Cardcaptor Sakura: Land Without Magic

CCS: LWM arc

Sakura and the Total Eclipse

Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, and Meiling left the hostel in which they planned to stay for the next couple days.

It wasn't too early, and it wasn't too late. They stood out on the sidewalk, trying to decide what they wanted to do first or where they wanted to go. While they had put together a list, they weren't quite ready to delve into it yet.

"I say we eat," Meiling suggested. "I read New York is famous for its pizza and cheesecake. I want to see if American food holds a candle to Japanese and Chinese food."

"It might be a little too early for pizza and cheesecake," Sakura said. She laughed.

"I wouldn't mind stopping at a café," Tomoyo said. "We could have tea. I'd like to try some tea, and we could have a nice breakfast." She glanced at her wristwatch. "We could have a nice brunch."

"The ferry we want to catch for Staten Island doesn't leave until two," Sakura said. "That should give us plenty of time to eat, walk around, and then go see the Statue of Liberty."

"Don't forget," Meiling said. "We're going to Little Italy and Chinatown too."

"I haven't," Sakura said. "That's later tonight."

"We'll do some shopping before we end the night with an elegant meal," Tomoyo said. "It'll be my treat."

"Tomoyo," Sakura said, "you don't have to do that."

"I want too," Tomoyo said.

"Guess that means we'll be getting dressed up," Meiling said. She and Tomoyo shared a look.

Sakura wasn't sure she liked the mischievous look that passed between the two of them.

"Absolutely," Tomoyo said. "I brought some of my latest designs. The four of us will showcase them. Consider it payment for dinner." Her eyes twinkled as she held her camera in her hand.

Meiling and Syaoran laughed together.

"There's the catch," Meiling said.

Syaoran nodded in agreement.

Sakura felt a little lightheaded, but she chocked that up to the fact that she hadn't eaten in a while, and she had just recently expended a large amount of magic.

"You okay?" Syaoran asked. He had noticed her bring her hand to her forehead for a moment.

"I'm fine," Sakura said. "I needed the nap I took earlier. Now, I probably just need a little something to eat."

"Let's not waste anymore time," Meiling said. "Should we take a cab, or go back for a train? Do you guys want to walk…Oh, we could grab bikes!"

"We're saving our bike tour for tomorrow," Tomoyo said. She already had her phone in her hand. "There's a place about three blocks from here that serves great coffee and tea. Plus, they have waffles that are to die for apparently. We can leave for the ferry from there."

"I've always wanted to hail a cab," Meiling said. "Looks fun. We can walk there. I'll wait until after brunch."

Sakura couldn't help share a smile with Syaoran. He shook his head.

"Meiling you're ridiculous," Syaoran said.

"You remember those words when you're buying my brunch," Meiling said.

Syaoran frowned while Sakura and Meiling shared a smile.

The four of them walked for the café. The wait wasn't too long.

Syaoran ordered black coffee, Sakura and Tomoyo ordered tea, Sakura adding cream and sugar to hers and Tomoyo adding honey to hers, and Meiling ordered a French Vanilla Cappuccino. For brunch, Sakura ordered the Strawberry Shortcake Belgian Waffles with Over Medium Eggs, and Turkey Bacon. Tomoyo ordered Eggs Benedict and a Fruit Salad. Syaoran had Smoked Salmon and Biscuits and Gravy while Meiling had Steak and Eggs with Hash Browns and a Chocolate and Banana Crepe.

After they finished, they paid, Syaoran paying for his, Sakura's, and Meiling's meal. They rested for a while talking about what they'd done over the past couple of weeks and goals they had for their last year of school and after they finished. Sakura noticed how quiet Syaoran was on the topic. Meiling hailed them a cab when they left, and she paid for it too. Sakura and Tomoyo got a kick out of watching her jumping up and down and waving her arms in the air, shouting like a maniac. They were on the ferry and headed for the island in no time. Tomoyo and Meiling sat together. Meiling fell asleep with her head resting on Tomoyo's shoulder. Tomoyo couldn't help smile upon her. Sakura and Syaoran stood together at the railing while the Statue of Liberty came closer into view.

"Tomoyo wants to go to school for business so she can take over for her mother," Sakura said. They weren't looking at each other, but Syaoran held onto her: held her close. "Meiling wants to become a doctor, so she can work with Doctors Without Borders. I'm torn between becoming a Veterinarian or an English Professor. Do you have a plan for the future? Is there something you want to do or become?"

"I'm taking over for my mother," Syaoran said succinctly.

"That's what you have to do, what you say you need to do," Sakura said, "but I'm asking if that's something you want to do."

"I've been training for it my whole life," Syaoran said. That was his response.

They shared a short silence afterward. Sakura didn't know what she should say. She understood the obligation to his mother and family. What she had a hard time understanding was if he was happy about it. It was always a little hard for her to pin down Syaoran's emotions, but when he smiled or he looked at her everything about him became clear to her. That ability to see and know most of the different aspects of Syaoran had been something developed over time. She had more to learn and know.

"I have an idea for my future," Syaoran said, "but I admit it scares me."

Hearing Syaoran talk to her about a fear surprised her. He rarely if ever brought up fear unless it concerned her safety. That hadn't been for a long time though. She waited to hear him out.

"It scares me because it's an idea I can't make happen on my own," Syaoran continued. "I have to wait. I'm going to wait: until the right moment."

Sakura turned around, leaned back against the railing, and looked into his eyes when he said nothing more.

"You're not going to tell me your idea?" Sakura asked.

He looked away from her eyes out toward the Statue of Liberty.

"I have to wait," Syaoran repeated, but Sakura saw he blushed, which told her his idea somehow involved her. This brought a smile to her face.

