Author's Note: Someone's still angry. Sakura carries her anger all the way to Salt Lake City and still doesn't want to talk to Li, Madison, or Kero. But what American Card does she confront that will finally get her talking?
Cards captured so far: Vision, Heat, Vine, Bell, Sleep, Wind, Angel, Sludge, Multiple, Silence, Smoke, Memory, Chain, Fire, Tornado, and Earth
CCS: The American Cards: Part 21
Sakura did eventually go back to her hotel room. She didn't say anything to Meilin and she didn't see the others. She just slept that night…after crying herself to sleep. The next say she got on the bus and just looked up on the bus's ceiling as she walked. She didn't want to see Li, Madison, or Kero. She just took her seat next to Meilin and didn't say anything during the whole trip to Salt Lake City. Even when Meilin was talking right to her, Sakura didn't respond.
Then she got to Salt Lake City and Sakura didn't say anything there, either. She just waited for Meilin and her 'friends' and went to the hotel. When Sakura got to the hotel, Meilin tried to talk to her. In her own unique way, she asked Sakura not to leave without them again. Sakura didn't respond and just went into the hotel room. And sure enough, when no one was looking, Sakura got up to walk out of the hotel room again. They were ready, though. They were all waiting outside the door, so Sakura just slammed the door and went back inside. They'd want to go after the American Card sooner or later, and Sakura didn't want their help. So she did the only other thing she could. She locked the door and walked over to the window. She tied a few blankets together and climbed out the hotel window. Then she headed out.
That was Sakura's day up to this point. Now she found herself in the Great Salt Lake State Park where the sun was starting to set on the Great Salt Lake. Sakura couldn't stand by and look at the beautiful sight. She had an American Card to find. At first, she didn't see one. Then she walked in between two trees and stopped. She could sense the next card. But sensing was all she had time for.
Sakura felt something begin to overtake her. Sakura started to feel as if she had become possessed. She felt herself start to come apart. She felt nauseous as she fell to the ground. Then Sakura let out a scream…as she lost consciousness.
"You think we should let her out now?"
Li nodded. "It's been a few hours already. We have to go look for the next American Card. And it's starting to get late. So we'd better let her out."
Li undid the lock and opened the door as Madison and Meilin looked on. Much to Li's horror, Sakura was indeed gone. She escaped out the window and went after the American Card by herself…again.
Li punched the wall in frustration. "I don't believe this!"
"She could be long gone by now!" Kero added.
"Actually…I'm back."
Li quickly turned around. Everyone was shocked to see Sakura standing outside the hotel door. But that's not what shocked Li so much.
"You're…talking to me."
"I guess I am," Sakura said half-heartedly.
"Are you all right?" Kero asked.
"I'm…fine," Sakura answered after a brief hesitation. She stoically walked over to the hotel bed and sat down.
Li walked over to Sakura and sat next to her. He was almost expecting her to push him off in the state she was in the last few days. But she didn't. Sakura only looked Li in his eyes.
"Can…we talk?" Li asked nervously.
Sakura nodded. Li breathed a sigh of relief. He was finally going to get a chance to explain. But first he looked over at Madison and nodded affirmatively. Taking a hint, Madison walked over and sat down next to Sakura on the other side of the bed. This was it. Li was prepared for the explanation…and the possibility that Sakura would never forgive him.
"I…think we need to explain ourselves," Li began. Then he looked back. "Meilin?"
"I can take a hint," Meilin sighed. "I'll leave."
Li watched as Meilin walked out the door. Then he braced himself.
"I'm really sorry for what happened, Sakura," Li apologized. "We really didn't mean to hurt you."
"You did hurt me," Sakura uttered sadly. "Li, you were the love of my life. Madison, you were my best friend. Kero, we've been around each other for eight years. Yet you all betrayed me. And it just…hurt."
"We're really sorry," Li and Madison said in unison.
"Can I ask you guys something?" Sakura asked.
"Anything."
"Yeah, anything."
"Why did you two kiss each other?"
Li took a deep breath. "I feel so stupid for saying this. It was because…I felt bad. I felt bad for Madison…and everything she's gone through with all her failed relationships. I just felt sorry for her. I know that probably isn't good enough, but please believe me, Sakura. I don't feel for Madison…in that way. I'm in love with YOU."
Sakura shed a tear and looked at Madison. "And what about you?"
