Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.

Invisible Strings

By: Angel Kamiya

Chapter 1

Akako knew that she would have to get moving. The little girl stared at the two men that were both standing there not far from where she was. They wouldn't know that their money was gone until after she had stolen it and gotten away. The older man was wearing glasses and wore a long blue robe that made it look like he was some kind of magician. The other man wore a plain brown cloak but there was something that made him look like he wasn't a human. Akako suddenly had second thoughts. They looked a little dangerous. Quickly shaking her head she decided to go through with it. It had been so long since she last had anything to eat.

As she moved closer to them, Akako tried to hear what they were saying to each other.

"What do you think we should purchase Yue?" The older man said.

"Why are you asking me?" Yue answered, closing his eyes. "You were the one that decided that we should be here."

"I'm interested in your opinion." The man wearing the robes commented, looking at the piece of fruit that he was holding.

Without thinking Akako ran forward and collided into the older man. Reaching forward she took the pouch that the man carried with him. That was easy. Akako couldn't believe that she had actually been scared of them! Before she could get away however she felt someone grab onto the back of her kimono. In an instant she was being held up in the air with one arm. The little girl dangled there.

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" Akako yelled, waving her arms frantically.

Akako looked at the man wearing the glasses. It wouldn't be until later that she learned that his name was Clow Reed.

"Um... hello." Clow greeted, seeing the girl clearly for the first time.

"This creature took your coin pouch master." Yue muttered, unemotionally.

"Creature?" Clow repeated, raising an eyebrow. "I've forgotten that you had never met any children before."

Akako glared at the handsome man that was holding her. Yue had long black hair and eyes that looked very unnatural. What was strange though was that he wore an old brown cloak to hide himself from his surroundings. It was almost like a disguise. Why was Yue hiding the way he looked from the people around him? That didn't make any sense.

"Are you going to stand there all day?" Yue asked.

"Perhaps you should put that girl down." Clow suggested, realizing that they had gotten the attention of everyone that had been passing by. "I think she learned her lesson."

In an instant Akako felt herself being let go. When she hit the ground there was a loud crashing sound. As she tried to pick herself up from the ground she felt so embarrassed. First she had been caught and now she had been dropped like a rag doll. Why was this day turning out so horrible for her?

"Master Clow? Aren't you going to do anything?" Yue asked.

"Are you okay?" Clow asked, looking down her.

After Akako wiped the dirt that had gotten on her face away she looked up in surprise. Why had Clow Reed asked her something like that? Didn't she just try stealing his money? Why wasn't he angry?

"What?" the girl muttered.

"Are you okay? I hope Yue didn't scare you or anything."

"Why are you asking about her safety?" Yue asked, speechless.

"I don't think she meant what she did." Clow answered, looking back at her. "Did you?"

"I'm sorry... I... I saw you and I just-"

"You don't have to explain. Where are your parents?"

The girl looked down at the ground suddenly not able to talk.

There suddenly was a loud bang from somewhere nearby which made Akako jump. Before she knew what she was doing she had run over to hide behind Yue. This was bad. The people that she had made angry seemed to have found her. Akako didn't know what she was going to do.

"Please help!" Akako cried, shaking.

"Help you with what?" Clow asked.

When they finally appeared Akako stared at them. There were many adults each looking like they were going to do something bad to her. The little girl didn't know whether to stay there with the two strangers or try to run away. It seemed like both things would be bad for her. Was there anything she could do besides surrender?

"This is where you've been hiding." the man wearing a hat uttered.

"What's going on?" Clow Reed asked, curious at what he had gotten himself into.

"That girl stole some of our items!" the man explained. "Give her back to us!"

"There is no need to yell." the magician answered, straightening his glasses. "I'm sure that we can talk this over."

"I... I've never seen you here before today." The stranger said.

Akako watched the entire scene taking place. What was Clow Reed going to do? It wasn't like he could beat this small mob of people could he? As she waited she looked at Yue and saw that he was glaring at the people that had appeared. It looked like he was studying every move that they made. Akako suddenly found herself wondering how Clow Reed and Yue knew each other.

"I'm afraid I don't come here that much." Clow muttered.

"We don't care if you have been to this place or not. We have to punish that mischievous child for her crime."

"I think you've scared her enough."

That was when it happened. Someone threw a rock. Akako shrank back suddenly realizing they were going to get stoned to death. Whenever an angry mob got together that usually meant people died. That was something she was sure of. Before Akako knew what was going on Yue suddenly sprang forward. At first it seemed like Yue had flown forward but that was impossible wasn't it? People didn't fly. Yue caught the rock that had been thrown at the magician.

"Master Clow, are you-" Yue yelled, narrowing his eyes.

"I'm fine. Thank you Yue."

"I... I don't want to get you in trouble." Akako stuttered, feeling scared. "I... I'll go with-"

"Stop." Clow interrupted, holding the coin pouch that he had gotten back. "How much did the items that she took cost?"

After they got their money, the group of people left. Akako felt Yue glaring at her. This had all been her fault and she didn't want to say anything that would make him even more angry. Akako lowered her head in shame. These two people had protected her when they should have let the angry mob take her. Why had they helped? Why had Clow Reed even given some of his money away to make sure she didn't get hurt?

"I'm sorry I almost got you two in trouble. I didn't mean it." the girl muttered, looking guilty.

"Why did you do these things?" Clow asked.

"I was hungry and I didn't know what to do."

"I suppose that understandable." Clow answered, thinking about how fortunate he had been to be in wealthy family. "I think that you should start going home now. Where are your parents? Perhaps we can find them and-"

"I haven't seen her for a long time. That's why I've been doing these things." Akako explained.

It had been so long since she had last seen her mother. Akako had been living alone by herself for a month now. This was not easy since she was still a child. Everyday she had hoped her mother would return but she never got back from wherever she had gone. It was so horrible. At first Akako had thought that her mother had gone somewhere for the day but she didn't get back that night that she left. Akako hated not knowing.

"Master Clow! Perhaps it would be best if we leave now before any more trouble finds us?" Yue murmured.

Akako looked at the magician. It seemed like he was thinking hard about something. What was going on? Why wasn't he just leaving like she expected him to?

"I'm afraid we must be going." Clow uttered, agreeing with the card guardian. "Do you wish go with us?"

"What?" Yue interrupted, surprised when he realized that Clow had not been talking to him.

With the way Yue was acting, Akako was sure that he hated her. That wasn't surprising since she did try to steal something from them. As she waited there she didn't know what she was going to do now. Why was Clow Reed acting like he wanted to help her? Did this mean that he knew her from somewhere? Did he meet her mother a long time ago?

"I believe something bad will happen if we leave her here without her parents." Clow Reed explained.

"It's not our responsibility to watch over her." Yue responded.

"Perhaps we can help her find her parents while she is with us?" Clow Reed answered, turning to look back at their guest. "Would you like to stay with us for a while?"

Akako didn't know what to think. Even after she had caused so much trouble, they had wanted to help? While she thought about what he had asked she tried to remember how many times she had nearly gotten into trouble just by not being around anyone she knew.

"Will you two really help my find my mom?" Akako said.

"I think we can." Clow Reed replied.

"Of course I'll go. Thank... thank you!" the girl uttered happily.

"You're welcome."

Akako stood there looking at Clow Reed as he went to pick up another fruit to study. The man seemed to love fruits. As they started leaving Akako followed a bit behind Yue. Were they were really leaving together? Akako started wondering what kind of house Clow Reed lived in. With the clothes he wore it would have to be very grand. This day had turned out to be so unexpected. The little girl hoped that they would be able to help her.

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I hope you liked this first chapter and please review.