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.


Syaoran's class didn't have lessons that day during first period. Instead they were to discuss ideas for the school festival at the end of the month. Syaoran rested his head on his crossed arms leaning on the table. His muscles were still sore from last night's training and the elders were being so-

"Hey Star," Flowright whispered to Kinomoto in the row behind him, "Yamazaki told me that before the school had a festival the spirits of the area demanded a sacrifice every year. Then one year one of the sacrifices persuaded the sprits to taste some of her food. She was a really good chef and singer soon all the spirits began to feel drowsy from the banquet and beautiful music. They went to sleep and didn't wake up until next year.

"And thus began the yearly festival," he concluded. "Eventually the spirits agreed to protect the school as long as they get food and entertainment. But the performers were lazy one year spirits weren't happy with them so the spirits killed them -"

"Hoe!"

"Hey," said Kurogane, the class representative, at the front of the classroom.

She mumbled an apology.

He continued, "If anyone has objections to the dim sum idea, speak now."

Once again, Syaoran was the head chef.

"Then, does anyone have ideas for the performance?"

"Why don't we do what last year's winners did?" suggested Liang, a girl who sat at the front. "They put on that play about the tragic love story between the prince and princess of warring countries fighting over a crystal."

"I remember that," said Luo, one of the girls who sat near the back. "I cried so much."

From the corner of his eye Syaoran saw that Kurogane was becoming increasingly more irritated.

"We don't want to copy them," he said. "Also, not everyone needs to perform. You can still help by moving equipment, making costumes and such. It's a group effort. So, any ideas?"

"How about a comedy skit?" suggested Yamazaki.

Kurogane began to write up the different options on the board. Dance, choir and band were all suggested.

"Hey," said Flowright, "Kurogane can play guitar."

He tsked. "It's bass guit-," Kurogane turned around and slammed down on the teacher's desk. "HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?!"

"I didn't, but now I do," Flowright grinned. "Does anyone play the drums?"

"Doumeki was in the Taiko troupe last year," said Yamazaki.

"Great, will you be in the band?"

He shrugged as if it was no big deal.

Flowright clapped. "So we have a drummer and bass player for the band."

"Who says that I'll play?" said Kurogane.

"As class representative, surely you should practise what you preach, you know, lead by example…"

"Then what about you?" he challenged. "You're eighteenth in line for the throne in Lecourt."

"Well…" he said sheepishly.

Kurogane crossed his arms. "You're just all talk."

"Are you saying that you'll do it if I do it?" Flowright said looking away.

Kurogane waved dismissively, "Yeah, yeah, yeah…"

"Okay! I'll do it," he said with a cheer.

"What?!"

"But I can only play the organ. I can't sing. I can't even whistle." He made a weird noise that sounded nothing like whistling. "So any volunteers? Preferably someone who can play the guitar too."

Everyone was quiet for a moment.

Syaoran kept his head down. He really was not in the mood to be dragged into this.

"Li can play guitar," said Doumeki, that-

"I didn't know that!" exclaimed Kinomoto.


Her statement was louder than what Sakura intended. Everyone was staring at her. Her cheeks went hot.

"Hoe! Umm! Sorry!"

"That's perfect!" said Fye, excitedly.

"A band with Doumeki, Yuui, Kurogane and Li!" exclaimed An Liang. "We'll be sure to win!"

"We can name them the Four Heavenly Kings and they can do covers of their songs," suggested Xin Luo.

Syaoran stood up and the chatter died away.

Fye was the first to speak. "Are you not going to be in the band Li? That's disappointing, isn't it Star?"

She waved her hands dismissively. "If he doesn't want to do it, then he doesn't have to. He is already in charge of the food."

"We'll take care of that!" yelled Xin. The others agreed.

Sakura had forgotten how intense his stares were.

"That's a shame," she heard someone say.

She nervously smiled.

He broke eye contact with her and said, "Do as you like."

The room instantly quietened.

"What did you say?" said Fye.

Li sat down and looked out the window. "I said I'll do it."

Everyone cheered.

"Good job, Star," said Fye.

Sakura tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "Are you sure it's all right? You can say, "no.""

"It has nothing to do with you."

"Hoe? I did not think that." Maybe she shouldn't have said anything to him. He might be having a bad day. She kept quiet for the rest of the period while everyone else excitedly made plans for the festival.


"And then he turned red and said, "Do as you like,"" recounted Mihara. She and Miss Kinomoto had joined Meiling, Miss Daidouji and Hanato for lunch in their classroom. "I can't believe that she got him to agree."

