Not Just Playing Cards
~ Start of Scene Seven~
By Chibi Ruka Hime
Note: The following fanfics in this series are the novelizations of this CCS RPG chatroom thing I belong to on AIM. It's a continuing series, so more will be coming as more chatrooms are held. The eyeglass symbols were kept in, because I just thought they were so cute. And Smiko did a GREAT job playing Naoko! Naoko was so funny around Yue. She was so…fascinated by him and his accessories. *sweatdrop*
It was another nice day, and Sakura was sitting on a swing with a thoughtful look upon her face, swinging gently back and forth. Rika and Naoko were beside her, with Rika busily knitting. Nearby, Yukito was eating lunch with Touya. Yukito, as usual, was eating out of a very large bento. Sakura glanced over at Touya and Yukito, and then back at the dirt, drawing in the dirt with her foot. "I wonder what Syaoran-kun's up to…" she asked herself softly.
Touya glanced over at Sakura with a suspicious look on his face, but continued to munch on his food..
"Hoe?" Sakura looked up at the sky and blinked, almost falling backwards out of the swing.
Yukito blinked. "A-Daidobu, Sakura-chan?!"
"Haaai…." Sakura replied, her eyes still swirly.
"Are you daydreaming again?" Naoko asked.
Sakura sweatdropped. "Guess so. I thought I saw something, so I looked up and…fell out." She said sheepishly, scratching the back of her neck.
"A bird?" suggested Rika.
"Maybe."
"A UFO?" Naoko said excitedly.
Sakura blinked and shook her head. "Don't think so." She untangled her legs from the swing and stood up, brushing herself off.
"Maybe it was a very fast-flying bird," Rika said again.
"How fast can some birds FLY?" Sakura asked, confused.
"Maybe it was a tiny airplane," Naoko chimed in.
"Hm…" Sakura laid belly-down on the swing thoughtfully.
"Is that safe?" Naoko asked worriedly.
"Sure!" Sakura exclaimed. And to prove her point, she started swinging back and forth, sticking her arms out. "Look, I'm flying!"
Naoko gave Sakura a strange look as Sakura continued swinging. (//)-(//)
"It's fun, Naoko-chan! Try it! You too, Rika-chan!" Sakura started flapping her arms as she continued. "C'MON!"
Naoko laughed nervously. "No---thank you."
"It's fun!" Sakura insisted. She slipped a little, but continued swinging. She turned, and flailed for Rika to join…and fell off, headfirst into the dirt.
"A-anou? Sakura-chan, daijoubu?" Rika asked hurriedly, rushing towards her.
"Haai…" Sakura replied in a muffled tone of voice. She pulled herself up, her face covered with dirt. "Hoee-e-e-ee…."
"Maybe that's unsafe, Sakura-chan."
Sakura rubbed her face to get the dirt off, though with some difficulty. "Swings don't seem to like me…"
"Maybe today is a bad day for swinging," Rika commented. She blinked and looked up as she felt a tiny raindrop hit her head. "Is it starting to rain?" she asked, just as another drop fell in her eye.
More drops started to fall down, hitting Naoko, and then Touya and Yukito. "Oh Yay." Touya said sarcastically. "Yuki-we need to get inside-"
"Hoee…"
Yukito nodded. "Too bad. It was such a nice day for a picnic."
"Yeah, I know. We can have it inside though," Touya replied.
"Hai!" Yukito said with a smile, packing the food away.
Naoko opened her umbrella with ghosts and spirits on it, and Rika rushed towards it, trying to keep her knitting from getting wet. Sakura ducked under the umbrella along with Rika and Naoko with a sigh. "Why did it hafta rain?…I guess we hafta go inside. Yukito-san, Onii-chan, where are YOU going?"
"Where should we go, To-ya?" Yukito asked him.
"I was going to go back to the house."
"Well, let's go. It's getting wet!" Sakura said.
"Are your---friends coming?" Touya asked.
Rika nodded, and Naoko smiled. "Hai!" Sakura said loudly, squeezing with Rika and Naoko under the shelter of the umbrella.
"Oy-" Touya said, shaking his head and heading towards the house. Yukito was beside him, sort of huddling near Touya and getting soaked, but still smiling. The 3 girls followed him, shuffling along slowly.
"Maybe what you saw before was a cloud," Rika suggested again. "It would make sense."
"Hm…I was looking at clouds yesterday and saw one shaped like a dragon."
"A big dragon?"
"Yeah…for a second, I thought I saw it breathe fire."
They had reached Sakura's house, and Touya opened the door, grumbling and wiping his feet on the doormat. Rika took her shoes off and stepped in, the others following her example.
"I hope the food didn't get soggy," Yukito said sadly.
Outside, it was pouring now. "Sure got wet fast…" Sakura thought to herself. "Oh! Want some cocoa, you guys?"
"Oh, hai! Arigatou, Sakura-chan," Yukito said gratefully with a smile.
