To Eclipse The Sun and Embrace The Moon.
DISCLAIMER: Zhen Mirou Reed is mine, Nicholas Reed is mine, Gwyn & Beledos Pebyr are mine, Uzume is mine, Yue is mine. . .spot the odd one out.
Chapter 3 - Responsibility.
Clow came to his senses early the next morning when Kero began clawing the bed sheet from his chest. The heady scent of some exotic winter blossom reminded him of the third presence in his bed. Yue was tucked neatly against the mages side, breath gusting against his neck, purrs still reverberating at the back of his throat.
Now this was the way to wake up. He raised a fingertip to nudge at the stray tendril of hair scooping under the ivory cheekbone.
He still found it impossible to think he had made something so lovely. . .the Gods must have had a hand in it, he thought wonderingly.
"Et tu!" Kero 'growled.'
Yue stirred and blinked blearily. Clow flushed as the lithe form stretched its length against him, rubbing warmly.
"Are you hungry Yue?"
"No." The Guardian answered blearily but honestly, he was never hungry, neither was Kero if the truth be told.
The mage chuckled. "Alright, but would you like something to eat?"
Full awareness returned to the stunning violet gaze. "Strawberries?"
Clow laughed outright at that. "Very well, will you take your brother away first?"
Yue looked at the infant Guardian Beast flexing his needle like claws over his Masters beautiful skin and quickly lifted him away. He stood for a moment straightening the creases in his robes as best he could and then leaving the room.
Clow sighed with relief, now he could get dressed.
*****************************************************************
Early morning saw Yue sat beneath a pretty tree he couldn't identify reading. . .well trying anyway. The world was distracting him. First he and Kero had followed a hopping green thing he believed to be a frog all the way around the Reed estate, then he had actually played with his brother and now the cub was sleeping yet again and Yue was looking up at every leaf rustle and pond ripple.
Clow had taken one look at the lovely weather and declared. "Yue, the last thing you are going to want to do is read."
"What will you be doing?" He had asked, he remembered the mage's grimace as he replied.
"I have to start work on my task, there are no excuse for delay now that I have you and Kero here."
Yue didn't know what this task was but he hoped it would free Clow to spend some time with him soon. For now though he smiled into the warm air heeding his Master's warning to stay in the shade. He looked back again at the page he had been on for the past half an hour and rolled his eyes before he marked it with a blade of grass and set off to gather some more strawberries.
When the 'visitors' came they saw only a slender figure crouched amongst the fruit plants and a swathe of silver hair disappearing down the front of one shoulder.
"U-Uzume?"
Yue froze and stood very slowly.
As he turned the speaker realised their mistake. "Oh my." The woman murmured, the man with her just stared.
The Guardian cleared his throat. "Hello. . ." They continued to stare at him. "Would you like a strawberry?"
The silence was awkward even to Yue's naïve perception and he was very relieved to hear and feel his creator coming towards them.
"Ha! Yue I just knew you'd go off-." The words halted.
"Hello boy." His fathers voice was grave.
After stunned moments Clow managed to introduce them. Yue was in awe of his Master's father and fell immediately under his mothers spell
"Where is Kero Yue?"
"Hmm?" With his head studiously cocked the Moon Guardian was examining the. . .*differences* between the only woman he had ever seen and the two human males. "Oh! I'll just get him." Smiling enthusiastically he skipped off to retrieve his brother.
Nicholas Reed turned to his son. "You've created a living being?"
"Well, they live on magic not oxygen but yes."
Zhen Mirou Reed shook her head in amazement. "Is it my imagination of is he made entirely of moon energy?"
The younger mage grinned. "Its not your imagination."
It was his fathers turn to be amazed. "You harnessed the power of the moon?"
"Not only that, I-."
"Here he is!" Yue called and as soon as he came close enough he handed the sleepily protesting bundle of golden fur to his Master.
"This is Keroberos."
His mother gasped. "Pure sun influence!"
"They should not be able to stand being near each other!" His father exclaimed, a rare event in itself.
"You must have found another way of channelling both sets of energy other than through your own body." Zhen observed.
"Yes I did."
Neither parent questioned further, they all had their secrets and they respected the right for their son to have his.
"Shall we go into the house then Clow?" Yue prompted, both visitors looked a little shocked that the creation was using his creators first name and were even more surprised by Clow's warm smile.
"Excellent idea Yue."
The Guardian led the way.
