Author's Note: Last time, a new set of cards has been released. The catch? It was released from its burial plot in Boston…at least Kero said it was Boston. So now everyone has to leave Japan for the United States. But what does Sakura tell her family?


Cards captured so far: …None. They haven't started yet.


CCS: The American Cards: Part 2


It took a while, but Sakura finally made it into the airport. Everyone had arranged to rendezvous at Gate 16. The flight was scheduled for 10:00 AM. Sakura was still thinking about what she had to do last night. She hated that she had to tell such a bold lie to her family. But she had to make up a story about how she had to fly back to Hong Kong with Li. It was farfetched and Sakura could only hope her father didn't go so far as to check on her, because it would more than likely destroy her story.

But Sakura knew she couldn't tell them the truth. How could she tell them she was going to the United States as a Cardcaptor? They didn't even know she was a Cardcaptor. And she couldn't tell them, either.

Finally, she arrived at Gate 16, and was it ever crowded. She couldn't believe there were this many people going to Boston this time of year. She had to look everywhere. Then she finally found them. There were Madison, Meilin, and Li, waiting for Sakura.

Sakura was about to walk up to them, when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She turned and gasped. She was shocked to see her brother, Tori.

"Tori, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked.

"I'm…waiting for someone," Tori tried answering. "Someone's coming in early today."

"You're checking up on me, aren't you?" Sakura suspected.

"I wouldn't want you to be late for your trip to Boston," Tori responded.

Sakura gulped. She had been discovered…already. "How…did you know that?"

"Why else would the Three Musketeers be standing by Gate 16?" Tori answered. "Sakura, tell me you didn't lie to me and dad in the face. Didn't you say you were going to Hong Kong?"

Sakura stuttered nervously. "I…might have said something like that."

"Why'd you lie to us, squirt?" Tori asked. "What made you think we'd let you go to Boston? Why are you even going to Boston in the first place?"

Sakura was stuck. She didn't know what possible explanation she could give…besides telling the truth. There was nothing she could do. She knew the truth was out of the question.

"I…don't know what to tell you, Tori," Sakura admitted. "All I can tell you is that I have a very good reason for going to Boston…"

"And lying to us."

"And…lying to you. But please believe me when I tell you that I can't tell you why."

Tori still wasn't convinced. "It's about HIM, isn't it?" He was referring to Li.

"No…not exactly," Sakura stammered. "Tori…please. Just trust me on this one. My flight's about to leave."

"But don't you know how dangerous it could get down there?" Tori pointed out. "How do I know you'll be safe?"

Sakura shook her head. "I can take care of myself. And Li will take care of me, too. Tori, I have a really good reason for going to Boston…but I can't tell you what it is right now. I'm only asking you to trust me."

"You'll understand if I don't trust you completely," Tori said. "I was 17, too. I know what people your age are like. But I also know that if I was 17, I wouldn't be appealing to my big brother like this. So you must be telling…something like the truth. So I'll tell you what. You can go and I won't tell dad, if you promise to do two things for me."

"Anything," Sakura nodded. "Just name it."

"One: You tell me EVERYTHING when you get back. I want to know why you went to Boston, why you felt you had to lie to us about it, and what you did there."

Sakura nodded. So she had from now until she got back to think of another lie. Because, again, she remembered she couldn't tell the truth.

"And two," Tori held up a cellular phone and handed Sakura a piece of paper with a phone number. "I know Madison has a phone on her. I want you to check up on me EVERYDAY. For whatever reason, you call me and check in. No matter what happens, you make that phone call, Sakura Avalon. You miss a day, then I tell dad."

"But it's a long distance call," Sakura pointed out. "Who's going to pay for it?"

"We'll discuss it when you get back," Tori replied. "If you come back and give me a good reason for leaving, then I'll pay for everything. If not, then it's all coming out of your pocket, squirt."

Sakura sighed. "Deal. Can I go now?"

"I wouldn't want you to be late," Tori said. "Have a safe trip."

Sakura stood there as Tori walked over to gate 20. She could hardly believe it. She had already been exposed and now she could be in big trouble whenever she returns. Now Cardcaptoring seemed a lot…harder. Sensing impending defeat, Sakura slowly made her way towards her friends in Gate 16.

Li was the first to ask. "What happened?"

Sakura sighed deeply. "I have from now until I come back to Japan to think of the perfect lie…or I'll be grounded for life."

"Sounds bad," Li said. "You can tell me all about it on the flight."

"NOW BOARDING: FLIGHT 16 TO BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS USA"

Before leaving to board her flight, Sakura looked back one more time. Tori was already gone. And it would be the last time she would see him…for possibly a long time.

"Sakura, wake up!"

Sakura opened her heavy eyelids. The first person she saw when she woke up…was Li.

