The Clow Tablets

Tomoeda, Japan

In Tomoeda, Japan, a 19 year old girl sat at her window. To all outward appearances, Komonodo Sakura was looking out at her garden. If you got close enough, you could tell she was watching a scene far away, in her past.

Her emerald eyes misted over as the private little movie screen in her mind came to a halt.

She looked at the item in her hand that had triggered the onslaught of memories. It wasn't unusual for her to think of him. Not a day went by when she didn't.

"Syoaran," she whispered as she dropped the item. Silent tears fell down her delicately featured face. She put her head in her hands and wept.

She wept for her childhood friendship drifting away, and for her adult-like feelings of love which would never become.

Kero flew down to his mistresses' feet and swooped up the card. He placed it on her bed so the paper wouldn't become damaged. As much as he disliked it's sender he realized this must be important to Sakura. She wouldn't want it ruined by her own tears.

Lying on her bed was a card from Syoaran. It had a cheery little hallmark greeting but the message itself was very impersonal.

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In Hong Kong Li Syoaran was searching his room, looking for his Christmas tradition. He didn't mean for it to become a tradition when he received it years ago. In his mind he was berating himself for the card he sent Sakura.

He had made it so impersonal, To Sakura, From Li Syoaran. Couldn't he have signed it love, or maybe put a nice message? Something like; how are the cards doing; say hi to kero for me; get over here and marry me so I can make...

His head snapped up. Where did that one come from? Unfortunately he was under his bed at the moment. No pain resulted from this thanks to his years of training. He finally found the object he was searching for. It was in a cedar filled chest filled with pictures and newspaper clippings of his time in Tomoeda.

He looked at a picture of Sakura and himself. Her infectious smile had made him smirk slightly in the picture. A smile played on his lips as he deposited a tape in the VCR.

The tape was given to him the Christmas after he left for home. It had been a present from Tomoyo and Sakura. Every Christmas since, he had made a point of watching it. When he watched it wasn't only limited to the holidays but also when he was feeling melancholy.

           On the TV screen Sakura and Tomoyo were sweetly smiling at him.

           "We just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas Li-kun, the best way we know how." Tomoyo said.

           "And to tell you not to forget us. We sure won't forget you." Sakura said with tears in her eyes. Tomoyo looked at her strangely then turned back to the camera.

           "Now our feature presentation."

           A little picture of Kero came up. "Hey gaki, don't forget to write." He then turned into his real form and roared. Sakura, in the background, made an announcement.

           "This has been a Daijouji production." Opening credits came on showing scenes from many of their easier battles.

           Then, in chronological order, the greatest card captors' conquests came on. The tape was a couple hours long. He would hate to see how time-consuming a tape with everything Tomoyo filmed would be.

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Sakura turned off her VCR. She had this sudden urge to see him in motion again. She looked out her window and noticed a shooting star. She quickly made a wish that would change her life forever.

"Please, bring him back to me."

           She soon fell asleep, only to be assailed by a vision. In her revelation was a man dressed in some sort of ceremonial robes. He looked old and wise. Also a bit wizened but that was besides the point.

           They were in some type of temple. Ancient hieroglyphics were on the walls and ceiling. The man started to talk to her in a crusty old voice.

"Sakura, there is an additional dilemma you must tackle. The clow tablets have fallen to earth tonight. You must journey around the world and assemble them before the apocalypse arrives."

"Apocalypse?"

           "Yes Sakura, in order to beat your newest foe you must collect all eight tablets. The world and all it's people are counting on you." He started to fade away.

           "Wait! Who are you? How will I find the tablets?"

           "You'll see in your dreams."

           Sakura sat up in her bed. Sweat was dripping off of her face and trickling a cold path down her back. She shivered involuntarily as she made her way to the bathroom. She couldn't decide whether to tell Kero or not. The decision was made for her as a head popped out of a drawer.

           "Hey Sakura, you had a vision, didn't you?"

           "How could you tell?"

           "Your aura. So what was it about?"

           "Something to do with the Clow tablets."

           "The Clow tablets! That means the apocalypse is near. It is a honor to be chosen for both the cards and the tablets."

           "How will I find them, Kero?"

           "They are hidden all around the globe. You must travel to get them. You most likely will see them in your dreams."

           Sakura yawned and went back to sleep. In her dream she saw a skyscraper and the street it was on. It showed her trying to get into a building with no success.

           When Sakura opened her eyes it was already light out. She looked at her clock. It was already lunch time. Good job Tomoyo and she had decided to take a year off before going to university. The end of the world couldn't have came at a better time.

           Maybe Tomoyo could accompany her on the trip. She was planning on doing a bit of traveling this year anyway.

           "Kero, do you think Tomoyo can come with us?"

           "I don't think it will matter if you bring any friends along with you."

           "Great lets go talk to her now." She yanked Kero out the door with her. She ran into the kitchen and jerked open the fridge door.

"Hey, Kaijiu, can't you ever wake up on time?"

Sakura figured the best way to respond to this was to ignore him. Older brothers could be so annoying yet over protective sometimes. Who was she kidding? He was annoying and overprotective all the time.

"Why do you still carry that stuffed animal around? Aren't you a little to old for a teddy bear?"

