Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Singing in my Sleep ❯ Better Day ( Chapter 1 )
-This will be added-
Anime/Manga: Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 10.27.2001 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.4K | Visits: 707 | Status: Work In Progress
Oh, and one more thing. Plagiarism, kids, is not good. I published this story and there was a problem, so I had to re post it, and I found out that someone totally stole my idea. So that everybody knows, this fic is MINE, I came up with the idea, I was the one who spent a lot of time writing it, it took me lots of work, so, you know who you are, REMOVE THAT DARN FIC THAT YOU STOLE FROM ME!!!
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Singing in my Sleep
by Animefreak
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Got your tape and it changed my mind
heard your voice in between the lines
come around from another time
where nobody ever goes
all alone in the overpass
wired and phoned to a heart of glass
am I falling in love too fast
with you or the songs you chose?
and all the stars
dream for me
say the promise you long to keep
I can hear you singing it to me in my sleep
I've been living in your cassette
it's the modern equivalent
singing up to a Capulet
in a balcony in your mind
In the city the lion sleeps
pray to Sony my soul to keep
were you ever so bright and sweet?
Did you ever look so nice?
And all the stars dream for me...
I can hear you singing it to me in my sleep
And all the stars sing for me
dive me down in a soul so deep
I can hear you singing it to me in my sleep
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Saturday morning.
The young Kinomoto Sakura rollerbladed wrapped in the intense scent of cherry blossoms, enjoying a pleasant promenade like she hadn't done in what felt like a lifetime. There had been always the card capting affair, which, regardless of the fondness she'd developed towards it over the years, took most of her free time and energy. But she was very glad it had happened, and wouldn't have the heart to change anything that had happened over the past nine years if she had the chance. She felt her life was perfect just the way it was right then.
After the last Clow Card had been turned into a Sakura Card, everything seemed to have quieted down. And with no mysterious events anywhere on sight, her two Guardians had to think about what their future. Sakura loved them both, and there was nothing she wanted more than their happiness. So she sat down with both of them and explained that even though she appreciated their loyalty, she had never demanded it. That this bond of theirs was shackle free. Meaning they had their freedom to do anything they wanted to do.
Kero had refused to leave her. It didn't matter if he had to live in her drawer forever, he would never leave her. She didn't even argue with him, because she was familiar with the nature of his affection. She felt the same way towards him. All she did was smile at him and hold him tight in silence for a long time.
Yue had been a different story though. The young Card Captor had won him over despite himself, and even though he didn't feel towards her nearly as much devotion he had felt for his creator, he loved her and would protected her with his life if he had to. When she'd seen him lower his eyes to the ground not bothering for the first time to hide any of his confusion or sadness, she'd taken his pale hands in hers and assured him that she would be fine with anything he decided. With the sweetest of her smiles she'd told him that she understood the difficulty of the situation he was in. She knew he was torn between the loyalty he felt he owed her and the love he'd discovered. She had finally lifted his face with one delicate finger, and very gently had told him she felt he should go with her oniichan. He had appeared to be taken aback by her knowledge of the situation, but Sakura always found a way to reassure anybody with one single look from those indescribable green eyes of hers. And she had made him realize that there was nothing wrong with being in love and moving on with your life. He'd said that if she was ever in trouble he'd run to her rescue even at the expense of his own life. And she'd held him and thanked him, and wished him all the happiness in the world, and added that she'd always be around and that this did not mean a goodbye at all. Sakura had been happy because for the very first time, she'd seen a glint of true content in his amethyst eyes. And happiness suited Yue wonderfully.
She smiled as she thought of this. Having that conversation with her beloved Guardians had been sad, because it meant closing a chapter of her life, one full of cheerful memories. But she had always Kero, she thought with a childish giggle. He still filled her every day with bubbly happiness, like he always had ever since they'd met. He made every sacrifice she'd had to make, worth it. Because she'd met him and he was the most wonderful of friends.
