Disclaimer – I don't own CardCaptors, but the names of the children are my own idea ;D
A/N – It's going to be a slow start so that I get my head around the story itself, give the story a chance for the moment
Chapter 1 – The book returns
Sakura looked out of the window with a hand clasped loosely around a near empty mug. Outside was bright and sunny – peaceful even. If only the same could be said about the inside of this house… She thought when she heard her children thundering about upstairs.
"Danny! Rei! Hurry up, or Mika will leave without you!" the mother called out to her three children. She turned her attention back to the pile of dishes that the twins (Danny and Rei) had left on the side, right on top of the dishwasher. Sakura gritted her teeth as she mentally reminded herself of all the times she had attempt to encourage her children to tidy up after themselves.
"Don't worry about it, I'll make sure the house stays tidy whilst you're away." Her eldest daughter, Mika, stood in the doorway. "They'll learn eventually…" Mika indicated the dishes and laughed softly. "Danny, Rei!"
The twins heard their sister shout and knew within seconds that she was about to walk out the door without them. A sound that can only be described as a herd of elephants stampeding on a desert plain was just Danny and Rei fighting their way to the front door.
Rei stopped and ran back towards the kitchen door, beaming at her mum. "Have a safe trip Mum."
Sakura smiled softly. "Thanks Reiko, I promise I'll call you as soon as I'm settled, okay? Now go, or you'll be late." Something reminded her to ask a favour of the three children. "Mika, remember to go and visit your grandfather, please!"
Mika shouted back cheerfully – she loved to visit the grandfather on her mother's side. They shared a deep passion for archaeology and could spend hours examining photos and articles. Rather than reading fictional books, Mika would always be delving into an old dissertation of her grandfathers or an architect's book.
After taking a shortcut through Penguin Park, the three made it to the twin's school where the eldest departed to continue to the college nearby. As Mika began to skate away, she reminded the twins to wait for her so that they could visit their grandfather together.
"Rei, you're here- I thought you were going to be late!" Rei's best friend, Ami, exclaimed as she ran across the grounds to greet them. "How was your weekend?"
Danny nervously pushed on the end of her skateboard and fumbled to pick it up, causing his cheeks to flare up with a bright red. He ran off whilst Rei and Ami covered their mouths to stop themselves laughing.
Rei linked arms with Ami, walking towards the door. "It was okay- Mum was stressing and packing for the business trip she's going on to Hong Kong. She's going for a month, a whole month! At least Dad comes home tonight, he was visiting Grandma."
"Oh, my mum and I did some baking together last night. Here, there's one for you… and one for Danny too." Ami placed two small chocolate chip muffins into Rei's hand as the school bell rang. "You'll have to let me know how they taste!"
The taste of the muffin lingered in Rei's mouth as she waited for Mika by the school gates. She was green with envy as she watched Danny finishing his muffin – only because she had hers during lunch.
"Rei! Danny!" Mika called out, speeding past the twins and turning to wave at them.
Before Rei had a chance to push off on her skates, her cousin Tai and his best friend Joe sped past on their bikes.
"Don't just stand there, Rei," taunted Tai, glancing over his shoulder at her.
The youngest suddenly pushed herself off the wall and instinctively knew that she would have to take a shortcut to catch up to them. Mika was a more confident skater than Rei, and Danny was even faster with his skateboard. Rei pounded the pavement and jumped down to cross the road, into the alleyway that led to Penguin Park. Sakura would always take the children there when they were younger. Even the penguin slide withstood the test of time, much to the mother's delight. With so much in the area changing, at least Penguin Park had remained.
As Rei came out of Penguin Park, she nearly collided with Tai, who caught her arm and swung her vigorously in the almost opposite direction she was travelling in.
"Be careful Tai!" Mika shouted, watching Rei stumble to keep on her feet. The eldest tried to catch up to her sister on a downwards slope, narrowing missing her as Rei tripped over. "Rei!"
The youngster was sprawled out on a small patch of grass that was conveniently placed and cushioned her fall.
"Rei, are you okay?" Mika asked, helping her sister up. "That was quite a tumble…" Mika glared at Tai who was in hysterics.
"Guess I still need a little more practice, and Mum was right about the knee guards- I'm glad she makes me wear them!" Rei said, trying to see the humour in the situation. "At least we're at Grandad's…"
Their grandfather's house was an interesting looking bungalow that was sandwiched between two idyllic houses that towered over it. Even with the shade from the neighbouring buildings, the garden was always pristine and well kept, with seasonal blooms littering the border.
"Sorry I can't stop, but say hello for me," Tai said, cycling on with Joe around the corner.
The three siblings went slowly up the stairs to the bungalow where sitting in the rocking chair on the porch deck, was their grandfather.
He smiled and looked at Rei with concern, "That really was a spectacular tumble, Rei. You're exactly how your mother used to be." He stood up slowly and opened the front door for his grandchildren. "Come on in- did I see Tai as well?"
Danny nodded. "Yeah, but he couldn't stay- he said hello though."
The three youngsters and their grandfather talked until the sun was beginning to set – which is when Mika prompted the twins to make a move as she noticed their grandfather looking a little more tired. With a small box of books tucked under one arm, Mika let them out and the three continued home under the pink light of the dusky sky.
Once they got home, it was apparent that their dad was running late, so Mika knew it was down to her to rustle up some dinner for them.
She set the box of books down on the table and shrugged off her pale blue blazer onto a kitchen chair.
Rei followed her, and tried to look into the box without Mika noticing. "Can I have a look?"
Mika opened the fridge, half distracted. "Yeah, you can have one if you like…"
Rei instantly found one that she liked the look of, mostly because it just didn't look like an archaeology book. The design on the front of the book was simple, but pretty. As she started to walk up the stairs, her fingers traced the embossed letters. Using her back, she leaned into her bedroom door – the bedroom she shared with Danny (much to their protests!)
"What have you got there?" Danny asked, sitting up on his bed.
"Oh- just one of the books that Mika got from Grandad…" Rei mumbled, turning the book to see it had a latch on it.
Danny gawped at the book. "That can't be about archaeology. When was the last time you saw a pink book that was archaeology?"
The boy's comments fell on deaf ears as Rei fought to open the latch. She gritted her teeth as she tried to open it.
"Give it here." Danny stood up, rolling his eyes. "It needs some muscle."
Rei sighed. "Not that you've got any…"
Danny lurched at the book, swiping it from his twin's grip. The pair locked in a battle, fighting to be the one to open the book. In a flurry of tugging and grappling, the book flew across the room and slammed into the wall. It hit the floor open.
Danny looked at the book, disappointed at the contents. "You can have that, Rei…" He stuffed his hands into his pockets and strode out of the room.
Unsure of what she expected to find in the book, Rei bent over the book. It looked like the pages had been cut out to leave a thin rectangular mould. A necklace sat inside.
She inspected the necklace closely, squinting at it. It was a ring with a five pointed star inside of it which had sprouted wings. Part of her thought it looked like the end of a key had been stuck onto the end of it.
Little did she know who the previous owner of the necklace was…
Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = So here's the first chapter, you've met Rei, Mika and Danny, I wonder which one is going to be the next cardcaptor? ;)