Author's Note: The italicized
part is a flashback, okay? And this part is out rearlier than it was supposed
to be because I'm going to Winnipeg tomorrow, so there won't be another
part up for a couple of weeks, okay?
"Happy thirteenth, Sakura." Shaoran said as he stepped up to the girl's bed.
Sakura stirred at the sound of the voice and opened her eyes. She blinked a few times, then stretched and yawned, "Shaoran!" she exclaimed happily and thre her arms around the nineteen-year-old.
"Ow!" Shaoran yelped, "Not so tight." he gasped
Sakrua grinned sheepishly and loosened her grip. Shaoran grinned back, then reached his hands to Sakura's waist and within seconds, he had her on the floor, laughing as she begged for mercy. "Had enough?" he asked, stopping suddenly.
Sakura gasped and nodded. Shaoran then pulled her up by her hands, "Come on," he said, "Time for your present."
Sakura smile again and grabbed his hand, half-dragging the young mage out into the small garden that led off from her room. They stopped in front of a large, barren tree.
Sakura had first seen the tree a few weeks after she had arrived at Clow Reed's house, just before her birthday.
"Clow-san?" seven-year-old Sakura asked, looking up at the large, barren tree from in her room. It was just about time for her to go to bed, the night before her eighth birthday.
"Yes, Sakura?" Clow looked up from the book he was reading out loud to her.
"What type of tree is that?" the small girl inquired.
"A cherry tree." Clow replied, smiling gently.
"When will it blossom?" Sakura asked, "I want to see all the pretty cherry blossoms."
Clow sighed, "I'm sorry, Sakura, but the tree won't have any more cherry blossoms?"
"Why not?" Sakura questioned, confused.
"Because it's dead." Clow said softly.
Sakura looked at the large tree, thinking of the pale pink blossoms that floated down from cherry trees every spring. Her eyes began to fill with tears and her lower lip trembled as she sniffed.
"Sakura, it's just a tree. It's all right." Clow said, reaching out a hand to rest on the little girl's shoulder. However, Sakura's tears continued to fall down her cheeks. Clow got up and left the room, leaving the girl alone.
"The poor cherry tree." Sakura whispered, wrapping her arms around her knees. She looked up as Clow returned, with Shaoran.
"What is she crying about now?" Shaoran asked, a bit of annoyance creeping into his voice. Ever since the first day Sakura had been at the house, Shaoran had been the one she ran to when she was scared or hurt. And he was the only one who could get her to stop crying.
"Shaoran, the tree..." Sakura sniffled as Shaoran crossed the room to sit on the bed beside Sakura.
"What about the tree?" Shaoran asked, confused.
"It's dead." Sakura said softly.
"Oh." Shaoran said, at a loss for words. Then he bit his lip, "But I'm sure there'll be other cherry trees."
"Really?" Sakura asked.
"Tell you what," Shaoran said, "How about I have a cherry tree blossom for you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay." Sakura said, wiping the tears off her cheeks.
"Now, can you go to sleep?" Shaoran asked.
"Hai." Sakura said, diving under the covers, "Good night." she said, closing her eyes.
"Good night." Shaoran said as he and Clow left the room.
"So, how are you going to get her a cherry tree for tomorrow?" Clow inquired of his cousin.
"No idea." Shaoran said ruefully.
"I have one." Clow said. He reached into the fold of his robes, pulled out a card and handed it to Shaoran.
"A Clow Card?" Shaoran gasped, looking at the large card. It was labeled The Flower, "What do I do with it?"
"Make the cherry tree blossom, what else?" Clow said. He looked thoughtfuly for a moment, "Shaoran, you'll help Sakura with the cards, when I'm gone right?"
"What?" Shaoran asked, but before
he could comprehend Clow's question, he had left Shaoran standing there
in the hallway.
********************************
Sakura blinked open her eyes at the the morning sunlight. She looked beside her bed to the Shaoran standing there.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, curious.
"Good, you're awake now." Shaoran said, ignoring her inquiry, "Come on, I have something to show you." an air of mystery sparkled in his eyes.
"Okay." Sakura said, climbing out of bed. She followed Shaoran out throught the door, into the small garden that was just outside. She saw the cherry tree and sadness crossed her face momentarily, Cheer up, Sakura, she told herself, it's just a tree.
She watched with curiousity as Shaoran pulled a card out of his pocket. She wasn't sure of what it was, but there was an intricate design on the back, with a sun and a moon. Shaoran also pulled out his sword. He lay the card down on the ground in front of him.
