Author's Note: Yes, Peacewish, this is the story that kept distracting me while I read Scattered Blossoms. I couldn't leave it alone! I won't be neglecting my other fics for this one though, no worries there. Be "selfish" with this one all you want, I may not be able to include your story into my timeline officially, but you had a huge influence in my thought process bringing this into being.

Also, a HUGE thank you to Lady Kazune Kikenshi. ~glomps~ It helped to know that *someone* would be interested in reading this. I'm writing as fast as I can, I swear!

Oh, L-chan, you only *think* you know how it will end. ~chuckles~ I'm the evil author! All bow before me and tremble, for you will find surprises down the road yet! Seriously though, I'm glad you like this so far. Thank you!

I seriously didn't expect six reviews on the first chapter alone. ~blush~ I know how unpopular this pairing is among most CCS fans, so I expected maybe two or three. If any. Thank you, all of you.

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Moon's Dance and Shadow

A Kaho and Eriol story

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Chapter Two

Shadowed Deep

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I woke up feeling much better in the morning. There was still no sun, but there was hope. Destiny. I was here for destiny.

I went through my morning routine, centering my thoughts and calming myself for the day ahead. There would be no time for regrets. The past was now in the past, and the only thing for that was to move forward. I smiled for the mirror, seeing nothing but my usual cheer behind the make-up that hid any signs of last night's tears.

Reasons to smile: Number one is always that I'm alive! Number two, I'm on an adventure that will change everything. Number three, I have a job and I'll be going to a good school at the same time. Number four, I would be gaining new experiences and greater understanding of the world. Number five, I was getting out of cleaning the shrine while I was away from home.

That one got me to laugh. It had been a chore that I had resented when I was younger, and even though I actually enjoyed it now a part of me was overjoyed that I had that time free now. I pulled back my hair in a ponytail and then finished up packing.

Reason six to smile, I would be with Eriol.

Oh no, where had that thought come from? He was young enough to...young enough to...to what? Be one of my students? Younger than that, but also old enough to be Touya's father in a sense. And, also much older if his aura was any indication. That feeling, that presence behind him was much older than he was letting on.

I refused to let the memory of that make me go weak in the knees.

Of course, it was just as effective as my resolution not to fall in love with Touya.

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The sun made a cameo appearance in the sky as I arrived at the place that would be my new home. It was there and then gone, just long enough for me to recognize that smiling face. Clouds reclaimed their starring roles in the gray sky though and I walked sedately up to the door. I traveled light, being a person of simple tastes, so I easily handled my own suitcase.

Again, the door was opened before I could knock. Ruby Moon smiled at me from the entrance, clearly happy to see me. It felt like coming home, no matter how strange this new home was. I simply knew I'd be spending many years here. It was one of many things I simply knew in life without knowing why I knew it.

Just like I knew that he was watching me again from the upstairs window.

As soon as he realized I was aware of him he was gone, only to reappear in another room. Fascinating. Would he teach me that trick?

He was behind me. "It comes in handy. I could teach it to you, yes. I think there will be a time when you'll need it."

I laughed. "Hello to you too! You have a very unique way of greeting guests, you know that?"

His smile was sweet and heartfelt, coming easily to his face. "I'm glad I didn't surprise you."

"Then why did you try to?"

He shook his head dismissively as we walked upstairs. "I didn't really. Sometimes I just don't think about it. I spend a lot of time here, away from normal people who don't understand me. I won't surprise my guardians by appearing at random, and it's more convenient at times, so I did it without thinking."

"If that's what you're used to, don't let me stop you." It would take getting used to, but my life was full of the unusual and unexpected already. This was just another aspect of that.

We finally stopped in front of a set of double doors. "I hope this will be acceptable," Ruby said with a twinkle in her eye as she proudly opened the doors.

Acceptable?

The room was huge and furnished with ornate antiques. There was even a small fireplace, though it didn't look like it had been used in generations. Everything was done in dark blue, white, and silver with a diorama of the night sky on the ceiling. A full moon was painted in exquisite detail so that it was visible from the canopy bed. I fell in love with the room instantly.

"It's amazing. I've never seen a room like this in my life."

Ruby Moon and Eriol exchanged a grin, pushing me into the room so they could show everything off. Everything in the room had a history, a story under layers of time. No, they didn't tell me every story as they acquainted me with my new room, but just touching anything told me the story of how everything in the room was at home here. It was all meant to be here, just like I was.

It was strangely exciting and just a bit frightening to contemplate.

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The rest of the house was just as ornate and held a long history in every corner. There were extensive gardens and in a distant corner an archery range. That alone made me feel more at home already. I made a note to myself to ask my parents to send my bow next time I wrote home. Archery, like the morning chores, helped me to center myself and lose my thoughts in what I was doing.

"I'm glad you find my home so perfect."

Eriol was looking up at me with a warm and gentle expression, smiling as we walked slowly back to the house. Ruby had skipped ahead, leaving the two of us alone on the path under the trees.

"I never imagined staying at a place this nice. It's beautiful here."

"It's usually quiet too, so you'll be able to do a lot of studying while you have school."

