17- Sakura and the Museum Panic

"-reject the hold of evil's blight, and draw your power from my light!"

The end of Sakura's staff made contact with the line of upturned floor tiles just before they reached the shelves at the end of the art classroom. A few of the pots on the shelf swayed from the impact, but none of them fell. Sakura breathed a sigh of relief and looked down to the new Sakura Card in her hand. "Destruction." A fitting name.

Tomoyo put down her camera and waved. "Amazing job! Great work!"

With the card no longer a threat, Sakura could finally breathe a sigh of relief. She leaned back against the window and then slumped down onto the floor, her staff turning back into a key. "That was a close one. If I hadn't gotten it just then, everyone's art projects would have been…"

"But you did get it, Sakura-sama!" Stephen chimed, running up to her and giving her a pat on the leg. "It was a photo finish! Truly breathtaking!"

"I don't know if 'photo finish' is exactly applicable in this situation, but-" Sakura shook her head. "I'm just glad everything turned out alright. After Noboru-sensei got both Hive and Decay, I was worried…"

She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't want to finish it. Over the past two weeks, her confidence had been wavering, and if she hadn't managed to capture this card in time, she wasn't sure what she would do. Even now, catching The Destruction had been too close a call for her liking. But… what could she do?

Tomoyo approached her and held out a hand, helping Sakura to her feet. "So now what? What can the card do now that it's been purified?"

"Destruction, as an act, can be harmful or helpful depending on its application," Stephen assured her. "There are many structures which harm people or the environment. Hostile architecture, for instance, makes it so that people cannot comfortably occupy public places. Making the world a more habitable place is something The Destruction can aid with."

Kero nudged Sakura's shoulder. "So! Is our heroic cardcaptor gonna go out and destroy some anti-bird spikes now?"

"I think I'm just going to go home. I have cheerleading practice early tomorrow, after all."

Tomoyo looked up at the clock in the corner of the classroom. It was difficult to see in the dim light, but it read almost nine-thirty. "Oh, dear. It is late. I need to call my mother. Would you like me to ask for a ride for you as well, Sakura-chan?"

"Yeah, that'd be great." Sakura suppressed a yawn. "If I walk home, my dad might realize I was at school after hours. I don't want to get in trouble."

Kero perched on one of her shoulders, and Stephen on the other. "You deserve a ride home anyway, kiddo," Kero assured her. "You've done some great work here tonight."

"Yes, you have," Stephen agreed. "And you will need your rest now that all of the Wrath cards have been collected."

"The… what?"

"Wrath cards, Tomoyo-sama. Have we not discussed the power structure of the Warp Cards?" Stephen hopped over to Tomoyo's shoulder as they walked. She shook her head, and he continued. "There are seven powerful Warp Cards, which hold power over the other, less powerful cards. Now that all of the cards under The Wrath are in the possession of either Sakura-sama or Noboru, it's more likely that The Wrath will show itself in an attempt to find them. We will need to be especially vigilant. A card that powerful cannot fall into Noboru's hands."

Kero laughed, nudging Sakura's cheek. "Don't worry so much about it, buddy. We've got our expert cardcaptor right here. If that nasty Wrath card does rear its head, she'll just capture it, easy-peasy. Right?"

Sakura nodded in agreement.

"Yes. Everything will surely be alright."

She wanted to believe it. She had to. But right now, she just wasn't sure.

"Good morning, Dad!" Sakura chimed as she entered the kitchen, the smell of cooking-breakfast making her extra hungry. Fujitaka leaned back from his spot at the stove, waving at her with a smile.

"Good morning! Breakfast is almost ready. Could you set the table please?"

"Sure thing!"

Sakura began setting utensils out and noticed the photo at the end of the table. Her father had broken out the Valentine photos again this year- today's showed Nadeshiko against a pink background, her red lipstick perfectly matching the red, heart-patterned dress she was modeling. As always, her smile in the photo was so genuine, Sakura couldn't help smiling too.

