Author's Note: So one innocent kiss is all forgotten, right? Not exactly, but it's not like Sakura will ever find out. Unless something else happens…


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


CCS: The American Cards: Part 18


"Let me see that pamphlet again, Madison?"

Sakura browsed through the pamphlet of San Antonio, Texas. She looked through the pictures of the place known as the Alamo. The pictures matched what she saw when she last used the Vision Card. The only thing she needed now was the American Card, and she had yet to figure out what it was.

"I can't wait to get there," Madison said excitedly. "I've always wanted to see a place like Texas."

Sakura smiled. "You sound a lot more cheerful. Feeling any better?"

"A lot better," Madison grinned. "A lot has happened in the last few days."

"I'll bet," Kero mumbled.

"Huh?" Sakura asked.

"Uh…I'll bet…with all the cards we've encountered…and everything. You know what I mean?"

"Uh…yeah," Sakura conceded. "Actually, it's true. A lot has happened in the last few days. But the best thing is that Li's finally starting to act like himself again. I just wish I knew what was wrong with him to begin with."

"Uh…I'm sure it was nothing," Kero said quickly.

"Yeah, nothing," Madison added.

"Um…ok," Sakura agreed. "…If you say so."

Then the bus stopped. Sakura looked out the window to see the bus depot.

"We're here. San Antonio, Texas."

Sakura eagerly headed outside the bus. She couldn't wait to see the sights of the state of Texas. Of course, in the back of her mind was the next American Card that was hiding out in the Alamo. Sakura still couldn't think of what it was.

But how dangerous could it be?

Once again, night had fallen. Of course, the atmosphere was a lot more cheerful. Everything was going on like normal, if anyone considered this kind of life normal. For the first time in a while, Madison had a costume for Sakura and it really worked with her surroundings. Sakura wore long blue jeans with black cowboy boots and a brown vest. Her Santa hat had been replaced by a ten-gallon cowboy hat. The atmosphere in the Alamo was definitely western. Sakura could have sworn she saw a tumbleweed roll by.

She kept a poker face on. Sakura could definitely sense an American Card nearby. She had her hands near her pockets as if she were ready to draw. And she did. She drew…her key.

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

Sakura took her wand in her hand, which really clashed with her cowgirl ensemble. Of course, Madison didn't mind.

"Oh, that looks so great!" Madison squealed. "That's such a great shot. I've always wanted to film you in a place like this. I've never pictured you as a cowgirl, Sakura."

Meilin shook her head. "Are you telling me that in your entire collection, you don't have one tape of Sakura as a cowgirl?"

"Maybe, but I haven't really looked," Madison admitted.

The only other thing that clashed with the western atmosphere was Meilin and Li. Of course, they wore their usual, with Li's sword in hand. There was only one piece of this puzzle missing.

"It's coming," Sakura said to herself. "I can feel it."

Li somehow didn't believe Sakura. So 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 pointed straight ahead. Then the winds started to blow…harder…and harder. Somehow, Sakura knew it wasn't normal. The American Card was coming closer.

"What is it?" Sakura asked.

Kero looked ahead and saw the whirling winds starting to approach. The winds continued to gather together and Sakura saw they began to form into…

Kero finished the thought. "It's a tornado! It's the Tornado Card!"

Sakura tried to take action quickly. She reached for a card, but the tornado was coming a lot quicker than Sakura could have ever thought. Before it sucked them all in, Sakura took out the Chain Card.

"Chain Card! Bind us all together! Release and dispel! Chain Card!"

The long chain came out again and bound the four of them together. Sakura could also see that the chain was anchored onto a rock. Then the tornado whooshed over them all. The tornado swung them all around, but the chain was very strong. Instead of being tossed into the air, the four were swung in circles. This felt like a very bad carnival ride, and Sakura had just eaten, too. She had to put an end to this quickly.

"I d-don't suppose anyone has any ideas?" Sakura uttered.

"Somebody think of something!" Meilin shouted. "I'm getting dizzy!"

"Me, too!" Madison added.

"Can't reach my sword from here!" Li grunted.

"Maybe we can turn these winds the other way," Kero suggested. "Try Windy!"

