Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow of the Dragon ❯ Sakura's Longest Day ( Chapter 7 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Lord Archive 
While Sakura knows that two people expect to die soon, a sudden death catches everyone off guard.
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 06.24.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.9K | Visits: 632 | Status: Completed
While Sakura knows that two people expect to die soon, a sudden death catches everyone off guard.
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 06.24.2007 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.9K | Visits: 632 | Status: Completed
Sakura felt uneasy as she skated her way towards school. She always felt a little jumpy after an attack, though today seemed different. She had never felt this unsettled before. It was like someone was walking over her grave. She hadn't had her half-remembered recurrent nightmare of a battle that went horribly wrong last night. Her feeling of dread made her wonder if somehow that fight was going to come today.
"Hey, Kinomoto."
Sakura jumped and whirled around. "Don't scare me like that!"
Meiling looked at her friend oddly. "You okay?"
Sakura let out a sigh of relief seeing Syaoran and her friends coming toward her, somehow lessening the unease she felt. "I'm fine. I just feel that something is... I don't know... off, I guess."
"What do you mean?" Syaoran wondered.
"I'm not really sure how to put it into words." Sakura shook her head fiercely. "It's probably nothing if you don't feel anything."
Syaoran frowned. "Sakura, you are more sensitive than I am. And I wasn't sure if I was feeling something or not."
Sakura pouted. "Do you think there might be another attack today?"
"If there is, can it happen before our third class? I want to get out of our mathematics test," Takashi joked.
Sakura let out a forced laugh. "You're not the only one."
Syaoran rubbed his chin in thought. "It would be the shortest period of time between attacks, but that may be why it would happen so soon. We shouldn't be expecting one to happen. Especially considering the car that tried to run you over was overly simple."
"Whoever is behind it is certainly an evil bastard," Naoko observed. "First involving us into the attacks, and now Reiko-chan. He doesn't care who he hurts to get at Sakura-chan."
"We can't be sure about that," Meiling retorted angrily. "This might all be another stupid set of tests on Kinomoto. With the car attacking Sakura when she's next to an innocent bystander to see if Sakura would protect her. Protecting a friend is one thing, risking personal injury to save someone you barely know is something else."
Naoko folded her arms. "Or it could be someone like Satome. What's the chances he's a mage of some sort?"
"Not much of one," Syaoran replied neutrally. "During the tests Hiiragizawa put Sakura through I would've detected any mage that would be at our school that wasn't heavily shielded."
"Problem with that is Satome didn't attend Tomoeda Elementary. He moved here before the start of Junior High," Naoko corrected.
"Okay, so a better chance than I thought, but how would he get to Hong Kong and use an artifact held by my clan?" Syaoran retorted.
"Well, if he's not acting alone..." Naoko pressed.
Meiling laughed. "You just want an excuse to get him out of here, don't you?"
"Considering he threatened me twice with rape, the second of which would've been with three guys attacking me at the same time, you figure it out," Naoko groused bitterly.
"Still sounds like a good suspect to me," Meiling voted.
Syaoran scowled at her. "Let's just get to class."
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Card Captors Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon
Chapter 7: Sakura's Longest Day
By: Lord Archive
Author's Warnings:
In accordance to movie system rating this series would be rated PG-13, and as for television would rate TV M for mature audience, but would be viewable with no edits save for some incidents of vulgar language. Due to subjective nature of the ratings, for FFnet this series has been labeled with a mature rating for those who have poor views of some of the subject matter contained within.
This series contains:
Adult situations.
Sexual situations withOUT detailed description of sex nor the naked human body.
Brief moments of violence, some cases involving people getting severely injured and possibly death.
Occasional use of vulgar language.
Japanese humor: which include bathroom jokes, panty fetish and shocking situations.
Depictions of criminal activity committed by fictional characters.
References of homosexuality.
-----------------------
The apprehension Sakura felt didn't leave her as the classes began for the day. While it lessened when she saw that her friends were safe, it continued to grow through the day. Reiko's initial absence disturbed her for reasons she couldn't explain. Eventually the girl did arrive at the start of the second class but she looked visibly disturbed, and had cast a quick, sad look to the back of the classroom.
Shortly after Reiko's arrival, the principal entered the classroom. The small, frail old man usually carried a look of an iron will, but today he seemed beside himself. "I'm afraid I'll be taking a few students from your class," the principal apologized to the teacher. He then looked toward the back of the class. "Yamazaki Chiharu and Yamazaki Takashi..."
Surprised noises from the students erupted at the name Chiharu had been called by.
Sakura's heart froze in pain. She suddenly knew where her unease was coming from. And the pale sickly look of Chiharu confirmed it. The only reason why she would be pulled from class using her married name would be because her father had finally passed away.
The principal cleared his throat to get the students to quiet down. "Li Syaoran and Li Meiling..."
Sakura fought the urge to jump from her desk and hug her boyfriend.
"And Daidouji Tomoyo... if you would all come with me," the principal finished.
Confusion etched itself onto Tomoyo's face as the unease Sakura felt gave way to surprise and sorrow.
Tomoyo stood up. "May I inquire as to what this is about?"
"It would be best to tell you in private," the principal told her, unable to look the girl in the eyes.
Sakura stood up, reached out and gave Tomoyo's hand a comforting squeeze. "Principal, would it be okay if I accompanied them? I am their friend, and Tomoyo-chan is my cousin, if a bit distant."
