Sakura: Knight of the Clow
Chapter Thirty-One
It was supposed to just be a simple scouting mission. Sakura Kinomoto was mostly recovered from her injuries, and the brown haired woman had decided to take a walk that evening through the neighborhood around the clock tower. Both her and Tomoyo's investigations had come up with some very odd rumors about the place, but nothing terribly concrete.
The stories tended to agree on a few things: there was supernatural activity around the tower, it appeared to be cyclical, and it peaked every month on the full moon. Why, no one seemed to know, and what was inside the tower causing all this was a complete mystery.
"I'm still annoyed you didn't call me in after you were hurt," Mei-Lin growled, the black haired young woman walking beside her. She, Sakura and Tomoyo were all dressed in the new combat wear that Tomoyo was making, and Mei-Lin found herself rather amused by the designs.
"Sorry, I did try to phone you," Sakura said mildly as they walked together, her long frilly skirt and bow laden shirt shimmering in the moonlight.
"I should have tried harder to get you at work," Tomoyo admitted a bit reluctantly, her tuxedo like suit clinging yet also comfortable. She and Mei-Lin exchanged a look, one complicated with meaning.
Mei-Lin had developed a interest in Sakura, along with Tomoyo. They had jousted against each other covertly, without Sakura's knowledge, and in the end Sakura had chosen Tomoyo. They were friends, sort of, but that rivalry still left a strain on their relationship.
"It's fine," Mei-Lin waved it off as they circled the forested area around the old watch tower, her much more plain uniform blending into the shadows. The building wasn't abandoned, supposedly, but the grounds were overgrown and the few paths in were badly maintained. "This isn't that far from city center," she noted as they clambered over roots, "why isn't this being developed?"
"Good question," Sakura admitted.
Tomoyo nodded, "I did some digging into it earlier this week." They climbed over a rotted out log, "Despite being so near city center, no one seems to have had any luck developing the land. Strange things happen, or accidents, and somehow the projects never get off the ground."
Sakura's pendant swung around her neck, the Key of Clow warm and comforting. "Wouldn't that get noticed?" she asked curiously.
"You'd think so," Tomoyo said as they finished circling the old building, "but no foul play was discovered. As far as anyone can tell, it's just bad luck."
"Huh," Mei-Lin nodded thoughtfully. She looked over at Sakura, "Picking anything up?"
"There's something here," Sakura nodded as she stood in the light of the crescent moon, "but it's... sleeping, for lack of a better word."
"You think the full moon stories are right?" Tomoyo asked curiously.
"On the full moon or very close," Sakura said, "I can't be sure."
"So you two will be doing more late night strolling?" Mei-Lin had to suggest, and fought back a grin as both Tomoyo and Sakura blushed.
"It's not...," Sakura stammered.
As they walked back towards Tomoyo's waiting car, all three women paused as they felt something pass by. Tomoyo reached into her jacket and pulled out her stun baton, the three looking around them warily.
"Well, well, well, three little kittens out in the night," the figure noted as he came out of the trees, his shirt ripped to reveal his heavy muscles. He was a ugly man, with a face misshapen by fighting, and a scar ran down one cheek.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Mei-Lin murmured as other men emerged from the shadows, all similar looking.
"They're not normal," Sakura murmured softly, clutching the key as she studied the encroaching group of men.
"Neither are we," Tomoyo murmured, flashing a smile.
The gang of men seemed confused that the three young women weren't either squealing with fear or trying to run away. "Give us all your money and stuff," one muscled man growled, "an' we might go easy on you."
"Might," the first scarred man smiled evilly.
"That's it," Sakura decided, with a gesture expanding her key into it's staff mode, light blazing all along it.
The men flinched backwards, the leader shielding his eyes as he yelped, "Shit!"
"If you run away right now," Sakura echoed them deliberately, "we might go easy on you."
Mei-Lin took up a fighting stance even as Tomoyo thumbed on the charger for her stun baton. "Might," Tomoyo offered, grinning.
"Get 'em!" a man with arms like a gorilla yelped, clearly not taking well to being mocked.
"Hyaa!" Mei-Lin leaped, kicking a man across the face, sending him staggering backwards as his buddies froze a moment, surprised.
With smooth agility Tomoyo dodged one man's attempt to grab her as she smashed him in the gut with her new baton. With a loud buzz the device discharged the stored electricity, making the man jerk before falling stunned to the ground.
