Author's Note: Thank you all for your support. But for those of you who
don't know, you must and I repeat MUST read Mistakes, Just To Talk and
Gratitude BEFORE you read this fic. They are all one-shots and they all
follow up to this point. It is like a mini-series.
Starquestor- Meiling is dead. She died by demons and it is said in the first part, Mistakes. She did not put herself under the knife (though I wonder if she did what will she would like to look like). And I'm not trying to criticize you, but even if she was sent to protect Tomoyo, she would be put under an illusion spell and a spell which changes your looks to whatever you want.
This will be a S+S fic for those of you who are wondering. Though it will be a weird one and really won't seem like it as you read. I think. Anyways, I had a really busy week so I am sorry that I couldn't update earlier like I said I would.
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Kinomoto Sakura smiled brightly at the young girl as she signed her signature on a picture of herself. After signing her name and welcoming the little girl, Sakura continued her walk through the park. The 23 year old women caught sight of a very dear friend and half father, Hiragizawa Eriol.
Quickening her pace to reach him, she made a half trip and fell into his arms for a hug. Both laughing while embracing, the two of them let go of each other and started to walk aimlessly around the park.
"Eriol-kun, it's so good to see you again," Sakura said happily.
"It's good to see you again my kawaii Sakura-chan," Eriol replied with the same amount of happiness as Sakura did.
"Did you get see Tomoyo-chan this morning?" she asked.
"Of course I did and last night," he said and in mock horror, "If I didn't than I would have died!"
Sakura giggled. "It's been so long seen I've last seen you!"
"Maa maa (now now I think) Sakura-chan, it has only been 2 months seen you last saw me."
"Yes, but its been the longest time that you and Tomoyo-chan has been apart form each other since your engagement and Tomoyo-chan missed you very much."
"Yes," Eriol said with a secret smile of his. Like he knew something wonderful but wasn't telling. "She showed me just how much she missed me last night."
"Really? What did she show you?" Sakura asked curiously not knowing what her Tomoyo-chan showed him that she didn't know about.
Eriol sweat drop but smile at her fondly. For all of her 23 years of age, Sakura was still very naïve. But it was what he, Touya, and Kero wished for. For her to remain innocent. But ever since that chat with Xiao Lang a couple of years ago and another one with Touya a couple months after that, he wondered if it was all worth it.
(But fate is cruel. It favors few)
Eriol stopped walking for a split second and turned around, looking for that voice that he had just heard. It wasn't Sakura because she was busy talking about up coming trip in a month to America to do a modeling show there. She didn't notice Eriol stopping for barely a second to look around and then resume walking. Apparently she didn't hear the voice when it spoke.
Eriol didn't find anyone near them who could have whispered the strange but true statement about fate. He searched the park with his aura and found two or three sorcerers, but whose powers were too weak to carry their voice to Eriol's ears, and what felt like the barriers of his mind.
"Eriol-kun?" Sakura said breaking his search and train of thought.
"Yes Sakura-chan?"
"I asked you how long are you going to stay this time, but you didn't answer. Are you alright?" she asked with worry in her eyes. Eyes that showed the same innocent as years before. Eyes that showed no knowledge of the sacrifice that had to be made to make the world, if anything, safer. Not happier and certainly not wiser, but safer. And again the question came to Eriol's mind: Was it worth it?
"Hai," he answered the worried women. "I'm fine. I just had something on my mind." And with that they continued their walk.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Hours later, Sakura walked into her apartment with heaved a tried yet happy sigh. Her day was great. After her walk with Eriol, they found Tomoyo, with Yana in tow, at one of her shops and dragged her out to get lunch. Afterwards they went to see a movie and then another walk around the park. It was a nice spring day to just walk around. Afterward, they all had dinner. Then Sakura went home while Eriol and Tomoyo went somewhere to just be together and Yana back to the mansion.
"Kero-chan! I'm home!" Sakura called out walking into the living room of her apartment.
"Welcome back Sakura-chan!" Kero said flying next to Sakura and landing on the coffee table. "Did you bring me anything to eat?"
"Always hungry, ne?" Sakura said placing a hand on her mouth and giggled.
Kero puffed up his breast and proudly said, "Of course I'm always hungry. I have to keep up my strength if I want to protect you. And I'm a big beast. Big guys like me need all the nutrition we can get."
Sakura giggled some more and gave him a big brown big of food that she order during dinner.
"Yes, but there is nothing really to protect me from," she said as she walked towards her bedroom.
As she closed her door, but left little ajar for Kero, he muttered, "But you have no idea."
