A/N: Wai! Reviews! Thank you!!! Lor, you are awesome! I couldn't ask for a better friend. Articuno, thank you from the bottom of my heart--I've never gotten feedback on a story so quickly! Sakuralight, thank you also! Yes, you can call me Tam-san, but after three reviews you can call me Tam-chan if you'd like. ~grins~ (Okay, you asked me about that on a review for "Liquid Reflections", but I don't know when I'll be able to update that one.) I've been writing like I've never written before. This story is driving me to a point that I don't even know yet, but it's like it's writing itself, and quickly. If you're waiting for the action and adventure part, don't worry. It will hit soon. Please though, I would still love more reviews! It means the world to me, otherwise I'd just sit and imagine it all without exposing it to anyone's scrutiny. Right?

Silent Eyes

Long Awaited Reunions

Fujitaka and Eriol were talking quietly in the living room when Yukito arrived. He felt like an intruder for just walking in without knocking and without Touya, but Fujitaka had long since assured him that this was his home as well. As soon as Yukito walked in the two reincarnations of Clow looked up and smiled. Yukito responded with a smile of his own. "Am I intruding?" For some reason his chest constricted and a shiver ran up and down his spine being in the presence of them both at the same time.

Eriol shook his head and gestured for Yukito to join them. "We were just comparing notes, life experiences, that sort of thing. We've never had a chance to sit and talk before."

"Please, sit down Yukito. Touya is just taking a shower, so he'll be in here soon. I wanted to thank you for keeping an eye on Sakura and staying here the last two nights. I know it's always more comfortable to stay in your own home, so I appreciate you doing this."

"It was no trouble at all! I'm glad I could help." Yukito smiled a little too big, but there was something about this situation that scared him slightly for no reason he could understand. "Are you sure I'm not interrupting? I could go make tea or something...."

The other two exchanged a look, realizing that it was unusual for Yukito to act like this. "Sit down Yukito-kun. This is still my house even if you're part of the family. And--neither of us want you to be uncomfortable, but Eriol-kun and Syaoran-kun are invited to stay here until things are sorted out and safe again."

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me."

There was that exchanged look again, and this time Eriol answered. "It's an unusual and difficult situation for your other self. He still has many unresolved emotions that need to be dealt with. It will happen with time, but until then I'd like you to sit with us and talk."

Yukito forced a smile and sat down on the couch, and then suddenly felt fine. There was nothing wrong in the world, and why would it be unusual or uncomfortable for Sakura's old friend to spend time talking with Kinomoto-sensei? He noted in passing that Eriol had grown taller, grown into himself, and looked strangely more familiar than he already had. His voice had deepened, but he looked just as cheerful as he used to. He noticed that Fujitaka and Eriol have very similar smiles and felt a warmth toward the boy for that comforting trait.

I'm sorry, Yue whispered softly into Yukito's mind, and then Yuki felt him withdraw completely.

Wait! Sorry for what? He waited for a reply, but there was nothing. Damnit.

Fujitaka was talking. "It was very confusing at first. Scents, sounds, certain other things that used to evoke one set of memories suddenly evoked new memories. Most of the memories didn't make sense either, but I wouldn't have time to explore it all. It took a very long time to finish dealing with it. There are still things that bring new memories to mind, but now I know what it means and I have some sort of context for the images. I feel more whole now though. It was an overload at first, but now I feel somehow complete."

"It was totally different for me though," Eriol said in reply. "I was hit with everything suddenly when I created Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon. I suddenly didn't feel like myself at all, and for years I had a hard time separating myself from the memories. I almost suffocated in the magic and there was this small part of me in the background that just whispered, 'I want to grow up first, I want to be normal.' I never felt that emptiness, I felt too full."

"How does it feel now?"

"Peaceful, usually. It just somehow feels right though. And it's not nearly as scary."

Fujitaka and Eriol nodded, knowingly, but Yukito was confused. "Scary?"

Fujitaka turned a small, somewhat weary smile on Yukito before answering. "There were many things about having that much power that that scared--me. Us." He shrugged helplessly and then went on. "First is the sheer responsibility. Then the temptation of corruption. And of course, other people who hate you merely because of the magic for any number of reasons. That ranged from annoying to downright dangerous."

Eriol, from some unknown signal, finished. "The worst part though was knowing why Clow Reed died. He had somehow lost control of the magic and it built to lethal levels. By the time the visions made it clear to him what would happen it was too late to stop, but he finally cast a spell to try to ensure it wouldn't happen again. That's why his soul was divided in two, to divide the magic in two. When that didn't work though I was scared that some day the magic would kill me too."

Yukito's eyes grew large. "Magic can do that?"

Eriol smiled reassuringly. "Can, but it's very rare. In my last life I was careless and arrogant. I was so concerned with being powerful and being right that I brought my downfall upon myself. When I realized that within me was all of Clow's power and memories I knew the same fate would befall unless I could create balance again."