The goons hesitated, two of their eight men already dropped in a matter of seconds. Then Sakura moved, sweeping another man's legs out from under him then clubbing him unconscious with the thankfully blunt side of her staff.
Sakura stood up straight, the men visibly cowering from her as she said, "Surrender, now, and we'll just hand you over to the cops."
"I am not going to jail!" a smaller goon yelled, pulling a knife and lunging forward.
Mei-Lin blocked the strike on her fore arm, then snap-kicked him in the leg, hampering him. As he staggered backward she slapped the gun away with one hand as she punched him in the nose with the other. The remaining four men exchanged looks then bolted, fleeing across the dark shadows left by the trees.
"That was easier than I expected," Tomoyo noted.
Sakura clutched her staff harder, "It's not over yet."
That's when they heard the odd crackling sound, like paws running over twigs and grass. The first rat that appeared looked cute, presuming you liked rats, with a twitching nose, cute whiskers and eerily glowing eyes. The second rat was much less cute, and the twenty that scurried up after it weren't cute at all!
"Oh you have got to be kidding me," Mei-Lin groaned as the rats gathered, staring at them with unearthly eyes.
"Clow card?" Tomoyo asked, thumbing the switch to power up her baton as even more rats appeared, coming up out of the ground itself now.
"Doesn't feel right," Sakura commented as she took out a Clow Card, the trusty Windy.
"They seem to be just watching," Tomoyo noted. She cleared her throat and called, "Uhm, hello? We mean you no harm!"
"Speak for yourself," Mei-Lin muttered.
There was a rustling and chittering sound, then the lead rat looked at them with it's eerie, glowing eyes. "Hey, how ya doin'?" it asked conversationally.
"What the...?" Sakura blinked.
"What?" he asked conversationally, "You ain't never heard a rat before?"
"Well, no," Tomoyo said, wishing she had a video camera around to document this. 'Where is Yukito when I need him?' she thought.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Oh Yoya!" he cried!
"Oh Yukito!" he replied.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
'Never mind,' Tomoyo shook her head, 'I don't wanna know.' Clearing her throat she asked, "I've never heard of animals talking like this. Do you know why...?"
"Ever hear of NIMH?" another rat asked.
Mei-Lin gave it a look, "Now you're just pulling my leg."
"I'd love to pull on your leg honey!" one rat called, "Nice gams!"
"Shut up!" Mei-Lin whacked the rat casually.
As she did several rats chuckled and one commented, "Nice to see someone remembers the classics." Most of the watching rats had scattered as the big rat noted, "There's something in the tower here. The longer we stay near it, the more it changes us."
"Sakura?" Tomoyo looked at her curiously.
"It's not anything I'm familiar with," Sakura admitted, making a face as she still clutched a Clow card, just in case. She looked at the rats, a visceral, instinctive urge to scream and run away churning in her guts.
"Too bad, we were hoping to bottle and sell it like a tonic," another rat noted dryly. He peered at Sakura, "You okay, missy?"
"I'm fine," Sakura squeaked.
The rat made a humph noise then looked at Tomoyo. "You'd better get her outta here before she faints," he advised dryly.
"He's right, we should go," Mei-Lin agreeded promptly. She bowed slightly to the rats, "Thank you for talking to us."
"No prob' " the rat waved that off casually. "We hang around here pretty much every day, so maybe we'll see yas again," he added.
"Thank you," Tomoyo agreed as the women left the brush and followed the path down to where the car was parked.
"That was decidedly weird," Sakura sighed, finally relaxing a bit as they reached the sports car.
"I didn't think rats and mice would bother you," Mei-Lin teased, even though her hand on Sakura's arm was gentle.
"Hey, I'm still a normal girl in a lot of ways!" Sakura protested, blushing.
Tomoyo had to laugh, smiling at the two of them. "Yeah, I guess so," she agreed, "it's just funny seeing you so fearless against muggers and beasts, and frightened of rats."
"Monsters are one things, rats are another," Mei-Lin offered as they all climbed in.
"Exactly," Sakura agreed. She sighed as she asked, "Uhm, if I patrol out here again, can you both come with me?"
Tomoyo patted her arm, "I will."
"Sure," Mei-Lin agreed. She looked at Tomoyo and asked, "Going to mention the talking rats in the paper?"
Tomoyo threw her hands in the air, "Who would believe me!"
To be continued...
Note: This was originally going to be a more dramatic chapter... then the idea of the Rats TALKING hit me. lol Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. Anyway. hope you liked it!
