Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Cardcaptors: Clow Reed's Mistake ❯ Cardcaptors: Coming Home-Ch.1 ( Chapter 1 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Maurynna 
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.31.2001 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.3K | Visits: 317 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.31.2001 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.3K | Visits: 317 | Status: Completed
By Maurynna
Author's note: Hello everybody! Another warning, read the prologue before
you read this chapter or you most likely won't get it! Anyways....I'd like to
remind everyone that I am just starting off on what I hope to be a fairly long
series so things might start off a bit slow. The reviews I got from the
prologue to this weren't exactly all that encouraging. But I wrote the next
chapter anyway(na na, na, na, na). Seriously, if people aren't going to read
this I won't bother writing anymore(even though I myself want to know what
happens. Haven't gotten that far yet ^_^) so please read and review. Put what
you truly thought in the reviews and if they're good thoughts
(think happy thoughts~_~) I'll write more. The prologue may have set you off
a bit because of the new things I added into it and how serious it was. But give
it a chance! Keep reading and hopefully you'll change your minds!(Good, now
that I've told you to read this four, five times now, it should be successfully
engraved into your brains! Mwahahaha!) ~Sheepish smile.~ Sorry. :)
One last thing, thanks to however it was who corrected my spelling mistake
on Li's name. Thank-you. On with the fic!
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptors or any of it's characters,
merchandise, or episodes. I am not getting paid for this so please don't
sue me!
Cardcaptors: Coming Home-Chapter1
Sakura sat in her window seat looking out at the clouds in deep thought.
When Kero let the bombshell drop about going back to Japan, Sakura had
been speechless. She soon got over her shock, though, and became excited.
She'd be able to see her family again; Dad and Tory.
When she left four years ago to pursue her schooling in Canada, she had
been sorry to leave. Since then, she had only been able to make one visit
back to see her family, and that had been three and a half years ago. She
had written to her family constantly, but, writing letters to her family
and actually talking to them face to face was a different story.
The truth of the matter was, she missed them. She couldn't wait to see
them again! And then there was Madison. Sakura rolled her eyes.
Yesterday evening, about an hour after the incident and Kero's story,
she had gone back to her laptop and e-mailed Madison, telling her
the good news. With the time difference, Sakura guessed it must have
been around seven, eight in the morning over there. And yet, minutes
after she had sent the e-mail, she had received a response.
Madison had been ecstatic, almost to the point of being hysterical. They
had been e-mailing each other at least three times everyday for the five
years she had been away, but they hadn't spoken to each other. In her last
e-mail, Madison had been very talkative indeed.
She had written a seven page e-mail(Sakura had no idea how Madison could
have written that in such a short time) mostly detailing the hours and
hours of conversation they would be having on end.
Sakura had specifically told her, though, not to mention her return to her
family. She wanted to surprise them. Madison had expressed, quite clearly,
what her opinion on that was.
And then there was Li.
Sakura's brow wrinkled in thought. She hadn't seen, written, spoken, or
even heard from Li since she left. Madison never mentioned him in her
e-mails and she had never thought to ask. Her family had never mentioned
him, but why would they? Li liked to stay as far away from her house as
possible for one reason, and one reason only.
Tory.
Sakura smiled. Tory always came down so hard on Li, worried that he was
going to somehow harm her. She could always guarantee an interesting
confrontation between those two. Sakura wondered what Li's reaction would
be when she showed up out of the blue.
Sakura was interrupted from her thoughts when a certain yellow fluff ball
started wiggling around in her purse. Sakura quickly glanced around. There
wasn't anyone seated beside her or in her row. Most of the passenger had
settled down to nap the rest of the flight an the ones who weren't sleeping
had headphones on. The stewardess was at the front of the plane chatting
up the steward. Sakura opened her purse.
Kero's head immediately popped out. Breathing heavily, he hissed, "What
are you trying to do? Suffocate me in there?"
"Shh," Sakura said quickly, looking around nervously. "Sorry about that,
but you've got to keep quiet."
"Tell that to someone after they've been stuck in a sweltering, cramped
purse for nearly an hour." Kero said, but he did quiet down.
"I said I was sorry," Sakura replied hotly. "But think of it this way.....
You could have been stuck in the cargo hold, shoved around uncere-
moniously, stuffed into a box that no one handled carefully, even though
it was marked fragile, for the entire three and a half hour flight!"
Kero stared at her for a full minute before finally asking, "What's wrong
with you?"
Sakura blinked, then blushed slightly, ashamed at her outburst. "I don't
know. I'm happy to be going back to my home and I can't wait to see my
family and friends again, but....." Sakura sighed. "I can't stop thinking
about the new Clow cards." she confessed.
Kero nodded, understanding perfectly. "What's on your mind?" he asked,
trying to help.
Sakura sighed, frustrated. "Everything! How strong are these cards? What
if I can't beat them? What if they hurt people? What if I can't do it alone?
Those sorts of things."
Kero shook his head. "I can't help you there Sakura. Those are just
worries. What if the sun doesn't rise? What if there's a World War 2?
What if you win the lottery? Those are all just 'what ifs.' All I can tell
you is....do your best."
"But Kero! What if my best isn't good enough?" Sakura asked, panicky.
"That's another 'what if.' Don't concern yourself about those types of
things. Worry about it when the time comes. You need to be rational and
logical. That's the only way you'll be able to beat this, Sakura. So pull
yourself together!" Kero snapped.