"Good morning to you too, Mom. Nice to see you in the Valentine spirit!"

Fujitaka chuckled as he carried a plate of eggs to the table. "She did so many Valentine-themed shoots, I have to start early if I want to display them all. Speaking of which, are you planning to use the kitchen for chocolate after club practice today?"

"No. Some friends and I are going to Tomoyo-chan's house to work on our chocolate together."

"Oh, I see. Sounds like fun. Tell Tomoyo-san I said hello."

"I will!"

The two began enjoying breakfast in silence, though it wasn't out of the ordinary. They lived in the same house, after all- they were comfortable spending time together without filling every moment with conversation. Still, Sakura felt a strange sense of tension, and she wasn't sure how to describe it. It might just be her own anxiety from the events of the night before, so she didn't ask about it, hoping her father wouldn't notice. But he eventually spoke up, first clearing his throat with an odd sense of nervousness.

"You, erm, have plans with Li-san on Sunday, don't you?"

"That's right. We're going to a play at a small theater downtown. Naoko-chan helped write the script, and one of the drama club members is performing in it."

"That sounds lovely," Fujitaka answered, and was silent for a long time before eventually beginning again in a quieter voice. "I, um, have been meaning to tell you, but… the truth is, I actually have a date on Sunday myself."

Sakura stared. Was it her Dad who'd been worried the whole time?

"A date? You mean, like, a date-date? With who?"

Sakura could see a nervous smile pass over her dad's face. "You remember my friend Giorgios, right?"

"Oh! The one who used to help you out in Greece?"

"Yes. He invited me to the special exhibit on Ancient Sumer that the museum is hosting this week. It's going to have some significant artifacts on loan from the British Museum, including the Silver Lyre and the Standard of Ur-"

He stopped himself abruptly, and Sakura felt a pang of sadness. He'd been so enthusiastic, even though she didn't know anything about the artifacts, she was enjoying seeing his excitement.

"-I, er, didn't mean to keep this from you. I assure you, there's no one in this world who can ever replace your mother, and-"

"Dad, it's really okay!" Sakura assured him before he got too far. "I'm so happy for you! After Onii-chan moved out, you seemed lonely, and I got worried. But ever since you started spending time with Giorgios-san, you've seemed so much happier. Seeing you this happy has made me really happy, and I'm sure it makes Mom really happy too."

Fujitaka closed his eyes, breathing a sigh that sounded like he was fighting back tears. "Thank you, Sakura. I can't tell you how much your support means to me."

"Of course! Tell Giorgios-san that I look forward to meeting him soon!"

"Yes. I will."

The topic of conversation changed to the museum exhibit as Fujitaka's excitement returned. Sakura still didn't totally get it, but it was fun to listen to. The idea of humans building musical instruments and complex mosaics so long ago was fascinating. As they cleaned up and prepared to leave, Fujitaka finally mentioned the date again.

"Sakura… could you wait to mention this to Touya? I still haven't told him yet, and I want him to hear it from me."

"Yes, I can do that. But I'm sure he'll feel the same way I do."

"I hope so. I really do."

Sunday morning was cold and rainy, but that couldn't dampen Sakura's spirits. It had been so long since she and Syaoran had gone on a proper date, she was really looking so forward to it. Seeing him waiting outside the train station, she couldn't help breaking into a run and embracing him, their umbrellas clattering as they collided and dropped to the sidewalk. Syaoran scolded her for making a scene and she apologized, but she could tell there was excitement under his serious exterior too. They folded up their umbrellas and put them away, and when they eventually left the train station at their stop near the theater, only Syaoran opened his. It was still about ten blocks, but they were happy to walk it together.

"That line outside the museum," Syaoran pointed out, "do you know what that's for?"

"There's a new exhibit opening today about ancient Sumer. They have a bunch of important artifacts on loan from England, including one that's, like… a fancy box with a mosaic on it that's over four thousand years old. Dad said archeologists still don't know what it was used for, but he seems really excited to see it."

