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.

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

By Dr Megalomania

Part Six: Nightly Musings

Touya watched with some amusement as Tomodachi picked up Keroberos. The guardian was frozen, pretending that he was a stuffed toy; Tomodachi turned him upside down and peered at the small yellow bear with some interest. He frowned slightly as Tomodachi started to poke and prod the guardian, almost as if he was testing Kero as a judge would at a dog show. He ran a finger over the wings gently, testing the feathers; he lifted Keroberos' jaw, and nodded to himself. He tilted his head, and peered at Spinel sun, "They are interesting . . . stuffed toys . . ." Touya hid a smirk as Kero's back straightened imperceptibly, Tomodachi set Keroberos down and turned to Touya, "Are they yours?"

He smiled, "No . . . My sister's is the gold, and her friend owns the blue . . ."

"Your sister?" Tomodachi pointed at the wall, Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo and Eriol having gone into the kitchen to prepare dinner for the night, "That little girl?"

"She's not so little . . ." Touya murmured, he stood and picked up Keroberos and Spinel by the scruff of their necks, "Excuse me a moment . . . Would you like some tea?"

"Please . . . Weak if you will, I have little tolerance for caffeine," Tomodachi smiled charmingly, "Kinomoto-san."

Touya smiled as he walked into the corridor and let the two go, "Go upstairs, out of the way . . ." He whispered to them both, Kero nodded, and tapped Spinel. The two flew up as quickly as they could; Touya smiled and shook his head, walking away to the kitchen.

As Touya stepped out of the room, Tomodachi smiled and paced over to Yukito. The snow rabbit was still sleeping deeply, still affected by the small spell. He knelt by Yukito's side, smiling as he brushed the dapple grey hair away, the others . . . despite their advanced magic . . . couldn't sense anything from him. His mistress' spell was perfect in everyway. He looked up as he felt the other moon guardian come towards the room, she pushed her head in quietly, he smiled at her, "Konbanwa . . . Ano . . ." He paused as if he had forgotten her name, "Akizuki-san?"

Nakuru nodded and moved closer, she narrowed her eyes as he looked away from her. She could feel the moon in him, he had some sort of magic but . . . somehow, he was managing to . . .

"You're wondering why I am of the moon?"

Nakuru nodded, and sat beside Yukito's side, slipping her hand into his. She squeezed it slightly, wishing he would wake up. Tomodachi stood and moved away, he paused by the window and looked back at her, "My family have a long association with the moon . . . even though we practice western magic . . ." He smiled slightly, and looked out the window, "We have links with the eastern school of arts . . ."

"Who are 'we'?" Nakuru asked quietly, but looked down as she felt Yukito squeeze her hand, "Yukito?"

"Hai?" She looked up, and found Tomodachi looking at her, he smiled wanly, "Gomen . . . I thought you meant me . . . my first name is Yukito also . . ." He nodded to Yue's false form, "His name?"

"Tsukishiro Yukito . . ." She answered quietly, "Yukito was returning to consciousness."

Touya smiled, trying not to let Clow's annoyance slip through, Tomodachi Yukito was staring at him again. Yukito was in a light dose now, and Sakura was tending him. Tomodachi sank back in the armchair, running a pale finger over the cup's rim slowly, and even in the crowded room, he focused purely on Touya, his eyes occasionally flitting to Yukito.

"So, you're from England?" Eriol piped up, sensing Clow's annoyance from Touya.

"We recently returned to Japan . . ." Tomodachi laughed gently, "How could you tell?"

"The accent." Eriol smiled back, just as falsify as Touya was. "You say 'returned'?"

"Indeed, I lived most of my life in England, then about four years ago . . ." Tomodachi stared directly at Eriol, searching his eyes. Eriol held his expression still, as the green eyed boy continued just as flowingly, "My aunt, uprooted us and came here . . . which reminds me, Kinomoto-san . . . the name . . ." Tomodachi pressed two fingers against his temple, "Kinomoto . . . the name sounds familiar . . . there was a murder around these parts, wasn't there? . . . A Fujitaka Kino---"

"Kinomoto Fujitaka was our father." Touya straightened, his hand clamped tightly on Sakura's shoulder.

"Ah . . ." Tomodachi lifted his hands in a surrender gesture, "Please forgive me, I have little or no tack, please accept my greatest sympathies . . ."

