Why, Hello and welcome to my little world of weirdness!

I state for the record that, while I really, really wish I did, I don't own any of the wonderful characters that will grace this story . . . they are all CLAMP's, always have been, always will be! However I do lay claim to a few of the original characters, for example . . . I own Hei-ying, and his false form, Tomodachi Yukito, I own Mystrasa Kyree, and Carolyn and Amanda Reed, I don't own The Dragon, Saurian because he is on loan from my very good friend, the ever intangible Blue Goo.

This is a Sequel to 'In This Tainted Soul . . .', which actually started out as this stories prequel . . . what can I say? I love writing!! Anyway, while it's not strictly need reading, since the first few chapters will be focus on establishing well . . . basically everything, it would still be nice if you go read up, especially if you want to know why Hei-ying is the way he is . . .

In This Tainted Soul . . . There Lies Hope . . .

By Dr Megalomania

Part Three: My Magic Reborn In Thee

Meanwhile in Japan . . .

 The snow crunched quietly under their feet as they walked quietly into the shrine.

She paused and tipped her head back, careful not to let the warm loose hood fall off her head, her honey coloured bangs breezed lightly around her face. The stone gateway seemed so foreboding so late at night; the slight gusting snow-laden wind didn't do much to lift the mood. // Four years to the day . . .// She thought, as she remember the night the police had come and told her that her father had been murdered in this very shrine. She shook her head, she had decided that her father would want her to move on, and not cry for him. She moved forward and motioned the others to stay put.

The snow fell slowly and gently, seemingly aware of the power of the young girl as she approached the Tsukimine Shrine's supernatural pool. The hem of her rose red robes brushing lightly over the white-carpeted ground, her pink soft lined boots crunching the snow quietly, her enchanted cane's polished surface glinted in the Moonlight.

The water was silent and clear, deep pink ripples began to disturb the surface as she drew nearer. She smiled and motioned the others to join her. She gazed into the pond again; the reflection of her kind green eyes disturbed only by the pink fall off from her magic. Her magic had grown so much stronger over the last few years. Since her show down with Clow's reincarnation, and her father's death, Kinomoto Sakura had trained and had almost perfected her magic. At the tender age of sixteen, Sakura was already one of the most powerful magicians of the eastern world.

Her guardians flanked her, and behind them, her brother, and her best friends. All were clothed against the harsh weather, except for Keroberos and Yue. There was a quiet chuckle from behind her, Sakura turned and looked at Kero. He was looking at Yue, who seemed very distracted. She blinked; she'd never seen Yue so distracted before. Kero looked at her, and winked, then said loudly. "I wonder, Mistress Sakura; maybe the snow might ruin your *wonderful* favourite cloak, perhaps you should stop it."

"No!" Yue cried out in dismay, then composed himself immediately, "I mean . . ." He frowned at Keroberos who started to laugh heartily, "That's not funny Keroberos . . . the Mistress shouldn't waste her magic."

Tomoyo laughed quietly from under her cloak's heavy purple hood, "I didn't know you liked snow!"

Keroberos turned, "It's not that he just likes the stuff, when we were younger . . ." He glanced at Yue, "He used to prance into my room every snow morning . . . and leap on to my bed and say . . ." He started to jump up and down delightedly, Sakura laughed as the lion pranced like a new born lamb, ". . . 'Keroberos! It's snowing! It's snowing! Let's go play in the snow!!' and he wouldn't leave until I promised to at least look out the window."

Touya smiled slightly, as Yue folded his arms and glared at the lion, "I have never done that!"

"Yes, you have."

The group turned at the new voice, Eriol, Ruby and Spinel stood on the other side of the pond, Eriol smiled, "You used to run into Clow's room as well, and insist that he come and make snowmen with you . . ."

Yue looked away, "Well, I was younger then."

"Eriol-kun . . . welcome . . ." Sakura smiled at Eriol, "Welcome back to Japan."

"My soul's daughter . . . how you have grown . . ." Eriol walked forward and grasped her hands gently, "Thank you . . ." He raised his hand, stoking the pale fingertips against her rosy cheeks gently, "Are you well?"

"Of course, of course!" She nodded, "What brings you back here?"

"Your father . . ." Eriol hung his head, "I am so sorry I wasn't in time for the funeral . . . however . . ."

"Master was too upset to travel . . . we wouldn't permit it!" Ruby rested her hand on Eriol's shoulder, "And we had other business to tend to . . . with the Reeds."

