Well, hello! And Welcome to My Little World of Weirdness!

I state for the record that, despite the fact I really, really wish I did, I don't own any of the official characters that will grace this story; it's all CLAMP's! Always has been, always will be! I *DO*, however, own Marcibay Hilligans and Hei-ying Reed!! I also own Lord Maduokai, and the three of the dragons, T'listia isn't mine but on loan from one of my favourite reviewers and writers, Tam Chronin! And what the heck . . . I own both of the mansions (The Reed/Hiirawagizawa and the Tsukimine) as well! [Laughs] Also I don't pretend to have any Mastery over the language of Japanese or any clue as to correct grammatical structure. I put it in and hope it gets across the point I'm trying to make! And I don't pretend to be able to write any sort of accents so please don't hate me!

WARNING: While I like to play with candles as Maduokai does in this chapter, I do not suggest that anyone else should be so irresponsible. Fires are caused by silly people who don't watch what they are doing . . . and such fires cost lives. This is a standard warning, which I'm sure you'll ignore, but I put it here because I don't feel like anyone's mommy and daddy blaming me for their stupid kid. When I want to blame for a major disaster, I'll knock the moon out of orbit or something . . . [folds arms] Do as I say, don't do as I do!

NOTE: Tian-mu, according to www.pantheon.org, is the Chinese Goddess of Lightning. Mushu, according to Disney, is the little dragon who protected Mulan and had the voice of Eddie Murphy . . . [grins]

If this chapter's a little melancholy, it's because I was listening to Cardcaptor Sakura music from the first movie. There's a lot of traditionally Chinese influenced music in the movie, and I just feel that way at the mo . . .

"Speaking"

*Stress/emphasis*

//Thinking//

Extended~ [basically odd letters that the characters extend the sound of or in Ruby's case, sings]

In This Tainted Soul . . . Find Redemption . . . 

By Dr Megalomania

Chapter Seven: Time To Say Goodbye

"So what is the plan for today?"

In the second floor breakfast room, the sun filtered in warmly and provided ample lighting for the small group as they ate. The table was decorated simply with wild flowers from the garden. The bright, fragrant yellows and the warming, sweet reds provided a much-needed calm atmosphere to the small gathering. Breakfast was equally as simple and pleasant. Yukito beamed happily as he served up the rice and looked over the feast he and Ruby had prepared that morning. There were plenty of crusty home baked breads – Keroberos eagerly sitting himself near the warm bread, darn near drooling over the hot rolls -  and a wide range of fillings, including meats and spreads, there was also freshly cooked rice and some lightly fried fish. Ruby had outdone herself, serving not only her master's favourite English tea, but also coffee, Chinese tea, juices and ice cold water in a jug. Eriol glanced over the rim of his tea cup and smiled at his moon guardian, "Well . . ." he paused and looked around the table, "Touya, Syaoran and I plan on going out for a bit, to make some preparations for our trip to China . . . I think I shall take Spinel with me," He gazed at Ruby for a moment, "Why do you ask, Ruby?"

"Well, I was hoping so, Hei-ying needs a bit of air and . . ." She trailed off, "If Touya doesn't mind us playing with him for a bit. . ."

Touya raised an eyebrow at the moon guardian and sighed, "Hei-ying needs to spend a little time with Sakura and Tomoyo before we expose him to your special brand of . . . *playing*, Ruby . . ."

"But—"

"I'm going to have to agree with Touya on this one, Ruby . . ." Eriol placed his cup down as he reasoned with his creation, "Give him a little more time, okay?" He smiled and reached over to pet her hand lightly, "Then when he is better adjusted, you can play with him all you like . . ."

Sakura frowned slightly as she stared into her breakfast. "Stare any harder and the rice will catch fire . . ." Sakura blinked and glanced up as Syaoran winked at her from across the table and sipped his tea. "What's wrong?" He asked quietly, as he picked up his chopsticks and picked at his food. "Are you . . ." his dark brown eyes flashed shyly as he met hers, concern for her in those deep chocolate depths surfacing slightly, ". . . feeling okay?"

