It has been a long time

Sakura stayed in her house for the whole week after her sudden fever three days ago after school. She was visited daily by an anxious Tomoyo who always brought her homemade cakes,sweets and cookies. Their family doctor came and gave prescription of medicines she needed to take. But her physical form isn't the only dilemma she's facing but also her magic. After the encounter with her star key and the two cards Yue considered that she was losing her power. Sakura had managed to transform the key next day without it shrinking back and asked the cards what was happening. The Mirror card says that the two which haven't been glowing lost it's powers.

"You mean they're ordinary cards now?" Sakura said on the verge of tears.

"They're almost ordinary cards." the Light card responded gravely.

This mind boggling events made Sakura feel sick and dizzy just by thinking about it. Kero kept suggesting things about a secret Clow card that Sakura hadn't managed to capture yet is causing this and that Eriol might have forgotten to mention it.
"Oh c'mon Kero-chan," Sakura repeated for the tenth time, "There isn't any of those 'unrevealed' cards that you're talking about -"

Kero made to open his mouth to retaliate but Sakura beat him to it talking more loudly.

"- AND even Eriol says so himself that everything about card capturing is finished. I couldn't even think of Eriol forgetting important matters because he is definitely not the kind of guy who does."

"Sakura, you should start believing that there isn't anything impossible -"

"Stop it you two! Sakura-chan,Kero-chan,give it a rest ok? We'll figure this thing out sooner that you expect." Tomoyo said breaking their argument.

~oOo~

Sakura went back to school on Monday when her tiredness seemed to have vanished in a snap during the weekends and insisted to go because she was feeling alright. Her dad and brother argued with her but at the end she won the battle. They agreed that if she ever falls asleep again,she's going to take two weeks off school until she's better. Sakura was forced to agree because it was the only thing that could make her go to school, but she has to try her best not to faint. Not like she's going to but still.

"I'm off!" she said cheerful again walking through streets, passing houses and a few students. She was early and that was good. The reason was because she was excited for the upcoming fare Seijou Highschool is hosting. The early morning sun shone over Tomoeda and the crisp autumn breeze wafted through people's noses. She turned the corner where the peach blossoms grew in abundance, it's petals showering the whole area. Sakura finally reached the high school gates. It has beautiful ornate white-washed stone pillars and an arch above with the words: "Seijou National Highschool"

The vicotrian gates which were already open was embossed by gold paint. Sakura never noticed how beautiful her school was. Maybe that's because she was always late and her being early was a rare thing. Behind the pillars were elegant varieties of trees which set a pathway leading up to the ornate building. The trees towered over her and dappled the ground with yellow spots. The sun was in full blast on the path creating stage light effects of yellow and light green. A woodpecker flew about a maple tree and a family of kingfishers were twittering in a neighboring pagoda tree.

The light air rustled the leaves on the grassy floor and shook off some more leaves from the trees. As Sakura trotted along, she heard movement somewhere in the shades of the trees. She ignored it thinking it was just some small animal scurrying by. But it became hasty and it was coming towards her.

If anything happens,I'm gonna run to the school,Sakura thought, which was very silly of her considering that she had dangerous experiences from the cardcaptor days. The eeriness of the area deafened her ears as she continued to walk looking left and right anxiously. She wondered why there weren't any students passing by this way. The movements stopped and she took a breath and whirled around. She found herself looking into soft amber eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. 'Is this a dream?' she thought. It certainly wasn't. Everything felt so real she could have captured the moment in her own bare hands. Sakura gave a litte "Oh!" in surprise. It really was a surprise because she haven't seen those eyes for so long her head ached. "Syaoran?" she said in a small voice still awestruck at the figure standing in front of her.

"Sakura." he said almost whispering her name. His brown hair danced with the sunlight. It was as tangled as it was four years ago. His eyes searched for her longingly as if they would never see each other again. He was a bit broader than before and in his hand clutched was a winged bear in the name of Sakura which Sakura herself made the day before his departure. She could swear that her eyes started to moisten when her gaze fell upon the innocent bear.

"I'm finished with the business I have to do in Hong Kong. I can live in Tomoeda now."

Her heart started to pound loudly against her chest,she wondered if he could hear it too. Sakura seemed to have lost her voice but when she heard this she found words forming in her mouth.

