duty pt 1.

She was the Card Mistress, yes, but that didn't mean she was treated any different from the next college student -- or the next young adult. Yes, young adult. As of last week, Kinomoto Sakura can (officially) say she's eighteen and a young adult. Wooh. One would think being the Card Mistress and all that you would not have to bother yourself with such 'trivial' things as getting an education, graduating high school and moving on to college and getting yourself a career... but being who she was, and growing up with a 'normal' life (for the most part anyway), it was still necessary she majored in something -- it's not like she knew what else to do.

What else did a Card Mistress do other than collect the Clow Cards, convert them, and make sure they never wreck any havoc while you're the Mistress?

Sakura wasn't sure. Kero nor Yue ever told her she had any other obligations, but they made sure to train her every day. What was the point of training if she didn't have any other obligations?

"Great power tends to attract unwanted attention," Kero once said in a matter of fact tone. "Meaning, something will come along one of these days, and you need to be prepared. The Clow Cards are known throughout the world of sorcerers. You need to be strong enough to defend and protect your Cards if someone ever tries to take them from you."

Okay so she didn't necessarily expect a bunch of world-dominating, power-hungry, crazed, dark magicians to try and steal her Cards... but still... that'd be more exciting than going to college. Heck, she'd even go for fighting ninja warriors.

Then again if they were all like Li Syaoran and Li Meiling... then never mind (but Sakura recalled the fact Yue's been teaching her some awesome fighting skills, so maybe she'd be able to defend herself against fighting ninja warriors... for a little while anyway).

Good thing Sakura was an optimistic young woman and saw going to college as pursuing her lifetime dream: a historian. Growing up around an archaeologist (a.k.a her father) somehow influenced her into becoming one, that and she was not good at Math, or Science, nor was she very good at anything else... plus she had a profound fascination for History of all sorts. Sakura knew she wasn't the smartest, or the brightest, but whenever it came to History, she always remembered it.

At least she had good memory.

...Sometimes anyway (her forgetting her own birthday didn't count -- according to her).

There was just something about history that intrigued and fascinated her; something about Ancient Greek, Ancient Rome... American History... previous Chinese Dynasties... something about all of these things that held her apt attention. History was probably one of the only things she ever actually paid attention to during school.

That was why she didn't mind so much all the reading and remembering History required; or that her upcoming test required, anyway.

She had an upcoming exam on Friday, but Sakura couldn't bother to study at the moment. She did plenty of that the previous week -- much to Tomoyo's urgings and help -- so she felt more than prepared. She also figured she'd go over the material two days before the exam. Speaking of Tomoyo, she was majoring in design, something Sakura wasn't surprised about. Luckily for them, Tokyo University had a good design program, so the two girls wouldn't be forced to go to different schools. They loved each other too much.

The Card Mistress watched as her ashy-haired friend sketched diligently in her sketchbook. Sakura was laying across her bed, on her stomach while Tomoyo sat on the floor with her back propped up against the side of the bed. Sakura was peering curiously over her shoulder. She couldn't help but marvel over how... easy it came to Tomoyo to create sketches and plans for new outfits. She always drew so confidently; so sure of herself; as if she saw the outfit clearly in her mind and it was only a matter of copying it down on paper (which was most likely the case, Sakura mused).

Over the years, Tomoyo's designing matured. Sakura didn't mind so much being her model when it came to trying on the clothes (not that she had ever mind previously, it's just that now Sakura had outgrown the frilly outfits and cat-ears her Card Capturing outfits tended to have).

A smile graced Tomoyo's face as she added one final touch to her sketch and passed it to Sakura. The auburn-haired girl sat up and took the book, admiring the design that took Tomoyo only fifteen minutes to complete. Sakura whistled impressively. "I think this is your best yet, Tomoyo-chan!"

"You think so?" she asked with her musical laugh.

"Hai!" Sakura beamed and handed Tomoyo back her sketch book. "I can't wait until I see it made."

Her friend stood up and stretched as she set her book on a nearby desk. "I'm going to make something to eat. You hungry?"

"Yeah," Sakura grinned and Tomoyo started to make her way to the door when her vision was invaded by a yellow face and round, beady-black eyes.

"Did someone mention... food?"

Tomoyo giggled. "Hai, hai, Kero-chan. Would you like something to eat as well?"

The little stuffed-animal squirmed with joy as he pranced around up and down in mid-air. "Yes! I'm starving!"

(Kero had been playing video games in the living room. Apparently he had freakishly enhanced hearing because all it took was Tomoyo's mentioning of food for him to suddenly appear in the room. Sakura shook her head amusedly. Her Guardian ceased to amaze her sometimes.)

Tomoyo took a hold of one of Kero's tiny paws as she guided him out of the room, leaving Sakura alone. She rolled on to her back and brought her hands behind her head while she stared thoughtfully at the ceiling. For some reason, a restless feeling started welling at the pit of her stomach, threatening every day and every second to consume and overwhelm her. She sighed, a frown tugging at the corners of her lips. It was probably because of her exam. She always became exceptionally nervous before every test.