Sakura looked at Kero in astonishment. "How can you be so calm? Aren't you
the least bit worried?" she asked incredulously.
Kero looked down. "The truth? Sakura, I'm terrified. I'm so scared right
now I can feel my soul tremble," Sakura looked astonished. Kero continued,
"But what would panicking accomplish? The moment we caved in, gave up,
we'd lose."
The two sat in silence for a few moments, each thinking their own
thoughts. Then Sakura spoke up, "I suppose you're right."
Kero shrugged, brushing off the uneasy moment. "Was there anything else on
your mind?"
Sakura nodded. "About the cards' escape," she began, fidgeting, "This has
nothing to do with what we were discussing a moment before," she assured
him. "And I get everything you talked about in relation to the new cards'
creation, but, there is one thing I don't get,"
Kero nodded, waiting.
"It's expected that I would have sensed the cards once they began to break
free, but, why the pain? Why did I experience such torment when nothing
actually, physically, happened to me?" she asked puzzled, trying to sort
out what, to her, made no sense.
Kero immediately began explaining. "That I can help you with. You see, the
spell Clow Reed had to make in order to keep the cards from escaping had
to be strong enough to accomplish the task. I've told you how much more
those cards had, this spell had to be an exceptional one if it was going to
work." Kero shifted his position, trying to get more comfortable. "Well,
you see, Clow Reed needed to add something to the basic chant to ensure it
would hold, but none of the known potions in existence then could have done
it. So, knowing he had to succeed, no matter what, Clow Reed added the most
powerful ingredient he could think of. His life force." Sakura's eyes
widened. "He used his life energy to ensure those seals held. So after his
death, I can only assume that without his presence to balance out his blood
in the seals, they would began to dissolve over time."
"But Kero, that doesn't answer my question." Sakura protested.
"I'm getting to that," Kero replied indignantly, "Don't interrupt me." Kero
cleared his throat. "You are part of Clow Reed, his descendant, so you have
inherited his powers, his strength,.....and his blood. I think it would be
safe to assume that you've also inherited what made Clow Reed's life force
his life force. So," Kero said, getting to the point, "When the Clow cards
destroyed the seals, they destroyed what was left of Clow Reed inside them,
what was, and still is, inside you. That's what you felt go. You felt a
part of you that Clow Reed had passed on to you go when the seals did."
Sakura nodded, satisfied. Then she smiled. "You know what, Kero? I had no
idea you were such a storyteller," Sakura folded her arms behind her head
and closed her eyes. "But you really should learn to get to the point. I
thought for sure I was going to nod off waiting for the answer I wanted."
Sakura cracked open an eyelid.
Kero was sitting there in her purse fuming silently, face beet red. Sakura
began laughing. Other people on the plane looked at Sakura with confused,
annoyed looks on their faces. But Sakura just kept laughing.
~Japan~
Sakura stepped off the plane, a nervous fluttering in her stomach. She knew
Madison had said that she was happy she was coming back, but they hadn't
actually seen each other in almost five years. What would happen when they
actually saw each other again, face to face?
Sakura put the question out of her mind. She'd worry about that when the
time came. Sakura walked over to the baggage area and picked up her
luggage. Then, walking over to the waiting area, Sakura put her bags down
again and was about to seat herself when a screeching, so shrill she
thought her ears would bleed, sounded from nearby,
"SAKURA!!"
Before she had time to do anything but slightly twist her body towards the
direction of the shriek, Sakura found herself being slammed into full
force. She nearly fell over from the unexpected body weight.
After delivering the nearly bone breaking hug, the person pulled back. The
woman looked Sakura in the eyes with such intensity that she nearly took a
step back.
Suddenly, the woman's face broke into a smile. "I knew it was you! As soon
as I saw you walk off the plane I knew you looked familiar, but I wasn't
one hundred percent sure until you turned around and I saw your eyes. No
one could mistake your eyes with someone else's, Sakura." when she decided
to take a breather in her mile-a-minute speech, it was only to gather
enough gas to ask, "Where's Kero? Didn't he come with you? Or did you
decide to leave him at home? In my opinion, you really shouldn't bring him
anywhere anymore. Remember that time when he switched bodied with Li and
was allowed to run amuck all over school? Disaster! Besides, he's getting
old anyways. What is he? One thousand, two thousand years old? I don't
think he should be overexerting himself."
Sakura only had time to murmur, "Madison." before Kero's head popped out of
her purse.
"Who are you calling OLD!? I've still got plenty of juice left! And for
your information, I'm perfectly capable of handling myself, thank-you very
much."
"Ahh....so Kero's here after all." Madison said smugly.
Sakura, who was still too stunned to move, said again, "Madison....."
Madison looked her over with a critical eye. "You were expecting someone
else, maybe?" then she let loose a lop-sided smile. "Ah, but you probably
didn't recognize me, huh?"
Sakura shook her head and cracked a smile of her own.
"But then," Madison continued, "Look at you. What did you do to your hair?
It's like almost as long as you are tall now. Speaking of which, you grew."
she observed.
After a nervous inspection of her hair, that had grown almost to her butt,
Sakura asked, "Well what did you expect? I'd come back and I'd look exactly
the same as when I left? Highly unlikely. Besides, you aren't exactly a
carbon copy of your once fourteen year old self either."
"Yeah," Madison replied self-consciously. She touched her now shoulder
length hair. "Do you like it? I got it done not too long ago. It was
shorter but it grew. I didn't know what you would think when you saw it."
she confessed.