Sakura obliged and took out the Wind Card. "Windy! Blow the tornado the other way! Release and dispel! Windy!"

The tornado had been blowing counter-clockwise. So when Windy came out in its eagle form, it flew clockwise and began blowing winds in that direction. The winds began to cancel each other out and the tornado started to die out. From about 15 feet in the air, the four fell to the ground, still bound by the chain. Sakura loosened the chain as the tornado stopped completely, leaving only the Tornado Card's original form, a…unicycle.

Kero shook his head. "The Tornado Card's form. A cycle-own."

Sakura fell anime-style. "I hate puns." She picked herself up and walked to the inert Tornado Card. "Tornado Card! Return to your power confined! Tornado Card!"

Sakura picked up the Tornado Card and walked over to her friends, who were loosening themselves from the chain. To make things easier, Sakura recalled the Chain Card.

"Are you guys all right?" Sakura asked.

"We will be," Li answered. "At least that's over. Should we go?"

Sakura was ready to leave, but she couldn't resist getting one pun in, even though she hated them. "Madison, did you get all that on tape?"

"It took some doing," Madison replied. "But it's all on tape. Even the parts where we were in the tornado."

"Good," Sakura grinned. "Because when I get back to Japan, I want to make sure I…remember the Alamo."

Everyone groaned at that. It looked like Sakura wasn't the only one who hated the obvious jokes.

It was a harrowing experience, but at least it was over. Sakura had sealed the Tornado Card and Li couldn't be more proud. But being in a tornado didn't exactly leave everyone too clean. What made things worse, though, was that the shower in Li's hotel room was broken. The conditions weren't the best in this hotel and it was obvious that Madison was running out of money.

Luckily, Sakura offered her shower to Li. Of course, all he had to do was wait for the word and Li could clean himself off. Just then, Sakura did walk in and greeted Li with a kiss.

"Still need that shower?" she asked.

"I'm covered in dust and dirt," Li sighed. "Is the shower open?"

"Of course," Sakura smiled. "You just wait here. I'll get it started for you. Then you can shower while I go downstairs with Meilin and while Madison looks through her tape."

"Thanks, Sakura."

Sakura walked out of Li's room. In the meantime, Li looked through his luggage for a clean change of clothes and a towel.

Madison dusted herself off and tried to find some clean clothes in the hotel room's closet. Just then, she heard Sakura walk in.

"I'm going downstairs for a little while," she said. "Will you be ok, here, Madison?"

"I'll be fine," Madison answered cheerfully.

"Hurry up, Avalon! I'm still waiting over here!"

"Oh, I forgot about Meilin," Sakura sighed. "I've got to go."

"Could you start the shower for me, Sakura?" Madison called out, with her head in the closet. "I really need to clean myself up."

Just then, Madison stuck her head out to see that Sakura had left in a rush. She shook her head. She would have to do it herself. Madison took her clean change of clothes and a towel and walked into the bathroom. She shut the door, but realized that the lock was broken. Madison groaned in frustration. These hotel conditions were really cheap.

So she just closed the door with no lock and walked over to the shower. She sighed deeply as she took her clothes off. Then she turned the shower on and stepped inside, closing the dark curtain as she stepped in.

Li could hear Meilin all the way outside. He could imagine that Sakura ran out in a rush and forgot to tell him the shower was ready. Or maybe she didn't even start the shower at all. So Li took his towel and clean change of clothes and walked next door. To his relief, he could hear that Sakura started the shower, after all. So he took his clothes off and walked into the bathroom. Then he pulled the shower curtain back…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

After all that happened in Chicago and South Dakota, this was without a shadow of a doubt the WORST thing that could have possibly happened. Apparently, Sakura hadn't started the shower, because someone was already in there. It was…

…Madison.

Madison desperately covered herself as Li, obviously panic-stricken, covered himself and ran out of the bathroom and slammed the door behind him. There was nothing for Li to do, but put his clothes on and wonder what in God's name just happened. By all means, everything was resolved between Li and Madison, then THIS happens. Li felt like jumping out the window again…as soon as he got his clothes on. He quickly tossed something on.