Sakura smiled happily and led her friends into the kitchen. She had stupidly left The Book laying on the table in the living room, which quickly attracted the attention of Rika. She wandered over and glanced at The Book, blinking. "Ku-ku-roou?"
"Hoe?" Sakura turned around.
"Sakura-chan, what is this?" Rika asked, holding the book.
Sakura blinked at Rika…then at the book. "HOEEEEE!!!" She flailed her arms. "Anou, anou, anou…it's nothing!" She quickly said.
"Rika-chan, you were holding it upside down," Naoko said. "It says Sakura on it. See? I bet it's her private diary."
Hoeee…I just hope Kero-chan doesn't come downstairs! Sakura quickly nodded and sweatdropped. "Yeah yeah, that's it!"
"Oh! Gomen nasai!" Rika apologized, putting it back down onto the table.
"Isn't it pretty?" Sakura asked, hoping her plan would work.
"Haaai…"
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll just…take it upstairs real quick!" She grabbed the book, but was unaware that the latch was open. In the motion of picking it up, the cover flew open, and out spilled all the cards. O.O;;; "…Hoeee…."
"…Sakura-chan?…Do you have a card game in there? Or Tarot Cards?"
"Anou? Ah!" Sakura sweatdropped and laughed nervously. "Yes, tarot cards!" She dropped the book, and bent down to pick the cards up. Hoeee…Kero-chan is gonna be mad! Sakura was so nervous, and kept letting the cards slip out of her hands. The Create Card landed near Naoko's feet.
Naoko picked up one of the cards, and blinked. "Wa..ta…Wa-ta-ri?" (Watery.)
"Ahh…hai."
Rika picked up another one. "Ri-ta-ru?…Riitaaruu…"
"I've never heard of Tarot cards like these before," Naoko said.
Yukito, standing at the doorway of the kitchen, nudged Touya, whispering and informing him of the situation.
"It's a…SPECIAL deck. Otou-san found them at a dig site and said I could have them," Sakura quickly replied. Well, that's not a TOTAL lie…
"…Ah sugoi!"
PLEASE don't let Naoko-chan see the Create book picture! Sakura thought desperately to herself as she started putting the cards back into the hollowed-out book.
Naoko picked up another one. "Jampu…" (Jump)
"Suueeto…" pronounced Rika slowly. (Sweet)
"…Hmm?" Naoko picked up another one. "Ku…ree a tu…? (Create). This looks familiar…Um-Oh! It's like…"
Hoeee…
"…one of those cards we got from that store that one time!"
"Ahh…" Sakura said, sweatdropping hopelessly.
"They're in a very good condition for something you'd find buried," Naoko commented.
"I guess the book kept them safe."
"Why would a book be found in a dig have your name on it, Sakura-chan?" (//)-(//)
"Anou…anou…coincidence?" ^^;;;;
(//)-(//) "Is there something you're not telling us?"
"Iie! Not at all!" She picked up a few more cards, putting them back in the book. She made sure to hide the key under her shirt as she approached Rika and Naoko, taking the few cards from them.
"They are pretty…" Rika said, her voice trailing off.
"Are you a magical girl and not telling us for some reason?" Naoko asked.
Sakura jumped instantly, spilling the cards AGAIN. She looked at the overturned book and spilled cards, and hung her head. "Hoeee-ee-e-ee…"
"I mean…are you…Ai to seigi no…Sailor…fuku bishoujo senshi…SAILOR SAKURA? And you just don't want us to know because we're just…SIDE CHARACTERS WITH NO PERSONALITIES?! That isn't it, RIGHT?" Naoko asked, looming near Sakura. (//)-(//)
"I-ie! Of course not!!!"
Rika gave Naoko an odd look. "…I thought she would be a mahou shoujo like the kind that has animal sidekicks. It just seems like Sakura-chan."
"Demo-demo-I'm…not a mahou no shoujo…"
"Sou! Maybe she does, and it's in her room!" Naoko exclaimed.
"Demo…I thought Mahou Shoujos use ribbons and wands."
"Maybe she has a magical henshin item hidden somewhere!"
Sakura sweatdropped, and looked around to see if Yukito or Touya were anywhere nearby. "I don't henshin…R-really, it's…nothing."
Earlier, Touya had dragged Yukito upstairs at the start of all this, which was good, because otherwise, knowing Yue, he would have arbitrarily transformed and spooked off Naoko and Rika.
"I DEMAND THE TRUTH!" Naoko said loudly and persistently.
"Hoeee…" She leaned back and fell over on her butt with a THUD.
"We're open-minded girls, Sakura-chan," Naoko insisted. (//)-(//)
Sakura glanced at the two girls nervously. "…You…can't tell anyone…kay?"
"…Haai…" Rika replied instantly.
"Okay!" Naoko replied happily. (^)-(^)
Sakura cleared her throat. "Just a minute…" She took a deep breath before yelling, "KERO-CHAAAAAAAN!! Come down, onegai!!!"
