Chapter 5: Charms

Sakura woke up the next morning early enough to start to work on the charms she was planning to make. She could only do a few at a time, mainly because with the cards, and Yue, and now other people drawing off her power, it was spread very thin.

Using CREATE, she made about 10 little pendants, each with a little gem in the middle. It wasn't hard, but it was very tiring to Sakura, who hadn't needed to use her magic for a while. She finished placing magic in the last one just in time for her to have a shower before going down to breakfast.

She ran around her room getting her school uniform from where ever she had tossed it the night before, and making Kero so that he could watch over her pendants all day. At first he was angry that she was putting her magic into the pendants, but quickly changed his opinion as he thought of what the option was.

'Thanks, Kero-chan! See you later!' Sakura called over to her friend as she ran down for breakfast.

As she entered the kitchen, she noticed the grave look on her father's face. 'Otou-san, what's wrong?' she said, sliding into her seat and begging to eat her pancakes.

He looked at her with a semi-dreamy expression in his eyes. 'Sakura-chan... this morning I heard you talking to someone in your room. As Touya-chan's already left for work-' Sakura gasped as she realized that she was late, '-I assumed that you had a visitor. Can I meet them?'

Sakura glanced uneaisily at her father. 'I don't know... I'd have to ask them...' her father then had a troubled look on his face.

'Alright. Ask them. And as you're so late-' Sakura moved to get up, but her father forced her gently back down into the chair, '-I shall call the school, tell them that you'll not be there today because you're sick. I have to go to work, but would you mind cleaning up? It would help me and you're brother greatly. Please?' Sakura nodded her head, feeling unable to do anything else.

'Then I'll see you later. Bye, Sakura-chan. And try not to mess up the house too much.' He left, leaving Sakura with the prospect of having to spend a day cleaning and enduring lectures from Kero.

Getting to her feet, she decided to clean first, then go up to Kero. Starting on her work, she relaxed. She didn't have school, there wasn't much to clean.... An idea occurred to her. When I finish, I could work on more charms, and then go to the hospital... and give them their charms, and keep Li-kun company.... As the last thought went through her head, she began to clean faster. The sooner she finished cleaning, the sooner she work finish the first few charms, the sooner she could go visit Syaoran.

Delighted with the idea, she finished cleaning in record breaking time. Running up to her room, she saw Kero sitting over the pendants on her bed, staring at them. And, she thought, smiling, sealing them. 'Kero-chan!' He continued to seal the charms. 'Kero! Cerberus!' he looked up, annoyed.

'Sakura-chan, why aren't you at school? Shouldn't you be there?' She nodded. 'Then why are you still here?'

'My dad called in and told them I wasn't comming because I was sick. I'm going to the hospital now, no,' she added, seeing the look on his face, 'not because I'm sick. I'm going to visit the people there-' by his disbelieving snort, she knew he knew that she was going to sit by Syaoran '-and give them those charms.'

Kero looked down at the small different colored bobbles at his feet. 'There's complex spells on these. You did them?' She nodded again. 'I'll just finish up the charms while you change.'

'Thanks again, Kero' she said, hugging him. She sorted through her closet, trying to find a nice outfit. She finally decided on a pink skirt, and a light pink top. She pulled on white socks, and light, pink shoes. She pulled her hair up into two buns on either side of her head, and smiled at her reflection.

She suddenly remembered something, as she felt the magic behind her fade.

'Kero...' he looked up, not liking her tone. 'My dad... he... well, he heard us talking, and...' he gave her a quizical look, not daring to open his mouth, for what might come out of it. 'He wants to meet you.'

Although a moment before he was burning with anger, he looked her straight in the eye, after slowly calming himself. 'Did you tell him anything?' She shook her head.

'I couldn't. He didn't give me a chance. Not much of one, anyway. He just said he heard us talking, and he wants to meet you.'

Kero thought about it for a moment, then brightened. 'I guess it wouldn't be too bad if we told your dad. We'd have to swear him to secrecy, under a few spells, but other than that, I think that you should.' Her relief showed on her face. He smiled. But then he saw something the brightness. 'Sakura... now what's wrong?'

She looked startled. 'Well... I... um... Kero... is there any way that we could tell other, too?' He shook his head so fast and hard, she was surprised it didn't go flying right off his shoulders.

'Sakura, you know just as well as me that we can't. Not anyone outside your family. Tomoyo-chan shouldn't even know.' Pleading filled her eyes. 'No, Sakura. You can tell your father, your brother, and maybe one more person. But no-one-else.' He said the last three words with space between them, giving them emphasis. 'Do you understand me?' She nodded slowly, sadly. 'Good. Now...' he said, smiling. 'I think you owe a trip to the hospital. I didn't seal these things for no reason, ya know!'