Clow's mother was staring at him again Yue realised and looked up enquiringly.
"Forgive my rudeness Yue but your hair. . .it reminds me of someone else's."
The pretty woman seemed to disappear in her memories as the creation stared back.
Zhen Mirou Reed was elegant and poised, she was stern when she had to be but those in her good affections were loved wholeheartedly. He sensed that Nicholas Reed was a little more reserved, like one who had undergone much toil to gain what he now had and as a result would not suffer fools willingly.
In appearance their son had equal shares, his mothers black hair, his fathers lapis blue eyes, his skin was a blending of the two.
The woman looked up as her husband and son rejoined them smiling.
"Well I must say Clow, your library is not too shabby at all."
"Coming from you father that's a great compliment."
"Needs tidying though."
The younger man rolled his eyes. "Chaos adds characters."
"Ess ou!" Kero had obviously had enough of being ignored so Nicholas went over to him and both stroked and examined him, every so often you could hear him mutter 'fascinating' or 'hmmm.'
Moving towards his mother and his Moon Creation Clow bit his lip as he considered a detail that had been worrying him about Yue's 'education.'
"Mother, since you're here I have a favour to ask."
"Anything sweetheart."
"Could you. . .teach Yue how to bathe?"
Yue looked startled but the woman laughed. "Of course."
So Yue had his first bath, unveiling a petulant side that insisted, "Keroberos should have to be tortured too!" but once he was in the water Clow could hear the sublimely happy sigh that escaped the being from where he was stood anxiously outside the door.
Yue emerged looking very bedraggled but with delightful blush to his skin. Zhen soon set to work combing the Guardian's hair (which she seemed to enjoy) while her husband watched silently, petting Kero as the cub slept on his lap and waiting for the silver braid to be completed before he spoke to the other creation.
"How old are you?"
The creation cocked his head. "Seven."
"Centuries?" Yue shook his head.
"Decades?" The Guardian shook his head again secretly deciding he liked this game.
"Years?" Yue was distracted from another denial when he felt his Master's aura move closer.
"Days." Clow's quiet voice put an end to the questions. "They are both seven days old."
"A week?"
"Yes." Clow looked defiant and his father looked stern.
"Straight after Uzume-."
"Yes." Clow's gaze slipped briefly to his Moon Guardian, he didn't want him to hear this.
Yue looked at his creator, studying the unfamiliar set of stubbornness to his jaw and added blaze to his eyes. His Master was not in danger so he bowed, though he doubted anyone was aware of it, and left the room.
Contrary to his thoughts all three of them had noticed him leave but before they broached the matter of his very existence Zhen embraced her son. "We are sorry we could not make it here for her burial."
The mage smiled gratefully. "I'm surprised you got here as quickly as you did, sea travel is hardly an exact science."
"We were already in the country." His father's deep voice corrected him.
"Then why didn't you come sooner!"
The older man frowned at him. "For I very good reason Clow so please lower your voice." Nodding apologetically he signalled for one of them to continue and his mother did.
"We had to attend a funeral then a ceremonial scattering of the ashes and the passage of leadership ritual."
"Who died?"
Nicholas breathed deeply, his stare intense. "The Pebyr clan leader."
"Beledos is dead?"
"Yes."
Clow closed his eyes briefly, sparing a moment for a man who could have been his friend despite their status as rivals, albeit supposedly allied ones.
"Did he have an heir?"
There was a small pause and a strange shared glance between the couple. "No."
"That means-."
"Indeed, his younger brother takes up the position of Clan head." The English mage's voice was grim.
As always his mother elaborated on his fathers sparsely detailed speech. "We attended with the mage council, they are asking more and more questions about your activities Clow. If you would just show yourself once a year, just once at the council factions they would-."
"They would still ask just as many questions, why have you been hiding? What are you doing?"
"Well I for one would be very interested in hearing the answers to both those questions." The stately man had turned to look out the window.
Clow raked his hand though his hair in irritation. "The damned council! I have poor power in my little finger than the entire circle of those meddlers combined!"
"They know that son, that's what makes you a threat to them."
"The less they see of you, the less they know of you, that makes you dangerous and that puts you at risk." Zhen Mirou reasoned, both the men in her life were rather hot headed at times so she was used to mediating between them.
"Sorcery and politics, they should not be dependent on each other." Largely because Clow was only adept at the former.
