Title: An Eternal Blessing for Peach Blossoms and Snow Bunnies

Chapter 1: Careless Whispers, Unusual Offers

Author: seizansha

Disclaimer: It’s CLAMP’s universe, I’m only playing in it.
Pairings: future Touya/Yukito and Touya/OC.

AN: just a friendly reminder I’m working up to Touya/Yukito.
Anybody else notice CLAMP gave Sakura all CCSTouya's powers? Since he is Clow's son in this, I'm giving him some new ones. Here's one.
Oh, and if Touya seems OOC I'm sorry. I just think he'd be just as protective of their kingdom as he is of Sakura.

“Your Majesty…”

“Touya-ou…”

“Touya,” Yukito called, gently shaking him.

Touya jumped as his chin slid off his hand, “What?”

Yukito sighed, reaching across the papers scattered over Touya’s desk, taking his hand. “Touya, you have to concentrate. You’ve still got work to do,” his gaze fell to the hand he was still holding. One tiny moth fluttered in his chest as he realized Touya wasn’t pulling away, making him smile a little, “I know how much you miss Sakura-hime Touya, but you’ve got to focus on your duties.”

He slumped back in his chair with a “Humph, I could care less about making another caravan route to the east.”

“But Touya-” a knock on the door cut him off.

They turned to each other in confusion, “Were you expecting anyone?” Touya asked.

“No, there aren’t any meetings planned for this afternoon,” Yukito replied.

Using one of the few abilities he’d gained from his father, Touya mentally summoned the guard. “The Royal Seamstress, Hisae,” the guard announced with a slow nod as she stepped around him before leaving just as quietly.

She slowly lowered her hood and he was reminded why most men couldn’t help watching her. He couldn’t deny she was beautiful – all that blue-black hair you just wanted to touch cascading over her shoulder down to her waist, those full lips that she was biting nervously. And that’s what really drew you in; she had such an open, comforting demeanor with an almost bashful humility that makes you want to protect her. Or break her.

But what caught him from the beginning were those eyes. Those exotic lilac eyes. They made him remember that day, finding them in one of Mother’s favorite books, watching Father conjure them out of thin air for her. It wasn’t just the unusual color; her eyes belayed that humility, all her curiosity, her courage and strength was obvious in her eyes. She might seem shy and quiet, but one look in those eyes and you knew she could be counted on, trusted.

There was only one other that made him feel like this.

“What brings you here Hisae-chan?” Yukito’s voice broke him out of it.

Hisae kept her head low, bowing to them, “Your Majesty, Your Eminence, I… there’s a lot I need to tell you… s-something I want to a-ask of you.”

“Hisae please,” Touya sighed, “I haven’t had to remind you to drop the formalities in years. We’re all friends here Hisae.”

She shook her head vigorously, her hair flying around her, “No! No, there’s too many lives at stake Your Majesty!” her voice quivering, one hand covered her mouth.

Slamming his hands on the table, Touya snapped to his feet, “What do you mean ‘lives at stake’? Hisae, what’s going on?”

Yukito was halfway around the table, trying to calm him down, “Touya-ou, please keep your voice down, we don’t want to scare anybody,” he turned to find Hisae just as he’d expected, both hands over her mouth now, eyes wide in shock. He wasn’t the only one that’d seen Touya truly mad now. Giving up trying to get Touya back to his seat, Yukito took his place at his side before turning to Hisae with an apologetic smile, “Hisae-chan, would you please sit down and tell us what you mean.”

She nodded before taking Yukito’s seat. “As-as a seamstress I tend to get overlooked, ignored while I’m working, so I overhear a lot. I try to follow my mother’s example; just keep quiet and don’t tell. B-but Mother always told the Late King anything she thought was threatening, dangerous.”

“You have too, for both my father and me,” Touya cut in, “What’s going on Hisae?”

“Most of the nobility believe two weeks is more than enough time for your grief,” she hung her head, turning towards Yukito. “That… that this talk of the Princess’s… ‘quest’ is just your d-denial… that she-”

The table jumping made her snap back to him, “It’s a lie! Sakura’s still alive!”

