The Key

Chapter 9

Kero and Tomoyo kept Syaoran company while Yukito registered Syaoran for the school. Yukito had some trouble getting through to them, and had to call Sakura often in order to work some magic on his visa (the visa said Syaoran's name was Li Zhineng, from Hong Kong) in order to turn it into the proper document with the proper documentation to make the fake story he and Kero made up halfway legitimate. After some masterful forging of papers, Suzuki Akira was finally registered for the school, with some weird looks as to why Yukito was the one doing it and not Suzuki's actual guardian.

At the Tsukishiro's, Tomoyo and Kero found much better company in Syaoran than they expected. Syaoran seemed determined to pretend the previous night never happened, which was more easily done than anticipated because the day, in contrast with the night before, was bright and sunny and inappropriately cheerful. Syaoran tested Sakura's loop, found himself emerging from the apartment building, and felt very disoriented, especially when an emergency vehicle sped by in a loud flurry of lights.

Despite all pretense of normalcy, Syaoran did some things that were distinctly out of character once Yukito left the group. Normally when inside the boy confined himself to the living room couch, his guest room, or the kitchen, and usually left no hint that he was ever present when he left those areas. That day, however, Syaoran seemed very scattered and did many things on a whim, leaving a huge mess behind; the cereal he managed to pour all over the table but seemed too distracted to clean up after himself. Instead of just opening the blinds on the windows, he drew them up fully, so that the sunlight blinded everyone when they entered the room. And, while he laid out food for everyone and accepted slices of Tomoyo's carrot cake, he ate none of it.

Hours later, when Yukito returned, the older boy cleaned up everything without complaint, but Yue was very annoyed. Later that night, Syaoran refused to go to bed, and when Kero suggested Yukito should stay with Syaoran, Yue adamantly declined and lost his temper with the boy, allowing Tomoyo to bear witness to the first fight between the guardians.

" Would it kill you, seriously?" Kero yelled at Yue, while Syaoran covered his ears and appeared to stubbornly count in Chinese. " This kid's been through hell already!"

" If he wishes to survive he has to be strong." Yue replied, equally furious, but his rage was much colder, and more quiet. " I will not cuddle him just because he had a scare."

" Had a scare?" Kero uttered a bunch of oaths. " Had a scare! You call that having a scare! I would think you would know better, having seen for yourself what the kid's been through last night. I didn't even see anything because I can't see ghosts!"

" I already opened my home to the child. What more do you want?"

" Have a heart, maybe?"

Yue frowned. " You know I am not known for sentimentality, Kerberus."

" This isn't about sentimentality." Kero abruptly transformed into his lion form and growled, looking like he wanted nothing more than to pounce on his fellow guardian. " This is about sense. This is about being selfless, you downright prick! You're just too full of yourself to humble down to take care of this kid, because you're too chicken to accept the fact that not everything's about you!"

Knowing the argument was hurting Syaoran as much as Yue's rejection did, Tomoyo tried to get the two of them to stop.

" Guys," She tried, but while she was as comfortable with Kero as her cousin, she too, was too much in awe of Yue to do anything. Kami-sama, they are embarrassing him. They are embarrassing me. And Syaoran was too distraught in general to be brave and go to bed on his own. It was too early for him to control his fear. Unfortunately, when Kero actually blew a fireball at Yue, even Tomoyo's awe was overcome. " Guys, cut it out! He's right here, you know!"

Yue had easily blocked the fireball with his shield, and had lifted his arms in preparation for an attack of his own. At Tomoyo's shout, both guardians froze, while the table the fireball was deflected to caught in flames. Syaoran had lowered his hands, staring at the fire in dismay, while Tomoyo squeaked and hurried to the kitchen to grab water. For the next few minutes the only activity consisted of Tomoyo putting out the fire, while the guardians glared at each other.

Syaoran grabbed his face, rocking himself back and forth, all pretense of normalcy gone as he struggled to find the courage to do something as simple as going to bed alone, to tell that frightful angel that he could face that night by himself. The smell of smoke and ash covered the room once Tomoyo was done, but not one remarked on it.

" You are going to fix that." Yue pointed at the table.

" Yeah? Maybe, once you confess to Sakura what a downright bastard you've been!" Kero turned around, still in his true form. It was the first time Syaoran had seen Kero in this form, but the boy was not in the state to appreciate the honor. " Come, kid. If that jerk over there isn't going to take care of you, I will. We'll see what ghosts try to sneak in tonight."

" You cannot see ghosts." Yue remarked.

" Well I bet I can scare them off anyhow." Kero shot back, despite the fact that the ghosts in question were hardly in the condition to be scared off. " Come on kid." He pulled at Syaoran's legs with his tail. " Come on, come back to us. We'll leave that jerk to brood on his shortcomings." With another tug, he managed to get Syaoran to stumble after him.

Tomoyo was left with a noticeably irate Yue. She had to admit, though she could understand Kero's passion, she herself could not imagine Yue agreeing to coddle anyone, even someone as deserving as Li. While something needed to be done about Syaoran's new night terror, Kero was basically proposing Yue should stay with Syaoran–all night, which was not exactly a reasonable expectation. It was an easy thing for Kero; he posed as Sakura's stuffed toy for about two years and occasionally napped in her backpack. Yue, on the other hand, had been living as an actual human being.