"Some day the same fate might have fallen upon whoever broke the seal on the cards. Keroberus chose well though because Sakura just isn't the kind of person to seek power for the sake of power. And...the truth behind the Judgment is that only someone with great love and a pure heart could convince Yue's own cards to not listen to him and be able to beat him. Clow was the only one who could have beat him any other way." Fujitaka spoke as if from a great distance, and Yukito just knew that the whole conversation hadn't been his to overhear...the two magicians had manipulated things to explain something to Yue without having to face him directly.

But, Fujitaka wasn't like that! He wasn't manipulative and never shied away from dealing with things directly when they needed dealing with. Yukito also had a feeling that Clow wasn't like that either. He wouldn't be cruel enough to--to talk through someone like that. Not unless forced to. "Very clever," Yuki said weakly, blinking.

Eriol looked stricken and Fujitaka cursed under his breath. "Forgot yourselves a little?" Touya's voice rag through the room from the doorway. Yuki turned his head to look up at his lover, smiling gratefully at him. Touya was still drying his hair with a towel as he walked over and sat next to Yuki. "Don't worry about them, at least Dad didn't mean it personally, whatever it was that set you off. They were patting themselves on the back when I got home, and the only thing they have in common is some idiot of a dead magician." He winked.

"To-ya, are we planning on staying here tonight? You could have taken a shower at home if they were home when you got back from work."

"Yeah. I want to still keep a close eye on Sakura--" He broke off when the front door opened and the subject of his statement announced her arrival and the arrival of her boyfriend. "And I still want to keep a closer eye on Sakura," he emphasized with a dark look.

Yukito laughed his pure, happy, teasing laugh. "You still don't like him?" His eyes spoke hints of an inside joke, (sister complex? with a tilted eyebrow) that was shared only between the lovers.

Touya's eyebrows inched slowly together. "I know you're not thinking of saying what I think you're thinking of saying."

"Of course not, To-ya." His eyes sparkled behind his glasses and everyone smiled as Sakura walked in, dragging a very nervous Syaoran behind her.

~~~~~@~~~~~

Sakura was floating, happier than she had ever been before. She didn't forget the dire warnings in the air, but she was almost thankful for them because she got to see Syaoran again. When the two of them walked into the living room she was oblivious to the undertones and only saw smiling faces. "Hello everybody!"

Everybody tried to talk at once, and Sakura just laughed, happy to be in a room full of people who cared about her so much. There were many hugs given and many exclamations about growing up so quickly. She was even amused about some of the glares that were exchanged, knowing that there was no real animosity behind them. Finally she noticed two conspicuous absences. "Eriol, where are Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon?"

"They are at the house, grabbing books for me to do some research. There were things I left behind here that I hoped I'd never need again. Your father and I plan on some late night research on this."

Her father smiled kindly. "You're invited to help us if you'd like."

Touya snickered at the dismayed look on Sakura's face. "Um...er...well, I...I was going to ask Tomoyo to come over later to help me with homework and studying. We have a lot to do and a huge math test coming up, so I'd love to help, but I don't know if I'll be able to."

Fujitaka and Eriol exchanged a glance and then began to laugh together. Sakura felt a bit out of place because she hadn't noticed before just how similar the two of them were at times. It was very strange to see them interacting. And then she realized something that had been nagging her the whole time. "Eriol-san, you have grown to look very much like Clow-sama." Her voice was solemn and her eyes were large. She wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not.

Eriol smiled sadly. "It couldn't be helped. I could cut my hair short again and hide it a little, but I grew fond of the style from the memories I had. I also happen to think it looks better like this."

The smile Sakura gave him could have melted the polar ice caps, and raised Syaoran's blood pressure to dangerous levels. "It looks very good on you, it makes you look very dignified. Don't you think so Syaoran?"

Syaoran growled out of habit, glaring at Eriol before remembering that no matter what Sakura said to him, those two would never be together. Sakura turned and grabbed Syaoran's hand, understanding his turn of thoughts. "Sure, it looks good." He gave a resigned sigh and Sakura giggled.

Then, as Sakura turned to her father she felt Syaoran stiffen behind her. "Dad, I wanted you to know that Syaoran and I are a couple now."

Touya's shout from behind made her jump, but Fujitaka just smiled at his little girl. "I'm glad he makes you happy."

"Dad! You can not seriously let that brat date Sakura?"

It was Yukito who soothed Touya and forced him to accept the inevitable while Fujitaka chuckled. Chaos ensued after that, and too many conversations went on at once to keep track of. Kero-chan floated down and added to the mayhem, and finally Eriol's guardians appeared to bring the chaos to a new peak. When Sakura finally called Tomoyo to invite her over for studying and homework it was late enough to give them an excuse to have her spend the night. Dinner was late...and huge! Everybody pitched in for a feast, and in the end there was still nothing left. Finally everybody wandered off into small groups and Sakura glowed with pleasure. She was surrounded with those who loved her most and understood her best.

Near bed time her father pulled her aside with a twinkle in his eye. "Sakura-chan, have I ever mentioned that Tomoyo-chan looks a lot like your mother did when we met?"

Sakura looked confused, wondering what he meant. She had noted the similarity in from photographs of her mother, but she didn't expect her father of all people to point it out. And then she noticed where his eyes were resting. Eriol and Tomoyo were standing in a corner alone, looking at each other as if they were the only people in the house. As she watched Tomoyo stuttered over something she was saying and Eriol looked down and blushed. There was obviously a connection being forged between the two.

"Kawaii!!! Now I know how Tomoyo feels every time she doesn't have a camera; I wish I could catch this on tape!"