Sakura dressed into her clothes that she used for sleeping and laid on her bed. The bed where HIS use to be. In the apartment where HE use to live. She looked around her room and saw a lot of pink and many pictures of her, friends, and family around the wall and on top of the dresser. She was very sure the HE didn't have this many pictures when HE use to live there, or that much pink in HIS used to be room. The only thing in her room that wasn't pink, besides her furniture and some of her clothes, was her bed. She insisted that it should be green. So Tomoyo made her coverings a dark green but with embroidered pink Sakura petals falling around it.
"Why green?" she remembered Tomoyo asking when she told her what color she wanted her beddings to be.
"Because it reminds me of the person who we use to know. That use to live here," she replied back with that innocent smile of hers. The kind of smile that only showed when she was remembering HIM, she but didn't even notice. Slightly sad but happy and sweet at the same time.
"I wonder what he is doing now," she said to herself. Over the years, Sakura really did grow more mature, but she sometimes hid her maturity. She liked to stay innocent and sweet. She saw how some people become bitter as they grew older. She didn't want to become like they did. She didn't want people to dislike her because she was a bitter person. So she tried to remain innocent and sweet for as long as she could. It was for everyone else's sake because it seemed that they took comfort in the fact that at least one person remained the same over the years.
She remembered when she decided to move out of the family's house. When she was 19, she wanted to be more independent like many older teens her age. The apartment building where she currently lives now was the first place where she looked. But at the time, there a couple living in the only apartment that she wanted. The place where HE use to live. But after waiting a couple of months, the couple who lived there got married and moved out. Sakura was there the same day that the coupe gave their notification that they would be moving out. Touya teased her that she probably was watching the apartment complex, for months. Just waiting for the couple to move out.
'He's probably right,' Sakura mused to herself remembering that Touya had suddenly gotten a swollen foot after his teasing.
Later that night, Kero came hovering into the room and closed the lights.
"Good night Sakura-chan," he said getting into his miniature bed next to Sakura's.
"Good night Kero-chan," she answered back.
Both laid on their beds in the dark. Both knowing that the other wasn't asleep and neither said anything. Finally Kero said, "Do you think you'll have that dream again?"
"I don't know. Maybe," she replied back.
For the past 4 months, Sakura had recurring dreams that she, Eriol, Yue, Kero, and Spinel agreed that it was a dream about the future. A very disturbing dream, but they all knew that it had something to do with the future. At first it happened at least once a week. Soon it became more frequent and life-like. Now it happened every night, but she still couldn't make out the details of it or any sense of it.
Minutes later, both Sakura and Kero were fast asleep.
*~*Dream*~*
It was dark. Not the kind of dark that left you scared and wondering what creatures were hiding in it. It was more of night dark. One where you were just standing outside the night enjoying the cool air that only the night could offer.
But then slowly, a green light started to form. It made a large sphere, encaging Sakura and the darkness. It wasn't so bad. The green light didn't feel dark or evil. It felt almost safe. But it didn't feel –whole-. Like there was something missing that should be there. But Sakura was confused. How can green light not feel whole?
Then, more light came to the darkness and Sakura found herself standing on the Tokyo tower. She saw the lights of Tokyo shining brightly in the night. But there were no people walking around the city. No usual batch of people walking or wobbling home after a couple of hours in the bar and no sound of cars making their way through the city.
"Just like the judgment day," Sakura whispered.
Quiet. Everywhere there was silence. She started to get nervous. Everywhere she looked, nothing moved. Then she looked up, in hopes of seeing that green light. Fortunately for her, it was still there, but very faint. It started to disappear.
"NO!" she screamed. "Don't leave me here!"
Laughter. There was laughter in the city. But she couldn't see them. She wasn't even sure if it was humans who were laughing. It had amusement in their laughter. An amusement that was almost sick. She turned around and looked down, trying to see the ones making the demented laughter.
'But do you really want to see them?' a voice inside her asked.
'I don't know,' she silently replied to the voice, not caring that she didn't know who or what asked her. She was too busy looking for the ones making the insane laughter.
"Sakura! Fight!" a voice yelled. Its sound coming from what seemed like all directions.
"Fight?" she said confused and at a lost.
There was no reply.
"I don't understand!" she yelled out to the empty city. The laughter grew louder.
She couldn't take the voices that were clearly laughing at her. She fell to her knees and started to tremble lightly.
"Weakling," the voices that were laughing at her started to say.
"I... I... I don't know.... I don't know what to do," she whispered.
