Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura belongs to the great CLAMP (and I don't deserve to own any of their masterpieces. . .).
Author's Note:
Ne, it has surely been a long time since I updated. . . (lazy. . . n_n;) Well, anyway, please R&R this chapter (and the next, and the next, and the ne- Okay, okay. On with the fic. . . -_-;)
P.S. Anyway, try picturing this fic, it'll be more understandable and less confusing! Arigatou! n_n;
Japanese and Chinese Vocabulary:
*Muri desu = impossible.
*Daijyoubu = it's okay.
*Sa = now. . ./ then. . .
*Matte = wait.
*Tokushu = special.
*Ano yume. . . = that dream. . .
*Daijyoubu desu ka = a very polite term of 'are you okay'.
*Anata wa yoi no ko, ne? = you're a nice kid, aren't you?
*Makotoni. . . yoi no ko desu. . . = a nice kid indeed. . .
Chapter 15
Complexity
Mu. . . Muri desu! How. . . Sakura thought as she saw Nuriko in Hasegawa-san's arms. . .
That girl. . . has a Clow Card aura?! "Otousan~" she wept."Yes, I'm here, Nuriko, daijyoubu. . ." Hasegawa-san answered.
"It's. . . It's a miracle. . ." whispered a doctor in disbelief.
"A while ago, she can't even move. . . But now. . ." the other said, totally confused by the incident.
"Sa. . ." said Hasegawa-san, carrying Nuriko in his hands.
"Let's go home, Nuriko. . ."
"Ma-Matte!" Sakura unconsciously shouted.
"Huh?" Hasegawa-san looked confused.
"Ah! Of course! Sakura-chan, this is my daughter, Nuriko-chan!" he said cheerfully.
"Ho. . . Hoe. . .? Ah, um, hi. . ." Sakura greeted hesitantly.
"My name is Hasegawa Nuriko, good to see you. . ." the girl greeted politely.
"Ah! Um. . . I'm Kinomoto Sakura. . . Goo. . . Good to see you too. . ." she answered reluctantly.
"Now, Nuriko-chan, say bye-bye to Sakura-'neechan."
"Bye. . ." she said and walked outside the operating room with her delightful father. . .
"Excuse us, Mr. Hasegawa, but you can't take her yet," the doctor said.
"But. . . WHY?! She's healthy already!" Hasegawa-san shouted.
"Sorry, Sir, but we have to make sure that she will be all right, you can't pick her up tomorrow." Dr. Ben furthermore explained to the Japanese guy in front of him.
Hasegawa-san sighed.
"I guess you have the point. . ."
Hoe. . .! What must I do?! Sakura thought frantically from a distance.
************************************************************************
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo called Sakura from a distance.
". . . Tomoyo-chan. . ." Sakura said hesitantly, lower her head, and put a grief expression on her face. . .
"Ne, what's wrong? You look sad. . ." Tomoyo asked with concern, noticing her best friend's expression.
"Wa. . . Wakaranai. . ." she answered, both confusedly and sadly. . .
"Tell us, maybe we can help. . ." Eriol piped in.
Sakura looked at everybody and decided to tell the whole story. . .
"Nanda?!" said Shao Ran, surprised.
"Un. I don't really understand either, but it seems as if a Clow Card got into her body!" explained Sakura, who's now sitting on a chair surrounded by her friends, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
"But. . . that's impossible! . . . is it?" asked Mei Lin doubtfully.
"I, I don't know! That's why I don't know what to do! What should I do, Eriol-kun?!" Sakura asked frantically.
"Hm. . ." Eriol thought.
"This is bad. . ." he muttered worriedly.
"What?! What will happened?!" demanded Shao Ran.
"If a Clow Card entered a human body, you could simply turned it into its card form by luring it to come out from the human body it entered. . ." he started.
"Then. . . what's wrong with that. . .?" asked Tomoyo.
Eriol looked at the others seriously.
"But if it does, the person. . ." his eyes glinted a sad reflection.
". . . will die. . ."
