Chapter nineteen: Star guardian.
Sakura was handing Touya another brightly wrapped gift, which he carefully placed under the tree. He looked at Sakura.
"Sakura-chan, why is it that Yuki is avoiding you?"
Sakura blushed a little, and then looked Touya straight in the eyes.
"I think he feels a little embarrassed about the play."
"But why, he had to kiss you, otherwise you wouldn't have woken up."
"Exactly, he had to, he didn't want to do it, and now he doesn't want to be near me.it's understandable really, after all he does love you."
Sakura sighed unhappily and Touya, stunned by this remark, sat staring at her.
"One, I know for a fact that he doesn't love me anymore; and two, he seemed pretty willing to kiss you to me. You were asleep so you didn't see the smile on his face, I think he rather liked kissing you awake."
Sakura had no words. She stared at Touya, digesting this information. It turned her world upside down and inside out. She felt a little dizzy. The silence lasted so long that Touya became worried.
"But obviously, you wouldn't like a repeat performance," he said softly.
"It's not that!" Sakura interrupted him quickly. "I just can't get my head around the fact he might actually have liked kissing me."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm.well, me. You know, the little girl who's had a crush on him since we first met? Besides, he told me last time he could only see me as your little sister."
"Yeah, but last time you were ten years old," Touya reminded her. "Now you're sixteen. Big difference, between then and now. You're much more than my little sister to him now. Much more I can tell."
Sakura shook her head. "I can't believe that. If I mean so much to him, why has he gone away?" She stood up quickly.
Touya saw the colour drain from her face. "Sakura!" he exclaimed, leaping up at the same time. Golden light surrounded him, clothing his body in a uniform made of cloth of gold and cloth of silver, similar to Yue's uniform in design. His stones were silver instead of purple; his wings were black with pieces of light lodged deep within the darkness. A star symbol hung around his neck, surrounded by two wings, identical to Sakura's key. Silver streaked through his hair, pulling it out of its bun, completely free of any bands and down to his ankles.
Keroberos came thundering down the stairs just in time to see Sakura fall into the arms of her Star Guardian, a very bewildered Touya. When he turned and saw Keroberos, Touya clutched Sakura even tighter.
"Mistress!" Keroberos said in anguish, seeing the pallor of Sakura's face.
Touya relaxed his grip a little. "Who are you?" he asked, dazed, taking in the golden beast with folded shining wings.
Keroberos sat down and looked at him, noting the confusion in his eyes. "I am Keroberos, guardian of the Sun, guardian to the Sakura Cards and their Mistress. My mistress," he said gently. "You must be the Star Guardian that Clow-sama spoke of, the one who would only come when the Star Child was born. You are the protector of Sakura-chan's star. You protect.Heavenly."
He padded forward and looked into Sakura's peaceful face, along with Touya. Then they both looked up at each other.
"The play!"
"I hate it when Yue does this," Keroberos muttered.
"Does what?"
"Prophesises without telling any one."
"You mean the play is going to come true?!"
Keroberos gestured with his paw. "You have become a winged warrior. Not the Winged Warrior, granted, but close enough. This means that Yukito-kun overlaid Yue's imagery with his own to try and understand."
Touya lifted Sakura right into his arms. "I'm getting a headache. Does this mean that Yuki's going to fall asleep?"
"Yukito-kun, no; Yue, probably. That's what I hate about this: I don't know which parts are going to come true."
Touya slid Sakura from his arms onto her bed. "Speaking of Yue, what do we do about him? Look at her, she's already fainting without him."
"You mean he caused this?!"
"No, mentioning him caused this."
"What exactly did you say?"
"I told her that Yuki cared about her, not me."
"Oh dear." Keroberos shook his head. "That would be a huge shock to her system."
Touya glanced at Sakura's alarm clock. "He might be home by now. I could call him."
Keroberos nodded. "Good idea. I'll watch over her."
Touya paused. "I have one more question."
"Make it quick."
"How come I can transform when I don't have my powers anymore?"
Keroberos looked at Touya confused and then rolled his eyes up to the ceiling.
"Yue's been giving the power back to you, didn't you know? No, of course he wouldn't tell you. Sakura-chan also felt really guilty about you losing your power because she couldn't support Yue. However, he didn't tell her about giving you back your powers either."
"So I have twice the amount of power?"
Keroberos shook his head and then took a deep breath considering the best way to explain this.
"No, no. Listen, Sakura couldn't give you back your original power: you gave that to someone else of your own free will. However, whilst trying to help, she accidentally stirred the Star Guardian inside of you, giving you your ability to change into him. You just didn't know about it. It only comes out when she really needs help. That's why you were always turning up when she got in trouble last time. The Guardian inside you knew what was going on, and was trying to do his job without telling you."
