"If you rush into the darkness, you're sure to encounter a beast."

Chapter 10:

Syaoran and Eriol spent hours in the study, detailing different strategies. Things had to change, the death of Kero would not be in vain. However, Eriol was right, there was still much that was unknown. They assume that it's the Kurai Yoru, but it could have easily been the Kitsune Brotherhood or a dozen others. The ones with the most to gain by killing their members were, by far, the Kitsunes and the Kurai, and like the Kurai Yoru, the Kitsunes had also been quiet.

Syaoran combed his hand through his hair and sighed, his anger dissipated after hours spent planning, "Eriol, we're gonna have to figure out how to make sure we get the right ones."

Eriol leaned back into his chair, looking up at the decorated ceiling, "Was there anything specific about when you got to Kero's place? Who could've known he was going there?"

Syaoran shook his head, "There's no way for anyone to have known. It wasn't in his name, and he didn't ever go straight home, he always perched with his scopes to watch Sak—I mean, the Kinomoto girl, and then he would go home. According to his reports, he would never go the same way twice."

Eriol smirked, catching Syaoran's almost slip up. It appeared that he had let go over these last couple of hours of that false blame on the girls. He sighed inwardly to himself, it was hours and they were talking in circles. According to Syaoran the apartment was in disarray. There was no way to know who did it, and Syaoran, for his sharp analytic skills could not discern the killing style between any of the known types.

"Call Meiling in. We need more information, and stressing about it will not make the solution any more available. This has been a long day."

Syaoran nodded and took his phone out of his pocket, quickly texting his cousin to come to Eriol's study. Meiling appeared a few minutes later, her hair not up in her signature hair style. It was still down, the deep onyx color looking like the deep night's sky. She pushed her hair behind her ear. She looked tired, she too, had been up all night. She couldn't bear to sleep and instead did surveillance on the Kinomoto and Daidouji girls at the hospital. Meiling knew that she couldn't stand the silence and instead chose to work instead, the silence would bring memories of Kero, memories that she would not like to recall.

"What do you want."

Syaoran motioned for her to sit and Meiling obediently did so. Eriol calmly put down the necklace that he had been holding in his grip for the last hours watching it slide out of his hands onto the desk. He took a deep breath and spoke,

"We want you to do what you do best. Dig. I want to know about the going ons of every major gang in the area. The Kitsunes, the Kurai, the Lotus, the Vipers. I want to know about everyone, including Hana. I want to dig until you find everything you possibly can and once you've done that, dig deeper. I want to know the dealings, the shootings, the death styles and the signatures."

Meiling nodded, "Consider it done. It'll take some time, but I'll get it done."

Eriol nodded and looked at Syaoran, "Anything else?"

Syaoran thought for a second, "Wait, the Hana?"

Eriol nodded. Syaoran understood what that meant, his mission went from observe to spy. Syaoran may be the leader, but he knew that Eriol was the brains. They were the best duo and the best and most efficient leaders because they understood each other's strengths and weaknesses. Syaoran trusted Eriol with everything, they were more than family, they were each other's first friends, him and Meiling.

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Sakura:

Sakura looked at her watch, it was almost noon. Tomoyo's face still as still as the dead. She looked down at her phone, Touya continued to call her. He could always sense when something was wrong with her since childhood. He just knew. It was creepy, but he said it was job as her brother to always know. This was his third call in the last two hours. The phone rang again and she finally answered,

"I'm in the hospital." Brief pause.

"No, Tomoyo." Pause.

"Someone broke in." Sakura cringed. He was yelling, and he was mad.

"Don't—" He had hung up. He was coming. 'Damnit'

She looked down at her friend's face, "We're gonna be in so much trouble, Tomo.."

She sighed, "I'm so sorry, Tomo. Why would anyone do this to you…to us?"

She stood up and walked to the water pitcher, pouring herself a glass. She sat back down beside her best friend and symbolic sister. Sakura remembered what the doctor said when he came into the room two hours ago. Physically, Tomoyo was stable, and the anesthesia should be wearing off any moment not. The injury though deep, had not punctured any vital organs, and the other wounds were superficial. The doctor would not say much else to her, however, Sakura was grateful for the information that she was given.

