Sakura-chan in England

by Ranae_des_Roses

Summary:

Sakura receives a mysterious invitation from The Society. Eriol offers to help her navigate the web of political power-plays the Society is, and flies the whole team to out England.

Meanwhile, Yue struggles with his growing feelings for Touya as Yukito and Touya explore their budding romance.

Spin-off of (T)suki, but can be read as a stand-alone.

Chapter 1: Invitation

Notes:

Omatase shimashita! (Thank you for waiting!)

I planned to post two weeks ago but then I remembered that I needed to do my taxes (I'm a gig worker in the US with 3 jobs and taxes are a hellish nightmare for me). And then I needed a week for my brain to recover.

But here we are finally, so let's go to England!!

For those new here, this is a spin-off story of (T)suki, which is the sequel to Invisible Map, but imo you don't need to be familiar with the source stories to jump in here. This story opens with Yukito and Touya planning a trip for their spring break before they start university.

The Society referenced in this story is the same Society featured in Clear Card ("The Association" in the anime), which is the secret group in England that Kaito is from, NOT the group Akiho is from (that's the European one). I haven't read the whole Clear Card manga yet so there may be some canon divergence about the Society. There is DEFINITELY going to be canon divergence about Eriol's backstory, because that boy just does not read like a person who has kept himself locked in a house as an 11yo for 30 years and yet is completely socialized and equipped to deal with modern times. Yeah, he had Kaho to teach him some stuff, but still. To navigate a modern Japanese elementary school classroom with such grace after having no childhood of his own and only Clow's memories of what was probably private tutoring as a child centuries ago... yeah I don't believe it. So my version of Eriol was born a baby and is actually only 12 (he turned 12 in March, about a month before he left Japan at the end of the series).

Anyway, so the story is about YUE lol (and Yukito, and Touya of course).

IKIMASHOU~~~

 

Translations for Japanese used in this chapter:
Moshi moshi = said when answering the phone
konbanwa = good evening
Otou-san = dad
Oyasumi = good night
aruji = master (as in Master of the Clow, this is what Yue calls Sakura)
iie = (in this context, a response to "thank you" that means something like "it's nothing")

 

 

 

“We should probably go somewhere that’s just before full bloom,” Yukito mused, paging through one of the travel books Touya had brought up to the room. “So it’s not overcrowded. Or overbooked.”

“That’s a good idea,” replied Touya. “Somewhere just a little bit south, then.”

“There are a lot of options,” said Yukito, running his finger along the latitude just below Tokyo on a two-page spread of a map of Japan. “Yokohama, Shizuoka, Nagoya—”

Yue alerted to Sakura's agitated presence outside the bedroom door a moment before her knock interrupted them. Touya exchanged a curious glance with Yukito before getting to his feet to answer it.

He opened the door to a visibly-anxious Sakura. “Sakura? What's wrong?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” she began, looking very apologetic. “I know you’re planning for your trip. But…” She looked past Touya to Yukito. “Could I speak to Yue-san for a bit?”

“Of course,” Yukito replied, setting aside the travel books in his lap and rising. Touya stepped aside for him to pass, and they shared a concerned look before Yukito joined Sakura in the hallway.

“I’m really sorry for the trouble, Yukito-san,” Sakura apologized again, walking with Yukito down the short length of hallway to her room.

“It’s no trouble, Sakura-chan,” Yukito assured her. “You should talk to Yue whenever you like.”

Sakura opened her door and led him inside. “Something's happened, and I’m afraid that it will cause you trouble, though. You and Onii-chan.”

“Sakura-chan.” Yukito put his hands on his knees to bend down to her eye-level. “I know you wouldn’t interrupt us for anything that wasn’t very important. And we want to help you with things that are very important. All three of us.”

The worried furrow of Sakura’s eyebrows didn’t ease, but she nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

Yukito gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll change now.”

Yue took the cue to emerge, anxious to know what had Sakura so unsettled. He looked down at her as his wings unfurled and then vanished from sight. “What’s happened?”

“I got a letter,” Sakura informed him. She turned toward her desk, but Keroberos was already flying out of where he'd been hidden in his drawer to pick up the letter off of the desk and bring it to Yue.

“It’s from England,” Keroberos said, his little face set in a serious frown.

Yue took the letter and looked it over. It was addressed to Sakura in stiff Japanese, but the return address was written in elegant English script. “The Society,” Yue read out loud, his eyes widening. He flipped the envelope over to look at the broken wax seal, catching sight of a familiar symbol. He looked up at Keroberos in trepidation.

“You remember them, too, then?” Keroberos asked.

“Yes.” Yue withdrew the contents of the envelope and looked through each page carefully. “They know you’re the new Master of the Clow,” Yue noted with a frown. “And they’ve invited you to England for formal introductions.” There was a plane ticket included in the envelope.

“Kero-chan explained to me a little bit about who they are. That they’re a secret society of elite mages in England, and they wanted Clow-san to join them, but he didn’t.” Sakura glanced between them. “Do you think I should go?”

Yue returned the letter to its envelope. “I think we should consult Eriol.”

Keroberos nodded in agreement. “He may have insight about how they are now. We only know how they were when Clow was still alive.”

“I’ll call him now,” said Sakura, glancing at the clock. “It’s afternoon right now in England, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Yue confirmed. “Though for a matter like this, I don’t think Eriol would want to wait to hear from you, regardless of the time.”

“He did tell me I could call anytime,” Sakura agreed, sitting down at her desk and dialing the number on her pink cell phone. She put the phone on speaker and set it on the desk while it rang. Yue and Keroberos moved in close behind her to hear better.

“Hello, Hiiragizawa residence,” came Mizuki Kaho’s voice over the line.

“Moshi moshi, Mizuki-sensei, Kinomoto Sakura desu,” Sakura greeted.

“Ah, Sakura-chan,” Mizuki greeted warmly. “What can I do for you?”

“May I speak with Eriol-kun, please?” Sakura asked.

“Of course,” said Mizuki. “Just a moment.”

The three of them waited in silence until they heard Eriol’s voice.

“Sakura-san, konbanwa,” he greeted. “Is everything alright?”

“Konbanwa, Eriol-kun,” Sakura returned. “I got a strange letter today, and Kero-chan and Yue-san said I should ask you about it.” She went on to explain whom the letter was from, and what it entailed. “What do you think I should do?”

Eriol was silent for almost a full minute. Sakura glanced at Keroberos to see if she should say something, but he shrugged. She looked to Yue next, who shook his head in negative. He remembered the way Clow would lapse into this kind of drawn out silence when he was thinking through some intricate puzzle.

Finally, Eriol spoke. “You should accept their invitation. But tell them you will arrange your own transportation and accommodations. I will fly you out and host you myself.”

“Have they changed, then?” Keroberos asked Eriol, tail flicking in agitation. “Clow would have declined this kind of invitation. He did decline these kinds of invitations. Why should Sakura accept it?”

“Because if she does not, I am certain they will come to seek her anyway in Japan,” Eriol replied gravely. “I won’t deny that in coming here to England, you will be walking into danger. But I believe it is a better option than to bring the danger to you.” He paused. “Apologies, but I shouldn’t say too much over the phone. Phone lines can be tapped, or recorded. But please, let me guide you in this, and I promise I will answer all of your questions once you have safely arrived.”

“You have only ever helped me, Eriol-kun. I trust you. We will come to England, as you suggest,” Sakura decided. “Although, I’m not sure how to get Otou-san to agree.”

“Thank you, Sakura-san. I promise my only wish is to keep you all as safe as possible,” Eriol replied. “As for your father, don’t mention it to him yet. I will make all the necessary arrangements to make the trip possible. Simply respond to The Society’s invitation, and then plan to fly out for the week in two days. I will do my best to ensure your return before the new term begins.”

“Thank you,” said Sakura. “I’m sorry to be such trouble.”

“It is not you who is causing trouble, Sakura-san,” Eriol assured her. “And I am happy to do this for you. I will be glad to see you again so soon after our parting.”

Sakura smiled. “I’m looking forward to that as well.”

They exchanged well wishes and goodbyes, and then hung up. Sakura glanced at the letter, now back on her desk.

“Well, I don’t really understand what this is all about, and it’s a little bit scary… but I’m really excited we get to go to England and see everyone,” she beamed. Then her face fell and she looked up at Yue. “What about Onii-chan and Yukito-san’s trip, though?”

“Let me take care of it,” said Yue. “I will explain it to them. I’m sure they won’t mind going to England with you instead.”

“Is it really okay?” Sakura asked, looking up at him worriedly.

“It’s really okay,” he assured her. “They will both want to stay close to you, even if they don’t fully understand what’s going on.”

“Okay,” Sakura accepted. “Thank you.”

“Iie,” he replied, and began to transform back without warning, mostly so he could hear Keroberos panic and scramble back into his drawer.

Yukito opened his eyes, reorienting himself before focusing on Sakura. He smiled. “All finished?”

Sakura nodded with an answering, though weaker, smile. “Yes, for now. Thank you, Yukito-san.”

“Of course,” he assured. “I’ll go back to Touya’s room now. Let me know if you need Yue again, okay?”

“Okay,” Sakura nodded, getting up to walk him to the door. “Are you staying the night?”

“Yes, I think I am.” Yukito paused outside her door. “Oyasumi, Sakura-chan. See you in the morning.”

“Oyasumi, Yukito-san,” she beamed, and gently shut the door.

Is everything alright? Yukito asked Yue as he returned to Touya’s door and knocked.

I’m not certain, Yue replied honestly. But I’ll do my best to explain it to you both.

Touya opened the door and stepped back to let Yukito in, curiosity clearly written on his features. “Everything okay?”

“Sakura-chan seemed more cheerful when I left,” Yukito commented. “But Yue says he’ll explain it to us.”

“Oh?” Touya closed the door again and came to join Yukito back on the floor.

It will be easier if I share my thoughts with you, and you can explain it to him, said Yue. Yukito nodded, closing his eyes and waiting. Yue collected his thoughts on the matter and then opened them to Yukito’s conscious awareness. Yukito took a minute or so of silence to process it. When he opened his eyes, he saw Touya watching him patiently, though with concern creasing his features.

“There’s a secret society of magic users in England,” Yukito finally began slowly. “They’ve learned of Sakura-chan’s magic, and have sent her an invitation to go to England and meet them. Eriol-kun seems to think it would be unwise to refuse that invitation.”

Touya frowned. “Why?”

They’re very powerful, Yue answered. And they don’t like to be refused. Eriol believes that they will come to seek her here, if she does not go to them.

Yukito relayed Yue’s answer. Touya crossed his arms and scowled. “If they’re that much trouble, why bring her to them? Can’t we hide her?”

No, replied Yue. Not even Eriol can hide her. Not for long, and not when they already know of her.

Again, Yukito repeated what Yue had said. Touya huffed and looked away. “Well, we’re going with her, then. When is she leaving?”

“In two days,” Yukito replied. “Eriol-kun is making the arrangements. It seems like he’s going to tell Kinomoto-sensei, too.”

“He’s going to tell Dad?” Touya cocked a suspicious eyebrow. “He certainly is a strange person.” His expression softened into wistfulness as he gazed at Yukito. “I suppose we’ll have to take our first trip together another time. Sorry.”

Yukito shook his head. “I don’t mind, To-ya. Yue is Sakura-chan's guardian. I want to do my part to help her. And I knew you would want to go.”

Touya nodded. “I do. Thanks, Yuki.” He sighed and started collecting the travel books scattered around the floor. “I guess we won’t be needing these, then.”

“We’ll go on the next break. In the summer,” Yukito proposed, stacking some books as well. “And for now, we get to go see England. It’s still a trip, just… different than we expected.”

Touya’s mouth quirked in a smile. “I have been curious about England, ever since Kaho went to study there. Her descriptions and the pictures she sent made it seem like an interesting place.”

“I’m curious as well,” Yukito admitted. “It seems like… some of my history is there. It’s a little exciting.” He stood up with an armful of books. “I’ll help you take these downstairs.”

“Thanks,” said Touya, standing up with the rest, and led the way out of the room.

Once they’d returned to the bedroom, Touya asked, “Do you want to stay the night?”

“If that's alright,” replied Yukito. “I'd like to stay close, until the travel plans are confirmed.”

Touya nodded. “I'll get the futon. Unless… you'd like to share the bed with me?”

Yukito smiled, pinking slightly. “Is that okay?”

“Yeah.” Touya took Yukito's hand and squeezed. “I'd like that, if you don't mind.”

“I’d like that, too.” Yukito returned the squeeze, enjoying the feeling of Touya's larger hand around his. “Let's get ready?”

“Yeah.” Touya's eyes were warm as they lingered on Yukito's, as he drew close enough to link their other hands as well.

“Do you want the bathroom first?” Yukito asked, cheeks warming further under Touya's gaze.

“No,” said Touya, close enough now that Yukito could breathe in his scent. “You can go first.” He made no move to withdraw, though.

“Did you want a kiss first?” Yukito smiled, thinking he knew the answer.

“I did promise you more kisses,” Touya smiled back.

“You did.” Yukito wrapped Touya's arms around himself by their joined hands and then slid his arms around Touya's neck, tipping his face up expectantly. Touya's grin broadened before he dipped down to kiss Yukito, drawing him closer still. Yukito closed his eyes, enjoying their exchange of sweet, soft kisses, Touya's lips gently eager and also reverently tender against his own.

They both paused at the sound of Sakura's door opening, listening to her slippered footsteps down the hall, and then came sound of the bathroom door closing.

“Hmm, I guess neither of us is using the bathroom first,” Touya commented, not looking the least bit put out as he slid his hands up Yukito's back.

Yukito giggled. “I guess we'll just have to wait, then.”

“However shall we pass the time?” Touya murmured, brushing their lips against each other.

“No idea,” Yukito grinned before recapturing Touya's lips.

Long after Sakura had gone back to her room, they reluctantly admitted that they should go to bed when a yawn from Yukito interrupted their kissing. They made their way through the familiar routine of getting ready for bed together, taking turns in the bathroom and changing in the bedroom. Yukito turned out the light and crossed the room in the near-darkness to join Touya in bed. He felt his face heating as he climbed in under the covers that Touya had turned down for him. It wasn't his first time in this bed—he'd taken a number of naps here, especially during the period where he’d been running out of magic. And he'd woken up a few times with Touya sleeping next to him. But it was their first time intentionally getting into bed to spend the night together.

