Summary: As big as her house is, Madison hasn't been able to find any quiet. So she goes off into the basement to be alone, drawing curiosity out of her friends.


Key:

"~* Thoughts *~" = Thoughts

"[NAME:]" = Character voiceover


Episode 29- Recalling the Song Card and a Lovely Voice


Sakura tried to lean her ear on the basement door. She couldn't hear anything, making her wonder just what Madison was doing down there.

"And how long has she been down there?" she asked.

If anyone could monitor Madison's activities, it was Li and Meilin. After all, they were living in two of Madison's guesthouses. They were around each other practically the whole day, so they would know. At least that's what Sakura thought.

"She's been there since this morning," Meilin answered. "We've tried knocking, but she won't answer."

"She said something about wanting to be alone," Li added. "You'd think in this entire estate, she could find at least one place to be alone."

"But what's she doing?" Sakura asked.

"That's what we don't know," Meilin replied. "And I really want to find out."

"Wouldn't it be better to just let her have her privacy?" Li suggested. "I mean…"

"Wait!" Sakura interrupted. "……Listen."

Sakura, Li, and Meilin leaned in towards the door. Finally, a sound could be heard. It was very faint, but everyone could tell what it was. It was singing. Madison was singing. And the song sounded…familiar.

"Does…anyone remember this?" Li suddenly asked.

Sakura hesitated…and then nodded. "I DO remember this song. I haven't heard it in almost seven years."

Kero popped up out of Sakura's pocket. "It…doesn't quite ring a bell. Do you remember, Sakura?"

Sakura smiled. "It was back when we were ten and Madison had to prepare for a recital. I knew firsthand how much of a beautiful singing voice she had, but she didn't know how good she was. She was struggling to get her song just right…"


Flashback: Reedington Elementary

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

"Madison, please relax. I'm sure you'll do just fine."

Madison wasn't convinced. "I can't get it right, Sakura. I just can't seem to hit that high note."

Sakura shook her head. "Madison, you don't realize just how beautiful your voice is. You'll do fine."

Madison blushed. "You really think so?"

Sakura nodded. "It's probably the most beautiful voice I've ever heard."

Madison blushed again into a deeper red. Sakura really flattered her. She was just relieved that she could relieve any tension. Sakura couldn't stand to see her best friend carry on with such pressure.

"You sound cheerful, Sakura," Madison suddenly said. "What's up?"

It was Sakura's turn to blush. "I…found out Julian is staying the night. I just…feel a little giddy."

"My ears are burning."

Sakura and Madison turned around to see Li Shoran. Sakura was starting to hate it when he sneaked up on them.

"He's staying with you tonight?" Li asked curiously.

"Who's 'he'?"

Sakura and Madison could barely react when Meilin came in like a blur. The simple preposition had her dashing in to see what they were talking about.

"You know who," Li said casually.

Meilin blinked. "No…I don't. You never told me, Li. Who?"

Li couldn't say anything else, because someone else came in. This hallway was getting crowded. This time, it was Zachary.

"Madison, I just wanted to tell you that the choir's been asked to stay behind after school. You need to practice for the recital."

Sakura suddenly got excited. "Oh, can I come watch, Madison? I just love that song you sang yesterday."

Madison nodded eagerly. "Yeah…I'd like that, Sakura."

Then the scene got even more crowded than it already was. At the sound of the upcoming practice, Chelsea, Rita, and Nikki all came running in.

"Can we watch, too, Madison?"

"We really want to hear you sing."

"Yeah!"

"Hey!" Meilin chimed in. "I…can sing good, too, you know."

~* Uh, oh. Do I detect jealousy? And here I was thinking Meilin just had it in for me. *~

"Then why don't you join the choir?" Madison suggested.

Meilin blinked. "I would, but…I don't know any of these Japanese songs."

Nikki suddenly raised her head. "Hey, speaking of the choir…they're saying it came out again last night."

Sakura knew Nikki and she knew what was coming. "W-What?"

"A ghost."

~* There's that word again. Oh, I don't want to hear about ghosts! They're just too SCARY!! *~

"They say there's a ghost that goes out into the music room," Nikki continued. "Every night, when there's no one around, the ghost comes in. Somebody actually heard the ghost last night…and they heard it singing."

Sakura was really getting scared. She couldn't get over her fear of ghosts, no matter how hard she tried. And when she saw the look on Li's face, she knew no good could come of it.

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

[Sakura: I could have had my ghost story for the day and just went home, but that wasn't good enough. I just HAD to get dragged back!]

