Konnichiwa Minna-san! I apologize for the wait on this chapter I've been super busy with college, but I have returned! So anyway, nothing to say about this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura or the characters, but the plot is all mine!

Happy Reading!

Chapter twenty-two: Regaining Strength

It was very bright in his room when Yue opened his eyes. He didn't want to sit up right away because he wasn't sure how his head would react.

"You should be alright now, Yue-sama," Windy said, "Your fever is completely down."

"Thank you Windy," Yue said as he sat up,

"Hey you're up!" Nakuru said as she poked her head in Yue's room and started a fast paced questioning session, "How are you feeling? You look so much better today! Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

"Imotosan,"

"You must be hungry you haven't eaten in at least a day."

"Imotosan,"

"Oh wait you never get hungry…"

"Imotosan…"

"That tea must have really knocked you out yesterday…"

"Imotosan…"

"You slept so late. Kero-chan and I had a bet on what time you would wake. Looks like I win!"

"NAKURU!" Yue yelled causing both the Windy and Nakuru to stare at him, "Thank you," He said, "Now to answer your questions. Yes I'm up; I'm feeling much better; Thank you; Yes I'm hungry; Yes I want something to eat; And yes I do get hungry."

"Really?" Was all Nakuru had to say to Yue's answers

"Yes really," Yue replied

"What's going on in here?" Cerberus called as he flew into Yue's room, "Yue you're up?" He asked and like Nakuru he started a rapid questioning session, "How are you feeling? Are you in a bad mood? Are you tired at all?"

"Oniisan…"

"Did Nakuru wake you so she could win our bet?"

"Oniisan…" Yue sighed this was going to be like what just happened with Nakuru,

"Why did you have to wake up so soon!?"

"ONIISAN!" Yue yelled causing the three to stare at him again,

"Yep," Cerberus said, "He's definitely feeling better."

Yue sighed, "Do you two enjoy this?" he asked as he go out of bed

"Enjoy what?" Nakuru asked

Yue sighed and walked out of the room, "Windy you may return to your card form,"

The card dispersed and Nakuru and Cerberus just exchanged very confused looks, then followed Yue. They found Yue in the kitchen chopping vegetables, "Uh, what are you doing?" Nakuru asked,

"Making myself something to eat, that's what," Yue answered, "I don't trust your cooking."

"But you ate my cooking the other day," Nakuru said,

"No," Yue said, "That was Sakura-chan's cooking and you just reheated it."

"What are you making anyway?" Cerberus asked

"Vegetable Lo-Mien," Yue replied

"Who taught you to make that?" Nakuru asked as Cerberus just complained about not liking vegetables

"Clow," Yue answered

"WHAT?" Cerberus cried, "He taught you that?" Yue glared, "Of the four of us he taught that recipe to the one who doesn't eat."

"Oniisan," Yue snapped, "The reason I never needed to eat before the separation was because Yukito easily ate enough for the both of us."

"That is true," Nakuru said, "So are you going to start eating now?" Nakuru asked

"Obviously," Yue said, "Don't you two have anything else to do?"

"Not really," Nakuru said

"Hey Yue are you sure that you're actually going to eat the Lo-Mien?" Cerberus said

"Enough of this," Yue snapped, held up his hand and shot a single shard at Cerberus,

"Alright I get it you're annoyed," Cerberus said, "I'll find something else do."

Yue sighed and turned to the stove again. After a few minutes he heard some one enter the kitchen, thinking it was one of his siblings he shot a shard.

"Is now a bad time?"

"Watery," Yue said as he turned around, "I'm sorry I didn't realize it was you. Oniisan and imotosan have been annoying me since I woke up and it's the only way I could get them to stop."

"Hey listen I'm sorry about what I did to you yesterday," Watery said as she approached Yue, "You weren't feeling well and I caused you to waste your energy."

"It's alright," Yue said as he began frying the vegetables while the noodles cooked, "I'm not angry."

"I tried to apologize last night," Watery said, "But you had already passed out for the night." She paused, "That needs more water." She then took the liberty of adding water to the pan.

"Thank you," Yue said,

"You've been in rough shape," Watery said, "How are you holding up?"

"I'll be fine," Yue said,

"The last time you said that I think you were sick the next day," Watery said, "I want the truth."