He set his glasses on the nightstand, and curled up on his side to mirror Touya's position, so they were facing each other with a modest space between them.

Touya reached out to brush Yukito's bangs out of his face with just a whisper of fingertips. “Can I hold you?”

“Yeah,” Yukito smiled in shy elation, scooting closer as Touya rolled onto his back and lifted one arm invitingly. Yukito tucked his shoulder under Touya's raised one, and laid his head on Touya's chest. Touya wrapped his arm around Yukito, who tentatively rested his hand on Touya's stomach.

“Is this alright?” Touya whispered against Yukito's hair.

“Yeah,” Yukito whispered back, unable to stop smiling. “It's very alright.”

Touya’s free hand came up to rest over Yukito's on his stomach. “Oyasumi, Yuki.”

“Oyasumi, To-ya.” Yukito breathed a contented sigh, relaxing into Touya's embrace, and he drifted off to sleep within minutes.

Touya waited until Yukito's light sleep twitches had ceased, indicating that he was deep enough asleep to not be disturbed. “Yue,” he whispered. “Are you awake?”

The soft blue glow of moon magic answered him. Yue floated Yukito's body off the bed, wrapping wings around him and transforming. Emerging from the cocoon of feathers, he floated himself back down to the bed, alighting in a sitting position facing Touya, knees drawn up half-way to his chest. He vanished his wings and looked at Touya expectantly.

Touya sat up as well, drawing his knees up and loosely wrapping his arms around them. “Tell me straight—how much danger is Sakura in from this Society?”

“To be honest, I don't know,” Yue answered, unsurprised by the question. “They've had an interest in Clow and his magic for a long time, and invited him repeatedly to join their Society while he was alive. Clow always politely refused them, no matter how persistent they were. But Clow was significantly more powerful than all of them combined, and they were always aware of that fact. I got the impression that if he had not been so powerful, they would have been more insistent.

“It seems that Eriol has managed to refuse them as well, thus far,” Yue continued. “But Eriol, too, is powerful enough to resist them, if not completely, then enough to give them pause. Aruji is newly come into her power, and is not Clow's reincarnation. They may view her as more… persuadable.”

“What exactly do they want with her?” Touya asked.

“I can't be certain until we've met them,” Yue replied. “However, I suspect they wish to ascertain her strength, and see the magic she has become master of. What they would wish beyond that, I don't know. Clow never liked them enough to find out.”

“What didn't he like about them?” Touya asked.

“Their ethics, or lack thereof,” Yue answered. “The Society seeks power for power's sake, only interested in being able to increase their strength and capabilities, not in whether and how those abilities and strengths should be used. Clow became as powerful as he did because he was fascinated by magic's ability to create and nurture, which requires far more strength and finesse than destruction. Clow did not want to share knowledge or lend strength to magic users who might use it for destruction and domination, as was their tendency.”

“Destruction and domination, huh?” Touya frowned. “What do you think are the chances they will turn that on Sakura?”

“High,” Yue replied somberly. “I think that's why Eriol wants her in England when she faces them, not Japan. They could threaten Tomoeda to coerce her, or destroy it in a fight. But I also believe that Eriol will do his best to guide her through the narrow chance that they won't turn their greed for power into violence against her.”

Touya nodded, brow furrowed as he absorbed this. “You trust him? Hiiragizawa?”

“I do,” Yue answered without hesitation.

“Even after he hurt you?” Touya met Yue's eyes in the dark. “And Sakura?”

“Yes,” replied Yue. “What he did was only to help her achieve what she wanted, what we all wanted, even if he had to make us think the opposite in order to achieve that. Ultimately, what he did gave us the best possible outcome. I believe he is sincere in his care and desire to protect all of us. Like Clow, Eriol is powerful enough that sometimes he must operate on a level beyond our understanding, until we have grown enough to achieve that level of understanding. He has that same mastery of teaching that Clow had.”

Touya sighed. “Alright. I don't like that answer, but I understand it.” He looked at Yue with a soft expression. “Thank you.”

Yue ducked his head a little and looked away. “Iie.” He activated his magic again, blue light casting shadows on the wall. “I'll switch back.”

“Wait, Yue,” said Touya, catching Yue's forearm. Yue startled, the glow of magic fading. “You don't have to leave. You could stay.”

“…Why?” Yue asked, sliding his gaze past Touya to the window. He didn't want to stick around for more reminders of what he couldn't have with Touya. He didn't want to admit it, but having to vicariously feel every touch from Touya as he and Yukito kissed and cuddled was more agonizing than he'd anticipated, and he was feeling too tender to handle anything beyond a utilitarian conversation right now. “Do you have something else to ask me?”

Touya huffed fondly. “I didn't ask for you just because I had questions. I asked for you because I wanted to see you.” He paused, withdrawing his hand, and his tone grew uncertain. “Unless… you don't want to stay?”

Yue's throat caught, and he ducked his head again to hide behind his hair. “It's not that,” he said quietly, not wanting to outright reject Touya.

“What is it, then?” Touya asked with a gentle concern that made Yue's heart ache.

Yue didn't know how to answer, questions he wasn't ready to ask and answers he wasn't ready to give crowding his thoughts and making his chest tighten in panic. “What… do you want to do?” he finally asked instead. Depending on the answer, he might feel like he could stay, or he might need to flee.

Touya’s mouth quirked and he dropped back against the pillows, opening one arm invitingly like he'd done earlier with Yukito. “Sleep.” His expression turned teasing. “I know you sleep. I've seen it happen before.”

Yue's face heated, and he was glad it was dark in the room. He hesitated. On the one hand, he desperately wanted what Touya was offering. He'd just been vicariously experiencing it through Yukito, trying not to wish that he could have it for himself. On the other, it was painful that Touya didn't mean it with him the same way he did with Yukito. Did he? Would Yue feel a difference?

In the end, his desire and curiosity won out. Wordlessly, he carefully lowered himself down into the crook under Touya's shoulder, his head on Touya's chest and one hand on his stomach, mirroring Yukito's earlier position. Touya pulled the covers over them both, and then his arm came up around Yue's shoulders, his other hand covering Yue's on his stomach, just like he'd done with Yukito.

“Is this alright?” Touya whispered.

A shiver rippled through Yue from scalp to toes. “Yes,” he whispered back. It felt the same. Except better, because he was in his own form now, so it was for him this time. What did this mean? Did it mean anything? Was this one of those moments where Touya's habits with Yukito seemed to just extend to Yue? Or was this, and all of it, specifically for him, too?

Yue was hyperaware that his breaths were coming quick and shallow like a nervous bird's as his thoughts and emotions swirled in confusion, but Touya didn't comment on it. In fact, he seemed to be falling asleep, the rise and fall of his breath slow and relaxed under Yue’s ear, and his embrace heavy and warm.

Yue closed his eyes, fingers tightening minutely on Touya's stomach. He wanted so badly the promise of what this could be. But he didn't want to hurt Yukito, and if he couldn't have this, he didn't want to be tantalized with whispers of it.

But he also couldn't bring himself to transform back. He told himself that it was because he didn't want to wake Touya with the glow of his magic. But deep down he knew it was really because it felt so good to be held like this—something he hadn't had the likes of since Clow.

As he finally drifted off to sleep, warm in Touya's arms and surrounded by Touya's scent, he decided he'd switch back before dawn, before anyone woke up.

 

 

 

Notes:

Mondays are going to be my update days for now (works better for me because Mondays are my day off), and I do plan to post every week like usual.

I'M SO EXCITED TO BRING THE GANG TO ENGLAND LET'S GOOOOOOOO!!!

Chapter 2: Flight

Summary:

The group flies out to England.

Notes:

Welcome back! By the way, I forgot to mention it in the chapter 1 notes, but the title "Sakura-chan in England" is both a reference to the format of the episode titles ("Sakura-chan and the bla bla bla") and a reference to the frequent allusions CLAMP makes to "Alice in Wonderland", including their early(ish) work "Miyuki-chan in Wonderland".

Translation notes for Japanese in this chapter (lots of greetings and introductions being made):
Ohayou = good morning
Otou-san = dad
Onii-chan = big brother
Moshi moshi = said when starting to speak into the phone (used like "testing, testing" into a mic)
genkan = the entryway just inside a Japanese house where shoes are put on/taken off
Tondemo nai desu = a response to "thank you" that sounds polite and humble (something like "not at all!")
Minna-san = everyone (when addressing a group)
Konbanwa = good evening
Ojamashimasu = said when entering someone's house as a guest (lit. "I am getting in your way")
Douzo = please come in (in this context)
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu = said when introducing yourself or meeting someone for the first time (lit. "please be kind to me")

 

 

 

“Ohayou!” Sakura’s cheerful voice rang out as she came thumping down the stairs.

“Ohayou,” Touya called from the kitchen stove, where he was plating pancakes.

“Ohayou, Sakura-chan,” Yukito smiled, bringing glasses of juice to the dining table.

Sakura greeted the framed picture of her mother and then looked around. “Where’s Otou-san?”

“He’s in his study,” Touya replied, bringing the finished breakfast plates to the table. “Since before Yuki and I came down. I’m going to go tell him breakfast is ready.”

Sakura looked up at Yukito a little anxiously as Touya headed off. “Um… did Yue-san tell you about… the letter I got?”

“He did,” Yukito nodded. “He told us we’ll all be going to England together.”

“I’m sorry about your trip with Onii-chan,” Sakura said earnestly.

“It’s alright. We’ll go another time. We’d much rather go with you, at a time like this,” Yukito assured her. “Besides, we’ll still get to take a trip. Just, to England, with you. I’m honestly excited.” He smiled.

Sakura beamed back. “Me, too! Thank you, and I’m sorry to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble,” Yukito said sincerely as Touya returned with Fujitaka behind him.

Fujitaka exchanged greetings with them all and then they sat down together to eat.

“I have some news,” Fujitaka began after they’d all given thanks. “You know how we were talking about our friends in England last night, and how we should all visit one day? Well, I got a call this morning, from my friends at Oxford University, inviting me to join them at a new dig site on the outskirts of the city for a week. Sakura-san, do you know if your friends happen to live close to Oxford?”

“Yeah, they do,” Sakura replied, her eyes wide.

“Then, shall we go together?” Fujitaka asked. “If it’s alright with them, you can visit them during the daytime while I’m at the dig site.”

“Yes! I’ll ask them today,” Sakura said excitedly. Of course, the rest of them already knew the answer would be yes, since Eriol was the one somehow arranging it all.

Fujitaka turned to the other two. “Touya-kun, Tsukishiro-kun, I know you two are already planning on a trip for yourselves. But, you’re welcome to join us if you’d like to take the opportunity to visit your friends in England as well.”

Touya made a show of glancing at Yukito for confirmation before nodding to Fujitaka. “Yeah, we would like to go with you. We can take a trip on our own some other time.”

“Wonderful,” Fujitaka smiled. “Oxford University’s archaeology department has offered me a generous grant for the trip. I think it will be just enough for tickets, hotel rooms, and food for all of us, if we're careful with it.”

Touya's eyebrow twitched, his expression a mix of incredulity and suspicion. “How fortunate.”

“Isn't it?” Fujitaka beamed. “This grant is unusually generous. Someone must have kindly sponsored the trip.”

“I wonder who it could be,” Touya commented a little too dryly, and Yukito kicked him under the table.

After breakfast, Fujitaka returned to his study to confirm the trip, while the other three cleaned up. Sakura dashed off to go take a phone call about ten minutes later (Yukito and Touya pretended not to notice that her ringtone seemed to be hovering over the stairs, or the hissed “Sakura, it's Eriol!” from Keroberos).

“Moshi moshi?” Sakura's voice reached them as she headed up the stairs. “Eriol-kun, I wasn't expecting you to call so soon. Isn't it late in England…?” Her voice faded and then they heard the door to her room shut.

“That Hiiragizawa really did arrange all that, didn't he?” Touya muttered, scrubbing a plate clean.

“It seems so,” Yukito replied in mild amazement as he dried a glass and put it away. “He's been very helpful to Yue and I, and to Sakura-chan as well, it seems.”

“Hmm,” said Touya noncommittally.

When Sakura came back downstairs, she poked her head into the kitchen. “Eriol-kun invited us to stay with him! He says he has enough room in his house for all of us, and his place is only half an hour from the university. He said I can invite Tomoyo-chan, too! I'm going to tell Otou-san.” She scampered off.

“That's very kind of him,” Yukito remarked.

He wants us to stay in a place he's warded himself, Yue explained. So he can better protect us.

“Well, we won't have to pay for a hotel then,” Touya commented. “Though by the end of a week living in the same house as Akizuki, we may wish we had.”

 

 

Yukito went home after lunch to pack for the trip, a mundane task that Yue was neither interested in nor could be of much use for, which left him hours of awake time with which to brood. Shielding his thoughts and feelings from Yukito, he worried his way through every scenario he could think of about how the meeting with the Society would go, based on his recollections of Clow's interactions with them, which were unfortunately sparse. Clow had mostly politely ignored them with varying degrees of insistence depending on the Society’s level of persistence. Eriol, having inherited Clow's actual memories, and with whatever experiences he'd had himself, would have more and better data than Yue with which to analyze possible scenarios (and Yue was certain that Eriol was analyzing all the possible scenarios). So it was only a few hours before Yue gave up, having spun himself into useless and repeated circles of frustration and catastrophizing.

Then his thoughts turned to Touya, and he started overanalyzing that mess. He didn't know how to feel about any of it, because he didn't understand what it meant. Touya seemed to be inviting more intimacy between them, but was it just friendly or was it more? Touya and Yukito had been friends for years, sharing more and more casual intimacies, while maintaining to each other that they were just friends. But knowing that they did feel romantically about each other the whole time, did that make those gestures disguised romantic gestures, or were they still just friendly? What did they mean when Touya was directing those gestures at him? Surely, Touya inviting Yue to sleep in his arms, literal minutes after inviting Yukito, who was his boyfriend, to do the same, was meant more than as a friendly gesture? Or was Touya seeing Yue as an extension of Yukito, because they shared the same body?