"Is your dad going?" Syaoran had stopped, looking back at the crowd waiting in line. Sakura nodded, but pushed him on.

"He is, but he's actually on a date, so I don't want to disturb him."

"A date?" Syaoran turned to the side, taking Sakura's hand so that she could pull him along rather than trying to push him. "I didn't know he was dating again. Are you… okay?"

Sakura smiled brightly. "Of course I am! I know he'll always love Mom, but it's been so long, she would want him to be happy. The man he's going with is an old friend from the university, and even though I haven't met him, he sounds like a wonderful person, and I know he makes Dad really happy."

Syaoran breathed a sigh of relief, his breath condensing in the air in front of him. "I'm so glad. I know you didn't know your mother very well, but I imagine it'd be difficult." He pressed closer to her, and she happily leaned against his shoulder as they walked. It seemed like he was worried about her, and she wanted to reassure him as best she could. It was only natural that he'd have picked up on her recent anxiety surrounding the Warp Cards, and she didn't want him to take on that anxiety as well. He had a bad habit of doing that, worrying even more about others than they worried about themselves, and she hated for him to take that on along with everything else he had to worry about. Today, she just wanted to enjoy themselves together.

Stephen's warning about the Wrath Card was still in the back of her mind, but she was trying to ignore it.

"Thank goodness we got here when we did! Look at all those people in line behind us." Fujitaka pulled his coat closer around him as he huddled under Noboru's umbrella. "I didn't realize the exhibit would be so popular."

Noboru grinned. "Most of them are probably here for the gemstone exhibit that's opening today as well. In most people's eyes, the riches of Ancient Sumer pale in comparison to a big, shiny rock."

"I don't think that's true. And even if it is, both exhibits are valuable educational tools. What are most of our artifacts but big shiny rocks themselves?"

Noboru hadn't thought of it that way, and he fought back a laugh so that Fujitaka wouldn't think he was laughing at him.

"I suppose that's true. Thanks for your optimism." He nudged Fujitaka's arm. "Looks like the line is moving. You have your ticket?"

"Yes, right here."

"Wonderful! Just don't let it get wet, okay?"

Despite the daunting length of the line, it moved quickly, and it took no time at all for the two men to make it into the museum lobby. Noboru stored his umbrella and followed Fujitaka up the staircase to the second level, where the temporary exhibit gallery was set up. Fujitaka had been right- there was a considerable crowd headed for the Sumerian gallery, and they had to wait in another short line to show their tickets and enter the gallery itself.

It was beautifully decorated, the first room surrounded by a mural of the desert with a miniature reconstruction of the Ziggurat of Ur in the center. Fujitaka and Noboru pushed their way in to get a better look at the model and the narrative placards next to it. It wasn't long before both of them became lost in the exhibit, speaking only to point out something especially fascinating or move each other onto the next artifact. They kept glancing toward the edge of the room, where the Standard was being displayed, but it was always too crowded, so they passed the time looking at smaller artifacts and the how-to-read-cuneiform display. It was so much fun, they didn't even realize how much time had passed.

"Oh, look! There's a spot by the standard!"

Fujitaka grabbed Noboru's sleeve and pulled him over to the large case in the center of the room, where a group had just cleared away from the glass. Inside sat a small wooden box set on a pedestal, adorned with stone and jewels on the outside to create a mosaic. The inscription beside it read "Standard of Ur, First Dynasty c.4600 B.C." Fujitaka was focused on it, but Noboru was mesmerized by his expression. He was so genuinely excited about the artifact, it was contagious.

"Isn't it beautiful? I've only seen it once, years ago when I was in London at a conference," Fujitaka began again. "Almost seven thousand years ago, and humans were already depicting scenes like this with precious minerals we still use today. The blue of the lapis lazuli is still as stunning as ever-" He stopped himself with a gasp. "Sorry, I don't mean to sound overbearing-"

"No! Your enthusiasm is infectious," Noboru replied with a laugh. "This is the 'peace' side, isn't it? Let's move around to the other side and give some others a chance to look at it."

