A/N: Well this chapter just kinda happened randomly. I was a third done with what is now chapter three when I decided this chapter had to be written first. This one is shorter than the first chapter, but the next one is going to two to three times as long so hopefully y'all get over it. This one's pretty Syaoran centric even though not single section is from his point of view. Oh how I love third person limited. LOL. But it can't be avoided really since most of the mystery in this story revolves around his past. In chapter three there is much more SxS action I promise. And so you know this chapter spans a three week length of time and none of the sections happen on the same day. Oh and I used some Chinese in a section, but it Mandarin even though technically they're speaking Cantonese. I only know Mandarin so sue me.
And thanks again to miss truthfully, Twilight Kisses, SilentCynara and Demon of Selen for reviewing. I loved your reviews. Also thanks to everyone reading this. Your silent support is appreciated as well. : )
To Protect
Part I
Protecting Sakura: Reply
Kinomoto Fujitaka had traveled all over the globe trying unearth people and places long forgotten by the world. In his quest to unravel history he'd met many interesting people, but had encounter any young or old as bizarre as Li Syaoran.
At the moment Syaoran was organizing photos taken at a recently discovered pyramid in Egypt. The same site he'd bumped into the boy. It had been rather peculiar really.
"Kinomoto-san!"
Fujitaka looked up from the pot he'd been dusting for the ten minutes. It looked remarkably well preserved. Nakamoto was a professor from a different university and it was the first time they had worked together. The man was a little stiff, but not too difficult to work with. "Yes Nakamoto-san?"
"A boy was discovered in your tent. He had an old book in his backpack and we want to make sure it's not yours. He says it's not, but he seems like a punk."
Fujitaka just smiled pleasantly. Somehow he was sure Nakamoto considered all children punks. "Well, I'd like to think he was telling the truth."
Nakamoto just grunted in disgust.
It only took twenty minutes to get back to the tent, but the hot Egyptian sun made it feel three times as long. Two grad students seemed to be 'detaining' the boy while Yamaochi, another professor from then same school as Nakamoto, stood nearby holding what appeared to be an old, red book.
"Oi, I got him," Nakamoto said quickly not wasting any time.
"Great. Is this your book Kinomoto-san? This latch is very tricky I can't seem to open it," Yamaochi said distractedly as he handed the book to Fujitaka.
The all jumped when the boy let a harsh laugh. "Only one person can open that book and that person certainly isn't you," he said in clear, oddly accented Japanese.
"He knows Japanese? When I caught he was grumbling at me in Arabic!" Nakamoto groused obviously vexed.
"The book isn't mine. Is the book yours?" Fujitaka asked the boy in front of him. The boy had a very straight posture and seemed extremely alert. The two students guarding him both looked very nervous. The boys amber eyes seemed very frigid in contrast to sweltering heat generated by the sun.
"Not really. I'm delivering it to someone," he informed him coolly.
"Delivering it? Yeah right! We should call the authorities. This punk probably-"
"Enough Nakamoto-san. If you all would excuse me, I would like to talk to this boy in my tent. Alone," in a harsh tone he rarely ever used. It was very effective for this reason and it wasn't long before the two were seated on the only two rickety chairs in Fujitaka's tent. "Sorry about the accommodations."
"I've seen worse," the boy said quickly.
"What's your name?" Fujitaka didn't want to have to refer to the boy as well the boy anymore.
"Li Syaoran, Kinomoto-sensei."
"I see. Would you mind if I called you Syaoran-san?" he asked the boy curiously. He wasn't too surprised he already knew his name. The others probably said something while Nakamoto went to fetch him.
Syaoran examined him intently for a few minutes before shrugging. "If you want."
"I guess that settles it then. Why were you in my tent? Were you hungry or something?" The boys clothes were pretty ragged, but he didn't exactly look malnourished. He really didn't seem like he was even from Egypt. He looked Chinese if he wasn't mistaken. His name sounded it.
"I was curious."
"About the artifacts I've found?" He did have some pretty valuable things in his tent.