"Nobody seems to tell me anything," Touya remarked, and went to make the phone call.
Touya stood in the hall in his uniform, pressing the buttons, praying his father wouldn't come in. If he did, he would just have to pretend he was doing a cos-play, because he couldn't change back, while Sakura was still in trouble. The phone rang and rang. Touya was just about to give up when it was yanked off its hook by a breathless Yukito.
"Mochi-mochi. Sorry," he panted, "I was in the garden. Who is it?"
Touya was so angry he couldn't help snapping at Yukito, "So that's how you say hello to your best friend after avoiding him for two months?"
"Touya! What's wrong?"
Yukito sounded concerned but Touya wasn't about to forgive him and he wanted to know a few things
"Why are you avoiding Sakura-chan?"
"What? I'm not avoiding her."
Touya gripped the receiver very hard, just about maintaining control of himself.
"That's a lie Yukito, or I wouldn't be standing in the middle of my hall in a costume that looks a reject from 'Saint Seiya' with wings poking out of my bloody back otherwise! Sorry, let me correct myself: arching out of my back, blocking the passage way!"
Yukito nearly dropped the phone. "Star Guardian!" he exclaimed.
"No, it's E.T., what do you think it sounds like?!" Touya demanded sarcastically.
"I'll come right over." Yukito slammed the phone down, leaving Touya fuming.
"If my sister dies, I will kill you, no matter if you are my best friend," he said quietly.
A short while later, hammering on the front door heralded Yukito's arrival.
Touya answered. "Thank goodness my dad phoned saying he was gonna be late home," he remarked on seeing his friend. "I don't know how I'd explain all this!"
Yukito stared at him, his eyes wide. "Wow," he murmured.
"Never mind me, just get up the stairs and help my sister, if it's not too late!"
"Onii-chan, why are you telling Yukito-san off?" asked Sakura, who was at the top of the stairs. She put her foot forward to come down, but missed the step and fell, passing out.
Yukito, Touya and Keroberos all yelled in fear. Touya leapt forward but was shoved out of the way by Yukito, his face white with terror.
As Sakura fell towards him, wings slid out of her back, but since she was unconscious, they lay flat on her skin. Yukito's eyes widened in recognition at the pattern on the feathers and their colour.
"Heavenly!!" they all chorused in amazement.
"Heavenly and Sakura-chan are one!" gasped Keroberos. "She is Heavenly, just as Touya is Star Guardian!"
Yukito caught Sakura as she fell, careful not to hurt the delicate wings, which hung behind her. They reminded him of a butterfly's, intensely colourful and beautiful, but fragile, just like their owner. He lifted her gently, gazing with tenderness into her face.
"Wait a minute," he said, looking at Keroberos. "If Heavenly and Star Guardian are merged with their mortal bodies, then that means they'll be around as long as you and Yue!"
Keroberos nodded. "Mm-hmm. We'd better get her upstairs."
"Wait, wait a minute!" exclaimed Touya. "We're going to be as old as you?!"
Keroberos gave him a look. "I think I've aged quite well, considering," he said with great dignity.
"You haven't aged at all!"
"Precisely. So what are you complaining about?" He bounded up the stairs after Yukito and his mistress.
Touya shook his head and followed his new mistress (!) and fellow guardians up the stairs.
Yukito gently laid Sakura on the bed, drawing the covers over her. He looked down at her, she was so pale. Touya walked into Sakura's room and also looked down at her.
"This looks bad," Touya said quietly. Yukito looked at him, Touya's brow was drawn together in worry. Touya closed his eyes and the golden light surrounded him again, he transformed back into his normal self.
"Hey I managed to change back. Good, I was just thinking I had better call my father and a doctor." Touya set his eyes on Keroberos. "You had better change back."
Keroberos nodded and changed back into Kero he flew over to Sakura's bed and sat on it. Yukito was pale, he sat down on a chair next to Sakura's bed and took her hand. Touya looked at him, Yukito looked up at Touya, he spoke in a hush.
"How bad do you think she is?"
"Yuki, I won't hide it from you, very bad. Sakura is behaving just like our mother used to before we found out she had cancer."
Yukito clutched Sakura's hand.
"It can't be that, Sakura-chan is too young for it to be that. Plus Yue can't feel anything like that wrong with her."
"Well I'm still calling my father and a doctor."
Touya left the room he was just about to pick up the phone in the hallway when his father opened the door. Touya looked up at him, and his face drained white.
"Otou-san. I was just about to call you."
"Touya, you look pale, what's the matter?"
"It's Sakura, she fainted again, Yuki was here so he helped me with her, I was just about to call the doctor."
"Good idea, I'll go up and see her straight away."
Touya's father went up stairs and walked into Sakura's room he looked at Yukito and smiled.
"How is she?"