"I like it." Sakura assured her. And truly, she did. Madison had changed
though, definitely. Her face looked like an angel's, innocent, and she had
lost all the baby fat she had so despised before. Madison had also grown
but wasn't quite as tall as Sakura was, not coming from a tall family and
all, but the way she filled out in all the right places completely made up
for any qualms anyone might think to bring up.
She could have been a model, Sakura thought. She mentally smiled. But then,
she'd probably be happier photographing the models then actually being one.
Madison had told Sakura how she had pursued her photography dream and had
made it big when she submitted some of her pictures to a magazine. The
magazine had loved her work and that was what started her now huge photo
career.
"You want some help with those?" Madison asked, pointing to Sakura's
luggage.
"Yeah, thanks." Sakura agreed.
"So where are you staying tonight?" Madison asked as they picked up the
bags and headed out into the parking lot.
"Well, I was going to stay at my house. Dad says that whenever I come to
visit I'll always be welcome. I know he'll be glad to see me. Besides,"
Sakura added with a laugh. "He hasn't touched my room since I moved out.
You'd think he was afraid that if he did I wouldn't come back." Sakura
paused. "Why?"
"Why what?" Madison asked heading towards a group of cars.
"Why ask where I was staying?"
"No reason. I just wanted to be sure you had somewhere to sleep tonight.
Can't have you depriving others of the park benches at night now can we?"
Madison joked.
"Guess not." Sakura laughed.
Madison stopped in front of a small white car and opened the trunk.
"So this is your car?" Sakura asked, helping to load the bags.
"Yeah, it ain't much but it gets me places." Madison agreed.
They both got into the car and proceeded to speed off onto the busy
highway.
"So when do you plan on seeing your family?" Madison asked.
"I'm not sure. In a couple of hours, I guess. I'd like to talk to you
first. That O.K. with you?"
"Do I like taking pictures? Hell, yes! I'll drive you over around four."
"Uh.... hello? Aren't we forgetting about someone here? Someone who's going
to go nuts if he doesn't get out of this purse!" a muffled voice exclaimed.
Sakura and Madison exchanged knowing glances. "Sorry about that Kero."
Sakura apologized, opening the purse.
Kero flew up and sat himself on the dashboard. "That's better." he said
folding his arms.
Sakura sat in silence the rest of the way to Madison's apartment. The Clow
cards were on her mind again. No matter what Kero said, she couldn't not
think about them. She glanced at Kero. She didn't think he was exactly
clear minded at the moment either, if the look on his face was anything to
go by.
Madison pulled off the road and into the apartment parking lot. They both
got out of the car and grabbed the bags form the trunk. After stuffing Kero
back into her purse, Sakura and Madison entered the building. They then
proceeded to enter the elevator where they waited for it to reach the tenth
floor. The doors opened and they stepped out into the hallway. Madison
quickly went to her door and unlocked it. Pushing open the door, Madison
invited Sakura to go in first.
Sakura put her bags down and admired Madison's apartment. "This is really
nice, Madison. Cozy. I wouldn't mind living here myself, no I wouldn't."
Sakura observed. "But where did you get the money to pay for some of this
stuff?"
Madison didn't reply. Sakura got a bad feeling. Whenever Madison wasn't
talking, she was thinking. And that, with Madison, was never a good thing.
"Sakura? What's up?" Madison asked.
Oh no, she was right, "Up?" Sakura repeated blankly, assuming an innocent,
yet confused look.
"Don't give me that!" Madison snapped. She lowered her voice. "I was
watching you the entire time in the car. Something's on your mind and it
isn't good." Madison concluded. "Aren't you happy to be back here?"
Sakura was quick to reassure her, "Of course I am Madison!" Madison sighed
in relief. "It's not that, believe me it isn't. It's just....wait. How did
you know something was up?"
Madison looked at her in a way that made her feel like a fool. "Come on,
Sakura. How long have I known you? Of course I'd know if something was
bothering you. Besides," she joked, "Your eyes were boring holes into my
dashboard."
Sakura sighed. She supposed she'd have to tell her. She walked into the
living room and sat down on the sofa. She put her purse on the glass table
in front of her and opened it to let Kero out. By the look on his face, and
his silence, Sakura guessed that Kero must have heard what Madison said and
knew that she was going to tell her.
"There's another reason why I've come back to Japan," Sakura began.
"What!?" Madison asked in mock outrage. "You mean there is something else
more important than your friends and family?" Madison's good humour faded,
though, when Sakura didn't respond. Madison took a seat across from Sakura,
bracing herself for anything. "That bad, huh? So spill it."
Sakura didn't even bother lightening the blow. "There are thirteen new Clow
cards."
"What!?" Madison exclaimed. Then her face screwed up in puzzlement. "What's
the big deal? They're just Clow cards. You've captured them before and you
can do it again." Madison grew excited. "Besides, I can record all your new
captures! I've still got the tapes from your old captures. This'll be great!"
she added with enthusiasm.
Sakura shook her head. "No, Madison, this is different." Kero nodded.
Sakura then proceeded, with Kero's help, to retell the story of Clow Reed's
new and improved Clow cards. When Sakura had finished, Madison's good
mood had vanished.
"So, what you're saying is, we've got thirteen new pumped up cards running
around, on the loose?" Madison summarized.