"The difference between you and I, Touya is I have matured over the years while you have remained the same. I don't need a security blanket, or toy. Whereas you, my dear brother, still carry around your lucky handkerchief." She grabbed the sandwich out of his hand and took off with it.

"Thanks for lunch Touya, I'm in a hurry." With that she was out the front door heading for Tomoyo's house.

"You know Kero, I forgot all about asking my family if I can go. I hope they say yes."

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Sakura was automatically let in to Tomoyo's mansion. Tomoyo opened the door for Sakura and they both went into the entertainment room.

"What is it Sakura? I know your dying to tell me something."

"I have to go on another quest. This time for the Clow tablets."

"Clow tablets?"

          Sakura filled her in on the two dreams she had the night before.

"Oh my God! Do you think I'll be able to go? I want to get it all on camera."

"Come on Sakura, it will be fun. You let me get it on camera and I'll pay for it."

"That's not fair to you. Do you think your mom will let you come?"

"Let's see… MOM!"

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"My mom say's she wants to come too. She insists on paying all the expenses too." A dejected Tomoyo told her best friend.

"It's ok, that just means I'll have more of a chance of going myself. If my dad knows I have a chaperone he will probably jump at the chance for me to further my education."

"That's good, because my mom is on the phone asking right now. She thinks it's her own idea and wants to check with him before she asks you. Let's hope they can get be nice to each other long enough for her to mention it."

"You my friend are good, very good. How did you get her not only to think it was her idea, but excited enough to call up her enemy. I wish they would just get along."

"Sakura, your father wishes to speak to you." Sonomi spit out from the next room. The venom in her voice when she said father, rang in their ears. Sakura picked up the phone, to hear her father say some biting remark to Tomoyo's mom.

"Dad?" the sound of the phone being slammed down on her side assailed her ears.

"So Sakura, Tomoyo's mother is planning a trip around the world for the three of you. Do you want to go? I trust Daidouji Sonomi, just don't tell her I said that."

"You mean I can go."

"Why not?"

"Alright! Thank you dad!"

She hung up the phone after they said goodbye and turned to Tomoyo's mother, who had just came in the room.

"When are we going Daidouji-sama?"

"Why don't we go a week from today? We can get the Christmas rush out of the way. I have an idea, lets go to Tokyo first and decide from there."

So it was decided they would drive out to Tokyo two days after Christmas. As Sakura left, Tomoyo took her aside.

"I have the perfect ideas for new clothing. I'll give them to you for Christmas. A new coat, some beautiful dresses, and of course a battle suit or two…"

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Christmas came and went. Touya was still sulking over the fact she was going away. He was upset because she was leaving his little circle of protection, she hated to tell him his protection wasn't needed anymore; after all she had been trained by the best. He gave her some travel books for Christmas, money and a calling card; She was instructed to use all 10 hours of calls to tell him where she was at what moment.   She was tempted to leave it home, but decided he would probably come after her if she did. She was also given some luggage, more money, and many of Tomoyo's incredible creations. She was extremely thankful for the new luggage; Tomoyo's feelings would be hurt if she didn't bring all of her new clothes.

Sakura had been saving her money for years on a pipe dream. She dreamed she could go to Hong Kong to see Syoaran. This left her with about five thousand dollars American.  She knew it wasn't a lot of money.   Thank God her trip was already paid for.

She was all packed and ready to go, all she needed to do is stuff Kero in her over-packed carry-on.   The Clow Cards were in the book and tucked safely away among other books.   For once she was early, or was Tomoyo late?   Nervously she twisted the material in her new light pink travel suit.   Tomoyo had a tendency to add little cherry blossoms to some part of all the clothes.   It was Sakura's signature, she said calmly while stitching the one with a wolf cub under the cherry tree.   It was Sakura's favorite outfit, but it was embarrassing when people figured out the connection between the cub, and Li-kun.

A sedan pulled up and Sonomi's bodyguards got out of it and paroled the premises before letting the Daidouji's out of their sports car.   Sakura scowled at the guards and they frowned back at her.   Glaring she walked down the front steps, her foot caught on a branch and she tumbled down the last step.   Touya caught the back of her travel suit just before her nose crashed into the cement.   Any store bought clothes would have ripped with the amount of weight put on it; but Tomoyo doesn't make shoddy garments, only the best.

Touya grumbled a bit about how his little sister was already in trouble and she wasn't even out of the yard yet.   He mumbled about cars crashing and planes running out of fuel.   After he received his hug from Sakura he ran in to get some consolation from his best friend.

Sakura turned and hugged and kissed her dad goodbye.   With tears in his eyes he asked her to be careful.

"Watched out for strange men, kaijuii!"   Touya called from the door.   His hand closed around his lucky hanky as he dialed the number to Yukito's house.

She got into the forest green sports car and headed on her way to Tokyo; with Kero in his place in her carry-on.

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Disclaimer!  This is my second CCS story.   The first one is called Shadow Man, The Dawn.   I have two Gundam Wing stories too.   They are called:  This Is Not My Day; which is humourous with a bit of romance & Must I Kill You? which is romance, action/adventure, with a bit of humour.   If you liked this then why not go read them.   Please and Thank you.