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
[Another Chapter brought to you with a little help from the Ever Intangible Bluegoo!! Yes, I do worship the ground she walks on for helping me here!! Go, go . . . later and read her fics!! Also as a special note: The first scene of this chapter I dedicate to Clow'd9. {Giggles} that was a brilliant idea, and I hadn't actually thought of it . . . thank you!! I'd also just like to mention, Caroltrue – an excellent artist, has sent me another piece of fanart, this time Touya in his robes! How cool is that?! Brilliant!!]
Part Sixteen: No Matter What
A cool breeze combined with the light rain, a warmer reprieve from the recent freezing snow. Shiny black boots scuffed the ground as he swung back and forth, strands of his false form's long, dark brown hair brushed around his face as he stared at the ground. His hair was slightly mussed from his rush to get away from the foreboding mansion of his mistress, from her smirking stares, and Saurian's latest feast. A young girl, one he'd seen around the card mistress, had been unfortunate to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time. He glanced up, and stared at the rain puddle; revelling in his false form's almost perfect sight. One eye was forever weaker than the other, but still he enjoyed being about to see through two eyes for once. Hei-ying chuckled and shook his head to get rid of the melancholy feelings, and tipped his head back a bit more. The rain was blissfully unaware of the troubles, and cheerfully got heavier.
"You're out early . . ." A quiet voice observed, Tomodachi turned in his swing to find Yukito standing behind him. The snow rabbit stood there numbly, a hard look in his eyes, and a soft smile playing over his lips. Yue was clearly in control. Tomodachi smiled slightly and turned away, they were winning. He smiled more as he heard Yukito shuffle closer, and push his swing slightly. Yukito leant down as Tomodachi swung back to him, "Very early indeed . . . even if you felt someone in pain . . ."
Tomodachi slid off the stilled swing and lifted on knee to rest on it. He leant towards Yukito, "I couldn't sleep . . . actually . . ."
"Oh?" A quiet disappointment unlined Yukito's glib question.
The green eyed boy smiled and leant closer, "But then . . ." He lifted a gloved hand and pressed it against Yukito's cheek a stark contrast of his black glove on Yukito's soft cheek. The snow rabbit closed his eyes as Tomodachi leant closer, brushing his lips over Yukito's, "I was hoping you'd come . . ."
Tomodachi pressed his lips against Yukito's, jade eyes shutting, breathing in the sweet scent of his brother. He pulled back, not willing to go further just yet.
". . . To me . . ." He whispered, before wrapping his arms around the grey haired boy. He smiled slightly as he felt Yukito wake up, stiffening against Yue's actions. Yukito's eyes were opened wide, as he felt Tomodachi take his surprise as incentive to deepen the kiss. //To-ya . . . I'm sorry . . . //
Tomodachi smiled into the kiss, his sweet little brother . . . he raised his hand against the middle of Yukito's back, directing a little magic to the wing joint. He closed his eyes and allowed his lust for Yue to take over.
Yukito weakened and Yue took over, responding to the kiss, and to the pressure on his wing joint. Yukito felt his eyelids droop, his consciousness fading as Yue pushed his tongue against Tomodachi's.
// . . . To-ya . . .//
The next few days were hard to say the least.
Yukito had stumbled in a few hours after Yue had left, a cool distant look in his eyes. He didn't discuss what had happened, didn't ask why Eriol was mending Sakura's nose with magic, why Ruby was sporting a hot red hand mark on her cheek. Keroberos kept his distance, offering smiles to the snow rabbit and receiving blank stares. Yukito was unaware of everything; Yue simply wouldn't let him see the damage his outburst had caused.
All Yukito knew was that Yue was meeting Tomodachi nearly every night at the playground. The two would simply talk for hours, Yukito growled quietly to himself as Yue pushed him back. The angel wanted control but didn't want to risk showing his true form to Tomodachi. Yuki had approached Yue one night, asking quietly how Yue could treat him like this but Yue's always cold reply was //Because I can. I don't know why I waste my time even talking to you . . . you're nothing but a false form for me . . . a façade!//
That . . . hurt. More than words or emotions could speak, it hurt.
