~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 5

Everything in the Past

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So this is - what was this place called again?"

"Hong Kong, Keroberos, This was where my mother used to live."

"Hong-Kong is it? Boy, the street sure gets so crowded here so early in the morning."

"Hush, Keroberos, if you don't want people to get curious at a talking doll." Yue put in, in his monotone voice. His face was dimmed with a brown cloak not wanting prying eyes to see his silver hair.

"See! That's what I hate about going to places I always get to be in this body! Why don't you turn Yue into a doll next time and I'll wear the cool cloak."

Their company let out a muffled laugh at the toy's last remark. Maybe he would give it some thought. Next time. He himself was forced to wear what normal people did, or at least what a normal English foreigner would in that country, but wore a dark coat to hide them all in. He was crazy, Keroberos had said so before they left for Hong Kong but it was fun pretending he was one of them for a while.

Yue had given up making the stuffed-guardian shut up. They both look suspicious anyway even without the small voice that kept voicing his complaints and poking his head out once in a while from their master's coat pocket. But their master never seemed to mind if his ever so pleasant face was any indication.

"I'm sorry, did you get hurt?" he watched as his master apologize to a little kid. He knew she deliberately bumped into him just like the last two men did thinking they could get away with stealing. He wanted to pierce them with his crystal-ice peaks but his master told him not to and that they had what was coming at them. For all he knows they could've turned into a piece of coin by now.

"And what did you let her steal this time?" came an inquiry from his pocket.

"Oh, a little present." He simply replied as they kept on their way through the crowd.

The girl halted after running a mile off from the stupid foreigner that was probably broke by now. She took his pouch and he never felt a thing. What a very stupid man, she thought. Maybe looks weren't everything. She opened the pouch and was so eager that she dug both of her hands to pull every penny in there but her hands felt none, instead the pulled out a red cardinal. The bird looked at her with dewy black eyes that she was so awed and frightened that it would go from her open palms but it didn't. It was the same cardinal that she marveled upon from bird-street the day before and now she held it. She never held anything she considered so precious her whole life but now.

"That man was a magician!" she gasped in realization.

--------

"Yes, the man was a magician. a very very great magician." She laughed at her resurfacing memories. If she only knew who he was back then she would've preferred her hands be cut than attempt to steal from him. She was the one who was stupid, stupid enough to fall for such an impossible man. But back then when she was just a petty street-rat, an ounce of kindness meant more than a shinny penny no matter how many they were.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I wasn't looking. Did you get hurt?" She found the same words spoken to her ages ago being thrown at her again now, by the owner of the same magical cards the man before created.

"No, no I'm fine. Its my fault, I wasn't paying attention." ...Only difference was now she was attempting to steal not her money but something worth far more expensive than anything in the world, her life in addition to her Clow cards.

She watched her go, bowing to her once more to say she's sorry which she regarded with a smile. They were that close and she still didn't sense her power; the current mistress of the cards wasn't even fit to hold it. It was probably all just child's play for her, save the world, fall in-love, having anything there was to ask for. She was just a spoiled little girl that knew nothing of the real world, the place where she had no choice but to live through until that man saved her.

"I think I know where to start, Clow Mistress… just watch everything with all your heart…"

-----------

"She's following us, Clow. I told you not to play you're tricks on her." Keroberos found himself the only one who seems to care. Yue had been looking so stiff since they started on the long flight of stairs towards the shrine while his master showed no notice of his arguments. He turned to look again and saw the same girl trying to hide her bushy hair out of sight but failing miserably. He shook his head, there was probably no point worrying about her.

They reached the entrance of the shrine. The main hall was enormous with wall painted red and golden engraves of dragons and beasts from ancient times. The entrance pillars were carved with the symbol of the crescent moon. wh where a lady greeted them. Clow took him out of his pockets and released him of his false form as Yue savagely took off his cloak and spread his wings. He was never patient with these things.

"We shouldn't have done that, I told you, that girl from the market she's still following us."

"Master Clow," Yue ensued but were both silenced.

"Everything is fine." He assured the two. But even that didn't ease them. Yue had felt it too, the girl wasn't just an ordinary thief or child for that matter.

"Master Clow, Mistress Li has been waiting for you." The lady led him off while two more came to lead the other two to the guess room. They didn't seem to mind their form nor did they look at them much.

"Yue," Kero mumbled still pursuing their latter topic but Yue just kept his vision straight.

The ladies brought them to their supposed guest room.

"You may stay here while Master Clow attends to our Mistress. The others will bring your tea in awhile."

"Make mine sweet! And some sweets too!"

"Keroberus!" Yue tried to tame his gluttonous friend but the servants had already left to abide his wishes. "You really should learn to behave yourself."

"You're just envious that you can't eat."

"Hn." This kind of argument never really got them anywhere for as soon as Keroberos has gotten the upper hand Yue would keep his insults to himself.

"Yue," the other guardian put in a serious tone, "The little girl a while ago-"

"I know." he replied finding a place to lean on, he was never one to sit around. "She has the Master's blood. I can feel enormous powers emanating through her."

"But she was just - a street kid. Why would master's family disregard her? Unless.."

Their conversation was cut-short, the girl they were referring to a while ago just came crashing through the door (literally crashing). Yue, on instinct, shove her away from the debris before more of it sears through her skin. The other servants were after her, probably took notice of her when she tried to enter their premises. Most of them were carrying rakes and pointed spears, all these to seize a little girl?

Keroberos positioned himself to cover them.

"Sirs, you do not know what you're doing that is an evil child." They had tried to reason. Kero knew part of what their saying must've been true, even he could feel a different aura from the girl but he looked at pointed spears and rakes, surely there was no need for such.

"We will handle her."

Even Kero was surprised on Yue's sudden decision but his firm voice made the other servants leave. The other guardian looked at his with doubtful eyes.

"Get off me! Let me down!" the girl protested and struggled against Yue's arms that he had to put her down before she hurt herself even more.

The girl dashed away the moment her feet struck the ground not minding the wooden spikes that lay carelessly on the floor.

"What happened Keroberus?"

"That little girl, Yue, she...controlled you."