"Right."

The two shuffled around to the other side of the case, letting the people standing behind them take their spot. The other side of the box was better preserved, and its mosaic stood out in stark detail. But instead of the figures happily feasting, as shown on the other side, this one displayed soldiers marching in formation to war. Chariots pulled by donkeys crushed mangled bodies under their wheels, and prisoners were led away in shackles. This was what Noboru had truly come to see. The first depiction of military might from the first civilization. This was where it all began.

"I've always been fascinated by the Sumerian concept of 'merism," Fujitaka began again after they had stared at the mosaic for a few minutes. "The idea of depicting a single tale through polar opposites. A vicious battle and the triumphant celebration that follows it- there's so much story in it, even though the two feel completely removed from one another."

Noboru nodded. "It's true. Without the war, there would be no victory, and with no victory, no celebration. In a way, the happiness that comes from peace can only be found because there is war. Good cannot exist without evil… therefore, the concept of evil fulfills an important role in civilization. People claim to want to eradicate evil, and yet, is it not an indispensable part of who we are as humans?"

Fujitaka went silent, his gaze shifting back to Noboru for the first time since they'd approached the standard. "…I never thought of it that way. But I suppose you're right. So many different cultures have religious and social concepts of duality, good and evil, darkness and light. It must be somehow rooted in our collective psyche. The uniting force of fighting against evil wouldn't exist if there were only good in the world."

"You understand!" Noboru couldn't hide his smile. "When I say that to most people, they think I'm strange. Why wouldn't you want to eradicate evil from the world? Perhaps it's because I've always found myself sympathizing with the villains rather than the heroes-"

"Oh, look! The headphones are free! Come on, I want to listen to the recreation of the silver lyre being performed!"

Before Noboru could get very far, Fujitaka was already pulling him in another direction. That was fine. He'd heard what he needed to hear.

"You don't need to pull! I'm right behind you!"

After seeing everything there was to see in the Sumerian gallery, Fujitaka and Noboru browsed some of the museum's permanent exhibits for an hour or so and then headed back to the lobby.

"Do you have a preference for lunch?" Noboru asked. "The food court here is expensive, so I researched some nearby restaurants. There's an Indian restaurant, a yakitori place, a family restaurant, a coffee shop if you don't want something too heavy-"

Fujitaka reached out and put a hand against Noboru's arm. "Anything you'd like, I'm sure I'll enjoy."

"That's such a sweet thing to say. But it's also a cop-out. At least choose between the Indian restaurant and the yakitori, will you?"

"Ah, right." Fujitaka blushed and laughed. "I don't often get to eat Indian food. How about we-"

He stopped mid-sentence, cut off by a commotion from up the staircase to their left. There were yells and screams, and the sound of something large crashing. Fujitaka gasped and looked to Noboru.

"Isn't that where the Sumerian exhibit is?"

It was. Noboru clutched at his bag, his muscles tensing up. Things like this just didn't happen at museums. Something supernatural was likely in the works, and considering Messenger's recent news that Sakura had transformed The Destruction… he had an idea as to what it might be.

"You stay here! I'm going to go see what's going on!"

"Wha-? Giorgios, wait-!"

Fujitaka reached out for him, but Noboru was already halfway to the base of the stairs. He heard Fujitaka still calling for him, but a museum guard was corralling people away from the second floor and got in between them. Fighting the stream of panicked museum-goers filing down the stairs was a challenge, but Noboru was determined.

He couldn't let one this powerful get away from him.

Sakura and Syaoran exited the theater with big smiles, Sakura skipping along and Syaoran jogging to keep up as she descended the staircase back to the sidewalk. The rain had tapered off during the play, and the sun was even starting to peek out from behind the clouds. It was still cold, but Sakura's coat was warm, and she had Syaoran's hand to hold as well.