The principal nodded.
As they walked toward the front of the room, Reiko commented to Tomoyo, "It was quick."
Tomoyo's confusion did not wane, but Sakura held the girl's hand tighter.
There was a deep silence as the six students followed the principal to his office. Once inside the elderly man began to fidget, while Sakura also took Syaoran's hand.
"My father died this morning, didn't he?" Chiharu asked in a hollow voice. Her words causing Takashi to hold her tighter.
The principal sighed. "Yes. I'm sorry."
Chiharu immediately buried her face into Takashi's chest and began to cry.
The principal then looked at Syaoran. "Your sister, Li Fanren, passed away this morning as well. I don't have any details on how it happened."
Sakura felt both of her hands being squeezed hard by her boyfriend and by Tomoyo.
Syaoran closed his eyes and bowed his head, fighting the tears that were forming.
"Daidouji-san, I'm afraid there was an accident this morning... a drunk driver hit the car your mother was in. She was pronounced dead at the scene. I'm sorry for all your losses." The principal bowed his head.
"Mother..." Tomoyo whispered. Her body was initially stiff but then began to shake uncontrollably. Feeling her best friend's arms around her, sobs and wails racked her body.
Tomoyo's and Chiharu's tears weren't the only ones to fall, while Sakura and Takashi weren't the only one giving hugs. The sadness of the room was overwhelming for all involved.
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Sakura leaned against the wall outside of the girl's bathroom. Tomoyo wanted a moment of privacy, and so all she could do for her friend was stand here and wait for her. She didn't really know what else she could do for her friend, or for her boyfriend.
Syaoran sighed after finishing his call on his cell phone. "We'll be leaving at ten o'clock tomorrow morning."
Meiling nodded.
"I'm sorry I can't go with you," Sakura apologized.
Syaoran moved toward his girlfriend and placed his hand on her shoulder only to have her latch her arms around him. He returned her hug and kissed the top of her head. "It's okay. We all knew this was going to happen. And besides, Daidouji really needs you more than I do right now."
"I know, but you need me too," Sakura sobbed. "How can I help you if I'm helping Tomoyo-chan?"
"I'll take care of Syaoran for you," Meiling vowed. "You take care of Daidouji for me."
Sakura pulled away from her boyfriend and had a sad, sheepish smile. "I guess that's the best we can do." She then looked down at her feet. "If only I had time to get to know Tomoyo's mother more. She was kind of an aunt to me."
"If only we knew today was Fanren's last day. We could've said good-bye to her," Meiling agreed.
"I'm sure Chiharu-chan would've liked one last good-bye as well," Sakura added.
"It'd be better if we never had to say 'good-bye' to the ones we love," Syaoran voiced sorrowfully.
Meiling and Sakura could only nod to his words.
The bathroom door opened and Sakura's heart sank. The girl that emerged did not look like Tomoyo at all. There were no tears on her face, her eyes were vacant and did not focus on anyone or anything, and her posture was stiff and unfeeling.
"Daidouji... Don't start looking like that," Meiling chastised. "It hurts to look at you."
"Is there any other way for me to look now?" Tomoyo returned. "I am Daidouji Tomoyo, President of Daidouji Toys and controlling partner in the Amamiya Group." She turned toward her best friend. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan, but I won't be able to play with you any more."
Sakura stared as her dearest friend began to walk away. "Tomoyo-chan, what are you going to do?"
Tomoyo paused for a moment. "I will select a husband and claim my inheritance. Good-bye, Sakura-chan, Meiling-chan, Li-kun." She turned and gave a hard look towards Syaoran. "You take good care of Sakura-chan."
Syaoran merely nodded.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura cried, reaching out for her departing friend.
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Takashi held his wife close to him as they walked towards what was now fully their home. He didn't know what to say to her. He just kept her close, trying to support her the best he could.
"Thank you, Takashi," Chiharu told him in a hollow voice. "If it wasn't for you, I'd never have told Dad that I loved him."
Takashi smiled sadly. "I knew you'd regret it if you didn't tell him. My mother certainly did when we lost my sister."
Chiharu nodded. "I still can't believe he's gone. I've been wishing for his pain to end, and now it has, but I still want him here with me."
"Do you want me to say something corny?" Takashi asked with a fake joking smirk.
"No." Chiharu sighed. "I don't want to hear about 'how he'll always be in my heart' and crap like that. I want to hug him. I want him to toss me up into the air. I want my Daddy." She bit back a sob. "In many ways he was already dead. Cancer took him away long before this morning. I could talk to him, but nothing else."
"Even that little bit of extra time you had with your father is far better than what Daidouji and Li-kun got. You got to say good-bye, they didn't," Takashi pointed out.
"Though I wonder if I should be thankful for that. I'd think losing him as he was, and not watching him waste away would've been better. That way I can truly remember him as a strong father, not a frail, sickly person," Chiharu countered.
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Sakura unfortunately returned in time for her test. With her mind so distracted, she knew she flunked it badly with several of the problems left blank. As the lunch hour began, Rika and Naoko immediately rushed toward her.
"Sakura-chan, what's going on?" Naoko demanded.
The auburn haired girl bowed her head. "Chiharu-chan's father, Syaoran-kun's sister, and Tomoyo-chan's mother all died this morning."
"Oh, my!" Rika gasped.