"The Reeds?" Syaoran stepped up, "What could you want with them?"

"Despite the fact, many of them are dying of old age . . ." Eriol sighed, "They think I've cheated them in some fashion . . ." He looked at Syaoran closely, "You haven't heard anything from your family, have you?"

"There is unease among the Elders . . ." Syaoran admitted, "And you have to agree . . . it's strange . . ."

"What is?" Sakura grasped his hand, "What is wrong?"

Syaoran looked at her gently, "There's some confusion over your father's death . . ."

"So, the magic . . . who was supposed to receive it?"

As Sakura leant forward, Tomoyo glanced at Touya again; he had been unusually quiet since the conversation had begun. The problem was that after the splitting of the powers, after Eriol had returned to his homeland, and Sakura had defeated and transformed the void into the hope, someone had murdered Kinomoto Fujitaka. The crime remained unsolved, for three years and the police continued to be baffled by the seemingly motiveless murder. It wasn't helped by the fact Fujitaka had apparently lied to his children about his whereabouts the night he died. He had told Sakura and Touya that he was working late, but somehow he was found on the other side of town, floating face down in a pond. It would have seemed like a accident, a slip or a fall into the cold waters but Fujitaka had been strangled, not only strangled, he had been crushed by a force so hard it had managed to break every rib in his chest, and cause his lungs to collapse in on themselves.

Someone had mentioned that the markings on Fujitaka's back looked like a large claw, of an animal as yet unknown to man. However Kero, in comforting Sakura, had scoffed that that meant nothing to the magic community. The two guardians had gone to the pond, in the Moon shrine, to check for any trace of an aura. But there was nothing . . . no hint as to what could have killed Kinomoto Fujitaka in such a horrid, meaningless way . . .

Now . . . as Eriol explained, there seemed to be a motive . . . Fujitaka, even though he never used it, possessed half of Clow's power. After the splitting of the powers, Clow's first mistake had been righted, and both half reincarnations had equal share of the magic of Clow Reed. However, after Fujitaka had died, his half of the magic had vanished. Eriol stressed that there was a reason to be worried about this. Clow Reed was an extremely powerful magician, so powerful in fact; his magic couldn't die with him.

This was why the cards could be sustained until Sakura transformed them, why Yue and Kero still existed. Clow's magic couldn't just dissipate. Eriol explained that, even with Clow gone his magic was supposed to be divided, and then divided again through Fujitaka's descendants and Eriol's. And so on and so on until the magic itself became too diluted, too weak to be sustained. Even if there were no heirs on Eriol or Fujitaka's part, the magic would travel to the nearest living relation or reincarnation of Clow Reed. So if Eriol died, his magic would travel to Sakura or Touya, whoever was the magically weakest. If Fujitaka had had no children and both he and Eriol died with out children then the magic would most like travel to the magically weakest of the Li's or Reeds.

The confusion had been caused by the fact, Fujitaka had had children, and yet . . .

"One of you were supposed to receive this magic . . . and yet neither of you seem to have displayed any indication of it?"

Sakura glanced at her brother, who stared into his glass of wine silently. If he had received it then he would have said something, or she would have noticed his full aura again. She frowned, "So if we didn't get it, who would get it then?"

Eriol pulled out an old notebook; "According to Clow . . ." He read quickly, "Without my reincarnation's heir, without exception the magick would travel to the Li Clan."

Syaoran snorted mirthlessly, "Which is why the Reeds are up in arms . . ." He glanced at Sakura, "The Reeds and the Li's haven't spoken directly since Clow disappeared."

Tomoyo frowned, "Disappeared?"

Syaoran glanced at Eriol, who chuckled slightly, "When I was young . . . when Clow was young, he pulled a disappearing act to escape the two families."

He pulled a good one, "Nobody ever truly understood why he had left, although . . ." Syaoran shook his head with disapproval, "it is said that shortly after Clow's mother and father . . . and I believe, a favourite uncle died, Clow collected his things and calmly walked out of the door . . . he was never seen again by either family . . ." He sat forward, and chewed thoughtfully on a small piece of bread, "The Reed's family doctor of the time claimed he'd seen Clow walking around a small town in which he practiced medicine . . . Clow was always with his guardians . . . however whenever the Reeds tried to find the mansion that the doctor said Clow resided in . . ."

