It took a while for my brain to catch up with my body, but the first thing I noticed was the fact that Syaoran's hand was still warm on my arm. The second thing I noticed was that we were now standing in the middle of a fancy restaurant in downtown Tomoeda and there were a good thirty-so pairs of eyes trained on us, many of those eyes hanging above mouths frozen mid-bite. Apparently appearing out of thin air tends to draw some looks.
"Eriol what did you do?" I stepped out of Syaoran's grasp, ready to face Eriol only to find the boy was no longer there. I had been dumped in a popular restaurant at the start of the dinner-time rush with an angel look-alike, a winged lion-bear, a scowling boy who had pulled a wickedly sharp sword from seemingly nowhere, and two girls who looked ready to fight. My brother was still god-knows-where being held captive by the sickest thing I had ever met. To top it all off, it now looked like the whole town was about to find out my secret.
"Sakura, quickly, put them to sleep." Tomoyo's level-headed nature acclimatized her to the situation quicker than the rest of us, letting her analyze the problem and spit out a solution in record time.
"Huh?" I, on the other hand, was still playing catch up.
"Put the customers and wait staff to sleep. Use your cards." Tomoyo wasn't really being subtle about the whole 'magic' thing, but then again I guess there wasn't really a point to secrecy seeing as two obviously non-human creatures were standing in plain view for all the world to see. They even looked to be preening slightly under the attention they were garnering. Pompous pricks.
"Sakura! The cards; Sleep!" Oh, right.
I had first shown Tomoyo my cards ages ago, way back in the beginning when I had told her about my adventures in falling out of trees and the Book that had saved me. ('In the beginning…' How can a matter of weeks seem like years?) I'd shown her the cards many times since, usually due to her nagging me about needing a reference for her Clow-based outfits. Thankfully I had yet to be forced into one of them, but I was sure as soon as this whole business settled down I'd be in for one heck of a photo-shoot. Because she has the memory of an elephant, Tomoyo's remembered up until now the names of the cards. And she remembered the name of that periwinkle pixie with a star on her forehead and one on her leotard, wings on both shoulder blades and one for an ear, who clutched a moon-topped staff in her tiny hand. When my brain finally finished its reboot, I remembered that pixie too.
"I'm not sure if I can put all these people under; I'm not really at full capacity right now…"
"You don't have enough magic for this and you were going to go confront the Puppetmaster?" Syaoran's brain had apparently finished taking in the sudden scenery change, and he turned to me with eyes smoldering and narrowed. With a grunt he pulled his hand from my arm and placed it along with his other firmly on my shoulders, his sword now a red-tasseled orb dangling around his wrist.
"Hey, what are you…" My voice trailed off as I felt the rush of green energy. Now it was my turn to narrow my eyes at him.
He ignored my look. "Just put them to sleep already, before they start panicking."
I was still holding my staff from my earlier card transformation. Bringing out Sleep, I tapped her card once and the fairy appeared from the now-pink surface. I felt nothing from transforming her, and I decided to take that as a good sign. "Can you put everyone else in this restaurant to sleep please? Oh, and make sure anyone coming in falls asleep as well." The littlest sandman took off to fulfill my request, giggling as she sprinkled glittering powder over the heads of patrons and wait staff alike. I was giggling quietly to myself too when one man fell asleep with noodles hanging out of his mouth. I stopped giggling as soon as the aftereffects of that sleep-trick caught up with me and it felt like my limbs were being put through a meat tenderizer. Syaoran moved his hands from my shoulders to under my arms when my legs began shaking. I felt the green energy flow in greater abundance.
"Syaoran, stop, you're gonna wear yourself out." My tongue felt heavy as it slurred my words. He began a comment of "You're one to talk!" when I found myself lifted off the ground as Yue swept in.
"Mistress, are you alright?" Green magic was replaced by ice blue and though I felt rejuvenated in a matter of seconds, I missed the familiar source of energy and the presence of the boy who supplied it. Said boy was scowling something fierce at my moon guardian.
"I'm fine, put me down. I'm not some shrinking daisy you all have to protect; I can take care of myself." I wormed my way out of Yue's grasp and was satisfied standing on my own two feet again. They were playing pass-around with me, vying to see who could support me in my 'hour of need.' I could support myself, thank-you-very-much.
"Normally I would agree with you on that account, but Sakura. You're nearly dead on your feet. You have to learn to ration your energy, 'kay?" Mei-Lin stepped up beside me, placing a supportive hand on my shoulder and looking at me with unnaturally serious eyes. "It's not that I think you can't handle the recoil, but I've seen people use more than they have and… well, I don't want that to ever happen to you."