Asaba put his hand on Naoko's shoulder. "Can I ask why the principal called for 'Yamazaki Chiharu' and not 'Mihara Chiharu?'"
Naoko smiled sheepishly. "Chiharu-chan married Yamazaki-kun last year. They've known that her father was dying. They didn't expect him to last this long."
"Ah." Asaba nodded. "So what happens now?"
"Syaoran-kun and Meiling-chan will be in Hong Kong for the next week for Fanren-chan's funeral. Chiharu-chan will be taking over her family's house with her husband." Tears began to pool in Sakura's eyes again. "And Tomoyo-chan needs to marry soon and take over her family's businesses."
Rika cover her mouth with her hands. "Oh, no. But she doesn't have anyone, does she? What can she do?"
"Have it arranged by picking a suitable husband of means," Naoko replied. "It's no different than what Chiharu-chan or her sister would've needed to do if Chiharu-chan didn't have Yamazaki-kun, only Tomoyo-chan has much more to lose if she doesn't."
"I guess," Rika replied sadly. "I suppose we won't be seeing much of Tomoyo-chan anymore, will we?"
"No! We won't!" Sakura collapsed onto her desk. "Why does this all have to happen?! Why?!"
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Sakura phoned home and told her father of the sad news and that she would be going over to Tomoyo's house. This was not a trip she wanted to take, but one she needed to do for her best friend. She didn't get a chance to announce her presence when she arrived at the gate as a guard with her arm in a sling stood there waiting.
"Sakura-sama, I've been expecting you," the guard told her, opening the gate.
Sakura nodded and allowed herself to be led toward the Daidouji home. "How is Tomoyo-chan?"
"I hear she has been shutting herself off. Closing off her emotions," the guard informed stiffly. "The others were ordered by Tomoyo-hime to not let anyone, even you, into the house."
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. "Why would Tomoyo-chan not want to see me?"
"I am not sure what Tomoyo-hime has in mind. Perhaps she is hoping for a clean break from her childhood as she now must face the tasks and ordeals of an adult in charge of a business empire," the guard guessed. "We do not wish to see Tomoyo-hime to lose her smile entirely. We can't allow her to lose her friends."
"I see." Sakura sagged. "But you said Tomoyo-chan ordered you to not let me in. Won't you get in trouble?"
The guard smirked sadly. "I do not believe I will have a job once I see Tomoyo-hime, with or without you. I just got back from the hospital and have not been given that order."
Sakura stopped cold and stared at the woman. "You were..."
"I was driving the car Daidouji-sama was... in," the guard informed. "I have failed to protect the Daidouji family. I hope this lone act of defiance will redeem me of my failure."
"It's not your fault! It was an accident! How could you know it'd happen?!" Sakura began to tear up. She then whispered, "I didn't even know."
The guard knelt before the girl. "I know this may not be my place to ask... but is there some way you can fix this? Could you somehow exchange my life for Daidouji-sama's?"
Sakura took a couple fearful steps back. "Wha... WHAT?!"
The guard bowed her head. "You don't think we would just drop off Tomoyo-hime in the middle of the night and leave her alone with you?"
"I ah..." Sakura shifted nervously.
"I know you have a power beyond my understanding. It pained me during the times you became injured in your trials, and I am deeply sorry I was not there to help you at Tsukimine Shrine against the dragon golem." The guard looked at the girl with grim determination. "Is there some way you can fix my failure? This cannot be the destiny set for Daidouji-sama and Tomoyo-hime. If there is any way that you can change this, please do so. If there must be a price, I will gladly pay it."
Sakura glowed faintly, communing with her cards. She didn't know what she hated more: that people she knew had died or that she was honestly considering agreeing to the guard's plea if her cards said it was possible. The Dark and The Light informed her that it could be done with their powers working together. However, she would not only need Sonomi's body, but the more damage to the body and the more time since death would greatly increase the amount of life energy needed to revive the person. The guard's life alone would unlikely be enough. "I'm sorry. It's too late to do as you ask."
"As I expected." The guard sighed and stood up. "But there is still much you can do for Tomoyo-hime, if you will."
"I'll do anything I can!" Sakura vowed.
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Dressed in business suit, Tomoyo sat at her mother's desk in the home office. She was not happy in the least with what she was looking over. Each file was a potential husband of suitable means, and each obviously had their own ambitions. They would certainly agree to marry her, but only to gain access to her money and businesses. She didn't even want to think why a thirty-year-old slacker born to rich parents would have his name included to marry a fifteen-year-old girl. She'd probably be able to control him, but would likely have to do so with her bed. Selecting one of her classmates would likely have the same result, but would not be nearly as sickening to her. The only boys she trusted enough for the role were more than taken.
"Tomoyo-chan?"
Tomoyo looked up with a mix of emotions crossing her face. "Sakura-san, why are you here?"
Sakura flinched. "I'm your friend, Tomoyo-chan! Your friend! Just because you lost your mother doesn't mean you've lost me as well! I want to be here for you! To help you!"
Tomoyo bowed her head. "There is nothing you can do for me. Being a president of a major business is certainly a job, as such I'll be under permanent suspension until the school year is finished at which point I won't bother applying for senior high. We won't be in school together any more. I will not have any free time. I simply won't be able to have friends any more."
"Don't say that! Don't say that! It's too sad! You can't live by yourself! You can't be alone! I won't allow it!" Sakura cried out, tears flowing from her eyes.
