A/N: So Jingo's brought out another good chapter. I can't compete with Jingo, that's quality. Plus when I make a chapter, I get to it like a whirlwind. Anyway, this one will have an important event that will come up in glow. Yes, I'm doing it. Because I need to... When I do these two. I would have met jingo in chapters and episodes... Haha, even though I've done less cards and more focused on other areas. We've met up... Who will make it to judgement day I wonder. But let's erase those thoughts and jump to chapter 15!
This is a triple chapter whammy!
Michika ni aru mono
Tsune ni ki wo tsuketeinai to
Amari ni chikasugite
Miushinatte shimaisou
Anata ga saikin taiken shita
Shiawase wa ittai nandesu ka?
Megumaresugite ite
Omoidasenai kamo!
Ima koko ni iru koto
Iki wo shite iru koto
Tada soredake no koto ga
Kiseki dato kidzuku
Michika ni aru mono
Tsune ni ki wo tsuketeinai to
Amari ni chikasugite
Miushinatte shimaisou
You know the closer you get to something
The tougher it is to see it
And I'll never take it for granted
Oitsudzuketekita yume
Akiramezu ni susume yo nante
Kirei koto wo ieru hodo
Nani mo dekichainai kedo
Hitonigiri no yuuki wo mune ni
Ashita wo ikinuku tame ni
And I'll never take it for granted
Let's go!
Chapter 15
'Sugoi...' Naruto mused as he swam above the rocks in the sea. He watched the fish go by his goggles and grinned. (Seriously, in anime, they don't take into fact that opening eyes in salt water, might not be a good thing. Hence... The goggles! X3) Naruto looked about and swam to the surface as he ran short of breath. With a gasp Naruto took a breath. "It's great to be at the beach!" Naruto roared as he looked to the sun. "I wonder how Kero's doing?" Naruto blinked as Sakura surfaced. "Hey Sakura-chan... What you doing out here?" Sakura glanced over and pulled her goggles up.
"Looking for you..." Sakura looked to the beach. "You came out quiet far." Naruto shrugged.
"We can use our chakra to move back on the current. So I'm checking out the rocky bottom to see what cool stuff I can find." Naruto said as he pulled up his goggles a moment. Sakura giggled at the red rings the goggles had printed. Naruto glanced to the rocky cliff side to see Li looking into the cave. Sakura looked over as well. Naruto gave a curious glance; Li seems to have noticed something. Naruto mentally shrugged, if there was something, he'd care about it later, right now he was enjoying the day.
"I wonder what Li was doing?" Sakura asked as Li looked to them and dived in to the water.
"Sakura!" Both glanced to the shore to see Tomoyo, Chiharu, Rika and Naoko standing at the side with a beach ball. "Let's play beach volleyball!" Sakura glanced to Naruto.
"Nah, I'm going for a dive. You can go if you like." Sakura gave a short nod and looked back.
"Hai!" Sakura called swimming to shore. Naruto looked down and put his goggles on and dived to the bottom. Naruto put his hands together and stuck to the rocks. He glanced about as he crawled along the beach floor.
As the group of girls started playing volley ball Sakura missed it and it land in the water. "I'll get it!" Sakura called as she fetched it. But just as she picked the ball up from the ankle high water, the water rose and Sakura stared nervously at the fact Yamazki was now stood there as if he had been waiting. How in the world he stays submerged like that... Without being noticed, she'll probably never know.
"Beach volleyball goes back a long time." Yamazaki began as he started with his specialty of forming really good lies, too many it sound believable when he does it. It was one of the reasons Naruto has Yamazaki for a friend and has often had Yamazaki make good use of his skill on Li. Though Naruto has often been caught out by Yamazaki, he normally spots it instantly but enjoys seeing how many do believe Yamazaki's words. Sakura on the other hand... Well. "It started when people played on the beach in Hawaii using coconuts."
"With coconuts?" Sakura asked curiously as the others behind Sakura watched on at the display.
"So, you know that coconuts are hard and heavy, right?" Sakura gave a short nod, as she listened.
"Yeah, they're hard and heavy..." Yamazaki leaned forward and dropped his voice down.