"We don't have to go through phone calls or letters?" her voice cracked. The bell rang signaling that class is going to start in ten minutes. They both ignored it. Never mind if she was going to be late,she didn't care now that "he" is back.

"No." was his reply.

Sakura closed the little gap between them and hugged him tightly. Her tears were flowing freely now like it did when she watched Syaoran go.

His embrace was warm and gentle. He looked and smelled the same. Sakura closed her eyes and took in his scent never wanting to let him go. It was just like it was two years ago. As she felt his arms wrapped around her,everything felt so right,so perfect,so inevitable. The last two years of him missing from her life seemed to never have existed. How long they stood there neither of them knows. She wondered if she ever used the Time card to freeze this moment by accident, but she was happy all the same.

The bell rang again for the second time making the both of them jump. Sakura laughed and Syaoran joined in.
Sakura noticed that he was wearing the Seijou Highschool uniform. Syaoran who saw her eyes studying his uniform chuckled and said, "I'm attending your school."

Sakura's eyes sparkled. "Really?" she said excitedly.

Syaoran nodded.

~oOo~

They walked hand in hand out the school gates,with Tomoyo beside Sakura. Syaoran was telling them what he was doing in Hong Kong and how long he had to wait until he comes back to Tomoeda. It turned out that he was the heir of the Li family business company as soon as he hits sixteen. The current temporary president for the company was his mother Yelan Li.

"What's going to happen when you're sixteen Syaoran? Aren't you going to be the president then?" Tomoyo asked out of curiosity.

Sakura was slightly crestfallen. Tomoyo was right. Soon enough he's going to become president and he's gonna have to go back to Hong Kong.

"I'm not sure if I want to be president." Syaoran said with a little frown and shrugged the matter off,changing the topic.

Sakura thought deeply of this until they reached her house (they all decided they would hang around in Sakura's house for a while) when Syaoran's words shook her out of her trance.
"Something wrong Sakura?" Syaoran asked noticing that she stayed quiet during the walk.

"Eh? Oh nothing,everything's fine." she smiled wanly.

Tomoyo shot her a glance which brought Sakura to another matter. Syaoran still didn't know about the two cards and her star key.

"Sakura!" Kero squealed when Sakura opened the main door.

"Kero-chan! Where's onii-chan and otou-san?" Sakura said ushering Syaoran and Tomoyo inside.

"They're not home yet." Kero said letting them in and flew to the living room but did a double take and eyed Syaoran.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Kero exclaimed.

"What did you say?" Syaoran said glaring at the winged creature.

"Kero-chan! Stop it. Syaoran just came back." Sakura said.

"Just came back eh?" Kero said crossing his arms,sneering, "I bet he just missed my super cool form."

"Your nothing but a stuffed little animal." Syaoran pointed out and shoved him off.

"Nani?" Syaoran said seriously after she told him everything that happened over the past week. They had eaten their snacks in Sakura's bedroom. Tomoyo

left earlier because her mom wanted her home. Kero was downstairs playing video games and Touya and her dad are still at work. This left Sakura and Syaoran alone.

"Sakura,why didn't you tell me this?"

"It just happened a week ago but I'm alright now." Sakura said trying for a smile. But Syaoran knew her too well to be easily fooled.

"But why didn't you tell me?"

"I-" Sakura said but failed as she looked at his face. She didn't want to make him worry. She didn't want him to risk everything for her. He already left her once,she didn't want that to happen again. She took a deep breath and tried again.

"I don't want you to worry about me."

Syaoran's eyes softened. "Sakura,I have to worry about you. I don't want to lose you again." he said

So they both have the same thoughts.

"Have you got any clue who or what is causing this?"

Sakura shook her head avoiding his gaze. Silence engulfed the whole room. The absence of sounds pounded into Sakura's ears. She dared glance at him.

He wasn't looking at her or at anything. His eyes were just blank and his expression unreadable. Sakura never noticed how handsome he was. His face was fine and smooth and his chestnut hair was ruffled and messy. His masculine figure gave him an impression that he'll protect. No matter what the consequences,he'll protect the one that's precious for him and that's what he's trying to do. For her.

Minutes passed in desperate silence. Syaoran suddenly got up and made to open the door.

Sakura caught his hand and held him there. "Can we stay like this just for a while?" she whispered. "I miss you Syaoran,I really do. I've never talked to you for so long. Can we start this all over again?"

