A girl with mid-neck-length chestnut hair strode out of a convenience store in Tokyo. Her school uniform was well kept, despite the time being well into the afternoon. She fumbled a little with the wrapper on the popsicle she just bought, just in time for a few passers-by to notice her.
“Excuse me,” said the blonde. The girl looked at her and assumed she was an American tourist. She held up a camera and said, “You’re that Cardcaptor girl from YouTube, right?”
The girl beamed, “Yep. Sakura’s my name.”
“Oh, you speak English too,” exclaimed the blonde’s black friend. She pointed to the rest of their group and said, “Any chance you could do a selfie with us?”
“Sure,” Sakura chirped. She held her popsicle behind her back and stood in the middle of the group. The girls were delighted with the photo.
One of them stepped forward and asked, “There’s rumours going around that you can do real magic. Is it true?”
Sakura just giggled, “Unfortunately, no. Would be really cool if I could, right?” The girls clicked their tongues with disappointment. They thanked her for the selfie and moved on down the street.
Sakura gave a contented sigh, and went back to her popsicle. She was in an especially good mood, hence the decision to spoil herself. The reason for her mood: her boyfriend in Hong Kong was going to call her tonight, and she couldn’t wait. They’d been doing long distance for two months, and it had been a week since they’d spoken. Even though it was so she could study for a test, the break in their contact was driving her crazy. But the exam was finished, so she could talk with her beloved Xiaolang.
To augment her good mood, Sakura donned her earphones and hit play on her phone. The song streamed through her ears, and she danced her way down the street. She drew the attention of many onlookers. Some of them frowned and their discomfort spurred them away. Others joined in with the dance, infecting bystanders with laughter and merriment.
God, I love having this power, thought Sakura.
Just as the song finished, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw a dark-haired girl that made her smile.
“Tomoyo!” she exclaimed. “You got out of choir practice early.”
“I never went,” said Tomoyo. She brandished her camera. “I simply had to record you on the eve of your call with Mister Lee. I think I’ll call this ‘Sakura dances to Owl City.’ Sounds wonderful, right?”
Sakura face-palmed with dismay. “Seriously, Tomoyo! I’m sure your girlfriend doesn't appreciate you obsessing over me.”
Tomoyo’s gleaming eyes went to the sky and she proclaimed, “My partner appreciates the true amazingness that is Sakura! As does everyone else here!” She held her arms wide to encompass all the onlookers. Most of them had been dancing along to Sakura’s beat, and still wore smiles from it. “Ah, Sakura is the source of all joy. Why would my beloved partner stop me from showing the world your amazingness?”
Sakura put her fists on her hips and sassily jibed, “Well then, why won’t she introduce herself to me? I want to meet the one who has stolen my best friend’s heart.”
Tomoyo smirked, and hooked her arm around Sakura.
“Sakura,” she began slowly. “My partner is still trying to sort things out with her family. It’s important to me that she comes out on her own terms. Like I did, remember?”
Sakura pursed her lips, recalling the awkward moment. She pondered how moment that nearly wrecked her relationship with her best friend, among many other things. If it were that bad for her, she could only imagine how it would be if Tomoyo’s partner’s family was less understanding. She patted Tomoyo’s arm and said, “Well, I understand that. And I hope that her family is understanding too.”
Tomoyo nodded and smiled with relief. She then said, “Enough about me. What about Lee?”
Sakura immediately chuckled and her heart fluttered at the image of her boyfriend. She recalled the moment when they kissed for the first time, at the airport before he left for Hong Kong. Blood filled her face and her body shook with excitement. She clamped down on her popsicle to cool herself, lest she appear a little too excited in public.
Beside her, Tomoyo just giggled. She looked over and saw a raffle being held in the middle of a nearby mall. Excitedly, she dragged Sakura over to the line-up.
“Tomoyo, I can’t use magic in public,” Sakura whispered in her friend’s ear. “I can’t rig the raffle, and I won’t.”
“I don’t mean that,” said Tomoyo. “I was joking that one time. But maybe you can win a nice prize.” She pointed at the prize list. The top prize was a Tesla Model X. But it was third on the list that caught Tomoyo’s eye. “Third prize is a trip to Hong Kong.”
Sakura’s eyes brightened at the prospect. She quickly got in line, and procured some coins to participate in the prize draw. It was soon her turn, though it felt like a lifetime’s worth of waiting. She paid the two-hundred-yen fee, and turned the crank on the ball box. Out popped a dull yellow ball.
Every eye bugged out in amazement. Taken aback, Sakura looked to the board, and saw the prize that corresponded to yellow. Her jaw dropped in shock.
