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 . . .

15. Gifts

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 fourteen: Gifts

"Wake up everyone!! It's Christmas!!"

Clow's eyes snapped open, he was a little groggy but smiled as he heard Keroberos bound down the corridor, he heard the lion run into Yue's room first, "Yue?! Yue! It's Christmas . . . YUE?!"

//He's here, Keroberos// Clow thought to the lion, wondering why he suddenly sounded so scared that he hadn't found Yue in his crib. Yue frowned in his sleep and huddled closer to Clow, who smiled and wrapped his arms around him a little tighter. Yue smiled and his eyes opened slightly, "Is it Christmas now?"

"Yes. . . and it's your birthday." Clow sat up and swept his long black hair back off his face, he swivelled slightly to look at Yue. The small boy smiled, and stood shakily on the bed, he bounced around to sit in Clow's lap. He was silent for a moment as he stared at his creator, Clow was very . . . pretty. He was as pale as the snow outside, but his hair and eyes were as black as the night's sky. Yue peered closer, and concealed a gasp as he realised he was wrong; Clow's eyes were a deep, deep, blue. He adored them and he adored Clow. Clow was just so . . . pretty. He opened his mouth to tell him this but thought better of it. He traced Clow's jaw absently with a small, pale finger as he asked, "My what?"

"I decided a long time ago that rather than the day you and your brothers were created, the day you first spoke to me would be your birthday." Clow smiled, as he confessed his reasoning, "It's more memorable and special to me, and it makes me feel like you really do exist . . . so . . ." he kissed Yue's forehead, "Happy birthday."

Yue was amazed by this event that was occurring in his home, it was a celebration of some kind. Clow had told his brothers that today was not only Christmas but also Yue's birthday. He looked around the room was so different now. Behind him was a large mantle place, from which the various stockings hung, the fire burning brightly.

"Yue?" He turned and found Keroberos sitting there a large red bow tied around his neck. He nudged a small present closer.

"Happy birthday, Yue . . . and merry Christmas."

Yue giggled as he rushed forward and threw his small arms around Keroberos' thick, furry neck, "Arigato!!"

"Heh, heh, heh! You're welcome, now . . . open it." Kero nudged the gift closer again; "It's to go with your ceremonial robes." He added as Yue plopped down on the floor with all the grace a two-year-old human could ever have.

"But I hate them . . ." Yue paused in his tearing, and looked up at his winged brother. Keroberos smiled kindly, "I hope these make you change your mind about them . . ."

Yue thoughtlessly strewn the paper around his tiny body as he rushed to see what magical object Keroberos had given him that would be able to change his mind about his boring pure-white robes.

Under the white tissue paper, lay four pieces of clothing. "They're for your hands and feet; Clow said he'd sew them on for you. " Keroberos sat beside him, "So now you will have warm hands and warm feet always."

"Thank you Oniichan."

Yue slipped one of the silken blue gloves on; on the back was a large blue jewel, surrounded by a braid of gold.

"Very handsome."

Yue looked up to see his eldest brother looking down on him. Unlike Keroberos, Hei-ying had not put any festive clothes on, and was wearing his typical black robes. They looked exactly like Yue's only were black and green. Hei-ying's large jade stone glinted on his chest, in the warm light. He folded his arms, and Yue noticed that his new gloves and foot straps were just like Hei-ying's only in blue. Yue smiled, he was going to look just like Hei-ying, he decided, Hei-ying always looked so calm and collected just like Papa . . . //Papa?!// Yue leapt to his feet and ran out the room, Keroberos quickly caught up with him.

"Where's the fire?"

"I forgot Papa's present!" Yue yelled as the two spread their wings and flew up to Yue's bedroom. It was a painting Yue had done. It had Yue and Papa, with Keroberos and Hei-ying, and some of his favourite Clow cards in it too! Clow would love it, Yue was sure of it! He tore around his room looking for the sheet of paper, as Keroberos laughed softly, as he chased after the tiny whirlwind. Yue loved the sound of Keroberos' laugh; it reminded him of Papa's warm magic aura.

Hei-ying was staring out of the window; unaware that Clow was behind him. "The snow's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes. . . it is. . ." Hei-ying murmured before he jumped slightly and spun, "Master?! I'm sorry . . . you startled me."

Clow smiled, "You seemed rather deep in thought . . . I apologise . . ."

"No. . ." Hei-ying turned to face the window again, "Never apologise . . . I understand why now."

"You do?" Clow moved to stand beside Hei-ying, perhaps this meant Hei-ying had overcome the binding spell fully now.

