Authors Note: Here is the second to last chapter of this story. I got two
new reviewers. Yay!!!! Thank you for reviewing: MangaGurl, Tiggerdrake,
and SakuraStar. I hope you enjoy this chapter and keep reviewing!
Chapter 6: Learning How the Past Could Alter the Future.
The rest of the weekend was uneventful and Sakura had read a lot in the diary. She had already read past two generations and was starting on the third. She noticed a pattern to the diary entries. Each entry was written by the youngest daughter in Tomoyo's family line. The diary had started with Tomoyo then her daughter Nadesiko, followed by her daughter Raye, then her youngest Aria, now it was Aria's youngest, Umi. Each one told of great accomplishments, disappointments, and family traditions. After Nadesiko's visit with Ying Fa, all contact with the Li family stopped.
Sakura was starting to get bored with the diary. Umi had resorted to gossip in her entries. 'Does so and so like each other? Will my crush ever ask me out?', and so on. Finally Umi passed the diary on to her daughter, Usagi, who then passed it on to her daughter Hikari and so on. After two weeks had passed, and who knows how many generations later, Sakura found something interesting. She would soon discover the girl would become Suki's great grandmother.
Dear Diary,
I'm seventeen years old today, but I cannot enjoy my birthday. Why? You ask. Well my town is being threatened by an evil man. Let me start from the beginning. Exactly four years a go a man and a woman came to Japan offering us wonders beyond our imagination. They had developed a way to take our revolutionary technology and make it ten times better. We would be the most technologically advanced society in the world. The only catch was that we would have to swear allegiance to them and make the man our leader. Tokyo and many of the surrounding cities jumped on the offer, but our town was skeptical. We wanted to know what the man and woman were like before we gave them control over us. Over the next four years we discovered they were not good people. Eventually we decided to decline their offer and we did. They asked us to reconsider, but we could not. They left making it clear they were angry with us, but we didn't really think much about it.
Slowly, though, we started noticing changes. Goods to sell in our stores and restaurants were becoming less and less. Prices skyrocketed and many businesses went bankrupt. Today I awoke to an ominous cloud over the city. Every last penny was being squeezed out of us and we have been cut off from the rest of Japan. I'm not sure what will happen to our town.
Sincerely,
Minako Yakari
Dear Diary,
My best friend left today. She's moving to Tokyo. Her family can't stand not having any technology. I really liked her. Her name was Mi ( pronounced m-eye) and she was from China. She used to tell me all kinds of stories including Chinese legends. She told me one tale and warned my not to pass it off as just a legend because there supposedly was proof it was real. I think she's right because I heard the same legend from my grandmother.
The legend goes like this: A long time ago there was a ten year old Japanese girl named Sakura, in Japanese Ying Fa in Chinese, who discovered a mysterious book full of Clow cards. She accidentally released them and had to begin the tedious task of re-capturing them. The guardian best of the seal, Ceroberous, explained everything to Sakura and named her the next Cardcaptor. She had only caught a few of the cards when a boy, the same age as her, came to capture the cards. He was from China and the future leader of the Li clan. His name was Li Syaoran.
Sakura and Syaoran didn't get along well and it wasn't long before Syaoran's cousin, Melin showed up to help. Eventually they captured all the cards and Sakura and Syaoran became friends. Sakura's best friend, Tomoyo Daidouji, video taped and made costumes for all of Sakura's Cardcaptures. After the cards were caught, the guardian of the moon, Yue, came to judge both Syaoran and Sakura to see who was the rightful master of the Clow cards. Syaoran failed the test but Sakura passed. They soon discovered that the cards were loosing power so Sakura would have to transform them into Star cards or Sakura cards as Tomoyo called them. Syaoran stayed in Japan to help Sakura transform the cards while Melin went back to Hong Kong. After the cards were transformed Syaoran returned to Hong Kong to claim his position as leader of the Li clan. Syaoran promised to return and three years later he did. Two years later, Sakura had to face a new evil and during her fight something happened. Sakura couldn't be found and was presumed dead. Her friends carried on with their lives.
That's all the legend says. It sounds very cool and I wish it were true. Nothing exciting like that happens here anymore. I miss Mi. I wonder what life would be like if Sakura hadn't disappeared. Would she have married Syaoran? I'd like to think so. The legend kinda leans towards them being more than just friends. Anyway, I have to go. Mom needs me to change the sheets for our new guests.
Sincerely,
Yakari Minako
Sakura gasped. Her life was a legend! No way! It had to be true or Minako wouldn't have written it. She turned the page and noticed that three pages had been torn out and a new person was writing. She kept reading hoping to find out more.
