Author's Note:

This chapter took me months to write (as you can see by the lag between updates)! I wrote, erased, worked and reworked this thing, but I don't think I can add any more to it. Enjoy it, and if you're still here reading, know that you're appreciated.

I can't believe how much steam this has gathered. Thank you so, so, SO much for everyone who has favorite, reviewed, and followed. If you've been silent until now, please drop a review! I love hearing from you.

PS – This chapter, again, shifts in perspective every time an 'xxx' appears.

xxx

Deep down, Sakura knew she was a powerful sorceress, and knew how to communicate with Yue. Still, she had woken Touya for this. She explained herself to the still-sleepy brother – her dreams, her cards, and her anxiety – until an expression of realization registered on Touya's face. If Yue was involved, that meant Yuki was involved, too, so Touya immediately bounded out of bed and moved without delay.

In the shadows of the house, the siblings quietly slipped on hoodies, and replaced slippers with sneakers. Sakura stopped before her father's room, guilt setting in like hot fuzz. She observed his peaceful form, and silently hoped that he remained sleeping. Touya placed a hand on her shoulder as her peered in, too. Feeling her brother's pull, Sakura knew it was time for their departure.

With her Cards securely in her pocket, and Kero already waiting by the door, the sibling duo ushered themselves into the night.

The air stuck with humidity. Wet, moist drops of dampness still lingered upon the street posts, parked cars, and sidewalk. The dark fell way to quiet stillness, with only the plop, plop, plop of Touya's rubber soles hitting the soggy pavement. Kero zoomed ahead of the two, ignoring his blatant exposure to the public eye.

Sakura was too concerned to scold the little beast. "Thank goodness no one is out…"

Within minutes, Yukito's simple, gated house arrived in their line of vision.

Kero, levitating to a stop, paused before the house. "You feel anything?" he murmured, low enough for the siblings to hear.

Sakura focused her energy and reached out with her sense. She shut her eyes as she searched for Yukito's warm, amber aura, or Yue's cool, violet presence.

"There's nothing, Kero," the girl whispered.

"Sensing won't work if something's wrong," Touya fired angrily from behind. Furiously, he jolted past his two partners and swung the gate open. Before Sakura could implore his brother to keep down the noise, Touya began piercingly knocking on Yukito's door. The hard sound bounced through the empty street, echoing on every house and corner. Touya knocked and knocked, his fist clashing against the wooden frame in a strong rhythm.

As Sakura approached her brother, his knocking turned into pounding, and the pounding into full-on shoving.

"Touya! Stop! Stop!" hissed Sakura. Before she could reach to grab his arm, Touya's fists slowed as he reluctantly obeyed. His head hit the door in desperation. Now listening, Tonya took a step back, leering at the immovable door in frustration. Sakura watched her brother crack his irritated, swollen knuckles – no doubt a result from his brash attempt.

With a quick movement, Sakura had summoned her staff. "It's early," she whispered slowly. "We don't need the neighbors waking up. Besides," she took out 'The Lock,' "I know an easier way to get in."

Before she could finish her sentence, the Card began to glow. With an audible click, Lock neatly released the latch on Yukito's front door. Touya wasted no time, and barreled into the empty vestibule, making the door slam into the wall with a bang.

Kero was next to make an entrance. He flew right past the siblings, and stopped directly in front of Touya's vision. His beady eyes were narrowed in pure resolve as his wings beat steadily.

Sakura couldn't see her brother's face, but felt the ice radiate from Touya's form. "Move," she heard him grunt with equal steal. Despite the tone, the Sun Guardian didn't flinch. He remained steadfast, his eyes sharpening into tiny little slits.

Sakura gently squeezed past her brother, letting herself come between the two. Their gazes broke as Sakura spoke. "Touya…I need you here." She clutched her staff and looked upon Touya's statuesque form. He stubbornly eyed the little beast, but remained silent as Sakura continued. "You and Yukito…I know what he means to you. And you should be here. But this is between us. Me and my guardians." She looked into her brother's eyes, and gave a small smile. "You need to be here, but I will protect Yukito. And we'll all be okay."

A heartstring plucked at the festering guilt in Sakura's heart. Touya remained as stony as ever, but Sakura knew her brother was hurting from the truthful words. The young man turned away, and spoke with his back to his sister.

"I'm out here, then," he said monotonously, in unspoken agreement.

xxx

There was nothing in this space. Air compressed into his lungs, and Yukito was unsure if he was even breathing.

His thoughts fell on the foreign beach, and immediately he felt the rough stones on his back. His body was grounded, with his eyes up to the grey heavens, and as he tried to move, rocks pinched into his back.

Helpless, he craned his neck to see if there was anything in this forsaken realm. There was a form up ahead, but his glasses were missing, and he could only make out a dark spot.

He would have to wait.

The sound of disrupted pebbles reached his ears, just as Yukito began to feel truly hopeless. His body was immobile, so he helplessly continued to stare upwards, hoping this approaching creature gazed upon him with pity.

It was too blurry to see, but a form swam into Yukito's vision.