"Fine, Fine!" Sakura hastily gathered her smile and beamed at him, slipping her foot out of her slipper and reaching under the table to stroke her toes against the side of his leg reassuringly. Her brother raised an eyebrow at Syaoran's sudden blush but dismissed it easily. "It's just . . ." Sakura's smile faded a little as she stared into her bowl of steaming rice. She pushed at a few grains with her light pink chopsticks before raising her head again, "It feels bad that we discuss what Hei-ying does. . ." She sucked in her bottom lip and sighed, "Shouldn't we let *him* choose?"

"Sakura-chan. . ." Eriol tilted his head as he explained quietly, ". . . for now, until Hei-ying feels more at ease with his new life, we should guide him in the best direction we can."

"Demo . . ." She frowned again, lifting her unique chopsticks, "Demo . . ."

"Sakura-chan." She looked up at Syaoran as he leant forward a little, "With the love that you have . . ." he blushed slightly and continued quietly, "With the love you have, anyone can feel better soon . . ." he swallowed and tried to make his blush recede, "besides, consider that we aren't the ones who currently feel like suicide is the better option than living . . ."

Feeling Syaoran's leg press against her foot lightly, Sakura sighed and began to eat again, "Hai . . ." she blinked as she felt her cards wiggle. "Hoe?" Sakura reached into her pocket and pulled out the pack of cards. The Sakura cards glowed powerfully. "Hoe?" Sakura blinked rapidly, "What's happening?! Cards? What's wrong?"

As Yukito transformed into Yue, Keroberos frowned deeply and floated over the table in his smaller form. He pressed a tiny paw against the pack and wondered aloud, "What's gotten into you?"

"Hoe? Kero-chan?"

"Something is calling them . . . Clow used to leave his cards in the study all the time and whenever he wanted them he's call them to his side . . . no matter how far away he was he could always call them to him . . ."

"I could do that?" Sakura asked quietly as she held onto the cards tightly, "Why didn't you say?"

"I never knew the spell for it . . ." Kero-chan admitted quietly, he glanced at Yue as the angel's wings disappeared, "There are many things about the cards that Clow simply neglected to tell us . . ."

"There they are."

The group turned as Hei-ying opened the door fully, he stepped in revealing clearly that he'd only just gotten up. His hair was a little loose, and he was dressed, neatly as ever, in his dressing gown and pyjamas. He sighed and frowned, "Why didn't they come to me   when I called?"

"Eh!" Kero-chan cried out, jerking as he turned to the dark angel, "*You* know the spells?!"

Sakura held up her cards, "You're making them do this?"

Hei-ying glanced at the table before he nodded slowly, "Well . . . yes . . ." He sighed and pulled at a loose strand of hair, "How else am I to deal with all of this, it needs washing . . . and my uniform . . ." Hei-ying paused, waving his hand slightly. Sakura blinked with surprise as the cards stopped glowing instantly. Hei-ying sighed and glanced down. He thought for a moment more before he began to speak quietly, "I wish to make some . . . alterations to it . . ."

Tomoyo sat up at this, she eyed over Hei-ying as he motioned himself, "Why?"

Hei-ying glanced at Yue and Keroberos before answering quietly. "My memory has gotten to the point where . . ." he swallowed, "where the last few days before I was sealed . . . I do not wish to wear the uniform that . . . that Master Clow created for me anymore . . ."

"Na-Nani?!" Kero-chan's mouth fell open, "But you love Clow!!"

"I did . . ." Hei-ying looked at him sincerely, "I did a lot, but now . . ." He let his eyes close as he sighed, "Now I realise Master Clow didn't love me, he never loved me anymore than a fancy toy . . ." he opened his eyes, glancing first at Tomoyo before he motioned around the table, "I look around . . . there is nothing left of him anymore, the only real object in this room, in this time that suggests Master Clow really existed beyond memory . . ." he stared at Kero meaningfully, ". . . is me." He raised a hand and hesitantly placed it on Kero's head, "Even you, even Yue. . . the cards aren't Master Clow anymore, this *house* is not Master Clow anymore. . . I am the last thing that hasn't changed from Master Clow's time to the time of Sakura . . ." He nodded and let his hand slip of Kero's head. He lifted his other hand and pulled at something invisible there. Sakura gasped as a jade green ribbon faded into existence as he pulled it from his wrist. Hei-ying held it up and smiled slightly.

"This is the first time . . ." Keroberos whispered, amazement clear in his voice but tempered with clear distrust, "I've ever seen you smile without hate . . ."

