Author's Note: No big changes in this chapter, though the descriptions are a bit more clear now. I hope you're all enjoying this rewrite, I'm having great fun with it.

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Go-ban: Anonai Ikko

Yukito, stifling another yawn, sat down on the couch between Sakura and Yue. "This entire ordeal wouldn't worry me so much if it had happened a month ago," he stated. "As things are, Touya and I are due back at school tomorrow; if I show up and To-ya doesn't, things will get messy."

You mean messier, Sakura corrected silently. She gave Yue a questioning look, and he nodded in understanding. "I can fill in for To-ya." He ignored the sudden doubtful look Shaoran was giving him, and focused on Yukito's smile. "I've been with Yuki this entire time, I know everything he does. I can fill in for him easily."

"I'm not so sure about that," Kero interjected. "You and Touya aren't exactly the most alike people; you don't act anything like him. How are you gonna pull it off if you act like the Judge of the Clow?"

Yue shrugged. "I will figure something out, I'm sure." He turned to Kero with raised eyebrows and a vague grin. "You have so little faith in me, Cerberus."

"I have my reasons to doubt," replied the beast stoically. The two of them stared at each other for several seconds in silence, then Kero sighed and turned away. "Fine, have it your way, Yue; you always have, after all." The last part was bitter beyond belief, and Sakura couldn't help but gape. "But I seriously hope you aren't trying to get comfortable—this isn't going to last very long."

Sakura nodded slowly, lowering her turquoise eyes. "At least we all hope it doesn't." She wondered what was going on between her two Guardians, or what had transpired in the past, to make Kero so bitter. He had never been bitter before…

Deep in the back of Yukito's mind, Touya gave an invisible smile. Speak for yourself, kaijuu he chuckled. Just because you don't want this to last doesn't mean I don't. I finally have a chance to know what it's like to be Yue, to see through Yue's eyes. I need enough time to figure him out before you change us back. Please, Sakura, wait just a little while…

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It was a long day, including more suspicious glances and bewilderment than Sakura had experienced in her entire life; the former mostly between Yue and Kero, and the latter mostly within her own addled brain. No matter how she tried, she couldn't figure out how it had happened. There were only two options, and they had both been disproved: the CHANGE Card could have done it, or Yue could have done it.

CHANGE wouldn't work on a Guardian in their true form, and Yue swore that he hadn't done anything that could have cast such a spell. "Even if I had," he added, "how would I be able to change us back? The CHANGE is under my law, but the power that it would require to switch To-ya and I is so great that I wouldn't be able to stay awake for at least the next twenty- four hours." He shook his head. "To-ya is resting now, but he was fine when we woke up."

For the most part, in any case. He had requested that short time alone, and had been much more withdrawn since then. Yue feared what was going through the youth's captive mind, and wished that he could change them back, even if only to save Touya from grief. He had tasted enough of that in his lifetime after all. First he lost his mother to the glimmer of death; then his sister was stolen away by a boy he couldn't stand; then his father swept into a world none of them could properly understand; and now this…

But he couldn't change them back—he didn't know what had happened, although he was certain it was somehow linked to his wish. "Just for a moment, I'd like to see as he sees…to feel as he feels. To know what he feels for me. Just once would be all right, wouldn't it?"

Selfish monster, he told himself. Fool of a Guardian, letting your own heart get in the way of your eternal duty. Idiot.

He now stood in Yukito's room, holding a t-shirt in one hand—much less worn than Touya's nightshirt—and a pair of blue jeans in the other. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and took off his shirt. He immediately noticed the temperature difference, and supposed that Touya's body was unaccustomed to the cold.

Well, with how dark he is it is obvious he spends his days in the sun, he decided. Touya was like some sort of wild animal—sleeping and staying inside during the winter, waking and playing outside in the summer. It had been so long since Yue felt the summer sun on his face, the warmth from which his brother drew his strength. He had liked it, to an extent, and wondered if it would feel better in this body. He had preferred the dark hours because it gave him strength, clarity of thought, the energy to continue in this droll life that he had resigned himself to.