Yue recalled Touya, during their first meeting face-to-face, subtly leaning into his embrace-disguised-as-utilitarian-touch. How comfortable and open Touya had been, even though they'd never interacted before. Touya seemed to understand that Yue and Yukito were different people, and he seemed to understand that they were the same being, and usually had no trouble navigating that paradox. But in this, was he perhaps treating them as the same being, where he should be treating them as separate?

How would Yukito feel, if he knew his new boyfriend was extending some of the same sorts of intimacies to Yue as himself?

He should talk to Touya about it. He didn't like feeling like he was hiding something from Yukito, especially while they were actively trying to get closer to one another.

But there was a selfish part of him that was starting to need Touya's affection like oxygen, and didn't want to do anything to risk losing that.

 

 

On Sunday morning, a sleek black van arrived in front of Yukito's house at exactly ten in the morning, and Touya came out of it to knock on Yukito's door. Yukito opened the door to him and beamed.

“Ohayou,” he said, bouncing a little on the balls of his feet in excitement.

“Hey,” Touya smiled. “Are you ready? Can I help you with anything?”

“I'm ready,” Yukito answered, turning around to grab his suitcase and carry-on from just beyond the genkan. He wheeled the suitcase out the door and then fished in his pocket for his keys to lock the door behind him. Touya unobtrusively took up the suitcase while Yukito's hands were busy. Yukito smiled at him in thanks as they made their way to the curb where two of the dark-suited Daidouji attendants were waiting in front of the idling van. Yukito and Touya handed the bags off to them, and then climbed in through the open door.

“Ohayou, Yukito-san!” Sakura's cheerful voice greeted as Yukito looked around at the occupants of the van. She was sitting on the long seat in the very back, with Tomoyo on one side and Fujitaka on the other, both of whom chimed in with greetings as well.

“Ohayou,” Yukito greeted back warmly. “Tomoyo-chan, thank you for coming to pick me up.”

“Tondemo nai desu,” Tomoyo demurred as politely as always. “I'm so glad to be able to come along on Sakura-chan's exciting England trip!”

“So am I,” Yukito smiled, and settled into the vacant seat further from the door, as Touya took the nearer one.

The attendants closed the door and climbed into the front seats, and then they were off to the airport.

 

 

Yue did not like the plane.

The last time, and only time, Yukito had ever flown for real and not just in a false memory, Yue had not yet awakened. He'd gotten those memories in retrospect, and hadn't been very interested in them. During his travels with Clow, Clow had always teleported them wherever he'd wanted them to go, and Yue had never thought much about how less powerful magicians had gone about travel. But now, watching the planes take off and land outside the huge airport windows through Yukito's eyes, and then experiencing through Yukito's senses as they boarded the odd way the floor reverberated hollowly underfoot, like it wasn't quite stable, and after that the liftoff—this huge machine, unprotected by magic, flinging itself into the air at such a ridiculous speed that if anything went wrong, magic might not be able to save them—all of it made Yue feel intensely uneasy.

Yukito, on the other hand, was completely relaxed, and was even enjoying himself, sitting next to Touya and talking quietly about in-flight movies, so Yue kept his anxiety behind robust shielding and tried not to feel them hurtling through the atmosphere way faster than human bodies were meant to survive.

For a fifteen-hour flight.

By the time they landed at Heathrow airport, Yue was barely consciously aware anymore, trying to keep as far away as he could from the experience of traveling this way. The sun was just starting to set as they disembarked from the plane, and then they got on a train for another hour to get to Oxford. Lastly, after arriving at the train station, they piled into a taxi van to take them the rest of the way. By the time they arrived at the manor, the last of the daylight had faded into night.

Yue revived a little at the sight of the manor, which, at night and lit only by porch lights, looked almost as if no time had passed at all since the last time he'd been there. In the darkness, the new roof, upgraded windows, and changed silhouettes of the greenery that he knew were there from the picture Eriol had sent weren’t noticeable enough to break the illusion of being in the past and a wave of nostalgia swept over him.

“This house looks even bigger than the one they had in Japan,” Touya commented quietly to Yukito as they clustered with the others at the foot of the porch while the taxi driver unloaded their luggage.

“They're both estates of Clow's,” Yukito murmured back, which he'd learned from Yue.

The front door opened, revealing Eriol in a blue sweater-vest over a button-down with a burgundy tie, and crisp trousers. “Minna-san, konbanwa,” he greeted in his schoolboy voice with a sweet smile. “Please, come in.”

“Konbanwa, Eriol-kun!” Sakura chirped, climbing up the porch stairs at the head of the group, somehow still chipper even after a full day of travel. “Ojamashimasu,” she bowed as she stepped across the threshold. “Thank you for hosting us!”

“My pleasure,” Eriol beamed, holding the door open to let her and her luggage in. Tomoyo followed behind her, exchanging a more demure greeting with Eriol, and then Yukito stepped through the door after her.

“Ojamashimasu,” he bowed, echoed by Touya just behind him.

“Douzo, Yukito-san, Kinomoto-san,” Eriol welcomed them in with a bow. Yukito smiled, the sound of Eriol using his given name giving him the comforting feeling of family. Mizuki was next to greet them, showing them where to put their shoes and step into guest slippers in the absence of a genkan. Then the two of them started to head over to where Sakura and Tomoyo were chatting with Akizuki and a dark-haired boy about Sakura's height.

That's Spinel, Yue had time to think in shock before Akizuki, who'd been bending down to whisper to Sakura and Tomoyo, turned and spotted them.

“Touya-kun!!” she squealed, bounding towards him.

Yue felt a flash of anger and the strong urge to step in front of Touya, and then to his surprise Yukito did step in front of Touya, making her stop short.

“Akizuki-san,” Yukito smiled pleasantly at her. “How nice to see you again.”

“Hohhhhh,” said Akizuki, eyes wide and glinting with surprised amusement. “How nice to see you, too, Tsukishiro-kun, becoming less of a push-over. Or is that just your moon showing?”

“Akizuki!” Touya started to protest from behind Yukito, but Yukito held out a hand to forestall him.

“Yue and I are in agreement on this matter,” Yukito replied, still smiling just as sweetly, but the set of his shoulders was firm. “It wasn't my business before, but it is now.”

“Ehhhhhh?” Akizuki rocked back on her heels a little, looking delighted. “Does that mean you're together now? Which one of you confessed?”

“I did,” Yukito answered, and Yue felt an irrational surge of pride. Touya stepped in a little closer to Yukito's flank, slipping his hand into Yukito's with a smile just as proud.

Akizuki squealed, clapping her hands together. “I underestimated you, Yukito-kun. Very well, I concede.” She dimpled cheekily. “I can call you Yukito-kun, can't I? We are cousins, after all.”

“That's fine with me, Nakuru-san,” Yukito replied, his smile turning more genuine now.

“Cousins?” Fujitaka inquired curiously from the other side of Touya, where he'd joined the group along with Eriol and Mizuki after they'd finished exchanging greetings in the foyer. Nakuru gave a nervous laugh, but Eriol swooped in quickly to rescue her.

“Very distant cousins, you could say,” he twinkled at Fujitaka. “Kinomoto-sensei, this is Akizuki Nakuru, one of our housemates. And over there is Spinel, who also lives with us.” He gestured to the dark-haired boy standing next to Mizuki. “Yukito-san and Nakuru share a distant ancestor. Incidentally, I share the same ancestor, as does Spinel. Kinomoto-san, Yukito-san, I don't believe you've met Spinel either.”

They all exchanged greetings. “Thank you for welcoming my family into your home,” Fujitaka added warmly.

“Tondemo nai desu.” Spinel bowed solemnly. “Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.”

Akizuki also bowed politely to Fujitaka. “Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.”

“Now then,” said Eriol, “let us show you to your rooms, and then it will be time for dinner.” He turned briefly to Sakura, murmuring, “Please, let me take this for you,” and relieved her of her suitcase, before leading the way toward a grand staircase of beautifully carved walnut wood.

Sakura passed close to Yukito as she went to follow Eriol, tugging inconspicuously on the end of his sleeve and whispering, “Congratulations!” on her way by, green eyes sparkling up at him. Yukito blushed.

“Where's mine?” Touya muttered to her as she started to pass him next, flicking her head lightly with the hand that wasn't still holding Yukito's.

Sakura paused briefly to fix him with a stern stare. “Don't be mean to Yukito-san, got it?” she hissed under her breath, treading on his foot as she passed him.

Touya made an indignant little squawking noise, finally releasing Yukito's hand to chase after her. “How come you're scolding me? Aren't you my sister?”

“You're the only one who needs it,” Sakura retorted over her shoulder, trailing Eriol up the stairs.

Tomoyo followed next, also offering Yukito a whispered congratulations, with Spinel close behind her with her suitcase.

Yukito ducked his head self-consciously and hurried after them, not wanting to see either Mizuki's or Fujitaka's reaction.

Once they'd reached the upper landing, they split up, Eriol and Spinel leading the girls one way, and Nakuru calling to the boys to follow her down a different hallway, while Mizuki showed Fujitaka into a bedroom near the upper landing.

“You'll be next to my room,” Nakuru chirped, skipping down the hallway. She popped open a door on the right. “This one's yours. I'm at the end of the hall.” She pushed the door to their room fully open and then gestured them inside, beaming.

Yukito and Touya rolled their suitcases in and looked around. The room was huge, with two queen beds up against the long wall on the right, and a large window overlooking the grounds on the far wall, with two wingback chairs around a small table in front of it.

“You can put your things in here,” Nakuru told them, gesturing to the large standing wardrobe against the wall opposite the beds. She opened the doors to show that it was empty. “These drawers can be used, too,” she added, patting the gleaming vanity topped with a tri-fold mirror sitting next to the wardrobe. Next she showed them the bathroom they'd be sharing with her, and where the towels and shower supplies were.

“And that's it!” she beamed, striking a cutsie “ta-da” pose. “Let me know anytime if you need anything. Dinner will be on the table in twenty minutes, so don't linger too long!” She winked and bounced off down the stairs, leaving the two of them to get settled.

“This is a really nice room,” Yukito commented, once they were alone in the bedroom with the door closed. “Do you mind if I take the bed near the window?”

“Go ahead,” said Touya, rolling his suitcase over to the bed closer to the door obligingly and plunking down onto the end of it. Yukito unzipped his suitcase and laid it out on the floor to unpack, and Touya tipped his head to regard him with an expression somewhere between a smile and a smirk. “I liked what you did downstairs, with Akizuki.”

Yukito stopped, hands full of neatly-folded shirts. He blushed. “I kind of just… reacted. I don't usually do that kind of thing.” He went to the open wardrobe, hanging up the shirts that had a tendency to wrinkle, and putting the others in a drawer. “I hope it wasn't too straight-forward.”

“I just told you I liked it.” Touya got up and crossed the room to slip his arms around Yukito from behind. “I like that I'm your business now. Weirdly, I think Akizuki liked it, too.”

“I think you're right,” Yukito chuckled, leaning back into Touya's embrace. Then he frowned. “I did it in front of everyone, though. Sakura-chan, Tomoyo-chan. Mizuki-san.” He hesitated. “I think your dad saw, too.”

Touya shrugged. “I know we haven't really talked about it yet, but… it's fine with me if people know. Unless you'd rather it be a secret?”

“I'm fine with people knowing, too, I just… wanted them to find out when we told them. Especially Sakura-chan, and your dad.” Yukito folded his arms over Touya's. “They're both really important to me.”

Touya hummed into Yukito's hair. “Well, I'm pretty sure Tou-san will pretend not to know until we tell him. So if you want us to sit down with him and tell him officially, we can still do that.”

“I would like that, yeah.” Yukito relaxed against Touya. He tipped his head back to look up at Touya. “You know, it wasn't just me wanting to get between you and Nakuru-san. Yue felt very strongly about it, too. I think maybe that's why I didn't hesitate at all.” He felt Touya smile in response to that.

“I'm glad.” Touya squeezed Yukito lightly. “I think she might actually listen this time. My telling her off has never seemed to have any effect on her.”

We noticed, Yue thought at the same time that Yukito said it out loud.

Touya chuckled, pressing a kiss to Yukito's temple. “Thank you, both of you.”

 

 

 

Notes:

Yukito is a very polite Japanese boy, so being that confrontational and blunt with Nakuru gave him some anxiety after the fact. Touya thought it was hot, though ;)

I read Yue as having VERY sensitive senses, higher than Yukito's since he has magical senses to go with, so I imagine plane rides are no fun for him. (As an autistic person, I feel like Yue is autistic-coded in a number of ways, and having sensory sensitivities is one of them.)

I hope you're enjoying the story so far! Drop me a comment and let me know what you think!

Chapter 3: Moonlight

Summary:

A surprise meeting at dinner. Touya goes moonbathing with Yue.

Notes:

The boys "meet" Kero in this chapter. Remember how Kero took a 30-year nap in the book and came out speaking the dialect from Osaka because the Book was stored in Osaka for a while? There's a reference to that in their conversation.

Also, a culture note I've mentioned before: given names are an intimacy in Japanese culture. When someone asks you to call them by their given name, they're asking to acknowledge a new level of closeness in the relationship.

Translations for Japanese used in this chapter:
Onii-chan = big brother
Yoroshiku = said when meeting someone for the first time (short form of "Please be kind to me")
Osaka-ben = dialect of Osaka
kansai = region of Japan including Osaka
Yoroshou = kansai version of "yoroshiku"
Hajimemashite = said when meeting someone for the first time (lit. "it's the first time")
Tou-san = dad
Oyasumi = good night
Konbanwa = good evening

 

 

 

Once they'd unpacked, Yukito and Touya came downstairs to dinner, and found yet another new person sitting with Sakura and Tomoyo at the table—a boy who looked to be about the same age as the girls, with a shaggy mop of golden blond hair and deep golden eyes. Yue recognized him immediately, despite having never seen this particular form before.

That's Keroberos, Yue said for Yukito's benefit.

Yukito's steps faltered in his surprise. Oh, really?

Yes, Aruji has disguised him with magic to make him look human. Yue could see the shimmer of The Illusion Card on Keroberos.

Wow. Yukito glanced at Touya, who was squinting hard at Keroberos, like he knew something was off even without his magic.

Sakura spotted them and beamed. “Onii-chan, Yukito-san! This is my friend, Kero-chan, who's here visiting as well!” She gestured to the golden-haired boy, who grinned.