"Would you become my personal assistant then? Would you devote all your time to me instead of Li-kun and your magic?" Tomoyo countered. "If I am to preserve what my mother left behind, I must enter this new world. Would you really join me in it?"
"You don't have to lose yourself," groused a diminutive voice.
"Kero-chan!" Sakura chirped. She wasn't all that surprised to see her guardian. He must've flown straight over after her phone call home.
"In case you've forgotten, Sakura-chan is the inheritor of something greater than mere monetary wealth and she has not lost herself into the world of magic. She made the time to remain friends with you and the other girls." Kero-chan pointed. "You don't have to take all the burdens on yourself! You have people around you willing to help and support you! You're don't have to make yourself face all of this alone!"
"And who can I trust to manage my family's money but myself? There are many who would take control from me for their own personal gains. If I'm not careful I could lose everything my mother worked so hard to build. She had so little time for me because of her work, yet you say I don't have to stop being a child? Don't be so naive." Tomoyo gripped the desk while tears fell from her face. "I don't want to say 'good-bye,' but I have to. This is what I need to do for my mother. Sakura-san, please don't make this harder."
"Is this what your mother wanted for you?! To forget your friends and yourself for money?!" Sakura sobbed. "Is this all worth your happiness?!"
"What my mother wanted was to be here when I made her a grandmother. She didn't get that wish either," Tomoyo retorted tearfully. "Why don't you go to Hong Kong with Li-kun? You are his future, and my past."
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Sakura sat upon her bed dressed in one of Tomoyo's battle costumes that hadn't been used yet. As the attacks had come randomly, her best friend had insisted she have a few on hand in case she had a chance to wear one during a magical situation. Which one to use was an easy choice as this one was based around rain. Blue with white highlights and a blue hat with numerous aqua beads sewed throughout the costume.
"You can't be considering going to sleep in that," Kero-chan groused.
Sakura shook her head. "I won't be going to sleep just yet."
Kero-chan folded his arms. "It's getting late. You need to sleep for school."
"It isn't time yet," Sakura replied in a hollow voice.
Kero-chan's expression turned to shock. "You're not considering what I think you're considering?!"
"I can't let this happen. Today has been so wrong. Syaoran-kun and Chiharu-chan didn't get a chance to say 'good-bye,' and it can't be right for Tomoyo's mother to die like that. I can fix this," Sakura vowed.
"Sakura you stupid monster!" Kero-chan cursed. "There's going to be consequences if you change what happens! Balance must be kept!"
"Enough!" Sakura barked, freezing her guardian with her magic. "I know there may be a price to pay. But I can't leave things like this. It's not right and I will fix it!" She then opened the window and pulled out a card. "Good-bye, Kero-chan. If the worst happens... tell everyone that I love them and give the book to Syaoran-kun. Fly!"
"Sakura!" Kero-chan yelled, unable to do anything more than watch wings form on the teenage girl's back before she flew out the window.
The young mage could not let her worries cloud her mind. She had but one second to do what she needed to do. If she missed her chance, this horrible day would scar the lives of all those she loved. She stopped her flight a short distance from Tomoeda Elementary's clock tower as her path suddenly became blocked.
"Do you know what could happen?" Yue demanded.
"I am willing to pay any price to keep Tomoyo-chan from this fate," Sakura vowed.
"And if this costs you your life?" Yue shot back. "Daidouji will be just as upset with your death, if not more so."
"But Tomoyo-chan will not have to have those burdens placed upon her. She can be able to move on and live for herself, not for her memory of her mother." Sakura looked away. "And if that fate does happen... tell Tomoyo-chan, Syaoran-kun, and everyone else to do that for me. To live for themselves and not for my memory. I want them to be happy, no matter the cost."
Yue clenched his fist in anger. "If you are so resolved, I can not stop you... Master."
Sakura flinched more from the harsh tone of how he said 'master' than him calling her by that name. Still, she flew past him and completed her flight just as the clock began to chime the midnight hour. "May I be forgiven for this. TIME!"
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Author's Notes:
Coming next week: Chapter 8 - Sakura's Longest Day Revisited
Sakura has reset the day in hopes of saving the life of Tomoyo's mother, but what will the cost be for saving a person who was meant to die?
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When working for the obscenely rich, one begins to expect getting some rather eccentric orders. Tonight's request was far stranger than the Daidouji family bodyguards usually receive. At a time when Tomoyo should be getting ready for bed, she had demanded to be taken to her school and left there with a van filled with strange costumes.
There was no way their boss would accept leaving her daughter alone with one of her classmates in the middle of the night. As such, they made a show of leaving to abide by Tomoyo's orders, yet didn't really leave.
Parking the car around the corner, the guards stealthfully moved onto the school grounds to see why Tomoyo wanted to be there and protect her if anything showed up.
"It's just to film a movie," one of the guards commented.
"What the?!" Another guard pointed. "That shadow is moving!"
The guards stared as not only was a shadow moving without being attached to any object, the area of darkness picked up a rock off the ground and threw it at Tomoyo's friend. More shadowy creatures began to emerge, also attacking the young girl. As if the shock of having shadows attack wasn't enough, Tomoyo's friend chanted a spell and struck a card. Wings grew from the staff the girl held and she began to rid it in the air like she was a Western witch on a broomstick.
The girl's fight lasted only a couple minutes, and ended when Tomoyo turned on the school's lights to destroy most of the shadows. With the remaining core shadow being the only one left, Tomoyo's friend captured it and turned it into a card.