"You have a frog, Sakura-chan?" Rika asked confusedly.
Sakura shook her head as Kero slid down the stair rail and flipped off. "YATT-AHHHHHHH!!!" He yelled as he caught sight of Sakura sitting on the floor, cards strewn on the floor. He ended up hitting a wall as he noticed the other girls beside her.
"Anou…that's Kero-chan," Sakura sweatdropped.
Rika blinked and walked over to Kero, peeling him off the wall. "Kawaii…where are his batteries?"
Sakura sweatdropped. "…He…doesn't have batteries," she replied as Kero tried to pretend that he was a plushie. "Kero-chan, it's alright. You can talk."
"Oh…umm-hello!" Kero said.
"Kero-chan is named Cerberus, and he's a lion that…WAS on the cover of this book."
"Yeah!!! I guard the-er---uh---"
Rika leaped back as Kero spoke. "…He looks like a teddy bear now."
"Hoee…just wait for a minute, Rika-chan…these cards…AREN'T…tarot cards." Sakura picked up Windy. "They have magic powers."
"…Mahou? Really?"
Sakura nodded. "Hai, Rika-chan. Kero-chan is one of the guardians. Kero-chan, can you show them your big form?"
"Sugoi…like, you can make things disappear?" Rika asked.
"Sorta…" Sakura scratched the back of her neck. "Anou…Tomoyo-chan has known for two years. Kero-chan, show Naoko-chan and Rika-chan your big form, onegai?"
"Whee!" Kero hopped onto the floor and went over to an open area, and started glowing, becoming BIG Kero!
O.O "AHHHHHH!!!" Rika screamed and fled into the kitchen.
Sakura-O.O;;; "Rika-chan, wait!!"
"I'm not gonna eat you," Big Kero said, tears coming into his eyes as Sakura got up and ran after Rika.
"Rika-chan! He only likes sweets! Like cakes and candies!"
"Bbbbbbig cat, big winged cat…" Rika kept muttering.
"It's okay, Rika-chaaaan!"
Rika sort of crept back in as she said, "G-g-g-gomen nasai, Kyoudai Neko-san…"
Sakura took Rika by the hand and led her back over to Kero.
"Daidoubu!" Big Kero said with a wide grin.
"Kero-chan's just a big cat," Sakura said with a reassuring smile, petting Kero, while inside, she was surprised that Touya and Yukito hadn't wondered what the noise was all about downstairs.
~*~
Upstairs…
"Ne, To-ya…I just sensed Kero-chan transform for some reason," Yukito commented.
"She's probably showing her friends or something," Touya replied exasperatedly. -.-
~*~
Back downstairs…
Rika was cautiously petting Big Kero, and a smile was now on her face. "His fur is soft."
"Ah..the attention!" Kero exclaimed. "This is how I deserve to be treated, after all."
"Kero-chan likes to be the center of attention," Sakura said as Rika continued petting him and scratching his ears. "Naoko-chan?" Sakura grabbed Naoko's hand and pulled her over. "I thought you'd like it, Naoko-chan. It's like your stories!"
"Hai…is HE the king of winged animals?" Rika asked curiously.
"Well…no. He's just the seal beast of the book. But that's a good thing too, Kero-chan!" Sakura quickly added as she saw Kero's expression.
Naoko was petting Kero now as well, murmuring "Wow…" every once in a while.
"Ne, you said he eats sweets?"
"Hai. Sometimes TOO MANY sweets! Kero-chan is going to get FAT someday!"
"I will not!" Kero protested.
"You promise you won't tell anyone about this, Rika-chan? Naoko-chan?"
"Hai, I promise!"
Sakura smiled. "There's more…" she said as she reached down her shirt and pulled out the little shrunken star key, dangling from its chain.
"A necklace?" Rika asked.
~*~Upstairs…~*~
"My other self is wondering if it's a good idea that she shows them…"
"I'm sure it isn't. But it's Sakura, so 'Zettai daijoubu dai yo.'"
~*~Back to Sakura & Co.~*~
"That's not the magic part…ah…I've never shown anyone except Tomoyo-chan and Syaoran-kun this stuff…I'll show you what it does. Hoshi no chikara o himeshi 'kagi' yo!" The little key floated in an orb of light, and the circle appeared under her feet. "Shin no sugata o ware no mae ni shimese." The key started to spin a bit…"Keiyaku no moto Sakura ga meijiru. RELEASE!" There was a blast of energy and light from the tiny orb as the key grew and lengthened in a swirl of magic energy. Sakura grabbed the staff and the circle faded away. She turned around, looking for Rika and Naoko's reactions.
"I guess she is a magical girl with a cute pet. I need pudding," Naoko said.
Sakura fell down onto the floor anime style.
"…Is it special effects?"
"Mistress," a sudden voice came from the stairway. It was Yue, standing at the foot of the stairs.