Hei-ying stared at him with melancholy, "Really?" He glanced up at Yue, and nodded. "It really must be the first time I've . . . smiled for you . . ."

Yue blinked and stood, "What are you doing?"

The end of the ribbon started to glow and began to fizzle with bright sparks of jade green magic. It was coming apart with a fine dusting of magic, and blew away by some tiny breeze.

"Hei-ying!" Keroberos stood and shouted, "You're—"

"I know. . ." Hei-ying whispered, he started at the end of the ribbon and swallowed, "As my master, Touya, you will have to craft me a new weapon to use . . ."

There was a shocked gasp from Ruby and she clapped her hand over her mouth as Spinel floated over. The midnight blue false form glanced at Touya and said quietly, "The weapon that a master gives to a creation is one of the most precious things they can give them . . ." he stared at Hei-ying, "You'll regre—"

"No." Hei-ying continued to stare at the disappearing ribbon, "It's time . . ." he glanced at Kero again, "Time to let go of Ma . . ." he trailed off and sighed quietly, "To let go of Clow . . ." The last of the ribbon disappeared, and the dusty flecks of glowing green magic floated away and faded. Hei-ying breathed in, and glanced at Ruby. "Stand up . . . please . . ."

Ruby blinked, and stood slowly. ". . . Why . . . ?"

Hei-ying made a circular motion with his hand as he too stood. "Turn around . . . please . . ."

She turned, but looked over her shoulder with curiosity, "Why?"

Hei-ying glanced at her back and nodded, "Thank you . . ." he held out his hand and without looking at her, asked Sakura quietly, "May I borrow a card?"

"Ha-hai . . ." Sakura loosened her hold on the cards and Hei-ying made a motion with his hand. The Sword card came flicking from the pack as Hei-ying reached over his shoulder and pulled his hair over. He stared at it for a moment before reaching for the card. Yue stood and gasped, "Oniichan! But—"

"A creator decides the look of any guardian . . ." Hei-ying murmured as he made a sharp flick with his wrist, the Sword card turning instantly into a sharp looking silver blade, engraved with gold stars.

"I didn't know you could do that!!" Sakura stood and pointed at the beautiful little blade, "What did you do?"

"In case the staff was being used for the Fly card, you could ask the Sword card to become a knife . . ." Hei-ying shrugged slightly as he swiftly cut through the ties in his hair. "As the advisor, it was my purpose of existence to know every small detail about the Clow cards . . ." he stared at Touya, "A master can dictate what the creation looks like . . ."

Touya blinked, his mouth falling a little open.

Hei-ying continued, gathering his hair in a hand, "Do you have any preferred style?"

The tall magician shook his head, "I . . . no, I don't . . ." he blinked again as realisation set in. "Hei-ying, without the obedience spell, and because I don't believe in this mastery rule . . ." he glanced at Yue and began to smile a little, "Hei-ying, you are free to do what you wish, with your appearance and your daily life . . ."

Hei-ying closed his eyes and swallowed, hesitating. "Perhaps . . ." he drew a ragged breath, "I just needed to hear the words . . ." he bowed slightly, "Excuse me . . ."

Tomoyo stood and walked around the table to Sakura, placing her hand on the other girl's shoulder. Ruby followed Tomoyo, glancing at her master. Eriol was smiling slightly as he nodded to Ruby. Yue walked around the table and followed his elder brother, blinking as Ruby linked her arm with his. The two stood just behind Hei-ying as he opened the window and sat on the windowsill. He let his long, loose black hair hang out the window, and let the breeze play with it for a few moments. The two sun guardians flew over everyone's heads to get a better view. Syaoran looked at Eriol and Touya before standing up and moving to the other side of Sakura. He leant over and whispered, "This is highly unusual . . ."

"Hoe?"

Syaoran nodded in Hei-ying's direction, "The appearance of a creation, like the weapon given to them, is another important tie to their creator . . . I've never heard of a creation ever, ever attempting to change . . . aside from madness, I can't think of a reason for it . . ."

"So it must be like . . ." Tomoyo smiled, "It's like he's trying to say goodbye for good . . . by making permanent changes . . ." 

