Part Five: Side By Side


"Come on Sakura," Kero urged. "Try it again."

"But Kero...," Sakura whined. "I've tried like 12 times aleady! I'm tired!"

"You're gonna do this sooner or later so you might as well do it now," he told her. He flew to her desk where Sakura was. "Now try it again."

Sakura let out a deep sigh. She straightened up and held the Key in her hand. She closed her eyes and concentrated on changing it. She focused all her power and engery into transforming the Key. She could feel the power flowing towards the Key.

Tomoyo gasped in awe as Sakura's aura became visable. The calm, pink glow grew as Sakura's power increased.

Kero nodded in satisfaction. "That's it," he whispered softly. "Keep going." Suddenly the Key floated off her hands and into the air in front of her face. A bright light suddenly emitted from it.

Sakura let out a slight gasp as she caugth sight of what she had created. It was beautiful. She used her own power to create her very own Wand. And she had never felt so happy.

"Great job, Sakura!" Kero yelled, flying towards her. "I knew you could do it!"

"I'm so proud of you, Sakura!" Tomoyo said, patting her best friend on the back. "I'm so glad I brought my camcorder!"

"Wow...," Sakura sighed. Her emerald eyes sparkled in pride as the Wand lowered itself unto her hands. "I did this... all by myself."


"How do I look?" Syaoran asked nervously. Ayame turned to him and let out a sliht giggle. "What?" Syaoran asked, examining his attire.

"Your shirt's backwards," Ayame said, holding back her laughter. Syaoran looked down at his shirt and noticed the tag. He let out a groan.

"Calm down, Syaoran," Ayame said, combing her hair. "It's only a picnic."

"It's not just a picnic," Syaoran corrected as he puthis shirt on the right way. "It's a picnic with Sakura."

Ayame shook her head. "Just try and relax. It's not like you're going to be alone with her. Tomoyo and I'll be there."

"Yeah," Syaoran said with a sigh. "Yeah, you're right."

"Of course I am," Ayame said with a smile. "Hurry up now, they should be here any moment." Syaoran gave a slight nod. Let me live through this picnic, he prayed in his mind.


"You know I just noticed something," Tomoyo said while she, Sakura, and Kero were walking to Syaoran's apartment. She was looking at the clips of captures she had videotaped. "You notice how all of the kaijuus look alike?"

"What?" Kero asked, almost disbelieving. He flew to Tomoyo, perching himself on her shoulder as she showed him the clips.

"Hey," Sakura said as she glanced at it. "They do look alike."

Kero crossed his arms and looked sternly at the video clip. Tomoyo was right. They all had the same face. Something about that face bothered Kero. He knew this face...

"What's wrong Kero?" Sakura asked, noticing the concern on Kero's face.

Kero snapped out of his deep concentration and shook it off. "Nothing," he lied. He didn't want her to worry over it. "Are we there yet?" he asked, feeling his stomach growl.

Sakura looked at the slip of paper Ayame had written on. "We should be getting to it soon," she said, reading off of the paper.


Syaoran nervously waited for Sakura and Tomoyo to arrive. He sat on his chair with a scared look on his face as he continued to stare at the door. Ayame looked up from the magazine she had been reading and almost cracked up. Syaoran was tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair and his leg kept bouncing up and down.

"Syaoran," Ayame said, putting the magazine away. "Relax," she said for the fifteenth time.

"I am relaxed!" Syaoran shouted, his leg bouncing rapidly now.

"You're sweating!" Ayame souted back.

"It's a hot day," Syaoran defended.

"It's autumn," Ayame shot back. That got him. "Syaoran-" Ayame started but got interrupted by the knock on the door.

Syaoran jumped up at the sound. His teeth were chattering and he was sweating like a fountain. Ayame shook her head and opened the door. "Ohayou!" Greetings were passed and hugs were given while Kero complained about being hungry.

"Ohayou Syaoran," Sakura said nervously.

Syaoran nodded and gave a slight wave. "O-Ohayou..."

Sakura smiled. Syaoran smiled back. And a moment of awkward silence began.

Kero looked at Sakura. Then at Syaoran. Then back at Sakura. And back to Syaoran. Something's up, Kero thought suspiciously. He turned to Tomoyo and Ayame, looking for an answer. Both of them had stars in their eyes. They were looking at Sakura and Syaoran in awe. Kero looked at the two with a raised brow. "Oookay..." He shrugged. He flew over to Sakura, waving his little paw in front of her face.

Sakura looked at Kero in surprise. "What's wrong Kero-chan?"

Kero fell like a ton of bricks. "Nothing!" he shouted, giving up.

Ayame looked at her watch. "We should probably get going," she said, taking the picnic basket. Kero looked as if he were about to cry.

"I think Kero's been staying up too late with those video games," Sakura whispered to Tomoyo. Tomoyo gave a slight giggle.


"It's so beautiful!" Ayame said in awe. The lovely cherry blossoms shined a perfect shade of pink. They were like magic to Ayame. "I've never seen such beautiful sakura blossoms!"

Tomoyo nodded. "They are beautiful," she turned to Syaoran. "Don't you think?"

Syaoran nodded slowly. He gazed at Sakura with a dreamy look. "Yeah..." He blushed slihtly.