Sakura: Knight of the Clow
Chapter Thirty-Two
"Talking rats?" Kaho Mitsuki blinked, then the older woman broke out in laughter. Shaking her head she muttered, "Please tell me you're not going to do a story on it."
"Who'd believe me?" Tomoyo countered, shaking her own head. The young lady took her coffee and drank a bit before asking, "Have you heard anything from the Mayor's office about what's going to happen next?"
"Nothing yet, thought there is supposed to be a announcement today," Kaho said a bit smugly.
Both woman exchanged satisfied glances. The paper had been carefully following a trail of graft and corruption in city politcs, and had made several scoops on the subject. Improper awarding of contracts, kickbacks to friends and so on. But they hadn't been able to trace the corruption to the top, despite everyone being sure the Mayor was dirty. Finally, a contact in the Mayor's office tipped Tomoyo on the proof, and in a police raid they grabbed the evidence.
"My contact in the DA's department say that charges are finally going to be filed," Tomoyo said with a smile, "he may finally be going down."
"He might still pull a rabbit out of the hat," Kaho cautioned her. She checked the time and nodded briskly as she put the TV on, "News conference should be starting now."
Yamazaki stalked towards the podium, the dark haired young man quite handsome in his suit. He nodded to some of the reporters he knew, then faced the cameras. "There will be no questions, just a prepared statement."
There was a rumble of disappointment from the reporters. In the office Tomoyo shrugged, "Well, that wasn't unexpected."
"First of all, the accounts of corruption from my office are entirely false," Yamazaki said firmly, "and are in fact the product of a vendetta on the part of the Times."
"Say WHAT?" Kaho blurted.
"I am entirely innocent of these trumped up charges," Yamazaki continued, "and I am confident I will be found innocent. I merely put my faith in individuals who were less than honest, and I feel that is entirely understandable."
"He's trying to spin this till the end," Tomoyo shook her head ruefully.
"Reluctantly, I feel I must step down while these charges are dealt with," Yamazaki finished, "I will appoint my deputy to carry out my duties while the investigation continues." He adjusted his tie then sighed, "That's all."
"Mr Mayor! Mr Mayor!" reporters cried trying to get his attention, but he ignored them as he left the press gallery and was gone.
"Who do we have covering the conference?" Tomoyo asked, frowning to herself slightly.
Kaho looked at her thoughtfully, "I had Eriol, the new kid, go down since we expected it to just be a statement. Why?"
"I have a bad feeling about this, is all," Tomoyo admitted, "Can Rika do some digging and see where his money's gone? I think he might bolt."
Kaho picked up the phone without really thinking about it, calling Rika even as she asked Tomoyo, "You think he's that desperate?"
"He's managed to lie his way out of everything," Tomoyo shrugged, "but he can lie or maneuver his way out of this. So what else can he do?"
"Pay the piper?" Kaho asked wryly, then ordered Rika to dig into the Mayor's finances and recent activities.
"Do you really think Yamazaki would do that, though?" Tomoyo asked pointedly.
"Heh, true," Kaho admitted, nodding. "You get out of here and do some digging too," she ordered, "maybe something else will turn up."
"Yes, ma'am," Tomoyo agreed, hurrying out.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"So he really bolted?" Sakura asked, surprised as she and Tomoyo shared a dinner at Tomoyo's apartment. She had been spending more and more time here since they started seriously dating, and she was seriously wondering about moving in.
Tomoyo nodded, chewing on her food and swallowing. "He apparently had a private plane charted and everything," she said, sounding disgusted. "Caught the police completely flat footed too," she growled.
Sakura chuckled softly, "So all your hard work went to waste?"
"Well, it's not THAT bad," Tomoyo smiled back wryly, "he's on the run, and there's no way he can come back to Japan. All that is due to the Times."
"And you," Sakura said with a proud smile. She got up, heading to the counter as she said, "Do you want seconds?"
"I'll wait until desert, thanks," Tomoyo shook her head as she asked teasingly, "Where do you put it all away?"
"Fast metabolism," Sakura smiled. She shrugged as she added, "And I think some of it goes into magic, too. I wish I had a expert to ask about it..."
"Healing too, I think," Tomoyo pointed out, "I noticed your scratches and bruises from the cat-woman were all gone."
"Thank goodness for the quick healing," Sakura winked, "the scratches you put on my back healed up nicely too."
Tomoyo went beet red. "I didn't...?"