"Sakura-chan seems a little better now."
"That's probably because she is surrounded by people she loves."
As he said that Mr Kinomoto gave Yukito a sideward glance, the young man blushed.
"Of course we all love her, maybe we should phone Tomoyo-chan."
"I already did."
Yukito jumped as Touya walked back in.
"The doctor will be here in five minuets and Tomoyo-chan will be here any second."
There came a knock on the door. Mr Kinomoto rose
"I'll get it,"
He left the room before any one could protest. A few moments latter Tomoyo, Eriol, Supi, Ruby and Miss Mitsuki came into the room. The others including Kero looked up, their eyes went wide with shock at this sight. Kero spoke, surprised.
"Hey, you all came."
"Yes, we did," answered Eriol, smiling. "Do you mind?"
"No," answered Touya. "Where is Otou-san?"
"Downstairs with my mother," answered Tomoyo.
There was silence, Eriol looked at Keroberos.
"What caused this relapse?"
"Touya mentioning that Yukito-kun was avoiding Sakura-chan to her."
"Oh dear. Is she any better?"
Touya looked up
"Yes, the wings are gone now and since Yuki arrived, Sakura-chan has looked quite a bit better."
There came another knock on the front door, Touya looked up.
"That will be the doctor."
Sure enough a few moments later a tall, quite old man, with a wiry frame and short white hair came in. The others quietly left Sakura's bedroom except Kero and Supi who pretended to be stuffed toys again so they could stay with Sakura.
The others, meanwhile, were sitting in the living room and kitchen. Eriol and Tomoyo sat together holding hands, Tomoyo's head on his shoulder, mirroring them was Ruby and Touya. Mr Kinomoto was sitting in the kitchen with Tomoyo's mother and Miss Mitsuki. Yukito was pacing up and down the living room like a caged lion.
After sometime the doctor came downstairs and into the living room, they all stood and he took a deep breath.
"It's quite serious I'm afraid, she has exhaustion and flu, she'll need lots of rest. She made the request that Yukito-san, Tomoyo-san, Mitsuki- sensei and Touya-san stay with her."
Mr Kinomoto nodded to the doctor.
"Yes, they can stay."
The doctor looked at the others that were assembled.
"As for the others I suggest that they go home and rest themselves."
The doctor left along with the others. Tomoyo's mother stood in the doorway and hugged her.
"I'll bring some stuff over for you later. "
She stood and looked at Mr Kinomoto and smiled a little at the pale man.
"Look after Tomoyo for me, and Sakura-chan."
Mr Kinomoto nodded slightly. Tomoyo's mother shut the door behind her. Mr Kinomoto then looked at the others, he took a deep breath.
"Alright then, what worked last time?"
Touya looked up at his father
"Well last time Yukito had to stay with Sakura all the time even hold her at points, it seems he made her feel better and having her stuffed toys nearby worked well too. "
Mr Kinomoto looked at Yukito and smiled. Yukito blushed and looked at the floor.
"That's fine by me. Now what about food?"
Tomoyo looked up at that point.
"Well soup and broth are good for her at the moment when Sakura-chan regains more of her appetite she'll eat as she normally did."
"Fine, I'll leave you in charge of the cooking, Tomoyo-chan."
"All right."
Mr Kinomoto looked at Miss Mitsuki.
"I'll help Tomoyo-chan with the food and I can make Sakura-chan a special medicine and a scent to burn in her room that will make her comfortable."
"Thank you. Touya, I want you to go up and stay with Yukito-kun, help him move your sister and things, if he needs toy too, alright?"
Touya nodded, he had never seen his father so business like before, except when his and Sakuras mother had been ill and although his father was smiling, Touya could sense that this reminded him of losing, there mother.
"I'll take some time off work so I can be here."
"NO!" said the others.
Mr Kinomoto looked at them, shocked. Miss Mitsuki spoke softly.
"What we mean is, we are going to be here, you don't need to stay and it will probably make Sakura-chan feel bad if you don't go to work."
"Alright, if you think so."
"I think so. I just need to pop home and get something to sleep on, is that alright?"
"Yes, fine."
Miss Mitsuki left the house quietly. Tomoyo went into the kitchen and started to make some soup. Touya looked at his father, who was white.
"You should get some rest Otou-san."
Mr Kinomoto nodded.
"Yes, you're right, Touya, good night."
Mr Kinomoto went upstairs to his room and shut the door. Touya turned to Yukito and smiled gently.
"We had better get upstairs ourselves. Sakura will probably be wanting you. Tomoyo-chan when Mitsuki-sensei gets back let her in alright?"
"Sure thing, Touya-san, now go to Sakura-chan."
