Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow of the Dragon ❯ Summer Sports Festival for Sakura ( Chapter 20 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Lord Archive 
Sakura and friends enjoy their school's sports festival.
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.16.2010 | Pages: 7 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 502 | Status: Completed
Sakura and friends enjoy their school's sports festival.
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 01.16.2010 | Pages: 7 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 502 | Status: Completed
"Whose bright idea was it to have the sport's festival right after summer break?" Meiling groused.
"Usually clubs start preparations for the festival during the break," one cheerleader commented.
"Would've been nice knowing about that ahead of time," Meiling shot back.
"At least we only have to put a presentation together," Sakura reminded. "And we would've had a difficult time meeting over the break."
"Maybe you two would've had issues," the cheerleader snapped back.
"That's enough," Meiling growled. "Don't take your inability to do a back-flip by yourself out on me. We've still got two more days to get it right."
"What you want us to do is ridiculous," she snarled back. "We're cheerleaders, not gymnasts!"
"I'm asking for a simple fucking back-flip. If you can't do it, then you can sit out the routine." Meiling turned and stomped away. The cheerleader did the same, after deciding it healthier to not try to get the last word in.
"Li-chan isn't good with pressure, is she?" another cheerleader commented.
Sakura laughed nervously. "I guess you could put it like that."
"Now can you tell us what is really going on?" she pressed.
"Huh? Wha?" Sakura took a step back, and found herself surrounded.
"There's been all sorts of rumors about you!"
"Did Satome rape you?"
"Did you sleep with those boys?"
"How good is Li-kun in bed?"
Sakura glanced around looking for an exit and found none. "Ah... no."
"No, what?" was pressed.
"Satome never got that far. And I know it might be hard to believe but it wasn't me with those boys," Sakura tried to explain.
"Then who was?"
"Were you really possessed by Reiko's ghost?"
"I can't really answer that..." Sakura looked away. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told the truth."
"Fine. But how good is Li-kun?"
"Yeah, he must be good, right?"
Sakura blushed intensely. "Ah... We haven't done THAT yet."
"Why not?" was chorused.
Sakura looked down. "I was going to... then Tomoyo-chan was attacked."
"Oh..." came from the group, who took a moment to think over that reply.
Sakura took the opportunity to break past a couple girls and run off.
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Card Captor Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon
Chapter 20: Summer Sports Festival for Sakura
Card Captor Sakura belongs to the fine ladies of CLAMP. Used without consent, all rights reserved.
By: Lord Archive
Author's Warnings:
This contains mature themes not intended for children under thirteen.
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.
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Shinji arrived at the appointed meeting place, and nervously greeted, "Hi." His unease had less to do with this being the long promised date, than with the fact that all of Naoko's friends were here except for Sasaki.
Various greetings were returned, the most excited one coming from Naoko.
"So, is this really going to be a group deal?" Shinji wondered.
"For a bit, then we'll go to our clubs after the 'Couples Three Legged Race,'" Sakura replied.
Shinji was thankful he was a 'member' of the manga club. While they could've put on an exhibition, the ones in charge were too lazy to do anything, especially for a sport's festival. "Glad I didn't sign up for that."
Naoko nodded.
Takashi smirked. "You might not have, but I put you two on the list."
"WHAT?!" Naoko and Shinji cried out together.
"It's my responsibility as classroom rep to select the couples to represent our class. While Li and Kinomoto along with me and Chiharu were a given, I still needed at least two more couples," Takashi explained devilishly. "We have to uphold the tradition, after all."
"Tradition?" Sakura wondered.
"The three-legged race has been a time honored tradition for couples to see if they will have long and fruitful lives together since it began in the ancient Greek Olympics. The winning couple can be sure to have a happy life together, while those who don't finish will fail to marry," Takashi told them.
Chiharu rubbed her forehead. "I know this is a lie. The original Olympics were men only, and they competed nude."
"Thank goodness," Naoko commented. "I doubt we'd finish with four left feet."
That brought a bit of laughter.
"Who's the fourth couple?" Sakura wondered.
"I would've had Meiling with her latest boyfriend, but I wasn't sure which guy she was dating this week," Takashi joked.
"Ha. Ha," Meiling deadpanned. "So, I've went out with five guys in the last couple months. Big deal. Besides, Hinagashi is in senior high and he isn't coming today."
"It's Gotoh and Misora, right?" Tomoyo guessed.
"Of course," Chiharu replied. "They're practically joined at the hip."
Sakura blushed a little. "Do you really think they've gone that far?"
Chiharu shrugged. "Probably."
"What's got you so embarrassed about that?" Shinji asked Kinomoto.
Sakura's blush deepened, while Syaoran glared at him.
"Don't believe the rumors," Meiling advised. "The truth is far stranger, though."
"Hard not to believe what the jocks have said." Shinji folded his arms. "It makes more sense than the ghost possession story."
"When will people forget about this?" Sakura bemoaned.
"Unfortunately it won't go away until someone else does something major to attract people's attention." Tomoyo sighed regretfully.
"You all know what really happened, don't you?" Shinji growled.
"Yes, but it's nothing we can talk about." Naoko grabbed his hand. "It would cause too much trouble if people learned the real truth. I don't fancy being carted off to some crappy school filled with trouble makers."
Shinji's eyes widened. "You'd get in that much trouble?"
Tomoyo looked at the boy with soulless eyes. "Some of us would be in far worse trouble than Naoko-chan."
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A young girl's eyes widened as she spotted one of her teachers. "Yuki-chan, Terada-sensei is here!"
Yuki shook her head at her younger friend. "I thought we were here to see Hayabusa-san play soccer, Shiori-chan."
"Who needs to watch my sister?" Shiori shot back. "Especially when I can see my beloved!"
Yuki rolled her eyes, yet followed behind her friend who made a beeline for the elementary gym teacher.
Just as Shiori got to the table, a pamphlet was shoved into her face. "Here you go. Now run along."
Shiori glared at the junior high girl who did that, before smiling at the man next to her. "Hello, Terada-sensei! I didn't think you were going to be here today!"
"Ah, Hayabusa-chan, enjoy your day," Terada greeted her briefly before turning to greet other new arrivals at the festival.
"Welcome to the Sport's Festival, enjoy your time here." Rika smiled at Yuki sweetly, causing the young girl to blink.
"How long will you be here?" Shiori questioned.
"Can't say for sure," Terada replied off-handedly as he continued to talk to other incoming guests.
