Stars and Blue Moon
–Martinet Heleine
Summary: Starts two months after the second movie. Sakura and Syaoran are happy though in separate countries. One night, time stops abruptly to Sakura's surprise. She goes to the source of magic to find a mage. He captures all the cards and her two guardians. He asks her to use her magic without a medium if she wishes to have her friends back. After that she wakes up next morning in her room. With her cards and guardians gone, Sakura feels helpless. She tries to contact Eriol only to find out from Kaho that he vanished in the attempt to stop the same mage. She tells Syaoran everything and he comes to Tomoeda immediately. That night they go to fight the mage only to find all the released cards, the four guardians and Eriol standing against them. The mage placed a seal on the entire city leaving Syaoran unable to use his charms. He too has to use his magic without a medium. The situation seems hopeless. How do they face it? Will they be able to learn to use the magic without a medium? Who is this mage that tells them to learn new magic instead of hurting them like the rest?
Author's note: My first story on FF. hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS or any of its characters.
Chapter 1: A Change
Sakura kept her mobile on the table. This time of the day was the time she waited for each day. She loved this time of evening when she returned from school. She was still in her uniform. With beet red face, she stared at the picture set as wallpaper in her mobile. It was the picture of the one person she loved. And she loved him dearly. Kero watched her flushed face from the side. He was used to such sights every evening if we do not forget the mornings as well. Sakura seemed to be lost in her own world staring at Syaoran.
Fujitaka gave a shout from below, "Remember to take your dress off Sakura."
Sakura came back to the present world with her father's warm voice. She turned to the clock and…
"HOE!"
She hurriedly took off her dress. It was her turn to prepare dinner that night and she was late. Touya would be late from his work and Yukito promised to visit that night. She hurriedly got into her regular clothes and ran down stairs.
Kero spoke to himself, "She will never change."
Sakura was busy preparing dinner. She was also lost in her thoughts about Syaoran. Fujitaka helped her knowing that she would hurt herself if she did not concentrate on cooking. That was something he tried to do but it was futile. Sakura simply cannot stop thinking about her love. Fujitaka simply stayed close helping her and keeping a close watch on her. He could not stop her from doing the chorus since she would feel bad then. As a father, he did not want to sadden his daughter at all. He just kept an eye on her.
Touya arrived an hour later along with Yukito and they all sat down around the table to eat. While they ate, Sakura was once again lost in her thoughts. Touya frowned, though with a smile this time, seeing his little sister blush with thoughts about Syaoran.
"So the monster is still thinking about that brat. For once I pity that brat for falling for a monster."
Sakura's nerve popped up. Just because she was spacing out slightly, did not mean she did not hear him. Touya made it very audible anyways. He just grinned as Sakura's eyes flared at him.
"STOP CALLING ME THAT." Sakura shouted at him but her sweet voice simply could never scare anyone.
Yukito and Fujitaka smiled to see Sakura intensely glare at Touya as if she would swallow him whole. Touya simply grinned teasingly at her that intensified her glare. She ate her dinner without another word. Kero also sat on the table, greedily eating what he loved to eat; the desserts.
Sakura's family now knew about Kero and even Sakura being a card mistress. The event from two months back related to the mysterious clow card that erased everything in the city in the attempt to get all the cards, had revealed the secret. Though her friends had no idea what happened at that time, Sakura told her father about it with support from Touya. Maybe if Touya had not encouraged her and supported her all through the time when she revealed her secret, Sakura might not have been able to tell her father. She knew he would take it positively but she was afraid he might be worried from the dangers he saw and knew she faced.
Fujitaka, on the other hand, told her that he was glad Sakura found her place in the world. He had suspected something was up in Tomoeda from the strange occurrences and Sakura's presence at those place most of the times. Though he did not think she would be a magician. Being a professor and archaeologist, he was curious to know more and Sakura happily agreed to tell him all she knew. Fujitaka did ask her to be careful and never hesitate from telling him if she needed some help. Even if he did not say it, Sakura knew he was worried.
Fortunately, nothing out of the order took place since then. Everything was very quiet and she lived peacefully. Fujitaka's worries slowly disappeared with time. He knew Sakura could handle herself. She did it so far and she would continue the same in the future. Kero moved around the house more freely now and often sparks flew between him and Touya, mostly over the fridge.
Yukito broke the brief silence, "So Sakura. Are there any plans for the future?"
Touya slightly glared at his best friends who decide to ignore the looks. Fujitaka noticed Sakura's confused looks and knew well that she could not guess what Yukito hinted at. However, both Touya and Fujitaka knew it well.
