Summary: April 1st is fast approaching. What's April 1st? Why, it's Sakura's birthday, of course. So Li takes Madison with him to shop for a gift, all the while thinking back to another memory seven years ago.
Key:
"~* Thoughts *~" = Thoughts
"[NAME:]" = Character voiceover
Episode 14- Recalling the Flower Card (Oh so many flowers)
"We haven't tried this place, Li."
Li had been dragged practically everywhere in the mall, but so far he's been unable to find a birthday present for Sakura. That's when Madison found a new shop. It was a music box shop. Li hadn't thought of that before. It looked like a nice shop, so he let Madison lead him through it. Then she stopped at a particular music box.
"OH…this one is SO cute!" Madison squealed. "She'll love this one, Li!"
Li was feeling a little uneasy by the music box's appearance. It was a little box with a woman on top of it. She had a pink flower skirt and long curly hair. That brought back memories for Li. Memories of a missed capture.
"Um…can we skip this one?"
Madison looked at Li curiously. "What's wrong with this one? I think Sakura will love…wait…I know what it is."
She was quick, Li had to admit that. "You do?"
She got on her tiptoes and whispered something to Li. "You think this looks too much like the Flower Card, don't you?"
She really was quick, but Li denied it. "No…why would you think that?"
"Because you didn't let a flower come near you for weeks after that happened. You were mad because you wanted to capture it. It's ok, though. I remember that card, too."
"You do?"
Madison sighed. "I haven't told you this story, have I?"
"No…is there something I don't know?" Li asked.
Madison looked at the music box adoringly. "Sakura and I have been best of friends since the very beginning. Unfortunately…I can't say the same thing about Sakura's dad…and my mom. I remember that day all right…"
Flashback: Reedington Elementary (Field Day)
P.O.V.: Madison Taylor
It was a special day at Reedington Elementary. It was Field Day and that meant all the students would be there with their families. There was one thing, though. Madison's mom was running late and so was Sakura's dad. But Madison had something to do at that moment. She had an announcement to make.
But as she reached for the microphone, she was just in time to watch Sakura win the foot race. Madison blushed.
~* That's my Sakura. So fast. *~
Madison cleared her throat. "All cheerleaders up to the podium for your performance. All cheerleaders come up to the podium, it's time for your performance." Madison smiled when she thought of what was coming.
~* Time for you to show everybody how good you really are, Sakura. *~
By the time, Madison got back down, she noticed her mother still hadn't arrived. But she did notice the cheerleaders ready to go, so Madison got her video camera out. The cheerleaders began their new routine to the cheers and applause of the families. But then they tossed their batons in the air. Everyone caught their batons except for…
**BONK**
…Sakura. Her baton nailed her right on the head.
~* Oh, Sakura! That was supposed to be your moment to shine! I'm almost sorry I got that embarrassing moment on tape. Heh heh……Almost. *~
Madison turned her camera off after the cheerleaders finished. It was then time to run the obstacle course.
~----------~
[Li: Wait a minute! I remember THIS! I should've won that race!]
[Madison: That's not what Sakura tells me. She told me she had everything under control.]
[Li: Yeah, right! Is that what she told you? Let me give you MY side of the story…]
Flashback: The obstacle course (home stretch)
P.O.V.: Li Shoran
The hardest part of the obstacle course had been cleared. All that remained was the home stretch. Li was all alone…except for one person. Sakura was running neck-and-neck with him.
~* Oh, look! It's the wannabe Cardcaptor! She thinks she can beat me? I'll show her! *~
Li picked up speed, but so did Sakura. They were both heading for the finish line. Nothing could stop Li at that moment, except for one thing.
"Go, Sakura!"
Li looked into the crowd to see…
~* Julian? OW! NO! *~
At the sight of Julian, Li stumbled over himself and tripped. He fell to the ground and could only watch as Sakura crossed the finish line. Li shook his head. He had this race won…and lost it at the end.
~----------~
[Madison: Yeah, yeah. Just make excuses, Li.]