Miss Kinomoto denied it. "I didn't do anything."

"It was the same back in Lecourt," said Meiling, eating the last of the leftover barbeque pork. "She had him wrapped around her little finger."

"Really?" said Hanato.

"It wasn't like that!"

"Anyways," said Mihara, "what is your class doing for the festival?"

"I'm in charge of making the dumplings," said Meiling, "because-"

Before she could say more, Hanato said with excessive enthusiasm, "Lady and I have been chosen as the singers for the class. I, Kobato will do my best!"

Miss Kinomoto clapped her hands, "That's great! You two are fantastic singers."

"I'd love to hear you sing," said Mihara.

"Can you give us a preview?"

Meiling stood up.

"Mei-Li, are you all right?" asked Miss Kinomoto.

"I just thirsty. I'm going to go to the vending machines."

"But weren't you saying last week that you wanted to perform?"

"Well I'll be in charge of the cooking so I don't have enough time to worry about the performance."

In fact, Meiling protested that others should be given the chance to audition. She wanted to sing, but the class was unanimous in its decision after the initial audition. Apparently it was the first time Hanato was able to perform in the festival because she's usually sick. But still…

Meiling pushed the memories from her mind and managed a broad smile. "I'll see you all later."

"But lunch is about to end-"

But Meiling had already left.

She forgot that Miss Kinomoto was highly intuitive when it came to other's feelings.

Once she was in front of the vending machine Meiling found that she didn't want a drink after all.

"Hi, Mei-Li," greeted Bo. Ever since meeting at the fundraising markets moving the books they kept bumping into each other.

"Oh, hi."

"What's your class doing for the festival?"

Meiling groaned. She couldn't escape.

"Have you been volunteered to sing against your will too?" he said.

She turned away from him. Frustratingly, she felt her eyes pinprick with tears.

"Hey- there's no need to be upset-"

"I'm not upset, I'm -," She struggled to find the right words. She shouldn't be this upset about not performing. She took a deep breath and everything came rushing out. "I actually wanted to perform too, but the class wasn't letting anyone else perform, and it's stupid. I can't even be mad at Miss Daidouji and Hanato because they're my friends, but I am, and that makes me even more mad."

"If I was there, I would've convinced them to let you sing," said Bo.

The bell rang and she turned to return to her classroom when he captured her hand.

"I'll go with you to change their minds."

She shook her head. "No, don't."

"Let's go now, " he said pulling her along the corridor.

"No! Stop!" Meiling jerked her hand out of his grasp and instantly felt guilty. "Sorry, that came out harsher than I intended."

"That's fine," he smiled. He reached inside his pocket and took out his chronophone. "How about we exchange traces if you ever need someone to talk to?"

"Okay." She took out hers and tapped it to his until they chimed.

He pulled her into a quick hug before running off. He yelled back, "I'm sure you're the better than they are."


Twin moons rose in the twilight sky.

Sakura was calling out her name, but Tomoyo could not see her. Perhaps she was behind that door that would not open. She needed a key.

She noticed that the creases on her palm were arranged in geometric patterns.

Tomoyo was in a dream.

Cousin Kotori had been teaching her to lucid dream with the aid of the chi paths around the school lake as an anchor to reality. Her cousin was busy today with only a couple weeks until the festival, however Tomoyo had become proficient enough to practise by herself. However she still had to learn how to interpret the dreams herself.

She willed for a path to lead her to Sakura and the second door on the right opened.

It was dark, the walls slimy, and Tomoyo had to duck her head to avoid hitting her head on the pipes. There was an incessant dripping sound. She heard Sakura's voice again resonating. Droplets were suspended in the air. Streaks of lighting remained frozen in the sky but she was warm and dry inside the hospital waiting for Sakura who said she'd return soon.

A moon began to turn red.

Tomoyo looked at her hand again. It had four fingers and no thumb. They were shaking. She needed to stay calm.

Sakura was close. Her voice grew louder with each successive gate and door that opened.

Finally only a rusted gate separated them. Pink flowers fell. She called out to her but Sakura descended down the winding stairs. Tomoyo touched the fence.

The earth shook.

"Tomoyo!" she heard Sakura. "Wake up!"

Sakura was in front of her, silhouetted against the crimson sky. The silver crescent moon reflected on the surface of the lake.

"Honey is missing!"


Toya's chronophone vibrated. It was his sister. The restaurant wasn't too busy, but Fujimoto was about to finish his shift. Toya waited until he was in the locker room before answering the connection.