Now, however, he drew his strength from a more earthly source. Would the sun feel better than the moon? Would he lose his adoration for his silver mother? He hoped not, but felt something in the back of his mind whispering that the sun was better for living in, but the moon was far more beautiful. Almost as lovely as Touya's long white hair, soft and fine as spider-silk; almost as beautiful as his amethyst eyes, so deep and ethereal; almost as lovely, almost as beautiful, but not quite…

Yue started, his eyes snapping open. There it was again, just like earlier that day. The sudden thought of Touya being beautiful; the thought of Yue's own body being beautiful, caught the Guardian off-guard. Why was he thinking like that? It was strange, to say the least, but the term wrong was probably a more apt description. He hated the way he looked, he always had. In making him, Clow had said he was vying for perfection, and always said that, while he might not have reached it, he had come close.

"Incredibly close," the man said with a smile, running his fingers over the silvery-haired Guardian's cheek. "So close it almost hurts to look at you…"

He ground his teeth, clenching his eyes shut, and shook his head violently. Stop it, stop it, stop it… he hissed silently. No more memories, please. No more…

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Touya did the mental equivalent of taking a breath in preparation. "YUKI!" he hollered. To his satisfaction, the silver-haired youth started, holding a hand to his head.

That was a bit loud, To-ya, the boy's voice replied. What is it?

The angel apologized swiftly, then moved on to his previously established request. "Can I take control for a little while?" It was blunt and simple, but he had to be brief; he wasn't sure how long he could keep the contact between his mind and Yukito's.

Yukito mulled over the thought for a moment, then replied, Are you feeling better? Well-rested?

"I'm fine Yuki, just please…"

Oh all right, the boy replied with a sigh. I'll initiate it to let you save your strength—give me a second.

Almost instantly Touya had the sensation of being plunged into the deepest, coldest of the oceans, but the water was fresh and clean. It was so cold he was afraid he wouldn't be able to hold his breath any longer, and so deep that the pressure was crushing him. His vision went dark, though he was fairly certain his eyes were open, and he fell further…

And then he opened his eyes, sitting alone on the couch. He shivered involuntarily; if Yukito had to go through that every time Yue initiated the transformation, no wonder he hated being forced into it.

He stretched out his wings, beat them a little bit, and then rose to his feet. Sakura had headed home a little over twenty minutes ago to write a letter that she was going to overnight to Eriol, taking her friends with her. Kero had wanted to stay, but Tomoyo had scooped him up and tucked him into her pocket without a word of explanation. It was only him and Yue in the house, Yuki sleeping in the back of his mind; Touya had to take this opportunity.

He took a wary step, stumbled a little bit, but was able to steady himself by placing on hand on the wall. He used the house itself for stability as he made his way to Yukito's room, where Yue was currently getting dressed. He flushed a little bit at the memory of Sakura mentioning that Yue needed to get dressed, and had to fight a laugh when he recalled how bright red Yukito's face had become. Even Yue's cheeks had become a pale shade of scarlet.

It was only fair, though; he had been uncaring enough to learn of Yue's body, it was only right that Yue should have an opportunity to learn about his.

He reached the door, placing a hand on it for support, and knocked lightly. "Yue?" he murmured. "Yue, are you done?"

The door flew open, stealing Touya's one means of support, and he fell yet again into Yue's strong arms. His heartbeat quickened at the contact, which bordered on intimate, and he hoped Yue couldn't feel it.

Yue was preoccupied with his own thoughts, however. He decided he should teach Touya how to fade his wings away, but the thought made him realize that he would never get to hold him like this again after that. He would never feel his heartbeat, swift as a rabbit's, when he was pressed up against him again, and he would never feel his hair brush against his chest.

It took a long moment for either one to realize that they were still holding or being held, and when it finally dawned the release was not so rough as it had been this morning. "Yes, To-ya?" Yue said softly, helping him to the bed.

"I-I was wondering," he whispered, his gender-neutral voice taking on a slightly more masculine hint, "what did you mean earlier, when you said—"

"I know of what you are inquiring," the Guardian cut him off, "and I do not wish to speak of it at this time." The angel bowed his head and Yue let out a sigh. "I am sorry, To-ya, but I cannot speak of it, not yet. It is still too near to me, and too dark to possibly explain." He sat down next to the slender figure and looked down at his hands. "Especially not in my current condition."

