there's no need for you to know how to catch the cards, and your job is to choose the Cardcaptor and provide protection for her, leave the teaching to Hei-ying."

Keroberos thought about this too, "But what if something goes wrong and somehow Hei-ying can't tell her what to do?"

Clow smiled again, and rubbed his head affectionately, "Don't worry so much Keroberos . . . only worry what happens after when the cards are retrieved."

"Have you decided?" Keroberos sat up; Clow had never said what would happen after the Cardcaptor had caught the cards.

Clow smiled, "Yes I have . . . Hei-ying and you are to judge her."

"Judge her?"

"Mmm-Hmm . . ." Clow stood and walked over to the window, it was dark now and the Storm card was raging quite heartily. "You will put her through a test, see if she can handle the cards well enough . . ."

"Enough . . ." Keroberos let this sink in, "How will we know if she can handle them enough?"

Clow turned, his hands clasped behind his back, "You will have to fight her . . . make her use every card in her possession, to defeat you and Hei-ying . . ."

Keroberos frowned slightly; he didn't like the idea of attacking someone he was supposed to protect . . . "I don't want to hurt her . . ." he said softly, he actually meant he didn't like the idea of allowing Hei-ying the opportunity to hurt her, but he didn't think Clow realised that Hei-ying could get so dangerous.

Clow looked at him, "You won't . . . I have faith in her that she will overcome you . . ."

"If she doesn't?"

Clow blinked, this was something he hadn't thought of . . . he hadn't considered the idea that the Cardcaptor might fail this judgement. He frowned, if she failed then the cards might become unstable and then she would have either destroy them, which Clow doubted she'd be able to, or allow them to turn loose, but this would leave them open to attack. The cards would go wild without a proper source of magic . . .

He sighed and sat on the end of Keroberos' bed, he knew he had forgotten something. Keroberos got up and padded along the bed, he sighed as well, and rested his head on Clow's, "You didn't think about that, did you?"

"Iie." Clow murmured quietly, he had to think of something that would make the Cardcaptor fight her hardest so that she wouldn't dare lose, so she would fight all the way. Some sort of consequence that would befall . . . not just her, but the world, should she fail to capture the cards and win the judgement. Clow folded his arms and thought hard, Keroberos smiled gently, Clow was warm. The lion always slept best when Clow was near, his presence, his aura was always very warm. He was just dropping off to sleep, when Clow started to speak, "If the Cardcaptor . . . fails the final . . . Iie . . . if the candidate chosen by. . ."

"Keroberos . . ." Keroberos supplied. Clow smiled and reached up to pet the lion's large head, then laughed slightly at the big cat's deep responding purr.

"If the candidate chosen by Keroberos the Appointer, guided by Hei-ying the Adviser can not defeat . . ." Clow paused, that didn't make much sense, "If the candidate . . ."

Keroberos cracked an eye open, Clow was having a bit of trouble, Keroberos stood and jumped off the bed lightly. He moved in front of his Master, and rested a chin on his knee. The lion stared up at him, Clow shrugged, "I can't make the world just blow up . . . the Cardcaptor might be too scared of me if I say she has to collect my cards or everyone will die . . . but it has to be something too . . ." he paused and stared at Keroberos, the lion was starting to doze a little again.

He loved Keroberos a lot he reflected, he looked up at the door, and thought about Hei-ying, he also loved Hei-ying . . . Clow wondered, if Hei-ying was the mysterious angel, then Clow would come to love him even more but then . . . Clow looked out the window, the white haired angel was still to come, and he knew he would love that one as well, like he did Hei-ying and Keroberos, the love any creator had for his creations. He thought about Marcibay, he had adored the old man and had been inconsolable when the old man he drowned.

