The Something Under The Bed

by Dr Megalomania

A cutsy little story, so very fluffy and adorable that you'll really believe that some dreams can come true. I think I'm gonna barf. I can't believe I wrote this fluuuuuffffff!

2. Once Upon A Summer

Well, Hello and welcome to my little world of Weirdness . . . and in this fic, indescribable cute, fluffy-ness!!

Who Loves Short-Shorts? We Love Short Shorts! Who Owns CCS? CLAMP owns CCS!!

Ahem. . . I also have to admit, I'm drawing from some of my own life experiences . . . and yes, I really did step on a rose thorn one time and scream at my mother, "Mummy! If you loved me you wouldn't do this to me!! Leave the thorn in!!" [Folds arms] Hey, gimme credit, my mother pulled 'em out with needles. . . and I was only five!!

And amazingly, this is semi-ExS. . . that's as in Sakura there. . . yup, this is my first tentative steps into the great unknown. . .

~TimeShift~

Dream

//thinking//

"speaking"

*stress/emphasis*

The Something Under The Bed.

By Dr Megalomania . . . You can't prove anything by that!!

And a Special Hello to Nakuru, and StarMoonNight and Dark Ice Angel– There Lies Hope is much dark than TaintedSoul, Mwha ha ha! - and MoltenAmber –I do like cute, just not when I'm trying to kill people in angsty evil -, and Summer Rain –hope this brings you over to the ExS side! - and chiookamigirl, and Midnight Phantom, and lil star – I'm sorry, the sequel WILL be up soon! – and Atom Bunny – don't worry about it, because I rarely sign in either – and The PenMaster – [sniffles] I'll. . . be brave!! – and smallady86 – Sappy and sicking. . . how true. . . how very true!! – And bishouenen lovah – Mmmm. . . [drools] Grown Up Yue, and finally, thank you to Sapphire for being this fic's first Reviewer . . . you'd win a prize . . . but I am poor.

Wow, never done that before. . . ahem. . . now. . . On With the High Sugar Story!!

~Once Upon A Summer . . .~

~Three years later . . .~

Clow turned a page of his book, and smiled as he heard his angel do the same. "You're supposed to be reading . . ."

"Supposed to be reading . . ." came the reply, matter-of-factly.

He shook his head, "yes, reading."

"Yes, reading." The Angel nodded his head, in his matter-of-factly way.

Clow sighed, even after three years the strange angel still repeated every word he said. At least it was coherent and sounded right. "Angel?"

The angel smiled, and blinked, "Angel?" he tapped his chest lightly, the deep blue stone glinting in the summer sun. "Yue!" He leant over and kissed Clow lightly on the cheek, "Klo!"

Clow threw back his head and laughed, the angel watched him fondly. He didn't know what this sound was when Clow did it, but it sounded nice and appeased the angel. Clow snorted, "My name is Clow."

The angel smiled, "Klo!"

"Kl---oooooooohhh!"

"Klo!"

Clow blinked, the angel had just winked at him, "Are you teasing me?"

"Teasing me?" The angel leant towards him quickly and smiled.

Clow leaned closer to the echoing angel, "Angel, you're teasing me!"

"Teasing you!" The angel smiled, and pointed at him, "Teasing you!"

Clow smiled warmly; ever so often the angel would work it out right. "Catch me . . ." Clow stood and smiled at his angel challengingly, he ran off quickly, "Catch me!"

He smiled happily as he heard the angel spread fluffy white wings, and gave chase, "Catch you! Catch you!"

Clow's shoulder length hair fell out of it's tie as he ran away. It flapped behind him, the wind keeping it out of his eyes. The green grass under his bare feet was springy and warm, the summer bringing out the best in Mamma's well kept, and deeply loved, garden. A shadow flew over him; Clow looked up to see Yue flying above and was momentarily blinded by the sun glare. Clow tripped, rolled and came up screaming in pain.

Yue landed quickly and ran to the small black haired boy, "Klo! Klo!" He wrapped his arms around him, clutching him tight like he had seen Mamma do so very often, "Clow . . . Clow . . ." Yue cooed quietly, Clow's sobs fading to a whimper, "Shhhh . . . Clow . . ."

Clow sniffed quietly, and grabbed his ankle; he pulled the wounded foot closer. Yue frowned as Clow stared at the large rose thorn in utter desolation. "You know what this means Yue . . ."

Yue blinked and tilted his head in that 'What?' manner of his.

Deep blue eyes closed; as Clow drew one deep breathe . . .

"MAMMMMMAAAAAAAA!!"