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Tomoyo's brow furrowed. In one hand she held the television remote control, and the other was held to her chin as she thought. She pressed the button marked rewind, let the VCR run for several seconds, then let the video play normally. She paused it and leaned forward, closer to the screen, and shook her head slowly.

"No, that can't be right…" she murmured. "No…"

She pressed play again.

"To-ya…I am sorry," a deep voice breathed from the television. "There is something that must be done, periodically, to insure Yuki's happiness. Because I am no longer there to do it, I needed you to. I know it caused you great pain, pain that will not have left you yet, but it had to be done. I am sorry." The sable-haired girl pressed pause again and shook her head after only an instant of contemplation.

"It doesn't make any sense."

The rustle and rattle of a curtain being drawn back called her attention to the back of the room. Sakura emerged, garbed in an azure dress, the skirt huge and billowy, the sleeves loose, all the hems trimmed with silver embroidery.

"Oh!" Tomoyo exclaimed. "You look WONDERFUL!" She gave a high giggle and dove over the back of the couch to take hold of her best friend's hands and spin around with her. Sakura laughed loudly, her worry in her features fading as they turned about. Finally, when neither of them could stand straight anymore—and thus fell over—they stopped their reverie.

The auburn-haired girl was silent, save her labored breathing, for several seconds before rolling over onto one side and facing Tomoyo. "Ne, I heard someone talking out here. Did someone come by?"

Tomoyo shook her head, her smile fading slightly. "I was just checking the recording I made today at Yukito's house." She sat up, somewhat unsteadily, and fell back into her contemplations. "Sakura-chan?" the girl turned, still on the floor, with a quiet, "Hoe?" to face the dark- haired girl. "Has Touya ever talked about Yue?"

Sakura started, clearly bewildered. "Not that I can remember…why?"

With a sigh the other girl shook her head. "Nothing, probably just my imagination." She rose to her feet, bending down to help Sakura stand, then ushering her back into the dressing room to change back into her normal clothes. Once she was gone, the would-be moviemaker took her seat in front of the television once more.

"All right," a gender-neutral voice said from the recording.

"All right?" the deeper voice replied in curiosity.

A pause, then an almost contented, "All right."

Tomoyo shook her head. It didn't make sense. Touya loved Yukito, didn't he? And Yukito loved Touya, or at least it seemed like it. They loved each other, but neither of them ever did anything about it, and now there was another problem to worry about. Touya loved Yukito, but the way he spoke to Yue was almost identical to how he regarded the silvery-haired youth. Apparently putting Yue into the equation had thrown Touya for a loop.

Or at least made him fall in love again.

"And Yue…" she whispered, leaning forward once more and placing her hand against the screen, wishing she had been prudent enough to zoom in a little when she set the camera down—but that would have revealed what she was doing, so there was no point in berating herself for it—and ran one pale finger over Yue's dark face. "He said sorry. Has he ever said that before?" She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Maybe. But, even if he has, I've never heard him use that tone of voice…Not even for Sakura." This was getting confusing, yet somehow oddly enticing.

Tomoyo smiled as she concocted a plan to get it all on tape.

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Shaoran rang the doorbell once with no reply from inside. With a sigh he rang it again, then again, then again, still with no response. He took a step back from the door, setting down his parcel and cupping his hands to his mouth. "Kinomoto-san! Tsukishiro-san! Yue-san! Whoever's awake, I have something for you!" His voice echoed through the yard, sound waves bouncing off the house back into his ears.

Still there was no response.

He knew they were both here—they had to both be here. Yukito wouldn't take Yue out in public, and Yue wouldn't let Yukito go out alone. So why weren't they answering? He knocked on the door for several seconds before letting out a sigh and turning away, setting the brown-wrapped parcel down on the doorstep.

When he reached the gate he turned and gave Yukito's house a final glance, as though expecting to see someone looking at him through a window, then headed off down the street.

