Last Time: Sakura as a masked superhero. Is it an idea whose time has come? Let's see what everybody else thinks.


Who Is That Masked Cherry Blossom?: Part 1


Kero wanted a big finish. After delivering his best sales pitch for the past hour or so, he was convinced that he had Sakura's confidence regarding this issue. And if he did, then life would start to get a lot more interesting. So he kept on going as flew back and forth across Sakura's room.

"Even you've got to admit that life has gotten boring, Sakura," Kero continued on. "But don't get me wrong. I see this as more than a way to make our lives exciting again. I see this as a whole new way to use the cards. As long as we aren't using them for anything else, we might as well use them to help keep the city…wait…the WORLD safe!

"I can see it now! You becoming the world's greatest masked crime-fighter! You can make the world a better place! You can use the cards to strike fear into the heart of evil! And have I mentioned…it'll cement your legacy in the eyes of millions! Why, you can be even bigger than Batman or Spiderman!"

Sakura took all this in with a sense of…skepticism. "Kero…do you know what you're saying?"

Kero landed on Sakura's shoulder. "Look at it from my perspective, Sakura. This could be revolutionary. Clow never thought of using the cards this way. The Li clan probably never thought of using the cards this way. But you can be the first. And you aren't using the cards for anything else right now. The cards are just sitting up there and the only time they come out is when you occasionally want to talk to them."

Sakura hung her head down. "Well…I don't know. It sounds dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Kero scoffed. "Have you seen some of things you've encountered in your lifetime? How many times have you stared danger in the face whenever you tried to seal any of the cards? Or whenever you tried to convert the cards? And don't even get me started on the adventures we've had since then. This ought to be nothing! You're a brave girl, Sakura. You're braver than anybody I know! And if anybody can handle this, it's you!

"Trust me! This'll be great! You have nothing to be afraid of. Um…look, I can still see you're a little skeptical. I'll tell you what. If you think this is crazy, just say so."

"I think you're out of your mind!"

That wasn't Sakura who responded. That voice got the ire of the little guardian beast.

"Who asked you, brat?!"

Li Showron just kept a cold demeanor. "You don't even know what you're saying! That's got to be one of the craziest things I've ever heard! Do you know how dangerous being a crime-fighter is?"

"You talk as if Sakura will get hurt or something," Kero shrugged. "She'll be just fine."

"What makes you so sure?"

"You've seen everything Sakura's faced in her life. You honestly think that something like THIS would be any more difficult. What are you trying to say, Li? You saying Sakura can't handle it?"

That got Sakura's attention. "Hey! That's not what you're saying, is it, Li?"

Li stammered. "Uh…n-no…that's not what I meant! Kero, stop twisting my words!"

"Some boyfriend you have, Sakura," Kero said disappointedly. "He has no faith in your ability. He doesn't think you can handle this."

"That's not what I meant!"

"I thought you'd have faith in Sakura by now, Li," Madison added.

That's when Li shifted his focus. "And what's your excuse?! Maybe Sakura won't be in so much danger, but what about you?! Sakura may have some line of defense, but you don't have any magic at all! What if YOU get put in danger? What if some wacko goes after you?"

Madison wasn't shaken at all. "That's why Sakura's around. So far, in all the years I've known Sakura, nothing bad has happened to me."

Li raised an eyebrow. "Need I remind you of the Voice Card?"

Madison shrugged. "That's just one incident."

"Oh, trust me. There's been MORE than one incident."

"The point is, I'm still standing, right? I'll be just fine and I'm with Kero on this one. Maybe we can make a difference. And…it'll be a sure way to bring some excitement to our lives!"

Kero flew back onto Sakura's shoulder. "So what do you say, Sakura? Give it a shot? Just for one night. You never know. You might like it and you might make a big impact. You could make the world a better place."

Sakura thought about it…and smiled. "Well…you talked me into it..."

Li's eyes widened. "WHAT?!"

"But..."

"This is great!" Kero interrupted. "We can start as soon as possible! Madison, how long will it take you to get a costume ready?"

Li tried to cut all this off. "Kero…"

"I'll start tonight! Can you help me, Kero? I could use some help with the design."

"Kero…"

"We'll be over tonight," Kero answered. "We've got a lot to think about. Not just the costume, but we need to think about a lot of things."

"Kero…"

"Why don't we head over right now?" Madison suggested. "I mean, we aren't doing anything, so we might as well."

"Kero…"

"Let's do that. What do you say, Sakura?"

"KERO!"

"What is it, brat?" Kero growled.

Li Showron just shook his head. "I think we should get a second opinion."

"No! Uh-uh! Forget it! Absolutely not! No way!"

Sakura sweatdropped. So did everybody else present. Li had dragged them all down to the apartment of one Eriol Eli Moon, who was sitting in his big chair with Spinner sitting on one of the arms. Ruby was sweeping around with a broom while Sakura, Madison, and Li all sat on one of the couches. Kero was just flying above Sakura's head. Somehow, Li knew that Eriol would be opposed to this whole thing. And sure enough, the reincarnation didn't disappoint in disappointing little Kero.

Kero scratched his chin. "You know…I get the feeling you aren't cool with the idea."

Eriol face-faulted. "No, I am not cool with the idea!"

"But I absolutely MUST give you points for creativity, Kero," Spinner chimed in. "I haven't heard an idea that wild in months. What do you have for an encore?"

"Please stay out of this, Spinner," Eriol groaned. Then he focused back on Kero. "Do you honestly think this is the purpose Clow had in mind when he created the cards? To purposely go looking for danger?"

"I don't see anything wrong with it," Kero said innocently. "I think Clow never used the cards this way because he never thought of it. I think if he were pitched this idea, he would have liked it."

