Jared
Disclaimer:
The following characters belong to CLAMP and are only borrowed for the fanfic.
Author's note:
This story was inspired by the episode in CCD involving 20 masks (the two parter) and is based on the assumption that Suoh is unaware of Ijyuin Akira's secret identity.
Somehow, though I can't quite put my finger on it, I get the feeling he's not what he seems. Can anyone possibly be so naïve?
He's sweet-natured, polite, cheerful, kind, caring, seemingly childlike; yet whenever he's exposed to danger, he seems to change into someone totally different. He's swift, and though his movements were never directed to hurt, one can sense a certain amount of seriousness and maturity around him. Indeed, he would not be one to reckon with.
Sometimes I feel as though he's just wearing a mask; a horribly deceptive mask, but a mask nonetheless. I can't quite put it in words- I just can't quite let my guard down when I'm with him. Moreover, he's always with Kaichou. Wait- what am I thinking? He would never hurt Kaichou… would he? No, I can't doubt him; he's my friend!
Somehow though, I feel terribly afraid. How can I trust someone who isn't as simple as they seem? Despite my training, I have to confess I feel rather at ease with him. Maybe it's because we've been through so much together, just the three of us; yet I hesitate to trust someone who would keep secrets from his best friends. Are we truly his best friends?
I suppose everyone has their own share of secrets; I have my own too, like how I felt when I first saw Nagisa… I suppose I shouldn't begrudge Ijyuin keeping secrets from us. It's perfectly natural I guess. Maybe we just aren't as close as I would like to believe.
Yet I do wonder- what secret IS he hiding. I bet Utako is in the secret; she tries too hard to cover up for Ijyuin not to know. Hmm… secret involving Utako…
Can it be? That Ijyuin… Ijyuin is… the mysterious twenty masks? No, what am I thinking? I must be reading too much into it. How can Ijyuin be the master thief twenty masks? It… it just isn't possible. Or can it?
From what I could gather from Utako's face, she knows the identity of twenty masks. Why else would she suspect that someone was masquerading as twenty masks and even go through all the trouble to get us to investigate the case? And she shares a secret with Ijyuin… So if my guess is correct… Ijyuin must be twenty masks. It's possible… they're both of the same build... both are nimble and swift…
Yet how can it be? Ijyuin is on our side… how could he possibly be a criminal? No, it's impossible; it's ludicrous. Why can't I just get this out of my mind? It's too absurd an idea; it's totally impossible!
No matter what secret he's hiding, I must be careful. It may be harmless, yet it may also be a potential threat to Kaichou. No, I cannot compromise on Kaichou's safety. This is one mystery that will not go unsolved.