"Yes," Hei-ying nodded, he understood, understood perfectly. Yue was blinding Clow, but his Master couldn't see that, Hei-ying was the only one . . . the only one that understood it completely.

"Then you forgive me?"

Hei-ying was silent for a bit, before he answered; "I cannot . . . it would be wrong of me to assume that I have any sort of power over you, you are the Master Clow Reed . . . every action you make, every word you say is ultimately true and right. . ." Clow's eyes slid shut as Hei-ying recited the obedience spell that Clow had binded to his soul, ". . . I must obey you."

Clow sighed, Hei-ying still had a little way to go then, before he completely revoked Clow's mistake. "I have a gift for you and your brothers;" he placed his hand on Hei-ying's shoulder, "But first we must wait for them—"

"Papa?"

"Clow! Come look at this!" Keroberos ran into the room, Yue perched on his back, like a rider. "Our little moonbeam is an artist!!" Yue was excitedly clutching a sheet of paper; he held it towards Clow as he clambered down Keroberos, "For you, Papa!"

"Really?" Clow looked surprised, he hadn't thought that Yue would give anything to him. His very being was a gift to Clow.

"Hai!" Yue giggled, as Clow turned the paper the right way up, it was a painting, childishly painted but the loving care that had been put into it, was obvious. Clow could see himself, see Keroberos and Hei-ying and Yue was in there as well. There were some of the full forms of the cards, Yue's favourites. Yue had grown very close to some of the more gentle cards, and his painting depicted them as such. There was the Windy, and the Woody, the Snow and the Glow. Clow smiled, the Glow was going to make this Christmas a very special one for Yue.

 "Such a beautiful picture Yue . . . I'll frame it and it shall be hung on my mantle place." Clow smiled and picked Yue up, "Now I have gifts for all of you . . . please come with me."

Clow carried Yue to his thinking chair and, setting Yue on his knee, sat and waited for Keroberos to join them. He frowned slightly as a shiver of déjà vu passed over his spine; Keroberos and Hei-ying were before him . . . there was something so familiar about their postures . . .

"Master?!" A voice said in surprise and disbelief. "What do you mean?!"

"This is a joke right?!" Yelled Keroberos, furious and shocked "You're kidding."

Clow opened his eyes, before him was Keroberos and either Hei-ying, or the grown up Yue. Clow still couldn't tell as the vision revisited him, but he wished he knew, when he felt his heart twist in agony when the being looked up at him, hurt and betrayal making him look away almost as quickly. He didn't understand why he felt himself force a smile on his face and say, "This is no joke. Today I shall leave this life."

Keroberos cast a glance at the angel, who moved away to stare out the window, Clow realised that Keroberos was looking at the angel with brotherly concern. "Today? This minute? Tonight? Or perhaps a quick cup of tea, maybe a bit of crumpet then you'll just pop your clogs?!" Keroberos growled at him, Clow could tell he was angry not for himself, but for the harm Clow was causing to the beautiful angel. "That's what you've always been, Clow, damned stubborn!" The golden lion looked at the angel, "what about . . .?"

The angel glared at Keroberos over his shoulder, silently warning him not to continue. Keroberos cast one angrier look at Clow before stalking out of the room, evidently beyond expressing his fury civilly. Clow looked at the angel, he desperately wish he could ask the questions that were burning in his mind, //Hei-ying or Yue? If Hei-ying, then why were you trying to escape . . . if Yue, who were you going to attack . . .? // Clow didn't understand the sudden need to know, he just wanted to know which of the two angels he was breaking the heart of.

The angel bit a perfectly full lip, and looked at him tearfully, "You're going to leave us . . . leave me?" He stepped hesitantly closer, "Why? Master, why are you leaving me?"

Clow wanted to leapt out of his chair and sooth the angel, do anything for him, just to see him happy again, but again his body betrayed him. "I am tired of this life," he explained calmly, "I *need* to go."

The angel looked down at the floor as he tried to absorb this fact. "Why? Why would you want to . . . unless . . . Are we the—?"

"No." Clow answered simply. "You're not the reason . . . Neither of you have ever brought a single moment of unhappiness to my life."

The angel instantly looked up, he fought a short battle with himself, and chose to fall to his knees by Clow's chair. He picked up Clow's hand and started to press it against his face. Clow leaned towards him, the smell of fresh snow and lavender emanated from the angel, he ran his fingers into the silken hair, it's colour still a mystery. "Then why?" The angel sobbed finally.