"Pretty much," Sakura agreed. Then she did a 180. "Whoa! What do you mean
WE? Madison, these aren't your average
Clow cards, not that they were ever average," Sakura added under her
breath. "These are way more dangerous. I don't want you anywhere near those
Clow cards for any reason. Especially to get it on tape."
Madison readied herself for an argument. But Sakura! You might need some
backup!"
"What are you? A cop?"
Madison scowled and folded her arms over her chest. "No matter what you do,
you won't be able to keep me away." Madison promised.
Sakura sighed. Sometimes, Madison could be as stubborn as a mule. Wait!
What was she thinking? Sometimes?
"Fine." Sakura conceded. "But you will not, under any circumstances, get
anywhere near the battle and if you do I'll find some way to keep you away,
believe me I will! Tape from a distance."
Madison frowned but backed down.
Sakura glanced at the clock. "I should get going."
"Yeah," Madison smiled. "I've kept you to myself for too long."
_______________________________________________________
"Are you sure you don't want me to help you carry your bags inside?"
Madison asked.
"No, it's alright." Sakura winked. "I'll get Tory to do it."
"O.K. Call me before you turn in tonight." Madison reminded her and drove
off.
Sakura watched Madison's car drive off into the distance until she couldn't
see it anymore. She then turned her attention to her house. It looked exactly
the same. Some new plants, a few new lawn ornaments, but other than that,
it was the same childhood haven she'd left behind.
Something poked her in the rib. Sakura looked down. "What are you waiting
for, kid?" Kero asked.
Sakura smiled. "Just savouring the moment I guess."
Sakura picked up her bags and headed towards the front door. After setting
them back down on the doorstep, and saying, "Kero, get back in the purse,"
she knocked on the door.
At first, she couldn't hear anything coming from the other side of the
wood, but then, she heard footsteps coming towards her. Sakura pasted a
smile on her face, hoping she'd be as welcome as she thought she'd be.
The front door was opened and she found herself inches from a male chest.
Sakura craned her neck upwards and smiled.
"Hello Tory."
Tory stood in the doorway for a few heart stopping moments before making a
move.
The chest she had been looking at only moments before she was now feeling
as well. "Sakura!" Tory exclaimed happily, giving her a bone breaking hug.
"Tory," Sakura wheezed. "I can't breathe."
Tory immediately relinquished his hold looking sheepish. He regained his
composure fast though, and looked so utterly indifferent to her now that
Sakura almost laughed. Tory coughed into his hand. "Hello Squirt."
Sakura lifted an eyebrow. "Squirt? I've grown, or haven't you noticed? I'm
nearly as tall as you are now." she said indignantly.
Tory snorted. "Yeah, the top of your head almost reaches my chin," he
observed.
Sakura smacked him on the shoulder. "When are you going to stop teasing
me?" she asked exasperated.
Tory considered. "After I die?"
Sakura gave a wry smile. "Great." she said sarcastically. She folded her
arms over her chest. "So am I going to stand out here all day or are you
going to help me bring in my bags?"
_________________________________________________________
Sa kura climbed up the stairs to her bedroom. She had finished eating supper
an hour ago and had been sitting up talking with her father and Tory.
Sakura opened her bedroom door and smiled. She could have sworn Dad was
going to cry when he saw her. His eyes had gone all misty and bright, but
then she had received the same treatment from him as she had from Tory and
she was too busy trying to breathe afterwards to notice whether he let a
tear slip out. The only reason she had gotten away this soon was because
she had pleaded fatigue; claiming jet lag from the long flight.
Sakura sat down on her bed with a plop. She had already unpacked her things
so she didn't have to worry about that. All she needed to do was call
Madison. Sakura glanced at her alarm clock. She wondered if Madison would
still be up. Sakura smacked herself on the forehead. Of course she'd still
be up. She would stay up all night waiting for her phone call.
Kero's head popped out of his customary drawer. "So how'd it go? With as
long as you were down there I thought they'd never give you up."
"Everything went fine." Sakura replied absently, picking up the phone.
"Who are you calling?"
"Madison."
"When are you going to talk to that Syaoran kid? As much as I hate to admit
it, we're going to need him."
Sakura froze. Li. She had forgotten to ask Madison about Li.
Sakura dialed Madison's number. The phone didn't even get a chance to
finish the first ring when it was picked up off the hook.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Madison. It's me."
"So how did it go?"
"A lot of talking, a lot of reminiscing. Madison, I'm so glad to be back."
Madison laughed. "I kinda figured you would be."
Sakura glanced at the clock again. "Look Madison, I hate to cut this short
but it's late and I'm really tired."
"No problem." Madison assured her.
"There is just one more thing I have to ask you before I go, though."
Sakura said.
"Shoot."
"How's Li doing?"
Silence.
"Hello?" Sakura asked, puzzled by the unexpected reaction.
"Umm....." Madison hedged. "Li is.....well, he hasn't exactly been...."
"Madison," Sakura asked alarmed, "Where's Li?"
Madison sighed. "That's just it Sakura. No one knows where Li is. After you
left, he just sort of, disappeared. He hasn't been seen since."
______________________________________________________
You like? Nice cliffhanger, eh? ^_^ I liked it. Please write reviews and
tell me what you thought. If you read the author's note you'll know that
I'm not sure whether I should continue this. It's all up to you, always has
been, always will be ^_*
(I sincerely apologize for the large amount of nonsense you were forced to
read in my Author's note. Sometimes, all the time, I get carried away.