Eriol begged to differ. "Yeah, well I'm half his reincarnation and I DON'T like it! And that should be good enough for you!" Then he shot Sakura a cold stare. "What's the matter with you? You're letting yourself be manipulated by one of your own guardians!"

Sakura frowned. "Will you listen to yourself? Manipulated?"

"Ok, ok, maybe 'manipulated' is a harsh word."

"It is," Kero agreed. "Especially since Madison's just as big a part of this as I am."

Eriol's eyes widened. "Is that true?!"

Madison nodded. "I think it's a great idea. And I think it's a chance to make our lives exciting."

Eriol chuckled. "You said 'our'. As in plural. As in 'more than just Sakura'." He reached over and took a drink of water.

"That's right. There's Kero and there's me, Sakura's new sidekick."

And that's when Eriol did an immediate spit take. "WHAT?! Have you lost your mind?! That's suicide!"

"Oh, and look who this is coming from," Madison argued. "This is coming from the same guy who sent a gigantic teddy bear after us!"

"T-T-That was seven years ago!" Eriol stammered. "And I knew it wouldn't REALLY kill you. That was just a test for Sakura, remember? I never meant for you to get in harm's way."

"And yet, your giant teddy bear could have squashed me like a bug," Madison pointed out. "But it didn't. And you want to know why? Because Sakura was right there to protect me, just like she'll be there when we start our new adventures."

Eriol buried his face in his hands. "Oy!"

That's when Ruby decided to interject herself. "Uh…if Sakura has to protect you…doesn't that defeat the whole purpose of having a sidekick? I thought a sidekick was supposed to be a helper, not a liability."

Eriol nodded triumphantly. "Very good point, Ruby."

"An intelligent comment," Spinner cracked. "Who knew Ruby had it in her?"

In response to that wisecrack, Ruby conked Spinner over the head with the broom handle. Eriol shifted his gaze towards his guardians, sending them a silent message to keep it quiet.

Madison shook her head. "Who said I would be a liability?"

"No one has to say it," Eriol answered. "You have no magical powers, whatsoever. You're a total normal. You wouldn't last a minute, much less one night."

Sakura flinched. Li just looked at Sakura curiously, because he didn't see it coming. But Sakura knew. She knew her best friend better than anybody and she wasn't about to take that remark lying down.

"Is THAT what you think?!" Madison snarled. "You think I'm totally defenseless?!"

Eriol scoffed. "Just think about it. I'm opposing this whole idea because I'm worried about Sakura's welfare, and she's the Card Mistress. Compared to her, you're about as defenseless as it gets."

Madison's face was beet red. Finally, Li knew what was coming. He scooted over towards Sakura. And Sakura braced herself for the backlash.

"So I'm DEFENSELESS?! I'll show you, Eriol Eli Moon…!"

"Watch the middle name!"

"Ok, I won't use your middle name, Harry Potter! But I'll tell you what I WILL do! I'm going to be Sakura's sidekick! And Sakura WILL be the world's greatest superhero! There's nothing you can say that'll change her mind and there's nothing you can do that'll stop us!!"

Eriol's jaw dropped and his lip quivered. "Y-Y-Y-You promised NEVER to call me that!"

Madison turned around and started storming off. "Let's go, Kero! We need to get Sakura's costume ready."

Kero's spirits were lifted. "Whoo-hoo! I'm right behind you, Madison!"

The cold exchange ended. Sakura knew that Eriol and Madison were as close as a couple could get, but they also had their share of fights. This looked to be one of the bigger ones. Although Madison and Kero had already left, the soon-to-be superhero finally raised her hand timidly.

"Can *I* say something? Doesn't anybody want to hear MY thoughts on this?"

"I don't think it'll matter," Eriol sighed. "Those two seem to be dead set on this and I don't think they'll take 'no' for an answer. But go ahead. What do you have to say?"

"I don't want to dismiss this idea right away," Sakura began. "I think Kero makes some good points. The world's not perfect. And maybe this way…I can help make it a better place. I really don't see any reason why I shouldn't use the cards this way. They aren't being put to a better use.

"But I agree with you, too. Everything I've faced in my life has just…happened. Kero's asking me to go purposely seeking danger and I don't think he understands that. That's why I'm not 100 percent sure I should do this.

"So I decided to give it a try. I want to try it and judge for myself whether the risks are worth it."

Li was ready to protest. "But Sakura, one night is all it takes…"

"Now hold on a minute, Li," Eriol interrupted. "I think it's obvious that unlike Kero and Madison, Sakura has put some thought on the subject. Sakura, if this is how you feel…then I won't stand in your way."

Li didn't expect that. "What?!"

Sakura smiled. "Thank you, Eriol." She turned and smirked at her boyfriend. "At least SOMEBODY has faith in me."

With that, Sakura said her farewells and took off with Li walking slowly behind her. It was obvious that he still didn't like this idea, but it wasn't his choice to make. It was Sakura's and she had made her decision.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

Spinner sat on the arm of Eriol's chair and watched Sakura and Li walk out. As soon as they were gone, he shook his head.

"I don't understand you sometimes, Master. I honestly believed you were passionate about squashing Kero's insane suggestion. Why did you give in so easily?"

Eriol didn't need to answer him. When Spinner turned around and looked up, he saw a smirk widen across his face. It was a familiar smirk…an EVIL smirk.

"I know that look," Ruby squealed. "What are you thinking about, Master?"

Eriol chuckled ominously. "Oh…you'll see…"


Next Time: Sakura's life as a crime-fighter is about to begin. So Kero and Madison get ready to sort out all the important details. Is Sakura ready? Will Li tear his hair out worrying? And what DOES our favorite reincarnation have in mind? Oh, yes, and there's one more reaction to get. What does YUE think?!


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