"Thank you for worrying. I'll be careful." I reached up to squeeze Mei-Lin's hand and gently withdraw it from my back before turning back to the situation at hand.
"Sakura, it's not going to be enough to just put them all to sleep." Tomoyo's words were soft and her eyes were hesitant. "You're going to have to get rid of their memories of us. They can't wake up and realize they all saw the same thing before their collective nap. It'll only further their suspicions."
"Use Erase; it's worked for you before." Mei-Lin's words brought me back to an afternoon spent hiding in a laundry room while a fake-Sakura tried to keep Mei-Lin from figuring out the blank spot in her memory. I subconsciously drew a hand up to my neck where the memory of a rope lingered. When Mei-Lin saw my forehead beginning to crease, she laughed. "No hard feelings, don't worry. I understand why you did what you did. Plus it was all Kero's fault anyway."
"Hey!" My first guardian beast had been quiet up until now, a record length of time for him.
Before he could break that record any further, I cut in. "Erasing their memories of us will solve that problem, but what about the big blank spot it'll leave? I could explain your short black-out to you later, but these people can never know the truth."
My attempts to keep Kero silent were in vain, but the words he spouted were, for once, relevant. "Use Dream; she'll be able to fill their minds with such realistic and interwoven scenarios they'll believe that fake reality."
"Kero, that… was actually a useful piece of information. You're really growing up!" I figured his switch to work-mode was due in no small part to the appearance of my other guardian. Kero's nature probably led him to believe he was now competing with Yue in Japan's Next Top Guardian or something along those lines. For now, I welcomed the change, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to take too much of this smarty-pants Kero.
"Will you be able to handle it?" I bit back my initial retort to Syaoran's question. I was beginning to learn that when Syaoran or any of the rest of my companions made comments like this, it wasn't because they thought I was weak. In Syaoran's case, it was because he was a worrier by nature who most likely worried over me more than others. (The thought was odd, but nice. Warming.) Tomoyo and Mei-Lin would probably have a few choice opinions as to why this was, but I had promised myself to never ask them about anything Syaoran-related or allow myself to think along those lines. Not until the Puppetmaster was out of the picture for good.
"I should be able too, yes. Thanks for the help earlier, but I've got this one. Just, it might not hurt to be ready after I'm done." I had previously been able to say "thank you" so easily, but it was harder now when the gifts given were so much more than simple notes or compliments. These were the heavy-hitting "thank-you's," the ones that paid gratitude for saving lives, feeding energy, healing wounds. As hard as it was to say these thank-you's, it was next to impossible for me to admit that there would be further situations arising in which I'd need to speak even more sets of those serious words. I would very likely be in a terrible shape by the time I was done supplementing those in the restaurant with dreams to fill the void in the memories I would be erasing shortly before. I wouldn't be able to face the Puppetmaster and save my brother with energy levels that low and so the unspoken words hung in the air that yet again I'd be using Syaoran's magic as a crutch.
The boy nodded tightly, stepping up behind me with his hands hovering nearby, ready to catch me and feed me green power should I falter. His presence and warmth was a tad distracting (I saw Mei-Lin nudge Tomoyo and not-so-subtly point to my surely reddening cheeks,) but I had a job to do. I felt Yue and Kero step up beside me as well. Their auras were as different as, well, night and day. They were ready to support me as well, and I took a moment to frown at myself for growing into the image of such an incredibly reliant girl, the one thing I had strived to distance myself from ever since my mother had passed. I shook off the negative thoughts, replacing them with my earlier understanding of the others' protective actions, and focused on the task at hand.
The jester-clad Erase appeared before me with no tax. I had transformed her weeks before and as such it was easier to tap into her power and snip sections of memory out of the minds of those unconscious in the restaurant. I still knew next-to-nothing about how my Cards and the spirits within them worked, but I was figuring out that transforming the Clow Cards into ones that bore my name freed the spirits, just a bit, and let them draw power from not just me but the environment around us. I think most of my repercussions with the spirits of lesser power came from transforming their cards in the first place, the pain not hitting until I came down off the magic-working high. Realizing this, I knew the next part of this two-step plan would be the difficult one. Widening my stance, I transformed my newest spirit.
Dream was an elegant woman dressed in an Egyptian-esque headpiece that covered her eyes and robes of a similar style. She was serene and stately and sure of herself. Her surety helped me strengthen my own resolve. When she appeared before me, I felt next to no drawback to my magic, but I hadn't yet stopped working and was thus most likely still on the magical equivalent of an adrenaline rush. I set to work quickly, desperate to maintain my energy and confidence levels and implant new memories into the minds of those in the restaurant while I could.