"Excuse me, but perhaps you might know if Terada-sensei has a girlfriend?" Yuki asked.
"I believe he's engaged," Rika replied knowingly.
"Now, Sasaki, it's not nice to talk about a teacher's personal life," Terada admonished.
"Engaged?!" Shiori cried out.
"Now, Hayabusa, run along. I need to greet everyone," Terada told her with a gentle smile.
Yuki pulled her friend away. "Remember, we're here for your sister. You can make eyes at him on Monday."
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"This is stupid," Shinji grumbled as a teacher was tying his leg to Naoko's.
"It's only a race," Naoko reminded even as she fidgeted. "A victory for us is to finish it."
"Especially going up against Kinomoto and Li," Shinji groused. "We don't stand a chance."
"You're set. Go to the starting line," the teacher advised.
Shinji could tell he wasn't the only one getting tense. Most of the couples were holding hands. From the look of Li's fingers, Kinomoto was gripping his fingers as tightly as Naoko held his. He wondered what she could be nervous about, but didn't have a chance to voice it.
"Couples get on your mark! Get set! Go!"
There was little surprise that Naoko and Shinji tripped only a few steps from the starting line. Though more amazingly to the boy, Kinomoto dragged Li down not much farther ahead from them. That gave Yamazaki and his wife a slight lead over a couple from another class.
"Lift your leg, stay limp, and lean on me," Li ordered his girlfriend.
Without protest, Kinomoto lifted her free leg and Li awkwardly raced ahead with her.
They at least weren't the only ones having issues running. Other couples were also tripping over each other. Still they tried to press on until Naoko whelped in pain when she fell down, but he had not. Her ankle wrenched in the bindings. Shinji immediately went to untie their bonds.
The school nurse moved quickly to check the ankle. Poking and prodding it, yet not producing much of a reaction from the girl. "It's just a little pulled. I'll wrap it up for you. Just stay off of it as much as you can today and it should be perfectly fine."
"Thank you." Naoko glanced over while her ankle was being bandaged. "Guess we failed."
Shinji shook his head. "Hope this doesn't relate to Yamazaki-kun's story."
Naoko pouted. "Looks like they came in second. And Sakura-chan only managed fourth."
"That's not a bad result with so many, especially after Kinomoto fell," Shinji pointed out.
"Naoko-chan, are you okay?" Sakura fretted as she approached with the others.
"I'm fine. It's not even twisted." Naoko waved her friends off. "I don't have anything to compete in, so there's nothing to worry about."
"Are you sure?" Chiharu wondered.
"She's fine," the nurse told them. "She'll just be getting more three-legged practice with her boyfriend. You're all set."
The nurse received numerous thanks before she moved to check to see if anyone else might need her.
"Go on ahead to your clubs, I can help Asaba-kun with Naoko-chan," Tomoyo assured her friends.
"Are you sure?" Chiharu asked.
"Positive." Tomoyo nodded and then joked, "I might end up being unwanted help before long."
With a round of good-byes, Shinji found himself with an extra girl on his promised date. Not that would be an issue, except he had hoped to have some personal time with his girlfriend.
Tomoyo giggled. "Here I thought you'd enjoy dating two girls at the same time."
"Guess I'm not the two-timing sort of guy." Shinji laughed nervously.
Naoko smiled knowingly. "He'd rather be sneaking off somewhere quiet, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you joined in."
Shinji smirked. "Well, I am a guy."
Tomoyo looked at them closely. "I thought you had only gone as far as kissing."
"So far," Naoko replied causing Shinji to blush deeply.
"Do try not to rush things," Tomoyo advised. "Asaba-kun certainly seems to be in a hurry for everything."
"What do you mean by that?" Shinji asked with an edge.
"Well, mostly I'm talking about our secrets," Tomoyo replied neutrally. "I can certainly understand that you want to know to the truth, but it's not something we can easily confide in."
Shinji huffed. "It's annoying being the third wheel when you avoid talking about stuff because I'm around."
"I certainly know the feeling there when I'm the only one without a date on Sunday," Tomoyo returned. "However, the issue is that each of us harbors a different secret. If my secret became known, I would lose the most important thing to me, but nothing would directly happen to Naoko-chan."
Naoko frowned. "I don't even know what your secret is, yet you hold the rest of us hostage."
"Would you prefer what Li-kun would have to do or Sakura-chan's method?" Tomoyo returned.
Naoko pouted. "No. It is better this way."
Shinji folded his arms. "Are you threatening her?"
"Not her specifically," Naoko quickly defended. "If I was to break trust, any of the others could expose my secret just as easily."
"It's really more insurance." Tomoyo sighed. "I hope I'm never in a position I'd need to use the secrets I hold as weapons. While our friendship predates our secrets, Naoko-chan has become a closer friend after learning a secret that has been kept from her since fourth grade."
Shinji glared. "Why are you telling me all of this?"
"So you can understand better why we haven't told you anything yet. We kept Naoko-chan in the dark for years, so you can hardly expect us to open up to you in only a couple months," Tomoyo pointed out. "Besides, you're wonderfully boring in not having any major secret."
"Excuse me for not wanting to disturb the petals," Shinji groused.
"Don't knock being boring," Naoko told him. "There's a reason why 'may you live an interesting life' is a curse."
Shinji didn't need to be asked what his girlfriend meant, considering that while Daidouji had stopped wearing her plastic mask, her slightly bent nose was an unwanted reminder that she had nearly been raped. And strange as it sounded to him, it seemed that the one with the curse was Kinomoto and Daidouji had been caught in the backwash.
"Now how is the ankle?" Tomoyo asked.
Naoko put a little pressure on it. "Tender, but it doesn't really hurt."
Tomoyo nodded. She then leaned toward the boy and whispered. "Perhaps one day you will learn the secrets. For now a test. Don't let even Naoko-chan know. I really am a lesbian and I'm in love with Sakura-chan."
Shinji blinked and then scowled. "That's supposed to be a secret?"
Tomoyo smiled at him. "To the ones who must not know, it is."
Shinji shook his head.
Naoko looked confused as Tomoyo walked off. "What did she say?"
"Not going to say," Shinji replied bluntly.
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"Where's your partner in crime?"
Sakura turned around and looked strangely at a mop of long brown hair framing a rather boyish face before realization dawn on her. "Hooooeee?! Ah, hello, Yuki-chan. It's, ah, been a while."
Yuki smirked. "Didn't think I'd meet you unless you were stealing a painting."
Sakura waved her hands wildly. "I wasn't stealing anything!"