// Death . . .// Clow frowned slightly, perhaps that would be a consequence of failure, but then Clow would have to chose someone close to the Cardcaptor that would have to suffer the consequence. He thought briefly about her family perhaps, but then decided against it, that would be too cruel and Clow wasn't like that, he couldn't just murder one of her family. Keroberos started to snore a little, Clow was reminded of his flying vision; the Cardcaptor had been so trusting of Keroberos, and the two had displayed affection towards each other. Clow's eyes widened as he instantly destroyed the idea that the consequence could be that if she failed, then Keroberos and Hei-ying would die.

//No! // Clow thought, // I couldn't do something so horrible to my own creations, I couldn't just let her grow to love them and then take them away from her . . . // He petted Keroberos lightly, he knew that the cards would also miss him, all of his creations had grown so close to each other, it would be too painful for the cards to lose their guardians, to lose the Cardcaptor since they would inevitably treasure her as their next Master.

Clow's petting slowed and stopped, as he came to the realisation that if the Cardcaptor lost, then the group of people he had seen in the pond the day he was shown Keroberos, the love they all shared, the experiences of the adventures they had had, plus the knowledge that she had failed would be too painful to remember. //It's not the world blowing up . . .// he thought, //And to some people it might not even be a disaster . . . but at least it would mean the Cardcaptor would realise that she would have to fight . . . //

". . .To make sure she doesn't lose the people she loves . . ."

Keroberos frowned and opened his eyes, "What was that?"

"The Cardcaptor." Clow explained, "In order to make sure that the cards, you and Hei-ying are well cared for after my . . ." he paused, he didn't want Keroberos to worry about that just yet, he continued, "When she captures the cards and faces you in the judgement, she will be told that if she fails, she will lose the people she loves . . ."

"The one she loves the most? You'd kill the one she loves the most?"

"No. . . Not kill, she'll . . . everyone involved with the cards, everyone around her, will lose the feeling of love."

"Permanently?" Keroberos raised his head off Clow's knee; he didn't like this idea either, "But what will happen to her then . . .?"

"She won't remember the cards, or you or Hei-ying, nobody will, and then you'll just have to pick another Cardcaptor, until the Cardcaptor is capable of controlling you two and the cards."

"I don't mean that, what happens to the one she loves the most, what happens after you've stolen their love for each other?"

Clow stared at him, a stubborn look passed over his face, "I don't want to plan any further than that! I have faith in her . . . she will be able to defeat Yue."

Keroberos blinked, "Who?"

"Pardon?" Clow looked at his shocked guardian.

"Yue . . .?" Keroberos said, "You meant 'you', right? Well, you just said Yue."

"No. . ." Clow murmured as he frowned, "I'm fairly sure I said Yue."

Keroberos sat up straighter, "There? See! You did it again!"

"Did I?" Clow looked slightly bewildered, he meant 'you' and was very sure that was what he was saying, but Keroberos was adamant that he was saying 'Yue'.

Clow slipped out the room quietly, it was getting close to midnight, and Keroberos had finally fallen asleep. //Yue . . . the Chinese word for moon . . .// he thought as he stepped down the corridor, why would he repeat the word? //Because it sounded so right . . .// a small voice replied in his mind.  He paused outside Hei-ying's door, and place a hand on the wood; he closed his eyes slightly as he looked at what Hei-ying was doing. The black haired angel was braiding his hair again, aware that he was being analysed. Clow stepped back from the door as Hei-ying opened it. His hair was tied back neatly, his night robe tied securely around his waist, "May I assist you, Master?"

"I just wanted to wish you a good night, Hei-ying."

"Of course Master, I . . ." Hei-ying paused as if seeking permission, Clow nodded; "I wish you a good night as well."

Clow nodded once more and turned to walk down the corridor. He heard Hei-ying's door close quietly only when he was a respectable distance away. Clow sighed; perhaps Hei-ying would improve when the Cardcaptor met him. He paused at the top of the stairs and looked down the corridor, the dark hallway was briefly lit by lightening, the window at the end of the corridor always reminded him of the ghastly vision he had seen when he had first thought of creating the last four cards. He'd rarely thought about it over the years, but his hand started to rub the tender skin under his throat. Was he the dark figure who slit his . . .?