Syaoran considered and sat back down.

They talked,exchanged their experiences and laughed at each others jokes. They've never done this for quite a while now. Syaoran changed a bit too,Sakura thought. He was more open and he smiled a lot more than the past years they have been together. His smile was genuine. One that would release butterflies in her stomach and make her heart race faster.

That night,Touya came home followed by Yukito. Touya frowned when he saw Syaoran but said nothing. He knew that he'd hurt her little sister if he says something bad to Syaoran. Touya saw it in his own eyes how Sakura hasn't been able to cope for days on Syaoran's absence. Syaoran stayed for dinner,wanting to converse with Yue about the sakura card matters. They ate mostly in silence. Yukito kept asking Syaoran questions about Hong Kong and what he did there. Syaoran answered his question a little unenthusiastically.

Sakura can tell that some part of the stuff he was doing in HongKong was something he didn't like and certainly didn't want to talk about.

After dinner,while Touya was washing the dishes, Sakura and Syaoran sat in the living room gulping tea with Yue sitting across them. Kero in his small form was perched on the table munching on a piece of cake.

"What has been happening?" Syaoran ask a hint of impatience in his voice.

"Sakura told you hasn't she?" Kero said with his mouth full but still managed to speak clearly.

"Yes. Yue,Sakura said that you sensed a new presence-?"

"I did. It's gone now. It was very string the night the cards were discovered that they were losing their powers."

"But we don't know who is doing this yet." Kero added.

"We can use fortune telling with the cards right?" Sakura said.

"We could but we're missing two cards? We won't be able to get a proper result." Yue said quietly.

Who...are you?

Sakura's head suddenly burst in pain. 'Get a grip of yourself!' she scolded herself while trying to act natural.

"When did the presence vanish?" Sakura could hear Syaoran's voice interviewing Yue and Kero from afar.

Her mind was slowly going blank and visions were flying past her like a moving on fast forward.

The day she opened the Clow Card book and released all the Clow cards.

Kero helping her catch the fly card.

Tomoyo video taping her after her victory in capturing the shadow card.

Syaoran's first appearance in their school.

She was turning the Light and Dark card into Sakura cards.

Eriol declaring he was the reincarnation of Clow Reed.

And everything went black...

"Sakura."

She was in a dark place. She couldn't figure out where she was or why she got there. The only thing she knew is that there was light and she should get there. As she drifted to the source of light a figure blocked her path. The figure had a feminine frame. Her hair was long and straight and looked as if wind was blowing through it. But the odd thing was,there's no wind.

"Sakura." she said in a whisper. It echoed around the bizarre place like a thousand people were saying her name.

"Who...are you?" Sakura asked.

The person smiled.

"Sakura!"

Sakura wearily opened her eyes. Her head was on Syaoran's shoulder. It appears that she had fallen asleep after all that. Another dream. It was a different one now. The person's face wasn't covered in shadow. She couldn't picture out her face. It was blurred in her memory but she couldn't remember it being blurred in her dream. She was sure it was clear as crystal.

"Are you alright?" Kero asked flying over to check Sakura's temperature. "You don't have a fever."

"Of course I don't." she said irritably. Why did they have to wake her up? She wanted to know the reason behind that smile. She wanted to go further in that dream.

Syaoran left at eight o'clock that night. Yukito stayed in the house due to the project they were doing with Touya.

Sakura went to bed with Kero at her heels. When Sakura closed the door it was when she decided she should confide the dream to Kero who was humming lightly to himself.

"Kero-chan?"

"Yeah?"

"I had a dream when you and Yue were talking to Syaoran."

"A dream?" Kero said,his full attention to Sakura who was twisting her hair absent mindedly.

"Yeah. I was in this dark place and there was light. I went to the light and then this person stepped in front of me blocking my way."

"Who's that?"

"I don't know. But it's very strange and I always have that dream the night the cards were losing power."

"It must be involved with these things going on. But now Sakura is the time you sleep. Just give this all a rest for now." Kero said.

Sakura nodded and fell fast asleep.

She thought she heard Kero say, "A card lost it's power again. How long will this keep happening?"

What did he mean by what he said? Did one of the cards loose power and became an ordinary card? No,she absolutely can't let that happen. She was their mistress and she was bound to the cards with the contract she herself signed. She'll figure this thing out and stop this ruckus. Because everything will surely be alright.