Clow murmured his response, "Because I am sick of knowing everything that has happened, that is happening, that will happen."

"But I love you!" The angel cried then flinched as if he had committed some terrible sin. He looked down in shame; Clow slid his fingers under the angel's chin and pulled it up gently.

"I knew this as well;" he gently ran his fingers over the angel's lips, wishing he could kiss the ice-cold pale lips. He laughed cynically, "But I also know that one day you will fall in love with another, and he will be more than I ever could be to you . . ."

"No-one . . ." the angel pressed his head against Clow's knee, not willing to hear Clow's words. "Never . . . nobody . . . I'll do anything, just please don't leave me . . ." Clow raised his hand, and placed it softly on the angel's head, he could feel the angel's name rising to his own lips.

"There's nothing you can do, for it has already been decided . . ." //here it comes,// Clow thought, he concentrated hard so not to lose the name once it had been spoken. "My beloved -----"

"Papa?"

"Shut him up!"

"He can't help it Hei-ying, Yue. . . there's nothing to worry about, Clow's just having a vision. . . he'll wake up when it's finished. . ."

"Papa!"

"I said shut him up!" Hei-ying raised his hand slightly as if he was about to strike Yue.

Keroberos growled at him deeply, "Hei-ying, do not take this tone!"

Clow groaned, as he tried to return consciousness. Hei-ying and Keroberos turned to look at Clow, Yue was standing by the arm of the deep red chair, he was confused by Clow's sudden black out, but even more so about his brothers apparent hatred of each other, they knew what this strange thing was, what it was that made Papa fall asleep but Hei-ying didn't seem to want to explain, and when Keroberos tried, Hei-ying told him to shut up. Yue didn't understand them sometimes, Keroberos was always nice when Papa and he were around but sometimes when Clow wasn't, Hei-ying and Keroberos would snip at each other, throwing insults and threats at each other. Yue looked at Clow, even with his dark eyes closed, he looked . . . Yue smiled, as he tried to come up with a word to describe his creator, he looked . . . like the real Yue. The moon, he looked nice but distant, powerful but kind. Yue loved him, he loved Clow a lot, he had decided this fact a long time ago. There was only one question in his mind, would he be able to tell Clow this fact sometime?

Clow's eyes felt so heavy; it had never been like this before. His vision's never made him feel so out of it before. He groaned, and realised that the vision had been a simple repeat of one he had already seen. That had never happened before. He wondered if the fact the vision had come because he had called it. He let his head roll back, yes; he had called it to him. But what did this mean? Did it mean he was becoming much stronger? Clow sighed, then winced as his vision came into sharp focus again.

"Master?"

"Clow?"

"Papa?"

His guardians' three voices asked the same question all at once. He took a moment to compose himself, he glanced at each of their faces, Hei-ying looked mildly troubled, Keroberos looked very angry and Yue . . . Yue looked a little scared. "Oh . . ." Clow brushed his hand against his own forehead, it was slightly sweaty. He leant over the armrest and pulled Yue up. "Oh . . . I'm so sorry, little moonbeam . . . please, you mustn't be scared . . . Daijobu!" Clow murmured as he rocked Yue, he glanced over the moonchild's shoulder at the other two. "What happened?"

"You passed out just as you were sitting dow—"

"--You almost dropped moonbeam!" Keroberos growled.

"Gomen," Clow looked a little breathless, he pulled Yue's head back slightly, "I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to scare you . . ."

"What happened to you?" Yue plucked a few strands of hair off Clow's sweaty brow, and press his cool hand against it soothingly.

"It's nothing that will ever cause any harm, I just fell into a vision . . ."

"Vision?" Yue blinked, "What—"

Clow pressed a finger against his lips, "No, no. . . It's your birthday, and it's Christmas . . . Questions can wait . . . Daijobu?"

"Daijobu!" Yue confirmed, and slid off his lap. He stood between Hei-ying and Keroberos.

Hei-ying looked down at his younger brother, "You should be on the other side of Keroberos . . . you are the youngest."

"It's all right with me! Stay there!"

Yue smiled at Keroberos, and then put his whole attention on Papa, Papa was smiling, as he picked up the curiously sparkly wrapped boxes beside his chair. "Hei-ying . . .?"