Clow shivered, //No.// he answered himself, not only would he never give Keroberos and the small boy on his back any cause to fear him, Clow would never kill himself. The very idea of taking a blade to his own throat was too disgusting to contemplate.

Clow was about to step down the stairs when he suddenly remembered there was someone he had forgotten to say good night to. Smiling, he turned and walked back to the room three doors away from Keroberos, the room above his study. He knocked on the door, there was no answer. Clow smiled, //he must already be asleep . . .// he thought as he pushed the door open. He was just going to check on him and then he would leave . . . Clow chuckled slightly as he knew he would stay a little while longer and just stroke his hair.

 Clow looked up, as he entered the room. "What the . . .?"

The room was empty, just as Clow had known it would be, but why would he think there was someone in here? It was a large space, somewhat similar to Keroberos', a large window and a hard wooden floor, but other than that the room was bare. Clow felt . . . //saddened? // Confused. Why did he feel like there should have been someone here? He sighed and turned around to walk out the door.

"Papa?"

"Yes, Yue?"

Clow turned, that was his voice, but he hadn't said anything. The room wasn't bare anymore, it was decorated similarly like //His brother's// Keroberos' and Hei-ying's rooms. Only this time it was light blues and purples, the large window was slightly open and the silk white curtains fluttered with the breeze. Clow's eyes fell on the large bed, again it was just like //His brother's// Keroberos' and Hei-ying's large soft four-poster beds. Through the sheer white drapes that hung around the bed, Clow could see Keroberos sitting on the bed; he was looking fondly at the head of the bed. Clow moved closer, and gasped as he saw himself . . . and a little boy. The tiny child was sitting up, legs crossed, facing away from Clow. Clow was brushing the boy's long white hair carefully, as the boy chatted away.

"What happens to the snow when sumber's here?"

"Summer . . ." Keroberos chuckled quietly, "It's called summer, moonbeam, and there's no snow in summer."

The boy's head snapped towards Keroberos, his tiny pale mouth hanging open with horror. He swivelled to look at Clow, who smile helplessly as the plait he had been working on was pulled out of his hands. "Really?!"

"Yes, Yue." Clow positioned the boy so he could start plaiting again, "Now keep still or I'll never be able to finish."

"Does this mean all our snowmen will die?"

There was a sharp sigh, Hei-ying was stood just by the window, "Yue, how many more times must I tell you? Snow cannot die, it melts."

Yue's small head turned again, "Really?!" 

Hei-ying sighed again and pressed his forehead against the glass in annoyance. Clow nodded and chuckled as the long plait was torn out of his hands once again. Keroberos shook his head and also laughed quietly. "Yue . . ." Clow leant closer to the pale boy's face, he raised a hand to stroke his jaw, "I wish to finish plaiting your hair tonight . . . please keep still."

"Hai!" The small boy chirped, then frowned as Keroberos extended a claw and nabbed himself a cookie off a plate lying on the bed. "Keroberos!" The boy jumped after the stolen cookie, and left Clow laughing and shaking his head.

Clow laughed too, aware that the people within the vision weren't aware of him this time. He smiled warmly; this was the next guardian that was going to be created. He moved slightly forward to see if he could get a closer view of the small boy, his hair was silky and moved over his shoulders easily. Clow wondered briefly if this was the weeping angel, the mysterious one from his dreams but he wasn't certain it was, the child had completely long hair, and the one from his dreams had a short, uneven fringe that partially covered one eye.

"Papa! Make him give it back! That's my last cookie as well! I was saving it Keroberos!!"

Keroberos held the biscuit just out of the boy's reach, "I don't think you remember quite who you're speaking to . . . I'm Keroberos, guardian beast of the seal *and* your older brother!"

The boy stopped his jumping and folded his arms imperiously, he growled slightly. "My cookie!"

Keroberos licked his face cheekily, "And now it's my cookie!" He teased.

