Author's Note: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Just like I intended, I shook things up last chapter and I got some major feedback (I am SO evil for doing that on Valentine's Day ^_^* ). So how long can this secret last?


Cards captured so far: Vision, Heat, Vine, Bell, Sleep, Wind, Angel, Sludge, Multiple, Silence, Smoke, Memory, and Chain


CCS: The American Cards: Part 17


Something was obviously wrong. Sakura couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something wasn't right. Madison had gotten worse. Now instead of being depressed, she was just…timid. Not only that, but now Li was suddenly becoming very edgy. Anytime Sakura approached him, he would to break into a cold sweat. She wondered if she should ask about it…or if it was another residual effect of the Memory Card.

Sakura couldn't deal with Li right now, though. She was far too worried about her best friend. So on this long trip to South Dakota, she would hopefully be able to comfort Madison. She looked at the seat next to her and saw her friend breathing heavily, practically sweating.

"Madison, please tell me what's wrong."

"W-W-Wrong?" Madison asked, almost fearfully. "T-T-T-There's nothing wrong. I-I'm just fine."

"Madison, why won't you tell me what's wrong?" Sakura sighed. Then she took a big guess. "Does it have anything to do with the Memory Card?"

Madison gasped. "H-How did you know that?"

"It got me just like it got you," Sakura answered. "Did you think it wouldn't effect me, too? I saw things I didn't want to remember…things I hoped would stay buried forever. I didn't want to see Li…walk towards that airplane. I didn't want to see that again."

"I…know what you mean," Madison conceded. "But…"

Silence.

"But what?"

"You overcame the Memory Card," Madison pointed out. "Your story ended happily, because Li came back. But I don't know if I'll ever find love the way you have."

"You will, Madison," Sakura assured her. "You're a wonderful person. I'm sure you'll find somebody. Who knows? Maybe the right guy is right in front of you."

Madison flinched nervously. "He's not in front of me. Trust me. How could he be right in front of me?" Then she composed herself. "But then again…maybe you're right. Maybe I will find somebody…someday."

"Are you going to be ok?"

Madison nodded. "I'll be fine. Thank you, Sakura."

"I'm just trying to help," Sakura smiled. "Now if I can only find out what's bothering Li."

Madison squeaked tensely. "L-Li? There's n-nothing wrong with Li, is there?"

"I want to believe that," Sakura said. "But he's been a bit more nervous than usual. I know we talked a few days ago, but he's still acting weird. It's as if there's something he's not telling me."

"I-I'm sure he's not hiding anything," Madison stuttered. "H-He wouldn't hide anything. M- Maybe he's j-just…getting over the shock from the Memory Card."

"I thought he'd have gotten over that by now," Sakura pointed out. "It's probably something else. It might be…"

"So where do you think the next card is?" Madison suddenly interrupted.

Sakura was taken by surprise, but she could understand. "Still a little jumpy? I can't blame you. But you'll be fine. Trust me. It's Li I'm worried about."

"Yeah…Li. So where do you think the next card is?"

"It's the big mountain with four heads carved on it. I know I've heard the name somewhere. It's Mount…something…Mount…"

"Rushmore," Madison finished for her. "The mountain with all the presidents' heads on it. There's a card up there?"

"That's what Vision showed me," Sakura answered. "But I also saw part of the mountain in flames."

"Did you say 'in flames'?" Kero suddenly asked. Kero stuck his head out of Sakura's bag. The mention of the next American Card actually pulled him away from his donut.

"It was in flames," Sakura reiterated. "Do you think the mountain's on fire?"

"If it is, then I hope it's natural," Kero replied. "If it isn't, then we may have the Fire Card on our hands."

Sakura moaned. She didn't want to have to deal with the Fire Card. She was dreading that inevitable confrontation. But it looked like the time was almost here. The Fire Card could very well be on top of Mount Rushmore…and it was up to Sakura to seal it.

Ten minutes passed since Carter got to Adelphia Coliseum. Already, Cole was running around asking questions and posing as a local Nashville police officer, which sounded really stupid to Carter. Things would have been so much easier if they could just tell people who they were, but Cole was persistent in his fear of causing a panic.

Then his phone rang.

Knowing who it was, Carter picked up. "This better be good, Chris. This is getting really old, man."

"You mean the CIA guy hasn't got anything, yet?"

"Nothing. A whole lot of nothing! I just want one solid lead so I can get this over with!"

"Well, I have one suggestion, bro. If you're still traveling incognito, then maybe you should talk to some of your…connections."

Carter didn't know what to think. "…No. You don't mean…? You want THEM to help me out?"

