+ Rise White Angel +
Summary: Clow Reed was the only person Yue cared for. When he died, Yue turned himself to stone to erase painful memories, only to be released centuries later by a little girl. He came off as emotionless and distant, but having to live with her, his heart softened and he began to develop strange feelings for her, in the process, remembering parts of his past life. He had fallen for the young princess… but, didn't she love Prince Li?
Disclaimer: CCS is not mine. My ideas came from several Yue stories, credits to them.
Story Keys: "Talking" / 'Thinking' / Flashback / Emphasizing / SCREAMING
A/n: SxS then SxY. Constructive flames accepted. Oh, and be nice.
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-Chapter One-
Turning into Stone
X.Reed Mansion..ox
Clow shifted his view and saw his creation lingering quietly by his doorway. He exhaled deeply as his heavy gaze on Yue made the quiet young man look up with a surprised expression.
"What's the matter Yue?" Clow spoke aloud, in a stern yet gentle tone.
Yue walked up closer towards him, and said, ever so calmly, "I wanted to see what you were doing."
Clow allowed his head to drop back into the pliable cushions of his armchair and gave a yawning sigh. He set the book back on the old, granite table, and then murmured, "A good book to relax the nerves."
Yue stood still; his lip unmoving and so was the rest of him. He stood like a ghost. Clow frowned, the wrinkles on his face deepening. "I am old now. You do know that?"
Yue nodded solemnly.
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"I created you, Yue, to guard the moon. There will be someone in the future who wants to destroy the moon. If the moon is destroyed, then humanity will perish," Clow said sternly.
Yue bowed, letting his white wings float outward. "Yes, Master."
Clow shook his head and gave a pleasant chortle. "Please… just call me Clow. After all, I am like a father to you, a friend. Don't act like I am your master."
A frail smile graced Yue's angelic features. "Hai… Clow-sama."
"Now that that's settled. You can go ahead and do whatever may please you."
"Hai."
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"Sometimes I wonder what you will do if I am to leave this world," Clow said, mostly to himself. "You know that I love you very much. I want you to be happy."
Yue's arms were draped to his side in a more formal standing as he stared curiously at Clow. "Happy?" he said, tasting its meaning.
"You definitely deserve it from all the years you've been loyal to me."
Unsure, he nodded curtly to prove his understanding. Clow's face softened. "The moon is exquisitely pale and lovely tonight. You may go outside."
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A week had passed since that small chat. Clow decided to bring Yue to the marketplace, wanting Yue to mingle with the crowd rather than having him stay put in the mansion, like a hermit. He made sure that Yue had a believable disguise, which consisted of faded brown khakis and a cotton-white button shirt. Clow had shortened Yue's usually long, silky white-hair into a short, messy style which gave him a boyish appeal. He looked just like any other man, but even handsomer.
"These clothes are odd. Why must I wear them?" Yue asked irritably.
"Odd or not, it's a time to get used to them. People wear it all the time, and you should make it your habit to do the same." Clow smiled as he buttoned up the last sleeve around Yue's wrist.
"You never wear such clothes. You're always wearing a cape. Why?"
"Ah Yue, so curious and observant, just full of questions… I wear different apparels because I am a sorcerer. But when I go out of town, I'll have to wear something suitable to not stand out," Clow replied in mere friendliness. "Besides, we wouldn't want to attract attention from people who aren't used to the way we normally dressed at home, just like how you're not used to what you're wearing right now."
Yue grinned. "I understand now."
Clow patted Yue gently on the shoulder. "All finished. Let's go now; there will be a bunch of people we'll meet, and I'm hoping that you'll talk to a few."
Yue glowered. Never once in his life had he talk to a stranger other than Clow. The thought of meeting an outsider made him cringe. He was satisfied with only Clow. Nonetheless, he didn't want to displease his master. Therefore, he would obey, no matter how much he loathed it.
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The village was crowded with noisy sellers who had goods to sell, and buyers who were gazing and socializing. The weather was warm and sticky, contrasting to the cool environment back home. Yue just itched to leave the village right away. The sun was too bitter upon his sensitive skin, and he didn't like it one bit. He liked cool, nightly climates better, like the area in which they lived.
"Clow-sama!"
Clow flipped around at the sudden call of his name, and smiled gaily. "Ah Hitoro-san, is that really you? Long time no see!" They shared a friendly hand shake and hug as Yue watched on in astonishment.
"Seventeen years to be exact," Hitoro replied, chuckling as he broke the hug. "And who is this courteous fellow here?"