" I guess I'll call Sakura-chan," Tomoyo began awkwardly, though as she took out her cell phone she realized despite the rocky way there, they probably managed to find a temporary solution to Syaoran's problem. She felt awful for Syaoran; she knew the boy was feeling wretched and probably thought he was causing all this trouble.

Yue did not answer her, instead moving away and disappearing from the room. The girl sighed, wishing halfheartedly that Tomoeda had served as a better sanctuary for Syaoran.

" I could use Dream," Sakura sleepily remarked when she heard Kero was staying with Syaoran, " And...oh wait, that wouldn't work, would it. Akira's immune."

That probably served to be more troublesome than anything else, Tomoyo decided, although undoubtedly, it would be of valuable use later, if it has not already. " We'll see how it goes." Sakura muttered. " Maybe I can let Kero-chan stay over for now. Akira-chan needs him more than I do."

" Hai." Tomoyo agreed. " I better go home. It's kind of past my bedtime."

Neither Yue nor Yukito saw her out, but that was fine. At this point, they were enough of a family to forgive such discourtesies.

oO

Spending the night under the watch of the great Sun Guardian Kerberus was a new and interesting experience, though as Kero's grumbling about Yue died down, Syaoran made sure to tell the beast that Yukito had been very diligent in checking up on Syaoran, and while the boy had no idea Yue was conscious of every act and even influential in his false form's decisions and behavior, Syaoran did guess that Yukito would not be so kind if Yue were as ruthless as Kero complained. Kero gave him a nuzzle (still in his true form) and told him to shut up and go to sleep, though in such an amiable way that the child, miserable as he was, laughed for the first time a true, good-humored laugh in the twenty hours he had been awake, and did, in fact, sleep for the first time without being disturbed by nightmares, nestled in Kero's warmth.

Yukito, unfortunately, was too bothered by Yue's indignation to sleep very well. He kept trying to console his other half.

I would not have minded. Yukito told Yue. But it would not be entirely wrong of me to mind, if I did, you know. It's not like that kid's my real brother, even if he really needs one. There are other ways we could have helped him. Kero's just used to being kawaii and huggable.

Yue was still deeply bothered, and his irritation spanned in all directions: toward Syaoran, for coming into their lives like this and not being strong enough to handle this on his own; toward Kero, who never seemed to understand Yue's broken-hearted grief after Clow Reed died, or his deep dependence on their former master; toward Clow Reed for making him the way he was, and finally settling toward himself, for some reason Yukito could not fathom.

The next day Sakura asked Syaoran if he wanted to go to a carnival.

" You don't have to go." She said, feeling that this was a delicate matter, since Syaoran may not be ready to go out and face people who did not understand what he was going through after all that has happened, but the choice was up to him, whether he wanted to distract himself. " But Chiharu-chan is a good friend of mine." Sakura told him. " A lot of my friends will be there. They're not magical though, and they don't know about magic, so don't bring up stuff about Kero and, you know."

" Will it be okay?" Syaoran asked hesitantly. " They did not invite me, so maybe it would be better if I don't barge in."

" I'll ask. I'm sure it will be fine." Sakura reassured him. " Just give me a minute to call Chiharu-chan."

Chiharu was delighted to meet this intriguing Suzuki Akira, especially since they were all interested in him ever since they noticed he kept going to Penguin Park. When he stopped going, they had assumed he left somehow, and were very pleased to learn he was still around, and that Kinomoto Sakura, the oddball of the group now, had made friends with him so she could introduce him to the rest. She made sure to tell Sakura that her brother and her friend Tsukishiro were also invited. Touya, finding nothing more boring than hanging out with his eleven-year-old sister had made sure to decline before Sakura could even suggest such a thing. Yukito, also finding the idea a little bit outrageous, already arranged to have a guy's day out and watch baseball with Touya at the Kinomotos with several other newly graduated peers. It was settled that Syaoran must join them then, and Yukito told the boy to have fun at the carnival.

Syaoran had gone to carnivals before, but never with friends, as he did not have any. He had never associated with anyone non-magical either, other than Tomoyo, who already knew a little about the magical world. Nervous that he would mess up, he was somewhat of a wreck the next morning, but this was something no one could actually help him with.

" Look, they're nice, and you're nice." Sakura assured him. " I'll make sure they don't act too ridiculous. Watch out for Yamazaki-kun, though. He tends to make up a lot of stories in great detail, so you'd get fooled into believing him. He's a really nice guy though. I'm sure you'll all get along. Heck, I like you, so I'm sure they will too."