"So, it's said that many people were injured playing beach volleyball." Such a fact scared Sakura as she was reeled in on Yamazaki's 'hook'. As Naruto would term it from fishing with his brother and Ray.
"It's a lie..." Chiharu spoke up having seen through the tale quickly enough. "A lie..." Sakura glanced to her friend.
"It's a lie?" Chiharu sighed as she looked at her friend.
"Most of Yamazaki-kun's stories that seem plausible are lies." Sakura turned to look at Yamazaki who stood there a moment before bouncing the ball off his forehead. Sakura just stared dumbfounded. And even more so when he made a second ball appear. Now where'd he get that and a third one?? Nah... Best not think about it really.
Though it wasn't long before Chiharu had Yamazaki buried up to the neck and was being used for target practice with the volley ball. They hadn't even noticed during this that Naruto had gone to shore and ran off. "I'm sorry." Was all Yamazaki called out as the ball continued to bounce off the back of his head. While Sakura watched on, Tomoyo glanced out to sea and noticed Li was still swimming.
"It seems Li-kun is a good swimmer as well." Sakura glanced out to the water.
"You're right." Sakura spoke as they watched. Naruto stood at the slope and looked at Yamazaki before walking up.
"What he say this time..." Naruto muttered as he stood beside Sakura. He looked out to see Li and then glanced over. "How long has he been out there?" Sakura looked to Naruto.
"I thought you were still out there..." Naruto crouched as he stretched.
"I went back to the cabin... So?" Naruto asked as he looked up as Tomoyo glanced over.
"He's been steadily swimming for all this time without saying a word." Naruto and Sakura looked back out as to why. "I wonder if he's practicing long-distance swimming."
"Speaking of long-distance swimming." Yamazaki spoke out next to the group of three. Naruto instantly looked back to where he used to be buried up to the neck. How does he do that?
"Hai, hai..." Chiharu spoke grabbing the black haired lad. A whistle blew out and everyone looked to the noise location.
"Everyone, gather here!" The teacher called out. The group watched as Yamazaki was dragged by his left arm by Chiharu.
"A long time ago, during the Edo period, there was a samurai." Yamazaki continued as Chiharu merely sighed at his antics.
"Hai, hai..."
"Chiharu-chan is used to this." Sakura spoke as the group watched on.
"Apparently she's been acquainted with Yamazaki since kindergarten." Tomoyo spoke.
"They've been together a long time." Naoko stated behind them.
"I think it's wonderful that people can be together for such a long time." Tomoyo said as she glanced to Sakura.
"I agree..." Sakura commented as Yamazaki continued.
"Sort of like you and Naruto-kun here." Rika spoke up. "You two have been together since you were babies right?" Both nod to her.
"Hai." Both replied. Rika looked on at the pair curiously.
"I'm surprised you two aren't 'together' together. You've been friends that long." Both blinked surprised by that comment and glanced away to anything but each other. Rika blinked at this action while Tomoyo smiled at the pair.
"Let's... Go join the others." Naruto spoke up.
"I agree..." Sakura spoke as both walked off. Rika and Naoko looked at each other. Tomoyo smiled.
"I think they would... But they're too nervous, to tell the other." Both girls nodded in agreement. Sounded logical.
The group joined in for the rope pulling on the fish nets and hauled the fish in for lunch. Sakura was working on the potatoes as everyone set up. "Sakura-chan, you're good at that." Chiharu spoke as she watched Sakura slice off one long strand without much hassle..
"I'm always doing it at home." Sakura replied. Naoko walked over as she glanced behind her.
"Does Naruto cook at home?" Sakura nods to her. "Like that?" Sakura looked over.
Naruto tossed a slab of meat up and swung the knife. Everyone watched as Naruto crossed his arms as the meat landed in stacks of slices
"Sugoi..." Rika muttered as she walked up beside Sakura. "Didn't know he was that good."
"He does cooking with his onee-chan." Rika looked to Sakura.
"What about his onii-san?" Sakura chuckled nervously.