* * *
“Ya won!?” exclaimed the living teddy bear with a Kansai accent. He sprayed a hail of cookie crumbs from his mouth, almost covering the prize packet in Sakura’s hands.
“Kero, that’s gross,” moaned Sakura.
Kero, whose full name was Kerberus, swallowed his cookie mouthful. He then floated into the air and studied the prize more closely. “Five days and four nights in Hong Kong.” He pointed a stubby hand at Sakura and yelled, “Take me too! Take me! Take me! Take me!”
Sakura backed away and exclaimed, “Okay, hold your horses. Of course, I’ll take you.” She looked a bit closer at the ticket. “It’s only for two, so I’ll have to pick someone to go with.”
“Go with me!” screamed Kero.
“You can disguise yourself as a plush toy,” replied Sakura. Kero returned to his plate of cookies with a harrumph. Sakura meanwhile counted all the people she could invite. “Tomoyo would be first to invite … but she may be busy with her girlfriend. Maybe Yukito could come.” She thought a bit. “He mightn’t want to come without Big Brother. Plus …” She recalled the moment when Yukito reluctantly broke her heart. She decided it might be a bit awkward if they went on an overseas trip alone together. “Who else?” she thought aloud.
A familiar tone blared from her open laptop. She sat down at the desk and saw the incoming call.
“Xiaolang’s calling!” she exclaimed. “He’s gonna be so excited when I tell him!” She clicked the answer widget and the face of her beloved Hong Kong boyfriend appeared on the screen. His eyes lit up and he waved.
“Nǐ hǎo!” he chirped. He shook his head and blurted, “Sorry! Hello, I mean!”
Sakura chuckled, “Been too long speaking Cantonese?”
“Switching languages is hard,” said Xiaolang.
“I hear you there,” said Sakura, her grin widening despite her effort to stay nonchalant. “Last time I got back from England, it took me a day to switch back to Japanese.”
Xiaolang giggled. His smile softened with longing and he said, “I miss you.”
Sakura’s grin burst into full blown laughter. Xiaolang looked almost hurt, but didn’t have a chance to protest before Sakura bellowed, “Guess what? I got into a raffle today, and won the third prize. You know what it is?”
“No, what?” asked Xiaolang. Sakura held up the prize pack to the camera. Xiaolang frowned. “I can’t read it.”
“It’s a trip to Hong Kong!” exclaimed Sakura.
“No way!” yelled Xiaolang. “You’re coming to Hong Kong? What’re the odds?”
“I don’t care!” retorted Sakura. “I finally get to see you again.”
Xiaolang laughed with joy and he gripped his camera. “When are you coming?”
Sakura checked the prize pack information.
“Next Saturday,” she said. “I’ve got a week to decide who’s coming with me.”
“I’ll inform my parents,” said Xiaolang. “They’ll be really excited to meet you. Especially, my mother. She’s wanted to meet you ever since she predicted you’d become Master of the Clow.”
“Master of the Stars, now,” said Sakura, touching the Star Key hanging from her neck.
“I’m gonna be seeing stars when I see you in Hong Kong,” chortled Xiaolang, winking flirtatiously.
Sakura’s heart raced again, and she bit her lower lip. She could almost feel his lips on hers, and longed to feel his presence again.
“I can’t wait,” she said.
Kero butted in to chide her for being too flirty, and then left the lovers alone to play video games. Sakura and Xiaolang talked a while longer, listing all the things to visit in Hong Kong. Sakura noted them down excitedly. Then, they chatted a little more about home life, and Sakura’s father’s long absence on work. They ended the call when Sakura heard her older brother call her down for dinner.
Sakura invited Kero to come down, but he was too enthralled in his game.
“I just love kickin’ this Aussie’s butt,” growled Kero as he knocked the blonde swordsman out of the park. “Wahoo! Suck it, Grant734!” Sakura just rolled her eyes and trotted down stairs. A pale-skinned, light-brown haired boy set the table for four places, while another darker haired boy sharing some of Sakura’s features stirred the spaghetti sauce.
“Hi, Sakura,” said the pale boy with a kind face.
“Yukito!” chirped Sakura warmly.
Yukito glanced around her and asked, “Is Kerberus not joining us?”
“Nope, he’s too busy bullying kids in games,” chuckled Sakura.
“Tell that Kansai puppet he’s a butt-head,” snarled the other boy at the stove.
“Big Brother!” chided Sakura.
“That’s not nice, Touya,” said Yukito.
“Facts are facts,” retorted Touya. He glanced over his shoulder at Sakura. “Ain’t you got some good news, Kaiju?”
