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Reflection of the Moon

Butterfly • Ruby Butterfly

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"Oh, Suppi! I've found someone really interesting in school," a girl with long auburn hair exclaimed as she bounced into the room, "His name is Kinomoto Touya, and he has tons of magic power. Just imagine if I could get all those . . . Eriol would definitely be happy with that, especially now that he's dealing with that little girl. Don't you think so, Suppi?"

A black, cat-like thing curled up on the couch answered, "Didn't I tell you not to call me 'Suppi'? Well, I'm not sure of Eriol would be happy, but do whatever you want. I really don't think anything will surprise him, and if he finds your actions to be inappropriate, he'll stop you himself."

"Yeah, you're right. But there's just a little obstacle blocking my way. I'll just have to wait a bit longer."

"You, having patience? That's really rare, Ruby Moon."

"Don't worry. I won't have to wait long. I have my plans . . ." She narrowed her eyes and grinned, then turned back to her former self and bounced out of the room the way she bounced in.

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"Touya-kunnnnnnnn!!! Tsukishiro-sannnnnnnn!!!"

I turned at the sound of my name and saw Akizuki-san running towards us. I noticed through the corner of my eyes that To-ya had a somewhat panicked expression on his face, and he pulled my arm, hastening his steps. But Akizuki-san caught up with us fairly quickly, but today, she did not latch onto To-ya as usual. Instead, she beamed at me. To-ya gave a frown.

I didn't know why To-ya never liked her. She was rather friendly, not to say energetic. Besides, she seemed to admire To-ya a lot. Anyone who liked To-ya couldn't be bad, could she?

"Tsukishiro-san, can I join you guys for lunch today?" she asked, directing the question to me rather than To-ya.

"Of course!" To-ya glared at me, but I just smiled.

After we had settled down in our usual spot under the sakura tree, Akizuki-san laid out her lunchboxes. She had brought enough for all three of us. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "Oh, I've forgotten to buy the drinks! Touya-kun, can you please go and get some?" To-ya cast a cautious glance at her, then a worried one at me before going away grudgingly.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. She seemed a lot more down cast than usual. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Tsukishiro-san, do you like Touya-kun?"

"Definitely! I met To-ya on the first day I was transferred here, and we became friends immediately. And that day after school, he brought me back to his house, where I met Sakura-chan and Kinomoto-sensei. Ever since that day, we have been the best of friends, so of course I like him!"

"No, I don't mean 'like' as in a friendly way, but a more romantic way."

I could feel blood rushing to my cheeks as I quickly stuttered, "N . . . No, of course not!"

She gave a great sigh of relief, "Then it's much better. I've been hearing so many rumors about the two of you being together and believe me, they don't sound nice at all. There are still lots of people in this world who can't accept homosexuality."

"Rumors? But To-ya and I never did anything! Besides, I haven't heard any of them."

"Do you think that the people who are talking behind your back will let you know what they are doing? You two are the most popular guys in the school, and many people are jealous of that, so they will try any means to ruin your reputation. Also, you and Touya-kun are awfully close. It is only natural for them to make use of that."

"B . . . But To-ya and I . . . we really aren't . . . How can they?" I started panicking. It didn't matter if people say bad things about me, but To-ya . . . It wasn't fair to him! He would definitely feel terrible if everyone started ignoring him.

"Do you want to stop this?" She asked. I nodded furiously in reply.

"Well, it's actually very simple. You just have to stay away form Touya-kun, and when the rumors have no proof, it will stop naturally. It all depends on you. If I tell Touya-kun this, he will probably get mad and try to stop the rumors by threatening or something, and it will make it worse. The solution is simple, just that do you have enough self-control to do it."

"But . . . To-ya . . . he is my closet friend, I can't ignore him."

"It is good for the both of you, trust me. If the rumors keep spreading, the whole school will know, and at that time, some people who have been jealous of you two for a long time will get together and try to make your lives miserable, while others only watch, because they don't want to have connections with someone who's homosexual. Even if some people want to help, but under the peer pressure, they would not want to risk being excluded too by helping. No one can help you then. When the pressure reaches a certain level, it will surely tear the both of you apart. If you take my suggestion, at least you could still be normal friends."

She was right. I couldn't let To-ya's life get crushed just because of me. I didn't want any type of pain to befall on him. Yet it still hurt to think that I couldn't be with To-ya all the time. He was particularly the whole of my life. But that means I must protect him even more, even if it hurt. I couldn't lose him.

