Cardcaptor Kaoru by NekoKidd

Chapter 1

I looked at the book in my hands wondrously. It seemed to glow with mystery. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm Kaoru Moon. My father, Jeri Moon, is from England, and owns his own bookstore. My mom… well, we don't know what happened to her. She went missing a few years ago. No one knows why, but police suspect it was a wanted criminal who went missing the day before. I love to read, sing, and I love to cook. What I can't do is play sports, multitask, or use numbers effectively. I'm such a klutz when I am doing anything physical. I can even manage to mess up swimming! However, I can somehow keep a relatively good stand when I'm playing tennis. My best friend is Daiki Greening. He's a fiery redhead with a knack for anything physical. I'm also friends with his curly-blond-haired cousin, Miyuki Starling. She's always making some wacky outfit. And, sadly for me, they're almost always boy's fashions. She also likes making videos and taking pictures of me in them. But I like my life. It's quiet, nice, and familiar. That is, until my tenth birthday. It was then that I did something that changed my life forever….

"Wake up, birthday boy!" My dad said in his usual cheery, English way. "Time to start the day!" He opened the curtains of my room, forcing me to wake up. It got me out of a bad dream I was having. Cards, every where, with fire, lighting, storms, and other things spewing out of them. Oh, well it's just a dream. I thought. Boy, would I be in for a surprise!

"So, birthday boy," Miyuki started in her high-pitched voice "ready to see what I made for you to wear today?" I should have said no, but then she'd get out the puppy dog eyes. And, really, who can resist the puppy dog eyes? So, I nodded, forcing my sigh not to come. She lifted a costume from behind her. The torso of it was purple, and the sleeves and legs (which reached to my knees) were a deeper, blue-er color. It had a connected purple tail, with ribbon. She also had a hat, similar to our school uniforms, but purple, no ribbon, and cat ears. Matching shoes were in her other hand. "I see you have decided to make a less crazy outfit." I said sarcastically. She disregarded the comment and handed the outfit to me. I sighed, and took it. Then I headed off to the nearest restroom.

When I came out, the outfit looked great, although odd. I sighed, and allowed Miyuki to take pictures of me. After the photo shoot, she dragged me to my favorite place in the entire world. The Ballroom Bakery & Bookstore! My father runs the bookstore portion, but Mr. Hiwasaki ran the bakery part. "Hello, Kaoru. Is Daiki going to help you clean out the inventory today, or just you?" he said. You see, Daiki and I have seemingly bottomless stomachs. And we have enormous sweet teeth. So, Mr. Hiwasaki gives us a special offer to save us money. For 15.00, we're allowed to eat the day old stuff.

Before I could answer his question, Daiki walked into the door. "Right on time." The baker said, before opening the door to the back room. There was an oddly large amount of goodies in there, and standing in the middle was a giant birthday cake with my name on it (literally). "Happy birthday, Kaoru! Your dad paid for the cake and your inventory raid today. I even made a few extra goodies for you two," He said, before stepping back to let us through. When we had stepped in, he closed the door. Miyuki had decided to check the fashion magazines in the other part of the store, where a clerk was working, as my father had taken the day off.

I'm still amazed that we had eaten all that food. But all the chocolate had been so tempting- I couldn't resist. I think that was the first time I'd ever filled my "bottomless" pit of a stomach. Daiki looked about as stuffed. "Wow. I've never eaten that well in ever!" he said in his rough, medium voice, lying down. "I need a nap." "I do, too. But, we have no time. My dad wanted me to go pick up groceries." I said. I didn't mention that I knew he wanted me to so I would be away long enough for him to set up. He probably had an even more grand cake ready for me already.

"SURPRISE!" all my friends and relatives said as I walked in. My dad, my mothers close friends, their kids, and my school friends were all there. My grandparents were even there! It was great. I even turned out to be right about the cake.

I loved my presents. I got a karaoke machine, a new cookbook, some books I had been wanting, and even a new laptop from Miyuki's mother, Maddy Greening. But, after the party, when I tried to read, I couldn't concentrate. I don't know why, but I felt something willing me to go to the attic. My dad hated it when I went up there, but I just had to when I heard music. It was mystical, twinkling music. I wanted to know what was making it. It was like a trance. It was coming from a bookshelf in the attic….

As I saw the books, I noticed an odd one. On its spine was "Torika." Wasn't that my mom's name? I took it out. I looked at the book in my hands wondrously. It seemed to glow with mystery. The music grew almost unbearably loud. I opened the book, and flipped through it. Cards. Lots of them. I picked up one with a lady surrounded by hair made by leaves. "The wood…" I read, and suddenly vines grew rapidly from everywhere, and the cards scattered. I began to freak out, just when a white light came from the book and a yellow teddy-bear with wings appeared. "A TEDDY BEAR! WHAT"S GOING ON!" I yelled, before silencing myself. If dad heard me, I'd be dead. I saw the bear thing yawn, rub its eyes, and look at me. "You must be the new cardcaptor." He said.

TO BE CONTINUED…