(Tsumina: Hey! Here's the third chapter! You know, it's so much less stressing to type on the weekends, when I don't have any homework to wedge fanfic writing into. This chapter might be a little emotional, but bear with me: a humor story can't be ALL about humor. If any of you have suggestions for the story and the way I write it, I'll gladly try to incorporate it into my work. I'm sorry this might not be as good as the first chapter or even the second, but I think it's necessary to make a plot. Thank you so much for your reviews, people! [I don't own CCS or any related characters])
"Dearest Yue," Clow said, touching Yue's cheek gently, "Do you realize I will die someday?"
Yue looked at him in wonder, "Death…what is it? I've heard of it before."
The magician sighed and closed his eyes, then glanced up to the ceiling, "It's…hard to explain, really. I suppose the best way to say it is this: Death is when your body gives out and cannot support your soul any longer."
"And what of the spirit?"
"The spirit rises far into the sky. It goes so high that no one can find it, no matter how they try. It is a place no one can easily get to, unless they've lived a good life to the fullest."
"But I…I can find you, right? My wings are only equaled in power to Keroberos's. Will we be able to come with you?"
He sighed again. "No, Yue. You cannot."
Yue looked at him, his eyes wide in a quiet panic. "Will you return?"
"Through reincarnation, perhaps. But you will not recognize me."
Yue's eyes filled with tears for the first time. As they ran down his cheek, he touched them and was cast into a world of confusion. "What…what is this? Why are my eyes so wet?"
"It's called crying, my dearest Yue. It's what happens when you are sad. It is alright to cry. I allowed you the privilege and curse of emotion because I love both you and Keroberos."
"Why is it a curse?"
"It will affect your decisions. Emotion comes from your heart," Clow explained, "And though your mind will tell you to do one thing, your heart will protest. But never disagree with your heart, Yue. After all, I want you to use Emotion to choose the next Master of the Clow. When you find that person, I know your heart will tell you."
**
It was four o'clock when Yue shifted in the sock drawer. Was it a dream? A thought? A vision? He couldn't remember. Through the darkness, he could see Sakura on her bed, hugging one pillow and resting her head on another.
That feeling he felt last night…what was it? It was so uncomfortable. He couldn't be sick. He remembered once when Clow had a cold. When he asked why Clow was sneezing and coughing, his master explained that he had a 'sickness'. But Yue could not have a sickness. Clow had made him so that no physical ailment could affect him.
While he was deep in thought, the sound of plastic wrap opening came from under Sakura's bed. It was Kero, and he was opening a party favor bag full of candy and chocolate.
"Do you ever stop eating?" Yue asked quietly, an eyebrow raised.
"Why should I? Food is the greatest thing on the planet!"
"Only you would think that."
Kero turned back to his bag of treats. "You think what you want. Sakura's not going to wake up for another five or six hours, and I'm starved. Hey, why are you up anyway? You sleep longer than her."
"How would I know?"
"Sheesh, just asking." Kero said, "Hey, you want any of this? This is my secret stash, and I wouldn't normally give anyone any but…um…you want a milky way bar or anything? You look a little iffy this morning."
"No."
"Meh…suit yourself."
**
That afternoon, the house was already filled with guests. Yue and Kero were in Sakura's room, so they would be out of the small children's reach. Tomoyo, however, wished silently that she could enjoy the same pleasure.
"No you can't -OW- touch my video camera!" she almost screamed as five and six year old Kinomotos clambered all over her. Sakura attempted to pry a few of them off.
"Get off Tita-Tomoyo, all of you!" she yelled.
[A/N: 'Tita' is a Tagalog term and is very close to the Spanish term 'Tia'. Tita means Aunty. I'm not sure what they call Aunts in Japan, but this seems to do just fine]
Soki and Hiromi cried out "We want something to eat, Tita-Sakura! We want something to eat!" They all jumped off Tomoyo and rampaged down the hall. Sakura heaved a frustrated sigh and chased after them so they wouldn't break anything.