"Are we going to tell Daidouji-sama about this?" one guard asked.
"And get fired or committed for telling her something like this? I think not," retorted another guard.
"We'll just tell Daidouji-sama that Tomoyo-hime was filming a movie with her friend and leave it at that," a third guard noted.
"Hey, Kinomoto."
Sakura jumped and whirled around. "Don't scare me like that!"
Meiling looked at her friend oddly. "You okay?"
Sakura let out a sigh of relief seeing Syaoran and her friends coming toward her, somehow lessening the unease she felt. "I'm fine. I just feel that something is... I don't know... off, I guess."
"What do you mean?" Syaoran wondered.
"I'm not really sure how to put it into words." Sakura shook her head fiercely. "It's probably nothing if you don't feel anything."
Syaoran frowned. "Sakura, you are more sensitive than I am. And I wasn't sure if I was feeling something or not."
Sakura pouted. "Do you think there might be another attack today?"
"If there is, can it happen before our third class? I want to get out of our mathematics test," Takashi joked.
Sakura let out a forced laugh. "You're not the only one."
Syaoran rubbed his chin in thought. "It would be the shortest period of time between attacks, but that may be why it would happen so soon. We shouldn't be expecting one to happen. Especially considering the car that tried to run you over was overly simple."
"Whoever is behind it is certainly an evil bastard," Naoko observed. "First involving us into the attacks, and now Reiko-chan. He doesn't care who he hurts to get at Sakura-chan."
"We can't be sure about that," Meiling retorted angrily. "This might all be another stupid set of tests on Kinomoto. With the car attacking Sakura when she's next to an innocent bystander to see if Sakura would protect her. Protecting a friend is one thing, risking personal injury to save someone you barely know is something else."
Naoko folded her arms. "Or it could be someone like Satome. What's the chances he's a mage of some sort?"
"Not much of one," Syaoran replied neutrally. "During the tests Hiiragizawa put Sakura through I would've detected any mage that would be at our school that wasn't heavily shielded."
"Problem with that is Satome didn't attend Tomoeda Elementary. He moved here before the start of Junior High," Naoko corrected.
"Okay, so a better chance than I thought, but how would he get to Hong Kong and use an artifact held by my clan?" Syaoran retorted.
"Well, if he's not acting alone..." Naoko pressed.
Meiling laughed. "You just want an excuse to get him out of here, don't you?"
"Considering he threatened me twice with rape, the second of which would've been with three guys attacking me at the same time, you figure it out," Naoko groused bitterly.
"Still sounds like a good suspect to me," Meiling voted.
Syaoran scowled at her. "Let's just get to class."
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Card Captors Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon
Chapter 7: Sakura's Longest Day
By: Lord Archive
Author's Warnings:
In accordance to movie system rating this series would be rated PG-13, and as for television would rate TV M for mature audience, but would be viewable with no edits save for some incidents of vulgar language. Due to subjective nature of the ratings, for FFnet this series has been labeled with a mature rating for those who have poor views of some of the subject matter contained within.
This series contains:
Adult situations.
Sexual situations withOUT detailed description of sex nor the naked human body.
Brief moments of violence, some cases involving people getting severely injured and possibly death.
Occasional use of vulgar language.
Japanese humor: which include bathroom jokes, panty fetish and shocking situations.
Depictions of criminal activity committed by fictional characters.
References of homosexuality.
-----------------------
The apprehension Sakura felt didn't leave her as the classes began for the day. While it lessened when she saw that her friends were safe, it continued to grow through the day. Reiko's initial absence disturbed her for reasons she couldn't explain. Eventually the girl did arrive at the start of the second class but she looked visibly disturbed, and had cast a quick, sad look to the back of the classroom.
Shortly after Reiko's arrival, the principal entered the classroom. The small, frail old man usually carried a look of an iron will, but today he seemed beside himself. "I'm afraid I'll be taking a few students from your class," the principal apologized to the teacher. He then looked toward the back of the class. "Yamazaki Chiharu and Yamazaki Takashi..."
Surprised noises from the students erupted at the name Chiharu had been called by.
Sakura's heart froze in pain. She suddenly knew where her unease was coming from. And the pale sickly look of Chiharu confirmed it. The only reason why she would be pulled from class using her married name would be because her father had finally passed away.
The principal cleared his throat to get the students to quiet down. "Li Syaoran and Li Meiling..."
Sakura fought the urge to jump from her desk and hug her boyfriend.
"And Daidouji Tomoyo... if you would all come with me," the principal finished.
Confusion etched itself onto Tomoyo's face as the unease Sakura felt gave way to surprise and sorrow.
Tomoyo stood up. "May I inquire as to what this is about?"
"It would be best to tell you in private," the principal told her, unable to look the girl in the eyes.
Sakura stood up, reached out and gave Tomoyo's hand a comforting squeeze. "Principal, would it be okay if I accompanied them? I am their friend, and Tomoyo-chan is my cousin, if a bit distant."
The principal nodded.
As they walked toward the front of the room, Reiko commented to Tomoyo, "It was quick."
Tomoyo's confusion did not wane, but Sakura held the girl's hand tighter.
There was a deep silence as the six students followed the principal to his office. Once inside the elderly man began to fidget, while Sakura also took Syaoran's hand.
"My father died this morning, didn't he?" Chiharu asked in a hollow voice. Her words causing Takashi to hold her tighter.