Sakura almost burst a blood vessel. She raised her dukes in a show of vehement retribution and bellowed, “I am not a kaiju!”
Yukito tried to chide Touya further. And yet he couldn’t help but laugh at Sakura’s over-the-top reaction. He took a seat at the table and motioned for her to do the same.
“What’s this announcement then?” he asked.
“Oh, I won the third prize in a raffle,” Sakura announced. “I won a trip for two to Hong Kong!”
“Wow! How lucky!” replied Yukito. “So will it be you and Daidouji, then?”
“I don’t know,” said Sakura. “She said she might have prior engagements she can’t get out of. She said she’d talk to her mother about it tonight.”
Yukito grinned facetiously.
“Well, Miss Sakura, you know how I’m like, totally, your bestest bestie in the whole wide world?”
Sakura gave a bewildered chortle at his brown-nosing. Of course, she knew it was a joke, and that made it all the more hilarious.
The chef put the pot of spaghetti sauce and a bowl of pasta on the table. The trio sat down and said the customary Japanese phrase, “Itadakimasu3,” before tucking in. Yukito took the biggest helping by far, and dug in quickly. Sakura took a more modest mouthful and said, “Delicious, Big Brother.”
Touya looked right at her and droned, “You got sauce on your nose.” That earned him a nudge from Yukito, which was much less than the kick Sakura would have given him.
“Meanie,” snorted Sakura.
“Careful, Sakura,” said Yukito. “You might have to get him to come with you to Hong Kong.”
Touya cut them both off. “No can do. I’ve got two college exams week after next.” He looked at Yukito. “You should go, Yuki. At least so the other guy’s got her back.”
Sakura pursed her lips as she thought of Yue, Yukito’s alter ego and the counterpart of Kero. They were both her guardians in magic, and they always looked after her. Yukito gazed downward at nothing in particular, and remained that way a while, before he said, “Yue would be fine to go. He says, ‘If it’s to protect the master.’” He made a faux impression of the stern man’s voice that was so unlike the real Yue it was comical. It even made Touya chuckle.
“Well, Kero’s coming too, in my backpack, of course,” said Sakura.
“But I’ll only go if Miss Daidouji isn’t,” said Yukito. “She’s your best friend, so she should go.”
Touya nudged him. “I wanted you to go so that creep doesn’t try anything.”
“He’s not a creep,” snapped Sakura. “And he’s my boyfriend now, so you need to be nice, Big Brother.”
It was then that Kero floated into the kitchen, drawn by the scent of Touya’s Bolognese sauce. Drool trickled from the edge of his mouth as he approached the table in a hypnotic state.
“Good of you to finally join us,” said Touya snidely.
“I had to teach that kangaroo a lesson,” retorted Kero, no longer afraid of the boy from whom he’d hidden for so long. His eyes fell on the nearly empty bowl of pasta and cried, “Why didn’t you save any for me?”
“I was hungry and you didn’t come down,” said Yukito.
Kero outstretched a stubby hand and bellowed, “You’re just as bad as Yue. You’re greedy! J’accuse!4”
Sakura rolled her eyes and dragged Kero into the kitchen. She brought some more water to the boil for more pasta. Meanwhile, Touya’s foul mood persisted. Yukito leaned in and said, “You should probably be nicer to Lee. He might be your brother-in-law one day.”
“Never,” growled Touya. “He’s a creep and a woman-beater.”
Yukito grinned and put his finger to his ear, as if listening to a fake earpiece. “This just in, Touya Kinomoto has cornered the market on the sister complex.”
“Shaddup,” Touya snarled facetiously.
* * *
Sakura received a call later that night. She pulled away from her math homework to answer the phone, displaying Tomoyo’s number. The girl’s voice carried a small amount of disappointment.
“I’d love to go to Hong Kong with you,” said Tomoyo. “But, unfortunately, Mom and I were planning a three day getaway that week. I’m so sorry.”
“That’s alright,” replied Sakura. “It’s important that you spend time with your mother. Give her my regards.”
“So, who are you planning on taking?” asked Tomoyo.
“Maybe Yukito,” said Sakura, though she felt strange about it.
Tomoyo could clearly sense her unease and said, “That might not be a good idea, since he’s Touya’s partner, and he did turn you down.”
“That’s fine, we’re past that,” said Sakura. “Big Brother wants him to go with me to make sure Xiaolang doesn’t try anything.”
“Lee would never,” exclaimed Tomoyo.
