Author's Note: It's back to the bus as our heroes continue cross-country to find the American Cards. So what did the Vision Card show Sakura last time? She saw…


Cards captured so far: Vision, Heat, and Vine


CCS: The American Cards: Part 6


Sakura looked out the window again. It had been a long trip so far, but she knew she would arrive soon enough. The night before, when she had finished arguing with Meilin, she used the Vision Card to show her the location of the next card. The place she saw was Philadelphia.

"What else did you see, Sakura?"

So far, Sakura had given a lot of details about what she saw to Madison. She told her about the sign she saw that told her she was in Philadelphia. And she remembered telling her about the crowd of people she saw in the daytime.

"That big building I saw," Sakura recalled. "It looked…really old. I remember it had a giant steeple at the top, like the old clock tower back home."

"Before we destroyed it?" Kero muttered from Sakura's pocket.

"A lot like that," Sakura nodded. "There was a sign there that said 'Independence Hall'."

"Independence Hall?" Madison repeated. "That's a big historical site. It's where the American colonies declared their independence over 200 years ago."

"There's an American Card in there?" Sakura pondered. "What could it possibly be?"

Sakura tried to think about that, before she remembered one thing.

"Can I borrow your phone, Madison? It's time to check in on Tori."

When they all got to Philadelphia, Sakura came up with an idea. If Independence Hall was such a historical site, then it had to be a big tourist attraction. So Sakura came up with the idea of taking a tour. While on the tour, Sakura would try to sense the card and hopefully seal it.

So when they got to Philadelphia, they went to the hotel to drop their luggage off and got a change of clothes. When they got to Independence National Historical Park in downtown Philadelphia, they were decked out in their respective thick coats. The only difference was Sakura, who was still in her Santa hat, but otherwise, they all blended in perfectly with the crowd. It was a relief from having every single person point at them and call them a tourist.

Just then, someone in a red vest came out. It was the tour guide. "Welcome to Independence Hall! When you walk inside, you will feel the history. This is where representatives of the American colonies planned their bold steps towards revolution. Now if you'll please follow me, we'll see the inside of Independence Hall…as it was 200 years ago."

The whole crowd was led inside. Sakura's mind wasn't in it, though. She was desperately trying to sense an American Card, but she wasn't sensing anything.

"This is where the Second Continental Congress often met…"

The tour guide went on as Sakura looked around. It did look like a big meeting place for colonists. The benches and the front stand still looked to be in good condition.

"…And of course, Independence Hall was known for holding the Liberty Bell. Of course, since it has been cracked twice, we no longer keep the Liberty Bell here…"

**DONG**

The tour guide looked around. "That's weird. Don't hear that very often."

Those words got Sakura's attention. This was apparently an unusual occurrence. So it had to be an American Card.

"Where did the sound come from?" Sakura whispered to Li.

"It came from up there."

Li pointed up at the ceiling. He must have been referring to the steeple up above Independence Hall. Whatever American Card was in Philadelphia had to be lurking up in the steeple somewhere. The only clue she had as to its identity, was that it made a deep dong sound.

"I'm guessing we're coming back tonight?" Madison asked from a distance.

Sakura nodded. It would all go down tonight.

That night, Sakura came back wearing what had to be one of Madison's most unusual costumes to date. The whole tour and the colonial theme had clearly gone to her head. Madison designed a colonial- style dress, which included the long skirt and black boots.

"Reminds me of my days on the farm," Sakura mocked with a bad English accent.

"It'd look a lot better if you could take that hat off," Madison pointed out.

Sakura pointed at the Santa hat on her head innocently. "What, this? It's Christmas time, Madison. Besides, what do you suggest I wear?"

Madison grinned. She took off Sakura's Santa hat and replaced with a white wig, just like the ones worn back in colonial times.

"Where did you get this?" Sakura asked dryly.

"The gift shop," Madison giggled. "See, now the outfit's complete."

"That wig makes you look pretty old, Avalon," Meilin pointed out.

Sakura shook her head and looked at Li. It looked like he was trying to hold something back. Something like...laughter.

"Well, spit it out!" Sakura snapped. "If you're going to say something, then just say it."

"Do you really want me to?" Li said in his best old lady voice (which wasn't that good). "Or do you just want me to get you your teeth?"

Sakura growled and looked back at Madison. "Was this the best wig they had?"

"Actually, it was the last wig they had," Madison answered. "But I still think it makes you look good."

"I guess it does set the mood," Sakura admitted. "Do you have the Lasin Board, Li?"

Li took out the Lasin Board. "Force, know my plight! Release the light!"

The Lasin Board pointed right at the steeple above Independence Hall, just as Sakura suspected. Independence Hall was empty now and there would be no better opportunity to find that card. She took out her key.

"Key of Clow. Power of Magic. Power of Light. Surrender the wand. The force ignite. Release!"

