Author's Note: About time this site came back up! Oh well. At least it gave me time to write and things could have been worse. Good job, Xing, on keeping Fanfiction.net running.


Summary: Li's growing increasingly concerned with Sakura. Madison does the only thing she can do to calm him down. She tries to get his mind off it by looking into the past.


Episode 45- Recalling the Sand Card and Drawing Lots


Something wasn't right. The whole day had gone by and Li hadn't come out of his guesthouse at all. That sort of thing usually wouldn't have bothered Madison, but she hadn't heard from Sakura, either. That led her to believe something was wrong. And since Li's guesthouse was literally around the corner, Madison decided to try her luck with him first.

Madison knocked on the door and waited for an answer. Li opened the door and looked like a wreck.

"Hey, Li. What's up?"

Li shook his head. "It hasn't been going too well. Have you heard from Sakura at all today?"

"Um…no, I haven't. Have you?"

"She hasn't talked to me all day."

Now Madison was getting worried. "Li…you two didn't have a fight…did you?"

"No, no!" Li backtracked. "But…something IS wrong…and she's not telling me."

By now, Madison learned not to worry about Sakura as much as she used to. She had come to learn that when Sakura was ready to come to her with her problems, she would be there. All that remained was for Li to relax and stop getting so stressed out, since he looked like he hadn't gotten any sleep at all.

"Li, you two have been through a lot together," Madison began. "She'll tell you when she's ready. In fact, knowing Sakura, she might say something sooner than you think."

"Madison, you don't understand…"

"There's hardly a moment when you two didn't talk to each other. You've always been comfortable around each other. Well…except for a FEW times. Remember…seven years ago?"

Li shot Madison a glance. The same glance that seemed to say, "A lot happened seven years ago."

"Well…seven years ago…when our class was doing Sleeping Beauty."

Li almost turned white. "We agreed we would NEVER speak of that again!"

So far, one of Madison's objectives was completed. Li's mind was off Sakura. Now it was time to follow through and hopefully, this would leave Li in a much better state than when Madison first came in.

"Oh, Li. I think the only one who took it worse than you was Sakura. I still remember that day we picked our parts…"


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


Flashback: Reedington Elementary

P.O.V.: Madison Taylor

This was a special day. It was that time of year again. It was time to begin planning this year's Literary Fest. And after yesterday, everyone voted on a play. The only question was…which play?

Ms. Mackenzie decided to clear that up. "The other class decided on an ancient Japanese story, so I decided why not go with a western story?"

Everyone loved that idea, but Madison couldn't help but see a blank stare on her best friend Sakura's face. She appeared to be deep in thought.

~* She told me about her dream…and she told me about seeing Ms. Mackenzie. She's probably thinking about her. That must be…why she has such a big smile on her face. *~

Ms. Mackenzie smiled herself. "Since we're all in agreement, here's our play. We'll be doing…Sleeping Beauty."

Every girl in the room became ecstatic upon hearing that, Madison included. And that was the announcement that finally got Sakura out of her dazed state. Her emerald green eyes lit up.

"I'd like for everyone to have a chance to play any role," Ms. Mackenzie continued. "So we're each going to pick our parts at random."

~* Drawing lots? That means I could end up with anything…and so could Sakura. I wonder what would happen…if I drew the princess…and Sakura drew the prince? No…that could never happen. I would never be that lucky. *~

Everyone got out of their seats and went up with their piece of paper. Madison stood right by Sakura and she couldn't help but notice she looked very nervous.

"I wonder what part I'm getting…"

Madison offered a comforting thought. "Don't worry about it, Sakura. Whatever part you get…I can make the costume for you."

Sakura sweatdropped and giggled nervously. "Oh…great…" Then she stopped upon seeing Ms. Mackenzie.

"You don't need to be nervous, Sakura," the teacher offered. "It will be very soon."

It almost seemed like an unusual exchange. But after everyone got back to their seats, Li Shoran put in his two cents.

"She said 'it will be very soon'."

Sakura blinked. "What will be very soon?"

"I don't know," Li replied. "But it means she DOES have something in store."

Ms. Mackenzie seemed to put the whole thing behind her rather easily. "And now we'll reveal the results."

That's when Meilin had a thought of her own. "Um…Sleeping Beauty is the story of a sleeping princess…who was woken up by the kiss of a prince…right?"