Hei-ying stepped forward and graciously knelt beside his creator's chair. Clow smiled as he handed a jade green box to his eldest creation. Hei-ying glanced at Clow in slight confusion, "Open it . . ." Clow prompted. Hei-ying meticulously unwrapped the package, unwilling to rip the beautiful jade paper. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Yue fidgeting slightly, the tiny boy was a little impatient. Hei-ying ignored this and lifted the lid; wrapped in the simple green tissue, lay two jade green strips of material. Hei-ying instantly knew that these strips had potent magic tied into them, he picked one up and glanced at Clow curiously.

"They are for you . . ." Clow smiled, he slipped off his chair and knelt in front of the bemused Hei-ying. He quickly picked up the ribbons and tied them around Hei-ying's hands, he smiled as he tied the last bow and clasped Hei-ying's hands together. He was eager to show Hei-ying what new magic he had created for him. He led his eldest creation to the window and opened it. Clow motioned Hei-ying to stand in front of him. When Hei-ying was in place, Clow wrapped his arms around Hei-ying's body of clasped his creation's wrists.

"All right?" Clow whispered into Hei-ying's ear, ignoring the old shiver his breath always caused.

"Hai . . ." Hei-ying attempted to compose himself. //I will not lose control in front of him// Hei-ying chanted in his mind, Clow would not want Hei-ying to display affections in front of the others, but he wondered if Clow was having the same trouble.

Clow smiled, "I want you to concentrate . . ." he pressed Hei-ying's hands together quickly and then pulled them apart suddenly, a beautiful arc of jade green magic flowed between Hei-ying's hands. He knew it was his own magic attack, but somehow the ribbons were amplifying his attack. Instead of the normal one, three jaded daggers spun into existence. Hei-ying gasped slightly, as Clow chuckled, "I thought it might come in handy . . . rather than one attack at a time, you can launch three!"

Hei-ying spread his hands slightly further, as Clow let go, and then threw them forward. The jade daggers ceased their spinning immediately, and flew straight away from him. The deadly attack ploughed straight into the snow-covered earth.

"Wai . . ." Yue murmured as he and Keroberos watched from another closed window. Keroberos remained silent; Hei-ying had been given an even deadlier weapon. Clow smiled, "And now . . ." he turned back to his chair, "Time for Keroberos!"

He lifted a large box and placed it in front of his sun guardian, Keroberos sniffled it hesitantly, he wasn't so sure he wanted an even stronger attack. "Go on . . ." Clow urged, "Open it!"

Keroberos sighed, and extended his claws. A few well place swipes at the box, and his new gift was revealed. "What . . . is it?"

"It's a helmet." Clow enthused again. He'd finally decided that the Cardcaptor wasn't the one who was going to give Keroberos the strange helmet, Clow was. Clow smiled at he lifted the light weighted metal, and beckoned Keroberos over, "This will protect you . . ."

"From what?"

"What ever it is that attacks you . . . I don't know, I just thought since you can't have ceremonial robes like your brothers I thought you might like to have something a bit different."

"It's very handsummer!"

"Handsome . . ." Hei-ying rolled his eyes as he corrected Yue.

"Handsome, it's very handsome!" Yue smiled, "Especially this . . ." he brushed his hand over the blood red jewel that sat upon Keroberos' chest. Clow smiled as he sat back in his chair once more, "Do you like it?"

Keroberos raised his head, and stared at Clow, "Yes . . ." he nodded, "I do!"

Clow breathed out, "good." He started to twiddle his thumbs and looked around, "Hmmm . . . I wonder . . . Could there be someone else . . .?" He looked to the other side of his chair; "There are presents here for someone . . . Who could that be?"

Yue looked at Hei-ying, his elder brother had removed the ribbons and was examining them. He swivelled his head to look at his second eldest brother, who beamed at him, he pushed his shoulder against Yue's lightly, "I think he might mean a certain little moonbeam . . ."

Yue slowly walked over to Clow, and knelt by his chair, ". . .Papa?"

"First, for Christmas . . ." Clow picked up a slim case, "I give you this . . ." he held his hand out to Yue, "Please give me your hand . . ." once Yue placed his hand in Clow, Clow opened the case with his other hand, he picked up a cool blue ribbon, it was the same colour as his robes' new hand gloves and foot straps, Yue realised. He grew excited as Clow started to tie it around his hands. As soon as he tied it, the ribbon disappeared.

 "Don't worry . . . It's meant to do that . . ." Clow murmured as he stood and moved to the open window again; he smiled and beckoned Yue over. Yue stood beside Clow as his creator stared out the window. Clow raised the same arm that he had tied the ribbon to on Yue, "Do this . . ." he whispered.