Syaoran shook his head. "No. They are interesting, but I was more interested in you. Your aura."
"Come again?" It wasn't every day some commented on your aura with such a serious expression.
"Your aura feels almost like the one I'm looking for," Syaoran elaborated. Fujitaka however was still confused.
"I'm sorry. I'm not quite sure what you mean," he said apologetically.
Syaoran waved away his apology. "That book you're holding belongs to the person I'm looking for." Fujitaka looked down at the book in his hand and then back to the serious boy who was delivering it to someone.
"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like your looking for someone you've never met."
The boy nodded. "Yes."
"How are you delivering it then?"
"I can't really explain it, but I just know," Syaoran said frustration tinting his voice.
"It still seems like it would be rather difficult ," Fujitaka said sympathetically.
"Yes. Where are you from Kinomoto-sensei?" The boy asked in a keenly interested tone that left Fujitaka a little wary, but he shook the feeling off.
"Tomoeda. It's a small town a couple hours away from Tokyo."
"A small town, huh?" Syaoran said intrigued, He smiled at some private joke.
"Yes."
"I think, Kinomoto-sensei, that I shall go there," Syaoran said carefully.
For the next couple months Syaoran visited the camp on a daily basis. Fujitaka never asked him where he was staying because he was pretty sure the boy wouldn't tell him. He actually seemed to know how to read hieroglyphics. He said a friend taught him and Fujitaka thought that he must have very interesting friend.
Fujitaka didn't exactly remember how it happened, but he told Syaoran he was looking for an assistant and that if he was interested he could have the job. Syaoran had after all told him of his intention to go to Tomoeda. Syaoran accepted the position on the condition that he could start after settling in for a couple weeks. The next day he didn't come to visit, but Fujitaka later found a note on his table telling him that they would meet again in Japan. No contact number or address.
Three weeks later after he'd been home for two weeks Syaoran showed up at his office.
"Good morning, Kinomoto-sensei."
Fujitaka looked up and almost choked on the coffee he'd been sipping. "Good morning, Syaoran-san," he nearly asked in his confusion.
"I'm glad to see you're well," Syaoran said politely.
"Er, same to you, but how did you get in here?" he asked incredulously. There was only one entrance to the building and it had guard. They didn't let just anyone into the building since no classes were held there. There were only offices and artifacts and library of very rare old books. The archeology building probably had better security than most places on campus. He couldn't imagine a boy without clearance being allowed to stroll the halls.
"I used the window."
Fujitaka looked at him blankly before directing his gaze out his very open window that happened to be located in his sixth floor office! "You used the window?!"
"Yes. I climbed a tree and then jumped to a second floor balcony and then-"
Fujitaka gestured with his hand for him to stop. "Of course you did. I myself have considered it when I see a long line backed up at the front door," he said sarcastically.
Syaoran just remained silent.
"Why didn't you go to the front desk? They would have let you in if you'd given them my name," Fujitaka said exasperated. Syaoran always did think outside the box like maybe he wasn't even aware there was a box. "They would have called me and I would have given you clearance."
"The window seemed faster."
Fujitaka sighed. He didn't know how to argue with that. "Well, I'm glad you're here Syaoran-san. I assume you still want to be my assistant?"
"If you still want me to be."
"Of course. Let's both go down to the front desk and get you a badge while explain what your job entails."
That had been four months ago. Syaoran proved to be an excellent assistant. He knew many languages: Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, English, Ancient Egyptian and Fujitaka swore he heard him mutter something in French the other day. He was very organized and had a talent for recall. Fujitaka asked him how he knew so many languages, but he'd just shrug saying something about 'friends.'
Also he was great at getting hard to get reference books and artifacts from the library and the vault respectively. The heads there were notorious for the paper work they required to borrow what they deemed most valuable. It seemed that even they were uncomfortable trying to make Syaoran jump through hoops though. He knew he should feel guilty using Syaoran's natural, er, charm, but most of the time he was just too excited in the projects he was involved in.
