Chapter 7

The Locked Memory

"Sakura watch out!" I heard Kero screamed behind me, alerting me of a direct hit coming from behind.

"Gravitation!" I called and used it to jump several feet in the opposite direction while still high above in the sky "Hail!" I used a second card and a storm appeared, hitting the ball of fire pursuing me. The hail helped slowed it down but it didn't stop it from coming after me. Once I had enough time to position myself correctly I called for Aqua who came down from above me to swallow the ball of fire effortlessness.

"Well done Sakura!" I heard Eriol say. You can use three cards including an element-based card with ease now, your power is indeed growing at an extraordinary speed"

"That's Sakura for you! I helped her after all" Said Kero, puffing his chest out in pride.

I came down slowly from my previous position using gravitation to get me back down safely. I was exhausted but happy with the results hoping the hard work would take me closer to my ultimate goal. Eriol had told me I needed to control my power a bit more before we attempted to make the new card. He said that when sorcerers try to make magical objects or creatures, if not trained properly, the spell can go very wrong and put the life of the master at risk. As such, we practiced relentlessly day after day.

The training was definitely working. I no longer had to instruct my cars on what to do. We were so connected they knew the right moves and aided me automatically. I couldn't explain it but we had developed a certain trust between us that only got stronger with the passing of each day.

For once things were starting to look up. Yelan had gone back to the Li Clan and it was agreed that the resources would be made at our disposal and sorcerers willing to help could do so. I was surprised to find 5 sorcerers volunteered to help. Three of them were willing to fight so they had been introduced to us a few days prior and had done a few training sessions with me.

The oldest sorcerer was Ryu, he appeared to be in his 40s and was in very good shape despite his age. Ryu had short black hair and a kind smile. He had been very nice to me since meeting one another, even telling me about his son An who was also part of the Li Clan. According to Ryu, An was not very good at sports but was very bright and was in university furthering his education. He said this with a smile and I could tell he was a proud father.

The second sorcerer was Kong, a very tall man with a quiet disposition, a bit stoic if you asked me preferring to stay silent. I didn't talk to him much so I didn't know anything about him but it was clear he was powerful. His magic came from the moon so he was great at spells requiring wind and water. Kong reminded me to Yue in some ways.

The third man was Jeong, he had been training in China for the past 5 years but was originally from Korea, having joined the Li Clan through marriage. He was an amazing fighter who relied more in his wit than this size. He had taken all of us on during our trainings and we always lost to him in martial arts. Despite his obvious strength he was always humble about it.

I also heard two other clan members agreed to help but they chose to only do so in the form of finding information on our enemy as we had requested during our audience. We were told those two connected with a network of spies and were trying to locate Yuna D. Kaito thinking him in China.

The days at the Li mansion were full of chaos since Eriol arrived. Not only were we training daily but the added people in the home brought a different kind of drama in itself. Nakuru was set in getting Touya's attention no matter what. Brother hated it and had to escape in the most unexpected ways to get to work each day. Spinel and Kero competed with one another every chance they got and whenever Kero lost, he would throw a huge temper tantrum that could only be fixed with food. Since Touya was hiding most of the time, the Li sister's attention shifted solely to Yukito who was too polite to refuse them. Yes, our days were full of life, that was for sure.

"Sakura, I know you are tired but there is one more thing we need to do before we are done with today's training"

I listened as I took a bottle of water sitting on a rock to refresh myself, wiping some sweat for my forehead as I did so.

"You know I have never created cards, but I made my own guardians which is similar yet different. I have a vague idea of what it may take to make cards but I think it's best to follow the master"

I was feeling confused by his words. Not quite understanding where the conversation was heading to. As if reading my mind Eriol continued.

"Don't forget I have Clow's memories to help me along the way. I thought it would be best to share a memory with you, a memory that is there but I can't fully see... Perhaps you can help... Can you use Record?"

I guessed either Kero or Syaoran had told Eriol of the power of the card. It all clicked immediately and I had to admit it was a brilliant idea. Seeing the purposeful creation of cards could help me in making the card I needed.

"Can I go too? I want to see Clow..." Kero asked, hopeful.

"I think it's best for Sakura and me to do this alone Keroberos. It takes a lot of power to do it and she will be taking me along, it may be too much for her to take you too"

Kero's face fell. I knew he missed his master.