[Li: You talk as if I dragged you back. It wasn't me, it was the stuffed animal.]

[Kero: Somebody had to do it.]

[Sakura: You know how scared I get of ghosts, Kero, but you still wanted me to go back…AT NIGHT!!]

[Kero: Yeah, and you went. But it wasn't to capture that card, was it, Sakura?]

[Sakura: Um…ok…maybe I did it for Julian, but that still didn't make it any easier…]


Flashback: Reedington Elementary (10 o'clock AT NIGHT!!)

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

This wasn't something Sakura wanted to be doing. The sound of a ghost sent chills down her spine. But this was something she had to do, if not for her, then for Julian. Sakura promised him he'd get the ghost's voice on tape. The school was dark at night, and Sakura was cautiously moving forward with her wand.

"Are y-y-you as s-scared as I am, Madison?" Sakura asked nervously.

Madison was calm, though, with her camera in hand. "Not really. I'm just hoping for some good shots."

Sakura winced. "I'm just hoping we don't run into a g-g-g-g-ghost." Then Sakura heard something land behind her. She hoped it was Madison, but she was in front of her. So knowing there was something creeping behind her, Sakura let out a frightened yell and swung her wand behind her.

"OW!! Watch where you're swinging that thing!!"

Sakura gasped when she saw it was only Li. In her panic, she nailed Li right in the mouth with her wand.

"Are you all right?" Sakura asked.

Li painfully held his mouth. "My teeth are still intact…but not by much."

Kero snickered. "Well, no one asked you to be here, kid. ……And no one asked HER to be here, either."

Li blinked. He didn't know what Kero was talking about until he looked out the window. Meilin was climbing in.

Li slapped his forehead in frustration. "Didn't I tell you to stay home?! What are you doing here?! You have no magic, Meilin. If that Clow Card's dangerous, there'll be no way for you to defend yourself."

Meilin shrugged. "No magic? Then how do you explain HER being here?" She pointed at Madison.

Madison calmly shined her camera. "I'm just here to get this on tape. I know my limits."

Sakura then stopped everyone. "Wait……listen."

She could make out a faint sound…a sound like…singing.

"It's coming from over there!" Meilin concluded. "Let's go!"

Meilin rushed out. Li gave chase. "Meilin! Wait for me!"

"Hey!" Kero shouted. "We were here first! Sakura!"

~* I'm getting that sense again. This…doesn't feel like a ghost…or I'd be shaking in my boots right now. This feels more like a Clow Card. But that voice…it sounds so familiar. *~

"SAKURA!"

Sakura hesitated. "That's…not a ghost, is it, Kero?"

"Does it matter?!" Kero snapped. "Just go! The kid's gonna beat us to it if we don't hurry!"

Sakura finally nodded and turned to Madison. "Let's go!" They both ran after Li and Meilin, but Sakura still felt butterflies in her stomach. She couldn't get the possibility of a ghost out of her mind.

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

[Sakura: But it wasn't until a little later that I found out what was really haunting the music room. And for as long as I live, I'll never forget what happened…]


Flashback: Reedington Elementary Music Room

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

Sakura, Madison, and Kero finally caught up to Li and Meilin. They all found themselves in front of the music room and the faint singing could still be heard.

"I feel like I've heard this song before," Sakura said. "Don't you, Madison?"

"It sounds so familiar," Madison agreed.

Meilin got overzealous. "Then let's just find out!" She busted the door down and found the music room empty and the song slowly faded.

"It's gone," Sakura moaned.

~* But that song. I heard that song a little better that time. I just wish I knew what it was. But it sounded beautiful…almost like…the song Madison was singing! *~

Li groaned. "You just HAD to bust in, didn't you?!"

Meilin tried to defend herself. "But…"

"Wait, Li!" Sakura suddenly said. She turned to her best friend. "Madison…that song…it was just like the one you sang to me…just like the one you're doing for the recital."

"You're right," Madison nodded. "It's the exact same song."

Kero scratched his head. "I…don't get it. Why would it be singing Madison's song?"

"There it is!" Li shouted. He pointed at the stairs. A voice could be heard going up the stairs. It was singing…in a very familiar voice.

"Madison…" Sakura began. "That's…your voice."

Li realized something. "That's the Song Card!"

Kero also realized something. "Oh, now it makes sense! The Song Card can copy the most beautiful singing voice it can find."

"But…why can't I see it, Kero?" Sakura asked.

"The Song Card can only be drawn out by…another singing voice. One just as beautiful as the Song Card's."

Meilin's face brightened. "I can sing to it."

