A/n:Revised yet again. I don't think it needs much. Just a few grammar checks and such.

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-Chapter Six-

Reed's Mansion

Through the skies soared an unmistakably beautiful creature with majestic wings, and a mind set on finding Clow Reed. Yue hadn't comprehended where on earth he was going to find Clow Reed, but nonetheless, he continued to sweep into the cool skies full of pallid clouds, letting his body guide him through. He floated to the ground heavily populated with bamboo trees and untamed grass. As far as he was concern, his attention was fully on the grand mansion surrounded by an aura so mysterious and enclosed with magic that Yue had to approach it.

"Clow-sama's mansion," Yue whispered, effortlessly gliding towards the closed entrance of the door just a small distance away from him. His gaze was steady and fixed on the door in which he would soon enter. "My master… I am home at last." A frail smile came to his face almost innocently.

A pale hand came to the door and pushed it open with ease. What Yue saw inside was complete darkness, not a living soul in sight until a sudden faint glow began to filter into the room and soon bright colors surfaced. Yue was astonished that all this light had emitted from the study chambers, a room where he saw last of Clow. Curiously and without a second thought, he treaded into that certain room, self-consciously drawing into the light until he was finally within its source.

Icy eyes roamed about the room with its rows of familiar bookcases sheltered with books, an old traditional fireplace burning logs, and large windows that showed the back view of the eye-catching landscapes.

"Nothing's changed at all," Yue whispered knowingly. He snapped from his state of drowse upon sensing another presence in the room. Even though he saw no one there, he felt a strong, blue aura that was so humble and irreplaceable that he knew exactly who it belonged to. Yet somehow, there was something off about this aura.

"Where are you?" Yue shouted. "I want to know who you are. Show yourself!"

A swift movement caught his attention, and through the corner of his eye he saw something lurking in the shadows. A low growl erupted from his throat in impatience. 'Clow isn't the type to play childish games such as Hide and Seek,' Yue thought bitterly as he froze in place, his feet glued deep into the floorboards. He wanted the man to come out and show himself. Yue's heart ached to the point beyond sufferable. He missed Clow terribly, and it had shown greatly through his hurt expressions. "Clow-sama!"

"You are finally here," came a smooth, unsuspecting tone that flooded Yue with relief.

"Clow-sama," the immortal angel repeated this time out of affection. 'After all these centuries…' He spun around, just in time to notice a cloaked man several inches from him and far younger than he had expected. Yue narrowed his eyes slightly and dropped his gaze. 'This can't be my master,' was his disdain thought.

"That's where you're wrong." Yue's head jerked up, and an eyebrow rose up questionably, doubting what had just happened. 'How?'

"I didn't mean to surprise you. I meant to tell you that I have the ability to read minds, but I can't fully control it. Now about where you're wrong, I am Clow Reed, but in a way, I'm not. I've noticed when you look at me, you turn away and frown," the young man informed. "I don't have Clow-san's appearance but I certainly have his sorcerer's skills and part of his mind dormant in me."

'And where is the other half of Clow-sama?' Yue thought vainly, forgetting the fact that the man before him could read minds.

"You can talk to me, you know. Don't be afraid to open up. Please, I want you to open up, talk and be friendly. I'm sure Clow Reed would have said the same thing if he was still alive, wouldn't he?"

Yue nodded understandably. "Hai…" was his strayed response.

"To answer your question about what happened to Clow's other half… Well, Clow's appearance and half his mind reincarnated into King Kinomoto Fujitaka-sama."

Yue gasped, wide-eyed, stepping back abruptly. "Fujitaka-sama…" he repeated in awe and a blush claimed his cheeks.

"Haven't you wondered why you always had this need to please Fujitaka-sama? How you're always doing what he tells you?" Eriol nodded once to confirm his explanation. "Ever since Clow had created you, you saw him as your master and felt it your duty to obey him. It was a way of showing your gratitude, love and faithfulness to him."

"What makes you say that?" Yue said defensively. "You are only half of him."

"Indeed I am," a guilty smirk fell upon his features. "When I told you to talk, you talked more than I thought you would." Then he chuckled.

Yue nodded curtly but still kept his distant self in check. "I understand. If you are only Clow's reincarnation, you must have a name…"

Azure eyes flickered with knowledge and wisdom as the young man stepped up to Yue to look at him thoroughly. "I am simply Hiiragizawa Eriol. Nice to meet you at last."