Madison nodded. "That's right."

Now it was Meilin who got ecstatic. "That means…I could be the princess…and Li could be the prince."

Li sweatdropped. That possibility obviously hadn't crossed his mind.

~* Well…I guess EVERYONE has their ideal combination for prince and princess. *~

Ms. Mackenzie finally revealed the results. "The one who will play the prince is……Sakura Avalon."

Sakura gasped. "M-M-Me?"

~* Sakura…the prince? T-That means…it really COULD happen!! *~

Madison was on the edge of her seat as the other announcement came.

"And the one who will play the princess is……Li Shoran."

Madison felt her world come crashing down. She looked over to see Sakura mortified beyond belief. And then she looked over to see that Meilin was ready to explode. Li, on the other hand, looked like he was about to faint.

Sakura, Madison, and Meilin all became indignant. "WHAT?!?!?!"

Li only let out a tiny squeak. "Huh?"

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

[Li: I had no idea you wanted that part so bad.]

[Madison: I can't deny that I was disappointed, but I got over it. Personally, I saw this as another opportunity. And Kero saw an opportunity of his own.]


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


Flashback: Sakura's House

P.O.V.: Madison Taylor

Sakura couldn't get over it. "I still can't believe it!"

Kero hadn't heard the whole story. "Is it THAT bad? I mean, sure, it might seem kinda awkward to be playing the part of a…guy. But it can't be THAT bad."

"I see it as a great opportunity!" Madison said cheerfully. "I can't wait to make your costume! You'll make such a cute prince! Oh, I hope the teachers will let me make your costume! I can't wait!"

Sakura sweatdropped. "You know…you're probably the only one in here looking forward to any of this."

"Must be pretty bad," Kero thought. "So who's playing the princess?"

Sakura hesitated. "………Li."

Kero tried hard to hold it in, but couldn't. "The brat? The brat…is playing…a girl? The brat…is playing the princess? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!" He couldn't hold it in. Kero fell over and was on the floor, nearly in tears over laughing so hard.

Sakura didn't find it so funny. "Kero!"

Madison couldn't help but giggle, too. "I'm sure Li will make a lovely princess. I'll have to make him a cute costume, too."

"It's not like I could help any of this," Sakura huffed. "Ms. Mackenzie made us pick at random."

Kero finally got serious. "Wait. Ms. Mackenzie? Your teacher? The same teacher you've been seeing in your dream?"

"That's her."

"There's something different about her. Why would you see her in your dream? And why would the brat always be so cautious around her? And why…do I sense she has some power? Well, that does it. I'm going to the Literary Fest, too."

"What?"

"I need to see this Ms. Mackenzie for myself. And…I want to see my prince in action!"

Sakura suddenly caught on. "Kero, you just want to go to the Literary Fest, don't you? You just don't want to be left behind."

"You know me so well, Sakura. Of course I want to go. It'll be fun."

"That's for sure," Madison grinned. Then she turned to Sakura. "Um…Sakura…can I take your measurements again?"

"Again? You just took them last week!"

"But I want you to look cute for Li."

That didn't make Sakura feel any more comfortable. She was obviously a little scared about starring opposite Li.

"Sakura, don't worry about Li. I think it's great that he's the princess."

"You do?"

"Yeah! When I heard you got to play the prince, I was hoping he'd be the princess."

~* Oh…how did I say that with a straight face? I feel like such a liar. *~

"You think I can do this?" Sakura asked.

"Absolutely!" Madison smiled. "Um…I just need Li's measurements, too."

"You can get them tomorrow. But for right now, let's just take mine."

Cheerfully, Madison took out her measuring tape. She began to take Sakura's measurements and was already getting ideas of what kind of costume to make her. She didn't doubt that Sakura would look beautiful. Sakura made anything beautiful. The only problem was…Madison had never made…a man's costume for Sakura.

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

[Li: You mean that stuffed animal was laughing at me?]

[Madison: It was just kinda funny to picture you in a dress.]

[Li: And all YOU could worry about was making the costumes?]

[Madison: That's right. Oh, but I heard you and Sakura had bigger problems a few days later.]