"You... Don't want to see what he cooks up." Sakura said as she remember when Genpaku tried to cook a lobster and forgot to put the heat on and ended up having a stick to claw fight with the crustacean.
"Li's pretty good also." Tomoyo spoke as they looked to see Li carve the lettuce up into fine pieces. Naruto and Li eyed each other. Sakura sweat dropped as she sensed the tension build. "Looks like they're forming a rivalry?" Sakura sighed with a smile; she wasn't sure with Naruto if it was the case.
Night came and everyone had gone to their rooms and beds, Sakura smiled as she went over the day's events. "It was fun today, fishing and cooking." Sakura spoke as Naoko agreed. "What are we doing tomorrow?"
"I believe it's a test of courage." Tomoyo spoke. Sakura stared blankly a moment.
"Oh, that's right." Sakura muttered nervously.
"Yes, over by those rocks." Tomoyo answered. "I doubt Naruto-kun would be scared by that..." Sakura nods slowly in agreement.
"The rocks?" Rika spoke. "You mean the ones we can see from the beach?" Sakura glanced over nervously. Tomoyo agreed. Naoko pushed up her glasses as she glanced over.
"Speaking of the rocks..." Naoko spoke eerily. Sakura hated that, she knew very well Naoko's ability at storytelling and she was going to use it now. "Does everyone know this story?" Sakura sat up and put her hands over her ears. If only Naruto was here, least there was someone to get her out of this.
"Naoko seems to be very enthusiastic..." Chiharu spoke as Rika nods.
"Anyway." Naoko spoke up. "Long ago, there were grade school kids about our age who had outdoor classes here." Sakura kept her ears covered as she tried to focus on anything but this. "The first day, they had fun swimming in the ocean and pulling on the fishing net." Naoko spoke as she got into her tale. "But the next evening, they had a test of courage." Sadly for Sakura, she couldn't drown out Naoko's voice, and that schedule...
"Oh, my..." Tomoyo spoke. "Their schedule resembles ours."
"Apparently they did it at the cave in the rocks over there." Naoko continued. "Deep inside that cave is a small spring. There's a bridge and that bridge leads to a small shrine at the middle of the spring. In the test of courage two students make one team enter the cave, and leave a candle at the little shrine. But as they went on... one group left, but no matter how long they waited, they never came back." Sakura was beginning to have trouble as her eyes played tricks on her as she looked at the wood of the upper bunk. Faces in the wood mouldings appeared, she couldn't take it and flipped over and tucked the pillow on her head. "So, the teacher and other students, who got worried went inside to look for them, and there—" The door opened and the girls started screaming. As the torch light flickered through Sakura screamed also.
The teacher looked on bewildered, but had no doubt they'd scared themselves. "What's wrong, Kinomoto? Did something happen?" Sakura glanced over nervously and the teacher chuckled.
"S-sensei..." Sakura muttered in semi relief.
"We were surprised because the door opened so suddenly..." Tomoyo spoke as their teacher rubbed the back of his head nervously.
"Oh, sorry about that. I apologize for surprising you, but its past lights-out. You should go to sleep soon."
"Hai..." All replied as the door shut. As everyone went to sleep, Sakura was the only one who couldn't. After a while she sat up.
"I can't... I'm too scared to sleep." With that she left the cabin and went for a walk in the cold to clear her thoughts. She spotted the teachers cabin. "I can ask one of the teachers to let me stay with them..." Sakura muttered as she walked to the teacher's cabin. "I wonder if they'll laugh at me..." Sakura stopped a second. "I don't care if they laugh at me. It's better than being scared." A hand rested on her shoulder and Sakura freaked out.
"Geez... And here I thought you were scared of me with my mask." Naruto spoke surprised as he sat down by Sakura. Sakura looked to Naruto, he was dressed in blue jeans and blue shirt. His rare occasion orange jacket on him tonight.
"Naruto! Don't scare me like that!" Sakura called as she gripped onto the blond. "I'm scared enough as it is..." Sakura cried.