"It's real magic…" Sakura turned around and jumped. "Y-yue-san!"
Yue loomed about Yueishly as he stared at the other girls.
"I couldn't stop him," Touya said.
"Hoeee…"
"Yue, they're very nice! They patted me!" Kero said loudly.
"What…are you doing?" Yue asked with a strange expression on his face. -.- "Hmph."
"PRETTY!" Naoko exclaimed. (*)-(*)
"A-anou…they…they…saw the book…"
"…Who's she?" Rika asked.
"I accidentally left it downhereand…anditdroppedopenandallthecardsspilledoutand-" Sakura blinked. "She? Yue-san is a boy-well…not really…anou…" Sakura hung her head, unsure of how to explain it.
"A boy?…Not a boy?" Rika suggested.
"Yue-san isn't any gender."
Naoko had shuffled over to Yue and looked up at him. "Beautiful wings…"
"I suppose as the Mistress, it is your choice, but-" Yue blinked and looked down at Naoko. "…Ahm, thank you."
"Woow…you're really handsome…and stuff…" Naoko continued, with Sakura sweatdropping. (Naoko's got a thing for men with wings!)
"Yue-san, are you mad at me?" Sakura asked, clutching the rod to her chest.
Yue sighed. "You are the mistress, and I know you would not reveal us to untrustworthy people…"
Naoko started tugging at Yue's wings. "They're real, I imagine?"
Yue nodded and unfolded his wings.
Sakura rapidly shook her head. "Naoko-chan and Rika-chan both promised not to-"
Rika was staring at Yue. "…That ISN'T a girl?"
"Iie, Rika-chan." Sakura replied, taking this chance to pick up the cards. "Anou…Rika-chan, Naoko-chan…you…uh…you were each involved with a card at one point…"
"That's nice…" Naoko said. (#)-(#)
Sakura nodded and decided to go on, being very timid but figuring everything needed to be said. "Anou…Rika-chan…remember your sword broach?"
"…The one I was going to give to Te-" Rika blushed. "Someone?"
"Anou…" Sakura went through the book and pulled out the Sword, holding it up for her to see.
"No wonder it disappeared."
"And…Naoko-chan…your story book…" Sakura held up Create.
"Hai hai." ($)-($)
Sakura glanced over to Yue. "…Can I show them, Yue-san?"
"Go right ahead, Mistress. It is your decision," Yue simply said, still looming Yueishly.
"…But if you think I shouldn't…" Sakura started.
"You can do as you please. I trust your judgement."
"What kind of fabric is this?" Naoko asked, tugging at Yue's robe.
"…It's a magical material created by Clow."
Sakura cleared her throat. ^^; "Maybe when Naoko-chan is done…"
"Sou ka…Clow-san was your dad?" Naoko continued.
"…He created us and the cards."
"Sou! That's cool!" Naoko looked at Sakura. "…What?"
Sakura held up the sword. "Wanna see what these…do?"
"Okay!"
"Hai…"
"Sword!" Sakura tossed the card up, and used her wand on it. Sparkles traveled down the wand, and it became a pretty pink fencing sword.
"Wow."
"…You're a duelist too, Sakura-chan?" asked Rika.
"Iie." Sakura shook the sword, and it wand-ified.
"…Well…this is…my…big secret," Sakura said.
"…Hoooooontou? I really did think they were playing cards. At first." Rika said, laughing.
"That's cool! You should have told us sooner though! We're your friends…" Naoko chimed in.
"Hai! We'll never tell, Sakura-chan."
Sakura sighed. "Thank goodness…" She blinked at Rika. "You…really DID think they were playing cards?"
"Very fancy ones."
Yue "Yukitofied" spontaneously…and Yukito appeared, confused. "Oh, hello, Naoko-chan, Rika-chan!…What am I doing here?…Oh! I bet Yue-san wanted to say something."
"You were just a really pretty guy!" Naoko said excitedly.
"Ahh…Yue-san forgot to ask permission again?" Sakura shook her head.
"I wish he'd remember to do that…Ah, arigatou. But that was Yue-san, not me."
Sakura sighed and shrunk the key again. "Kero-chan, can you go little again, please?"
Yukito smiled and waved at Kero. "Wow, is that you? I don't think I've seen you go big before."
"Hoeee…" Sakura sighed. "What is Syaoran-kun going to say if he finds out I tooold…And Eriol-kun…hoeee…"
"We won't say anything," Naoko said reassuringly.
"I'm sure they'll understand," Yukito added.
"I hope so…" Sakura put the key back around her neck. "Anyone still…want hot cocoa?" she asked, sweatdropping. She had finally completely picked up the cards, and were all safe inside the book. She hooked the latch, and looked expectantly at the others.
"I'd love some," Yukito said with a smile. "I'm sure To-ya would too."