"I…guess I just got caught up in the moment," Madison said, choked up. "I was just so overcome by my emotions when I…talked to Li about all I saw from the Memory Card…and I just…messed up. I was so stupid. Especially…since I don't like Li…in that way." She looked up at Li. "I'm sorry I put you in that position. I shouldn't have done it and I know you had to have been thinking so many things at that moment. But let me assure you, Li. I don't like you in that way. You're my friend…but nothing more. I'm in love with…someone else."
Li immediately realized who it was. "It's Eriol, isn't it?"
Madison giggled sheepishly. "I guess it wasn't so hard to figure out." Then she looked at Sakura. "Please say you'll forgive me, Sakura. I couldn't imagine having to go through life without you as my best friend. We've been through everything together. And I can't go on without you. Please don't hate me, Sakura. I love you and I'll never, ever hurt you like that again."
Sakura stood up. "This hasn't been easy for me to deal with. I've had a while to reflect on what's happened. And yes. You two hurt me deeply. The three of you did. But I've heard you make your cases and I realize…you made one mistake. None of us are perfect. I can't say I'll forget what happened. But I don't hate any of you. I'm sorry I told you that. I didn't mean it. But I can't say I'll forgive you…just yet. I hope you understand."
Li felt like shedding a tear himself. He had to happy for one thing, though. At least Sakura was talking to him now. She was talking to all of them. But Sakura still wasn't willing to forgive…completely.
"We understand," Li finally said.
Li would wait for as long as it takes.
Meilin tried to hear what was going on. But she couldn't hear anything behind that door. So giving up, Meilin walked away and went next door to what was Li and Madison's room. But Meilin gasped as she walked in. She couldn't believe who was there. It was…
…Sakura. Only this Sakura was different. Her clothes were…much darker than what Meilin saw a few minutes ago.
"How did you get in here?" Meilin demanded. "You were just in the other room."
"Oh shut up!" Sakura snapped. "I don't want to hear any of it. I've been waiting here for a few former friends. WHERE'S MADISON?!"
"In the next room," Meilin answered coolly. "But I thought you weren't talking to her."
"We have something to 'discuss'," Sakura said angrily. "Where is she?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said next door," Meilin replied. "Which is where I thought you were."
"Of course you'd think that," Sakura growled. She walked towards the door. "Get out of my way!"
Meilin stepped out of Sakura's way and looked at her as she walked out. Sakura was being so…snotty. She reminded Meilin of herself for a while. Something was wrong with her. Sensing no good could come of this, Meilin followed Sakura out.
There had been silence since the emotional conversation. Li couldn't say anything and neither could anyone else. Soon, though, the silence was broken by the knocking on the door.
"I'd better answer that," Madison said. "It's probably Meilin."
Madison got up to answer the door. And she gasped when she saw who it was. Standing at the door with eyes full of hatred, anger, and rage was…
"Sakura?"
It WAS Sakura…but it couldn't be. Li was sitting next to Sakura, yet Sakura was standing at the door glaring a hole right into Madison. This Sakura was different, though. Her clothes were a lot darker than the clothes the other Sakura was wearing. But the next thing that happened distinguished this Sakura from the Sakura sitting next to Li.
"I'LL KILL YOU!!!"
The dark Sakura suddenly tackled Madison and wrapped her hands around her neck. Sakura was trying to choke her. Li quickly got up and tried to restrain that Sakura, but she had Madison's neck in a death grip. She wouldn't let go.
"I'll kill you!" she said again. "You stabbed me in the back!! You were supposed to be my best friend!! And you betrayed me!! JUST…DIE…NOW!!!"
Li kept trying to pull the dark Sakura off of Madison. Then that Sakura finally let go and focused her attention on Li. Sensing impending danger, Kero flew out of Li's hat and flew to the other, brighter Sakura. The darker Sakura stared Li right in the eye and then slapped him in the face. Then she kicked him…below the belt. When Li fell down, Sakura wrapped her hands around his neck and started to choke him.
"You jerk!!" she shouted. "I gave you everything!! I loved you!! And you stabbed me in the back!! I hate you!! I hate you!! I HATE YOU!!"
Li didn't want to take the offensive. He couldn't bring himself to raise a hand to Sakura. But this Sakura had it in for him. She was trying to kill him. Luckily, someone else was standing at the door.
"GET OFF HIM, AVALON!!"