As he looked up at the blurry features, a swell of emotion plunged deep into his chest, pulling him into dark desperation.

Yukito found his voice. "Yue, it's you," he whispered. "Please, tell me what's going on –"

And, like a light switch, he was back in his room.

Yukito fell into his own body. His soul dropped into flesh form just like a stone drops into a pond: heavy, with ripples forming from where it was disturbed. He remembered peering into Yue's dream, and then felt his brain pop. Did he revisit the beach in his own dream, or was he thrown into a magicked space?

His mind was still fuzzy as his body eased into familiar reality. He clutched his sides. His head hurt. Vaguely, Yukito registered the sound of knocking as it reverberated through the house. In his still-sluggish mind, he figured someone should answer the door, but he lacked the energy to move his curled-up body from the floor.

The knocks grew into a frenzy.

The sound of his door nearly caving in made Yukito snap to attention. Finally, his senses sharpened, and adrenaline replaced his mind's murky mist.

His body quickly lurched to turn over, but it was a fruitless attempt. Sharp, hot pain settled into his bones from stiffness, causing Yukito to gasp. Still, he distantly heard the sounds of his crashing door, followed by a trio of voices he recognized immediately.

In seconds, footsteps approached his bedroom. As Sakura and Kero entered, Yukito was as Yue had left him: in a tight mass on the floor, shirtless, with tears streaming down his face.

Yukito could only gaze as the Card Mistress glanced at his desperate form. Sakura remained speechless as she gaped at him with wide, worried eyes. Kero, fluttering beside the young girl, looked more somber than Yukito could ever remember.

Moments of silence passed. Kero took it upon himself to speak first. "Yukito. What is going on here?"

The man failed to find his voice, too weak to respond just yet. Yukito's body creaked in protest as he willed it move. And, while he didn't know why, Yukito somehow felt…violated. Like his body was touched and pinched everywhere, in the most secret of places.

Kero didn't wait for a response. The beast levitated closer to Yukito, his little face set in stone. "We were summoned," he announced. "Dark and Light called us over. I've been thinking about Yue all night. Sakura dreamed about him." There was a heavy pause before Kero continued. "We know something's up with you two."

xxx

Something must have clicked in Yukito's brain. Even as he lay on his knees, with his chest to the floor, Kero noticed the change in Yukito's face. His eyes darkened, and his facial expression shifted. It was a split second, but a second was enough. Sakura must have caught it, too, for she whispered, "Yukito…what happened?" as soon as the change took place.

Yukito lifted his chest from the floor and sat back on his knees, his hands still clutching his heart. Kero took in the dazed look on his face, but finally the man was inclined to speak. "It's Yue," he rasped, and the Sun Guardian winced at the helpless tone. "I dreamt about him, too." Yukito paused to collect his breath, and exhaled as his eyes fluttered weakly. "I think…I think I may have shared a dream with him. We were on a beach…"

"…and Kero was playing on the rocks?" Sakura finished, surprised by her own confidence.

"Yes, that's it," Yukito answered. As he spoke, Kero noticed how his eyes began to close. Between labored breathes, he nervously bit his lip.

And then, just a quietly as falling rain, Yukito whispered, "There's something wrong with Yue."

Then, a shift.

It was a fast shift. Kero felt an invisible wave of magical pressure burst as he transformed immediately, and Sakura let out a cry as she felt it too. Yukito keeled over, his eyes rolling back as his body slumped from limpness. "Not good," Kero thought mid-transformation, and the lion leaped into the air to turn the man over.

But before Kero could touch him, Yukito's head snapped to attention. He let out a low, feral growl as a sudden hand shot out, forcing Cerberus to stop abruptly. His eyes were closed, but Yukito gnashed and gritted his teeth.

Then it stopped. It was over just as quickly as the episode began. Yukito rose, strength returning to his features as he stood as straight as an arrow. Yet a cold expression replaced fragile features, and a deep violet overtook Yukito's warm, amber eyes.

"Why would you care, Kero?" Yue spoke through Yukito's manipulated form. His tongue was sharp, using the tone to cut through the tension in the room. He intently studied his fellow counterparts with chilled, unblinking eyes, and allowed his lip to curl in a sneer.

It was Cerberus' turn to stare. Sakura bravely inched deeper into the room as she addressed the guardian. "Yue?" she whispered. She clutched her staff as she eyed the scene in disbelief. "Yue?" she repeated, "But you're…you're…" Yue only grunted and narrowed Yukito's eyes.

The lion shook off his shock. He quickly filled the space between his mistress and the guardian, and stood with his mane held high. "What the hell are you thinking, Yue?"

"This afternoon," Kero thought privately, "really screwed him up, didn't it?" Even as Yue commanded Yukito's body, and stood in cold fury, Kero could sense the fear radiating from his brother. The man's body trembled with unshed emotion.

"Ugh….I am really dense, sometimes," Kero silently added to himself. He hadn't realize (not until now, anyway) how much his brother was hurting.

"I just hope he can control himself before things get out of hand."