"That is the truth," Yue replied, "The people who have been doing this to me have been stopped."

"For the time being," Watery said, "But what are you going to do when they find a way to get you again?"

"I'll be stronger then," Yue said, "The full moon is only about a week off and I'll get my shields back."

"Until they find a way to disable them again," Watery said as she added more water to the pan.

"You really have it out for me today, don't you?" Yue asked,

"You've been under attack for a nearly two weeks now," Watery said, "And every time we think you're in the clear something else happens to you. We're just worried about you, we know how you get."

"I'm not going to end up like that," Yue said, "I can assure you that I am going to be alright."

"I'll hold you up on that one, Reed," Watery said as she flicked water on Yue's face as he flinched at the use of his last name, "That looks done, do you want me to get the others?"

"I'll get them myself," Yue said as he turned off the stove, "I want to give them a fair warning before I serve them."

"Ooh this I gotta see," Watery said as she followed Yue out of the room,

"Is lunch ready?" Cerberus said as Yue entered the room,

"It is," Yue said, "However before we eat I am going to give both of you a fair warning. If either of you make any kind if comment directed at me while we are eating there will be hell to pay for the person who made said comment. Do I make myself clear?"

Both Nakuru and Cerberus knew their brother was being dead serious and both of them knew what Yue was capable of when he was angry.

"Yes," Cerberus and Nakuru said in unison.

"Alright then," Yue said, "I'll serve lunch now."

Lunch was a quiet affair. Cerberus and Nakuru were afraid that if they said something Yue would lose it. Yue on the other hand couldn't stand the silence.

"Is there something wrong?" Yue snapped after five minutes of dead silence

Nakuru and Cerberus flinched as Yue snapped at them and shook their heads.

"Alright then," Yue said. Then after another several minutes of silence he lost his patience, "Alright look, when I said I didn't want any comments I didn't mean sit through lunch in dead silence."

Neither Nakuru nor Cerberus knew what to say to that and continued eating in silence.

"Alright look," Yue said, "I know I might get annoyed when you ask me about a thousand rhetorical questions but I can't stand it when the two of you are silent like this. It's just not right." He then pick up his empty plate, stood up, placed the plate in the sink then left the room.

"Did he just say what I think he said?" Nakuru asked

"Yes he did," Cerberus said

After storming out of the kitchen Yue went up to Sakura's room and took out the Sakura Book.

"Return," He said, "I, Yue, the judge, wish to speak with you," The card materialized in front of him as he finished the spell, "The other day I found myself forced into a memory that I did not want to view and when I came around I could feel the traces of your magic."

"You need to stop running from your past Yue-sama," Return said, "But if you must get angry with someone then get angry with Windy, she was the one who suggested the idea of forcing you into a memory."

"Windy," Yue said, "But why?"

"Because Yue-sama," Windy said, "You must never forget your past. If you do forget your past, you will not live."

"What in the world are you talking about?" Yue asked as he folded his arms across his chest,

"Your past, present and future are all connected, Yue-sama," Windy said, "If you lose your past you will have no future. Your past holds a great deal of your magic and if you succeed in forgetting your past that magic will disperse. With that magic gone, you will grow too weak to hold your form."

"I'll die?" Yue asked

Windy and Return nodded, "We know how painful your past can be for you sometimes," Windy said, "But it is your past that makes you who you are, Yue-sama. If your childhood had been different, you would be a completely different person, personality wise."

"Was my brother involved with this at all?" Yue asked

"No," Return said, "It was part of the instructions that Clow had left for us before he passed."

Yue's eyes widened, "Clow…!?"

"Yes" Windy said, "His intentions are for you to live a long life with Sakura-sama. She cares for you a lot Yue-sama, and we do to. We really like having you as our guardian and we would be devastated if something was to happen to you. Please Yue-sama, don't forget your past."

Yue nodded, "You may return to your card forms," He said softly

"So the cards told you huh?" Cerberus said as he floated towards Yue

"Yeah," Yue said, "Oniisan, did you know…that if I forgot my past I would die?"

"Yeah, I did," Cerberus said

"Why didn't you tell me?" Yue asked

"Because I didn't want to see the look you're giving me now," Cerberus said, "Clow told me to tell you when I felt that you were ready to handle it, I don't know what the cards think, but I don't think you were ready to handle that."