Clow smiled as Yue turned and sat in the vision's Clow's lap, "Fine then!" He stuck his tiny tongue out at the lion, "You can have the cookie . . . I'll just have Papa!"

Clow sighed, as he pressed a hand against the silken drapes, "But when will you come into my life?"

The Clow on the bed smiled gently then looked up, both Clow's stared at each other before Clow realised that this vision's Clow wasn't exactly aware he was there, it was just as if he was reacting to being told that Clow was standing there. "Patience . . ." he murmured.

"Huh?" Yue looked up at his Papa.

Clow smiled at him and ran a hand over his straight white hair; he hugged him briefly and murmured, "Nothing."

Keroberos moved closer and handed Yue back his biscuit, "You have a lot of problems, Clow . . ."

"Clow?" Keroberos licked Clow's nose again. "You have a lot of problems . . . Wake up!" The Clow cards had woken him up, and force him down to the corridor to one of the many empty rooms on the sleeping floor. Once in the room, Keroberos had bounded over to Clow, who lay unconscious on the floor. Clow's dark robes were spread around him, his black hair coiled away from him; he was just lying there in the middle of the room. Keroberos started to lick his face, trying to rouse him from whatever meaningful vision he was in. Keroberos frankly didn't care about the visions, and felt they were a terrible burden on Clow.

Clow frowned, and then opened his eyes; he was out of his vision. Keroberos' large fuzzy features filled his vision, and Keroberos was smiling broadly. "Gah!" Clow gasped.

"Nani?" Keroberos frowned as he let Clow get up, he walked around the human, and pushed against his back, "What kind of greeting is that?"

"I'm sorry . . . you just . . ." Clow turned and started to stare at the space beside him. Had it been his room, Keroberos reflected, it would be where his bed would be.

"Huh! And I came to save you as well!" Keroberos took a swipe at Clow's head, "You could at least be grateful!"

Clow ducked, "I am . . . I just . . ." Clow broke off again and stared at the space again.

"What is it?"

"It's late . . . you should be sleeping."

"So should you . . . but no, you're here keeping the cards and me awake!"

"Go to bed . . ." Clow murmured, he stood and petted Keroberos; "I have something to attend to in my study."

Clow nodded as Keroberos padded into his room. Sighing, he proceeded down the stairs to his study. The tiny boy made Clow smile, but still he had no idea who the child was. "Yue . . . the Chinese word for moon." Clow smiled, as he remembered the child's voice as he called his creator 'Papa'. That was something Keroberos and Hei-ying have never done, they had never called him father. Clow knew that despite this cute name, the angel would one day stop calling him that, calling Clow by his given name. //Perhaps . . . one day . . . he will be the angel I am destined to love . . .//

Clow stopped and leaned back on his door. He smiled warmly again; it would be nice if the child could be here now . . . Clow had the feeling that he was getting these future . . . glimpses? Echoes of events not yet happened? Because Clow was now growing even more powerful as his magic matured, he was able to see more of what was to come.

"Clow? . . . Clow Reed? . . . Where are you?" Clow looked up at the sound of the unfamiliar voice, it was soft, hesitant ". . . Clow Reed?"

It was calling him, but the corridor was empty, "Who's there . . .?"

A different, a familiar voice called to him, "Clow . . . come in . . . We're waiting for you . . ."

"Eriol?!" Clow pushed off the door, and spun to look at the door, an unearthly glow was emanating from under it. "Eriol? Is that . . .?"

"Yes . . . please . . . come in."

Clow pushed the door open and stumbled through. There on his floor; his magic circle glowed brightly, he was drawn towards it.  The unfamiliar voice spoke again, "Clow . . . are you here now?"

Clow turned in a slow circle before he answered, "Yes . . ." he murmured wishing he could tell where the voice was coming from.

The magic circle rippled, and caught his attention again, but this time the middle was like the surface of water. Clow walked closer and knelt by the circle of magic. "Who's there?"

