Author's note: *...* signifies thought.

Chapter 5: Kero's Advice

Syaoran strolled home lazily, thinking. He held the top loop of his backpack in one hand, his hat in the other. His arms swung slightly back and forth with his stride. Suddenly, he snapped straight up, eyes beaming with his new idea.

"I've got it! I've got to call Kero!" Syaoran began to skip home, but halted promptly after getting a few strange looks. He stopped, cleared his throat, and tried to to walk home with dignity.

In the sanctuary of his apartment, Syaoran practically ripped the zipper off his backpack trying to get to his phone. He hastily dialed the number. The phone seemed to ring forever!

"Hey! What's up?" Kero answered cheerily.

"It's me," Syaoran replied, trying to sound calm.

"Oh, it's you," Kero growled in annoyance. "I'll get Sakura-chan..."

"No! Wait!" Syaoran exclaimed, then returned to his previous seemingly passive attitude. "What's something Sakura-kun really likes?"

"Hmm..." Syaoran envisioned Kero rubbing his chin. "Well, she really likes cherry blossoms and noodles. Why?"

Syaoran was already processing this information. He quickly said goodbye and hung up the phone, eager to put his plan into action.

***

Syaoran checked his watch as he walked down the busy street. Five-thirty. He still had half an hour, and the library was only a block from the jewelry shop.

A little bell chimed as Syaoran walked in the small jeweler's. A kindly middle-aged lady greeted him with a smile.

"How may I help you?" she inquired.

Syaoran asked a little nervously, "Do you have any silver necklaces with a cherry blossom on them?"

The lady thought for a moment. "I don't know," she answered with a shrug. "We can check, though." She guided him through the glass-bound cases. In the corner of one of the smaller cases was the perfect necklace: a lightweight silver rope chain with a small pink crystal cherry blossom hanging from it.

"Wow. That's exactly it!" Syaoran exclaimed. The lady smiled again. She took it to the register and rang it up. Syaoran paid for it and rushed out the door, afraid of being late.

Syaoran quickly stopped, however. He felt an evil force. *Where is it coming from?*, he thought silently. He spun on his toe to face the direction of the powerful energy. "There!" he yelled, and ran that way. As he was running, he called his sword. He always felt better when he was armed. As he approached the power that he had concluded was a Clow Card, he saw Sakura there. He ran up to her.

"Are you okay?" he asked urgently, glancing at her for marks of blood. He noticed a large gash above her knee.

"I'm fine...I think," she replied weakly.

"No, you're not! You're bleeding!" Syaoran ran to her side. "I'll take care of this! What card is it, anyway?"

"The Destruction Card," Kero informed them. "That explains all of this rubble. This is one of the most powerful cards. You can't defeat it yourself, Syaoran."

Syaoran looked grave. *Sakura can't fight in her condition,* he thought. *I can tell she's used almost all of her magic as it is. Maybe...*

"Sakura! Call the Shield Card, quick!" Syaoran told her.

"Shield Card, I call upon you! Encase us in shields that will deflect Destruction's attacks!" Sakura raised her wand, then touched its beak-shaped tip to the card. Three glass bubbles formed around Syaoran, Sakura, and Kero.

"What now, Kero?" Sakura asked, but Syaoran was already charging the tornado-shaped demon. He focused all of his bodily and spiritual energy in the blade of his sword. With a loud cry, he jumped and attacked the thing head on. His blade sliced, and the energy released with a loud hiss.