Disclaimer:

I have no affiliation with Cardcaptor Sakura or any other of CLAMP's works. Also any similarities to real life events or people are unintentional unless explicitly stated.


It was the morning of their history test and the start of their mid school year exam period. Tomoyo was worried. Sakura was yet to arrive and the teachers were already starting to let the shivering students into the exam hall. Tomoyo had hoped that she would have arrived at school on time like the whole of last week despite no longer being escorted to school for a couple weeks now.

Tomoyo scanned the skies, wrapping the cape of her uniform around her. A bouncing speck bounding towards them that could only be Sakura was making her way towards them. She exhaled in relief.

"I made it! Thank goodness!" Sakura said, slumping onto the ground.

Meiling handed Sakura a drink bottle. "Here, it will give you energy," she said.

"Thank you." Sakura drank a few sips gratefully before handing it back. "It tasted like cocoa."

Guru Clef called for them to come inside to start the test.

"Coming!" they replied.


Classes were still running despite the exams. Most teachers were considerate enough to let the students work on their own.

They were in the library as usual for their magical research period and Tomoyo, unconcerned about tomorrow's literature exam, was researching ways on how to make fire-holding fabric. There have been plenty of research on fireproof clothes, but imagine the possibility of gloves made from this material. Sakura could appear to hold the sun in her hands! How wonderful!

"Hey Tomoyo," said Sakura from across the desk. "Would you like to study together tonight for the exam tomorrow?"

"I apologize," said Tomoyo, sadly. She would love to study with Sakura. "Tonight my mother is returning from the business trip and we promised to have dinner together."

"That's all right," she said, sweetly. She then wrinkled her adorable nose.

Tomoyo smelt the scent of something burning.

A girl screamed, there was a large bang and the fire alarm rang.

"Sakura come back!"

Tomoyo followed Sakura to where smoke was coming from one of the practical rooms down the hallway. Inside was Meiling, being drenched with a downpour of water that was washing away a layer of soot. The remains of a cauldron and its contents scattered in the room.

"I see what my fortune meant about staying away from fire," said Mr Li under his breath, appearing next to them.

The teachers came and ushered them away from Meiling and the scene. She was no longer rained on and the ringing was silenced.

"Hey, Mr Li," said Sakura, her voice somewhat muffled from an after effect of the alarms. "Would you like to stay back and study for tomorrow's literature exam?"

"Me?" he said, surprised. "I don't mind."

"Yay! I'll go wait for Meiling and invite her too."

Tomoyo watched Mr Li with mild interest as he watched Sakura walk over and wait by the practical rooms. She chuckled to herself.


Meiling was walking home through the park with her fiancé and Miss Kinomoto. During the exam period students were pardoned from club activities and the school extended the library hours to give the students a place to study. They left about an hour to midnight. Meiling's head hurt from memorizing her essays.

And it just had to start snowing.

Miss Kinomoto stopped to try and catch a snowflake on her tongue. "It's cold!" said.

"Of course," said Meiling, shivering. "It is winter."

Her friend laughed.

"Aren't you cold?" she said to Syaoran.

He shrugged.

"I'm surprised. During Meiling's first winter we could hardly get her to move away from the fireplace."

They reached the fork in the path. The branch on the left went past the giant cherry blossom tree and to the exit near Miss Kinomoto's home, while the path that Meiling and Syaoran would take circled the lake.

Miss Kinomoto cheerfully said goodbye, and slipped on the ice.

Embarrassed she got up, waved, and continued down her path.

"Do you think that we should walk her home?" asked Syaoran, mist appearing as he spoke.

"Kinomoto?" said Meiling. "How many times do I need to tell you that she's capable of defending herself?" She hugged his arm and started walking home. "Come on! It's cold and we have an exam tomorrow!"


Syaoran frowned at his fortune. It said to stay away from fire today as well. There must be some ongoing issue that hopefully would be resolved soon and not manifest like Meiling's fire yesterday.

Meiling was eating breakfast while reading her essays. She barely registered him as he sat down, and even on their way to school. Normally she would try to get his attention even if he read as he walked.

She actually snapped at him when he stopped her from walking right in front of a butterfly horse carriage.

She even snapped at Daidouji when she asked them if they had seen Kinomoto.

"No, is she late again?" said Meiling, angrily.

"It appears so," said Daidouji, unfazed by her friend's tone. "She even said that she would fix her alarm chronometer. Oh, there she is!"

A small figure came bouncing towards them.

"I made it! Thank goodness!" Kinomoto sat on the ground, catching her breath.

"Haven't you learnt your lesson yet?" said Meiling handing the girl her drink bottle. "Wasn't being late yesterday enough?"