"It's all your fault!" some of the voices yelled out in half amusement and half anger.
"Weakling!"
"Coward!"
"This wouldn't happen because of you!"
"I don't understand," she said.
The laughter continued. Then a quite voice said which Sakura hardly heard:
"It's almost time."
*~*Morning*~*
Sakura woke up slowly. She looked around her room as if not recognizing it.
She heard a yarning next her bed and saw Kero waking up from his small bed. "Good morning Sakura-chan," he said still half asleep.
"Good Morning Kero-chan."
Rubbing the last of the night's sleep away he ask, "How was the dream?"
Sighing, Sakura got out of bed, "Same as always. I couldn't remember much but some lights and laughter."
"Don't worry Sakura-chan. I'm sure that you'll remember everything in time."
"I hope so. I get this feeling that something is going to happen soon,"
"If something does happen, we'll take care of it. You can count on us!" Kero said.
"I know I could always count on you," she appreciatively said.
"So, uh, what are your plans today?" Kero asked as Sakura grabbed cleaned clothes and headed for the bathroom.
"I'm going to see Wakari-kun this morning, then to work."
"Ahh, Yoake Wakari. Understanding dawn. The ex-fiancé. Nice kid too. Still have feelings for him?" Kero inquired.
"A little," Sakura answered back. "But not as much as before. Sometimes I still wondered what it would be like if I hadn't broken off the engagement."
"Sakura-chan, it was more like he broke it off, not you," Kero half exasperated. His exasperation indicated that this wasn't the first time they had a conversation similar to this.
"I know Kero-chan. But it still feels like –I- was the one who did something wrong," Sakura said giving off a tired sigh.
"Go take your shower while I attempt to get breakfast ready," Kero encouraged her and himself. Kero's cooking skills was enough to make any decent cook cry.
Later that morning, after a slight burned down kitchen and half too well done breakfast, Sakura walked into The Wolf's Den café and sat down at a table where a young gentlemen was already sited. He had short brown black hair and soft brown eyes that would make any girl blush when he looked her eyes. He was 5.7 and one of the kindest person Sakura ever met.
"Good morning Wakari-kun," Sakura said when she sat down.
"Good morning Sakura-chan," he replied back with a sweet smile. "How is Kero today?"
"He is good. Though I can't say the same for his cooking," she answered brightly. They both laughed.
"I already ordered you something, if that is okay with you?" Wakair said.
"Thank you. It's fine by me. You are just too good to me," she said with a hint of an apologetic voice.
"Iie, don't apologize," Wakari said waving his hands in front of him. "I meant what I said."
Three years ago, Sakura and Wakari were both engaged. They had been seeing each other about 5 years or so prior to that. Wakari fell in love with Sakura during those 5 years and so did Sakura to Wakari. But Sakura did not feel as strongly to Wakari as he did to her. Sakura, being the kind of person she was, did not tell him that she did in fact love him, but not enough to want to spent the rest of her life with him.
Though she did say yes to him when he asked her to marry him. She did not want to sadden him by refusing him. Sakura told him who she was, the Card's Mistress, and that she had magic a week after their engagement. His first reaction was shocked, then she hugged her and spun her around exclaiming how wonderful to it would be to use her magic to entertain the children. That is when Sakura fully realized that Wakari was not the person she wanted to marry. Again she did not voice this out so that he would not become sad. But Wakari knew her too well. Two months later, he confronted Sakura about the matter.
"Sakura-chan, I know that you don't love as I love you," he began but was cut off by Sakura.
"Of course I love!" she said but was in returned, cut off by Wakari.
"I know you do," he said softly, placing his fingers on her lips so that she would not interrupt him again. "But not as much as you love me. Maybe you love me in a brotherly way too."
Sakura tried protesting saying that she didn't love him like a bother, but again Wakari place his fingers on her lips.
"I'm saying maybe. –Maybe- you love me in a brotherly too but do not realize it. At first I was so happy that we were going to be married soon. But then when I mentioned children, your eyes darkened. That's when I started to suspect. But then again, I've always suspected for a few years that maybe you didn't love me the way I wanted you too. I didn't think much further on it because I really didn't want to know. To know that maybe, you were really in love with someone else.
I was that selfish to hold onto you like that. Sakura I loved you than, and I still do now. But I want you to be happy. I started to watch you more closely. I noticed how sometimes you would look at me, but not really –see- me. Like you were looking for someone else in me or someone else completely, but couldn't find that person. Then, when you started talking about your adventures when you were capturing the cards then turning them into your own, you always had this smile on your face. Like you were remembering something special, as if someone you love rather, was in your past and not here, now in the present. I think Sakura-chan that you are in love with someone else. So I think that I should let you go."