Sakura grabbed a book, thankful that they had a small bookstore in the hospital and settled down in her chair next to her best friend to read. Mentally preparing herself for the whirlwind that was going to be her brother.

About two hours later, Touya with Yue at his side, had walked into the office. Touya wore his standard black dress pants, black dress shoes with a white button up. The white button up had the top button undone. His sleeves were rolled up just past the elbow. He looked both upset and worried at the same time. Yue wore a similar outfit, with his hair flowing about him. Sakura tried to smile when they entered Tomoyo's room.

"Touya…"

Touya looked angrily at his sister and then to Tomoyo, who was still in the bed, "What happened, Sakura. Why didn't you tell me?!"

Sakura looked down, ashamed, "I…well, I …."

Sakura took a deep breath, "I didn't want you to …uhm, be worried?"

Touya sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "Sakura. You tell me these things. I am your brother I am supposed to worry. Tomoyo is like family, and you know she has no other family than us."

Sakura nodded, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks once more. Touya, in two steps, was near his sister and he brought her into a hug. "I'm here now."

Touya looked over to Yue, who gave him a stern look. Touya pulled himself away from his younger sister and looked at her, taking her in. She looked tired and sad, but mature. Her hair had grown so long since they were children and she kept it short in that little bob. She grew it out once she entered college. She didn't want people to see her as a child anymore, she said. He had always preferred her as he knew her before their parents' death. She had grown since they died, he saw it every day since their death. She had taken more taking care of the house and he had allowed her to, wanting to shelter her from what he knew was the truth. He knew this wasn't right and that she should know who and what she was born into, but he couldn't. He even assured that she would stay as she had always been, perfect and innocent. He did everything within his power to protect her her entire life and yet, here they are. In this moment. Was it his fault? Was it change? Is this their family's fortune?

He sighed, "Sakura…there's som—"

"Mmm… .." They heard a voice mumble. Touya and Sakura turned to their side to see Tomoyo's eyes scrunched in pain as she slowly opened her eyes looking around.

"P..painnn…" She mumbled as the pain began to hit her. Sakura's eye widened and she immediately pressed the button for the nurse. The nurse came seconds later, her eyes widened, "Ms. Daidouji!"

The nurse walked over to the IV drip and slowly pushed a medicine into her IV drip. She backed away and waited a few moments as the medicine started to take effect and the look of pain started to dissipate from Tomoyo's face.

Tomoyo's eyes started to open and her body visibly relaxed from its tensed up state. She tried to sit up but winced and decided to settle back into the resting positioning. The nurse smiled at Tomoyo encouragingly,

"My name is Rika. I'm your nurse. If you need anything, press that small red button right there and I'll come as soon as I can, okay?"

Tomoyo nodded with a small smile, "Thank you…Rika.."

Rika smiled good naturedly, "I gave you enough pain medicine to take the edge off of the pain. I didn't want to give you too much, it looks like you have visitors. If the pain is too much to bear, you let me know okay?"

Tomoyo nodded slowly, "Of course, thank you again."

Rika nodded and gave a small bow. She waved at Sakura who waved back and left out of the room quietly closing the door behind her.

Sakura smiled and moved from her brother, grabbing Tomoyo's hand, "Tomo! You're okay! You're awake! You need anything? Water? Juice?"

Sakura started to move away to start grabbing things when Tomoyo gripped Sakura's hand in hers, "I'm alright, it's okay. I promise."

Tomoyo winced as she forced herself to sit up. She looked at Touya and Yue, then back at Sakura, "Are you okay?"

Sakura nodded, "Of course, I'm so sorry!"

Tomoyo smiled softly, "Good, I'm glad you're okay. That's what matters."

Sakura shook her head, "No, it's not what matters! You were hurt! You were bleeding! Someone STABBED you, Tomo!"

Tomoyo nodded and sighed, "But you were safe, Saki. Why is Touya and Yue here?"