"So how's school, Syaoran-san?"
The boy finished organizing the photos and it was good 15 minutes before he replied. "Very entertaining."
Fujitaka laughed. He'd come to realize Syaoran had a very strange sense of humor. "How so?"
"I'm not sure exactly, but I'm never bored."
"Sakura-san tells me you've met," he said seriously, not half as jovial.
"Yes."
"I've seen her with that book. The one you were delivering," he said pointedly.
"It's hers."
"My daughter is the person you've been looking for. That's why our auras are so similar," Fujitaka nearly growled.
"Yes."
He almost wanted to shake the boy. He knew he always answered things very, very succinctly, but at the moment it was rubbing him the wrong way. He was worried for his daughter. "My daughter has been out late at night every night for the last week. Do you know what she's been doing?"
"Yes."
"Look I know you're not one to talk a lot, but I need answers. Besides that fact that it's hers, why did you give that book to Sakura-san?"
"The book is called the Clow Book if you remember. When you first saw it had 50 to 51 cards in depending how you count them. Now they've been released and she's capturing them."
"That seems odd. Them adding up differently like that."
"Yes. These cards are magical cards. Each posses a spirit with a special ability. Like Windy for example controls the wind. Your daughter was destined to inherit these cards. The book and the cards were drawn to her power."
"Is that how you found Sakura-san?"
"Probably."
"What do you mean probably? It either was it wasn't."
"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure."
Fujitaka laced his fingers together and contemplated the boy before him. He was saying some pretty weird stuff. But at least he's consistent. As long as he'd known the boy he'd rarely ever said anything normal.
"Syaoran-san, is my daughter in danger?"
"Yes."
Fujitake felt a wave of fury hit him abruptly. This boy had given his daughter an old book and somehow put her in danger. He looked at the boy to find he looked as happy about as Fujitaka felt. Syaoran's voice may have been calm, but his clenched fists and stiff shoulders told another story. Fujitaka sighed.
He moved his hands to rub his forehead. "Are you in danger?"
"Well, I guess."
Fujitaka shook his head. It seemed Syaoran wasn't over concerned with his own safety. "How long is this going to last?"
"A month or so more. No longer than that."
"So quick?"
"Kinomoto-sensei, this conflict has been in the making for several centuries. It if doesn't happen soon it'll expire," Syaoran said wryly.
Fujitaka looked at him for a long moment. "You wouldn't be doing this if you didn't think it was absolutely necessary, correct?"
"Yes."
"I trust you won't let anything happen to my daughter, Syaoran-san. I would hate to have to kill you," he said as warm as a Siberian winter.
Syaoran tipped his head in acknowledgement. "It's a wonder," he said with a small smile.
"It's a wonder what?" Fujitaka asked as good humored as ever.
"That people aren't scared when they meet you."
Eriol looked around at the ornate and well tended gardens he found himself in with disinterest. They were pretty much what he was expecting. The Li Clan's Compound had lived up to most of his expectations of it.
The walls were tall and the people were cold. Being Clow Reed's reincarnation got his foot in the door though just barely. So they lead him to a secluded garden to wait while they got some yes-man to come and tell him everything they wanted him to hear. It was pitiful really. He may have looked like a kid, but he wasn't and he certainly wasn't to be taken lightly.
He clenched his jaw when he recalled just how lightly he'd been regarded the last week and a half by a certain Li.
"Oh, you must be who they're avoiding!"
Eriol turned to see an old, majestic looking woman enter the garden. "Yes, that would be me. Although I like to be known as Hiiragizawa Eriol rather than he who must be avoided," he replied in Cantonese since that was the language she greeted him in.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Hiragizawa, but I'm afraid I have bad news. No one can see you at this time. They said you could come back tomorrow," the woman informed him sympathetically because they both knew they'd never have time to see him.
"They're being rather rude."
"I think they just don't want you to ask uncomfortable questions which they won't answer anyway," the woman told him smartly.
"I'm sorry. I forgot my manners. Whose presence am I being graced with?"