"Hey, hey... What happened Sakura-chan? Was it Naoko-chan?" Sakura nods, Naruto sighed with a smile. "Geez... Walking about in the cold isn't good for you, you know." Naruto said as he took his jacket off. Sakura stared as Naruto put it over her shoulders, why was he even in normal clothing anyway? Naruto stood and held his hand out and Sakura looked up bewildered. Naruto smiled. "Come on... Before someone sees us." Sakura nods and followed the blond to the beach where he sat on the bank. Sakura sat beside him. "Sorry for that Sakura-chan..." Naruto stated as he looked to the clear night sky. He looked over with a smile. "I guess surprising you like that, wasn't the best idea." Sakura nods slowly.
"Why you out here Naruto-kun? And why are you dressed?" Naruto glanced over.
"Couldn't sleep... So I decided to take a wonder, they'd be looking for student clothing. So I took a spar set."
"Oh..." Sakura muttered as she hugs the jacket tight. "Arigatou..." Naruto smiled.
"It's a chilly wind. Even for summer..." Naruto looked to the star and smiled. "You know... I'm going fishing some time after we get home. Ray-san and onii-san are getting everything ready." Naruto said as he tried to take Sakura's mind off anything that could remotely be connected to super natural. "Onee-chan's been looking forward to a quiet house..." Naruto chuckled. "She loves onii-chan to bits. But she'd love some time to herself." Sakura nods.
"I wish I could come..." Naruto nods.
"Hai... But it's a guy's only trip. Male bonding as Ray-san put it." Sakura smiled lightly to Naruto before they looked at the moon resting above the water. "That looks amazing." Sakura looked to Naruto for a moment, she smiled lightly as he stared with a sombre look into the moons light. She could almost see the moon reflecting off his own eyes.
"Yeah... you do..." Sakura muttered to herself, Naruto blinked and looked over.
"Say something?" Sakura blinked, she spoke a bit too loud she quickly glanced down.
"J-just that it does..." Naruto nods slowly and looked out to the sea. Naruto stood and Sakura looked up. "Hm?" Naruto stretched.
"Want to go back to your cabin? Or are you still going to go the teacher's one?" Sakura looked from Naruto a second.
"No..." Sakura stood. "I'll return to my cabin now." Naruto smiled.
"Cool, I'll walk you back." Sakura gave a small smile.
"Arigatou..."
The pair walked quietly to the door and Naruto put his jacket back on. "I'll see you later..." With that Naruto yawned and walked off. Sakura smiled and turned to the door.
"Sakura..." Sakura blinked and looked to her right to find Li leaning against the wall.
"Li?" Li glanced back.
"Just thought I'd warn you... Be careful in the cave." Sakura looked nervous. "And..." Li spoke standing and walking off a bit. "Be careful round you're friend. Some things not right with him." With that he took off.
"Li?" Sakura muttered. She looked in Naruto's direction. "What did he mean?"
Day came and Sakura was telling Tomoyo of last night save Li's appearance. "Oh, my. If you couldn't sleep, you could have woken me up." Sakura looked to Tomoyo.
"That's okay..." Sakura spoke as she dried her face. "Least Naruto was there to talk too." Tomoyo smiled before looking down.
"You want to do the test of courage with Naruto-kun?" Sakura glanced over, weren't they going to do it.
"Tomoyo-chan?" Tomoyo looked over with a smile.
"That's okay; I'll go with Rika, Naoko or Chiharu." Tomoyo answered.
"But..." Tomoyo shook her head.
"This should be your task together..." Tomoyo said before giving a small chuckle. "You like Naruto-kun right? Doing it together will bring you closer." Sakura looked surprised and turned red before splashing more water on her face to cool her down. Tomoyo smiled and the pair went off to relax in the sun. They found Naruto sleeping under some trees.
"Naruto-kun? What you doing here?" Sakura asked as she sat down.
"Resting... Didn't get much sleep." Naruto muttered. Sakura blinked at that comment. He'd gone straight to bed right? She was sure he had. "So I'm just resting in the warm breeze." Sakura nods and lay down in the shade beside the blond as Tomoyo sat looking at the ocean. As time went by Tomoyo glanced over to the snoozing pair with a smile and looked back out. Though as Sakura awoke she sat up staring blankly at the cave. She saw something glow which made her eyes widen before rubbing them to see if she was seeing things. But there was nothing there.