~~~~~@~~~~~

Yue was relieved when things started to finally die down. He was tired of suppressing his thoughts and emotions around Fujitaka and Eriol so that Yukito wasn't uncomfortable. He was frustrated with the teasing Nakuru handed to Yuki and Touya all evening. He was edgy and uncomfortable around so many people--especially so many happy people. He felt more like an outsider than ever.

He nudged Yukito to make his excuses and get ready for bed a bit before Touya, who was playing host by helping his dad and sister by bringing out blankets and pillows. He had overheard Syaoran ask for the privilege of researching with them and had been tempted to offer his services. He wanted to be useful and depended on and most of all distracted, but in the end he knew it would be too painful to deal with right now. He wanted some alone time for a while...just him and his "mask".

Yukito?

What? Talking again? You'll ruin your image with me, chatterbox.

Please.

I'm sorry. What's wrong?

I'm sorry for the bleed through of emotions earlier. That shouldn't have happened.

Yue?

Yes?

Am I really just a mask? How real am I? You said I know you better than I know and that scares me. It means we're more like different aspects of the same person. Are we?

I don't know anymore, Yuki. I've started feeling more like I'm not the one that's real lately, but one of us has to be at least. I'd rather you be the real one.

I still have nightmares of fading away into nothing.

I know. So do I.

Neither of them felt like sharing their thoughts after that. Yue contemplated the situation and didn't like any of the directions his mind took. There were no good answers, and most of the questions just raised more. When Touya finally joined Yuki in bed their emotions were running high and Yukito clung to his lover with a deeply emotional need. They fell to sleep with limbs entwined and Yue felt safe and secure, despite knowing that it was Yukito, not himself, that Touya was protecting. All that mattered was that someone felt protective of him, in one form or another.

The night passed and nightmares tried to shatter that sense of security, but finally Yue felt Touya roll over and deliberately hold him with love and protection. Yue felt himself respond automatically by tucking his head in under Touya's chin and wrapping his arms around the other man. Touya's arms circled him, stroking his back and fingering his long hair lazily. Yue purred, scratching Touya's back lightly with his long nails and listening to the lazy rhythm of Touya's heartbeat. The perfect way to start the day.

The heartbeat suddenly raced and Touya stiffened, hands clutching the long hair tightly. "Yue? What happened to Yuki?"

Yue's eyes opened wide as he searched his mind for any hint of what had happened. Vague images of half glimpsed nightmares tried to push in on his awareness, but were somehow stopped. There was no hint of Yukito's personality anywhere. He tried to concentrate on transforming into his other self, but nothing happened at all.

"Yuki is gone!"

Yue's cry of dismay was suddenly overshadowed by something more dire and disturbing. In the room next-door they suddenly heard Tomoyo's piercing scream.

"SAKURA-CHAN!!!"

Yue easily won the race to Sakura's bedroom as he literally flew down the hall. Tomoyo was clutching Sakura's bed sheet and what appeared to be a note, still screaming and looking around frantically. "Where is she? What happened?"

"I don't know! She is just gone!" Tomoyo fainted and everyone gathered around her in Sakura's room. Touya bent over and retrieved the note she still had in her hands. Yue reached toward him automatically as the taller mad grew pale.

"It just says, 'This is a sample, I have them both. I want the secret of the cards.' It's not signed." Touya sat heavily on the bed.

Fujitaka and Eriol exchanged a worried but determined glance. "It's not going to happen," Eriol said with a shake of his head. "We'll be able to rescue Sakura."

Yue watched over Touya's shoulder though as the letters snaked around on the paper and formed another sentence. 'On your own heads be it.' Before he or Touya could report the change though they were interrupted.

"Both? Sakura is the only one who is missing here."

Yue bowed his head, pain written more clearly than ever on his face. He didn't see the dawning realization on everyone's faces right before he let the name slip out in a strangled whisper.

"Yukito."