"Son you have to maintain tradition and more importantly alliances, the Pebyr Clan have been allied with the Reeds for centuries and next to us the Li clan is the only other clan close to us in magical ability. The Li's may not have agreed with your mother marrying a foreign and untrained mage but out of respect for blood ties they will not harm us, that leaves only the Pebyr clan."
Secretly Clow marvelled at the speech, he loved his father dearly despite their disagreements at times such as these and for the thoughtful man to speak so much he must indeed be concerned about the matter at hand.
"We never had any quarrel with Beledos, he and I were almost friends, I invited him to my birthday celebration so why-."
"Clow! You have said often enough yourself that his brother Gwyn uses totally different methods in everything. . .and his temperament?. . .Well they say Beledos threatened to banish him for some transgression when he was just fourteen!"
The young mage sighed heavily. "Mother, father, I like my life as it is, I have my home, I have my library and now I have my companions and a great task to complete, an endeavour that would make the council dizzy with its scope. I do not have the time or inclination to explain myself to narrow minded, old school critics."
"So you'll hide away here?"
"I am not hiding! I like my life, I love it, everything is complete now."
Zhen stared at her only child steadily, "everything?"
Clow fiddled with his cuff as he hadn't done since he was very young. "Everything." He confirmed.
"I see." She murmured.
His father turned to face him abruptly. "And so do I, but I hope for both your sakes you haven't taken this too far. . .he is too young Clow."
"I know that."
"Does he?"
Zhen placed a restraining hand on her husbands forearm. "Why did you create him Clow?"
"I. . .I don't really know."
"Is he just some replacement for Uzume?"
"No!" Clow cried instantly.
"Then why does he look like her?"
"He doesn't look like her, it's just his hair, I couldn't bare to say goodbye do that particular shade but that is where the similarities end, Yue is beautiful in his own unique way."
"Are you prepared to wait for him?"
Clow nodded emphatically. "Yes."
Zhen smiled with warm relief. "Then there is nothing more to say about it, right now we must consider the council's next possible action."
His father's tone was cynical. "If you're lucky the Order will only send one of the 'narrow minded, old school critics' as you called them, if not perhaps they will test this boy leaders dedication to alliance."
Clow shook his head, they would know where to find him now as well, he should have realised that harnessing as much energy as he had to create Kero and Yue would call out like a siren to those with even the smallest traces of magic. Damn it! Nicholas continued.
"Beledos was not as malleable as they had hoped, with Gwyn so new to the position and seemingly less magically gifted they believe they have a chance of deeper influence over an ancient and powerful bloodline. . .I fear they could try to use him against you."
Zhen nodded in agreement. "We need to plan our course of action before whoever it is arrives.
Clow frowned. "Won't they notify us a couple of days in advance?"
His mother shrugged eloquently.
Relieved to be leaving the unusually charged and tense atmosphere of the mansion Yue loped back to the strawberry patch to collect his basket and book but once again a 'visitor' was watching him. Yue smiled at the new arrival who was possibly younger than his Master with pale skin and red tinted hair.
"Hello, would you like a strawberry?"
Gwyn Pebyr looked at his welcoming committee and more particularly the exquisite packaging. With a sly smile he approached.
"A strawberry would be much appreciated." Then he took the elegant hand holding the offering and ate the ripe red fruit from Yue's very fingers.
"Delicious." He murmured, eyes, one brown and one grey Yue noticed, focused on the Guardian who tugged slightly to remove his hand, uncertain if this was usual behaviour.
Gwyn frowned and held on tightly, Yue let the man peer into his face. "H-have you come to see my Master?"
The strange but human eyes widened slightly. "You're 'Master'?" A construct, he though, that would explain the eyes and. . .the rest of it. "Yes I'm here to see Clow Reed." He smirked.
Yue moved eagerly, this man made him uncomfortable, he knew it probably wasn't polite to walk so fast that there was distance between him and the guest he was leading but. . .he couldn't help it.
Clow, Nicholas and Zhen looked up at the exact same moment.
"I guess I really was stupid to expect a forewarning." Clow muttered, his parent remained silent for a moment more still concentrating before his mother groaned slightly.
"What is it?"
"You mean 'who' is it." Nicholas growled.
His mother's voice was resigned. "They've sent Gwyn as ambassador."
Yue always relished the sight of his Master but to see him standing at the door and saving him from any more time alone with this man with the eyes that burn added an immense relief to the soft glow he always felt.