Dear Diary,
Today it's raining. It seems to rain a lot lately. My daughter Suki is sleeping peacefully in the crib next to me. In some ways I hate to bring a child into this world of hardship, but that would be letting this evil ruler win. The only thing of technology we have left is electricity and running water. There is no money used here anymore, so we barter and trade for what we need. My great-grandmother opened this house as a boarding house to bring in money. Now as payment for the room our guests help with odd jobs like fixing the roof, making dinner, or painting the rooms. This house has been in our family for over a century and is the biggest house left in Tomoeda. This house is so much a part of our family that no one wants it to go to ruin.
The attic is full of priceless treasures that have been restored so as not to decay. My mother always believed in the Cardcaptor legend and exploring the attic is proof it's real. I just hope that maybe, if the Cardcaptor is still alive, she will free us from our evil ruler. He's given new orders now to kill all of the female children who are the youngest of a two child family. Suki is my oldest and only child. I hope that if I have anymore children, I will have twins. I can not write anymore in this for fear it will be found by bad men. May my dearest Suki grow up in a world of peace not hardship.
All My Love,
Hiroki Tomoyo
Sakura was determined to stop this guy. She had only a few more pages to go. She debated whether or not to go on when sleep got the better of her.
Dear Diary,
Today the last city in Japan joined with the evil ruler. No one knows his name and he likes it that way. In some ways I feel very isolated here yet at the same time I feel like part of my own country. We have eked out a decent life for ourselves and I'm not afraid to raise children in the town. I have two daughters, Nadesiko and Naoko. I had a third child, Rika, but she was killed by this evil ruler. I keep Naoko indoors for that reason. I doubt he will be back, but I prefer to play it safe. Nadi is not allowed to mention her sister to anyone outside of this house. It's hard on her, but she has some friends that help. A new family arrived from Hong Kong two days ago. Nadi has already made friends with them. I must go.
Ja ne,
Ankari Suki
Dear Diary,
Today is Nadi's 14th birthday. We planned a huge celebration for her. All her friends came and I found out something that confirmed the Cardcaptor legend was indeed true. The evil ruler comes by on a monthly bases to try and threaten us into joining with him. On those visits he kills two children. He speaks boldly but I think he is scared that something bad will happen. Call me crazy, but I think Sakura is alive and that thought is driving him crazy. He's scared to death of her! I can see it in his eyes. I would love to write more but the party is getting out of hand.
Ja ne,
Ankari Suki
Sakura blanched. The events in the diary were very quickly coming to the present. The future of her past was becoming a reality. Sakura walked over to the window and looked around. This is what a world without her had become. A small town clinging on to a last ray of hope as an evil lurked nearby. In some ways she had wondered what life would be like without the Card Mistress. Now she knew. With her out of the picture, evil had been allowed to run free and her friends had moved on, preserving her memory for future generations. A small tear escaped her eye. One small Japanese town had risen in defiance against an evil ruler, because of her legacy. They defied odds, determined never to give in to evil as the legendary Cardcaptor never did. Sakura was beaming with pride as she walked back to her bed. She knew that no matter what happened to her, she would always be remembered. She HAD made a difference without ever trying. She picked up the diary and noticed there was only one more entry. She settled into bed and read the last entry of her legacy.
Dear Diary,
Today is harvest day. The corn we've been growing out back is ready for picking and we are hard at work. Not a single kernel can be wasted. I was picking up my basket, to bring inside, when I heard a loud pop and my eldest daughter scream. I ran towards her and saw the scene unfold. Nadi was standing over a girl with auburn hair who lay, amongst our corn stalks, in a heap. The girl slowly started to move, groaning in protest. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times getting used to the light. I was surprised at the beautiful shade of emerald green her eyes were. My daughter was yelling at her about ruining our corn as the girl stood. She looked about 16 and was wearing a weird looking outfit. Nadi stopped yelling as the girl apologized. They introduced themselves and I found out the girls name was Sakura. As I picked up my basket to walk inside, I pondered the name. It was the same name as the main character in the Cardcaptor legend. Could this girl actually be THE Cardcaptor Sakura? I decided it was time to open up one of the rooms in my house I thought I would never use. If she was Cardcaptor Sakura it was only fitting to have her sleep in the best room in the house. For as long as she is here, Sakura will stay in Tomoyo Daidouji's room. I hope she will find this diary and help us. My feelings are never wrong about things like this. After all, I think I have a little bit of the Hiagizawa spark in me.
Ja ne,
Ankari Suki
P.S.