Sakura began to think, "I think I will become a teacher."
Yukito and others, though not surprised at her replied, sweat-dropped. Of course, she would make a good teacher but…
Kero spoke with mouthful, "Dolt. He is talking about your future with the brat."
Sakura was unclear what he meant or a few seconds and then turned beet-red with a, "HOE!"
Everyone expected that reaction. Touya already had his fingers in his ears to prevent any damage with the embarrassed shout. Sakura was dumbfounded as she looked at Yukito.
"Yu…kito. I…What…Well…He…"
Yukito could see how she felt. Her wordlessness and mixed reply was very amusing for him. Even Touya could not hide a smirk. Kero simply shook his head in 'it happens all the time' way. Sakura stared at her food, still with a flushed face. A smile appeared on her lips as she began to ponder over the question. Her heart pounded uncontrollably inside her chest. She could feel it beating rapidly.
"So what did you answer?" asked the amethyst-eyed owner of the excited voice.
Sakura replied from inside the changing room, "I could not reply. Yukito asked me that so suddenly that I was embarrassed. I did not know what to say. I mean I…have thought about it many times but I still had no idea what to tell them."
The raven-haired girl chuckled elegantly while she sat on her bed in her very large room. Sakura stepped out of the small room and faced the girl. She looked impressed as she swayed her shockingly ordinary pearl-white sundress around in front of the girl. The girl had stars in her eyes already. Sakura knew that look very well.
"By the way Tomoyo, how come this dress is so simple? Your other dresses are much…much…" she was at a loss of words. She wanted to say weird and strange but she did not want to upset her cousin.
Tomoyo smiled and replied, "Simple yes but incomplete. I thought I should take this dress a little slowly and systematically. I want it to be perfect for the special occasion it will serve."
Sakura was confused and turned to the dress she wore. She could not guess what she meant.
"What is so special about it and what special occasion?"
The stars returned in the amethyst eyes at once as their owner replied, "Your wedding day of course. I am designing a very special and perfect dress for the bride as well as the groom."
Sakura was taken by surprise. She turned into a brighter shade of red if that was even possible after the talks they just had. Sakura could see the dazzling stars in Tomoyo's eyes.
"Tomoyo!"
Tomoyo laughed her usual evil laughter and Sakura knew she was serious. Only an hour ago, Yukito teased him on the same matter and now she finds out that her cousin is already planning her marriage that by shortest is at least five years away. She was only twelve now and even Syaoran was not going that far.
Ever since words broke out that Sakura and Syaoran were official couples, everyone has been teasing her. All her friends and family would tease her. All she could do was turn red at the mention of his name. Sometimes it felt nice to her but most of the times; it was irritating. Of course, she liked being linked to the love of her life in that way but there was only so much she could bear with a smile. Recently, it had been getting irritating.
Nevertheless, it still brought a smile to her face. Why? Each tease gave her a new thing to discuss with Syaoran. That meant extra talks and longer mails. Syaoran was in a similar condition in Hong-Kong. While the elders did not like her much for beating Syaoran on the capture, his mother and four sisters would find new reasons to tease him. Meiling and all his friends in Hong-Kong knew about her and they simply could not get enough of it.
Sakura knew all this partly because Syaoran told her and mostly because Meiling would regularly mail Tomoyo and her. She would tell them all the teasing Syaoran faced and how he would turn into a tomato each time. His fatal glares barely helped him in this case. Everyone in the Li clan knew her. Most of them liked her from what Meiling had told them. That meant he was in much worse state compared to her. She only had her friends and family but he had his entire clan besides the leader and a few others teasing him almost at each meeting.
Nevertheless, neither of them minded a thing. They both knew that their teasers actually cared for them and wanted to them together and happy. They had not thought much about marriage but they were sure they would be married when they are old enough. Until then, they did not think about it.
Tomoyo made Sakura model for a few more of her dresses before Sakura left. Touya came to get her and they left on his bike. Soon Sakura was in her bed looking at all the cards she had. The one moment when her thoughts did not drift towards Syaoran was when she talked to her cards. There was no real talking but spreading all the cards on her bed and talking turns to pick up and stare at each one of them, she felt like talking to them. Ever since she got a new friend in the form of 'The HOPE', the cards had greater brilliance compared to before. She felt that they were all very happy to be together.