"You're in Tennessee, aren't you? And no one's supposed to know anything, right? They never tell anyone anything, anyway. They always think they'll be incriminated. And they can help you out better than anyone else right now."

"You got a point…but…THEM? Helping me…to find a bunch of kids? Sounds stupid, Chris."

"I don't you've got any choice. You said it yourself. Right now, you have nothing. And don't you want to hurry up so you can take that vacation?"

"Yeah…I want that vacation. I've been stressed." Carter sighed. "Whatever, man. It's worth a try. I'll go as soon as Cole gets his thing done. Thanks, Chris."

Carter hung up and shook his head. He didn't believe he would have to waste his underground connections…on four kids. But he had no other choice.

Sakura could've sworn she was at a funeral. The whole walk to the Mount Rushmore memorial was somber and quiet. No one was saying anything…or actually, it was two. Meilin was her usual self, but Madison was silent. Again, she didn't prepare a costume for Sakura. Sakura couldn't blame her after all that's happened, but still, she worried about Li. What was wrong with him? Why was he so quiet…and nervous?

It was hard to find their way to the Presidential Trail without being seen, but it was done by using the Sleep Card again. As soon as they got there, Sakura looked in front of her to see the sight she saw using the Vision Card. The heads of the four United States' presidents were clearly visible, but Sakura could make out one irregularity. The nose of Teddy Roosevelt was on…fire. Kero took a peek out and made his conclusion.

"It's the Fire Card, all right. We'll have to put this fire out fast. You know what you have to do, don't you, Sakura?"

"Again?!" Sakura groaned. "It's a really long way, Kero! I can't take another flight! And I don't think I can take the Fire Card by myself!"

"That's just what I was thinking," Kero replied. "So you'll have to carry Shoran with you."

"WHAT?!" Sakura and Li both asked.

"He's too heavy!" Sakura complained.

"What if she drops me?!" Li added.

In an unlikely move, it was Meilin who played peacemaker. "Maybe she won't drop you…if she ties you up."

Somehow, Sakura knew what she meant. So with a plan intact, Sakura took out the Angel Card. "Angel Card! Release!" As soon as her wings grew, she took out the Chain Card. "Chain Card! Bind us both together! Release and dispel! Chain Card!"

The Chain Card released a long chain. It circled around Li and Sakura and they were both bound by the waist. Sakura knew she would have to concentrate really hard to carry the extra weight. Of course, she wasn't the more nervous of the two. Li was already closing his eyes. For some reason, he was always nervous when it came to flying. Since the days of the Fly Card, he was always reluctant to fly.

Sakura took a deep breath and took off. Occasionally stumbling, she flew towards Mount Rushmore. There were many moments where Sakura almost took a complete nosedive. Grunting all the way, Sakura finally reached the top of Teddy Roosevelt's head. She untied the chain that bound her and Li together and looked down to see the raging fire and the Fire Card. It was in the form of a red lizard. She wished she had a Water Card, but she had yet to find that one. There wasn't much she could do. Li had his sword out and was poised to strike, but Sakura knew exactly what he was going to do.

"Wait a minute, Li," Sakura halted him. "You aren't doing what I think you are, are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You aren't going to use lightning, are you?"

"Why not?"

Sakura groaned. "This is a national monument! It might not mean much to us, but it's a major symbol for the Americans. We can't just destroy it!"

"I don't think we have a choice, Sakura," Kero said. "There's no other way we can put out the fire."

Sakura wished there was another way. She really did. But it looked like there was no other way. Then Li whispered something in Sakura's ear. She didn't like that plan much better, either. This would also result in the destruction of Teddy Roosevelt's face. But before she could protest it, Li already jumped down onto Teddy Roosevelt's nose, nearly slipping off as he landed.

"What's he doing?" Kero asked. "What'd he tell you?"

Sakura didn't say anything. Instead, she watched Li as the Fire Card confronted him. The Fire Card tried to throw a fireball at him, but he ducked it as it hit the rocks behind him. Li's distraction was enough for Sakura to get one shot off. She took out the Bell Card.

"Bell Card! Release!"

A big bell began to sound and was literally causing an earthquake around Sakura. Then she jumped back as some of the mountain began to crumble, creating an avalanche. The Fire Card didn't expect that, as the rocks landed on top of it. Sakura flew down and saw the Fire Card trying to get loose. Before it could inch its way out, Sakura held out her wand.

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

Amidst the rocks, the Fire Card was sealed. Sakura looked up to see the damage caused. It almost looked like Teddy Roosevelt had a receding hairline. Everyone would be asking about this, and hopefully, no one could pin this on Sakura. Then she looked over at Li. He still seemed to be looking around nervously. He was looking everywhere, except at Sakura. This was really bothering her. It was almost as if he were…hiding something.

