Summary: Madison and Meilin notice that Li's got a sudden case of insomnia. With the night passing by slowly, Madison and Meilin try to put the little wolf to sleep.


Key:

"~* Thoughts *~" = Thoughts

"[NAME:]" = Character voiceover


Episode 28- Recalling the Sleep Card and a Struggle to Stay Awake


"Have you tried knocking him over the head?" Meilin suggested.

Madison shook her head. She tried just about everything to get Li to sleep, but to no avail. There was nothing she or Meilin could do, so Madison picked up the phone and made a call to someone who might be able to help.

"Ok, we're here…Sakura! Keep your eyes open!"

Kero led in a staggering Sakura by the hand. There were red lines all over her emerald eyes and Madison started to feel bad. Sakura must have been sleeping, but this situation was bad. Li was tired, but he just couldn't get to sleep.

"All right, I'm here," Sakura yawned. "What's the problem, Madison?"

"We can't get Li to sleep," Madison explained. "It's like he's got insomnia. Meilin and I tried everything. We've tried turning out all the lights, having him count sheep, hypnotizing him, but it's no use. Maybe you could help us."

Sakura yawned again. She walked over to Li and put her arm around him. "Li, it's so easy to sleep. Just look at me. I'm ready to…sleep…any minute now." She fell over on his shoulder, but Li didn't seem to be getting closer to sleep.

Meilin shook her head. "We've done everything but read him a story. What's left?"

Madison got an idea. "Reading a story? Hmm…maybe we could do the next best thing. Sakura, maybe you could help me out with this. Remember what happened seven years ago?"

Sakura yawned again. "A lot happened seven years ago. Narrow it down for me."

Madison smiled. "Remember what happened with the Sleep Card?"

Li sighed. "I wish I could be hit with the Sleep Card right about now."

Sakura smiled weakly. "It worked every time. And it was one of the most potent of all the Clow Cards. The first time I saw it, it knocked just about everybody out…"


Flashback: The University

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

It wasn't often that Sakura got to see her father in the workplace, so that made this a special day. It was evident that Madison knew that, too, because she had her camera in hand. And it was a good thing she did. Sakura and Madison got a tour of the campus courtesy of some of her dad's students and Sakura had never seen such a big campus before. After the tour, Sakura was eager to tell her dad how much she had seen. But then when she went in, she found her father asleep.

"He's asleep," Madison said.

"Oh…he must be tired," Sakura said soothingly. "He works so hard. Maybe he isn't getting enough sleep. I really wish we could let him sleep, but he's got a job to do. Let's just bring him some coffee."

Sakura and Madison walked out to get the tired father some coffee.

~* My poor dad. I wish he COULD sleep more. All this hard work must be catching up to him. *~

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

[Madison: Yeah! I remember this! I never got to see how it all ended up.]

[Li: Why not?]

[Madison: Well…]


Flashback: The University (A few minutes later)

P.O.V.: Madison Taylor

It was easy to get lost around this big university, but it looked like Sakura knew her way around. Madison just tried to balance holding the coffee and not crushing her camera. When Sakura stopped in front of the open classroom door, she groaned in frustration.

"What's wrong?" Madison asked.

"I think he woke up," Kero nosily piped up.

"He's gone," Sakura added.

"Then…maybe we can take it to the other students," Madison suggested.

"That sounds like a good idea," Sakura conceded.

Sakura and Madison took a detour to the students' classroom. But that's when they found a sight to behold. Most of the students had fallen asleep.

~* Wow…they're all asleep. Must be an intense curriculum. But still, shouldn't they at least be lying on some chairs and not the floor? They must really be tired. *~

Madison and Sakura looked on as more students began to fall asleep. They were dropping like flies and it definitely didn't look to be normal.

"Wait…" Kero suddenly said. "…I sense a Clow Card."

Sakura walked over to look for the Clow Card while Madison went over to check on some of the fallen students. Then she heard Kero again.

"Back there! It's the Sleep Card!"

~* Hmm…that should have been obvious. But this is great! I have my camera here and I can capture this on tape. But I just feel like there's something missing. ………OH NO!! I FORGOT!! *~

Madison moaned when she realized what she had forgotten.

"What's wrong, Madison?" Sakura asked.

"I forgot to bring a costume!" Madison wailed. "I know I have my camera, but…" She stopped and gasped. She tried to point behind Sakura.

"What is it?" Sakura asked, clueless to what was coming.

Madison watched as a blue fairy flew over Sakura's head. But it passed her. Sakura wasn't the fairy's target, it was Madison. The fairy sprinkled dust over her head and Madison started to get tired.