"H-hai!" Sakura trotted off to the kitchen to make hot cocoa…when a crash was heard, followed by a loud "oops"…
~*~ End of Scene Seven ~*~
~ Start of Scene Seven~
By Chibi Ruka Hime
Note: The following fanfics in this series are the novelizations of this CCS RPG chatroom thing I belong to on AIM. It's a continuing series, so more will be coming as more chatrooms are held. The eyeglass symbols were kept in, because I just thought they were so cute. And Smiko did a GREAT job playing Naoko! Naoko was so funny around Yue. She was so…fascinated by him and his accessories. *sweatdrop*
It was another nice day, and Sakura was sitting on a swing with a thoughtful look upon her face, swinging gently back and forth. Rika and Naoko were beside her, with Rika busily knitting. Nearby, Yukito was eating lunch with Touya. Yukito, as usual, was eating out of a very large bento. Sakura glanced over at Touya and Yukito, and then back at the dirt, drawing in the dirt with her foot. "I wonder what Syaoran-kun's up to…" she asked herself softly.
Touya glanced over at Sakura with a suspicious look on his face, but continued to munch on his food..
"Hoe?" Sakura looked up at the sky and blinked, almost falling backwards out of the swing.
Yukito blinked. "A-Daidobu, Sakura-chan?!"
"Haaai…." Sakura replied, her eyes still swirly.
"Are you daydreaming again?" Naoko asked.
Sakura sweatdropped. "Guess so. I thought I saw something, so I looked up and…fell out." She said sheepishly, scratching the back of her neck.
"A bird?" suggested Rika.
"Maybe."
"A UFO?" Naoko said excitedly.
Sakura blinked and shook her head. "Don't think so." She untangled her legs from the swing and stood up, brushing herself off.
"Maybe it was a very fast-flying bird," Rika said again.
"How fast can some birds FLY?" Sakura asked, confused.
"Maybe it was a tiny airplane," Naoko chimed in.
"Hm…" Sakura laid belly-down on the swing thoughtfully.
"Is that safe?" Naoko asked worriedly.
"Sure!" Sakura exclaimed. And to prove her point, she started swinging back and forth, sticking her arms out. "Look, I'm flying!"
Naoko gave Sakura a strange look as Sakura continued swinging. (//)-(//)
"It's fun, Naoko-chan! Try it! You too, Rika-chan!" Sakura started flapping her arms as she continued. "C'MON!"
Naoko laughed nervously. "No---thank you."
"It's fun!" Sakura insisted. She slipped a little, but continued swinging. She turned, and flailed for Rika to join…and fell off, headfirst into the dirt.
"A-anou? Sakura-chan, daijoubu?" Rika asked hurriedly, rushing towards her.
"Haai…" Sakura replied in a muffled tone of voice. She pulled herself up, her face covered with dirt. "Hoee-e-e-ee…."
"Maybe that's unsafe, Sakura-chan."
Sakura rubbed her face to get the dirt off, though with some difficulty. "Swings don't seem to like me…"
"Maybe today is a bad day for swinging," Rika commented. She blinked and looked up as she felt a tiny raindrop hit her head. "Is it starting to rain?" she asked, just as another drop fell in her eye.
More drops started to fall down, hitting Naoko, and then Touya and Yukito. "Oh Yay." Touya said sarcastically. "Yuki-we need to get inside-"
"Hoee…"
Yukito nodded. "Too bad. It was such a nice day for a picnic."
"Yeah, I know. We can have it inside though," Touya replied.
"Hai!" Yukito said with a smile, packing the food away.
Naoko opened her umbrella with ghosts and spirits on it, and Rika rushed towards it, trying to keep her knitting from getting wet. Sakura ducked under the umbrella along with Rika and Naoko with a sigh. "Why did it hafta rain?…I guess we hafta go inside. Yukito-san, Onii-chan, where are YOU going?"
"Where should we go, To-ya?" Yukito asked him.
"I was going to go back to the house."
"Well, let's go. It's getting wet!" Sakura said.
"Are your---friends coming?" Touya asked.
Rika nodded, and Naoko smiled. "Hai!" Sakura said loudly, squeezing with Rika and Naoko under the shelter of the umbrella.
"Oy-" Touya said, shaking his head and heading towards the house. Yukito was beside him, sort of huddling near Touya and getting soaked, but still smiling. The 3 girls followed him, shuffling along slowly.
"Maybe what you saw before was a cloud," Rika suggested again. "It would make sense."
"Hm…I was looking at clouds yesterday and saw one shaped like a dragon."
"A big dragon?"
"Yeah…for a second, I thought I saw it breathe fire."
They had reached Sakura's house, and Touya opened the door, grumbling and wiping his feet on the doormat. Rika took her shoes off and stepped in, the others following her example.
"I hope the food didn't get soggy," Yukito said sadly.
Outside, it was pouring now. "Sure got wet fast…" Sakura thought to herself. "Oh! Want some cocoa, you guys?"
"Oh, hai! Arigatou, Sakura-chan," Yukito said gratefully with a smile.