"OWW!!" A muffled scream from the kitchen made Yue jump to his feet, "MAMMA!! IF YOU LOVED ME . . . OWWWW!! MAMMA!!"

Yue paced to the door restlessly, Clow's father tipped his head up from the spell book he was writing, "Steady Yue . . ." he smiled gently from behind his small wired spectacles, "Clow's just being stubborn . . ."

Yue nodded and sank to the floor again.

"MAMMA!! YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT TO ME IF YOU REALLY LOVED ME!!" Clow cried out reproachfully, "MAMMA!! STOP IT! MAM-*MA*!!"

Yue tensed as Clow emphasised the last syllable of Mamma, it always meant the stubborn little boy was getting very angry.

"MAM-*MA*! STOP IT!! STOP IT THIS---" Yue winced as a china vase exploded on the shelf. "–MOMENT!!"

Three more vases and a glass frame exploded before Papa stood up and took out his staff. The elder Reed tapped each little pile of debris and muttered a small spell. The vases and frame quickly reconstructed themselves. Papa smiled and nodded and went back to his book.

"MAM-MA!!" Clow yelled angrily, "I WANT YOU TO LEAVE THE THORN IN!"

There was silence as Clow's mother gently tried to explain that the thorn would get infected and would cause his foot to become diseased.

"FINE THEN! I HOPE MY FOOT DROPS OFF AND YOU FEEL REALLY BAD FOR PUTTING ME THROUGH THIS!!"

Yue got to his feet again and peered into the corridor, there was a quiet chuckle as Papa glanced up, "I pity you, Yue . . . you have a very stubborn little creator . . ."

Yue blinked and a small frown started to grow on his pale little face, knitting fine, white eyebrows in thought. Yue's contemplation was interrupted as Clow's Mamma swept in gracefully. She was a tall, graceful woman, her long black hair reaching all the way down her back, held up by a beautiful hairpiece. Her robes were simple and typically Chinese. She smiled down at Yue, her magic was inherently moon orientated, and (as everyone was realising) Yue was attracted to the moon and all magic by it. Mamma had taken to Yue instantly, always made sure his wings and hair was pristine, she appreciated his neatness and always applauded him for it.

Papa, on the other hand, was more sun orientated. He didn't really understand Yue's absolute need for pristine neatness, nor why he couldn't play and roll around the place like a normal child. He always considered Yue to be a little too distant, a little too orderly for Clow . . . but he had to concede that Yue did have a calming influence on Clow---

"MAM-MA!!"

--In some of his quieter moments. Papa shook his head and went back to his book. Mamma smiled gently and pulled Yue up into her arms, "Yue . . . Would you like to play a game of Mah Jongg?"

Yue blinked, and glanced at the door.

A soft laugh pulled his attention back to Mamma, "Don't worry about him . . . when he decides he wants the thorn out he shall say so . . ." she started to set up the tiles easily. Yue frowned, again his tiny little face creasing ever so slightly in thought, normally he would love a game of chance but . . .

"MAM-MAAAA!!"

. . . Clow needed him . . . Yue stumbled backwards as this thought hit him. Clow was in pain, and he . . . he . . . Yue spun on his heel and started to the kitchen, this inexplicable urge to help Clow taking over his whole sense. He pushed the kitchen door open and strode into the kitchen purposely.

"You're not Mamma!" A surly voice muttered stubbornly, "I was calling Mamma! "

Yue frowned and stepped closer to the black haired child. Clow was sat on a chair by the table, his arms folded tightly, one foot dipped into a bowl of vinegar water, pale cream trousers rolled up. Blood spots staining everything as Clow had evidently struggled. His face pulled into a spiteful, angry frown.

"I was calling Mamma!" He uttered in a deep hissed whisper.

Yue knelt by the bowl, and peered in, Clow's foot looked slightly swollen, even allowing for the water's distortion. Yue's pale lips pursed before he spoke quietly, "You . . . are hurt . . ." Clow blinked in surprise, anger instantly dissipating; Yue swallowed, and looked up at him, "Please . . . let me help . . ."

Clow frowned sadly, "But it hurts . . ."

Yue rose to his feet, "Make it not hurt."

"I can't . . ."

Yue blinked, "You make me."

Clow smiled helplessly, "But I don't know how . . ."

The angel stepped closer and repeated in a gentler tone, "You make me."

Clow's shoulders dipped, "I . . . don't know . . . how to . . ." he closed his eyes, "How to make it not hurt . . . I don't even know how I made you . . ." Clow opened his eyes to find Yue smiling. The angel held up his curled fist, and opened it slowly.

