Silent Protector

December 24, 2005

By: AznAngel6767

A.N.: I don't own them... don't have to keep reminding me! sobs


His eyes followed her every move. Watching her as she left the building with her mother; following her as they went shopping from store to store. It's been like this for the last couple of years. Him at the tender age of ten, and her, nine. At the moment she entered this world, he had been summoned to protect her and her alone. Watching, but never touching. Seeing, but never seen. Listening, but never heard.

He had always known that it was his duty… his destiny, but that didn't lessen the pain in his heart. Darkness was where he dwelled, but it was the light he longed for. Like his father before him, and his father before, this was his calling; this was why he lived: to protect.

"Sakura, watch out!" a female's voice screamed in fright, bringing him out of his thoughts. Snapping his eyes back to where the little girl had wandered off into the busy street, he ran to where she stood, frozen. Grabbing her by the waist, he threw them both onto the freshly cut grass of the park. Air entering his lungs in heavy pants, he looked down, only to find himself staring into sparkling emerald orbs.

Swallowing carefully, he pushed himself off the little girl and stretched out a hand to help her up. She grabbed onto it, pulled herself straight, and kept holding on. At that moment, he felt his heart rate speed up, and it wasn't due to the accident that almost happened. Of that he was positive.

Abruptly, she smiled and wrapped her arms around his midsection, her head coming to rest just below his chin. Nuzzling into his chest, she whispered, "Thank you."

"Sakura! Oh my God, Sakura! Are you okay?"

The voice snapped him out of his reverie, causing him to pull away. Turning his back, he ran back to where he belonged. The shadows.


"Happy birthday, Sakura." a female said as she hugged the girl.

"Thanks, Tomoyo. There's food over on that table. Go grab some before Kero gets here." Sakura laughed as she watched her walk towards the table she indicated before turn back to greet the other people.

"Happy sweet sixteen, brat." Arms wrapped themselves around her waist from behind.

"You said that already, bro. That's the tenth time." She commented as she turned around to wrap her arms around the person's neck. "Where's mom and dad?"

"Backyard. Entertaining the guests."

She groaned, placing her head on his shoulder. "Let me guess, baby pictures?"

"Nope. Worse. Ballet videos," he laughed.

"Touya! Why didn't you stop them?"

"Couldn't. They had put it on before I got there." Her brother laughed whole-heartedly at her expense. "Besides Sakura, the videos aren't that bad."

"Easy for you to say." Looking up, a figure by the door caught her attention. Turning her eyes back to her brother, she whispered. "Kito just arrived. Go say hi."

A nod was her only answer as he walked towards the door. Yukito, otherwise known to her as Kito, had been her brother's best friend for as long as she could remember.

Taking a deep breath, she walked outside to the front of the house and closed her eyes. Absorbing the silence for a few minutes, she opened her eyes once more to glance around the neighborhood. Turning to walk back to the party, a box on the floor gave her pause. Bending, she took a closer look. Brows furrowing in confusion, she lightly ran her fingers over her name written on the package. Looking up once more, she tried to find the depositor, only to find no one.

Shrugging, she sat down on the sidewalk and began to open the container. A small gasp of wonder escaped her lips as her eyes landed on the simple chain within. A beautiful silver necklace reflected the sun's shine as she took it from the box. What caught her breath, however, was the engraving on the small angel. 'You'll never be alone.'

The one statement caused tears to well up. Apparently, someone knew… someone understood how she truly felt. Looking back down, she grabbed the card gently.

For a beautiful princess that outshines any stars in the sky. For an angel whose heart is bigger than all others. I'll always be watching over you, keeping you safe from harm. Happy sixteenth birthday.

Your silent protector.

A smile graced her lips as she placed the chain around her slim neck. Unknown to her, a smile formed on someone else's lips as well.


A.N.: Well, how is it? They're a bit out of character, eh? Ok… ok… a lot.