Hisae nodded, “And I pray for her safe return almost as much as you Tou-Your Majesty.” She watched as his head fell over the desk, reluctant to keep going, “But… they keep comparing these last couple of weeks with the Late King’s grief at… the Queen’s death. All major acts and projects are still on hold; you’re only getting the everyday duties accomplished because the servants, the army is still loyal to you… And there’s still the m-matter-”

“How can they expect me to even consider an heir at a time like this!” Touya griped, sitting down with his head in his hands, “How can they compare this to Mother’s… she’d been sick for so long…”

They both stayed still, letting him have his moment of grief. Yukito reached out for him just as he sighed, running his hands through his hair. “So where’s the danger coming from?” Touya’s voice slowly got stronger.

“What’s happening Hisae-chan?” Yukito spoke up as Touya sat straighter.

“Who’s plotting against me?” Touya almost commanded.

She couldn’t turn away from that cool gaze, “I-I don’t know who started it, but there’s whispers of rebellion… Yasha-dono has been secretly meeting with the Funbari king, and… there’s more than one plotting to get their daughter or sister as Queen only to…” she had to turn away, “to kill you.”

The gasp got out before he could stop it, “We weren’t told things were getting this bad! How could this happen?” Yukito said, digging through the papers on Touya’s desk.

“How many?” Touya’s voice hadn’t changed, “How many Hisae?”

She nodded softly before turning back, her tear-filled eyes locking with his. “At least three,” she said softly with a tremble.

“But why rebellion?”

“L-like I already said, whoever’s started it is telling everyone that things are only being done by those who are still loyal; that you’re neglecting everything on this ‘delusion’ the Princess is still alive,” her tears started rolling down her cheeks, even as she swallowed hard, “That the King is crazy and needs to be removed.”

He clenched his jaw, “And that bastard Yasha is planning to overthrow me with the help of Funbari.” She nodded. “Why now?”

“I-I’m sorry,” she pressed her lips, holding back a sob, “Yasha-dono rarely comes to the shop… I’d hoped it was all rumor, gossip, but…” it slipped out, “Seiten and Kouten are always fighting and I’ve ca-caught Taisei sneaking off at night… Masa’s joined Seiten in the army. Eiichi and even Kenta-kun are hearing things from our caravan riders.”

“It’s okay Hisae, I understand,” Touya sighed as Yukito smiled sadly, “It’s hitting home. Your brothers are getting involved and it looks like I don’t know what the hell’s going on in my own kingdom.”

She tried to pull herself together, wiping at her tears with her cloak hem, “I truly am sorry I didn’t say anything sooner, but I thought you knew, were doing something …” she turned red-rimmed eyes to him, “I felt you needed some time to just miss her.”

“But that’s all I’ve done,” he slumped in his chair, covering his face with his hands, “Father’d be ashamed of me,” he whispered.

“No he wouldn’t!” Yukito jumped at his words, “The Late King knew how devoted you were to Sakura-hime!”

“I wouldn’t say a-ashamed,” Hisae whispered, making Yukito snap to her, Touya peek through his fingers. “He would be just as worried, as scared as you; but he wouldn’t let it stop him from doing his duties. Clow-ou believes in Sakura-hime, that she’ll make it back okay.”

He smiled a bit at her words, nodding softly he got a weak smile back. Sitting up again, he remembered what she’d said at the beginning, “You said there was something you wanted to ask of me. What did you want me to do Hisae, step up and do my job?”

“In a way,” she whispered. Sitting straighter, she nodded more to herself as she looked him in the eye, “Your Majesty, would you let me have your baby?”

Yukito stumbled back like he’d been slapped, one hand clutching at his chest.

Touya just stared, “Hisae… you don’t really…”

She slipped to the edge of her seat. “We’ve know each other for so long, you know I had a crush on you before we even met… You both know I…” her hands and her gaze fell to her lap, “I… I don’t know how you really feel, if I’ll only be just a friend, but… I-I’d be happy just…” she hugged herself.