Yue complied and as soon as he raised his arm an ice-cold blue arc of magic formed. Yue gasped slightly, and looked up at Clow, who was breathing slowly, he looked like he wasn't entirely sure that this work. "Now . . . Raise your other hand . . ."

Yue suddenly had the feeling he knew what to do, "I know . . ."

Keroberos looked on in amazement, "You know what you are doing already, don't you?"

Yue nodded with confidence, for a few moments he looked older than he was as he raised his other hand, an ice-cold bolt of blue ice appeared and Yue drew it against the bow. He drew back the string slowly, Clow turned to see the full effect of this new weapon he had given Yue. Yue looked every bit the judgement maker he was created to be, and Clow was proud of him. The child would never fail the Cardcaptor, but would also push her to be her very best.

The day had been spent in a very festive mood, and the three guardians had insisted on trying out their new gifts. Yue and Hei-ying were instantly very good with their new weapons and Keroberos had been a little slow to adjust to the new helmet but eventually he had got it right. Clow watched them from his upstairs study, he would have been out there with them but there were two more things he needed to attend to first. First was Yue's birthday present, which Clow would give to him later in private. It was a special gift, one that Clow had thought long and hard about, and he wanted to be alone when Yue saw it. The child's expression would be . . . perfect, Clow could sense it.

The other thing were his second gifts to his guardians, Clow turned away from the window and sat at his desk again. Before him lay three perfectly carved jewels, set in three simple earring. One of each of his guardians, the earrings held a new magic for his guardians, but Clow wasn't as sure this new magic would go down well with his creations as he knew his other gifts had. He sighed, //might as well get it over and done with now// the glinting earrings were his real gifts to them, he had just made up those other gifts to make sure that he had something to give them in case his resolve failed. These earrings held their false form inside of them, and Clow wasn't entirely sure how they would take him trying to hide their real forms. Clow sighed, as he stood and opened the window.

"Hei-ying . . . Keroberos . . . Yue . . . Please attend me."

Hei-ying sat in front of his mirror; the strange person stared back at him. This *false* form Clow had created, he was so . . . unlike him. His whole countenance seemed much more . . . Hei-ying frowned; this false form didn't look as imposing as Hei-ying did. He seemed much more sweet, Clow had explained his false form was intended for the Cardcaptor, to make her feel at complete ease and so he could move around in public places without arousing suspicion. Hei-ying frowned slightly, this false form's eyes were wide, and soft, almost child like. Hei-ying didn't understand why his false form had to look so . . . weak.

"Do you like it?"

Hei-ying turned, his head feeling a little light as his short fringe fell into his eyes, "I will require so time to adjust to this new . . . form." He turned back to the mirror. "Do *you* like it?"

Clow smiled and walked further into the room, he placed his hands on Hei-ying's shoulders and bent down to stare into Hei-ying's eyes through the mirror. "I think he's very handsome, he suits you . . . however . . ." Clow smiled, "I couldn't think of a name for him . . . Will you choose one?"

"I believe it would be too confusing for the Cardcaptor for her adviser to have two names, I believe I will keep my given name."

Clow smiled, "Very well, you may change his name at anytime, whatever you choose I shall approve of."

Hei-ying nodded, and continued to stare into the mirror, as Clow left the room.

A funny flapping noise made Clow pause just as he stepped out into the hall, "Keroberos . . .?"

The tiny false form of Keroberos floated down from it's hiding place, "Why did you do. . ." he stretched out his now stubby arms to look at them, "Why did you give us this. . .?"

"So you could accompany the Cardcaptor wherever she goes and not be noticed . . . a good idea, ni?" He opened his arms and Keroberos slipped into them as he used to when he was a kitten, he started to purr, Clow smiled softly down at the golden, winged lion-bear, ". . . And maybe a little bit because I missed holding you like this . . ."

"I always knew you had ulterior motives Clow . . ." Clow chuckled as they walked down the corridor to Yue's room. Clow knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in Papa!"

Clow pushed the door open and stepped into Yue's bedroom, he smiled, it was almost exactly like the bedroom he had seen in his vision the night he created Yue. Yue's crib had now been replaced with a big bed, and like his brothers, Yue now had a dresser with a mirror on it. He, like Hei-ying, sat in front of this mirror, staring at the strange face that stared back at him. Yue's was just like Hei-ying's, the idea being was that the two could be mistaken for twins, except for their hair, //Just like their true forms// Clow thought happily, Yue's false form had amber eyes because Clow thought Yue's natural eye colour would be a little too revealing. Hei-ying's false form had dark chocolate brown hair, and Yue's had grey, again for the simple matter that their true form's natural hair colours were both a little on the supernatural side.