"Is something wrong?" Tomoyo asked noticing the blank stare. Sakura shook her head as Naruto twitched in his sleep.
"Need more ramen..."
As night came the class stood in groups beside the cave wall. All ready to go inside. "Here you are." One of the female teachers spoke. "Everyone, we will now start the test of courage you've been waiting for." Many cheered while Naruto stood beside a nervous Sakura.
"Don't worry. You'll be fine." Naruto spoke to try calming the girl's nerves.
"There is a small spring in the back of this cave. If you cross the bridge over the spring, you will reach a shrine. You have to go put these candles in the shrine. Got that?" Everyone nods.
"That's exactly the same as Naoko-chan's story." Sakura muttered as Naruto took Sakura's hand. Sakura looked down, then to Naruto.
"Don't worry..." Naruto whispered. "We're cardcaptors Sakura-chan. And ninja, we're a match for this test of courage." Sakura smiled lightly.
"Arigatou..." Sakura replied gripping Naruto's hand.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan." Tomoyo spoke. "It's a common story." Sakura glanced to Naoko who seemed to be lost in the fantasy world.
"Naoko-chan looks so excited..." Sakura muttered and Naruto nods.
"Within your group, make smaller groups of two or three." Naruto smiled.
"You have nothing to worry about... As long as we stick together." Naruto stated as Sakura nods. Tomoyo smiled as she lightly glanced back. Some of their friends also glanced to the pair.
"The cave is a one-way path, and it dead-ends at the shrine. So there are no worries of getting lost. When you put the candle in the shrine please come straight back here." Everyone replied in agreement. "Now we'll begin."
Slowly, one by one, the groups entered the cave. As Chiharu and Rika walked in, it was Tomoyo and Naoko, then Sakura and Naruto. "We're next." Sakura muttered as Naruto nods.
"You can do this Sakura-chan. This should be nothing to you..." Sakura nods slowly, but she didn't feel good about this. But as long as Naruto was there, she'd be fine. "Besides... It will most likely be a teacher to surprise us... Nothing is scarier than onee-chan." Naruto joked. "These guys will be a walk in the park."
"Hai..." Sakura said as she gulped, it was their turn. As Naruto took the candle he gave Sakura a smile and walked in. Though Sakura was less agreeable to follow him in.
"I wonder if Kinomoto will be all right." Yamazaki pondered as Li eyed Naruto.
As the young pair walked the tunnel, Sakura stayed right by Naruto's side. "See... It's not so bad." Sakura glanced to Naruto. They could barely see two metres ahead. As they walked it didn't take long before one teacher in as what Naruto would call a 'poor ghost sheet' jumped out. Sakura gripped Naruto like a hawk to prey as she panicked. Naruto growled and gave a quick thump to the knee which made the teacher hop on one foot. Sakura blinked as the sheet fell away and showed their home room teacher. "See..." Naruto replied as Sakura looked to face the blond. "Nothing but a bed sheet..." Naruto said as he picked the cover up.
"Ouch... I didn't expect that..." Their teacher spoke as he nursed his knee. Naruto merely looked on blankly as Sakura stared at their teacher. As he stood the pair walked by. "Well, be careful." Naruto gave a short nod and walked on with Sakura in toe.
"You okay?" Naruto asked as he pulled Sakura up beside him. Sakura nods as the blond grinned. "Sensei might think next time." Sakura chuckled lightly at that before Naruto stopped.
"What's wrong?" Naruto glanced left and then right. "Naruto-kun?" Naruto looked to Sakura.
"No one's passed us." Sakura looked confused and looked left and right also. "It's a one way tunnel and there were many groups before us. Not one has come back." Sakura panicked slightly.
"C-could it b-be a g-ghost?" Naruto looked to Sakura.
"Who knows...?" Sakura turned pale and held onto the blonds arm. Naruto switched the candle to his left as he looked left and right once more. "Don't worry... We'll be fine."
"But if it's like Naoko-chan's story." Naruto took a breath.