Hei-ying raised his hand and caught a flowing lock of long black hair. He sighed and curled it around the dagger. With a strong tug and a slight hiss of indrawn breath, Hei-ying severed the lock cleanly. He'd chosen to cut his hair half way between Ruby's length, and Yue's . . . his new style of hair would fall to just below his knees. Hei-ying held the severed hair tightly before uncurling his hand and letting the silky black strands blow away.

"Goodbye . . . Hei-ying smiled slightly, as he whispered, Goodbye Master Clow Reed . . . he opened his hand further, more strands peeled away. He tilted his head, his jade green eyes almost unreadable as he wished farewell to his master. Half the strands twisted away from him, the corner of his mouth twisted uncertainly as he blinked once. Hei-ying raised his hand, and blew gently, the last strand falling away completely. He stared after the last strand, suddenly swallowing hard, the ramifications of what he was doing, forcing long denied emotions to appear in his beautiful jade eyes. 

He watched them until they, like the ribbon before them, began to dissipate with flecks of glowing green magic. All creations had a sphere of magic, as Hei-ying's hair left his sphere of influence they disappeared. He pulled at another lock of hair and raised the dagger again.

Ruby's hand pulled it away from him and he realised he was trembling. Ruby sat on the opposite side of the window, as Yue sat behind Hei-ying. Transforming, the two sun guardians flew out of the window and began to capture locks of the flowing black hair. Ruby took each from them, and cut through it cleanly, letting it go as soon as it was severed. Hei-ying – emotionally exhausted by this cathartic experience - leant back and was comforted by his youngest brother, as Yue raised his hands and braced Hei-ying's shoulders.

The human masters and magicians watched as each of the guardians took a lock of hair in the same way and wished their creator and first master a true goodbye. Ruby smiled, raising a lock of the silken black hair to her lips and kissing it softly. She threw it into the air, and smiled, Sayonara Ojii-sama . . .

Spinel grasped his tresses between his lips silently, before letting it go into the wind. The panther murmured in English, safe journey, grandfather Clow . . .

Goodbye Clow! Keroberos threw his strands into the air, and batted at them with his claws, you strange old man!!

Yue, like Ruby, kissed the black hair softly, and held it tightly between both hands. He stood, and held it out the window before letting go. Sayonara, papa . . .

Soon, all of Hei-ying's hair fell to below his knees. Ruby smiled as she handed the dagger back to Hei-ying. He reached up and pulled at some of the front locks of hair, he cut those in a similar style as he'd had before, only longer. The sharp slopes of hair reached mid-chest this time, and instead of hiding a missing eye and ear, Hei-ying pulled his new fringe so it was tucked behind his ears, keeping all but a few strands from falling over his eyes.

Brushing himself off, Hei-ying reached into his pockets and pulled out his hair ties. Swiftly putting them in, Hei-ying's ponytail swung as he pulled it over his shoulder and allowed it to rest there. He sighed and breathed in again before he looked at the humans, he looked at each intently. Do any of you know how to make clothing for magical usage?

Tomoyo beamed as she grabbed Sakura's hand, Sakura-chan . . . may I borrow you and your magic? She ran over to Hei-ying who blinked rapidly with surprise as she started dragging him and Sakura to the door. We'll come up with something very magical indeed! Ah!! Sugoi!! Sakura-chan, we'll have to come up with something that matches it as well!!

Syaoran glanced over at Eriol and raised an eyebrow, she's never changed . . .

And I wouldn't have her any other way . . . Eriol smiled widely, Ruby, why don't you help her . . .?

HAI~~!! Ruby extended her butterfly wings, and flew after them, Chotto matte!! Tomoyo-sama, Matte~!!!

"Do thee know where we are . . .?"

The woman blinked and turned, the fierce winds blowing her long black hair wildly around her face. She stared blankly at the man called Mister Hilligans for a long moment. "I don't remember . . ." she answered finally; she turned away from his, uninterested with what he had to say. Hilligans came and stood besides her, staring out at the strange land. "I've never been here before . . ." he murmured, taking in the long winding wall as it trailed and over the hills. He looked at the woman, her cloak twisted and wrapped around her; "Don't thy wonder where we are?"

"No . . ." she blinked slowly, "I just . . . don't . . ."