Yue's false form was adorable at such a young age, his dapple-grey hair fell over his eyes slightly, and there was no other word for it Yue, in this false form, simply looked . . .

"Adorable!" Clow gushed; Keroberos rolled his false form's beady little eyes and swatted Clow with his tail.

"Clow, you have a lot of problems!" He fluttered over to his younger brother. "So, what do you think?"

"You look very handsome!" Yue smiled and then looked back into the mirror.

"I meant you, and my true form is much better!"

"I don't see any difference . . ." Yue peered into the mirror again.

"I'm bigger for starters, and my eyes are so much more striking, and—"

"You look like a stuffed animal." Hei-ying dryly observed from the doorway. He glanced at Yue; "May I come in little moonbeam?"

"H-hai . . ." Yue would never dream of ever saying 'No' to Hei-ying, Keroberos had warned him against making Hei-ying angry, but never explained what happened if he ever did.

"I happen to think this false form is very handsome!" Keroberos glared at Hei-ying, "And don't call me a stuffed animal."

"Why not?" Hei-ying folded his arms, his cool demeanour seeped through to his kind looking false form, it was a little unsettling, however Clow was confident that Hei-ying would soon learn to play act.

"Because I say so!"

"And what are you going to do about it . . . Stuffed animal?"

Keroberos started to growl, and fluttered closer to Hei-ying and started to mutter some rapid fire German. Clow raised an eyebrow, German was only one of the few languages he wasn't so confident in speaking and hadn't bothered to teach Yue, Keroberos and Hei-ying had discovered this and used the language to swear at each other. Clow shook his head, and moved closer to Yue. "How do you like it?"

"I don't see any difference . . ." he murmured again, "I look the same, just that my hair is shorter and my eyes are . . ." Yue frowned as he tried to come up with an adequate word, "Well . . . they're not the same colour."

"I have given your brothers the choice to choose their own names for the false forms; they have both chosen to stay with the same name . . . but . . ."

Yue smiled, "But . . .?"

"I would like to be a little selfish with you . . ." Clow admitted with a smile, "Would you mind if I gave this form of yours a name?"

Yue's eyes crossed slightly as he thought about it, he shook his head, "Ummm . . . no!"

Clow smiled and breathed out slightly, "Okay . . . I would like to call your false form Yukito. Yukito Tsukishiro Reed."

Yue smiled, "Snow rabbit of the white castle?"

Clow smiled, "Hai!"

"Really?" Yue broke into a huge smile, and threw his arms around Clow.

Clow hugged him back, "Really . . ." he held him for a few seconds, just trying to place the familiar scent of Yue's hair. Clow had done this every time Yue was near, Keroberos smelt of sunflowers, always of a summer afternoon. Hei-ying smelt of spring, just like Keroberos, he smelt of the season he had been created in, he smelt of fresh spring rain and roses. Clow frowned slightly, he was a little too familiar with the way Hei-ying smelt, he shrugged the regret off and concentrate on Yue. He smelt like . . . he smelt like . . .

"Hei-ying! No!"

Clow's eyes snapped open at Yue's frightened call; he let go of his youngest and spun to look at his eldest. Hei-ying was paused, holding Keroberos' tiny tail in one hand, and scissors in the other. Keroberos was struggling to get away.

"Hei-ying!" Clow snapped; he supported Hei-ying's little outbursts of emotions but not to the point where it would harm his brothers. "Let him go!"

Keroberos still struggled, pulling as far as he could away from Hei-ying's pinching fingers. Hei-ying glanced briefly at Clow, and then settled his eyes on Yue. He smirked slightly, then instantly let Keroberos go. The tiny toy like lion spun in the air before hitting one of the bedposts. Keroberos slid down the post dazed and slightly confused, Yue struggled past Clow. "Keroberos!" He cried out slightly distressed, he scooped up his elder Oniichan. "Keroberos!! Are you alright?!"

Keroberos rolled out of Yue's arms and turned into his true form instantly, "I will be!" He roared, "Come here Hei-ying!"

Hei-ying's wings appeared and snapped back to reveal his true form, the black haired angel growled at Keroberos, "Make me, stuffed animal!"

That was the final straw, Keroberos suddenly leapt up and tried to land on Hei-ying, but Hei-ying moved. There was a loud snap, as Keroberos and Hei-ying went crashing to the ground. "ARGGAAAA!" Hei-ying yelled in sheer agony and wrench Keroberos off him. The lion landed on his feet and was about to strike again, when Hei-ying raised his hand. A sharp green glow appeared in his palm threateningly.