Tomoyo and Ayame saw this, and giggled. A slight breeze blew, causing the blossoms to fall gently. "Perfect day for a picnic," Sakura said, feeling the wind blow her hair. "It's not too hot, and not too cold." She inhaled deeply. "Perfect."

Ayame nodded. The day was just perfect. Nothing could go wrong.



Sakura let out a peaceful sigh as she gazed up at the clear sky. Leaning against her favorite sakura tree, she slowly closed her eyes and let the brilliant sun gently caress her face. She needed this day. Her life became too hectic too fast. She needed a break. She was gonna relax if it was the last thing she did.


"Where's Sakura?" wondered Kero. "I wanna eat already!"

"Stop whining Kero," Tomoyo said, rolling her eyes. "Syaoran? Can you go get her while Ayame and I set things up?" Tomoyo held back a sly grin.

"M-Me?" Syaoran said, dropping the plates he held. Tomoyo nodded and gave an innocent smile. Ayame held back a giggle.

"Get on with it kid!" Kero bellowed. "My stomach can't wait much longer!"

Syaoran swallowed hard. He nodded. Sure, he thought. Peice of cake. All he had to do was call her. That's it. It's a no brainer. But why did he have difficulty moving?

Ayame tilted her head. "Go on," she urged. She even gave him a little push. Once he left, she let out a sigh. "It's all so sweet," she said.

"What is?" Kero asked, drooling over the meal Ayame had prepared.

Ignoring Kero's question, Ayame bent down to pick up the plates Syaoran had dropped. "Thank goodness they're plastic."


Syaoran barely stood. She looked like an angel. Sitting there, a flower in her hand, smiling softly. He was breathing hard. And sweating like a pig. Why is this happening? he asked himself. He shook his head, trying to snap himself out of it. He looked at her again. That feeling was back again. It was a familiar feeling... He held his head in his hands. What's wrong with me?! he shouted in his mind. What is this feeling? He gazed up at her again.

Suddenly he saw something. He squinted for a better look. Whatever it was, it was hiding behind the bushes. It was... some sort of animal. It moved. Syaoran could see it's whole body now. That's when something caught his eye. A Sakura Card. His eyes widened. The Thunder. It moved again. This time faster. It was moving towards something...

Suddenly it hit him. "Sakura!" he yelled.

Sakura snapped her head towards Syaoran. She looked at him in wonder. "Syaoran?" she asked, unaware of the animal behind her.

"Run Sakura!" Syaoran shouted, motioning to look behind her.

Suddenly she heard a low growl. Her eyes widened with fear. She didn't move. She couldn't. Slowly, she turned her head to face the animal. She swallowed hard. Evil was written all over it. "N-Nice kaijuu," she said, her voice quivering.

Syaoran darted towards the picnic area, retrieving his sword. He never went anywhere without it anymore. "Force!" he shouted, grabbing an ofuda from his pocket. know my plight!

Release the Light,
Lightning!!"

The kaijuu looked up just in time for it to dodge the attack. It was fast. So fast Syaoran almost didn't see The Dash inside it. Both The Dash and The Thunder, Syaoran thought. This isn't gonna' be easy, he admitted.

Sakura bolted. She ran to Syaoran's side, taking out her Key. She didn't need to recite an incantation anymore. This Key didn't need it. Almost immediately the Key had transformed. Syaoran was amazed.

"Behind you!" Ayame shouted. Beside her was Tomoyo and Kero.

Syaoran turned to see the kaijuu heading towards them. A menacing grin on it's face. "Sakura, look out!" Syaoran shouted, stepping in front of her right before the kaijuu released a bolt of lightning. "Ahhhh!!!!!!!" Syaoran shouted, falling to the ground. The kaijuu grinned.

"Syaoran!" Sakura knelt down beside him, picking up his head. Tears leaked from her eyes and unto Syaoran's face. He barely moved.

She turned to the others. Ayame was crying on Tomoyo's shoulder. Sakura turned to the kaijuu with fire in her eyes. Kero could've sworn he heard her growl. Sakura stood up, placing her Wand between her and the kaijuu. She gripped it tightly. "Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Sakura yelled, running towards the kaijuu on full force. The kaijuu did the same.

It all happened in a split second. Suddenly they were on the opposite sides from which they started from. Sakura was breathing hard. She stood there, catching her breath. She held up her hand, revealing The Thunder and Dash.

The glass beast let out a satisfied smile. Then shattered.

Kero gawked at Sakura in shock. She was definitely getting stronger! A smile slowly appeard on his yellow face. "Whoooohoooo!!!!! Way to go champ!" he shouted, flying to her side.

Sakura smiled at Kero, who continued to pat her on her pat. Tomoyo ran up to her, squealing. "And I got it all on tape!"

Sakura glanced over where Syaoran was. Ayame helped him up, and slowly, they made their way to Sakura. "Great job," Syaoran said softly, wincing in pain.

Sakura blushed madly. "Thanks," she said, pulling him in for a hug. She was so happy he was okay, she didn't care about what she did.

Syaoran was shocked. But after a few seconds, he hugged her back.

It was a beautiful sight. Ayame wiped a tear from her eye. She was so happy for Syaoran. "Sweet," she whispered.

Tomoyo recorded away. She too, felt so happy for them. She and Ayame just stood there, staring at the two in awe.

Kero looked at each of them with a cocked brow. He shook his head. "I'm surrounded by crazy people," he muttured, heading for the picnic basket.