And every morning was getting harder as he felt Yue's anger starting to boil over. Touya and Nakuru were treating him with kid gloves, afraid he'd explode again, but every time he tried to ask them what was wrong he felt Yue put a false smile on his face and ask about his next helping of food.
The only thing that really helped any was, that with the strange harsh snowstorms increasing, and in the case of Sakura's school, the announcing of Li Meilin's rather abrupt death and the total disappearance of Terada Rika, both schools were allowed an extra month's holiday.
Yukito sighed as he climbed into Touya's bed; at least this was something Yue allowed him. To keep his relationship with Touya alive. Touya stepped in and smiled tiredly, "Are you okay?"
Yuki nodded, and opened his mouth to speak . . .
. . . and moaned inwardly as Yue forced him to sleep.
Touya kept his eyes shut as the bed creaked. The mattress dipped slightly as Yue carefully slipped out from behind him and walked softly from the room. Light played against his closed lids as the door opened and shut soundlessly, handled with infinite care.
The warm space beside him was rapidly cooling.
His best friend's scent still hung in the air around him, but his familiar presence was gone, and he wouldn't be back.
When, by accident, he'd first caught Yukito/Yue doing this a few days ago he had assumed the magical being was getting a drink, or some fresh air, or even stretching his wings. After a few minutes of waiting for him to return sleep reclaimed him and he had thought nothing of it in the morning.
But now . . .
He squeezed his eyes tighter against unexpected pain. It happened *every* night. When Yue thought he was asleep.
The angel would just get up and leave . . . and Touya didn't know where he went, he wasn't in the house anymore, this he could feel, and the faint click of the front door confirmed that Yukito had left the house. He could guess why Yue was allowing Yukito to sleep with Touya still . . . so he could make it absolutely clear, while the false form still loved him, the true form was rejecting him. And since Yue was the dominant personality, the more powerful . . . Touya grabbed a fist full of bed sheets and twisted them. After the events at Eriol's home, it was so hard not to be scared of what Yue would do to Yukito. Yuki's appetite had dropped, and it almost seemed like Yue was trying to starve the snow rabbit. That blank, glassy look in his eyes made Touya hurt more than anything. Even when Yuki and Yue were dissipating, their magic levels dropping dangerously; never had their eyes lost that sparkle. Touya sighed and rolled onto his back, mentally quashing Clow's instinctive need to chase after Yue. He needed to be alone . . . Touya knew, could feel it, Yue needed to be alone, to sort out his feelings.
He reached out with his senses and felt Keroberos stir restlessly, the old lion was one of the people who were suffering the most under this. Yukito could hardly acknowledge his presence and Yue was never around. He sighed as he felt Yue put Sakura's door under a temporary lock spell to give himself enough time to escape the house without Kero following. Touya threw an arm over his face, and stared into the darkness. "To live again, one more . . ."
". . . Time . . ." Mystrasa Kyree whispered, as she watched Yukito get on his bike and ride towards the playground. She smiled as she touched the roof of the card mistress. "Are you ready, little girl?"
Saurian snickered, "Let's hope that little Moonbeam of ours doesn't slip up this time . . ."
Hei-ying sat in his false form, hunched over in the swings. He swung back and forth slowly, just rocking on the balls of his feet, staring at the scissors in his hands. As sharp and as clean as the day Clow Reed had presented them to him. Every night for the past few days, he had met Yukito . . . or rather, since the snow rabbit wasn't in control, Yue here, always sitting in the swings. He looked up, the snow falling gently again.
