Hi!

Everything is going smoothly and accordingly seeing that I do have Chapter 7 here. I'm pleased, can't you tell? Anyways, my muse is whispering in my ear every night not to give up on CCS fan fiction just because there are fewer readers than when I first started here. He says that this story is one of a kind and it is definitely going somewhere. The chapter after this is going to be squeal worthy! But you have to read this chapter first and give me a nice review. Hint, hint, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

"Chapter 7"

I learned a little something about myself in the days that I lived in ancient China with my adoptive family, sharing a room with my friendly intelligent stuffed animal. Everyday I was learning a little bit more about the Chinese, but on certain days, such as one of the days we celebrated the founding of De Ding, there was much more to contrive for ourselves. Here I learned that when you strip me of certain twenty-first century guilty pleasures, I would easily find my niche amongst partiers. Yes, that's right. Shy, introverted, plain Sakura fancied celebrations with large numbers of people when it came to the kinds of partying involving patriotic festivities. There was something utterly wholesome about celebrating a territory's birthday over something as frivolous as stuffing your brain with booze to turn you into a glutton for mistakes on any random occasion.

That team spirit stuff got me hook line and sinker all week long. I wasn't Chinese, but the pride in Governor Touya's uplifting speeches might have easily defect me from my own Japanese heritage. Not to worry, I think even after I left ancient China, I only took De Ding and its culture home with me, so the Japanese in me remained intact. The people always made me feel like somebody without showering me with the acclaim I felt troubled at accepting. They allowed me to walk amongst them without the whole repertoire of bowing and thanking in respect for the "mighty sorceress". Occasionally, I got the greeting that you don't get from strangers everyday. No need for the kissing of babies, though, I doubt I would have disliked or denied the idea. I loved and still love children.

The celebration, as Tomoyo told it, lasted a week and across town and village. Sometimes it was hard for the people to even let go by the end of the week because, as Touya had put it, it was hard for the people to let go of enjoyment and face the truth again. According to the both of them, life outside of De Ding was not what it seemed. I was better off not getting the more intricate details for now, so I could fully take pleasure in my present surroundings.

"The path you have chosen to take will be harder than any path that others may take," I overheard Kero grumble to himself when I waited for him to answer my one question of why everyone was so secretive about politics in this country. I caught him muttering also, "It may be the end of the world for just one individual."

I excused myself from his goose bump-and-hair-raising comments to join Tomoyo in her room. A few days ago I had promised her that I would help her prepare for her coronation ceremony that was to be held that day. Yes, folks, my good friend, Tomoyo was going to be crowned The Beauty Queen of De Ding for the tenth year in a row.

For me to explain how this happened would make me have to recall what happened two days ago at the hype of the first day celebration. De Ding actually had a pageant to kick-off the celebration. They paraded the loveliest single women in the province throughout town square. In preparation, the women all wore their best and I was entranced by the beauties of that time. Watching each one of them being paraded in front of the public was a grand showcase because each one had their very own perk. There was no competition the moment Tomoyo was presented last. She could have been wearing a drab robe and still beat the loveliest girl there. At that point, I was shocked that she was still single. You see, she was about the same age as me, which meant that she was well beyond the age of the marriageable. I guessed she had her reason for staying single as I had my reason for not wanting another boyfriend-girlfriend relationship anytime soon. I moped a little when my mind strayed to the event of that day my boyfriend openly humiliated me by publicly displaying his affections for another woman. Why did I have to go and remind myself of what a loser I have become at the age of twenty-six?

"You look splendid," Tomoyo gushed even as she stood absolutely still in front of the body-length looking glass. She had her arms abducted at her sides as three attendants straightened her royal blue robe. I had to admit that, the dress did not only fit the occasion of the day, but it also fit her dot on. With her arms falling and dangling at her sides, you could see that the sleeves were light and billowy. The gold trimming for her collar curved under her collar bones. Lower, below the gold belt around her slim waist her robe opened to reveal lighter blue skirts. She had her enviable black hair put up in those ornate head styles of the times. That glossy black her was twisted in loops, turns, and curls around beads, ribbons, and flowers, which must have taken hours to do.