"So polite. My name is Li Mei Di, but you, Mr. Hiiragizawa, can call me Mei Di."
"Only if you call me Eriol."
"Alright now that the pleasantries are over with what did you want to know? I'll tell you if I can. So many people here are afraid to speak out of turn for fear of death, but I'm too old for that silliness," she said cutting right to the chase as she sat down on stone bench.
"Well Mei Di I was going to as about what happened to Li Ye Lan and her daughters and why her son disappeared."
Mei Di visibly wilted. "You want to know about that? That's not a very pleasant story. I have many fun tales to tell and that just isn't one them, Eriol."
"It would be very helpful if you could tell me."
Mei DI's mouth became a small straight line. "I see. Very well. Ye Lan was a good daughter-in-law despite the fact she only had one son. She was a strong woman magically and otherwise. My granddaughters all would have be fine women one day. Xiao Lang was three when he disappeared so I knew him the least, but I remember him having a lot of energy. He was very mischievous. I think he was already giving Ye Lan grey hairs. Just months before he disappeared one of the elders showed him how to concentrate his energy in his feet so he could jump higher. He just loved that! He was simply everywhere after that and Ye Lan had a hard time keeping track of him and running the clan," Mei Di paused and wiped the tears of her face. "You'll have to forgive an old woman her tears."
"It's quite alright," Eriol assured her. It was rather lucky he'd run into Xiao Lang's paternal grandmother he silently mused.
"What I don't understand is why they acted like they all never existed. Their names became taboo. As far as the Li Clan was concerned Ye Lan and her children didn't die because they never existed."
"Surely they had birth certificates, marriage licenses, school papers," Eriol asked unnerved.
"Things get lost," Mei Di said bluntly.
"Where were the bodies found?"
"Well, the girls' were found at the house. There was barely any sign of a struggle so I think they were caught off guard. Fan Ren and Fu Tie were both fairly far along in their magical studies. No non-magical people should have been able to catch them off guard."
Eriol looked at her stunned. Her implication was clear. Someone with magic, probably someone in her own family, had killed her daughter-in-law and her children.
"Ye Lan was found across the compound in a little used garden. The gardeners hardly ever even get around to it. She had wounds that she could only have gotten in a battle."
"How do you know this if there was such a cover up?"
She smiled a dazzling, sly smile. "Old women have their ways."
Mei Di was probably in her late seventies, but Eriol imagined she could still be considered dangerous.
"And Xiao Lang? Did they ever find his body?" Eriol asked even though he knew they hadn't.
"No, and I don't think they will."
"How can you be so sure?"
"That night before I heard news of Ye Lan's death I ran into him or more precisely he ran into me. Fell right on his butt," she said with a smile.
"Nai Nai!"
Mei Di looked down to find none other than her grandson smiling up at her. "Xiao Lang, what are doing wandering around out here and at this time of night! Your mom is going to be angry with you," she said scolded him even though she actually found all his antics pretty amusing. It wasn't exactly safe for him to be wondering streets at night though.
His shook his head forcibly enough to make her dizzy. "Not-uh! She told me to do this."
"Do what?" she asked worried. Ye Lan would never send her son out after dark for any reason she was sure.
"To give this to the person it belongs to," he said proudly. Mei Di for the first time noticed what he was holding in his hands. The Clow Book!
"Where did you get that?" she hissed.
Xiao Lang stepped away from her frightened. "Ma Ma gave it to me. She told me to give to the person it belonged to," he repeated, but he sounded a lot more uncertain.
"Okay. Can I see it for second, Xiao Lang?" she asked him in a more grandmotherly tone: all warmth and sweet dumplings. There was something amiss with the book.
"Sure!" he exclaimed obviously happy she didn't seem to be mad at him anymore.
As soon as she picked up the book her skin started crawling. The book was dripping with Black Magic. The light from the street lamps allowed to see the dark splotches all over the book and it was covered in dents. It was obvious the book was slowly decaying. "Xiao Lang, where did your mom get this book?" she asked urgently. The Clow Book had supposedly been lost centuries ago.