"Well, well, well. The great and powerful Clow Reed." Gwyn called with barely suppressed sarcasm.
Clow bowed politely drawing strength from the presence of his parents behind him and Yue before him. "Gwyn Pebyr, congratulations on your succession."
"I've left my luggage with the carriage, your grounds are too extensive to carry them across, could you send a servant to fetch them for me Clow?" The mage resented the familiarity but his father saved him the reply.
"I'll go and get them, my son does not keep servants so my Lady wife will prepare your room." Zhen disappeared with a nod and left her son alone with his 'guest'.
"You're very welcome to my home." Clow lied.
Gwyn smirked. "Well no offence but your servant was far more welcoming than you." Yue watched his Master swallow a retort, he wanted to tell him it was fine, he did not mind being called a servant, he would be anything if Clow asked him.
"What's with it's eyes Clow? Are they meant to show the fazes of the moon or do you have some bizarre fixation with cats. . .?" Kero chose that moment to pad over and start pouncing on the teasing end of Clow's sash, Gwyn snorted derisively enough to make the darker mage visibly clench his jaw.
"Easy, I'm not picking faults with your creation, far from it. He seems to me to be quite perfect." Clow's fists clenched at his sides as the rival sorcerer toyed with the heavy rope of platinum hair. "So perfect in fact. . .one wonders exactly what he was created for. . ." The mismatched eyes tangled with the fulminating glare of his rival as the creation answered.
"I'm th-."
Yue had been about to say 'Guardian of the Moon' before Gwyn pressed his finger against his opening mouth, trapping it in a parted 0 shape. "Yes. I think anyone with a fragment of imagination who sees you will understand perfectly well your purpose in your *Masters* life."
"Gwyn-." Clow started forward growling a warning even as the other man removed his finger and Yue was able to cease the suggestive pout of his lips.
"My, did your mother never teach you to share?" He looked back at Guardian. "Is no one allowed to touch your things?" Clow gritted his teeth hissing with the effort of holding back while Gwyn continued to look at Yue and rake the seraphic figure with lustful eyes. "Pity" he said and swept past.
* I know, I know, I always do this, but who could look at Yue and not want him? I like jealous Touya so I thought I experiment with a jealous Clow Reed. I'll take the hentai defence.
DISCLAIMER: Zhen Mirou Reed is mine, Nicholas Reed is mine, Gwyn & Beledos Pebyr are mine, Uzume is mine, Yue is mine. . .spot the odd one out.
Chapter 3 - Responsibility.
Clow came to his senses early the next morning when Kero began clawing the bed sheet from his chest. The heady scent of some exotic winter blossom reminded him of the third presence in his bed. Yue was tucked neatly against the mages side, breath gusting against his neck, purrs still reverberating at the back of his throat.
Now this was the way to wake up. He raised a fingertip to nudge at the stray tendril of hair scooping under the ivory cheekbone.
He still found it impossible to think he had made something so lovely. . .the Gods must have had a hand in it, he thought wonderingly.
"Et tu!" Kero 'growled.'
Yue stirred and blinked blearily. Clow flushed as the lithe form stretched its length against him, rubbing warmly.
"Are you hungry Yue?"
"No." The Guardian answered blearily but honestly, he was never hungry, neither was Kero if the truth be told.
The mage chuckled. "Alright, but would you like something to eat?"
Full awareness returned to the stunning violet gaze. "Strawberries?"
Clow laughed outright at that. "Very well, will you take your brother away first?"
Yue looked at the infant Guardian Beast flexing his needle like claws over his Masters beautiful skin and quickly lifted him away. He stood for a moment straightening the creases in his robes as best he could and then leaving the room.
Clow sighed with relief, now he could get dressed.
*****************************************************************
Early morning saw Yue sat beneath a pretty tree he couldn't identify reading. . .well trying anyway. The world was distracting him. First he and Kero had followed a hopping green thing he believed to be a frog all the way around the Reed estate, then he had actually played with his brother and now the cub was sleeping yet again and Yue was looking up at every leaf rustle and pond ripple.
Clow had taken one look at the lovely weather and declared. "Yue, the last thing you are going to want to do is read."
"What will you be doing?" He had asked, he remembered the mage's grimace as he replied.
"I have to start work on my task, there are no excuse for delay now that I have you and Kero here."