"Yuki, here's your drink." I looked up abruptly to find that To-ya was already back. I quickly shifted my gaze.

"Oh! I forgot that I still have something to do. I'm sorry, but I've gotta go. You can have all the food." Akisuki-san exclaimed, then ran away in a hurry, leaving only the two of us.

I tried to act as natural as I could, but it was only until we finished lunch that I realized neither of us had spoken a word.

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I skipped around the school, searching for the suitable target to activate Part B of my plan. Part A had gone extremely well. I couldn't believe that Yue's false form, Yukito, was so gullible, not that I was complaining.

Just then, I spotted a group of girls gossiping in the cafeteria. Bingo.

"Hi girls!" I chirped as I headed towards them. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, nothing much," one of them answered, "Just about Riko-chan and Takahashi-kun. They seem to be having a relationship, or so we've heard. Do you know about this?"

"Well, no, but there's something that's way more interesting I'm thinking of." I replied nonchalantly.

"What is it?" they asked eagerly. I just knew that I've found the right people.

"Do you know Tsukishiro-san and Kinomoto-san?"

A girl snorted, "Who doesn't know them? They're two of the cutest guys in the whole school."

"Have you ever heard any rumors about them, like any girl they are dating?"

"Not really, other than that they are very good friends, and rarely seen without each other."

"Don't you think it's suspicious, that such popular boys don't even have a girlfriend?"

They blinked in confusion, but slowly, understanding dawned upon them, and they burst into a chorus of exclamations. "It can't be! Do you mean that they . . . they . . ."

"That's the only answer I can think up of to explain their behavior. I remember that when I tried to give Kinomoto-san chocolates on Valentine's Day, he refused and said that he already has someone he likes. But he doesn't seem to be having a girlfriend. If that person's a girl, then who would be stupid enough to not want to be his girlfriend?"

"Yeah, that explains a lot . . . I think that he has refused every girl I know who had confessed to him."

"Eek! I can't believe they're gay!" Then another piped in, "Maybe they're just conscientious about schoolwork, or they may think that it's too young to go into a relationship." The girl who snorted answered her, "Come on, they are seventeen. Besides, they are the top students in the school, they've studied more than enough."

I watched in satisfaction as they gossiped, totally forgetting that I was there. I quietly went away. My job there was done.

I continued walking, but suddenly felt a huge source of magic behind me.

"Akizuki, what have you said to Yuki when I went away to buy the drinks?" I turned around to find Touya glaring angrily at me. I smirked, "What, he didn't tell you? Well, I thought that he wont' too."

"What have you said to him?! He isn't even speaking at all now!" he half-shouted, anxieties evident.

"I shouldn't be telling you this, but seeing that you're so worried, I'll take pity on you, you owe me one. Anyway, do you know what your precious little sister is doing now?" I couldn't believe my luck. I was just thinking how I should start on Part C of my plan, but now everything just came to me.

He narrowed his eyes, then gave a cut nod.

"She has inherited those magical cards from a person named Clow, a great magician who died a long time ago. And for those cards, he had created two creatures to guard them, the Sun Guardian, Keroberos, and the Moon Guardian, Yue. Keroberos' false form is that stuffed toy you see sakura carrying around, while Yue's false form is Yukito. I've heard from Tsukishiro-san that you've been friends since the first day he arrived in Tomoeda. Do you know why?" Without waiting for an answer, I continued.

"It's because at that time, you have the strongest magical power in the whole town, and Tsukishiro-kun only became friends with you because he was drawn to your powers unconsciously. Don't think that he really treats you as a friend. As far as I know, the only person he, or Yue, ever loves is his creator, Clow. He doesn't even get along with Keroberos."

I could see the distraught in his eyes, but he still pretended to he calm. "How do you know all these? What are you?"

I smirked. It wasn't surprising that he noticed. "I am also created by Clow, the reincarnated one. Since Keroberos and Yue are now Sakura's guardians, Clow created new guardian for himself, and I am ruby Moon. Just now I was only informing Yue that Clow is now in Tomoeda, and misses him somewhat, so he would like a meeting. It is natural that he doesn't want to tell you. Who would want to mention a date with his ex-lover to his current 'boyfriend'?"

He just stood there, expressions blank, I guess he was too stunned to react. I turned and left. Everything was now in place, and the show was about to start. Enjoy.

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