Revised. Thank you, Miaka Kiri!

Four Years Later

Tomoeda was not the most exciting place to be at times. Now that her card capturing days were behind her, Sakura had to find other things to keep her busy. At only sixteen years old, she felt the best times in her life were already just a memory. She had loved capturing the cards, no matter how dangerous or risky it got. It became a sort of habit, an every day thing for her. Though at the beginning she had been unsure of her abilities, as time passed, she discovered she could be truly powerful when she needed to be. Not only that but she also had a blast being with her friends and making new ones. When she really thought about it, she knew she was extremely lucky to have been chosen by Kero-chan to be a mistook. It was dangerous, no doubt about that, but it had also given her the chance to make new friends, up to 52 of them.

Her cards were very important to her and she would go to great lengths to protect them. Once she was done capturing them, the only thing left to do with them was use them for Tomoyo-chan's sake. They spent many hours figuring out which cards they would use for that day's shoot, what costumes Sakura would wear, and how to defeat the 'menace' that threatened the city of Tomoeda. But even this got old and soon, all the cards were on tape, all costumes were used at least once, and the camcorder was not used again, except for special occasions.

Happy dreams haunted Sakura, happy because the dreams were of the days where action and adventure were a part of her every day life but also haunting because it had been so long ago, she had forgotten what it had felt like. The thrill was no longer there. She had gone back to being a normal girl, living a normal life– and still waking up late.

The alarm clock rang extremely loud next to Sakura but it did little to wake her up. She mumbled something, covering herself with her cover and snuggling deeper into her bed. The alarm continued to ring. Pretty soon, Kero woke up grumpily and floated to turn off the alarm clock. Sighing, he looked at the lump that was currently Sakura. How was it that at sixteen years old, Sakura still could not get up on time?

Kero floated on top of the lump and began jumping, happily singing,

"It's time for school, time for school, time for school, time fo–argh!"

Sakura bolted from the bed, her face panicked and anxious.

"Hoe!What time is it?"

"It's late, Sakura! Ay, the alarm has been ringing for the last ten minutes."

Pouncing off the bed, Sakura squealed and ran to her closet, taking her clothes from the hanger and quickly running to the bathroom.

Kero shook his head. He used his magic to open her drawer and took out her small basket full of hair clips and ribbons. At the same time, the drawer next to it opened and the Clow book floated out and settles neatly on top of her desk. Sakura ran back to her room and quickly thanked Kero. She brushed her hair and started putting a ribbon to hold her back when her father called from downstairs.

"Sakura-chan, breakfast!"

"Hai!"

She opened the clow book and took out her Sakura cards. The clow book was no longer Clow's. Technically, it was hers but the mark of Clow remained there. He had created the cards, after all. She put the cards in her bag and closed it, swinging it over her shoulder.

"I'll be back later tonight, Kero-chan. I have practice but I'll bring some sweets from school. Tomoyo-chan made them yesterday."

"Whooo!" cheered Kero, settling himself in front of her television and gluing his eyes on the screen. Sakura said good bye to him, shaking her head as she left her room. She made it a habit to buy the guardian of the cards new games as often as she could. Now that things were at a stand still, he got bored very easily so it was up to Sakura to get him games so he could entertain himself.

"Ohayo!" said Sakura cheerfully to her father.

"Ohayo! Sakura-chan," said her father happily as he served breakfast.

"Ohayo, Kaiju," came her brother's voice from behind Sakura. Jumping a foot into the air, the insult reached her brain a little late. She glared at her brother as she sat in front of him at the table. He smiled sweetly at her, as if he had just called her the most beautiful thing in the world.

"I am not a MONSTER!"

"Well, you kind of look like one in the morning so I mistook you for one."

Truly growling like a monster, her hair began to blow back from an invisible wind and her eyes narrowed to little slits. Touya laughed at her face, making her even angrier.

"Now now, it's time to eat," said Sakura's father, oblivious (or at least choosing to be oblivious) to his two children. In fact, he enjoyed it when they were all together at the table. It was not often anymore since Touya had moved out a year ago. He was now living with Yukito and still attending university though he had many jobs at the side. The University had given him a lot of opportunities such as internships at the newspaper and even at a theater. Though Touya had not chosen his career yet, he was experiencing many new things, both with his jobs and with Yukito.

Soon, they were all seated at the table with a delicious breakfast in front of them.

"It's time to eat!"

Sakura happily gobbled the bacon and eggs and no one spoke for a few minutes. Finally, Sakura spoke.

