After the Crash
Disclaimer: I do not and never will own Card Captor Sakura in any way. All credit goes to the amazing anime group Clamp.
I'm not sure if this story needs a Pg-13 rating, but I rated it that way anyway just in case.
This takes place just before Sakura and Syaoran's senior year in high school. Syaoran never confessed his love and the second movie never happened. He did go back to Hong Kong for a few years but returned.
Enjoy!!
Chapter 1: The Crash
"Would you like something to drink?" Sakura smiled at the young flight attendant and politely said no.
"How about you, sir?"
Syaoran looked up. "No thank you." Immediately he looked back down at the book he was reading. Sakura sighed. I wish he would talk to me instead. I'm so bored. She looked down at her watch, the one Yukito had given her so many years ago when she was still infatuated with him. It had been a little over two hours since they had left Hong Kong.
She glanced sideways at Syaoran. This feels so strange being alone with him on a plane like this and in Hong Kong. It's nice.
Meanwhile, Syaoran stared at the book open on his lap, but not really reading it. His thoughts kept going back to the recent visit home with Sakura. He couldn't believe it when his mother had called inviting Sakura to come stay with them for a week. She wanted to get to know her better since she was the card mistress. His mother had also invited the rest of Sakura's family and Tomoyo, but her father had to attend a special conference, Touya couldn't get away from his classes, and Tomoyo had a choir competition that she had to attend. Even Kero had stayed back in Japan despite his love for Hong Kong because he had become crazily obsessed over a new game that he was determined to beat. So Sakura had ended up coming alone with Syaoran much to the dislike of her older brother.
He sighed. His sisters had jumped all over Sakura the minute she got there, saying how much she had grown since they had last seen her. I do admit she has grown…nicely even. And his mother had kept asking her to demonstrate a little of her powers, amazed at how much Sakura had improved. I'm glad it's over.
He looked at Sakura sitting next to him. She had put on the headphones and was staring up at the movie playing on the screen in front of them. It was kind of weird with my mother seeing her as the card mistress when it could have been me. But for some reason, it didn't bother me too much. It was almost nice having her there with me…
He blushed. What am I thinking?
He looked back down at his book, trying to concentrate. He sighed again, and closed the book. It was no use even trying.
***
Sakura slowly opened her eyes as the plane suddenly jerked. She yawned and looked over at Syaoran who seemed to have just awakened as well.
"What was that?" she asked. He shrugged and closed his eyes once more. But they quickly snapped open as the plane jerked again. This can't be good.
Others on the plane had also begun to worry. The flight attendants tried to calm everyone, but they themselves seemed to be worried as well. They kept glancing at each other, not knowing what was wrong and not knowing what to do.
Suddenly the co-pilot's voice could be heard over the speakers. "We are sorry for the inconvenience, but we are experiencing some mechanical difficulties that we are at this moment trying to fix. We ask that everyone be seated with trays up and seat belts on. Attendants, please review safety and emergency procedures with the passengers."
As the attendants went around making sure everyone was seated correctly and began to review procedures, the passengers began to grow more nervous about their situation.
Sakura and Syaoran just looked at each other. "What kind of mechanical difficulties do you think there are?" Sakura asked him, a little shake in her voice.
"Who knows," he replied calmly as the plane jerked again, causing several of the other passengers to scream.
Suddenly the overhead oxygen masks (I kind of forgot what they were called) were released. "We have just released these for precautionary measures, but please use them if you are having any difficulties breathing," the co-pilot said.
*sakura* This is crazy…it's like something that happens on TV or something. I'm so scared.
"It'll be okay, Sakura," Syaoran told her gently noticing the worried look in her eyes. He frowned. Sakura surely didn't look any less afraid.
Sakura sighed and looked out the window. They were over land now. Well at least we won't fall into the ocean…
Suddenly the speakers crackled a little, then finally turned on. "We have just confirmed engine failure in both engines." Gasps could be heard throughout the plane's cabin as the pilot told them of the problem. "And for a reason we haven't exactly figured out, we've lost a lot of fuel. We don't have enough fuel or momentum to reach any airfield. So we are going to be forced to try to land right about where we are now, which, to tell you the truth, isn't going to be easy since we're above what looks like a large mountainous area surrounded by woods. But we will be doing our best. And it would be best for everyone, if no one panics."
