Disclaimer : I don't own CCS the characters, setting, or the original events. We all wish that we do own such a wonderful anime show/magna, etc. but the
great people at CLAMP do. So please don't sue, you won't get anything because I don't even own the computer that this is typed upon.

A/N:

I like to say that after reading the wonderful fic. "The Return Card" by the equally wonderful writer Green Mystress, I tried to change some parts of this fic. so it would not look or sound too much like her fic. (Which I do love so much !), this may not be understood now but later it will. I do understand how much she does not like people coping or being accused of coping. I do hope that if she reads this that she does not feel like I copied her fic. So for all of you who do read this PLEASE read that wonderful fic. "The Return Card " by Green Mystress. (I like the word wonderful, it was one of the first English words I learned ^_^).

Thank you so much Kerochan for your review ! It means alot to me ! And I love your story as well, so please any one after reading this, read "Sakura's New Adventure" it is really good ^-^ !!!!!!!!

My Japanese (and English for that matter ) are still in the learning processes so if I get anything wrong let me know. Review. I love reviews of all kinds, critical reviews help to produce better writers, eh ? Tell me what you think, if I should continue or give up writing all together ( after all I don't write in English allot ^~^). Well let's get started.



Oh and, before I forget :

" . . . . . . . " is speaking

' . . . . . . . ' is thinking

>>> is a scene change

~ . . . . . . . ~ is a time change

* . . . . . . . * is a sound

^ . . . . . . . ^ is the chapter name/number

( . . . . . . . ) is a little authors note during the fic. Only happens rearly.


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" For Our Future"


By: Hidden Cherry Blossom


Chapter 2 :

^ The Aura Slip . . . ^





~the Kinomoto's dinning room~




"Huh !" Mirai gasped, a certain realization hitting her. 'Oh no !' She thought to herself. 'That was stupid. VERY STUPID MIRAI !' She yelled at herself, in her head. 'You just let your AURA slip. Now Kero will know ! Your not supposed to be known, you might change what's supposed to happen !' "And I can't let that happen." She whispered to herself.

Fujitaka walked over to Mirai with her tea and food. "What can't you let happen, Mirai-san ?" He asked worriedly.

Mirai froze. "Oh . . . nothing really. I just don't wish to play favorites with the people I teach. I can't let that happen, that's all." She lied with a smile. No matter how much she wanted to tell Fujitaka the truth or how much it hurt her to lie to him it was still too risky.

Fujitaka smiled to his nice, it was hard not to, they had always been close, but that was before his wife's death. It also was before, Rira, Mirai's mother married her new husband Tsuki. Fujitaka and Tsuki never got along. To Fujitaka, Tsuki, did not treat his new steep daughter very well. Every day Mirai would run to meet up with him whether it be at his work or at his family's home. Tsuki, would always try to control her in many ways. And often Mirai would call from underneath a table bagging him to come get her. Mirai was to scared to press charges, and Rira was blinded to what was happening in her own home. Tsuki often had his way with the young Mirai, he would show no caring to the then eight year old. Every time, afterward Mirai would cry on her Uncle's shoulder saying the reasons why Tsuki did it, or at least the reasons why he said that he did. He said that the father had to show the daughter how to do it properly and that she never could get it right and when she finally did, his story changed to ensuring that she could always do it properly. Fujitaka got Mirai to move in with his young family so she would be safe. And Mirai overtime became like a second daughter to Fujitaka. She helped to take care of the young Sakura, when ever his darling wife was ill. But after her death, Tsuki got a firmer control over Rira, and made her decide to move away from them. Taking Mirai from her secure safety, and making her an easier target. Just what Tsuki always wanted to do. They moved to England, where Mirai wasn't allowed to phone him, and they lost contact, that is untill now.

"You will do fine Mirai-san, you'll do fine." Fujitaka said, calmly. He had grown to miss his talks with his nice. "Oh, my." He said looking at the time, sunset had just occurred and he was expecting his kids home soon. "Would you like to help me get dinner reedy ?"

Mirai nodded. "I'd love to just let me get cleaned up first . . . "



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~later that evening~




Sakura waked home in the dark that evening with Shaoran, and Tomoyo. Things had calmed down sense the capture of the Mist card, but Touya had to stay behind to clean up after the festival. "Well I have to leave you two now." Tomoyo said with a smile, as she waved to the both of them and ran off in the direction towards her house, before they could respond.

Sakura felt extremely uncomfortable. Shaoran still made her feel like she wasn't good enough to be in the same country as him, let alone in the same presence as him. And now they were alone together walking home. She then noticed that Shaoran looked as uncomfortable as she felt.

