Author's Note: It's time for me to continue on. This series is also coming towards the end and once it ends, I'll begin on my next work, which is something I've been subtly leading up to.
Summary: Obviously unable to think at home, Sakura decides to take a stroll…at the beach. And something out there begins to make her remember the past.
Episode 50- Recalling the Wave Card and Surfing
The beach was getting lonely. Everyone was beginning to empty out and Sakura was pretty much the only one who wasn't moving. She was sitting by the shore, feeling the ocean breeze against her skin. And wearing a short-sleeved shirt, Sakura could feel the chilly breeze. Sakura closed her eyes and just listened to the calm sounds of the water and winds, allowing the faint sounds of nature calm her nerves.
**RING**
Or she did until her cellular phone rang. Sakura picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Sakura? It's me. I called you at home and Kero said you were taking a walk. Where are you?"
"I'm just taking a walk on the beach, Madison. I just…need some time to think."
"Are you still thinking about that dream?"
"I can't get it out of my mind. I was hoping that hearing the waves would calm me down."
"The waves? You mean you can still talk about calm waves after what happened seven years ago?"
Sakura sweatdropped. "Madison…!"
"Oh…sorry. I guess it WASN'T a good time for me to mention that."
"You can say that again. I remember that day. It was a total disaster. It was just supposed to be a regular day at the beach…"
~--------------------~
Flashback: The Beach
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
Sakura could feel the burning rays of the sun on her back. This had been a wonderful day at the beach. Sakura was enjoying herself along with Madison and Li. And after a refreshing beach volleyball game and a swim in the ocean, Sakura just…wanted to lie under the sun for a while.
"Sakura! I'm hungry!"
Sakura moaned softly and reached into her bag for a cup of pudding before putting it in her cooler, where Kero decided to stay while at the beach. Kero dug in and let Sakura continue soaking some rays…until Madison got her attention.
"Wow…they're good."
Sakura sat up and looked out into the distance. She saw Madison was being fascinated by the surfers. Sakura couldn't help but notice them, either. They were…graceful in the way that they rode the waves. They daringly faced the rough ocean head on.
"That's not so impressive."
Sakura looked back to see Li holding three drinks and he had come back just in time to see the girls looking at the surfers.
"What makes you say that?" Sakura asked curiously. "Can you do any better?"
Li sweatdropped. "Well…"
"Wait a minute!" Kero raised his head out of the cooler. "Sakura…don't you feel anything?"
Sakura was about to ask what he meant, but that's when she began to sense it. "It feels like…a Clow Card."
Kero bowed his head and scratched his head in thought. "A Clow Card…out here? Which one could it be?"
Suddenly, a panic could be heard coming from the ocean.
"We've already sealed most of them," Kero continued, unaware of the panic. "Which Clow Card could possibly be out in the beach?"
People out in the ocean were screaming as swimmers and surfers were scrambling to get back onto the shore.
"There just isn't a card I can think of off the top of my head," Kero went on.
Madison pointed towards the water. "Um…could it be something out there?"
Sakura looked out and saw that the ocean was becoming violent. Waves were crashing down with extreme ferocity and people were scrambling to get out of the ocean.
"Um…it looks like Water," Sakura guessed. "But I sealed Water. What else could it be?"
Kero finally figured it out. "The only other card that could do this is the Wave Card!"
"What's the Wave Card?" Madison asked. "As if I needed to ask?"
"The Wave Card can create waves of immense magnitude," Kero answered. "It's one of the more mysterious Clow Cards because I'm not totally sure whether it needs water to make its waves. But it's got plenty of water at its disposal."
"What should I look for, Kero?" Sakura asked. "What's the Wave Card look like?"
"That's the other problem," Kero replied. "The Wave Card has no true visible form, not like the other Clow Cards anyway. You're going to have to trust your instincts and be able to sense its presence before you can seal it. And that means you'll have to go into those waves."
"B-But isn't that dangerous?" Sakura stammered.
"We don't have a choice," Kero responded.
~* Great. I know I'm a good swimmer, but I can't go straight into THAT. Not by myself. *~
As if he read her mind, Li put a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "I'll help."
Sakura smiled. "Thanks, Li. Then let's go!"
Sakura ran towards the ocean with her friends following close behind. She stopped as soon as the cold tide brushed against her feet. Sakura still wasn't 100% confident.
Suddenly, Li bent down and made a discovery. "Hey, a surfboard. Someone just left it here."
"That's great!" Kero exclaimed. "Just what you need. Something to get you right into those waves."
Madison got her camera ready. "All right! I've never gotten a tape of you surfing, Sakura."
Sakura gulped nervously. She boarded the board…but didn't notice Li was also boarding it.
"Well…we both fit, don't we?" he asked.