She skated in front of what had once been the house of Daidouji Tomoyo. She and her mother had long since moved out of the country, to America. Tomoyo had never come back, even for a visit, even though they still wrote to each other in a regular basis, sent pictures, just like any other two friends would. Sakura was very wise, for a nineteen years old. She understood that friendship wasn't only about physical closeness, more about how your heart bonded with a kindred one. And she also understood these bonds lasted forever, despite the distance and their growing up. Tomoyo and her had been the best of friends when she lived in Tomoeda District, and still were, even though she lived thousands of miles away from her.
But, like any teenager, she felt lonely sometimes without those who had shared those happy memories of her childhood with her. It was true she had Kero, her father, her brother...and that she was excited about starting college next fall, that she had decided to turn the page and accept that everything changed, but she still felt melancholy...sometimes.
It was time to return home. Kero would probably be hungry, she thought smiling, and her father would be expecting her for dinner. And she would never leave her father waiting. She'd always bonded with her father, but she felt even more attached to him ever since Touya had moved away, after he and Yukito had admitted their feelings for each other. It broke her heart to think that he could feel lonely. So she hurried and reached her house in record time.
*****
"Daddy, I'm home!" she yelled, taking her shoes off.
"Oh, Sakura, great you're home already!" his head popped out of the kitchen door, his face lighting up "I'm making your favorite food"
Sakura trotted into the kitchen and placed a quick kiss on his father's cheek, looking around for anything she could do to help him.
"Oh, it's okay!" he said, reading the expression on her face "Everything's ready. You can call Kero-chan now"
Sakura then nodded and walked out of the kitchen to fetch Kero for dinner. Everything had been way easier ever since his father and brother had found out about her clandestine activities. Kero and Yue had become extensions of the family, and because Kero had decided to stay with his Mistress, he could keep Sakura's father company whenever she wasn't able to. They even got along beautifully, so what could she complain about? Her life was wonderful!
She overheard some news on the television about a total sun eclipse that would take place in the next few days, but Sakura didn't pay enough attention to catch the date. I hate eclipses, Sakura thought, and ran upstairs at her father's urging.
"Thanks, dad, everything was great. Here, let me get that for you" she offered, clearing the table for him "Now you go and rest, we'll finish everything up hmm?"
"Thanks, Sakura" her father smiled at her, marveling at how much she had matured over the years. Most of it had happened behind his back, her becoming the wise Mistress of the Cards, being able to sustain both her Guardians, save the city from disaster...survive all the loneliness she'd had to put up with, all with a smile on her face, never complaining. He'd seen her cry when Tomoyo had left. When Touya had moved away from home. When her first love returned to Hong Kong and never looked back. She was stronger than she looked, and he was very proud of her for that.
Sakura cleared everything up, and started to wash the dishes. Kero was chatting endlessly about a television show he'd seen this afternoon while helping her tidy everything up, not noticing that her mind was somewhere else. She absently passed him the clean dishes for him to dry and put away, her eyes unfocused, doing the job almost automatically.
She was thinking about Li Syaoran. It was truly uncanny the way memories always found a way to assault her mind right when she was feeling happy. She remembered him very well. The poorly concealed pain on his handsome features when he held her one last time before turning around and walking towards the gate without ever looking back. Probably to disguise disconsolate tears from her. He had gone back and come again several times before, but this time she knew, without him telling her, that he wasn't coming back. She understood that he had responsibilities he couldn't neglect for her, and she had done her best to keep him from going insane with desperation the days prior to his departure, to be her usual cheerful self even though she was doubling over with pain on the inside. She had assured him that she'd always love him, and that would always cherish and treasure their memories together. She didn't let him see her cry, she smiled until the very last minute, and then broke down into Tomoyo's arms. One year later, Tomoyo was to leave her too, and she had to put up the same old show again. I'll always love you. We'll always be the best of friends. I'll come visit you sometime, Tomoyo-chan. I'll write you. She'd given her an impossibly long hug, wiped her tears away, begged her to smile at her, so that she would never have a sad memory of her. And then she'd cried herself out with Kero and her father.