Sakura smiled happily and led her friends into the kitchen. She had stupidly left The Book laying on the table in the living room, which quickly attracted the attention of Rika. She wandered over and glanced at The Book, blinking. "Ku-ku-roou?"
"Hoe?" Sakura turned around.
"Sakura-chan, what is this?" Rika asked, holding the book.
Sakura blinked at Rika…then at the book. "HOEEEEE!!!" She flailed her arms. "Anou, anou, anou…it's nothing!" She quickly said.
"Rika-chan, you were holding it upside down," Naoko said. "It says Sakura on it. See? I bet it's her private diary."
Hoeee…I just hope Kero-chan doesn't come downstairs! Sakura quickly nodded and sweatdropped. "Yeah yeah, that's it!"
"Oh! Gomen nasai!" Rika apologized, putting it back down onto the table.
"Isn't it pretty?" Sakura asked, hoping her plan would work.
"Haaai…"
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. "I'll just…take it upstairs real quick!" She grabbed the book, but was unaware that the latch was open. In the motion of picking it up, the cover flew open, and out spilled all the cards. O.O;;; "…Hoeee…."
"…Sakura-chan?…Do you have a card game in there? Or Tarot Cards?"
"Anou? Ah!" Sakura sweatdropped and laughed nervously. "Yes, tarot cards!" She dropped the book, and bent down to pick the cards up. Hoeee…Kero-chan is gonna be mad! Sakura was so nervous, and kept letting the cards slip out of her hands. The Create Card landed near Naoko's feet.
Naoko picked up one of the cards, and blinked. "Wa..ta…Wa-ta-ri?" (Watery.)
"Ahh…hai."
Rika picked up another one. "Ri-ta-ru?…Riitaaruu…"
"I've never heard of Tarot cards like these before," Naoko said.
Yukito, standing at the doorway of the kitchen, nudged Touya, whispering and informing him of the situation.
"It's a…SPECIAL deck. Otou-san found them at a dig site and said I could have them," Sakura quickly replied. Well, that's not a TOTAL lie…
"…Ah sugoi!"
PLEASE don't let Naoko-chan see the Create book picture! Sakura thought desperately to herself as she started putting the cards back into the hollowed-out book.
Naoko picked up another one. "Jampu…" (Jump)
"Suueeto…" pronounced Rika slowly. (Sweet)
"…Hmm?" Naoko picked up another one. "Ku…ree a tu…? (Create). This looks familiar…Um-Oh! It's like…"
Hoeee…
"…one of those cards we got from that store that one time!"
"Ahh…" Sakura said, sweatdropping hopelessly.
"They're in a very good condition for something you'd find buried," Naoko commented.
"I guess the book kept them safe."
"Why would a book be found in a dig have your name on it, Sakura-chan?" (//)-(//)
"Anou…anou…coincidence?" ^^;;;;
(//)-(//) "Is there something you're not telling us?"
"Iie! Not at all!" She picked up a few more cards, putting them back in the book. She made sure to hide the key under her shirt as she approached Rika and Naoko, taking the few cards from them.
"They are pretty…" Rika said, her voice trailing off.
"Are you a magical girl and not telling us for some reason?" Naoko asked.
Sakura jumped instantly, spilling the cards AGAIN. She looked at the overturned book and spilled cards, and hung her head. "Hoeee-ee-e-ee…"
"I mean…are you…Ai to seigi no…Sailor…fuku bishoujo senshi…SAILOR SAKURA? And you just don't want us to know because we're just…SIDE CHARACTERS WITH NO PERSONALITIES?! That isn't it, RIGHT?" Naoko asked, looming near Sakura. (//)-(//)
"I-ie! Of course not!!!"
Rika gave Naoko an odd look. "…I thought she would be a mahou shoujo like the kind that has animal sidekicks. It just seems like Sakura-chan."
"Demo-demo-I'm…not a mahou no shoujo…"
"Sou! Maybe she does, and it's in her room!" Naoko exclaimed.
"Demo…I thought Mahou Shoujos use ribbons and wands."
"Maybe she has a magical henshin item hidden somewhere!"
Sakura sweatdropped, and looked around to see if Yukito or Touya were anywhere nearby. "I don't henshin…R-really, it's…nothing."
Earlier, Touya had dragged Yukito upstairs at the start of all this, which was good, because otherwise, knowing Yue, he would have arbitrarily transformed and spooked off Naoko and Rika.
"I DEMAND THE TRUTH!" Naoko said loudly and persistently.
"Hoeee…" She leaned back and fell over on her butt with a THUD.
"We're open-minded girls, Sakura-chan," Naoko insisted. (//)-(//)
Sakura glanced at the two girls nervously. "…You…can't tell anyone…kay?"
"…Haai…" Rika replied instantly.
"Okay!" Naoko replied happily. (^)-(^)
Sakura cleared her throat. "Just a minute…" She took a deep breath before yelling, "KERO-CHAAAAAAAN!! Come down, onegai!!!"