'What do I do?' Naruto glanced to Sakura and pulled his arms lose and took hold of her palm. "Let's keep going. Stay close and don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you Sakura-chan."
"Naruto-kun..." Sakura muttered as the pair started walking. She stopped and Naruto looked to her. "I-I don't want to go on..." Naruto looked to Sakura dumb founded.
"Sakura-chan..." Sakura looked up.
"I'm scared Naruto-kun... I don't want to disappear!" Naruto put his candle down and stood close to Sakura.
"Hey... Sakura-chan..." Naruto spoke as he spoke softly like his onee-chan did when he was scared during the time onii-chan scared the hell out of him. "We're not like the rest. We're ninja. You're gifted with magic and the clow cards. A ghost has got nothing on us... Not against me and you..." Sakura looked down worried.
"Naruto-kun..." Sakura muttered. "What if you're wrong?" Naruto smiled.
"Sakura..." Naruto spoke as he held her hands tight. "I promise... Nothing will happen..."
"But..." Naruto shook his head.
"Nothing will happen to you Sakura-chan. As my friend, I won't allow it." Naruto let go of her left and picked up the candle. "Now... Let's keep going." Sakura nods slowly and followed behind Naruto for a while. No teacher, or students had appeared still and it wasn't long before they reached the bridge. "Nothing... Not one person..." Naruto muttered as he glanced back. Sakura glanced about nervously before they heard yelling from the dark side of the bridge.
"Naoko-chan! Naoko-chan!" Tomoyo yelled out.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Both called as Naruto ran forward. Sakura stood there a second as Naruto ran. But a couple seconds later she followed the blond into the dark. They found Tomoyo stood about nervously.
"What happened?" Naruto spoke as Tomoyo turned to them. She sighed with relief.
"Naruto-kun. Sakura-chan. Naoko-chan just vanished. I haven't seen anyone since we started apart from sensei and one other teacher.
"Which seems to have vanished also..." Naruto muttered as Sakura looked about the shrine. "How did she disappear?"
"Just... Before my eye's Naruto-kun. She was there one moment then..." With that Tomoyo vanished.
"Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura called as Naruto glanced about quickly.
"Let's go!" Naruto called as he grabbed Sakura's arm tight. Sakura stumbled and quickly followed. "Let's get you out Sakura-chan!"
"But what about Tomoyo-chan?!" Naruto glanced back.
"I'll go back in. Let's just get you to safety." Sakura looked on only for Naruto to flicker a second.
"Naruto!" Naruto stopped as Sakura stopped a couple steps ahead. Both blinked. Naruto hadn't let go. Sakura gasped as Naruto hand was a murky red and blue. "Naruto-kun!" Naruto looked to his palm.
"What's..." Naruto muttered as his hand appeared. He set the candle on the bridge side. "Sakura-chan..." Naruto muttered as he looked at his fading palm before it began to remove his arms.
"Naruto-kun! Don't go! If you go as well..." Sakura cried. Naruto walked forward and rested his hands on her shoulders. But she couldn't feel them as all that remained was his torso and head. Naruto rested his temple to hers.
"Don't panic Sakura-chan..." Naruto said as his pendent glowed. "I won't be too far. I'm always there." Naruto said as he began to fade completely.
"Naruto-kun!" Sakura spoke as Naruto smiled.
"I believe in you... Since..." Naruto didn't get to finish as he vanished and his medium bounced to the floor. Sakura dropped to her knees as she looked to the coin.
"Naruto-kun..." She picked the coin up and put it round her neck. If it was still here, he must be around.
"What's going on?" Sakura turned to see Li running up. "Where's Naruto?" Sakura took a breath as she stood.
"They're all gone... They've vanished Li." Sakura responded as she tried to remain calm.
"I was with Yamazaki, and he disappeared as well." Li responded.
"Is it a ghost?" Sakura asked worried. "Is a ghost making Tomoyo-chan, everyone and Naruto-kun disappear!?"
