Chapter 10: I'm your Guardian!

I found myself sketching in the sensory garden the next morning.

There was no one else around me, other than the birds chirping, the wind swaying between the chimes, and the in-between strokes of my pencil touching paper, they all came together and became an orchestra. All for an audience of one little girl. My own private symphony.

Yukiko's wedding will take place in a couple of days. Later on today, there will be the wedding rehearsal and family dinner.

I suddenly found myself scribbling out my sketches of the garden. The flowers I drew weren't right, the fountain isn't proportional, the trees…..ugh….they look like moldy broccoli. The wish I made last night last with Nokoru didn't work. I'm still a worrying mess.

I touched the silver button that Nokoru gave to me last night. I pinned it to my shirt, deciding that it would be my good luck charm and get me through this week and the wedding.

Nokoru, he was different from how I expected he would be. I judged him before I even got to know him. Well, I don't really know him that well or any of the other detectives, Suoh and Akira. But, I can tell you, without a doubt, that they are kind people. Can I trust them about this whole golden frame crisis?

When will Cat Eye show up? Is he even going to show up at all, worrying us for nothing. Probably thinking procrastinating us would be even funnier than actually showing up in person. 'Let their minds go crazy,' I bet that's what he thinks…...No, he WILL show up. Akira said Cat Eye is an extremely greedy thief, he's not going to wait forever to get that frame back. He is a wanted thief and I bet the golden frame was only one fraction of a piece out of many he wanted to steal. It's never the end, thieves just want more and more, it never stops. They are never satisfied with the hordes of treasure that collect. The next question is, "what will I obtain next?"

I don't even know who Cat Eye is. That picture of him was so outdated, and he's obviously not a child anymore. He can be any one around me. Will he be an uninvited guest and make a sudden appearance at the wedding, or ransack Yukiko's home to acquire that good for nothing stolen frame?

I let out a deep breath. What can I even do? How am I supposed to stop an infamous thief in the first place? The clamp school detectives, Akira, Suoh, and Nokoru, said they would be able to take care of it. But I'm starting to have my doubts.

I felt even worse for not telling Yukiko about any of this. I'm carrying a heavy burden. Why won't it be lifted? Yukiko's words popped in my head again, 'you don't know what surprises may happen, if you don't know where you're going.' She's right, I'm undoubtedly-without-a-doubt lost.

"You know, you shouldn't waste paper like that."

The sudden shock of a person talking to me sent chills up and down my spine. I thought I was alone in my sanctuary. I guess I was wrong.

"What-oh, I guess?" I was looking at an old man holding a broom, he who wore a white jump suit uniform, with a badge that said 'Janitor Weally.' Oh, I guess he cleans up the clamp grounds. He must work at clamp school as a janitor, someone has to keep the school spotless, and especially this beautiful garden in tip top shape.

"Mind if I sit down next to you little lady?" he sat down before I could even give an answer.

"ooooofhf," he exclaimed and sat down next to me, then leaned one arm on his knee, "everything hurts when your old, here's some advice for you, stay young forever!" He started laughing at his own joke, and I smiled back at him.

"I see you like to draw, that's a lovely skill to have," he had a wrinkled smile, but despite that, youth beamed out of him.

"Oh, do you like to draw too?" I asked.

"No, I never could, I like to do more hands on work." He held up his arms with pride. Despite his age, and complaining, he seems to have a lot of energy.

"Like sculpture!" I exclaimed.

"Eh…not exactly, but I do appreciate the arts! That's one thing I love about the world! Without 'art' the earth is just 'eh,'" he said. A smile formed on my face and so did his. What a nice man!

"It's really early in the morning, and you come here to keep the grounds clean this early?" I asked him.

"Yes, I like to get my work done quickly, there is always something else to do. The work always piles up, there is never an end to my work load. But I enjoy what I do," he smiled. "That's the key to life, find something you enjoy doing, and never tire of it," he smiled from ear to ear. What an incredibly sweet man! I've met some of the nicest people at clamp so far.

"This garden is really beautiful, did you help in constructing it?" I asked him since he said he was fond of hands on work, but he didn't answer my question. Instead, he was staring at the button that was pinned to my shirt. His gaze felt sharp, cold, and uncomfortable. Then he abruptly stood up, grabbing his broom, and said,

"There is no time to waste, I have to get my work done, I can't be sitting here talking all day, and I have a deadline you know. Good day little lady." He tipped his hat, but was already walking away from me while saying this. I noticed that he was walking away with a perfect stride.

I focused my attention back to my sketchbook, and started erasing my plethora of scribbles to start my drawing over again.

Someone bumped into my chair.

I couldn't hear my own thoughts over the chattering of guests in dining room. I was sitting (practically squeezed in between seats) with my family at a big round table and one of many roundtables actually. Despite growing up with just my mother and father, feeling like I had a small family, I actually had a really big one in Japan. Even though I do have a large family, it never felt like I actually did.

Further down, I saw Yukiko and Ebihara at their head table. They looked so happy. From hence onward, I won't let Cat Eye, in fact, I won't let any evil force in the world tear apart this wedding!

Ebihara stood up, held his microphone to his mouth. He tapped it a couple of times to make sure it was on.

VVVIIIIIING

Everyone covered their ears, it was a physical gesture saying 'yes, it works perfectly, and that sound is killing our eardrums!'

He began.

"Thank you all for coming, and thank you for supporting us," he smiled to Yukiko who smiled back, "This means the world to us, and for us its one step closer to becoming a family," he swallowed than continued, "The first time I noticed Yukiko was when she stepped through my home economics classroom on the first day of university. She was radiant, and still is." He paused, and used his other hand to hold on to Yukiko's. They stared into each other's eyes. A couple of 'Aws' filled the room. "Yukiko, you're the light of my world, and the air to my breath." They held each other's hands tenderly and their eyes spoke a language only for each other to understand. "My heart is yours," you could hear his voice breaking.

"And yours is mine," Yukiko wiped his tears.

That settles it! I will stop anyone from toiling with this wedding. While everyone else's eyes were filled with admiration for the couple, mine were filled with fiery determination.

No one will ruin my cousin's happiness! Melony is on the case!

While I was thinking over an amazing plan to stop Cat Eye, the infamous conniving thief, (my plan was still in the preliminary stages of success, but never the less it will be great!) a waving hand caught my attention across the room. The figure was skillfully maneuvering between the crowds of aunts, uncles, other cousins, and close family friends.

I finally saw who it was, and even though he was still tables away from me, I could see his worried expression spread across his face.

thank you for reading!

and I want to give a really big shout out to James Birdsong and Jamaica Heron! thank you so much for reviewing!