Sakura took her wand and walked to the back of Independence Hall. She knew one way to get to that tower. She took out the Vine Card.

"Vine Card! Make a path to the tower! Release and dispel! Vine Card!"

Sakura threw the card to the ground and let the Vine Card take effect. Vines rose out of the card and went all the way up to the very top of the steeple. Sakura tugged on the vines. They were very sturdy and she should be able to climb them easily. But as she gripped one of the vines, she looked at her friends.

"Coming?"

"We'll catch up," Li answered. "Go on ahead."

Sakura looked back up. With Kero at her side, Sakura started her long climb up Independence Hall. As she got closer to the top, she could hear the ringing and dinging coming from the tower. When she looked over the tower ledge, she could see the empty space where the Liberty Bell used to be.

Sakura climbed over and ran to the empty space. As she got there, the dinging started getting louder. They varied from tone, high and low, but they were slowly getting louder.

Sakura tried to piece it together. "It's…the…Bell Card?"

"You got it," Kero replied. "It's the Bell Card!"

Sakura had one question. What could bells possibly do? Then she remembered the damage they could cause. She remembered the Maze Card from eight years ago and the ringing from Miss Mackenzie's instrument…that sounded a lot like a bell. It started coming back to her as the tolling from the bells started to take effect. Pieces of the walls started coming down.

"Looks like this place is ready to come apart," Kero said.

"It can't come apart!" Sakura shouted. "It's a historical landmark!"

"Then you'd better do something!" Kero suggested.

Sakura pulled out the Vision Card.

"Vision! Show me my enemy! Release and dispel! Vision Card!"

The Vision Card created a projection and Sakura could see the Bell Card. It looked like a woman in a cloak made of bells. It was floating up by the hook that once held up the Liberty Bell. Sakura tried to silence it by jumping for it. She brought the Bell Card down by its legs and it momentarily stopped tolling.

The Bell Card spread its arms out and got ready to start ringing again, so Sakura knew she had to work fast. But she couldn't use the Vine Card, it was still using its power on the wall and her friends hadn't finished climbing up yet. Sakura knew only one thing she could do. As the Bell Card began to ring again, Sakura tackled it and they both fell over the edge of the tower. The Bell Card was hanging on the ledge with both hands. Sakura was dangling over the ledge, holding on for dear life with her right hand. But her wand was in her left hand, which gave her the chance she needed.

"Bell Card! Return to your power confined! Bell Card!"

One problem was solved. The Bell Card had been sealed. But Sakura was still handing to the ledge. Luckily, that's when help arrived. Li finally got over to her and pulled her up.

Sakura gasped and looked back over the edge. She was inches from falling to her death. Then she looked back at Li.

"W…What kept you?"

Li turned the tables on her. "Why'd you seal the card without waiting for me?"

Sakura quickly gave up. "Never mind. At least we did this quick. The night's still young." Sakura looked out of the steeple and into the sky. "The view's just beautiful from up here." She started to inch her way towards Li…before…

"It really is beautiful, isn't it, Li?"

Much to Sakura's chagrin, Meilin had also successfully made the climb up and she was already standing next to Li. Sakura was a little too tired to start an argument now. But she did walk up to Li and took Li's arm…with a little emphasis.

Sakura heard Li sigh. She imagined this was starting to wear thin on him, too. But if it did, then why wasn't he saying anything?

A few hours passed and Sakura was still up on the Independence Hall steeple. She still had a firm grip on Li's arm and Meilin had a firm grip on the other one. Li just stood there, distracted by the view. Sakura wished this night could go on, but she was soon brought back to reality.

"When do you think she's going to get around to finding the next card?" she suddenly heard Kero blurt out.

"You mean you can't let her have this moment?" she heard Madison reply. "Look at them. They're a perfect…threesome."

Sakura and Meilin glared at each other. They weren't willing to give Li up. But Sakura let go…only so she could look for the next American Card.

"I can take a hint," she muttered towards Kero. She pulled out the Vision Card. "Vision! Release!"

A light flashed in front of Sakura and it momentarily blinded her. When Sakura opened her eyes, she could see daylight. Then she looked around her to see she was on a large lawn. A gate spanning seemingly all the way across the street was in front of her. A plaque was on the gate, but the address was printed on the other side, so Sakura couldn't see it.

But when Sakura turned around, she saw that the address plaque wasn't necessary. She knew exactly where she was and it shocked her to find out. The big building was just like the one she had studied in her World History class. Sakura could hardly believe it. It was the White House. Then the vision faded and Sakura was back in Independence Hall. She looked to see her three friends waiting anxiously.

"That's still so creepy to see," Madison said softly. "To see you completely out of it like that."

"What'd you see?" Kero asked.

Sakura didn't know how to begin. She wondered how her friends would react to the fact that the next American Card is in Washington D.C. Not only that, but how would they react to knowing that the next card dwelled somewhere in the White House?


Any comments? Then mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below.