Touya slid up in his seat, turning to Yukito, finding nothing but shock on his advisor’s face. Shaking his head, he turned back to her, “Hisae, you don’t know what-”

“I don’t care!” she snapped to her feet, “I know it won’t fix everything and I know I’m putting myself in danger but I don’t care!” her tears were rolling freely down her cheeks again, “I don’t want you to die Touya! I don’t wanna watch my brothers kill each other! I wanna help, I wanna stop this!” She fell to her knees, crying into her arms on the edge of the desk, “I don’t want you to die! I don’t want anyone to die!”

Standing up caught Yukito’s attention, bringing him back to the room. Touya went to Hisae, pulling her to her feet and into his arms. He started rubbing her back, stroking her hair as he watched Yukito’s faltering steps over to them, him standing nervously behind her. He waited until the sobs stopped before, “I don’t think you know what you’re asking for Hisae.”

She pulled away, smoothing his tunic on reflex; he couldn’t help smiling as he caught her hand. “I’m not asking to be Queen, I don’t want the power or glory. I don’t want to get in the way…” she turned to Yukito for a moment. Looking Touya in the eyes again, she added, “Even if we’re just friends again after… I just want to help raise a child worthy of your father’s legacy. I just want to make sure Sakura-hime has a home to return to.”

He could see it in her eyes. She meant every word.

She didn’t want him to die. She didn’t want her brothers fighting, maybe killing each other. She didn’t want the kingdom to fall. She wanted to stop it all. She was willing to deal with the court, the rumors and schemes. She was willing to put her life on the line to provide an heir to the throne.

But there was something else… something more…

She wanted to have his baby. Not the Crown Prince, progeny of the King, just Touya’s child. The glory, the status really meant nothing.

The main reason he’d been avoiding it…

And here Hisae was, willing, wanting to give him what he wanted.

Touya closed his eyes and sighed. “Let me think about it,” he said softly, running his hands down her arms.

Hisae gently nodded, keeping her head down.

Yukito finally spoke up, “Hisae, you realize it’s not going to be easy… or safe.”

“I’ve seen the back-stabbing and scheming behind the scenes. I already know who to avoid, to watch out for Yukito.” She turned to him, “I’ve got some idea.”

Touya nodded, making the guard open the door, “Escort Hisae to the guest quarters.” He sighed, wiping her tears, “I’ll let you know.”

She nodded, putting her hand on his cheek, “It’s up to you.” Pulling away, she followed the guard.

They just stood there long after the door clicked shut, not willing to move, look at each other.

“She’s got a point.”

“I didn’t know it’d gotten this bad… are you willing to risk her life?”

“She is… she already has if everything she said is true.”

“Yasha.”

He finally looked up at him, “Yukito… I’d like to be alone.”

He nodded, “Of course.”

Standing at the window as the door closed, Touya wondered why he felt torn.

------

He didn’t remember leaving the room, didn’t realize what he was doing until he opened the anti-chamber for the scrying pool. He stopped in front of the wardrobe.

He’d been avoiding this from the moment he’d first seen Touya. He wanted to be his friend as well as his advisor, but he was still just a candidate. Then he couldn’t bring himself to, even before Touya told him he didn’t want to know. He hadn’t been down here since the vision of the Princess.

But everything Hisae said… that strange pain when she’d asked Touya… watching him comfort her…

Seeing her in his arms…

Taking a few calming breaths, he removed his shoes and pulled on his robes. He left the room trying to focus on what he wanted to see, not how it was making him feel, as he went down the stairs. It took a few minutes to truly focus before he summoned the staff the Late King himself had made for him before calling his powers. Not quite walking on the water, he stopped, letting his robes settle into it as his circle appeared, sinking in. The feel of the slight cool breeze somehow flowing upstairs cleared his head, calmed his heart.

“I ask of the water,

call on the wind,

with Fair Luna’s grace

for Father Time’s honor.”

Moon glow shone from the pool.

“Please My Lady, let me see what I desire.”

Lowering the tip of his staff into the water, he slowly opened his eyes, watching the ripples rise and roll away, unveiling the vision.

Hisae was there, disheveled and sweaty, in Touya’s bed, smiling down at the baby in her arms. Touya sat down beside her, putting one arm around her shoulders before stroking the dark fuzz on that tiny head, smiling proudly.

Raising his staff out of the water and ending it, he felt that tiny moth crawl down into his stomach.