"What's going on?" Meiling grumbled.
Sakura laughed sheepishly. "You remember Tomoyo-chan's movies where I, ah, pretended to rob a museum...?"
"Ah, the unintended extra," Meiling groused. "What brings you here?"
"I'm supposed to be here to help Shiori-chan root for her sister, but she would rather drool over Terada-sensei," Yuki complained. "I don't know why she's so blindly obsessive. There's no way she can win him over."
"Love makes us all fools." Meiling pointed at the emerald-eyed girl. "Some just play the part of the fool better."
"Meiling-chan!" Sakura whined.
Yuki laughed.
"So, um, what have you been doing?" Sakura wondered.
"Besides being dragged around on Shiori-chan's hairbrained adventures, painting of course," Yuki joked. "I can't let my father's legacy end."
Sakura smiled knowingly. "So, you do at least understand where your friend is coming from."
Yuki nodded. "Yeah, even if her heart is misplaced."
"Hey, captain," a cheerleader snipped.
Meiling glanced over. "Right. It's time to get to your places girls!"
"Bye!" Sakura waved before joining her team.
Yuki walked over to her friend and frowned as while Terada was not at the greeting station, he was still doing volunteer work with the same junior high girl he worked with before. She had felt Shiori's crush was a lost cause due to their ages, but it would appear now that the issue might have had more to do with Shiori being too late.
"Isn't he dreamy?" Shiori sighed wistfully.
"Let's watch the cheerleaders," Yuki suggested.
Shiori pouted at her friend. "Why do you rather look at girls? Guys are so much better!"
"There's nothing wrong with guys." Yuki folded her arms. "Girls are just nicer to look at."
"Lesbo," Shiori shot at her friend.
"Lolita," Yuki returned. "I even know one of the cheerleaders. And I really want to watch her."
Shiori folded her arms. "Bet you have no chance with her."
"Probably better than you do with Terada-sensei." Yuki blinked as she spotted someone in the stands. "Besides, her friend is better looking. Let's go!" She grabbed Shiori's hand dragging her towards the bleachers.
Tomoyo glanced at the pair of girls. She recognized the girl being pulled as Rika's 'rival' for Terada first, but then her eyes widened as she placed the other girl. "Yuki-chan! Hello! How goes your painting?"
Shiori blinked. "You know her?"
"We met in passing," both Yuki and Tomoyo replied at the same time, before breaking into giggles.
Tomoyo motioned for them to sit next to her. "You're in time to watch Sakura-chan and Meiling-chan put on an amazing performance!" She pulled out her camera and began to check it over. "Is it wise to have such long hair when you paint so often?"
Yuki blinked and looked at the ends of her hair, seeing multi-color specks of paint. She then laughed. "My hair is the only part of me that shows that I'm a girl. In sixth grade and still no chest."
Shiori pouted. "At least you should get one soon. Terada-sensei might notice me better if I wasn't only in fourth grade."
Tomoyo smiled knowingly. "It is the person, not the body, that matters to Terada-sensei." She almost said more, but that could be dangerous, especially as she had to turn her camera on as the cheerleader squad was taking to the field.
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Shinji loved how his girlfriend leaned against him, his tongue deep in her mouth and his hand under her skirt. He tried to reach and touch her as no man had done before, but he had to settle for fondling her rear underneath her panties. She offered no protest to his touch. She was even goading him on, grinding her hips against his.
It seemed like forever before they broke off their kiss. They panted for breath before going in for more. As much as they wanted to continue, a darken corner of the school was not the best place to go any farther.
"I can't wait for our next date," Shinji whispered huskily.
"I'm sure you can't." Naoko patted the front of his pants. "But this will stay covered."
"Naoko-chan..." Shinji whined.
Naoko pouted at him. "I like you, Shinji-kun, but I don't want to rush into anything." She then smiled shyly. "Perhaps next time I'll go topless."
Shinji frowned. "I'm not really into breasts. I'm more interested in this." He grabbed her rear again.
Naoko tilted her head in thought. "We'll see about that some day, but not just yet." She gave him a quick kiss. "I'll let you know when I'm ready."
Shinji shook his head. "So, what's next on the agenda?"
"I suppose we could catch the end of the exhibition soccer game..." Naoko smiled devilishly. "Then we can end it with dancing!"
Shinji paled. "You know I'm not good with dancing."
"Just the slow ones," Naoko promised. "The ones you can hold me close and not have to move much."
"That does sound better," Shinji laughed sheepishly.
Naoko glanced over. "Wow. Someone is jealous of me."
Shinji turned to look. He spotted a beautiful girl from a different class, who had the strangest look on her face.
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Sakura was quite happy that the cheerleading routine they had performed was the opening act to the soccer game. Unfortunately she wasn't quite sure who to root for. She certainly wanted Syaoran to win, but this game was the boys verses the girls. While she was unfamiliar with the members on the female team, she felt a little bit like a traitor to want her boyfriend to do well.
Through the course of the game, Sakura's friends arrived to watch as well. Even Terada came and sat near Rika, who oddly seemed upset. Though it might have something to do with Yuki's friend constantly trying to talk to the gym teacher.
It became easier to cheer on the girls as the obvious underdogs. Sakura could be proud of Syaoran to have scored a goal, yet encourage the girls to not make the game completely lopsided.
"Go Hayabusa-san!" cried out Yuki.
"Get those boys!" Shiori cheered.
The stands erupted as the girl in question finally got a shot past the goalie.
Meiling growled as the boys quickly returned the favor with their fourth goal. "This is practically insulting. Half the boys are playing sloppy. If it wasn't for the goalie, the score would be a lot closer. Even Syaoran has played better. Gah! The girls aren't much better. Don't run away from him!"
"I doubt Li-kun could play as rough as he usually does," Tomoyo pointed out.
Meiling clenched her fist. "If he played like this against me, I'd kick his ass."
"Go, oneechan!" Shiori cheered.
"She scored again!" Sakura clapped.
"He just stood there?!" Meiling cried out in frustration. "He didn't even try to stop her."
"Are you saying my sister didn't deserve that score?" Shiori yelled.
"She should've had to fight for it," Meiling shot back.
"It wasn't the moving ball he was watching," Yuki added.
Shiori huffed. "Terada-sensei, what do you...?" She blinked. "Where did Terada-sensei go?"
"Maybe off to meet his fiancee," Rika replied with a harsh tone. "I'll be back for the bonfire dance."