Sakura just smiled. "Anyway, do you want to go out on patrol with me tonight?" she asked, "And is Yukito and Mei Lin coming along?"
'I can call Yukito pretty easily," Tomoyo said as she got up, stretching, "but Mei Lin's helping put together our story on Yamazaki for tomorrow's paper."
Sakura was quickly polishing off her seconds, but between chews she asked, "Don't you need to help with that too?"
"Not really," Tomoyo shook her head, "it's mostly a retrospective of our investigation, plus the new information that he fled the country."
"I almost feel sorry for him," Sakura admitted. Briskly she added, "Well, let's get ready."
Tomoyo brightened, "Yeah, I have a new costume for you to try out."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The night wind blew as Takashi Yamazaki made his way through the shadows, his black hair and dark clothes helping hide him. Despite news reports he had not fled the country to some tax haven, but he had deliberately planted evidence to convince his enemies otherwise.
As Yamazaki walked, he pondered his situation. He had never thought of himself as a bad man, he had merely followed in the example of people he respected. Was it his fault that most of his mentors in city government had been corrupt? Of course it wasn't! He had learned that graft was fine, that putting your friends in positions of power was a wise move and that you should pad your savings accounts for a rainy day.
'Then she came along,' Yamazaki thought darkly as he skirted the pools of light, making his way from the safehouse to his destination.
Tomoyo Daidouji SHOULD have been his natural ally. From a rich, successful family she was a daughter of privlage, she understood how you had to scratch another's back to get things done. When one of his people reported that Tomoyo was sniffing around, he had merely assumed she was looking for a bribe.
Instead, Tomoyo had ruined his public works scam! The hiring of friends to do fake 'jobs' in exchange for contributions, the bribery of city officials to look the other way... hell, she even forced the resignation of his cousin from his cushy job. Yamazaki just couldn't believe it. It was insane!
'Doesn't she understand how the world works?' Yamazaki thought, furious once again.
And even worse, Tomoyo just refused to stop digging! Yamazaki thought he had hidden other sweetheart deals with friends and supporters, but somehow she found them! Again and again she published damning stories, and it seemed she was unstoppable. In a last ditch bid to keep at least some of the information private Yamazaki had hidden the contracts in his home... and she had the police turn on him! Searching his home!
Yamazaki had never been so humiliated as standing there, watching the police cut open his safe. And Tomoyo was there to watch, that damn smug smile on her face. 'Evidence of a crime' HA! It was all harassment, he knew. She had turned everyone against him, in the end.
He stumbled over a section of curb, and Yamazaki cursed softly. Recovering his balance he looked up, then stopped as he realized he was nearly at his destination. The woods were oddly close to city center, yet the land here had never been developed. There was a reason for that, and tonight Yamazaki was going to find it.
The ground was rough and uneven as he made his way down the rough trails surrounding the old clock tower, but strangely nothing troubled Yamazaki. The woods were eerily quiet as he walked, only the occassional snapping of twigs heard in the night. The moonlight lit his way well enough, even thought it wasn't quite the full moon yet.
Finally after much effort he had reached the base of the old wooden tower. There was a eerie chill to the air, as if from fall, yet the plants all seemed unaffected. Shrugging off the sensation Yamazaki pulled at the old wooden boards covering the entrance, casually flinging them aside. He hesitated before the darkened opening, then made himself go forward.
It was nearly pitch dark as Yamazaki moved forward, but his eyes quickly adjusted to the dark. Wait, no, there was a light! Coming from up in the tower there was a golden glow, shining down. Hurriedly he looked around, eventually finding a old ladder going up into the tower.
'Where are the cobwebs?' Yamazaki wondered as he swiftly climbed. There should be bugs or insects around, yet there were no cobwebs or other signs. In fact the place was quite clean, with little dust or dirt.
The golden light seemed to pull at Yamazaki, making all his questions fade as he climbed. He no longer remembered where he'd heard about this mystery, in fact he was beginning to think whatever was here had simply planted it in his mind. Whatever was glowing there wanted out, and it had chosen him to bear it.
Some part of Yamazaki's mind was fighting now, whimpering as it fought but the body climbed up until it reached the room just below the bell. There a cloak and staff... floated above the floor, shining with a light he now found frightening. No matter how much he screamed and begged in his mind Yamazaki couldn't stop the body from walking forward.