Yukito and Touya went upstairs to Sakura's bedroom; the young mistress of the Sakura cards was peacefully asleep in the bed but very pale. The covers drawn up to below her chin, one arm over the top of the covers. Yukito drew up a chair next to the bed and took Sakura's hand in his, squeezing it gently. Sakura murmured in her sleep in response to this. Kero and Supi looked at Yukito and said together:
"That's the first response that Sakura-chan has made since the doctor left."
Yukito looked at Kero and gulped. The cards floated up and began to dance around, the card that Sakura had made symbolising her love floated down into Yukito's hand. Yukito looked at it, inside him Yue gasped.
'What is it?'
'I think.I need to come forward and talk to Keroberos first if I may?'
Yukito looked up at Touya.
"Yue wants to talk to Kero-chan, is your father asleep?"
Touya closed his eyes briefly then opened them.
"Yes."
Yukito nodded and closed his eyes, Yue came forward: he held the card out to Kero, who took it from Yue, looking at him confused.
"Yes, it's that card Sakura-chan made, what about it?"
"Well it was made to represent her love, that's right, isn't it?"
Kero nodded.
"Well look closely, Keroberos, it's changed."
Kero looked down at the card and his eyes went wide: he handed the card to Supi and went under the pillow. A muffled cry escaped from the pillow a short time later. When Kero finally came out Supi handed the card back, and Kero took it with shaking paws.
"What's the matter?"
Touya asked the two guardians, his voice shaking slightly. Kero looked at him he opened his mouth but no words came out, eventually Kero held the card out to Touya who took it and looked at it. A heart with two wings, the heart had a moon and star motif on it and the same on the crown of the heart. Touya went pale then gulped.
"Was this symbol on the heart before?"
Kero and Yue shook their heads; all Touya could muster as a reply to this was,
"Ahh, I see."
The cards finished their dance and all went along with the heart card back into the Star book. Touya, still shaking, sat down on the floor and sighed.
"Well, I think that solves a lot."
He gave Yue a penetrating look: the Moon Guardian looked back at Touya and flushed.
"What?" he asked
Touya just smiled at him.
"Nothing."
Yue lent over Sakura and she grabbed his braid and pulled on it. Touya looked at him
"I think Sakura wants you to lay with her, Yue."
Yue got up and moved onto the bed. Sakura instantly turned over in her sleep and snuggled into Yue, making small happy noises. Tomoyo knocked on the door, Touya looked up.
"Come in."
Tomoyo did so and smiled at the sight before her.
"Ahh I did judge correctly. Here: pasta and tea for you, Touya-san, jelly for Supi-san, cake for Kero-chan, tomato soup for Sakura-chan and Sandwiches and Tea for me. I had a funny feeling you would be here, Yue- san, so I didn't make you anything."
Yue looked at Tomoyo and smiled.
"Am I glad you knew that I would be here."
Tomoyo smiled back at Yue, she bowed her head to him and gave the others their food. Tomoyo then came over to the bed. Yue leant over Sakura and whispered into her ear.
"Sakura-chan, Tomoyo-chan is here with some food for you."
Sakura's eyes flickered and opened, she smiled at Yue, and he smiled back at her. Carefully Yue helped Sakura to sit up, Touya grabbed the pillows and Yue helped Sakura to sit back against them, she smiled at the two men who smiled at her and then at each other.
"You look a little better, Sakura-chan," said Touya, smiling at his sister.
"Yes, I feel it."
Yue smiled at Touya.
"Your brother has something to show you."
Touya nodded. Sakura felt her heart pound.
'Please don't let it be that he loves Yue-san, please.'
Suddenly a gold light ran up Touya and he transformed into Star Guardian: he smiled at Sakura, who looked at him open-mouthed.
"What does this mean?"
"It means I am the guardian of your star."
"Oh! Hang on a moment, does that mean you're like Yue-san and Kero-chan?"
"Yes and so are you, the Heavenly card is in you."
"Oh her, I've known about that for a while now."
Everyone looked at her then Yue spoke,
"No, Sakura-chan, Heavenly-san is at one with you, you are Heavenly-san."
Sakura looked at him, her eyes wide with shock. Yue continued.
"But you will still stay as the mistress of the cards. For Heavenly-san is no longer separate, you are her so you are Sakura-san now."
"I want to stay being chan to you and the others, Yue-san, is that alright?"
Yue smiled at Sakura gently.
"Yes, if you want."
"Trust me I want."
Yue smiled at Sakura and hugged her gently.
"That's the Sakura-chan we all know, I had a funny feeling you wouldn't want to put on airs and graces with us."
Sakura had her eyes closed and was smiling dreamily over Yue's shoulder as he held her. Quietly she slipped her arms round him, Tomoyo noticed this and elbowed Touya and then pointed this out, the reaction he gave was one Tomoyo had not been expecting, Touya smiled at the couple.