She rolled on to her side and tucked her arms beneath the side of her head. She drew her bottom lip between her teeth and gnawed on it lightly, absentmindedly. Could she really blame her restlessness on her upcoming exam? The anxious feeling made her feel like she was supposed to be doing something; something she was forgetting to do, but she couldn't remember what. That's what it felt like. But what could she be forgetting? She studied for her exams. She did her laundry. She cleaned her room and did her homework. She trained last night like she does every night.

...So what was she forgetting? What was she missing?

Sakura sighed as she sat up abruptly. She gnawed on her thumbnail. This feeling was driving her crazy...

It made it worse that she was having dreams every night; the same dream -- she knew that -- but whenever she woke up, the remembrance of the dream slipped away from her, like sand through a sieve. And when she tried to remember, it was like she was grasping on to water, trying to hold as much as she could in her palms, but it always slipped through the cracks between her fingers. It never stayed.

Why did she feel like she was supposed to be doing something?

Sakura sighed again as she climbed off the bed and stood up. She made her way out of the room and into the living room where Kero had returned to playing video games. Tomoyo was in the kitchen cooking something up. Sakura grabbed a water bottle out of the refrigerator and started making her way to the door.

"I'll be up on the roof. Come get me when the food's done, Kero!"

"Yeah, yeah," he called out absentmindedly.

Tomoyo smiled. "Don't train too hard now, Sakura-chan!"

She grinned and stuck her thumb out to her friend before she exited the apartment. She walked out into the hall and towards the side staircase. She climbed the stairs and didn't stop until she reached the final door at the top. She pushed it open and was met with a warm gust of air that made Sakura pause and inhale. The door swung closed behind her.

Sakura set her water bottle down by the door before walking out to the middle of the roof. The sun was already setting and hues of pink, red and purple streaked the sky. It was a clear afternoon; warm. Perfect for training. She inhaled gently as she gradually slid into a defensive position as Yue taught her, and as she started making her way into a crouch, she all but called out one word:

"Fight!"

It was just a matter of seconds before Sakura had to duck in order to avoid a kick to the head. She twisted around sharply and kicked up her own foot diagonally, but an arm blocked her assault and Sakura flipped away to avoid another kick. Being in gymnastics and cheerleading made it easier for Sakura to learn to fight. It made her flexible; durable; allowed her to have good stamina. She did a few back-hand flips before she stopped and smirked at the sprite known as Fight.

Fight returned the same, identical smirk as she (or it) took on her own defensive position. They stood staring at each other before Fight made a few beckoning gestures with her hand. Bring it on, her gesture and gaze taunted Sakura. Sakura all but laughed as she obliged to her Card's wish and charged. Punches were exchanged between Card and Mistress as they fell into a familiar rhythm and step.

One thing Sakura loved was the strong connection and bond that had grown between her and her Cards over the years. She only had to think and her Cards would appear. Sometimes, she didn't even have to think at all. Just knowing their Mistress was in danger would bring any of them out. Such as one time when she was running late for school (or more like roller skating), she had crossed the street during rush hour and was almost hit by a car. She was frozen, to say the least, when she saw the incoming car heading towards her. Time took the initiative of freezing everything just before Sakura felt the impact.

There was also another time when she was training on the roof. She was possessed with the thought of practicing some moves on the ledge, just to practice on her balance. Sakura had slipped and would have plummeted to her death if Windy hadn't swooped her back to safety in time.

If Kinomoto Sakura was one thing, she was most definitely a klutz and very, dangerously clumsy. If she didn't have her Cards she would have figured she'd be dead before she even reached eighteen. Sometimes Kero was amazed at her clumsiness. Who would have thought such a clumsy girl could be the Card Mistress?

Fight ducked down and swept her leg beneath Sakura's feet, knocking her down and on to her back. The auburn-haired girl quickly rolled to the side to avoid Fight's heel as it came crashing down towards her head. With a push of her hands, Sakura jumped on to her feet and kicked a leg up, hitting Fight beneath her chin and sending her flying back. The sprite twisted in mid-air and landed smoothly before running again at Sakura. She leaped into the air and kicked at her. Sakura raised an arm to block her kick before she brought her other hand up to clutch on to Fight's leg and twist her around.

The Card shot her hands out before she could collide face-first into the roof. She kicked her leg out of Sakura's grasp and flipped back on to her feet. And then they met mid-way once more as they exchanged punches and kicks, intercepting each other's assaults and never quite landing a hit. Sakura knew Fight was holding back on her, but she didn't mind, she wasn't that good at fighting yet, so she wasn't one to complain. She knew her Card would only push her so much; only as much as Sakura asked.

Some distance was put between them after they both exchanged kicks. They jumped back from each other, Sakura panting, Fight looking calm as usual. The Mistress pouted at her Card, and muttered something about how unfair it is that her Card's not tired. Fight merely smirked and Sakura shook her head exasperatedly before she started to run at Fight.

...But she was startled when Kero suddenly burst through the door, exclaiming quite excitedly, "SAKURA-CHAAAAN. FOOD'S READY"

She was so startled she tripped over her own feet and crashed into the ground with a, "Hoeee--! Oomf."