Yue stumbled back when the old man's eyes fixated on him. "My name is Yue Reed, sir," he responded in such politeness, it made several female passersby smile. The man lifted a hand out in front of Yue, and Yue glared, apparently confused.
"Yue," Clow whispered and gently pushed the youth forward. Yue realized that Clow's counterpart wanted to shake his hand as a sign of salutation. He flushed at how ignorant he was. Yue awkwardly took the man's hand and shook it.
"Gomen ne…" he whispered hastily, making Hitoro erupt in a vigorous set of chuckles.
"Your son is a funny lad!" Hitoro bellowed in a nice sounding voice, but Yue was caught off-guard when Hitoro addressed him as Clow's son. 'I am simply his creation created to guard the moon.' Yue explained to himself over and over in his head.
Clow grinned. "So what have you been up to after all these years, Hitoro-san?"
"Well you know… I settled down after I left the Academy. I have two children now," a smile reached Hitoro's lip, "and I have a daughter just about your age." He looked to Yue with a crooked grin. "Shall I introduce the two of you?"
Yue quirked an eyebrow, puzzled. "Uh…" 'Daughter as in girl?'
"Her name's Nakuru and she'll be thrilled to meet someone like you!"
"I d-don–"
"Father, did you call me?" A girl with long, dark brown hair and large, brown eyes came up from behind Hitoro, smiling cutely.
"Ah, Nakuru. I want you to meet Clow-sama and his son, Yue-kun."
"Ohayou, Clow-sama," she greeted. "Ohayou, Yue-san." She grinned mischievously.
Yue dropped his gaze and blushed profoundly. He had been wordlessly staring at her for the longest time before realizing it. "Ohayou, Nakuru-san," he eventually greeted.
Nakuru smiled at Yue's shy character. He could barely keep eye contact with her. He must be around eighteen, yet still bashful around girls! But that wasn't why he was unskilled in the presence of a lady, more because he never met a girl in his life and it felt strange to be standing in front of one. It made him have strange feelings.
Yue was created full grown, so he never went through childhood where he was supposed to be showered with years of love. He never had any experiences of first love. Five years wasn't enough, and Yue remained semi-emotionless.
"You don't look like you're from around here."
Yue flinched at her squeaky pitch, but let it passed as if it were nothing. "Because I'm not. I live high in the mountains, that way, I am close to the moon," Yue said in a low, fleeting tone.
Clow saw the discomforting look plastered all over Yue's face, and he inwardly sighed. "We better get going," Clow said to Hitoro, breaking their conversation. A breath of relief escaped Yue when he heard what Clow had said. Nakuru was such a grating individual, whom Yue already found intolerable to be around. Her prying gaze unnerved him.
"That soon, Clow?"
"Yup, that soon." Clow bowed and Yue followed suit.
Nakuru clasped her hands together. "Come back soon, alright!" she cried.
They continued their way down the dusty path of the busy market streets. People were scurrying about and some were gawking at Yue and Clow as they passed on. The men's glares were envious, much harder towards Yue than Clow.
"Why do they stare?" Yue whispered a slight annoyance to his pitch.
"They only stare because they're curious," Clow whispered back. "They have nothing against you."
"Why are the males giving me bad looks?"
"They're jealous by your ability to catch all the ladies' attention," Clow explained. "They stare at you because you're tall and slender with lighter skin than all the rest. You have qualities that'll make them stare for many hours on end and never once blink." Clow smiled when a frightened look flitted across Yue's face. "You're no alien through their eyes. People stare at you because you're handsome."
"Handsome?" Yue turned away from Clow and looked at all the women waving and winking at him. He scowled. "Handsomeness is not one of my best qualities. It's annoying."
"Just ignore them," Clow said. "That's what I did when I was your age–"
"Can we please go home?" Yue whispered. Clow's smile dropped. He wanted Yue to meet many people in order to grow accustom to them. He wanted Yue to open up and act friendly to anybody that crossed his path, except those who meant harm.
"If that's what you want?"
"That's what I wish," Yue said firmly.
"Okay then," Clow whispered sadly. Yue and Clow began their trip back home, at times, Clow would stop to pant and wheeze. It was only a short distance, but it was really tough for the old guy.
"Are you tired, Clow? Do you want to rest?" Yue asked, worry laced in his tone.
"Ah, a short break will do."
Yue looked intently at Clow's features, and saw the aging in him he never noticed before, like those fine lines and white hair. Yue had snow-white hair as well, but the graying hair on Clow's head and eyebrows proved Clow's aging. If only Clow was immortal just like he was…
"Can't you use your magic to take us home?"
