Summary: Last time, Sakura and Kero recalled the day they had their biggest fight and the day Kero ran away. Today we look at the rest of that moment, along with the capture of a Clow Card along the way.


Key:

"~* Thoughts *~" = Thoughts

"[NAME:]" = Character voiceover


Episode 21- Recalling the Float Card and a Frantic Search


Finally, everyone was back inside the house. Sakura had ice on her arm, Li had ice on his leg, and Meilin had ice on her head. Madison seemingly came out unscathed, but her camera was damaged.

The only other one left unharmed was Kero. "So would this be a good time to tell the rest of the story?"

Sakura and Li groaned painfully. Meilin just rubbed her head.

"Then I'll keep going," Madison offered as she checked her camera. "I have a pretty good idea what happens next. The next day passed and I had no idea what happened the night before, until…"


Flashback: Madison's house

P.O.V.: Madison Taylor

The doorbell rang again. Madison had the distinct idea that the servants had their day off. So as the doorbell kept ringing, Madison walked downstairs. She hurried to see who could be there this early in the morning. Then she found…

"Sakura?"

Sakura stood at Madison's doorstep. There were tears coming down her cheeks and there was a stack of flyers in her hands.

"Sakura, what's wrong?"

"He's gone, Madison!" Sakura sobbed. "Kero's run away from home! I can't find him anywhere! Oh…KERO! I'm so SORRY!"

Sakura fell onto Madison's shoulder and began crying her eyes out. Madison didn't know what to think.

~* Kero actually ran away? Something must've happened last night. Something big. Kero wouldn't just run away, unless there's something I don't know about. *~

"Sakura, don't cry," Madison said comfortingly. "Come in and tell me all about it."

Sakura sniffled. "I was just terrible last night, Madison. Kero tried to set up a room in my desk drawer and I yelled at him. I threw everything he had out and I crushed all his things. I was just awful! I didn't mean to hurt him. I was really mad, I wasn't thinking! I was so mean to him and he ran away! I want him back, Madison! I MISS HIM! OH, KERO!!"

~* She already misses him? She must really love him. It's only been a few hours since he ran away. It's barely 11:00 AM. She's just a mess right now. She needs my help. *~

"Sakura, I'll help you find him," Madison nodded. "Let's go out and hang up these flyers and then we'll figure out what to do."

Sakura sadly made her way to the door, dropping one of the flyers. Madison picked the flyer up and read it. There was Kero's picture in front, offering a big reward to whoever found him. Sakura was obviously desperate to find him.

~* We'll find him. We just have to. How can we go on without him? *~

~----------~

[Madison: Sakura was just so emotional that morning. I'd never seen her like that.]

[Kero: And I missed Sakura, too. But there was something about that little girl I met that just wouldn't let me leave her. I knew she needed a companion…]


Flashback: House of ???

P.O.V.: Kero

Kero was finally cleaned up. The little girl had done a nice job of getting the dirt of the little guardian beast. But who was she? She was looking out her living room window, as her mom had walked out just now.

"There she goes again, Chau," the girl, Akane, said. Chau was a name she called Kero, after he stumbled over himself during his introduction. "I'm all alone again."

"Again? Alone?" Kero asked. "You're all alone, Akane? What about your daddy? Isn't he home?"

Akane hung her head down. "My daddy…died a long time ago. Now my mommy has to work everyday and leave me home…alone." She then spied the kitchen. "I'll get you something to eat, Chau. Just wait here."

As Akane walked into the kitchen, Kero couldn't help but feel sorry for her. He thought about everything she had to have gone through.

~* Not having a father must be rough. I know Sakura's mom died when she was only three, but not everyone's as strong as she is. Sakura…Sakura…I'm starting to miss her. I didn't think I would. I haven't gotten THAT attached to her, have I? ……Maybe I have. I wish I could tell her I was ok. If only there was a phone, or…hmm…maybe THAT will work… *~

Kero saw a fax machine. He knew Sakura's father had one, so he flew straight to it. He started writing his message:


Dear Sakura,

Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I'm sorry I ran away. I really miss you. I was picked up by a little girl and she took me to her house. I want to go back home, but this little girl has no father and her mother's working. I don't want to leave her by herself. I hope you understand. I can't leave just yet, but I CAN give you the address. Come and pick me up…and I hope we can put last night behind us.

Love,

Kero


After Kero pressed 'SEND', Akane came back in with some food for him. Kero contentedly sat down to eat, while hoping to help the loneliness pass by quicker.

"So, Akane, tell me about your daddy."

~----------~

[Kero: I spent that day learning about Akane, her life, and her family. It was a lot different than I imagined. I hoped to let the sad little girl pour her heart out to a little guardian beast who was willing to listen.]

[Sakura: Meanwhile, I was still broken up over Kero running away. Madison was an angel for helping me post up flyers all over town, but I started to think it was no use. Then I got home…]


Flashback: Sakura's House

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

Sakura sadly stepped into her house. The house was empty, as usual, with her father away on business and Tori starting yet another new job. She had looked everywhere. There was no sign of Kero anywhere and she left flyers on every single telephone pole. Sakura plopped down on the couch and felt like crying again.

Madison checked Sakura's answering machine. "Sakura, I'm sure Kero will come back. He can't have gone too far."

"What if he never comes back, Madison?" Sakura sobbed. "I'll never forgive myself!"

Madison hung her head down, but then found something. "Sakura? Is that your fax machine?"