After that, Wakari gave Sakura time to think it over. She found that maybe, -maybe- she was in love with someone else. But who? When she finally told Wakari her real thought after much time, two years ago. True to his name, Understanding Dawn, Wakari told her that he was happy for her. That she finally realized what really made her happy.
"When you finally tell the lucky person what you really feel, I want to meet that person and take 'em out to lunch," he had said.
Now two years later, Wakari and Sakura were best of friends. After their breakfast (Sakura's second if you could count that breakfast), Wakari walked Sakura to her job.
Late that afternoon, while the sun was beginning to set, at the place where Sakura had to fight Eriol almost 13 years ago, six people met. Touya came with Yukito, Eriol with Nakura and Spinel in tow, and Kero flying solo.
"I take it that you all got the message too," Eriol stated more than asked.
"Yeah, we did," Touya said nodding to Yukito who in turn transformed into Yue. Ruby Moon didn't want to transform sine she is Nakura.
"So, HE was behind this along. I should have known!" Kero said a bit angered and smacked his little paw with the other.
"Calm down Cerberus," Spinel said to Kero.
"Calm down?! I'll show you calm!!" and with that, both guardians which resembled toys started starching each other's faces while Nakura cheered them on.
The rest of the just watch and sweat dropped. Finally, Eriol said in his Clow Reed voice, "Spinal Sun, Cerberus, enough!"
Both guardian beasts stopped beating their counter parts and Nakura stopped cheering.
"Yes Sir," they said.
"Now, if everyone is done fooling around, we must talk about the message," Yue said in his monotone like voice.
"Yes," agreed Touya. "Where is Sakura now?"
"She called home," Kero answered. "She is with Tomoyo-chan, Yana and Wakari still. She might be out late with them tonight."
"Okay. Does she any idea what is going on in her dreams?" Nakura asked.
"No clue yet," Kero answered again.
"I must admit, those dreams, Sakura keeps having are very eluding, "Eriol said. "It didn't really help that Sakura kept forgetting them either."
"I don't think he meant for her to remember them," Touya said voicing his thoughts.
"Nonsense!" Spinel snapped which caused them all to look at him. "Of course he meant for her to remember them. If we weren't all so stupid, we could have remembered the Dream Card. Sakura could have used the Dream Card to tell her where the dream is coming from, what the dream is, and help in finding the meaning behind it."
"Yes, but remember, she has gone weak. I don't think she even –has- the power to fully use the Dram Card," Eriol sadly said.
"Maybe. But she still has the power to fully use the Windy," Yue stated.
"At least she has that," Touya muttered.
"But will it be enough?" Nakura asked worriedly.
"I don't know," Eriol said. If they hadn't screwed things up before, maybe this wouldn't have happened.
"He wants to test her. Soon," they all agreed with Touya.
"But the question is: How soon?" voiced Yue on all of their thoughts.
"Could be tonight."
"Doubt it."
"Next month?"
"Don't get your hopes up Kero."
"Hey I'm just trying to be optimistic!"
"Well as you can see, it's not working!"
"Say that to me again!"
"Think he has grown?"
"Knowing him from before, I wouldn't put it pass him."
"Think he changed?"
"Who wouldn't?"
"Sakura didn't."
"Oh, right."
"Stupid Suppi-chan! I could beat you in any video game at any time!"
"I'm suuure you could."
"Was that a challenge?"
"Why, did you actually figure it out?"
"I'm hungry. I hardly ate anything today."
"Why not?"
"Because I was so busy trying to get the house clean. You wouldn't believe how much dust books could accumulate."
"Oh I think I have some idea."
"Silence!" Eriol commanded using his Clow Reed's voice once again.
There was silence. Everyone looked at the young man, including Yue who had not taken part in the double conversations.
"Kaho told me a couple of hours ago that most likely, the test that Sakura has to go through will be tomorrow night. Now, as you know, we cannot interfere. We have done so years before and look where it got us. Now its time for Sakura to go through this alone," as Eriol said this, Kero and Touya started to protest but he cut them off. "She –must- go through by herself or else she will never do anything for herself. In the past, she always had someone to watch over her. Now it's finally time to see what she can do by herself."
Kero and Touya both looked down and made a tight fist. They hated the idea that Sakura had to go up against something more powerful than she could ever be alone. But they knew that she had to this. To find out to see if it was really wroth it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wakari – Understanding Yoake – Dawn
Again, sorry for not updating this sooner. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up next week. Watch out for that.