You'll probably see that often, but, what can I say? I can't help it! Sorry
again!)
See you later!
Author's note: Hello everybody! Another warning, read the prologue before
you read this chapter or you most likely won't get it! Anyways....I'd like to
remind everyone that I am just starting off on what I hope to be a fairly long
series so things might start off a bit slow. The reviews I got from the
prologue to this weren't exactly all that encouraging. But I wrote the next
chapter anyway(na na, na, na, na). Seriously, if people aren't going to read
this I won't bother writing anymore(even though I myself want to know what
happens. Haven't gotten that far yet ^_^) so please read and review. Put what
you truly thought in the reviews and if they're good thoughts
(think happy thoughts~_~) I'll write more. The prologue may have set you off
a bit because of the new things I added into it and how serious it was. But give
it a chance! Keep reading and hopefully you'll change your minds!(Good, now
that I've told you to read this four, five times now, it should be successfully
engraved into your brains! Mwahahaha!) ~Sheepish smile.~ Sorry. :)
One last thing, thanks to however it was who corrected my spelling mistake
on Li's name. Thank-you. On with the fic!
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptors or any of it's characters,
merchandise, or episodes. I am not getting paid for this so please don't
sue me!
Cardcaptors: Coming Home-Chapter1
Sakura sat in her window seat looking out at the clouds in deep thought.
When Kero let the bombshell drop about going back to Japan, Sakura had
been speechless. She soon got over her shock, though, and became excited.
She'd be able to see her family again; Dad and Tory.
When she left four years ago to pursue her schooling in Canada, she had
been sorry to leave. Since then, she had only been able to make one visit
back to see her family, and that had been three and a half years ago. She
had written to her family constantly, but, writing letters to her family
and actually talking to them face to face was a different story.
The truth of the matter was, she missed them. She couldn't wait to see
them again! And then there was Madison. Sakura rolled her eyes.
Yesterday evening, about an hour after the incident and Kero's story,
she had gone back to her laptop and e-mailed Madison, telling her
the good news. With the time difference, Sakura guessed it must have
been around seven, eight in the morning over there. And yet, minutes
after she had sent the e-mail, she had received a response.
Madison had been ecstatic, almost to the point of being hysterical. They
had been e-mailing each other at least three times everyday for the five
years she had been away, but they hadn't spoken to each other. In her last
e-mail, Madison had been very talkative indeed.
She had written a seven page e-mail(Sakura had no idea how Madison could
have written that in such a short time) mostly detailing the hours and
hours of conversation they would be having on end.
Sakura had specifically told her, though, not to mention her return to her
family. She wanted to surprise them. Madison had expressed, quite clearly,
what her opinion on that was.
And then there was Li.
Sakura's brow wrinkled in thought. She hadn't seen, written, spoken, or
even heard from Li since she left. Madison never mentioned him in her
e-mails and she had never thought to ask. Her family had never mentioned
him, but why would they? Li liked to stay as far away from her house as
possible for one reason, and one reason only.
Tory.
Sakura smiled. Tory always came down so hard on Li, worried that he was
going to somehow harm her. She could always guarantee an interesting
confrontation between those two. Sakura wondered what Li's reaction would
be when she showed up out of the blue.
Sakura was interrupted from her thoughts when a certain yellow fluff ball
started wiggling around in her purse. Sakura quickly glanced around. There
wasn't anyone seated beside her or in her row. Most of the passenger had
settled down to nap the rest of the flight an the ones who weren't sleeping
had headphones on. The stewardess was at the front of the plane chatting
up the steward. Sakura opened her purse.
Kero's head immediately popped out. Breathing heavily, he hissed, "What
are you trying to do? Suffocate me in there?"
"Shh," Sakura said quickly, looking around nervously. "Sorry about that,
but you've got to keep quiet."
"Tell that to someone after they've been stuck in a sweltering, cramped
purse for nearly an hour." Kero said, but he did quiet down.
"I said I was sorry," Sakura replied hotly. "But think of it this way.....
You could have been stuck in the cargo hold, shoved around uncere-
moniously, stuffed into a box that no one handled carefully, even though
it was marked fragile, for the entire three and a half hour flight!"
Kero stared at her for a full minute before finally asking, "What's wrong
with you?"
Sakura blinked, then blushed slightly, ashamed at her outburst. "I don't
know. I'm happy to be going back to my home and I can't wait to see my
family and friends again, but....." Sakura sighed. "I can't stop thinking
about the new Clow cards." she confessed.
Kero nodded, understanding perfectly. "What's on your mind?" he asked,
trying to help.
Sakura sighed, frustrated. "Everything! How strong are these cards? What
if I can't beat them? What if they hurt people? What if I can't do it alone?
Those sorts of things."
Kero shook his head. "I can't help you there Sakura. Those are just
worries. What if the sun doesn't rise? What if there's a World War 2?
What if you win the lottery? Those are all just 'what ifs.' All I can tell
you is....do your best."
"But Kero! What if my best isn't good enough?" Sakura asked, panicky.
"That's another 'what if.' Don't concern yourself about those types of
things. Worry about it when the time comes. You need to be rational and
logical. That's the only way you'll be able to beat this, Sakura. So pull
yourself together!" Kero snapped.
Sakura looked at Kero in astonishment. "How can you be so calm? Aren't you
the least bit worried?" she asked incredulously.