Kero smirked. "I said a BEAUTIFUL singing voice!" Meilin was about to protest before Kero continued. "Madison…are you still practicing this song?"

"Y-Yeah," Madison replied timidly. "B-But I can't seem to hit the high note."

"You have to try!" Kero said. "You're the only one who can draw out the Song Card!"

~* She looks scared. Why can't she see how lovely her voice really is? Maybe she's just scared…because she realizes that it's all up to her. That's a lot of pressure…more than she's been carrying around lately. She can do this, though. I know she can. She just needs…a little moral support. *~

"You can do it, Madison," Sakura gently told her best friend. "I believe in you."

Madison hesitated, but then nodded determinedly. "Thanks, Sakura. I'll do my best."

Sakura watched as Madison bravely walked towards the voice. As Madison walked up there, Sakura pulled out a tape recorder. This was her chance to record the song for Julian. Madison looked to be nervous…but finally she began to sing.

Twinkling in the night sky is a distant golden star

As Madison began that first verse, Sakura could see the Song Card come out. It came out in its visible form…and began to sing along.

The same color as the little bird I saw in last night's dream

In this sleepless night, I sing a song alone

Let us sing tomorrow as we ride on the wing of dreams

Sakura was mesmerized by the enchanting song and almost forgot what she was there to do. Luckily, Kero was right there.

"Sakura! Seal it!"

Sakura shook it off and ran up to the Song Card. "Song Card! Return to your power confined! Song Card!"

Sakura took the Song Card in her hand, and feeling content, pressed STOP on her tape player. Then she smiled at her best friend. "That…was wonderful, Madison. And you did it! You hit the high note!"

Madison almost didn't realize what she did. "I…did, didn't I?" Then she looked at the tape recorder in Sakura's hand. "What's that for, Sakura?"

"I wanted to get this little duet on tape," Sakura grinned. "Now I can take it back to Julian."

Kero suddenly popped up out of Sakura's pocket. "Um…Sakura? I think you might have forgotten something." He held up a tape. Sakura gasped. She saw that her tape recorder was empty.

"NO!" Sakura wailed. "I don't believe it! I missed it! I can't believe I missed it! Kero, why didn't you tell me?! Now I'll never be able to get that duet on tape!"

Sakura turned and hung her head down. A golden opportunity had been wasted. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder.

It was Li. "You know…you can put your name on the card and use it again. You could have them sing again."

Sakura turned to Madison. "Would…you do that for me, Madison?"

Madison smiled warmly. She was almost...blushing. "Anything for you, Sakura."


Sakura kept her ear by the basement door. She could still hear the faint singing. Then it suddenly stopped.

"I think the song's over," Meilin said. "You think she'll come out now?"

Just as she said that, the basement door flew open. Madison stood there with three cases in her hand. She wore one of her warm smiles. "I kinda had the idea you wouldn't be patient, but that's all right. I got the privacy I wanted and I really appreciate you guys not breaking the door down."

"What were you doing, Madison?" Sakura asked.

Madison sighed contentedly. "I…remembered that duet I sang with the Song Card a long time ago. And I had an idea to…record the song and get them on CD. I made one for each of you." She handed a case to each of them. "I hope you all like it."

Sakura's face brightened. "Madison, I told you this seven years ago, and I still mean it today. You have the most beautiful singing voice I've ever heard. I love it."

Madison blushed. "Thanks, Sakura."

Sakura looked at her watch. "Isn't it time for your practice?"

Madison gasped. "You're right! I'm gonna be late!"

Madison dashed passed Sakura, Li, and Meilin and headed to her room to change. Everyone just stood there.

"I thought you were always the one who was late," Li said dryly to Sakura.

"I guess I rubbed off on her," Sakura tried saying. Then she smiled at her boyfriend. "So…do you want to go watch her practice?"

Li held Sakura's hand and they began to walk out. "Sure. It'll be…romantic."

Sakura leaned on Li's shoulder as they walked out, but she got the feeling they were forgetting someone. It didn't take them long to remember they almost ditched Meilin.

"Hey you guys! Wait for me!"


Author's Note: So Madison/Tomoyo is a singer. I never would have thought that. Why Nelvana would leave this little detail out puzzles me (personally it makes her that much more kawaii). Oh, well. I guess there are just some things I'll never know (and I really don't know. Personally, I think that if Nelvana tweaked the dub voice a little bit and leaned away from the 'valley girl' accent, Madison could have a helluva singing voice, no?).


Any comments? I loved working with this chapter! I really did! I'd really like to know what you all thought, so mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and please review below, because I'd love to have your feedback! I value it!