The thorn rested in the middle of his palm, with only a little blood tainting the angel's pale fingertips.

Clow's little mouth fell open with surprise, "How did you . . .?"

Yue leant forward and kissed Clow lightly on the cheek, "Not hurt . . . if you not think of it . . ."

Mamma moved another tile into place; she smiled gently, "Eriol . . .?"

Papa looked up from his book, "Yes, my wife?"

Mamma smiled as she fingered the pale bamboo titles gently, their meaning utterly clear, "Clow is destined to fall for that angel . . . and the angel is destined to fall for our son . . ."

Papa smiled weakly as he mocked her lightly, "Is that what your romantic instincts tell you my dear, or perhaps what the Chinese fates have decided for them both?"

"Perhaps the stars have something different to say . . ." her sharp dark eyes flashed slightly, "Chinese fortunes are always more concerned with life . . . the Western Stars are more concerned with themselves . . ."

Papa laughed quietly, "My dear Clow will create something, some set of spirits and when that happens . . . all else will ceased to matter . . . the angel will merely become a servant to this new power . . . there will be nothing to alter this fact, all else will be irrelevant to this."

His wife shook her head slowly, "Chinese Fortune say . . . hu shuo ba dao!" Papa raised an amused eyebrow, as she continued, "Everything matters . . ." she piled the tiles up carefully and began to deal them carefully again, "Clow has a destiny beyond creating the spirits, and Yue has a destiny beyond serving him . . ."

Papa nodded, and returned to his book, "Dear . . ." he smiled teasingly, "I only talk nonsense in one way . . . that's English . . ."

Her dark eyes creased with her mirth, "It meant Do Not Talk Such Nonsense In Eight Different Ways." She laughed gently, "And you knew exactly what I meant . . ."

Yue helped Clow into bed that night; his mother had bandaged the sore foot up tightly, and thanked Yue gratefully for having removed the thorn. Clow stared at the ceiling as Mamma sat on the bed, with Yue in her lap. The sound of the horsehair brush moving through Yue's fine hair was all that could be heard. Clow closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on hearing something else, he held his breath, and tried to hear Yue breathing.

He gave up quickly as he realised while Yue didn't need to breath all the time, he did. His mother chuckled softly, "Clow-chan . . . What are you up to?"

Clow looked at her, the dim light provided by small candle light framing her beautiful face, he smiled, "You are pretty, Mamma . . ."

"This is the Clow-chan I like to know . . ." Mamma chuckled again; she cocked an eyebrow at him, "Not the one that is bawling at me like a spoilt English brat."

Clow swallowed, "Sorry Mamma."

Yue kept very still, his gaze locked out the window, it was a new moon and the small angel seemed a little worried. As with every new moon, Mamma took extra long brushing Yue's hair, and cleaning his wings, it always calmed him. Clow smiled as he sat up, "The Moon isn't gone Yue . . ."

Yue blinked and his eyes moved towards Clow, careful not to move his head for fear of tangles, Clow smiled, and spoke again, "It's just right now the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon and all the light from the Sun can't be shone on the Moon which is why we can't see her . . ."

Yue's eyes moved back to the window. "Not gone . . .?"

Clow shook his head, "Not gone." He confirmed, "Sleeping . . ."

Yue blinked, "Sleeping . . .?"

"Waiting to be reborn when the Earth moves out of her way . . ." Clow's mother smiled gently as her son mixed the two theories he had been brought up to believe in. "She needs the time to rebuild her strength and then when she is at her fullest she will shine brightly again."

Yue nodded reverently, as much as he could without causing the dreaded tangles, "full moon . . ."

Clow's mother slowed her brushing, coming to a halt, "There you go . . ." she tied it slowly, and tightly. "You are ready for bed now, Yue."

He climbed off her lap and bowed quickly, she helped him into bed beside Clow. The two always insisted that they sleep together ever since that first night. Clow lay back and wrapped his arms tightly around his angel, "Nu-night Mamma . . ."

She leant over the bed, "Good night Clow."

"Goodnight."

Mamma chuckled quietly, "Goodnight Yue."

Papa smiled from the doorway, "Sweet dreams you two." Clow protested sleepily as Yue sat up, Papa waved his hand, "No, no, Yue it's all right . . . go back to bed."

The angel lay back, and Clow wrapped his arm around the angel tighter, resting his chin on Yue's small shoulder. Yue craned his neck, so he could stare out the window. The moon, a visible absence from the sky . . .