************************************************************************
Sakura sat in her desk, thinking. She and the others had come home without much to say, all have their own thoughts and opinions about the whole complex thing. If Sakura lured the Clow Card out, then the little girl would die, but if she didn't, it will only bring future problems, for Eriol said that the girl will die eventually and the card will come out when she did. That, for sure, will bring chaos and drew the society's attention.
But that way, Nuriko-chan will be able to continue living a bit longer, and Hasegawa-san won't be sad. . . Sakura thought while thinking for a solution.
But if I did. . .Sakura shook her head.
No! I can't do that either! There's only one thing I can do now. . .
Sakura stood up and went out from her room, walking to a particular door, and knocked.
"Please come in, Sakura," came Eriol's voice.
Sakura was taken back a little, she wondered how Eriol knew that it was her who knocked. But then again, Eriol *is* always mysterious and full of surprises. . .
Sakura pushed the door open and stepped in, her feelings was a mix of fear and concern, yes and no… She decided that talking to Eriol was the best solution. . .
"Eriol-kun, I—"
"You've been thinking about the little girl in the hospital and the Clow Card inside her?" cut Eriol while drinking a cup of his favorite English tea.
"Ah! How did you know?!" she asked, puzzled.
Eriol smiled, sincerely this time.
"You don't need to be a spell user to know such obvious thing. . ." he said, placing the cup down, taking a book to his lap, and looked at Sakura seriously.
"Sakura, I understand your feelings, but. . . you know that it's impossible to let the card out, right?"
"But, Eriol-kun!" protested Sakura.
"If I do that the girl will—"
Sakura couldn't bear to continue, she couldn't think of Nuriko dying because Sakura lured the Clow Card out, she couldn't bear thinking of *killing* her. . .
Eriol looked concern, and with a sigh he began to advise his little descendant.
"Sakura, you know you can't let a Clow Card loose. . . There's no other way to catch that card unless you catch it when it's still in the body of its host. . ." he told Sakura.
"But— why?! There hasn't been any Clow Card like this before!" she demanded.
"Yes. . . but it's no ordinary card, it's a special one, more special than the 4 element cards. . ."
"More. . . special. . .? What do you mean?"
Eriol sighed again and opened the next page of his book.
"It's one of the Trimighty Cards, Tokushu Cards. . ." said Eriol.
"To. . . Tokushu?" asked Sakura confusedly.
"Yes. . . there are 3 special cards that hold the power beyond any normal Clow Cards. . . I know I shouldn't have created those cards, but when I'm about to take back the powers. . . it was too late. . ." Eriol paused.
"Why?! What happened?!" demanded Sakura.
"They escaped. . . I told you before that they aren't ordinary, they have minds of their own, they're extremely dangerous . . . he said mysteriously.
Suddenly, a memory hit Sakura.
"Ano yume. . . Eriol-kun! I had a dream before, maybe it has a relationship!"
Sakura proceeded to tell the dream she had before, the dream about 10 Clow Cards that surrounded a small hooded figure who gave Sakura the bleeding Clow Card. . .
". . . And then I woke up. . ." Sakura finished.
"So. . . do you think it has a relationship with the special cards?" Sakura asked hopefully.
Eriol looked up from his book and smiled at Sakura, but a tinge of mischief played in his eyes. . .
"No dreams are meaningless for spell users. . ." he said.
"I'm sure that has something to do with the Trimighty Cards. . . especially. . . about the hooded figure. . ."
"Hoe?" Sakura looked surprised.
"Well," Eriol said, closing his book.
"I'm sorry, but I have something to do. . ."
"Ah! Gomen for bothering you!" Sakura bowed politely.
Eriol smiled again and walked to a door on his left.
"It's okay. . ." he said, but when Sakura was about to go out from his room, he said mysteriously. . .
"Sakura, remember. . ."
"Ah?" Sakura looked confused.
"Sometimes, even a pure light can be found in darkness. . ."
"Ho. . . Hoe. . .?!" Sakura halted, leaving her in a position of holding the handle of the exit door.
Eriol smiled again and disappeared behind the said room, leaving Sakura before she could ask more. . .