"Is it morning already?"

"We're here. Look out the window."

Sakura looked out to see that they had arrived. The plane had landed at Logan International Airport in Boston. She looked out the window to see the sun had just risen. She has no idea how long she had been out.

"What time is it?" Sakura asked.

Meilin looked at her watch. "We left Japan at 12 noon. What time is it now?"

Madison looked at the clock outside the plane's window. "It's 6 in the morning."

Sakura thought about that. "Wow…major time difference."

"NOW ARRIVING IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS"

Sakura knew there was no turning back now. She was the first to step out of the plane and look around. It felt so…different. She had never been this far away from home before. Sakura didn't know what to expect.

Sakura waited for everyone to come out. She looked back at Madison. "We'll be ok, won't we?"

Madison looked around at the vast airport. "I'm…sure we'll be fine. Let's just catch up to Li and Meilin."

Sakura and Madison walked over to where Li and Meilin were standing. They already had their luggage out and everything seemed to be in order. Except for one thing.

"Madison?" Sakura asked. "Can I use your phone?"

Madison handed Sakura her cellular phone. She knew this call was long distance, but she had to make it anyway. It was time for her to check in.

"Hello?"

"Tori? It's Sakura."

"How was the trip, squirt?"

"We all made it here safely. Uh…what time is it over there?"

"Relax, Sakura. It's only one in the afternoon over here. I imagine it's early over in Boston."

"It's six in the morning over here."

"Is that so? Hey…why are you in Boston again?"

"Tori! We agreed that I'd tell you when I got back. I thought you trusted me."

"No, I said I didn't trust you. But you're right. You'd just better be ready to tell me when you get back."

"That might be a long way from now. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, squirt. And don't forget to check in."

Sakura sighed as she hung up. She handed the phone back to Madison.

"Is Tori going to have you on a leash this whole trip?" Madison asked.

"Looks like it," Sakura answered grimly. "You won't let me forget to check in, right?"

"You can count on me," Madison smiled. "Uh…where are Li and Meilin?"

Sakura wanted to know that herself. They had left Sakura and Madison behind with all the bags. But maybe it was better that way. Sakura needed to take out one important thing from her suitcase. She opened the suitcase and saw Kero gasping for breath.

"Ah, the sights I've seen," Kero finally said. "It's such an experience to see where all your luggage goes when you leave it in the airport. But Sakura…COULDN'T YOU HAVE AT LEAST LEFT ME MORE THAN ONE AIRHOLE?!?!"

"Be quiet!" Sakura hushed. "Someone will hear you!"

Kero looked around. "So this is Boston. Looks a lot like Japan."

"This is only the airport," Sakura laughed. "We haven't actually gone outside yet. We're just waiting for Li and Meilin. Right, Madison? …Madison?"

Madison was gone, but she didn't go too far. She was already on her way out of the gift shop. Sakura couldn't believe she was completely oblivious to the fact that her friend had been there this whole time. Madison came back out holding three batteries for her video camera and a big map.

"This should last me the whole trip," Madison grinned. "And I got this map of Boston."

"Is that it?" Kero asked.

"I think so," Madison replied. "Why do you ask?"

"You might want to buy a map of the United States," Kero suggested.

"What for?"

"Trust me," Kero said solemnly. "We'll need it. If it's been that long since the cards have been released, then most, if not all, of the cards might have escaped Boston by now."

Sakura thought about that as Madison went back to the gift shop. If that was true, then the cards could be anywhere. No one said this would be easy, but no one said it would be this hard, either.

"Well…it looks…different."

Sakura had to agree with Li. The roads in Boston looked a bit different from the ones back in Japan. For one thing, they were full of traffic. They knew it would be a waste of time to rent a car.

"So…where do we go?" Sakura asked.

"I don't care where we go," Meilin snapped. "Just get us out of here. The noise is getting on my nerves!"

"I agree with Meilin on this one," Madison added. "Let's go over there."

Madison pointed at an isolated alley. Sakura knew what could be done over there. They ran over and made sure there was no one around.

Sakura looked at Li. "You did remember it, right?"

"You don't forget something like that, Sakura," Li said. He pulled out the Lasin Board. "Source of Light! With ancient spin! Send forth the magic power within! Force, know my plight! Release the light!"

The Lasin Board shot out its ray of light and pointed away from the alley. The only problem was that it pointed too far away. Sakura couldn't see where the light ended.

"This may be a lot harder than we thought," Sakura moaned.

It was Madison who cheerfully put in her two cents. "Maybe we should find a hotel first."

It sounded like a good idea. There were too many people out…and Sakura had no idea where she was or where she was going. Luckily, Logan International Airport was crawling with hotels, which she hoped Madison could easily afford. Maybe she needed a little break too.

She had a long quest ahead of her.


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