"Card, crafted by Clow, make the cherry tree blossom." Shaoran said, the sword he held in his hands starting to glow. Sakura's eyes widened, "Release, Flower Card!" The card glowed and trasformed into the figure of a woman.
The woman giggled, before floating up to the cherry tree and waving her hands. Instantly, the tree was filled with pale pink cherry blossoms.
Sakura clapped her hands together gleefully, "Thank you, Shaoran!"
"Release, Flower Card!" Shaoran called and the Flower appeared, making the cherry tree blossom.
"Thank you!" Sakrua exclaimed, running up to the tree. She caught some of the blossoms in her hand and ran them through her hair. Shaoran watched, smiling. She ran up to him and thre her arms around him, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she repeated, looking up at him.
"Happy birthday." Shaoran said, hugging her back. He let go and seemed to shake himself, "Come on, we'd better go back inside before you catch a cold or one of the maids finds me in your room this early. If that happens, you can be guaranteed Clow won't be happy."
Sakura giggled, "What would he have to be mad about?" she asked.
Shaoran picked her up and carried her back inside, "You're thirteen now, Sakura, a teenager. You aren't finding out about that from me."
Sakura looked confused, "About what?"
Shaoran shook his head, "You're too young. Maybe next year, better yet, the year after that." he whirled her around, before setting her on her bead. "Don't you ever change, Sakura." he said as he tucked her back into bed and walked out of the room.
Change? Why would I change?
Sakura wondered as the door swung shut behind Shaoran.
********************************
Li Shaoran didn't stop walking until he entered his own bedroom. Luckily, he hadn't met anyone in the hallways who would inquire why he was up so early. He breathed deeply as soon as he shut the door and leaned against it.
My God, what the hell was that?
he demanded of himself, "You have no right to feel that for her," he snapped
at himself, "She's a child." he reminded himself. He crossed the
room and sat down heavily on a chair, "I'm nineteen, she's thirteen and,
according to Clow, the next user of the Cards."
********************************
"Blow out the candles, Sakura!" Keroberus said enthusiastically as the girl looked at her birthday cake with large, happy eyes.
"Haaannnyaaaannn!" Sakura sighed happily and blew out the candles.
"You have one candle left!" Tomoyo said, as Sakura blew out one last, lingering candle, "Who's your boyfriend?" she asked as she began cutting the cake to serve to everyone.
"Hoe?" Sakura blinked cluelessy as a faint blush appeared on Shaoran face. Fortunately for him, no one noticed. Sakura laughed, "Tomoyo, I don't have a boyfriend! I'm just thirteen."
Clow nodded at this and Keroberus perkes up, "Open your presents, Sakura!"
"I swear, you're more enthusiastic than her." Yue said, shaking his head, "And it's not even your birthday."
"I'm allowed. I don't have a birthday, so I get to be enthusiastic on other's birthdays." Keroberus said and pushed a large package towards Sakura, "Open it."
"Okay." Sakura was happy to oblige and she pulled the ribbon off the large box and opened it. She then sweatdropped and looked up at Keroberus who was looking triumphant, "Chocolate liquers? Keroberus, I'm not old enough to drink."
"I know." Keroberus said innocently, "You can give them to me if you want." he suggested, trying - and failing - not to look too excited.
"Keroberus." Clow simply shook his head and handed Sakura a small, gift-wrapped box.
She opened it and found a small pendant in it. It looks almost like a key, Sakura thought as she studied it. "Arigatou, Clow-san." Sakura said, slipping the pendant around her neck, "Kirei ni."
Yue's eyes narrowed slightly at the pendant, then turned to Clow, raising an eyebrow in a silent question. Clow nodded and Yue's expression darkened.
"Here." Tomoyo handed Sakura a large gift box. Sakura opened it and held up an intricately embroidered kimono. It was pale pink, with lighter and darker pink cherry blossoms embroidered on it.
"Tomoyo-san..." Sakura said, looking at the kimono, "It's so pretty." she sighed.
"I knew you'd like it!" Tomoyo squealed excitedly.
"Excuse me, sir?" a butler came into the room.
"Yes, Wei?" Clow asked, getting up.
"There is someone at the door who wishes to see you." Wei said.
"Of course." Clow said, "I'll be right back," he said to everyone else and left the room.
"Wonder what that's all about?" Shaoran asked.
"He probably has to go away on a trip for something." Sakura said.
Minutes later, Clow came back, looking slightly troubled.
"What is it?" Yue asked.