Sakura was handing Touya another brightly wrapped gift, which he carefully placed under the tree. He looked at Sakura.
"Sakura-chan, why is it that Yuki is avoiding you?"
Sakura blushed a little, and then looked Touya straight in the eyes.
"I think he feels a little embarrassed about the play."
"But why, he had to kiss you, otherwise you wouldn't have woken up."
"Exactly, he had to, he didn't want to do it, and now he doesn't want to be near me.it's understandable really, after all he does love you."
Sakura sighed unhappily and Touya, stunned by this remark, sat staring at her.
"One, I know for a fact that he doesn't love me anymore; and two, he seemed pretty willing to kiss you to me. You were asleep so you didn't see the smile on his face, I think he rather liked kissing you awake."
Sakura had no words. She stared at Touya, digesting this information. It turned her world upside down and inside out. She felt a little dizzy. The silence lasted so long that Touya became worried.
"But obviously, you wouldn't like a repeat performance," he said softly.
"It's not that!" Sakura interrupted him quickly. "I just can't get my head around the fact he might actually have liked kissing me."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm.well, me. You know, the little girl who's had a crush on him since we first met? Besides, he told me last time he could only see me as your little sister."
"Yeah, but last time you were ten years old," Touya reminded her. "Now you're sixteen. Big difference, between then and now. You're much more than my little sister to him now. Much more I can tell."
Sakura shook her head. "I can't believe that. If I mean so much to him, why has he gone away?" She stood up quickly.
Touya saw the colour drain from her face. "Sakura!" he exclaimed, leaping up at the same time. Golden light surrounded him, clothing his body in a uniform made of cloth of gold and cloth of silver, similar to Yue's uniform in design. His stones were silver instead of purple; his wings were black with pieces of light lodged deep within the darkness. A star symbol hung around his neck, surrounded by two wings, identical to Sakura's key. Silver streaked through his hair, pulling it out of its bun, completely free of any bands and down to his ankles.
Keroberos came thundering down the stairs just in time to see Sakura fall into the arms of her Star Guardian, a very bewildered Touya. When he turned and saw Keroberos, Touya clutched Sakura even tighter.
"Mistress!" Keroberos said in anguish, seeing the pallor of Sakura's face.
Touya relaxed his grip a little. "Who are you?" he asked, dazed, taking in the golden beast with folded shining wings.
Keroberos sat down and looked at him, noting the confusion in his eyes. "I am Keroberos, guardian of the Sun, guardian to the Sakura Cards and their Mistress. My mistress," he said gently. "You must be the Star Guardian that Clow-sama spoke of, the one who would only come when the Star Child was born. You are the protector of Sakura-chan's star. You protect.Heavenly."
He padded forward and looked into Sakura's peaceful face, along with Touya. Then they both looked up at each other.
"The play!"
"I hate it when Yue does this," Keroberos muttered.
"Does what?"
"Prophesises without telling any one."
"You mean the play is going to come true?!"
Keroberos gestured with his paw. "You have become a winged warrior. Not the Winged Warrior, granted, but close enough. This means that Yukito-kun overlaid Yue's imagery with his own to try and understand."
Touya lifted Sakura right into his arms. "I'm getting a headache. Does this mean that Yuki's going to fall asleep?"
"Yukito-kun, no; Yue, probably. That's what I hate about this: I don't know which parts are going to come true."
Touya slid Sakura from his arms onto her bed. "Speaking of Yue, what do we do about him? Look at her, she's already fainting without him."
"You mean he caused this?!"
"No, mentioning him caused this."
"What exactly did you say?"
"I told her that Yuki cared about her, not me."
"Oh dear." Keroberos shook his head. "That would be a huge shock to her system."
Touya glanced at Sakura's alarm clock. "He might be home by now. I could call him."
Keroberos nodded. "Good idea. I'll watch over her."
Touya paused. "I have one more question."
"Make it quick."
"How come I can transform when I don't have my powers anymore?"
Keroberos looked at Touya confused and then rolled his eyes up to the ceiling.
"Yue's been giving the power back to you, didn't you know? No, of course he wouldn't tell you. Sakura-chan also felt really guilty about you losing your power because she couldn't support Yue. However, he didn't tell her about giving you back your powers either."
"So I have twice the amount of power?"
Keroberos shook his head and then took a deep breath considering the best way to explain this.
"No, no. Listen, Sakura couldn't give you back your original power: you gave that to someone else of your own free will. However, whilst trying to help, she accidentally stirred the Star Guardian inside of you, giving you your ability to change into him. You just didn't know about it. It only comes out when she really needs help. That's why you were always turning up when she got in trouble last time. The Guardian inside you knew what was going on, and was trying to do his job without telling you."