Yue didn't know what this task was but he hoped it would free Clow to spend some time with him soon. For now though he smiled into the warm air heeding his Master's warning to stay in the shade. He looked back again at the page he had been on for the past half an hour and rolled his eyes before he marked it with a blade of grass and set off to gather some more strawberries.
When the 'visitors' came they saw only a slender figure crouched amongst the fruit plants and a swathe of silver hair disappearing down the front of one shoulder.
"U-Uzume?"
Yue froze and stood very slowly.
As he turned the speaker realised their mistake. "Oh my." The woman murmured, the man with her just stared.
The Guardian cleared his throat. "Hello. . ." They continued to stare at him. "Would you like a strawberry?"
The silence was awkward even to Yue's naïve perception and he was very relieved to hear and feel his creator coming towards them.
"Ha! Yue I just knew you'd go off-." The words halted.
"Hello boy." His fathers voice was grave.
After stunned moments Clow managed to introduce them. Yue was in awe of his Master's father and fell immediately under his mothers spell
"Where is Kero Yue?"
"Hmm?" With his head studiously cocked the Moon Guardian was examining the. . .*differences* between the only woman he had ever seen and the two human males. "Oh! I'll just get him." Smiling enthusiastically he skipped off to retrieve his brother.
Nicholas Reed turned to his son. "You've created a living being?"
"Well, they live on magic not oxygen but yes."
Zhen Mirou Reed shook her head in amazement. "Is it my imagination of is he made entirely of moon energy?"
The younger mage grinned. "Its not your imagination."
It was his fathers turn to be amazed. "You harnessed the power of the moon?"
"Not only that, I-."
"Here he is!" Yue called and as soon as he came close enough he handed the sleepily protesting bundle of golden fur to his Master.
"This is Keroberos."
His mother gasped. "Pure sun influence!"
"They should not be able to stand being near each other!" His father exclaimed, a rare event in itself.
"You must have found another way of channelling both sets of energy other than through your own body." Zhen observed.
"Yes I did."
Neither parent questioned further, they all had their secrets and they respected the right for their son to have his.
"Shall we go into the house then Clow?" Yue prompted, both visitors looked a little shocked that the creation was using his creators first name and were even more surprised by Clow's warm smile.
"Excellent idea Yue."
The Guardian led the way.
Clow's mother was staring at him again Yue realised and looked up enquiringly.
"Forgive my rudeness Yue but your hair. . .it reminds me of someone else's."
The pretty woman seemed to disappear in her memories as the creation stared back.
Zhen Mirou Reed was elegant and poised, she was stern when she had to be but those in her good affections were loved wholeheartedly. He sensed that Nicholas Reed was a little more reserved, like one who had undergone much toil to gain what he now had and as a result would not suffer fools willingly.
In appearance their son had equal shares, his mothers black hair, his fathers lapis blue eyes, his skin was a blending of the two.
The woman looked up as her husband and son rejoined them smiling.
"Well I must say Clow, your library is not too shabby at all."
"Coming from you father that's a great compliment."
"Needs tidying though."
The younger man rolled his eyes. "Chaos adds characters."
"Ess ou!" Kero had obviously had enough of being ignored so Nicholas went over to him and both stroked and examined him, every so often you could hear him mutter 'fascinating' or 'hmmm.'
Moving towards his mother and his Moon Creation Clow bit his lip as he considered a detail that had been worrying him about Yue's 'education.'
"Mother, since you're here I have a favour to ask."
"Anything sweetheart."
"Could you. . .teach Yue how to bathe?"
Yue looked startled but the woman laughed. "Of course."
So Yue had his first bath, unveiling a petulant side that insisted, "Keroberos should have to be tortured too!" but once he was in the water Clow could hear the sublimely happy sigh that escaped the being from where he was stood anxiously outside the door.
Yue emerged looking very bedraggled but with delightful blush to his skin. Zhen soon set to work combing the Guardian's hair (which she seemed to enjoy) while her husband watched silently, petting Kero as the cub slept on his lap and waiting for the silver braid to be completed before he spoke to the other creation.
"How old are you?"
The creation cocked his head. "Seven."
"Centuries?" Yue shook his head.
"Decades?" The Guardian shook his head again secretly deciding he liked this game.
"Years?" Yue was distracted from another denial when he felt his Master's aura move closer.
"Days." Clow's quiet voice put an end to the questions. "They are both seven days old."
"A week?"
"Yes." Clow looked defiant and his father looked stern.
"Straight after Uzume-."