Sakura was sure Syaoran was happy anyway. Meiling had returned several times to Japan to visit, and having become great friends like they had, they would always spend a lot of time together during those short visits. Syaoran would always send her a suitcase full of presents, and the customary affectionate note, telling her how he wished she was there with him, and how he was looking forward to someday returning to Tomoeda District. She would smile and say nothing, knowing why he did it, and deeply appreciating it. She would send gifts back, a sweet note of thanks, for the gifts and for the thoughts. He never wrote he loved her, and neither did she. It was too painful. Better to leave the question hang unspoken...they had been way too attached to each other to bear the thought of the other moving on and finding someone else, even though they were both perfectly aware that it was bound to happen. Meiling would tell her stories about how he was improving on his training, how tall and handsome he had become since he'd returned to Hong Kong, and how he kept refusing every young maid his mother arranged for him to meet, in hopes that he would finally choose a bride. Sakura would smile, shake her head, make a friendly remark about how Syaoran had always been stubborn about everything, and changed the subject. And Meiling understood, and started with a new topic. Fashion in Hong Kong, the chef degree she was meaning to get, and in her last visit, her engagement to a handsome boy who adored her and made her the happiest woman in earth. Sakura had forgotten her newly acquired seriousness and giggled and screamed like a child in glee for her friend. Meiling had said she expected her to be her maid of honor, hinting at the chance of a reunion, even a brief one, with Syaoran. Sakura had been touched by the request and had accepted whole-heartedly, not thinking too much about the glint of mischievous hope she'd caught in Meiling's terracotta eyes. Thinking could very well wait.
"Sakura!!!" Kero yelled at her, snapping her back to the real world.
"What, Kero, what is it?" she responded with a frown, turning the water off.
"I was talking to you and you just zoned out. What were you thinking?"
"Nothing really, Kero, just..."
Kero sighed, and flew over to land on her shoulder.
"You shouldn't be so sad, Sakura. I know you've been through a lot, but think of all the happiness you've brought to so many people. Starting with...with me" he ended in a hush, as if it embarrassed him to admit it.
She smiled broadly and scooped him in her hands to cuddle him. This was one of the reasons she loved him so dearly. He was one of a kind, he was...he was just Kero, and to know him was to love him. She didn't answer, just brought him over to the refrigerator with her, and took out her share of pudding to give it to him.
"Gee, Sakura, I should say these things more often!"
Sakura laughed, and watched him enjoy every spoonful of pudding. Then, he looked up at her and pushed the plate with half the pudding to her. She patted him gently on the head and ate the rest of the dessert. Kero seemed to show enthusiasm in sharing only when it came to her, and it was something that really touched her, given the fact that food was his biggest love.
*****
Sakura plopped down on her bed while Kero turned the TV on for another videogame bout. She usually didn't get haunted by memories like this, but the few times it happened, it left her emotionally drained. Like right then. She felt the desperate need to call Syaoran, Tomoyo, anybody, just to shake this melancholy feeling off of her. Tears welled up in her eyes at the wish that she was ten years old again, with all her dearest friends around her...she turned her face to the wall to keep Kero from seeing her cry.
Sakura woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. She realized she was still wearing her street clothes and had never changed into her pyjamas. Kero was nowhere to be seen, so she sneaked up to his drawer and opened it slowly, to find him asleep on his little bed, probably dreaming of cream cake or something like that. She had gotten used to never sleeping alone, to the point of not being able to sleep well if she was for some reason.
And this night she'd had a strange dream. One of the sort she hadn't had ever since the card capting business was over and done with. She'd dreamt of being alone in a meadow, but as open as it had been, she had felt trapped. No matter how much she walked, she would never see anything else but flowers and blue sky. It had been beautiful, but frightening. Strange. Maybe it was the way her subconscious had to release all the sadness she'd began feeling out of the blue.