Shiori huffed, glaring at girl who was now dashing away. Not pleased with what had been said, her crush disappearing on her, and the game ending with the boys winning.
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As the day came to an end, a large bonfire was set up. The crackling of flames and dancing light brought the remaining attendees together for the final presentation of the day. The dancing club put forward a ballroom dance, complete with ball gowns.
Tomoyo watched them closely. "I'll be doing that next week."
Meiling raised an eyebrow. "Who's your date?"
"You wouldn't know him. He's someone my family is doing business with," Tomoyo replied.
Sakura blinked in surprise. "You've got a date and you didn't tell me?"
"It's a date only in the loosest term of it. I'm going with him to return a favor he did for me, nothing more. There won't be a second date," Tomoyo explained with an even tone.
Sakura took her friend's hands. "Don't say that! He might be good for you. What's he like?"
Tomoyo cocked her head in thought. "Hard to say. He's tall, dark and hansom. We've only talked a couple times, but he doesn't say much. Always straight to business."
"Sounds promising," Chiharu chirped.
Tomoyo glanced at her married friend. "I suppose saying he's older than me doesn't mean much."
"I would say not," Rika added with a smirk. "Give him a shot. Love can be found in the strangest of places."
Tomoyo sighed. "I promise not to dismiss him out of hand, but I seriously don't think anything will become of going to a formal dance with him as a favor."
"You'll have to introduce me to him some time," Sakura announced happily.
Tomoyo shook her head. Then she blinked when a figure stepped forward who was cast in shadow and wearing a baseball cap.
"Would milady like to dance?"
Tomoyo laughed. "Why, certainly, Yuki-'kun.'"
Sakura looked confused as she watched Yuki, with her hair put up into a baseball cap, led Tomoyo to join the increasing number of couples in the ballroom dance. "Ah, Tomoyo-chan, Yuki-chan is a girl..."
Takashi blinked. "That's a girl?"
Rika gazed at Tomoyo's dance partner. "You really don't notice it with her hair up." She then blinked. "Where's her friend?"
Meiling pointed. "I'd say she's hunting for Terada-sensei."
Rika shook her head as she glared at Hayabusa.
"Why is Tomoyo-chan dancing with Yuki-chan?" Sakura wondered.
Shinji and Meiling both looked uncomfortable, while Syaoran looked as confused as Sakura.
"She's just having fun," Takashi put forth. He grabbed his wife's hand. "Perhaps we should all join her. What do you say, 'milady?'"
"Don't step on my feet," Chiharu replied with a smile.
Sakura looked expectantly at her boyfriend, and he stiffened up in response. Mechanically he walked over to her and took her hand, never actually asking her to dance even as he began to guide her.
Shinji pulled at his collar.
Naoko smirked at him. "My ankle isn't up for that movement yet. We'll just keep in simple."
"Sure!" Shinji took his girlfriend's hand and only went to the edge of dance area. He held her close, his arms around her waist as they swayed with the music.
Meiling frowned at being left behind. "Wish Hinagashi was here."
"As I wish I could dance with my beloved as well," Rika added.
Meiling eyed the crowd, noting that Tomoyo and Yuki were hardly the only girls dancing with each other. "Care to pretend I'm your favorite teacher?"
Rika giggled. "I'll try to keep my hands to myself."
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A room filled with ancient books was lit by a television. Excited and cheerful noises came from the speakers, much to the annoyance of the lone occupant.
A cheerleading routine brought an end to the video, once again bringing no useful information. A causal flick of a hand caused the video to eject violently into a pile of broken and discarded tapes. The next tape took flight and inserted itself into the VCR and began to play.
The books remained more interesting to the figure than the video.
"Tomoyo-chan, are you still recording me?!" Sakura's voice echoed over the speaker.
A lazy eye moved to see what caused the outburst. Then interest was solidified. There was more than one way to defeat a person, and this offered an unexpected method.
The scene changed smoothly, showing this was not a raw but a compiled film yet what was shown was much the same. This would hurt the girl far more than any spell ever could.
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Author's Notes:
Chapter 21 - Tomoyo at the Ball
Kurogane needed Tomoyo to enter a formal dance, but what is his reason to be at the dance?
This extra was intended to have been a scene much earlier. It just didn't fit anywhere. In all probability, this occurred after Tomoyo's videos were stolen and Naoko was helping Sakura to train.
Omake:
There might be better sources of information, but, for Naoko, this was the easiest method of learning what she wanted to know. She had waited a long time for this opportunity, and finally it was hers.
Kero-chan blissfully chopped away at a cookie. As the last piece disappeared he glanced at the girl's expectant face. "You want something?"
Naoko held up another cookie. "Can you tell me why some people can use magic and others can't?"
Kero-chan swiped the treat, devouring it before replying. "Of course I can. Using magic requires the person to have certain traits. If they don't have one, they can't cast spells."
Naoko offered another cookie. "What sort of traits?"
Kero-chan belched bits of that cookie before continuing, "There's the amount of magic stored within the person, the strength of will to bend that magic, and the perception to feel it."
"Does Sakura-chan really have enough will?" Naoko wondered.
Kero-chan laughed. "If Sakura set her heart on something, there is nothing that can stop her. And the depth of her magic is deeper than even Clow Reed. Her perception of the world may not be the greatest, but her magical sight is vast."
Naoko pouted. "Sakura-chan and Li-kun are so strong, why can't Tomoyo-chan or Meiling-chan use magic?"
"Hard to say." Kero-chan tapped its cheek before taking a newly offered cookie. "Tomoyo certainly has the perception to be a good mage, but magically it appears her well is dry. She has no magic to pull upon. As the wench, she's certainly got the will and magic in her blood, but she can't feel the magic to manipulate it. For her to try to cast a spell is like a blind man trying to drive a car."
Naoko held up a box of chocolates. "Could I use magic?"
Kero-chan tried to get at the candy, but the girl pulled it away. It folded its arms and gazed deeply at the girl, glowing slightly. "Will and perception isn't something I can tell easily, but there is a little bit of magic to you. Not much, though. Even if you can feel magic, it could take you years to learn the simplest of spells. You would need outside help to get anywhere."
Naoko opened the box and let the magical creature to take a couple treats. "You mean I'd need a teacher?"
Kero-chan shook its head. "Nah. Even a teacher can't help where talent is thin. You'd need to go somewhere that is thick with magic or use an item that is highly magical. The fact you've used The Create and was drawn to it before Sakura sealed it shows you aren't completely dead to magic."
Naoko pouted. "So you're saying I could fake be a magic-user in the right places?"