She and Tomoyo had earned the less than enjoyable task of babysitting ALL the little cousins from both her mother's and father's side. Fujitaka was serving and entertaining many of the guests in the backyard.
The hall felt like it went on forever, what with the endless chasing of her little cousins. Sakura tore down the hall while Tomoyo struggled to keep up in her high heel shoes.
"Kanna, don't touch that vase!" Sakura yelled, grabbing the delicate pottery from the kid's clutches. Kanna ran laughing and screaming towards the kitchen.
"Oh, oh! Don't do that!" Tomoyo mildly rebuked little Koharu, who was plunging her hand into the fishbowl. Koharu pursued Kanna into the kitchen.
"Toya! They're out of control!" Sakura bellowed, but Toya simply called from the kitchen, "Sorry, but I'm cooking!"
The other juvenile delinquents dashed and tripped up the stairs, and Sakura grasped the banister, ready to follow them. They were coming dangerously close to Yue and Kero, and even if they did have their wings, they were still very vulnerable. As she was about to storm up the stairs, a wrinkled and clammy hand rested on her shoulder. Tomoyo rushed on ahead.
"Oh, Sakura!" an elderly woman crooned, "It's been so long! Do you still remember me?"
"Um….?"
"I'm your Tita-Misha! I remember when I was still changing your diapers!"
So how do you expect me to remember you? Sakura wondered. (But isn't that always the case when it comes to reunions?) She tried to smile sweetly.
"Oh, that's right! Tita-Misha! Nice to see you again! How are you?"
"Oh…just wonderful! I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you too but-"
"Do you remember when I brought you and your older cousin Satsuki to the mall and we got you your first underwear?"
"Eh…how…how could I forget?" Sakura replied, trying to move the conversation along. But it didn't work.
"You were so proud of yourself! And Satsuki was giving you all the things to know about using underwear? I remember you wanted to go into Victoria's Secret and get one of those skimpy-"
"Could you hold that thought for one second, Tita-Misha? I really need to use the bathroom. Could I get back to you? Thanks!" She bolted up the stairs, and the elderly lady remained motionless at the bottom of the stairs.
"Tomoyooo!" Sakura wailed. She almost ripped her door off its hinges. A blast of children's battle cries of chaos blasted back at her. Poor Tomoyo was on the bed, a pile of five or six brats stacked messily on top of her. She kicked her legs but of course, didn't have the heart to kick *them*.
"Sakura!!" Tomoyo cried, "Yue and Kero! They're-"
"Off! OFF!" Sakura commanded, her voice suddenly raising ten times. She had to shove them off, and two or three ran crying out of the room. The rest of them toggled with her stuffed animals.
"SAKURA!" Tomoyo shrieked, pointing to a corner, where Mokona and Nanase were playing with two little figures. They were struggling against the unbelievable grips and both were graced with a pair of fluttering wings.
"YUE! KERO!" Sakura called.
"S-Sakura! Help us out! OW!" Kero answered frantically while Nanase pulled at his wing. Yue underwent the same torture but was putting up a more violent fight. His body radiated its blue glow, and Sakura recognized it as a lethal move.
"Yue, don't!"
He was forced to listen to his mistress but he still kicked and jerked around. Sakura gently snatched the two away. They lay in her arms, exhausted. The little cousins, thinking this was all a big chase, darted to Toya's room. Tomoyo got herself up and righted her skirt.
"Yue, Kero, are you alright?!"
They looked terrible. Their beautiful wings were tattered and slightly bloodied, their brilliant magical glow was dimmed. Kero moaned.
"Sakura, I hate your reunions."
"I know, Kero! I'm so sorry!" she whimpered, tears glistening like crystals in her eyes, "But are you pretty much alright? Can you move?"
He lifted himself up without too much trouble, but as he tried to patter his wings back and forth, he winced and leaned forward. "Argh! My wings hurt so bad!"
"Some of their blood feathers were pulled," Tomoyo pointed out, taking Kero into her arms. Yue tried to move. Sakura had him clutched gently to her chest, as if he were her child.