If you really are the Cardcaptor Sakura, could you please sign this diary for me. It would mean a lot. Arigato.
Chapter 6: Learning How the Past Could Alter the Future.
The rest of the weekend was uneventful and Sakura had read a lot in the diary. She had already read past two generations and was starting on the third. She noticed a pattern to the diary entries. Each entry was written by the youngest daughter in Tomoyo's family line. The diary had started with Tomoyo then her daughter Nadesiko, followed by her daughter Raye, then her youngest Aria, now it was Aria's youngest, Umi. Each one told of great accomplishments, disappointments, and family traditions. After Nadesiko's visit with Ying Fa, all contact with the Li family stopped.
Sakura was starting to get bored with the diary. Umi had resorted to gossip in her entries. 'Does so and so like each other? Will my crush ever ask me out?', and so on. Finally Umi passed the diary on to her daughter, Usagi, who then passed it on to her daughter Hikari and so on. After two weeks had passed, and who knows how many generations later, Sakura found something interesting. She would soon discover the girl would become Suki's great grandmother.
Dear Diary,
I'm seventeen years old today, but I cannot enjoy my birthday. Why? You ask. Well my town is being threatened by an evil man. Let me start from the beginning. Exactly four years a go a man and a woman came to Japan offering us wonders beyond our imagination. They had developed a way to take our revolutionary technology and make it ten times better. We would be the most technologically advanced society in the world. The only catch was that we would have to swear allegiance to them and make the man our leader. Tokyo and many of the surrounding cities jumped on the offer, but our town was skeptical. We wanted to know what the man and woman were like before we gave them control over us. Over the next four years we discovered they were not good people. Eventually we decided to decline their offer and we did. They asked us to reconsider, but we could not. They left making it clear they were angry with us, but we didn't really think much about it.
Slowly, though, we started noticing changes. Goods to sell in our stores and restaurants were becoming less and less. Prices skyrocketed and many businesses went bankrupt. Today I awoke to an ominous cloud over the city. Every last penny was being squeezed out of us and we have been cut off from the rest of Japan. I'm not sure what will happen to our town.
Sincerely,
Minako Yakari
Dear Diary,
My best friend left today. She's moving to Tokyo. Her family can't stand not having any technology. I really liked her. Her name was Mi ( pronounced m-eye) and she was from China. She used to tell me all kinds of stories including Chinese legends. She told me one tale and warned my not to pass it off as just a legend because there supposedly was proof it was real. I think she's right because I heard the same legend from my grandmother.
The legend goes like this: A long time ago there was a ten year old Japanese girl named Sakura, in Japanese Ying Fa in Chinese, who discovered a mysterious book full of Clow cards. She accidentally released them and had to begin the tedious task of re-capturing them. The guardian best of the seal, Ceroberous, explained everything to Sakura and named her the next Cardcaptor. She had only caught a few of the cards when a boy, the same age as her, came to capture the cards. He was from China and the future leader of the Li clan. His name was Li Syaoran.
Sakura and Syaoran didn't get along well and it wasn't long before Syaoran's cousin, Melin showed up to help. Eventually they captured all the cards and Sakura and Syaoran became friends. Sakura's best friend, Tomoyo Daidouji, video taped and made costumes for all of Sakura's Cardcaptures. After the cards were caught, the guardian of the moon, Yue, came to judge both Syaoran and Sakura to see who was the rightful master of the Clow cards. Syaoran failed the test but Sakura passed. They soon discovered that the cards were loosing power so Sakura would have to transform them into Star cards or Sakura cards as Tomoyo called them. Syaoran stayed in Japan to help Sakura transform the cards while Melin went back to Hong Kong. After the cards were transformed Syaoran returned to Hong Kong to claim his position as leader of the Li clan. Syaoran promised to return and three years later he did. Two years later, Sakura had to face a new evil and during her fight something happened. Sakura couldn't be found and was presumed dead. Her friends carried on with their lives.
That's all the legend says. It sounds very cool and I wish it were true. Nothing exciting like that happens here anymore. I miss Mi. I wonder what life would be like if Sakura hadn't disappeared. Would she have married Syaoran? I'd like to think so. The legend kinda leans towards them being more than just friends. Anyway, I have to go. Mom needs me to change the sheets for our new guests.
Sincerely,
Yakari Minako
Sakura gasped. Her life was a legend! No way! It had to be true or Minako wouldn't have written it. She turned the page and noticed that three pages had been torn out and a new person was writing. She kept reading hoping to find out more.