~* That…must…be…the Sleep Card. No…I can't…fall asleep. Must…tape… *~

Madison didn't finish her thought. She collapsed and fell asleep.

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

[Madison: And…that's where it all goes blank.]

[Li: I'll bet.]

[Kero: Maybe I should take over from here. All right, so the Sleep Card was out wreaking havoc and somebody had to stop it…]


Flashback: The University

P.O.V.: Kero

Kero tried to keep his eye out. The Sleep Card had disappeared and Sakura wasn't exactly paying attention to where it went. She was kneeling over Madison, desperately trying to wake her up.

Kero shook his head. "That won't work, Sakura. The Sleep Card's too powerful. You can't wake anybody up until it's sealed."

Sakura obviously wasn't listening, because she kept trying to revive Madison. Then Kero looked up to see the Sleep Card sneaking up on Sakura.

"Sakura, look out!!"

Sakura gasped as the Sleep Card tried to take her out. She rolled out of the way before she was dusted. "Oh, no you don't! It's NOT my bedtime!"

The Sleep Card then flew out of the classroom. Kero waited for Sakura and they both gave chase. The Sleep Card flew down the hall into a nearby office and that gave Sakura the opportunity she needed.

"Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite. Release!"

Sakura took her wand and ran down the hall. Kero followed her until they were both in the office. The Sleep Card was nowhere to be found.

"Where is it?" Sakura asked.

"I don't…see…" Kero stopped. He was getting drowsy.

~* Huh? Wait a minute! I'm a guardian beast! I can't fall asleep! It can't be THAT powerful! Yet…I feel…so tired… *~

Kero gave in. He fell down and fell asleep.

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

[Kero: Um…next.]

[Sakura: Well, seeing as how I was the only one awake at that time, I guess I'll tell the rest of the story. Needless to say, I was ready to panic when I saw Kero go down. I was on my own…]


Flashback: The University Office

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

Sakura couldn't believe it. Kero was down and out. It was almost no surprise to see Madison fall asleep; she was a normal person. But Kero was a guardian beast.

~* If the Sleep Card could knock out Kero, then it could knock anybody out…even me! And if I fall asleep…then what happens? I can't let that happen! *~

Sakura grew determined as she looked for the Sleep Card. Then she saw it headed right for her.

"Jump!"

Sakura jumped out of the Sleep Card's path and jumped towards the wall. She bounced off the wall and leaped over the Sleep Card. Before it could turn around, Sakura quickly took out Windy.

"Windy! Release and dispel!"

Windy came out and wrapped itself around the Sleep Card. It couldn't move and this was the opportunity Sakura needed.

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

After that harrowing encounter, the Sleep Card was sealed. At first, there was an eerie silence. Then somebody began to stir.

"Oh…how long was I out?"

Sakura looked down to see Kero finally coming to. She picked him up and put him in her pocket. "Are you ok?"

Kero nodded. "Just…a little surprised, that's all. I didn't think the Sleep Card could knock me out. The Clow Cards must be getting more powerful."

Sakura was getting nervous. "R-R-Really?"

Kero tried to comfort her. "Don't worry about it, Sakura. The Clow Cards may be getting more powerful…but so are you. You can do this."

Sakura sighed contentedly. "Thanks, Kero. Now…we'd better get out of here. I don't want my dad to…find me in here with this mess."

"Yeah. I'll bet everyone's coming to. And right about now, Madison should be waking up and whining about how she missed this capture."

Sakura concurred. So she decided to walk out and go find her sleepy best friend.


Madison looked hurt. "Whining?! I don't WHINE, do I, Kero?!"

Kero tried to find the right words. "Um…did I say whine? I didn't mean whine, I meant…um…uh…help me out, Sakura."

Sakura shook her head. "Don't get me into this. You said it, not me."

Kero stuttered. "Y-You don't whine…not necessarily, anyway. I just say you…get a little too wrapped up in your work. And…uh…when you don't get everything on tape…um…you tend to get…"

"Hey, look." Meilin pointed at the bed.

By this time, Li was lying on his bed and was fast asleep. The night was over and everyone could call it a night.

Kero sighed. "I guess we can finally go home. I feel tired."

"Yeah," Sakura added. "I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow?"

Madison nodded. "Yeah. Good night, Sakura." She walked out and headed back to her room.

Meilin walked out right behind her and headed back to her guesthouse. "Thanks, Sakura."

Sakura looked down at the sleeping Li and couldn't resist kissing him gently on the forehead. He just looked so cute and peaceful. But as Sakura made her way out, she realized something. She wouldn't make it back home. She was too tired.

So she sat on a nearby chair and pulled up next to Li. Then she fell asleep.


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