[Li: I know we were just…rehearsing…but still…that should have been a special moment…]


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


Flashback: Reedington Elementary

P.O.V.: Li Shoran

Li did not feel comfortable with this. Every time he looked over his lines, he kept picturing himself wearing a dress. He was glad his mother and sisters were in Hong Kong, otherwise it would have been worse. As it stood now, this was only horribly embarrassing. Li couldn't picture himself rehearsing for a…girl's part. But there he was, waiting inside the classroom.

"Hi, Li!"

And there she was. Sakura finally arrived and she looked excited to say the least. She didn't appear to feel awkward over getting the part…of a guy.

Sakura looked out the window. "You got here even earlier than I thought."

Li said nothing. For as long as they've known each other, Sakura still couldn't figure that Li was ALWAYS punctual.

"You know…it's such nice weather…why don't we practice outside?"

Li nodded. He still wasn't saying much. This whole thing was getting to him. But something else made him feel awkward. Maybe it was the fact that he was starring opposite Sakura. That made him feel…weird.

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

[Li: We went outside to practice. It didn't take too long, but just when we were finishing up…with the really good part…]


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


Flashback: Outside Reedington Elementary

P.O.V.: Li Shoran

NOW things were starting to get awkward. It was time to practice one of the play's main scenes. Li was on his back 'asleep' while Sakura was looking down upon him and reciting her lines.

"Oh, what a beautiful princess! If I can wake the princess with my kiss…I swear by this sword…I will love this beautiful princess of the forest of thorns with all my heart. And with this kiss…"

There was a brief hesitation.

~* Why do I feel like my heart's about to leap out of my chest? Why is she taking so long? I feel so weird. But…this feeling's kinda familiar. Wait! That's…A CLOW CARD! *~

Li quickly rose up, startling Sakura.

"Li? What's wrong?"

Li couldn't get a single word off…before the two of them were surrounded by a huge sandstorm. Then there was an incoming tidal wave of sand. Sakura didn't see it coming and was caught off-guard. Li, on the other hand, was ready and he reached for his sword.

"Now, element: Wind!"

Li's wind spell delayed the approaching wave of sand while Sakura called on her Clow Key. She called on her wand and quickly reached for their only means of escape.

"Fly!"

Sensing this was no time to argue, like he had done so many times before, Li got on Sakura's wand without hesitation. They flew away from the wave of sand just as it crashed down on the spot where they had been rehearsing.

~* I…was…THAT close! *~

"Li, where did this come from?" Sakura asked. "I didn't even sense it!"

"Me neither!" Li confessed. "This is bad! If this is the Sand Card, then we're in a lot of trouble!"

For the moment, there was nothing they could do. Sakura skillfully maneuvered around the sand and they had managed to stay safe so far, but Li knew they couldn't go on like this forever.

~* There has to be a way to stop it. But how can I stop sand? ……I got it! *~

In the blink of an eye and before Sakura could stop him, Li jumped down.

"Li, NO!"

Li jumped right in the middle of the sand, which by now had formed into a whirlpool. Sakura tried to come after him, but Li waved her back.

"Sakura, wait! Just do what I tell you! Call Water!"

Sakura still wanted to come to Li's aid, but there was no arguing with him on this one. She reached in for the Water Card.

"Water Card! Release and dispel!"

Water quickly came out in a flood and started to envelop the sand. With enough water, that gave Li the opportunity he needed. He reached for his sword…and one of his own Clow Cards.

"Freeze Card!"

The Freeze Card was all they needed. The wet sand was frozen into a block of ice and was rendered motionless. Sakura landed and sealed the card.

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

After interrupting what was supposed to be a tender moment, Sand was sealed. And once it was sealed, it floated into the air momentarily…and came to…both Sakura AND Li. They each had a hand on it. Li looked over to see that Sakura was surprised…and blushing.

~* What's SHE looking at? And why do I still feel weird? *~

Then Sakura let go of the card. "You take it, Li."

Li didn't expect that. "Me? You want me to have it?"

Sakura nodded and smiled. "I owe you one. You were the one who came up with the idea for me to use Water. AND…you let me have the Cloud Card. It's the least I could do to pay you back."

Li still didn't want to take it. "You DO know we're competing for these, right?"

Sakura nodded again. "But this card is rightfully yours, Li. Take it."

Li let off a cocky smirk. "You know you're not getting this back right?"

Sakura frowned. She was once again on the receiving end of Li Shoran's huge ego. "It's almost time for class to start. Let's go inside."