I smiled at how old he sounded right then. It's like he was being fatherly toward me. It was an amusing thought until I looked at him and saw that he was being fatherly about it. So strange to see such a young boy look so old and protective.

"I'm sure I'll study very well here, ojiisan." With a teasing grin and a wink I started skipping off after Ruby Moon, acting like the child he had almost treated me as. Without looking I knew that he had stopped where he was out of shock, then he laughed and ran to catch up with me.

"Old man? Me?" He gaped when I nodded. "I'll show you old. I'll race you to the house!"

I nodded and picked up speed, running easily. I could hear him behind me for a time, his smaller legs no match for my longer stride. The thought came to my mind unbidden, what would Touya think to see me like this? I had always been the adult, the authority figure, even when we dated. I had been a lady for him and he had been a gentleman for me. Would he even recognize me right now? His youth had only shown in his selfishness and need when we talked, everything had been about him and his problems, and I had been happy to help him. No, that wasn't fair. I didn't open up to him. He had too much on his plate. I had been happy to keep my silence and my secrets, telling him only what he needed to know instead of all he wanted to know. His youth had actually shown in his ability to be sidetracked so easily. Eriol would not be like that.

I was so lost in my thoughts that when I felt a sudden burst of magic behind me I almost fell. Eriol was suddenly there, holding me in his arms awkwardly, protecting me from harm. I pulled away from his small embrace immediately, too aware of how much bigger I was than him. There was also the uncomfortable awareness that my skin tingled where he had held me. It's the strength of his magic, I told myself, pulling away from his intense aura. His magic was so strong that I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed this close to him. His magic...his magic...I suddenly remembered why I had stumbled in the first place.

"You...you were cheating! You were going to teleport to the house and beat me that way, and when I felt that I lost my concentration!"

He barely hid his amusement. "How could I be cheating when there were no rules?"

I pouted slightly, still feeling that strange skewed impression that he was somehow the adult and I was the child. "You weren't playing fair."

"Your legs are longer and you've had more practice running. Was that really fair?"

How had he turned the tables on me like that?

I sighed, starting down the path again, but my ankle gave way under my weight. Sprained. Eriol was there to keep me from falling again as tears of pain and frustration came to my eyes. Why hadn't I noticed the pain before I tried to walk? Was I really that distracted?

I sighed, then tried to laugh it off. "I don't suppose you could teach me to teleport in one easy lesson?"

He looked concerned as he took in the tears slipping down my face. He shook his head, so serious despite my attempt to introduce levity to the situation. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for you to get hurt."

I shook my head. "It was just an accident. I'll be fine I'm sure. Please don't look so sad." I quickly swiped away the tears as I moved to sit on the grass under a nearby tree. "I'll make my way back in a while, so please..." I broke off as I actually looked at my ankle. I had taken off my shoe as I was talking and I saw that it was already swelling. I sighed, but smiled again. "I'll be fine." It was going to be a painful walk back, but I was sure with some rest I'd manage to limp there without damaging it further.

"Ruby Moon, come here." His words were soft, but she was instantly at his side. "Please carry Miss Mizuki to the house. I need to tend to her ankle, it's sprained."

I started to protest, but a gathering of magical energy stopped me cold. Why was I so sensitive to magical currents? Why was I so susceptible to magical influence? I would not be in this position if I were not swayed by its power so easily.

The gathering magic heralded a change in Ruby Moon's form from the normal girl I had seen first to...something much more exotically beautiful. I blinked and missed the actual transformation, but she was suddenly standing before me with great black butterfly wings, long magenta hair, and bright eyes in a matching color. She was so cute in this form, but somehow held an aura of deadly seriousness that contrasted the doll-like appearance. As her arms slipped under my knees and shoulders she lifted me without effort and I felt awash in the pure moon magic that she was composed of.

She's really a boy, I remembered Eriol saying. I frowned slightly, trying to shut out all the thoughts racing through my head. What was wrong with me? Why was I suddenly unable to control the direction of my thoughts? I had always been easily swayed by magic, but this was getting out of hand! I tried to erase all thought from my mind as I clung to Ruby Moon. She flew swiftly and surely, then walked into the sitting room and deposited me with care on the couch. She then smiled at me reassuringly. "Does it hurt too much? Is there anything I can do to help you?"

So helpful. So kind. So solicitous. I smiled in return as Eriol entered the room with an ice pack. "Thank you, I'll be fine. Thank you both."

My heart was pounding, my mind was racing, and I suddenly missed Touya with a great pang. There had been no confusion when I was with him. There was the gentle heartbreak in the background, knowing that I would have to leave him, but that had been the only conflict. I wished I had never left him.

But, that had been inevitable. Did this mean that my feelings now were no coincidence? What purpose was here?

The smell of mint and eucalyptus filled the air as Eriol rubbed an ointment over my swollen skin. I told myself this time that the tingles were from the numbing effect of the topical medicine and tried to pretend I did not feel a thing. The confining tightness of the bandage gave me another sensation to concentrate on, then the cool feel of the ice pack through the bandage. I was instructed to just lay back and allow myself to heal, then I was left alone with my thoughts.

And finally I felt like I could breathe.