My own hair took half an hour to fix. My one attendant fixing it fussed over my head. It was quite obvious that she disliked my short hair with a passion. My hair was even shorter than some of the men's hair. I never mentioned the length of my hair to you, so here I go. Drum roll… Yes, it's only shoulder length. I have kept it that way since grade school. I used to tie up some of my hair in loose pigtails at the side of my head, but I outgrew that style in high school. Ever since, I have just let it fall and do whatever it pleased. I guess if I needed to, for special occasions, I would tease my hair into some compellingly elegant style. That was rare. In any case, the attendant spent half an hour, thirty times the amount of time it takes me to brush my own hair, to braid and string beads into the strands of my hair. This was the prettiest my hair had ever been.

As for my light green dress, courtesy of you may already know by now who and if you don't you should, was slim fitting and much lighter than what Tomoyo had to wear. The silk that my green garb was made out of was of a lighter kind than Tomoyo's. It was quite transparent over the ivory dress I had under it. The V-neckline plunged dangerously low over the light ruffles at the front of my ivory dress. It was a very simple dress, indeed, if you compared mine to Tomoyo's.

Tomoyo dropped her arms to her side and the attendants dismissed themselves. "Now for the jewelry that I have selected for you," she murmured when the other women left.

I waved her down and in a strict tone I said, "No. You've forced me into enough of your dealings for one day."

"Delight me with a bracelet, at least. You owe me for not entering the pageant yourself," she bleated.

"That's ridiculous, Tomoyo. I don't owe you for not embarrassing myself in front of the beauties in this country."

"Embarrassing?" She voiced in confusion.

My hand was suspended in the air and she slanted a look at me before clamping a pearl and jade bracelet over my wrist. I puffed an annoyed breath, but I didn't move to take it off. Instead I glared at her the whole time she sat down and took out more jewelry. This time it was all for her because she knew she had me over the edge anyway.

"You would have won," she said lightly.

"You're saying that because you're tired of winning," I laughed.

"If I was tired of winning, Sakura, why would I keep flouncing about these pageants?"

She had a point there.

"The people need a new queen and I think they would have accepted the lovely Clow Mistress." At my skeptical look, she took me by the hand and led me to the looking glass. "Let me remind you that the folks of De Ding see you as their exotic flower. You have golden red hair that's the color of fire and eyes the shade of the purest jade. You have that cute nose that's neither too small nor too large for your face. Then, there's your mouth that's cute when it pouts, but brilliant when a smile graces it. Physically, there's only everything to love about you. The only thing not to like is what is inside the pretty flower. The only thing I don't like, Sakura, is your lack of confidence in me and especially yourself."

I sighed. "I'm working on that last bit."

"Keep working at it," she said encouragingly. "One day you will accept what is."

She handed a sapphire necklace in entreaty for me to help her put it on. I did and the moment I closed the clasp, I think I opened up a little more than yesterday. Who's to say I haven't been opening up already? People don't grow in a day no matter how much they stretch themselves.

Tomoyo, Kero, and I went to the town square together, where everyone gathered for the coronation ceremony. I trailed Tomoyo and Kero trailed me. We started out on our journey side by side, but we ended up walking single file because of all those eyes looking at us with awe. One thing you don't change about some people was their innate reticence. My companions knew what was going on with me, so they did my share of smiling and waving for me.

It began raining flower petals as I followed Tomoyo partway to the platform where Touya waited with the silver circlet in his hands. I stopped at the bottom of the steps as Tomoyo stepped forward alone. I stayed where I was, staring up at the sky like everyone else, as Touya commenced in the ceremony in his judicious manner. I finally leveled my stare at the two on the platform when he finished and placed the crown over Tomoyo's head. Everyone else's attention was divided between the sky and the crowned queen. At last I smiled and turned to look beside me at where I thought the Sun Guardian hovered, but he was not there. I felt like a fool smiling at some stranger who was closest to me even though he returned a smile and stiff nod.

I bowed to him and walked away from the platform, passing through the sprinkle of flower petals. It was a very clear and lovely day for flowers. I stuck out my hand as I walked to catch a few pink blossoms, the crowd not minding my weird gesture much, since they were doing the same thing. I was crushing a few of the petals between my fingers when I paused by one of those tables loaded with arts and crafts stuff that people sell. There were many people selling their wares in this particular time of the year. Shoppers could forget their worries and just browse around. That's called window shopping where I come from.