"You have an excellent memory," Eriol observed quietly. "For a name of a murder four years ago."

Tomodachi smiled slightly, "The death happened to coincide with the death of someone I loved very dearly . . ." He glanced at Touya again, his finger brushing over the rim, "I loved him dearly . . . I felt like a part of me died with him."

"If you don't mind me asking . . ." Nakuru poured some more tea, she glanced at him, then at Eriol, she didn't trust this man, there was something planned about him, he knew them in some way, something she couldn't fathom, she looked back at Tomodachi before continuing quietly, "Who was he to you?"

"My mentor . . . He created me." Tomodachi smiled at her sudden tense look, "He created my imagination . . . He was my inspiration; I'm a bit of an actor." He settled his deep green eyes on Touya, who drew a quiet breath. "I always seem to be playing a part in everything I do."

"Really?"

"Yes." Tomodachi was unblinking as he answered Touya's question, "Forgive me . . ." He smiled gently, "For my unforgivable rudeness, my staring at you, but you do bear a remarkable resemblance to him."

"Do I?" Touya asked quietly, he restrained himself from taking a step closer to Yukito. Tomodachi stood, and walked over slowly, his green eyes unsettlingly warm as the shorted man took Touya's hand. There was a quiet pause before he turned, to face the rest. "Forgive me . . . I must say I've imposed enough . . ."

Sakura stood, glancing at her brother, before smiling at Tomodachi. "Iie, it's okay . . . we just weren't expecting company . . . please stay until Yukito-kun wakes, and then he can thank you properly."

Tomodachi blinked and stared at Sakura. For the first time that night, Nakuru noticed, Tomodachi looked as if he wasn't expecting that response.

Yukito smiled as he thanked Tomodachi again for his help, apologising profusely for his fainting on the doorstep. Tomodachi smiled politely, "Iie . . . it's all right . . . I am just glad I have been of service . . ." He paused and looked around the street, Yukito wrapped his arms around himself, feeling the cold. The rest had all said their goodbyes and had retreated into the warmth. Tomodachi pulled his black gloves taunt, "Yue . . ."

Yukito tensed, feeling Yue stir slightly at the sound of his name.

Tomodachi looked up into the night sky, "It's the Chinese word for moon . . ." He looked at Yukito, "It's so fascinating . . . it's often easy to see why some people would fall for the moon rather than the stars . . ."

Yukito frowned, "Nani?"

Tomodachi laughed slightly, "I love Yue . . ." Yuki's eyes widened as Tomodachi closed his eyes, and sighed, "Gomen nasai . . ." he chuckled, "My little obsession . . . the moon to me is an object of love and hate . . ."

Yukito felt Yue wince, "But you said your family . . ."

"Have this link with the moon . . . and the sun and the stars . . ." Tomodachi walked back to Yukito, and held his hands, "It doesn't matter right now, all that matters is that you are safe now . . ." The dark haired boy pulled Yukito towards him, "Demo . . ." He whispered into Yukito's pale ear, "I would sleep as much as I could if I were you . . ." He leant back and smiled, "You'll need ever drop of energy."

Yukito blinked at him and was about to ask what he meant when Tomodachi leant forward and pressed his lips against Yukito's gently, the kiss was soft, barely a breath's caress. Yukito's eyes slid shut as a warm familiar feeling rolled over him; it was like being near Touya, or even Sakura and Keroberos . . . it was a kiss of magic.

Tomodachi broke the kiss just as Yukito leant in for more. He smiled gently, stroking Yuki's cheek slowly with his gloved hand, "Shall I see you later?"

"Iie . . . I mean, I'm . . . uh, I'm with. . ." Yukito shook his head, his common sense breaking through, "I'm . . . with Touya-kun . . ."

"Ah . . . Tomodachi smiled again and walked away, he paused at the stone gate, "Perhaps I shall see you at school then . . .?"

It was all Yukito could do, but nod.

As soon as the door slid shut, Tomodachi Yukito smirked cruelly before being enveloped by black scaly wings. The being that stood in his place was silent as he flew back to his perch on a close building. Hei-ying felt a stab of pain in his heart as he realised that there was no star guardian with the child reincarnation, his eye narrowed, Clow had obviously prompted his reincarnation not to make the same mistake as-- //I am not a mistake!// Some hateful voice spat in his mind, he sighed and looked away. The hate filled voice had been goading his actions since he had performed his first murder. He tipped his head back and stared at the night sky, the snow drifted down around him softly.