"It's an honor to meet you too, Hiiragizawa-sama."

"Ah, enough with the politeness. I don't know how Clow ever put up with that…" Eriol trailed off, his face becoming grave. "But that's the least of our worries. We have far worse matters to discuss." Eriol cleared his throat before he began again, "You are here for one purpose and one purpose only. It is very urgent, and has become the worse of our problems. You have been locked away in a stone for a few centuries which has made everything much more difficult and dangerous."

The guardian listened to every word carefully with alert ears and attentive eyes. "Go on Hiiragizawa-san…"

"I'm sure you already know that the moon is under your protection," Eriol stated as a matter of fact. "And by that, you must watch it at all costs and as of right now," Eriol added, making Yue nod furiously, "the air is thicker with an evil force and this evil goes by the name of Shijin. He is Clow Reed's rival, stronger than I had estimated him."

A slow, uncertain nod was given to Eriol.

"Within the moon's interior is a power so great, and Shijin is after its source to become the strongest sorcerer in the world, but he intends to use the magic for evil. He will be coming soon. I can sense his black aura… I just don't know where or when."

Adding a little encouragement, Yue said, "I will take him down. I will do all I can for everybody in this world."

Eriol smiled at him. "I'm sure you will. The world is, after all, in your hands." Eventually, with enough information collected, Yue turned around and strode out into the balcony to take his rightful place as Moon Guardian. He had a purpose at last.

'Shijin.'

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"Otou-san, do you supposed he's kidnapped?"

A hand brushed through locks of brown and graying hair as Fujitaka shook his head. He clasped a hand to his forehead in worry. "No, I don't think so. I think he left," he whispered to his equally concerned daughter.

Fresh tears escaped from Sakura's eyes, disbelief showing on her face. "Why would he leave without telling us? At least he could have written a letter to inform us or something. I just don't understand." She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and ran into her father's embrace. "Does he not love us Otou-san? Is that the reason why he left?"

Syaoran was standing by the doorway, quietly averting his eyes in respect. He had no idea that Sakura would react this much over Yue's uninformed disappearance. Having the need to do something, Syaoran stepped forward and bowed to the king as he entered the room.

"Maybe Yue-san… uh… Maybe he went on vacation?" The room went silent over Syaoran's radical assumption. It clearly explained how well the young lad did not know Yue-san. Syaoran smiled sheepishly, and inwardly he wished he hadn't said anything at all because now they're looking at him as if he was the absolute idiot. "It was just a suggestion," Syaoran defended but was cut off.

"Yue never goes out. He hates it – especially when there's a crowd of people swarming around him," Sakura said barely above a whisper. She buried her head into her father's chest and cried her heart out like the way she did when her mother passed away. "He's been gone for one week. When is he coming back?"

Her father flinched out of nowhere and Sakura looked up at him confusedly. She was surprised at her father's expression scrunched up so tight in regret as if a sudden thought had hit him. Gently, the king scooped up his daughter from the fold of his arms and placed her back to the ground on her feet. His face was rather solemn for a fleeting moment. "I know why Yue is gone. Please forgive me my daughter, I believe it's my fault that he's no longer with us..." he trailed off, hands covering up his face in an attempt to hide his shame.

"What do you mean Otou-san?" asked Sakura, wrapping her arms around Syaoran instead as she listened intently.

"My daughter," Fujitaka began, turning his eyes away from Syaoran and Sakura. "Yue had gone away in search of a wife, I believe. He wouldn't have if I hadn't told him that he was old enough for a companion, and you do k-know," Fujitaka sobbed, " t-that he does whatever I tell him. Please forgive me my daughter."

"Did he really? A wife…" the fazed girl whispered. She released Syaoran and stood. 'I haven't realized how lonely he was… Why do I feel like it's my fault…?'

"Yes, he was never really happy here…"

'I have made him unhappy… It's my fault!' Sakura didn't want to hear any more of this. She dodged Syaoran's hands and stormed from the room with unleashing tears that flooded from her eyes like a tidal wave. 'I love him don't I? And to finally realize that when he's gone…' Sakura thought sadly.

"Sakura!"