She swung out her legs, she was younger now. He liked her dress, it had a nice big red star over her chest, and it was all yellow and white and she had a yellow hat, and she had a red skirt under the cape and stuff. "Would you like something fun to play with?"

He sat on the swings, swinging, "Yes please . . ."

The girl with the pretty dress swung beside him. She smiled at him, held out her hand and winked, "Okay . . . repeat after me . . ."

Clow smiled in his sleep and lifted his hand. He wasn't aware of himself as his finger tips stared to glow a deep violet, Yue's eyes opened as he felt magic being preformed. He stared at Clow's hand as it hovered in front of his face, "Clow . . ."

Clow chuckled in his sleep, "Keroberos."

The deep violet glow spread down the rest of the little boy's hand, and out of the corner of his eye, Yue could see strange circular patterns glowing on the floor. The angel whimpered slightly, confusion and the lack of moonlight scaring him. "Clow!" He started to shake the boy from his deep sleep, "Clow, wake now!"

"Keroberos." Clow's hand started to glow brighter, and the little boy murmured, "Guardian of the sun, come forth . . . thy master calls thee . . ."

Yue sat up, and started to shake Clow a little harder, "Clow please . . . please!"

"Release . . ." Clow breathed, his deep blue eyes fluttering open, it took a few moments as the boy awoke, but the glowing magic circle, and the glow in his hand quickly faded. He yawned widely, "What's wrong, Yue?"

Before Yue could answer, the bed suddenly shook, something from under it moving slowly. Yue's bottom lip started to tremble, and Clow held his hand tightly, as the something under the bed started to mewl quietly.

"What's . . . under . . . my bed . . . Yue?"

Yue shrugged, and squeaked slightly, visibly trying not to scream as the bed jumped.

The something under the bed started to growl slightly, and the bed jumped again and again.

"Stop it!" Clow called out, "Or Yue and I shall . . . shall . . . we'll . . ." Clow trailed off as the something under the bed crawled out. Large fluffy wings fluttered gently, and the something under the bed stumbled and fell over. Clow and Yue exchanged a look before climbing off the bed, the something under the bed, a small kitten of some sort mewled quietly, it's eyes shut tight.

Clow crouched down beside it, and ran a finger over the strange helmet, "What are you?"

The mewling stopped and the strange creature looked at him, Clow smiled warmly as the golden eyes widened. Yue started to look a little concerned as the cat thing started to draw a deep breathe.

"AIEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

"Shh! Shh!" Clow jumped and pressed his fingers against his lips, "Shhhh! You'll wake Mamma and Papa! Shhh!"

Yue stepped forward, and clamped his hands on the cub's wide mouth. It looked at him in surprise and a little bit of fear, "Shh. . ." Yue frowned, "Must not wake Mamma and Papa!"

The kitten's eyes widened as Clow and Yue tried to calm it, Yue held the cat's mouth shut as Clow grabbed his bedside's candle. He stumbled slightly as he ran back to get his wand. Yue watched this entirely, and kept his hands firmly clamped on the lion's small mouth . . . despite the fact the lion was now pawing his hands and whimpering.

Clow was trembling slightly, and fumbling with his wand and his candle. He put the candle on the floor and pointed his wand at it, "Um . . . umm . . . oh . . ." he stared at the wand, "Oh, drats . . . I've forgotten the spell . . ." he looked at Yue, "Do you remember it?"

Yue's eyes crossed slightly as he thought. The little angel shook his head slowly, "No . . ."

Clow sighed, "Um . . . uh, candle light!" He tapped the candle's wick; nothing happened, "Oh, drat and double drat!"

"Ow!" Yue squeaked. Clow jumped and turned to find the little lion panting and gasping for breath while Yue glared at it, waving his hand. "It bite me!"

The lion stopped panting and eyed Yue. It's gold eyes narrowed, as Yue glared at it, his own light purple eyes narrowing. Clow smiled at the strange pair, he'd never known anything to provoke Yue to a full glare. "Whatever shall we call it?"

"Mean thing."

The lion growled at Yue, and much to Clow's amazement, Yue growled back. Clow giggled and petted Yue on the head, "We can't call him mean thing, that would be mean." The kitten smiled at Clow and sauntered around to his other side, stroking and purring against him. It glanced at the candle and smelt it, Clow chuckled, "It's supposed to give us light!"

The lion looked at him and blinked. It started to float off the ground slightly, and glowed with a bright gold light. Clow gasped, "Pretty!" He held up his hand and was surprised even more when he realised he was casting a double shadow, he turned and found Yue glowing too, reflecting the lion's bright light. Clow stepped towards him and curled a hand around Yue's small pale cheek, "Even prettier!"

