Sakura looked out her window as the last of the cards flew out of sight. "What's going to happen now?" She asked Kero.
The little orange creature sat on her bed, thinking. "I'll have to return to the book." He explained. "If a new card master finds the book, I'll help them find the cards." He sighed, then floated over to the window and sat on Sakura's shoulder. "Once all the cards are found, we'll see what happens."
"Do you think I'll ever see you again?" Sakura asked, a tear slipping down her cheek.
"I don't know, kiddo."
The front door closed and they watched a man walk to his car, the Clow book under his arm. Since Sakura's father wasn't able to figure out the book, he'd arranged to send it to a professor overseas. Even though she was the Master of the Cards, Sakura had no say in the matter. They couldn't tell her father that she'd managed to open the book.
Kero floated out in front of Sakura's face. "Goodbye Sakura." He said sadly before flying out the window and disappearing into the book. The car pulled away and out of sight.
"Goodbye Kero."
Paige White scanned the arrivals board, looking for her father's flight. There! She thought. Arriving from Tokyo International. Gate 3. She hurried to the gate just as the bags began to arrive.
"Dad!" She called, waving, when she saw her father. Mr. White looked up from a book and waved back. Paige grabbed his bag from the conveyer belt and ran to meet him.
"Hey, I thought you had a date today. Why are you here?" He said playfully.
Paige rolled her eyes. "Dad, it's not a date. Al just wanted to check my measurements again." She grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards the parking area.
Mr. White frowned. "By measurements, you mean for costumes, right?"
Paige laughed. "What else, dad? Al's gone a little crazy with the fabrics and lost his sheet in a sea of colours and lace." She opened the car door and climbed in, waiting for her father to follow. "Is that it?" She asked, pointing to the book Mr. White had been holding.
"Yes, it is." He handed it to her and started the car. "The professor in Japan couldn't open it. He put it on a bookshelf, but a few years later, he found it in his daughter's room." He shook his head. "Why a ten year old would be interested in an antique text is beyond me."
"It has a nice cover." Paige commented, running her hand over the golden lion embossed on the red leather. She fingered the clasp. It didn't have a key hole or a pinch spring. "I wish we knew what was inside."
Mr. White chuckled. "Maybe it's that mystic spell book your mom was talking about."
"Hey, don't make fun." Paige defended. "It might be. Look." She pointed to the cover. "It says 'The Clow' right on it."
Mrs. White had always told Paige about her family's history of magicians. Paige's favourite tale was about one of her great-uncle's son and how his magic was so powerful, he'd been able to create a completely new kind of magic.
"Mom would have loved this book." Paige mumbled.
Mr. White reached over and patted her shoulder. "I'm sure she would have." He pulled up in front of their house. "I have some work to take care of at the office. Why don't you hang onto the book for now? I'll take a look at it later."
"Really?" Paige's face lit up. "Thanks dad!" She hopped out of the car and waved as it pulled away. Then she went inside. She put the book on the kitchen table and turned to get some soup from the fridge.
Something made Paige stop, her hand hovering over the fridge handle. She didn't know what it was, but she had a feeling that something was calling her. She turned back to the book.
"Mom?" She called. "Is that you?" She stepped closer, laying a hand on the book. All at once, the feeling stopped. Paige sighed. "Yeah, why would you call me? Why now? It's been seven years."
The clasp snapped open, making Paige jump. Cautiously, she opened the book and looked inside. Instead of flowing calligraphy in an unknown language like she expected, Paige found herself looking into a hollow space.
Frowning, Paige closed the book. Behold, the mysterious book of Clow. She thought. Near impossible to open with nothing inside. She turned back to the fridge, but stopped when something behind her started glowing. Now what? Is the book transforming or something? She turned around.
A little creature was emerging from the cover of the book. Paige took a step back. Once it had appeared completely, the glowing stopped and it opened its eyes.
"Hey, there!" the creature called. "I'm Cerberus, Guardian of the Seal." He flew around the kitchen, taking in his surroundings. "It's a nice house, but what's the grub like?" He came up to Paige and smiled. "So you're the one who broke the seal? Well, you're certainly older than Sakura. What's your name?"
Paige blinked a few times before reaching out and poking the creature's forehead. "You're real." She breathed. "Amazing. It was a magic book." She poked the creature again.
"Hey, cut that out!" He swatted her finger away. "I was appointed to guard the Clow Cards."
"Uh, I'm not sure if you know, but that book's empty. There are no cards in it." Paige couldn't help poking the creature one last time.
"Stop that!" he yelled. "And I know it's empty. The book was taken from the Master of the Cards, so they scattered. Now it's up to the new Master to find them. That would be you, little girl."
"Paige." She stated. "My name is Paige White and I'm 17." She crossed her arms. "And I'm not going to call you Cerberus. It just doesn't seem to fit you."
"Fine, fine." He waved the comment away. "Sakura and her friends called me Kero. I'm used to it now." He flew around Paige's head a few times. "Are you sure you're 17?"
"I'm short, okay?" Paige grabbed the book and started walking. "Forget it. I'll just put this in my room and…" She stopped one foot on the first stair. "Why are you following me?"
Kero stopped. "You need to take this seriously." He closed his eyes. "Key of Clow, come forth."
The book started glowing again. This time, a small key appeared. There was a little ornate star in a pink circle attached to the top of the key, making it look a little childish. Paige held out her hand and the key landed on her palm.
"That key will help you capture the cards." Kero explained. "Make sure you have it at all times."
As Paige stared at the key, the pink circle faded to black. "Well, as long as it doesn't go back to pink." She smiled.
A strong wind hit the house, knocking Paige off the stairs. She scrambled to the front door and opened it. Outside, the trees were bent to near breaking and were being stripped of their leaves.
"It's the Windy card!" Kero called, staying away from the open door. "Activate the wand!"
"What wand?" Paige called over the roaring wind. "You mean the key?"
"Repeat after me!" Kero strained to be heard. "Key of Clow…"
"Key of Clow!" Once Paige said those words, the rest came to her. "Lend me your strength and power! Rest unto me the wand of might!" The key in her hand was lifted into the air. "Release!" The key grew longer, the groves smoothing out into a staff.
Paige grabbed the wand, ready to fight. She stepped out into the street. "Show yourself!" She yelled.
Wisps of wind circled in front of her, merging into a woman of air. She didn't look angry, but defensive.
"Careful!" Kero called from the house. "Windy was Sakura's first card! She trusts her the most!"
"I don't want to replace her." Paige said to Windy. "If you let me, I'd like to help you find her." Windy didn't move, but her expression did soften. "I have no idea what I'm doing. Will you help me learn?"
Windy reached out her arm and wrapped it around the wand. Good luck. A voice came to Paige's mind.
"Return to your form within. Windy!" Paige waved the wand in front of Windy and she transformed into a card, which landed in her open hand.
"Well, that was a bit different than how Sakura handled it." Kero commented, finally coming out of the house. "But you did it!"
"They want to go home." Paige whispered. "They were taken away from her." She turned to Kero. "I promise, I'll reunite them with your Sakura."