She found herself unable to sit still. Even stranger. So she went downstairs and after putting on her shoes and jacket, she went quietly out. The night breeze was starting to cool down at the end of the summer, but it was still very enjoyable, not too cold or too warm. It was a starry night, perfect to walk around. She cast a quick glance to her watch and read 1.30 in the morning. She walked at a leisurely pace, trying to forget about the dream she'd just had, and finding it really annoying how her brain kept pushing those bizarre images and feelings to the front. She liked passing under the cherry blossom trees because of the smell, and sometimes the shower of petals. It brought her currently glum heart happy childhood memories. But one couldn't live on memories forever. She knew perfectly she had to move on, she had acknowledged the fact that all her friends were gone long ago, but days like these...
"Sakura!"
Sakura whirled around quickly to find the source of the familiar, yet strange voice that had addressed her. She found it on top of Yukito's roof, whose house she was passing inadvertently in front of.
"Oh, Yukito!" she greeted him with a forced smile "What are you doing up there?"
"I should ask the same of you! Let me come down so we can talk a little!" he waved a hand and stood up, climbing down backwards like she'd seen him do it so many times before. She leaned against the fence and waited for her friend to appear from behind the house, customary friendly smile plastered on his face. He hadn't changed at all since she met him, she observed with a smile.
"Long time no see" she shot jokingly as he approached her, and leaned against the fence on the other side to be face to face with her.
"Yes, I know, I've been busy...you shouldn't be walking around this late! Your brother would be really mad if he found out!"
"Is he out of town or something?"
"Yes, he's gone out to a lecture with his college group. He'll be back tomorrow night...did you want to come in?"
She nodded politely and stood up straight to allow him to open the gate for her. They sat in front of each other, Sakura staring at her fingers laced together on the table and Yukito carefully scrutinizing her face, trying to figure out her expression.
"So, what was bothering you, Sakura?" he queried, still smiling that warm, familiar smile at her.
"I, um..." she knew Yue was listening to her behind Yukito's eyes and she knew what he would say once he heard. But she'd already started... "I just had a strange dream" she finally admitted.
"A strange dream?...I have the distinct feeling that someone wants to speak to you" he said, chuckling.
"Figures" she muttered as she watched him change. She couldn't help but smile at the sight. Definitely, happiness looked good on her beautiful Moon Guardian, she noted with a proud smile.
"Mistress" he greeted curtly, mostly because he wanted to hear at once about this dream.
"You worry too much, Yue" she smiled, turning around to look forward again "It was nothing"
"You're the Mistress of the Cards, Sakura-sama. A dream that won't let you rest well isn't something to be taken lightly"
"Maybe not in the old days, Yue, but now...I haven't been feeling too well, you know?" she confided.
"How so, Mistress?" he asked, obvious concern in his gentle voice.
"I'm kind of...lonely. I hate to admit that because I should know better than that. So many people would kill to have the kind of life that I have. But I've been thinking a lot about Tomoyo, and...and Syaoran" she finished in a bare whisper, wishing he wouldn't hear her, but knowing that nothing got past her Guardian.
"It's only natural you feel that way, Mistress" his voice softened a tad more to offer her some measure of reassurance "You've been through a lot for such a short age. I feel bad for not being able to do anything for you..."
"I said once it was okay, Yue" she cut him off gently, reaching out to brush his fingers with hers "As long as you're happy I'll think it was a good idea to let you go. I only thought my oniichan could make you infinitely happier than I could ever, and I was right. And it's not like you're going anywhere. You promised me you'd be my friend and that's more than enough. That's the best you can do for me, Yue...be really happy"
"You worry too much about others, Mistress" it was his turn to blandly chide.
"You do know you don't have to call me Mistress anymore right?" she teased, knowing how uptight he was about that.
"You will always be my Mistress, Sakura-sama. The fact that you allowed me to be free only proves that you're a wonderful person. Changes nothing"
Sakura was touched by her Guardian's reply, but hid it behind her eternal smile.
"Oh, Yue, you will never change" she shook her head.