"What else were you told?" Yue asked quietly

Cerberus sighed, "I don't think you're ready for what I was told," He said,

"Can you at least tell me if there is anything else that will kill me that I don't know about?" Yue asked

Cerberus sighed again, "No," he said, "But Clow did want you to know that while you are immortal, it does not mean that you cannot die."

"I've looked death in the face a few times since Clow's death," Yue said, "I understand."

"I think he said that 'cuz he sorta expects you to do something stupid," Cerberus said

"What?" Yue asked

"Hey don't shoot the messenger," Cerberus said, "But he had sort of a smirk on his face when he told me that."

Yue sighed, "He was always like that," he said, "He always seemed to know when I was going to do something stupid."

"Well it was never all that hard to tell when you were going to do something stupid," Cerberus said, "You would always have this look on your face before you did something irrational."

"Are you saying that I was stupid?" Yue asked

"No," Cerberus said, "I'm just saying that you don't think. Like the other day, you scared the living daylights outta me. What made you jump in the lake?"

"Sakura-chan was in there," Yue said,

"Sakura is a very good swimmer Yue," Cerberus said, "She would have been fine." He paused, "There's just one other thing I would like to know; why wouldn't you tell Sakura about the problem with your shields?"

"I didn't want her to worry," Yue said softly,

"Yue, don't you think it was a little bit selfish of you not to tell her?" Cerberus said, "When you got sick she was really worried about you; she honestly thought you were going to die."

Yue just looked down at the floor, "Who told her that my shields are down?"

"Nakuru did," Cerberus said, "And Sakura blamed herself for not realizing that your shields were down."

"She did?" Yue asked

"Yes she did," Cerberus said, "Yue, when are you going to tell Sakura these things?"

"I don't know," Yue said, "But I don't really feel like getting lectured right now." He then turned to leave the room,

"Yue," Cerberus called

"I have nothing more to say to you," Yue responded,

Cerberus sighed, //When will you understand?// He thought, //Yue…//

The house was too quiet when Sakura got home from school.

"Welcome home Sakura-chan," Nakuru greeted

"Thank you Nakuru-chan," Sakura said, "Where are Kero-chan and Yue-kun?"

"They're both upstairs," She said, "I think they got into some kind of argument, they're not talking to each other."

"I'll work things out," Sakura said as she headed upstairs

"Welcome home Sakura-chan," Yue greeted, "How was school?"

"It was good," Sakura said, "Nakuru-chan said that you got into an argument with Kero-chan."

"It wasn't really an argument," Yue said, "He was asking me why I didn't tell you about my shields."

"Why?" Sakura said, "I wasn't angry."

"You're not?" Yue asked, "Even though I knew why I was sick and wouldn't tell you?"

"No I'm not," Sakura said, "It's like I said the day before you got really sick, I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to do. If you don't feel comfortable telling me something then I'm not going to force you."

"Thank you," Yue said

"How are you feeling today?" Sakura asked, "You look a lot better today."

"I'm completely better Sakura-chan," Yue said, "I want to train using the wood card."

"Alright," Sakura said, "Just let me change."

Yue nodded. He then summoned his magic and transformed. It felt good to be in his true form. It had been a while since he was strong enough to hold his true form. He liked having a disguise form but it still felt awkward.

"Yue-kun," Sakura called as she left her room, "Whaah!"

"What's wrong?" Yue, Cerberus and Nakuru asked

"Yue-kun's true form startled me a bit," She said

"You should be used to my true form by now," Yue said sighing a bit

"Sorry Yue-kun," Sakura said, "I wasn't expecting to see you in your true form."

"It's alright," Yue said, "Let's go."

"Where are you going?" Cerberus asked

"Outside," Yue said, "I want to train."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Cerberus said, "You're still rather weak, Yue, please wait another day."

"I'll be alright," Yue said, "I'm just going to work on reflecting magic."

"Be careful," Cerberus said

Yue nodded and followed Sakura down stairs.

"Are you sure you want to do this Yue-kun?" Sakura asked as she activated the illusion card,

"Yes," Yue said

"Alright," Sakura said, "Bind the one who stands before me, Wood!"

Yue began the spell that would reflect the magic of the Wood card, but it did nothing. The wood card's vines bound him around his waist, shoulders, arms, legs and wings. He tried to struggle against the card, but it just held him tighter and he gasped as it began to get painful.