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There was a steaming coffee mug in one hand as Eriol stared through the window, secretly watching Yue linger about in the vast garden. Just inside the room, Spinel slept on the footrest and Ruby Moon sat cross-legged by the crackling fire place. As for Eriol, he was resting against the armchair. He had been wondering why Yue looked out of place now that he was back. This mansion was originally his home; he should have settled in comfortably by now. He was back where he belonged. He should be happy now that he's reunited with Clow's true reincarnation.

Eriol sighed, taking a sip of coffee as he looked away from the window, raven hair falling over his mysterious azure eyes by his swift movement. "Ruby," Eriol whispered in a velvety tone, placing his mug onto the small table. "It is time that you join Yue outside. I'm sure he wants some company."

"Of course Master Eriol," she responded, nodding her head happily. She jumped to her feet in a standing position and strolled on outside. Her steps were slow paced. She was anxious on meeting a man whom she used to think was unreal, like a fable. Master Eriol had once told her many stories about this Moon Guardian and how he had to defeat some villain named Shiyu or Shinju- something. With much caution, the young woman crept down the stairs, careful not to make a creaking sound off wood.

She clasped her dainty hands to the doorframe as she watched the guardian glide about in the garden absentmindedly yet alert at the same time. She crooned at his elegance, admiring his ability not to crush the dewy grass beneath his bare feet. They were total opposites; he was careful, and she was clumsy. A blush emerged from her face as she simply watched his gestures. He was like a real angel in her eyes, a beautiful angel she grew to love after their first encounter.

"Who are you?" Yue whispered out of the blue without the need to turn around.

The young woman gasped and clumsily fell forward out of her hiding spot. She bent on her knees and bowed repeatedly at the man who had a higher status than she did, whispering to him almost incoherently. "I am Ruby Moon," came her soft answer hinted with embarrassment.

"Why were you spying on me?"

She flushed harder, absolutely having no clue by her actions. "I… Master Eriol wants me to keep you company," she repeated what Eriol had said earlier.

Yue was taken aback for a brief moment by that response but shook his head gently, casting his foolish thoughts aside. He grunted as his head turned another direction, eyes weary from the young woman's dark features with black butterfly wings fluttering gradually behind her. Something about her was all too familiar, but Yue dismissed that thought. "You are one of Clow's creations?"

"Sort of..." she smiled as she began, "I'm Eriol's guardian but he treats me more like a friend. So what happened to you through all the years?" she asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Yue swallowed the lump forming in his dry throat, finding the air around them to be awkward. She had to know him somewhere from his past to bring up such a question. His head tilted toward her, silver-white hair falling behind his shoulders gracefully, and icy complexion studying her. "I've been locked away for more than five centuries and after being freed, I've lived with the Kinomotos."

"Oh…" She grinned, allowing herself across a couple of bushes to take a seat next to Yue on the little grey bench. His face held annoyance as he scooted over so that there was enough room to accommodate her even if it took away his personal space.

"I've a feeling I met you somewhere," spoke Yue, breaking the undying silence. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then he paused.

"I am Nakuru…" she told him.

Yue's eyes widened and he looked at her in bewilderment. "N-Nakuru? You are Nakuru?"

She nodded and smiled broadly. "I am the girl from the market. Well, I used to be. But that was when I was human."

"Now immortal? B-But how?"

Her face colored pink again. "It's really hard to explain but when Clow was alive, he wanted someone that could spend eternity with you. Just at the last minute, he realized that no mortal girl could ever make you happy because each one will age and die.

"My father Hitoro happened to be among the fewest sorcerers just like your father and he gave me immortality but at a terrible price. I had to be stripped of my normal appearance and replaced with one of a dark looking butterfly but I changed myself only so that I could be with you. But when Clow-sama died, the plan could no longer be carried out because you've turned into stone that time and we couldn't free you… So…Who was the one that freed you?" asked Nakuru ever so unexpectedly.

"Sakura," Yue said right away in such an affectionate tone that caught Nakuru by surprise and himself as well.

"W-Who is this Sakura?"

Yue gave the woman a disgusted look. "My past is my business. Why don't you continue on what you have to say, I don't fully understand the concepts of your immortality?"

Her face hardened as she tried to cover up her pain. "I wanted to be immortal so that I could be with you. My father and Clow agreed to it because they wanted you to have a companion."

"But… why would you want to be with me?"