Sakura stood in front of the hospital, gapping at the large stained-glass windows in the front which portrayed a picture of someone healing someone else. The whole building was elegant- it might have been a rich man's house at one point.

She walked in, not sure of what she should say to the nurses so that she could see some of the people that had 'gotten sick'. However, she was spared having to lie by a loud call from a floor two or three above where she was standing.

'Sakura! Hey, Sakura!'

Sakura looked up just in time to see a girl with black hair tied into two buns/pony tails sorry, I dunno what they're called! on either side of her head, waving before she hurtled down the stairs to Sakura's right.

'Meilin! What are you doing here?!' Sakura asked, a little surprised to see Syaoran's cousin and (as far as Sakura knew) fiancé in Tokyo. 'Don't you still live in Hog Kong?!'

Meilin gave Sakura a em really /em big hug. After letting go, she replied, 'well, yeah, but then we heard that Syaoran was sick with some new disease...' Her normally bright ruby eyes had grown dark.

Sakura smiled. 'Well, I actually have something that might help...' Meilin looked at Sakura questioningly. In response, Sakura puled out one of the charms that she and Kero had made. Whispering in Meilin's ear, she explained, 'Kero and I made these. We put a bit of our magics into them.'

Meilin couldn't understand why they would make the charms.

Sighing, Sakura continued, 'we, or at least, I think that this isn't some disease, but that it has to do with magic.'

Meilin's eyes suddenly brightened.

'You mean that it could just be a spell, or something of the sort?'

Sakura nodded her head.

'How many do you have?'

'Only ten... we just started today.'

'Who did you make them for?'

'Syaoran, th mayor's two daughters, and anyone else who really seems to need it. Why?'

Meilin looked at Sakura. 'Mayor's two daughters? But... never mind. You wanna see him?'

By him she ment Syaoran.

'Yeah, sure!'

Sakura followed Meilin up the stairs to the fourth floor. A man at the entrance to the ward moved into their path. 'Who are you visiting?' he asked emotionlessly.

Meilin looked at him. 'I just came out, remember? We're visiting Li Syaoran.'

The guard checked a list on a clip board and nodded. 'Names, and relations.'

'Li Meilin, his cousin, and Kinomoto Sakura, his fiancé.'

Sakura started to protest, but decided not to. If it got her in, it didn't matter.

The guard checked down the list. 'Apparently a Li Meilin is also his fiancé, as well as his cousin.'

Meilin narrowed her eyesand gave him the evil eye. She said something in either Cantonese or Chinese (Sakura couldn't quite tell). The guard blushed and let them through.

'Meilin, what did you say to him?'

Meilin smiled. 'Just that there was a slight change in plans.' When Sakura gave her a questioning look, she only shook her head. 'When he wakes up, let Syaoran tell you.'

Sakura followed Meilin in silence. Suddenly, they stopped in front of a large room filled with ten beds- all of them occupied. Beside all of the beds was either a nurse or a family member. One, by the window, was Syaoran's bed. He was sleeping peacefully, and right beside his bed was-

'Konichiwa, er...'

'Just call me Yelan, Sakura.'

'Konichiwa, Yelan-chan,' Sakura said, bowing. ' I do hope I'm not intruding. But I have a small gift to give Syaoran, and a few of the others here...'

Yelan looked at her niece, then at the Card Mistress. She stood up and bowed, then walked over and took Sakura's hands. 'And what gift might you bestow upon my son, and the others here, Mistress?'

Blushing at someone with such power calling her by her title, she replied, 'I made with the help of one of my friends, Kero-chan, ten small good-look charms. They're supposed to be worn at all times, and will hopefully help all the people here.'

Suddenly a man dressed in very business-like clothes got up and walked over to Sakura, Yelan and Meilin. 'Yelan, I did not see you. Your son is in here as well?' Before she could answer, he went on. 'Yes, I can see him over there. My two daughters were also taking ill. Now, young lady,' he said, turning to Sakura. 'I heard that you have some good-luck charms? That should help?'

'Yes, er...'

'Guonase Tardo, the mayor.'

'I do, and if you want me to give your daughter's one each...?'

'Try it out on Yelan's son first. I want to see if they work. I do not want to waste money on silly little charms that don't work.'

Sakura looked at him, a little baffled. 'Sir... I'm not selling them. I'm giving them away to whom I wish. No disrespect intended.'

'Oh, right... then try it out, please.'

Sakura walked over to Syaoran's bed, sitting down in the chair that Yelan had occupied. She took a charm that she had CREATE make specially for Syaoran, with a wolf-head at the top and a picture of a cherry blossom at the bottom. All her charms had the cherry blossom- the wolf was extra.

She slipped the cord it was attached to over his head, careful not to disturb him. She took both his hands, laying them over the small stone in the middle, and then placing her hands over them.