Hilligans sighed and continued to look at the stormy land, long green grasses shivered as the wind blew hard across the soft looking plains. It wasn't England; it couldn't be . . . the land simply looked totally different from the countryside of his native England. He'd been a coachman for most of his life and never had he come across hills like this. At first he thought he was in Scotland but the weather was too light for it. He sighed and continued to stare out with the nameless lass.

"Don't thee want to know . . .?"

"Not really . . ."

"Why not?"

"I don't know . . ." she might have looked a little sad at this fact; he shook his head and turned to stare out at the strange new land. "Home." Hilligans blinked and snapped his head toward her. It was the first time he'd heard her speak voluntarily and say something other than a disinterested phrase.

"Pardon me?"

"Home." She repeated, "this is my home land . . . I think . . ." she raised a hand and touched her cheek, "Maybe I was born here . . ."

He stared at her, her pale face and strange coloured eyes had lead him to believe for a moment that she was a magical creation but then. He frowned, Clow's eyes had had the same slight pinch to them, the pinch Clow had explained was a trait from the Chinese half of his family. Hilligans thought for a moment longer before gently asking, "Art thee a Chinese folk?"

"Chinese . . ." she whispered, her beautiful strange eyes slid shut, "I don't know . . ."

Hilligans bit his lip lightly, racking his memory for any other pieces of information that Clow had told him about his Chinese family. "The Li Clan . . . d'yer know anythin' about th' Li clan?" Her eyes snapped open and her face betrayed something more than mild disinterest for once. "Thy do!" Hilligans stepped toward her, "the Li clan of China! D'yer know them?!"

She stared at the wild land again, colour flowing into those pale cheeks as she whispered, "I remember . . . the name . . . but I . . ."

"Oh, lassie . . ." Hilligans murmured, he reached out and clapped a weather worn hand on her shoulder as he whispered gently, "Try to remember . . . when you remember something . . ."

She looked at him, her beautiful strange eyes wide, "I'll tell you . . . if I . . . remember . . ."

Hilligans smiled soothingly for her, it was clear she was still a young lass, not much old than Clow Reed had been when he'd first met the powerful young magician. "Yer do that, f' me lass, then maybe we can fig're out a way t' escape . . ." he turned and walked away from her, hoping that by leaving her in her own thoughts might help a little.

She watched him until he disappeared before turning back to the landscape again. The wind was biting cold against her cheek as she whispered again, "Home . . ."

The wax was so soft to the touch.

As the candlewick burnt lower and built a deep well inside the pale yellow church candle, the outer wall of it glowed with warm light. The flame danced with every breath, safe from harsh breezes. He'd watched thousands of candles burn, yet every one seemed subtly different. The feel of the wax under his hand, pliable at the top where it was warmest, hard and cool below. As he cupped his hands around the top, he could feel his fingers warmed by the flame and close to being burned and yet . . . he didn't care. He stared into the flame as it transfixed him. He held so much power over this small candle flame; he could snuff it out with a single blow, or cover it with a glass and watch as it suffocate slowly, getting weaker and weaker as it used all its air. He could relight it; pass its fire to another candle easily.

He let his fingers play over the flame directly, burning them lightly.

The flame danced, flickering violently as if trying to reach for his fingers and teach him for playing with it and forgetting its true might. One mistake, perhaps while he wasn't paying attention, perhaps when he lent too far forward, and the little flame would jump eagerly. It would burn his smooth black hair, set fire to his centuries old clothes and in an instant destroy everything in his possession.

He dipped his fingers into the melted wax and coated his finger in the hot liquid. He stared thoughtfully as the nerve endings on his finger cried out mutely with pain. It was a small pain, lasting for only a moment or two before the hot wax cooled completely. Carefully he peeled it off and stared at it closely. There were the strange swirling patterns of his fingertip, imbedded in the soft wax. These marks were unique only to him, and reminded him that in this strange new world that he was alone . . .

Kuei Maduokai was truly alone.

When he had returned to this strange new China after years of training in a space of his own creation, he'd discovered that none of his family had survived. His entire clan had died out . . . he'd gone to Hong Kong, seeking out his sister. She had locked herself in a dimension of her own creation as well, waiting for Clow Reed to be reborn. Kuei Maduoshi had trapped herself away, leaving only a luring song for Clow Reed should he ever return to Hong Kong, leaving their family with only one powerful magician. Maduokai had sworn to his family as he prepared to enter a world of his own, that he would return as a powerful force capable of pulling his sister out of the spell she had trapped her soul in.