Why wouldn't one of them come out to greet him? He knew Touya didn't like him—he still had trouble with the thought that the gaki had won his sister's love, but Yue and Yukito had no problem with him as far as he knew. So why had no one answered?

He decided it would be better to just head back to the Kinomotos' and explain these most recent events there, to Sakura, Kero and Tomoyo. Perhaps they could help him unravel this knot of confusion.

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Touya took a deep breath, focusing on the musical tones that ran through his mind, and then nodded, his eyes closed. "All right, I found it."

"Lift up your hands," the Guardian instructed. "I will guide you through it." Touya did as he was told, though with a bit of hesitation, and Yue placed his own dark hands against the delicate alabaster palms of Touya. As long as they maintained physical contact, Yue could give Touya detailed instructions by example, siphoning them directly into the angel's mind. He took a deep breath, closed his sapphire eyes and focused on what Touya was to do. The angel slowly, tentatively, found the directions and began following them. A sharp pain shot through his back and a cold wind began to tear through the room. "Too much power, To-ya," Yue said aloud.

Touya carefully brought down the strength, the pain in his back abating. There was a sudden sensation warmth, which fell to a cool liquidity washing over both of them, and then Touya broke contact with the Guardian. He opened his eyes, looked about, and found that he was standing on his own. He looked over his shoulder and found that his wings were gone, though he still felt their presence. Could Yue still fly without his wings? He wondered, and then decided to ask him about it later.

As it was, Yue looked extremely tired. The sapphires that were his eyes were half-lidded, his breathing was heavy and his face wet with perspiration. "Are you all right?" Touya inquired, taking a wary step forward, reveling in the fact that he could walk on his own again.

The former angel nodded "Y-Yes… it is difficult to give telepathic instruction without magic," he explained. "I did not realize the toll would be this great…"

"You should get some rest," Touya suggested. Yue nodded, suddenly thankful that they had performed the lesson in Yukito's bedroom, and simply laid down on the bed he had been leaning against.

Touya watched him for several minutes, ignoring the incessant ringing of the doorbell, until he was certain Yue was asleep. It had been difficult to hide his exhaustion from Yue, and the many failed attempts at hiding his wings were taking their toll. He yawned hugely, rubbing one amethyst eye, and turned to look at Yue again.

With only a slight sinking feeling in his stomach he climbed onto the bed, leaning his back against Yue's, closing his eyes and calling for sleep. It would be dark soon, anyway, he need to get some rest or else he would pass out…And he did not was Yukito to go through the disconcertment again.

So Touya, the moon angel, fell asleep.

And his dreams, deeper and more restful than he could ever have experienced in his mortal body, were troubled and dark as the deepest night. Filled with images he did not recognize, but he knew belonged to him. To him? No…perhaps to Yukito. A dream that he had seen before, when Yukito had passed out and Yue had made him scream.

This was familiar…

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A dark room, moonlight casting through the single window, the glass that had once been set in it had long ago been shattered, the pieces carried away by gleaners and transients. Who knew what they used them for?

The Guardian of the moon carefully poured the silvery dust that he had gone to such great lengths to possess on the marble floor, forming a symbol that he alone knew. This was not Clow's seal, which was identical to Cerberus's, but his own. This seal belonged to him and only him…

This thought would once have brought him joy, given him a swelling of his broken pride, but no longer. The symbol, that had once made him so happy, would now make him filled with sorrow. Soon, he would be nothing but sorrow…and that other part of him would be able to smile again.

Soon…

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Translation Notes:

Go-ban: Number Five. Go is five. It's also a fun little Japanese game that enables funny-haired Elementary Schoolers to meet sexy, sexy ghosts. (I apologize to anyone who has not read—or has read and does not enjoy—Hikaru No Go.)

Anonai Ikko: A Thought Unspoken. Technically, it translates as Thought Said Not, but again it's the same basic feel. I think my broken Japanese is pretty good, so please don't bash it…

Gaki: Yet another of those terms die-hard CCS fans know by now, but the more soft-core readers might not. This is the Japanese equivalent of the word brat, though it can also be translated as punk, squirt, and various other English terms used to describe an annoying person much younger (or at least smaller) than the speaker.