"I am sorry Kero but I tell you what, Wei didn't want me to tell you but he is making a cheesecake as we speak, I am sure now that you know, he may not mind sharing some of it with you"

"Yippy! I love cheesecake!" Kero's mood seemed to improve and he flew towards the house while singing to himself how many slices he would eat.

"Do you think I am ready?" I asked once Kero was out of sight.

"Almost. Your power is sure to be ready soon. Have you thought of the card you wish to create?"

"I have given it a lot of thought but I am not sure yet... I don't think an element-based card will be powerful enough so it's hard to think what will be the right move to make. I unconsciously think of the Sakura Cards so I am afraid I will create another similar card to them"

"I see, you are the only one who can make that decision. My only advice is to not make anything that could draw power from the moon. I think our enemy uses that type of power so it could be risky" After a brief pause he asked "Do you know what to do?"

"Yes" I nodded and with my staff I called upon Record while touching Eriol's hand to connect the memory. I closed my eyes while making my request to the card knowing we had never tried something like this before and waited, the card making itself present and surrounding us in its power.

I felt a pull and immediately knew it had worked. I opened my eyes and saw we were no longer in the Li mansion. Eriol sighted.

"Yes, I have been here before, this was our home"

I recognized it too, I had returned here as well. We were in the gardens of Clow Reed's home. Our thoughts were interrupted when we heard a voice we both knew all too well.

"I love spring, it makes you feel renovated, reminding you that a new cycle starts after everything is dormant during winter" Clow was sitting at the base of a tree enjoying the good weather.

"You only say that because you love flowers" Kero was there, next to him, basking in the sun in his full form.

"Indeed I do, they fill our hearts with their beauty and fragrance"

There are not many flowers in full bloom yet" Kero pointed out looking to his surroundings.

"A little magic can help" Clow said, smiling, his naughty nature clearly playing on his face.

"Are you going to make a new card?" Yue asked. If he had not spoken I would probably had missed him. Yue came from the side of the house, quiet as a cat. He looked much like he did in present time, with his aloof expression in sight... yet I could tell he was happy. I felt a twinge of pain at the thought. I had not been paying enough attention to Yue as of recent, I needed to talk with him more, he could be very lonely.

"Flowers bring happiness so I find the idea a hopeful one" Clow said, staring at an invisible point in the horizon.

His seal appeared on his feet as his staff drew his powers standing by itself in front of him. He closed his eyes for a long time, clearly concentrating in something with his index fingers joined together near his heart. A light was forming in the middle. He then started speaking softly, I could barely hear him speak. It sounded like poetry, once he was done he grabbed a broken branch from the bed of grass and let the light consume it. In an instant, the light took the shape of a card and The Flower was created. Clow held it in his hand and called upon it. The spirit coming to life in front of them.

"Would you share the beauty of your gift with us?" He asked kindly. The Flower nodded and flew up high bringing all the flowers in the garden to full bloom.

"Your power sure is something" Yue said, seeming disinterested yet grabbing a flower from the ground to inspect it closely.

"I didn't create the flower, the Flower Spirit did, I just merely gave it a shape and a name. A spirit may agree to such contract only if you truly understand their essence" As he said this, Clow looked in my direction. Did he know again, back then, that I would come asking?

"Clow..." I said, instinctively getting closer, to prove he could see me, even in this memory... but Eriol stopped me, shaking his head when our eyes met.

"We have reached our limit" Eriol told me and as he said it I noticed I was frozen in place, too weak to move anymore. The world disappearing around us taking us back to the present.

Eriol held me to keep me from falling and took me near a chair to sit down. I was exhausted.

"You did well Sakura, this was a memory I knew I had but was unable to remember. Now we know what we need to do to move forward"

"It's not that easy... how can I make a contract with a spirit? Where do you find them? I don't even know what card is needed..."

"In due time... I am sure it will all make sense, you have done it before after all, we just need to do it a bit different this time. You should rest, you are exhausted"

I fought the need to close my eyes to no avail and before I knew it, I succumbed to my own fatigue.

"How did it go? Is Sakura okay?"

"She is just sleeping, she did very well Li. We got what we needed. Why did you hide from her?"

"It's hard keeping secrets... your secrets. I just want to protect her, no matter what it takes"

"You sure are in love" Eriol laughed "Everything is going according to plan".