Shaoran was troubled, a feeling he was never use to. He needed this to be done, Wei was not going to be home at the apartment. So he automatically thought of Sakura . . . yet he did not know why. They both started walking again towards Sakura's, his own apartment was a little further away. "Huh, Kinomoto . . . I need to
ask . . . well tell you something." Shaoran said with a hint of blushing on his cheeks.

Sakura stopped walking and turned to Shaoran, who stopped as well. Worry griped her features, she had never heard Shaoran speak in such a tone. "What is it Li-kun, you can tell me anything after all I like to think of you as a friend, . . . even if you don't think the same way." She quickly added.

Shaoran posed for a minute, 'That must be it ! I think of her as a friend as well so that's why I thought of her !' He thought to himself. "That's okay, Kinomoto, think of me in what ever way you wish. It's just . . . well tomorrow is my birthday. And since I really don't know anyone all to well, I decided it would be best not to tell anyone. But something has come up and Wei, is going to be away. And there is this stupid family ritual that if no one wishes me a happy birthday from outside the Li family, then in the eyes of my clan elders I did not turn a year older. Which means I can not become the clan leader when I reach adult hood, I will loose all my family's rights. So . . . would you please if you can . . . " Shaoran trailed off, he had never told anyone about so much of his family's rituals, or asked for something so important from others. He never thought that anyone was worth telling or asking, yet here he was doing both. He was telling Kinomoto Sakura everything about this time honored family tradition.

Sakura nodded, "I'll come over tomorrow and wish you a happy birthday Li-kun, I understand how much this means to your family. I wont let you down." Sakura said with one of her signature smiles. Even though in reality she did not understand Shaoran's request at all only that he needed her help, something she would willingly give to anyone.

Shaoran smiled relieved. "Thanks Kinomoto-san . . . "


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~twenty minutes later~




Sakura and Shaoran stopped in front of the Kinomoto residence. The rest of there walk was quiet and uneventvale, except for Sakura pondering over her unspoken hope that they had finally became friends. Just before they arrived at her place they had started talking quietly about Clow Cards and there many uses, good and well . . . not so good. "Well . . . It looks like your stop, Kinomoto-san." Shaoran stated to the laughing Sakura.

"Hoe ?" She asked, stopping laughing long enough to look to her home. "I didn't realize we were here already. Oh well. Good night Li-kun ! I'll see you tomorrow okay ?" She said smiling as she headed towards her door.

Shaoran smiled for a split second (even though he did not know why), and quickly recovered his firm collective expression. "I hope you will, Kinomoto. This is very important, to me and my family. All right ?" He said firmly. 'I hope she'll remember I really want to see her tomorrow . . . Why do I want to see . . . her. . .' He thought to himself. He had just recently started the internal battle that would last for the next two years of his life, a fact that he didn't know yet.

Sakura frowned, slightly hurt over Shaoran's tone. "Don't worry, Li-kun, I wont forget. Good night !" She called as she walked into her house hurt over all that just happened. 'So much for being friends . . . ' She thought to herself after closing the door and leaning her back on it. Tears filled her sad eyes, she stopped them from hitting the ground by wiping them with the inside of her right wrist.

Shaoran stood there dumbfounded. "Did I just upset her ? " He thought out loud. "Women, I never understand them, let alone girls. Even if I have been brought up with a house full of them." He said again to himself, turning and walking towards his apartment building.

Little did either Sakura or Shaoran notice the dim worried emerald green eyes, from the window on the top floor of the Kinomoto residence. "Watch yourself Shaoran, you don't know how much that hurt . . . It could cost you later . . . forgive him Sakura he is blinded by pried and confusion . . ."


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~inside the Kinomoto residence~



"Hello Sakura-san." Fujitaka called from the kitchen. "Have fun today." He asked with his usual kindness. Unknowing to what had just happened to his usually happy and cheerful Sakura.

Sakura sighed and moved away from the door to the kitchen, collecting her strength she put on her award winning smile and looked up to her dad. "Hi. Yes it was great fun !" Sakura looked around, sensing something was . . . different, but . . . yet . . . not. Whatever it was she could not place what it.

Fujitaka turned to the door way, and Sakura followed his gaze. Standing in the door way, was Mirai. "Oh Mirai-san, I didn't hear you come down the stairs." Said Fujitaka. Mirai was smiling at Sakura, and Sakura was just staring questionatly at Mirai. "Sakura-san, this is your cousin Mirai-san. She's from your mothers side. She used to live with us, and take care of you when you were little." Fujitaka smiled inwardly, his two girls were finally together again.