Starquestor- Meiling is dead. She died by demons and it is said in the first part, Mistakes. She did not put herself under the knife (though I wonder if she did what will she would like to look like). And I'm not trying to criticize you, but even if she was sent to protect Tomoyo, she would be put under an illusion spell and a spell which changes your looks to whatever you want.
This will be a S+S fic for those of you who are wondering. Though it will be a weird one and really won't seem like it as you read. I think. Anyways, I had a really busy week so I am sorry that I couldn't update earlier like I said I would.
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Kinomoto Sakura smiled brightly at the young girl as she signed her signature on a picture of herself. After signing her name and welcoming the little girl, Sakura continued her walk through the park. The 23 year old women caught sight of a very dear friend and half father, Hiragizawa Eriol.
Quickening her pace to reach him, she made a half trip and fell into his arms for a hug. Both laughing while embracing, the two of them let go of each other and started to walk aimlessly around the park.
"Eriol-kun, it's so good to see you again," Sakura said happily.
"It's good to see you again my kawaii Sakura-chan," Eriol replied with the same amount of happiness as Sakura did.
"Did you get see Tomoyo-chan this morning?" she asked.
"Of course I did and last night," he said and in mock horror, "If I didn't than I would have died!"
Sakura giggled. "It's been so long seen I've last seen you!"
"Maa maa (now now I think) Sakura-chan, it has only been 2 months seen you last saw me."
"Yes, but its been the longest time that you and Tomoyo-chan has been apart form each other since your engagement and Tomoyo-chan missed you very much."
"Yes," Eriol said with a secret smile of his. Like he knew something wonderful but wasn't telling. "She showed me just how much she missed me last night."
"Really? What did she show you?" Sakura asked curiously not knowing what her Tomoyo-chan showed him that she didn't know about.
Eriol sweat drop but smile at her fondly. For all of her 23 years of age, Sakura was still very naïve. But it was what he, Touya, and Kero wished for. For her to remain innocent. But ever since that chat with Xiao Lang a couple of years ago and another one with Touya a couple months after that, he wondered if it was all worth it.
(But fate is cruel. It favors few)
Eriol stopped walking for a split second and turned around, looking for that voice that he had just heard. It wasn't Sakura because she was busy talking about up coming trip in a month to America to do a modeling show there. She didn't notice Eriol stopping for barely a second to look around and then resume walking. Apparently she didn't hear the voice when it spoke.
Eriol didn't find anyone near them who could have whispered the strange but true statement about fate. He searched the park with his aura and found two or three sorcerers, but whose powers were too weak to carry their voice to Eriol's ears, and what felt like the barriers of his mind.
"Eriol-kun?" Sakura said breaking his search and train of thought.
"Yes Sakura-chan?"
"I asked you how long are you going to stay this time, but you didn't answer. Are you alright?" she asked with worry in her eyes. Eyes that showed the same innocent as years before. Eyes that showed no knowledge of the sacrifice that had to be made to make the world, if anything, safer. Not happier and certainly not wiser, but safer. And again the question came to Eriol's mind: Was it worth it?
"Hai," he answered the worried women. "I'm fine. I just had something on my mind." And with that they continued their walk.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Hours later, Sakura walked into her apartment with heaved a tried yet happy sigh. Her day was great. After her walk with Eriol, they found Tomoyo, with Yana in tow, at one of her shops and dragged her out to get lunch. Afterwards they went to see a movie and then another walk around the park. It was a nice spring day to just walk around. Afterward, they all had dinner. Then Sakura went home while Eriol and Tomoyo went somewhere to just be together and Yana back to the mansion.
"Kero-chan! I'm home!" Sakura called out walking into the living room of her apartment.
"Welcome back Sakura-chan!" Kero said flying next to Sakura and landing on the coffee table. "Did you bring me anything to eat?"
"Always hungry, ne?" Sakura said placing a hand on her mouth and giggled.
Kero puffed up his breast and proudly said, "Of course I'm always hungry. I have to keep up my strength if I want to protect you. And I'm a big beast. Big guys like me need all the nutrition we can get."
Sakura giggled some more and gave him a big brown big of food that she order during dinner.
"Yes, but there is nothing really to protect me from," she said as she walked towards her bedroom.
As she closed her door, but left little ajar for Kero, he muttered, "But you have no idea."
