Summary: Sakura's home alone…for a while. That is…until Li comes over and suddenly decides to cook dinner. When that doesn't go too well, Sakura remembers her own cooking failures.


Episode 34- Recalling the Shot Card and the Joys of Cooking


Sakura couldn't bear to watch anymore. She thought it was so sweet of Li to offer to cook dinner. But she realized that if she didn't do something and fast, the kitchen would be in shambles. Li had made a mess of the kitchen trying to fix…croquettes. It all seemed so painfully familiar to Sakura.

"Li…maybe I should help."

"N-No, it's ok, Sakura," Li stammered. "I don't want to bother you with this. I…have this under control. I've cooked…a million times."

"You've just never cooked croquettes before, have you?"

"Um…not exactly," Li sighed. "Maybe I'm a little new at it. But I don't think it's coming out so bad."

**WHOOSH**

Sakura pointed to the stove behind Li. "Your croquettes are on fire."

Li screamed and desperately tried to put the fire out. Sakura was a lot calmer. She just grabbed the nearest fire extinguisher and sprayed the near-inferno. The fire was out, but obviously the croquettes were ruined.

Li gave up. "Ok, maybe it IS bad."

"You can always try again," Sakura said cheerfully. "I'll help you out. I've…had a lot of experience with this."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Cooking was always so hard for me…seven years ago. There was always something I was afraid of…"


Flashback: Reedington Elementary (A scene Nelvana left out…for some strange reason)

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

Cooking class had brought a new challenge to Sakura on this day. Her assignment was to make rice cakes. But as she brought herself up to the stove, she couldn't bring herself to go any further.

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

Sakura didn't know how to say it. "I really don't like this, Madison. I just hate that…sizzling sound. It always scares me."

"There's nothing to be afraid of," Madison said gently. "Just place the rice cake on the pan."

Sakura was a little reluctant, but she knew she'd have to do this eventually. So she placed the rice cake on…and fell back upon hearing that loud sizzling sound.

Sakura groaned. "I hate this. Can it get any worse?"

Madison started coughing. "S-Sakura…SMOKE!"

Sakura got up and saw the pan letting out black smoke. It was from the cooking oil. Her rice cakes were on fire. She started to panic and look for a way to put the fire out, but there was nothing she could do. Luckily, someone came over and put the fire out. It was Meilin.

She shook her head. "I knew you were a klutz, Avalon. But I didn't think you were such a lousy cook. You're lucky I was here."

Sakura sweatdropped. "Yeah…thanks, Meilin."

"No problem. You can thank me by telling me where Maggie's is."

"Oh…it's just a few blocks that way."

Meilin smiled and walked out. "Thanks, Avalon. Oh, and if you want to survive another day of cooking class, I suggest you practice!"

Sakura sighed. It was true. If she didn't get any practice in, she'd burn the whole school down. She started to wonder if her mother ever had problems like this when she was a kid.

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

[Li: You're just trying to make me feel better, aren't you?]

[Sakura: Maybe. But maybe I'm just thinking about this because it brings back so many memories. You should hear what happened once I got home.]


Flashback: Sakura's Kitchen

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

"Thank you for helping me with this, Dad. I really appreciate it."

"No problem, Sakura. I'm just glad to help you practice…as long as you don't burn the house down."

As much as Sakura appreciated her father's help, she didn't need to be reminded of the earlier incident at the school. But still, she was glad to have the help. It was time for her to practice the fine art of cooking with dumplings.

"Ok, the batter's mixed, the oil's heated…time to make some dumplings. Are you ready, Sakura?"

"Yeah."

"Now the trick is to follow the recipe carefully."

"Got it, Dad. Here it goes."

Sakura picked up the dumpling and nervously brought it closer to the stove. Finally, she placed it on the pan, but the oil began to sizzle. As soon as sparks began to fly, Sakura fell backwards having nearly burned herself.

"Sakura!" The stove was turned off. "Are you ok?"

Sakura nodded, but she was far from fine. This didn't do her self-confidence any good.

~* I don't get it! I did everything right this time! Didn't I? Why can't I do this?! *~

Her father pointed out her mistake. "Forgot to test the temperature, huh?"

~* Well…that might be one reason. But I just don't get this. I hate cooking! I don't have to be a gourmet chef, but can't I at least be as good as everyone else? *~

Sakura got up and sighed. "I don't think I'll ever get the hang of this."

Aiden Avalon smiled. "Don't worry. We'll try this another time."

That didn't exactly make Sakura feel any better. This was a bigger challenge than any Clow Card she had faced thus far. Sakura didn't like that she had met her match…in a stove.

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

[Sakura: You see? It happens to everybody. And at that point, I was desperate. I was even desperate enough to go to Maggie's for those good luck cards she had just gotten.]