Fight helped her grumbling Mistress up. Sakura smiled appreciatively at her and Fight disappeared -- returning back into her Card form and disappearing into the deck of her fellow Cards. Sakura sighed as she dusted herself off and eyed her beaming Guardian. She shook her head and picked up her water bottle and followed the exuberant yellow fluff down the stairs and back to their apartment.

- - -

That restless feeling that harbored in her for the past week (ever since her eighteenth birthday, now that she thought about it), didn't disappear, not even when she was sitting in her class, taking her exam. And she knew then and there she couldn't blame her anxiety on her exam. She soared through it with ease. Nothing ever felt more easy than that exam (for once in her life).

By the time she was done with her test, she had gnawed the end of her pencil to the core. She quickly stuffed it in her backpack and pulled the strap over her shoulder as she glided down the aisle and handed her professor her exam. Her professor smiled and nodded, signaling she can leave. She bowed and thanked him before exiting the classroom where Tomoyo's smiling face greeted her.

They started to walk down the hall together, Sakura fidgeting every now and then. Tomoyo looked at her worriedly. "Is there something wrong, Sakura-chan?"

She chewed her bottom lip and looked around before lowering her voice and murmuring conspiratorially to Tomoyo, "I... I don't know. I just feel... anxious, and I don't understand why?"

"The exam is making you nervous?" Tomoyo offered in that same tone.

Sakura shook her head. "The exam was easy." She glanced around and lowered her voice even more. "I've been having... dreams lately."

Tomoyo's eyebrows shot up. Dreams for Sakura usually meant something.

"...Sometimes I remember them, kinda anyway, other times I don't. The ones I don't remember I know are the same exact dream but... I always forget it by the time I wake up... and when I do kind of remember the other ones, I always feel like... someone's calling for me. I don't know if it's one person, 'cause sometimes it feels like more than one person..."

Tomoyo frowned in concern. "Have you talked to Kero-chan about it? Or Yue?"

She hesitated to answer, but did so anyway, "I did, but..."

- - -

Sakura stared at Kero blankly.

He was staring at her back.

"...Eh?"

"I can't tell you."

Sakura stared some more.

She even blinked. Kero's expression was indifferent; his chubby paws crossed.

"...So you know, you just won't tell me?"

Kero nodded matter of factly.

Sakura blanched. "But why not?"

"Sakura," Kero's tone was suddenly serious. She sat up straight and in-attention. "I am your Guardian, but there are some things a Mistress of the Cards must find out for herself. Yue nor I can always give you answers."

She looked completely disheartened by his response.

- - -

"Hm..." Tomoyo glanced up at the ceiling thoughtfully as Sakura relayed her flashback.

She had the same disheartened expression as she did when Kero said he wouldn't tell her.

"...Well, don't worry, Sakura-chan, I'm sure if there's anyone who can figure this out, it's you." And her half cousin slash bestest friend in the world offered her a very reassuring smile. It was one of those smiles that made Sakura have no doubt Tomoyo was right.

Sakura smiled back. "Thanks, Tomoyo-chan."

They parted, eventually, since Tomoyo had her own class to attend. Sakura was left to her own devices to wander the halls boredly. She only had one class that day, so there was nothing much for her to do or worry about. She kicked at a stray can that some random student had more than carelessly tossed to the ground before she scuttled after it and picked it up, tossing it into a nearby trash bin.

She adjusted her bag and switched it on to her other back as she made her way through campus. She decided she'd grab something to eat for her and Kero (and something for Tomoyo later) before she headed back to the apartment. Maybe when Tomoyo was out of class she'd drag her friend to do something with her... but knowing her friend, Tomoyo would somehow turn the tables and bring her shopping.

Sakura giggled amusedly herself as she walked outside. It was another lovely, warm clear day. Spring was being good to them. She dug through her bag and pulled out her IPod, sticking her earphones in her ear and setting her music on without so much as stopping. Other students were wandering the campus. Some camped out beneath the sakura trees. A group of male students were playing soccer nearby. It was lively.

She strolled casually, temporarily forgetting about her worries and her overwhelming anxiety and that feeling that she was forgetting something. It was hard to be worried with the weather so nice and the atmosphere so... lax.

But something made her stop abruptly.

She felt it.

She could feel it.

It was strong, it was near, but Sakura was more than positive about what she felt.

She felt another magical presence; an aura that flared power. It was different, though. It wasn't Kero's. It wasn't Yue's -- and next to them, the only other magical auras she knew of belonged to Syaoran and Eriol, both of which were not on Japan, and Sakura figured she'd recognize them.

This aura was new. Unfamiliar. Near.

And she felt like someone was watching her.

And she swore she heard someone call, Card Mistress!

She looked around frantically, thinking everyone might have heard. But no one did. No one noticed. Everyone carried on with what they were doing.

And when she had whipped around, she saw no one. No traces of an alien aura.

Sakura frowned.

Was I imagining that?

- - -

to be continued

- - -