Once again, she felt a little lightheaded, but the feeling passed as quick as it came. As a matter of fact, she wasn't quite sure she had felt lightheaded because a woman nearby started coughing violently, which distracted Sakura. The woman coughing drew hers and Syaoran's attention. Eventually, she stopped, but it still reached a point where it left her and a few others concerned.

When they reached the Statue of Liberty, Tomoyo had her camera at the ready. She had brought her drone too, so she was getting 360-degree views and aerial views all over the place. They took plenty of pictures around the Statue of Liberty. Their resident photographer and videographer took beautiful pictures and captured magnificent footage, and they managed to get a number of group shoots. Sakura always smiled to herself thinking that Tomoyo could probably take Record's place. As they were headed inside for the museum, an elderly gentleman collapsed, and suddenly Sakura had this sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"People are helping him," Tomoyo said. "It's okay." She had noticed the look on Sakura's face.

Syaoran and Tomoyo had looked forward to and thoroughly enjoyed the museum. It had left Sakura and Meiling more than a little bored: with Meiling more vocal about it. Sakura and Meiling had looked forward to and thoroughly enjoyed the climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty. Syaoran and Tomoyo had been a little less than thrilled. Syaoran had carried Tomoyo on his back for some of it. The two of them agreed the climb had been unnecessary. However, when they all looked out into the distance, they definitely were in agreement this had been an excellent choice for their first stop. Tomoyo got some great photos too. The group was laughing and having fun until someone started coughing violent. Many people began coughing violently. Then someone else collapsed. A little girl collapsed. A teenaged boy collapsed after her. Next, an old woman fell.

"What is this?" Tomoyo asked. "Is this a card?" She looked to Sakura.

Syaoran took up a position in front of Sakura with Meiling at his side.

Sakura shook her head in response. She didn't know what this was. However, it didn't feel like a card. It didn't feel like anything.

The sun began to get drowned out, which drew the group's attention. Suddenly, there was a Solar Eclipse: a Total Eclipse. What was strange about this eclipse is that they could look directly at it. The eclipse didn't last long, and once it passed the group watched as a young woman about their ages unexpectedly began dropping out of the sky.

"Sakura!" The young woman shouted as she drew closer. "It's a card!"

The fact that this woman knew her name wasn't lost on her, and the fact she mentioned the possibility of a card in their presence wasn't either. Who? Why? Those were questions this woman brought to mind for Sakura.

Everybody was watching this unbelievable display; at the same time some watched as people were still collapsing around them.

Sakura planned to take on one situation at a time. First, she'd put everyone to sleep, next handle this undetectable…card? And then, find out who this young woman was. Sakura pulled out her key.

"Key that projects the forces of dreams! Show me your true form! Release!"

After a moment, Sakura held the Staff of Dreams in her hands.

"Under the name of Sakura," she shouted, "please, channel all your might and put everyone around here to sleep…Snooze!"

Snooze immediately went to work, putting to sleep everyone who was on top of the Statue of Liberty, the people on their way to the top, and even those around it to sleep.

That was done. However, Sakura wasn't sure how to reveal a card she couldn't even detect. She didn't sense it at all. What was it doing…making people sick? Could they die?

The young woman landed softly not too far from the gathered group: with her back to them. Sakura could sense her magic. It was both familiar and strange to her.

The young woman had neck-length, layered dark brown hair with one of her bangs streaked crimson red. She pulled her hair into a short, sharp ponytail, using a floral bracelet that she pulled from around her wrist, and allowed the crimson bang to hang free. She had striking hazel eyes: amber speckled emerald.

The young woman's outfit looked like one Tomoyo might have designed and sold. She wore a white, crimson red hooded, short-sleeved top with crimson red lace trim at the bottom of it. She also wore a pair of dark denim shorts with a brown leather belt with a white gold buckle, with a brown leather pouch attached, and a pair of knee-high brown leather boots. A layered, lavender sash, with the end of each of its three fringed layers white, was tied around her waist and rested on her left side. A symbol or emblem was on her top over her heart: a crescent moon and a single star that rested at the end of it. She held her hands to her chest when she turned toward Sakura and proceeded to speak.

"My name is Jun," the young woman said. "You don't know me, but I promise I'm here to help. Cards are loose that threaten the safety of the world, and the only way they can be stopped is if you and I work together."

Syaoran and Meiling didn't like the idea of her: didn't seem to trust her. Tomoyo nodded as if she understood her and believed her. Sakura didn't have time to contemplate her own thoughts or feelings because everyone's attentions were drawn when the bodies of those that had collapsed arose, their skin growing a dark, sickly purple, and headed in their direction.

Preview:

Momo: Hello all, it's Momo. Kero ate too much and fell asleep. He's sleeping on top of Spinner, which Spinner I'm sure won't appreciate when he wakes up. Hold on one second. Kero, wake up darling… It's that time again.

Kero: Right…Right! What happened? I missed everything!

Momo: Sakura and the others found themselves in a situation, but a young woman appeared. She says she's here to help.

Kero: You're kidding!?

Momo: No, I'm telling you the truth. She seems to know about the cards. Well, she knows about cards. One has appeared that even Sakura didn't detect. Apparently, she might know about Sakura as well. How much? I couldn't say.

Kero: Next time, I won't eat as much. Who am I kidding, that's not true! I just won't fall asleep.

Momo: Whatever you need to tell yourself darling. The mysterious unknown card will be revealed and will be taken care of.

Kero: Taken care of? What do you mean?

Momo: Tune in next week, and we'll all find out.

Syaoran and Meiling fight off the people who had arisen after they'd collapsed, but they too soon take to a violent cough and collapse.

Sakura and Tomoyo are the ones to be surprised by the young woman, who pulls out a key of her very own.

Next Time: Sakura and the Sin Cards