[Li: Oh, yeah. I remember what happened after that. Maggie didn't know she had a real Clow Card in there. And neither did Meilin…]


Flashback: The Roof of Reedington Elementary

P.O.V.: Li Shoran

There wasn't a sign of Meilin or the Clow Card. There was a lot that Li Shoran couldn't believe about this whole thing. He couldn't believe that Meilin had unknowingly stumbled onto a Clow Card. Not just a Clow Card, but the Shot Card no less. But he also couldn't believe he once again found himself working with the amateur, Sakura Avalon.

~* I'm supposed to be handling all this myself. I know I'm better than her. So why is she leading me around? No…I can't think that. If anything, I'M leading HER around. Yeah…that's it. *~

Li didn't have too much time to sort out his ego, though. He could see the roof of the school and he saw Meilin. Sakura and Li landed and recalled Fly. Then they ran up to Meilin. Hopefully, she hadn't said the Shot Card's name, because that would mean a LOT of trouble.

"Meilin!"

Meilin just turned her head, ignorant to the dilemma at hand. "Hi, Li!" Then she scowled at the sight of Sakura. "What are YOU doing here, Sakura?"

"Meilin…the magic card you bought…" Sakura began.

Meilin held a card up. "You mean this one?"

Everyone ducked at the sight of Shot, much to Meilin's confusion.

Sakura tried to clarify the situation as everyone stood upright again. "Listen, Meilin…that's a real Clow Card."

Meilin's face brightened. "REALLY?! I knew it! I can capture cards, too!"

~* Oh, jeez…she's delirious! Maybe I can calmly explain this to her…while I take that card! *~

Li walked towards Meilin. "That card's dangerous, Meilin! Hand it over!"

Li tried to reach out for the Shot Card, but Meilin was holding it up in the air. Maybe this wouldn't look so bad…if Sakura and Kero weren't right there watching…and sweatdropping.

~* This is so humiliating. I feel like I'm fighting with a sister. I had enough of this back home with my other four sisters. I don't need to take this from Meilin!! *~

"Give it to me, Meilin!"

"Don't order me around, Li!"

"Hand it over!"

"No way!"

"Be careful with that card, Meilin!"

"Back off, Li! The Shot Card's mine!"

Sakura and Kero gasped. Li just gulped. They all knew that this meant a lot of bad news.

It was Kero who summed it up. "Oh, no! She said the card's name out loud!"

"She activated it!" Sakura added.

The Shot Card was fully active now and was now looking for a target. Then it found its target…in the form of Li.

~* Why me? *~

Li knew the routine now. Shot began to shoot away at him, so Li dodged each laser beam. As he moved away from each shot, Li could feel the shots coming closer. They were getting more accurate. He wasn't going to last much longer. Luckily, Sakura was right there.

"Shield! Release and dispel!"

Li tried to catch his breath within the protective bubble of Shield. Shot was persistent and kept shooting at Li with no luck. Sakura tried approaching Shot, but Shot was circling the bubble and trying to shoot at Li. But he could see this was doing no good.

~* I can't just stay in here. We'll never seal the card this way. I have to try something. *~

Li took a major risk. He jumped out of Shield's protective barrier and started running.

"LI!!" Sakura shouted. "What are you doing?!"

"It's only after me, Sakura!" he pointed out. "You can use this chance to seal it!"

Li kept on running, but Sakura couldn't get to Shot. Meanwhile, Shot wasn't losing any steam. It was still going at full speed.

"You've got to hurry!" Kero shouted. "The Shot Card's attack is getting more accurate!"

Li knew he was right. But he didn't know how right…until a laser grazed him right on the leg. Li let out a groan of pain and gritted his teeth. But what made things worse was that Sakura…was just standing there.

~* What's she doing?! I'm gonna get killed! What's she waiting for?! *~

Sakura's face brightened. "Hey, Li! I got it!" She pulled out one of her Clow Cards and held it up. It was…

~* Mirror? Hey…that just might work. *~

Li nodded and headed towards Sakura, putting the pain in his leg aside. Sakura began to put her plan into action.

"Mirror Card. Project the image before you. Mirror. Release and dispel!"

Sakura held up the mirror. All that was left was for Li to do his part. He dodged each shot and as he approached Sakura, he jumped out of the way. The stray shot hit the mirror and bounced back, hitting Shot and taking it down. Shot was left struggling in its visible form.

"Do it!" Li called out.

Sakura did it. "Return to your power confined! Shot Card!"

Sakura had sealed the Shot Card, much to Li's relief. He looked at his singed leg. He knew that this capture didn't come without a price. Then he looked up to see Sakura looking at the card.