************************************************************************
Sometimes, even a pure light can be found in the darkness. . . Eriol's words swimming in Sakura's thought. . .
What must I do?! I don't understand at all! thought Sakura, more depressed than usual.
Sometimes, even a pure light can be found in darkness. . .
What, Eriol-kun?! I don't— I can't understand! Sakura thought, a trickle of tears rolled down her cheek.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Sakura-chan? Are you okay?" came Tomoyo's voice.
Sakura wiped off her tears.
"Un! Daijyoubu! Please come in!" she said, trying to sound s cheerful as usual.
"No, I just came to say that dinner's ready!" said Tomoyo.
Hoe~! It's 7 already?! thought Sakura as she looked at the clock.
"I'm coming!" she got out and joined Tomoyo to the dining room. . .
************************************************************************
"Sakura, I have an important thing to tell you. . ." Eriol said while they were eating dinner.
"Ho. . . Hoe?" Sakura said, somehow feeling that it's not going to be good news. . .
"I'm afraid. . . tonight's the night to seal it. . ." said Eriol, rather hesitantly.
"But— it's too fast! I mean. . . we just met Nuriko today!" claimed Sakura.
"Yes. . . but The Clow Card has stayed longer than before you meet the girl. . ." he explained.
"If you know that. . . that means you've known about this after all?!" accused Shao Ran, who seemed in rage.
"No, it's more like it's quite an obvious thing. . ." explained Eriol, who still kept his calm composure.
"Ano. . . I've been thinking about it earlier too. . ." wondered Tomoyo, joining the conversation.
"If you created The Clow Cards, Eriol-san, then you'll surely be able to sense it like Sakura-chan, right?" she pointed out.
"Oh, right! And since you're the strongest wizards in the whole universe, it's not a tough work, right?!" added Mei Lin.
"My, you flattered me, Mei Lin-san," Eriol joked.
"Daidouji-san," he looked at Tomoyo.
"I've mentioned before that I shared my magic powers with both Sakura and his father, so my power isn't that strong anymore. . ." he explained patiently, flashing a smile once or twice (-_-;). . .
"And my power to sense Clow Cards has been reduced, I can only sense them when they're near or active. . . pretty much like Sakura-san. . ."
"Or worse." he added, finishing his explanation.
"Ah. . ." muttered Tomoyo.
"Sou. . ." Shao Ran mumbled.
"I thought Hiiragizawa-san's being mischievous again. . ." said Mei Lin with a small voice (figures. . . n_n;). . .
"Well. . . since all thing's cleared. . . Sakura-san?" Eriol beckoned the frowning Sakura.
". . ."
"Hai, let's go. . ."
************************************************************************
The night was dark, pitch-black dark. . . and even that can't scare Sakura more than what she knew she was going to do to an innocent little girl. . . Sakura was in her biggest dilemma, never before she had a life-death situation. . . Well, she *did* have those before, but she and her friends are the ones in grave dangers, therefore she could just struggle for her life— with helps from her friends. . . But now. . . she's the one on the bad side, she's the one who *cause* the danger to somebody, she's the one who must make a *kill*— and she's all alone, without her friends to support or help her. . . The decision is hers, and she knew that, sooner or later, she'd have to choose. . . between life and responsibility. . .
"Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked quietly.
"Daijyoubu desu ka?" she asked carefully, absolutely understanding the dilemma and stress her best friend faced. . .
Sakura forced a smile with no avail.
"Hai, Tomoyo-chan. . . Arigatou. . ." her voice was raspy and quivering.
Tomoyo was surprised at how depressed Sakura was, yet didn't say a thing anymore. . .
"Sakura-san?" Eriol called from in front of the entrance of the hospital.
The group came to the hospital at midnight, knowing that the girl must have fallen asleep by now. . . Eriol told Sakura to use The Sleep on the people in the hospital, so that nobody knows about Clow Cards and magic. . .
Sakura nodded and walked in.
"Sakura. . ." Shao Ran called and gave her a gentle, concerned look.