“Kero-chan?” Touya repeated incredulously, the corners of his mouth twitching as he fought down a laugh. “Like your stuffed animal, Kero-chan?”

Sakura laughed nervously. “Yeah, isn't that a funny coincidence?”

“Very funny,” Touya deadpanned, pinning Keroberos with a flat, unblinking stare until Keroberos started to visibly sweat.

“Nice to meet you, Kero-kun,” Yukito smiled sweetly as he sat down across from them, playing along. “I’m Tsukishiro Yukito. Yoroshiku.”

“Nice to meet you, too!” Keroberos returned in his acquired kansai dialect.

“Osaka-ben?” inquired Touya as he took the seat next to Yukito, leaning forward antagonistically on his elbows. “Are you from the kansai region?”

“I lived there for a while, yeah,” Keroberos replied, grinning mischievously back. “Yoroshou.”

Yukito elbowed Touya inconspicuously. “Yoroshiku,” Touya gritted out, looking torn between amusement and annoyance at having to pretend as if he didn't know he'd been sharing a house for years with the being in front of him. “I'm Kinomoto Touya, Sakura's older brother.”

“Hajimemashite,” Keroberos returned, a smug glint in his eye.

“So, how did you meet my sister?” Touya immediately returned to grilling, and Keroberos went from looking smug to panicked in less than a second.

“Ahh—well—we—” Sakura flailed.

“Oh, we met Kero-chan while visiting Hiiragizawa-kun's house in Japan,” Tomoyo chimed in, rescuing them both.

“Is that right?” Touya pressed, his voice flat.

“Yeah, that's right!” Sakura affirmed readily.

“Uh-huh! Yeah!” Keroberos agreed, and they both laughed too loudly.

Fujitaka arrived in the dining room then, prompting Sakura to introduce Keroberos to him as well, and cutting short Touya's interrogation. Then Akizuki, Spinel, Eriol, and Mizuki were bringing out dishes of food to lay out on the table, and everyone sat down together to eat. Since Fujitaka was present, the conversation was kept to mundane topics.

After dinner, Touya and Yukito asked Fujitaka for a moment alone. Eriol, ever observant as he was, offered them a parlor they could use to talk, turning on the lamps before politely ducking out and closing the door. Touya and Yukito sat down beside each other on the couch, while Fujitaka took a nearby armchair.

“Tou-san, you probably heard earlier but, we wanted to tell you ourselves,” Touya began. He leaned his knee against Yukito’s in what was probably a subconscious gesture, and Yukito, flushing with pleasure, returned the light pressure. “Yuki and I—we've begun dating.”

A warm smile spread across Fujitaka's face. “I did hear, but thank you for telling me. I'm very glad for you both. Tsukishiro-kun, I hope you don't mind my saying so, but I think of you as my second son already, and hearing this news makes me feel even more so that way.”

Yukito felt tears welling in his eyes. “Thank you, Kinomoto-sensei,” he said, his voice cracking a little. “I've felt for a long time that you're like a father to me.”

“Then,” said Fujitaka, with a familiar gentle affection in his expression, “I would like it very much if you would call me Fujitaka.”

“Thank you, Fujitaka-san,” Yukito smiled, brushing a tear from his lashes. “Then please call me Yukito.”

“Yukito-san.” Fujitaka withdrew a handkerchief and held it out to Yukito, who accepted it bashfully. “I'm so glad to have you in our family.”

Yukito stifled a sob into the handkerchief, overwhelmed with joy at the feeling of belonging. Hearing Fujitaka acknowledge him as family out loud, he felt suddenly anchored in a way that told him he'd been feeling adrift before. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you so much.”

Fujitaka rose, reaching out to squeeze Yukito's shoulder gently, his brown eyes soft and full of fondness. “Congratulations, you two. I know you'll be good for each other, as you always have been.”

“Thanks, Tou-san.” Touya exchanged a warm look with his father, who gave Yukito's shoulder one last squeeze before bidding them good night and leaving them to each other.

“Sorry,” sniffled Yukito, still crying into the handkerchief. “I didn't mean to cry all over that conversation.”

“Don't apologize,” Touya murmured, wrapping his arm around Yukito. “Tou-san was really happy to hear you say those things.”

“I was really happy to hear the things he said, too.” Yukito leaned into Touya's side. “I think, after finding out the truth of what I am, I've been worried that I don't have any real family. But you, and Sakura-chan, and Fujitaka-san, have always been like family to me, and it's good to hear that that's real. I have Yue, now, too, and Eriol-kun, and that feels really good as well.”

“It's real,” Touya assured him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “These bonds you've made are real, and they're strong.”

“I feel it,” Yukito murmured contentedly, resting his head against Touya's. He yawned.

“Sleepy?” Touya asked softly.

“Mm-hmm,” Yukito hummed. “It's been a long day. It's been Sunday for what, about thirty hours now for us?”

Touya laughed. “Yeah, I guess it has. Do you want to go back to our room?”

“Mmm, just a moment,” Yukito stalled. Yue, do you want to come out? You feel kind of restless.

Sorry, said Yue. I was trying not to bother you. His mental shields must be tiring if his agitation was noticeable through them.

You're not a bother, Yue, Yukito assured. Are you alright?

I just need moonlight, Yue replied. As you said, it was a long day.

“Yue wants out,” Yukito told Touya. “I'm going to switch with him.”

“Okay. Can I have a kiss first?” Touya asked.

“Definitely,” Yukito smiled, turning to press his lips to Touya's. He sighed blissfully, eyes sliding shut at the soft caress of Touya's lips against his own. When they parted, he leaned his forehead against Touya's. “Oyasumi.”

“Oyasumi,” Touya murmured back.

Yue took the cue to begin transforming, Yukito slipping unconscious as his body floated off the couch, white feathered wings cocooning him. A moment later, Yue unfurled his wings and lightly touched down on the carpeted floor.

“Konbanwa, Yue,” Touya smiled.

“Konbanwa,” Yue returned distractedly. His nerves felt frayed enough to make his skin crawl, and his wings twitched at the sensation.

“What's wrong?” Touya asked, getting up and moving closer to look Yue over in concern.

“The plane ride was… unpleasant.” Yue's gaze shifted to the large French doors behind the couch. The hours of mental strain made him feel even more exhausted than Yukito was, but he was too agitated to settle. “I want moonlight.”

“Are you going outside, then?” Touya asked. “Do you mind if I come with you?”

“I don't mind,” Yue answered. “But, I'd like to go up to the roof. Is that alright?”

“Yeah,” Touya replied with a hint of a teasing smile. “Promise to catch me if I fall?”

“I won't let you fall,” Yue told him with complete solemnity. They'd sort of joked about him dropping Touya from the air the last time they'd flown together, but after fifteen hours of trying not to imagine the plane falling out of the sky, the thought was too abhorrent to joke about.

Touya's smile turned tender, making Yue blush. “I know. I trust you.”

Yue pulled his wings closer to himself in a self-conscious gesture, ducking his head to hide behind his hair as he headed for the French doors. Touya trailed after, out into the elaborate garden that wrapped around the house. Yue tipped his face up to the rising half-moon, stretching out his wings and sighing in relief at the soothing sensation of the moonlight washing over him like cool water.

After a moment, he turned to Touya, whom he found watching him with a soft, open affection. Yue averted his eyes, his cheeks heating. Touya stepped forward, within arm's reach, and Yue was reminded suddenly of the moment when Touya had offered his magic to him. Here was Touya, offering himself to Yue with that same open trust as on that day, putting his life in Yue's hands without reservation. A shiver rippled down Yue's spine. Just like on that day, he was overwhelmed with the urge to hold Touya, to put his arms around him and feel that affection and trust against his body, if only for one stolen moment under the guise of a practical task.

He couldn't resist. He closed the distance between them, just as he'd done before, but this time, instead of putting his hands on Touya's shoulders in a half-embrace, he slid his arms fully around Touya's back, holding him securely against himself. Touya wrapped his arms around Yue's shoulders, embracing him in return in what was unquestionably a hug, relaxed and unafraid even as Yue floated them up into the air. Touya's scent and warmth enveloped Yue, and he couldn’t help tucking his face closer into the crook of Touya's neck to savor them, even as guilt curdled inside him.

With powerful sweeps of his wings, Yue circled the garden for altitude, and then landed them gently on the roof. Reluctantly, he relinquished his hold on Touya, though he stayed close enough to steady him if needed. Touya let his arms drop as he found his footing on the sloped roof, carefully lowering himself down to sit on the shingles. Yue sat down next to him, stretching his wings out to their full spread behind him to catch as much moonlight as possible with a long exhale.

For a while, they sat in silence, and Yue thought nothing, the moon's gentle rays bathing him with calm like a balm for his tattered nerves. The cool night air filled his chest and kissed his skin, the scent of English garden familiar and nostalgic from so long ago. The last time he'd smelled this scent, he'd still been with Clow, completely devoted to him and treasuring little intimacies in the futile hope for more. Now, he was here with Touya, treasuring little intimacies with increasing guilt and, perhaps just as futilely, longing for more.

He hadn't wanted this again.

He should just ask Touya about it. It was a good opportunity. It would be better to know, one way or another, and then he could deal with it, whatever it was.

He took a breath. Held it.

“Yuki seemed fine on the plane,” Touya unknowingly interrupted him, sounding curious and concerned. “I didn't realize it was bothering you.”

Yue silently let out the breath he'd held, a little frustrated and a little relieved. “Yukito was fine. I feel everything he feels, but he does not feel everything I feel. I was shielding myself from him so he wouldn't notice. It couldn't be helped, so there was no need to distress him over it.”

Touya glanced at him, brow creased with worry. “What were you feeling that was so distressing?”

Yue tipped his head back to look up at the stars twinkling high above them. “The feeling of being ten thousand metres above the ground, speeding through the air at eight hundred kilometres per hour, in a vibrating metal cylinder held together by everything but magic.”

Touya stifled a laugh. “Okay, yeah, when you say it like that it does sound very unpleasant.” He cocked his head at Yue. “How did you travel before?”

“Clow teleported us when we needed to cross great distances,” Yue explained. “For shorter distances, we flew. With magic, though, not a plane.”

“Sounds convenient,” Touya remarked. He covered up a yawn.

Yue caught the gesture out of the corner of his eye. “I can take you back down, if you'd like to go to bed,” he offered.

“Mmm, not yet. I'm just going to lay down for a little bit.” Touya stretched, raising his arms and crossing them behind his head before lying back against the shingles. “The sky's really pretty from up here.”

Yue slowly turned to lay down on his front, resting his head on his folded arms. He spread his wings, draping one gently across Touya.

“That's nice,” Touya hummed sleepily, his eyes fluttering shut. “Like a blanket.”

Yue watched Touya sleep for nearly an hour while soaking up moonlight, before finally gathering him up carefully to take him inside. Touya stirred at the change in position, but didn't quite wake, huddling into Yue's chest as if he was cold. Yue drew him closer and flew them down to the large window of their guest bedroom, opening it magically and floating inside. With a careful flex of power, he pulled the window soundlessly closed, and then carried Touya to the bed further from the window. Since both hands were occupied, he drew the covers down with magic, and gently set Touya down on the sheets before tucking the blankets over him. As he started to withdraw, Touya’s hand snaked out to catch his wrist as it went by. Yue startled, his gaze flicking up to Touya's face to find sleepy brown eyes blinking at him.

“Where are you going?” Touya mumbled.

“To Yukito's bed,” Yue answered, his heart thumping rapidly in his chest.

Touya flipped the edge of the covers down that Yue had just pulled over him seconds earlier. “This one's closer.”

Yue fought back a smile. “So it is,” he agreed, acquiescing to the implied request. He slid in next to Touya, who scooted over to make room for him, and then scooted back in once Yue had settled, curling up along his side. With a contented sigh, Touya drifted right back under.

Yue fell asleep to the lulling rhythm of Touya's soft breathing.

 

 

 

Notes:

Yukito: *snuggled up close to Touya* Love you, night night
Yue: *dramatically drawn-out magical-girl transformation sequence to avoid having to manifest in Touya's lap*
Touya: *amused* You... you don't have to do that
Yue: *coughs, avoids eye-contact* ...do what?
[later]
Yue: This is completely utilitarian. *snuggle-hugs Touya*
Touya: Okey-dokey *hugs back*

Poor Yue. Inside him are two bunnies: the snuggle-bunny and the terrified-you'll-notice-my-crush-on-you-bunny. It's my reading of the canon that Yue is actually very sensory seeking when it comes to touch. He really likes face-touching in particular, but will also find excuses for hugs. But we don't get to see it much because in the Sakura-card arc, he's deep in grief and doesn't want to build connections, so he's withdrawing into himself. But sometimes it comes out when he's having big emotions (like in the scene where he meets Touya, he gets SUPER touchy-feely). He's sensitive like a cat, so he wants touch from the people he feels close to, but it's VERY stimulating.

Did you enjoy Human!Kero? I've had the idea for human-disguised Kero and Suppi for a while now, I think they'd look super cute trying to pretend to be fifth graders lol.

Hope you enjoyed! See you next week~

Chapter 4: Twins

Summary:

Yue gets a chance to tell Yukito something important.

Notes:

Welcome back! How was your week? I hope things are going well for you <3

Translation notes for Japanese in this chapter:
Ohayou = good morning
iie = lit. "no" but in this case a response to "sorry" that's like "no need to apologize"
Aruji = "master" as in "Master of the Clow" (this is what Yue calls Sakura)

 

 

 

Yue woke to golden morning light streaming in the window, the sound of birdsong outside, and Touya sprawled across his chest, an arm and a leg thrown across him. He tensed, breath catching momentarily, but then forced himself to breathe as normally as he could manage while panicking, to try not to disturb Touya into waking.

He hadn't meant to stay this long. Usually the dawn woke him, the shift from his domain of night to Keroberos’ domain of day enough to rouse him at least a little. The plane ride must have taken more out of him than he'd thought.

He tipped his chin down a fraction, just enough to look down on Touya's tousled mop of dark brown hair splashed across his own white ceremonial robes. His arms had wrapped themselves loosely around Touya sometime in the night, resting on the broad plane of Touya's back. Touya's weight was warm and comforting on top of him, and he clutched him just a little closer, resisting the urge to brush dark silken strands away to reveal the curve of cheek underneath. Touya sighed softly, his arm curling tighter around Yue's ribs.