[Li: I am not. I'm just saying I would've won, that's all. But I'm getting off the subject. What were you saying?]
[Madison: Oh…that's right. Anyway, my mom still hadn't shown up. Sakura's dad, on the other hand…]
Flashback: Reedington Elementary (Lunchtime)
P.O.V.: Madison Taylor
A few minutes passed since Li left. Somehow, Madison sensed he was reluctant to even sit with them in the first place. She couldn't understand why he was in such a hurry to leave, but she had an idea and his initials were Tori. Everyone just kept on eating, especially Julian, until someone finally showed up.
"Sorry I'm late. I had some business, but I'm here now."
Sakura beamed. "Dad! I didn't think you'd be here!"
Aiden Avalon smiled back. "I wouldn't miss Field Day, Sakura. I know how much you look forward to it. Oh, it looks like I missed lunch. Tell you what, I'll treat you all to dessert. Let's just toss this trash away. Tori? Julian?"
Tori and Julian took the hint. The three men picked up the trash and walked out, leaving Sakura and Madison…and one more person who just showed up.
"Sorry I'm late. I had something urgent to attend to, but I'm here now."
Madison beamed. "Mom! You made it!"
Madison ran up to her mother and Sonomi Taylor gave her daughter a hug. "I wouldn't miss Field Day, Madison. I know how much you…look…YOU!"
Madison turned her head to see that Sakura's father had come back. And he and Madison's mom began to stare each other down.
"Hello, Sonomi," Aiden greeted dryly.
"Aiden," Sonomi snarled.
The two exchanged cold glares. Even when they sat near their children, they continued glaring at each other.
~----------~
[Madison: Yeah…they didn't like each other too much. But it didn't really show until the parent race. And that's when all the weirdness started…]
Flashback: The Parent Race
P.O.V.: Madison Taylor
Madison and Sakura were both getting worried. Things between their two guardians were getting heated. Madison only wished she knew why they seemed to hate each other so much. Then she saw them coming. Sakura's dad had the lead and her mother was coming right behind him.
"You won't win this race, Aiden!"
"Sorry, Sonomi! You're so far back, that I can't hear a word you're saying!"
Madison and Sakura both cringed when they saw the bitterness exchanged. Their two parents could not get along at all.
~* Why do they have to be like that towards each other. I only wish something could bring them together. Something like…a flower or something. *~
As if on cue, flowers began to rain onto the field. At first, Madison thought it was an effect created by some of the Field Day coordinators. But then, things got out of control.
~* Hmm…somebody should tell the coordinators to stop overdoing it. Wait a minute! There aren't supposed to be flowers raining like this! What if…? *~
Madison knew this couldn't be normal. There were so many flowers that movement was disabled.
"Sakura…do you think it's a Clow Card?"
Sakura nodded. "I do sense something. I can't tell where it's coming from, though. We should go look for it. Let's go!"
Sakura led Madison over behind a bush. Madison took out her camera, while Sakura took out her key.
"Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite. Release!" Sakura took the wand and immediately pulled out a card. "Fly!"
Sakura got on Fly, but left some room. She wanted Madison to go along, too. Madison felt excited. She couldn't wait to fly with Sakura.
~----------~
[Madison: We looked everywhere for that card, not having any idea what to even look for. Then we called Kero and he told us it was the Flower Card. Then we finally found it on the school's roof.]
[Li: Yeah…then I remember I missed this one…since I was busy helping Zachary.]
[Madison: Yeah, well you sure missed out on something…]
Flashback: Reedington Elementary Rooftop
P.O.V.: Madison Taylor
Madison and Sakura looked at their target. It was a pink girl in a dress, who was serenely tossing flowers down on the ground. Sakura wouldn't take this many flowers, though. She was all business.
"All right! Flower Card! Return…HEY!!"
The Flower Card grabbed Sakura's arms and started…dancing with her. It moved Sakura around in a waltz and even began to twirl her around. Madison really tried to hold in her laughter. But she couldn't resist capturing this moment. First, she took a snapshot.
"MADISON!! DON'T take a picture of that!! This is embarrassing!!"
