Summary: This'll be a little shorter this time around, mostly because I see MUCHO potential in the next part. So I won't strain myself on this one.
Key:
"~* Thoughts *~" = Thoughts
"[NAME:]" = Character voiceover
Episode 23- Recalling the Glow Card and the Summer Festival
Sakura didn't know where she was going. She knew Li was leading her around, but she couldn't see. Li had her blindfolded since they walked out of Madison's house.
"Where are we?" Sakura giggled.
"SHH! Listen…"
Sakura kept an ear out and heard a buzzing. It was almost familiar. Then Li took the blindfold off. Sakura gasped when she looked up to see the sky full of fireflies. They lit up the sky around Madison's house and made for an absolutely breathtaking scene.
"It's…so beautiful," Sakura said breathlessly.
Li reached into his pocket. "A lot like this, isn't it?"
Sakura reached for the photo in Li's hand. It was one of the pictures from Sakura's scrapbook. It was a picture of Sakura holding a Clow Card and doing her trademark pose. But in the background were lovely lights around a big tree, which looked beautiful as they shone in the night.
"I remember this…" Sakura smiled. "It was seven years ago at the summer festival. And…you remembered, too." Then she paused. "Wait a minute, I never told you about this picture."
"I have ways of finding out," Li smirked.
Sakura nodded. "Madison."
"Yeah," Li agreed. "She told all about how much you loved this night. I wouldn't have noticed, though. I may have been a little busy."
"I'll bet. You were getting a little competitive with my brother."
Li sighed. "I just wanted to win that rabbit. Well…maybe there WAS a little ego involved…"
Flashback: Summer Carnival
P.O.V.: Li Shoran
Li watched as the people gathered around the ring toss game. He wondered what everyone was looking at, but he had other things on his mind. He couldn't believe he was around these people. He was walking around with Sakura, Madison, and…Sakura's brother! Maybe he was just doing it as a favor to Julian.
Madison looked up. "Hey, Sakura! That rabbit looks so cute! You should definitely have it!"
Sakura looked at her brother with puppy dog eyes. Her brother sighed. "Ok, squirt. I'll win you a rabbit. Just…don't look at me like that."
Sakura's brother walked over to the ring toss and tried his luck. He threw the rings, but missed the target each time. Li snickered.
But Tori heard that. "What're you laughing at? You think you can do any better?"
~* Is that a challenge I hear? *~
"I can," Li nodded. He walked over to the ring toss and tried his luck, too. Unfortunately, he also missed.
"You're a real pro, kid," Tori muttered sarcastically. "Now get out of my way. I'll show you how it's done."
Tori tried again, and in the meantime, Li could hear Sakura behind him.
"We'll…be right back. Good luck, guys."
Sakura was walking off with Julian. Madison was about to follow along, but she stopped. Leaving Sakura alone with Julian, Madison came back to stand beside Li.
"You think you can do this?" she asked.
"What kind of question is that?" Li sneered. "Of course I can do this."
"Good," Madison grinned. She warmed up her camera. "I can get your shining moment on tape."
~* What does she think this is: a documentary? Oh well. If she wants to tape me winning this rabbit, then who am I to stop her? She probably wants to get a winner on tape…for once. *~
Li shrugged as Tori missed again. He grabbed another set of rings. "Get this on tape."
He and Tori stood beside each other. They tried to stare each other down with looks that could kill. Madison snickered in the background. They both waited for just the right moment. Then they tossed their rings. The rings flew…and crashed into each other.
"Hey, that's not fair!" Tori growled. "Mine was on its way in!"
"In your dreams!" Li shot back. "Mine was going in until yours got in the way!"
Arguments like that popped up after every miss and Madison got every moment on film. Li finally decided to end this. He swore he'd make the next one. Then he tossed his ring at the same time as Tori again. But this time…they both hit their target.
"Double winners!"
Li and Tori sighed in relief as they were both handed the stuffed rabbit. Li grinned. He did it. He conquered the ring toss. He was finally victorious.
Tori shrugged with his one remaining ring. "Hmm…still have one ring left. Here you go, brat!" He conked Li on the head with the last ring and walked out.
"Hey!" Li groaned. "Come back here!"
Li wasn't about to let Tori go off alone, especially if he was looking for Julian. He was going, too. Besides, Li owed Tori a ring.
~----------~
[Sakura: Madison never showed me that tape. She must have it hidden somewhere.]
[Li: It must be in her VAST collection somewhere. So you know what I did with my time at the festival. Now how about you? I heard you found a Clow Card.]