"The mansion would never be there . . ." Eriol chuckled, he spread his arms and bowed mockingly, "Clow placed the whole thing under a very powerful spell . . . just so it could stay out of the land's time and people's interest . . ."

"Between Clow walking out of the door and the doctor claiming he saw him . . ." Syaoran sat back, "Both families accused each other of kidnapping him . . ." He tapped Eriol on the elbow reproachfully, "Thanks to you, the Reeds and my Clan have never been on friendly terms since . . ."

"Clow was that important to them?" Tomoyo blinked, she glanced at Eriol who turned very serious.

"Yes, he was . . . Fortunes and oracles predicted that Clow would save the magic world from dying . . ."

"Why did he run away?"

"They scared him . . ." Touya murmured as he gazed deeply in to his glass, the red wine somehow very fascinating suddenly. Eriol looked up and chuckled, "That's right! How did you guess?"

"That's how I'd respond if I had almost every member of my family tell me I was the saviour of the world . . ." Touya tipped his head, still fixated by the surface of the red wine. "I'd need to get away . . ." Kero blinked and lifted his head as an old memory rose from his mind . . .

Keroberos had fallen sound asleep, he was resting his head in Clow's lap, "I . . . needed to get away . . ."

His other brother's head lolled slightly, as he sat opposite, he too was fast asleep. The day out had exhausted both guardians, the doctor continued. "Clow, you cannot escape your responsibilities . . . the magic world needs new blood like yours to help create new magic." He motioned to the two guardians, "And I can see you've already begun to create life forms with consciousnesses . . . they are a remarkable achievement."

Clow rubbed between Keroberos' ears affectionately, "I adore them . . . they will make excellent guardians."  

Kero glanced at Yue, to see if he had caught the phrase, but the angel yawned discreetly behind his hand. Kero frowned deeper, and cleared his throat. "It's very cloudy tonight." He observed loudly, and winced slightly as the quiet group jumped at the sudden comment. Sakura blinked, but smiled softly. She had finally cottoned on to Kero and Yue's little hints. When one was worried about the other, he would drop tiny hints, such as 'Winter's days get shorter Mistress' which meant Yue was concerned about Kero in winter, when the sunlight wasn't as readily available, or Kero's favourite grumble 'There are not enough hours of sleep in summer' which generally meant that he wanted to let Yue sleep a little longer in summer. Both basically meant that Sakura was to call upon Yue more in winter, and vice versa in summer.

She smiled at Kero, "Agreed . . . which reminds me, Yue . . .?" Yue looked up, as Sakura issued her order, "I would like you to conserve some energy for tomorrow's training . . . I believe you were going to teach me some more practical landing techniques . . . I would prefer it if you were as strong as possible." She winked at him challengingly, "I expect you to be a strong competitor . . ."

Yue rose from the table majestically, and inclined his head, "I would be deficit in my duties if I were to not push you to your limit, Mistress."

As he turned to leave and Sakura tried not to frown at the unwanted honorific, Spinel glanced at Ruby, "Perhaps you will like some company . . . tomorrow . . . my sister is an excellent crash dummy . . ." He nodded to Sakura, "My sister could show you how not to land . . ."

Eriol chuckled as Ruby stood, "I am a perfect flyer . . . I just misjudge distances!"

"Ruby my dear, you are indeed a perfect flyer . . ." Eriol waved his guardian goodnight, as the two Moon guardians quit the room to transform. He looked at Sakura, "May I join you tomorrow?"

"Hai!"

"Then it must be a formal occasion!" Tomoyo sat up, and pulled at Sakura's sleeve, "Sakura, I will bring a beautiful costume so you can show your skills off to Hiirawagizawa-kun!"

"To-Tomoyo-chan . . ." Sakura blushed and wrinkled her nose slightly, "As long as I can wear my favourite cloak . . ."

"Hai!" Tomoyo smiled, inwardly gushing over her Sakura-chan's love of a cloak she had made four years ago.

"Daidouji-chan?"

Tomoyo smiled at Eriol, "Hai?"

"After all these years you still call me Hiirawagizawa-kun?" He smiled back, and took her hand, "Surely we are closer than that?" He shook his head and chuckled as she carefully lifted her hand out of his grasp. He turned to his cute little descendant, "I think she likes me . . ."

Syaoran rolled his eyes, "You've never changed . . ."