She closed her eyes, and said in a whisper so as not to disturb anyone (but everyone awake was looking at her anyways... they had been listening intently to the only conversation going on in the room): 'Ancient power burried within, saving magic now let spin, born from two powers of the cards, and mistress who rules the stars, send forth into this very being, all your power, stop his fleeing, strength and health are all he needs, as I command thee. Release!'

She felt a slow trickle of her and Kero's power leave the charm and enter his body. Opening her eyes, she noticed that everyone was staring at her. Then she realized that even in a whisper, her words must have been audible almost all through the room. Yelan, Meilin, and Tardo were looking at her, shocked, although Yelan recovered quickly when she saw Syaoran's eyelids flutter.

'Oh my gosh!' she said quietly, sweeping over to his side, beside Sakura. 'Syaoran, Syaoran... are you awake?'

He moaned, then sat up groggily. 'Wha... wha... what happened?'

Yelan hugged her son tight, while he looked around the room at all the faces turned in his direction. Then he saw Sakura.

'Sakura? Omigod... I remember reading your note that you had left, and then going to the kitchen to get some food... how long have I been asleep?'

She smiled weakly. 'About a day, give or take a few hours.'

Abandoning all pretence, he asked quickly, 'Did you keep looking in my dad's books for info about that shield?' He felt a strange weight on his chest as Yelan let go of him to study their faces. 'And what's this thing?'

'What I used to make you wake up. No, I did not keep looking, I was worried sick about you. So I stayed up all night making those charms.'

He studied his. 'I like the design... a wolf... my name, right?' she nodded. 'Cherry Blossoms... you?' Another nod. 'And... Sakura... did you do this purposely?'

'Do what?'

'This.' He pointed to a new design, outlining the small gem in the middle. She gasped. 'I have no idea how that got on there. I don't understand... it might be a side effect from using CREATE, but it's not on the others...' To make sure, she took out the rest of the charms, everyone in the room still watching her intently. 'No.. Maybe just when it's activated? But then why...?'

'What?' Yelan, Meilin and Tardo asked at the same time.

Sakura gulped. 'My circle....'

Yelan leaned over and looked at the pendant still hanging around Syaoran's neck. 'Sakura... is there anyway to take this off? Now?' Sakura shook her head. She had made sure that the charms could not be tampered with.

Meilin came over to see. 'Oh boy. Sakura, you're gonna be in big trouble if this gets out....'

'What gets out? What circle? What are you people talking about?' Tardo asked, thinking of how to get this over with so that the strange girl could wake up his daughters.

Sakura looked down. 'I... I have... well, its... er...' she looked at her friends for support. However, the only one looking at her was Syaoran, and it was obvious what he was trying to say to her without talking: shutupshutupshutupshutupshutup.

'I can't though!' she wailed, and sat without moving.

'Sakura...' she looked up to see Yelan looking her in the eye. 'You are the Card Mistress. It's not something to hide... not anymore, any ways...'

'Alright' Sakura stood up on shaky legs. She looked Tardo in the eye, just as Yelan had done to her. Tardo lept back in fright: when he looked straight at her, it seemed as though there was a hazy line of pink surrounding her, and it scared him. 'Wha... who... who are you?'

'My name is Kinomoto Sakura. I have a father and a brother, Fujitaka and Touya. My mother died when I was three. Her name was Nadeshiko.' Sakura took a shaky breath, then continued. 'My best friends are Daidjui Tomoyo and Li Syao-'

'That's nice...' Tardo interjected, finally regaining his confidence. 'But what does it have to do with designs? Or are you trying to make me forget?'

Sakura smiled weakly. 'Well, I-'

'Well, you what? Are you going to tell me?'

Sakura was losing her patience and fast. 'I shall gladly tell you about the designs, etc. if you would just let me finish at least one sentence. Do you think you can do that? Or will I have to show you?' she said everything so quietly that Tardo had to lean forward to hear her, and while he was struggling to listen to her, he couldn't interrupt her.

'Well, well I-' he stuttered, amazed that this one girl would take such a tone with him.

Sakura eyed him. She wanted to make sure he was properly flustered, and Syaoran could see it.

'Sakura...'

She turned around, surprised. 'Yes?'

'Not that I don't loving having you here-' a slight blush stained both their cheeks, 'I think you should come back later when you're not in danger of being arrested.'

Sakura sighed, letting herself sit down on his bed, and looking right into his eyes. 'When should I come back?'

He smiled and replied quietly, so that even with her ear right next to her mouth she could just barely hear him, 'later, when you-know-who isn't here. Put your name on the list outside. Okay?'

Sakura nodded. 'Later, then. I'll see you.'

She turned and walked swiftly down the hall way, and after giving her name to the guard at the door, and making sure he put it on the 'allowed visitors' list, she walked into the park, sitting down underneath a shady tree, and, letting her exhaustion from the last 24 hours wash over her, fell asleep.