"Nobody seems to tell me anything," Touya remarked, and went to make the phone call.
Touya stood in the hall in his uniform, pressing the buttons, praying his father wouldn't come in. If he did, he would just have to pretend he was doing a cos-play, because he couldn't change back, while Sakura was still in trouble. The phone rang and rang. Touya was just about to give up when it was yanked off its hook by a breathless Yukito.
"Mochi-mochi. Sorry," he panted, "I was in the garden. Who is it?"
Touya was so angry he couldn't help snapping at Yukito, "So that's how you say hello to your best friend after avoiding him for two months?"
"Touya! What's wrong?"
Yukito sounded concerned but Touya wasn't about to forgive him and he wanted to know a few things
"Why are you avoiding Sakura-chan?"
"What? I'm not avoiding her."
Touya gripped the receiver very hard, just about maintaining control of himself.
"That's a lie Yukito, or I wouldn't be standing in the middle of my hall in a costume that looks a reject from 'Saint Seiya' with wings poking out of my bloody back otherwise! Sorry, let me correct myself: arching out of my back, blocking the passage way!"
Yukito nearly dropped the phone. "Star Guardian!" he exclaimed.
"No, it's E.T., what do you think it sounds like?!" Touya demanded sarcastically.
"I'll come right over." Yukito slammed the phone down, leaving Touya fuming.
"If my sister dies, I will kill you, no matter if you are my best friend," he said quietly.
A short while later, hammering on the front door heralded Yukito's arrival.
Touya answered. "Thank goodness my dad phoned saying he was gonna be late home," he remarked on seeing his friend. "I don't know how I'd explain all this!"
Yukito stared at him, his eyes wide. "Wow," he murmured.
"Never mind me, just get up the stairs and help my sister, if it's not too late!"
"Onii-chan, why are you telling Yukito-san off?" asked Sakura, who was at the top of the stairs. She put her foot forward to come down, but missed the step and fell, passing out.
Yukito, Touya and Keroberos all yelled in fear. Touya leapt forward but was shoved out of the way by Yukito, his face white with terror.
As Sakura fell towards him, wings slid out of her back, but since she was unconscious, they lay flat on her skin. Yukito's eyes widened in recognition at the pattern on the feathers and their colour.
"Heavenly!!" they all chorused in amazement.
"Heavenly and Sakura-chan are one!" gasped Keroberos. "She is Heavenly, just as Touya is Star Guardian!"
Yukito caught Sakura as she fell, careful not to hurt the delicate wings, which hung behind her. They reminded him of a butterfly's, intensely colourful and beautiful, but fragile, just like their owner. He lifted her gently, gazing with tenderness into her face.
"Wait a minute," he said, looking at Keroberos. "If Heavenly and Star Guardian are merged with their mortal bodies, then that means they'll be around as long as you and Yue!"
Keroberos nodded. "Mm-hmm. We'd better get her upstairs."
"Wait, wait a minute!" exclaimed Touya. "We're going to be as old as you?!"
Keroberos gave him a look. "I think I've aged quite well, considering," he said with great dignity.
"You haven't aged at all!"
"Precisely. So what are you complaining about?" He bounded up the stairs after Yukito and his mistress.
Touya shook his head and followed his new mistress (!) and fellow guardians up the stairs.
Yukito gently laid Sakura on the bed, drawing the covers over her. He looked down at her, she was so pale. Touya walked into Sakura's room and also looked down at her.
"This looks bad," Touya said quietly. Yukito looked at him, Touya's brow was drawn together in worry. Touya closed his eyes and the golden light surrounded him again, he transformed back into his normal self.
"Hey I managed to change back. Good, I was just thinking I had better call my father and a doctor." Touya set his eyes on Keroberos. "You had better change back."
Keroberos nodded and changed back into Kero he flew over to Sakura's bed and sat on it. Yukito was pale, he sat down on a chair next to Sakura's bed and took her hand. Touya looked at him, Yukito looked up at Touya, he spoke in a hush.
"How bad do you think she is?"
"Yuki, I won't hide it from you, very bad. Sakura is behaving just like our mother used to before we found out she had cancer."
Yukito clutched Sakura's hand.
"It can't be that, Sakura-chan is too young for it to be that. Plus Yue can't feel anything like that wrong with her."
"Well I'm still calling my father and a doctor."
Touya left the room he was just about to pick up the phone in the hallway when his father opened the door. Touya looked up at him, and his face drained white.
"Otou-san. I was just about to call you."
"Touya, you look pale, what's the matter?"
"It's Sakura, she fainted again, Yuki was here so he helped me with her, I was just about to call the doctor."
"Good idea, I'll go up and see her straight away."
Touya's father went up stairs and walked into Sakura's room he looked at Yukito and smiled.
"How is she?"