The principal sighed. "Yes. I'm sorry."
Chiharu immediately buried her face into Takashi's chest and began to cry.
The principal then looked at Syaoran. "Your sister, Li Fanren, passed away this morning as well. I don't have any details on how it happened."
Sakura felt both of her hands being squeezed hard by her boyfriend and by Tomoyo.
Syaoran closed his eyes and bowed his head, fighting the tears that were forming.
"Daidouji-san, I'm afraid there was an accident this morning... a drunk driver hit the car your mother was in. She was pronounced dead at the scene. I'm sorry for all your losses." The principal bowed his head.
"Mother..." Tomoyo whispered. Her body was initially stiff but then began to shake uncontrollably. Feeling her best friend's arms around her, sobs and wails racked her body.
Tomoyo's and Chiharu's tears weren't the only ones to fall, while Sakura and Takashi weren't the only one giving hugs. The sadness of the room was overwhelming for all involved.
-----------------------
Sakura leaned against the wall outside of the girl's bathroom. Tomoyo wanted a moment of privacy, and so all she could do for her friend was stand here and wait for her. She didn't really know what else she could do for her friend, or for her boyfriend.
Syaoran sighed after finishing his call on his cell phone. "We'll be leaving at ten o'clock tomorrow morning."
Meiling nodded.
"I'm sorry I can't go with you," Sakura apologized.
Syaoran moved toward his girlfriend and placed his hand on her shoulder only to have her latch her arms around him. He returned her hug and kissed the top of her head. "It's okay. We all knew this was going to happen. And besides, Daidouji really needs you more than I do right now."
"I know, but you need me too," Sakura sobbed. "How can I help you if I'm helping Tomoyo-chan?"
"I'll take care of Syaoran for you," Meiling vowed. "You take care of Daidouji for me."
Sakura pulled away from her boyfriend and had a sad, sheepish smile. "I guess that's the best we can do." She then looked down at her feet. "If only I had time to get to know Tomoyo's mother more. She was kind of an aunt to me."
"If only we knew today was Fanren's last day. We could've said good-bye to her," Meiling agreed.
"I'm sure Chiharu-chan would've liked one last good-bye as well," Sakura added.
"It'd be better if we never had to say 'good-bye' to the ones we love," Syaoran voiced sorrowfully.
Meiling and Sakura could only nod to his words.
The bathroom door opened and Sakura's heart sank. The girl that emerged did not look like Tomoyo at all. There were no tears on her face, her eyes were vacant and did not focus on anyone or anything, and her posture was stiff and unfeeling.
"Daidouji... Don't start looking like that," Meiling chastised. "It hurts to look at you."
"Is there any other way for me to look now?" Tomoyo returned. "I am Daidouji Tomoyo, President of Daidouji Toys and controlling partner in the Amamiya Group." She turned toward her best friend. "I'm sorry, Sakura-chan, but I won't be able to play with you any more."
Sakura stared as her dearest friend began to walk away. "Tomoyo-chan, what are you going to do?"
Tomoyo paused for a moment. "I will select a husband and claim my inheritance. Good-bye, Sakura-chan, Meiling-chan, Li-kun." She turned and gave a hard look towards Syaoran. "You take good care of Sakura-chan."
Syaoran merely nodded.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura cried, reaching out for her departing friend.
-----------------------
Takashi held his wife close to him as they walked towards what was now fully their home. He didn't know what to say to her. He just kept her close, trying to support her the best he could.
"Thank you, Takashi," Chiharu told him in a hollow voice. "If it wasn't for you, I'd never have told Dad that I loved him."
Takashi smiled sadly. "I knew you'd regret it if you didn't tell him. My mother certainly did when we lost my sister."
Chiharu nodded. "I still can't believe he's gone. I've been wishing for his pain to end, and now it has, but I still want him here with me."
"Do you want me to say something corny?" Takashi asked with a fake joking smirk.
"No." Chiharu sighed. "I don't want to hear about 'how he'll always be in my heart' and crap like that. I want to hug him. I want him to toss me up into the air. I want my Daddy." She bit back a sob. "In many ways he was already dead. Cancer took him away long before this morning. I could talk to him, but nothing else."
"Even that little bit of extra time you had with your father is far better than what Daidouji and Li-kun got. You got to say good-bye, they didn't," Takashi pointed out.
"Though I wonder if I should be thankful for that. I'd think losing him as he was, and not watching him waste away would've been better. That way I can truly remember him as a strong father, not a frail, sickly person," Chiharu countered.
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Sakura unfortunately returned in time for her test. With her mind so distracted, she knew she flunked it badly with several of the problems left blank. As the lunch hour began, Rika and Naoko immediately rushed toward her.
"Sakura-chan, what's going on?" Naoko demanded.
The auburn haired girl bowed her head. "Chiharu-chan's father, Syaoran-kun's sister, and Tomoyo-chan's mother all died this morning."
"Oh, my!" Rika gasped.
Asaba put his hand on Naoko's shoulder. "Can I ask why the principal called for 'Yamazaki Chiharu' and not 'Mihara Chiharu?'"
Naoko smiled sheepishly. "Chiharu-chan married Yamazaki-kun last year. They've known that her father was dying. They didn't expect him to last this long."
"Ah." Asaba nodded. "So what happens now?"