The snow behind him crunched quietly as his new mistress approached him, "Is that it?"

He turned to find her and his new brother staring at the small house, "Yes . . . There were others there . . . the Li clan head, the mistress of the cards, the other reincarnation . . . his guardians . . . and the magic, the cards, everything under that roof . . ."

"Pathetic . . ." She murmured, her black eyes staring at the warm home, "Simply pathetic . . ."

The autumn orange dragon coiled on her shoulder lifted his sinewy head and glared, "They are all there . . ." He hissed temptingly into her ear, "We could kill them now mistress . . . The balance would be restored . . ."

Once again they were stood here, Hei-ying reflected as he had four years ago. Staring at the house, tentative sensings, looking at what was there . . . Her eyes flickered to the side as she listened to the dragon, then back at the house, "No . . ." She murmured, she laughed gaily, "No Saurian, we . . . will watch them," Her voice dipped to a deadly whisper, "We will watch for their every weakness . . . every flaw, failing, disadvantage . . . every limitation . . . and then we will rip. Them. Out . . ." Her voice was dripping with a deep fury that had become her soul's pursuit, "And I . . . I, the *rightful* Clow Reed, will reclaim *my* cards!"

Hei-ying inclined his head slightly, "And my brothers?"

His mistress' lips curled in a cruel smile, "Do with Keroberos as you please . . . but I want Yue." She nodded and turned away; Hei-ying remained for a few seconds, staring at the small house before joining her.

"Helpful as always, Snowy One . . ." He murmured quietly, "Helpful as always . . ."

He looked at the clock. "Midnight . . .?" Yukito murmured as he felt Yue quietly ask for control. They had come to some agreement over the years, Yue would ask for control, just like Yukito would as for control back. Yue breathed in slightly, and got up. Yukito's bed, Yukito's bedroom was Touya's old room. Touya had taken his father's after Yukito had moved in and, after a few nights when Sakura needed him, Yue requested a room for the two of them so when his mistress needed him, Yue could leave his bed without fear of disturbing anyone else.

Yue rose silently, and looked around, when they had first moved in Yue had kept a tight control over Yuki, insisting that their room be as tidy and as orderly as their last home together had been. He smiled slightly as he picked up Yuki's first act of rebellion, it was to place a large white rabbit on their bed, he turned the rabbit over and placed it back on their bed. Sighing, he lifted his head, "Oniichan . . . Even if I was in Yukito's form, I would hear you . . ."

There was a sharp bright gold glow as Keroberos' large form came into existence. The lion bounced up onto Yue's bed as Yue folded his legs under him. They faced each other for a few moments, neither speaking much, Keroberos sighed and looked out the window, "Did you know you finished Yukito's apple and then started your own?"

Yue shook his head, "Iie. What can it mean, Oniichan?" He raised his hand and petted Keroberos, his voice taking on a softer, more childlike tone . . . Keroberos smiled slightly, it was slightly more adult than Yukito's . . . it was Yue's true voice. Not the harsh cold voice he scared Sakura with, not the charming little rabbit's voice he flirted with, it was Yue's real voice. The lion purred and leaned into the petting. "Little one . . ."

"Hai?"

"What have you been thinking about lately?"

The petting stopped, only for a second, but it was enough to make Kero open his eyes. Yue smiled slightly, "I have been thinking about what this means . . . Touya and Eriol are both Clow Reed re-born . . . but Sakura is our mistress . . . Eriol told me that he would not take us away from Sakura because he is not Clow Reed . . . Touya is Yukito's lover and I also feel—"

Kero held up a paw, "Whoa, whoa . . . Slow down, first let us deal with one fact at one time, little one . . . all right?" Yue nodded, Kero shuffled closer and leant against Yue as the moon angel wrapped around him, "Okay . . . First let us deal with Clow Reed. Clow Reed, as much as it hurts to know, is dead."