"It's my dad's."

"There's a message."

Sakura got up and walked over to the fax machine. The fax was probably for her dad, or even from her dad. But Sakura gasped when she saw that the fax was from Kero.

Sakura reached out for the fax and started reading. It said Kero was picked up by a lonely little girl. He said he wanted to come home, but didn't want to leave the girl by herself. He wanted Sakura to pick him up.

"There's the address," Madison pointed out.

Sakura rushed out the door. She nearly left Madison behind, but she didn't care at that moment. She wanted Kero back. She longed to see her friend again.

~----------~

[Kero: So while Sakura rushed out the door to come get me, I was still talking to Akane about what she's been going through. Of course, somewhere in the middle of that talk, a Clow Card crept in…]


Flashback: Akane's House

P.O.V.: Kero

Kero nodded. "So you really miss your daddy, don't you?"

Akane sighed. "I do, Chau. I can't ever see my mommy anymore because she's always working and my daddy's up in heaven. I really wish I can see him."

As she said that, Akane began to float. Everything else in the room began to float as well. Disaster followed as Akane started floating out the window.

~* Even wishes don't cause that kind of effect. This is a Clow Card! I have to do something! *~

Kero flew out the window and went after Akane. "Akane! You can't keep floating like this! Can you come down?!"

"I can't, Chau!" Akane shouted. "I can't take the wish back!"

Akane kept floating higher. Kero desperately tried to keep up, but then he started laboring. Kero looked down to see that the ground was no longer visible. He couldn't go any higher. As much as he tried, Kero could go no further and he began to fall down to Earth.

~* Oh, great! I didn't think it would end like this! I always thought I'd go down to something like the Fiery Card! Oh, well! This is it! *~

Kero closed his eyes and braced himself for the huge splat. Then he suddenly felt a warm, friendly pair of hands catch him. Kero opened his eyes to see that Sakura, riding on Fly with Madison, had caught him. Immediately, Sakura gripped Kero in a huge hug.

"S-Sakura! I'm glad to see you, too, but we got trouble!"

Sakura looked up. "What is that, Kero?"

"If she's floating, then it's the Float Card," he answered. "You've got to seal it, Sakura!"

Sakura looked around everywhere for Float, and finally she found it. It was a balloon floating on the ground. Sakura quickly landed and approached it.

"Float Card! Return to your power confined! Float Card!"

Kero looked up, fearing what would happen when Float was sealed. Sure enough, Akane started to fall. Kero rushed to the sky to try and catch her, but she was too heavy.

~* What a lousy time to be a stuffed animal! I wish I had my old body! *~

Then he heard Sakura. "Wood Card! Release!"

Kero looked down to see a tree growing right in their path. Akane and Kero landed gently on the tree, much to his relief. Kero then looked down at Sakura. She had a tear in her eye. She looked overjoyed.

~* Did she miss me that much? *~

~----------~

[Kero: Akane ended up giving me back to Sakura. She said something about her mom not letting her have pets around the house. I didn't want to leave her alone, but Akane said she was moving away. Said her mom got a new job and would be able to spend a lot more time with her.]

[Sakura: I was just so happy to have Kero back. Of course, I felt so sorry about the night before, I did something to make up for it…]


Flashback: Sakura's House

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

Sakura walked back into her room. She loosened a hand to turn on the light switch, but then brought it right back to her other arm and resumed the long embrace.

"Sakura?" Kero muttered. "I may be a stuffed animal, but I DO need my oxygen. Can you let go?"

Sakura giggled sheepishly and put Kero gently on her bed. He was about to fly over to his desk, but Sakura signaled him not to. She had something to say.

"I'm really sorry for being so mean to you, Kero. I know you probably shouldn't forgive me. But if it helps…I wanted to do something to make it up to you. So…"

Sakura walked over and opened her desk drawer. Kero flew over to see that Sakura had made a new room for him, complete with everything from her doll houses. It looked like a whole new home.

Kero looked up. "You did this…for me?"

Sakura nodded. "I hope it makes up for me being such a monster."

Kero liked this new room. It was sure to be a lot more comfortable than his old space. The first thing he wanted to do was test out the new bed. He jumped on the bed, but it instantly cracked.

"Hey! What's with the shoddy merchandise?"

Sakura giggled. "You've gained weight."

Kero looked down on his broken bed. This was definitely something he'd have to get used to.


"The room's still intact," Kero continued. "…more or less. But I always made sure to treasure what remained of it. And Sakura and I never fought again after that…at least not too bad."

"That's so touching," Madison squealed.

"Yeah, I don't like fighting with Sakura," Kero admitted. "She's been there since the very beginning and she's always cared about me. So it's not worth it to fight with her." Then he glared at Li. "YOU on the other hand, I've learned to despise!"

Li scowled. "I love you, too, stuffed animal. If my leg didn't hurt so much…"

Sakura blocked out everything she was hearing. Her arm hurt too much. Plus, she had that picture on her mind. The one of Sakura emotionally hanging flyers all over town. She never liked fighting with Kero and that's why they hardly ever got into it. They always remained friends. Sakura really cared about Kero.

She always did. It showed in that picture on her lap.


Any comments? Personally, I thought this was one of my more lackluster chapters, but that's just my opinion. Maybe you think different, but I wouldn't know unless you tell me what you think. And you can do that by mailing me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and by reviewing below. Don't forget!