Disclaimer: CCS is not mine. If it were, then why am I writing a FANFICTION?
Cycle 8: Trailing Behind
"Hoe?" Sakura blinked in surprise. "But how are you sure Oniichan?"
"I had my suspicions after everything that stuffed animal thing told me. I talked to Yuki's other self, Yue, and he agreed." Toya was used to the fact that his best friend and the Moon Guardian were two different people in the same body; it just surprised him sometimes whenever Yue appears. "And before I lost my powers I could tell Akizuki was like Yukito, so if this guy is the same…"
"Then the enemy Cardmaster has Guardians also."
"Hoeeeee!" The Cardmistress stared at Kero with surprise. "Kero-chan! Don't scare me like that!"
The little Sun Guardian shrugged. "We cannot deny the fact that Arya was powerful enough to make her own version of the Clow Cards; she probably made Guardians as well."
"Demo, would they really appear out in the open where they might be detected?"
"He probably thought he was safe," Toya said, "or at least that's what the stuffed animal told me."
"I'm not a stuffed animal!"
He ignored the infuriated Kero, and continued to speak. "Akizuki probably can tell if he is powerful, but I really don't want to ask her…"
"So who is it, Oniichan?"
"He's in some of my classes, his name is Kajihana Tsukito. Black hair, amethyst-colored eyes, and very athletic. And his first name is written with the kanji character for the moon."
"Hmmm..." The little Guardian seemed lost in thought before he spoke. "Alright! Cardmistress's brother, next time you go to school take me with you! I will evaluate this guy!"
Toya glared. "I do not want to be seen carrying a plush toy like you around all day."
"I'm not a toy! And you can just keep me in your bag as long as there's room and a small opening so I can breathe! And don't forget sweets also!"
Sakura sweatdropped anime-style as the argument continued. It went on for a good hour and a half before they agreed. Kero would stick with Toya to check out Tsukito, and if he really was a Guardian then they would follow him after school to wherever he lived.
0-o-0-o-0-o-0
The next day, Syaoran told Sakura, Tomoyo, and Eriol of the plan he had come up with the previous night.
"Just to make sure, we should follow Koryu after school to make sure he is or isn't our enemy."
"Demo, Syaoran…"
"Sakura, it's only to make sure. If he really is the guy, then…" Syaoran didn't say anything more, just cracked his knuckles.
"I agree with the plan of my cute little descendant." Eriol had on his Cheshire Cat smile as he spoke, and that plus Eriol's nickname for him made Syaoran quite annoyed. Tomoyo smiled.
"I have my video camera in my bag. We can watch the tape afterwards for any details we could have missed." She had entirely different reasons for wanting to follow Koryu. He had told everyone during lunch that he and Aiko were going to study together again, as she wasn't very good with history and her test was drawing steadily nearer. The Daidouji heiress giggled silently to herself. Those two would look almost as cute as Sakura-chan and Syaoran-kun together! This is too good of an opportunity for me to miss.
The finals hours came and went. Koryu, again, was the first out the door. Sakura and the others waited for a moment before following him, taking care not to be seen by their target. They watched as Koryu waited patiently by the door of another classroom, where he was greeted by a slightly blushing Aiko.
As the two set off, Syaoran, Eriol, Tomoyo, and Sakura followed close behind. But it wasn't as fruitful as Syaoran expected. First the pair stopped at an ice cream stand, where Koryu graciously paid for both his and Aiko's. Tomoyo, who was recording everything, couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. "Kawaii…"
Then the bookstore came next. Sakura wasn't sure what the two had bought in there, but judging by the bag it was a lot of books. They also stopped by the bakery, the electronics store, the crafts store, and the pet store before finally heading to Koryu's mansion.
"What do they need all that stuff for?" Syaoran asked; he was amazed at the number of bags the pair was carrying. Tomoyo laughed softly.
"I noticed in the craft store that Aiko-chan bought a teddy bear kit," she said, smiling. "I wonder who it's for."
"Hoe?"
"Hurry, they're getting away!" Syaoran hissed, and they quickly followed.
Koryu and Aiko were chatting about their day and were oblivious to the fact that they were being followed. The Daidouji heiress noticed how much more relaxed and more confident Aiko was with Koryu without anyone else nearby. The girl didn't even blush once, not even a little.
And then they were there. Everyone looked at the mansion, which seemed slightly larger than the Daidouji estate. "My, my, his family must be quite rich," Eriol noted. "Astounding."
"Hoeee, this place is huge!"
"But we didn't find out anything," Syaoran sighed. "So I guess I was wrong. Sorry for wasting your time everyone."
"It's okay, Syaoran." Sakura gave him a warm hug, which he returned happily. "I know you just wanted to be sure of my safety!"
The four were unaware of eyes watching them as they left. From a third-floor window, Koryu's brown eyes had a cold look in them. Running a hand through his dark green hair, he sighed. "I had no idea they were following us. It was probably that Li Syaoran who was still suspicious of me."
"But they haven't found out the truth." Aiko also turned to the window to see the four leaving. "And suspicions are nothing without proof, which we haven't given them."
"True." Koryu withdrew a book from his bag, titled "THE HARBINGER." He opened it and began examining the cards within. His cards, the ones he had worked so hard to capture and transform. "But I'm surprised. As Arya's reincarnation, wouldn't you have sensed their presences behind us?"
"I was trying to hide my own presence, never mind sensing others," Aiko softly replied; she didn't tell him that all her attention had been focused on a certain someone. "As I'm sure can be said for you. But after absorbing the power of that woman we found in England, you should be powerful enough to sense anyone within a two-mile radius."
"The more powerful the presence, the harder it is to hide it. At least until you get used to it." The Cardmaster glanced over at Aiko, who was twirling her dark brown hair around one finger. "But you are still better at it than I."
"At least you weren't lying when you said you had to help me," Aiko sighed. Koryu laughed.
"I am rather astounded though. To think that you needed help studying for a class!"
"I may be Arya's reincarnation, but all I hold of her are her memories and her magic. The part of me that is Aiko is not good in her history class."
"So then, let's begin." Aiko withdrew her textbook from her bag, frowning.
"Wait a minute. What about Lun—I mean, Tsukito? What if he gets found out?"
Koryu only smiled knowingly. "If he is, I won't worry. They won't be able to trace him back to us."
0-o-0-o-0-o-0
"Really?"
"Hai, really." Kero sat in front of Sakura on the floor of her room, eating takoyaki, his favorite food after sweets.
"So then…"
"Exactly!"
"But…"
"It was tiring. I never expected to be chasing that takoyaki around town!" Kero had just finished telling Sakura about his and Suppie's little adventure, remembering it as he ate the takoyaki. (A/N: What did you think they were talking about?) "Oh, and it's confirmed, although we never found out where he lived."
"What is? Who?"
"That guy in your brother's classes, he has a significant amount of power. Kajihana Tsukito has the magical energy of the moon within him, like Yue and Ruby Moon, which means he is most likely our enemy's Moon Guardian."
Author's Notes: Well, now we know who the enemy is, although I bet many of you suspected it right from the start. And the wolf? I'll try to make Solarus appear again in a larger role than in Cycle 7: Rain. He is important as well. And thanks to all my dedicated readers! -happy dance- Stay tuned!