"Sakura-chan seems a little better now."
"That's probably because she is surrounded by people she loves."
As he said that Mr Kinomoto gave Yukito a sideward glance, the young man blushed.
"Of course we all love her, maybe we should phone Tomoyo-chan."
"I already did."
Yukito jumped as Touya walked back in.
"The doctor will be here in five minuets and Tomoyo-chan will be here any second."
There came a knock on the door. Mr Kinomoto rose
"I'll get it,"
He left the room before any one could protest. A few moments latter Tomoyo, Eriol, Supi, Ruby and Miss Mitsuki came into the room. The others including Kero looked up, their eyes went wide with shock at this sight. Kero spoke, surprised.
"Hey, you all came."
"Yes, we did," answered Eriol, smiling. "Do you mind?"
"No," answered Touya. "Where is Otou-san?"
"Downstairs with my mother," answered Tomoyo.
There was silence, Eriol looked at Keroberos.
"What caused this relapse?"
"Touya mentioning that Yukito-kun was avoiding Sakura-chan to her."
"Oh dear. Is she any better?"
Touya looked up
"Yes, the wings are gone now and since Yuki arrived, Sakura-chan has looked quite a bit better."
There came another knock on the front door, Touya looked up.
"That will be the doctor."
Sure enough a few moments later a tall, quite old man, with a wiry frame and short white hair came in. The others quietly left Sakura's bedroom except Kero and Supi who pretended to be stuffed toys again so they could stay with Sakura.
The others, meanwhile, were sitting in the living room and kitchen. Eriol and Tomoyo sat together holding hands, Tomoyo's head on his shoulder, mirroring them was Ruby and Touya. Mr Kinomoto was sitting in the kitchen with Tomoyo's mother and Miss Mitsuki. Yukito was pacing up and down the living room like a caged lion.
After sometime the doctor came downstairs and into the living room, they all stood and he took a deep breath.
"It's quite serious I'm afraid, she has exhaustion and flu, she'll need lots of rest. She made the request that Yukito-san, Tomoyo-san, Mitsuki- sensei and Touya-san stay with her."
Mr Kinomoto nodded to the doctor.
"Yes, they can stay."
The doctor looked at the others that were assembled.
"As for the others I suggest that they go home and rest themselves."
The doctor left along with the others. Tomoyo's mother stood in the doorway and hugged her.
"I'll bring some stuff over for you later. "
She stood and looked at Mr Kinomoto and smiled a little at the pale man.
"Look after Tomoyo for me, and Sakura-chan."
Mr Kinomoto nodded slightly. Tomoyo's mother shut the door behind her. Mr Kinomoto then looked at the others, he took a deep breath.
"Alright then, what worked last time?"
Touya looked up at his father
"Well last time Yukito had to stay with Sakura all the time even hold her at points, it seems he made her feel better and having her stuffed toys nearby worked well too. "
Mr Kinomoto looked at Yukito and smiled. Yukito blushed and looked at the floor.
"That's fine by me. Now what about food?"
Tomoyo looked up at that point.
"Well soup and broth are good for her at the moment when Sakura-chan regains more of her appetite she'll eat as she normally did."
"Fine, I'll leave you in charge of the cooking, Tomoyo-chan."
"All right."
Mr Kinomoto looked at Miss Mitsuki.
"I'll help Tomoyo-chan with the food and I can make Sakura-chan a special medicine and a scent to burn in her room that will make her comfortable."
"Thank you. Touya, I want you to go up and stay with Yukito-kun, help him move your sister and things, if he needs toy too, alright?"
Touya nodded, he had never seen his father so business like before, except when his and Sakuras mother had been ill and although his father was smiling, Touya could sense that this reminded him of losing, there mother.
"I'll take some time off work so I can be here."
"NO!" said the others.
Mr Kinomoto looked at them, shocked. Miss Mitsuki spoke softly.
"What we mean is, we are going to be here, you don't need to stay and it will probably make Sakura-chan feel bad if you don't go to work."
"Alright, if you think so."
"I think so. I just need to pop home and get something to sleep on, is that alright?"
"Yes, fine."
Miss Mitsuki left the house quietly. Tomoyo went into the kitchen and started to make some soup. Touya looked at his father, who was white.
"You should get some rest Otou-san."
Mr Kinomoto nodded.
"Yes, you're right, Touya, good night."
Mr Kinomoto went upstairs to his room and shut the door. Touya turned to Yukito and smiled gently.
"We had better get upstairs ourselves. Sakura will probably be wanting you. Tomoyo-chan when Mitsuki-sensei gets back let her in alright?"
"Sure thing, Touya-san, now go to Sakura-chan."