"I have to go to England.' Clow said, "There have been some disturbances there recently and they need my help."
"When do you leave?" Sakura asked, looking up.
"Tonight." Clow replied, "But I'll be back as soon as I can."
"All right." Sakura sighed, looking depressed.
"Cheer up," Shaoran said, putting
a hand on her shoulder, "He'll be back soon." Clow looked at his younger
cousin with a calculating look. Feeling the sorcerer's gaze upon him, Shaoran
looked up and blushed bright red, quickly removing his hand from Sakura's
shoulder. Clow smiled to himself, then turned and left the room, Interesting....
********************************
"Hmmm..." Sakura mused as she examined the key-shaped pendant she had recieved on her birthday from Clow.
"What is it, Sakura?" Tomoyo asked, sitting beside her.
"I wonder what this unlocks." Sakura said, showing Tomoyo the key.
Tomoyo smiled, "Well, I'm sure Clow-sama will tell you when he gets back."
"He's been away for a week an a half," Sakura sighed, "I wish he'd hurry up and get back," she then went back to studying the key.
Tomoyo looked across the yard to see Shaoran staring back at her...or rather, at Sakura.
The mage noticed Tomoyo's gaze and returned to practising sword moves, blushing.
Tomoyo looked at Sakura, who was engrossed in examining the key and smiled, it appears that Shaoran likes Sakura...
"I wish I knew what it was." Sakura said, sighing, "It's driving me insane."
"Let me see it." Yue said, from behind them. They turned around to see the white-haired guardian there, with a perplexed look on hisface.
"O-okay." Sakura stammered and handed him the key.
Yue examined it, resting it in his hand, looking closely. After a few minutes (during which Sakura hopped from foot to foot anxiously and Shaoran came over to see what was going on), he cleared his throat, "If this is what I think it is..."
"What do you think it is?" Sakura asked excitedly.
"A key." Yue said certainly.
All except for Yue facefaulted.
"I know that!" Sakura snapped, hopping back up and snatching her necklace back. She dangled it in front of Yue's face, "But I want to know what it's for!"
"It's for the Clow." a voice said. Yue spun around and everyone looked past him to see Clow Reed standing there.
"You're back!" Yue exclaimed.
"Yes, I am back." Clow nodded. For a moment, he looked very tired, but then the moment passed. Sakura shook her head. She must be imagining things. "Sakura, come here for a moment."
Sakura looked up with wide eyes and Clow chuckled, "Don't look so scared, I just need to talk to you."
Sakura sighed with relief and followed Clow into the house and up the stairs, "Where are we going?"
"To my study." Clow said, stopping before a door and opening it. He waved a hand and the lights came on. Sakura followed him in and he shut the door. "Stand there." he said, pointing to an open spot on the ground.
"Uhh...okay." Sakura stood in the middle of the room.
"Take out the key." Clow instructed. Sakura did, "Hold it in front of you and repeat after me."
"Okay." Sakura said, holding out the key. She was beginning to feel a little foolish about this.
"Hoshi no chikara o himeshi kagi yo," Clow recited. A faint pattern was starting to glow under Sakura's feet. It was an intricate design, with the kanji of the elements and a sun and a moon.
"Hoshi no chikara o himeshi kagi yo," Sakura repeated, a wind picking up.
"Shin no sugata o ware no mae ni shimese." Clow continued, the wind whipping through his hair.
"Shin no sugata o ware no mae ni shimese." Sakura repeated, the key starting to glow.
"Keiyaku no moto Sakura ga meijiru." Clow called above the wind.
"Keiyaku no moto Sakura ga meijiru!" Sakura said as the key glowed even brighter. "RELEASE!" the key let off a final, blinding glow and transformed into a long pink staff.
"Mistress...of...the...Clow..." Clow said, breathing heavily. There was sweat on his face and he looked like this had taken a lot out of him. He grasped the back of a chair to support himself.
"Clow-san, are you all right?" Sakura asked, rushing to him.
"I'm...fine..." Clow said, "Just that transferring the power of the book....takes a lot of my energy..." he smiled at her, "I'll...be...fi.."
Clow trailed off as he fell to the floor in a dead faint.
"Clow-san!" Sakura called, helping
him to the floor, "Clow-san!" she called, letting the wand drop form her
grasp, "CLOW-SAN! CLOW-SAN!!!"
Author's Note: Yes, it's a cliffhanger. Yes, I'm mean. Yes, you do have to wait two weeks before a new part...unless I can write one while I'm in Winnipeg.