"Uh, I don't know. I was in a garden playing and then I-I fell asleep I guess. When I woke up Ma Ma gave me that book and said to give it to the person it belongs to."
Mei Di looked at him deeply concerned. He was not one to lie and this was too bizarre for him to make up anyway. "Who does it belong to Xiao Lang?"
The boy shrugged. "I don't know. I just know they're that way! If I keep going that way I think I'll find them."
Mai Di bent down squeezed him in a tight hug. "Oh, Xiao Lang."
"What's the matter, Nai Nai? I'm not going to be gone forever. I promised Ma Ma I'd come back."
"Xiao Lang, how long do you think it'll take you to deliver that book?"
"I don't know. A couple days, maybe a week."
Mei Di sighed. That was very naïve of her grandson, but she didn't think he'd ever left home so what more could she expect. "Xiao Lang, take my hand. Before you deliver that book I want to take you to meet a friend."
"Okay!"
Carefully looking around for anyone who was paying more attention then they should Li Mei Di started weaving through night markets and residential neighborhoods avoiding the main roads. Eventually she arrived in an alley that ran alongside a brick building that looked like it was falling apart. Three unstable looking steps led up to a door where half its coat of paint had chipped off. Without hesitation Mei Di walked up the steps and knocked on it three times. Two knocks in quick succession and the third after a shallow pause.
She heard Xiao Lang yawn. "Nai Nai, I'm tired." It was well past his bed time.
"You can sleep in a little while, Xiao Lang. please try to stay awake. I know you can do it," she encouraged as she squeezed his small hand.
The door opened at crack and reedy voice that only lifetime of cigarettes could cultivate rasped out at out of the opening. "What's your business."
"Wang Zhi Ming owes me a favor."
The hiss of the speakers surprised intake of air echoed down the deserted alleyway. "Name?!"
"Li Mei Di."
If the previous noise was a hiss the next was a den of vipers. "Come in. Quickly!" The door opened just enough to allow the woman and boy entry.
The room they found themselves in was dimly by a flicker bulb in an ancient looking lamp. Cigarette smoke was thick in the air and distantly she could hear Xiao Lang struggling to breathe. "Wait here," here the man who owned the wheeze of a voice ordered before he disappeared through a doorway.
The man was gone for barely a minute when she felt Xiao Lang pull on her skirt. "I don't like this place, Nai Nai. It gives me a bad feeling. And it's too smoky."
"I'm sorry, but we'll only be here for a moment. I need you to be good. No matter what you need to be good."
"Okay, Nai Nai, but shouldn't I go soon? To deliver the book?"
"I'm sending you to someone who will help you get there."
"Really?"
"Yes, now hush," she said as a man in his late forties walked into the room.
"Li Mei Di! So it really was you! I was sure you were going to die before you called in your favor!" he said on a cold unfeeling laugh. His smile hardly reached his lips.
"I thought so as well, Wang Zhi Ming," Mei Di replied not bothering to hide her disdain. "I need you to take this boy to an address I will give you shortly, with a letter, I'm going to prepare."
"When?" There were no questions of why in places such as this. The reason often didn't seem to matter.
"Tonight, within the hour."
"Write down the address and then show it to me," he said coldly all false welcome gone. He gestured to a nearby table. She grabbed a cheap plastic pen and quickly scribbled the address on a sticky note after she unstuck it from the rest of its brethren. It wouldn't do to leave an imprint. She didn't want anyone to know where she was sending her grandson.
Silently she handed it him. He gave it quick once over before raising an eyebrow at her. "It's in Arabic."
"I don't want unwanted eyes to know what they shouldn't." He knew Arabic and his underlings didn't.
"Very well. After this we shall be even. Write your letter. I will return in twenty minutes for it and the boy." No other words were needed and he disappeared as fast as he'd come.
"Nai Nai, I don't like that man. He's a bad man. But he's not near as scary as Great Uncle Hu," her grandson told her with all the tact a three year old possesses: absolutely none.
