Of Suns, Moons, and Stars

By moonlight ray

Chapter 9

Storm Clouds Ahead

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS, but I do own Hoshimi, and Arashi Tanaka. If you're interested in using any of them, just ask, okay?

[A/N: Thanks to animeandmangafangirl and FireStripe49 for reviewing! Review, everyone, onegai! I changed the disclaimer; though I really should have done so a while ago. ^_^;; Note: tadaima= I'm home, minna= everyone, soda= I know, daidjobou= it's alright, arigatou= thanks]

"Onni-chan, you can't go around blaming every single new transfer student!" Sakura protested.

"I don't blame every single one." Touya defended himself.

"Syoaran-kun, Meilin-chan, Eriol-kun, Nakuru-san…." Sakura began listing, bending down one finger as she counted each one off.

"I didn't blame Yuki."

"But you're accusing Tanaka-san for something we've no proof he's done!"

"I was right about the last two, wasn't I?"

"That doesn't mean you're right this time!"

Yue and Kero exchanged exasperated glances. "Are you two done bickering?" Kero inquired impatiently. The sun beast was in his celestial form now, as he often was when conversing with Yue about a serious matter. "If you are, we'd like to report something important about Hoshimi. "

The very mention of the star guardian's name was enough to pause the siblings mid-quarrel.

"We have just contacted Hoshimi through telepathy." Kero began.

"Nani? You can do that?" Sakura questioned.

Kero nodded.

"But our opponent had cut off our telepathic connections before we could determine her location." Yue continued.

"This is extremely unnerving since that task could take a lifetime to master. Telepathy is formed only through a strong bond between guardians, something not easily interrupted. It can be omitted through our own will and nothing more. To be able to break through that bond would take power beyond even Sakura's skill." Kero finished.

"To exceed the strength of the Card Master… is that even possible?" Touya asked.

"I have never encountered such." Yue answered. "Then again, our Mistress is still young and has much more to learn. Her powers may increase in the future. It's been not yet a year since the last of the Cards has been sealed and transformed."

"Demo—" Sakura started.

"Tadaima!" Fujitaka called.

Both guardians instinctively summoned their wings and snapped them into a cocoon. The plush toy Kero-chan ducked behind the couch. Yukito, though confused, took his seat beside Sakura, saving his questions for later. "Welcome home!" Touya called.

"Welcome!" Sakura chirped. "We're in the living room!"

Fujiktaka peered in, giving them all a smile. "Konnichiwa, minna-san. Tsukishiro-san, I take it you're studying with Touya-kun tonight?"

"Hai," Yukito answered.

"Back so soon? I thought you had some work you needed to catch up on at the university?" Touya questioned.

"There's been a power outage. The due date's been postponed until tomorrow. If anyone needs me, I'll be in the kitchen. I want to get an early start on dinner, for all those times I've been away." Fujitaka explained, and then ducked out of sight.

"We can continue discussion upstairs," Touya suggested, lowering his voice.

"Un," Sakura agreed. Kero hopped out from his hiding spot into one of the pockets of Sakura's uniform jacket. Then all four of them made their way upstairs.


The next day, at Seijouu High…

Yukito couldn't focus entirely on the lesson; Yue was unusually antsy that evening. Is something bothering you? The snow rabbit asked. Before the moon being could reply, Yukito chuckled to himself. Silly me; it's Hoshimi, isn't it?

I don't trust her by herself. Yue responded, though his voice betrayed nothing as to what he was feeling.

You don't trust Hoshimi, or her in the hands of the opponent?

Both, I suppose. She was, after all, the reason for our… situation.

You mean the splitting.

The Judgment Angel was silent.

It wasn't her fault.

Soda. But her power is unnatural.

How so?

We, Keroberos and I, came into this world like all mortals do: as infants. Clow designed us to continue outward growth until a certain age, then we shall obtain that appearance for the rest of our lives. But Hoshimi was created already grown.

Could it be that some guardians are supposed to turn out that way? Or can it be the different locations in which your creations occurred?

Before moving to Japan, Keroberos, Clow, and I resided in China as well as in England. Yue's face now held a thoughtful expression. But no matter where we traveled, every guardian I've met was raised from the form of a child.

Maybe it's the—

"Yuki! Yuki!" someone was shaking his shoulder.

Yukito quickly snapped out of his mental conversation. Looking around, he saw the classroom empty. Then, turning his gaze over to the source of the voice, his best friend was watching him with a worried expression. "Yuki," Touya said. "Class is over."

"Ah, gomen. I've been holding you up." Yukito apologized, beginning to gather his books and stuff them into his bag.

"Are you coming down with something? You've spent the whole class staring off into outer space."

"Iie, Yue and I were just chatting."

"Good, I could use some immortal advice."

Yukito could see Yue raise an eyebrow at the term.

"I was thinking we should confront him today. We need to act quickly before something bad happens."

Yue was considering. Yukito was trying to piece together what Touya meant. "Yue says to wait until the scheduled time. We can't risk the chance of being wrong. We need to collect more evidence to be sure."

Touya grunted, but didn't argue.


Sakura brought Kero with her to school that day. She figured if, or rather when, the enemy decided to attack, she'd be prepared.

"Sakura-chan," Tomoyo whispered from her desk.

Sakura turned to her friend. Just last night, after they had decided to keep an eye on Arashi until they found a good time to confront him, Sakura had called Tomoyo and explained everything. She wanted as much help as she could get with this situation. Tomoyo had suggested they call Syaoran and Meilin to at least inform them, but Sakura objected. It would only cause them worry for something they can't help with, she had said. And I don't want Syaoran-kun and Meilin-chan to be troubled.

"Daidjobou. Don't worry too much about it." Tomoyo reassured her.

"Arigatou, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura gave Tomoyo a grateful smile.

"Please don't be troubled. After all, a smile suits you best, Sakura-chan."

"Hai!"


Touya kept glancing over his shoulder at Yukito. His snow rabbit friend was not at his usual attentiveness that day. Something wasn't quite right... Suddenly, dark swirls of mist started to form around Yukito, who was slowly falling asleep. Touya gasped aloud, though he didn't intend to. A few other students turned around to see what was going on. Astonished looks appeared on their faces. "Yuki!" Touya shouted, jumping out from his seat.

Before he could do anything more, a blinding light filled the room. Then, when it vanished, the black mist was gone too. And, in Yukito's place, Yue was there, in the exact same position the snow rabbit had last been in. The moon guardian's arms were crossed onto the desk, his head resting on top of them. A collective gasp echoed throughout the classroom.

"Yue?" Touya whispered.