When he'd finally achieved the level of magic and skill he needed, Maduokai had returned to find none of his family alive, his Clan line and name forgotten and worse . . . his beloved sister's soul had escaped from the spell . . . and dispersed unto the seven winds.

He'd lost track of time within his timeless world, and come back powerful with not one member of his family left. He was alone in this world.

Maduokai wandered this strange new China, the Emperor's dynasty had changed, and the magic world . . . the magic world that Clow Reed was supposed to save was forgotten . . . few magicians existed anymore. He'd heard his Clan's rivals were still around, less powerful as they had been in his day, but still they existed. The Li Clan still had a few members left and still practiced magic.

The West was worse, no one there believed at all anymore and the most powerful family, the Reed Family of England had been slaughtered recently, drastically cutting the West Magic World's practitioners down and forcing them into hiding.

When Maduokai had left, the Magic World was dying . . . and Clow Reed was said to be the one destined to save it. When he had returned, Maduokai found that Clow Reed had died and apparently taken the Magic world with him.

He sighed, the candlelight flickering at his breath.

It was then, as he stared at the last remaining trace of his family home . . . a crumbled old castle on a forgotten hill near the Great Wall . . . that he made his decision.

For his family, he would resurrect his sister and together, they would find a suitable wife and husband and begin their family line once more.

He swore on the old grounds of this very castle, for the honour of his family, he would do what Clow Reed was supposed to do. He would bring the Magic World back, everyone here in the East would no longer salute old traditions but celebrate as magicians and sorcerers truly brought forth the deities . . . in the West, they would marvel as wizards, witches and warlocks preformed more than paltry tricks and simple blessings. Once again, the world would see grand creatures, until now only seen in picture books and heard of in song, fly in the air and roam the grounds. Once again, the Kuei Clan would have real meaning and people would speak of it with respect in their hushed voices.

Upon the grounds of his family's honour, this he swore.

"Master . . .?"

Maduokai blinked and looked up from his contemplation of the candle. The small black and white dragon fluttered into the room, and perched on the table. It tilted its head as it hoped closer. The dragon was more like a traditional Chinese painting, the fine white eyebrows, and long white moustache outlined its fierce little pug features. Maduokai leant back in his seat, and picked up the teapot brewing beside him. As Maduokai poured some tea into a small, fine china bowl for him, the dragon moved closer to the candle and its interesting candleholder. It was a thin pane of glass, thick enough to stand with the aid of a small metal foundation. At the top, was another piece of black metal, this time with a disk atop of it to hold the candle. Etched into the glass, were three Chinese characters.

Kuei Clan of Tsu-kai Province. 

The small bowl of tea was set down with a light chink, as Maduokai murmured in his ancient dialect, "Drink deeply, Mushu, little dragon of lightning, may Tian-mu, Goddess of lightning continue you to bless you with magic, and Long, dragon of good fortune keep you in good health . . ."

The little dragon glanced at Maduokai for using his nickname, but lapped at the tea anyway. Maduokai lifted a hand, and stroked the dragon's head and down his long neck. T'amashu was the forth dragon of his creation. It was a powerful little dragon of the east, capable of the element of lightning. Maduokai had created his physical form, and had asked the deities to bless his creation with the Lightning. In remembrance of his family, Maduokai had called the small dragon 'Mushu' for short.

Mushu raised his head and stared at the candle, "Thinking of your sister again?"

"I am not yet powerful enough . . ." Maduokai turned back to the candle and stared at the flickering light. "Clow Reed's soul continues to elude me. . ." he raised a hand, "But without him, I am not powerful enough to trace my sister's soul . . ."

Mushu nodded before asking quietly, "Then T'alas has failed to find the burial site of your sister . . .?"

"Yes." Maduokai nodded absently, he raised his hand and drew his finger over the flame again. "Without her physical remains . . ." he sighed and closed his eyes. Mushu fluttered over and crawled onto his master's shoulders to settle down. He draped himself there while Maduokai spoke softly, "I must seek out another power to supplement my own . . . so I can return Clow Reed to this world." He picked up a snack and broke it in half, handing a piece to Mushu, "I thought that creation of Clow's would be powerful enough . . ."