Sakura smiled at her newly found cousin. "So, you knew my mother ?" Sakura asked calmly and sweetly her emerald green eyes shone with happiness.

Mirai's eyes were like a mirror to Sakura's . . . except they hand their ever present dimness. "Yes, I knew her very well. She was my aunt after all."

Sakura's face brightened and she walked over to Mirai, and hugged her. Mirai hugged back. "Sakura, I want to talk to you." Mirai whispered into the eleven year old's ear. "Privately, after dinner, okay ?"

Sakura nodded, she got this unknowable sense of warmth and safety from Mirai. "Good." Mirai said out loud.

"I'm home !" Came the ever clear voice of Touya, came from the front doorway.

Mirai and Sakura ended the hug and went about there separate tasks. "Your just in time . . . " Sakura called.

Mirai nodded as Touya entered the room. "Dinner is ready." She finished.

The evening meal was very uneventful. They all intern spoke about there day, and commented a few things about what was going to happen in the near future.
" . . . So then they told me that I could start teaching at the start of the next term." Mirai smiled explaining how lucky she was to be excepted at the school. Things continued on this way until they were having tea, "So . . . " Mirai whispered to Sakura as Touya and Fujitaka were busy getting the cake. "Can we have that talk now in your room ?"

Sakura pondered over it for a moment, "After tea, I must clean up first. It will only take a little wile." She added.

Mirai nodded in agreement, "All right." She said simply.


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~ten minutes later~




"Kero-chan, Sakura called quietly as she entered her room. "You got to help me clean up." She said turing towards the little guardian bests normal poisson in front of the television, but he was settled on top of her bed.

"Sakura ?" Kero asked a little puzzled as she approached him. He looked as though he had been thinking something over for a few hours.

"Yeah what is it Kero-chan." She said worriedly cleaning up the floor of the different games and things that hinted towards magic of any kind.

"Did you go today, after wards ?" he asked trying to sound nonchalant. In reality he was confused and concerned.

Sakura stopped what she was doing. "Of course I did Kero-chan I cough the Mist card. I called you for help, you know that. Why what's the matter ?" She looked over towards him.

"Oh it's nothing . . . really I just thought I sensed . . . " Kero started.

"That reminds me Kero-chan you have to hide. My cousin is here and staying with us, she want's to talk alone. I came up here to clean and hide any magical things including you. I'll give you more pudding. Please." She interrupted him.

"Oh okay no problem Sakura." Kero said forgetting momentarily that he had something to say, food had that kind of an effect upon him. He flew up and over to Sakura's desk drawer, and went into his drawer, suiting it behind him.

Sakura finished up rather quickly, and ran downstairs to the waiting Mirai. "You can come up now."

Mirai smiled sweetly, "Oh, that was very quick. Not much to clean up, Sakura ?" 'Or hide ?' she thought to herself. Following behind Sakura up the stairs.

Sakura shook her head once the reached the hall out side her room. "No, not that much. I just wanted to make a good impression on you." She said entering her room, Mirai following close behind.

"But, Sakura . . . " Mirai smiled sweetly as Sakura motioned for her to sit on the bed with her. "You have already made a great impression upon me. After all we have so much in common . . . more in fact then you probably can imagine." Mirai finished with a clam worm voice.

If it wasn't for her relaxed voice Sakura would have been frightened at what Mirai had said. In spite of that however, she still did gasp. "W . . .what do you mean Mirai-san ?"

Mirai nodded with a silent satisfaction. "You, Sakura are very perspective." She said sweetly waving her hand in the air and causing the still open door to close and lock. "But that's to be expected from a Card Captor. Especially one chosen by the guardian beast. Am I right Kero ?" Mirai asked to the air.

Sakura was dumbfounded. "How did you . . . " she started worriedly steering at the calm Mirai.

Mirai smiled again. "I have magic as well Sakura, very strong magic. I sensed that you had opened the Clow book and released the cards. I also sensed when Shaoran came from China to challenge you, and your clam as a Card Captor. That's the main reason why I'm here. To train you and Shaoran, to make you both stronger, and better Card Captors. Come out Kero I know your in that drawer !" Mirai called out again.

Sakura was shocked, and looked it. She never thought that things would get so confusing. That a relative would know about her magical powers, or have powers as well. She sat shaking her head slightly in disbelief. 'How could Mirai-san have powers ? How come she wanted to train her and Li-kun ? And why did she always refer to them with there first names, with no addition to the end ? And how did she know about it all even if she was strong ?' Sakura thought rapidly.