She could not help but smile as she picked up 'The MIRROR' card. This card had begun to act as a messenger of the cards. None of the cards would directly speak to Sakura except for this card. She would summon it every weekend and talk to her about the cards. She had made it a point to have Yue and Kero there with her at those times. Touya would arrive in the middle of the conversation with two plates of cookies. The big one for Kero and Sakura while the small one for the card. That plate was specially made for the card by Touya. He made sure Kero did not steal from it. The card also liked him for his brotherly acts towards her.
A knock brought Sakura out of her thoughts about Touya's uncanny care towards the card.
Touya shouted from outside, "Time to sleep…monster."
Sakura was about to shout in reply when she felt the card pulsate in her hand. She was surprised for a moment.
"Hey Touya. I think 'MIRROR' wants to talk to you."
She felt the card pulsate twice this time. Touya stepped in with a quizzical look. The card had never expressed desire to talk to him earlier. He stood next to the bed as Sakura pulled out the magical key.
'Key that hides the power of the stars.
Show your true form before me.
I, Sakura, command you under our contract.
Release!'
The key elongated into a pink staff with a golden six-sided star inside a circle with tiny wings at one end and a red gem on the other end. She released the 'MIRROR' card as it floated before her. Touya had seen it often so nothing surprised him. He silently stood in his place wondering why the card suddenly wanted to talk to him.
'MIRROR!' Sakura called forth the card.
A huge mirror appeared before her. She saw the card on the other side of the mirror. She wore the green ribbon Touya gifted her long ago. That ribbon was one of the reasons why the card was attached to Touya though Sakura did not know that. The card began to come out of the mirror and took Sakura's image in the process. She looked exactly like Sakura except for the hair. The fake Sakura had longer hair with the same green ribbon tied to them in two ponytails. She always appeared before Touya with that difference.
Touya stepped forward, "What is the matter?"
Mirror looked at her, smiled and tied her hands politely before her, "I need a favour from you."
She had copied Sakura's voice but one could tell her voice was much softer and shy compared to Sakura's. Touya knew she kept these little differences so that others could tell she is not the real Sakura.
"What favour?" he had noticed real Sakura as surprised and confused as he was now.
None of the cards ever asked for any favours. If they had something to say, they would always tell Sakura alone.
Mirror stepped forward and signalled him to bend forward. He did as she wanted and she whispered in his ears. At first, he was shocked but then he smiled. He straightened up when she finished speaking and looked at his little sister. Sakura was looking at him for answers. She wanted to know the full thing.
He returned his gaze to the card, "How about tomorrow evening?"
Mirror smiled at him and nodded, "Thank you."
Touya turned to his real sister, "Hey monster. Mind if I borrow her for tomorrow evening?"
Sakura flinched at the 'M' word but the curiosity about the card's favour won in her mind.
"What is going on?"
Touya smirked, "That is something that does not concern you. It is between her and me."
His mocking tone infuriated Sakura. She wanted to shout at him, but when she saw the card, she had to let go of her anger. Mirror was staring at Touya with a warm smile. Sakura could not help but agree.
"Fine. I will release her tomorrow after school." She turned serious, "You better keep her safe and not be mean to her. Otherwise, I will have to ask Eriol to send Nakuru over for a week. And I am dead serious about it."
Touya flinched at that name. Meeting the girl who gave him so much trouble in the past was the last thing he wanted. Of course, he would take care of this little girl like always. Sakura did not have to threaten him for that. He suddenly began to curse his luck since Sakura had gotten a way to threaten him.
"Fine. I would have done it any way."
Sakura gave her warmest smile to her brother, "Good night big brother."
Touya opened the door and stepped out, "Good night mirror girl. Wish others as well on my behalf. Night…monster."
He closed the door and a pillow hit it. Sakura was standing on her bed now looking very angry. She threw that pillow at him. Mirror smiled at it and picked up the pillow. She came to Sakura and Sakura calmed down immediately with a smile.
"Thank you Mistress."
"No problem. Can't you tell me what it is?"
Mirror shook her head in denial, "I am sorry mistress. It is something that all the cards want to do. I am just a medium. You will know eventually."
Sakura was confused at her words. She could not figure out what the cards wanted that she could not give.
"Good night mistress."
She transformed back into a card and gently floated into the bundle of other cards. Sakura collected all the cards still wondering about the previous topic. She placed them inside the magical book. After placing the book on her table, she turned to seal her staff but did not do so. She stared at the star in her staff with a confused look.
"Was the star always six-sided?" Sakura wondered for a few moments but then returned it into its key form and kept it on the table. She climbed into her bed.
"Good night Kero."
Kero shifted in the drawer and mumbled something inaudible to Sakura.
End of Chapter 1
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