"Hoe? Yesterday I was at home studying," Kinomoto said, taking a sip then handing it back to Meiling. "It tastes like cocoa."

"Hurry up," called Ms Mizuki. "The literature exam will be starting soon!"

"What?!" Kinomoto clutched Daidouji's arm. "Isn't our literature exam tomorrow?"

"No, it's today."

"Really? What do I do? I didn't study for this subject at all!"

Syaoran wondered what Kinomoto was studying for instead when they were in the library yesterday evening.

He heard Daidouji reassure her cousin as they entered the exam hall.

Syaoran focused and tried to remember quotes for the exam. The exam was starting soon and he couldn't worry about Kinomoto or anything else.


Syaoran came out from that exam feeling a little worried. To what extent did his response to the opening scenes of the play inform his judgement of the text as a whole?

It didn't help that in the middle of the test, Meiling managed to set her desk on fire. It was quickly extinguished, but it still caused a bit of a disturbance.

"Thank goodness that's over!" said Meiling during recess after the exam. "Now I can focus on mathematics. I have a couple of questions I want to ask the teacher about in class after lunch."

"Eh? But don't we have magic research after lunch? I'm sure of it!" said Kinomoto.

"No that was yesterday, don't you remember? I accidentally set my experiment on fire," said Meiling, concerned. "You must extremely be stressed if you forgot that."

"But we always have magic research after lunch on the first day of the week. Right, Tomoyo?" said Kinomoto turning to Daidouji.

Syaoran saw that Daidouji was also confused.

"Meiling is correct, we have mathematics after lunch," said the girl, slowly. "Perhaps you should go home and rest. You seemed to have completely forgotten about a whole day."

Something clicked in Syaoran's thoughts.

"Unless," he said, the thoughts turning quickly, "time rewound back a day."

"Hoe?"

"Think about it," he explained. "She was late again, and even said the same thing as yesterday but she doesn't remember it. And Meiling, you blew up something today and yesterday."

"And my mother wasn't home this morning," said Daidouji. "I thought that she somehow left for work early even though we had a late dinner."

"Then why aren't we doing the same test as yesterday?" asked Meiling.

"Only those with magical powers will remember what happened the day before it was rewound, and that's most people, but-" he trailed off glancing at Kinomoto.

"I don't have any," she said.

"Hey, Syaoran, where are you going?" asked Meiling.

"Confirming it's true."

He sprinted towards the staffroom. Meiling and Kinomoto were close behind. He entered the room without knocking.

"Teacher! Have you marked yesterday's history exam paper?" said Syaoran.

"No, it's right here," said the teacher, pointing to the sealed box on his desk. "But-"

"Can we check something please?" Syaoran reached for the box.

"But we haven't marked it yet," he interjected. "You'll get your exam soon if-"

"Please teacher, we need to check something now," pleaded Kinomoto. "If you could please, flick through one of the papers."

"Fine," he relented. He opened the box and flicked through the top paper. "Why is it blank?! Did someone switch it? Do you know anything to do with this?!" He pointed to each of the students in turn.

"It's as I feared," said Syaoran. "We're repeating the same day over again."


The school's public announcement system blared. "Attention all staff and students. There has been an announcement form the International Committee. As many are now well aware, there is a worldwide time crisis. However, the Committee has urged for everyone to remain calm. Investigations are currently underway and ask that the people in Lecourt cooperate with the law enforcement teams and remain calm."

Meiling and the others bumped into Miss Daidouji who was talking with Mr Flowright and Mr Lafarga outside the main gates.

"Did you hear the announcement?" asked Miss Daidouji.

"I didn't it at first when Flowright told me, but…" Mr Lafarga trailed off. Like Miss Kinomoto, he didn't have any magical powers. It wasn't that well known because his football skills and physical mastery compensated for the deficiency.

"What do you think we should do?" asked Meiling.

"I don't know about all of you," said Syaoran. "But I'm going to find this person responsible for this."

"But the International Committee said that the law enforcement teams are handling it," said Miss Kinomoto. "Surely by tomorrow time would flow as normal. We could use this study for the mathematics exam."

Mr Flowright spoke up, "But think about what would happen if they don't find the person responsible."

"What will happen?"

"The last time this happened, everyone thought that it would all be resolved and tried to live out normal lives. It didn't work. Everything they worked for that day reset when midnight came, and those without any power would have their memories reset every day too," he explained."And the worst thing about this is that anyone who died in one cycle would most likely die in the next loops regardless of the previous cycle."

Meiling nodded in agreement.

"That is a lie right?" asked Miss Daidouji to Meiling.

"No. Syaoran and I have heard this story too," she said. "The last person to rewind time was a man born into the Li Clan, Clow Reed."

"Why midnight?" said Miss Kinomoto.