Yue held his breath, but Touya didn't wake. He exhaled slowly, and relinquished his form to Yukito with a blue flash of light. Would Yukito notice that waking up tangled up with Touya meant that Yue had slept tangled up with Touya?

Yukito woke with his glasses still perched on his nose, in yesterday's clothes, and with Touya wrapped snuggly around him. Quiet elation bubbled up in him, and he couldn't stop a smile from spreading across his face. Trying to lay still so as not to wake Touya, he savored the feeling of Touya's warm weight on him, the gentle rise and fall of Touya's breath, the way Touya’s tousled strands of dark hair shimmered with gold in the morning light coming through the window. This was everything he'd ever dared to dream of in the secret corners of his mind, and now it was real. His heart swelled with joyful gratitude, and his eyes prickled with tears.

Touya stirred on his chest, and then shifted to look up at him. “Ohayou,” he murmured, his expression soft and fuzzy with sleep.

“Ohayou,” Yukito smiled.

Touya squinted at him, reaching up carefully under Yukito's glasses to brush his thumb along damp eyelashes. “Are you… crying?”

“Yeah,” Yukito admitted sheepishly as a tear slipped free. “I'm just so happy.”

Touya's gaze turned tender, and he leaned up to kiss Yukito. Yukito made a soft, pleased noise against Touya's mouth, closing his eyes to better feel the gentle press and slide of Touya's lips against his own. When they parted, Touya put his head back down on Yukito's chest, tucking his hands underneath Yukito to embrace him more fully. Yukito slid his hands up Touya's back to thread fingers into silky dark brown strands, blissful and content.

Then his stomach rumbled.

Touya laughed, pulling one hand out to poke him in the stomach. “I guess it's time for breakfast.” He sat up, making the covers fall back.

“You're still wearing yesterday's clothes,” Yukito noticed, surprised.

“Yeah.” Touya tugged at his shirt hem with a sheepish smile. “Yue took me up to the roof, and then I guess I fell asleep up there.”

Yukito giggled. “I've fallen asleep on the roof a couple times myself since Yue introduced me to moonlight bathing.”

“It was really nice,” Touya smiled. “Do you two get more out of it when the moon is full? What about on new moons?”

“It's best when it's full,” Yukito replied, sitting up to stretch his arms over his head. “But even when it's a new moon, it still feels good. It's not just the moon, either. Our aspect is yin, so the night itself is revitalizing.”

“You don't seem to have any trouble sleeping at night,” Touya commented.

“No, it's not really energizing,” Yukito mused. “It feels more like recharging.”

“How are you feeling this morning?” Touya asked, cupping Yukito's cheek. “It seemed like the travel was really hard on Yue.”

“Oh, is that what it was? He didn't say.” He directed a wordless wave of concern at Yue, who sent him an equally wordless reassurance back. “He seems to be doing better this morning. I feel fine, though. A little jet lagged, but fine.”

“I'm glad.” Touya pressed a kiss to Yukito's forehead. Yukito's stomach grumbled again, and Touya smirked. “Okay, okay,” he teased, patting Yukito's stomach and making him giggle.

As the two of them got out of bed and started to get ready to go downstairs, Yue wasn't sure whether to feel disappointed or relieved. Yukito hadn't given a single thought to what the implication of waking up that way meant about Yue. Was it not a thought worth having because he didn't care, or had he simply not realized it?

 

 

Fujitaka was dressed in his university work clothes at breakfast, and much of the meal was spent with Eriol and Mizuki asking him questions about the project he'd been invited to join and encouraging him to talk at length about the period of history the dig site was from. Eventually, though, Fujitaka did politely inquire about their plans for the day.

“We thought we'd do a little sightseeing,” answered Mizuki. “There are some beautiful places in Oxford to visit.”

“That sounds lovely,” said Fujitaka. “If you don't mind, I'd like to be there when you tour Oxford university.”

“Of course,” Mizuki replied. “We wouldn't want to do it without you, since you know so much about it.”

“Thank you,” Fujitaka smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”

After breakfast, Fujitaka departed for the university, and Sakura disappeared somewhere with Eriol while the rest of them started cleaning up. Yukito was just bringing the last of the dishes from the table to the kitchen with Touya when Sakura came looking for him.

“Yukito-san,” she called, “can I talk to you for a little bit?”

“Of course.” Yukito set the dishes he was holding on the counter next to Spinel and Keroberos, who were once again in human disguise and doing the washing (well, Spinel was doing the washing, and Keroberos was supposed to be rinsing, but was mostly flicking soap suds into Spinel’s dark, perfectly groomed hair). He followed Sakura out of the kitchen and into the same parlor he’d been in the night before. Eriol was sitting primly in the chair that Fujitaka had been in, waiting for them with a serene smile. Yue roused, realizing this was probably going to be about magic.

“Shall I switch with Yue?” Yukito asked, after closing the door behind himself.

“Actually, we wanted to talk to you first, Yukito-san,” Eriol replied.

“Oh?” Yukito sat down on the couch next to Sakura, looking curiously between them.

“Yes,” said Eriol. “Has Yue let you see any of his memories yet?”

“Yes, he's shared some with me,” Yukito replied. “Receiving them didn't give me any trouble. We had more difficulties with shielding.”

“Ah,” Eriol nodded. “And have you seen any of Sakura-san's magic in those memories?”

“Yes, a little bit.” Yukito smiled at Sakura, who flushed. “It's very pretty.”

“Isn't it?” Eriol's eyes softened with warmth. “Well, in that case, would you like to see it for yourself? Sakura-san would like to do some magic on you.”

“Oh,” Yukito blinked in surprise. “Is it alright? For me to see?”

“I think it will be,” Eriol replied. “If it's too much for you, all that will happen is you'll fall asleep, and Yue will come forward.”

Yukito did a quick mental check with Yue, who assented. He nodded. “Okay. Let's try it.”

“You don't mind?” Sakura asked.

“No,” Yukito shook his head. “I'd like to see it, if that's okay.”

“Okay.” Sakura hopped up off the couch and moved to stand in front of him. She reached under the neck of her shirt and withdrew the Star Key pendant, which Yukito recognized from Yue's memories. She held it out in her cupped hand in front of her, and it began to glow.

“Hoshi no chikara o himeshi kagi yo,

Shin no sugata o ware no mae ni shimese.”

Yukito watched in wonder as eddies of bright magic began to swirl around Sakura, causing the key, now glowing a soft gold, to tumble in her palm. Even knowing what to expect from having seen it before in Yue's memories, it was still a surprising experience to have it happening right in front of him.

“Keiyaku no moto Sakura ga meijiru.

RELEASE!”

The key grew and lengthened into the Star Staff, the tiny seeds of wings on either side of the spinning star unfurling into larger, white-feathered ones. Sakura took hold of the shaft with commanding purpose and withdrew a pink card, casting it before her and spinning her staff. Yue sensed the identity of the card and was stunned when he realized what she was about to do.

“Create a form for each! TWIN!” Sakura commanded, invoking the card with the staff. The card glowed, and then dispersed into swirls of magic, two nearly identical child-like forms manifesting momentarily before dissolving back into bright swirls and wrapping themselves around Yukito, lifting him off the couch.

For a moment, there was only bright light. Yukito lost his sense of his body, as did Yue. But Yue could feel the magic of the Twins melding around them, and as the light faded, he found himself in his own form, though one of the Twins had melded with it. He sensed the second Twin beside him, and turned to see Yukito standing there, looking just as stunned. There was something shocking and surreal about seeing his other self standing next to him, as if separate, but while still able to feel Yukito as he usually could, just beneath his own senses. They were still just as connected, but no longer sharing one form.

“It worked!” Sakura exclaimed, looking elated.

“Well done,” Eriol praised, looking the two of them over. “Yukito-san, Yue, how do you feel?”

“Eh?” Yukito looked up from examining himself, and then his eyes widened as he spotted Yue next to him. “Yue,” he breathed.

Yue shuffled his wings self-consciously, feeling Yukito's shock and wonder through their connection. “Yes,” he said simply.

Can you still hear me? Yukito asked with his thoughts.

Yes, Yue replied. We're still connected. We can't be truly separated. These forms are an illusion.

Yukito stepped forward hesitantly, lifting one hand to touch Yue's face. “But I can touch you,” he whispered in awe, and his beautiful amber eyes filled with tears.

“Yes.” Yue leaned his cheek into Yukito's reverent touch.

“Yue.” Yukito's voice cracked on a sob, tears spilling down his face as he wrapped his arms around Yue in a full embrace.

Surprised, Yue's breath left him for a moment, but then he folded his arms around Yukito in return, holding him close. They fit together perfectly, since they were the exact same height. Over Yukito's shoulder, Yue spotted Eriol rising from his chair and going over to an uncertain-looking Sakura, whispering in her ear. She nodded, and the two of them headed for the door.

“Yue,” Eriol murmured just before they stepped out, “I’ll be gathering the others in the sitting room to discuss the meeting with The Society. Please join us when you're ready.”

“I’ll be there soon,” Yue replied without moving. “Thank you, both of you.”

“By the way,” Eriol added gently, “you should be able to shield more easily while separated in this manner.” Then the door quietly clicked shut, leaving them alone.

“I'm sorry I'm crying on you,” Yukito sniffled, starting to pull back from the embrace.

“Iie,” said Yue, tightening his arms minutely around Yukito, who took the cue to relax against him again.

“Thank you,” Yukito whispered. “Thank you so much, for everything.” An outpouring of love and gratitude flooded from him, his shields completely down and his heart open.

Yue's throat tightened, and he pulled Yukito even closer, dropping his shields and letting Yukito feel the depth of his own love and gratitude in return. “It is I, who should be thanking you,” he murmured back.

They stayed like that for a while, holding each other and sharing their unguarded, wordless emotions with one another. Yukito's tears slowed and stopped, and when his breathing had returned to normal, he drew back to look at Yue.

“You're even more beautiful in person,” Yukito sniffled, smiling.

“I think you're beautiful, too,” said Yue, brushing the soft fall of Yukito's ash-grey bangs away from his face and feeling the faint echo of the touch on his own face. Yukito flushed with pleasure.

“I'm so glad I get to see you,” Yukito murmured, his amber eyes shining with joy. “I didn't think I would ever get to.” He took Yue's hand, and Yue could sense that he was unable to resist the need to touch for very long. Yue squeezed Yukito’s fingers in return, the desire for physical contact equally strong in him. “I'm so grateful for our connection. I wouldn't trade it. But sometimes I'm a little jealous of the others getting to see you.”

An ache rose in Yue's chest. He cupped Yukito's cheek with his free hand. “Yukito. I need to share something with you, while you can take time away from me to think about it.”

Yukito placed his own free hand over Yue's, his face filling with concern. “What is it?”

“Let's sit down,” said Yue, leading Yukito to the couch by the hand. He vanished his wings before they sat down together. “I'm going to share some memories with you. Please take time to process them. You'll probably want to shield yourself from me when you do.”

“Okay.” Yukito put both hands around the one of Yue's he was still holding, concern radiating from him. “Yue, why do you feel afraid?”

Yue's throat caught as he realized he hadn't put his own shields back up. Lifting his free hand to cradle Yukito’s face, he leaned forward to rest their foreheads together, and closed his eyes. “Because I am,” he whispered. “I'm afraid of how you'll feel about me once you know what it is I'm about to share. Our bond is so important to me. But I will understand if you're angry with me over this.” Taking a shaky breath, he opened his thoughts to Yukito, drawing up every memory he had of interacting with Touya along with all the accompanying feelings, and let them pour into Yukito's mind.

When it was done, he drew up his strongest shields, and pressed a trembling kiss to Yukito's forehead, trying to ignore the sting of tears behind his eyes. “I'm sorry,” he whispered, and slowly got up from the couch.

“Yue.” Yukito caught Yue's hand just before it slipped free of his grasp. Yue looked back, and saw Yukito gazing up at him with wide eyes brimming with the confused swirl of mixed emotions that Yue could sense from Yukito’s unshielded mind. “I…” Yukito trailed off, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.

“Don't worry,” Yue murmured, averting his eyes. “I don't need a response right away.” Carefully extracting himself from Yukito's grasp, he silently crossed the room and slipped out the door.

And almost immediately ran into Touya as he came around the corner. He flinched back just before they collided.

“Whoa.” Touya caught him by the arms and steadied him. “Yue? What's wrong?” he asked, as he got a better look at Yue's expression.

Yue looked up into Touya’s concerned brown eyes and had the strong urge to throw himself into Touya's arms for comfort. But then he remembered the bewildered, uncertain look on Yukito's face, and he drew back instead, folding his arms as he forced himself into composure. “It's nothing,” he said without looking at Touya. “Yukito is in the parlor. Please give him some time to himself. I'm sure he'll come find you when he's ready.”

“What?” Touya asked, bewildered. “Yuki is…? How?”

“Magic,” Yue replied simply. “It's a temporary spell. An illusion, like Keroberos' human form.”

“I see.” Touya was still regarding him with worry. “Are you sure you're alright? Is there anything I can do?”

“I'm fine,” Yue lied, turning away. “Just… take care of Yukito. I need to assist Aruji now.” He moved past Touya, careful not to touch him on his way by, and headed for the sitting room in the back of the house where the others were waiting. He felt Touya’s eyes on him as he retreated.

 

 

 

Notes:

I should have called this story "Sakura-chan and All the Magic I Wanted to See Happen in Canon"

You know what that's going in the tags now

I have been waiting SO LONG for an opportunity to write Yue and Yukito getting to meet face to face <333 But it's not canon so I had to hide it in this erased time line fic. The two of them getting to be separate is also what expedites the romantic relationship, since the main problem is Yue can't give Yukito any real privacy, so it makes communicating between the three of them messy and complicated.

Hope you enjoyed!

Chapter 5: Revelations

Summary:

Eriol prepares the group for the meeting with The Society.

Notes:

Welcome back! Long chapter this week, as we deep dive into the lore that I've woven together and filled in gaps for from the fragments and implications scattered throughout the canon.