"Because I love you!" Nakuru cried, clasping her arms around Yue's slender frame in an act of plea. "I've been feeling this way from the very first day I saw you. Now that I'm immortal… we can be together. We can be together Yue…"

He flinched and then stood up abruptly, breaking her pitiful embrace. He stared down at her with an unreadable expression but his voice undoubtedly expressed his dislike through his cold voice. "My heart does not flutter when I look at you. There is no smile on my face when you are here. I am very much unhappy and I rather be back with Sakura or preferable Clow if he was still alive," he said gruffly.

"Sakura?" Ruby repeated for the second time this day and shook her head slightly as tears rimmed from the corner of her eyes.

"There is nothing I want to share with you of my past."

Ruby looked hurt when he said that but she compelled her tears from falling. "Then don't tell me anything. All you should know is that I love you." She looked up to the sky and frowned. "It's quite late," she said, her silky pink hair shadowing the tears in her eyes. "I'm going to go back to bed now. Goodnight Yue…"

"Goodnight Nakuru." Yue shifted his head, catching the glimpse of her petite figure skipping away in a frantic manner. Each step held sadness and it tore open Yue's heart. He didn't mean to sound harsh but that was none of his concern at this point. After all, the world was danger of this Shijin character.

"Yue," hissed the sole, panicky tone of Eriol's, "it's about time you head out."

"Hai."

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"I'll be back in the summer," Syaoran announced, sighing to himself and brushing his feet against the plush white carpet of Sakura's bedroom.

Sakura only nodded dumbly, her eyes never once looking up to meet the gaze of her recent boyfriend. She had felt nothing at the moment, not even caring that Syaoran was going back to Hong Kong, and wouldn't be back for a couple of months or so.

"Sakura?" Syaoran asked, a bit worried and upset.

"Mhmm…" she mumbled.

A small doll with angel features was lying in her lap. That was the only thing she stared at because nothing else could brighten up her mood, and this doll was all she had of Yue; the resemblance was just amazing. She couldn't believe that he was really gone. He didn't even bother contacting them after a few weeks passed by.

"You're still thinking about him aren't you?" Syaoran asked the obvious with an angry pitch in his tone.

Sakura's head jerked up, looking straight into his fierce amber eyes. "Syaoran…" she desperately tried to reason but he cut her off.

"… No," Syaoran yelled. "What about me? I feel as if you love him more than you do of me. Can't you see that he doesn't love you? Why else would he leave then?"

Sakura turned away from him, but Syaoran wouldn't tolerate her ignoring him any longer. "Sakura, look at me," he growled. "Damn it, does that stuff animal mean more to you than me?" Having enough of her stupid moping around, Syaoran dived for the stuff animal sitting casually on her lap. The girl squealed when he grabbed for the doll, quickly snatching it from her before she could react.

"Syaoran… no…" she said weakly.

"Why should I?" the boy grumbled, quite disheveled. "Can't you see that I love you?"

Sakura tried to make a grab for the angel doll but the youth was just too tall and fast. His actions quickly resurfaced her past and she remembered a little Syaoran wavering Kero-chan away from her grasp… and then she remembered Yue always coming to the rescue.

Where was he now? "Give it back!" she cried out harshly, tears skidding down her face, simultaneously making Syaoran pause and stare at her.

"Sakura… I'm," he gave her a quick hug. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please don't cry."

"Just leave…" she hissed, clutching onto the doll tightly as she pulled away from Syaoran's arms.

Sadness flitted across Syaoran's features and his head fell down. "I guess this is goodbye then. Is that how you want it to be?" he asked forcibly.

Sakura looked at him, seeing the expectant look on his face, but she couldn't deal with this. It was all too much… "I don't think this relationship is working out for me… We should really remain friends…"

"No," he growled, giving her a dirty look as he turned on his heel. "It is goodbye, then," he whispered dryly. And he walked away and out of her life. That was the last time Sakura ever saw of him.

"I'm sorry Syaoran. Don't go…Come back," she whispered, but he was already a good hearing distance away. "Don't leave me. I don't want anyone to leave me. I love you too… but," she begged hoarsely. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, crystalline tears managing to escape through the corner of her closed lids. She was mixed in so many emotions. Hate. Sadness. Regret. Hope.

'Hope.'

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A/n: So did you guys catch the person in Yue's dream to be Eriol? If you didn't, I am disappointed.