Yanagisawa Naoko apparently instantly decided Suzuki Akira was fair game for a date (he was cute, polite, good-tempered, and intriguing) and Syaoran, being fairly unused to such situations, unknowingly promised her one for the fireworks festival the following Friday. Sakura was delighted with the idea at first. Tomoyo, a little more knowledgeable than her cousin, started plotting in her head ways to either get Syaoran out of it or convince Syaoran it was a good idea. Mihara Chiharu used Suzuki as a way to make Yamazaki Takashi jealous by constantly comparing him to the other boy, while Sasaki Rika, who was interested but a bit diverted by thoughts about the coming school year, mentioned to Sakura that she did find Akira attractive but sad.

Which was interesting, because Syaoran was trying his best to appear upbeat.

" Did you know that some areas in the United States have all four seasons?" Yamazaki was telling Syaoran to pointedly ignore Chiharu's attempts at getting his attention. " But their seasons are nothing like ours. For one thing, their winter comes before spring!"

Confused, Syaoran slowly replied, " You mean in Tomoeda your spring comes before winter?"

" Ex–no I said it wrong. I meant their winter comes after spring. It's Americans, you know. They have to do everything differently. Metric versus US system, you know, the works."

Still confused, Syaoran slowly said again, " Are you sure you read it correctly? You do realize that when you look one way, spring comes before winter, and when you look at it another way winter comes before spring. It's a cycle."

" Don't mind Yamazaki-kun." Chiharu told Syaoran. " He does this all the time. Although I must say, you're confusing me a lot more these days."

Yamazaki merely smiled.

Upbeat as Syaoran tried to be, he still could not bring himself to act enthusiastic enough about any of the rides, his mood constantly dampened by the weight of everything that had happened. Still, he was not depressing, which Sakura and Tomoyo had to give him credit for, and everyone took a liking to him, especially Yamazaki when Syaoran began teaching him various small tricks in martial arts that the other boy could use to impress girls.

" Boys and fighting." Chiharu shook her head. She was naturally the most outspoken of all the girls. " I will never understand them."

" He is so kawaii!" Naoko commented, watching as Syaoran demonstrated the move.

Sakura, holding Syaoran's ice cream (they were taking a break to get refreshment when Yamazaki asked Syaoran to show him moves) found herself feeling increasingly uncomfortable the more Naoko commented on Syaoran's good looks. Part of it was she was beginning to see, herself, the many good traits Syaoran was showing now that he was no longer continuously moping. For the most part lightened in his new facade, his expression was such that many of his handsome features were illuminated where his earlier depression had covered them. There was a mature, quiet, regal air about him and everything he did, a natural grace that was absent in most boys and in most men. Thus preoccupied, she nearly took a bite from the wrong ice cream cone, especially as both were chocolate.

" So what's it like in Tokyo?" Yamazaki asked. " I heard people there were all freaks."

Syaoran settled with a smile and no further answer. He did not come from Tokyo, so he had no idea.

" I never see you with your parents." Yamazaki continued. " What do they do?"

Syaoran took his time in answering. " My father still works in Tokyo." He said, making it up slowly as he went along. " He and my mom are divorced. My mom is ill. She came to Tomoeda because she heard it was very beautiful here."

" Oh." Feeling awkward, Yamazaki looked at him solemnly, " Is she going to be alright?"

Syaoran did not have to fake his grief, at any rate, and the story prevented anyone from asking any questions. No one was willing to breach such an awkward subject.

Skill. Sakura thought, hearing one of those whistles in her head. That was a simple, yet highly well-fabricated lie. Not to mention, it gave Syaoran a good reason not to invite any classmates over.

Syaoran's story had an unexpected result; Yamazaki stopped making up stories for the rest of the day, and Chiharu soon learned that Yamazaki's respect for Suzuki's composure made him unwilling to put their new friend at the end of any joke that was potentially hurtful.

" So different from Hiirigaziwa-kun." Chiharu remarked to Tomoyo. " I can see why Naoko likes him. In fact, I wonder why Sakura doesn't."

Tomoyo, feeling uncomfortable to begin with, downright blushed at the thought, and wondered, humorously, if Syaoran was doing this all on purpose.

oO

" He got himself into a date?" Yukito laughed, genuinely pleased. " With who?"

" Naoko-chan." Tomoyo answered, grinning while Syaoran blushed beet red.

" Naoko's a sweet girl, you'll like her." She said to Syaoran. " Although she's going to wear a yukata, so you better dress up."

Syaoran was not really in the mood for such light-hearted antics, especially since he was in no shape to know how to dress up and was unwilling to ask anyone for help after the fight Kero and Yue had last night. Fortunately, he received some help from Yamazaki in that area, as Chiharu and Yamazaki were also planning on going to the festival. Yamazaki, far more experienced than the previously solitary Li Zhineng, grew out of his old clothes and needed to buy new ones. His mother offered to help Syaoran as well, since his own mother was "ill".

" That's some quick thinking there, kid," Yukito approved, " Now we don't have to worry about questions."

Sakura seemed relatively unhappy about the whole affair, which was surprising because Tomoyo had expected her to be happy about Syaoran mingling with their friends so well. She did not voice it, though she wondered if perhaps Sakura would prefer Syaoran not to date Naoko. It was beyond their control, however, and Syaoran, though nervous, seemed interested in the planned outing, and over all the day seemed to improve Syaoran's spirits.