So, now I had paused next to a table holding pallets inlaid with an assortment of brooches. I had my eye on a brooch that was in the second pallet to my left. It was a sword and I must have thought about reaching for it when someone else beat me to it. The young man, who must have been standing beside me for longer than I had known, had taken the brooch, and at first, I pretended I was interested in something else.

"Are you perhaps looking for something for yourself, Lady Sorceress?" The young man asked.

I was taken aback by what he had just called me. This was a new title I heard after all… This young man did not seem familiar to me. For one thing, he was dressed like one of those rich boys, who's father must've been a government official of sorts. He was definitely not from these parts. I remembered, then, that De Ding's celebrations brought together people from far and wide. I had thought that people from far and wide pertained to those who had trinkets and wares to sell, but then…

"I'm here for the tournaments. The best show up here," he said, giving me a charming smile. I was not blind. Yeah, I noticed this man was broad shouldered and totally hot to boot. There was no denying what my eyes saw and what other women would have seen as well. I only glanced away from his face momentarily to steal one look at the brooch in his hand. I pulled on a bashful look since he gave off this vibe of being a charmer. I didn't want him thinking this Lady Sorceress was suspicious of the item he was about to buy.

"Son of a merchant I am not as able as most men at my age when it comes to the battle of the brawn. I'm hoping this charm will help me win," he said softly as he handed a few coins to the salesman behind the table.

"Which tournament have you signed up for?" I asked, feigning to take interest in a particular flower brooch. It looked like all the rest of the brooches, but I had to watch for something else, so I ventured on this acting job.

The young man immediately noticed my interest in the object that had been next to his sword brooch and picked it up in his other hand. "Maybe I may buy this for my lady."

Call me a cynic from experience, but it took every ounce of self control not to snap a "no" at him. I couldn't risk being impolite to him no matter how much I wanted to somehow voice my distaste for men who tried to flirt their way into my attention. He was just now wearing something that set off some alarm bells in my head. At the same time I was wondering, were these petals getting thicker and heavier in the air?

I looked him in the eye as my hand came out to receive his gift. I was quite surprised when somebody suddenly knocked my hand out of the way. I was so irked I was about to whack the guy, too.

"You run along and do whatever you please without a care when your guardian or the governor doesn't have their eyes on you," Syaoran grumbled, eyes flashing at me severely.

"I lost Kero somewhere in the crowd and Touya's busy at the moment," I huffed. Despite the fact that he smacked my hand, I was glad to see him. I didn't think I would see him until we reached Master Wei Fong. However, there had been an inkling of doubt that we would even meet over there.

I tried to meet his fiery glare, but the flashing of that broach caught my eye and I thought of glancing over at the young man again. Syaoran made it completely impossible by stepping in front of my line of vision and therefore interceding between the young man and me. I was forced to face this childish glaring contest. Put off myself, I ended the stupid game and made my way down the sets of tables. Syaoran followed.

"You know you're quite an idiot. Spells and charms can be cast with a touch to any object in the wielder's possession. Apples and brooches are good foci for such spells," he grumbled beside me.

"Believe it or not, you big bully, I know that!" Actually I didn't at that time, but after he mentioned it I always kept that in mind. "That man was an innocent though, if that was what you were worried about."

He grabbed my elbow to stop me. "You need not trust everyone," he began.

"Not even you, right?"

His eyes widened for a moment before he answered me. "Perhaps. That's for you to decide. But, there are forces that exist in this world that despises sorcery. They despise it so much they do everything in their power to wipe us all out."

He got my throat to clench and close. I barely utter the words that came out next, "That would mean destroying themselves, too. Only magic can fight magic."

"That might be the case," he said, releasing his hold on me, "Yet, you have to be off kilter in some way to commit suicide. Why else would a sorcerer kill another sorcerer? Let this be the start of your lessons before Master Wei Fong takes you on."

"I imagine it's because they hate one another. What does Master Wei Fong want with me?"