Sakura looked back desperately and proceeded to enter the building. . . to finally make a choice. . .
************************************************************************
"Hoe. . ." Sakura whimpered slightly at how dark it was in the ward.
The doctors and nurses had fallen asleep, courtesy of The Sleep. . . And Sakura entered the ward without any slightest trouble. . .
"Okay, this is it. . ." she sighed while proceeding to Nuriko's bed.
Sakura approached Nuriko hesitantly. She watched Nuriko sleeping, studying her chest went up and down, and the innocence that was painted on the young girl's face. . .
Sakura abruptly shook her head. With determination, she lifted her transformed key and positioned it over Nuriko. . . She can feel the strengthening of the Clow Card aura that radiated from the girl's body. . .
"Return to your true self. . ." Sakura said shakily in a whisper.
"Clow—!"
"Otousan. . ." Nuriko mumbled, steering a little but quickly went back to sleep.
Sakura halted.
Atashi…Atashi…"I CAN'T DO IT!!" Sakura screamed and transformed her wand back, tears streaming down her cheek.
Suddenly, Nuriko's body glowed and swirls of light emerged from her body. . .
"Ho. . . Hoe. . .?" Sakura watched in confusion as the light shaped a woman's figure. The figure had straight, silvery-white, silky hair, her eyes were soft golden, and her ears are rather pointy. She wore a long, white, glimmering dress, with white feathery wings on her back. . .
"Anata wa. . ."
Anata wa yoi no ko, ne?
Sakura gasped when she heard the voice inside her head, she looked at the figure in front of her quizzically. The strange figure smiled at her gently.
Makotoni. . . yoi no ko desu. . .
At once, a strange light enveloped the angelic figure in front of Sakura. The light shone so bright it was blinding.
"Hoee. . .!!" Sakura cried while covering her eyes. She couldn't see anything for around a minute even after the light had died down. . .
Sakura adjusted her eyes in the now-dark ward, suddenly catching a familiar looking card floating in front of her.
"Clow. . . Card?!" she said in disbelief, slowly reaching to the slightly glowing Clow Card. She touched it gently and the light surprisingly died down. . . Sakura examined the card she just *somehow* managed to catch. . . The figure she just saw appeared on the card, her eyes closed and a smile was shown. . . Her great white wings enveloped her slightly. . . Sakura noticed the word "The Remedy" crocheted at the bottom.
But—how. . . Sakura thought, puzzled.
"Otousan. . ."
Realization suddenly stroked Sakura.
The girl! she looked at Nuriko. She was still sleeping and calling her father's name in her sleep.
But. . . how come— I thought she would. . .
"Congratulation, Sakura. . ." a familiar, rather mischievous voice said appraisingly.
"E. . . Eriol-kun?!" Sakura turned and saw Eriol standing in front of the door behind her.
"You've managed to catch one of the Trimighty Cards, Tokushu Cards. . ." said Eriol calmly.
"But. . . Nuriko-chan, she—"
Eriol raised his hand to tell Sakura to be patient.
"Perhaps I owe you an explanation. . ."
************************************************************************
Yay! I finally managed to finish this fic! AT LAST! #^0^# Woo-hoo! Yeah! ^0^ . . . -_-; Ehehe, gomen. . . n_n; that's what you got when a crazy authoress (read: me) *finally* UPDATED after around. . . gosh, half a year?! 0_o; Anyway, please kindly leave a review, minna! ^0^ Oh, and Happy Halloween! n_n (not really celebrating it, but. . .Oh well.)
P.S.#1 Next week (or months? -_-;): Finally an explanation from Eriol! What's with those Tokushu Cards anyway? What about Nuriko? What about the danger Sakura's about to encounter?! And. . . what's actually the meaning of Eriol's words? It's all in next chapter, so don't miss it! n_n;
P.S.#2 Still needs reviews on my other one-shot CCS fic: "Miraculous Christmas"! Onegai, minna-san! ,_, Sankyuu! #^0^#
#n_n# (JK-Chan) — the authoress who finally updated! n_n;