"Afraid so." Kero-chan nodded. "I honestly don't know why the wench hasn't been given any magic items to help. They would act as glasses to her, allowing her to get more use out of an artifact than you probably could."
"Usually clubs start preparations for the festival during the break," one cheerleader commented.
"Would've been nice knowing about that ahead of time," Meiling shot back.
"At least we only have to put a presentation together," Sakura reminded. "And we would've had a difficult time meeting over the break."
"Maybe you two would've had issues," the cheerleader snapped back.
"That's enough," Meiling growled. "Don't take your inability to do a back-flip by yourself out on me. We've still got two more days to get it right."
"What you want us to do is ridiculous," she snarled back. "We're cheerleaders, not gymnasts!"
"I'm asking for a simple fucking back-flip. If you can't do it, then you can sit out the routine." Meiling turned and stomped away. The cheerleader did the same, after deciding it healthier to not try to get the last word in.
"Li-chan isn't good with pressure, is she?" another cheerleader commented.
Sakura laughed nervously. "I guess you could put it like that."
"Now can you tell us what is really going on?" she pressed.
"Huh? Wha?" Sakura took a step back, and found herself surrounded.
"There's been all sorts of rumors about you!"
"Did Satome rape you?"
"Did you sleep with those boys?"
"How good is Li-kun in bed?"
Sakura glanced around looking for an exit and found none. "Ah... no."
"No, what?" was pressed.
"Satome never got that far. And I know it might be hard to believe but it wasn't me with those boys," Sakura tried to explain.
"Then who was?"
"Were you really possessed by Reiko's ghost?"
"I can't really answer that..." Sakura looked away. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told the truth."
"Fine. But how good is Li-kun?"
"Yeah, he must be good, right?"
Sakura blushed intensely. "Ah... We haven't done THAT yet."
"Why not?" was chorused.
Sakura looked down. "I was going to... then Tomoyo-chan was attacked."
"Oh..." came from the group, who took a moment to think over that reply.
Sakura took the opportunity to break past a couple girls and run off.
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Card Captor Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon
Chapter 20: Summer Sports Festival for Sakura
Card Captor Sakura belongs to the fine ladies of CLAMP. Used without consent, all rights reserved.
By: Lord Archive
Author's Warnings:
This contains mature themes not intended for children under thirteen.
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.
------------------------
Shinji arrived at the appointed meeting place, and nervously greeted, "Hi." His unease had less to do with this being the long promised date, than with the fact that all of Naoko's friends were here except for Sasaki.
Various greetings were returned, the most excited one coming from Naoko.
"So, is this really going to be a group deal?" Shinji wondered.
"For a bit, then we'll go to our clubs after the 'Couples Three Legged Race,'" Sakura replied.
Shinji was thankful he was a 'member' of the manga club. While they could've put on an exhibition, the ones in charge were too lazy to do anything, especially for a sport's festival. "Glad I didn't sign up for that."
Naoko nodded.
Takashi smirked. "You might not have, but I put you two on the list."
"WHAT?!" Naoko and Shinji cried out together.
"It's my responsibility as classroom rep to select the couples to represent our class. While Li and Kinomoto along with me and Chiharu were a given, I still needed at least two more couples," Takashi explained devilishly. "We have to uphold the tradition, after all."
"Tradition?" Sakura wondered.
"The three-legged race has been a time honored tradition for couples to see if they will have long and fruitful lives together since it began in the ancient Greek Olympics. The winning couple can be sure to have a happy life together, while those who don't finish will fail to marry," Takashi told them.
Chiharu rubbed her forehead. "I know this is a lie. The original Olympics were men only, and they competed nude."
"Thank goodness," Naoko commented. "I doubt we'd finish with four left feet."
That brought a bit of laughter.
"Who's the fourth couple?" Sakura wondered.
"I would've had Meiling with her latest boyfriend, but I wasn't sure which guy she was dating this week," Takashi joked.
"Ha. Ha," Meiling deadpanned. "So, I've went out with five guys in the last couple months. Big deal. Besides, Hinagashi is in senior high and he isn't coming today."
"It's Gotoh and Misora, right?" Tomoyo guessed.
"Of course," Chiharu replied. "They're practically joined at the hip."
Sakura blushed a little. "Do you really think they've gone that far?"
Chiharu shrugged. "Probably."
"What's got you so embarrassed about that?" Shinji asked Kinomoto.
Sakura's blush deepened, while Syaoran glared at him.
"Don't believe the rumors," Meiling advised. "The truth is far stranger, though."
"Hard not to believe what the jocks have said." Shinji folded his arms. "It makes more sense than the ghost possession story."
"When will people forget about this?" Sakura bemoaned.
"Unfortunately it won't go away until someone else does something major to attract people's attention." Tomoyo sighed regretfully.
"You all know what really happened, don't you?" Shinji growled.
"Yes, but it's nothing we can talk about." Naoko grabbed his hand. "It would cause too much trouble if people learned the real truth. I don't fancy being carted off to some crappy school filled with trouble makers."
Shinji's eyes widened. "You'd get in that much trouble?"
Tomoyo looked at the boy with soulless eyes. "Some of us would be in far worse trouble than Naoko-chan."
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A young girl's eyes widened as she spotted one of her teachers. "Yuki-chan, Terada-sensei is here!"
Yuki shook her head at her younger friend. "I thought we were here to see Hayabusa-san play soccer, Shiori-chan."
"Who needs to watch my sister?" Shiori shot back. "Especially when I can see my beloved!"
Yuki rolled her eyes, yet followed behind her friend who made a beeline for the elementary gym teacher.
Just as Shiori got to the table, a pamphlet was shoved into her face. "Here you go. Now run along."
Shiori glared at the junior high girl who did that, before smiling at the man next to her. "Hello, Terada-sensei! I didn't think you were going to be here today!"
"Ah, Hayabusa-chan, enjoy your day," Terada greeted her briefly before turning to greet other new arrivals at the festival.
"Welcome to the Sport's Festival, enjoy your time here." Rika smiled at Yuki sweetly, causing the young girl to blink.
"How long will you be here?" Shiori questioned.
"Can't say for sure," Terada replied off-handedly as he continued to talk to other incoming guests.
"Excuse me, but perhaps you might know if Terada-sensei has a girlfriend?" Yuki asked.
"I believe he's engaged," Rika replied knowingly.
"Now, Sasaki, it's not nice to talk about a teacher's personal life," Terada admonished.
"Engaged?!" Shiori cried out.