Eriol stared back, "Konbanwa . . . how are you?"

"I am . . . fine . . . I wasn't expecting to see you so soon . . ."

"Time is relative . . ." Eriol's voice echoed slightly, but was echoing in the wrong direction, instead of the last sound of the words being repeated, the first sound was. It almost sounded like he was talking backwards. "The times we have met have not been in the same order as they have occurred to you . . ."

"Why can I talk to you now?"

"You have become much more powerful since we last talked . . . you think so as well."

"How do you know . . .?"

Eriol smiled simply, "I just do . . ." he turned and beckoned to people out of sight. Before they appeared he murmured, "You know the rules right?"

"I can't ask the Cardcaptor what her name is, can I?"

"Not only that but you must act as if you do know it." Eriol winked, "It will become much clearer soon."

"Hello Clow-sama . . ." the Cardcaptor leant over the water, she looked nervous about something.

"Hello again." Clow smiled warmly, he looked around the gathered group's faces, taking in every detail he could see of them, but still he was denied their eyes, aside from Keroberos all of their eyes remained hidden behind impossible shadows. ". . . To all of you."

The butterfly girl leaned closer to the water, "Are you really Clow Reed?"

"Hmmm-mmm," Clow nodded.

"Really?"

Eriol laughed slightly, as the midnight blue panther turned to her, "Of course, really."

Keroberos leaned over the water, "Hello Clow! How am I?"

Clow positioned himself so he lay on the floor, he chuckled, "You're brilliant!"

"I'm so handsome in my true form, aren't I?"

Clow sniggered, "Yes, you are."

Something sobered in Keroberos as he smiled, he glanced at Eriol. "Now?"

Eriol smiled and started to nod, "Yes, Keroberos . . . now."

The group shuffled back as someone behind them moved forward. The white haired angel, the grown-up that was once the curious little boy, Yue leant over the water. His fringe hid his eyes; he glanced first at Keroberos, who nudged him, then at Eriol who smiled confidently. He took a deep breath and leaned closer to the water. "Hello Yue." Clow murmured.

Yue gasped, "How did you . . .?"

"I guessed." Clow answered simply, his heart was beating a thousand miles a minute. It was time.

Yue looked up at Keroberos, who put a paw on his shoulder and smiled. Clow smiled too, it was nice to see that Keroberos would be so comfortable with this new being. Yue looked back, and it was Clow's turn to gasp. The impossible shadows had finally deserted his face, and now Clow could see his beautiful amethyst eyes.

He didn't need to ask, but he did. "When will you come into my life . . .?"

Yue seemed unable to answer, knowing that his response would result in his creation. He lifted a trembling hand to the water and traced Clow's face just above the surface. His lips moving but making no sound, he was nearly overwhelmed, Clow realised, not by the prospect of his creation but by the fact he was seeing Clow again . . . //How far in the future are you . . .?// Clow wondered.

Keroberos patted Yue on the shoulder, "You don't have to say anything . . . you don't have to spend the rest of eternity with me or—"

"Keroberos!" Eriol lifted a finger to his lips, "Shh!" He looked at Yue, "It's time . . ."

Yue nodded, he seemed to be a little breathless now, "Whenever . . ." he murmured then paused, his eyes betrayed a sadness, "Whenever you decide it . . ."

Clow nodded, "I know . . ." 

"Clow . . . I . . ." Yue begun but was stopped by Eriol, "Please . . . I . . ." Eriol shook his head silently, and raised his hand to strike the water. "Demo . . . no, please let me--!"

Just as Eriol's hand struck the water, Clow raised his hand. Instead of disappearing the image remained, the water on the other side rippling, Eriol didn't look as surprised as everyone, but he did look slightly annoyed Clow had stopped him. Clow held his hand over the water as he raised himself to sit on his heels; he leant over the water to stare at the white haired angel. He pressed his finger against his lips much like Eriol had done. "I will see you soon, Yue . . . you can tell me then . . ."