"Pity . . ." Mushu swallowed and continued, "Pity it went berserk . . . T'alas said it died trying to get to a place in Japan. . ."

"Perhaps." Maduokai sighed; T'alas wasn't the best creature to trust with such things. He never really cared about preciseness, like the wind, he was content to simply breeze through his life. He stared into the candle, "Clow Reed created many things . . . I heard he created the magic that would save our world, but kept it locked up. . ."

"So. . .?" Mushu yawned and closed his eyes, his tail whipping back and forth slowly.

Maduokai got up and walked over to the window to stare out. T'alusia, second dragon of fire, flew past wrapping himself around the tower before flying down the Great Wall to check the boundaries of their hidden fortress.

"Perhaps, this new magic of Clow's will be able to help me . . ." he murmured more to the land than anyone else, "Perhaps the holder of the Clow magic of today is a powerful enough magician to assist me . . ." he turned from the window, making his decision, "We will seek out the holder of Clow's magic . . . This powerful magician will be the one to help me reincarnate Clow Reed . . ."

"Hoooeeee!! To-Tomoyo-chan!!"

Sakura clapped her hands over her eyes, "Hei-ying only needs one costume!! Not Six!!" She peeked open one eye, and glanced at her best friend as she took Hei-ying's measurements again. The black haired angel looked on with some bemusement, as she took his waist. "I assure you . . ." he began quietly, amusement hiding quiet irritation, "I have not grown in the last five minutes . . ."

"I know, I know . . . but . . ." Tomoyo clapped her hands to her cheeks and sighed happily, "Never before have I had the chance to make a costume for such a being! And I must make something for Sakura-chan to commemorate the occasion too!"

Hei-ying raised an eyebrow; ". . . you're using me as an excuse to make a costume for the card mistress?" He blinked and looked at Ruby Moon, who was fiercely concentrated on sewing together a sleeve. Hei-ying hadn't been too keen on completely changing his uniform, just that he wanted it different enough. Instantly the rather cumbersome shawl that covered one arm, and trailed down the back of the uniform was removed, the idea of the suit it left remained. However, Tomoyo suggested rather than the tight leggings, that Hei-ying should have straight-legged trousers.

Sakura added her suggestion, when she said that the drawings that Tomoyo was coming up with reminded her of the time Eriol trapped her in Wonderland. She mentioned that Yukito and Yue were the White Rabbit, and that the uniform Tomoyo was beginning to draw reminded her of that. Tomoyo asked Sakura to draw it, and eventually – although Sakura was nowhere as good at drawing as Tomoyo – they had a working design. Hei-ying's new uniform lost the shawl, the belt, and the leggings, it kept the long coat tails in the back, and shortened the ones in the to fall just below his waist. Trimming the bottom hem of the coat was a thick band of jade green, with gold at the very edge. The front of the coat was pulled in a little tighter to make up for the lack of a belt, and the jade green lapels were expanded slightly. The unique collar too was expanded, and dipped down the shoulders slightly; again this too was lined with gold. The large jade stone was moved up and placed just on the collar bone, and from it, hung two small, thick, dark green ribbons. Naturally, Hei-ying drew the line at a hat. The sleeves, which Ruby Moon was now sewing, would be just like the previous uniform so that Hei-ying's gloves could be incorporated. Likewise with the trousers, so Hei-ying's foot stirrups would be added.

Hei-ying pulled his long fringe back loosely and tied it into his ponytail so that it covered his ears a little, but the tips and his earring still were visible. Ruby and Sakura left the room as Tomoyo helped Hei-ying into his new clothing.

Outside, the other guardians waited; Eriol, Touya and Syaoran having left already to make arrangements for their search for any information on the whereabouts of Clow Reed and Mister Hilligans' missing skulls. They looked up as Ruby and Sakura stepped out. Ruby sighed happily and wrapped her arms around Spinel's neck, "Oh! Suppi-kun~!! Tomoyo-sama is a genius!!"

Keroberos nudged the back of Yue's knee lightly, Yue blinked and glanced down at his elder brother and folded his arms. Keroberos grinned up at him, "Can't wait to see Hei-ying in pink frills!"

"Kero-chan!" Sakura giggled lightly, "Hei-ying's new uniform looks very cool!!"