"Yes." Clow's gaze slipped briefly to his Moon Guardian, he didn't want him to hear this.
Yue looked at his creator, studying the unfamiliar set of stubbornness to his jaw and added blaze to his eyes. His Master was not in danger so he bowed, though he doubted anyone was aware of it, and left the room.
Contrary to his thoughts all three of them had noticed him leave but before they broached the matter of his very existence Zhen embraced her son. "We are sorry we could not make it here for her burial."
The mage smiled gratefully. "I'm surprised you got here as quickly as you did, sea travel is hardly an exact science."
"We were already in the country." His father's deep voice corrected him.
"Then why didn't you come sooner!"
The older man frowned at him. "For I very good reason Clow so please lower your voice." Nodding apologetically he signalled for one of them to continue and his mother did.
"We had to attend a funeral then a ceremonial scattering of the ashes and the passage of leadership ritual."
"Who died?"
Nicholas breathed deeply, his stare intense. "The Pebyr clan leader."
"Beledos is dead?"
"Yes."
Clow closed his eyes briefly, sparing a moment for a man who could have been his friend despite their status as rivals, albeit supposedly allied ones.
"Did he have an heir?"
There was a small pause and a strange shared glance between the couple. "No."
"That means-."
"Indeed, his younger brother takes up the position of Clan head." The English mage's voice was grim.
As always his mother elaborated on his fathers sparsely detailed speech. "We attended with the mage council, they are asking more and more questions about your activities Clow. If you would just show yourself once a year, just once at the council factions they would-."
"They would still ask just as many questions, why have you been hiding? What are you doing?"
"Well I for one would be very interested in hearing the answers to both those questions." The stately man had turned to look out the window.
Clow raked his hand though his hair in irritation. "The damned council! I have poor power in my little finger than the entire circle of those meddlers combined!"
"They know that son, that's what makes you a threat to them."
"The less they see of you, the less they know of you, that makes you dangerous and that puts you at risk." Zhen Mirou reasoned, both the men in her life were rather hot headed at times so she was used to mediating between them.
"Sorcery and politics, they should not be dependent on each other." Largely because Clow was only adept at the former.
"Son you have to maintain tradition and more importantly alliances, the Pebyr Clan have been allied with the Reeds for centuries and next to us the Li clan is the only other clan close to us in magical ability. The Li's may not have agreed with your mother marrying a foreign and untrained mage but out of respect for blood ties they will not harm us, that leaves only the Pebyr clan."
Secretly Clow marvelled at the speech, he loved his father dearly despite their disagreements at times such as these and for the thoughtful man to speak so much he must indeed be concerned about the matter at hand.
"We never had any quarrel with Beledos, he and I were almost friends, I invited him to my birthday celebration so why-."
"Clow! You have said often enough yourself that his brother Gwyn uses totally different methods in everything. . .and his temperament?. . .Well they say Beledos threatened to banish him for some transgression when he was just fourteen!"
The young mage sighed heavily. "Mother, father, I like my life as it is, I have my home, I have my library and now I have my companions and a great task to complete, an endeavour that would make the council dizzy with its scope. I do not have the time or inclination to explain myself to narrow minded, old school critics."
"So you'll hide away here?"
"I am not hiding! I like my life, I love it, everything is complete now."
Zhen stared at her only child steadily, "everything?"
Clow fiddled with his cuff as he hadn't done since he was very young. "Everything." He confirmed.
"I see." She murmured.
His father turned to face him abruptly. "And so do I, but I hope for both your sakes you haven't taken this too far. . .he is too young Clow."
"I know that."
"Does he?"
Zhen placed a restraining hand on her husbands forearm. "Why did you create him Clow?"
"I. . .I don't really know."
"Is he just some replacement for Uzume?"
"No!" Clow cried instantly.
"Then why does he look like her?"
"He doesn't look like her, it's just his hair, I couldn't bare to say goodbye do that particular shade but that is where the similarities end, Yue is beautiful in his own unique way."
"Are you prepared to wait for him?"
Clow nodded emphatically. "Yes."
Zhen smiled with warm relief. "Then there is nothing more to say about it, right now we must consider the council's next possible action."
His father's tone was cynical. "If you're lucky the Order will only send one of the 'narrow minded, old school critics' as you called them, if not perhaps they will test this boy leaders dedication to alliance."