Yue swallowed, and nodded. "Sayonara." He murmured.

"Iie. . ." Clow murmured, "Ja ne. . . because I will see you later." Clow raise his hand off the image and nodded at Eriol. The blue haired boy smiled, and once again raised his hand to strike the water. Just before the water rippled and the magic circle faded, Clow saw the angel squeeze his eyes shut, not willing to see Clow disappear from his life again.

Hei-ying awoke.

The storm card was raging again; Master Clow must have been using it to water his plants again. He would have rolled over and fallen back asleep, if he hadn't felt a pang of déjà vu, it was strange and he sat up trying to figure out what he had felt. The thunder sounded roughly, and Hei-ying suddenly remembered, it was the first time that he had experienced a storm he was remembering.

It had been a frightening incident at first. He didn't know what was wrong, or why the outside was making such a horrendous noise; so he had tried at first to ignore it know that if there was something really wrong then Master Clow would come for him. But when there was no sign of Master Clow, and the storm, in his opinion, was getting worse. He had picked up a little candle and ran all the way down the corridor to Master Clow's bedroom.

Hei-ying pulled a pillow into his embrace; it had been the first time Master Clow had looked at him in the way Hei-ying wished Master Clow would always look at him. Hei-ying had been too young to appreciate that brief moment when Master Clow had become unfocused for a few seconds and had stared at him with hungry eyes. It made him feel warm just thinking about it. That evening when he felt Master Clow checking on him, he felt that perhaps that tonight Master Clow would come back to Hei-ying, that things would return to the way they were. Quiet, orderly, Master Clow and Hei-ying had been happy together, and then Keroberos had come along and disturbed that balance.

Hei-ying sighed, if only Master Clow didn't insist on training Keroberos, Hei-ying could have done away with the troublesome lion, and then they could have resumed their life together. Hei-ying sat up, perhaps now that Keroberos was grown . . . perhaps, now would be a good time to approach Master Clow.     

A knock at his door, made him look up from his book. "Come."

Hei-ying entered, carrying a small lamplight. Clow looked out of the window, it was raining heavily. He smiled, his Storm card was doing it's job wonderfully. The winter had turned unexpectedly dry, and his magical azaleas were dying. Clow turned his attention back to Hei-ying, "Don't tell me that you're afraid of a little storm." He teased.

A smile pulled at Hei-ying's lips, "If I was, would you comfort me?"

Clow chuckled lightly, and closed his book, folding his pen into the pages. "Of course."

Hei-ying blew out his lamp, and briefly became one with the shadows. Clow's only indication as to his location was the sound of Hei-ying's soft footsteps upon the hard wood floor. "How would you comfort me?" Hei-ying's voice floated out of the darkness. 

Clow was slightly concerned about the disconcerting undertone of Hei-ying's voice but he continued in a teasing tone, "I would let you sleep in my bed with me, as I would allow Keroberos."

Hei-ying paused just outside of the glowing boundary cast by his desk's lamp, he stared at Clow. A pale hand stole out of the dark shadows, and snuck up to the flame. Hei-ying fingers played with the flame, slipping through it, above it. "If I . . . was scared, filled with more fear than Keroberos . . ." Hei-ying leant into the light, drawing his face closer to the light, his pale features framed by his black hair. He glanced at Clow briefly, before tilting closer towards the flame. The flame leant towards his pale lips as he breathed in. Deep jade eyes slid shut as he blew the flame out slowly. Once again the shadows engulfed Hei-ying, and obscured him from Clow's sight. "Would you comfort me more?"

Clow turned serious, "Hei-ying, what do you want?"

A breeze flickered against the last remaining light. Clow knew this meant Hei-ying had used his powers of levitation, and so, Clow no longer was absolutely sure where the black haired youth was anymore. His creation sudden stepped into the light, standing no further than two feet from Clow's bed. "I want you."

"I thought you understood," Clow began sadly, "You and I are creation and Master now . . . nothing more."

