"darkness and light is all in the interpretation. One cannot exist without the other. They reach to each other, like old lovers."
Chapter 7:
"Where is Kero?" Sakura asked Kaho just as the dinner rush had ended.
It had been two whole days since Kero had last come in to work. It was odd, even for him. He may have always been late to work, but he always called or texted. Typically without a good reason as to why he was late, it was always something that couldn't have happened like the dog at his shoes, or he was run over by a child with ice cream who wanted to share in restitution. It was not like him to not call or answer their messages. Sakura was concerned.
Kaho shrugged, "I don't know. It is truly unlike him to be late. I went to the address listed to make sure he was okay, but nobody lived there, as a matter of fact, it was a run down old shack. Hardly the place that Kero would live. I guess he quit?"
Sakura continued to lean up the tables, "Still, without telling us? That's a bit odd…"
Sakura looked up at as the bell in front of the cafe ran, signaling a customer. A figure entered the café and took a seat. It was not in her area, but instead, Tomoyo's. However, Tomoyo still had 10 minutes left on her break. So, Sakura walked over to the mysterious man, putting her best smile on her face. It was both genuine, yet professional. She placed a menu on the table lightly,
"Hello! My name is Sakura. Would you like something to drink?"
The man looked up at her, and for the first time since her childhood, she was awe-struck by what she saw. It was his eyes that drew her in, they were the color of amber, but it was like the amber was burning, the flickers of red within his eyes giving the illusion of a slow burning fire deep within. She forced herself to look away, and turned the menu towards him, saying nothing, but refusing to once again my eye contact.
The man took the menu and after perusing through it, he spoke. His tone even, yet one that commanded respect. He had the voice of a leader, without having to overtly state it. It oozed from his words and tone, "I'll have the coffee, black. Thank you."
He didn't look back at her and Sakura bowed and left.
Syaoran:
Syaoran waited a few minutes, and glanced at the figure of Sakura smiling with someone as she poured my coffee. 'Kami, she is as beautiful as Kero said. Her pictures do no justice for her.'
He pretended to look over the menu as he thought about the vision of beauty not too far from his peripheral vision. He had seen her pictures, of course, but he had no idea that she would be more beautiful in person.
Sakura wore her standard work outfit, black slacks and a white button up shirt with the top two buttons undone. Her long amber colored hair tied back into a loose low ponytail. She finished pouring the coffee, but instead of going back to him, she gave the coffee to the girl that she was talking to and pointed at Syaoran's table.
"Here you go!" the girl said, smiling. She had deep violet eyes and long dark hair that was hanging loosely around her.
"My name is Tomoyo, and I'll be your server. Is there anything that I can get you?" Tomoyo asked pleasantly.
Syaoran shook his head, he hadn't even looked over the menu yet. He had been lost in his own head, "I'm not too hungry. I'd just like to enjoy the coffee."
Tomoyo smiled and nodded, that was not uncommon. "Well, I'll come by and check on you and refill your coffee for you periodically. If that is alright?"
Syaoran nodded appreciatively and pulled out his phone as if he was looking at important emails. Tomoyo politely excused herself from the table and went to a booth not too far from him to help with a couple that had come into the café shortly after he did.
As he pretended to look at his phone, he was letting his gaze go over the room, 'Where the fuck is Kero? This fool had one fucking job, to watch the girl.'
Thinking of the girl, he mentally ran through all of the facts that he knew of her, and his gaze momentarily moved to her, as she leaned against the counter, laughing with his server. He found himself momentarily awestruck. She was everything that Kero had described, pureness incarnate, and the pictures that Kero had discreetly taken did her emerald green eyes and her smile no justice.
He watched as she moved when a person came in and how genuine she appeared to everyone. She moved like an angel, like a goddess, and yet she spoke with a humbleness and grace that begged you to want to talk to her more. He couldn't let anyone take that away. Hana had done the right thing to keep her pure.
He looked into his phone, and saw that none of the messages he had sent Kero had been read. This was worrisome. Syaoran ran his hand through his chestnut brown hair,
"Where the fuck are you, kid?" He whispered to himself.
Tomoyo came back over after noticing that he had been looking at them and especially Sakura. This was not uncommon, but Sakura would never notice. However, there was something familiar about her customer that she couldn't quite place. Something that worried and yet, comforted her.
"Need a refill?" She asked pleasantly.
Syaoran shook his head, "No. Thank you. I'll take the check, please."
Tomoyo smiled and nodded, walking away. She came back and he paid and left, casting one last glance towards Sakura.
Syaoran:
Syaoran left the café, casting one last glance towards the café, and the woman his organization was charged to protect. He noticed that she too, was looking outward but not at him, she was just looking outward, her emerald eyes looking duller, sadder, than usual. However, as suddenly as that duller color appeared, it left, as she laughed at sometimes his server had told her.
He turned and looked at his watch. It's been 2 days since Kero last reported in. He turned around the first corner, and instead of getting into his car, he walked towards Kero's apartment. Something was not sitting right with him. Kero was incompetent sometimes, but when he was on mission, he was thorough and one of the best. It is not like him to not be where his target is.