"Demo Eriol—"

"Hai, hai. Eriol is Clow Reed reborn . . . demo, he is also Hiirawagizawa Eriol. Hai?" Yue sighed and closed his eyes, smiling slightly as he felt Keroberos' rumbling voice in his chest, "Next, Eriol cannot take us from Sakura because he is not Clow Reed. He is merely Clow Reed reborn as someone else . . . like . . . saving data in a memory cartage and using it on a different console."

Yue opened his eyes, "I am not familiar with that term . . ."

Keroberos chuckled, "I forget, little one, you do not play video games . . ." Yue rolled his eyes and nodded, Keroberos continued, "It's like . . . ano, do you remember Eriol pulling out one of Clow's note books?"

"Hai."

"Hmmm . . . it's like that, Eriol is merely reading from Clow's book. Understand?"

". . . No."

Keroberos started to laugh, "Why is it when you make all those seemingly deep metaphors about life and such things everyone stares at you in awe and when I say something like that I just get confusion . . ."

Spinel fluttered over to his sister's side, "Are you sleeping?"

"No."

"Good . . ." Spinel turned into his larger form and lay himself down beside her, feeling her arms wrap about his form quickly, they two were silent as they dozed in the living room, alone. They had often slept like this, closer and warm. They had done this more when they came to Japan; uprooted suddenly, and brought to a country they had no practical knowledge about only the language and a few cultural tips. Spinel shuffled closer to his sister, feeling her breath upon his furry cheek, and smiled as he remember the night she realised she had first lost to Yue. She was almost inconsolable, convinced that she had failed The Master. They had comforted each other then, through a mere closeness, their true natural ways linked properly.

It was called the yin-yang effect most commonly, opposites attract. Between most magical creatures like Spinel and Kero, Yue and Ruby, the yin-yang effect took place because one was of the sun, the other was of the moon. Basically, it translated to a feeling of . . . not quite love, not quite family respect, but something that not even The Master could put a name to. It was merely the yin-yang effect, Spinel and Ruby would be together forever, they could fight like cat and butterfly girl, but when the yin-yang effect took them, they'd feel the inexplicable need to be closer.

Spinel looked up, the moon was full. He turned his eyes up to the ceiling, and wondered if Yue and Keroberos were feeling it too. Ruby yawned and rolled on to her back, her delicate wings disappearing in a sharp pink light. Spinel rested his head on her chest, and purred, "Oyasumi-nasai . . ." he smiled and purred deeper, wrapping his tail around her feet as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Oyasumi-nasai Spinel-chan . . ."

Syaoran stared at the ceiling, pointedly trying to ignore the feeling of Sakura's fallen hand near his head. Turning his head slightly, he looked at Eriol, the blue haired boy was either asleep with his eyes open or . . .

A smile quirked Eriol's lip, "Would you like to go for a walk, descendant?" He sat up and motioned his glasses over. The wired rimmed spectacles flew into Eriol's hand as Syaoran stood, "Hai . . ."

Sakura opened her eyes as soon as she heard the door quietly shut, she sighed and closed her eyes. "Sakura-chan?"

"Hai?"

Tomoyo sat up, and blindly crawled towards her best friend, "Are you okay?"

"Hai!" Sakura reached out and grabbed her friend's hand as she held it out. Once again the brief question sprung up in her mind, how did they do that? How did they know where the other was? Kero had mentioned in passing that magic attracted magic, but Sakura never noticed any magic . . . she smiled as she tugged Tomoyo closer, //Then again . . . I'm not the most observant of people . . .//

"I'm glad Syaoran-kun and Eriol-kun feel able to talk to each other . . ." Tomoyo chuckled, "It's nice to know that they are getting on better now . . ."

"Me too . . ." Sakura held on to her friend in the darkness, the two girls curled around each other as they had done many times before, "I'm glad too . . ."

"I'm not entirely sure . . . nothing really sticks in my mind about the vision. I know I have seen something, I know there is something coming, but I . . ."

Eriol folded one arm over the other and unconsciously mimicked Syaoran's posture. The two were stood on the roof, and it was three o'clock in the morning. Syaoran sighed and murmured a few quiet words. Eriol watched as his descendant practiced with his sword. It calmed him, the cold swish of the blade in the air, the utter concentration required. Eriol shook his head, neither he nor his former life had been particularly very liking of the sword training his mother and favourite uncle had forced on them. Eriol smiled and stepped into the air, his magic circle providing Syaoran with a little light.