"Hu isn't that bad is he?" she teased him as she found some stationary and an envelope on the table. That was Zhi Ming, ever accommodating..
"He is! He's evil! I can feel it!"
Mei Di chuckled. Li Hu was a well loved man. All the children loved him and all the adults found him incredibly fun. That was except for Xiao Lang. Everyone loved to tease him about the terror he inspired in his grandnephew.
She bit her lip thoughtfully before she wrote her brief note to Andalee. She tried to tell her what she knew, which wasn't much, but to put it vaguely just in case it was intercepted. Finally she finished. After glace at her watch. She had five minutes left with Xiao Lang before he 'disappeared.' She might not ever see him again.
"Nai Nai, who's your friend."
"Her name is Andalee. She's very nice. I'm sure she'll be your friend too."
"An Da Li? That's weird name."
"Well, she's from a different country Xiao Lang. Your name is strange where she lives."
"Wow! Really?"
"Really and-"
"It's time to go," Zhi Ming interrupted her harshly.
She nodded at him stiffly. She bent over and gave Xiao Lang back the book that had been making her feel sick for that last hour. "Here you go. Good luck." She didn't say goodbye because if Xiao Lang realized he wasn't coming back in a few days he would probably freak out.
"Okay. See you later, Nai Nai." He gave her a really big hug before taking back the Clow Book. If he noticed the evil energies crawling around it he didn't visibly react to them. "Tell Ma Ma I'll be back soon and that I love her. And my older sisters too even though they're yucky girls."
"Of course," she said her heart sinking. She really hoped she'd be able to do that.
She handed Zhi Ming the sealed envelope and he grabbed Xiao Lang by his collar. "Come," was all he said before they disappeared into a different hallway than before practically dragging the boy behind him.
"When I got back home. Ye Lan and her daughters had already been found dead. I was in shock. I had been preparing to have a very pissed off Ye Lan on my hands. Sending her son away like that, but in hindsight I probably saved his life."
Eriol whistled a long high note the lingered in the quiet garden. He wondered what exactly had happened that day. Even if he asked Xiao Lang he didn't think he'd get all the answers, Not that he would tell me anyway Eriol thought to himself annoyed.
"Did Xiao Lang ever find the person he was looking for?" Mei Di asked him curiously.
"And what makes you think I would know?"
"An old woman's intuition is never wrong."
"All this talk of old women. I don't see what that has to do with you."
"Truly, Eriol, I really want to know," Mei Di said clasping one his hands with one her small, wrinkled ones. It felt soft with long life. "I would very much like to know if my grandson is alive."
"He has delivered the book to its intended owner. Yesterday, the last time I saw him, he was fine." Her hand squeezed his thankfully and he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. It wasn't like he came with the intention of making her feel better.
"Who did he give it too?" Mei Di asked him curiously. "I just can't picture what Clow Reed's successor should look like."
"Sakura-san is very beautiful girl. Her smile lights up even the saddest of hearts. Right now she's in her second year of high school."
"A girl, huh? Who would have guessed it? Certainly no one in this clan would believe it. I can't really see them supporting it either, but if she already has them," Mei Di's voice grew steadily more nervous. "He gave her the book a week or so ago, didn't he?"
Eriol gave her a wary look. "Yes, is that a problem?"
"Well, I felt that all the way up here and my power is only so-so. Whoever Xiao Lang originally 'borrowed' the Clow Book from most likely felt that power surge as well. They'll be wanting to get it back."
"Are they dangerous?"
"Eriol, they killed Li Ye Lan who was an extremely powerful sorceress and accomplished martial artist to boot. They are most certainly dangerous."
"Demon, I want to have word with you." Li had just walked through the front doors of their main office probably to see what jobs were available that week. Toya had been waiting for his arrival. The secretary looked at him nervously when he addressed Li as Demon, but he paid her no mind. "You are free," he informed the boy.
"Oh, I see. Round two. I'm certainly glad I can't see ghosts," Li reflected wryly.