"Onegai! No!" Yue ran between the two warring brothers, "Please don't!" The tiny grey haired boy held his hands up to Hei-ying, "Please don't!" He entreated again. "You'll hurt him . . ."

"I'll hurt him?! Fucking right I'll bloody hurt him!" Hei-ying snarled, "HE'S BROKEN MY FUCKING WING!!"

Yue stepped back at the ferocity of his eldest brother's voice, but jumped forward when Keroberos roared again, "I'LL BREAK MORE THAN THAT, YOU BASTARD!"

 "SILENCE!" Clow bellowed, "THE BOTH OF YOU!" He glared at them coldly, as he raised his hand and twisted it back towards him rapidly. There was a jade and a gold glow, and both Hei-ying and Yue were turned into their false forms. He bent over to pick Yue up, and then glared at them both. "You should be ashamed of yourself, ruining such a day!"

"I can't turn back to my true form!" Keroberos squeaked angrily in his new high voice.

"My wing!" Hei-ying protested just as vehemently. "He's broken my wing!"

Clow ignored them, Yue was trembling, his false form's wide amber eyes were brimming with tears. They had scared him. "I'm sorry that I must do this, my little moonbeam. . ."

Yue frowned, what was Papa sorry to do? He puzzled this as Clow raised his hand. The small boy suddenly found Clow's fingers very entrancing, there was a slight glow to them as Clow raised them to show Yue his palm. Yue wondered why would Papa feel sorry. . . about. . . some. . .thing so. . .

Clow picked Yue up and laid him on the bed, he was so angry with Keroberos and Hei-ying but he didn't want to scare Yue any further. "Return to your rooms," he said quietly, he couldn't even bring himself to look at them, "Go . . . and I don't want to even see the either of you until the day after tomorrow."

Keroberos stared at the back of Clow, knowing that provoking Clow even further wouldn't help him get back to his true form, but that wasn't what made him feel so bad. He had allowed Hei-ying to get to him, and Yue had seen something other than his bestest Oniichan. Keroberos swallowed heavily, and silently wished his tiny brother a good night, before fluttering out of the room.

"I said go to your room." Clow repeated quietly. He could still feel Hei-ying behind him.

"He broke my wing . . ." Clow turned to look at Hei-ying, in his false form, he was clutching his shoulder. The broken wing had translated to a fracture in his false form's shoulder blade. It was nothing life threatening, Clow assessed. Both he and Hei-ying were shaking in unspent anger.

"You have scared Yue. . ." Clow restrained himself from spitting, he stepped swiftly over to Hei-ying, he placed his hand over Hei-ying's shoulder. He closed his eyes briefly and Hei-ying expected to feel a warm rush of magic heal the painful injury. Clow's eyes snapped open, "You will live. . . and it won't affect your ability to fly. I am going to let it heal naturally, tomorrow morning you will report to my study, I will set the bone, and then you will return to your room. I will not see nor hear from you for the rest of that day. Understand?" Hei-ying's eyes widened, he nodded mutely. Clow continued, "I expected so much more from you. Of both of you . . . I thought you would have understood the concept that you will both be together for the rest of your lives by now." There was a groan from the bed as Yue started to regain consciousness. Clow looked down at him, then back at Hei-ying. "Go . . . now."

Hei-ying nodded, and turned on his heel, leaving the room swiftly and silently. Clow sighed, and sat heavily on the bed. Their first Christmas, and Yue's birthday had been ruined by his eldest creations' sibling rivalry. He pulled Yue's birthday present out of his pocket and stared at it. He wondered if Yue would still be interested in celebrating his birthday, or if he'd rather stay asleep and try to forget the horrendous evening.

There was another groan, followed by a short burst of a blue glow, Yue had returned to his true form. He sat up and looked around, Clow was sitting at the end of his bed, looking sadly at a flat, wrapped gift. He looked sad, and Yue didn't like it. Clow always looked happy and it wasn't nice when he was sad. Yue looked around, Keroberos and Hei-ying weren't around, in fact, Yue reached out with his magic senses, they were in their rooms. Yue sighed, and felt unbearably sad. Clow had sent them there without letting him say goodnight. A small sob brought Clow out of his deep mulling, he looked up and Yue was sitting up in his bed, sobbing uncontrollably. "Come here, my little moonbeam," Clow sighed, and opened his arms to Yue. "Let me make it all better."