"Mistress" he probed carefully "Tell me about that dream"
"Oh" she replied, swallowing hard. She was almost beginning to forget that with the help of the less likely person to help her in such predicament. Amazing how love changes people, she noted to herself, amused.
"Please. I don't think you should just let it pass"
She nodded, and decided to comply. The worse would be a monster that wanted to kill her, she thought with a smile. Like that hadn't happened before. She was the most powerful sorceress of the world, for crying out loud. Anyway.
"It was pretty simple. I was in a meadow. It was really beautiful, flowers everywhere, blue skies, that sort of thing. But I remember feeling as if I was in a cage, even though the space was unlimited. Everywhere I walked there would be the same thing, the landscape would never change, it was as if never ended"
They remained silent for a while, Yue deep in thought, Sakura observing him. Concern grew on his face by the second, making Sakura feel almost guilty.
"It was nothing, Yue, really, I don't want to worry anybody. That's why I decided I'd go out for a walk and not even tell Kero. I'll feel better tomorrow" she tried to soothe his worry which was slowly turning into some kind of fear "It was probably because I'd been thinking so much about sad things, really...What could a dream like this possibly mean anyway, Yue?"
His eyes suddenly snapped open and stared directly at her in a mildly disturbing fashion, making her almost squirm.
"Trouble, Mistress" he answered quietly.
*****
Sakura had awaken really late that morning after Yue had insisted on bringing her home. She'd fallen asleep and had had no dreams, thankfully. She got dressed quickly and went downstairs for breakfast. She was unusually quiet at the table that morning, making her father and her Sun Guardian exchange worried looks at her odd behavior.
"Did...Sakura, did you rest well?" Kero tentatively asked her.
"No, not very well, had a nightmare. I'll be fine, I'm just a little tired. I was supposed to do the shopping dad?"
"Yes, but I can go. In the car, you know, if you're so tired..."
"No" she replied firmly "I'll go. Maybe I need to go out...I'll go. Where's the list?" she said, getting up from the table and starting to look. Kero and Fujitaka stared at Sakura's plate blankly. It was almost untouched.
Sakura went out on her rollerblades to do the shopping. While for some people grocery shopping could be a real pain, for her it was a soothing affair. She was an expert shopper by this time. She spent hours picking the perfect stuff, and sometimes even helping others do it as well, so it was a known fact that whenever Sakura went out to do the shopping you couldn't expect her back in a very long while. She entered the supermarket and left her rollerblades in the packages counter, then headed for the vegetables section. She was doing pretty well and was even starting to hum to herself softly, until she reached the desserts section.
"Hmmm, what will I bring Kero today?" she mused, rubbing her chin.
"Chocolate pudding please?" came a muffled answer from her backpack.
"Kero!" she said, stuffing him back inside "I've told you a million times to let me know when you want to come! I don't like to be surprised this way!" she scolded softly.
"But you seemed so sad this morning, I thought I could cheer you up!"
Sakura's head dropped. How could she possibly be mad when he gave her an answer like that?
"And you didn't tell me what was wrong either! I thought we were friends!"
"We are, Kero. Listen, there's a candy bar in my backpack. You go back inside and have it *in silence* and we'll talk when we get back home, all right?"
"All right!" he beamed, hiding his little head in the bag again. She left a tiny unzipped corner for him to breathe and have a little light. She admitted that being in a backpack all day long couldn't possibly be comfortable, and he had done only to cheer her up. Least he deserved was the blessed chocolate flan, she thought as she grabbed a six pack of them and tossed them inside the cart.
"Daddy, I'm home!!" she yelled as she took her rollerblades off, but no answer came. Sakura frowned "He must be out. Weird though..." she unzipped her backpack for Kero to get out and walked towards the kitchen.
A few words were scrabbled on the board. Emergency at Kokuritsu dig. Be back tomorrow night. Love, dad.
"Poor Dad" she muttered, trailing her fingers down the board where her father had written the words "He can't even rest on a sunday"
Sakura then set about to prepare lunch. Since it was only her and Kero, she could probably spoil him with his favorite food.