"Never." Eriol chuckled, and lifted his hand up to the bottle of wine. It poured into his glass easily, he offered to Syaoran who declined. "I forget you are so younger than I . . . Kinomoto-kun?"

Touya's eyes flickered slightly, but otherwise he remained still. "No, thank you . . . I think I've had enough . . ."

"Are you all right?" Eriol leant forward, "You've been very quiet."

Touya looked up, he was about to answer when he paused and looked at the door expectantly, a few seconds later, Yukito and Nakuru re-entered quietly. Yukito nodded to him, then looked to Eriol and Spinel, "I was just telling Nakuru-chan, what a pleasure it is to have you all back here in Japan . . ."

"As always, Tsukishiro-kun, as always, it is our pleasure . . ." Eriol glanced at Touya before he stood and shook the proffered hand, "Wine?"

"Please? Do we have any crackers?"

"You were very quiet, To-ya . . ."

Touya was still very tranquil. He smiled slightly as he helped to clear the table. "I am as quiet as I always have been . . ."

"No . . ." Yuki smiled knowingly, "You've been more so . . ."

The taller boy chuckled quietly, "Maybe."

The snow rabbit straightened, he had been living with Touya and Sakura since their father had died. Yue had requested it for his Mistress' sake, and Yuki had wanted to stay close to his lover. He and Touya and, to some extent, Yue had become closer since the trial against Eriol. The three had become very intimate, more so since Fujitaka had died. However something in Touya had changed slightly. Yukito stared at his lover, as Touya moved around the table slowly cleaning, the dark haired boy seemed bemused about something.

The few days after Fujitaka's death, Touya had been strong and silent for his sister, but at night he was almost inconsolable. Yue and Yuki had been there for him, always whether he needed to talk seriously about loss and the such or if he just needed someone to cuddle and make soothing noises. But about a year afterwards, Touya started to become a little more quiet. There wasn't any other word for it, it felt like (to Yuki) that Touya was simply stepping back away from them all and watching them. Over the last year, Yuki had been able to name this strange action of Touya's, it was just a single moment in time but still . . .

Yukito was humming to himself in the kitchen one day; he was baking as usual for a Tuesday, when suddenly he was aware he was being watched. He straightened up, and glanced at the door. Touya was stood there, his head tilted slightly. He was just staring at Yukito, a small smile tugging at his lips. Touya looked . . . bemused by Yuki's presence or perhaps the whole situation, but he was definitely *bemused*. He blinked and moved away just as silently as he had appeared.

It was becoming unnerving, and Yukito found himself waking up in Sakura's room more and more often . . .

"Tsukishiro-san . . ."

A quiet whisper, and a gentle touch just above his ear, ". . .or perhaps I should be calling you Yukito-kun, eh? Come, come now . . . you must wake . . ."

Yuki frowned slightly since when did Touya have such an English accent, "To-ya-kun?"

"Hai . . . come on, wake up now . . ."

Yukito raised his head, Touya was crouched down beside him, and once again he found himself in Sakura's room, Keroberos was nearby in his full form. He sighed, Yue had taken another walk, and he and Keroberos had had another one of their conferences. Yue had been very apologetic to Yuki, but he was becoming a little disturbed by Touya's constant . . . bemusedness.

Touya smiled, again there was a tint of bemused humour behind it, "Come now, my snowy one . . ."

Yukito blinked at the strange nickname, it seemed so familiar. "Why did you just call me that?"

"What?"

"My snowy one, why---?"

"Shh . . ." He glanced up to see if Yuki had woken Sakura, assured he hadn't he smiled at Yuki, "You are a snow rabbit, true?"

"Hai." Yukito blinked, he might have been without his glasses, and it might have just been a trick of the dim light, but Touya's eyes seemed to take on a highly pleased glint.

"You are my lover, true?"

"Hai."

"Therefore you are my snowy one," Touya tilted his head again, "Or is this not true?"

"It is . . . demo . . ."

Touya cupped his cheek, "But what? He smiled, and stood, "Come now, it's late . . ."

"To-ya-kun?"

"Hmmm?" Touya hummed absently, then looked up when Yukito didn't reply. He looked over; Eriol had caught the unconscious snow rabbit. "Konbanwa Eriol-san."

"Good evening, I just wanted to say thank you for allowing my guardians and I to stay . . ."

"You're welcome . . ." Touya smiled with slight bemusement, "But was it really necessary to knock him out?"