"Time is a yin or negative magical force," Meiling explained. "For yin magic to be at its strongest, yang positive forces, such as the sun, have to be at its furthest point."

"So we have less than half a day to find this person until he or she can rewind time again," said Mr Lafarga.

"Why should we even look for this person?" asked Miss Kinomoto. "What makes you think that the person is in Lecourt?"

"The committee sent the message to Lecourt, so that means that it is likely the person is here or in the same time zone," said Syaoran. "As long as we don't hinder the law enforcement teams, it should be fine. The more eyes searching for the culprit, the sooner the person will be found."

All the other students agreed. Her fiance could be really charismatic and inspiring at times.


Midnight was nearly upon them and there weren't any more announcements to say that the culprit was found.

Syaoran scowled at his Rashinban. It could only lead him to a magic source only if it was in use.

He could hardly feel his fingers. He really wanted time to move forward so that it would stop snowing.

There was still many people searching the town and others waiting in public places for midnight to occur.

The station's chronometer tower started to ring and the board lit up.

The light led him straight to the large cherry blossom tree in the park. He could feel a strong magical force radiating from the tree. The beam pointed straight at a girl standing in front of the tree.

"Hey!"

The girl turned around. It was Sakura Kinomoto.

But she doesn't have any powers.

The bell resonated.

"Mr Li," she said, stepping aside revealing a small boy.

Light reflected on the lenses of his round spectacles, hiding his eyes. The Rashinban pointed directly at the kid. A magic circle with a sun and moon encircled the cherry blossom tree.

"Hey!" Syaoran yelled, running towards them.

The final stroke of midnight tolled.


"I'm late!" Sakura couldn't believe that she slept through her alarm today, of all days. She had her history exam. Why was her bed so warm and comfortable on a winter's day? She was on time for school all of last week. Why couldn't she be on time today too?

She quickly changed and ate her breakfast.

"Sakura, wait!" said her mother, just entering as she was leaving.

"Sorry! I'm late! I'll see you later" said Sakura.

She clicked her heels and jumped to cover as much ground as possible. She prayed that she wasn't too late.


Sakura was surprised to find Tomoyo, Meiling and Mr Li standing outside the school gates all out of uniform. Meiling and Mr Li were wearing their ceremonial robes from the dinner.

"I'm so glad! I-,"

"Made it" Meiling finished. She handed a drink bottle to Sakura who was now sitting on the ground.

"Hoe, what's going on? Don't we have an exam?" She took a sip of the drink. "It tastes like cocoa."

"Do you remember who that child you were with in the park last night was?" asked Mr Li, kneeling so he was eye to eye with her.

"Park? I was at home studying," she said. She tilted her head sideways.

"Have you met up with a child in the park before?" his eyes grew intense.

Meiling put a hand on her cousin's shoulder. "It's no use. She doesn't remember anything."

"What's going on?" asked Sakura.

"Sakura, this is difficult to believe but we are experiencing the same day all over again," explained Tomoyo, handing her the morning's newspaper. "However, because you have no magical abilities, you have no recollection of the previous days."

Sakura read the newspaper headline. It was difficult and a little bit painful to believe, but Tomoyo wouldn't lie.

"Ok, so what now?"

Tomoyo handed Sakura a small pile of clothes that she pulled out of her enchanted purse. "First put this on."

"Now?" she complained. "Why?"

Tomoyo began to build an invisibility barrier surrounding Sakura.

"I've told you many times before that clothes are important. They carry memories and strength. That is why we wear old ones, and why we wear new ones as a symbol for hope and change. This costume will give you the gift of flight and keep you warm."

Sakura felt the long floaty material. It radiated a comforting heat. At the bottom of the pile was a pair of intricately laced butterfly wings. Tomoyo always put a lot of effort into make clothes for her to wear.

"I also wanted to see you as a fairy flying freely through the skies!"

Sakura could imagine Tomoyo go into her dazed state. She started changing clothes.

"Last night I saw you talking with a young boy," said Mr Li through the barrier. "I think that is who is reversing time. We need to find him and make him stop. Most likely he'll go to the tree in the middle of the park at midnight, but-"

Sakura stepped out of the barrier.

"The sooner the better, right?" she said.


Sakura was sitting on a bench with a clear view of the tree, sipping the drink that Meiling made and her staff on her lap. The drink drove away some of her exhaustion, but her wings had run out of magical energy.

It was starting to lightly snow.

The plan was to search for the child in the primary schools. But they had to be careful not to alarm the child or the authorities because of the high penalties. If they couldn't find the child, hopefully he would once again arrive at the tree.

"Good evening, Sakura," bowed a young boy about the age of a kindergartener. "We meet again."

"Again? Who-" she began.