Tomoyo sighed happily as she stepped out, leaving Hei-ying to his own privacy, "I think I shall start making one in a similar style for Sakura-chan!" She motioned the door, "He looks very distinguished!"

The door opened again, and Hei-ying stepped out.

It was a drastic difference, so drastic Keroberos and Yue barely recognised their eldest brother. The black that Clow's uniform had imprisoned Hei-ying in was replaced with a dark, almost black, velvet green. The beautiful jade remained, and the gold accented it. Hei-ying brushed down his sleeves carefully, before looking up. For a moment he glared at them, some of his old defensiveness coming back as he faced them.

He straightened his cuffs, and brushed a stray tress of hair away from his eyes.

It was still Hei-ying, the cool demeanour, and the same unwavering glare and yet . . . Tomoyo had transformed the pale ghost into someone a little less dark, and harsh. Hei-ying breathed in and stepped forward, spreading his arms slightly. ". . . Well?"

"A wolf dressed as lamb springs to mind."

"Kero-chan! One more insult and you get no pudding!"

"Ah!! Sakura-sama!! No need to be so harsh!!"

"Sugoi~!! Hei-ying-chan-chan looks so very cool!!"

"Ruby, try to calm yourself . . . Hei-ying-san, Tomoyo-sama is correct, you do look very distinguished."

"This would look brilliant on Sakura-chan!!"

"To-Tomoyo-chan . . . I think he meant himself . . ."

"Handsome . . ." Yue stepped forward and clasped Hei-ying's hands, "You look very handsome, Oldest Brother."

Hei-ying tilted his head gratefully, "I may look the part . . ." he murmured warningly, "but I don't feel it just yet . . ." he sighed deeply, "Perhaps I will soon . . ."

Yue glanced at him sharply, "What do you remember now?"

Hei-ying frowned at Yue's tone, "Just being sealed now . . . the memory is blurry because I only have impressions of the outside of my book . . ." he looked at Yue closely, "Why?"

"Your memories of Mystrasa Kyree may be more painful . . ." Yue admitted softly, "I don't know much of what you went through with her, just the end . . . but you suggested once that it was very painful . . ."

Hei-ying stared at Yue for a long moment before stepping forward, and raising his hand to cup Yue's pale cheek lightly. "What could be more painful than the time I spent alone with Clow?" Hei-ying asked quietly, Yue swallowed as Hei-ying leant closer, and threaded his fingers into Yue's hair softly. The familiar scent of spring and rain hit Yue; bringing a thousand and one memories back. He shoved the revulsion down as hard as he could, as Hei-ying spoke calmly into his ear. 

"I spent ten years alone with our manically depressive creator . . ." Hei-ying's fingers were cool as they stroked back and forth between Yue's hair and his cheek. "I thought I was in heaven . . . it didn't matter he drank until he could do nothing but scream hateful words at me . . . I thought when he came stumbling into my room in the middle of the night, and he took my body until I lay bleeding, that it was some wonderful kind of love . . ."

Yue's eyes were wide, his hands useless by his side as Hei-ying continued to whisper.

". . . I came to believe he never spoke to me because he couldn't find the words to describe his feelings of love for me . . ."

Yue's pale pink lips parted and fell open as Hei-ying leant away from him. Hei-ying stared at him with eyes that were cold and devoid of any emotion as he spoke in a low tone. His cool fingers slowly trailed away from Yue's as he continued to stare unblinkingly into Yue's widened eyes.

"Clow Reed was indeed a very strange man . . . with many . . . many problems . . ."

Yue frowned, unable to understand or correlate Hei-ying's memory of Clow Reed to his wonderful creator. Hei-ying stepped away and turned to walk toward Sakura and the rest. They hadn't noticed the almost silent confession. Hei-ying paused and turned back to Yue.

He tilted his head thoughtfully; "I suppose . . ." he continued in the same cold tone, "I was one of them . . ."

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

DrM: Lucky! It's a DOUBLE UPDATE THIS WEEK!! [holds up victory Sign]

Hei-ying: [folds arms] because you didn't update last week?

DrM: [winces] well . . . I, uh, kinda forgot to send my beta reading on time and it got back to me kinda. . . late. . .

Hei-ying: Oh . . . Doctor M. . .

DrM: [bows] Gomen nasai! Please go to the next chapter, and please leave me a review! Thank you!!