Sakura dressed into her clothes that she used for sleeping and laid on her bed. The bed where HIS use to be. In the apartment where HE use to live. She looked around her room and saw a lot of pink and many pictures of her, friends, and family around the wall and on top of the dresser. She was very sure the HE didn't have this many pictures when HE use to live there, or that much pink in HIS used to be room. The only thing in her room that wasn't pink, besides her furniture and some of her clothes, was her bed. She insisted that it should be green. So Tomoyo made her coverings a dark green but with embroidered pink Sakura petals falling around it.
"Why green?" she remembered Tomoyo asking when she told her what color she wanted her beddings to be.
"Because it reminds me of the person who we use to know. That use to live here," she replied back with that innocent smile of hers. The kind of smile that only showed when she was remembering HIM, she but didn't even notice. Slightly sad but happy and sweet at the same time.
"I wonder what he is doing now," she said to herself. Over the years, Sakura really did grow more mature, but she sometimes hid her maturity. She liked to stay innocent and sweet. She saw how some people become bitter as they grew older. She didn't want to become like they did. She didn't want people to dislike her because she was a bitter person. So she tried to remain innocent and sweet for as long as she could. It was for everyone else's sake because it seemed that they took comfort in the fact that at least one person remained the same over the years.
She remembered when she decided to move out of the family's house. When she was 19, she wanted to be more independent like many older teens her age. The apartment building where she currently lives now was the first place where she looked. But at the time, there a couple living in the only apartment that she wanted. The place where HE use to live. But after waiting a couple of months, the couple who lived there got married and moved out. Sakura was there the same day that the coupe gave their notification that they would be moving out. Touya teased her that she probably was watching the apartment complex, for months. Just waiting for the couple to move out.
'He's probably right,' Sakura mused to herself remembering that Touya had suddenly gotten a swollen foot after his teasing.
Later that night, Kero came hovering into the room and closed the lights.
"Good night Sakura-chan," he said getting into his miniature bed next to Sakura's.
"Good night Kero-chan," she answered back.
Both laid on their beds in the dark. Both knowing that the other wasn't asleep and neither said anything. Finally Kero said, "Do you think you'll have that dream again?"
"I don't know. Maybe," she replied back.
For the past 4 months, Sakura had recurring dreams that she, Eriol, Yue, Kero, and Spinel agreed that it was a dream about the future. A very disturbing dream, but they all knew that it had something to do with the future. At first it happened at least once a week. Soon it became more frequent and life-like. Now it happened every night, but she still couldn't make out the details of it or any sense of it.
Minutes later, both Sakura and Kero were fast asleep.
*~*Dream*~*
It was dark. Not the kind of dark that left you scared and wondering what creatures were hiding in it. It was more of night dark. One where you were just standing outside the night enjoying the cool air that only the night could offer.
But then slowly, a green light started to form. It made a large sphere, encaging Sakura and the darkness. It wasn't so bad. The green light didn't feel dark or evil. It felt almost safe. But it didn't feel –whole-. Like there was something missing that should be there. But Sakura was confused. How can green light not feel whole?
Then, more light came to the darkness and Sakura found herself standing on the Tokyo tower. She saw the lights of Tokyo shining brightly in the night. But there were no people walking around the city. No usual batch of people walking or wobbling home after a couple of hours in the bar and no sound of cars making their way through the city.
"Just like the judgment day," Sakura whispered.
Quiet. Everywhere there was silence. She started to get nervous. Everywhere she looked, nothing moved. Then she looked up, in hopes of seeing that green light. Fortunately for her, it was still there, but very faint. It started to disappear.
"NO!" she screamed. "Don't leave me here!"
Laughter. There was laughter in the city. But she couldn't see them. She wasn't even sure if it was humans who were laughing. It had amusement in their laughter. An amusement that was almost sick. She turned around and looked down, trying to see the ones making the demented laughter.
'But do you really want to see them?' a voice inside her asked.
'I don't know,' she silently replied to the voice, not caring that she didn't know who or what asked her. She was too busy looking for the ones making the insane laughter.
"Sakura! Fight!" a voice yelled. Its sound coming from what seemed like all directions.
"Fight?" she said confused and at a lost.
There was no reply.
"I don't understand!" she yelled out to the empty city. The laughter grew louder.
She couldn't take the voices that were clearly laughing at her. She fell to her knees and started to tremble lightly.
"Weakling," the voices that were laughing at her started to say.
"I... I... I don't know.... I don't know what to do," she whispered.
"It's all your fault!" some of the voices yelled out in half amusement and half anger.
"Weakling!"
"Coward!"