"You have a frog, Sakura-chan?" Rika asked confusedly.
Sakura shook her head as Kero slid down the stair rail and flipped off. "YATT-AHHHHHHH!!!" He yelled as he caught sight of Sakura sitting on the floor, cards strewn on the floor. He ended up hitting a wall as he noticed the other girls beside her.
"Anou…that's Kero-chan," Sakura sweatdropped.
Rika blinked and walked over to Kero, peeling him off the wall. "Kawaii…where are his batteries?"
Sakura sweatdropped. "…He…doesn't have batteries," she replied as Kero tried to pretend that he was a plushie. "Kero-chan, it's alright. You can talk."
"Oh…umm-hello!" Kero said.
"Kero-chan is named Cerberus, and he's a lion that…WAS on the cover of this book."
"Yeah!!! I guard the-er---uh---"
Rika leaped back as Kero spoke. "…He looks like a teddy bear now."
"Hoee…just wait for a minute, Rika-chan…these cards…AREN'T…tarot cards." Sakura picked up Windy. "They have magic powers."
"…Mahou? Really?"
Sakura nodded. "Hai, Rika-chan. Kero-chan is one of the guardians. Kero-chan, can you show them your big form?"
"Sugoi…like, you can make things disappear?" Rika asked.
"Sorta…" Sakura scratched the back of her neck. "Anou…Tomoyo-chan has known for two years. Kero-chan, show Naoko-chan and Rika-chan your big form, onegai?"
"Whee!" Kero hopped onto the floor and went over to an open area, and started glowing, becoming BIG Kero!
O.O "AHHHHHH!!!" Rika screamed and fled into the kitchen.
Sakura-O.O;;; "Rika-chan, wait!!"
"I'm not gonna eat you," Big Kero said, tears coming into his eyes as Sakura got up and ran after Rika.
"Rika-chan! He only likes sweets! Like cakes and candies!"
"Bbbbbbig cat, big winged cat…" Rika kept muttering.
"It's okay, Rika-chaaaan!"
Rika sort of crept back in as she said, "G-g-g-gomen nasai, Kyoudai Neko-san…"
Sakura took Rika by the hand and led her back over to Kero.
"Daidoubu!" Big Kero said with a wide grin.
"Kero-chan's just a big cat," Sakura said with a reassuring smile, petting Kero, while inside, she was surprised that Touya and Yukito hadn't wondered what the noise was all about downstairs.
~*~
Upstairs…
"Ne, To-ya…I just sensed Kero-chan transform for some reason," Yukito commented.
"She's probably showing her friends or something," Touya replied exasperatedly. -.-
~*~
Back downstairs…
Rika was cautiously petting Big Kero, and a smile was now on her face. "His fur is soft."
"Ah..the attention!" Kero exclaimed. "This is how I deserve to be treated, after all."
"Kero-chan likes to be the center of attention," Sakura said as Rika continued petting him and scratching his ears. "Naoko-chan?" Sakura grabbed Naoko's hand and pulled her over. "I thought you'd like it, Naoko-chan. It's like your stories!"
"Hai…is HE the king of winged animals?" Rika asked curiously.
"Well…no. He's just the seal beast of the book. But that's a good thing too, Kero-chan!" Sakura quickly added as she saw Kero's expression.
Naoko was petting Kero now as well, murmuring "Wow…" every once in a while.
"Ne, you said he eats sweets?"
"Hai. Sometimes TOO MANY sweets! Kero-chan is going to get FAT someday!"
"I will not!" Kero protested.
"You promise you won't tell anyone about this, Rika-chan? Naoko-chan?"
"Hai, I promise!"
Sakura smiled. "There's more…" she said as she reached down her shirt and pulled out the little shrunken star key, dangling from its chain.
"A necklace?" Rika asked.
~*~Upstairs…~*~
"My other self is wondering if it's a good idea that she shows them…"
"I'm sure it isn't. But it's Sakura, so 'Zettai daijoubu dai yo.'"
~*~Back to Sakura & Co.~*~
"That's not the magic part…ah…I've never shown anyone except Tomoyo-chan and Syaoran-kun this stuff…I'll show you what it does. Hoshi no chikara o himeshi 'kagi' yo!" The little key floated in an orb of light, and the circle appeared under her feet. "Shin no sugata o ware no mae ni shimese." The key started to spin a bit…"Keiyaku no moto Sakura ga meijiru. RELEASE!" There was a blast of energy and light from the tiny orb as the key grew and lengthened in a swirl of magic energy. Sakura grabbed the staff and the circle faded away. She turned around, looking for Rika and Naoko's reactions.
"I guess she is a magical girl with a cute pet. I need pudding," Naoko said.
Sakura fell down onto the floor anime style.
"…Is it special effects?"
"Mistress," a sudden voice came from the stairway. It was Yue, standing at the foot of the stairs.
