Point of Presence
Chapter 6: Sympathy
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Three hours later, Touya was peacefully asleep, his arms around me, curled up within my wings. About an hour ago, I'd helped Touya down to the kitchen upon his request. I went about making him something I thought he'd be able to keep down: broth and soda crackers. He ate it slowly as I sat next to him at the table, staring down at my hands, trying to look non-threatening. He had a blanket wrapped around him as he tried to drank from the mug. He did so slowly. The look of concentration on his face told me that he was trying to keep it down. When he'd finished about half of the mug, he set it on the table next to the plateful of crackers.
He shut his eyes, leaning back in the chair. "Yue... I-- " he paused, shuddering. "I'm going to be sick." There was a panicky note in his voice as he struggled to stand. I led him into the bathroom, none too soon. He collapsed in front of the toilet, mere moments before his stomach proceeded to empty its contents. I stood in the doorway, wincing as I heard Touya. I'd seen him ill before, but never violently so. I had the foresight to have a cold washcloth and glass of water ready for him when he was through.
He sat back against the counter, breathing heavily, his eyes still squeezed shut, a residual tear making its way down his face. I knelt beside him, offering the cloth to him. He accepted it gratefully, wiping roughly, angrily at his mouth. I handed him the glass of water, and he drank some, soothing his parched throat.
"I'm sorry," he gasped, his voice scratchy, "that you had to see that." My eyes narrowed in concern.
"Hush, To-ya," I said softly. "I guess that was a little much, ne? Let's get you back to bed." He tried to muffle a whimper as I gathered him, helping him to stand. His legs gave out halfway up the stairs. He'd exhausted himself after an entire week of this. I carried him the rest of the way, cradled in my arms like a child. I could see his eyes darkened with lack of sleep, and his face had thinned slightly. I set him on his bed, pulling the blankets over him. He immediately shivered with the contact of the cooled touch of the bedsheets, curling up around himself.
I was at a loss for words when he looked up at me, shivering, obviously wanting to ask something of me. He'd almost overcome that destructive pride of his. Almost, and probably temporarily. That pride was something that was uniquely Touya. He looked to be so ill that even he was willing to admit to needing help.
"Yue," he said, a shiver running through his body, catching him in the middle of my name, and making his voice waver. "I... Will you... " I smiled sadly, nodding. Even as miserable as he was, he couldn't bring himself to ask for help. I slid into the bed next to him, laying there quietly for a moment.
I restrained a light gasp as I felt his arms finding their way around me, hoping he didn't hear my heart quicken. I regained myself, wrapping the still-shivering boy next to me in my wings. He settled his cheek against my hair, and I allowed myself to rest my forehead against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"Arigotou, Yue," he said softly into my hair, then fell silent. "I don't feel so bad now. Not so sick." My brow furrowed, and I wondered what he had meant by that. Was there something more to this than I'd originally thought? I was left in silence to ponder as Touya slowly fell asleep next to me.
I remembered the last time I held Clow in my arms, how weak he felt, and how weak I felt for not being able to do anything more to help him. Touya clung to me in his sleep, still shivering lightly next to me. I thought back to Clow's last night alive, and had to suppress my tears. That was the night I thought that whatever little heart I had, curled up on the bed next to my Master and died along with him. Not even the promises he'd made that night could comfort me. Promises that he'd be back, that I was truly a piece of his soul, that I would live on and find another. I didn't want that, all those years ago. I just wanted my Master, my family, alive, well, and happy.
Was he right, though? He kept every promise but one. He was back, albeit in two separate incarnations. He'd proven that I was actually a piece of his soul, because I felt his death, his births, as well as his descendants. Touya was a descendant of one of Clow's reincarnations. I'd felt him since the start.
But... did I love him? "This isn't the end for you, Yue. For me either. We're only both beginners. When we next meet, we'll both be in love with someone else." Those had been Clow's words to me, and Kaho's words to Touya. Could she and Clow's reincarnation... I sighed as I realized it was probably true. He'd found Kaho, and... I'd found Touya. It didn't startle me as I'd expected. I let myself ponder this new revelation for a while, just laying in the circle of Touya's strong arms.
My fingers made their way to my wrist, winding themselves around it without any conscious thought on my behalf. Clow had made sure that there was someone waiting for me when I woke . That's how he'd been so sure of himself. I felt the first tear of emotion since the Clow had admitted to loving me sliding down the side of my face. "Arigotou, Clow. I'm sorry for ever doubting you."
I molded myself to Touya's chest, then, and let myself forget everything except the sound of his heartbeat beneath my ear.