[Sakura: Yeah…I did. The thing is that…this might have been the one and only time I was actually HAPPY to see a Clow Card. It just made my night with Julian so magical. I'll never forget it…]
Flashback: Near the Temple
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
This was the moment Sakura had waited so long for. She was finally alone with Julian. She couldn't have asked for a better atmosphere. The night was so majestic. Sakura couldn't believe how wonderful this opportunity was. She couldn't blow it.
~* Ok…I'm alone with my crush. There's no sign of Tori. There's no sign of Li. Madison's got everyone distracted…at least I HOPE she does. Oh, this is so perfect. Sakura, GET A GRIP! And for God's sake, SAY SOMETHING! *~
"Nice night, isn't it?"
~* That's it? That's all I can say?! Oh…why can't I say anything else? *~
"Hey, what's that?" Julian pointed out.
Sakura looked up on a tree to see beautiful green lights coming down from a tree. "Are they fireflies?"
Julian looked around. "There…are no rivers around anywhere. So it can't be fireflies. At least…I don't think so."
Sakura looked up at the falling lights. The way they glistened in the night was so beautiful and…even romantic. But then Sakura started to sense something.
~* It's…a Clow Card? Here? Oh…why now? I can't go after it with Julian here. Hmm…but maybe it can wait. After all…this looks like one of the more harmless Clow Cards. It's actually making things…better. *~
Sakura knew there was no better chance. She gazed into Julian's eyes and was about to say something, when…
"Here's your rabbit, squirt."
Sakura and Julian looked at a bush to see both Tori and Li come out. They looked pretty exhausted and they both had stuffed rabbits in their hands. They gave their rabbits to Sakura and Julian and begrudgingly walked out. Then Madison came out of the bush with her camera out.
Sakura sighed as she wandered over to her best friend. "You couldn't keep them busy?"
"Sorry. I tried to stall them, but they were just too tired. How was…wow! That looks beautiful!"
Madison had seen the lights. She marveled at them along with Sakura. It was something about the sudden appearance of bright colorful green lights that made the two girls squeal with joy.
Julian sighed contentedly. "I guess I'll go with Tori to get some shaved ice. You girls coming?"
Sakura shrugged it off. "Um…we'll catch up to you."
Julian nodded and headed out. When he was gone, Sakura dragged Madison towards the tree.
"We've got a Clow Card, Madison."
"Huh? But there's nothing being damaged," Madison observed.
"I noticed that," Sakura said casually. "It's coming from the tree."
Sakura led Madison over to the tree. Madison took her camera out and Sakura took out her key.
"Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite. Release!"
Sakura took her wand and approached the tree. She found her target. It was a small fairy-looking person. Sakura hated to do this, because the lights were so visually stunning, but…
"Clow Card! Return to your power confined!"
Sakura reluctantly sealed the Clow Card and took it in her hand. The card read:
The Glow
"The Glow Card," Sakura read. She thought about that…and smiled. She held the Glow Card close to her heart.
"You look happy," Madison noted.
"This Clow Card has made me happy," Sakura said joyfully. "This little Clow Card made my night unforgettable."
Madison took out her photo camera. "Sakura…could you do me a favor and…?" She nodded towards the Glow Card.
Sakura grinned. "Ok. Glow Card! Release and dispel!"
Sakura released the power of Glow and the tree filled up with bright green lights again. Once more, the two girls were overwhelmed by the breathtaking sight before them. But Sakura knew what Madison wanted.
Sakura held up Glow and posed to the camera. Madison took a picture of Sakura, with the shimmering green lights right behind her.
Li nodded. "I didn't mind missing that capture. I think you wanted that capture a lot more than I did anyway."
"I appreciate that," Sakura smiled. "And I really appreciate you bringing me out here, Li. This is so wonderful."
Sakura leaned on Li's shoulder and Li put his arm around her. They both sat and watched the fireflies gather around the tree.
"I only wish Madison was here," Sakura sighed. "She could take a great picture of this."
Li looked around. "You never know. She might be hiding around here somewhere."
Sakura shook her head. "No…she wouldn't be spying on us…not again, anyway."
"Oh, no?" Li said skeptically. He walked over to a nearby bush. He pulled out a video camera. "A spy camera."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "That's a SURVEILLANCE camera! This IS a mansion, you know. They're crawling with them."
Li sweatdropped when he saw the mistake he made. He quickly put the camera back. "Oops…well, I can never be too sure."
Sakura coaxed Li over and she placed his arm around her shoulder. "Forget the camera and stop being paranoid. Let's just watch the fireflies."
Sakura looked on at the bugs' light show and began thinking about the Clow Book. She wished she hadn't closed it and kept it hidden. This would have been a great night to use the Glow Card.
Any comments? I kept this short, because I see a lot of possibilities for original insertions in the next part. You'll want to come back for that. But in the meantime, you can tell me what you think by reviewing below!