"It's real magic…" Sakura turned around and jumped. "Y-yue-san!"
Yue loomed about Yueishly as he stared at the other girls.
"I couldn't stop him," Touya said.
"Hoeee…"
"Yue, they're very nice! They patted me!" Kero said loudly.
"What…are you doing?" Yue asked with a strange expression on his face. -.- "Hmph."
"PRETTY!" Naoko exclaimed. (*)-(*)
"A-anou…they…they…saw the book…"
"…Who's she?" Rika asked.
"I accidentally left it downhereand…anditdroppedopenandallthecardsspilledoutand-" Sakura blinked. "She? Yue-san is a boy-well…not really…anou…" Sakura hung her head, unsure of how to explain it.
"A boy?…Not a boy?" Rika suggested.
"Yue-san isn't any gender."
Naoko had shuffled over to Yue and looked up at him. "Beautiful wings…"
"I suppose as the Mistress, it is your choice, but-" Yue blinked and looked down at Naoko. "…Ahm, thank you."
"Woow…you're really handsome…and stuff…" Naoko continued, with Sakura sweatdropping. (Naoko's got a thing for men with wings!)
"Yue-san, are you mad at me?" Sakura asked, clutching the rod to her chest.
Yue sighed. "You are the mistress, and I know you would not reveal us to untrustworthy people…"
Naoko started tugging at Yue's wings. "They're real, I imagine?"
Yue nodded and unfolded his wings.
Sakura rapidly shook her head. "Naoko-chan and Rika-chan both promised not to-"
Rika was staring at Yue. "…That ISN'T a girl?"
"Iie, Rika-chan." Sakura replied, taking this chance to pick up the cards. "Anou…Rika-chan, Naoko-chan…you…uh…you were each involved with a card at one point…"
"That's nice…" Naoko said. (#)-(#)
Sakura nodded and decided to go on, being very timid but figuring everything needed to be said. "Anou…Rika-chan…remember your sword broach?"
"…The one I was going to give to Te-" Rika blushed. "Someone?"
"Anou…" Sakura went through the book and pulled out the Sword, holding it up for her to see.
"No wonder it disappeared."
"And…Naoko-chan…your story book…" Sakura held up Create.
"Hai hai." ($)-($)
Sakura glanced over to Yue. "…Can I show them, Yue-san?"
"Go right ahead, Mistress. It is your decision," Yue simply said, still looming Yueishly.
"…But if you think I shouldn't…" Sakura started.
"You can do as you please. I trust your judgement."
"What kind of fabric is this?" Naoko asked, tugging at Yue's robe.
"…It's a magical material created by Clow."
Sakura cleared her throat. ^^; "Maybe when Naoko-chan is done…"
"Sou ka…Clow-san was your dad?" Naoko continued.
"…He created us and the cards."
"Sou! That's cool!" Naoko looked at Sakura. "…What?"
Sakura held up the sword. "Wanna see what these…do?"
"Okay!"
"Hai…"
"Sword!" Sakura tossed the card up, and used her wand on it. Sparkles traveled down the wand, and it became a pretty pink fencing sword.
"Wow."
"…You're a duelist too, Sakura-chan?" asked Rika.
"Iie." Sakura shook the sword, and it wand-ified.
"…Well…this is…my…big secret," Sakura said.
"…Hoooooontou? I really did think they were playing cards. At first." Rika said, laughing.
"That's cool! You should have told us sooner though! We're your friends…" Naoko chimed in.
"Hai! We'll never tell, Sakura-chan."
Sakura sighed. "Thank goodness…" She blinked at Rika. "You…really DID think they were playing cards?"
"Very fancy ones."
Yue "Yukitofied" spontaneously…and Yukito appeared, confused. "Oh, hello, Naoko-chan, Rika-chan!…What am I doing here?…Oh! I bet Yue-san wanted to say something."
"You were just a really pretty guy!" Naoko said excitedly.
"Ahh…Yue-san forgot to ask permission again?" Sakura shook her head.
"I wish he'd remember to do that…Ah, arigatou. But that was Yue-san, not me."
Sakura sighed and shrunk the key again. "Kero-chan, can you go little again, please?"
Yukito smiled and waved at Kero. "Wow, is that you? I don't think I've seen you go big before."
"Hoeee…" Sakura sighed. "What is Syaoran-kun going to say if he finds out I tooold…And Eriol-kun…hoeee…"
"We won't say anything," Naoko said reassuringly.
"I'm sure they'll understand," Yukito added.
"I hope so…" Sakura put the key back around her neck. "Anyone still…want hot cocoa?" she asked, sweatdropping. She had finally completely picked up the cards, and were all safe inside the book. She hooked the latch, and looked expectantly at the others.
"I'd love some," Yukito said with a smile. "I'm sure To-ya would too."
"H-hai!" Sakura trotted off to the kitchen to make hot cocoa…when a crash was heard, followed by a loud "oops"…
~*~ End of Scene Seven ~*~