"I guess," Sakura stuttered.
~----------~
[Madison: Oh yeah. I remember you had everything under control.]
[Sakura: Under control?! Let me tell you what else happened…]
~--------------------~
Flashback: The Fresh Ocean
P.O.V.: Sakura Avalon
The surfboard went along slowly at first. Sakura struggled to get to an upright position on the surfboard. Li tried to steady her as he also tried to stand straight.
"Hey, watch those hands!"
"Well, sorry. Would you rather fall?"
"Um…good point."
The board started going a little faster and Sakura felt more nervous as she approached the violent waves. The waves were coming closer and Sakura approached them, she held her Clow key.
"Key of Clow. Power of magic. Power of light. Surrender the wand. The force, ignite! Release!"
Sakura clutched her wand close to her as Li continued moving the board towards the waves. As they got closer, Sakura felt more butterflies flutter around her stomach.
"Well…I guess this is your chance to show me how good a surfer you are," Sakura uttered nervously.
"Huh? I never said I was a good surfer," Li replied. "I just said those guys weren't that great."
"What? Then how good a surfer are you?" Sakura demanded.
Li sweatdropped. "Um…to be honest…I've…never surfed before."
"HOE?!?!"
As if on cue, here came the waves. The waves rose to blinding heights, taking the surfboard with them. Unfortunately, since neither Sakura nor Li had ever surfed before…they instantly wiped out.
Sakura could feel the water all over her. She felt waterlogged as she tried to scream but couldn't let anything out through the water. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Sakura raised her head out of the ocean. She coughed uncontrollably, trying to clear her throat of all the salty water. Then she looked around and made a horrible realization.
"Li? Li? Li, where are you?! LI!"
Li was nowhere to be found. Sakura felt her heart sink. Had he drowned? Did the waves send him crashing towards the bottom of the ocean. Was he lost? Sakura wanted to find him, but she could hardly think of anything at the moment. The waves were still going and they began to crash down onto Sakura, throwing her around.
Sakura could barely coordinate herself. She managed to maintain a grip on her wand and was ready to strike at any time, but she couldn't get in any position where she could seal the card. But there was no mistaking that she felt the Wave Card's presence.
~* I just need to gather myself. I can do this. I have to…for Li! *~
Sakura desperately tried to get in a position where she could seal the card, but the waves kept on coming. Finally, Sakura was thrown down and a she saw a huge wave coming towards her. It was towering over Sakura and would've crushed her. But Sakura was ready. She had her wand ready and she knew she had to time this just right. But as she was about to make her move…
"Freeze Card!"
…the Freeze Card came out of nowhere and froze the water. The humongous wave was frozen solid. Sakura looked out to her left to see…
"Li! You're alive!"
Li smirked. "Takes more than a wave to beat me. Good thing I took out the Freeze Card."
Sakura tried to move, but suddenly realized something. "Li! My legs! They're still in the water! They're frozen!"
"Yeah, well so are mine!" Li shot back. "But they won't be for long, just as long as you seal the card!"
Sakura sweatdropped. "Oh…yeah. Wave Card! Return to your power confined! Wave!"
Sakura successfully sealed the Wave Card and it flew over to Li (A/N: Hey, it's MY story and I say it went to Li). Once Li had the card in his hand, he recalled Freeze…which refreshed Sakura, but she still felt extremely cold. She was so cold, she almost sank into the ocean, but Li swam over and caught her in his arms.
Sakura couldn't help but blush.
~--------------------~
"Yeah…I remember that day. The waves are pretty calm right now compared to then. Right now, I just need time alone to think."
"Do you know what you're going to do yet, Sakura?"
"I still don't know. I have to figure out what I saw…and how I can keep…IT…from happening. Right now, the best thing I can do is NOT tell Li."
"What about Tori?"
"Madison, I can't keep my secret from him anymore. I HAVE to tell Tori. Well…I know he knows, but…I have to tell him myself. It's like a lie. I can't lie to him anymore. I have to tell him the truth…about me."
"Even after what you saw?"
"It's a risk I have to take. But the risk to Li is a lot greater and I can't risk his life."
"Well…good luck, Sakura. You know I'm behind you…right?"
"Of course. You're my best friend. But still…I appreciate it, Madison. Thanks."
"No problem. So I guess I'll just leave you to think. Good night, Sakura."
"Good night, Madison."
And with that, Sakura hung up…and began to think. There had to be something she could do. If this was like any of her other dreams, Sakura wouldn't be able to keep it from coming true. So she HAD to keep it from Li. No matter what.
His life depended on it.
Author's Note: Sorry, people. I don't mean for the buildup to be SO SLOW, but that's just the way it is. And I'm sure you all must be curious. All I can say is…keep reading.
Any comments? Then mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below.