Before either guardian could speak further, a small hiccup echoed through the stark bedroom. The Sun Guardian twitched his ears towards his mistress as he kept keen focus on his brother. "Yue…" Sakura spoke delicately. She, too, was trembling, and Kero noted the sound of tears in her tense, quiet voice. From the corner of his eye, Kero saw the Card Mistress take a step forward. Now equal to Cerberus, he could see how her eyes shone with empathy. Cerberus instinctually tightened his posture. He knew Yue would never intentionally hurt Sakura, but when emotions took over…

"Oh, Yue…" Sakura repeated again. She blinked, and tears slipped from her lashes. She shook her head as she continued. "How did I let this happen?"

She took another step forward. "Please, let me help you through this…"

It was only then that Yue broke his gaze. He turned Yukito's head to the side and shut his eyes tightly.

"You're not…angry?" Yue spoke in hushed tones. He opened Yukito's eyes, but wouldn't look at Sakura.

Sakura inched closer to Yue, letting the Star staff fall to the floor. She took his shaking hands in her own, tightly encasing them in warmth. Her pale, pink magic glowed within their enclosed palms.

"Angry?" Sakura answered. Kero watched with baited breath. "Thank goodness she can see it, too." The Card Mistress continued. "I'm so sorry…we have made you come to this." She kept her voice steady, sincerity reaching every corner of her words.

"My friend…look at me, please?"

The Moon Guardian turned his head forward, but kept his eyes to the floor. He gritted Yukito's teeth, as his eyes grew wide. Kero could see Yue's anger melt into anguish as his lip quivered. Deep purple tendrils swirled in and out of his irises as Yukito's eyes retracted like those of a cat's. "Are you speaking to me," began Yue, his own voice uncertain and shaken, "or to Yukito?"

Kero's blood pumped loudly in his ears as he anticipated his mistress' response.

Sakura opened her mouth to answer, but was interrupted by yet another shift. Yukito, or rather Yue, felt it this time, too, as he dropped Sakura's hands and pushed her away. With agile reflexes, Sakura picked up her staff and drew it at attention.

But Yue had turned away from them. Instead, he gripped at Yukito's head, grabbing fistfuls of ashen hair in tight grasps. Yukito's face contorted in pain. Abruptly, Yukito's body was propelled against the wall as the man cried in anguish.

He gripped the wall. Nails scraped against painted plaster, creating narrow lines in the immaculate paint. Kero jumped to pull the man to safety, but stopped when he heard a whispering voice.

"Get out of me."

It was useless. Cerberus helplessly watched as the two souls battled within each other. Sakura drew her cards, frantically flipping through them for a solution.

"GET OUT OF ME."

Yukito…Yue…it made no difference. They were struggling. Helpless. Left to battle themselves.

"GET OUT OF ME!"

One of them regained control. He peeled away from the wall and angrily approached the center of the room, where the mirror stood prophetically, like a portal.

He gripped the sides of the looking glass.

"I came first," the man gritted, his voice hoarse from tipping emotions. "I am not second to you. I'm ridding the planet of you, snow rabbit. Get out of me. Get out. Out. OUT!"

Finally, Cerberus watched in horror as the man smashed his fist clear through the glass. The crystal shattered upon impact, sending shards and shrapnel through the room.

xxx

I've done it.

With a final blow, that damned Yukito was eliminated. Gone. Smashed into bits by his own fist.

Yet fractals of the destroyed mirror remained. Yue glanced at the distorted imagine, expecting to see his fine, angelic features, only to realized he still stood as Yukito.

It was him. It was him. The snow rabbit.

He was the snow rabbit.

The feeling returned to his fingers as he retracted his hand from the mirror's frame. He grimaced as his skin scraped against the pointed shards that stubbornly lingered.

Yue couldn't help it. He whimpered in pain as his adrenaline faded.

Then, a sob echoed through the still space.

He now remembered he was not alone.

Slowly, Yue turned the body away from the destruction. He held his damaged fist, nerves firing off in agony as he moved to face his audience.

A glimmer of light illuminated his hand at just the right angle. Yukito's soft, pale hand grew sticky with hot crimson. Yue's breath caught in his throat as true, real, stabbing pain erupted from Yukito's cut fingertips and open lacerations.

He could do nothing but gape, even as his body trembled. A low cry escaped parched lips.

"Sleep…"

It was all in slow motion. The command fell softly from his mistress' lips. Yue finally looked upon Sakura, who stood strong despite the glimmering tears sliding down her face. Cerberus stood as still as a stature, his face set in stony resolve in support of Sakura's decision.

"Dream…"

He let it come. The spells hit him dead in the chest, and he welcomed the downy feel of Sleep's inviting caress and Dream's soft whispers.

In his last moments before all consciousness was lost, Yue looked upon his young mistress. Daylight glowed through the room as a new day approached. Sakura appeared magnificently beautiful as her magic circle glowed around her, and as light highlighted her features in an ethereal halo.

"You'll be okay, Yue."

I'll be okay, he repeated, thankful beyond relief at her mercy and graciousness. He succumbed to the magic as his mind fell in a place beyond time and space.