Family gatherings were always pretty lively. With three magicians, four magic creatures and a ghost, Touya supposed they couldn't be anything else, and he was pretty used to it by now.

Touya was enjoying a very nice afternoon, lying on the couch with a book in one hand and Yuki dozing against his chest. Yuki had finished his writing for the day, making three chapters of his second novel to send along to his agent tomorrow. The day was just cool enough to make Yuki's warm weight feel extra nice. In fact, it was just about a perfect afternoon.

So of course it was interrupted.

Between his own need to decide on a career within the next year and the fuss of Sakura's first year of high school, Touya really didn't think the family needed to deal with a Portentous Letter from Hiiragizawa. But that was, unfortunately, what was sitting on the table when he and Yuki arrived, on Saturday.

He wouldn't have thought there was anything alarming about sitting in the shade of a tree and reading, but Yue stood like he'd been turned to stone, staring.

The doors to the porch were open, and the sound of heavy, steady rain came through.

Yukito did not perceive magic, as his other self did. That this often meant he did not perceive his other self was something he put down as one of life's little ironies.

Touya snorted. Yue was stuck with the family, now; he might as well get used to it.

Some things didn't change, and Touya found that comforting. Years ran on, but Sakura still overslept, Yuki still loved stuffed breads for lunch, and he and Yuki still did their homework together in the evenings.

As the celebration rolled on Yue caught a number of glances in his direction, flickering toward him between laughter. He answered them only with his presence; he wasn't sociable, the way Keroberos was.