UNMEI (DESTINY)
CHAPTER 4
"You…you're Clow Reed's descendant," Sakura uttered before losing consciousness.
"Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan!" cried Maya. She cradled the girl's body in her arms and checked for signs of injury. "Yokatta," she sighed in relief when she didn't find any. "I don't think she's seriously hurt."
She relaxed her hold on Sakura and stared at her innocent face. "You felt it too, didn't you? What's going? What did you mean?"
"Maybe I could answer your questions," said a boy who was standing not so far away.
Kaho pulled the blanket up to Sakura's chin and brushed her hair aside. She studied the sleeping girl intently.
"You must remain strong, Sakura-chan, for danger is heading your way."
Maya watched in amazement as Eriol transformed the long staff back into a small key. She reached for her necklace when she saw the symbol, which the boy was standing on, slowly disappear. It closely resembled hers.
Eriol turned to Maya and awaited her reaction. Confusion was written all over her face. He also expected to see disbelief but there weren't any traces of it in her eyes.
"You don't seem to be shocked by this," he commented as he sat opposite her.
"I am…just a little, I guess. I knew since I was little, that I wasn't like the others…that I wasn't, uh, normal," Maya replied.
"Is that so?"
"Um. What I can't understand is how you and Sakura's friend could be my…"
Eriol smiled. "I can't understand it either." Then, he became serious. "If you're not after Sakura's power, somebody out there is."
"Do you mean…?"
"Yes. She's still in danger."
Yue stood on a rooftop overlooking the red brick house. He had been waiting for the girl to return since mid-afternoon. Evening had already descended and he had yet to see a glimpse of her shadow.
Finally, his patience was rewarded when he saw her strolling along the sidewalk, as if in a trance. He watched her as she opened the gate and went inside the medium-sized house. There was something in her movements that hinted her awareness of his presence.
"She knows," said Yue.
Maya closed the curtains covering the glass doors which lead to the balcony. She had the feeling that she was being watched again, but this time, it was different. She sank onto the mattress and tried to put it off her mind.
She turned on her side and laid her head upon the pillow. She recalled Eriol's words and played them over in her memory.
"I need your help to protect Sakura. Though you may not want a part in this, you don't have much choice. You are, after all, Clow's direct descendant and you have to accept the consequences that come with it."
Maya sighed. She was glad she met Eriol, otherwise, she wouldn't have learned about her family's past. However, she didn't know how to deal with the truth. She wasn't sure of what to do.
"How am I supposed to protect Sakura when I don't even know how to control my power?" she asked out loud.
"So he already told you everything."
Maya bolted off the bed and searched for the owner of the mysterious voice.
"Who are you?" she demanded of the silver-haired angel standing by the entrance of the balcony.
Eriol stood by the window and observed as Syaoran walked away with Sakura on his back. He had called the boy earlier and informed him of the events which took place. After giving him some warning, Syaoran offered to take Sakura home and he didn't object to it.
"Why didn't you ask Daidouji-san to accompany Sakura?" Kaho asked as she approached. "It would have been easier since she owns a car."
"I didn't want to bother her."
"Are you certain that's the only reason?"
Eriol faced the older woman and said, "Yeah. What else is there?"
"Oh, I don't know," Kaho grinned mischievously. "It may be because her company makes you feel funny."
"Maybe," he replied before proceeding to his bedroom.
"Who are you?" Maya asked for the second time. Slowly, she retreated until the back of her legs touched the edge of the bed.
"I'm a guardian of the Sakura cards."
"Keroberos?"
"No," the man frowned.
"Oh…sorry. You must be Yue then. What are you doing here? I'm not the one who's after Sakura," she said defensively.
"I gathered as much," Yue said. He started to move towards Maya and this alarmed her.
"Hey!" she exclaimed as he reached for her neck. She tried to push him away but he trapped both of her hands in one of his.
Yue took hold of Maya's medallion in his free hand and carefully examined it. Then, he suddenly released her, which came as a surprise, and sent her sprawling on the bed.
Maya quickly recovered and straightened up. "You've got very crude manners, do you know that?" she shouted.
But the person she was speaking to disappeared from sight.
"I'm going to see her this afternoon," Syaoran voiced through the telephone.
` "Can I come with you?" asked Tomoyo.
"Sure. She'll be glad to see you. Anou…I have to go."
"Okay. Thanks for calling."
"No problem. Jaa ne."
"Jaa ne."
Tomoyo replaced the receiver in its cradle. She strode back and forth in the spacious living room, worried by the news of her best friend's encounter the day before.
'Why didn't Hiiragizawa-kun tell me about it?' she wondered. 'Is he avoiding me on purpose?'
"Everything all right?" her mother inquired, cutting through her train of thought.
"Yup," she forced a smile.
"Good. Someone's asking for you. She's waiting in the garden."
"Arigatou, Okaasan," she said then went outside.
She treaded through the rose bushes and headed to the narrow path bordered by a variety of pansies. At the end of the trail, she could make out the figure of a young lady with glossy copper hair.
"Ohayo," Maya greeted her warmly.
"Ohayo."
"I hope you don't mind my visit. I really needed to talk to someone about…you know…the crazy things that's been happening lately…" she shyly admitted.
"I understand," Tomoyo smiled.
Touya immersed the mop in a bucket of soapsuds and wiped the floor with simple flicking motions of his wrist. Yukito did the same, and soon, they finished cleaning the whole shop by working alongside each other.
After putting the materials away, Touya leaned against the counter and carefully regarded his friend.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"I'm that transparent, huh?" Yukito laughed. "Well…there is something…"
"What is it?" Touya prodded.
"…about your sister and her tutor…"
Touya sank into a chair and devoted his full attention to Yukito's tale.
People filled the streets as rush hour drew near. Maya weaved through the busy crowd and proceeded to the convenient store down the next block. In the midst of all the disturbing events during the past few days, she had forgotten to pick up several items from the supermarket.
She obtained a small basket by the entrance of the mini mart and started going over the articles in each aisle. The wrapper of a candy bar caught her eye as she was looking through the shelves. It was the color of lilacs and it reminded her of sweet Tomoyo.
'Yup, she is definitely sweet," Maya smiled. She recalled their conversation earlier and she was amazed by the maturity that the girl had shown. 'Now I can't help but wonder what great grandmother Yumi was like. I'm sure she's the same as Tomoyo.'
She was paying at the cashier when she noticed the man with dark hair passing by the sidewalk. She dropped her groceries and rushed outside with every intention of intercepting him. However, she wasn't quick enough and she lost sight of him.
"Oniichan…" she murmured. "No way…"