But what could he be hiding?

His conscience had plagued him the whole day. It had plagued him ever since…IT happened. Li couldn't think about anything else. The entire time…he just wondered to himself…why? Why did he do it? Did he do it because he liked Madison? No…that couldn't be it. He never thought of Madison that way. It was something else. Did Li kiss her…out of pity?

Either way, he had to confront this problem sooner or later. That's why he got his hopes up when he saw Meilin leaving the hotel room.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"We're going out for a cappuccino," Meilin answered. "It was supposed to be all of us, but Madison doesn't feel good. Are you coming?"

Madison wasn't going? This would be perfect. There wouldn't be any better opportunity.

"I…feel tired," Li finally responded. "Maybe you and Sakura should go on without me."

Meilin was about to walk out the door, but glanced at Li one more time. "Something's wrong with you, Li Shoran. You may not be telling me now, but I'll find out. You've never been able to keep anything from me."

Li sighed as Meilin walked out. She was right. Anytime Li tried to keep a secret, there were two people always there to hear him spill it. There was Meilin…and SAKURA! Li had to clear the air now. So he got up and walked out of his room and went next door. He saw Madison standing at the other side of the room, looking out the window. She gasped as he came in. She wasn't expecting Li to come in.

"We have to talk," Li said bluntly.

They both walked over to the bed and sat down. After a long pause, they both looked into each other's eyes and said…

"I'm sorry."

Li didn't expect that. "You are? I…"

"It was my fault, Li," Madison said sadly. "I knew it was leading up to that. The lights were out…you were right in front of me…there wasn't a better definition of temptation. And I…caved in. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do it."

"No, it's my fault," Li told her. "It's just that when I saw you…when I saw that look of…hopelessness in your eyes. I just…felt…don't take this the wrong way…I…felt…sorry for you. I don't feel…that way…about you. You're my friend. But I love Sakura. I should never have kissed you."

"Say WHAT?!"

Li and Madison both looked over at the corner of the room. That voice sounded from Sakura's bag and at that moment, Li wished he could just jump out the window. It was obvious now that he and Madison weren't alone. And sure enough, out of the bag came…

…Kero!

"Please tell me I didn't just hear what I thought I did," Kero uttered angrily. He looked sternly at both Li and Madison. "You…and you…kissed each other?! What were you two thinking?! WERE you two thinking?!"

"We're sorry!" Li and Madison both shouted desperately.

Kero stammered awhile before continuing on. "Did you two…even think about what would happen if Sakura ever found out? How could you…?" He stopped. Kero was seemingly stuck on what to say. It had to be a shock for him.

Li hung his head down. "I just wish…that could have never happened. I just want to move on."

"Me, too," Madison added. "I just want to forget that stupid kiss ever happened."

"Were you planning on telling Sakura?" Kero demanded.

"NO!" Li snapped. "And you can't tell her, either! Please, Kero!"

Li felt sick to his stomach. For the first time in his life, for the first time EVER…he was actually begging KERO. He never thought that would ever happen.

"You just think this'll go away?" Kero asked somberly. "Something like that? You think you can keep it a secret?"

"I have so far," Li muttered. "Please, Kero? I made a mistake. We made a mistake. I can't…change that. All I can do…is just move on. I love Sakura. I always have loved her and I always will. But please, Kero. She can't find out about this one mistake."

Kero sighed deeply. "I'm thinking I was better off staying in the bag. All right, I won't tell Sakura. But only because I know what this would do to her. If she ever found out that her boyfriend and her best friend kissed each other, it would destroy her. And I don't want to see that. So I won't tell her."

"Thank you, Kero," both Li and Madison breathed in relief.

"But you two never answered my question," Kero reminded them. "Why? What made you two kiss each other?"

Li cringed. "I…felt sorry for her."

"You felt sorry for me?" Madison asked Li.

Li turned his head. "I just…thought about all you've told me and all the luck you've had. Then I just…got caught up in the moment. I didn't mean for it to happen that way."

"I understand," Madison said. "I kind of feel like…I've betrayed someone, too. Not just Sakura, but…someone else."

Li really found it hard to look at Madison. He knew that forgetting this incident would not be easy. Did that kiss…strain his friendship with Madison.

"Things won't be the same, will they?" Li realized.

"Not for a while," Madison confirmed grimly. "Maybe things between us can be normal again…someday."

Kero flew over to Sakura's bag. "I sure hope so…for everyone's sake."


Author's Note: Can things ever get back to normal? Or will something ELSE happen? The next chapter will answer that question.


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