Kero looked down. "The truth? Sakura, I'm terrified. I'm so scared right
now I can feel my soul tremble," Sakura looked astonished. Kero continued,
"But what would panicking accomplish? The moment we caved in, gave up,
we'd lose."
The two sat in silence for a few moments, each thinking their own
thoughts. Then Sakura spoke up, "I suppose you're right."
Kero shrugged, brushing off the uneasy moment. "Was there anything else on
your mind?"
Sakura nodded. "About the cards' escape," she began, fidgeting, "This has
nothing to do with what we were discussing a moment before," she assured
him. "And I get everything you talked about in relation to the new cards'
creation, but, there is one thing I don't get,"
Kero nodded, waiting.
"It's expected that I would have sensed the cards once they began to break
free, but, why the pain? Why did I experience such torment when nothing
actually, physically, happened to me?" she asked puzzled, trying to sort
out what, to her, made no sense.
Kero immediately began explaining. "That I can help you with. You see, the
spell Clow Reed had to make in order to keep the cards from escaping had
to be strong enough to accomplish the task. I've told you how much more
those cards had, this spell had to be an exceptional one if it was going to
work." Kero shifted his position, trying to get more comfortable. "Well,
you see, Clow Reed needed to add something to the basic chant to ensure it
would hold, but none of the known potions in existence then could have done
it. So, knowing he had to succeed, no matter what, Clow Reed added the most
powerful ingredient he could think of. His life force." Sakura's eyes
widened. "He used his life energy to ensure those seals held. So after his
death, I can only assume that without his presence to balance out his blood
in the seals, they would began to dissolve over time."
"But Kero, that doesn't answer my question." Sakura protested.
"I'm getting to that," Kero replied indignantly, "Don't interrupt me." Kero
cleared his throat. "You are part of Clow Reed, his descendant, so you have
inherited his powers, his strength,.....and his blood. I think it would be
safe to assume that you've also inherited what made Clow Reed's life force
his life force. So," Kero said, getting to the point, "When the Clow cards
destroyed the seals, they destroyed what was left of Clow Reed inside them,
what was, and still is, inside you. That's what you felt go. You felt a
part of you that Clow Reed had passed on to you go when the seals did."
Sakura nodded, satisfied. Then she smiled. "You know what, Kero? I had no
idea you were such a storyteller," Sakura folded her arms behind her head
and closed her eyes. "But you really should learn to get to the point. I
thought for sure I was going to nod off waiting for the answer I wanted."
Sakura cracked open an eyelid.
Kero was sitting there in her purse fuming silently, face beet red. Sakura
began laughing. Other people on the plane looked at Sakura with confused,
annoyed looks on their faces. But Sakura just kept laughing.
~Japan~
Sakura stepped off the plane, a nervous fluttering in her stomach. She knew
Madison had said that she was happy she was coming back, but they hadn't
actually seen each other in almost five years. What would happen when they
actually saw each other again, face to face?
Sakura put the question out of her mind. She'd worry about that when the
time came. Sakura walked over to the baggage area and picked up her
luggage. Then, walking over to the waiting area, Sakura put her bags down
again and was about to seat herself when a screeching, so shrill she
thought her ears would bleed, sounded from nearby,
"SAKURA!!"
Before she had time to do anything but slightly twist her body towards the
direction of the shriek, Sakura found herself being slammed into full
force. She nearly fell over from the unexpected body weight.
After delivering the nearly bone breaking hug, the person pulled back. The
woman looked Sakura in the eyes with such intensity that she nearly took a
step back.
Suddenly, the woman's face broke into a smile. "I knew it was you! As soon
as I saw you walk off the plane I knew you looked familiar, but I wasn't
one hundred percent sure until you turned around and I saw your eyes. No
one could mistake your eyes with someone else's, Sakura." when she decided
to take a breather in her mile-a-minute speech, it was only to gather
enough gas to ask, "Where's Kero? Didn't he come with you? Or did you
decide to leave him at home? In my opinion, you really shouldn't bring him
anywhere anymore. Remember that time when he switched bodied with Li and
was allowed to run amuck all over school? Disaster! Besides, he's getting
old anyways. What is he? One thousand, two thousand years old? I don't
think he should be overexerting himself."
Sakura only had time to murmur, "Madison." before Kero's head popped out of
her purse.
"Who are you calling OLD!? I've still got plenty of juice left! And for
your information, I'm perfectly capable of handling myself, thank-you very
much."
"Ahh....so Kero's here after all." Madison said smugly.
Sakura, who was still too stunned to move, said again, "Madison....."
Madison looked her over with a critical eye. "You were expecting someone
else, maybe?" then she let loose a lop-sided smile. "Ah, but you probably
didn't recognize me, huh?"
Sakura shook her head and cracked a smile of her own.
"But then," Madison continued, "Look at you. What did you do to your hair?
It's like almost as long as you are tall now. Speaking of which, you grew."
she observed.
After a nervous inspection of her hair, that had grown almost to her butt,
Sakura asked, "Well what did you expect? I'd come back and I'd look exactly
the same as when I left? Highly unlikely. Besides, you aren't exactly a
carbon copy of your once fourteen year old self either."
"Yeah," Madison replied self-consciously. She touched her now shoulder
length hair. "Do you like it? I got it done not too long ago. It was
shorter but it grew. I didn't know what you would think when you saw it."
she confessed.