Sakura's outfit at the end of the chapter is loosely based on these outfits that Sakura and Tomoyo are wearing here.
Some clothing-related vocabulary:
kosode = shorter-sleeved garment worn by miko (the white top that folds in front)
haori = outer robe worn like a jacket (look carefully, the long sleeves are actually part of an outer robe)
sode-kukuri = a name for the ribbons threaded through the sleeves
hakama = garment for the lower body, worn like loose trousers when split or a skirt when not split (Tomoyo's are red, Sakura's are ombre in this pic)
haori-himo = a fastening closure for the front of haori, can be woven rope or a jewelry-type chain (the string of pearls on Tomoyo's outfit is a haori-himo)
obi = the strip of cloth tied around the waist
(The only thing I couldn't find a name for was the gold sleeve clip ornaments.)

Translation notes for Japanese in this chapter:
Douzo = "please (come in)" (in this context)
Okaa-san = mom
Otou-san = dad
miko = shrine priestess (Mizuki Kaho is a miko)
Domo arigatou gozaimasu = "thank you very much" (mildly formal)
okaeri nasai = "welcome home"
gobusata shite orimasu = said when seeing someone again after an absence (very formal version of "hisashiburi")

 

 

Standing before the double doors to the large sitting room at the back of the house, Yue paused to take a steadying breath. Yukito's shields were fully in place now, and Yue could hear nothing of his thoughts or emotions. Even Yukito's physical sensations seemed barely noticeable to Yue. He wondered if the Twins were somehow helping with that, and was grateful for it. He'd confessed to Yukito what he'd wanted to, and Touya would take care of Yukito if needed, as it should be. Now, he needed to focus on supporting and protecting Sakura.

He pushed the doors open and entered. The room was almost exactly as he remembered it being years ago, except that some of the furniture was different. Eriol sat in Clow’s favorite spot, in a red wing-backed chair very similar to the one Clow had in Japan. To his left sat Sakura, Tomoyo, and Mizuki on a couch in front of the long wall of windows with French doors that opened to the garden and grounds. Keroberos and Spinel, now back in their diminutive false forms, perched on arm rests next to Sakura and Eriol, respectively, while Nakuru had curled up in a cozy-looking armchair adjacent to Eriol, across from the couch.

“Yue,” Eriol greeted as Yue approached. “Douzo.”

Yue sat in the wing-backed chair that matched Eriol’s, directly across from him, ignoring Nakuru’s attempts to wave him over to the armchair next to hers.

“Sakura-san,” Eriol began, “I believe your appointment with The Society is at eleven?”

“That's right,” Sakura confirmed.

Eriol nodded. “We have a little more than an hour, then, before we need to leave.”

“You promised to answer our questions, Eriol,” Keroberos reminded him, arms crossed and tail flicking. “What was it you couldn't say over the phone?”

“That's why I've gathered us here this morning,” Eriol assured him. “To prepare you for this meeting.” He sighed and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “The Society is made up of the most powerful magicians in Britain. They would like to be the most powerful group of magicians in the world, but there are several groups that rival them. The Li Clan in China, for example. There is another elite group in Europe, as well, that The Society has a loose alliance with.”

Eriol paused, shifting in his chair in a way that Yue was surprised to realize was fidgeting. He was unsettled in a way Yue had never seen him be before. Eriol cleared his throat before continuing. “The Society has long had an interest in Clow's magic, and coveted his magical creations. When Clow died, many of them searched for years for the Book of Clow, hoping to become the new Master of the Clow. It is not a surprise to me that they desire to meet you, Sakura-san, since you have achieved what they could not.”

“I didn't do anything to find the Book, though,” Sakura protested. “I just… heard a noise in the basement, and it was there.”

“Exactly,” said Eriol. “The Book chose you. Clow chose you. There was never a question about who would become the next Master. But the magical world didn't know that. Clow didn't tell anyone the next master was already chosen, not even the Cards or their Guardians.”

“Yeah,” Keroberos nodded. “He said that there would be one, but not who it was. He said it was for us to decide. But I guess he already knew that we would pick Sakura.”

“He did,” Eriol confirmed. “It was no accident that the Book of Clow ended up in your father's basement library, Sakura-san. Yue's false form was placed close to you over a year before you found the Book. It was always meant to be you.”

Yue blinked, taken aback. He'd never put the timeline together that way before. He had no recollection of being called out of the Book. When he'd awoken, Yukito had already existed for years. That could only be the direct result of whatever spell Clow had used to put him in the Book in the first place.

“But The Society doesn't know any of that. I'm sure they are curious about how you were able to succeed in finding the Book and mastering the Clow where all of the most powerful magic users in the world failed. I believe their purpose in inviting you here is to assess you, and to try to understand what makes you special.”

“But there's nothing special about me,” Sakura countered anxiously. “Except that Clow chose me.”

“But you are special, Sakura-san,” Eriol countered, his expression fond. “Clow knew when he met you that you were the one who could love his precious creations the way they deserved. You loved them so much that you went back in time to ask him how you could deserve them. It is precisely that love that makes you special.”

The Cards began to glow gold, streaming out of Sakura's pocket and encircling her. She gazed up at them with a soft, adoring smile, and as they collected themselves neatly against her chest, she hugged them to her heart.

“It was your heart that called the Cards to you, Sakura-san,” Eriol told her, his deep blue eyes soft with affection. “Clow's plan doesn't negate that fact, it simply foretold it.”

“What should I do, then?” Sakura asked, clutching her Cards anxiously. “If they expect me to be some great magician and I'm not… what will happen?”

“But you are, Sakura-san,” Eriol countered warmly. “While I doubt The Society will understand your friendship with your Cards and your Guardians, it is very evident that you have fully inherited Clow's creations. You have successfully reincarnated all the Cards as your own, and are a powerful magician in your own right. You have earned every bit of your mastery. Once they see this, I believe The Society will attempt to impress you with their power and wealth, and offer you a place among them.”

“And if she declines?” Yue posited, frowning. “Will they let us return to Japan in peace?”

“That is my hope, yes,” Eriol replied. “They will have satisfied their curiosity, and made their attempt to entice her with what they have to offer. If she declines, my hope is that her own power, as well as her alliance with myself and the Li Clan, will be enough to deter them from taking action against her.”

Keroberos scowled. “Why couldn't we have done that from Japan? If we may have to fight them anyway, why do we have to do it from inside their stronghold?”

“Because it is precisely there that they are least likely to attack,” Eriol explained. “The Society values their campus and all the rare artifacts and riches they keep there. They will be cautious about using destructive magic around the things they value. That would not have been true in Tomoeda. You would have been put in the position of defending your home, which they would have had no qualms about destroying.”

“How would they have been able to maintain secrecy, engaging in open destruction that way?” Yue asked, frowning.

“They've done it before. Blaming destruction on natural disasters, or mundane accidents. Not unlike Clow's spellwork that's on Tomoeda to keep the residents from noticing magic,” Eriol answered.

“Clow-san put spells on Tomoeda?” Sakura queried at the same time that Keroberos exclaimed, “Clow did WHAT?!”

“Yes, of course. Haven't you ever wondered why, when magic happens inside Tomoeda, it only happens within the city's limits? Why the residents accept mundane reasons for magical occurrences so willingly and without question?” Eriol posited, looking between the four current residents of Tomoeda. “Have you noticed that nothing truly dangerous ever happens in Tomoeda? And that you've never met anyone with truly ill intentions within the city's limits?”

“Well… now that you mention it…” Keroberos muttered, looking discomfited. Yue felt equally chagrined. Certainly, they had worried about dangerous threats to Sakura. But Yue had never quite put together that the only magic they’d ever encountered in Tomoeda was Clow's, and then Eriol’s, which was also Clow's. The one time Sakura’s life had actually been endangered by an outside magic user was when she'd left Tomoeda and gone to Hong Kong.

“Tomoyo-chan noticed right away, though,” Sakura pointed out, glancing at her friend. “The first Card I captured was the Fly, and she filmed it without me telling her about any of it.”

“Daidouji-san comes from a magical bloodline, though she has no active magic herself,” said Eriol, smiling at Tomoyo, whose violet eyes widened in surprise. “The same bloodline as your mother, Sakura-san. That's why she is able to notice magic so easily despite the stipulations of the ward.”

Sakura’s eyes were as wide as Tomoyo's. “Okaa-san was...?”

“Yes. Amamiya Nadeshiko was magical,” Eriol confirmed.

“I get my magic from my mother?” Sakura asked in wonder.

“You actually take more after your father. It's your older brother who inherited your mother's type of magic,” Eriol told her. “Truth be told, I am only one of Clow's reincarnated forms. The other is Kinomoto Fujitaka. He does not have active magic, but he carries the bloodline.”

“But that's impossible!” Keroberos blurted. “You can't have two people alive at the same time with one soul!”

“Otou-san is… Clow-san?” Sakura murmured, almost to herself as she absorbed that revelation.

“Reincarnated, yes,” Eriol confirmed. “When Clow met you, he saw your parentage. He could see that your father was his own reincarnation, and he could also see that the mysterious incidents you asked him about were done by me, also his reincarnation. Keroberos is correct, it's thought to be impossible to have two incarnations of the same soul be alive at the same time. But when he met you, he knew he must have done it, so he was able to figure out how. He glimpsed the future through his interactions with you across time, and thus was able to build the path to that future. Clow designed Tomoeda for you, Sakura-san, so that you would have the safe and protected place you needed to learn and grow your magic.

“Before he died, Clow warded the vast grounds of his estate, so that only people with kind hearts and good intentions could enter and live there,” Eriol continued. “The people who were able to enter inside the ward eventually founded Tomoeda. Clow also intended the ward to hide Tomoeda and the Cards from any magic user not of his matrilineal descent. This is why the Cards stayed within the boundaries of the city when released, and why the Li Clan knew about their release, but Clow's father's family here in England did not. With the exception of the Li Clan, Clow didn't want other magicians to sense that the Cards were available to be captured. And here again, that exception was made because Clow saw your connection to Li Syaoran in your magic.”

Yue and Keroberos exchanged a stunned look. Yue had had no idea that there was an active ward that Clow had made around the city, nor how specifically it was tuned to create this future. He couldn’t sense it at all. And he could tell by the shock on Keroberos' face, that the sun guardian couldn't either. How much else had Clow not told them?

“How did my family come to be in Tomoeda, then?” Tomoyo asked with an inquiring tilt of her head. “If we have magic, and aren't of Clow's descent?”

“The Amamiya family was not drawn to Tomoeda because they sensed Clow's magic there. They were drawn there because they held the type of kind-hearted intentions which the ward was designed to attract,” Eriol answered, looking at both girls warmly. Then his expression turned regretful. “Clow wanted his wards to keep you safe for as long as possible, Sakura-san. I had hoped that The Society, in particular, would never learn of you. It's one of the reasons I left Japan for England so quickly after you completed the reincarnation of the Cards. We both expended a lot of magic at the end, and I knew they might realize I was in Japan. I had hoped, by returning to England and making my presence known here, that they would not be compelled to come to Japan to investigate what magic I was doing there, and discover you.

“But it seems they have discovered you after all,” he continued ruefully. “Your magic has grown enough that it can be sensed through the wards, if someone knows what to look for. And the wards are not strong enough to keep magic users of The Society's caliber out. That’s why I wanted you to come here. If they had gone to seek you in Japan, I have no doubt that they would have broken the wards on their way in, and then your hometown and everyone in it would no longer be protected by Clow's magic.”

The room was silent as Eriol concluded. Sakura looked deeply in thought, until finally, she said with conviction, “I don't want to put Tomoeda in danger. If Tomoeda was made for me, then it's my responsibility to make sure the people who live there stay safe.” Her eyes were bright with determination as she looked up at Eriol. “I'll do whatever I need to in order to protect Tomoeda.”

Eriol nodded. “I thought you would feel that way. I will do my best to help you in that aim. Have you thought of what magic to show them, as we discussed last night?”

Sakura nodded. “I have.”

“Good,” he smiled approvingly. He then glanced at the clock. “Daidouji-san, I assume you want some time to prepare Sakura-san?”

“I do,” Tomoyo beamed. “Thank you for your consideration.”

“Then, let us meet back here in fifteen minutes. I will teleport us directly there.” Eriol got up to leave, and Nakuru and Spinel followed him out. Tomoyo took Sakura's hand and rose from the couch with her, already gushing about the outfit she'd made for the occasion as they headed out together.

Mizuki turned to Yue. “I'm going to ask Touya and Tsukishiro-kun if they would like to be nearby when Sakura-chan has her meeting. If so, I'll drive them over to where we can be just outside the wards.”

Yue nodded. “I'm sure they will want to go. Thank you.”

“Of course,” Mizuki smiled, rising gracefully and making her exit.

Keroberos fluttered over to hover in front of Yue, arms crossed and brow furrowed. “How much more is there that Clow never told us?” he sighed.

“It is disconcerting,” Yue agreed. “I dislike being continually surprised by yet more and more secrets. We knew there were things he didn't share with us, but I did not realize that he had left us in the dark to this degree.”

“I know Eriol has Clow's memories, so it makes sense that he knows more than us. But it's really annoying that Suppi and Ruby Moon aren't surprised at all to hear any of this,” Keroberos scowled.

“They are his guardians. I'm sure they've heard it from him already,” Yue pointed out.

“Yeah, well we were Clow's guardians,” Keroberos shot back. “It's annoying that they know more than we do.”

“It is irritating,” Yue admitted with a sigh. “I don't know why Clow chose to keep these things from us. Perhaps it would have interfered with the future that he foresaw. Regardless, we know what we know, and at least we have Eriol to ask, and fill us in as needed. And, Sakura is not such a master to keep things from us in that way.”

Keroberos cocked a half-smirk at Yue. “Did you just admit that you prefer Sakura over Clow in something?”

Yue narrowed his eyes. “Why is that such a surprise at this juncture? You know I've chosen her freely by now, and no longer simply because she passed Final Judgment.”

“I know, I know,” said Keroberos, flapping his little paws. “But you prefer her over Clow? I never thought I'd hear that from you.”

Yue looked away, out the large windows and to the familiar grounds beyond. “I loved Clow. I never wanted to leave him. No one will ever replace him, for me. No one ever could. But I'm beginning to understand… why he chose to die, and have Aruji inherit us. The ways that we were limited by being his. And the ways that he limited what our relationships to him could be.” He looked back at Keroberos. “When Sakura said to me that she didn't want to be my master, and that she wanted to be my friend instead, I didn't understand what she meant. I didn't understand what it meant to be in a friendship. Clow called us his friends, but we were first and foremost his servants. I didn't know it could be any other way. But being with Aruji, I understand what friendship is. And the more that we realize the ways that Clow did not treat us as partners, as friends, the more I prefer the way that Aruji has chosen to be in relationship with us.”