Clow shook his head, they would know where to find him now as well, he should have realised that harnessing as much energy as he had to create Kero and Yue would call out like a siren to those with even the smallest traces of magic. Damn it! Nicholas continued.
"Beledos was not as malleable as they had hoped, with Gwyn so new to the position and seemingly less magically gifted they believe they have a chance of deeper influence over an ancient and powerful bloodline. . .I fear they could try to use him against you."
Zhen nodded in agreement. "We need to plan our course of action before whoever it is arrives.
Clow frowned. "Won't they notify us a couple of days in advance?"
His mother shrugged eloquently.
Relieved to be leaving the unusually charged and tense atmosphere of the mansion Yue loped back to the strawberry patch to collect his basket and book but once again a 'visitor' was watching him. Yue smiled at the new arrival who was possibly younger than his Master with pale skin and red tinted hair.
"Hello, would you like a strawberry?"
Gwyn Pebyr looked at his welcoming committee and more particularly the exquisite packaging. With a sly smile he approached.
"A strawberry would be much appreciated." Then he took the elegant hand holding the offering and ate the ripe red fruit from Yue's very fingers.
"Delicious." He murmured, eyes, one brown and one grey Yue noticed, focused on the Guardian who tugged slightly to remove his hand, uncertain if this was usual behaviour.
Gwyn frowned and held on tightly, Yue let the man peer into his face. "H-have you come to see my Master?"
The strange but human eyes widened slightly. "You're 'Master'?" A construct, he though, that would explain the eyes and. . .the rest of it. "Yes I'm here to see Clow Reed." He smirked.
Yue moved eagerly, this man made him uncomfortable, he knew it probably wasn't polite to walk so fast that there was distance between him and the guest he was leading but. . .he couldn't help it.
Clow, Nicholas and Zhen looked up at the exact same moment.
"I guess I really was stupid to expect a forewarning." Clow muttered, his parent remained silent for a moment more still concentrating before his mother groaned slightly.
"What is it?"
"You mean 'who' is it." Nicholas growled.
His mother's voice was resigned. "They've sent Gwyn as ambassador."
Yue always relished the sight of his Master but to see him standing at the door and saving him from any more time alone with this man with the eyes that burn added an immense relief to the soft glow he always felt.
"Well, well, well. The great and powerful Clow Reed." Gwyn called with barely suppressed sarcasm.
Clow bowed politely drawing strength from the presence of his parents behind him and Yue before him. "Gwyn Pebyr, congratulations on your succession."
"I've left my luggage with the carriage, your grounds are too extensive to carry them across, could you send a servant to fetch them for me Clow?" The mage resented the familiarity but his father saved him the reply.
"I'll go and get them, my son does not keep servants so my Lady wife will prepare your room." Zhen disappeared with a nod and left her son alone with his 'guest'.
"You're very welcome to my home." Clow lied.
Gwyn smirked. "Well no offence but your servant was far more welcoming than you." Yue watched his Master swallow a retort, he wanted to tell him it was fine, he did not mind being called a servant, he would be anything if Clow asked him.
"What's with it's eyes Clow? Are they meant to show the fazes of the moon or do you have some bizarre fixation with cats. . .?" Kero chose that moment to pad over and start pouncing on the teasing end of Clow's sash, Gwyn snorted derisively enough to make the darker mage visibly clench his jaw.
"Easy, I'm not picking faults with your creation, far from it. He seems to me to be quite perfect." Clow's fists clenched at his sides as the rival sorcerer toyed with the heavy rope of platinum hair. "So perfect in fact. . .one wonders exactly what he was created for. . ." The mismatched eyes tangled with the fulminating glare of his rival as the creation answered.
"I'm th-."
Yue had been about to say 'Guardian of the Moon' before Gwyn pressed his finger against his opening mouth, trapping it in a parted 0 shape. "Yes. I think anyone with a fragment of imagination who sees you will understand perfectly well your purpose in your *Masters* life."
"Gwyn-." Clow started forward growling a warning even as the other man removed his finger and Yue was able to cease the suggestive pout of his lips.
"My, did your mother never teach you to share?" He looked back at Guardian. "Is no one allowed to touch your things?" Clow gritted his teeth hissing with the effort of holding back while Gwyn continued to look at Yue and rake the seraphic figure with lustful eyes. "Pity" he said and swept past.
* I know, I know, I always do this, but who could look at Yue and not want him? I like jealous Touya so I thought I experiment with a jealous Clow Reed. I'll take the hentai defence.