"This wouldn't happen because of you!"
"I don't understand," she said.
The laughter continued. Then a quite voice said which Sakura hardly heard:
"It's almost time."
*~*Morning*~*
Sakura woke up slowly. She looked around her room as if not recognizing it.
She heard a yarning next her bed and saw Kero waking up from his small bed. "Good morning Sakura-chan," he said still half asleep.
"Good Morning Kero-chan."
Rubbing the last of the night's sleep away he ask, "How was the dream?"
Sighing, Sakura got out of bed, "Same as always. I couldn't remember much but some lights and laughter."
"Don't worry Sakura-chan. I'm sure that you'll remember everything in time."
"I hope so. I get this feeling that something is going to happen soon,"
"If something does happen, we'll take care of it. You can count on us!" Kero said.
"I know I could always count on you," she appreciatively said.
"So, uh, what are your plans today?" Kero asked as Sakura grabbed cleaned clothes and headed for the bathroom.
"I'm going to see Wakari-kun this morning, then to work."
"Ahh, Yoake Wakari. Understanding dawn. The ex-fiancé. Nice kid too. Still have feelings for him?" Kero inquired.
"A little," Sakura answered back. "But not as much as before. Sometimes I still wondered what it would be like if I hadn't broken off the engagement."
"Sakura-chan, it was more like he broke it off, not you," Kero half exasperated. His exasperation indicated that this wasn't the first time they had a conversation similar to this.
"I know Kero-chan. But it still feels like –I- was the one who did something wrong," Sakura said giving off a tired sigh.
"Go take your shower while I attempt to get breakfast ready," Kero encouraged her and himself. Kero's cooking skills was enough to make any decent cook cry.
Later that morning, after a slight burned down kitchen and half too well done breakfast, Sakura walked into The Wolf's Den café and sat down at a table where a young gentlemen was already sited. He had short brown black hair and soft brown eyes that would make any girl blush when he looked her eyes. He was 5.7 and one of the kindest person Sakura ever met.
"Good morning Wakari-kun," Sakura said when she sat down.
"Good morning Sakura-chan," he replied back with a sweet smile. "How is Kero today?"
"He is good. Though I can't say the same for his cooking," she answered brightly. They both laughed.
"I already ordered you something, if that is okay with you?" Wakair said.
"Thank you. It's fine by me. You are just too good to me," she said with a hint of an apologetic voice.
"Iie, don't apologize," Wakari said waving his hands in front of him. "I meant what I said."
Three years ago, Sakura and Wakari were both engaged. They had been seeing each other about 5 years or so prior to that. Wakari fell in love with Sakura during those 5 years and so did Sakura to Wakari. But Sakura did not feel as strongly to Wakari as he did to her. Sakura, being the kind of person she was, did not tell him that she did in fact love him, but not enough to want to spent the rest of her life with him.
Though she did say yes to him when he asked her to marry him. She did not want to sadden him by refusing him. Sakura told him who she was, the Card's Mistress, and that she had magic a week after their engagement. His first reaction was shocked, then she hugged her and spun her around exclaiming how wonderful to it would be to use her magic to entertain the children. That is when Sakura fully realized that Wakari was not the person she wanted to marry. Again she did not voice this out so that he would not become sad. But Wakari knew her too well. Two months later, he confronted Sakura about the matter.
"Sakura-chan, I know that you don't love as I love you," he began but was cut off by Sakura.
"Of course I love!" she said but was in returned, cut off by Wakari.
"I know you do," he said softly, placing his fingers on her lips so that she would not interrupt him again. "But not as much as you love me. Maybe you love me in a brotherly way too."
Sakura tried protesting saying that she didn't love him like a bother, but again Wakari place his fingers on her lips.
"I'm saying maybe. –Maybe- you love me in a brotherly too but do not realize it. At first I was so happy that we were going to be married soon. But then when I mentioned children, your eyes darkened. That's when I started to suspect. But then again, I've always suspected for a few years that maybe you didn't love me the way I wanted you too. I didn't think much further on it because I really didn't want to know. To know that maybe, you were really in love with someone else.
I was that selfish to hold onto you like that. Sakura I loved you than, and I still do now. But I want you to be happy. I started to watch you more closely. I noticed how sometimes you would look at me, but not really –see- me. Like you were looking for someone else in me or someone else completely, but couldn't find that person. Then, when you started talking about your adventures when you were capturing the cards then turning them into your own, you always had this smile on your face. Like you were remembering something special, as if someone you love rather, was in your past and not here, now in the present. I think Sakura-chan that you are in love with someone else. So I think that I should let you go."