Madison could hardly hear Sakura, though, in her eagerness. She pulled out her video camera and started taping the dance Sakura and the Flower Card were having. Sakura sweatdropped through the entire dance, until she had finally had enough. She pulled her arms forcefully away from the Flower Card's grip. She stared menacingly at the Flower Card, but she put up no fight.
Madison came up with a conclusion. "Maybe…she just wants to play. She wants to get in on the festivities."
Sakura thought about that. "Maybe, but it's still a Clow Card." She held up her wand. "Flower Card! Return to your power confined! Flower!"
Madison taped the capture, but suddenly stopped at the commotion below. Madison and Sakura looked over the roof to see that the parent race had just ended. And Sakura's dad and Madison's mom were still arguing.
"Why can't they just get along?" Sakura moaned.
"I wish they could," Madison added. "I don't like it when they fight."
Looking depressed, Madison and Sakura made their way off the rooftop.
The story had just ended. Li had the bag with the music box for Sakura's birthday, while Madison told the end of the story. But as they walked home, Li had one question lingering on his mind.
"Madison? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Li. What is it?"
"Did you and Sakura ever find out why your mom and her dad don't like each other?"
Madison sighed contentedly. "Well…I found out eventually. It turns out that my mom and Sakura's late mother were both best of friends…like me and Sakura. In fact, they were a lot like me and Sakura. They would be inseparable, while my mom would occasionally take pictures of Sakura's mom. Then one day…Sakura's mom fell in love with Sakura's dad. And when they got married, my mom felt like Sakura's mom was spending more time with Sakura's dad and their friendship was drifting apart.
"When Sakura's mom died, my mom blamed Sakura's dad. She also blamed Sakura's dad for taking away her best friend. Our two moms were the best of friends, doing everything together, until that one day when a man…came……between them…"
Madison stopped in her tracks. Li stopped, too, and looked into Madison's eyes. Those eyes suddenly became very…sad…as if a realization had just been made.
"Madison?"
Madison spoke lowly, under her breath. "The best of friends…until the day a man came between them…"
Li suddenly started to make a realization himself. And it was scaring him.
"Madison…you don't think…the hatred your mom and Sakura's dad have for each other…that…won't happen………to us……will it?"
Madison looked at Li with uncertainty. "I…I…I…don't…know."
Li didn't like this. He didn't like what was coming. He had to nip this in the bud.
"Madison…you know that I love Sakura. But…I can never replace you. You're her best friend…"
Madison cut him off…and smiled. "Li…we're friends. Unlike my mom and Sakura's dad, we share a friendship of our own. I mean, I won't lie to you. I thought about it before and I might have been a little bitter. Suddenly, a lot of what I used to do for Sakura was done by you. I was hurt at first.
"But when I think of Sakura's dad and my mom, I think of one thing we have and they don't. I actually WANTED you and Sakura to get together. I don't feel threatened by you, Li. Sakura and I share a very special bond that can never be broken. Likewise, you and Sakura share a different kind of bond just like that. I just know Sakura and I will be best friends forever. Even if you two ever decide to get married, our friendship can never be broken. So…no…we'll never end up like Sakura's dad and my mom. Because we're friends, too, Li."
Li breathed a sigh of relief. "That…makes me feel a lot better."
Madison giggled and tousled Li's hair. "Come on, it's getting late. Let's go home."
"Ok," Li grinned. "So do you still have that picture of Sakura dancing with the Flower Card?"
"Oh, yeah," Madison giggled. "I'll show it to you next time Sakura brings her scrapbook. You know, I'll bet she forgot all about it. Isn't it a good thing she has a friend like me to remind her?"
"Yeah," Li smiled. "Very lucky."
Li and Madison walked home that day, thinking about those memories of days gone by. Li realized something that day. No matter what happened, Sakura would always have two very special people in her life and those two people would always be friends.
Any comments? I just thought I'd tease a fight between Li and Madison to make sure people were paying attention. So tell me what you think! Like it? Hate it? Tell me, because I want your feedback! And you can give it to me by reviewing below!