“Of course not,” replied Sakura. “Big Brother’s just being silly.” In her mind, however, she could not shake the giddiness of Xiaolang actually trying something. Her body quivered with excitement, for which she immediately chided herself.
Not very lady-like, Sakura, she thought.
“Anyway,” she stammered. “I need to finish my homework. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Later then,” said Tomoyo, and the call ended.
As Sakura put the phone down and went back to her homework, she pondered the last time her father had called. He’d been really busy on his archaeology trip, so much that he’d only been able to call on Fridays. Strangely, he hadn’t called that particular day. That hardly worried her, since he sometimes missed a call when on an important dig. His work was important to him, and she supported him in that regard. Nevertheless, she still missed him.
“And I need to tell him about my trip, so he doesn't worry,” she thought aloud.
Sakura forced herself to focus on her homework. She managed to finish two more problems before her laptop blurted an incoming call alert. It was Xiaolang again.
“Twice in one day,” exclaimed the girl, though softly so she didn’t wake Kero.
“My parents wanted me to convey a message,” said Xiaolang. It was clear he didn’t like the idea, but he said it anyway. “They asked if you would come to Hong Kong alone. Don’t bring anyone else with you. Even Kerberus.”
Sakura cocked her head. “Why?”
“They want to meet you and only you,” said Xiaolang. “They don’t want either of your guardians here. I’m not sure I understand either. But that’s their conditions for meeting you.”
Sakura frowned. She couldn’t understand what problem the Lee family could possibly have with Kero or Yue. They were the former guardians of Clow Reed, the ancestor of the Lee family. So why would they not want them there? To be honest, she could think of many reasons why they would not want Kero there; but why not Yue at the least? She looked into Xiaolang’s pixelated eyes and saw the same confusion. At the same time, she couldn’t bear to not be with him much longer. And if she wanted to be with him – and even marry him at some point – she had to make a good impression on his parents.
“Okay,” she said. “Kero will be disappointed, but I won’t bring him, or anyone else.”
“Thanks,” said Xiaolang. “I’ll make sure everything is ready for when you arrive. I’ll even learn to make takoyaki for you.”
Sakura beamed. “Thank you, Xiaolang. Love you!”
“You too,” he said, blowing her kisses. Then he shut off the call.
* * *
The big day came.
Last time Sakura had stood in the Tokyo Haneda Airport terminal, it had been to see off Xiaolang. Now, she was finally going to meet him and his family. Her brother and friends were all there to see her off.
She gave Touya a hug and he said, “Be safe, ya hear? And make sure that creep keeps his hands to himself.”
Sakura poked her tongue out at him. Then she embraced Yukito, who said, “Remember those Cantonese phrases I told you. Okay?”
“Will do,” said Sakura.
Then Tomoyo butted in and threw her arms around her friend. Sakura felt some wetness on her shoulder, and realised Tomoyo was crying.
“It’s alright, Tomoyo,” she said. “I’m only going to be gone a week.”
“It’s not that,” said Tomoyo. “I won’t get to film my beloved Sakura!” Sakura face-palmed. Tomoyo’s tears stopped in an instant, and she held out a paper bag. Her eyes glimmered as she bellowed, “If ever there’s a Cardcaptor moment, make sure you wear this!”
Sakura warily looked into the bag and saw a scroll of pink fabric. Within the scroll, she was sure she could see armour plating of some kind.
“Another costume?” she asked dismayed.
“It is my magnum opus!” exclaimed Tomoyo. She grabbed Sakura’s hands and insisted, “You must wear it if a moment comes. Promise you’ll wear it.”
“Okay, okay!” replied Sakura.
“By the way, there’s another costume in there,” said Tomoyo. Sakura fumbled through the bag and saw a green roll of fabric. “That one’s for Mister Lee. Make sure he wears it and you get a photo together. Okay?”
The image made Sakura laugh. She nodded and promised to get the photo and send it to her friend straight away.
Sakura then eyed the head poking inconspicuously out of Tomoyo’s purse. She knelt down and said, “Thanks for understanding, Kero.”
“Lee Clan don’t like me, and I don’t like them,” said Kero. “Prob’ly good I ain’t goin’. But you just make sure you’re safe, ya hear?”
Sakura caressed the plush toy with a smile and said, “I hear ya.”
The traveller then put her costumes in her backpack and headed for security. She waved to her family one last time, and started to feel homesick. Her overactive imagination concocted so many bad scenarios, such as being mugged on the Hong Kong streets. At the same time, her need to see her boyfriend again spurred her onward, through security, customs, immigration, and finally onto the plane.
“Here I come, Xiaolang,” she said as the plane took off.