Chapitre Twenty-eight: The Surprise
When Fuutie had finished inspecting the village's defense system and also the villagers' training, she had decided to call it a day after seeing that it was going on well. She had already finished with inspecting the villagers and small towns in that area and she thought that it was time to go back home to report to her mother about the training and also about Sakura and Syaoran.
As for Keroberos, even though he was also inspecting the village along with Fuutie, he was constantly glancing at Sakura and Syaoran, both of whom had decided to also accompany the duo. Sakura, however, though she was looking at the defenses, in her mind, she was thinking about other things. She thought that there were some things that she did not remember about her past life. She knew that there were fifty-two cards in her Card deck, but she also remembered that there was someone who was also collecting the Cards with her in the past- she remembered that she did not capture all the Cards- but she did not know who that person was. Therefore, it made her wonder who that person was and whether that person was someone she knew.
"Come on now, we have to go back to report to mother." Fuutie said as she went towards the center of the village. "However, it seems that Keroberos will not want to carry me on his back, now that his mistress is back, so I will have no choice but to ask you, my dear brother, to take me back home." Syaoran was a bit shocked, for her had remembered that Keroberos had managed to carry both him and Sakura on his back when they were young…unless Kero had something that he wanted to discuss with Sakura?
"I know what you are going to do…all right then. But still, can we go somewhere else and then you know, leave for home? I am afraid that the villagers will be terrified by my new appearance." Syaoran answered as he looked at Fuutie, hoping to talk some sense into her, and not leave this village dramatically. Fuutie smiled, for this was still her brother, who had not changed after all these years. Still, she was glad to have him back and she would give in to him for the time being then.
She consented to his request and they went to the clearing where Sakura and Syaoran were captured by the villagers and there, he changed into his dragon form. Kero went towards Sakura and said simply, "Climb onto my back." She obeyed and the four of them left the village.
While they were going to Syaoran's home, Fuutie was telling Syaoran what had changed since Yubaba captured him. He could not believe that so much could change. He had thought that all the lands he had been to would remain as before. However, upon seeing them, he had thought that his country was in a bad shape with the years of warring with Debonair. Still, the people managed to harvest enough rice and store them secretly in their homes or in the country's granaries.
As for Kero, he was talking to Sakura, who was listening attentively to what he was saying. "Sakura, do you remember the one who captured the cards with you? Or do you not?"
"Why? And no, I do not remember anything at all, except the time when I captured the cards and transformed them and also the time period when I was at Debonair's country and Yubaba's country."
"Good. So she must have erased her memories then. However, all was futile, for that specific card was still not captured and is out there somewhere hiding from us." Kero thought.
"So you have forgotten him? Good." Kero muttered.
"Why, Kero?"
"Oh! Nothing, nothing!"
"So what have you been doing during the time when I was at Debonair's palace?"
And so, they talked about more interesting things other than the past. By the time they reached the capital, it was evening. The palace loomed in view and most of the people who were outside their homes on the streets were craning their necks to see the royal members go to the palace. However, they were surprised- very surprised- to see the dragon. It meant that their next king was back. Everyone, of course, rejoiced.
However, the one getting the greatest surprise was his mother. Fuutie had told him a lot of the things that Syaoran had missed out when he was missing from his home. Thus, when he saw that his people were thinner than before and many of them were carrying weapons out in the streets in case there was an attack and they needed to defend the capital.
They entered through the palace gates. The person who came running out to greet them was no other than Syaoran's mother- Yelen.
"Oh, my dear son…thank goodness you are safe!" Queen Yelen said as she went to look at his son in his dragon form. She turned and looked at the passenger on Kero's back. "So are you, Sakura! You have grown prettier since the last time I saw you!" Then, she went and hugged Sakura.
Sakura was confused. Who was this person? Was Syaoran's mother related to her in any way in the past? How come she could not remember? Or was it the doing of the bracelet?
Sakura kept politely puzzled and allowed herself to be hugged by Syaoran's mother. She saw that there were tears in her eyes. When Yelen finally released her, she asked, "Where is Nadeshiko? Where is she?"
"Well, I have no idea, for when my mother and I were running away from Debonair, we lost contact…"
"Do you know if she is…you know, dead?"
Sakura shook her head as she answered, "I still sense her aura somewhere far away, but I do not know where."
"Well! That can't be helped! Now, how about going inside and get cleaned up? You all could do with a rest!" Yelen clapped her hands together as they went into the palace, where they would get cleaned up and eaten and then rested…
Disclaimer: I do not own Cardcaptor Sakura or anything…
GOMEN! GOMEN! GOMEN! So sorry…I wanted to update this fanfic, but then I did not have the time to type, so I only updated today! I hope that you all will not mind if I try to update every fortnight…I am now very busy with schoolwork- as usual…Still, please stay tuned to find out what is happening next! Ja!