"That's not it." Li responded as he looked about the shrine. "I don't know why Naruto's vanished like everyone else..." Sakura glanced down. Maybe... The reason why Naruto was so tired this morning, and why he'd been out like he had. Had he been out training? But, he couldn't have been training all night, could he?
"Naruto-kun..."
"Stay calm." Li spoke. "And feel the nearby presence properly." Sakura nods as she rubbed her eyes and took a moment to calm her worries. She put her hands around both her's and Naruto's mediums and took a moment to sense the area. Sakura's eyes open as she felt it.
"It's the presence of a clow card!" Li nods and pulled out his locator. It pointed in the shrines direction.
"It would be best to approach quietly." Li said as he looked at the wooden bridge. "Walking along would make too much noise, so that the card doesn't notice us." Sakura nods and pulled out her key.
"Leave that to me."
"The key which hides power of the dark." Sakura spoke as her key glowed and she lowered her arms out to her sides. "Show your true powers before me." At this the seal appeared round her. "I, Sakura, command you under our contract." Sakura brought her arms up and above her head. "Release." Sakura called quietly as she swings her arms forward and grabbed hold of her staff. Sakura picked out float and threw the card forward. "Surround us, and take us to the location yonder. Float." Sakura called as she hit the card. The card expanded round them and carried them slowly along the walk way.
"If we don't know what card we're facing, the first thing we should do is find the main body of the card." Sakura nods to this. "We can't determine the exact location with my compass." Sakura glanced about as they land and she put her card away. "That went well." Li spoke as Sakura noticed Li fading also.
"Li!" Li looked at his hand to see clearly through it. "You're going to disappear too, Li."
"Calm, down." Li responded. "Naruto wouldn't be scared would he?" Sakura put her hand to the coin as she felt the half pendent beside it.
"Naruto-kun..." Sakura muttered.
"If it's an active card, you should be able to figure out where it is. Concentrate!" Li stated as Sakura clutched tightly. "Do you want everyone to stay gone? Even the blond?" Sakura stared a moment at the thought of never seeing everyone again.
"I don't!" Sakura yelled as she took a moment to calm herself. 'Hang on everyone... Naruto-kun.' Sakura spoke to herself as she sensed for the card. Li stood beside her quietly, watching. Sakura found the location as she sensed it coming from the shrine. "Over there!" Sakura called running forward. She pulled the doors apart and a white mist appeared.
"Now!" Li yelled.
"Return to the guise you were meant to be in! Clow card!" The white mist swirled into the card and Sakura smiled as she caught it. Li walked up and looked at it as he became whole again.
"The erase card. That's why everyone disappeared." Sakura looked at the card and held it forward. Li raised an eyebrow to this gesture."Huh?"
"This is for you, Li." Li seemed bewildered. "If it weren't for you... I would still be panicking and wouldn't have been able to do anything." Li looked at the card and shook his head.
"That ones yours..." Li said turning round. "I'll get the cards myself." Li said walking off. Sakura blinked before looking at the card. As she did the pendent of Naruto's glowed and floated some distance away. Sakura looked on surprised by this.
"You did great Sakura-chan!" Sakura blinked.
"Naruto-kun?" Slowly Naruto's form began to appear. "Naruto-kun!" Naruto grinned.
"You did well Sakura-chan. Though I'm surprised by Li..." Naruto said looking to where the lad had gone. "He really helped out. I'm just glad to see you again." Sakura sniffed and tackled the blond. "Hey! What's wrong Sakura-chan?!"
"I thought I wasn't going to see you or anyone again." Naruto grinned as he put a hand on Sakura's shoulder.
"I'll always be there." Sakura smiled. But she couldn't help but wonder Li's words the night before.
The next day everyone from Sakura and Naruto's small group sat on the beach. Chiharu, Tomoyo, Naoko, Rika and Yamazaki didn't remember a thing.
"I looked forward to the test of courage, but I don't remember what I did at all." Naoko muttered slightly down hearted.
"Me neither" Rika muttered.
"Neither do I." Chiharu spoke next.
"I don't remember anything at all, either..." Yamazaki muttered. Sakura glanced to Tomoyo who leaned close to whisper.