"You don't mean that . . ." Hei-ying knelt by Clow's bed and gazed at him in his ever-loving way.

Clow sighed again, "Hei-ying . . ." his eyes slid shut, as he wondered how to phrase his words, "Hei-ying, I hoped that you would have grown out of this fascination . . . this obsession of yours . . ."

"I love you . . ." Hei-ying whispered.

"Hei-ying, no . . . You love me as a creation would his creator, as a pet would love his Master."

Hei-ying pushed himself up, and leant towards Clow, "No! No, no, no!" He spoke softly, as if speaking some great revelation, "I love you. You, the Master Clow Reed." He pulled Clow's hand closer, "I love you . . . I love you and no one else." He murmured as he bestowed butterfly kisses on his Master's soft hand.

Clow slowly pulled his hand away from Hei-ying, "As a pet would love his Master," he repeated.

Hei-ying grew bolder and sat gently on the bed, "I love you, Master Clow Reed."

Clow didn't have the courage to meet the jade green eyes; "I have done you a great wrong, Hei-ying . . ."

"You can do no wrong . . ." Hei-ying smiled, Clow glanced at him, the dark haired being was truly unaware of what Clow was trying to explain.

"I can, and I have, Hei-ying." Clow murmured sadly, "I wanted you to obedient to me, and me alone . . . but I never wanted you to be a slave to me . . . I wanted a . . . companion."

"I am your companion," Hei-ying persisted, "and now I wish to be your lover as well, forever . . ." he ducked his head, as he began to kiss Clow's hand again. "Keroberos is now fully grown . . . we can be together again . . ."

A soft gurgle beside Clow made Hei-ying raise his head. There, beside Clow, lay a tiny bundle. Hei-ying stared at the tiny pile of blankets as it squirmed slightly. Hei-ying could feel a tiny surge of magic emanating from it. He looked at Clow, who had his eyes closed.

"Hei-ying," Clow began. "I am your Master, nothing else . . ." Hei-ying felt another pang of déjà vu, one summer night Clow had called him into the room, and there was a small, wrapped up kitten lying in the mass of blankets. This kitten turned out to be Keroberos.

"You have created another guardian?" Hei-ying looked questioningly at Clow. Clow nodded as Hei-ying leant over to pick the newest addition to their family up. He wondered briefly if it was the panther that Clow had been doodling a lot recently. Another version of Keroberos, only midnight blue, with Clow's favourite: large white wings and a long tail with a curl at the end. Keroberos wouldn't be pleased, but it would keep the troublesome lion away from Clow. Hei-ying got excited as he started to unravel the blankets from the squirming mass. If the new panther could distract Keroberos, then Hei-ying could keep Clow's attention to himself.

Tiny white wings obscured the little thing from Hei-ying's sight, "Hei-ying . . ." Clow put his hand over his, Hei-ying, "Understand me now, you are nothing but my creation for now, a valued companion to me but nothing more . . ." Hei-ying frowned slightly, and pulled his hand from Clow's, he gently pulled the wing away from the hidden being, Clow continued in a whispered tone, ". . .Just like Keroberos . . ." the first aspect that was revealed to Hei-ying was the new being had white hair, a lot of white hair, he gently pushed each lock away, "And now . . ." Clow gazed at Hei-ying's profile as he discovered his new brother, ". . .Just like . . . Yue."

Hei-ying's face was blank as he gazed at the human features of the baby; it's fine white eyebrows, it's clear jaw line and tiny sharp nose. The child looked almost like Hei-ying, but where Hei-ying had black hair, Yue had white. He slowly looked at Clow, who smiled sadly. "Meet your brother . . . Yue . . . he will be the Judgement maker. I decided that it was unfair that you two be both the Judgement Maker . . ." Clow explained softly.