"Perhaps . . ." Eriol chuckled as he started to help clear the table, "It depends on you . . ."

"What do you mean?"

Eriol smiled, and clapped his hands. Every light inside the house turned on, prompting everyone to wake up, except for Yukito who continued to dose on the floor.

"Eriol-kun?" Sakura murmured as the group filed down, "Why have you woken everyone up?"

Eriol fell very serious, his eyes completely sombre as he announced, Clow's voice filtering through, "I've put Yukito into a very deep sleep . . . wake him . . . or he and Yue will die."

Sakura sobbed as she tried again, she fell to her knees and buried her face into Yukito's chest. "I can't do it! Nothing I do works!"

"Why have you done this?!" Syaoran grabbed the front of Eriol's tunic, "Damnit, undo it!"

Eriol coldly brushed his descendant's hands off and sat down calmly, he pulled out a silver pocket watch. "Time's ticking . . . if he is not woken by morning, he will die."

"Why are you doing this Clow?!" Keroberos growled, "I thought you---"

"I do!" Eriol's head snapped up, he was furious, "Don't ever question my love for you two!"

"Master . . ." Spinel tried to reason again, "If you do love him, then what you are doing---"

Eriol shook his head and coldly dismissed them all, "Wake him or he dies."

Four hours later, and Sakura still made no progress. Tomoyo and Syaoran tried their hardest to comfort her, Spinel and Ruby actually had to prevent Keroberos from killing Eriol. The only two that didn't seem at all emotional about the situation was Eriol and Touya.

Sakura was beside herself, no card she tried worked, and there was no spell she knew from her training that gave her any idea as to what she should do . . . "Eriol . . . please . . . why are you doing this to me?"

Eriol had stopped responding; with one hour to go, he stopped talking. Instead he'd glance at Touya, who would look back with a raised eyebrow, Eriol sighed and looked back at his watch.

Sakura started to scream as the clock turned to five minutes. Even the time card couldn't stop the onset of dawn. Ruby glanced out the window nervously, the first few rays of sunlight was beginning to move over the horizon. Spinel saw this too, but kept his position between Keroberos and his child-Master. Keroberos was snarling, and his claws were extended. He was going to kill Eriol if he didn't revoke his spell.

Syaoran wrapped his arms around Sakura, he had given up on threatening Eriol, and Tomoyo stared at Eriol. She was the only one who noticed that he was beginning to look a little nervous; he peered at his silver pocket watch.

Two minutes . . .

Eriol clenched his fists, and looked at the window, the first pink rays of light began to work it's way down the wall, Ruby held her hand up to cover her eyes as the butterfly winged girl was the first to be hit by the sunlight. She whimpered, "Hiirawagizawa-sama . . . the dawn!"

Keroberos trembled as the sunlight hit the top of his wings, "Eriol! You cannot kill my brother!"

Spinel abandoned his station and turned to look at Eriol, surely he wouldn't allow his creation to die like this . . .

Tomoyo closed her eyes and started to weep as the sunlight hit her next, she felt it's warm light travel down her, almost eager to fall on Yukito and kill the grey haired boy. Syaoran slid his hand over Sakura's mouth as she started to scream even more for her brother's lover, the little wolf held Eriol's eyes and mouthed, 'Please don't do this . . .'

Eriol clenched his fists harder, feeling his fingernails piece his skin. He closed his eyes as the light began to bath Sakura totally and started towards the last person. He couldn't take it anymore.

Eriol pushed up and out of his feet and opened his mouth to shout.

"I, Clow Reed, command thee to awaken! Spell, Release!"

Yukito frowned as the sunlight hit his face, he rolled on to his side and opened his eyes, Keroberos was trembling and actually leaning against a shocked Spinel sun, Ruby Moon was crumpled on the floor, her knees unable to cope with her relief. He felt a hand on his shoulder, Sakura was tearful as she asked quietly, "Yuki-kun, are you . . . are you okay?"

Yukito sat up, and wrapped his arms around Sakura, "Yes, yes . . . I'm fine!" He chuckled gently, ". . . I must have dosed off . . ."

He pulled away and looked around, Touya was stood staring at him, and Eriol was shuffling back, he sat in the chair, relief plain in his features. "Nani?" Yukito blinked as he looked from Eriol to Touya and back.

