Author's Note: Hi, I know it's been a while since my last update. School. Life. You name it, came up. Thanks so much for the reviews!
Aristania - I agree. Nakuru isn't one of my favorite characters either, so I'm trying to write her as neutrally as possible. Glad you like what you've read so far. There will definitely be TXY later on. Count on it.
Gemini24 - I will get to writing that crossover, since inspiration has seemingly returned in light of the end of my school year. To answer your questions, Nakuru will be doing a bit of glomping but not much since she doesn't have any hope of getting Touya's powers in this story. Won't stop her from trying though. Fly will form on the staff which will morph into a slightly larger form so as to hold Touya up. I haven't decided how Suppi and Kero are going to meet yet, you'll just have to wait and see. ;) (It's cool, there weren't that many questions.)
For anyone who wants to know here's a list of the cards Touya has captured so far (two in between this chapter and the last one) are: The Fly, The Light, The Dark, The Windy, the Sleep, the Shadow, and the Jump.
Enjoy!
Touya couldn't believe he'd wound up hiding in Tomoyo Daidouji's house that afternoon. Syaoran Li had taken to stalking both him and Yukito for different reasons ever since the boy had transferred to Tomoeda Elementary the week before. Now Touya had to look over his shoulder every time he walked down the street. Otherwise a kid in a green costume would catch him unawares, hit him with fire magic and try to make off with the Clow Cards.
"Are you sure about this?" Touya asked his unexpected host.
"Oh it's no trouble" Tomoyo insisted with a slight giggle as she set down the tea tray "Sakura wouldn't want me to leave her brother where he could get hurt."
"That's very kind of you Ms. Daidouji" Yukito said as watched the young raven haired girl pour the contents of the steaming kettle into his cup. "We can't seem to hide from Li anywhere."
Tomoyo finished pouring the tea and then stared at dark haired teen thoughtfully.
"He started asking about strange occurrences in class last week and even gave us the description of a girl who looked a lot like Sakura" she mused "I'm afraid I had to tell him I didn't know what he was talking about. After all, we haven't actually seen Sakura in a very long time."
"Thank you" Touya grunted "but how did he find out about us?"
Tomoyo shook her head "I have no idea. I wouldn't even know about your secret if cute little Kero hadn't paid me a visit when I was dropping off Sakura's homework."
"He was a dead giveaway ne Touya?"
"Stupid fuzzball should know when to stay put." Touya grumbled. "If this gets any worse we might have to visit the witch after all."
"I won't tell anyone about this" Tomoyo insisted "not that anyone would believe me. I just want to document it."
Touya sighed heavily. The last thing they needed was a girl with a camcorder running around after them as they capture the Clow Cards. On the other hand, having an ally in the midst of the Li Crisis was something he and Yukito desperately needed right now. At least with Tomoyo no one else was going to believe the word of a kid over two adults when it came to things like the existence of magic. She had even helped them capture the Light and the Dark cards. Even if that Li kid was making an idiot of himself by using sigils left and right.
"Ms. Daidouji won't show it to anyone" Yukito said cheerfully "Isn't that right?"
"Yukito, you can call me Tomoyo" she waved him off as a light blush appeared on her face. "We're all friends here. Or at least we will be. You should be more social Touya."
Touya snorted at this, but didn't say anything.
"Why would we visit the witch Touya?" Yukito wanted to know. "Didn't Kero say we should stay away from her?"
"Normally I say we should take the plushie's advice" Touya explained "but I can't keep worrying about that brat attacking us whenever we go somewhere. Sakura's coming home soon and I don't want her to meet him."
"But she's going to anyway Touya, he's attending the same school. I'm sure he wouldn't attack her now that he knows you have the cards."
"That doesn't mean I want to take the chance. I want that brat to keep away from us and magic seems to be our only option."
"You should probably do it before he challenges you to a duel for Yukito's affections" Tomoyo teased stifling a giggle.
"I'm sure Li doesn't like me that much" Yukito said offhandedly. "I only helped him that once. I'm sure he only follows me so he that can find out where we keep the cards."
"Trust me Yuki, the kid's got a crush on you" Touya said taking his first sip of the tea. "And it makes him even more annoying."
"If you say so Touya" Yukito replied "but I still think I'm much too old for anything like that. I'm sure there are lots of cute girls in his class like Ms. Daidouji, why would he want little old me?"
"Oh, you think so?" Tomoyo said as smiled pleasantly, her eyes gleaming like stars "Sometimes these things just happen and you have no control over them. He could just like you for you, Yukito."
"My mother was 16 when she married my father and he was four years older than her at the time" Touya said thoughtfully. "I see no reason why the brat couldn't be stalking you for other reasons, Yuki. At least he doesn't shoot fire at you."
"I'm just lucky I guess" Yukito said with a shrug. "So what's our game plan on how to get him to stop following us?"