Sakura looked back at Touya and Yue, "They are family, they wanted to make sure you were safe."

Tomoyo nodded. She was getting woozy, but there was information she had to relay to Touya. Tomoyo smiled and leaned her head softly to the side, "Saki, can you do me a huge favor?"

Sakura nodded, "Anything!"

"Can you go to the vending machine and get me some apple juice? I think some juice would be perfect."

Sakura nodded and released Tomoyo's hand. She looked up at her big brother as menacingly as she could, "Be nice."

Touya, by this point had stood up and was by Yue. He rolled his eyes and pushed her out the door. Yue stoodby and watched as Sakura walked down to the vending machine and nodded signaling that she was out of ear shot.

Tomoyo nodded and her expression went serious, "It wasn't Koju, but I think they were coming to get Sakura. I got in their way, luckily. I don't know what's going on and why it's happening now, but this is b –" Tomoyo winced in pain, her body was displeased, clearly. She continued, "This is beyond me."

Sakura entered the room and all eyes were on her as she came back with an apple juice in hand. Tomoyo's expression immediately softened and she thanked her best friend.

Sakura looked at the faces of her brother and his boyfriend confusedly, "What did I miss? What is beyond you, Tomo"

Yue glanced over at Touya who pointedly looked away stubbornly. He inwardly sighed and looked down at the girl whom he had grown close to and considered family.

'Touya need to be the one to tell her the truth.' He thought to himself. "Touya is trying to figure out who would want to hurt you guys is all."

"Oh. Who knows. I heard that gangs are starting to come to Tomoeda. Gangs! Could they be the ones hurting us?" The three sets of eyes darted away from Sakura's inquisitive gaze.

"What?"

Tomoyo shook her head, "No way, why would they want us though? Maybe it was a bad burglary?"

The doctor walked into the room and smiled when she saw that Tomoyo was awake. She walked up to Tomoyo, nodding in respect to everyone in the room and checked her vitals quickly. She looked over Tomoyo,

"How are you feeling? You had surgery, so pain is to be expected. Is the pain medicine working okay?"

Tomoyo nodded softly, "The pain medicine is a great help. When will I be able to go home?"

The doctor thought for a minute, looking over Tomoyo's medical chart, "Well, I'm thinking maybe tomorrow? You will have to take it easy, your body needs to heal itself. We thought the wound was a lot worse than it was once we had the surgery, which is good. If you are feeling okay tomorrow we will release you and you will follow up with me in one week to make sure you're doing well and to schedule a follow up with a specialist to make sure that your wounds don't cause any major set backs, okay?"

Tomoyo smiled and nodded, "Perfect, thank you!"

The doctor nodded and exited out the room. As Sakura turned to her best friend, Yue slipped out quietly behind the doctor. "Nakuru, what are you doing here?"

Nakuru turned and smirked, "Oh, the famous Yue himself. What do I owe the pleasure?"

Yue's expression remained neutral, "Don't play coy, I know who you really are."

Nakuru smirked, "Same for you. What are you doing here? It's Tomoeda, not you guys' typical area."

Yue's expression narrowed, "You needn't worry."

Yue left without waiting for a reply. He walked back into the room with the others, watching Nakuru as she walked down the hall to her other patients, her demeanor shifting to accommodate. Nakuru was one of the deadliest assassins. She was a poisons expert, and a knife expert. He knew that she had went to medical school, but didn't believe she actually practiced. He supposed they all tried to compensate in their own ways for the lifestyles which they lived in their own ways. He watched the antics between Touya, Sakura, and Tomoyo and smirked to himself,

'Let this never change.'

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(A/N: I know people are confused about Kero and his death. I will say this, I never explicitly said that Kero survived for good, or that he died. I said, in the previous chapters, that Syaoran was able to get him help. As we all know, complications happen all the time. This was necessary and unfortunate. I'm sorry. - moving forward, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'm trying to remain more consistent and to have elements outside of just merely crime and killing. There's more to life, even gang life, than that! I hope you all enjoyed this!)

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS!