Sakura was awoken sometime later by a gentle prodding at her face. At first, she thought it was Kero-chan. But, when she opened her eyes and finally saw what was truely in front of her: What she saw was not Kero-chan. Instead, she was greeted face-to-face with the piercing icy-blue eyes of Spinel Sun staring right at her face.
"Eek! Yikes! Spinner Sun, gah! What in the world are you doing?" Sakura sputters, leaping to her feet, only to promptly stumble and trip on thin air.
Eriol chuckled halfheartedly, reaching down to give her one of his hands for her to grab. "Woah! Take it easy, Saku. Don't push yourself too quickly." Her father gently admonished her as he pulled her carefully back up onto her own two feet.
"You're still rather week from the amount of magic you used up during our battle yesterday, and I don't want you to pass out from either magical or physival exhaustion during the school day." He explained meaningfully. "So, please. Please take it easey today, alright? Do you understand, Saku?" Eriol asked his dauter, speaking in a way that left no room for arguing.
Saku nodded her head, meeting her father's worried gaze with her own calm one. "Okay, Dad. I'll be careful. I promise, I will take it easy for the time being." She gave the sapphire-eyed boy a small, reassuring smile. "No need to worry, Hii. I'll try my absolute best to stay as far away from danger as I possibly can." His daughter firmly told him, letting the dark mage know that she had heard what he had asked of her.
After a few more seconds, the carmel-haired sorceress shifted her gaze away from her father, and back down at the still happily purring Spinel Sun currently resting in her arms.
The black and blue winged cat guardian came to rest on her shoulder, purring all the while. "Spinel?" she asked again, a little clearer this time. "What are you doing here?"
But, it wasn't Spinel Sun who answered this time: It was Eriol himself, who spoke up to answer his daughter's question.
"Spinel heard everything, apparently." The dark mage murmured quietly. He got unsteadily to his feet, and once he'd regained his balance: The dark mage held a hand out for Saku to take.
"H-he what?" Saku spluttered uncomprehendingly. "S-so, he knows about... About everything?" she squeeked, looking back down at the black cat, who was by now nuzzling her shoulder while still purring softly.
Eriol chuckled slightly and nodded his head. "Yes, yes he does, Sakura-san."
Saku blinked a few times, but then, another question suddenly popped into her head. "Uh, hey, Eriol-kun? Is Spinner, I-I mean, is Spinel always this affectionate?"
Eriol's face seemed to take on a thoughtful look as he silently mulled her question over in his mind.
"No, not usually." He answered her question truthfully. "But, given the... events prier to now... I can only asume that he now sees you as his charge."
"Wait, what?"
Eriol gestured vaguely towards Spinel, who was now purring contentedly in her arms. "He really likes you, Saku."
The carmel-brown haired girl had just opened her mouth to start saying something, but the loud, ear-peircing, ringing sound of the school bell interrupted her attempt to speak.
Eyes growing wide: The two young magic users looked to one another with identical looks of horror.
"Moons and stars! We're late for school!"
Saku turned toward Eriol, her emerald eyes shining with worry. "We can't go to school like this!" she cried, waving both of her hands in a sweeping gesture at their current clothing, and their red-rimmed eyes. "It's obvious to anybody that looks at us that we'd been crying all night, and not to mention: pulling an all-nighter on top of it!"
She started to pace anxiously back and forth in a semi circle. "And, if you haven't already noticed by now: I still have the Book of Sakura Cards and my Star Staff in plane sight for everyone to see." She made to continue, but Eriol stopped her by firmly putting both hands on her shoulders.
Eriol held up a hand, cutting Sakura off mid-rant. "Saku! Saku, remember to breath." He told her gently. "Panicking isn't going to help either one of us right now."