After the pilot's statement, there was an eerie silence as all the passengers processed what he had said. With things being as they were, most realized they could look forward to nothing but death.
"We have located a small clearing that we have no choice but to try to land in. Attendants, please go over emergency landing procedures quickly," the co-pilot said over the speakers.
Once again, the passengers began to grow nervous and panicky as the attendants tried to review safety and landing positions. Syaoran suddenly looked up at Sakura as she grabbed his hand. He could feel her shaking. He squeezed her hand gently.
"Prepare for landing!" the co-pilot yelled.
Sakura suddenly let go of Syaoran's hand as the plane began its quick descent. He watched her rummaging through her bag. "What are you doing?"
She suddenly sat up having found what she had been looking for.
Key that uses the power of the stars.
Appear before me in your true form.
Sakura, the one with the contract with you, commands it.
Release!
Then…
Float Card! Gently lower us to the ground!
The passengers gasped as they suddenly felt the plane's drop lessen in speed, but soon it began to pick up speed once more.
"It's not strong enough!" Sakura yelled as she felt the powers of the card weaken under the strain of the falling plane.
Syaoran looked up at her sadly, but there was nothing he could do. If her star card wasn't strong enough, I can't do anything. I'm not nearly as powerful as she is. Sakura…It shouldn't be like this…
He reached over and pulled her down beside him. "I'll protect you, no matter what."
She looked up at him surprised.
"Brace!" The pilot's command could barely be heard over the screams of the other passengers as they realized they were about to hit hard.
"Syaoran!" Sakura screamed just as the plane landed hard on the rough land, skidding through the trees that helped to slow them down until it finally rammed into the side of a rocky cliff.
***
"I can't wait till their plane lands!" Tomoyo said, camera in hand. Tomoyo had come along with the Kinomoto family and Yukito to pick up Sakura when her flight landed. They had come an hour early so they could eat dinner together in the airport's restaurant.
"I'm so excited to hear how her trip went," she continued.
*tomoyo* Sakura and Syaoran alone together in Hong Kong for a week...something must have happened between them. Hehe. I'm almost glad I couldn't go.
Suddenly an announcement could be heard overhead. "Anyone waiting for flight 099 from Hong Kong, please come to gate 7."
Tomoyo, Touya, Fujitaka, and Yukito glanced worriedly at each other and hurriedly paid their bill and went to the gate. This wasn't normal.
There were only a few others who had gathered. They noticed a group of officials talking near the front area of the waiting room. They did not look happy. They waited a little while longer as others began to drift in. The group watched as they set up a small podium in the front. Airport and airline officials kept growing in number as time passed.
Tomoyo and the others waited impatiently for them to begin talking.
A hush descended upon the crowd as the head of the airline walked up to the podium.
"About 30 minutes ago, we got a report from the pilot of the flight, saying they were experiencing some problems. Soon after, they reported that there was engine failure in both of the engines and that they were quickly running out of fuel." Tomoyo dropped her camera. "Before leaving Hong Kong, all checks were normal. The pilots couldn't figure out what had happened. Just a little while ago, the pilot called in a final report saying that he was going to try to land, but that he wasn't sure they would make it since they were not in a good location and they didn't have enough time to find a better one."
The official sighed heavily. "The plane disappeared from our radar soon after and communications were cut off from their end. We are sure the plane has crashed." Tomoyo dropped to her knees, tears running down her cheeks. Touya and Fujitaka stared straight ahead, not knowing what to do. Yukito just stood there as well. "We have already begun preparing for a search. Although we know just about where the plane should have crashed, the area around it is mountainous and dense with forests. It might not be that easy to find them soon enough."
Sobs could be heard throughout the room as they heard the news. As Fujitaka finally understood all that had been said, he swayed a little. Yukito quickly caught him and helped him stand straight again. Touya just continued to stand and stare. Sakura…
***
End of Chapter 1
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