"Was it a clow card after all?" Sakura gave a short nod. Sakura noticed Naruto stand and walk off. Sakura looked to see Li looking out to sea.
"Li..." Naruto spoke as he walked up. Li eyed the lad as the pair faced each other. Naruto sighed and held his hand out. "I owe you an apology and a thank you Li." Li blinked as he looked at the blond. "I want to say thanks for what you did for Sakura-chan. Even I, as good as a friend and teammate... Was useless there to her. Thanks for helping her and saving everyone." Li turned to Naruto and shook his hand.
"That's okay." Naruto nods.
"But be careful... Make a comment about Sakura-chan and I'll make sure you feel it." Both eyed each other before Li raised an eyebrow.
"You said you owe an apology... For what?" Naruto smirked and swept up Li's feet beneath him. Li grunted as he landed on his back. Naruto grinned as he stood over him.
"For that..." Naruto stated as he stood and walked up to Sakura.
"Naruto-kun... That's was rude." Naruto chuckled.
"Gomen Sakura-chan... It will be the last one... Promise." Naruto said as he crossed his fingers behind his back. Sakura looked unsure. "I won't unless he says something that prompts it." Sakura sighed at the blond before walking up to Li.
"Nobody remembers anything." Sakura spoke as Li dusted himself off. "What does this mean, Li?"
"Erase." Li started. "Erased their memories as well."
"I get it..." Sakura muttered as Naruto stood beside Sakura. "Thanks for everything last night." Sakura spoke. "And sorry for what Naruto-kun did..." Sakura said as Naruto grinned.
"I haven't approved of you yet, either of you." Sakura looked slightly defeated but Naruto merely batted it off as a gesture as he was warming up to them.
"Sakura-chan! Naruto-kun! Li-kun!" Naruto and Sakura looked to Chiharu and the group. "Do you want to play beach volleyball?"
"Okay!" Sakura called as she ran up. Naruto smiled and glanced back.
"You know... It would do you some good to lighten up." Li didn't say anything. Naruto shrugged. "Yeah I thought so... You'd lose like you've lost all the chances to get a card." Li glanced to Naruto.
"What was that?" Naruto glanced back.
"I said you're a loser... To scared to even play a game where you know you'll lose." Li glared before walking on past the blond. Naruto smirked. "Hooked him like a fish. Hey! Let's get this game started!" Naruto called running up.
XXXXXX
Hm... Guess it went well. This will prompt a change for Naruto with this card. Kyuubi's got something planned. And what did Li mean? Looks like there's something going on and Sakura K, Genpaku and Li have noticed it. But what? (Chapter made 18/03/10 22:14)
Also! For the next 12 episodes. I thought we'd reminisce the English dub classics of cc. So let's go with number one!
1: Guardian of the cards: Tempest, featuring Rikki Rumball
You can do anything
If you believe it's true
See what this friendship brings
It can only get stronger when you work it through
You can go anywhere
Imagination will take you through
Magic and mystery
In a blink of an eye
You could fly to the moon
Chorus:
Out of all the people in the world
You're the chosen one of every boy and girl
Now your friends are here
Your mission's clear
You're the guardian of the cards
Every day is a new adventure
As you discover the magic you need
You uncover the mystic secrets
Where the power within is a will to succeed
Yes, this is your destiny
This is what you were born to do
Bring back the harmony
To make a better world for me and you
Out of all the people in the world
You're the chosen one of every boy and girl
Now your friends are here
Your mission's clear
You're the guardian of the cards
You're the guardian of the cards
You're the chosen one
Yes, you are
No matter where you search
Near or far
You're the guardian of the cards
Out of all the people in the world
You're the chosen one of every boy and girl
Now your friends are here
Your mission's clear
You're the guardian of the cards
You're the guardian of the cards
You're the chosen one
Yes, you are
No matter where you search
Near or far
You're the guardian of the cards
Out of all the people in the world
You're the chosen one of every boy and girl
Now your friends are here
Your mission's clear
You're the guardian of the cards
You're the guardian of the cards
You're the chosen one
Yes, you are
No matter where you search
Near or far
You're the guardian of the cards