The next morning, Clow woke up and, for a moment, didn't know where he was; he stared up at the canopy above his bed. It wasn't the usual violet and red one, with stars and moons and suns all over it . . . it was a silk white one, with moons and snowflakes . . .

"Yue . . .?"

Clow sat up, the tiny boy wasn't in bed with him, he looked around. The drapes were still drawn and the curtains remains shut. Clow rose and looked out the window, it was just before dawn.  He frowned; he didn't make any of his creations wake up before dawn, why would Yue be up at this time? He reached out with his senses. Yue was in Keroberos' room. Clow sighed, he had meant it when he had banished Keroberos to his room, but hadn't thought that Yue might go to him.

"Moonbeam . . . You really shouldn't be here, Clow was very angry last night . . ."

"No he wasn't! He was really sad, and he almost cried! I just want to make things better! "

"I know you do . . . but sometimes it's better if you let Clow deal with things his own way . . . he can be stubborn about things like this."

Yue brushed his long hair back; it was tickling his nose as he lay in bed with his elder brother. He stared up at Keroberos' canopy, it was bright yellow, and was just like his curtains too. Yue sighed, he'd gone to Hei-ying but Hei-ying was meditating . . . or at least that's what Keroberos had said it was . . . to Yue, it looked more like he had hurt himself in the head and was lying on the floor until the pain went away. Yue sighed; he had gone to Keroberos and at first Keroberos had pretended he was sleeping. But when Yue wouldn't leave, he had opened his eyes.

"Why must we leave him?" Yue stared at the gift Clow had given him, it was one of his favourite cards, the glow, and Clow said it was under his protection now. Whatever that meant, but if Yue told it to make pretty glowy lights for him, it did. That made him happy but . . . it wasn't any fun because he didn't have anyone to show it to, "If everyone says sorry now then we can be all happy again!"

Keroberos sighed, and rested his head on his forepaws. He closed his eyes and murmured, "If only life was as simplistic as you and Clow see it . . ."

"What do you mean?"

"He means you are disobeying the Master!" Hei-ying spat from the doorway.

"Get out of my room!" Keroberos growled softly, not willing to scare Yue again.

"I'm not in your room, stuffed animal, and I was addressing Yue . . ."

Yue sat up, "Gomen . . ."

"Do not apologise to me, you should return to your room, unless you would like to get Master Clow angry against you as well!" Hei-ying frowned at him, then turned and stalked back to his room.

Yue swallowed, "But Clow didn't get angry last night . . . he was really upset!"

Keroberos sat up, "Yue . . . as much as I hate to admit it . . . Hei-ying might well be right, please go back to your room now . . ."

"But I want to stay with you!"

Keroberos licked Yue affectionately. "And I wish you could, but I don't want any more trouble and you don't want Clow to get any angrier with everyone, do you?"

"No. . ." Yue sighed, "But when will I see you again?"

Keroberos sat up, his small black eyes blinked. "Clow said I have to stay here for today and tonight . . . but trust me first thing tomorrow morning . . ."

Yue smiled and nodded, "I'll get up extra 'specially early!" The small boy promised then walked over to Keroberos' window. He sat on the open window's sill. "Sayonara . . .?"

"Iie. . ." Keroberos smiled, "ja ne!"

Yue smiled and then nodded again; he spread his wings and fluttered out into the early dawn's cool air. Keroberos sighed; "I might as well sleep for the entire day . . . nothing else I can do."

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

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

Clow: I wouldn't let him leave his wing like that!!!

DrM: But you're really mad at him for ruining Yue's birthday!

Hei-ying: You know . . . I've got a broken wing . . . and Clow's choosing Yue over me and my broken wing. . .

Yue: Damn straight!

Hei-ying: You realise that grounds for killing you. . .

Kero: Touch a hair on his head---!

Hei-ying: [touches hair] Oh you mean like this, stuffed animal?!

[Kero and Hei-ying start to have fight]

DrM: [over ruckus] HEY, WHILE I SORT THIS OUT HOW ABOUT DROPPING ME A REVIEW!! ARIGATO!! [Turns to Kero and Hei-ying] GUYS!! NO HOLDS BARRED!! [Yells at Clow] WHERE'S THE POPCORN?!

Clow and DrM: FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! [look at each other] TOGA! TOGA! TOGA! [crack open beers] CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!

Yue: [closes door on all of them, sighs] I guess it's up to me to say. . . Please join us in the next chapter, arigato.