Syaoran growled as he felt Eriol bring a construct into existence behind him, he drove the sword into each target Eriol provided. He was aware Eriol was now sitting in the air, arms and legs crossed, occasionally moving to provide a faster and more challenging target for him to fight.

A half hour later, the constructs disappeared completely, Syaoran bowed quickly to his distant relative, and dropped to a knee. Eriol shivered slightly, as he watch Syaoran wash his face quickly with the fresh snow. Syaoran panted slightly and glanced at him, his chocolate brown eyes bright with his exercise. "What did you see?"

Eriol looked up, "I saw . . . Clow Reed. He was . . ." Eriol shook his head, "He was wrong though . . . it wasn't Clow Reed, merely something in his shape . . . it wanted to know why I was living this life while it was dying . . ." He tilted his head back and sank to crouch with Syaoran, "I saw all of us, but I am not sure . . . the information came too much too fast for me to comprehend . . . all I know is that something is coming . . ."

"Something coming for Sakura?"

"Perhaps."

Touya looked into the living room, Ruby and Spinel were hovering in the air wrapped around each other, their magic filling the room with a thick warm feeling. He smiled and continued up the stairs, he could feel Eriol and Syaoran moving around on the roof, he could feel Sakura sleeping easily, her dreams as sweet and charming as always . . . Tomoyo was nearby as well. Touya paused outside the door to his sister's room, it felt extraordinary, he was so powerful now . . . he could feel Tomoyo as well; he noted with some interest she had a very, very minor magical aura. Probably influenced by being around so many powerful people, but still it was enough for her to see magic when it was pointed out to her.

Touya walked on, pausing outside his old room's door. He smiled as he pressed his hand against the wood, he could feel Keroberos and Yue in there. They too excluding the same amount of magic as Ruby and Spinel were downstairs, //It's called the Yin-Yang Effect . . .// Clow explained gently, //I used it to keep Keroberos and Yue protective of each other . . . it's the closest thing you can get to a blood relationship between magical constructs.//

Touya blinked and pushed the door open, like Ruby and Spinel, Yue and Keroberos were floating in the air, unlike the two down stairs, Keroberos and Yue wrapped their wings around each other. //They used to do this when they were younger . . .// Clow smiled within Touya's memory, showing Touya the memories he had of this. Touya smiled and closed the door. He strolled down to his own room, his father's old room; he paused before entering his room.

Looking up, he closed his eyes and tried out a newly taught skill . . .

Syaoran and Eriol winced as Touya's message to them came in a little too loud. They glanced at each other and laughed, "Next lesson, we'll teach him to be quieter."

Eriol grinned, "Indeed . . ." He yawned, and held his hand out to Syaoran, to help the little wolf down, "But in the morning, Syaoran-kun . . . in the morning . . ." 

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And Now It's Time To Leave It To---

Saurian: ME!!! [Grins] oh, yeah . . . lookit, us baddies have taken over your A/Ns . . . Yeah, think about it!!

Kyree: [chants] We evil, and we mean, we evil and we mean . . . [Forms conga-line with Saurian, chants] We Evil and We mean, we evil and we mean, we evil and we mean . . . Hei-ying baby, sing it with me!

Hei-ying: [Joins Conga-line]

All: [chants] We evil and we mean! We evil and we mean! We evil and we mean!

Clow: [raises eyebrow] I dunno what's going on, and I don't think I should ask--- DRM!

DrM: [chants] We evil and we mean, we evil and--- [blinks] I'm sorry, but it's catchy . . . ahem, anyway, short chapter I know, so to make up for it, I'll be putting up the next chapter with it, More Hei-ying! And for everyone who wants more Yue and Touya---

Yue: [chants] more Touya and Yue, more Touya and Yue!

DrM: yeessss. . . quite, ahem, that's coming next update, Touya/Clow finally has enough. [Rejoins conga line]

All: [Chanting] You read it, please review it. You read it, please review it. You read it, please review it.

DrM: Oh and a quick side note, to anyone who has concerns about me killing everyone in this fic . . . I'm NOT going to kill everyone, I'm not, and to prove this fact I can tell you for concrete absolute fact, Hiirawagizawa Eriol will make it to the end of this fic, relatively un-dead . . . anyone else . . . [giggles evilly] it's pretty much fifty-fifty.