~* She…saved me. If it wasn't for her, I'd have been fried. She's become so much better. It's almost like…she isn't hopeless anymore. She's almost as good as me. ……Almost. *~

"Hey, nice move, Sakura," Kero said. "Capturing the Shot Card took a lot of courage."

Sakura smiled. "Thanks." Then she looked around. "Hey…where's Meilin? Is she ok?"

"She's over here! She's fine!"

Li looked over and saw that Meilin was ok. She was right beside…

"Madison!" Sakura ran over to her. "How long have you been here?"

Madison grinned and held up her camera. "Long enough to get that awesome card capture on video tape."

Madison stood back and taped everyone there while Sakura picked up Meilin. Li walked over and helped her out. He knew he should say something…

"Thanks, Sakura."

Li couldn't help but notice that Sakura was sad. Maybe he could help repay her right now.

"What's wrong?"

"Maggie's is probably closed by now," she sighed. "And even if it was open, I don't have time to go anymore. Now I'll never get one of those good luck cards. I was hoping to find a cooking card to help me. Cooking has just been so hard lately."

Li saw the sadness in Sakura's eyes. Then an idea hit him.

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

[Li: So do you remember what happened later?]

[Sakura: ………Yeah…I do. That was so sweet of you…]


Flashback: Sakura's Kitchen (Later that night)

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

It was time to try again. Sakura sincerely hoped that she could get it right this time. Once again, she was standing beside her dad by the stove. She was ready to fix those dumplings again.

"Now remember, Sakura. There's no magic to it…"

~* I wish there was. Magic I can handle. *~

"…You just have to follow the recipe. Temperature checked?"

"You bet!"

"Ready to give it another try?"

Sakura nodded and picked up the dumpling. It was one of her greatest challenges thus far. She was almost sweating. She slowly brought the dumpling towards the pan…and dropped it in. No sizzling, no burning, no falling backward. The dumpling went straight into the pan without incident.

"I did it!" Sakura squealed triumphantly.

Her father smiled. "You see? It just takes practice."

Sakura smiled back. "It does."

"Sakura!" Tori called out.

"I'm in the kitchen!"

Tori walked into the kitchen and looked at the dumplings. "You actually did it. I guess I won't need that fire extinguisher after all."

Sakura looked sternly at her brother. "Did you want something?"

"I found this under the front door. It's for you. Probably from Madison."

Sakura took an envelope with her name on it. She opened it up and found…a cooking card. She couldn't believe it. She was ready to call Madison right then and there and thank her, but then she noticed a note. She walked over to the living room and opened up the note.


Dear Sakura,

I know how much you really wanted one of these. I personally don't think you need it. I'm sure you'll do just fine without it. But I wanted to thank you for earlier and I thought this would be the best way. I hope you like it. And Sakura…relax. You can do it. I'd hate to think that after what we went through earlier, you're going to let a couple of croquettes get you down. Enjoy your new cooking card.

Love,

Li


Sakura just sat there for a few minutes looking at the note. This cooking card was a gift from Li. That was so…sweet.

~* He really didn't have to do that. He went out of his way to get this…for me. Maybe Li Shoran isn't the pompous egomaniac I thought he was. Maybe…I was wrong about him. *~

Suddenly, Sakura got that feeling again. She got that feeling in the pit of her stomach. That warm feeling…the feeling brought on by those butterflies. That indescribable feeling.

~* Maybe…I DO like him. *~


Sakura came down the stairs holding her cooking card. "I treasured this card you gave me, Li. It was one of the nicest things you had ever done for me."

Li smiled. "I'm…glad you liked it. Um…could you hand it to me?"

Sakura gave Li the cooking card. "What for?"

"I'm…hoping it'll give me some luck right about now."

Sakura shook her head. She walked up to Li and wrapped her arms around him. "Don't worry about it right now." She gave him a deep kiss. "We'll worry about dinner later."

They resumed the kiss…until they heard the front door. Knowing exactly who it was…Li immediately ran for the back door.

"See you later, Sakura."

Li rushed out the back door. Sakura suddenly realized that the kitchen was still a mess. It wouldn't be long until.

"SQUIRT!!!"

Sakura sweatdropped. There was Tori and he found the kitchen practically in shambles. If it was seven years ago, she would have squealed. Why should she get stuck with the blame? But Sakura wouldn't do that. She'd cover for her man on this day.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I…had a little disaster with some croquettes. I'll…clean it up."


Author's Note: Well, this is it. I'm burned out and I need a break, so this is my last update for a while. But rest assured that I shall return. In a little less than two weeks, I'll be ready to go again and I'll hopefully have these four or five ideas out of my head and onto a page. So don't forget about me, because I will be back and I hope you've enjoyed my stories.


Any comments? Remember that the series is winding down. So I want to know what you think. Go ahead and review below.