"I'll be a little late tonight, Otou-san, I have practice today."

"Sure, Sakura-san. But remember that we're going to the Tsukimine Shrine for the festival."

"Hai!"

"Maybe we should put a post it on her forehead so she won't forget," said Touya, his mouth half full of bread but his eyes shining with teasing merriment.

"Onii-chan!"

Her eyes traveled to the back wall to where the clock was. With a dramatic gasp, she jumped from the chair, anxiously announcing she was late. She strapped her skates on near the door and was half way out the door when her onii-chan called out to her,

"You sure you have everything?"

Looking back, she nodded at him, showing him her backpack. He gave her a pointed look, serious and very unlike him.

"Everything?"

Sakura knew what he was talking about. Nodding, she waved at him and skated off.

The day was beautiful, a little cold but nothing too harsh. The trees were not in bloom anymore but the colors were still beautiful. Colors of brown and red and yellow somehow reminded her of something, though she wasn't quite sure of what. As she skated, her thoughts went back to her onii-chan. He knew what she was by now, she felt extremely stupid for thinking he knew nothing. Like always, he made sure to look out for her and knowing how forgetful she was, he made sure she had her cards with her at all times. Sakura was older now and though she would never lose her child-like thinking, she had a better idea of how the world worked. She appreciated what he had done for her and still did, in fact. They had gotten very close even though distance separated them. He had stayed near Tomoeda for her safety even though many job offers came his way. Yukito-san had done the same. Now that they lived together, she got to see them more often. She often visited them and when she could not, they visited her. They did not live too far away but their jobs and every-day lives kept them both very busy.

Sakura loved it when they visited. She no longer felt saddened when she saw Yukito-san but she still got all dreamy at times. It was a habit and habits like those do not go away so easy. But now, her feelings were all good and happy when she saw Yukito-san, especially with her brother. They always looked so happy together, it was hard not to feel as happy as they felt.

Sakura passed her old school, slowing down to get a good view at it. Her eyes glazed over as tons of memories passed before her everywhere she looked. At the entrance where Yukito-san used to throw sweets at her or where Tomoyo-chan would wait for her, the camera steady and ready in her hand. Over by the fountain is where Chiharu-chan, Rika-chan, and Naoko-chan ate their lunch almost everyday. It was also where she had a few conversations with Eriol-kun, whom she missed greatly thought he had visited quite often.

The rest of the school was hidden by the wall and she skated on but she knew excatly what lay behind it. She turned the corner and looked through the fence.

She smiled.

That's where she had first talked to Syaoran. Well, not so much talk but argue. Nonetheless, that's where it had all started, really. Sakura had a strong urge to stop and just stay there, remembering everything that had happened between them. She had spoken to him a few days ago but he hadn't calle dher since. She knew he was busy and usually when he didn't call her, it meant she'd receive a letter from him. While Eriol-kun had visited often, she had seen Syaoran in four years. He rheart tightened a little at the thought. The fence continued to pass by her and soon, she went right by, turning the corner to where her high school was.

She attended the same high school her onii-chan had attneded. Thankfully, Tomoyo-chan had also been accepted there as well as many of her other friends. She was lucky that she had kept many friends but she had also made new ones. Sakura spotted a young girl near the entrance of the school. She was wearing the school uniform, a simple white blouse and blue skirt, her white leggings reached her knees and simple black shoes completed her uniform. She smiled at Sakura and waved at her. Sakura did the same and skidded to a stop in front of her.

"Ohayo, Tomoyo-chan!"

"A very good morning to you, Sakura-chan," said Tomoyo-chan, a smile growing on her face. She took Sakura's hand in hers and walked together towards the school.

"How are you today?" she asked her best friend who was currently skating slowly next to her.

"I'm all right and you?"

"I'm all right knowing you are," said Tomoyo-chan happily.

A small sweat drop appeared on Sakura's head but it quickly vanished.

"Are we late?" asked Sakura as they entered the High school and headed to the lockers.

Tomoyo shook her head.

"Class should start in a couple of minutes, though."