Meilin rushed in and took the dark Sakura down. As that Sakura got up, Meilin kicked her right in the stomach and restrained her by the arms. This dark Sakura didn't want to give up. Though her arms were being held by Meilin, she was still trying to kick away at Li. Li went and checked on Madison, who was coughing and trying to catch her breath, but otherwise was fine. Then Li heard Meilin struggling.
"I can't hold her like this forever! Do something, Li!"
Li looked around for anything he could do. Then he found it. It was the closet. He grabbed the dark Sakura and threw her in the closet and shut the door. Before anything else could happen, Li grabbed the nearby cabinet and pushed it in front of the door. The dark Sakura couldn't get out and Li breathed a momentary sigh of relief.
"What…just happened?" Li asked.
Seeing everything, Kero turned to the brighter Sakura. "Where did you just come from? Where were you about an hour ago?"
Sakura thought about that…hard. She struggled to remember. "I…don't know. All I remember is getting knocked out…and finding myself alone in the Great Salt Lake State Park."
"But you don't remember anything before that?" Kero asked. "You don't remember what hit you?"
Sakura shook her head.
"It's just like I thought," Kero concluded. "It's the Split Card. It's split Sakura into two personalities."
"So they're both Sakura?" Meilin asked.
"It's not a copy," Kero answered. "They're both the genuine article. Only they're different from each other. The one trying to bang the closet door down is Sakura's rage. She's trying to act out all the anger that Sakura felt when she found out about…you know. And this here is Sakura's compassion. She's trying to act out the rest of Sakura's feelings as it concerns you."
"So why are they acting like this?" Meilin asked.
Kero cleared his throat. "Sakura's rage wants to kill Li and Madison because she feels betrayed. She feels like she was stabbed in the back and is acting on her innermost anger over what's happened. And that includes acting out violently.
"Sakura's compassion is just the opposite. She was definitely hurt by what happened, but deep inside, she knows if she ends her friendship with you guys, her life will never be the same. More than anything in the world, she wants things to go back to the way they were. Her deepest hope is to help make things right and hope bygones can be bygones.
"Each of these feelings were offset by the others. Sakura's desire to hurt somebody was restrained by her compassion. And Sakura's desire to forgive you was offset by her rage and anger over what happened. Of course, now that the Split Card's divided her, anything goes. That's why this Sakura was so reasonable and was so eager to hear you guys out and why the other Sakura was in such a hurry to strangle you guys to death."
Madison came to a realization at that moment. "You mean…Sakura didn't really forgive us?"
"Yes…and no," Kero replied. "Remember, she didn't really forgive you guys to begin with. But I know what you mean. Sakura is acting on what both sides of her want the most. And although Sakura doesn't have control over both her halves, when she gets put back together, she'll still remember anything she did while she was split. What I'm trying to say is, Sakura wouldn't have forgiven you if she didn't want to. So I think she really meant what she said, and it wasn't an influence of the Split Card. Of course, there's nothing guaranteeing that she still won't be angry when we put her back together."
"What do we do now?" Madison asked.
"We find the Split Card," Kero answered. "But this definitely won't be easy. To seal the Split Card, both halves of Sakura have to be bound together when its sealed…or else it won't put her back together."
"Both of them?" Meilin growled. "Didn't you just see what this psychopath tried to do to Li? There's no way we can control her!"
"We have no choice!" Kero responded. "We have to take BOTH of them."
The compassionate side of Sakura got to her feet. "I'm ready. I just want to be whole again."
"I'm sure your other half does, too," Kero added. "Of course, she can't see past her anger. So we'll have to guide her through it."
"Good luck!" Meilin uttered cynically. "How long do you think I'll be able to hold her?!"
"There is ONE way," Kero suggested. He looked at Li, and he could see exactly what Kero had in mind.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Li shook his head. "I couldn't…"
"You HAVE to," Kero shot back. "There's no other way."
Li sighed. "Fine. Open the closet door."
Li took a step back and grabbed exactly what he needed. Meilin pushed the cabinet aside and reluctantly opened the closet door. Just like everyone feared, Sakura's rage lunged out, but Li was ready. He shattered a vase over that Sakura, leaving her unconscious on the ground.
"Somebody pick her up," Kero muttered. "And let's go. We're in for a long night."
Author's Note: This went a lot longer than I expected. So I'll hold off for now. Come back to see the hunt for the Split Card and the fight to reunite the two halves of Sakura.
Any comments? Then mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below.