"Dream, could you please fill the blank spots in the memories of these sleeping people with hyper-realistic, synchronized dreams?" Dream nodded once at my words and set out, touching the foreheads of each individual with precision. With each successive dream-memory implanted, I felt a small lessening of power from within.
Tough it out, you can do this. You have to be able to manage at least this much if you're ever going to hold your own against the Puppetmaster! I can't believe you thought you could face him when you're running out of steam so early on in the game. You've resorted to relying too heavily on your Guardians and Syaoran. You're weak.
My inner monologue was snarky and sadistic, as they were more and more often becoming. I ignored the bleak voice, focusing instead on fueling Dream as she gave memories to the last of the wait staff. Thankfully, no one had entered the restaurant in the few minutes we had been standing there, but I knew the longer we waited the higher the probability of more customers became. In another few seconds Dream was returning to me and giving me a small bow as she disappeared with the rest of my energy.
Syaoran was there immediately, hands hoisting me up and supplementing my pink energy with his own green-tinged reserves. The swirl of magic felt nice and looked pretty and I found myself relaxing into it. Yue and Kero stepped in to help as well and my own blushing shade was bolstered with sun-gold and ice-blue as well as late summer growth.
"C'mon Sakura, you can't stop now. We need to get out of here before more customers come in. We'll help you, but you need to get us out of here, alright? Alright, Sakura? Can you use a card to teleport somewhere more secluded? Sakura? Can you use The Move? You've already transformed it, so you should be able to use it without much of a tax." Syaoran's voice was soft and warm and I leaned farther back into him, almost entirely gone at this point. The only thing keeping me in the realm of consciousness were the intertwining streams of magic lifting my own shrinking supply. Little pieces of meaning flitted into my brain from his words and I picked up on some key phrases like "teleport" and "move." Dumbly obeying, I stuck a hand into my pocket and drew out The Move. Move appeared as a jeweled chalice with two feathery white wings and it flitted around as soon as I released it.
"Good Sakura, good job. Now can you teleport us back to your house? It should be empty, right? Your dad's at work?" Syaoran's words continued to dance in and out of my befuddled mind and I swayed along with them, humming slightly to Move. I guess it got the message because the next thing I knew we were in my empty living room and Move was disappearing back into my deck. Syaoran quickly moved to lay me down on the couch, seating himself beside me when my grip wouldn't let him get up. He was warm and comfortable and I was too tired at this point to know any better. Kero and Yue withdrew to stand at near the front door, keeping watch outside.
"Is she going to be okay?" Tomoyo's voice was low and soft as well, but I found myself preferring Syaoran's voice as he answered.
"She should be fine; she's just overdone herself a bit. I'll continue supplying her as much magic as I can without ending up in her state. I don't think she's going to be up for rescuing her brother any time soon."
I understood that sentence perfectly and responded by lurching up and making to move off the couch. "No, I gotta get Touya." Syaoran caught me before I could fall all the way off and eased me back down onto the cushions, firm hands keeping me from making another attempt to stand up.
"You're not going anywhere, Sakura. Not in this state. Your brother will be fine for another day. The Puppetmaster doesn't seem like the impatient type, nor does he seems stupid enough to throw away his bait – your brother – this early into his game. Your brother will be fine for the moment. You, on the other hand, need to rest."
"Yeah Sakura, stay put and get your strength back. I'll even give you my pudding to help!" Kero, shrinking down to plushie size, flew off to root around in the fridge for a chilled snack.
"But Touya… and Dad…" Tomoyo walked around to stand behind the sofa, brushing the hair out of my eyes as I continued to slump on Syaoran.
"Shh, they'll be okay, I promise. Right now our priority is making sure you're okay, understand?"
"Yeah Sakura, we can't have you walking into battle like this! Which, by the way, I can't believe you were planning on doing earlier today; I mean what were you thinking? Though I guess I can relate. If someone took Syaoran like that, I'd probably fly off the handle too. I just wish you'd trust us a bit more, okay? We're here to support you. And you'll be getting another lecture about this when you're coherent enough to understand what I'm saying." I smiled hazily at Mei-Lin. Her words didn't quite make sense to my dumbed mind but they left a nice feeling in my gut.
"Mistress, there's someone at the door." Yue's chilly voice broke the mood and I was snapped out of my dreamy state, blinking and shaking my head a little to clear my mind. Syaoran's magic was still supporting my own, but I knew I still had a ways to go before I was fully self-sufficient. I had overdone it today, badly. And it was all Eriol's fault for placing me in that restaurant after I had worn myself out unknowingly summoning Yue.