"Release him," Sakura called and the card set Yue on the ground, "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Yue said, "Send her at me again."

"Let's use windy instead," Sakura said as she noticed several tears in his outfit

"She wouldn't agree to this," Yue said

Sakura nodded, "Bind the one who stands before me, Wood!"

Once again, Yue was unable to reflect the card and he cried out in pain as the card held him tightly. And again Yue tried to throw off the card's magic, but it continued to hold him tighter.

"Let him go!" Sakura cried as Yue's wings dispersed from the stain involved, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Yue said, "I'm just not used to using so much magic. I want to try just one more time, but this time don't call the card back."

"Yue-kun are you sure that's a good idea?" Sakura asked

"Sakura-chan I have to be able to do this," Yue said, "I promise this will be the last time for today."

Sakura nodded, "Bind the one who stands before me, Wood!"

The card once again ensnared Yue; however this time he didn't struggle, he let his magic try to throw off the card.

Sakura watched as Yue just stood there with his eyes closed. She wasn't sure what he was trying to do.

Yue just stood there with his eyes closed as he tried to summon the magic to throw the card off. The spell was there but the card wasn't letting up and it began holding him tighter. He summoned more magic to throw off the card but to no avail, the card just increased the pressure.

Sakura watched as the card continued to hold Yue harder as he continued to struggle. She couldn't stand watching the scene in front of her she wanted to call the card off but Yue had told her not to. Then finally, Yue screamed and reflected the card's magic back at her.

"Yue-kun," Sakura called as she untangled herself from the card and Yue fell to his knees, "Are you alright?" She asked as she ran towards him

"Yeah," Yue answered as he massaged his wrists

"Let me see your wrists," She said. Yue held his wrists towards Sakura. The card had torn right through his robes and cut up his wrists pretty badly, "Come on let's get you inside so we can get you cleaned up a bit."

Yue nodded and slowly stood up, "I knew that was going to difficult," He said, "I just didn't think it would take three tries to reflect the card."

"You haven't used your magic like that in a while Yue-kun," Sakura said, "Take it easy for a while."

Sakura recalled the illusion card and she and Yue entered the house.

"I'll be in my room," Yue said

"Alright," Sakura called, "I'll be up there in a few minutes." Sakura went up to her room to put the cards away and then she went to go get the first aid kit. "Yue-kun," She called as she got to his door, "Can I come in?"

"Yeah," Yue called

Sakura entered Yue's room and sat down next to him. She could see the extent of the cuts to his wrists. "We should get those cuts on your wrists taken care of." Sakura said as she took some gauze out of the first aid kit that she held, she then put ointment on the piece of gauze, "This is probably going to sting a little bit." She pressed the gauze to Yue's wrist and he hissed in pain, "I'm sorry, I know it hurts."

"It's alright," Yue said as Sakura put another piece of gauze on his wrist then secured them with tape and an elastic bandage.

As Sakura repeated the process for his other wrist Yue noticed something, "Sakura-chan, you don't look very well."

"I'm just tired," Sakura said

"Are you sure?" Yue asked as he tried to put his hand on her forehead,

"I'm fine Yue-kun," Sakura said as she finished tending to Yue's battered wrists, "Give me your robes and I'll repair them."

"I already repaired them," Yue said

"Alright now I just need to figure out what to make for supper," Sakura said

"I made some Lo-Mien earlier and there's still quite a bit left," Yue said as he followed Sakura out of his room,

"You sound kind of tired Yue-kun," Sakura said

"I'm a bit tired," Yue said, "I haven't used my magic like that in quite some time, don't worry I'll be alright."

"That's good," Sakura said, "We should talk about what we are going to do to keep you from having nightmares."

"Use dream and shield," Yue said, "They should shut out the magical attacks that woman has been using."

"I hope it works," Sakura said, "I don't want to see you that weak ever again."

Yue sighed, "I know but…they probably will attack and there is no way of telling what they may do." Yue said, "They already know my weaknesses and when I am at my weakest." He dropped his voice, "They know how to kill me…"

"We'll figure something out," Sakura said, "You'll be alright."

Yue sighed and followed Sakura out of the room, "I hope so." He muttered.

I promise to get chapter twenty-three up as soon as I can.

Excalibur-Shark 7