First, the cloak flowed over Yamazaki's shoulders and instantly whatever was left of his mind went silent. His clothes bleached themselves white in a moment, while the cloak became a beautiful overcoat. The staff was picked up and hefted confidently, even as a new mind and spirit took residence within the body.
"Well," the man smiled as he mused, "it seems things are quite a mess, now. But Clow Reed will put it right."
To be continued...
Sakura: Knight of the Clow
Chapter Thirty Three
Clow Reed inhabited a new body, and his spirit found it easy to rummage through his new host's mind. It look little effort to master English, nor was it hard to update himself on this world he was in. A few things bemused him, to varying degrees, but he liked puzzles so he would work it out,
Why were his cards in Japan, for instance? Clow had forged them in China and Hong Kong, and there was no reason for them to migrate to this place. His cloak and staff, also, should have stayed in Hong Kong, where one of his bloodline would take it up.
It was all quite intriguing.
Yue and Kereberos were also quite fascinating to watch. He had created the lion and angel servants for a certain role, as guides and mentors to the mages that came after him, as well as to watch over the Clow Cards. Yet somehow they had evolved beyond that role, developing the will to take action on their own.
Clow wasn't sure he approved of that, honestly. But it was fascinating none the less!
The city museum was bustling with people as Clow walked through the displays, a simple illusion spell keeping anyone from recognizing his body. Clow had been rather disgusted to find out his new form's criminal past, and it was rather inconvenient hiding his face. Still, illusions took little power, and there were few sensitives around.
Sakura Kinomoto stood in front of a display case, the cheerful young woman giving a lecture as the crowd listened raptly. The young woman had one of his artifacts around her neck, the key of Clow, and he recognized her bloodline as one of his chosen guardians. There was also a shimmer of power around her, one he felt indicated she had some of his cards.
But not ALL of them, which was also confusing. The sequence of events that should have led to his awakening included one person gathering all the cards. It should not have been possible for him to be here, if that step wasn't finished. It was all quite perplexing.
Clow moved aside for a group of students, then peered into a display of one of his older staffs, as well as a incantation he had put on a clay slab not long before his death. It... irritated him a bit, to see his items here, so far from home, but he could also understand the impulse. And frankly he was also impressed a bit by their efforts to understand the past.
"Excuse me, sir?" a voice jarred Clow from his thoughts.
Clow turned to see the Kinomoto woman looking at him curiously. As he gazed at her Clow could see the mystically healed scars she bore, and fought down the urge to wince. Just a casual look showed how often she had been beaten, stabbed or cut, and he didn't want to imagine how often she was nearly killed.
"Yes, miss?" Clow asked, smiling politely.
Sakura looked sheepish as she said, "I know this sounds strange, but... you glow slightly."
Clow mentally cursed his stupidity. Of course Kinomoto was sensitive, she would HAVE to be to track and fight the cards. Recovering quickly he just smiled, "Oh really? I hadn't noticed." Before she could ask anything else he hurried off, "Excuse me."
Once Clow got out of the building he ducked into a alley and set about reworking the illusion, making it both more subtle and less noticeable, magic wise. Hopefully he wouldn't trigger any more sensitives as he...
What WAS he doing, anyway? With the Clow Cards ungathered, what purpose did he have in this strange new world? Clow Reed didn't know... but he rather suspected he would enjoy finding out.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"The tower that we were investigating exploded?" Mei Lin blurted as she looked up at Tomoyo in surprise from where she was sitting at her desk.
"Blew up into splinters," Tomoyo confirmed, "I've got photos from a guy jogging through the area yesterday. No idea when it happened, but it looks like after midnight."
"You think it's a Clow Card?" Mei-Lin asked quietly.
"That or something else magic," Tomoyo shrugged slightly.
"Well, we were going back out there tonight already, so...," Mei-Lin said, smiling grimly. "You two still want me along?"
"Please," Tomoyo nodded.
Before either could continue Kaho Mitsuki, the editor in chief of the paper and the woman dating Tomoyo's mother, bustled by heading for her office. "What's the latest on the mayor?" she called as she headed in, "I want updates, damn it!"
"You know something?" Mei-Lin asked as Tomoyo winced slightly.
"I'd better give her the news," Tomoyo said as she went by and knocked on the boss' door.
"What have you got?" Kaho asked as Tomoyo went in.
"I think Takashi Yamazaki actually managed to put one over on the cops," Tomoyo admitted as she faced her employer. She didn't add that he had fooled them too, because she wasn't stupid.