"Where do you want to go for lunch?" she asked as they stepped out onto the sidewalk and let the doors close behind them. "I heard there's this really nice coffee shop nearby. I think we passed it on the way here, actually."

"That's fine with me," Syaoran agreed. "A warm drink sounds nice right now."

"Then it's settled! Coffee shop it is!"

The thought of a hot coffee- one with lots of cream and sugar- and a fluffy pastry to accompany it had Sakura extra excited. She was barely paying attention to anyone else along the street, focusing only on the destination and the feeling of her hand in Syaoran's. But as they approached the intersection where the museum was located, the sound of people yelling broke through their carefree bubble.

"Is something going on at the museum?" Syaoran spoke up, stopping in place and stepping out toward the road to get a better look. "There are a bunch of people crowded around the entrance, and I sense something… strange."

Sakura took a moment to examine the energy surrounding the museum as well. It was across the street and inside the building, but she could still make out a distinct signature. Whatever it was, it was powerful.

"...oh no! That's where Dad and Giorgios-san were on their date! They could be in danger!"

"Let's go!"

The two hurried to a crosswalk and scrambled toward the museum entrance. There was such a large crowd scrambling to get out- and being ushered out- that no one stopped to ask the two of them for tickets. They managed to get inside, only for a museum guard to point them back toward the door.

"We're evacuating the museum. Please proceed to the exit."

"Evacuating?" Sakura gasped. "Why?"

"A violent situation has broken out on the second floor among a group of historical reenactors. For your safety, we ask that you- hey! You! Get off the stairs!"

While the guard was distracted, rushing toward the staircase towards whatever reckless museum-goer was ignoring the evacuation orders, Sakura and Syaoran slipped around the corner and into the hallway near the elevator.

"We can get to the second floor this way," Sakura said, pressing the button and hearing the elevator move in response. "It must be a Warp Card, influencing the reenactors like that."

"Does this museum even employ reenactors? A couple members of the drama club were looking for part-time work along those lines, and they never said anything about this place."

"...maybe it was something special for this exhibit? Or…"

The elevator chimed, and Sakura and Syaoran rushed in as soon as the doors opened. Sakura selected the button for the second floor, and they waited with bated breath as the machine lurched upward. She summoned her staff and Syaoran his sword, both trying to mentally prepare themselves for what they'd find when the doors opened again.

But whatever they'd prepared themselves for, it was definitely not what they encountered.

The elevator made a loud ding when it reached the second floor, and the clacking of hooves against the tile floor sounded. The doors opened, only to reveal a donkey, staggering backward and whinnying in surprise. Sakura yelped, holding her staff out in defense. Rather than having a bit and bridle, the harness on its back was attached with a rope to a ring in its nose. Its eyes flashed in panic as it scrambled away.

"A-a donkey?!" Sakura gasped. "What's something like that doing in a museum?"

"It's not real, though," Syaoran pointed out. "It's a magical creation. That must be the Warp Card's doing. We've got to go after it."

"Hey! Come back!" Sakura followed it around the corner to the hallway, but was sent jumping back as a spear whizzed past her head. "Whoa-!"

From the other side of the corner, there came the sound of running footsteps and shouting in a language she didn't recognize. Sakura quickly grabbed Syaoran's arm and reached for her cards.

"Nobody!"

The power of the card enveloped them- and just in time too. As it did so, a pair of men dressed like ancient warriors rounded the corner. They each held a club in their hands and looked around frantically as they tried to find the source of the noise they'd just heard. One barked an order at the other in the mysterious language, and they both turned back to the main hallway, leaving the elevator alcove behind. Sakura and Syaoran breathed a sigh of relief, but Sakura didn't call off the card yet.

"Those must have been made by the card too," Syaoran observed. "Do you know what card could be causing this? It feels especially powerful- it might be more than one."

Sakura closed her eyes and shook her head. "No, it's just one. This must be The Wrath."