Mystrasa had calmed the storm tonight so she could go out. Their plan was in motion, and he was to play a vital part tonight. Push Yue over the edge. Hei-ying smiled slightly, as he twirled the bright silver scissors in his hand, tonight the little Moonbeam would be his . . . and as soon as they had achieved their goal, he was going to take these very scissors and, as he had planned the last time he had attacked Yue, he was going to plunge the damned things into Yue's frail little neck.
"Konbanwa . . ." Hei-ying slid the scissors into his large overcoat's pocket and swivelled in his swing, Yukito was smiling at him.
"Hello Yukito . . . Grab a swing . . ."
Touya growled as he turned over again, one hour and still no sign of Yue. He punched the pillow beside him and forced his eyes shut again. Yue needed to be alone. He had to keep reminding himself of that, and if Yue needed to be alone, then the sadness in Yuki's eyes was something he . . . he . . . just couldn't interfere with!
He punched the pillow again and rolled over.
What could he say to Yukito about it? The bond between them he had thought was so strong . . . now it seemed as thin as paper, and he was scared to say anything in case it pushed Yue/Yukito further away. But he was aware that ignoring the problem wouldn't make it disappear. Ironic, really. Him . . . the deadpan, responsible elder brother, who could weather the insane magical attacks on his family and public humiliation in front of an audience with equal stoicism . . . he was just plain scared of someone he loved. It didn't make sense, but then, life seldom did.
He dragged his hands through his hair and decided to get up, not able to bear it here at the moment. It was too hot and too cold and tired as he was, he knew from experience he couldn't find rest tossing and turning. He'd just go for a short walk . . .
Sakura frowned in her sleep as she felt her brother's powerful aura pass her door. "Oniichan . . ." She murmured before turning over. Syaoran opened an eye and grasped his sword's hilt. He swept a lock of hair off Sakura's face as she buried her face into his chest. They had been sleeping together like this for the last few days, Syaoran not trusting Yue and Kero enough to leave the Kinomoto house anymore. Keroberos was too caught up emotionally with Yue's personality shift, and Yue too caught up in his thinking to realise they were become distracted from protecting Sakura. He sighed and closed his brown eye again, he would honour Meilin's last desperate wish. No matter what, he had promised his mother, his hands trembling slightly as he spoke to her that day, Meilin would not have died in vain.
//No matter what.//
Mystrasa straightened as she felt Touya leave the house; she closed her eyes and reached out with her senses. Keroberos was stirring restlessly, the Li Clan head was barely asleep, but also emotionally exhausted, and the card mistress . . . the card mistress was fast asleep, dreams filled her mind subconsciously trying to work everything out. Mystrasa turned her senses towards Eriol's house. He was awake, wide-awake, trying to figure out things. His Sun guardian was keeping him company, and his Moon guardian was tending to the Muggle girl that seemed to be Eriol's concubine.
She smiled darkly. "Saurian . . ."
The dragon lifted his head, "Yes, my dark mistress . . .?"
"It's time for our second attack . . . be prepared . . ."
The window swung open gently, Syaoran was barely aware of it, sleep claiming him, Keroberos was in his drawer, twisting and tossing on his bed, images of Hei-ying come back for them and Yue's anger marring his sleep. Neither noticed as the curtains breezed slightly, white snowflakes and black curling tendrils of magic creeping in slowly.
The Sakura book awoke, and started to glow with it's panic. The magic was back.
Sakura frowned in her sleep as she felt magic stirring powerfully in her room. She opened her eyes to see her book of cards engulfed in black swirling magic. "NO!!" Sakura rolled out of bed, and brought her staff forward with a single command, "Get out!! GET OUT!!!"
Eriol's head snapped to the window suddenly, "Sakura . . ." His eyes widened, "She's under attack!"
Touya paused just outside the Penguin Park, his eyes fixed on the swings. Yukito and Tomodachi were swinging together gently; the snow rabbit perched in Tomodachi's lap like a child, talking animatedly. He felt Clow's rage merely add to his own. //*Tomodachi.*// he was about to open his mouth to shout at them, when a sudden sharp tug as his consciousness pulled him towards his home. "Sakura . . ."
