Point of Presence
Chapter 7: Dreaming of Reality
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Touya was still soundly asleep when I felt Sakura return. Dusk had fallen already, and the already-dark sky melted into black. The rain outside still fell heavily, occasionally splashing Touya's window and distracting me from my thoughts.
I slid from his arms, leaving a pillow and the stuffed rabbit in my place. I allowed myself one more glance at his sleeping form before I tore myself away, walking out of his room as quietly as I could. He whimpered in his sleep, and that made me wonder even more. Maybe he and I actually were connected in some way.
I walked down the upstairs hallway, and was nearly run over by the Sakura, who had just bounded up the stairway. "Hoee!" she yelled, and I quickly put my fingers across her lips, hushing her. When she calmed, I let her speak. "Hi, Yue! I didn't know you were here. Kero's downstairs. Where's Oniichan?"
"Mistress, come with me downstairs." She gave me a puzzled look, but followed as I swept past her, shrinking my wings into nothingness. I sat down on the couch in the living room, and gestured for her to sit next to me.
"Yue, what is it? Did something happen?" I nodded solemnly.
"Your brother is very sick, Sakura. He has been all week." Sakura nodded, her face worried. "He can't even eat."
"You've been with him all day, haven't you?" I nodded.
"I took him home from school, yes."
"Are you staying here tonight?" I hesitated. My senses told me that I should stay here. Something wasn't right. Sakura took my face in her small hands, breaking my thought process. "You don't look well, either, Yue. You look tired. Don't stay here tonight. Go home and rest. I'll call you if he gets any worse. I promise. Kero and I can keep an eye on him."
I looked at her pensively. Should I leave? "Yue, get some rest. You can't help Oniichan if you're falling asleep on the job." She smiled, trying to reassure me. It, unfortunately, didn't work as she had intended. "I've got Yukito's phone number. Go home now."
I nodded, and without letting myself hesitate further, flew home. The second I landed, I donned Yukito's form, stripping down to my boxers on the way to my bedroom. I was deeply, unfortunately not dreamlessly, asleep before my face touched the cool fabric of the pillow.
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I was held from behind, the mage's strong arms clasped around my stomach as I sat back against him. We were on the roof of our home in England. Only his breath, Keroberos' light snores, and the sounds of the night found my ears. He bent to kiss my cheek affectionately as we sat there, staring up at the moon, my namesake.
"We can't stay like this forever, can we?" I asked him. He shook his head, although not sadly.
"No, we can't. I will miss these days. But we will stay like this for the rest of my life. Promise me that you won't give up on your life after I'm gone, Yue," he pleaded.
"I... I cannot promise that, Master, but... I will try."
"And I thank you for that in advance, koi. I want you and Keroberos to live and be happy." Clow's lips met mine, and I felt his magic making its way into me, filling my being with a cool blue wash. I was left gasping from the sensation as his flesh left contact with mine, and I could still feel his lips on mine, his power coiling inside of me.
"Am I dreaming this?" I asked him, still out of breath. He nodded slowly. "This isn't real?"
"Oh, no, Yue, this is very real. Your magic has grown since you came into existence. It has surpassed even mine, and hails my spirit each night with a persistence that I cannot deny. I'm here because you needed me, and called to me."
"What did you just do to me?" I asked, feeling the slightest bit frightened. I'd never wielded this amount of power before.
"I boosted your strength. Your power has not yet matured. It began it's transformation when you Touya gave up his spirit vision, and the rest of his magic to you. My addition will complete it. You'll need it soon, koi."
"When, Master? How will I know when it's needed?" I asked, leaning the slightest bit further into his embrace.
"You'll know, Yue," he said, punctuating my name with a deep, gentle, undemanding kiss. "Wake now, my love. Someone needs you."
"No, Master! Don't leave me again," I pleaded softly.
"I'll never be gone so long as you need me. I can return when ever you dream of me. Go on," he urged. "Wake yourself now. Don't let happiness out of your grasp. It's my gift to you." I suddenly wished I could weep to relieve the ache in my throat. It was so tight that I could barely breathe past it.
I snapped awake with an anguished cry as the trilling of the phone began to sound.