"Using my magic takes away so much of my strength," Clow wheezed.
"If only I could use my magic…"
Clow shook his head. "Your magic will only activate on the day the evildoer comes for the moon. Till then, your powers are inactive."
"I can fly you home…"
Clow shook his head once again. "Doing so will only attract attention."
The thought of being immortal as a good thing disintegrated, and the desire to become mortal crossed Yue's mind. He wanted to be normal so that people wouldn't stare so often, so that he could talk easily with people without feeling insecure. He wasn't a person with limited life; he was more like an immortal angel, a creation created by Clow…That was it.
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It had been two months since they last went to the marketplace. Clow would constantly bring it up, and Yue would always be unwilling to go.
"Don't you want to meet that nice girl…? Ah, what was her name?"
"Nakuru," Yue said disgustedly. "No."
"Now I'm sure she wants to see you again and don't you–"
"No, I don't want to see her," Yue replied coolly.
He turned around and exited into the garden area that Clow had built for him years ago to leisure in. Looking outside the window, Clow watched Yue wander aimlessly around the garden walls. He usually went outside to stock up on energy. The moon gave Yue strength, which was why he had to protect it, for it was his life as well.
"Yue," sighed Clow, "so quiet, so lonely. If you don't know what happy is, how will you ever know what love will ever be? I want you to know love, feel love and offer it in return." Clow continued to stare at Yue without him realizing it. He sighed once more and then closed the curtains while pulling out a book.
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"Clow-sama?"
It was later that night when a strange feeling squeezed at Yue's chest. He looked away from the moon and at the dark mansion, feeling an eerie force pull him in. The horrible pain in his chest ceased to diminish, and seemed to grow worse. Something was certainly wrong, so Yue entered the mansion to find out.
He turned the doorknob to Clow's study chamber and slid inside. Clow appeared to be sleeping on an armchair, book on his lap, and hands set over it. Yue's eyes softened as he went to take the book, reading the title quietly to himself. He winced when the pain in his heart remained. His gaze landed back on Clow. Clow's skin was unusually pale, Yue noticed. Yue carefully put his fingers just below the old man's nose. No breathing, Yue panicked. He pressed two fingers to Clow's neck, no pulse. His skin felt cold and hard. What could be wrong?
"C-Clow… onegai…" Yue placed him on the ground and breathed into his mouth, pushing at his chest as he breathed, hoping to revive the old man. He kept trying despite the fact that Clow died of old age. Clow was old, so his weak heart just gave out.
Yue was immortal.
He was going to live for eternity without a companion.
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Yue had made a small grave for Clow under the Cherry Blossom trees. Even though it was small, it was still a peaceful grave site. He plucked a blossom from the tree and dropped it over the dirt of Clow's grave.
"Happy?" Yue muttered softly. He had been thinking about what Clow had said to him months ago. Tears glazed over his ice-blue eyes as he walked away. He missed Clow very much. He never thought that his heart would hurt this much from Clow's departure.
"I was happy with you Master Clow. Why did you have to leave so soon?"
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Several months had passed and Yue remained grief-stricken from Clow's demise. Yue felt it best to leave the gloomy mansion, for it reminded him too much of Clow. He was lonely and depressed. He couldn't deal with Clow's aura forever lingering in the mansion. He wanted to get rid of all the memories of Clow.
'Why keep memories for a person who doesn't exist anymore?' he thought bluntly.
Yue stretched his broad wings and took off into the sky. He flew down, deep into the thick, murky forest where he was sure he was secluded from everybody he once knew or met. No one wanted him. He didn't want them after having bad experiences, like the time at the marketplace. Moreover, people would be afraid of him because he was immortal. He didn't age. He lived forever. People would get suspicious…
His posture was very still. He hadn't moved at all from the exact same spot he stood for at least several days now. It was like he stopped living. He didn't eat or drink. Well, he didn't need to; he was created that way, so it didn't bother him. What bothered him was the emptiness swarming in his heart. He wanted so badly to rid of his current feelings.
Every day, it would rain over him. There would be snow, then rain again. There would be no sun; he saw only the moon because its rays were the ones strong enough that could penetrate through solid masses of leaves and shrubs to reach him.
Overtime, his heart hardened…
His body grew rigid…
His mind stopped functioning…
He turned into stone.
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A/n: I revised this chapter. Hopefully I will to the rest. Send feedbacks and encourage me! :-D