Chapter 2: The Capture
The person had long silky black hair, tied into long pigtails. They wore stylish light blue Capri's on their legs and a red Japanese T-shirt with flowers on it.
"Meilin!" Sakura grinned. "Hey!" Madison called.
The class errupted with chatter, as Meilin Rae emerged from the hall into the classroom. "Welcome back, Meilin!" Miss Mackenzie greeted.
"Thanks, it feels great to be back!" Meilin grinned, as she took her seat near Li, behind Madison and diagonal from Sakura.
Everyone gathered around Meilin. "How was it in Japan?" some asked, while others smiled and told her "I'm so glad you're back – what a great surprise!"
Meilin smiled widely at all of the attention. Sakura smiled warmly at her, and so did Madison.
"So how do you feel about Meilin coming back?" Sakura turned around in her seat, and talked to Li.
Li sweat dropped. "Let's just say, I've had better days…"
Sakura sweat dropped.
"Class, class!" Miss Mackenzie hushed the class, and everyone returned to their seats. "It's wonderful to have Meilin as a part of our class again, but our class will proceed as normal."
"So, how long are you staying?" Sakura whispered to her. Meilin smiled.
"I'm not sure yet, probably around two to four weeks."
"That's so cool that you're back," Madison smiled her trademark smile.
"So, how is it going with the you-know-what's?" Meilin asked Sakura.
"Pretty good, actually. I've turned all of my cards into Star Cards, as you know, and I'm still catching new ones," Sakura whispered with a smile.
"Great!" Meilin smiled. "So there's lots of action?" she asked.
Sakura appeared to think about it. "Well when we're capturing cards, yeah-"
"Great! I'll help you while I'm here!" Meilin interrupted.
Sakura opened her mouth to talk, but Li interrupted her.
Li rolled his eyes. "It's not like you can do anything about the Cards," he said matter-of-factly. "Only Sakura and I have the magical powers!"
"Well I know," Meilin frowned in defeat. "But…I can help you!!"
Li frowned. "No you can't do anything, Meilin! Sakura captures the cards, and so do I! We are the card captors around here."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're growing fond of Sakura!" Meilin squinted her eyes at him, in curiosity.
Li blushed. "No way!" he strongly objected as Sakura chorused in blushing.
"Yeah, Meilin!" Sakura piped in.
Meilin rose an eyebrow at them. "Uh-huh…" she said with an obvious disbelieving tone.
Madison giggled. "I'm with you on this one, Meilin," she laughed. "I think they make a great couple!"
Sakura and Li blushed three shades of crimson. "Madison!" Sakura chided.
"Sorry Sakura!" Madison apologized. "But its just so right – so cute!" she giggled.
Li and Sakura blushed and sweat dropped.
~~
Later that day, after school, Sakura, Kero, Madison, Li and Meilin were all walking home, when Meilin and Madison started talking, behind Sakura and Li.
"So who are you taking to the dance?" Meilin asked Madison. Madison frowned.
"I'm not sure yet, I might ask Eli, though," she smiled.
Meilin smiled back. "That's good. I was going to take Li, but I have a feeling he wants to go with a certain someone…"
Madison got the hint. "Yeah," she giggled. "I have a definite feeling."
Meanwhile…
"Sakura, you haven't caught any cards lately. You have to get back in the loop, and continue to collect cards!" Kero reminded. He had met them outside their school, on the off chance that a card showed up.
Sakura nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I know. There just haven't been a lot of cards around lately."
Li nodded. "She's right, Kero."
Kero shook his head. "Alright, but keep an eye out for them. They could be anywhere!"
Suddenly a shadow amongst the bushes washed by.
"Huh?" Sakura's eyes opened to attention. "I just felt something!"
"Me too," Li said, protectively holding an arm out to shield Sakura. "It must be a Clow Card!"
Sakura nodded. "Right!"
Madison and Meilin caught up with the two. "What's wrong, Sakura? A Clow Card is around?" Madison asked.
Sakura nodded. "Yeah."
Suddenly something flashed out of the bushes. "There it is!" Sakura said with full attention.
"It looks like the Love Card," Li announced firmly.
"Love Card?" Sakura questioned.
"Yeah, the Love Card," Kero informed. "The Love Card makes everyone fall in love, so don't let your guard down! It's very sneaky, so use your most skilled and powerful cards against it!" Kero instructed.
"Okay," Sakura said, unsure of what to use. The Love Card surrounded Li and Sakura.
"Jump Card!" Sakura called, jumping away from the Love Card, and the small hearts surrounding the area.
Li clenched his fist. "Element…Fire!" he called, as a powerful fire wave struck the playful Love Card. It batted its eyes, before getting hit, full force.
Sakura jumped around in the sky. She thought hard before releasing "Windy!" The Windy card surrounded the Love Card.
The Love Card struggled to get free, and gradually escaped. Sakura gaped. "Huh? How could it escape?"
"You have to act fast, Sakura!" Kero chided. "The Love Card moves quickly an swiftly. So always be ready!"
"Right," Sakura nodded. "Windy, surround the Love Card!" Windy did as told, again, and the Love Card was trapped. "Water Card!" she commanded. "Hit the Love Card, full force!" the Water Card splashed into the Love Card, as Windy loosened its grip.
"Love Card, Return To Your Power—Confined!" Sakura waved her Star Wand around, before slamming it into the Love Card's form, making it turn into something that resembled flowing liquid that got sucked into the Love Card. The Love Card floated to Sakura.
"There," she said triumphantly, looking at the card shimmer in the sunlight.
"Good work Sakura," Li congratulated her. She smiled, which caused him to immediately blush. "Thanks Li, but I couldn't have done it without you!"
Li's eyes examined the pavement ground, as his face flushed. Sakura giggled.
"I think the Love Card got the kid," Kero mumbled to himself slyly. "Bad," he added to himself.
"Great capture!" Meilin congratulated.
Sakura smiled. "Thanks Meilin!"
"Nice one, Sakura! I got it all on tape, too!" Madison smiled, bringing her camera into the light.
Sakura sweat dropped. "Great," she sighed.