"Wrath?"

Answering his question with another nod, Sakura pointed back toward the hall. "Those looked like warriors from ancient Sumer, didn't they?"

"I, uh, wouldn't know…"

"I saw a couple pictures in the brochure Dad showed me. Wrath takes anger and hatred, the desire to fight and kill, and manifests it into physical form. If The Wrath got ahold of that special artifact that Dad was talking about-"

"The one with the war mosaic on it?"

"Exactly! It must have brought the mosaic soldiers to life, chariots and animals included!"

Syaoran crossed his arms, his tentative expression now turning into a determined scowl. "If the card has manifested itself as these warriors, how are you going to purify it? You need all of them in one place, right?"

"Yeah. But how am I ever going to do that? Use bait?"

"If these are a manifestation of an entire army, I doubt they'd all charge in together, no matter what the bait. They'd probably use some form of strategy… but I don't know anything about ancient Sumerian battle strategies."

"Me neither, but we can't just-"

Sakura stopped, hearing a familiar voice on the other side of the wall. It was an incantation that usually filled her with dread, but for this once, she was grateful for it.

"Creatures of chaos, disruptors of peace, the son of Poseidon commands- commands thee-! No! Listen to your master-!"

"Noboru-sensei!" Sakura gasped, gripping her staff and jumping to her feet. "It sounds like he's in danger! We have to do something."

"But if you rush out there without any kind of protection, those soldiers are going to overwhelm you!" Syaoran protested, and Sakura shook her head. She called off Nobody and reached into her pocket again.

"Bubble, Shield, protect Noboru-sensei and bring him here to us!"

They could hear Noboru yelp in surprise, and the soldiers yelling in their own language. As Bubble carried Noboru back into the elevator alcove, the soldiers followed, and Sakura had to change her plan.

"Shield! Keep Wrath's soldiers away!"

Shield dropped its protection around the bubble, and Noboru fell to the floor again. The soldiers in pursuit hit Shield's barrier and pushed against it, but it held firm, and Noboru took the chance to collect himself. He brushed himself off and straightened his glasses, and looked over to Sakura and Syaoran.

"Sakura-san? Li-san? What are you two doing here?"

"The same thing you're doing," Syaoran spat. "Trying to get this card."

Noboru looked back at Shield's force field, where the soldiers were still beating blindly. "I thought I had that under control. But Wrath has split itself into so many pieces, I'm unable to focus my incantation. They view me as an enemy, just as they view you. I…" His voice trailed off and he closed his eyes. "...I was considering using Vegetation to force them into a smaller space. But with the two of you here, perhaps your magic can assist me."

"Why would we help you?!" Syaoran demanded. "If anything, it's Sakura who is going to purify the card. We won't let you have it!"

Noboru reached out and grabbed the front of Syaoran's shirt, yanking him closer. "Do you know what that is?" he demanded. "The Wrath has given life to the desire for conquest built into the Standard of Ur! The artifact's original makers likely created it to celebrate a great military victory, or perhaps to ensure such victories in the future. Emotions like that, when placed into objects by powerful sorcerers, only grow stronger with age. A few hundred years may not make a great difference, but a few thousand? Those soldiers have been waiting millennia to strike."

Noboru had let go of Syaoran partway through the rant, and Syaoran had shuffled back to sit beside Sakura. "No wonder Wrath targeted it," Sakura murmured. "It was the most powerful thing around."

"Precisely. That is why I cannot let the two of you endanger yourselves by exposing yourselves directly to the card. I'm asking that the two of you use your magic to incapacitate the soldiers from afar, and I will be the one to put myself in harm's way to bring it under control."

"If we can incapacitate the soldiers, there'll be no need for you," Syaoran shot back. "Why would we do all the work and let you swoop in and take the prize?"

"This card is not some prize to be won, Li-san. It is an adversary that you must take seriously. Putting yourself in its midst, in any way, is a danger that I simply cannot allow children to do-"

"We aren't children!"