"Kero, how about some okonomiyaki for lunch?"
"Yes! Southern style!" he zoomed into the kitchen and hugged Sakura's neck as much as her little paws would allow him. Sakura couldn't help but smile.
"Okay. Get me the cabbage then" she ordered, smiling as she tied her apron.
*****
While they were having lunch Kero felt like it was time to try and get an answer out of his Mistress again. She had been quite elusive of the subject, as if something was troubling her but she wanted to face it on her own. He would never allow it.
"Sakura-sama..." he began. From the way he had called her she knew very well what he was about to ask.
"How many times have I told you..." she began anyway.
"I want to know what's on your mind. I won't let you go up against anything on your own"
"Who ever said I was going up against something to begin with?" she asked in an authoritative tone that she very seldom used.
"I know you"
She sighed. It was true. She hadn't been able to lie to Yue and neither was she going to manage with Kero. Maybe it was better to spill.
"I had a dream" she admitted in a low tone, fully expecting an 'I knew it'.
"I knew it!" came the anticipated answer. She knew him too.
She began explaining him the same thing she'd explained to Yue the night before, and oddly enough, he listened quietly. He watched his face acquire the same serious expression her Moon Guardian's face had just hours ago and really began to freak out. Yue had always had the tendency to overreact a little but Kero on the other hand didn't. He would always be the last one to worry about something like this, at least until it was proven a clear menace for his beloved Mistress. This time though, he'd stiffened right away. Sakura bit her bottom lip, the silence after she'd finished her tale so heavy she thought she'd go insane.
"I sort of ran into Yue last night and told him about it" she confessed.
"And what did he say?"
"He said it meant trouble..." she left the thought unfinished. He Guardians were anything but cowards.
"And he was right. Sakura, let's do a reading"
"Fine...a reading..." she said, biting the tip of her thumb.
Cards created by Sakura, obey your legitimate master. Answer the questions that trouble my mind. Jesus. She'd had a hard time customizing her spells for her new cards, for her new magic, for her age. She sighed as she felt the spell beginning to take effect, and laid the nine cards. She turned the first one around.
"The Illusion. Meaning we're in for a lot of nice little surprises" Sakura noted sarcastically.
"Great way to start" Kero added in the very tone she'd used just seconds ago.
"Hmm" Sakura nodded and turned the next three cards "The Sword, The Sweet, The Dash. I will have to...run away? Run away with someone who will protect me? A friend? What the hell..." she turned to Kero, but he seemed to be as puzzled as she was. Or maybe very concerned. She breathed deeply before turning around the last card "The Flower" she said, her shoulders drooping in, more than concern, deep annoyance "And here we go again" she snarled morosely.
*****
Sakura had the killer of all migraines. Kero had been explaining stuff to her about the dark warlocks and any other monster that would want to hurt a sorceress until it was nighttime. She couldn't take any more but he carried on speaking. It was the first time in her life she'd heard him talk like this. She couldn't possibly keep up with his convoluted train of thought. That was when the doorbell rang. She sprang up from the bed, thanking the lords for the very welcome interruption, although unexpected. Whoever it was. The mailman. A police officer. Yukito-san. Whoever, meant salvation from an increasingly intense headache.
"I'll get it!" she beamed, and darted down the stairs. The visitor was a very persistent one, for the bell had rang at least twice before she got to the door. She straightened her pyjamas and her hair, allowing the person behind the door to ring one more time. Bless, what impatience! she thought, slightly irked.
Then, she opened the door to the last person she would have expected to see there, ever.
"S--Syaoran?"
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So whatcha think? This is a rough draft that *will* be corrected. Meaning it won't be like this forever. Once it's corrected it'll be re-posted. Until then, let me know how you like it!
(The song on the beginning is "Singing in my Sleep" by Semisonic, in the album 'Feeling Strangely Fine'. Really sweet song)
To be continued...