I hate physics a lot…

Chapter 24 – Syaoran

Yue saved my life.

I know I shouldn’t be so surprised, but I am… and I understand, though, somehow. Because it’s a step forwards, amazing… after all, I’m not Clow.

He… trusts me.

That’s important.

Unfortunately, when I wake up, there’s not much time to explain before the Lock card spell Yue cast on Voldemort wears off and he sprints straight for Harry who has somehow gotten the stone…

Dumbledore steps back, readying a spell, but I’m faster, and without a thought, Windy, Watery, Firey, and Earthy all surround him. Yue looks impressed, definitely. Dumbledore looks shocked. Harry and Ron are still out.

What’s going on?

I… I just created Earthy and Windy? But the four elementals… Sakura had problems using two at once, but all four! And yet I don’t feel tired in the least.

Yue smiles at me.

I smile back, and then I feel two other cards join them.

Dark… and Light.

The two strongest cards in the deck.

Suddenly, I know what to do.

Cards of Clow and moon and sun,

Again seal what was once undone,

Firey, Watery, purify,

Earthy, Windy, magnify,

Light and Dark together fly,

Seal this darkness deep inside!

Then there’s a flash, and Voldemort is gone… for now. I smile at Yue, and then, suddenly, there’s pressure on my back.

Wings? Like Fly…

That’s when I realize – I look up into the Mirror, that cursed mirror, and I see myself. Just me…

I’m… happy?

Inside my soul, I can hear voices… the cards! They’re singing, but the spirits… a part of me… how?

Yet, somehow, I can feel Clow smiling at me, as Yue hugs me. Yes, hug. Voluntarily! Will wonders never cease?

And Dumbledore smiles too, and claps me on the back, and then we’re taking Harry up to the Hospital Wing and everyone is staring but I’m too happy to care.

I can always use Erase later.

Really.

Yue smiles as we walk up to the high tower with Dumbledore. However, both of us frown when we see who’s waiting in his office.

Eriol…

My father.

Clow’s reincarnation.

What is he doing here?! This is not here… this isn’t Tomoeda! I mean, surely we can’t be… oh, well, he did say he transferred from England, but!

I’m ready to faint.

I can feel the cards worry as they try to decide what to do. Yes, Eriol/Clow was their original creator, but these aren’t the Clow cards. These are mine! My own!

Yue looks miffed, if he can. Yue was never one to show much emotion though, so I guess I’ll have to start talking. I face Eriol.

“Eriol.”

I’m not going to call him father!

Eriol smiles that creepy smile at me. “Ohayo Syaoran-kun. How has life been?”

How has life been? I just helped destroy Voldemort and that’s all he can ask? At least he left me alone this year, mostly. “Why do you care? I thought Sakura was more important!”

I think he’s wincing but it’s hard to tell. Well, it’s true! Besides, I still haven’t forgiven him for the thread magic he pulled on me! Wounds of the heart take much longer to heal than physical scars…

I can feel the cards nervous inside.

Well?

Finally, Yue breaks the silence. “Hiirigizawa-kun.” Very soft, but not respectful in a way he would be to clow; no ‘Master clow’ or ‘Clow-sama’ here… interesting.

Eriol sighs.

“Well?” I’m impatient. They must have called me up here for a reason. I just want to fly away… wait, I can fly now, and surely I could just grab Yue and run?

“We have a proposition to make.” Dumbledore says carefully.

“You want me to make a deal with you?”

“Yes, something of that sort.’ Eriol agrees. ‘I didn’t expect your power to have matured so completely though… odd..”

I’m still waiting.

“Harry Potter.”

“What about him?” Seriously, do these people just like talking in circles or what? A straight answer would be nice.

Yue envelopes me in his arms, wings coming up around us in a protective shield. Neither of us has forgotten about Voldemort.

I’m smart enough to know that the sealing isn’t permanent.

“You want us to guard him.”

Dumbledore looks shocked. “How did you-?”

“You just admitted it.”

I suppose it’s not a bad thing, since I do consider Harry a friend of sorts, but not a confidante. No, there are plenty of secrets about me that he will never know…

No matter.

Sakura hid things from me. I loved her.

Yue hid from me – no, Yukito did, but I don’t hold it against him at all. He didn’t really know either.

So since I’m not even in love with Harry, whom should it matter if I’m hiding from him? Still…

“Why me? There are plenty of adult wizards around, aren’t there?”

Dumbledore looks nervous. “That is correct, however…”

“What?”

“The government and I are at odds, so I could not send one of them, and the teachers here all have jobs.”

“So…”

They’re sending me? As … what? Just a guard? Or as a living sacrifice in case someone tries to hurt Harry? Suddenly the prospect looks a lot bleaker.
“No.”

“What?”

“I will protect him as a friend, but if you want me to guard him, I can’t and I won’t! I’m just a magician! I’m only thirteen, I’m nowhere near old enough yet!”

“Syaoran, calm down!”

I know I’m glaring at Eriol/Clow/whoever else he is.

“Why?”

“Listen. It’s not that bad. You just need to spend two weeks of summer vacation with him…”

Only two weeks? Maybe…

“What do I get?” Surely they aren’t expecting me to guard someone just out of the kindness of my heart, are they?

“It pays for your Hogwarts schooling.”

“May I remind you, Professor Dumbledore, that I never wanted to come here? I had no other choice!”

Dumbledore sighs. “Would you leave him to die?”

Harry’s not even very good with magic, though… but still. It still smarts that no one considers my feelings.

Hmph.

“Fine. Two weeks.”

And with that, I leave, Yue behind me. Someone else can deal with this later. But shimatta, what happened to my life and free will?

Dream… Illusion… Mirror… all lies…

I’m falling again… why? Isn’t it over? What’s going on? Yue! Help me!

End Chapter

Completed 2/7/05

Yue: …

Phantomness: *hiding*

Syaoran: What’s it with me fainting all the time?