[A/N: All birds have what are called 'blood feathers' through which a lot of blood flows through. If they are separated from the bird in anyway, they bleed. I applied this to Yue and Kero]
"Yue," Sakura whispered. He could barely shift himself. "Yue, can you hear me?" She cuddled him close.
"Mistress…" he answered.
"Oh, Yue! You're awake! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen!"
"Why…why do you apologize?"
"Because I was trying to keep you safe, and I didn't do a good job."
"It's my job to protect you," He craned his neck to look into her eyes. They were full of tears…
"It's called crying, my dearest Yue. It's what happens when you're sad. It's alright to cry."
A satisfied feeling very contrary to what he felt last night. But he didn't enjoy it. He felt SICK that he would be feeling such a thing while Sakura was sad for him. What was the matter with him? It was all he could wish that the feeling would go away. He could barely hear Sakura whispering to Tomoyo:
"Tomoyo, I need your help."
"Anything, Sakura!"
"I need you to take Kero and Yue to your house in a little while. Let them sleep there for tonight. I don't want to risk them anymore. I can't stand to see them hurt like that again!"
Tomoyo nodded. "Of course."
**
Sakura threw herself on her bed. The reunion was going on downstairs, and Tomoyo had left half an hour ago, carrying Yue and Kero in soft linens with their wings wrapped in makeshift bandages. They were in her care, and Sakura trusted Tomoyo with her life.
Nanase crept into the room. Sakura turned away.
"Tita-Sakura, I'm hungry," Nanase whispered into her ear.
It wasn't her fault. She was just a kid and thought Yue and Kero were dolls.
"Tita-Sakura, is there anything to eat?"
"Yes," Sakura sighed, taking Nanase's hand, "Let's go get you something."
Sakura and Nanase went downstairs and sifted through the refrigerator. An untouched platter of cookies lay on the bottom shelf. Sakura set it on the counter and all the other cousins gathered from seemingly nowhere. Each of them grabbed a cookie with their grubby hands and crammed the entire cookie in their mouths.
Sakura took a gentle bite and gagged. These were Yue's cookies! The ones that were over sweetened! She watched with widened eyes as the children each consumed four or five cookies each, smacking their lips and chewed with their mouths open.
They weren't supposed to eat them, and she had SERVED it to them! Oh, cruel irony…
She could do nothing. They had already eaten. Yes, there was absolutely nothing she could do, except laugh. After all, when you're in a helpless situation, it feels slightly better to laugh.
Half an hour later, she paid dearly for her mistake. Soni sat on her back and yanked her hair, screaming and howling with childish glory. Mick and Takashi pulled at her skirt. The rest of them danced around, communicating far above their inside voices. Toya walked by with a platter of chips and salsa and laughed.
"Finally! Monsters to surpass mine! Ha ha!"
"Toya!" Sakura yelled back before she was completely covered in the annoying bags of skin, bones, and organs called her cousins. The muffled sound of the doorbell reached her ears from under the pile.
"Tita-Sakura, the doorbell rang! Tita-Sakura, get the door! Get the door!"
"Get the door! Get the door!" the rest of them chanted.
"Well I can't get the door if I have a bunch of animals on my back!" Sakura countered fiercely.
"Animals?" Nina echoed, "I'm an animal!" She crawled on all fours and pathetically tried to mimic a dog. The others joined in as different animals while Sakura rushed to the door and threw it open. It was…
"Eriol! Ms. Mizuki!"
Eriol smiled. "In some distant way, I must be related to you, Sakura. So may I come in?"
"You could, but you don't want to."
"I don't?"
Takashi and Nina sprang out from behind Sakura flung themselves at Eriol's legs, wrapping their short arms around them. Eriol simply stared down at them in a brotherly way and ruffled their hair.
"How is it that they don't try to kill you?"
"Oh, who knows?" Eriol replied, "So may I come in? It's a little cold out."
"Hai! I'm sorry!" Sakura gasped as she quickly stepped out of the doorway. Eriol and Kaho walked in, the two children still attached to his legs.
"Time to get off Tito-Eriol," Sakura stated. The little leeches detached themselves and went to get more cookies.