"Now, Hayabusa, run along. I need to greet everyone," Terada told her with a gentle smile.
Yuki pulled her friend away. "Remember, we're here for your sister. You can make eyes at him on Monday."
------------------------
"This is stupid," Shinji grumbled as a teacher was tying his leg to Naoko's.
"It's only a race," Naoko reminded even as she fidgeted. "A victory for us is to finish it."
"Especially going up against Kinomoto and Li," Shinji groused. "We don't stand a chance."
"You're set. Go to the starting line," the teacher advised.
Shinji could tell he wasn't the only one getting tense. Most of the couples were holding hands. From the look of Li's fingers, Kinomoto was gripping his fingers as tightly as Naoko held his. He wondered what she could be nervous about, but didn't have a chance to voice it.
"Couples get on your mark! Get set! Go!"
There was little surprise that Naoko and Shinji tripped only a few steps from the starting line. Though more amazingly to the boy, Kinomoto dragged Li down not much farther ahead from them. That gave Yamazaki and his wife a slight lead over a couple from another class.
"Lift your leg, stay limp, and lean on me," Li ordered his girlfriend.
Without protest, Kinomoto lifted her free leg and Li awkwardly raced ahead with her.
They at least weren't the only ones having issues running. Other couples were also tripping over each other. Still they tried to press on until Naoko whelped in pain when she fell down, but he had not. Her ankle wrenched in the bindings. Shinji immediately went to untie their bonds.
The school nurse moved quickly to check the ankle. Poking and prodding it, yet not producing much of a reaction from the girl. "It's just a little pulled. I'll wrap it up for you. Just stay off of it as much as you can today and it should be perfectly fine."
"Thank you." Naoko glanced over while her ankle was being bandaged. "Guess we failed."
Shinji shook his head. "Hope this doesn't relate to Yamazaki-kun's story."
Naoko pouted. "Looks like they came in second. And Sakura-chan only managed fourth."
"That's not a bad result with so many, especially after Kinomoto fell," Shinji pointed out.
"Naoko-chan, are you okay?" Sakura fretted as she approached with the others.
"I'm fine. It's not even twisted." Naoko waved her friends off. "I don't have anything to compete in, so there's nothing to worry about."
"Are you sure?" Chiharu wondered.
"She's fine," the nurse told them. "She'll just be getting more three-legged practice with her boyfriend. You're all set."
The nurse received numerous thanks before she moved to check to see if anyone else might need her.
"Go on ahead to your clubs, I can help Asaba-kun with Naoko-chan," Tomoyo assured her friends.
"Are you sure?" Chiharu asked.
"Positive." Tomoyo nodded and then joked, "I might end up being unwanted help before long."
With a round of good-byes, Shinji found himself with an extra girl on his promised date. Not that would be an issue, except he had hoped to have some personal time with his girlfriend.
Tomoyo giggled. "Here I thought you'd enjoy dating two girls at the same time."
"Guess I'm not the two-timing sort of guy." Shinji laughed nervously.
Naoko smiled knowingly. "He'd rather be sneaking off somewhere quiet, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you joined in."
Shinji smirked. "Well, I am a guy."
Tomoyo looked at them closely. "I thought you had only gone as far as kissing."
"So far," Naoko replied causing Shinji to blush deeply.
"Do try not to rush things," Tomoyo advised. "Asaba-kun certainly seems to be in a hurry for everything."
"What do you mean by that?" Shinji asked with an edge.
"Well, mostly I'm talking about our secrets," Tomoyo replied neutrally. "I can certainly understand that you want to know to the truth, but it's not something we can easily confide in."
Shinji huffed. "It's annoying being the third wheel when you avoid talking about stuff because I'm around."
"I certainly know the feeling there when I'm the only one without a date on Sunday," Tomoyo returned. "However, the issue is that each of us harbors a different secret. If my secret became known, I would lose the most important thing to me, but nothing would directly happen to Naoko-chan."
Naoko frowned. "I don't even know what your secret is, yet you hold the rest of us hostage."
"Would you prefer what Li-kun would have to do or Sakura-chan's method?" Tomoyo returned.
Naoko pouted. "No. It is better this way."
Shinji folded his arms. "Are you threatening her?"
"Not her specifically," Naoko quickly defended. "If I was to break trust, any of the others could expose my secret just as easily."
"It's really more insurance." Tomoyo sighed. "I hope I'm never in a position I'd need to use the secrets I hold as weapons. While our friendship predates our secrets, Naoko-chan has become a closer friend after learning a secret that has been kept from her since fourth grade."
Shinji glared. "Why are you telling me all of this?"
"So you can understand better why we haven't told you anything yet. We kept Naoko-chan in the dark for years, so you can hardly expect us to open up to you in only a couple months," Tomoyo pointed out. "Besides, you're wonderfully boring in not having any major secret."
"Excuse me for not wanting to disturb the petals," Shinji groused.
"Don't knock being boring," Naoko told him. "There's a reason why 'may you live an interesting life' is a curse."
Shinji didn't need to be asked what his girlfriend meant, considering that while Daidouji had stopped wearing her plastic mask, her slightly bent nose was an unwanted reminder that she had nearly been raped. And strange as it sounded to him, it seemed that the one with the curse was Kinomoto and Daidouji had been caught in the backwash.
"Now how is the ankle?" Tomoyo asked.
Naoko put a little pressure on it. "Tender, but it doesn't really hurt."
Tomoyo nodded. She then leaned toward the boy and whispered. "Perhaps one day you will learn the secrets. For now a test. Don't let even Naoko-chan know. I really am a lesbian and I'm in love with Sakura-chan."
Shinji blinked and then scowled. "That's supposed to be a secret?"
Tomoyo smiled at him. "To the ones who must not know, it is."
Shinji shook his head.
Naoko looked confused as Tomoyo walked off. "What did she say?"
"Not going to say," Shinji replied bluntly.
------------------------
"Where's your partner in crime?"
Sakura turned around and looked strangely at a mop of long brown hair framing a rather boyish face before realization dawn on her. "Hooooeee?! Ah, hello, Yuki-chan. It's, ah, been a while."
Yuki smirked. "Didn't think I'd meet you unless you were stealing a painting."
Sakura waved her hands wildly. "I wasn't stealing anything!"
"What's going on?" Meiling grumbled.
Sakura laughed sheepishly. "You remember Tomoyo-chan's movies where I, ah, pretended to rob a museum...?"
"Ah, the unintended extra," Meiling groused. "What brings you here?"