Speak of the devil. My front door somehow unlocked itself and blew open in a gust of wind. There in the doorway stood the boy in question, bespectacled and looking slightly less smug than usual.
"What are you doing here?" Tomoyo was around the couch and in front of me in no time, Mei-Lin standing arms-crossed beside her.
"I'm here to check on our Cherry Blossom, nothing more. I am sorry about my earlier disappearance, but I had something to check up on. I did not know the state Sakura was in when I left her."
"If you make one wrong move…" Mei-Lin trailed off, and I could feel Syaoran tensing beside me. What could he do, though? He had already spent a good chunk of energy today making sure I didn't collapse, and even on a good day I didn't think he'd be able to hold his own against Eriol. (It seemed all I was doing lately was taking, taking, taking and giving nothing in return but empty "thank-you's.") Tomoyo didn't have anything but her wit to battle Eriol with, and though that would normally render most people incapable, Eriol was not most people. Mei-Lin had her fists but I had no doubt Eriol had more tricks up his sleeve. Kero and Yue might be able to do something, but with the way Yue was starting to bow to Eriol…
"Yue? What are you doing?" My voice was hoarse and I was glad when Kero flew up with a bottle of water and the promised pudding. As soon as he saw Eriol, Kero was back to being wrapped up in feathery white appendages and emerging again in his true form; head down, teeth bared, and ready to protect me. I laid a hand on his head and he relaxed somewhat, but his eyes never left the blue-haired boy.
"I'm paying my respects to my creator." Yue did not look up from his bow.
Kero abruptly sat down at the Moon Guardian's words, furrowing his brow and dumbly repeating Yue's words. "Your creator? You mean, this guy is…?"
"Ah, I see I've finally been outed, huh? Perceptive as always, Yue. I would expect no less. Well then Sakura, let me introduce myself in full. It seems you missed my earlier entrance today, so we shall have to remedy that! My name is Eriol Hiirigizawa. I am the incarnation of Clow Reed. It is nice to finally and honestly meet my successor." Eriol flashed his most winning smile, but the stunning white of his teeth was nothing compared to the stunning meaning behind his words.
"You're Clow Reed?" Syaoran found words for me, sitting up straighter beside me. From the corner of my eye I could see the indignation on his face. "The Clow Reed I'm descended from?"
"In a way, yes. I am not directly Clow Reed, but I am close enough to him. So technicalities aside, you are my adorable little descendant!" The smile on Eriol's face should have been outlawed in most countries. "I share Clow's memories and abilities, and I am here to help you all, I promise. Sakura, the tests I have given you have been to further your abilities. I meant you no harm through them. I am sorry about today; I hadn't realized how much magic you had already performed in preparation for facing the Puppetmaster. I might have pushed you a bit too far, but I am proud to say you succeeded my expectations. All of you have done so well and I want to reward you for that." Eriol stepped towards me and Tomoyo and Mei-Lin were a wall between us, their shoulders straight and their heads held high.
"Tomoyo, Mei-Lin, it's okay. I think… I think I believe him."
"Everything he's done and you're still willing to trust this creep? Sakura, you've got to be kidding!"
"I know what I'm doing. I've got a pretty strong gut instinct and I've never been wrong before. Kero, you believe him, right?"
"… I don't want to, but I do. I think the Creep is actually the incarnation of Clow Reed. Wasn't expecting that one." Kero was oddly subdued. I think Eriol had thrown us all for a loop and the only one in the room who didn't look moderately surprised was the still-bowing Yue.
At my insistence, Tomoyo and Mei-Lin parted to let Eriol through. Syaoran had unconsciously wrapped an arm around me in protection and my recovering mind was aware enough now to blush. Worry about that later. Right now there's a more pressing matter in front of you.
"Sakura, Syaoran, with your permission I would like to replenish your energy. There is still something that must be done tonight and you will both need to be in peak condition." I nodded, Syaoran doing the same beside me, and Eriol pressed a smooth hand to each of our collarbones. Midnight magic swirled through me, disrupting the colorful residue already lingering in my reserves before settling down and becoming a full shade of rose. I felt better instantly, sitting up straight for the first time all day and blinking newly invigorated eyes.
"That was unexpected." Syaoran too looked more aware.
"What was that thing that needed to be done tonight?" I was ready for any of Eriol's tests now.
"I mentioned how I was sorry earlier about ducking out on your group at the restaurant. It was true that your detour was another of my tests to unlock more of your potential, but that was not the only reasoning behind your misplacement. I had something I needed to check up on, alone. And Sakura, it comes down to this:
"I know where your brother is, and we need to get him back before tonight ends."