Toya didn't know what he meant by that so he just pointed in the direction of his seldom used office. The walked at a fast clip and were at the end of the long hallway in under three minutes and only one slightly trampled intern to show for it.
Toya closed the door and locked it. "Please take a seat, Demon."
Soon they were seated across fro each other. Toya behind the desk, Li in front of it. "What can I do you for Kinomoto-san?" Li asked him casually.
"What are you doing with my sister?" The interrogation had officially started.
"Going the direct route I see."
"Answer the question."
"I'm protecting her."
"From what?"
"E-vil," Li told him dramatically.
Toya shook his head to reorient himself. It was obvious Li was in a strange mood. "No, really."
"Well, nothing really yet, but I will in the future I'm sure. He won't wait much longer," Li admitted reluctantly.
"He?"
"Yes, He."
"Who is He?" Toya repeated.
"He is a tiger that's made everyone think he's a kitten."
Toya rubbed his face exasperated. "Do you know how to give a straight answer?"
"I'm sure I do."
"Well, it doesn't show."
"I'm sorry to hear that Kinomoto-san."
"I'm serious." Toya wanted to smash his face against the desk top. Or better yet smash Li's face against said desktop.
"And, what? I'm a clown?" For a crazy second an image of Li dressed up as a clown zipped through his brain. He was so finding a job where Li would have to dress up as a clown. Then he told himself to focus.
"Look, Demon, I just want to know what you're up to," Toya leaning back in his chair.
"I see. Well, your sister possesses some very powerful magic as I'm sure you already know."
Toya nodded. "Yeah. I used to be able to feel her aura three blocks away. It's even stronger now since she's started doing whatever it is she's doing. In crowd she stands out like a some five foot tall pink monster. By the way, your aura has been awfully pink the last feet weeks. I can hardly see any green at all. What's up with that?"
"It can't be avoided I'm afraid. Anyway way your sister has recently been selected as the new Mistress of the Clow Cards."
Toya frowned at how Li once again avoided answering his question, but let it go. It could wait. "Clow Cards?"
"They're magical cards that each have their own unique abilities. The have varying degrees of power."
"Are they dangerous?" Toya asked suspiciously.
Li gave him a mysterious smile. "They could be in other circumstances."
"So they're not dangerous?"
"They have the potential to be deadly."
"So my sister is in danger!"
Li shock his head. "Nope. Well at least not from them."
"And why not?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Just because."
"You, Demon, are driving me mad!"
"You're always angry anyway."
Toya examined the boy in front of him critically. It seemed for the moment anyway Sakura wasn't in eminent danger. Or at least Li didn't think so. "You'll tell me if the tiger who acts like a kitten makes a move, right?" he felt like he was in a bad spy movie from the fifties.
"Of course, I was planning on it." Toya felt a little better after hearing that.
"You're lucky I trust you. Why do I trust you?"
"Probably because you met me before I met your sister," Li said dryly.
Toya grunted. "Maybe. Speaking of my sister. Have those stupid, hormone driven scum bags stopped talking to her yet?"
"If you're referring to the boys in our class, yes. If you're referring to demented ,magically charmed scum drenched vacuum cleaners, I haven't seen any. If I do I'll be sure to stab them with my sword."
"Sword? Isn't that a little old fashioned?" Toya asked amused. Vacuum cleaners. The kid was nuts.
"A sword suits me fine."
"And you carry it with you always, right?" Toya joked.
"Right," Li answered serious.
"You actually have a sword, don't you?" Toya asked wondering why he found it so surprising.
"Of course."
"I don't see it."
"An unseen sword can still draw blood," he said with a shrug.
"Was that a joke?"
"I don't know. Was it funny?"
"You know it's probably best you don't talk to most people."
"How's that?"
"Well instead of being scared of you for no really good reason they'd be terrified of your for several very good reasons, sword boy," Toya said pointedly.
"Here is your order. Strawberry milkshake, vanilla milkshake and a large order of fries. Enjoy!" Li said with a small smile on his face that disappeared the second he left their table.