"Syaoran-kun and Meiling-chan will be in Hong Kong for the next week for Fanren-chan's funeral. Chiharu-chan will be taking over her family's house with her husband." Tears began to pool in Sakura's eyes again. "And Tomoyo-chan needs to marry soon and take over her family's businesses."
Rika cover her mouth with her hands. "Oh, no. But she doesn't have anyone, does she? What can she do?"
"Have it arranged by picking a suitable husband of means," Naoko replied. "It's no different than what Chiharu-chan or her sister would've needed to do if Chiharu-chan didn't have Yamazaki-kun, only Tomoyo-chan has much more to lose if she doesn't."
"I guess," Rika replied sadly. "I suppose we won't be seeing much of Tomoyo-chan anymore, will we?"
"No! We won't!" Sakura collapsed onto her desk. "Why does this all have to happen?! Why?!"
-----------------------
Sakura phoned home and told her father of the sad news and that she would be going over to Tomoyo's house. This was not a trip she wanted to take, but one she needed to do for her best friend. She didn't get a chance to announce her presence when she arrived at the gate as a guard with her arm in a sling stood there waiting.
"Sakura-sama, I've been expecting you," the guard told her, opening the gate.
Sakura nodded and allowed herself to be led toward the Daidouji home. "How is Tomoyo-chan?"
"I hear she has been shutting herself off. Closing off her emotions," the guard informed stiffly. "The others were ordered by Tomoyo-hime to not let anyone, even you, into the house."
Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. "Why would Tomoyo-chan not want to see me?"
"I am not sure what Tomoyo-hime has in mind. Perhaps she is hoping for a clean break from her childhood as she now must face the tasks and ordeals of an adult in charge of a business empire," the guard guessed. "We do not wish to see Tomoyo-hime to lose her smile entirely. We can't allow her to lose her friends."
"I see." Sakura sagged. "But you said Tomoyo-chan ordered you to not let me in. Won't you get in trouble?"
The guard smirked sadly. "I do not believe I will have a job once I see Tomoyo-hime, with or without you. I just got back from the hospital and have not been given that order."
Sakura stopped cold and stared at the woman. "You were..."
"I was driving the car Daidouji-sama was... in," the guard informed. "I have failed to protect the Daidouji family. I hope this lone act of defiance will redeem me of my failure."
"It's not your fault! It was an accident! How could you know it'd happen?!" Sakura began to tear up. She then whispered, "I didn't even know."
The guard knelt before the girl. "I know this may not be my place to ask... but is there some way you can fix this? Could you somehow exchange my life for Daidouji-sama's?"
Sakura took a couple fearful steps back. "Wha... WHAT?!"
The guard bowed her head. "You don't think we would just drop off Tomoyo-hime in the middle of the night and leave her alone with you?"
"I ah..." Sakura shifted nervously.
"I know you have a power beyond my understanding. It pained me during the times you became injured in your trials, and I am deeply sorry I was not there to help you at Tsukimine Shrine against the dragon golem." The guard looked at the girl with grim determination. "Is there some way you can fix my failure? This cannot be the destiny set for Daidouji-sama and Tomoyo-hime. If there is any way that you can change this, please do so. If there must be a price, I will gladly pay it."
Sakura glowed faintly, communing with her cards. She didn't know what she hated more: that people she knew had died or that she was honestly considering agreeing to the guard's plea if her cards said it was possible. The Dark and The Light informed her that it could be done with their powers working together. However, she would not only need Sonomi's body, but the more damage to the body and the more time since death would greatly increase the amount of life energy needed to revive the person. The guard's life alone would unlikely be enough. "I'm sorry. It's too late to do as you ask."
"As I expected." The guard sighed and stood up. "But there is still much you can do for Tomoyo-hime, if you will."
"I'll do anything I can!" Sakura vowed.
-----------------------
Dressed in business suit, Tomoyo sat at her mother's desk in the home office. She was not happy in the least with what she was looking over. Each file was a potential husband of suitable means, and each obviously had their own ambitions. They would certainly agree to marry her, but only to gain access to her money and businesses. She didn't even want to think why a thirty-year-old slacker born to rich parents would have his name included to marry a fifteen-year-old girl. She'd probably be able to control him, but would likely have to do so with her bed. Selecting one of her classmates would likely have the same result, but would not be nearly as sickening to her. The only boys she trusted enough for the role were more than taken.
"Tomoyo-chan?"
Tomoyo looked up with a mix of emotions crossing her face. "Sakura-san, why are you here?"
Sakura flinched. "I'm your friend, Tomoyo-chan! Your friend! Just because you lost your mother doesn't mean you've lost me as well! I want to be here for you! To help you!"
Tomoyo bowed her head. "There is nothing you can do for me. Being a president of a major business is certainly a job, as such I'll be under permanent suspension until the school year is finished at which point I won't bother applying for senior high. We won't be in school together any more. I will not have any free time. I simply won't be able to have friends any more."
"Don't say that! Don't say that! It's too sad! You can't live by yourself! You can't be alone! I won't allow it!" Sakura cried out, tears flowing from her eyes.
"Would you become my personal assistant then? Would you devote all your time to me instead of Li-kun and your magic?" Tomoyo countered. "If I am to preserve what my mother left behind, I must enter this new world. Would you really join me in it?"
"You don't have to lose yourself," groused a diminutive voice.
"Kero-chan!" Sakura chirped. She wasn't all that surprised to see her guardian. He must've flown straight over after her phone call home.