“So why do you still call her ‘Aruji'?” Keroberos asked with a quizzical grin. “If you prefer to be her friend? You didn’t even call Clow ‘Aruji.’”

“Because she is our master,” Yue answered. “She did master Clow's creations, and reincarnated the Cards into her own unique magic. I can be her friend, and still respect and admire her mastery.”

Keroberos swished his tail, looking pleased by that answer. “You could respect her mastery and still call her ‘Sakura,’ you know,” he teased.

“I could,” Yue acknowledged. “But then how would I tease her?”

Keroberos nearly fell out of the air. “That's you TEASING her?! There are plenty of other ways to tease her, Yue!”

“What, like you do?” Yue deadpanned.

“Well, yeah,” Keroberos huffed.

“No,” Yue replied flatly.

 

 

Yukito tapped on the door to the guest room that he and Touya were sharing. “To-ya?”

“Here,” came Touya's voice through the door. Yukito pushed the door open and went inside. Touya sat up from where he'd been lounging on the bed. “Hey,” he said softly, reaching out a hand to Yukito, who crossed the room to take it gratefully.

“Can you hold me?” Yukito requested.

“Yeah, of course.” Touya stood up and gathered Yukito into his arms. Yukito sighed, relaxing into the embrace and tucking his head under Touya's chin, his mind going quietly blank for a peaceful stretch as he enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded by Touya's warm strength. After a minute or so, though, his thoughts started vying for attention again.

“Sakura-chan was able to create separate forms for Yue and me,” Yukito began softly. “It's only temporary, but I got to see him.”

Touya stroked a hand down Yukito's spine. “How was that?”

“Really good,” Yukito sighed. “I've wanted to meet him face-to-face since I first learned about him. I'm really grateful. I didn't think it could ever be possible.”

“I'm glad it was good for you.” Touya pressed a kiss to Yukito's hair. “Yue told me you needed some space to yourself. I got a little worried.”

Yukito hummed. “I did need space. But it wasn't because we were separated.”

“Oh?” Touya murmured.

“Yue shared some memories with me, before he left to talk with the others about the meeting with The Society today. All the memories, I think, of the time he's spent with you.” Yukito drew back enough to look up at Touya. “To-ya, you say a lot that Yue and I are the same. Do you love him? The way you love me?”

Touya looked startled for a moment, his eyes widening a fraction, but then his expression softened into warm affection. “You and Yue are one being, but you are two different people. My feelings for you two are different, but equally strong. And yes, I love you both.”

Yukito laid his head against Touya's chest. “I thought that must be the case.”

“I've been meaning to talk to you about it,” said Touya. “But if I did, Yue would hear it, too. And I didn't want to bring it up until I was more certain of his feelings. I didn't want to impose my feelings on him if he didn't reciprocate, or if it would make him uncomfortable.”

“Oh, he definitely reciprocates,” Yukito replied. “He's been keeping it to himself, but he feels so much for you it's painful for him. We've been painful for him. But it didn't even occur to me, because he's never let a hint of it slip to me.” He buried his face in Touya's chest. “I feel bad. He's always so considerate of me, and my feelings. And I had no idea I wasn't being considerate of his.”

“You couldn't have known. As you said, he was keeping it from you.” Touya let out a puff of air. “I’ve been feeling like he's been not okay lately, but I wasn't sure why. I guess this is why.”

“Yeah,” Yukito said ruefully against Touya's shirt.

“Well… how do you feel about Yue and I having a relationship?” Touya asked.

“Nervous,” Yukito answered honestly. “You can tell me if I'm being stupid, but… I’m worried you'll decide you like him better. That one day you'll realize that he was the one you wanted all along. That I'm not real, and he is.”

“You're being stupid,” Touya said immediately, and Yukito laughed. “Yuki, you're the one I've been in love with for years. You may be the so-called ‘false-form,’ but you're just as real as he is. You're two unique people. You two are a lot alike, but you're still you, and he's still him. I'm still getting to know him. And it's hard, because he's shy, and tends to hide behind you. But I have feelings for both of you, and they're distinct. And they're both real.”

Yukito drew in a long breath, lifting his head from Touya's chest with a soft smile. “Thank you. That's exactly what I needed to hear.”

Touya cupped Yukito's face in his hands and kissed him. “I'm not going anywhere. I've waited years to have you like this. No way I'm giving that up.”

Yukito’s smile grew as he nuzzled one of Touya's hands. Touya was leaning in to kiss him again when a knock at the door interrupted them. They broke apart and Touya went to answer it.

“Kaho,” he blinked, as he opened the door to her.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “I came to ask if you two wanted be nearby Sakura-chan while she has her meeting with The Society. I can take you to a place that’s close to where she’ll be, and open to the public.”

“We would, yeah,” Touya affirmed. “Thanks for thinking of us.”

“Of course,” she smiled. “Meet me in the foyer when you're ready. I'll drive you.”

“We’ll be down soon. Thanks, Kaho.” Touya closed the door as she left down the hall.

 

 

Sakura and Tomoyo were the last ones to come back to the sitting room with just fifteen minutes to spare before the appointed meeting time. Yue was glad to see that Tomoyo had opted for a formal look instead of her usual kawaii or princess styles. Sakura was dressed in a variation on the traditional garb of a miko, with a white kosode under a silk haori patterned with soft pink sakura, the sleeves of which were threaded with sode-kukuri. Tied around her waist were hakama in a purple ombre with more sakura embroidered along the bottom hems. Behind the frame of her long bangs, her hair was bound up in two neat little knots, each tied with a gleaming sakura-shaped charm. She looked elegant, professional, and very Japanese.

“Ahh, Sakura-chan, you look so beautiful and grown up!” Ruby Moon gushed, hopping up from where she was perched on the arm of Eriol's chair to go coo over her. All four guardians were now in their true forms, Spinel Sun sitting beside Eriol, while Keroberos sat next to Yue, who hadn't moved from the chair he'd chosen earlier.

Sakura demurred bashfully, letting Ruby Moon turn her from side to side to get a better look. Yue noticed that the silk of the haori was invested with protection magic from the Tsukimine shrine, and the beaded haori-himo fastening the front of the haori looked to be spelled by Mizuki herself. There was also a Chinese protection charm with Li Yelan’s signature in it fastened to the obi, as well as gold clips at the base of each of the long haori sleeves etched with half-suns in Clow’s distinctive design that looked to have been magically forged and spelled by Eriol.

“Thank you for the charms, Eriol-kun,” Sakura said, as Ruby Moon released her.

“My pleasure,” Eriol smiled from his chair, wearing his blue, black, and gold ceremonial robes from Clow. “Well done, Daidouji-san.”

Tomoyo beamed, having chosen for herself lovely purple A-line dress that matched the ombre on Sakura’s hakama, with a pristine white blouse underneath. “It's all thanks to your and Mizuki-sensei's excellent advice, Hiiragizawa-kun. The Tsukimine shrine was very helpful in providing the patterns and material.”

“Where is Mizuki-sensei?” Sakura asked, looking around the room at the group and noting her absence. “I wanted to thank her for the haori-himo.”

“She’s driving your brother and Yukito-san to an area nearby The Society’s campus,” Eriol told her. “They wanted to be nearby, even if they can't be by your side in the meeting. I'm sure they'll join us after we’re done there. Now, if we're all ready?” He rose, crossing to the far end of the room to the open space in front of the fireplace, calling his staff to hand and casting a magic circle. “Sakura-san, if you would please come stand beside me, and everyone else behind.”

Yue got up with the others, manifesting his wings to match the other guardians as he moved to stand behind Sakura, with Keroberos on one side of him and Ruby Moon on the other, and Spinel Sun beyond her. Tomoyo hovered at the edge, looking uncertain where she should go, but Eriol directed her to stand in the space behind Sakura's right. This put her in a position of protection within the group, with Sakura in front of her and Yue and Keroberos flanking her.

Once they were all arranged within the glowing circle, Eriol aimed the staff at the floor, and glowing eddies of magic began to whip around them from along the edge of the circle. Higher and higher they rose, obscuring the sitting room from view, until they reached up overhead to make an opaque dome of glowing light over them. Then the magic retracted the same way it had risen, swirling back down to the ground, and revealing that they were now standing in a white marble tholos—a Greco-Roman-style structure with a circular base and thick Doric columns in a ring supporting a domed roof.

Standing there waiting for them beside one of the columns, near the steps that led down to the courtyard beyond, were a man and a woman dressed in Western-style mage robes. The woman was English, but the man looked Japanese. They both bowed.

“Kinomoto Sakura-san, Master of the Clow. Welcome to the Society,” said the man in Japanese.

“Domo arigatou gozaimasu,” Sakura replied, bowing in return.

Then the man turned his focus on Eriol. “Okaeri nasai, Eriol.”

From the back of the group, Yue saw Eriol's shoulders tighten. Eriol dipped into a stiff bow. “Otou-sama, Okaa-sama,” he greeted them both. “Gobusata shite orimasu.”

 

 

Notes:

AAHH!! IS THIS THE FIRST CLIFFHANGER?!?! (Is it cliffhangery enough to count as a cliffhanger?!)

I don't usually do cliffhangers. I like chapters to come to a neat end. But this one just kind of threw itself in there. Sorry??

I have Eriol using "-sama" with his parents because of his parents' status as mages from families powerful enough to be members of The Society, similar to how Syaoran uses "haha-ue" and "ane-ue" with his mother and sisters in the formidable Li Clan, and Tomoyo uses "okaa-sama" with her mother because they're a rich (and therefore powerful) family. His level of formality with "gobusata shite orimasu" is very high, and I intend it to be read as too high to actually be appropriate. He's using too much formality here to indicate to his parents that he's putting distance between them, and that he feels estranged from them.

Just in case you're curious about Eriol's house: we don't ever see much of Eriol's house in England in the series. We see what looks like a small study in the second movie, and in Clear Card we see a couch in front of a big bay window that faces the dining room (which Eriol clears of furniture for his holographic meeting with Kero and Yue), and a small round table with chairs in what looks like a library-style room. So far, the only room from canon I've featured is the dining room. The rest of the rooms I've made up.

And, just to clarify canon from not, Yue never addresses Sakura as "Aruji" in the canon. He only calls her that when talking to others about her. In front of her, he calls her "omae" ("you") when he needs to address her directly. Otherwise he avoids calling her anything at all. In this fic series, though, he's addressed her in two scenes as "aruji", the first time to specify that he was talking to Sakura and over Touya (which honestly was kind of to rib Touya), and the second one was 1000% for the purpose of teasing her.

Okay! I'm going to stop talking and post this now, because I've been trying to get this up for *checks clock* six hours now, wtf. Hope you enjoyed, love you all, feed me with comments plzzzzzzz

ETA another note lol: The lore in this chapter about the protections around Tomoeda I came up with from a few things: first, as mentioned, the multiple incidents of the Clow Cards (or Eriol's magic) happening distinctly within the city limits, to the point that the residents and news reporters comment on how weird it is that the weird weather stops right exactly at the city limits, like it's being contained. Second, whenever there is a "presence" sensed, Kero and the kids always use the word "kehai" (which basically means "presence"), EXCEPT for that one time they leave Tomoeda in the first movie, and they sense the magician's presence in the market place, Kero uses the word "jaki" for the first and only time in the whole series, including Clear Card. The word "jaki" means "evil energy", and this is the only mention of "evil" at all, ever in the whole series. This got me thinking that there is literally no evil, at all, ever in Tomoeda, in canon events, implying a difference between inside Tomoeda and outside of it. And thirdly, the name of their town, "Tomoeda", literally means "friend branch". They literally live in the "friend branch" of Tokyo's metropolitan area. Which is on-brand for a sweet kids' show, but also, words and kanji have significant influences on spells, and considering the first two points above, I think "friend branch" as an intentional spell works well with that.

It was from this premise, that Tomoeda was made to keep Sakura safe and hidden while she came into her magic, that this particular story was formed. That, and me delving into Eriol's psychology and origins, and not being satisfied with CLAMP's hastily cobbled together "I sat in a house as an 11-year-old doing nothing for 30 years waiting to do this one thing with Sakura, and then immediately ran back to England to go back to sitting in the house, leaving behind all these people that I made friends with and who have been my only human contacts my whole life, because I didn't want Yue to get attached to me". Nah. I don't believe it.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the lore, and we'll be getting more of (my version of) Eriol's backstory soon!

Chapter 6: Meeting

Summary:

Sakura meets the Council of The Society.

Notes:

Happy Memorial Day to those of us in the USA! I hope everyone and their animal friends are staying safe during whatever fireworks are happening tonight.

I went back and added another note on the lore in the end notes on the last chapter, so if you're interested just click back one chapter and check it out!

This chapter is a bit shorter, which evens out the previous chapter being longer, though I totally didn't do that on purpose. It just ended nicely here, and the next segment didn't want to be broken up. Also, writing the interactions with the Council was hard (and continues to be hard) to get right. Please enjoy the fruits of my vigorous redrafting lol

Translation Notes on Japanese in this chapter:
Otou-sama = honored father
Okaa-sama = honored mother
Hajimemashite = nice to meet you
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu = nice to meet you (part 2) (lit. "please be kind to me")
Kochira koso = to you as well
Douzo = please, go ahead (in this context)

 

 

“Why are you here?” Eriol asked his parents, ignoring the shocked stares from everyone else. “I said that I would meet with you privately, after the meeting with the Council.”

“It would hardly be good manners for the Society not to send representatives to receive Kinomoto-san on her arrival,” said Eriol's mother, her tone lightly chastising. “And it’s the two of us who have the most fluency in Japanese.”

“And besides that,” added his father, “our only son returns after being gone for three years of declining every effort of ours to reach out—of course, we are coming to receive you the moment you arrive. We didn't want to wait another moment to see you.”

“You look so grown up,” his mother smiled, looking a little misty.

“Yes, well,” said Eriol tersely, his grip on his staff so tight his knuckles were white, “We should get moving. The Council doesn't like to be kept waiting.”