Syaoran arrived at the apartment complex and walked up to Kero's apartment. He was looking around for any signs, but saw nothing, until he got to Kero's apartment. There were scratches at the door, near the keyhole. Syaoran pushed at the door, and it opened on it own.
The first thing that hit his nose was a smell, 'blood!' He thought.
Syaoran walked into the apartment and saw what could only be described as mass chaos. There were things everywhere. Kero's blood was all over the couch and the floor. There were bullet casings in the coffee table. There were random home furnishings everywhere. Kero was not known for being the cleanliest person, but he was by no means this messy.
Syoran moved through the apartment, looking for not only Kero but for his information book. He saw something move in a darkened corner and Syaoran immediately pulled out his gun. He said nothing but started moving towards the moving figure, hoping that perhaps Kero had taken someone out.
He saw golden hair covered in blood and cursed to himself, and put his weapon away. "Kero. What the fuck man?!"
Kero looked up, but said nothing. He couldn't tell if he was hallucinating and was finally at death's door or if help had finally come.
Syaoran looked into his friend's eyes as his hands went to his phone. He dialed Eriol's number, and spoke into the phone, "Kero's damn near dead, bring the fucking doctor."
He hung up the phone before Eriol could reply, and cut on the lights. Kero's eyes squinched and Syaoran took a breath at what he saw. Kero had been through the fight of his life. He was disheveled.
Syaoran bent down and took in what had happened to Kero. How he had survived two days was through sheer willpower. He was covered in blood. Syaoran could see how he tried to apply pressure to his stomach wound which was caked with dark blood and he could see was still being soaked. There were small superficial marks on him. Kero must've been able to disable the people who came into his apartment, but they were able to do damage to him as well. His face was covered in bruises, his left ankle was in a weird and displaced position, and his knuckles were swollen and bloodied.
Kero's usually bright blue eyes were fading, and the look in them shook Syaoran too his core. It had been a long time since he lost someone in his inner circle, and it was never easy. He refused to lose Kero though, he was annoying and got on his nerves, but he was loyal and he was still a family member, besides, Meiling would kill him.
"Kero. You've lasted this long man, you better not die. I don't want to move you and cause more bleeding. You're a stubborn son of a bitch aren't you. I will question the fuck out of you once you make it through here. I swear to Kami, I had to go check on the girl because you were up here dying and not tell anyone."
Kero attempted to smirk, but it came out as a grimace, and he could feel the darkness that he was fighting off come closer. 'I'm so tired…' He thought as the darkness moved closer.
Syaoran was still chastising him, but Kero could see the worry in his eyes. He only spoke this much when he was worried anyway. Kero tried to touch his arm to tell him it'll be okay, but his body felt as heavy as a ton of cement, and he was only able to slightly move his wrist, which caused pain to surge through his body.
His eyes started to close, he was tired, but he had to tell Syaoran who did this and that Sakura was in danger. He fought the welcoming darkness and opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He was tired. So tired.
Minutes later, darkness surrounded him in its warm embrace.
Hours later:
Syaroan paced as the doctor worked his magic.
"How much longer?! How is he?!"
The doctor did not turn towards him, as he continued to work on Kero. Kero was taken immediately to their base while the doctor worked on him. The doctor was surprised that Kero lasted this long, it was through sheer will power and luck, as Kero should have bled out or died of infection before Syaoran had even gotten there. It was pure will power and Kero was known for being stubborn so it was perfectly fitting that he was just too stubborn to die.
The doctor stepped away after completing everything he could do and turned to Syaoran, "I have done everything possible. It's up to Kero now if he wants to come back."
Syaoran looked at Kero then back to the doctor and nodded, "He will live, he's just that stubborn."
The doctor said nothing but walked out of the door. Syaoran followed soon afterward and walked to Eriol's office.
"We need to come up with a counter strategy. I think Kero was caught. Secondly, that girl he was watching? That's no longer of importance. Tell Hana their little mission almost cost us one of our men. We will not be continuing that mission. "
Eriol shook his head, "No, I have a feeling it is all interconnected. It would be unwise to leave the girl unchecked and to leave them vulnerable. Remember, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Syaoran sat down and took in a deep breath. He had to think. "Listen, we need to revisit what we've been doing. We have nobody that we trust enough for this job available. Who will go in Kero's place?"
Eriol grinned, "You."
Syaroan shook his head, "No, I'm not like Kero. I'm not gonna be able to play the part he did. That is not an option. I am not doing that."
Eriol shrugged, "It's either you or I. Meiling is busy tracking Kero's devices and hacking various systems to get more information on what happened to him. I could leave here and do it, but you know my strength is in strategy and long distance combat. You are the only one who specializes in close range combat and is available. Everyone else is on different missions."
Syaoran rubbed his face in frustration. "Fine. I'll figure this shit out, I guess."
Kero:
Kero was stirring, and he whispered in his sleep, "Sa…Ku…ra…."
(A/N: Disclaimer : I still do not own CCS!
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