"What The Cards Were For"

A Card Captor Fanfiction

By: Bekah-chan

Rated: PG (for

Sakuras skipping)



Disclaimer: I don't now, have never, and will never own Card Captors. *sigh*



Authors Notes: I don't actually know what the Through and Return Cards can do, I haven't seen the show that far. So I made it up. Who knows, maybe I guessed right? ^_^ Oh, and I don't know if Windy is the oldest Card, I might have heard it somewhere, maybe not. Anyway Windy *is* the oldest Card in my fic.

Thanks To: Reviewers!!! =)



Chapter 25:

The Through and Return Cards wasted no time in answering Windy's call. This wasn't surprising considering that Windy was the oldest Clow Card, and anyone who yelled *that* loudly kind of *demanded* attention. Syaoran was glad they had responded promptly, it saved them all from Windy yelling again.

~What is it?~ asked the Through, softly. Syaoran thought that the Return had echoed the comment, but couldn't be sure because the Card was talking around...... Chewing gum?? What was with these Cards?!!? (AN: The Author would like to know that also! I *did not* authorize gum chewing in this fic!!! :)

~We need your help to pull Mistress Sakura together again~ said Windy.

~Cool!~ Return said, shifting the gum to one side of it's mouth so it could talk.

~Alright~ Through agreed, ~What do you wish us to do?~

As the Windy explained it's plan, Syaoran decided that it might actually work, hopefully. (Fingers crossed)

After the Windy finished explaining, they all got to work. First they had all the memory Sakuras move father away so they wouldn't get mixed up again. Then Syaoran, the Windy, and the Fiery, lined up the rest of the Sakuras. This was really hard because the Windy insisted that they be lined up by *exact* age, oldest to youngest, down to the month, or day as was sometimes the case. When they were almost done with this, Syaoran asked the Windy why the Sakuras needed to be lined up by age. He was answered with:

~Why, it's just more fun that way!~ Ask a stupid question........ Syaoran decided to drop it, they needed to get this *done*. Instead he looked around to see what the other Cards were doing. The Return Card had, beginning at the start of their line, dusted each Sakura with a sparkling green powder. The powder poured liberally from an hourglass the Return was holding, when it was upended over a Sakura's head, and shaken (like a salt shaker). Many of the Sakuras sneezed, accompanied by popping sounds from the Return (it turned out it was chewing bubble gum). (AN: *Bubble* Gum???!!! What??!!)

The Through Card was sitting Indian style, meditating. At least that's what Syaoran thought it was doing, it could be sleeping, or maybe preparing for the task ahead. And Syaoran was surprised, as he looked at the Card, that there was a sense of serenity about it. Almost like one would have expected from the Windy. These Cards were so odd! (AN: Tell me about it!!! :)

Finally the preparations were completed, the Return having absolutely coated the *real* Sakura with the green powder, and sprinkled some on the Through for good measure. And they were ready to start the plan.

~Okay, listen up!~ said the Windy, with the air of a drill instructor, ~All green speckled Sakuras join hands, and stand in single file, oldest to youngest, behind the *real* Sakura. March!~ it blew a whistle to get them moving. (AN: Wait a minute! Whistle?? Arg!!)

While the Sakuras shuffled into line Syaoran looked at Sakura and noticed she seemed to be *herself* again, for now.

~.....like I see myself~ she finished her sentence from before, then looked down at the green powder. ~Um, Syaoran? What is this stuff?~ some of the powder got into her mouth when she spoke, ~Ick! It tastes like Pixie Stix!** I hate those! Syaoran! How did.........~ and she was gone again. Syaoran sighed, this just had to work. It had to.

~Okay, Through! Show time~ said the Windy, nudging the meditating Card with it's foot. The Return nodded in agreement, popping a bubble. The Through opened it's eyes and gracefully got to it's feet, it did not say anything, just gave them all a small smile to confirm that it was ready.

Through stepped to the front of the line, taking the hand of the Sakura in the lead, then it started moving. Syaoran watched incredulously as the line moved around Sakura and they started skipping. The Windy had explained the need for momentum, but he was having a little trouble excepting the need for *skipping*. The line moved in a wide circle, the Sakuras, eerily skipping in tandem, following the Through Card like children in a game.

Meanwhile the Return Card tapped it's hourglass with the ball of one hand, causing it, and all the powder, to glow. So there was a line of Sakuras eerily skipping in tandem and glowing green. Then the light flickered and went out, prompting Syaoran to look over at the Return in worry. That wasn't supposed to happen! Evidently the Return agreed, for it glared angrily at the malfunctioning hourglass, then it gave it a good bang on the ground. The glow came back and Return gave Syaoran a 'thumbs-up' sign, blowing another bubble.

The Sakura-party-line (which now comes with a fetching green glow :) moved in for final approach, and Syaoran held his breath (metaphorically) and locked his eyes on the *real* Sakura, waiting. He didn't have to wait long, the line was now behind Sakura again and closing fast. The Through gave one last skip, then dived into Sakura, and stopped. Syaoran could see a faint outline of the Through superimposed over Sakura. The Sakura line, however, did not stop moving. The Sakuras disappeared, one by one, each pulling the one after into the space where the *real* Sakura was standing, and they didn't come out again. It was working! (AN: Yes!!)

The green glow from the Return Card's powder got brighter and brighter as more Sakuras joined the *real* one, until, when the last Sakura disappeared, it went out with a brilliant flash of light. The Through fell to the ground in front of Sakura, who stood there, sans powder, looking a little dazed.

~Syaoran?~ she said. Syaoran ran to Sakura, as the Fiery Card helped Through to it's feet again, asking if it was okay. The Through answered with a tired smile, it was fine.

~Sakura?~ Syaoran asked, tentatively. Was this *his* Sakura?

~Syaoran~ she looked around at the strange landscape, ~WHAT is going ON??!!~

To Be Continued ^_^

** No, I do not own Pixie Stix (is that how you spell it??) And I'm glad! Glad I say! Those things are gross!