“You should hurry and introduce us, then,” his father scolded.

“Of course,” said Eriol in a wooden voice, and half-turned to address the group. “Everyone, these are my parents, Hiiragizawa Shinzou and Hiiragizawa Maya.” He gestured to his father and mother respectively. “Otou-sama, Okaa-sama, this is, of course, Kinomoto Sakura-san.”

“Hajimemashite,” Sakura greeted with a bow. “Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.”

“Behind her, is Daidouji Tomoyo-san,” Eriol continued, and Tomoyo bowed and gave a polite greeting as well. “I'm sure you recognize the two Guardians of the Clow, Yue and Keroberos.” He gestured to the two of them, and Yue dipped his head in a bow along with Keroberos beside him. “And these two are my own Guardians, Ruby Moon and Spinel Sun,” Eriol finished, and the two behind him bowed briefly as well.

“We are honored to meet you all,” said Shinzou, as he and Maya bowed in return.

“Kochira koso yoroshiku onegai shimasu,” Maya added.

“Now, if you'll please follow us, we will escort you to your meeting with the Council.” Shinzou bowed them out of the marble tholos with one hand gesturing them down the stairs to the courtyard beyond. Eriol indicated to Sakura with a tiny nod that she should go first, so she led the group out. Shinzou and Maya quickly caught up to the front, where Sakura, Eriol, and Tomoyo were walking abreast. Keroberos and Spinel Sun bracketed the group from either side, while Yue and Ruby Moon took up the rear.

Yue flicked a glance at Ruby Moon askance, noticing the worried slant of her brows. She and Spinel had seemed just as surprised as the rest of them to learn the identity of Eriol's parents. Had Eriol's guardians never met or seen his parents before?

They made their way across the rectangular manicured lawn that ran the length of the limestone courtyard, which was framed by large stone steps on either side that looked like they were for spectators to stand on. At the moment, the steps were mostly empty, save for a few mages walking along them or sitting and talking, all looking curiously over at the group. A small, pristine English garden bloomed at the far end, and behind it a grandiose Gothic cathedral loomed, with tall spires, flying buttresses, and pointed arches.

“No one quite knows when the Society was founded, but the earliest documents we have date back to the early thirteen-hundreds,” Shinzou was explaining to Sakura. “The Society used to have headquarters in Oxford University itself,  but over time it became necessary for concealment measures to be taken. This cathedral and its annexed wings were constructed in the mid-fourteen hundreds, here in the Wytham woods, and warded against non-magicals, who can explore the woods freely without ever finding the cathedral. The North Wing of the annex leads to an underground tunnel that is space-spliced to a magically concealed basement floor of the Old Bodleian Library on the university's campus.”

They mounted the wide, flat steps up to the arched entrance to the cathedral. Shinzou opened the heavy bronze doors and held it ajar for them to pass through. One by one they filed into the grandiose cathedral, the cavernous inside cool and smelling of incense, with vaulted ceilings high overhead and glowing stained glass along the walls. Maya took the lead now, guiding them up the long carpeted aisle and then off to the left just before they reached the altar, leaving the cathedral through the north portal which connected directly to the annex. From there, they traveled the length of the North Wing and half of the East Wing until finally reaching a set of tall double doors painted with the Society's blue and gold sun emblem.

Shinzou and Maya stood on each side of the doors, and Shinzou knocked before both of them pushed the doors open and bowed them inside.

“Douzo,” they both said.

Sakura led the way through the doors with a poise Yue usually only saw on her when she was casting. Eriol and Tomoyo went next, and then the four guardians entered single-file. Large as the doorway was, it still was too narrow to fit more than one of them at a time while their wings were out. Once inside, they fanned out in a half-circle around the other three.

The room was circular with a high domed ceiling. On a raised platform around the circumference of the room, members of the Council, dressed in their formal robes, sat behind a curved counter, high enough that they could look down on those standing on the floor, and that even Yue and Ruby Moon, tall as they were, had to crane their necks up to see the Councilmembers. Behind the Council, on the walls, were tall frescoes of King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable.

“Honorable Councilmembers,” Maya began in English, she and her husband now standing on either side of the group. “May I present Ms. Sakura Kinomoto, as well as her companions, Ms. Tomoyo Daidouji, and the venerable Guardians of the Clow, Cerberus and Yue. Also accompanying her, is former Society member Mr. Eriol Hiiragizawa, and his own created Guardians, Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon.”

Shinzou, standing close to Sakura and Tomoyo, murmured a translation of what his wife was saying in Japanese for the benefit of the girls.

The Councilman directly across from the door leaned forward in his seat to peer down at them. “Welcome, Ms. Kinomoto. I am Elias D. Hawthorne, Chairman of the Council. We, the Council of The Society, thank you for accepting our invitation to our Headquarters here in England. And of course, we are delighted to see Mr. Eriol Hiiragizawa here in our halls once again.”

Eriol's already tense posture went even more rigid at that. As soon as Shinzou finished translating, Sakura addressed the room.

“Thank you for your gracious invitation,” she said with a small bow, her voice clear and strong. It was a far cry from her usual intimidation when facing this kind of performance. She seemed to have come prepared. “It is an honor to make your acquaintance.”

Maya translated what Sakura had said into English.

“We hope that you enjoy your time here with us,” said Chairman Hawthorne. “The resources of our campus are freely made available to you during your stay. You can ask our staff for anything you may need or wish. And, though you declined our invitation to stay in our guest quarters, you and your companions are welcome to stay there at any point during your visit.”

After Shinzou's translation, Sakura dipped her head. “Thank you for your kind hospitality.”

“I hope you don't mind our asking, Ms. Kinomoto,” said Chairman Hawthorne. “But we are all very curious to know how it is you found the Book of Clow.”

There it was, just as Eriol had predicted, Yue thought with a glance at his back. Shinzou translated, and Sakura squared her shoulders, standing tall.

“I didn't find the Book. The Book found me,” she stated clearly.

At Maya's translation, the Council broke out into murmurs.

“Would you mind… elaborating on that a bit more, Ms. Kinomoto,” requested Chairman Hawthorne.

 “I heard a noise down in my father's basement,” Sakura answered after hearing Shinzou's translation. “When I went down to look, I saw a glowing book. When I touched it, it opened, and the Cards were all released except for the Windy. The Windy became my first Card, and helped me to begin to capture the others.”

More murmurs rippled around the room as Maya translated Sakura's answer. “How did the Book get into your father's basement?” one Councilwoman asked.

“My father is an archaeologist. He has many old and rare books in his library,” Sakura replied.

“Cerberus, you were the Guardian of the Book, were you not?” Chairman Hawthorne asked, turning to the lion guardian. “Why were the Cards released? Did you release them?”

“I was charged by Clow to guard the Book, yes,” Keroberos answered in English. “But the Seal was always meant to be broken by a magician with compatible magic. Once I realized that Sakura had broken the seal, I knew she was the one who was meant to recapture and master them.”

“A magician with compatible magic, you say?” Chairman Hawthorne asked, rubbing his chin. “So, theoretically, any compatible magician could have broken the Seal on the Book? What made you so certain that Ms. Kinomoto here was destined to become the new Master, if any compatible magician was capable?”

“Because she was the one to find the Book,” Keroberos answered.

“Or rather—if you'll forgive my interruption, Cerberus,” Eriol broke in, with an enigmatic smile, “—it was the Book which found Ms. Kinomoto.”

“Are you saying, Mr. Hiiragizawa,” said Chairman Hawthorne, frowning down at Eriol, “that you believe the Book has a will of its own?”

“The Cards have a will of their own,” replied Eriol. “The Book is an instrument of that will. The Book remained hidden until the Cards found a magician they wished to be their Master.”

“And you believe this because of the memories you have inherited from your past incarnation, Clow Reed?” Chairman Hawthorne continued.

“Yes,” Eriol replied coolly. “Though you could ask the Cards themselves. They have made their will quite clear.”

“If that's so, and the Cards chose her, then why did the Cards still need to be captured?” asked another Councilman.

Eriol smiled. “The Cards let themselves be found by Ms. Kinomoto because they wanted her to become their Master. But that didn't mean she didn't still need to master them. The Cards will only obey their Master. Ms. Kinomoto was chosen, but she still then had to prove herself worthy. Which she did, as you can see.”

“Hmm,” hummed Chairman Hawthorne thoughtfully. “And how long did it take, Ms. Kinomoto, for you to capture all the Cards?”

Once Shinzou had translated, Sakura answered, “About one year.” She hesitated, glancing at Eriol, who gave her a tiny shake of the head. Yue suspected she was asking him whether or not to mention that she hadn’t been the only one collecting them, and Eriol didn’t want them to know about Li Syaoran’s involvement.

“I see,” said Chairman Hawthorne. “And during Final Judgment, were you the only candidate, then?”

“No,” Yue answered, speaking up before Shinzou had finished translating for Sakura. “There was another.”

“Oh?” Chairman Hawthorne's bushy grey eyebrows raised. “And who was this second candidate?”

“The identities of candidates are confidential,” Yue replied firmly.

“I see.” Chairman Hawthorne sat back in his chair, his calculating gaze still on Yue. “And did you also have a ‘knowing' that Ms. Kinomoto was destined to be the next Master of the Clow, as Cerberus did?”

“Not until after she'd passed.” Yue folded his arms. “As the Judge, I was impartial during the trials.”

“Of course,” Chairman Hawthorne placated. “Well, then. I thank you all on behalf of the Council for indulging our curiosity. One last thing, if you don't mind, Ms. Kinomoto—may we see a demonstration of the magic of the Clow Cards? Every one of us has studied their magic, but none has had the privilege of witnessing it.”

Sakura was leaning toward Shinzou to better hear him as he finished translating. “Of course,” she nodded, and bowed. “If you would please observe.” She called forth her Star Staff with the full incantation, spinning it dexterously. Her Cards streamed out of her pocket, orbiting her as they glowed brightly.

Yue watched curiously. This must be what Eriol had asked her about earlier, what magic she had prepared to show the Council. What had she decided on?

“Earthy!” she summoned, pointing her Staff at one of the Cards. Earthy materialized, sweeping in a low circle around the room to create a thick layer of dark soil under their feet, covering the circle of marble floor.

“Wood!” Sakura called on next. Wood's nymph-like form appeared with a sweet smile, swooping down to the center of the circle of earth and sprouting a cherry tree from it, which quickly grew to a massive size, its branches reaching toward the domed ceiling high over the heads of the Councilmembers, who exclaimed in awe.

“Flower!” Sakura now cast, and Flower twirled with joy, dancing around the cherry tree and coaxing it into full bloom within seconds. Delicate pink cherry blossom petals began to flutter down over the room.

“Dark!” summoned Sakura, invoking one of her most powerful Cards. Dark rose straight up to the top of the dome, blocking the sunlight coming in through the windows and casting darkness over the room to create the illusion of night.

“Glow!” Sakura called, and tiny, fairy-like Glow flitted up the same way Dark had gone, and a moment later, soft green lights appeared against the darkness, giving the impression of stars that gently drifted down like snow.

She recalled her Cards to hand, and slipped them back into her pocket.

“Well done,” Eriol murmured quietly enough that the Council wouldn't hear. “That's just like you, Sakura-san.”

Looking up at the huge canopy above them, at a tree that looked a hundred years old trailing long, blossom-covered branches, Yue silently agreed. Rather than a flashy show of might, Sakura had picked a beautiful display of life, sharing something from her heart that she no doubt hoped her audience would enjoy. Clow would have been proud.

The Councilmembers murmured amongst themselves excitedly as they looked around at her work.

“Ms. Kinomoto,” called one of the Councilwomen down to Sakura over the voices of her fellows. “I was under the assumption that the Clow Cards were red. But they seem to be pink?”

“The Cards were red,” Sakura answered, once Shinzou had translated. “But they started to get low on the magic Clow-san had left them after I became the new Master. I had to reincarnate them all so that my magic could sustain them.”

The Council grew even noisier after Maya translated that statement, some merely surprised while others seemed agitated or alarmed.

“And the magic circle?” another Councilman called over the voices of his fellows, who quieted down to listen. “It's different from Clow's.”

“That circle is my own,” Sakura answered, after Shinzou's translation. “My magic comes from the star.”

“As she said, Ms. Kinomoto reincarnated all the Cards with her own magic,” Eriol added. “Essentially, there are no more Clow Cards. Now, they are all Sakura Cards.” He smiled serenely as the room broke out into noise once more.

Yue looked up at Chairman Hawthorne, who hadn't spoken since Sakura's demonstration. He was frowning, brows furrowed in thought, as he considered Sakura. Yue wondered what he was thinking, and how it would affect his master.

 

 

 

Notes:

So now we've met Eriol's parents! I gave him Eurasian parentage, as Clow had, though it's his father who is Asian, because his family name is Japanese, whereas Clow's father was European. (Incidentally I am also Eurasian. Is that one of the reasons I like Eriol so much?? Hmmmmm) Are you enjoying that awkward tension?! I sure am. More Hiiragizawa family drama coming up!

Also, the Wytham Woods featured in this chapter is a real place that you can really visit! Check it out here. (No promises on finding hidden magical campuses though.) The Wytham Woods are currently cared for by Oxford University, and are used for research and educational purposes. The campus would be located on one of the grassland areas that are marked as "no access" to visitors. I wanted to use existing landmarks for the story, so that it's believable that The Society could exist in our world.

I chose to give the campus Gothic-style architecture because that is what Oxford University has, which The Society's campus is modeled after. Apparently, Gothic architecture is considered one of the "most English" architectures, which is why Parliament is also styled as a Gothic palace. Here is a link to the layout of a Gothic Cathedral. Imagine the annexes of the campus to extend as a long rectangle behind the Cathedral, with the north-south axis of the Cathedral's cross making up one of the short sides of the rectangle.

Did you like Sakura's demonstration? I thought about it for a while. I wanted her to do something that was representative of her character. I imagined Eriol coming to see Sakura the night before to coach her through formalities with the Council, and tell her to expect The Society to ask her for a demonstration. And then, once he bid them good night, I imagined she would ask Tomoyo for advice, and Tomoyo would basically suggest that she be herself. So this is Sakura being herself <3

See you next week! Would love it if you left me a comment~<3

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 3 of Seasons of the Moon