"Kero come out !" Mirai called again. She shook her head and turned towards Sakura. "Tell him that it is all right to come out, Sakura. He won't risk loosing a pudding, no matter how tempted he is."

"K . . . Kero-chan you can come out it's okay. You will still get your pudding." Sakura called still a little stunned. She wanted to know if her guardian beast had any possible idea as to what was going on.

Kero flew out of his drawer, he wore a shocked expression as well, like he saw or sensed a ghost or a familiar distant presence. Mirai stared at the little guardian beast with tears in her eyes. She stopped them again by shaking her head slowly, and wiping the tears with her wrist wile her fingers were in a fist. She then looked back up to Kero and smiled 'Long time no see my dear friend' she thought to herself. Kero looked at Mirai. Suddenly realization hit him, and tears came to his little black eyes. Mirai noticed and nodded a silent conformation. This made the tears fall form both Kero and Mirai's eyes.

"Kero-chan, Mirai-san, what is it ? Is something wrong ?" Sakura asked seeing both crying slightly. Sakura was worried; she had never seen Kero cry over anything other then his video games. And then he never looked so saddened.

Kero and Mirai both regained control of there tears and smiled to the worried Sakura. "No nothing is wrong, Sakura. You can trust her, she's strong, it's wise to train with . . . I'm sorry your name is ?" Kero asked still a little shocked.

Mirai smiled knowing full well that Kero was just making up an excuse. "Mirai, Kakusareta Mirai. And you are the guardian Kero, you do well by your mistress." Mirai smiled to Kero wile indicating towards Sakura. Kero smiled back happily.

"Mistress ?" Sakura questioned, to her mind he was her guardian and that she was his chosen Card Captor and that only when the Cards chose, in what ever way they did, there master/mistress did Kero start referring to the master/mistress in that way. Li Shaoran could still become the master, and she could still become the mistress. Things were still uncertain. Unless Mirai knew something that Sakura herself did not know.

Mirai, gasped realizing her mistake. "Oh, sorry there." She started smiling with eyes closed wile scratching the back of her head with her hand nervously. "Right Mistress only when you are ch . . . I mean pass th. . . . only when the Cards choose. Who knows Shaoran could become the master, right ? Expect the unexpected . . . It's the only way to be prepared . . . for anything." Mirai finished saddened. 'Why did I have to remind myself of that ! I have to get through over three years of this before . . . before I can tell if it worked.'

"So Mirai, you know about the kid ?" Kero asked trying to get her attention back.

Sakura was still a little shocked over it all so she never really noticed, what had happened untill Kero had made that comment. "Yeah, Mirai-san, you know about
Li-kun ?" She asked with surprise.

Mirai, laughed. 'Thanks Kero I owe you the biggest pudding you have ever seen.' She thought to herself. "Of course I know about Shaoran. More so than you might even know about him. Like, today he told you something after the festival, when Tomoyo left, correct ?" She asked knowingly.

Sakura just nodded, not knowing what to expect.

"Well . . ." Mirai continued before Sakura had the chance to say anything. "He told you that tomorrow is his birthday. Correct ?"

Sakura nodded. "That's right he told me after the capture, he said since he knew practically no one so it was not important to tell anyone, but he wanted someone to know. He said it was part of a family tradition that someone must wish him a happy birthday so he could, in the eyes of the clan elders, turn the year older and become closer to ruling the Li family clan. I didn't understand . . . but I told him that I would." Sakura said pondering over it again.

Mirai nodded. "If you don't wish Shaoran a happy birthday tomorrow he will loose his claim to leadership of the family. So please remember." She said standing up. "Well we both better get some sleep. I have to get ready to teach English at your school after summer break. And you have to go to the Li apartment, tomorrow. So goodnight."

Sakura nodded. "Goodnight Mirai-san."

Mirai got up and turned to leave.

"A . . . Sakura . . . Mirai," came a soft voice. It was Kero. "Can I talk to you in privet, Mirai. That is . . . if you don't mind Sakura."

Sakura shook her head. "I don't mind at all. Go ahead, just come in quietly latter. Okay ?"

"Okay, Sakura." Kero said following Mirai out of the newly opened door.

Sakura got ready for bed and went into a sound quick sleep, not at all knowing the extremity significance of the conversation going on in the next room . . .

.

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A/N : thank you again Kerochan !!! Please review everyone ! And I know that the reasoning behind Sakura having to go to Shaoran's is very beyond extreamly bad, but I needed something, you all will understand later I promise !!! Again REVIEW !!!!!!!!!!