After what seemed like an eternity, Madison came out of the bathroom, in a robe. She was obviously embarrassed about this whole thing, as was Li. Another eternity passed as both of them thought about what to say.

"I…can't believe what just happened," Li finally said.

"What's wrong with you?" Madison chided. "Didn't you know I was in there?!"

"I'm sorry," Li apologized. "I thought Sakura started the shower for me. I didn't know you were in there."

Madison groaned loudly. "I can't believe this happened. Why did this have to happen? And it doesn't help that it's only been a few days since we…kissed each other."

Li didn't say anything. Instead he wore an expression of absolute mortification. Madison didn't see what was standing behind her and Li felt like he just wanted to shrivel up and die. As soon as Madison uttered those fateful words, the hotel door behind her slowly flew open. And standing there was…

…Sakura…and she heard all she needed to hear.

"What did you just say?" Sakura asked somberly.

Madison's expression soon matched Li's horrified face exactly. She slowly turned around to see the hurt and confused Sakura. Her eyes were slowly filling up with tears. The look on Sakura's face could only be described in one word: betrayal. Madison couldn't say anything.

So Sakura looked at Li. "Is that…true…Li?"

Li stood silent for a moment…before coming clean. "I…didn't want you to find out, Sakura…"

He couldn't get another word out, because Sakura broke into tears and started crying. She had to have been heartbroken and this was the last thing Li wanted to see. He tried to go up to her, but was met with a cold slap in the face.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!!" Sakura shouted. "HOW COULD YOU?!"

"Sakura…it's not what you think," Li uttered in desperation.

"Sakura, please let us explain," Madison pleaded.

Sakura wouldn't have any of it, though. "And YOU! YOU were supposed to be my best friend!! How could you do this to me?! What made you two think you could keep something like that from me?!"

At that point, Li could have ended everything. He could have said something that could have put Sakura at ease and calmed her down. He could have said something that might have saved his relationship that was, at this moment, hanging by a thread. Li could have cleared all this up. He could have, He could have, He could have!

But he didn't. Instead, out of panic and possibly stupidity, he only said one thing.

"…Kero knew about it, too."

That did not help at all. Just then, Kero stuck his head out of Sakura's pocket and looked angrily at Li.

"You little Chinese snitch!! How could you squeal like that?!"

Sakura pulled Kero out by his neck and hung him in front of her face. "You! You KNEW about this?!"

Kero was breaking into a cold sweat. "Um…maybe?"

In a fit of rage, Sakura tossed Kero across the room. Li knew that he couldn't do anything now. Sakura was completely overcome by anger and sorrow.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing," Sakura sobbed. "I've been betrayed…by the three people I love the most."

Li tried approaching Sakura again. "Sakura, please hear us out…"

"GO AWAY!!" Sakura shouted. "EVERYONE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!!"

Sakura ran out, crying all the way to Li's room. Li tried following behind her, but when he got to his room, he was met with a door slammed in his face.

"Sakura!" Li pleaded. "Please, just let me explain! Come on! Let me in!"

The door opened and Li breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, this wasn't what he had in mind. Li's clothes, luggage, and other belongings were suddenly hurled at him. He fell over from the tremendous weight and heard the door slam shut again. Then he heard Sakura's voice one more time.

"Go sleep with Madison! Maybe you two can keep each other company again! But don't you two EVER talk to me again! I HATE YOU, LI SHORAN!"

Those words hurt. They hurt more than anything had ever hurt Li before. They hurt more than any pain from the Clow Cards. They hurt more than the slap in the face Sakura gave him earlier. They even hurt more than the day Li left for Hong Kong. Nothing had ever hurt Li more than hearing Sakura, the love of his life, say those three words to him: I HATE YOU.

Of course, things didn't end there. Li saw a shirt get pulled out of the front of his face and he could finally see in front of him again. But he almost hoped to have that shirt in his face again, because he didn't want to see this face now.

Standing over him…was Meilin...who looked confused.

"What…just happened?"


Author's Note: This went very long, but you can see why. S+S fans should be getting a little nervous right now. So how does this go on to affect the hunt for the rest of the American Cards? Come back for the next part and find out.


Any comments? I know you have some. I know you couldn't have read this and not have something to say. So go on! Review below!