Last Time…
When the talking stuffed animal seemed to recognize the sword, the girl looked at it, and then put it down. Seeing that the sword was no longer pointed at him, Kero looked at the girl for the first time. She was wearing loose, baggy blue jeans, a white shirt and a camouflage jacket. When Kero looked the girl in the eyes, he gasped.
Now...
"No, it…it can't be. Sakura."
"Sakura, is it really you?" With that Kero threw himself at the girl.
"I can't believe it's you. Your hair is different, but wow."
The girl sat stunned as the animal threw himself at her. She gently took the little beast and placed him on top of the chest. Then she lifted up her sleeve and pinched herself.
"Ouch! That eliminates me being asleep. Maybe Erik put something in the drink he gave me. That's it, I've been drugged and now I'm hallucinating a talking stuffed animal. No wait, Erik doesn't do that."
"Um Sakura, are you all right?"
'Sakura, that name…' the girl didn't pursue that thought because the little bear looking thing was looking at her strangely.
"I'm sorry, Kero was it? My name is Rose."
Rose watched as the little guardian's face fell at the announcement.
"Of course, you couldn't be her, she's…it's just you look so much like her."
After a short, awkward silence, Rose picked up the sword and stared to leave the attic when Kero flew in front of her.
"Wait. Where are you going?"
"I have to find those cards, otherwise my grandmother will kill me. The only one I didn't lose was this one." She held up the Windy card.
"Good, that's what your supposed to do. You have to capture the cards."
"Capture? You make it sound like they have a mind of their own."
"They do. Now, you'll need a staff, or key, to help you. Now close your eyes while I perform the ritual, which will allow you to become a card captor.
"I Cerberus name you, Rose, card captor. Capture the cards and make them yours."
Rose started to glow and when she opened her eyes, she was looking at a staff. It had a sun and moon on the top, and it was colored silver and gold.
"What's this?"
"That is your staff, which you will nee t use when capturing cards. When you're not using it, the staff reverts to a key."
"Oh." Just then her stomach growled.
"Man am I hungry."
Kero, who had been sitting in the corner watching Rose, perked up at the mention of food. He flew and landed on Rose's left shoulder, and so intent was he on food, Kero didn't notice Rose wince.
Rose was slightly surprised when Kero landed on her shoulder, but surprise quickly turned to pain when she realized which shoulder he landed on. She reached over to pick him up to move Kero to her other shoulder, but he flew away, apologizing.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I won't do it again. I promise." Kero was still unsure of this girl who looked so much like his Sakura, but different. She felt like Sakura, but was different. Maybe he spent too long in that stupid book.
Rose laughed at Kero's apology. A real laugh, something she hadn't done is such a long time. She laughed even harder when she saw Kero trying to look angry over his confusion. Rose held out her hand for Kero to land on and calmed down enough to explain.
"Kero, really, you mustn't assume I didn't want you there." She was saying this as she settled him on her right shoulder.
"But for a little while, use my right shoulder, my left one is a bit sore. That's all I was going to do. Switch you to my other shoulder. So are you hungry too?"
After nodding quite insistently, Rose and Kero headed down stairs. Rose fixed some Italian sausage and rise with some corn.
After the meal was prepared Rose remembered why her grandmother wasn't home. 'She's playing bridge and bingo at the church.'
"So Kero, tell me more about these cards."
"A long time ago, there was a powerful sorcerer named Clow Reed, who created the Clow cards. Each card was different and could do different things. He also created two guardians of the Clow Cards. When he died, the cards and guardians were sealed, waiting for the next person to become their master. The next person was Sakura; she became the Card Mistress and changed the Clow Cards to Sakura cards. She was even more powerful than Clow Reed was. When she died, the cards became sealed again, waiting for the next master or mistress."
"Has there been anyone-" Before Rose could finish the question she felt something, a presence of some sorts.
"Kero?"
"It is a card, Rose. You have to capture it. Change the key into a staff. You will need an incant-" Before he finished the thought, Rose had closed her eyes and held out the key and said,
"Key of Sakura, Key of Clow
To thee I beseech,
Please help me now
Thy true form release."
The key turned into the staff again. Kero was impressed. Rose just seemed to make that incantation up and it worked. Sakura had to be told her first incantation. Before he could ponder it any further, Rose was out of the front door.
"Rose, look, it's the fly card."
Somehow, instinctively, Rose knew what to do. She pulled out the Windy card and held it in front of her.
'That was Sakura's first card as well.' Kero thought to himself when he saw which card Rose pulled out.
"Card of Sakura, Card of Clow
To thee I beseech,
Please help me now.
Thy powers release, Windy."
The windy card came out and was ready to do Rose's bidding.
Rose looked at the giant bird in the sky, at the course it was taking and how fast it was going. After figuring everything out, she turned to Windy.
"Can you carry me to the top of that building over there? I'll explain everything else I would like your help with on our way there."
In the next instant Rose felt herself being lifted gently into the air and carried to her destination, and explained to Windy what was needed. When Rose reached the building; Windy put her down and went out to meet Fly.
"Okay, gently form a downdraft against fly, then an updraft. Disorient Fly. When she's disoriented enough not to fight, surround her to ensure she doesn't fall. At that point you should be here. Then I'll seal her."
Kero was impressed. Rose knew exactly what she was doing, and this was only her first capture. Everything was going the way she planned and fly was caught.
"Thank you for all your help Windy. I couldn't have done it without you. You can return now."
Windy looked a little surprise but returned to card form. She then too the fly card and said sorry.
"I'm sorry for making you go through all that. Thank you for returning to your card form so quickly."
Kero was astonished. Rose was talking with the cards. And before his very eyes, she took out a pen from one of her many pockets and signed both cards.
"How did you know to do that?"
"Windy told me."
Then she jumped off the building with a flip, and landed with cat-like grace on her feet, and then she started running towards home.
'So much alike, yet as different as night and day.'
I made up that incantation all on my own. Isn't everyone proud of me? So the plot thickens. Just how smart is Rose that she can figure out speed, distance, rate and time that quickly and accurately?
Notice how I keep dropping hints about things? If you don't then when everything is revealed, won't you be surprised?
I would like to thank those who reviewed. It always means a lot to me that readers take the time and consideration to drop me a line on their feelings of my story. Even if you don't like it, I would still like to hear from you.
I will hopefully update once a week, at least until my school gets in the way. But that is the plan, however I make no promises. All I ask is for patience, and in the end, all will be done.
Thank you, and Please Review.