After that, Wakari gave Sakura time to think it over. She found that maybe, -maybe- she was in love with someone else. But who? When she finally told Wakari her real thought after much time, two years ago. True to his name, Understanding Dawn, Wakari told her that he was happy for her. That she finally realized what really made her happy.
"When you finally tell the lucky person what you really feel, I want to meet that person and take 'em out to lunch," he had said.
Now two years later, Wakari and Sakura were best of friends. After their breakfast (Sakura's second if you could count that breakfast), Wakari walked Sakura to her job.
Late that afternoon, while the sun was beginning to set, at the place where Sakura had to fight Eriol almost 13 years ago, six people met. Touya came with Yukito, Eriol with Nakura and Spinel in tow, and Kero flying solo.
"I take it that you all got the message too," Eriol stated more than asked.
"Yeah, we did," Touya said nodding to Yukito who in turn transformed into Yue. Ruby Moon didn't want to transform sine she is Nakura.
"So, HE was behind this along. I should have known!" Kero said a bit angered and smacked his little paw with the other.
"Calm down Cerberus," Spinel said to Kero.
"Calm down?! I'll show you calm!!" and with that, both guardians which resembled toys started starching each other's faces while Nakura cheered them on.
The rest of the just watch and sweat dropped. Finally, Eriol said in his Clow Reed voice, "Spinal Sun, Cerberus, enough!"
Both guardian beasts stopped beating their counter parts and Nakura stopped cheering.
"Yes Sir," they said.
"Now, if everyone is done fooling around, we must talk about the message," Yue said in his monotone like voice.
"Yes," agreed Touya. "Where is Sakura now?"
"She called home," Kero answered. "She is with Tomoyo-chan, Yana and Wakari still. She might be out late with them tonight."
"Okay. Does she any idea what is going on in her dreams?" Nakura asked.
"No clue yet," Kero answered again.
"I must admit, those dreams, Sakura keeps having are very eluding, "Eriol said. "It didn't really help that Sakura kept forgetting them either."
"I don't think he meant for her to remember them," Touya said voicing his thoughts.
"Nonsense!" Spinel snapped which caused them all to look at him. "Of course he meant for her to remember them. If we weren't all so stupid, we could have remembered the Dream Card. Sakura could have used the Dream Card to tell her where the dream is coming from, what the dream is, and help in finding the meaning behind it."
"Yes, but remember, she has gone weak. I don't think she even –has- the power to fully use the Dram Card," Eriol sadly said.
"Maybe. But she still has the power to fully use the Windy," Yue stated.
"At least she has that," Touya muttered.
"But will it be enough?" Nakura asked worriedly.
"I don't know," Eriol said. If they hadn't screwed things up before, maybe this wouldn't have happened.
"He wants to test her. Soon," they all agreed with Touya.
"But the question is: How soon?" voiced Yue on all of their thoughts.
"Could be tonight."
"Doubt it."
"Next month?"
"Don't get your hopes up Kero."
"Hey I'm just trying to be optimistic!"
"Well as you can see, it's not working!"
"Say that to me again!"
"Think he has grown?"
"Knowing him from before, I wouldn't put it pass him."
"Think he changed?"
"Who wouldn't?"
"Sakura didn't."
"Oh, right."
"Stupid Suppi-chan! I could beat you in any video game at any time!"
"I'm suuure you could."
"Was that a challenge?"
"Why, did you actually figure it out?"
"I'm hungry. I hardly ate anything today."
"Why not?"
"Because I was so busy trying to get the house clean. You wouldn't believe how much dust books could accumulate."
"Oh I think I have some idea."
"Silence!" Eriol commanded using his Clow Reed's voice once again.
There was silence. Everyone looked at the young man, including Yue who had not taken part in the double conversations.
"Kaho told me a couple of hours ago that most likely, the test that Sakura has to go through will be tomorrow night. Now, as you know, we cannot interfere. We have done so years before and look where it got us. Now its time for Sakura to go through this alone," as Eriol said this, Kero and Touya started to protest but he cut them off. "She –must- go through by herself or else she will never do anything for herself. In the past, she always had someone to watch over her. Now it's finally time to see what she can do by herself."
Kero and Touya both looked down and made a tight fist. They hated the idea that Sakura had to go up against something more powerful than she could ever be alone. But they knew that she had to this. To find out to see if it was really wroth it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wakari – Understanding Yoake – Dawn
Again, sorry for not updating this sooner. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up next week. Watch out for that.