"Hate!" He shot me an unpleasant look that froze me in my tracks and somewhat made my question become miniscule. "It's greed. And fear. In the end he breeds the hate."

We parted ways after that note he gave me. He was terrible company, so why did I always long for him to stick around? Aside from all this, I was so insanely annoyed with him for bringing up more questions in me that neither he nor Touya nor Tomoyo would ever consider answering.

I was back at the platform where Touya ushered me into a standing position next to him. We now stood behind Tomoyo as she announced in her cheerful voice, "let the competitions begin! First we will have our relay race."

I did a full circle in my spot to follow the track that circled the center of the town square. Yes, I must have been distracted not to notice that there was a track around us. The rain of flowers was getting steadily heavier.

"I can't even see my hand in front of me!" Someone complained in a distant voice. I concurred without even trying out that task.

As it was, I barely made out the figures lining up at the starting line. There were probably four or five men on each team racing for the win. What was the prize if they won?

"A kiss from The Queen," Touya grumbled in annoyance.

I chortled and wallowed. "You must be so thrilled, Mr. Governor."

"Put a sock in it," he growled back.

The way he rudely snapped at me to shut up didn't make me walk away from him. The uncomfortably thick sheets of petals in front of us actually made me move closer to the governor until our arms actually brushed.

"Um, Touya," I managed to say quietly.

At this he took my arm and tucked it under his. "They're just flowers."

There was a loud sound of firecrackers to initiate the race followed by my wavering voice. "Yeah, but where are they coming from?"

As the race progressed, I heard the younger ones in the crowd crying and complaining. "I can't breathe!" The runners were now wading through chest high flower petals. I only hoped that parents and guardians had the sense to pick their children up from the ground. There was no weathering this for the children. Soon there was going to be no weathering this for us adults.

"This isn't normal!" Tomoyo shouted as she slammed into me.

I pulled away from both Tomoyo and Touya. "I have to find out what's going on."

"These petals are coming from up high. Check the rooftops," Touya insisted.

I summoned The Fly and flew to the rooftops. When skimming lo and behold, guess what I saw?

I saw a pretty girl wearing flowery, puffy pink, twirling in mesmerizing circles. She danced and leaped in clouds of flower petals. There wasn't even any music, so she was probably dancing to her own make-belief tune.

"Hey," I shouted angrily, "Stop this at once! You're disrupting the festivities!"

She finally noticed me and danced over.

"Hey," before I could finish shouting at her, she pulled me into her arms and twirled me around. What was wrong with this girl?

"Sakura, put your foot down!" I recognized Kero's voice popping into my ear. "Don't let her take you around!"

Now, the girl started humming aloud as she danced us around. My head was spinning in the circles that she was dancing us in.

"She's jealous that she wasn't invited to the party. That's why she's showed up and made a muck of things."

I broke away from her arms and yelled at her, "Now's the time to celebrate, but you have gone completely overboard. Your playfulness has become dangerous!"

She stopped to truly assess who I was. For a moment we just stared calmly at each other before her face broke into a silly grin and she became crazy again. She came up and crushed me in a bone-breaking hug.

I had to gasp to let the words out, "Flower, I command you to return to your power confined!"

There was a sound that reminded me of a sigh. Then, a storm of magical energy picked up and encapsulated us. The girl clad in pink slowly ebbed away and became a Clow Card. I was kneeling on the roof top when Kero flew over to me. "You are very slow at catching on," he said.

I was staring at the remains of desert stains around his mouth. I glared daggers at him and yelled, "You are completely out of order, Kero! Where have you been? Eating cake, I suppose!"

"This isn't England. In China we have pastries and dumplings, both very good and very free here."

I released my angry energy and returned the Clow staff to its key form. Taking in a lungful of air I grabbed him by his little legs. "Get me down from here, Fatty. You need the exercise." I pulled him to the edge and made him drop me two stories from the building. I landed smack dab at the finish line on the track. I made the Sun Guardian take one end of the tape as I scrambled and took the other end. We were just in time for the winning team's last runner to tear through the finish line.

Kero kept complaining indignantly at how indecently I ordered him about, but who cared what that little plump complainer had to say. We were off to the next round.