"I'm supposed to be here to help Shiori-chan root for her sister, but she would rather drool over Terada-sensei," Yuki complained. "I don't know why she's so blindly obsessive. There's no way she can win him over."
"Love makes us all fools." Meiling pointed at the emerald-eyed girl. "Some just play the part of the fool better."
"Meiling-chan!" Sakura whined.
Yuki laughed.
"So, um, what have you been doing?" Sakura wondered.
"Besides being dragged around on Shiori-chan's hairbrained adventures, painting of course," Yuki joked. "I can't let my father's legacy end."
Sakura smiled knowingly. "So, you do at least understand where your friend is coming from."
Yuki nodded. "Yeah, even if her heart is misplaced."
"Hey, captain," a cheerleader snipped.
Meiling glanced over. "Right. It's time to get to your places girls!"
"Bye!" Sakura waved before joining her team.
Yuki walked over to her friend and frowned as while Terada was not at the greeting station, he was still doing volunteer work with the same junior high girl he worked with before. She had felt Shiori's crush was a lost cause due to their ages, but it would appear now that the issue might have had more to do with Shiori being too late.
"Isn't he dreamy?" Shiori sighed wistfully.
"Let's watch the cheerleaders," Yuki suggested.
Shiori pouted at her friend. "Why do you rather look at girls? Guys are so much better!"
"There's nothing wrong with guys." Yuki folded her arms. "Girls are just nicer to look at."
"Lesbo," Shiori shot at her friend.
"Lolita," Yuki returned. "I even know one of the cheerleaders. And I really want to watch her."
Shiori folded her arms. "Bet you have no chance with her."
"Probably better than you do with Terada-sensei." Yuki blinked as she spotted someone in the stands. "Besides, her friend is better looking. Let's go!" She grabbed Shiori's hand dragging her towards the bleachers.
Tomoyo glanced at the pair of girls. She recognized the girl being pulled as Rika's 'rival' for Terada first, but then her eyes widened as she placed the other girl. "Yuki-chan! Hello! How goes your painting?"
Shiori blinked. "You know her?"
"We met in passing," both Yuki and Tomoyo replied at the same time, before breaking into giggles.
Tomoyo motioned for them to sit next to her. "You're in time to watch Sakura-chan and Meiling-chan put on an amazing performance!" She pulled out her camera and began to check it over. "Is it wise to have such long hair when you paint so often?"
Yuki blinked and looked at the ends of her hair, seeing multi-color specks of paint. She then laughed. "My hair is the only part of me that shows that I'm a girl. In sixth grade and still no chest."
Shiori pouted. "At least you should get one soon. Terada-sensei might notice me better if I wasn't only in fourth grade."
Tomoyo smiled knowingly. "It is the person, not the body, that matters to Terada-sensei." She almost said more, but that could be dangerous, especially as she had to turn her camera on as the cheerleader squad was taking to the field.
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Shinji loved how his girlfriend leaned against him, his tongue deep in her mouth and his hand under her skirt. He tried to reach and touch her as no man had done before, but he had to settle for fondling her rear underneath her panties. She offered no protest to his touch. She was even goading him on, grinding her hips against his.
It seemed like forever before they broke off their kiss. They panted for breath before going in for more. As much as they wanted to continue, a darken corner of the school was not the best place to go any farther.
"I can't wait for our next date," Shinji whispered huskily.
"I'm sure you can't." Naoko patted the front of his pants. "But this will stay covered."
"Naoko-chan..." Shinji whined.
Naoko pouted at him. "I like you, Shinji-kun, but I don't want to rush into anything." She then smiled shyly. "Perhaps next time I'll go topless."
Shinji frowned. "I'm not really into breasts. I'm more interested in this." He grabbed her rear again.
Naoko tilted her head in thought. "We'll see about that some day, but not just yet." She gave him a quick kiss. "I'll let you know when I'm ready."
Shinji shook his head. "So, what's next on the agenda?"
"I suppose we could catch the end of the exhibition soccer game..." Naoko smiled devilishly. "Then we can end it with dancing!"
Shinji paled. "You know I'm not good with dancing."
"Just the slow ones," Naoko promised. "The ones you can hold me close and not have to move much."
"That does sound better," Shinji laughed sheepishly.
Naoko glanced over. "Wow. Someone is jealous of me."
Shinji turned to look. He spotted a beautiful girl from a different class, who had the strangest look on her face.
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Sakura was quite happy that the cheerleading routine they had performed was the opening act to the soccer game. Unfortunately she wasn't quite sure who to root for. She certainly wanted Syaoran to win, but this game was the boys verses the girls. While she was unfamiliar with the members on the female team, she felt a little bit like a traitor to want her boyfriend to do well.
Through the course of the game, Sakura's friends arrived to watch as well. Even Terada came and sat near Rika, who oddly seemed upset. Though it might have something to do with Yuki's friend constantly trying to talk to the gym teacher.
It became easier to cheer on the girls as the obvious underdogs. Sakura could be proud of Syaoran to have scored a goal, yet encourage the girls to not make the game completely lopsided.
"Go Hayabusa-san!" cried out Yuki.
"Get those boys!" Shiori cheered.
The stands erupted as the girl in question finally got a shot past the goalie.
Meiling growled as the boys quickly returned the favor with their fourth goal. "This is practically insulting. Half the boys are playing sloppy. If it wasn't for the goalie, the score would be a lot closer. Even Syaoran has played better. Gah! The girls aren't much better. Don't run away from him!"
"I doubt Li-kun could play as rough as he usually does," Tomoyo pointed out.
Meiling clenched her fist. "If he played like this against me, I'd kick his ass."
"Go, oneechan!" Shiori cheered.
"She scored again!" Sakura clapped.
"He just stood there?!" Meiling cried out in frustration. "He didn't even try to stop her."
"Are you saying my sister didn't deserve that score?" Shiori yelled.
"She should've had to fight for it," Meiling shot back.
"It wasn't the moving ball he was watching," Yuki added.
Shiori huffed. "Terada-sensei, what do you...?" She blinked. "Where did Terada-sensei go?"
"Maybe off to meet his fiancee," Rika replied with a harsh tone. "I'll be back for the bonfire dance."
Shiori huffed, glaring at girl who was now dashing away. Not pleased with what had been said, her crush disappearing on her, and the game ending with the boys winning.
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As the day came to an end, a large bonfire was set up. The crackling of flames and dancing light brought the remaining attendees together for the final presentation of the day. The dancing club put forward a ballroom dance, complete with ball gowns.