"We lead him straight to the Witch's shop" Touya explained "and then we let her deal with him."
"Will we have to pay a price for it though" Yukito wondered. "Isn't there a catch to anything she does?"
"There is but my...I know we can pay the price and I know it won't cost us that much. Even if I don't know what we'll have to pay." Then he noticed Tomoyo's confusion. "I can see things, spirits and...sometimes things that haven't happened yet. I've always been able to do it."
"Can you see anything you want to?" Tomoyo asked "Like where Li came from."
Touya shook his head.
"I can't control it. Sometimes I just get a feeling when something is unusual or out of balance...sometimes I can tell when something is going to happen. But I can't control when it happens or why."
"As long as you know when Li is around I think we'll be okay" she said. "Providing you know where this witch you keep mentioning lives."
"It's more like she finds you" Touya said scratching his head nervously "she always seems to know when someone has a request or wants to make a wish. They always end up walking inside her shop no matter where they are."
"hmmm..." Tomoyo said pensively resting her head on her hands "It might be a moving shop. Or it could be from a place very far away like a spaceship hiding here on earth."
"I doubt it. The Witch is...strange, but I'm pretty sure she isn't an alien. The boy who works for her is human enough, though his life force felt different for some reason. Almost like he had this bright aura surrounding him." Touya took another sip of his tea before continuing. It gave him some more time to think. "I almost think it had something to do with the other kid who was with him, a priest-in-training for the local shrine. He definitely a spirit-deflector."
"Maybe they could help us" Yukito suggested "those boys would certainly know how to find the Dimensional Witch if they work for her. What do they look like Touya?"
"Kimihiro Watanuki, that's her servant I believe, he's a bit tall and gangly with dark hair and heterochromia. He has one blue eye and one gold. The other was only referred to as Doumeki, he's the one training to be a shrine priest. He's tall with a with stocky shoulders, maybe an athlete of some kind, and his eyes had this golden brown hue to them. Almost like Watanuki's left."
"I've never heard of someone with heterochromia having a golden eye before" Yukito said thoughtfully. "We could always try the phonebook."
One of the maids stepped into the room suddenly, startling them all.
"Ms. Tomoyo, your mother is home" she said bowing. "Shall I inform her that you're busy with guests?"
"One moment please." Then Tomoyo turned back to Touya. "Touya I-"
"Tomoyo my darling, your great-grandfather Amamiya has come to visit us" Sonomi said as she burst in to the room in an excited flutter. "We're going to have to make his favorite dinner and-" Then she got a good look at Touya and Yukito.
"Hello Mother" Tomoyo said cheerfully "this is Touya Kinomoto and Yukito Tsukishiro. Touya is my friend Sakura's brother. He's been so worried about his sister's health lately that I thought I'd have him over for tea and insisted that his friend come along as well. They were kind enough to take me to see Sakura last week so I thought I'd return the favor. I hope you don't mind?"
Sonomi gulped.
"It's very nice to meet you Touya and you as well Yukito" she said holding out a hand. "You are welcome in my home. Um Tomoyo, maybe your guests would like to see the garden while I get your great grandfather settled in the parlor."
"Thank you for your hospitality Mrs. Daidouji, but we should probably get going" Touya said evenly as he stood. "Yuki and I have homework to catch up on. Sakura should be home next week anyway. So Tomoyo can come and see her then."
"Thank you again Ms. Daidouji" Yukito said.
Touya bowed stiffly to Sonomi and then walked out, Yukito following behind him.
Sonomi couldn't stop the feelings of guilt that welled up in her heart. She wasn't sure how to treat Nadeshiko's son after all these years. Nadeshiko had been her favorite cousin and her best friend growing up, but ever since she married their high school teacher Mr. Kinomoto, things had never been the same between them. Her cousin had always cheerfully kept up their friendship, but Sonomi had shied away because of their families disapproval of Nadeshiko's marriage. As a result Sonomi and the other Amamiyas had all but ignored Nadeshiko's husband and son during the funeral services. Her daughter Sakura Kinomoto had been too young to attend the funeral apparently, for Sonomi had never seen the girl before or heard the last name of Tomoyo's friend before today. The idea that her beloved cousin's daughter was ill like she had been was almost heartbreaking. Sonomi felt more than a little ashamed that Sakura could have died of her illness and she had never so much as gone to see the girl was more than a little disconcerting. This was her precious Nadeshiko's daughter after all.
"Touya wait" Sonomi called out and Touya stopped in his tracks. "I would like very much if you would stay."
Touya's shocked expression was apparent only to Yukito who was right beside him. He turned to look at Sonomi with an expression of uncertainty.
"We have a lot to talk about" she said "and I have a lot to make up for. Please don't walk away like I did all those years ago, Touya Kinomoto."
Touya let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and nodded slowly.