"In case you've forgotten, Sakura-chan is the inheritor of something greater than mere monetary wealth and she has not lost herself into the world of magic. She made the time to remain friends with you and the other girls." Kero-chan pointed. "You don't have to take all the burdens on yourself! You have people around you willing to help and support you! You're don't have to make yourself face all of this alone!"
"And who can I trust to manage my family's money but myself? There are many who would take control from me for their own personal gains. If I'm not careful I could lose everything my mother worked so hard to build. She had so little time for me because of her work, yet you say I don't have to stop being a child? Don't be so naive." Tomoyo gripped the desk while tears fell from her face. "I don't want to say 'good-bye,' but I have to. This is what I need to do for my mother. Sakura-san, please don't make this harder."
"Is this what your mother wanted for you?! To forget your friends and yourself for money?!" Sakura sobbed. "Is this all worth your happiness?!"
"What my mother wanted was to be here when I made her a grandmother. She didn't get that wish either," Tomoyo retorted tearfully. "Why don't you go to Hong Kong with Li-kun? You are his future, and my past."
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Sakura sat upon her bed dressed in one of Tomoyo's battle costumes that hadn't been used yet. As the attacks had come randomly, her best friend had insisted she have a few on hand in case she had a chance to wear one during a magical situation. Which one to use was an easy choice as this one was based around rain. Blue with white highlights and a blue hat with numerous aqua beads sewed throughout the costume.
"You can't be considering going to sleep in that," Kero-chan groused.
Sakura shook her head. "I won't be going to sleep just yet."
Kero-chan folded his arms. "It's getting late. You need to sleep for school."
"It isn't time yet," Sakura replied in a hollow voice.
Kero-chan's expression turned to shock. "You're not considering what I think you're considering?!"
"I can't let this happen. Today has been so wrong. Syaoran-kun and Chiharu-chan didn't get a chance to say 'good-bye,' and it can't be right for Tomoyo's mother to die like that. I can fix this," Sakura vowed.
"Sakura you stupid monster!" Kero-chan cursed. "There's going to be consequences if you change what happens! Balance must be kept!"
"Enough!" Sakura barked, freezing her guardian with her magic. "I know there may be a price to pay. But I can't leave things like this. It's not right and I will fix it!" She then opened the window and pulled out a card. "Good-bye, Kero-chan. If the worst happens... tell everyone that I love them and give the book to Syaoran-kun. Fly!"
"Sakura!" Kero-chan yelled, unable to do anything more than watch wings form on the teenage girl's back before she flew out the window.
The young mage could not let her worries cloud her mind. She had but one second to do what she needed to do. If she missed her chance, this horrible day would scar the lives of all those she loved. She stopped her flight a short distance from Tomoeda Elementary's clock tower as her path suddenly became blocked.
"Do you know what could happen?" Yue demanded.
"I am willing to pay any price to keep Tomoyo-chan from this fate," Sakura vowed.
"And if this costs you your life?" Yue shot back. "Daidouji will be just as upset with your death, if not more so."
"But Tomoyo-chan will not have to have those burdens placed upon her. She can be able to move on and live for herself, not for her memory of her mother." Sakura looked away. "And if that fate does happen... tell Tomoyo-chan, Syaoran-kun, and everyone else to do that for me. To live for themselves and not for my memory. I want them to be happy, no matter the cost."
Yue clenched his fist in anger. "If you are so resolved, I can not stop you... Master."
Sakura flinched more from the harsh tone of how he said 'master' than him calling her by that name. Still, she flew past him and completed her flight just as the clock began to chime the midnight hour. "May I be forgiven for this. TIME!"
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Author's Notes:
Coming next week: Chapter 8 - Sakura's Longest Day Revisited
Sakura has reset the day in hopes of saving the life of Tomoyo's mother, but what will the cost be for saving a person who was meant to die?
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When working for the obscenely rich, one begins to expect getting some rather eccentric orders. Tonight's request was far stranger than the Daidouji family bodyguards usually receive. At a time when Tomoyo should be getting ready for bed, she had demanded to be taken to her school and left there with a van filled with strange costumes.
There was no way their boss would accept leaving her daughter alone with one of her classmates in the middle of the night. As such, they made a show of leaving to abide by Tomoyo's orders, yet didn't really leave.
Parking the car around the corner, the guards stealthfully moved onto the school grounds to see why Tomoyo wanted to be there and protect her if anything showed up.
"It's just to film a movie," one of the guards commented.
"What the?!" Another guard pointed. "That shadow is moving!"
The guards stared as not only was a shadow moving without being attached to any object, the area of darkness picked up a rock off the ground and threw it at Tomoyo's friend. More shadowy creatures began to emerge, also attacking the young girl. As if the shock of having shadows attack wasn't enough, Tomoyo's friend chanted a spell and struck a card. Wings grew from the staff the girl held and she began to rid it in the air like she was a Western witch on a broomstick.
The girl's fight lasted only a couple minutes, and ended when Tomoyo turned on the school's lights to destroy most of the shadows. With the remaining core shadow being the only one left, Tomoyo's friend captured it and turned it into a card.
"Are we going to tell Daidouji-sama about this?" one guard asked.
"And get fired or committed for telling her something like this? I think not," retorted another guard.
"We'll just tell Daidouji-sama that Tomoyo-hime was filming a movie with her friend and leave it at that," a third guard noted.