Tomoyo got up and ran after Ruby as the Moon butterfly suddenly dropped her tray and dashed out the room, "What's happening?!"
Ruby didn't answer as she ran down the corridors, the door to Eriol's study suddenly burst open in front of them and Eriol and Spinel dashed out too. "ERIOL!!"
His guardians continued without him, as Eriol slowed to a stop. "Sakura's under attack!!"
"What?!" He shook his head and started to run again, "Wait! Take me with you!!"
They ran out, and Eriol climbed on to Spinel's back, he stared at Tomoyo, "I can't put you in danger . . ."
"I'm *not* a damsel in distress!!" Tomoyo growled as she ran up to them, "I can take care of myself, and it's Sakura-chan!"
Ruby Moon had already taken off, and Spinel glanced at his master, as Eriol sighed, "All right . . . grab my hand."
Syaoran growled as he tried to cut the magic with his enchanted sword, only to be reflected off with a bright searing violet spark. "It's not working!" He shouted over the din.
Sakura's emerald eyes narrowed as the book groaned and the lock snapped open, "NO!!" She screamed as the cards fluttered out into a circle, "Cards, resist!!"
Once again the Sakura cards were violated, they sparked bright gold, resisting as hard as they could. The black magic swirled around angrily, demanding the cards' submission. Syaoran grabbed Sakura and pulled her to the ground, ducking as the magic pulled up toys and books, anything of any weight. Keroberos turned into his full form and bounded over to the both, "Keep down!!" He growled; as he covered them with his wings, "KEEP DOWN!!!"
Mystrasa closed her eyes, and held out her hands, drawing on every drop of strength she had. "Cards . . . Revoke thy mistress . . . card, I call thee . . . Thy name . . . Sleep . . ."
The Sleep card quivered, the tiny sprite wasn't willing to leave her mistress. She groaned and cried out as she felt the black magic concentrate on her fully. She clutched her head as the magic wormed it's way into her entire being, flooding her with Mystrasa's hatred. Sakura felt the card's pain and got up to grab her, but was dragged back by Syaoran.
The Sleep card kicked and fought but finally was overwhelmed. She faded from reality.
Mystrasa Kyree grinned as the sleep card materialised in her hand. Black and deep violet, with only the blood red control collar. "Loop, Mist, Bubbles, Twin . . ." The four cards reappeared, her strength increasing with each card. Saurian watched in amusement as each card came more docilely that the last. "Snow, Dream, Through, Return, Big, Little, Change, Freeze, Shot, Maze, Create, Silent, Voice, Illusion, Sand, Storm, Thunder . . ."
Sakura kicked and screamed, Syaoran closed his eyes and held her tightly, sympathising with her pain, but knowing that she could get seriously injured if she stepped up into the supernatural maelstrom whipping around them, Keroberos crouched low, not caring about the objects that threw themselves against his body. "Keep down!" He roared blindly, "Just keep down until it's over!!"
"NO!!" Sakura screamed, "My Cards!! MY CARDS!!"
Mystrasa slipped all of the cards into her pocket save one. "Illusion." She spat, the card rippled momentarily resisting her command, then fading, "Cover us . . ." Kyree ordered, "Protect us in your stealth . . ."
Saurian smiled as he spread his dark orange wings and set flight. Mystrasa laughed quietly, as they flew towards the park.
When Eriol and Tomoyo, and Eriol's guardians arrived, Keroberos and Syaoran were outside looking around for clues. Tomoyo ran into the house and up the stairs desperately. "Sakura-chan?! Sakura-chan?! Answer me!!"
". . . I'm in here, Tomoyo."
Glass crunched quietly under Tomoyo's shoes, Sakura's bedroom was a wreck. The television was blown out; every glass frame in the room was shattered. Her childhood toys were burst; each had their stuffing spilling out. Her bed and desk were almost turned over, and Sakura sat in the middle of the room, uncaring of the glass and the debris she was sitting on.
