ENCORE

Touya pulled his sister away from Yoko, even as she gushed and begged to stay a bit longer. Free food typically draws huge crowds, and thankfully this crowd was no exception. Sakura cheerfully waved to her new 'friends,' even as Yoko surreptitiously eyed Touya and Yukito the whole way out.

"You're selling it too hard, kaiju," commented Touya as they finally left the room.

"It worked and that's what matters," she replied, stealing a look at Yukito behind her. Her mirth had faded into quiet contemplation. Touya hated to admit it, but Sakura looked so mature when she got that look – the look of the Card Mistress. He really hated how his little kaiju was growing into a big kaiju.

"Where are you taking us, To-ya?" asked Yukito, who seemed to notice they were taking a different path from when they came in.

"The back entrance," the man replied stoically. "Less people. Less questions."

"And closer to the car, if I remember," Fujitaka offered, his usual calm, pleasant demeanor returning despite the evening's events.

Touya pushed past the emergency exit and guided his family into the parking lot. It was still quite full of cars, clearly from guests still noshing on free food.

There was something off, though. Even without magic, Touya's keen sense prickled. It forced him to stop abruptly and look around. Sakura, too, felt the shift in energy, followed by Yukito, who seemed to stop mid-stride right before the family car.

Kero popped his head up from Sakura's purse as Fujitaka asked, "Is everything alright?"

Sakura took a step forward. "I think we're being followed," she said as a small, feminine figure emerged from the shadows.

It was Lady Naomi. Apparently, it had only taken her a half hour to remove…well, her face. Gone were the streaks of obnoxious eyeshadows and false lashes - instead, a middle-aged, maternal figure stood before them.

Touya must have been openly staring, as Lady Naomi addressed him first. "I know, I look very different when I remove my…well, face."

Yet Touya didn't have a moment to respond, for Yukito had stepped forward and grasped the woman's hands within his own. "Lady Naomi, I was hoping I could talk…" Yukito started, and the small woman nodded her head, pulling Yukito closer.

"I know," she responded, smiling at Yukito. "I was hoping to find you all out here." She spoke nothing like the character she put on for the audience. Her voice was sincere, clear, and almost like a whisper. "I want to apologize to you, young man." She looked up at Yukito's face as she fought to find the right words. "I was already reading you before I realized I may have put you in a dangerous situation." At this, she paused just so, glancing around for any apparent signs of onlookers. "Your father…or mentor…whoever he is…he pushed through so hard that I could not stop to think about your predicament -"

Lady Naomi suddenly shuddered, like she was disturbed by an invisible cold wind. "I sense…" she began again, pursing her lips together and squeezing her eyes shut, "I sense a power radiating from you, and your father, even though he has crossed over. Actually, I can feel it from all of you." The intruding sensation must have stopped, for she was able to open her eyes and look all around. "He is a powerful spirit. One of the clearest and strongest I have ever encountered. He tells me - and I can feel it, too - that you are all connected to the universe in the most amazing way. But, I'm sure you know this already…"

Suddenly, Kero burst forth from the folds of Sakura's messenger bag. Fujitaka gasped in disbelief, as Sakura reprimanded " Kero !" But Lady Naomi did not flinch as she continued to hold on to Yuki's hands.

"You've come out, little one," Naomi addressed, smiling ever so slyly. She then looked between Yukito and Kero, who had chosen to float right into her vision. "You are most definitely brothers, yes. But there is someone else, isn't there?"

Lady Naomi gazed into Yukito's eyes for a moment. Of course, Yukito didn't move, but even in the dark, Touya can see the darkening of his features. Yukito's eyes tightened, and his jaw hardened - Yue was now listening in on the conversation.

"It is like you're twins…" mused Naomi as Yue pulled to the forefront of Yukito's mind. Yue, through Yukito's body, gaped at Lady Naomi so intently, as if he was drinking in her presence. Yukito's face was twisted in desperation. "It was truly him…" Yue begins, whispering the words through Yukito's lips.