Yue smiled at Clow, and blushed, fluttering his wings gently, and bringing them around to hide his blushing face. The lion snorted, and spread his wings proudly. He purred as Clow turned and petted him. Yue's eyes narrowed even more and he folded his arms, "You call it Keroberos."

"Keroberos?" Clow blinked, "When?"

"When you make it . . ."

Clow smiled, "I did?" He looked down at the purring kitten, "Did I make you all by myself?"

The kitten purred some more, and shrugged, if it knew, it didn't care, if it didn't, it still didn't care. Yue frowned at the kitten, and then at Clow, "I go back to bed." He spun on his heel and went to climb back on bed . . .

Clow frowned as Keroberos' purring stopped suddenly, and the little lion suddenly crouched down. His gold eyes were wide with sudden pleasure, and they darted from left to right, carefully watching. Clow turned to look at what he was watching. Yue was still trying to climb on to the bed . . . he winced slightly as Kero stalked forward, his prey completely unawares . . . Clow realised what had caught Keroberos' attention . . . Yue's hair . . .

"Yue!" Clow called out too late.

"GGGRRRRMEOWW!!" Keroberos giggled.

Just as Yue had managed to get a leg up onto the bed, and at least half his body ready to pull up . . . the angel's eyes widened, and he actually screamed as Kero suddenly pounced on the alluring white hair . . .

The Next Morning. . .

Mamma tensed as she felt her son and Yue near the breakfast room, "Eriol . . ."

Papa pulled the baking tray out of the oven and smiled over his fresh bread, "Yes, my love?"

"Clow's done it again . . ."

"Whatever do you mean?"

"PAPA! MAMMA!!" Clow bounced into the kitchen, Yue trailing slowly behind him, "Look what I made!"

Papa set the tray down and wiped his floury hands on his apron, Yue was carrying a . . . Mamma tilted her head as she tried to identify the thing in Yue's arms, it was a small lion . . . with wings and strange armour . . .

"Clow . . .?" Papa knelt by Yue and pulled the new creature out of his arms gently, the magic of the sun virtually dripping from this creature as he slept. It purred deeply in his arms, "Clow, how do you *know* you created this creature?"

"Yue said so."

"Oh." Papa sat in his chair and cradled this new life, he glanced at his wife as she picked up Yue, the angel looked a little dishevelled.

"Are you all right Yue?" Yue blinked and looked at Mamma as she rocked him gently, he nodded dazedly and put his thumb in his mouth, the angel quickly followed his new brother into sleep.

Clow stepped back and watched his new little family, a warm feeling spreading in his heart. It was balanced . . . he tilted his head; whatever it was that needed balancing . . . it was balanced now.

Keroberos opened his eyes weakly, the sunlight hurting his eyes. He mewled quietly, and hung his head. "Come over here you silly cat!" The lion looked up and smiled at Clow and Yue, Clow was standing under their favourite tree and beckoning him over, and Yue was sitting a book resting in his lap. The angel was now looking a little more rested at least.

Clow smiled as the lion stumbled over, and tripped into his arms. "So now I have a lion called Keroberos . . ." he tapped Keroberos on the nose, the lion giggled quietly. Clow turned and leant over Yue, speaking softly, "And an angel called Yue . . ." he smiled to himself and slid down besides Yue, picking up his book from his lap. He began to read quietly, leaning slightly towards Yue's shoulder. Yue smiled, and glanced at Keroberos, "Be good, kitty!" he muttered warningly.

Keroberos growled at him, then threw his nose into the air, and sauntered to Clow's side. He humph-ed loudly, stuck his tongue out at Yue and leant over Clow's book. "It's called a book . . ." Keroberos glanced at Clow, as the young child spoke, "You read things from it . . . sometimes there are words, and sometimes there's just pictures . . . books can tell you many, many, many things. . ."

- - - - - - - -

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

DrM: still so very sugary coated. . . and I should have probably mentioned this reight at the beginning, erm. . . the whole ExS – that's as in Sakura there – that doesn't come in until the end. . . mostly because the Sakura arch of this story isn't until then. . . [sighs] it's not so muc that I hate cute and fluffy but that I never thought I'd ever write one. . .

Clow: for shame. . .

DrM: [sobs] am I . . .? am I loosing my touch Clow?

Clow: [pats DrM on the head] we'll only know when Tainted Soul's sequel There Lies Hope comes out. . . [shakes head sadly] People, out of a mark of respect for DrM's once hardened anti-fluffy-writer-self, I ask you to R&R. . . please. . .