Tomoyo watched them closely. "I'll be doing that next week."
Meiling raised an eyebrow. "Who's your date?"
"You wouldn't know him. He's someone my family is doing business with," Tomoyo replied.
Sakura blinked in surprise. "You've got a date and you didn't tell me?"
"It's a date only in the loosest term of it. I'm going with him to return a favor he did for me, nothing more. There won't be a second date," Tomoyo explained with an even tone.
Sakura took her friend's hands. "Don't say that! He might be good for you. What's he like?"
Tomoyo cocked her head in thought. "Hard to say. He's tall, dark and hansom. We've only talked a couple times, but he doesn't say much. Always straight to business."
"Sounds promising," Chiharu chirped.
Tomoyo glanced at her married friend. "I suppose saying he's older than me doesn't mean much."
"I would say not," Rika added with a smirk. "Give him a shot. Love can be found in the strangest of places."
Tomoyo sighed. "I promise not to dismiss him out of hand, but I seriously don't think anything will become of going to a formal dance with him as a favor."
"You'll have to introduce me to him some time," Sakura announced happily.
Tomoyo shook her head. Then she blinked when a figure stepped forward who was cast in shadow and wearing a baseball cap.
"Would milady like to dance?"
Tomoyo laughed. "Why, certainly, Yuki-'kun.'"
Sakura looked confused as she watched Yuki, with her hair put up into a baseball cap, led Tomoyo to join the increasing number of couples in the ballroom dance. "Ah, Tomoyo-chan, Yuki-chan is a girl..."
Takashi blinked. "That's a girl?"
Rika gazed at Tomoyo's dance partner. "You really don't notice it with her hair up." She then blinked. "Where's her friend?"
Meiling pointed. "I'd say she's hunting for Terada-sensei."
Rika shook her head as she glared at Hayabusa.
"Why is Tomoyo-chan dancing with Yuki-chan?" Sakura wondered.
Shinji and Meiling both looked uncomfortable, while Syaoran looked as confused as Sakura.
"She's just having fun," Takashi put forth. He grabbed his wife's hand. "Perhaps we should all join her. What do you say, 'milady?'"
"Don't step on my feet," Chiharu replied with a smile.
Sakura looked expectantly at her boyfriend, and he stiffened up in response. Mechanically he walked over to her and took her hand, never actually asking her to dance even as he began to guide her.
Shinji pulled at his collar.
Naoko smirked at him. "My ankle isn't up for that movement yet. We'll just keep in simple."
"Sure!" Shinji took his girlfriend's hand and only went to the edge of dance area. He held her close, his arms around her waist as they swayed with the music.
Meiling frowned at being left behind. "Wish Hinagashi was here."
"As I wish I could dance with my beloved as well," Rika added.
Meiling eyed the crowd, noting that Tomoyo and Yuki were hardly the only girls dancing with each other. "Care to pretend I'm your favorite teacher?"
Rika giggled. "I'll try to keep my hands to myself."
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A room filled with ancient books was lit by a television. Excited and cheerful noises came from the speakers, much to the annoyance of the lone occupant.
A cheerleading routine brought an end to the video, once again bringing no useful information. A causal flick of a hand caused the video to eject violently into a pile of broken and discarded tapes. The next tape took flight and inserted itself into the VCR and began to play.
The books remained more interesting to the figure than the video.
"Tomoyo-chan, are you still recording me?!" Sakura's voice echoed over the speaker.
A lazy eye moved to see what caused the outburst. Then interest was solidified. There was more than one way to defeat a person, and this offered an unexpected method.
The scene changed smoothly, showing this was not a raw but a compiled film yet what was shown was much the same. This would hurt the girl far more than any spell ever could.
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Author's Notes:
Chapter 21 - Tomoyo at the Ball
Kurogane needed Tomoyo to enter a formal dance, but what is his reason to be at the dance?
This extra was intended to have been a scene much earlier. It just didn't fit anywhere. In all probability, this occurred after Tomoyo's videos were stolen and Naoko was helping Sakura to train.
Omake:
There might be better sources of information, but, for Naoko, this was the easiest method of learning what she wanted to know. She had waited a long time for this opportunity, and finally it was hers.
Kero-chan blissfully chopped away at a cookie. As the last piece disappeared he glanced at the girl's expectant face. "You want something?"
Naoko held up another cookie. "Can you tell me why some people can use magic and others can't?"
Kero-chan swiped the treat, devouring it before replying. "Of course I can. Using magic requires the person to have certain traits. If they don't have one, they can't cast spells."
Naoko offered another cookie. "What sort of traits?"
Kero-chan belched bits of that cookie before continuing, "There's the amount of magic stored within the person, the strength of will to bend that magic, and the perception to feel it."
"Does Sakura-chan really have enough will?" Naoko wondered.
Kero-chan laughed. "If Sakura set her heart on something, there is nothing that can stop her. And the depth of her magic is deeper than even Clow Reed. Her perception of the world may not be the greatest, but her magical sight is vast."
Naoko pouted. "Sakura-chan and Li-kun are so strong, why can't Tomoyo-chan or Meiling-chan use magic?"
"Hard to say." Kero-chan tapped its cheek before taking a newly offered cookie. "Tomoyo certainly has the perception to be a good mage, but magically it appears her well is dry. She has no magic to pull upon. As the wench, she's certainly got the will and magic in her blood, but she can't feel the magic to manipulate it. For her to try to cast a spell is like a blind man trying to drive a car."
Naoko held up a box of chocolates. "Could I use magic?"
Kero-chan tried to get at the candy, but the girl pulled it away. It folded its arms and gazed deeply at the girl, glowing slightly. "Will and perception isn't something I can tell easily, but there is a little bit of magic to you. Not much, though. Even if you can feel magic, it could take you years to learn the simplest of spells. You would need outside help to get anywhere."
Naoko opened the box and let the magical creature to take a couple treats. "You mean I'd need a teacher?"
Kero-chan shook its head. "Nah. Even a teacher can't help where talent is thin. You'd need to go somewhere that is thick with magic or use an item that is highly magical. The fact you've used The Create and was drawn to it before Sakura sealed it shows you aren't completely dead to magic."
Naoko pouted. "So you're saying I could fake be a magic-user in the right places?"
"Afraid so." Kero-chan nodded. "I honestly don't know why the wench hasn't been given any magic items to help. They would act as glasses to her, allowing her to get more use out of an artifact than you probably could."