Eriol stared at him, his eyes slightly wet. He rested an elbow on the table and pressed the back of his fingers against his mouth, the reincarnation snorted quietly, "I am a stubborn, stubborn man Yukito . . . I apologise to everyone . . ." the half reincarnation looked at Touya. It was Touya who had issued the command to wake Yukito, and since Eriol had cast a spell that only Clow Reed, his reincarnations, or the direct owner of his magic could undo, Touya dropped his hand and the ice amethyst blue magic circle beneath his feet faded.

Touya glanced at Eriol, then at Yukito. He turned and sat on the other side of the table. Yukito came to the same realisation as everyone else in the house as Touya and Eriol continued to stare at him, crossed their legs at the same time, folded their hands in their laps in the same way, and then glanced at each other. "Stubborn, stubborn man indeed . . ." they muttered darkly at each other.

"What just happened?"

Sakura looked from her brother and then to Eriol, she had composed herself after the spell Eriol had cast upon Yukito had been broken. She looked at her brother again who had stayed completely silent since he broke Eriol's spell. He looked back at her, and smiled slightly. Yukito sat on the floor slightly shaken by what he and the rest of the group had realised.

Kinomoto Touya was in possession of half of Clow Reed's magic.

"It makes sense." Eriol smiled, as he helped Ruby to her feet, she was still trembling from the idea that Eriol would be capable of killing one of them, he had left it to the very last second, the last possible instance before he made a move to help Yukito and Yue. Only Touya had broken just a fraction of second before him. Ruby looked at Touya, "But I don't sense anything from him . . ."

Eriol chuckled quietly again, "That would be because he is hiding it and hiding it very well . . . I must say."

Touya stood, he didn't look very happy about being discovered, Sakura jumped up and ran after him as he paced into the kitchen.

"Oniichan . . .?"

Touya smiled, and leant back against the kitchen table, "Kaijuu?"

Sakura blinked and smiled back, at least it meant he hadn't changed. "Why did you hide from me?"

He shook his head, "I didn't want to make things harder . . . I wanted to deal with the power and the---"

"To-ya!" Yukito rushed in, and then skidded to a halt, "Gomen . . . but it's true?"

Touya nodded once, "Yes it is . . ." He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Yukito, "I'm sorry for not acting faster but—"

"I hate being tested . . ." Eriol smiled as he held the door open, "We have much to discuss . . ."

Touya nodded slightly, "Indeed we do . . ." He held his hand to his sister, "Kaijuu?"

Sakura growled playfully, "I am not a kaijuu!"

Something in Touya changed slightly, as he murmured, "Of course you're not . . ." But then it was gone, and he spoke much louder, "Come along, kaijuu!"

Sakura blinked as she took his hand, and they entered the living room once more together. Tomoyo and Syaoran were talking quietly with Keroberos. The lion was growling softly, and they were trying to calm him down. He looked up at Touya, "You left it damned close!"

Touya inclined his head, and knelt by Kero, "Gomen Keroberos . . . but I do not . . ."

"Like being tested, I know, I know . . ." Kero growled as he looked at Yukito, "But that was too close for comfort . . . surely there must have been another way!"

Touya glanced at Eriol who shrugged and shook his head, the younger boy glanced back at the winged lion, "Is there nothing that will pacify you?" He lifted his hands, "Perhaps . . ." A small golden ball of magic formed, ". . . a ball?" He lifted his hand and tipped the golden ball of magic on to the end of Kero's nose. The growling stopped, and Kero looked utterly focused as he allowed the ball to roll back and forth on his nose. He chuckled slightly, but his eyes were serious as they flittered towards Eriol, "This doesn't get you off the hook."

Eriol smiled and shook his head, "Nothing ever could."

Touya stepped back and looked at his sister, she stared at him speculatively. Touya quickly ran a hand through his hair, and wondered idly if he was confusing her, or scaring her, "Are you all right?"

She nodded, "I'm fine . . ." She pulled him aside as the rest of the group watch Kero play with the ball of magic, "Oniichan . . ." She chided quietly, "You could have told me!"

Touya sank down beside her, "I didn't want to worry you . . ."

"You wouldn't worry me!" Sakura laughed slightly, ". . . What does it feel like?"

"What?" He said as she knelt in front of him.

"Clow's magic." She gestured her hands in a wide circle, "I have the cards, and I know it's warm, but how does it feel to have the actual magic?"