"Brother!" Toya had to hold his chronophone away from his ear. "Can you do the finding spell that mother taught you?!"

"Yeah, why?"

"Honey is missing!" He covered the receiver. Hopefully his boss didn't hear her.

He then whispered, "What do you mean? Have you tried contacting her?"

"We can't reach her and we've searched around her school, around the shrine. We don't know where else to look that's why we need that spell. Where are you? Can you help us?"

"I've just started work but come to the-"

The storeroom door opened. Toya let out a sigh of relief when he saw it was only Fujimoto.

"I've finished my shift," he said. "Boss is wondering where you are."

Toya nodded and resumed his conversation with his sister. "Come to the restaurant, I'll give you the handkerchief. I'll see if I can get out early."

Over Sakura's rambling Fujimoto asked, "What's wrong?"

"Youngest cousin is missing."

Fujimoto nodded and put his apron on again. "Go."

"But-"

"I'll cover for you. Find your cousin."

He clasped Fujimoto on the shoulder.

"Thanks," said Toya. In a few moments he had removed his apron and was out on the streets running after a handkerchief bird.


Syaoran was tired. He had stayed back at school for band practise where they were still trying to figure out the set list, and he still had to think of a way to make his dim sum stand out. Meiling's boasting about her menu was really starting to get on his nerves.

There were more business women than usual in the city, but it was much quieter in Heung Gong Park.

He stopped at the foot of the steps leading to the Peak. He saw a young girl standing under wisteria tree. He recognized her as the youngest Hanato Sister that Meiling keeps talking about. He realized that the girl was watching the spirit that attached itself to the tree. Despite its childlike form with long flowing purple hair, that spirit was said to have been there at least since his grandfather was a child.

The last of the light disappeared but the youngest Hanato remained where she was, not noticing him or anyone else.

A butterfly landed on her nose. It unfurled and watched it float past Syaoran and to Toya Kinomoto. He briefly glanced at Syaoran.

"Cousin," she said, bowing as he approached. "Good evening."

He ruffled her hair. "What are you doing here?

She smoothed her hair before looking at the spirit again. "I'm waiting. The spirit in the tree won't tell me how I can help her."

"I see. We'll do something about it later," he said. He pulled his glance away from the spirit and took out his chronophone. "Hold on, I'll contact the others."

Syaoran wasn't sure what he should do. The quickest way home was via the staircase behind them, but he felt very awkward walking past them even though he knew them, sort of. The elder Kinomoto didn't like Syaoran. But he couldn't walk around; it would take much longer to get home to avoid them and he was tired, so he continued forward, not looking at them to avoid making conversation.

"Honey!"

The voices came from the sky. Two winged figures landed in front of him, one of which had startling green eyes. They ran past him and hugged the young girl.

"First Sister," she said, "Star."

"I was so worried," cried the eldest Hanato Sister. "I couldn't find you in my dreams."

"The wings?" asked the youngest.

The two newcomers both wore clear dragonfly wings that still twitched every now and then.

"Oh, Lady made them for us," Kinomoto explained.

At that moment a stream of bicycles and rickshaws nearly ploughed Syaoran down and surrounded them. They were driven all by women in suits. Daidouji and Hanato were helped down from a rickshaw.

Hanato ran to her sisters while Daidouji calmly greeted him. "Good evening. What brings you here?"

"I was just passing through."

Was he supposed to say something more?

"Are you on your way home? We were searching for our cousin all afternoon. It is not safe for someone her age to be outside alone by herself. I am glad that we found her, do you not agree Star?"

Kinomoto who approached them said, "Yeah, everyone was worried. Hello, Li. It's such a coincidence to run into you here."

"I was just passing through," he repeated.

"There are no such things as coincidences," said Daidouji. "Regardless, may we offer you a lift home?"

He shook his head. "I'll be fine."

"Hey, it's time to leave, monster," called the elder Kinomoto.

"I'm not a monster!" she yelled back. She addressed him more calmly, "Are you sure you'll be all right?"

He nodded. He has walked this route at night countless of times. "Yeah."

"Okay. We'll see you tomorrow."

Daidouji and Kinomoto bowed before heading into the waiting rickshaws which disappeared as quickly as they arrived. Syaoran began his ascent home.


Author's:

- As always, thank you for reading and feel free to leave any questions or comments =)

- Instead of using existing CLAMP characters, some of the background characters are named after my friends starting from the last chapter.

- The next chapter is going to be intense. Just warning you.