"I like it." Sakura assured her. And truly, she did. Madison had changed
though, definitely. Her face looked like an angel's, innocent, and she had
lost all the baby fat she had so despised before. Madison had also grown
but wasn't quite as tall as Sakura was, not coming from a tall family and
all, but the way she filled out in all the right places completely made up
for any qualms anyone might think to bring up.
She could have been a model, Sakura thought. She mentally smiled. But then,
she'd probably be happier photographing the models then actually being one.
Madison had told Sakura how she had pursued her photography dream and had
made it big when she submitted some of her pictures to a magazine. The
magazine had loved her work and that was what started her now huge photo
career.
"You want some help with those?" Madison asked, pointing to Sakura's
luggage.
"Yeah, thanks." Sakura agreed.
"So where are you staying tonight?" Madison asked as they picked up the
bags and headed out into the parking lot.
"Well, I was going to stay at my house. Dad says that whenever I come to
visit I'll always be welcome. I know he'll be glad to see me. Besides,"
Sakura added with a laugh. "He hasn't touched my room since I moved out.
You'd think he was afraid that if he did I wouldn't come back." Sakura
paused. "Why?"
"Why what?" Madison asked heading towards a group of cars.
"Why ask where I was staying?"
"No reason. I just wanted to be sure you had somewhere to sleep tonight.
Can't have you depriving others of the park benches at night now can we?"
Madison joked.
"Guess not." Sakura laughed.
Madison stopped in front of a small white car and opened the trunk.
"So this is your car?" Sakura asked, helping to load the bags.
"Yeah, it ain't much but it gets me places." Madison agreed.
They both got into the car and proceeded to speed off onto the busy
highway.
"So when do you plan on seeing your family?" Madison asked.
"I'm not sure. In a couple of hours, I guess. I'd like to talk to you
first. That O.K. with you?"
"Do I like taking pictures? Hell, yes! I'll drive you over around four."
"Uh.... hello? Aren't we forgetting about someone here? Someone who's going
to go nuts if he doesn't get out of this purse!" a muffled voice exclaimed.
Sakura and Madison exchanged knowing glances. "Sorry about that Kero."
Sakura apologized, opening the purse.
Kero flew up and sat himself on the dashboard. "That's better." he said
folding his arms.
Sakura sat in silence the rest of the way to Madison's apartment. The Clow
cards were on her mind again. No matter what Kero said, she couldn't not
think about them. She glanced at Kero. She didn't think he was exactly
clear minded at the moment either, if the look on his face was anything to
go by.
Madison pulled off the road and into the apartment parking lot. They both
got out of the car and grabbed the bags form the trunk. After stuffing Kero
back into her purse, Sakura and Madison entered the building. They then
proceeded to enter the elevator where they waited for it to reach the tenth
floor. The doors opened and they stepped out into the hallway. Madison
quickly went to her door and unlocked it. Pushing open the door, Madison
invited Sakura to go in first.
Sakura put her bags down and admired Madison's apartment. "This is really
nice, Madison. Cozy. I wouldn't mind living here myself, no I wouldn't."
Sakura observed. "But where did you get the money to pay for some of this
stuff?"
Madison didn't reply. Sakura got a bad feeling. Whenever Madison wasn't
talking, she was thinking. And that, with Madison, was never a good thing.
"Sakura? What's up?" Madison asked.
Oh no, she was right, "Up?" Sakura repeated blankly, assuming an innocent,
yet confused look.
"Don't give me that!" Madison snapped. She lowered her voice. "I was
watching you the entire time in the car. Something's on your mind and it
isn't good." Madison concluded. "Aren't you happy to be back here?"
Sakura was quick to reassure her, "Of course I am Madison!" Madison sighed
in relief. "It's not that, believe me it isn't. It's just....wait. How did
you know something was up?"
Madison looked at her in a way that made her feel like a fool. "Come on,
Sakura. How long have I known you? Of course I'd know if something was
bothering you. Besides," she joked, "Your eyes were boring holes into my
dashboard."
Sakura sighed. She supposed she'd have to tell her. She walked into the
living room and sat down on the sofa. She put her purse on the glass table
in front of her and opened it to let Kero out. By the look on his face, and
his silence, Sakura guessed that Kero must have heard what Madison said and
knew that she was going to tell her.
"There's another reason why I've come back to Japan," Sakura began.
"What!?" Madison asked in mock outrage. "You mean there is something else
more important than your friends and family?" Madison's good humour faded,
though, when Sakura didn't respond. Madison took a seat across from Sakura,
bracing herself for anything. "That bad, huh? So spill it."
Sakura didn't even bother lightening the blow. "There are thirteen new Clow
cards."
"What!?" Madison exclaimed. Then her face screwed up in puzzlement. "What's
the big deal? They're just Clow cards. You've captured them before and you
can do it again." Madison grew excited. "Besides, I can record all your new
captures! I've still got the tapes from your old captures. This'll be great!"
she added with enthusiasm.
Sakura shook her head. "No, Madison, this is different." Kero nodded.
Sakura then proceeded, with Kero's help, to retell the story of Clow Reed's
new and improved Clow cards. When Sakura had finished, Madison's good
mood had vanished.
"So, what you're saying is, we've got thirteen new pumped up cards running
around, on the loose?" Madison summarized.
"Pretty much," Sakura agreed. Then she did a 180. "Whoa! What do you mean
WE? Madison, these aren't your average
Clow cards, not that they were ever average," Sakura added under her
breath. "These are way more dangerous. I don't want you anywhere near those
Clow cards for any reason. Especially to get it on tape."