"It too is warm, but in my case it is also very cold . . ." He chuckled at her confused expression, he nodded towards Eriol, "He has the half of the magic that is very Sun orientated, he had to be able to play with you easily without his more protective instincts getting in the way . . . our father had to be able to protect you . . ." He smiled and ruffled her hair, "Understand?" Sakura shook her head slightly. Touya nodded, "That's all right . . . I haven't made it quite clear; Keroberos is your Sun guardian correct?" She nodded, and he continued slowly, "He is playful, not completely overbearing, protective but still prone to playing games correct?"

Sakura glanced at Keroberos, who had rolled onto his back now, she smiled, "Hai!"

Touya chuckled, "That is the influence of the sun, he is strong for you, but still he made collecting the cards a more fun experience for you . . . if you had had Yue, a guardian of the Moon . . . would you have had as much fun?"

"Yue is—"

He is nice, but he is not going to play games with you as easily, is he? Touya looked at Yukito, a feeling of sadness rolling over his heart, some part of his mind murmuring softly, // Not anymore, but there was a time . . .//

Sakura shook her head, "No . . . I guess not, but he . . ."

". . . Is Moon orientated, he is loyal to you, he will always protect you . . . nothing can come between his Master and Yue."

Sakura blinked as she absorbed this, "But I want to be his friend . . . will that be all right? I mean rather than being his Master . . ."

Her brother nodded, "Of course it is . . ." He glanced up, and stared at Yukito intently. He smiled as his restored second sight allowed him to watch Yue blinked and turn his head, and then Yuki do the exact same thing a few seconds later. Yukito smiled, as Yue frowned and went back to sleep. Touya shook his head, he would have to talk to Yue later, the angel was evidently a little perturbed by the idea of Clow and Touya being one. He returned his attention back to his sister, "That is why I say my magic feels very cold, it is of the Moon . . ."

"I understand . . ." Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck, "Still . . ." She said quietly, hugging him tightly, "You could have told me about the magic!"

Touya held her tightly, what he was going to say made him feel nervous but he knew he had to say it. "I don't think the magic is all I got . . ."

"Hoe?" Sakura pulled back to look him in the eye. Touya sighed; he looked at Keroberos and Yue again.

"For Yue's first birthday, I gave him the Glow card, he loves small things that glow and float . . ." He smiled fondly, "And Keroberos I gave the Flower for he loves summer and the many flowers it brings."

"Nani?" Sakura blinked, "What do you mean?"

Touya looked back at her, his deep blue eyes deeply serious, "I have Clow's memories as well."

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

And Now It's Time For LEAVE IT TO DOCTOR MEGALOMANIA!!

Clow: let me just say this one thing . . . you suck at cliffies. . .

DrM: bite me. [Turns back on Clow, unaware Clow has suddenly magicked himself a pair of brand new fangs]

Yue: [Shakes head sadly, and closes curtains] so anyway . . . may I introduce people to the official first Cardcaptor Sakura chapter of this story. . .

Tomoyo: finally!! Now Sakura-chan can have all the limelight she wants!! [Turns video camera on Saurian] what the---?!

Saurian: [growls] That there is fightin' talk there, Dark Ice Angel . . . them are manly man words. I'll have you knocked down in less than five minutes! [Gets cocky now] oh yeah, you be down. On the floor. Beggin' mercy and saying, 'Oh great Saurian! I'm so sorry for mocking you!! Don't eat me!!' and I'll be like, 'Mwha ha ha ha!!' and then you'd be like, 'Oh no!!'

Touya: [clears throat] Uh, Saurian, buddy, the microphone is switched to on . . . [sniggers as Saurian Runs away like a little girl] anyway, thank you all for your wonderful reviews, esp. the ones that are suggesting where the stories going next . . . [Leans closer] let me let you in on a little secret, DrM's been working on this fic since she finished Tainted Soul, technically speaking she's always about five or six chapters ahead just in case of a strike of Writer's Block . . .

Yuki: That and in case she's making something too obvious so she can change the direction of the story . . . [Shakes head at DrM] for shame . . .

DrM: [Defensive of writing policies] hey, it's the only way I can update so regularly, and stuff needs to get beta-read by the ever intangible Bluegoo, [rubs neck] And Clow, next time you wanna get neck-y, please remove the fangs . . . they hurt! Anyhoo . . . I hope you enjoyed this much longer chapter, and trust me the chapters are gonna get longer from now on . . . I hope you can keep up!! Please R&R and I'll see you in the next chapter . . . hopefully!!