Syaoran's response was loud, and Sakura flinched instinctively. He relaxed a little and placed a hand against hers, but Noboru's expression didn't change.

"Perhaps, in an ancient society like Sumer, a sixteen-year-old would not be considered a child. But just because some would grant you the title of adult- just because you feel you are an adult- does not make it so." Noboru's harsh expression softened behind his glasses. "I am not belittling you, Li Syaoran. Your magical skills are stronger than most adults in the world. But I am still a teacher and you are still my student. I have a responsibility to protect you from harm."

Syaoran gritted his teeth. "I didn't ask you to be my teacher, and I don't want your protection."

"Those who don't want protection are those who need it the most."

"Why you-!"

"Wait!" Sakura pulled on Syaoran's arm to get his attention. "I think I have an idea that will keep us all safe. Noboru-sensei included."

Syaoran and Noboru both went quiet, staring in surprise. Syaoran was the first to speak, squeezing her hand tighter in his.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Noboru-sensei, I heard from my dad that there are two scenes on the artifact, one showing a violent war and the other showing a peaceful banquet. Is that true?"

"Yes. But The Wrath would have no interest in the peace side. It thrives on endless conflict, refusing to revel in victory."

"Right!" Sakura nodded. "So if we take the soldiers from the war side and turn them into the banquet-goers from the peace side, then Wrath will want nothing more to do with them."

"Turn them into banquet-goers? How?"

Sakura let go of Syaoran's hand, digging into her pocket for her cards. "We just have to set the table. The only problem is, if I want to do that, I have to call off Shield. I can't use three cards at once."

Syaoran stood up, gripping his sword. "I'll hold the soldiers off. You do what you need to."

Noboru let out a sigh, tinged with frustration. "Regardless of how I feel, I cannot let the two of you do this alone," he said, retrieving a card from his own bag. "I will aid you in this endeavor. However, if this attempt fails, I expect you two to listen to me and help me get the card under control in my own way. Police will be arriving soon, and we do not have time to spare testing juvenile ideas."

"We-" Syaoran began, but Sakura cut him off.

"Yes. We will."

Deciding that they should put up a protective barrier before Sakura called off Shield, Noboru first summoned Vegetation to establish a hedge in between them and the soldiers. It didn't reach the ceiling, but it was tall enough that it blocked their view of the soldiers and allowed Sakura to breathe a sigh of relief. Syaoran, meanwhile, retrieved his talismans and focused on the hedge.

"God of metal, I summon thee! Come to my aid!"

The hedge, now encased in metal, reflected the image of the group in a distorted mosaic, and Sakura couldn't help but smile. This was the first time they and Noboru were working together- truly working together. After all the worry over him as an adversary, she had forgotten that, as antagonistic as he usually was, he genuinely seemed to care.

And oddly enough, that gave her the confidence to know she was going to succeed.

"Sweet, Song, turn the exhibit hall into a grand banquet hall where the soldiers can celebrate! SWEET! SONG!"

The two cards' power rushed toward the exhibit hall, and the museum was suddenly filled with the smell of fresh-baked pastries and the sound of vibrant music. After a few moments, the metal hedge separating them from the main hallway disappeared, revealing that the soldiers who'd been pushing back against it just minutes before were now gone. Sakura was the first to venture down the hallway toward the exhibit hall, and while Syaoran called out for her to be careful, she felt confident she had nothing to worry about. That feeling of bloodlust had disappeared and as she heard a chorus of singing voices from the exhibit hall, she felt it replaced by a sense of celebration.

The exhibit hall had been transformed, both in sight and in sound. Display cases were topped with trays of pastries and cakes, which the soldiers were enthusiastically digging into. Decorations made from crystallized sugar and sugar paste brightened the walls, and streamers of rice paper dangled in elegant patterns. Meanwhile, music echoed through the hall, coming from a series of stringed instruments, drums, and voices of those singing along. The formerly warlike soldiers were now embracing one another and dancing, and one particularly tall figure raised a glass with a cheer.