Dear Diary,
Today it's raining. It seems to rain a lot lately. My daughter Suki is sleeping peacefully in the crib next to me. In some ways I hate to bring a child into this world of hardship, but that would be letting this evil ruler win. The only thing of technology we have left is electricity and running water. There is no money used here anymore, so we barter and trade for what we need. My great-grandmother opened this house as a boarding house to bring in money. Now as payment for the room our guests help with odd jobs like fixing the roof, making dinner, or painting the rooms. This house has been in our family for over a century and is the biggest house left in Tomoeda. This house is so much a part of our family that no one wants it to go to ruin.
The attic is full of priceless treasures that have been restored so as not to decay. My mother always believed in the Cardcaptor legend and exploring the attic is proof it's real. I just hope that maybe, if the Cardcaptor is still alive, she will free us from our evil ruler. He's given new orders now to kill all of the female children who are the youngest of a two child family. Suki is my oldest and only child. I hope that if I have anymore children, I will have twins. I can not write anymore in this for fear it will be found by bad men. May my dearest Suki grow up in a world of peace not hardship.
All My Love,
Hiroki Tomoyo
Sakura was determined to stop this guy. She had only a few more pages to go. She debated whether or not to go on when sleep got the better of her.
Dear Diary,
Today the last city in Japan joined with the evil ruler. No one knows his name and he likes it that way. In some ways I feel very isolated here yet at the same time I feel like part of my own country. We have eked out a decent life for ourselves and I'm not afraid to raise children in the town. I have two daughters, Nadesiko and Naoko. I had a third child, Rika, but she was killed by this evil ruler. I keep Naoko indoors for that reason. I doubt he will be back, but I prefer to play it safe. Nadi is not allowed to mention her sister to anyone outside of this house. It's hard on her, but she has some friends that help. A new family arrived from Hong Kong two days ago. Nadi has already made friends with them. I must go.
Ja ne,
Ankari Suki
Dear Diary,
Today is Nadi's 14th birthday. We planned a huge celebration for her. All her friends came and I found out something that confirmed the Cardcaptor legend was indeed true. The evil ruler comes by on a monthly bases to try and threaten us into joining with him. On those visits he kills two children. He speaks boldly but I think he is scared that something bad will happen. Call me crazy, but I think Sakura is alive and that thought is driving him crazy. He's scared to death of her! I can see it in his eyes. I would love to write more but the party is getting out of hand.
Ja ne,
Ankari Suki
Sakura blanched. The events in the diary were very quickly coming to the present. The future of her past was becoming a reality. Sakura walked over to the window and looked around. This is what a world without her had become. A small town clinging on to a last ray of hope as an evil lurked nearby. In some ways she had wondered what life would be like without the Card Mistress. Now she knew. With her out of the picture, evil had been allowed to run free and her friends had moved on, preserving her memory for future generations. A small tear escaped her eye. One small Japanese town had risen in defiance against an evil ruler, because of her legacy. They defied odds, determined never to give in to evil as the legendary Cardcaptor never did. Sakura was beaming with pride as she walked back to her bed. She knew that no matter what happened to her, she would always be remembered. She HAD made a difference without ever trying. She picked up the diary and noticed there was only one more entry. She settled into bed and read the last entry of her legacy.
Dear Diary,
Today is harvest day. The corn we've been growing out back is ready for picking and we are hard at work. Not a single kernel can be wasted. I was picking up my basket, to bring inside, when I heard a loud pop and my eldest daughter scream. I ran towards her and saw the scene unfold. Nadi was standing over a girl with auburn hair who lay, amongst our corn stalks, in a heap. The girl slowly started to move, groaning in protest. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times getting used to the light. I was surprised at the beautiful shade of emerald green her eyes were. My daughter was yelling at her about ruining our corn as the girl stood. She looked about 16 and was wearing a weird looking outfit. Nadi stopped yelling as the girl apologized. They introduced themselves and I found out the girls name was Sakura. As I picked up my basket to walk inside, I pondered the name. It was the same name as the main character in the Cardcaptor legend. Could this girl actually be THE Cardcaptor Sakura? I decided it was time to open up one of the rooms in my house I thought I would never use. If she was Cardcaptor Sakura it was only fitting to have her sleep in the best room in the house. For as long as she is here, Sakura will stay in Tomoyo Daidouji's room. I hope she will find this diary and help us. My feelings are never wrong about things like this. After all, I think I have a little bit of the Hiagizawa spark in me.
Ja ne,
Ankari Suki
P.S.
If you really are the Cardcaptor Sakura, could you please sign this diary for me. It would mean a lot. Arigato.