Tomoyo approached her carefully, kicking the broken alarm clock out the way. Whatever had attacked had destroyed everything. "Sakura-chan?"
". . . Twenty-two . . ."
Tomoyo's eyes slipped to the small arch of cards Sakura had arranged around her. "Left?"
Sakura shook her head slowly, still not looking up from her meagre collection, "Twenty two *stolen* from me . . . and I . . . I did *nothing* to protect them . . ."
The cards on the floor sparked and slowly surrounded her, defiant and bright.
Tomoyo stared at Sakura's bowed head, "They don't think so . . ."
Sakura looked up at each of them. Her eyes grave. "I . . ."
Touya ran back as fast as he could. He growled, if someone had hurt his sister . . . he stumbled slightly as he felt the illusion card pass directly above him. Staring up, he could see nothing, but a small gust of wind told him something huge had just flown overhead. Torn between checking his sister, and chasing the card's signature, Clow guided Touya's sense.
The silver key glinted as it swung from it's silver chain.
"Oh Key, Key of the Moon . . . come to me . . . grant me thy power, assist me now." Touya let go, as his ice blue magic circle appeared, sweeping magic around his body, as the key lengthened and became his powerful pure silver staff.
"RELEASE!!!"
Yukito jerked as he felt the attack and Touya's use of magic, he frowned as Yue cursed something foul. Glancing briefly at Tomodachi, Yukito murmured, "I've got to go . . ." He stumbled away, growling at Yue for being so sluggish in his response, //You *must* protect Sakura . . . You *promised* To-ya and me . . .//
Tomodachi called out as Yukito gained speed, "If you need me . . . just come back . . . I'll be right here!!" As soon as Yukito ran out of sight, Tomodachi grinned darkly, and his black wings extended. Hei-ying blinked once, his false form's dark grin fading from his lips before looking at the last point he saw his brother's false form, "I'll *always* be right here . . ."
He sighed as he felt his mistress land some way off, turning; he was with the large dragon and his mistress in a few wing beats.
"Twenty-two . . ." Mystrasa held up her dark Clow book in triumphant glee. "And the Card Mistress shall bring me the rest . . ."
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And Now It's Time To Leave It To Doctor Megalomania!!!
Kyree: [smiles charmingly] I get the feeling many of you don't like me . . . or my guardians for that manner . . .
Hei-ying: Speak for yourself . . . [turns on the big lost little kitten look] I've got the sympathy vote!
Saurian: [grinning broadly] And I've got Caroltrue on my side . . . [shakes claw at readers] See! I knew it, you love me *really* . . . it's just some of you aren't brave enough to admit it . . . you like the dark side . . . don't you?
Darth Vader: [brightly] Dark side?!
DrM: Annie! Out of here, get back to your own universe!
D.V: DrM . . . I thought we'd agreed we would stop calling me 'Annie', I mean . . . I'm the most Evil Master Of The Dark Side in the universe—[pauses as Eriol glares at him] – SECOND most evil—[pauses as Bill Gates glares at him]—THIRD –[growls as DrM glares at him, and taps foot expectantly] All right!! Fourth Most Evil Master Of The Dark Side, it's really not appropriate that you call me 'Annie' . . .
DrM: I think Annie the Fourth Most Evil Master Of The Dark Side is a great title! [Grins at readers] And for anyone who thought the last chapter was the cliffie . . . [shakes head] Would *I* leave you with such a pathetic cliffie?! It's the *NEXT CHAPTER* which I'm updating which is the cliffie! [Grins and shrugs] and then I'm sodding off for TWO weeks!!
Clow: If I've said it once, I've said it a million times . . . You've got to R&R to get this girl to shut up!! [shakes head] You're only encouraging her to continue to write b— [DrM slaps sticky tape over his mouth]
DrM: Yeah like Clow was saying there, Please R&R for more!!
Clow: [Muffled] THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID!!