"How are you, Ms. Mizuki?" Sakura asked.
"I'm doing very well, thank you. It's nice to be back in Tomoeda."
"And where is Keroberos?" Eriol asked, his eyes glancing upstairs, "He doesn't…he doesn't seem to be-- ACK!"
Takashi tackled him from behind and he landed on his stomach. His glasses flew across the floor and Nanase picked them up.
"Look at me!" she cried as she jammed the glasses on her face, "I'm Tito-Eriol!" and she danced off into the kitchen.
"Eriol, are you alright?!" Sakura rushed to his side and helped him up.
"No damage done. They're only little children after all," he said with a grin, but he squinted at her. "But, I can't see a thing."
"Nanase!!" Sakura shouted, "Give back Tito-Eriol's glasses now!"
"But they're mine now! I'M Tito-Eriol!"
And thus ensued yet another tiring chase. Eriol and Sakura ran after Nanase, up and down and up and down the stairs. Eriol stopped and panted after the fifth go-round.
"You and your family have much stamina." he remarked as Sakura ran past him, another trip up the stairs just as quickly as she had done when they started. Nanase was really getting on her nerves.
"NANASE!" The little girl ran and hid under Sakura's bed. Sakura kneeled down on one side while Eriol took charge of the other side.
"With your permission, Sakura, may I cast a small spell?" Eriol asked politely.
"Yes, please."
Eriol reached his hand under the bed and little sparkles of light slowly blew against Nanase. She drooped and fell asleep. Eriol pressed his glasses back on top of his nose, and laid Nanase on the bed.
"Ah, now I can see you, Sakura!"
She smiled a half hearted smile.
"Anyway, I can't sense Keroberos. Where is he?"
"He's…Yue and he are…at Tomoyo's house…" she said in a broken whisper.
"Why are they there?"
Sakura felt a lump in her throat. She felt so guilty. Eriol looked concerned. "Is there something wrong?"
"They're…they're at Tomoyo's house…" she echoed.
"Sakura, what happened?"
Tears gathered at the sides of her eyes again, and Eriol comforted her by gently embracing her until she stopped crying.
[A/N: Friendly hug, you romantic fools! ;) ]
"Shall we go to Tomoyo's house?" he held out a hand to escort her to the car. She hesitantly placed her hand in his.
DING DONG! The doorbell at Tomoyo's house blared. She rushed to get it.
"Sakura!" she looked behind her friend, "…and Eriol?" (he smiled at her and she flushed slightly) "And Ms…Ms. Mizuki."
They came inside and went up to Tomoyo's room, which was full of many dolls and plushies. Kero and Yue were on her bed, under the covers. Their wings were bandaged heavily with care by Tomoyo.
"Kero's doing much better," she whispered.
Kero's ears tweaked. "Clow…?"
Eriol shook his head. "Eriol. Not Clow."
"What're you doing here?" He sat up, seeming just fine.
"That's not what's important. What about you, Keroberos? How are you feeling?"
"Well Tomoyo's been an awesome nurse. I think I'm feeling a lot better. And look! She has bandages with video game characters on them and I have Pac-Man, Soul Calibur, and Mortal Kombat!" He shifted his wing to display the colorful bandages.
"I see you also have Street Fighter," Eriol noted.
"She didn't have my favorite character, though. Eh, too bad."
Sakura smiled as she realized Kero was barely injured at all. He just liked the bandages. However, she had her doubts that Yue had so many bandages for the same reason (His bandages were the plain beige kind) .He was still asleep.
(Tsumina: Will Yue be alright? How long before he wakes up? Will Kero ever obtain his favorite Street Fighter band aid? Is this story going to tear away from a seemingly tragic storyline? Bleh, I dunno. I'm still in doubt. This is only the second day of Yue's shrunkeness. Five more days to go. What could happen in such a span of time? Find out in the next chapter…er, I don't know what it'll be called. I'm in the process of writing it right now, though I should be reading the Odyssey, I'm sorry to insult anyone's tastes in reading, but I hate this book so far…Alright, keep posted and keep reviewing!)