But Sakura didn't wait for Li. She just got up and walked towards the classroom, leaving him behind.

~* What? Was it something I said? *~


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


"Well you sure know how to ruin a tender moment, don't you?"

"I didn't mean for it to come out like that," Li replied. "But I didn't expect her to just hand me the Sand Card. It just took me by surprise."

Madison sighed. "I remember Sakura didn't talk to you at all for the rest of that day. Maybe part of that was because she was nervous about the Literary Fest."

Li interrupted Madison's flow with a cold glare. "Madison…what was the point of this whole story?"

"I was TRYING to get your mind off your troubles. I don't want to see you like this. You're a total wreck. Whatever's wrong, I'm sure it's not that bad."

"But that's the whole problem," Li pointed out. "I DON'T know what's wrong. Sakura won't tell me."

Ever the optimist, Madison smiled. "Then maybe she'll tell me."


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


A few minutes later, Madison was back in her room. She didn't know what made her think Sakura would tell her anything if she wouldn't tell Li. But being best of friends for more than ten years gave Madison hope that Sakura would confide in her. With that thought in mind, Madison picked up the phone and dialed that number.

"Hello?"

"Sakura, it's me."

"Oh…hi, Madison."

"What's wrong?"

"Um…nothing…"

"Sakura, you can't hide anything from me. You should see poor Li. He's going crazy because he knows something's wrong with you. Now come on, Sakura. What's the matter?"

"Madison…I……"

Silence.

"Sakura, please. You're my best friend. You can tell me anything."

"Well…it's like this. Madison…did you ever wonder if we managed to keep EVERYTHING a secret? About the cards, I mean?"

"I felt a little nervous, but we covered everything up so well. What are you trying to say, Sakura?"

"Madison…somebody knew. Tori knew. He knew about me the whole time."

"What? …Are you serious?"

"Madison, he knew! He didn't know from the beginning, but I have a feeling he knew since before we met Yue."

"But how?"

"I don't know. But I should have seen it sooner. I overheard him talking with Julian about talking with Mirror on the day I went out to get the Cloud Card. I should have known he caught me a few days later…a few days after we drew our parts for Sleeping Beauty."

It was the funniest thing. Madison had just finished talking with Li about that day. Was there something else about that time she missed?

"What happened?"

"The day I woke up to go practice early with Li…"


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


Flashback: Sakura's House

P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon

Sakura couldn't help but notice Kero woke up a little irate. It was because Sakura had set…MANY alarm clocks to wake her up. It was to ensure that she didn't oversleep since she had to rehearse with Li.

Sakura got dressed and rushed downstairs where Tori was making breakfast. He almost looked surprised.

"You're up early, squirt."

"So are you," Sakura shot back.

"I just happened to be up around this time and I decided to fix breakfast. Of course, if you don't WANT anything…"

"Hey, I'll eat it."

Sakura took her plate of pancakes and started eating quickly. She started to think about what could make Tori get up so early, but then she remembered she had her own worries. A lump hit her throat when she thought about playing the prince, a part written for a male.

"Sakura…remember a few days ago when you were sick? Well…don't do any crazy things like that again."

~* Huh? What's THAT supposed to mean? *~

Tori went on like he said nothing. Sakura shot him a quizzical glance, but got no further with her brother. Instead of trying to pry further, Sakura picked up her things and walked out.


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


"He knew about me. He knew the whole time and I never saw it."

"I can't believe it. And he hasn't said anything all these years?"

"No. But then again, why should he? I never told HIM anything about MY secret."

Madison sighed through her nose, knowing Sakura made a valid point. Brothers and sisters often kept secrets from each other, but never secrets of this magnitude.

"Is there anything else he knows that we don't?" Madison asked.

"There is ONE more thing…but I don't want to get into that."

"So is that what has you on edge lately?"

There was silence on the other line. And Madison had a feeling that Sakura was ready to come clean with what was troubling her.

"If I tell you…do you promise not to tell anybody?"

"Is it that bad?"

"Just promise me!"

"Ok, I promise."

"Well…ok. I had a dream. And in that dream…I saw me…and Tori. And we had told each other our secrets…but then…"


Author's Note: I seem to be quickly building to a whole new story with this and that's good since THIS story is coming close to an end. Anyway, come back next time…if you're still interested.


Any comments? Then mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below!