Lady Naomi trembled again, but this time with emotion. "Oh, you are older than this young man…you came before him…" she replied, tears leaking from her eyes. "You, who are connected with the moon. You…you…have been through so much…you - - " Lady Naomi breathes in sharply, as if a realization hits her. "I can see it. The Chinese symbol for the moon. Yue is your name, isn't it? And you were asleep for eternity until this young lady released you."

An involuntary cry escaped from Lady Naomi's lips, causing her to outwardly recoil. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" she began to say, choking on the words from emotion. And yet, she refused to let go of Yukito, who also was beginning to shed tears. Touya wasn't sure who was oversharing their emotions - Yukito or Yue - but whoever it was, they, too, began silently weeping as Naomi continued to apologize over and over again.

"He is apologizing, Yue," confirms Lady Naomi. "Over, and over again, he is showing me Lilies of the Valley - the flower that symbolizes an apology." The older woman sniffled as tears continued to fall. "I'm in a field of them. There are bouquets falling around me. He is asking for forgiveness, and he understands he may never get it."

Now Yukito was really blubbering. Wet, pearly droplets fell from his lashes.

Sakura, seeing this emotional display, comes forth, and loops an arm around Yukito's. "It's okay, Yue," she soothes. "It's okay." Touya notices the wet sheen of her eyes, too.

Lady Naomi finally decided to break contact with Yukito's hands. She gently placed them on Yukito's chest, as if returning a lost scarf to an old friend, and turned to look at Sakura. While the woman was barely taller than Sakura, she was radiating motherly energy. "You are helping him heal, young lady." A pudgy hand was placed on Sakura's shoulder. "Your mother is so proud of you." She then turned to Touya, who was still silently watching along with his father. "She is proud of both of you."

Fujitaka genuinely smiled at this comment, eyes shining with gratitude. Kero then whizzed up to meet Yukito's eye level, and placed a paw on Yukito's cheek in support of his brothers.

"One last thing," Lady Naomi stated. She then breaks away from the card mistress and her guardians, and decides to directly address Touya. In a moment, Lady Naomi is in front of the young man, looking up at his face. "Your mother is handing me flowers, too. A type of blossom. Like a summer fruit, I think." She paused for a moment before adding, "And…she supports your sacrifice, but misses your conversations." Now Lady Naomi smiles - a wide, unabashed grin. "No wonder why you didn't like me at first. It takes one to know one, hmm?"

And with that, Lady Naomi stepped away from the family. "It was lovely meeting you all. Thank you for your time…and thank you for your protection." She clasped her hands together, bowed in thanks, and disappeared into the shadows.

Just as Touya was about to open his mouth to say something, a ruckus could be heard. "I guess the snacks ran out," Fujitaka commented, as Kero drove back into Sakura's bag. "Let's go home before anything - or anyone - else interrupts us."

"Yes, Otosan…" agrees Sakura, yawning as if on queue.

The father and daughter duo began their walk to the car, and Touya noticed that Sakura was grasping her father's hand in the moonlight. A twinge of remorse entered his brain as he mused about a time when he, too, grasped the hand of their other parent…but it was chased away. Instead, another person cupped his hand, sending a smooth, warm feeling throughout his body. Yuki smiled as he took Touya's hand, his damp cheeks drying in the moonlight. Yukito began to pull Touya away from the exiting crowds.

Touya wanted to ask about Yue, but stopped in the middle of the parking lot. His eyes widened. Something hits him.

"What is it, Touya?"

The sound of a piano, tinkling away in the distance. A smell, washing over his senses, invading his nostrils, assimilating time and space and memories.

It's pleasant. Familiar. A summer fruit.

Peach blossoms.

FIN.

A/N

Thank you for coming with me on this weird and wonderful journey into the spirit realm. It was fun messing with Touya's high expectations of clairvoyants.

Dedicated to my grandmother and grandfather, who are my spirit guides from the other side.