Chapter 3: A bitter winter

It was winter. Three months have passed since Ayumi managed to release the Sakura Cards. She has captured more cards since the FLY card, namely the FLOWER, LOOP, SHADOW, SONG, SLEEP and SWEET. Ayumi planned to go to the mountains for the holidays. However, Tomoyo decided to stay home because Toya and Yukito were going to the mountains, and she didn't want to meet Toya. So, Ayumi decided to go with Toya, but that meant her brother coming along too, and she didn't like her brother very much. Also, that meant leaving her mother at home alone. Tomoyo assured her that she would be okay, because she would just go and visit her friends Chiharu Milara and her husband Yamazaki Takashi. Ayumi agreed, so she went out into the mountains with her step father. Then they hit another problem. Yukito wanted to invite Syaoran along, and Toya got very angry. He didn't like his step-daughter's history teacher. However, Ayumi thought it was a good idea, so Syaoran came along. Ayumi would be grateful afterwards, because Syaoran helped her capture two Sakura Cards in the mountains.

They just got to the resort when Katoya wanted to go skiing. Toya said that this was impossible, because it was night time. Katoya started crying and said he wanted to, so Toya dragged him to his room and made him stay there.

The next day, they were able to go skiing. Toya didn't want to go with Syaoran, so he, Yukito and Katoya went together, leaving Ayumi to Syaoran.

"Don't try anything funny, kid," warned Toya as he left. "I might not be married to Tomoyo anymore, but she is still my step-daughter!"

"Don't worry, buddy, she'll be safe with me," replied Syaoran. He and Ayumi went on a trail and then went to lunch.

"Ayumi, did you bring Keroberos along?" asked Syaoran as they ate.

"No, he didn't want to come. He says he doesn't like the cold," replied Ayumi.

"Of course," said Syaoran. "He is the guardian with the symbol of sun, after all. From now on Ayumi, if we are alone together, I don't want you to talk to me in keigo, which you know is formal speech, address me by my first name, Syaoran."

"Is that okay?" asked Ayumi in shock. Mr. Li was her history teacher! How could she give up her keigo to him? "Why are you telling me to do this?"

"Well, I am more like a friend to you than a teacher, don't you think? You are much more than you know you are. I'll be truthful to you, Ayumi, I put the Sakura Card book in your bag when you were borrowing the book on Japanese Magic." This revelation made Ayumi even more confused. "Anyway, even though Toya doesn't like me, I used to love Sakura, who, if your mother did not divorce Toya, would be your step-aunt. I am also friends with your mother, too, so you can count me as a friend more than a teacher. Address me formally when we are not alone, but if we are, address me as Syaoran.

Who was Syaoran, thought Ayumi? This was very strange. Not only was Syaoran a magician, but he was also a lover of Sakura and a friend of his mother. Are these revelations all? Was he more? Ayumi decided to ask subtlety. She decided to ask about his magic powers. Syaoran explained that his magical powers differed from that of Clow's magic, but he used magical charms. It used to be Clow Cards, he thought, but Sakura beat him.

"Hurry, Ayumi, finish your lunch, we need to get skiing!"

After they finished their lunch, they went to another course. They had lots of fun. Suddenly, the temperature dropped dramatically. Then the snow started coming down harder than ever. Syaoran grabbed hold of Ayumi.

"Wait, Ayumi, it's the presence of a Sakura Card."

What, thought Ayumi. Why must the Sakura Cards ruin everything that she enjoyed? She felt angry. Syaoran noticed this, and told her to calm down.

"There are too many people around here, Ayumi. Don't get angry now otherwise your secret would be revealed quite quickly. See if you can hide somewhere and call upon the SLEEP card." Ayumi did as she was told. She went behind a bush and pulled out her key. "The Key that holds the power of the Stars! Show your true form before me! I, Ayumi, command you under our contract! RELEASE!" Her staff extended, while she pulled out the SLEEP card. "SLEEP card, put everyone to sleep! SLEEP!" The SLEEP card did as it was told and everyone on the mountain fell asleep, all except three people, Ayumi, Syaoran and someone else about two kilometres away, Toya. Toya noticed that everyone has fallen asleep and decided to protect his son and Yukito. "Come forth, power of the Stars! Embody all your power within my sword! RELEASE!" Toya chanted as his sword extended and he cast a shield around Katoya, Yukito and himself.

Elsewhere, Ayumi and Syaoran were trying to figure out where the Sakura Card was. Suddenly, a blizzard about three metres squared of snow at them. Syaoran quickly summoned his sword. "Magical flame, Come forth!" Li raised his sword to a golden card. A fire came out and burned out the snow. However, more snow came their way.

"There is too much snow!" yelled Syaoran. "It's the SNOW card alright, but it is impossible for it make its snow this strong! There must be another accompanying it! Ayumi summon the WINDY card and fuel the flame I have here!" Ayumi obeyed. "Wind, fuel the flame!" The WINDY card was able to fuel Syaoran's fire and burn out the snow that was coming, and there Ayumi saw the true form of the SNOW card, and there was another card next to it.

"The FREEZE card!" yelped Syaoran. "If we can capture that, then the SNOW card wouldn't be so difficult! Just use the WINDY card, Ayumi!"

Ayumi pulled out the WINDY card again. "Wind, become a binding chain! WINDY!" The WINDY card bound up the FREEZE card without much trouble, but the SNOW was still extremely strong. Before Ayumi could seal the FREEZE card, she was blown off her feet, held on only by Syaoran, who was holding onto his sword that was stuck into the ground. The WINDY card seemed to losing its grip. "Magical flame, come forth!" The flame attacked the SNOW card. "Now, Ayumi! Seal them both!" cried Syaoran. Ayumi stepped forward. "Return to guise you're meant to be in! SAKURA CARDS!" Both the FREEZE and SNOW card turned back into their card forms. Ayumi was exhausted. Syaoran looked with concern. "Are you okay, Ayumi?" he asked. Ayumi said she was fine, but she needed to get back and sleep. Syaoran said it was okay because it's not easy to seal two cards at once.

That night, while everyone was asleep, Syaoran and Toya were once again talking with enigma.

"Good work, kid, I think I've mistaken you. You were helping Ayumi out when the blizzard was going right?"

"Yes, Toya, I was. Ayumi was able to capture both the FREEZE and the SNOW card today. She is very tired, of course. Now have I not proven to you that she is the one?"

"The only proof if she is the one is if she defeats Yue, Syaoran. I just hope she is able."