Yukito and Touya went upstairs to Sakura's bedroom; the young mistress of the Sakura cards was peacefully asleep in the bed but very pale. The covers drawn up to below her chin, one arm over the top of the covers. Yukito drew up a chair next to the bed and took Sakura's hand in his, squeezing it gently. Sakura murmured in her sleep in response to this. Kero and Supi looked at Yukito and said together:
"That's the first response that Sakura-chan has made since the doctor left."
Yukito looked at Kero and gulped. The cards floated up and began to dance around, the card that Sakura had made symbolising her love floated down into Yukito's hand. Yukito looked at it, inside him Yue gasped.
'What is it?'
'I think.I need to come forward and talk to Keroberos first if I may?'
Yukito looked up at Touya.
"Yue wants to talk to Kero-chan, is your father asleep?"
Touya closed his eyes briefly then opened them.
"Yes."
Yukito nodded and closed his eyes, Yue came forward: he held the card out to Kero, who took it from Yue, looking at him confused.
"Yes, it's that card Sakura-chan made, what about it?"
"Well it was made to represent her love, that's right, isn't it?"
Kero nodded.
"Well look closely, Keroberos, it's changed."
Kero looked down at the card and his eyes went wide: he handed the card to Supi and went under the pillow. A muffled cry escaped from the pillow a short time later. When Kero finally came out Supi handed the card back, and Kero took it with shaking paws.
"What's the matter?"
Touya asked the two guardians, his voice shaking slightly. Kero looked at him he opened his mouth but no words came out, eventually Kero held the card out to Touya who took it and looked at it. A heart with two wings, the heart had a moon and star motif on it and the same on the crown of the heart. Touya went pale then gulped.
"Was this symbol on the heart before?"
Kero and Yue shook their heads; all Touya could muster as a reply to this was,
"Ahh, I see."
The cards finished their dance and all went along with the heart card back into the Star book. Touya, still shaking, sat down on the floor and sighed.
"Well, I think that solves a lot."
He gave Yue a penetrating look: the Moon Guardian looked back at Touya and flushed.
"What?" he asked
Touya just smiled at him.
"Nothing."
Yue lent over Sakura and she grabbed his braid and pulled on it. Touya looked at him
"I think Sakura wants you to lay with her, Yue."
Yue got up and moved onto the bed. Sakura instantly turned over in her sleep and snuggled into Yue, making small happy noises. Tomoyo knocked on the door, Touya looked up.
"Come in."
Tomoyo did so and smiled at the sight before her.
"Ahh I did judge correctly. Here: pasta and tea for you, Touya-san, jelly for Supi-san, cake for Kero-chan, tomato soup for Sakura-chan and Sandwiches and Tea for me. I had a funny feeling you would be here, Yue- san, so I didn't make you anything."
Yue looked at Tomoyo and smiled.
"Am I glad you knew that I would be here."
Tomoyo smiled back at Yue, she bowed her head to him and gave the others their food. Tomoyo then came over to the bed. Yue leant over Sakura and whispered into her ear.
"Sakura-chan, Tomoyo-chan is here with some food for you."
Sakura's eyes flickered and opened, she smiled at Yue, and he smiled back at her. Carefully Yue helped Sakura to sit up, Touya grabbed the pillows and Yue helped Sakura to sit back against them, she smiled at the two men who smiled at her and then at each other.
"You look a little better, Sakura-chan," said Touya, smiling at his sister.
"Yes, I feel it."
Yue smiled at Touya.
"Your brother has something to show you."
Touya nodded. Sakura felt her heart pound.
'Please don't let it be that he loves Yue-san, please.'
Suddenly a gold light ran up Touya and he transformed into Star Guardian: he smiled at Sakura, who looked at him open-mouthed.
"What does this mean?"
"It means I am the guardian of your star."
"Oh! Hang on a moment, does that mean you're like Yue-san and Kero-chan?"
"Yes and so are you, the Heavenly card is in you."
"Oh her, I've known about that for a while now."
Everyone looked at her then Yue spoke,
"No, Sakura-chan, Heavenly-san is at one with you, you are Heavenly-san."
Sakura looked at him, her eyes wide with shock. Yue continued.
"But you will still stay as the mistress of the cards. For Heavenly-san is no longer separate, you are her so you are Sakura-san now."
"I want to stay being chan to you and the others, Yue-san, is that alright?"
Yue smiled at Sakura gently.
"Yes, if you want."
"Trust me I want."
Yue smiled at Sakura and hugged her gently.
"That's the Sakura-chan we all know, I had a funny feeling you wouldn't want to put on airs and graces with us."
Sakura had her eyes closed and was smiling dreamily over Yue's shoulder as he held her. Quietly she slipped her arms round him, Tomoyo noticed this and elbowed Touya and then pointed this out, the reaction he gave was one Tomoyo had not been expecting, Touya smiled at the couple.