Madison readied herself for an argument. But Sakura! You might need some
backup!"
"What are you? A cop?"
Madison scowled and folded her arms over her chest. "No matter what you do,
you won't be able to keep me away." Madison promised.
Sakura sighed. Sometimes, Madison could be as stubborn as a mule. Wait!
What was she thinking? Sometimes?
"Fine." Sakura conceded. "But you will not, under any circumstances, get
anywhere near the battle and if you do I'll find some way to keep you away,
believe me I will! Tape from a distance."
Madison frowned but backed down.
Sakura glanced at the clock. "I should get going."
"Yeah," Madison smiled. "I've kept you to myself for too long."
_______________________________________________________
"Are you sure you don't want me to help you carry your bags inside?"
Madison asked.
"No, it's alright." Sakura winked. "I'll get Tory to do it."
"O.K. Call me before you turn in tonight." Madison reminded her and drove
off.
Sakura watched Madison's car drive off into the distance until she couldn't
see it anymore. She then turned her attention to her house. It looked exactly
the same. Some new plants, a few new lawn ornaments, but other than that,
it was the same childhood haven she'd left behind.
Something poked her in the rib. Sakura looked down. "What are you waiting
for, kid?" Kero asked.
Sakura smiled. "Just savouring the moment I guess."
Sakura picked up her bags and headed towards the front door. After setting
them back down on the doorstep, and saying, "Kero, get back in the purse,"
she knocked on the door.
At first, she couldn't hear anything coming from the other side of the
wood, but then, she heard footsteps coming towards her. Sakura pasted a
smile on her face, hoping she'd be as welcome as she thought she'd be.
The front door was opened and she found herself inches from a male chest.
Sakura craned her neck upwards and smiled.
"Hello Tory."
Tory stood in the doorway for a few heart stopping moments before making a
move.
The chest she had been looking at only moments before she was now feeling
as well. "Sakura!" Tory exclaimed happily, giving her a bone breaking hug.
"Tory," Sakura wheezed. "I can't breathe."
Tory immediately relinquished his hold looking sheepish. He regained his
composure fast though, and looked so utterly indifferent to her now that
Sakura almost laughed. Tory coughed into his hand. "Hello Squirt."
Sakura lifted an eyebrow. "Squirt? I've grown, or haven't you noticed? I'm
nearly as tall as you are now." she said indignantly.
Tory snorted. "Yeah, the top of your head almost reaches my chin," he
observed.
Sakura smacked him on the shoulder. "When are you going to stop teasing
me?" she asked exasperated.
Tory considered. "After I die?"
Sakura gave a wry smile. "Great." she said sarcastically. She folded her
arms over her chest. "So am I going to stand out here all day or are you
going to help me bring in my bags?"
_________________________________________________________
Sa kura climbed up the stairs to her bedroom. She had finished eating supper
an hour ago and had been sitting up talking with her father and Tory.
Sakura opened her bedroom door and smiled. She could have sworn Dad was
going to cry when he saw her. His eyes had gone all misty and bright, but
then she had received the same treatment from him as she had from Tory and
she was too busy trying to breathe afterwards to notice whether he let a
tear slip out. The only reason she had gotten away this soon was because
she had pleaded fatigue; claiming jet lag from the long flight.
Sakura sat down on her bed with a plop. She had already unpacked her things
so she didn't have to worry about that. All she needed to do was call
Madison. Sakura glanced at her alarm clock. She wondered if Madison would
still be up. Sakura smacked herself on the forehead. Of course she'd still
be up. She would stay up all night waiting for her phone call.
Kero's head popped out of his customary drawer. "So how'd it go? With as
long as you were down there I thought they'd never give you up."
"Everything went fine." Sakura replied absently, picking up the phone.
"Who are you calling?"
"Madison."
"When are you going to talk to that Syaoran kid? As much as I hate to admit
it, we're going to need him."
Sakura froze. Li. She had forgotten to ask Madison about Li.
Sakura dialed Madison's number. The phone didn't even get a chance to
finish the first ring when it was picked up off the hook.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Madison. It's me."
"So how did it go?"
"A lot of talking, a lot of reminiscing. Madison, I'm so glad to be back."
Madison laughed. "I kinda figured you would be."
Sakura glanced at the clock again. "Look Madison, I hate to cut this short
but it's late and I'm really tired."
"No problem." Madison assured her.
"There is just one more thing I have to ask you before I go, though."
Sakura said.
"Shoot."
"How's Li doing?"
Silence.
"Hello?" Sakura asked, puzzled by the unexpected reaction.
"Umm....." Madison hedged. "Li is.....well, he hasn't exactly been...."
"Madison," Sakura asked alarmed, "Where's Li?"
Madison sighed. "That's just it Sakura. No one knows where Li is. After you
left, he just sort of, disappeared. He hasn't been seen since."
______________________________________________________
You like? Nice cliffhanger, eh? ^_^ I liked it. Please write reviews and
tell me what you thought. If you read the author's note you'll know that
I'm not sure whether I should continue this. It's all up to you, always has
been, always will be ^_*
(I sincerely apologize for the large amount of nonsense you were forced to
read in my Author's note. Sometimes, all the time, I get carried away.
You'll probably see that often, but, what can I say? I can't help it! Sorry
again!)
See you later!