"The Mayor didn't flee the country?" Kaho narrowed her eyes as she asked the question. She was clearly NOT happy, considering the paper had reported that as fact.
"I've called in a lot of favors," Tomoyo said, "and even then I can't be entirely certain, but he never turned up in the countries he stashed his funds in. The cops have no idea where he is, though they still think he fled the country."
Kaho studied her ace reporter a moment. "You think he's still here?" she asked.
"Probably," Tomoyo answered. "I mean, he was raised here... he's not going to be forced to run away. His ego won't allow that."
"But how do we find him?" Kaho started, then quickly shook her head. "I mean how can we help the POLICE find him?"
"Awww," Tomoyo pouted.
"Don't try the pout on me," Kaho said, "there is no way I'll let you go chasing after a guy who, I should remind you, HATES YOUR GUTS."
"Eh, I didn't do that much to him," Tomoyo tried to shrug it off.
Kaho snorted a bit. "You were the first to catch him with his hand in the cookie jar," she reminded the younger woman, "you caught him again later, and you were the one who helped the cops get a warrant to search his place. I strongly suspect he's a bit annoyed with you."
"Yes ma'an," Tomoyo sighed.
Kaho hesitated then added, "And if you got hurt your mother would kill me."
That got a snort out of Tomoyo. "I wondered why you were coming on that strong," she noted wryly. "Does this mean I have to call you step-mom?"
"Do it and die," Kaho said with a mock growl.
With a laugh Tomoyo sauntered out. "Bye, mom!" she teased.
Kaho sighed and sat back at her desk. "I'm getting too old for this," she said to herself.
"Mom?" Mei-Lin asked as she brought in a fresh cup of coffee.
"Spread that around and die," Kaho threatened as she took the cup from her assistant and gulped some of it down.
As Tomoyo reached her desk she was already plotting how to find the former mayor. She phoned up the paper's records section and smiled as she said, "Hey, Rika. How's it going?"
"Just fine until you called," Rka teased. "What impossible job have you got for me now?" she asked archly.
"I'm not THAT bad," Tomoyo protested.
"Oh yes you are," Rika shot back cheerfully, "you're just lucky I like a challenge." She paused for a moment then added, "Well?"
"I need the files on his honor, Takashi Yamazaki," Tomoyo said, "especially any property dealings he's been involved with in the city."
"It'll take a few hours but I can put together a list of what we have on file," Rika said cautiously, "it won't be complete though."
"Good, I'll hit up the city for whatever I can get and compare the lists," Tomoyo said. "Thanks!" she added as she started to go through the files.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
There was a moment of dead silence as Yue Susanoo and his companion looked at the clearing in dumbfounded shock. "Tell me I'm not seeing this," Yue said weakly.
"You're not seeing this," Kero lied, the redhead looking with equal shock at the blasted ruin of the tower. She gave Yue a look, "Did denying it help?"
"No," Yue answered, shaking his head. "How...?"
The two had come here before, to investigate the tower, but had been forcefully blasted away by it's protections. Their plan had been to use Sakura to try to determine if what they THOUGHT was in the tower was actually there, but apparently something else had happened.
"Did Sakura somehow sneak away from us, come here on her own and...?" Kero gestured awkwardly as they walked up to the gutted wreck.
"Not unless she evaded us both, and I've stayed damn close to her at work," Yue said wryly.
"I've shadowed her every time she's gone out lately," Kero agreed, "no way she could have come here on her own."
The two reached the police tape that was blocking access to the wreckage, along with various gawkers. The structure hadn't been of much interest when it was merely a abandoned tower in the woods, but having it mysteriously explode brought a lot of attention. Making things moe interesting was the story that someone saw a glowing figure zip away after the blast.
Kero scratched her chin as she gave Yue a look, "You didn't get pissed off and just blast the place, did you?"
"Not at our current power levels," Yue sighed, "I'd just bounce off that shield."
The two ignored the cops and the cops ignored them pretty much. While neither Yue or Kero were all THAT powerful magic wise, they could manage a simple veil. The cops just... didn't notice them while instinctively going around them.
Both of them had spent as long dodging around the main issue as they could. "Do you think he's back?" Kero asked. Both feeling the familiar energies inside the building.
"He shouldn't be," Yue grimaced, "but who knows? Things haven't been going as planned since the beginning..."
To be continued!
Notes: Yes, Clow is NOT a villain. Or at least not YET. I suspect Sakura etc etc will not approve of him possessing someone, so that may be a issue. We'll see.