"Tomoyo-chan, I can't believe Li-kun works here as well," Sakura said amazed as she started on the fries.
"Yes, yesterday he was working at the grocery store when we went to get eggs for the cake I wanted to make at your house."
"And last Thursday he was a lifeguard at the indoor pool we went to with Naoko-chan!"
Tomoyo simply nodded. She suspected Li popping up like he did was intentional. Just like how Sakura's older brother was mysteriously everywhere they went. She did wonder how they managed to do it though.
"Ne, Tomoyo-chan?"
"Hmm," Tomoyo replied to show she was listening as she started to drink her vanilla milkshake.
"Don't you think it's odd that the Clow Cards have been so friendly?"
"What do you mean?" Tomoyo honestly hadn't thought much about it since she'd been so busy designing cute clothes for Sakura to wear and then filming her in said cute clothes and then watching videos of her in the clothes. Tomoyo sighed dreamily.
"Well, they'll challenge me and all, but except for the first few don't attack me at all. I don't know it just seems strange and Kero-chan is very disturbed by it," Sakura said worriedly. She took a sip of her strawberry milkshake and made a sound of delight. "Yum."
"Have you asked Li-kun? They all seem to know him? Hey, maybe that's why!"
Sakura stopped sipping her shake. "What's why?"
"Maybe the reason they're not attacking you is because they're friends of Li-kun's and you're his friend. And it's a friend of a friend kind of deal," Tomoyo said energetically. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Li snuck up behind an unsuspecting Sakura.
"I don't know Tomoyo-chan. I don't think it's that simple," Sakura said obviously thinking over very hard. She didn't even notice Tomoyo fished out her video camera and started filming her as she scrunched her face up in thought.
"I don't see why it can't be," Li said right behind her, his lips just inches from her ear.
"Hoe!" Sakura hollered causing most of the people the restaurant to turn in time to see her tumble out of her seat. "Li-kun!" she cried as her face turned bright red. "Tomoyo-chan!" Tomoyo guessed she caught sight of her camera.
"Sorry. I just got on break so I thought I'd join you," Li said sounding as far away from sorry as a person could get. He bent over and helped Sakura get back on her feet.
"I guess, you're forgiven. But what did you mean just now?" Sakura quickly sat back down in her seat while Li pulled up a third chair to the small round table they were sitting at.
"I was just saying I think Daidoji-chan's assessment of the situation is pretty correct."
"You mean the cards are being nice to me because I'm you're friend."
"More or less," Li confirmed.
"But that's too easy. I want to earn the title Card Mistress." Tomoyo smiled at her friends determination.
"Don't worry you are earning it. The cards like you. They've been misused in the past so that's very important. They already know you're strong enough because you were able to open the book."
"But-"
"And if you're worried about earning it don't be. Soon the stronger cards will challenging you and they plan on giving you a real run for your money. That being said the weaker cards couldn't have given you a much harder time without endangering themselves anyway. They were just too damaged to battle you."
"Damaged? Your mean how they look torn and stained right after she returns them to their card forms?" Tomoyo asked him truly curious. She'd been wondering about that.
Li nodded. "From what I can gather. Their previous master used Black Magic to control them because he wasn't their intended master. Their prolonged exposure to malice damaged them."
"That's horrible," Sakura said. "They're all so nice. It pains me to think they were in such a terrible situation." Tomoyo could actually see Sakura getting teary eyed. She had to nod in agreement.
"That's why it's important they like you. They know you can be their mistress; they just want to know you can also be their friend. I have to go. My break's over."
Tomoyo watched Sakura watch Li go. "Li-kun sure does know the cards well Tomoyo-chan. But it's weird because the book was sealed the whole time he had it, yet somehow he still talked to them. I wonder how he did that with them being sealed up in the book and all."
Tomoyo considered her friend's question. That did seem rather odd. "That's a good question, Sakura-chan. A very good question."
A/N: Nai Nai means father's mother in Mandarin Chinese.