"You're replacing me." Hei-ying's tone dropped to a betrayed level. Something inside of him broke, staring down at this child, his new brother, it hurt to look upon the tiny features of the fair angel. The child was beautiful, it looked similar to him, and it had all of Clow's favourite features. Long hair, white wings, like Clow had given Hei-ying, traits that were repeated in Hei-ying, repeated through the Cards. This child had them all. Hei-ying felt . . . out of place, unneeded. Old. He knew Clow, Clow became easily bored with things, mostly with the cards, he wasn't happy with one card, so he created another and another, until he ran out of ideas.

He had become bored with the idea of having Hei-ying as the guardian of the seal, the adviser and the judgement maker, which was why Keroberos had come into existence. Hei-ying didn't mind the giant winged house cat that much; Clow would never love him as he did Hei-ying. But this angel . . . this angel, so pure, white and true. Perhaps Clow had become bored of Hei-ying, and had created this child for his amusement.

"I thought . . ." Clow murmured as he brushed a lock of hair behind Hei-ying's ear, "I thought that you might be feeling lonely . . ."

"Lonely?" Hei-ying repeated.

"I spend so much time with Keroberos, that I thought that you would like to have someone just like you . . ."

"You created him to amuse . . . me?"

"I thought it would be nice," Clow murmured, he had been worried that Hei-ying wouldn't take kindly to Yue, he seemed upset when Keroberos had been created. "To have someone more like you, not like Keroberos, you two could play together, you could teach him things, and he will always listen . . . not like Keroberos."

Hei-ying licked his dry lips, as several possibilities spun in his mind, //If my Master had created this child to amuse me . . .//

Hei-ying stood, and cradled Yue in his arms, he cooed quietly as the child stirred. He stood by the window, and glanced out. The storm's rains beat heavily against the glass, and lightning flashed. Hei-ying saw himself, briefly, reflected in the glass.

In that fleeting moment, Hei-ying made a lasting decision. //If my Master had created this child to amuse me . . .//

 He turned back to Clow, and laid the moonchild in his arms. He silently lit his lamp again, and paused in the doorway. He inclined his head for permission to leave. Clow looked at Yue, then at Hei-ying, silently asking a question.

For a moment Hei-ying's face was blank, before it broke in to a wide smile. Clow smiled back, taking Hei-ying's expression to mean that he was happy with his new brother.

Hei-ying slipped out the door, and into the silent corridor. He glided, not quite walking, not quite flying. His mind repeating the same thought over and over, //If my Master had created this child to amuse me . . . If my Master had created this child to amuse me . . .If my Master had created this child to amuse me . . .// somehow he ended up in his room, the something that had broken began to hurt. He spoke aloud, as he increasingly found he did that.

"If Clow created this child to amuse me . . . then it would amuse me if the child ceased his existence."

-------------------

And now it's Time for LEAVE IT TO DR MEGALOMANIA!!

Yue: FINALLY!!! WE GET TO MEEEEEEEE!!!!!

DrM: [rubs hands together] And now we start with the torture!

Hei-ying: Yay!!!!

Kero and Yue: Booo!!

Clow: [cooing over baby-Yue] Awwww!!

Kero: You don't notice anything in this fic, do you?!

Clow: What?

Kero: [points at Hei-ying] Evil psychotic homicidal maniac . . . wants other guardians dead . . . killed you best friend . . . EVIL PSYCHOTIC HOMICIDAL MANIAC!!!

Hei-ying: No, I'm not . . . I'm evil, psychotic, homicidal, a maniac AND obsessed with Clow. Thank you very much!

DrM: [suddenly sneezes] Hmmm . . . could someone be talking about me?

Clow: I wouldn't notice anyway [starts with the baby talk to baby-Yue] 'cause someone's a widdle bwunble of joy! Yes you are!

Yue: [mouth falls open with horror, then slowly turns to the readers] Quick! R&R!! For the love of sanity please R&R!!!

Baby-Yue: Oh yeah, love, sanity, survival of mankind, the earth, the universe, yadda, yadda, yadda . . . please R&R!!!

[Note: I will change all the chapters so they all look like this one, but that will have to wait for a while!]