Nodding, Sakura started unstrapping her skates. They greeted other girls who passed by them, making small conversation with them until they were ready. Once their shoes were put on, the y walked back to the classroom and waited for school to start. Though Sakura noticed High school was almost like her elementary school, many things were different as well. The subjects were harder, of course and she met many more students. Also, the teachers no longer changed rooms. Now it was the students who had to ravel to their designated classrooms. She and Tomoyo had most classes together but there were two classes in which they separated. Sakura remembered Tomoyo-chan's face as they found this out. Her eyes had filled with tears and her face had been one of absolute pain. Panicked, Sakura had tried to calm her down as Tomoyo-chan wailed sadly. It had been worse when the time came for her to separate. Sakura thought she would need a crane to separate Tomoyo-chan from herself but eventually, Tomoyo-chan had let her go and sadly went to her class. It had been weird for Sakura as well. Having Tomoyo-chan by her side was something that had always been there. It was a sort of habit, something that she could always remember. Now, those two classes were like going to a foreign country in some far away land.

In all, High School was not a bad experience for Sakura. She enjoyed her classes (except math) and had a lot of fun with her friends. But every once in a while, she would find herself turning around to t he desk behind her, as if expecting to see his familiar face. Instead, she would see her friend Rika-chan who would always smile at her when she did this.

She was happy with how things were going. So how come Sakura usually felt so sad at night?

The festival celebrating the start of autumn was not a national holiday. This was something Tomoeda celebrated every year though. The Tsukimine shrine was the popular place to throw such a celebration. The whole place was decorated with bright lights and festival music overflowed the place. Sakura and her family enjoyed the night thoroughly. She rode on the rides at the small carnival they had set up, her brother and Yukito-san had met up with her there and they took her to the bigger rides. Her otou-san had declined the invitation of mounting the rides so he waited for them at the beverage stand where he handed them drinks when they got off the rides. Tomoyo-chan had met up with her and they were left to do their own thing while her onii-chan and Yukito-san went off to hang out with her otou-san. As Sakura and Tomoyo walked, the leaves fell around them, happily blowing in the wind.

"Your brother and Tsukishiro-san seem to be very happy, Sakura-chan!"

"Mm. I'm glad!"said Sakura, smiling at the thought, "you were right, Tomoyo-chan. Seeing happy really does make me happy as well," she shook her head disbelievingly, "how do you know these things, Tomoyo-chan?"

Shrugging, her soft voice traveled through the air.

"When it comes to honest people, it's easy to read them because their feelings are almost always out in the open."

Sakura was about to respond when she stopped in her tracks. She looked around, a frown forming on her face.

"Sakura-chan?"

Sakura said nothing as she shivered, a cold feeling going down her spine. She continued to look around but there was no one peculiar. A few people had stopped to look at the young girl worriedly, her face was a mask of worry and confusion. Other than that, no one suspicious was near but Sakura could feel something in the pit of her stomach.

"What's wrong, Sakura-chan? What do you feel?"

"I don't know, Tomoyo-chan," said Sakura shakily, "but there is something happening— or something that will happen, I'm not sure."

The feeling slowly diminished but it wouldn't completely leave her. Tomoyo-chan looked at her friend worriedly. It had been a long time since anything had happened in Tomoeda. By now, they were used to not having anything weird happen but now, Sakura seemed to be getting pulled back into it. To her surprise, Tomoyo saw Tsukishiro-san running towards them, an unreadable look on his face.

"Are you two all right?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Yukito-san, you felt it as well?"

Nodding, he looked around, the light hit his face oddly and made him look more like Yue than Yukito-san. Her onii-chan looked perturbed from behind Yukito-san.

"What did you feel, Sakura?" he asked seriously.

Trying to put it into words, she thought about it.

"A foreboding feeling, like something was going to happen."

"Isn't that what you felt, Toya?" asked yukito, turning to look back at him.

Touya nodded, much to Sakura's surprise.

"But– I thought you lost all your powers, onii-chan?"

"I thought so as well but lately, I've been feeling worried and anxious," he looked around them, his eyes scanning for anything dangerous, "I don't like this at all."

Yukito patted his shoulder, looking at Touya tenderly.

"Maybe we should go home."

Nodding, Touya agreed and together, the group walked back to their father. He made sure Sakura stayed close to him but she didn't notice. Her mind was too busy registering the facts. It had been a sense of foreshadowing the future, that's for sure. But whoever or whatever had set off this feeling in her had done the same for her brother. What did this mean? Were her brother's powers coming back?

The feeling would not leave her, even after they got home. Even Kero-chan had felt it though not as strongly as Sakura. He only warned her to be careful saying that 'the adventures weren't over just yet.'

Sakura was about to respond when her phone rang. She flopped on her bed and answered.

"Moshi moshi, this is Kinomoto speaking."

"Who is it?" asked Kero, floating next to her, surprised to see her mouth hang open.

"Eriol-kun?"