But something wasn't quite right in all of it.

Sakura could feel one remaining point of anger, seething deeply from somewhere in the exhibit. Her eyes fell on a prominent case in the center of the room, one that housed a small, elaborately decorated box. The box itself was glowing with a red tinge, and once it began to shake, Sakura knew she had no time to waste.

"Card by evil's hand designed, reveal your power and form confined, reject the hold of evil's blight, and draw your power from my light! SAKURA CARD!"

The end of Sakura's staff hit the glass in front of the box, and the red light collected itself into the form of a card. It passed through the glass, and Sakura retracted her staff as she reached out with her free hand. The card settled into her palm, and she read the bottom as the light obscuring the text began to fade.

"...The Victory?"

Syaoran and Noboru caught up with her, Syaoran pushing in close to get a better look at the card. Noboru, however, was watching their surroundings. The soldiers and animals were beginning to fade and disappear around them, and once they had all vanished, the music stopped and the decorations faded as well. Song and Sweet, now returned to card form, began to hover curiously around the new Sakura Card, and Sakura held up Victory to show them.

"Look. The card changed. Fighting can be bad, yes, but it can also lead to victories that benefit the people you love. Fighting to save people- that's what The Victory represents."

Noboru gave a grunt of displeasure and turned away. "Once again you've corrupted my creation with your own personal desires. I have no further use for it. Do with it what you will."

He began walking away, and Sakura spun around on her heels to call out for him.

"Wait! Noboru-sensei!"

He stopped at the doorway to the exhibit hall and turned his head. "What is it? The police will be here soon, you know, and I doubt you'll want to explain what the two of you are doing here."

"I just… wanted to say thank you. For helping protect us."

Noboru shook his head. "Do not thank me for doing what is natural. A society that fails its youth will never grow to power. I am looking out for my own interests."

"Maybe so, but… I'm grateful anyway. Thank you."

Noboru didn't look back, but Sakura waved at him anyway.

"Giorgios-!"

Fujitaka ran to Noboru's side when he appeared from around the building, clasping his hands with a sigh of relief.

"Oh, I was so worried! What happened to you? I tried to call, but you didn't pick up your cell."

Noboru shook his head. "I'm fine. Sorry to have run off. I don't know what came over me, I just got so worried about the artifacts, and… when I made it to the second floor, a guard ushered me and some others to an emergency exit at the back of the building. We were told to stay put until police arrived, and I couldn't get my phone to turn on…" He hung his head in shame. "I'm so sorry, Fujitaka. This was such a terrible way to end the date."

Fujitaka squeezed Noboru's hands. "It's not over. We still have lunch."

Noboru's eyes shot open again. He hadn't had the chance to reactivate Hive. Whatever Fujitaka was saying, he was saying it of his own volition. "Wha-? You mean, you still want to continue? After I left you behind like that?"

"You did it because you were passionate about the safety of the artifacts. It wasn't your fault that you got shuffled to another exit. I'm just sorry I couldn't make it there with you. Please, let's go have lunch at that Indian restaurant. I've been standing out in the cold so long, I think some spicy food is just what I need."

"Your hands are awfully cold," Noboru replied with a forced laugh.

"And yours are surprisingly warm."

"Eh, the emergency exit kept us out of the wind."

Fujitaka laughed, his sounding genuine. "Then, is it alright if I keep hold of your hands to warm mine up?"

"I would like nothing more."

As the two made their way through the dissipating crowd, hearing varied explanations of "costumed performers" and "fire on the second floor," Noboru considered the events of the day. He hadn't expected the Wrath Card to show up on today of all days, and that situation had gone as horribly as it could have. He'd expected that it would ruin his date too, but it seemed to have done the opposite. Fujitaka was sticking closer to him than before, his smile as bright as it had always been. Perhaps the day was not a total loss.

Warp Neon would keep his promise to Clow Reed.