The boy sat down on the seat next to her.

"The healers keep saying that my mother won't make it until tomorrow," he said, quietly. In the lamplight, Sakura noted that his eyes were swollen as if he cried recently.

"Don't worry. Everything will be all right."

He gazed at the cherry blossom tree in the distance. "You said that yesterday."

"Yesterday?"

"And the day before that," he added. "Although, you weren't wearing those interesting clothes then." The kid pulled out a pair of round spectacles from his pocket.

"Hey! I said to wait!" shouted Mr Li from somewhere close by.

"Oi, you brat!" Meiling held the child by the back of his shirt.

"Meiling stop this!" yelled Sakura, forcing her friend's fist open.

"But he's responsible for this time loop!"

Mr Li arrived to steer the Meiling away. Tomoyo, who arrived with the Li cousins, knelt to the boy's level.

"Good evening," she said. "I apologize for my friend, Meiling's rough behaviour. My name is Tomoyo. May I please have your name?"

"Eriol," he said.

"Well, Eriol, will you tell us why you are here?"

"My mother used to tell the power within the cherry blossom tree could perform miracles," he said avoiding their gaze.

"His mother is ill," whispered Sakura to Tomoyo. They looked at the small boy with concern. He wrapped his arms around himself.

"Everyone passes away. My father did a couple years ago." Tomoyo wrapped him up in her cloak. "Time heals all things, but it needs to move forward to do so."

Sakura sat on Eriol's other side. "Everything will definitely be all right," she said.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Sakura smelt smoke. The station chronometer tower started to chime.

"Come back!" she yelled. She caught up to Eriol near where Mr Li was shouting at Meiling in front of a raging blaze. "What are you doing, Eriol?"

"The tree has lots of magical energy!" he said, pointing towards the cherry blossom tree behind the blaze. "We can use its magic to stop the fire."

Without hesitating, Mr Li jumped up the nearest tree and then into the branches of the next tree. Flames obstructed him from view. Tomoyo had to restrain Meiling from following him into the flames. Sakura could only hear the roar of the flames.

Finally, clouds gathered and it started to pour.

The grass close to them was burnt but the frost at the base of the cherry blossom tree melted away brilliant green grass. The tree itself was in full bloom.

Mr Li was leaning heavily on the trunk, arms red and raw but smiling. His smile faded as he lurched forward. Meiling was the first to reach him, catching him before he hit the ground.

When Sakura reached him, she started to cry in relief too.

The chronometer stuck midnight.


"Time must have moved forward," said Meiling, sagely. "You're actually early, Miss Kinomoto."

"That's what my brother said to me this morning too," she replied.

Meiling and Syaoran for once arrived after Miss Kinomoto. They were waiting in the crowd of students near the examination hall.

"I'm surprised that you got up this early considering how late you must have gone home," added Miss Daidouji. She pondered the sky. "Is it going to rain again?"

"Not you too, Tomoyo!"

Meiling and Miss Daidouji laughed.

"How are you feeling, Mr Li?" asked Miss Kinomoto.

"I'm good. The kid is fine too," he said. "We took him to his mother."

Even in sickness, Eriol's mother was beautiful. She had long, silky, black as night hair and her crimson eyes radiated warmth and love for her son.

"You don't think that he will be found out?" asked Miss Kinomoto, who left last night with Tomoyo and an angry older brother.

"I think that he'll be fine. No one else knew," said Meiling. "But we were nearly charged for starting the fire yesterday when we got Syaoran's burns treated."

"But Meiling-"

"I have an announcement to make," said Ms Mizuki, amplifying her voice. "Due to the time loop crisis, we have to rewrite the history and literature exams. So a substitute exam will take place next week at the same scheduled times."

"We have to do the test again?!" said Meiling.

"At least we have time to study," said Miss Konomoto.

"However, tomorrow," continued the teacher. "The mathematics exam will occur as scheduled."

"Hoe! Help me, Tomoyo! Meiling! Mr Li!" begged Miss Kinomoto.


Author's Notes:

- Happy New Year to all the reviewers, followers and readers of this story! I hope that you have a wonderful 2015!

- This chapter is a was going to be split into two, but the last one was a little short.

- Sakura also wore a fairy costume when she captured the Time Card, but I pictured it to be more like Marie Taglioni's La Sylphide's 19th century ballet costume. She shortened her skirts to about calf length to show off her pointe work. Apparently this was considered quite scandalous in those times. Ha.

- From memory, I think that the idea of this story started with the premise of this chapter. Instead of how Sakura kept remembering what happened when time reset because she had magical powers, what would happen if everyone but her had magical powers so that she was the only one who didn't remember?

- That literature exam question was based on one I had in high school one year.

- Let me know what you think of the story!